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A DIXON MAN WENT FROM SERVING HIS COUNTRY TO SERVING HIS COMMUNITY

ALSO INSIDE ...

Celebrating 45 Years! Heritage Square opened its doors in 1974 with a vision of a place for Lee County residents to age in place with respect and dignity. With hard work and foresight of founding and present Board of Directors, Heritage Square remains the success it is today. As Heritage Square celebrates 45 years, I would like to express sincere appreciation to William Reigle. To those of you who know this gentleman, knew him as an astute banker with the Dixon National Bank who helped many a farmer succeed. Bill is a John Deere enthusiast, golfer, active member in church, meticulous yardman, involved father, grandfather and public servant: Noon Lions, Sinnissippi Mental Health, Sauk Valley board, just to name a few. For Heritage Square, Bill is the man who for over 40 years, serves on the board of directors and current President of the Board since 2001. He is our anchor, who visits the facility frequently stopping to greet residents and staff. Heritage Square is “His Baby” who feels deeply in carrying out our mission. He supports all department heads and allows us to obtain the tools and education we need to do our jobs well. He supports us in good times and bad. Heritage Square Mission - It shall be the mission of Heritage Square. A non-profit corporation, to provide quality care in a warm and loving environment for our residents. We shall make every effort to respect the dignity of each resident as a productive and independent individual. Over the years, many changes have happened in long term care: more costly safety demands, electronic healthcare record demands, patient based journal staffing, just to name a few. Changes always lead to increased costs. Bill always rose to the challenge, putting the residents first and reflecting on our mission. Probably only once in a lifetime will you ever know a person of this caliber. Bill makes it an honor and privilege for me to say, “I work at Heritage Square”. “BILL, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO, We Love You!” Bonnie O’Connell, BSN, Administrator

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PUBLICATION •FALL/WINTER 2019

Publisher Don T. Bricker General Manager/ Advertising Director Jennifer Heintzelman Magazine editors Rusty Schrader & Kathleen Schultz Page design Rusty Schrader Published by Sauk Valley Media 113 S. Peoria Ave., Dixon, IL 61021 815-284-2222 Do you have story ideas for Dixon 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 Dixon 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.

A Dixon man went from serving his country to serving his community, where he’s taken steps to stamp out hunger, tackled a project to fight breast cancer, and helped teach teams that working together is a winning formula

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More inside Rainbow connections Pride doesn’t always go before a fall, sometimes it comes when a person stands up to be counted – just ask a Sauk Valley group that’s taking its own stand to keep the PFLAG flying loud and proud

Writing is in her blood

From park to overdrive

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A Dixon woman took a journey from gradeschooler to author, and along the way, she picked up some werewolves

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The blue and the gray ... in black and white Everyone marches to the beat of a different drum, and for an author with Dixon roots, it’s been a march of time that’s taken readers from the front lines all the way to the White House

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ith apologies to the Queen of Soul, there’s more than one way to spell “respect.” Sure, you could spell it r-e-s-p-e-c-t. But if you’re a member of the Sauk Valley chapter of a national organization, you spell it P-F-L-A-G. PFLAG Sauk Valley is an organization that, according to chapter President Sarah Schlegel, seeks to “support one another, to educate ourselves and our community, and to advocate so that all hearts and minds respect, value, and affirm LGBTQI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex) people.” The chapter has been seeking to support the LGBTQI community of the Sauk Valley for more than 13 years, fulfilling its mission through frequent meetings, informal support sessions, informative community outreach events, and social gatherings. Continued on page 8

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Continued from page 7

While the group is geared toward a relatively small portion of the population, its mission is to reach as many people as it can. “Slightly less than 5% of the U.S. population identifies as gay or lesbian. Less than half a percent identifies as transgender, and about one in every 1,700 babies are born intersex (people with sex characteristics that do not fit typical notions of male or female bodies). I think these numbers are really important to keep in mind because, like any minority group, people who identify as LGBTQI rely on strong ally support to maintain a healthy and positive balance within their communities,” Schlegel said. PFLAG Sauk Valley has 40 members consisting of family or friends of LGBTQI people and those who identify as LGBTQI, Schlegel said. Additionally, she said, “another 50 allies support the organization, either through volunteerism, financial support, or social-emotional support.” The majority of the group’s members are from Sterling, Rock Falls, Dixon, and Polo, “because most of our events are held in Sterling or Dixon,” Schlegel said. However, “We do have participants from Fulton, Morrison, Oregon, and other area communities periodically.” “What ties the groups together is the need for greater understanding and acceptance by the larger population. That’s why organizations like [us] exist,” she said. “PFLAG meetings and social gatherings provide an opportunity to learn about relevant services in the area, discuss local and national trends, and share personal experiences. All are welcome.” The group holds many informative events in the area for both

members and the community. “In June, PFLAG partnered with the YWCA to provide a movie and discussion revolving around the Stonewall Uprising of 1969, which marked a major turning point in the modern gay civil rights movement in the United States 50 years ago,” Schlegel said. “Upcoming events include a picnic, a fundraiser dinner, an ask-a-minister event, and an LGBTQI-friendly business workshop.” PFLAG’s second ask-a-minister event of the year, set for Nov. 17 at St. Paul Lutheran in Dixon, will feature “a panel of Christian ministers from several Protestant denominations who will answer questions and about the church and sexuality and gender. While PFLAG is a non-religiously affiliated organization, Schlegel said, local minister deserve a special “shout-out of thanks [for] … participating in PFLAG events and working with their congregations to provide open and affirming spaces for people of faith.” “Such inclusivity has been, literally, life-altering,” she said. The Whiteside and Lee county health departments have also been particularly helpful, she said. “They have provided speakers at PFLAG events, and have worked to revise paperwork and programs to be LGBTQI inclusive, showing genuine concern for both the physical and emotional welfare of others.” Natalie Andrews is from Ogle County and has been a member of PFLAG for around 10 years, convinced to join by founder Barb Schwamberger. During that time, she’s served on the PFLAG board. Photo on page 9. Stoery continued on page 11

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PFLAG Sauk Valley is an organization that, according to chapter President Sarah Schlegel (second from right), seeks to “support one another, to educate ourselves and our community, and to advocate so that all hearts and minds respect, value, and affirm LGBTQI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex) people.”

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MORE INFORMATION

Joe Strabala-Bright (right), shown here with husband Keegan, serves on the PFLAG board. The Sterling couple have been married for about 3 months.

Call 815-408-0604 to learn more about the group. Online: pflagsaukvalley.org or find PFLAG Sauk Valley on Facebook From 5 to 6:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of every month, PFLAG offers informal support for individuals or families. Call 815-408-0604 for location and additional information or questions.

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Mail your name, contact information, and dues ($25 for individual membership or $35 for household membership) to: PFLAG Sauk Valley, c/o 1st Presbyterian Church, 410 Second Ave., Sterling, IL 61081

Continued from page 9

Now in her mid-60s, Andrews said, “I was raised in the ‘50s, and I came out late in life. What PFLAG offered for me was finding people like me, being accepted, and having open and honest conversations with people that were non-judgmental.” “It really provides a safe place and allowed me to grow within the organization,” she said, adding that PFLAG is “a support system and education tool for those who are a part of this population.” PFLAG National is a non-profit of more than 400 chapters across the country. According to its website, “The idea for PFLAG began in 1972 when Jeanne Manford marched with her son, Morty, in New York’s Christopher Street Liberation Day March, the precursor to today’s Pride parade. After many gay and lesbian people ran up to Jeanne during the parade and begged her to talk to their parents, she decided to begin a support group.” PFLAG originally stood for Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, and was later broadened to Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, but today, it’s simply PFLAG, sans the acronym, after members voted to officially change the name to reflect a more inclusive mission.

The group had “outgrown the acronym as society accepted scientific research that shed new light on gender, including new awareness of what it means to be transgender and intersex,” Schlegel said. Sauk Valley’s chapter was founded in 2006 by Barb and George Schwamberger and Jane Biddle. “They wanted to provide a source of support and advocacy for the Schwamberger’s lesbian daughter and the gay and lesbian community as a whole,” Schlegel said. Schlegel, a Polo Middle School English/language arts teacher, quickly became attached to the organization after her eldest son came out as gay in eighth grade. She first served as a general board member, then secretary, and now president. As she and her husband, Tim, “helped [their] son navigate adolescence as a gay teen,” they were looking for support in regards to “addressing family members’ inquiries and comments.” Despite her own son’s “positive coming-out experience,” Schlegel is struck by “how many people are still living marginalized lives, or even in outright fear from their own family members.” While Schlegel continues to help those people feel less like they’re in the margins, she also hopes the rest of society will get on the same page, accepting people for who they are. For her, and other members of PFLAG, that hope is a treasure at the end of a rainbow. n

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Everyone marches to the be at of a different drum , and for an author with Dix on roots, it’s been a march of time that’s taken readers from the front lines all the way to the White House

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STORY LINDSEY SALVATELLI | FOR DIXON LIVING

uthor Bob O’Connor moved to West Virginia years ago, but the former Dixon resident has returned to Lee County in his latest book. “Recollections of Michael Minnihan of the 105th Illinois Infantry” is the 1963 Dixon High School graduate’s 16th book, and among the many of his works that use historical documents to tell the stories of the Civil War through the eyes of those who lived it. This time, though, O’Connor, who usually writes about people he doesn’t have a connection with, returned to his roots – via his family tree. He teamed up with Spokane, Washington, resident Trish Lombard, a direct descendent of Minnihan. O’Connor’s greatgrandfather, John Paul, was Minnihan’s younger brother. Bob Through their research, O’Connor and O’Connor Lombard uncovered details of Minnihan’s life, an immigrant who escaped Ireland with his parents, Dominick and Elizabeth, and siblings, John Paul and Winny, on what Minnihan called “a coffin ship.” Minnihan moved to Alto, in the northeast corner of Lee County, before enlisting in the 105th Infantry. He began his service at Camp Dixon in 1862. From there, the 105th Infantry shipped out to Camp Douglas in Chicago for training before embarking on a tour of duty that traveled 2,700 miles, 1,200 by train and the rest by foot.

“Recollections of Michael Minnihan of the 105th Illinois Infantry” is author and Dixon native Bob O’Connor’s 16th book. This time, O’Connor, who usually writes about people he doesn’t have a connection with, returned to his roots – via his family tree.

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The 105th served for 33 months, fighting several battles, including one at Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia, approximately 70 miles south of the most southern tip of the Appalachian Mountains. Minnihan’s regiment took part in the famous “March of the Sea” under the command of Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman and was instrumental in the capture of Atlanta and Savannah. The regiment also witnessed the surrender of Gen. Joseph Johnston’s army at Bennet Station, Tennessee. Despite Minnihan living with and serving alongside the soldiers of the 105th Infantry, he and other “fereners” – as they were called – in the regiment were discriminated against by their fellow brothers-in-arms and had to stick together to protect themselves. O’Connor’s fascination with history began in 1958. Young and impressionable, the son of the late Charles and Wilhelmina O’Connor of Dixon went to Galesburg, Illinois, to attend the 100th anniversary of the Lincoln-Douglas debate, where Carl Sandburg was the featured speaker. Fueled by a love of history and sparked by the debate event, O’Connor went on to write stories about the era using historical documents, and sometimes even soldiers’ personal diaries, to weave his tales. “Recollections” isn’t the first time O’Connor’s turned to his family tree for a book. His 14th

book, “I Was a Drummer Boy in the American Civil War,” was an illustrated historical fiction children’s book that told the story of Minnihan’s nephew, James, who also served in the war, as a regimental drummer, including leading the 105th in the Grand Army of the Republic victory parade in Washington at the end of the war. Michael Minnihan gave James a drum as a birthday present during training in Dixon. O’Connor’s other books include works on Harriet Lane, President James Buchanan’s niece, who served as America’s first lady during Buchanan’s presidency; the origins of West Virginia’s statehood; and a book on Abraham Lincoln’s life, transcribed and annotated by O’Connor from an unpublished work by Lincoln’s personal bodyguard that O’Connor discovered at The Huntington Library in California He also hosts a podcast, “The Chronicles of the American Civil War,” pens articles for newspapers and magazines (more than 4,500 at last count), and speaks at libraries, schools, civic groups, book clubs, and – as he says on his website – “to most anyone who will listen.” Judging by the volume of work he’s produced, it looks like a lot of people are listening, and as long as they do, O’Connor will keep taking pages out of history and putting them right back into his books. n

MORE INFORMATION Buy the books – “Recollections of Michael Minnihan of the 105th Illinois Infantry” (191 pages) is available on Amazon.com or at boboconnorbooks.com, and at the Dixon Public Library. To buy O’Connor’s other books, go to his website. You also can follow him at Bob O’Connor Books LLC on Facebook.

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STORY CODY CUTTER PHOTOS MICHAEL KRABBENHOEFT | FOR DIXON LIVING

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If imagination is the playground of the mind, then it’s no wonder Cheyanne Larson’s memories of make-believe inspired her to become an author. And it all started with a grade school game

Today, the Dixon woman’s name graces the covers of eight books, each one a fusion of fond memories, vampire films, a book series, and her own determination. The game of playground make-believe that started it all was Blood Fusion, which, despite its name, was a decidedly non-gory game that has its characters saving the world from evil-doers. The blood in the game’s name refers to blood relatives, the family fighting the good fight. “We played it all of the time,” Larson said, “and I told my friends one day, ‘Why don’t I make this into a book?’ They agreed, and said that they wanted to be in it.” Many years passed before Larson, 24, would finish her first book in 2013, but once she did, the rest of the story started flowing “like water,” she said. Each of the subsequent books in the series took her about a few months each to write, the last of which was completed in September. Continued on page 19

It took Dixon author Cheyanne Larson several years to write the first book in her “Blood Fusion” series, but after that, the rest started flowing “like water,” she said.

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BLOOD FUSION Go to amazon. com to order books from Dixon author Cheyanne Larson’s “Blood Fusion” series. Paperbacks are $16.99, or $9.99 for the Kindle edition. • “Blood Fusion” • “Blood Fusion 2: The Escape of Quinton” • “Blood Fusion 3: The Trap of Dragfo” • “Blood Fusion 4: Bloodlines – Finding of the Father” • “Blood Fusion 5: The Birth and End of Neo Quinton Squad” • “Blood Fusion 6: Wolf Squad Origin – How the Team Came to Be” • “Blood Fusion 7: The Finale” • “Blood Fusion 8: Afterstory – The Final Battle”

Continued from page 18

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The genesis of Larson’s game was inspired by the vampire film series “Underworld” as well as the “Wolf ’s Reign” book series, both of which came out around the same time, in the 2000s. “I started liking werewolves when I started watching it,” she said. “I thought it was so cool that humans would disguise themselves as wolves.” In the first book of the series, which is set several years into the future, a couple of teenagers are given the power to morph into wolves after a freak accident exposes them to gamma radiation. Jeeon becomes Quinton and decides to create an evil organization called The Quinton Squad. The task to stop them falls upon Karbaru and her friends. Quinton escapes in the second book, “The Escape of Quinton,” and becomes a father. Karbaru and the gang have another mission: to cure him from the evil that is controlling him, and help father, son and mother, Abbie, return to normal. The next five books chronicle further battles between Karbaru and Quinton, and the finale, “Afterstory – The Final Battle,” tells the story of the next generation of heroes, led by Karbaru’s son, James.

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Larson’s journey from student to author had her burning through the midnight oil, oftentimes during school days, and some nights she wouldn’t finish writing until 1 or 2 in the morning. She wrote her stories on paper until her mother, Jackie, bought her an electric typewriter, and then a laptop computer. Once she started writing, it wasn’t hard for Larson to dip back into her memories. Larson has Asperger’s syndrome, a high-functioning form of autism that has helped her recall just about any detail she has experienced. “She sees one thing and remembers it,” Jackie said. “She can listen to a song and remember every word. I play ’50s and ’60s music all day, and no matter what I put on, she knows the name, who sang it, and she can sing right along with any song. No matter which one comes up, she knows them all.” For now, Larson’s drawn her last “Blood,” but who knows, another series of books could be just a memory away. n

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A Dixon man went from serving his country to serving his community,

Story begins on next page

where heâ€™s taken steps to stamp out hunger, tackled a project to fight breast cancer, and helped teach teams that working together is a winning formula

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After retiring from the Navy as a senior chief petty officer in 1996, Ron Helfrich took a job at the Dixon post office. Today, he’s a postal supervisor, and a tireless supporter of his community.

on Helfrich thought his leadership duties where behind him. After retiring from the Navy as a senior chief petty officer in 1996, he took a job at the local post office to deliver mail to residents of his native Dixon. But a couple years later, duty called again for Helfrich; this time he was called upon to lead the post office’s Stamp Out Hunger food drive, in which postal carriers in more than 10,000 cities collect food left out by postal patrons. Held the second Saturday of May, it’s the largest one-day food drive in the nation, and Helfrich has been doing his part to help on the local level since 1999. The former Navy officer also wasn’t done getting promoted: During his time at the post office, Helfrich, 61, rose through the ranks to postal supervisor, and he’s helped beef up the food drive’s donations, from about 1,100 pounds in his first year to nearly 15,000 in recent years. So much for retirement.

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Continued on page 23 STORY CODY CUTTER PHOTO MICHAEL KRABBENHOEFT | FOR SMALL TOWN LIVING

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“When I retired, all I wanted to do was be a mailman and just do my own thing,” Helfrich said, but being retired wasn’t all it was cracked up to be; Helfrich wanted to do more. “It had been a few years since I retired, and I was ready to step back up and take on a leadership role.” Having seen Helfrich’s track record with the food drive, other local organizations have approached him to help out. He also is president of the Dixon Quarterback Club, which is the philanthropic wing of the Dixon High School football program; and was co-president of the Northern Illinois Youth Tackle football program for 18 years. As for the food drive, Helfrich estimates that it helps about 700 families a year. One of the ways Helfrich has increased the carriers’ haul over the years is by mailing out fliers ahead of the food drive, which residents often will attach to their donations. Most people donate canned goods, Helfrich said, and that can get pretty heavy. “You’re loading that in your satchel as you’re picking up mail, sometimes when you get a good walking loop where people are generous, that satchel can get pretty heavy by the time you’re done,” he said. After all the food is collected and weighed, he uses his own 6-foot by 12-foot flatbed trailer to haul the goods from the post office to the Dixon Food Pantry; this year, he made four trailer trips. Helfrich said he enjoys seeing the people come together to support their community, especially when it comes to children. Continued on page 24

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“There are a lot of people who recognize that there are some people who are hungry as a result of no fault of their own,” he said. “People run on hard times. They have kids who, obviously, it’s not their fault that they are hungry, and they need assistance with food.” Helfrich not only helps keep kids fed, he helps some of them work it off, too, by encouraging them to become more active in football. The Dixon Quarterback Club does fundraising and organizes camaraderie events for all Dixon-based football teams, from grade school to high school. Head varsity coach Dave Smith approached Helfrich with the idea of organizing, through the club, special events for each varsity home game, such as Senior Night for the first home game and Youth Football Night for the second game.

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“You’re always looking at these kids like you’re doing something to help develop them,” he said. For the third game, Helfrich rounded up honor guards and worked with the local VFW and American Legion chapters to make a special night to pay tribute to veterans and first responders. Football players formed a human tunnel before the game for veterans to walk through. “It’s a big thing, and the kids feel proud to do it,” he said. Nights such as those are special for veterans such as Helfrich. He joined the Navy straight out of Dixon High School, and was at sea to help with the aftermath of the 1983 U.S. Embassy bombing in Beirut, Lebanon. Continued on page 25

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Joining the military wasn’t always a popular choice for teenagers in the 1970s, with the aftermath of the Vietnam War still fresh in their minds. Today, things are different. Several recent Dixon High graduates, including some football players, have made the pledge to serve their country. “There’s always an option that you can go into the military and get a good education, or a good trade, grow up and learn some leadership,” he said. “It’s all paid for, and you’re not going to have college debt.” Helfrich’s most recent project was bringing back the Touchdown for TaTas charity football game, an event in which proceeds go to local health and wellness organizations to help fight breast cancer. He helped with what was thought at the time to be the last game 2 years ago, but with the help of local residents Sarina Venier, Rashaad Lane and Mandy Curia, the event was brought back this year, on Oct. 19, and was a rousing success. “Everyone did a really good job of taking a big chunk out of what to be responsible for, and it worked out real well,” Helfrich said. Like any soldier knows, a mission needs support from back home, and Helfrich has his. He credits his wife of 10 years, Chris, for providing plenty of support and tolerance for all the extra hours of volunteer work. Helfrich hopes his volunteer work will serve as an example to others, and inspire them to do the same. “If you’re in a position to do it, do it.” n

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When Duane Long took over at the Dixon Park District, he had a goal in mind: jump start activity in the city’s parks to give them a much-needed jolt. Now, he’s firing on all cylinders, and he doesn’t plan on slowing down anytime soon STORY RACHEL RODGERS PHOTOS ALEX T. PASCHAL | FOR DIXON LIVING

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uane Long’s main goals after he became executive director of the Dixon Park District last year was to get people back in the parks and to focus on the youth. He envisioned a 3-year plan to accomplish those goals and bring back the lively atmosphere that existed throughout the district when he was a kid – and he, his team and the park board hit the ground running to work toward that end. “As rapid as we’re going, this jolt was overdue,” he said. “We hit it hard to catch up.” “I put my heart and soul into this job, and I think it needed that to get jump started. Now, I don’t know if it’s ever going to slow down.” Some of the projects finished during the past year include the Water Wonderland splash pad in Meadows Park near Wooden Wonderland, a new playground with a zip line stretching 75 feet in Lowell Park, a disc golf course in Lowell Park as well as a new summer camp and park activities. The success of those projects came from listening to what community members wanted, he said.

Dixon Park District Executive Director Duane Long said he and his team have been “hit[ting] it hard” to give the city’s parks a much needed shot in the arm. Among the projects he’s overseen: a new playground at Lowell Park, complete with a zip line, which Adrian Losoya, 10, of Franklin Grove, was enjoying in July.

Continued on page 29

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One of the most popular additions to Dixon’s parks this year is the Water Wonderland splash pad in Meadows Park. Countless kids kept their cool during this past summer’s heat wave, including Audrey (left), 6, and Madeline Pendergrass, 7.

Continued from page 27

Although the district has tackled several projects and new offerings for the community, Long said his proudest accomplishment for his team is generating interest and energy from the public. “The thing about projects is that you start them and then they’re finished,” he said. “With people showing interest and having pride in positive things, that’s what lasts.” There’s also an ice rink on tap to be installed at the Page Park basketball courts come winter, and the district is reviving the longtime discussion of building a community center in Dixon. Also on the list of ideas is building pickleball courts geared toward older park users, skate board features for teenagers and adding more features to the Vaile Park splash pad. He also applied for a grant for another new playground for the south side of town. Continued on page 31

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“

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It’s a demanding job, but the overwhelming support from the community makes the weight relatively easy to carry, he said. “This town is so hungry for the Park District to advance,” he said. The 49-year-old Dixon native has worked for the district for about 25 years, starting out as a seasonal worker mowing, MORE INFO trimming and maintainMore info: dixoning the district’s large parkdistrict.com, or footprint, and about 3 find Dixon Park Disyears later, he became trict on Facebook. maintenance director, Have some ideas or where he worked up input you want to share with Duane? until last year, when he E-mail him at directook the executive director@dixonparkdistor’s job. trict.com He and his wife, Stacy, have been married for more than 2 decades and they have three children: Jessa, Nathan, and Laci. Long said representing and promoting the district is a 24/7 job, and his wife says he never stops working. Even when they’re out of town, Long will snap a few shots of what other parks have to offer. “A huge part of this is everyone being open to change and open to a new vision – the staff, the board, everybody,” he said. “We’ve exceeded expectations in the first year, and I know we’re going to be successful again this year.” n

I put my heart and soul into this job, and I think it needed that to get jump started. Now, I don’t know if it’s ever going to slow down.

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