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Veteran of Civil War leaves lasting legacy for his community

Collectors, hobbyists find an escape with latest comics, games

SUMMER 2015

Zero’s Tap forecast: always muggy, with 100% chance of fun d i x o n

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“Step-by-Step” Approach Can Ease Estate-planning Process

www.edwardjones.com • Member SIPC

Like many people, you may enjoy investing. After all, it can be invigorating to put away money for your future, follow the performance of your investments and track the progress you’re making toward your long-term goals, such as a comfortable retirement. However, you might be less excited about doing estate planning, dreading the perceived time, effort

What are these tasks? Everyone’s needs are different, but here are a few suggestions that may be applicable to your situation:

needs. You might hear about various “formulas” for how much insurance you should purchase, but you may be better then recommend an appropriate level of coverage. size of your estate, you need a will to ensure that your assets and personal belongings will be distributed according to

may want to consult with a legal professional to learn more about this estate-planning tool.

consider establishing a “payable-on-death” account at your bank, and then funding this account to pay for your funeral and related expenses.

out your wishes.

When dealing with any estate-planning issues, you’ll want to consult with your legal and tax professionals. And by taking

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

Aaron Young Financial Advisor 735 North Galena Ave. Dixon, IL 61021 (815) 285-3930

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Chad M. Weigle, CFP Financial Advisor 302 S Galena Ave. Dixon, IL 61021 (815) 288-3838

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Mike Loos Financial Advisor 4204 East Lincolnway Sterling, IL 61081 (815) 564-0336

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Tom Wold, AAMS Financial Advisor 2522 East Lincolnway Sterling, IL 61081 (815) 564-0487

Jim McPherson, CFP Financial Advisor 316 1st Ave. Sterling, IL 61081 (815) 622-7948

Nicolas Lareau Financial Advisor 415 Locust St. Suite C Sterling, IL 61081 (815) 626-1588

Sam Meier Susan Lyon Financial Advisor Financial Advisor 102 E Route 30 Suite 2 907 W Route 30 Rock Falls, IL 61071 Rock Falls, IL 61071 (815) 535-0776 (815) 626-4822

SUMMER 2015

COVER • STORY

Publisher Sam R Fisher Advertising Director Jennifer Heintzelman Editor Larry Lough Magazine Editor Rusty Schrader Page Design Robin Norburg Breanne Hunter

A House By The People, For The People

Published by

Sauk Valley Media 3200 E. Lincolnway Sterling, IL 61081 815-625-3600 Articles and advertisements are the property of Sauk Valley Media. No portion of Dixon Living Magazine may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Ad content is not the responsibility of Sauk Valley Media. The information in this magazine is believed to be accurate; however, Sauk Valley Media cannot and does not guarantee its accuracy. Sauk Valley Media cannot and will not be held liable for the quality or performance of goods and services provided by advertisers listed in any portion of this magazine.

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Where there’s a will, there’s a way to give back to the community

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features We’re not done yet

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Zero in on a good time

Dixon mother becomes part of solution in equality fight

The road to success

In case of emergency...

Dixon company cares about its products, people, community

New volunteer group stands ready to help its community

Dixon’s great escape

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Comics, collectibles, costumes and more at The Paper Escape

By the people, for the people

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Civil war veteran leaves lasting legacy

Cut from same cloth 4

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Batter up!

There’s deep-fried delights at Dixon’s BBY

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Appreciation down to a fine art Club that celebrates art observes its 125th anniversary

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Dixon barber happy to be home, working with fellow veteran

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We’re

not done yet

BY KAYLA HEIMERMAN | SPECIAL TO DIXON LIVING

B

arb Schwamberger went into the closet just as her daughter came out of it.

“It wasn’t that we were ashamed of her,” she says of herself and her husband. “… It was that we didn’t want the confrontation.”

Today, the only thing left in Schwamberger’s closet is that fear and withdrawal. She’s packed it away and closed the door, and now she’s helping others do the same.

Today, Schwamberger, 75, is an active supporter of gay, lesbian, and even transgender rights and one of the founders of the local chapter of PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays). The group serves people in Lee, Ogle, and Whiteside counties.

But her journey wasn’t always easy. Before she could confront other people’s perception, she had to confront herself.

“The hardest part wasn’t finding out our daughter was gay,” she recalls.

“The hardest part was our ‘coming out’ journey, our being honest with people, not trying to hide her or ourselves.” …

Schwamberger was raised in Franklin Grove. She married George Schwamberger in 1961. They had four children – one daughter and three sons.

She worked as a nurse in Dixon and Amboy for almost 15 years. She worked as a nurse at Sinnissippi Mental Health Center on and off for years, then as a social worker at Sinnissippi Centers as well as in many of the local schools for the rest of her working years.

Schwamberger said she knew “nothing” of homosexuality – of the word “gay” or “lesbian,” of the culture, of the stereotypes.

“There were always those two women who lived together, but they

r

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were always ‘just good friends,’” she said. “And there was always that man who dressed a little effeminately, but he was just … you know? I had no hint of anything.

“Our story begins with Cathy.”

Cathy is the eldest of four children and the couple’s only daughter.

She excelled in academics and athletics. She was popular, but she never dated anyone. But then, her girlfriends never really dated either.

“Everyone loved Cathy,” her mother said.

Cathy went away to college, where she dated a guy, but nothing came of it. She then graduated and moved to Chicago, where she dated a guy, but again nothing came of it.

“This was a pattern,” her mother said.

Cathy was close to her parents. She came out to her mother while the two were out for a walk one weekend in July 1991. She came out to her father later that day.

“It was no big deal,” her mother said.

Schwamberger set to work educating herself about homosexuality. She even attended a few support group meetings. Her husband stood by her side.

“We became advocates,” she said.

The Schwambergers met many gay people through their daughter and her partner.

“They were all so wonderful,” she said. “They used to tell us stories about, ‘I wish my parents Continued on Page 7

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were like you,’ or ‘I can’t take my partner home to my parents,’ or ‘I haven’t seen my parents for a long time.’

“It made us feel very special,” she continued with a proud smile, “that we were those kinds of parents for our daughter. … It was one of our children. That was her life. … What is important to her is important to us.”

The Schwambergers were proud of their daughter, but they were not always forthcoming about her sexuality with friends and acquaintances in Amboy, where the family lived for many years.

They frequently deflected questions about marriage and instead talked about her career.

“I would do that, and I would feel guilty,” Schwamberger recalled. “I would think, ‘What is wrong with me? Why can’t I just say the words?’”

“Finally, one day, someone asked George if Cathy had a husband, and he said, ‘No. She has a partner.’ There was dead silence. … And that was that.”

Cathy, 54, is married and lives in California. …

Schwamberger and another woman organized a small support group for gay people and their families and friends in the early 2000s. They became an official PFLAG chapter in 2006.

“It was more, for [her] and I, and maybe for the others. Let’s not let this go by, let’s let people know about being gay or having a gay son or daughter, let become those advocates, those educators … ” she said.

PFLAG Sauk Valley now offers a monthly support group meeting. The

group also supports community events, such as Relay For Life, and appears in local parades. It works with schools, churches, and other groups to ensure gay, lesbian, and transgender people are accepted and feel safe in those environments.

Schwamberger has seen a sea change in gay rights in her lifetime, but she believes the tide must turn again, especially for the transgender community.

“We’re not done yet,” she said.

Schwamberger, who was not always a change agent, hopes PFLAG Sauk Valley has made a difference for gay people, their families, and their friends in the area.

“With Cathy, this came naturally,” she said. “If there is a problem, you must become part of the solution; you can’t stay angry. … I hope that it does make a difference that we are here. I hope that we have impacted somebody, some group.” s

Photos by Alex T. Paschal/Dixon Living Barb Schwamberger is the president of PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) of the Sauk Valley.

PFLAG Sauk Valley Mailing address: P.O. Box 261, Dixon, IL 61021 | Phone number: 815-440-2672 | E-mail: pflagsaukvalley@gmail.com | Online: www.facebook.com/PFLAGSAUKVALLEY

Meetings: The group meets at 2:30 p.m. on the third Sunday of the month at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 221 W. Third St., in Dixon.

Membership: $25 for an individual or $35 for a household.

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ROAD

Photos by Alex T. Paschal/Dixon Living Owners Joe and Cindy Bonnell.

THE TO SUCCESS

Dixon company cares about its products, its people, and its community LONNIE MILLER SPECIAL TO DIXON LIVING

B

onnell Industries is a company built on old-fashioned values like service and quality, and that foundation of values has served it well.

Recently, the Dixon company held its first Equipment Expo in June when more than a thousand guests attended.

It all started at the dawn of the 1960s when Jesse Bonnell, then a driver with a road construction contractor, saw the need for portable welding services dedicated to repairing the axles on heavy-duty trucks.

In October 1960 he founded J.L. Bonnell’s Welding Service, operating from a shop out of his home in Dixon.

As his business grew, along with the services and products he offered, more space was needed and that eventually led to Bonnell’s current location, incorporating 4.5 acres at 1385 Franklin Grove Road in Dixon.

When it opened in 1972, the site had an 8,700-square-foot shop, a 1,400-square foot office, and later, a warehouse. The name was changed in 1973 to J.L. Bonnell & Sons Welding, and again in 1979 to Bonnell Industries. In 1980 Jesse Bonnell introduced snowplows into the marketplace. More growth ensued, and the shop was expanded again, this time in 1982, adding 8,700 square feet.

Bob Bonnell, Jesse’s son, bought the company when his Dad retired in 1984. The company became a full-time truck equipment distributor in 1985. The original office building was demolished in 1997, making way for new offices and a 2,000-square-foot display showroom. New state-of-the-art corporate offices, a 2,000-square-foot showroom. Elsewhere on the property, a 4,600-square-foot warehouse was added for product storage and shipping.

Today, Bonnell Industries is one of the leading truck equipment distributors in northern Illinois. Its website, www.Bonnell.com, lists a variety of products such as snow and ice control equipment, truck equipment, road maintenance equipment, power equipment and municipal contractor equipment and supplies.

Joe Bonnell, Bob’s son, is now in the driver’s seat at the company.

He says he believes the secret of success, and the company’s growth, is going above and beyond when it comes to customer service and quality products. It’s a philosophy that he depends on veteran staff members to pass on to each new employee.

Joe said that through the years, he’s built some good friendships with long-time customers and staff members, friendships that have served the 46-year-old well when he’s taken to heart their advice – even when that advice is short and sharp. One of the most important things he was told by a former Bonnell sales rep was “shut up and listen!” – advice that has served him well through the years.

Continued on Page 11

The expo will bring in thousands of vendors to see state of the art equipment and feast on barbecue chicken and pork chops from Fay's BBQ of Waterman.

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Your source for truck and road equipment q Stop in to have a discussion about upfitting g your work truck with a Knapheide service body, flatbed, or gooseneck.

Bonnell Industries now carries a full line of trailers. Utility, dump, goose-neck or enclosed, stop in and see our selection!

The Bonnell 122 Road Maintainer is perfect for maintaining gravel or dirt lanes.

Don’t forget, Bonnell offers a full line of residential and commercial snow plows - check out our showroom today! www.bonnell.com - info@bonnell.com - 800-851-9664 - 1385 Franklin Grove Rd.

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Bonnell Industries of Dixon hosted a two-day equipment expo for vendors on June 10 - 11. The distributor handles snow plowing and road maintenance equipment.

Continued from Page 9

Another philosophy to which he subscribes is the company mission. “We are committed to manufacturing, distributing, installing and servicing the best and most innovative solutions Visitors to Bonnell's vendor expo check out for our customers in the truck and road equipment industry, constantly striving to improve industry a truck equiped with the distributor’s gear. Bonnell's clients include cities, standards and to exceed the customer’s expectations,” he said, adding that “every business is built townships and other municipalities. by people working with people. Word of mouth is what grows the business. We sell equipment to someone far away, and his neighbor wants the products too.”

Word of mouth also plays into one his favorite sayings: “If we made you happy, tell everyone; if we didn’t, tell us!”

International sales began when Joe met someone at an American Manufacturers’ Exposition.

The gentleman was looking for quality equipment and explained that sometimes products from other manufacturers could be purchased initially for a cheaper price. Joe explained that Bonnell Industries offers products that may cost a little more initially, but the cost of ownership over the years is less because of their dedication to quality, and their ability to repair and service those products.

A new customer was gained, and the international business relationship began.

But offering better equipment isn’t the only thing that’s important to the Bonnells. Joe and his wife, Cindy, are people who sincerely believe in building better relationships and helping their fellow man.

In April, when a tornado tore through Ashton, the couple wanted to help, and they invited their employees to join them – on the clock.

Joe and Cindy drove to Ashton the night of the storm with a pickup loaded with their personal contributions to help others. The next day, they offered their staff a chance to help too, and 42 employees returned to the storm site. Unfortunately, they were turned away because officials weren’t accepting volunteer help at that time. But that didn’t stop the band of Bonnell helpers from pitching in. As they drove back home to Dixon the Bonnell crew saw a farm that suffered heavy damage. Its elderly owner was more than happy to accept their help, and they spent several hours helping clear debris. The next day, Chris Kelly, of Ace Hardware, called and offered to provide equipment, so they added another piece of heavy-duty Bonnell equipment and returned to the area.

Joe said their reasons for volunteering were more personal than business. “When a crisis hits, Bonnell's specialty is industrial the whole world stops; suddenly there are more important things than your daily routine snow removal equipment. and showing up for work!”

That attitude has sifted down to company employees.

Marilyn Koster, Joe’s “gate-keeper,” has worked for the company since 1999. She’s considered “everybody’s mom” at work. “It’s a great place to work!” she said.

Kyle Dixon, 45, has worked in shipping and receiving for the past 8 years, and summed up what he believes is a key part of the company’s success: “Joe and plant manager Tom Massey are good guys to work for. They are great at building teams that are skilled and work well together. The most impressive thing I found when I came on board was that a lot of the employees here really care about the quality of production, and Joe really cares about his employees.”

Caring, commitment and quality. It may be an “old-fashioned” way of doing business, but it looks like for Bonnell Industries that formula will keep adding up to success for generations to come. s Contact Us...

Bonnell Industries Address: 1385 Franklin Grove Road, Dixon Phone: 815-284-3819, 800-851-9664 (toll free)

E-mail: info@bonnell.com Online: http://www.bonnell.com.

You can also follow the company on Facebook,

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YouTube, and Twitter: www.facebook.com/ BonnellIndustries, www.twitter.com/Bonnell_Ind, www.youtube.com/user/bonnellindustries

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Avonlea Cottage of Dixon For a tour contact Executive Director Alma Wood

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Dixon’s Great Escape Comics, collectibles, costumes and more,The Paper Escape has it all

BY ANDREW HEY SPECIAL TO DIXON LIVING

I

f you’re looking for an escape from reality, you’ll find it downtown Dixon. There, you can leap tall buildings in a single bound, make some magic, and travel to the wonderful world of Disney.

The Paper Escape has been providing the keys to unlock customers’ imagination for more than 3 decades, since the store opened in 1981.

Thomas and Nancy McClain, (65 and 63, respectively) own the store, and Sue Mills, 56, is the manager.

The store opened in 1981 as a used bookstore, but 3 years into the business the McClains added comic books and gaming.

In the years since, its inventory has grown to include games, collectibles, statues, models, and even cookbooks. Flexibility is the name of the game in collecting, and if The Paper Escape were a super-hero, it’d be Plastic Man because it’s reshaped its inventory through the years, growing from a used bookstore to become the area’s premier collectible headquarters.

The McClains have remained nimble, adjusting their inventory to meet the demands of collectors and hobbyists – demands which can sometimes change quickly. A collectible that’s popular one month may be old news the next. Collectors’ shopping habits shift too. Kids don’t just swap comics in a treehouse anymore. They grow up and buy them online, go to conventions attended by thousands of people, and some bid on big-buck pulp fiction through auction houses. Through it all, comic shops have remained a steady presence, though there’s been a rise and fall in their popularity through the years – from upwards of 8,000 a few decades ago to a few thousand today.

All of these demands for collectors’ dollars have kept shop owners on their toes, including the McClains.

In the fall of 1988 they began offerings costumes and accessories, including masks, props and other trinkets. In 1989 they started promoting their costume rental. The McClains said, however, that people don’t seem to want to rent costumes anymore.

“There are so many people that want to keep and build on the same costume that there isn’t any pull for rentals anymore,” Thomas said.

But there are a couple of costumes that continue to be rented on regular basis: The Easter Bunny and Santa Claus. The classics, it seems, never go out of style. The Halloween shop opens in September, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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ng on Saturdays through the Halloween season. It’s also open throughout the year, by appointment.

From ghouls to gaming, last December saw the release of the new Dungeons and Dragons books (DND 5.0), and the Paper Escape was one of the first places in the area to carry the much sought-after fan favorite.

“It was almost impossible to keep it in stock when it first came out,” said Thomas.

While role-playing still draws dungeon-dwelling dragon fighters, another collectible isn’t playing the same starring role it it used to: trading cards. The McClains have seen the decline in their popularity first-hand.

They said they believe trading cards – especially baseball cards – were more important to kids years ago, but that sports cards have almost completely collapsed. The couple said that Topps has stopped producing basketball cards and will stop making football cards next year.

“The NBA and NFL have decided that greed is more popular. They have sold all the rights overseas.This is sending all the money to Italy and taking the jobs away from Americans,” Thomas said. “The only trading cards Topps still has are baseball.” Thomas said the Internet has also taken its toll on trading cards.

While sports have fallen out of favor in the world of trading cards, there’s still some magic to be found.

The most popular trading card game today is “Magic: The Gathering,” a game that consists of trading cards required to build a deck that’s eventually used to summon monstrous characters that will cast powerful spells. For the past 5 years, The Paper Escape has carried the largest selection in the area outside of Chicago and Rockford. The game has attracted a large gathering and today there are more than 12 million Magic gamers worldwide. The game contains more than 20,000 different trading cards.

Part of what helps the store keep up with the shifting tide of trends is staying atop of what’s popular. The store has started hosting Magic tournaments, and in the back they have a WPN (Wizards Play Network) play site.

“We want to bring in the players but space out the events so that people don’t get tired of it” said Thomas.

For those who prefer Monopoly over Magic, there are plenty of board Continued on Page 15

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Photo by Alex T. Paschal/Dixon Living Caleb Isaacson of Milledgeville checks out role-playing gear at The Paper Escape in DIxon. Isaacson gets in once a week to check out what’s new.

Photo by Andrew Hey /Dixon Living Continued from Page 13

games at The Paper Escape that aren’t available in other stores in the area.

The McClains carry a line of games from USAopoly, a company that produces custom-themed Monopoly games such as Jurassic Park Monopoly, Big Bang Monopoly, Clue Monopoly, and FireFly Monopoly, to name a few.

Another selling point for the store, Thomas and Nancy say, is that they consider The Paper Escape to be a family store.

Photo by Alex T. Paschal/Dixon Living

“If the kids are into buying cards, the father likes board games, and Grandma

Ryan Looney of Sterling makes his purchase of three comic books at The Paper Escape.

likes Disney, we have something for everyone,” Thomas said. During a recent gaming event, fans of all sorts showed up: couples, kids, single people are more.

Whether their customers are fans or family members, dragon slayers or Disney lovers, the McClains want to find a way to appeal to everyone with diverse interests – and so far, they’ve found a way. The store attracts customers from near and far, and when those customers say they wish the store carried a certain item, the couple tries to make that wish come true. When people came in asking for Disney items, Thomas and Nancy contacted their distributors and were soon carrying a large line of authentic Disney items.

It’s efforts like this, Thomas said, that’s helped keep The Paper Escape around for so long.

So, if you’re looking for fun, fantasy or fiction, just look for the door

Photo by Andrew Hey /Dixon Living

in downtown Dixon with the dragon reading a book. Who knows, maybe that dragon bought his book at The Paper Escape. After all, even dragon enjoys a different tale every now and then. s

Escape It All...

The Paper Escape Address: 205 W. First St., Dixon Phone number: 815-284-7567 E-mail: paperescape@paperescape.com Online: www:paperescape.com, Facebook Hours: Sunday and Monday: Closed; Tuesday-Thursday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Photo by Andrew Hey /Dixon Living Friday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

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Photo by Andrew Hey /Dixon Living

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The House That An Artist Built

Amazing professionally designed, custom built, rare brick ranch in desirable Idle Oaks on premium wooded lot. Features stunning cathedral ceilings, floor to ceiling arched windows, inviting foyer flows into formal living room/great room, 3 Beds, art studio/home office, 2.5 Baths, bright spacious eat-in kitchen, family room/dining room, laundry room, full basement with 9’ ceilings, large 3 car finished garage, wonderful screened porch adjacent to covered deck overlooking serene wooded ravine. Numerous interior and exterior updates. This beautiful home is more than move-in ready! $319,000

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A House By The People, For The People Where there’s a will, there’s a way to give back to the community

BY KAYLA HEIMERMAN SPECIAL TO DIXON LIVING

T

he Loveland Community House is a monument to community.

The Cotswold-style brick building

on the near west side of Dixon was born out

of the goodwill – and the last will and testa-

George Loveland was born in 1847. He fought

ment – of George Loveland, a descendant

in the Civil War, then became a real estate dealer.

of one of the early settlers of the town.

He developed a subdivision on the northwest

The community house, which was built

side of Dixon, across Fourth Avenue from

in 1939 and opened a year later, was intended

the neighborhood known as Swissville. He also

as “a meeting place,” according to the handwritten

donated a lot at the top of the hill for a school,

will, which is on display near the office on the first

around where present-day Martin, Carroll

floor of the building. The building was “to be used

and Center streets meet. He married Emma

for the comfort and pleasure of our home

Tomlinson in 1880.

people… a gathering place for country people as well as city,” according to the will.

The Lovelands were generous, community-minded people, and they also were

All Photos by Alex T. Paschal /Dixon Living Above: The downstairs had a display of flags in recognition of Flag Day. Continued on Page 18 A grand piano in the Men’s Dixon’s favorite son, Ronald Reagan, has a large The Committee Room is a good place to hold a meeting Club Room. display in the muesum. while surrounded by interesting artifacts.

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The garden atrium is a quiet place for visiting or solitude.

BEAUTY

Lots of unique and interesting clothing styles are also on display.

The halls and rooms are filled with local and national art.

Left: Uniforms of the military branches hang on display.

Continued from Page 17

world travelers. They saw a community house in Europe and brought the idea

to bring interesting objects� to a museum within the building.

dining room, a kitchen, lounges, and meeting

Loveland left no instructions for the construction

for a similar building back to Dixon.

Besides providing for a community house in his will, George Loveland also requested that “anyone in this or adjoining counties

The building features an auditorium, a rooms, as well as the museum. The building

or operation of the house, except that it be built

was built for about $200,000, which would be

on the south side of town, include a museum

more than $3.2 million today.

and swimming pool, and charge only nominal rental fees, if necessary.

The trustees, who carried out the will and the construction of the house, deemed the

Artifacts on display on the Loveland-Tomlinson Room.

The Loveland-Tomlinson room at the house.

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A ceremonial Mason sword and leather apron was donated to the house.

The garden atrium accommodates leisure moments.

COMFORT The upstairs museum contains everything The architecture of the building should be enjoyed. from toys to weapons to tools to jewelry.

The west facing entrance to Loveland Community House.

addition and maintenance of a pool too

art from local artists or acquired by the local

director Steve Wilson. “That was Loveland’s

complicated. A court ruled that $30,000 of the

Phidian Art Club. Its rooms are furnished

instruction to us.”

endowment be given for the construction of

with items from the Lovelands and other local

The museum features photographs and me-

a memorial pool in a city park. (The pool was

families. The museum is also filled — wall to

mentos from the early days of Dixon, including

the now-closed Veteran’s Memorial Pool on the

wall, floor to ceiling — with artifacts from the

items belonging to founder John Dixon and

west side of town.)

Lovelands (many collected from their travels)

town doctor Oliver Everett. It also boasts a col-

and other local families.

lection of war paraphernalia and memorabilia

The Loveland Community House is a shrine to Dixon history. Its walls are bedecked with

These unique pieces of art were done by an artist who painted the bodies then added a photo of the face later.

“Our focus is Dixon history,” said museum

from the Civil War through the recent conflicts

Continued on Page 21 The Loveland museum keeps Longtime local historian Stella Grobe a large display of Civil War artifacts. had a bench dedicated to the Loveland House on her 100th birthday.

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This “painting” was done in 1902 & constructed entirely of bird feathers.

COMMUNITY will be open all day to encourage people to in the Middle East. It has many items from local busi- use it for “comfort and pleasure,” as Loveland nesses, including the Borden condensed milk plant and indicated in his will, Wilson said.

Prince Castle restaurant.

It’s a feather in Dixon’s cultural cap that “We have so many things still in boxes in storage,” Loveland’s staff works hard – very hard, Wilson Wilson said. “We’re always either adding things or freshsaid – to maintain, and he hopes people will ening up things.”

The Loveland Community House, true to its original stop by for a visit – be it to learn about Dixon’s purpose, is available for rent for parties, special events, and even depositions. The house hosts so many depositions that the Committee Room is almost permanently More Information... set up for such proceedings.

“It’s a neutral site in a good location,” Wilson said. The Loveland Community House & Museum 513 W. Second St., Dixon house is between the courts in Rockford and Chicago 815-284-2741 and is only a short drive for businesses whose corporate Visit lovelandcommunityhouse.org or Facebook headquarters are in the Midwest, he added.

Office hours: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday The house has regular tenants, too. The Phidian Art Museum hours: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday-Friday, Club has been in the building for about 70 years, the Eastman School of Dance for more than 40 years. Several 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday; local groups, such as Weight Watchers, regularly meet at Event hours: 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, the house.

8 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday The Loveland Community House this year celebrates Rental information: its 75th anniversary. Wilson hopes to re-create the proSeveral rooms of varying sizes and amenities gram used at the dedication in 1940. are available for rent for parties, bridal A celebration featuring local dignitaries and, hopefully, and baby showers, rehearsal dinners, weddings the municipal band is planned for Oct. 10. The house Continued from Page 19

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past or enjoy the beauty of today.

“It’s a place for everyone to gather,” he said, ad “we would like people to just come here, sit in the atrium or any of the lounges … or walk around [the property] …” he said. “How many towns can boast a place like this – with the beauty of the architecture and the décor?” s

and wedding receptions, funeral luncheons, recitals, meetings, seminars, and depositions.

The building is handicapped accessible. Food may be carried in or catered in, or prepared on site; alcohol is not permitted in the building.

Rental fees are available at lovelandcommunityhouse.org.

Seeking photos: Anyone who has photographs the show the construction of the Loveland Community House or the building in its early years are asked to donate or lend them to the community house for the 75 th anniversary event.

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DIXON (815) 288-0500

ZERO

Photos by Ashley Poskin/Dixon Living Mike Christoffersen and his wife, Gina, owner of Zero’s Tap, purchased the bar in downtown Dixon 17 years ago.

IN ON A

GOOD TIME Bar is a perfect fit for downtown Dixon ASHLEY POSKIN SPECIAL TO DIXON LIVING

M

Bartender Tina VanOosten, of Polo, pours a frosty glass of beer at Zero’s Tap on a muggy afternoon.

ike Christoffersen and his wife, Gina, have been the proud owners of Zero’s Tap in Dixon for the past 17 years.

The bar is at 81 S Galena Ave. in Dixon.

A short walk up from the river, it’s a nice little place to stop in and cool off during summer activities on the riverfront.

Mike grew up in the Walton-Amboy area, son of the owners of Walton Tap, so he knows the bar business pretty well. When Mike and Gina purchased Zero’s in 1998 it had been sitting empty for some time.

They re-opened it under the same name 31 days later and have continued to be a local staple ever since.

Zero’s is the kind of place where you’ll find lots of regulars hanging out. It’s a stop on the way home from a long week of work to catch up with friends and see what the weekend holds. There’s a good selection of music (Zero’s has a jukebox with over 150,000 songs). John Mellencamp’s “Jack and Diane” filled the room when I walked in, loud enough to sing along to without being heard, but low enough to be able to actually hold a conversation. There are a few TVs turned to sports stations, darts, a pool table, and video gambling slots.

The remodel brought in a beautiful dark wood bar, and classic, framed sports memorabilia – classic, unpretentious, a perfect fit for the downtown area. There’s also a great view of the river behind the bar, thanks to the state for removing a few buildings next door to create a turning lane a few years Continued on Page 25

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Dennis McCoy and bar owner Mike Christoffersen share a few laughs over a beer.

Continued from Page 23

back. You might have noticed the kelly green awning with the leprechauns holding pints of beer from the street; it’s hard to miss when you’re driving over the bridge.

While there’s not a working kitchen in the bar, patrons are welcome to order Sports paraphernalia line the walls inside Zero’s ; you’ll find something from just about every team.

in anything they like. Your mom’s casserole isn’t necessarily a welcome dish, but Mike can provide you with plenty of menus from some of the best places in the area for you to choose from to have delivered to the bar. If you’re just looking to nosh while you enjoy your beer and sports, Mike’s serves free popcorn. He also sells two different kinds of mustard sauce created by two different local guys, available at the bar to purchase. The sauces are great on pork chops and pretzels, or when used as dips.

Christoffersen says Zero’s is generally a beer-and-a-shot type of bar, but he is hopeful that Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner will sign the bill to allow Happy Hour once again in Illinois, allowing him to offer drink specials for a portion of the day. Happy Hour would most likely run from around 4-7 p.m. during the work week and would bring more of the work crowd into the bar

Charlie Crabtree of Dixon scoops a bowl of Zero’s complimentary popcorn to munch on.

throughout the week.

But with or without a happy hour, the Christoffersens are sure to keep their customers happy. s

Zeroing In...

Zero’s Tap 81 S. Galena Ave, Dixon, IL, 61021 815-288-0321 Monday-Saturday 1 p.m.-1 a.m.; Sunday noon-11 p.m.

If you’re driving downtown, access the bar by utilizing free parking in the Bean Blossom parking lot behind the bar.

Zero’s has all the entertainment you’d expect from a local tap; pool, darts, electronic gaming, and &a a jukebox with over 100,000 songs are there for your entertainment.

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IN CASE OF EMERGENCY New volunteer group stands ready to help its community

SPECIAL TO DIXON LIVING

BY CASSIE ZIMMERMAN

T

he Lee County Volunteer Corps may still be in its infancy, but it’s had an early growth spurt that doesn’t show any signs of slowing.

The organization began as an idea to address a need seen within the community – providing emergency assistance – and quickly grew from its inception on April 29, 2014, to a 90-member organization, with members ranging in age from early 20s to older adults.

Already the group’s duties have run the gamut from community events to community relief. The Corps recently sent volunteers to Rochelle to help with donation distribution after tornadoes hit the area in April.

The key to the group’s success can be found in its name: volunteers – not only finding them but keeping them once they’ve stepped forward.

Recruitment and volunteer engagement is a constant factor that the group’s organizers – Tim Trader of the Lee County Health Department, Lt. Todd Atwell of the Lee County Sheriffs Department, and Kevin Lalley, Director of the Lee County Emergency Management Agency – address regularly.

The group needs volunteers from all walks of life who can be trained in emergency management, medical distribution, and ground search and rescue. But for those who think they may not be up to the task of helping out in an emergency, the group’s leaders say not all positions require physical work. Trader said the group “has something for anyone. We train volunteers so they are educated in what they are doing, and they can choose something that they are really good at or are interested in.”

Trader, who’s the Lee County Health Department Director of Environmental Health, said “We tried to start off slow, thinking that our volunteers would not want to come to meetings and training sessions every month. But, we quickly found out that we were incorrect. When we asked our volunteers what they wanted, they wanted more training and more interaction in the group.”

Training sessions are held almost every month, and will start again in this fall.

An initial ground search-and-rescue training was held in April 2015, when more than 50 people attended, including local volunteer firemen.

Atwell acknowledges that the group is still in its infancy, explaining, “A lot of our volunteers are still learning what they enjoy and what their skills are.”

But regardless of what those skills are, or what members enjoy, preparedness is essential for everyone.

Volunteers are trained in not only emergency preparedness but also personal preparedness, allowing them to leave home, knowing things will be taken care of while they’re gone, said Lalley.

Trader, Lalley, and Atwell all anticipate that as more people find out about the group, it will continue to grow and be utilized for various events and emergencies. With strong leadership from three county agencies, the volunteers are able to benefit from different training in different areas.

The idea has, “brought together three different agencies working well together, and it is a great collaboration that others may be missing in other counties,” said Lalley.

The three men are currently working toward 501(c)(3) non-profit status, which would allow the group to begin fundraising efforts.

Atwell said: “We would like for the group to become large enough and for knowledge of our services to grow so that any county can utilize our volunteers. The most important part of an organization like this is the ability to use educated, knowledgeable volunteers in times of need.

As with any event, not only manpower but organization of volunteers is important.”

Emergencies aren’t the only events the group will respond to. Like any good volunteer, its members will respond to other requests for help too.

Area organizations can request assistance from the Lee County Volunteer Corps for any event, not just emergencies. For example, the group recently assisted the Lee County Sheriff’s 5k to help raise money for Special Olympics.

Being able to work out in the community is a great training opportunity, and the volunteers enjoy going to special events, Trader said.

“If there is group out there that is in need of trained individuals, we would love to help them out.” s

More Info Volunteer applications for the Lee County Volunteer Corps can be found at lcvcillinois.org. Interested people can also contact Kevin Lalley at 815-284-3365, Tim Trader at 815-284-3371, or Todd Atwell at 815-284-5217.

Volunteers must be 18 or old.

UPCOMING EVENTS Aug. 6 – General meeting | Sept. 3 – Medical distribution Photo Submitted/Dixon Living Lee County Volunteer Corps Volunteers assist at the Lee County Sheriff’s Department Special Olympics 5K Fundraiser.

All classes/meetings start at 6:30 p.m., unless stated otherwise.

To attend, RSVP to Tim Trader at Ttrader@lchd.com or Kevin Lalley at esda@countyoflee.org prior to attending any training sessions.

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There’s deep-fried delights at Dixon’s BBY

Batter Up!

BY ANDREW HEY SPECIAL TO DIXON LIVING

W

hen it comes to great chicken, one of Dixon’s best-kept secrets is also one its most well known.

B.B.Y. Chicken and Carry-Out has been around since 1996, when it was opened by Mike Cathey.

Mike started out working for Bryce Young at Sis’s Inn, which was right off of Lowell Park Road in Dixon. Mike had worked since 1972 under Bryce and began to learn about how a business is run. As Bryce’s apprentice, Mike learned a few tricks of the trade, knowledge he eventually use when he created his own “Secret Sauce.”

“By paying attention to what Bryce was doing,” Mike said, “I was able to come up with the family recipe I wanted.”

That recipe isn’t the only family part of the business. B.B.Y. is a family-run business. Wife Jen Cathey and daughter Krystal Cathey help with orders and drinks and son Austin Cathey works as a master chef in the kitchen.

“We never cook ahead,” Mike said, “Chicken is cut fresh every day, and all our salads are homemade.”

Although B.B.Y. is popular with local patrons, it also draws business from out of town – even from as far away as Springfield.

“A group of friends come from Rochelle every weekend, along with a family from Milwaukee that comes once a month.” Mike said.

Although there are other items available on the menu, the most popular specialty selection is the chicken strips and sauce. Mike said “That is the signature item that everyone comes for.”

“The key to having a good chicken strip is hot, clean grease,” said Mike. “This is so it seals the flavor and holds the batter together.”

The chicken inside isn’t the only draw for customers. Outside the restaurant a big chicken beckons people inside. It’s similar to the big bird that stood outside Sis’s Inn, and Mark wanted to carry that idea Continued on Page 31

Photos by Andrew Hey/Dixon Living A packed parking lot is always a good sign for any business, and B.B.Y. Carry-Out is no exception.

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September 1-October 10 Farms & Barns 11 Sponsored by First Farm Credit of Oregon, Opening Reception September 4, 6-8pm September 5 “Art on The Square” 9am-12 noon on Old Court House Sidewalks Sponsored by Midland States Bank September 13 67th Annual Grand Detour Arts Festival, John Deere Site Sponsored by KSB Hospital - Student Artwork Sponsored by Sauk Valley Bank September 19 Anne Hills Concert - 7pm @ the galleryLimited Seating

Gallery Available for Rent

Continued from Page 29

over to B.B.Y.. People have come from all over the area to see the chicken, some even climbing on it and posing for pictures.

Another famous fowl doesn’t roost at the restaurant anymore, but it’s still part of Dixon lore. The restaurant used to have a chicken car: a 1993 Ford Mustang with a larger-than-life chicken head perched atop of it. In 2010, Mike sold the car to an employee who worked for him at the time, Pat Taylor. Since then, Taylor has made quite a name for himself as the owner of the chicken car, even chauffeuring the band Mumford and Sons around town when they played in Dixon in 2012.

B.B.Y. isn’t the first restaurant to call 219 W. River Drive home. The distinctive building used to be a Prince Castle, a fitting name for the restaurants that resembled a castle. The building is a little slice of history from the once-famous restaurant chain that started in DeKalb in 1928.

Prior to 1992, the next closest one of its kind was in Sterling, before it was torn down that year. The building still has its original terrazzo floors, which is made up of marble, quartz, granite, and glass chips in a cemen-

titious binder and polished smooth.

For those who can’t make it to the restaurant, there are other ways to enjoy its signature chicken.

Mike said: “We cater many different types of events. We do weddings, graduations, and funerals; basically whatever someone needs.”

If you do make it to the restaurant, you may want to look twice at the T-shirts. The Catheys may not have turned the restaurant world on its head, but they’ve got a pretty good start in Dixon with their customers.

Mike and Jen wanted to stand apart from other restaurants and create something that caught customers’ eyes, so they had their logo put upside down on their T-shirts. Customers notice the shirts and ask about the logo, giving them a little something to remember the restaurant by.

A giant chicken, secret sauce, a distinctive building, and topsy-turvy T-shirts – there’s a lot to remember about B.B.Y., but judging by the popularity of their food, it looks like the Catheys don’t have to worry about people forgetting them anytime soon. s

Below: Photo by Michael Krabbenhoeft/Dixon Living Patrick Taylor, 21, of Dixon, purchased the Chicken Car in 2010 for $500 for his first car. He has since created a fan base on Facebook and Twitter, and the car captured the attention of Mumford and Sons when they came to Dixon.

Upper Right: Photos by Andrew Hey/Dixon Living Sesame Street isn’t the only place where you’ll find a big bird. This chicken stands outside B.B.Y. Chicken and Carryout in Dixon.

Photos by Andrew Hey/Dixon Living Top: Austin Cathey, 26, and Rod Garman, 51, show off some of B.B.Y.’s batter-dipped, deep-fried chicken.

Bottom: Batter is prepared for B.B.Y.'s signature

B.B.Y. Chicken and Carryout Address: 216 W. River St., Dixon • Phone number: 815-288-4991 • Hours: 4-9 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday

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Club that celebrates art celebrates its 125th anniversary too Photos Submitted/Dixon Living Group in hats

Marty Cies, Roxy Hey and Joan LeSage

They’ve got appreciation

Verna Sagmoe and Bev Weber

down to a fine art

BY LONNIE MILLER SPECIAL TO DIXON LIVING

I

n May 1890, Dixon resident Dorothy Law invited four friends for tea and a discussion about the Greek sculptor Phidias. Law had studied art at the Art Institute in Chicago before her marriage. Her friends, Mrs. Ellen P. Thomas, Mrs. F. Belle Fellows, Miss Katherine Godfrey and Miss Grace Godfrey, attended the gathering. The ladies decided to start an art-study group, invite others, and named their endeavor The Phidian Art Club.

Little did that quintet know that more than a century later, the women’s art club would be celebrating its 125th anniversary.

Thirty-one ladies made up the charter membership, and they initially met at club members’ homes. Ten years later, the group numbered 60.

Today, 125 years later, there are about 70 members.

The club meets once a month at Loveland Community Building on Tuesday afternoons from October through May. Members share various topics of interest in the world of art, and sponsor several educational and entertaining art-related projects in the area. While the group’s mission hasn’t changed, it has been refined to include only activities that promote the arts.

The club hosts an annual art contest, a literary competition, a scholarship program and a musicale for people in Dixon and the surrounding areas. The art and literary competitions provide cash awards and scholarships for aspiring artists.

There are annual dues that help offset the cost of the meeting space and the community projects. Many artworks have been created by or purchased by the club and hang in the gallery at Loveland Community Center and in Dixon Public library. Additionally an annual donation of a book, in memory of deceased members, is made to the Dixon Library.

The by-laws of the club limit the numbers of members allowed. Poten-

tial members are invited by a current member in good standing, must be recommended by two additional members, and voted in by the club.

While this process may give some the perception that the group’s ranks are for the elite only, that’s not so, say group members.

Long-time member Bev Weber has been attending meetings since 1963 when she and her husband, Stan, first moved to Dixon.

She said that when she began attending, “most of the programs centered around readings and music. Now they are much more informative and varied. I love both the programs and the socialization. It’s changed a lot as far as the formality of the group too. I remember wearing gloves and a hat to each meeting and the members were comprised of mostly stay-at-home moms. It was a social outing for us. Then, for some years the membership declined while women went to work away from home, and built careers. Now, I see a surge in membership again because lots of women are retiring and have time to be involved again.” She thinks the changes are for the better. She enjoys the more casual, relaxed atmosphere.

Deb Crowson, a member since 1993, says she has “always been impressed with the generosity, kindness, and supportiveness of the other members.”

“When I found out the club supported the arts, I was thrilled,” she said. “I did some inquiring after submitting works to the literary competition and winning a couple of awards. Judy Dixon was my sponsor. It’s a neat organization because we all do our own programs. The members are such a diverse, well-educated and interesting group of women. They present really unique and interesting programs on a vast range of subjects.” s

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Dixon barber is happy to be home, working with a boss with similar background

Photos by Philip Marruffo/Dixon Living Dion Day, owner of Dion's Barbershop in Dixon, recently hired Derrick Pate, a veteran, to help him in his shop.

Derrick Pate, a veteran, cuts Adam Healy's hair at Dion's Barber Shop in Dixon.

BY BRENDEN WEST SPECIAL FOR DIXON LIVING

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o some people, Dion’s Barbershop in Dixon is more than just a place to get a haircut. It’s a slice of small-town America, where customers can come in, grab a seat on the couch, and shoot the bull while they’re waiting for a trim.

Growing up, it’s the kind of place Derrick Pate had hoped he would end up at someday – now, he has.

“I grew up here,” he said of his younger days in Dixon, and “it’s come full circle.”

In June, Pate began cutting hair alongside shop owner Dion Day in Day’s barbershop at 90 S. Hennepin Ave. “It’s a good atmosphere,” Pate said. “I enjoy the camaraderie of a barbershop.”

Camaraderie is something familiar to Pate. From 2009-13, he served in the U.S. Army, including a 1-year tour in Afghanistan. And when he wasn’t doing his military duties, fellow soldiers looked to him for haircuts.

When Pate finished his tour, he knew exactly what he wanted to do.

“When I moved back that’s when I decided to find a job I really liked doing,” he said.

With the help of family, he attended barber school in the Quad-Cities and became certified. Fittingly, Pate landed his first barber job working for owner Dion Day, who also is a veteran, and it wasn’t long after he started at Dion’s before Pate was cutting fellow veterans’ hair.

Military experience has its benefits when it comes to haircuts, Day said. There’s the obvious veteran connection, but more than anything, Day said, Pate is someone who blends well with the atmosphere.

“Derrick’s a good guy,” Day said. “Since he was in the military, I know he’s going to be here exactly when he says.”

Pate said he’s enjoying his time at Dion’s, and he hasn’t thought too long about where he might want to take his career. All he knows is he’s in the business for the long haul.

“I’ll just let it develop into what it develops into,” Pate said.

As for Dion’s Barbershop, to Pate it’s a good place to feel a part of the community.

“It’s nice to have that connection with people,” he said. s

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