Issuu

October 17, 2015

A Marketing Supplement of Sauk Valley Media

WHYY SUPPORT UPPOR LOCALLY OCA Y OWNED WN D BUSINESSES S N SS S? 1. LOCAL CHARACTER AND PROSPERITY In an increasingly homogenized world, communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character have an economic advantage. 2. COMMUNITY WELL-BEING Locally owned businesses build strong communities by sustaining vibrant town centers, linking neighbors in a web of economic and social relationships, and contributing to local causes. 3. LOCAL DECISION-MAKING Local ownership ensures that important decisions are made locally by people who live in the community and who will feel the impacts of those decisions. 4. KEEPING DOLLARS IN THE LOCAL ECONOMY Compared to chain stores, locally owned businesses recycle a much larger share of their revenue back into the local economy, enriching the whole community. 5. JOB AND WAGES Locally owned businesses create more jobs locally and, in some sectors, provide better wages and benefits than chains do. 6. ENTREPRENEURSHIP Entrepreneurship fuels America’s economic innovation and prosperity, and serves as a key means for families to move out of low-wage jobs and into the middle class.

7. PUBLIC BENEFITS AND COSTS Local stores in town centers require comparatively little infrastructure and make more efficient use of public services relative to big box stores and strip shopping malls. 8. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY Local stores help to sustain vibrant, compact, walkable town centers-which in turn are essential to reducing sprawl, automobile use, habitat loss, and air and water pollution. 9. COMPETITION A marketplace of tens of thousands of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term. 10. PRODUCT DIVERSITY A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based, not on a national sales plan, but on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, guarantees a much broader range of product choices.

Publishers of The Telegraph • Daily Gazette • SV Weekend www.saukvalley.com

Reprinted with permission from the New Rules Project (www.newrules.org), a national initiative to strengthen local economies.

Thank You to our advertisers for supporting this

locally owned

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Saturday, October 17, 2015

BUY LOCAL | AMBOY & SUBLETTE FOOD

It’s a slice of small-town living You can still meet your hometown butcher at Country Village Meats BUY LOCAL STAFF snack sticks in its stateSUBLETTE – Country of-the-art smokehouse. Village Meats is proud to It also makes and sells a uphold the tradition of variety of fresh sausages the friendly, small-town and marinated steaks and butcher shop. pork chops. After purchasing butchCustomers can order a er shops in Mendota half or quarter of beef cut and Amboy, and a meat just the way they want. locker in West Brooklyn, All the animals – beef, Howard Leffelman built pork, lamb, and goat – the Leffelman Meat Cen- are brought in by local ter on U.S. Route 52 in farmers and slaughtered Sublette in on site 1954. under state Country Village He and his inspection. Meats son, GerIn fact, its Submitted photos Address: 401 N. ald, ran the cattle and Country Village Meats has roots going back to 1954, when the Leffelman Meat Center opened its doors. In Pennsylvania Ave. business h o g s a r e 1995, it changed hands – and its name, but still maintained its small-town friendly customer service. Hours: 8 a.m. to for 20 years raised and before sell- 5 p.m. Monday through fed within Friday and 8 a.m. to ing to the a 10-mile 4 p.m. Saturday Schrock radius of Contact: countryvilfamily. the Sublette E d d i e lagemeats.com, and on plant. M o r r i s s e y Facebook CustomE-mail: countryvillageand Dale ers, too, can L e f f e l m a n meats@gmail.com watch the Phone: 815-849-5532 w o r k e d butchers for the cut halves Schrocks at the Sublette of beef and pork. Meat Center until June Country Village also 1995, when they bought processes boneless venithe plant and renamed it son. Country Village Meats. The market also offers It’s been a family-run a full retail counter with meat market and pro- deli meats and cheeses, cessing shop ever since. fresh cut steaks, and their In addition to selling full line of marinated or LEFT: Feel like having a snack? Country Village Meats makes its own the usual beef, pork, and freshly smoked meats. snack sticks to satsify your munchies. RIGHT: If you’re gonna have chicken, Country Vil- Barbecue sauce from The meat, you gotta have barbecue sauce, right? Country Village has you lage Meats also makes Old Mule Co. is also availcovered with Old Mule BBQ sauce, made by a small, family-owned smoked ham, bacon, and able. company in the Blueridge Mountains of North Carolina.

FUN

Looking for a happier Halloween? Anderson’s Pumpkin Patch is full of fun, and it just keeps on growing BUY LOCAL STAFF

AMBOY – Just outside of town is a fun little spot for families to spend a day. Anderson’s Pumpkin Patch is in its fifth year of business. It’s the customers who keep it going, and growing, owner Mike Anderson said. “Each year, we keep adding and adding, and it keeps getting bigger and bigger,” said Anderson, 52, who owns the business with his wife, Mary, 50. “People keep asking for more things to do, and we just kept adding on.” The business started small, selling pumpkins from a shed Anderson built in his garage that still is in use today. At Anderson’s, pumpkin pickers Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com get to pick their own pumpkins. This silo-sized pumpkin is a frightfully fun addition They sell 5,000 to 8,000 a year. Last to Anderson’s Pumpkin Patch, which is located out- year, that translated into 5,200 pounds; he expects to double that side Amboy.

number this year, Anderson said. “We have more people, and we will need more pumpkins,” he said. “We also have more schools coming now.” People can do more than pick pumpkins. There is a corn maze, a bounce house, a petting zoo, and train rides for kids, among other things. School tours are available. The corn bin sandbox – full of kernels instead of sand – is a big hit with the kids. Area campgrounds also keep the pumpkin patch popular. “A lot of kids from Chicago have never been on a train ride or hay ride or are able to pet animals,” Anderson said. “This is a new adventure for them.” “It’s an opportunity to be outside and relax and be with nature. It’s all about the kids. We want them to have fun.”

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Saturday, October 17, 2015

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Sauk Valley Media • 3

BUY LOCAL | DIXON

HOBBIES

An avenue of escape on First Street It’s called Paper Escape, but there’s a lot more in store for your imagination than just pulp fiction Rockford, and has started hosting Magic DIXON – The Paper Escape has been tournaments. In the back of the shop is a WPN (Wizproviding the keys to unlock its customers’ imagination for more than 3 ards Play Network) play site. For those who prefer Monopoly over decades, since the store opened in 1981. Magic, there are plenty of board games at Owners Thomas and Nancy McClain The Paper Escape that opened the shop as a aren’t available in other used bookstore, and Paper Escape stores in the area. The 3 years later added Address: 205 W. First St. McClains carry a line of comic books and Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. games from USAopoly, gaming. In the years Tuesday through Thursday; a company that prosince, their inventory 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday; and duces custom-themed has grown to include 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Monopoly games such games, collectibles, as Jurassic Park MonopOnline: paperescape. statues, models, and oly, Big Bang Monopocom or on Facebook even cookbooks. ly, Clue Monopoly, and E-mail: paperescape@ The most popular FireFly Monopoly. paperescape.com trading card game today In fall 1988, they began is “Magic: The GatherPhone: 815-284-7567 selling costumes and ing,” which consists of accessories, including trading cards required masks, props and other trinkets, and in to build a deck that’s eventually used to summon monstrous characters that will 1989, they added costume rental. The Halloween shop is open from cast powerful spells. For the past 5 years, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays, September The Paper Escape has carried the largest selection in the area outside Chicago and through Halloween and by appointment throughout the year. BUY LOCAL STAFF

SVM File Photos

If you haven’t already picked out your Halloween costume, check out The Paper Escape’s costume department. Though it holds regular hours during the Halloween season, it’s also open year-round by appointment.

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DIXON – Got a dirty space? Twin LL Clean owner Robert Lewis will clean it up. Lewis, who has been in the commercial cleaning business for about 5 years, started his own company out of his Dixon home. While working for Rockford-based Peterson Cleaning and DSI Corp. of Streator, Lewis cleaned businesses in Dixon. “I came to the realization that there is money to be made in the business without being the grunt on the bottom of the totem pole,” Lewis said. “So, I just made my own totem pole.”

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Twin LL Clean Online: twinllcleaninc. com, or find the business on Facebook, E-mail: twinllclean@ yahoo.com Phone: 815-973-1041. He started taking his own business clients on Feb. 1. He and his staff, including his girlfriend Amber Freels, 28, also offer residential cleaning services. “We want to revolutionize the cleaning industry by performing high-quality professional cleaning services at a rate that average citizens/businesses in the community can afford,” Lewis said.

Family owned and operated since 1967! 502 IL Rt. 2, Dixon • 815-284-2044 IL Licensed 055-000988

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Saturday, October 17, 2015

BUY LOCAL | DIXON DINING

TEACHING

A well-known secret A secret sauce and fresh food draw customers from near and far to B.B.Y. Chicken and Carry-out

Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com

Students at the Eastman School of Dance perform choreography that mimics the water fountains at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. The dance won them the Best Choreography award at an event earlier this year.

Dancing is quite a feat

Sauk Valley Media file photo

ABOVE: Batter up! Crust can make or break fried chicken – and in B.B.Y’s case, it makes it. Not only does the restaurant draw local customers, but outof-towners head to Dixon for its deep-fried delights. RIGHT: This big bird beckons customers to B.B.Y. Chicken and Carry-Out in Dixon. BUY LOCAL STAFF

DIXON – B.B.Y. Chicken and Carry-Out is a family-run business heading into its second decade of service. The business 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 Lowell Park Road in

B.B.Y. Chicken and Carryout Address: 216 W. River St. Hours: 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday Online: On Facebook Phone: 815-288-4991 Dixon. Mike had worked under Bryce since 1972 and began to learn about

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It teaches more than just fancy footwork BUY LOCAL STAFF

how a business is run. It was during that time that he 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.” But the family part of the business doesn’t stop at the recipe. Today, Mike’s wife, Jen Cathey, and daughter, Krystal Cathey, help with orders and drinks. His son, Austin Cathey, works as a master chef in the kitchen. Although B.B.Y.’s sauce is secret, Mike’s not shy about sharing what makes his family’s food stand out. “We never cook ahead,” Mike said, “Chicken is cut fresh every day, and all our salads are homemade.” And, he adds, “the key to having a good chicken strip is hot, clean, grease. This is so it seals the flavor and holds the batter together.” Although there are other items available on the menu, the most popular dish is chicken strips with Mike’s secret sauce. “That is the signature item that everyone comes for,” he said. The B.B.Y. crew also caters weddings, graduations, funerals, “basically whatever someone needs,” he said.

DIXON – It’s not just dance steps her students are learning. They’re also learning poise, character, confidence. Paula Eastman opened her school of dance 45 years ago. Her mother encouraged her and now, she encourages her daughter, Josie Berkeley, as Josie comes into the leadership position. “It’s fun to watch our students blossom,” the 64-year-old said. “They grow up with us.” Josie, 36, stresses other skills gained from involvement in the classes. “They learn discipline from a young age, socialization, and confidence. They’re friends for life, attend each other’s weddings, they are all part of the dance family.” Paula agreed. “Graduates of the school return to help with recitals, serving as ushers, help with younger students in placement and so on.” At this year’s Dance America National Competitions in Appleton, Wisconsin, Eastman students brought home trophies for Overall Best Score and for Best Choreography. Choreography is Josie’s responsibility, and she was understandably proud of that award. Eastman School of Dance offers classes for ages 3 to 20, including individual ballet, tap, jazz, abstract modern –

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being portrayed. The academy also sponsors two camps each year for entry-level students: Candy Land Camp, for ages 3 to 10, and Princess Camp, which will be held May 30 for ages 3 to 7.

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Dance classes are held at Loveland Community Center, 513 W. Second St. in Dixon. The school’s Facebook page is kept private, for the safety of its students, but you can call Paula at 815-973-5852, or Josie at 815-440-3514, for more information.

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Saturday, October 17, 2015

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Sauk Valley Media • 5

BUY LOCAL | DIXON DRINKING

DINING

Owner wants bar to A place where you can be the talk of the town set your teeth on Edge Bar owner gives customers a quiet place to talk, and try a new brew or two BUY LOCAL STAFF

DIXON – A few women in their late 20s sidle up to the hammered copper bar, gazing past the 18 gleaming tap handles, scanning The Stables’ liquor selection. A game of darts is being played in the back, college ball is playing on the four TVs. The interior is dim, and no music is playing. But there’s a lot of chatter. “I want people to be able to talk here,” owner Ryan Marshall says from a bar Alex T. Paschal/ stool, nearly blending into apaschal@saukvalley.com the crowd. “I want people The Stables Bar in Dixon to be able to relax, have a specializes in craft and good time, and maybe try micro beers. something they haven’t tried before.” Marshall is celebrating The Stables his fifth anniversary this Address: 67 S. Galena month: He bought the bar Ave. at 87 S. Galena in summer Hours: 2 p.m. to 2010, when he was 25, 1 a.m. Monday through and opened on Oct. 22. Friday and noon to The building, built in 1 a.m. Saturday. Dur1896, has housed a bar ing football season, it’s nearly all 120 years, except open on Sundays, too. during Prohibition, when Online: On Facebook it was the first discount Phone: 815-288-9329 store in Lee County. It

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Great view, good food await at the end of First Street

became known as The Stables in 1939. When Marshall took over, he gutted the entire building, saving only a few tables and the barn wood on the walls. A few years ago, Marshall decided to tap into the growing craft beer market. He first offered “a little Leine’s (Leinenkugel’s), a little Sam Adams” alongside the staples Budweiser, Bud Light, and Busch Light. “We couldn’t do the Founders, the Bells, the Flying Dog right away,” he said. “We had to phase that in over time, ease our base into those beers. He started with 10 tappers and added eight more in October 2013. The Stables has made a name for itself – and for Dixon –in the craft beer world. Chicagobased Goose Island, which annually brews its sought-after Bourbon County Stout, a 14-percent-alcohol-by-volume stout aged in bourbon barrels, distributes the beer (on draft) in limited quantity. Marshall has secured a supply of the elixir every year since 2011; he sold out of it in just 7 days in 2014. There’s also a Bloody Mary bar on Sundays during the football season.

River’s Edge Inn is at 2303 W. First St. in Dixon. Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com BUY LOCAL STAFF

DIXON – River’s Edge Inn, off the beaten path and on the banks of the Rock River, bills itself as the town’s best-kept secret: It’s been around nearly 30 years, but many residents don’t know about it, owner Julie Tunk said. “People will say they did not know this place was here or they haven’t been here in years,” Tunk said. “We are out of the way in a residential area. I’ll tell people to keep going to the end of First Street.” Richard Tunk, Julie’s husband, bought the restaurant 27 years ago. Seven years ago, Julie combined her business, Mama’s Chuck Wagon, with his. It’s a roomy space that boasts a nice view of the river, with a full-service bar and video gambling. There also are boat docks in the back, so in the summertime, boaters can float right up to the restaurant.

River’s Edge Inn

Address: 2303 W. First St. Hours: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday and Tuesday through Thursday; 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday; and 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday Online: On Facebook Phone: 815-2887396

“People can also call their order in, and we will bring the food out to the dock, so they don’t have to tie their boat off,” Julie said. The menu is chock full of choices, including catfish, steak, shrimp,

chicken and frog legs. Hand-battered onion rings is the favorite appetizer, and there’s also a salad bar. “All of our food is fresh,” Julie said. “We hand-batter shrimp, and nothing is pre-breaded. We cut the steaks ourselves, and our burgers are fresh.” Reservations are recommended, but not necessary. The restaurant might be a bit of a secret, but its loyal customers keep flowing in. “Our regulars are our lifeblood, and they keep us going,” Julie said. “They will get a great view of the river, and there is plenty of parking.”

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Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com

Ron Haverland works on cobbling a pair of boots Tuesday afternoon at Modern Shoe Shop in Dixon.

He’s increasing his footprint There’s no business like shoe business for store’s new owner BUY LOCAL STAFF

Corner of Brinton and Bradshaw in n Dixon, Illinois • 815-288-7480 Store Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.. 7 Days A Week We accept WIC & Food Stamps, Complete Lottery Agent

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DIXON – Winnebago resident Ernie Kirby, who owns three other Red Wing shoe stores, has been heading up the M o d e r n Shoe Shop Ernie since March, Kirby when he added the business to his growing line of shoe stores. Longtime owners Gary and Karen Michel have retired. Well, sort of. While the store is known as a shoe retailer, particularly for its work boots and SAS comfort brand, Gary

Modern Shoe Shop

Address: 1309 N. Galena Ave. Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Online: modernshoesshop.com/, or on Facebook Phone: 815-284-3007. is also an artisan, resoling and repairing shoes, boots and other leather items. “Gary will continue to work for a year or so,” Karen said. “He does a lot of orthotics work, and it’s difficult to find someone to do that kind of work.”

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6 • Sauk Valley Media

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Saturday, October 17, 2015

BUY LOCAL | MILLEDGEVILLE & POLO

RECREATION

Helping the community is par for the course BUY LOCAL STAFF

POLO – Edgewood Golf Club is a challenging 9-hole course set among the rolling hills south of Polo. In 1962, the 3,120-yard, par-35 course was transformed from farmland by a group of local men who wanted a place to play closer to home than Submitted photo Oregon or Dixon. Bill Burkardt bought the Greens surrounded by green ... Edgewood Golf Club course in 2008, remodeled is nestled in a quiet country setting, giving golfers a the clubhouse and made relaxing place to play.

CLOTHING

improvements. Now every hole is different, he said. “Number 2 is 110 yards over a creek, and then over a sandtrap to the green that’s 50 feet above the tee box,” he said. “And on hole number 7, you tee off on a hill and shoot down to a green with a pond behind it.” Burkardt also is the owner of Burkardt’s LP gas, a propane gas delivery company. The golf course is his

labor of love. “We’re in the gas business to make our money,” he said. “We’re in the golf business to serve the community.” To that end, he allows charitable organizations and people putting on benefits to play the course at a discount. “We love doing these kinds of things,” he said. Even during the winter, the clubhouse is open to

Edgewood Golf Club

Address: 10684 W. Edgewood Road Online: clubedgewood. com, or on Facebook E-mail: info@ clubedgewood.com Phone: 815-946-3636 the community 5 days a week, and as weather permits, the property is opened for sledding.

DINING

Custom clothes fit the Bill Pining for home cooking? BUY LOCAL STAFF

MILLEDGEVILLE – Marty and Bill Stage are spreading their love. The Stages consider their business, Bill Mart T’s, the perfect opportunity to help their community while doing something they love every day. They opened 22 years ago as a gift shop with a few screening options. Over the years, the store has shifted its mission, and now provides a wide array of promotional Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com items to businesses, Marty (left) and Bill Stage, of Milledgeville, sit next to schools, and individuals. a few of the shirts, hats and sweatshirts they’ve cre- Services include screening and embroidery. ated for their home-based company, Bill Mart T’s. The school year is a busy time for the Stages, who design shirts for the Milledgeville Missiles and Chadwick Streaks. They can personalize baby items, such as blankets, for those who need a special gift for a new arrival, or help create memories by screening photos onto T-shirts 601 E. Old Mill Street or quilt squares. Milledgeville, IL 61051 Mary tries to change designs at least once a year, to keep customers from getting bored. Setting up shop in Milledgeville was never in question. Marty has Stop in our design center lived there her entire life, and it’s where she and & see Jocelyn for your Bill, who grew up in Fulkitchen & bath needs! ton, raised their children. See Us First For “We live in a great Quality Building & Remodeling Supplies community and would never want to live anywhere else,” Marty said. “We always try to help people out, especially for community events. Free Estimates! Installation Available! Free Measuring! We actively work to keep costs low so our customKitchen Designer Jocelyn Lilly ers and friends are able Milledgeville, IL Open Mon- Fri 7-5, Sat 7-3 to continue to buy local. 815-225-7677 or 800-788-7677 “We would like to encourage everyone to shop local. It keeps businesses in town and that is very meaningful to us. When you shop local, you support not only your neighbors but the community as a whole.”

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900 S. Division, Polo

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POLO – Kathy Wragg, owner of The Pinecricker Café, said it’s not easy for her to point out a popular dish on her menu. “Give me a category,” Wragg said. “It’s hard to point out a favorite thing on the menu because there are so many different things to choose from.” Wragg and her husband, Howard, have owned The Pinecricker Café since 2002. They also own Dad’s Bar and Grill, under the same roof. The restaurant name comes from Howard, who is originally from Pine Creek Township. “If you live in Pine Creek Township, or if you are from that area, they call you a Pinecricker,” Kathy said. In the years since buying the restaurant, the couple have expanded the kitchen and purchased a barn next to the building to use as a banquet room. The restaurant sells a variety of food, such as sandwiches, wraps and soups and salads. It also has dinners available, including liver and onions, catfish, jumbo shrimp, and rib eye steak. “We do a lot of home cooking, and almost everything that we do is made from scratch. We have very little processed foods.” Howard makes his own barbecue sauce. Even some of the salad dressings are homemade. “We try really, really

The Pinecricker Cafe

Address: 124 E. Mason St. Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday; breakfast served 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday; lunch and dinner 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday Online: On Facebook Phone: 815-9463321

Polo Polo 211 S. Division Division Ave 211 S. Ave 815-946-2777

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Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com

The Pinecricker Cafe in Polo, at 124 E. Mason St., shares a building with Dad’s Bar and Grill. hard to sure every- this place to make sure one that comes here is people are happy. This happy,” Kathy said. “We is pretty much our life put our whole life into 24/7.”

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Sauk Valley Media • 7

BUY LOCAL | MORRISON & PROPHETSTOWN ASSISTED LIVING

CLOTHING

Merchandise with a personal touch Sit back and relax at Windsor Manor BUY LOCAL STAFF

PROPHETSTOWN – Scottee Shirts opened about 8 years ago, after Scott Hartzell was injured and he and his wife, Cindy, were looking for something they could do at home. In late 2013, Cindy decided it was time to grow the business, and moved to 217 Washington St. Scottee Shirts personalizes T-shirts – and mugs, mouse pads, can koozies, banners, signs, windows and more. Cindy said she can put a name or a photo on just about anything.

Scottee Shirts

Address: 217 Washington St. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday Phone: 815-631-1600 Online: Find the store on Facebook

Because her clothing suppliers provide nextday delivery, she can keep fewer items on hand while still offering thousands of options. Even if she has to order clothing, the finished product is ready for pickup in 7 to 10 days.

Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com

Cindy Hartzell (left) owns Scottee Shirts in downtown Prophetstown, and shares space with her daughter, Erica (right), at 217 Washington St. Cindy sells personalized items from T-shirts to drum heads, and Erica sets up a veritable buffet of sweets for her confectionery business, Treat Me, every Saturday.

HEALTH CARE

He helps your back with the wave of a wand BUY LOCAL STAFF

MORRISON – Gaumer Chiropractic is crushing the stereotype of a bonecrackin’ adjustment. Chiropractor Eric Gaumer uses PulStar, which employs a sensor connected to a computer. As the hand-held monitor is moved down the spine, it shows exactly where the problem areas are. He then uses the wand to deliver pulses to the affected area, which reduces pain and realigns the spine without the twisting, crunching and

popping normally associated with spinal adjustment – and without the Eric sore muscles Gaumer afterward. The results, he says, are nearly instantaneous. “My goal is to get the patient better, not to see them over and over.” Gaumer said. “I love helping people, and I don’t like making them wait.” Gaumer also uses digital

X-rays that appear on the computer in an instant, reducing wait time to diagnose a problem. For patients with more severe injuries, he offers an additional treatment, in which pads are applied to the affected area and the muscles are stimulated with a variable frequency impulse that reduces pain. The average adjustment takes 7 to 10 minutes, and the patient notices a reduction of pain and better posture immediately, he said.

Gaumer Chiropractic

Address: 125 E. Main St. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to noon and 2 to 6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. Appointments are encouraged; walk-ins are welcome. Online: gaumerchiro. com and on Facebook Phone: 815-7728069

GROCERIES

So long, Mister; hello sister store BUY LOCAL STAFF

PROPHETSTOWN – Shaw’s Marketplace in Mount Carroll welcomed a new sister store into the family earlier this year

– this one in Whiteside County. Owner Bob Hatheway bought Mr. G’s grocery, long a staple in downtown Prophetstown, from

Eric Schaffert, MD 212 E. Railroad Street Prophetstown, IL 61277

(815) 537-5050

his friends, Reg and Janet Gage, and reopened his second Shaw’s Marketplace in late April. Hatheway’s been in the business most of his life: He started working at the Mount Carroll store when he was 15, for the man who would one day become his father-in-law. The Hatheways moved to Georgia, where Bob worked for Food Lion grocery chain for 10 years. They returned to Illinois in 2001, and Bob bought the Mount Carroll store in 2007. Prophetstown seemed like a good fit for store No. 2 because of the similarities to Mount Carroll, he said.

Shaw’s Marketplace

Address: 214 Washington St. Hours: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. 7 days a week. Online: prophetstown.shawsmarketplace.com, or on Facebook Phone: 815-5372064 The store offers a large selection of groceries, frozen foods, fresh produce, dairy items and fresh meat. Folks can find coupons, recipes, health and wellness information, and help with meal planning and wine pairings, on its website.

Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com

A gazebo sits in the center of the courtyard at Windsor Manor in Morrison. BUY LOCAL STAFF ful U,” an onsite beautyMORRISON – It’s fitting barber salon. that Windsor Manor is on Windsor Manor is Scenic Street. divided into two areas: The assisted living the 30-unit assisted livfacility, tucked into a ing area and the 10-unit well-maintained, quiet memory care wing. Both neighborhood just north have one- and two-bedof state Route 30, is in room apartments. a prairie-style building. Restaurant-style dining It has a spacious, land- is available for residents, scaped courtyard and a and for guests or the gazebo, both of which general public. Breakfast can be used for entertain- costs $3, and lunch or ing residents’ family and supper costs $5. The Scefriends. nic Café It’s a perserves Windsor Manor fect option breakAddress: 403 Scenic for couples St. fast from or singles 7 a.m. to Online: windsor-man55 a n d or.com 7 p.m., a older who lunch speE-mail: stephanie. are ready cial from neas@windsor-manor. to let some11 a.m. to com one else 1:30 p.m., Phone: 815-772-4031 worry about and a supmainteper spenance and yard work. cial from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Cooking, housekeepIf they want, residents ing, utilities and basic can do laundry and bake, cable are included. The and there are puzzles, facility offers exercise games, and arts and equipment, nursing care crafts activities. tailored to individual “Windsor Manor is a needs, 24-hour on-site real gem in the commustaff, purposeful and nity,” Wellness Director recreational activities, a Stephanie Neas said. “I library, chapel, sun room invite people to come and common living room and check us out. I think with a fireplace. There’s they’ll be pleasantly suralso a state-of-the-art prised at the programs therapy room with a and living spaces we walk-in tub, and “Youth- offer.”

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Sauk Valley Media • 9

BUY LOCAL | MOUNT CARROLL & SAVANNA ALL THE ‘BOOS!’ THAT ARE FIT TO PRINT

DINING

Grinning from fear to fear House is a perfect haunt for people looking for fun and frights BUY LOCAL STAFF

MOUNT CARROLL – A walk through the labyrinth of dark, coffinshaped passageways is a foray into the twisted mind of Jim Warfield. The 65-year-old lifelong Mount Carroll resident is owner, caretaker and resident tour guide at Raven’s Grin, a year-round haunted house that casts off the traditional trappings of the genre. The imposing Italianate mansion, with its faded turquoise trim, was built in 1870. The building has been a tavern, a brothel, a school, a brewery, an Oldsmobile dealership, and apartments. In 1987, Warfield bought the condemned property for $3,000. There was no working plumbing or electricity. The windows were broken, and the roof was leaking. He moved right in, though, and spent a few years transforming the dilapidated domicile into a haunted house. At first, Raven’s Grin was a haunted house that was open for tours only in October. That lasted a few years. Warfield mailed a letter to the Chicago Tribune, just in time for the paper’s annual Halloween listing of haunted attractions. He got “quite a bit of ink,” and after his phone rang off the hook

Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com

Jim Warfield hangs out with a couple of boneheads at Raven’s Grin.

Raven’s Grin

Address: 411 N. Carroll St. Hours: 7 p.m. to midnight Monday through Friday; 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to midnight Saturday and Sunday Online: hauntedravensgrin.com, and on Facebook Phone: 815-244-4746 the day the newspaper was published, he braced for a busy night. Warfield warned local businesses – gas stations, restaurants and the like – to stock up on inventory and maybe have a few extra servers on the schedule. “I said, ‘I think Mount Carroll is going to be full of people for my haunted house this weekend,’” he recalled. “I was right. The town was crammed.” “In that one weekend, the village idiot became the town hero.”

Then, Raven’s Grin was a haunted bed and breakfast. But that lasted only a year and a half. “I’d take them for a tour first, then I’d show them to their bedroom,” Warfield said. “They’d go out for a bite to eat, a beer, and I’d never see them again. Very few people stayed the night here.” Over the years, Raven’s Grin evolved into a ghoulish gallery of creations, a cramped and crowded four-story, 15-room monument to the macabre that is open

for tours nearly every day of the year. Warfield fashioned almost every attraction and decoration on his workbench out back. The tour, which lasts an hour or longer, in most cases, starts in the parlor. Warfield, who gives almost all of the tours himself – except in October, when business is booming – performs a classic front-room shtick that recounts the history of the area, the history of the house, and other stories of note – all with a little humor and his signature laugh. He then leads visitors through a seemingly endless dark maze of rooms, hallways and tunnels. Raven’s Grin is unlike the typical haunted house. It’s not violent. It’s not bloody. It’s not filled with special effects, strobe lights, or actors in rubber masks. It’s been described as a combination of outsider art gallery, rusty theme park, and retro freak show. “I’ve always been considered as creative and artistic,” he says. “I’ve always had my own ideas. … Most of it was totally unplanned. I just do what I like. … I think life is too short to spend time just copying other people.”

CRAFTS

She sees things through rose-colored glass BUY LOCAL STAFF glass windows and then MOUNT CARROLL – fused glass work. Char Behrens works well She makes mostly under fire. sculptures – tabletopShe is the artist behind sized display pieces – but Charlotte Arvelle Glass, a also smaller things, such working hot glass studio, as ornaments and jewwhere she fuses glass at elry. Her heart, she said, more than 1,400 degrees is in the sculptures. to create colorful, unique “Because of my skills, my sculptures and other techniques, and my larger pieces. kiln, I can Her work Charlotte Arvelle do things is a reflecthat hobGlass t i o n o f byists canPhilip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com Address: 118 W. Marnot,” she Charlotte Behrens creates glass art at Charlotte h e r s e l f . ket St. It’s colorsaid. “I can Arvelle Glass in Mount Carroll. Hours: By appointment ful, moddo it [smallOnline: On Facebook ern, and er pieces, Phone: 815-244-3554 even edgy. such as It evokes jewelry], happiness and zest. but I figure, Why compete “I use a lot of color, lots with everybody else?” of shapes,” she said. “My An industry awardwork is just really happy. winner, she also has two … I’m a bright person. pieces on display in the I’m optimistic. That’s Smithsonian. She was who I am. I prefer to see commissioned twice durand convey joy.” ing the Clinton adminisBehrens is a completely tration to create ChristAja Murphy, DO Karri Hess, PA-C self-taught glass artist. mas ornaments to hang 106 E. Market Street, Mt. Carroll, IL 61053 She worked for many on the Christmas tree in years at a glass studio in the White House. One Chicago; she and her for- is an angel and one is a mer husband did stained snowflake.

Alex T. Paschal/apaschal@saukvalley.com

Poopy’s decor plays off the restaurant’s name, including bar stools with toilet seats.

They’re flushed with success Hobby grows into a booming biker destination

duct Road in 2006. The couple nixed the parts and service department in favor of a gift shop in 2008. And they expanded everything. BUY LOCAL STAFF So, it’s a biker bar, SAVANNA – It’s a wild right? Wrong. Well, sort time: Poopy’s is a motor- of. Poopy’s is bright and cycle-themed bar and restaurant with a gift modern. It’s family shop and a tattoo parlor. friendly. And it’s fun – if “We claim to be Illinois’ you can take a little toilet biggest biker destina- humor. “Everything is a tion,” co-owner Peggy play on the word ...” Promensvhenkel said with a Promensvhenkel said. chuckle. Poopy’s The menu o p e n e d Poopy’s Pub is chock full in 1996. Address: 1003 Viaof traditionThe Proal pub grub. mensvhen- duct Road Hours: Serves food The Big kels – Peggy – and h e r from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. P o o p “guarann o w - e x - Sunday though Thursteed to back h u s b a n d , day and from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and up your K e v i n , Saturday p l u m b affectionOnline: poopys.com ing” – is a ately known and on Facebook one-pound as “Poopy” Phone: 815-273b u r g e r after a 4307 served with childhood steak fries, incident with a bird – were new coleslaw and a pickle. The Poop Pile is a into motorcycles. Poopy’s grew as the steaming pile of nachos. hobby grew. First, the And the To Poop or Not couple had a motorcycle to Poop is a basket of parts and service shop. cheese curds, mozzarella Then, they added a tat- sticks and jalapeno poptoo parlor. Next, they pers. “We have everything,” added a bar and restauPromensvhenkel said. rant. The businesses out- “And everything is big – grew their downtown big portions.” Poopy’s also features building, though. Poopy’s moved to its free live music Friday, current site at 1030 Via- Saturday and Sunday.

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Saturday, October 17, 2015

BUY LOCAL | ROCK FALLS

DINING

LEISURE

Chicken is big

Bets are on, but noises are off

But Brenda has more on her menu than just her restaurant’s namesake BUY LOCAL STAFF

ROCK FALLS – You know you’ve found the right spot for chicken when you see a giant white rooster perched out front. Brenda Plock, owner of Brenda’s Chicken Coop, has been making homecooked meals for 40 years. So, when visitors come to her coop, in business 8 years now, they get just that – a fresh, homecooked meal. “Everything is made here in the restaurant. It’s all our batter, and we do it all right here,” Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com Plock said. It’s hard to miss Brenda’s Chicken Coop at 208 W. 10th Chicken, of course, is St. in Rock Falls. Sometimes, you’ll see children get- her specialty, including ting their picture taken by the large chicken out front. large chicken strips with

Brenda’s Chicken Coop

Address: 208 W. 10th St. Hours: 4 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday Online: Find it on on Facebook Phone: 815-6224999 a special dipping sauce, called coop sauce. Onion rings are the most popular appetizer. Slow-roasted and grilled St. Louis ribs also are a crowd-pleaser, topped with a another signature sauce. Side dishes include a variety of potato options, and there’s also a salad bar. The menu also features

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“samitches,” as Plock calls them, such as pork tenderloin, walleye and a 1/3-pound charbroiled Angus beef burger called the coop burger. The inside of the restaurant is as homey as the menu, with a warm decor and plenty of uplifting sayings, such as “Homemade goodness made with love.” “We are about family here,” Plock said. “We are family-oriented, and it’s a family-based restaurant. We are your home away from home.” Of course, if you don’t have time to dine in, the coop also offers carry out and delivery. And Brenda is available to cater any and all special occasions.

PROMOTION

They’ve made a lot of memorable impressions BUY LOCAL STAFF

ROCK FALLS – A local advertising company will mark a couple of anniversaries in the coming months. Imprintable Memories, 100 E. Fifth St., specializes in promotional products and marketing campaigns. It will celebrate its first anniversary in its current home on Dec. 1 and will be 10 years old in February. “We purchased the former office of state Rep. Jerry Mitchell, gut-

ted it and did extensive remodeling,” Imprintable Memories president and owner Sena Warkins said. “Since we moved in, we have been growing the business. “Our staff size has doubled and we continue to branch out into other areas with new accounts.” Imprintable Memories actually began more than a decade ago in Sena’s hometown of Prophetstown. In 2006, the business officially adopted its current name and moved into a small storefront

Imprintable Memories

Address: 100 E. Fifth St. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, or by appointment Online: imprintablememories.com E-mail: imprintablememories@hotmail.com Phone: 815-535-0931 downtown. In 2010, Imprintable Memories moved to Rock Falls, hometown of Sena’s husband, Don. Late last fall it moved again, this time into much larger quarters at the corner of First Avenue and East

Fifth Street in Rock Falls. “That location has improved our visibility significantly,” Sena said. “Not a day goes by when we don’t have walk-in traffic inquiring about placing an order.” Imprintable Memories

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Rock Falls is a good fit for Bowes BUY LOCAL STAFF

ROCK FALLS – Bowes In-Home Care of Fox River Grove, a home health care company, has opened a satellite office at 1503 B First Ave. “We’ve done very well since we opened in Rock Falls, and prospects for expansion are good,” said Kris Johnson, assistant director of nursing and local office manager. Bowes has registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, and homemakers on staff. The homemakers handle personal services that include running errands, housekeeping, and help with meals. “It’s two separate busi-

Bowes In-Home Care

Address: 503 B First Ave. Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and on call 24/7 Phone: 815-994-8984 nesses – in-home care and home personal services,” Johnson said. “Medicare and private insurance is accepted for the in-home care services, and the personal services are all private pay.” In-home care services include skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and medical social work.

INSURANCE

Agency opens downtown BUY LOCAL STAFF

ROCK FALLS – A new insurance agency has found a home downtown. Shelter Insurance opened May 21 at 229 First Ave., Suite 3, across from the Shell gas station. Agent Chris Schueler specializes in home, auto, life and renters insurance, and also offers business, ATV, boat, motorcycle, RV and farm insurance.

Shelter Insurance Address: 229 First Ave., Suite 3 Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or by appointment Online: ShelterInsurance.com/CSchueler Phone: 815-716-8809

Go to SAUKVALLEY.COM for local news and sports.

offers promotional products ranging from apparel and safety clothing to office items to awards and gifts. It even has a wedding planning service. “We are able to assist in planning weddings and then providing decorations, keepsakes and other items for the wedding party and guests,” Sena added. “In addition, we can help with other ceremonies such as groundbreakings, ribbon cuttings, open houses, you name it.”

ROCK FALLS – The owner of the city’s newest video gambling parlor wants it to be like Vegas – but without the noise. Brian Snow, owner of Snow’s Cabinetry & Millwork in Sterling and a Ward 2 alderman, has opened Rockin’ Slots at 411 W. First St. It’s a site he’s owned for 5 years, and used as an auction house until late last year. “The auction house didn’t work well in that building, so to rationalize owning the building, we had to figure out how to generate revenue there,” said Snow, who is partnering with his wife, Carrie, the bar manager, and friend Scott Moehlis. There’s a full-service bar with beer, wine and hard liquor, and pizza is available for those who are feeling too lucky to leave for food. For now, he’s using only a small portion of the 4,800-square-foot building. “It’s a nice little 800-square-foot quiet place for gamblers who don’t want the noise of a traditional bar environment,” Snow said. Snow did the renovations himself, and the bar and elegant cherrydyed oak cabinetry have become a showcase for his primary business.

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Sauk Valley Media • 11

BUY LOCAL| STERLING FOOD

COLLECTING

A little bit of this, a little of ‘What’s that?’ most of his larger pieces STERLING – Wafting don’t get to leave his from the former Hart house because his wife, Jewelry building in down- Jennifer, gets first dibs. What you will find is an town Sterling can be impressive selection of heard the sweet sounds antiques and collectibles, of Louis Armstrong. Step past the big glass win- ranging from high-end dows full of great antique furniture to small, affordpieces and into Eclectic, able trinkets and glassgrab a complimentary ware. Pottery is displayed throughcoffee, and out the begin to Eclectic store, as roam. The Address: 19 E. Third well as shop lives St. handmade up to its Hours: 10 a.m. to jewelry name. 4 p.m. Tuesday through and cards, Owner Saturday seasonal Zachary Online: On Facebook wreaths, Olson, a Phone: 815-535-6337 and vin1998 Stertage kitchling High School grad, saw the en items. And, if you don’t find opportunity to turn the rooms inside into a mall exactly what you’re lookfor antique dealers, arti- ing for, just ask Zachary sans, and craftsmen, to – he does custom woodoffer a unique shopping work. Eclectic also offers a experience, as well as a creative outlet for him- range of specialized services, such as eBay listself. Olson has brought in a ings, consignment sales, few pieces in that he has furniture repair, and cusupcycled, but admits that tom stencilling. BUY LOCAL STAFF

Philip Marruffo/pmarruffo@saukvalley.com

Woody’s Popcorn will debut new labels for its handmade caramel and cheese corn.

Things are really poppin’ BUY LOCAL STAFF

STERLING – It’s a down-home snack loved by locals: Woody’s caramel corn, made in Sterling, can be found lining the windows of concession stands and anchoring the checkout lanes at area grocery stores. Woody’s Popcorn owners Michelle Neubauer and Julie Scribner, both of Milledgeville, have not changed the recipe for the classic caramel corn – brown sugar, butter, and corn syrup – since they acquired the popcorn business in 2011. What they have changed, though, is their product line. They’ve added cheddar cheese corn and a caramel-cheddar mix, and as a result, they’ve grown the business. “It’s huge now,” Neubauer said. “It’s getting out there.” How huge? According the company’s Facebook page, Woody’s has already sold more than 90,000 bags as of Sept. 1. But before it was huge, Uncle Woody’s was a long-

Woody’s Popcorn

Address: 1741 Industrial Drive No. 24 Online: www.woodyspopcorn.com and on Facebook E-mail: woodyspopcorn@outlook.com Phone: 815-6267546 time small, home-based business in Chadwick. Larry Spaulding made and bagged caramel corn out of a garage and sold it all over the area. When he wanted to sell the business, he approached Neubauer and Scribner, who also own Creative Cuisine catering. The popcorn is available at several grocery stores, including County Market in Sterling and Dixon, Save-A-Lot in Rock Falls, and Hy-Vee in Clinton, and most Shell stations in the Sauk Valley. Woody’s popcorn is available in individual bags, and in large 10-gallon bags for weddings and parties.

Quality Customer Service Since 1962

Family Owned & Operated for Over 50 Years!

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Eclectic owner Zachary Olson renovated the building at 19 E. Third St. in downtown Sterling, and now its rooms feature goods and goodies from antique dealers, artisans, and craftsmen, including himself – Olson is a custom woodworker.

PRINTING

They can do all the stuff that’s fit to print Local businesses also can visit the store to find STERLING – Local ways to advertise their sports teams, businesswares. es, and individuals have One increasingly popufound the perfect team to lar way to advertise is with help them showcase their stadium chairs that feanames and talents. ture business logos on the JJM Printing, owned by back. Jason Fargher and John Another bread-and-butBrady, has been provid- ter product is fan gear. ing screen printing and There’s a spot in the promotional products to store where customers customers for 2 years. can buy local team gear The downtown busiright off the ness provides JJM Printing rack. personalThen there’s Michael Krabbenhoeft/mkrabbenhoeft@saukvalley.com Address: 311 First ized screen a new service, Coy Underhile of Rock Falls screens designs onto printing and Ave. T e a m W e b shirts at JJM Printing in Sterling. Hours: 10 a.m. to embroidery Stores. Cuson everyday 5:30 p.m. Monday tomers such items, and can through Friday. as coaches or Online: jjmprinttake just about booster clubs any photo and ing.com, and on can choose turn it into a Facebook hoodies, E-mail: jjmimpiece of canT-shirts, hats print@outlook.com vas art. and the like Phone: 815-632One of the in school colmost popu- 3913 ors and with 2530 E. Lincolnway, $ lar items is team logos, Sterling, IL 61081 personalized cellphone that parents and other (Across from Angelo’s II) FALL MAINTENANCE SPECIAL cases. Production man- fans then can buy from Complete Bumper to Bumper Inspection ager Kayla Fargher said the web store. Items also (815)631-3409 • Battery • Oil Change JJM can take any photo can be personalized with • Brakes • Cooling System and put it on a cellphone a specific player’s name • Coolant • Flush case, turning something or number. ordinary into a personal Customers can pay the keepsake. cost, or the items can be JJM has provided items used to raise funds. For for customers as var- instance, if a team bought ied as sports teams,and shirts from JJM for $20, wedding parties, and they could sell them in the it screens about 1,000 online store for $25, and keep the $5. T-shirts a week. BUY LOCAL STAFF

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Your car doesn’t have to be afraid of the dark anymore.

STERLING – A new convenience store has come to town. Joe’s Liquor and Tobacco opened June 21 at 203 E. Second St. Owner Joe Singh, 28, sells beer and spirits, various tobacco products, and snacks, beverages, and fountain drinks, similar to a 7-Eleven. More options are coming. “We will also have coffee and cappuccino for our breakfast customers,” Singh said. “We will have breakfast sand-

Joe’s Liquor and Tobacco Address: 203 E. Second St. Hours: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday; 9 a.m. to midnight Monday through Wednesday; and 9 to 1 a.m. Thurs through Saturday. Online: A Facebook page is in the works. Phone: 815-2137175

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Joe’s Liquor and Tobacco opened in June in downtown Sterling.

Serving Fine Mexican Food & American Favorites Since 1952 218 Locust St., Sterling • 625-7969 (for carryout)

12 • Sauk Valley Media

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2400 N. Locust St. Sterling, IL

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