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Nonprofit finds a new home where it can keep on GROwing

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Publisher/Ad Director Jennifer Heintzelman Magazine editor & Page design Rusty Schrader Published by Sauk Valley Media 113 S. Peoria Ave. Dixon, IL 61021 815-284-2222 Have a story idea for Small Town Living? Let us know ... Call 815-632-2531 or e-mail news@saukvalley.com Articles and advertisements are the property of Sauk Valley Media. No portion of Carroll County Living 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.

inside One, two, three ... GROw

A local nonprofit has found a new home where it can continue its mission to bring people together and build up communities in Carroll County.

Country music Audiences enjoy two kinds of stars at Rhythm Section Amphitheater: the ones up on stage — and the ones in the sky.

A Little knowledge goes a long way

Committed to her body of work

A Chadwick couple who take their show on the road have become homegrown educators at a traveling zoo where the teachers’ pets are giving people some hands-on lessons in life on the farm.

From her day job to her day-and-night job, Chastity Welch keeps a lot of plates spinning, and those plates are full of the kind of food that helps her customers lead a healthier life.

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f you want to know where Great things are happening, just head to downtown Savanna. Why there? That’s where Great River Outreach finally found a place to call home — and that home really is where the heart is. A crew of caring volunteers and a dedicated leadership team are carrying on the group’s decade-plus mission to help make life better for the people of Carroll County, and they’re doing it from a trio of buildings where the group’s new Community Resource Center is giving people a place to meet, eat, do some shopping, and more.

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ofit A local nonpr ew has found a n c an it e r e h w e m o h ission continue its m le to bring peop build to g e t h e r a n d ies in up communit :a Carroll Count y in a o n e - s to p sh o p nt s trio of storefro c an where people p, m e e t , ea t , sh o a n d m o re

OUTREACH cont’d to page 6

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OUTREACH cont’d from page 5 Great River Outreach, a registered 501 (c) nonprofit, recently opened up the Community Resource Center in three adjoining buildings on the north side of downtown, at 411 to 417 Main St. Its mission, according to its website, is to “[bring] people together to help build up and develop our local communities [by providing] a welcoming place with practical resources that delivers holistic care and helps meet the essential needs for many in our community.” From meals to clothing to camaraderie, there’s something for everyone, said Dave Engaldo, Great River Outreach’s chief operating officer. “There are a lot of folks in our county that have a lot of needs, unfortunately,” Engaldo said. “We’re trying to figure out what those are, and how we can plug them in to the help they need.” Bridges, at 417 Main, is a gathering place where people can come in to and socialize or enjoy the occasional class or event put on by volunteers or outside organizations. Sometimes you’ll find people at Bridges relaxing while their friends browse through the selection of second-hand clothing next door at Classy Closet, at 415 Main. Great River Outreach’s downtown operation can even be a one-stop lunch-and-shopping destination of sorts: Seniors can enjoy a hot lunch provided by Golden Meals at The Table, 411 Main, and go through the “hole in the wall” over to Classy Closet to do some shopping. The buildings weren’t seeing a lot of use before Outreach took them over this past year, but now that they’ve moved in those old

buildings are seeing news signs of life. “Hopefully people are starting to feel more comfortable coming out and doing things,” Engaldo said. “When they do, we’ll hopefully have a lot more things, perhaps something every day of the week going.”

Socializing Every Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Bridges is a Find Your Fit self-help class, where people can discover additional passions and interests in life, as well as hidden talents. Youth music classes every Thursday at 4 p.m. provide creative ways to discover rhythms and beats. Bridges also has hosted classic movie nights with themes such as horror, science fiction and action; knitting classes; and “Five Minutes of Fame” personal talent showcase events. All classes last about an hour, movies are 2 hours long, and all are free. If events and classes don’t interest you, but you’re still looking for some social time, Bridges also has its doors open for people to stop by, enjoy a cup of coffee, take in a board game, or to just read or talk with other people. Someone will always be at Bridges from Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon; so there will be someone for somebody to at least socialize with. “Some people who come in here really don’t have that opportunity,” Engaldo said. “Giving them an opportunity to socialize and interact with other people is a big part of what we do.”

OUTREACH cont’d to page 7

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OUTREACH cont’d from page 6

Shopping Classy Closet opened early this summer, and has a wide variety of used and like-new mens, womens and childrens clothing. Clothes are donated, and some even come with the store tags still on them. An all-volunteer staff organizes donations and handles the register. The store is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. In addition to clothing, there also is a small selection of household items, pillows, small appliances, wall art and pictures. Donations are accepted during store hours (turn to page 10 to see a list of items accepted and not accepted). Pickup arrangements may be made by calling the outreach. The dumping of any items during off-hours is prohibited.

OUTREACH cont’d to page 8

ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM

The Table is the hub of the county’s Golden Meals operation for senior citizens, and also has a space where people can come in and dine. Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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OUTREACH cont’d from page 7 “Classy Closet is a business we hope will be helpful to the community and enable us to raise a significant enough amount of money to enable us to do ministries without constantly going to the community,” Engaldo said.

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ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM

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The Table is the hub of the county’s Golden Meals operation for senior citizens, and also has a space where people can come in and dine. Golden Meals staff serves lunches from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. No one will be turned away. Donations toward its operation always are accepted. The variety of meals range from pastas, hot sandwiches and different meat-and-potato combinations. Meal choices include pastas, hot sandwiches and various meat-andpotato combinations.

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OUTREACH cont’d from page 8 If hot meals aren’t your cup of tea, every Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. people can bring their own lunch to Bridges and share bite with an old friend, or meet some new ones. Free coffee will be served. Every Thursday at 7 p.m. The Table hosts a “God Is On Your Side” presentation to help people find personal support through others and through religion. “We hope that when most folks get done eating here by 1 o’clock, they wander over and engage in activities over in Bridges,” Engaldo said. “We plan to do everything from cooking classes to fitness classes, and more practical life skill things, like how to develop or manage a budget.”

Reaching out since 2007 ALEX T. PASCHAL/ APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM

Bridges is a gathering place where people can come in to and socialize or enjoy the occasional class or event put on by volunteers or outside organizations.

would have cost about a half-million dollars, Engaldo said, but working out a deal to buy the empty buildings downtown proved to be the perfect fit at a fraction of the cost. Utilizing relations they have with local contractors — with several chipping in their time to help – it only cost about $40,000 to renovate and refurbish the trio of buildings. “It’s good stuff, but then these are old buildings, so we had to do quite a bit to fix them up,” Engaldo said, a project that would have cost three times as much without contractors’ generosity of time and labor. Outreach hopes that more volunteers, like the contractors, can help it manage its costs so it doesn’t have to turn as often to the community for more funding, Engaldo said.

OUTREACH cont’d to page 10

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Great River Outreach began in 2007, and through the years more than 50 volunteers and 60-plus fundraisers have helped its mission. By the end of the year, Outreach’s partnership with Golden Meals will have served an estimated 100,000 meals or more to folks in the area. The Outreach is led by members of local businesses and clergy, with Matthew Jones of Law-Jones Funeral Home serving as president, pastor Bob Stark of First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mount Carroll as vice-president, pastor Gary Panetta of First Presbyterian Church of Savanna as corporate secretary, and Carroll County Housing Authority Executive Director Ed Bochniak as chief financial officer. Great River Outreach started out in the former Chestnut Park School building in the East Savanna neighborhood, but the aging building was eventually razed. After taking up temporary residence in a couple different spots, Outreach had a decision to make: Construct a new building, or find a more permanent home. A new building

DAVE ENGALDO Great River Outreach’s chief operating officer

OUTREACH cont’d from page 9 Bridges also has a few small offices that social service organizations can use to meet with local clients who would have to otherwise drive a distance to meet with them. Organizations such as Riverview Services, Sinnissippi Centers and Tri-County Opportunities Council have already utilized spaces. “They have offices in other cities, but they have clients here in Savanna,” Engaldo said. “So we can tell them that they can come use our office so that clients don’t have to drive, because in a lot of cases they either don’t drive or they don’t get help. Especially in the winter time, if they have to drive to Mount Carroll or Stockton to get counseling, they can just do it right here.” Several people in the county are looking for work, and Bridges has a partnership with BEST, Inc., who utilizes Bridges’ space for employment classes and workshops, with topics such as improving interview skills, resumé writing and job searches. “We want to be a central location for people if they need any kind of help, whatever it is,” Engaldo said. “Not that we’re going to be able to provide all of those services, but we’ll be able to tell you, depending on what your need is. If we can’t help you, we’ll be able to point people in the right direction to wherever they need to go for whatever their issue is.” Each of Outreach’s three buildings also has upstairs living quarters, and one day the group like to utilize that space for emergency shelters where people can stay during a time of need. Engaldo has heard from many pastors in the county about such shelters being a critical need, and Outreach officials would like to be able to help. After that, who knows what more great things the Great River Outreach can come up with. “If we can raise some money or get some grant money to fix that up, it would be a perfect location,” Engaldo said. “We really want to use the funding that we get, the dollars we raise, to do things for the people that are in need in the county; to provide shelter, to provide food, to provide the things that they need,” Engaldo said. “That’s what it’s about for us.”

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Moreinfo

To volunteer or to learn more about the Great River Outreach and its programs visit greatriveroutreach. com, find it on Facebook, email greatriveroutreach@gmail.com or call 815-676-4545.. Donations can be made through the website, or mailed to P.O. Box 361, Savanna, IL, 61074.

Out of your closet

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Great River Outreach's Classy Closet accepts the following new or gently used items for donation: Mens, womens and childrens clothing in all sizes, shoes (in like-new condition only); jewelry; gloves and scarves, linens, wall hangings, mirrors and pictures, working clocks, mall dressers for display, bookshelves for store displays, and small furniture. Classy Closet does not accept ... Large furniture, stoves, refrigerators or freezers, microwaves, mattresses, encyclopedias, cassettes or VHS/beta movies.

An occasional feature of Carroll County Living highlighting local landmarks and locations off the beaten path. We’ll feature a photo and it’s up to you to guess where it was taken.

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Straddling the past and the present Countless people have come and gone from Carroll County over the past 200 years — and so have some settlements. This marker, seen here from the back, commemorates one of them. Where is it? Answer on page 26. CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@ SAUKVALLEY.COM

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By Cody Cutter | Sauk Valley Media

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eid Law didn’t have to go far to find his rhythm. It was right there in his backyard. That’s where his grassroots movement took root and a premier entertainment venue grew out of it, in a place some people might call the “middle of nowhere.” But that “nowhere” has become somewhere pretty special: an outdoor amphitheater in the rolling hills of Carroll County that hasn’t been around that long but which is already attracting some pretty big names in the world of music. Rhythm Section Amphitheater, located about a mile north of Mount Carroll at 13137 state Route 78, has been a labor of love for Law, who had some land on his hands, and time, and put them both to good use, creating an outdoor performance venue that’s putting Carroll County on the map.

AMPHITHEATER cont’d to pages 14-15

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PREVIOUS PAGES: This panoramic picture shows the lay of the land surrounding Rhythm Section Amphitheater, a new performance venue nestled among the rolling hills of Carroll County. The stage was set for the impressive facility when land owner Reid Law (right) started tossing around ideas of what do with some of his property north of Mount Carroll. When he finally decided on an amphitheater, he spent about 3 years making his musical dream come true. “Most of this is built with passion,” Law said. “It’s just a matter of time before we go bigger and bigger, but still holding our grass roots with local bands.” PHOTOS: ALEX T. PASCHAL/ APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM

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AMPITHEATER cont’d from page 13

and local acts followed. June 12 saw a double headline act with Miles It all started when Reid began thinking about Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts and Nick Perri & The doing something with his property north of town Underground Thieves performing. Koe Wetzel and that he wasn’t using for Kolby Cooper followed his motocross track, the next weekend. Lava the MC Motopark, or Rock, a cover band playhis excavating busiing hit songs from hard ness. That’s when the wheels started turning rock acts such as Led in his head — and not Zeppelin, Aerosmith and long after that, on his Van Halen, played July land. He fired up his 17. The country theme excavating equipment resumed on July 31 with and turned part of his Arlo McKinley and openproperty into a premier ing act Marques Morel. entertainment venue in Not bad for a venue the heart of the country. located outside of a ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM He spent about 3 town of 1,700 people in a What does MC stand for? Mount Carroll, MC Motorpark, years making his musicounty of 16,000. motocross, or music in the country? In Rhythm Section cal dream come true “Most of this is built Amphitheater’s case: All of the above. and started out hosting with passion,” Law said. various local bands – but “It’s just a matter of time it didn’t take long for his venue to attract attention before we go bigger and bigger, but still holding our from acts on the national stage. Rhythm Section grass roots with local bands.” hosted its first national act, Grammy Award-winning AMPITHEATER cont’d to page 16 hip-hop artist Nelly, on May 28, and more national

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AMPHITHEATER cont’d from 15 Sometimes an outdoor venue can have its disadvantages. Back Country Roads was originally scheduled to play at Rhythm City on July 10, but thunderstorms cancelled it. Law is working to reschedule their appearance. Law’s project was a big one, but his belief in his place was a simple one: “If you build it, they will come,” a fitting philosophy for his own field of dreams – and he was right. They are coming: local acts, regional acts, national acts – but getting big names to come to a new venue in the middle of the country doesn’t just happen. It takes planning and a good team, both of which Law has.

ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM

In a nod to the area’s heritage, Rhythm Section’s bar, The Heritage Pub, makes its home in a renovated hog shed atop a hill overlooking the venue.

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AMPHITHEATER cont’d from p. 16 His team of talent scouts line up the acts, and then they and Law drive home the allure of what Rhythm Center has to offer: an outdoor venue with seating carved into the countryside, a rural feel you can’t get elsewhere, where you can still manage to have an intimate feeling even with a packed house. Of course, he has a crack crew to help with lighting, but even they can’t create the kind of light show that the final frontier puts on. A highlight of each performance is the moment when all of the venue’s lights go dark, with fair warning, for about 10 minutes – either before a performance or during one – letting concert-goers, and performers, immerse themselves in the serene solitude and beauty of the night sky’s natural lighting.

ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM

A brew with a view: Concert-goers can grab a beer at one of Rhythm Section’s bars overlooking the stage. Food trucks are also brought in for concerts.

AMPHITHEATER cont’d to pages 18-19

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What a light show Rhythm Section Amphitheater’s grounds are well lit so patrons can safely make their way around, but the highlight (or rather, low-light) of the shows is when the staff brings down the lights for about 10 minutes during or after a performance, giving audiences a stunning view of the night sky. “That’s been kind of like our mainstay now, and people ask when we’re going to do the blackout,” said owner Reid Law. “You can sit back, enjoy yourself and take in what the universe has to offer. There are billions of stars out here.” ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM

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AMPHITHEATER cont’d from p. 17 “We want everyone to look up and see the stars, because a lot of people who live in cities don’t ever see them,” Law said. “That’s been a huge hit. That’s been kind of like our mainstay now, and people ask when we’re going to do the blackout. “You can sit back, enjoy yourself and take in what the universe has to offer. There’s billions of stars out here.” The stars are both above and below — in the sky and on the stage — whether it’s local bands who hope to hit it big or acts who’ve already hit it big. When it comes to the big names, it’s been a learning curve — the bigger the act, the more paperwork — but Law and his staff are learning more with each act.

ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM

An old grain silo serves as one of the bars, and adjoining decks give patrons a great view of the entertainment.

AMPHITHEATER cont’d to page 20

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AMPHITHEATER cont’d from page 19 “When it comes to music and artists and management, and all of these things, it seems like it should be simple on the outside, but it becomes very convoluted inside,” Law said. “There’s all these people and there’s layers. It takes a lot of time. You learn to be patient. You don’t want to rush. And they have to have confidence in us.” Law has plenty of experience hosting events, but he’s used to handling motorcycles more than music at his MC Motopark, which hosts national events and has drawn performers from around the world. A former racer himself, he opened his park in 2001 to keep his love for the sport going. After more than a decade of success with the track, he wondered if he could replicate that kind of success with bands instead of bikes. So far, he’s on the right track. He’s booking big names and business has been good. But it takes more than a stage and seating for the full concert experience. Law added a bar and concession areas at the top of the hill, and in keeping with the lay of the land, the bar and green room (where acts wait to go on stage) are housed in repurposed silos.

Here’s what’s coming up at The Rhythm Section Amphitheater, 13137 state Route 78, north of Mount Carroll: • “The Divas” Night, Aug. 20 • JJ Grey & the Mofro, Aug. 21 • Jamey Johnson, Sept. 4 • Oktoberfest Blues, Brews & BBQs, 11 a.m. Oct. 9 Concerts begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted; dates and times subject to change. Go to therhythmsectiononline.com for an updated schedule and ticket information. Find The Rhythm Section Amphitheater on Facebook, YouTube or Instagram (@therhythmsectionamphitheater); or call 815-238-1614 to learn more.

AMPHITHEATER cont’d to page 21

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AMPHITHEATER cont’d from page 20 There’s also a hog shed that was renovated to become the Heritage Pub, which is hard to miss with the castle-like portcullis gate in the front. The pub’s interior was inspired by the look of one of Law’s popular Florida destinations, the Celtic Ray in Punta Gorda, Florida, and the wood beams that hold it up come from old railroad bridges in the area. Concessions and drinks are cash only. The silos and shed came from Carroll County, as did most of the pub’s farm decor. The shed has an upper level which provides a vantage point where people can still see the stage, and the steps leading up to it also are pieces of local history: They’re made from planks that used to be on the historic Galena Street Bridge, the iron bridge over the Carroll Creek in Mount Carroll which now carries pedestrians on a new surface. Barnwood that makes up the top of the stage comes from a farm north of Shannon. For those who want to make a night of it, camping is available onsite. As for the venue’s name, it’s music to Law’s ears in more ways than one.

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Rhythm sections aren’t just a part of a band; they’re also a small set of jumps on motocross tracks that help riders get into a rhythm on the course. “The Rhythm Section was something that just, over time, I wanted to start doing,” Law said. “I had two criteria: excellent sound and excellent viewing. This particular part of the property we really didn’t utilize that much, so I just got things in my head and started building.” The area still is a work in progress, and he has plans to reutilize the former Long Hollow Scenic Overlook Tower once more. The wood tower once sat at a rest area on U.S. Route 20 west of Elizabeth until it closed nearly 15 years ago. “We want to bring in unique things,” Law said. “There’s a lot of unique oddities within the buildings. it’ll give people something to look at, too.” Law is already working on next year’s lineup, and he’s hoping to build on this year’s success to make 2022 even bigger and better than this year. “I think it’s going to be an amazing season,” Law said. “The people we have coming here are phenomenal. These are higher level artists that are going to be showing up to the middle of nowhere.”

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A knowledge LONG 22

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By Cody Cutter | Sauk Valley Media

hen partners in life and partners in business Chris McCauley and Paula Adams first met, it was almost like an episode of “Green Acres” come to life – with a slight twist. Farm livin’ was the life for her, but not so much for him. These days, though, no one gets allergic smelling hay or adores

Guests were all smiles April 24 at P&C Little Rascals Farm during an open house at the Chadwick farm where the traveling zoo’s animals live.

a penthouse view – but a henhouse view? Well, that’s a different story. The couple are the proud parents of a business that takes its show on the road and teaches people about country critters through their traveling petting zoo, P&C Little Rascals.

ALEX T. PASCHAL/ APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM

ZOO cont’d to page 24

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Chris McCauley and Paula Adams of Chadwick own P&C Little Rascals, a traveling petting zoo that brings the farm to those who may not get to experience what life is like out in the country. Among the animals people get to meet is Hooligan the llama. CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SAUKVALLEY.COM

ZOO cont’d from page 23 But at first, it was Chris who had to get up to speed before he could get out on the road. When the two met, Adams brought McCauley to the family farm where he learned a lot about the many animals that called it home. Today, that learning experience is paying off when they take their zoo out on weekends to crowds who greet their extended farm family with plenty of “oohs” and “awws.” You won’t see the kinds of exotic animals from faraway lands you’d find at a regular zoo — P&C is a down-home kind of zoo stocked with typical farm animals such as pigs, goats, chickens, rabbits; and you might just see some other critters that you may not necessarily think of as being a farm animal, like a llama and alpaca.

ZOO cont’d to page 25

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ZOO cont’d from page 24 Another difference? People can see the animals up close at this zoo, and even feel their fur and feathers. At each show, signs attached to pens and cages contain information about the animals, and the couple shares their knowledge, too. People can learn all about animals: their lifecycles, their DNA — or that llamas are good at keeping an eye on things. “Llamas are a good guard animal,” Adams said. “They’re a good animal to have if you have livestock running out. Llamas will keep coyotes away, they’ll keep wild dogs and stray dogs away. One of the llamas that I had here before saw some guard dogs, and it tackled the dogs if they came near the pen.”

Pam Stafford of Rock Falls helps grandson Brecken Westpfahl feed a goat during P&C Little Rascals' open house. ALEX T. PASCHAL/ APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM

ZOO cont’d to page 26

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ZOO cont’d from page 25 Llamas also make a chattering noise that’ll send sheep running back to their pen. “We’ve been to a few places where people didn’t know what a llama was, or what an alpaca was,” McCauley said. “They say there’s no difference between a llama and an alpaca, but there’s a big difference, so we’ll explain it to them.” Another bit of llama trivia? “A lot of people don’t know that llamas are pregnant for 11 to 13 months,” he said. “That’s a long time.” Chickens are another little rascal that, while many people are familiar with them, not everyone knows there are so many different breeds, or that their eggs can come in different colors, one of which is straight out of a Dr. Seuss book. Eggs start out white, but the final color is determined by the breed and pigment that’s added to the egg when it passes through a chicken’s oviduct, and some of those eggs pop out green — just don’t ask for any green ham! Chickens that can lay green eggs include Swedish Ishbars and Favaucanas – a cross between a faverolle and an Ameraucana. McCauley was one of those people who, when Adams first met him, didn’t know about green eggs. She sent him a picture of some and he thought she was pulling his leg, but the yoke was on him. “He thought I was lying,” Adams said. “So he came to the barn to find them, and sure enough he found the green eggs.”

ZOO cont’d to page 27

ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM

Cherikee Serenil feeds chickens April 24 during an open house at P&C Little Rascals. The event was a first for P&C, and owners Paula Adams and Chris McCauley weren’t sure how many people to expect, but the event turned out “awesome,” Adams said. “I was hoping we’d have maybe 200 people show up, but we had about 350-some sign the guestbook, and a lot signed ‘and family,’ so we don’t know how many people all came. It was crazy. It was way better than we thought.”

t i s i E e r e Wh

aNsweR

Jacobstown was established in May of 1855 along the banks of Straddle Creek by Benjamin and Mariah Jacobs. Without a railroad or highway traffic to aid in the settlement’s development, it died out not too long after the turn of the 20th century. The Getz family were among the village’s early residents, and descendants still live nearby. As noted on this marker, a community club was organized at the Lawrence Getz home in 1929. The family erected this marker where the settlement used to be to honor the people who called Jacobstown home. The marker is just south of where Jacobstown Road intersects with Scenic Palisades Road west of Mount Carroll. A small cemetery also exists nearby on private property where several former settlers are buried. CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SAUKVALLEY.COM

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ZOO cont’d from page 26 Adams has always had a fondness for animals. She even had a job working around them, at the River Ridge Animal Hospital, where she was an accountant. Through the years, she kept adding more to her menagerie, and as time went on, she decided to make one of her childhood dreams come true: having a petting zoo. With a full-time job, though, her zoos started out small. As the number of animals grew, and the petting zoos started becoming more popular, Adams left her job at the animal hospital last year to tend to her expanding compliment of two- and four-legged friends. McCauley works full-time with Orkin Pest Control and helps out on the farm when he comes home. Though things were galloping along at first, they slowed down last year when the pandemic put many business’ future in question, including P&C’s. Prospects of an expanded schedule were dashed by Covid, leaving the couple wondering how their operation was going to continue. They decided that if they couldn’t bring the zoo to people, they’d bring people to the zoo, and opened up the farm on April 24, for a free, 1-day tour. The timing was perfect. With so many people suffering from pandemic burnout and wanting to get out and travel more, it made the event a prime destination for many locals – many more than Adams and McCauley expected. The baby goats and baby llamas were among the most popular animals, Adams said. They also had craft vendors and concessions.

ZOO cont’d to page 28

ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM

Annalee King of Thomson climbs onto a tractor April 24 during P&C Little Rascals’ open house. Along with the animals, the farm had equipment on display, crafts for sale and food.

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ZOO cont’d from page 27 ally as close as Freeport and Maquoketa, Iowa, with largescale events in places such as Kankakee and Waverly, “It turned out aweIowa. The traveling petting zoo doesn’t quite go that far, some,” Adams said. but it makes plenty of weekend stops throughout north“I was hoping we’d ern Illinois at public events, business events, county fairs have maybe 200 and events tailored to special needs individuals. people show up, One of their recent stops was June 12 at Lake Carroll, but we had about an event that attracted many city folks who perhaps aren’t 350-some sign the used to seeing such animals up close and in person. It guestbook, and was P&C’s first time setting up at the lake. a lot signed ‘and P&C Little Rascals travels to functions throughfamily,’ so we don’t A learning experience out northern Illinois to educate people of all know how many McCauley never really anticipated living the farm life a ages about their animals. people all came. It decade ago. Then he met Adams. Their farm is at 22351 Thomson Road in “It’s been an experience,” he said. “I had never really was crazy. It was way rural Chadwick, and is open for tours by better than we thought. known there were farm auctions and stuff like that. I never appointment only. To schedule a visit really knew about that. When I met her, I’d do chores after I think it helped that from the traveling zoo, or to learn I got off of work, and after a week I just never left.” everyone wanted to get out more, find them on Facebook, call When kids get to the age when they become curious and do stuff. We try to make it 815-631-7203, or email PCLittwhere their meat comes from, they can put a picture to educational.” leRascals@gmail.com. the animal they hear of. The overwhelming success has “It’s kind of nice to teach people what the animals are made the couple want to do it again next used for,” Adams said. “I know a lot of people are against year. Folks who just can’t wait until then to see butchering and that, but that’s what the animals are there what life is like at the farm can stop by, as long as they for, to butcher and eat. They don’t just grow in a grocery make an appointment with Adams for a visit. store.” Most of their animals come from animal swaps throughout the Midwest. Regional events are held annuZOO cont’d to page 29

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ZOO cont’d from page 28 “I hope that they learn about the animals and learn about what animals are used for,” Adams said. Adams and McCauley have seen people from all walks of life, and all ages, who have never seen many of their animals in person, and they’re glad to help them learn about all the subjects in their animal kingdom – and as long as the animals have a story to tell, Adams and McCauley will be happy to tell it. “The kids’ eyes get big when they see the animals,” she said. “The adults, too; they get a kick out of the animals and feeding them. Even though we’re out in farm country, it’s amazing how much kids don’t see animals in town. Even in big towns like Sterling or Rock Falls, they’re still in enough ‘country’ that they could see that stuff, but they don’t.” Austin Barkley feeds a llama April 24 at the P&C Little Rascals farm in Chadwick. Visitors could purchase cups of snacks to feed a wide assortment of animals. ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM

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By Cody Cutter | Sauk Valley Media

t’s 4 a.m., and Chastity Welch’s day has already begun. She’s getting ready to juggle her job, a business, and a family to look after. Welch also finds the time, as she does 6 days a week, to hit the machines in her weight room. Talk about drive. When most people are looking forward to trying to grab a few more hours sleep, Welch is looking forward to starting her day — and part of that day is spent helping put people in the driver’s seat of their own healthier lifestyle through her business, Body by Drive, which offers meal prep, boot camp-style workout sessions, one-on-one personal training and nutrition coaching.

DRIVE cont’d to page 32

Personal trainer and Body by Drive meal prep owner Chastity Welch is focused on helping people lead healthier – and happier – lifestyles. “I started seeing ... how much better changing my diet made me feel, and that just kind of spurred it,” she said of her business. ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM

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DRIVE cont’d from page 31 Sure, it takes time and commitment to embrace a healthier lifestyle, but Welch is confident that everyone can find it within themselves to do it — they just have to put their mind to it and their body will follow. Welch is living proof of that. A few years ago, she felt like she needed to make a change to give her health a helping hand. That’s all it took for her to push the right button. “I’m one of those people that says, ‘If I’m going to do something, then I’m going to do it,’” Welch said. “I hit that button to sign up to do it, and that’s all it took.” Today, she’s sharing her passion, and helping others lead a healthier lifestyle at Body by Drive. When Welch isn’t busy managing operations at the Carroll County Farm Bureau, she’s cutting vegetables and meat and preparing healthy meals in a kitchen that she owns with her partner, Scott Heeren, in the former Eastland Elementary School building in Lanark. Heeren runs a barbecue and catering business, Custom Catering and BBQ, out of the same kitchen.

ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM

From sweet and sour pork to a chicken burrito bowl, Welch likes to mix things up in her menus. She has a variety of meals that she rotates through the weeks, and knows which ones have become customer favorites.

DRIVE cont’d to pages 33 & 34

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Of her decision to commit herself to a healthier lifestyle, Welch said, "I hit that button to sign up to do it, and that's all it took.” Her customers could say the same thing when it comes to her meal prep service. Welch prepares the dishes and then freezes them, allowing customers to thaw them out, pop them in the microwave, and hit the button, giving them healthy meals in a matter of minutes. BELOW: Ingredients, food prep instructions and nutrient info are displayed on the package. ALEX T. PASCHAL/ APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM

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DRIVE cont’d from page 32 Welch knows how valuable people’s time can be, so she helps them get the most out of their day by getting the most out of their meals – without having to prepare them themselves. She comes up with a menu for a work week’s worth of meals – breakfast and lunch, five each – and preps the meals for pick-up. The prepared meals come frozen, unless it is a salad. Each container has a label on it with the food’s name, ingredients and nutritional information, including macros – proteins, carbohydrates and fats, which are considered the more important components of nutritional value that “bodies need every day,” Welch said. “A lot of people aren’t sure what macros are, and it doesn’t matter if you’re looking to lose weight or you just want that convenience,” she added. “The meals will satisfy both of those needs, but for those who are looking to lose weight, each meal has the amount of proteins, carbs and fats on there.” Each week consists of five different breakfast options and five different lunch options. One week in June featured lunch offerings of orange chicken, pulled pork potatoes, chicken Alfredo, “cheesy broc” Hamburger Helper and smothered chicken. Welch likes to mix things up, offering a wide variety of meals that rotate in and out each week, and she knows what dishes are the most popular. She’ll sometimes work into the night putting together menu ideas. The top breakfasts are power cakes, which are pancake sandwiches with a sausage and egg, and a blueberry or strawberry protein waffle; instead of using syrup, it’s made with a fruit puree that doesn’t contain a lot of sugar. The unrolled chicken Verde enchilada and lasagna are two popular lunch items. “You’re not getting all of those carbs because I use something different than a noodle to do my layers,” Welch said. Meals generally come in single-portion sizes, but there are larger sizes for those who need a bigger serving — family-size portions for example. Each bowl is portion controlled, which is key to the program’s success. Without that control, it can be easy to overeat, especially if one doesn’t understand how a macro-friendly diet works.

DRIVE cont’d to page 35

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Portion control is important when planning the meals. Welch measures out the ingredients, packages and freezes them fresh. Each meal is portion controlled, which is key to the meal program’s success. Without that control, it can be easy to overeat, especially if one doesn’t understand how a macrofriendly diet works. ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM

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DRIVE cont’d from page 34

Business has been even better than expected, but she’s been up to the challenge, and Scott’s been able to help. “Protein is something that most people do not get enough of in “I was just kind of doing it as a fun thing to do,” Welch said. “I their diet every day,” Welch said, “so all of my meals are a higher have a full-time job, and this was becoming a full-time job. There protein, because if they’re not eating protein any other time of the are especially those moments when [Scott and I] have weddings to day, I want to make sure they’re getting what they need to, at least cater that there’s a lot to put in to from me, or getting a portion of a week, but you figure it out.” that with a higher percentage.” Keeping fit, healthy and active Meals are announced on Body has been an important part of by Drive’s Facebook page and Welch’s life, but the mission to website (bodybydrivemealprep. promote a healthier lifestyle only square.site) every Friday, with came to be in recent years. After orders due by 5 p.m. the followa gall bladder removal 4 years ing Tuesday. After a few days of ago, Welch “felt awful,” she said, putting the meals together, they and the effects led her to start can be picked up at their building researching more about how to at 200 S. School Drive in Lanark — improve her health. That led to which Welch and Heeren plan to an increase in understanding the convert into a storefront for their important roles that nutrition businesses in the near future — and physical training play in a ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM or in Mount Carroll at the Carroll person’s life, and she took classes Need a koozie to keep your healthy drink cool, or County Farm Bureau office, 811 to become certified in those a hat to keep the sun out of your eye when you’re S. Clay St. aspects. out for a walk or run? Body by Drive can hook The meals can then be pulled “I started seeing how to eat, you up with its own line of merchandise. out a day ahead of time and seeing how well it made me microwaved when you’re ready feel, seeing how much better Want to get your health back in the right directo eat. Plus, they don’t break the changing my diet made me feel, tion? Find Body by Drive Meal Prep on Facebank: A lunch bowl is usually $6, and that just kind of spurred it,” book, at bodybyand $4 for breakfast. Welch said. “A lot of my friends drivemealprep. “If someone is preparing indisaw the changes in me, and square.site, email started asking questions. That’s vidually, they’re going to spend a bodybydrivefitwhole day trying to prep for the really what kept it going.” ness@gmail.com week,” Welch said. “Some people Through Body by Drive, not or call 815-590don’t like to cook, and they’re just only has Welch seen positive 6373 for more information about prepared meals, changes in herself, but also in her looking for a quick, easy healthinutrition coaching or personal training. er dinner.” customers, some of whom have The meal prep has taken off lost up to 25 pounds in 5 months. like wildfire since she began Body by Drive last year. They feel better, have better lab tests, and have increased their “I’d share pictures of my food on Facebook, and people were confidence and energy, she said. like, ‘Oh my God, I wish you would just cook for me,’” Welch said. “It will help them as long as they’re not eating uncontrollably the rest of the day,” Welch said. “If they want to change, I’m going “Last September, we just started throwing out some different to be there next to them to help them every step of the way.” meals, and here in 2021 it’s just gone crazy.”

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