SVM_Lake Lifestyle_December 2025 by Shaw Media

DECEMBER 2025

Also inside ...

History and headliners share the stage at Historic theater

Gallery is full of art in the heart of downtown

Florist enjoys adding a Special Touch to her colorful creations

Lake Lifestyle hits the rewind button

Exploring careerpaths

Students discover how creativity, communication and confidence can shape their future, thanks to a program that’s helping them learn their A, B, CEO’s

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CONTACT INFO

PUBLISHER Jennifer Heintzelman

EDITING & PAGE DESIGN Rusty Schrader

PUBLISHED BY Sauk Valley Media, 113 S. Peoria Ave. , Dixon, IL 61021

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DECEMBER 2025

Articles and advertisements in this publication are the property of Sauk Valley Media. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Ad content is not the responsibility of Sauk Valley Media. The information in this magazine is believed to be accurate; however, Sauk Valley Media cannot and does not guarantee its accuracy. Sauk Valley Media cannot and will not be held liable for the quality or performance of goods and services provided by advertisers listed in any portion of this magazine.

by . Cody Cutter . Sauk Valley Media

STwo Eastland students — each with a connection to Lake Carroll — discover how creativity, communication and confidence can shape their future, both professionally and personally, thanks to a program that’s helping them learn their A, B, CEO’s

ome people have to work at a job for years to reach the top rung on the corporate ladder, as a CEO.

Others can do it before they even graduate high school.

Take the teens in the CEO class at the Whiteside Area Career Center in Sterling: The 31 high-schoolers in the program this year — a couple of them with connections to Lake Carroll — are learning what it takes to wear a CEO hat before they even don their graduation caps.

Brecken Hayden of Lake Carroll, and Wyatt Carroll of Lanark, who works at the Lake Carroll Golf Course’s pro shop, are students in WACC’s Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities class, getting an in-depth look at how local businesses operate and learning what it takes to become successful in business, communication and professional life.

Wyatt Carroll and Brecken Hayden

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The class visits area businesses on some days, hears from guest speakers — often local business leaders — on other days, and also engages in learning exercises with instructor LeAndra Hartman. Starting with the second quarter of the year, students are paired with a local business mentor who helps them understand the business world.

Students apply for the CEO class and are approved by a selection committee that reviews applications without knowing their names and schools. Students are selected at the end of the prior school year and begin the program in August.

For Brecken, being in the class was an opportunity to explore various businesses and narrow down what he wants to do after graduating from high school. His brother Maddux was in the class during the 2022-23 school year, so Brecken was able to see firsthand how the program can help, not only professionally but personally, and was inspired by his brother’s business journey.

“My brother … wasn’t very outgoing before he took it and I liked all of the stuff that he got out of it, such as social skills,” Brecken said. “It’s cool to explore different businesses to get the insight of everything. It would be nice to have a background in business.”

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Carroll (left) and Brecken Hayden (center) participate in a finance lesson at Midland States Bank in Sterling on Oct. 7 for the CEO program. The presentation was about spending habits, financial goals, investing and budgeting. CEO students will create their own small business later in the school year as part of the class.

KEVIN

Wyatt

WACC CEO FACEBOOK PAGE

Wyatt Carroll (left) and Rock Falls High School junior Trail Stonitsch share ideas during a CEO class session Oct. 8. The class was brainstorming themes for the Sauk Valley Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner this January.

When Brecken’s brother went through the class, he partnered with fellow CEO student Donovan Kuhlemier to operate Re Nue, which made handmade, affordable eco-friendly jewelry.

That experience left an impression on Brecken, showing him how much could be accomplished with creativity and drive. Now, he’s following a similar path, eager to see where his own ideas might lead as the class turns inspiration into action.

“It was cool to see how Maddux started from nothing and made money just from this class,” Brecken said. “With the benefits you get out of it, there’s increased communication skills. Most of our speakers will tell us that at the end of the year when you graduate and are then looking for a job, they know your name because you’re in this class and you’re putting yourself out there.”

One thing Brecken learned from his brother was to take his mentor’s advice seriously and not be afraid to ask questions. “He told me that I should work with my mentor and get comfortable with asking for help because it would make it a lot easier,” he said.

As for Wyatt, he was intrigued seeing how the seeds of success grow, learning how to build a business from the ground up.

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“I thought CEO was a great opportunity to learn new things about the business world because I want to consider that as a career,” he said. “I felt that it’s a really good opportunity for me to get more ideas about how the business world runs, and how people can start from nothing and come up with something and love what they do.”

In addition to getting a hands-on education from business professionals, students also create their own small businesses and raise seed money to start them. The business plans start around the beginning of the year and the student businesses make their public debut during a trade show in April at Northland Mall in Sterling.

“I’m looking forward to making my business and reaping what I sow,” Wyatt said. “When you make money from the things you make with your business, I feel like you’re going to be successful.”

Brecken and Wyatt are two of 18 Eastland students who have been in the class. Recent Lake Carroll students also have included Adam Awender, who was in the class last year; and Maliah Grenoble and Jason Prowant, who were students two years ago.

The Whiteside Area Career Center is a cooperative high school consisting of juniors and seniors from 15 area high schools who receive education in specific career fields. The CEO program began in 2013 with support from local businesses and community leaders to create experiential learning opportunities for students who want to become entrepreneurs. Funding for CEO comes from local businesses and private individuals.

Hartman, a retired high school teacher at Eastland, has been teaching in the program since it began. Nearly 250 students have been part of the class, and some have even seen their CEO business last into their adulthood.

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Hartman

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“As facilitators, our job is to organize business visits and bring speakers to the class on a wide range of topics, from business-related, leadership and self growth,” Hartman said. “Students love to hear the stories or how business folks got to where they are today. Instead of a textbook, this class is built on hearing and seeing business knowledge firsthand. Many students sign up to improve their own personal growth, such as public speaking, handshakes, conversation skills, time management. All of this is learned by interacting with highly effective business leaders.”

In just the first quarter of the year, both Brecken and Wyatt said they’ve already noticed how much they’ve grown. What began as a class about business has unfolded into an exercise of self-assurance and purpose, the kind that happens when students are pushed just far enough beyond what’s familiar.

“I feel like I’ve learned more about how to better communicate with people,” Wyatt said. “Before that, I would get lazy and use a lot of filler words, like ‘uh,’ and I feel like I’ve gotten better at that. It’s important if I want to become something in the business world because I feel like I can be taken more seriously when I’m talking.”

For Brecken, the lessons have been just as personal. The class has become a kind of testing ground for ideas. Hesitation slowly gives way to confidence, and speaking up has started to feel less like a risk and more like a responsibility.

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conversation skill exercise during a CEO class Aug. 29 in Sterling.

Brecken Hayden (right) works with Emmaline Burger of Newman Central Catholic High School on a

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“I’ve learned to throw my ideas out there,” he said. “I feel that when I first started, I wasn’t real comfortable, and scared of opinions. I’ve learned that ... that there’s no shame in throwing something out there, even if it’s ridiculous. It may be a good idea and people might agree with it. You got to get out of your comfort zone to do that.”

That comfort zone has become even bigger, thanks to his classmates. Each student in the CEO program comes from a different school and hometown, and in those differences, Brecken and Wyatt have found new perspectives.

“It’s been eye-opening because in our small, tight-knit community, everyone’s kind of the same type of people; we think the same, especially among all of our friends because we grew up together,” Wyatt said. But being in class with students from other communities, “you get to hear all different kinds of opinions because of the different backgrounds of everyone, and how they bring it to the class.”

As the year goes on, both students said they hope others will take advantage of the opportunity that’s shaped them so much already. Already, they’ve seen how the class can change the way they look at themselves, and what they believe they’re capable of.

“If you do the class, nothing bad’s going to come out of it and you’re going to do positive things,” Brecken said. “It gets your name out there, and the benefits and experiences make it all cool.” n

Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.

MORE INFO

Whiteside Area Career Center's Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities (CEO) program, based in Sterling, consists of juniors and seniors enrolled at 15 local high schools, including Eastland High School in Lanark. Enrollment in the program is through an application process. The program is funded by local businesses and private individuals. Find it on Facebook or Instagram, go to wacc-ceo.com or email info@wacc-ceo.com to learn more about the program or to become an investor.

Want to see some live entertainment? Hear a band? How about catching a movie? All it takes is a ticket and a trip to a theater where history and headliners share equal billing

experience something new and entertaining in Dixon, audiences need only to step into something old.

In a venue where the past and the present are costars, The Dixon Historic Theatre offer a one-of-a-kind entertainment experience. Movies and music, stage shows and storytelling, tribute acts and traveling shows — the historic building in the heart of downtown Dixon brings a lot to the stage.

Want to see a tribute to Taylor Swift or the Trans Siberian Orchestra? How about watching a holiday classic like “Home Alone” or “White Christmas” (or a certain movie that diehard fans will debate whether or not is really a holiday classic). Maybe you want to see a circus performer bubbling over with talent or fab females sing The Beatles? When the lights go down and the curtains go up, you’ll find them in a town where entertainment and history go hand in hand, from its grand old theater to a Grand Old Party member who found fame both on a silver screen and a White House.

Less than a mile from Ronald Reagan’s boyhood home, what began as an opera house and vaudeville venue when it opened in 1922 still stands today, now offering a variety of entertainment options that people of all ages can enjoy. The historical heartbeat of Dixon’s cultural scene, the theater is a grand and glittering testament to the town’s artistic spirit. Its distinctive Art Deco charm, renowned acoustics, and nearly 1,000-seat capacity have helped make it a destination for both locals and visitors alike.

Executive director Spencer Aurand grew up around Dixon’s arts culture, and has brought his experiences to his role at the theater since taking charge in March, coming over from Dixon Stage Left, another of Dixon’s performing arts venues.

Spencer Aurand

Executive director, Dixon Historic Theatre

The Dixon Historic Theater Executive director Spencer Aurand grew up around Dixon’s arts culture, and has been in charge of the theater since March.

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“The building itself is pretty special,” Aurand said. “We have a lot of traveling artists who come through and say this place is amazing, and the sound is really good. It was designed to sound really good, so that musicians and artists could sit on stage and play and not even need amplification. Now we do very different performances than they did back then, where now we’re doing a lot of tribute and rock shows where they want it to be really loud and amplified, and we can do that.”

The Dixon Theatre, shortly after it opened in 1922.

sections” here — even the back row seating is just 75 feet from the stage.

“People who think we’re a lot bigger than what we actually are will probably think that if they get tickets [to a concert] in the back that they’re not going to have a good experience,” Aurand said, but “you’re going to be closer than probably 99 percent of the people who will see that band on tour in bigger venues and be 50 or 60 yards away with seats that are three times as expensive as our front row.”

The theater also features concession stands just outside the seating area where patrons can grab a drink, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.

The Dixon Historic Theatre’s spring season brings an eclectic mix of music, comedy, theater, and family fun to its stage. Tickets are available online and at the box office at the theater.

Aurand is proud of the theater’s acoustics, and has talked with many artists who’ve performed there who said the theater is the best they’ve sounded in months, adding that some want to return because of that.

The theater seating is spread throughout lower and upper sections, with private boxes along the edge of the upper section. No “nosebleed

The lineup opens with Windy City Dueling Pianos on Jan. 31, a high-energy interactive show where two pianists trade songs and jokes with the audience. February amps up the rock nostalgia with AC/DC tribute band Thunderstruck, followed by the off-Broadway comedy “Triple Espresso,” a show about three hapless performers chasing fame. Rounding out the month, MJ Illusion delivers a Michael Jackson tribute filled with choreography and iconic hits, while country artist Ray Scott brings his down-home storytelling to close February.

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MOREinfo

The Dixon Historic Theater is located at 114 S. Galena Ave. in Dixon. The box office is open noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, noon to 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and during select weekends during shows. Email info@ dixontheatre.com or go to dixontheatre.com for more and updated information. Contact the box office at 815-508-6324 or the theater at 779-250-9951.

COMING attractions

The Dixon Municipal Band Annual Christmas Concert — Saturday, Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m.

Movie: “Home Alone” — Friday, Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m.

Taylorville: Taylor Swift tribute — Saturday, Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m.

Movie: “White Christmas” — Friday, Dec. 19, 7:30 p.m.

The Prophecy Show: Trans Siberian Orchestra tribute — Saturday, Dec. 17, 7:30 p.m.

Windy City Dueling Pianos — Saturday, Jan. 31, 7:30 p.m.

Thunderstruck: AC/DC tribute — Saturday, Feb. 7, 7:30 p.m.

Go to dixontheatre.com/ events-schedule/ for more information on upcoming shows, and tix.com/ticket-sales/thedixon/6626 to buy tickets.

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Rosemary Flikkema OWNER, THE SPECIAL TOUCH

SPECIAL THE PERSONAL

By CODY CUTTER Sauk Valley Media

A Lanark florist who sees the world through Rosemary-colored glasses loves to help people find just the right flowers for any occasion, from roses of red to violets of blue

When it comes to saying something with flowers, it helps to find someone who knows the language.

Rosemary Flikkema speaks it fluently.

The Lanark shop owner understands the power of flowers and how to harness it. Whether she’s helping someone send a simple greeting or a message from the heart, she knows what it takes to turn petals into prose.

It takes a special touch — and that’s not just a phrase, it’s the name of her flower shop.

Flikkema is the florist who brings 33 years of experience and confidence to The Special Touch, helping customers turn a kind gesture into a lasting memory, using the colors from a palette of petals like paint on a canvas to create unforgettable art from the heart, neatly arranged and topped off with a special touches — a thoughtful note tucked into a bouquet, a ribbon tied just right, or a gift to go along with the flowers.

Her time in the business has helped Flikkema understand that a flower shop is a place where expressions of happiness and heartbreak can be wrapped up in the same careful hands, and she thinks about that when creating floral arrangements for occasions, from celebrations of love to celebrations of life. Every bouquet carries a story — a silent beauty that speaks volumes — be it a bride’s joy, a family’s farewell, or a simple thank you from one neighbor to another. It’s that meaning behind the work that helps keep Flikkema inspired.

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“For me, the best part is creating or designing an arrangement, and having people come back later and say, ‘Wow, those flowers are great,’ ‘They lasted a long time,’ ‘I’m so happy that we got them,’” Flikkema said. “That’s the perk to the job.”

More than just flowers, the shop also carries gifts to go along with them.

“We’ve incorporated gift items because most of the time flowers go along with some sort of gift,” Flikkema said. “We have jewelry, clothing and little decorative items that people can use in their homes that maybe someone would say, ‘She’d like that.’ Or a husband can come in and say, ‘I need something; what can I give besides the flowers?’”

Customers can find concrete angels, wind chimes, pottery, candles and inspirational signs. In December, the place glows with Christmas decor that warms shoppers’ hearts when its gets cold outside. She even makes wine, cookie and dip baskets for customers who want to go beyond bouquets.

Still, flowers remain Flikkema’s pride and joy.

“My mainstay has been with the flowers,” she said — and that mainstay’s staying power is important, she adds.

“We are able to keep our flowers the freshest that we can so that people enjoy their long-lasting look.”

Longevity, she said, is part science and part patience, a blend of good sourcing, careful handling, and constant attention to detail that ensures each bloom last as long as it can.

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Want to add a splash of color to someone’s day?

Rosemary Flikkema, at The Special Touch, is happy to help.

Boathouse

“You want to make sure your water is clean so that you don’t get any mold in them, because that will get up the stems and will kill the flower,” Flikkema said. “You really have to be clean about taking care of them.”

Some flowers, she explained, are especially finicky. “Roses and hydrangeas require a special solution to be put in the water in order to open up the stem for water intake, otherwise they will clot,” she said.

Flikkema’s arrangements are guided by instinct, but also by geometry — a thoughtful blend and careful balance of artistry and precision that’s kept her business thriving.

“I fall back on one of the rules of thumb: When you have a container, you make your flower arrangement two-and-a-half times higher than the height of the container,” Flikkema said. “It gives you perspective, and it gives you height. The other rule of thumb is that you do things in threes; you want it to be a triangular effect because people’s eyes are able to follow things if they are in a triangle.”

The shop doesn’t have its own greenhouse, but Flikkema gets her flowers from all sorts of places — California, South America, Hawaii and the Netherlands among her sources. She’s watched the flower landscape expand dramatically through the years, with the international market becoming much more prevalent than it used to be, she said, which has led to a greater palette of petals from which to choose.

“The ability to get an assortment of flowers has greatly increased over time,” Flikkema said. “At the very beginning, when I first got involved in flowers, there were certain flowers that you could get, but the types of flowers that you can get now have definitely grown, and the quantity also has.”

One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is flowers’ place in special occasions, especially weddings. When it comes to weddings, Flikkema likes to be able to say “I can” to couples’ ideas for their “I do’s”

If a bride has a particular variety in mind, or comes in with a picture and a question — “Can we get these flowers?” — Flikkema likes to answer “Yes.” She can find out whether they’ll be available for the special day and let the budget-minded bride know how much they’ll cost.

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situation.

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The wedding trend lately? It’s all about the peony.

“One flower that’s been popular lately for weddings has been peonies,” Flikkema said. “Peonies are a flower that has a short time span in which it appears, but we can get ones that have a little bit longer of a period of time because there are growers out there who will grow them. It depends on their growing conditions. There still is a time frame on peonies, and I can’t get them in the winter.”

White or pink, it doesn’t matter, she said: “I think women who are choosing now like the big, full look of it,” she added. “They like the peonies. They’re showy blooms.”

Hydrangeas, she said, have become a year-round substitute for couples who crave the same lush fullness but want to stretch their budgets.

Navigating brides through timing and cost is something she’s learned can be as delicate as the flowers themselves.

“Usually I recommend that you talk to a florist when you find out when you’ll be married and have an idea what you want,” she said. “First of all, book the date. Not all florists can do multiple weddings on one day. Then give your florist an idea of what your color scheme is, and what it is you’re looking for. I can be looking out for that trend. The earlier you get them involved, the better they can look out for you as far as having what you want.”

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Another change in wedding flowers: bouquets with a natural look.

“It used to be that everything was in a plastic holder for weddings, so that there was water for all of the flowers,” she said. “Now, the trend is that you don’t have that plastic, and just have it look as if they went out and grabbed a bunch of flowers. It’s a trend that’s lasted for quite some time. Most girls are liking the look of having just gone out and picked them.”

For all the joy and celebration that flows through her work, there’s a somber side to the flower business, too: Funerals are occassions where arrangements serves as memorials to loved ones, the brightness of their beauty bringing light to a dark day.

She deals with funerals, she said, “as gently as I can.”

“I know how hard it is, no matter when it happens,” Flikkema said. “We try very hard when the family comes in to give them all options, whether the funeral is a traditional service or a cremation.”

One option is to incorporate cherished memories into the floral displays. “We try to help the family find something that’s special to that person,” she said. “I’ve put golf clubs in casket pieces, I’ve put hats in casket pieces, I’ve put rusty wire in casket pieces. If they have something that is a representation of that person, we try to incorporate it as best we can. It can be very special for the family to have that as the lasting remembrance.

Flikkema can deliver her special touch to communities throughout the area — Lake Carroll, Shannon, Forreston, Chadwick, Mount Carroll, Pearl City, Milledgeville — and for those wanting to send flowers outside the area, she can help them skip the wire services and the middleman markup.

“If you want to send to a funeral in Chicago, for example, I know of the florists there,” she said. “I can call them up and have them get this done for you and charge a minimum fee.”

When it comes to a busy time for blooms, Mother’s Day, surprisingly, outpaces even Valentine’s Day. It’s the busiest stretch of Flikkema’s year, when families call from near and far to send a reminder of love, and husbands and sons stop in for last-minute bouquets.

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HAPPY

LIDAYS

Wishing Lake Carroll a safe and wonderful holiday season!

Rhett Coatney

105 S Broad St Lanark, IL 61046-1203

https://www.countryfinancial.com/rhett.c rhett.coatney@countryfinancial.com 815-493-2544

“Most guys think of red roses,” Flikkema said. “We get a lot of red roses. Sometimes guys come in and are very set on wanting a dozen red roses. With some of them, I can tell them, ‘Why don’t we do three or four red roses and some other flowers that will be more longer lasting?’ Sometimes they’ll take that option. We let them know that, yes, most women want the rose, but if you put other ones in there, they’re usually just as happy, if not happier. Roses will last a good five to six days, but these other flowers will last two weeks.”

Flikkema wasn’t always a florist. In fact, her early life was more test tubes than tulips.

She grew up in Arlington Heights and earned a degree in medical technology, a field she expected to spend her career in. But when she became a young mother, she felt a pull toward something that would let her stretch her creativity, and herself, a bit further.

The shop had been in town for a couple of decades before Flikkema purchased it from Patti Kloepping in 1992, and she began her creative journey through flowers. She added the gift selection a few years later. SPECIAL cont’d from page 25

The Special Touch also carries a selection of gift items that can complement any floral arrangement.

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PHOTOS: CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.

Get in Touch

The Special Touch, 504 W. state Route 64 in Lanark, is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. Find it on Facebook, go to specialtouchflowers.net or call 815-493-6366 for more information.

She also owns the entire building, which she’s turned into a mini mall, home to a few small businesses that share the spaces; the largest of which is Twice-Sold Tales, a used bookstore operated by the Friends of the Lanark Public Library.

“I needed an outlet,” Flikkema said. “I was newly married with twins and a 16-month-old, and after a while I was like, ‘I’ve got to do something out of the house.’ I needed to find something to do other than being a mom at home, and find something that was creative. Patti, at the time, had been looking for a way to sell, and so we came to an agreement.”

Even during her school days, flowers interested her, so The Special Touch was a good fit — and decades later, it still is.

“I’ve always been interested in flowers and plants, how they grow and where they come from,” Flikkema said. “It seemed like the right niche for me. I took a couple of courses for design, but a lot of it you learn on the job. You see what people are liking, and try and do something similar to what they like.” n Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.

RUSTY SCHRADER/SVM PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

oing to school in Como, art wasn’t one of Sharon Boyles’ favorites classes, and it wasn’t something she was all that interested in growing up either.

Then she moved to Morrison.

It was there that her children learned to appreciate art more than she had when she was in school, and it was there where she started stretching her creative muscles, making naturethemed, mosaic-like art pieces from cloth to show family and friends. She began connecting with the community on a different level, finding like-minded lovers of creativity and artistic expression.

Then she started getting Lofty ambitions. That led Boyles to not only find a creative outlet, but a place on the board of directors at an art gallery right in her hometown.

Boyles and nearly 35 other local artists have works on display and for sale at The Loft on Main, a downtown gallery and studio showcasing nearly 1,500 works in various mediums — oil, acrylic, pastel and watercolor painting, drawings, wood and glass art, ceramics, jewelry, photography and fabric — all on display throughout two floors of its downtown storefront. Not all the pieces are on display at all times, due to space considerations, but they all eventually find their way onto walls and displays, waiting for gallery-goers and art-buyers to give them a new home.

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CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM

Sharon Boyles shows photos of some of her mosaic-like fabric art. Her pieces are on display at The Loft on Main art gallery in Morrison, and Boyles serves on its board of directors. She said she came to enjoy art later in life, inspired by the community around her, and enjoys seeing the results of other people’s inspiration at the gallery. “I marvel at what people can do,” she said.

Why Customers Trust Touchpoint Logistics:

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The gallery welcomes works from Whiteside and nearby counties, curating a collection of creativity from throughout the area that offers people a place in Morrison where art takes center stage and the audience plays a part too, supporting and celebrating local talent.

Maybe they just stop by ponder over a thoughtprovoking painting, maybe they’re looking for a statement piece to take home that says something about their personality, or a little something to liven up their living room, or maybe they want a truly one-of-a-kind gift — it’s all there, and unlike big-city galleries, the intimacy of The Loft’s surroundings creates a closer connection between the artists and their community.

“Sometimes people come in and see the work of people that they know, and they’re like, ‘I didn’t know they did this,’” Boyles said. “I think it’s really inspirational to see all of the different styles. None of the people here duplicate anybody. They’ll see something simple, like a bowl of oranges, and will be like, ‘It is so beautiful!’ It’s enlightening that way, and it gives them something to talk to them about when they see them next time.”

More than just a gallery though, The Loft is also involved in curating the next generation of artists, supporting the arts, hosting occasional art classes, and promoting and supporting other art events in town, such as Odell Public Library’s Tiny Art Show (held this past March) and the annual Paint the Town on Main Street (on Sept. 25 this year). Its Coffee and Conversation program, on every third Thursday morning, attracts artists and art lovers alike to get to know pieces a little more and catch up with creators to learn what projects they have in store.

While a small town in the heart of farm country — where there’s a lot more hay lofts than art Lofts — may not seem to some people a likely home for a thriving art scene, The Loft’s roots actually stretch back to the city’s early years, when the seeds for the city’s creative community were planted.

More than 100 years ago, seats of county govern ment such as Morrison often attracted professionals such as doctors, lawyers, educators and businesspeople. Their presences didn’t just bring wealth and sta tus to towns, but also an appreciation for the arts that’s been, and continues to be, handed down through the generations.

Boyles cites her children’s art teacher, Ned Nesti Jr., as an inspiration for growing the community’s art culture in recent years, which led to the gallery’s opening in 2017 with support from the Morrison Area Development Corporation.

“The art program in Morrison was way above-and-beyond,” Boyles said. “It was incredible. He got the kids’ works published in scholastic arts magazines. He opened that up, and it’s always had support. The arts really are supported in Morrison, and it’s here to stay.”

Some artists draw their inspiration from local landmarks, like this print of a detailed drawing of the Annan Grist Mill in Morrison, featuring cutaway views of the mill and its inner workings when it was still an operating mill.

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Paintings, jewelry, glass pieces, woodwork, ceramics, photography and more ... the mediums are almost as limitless as the creativity at The Loft on Main in Morrison. Said Sharon Boyles , one of the artists whose found a home for her talents there: “I think it’s really inspirational to see all of the different styles.”

While inspiration can strike anytime and anywhere, it sometimes strikes close to home, with some of the works at The Loft based on local sights , such as the Annan Mill, showcased in a pencil drawing on the second floor. Some pieces are inspired by fellow artists, such as one Boyles says she created after seeing a photo at the gallery: “There’s one piece that’s a photograph and I was inspired by it, and I have a piece called ‘Inspired.’”

It was a moment of serendipity that reinforced Boyles’ belief that art can be for anyone — even students who prefer recess to Rembrandt.

“I didn’t like art in school,” she said, but when she started tapping into her talents and channeling her creativity into fabric art, it unlocked a desire to do more. You don’t need to be a trained artist with years of projects in your portfolio to start creating or be in a gallery; sometimes you can just make things up out of whole cloth, like Boyles.

For those who think they’re not creative, Boyles said maybe “you just haven’t found your medium yet.”

“I marvel at what people can do,” she said.

Want to showcase your work? Each piece is juried by the gallery’s board of directors, led by Morrison mayor Scott Vandermyde as its president. Each potential new piece is considered for craftsmanship, selection and application of materials, technique, concept, originality and presentation.

Joan Vander Bleek has lived in Morrison for more than 30 years and exhibits her oil and acrylic paintings at The Loft. “This is a really unique area,” she said. “There are all kinds of creative people, and there's a lot of art for such a small community. If this wasn’t here, I probably wouldn't have developed this far."

CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM

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Vandermyde isn’t an artist himself, but has come to appreciate it over the years, he said. He recently helped one of the gallery’s featured woodworkers, his predecessor as Morrison mayor, Everett Pannier, sand pieces for one of his works. Vandermyde’s dual role as the gallery’s board president and city’s mayor puts him in a unique position to help get the word not only about the gallery, but the city where it makes its home.

“We just need to continue to find ways to get the word out,” Vandermyde said. “We’re always talking about our publicity strategy. “We’re also using it as a bit of a social stop, too. We want to sell stuff and have the artists get commission and exposure, but we also want to do more social things, too.

If people see something they like, maybe they’ll come back and buy it.”

Joan Vander Bleek has lived in Morrison for more than 30 years and exhibits her oil and acrylic paintings at the gallery. Much of her work is done on small canvases and feature a variety of sights. She’s always eager to enhance her craft through workshops and classes, and like Boyle, she too has found inspiration from not only her fellow artists, but her hometown.

“This is a really unique area,” Vander Bleek said. “I’m shocked that we have this many artists in such a small community. There are all kinds of creative people, and there’s a lot of art for such a small community. If this wasn’t here, I probably wouldn’t have developed this far. I was just dabbling in painting, but having this here and having them say that you should put your stuff in here, it’s really helped a lot of people grow.”

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are Lake Carroll

The Loft on Main is a not-for-profit organization that relies on donations, benefactors and grants to offset costs one of the biggest of which is rent, which is paid to the building owners, who also have a vacation rental on one end of the second floor.

Another way The Loft generates support for the arts is making the pieces affordable. The more pieces that go out the door and into people’s homes, the more word spreads.

“It works for here because we’re in a smaller market where you can’t put big price tags on them,” Vander Bleek said. “If something of mine turns out pretty nice, I’ll put them in here.”

Like other nonprofits, The Loft wouldn’t be possible without the volunteers and supporters who give their time and effort to the cause of creativity. The gallery is always looking for volunteers — a challenge that’s been even more difficult since Covid — who can guide people through the gallery when it’s open, from Thursday to Saturday,

MORE INFO

The Loft on Main, 112 E. Main St. in Morrison, is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Find it on Facebook and Instagram, go to theloftonmain.org, email theloftonmaingallery@gmail. com or call 815-772-4005 for more information and special events.

as well as board members and instructors for art classes.

Even those who don’t want to volunteer can still help, with word of mouth. Art may speak volumes, but it only takes a few good words to let people know that there’s an art gallery full of talent in the heart of Morrison. Boyles said that even though The Loft’s been around for nearly 10 years, local people still stop by who say they didn’t know there was a gallery in their hometown.

Whether it’s someone just dropping by for a visit, or an artist who’s found their calling, Boyles just hopes people pay a call to The Loft.

“I can’t say enough good about this place,” Boyles said. “For me, it’s my way to give back to the community. My boys got such a great art education here, and this is something I can do to help promote it, and keep the people interested in creating.” n Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.

Specialty Magazines

To request your FREE copy, simply call 815-632-2566

60 STORIES, Twelve issues,

A look back at Lake Lifestyle’s 2025 journey through Lake Carroll, northern Illinois, and beyond

ith another year starting to wind down, read ers of Lake Lifestyle may look back and ask themselves: “What have I learned about the community that I didn’t know before?”

We hope the answer is: A lot.

Each year, the team at Lake Lifestyle delivers around 60 new stories across its 12 monthly issues — and with this year being the fifth anniversary of the magazine, that means there’s been more than 300 opportunities since the first edition in April 2020 for readers to learn more about their friends and neighbors, the community they call home, and interesting places in communities that others call home.

That’s why Lake Lifestyle is here for you.

Not everyone in Lake Carroll is a local native, and as people from different places and walks of life choose the community as their new home, whether full- or part-time, they’re bound to want to learn more about not only living the lake lifestyle, but all the places to explore and people to meet in and around their new surroundings.

Perusing the pages of Lake Lifestyle, you’ve met neighbors in your neighborhood and events they’ve been a part of in their lakeside community. We’ve taken you to places to visit, places to shop, and places to eat.

From the start of the new year to the holiday season, Lake Lifestyle has traveled across northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin and eastern Iowa, uncovering stories both close to home and beyond the lake. We cheered with Lake Carroll’s high school athletes, met the people keeping local businesses alive, and we took day trips that explored places from the Mississippi River to haunted houses to skydiving adventures. Through it all, Lake Lifestyle continued its mission of showcasing the people, places and experiences that make this part of Illinois feel like home.

So turn the page and join use for a look back at what we’ve featured in 2025 …

January’s edition

kicked the year off with a Q&A with Lake Carroll’s Sydney Gassman, a cheerleader at Eastland High School. At the time of our interview, the sophomore was in the middle of her winter cheer season rooting on Eastland’s boys basketball team, and when the Cougars made it to this year’s state tournament in Champaign, she got to cheer on the State Farm Arena floor, where the University of Illinois sports teams play. Three businesses were also highlighted in that issue: Duckman’s Jerk Shack’s Jamaican cuisine in Freeport; Megz Country Cheese and its wide variety of cheeses in Davis, and Kim’s Gateway Antiques in Polo. Also in that issue: A roundup of roller skating rinks and bowling alleys in the area.

In February, a Q&A with Lake Carroll Board President Sheri Capuzi shared how the board dealt with many changes in the community. This year has been a busy one for the leadership since my interview with her, especially in dealing with the lake’s algae issue and the search for a new general manager. Four more businesses were featured: Brooks Jewelers in Oregon; The Novel Bloom in Savanna, which is a combination book store, flower shop and coffee bar; Sugarbaker’s in Lena, originally featured in 2020 and now once again under new ownership; and Koeller Hardware in Forreston — whose co-owner, Jane Koeller, also has made appearances at the Lake Carroll Farmers Market selling her Grandma J’s Sweet Treats.

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March featured five businesses: Blackhawk Steak Pit in Oregon, with its charcoalgrilled steaks; Yellow Creek Quilt Designs in Pearl City; Cheesekake Ko. in Ashton, whose treats also are available at select locations in north central Illinois; Roaming Mare Mobile Bar in Sterling, which specializes in weddings; and White Pines Lodge in Oregon.

April marked Lake Lifestyle’s fifth anniversary. That edition looked back to the past five years, and also included a look at what was happening at the Davis Community Center in Mount Carroll; a preview of the spring Pec Thing flea market in Pecatonica; a day trip to Baumgartner’s in Monroe, which is the oldest cheese store in Wisconsin; and a feature on Ev Marie Boutique in Lena (unfortunately, Ev Marie closed in July).

MONDAY - FRIDAY: 8:30 AM-5:00 PM • SATURDAY: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (ALSO OPEN BY APPOINTMENT)

Lake Carroll connections were most represented this year in the May edition. It previewed Fawn Ridge Real Estate’s Home and Garden Show, which was June 7; featured Shannon’s Bethel United Methodist Church’s Church on the Lake, held on summer Sundays at the East Marina; and wrapped up Eastland High School boys basketball’s second place season with memories from Lake Carroll’s Adam Awender (photo at left), Braden Anderson and Brayden Jackson. The edition also previewed the Great Galena Balloon Race at The Galena Territory on June 20-22, and featured Freeport Honda Kawasaki and its vehicles. REWIND cont’d to page 40

Want to know what’s happening with the real estate market in Lake Carroll? July’s edition featured Q&As with local Realtors.

The Lake Carroll Recreation Club also was featured (and the club has grown its activities since the article came out). Schell Farm Produce in Chadwick was the business feature. Previews of Forreston’s Sauerkraut Days and the Willow Folk Fest rounded out the magazine.

Lake Carroll business owners were highlighted in August’s edition, with a story on Brian and Donna Cardwell’s (at left) AutoSmart, which sells vintage vehicles along with their line of Chicago Jax Wax, both from its Freeport store; and Amy Groezinger’s (below) Wildflour Baking, serving delicious treats at the Lake Carroll Farmers Market. The Polo Area Community Theatre also was featured, which has five shows lined up for its 2025-26 season; a day trip to the Rochelle Railroad Park was also featured, as well as The Rink at Pine Creek in Mt. Morris.

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In September, Mari Jo Hecker’s (at left) cardio fitness classes at the Davis Community Center were featured, along with the Lake Carroll resident’s distance running career. Winnebago County’s forest preserves were the month’s day trip feature, and business spotlights were on Danlee Wood Products of Forreston and 4 Seasons bowling alley in Freeport.

This year’s Club Champion golfer, Kaden Brown, was featured in a Q&A about his performance at the event and his love of golf. Brown, a Forreston High School senior, recently concluded his prep golf season with a top 40 finish at the Illinois state meet.

The golf spotlight continued into October with the Mr. and Mrs. Club Championship, won by Rick and Barb Curia (at right). Spooky adventures took center stage, with a roundup of haunted houses, along with paranormal investigations — aka ghost hunts — done by 2 a.m. Paranormal in Savanna. Featured businesses were Hilldale Cafe and Catering in Lanark and Black Diamond Music Store in Freeport.

Last month, Lake Carroll’s community-wide garage sales showed a little of what its residents enjoy having around the home — and what they wanted to see find a new home. Places to buy board and card game were explored, and business features were on Wishful Acres Brewery in Lena; Reclamation Station and Stoney Creek Designs in Savanna, and Red Knight Pub in Stockton.

Shaw Media, publisher of Lake Lifestyle, also publishes a line of magazines covering the people, places and happenings throughout northwest Illinois. Among them: SterlingRock Falls Living, Dixon Living, Small Town Living East (rural Lee County), Small Town Living West (rural Whiteside County. Ogle County Living, Carroll County Living, Ag Mag, Sauk Valley Weddings, Golf Guide. Current and back issues of our speciality publications can be found at shawlocal.com/saukvalley/enewspaper/ — scroll down, click on the publication you want to read, and enjoy ...

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While Lake Lifestyle is happy to tell readers about all the places people can explore outside of Lake Carroll, we love highlighting people in Lake Carroll: their accomplishments, interests and the events they’re part of in the community. Have a story idea? We’re all ears. Some of the stories you’ve read this year were suggestions from Lake Carroll residents, each eager to share what they thought was interesting to their community. And of course, each issue of Lake Lifestyle is filled with ads offering products and services you can use. Whether you’re remodeling your home or a buying a new one, looking for some new furniture or a new set of wheels or a watercraft, our advertisers can help. We appreciate their support of Lake Lifestyle’s mission, and we hope you’ll support them in theirs.

Whether you are looking renovate your

Lake Lifestyle is a magazine devoted to you, the people who make Lake Carroll the unique and fun place that it is. Do you know someone whose story would be a great one to share? Someone with a neat hobby, or who brings something new to the community? Is there anything unique about the area that you would like to learn more about? Share away! I can be reached at ccutter@shawmedia.com or 815-632-2532. Do you have any interesting pictures of life on the lake? We also feature occasional galleries of reader photos. Maybe you’ve captured photos you want to share of the Northern Lights, family fun, awesome memories from a Lake Carroll event, or some handiwork from your hobby. Send them our way!

Don’t have a copy of the magazine? Online copies of every issue can be found by going to shawlocal.com/sauk-valley/enewspaper and clicking on the Lake Lifestyle button. The online magazines are posted during the first week of the month, and usually are available prior to the actual magazine coming in the mail, so if you’re really eager to read it, check it out online. Thank you for reading, and we hope we continue to help Lake Carroll become the great place it is. n

Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.