NOVEMBER 2026
Also inside ...
Lanark business serves up drinks, with a Side of food Designing women can transform your house into a place where you’ll feel right at home A Hometown mechanic is looking down the road to help customers
A Lake Carroll couple cut from the same camouflaged cloth is helping veterans and first responders get on the road to recovery
A Lake Carroll man with military branches on his family tree salutes their service by preserving their stories
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NOVEMBER 2026
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PUBLISHER Jennifer Heintzelman EDITING & PAGE DESIGN Rusty Schrader PUBLISHED BY Sauk Valley Media, 113 S. Peoria Ave. , Dixon, IL 61021 STORY IDEA FOR LAKE LIFESTYLE? E-mail rschrader@saukvalley.com FOR ADVERTISING Contact Jill Reyna at 815-631-8774 or jreyna@ saukvalley.com ADDRESS CHANGE FOR LAKE LIFESTYLE? E-mail info@golakecarroll.com
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Taking the first, and Last, step A Lake Carroll couple cut
from the same camouflaged cloth is helping veterans and first responders get on the road to recovery.
Doing things by the book
A Lake Carroll man with a lot of military branches on his family tree salutes their service by preserving their stories.
Drinks with a Side of food
A Lanark bar’s neighbor is serving up food on the Flip Side.
The new Black Designing women can transform your house into a place where you’ll feel right at home. Looking down the road
A neighborhood mechanic is a big believer in planning and preventative maintenance to keep everything all good under the hood.
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Ta k i n g — and Last — A Lake Carroll couple cut from the same camouflaged cloth is helping people get on the r o a d t o r e c o v e r y, weaving together their shared experiences in t h e m i l i t a r y, a n d in life, to help veterans and first responders find the suppor t they need
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ervice can take many forms. Sometimes it means wearing a uniform and answering a call; sometimes it means recognizing that the hardest battles can continue long after the uniform comes off. For former Marines Mikey and Tiffany Horbaczewski of Lake Carroll, service has become a way of life. Their experiences in the military, along with the challenges that followed, shaped an understanding of how difficult it can be to find the right help — and how meaningful it can be when someone who understands reaches out. That, in turn, helped give others like them a little more hope. Their experiences helped shape the Heroes Last Hope Foundation, a veterans assistance foundation the Horbaczewskis created to connect veterans and first responders with resources, counseling, wellness programs, peer support and other forms of assistance closer to home. The foundation’s approach extends beyond helping just the affected individuals, also putting an emphasis on families, healthy coping mechanisms, leadership development and helping people move forward with greater purpose. The work they seek to do is also a continuation of something that began long before the foundation existed: a desire to serve others and pass along the kind of help that the couple, who grew up in the Chicago area and moved to Lake Carroll in 2013 from California, received along their own journey. “We’ve had so many people help us on our journey, and we want to be able to continue our service,” Mikey said. “Me and my wife, when we joined the Marine Corps, in our hearts, we just came from that cloth to serve and help people.” Mikey’s own experience is part of what shaped that approach. When he was injured in Afghanistan in 2010, treatment and understanding of traumatic brain injuries and the issues that could follow — including PTSD — were far less developed, he said. His recovery included years of hospital visits, hyperbaric chamber trials, medications and other treatments. Mikey, who retired as a corporal in 2013, eventually began exploring different approaches to healing, including somatic breathwork, which he described as a way of reconnecting the mind and body and calming the nervous system. He also has worked to help veterans move away from opioids and has connected people with resources such as sober living homes.
Mikey Horbaczewski Heroes Last Hope
HOPE cont’d to page 6
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HOPE cont’d from page 5 His experience changed how he viewed the importance of receiving help from someone who has lived through something similar. “When I was injured, they sent me in front of a skinny little dude with a bowtie,” Mikey said. “Coming straight from one of the worst battles in Afghanistan, I’m sitting there thinking, ‘How could this guy tell me what I just went through?’ That was a lot of the ego in me at the time. He had a lot of great information, but I wasn’t ready to hear it from someone who’s never been there. The men and women I’ve been able to reach through other organizations that I’ve worked with, they’ll see a guy like me and they can see living proof of someone who’s been through and done it. I know stories are never going to align, and the issues won’t exactly meet the same marks, but they can see that those hard times can be overcome.” That peer connection is part of what he hopes to be able to bring closer to other veterans and first responders in rural communities. He said people sometimes face long travels simply to reach specialized mental health care or other forms of support, and those distances can become another barrier to seeking help. HOPE cont’d to page 7
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HOPE cont’d from page 6 His own experiences also helped expand the foundation’s reach, beyond just veterans, to first responders, a role he’s played as a volunteer with the Shannon Fire Department, where he’s been an EMT for six years. “You’ll see a guy who goes to a car crash who may witness death and really bad situations, and two hours later they’re back with their family eating dinner,” Mikey said. “They don’t have an outlet to process it or compartmentalize it, storing it in a bad place through whatever their coping mechanism is. When you then want to go out to the bar and have a drink, it becomes that it’s not for relaxing and having fun, it becomes the coping mechanism to deal with that stress and not having to worry about the things they had to see or deal with.” With the foundation’s help, first responders, including volunteers in rural communities, can access healthier ways of processing those experiences — and that help goes beyond just coping with a difficult call; he wants it to be something that person can carry with them the rest of their life.
Tiffany Horbaczewski
HOPE cont’d to page 8
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when you solve those problems and develop healthy coping mechanisms, their whole life becomes better.” The hope is that by finding healthier ways of handling difficult experiences will affect the person’s relationships, work and involvement in the community. Tiffany said that the opportunity to help others is part of what makes the work meaningful to her. “I like having the ability to help other people,” said the veteran who reached the rank of sergeant and has a tour of duty in Iraq under her belt. “That’s the biggest part: knowing that they can reach out, and we’ve had people reach out to us for a long time. Having the ability to help them is incredible.” She also said people can fall into the habit of comparing their struggles with someone else’s, and viewing their prob-
HOPE cont’d from page 7 “Especially with volunteers around here, I want to give them the access, too, to these different ways of developing healthy coping mechanisms,” Mikey said. “At the end of the day, I want to be able to see first responders and veterans come back to us and return to their families in a healthy manner: Being a better husband or wife, being a better father or mother, or being a better employee. Once you do the root cause analysis for these people,
lems as less serious than others’, and not warranting help. Or maybe the person thinks they’re the only person affected by their struggles. The Horbaczewskis don’t view it that way. Mikey said helping people address their own struggles can also show children that it’s okay to seek help and work on personal problems. “When you start looking at the root cause analysis of problems people face every day, one person who may come home from a bad day can impact the whole family,” Mikey said. “When we talk about secondary PTSD and veterans passing that down to their children, a lot of people don’t really look at that aspect; they think they’re just having a bad day and won’t deal with it. You’ll start seeing that when children start to grow to different ages. You’re not going to be good to your family if you’re not fixing those issues head on. You’re not giving them your best self.” HOPE cont’d to page 10
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A home for Hope ... The Horbaczewski family is seen here in front of the building in downtown Shannon that will be the Heroes Last Hope Foundation’s office. The location will have rooms for conversation, consultations and guest presentations. In back, a courtyard (artist’s rendering shown at right) is designed as an open space to give those seeking help a calming environment where they can feel more comfortable and relaxed. The office is scheduled to open in spring 2027. PHOTOS PROVIDED BY TIFFANY HORBACZEWSKI
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HOPE cont’d from page 8 The foundation’s planned home in downtown Shannon is intended to reinforce that philosophy. The building is expected to open in spring 2027 and will include offices, a lounge-style area, a conference space for classes, seminars and sessions, and an outdoor patio courtyard. The courtyard takes the more clinical side out of the equation for people seeking counseling, Mikey said. “They’re not going to feel like they’re sitting across a table feeling judged, or that something’s wrong with them. They’re going to feel like they’re in one
of their brother’s or sister’s arms and just hanging out. We can still touch on these deep-rooted issues and actually process them in a way that’s going to make them be able to get that next step of help. Someone’s ‘little struggle’ might be the biggest struggle in their life.” The foundation also plans to use the building for retreats, classes and leadership programs. The Horbaczewskis are seeking to establish a pair of youth programs that have grown from another part of his experience with veterans and first responders: what happens after the uniform comes off. Powerful Beyond Measure is designed for young men, while the Lioness Program serves young women and is taught by female veterans and first responders. Both are intended to build self-accountability, resiliency and emotional intelligence, while the Lioness Program also incorporates rela-
tionship-building. The connection between those programs and the foundation’s work with veterans and first responders comes back to service. “What we find often is that with veterans and first responders, when they hang up the uniform, there’s a huge sense of loss of purpose,” Mikey said. “They don’t feel like they’re actually serving a purpose in their life anymore; they essentially feel like their mission is over. Being able to pass down this leadership to these young men and women from these veterans and first responders through this mentoring program that we’re hosting, it gives these young men the tools of self-accountability, self-resiliency, emotional intelligence, and helps them develop good coping mechanisms at such a young age. Giving them healthy coping mechs and self accountability at a young age, they’ll be able to grow on their own and take their life and move forward with it.” HOPE cont’d to page 11
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HEROES cont’d from page 10
More info
Find Heroes Last Hope on Facebook or go to heroeslasthope. org to learn more about the veterans and first responders assistance organization, to donate to its cause, apply as a volunteer or receive help.
Heroes Last Hope operates on donations. The foundation also invites people who want to contribute their time to apply as volunteers, with opportunities in mentorship, peer support, wellness and outreach. For those seeking assistance, they can contact the Horbaczewskis through the foundation’s website and submit a support application describing their circumstances and the type of help they are seeking. Taking that first step toward getting help is central to the foundation’s philosophy. “You can be the person you want to become,” Mikey said. “The only person that’s holding yourself back is you. That’s the one main reason why we want to make this come to life. After you take that first step, you’ll never regret it.” The foundation’s work, Mikey said, is ultimately about making that first step
easier to take — and making sure people in rural communities know there is somewhere they can turn to when they are ready. “It’s never too late,” Mikey said. “It’s just, are you willing to work and take that first step? I’m hoping that they can breach the gap for a lot of those people.” n Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@ shawmedia.com.
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Norm Hoffman might not have served his country in the armed forces, but the military is a large part of his life. Several of Hoffman’s ancestors and relatives, through both blood and marriage, have answered the call to serve in conflicts both foreign and domestic, in times of both war and peace. to Hoffman, 83, of Lake Carroll, decided service collect his family history — military ed lish pub and — s orie and personal mem ishmpl acco a book to keep their tales and . ments alive for future generations “Family of Soldiers” was published in 2025 and is available on Amazon. The self-published book — divided into 25 chapters across 492 pages — encompasses nearly 160
of brothers who were on years of American history, from a pair relatives serving in the opposing sides during the Civil War to 21st century. m’s grandfather Much of the book is dedicated to Nor . Wilson Newhall, on his mother Dorothy’s side, Maj. Gen ugh two World Wars whose military career stretched thro y and the Air Force. and two branches of service, the Arm Norm’s father, also Another sizable chunk is devoted to an during World War II, named Norman, who was a technici chief master sergeant. Korea and Vietnam, and retired as a BOOK cont’d to page 14
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... and Norm Hoffman (above) gave them a lot to remember: A 492-page book covering nearly 160 years of his family’s military service, “Family of Soldiers.” CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM
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CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM
BOOK cont’d from page 12 As he put his book together, Hoffman outlined his entire family tree going back to the 1800s — including great-grandparents, great-grand aunts and descendants of both who are second or third cousins of his — and shares not only their military lives, but what Norm remembers of them personally. The families and ancestors of both of his wives are included as well: Reba, who died in 2011, and his current wife Linda. Hoffman begins the book with
the oldest relative he remembers, his great-grandmother Ella “Nannie” Elliott, who worked in an armament factory in the Chicago area during World War I. The book then proceeds chronologically from Civil War veterans and brothers John — Ella’s father — and William Kyle, up through Norm’s son-in-law Clay Schaefer, who recently retired as an Air Force colonel. BOOK cont’d to page 15
Norm Hoffman stands beside the militaria from his grandfather’s, Maj. Gen. Wilson Newhall, distinguished career, which spanned both World Wars and included a rise from an enlisted teenager to a two-star general. Above are medals from another of his family members, Civil War veteran John Kyle, whose brother, William, was a Confederate soldier.
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BOOK cont’d from page 14 The story of John and William is one that encapsulates the Civil War’s reputation as a conflict that pitted brother against brother. Both hailing from Lawrenceburg, Indiana, along the Ohio River, John suited up for the Union cause, but William had so many business interests along the Ohio River and the Mississippi River from Cairo to New Orleans that he felt compelled to support the Confederacy. John fought in Ulysses S. Grant’s Army in Shiloh and Vicksburg. William was at Fort Donaldson, one of the first forts Grant took, and then became a prisoner of war in Chicago. Hoffman knew much about John, but it took him awhile to research William. He has John’s medals framed on a wall in his “man cave,” where he also has pictures, family mementos and shelves of books about military history. “The one who fought for the South had a river trade business from Cincin-
nati to New Orleans, and that’s where his money was,” Hoffman said. “He went with the South because that was his trade. He had a house in New Orleans, and there’s a street named after him there.” Wilson Newhall’s story occupies about 200 pages of the book. With only a fourth-grade education, he enlisted in the military at 16, having lied about his age, and initially served as a motorcycle jockey, carrying movie film across fields to headquarters during World War I. His mechanical aptitude led him to work on airplanes during periods of downtime. He rose through the ranks, retiring in 1960. “He taught himself to fly,” Hoffman said. “He started reading engineering books and that type of stuff. When he retired from the service, he was a two-star
general. You don’t do that today: going from having a fourth-grade education to being a two-star general.” Newhall’s aviation accomplishments extended well beyond his military career. He flew aircraft ranging from Curtiss Jennys to B-47s, conducted airplane manufacturing research and became the first recipient of the Illinois Distinguished Service Medal. When pilot licenses were introduced in the 1920s, Newhall was among the first to receive one, bearing the signature of Orville Wright. His aviation connections included renowned pilots Charles Lindbergh, Jimmy Doolittle and Chuck Yeager. Hoffman discovered those relationships while researching his grandfather’s life, eventually learning about the Quiet Birdmen, a fraternity of pilots who gathered socially. BOOK cont’d to page 17
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BOOK cont’d from page 15 “There are a lot of secrets that I had do find out,” Hoffman said. “I didn’t understand how my granddad knew Charles Lindbergh and all of the old pilots. I didn’t know how he had the connection. Then I found out about the Quiet Birdmen, and it was a fraternity of old pilots. They would get together, and apparently their parties were pretty wild. When they passed away, they’d tip their mugs to the west, because there was a theory that pilots always moved westward.” Newhall also competed in air races, winning one in 1931 flying an O-38. Photographs of his aviation career, including one from the 1949 Cleveland Air Race, are among the memorabilia Hoffman keeps in his home. One of Hoffman’s favorite stories involves the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago, where his grandfather performed an aerial show. “My granddad came up with this plane and did this air show with loops
and stuff,” Hoffman said. “His plane caught fire, so he took the plane and dove it down toward Lake Michigan. The fire went out and everybody applauded because they thought it was part of the act, but it wasn’t part of the act. He landed in Grant Park and fixed whatever it was that needed to be fixed.” Newhall’s accomplishments also included flying a B-29 in Tucson with three of its four engines out, testing how far he could travel on a single engine. He died in 1967, leaving behind a legacy that Hoffman remembers through both family stories and photographs displayed in his “man cave.” “My granddad was like the chief of the whole family,” Hoffman said. “I only lived half a block from him. I used to cut his grass and work around with him. He was a strict disciplinarian. You never talked back to him. The word ‘no’ was
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not used in my family” — though there was one person who outranked them both. “My dad was a master sergeant, my granddad was a general, and my grandmother gave orders to both of them.” Another 120 pages of “Family of Soldiers” are devoted to Hoffman’s father, Norman Paul Hoffman, who served 33 years in the military, including during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. A technician and aircraft mechanic, he served in Gen. George Patton’s Army in Europe and later worked on jet aircraft. Following World War II, the elder Hoffman returned to civilian life, expecting to resume his previous employment at a machine shop, but the promised job security that many manufacturers had offered returning servicemen did not materialize for him. BOOK cont’d to page 18
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Norm Hoffman’s interest in his own family’s military history led him to collecting other people’s medals as well.
BOOK cont’d from page 17 “When he went to war, many manufacturers promised that you would get your job back when you came back,” Hoffman said. “That wasn’t necessarily true, and it didn’t happen to my dad. My dad had seniority at this machine group that he worked with, and they put him down at the lower rate of pay again. My granddad, who was in the Air Guard, asked my dad to come back to the military. He was a mechanic on jet airplanes.” The elder Hoffman eventually served in France and Germany during the Vietnam War. His military career also influenced his son’s life decisions. While the military service was the way of life for the Hoffmans, Norm became a teacher. “When I got out of college, the Vietnam War was going on,” Hoffman said. “My dad was in it. My brother was in it.
CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM
My wife said, ‘You’re not going.’” Norm grew up in the south suburb of Markham and attended Bremen High School in Midlothian. He taught architecture and shop classes for 37 years, most of those in Belvidere, coached swimming in the Rockford area, and has been retired for around 20 years. He’s owned property at Lake Carroll since it opened in 1972, and started living there full-time after retiring from teaching. During his later years, the elder Hoffman lived with his son at Lake Carroll until his death at 92 in 2011. That bond allowed long hidden war tales to be passed on from father to son. Some stories in the book took Hoffman more time than others to assemble, due to some of his family not willing to discuss those times. BOOK cont’d to page 19
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BOOK cont’d from page 18 “Every military person in my family’s in there,” Hoffman said. “I knew all of the stories in the family, and I wanted to pass it on.” His family’s service isn’t the only thing he’s passing on. With one book to his credit, he’s already working on his next one — this one, too, about service: community service. Despite having never been in the military, commitment to community service still became a large part of Hoffman’s life, and it’s the subject of a new book he is working on, about his time in the Jaycees. Hoffman served for more than 50 years in the civic organization, spending his early years as a regular member and then his years after age 35 as a member of the Jaycees Senate in Illinois, where he served as president in the late 1970s, overseeing an organization with 18,000 members. Writing one book already has made his current project easier, he said. One thing that wasn’t easy about his journey through his family’s service:
Telling such a rich history in one book — even one that’s nearly 500 pages. “I missed a lot of things,” Hoffman said. “I could probably pick one of those people and researched them alone for a book. I summarized a lot of people in it.” What he also managed to do was live up to the words often intertwined with those who’ve served: “Never forget.” “I wanted to write something that my family would remember,” Hoffman said. “When I was attempting to publish the book, I was asked how much money I wanted to make out of it. I didn’t want to make money. What I wanted to do was tell the stories so that the rest of the family after me knows. Maybe nobody’s interested now, but someday somebody will be. That’s why I wrote it.” n Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@ shawmedia.com.
Buy the book Order your copy of “Family of Soldiers,” by Lake Carroll resident Norm Hoffman, at Amazon.com. Paperback and hardcover editions are available.
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or nearly five decades, Dave Kuhlemier’s tavern in downtown Lanark has been a place for drinks, conversation, music, sports — and even the occasional celebrity sighting. Now, another generation of his family has added another reason to walk through the door. The father-and-daughter team of Dave and Jessica Kuhlemier operate a single business under one roof with two names: Dave’s Place, the tavern Dave has owned since 1979, and The Flip Side, Jessica’s kitchen, which opened in March 2026. It’s a new chapter for the bar, but one that’s taken an old page out of the book. Jessica’s family had been serving up food from the kitchen for years before taking a break, but now the family tree has branched out into the kitchen again. And so far, things are looking good for Jessica’s Side business. “I thought we’d get it started again,” Dave said. “I never thought it would start this good, with the economy being a little iffy.” The Flip Side offers pizzas, sandwiches, wraps, salads and chicken wings, as well as ice cream — cones and bowls — for dessert. Customers can pull up a chair in the restaurant area, separate from the bar, or pull up a stool and eat at the bar, where food is passed through a window between the two businesses. Dave’s decision to turn the kitchen over to his daughter wasn’t a hard choice; he had plenty of confidence in what she could do with the space. “I told her she could have it, and boy, she’s made it go good,” Dave said. “She had some super good food — and I’m not saying that just because she’s my daughter. You ought to eat it. She makes these homemade type of pizzas, and she’s always thinking of a new sandwich or a new pizza.” SERVING cont’d to page 22 A Shaw Media Publication | Lake Lifestyle | November 2026 | 21
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A new Side hustle Jessica is no stranger to the bar side of the operation. She managed the bar from 2005 to 2022 before taking a break. Returning to the family business with The Flip Side has given her an opportunity to build on years of experience while bringing her own ideas to the kitchen. The Flip Side name was chosen to help distinguish the dining experience from the tavern atmosphere that has defined Dave’s Place for decades. “I wanted people to know that there was another side, away from the bar, where people can enjoy a meal and hang out,” Jessica said. “It’s going to help us go out of the woods of just being Dave’s Place all of these years, and there’s going to be a new name and new idea in people’s minds. We are one business, and we all work together.” The restaurant area offers a different atmosphere from the bar. Some families stop in after church, for example, appreciating a place where they can gather over food, Jessica said. SERVING cont’d to page 23
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Jessica Kuhlemier and her son Gavin Hartman represent two generations working at The Flip Side. Gavin, a high school student, has enjoyed cooking since childhood and now experiments with dishes of his own.
SERVING cont’d from page 22 The idea of serving food in the space carries a long family history of its own. Jessica remembers making pizzas with her mother, Rose, who managed Dave’s Place during the 1980s and 1990s. Rose later worked in maintenance at Lake Carroll for about 30 years, but her time in the tavern helped establish the family’s connection to its kitchen. In the 1990s, Rose opened a pizza business in the same area now used for The Flip Side’s seating. Even before that, Jessica’s paternal grandmother, Iva, operated a cafe in the space. The kitchen therefore represents a return to something familiar, even as Jessica brings her own approach to the business. “When I came back here, it was important to me that we changed some things,” Jessica said. “It used to be that customers could just come to the window and order, and they’d pick up their food when the bell rang and we said their name. I wanted to be more customer-friendly and offer more of a service, and add more warmth to the customer service side of things.” SERVING cont’d to page 24
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SERVING cont’d from page 23 The changes include an emphasis on fresh ingredients and a dining area decorated with framed handwritten recipes from family members, friends and former co-workers hanging on the wall. The old recipes give the space a personal connection to the people who have been part of the family’s history. The original idea for the menu, Jessica said, was to stick with the basics, like burgers and pizza. Then she realized that people wanted more. The menu now includes beef “totchos,” a play on nachos that substitutes tater tots for tortilla chips, along with a Midwest Wrap featuring a pork fritter, shredded lettuce, onion, pickle, mayonnaise, mustard and pepper jack or shredded cheese. A Chicken Bacon Ranch wrap is another option. The burgers are made with a thirdpound of beef, with specialty choices such
as the Bacon Mac Attack Burger, topped with American cheese, bacon and three-cheese macaroni and cheese; and the Hometown Heat Burger, which combines pepper jack cheese, grilled jalapenos and Boom Boom sauce. Pizzas have become another outlet for Jessica’s creativity. The Pickleback BBQ features barbecue sauce, chicken, onion, chopped pickles and mozzarella cheese. The House Reuben pizza offers another variation, while the Chicka Chicka Boom combines grilled chicken, bacon, mozzarella cheese and either ranch or Boom Boom sauce. The latter’s name takes inspiration from the children’s book “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom,” although its creation came from a bit of experimentation with ingredients. “When we first started, I was doing different things and would make stuff and throw it out to the bar for our locals to try it and see what they’d say,” Jessica said. “There was a ton of Boom Boom sauce here. Most people use it for chicken. I mixed ranch and Boom
Boom sauce with a little bit of seasoning together, and threw it on a pizza with grilled chicken and bacon. People went nuts about it. Kids love it, too; it’s not just a specialty pizza that just mom or dad order on their date night, families love the pizza.” Jessica continues to experiment with flavors and combinations, finding inspiration in the ingredients available to her and the customers’ reactions. “I’ll research and use some different sauces and flavors,” she said. “I just love food so much that I’m always creating things.” The kitchen also prepares its own french fries, made with whole potatoes cut inhouse. A Friday fish special adds another option for customers throughout the week. Ice cream joined the menu in July. The selection, supplied by Kemp’s, includes flavors such as a Superman blend, Cookie Monster, cheesecake varieties including strawberry, blueberry and turtle, and butter pecan. SERVING cont’d to page 26
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At right: Jessica also wanted to create a cozy place where customers could pull up a chair and grab a bite to eat. “I wanted people to know that there was another side, away from the bar, where people can enjoy a meal and hang out,” she said.
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Above: When The Flip Side first opened, the menu stuck mostly to the basics, but as the business grew, so did customers’ appetites for something more. The menu has since expanded. “She’s always thinking of a new sandwich or a new pizza,” Dave said of daughter Jessica, who runs The Flip Side.
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SERVING cont’d from page 24 “It’s been excellent,” Jessica said. “People have been excited about it. Growing up here, when I played softball, you had to drive to Mount Carroll to Dairy Queen, and there are a bazillion different people in all of these different team colors out in the parking lot. It was fun, but you had to drive.” The operation also has become a family endeavor spanning three generations. Jessica’s son, Gavin Hartman, is a high school student who works as a cook in the kitchen. Her son Donovan Kuhlemier, a college student, bartends when he is home, while another son, Izaac Kuhlemier, helps with maintenance. Gavin’s involvement has been especially meaningful to Jessica, who remembers his interest in cooking from an early age. His father’s family also worked in the
food business in town. “It’s exciting that we’re getting something going on this side, and to experience this after being [at the bar] for so many years,” Jessica said. “I saw how much Gavin had a passion growing up for cooking, and he was always that person up on the chair cracking the eggs, helping making Easter dinner, and was good at. It’s been an awesome thing.” Gavin’s interest has continued into his own kitchen experiments. He also maintains his own garden and sometimes uses vegetables he grows there as ingredients. “I like cooking,” Gavin said. “I’ve always liked cooking growing up. I’ve made all kinds of different things and experimented with all sorts of things.” The family members work alongside a staff that includes employees both new and old, some of who’ve
been with business for a decade or more, providing continuity through the changes the bar’s seen. “That’s so important to me because you need those dedicated people who are going to show up and give the same passion that you do to the customers,” Jessica said. “They put in their all and their excitement, too, into making the drinks and making the food.” The combination of the bar and kitchen has also helped bring additional customers through the door, with Jessica seeing how the food operation has supported the tavern side of the business. She said it has been a fun ride so far, with the menu continuing to evolve and customers responding to the new options. “To see people excited and happy about it is so rewarding,” Jessica said. “Food brings you happiness. It brings people together.” SERVING cont’d to page 27
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While it’s still Dave’s Place, owner Dave Kuhlemier has stepped back from the dayto-day duties of running the bar, letting the staff handle much of that — “I have real good bartenders,” he said. You’ll still see him at the bar, though, chatting with customers or shooting a game of pool.
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SERVING cont’d from page 26
A Place to call his own Dave, meanwhile, has been able to step back from some of the daily responsibilities of running the tavern in recent years. He still enjoys coming in, talking with customers and occasionally playing pool, but much of the day-to-day operation is handled by the staff. “I have real good bartenders,” he said. The kitchen has already broadened the bar’s reach. “When I come in here, I’m talking with people who are from all over,” Dave said. “Even Sterling. An older couple from Rock Falls have been here a couple of times. They say, ‘Dave, the
food is priced very reasonable.’” Dave remembers when Monday nights used to mean Euchre. One of the largest games he can recall filled 28 tables, with four people at each table. Wednesday nights were once “Hump Days” at the bar, and that night had its own identity. “Ladies drinks were half price,” Dave said. “It was mostly guys who bought all the ladies all of the drinks. We’d have quite a crowd. I guess a lot of marriages were formed here at Dave’s Place.” The tavern also developed a reputation for live music. Cheap Trick played there a couple of times during the band’s hit-making years. Head East, another band from Illinois, performed there, too, while early-1980s local band Teazer drew crowds so large that, Dave remembers, “you couldn’t get any more people in.” Rick Nielsen, Cheap Trick’s guitarist, would occasionally stop in on Saturdays, Dave said. “He told me, ‘Dave, I love this bar,’” Dave recalled. “‘Our sound is better,’ coming off the carpet on the walls I had on the dance floor back there.” Dave also remembers one Sunday night when Jerry Lee Lewis unexpectedly walked through the door. SERVING cont’d to page 28 A Shaw Media Publication | Lake Lifestyle | November 2026 | 27
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SERVING cont’d from page 27 “I turn around,” Dave recalled, “look at the door open, seen him, and said, ‘Holy smoke, guys! It’s Jerry Lee Lewis!’ We had an old style jukebox there, and he went up and he’s looking at the songs. He came back to the bar and said, ‘There’s no songs there of mine, or my cousin Mickey Gilley.’ I said, ‘Well, I don’t know. I’d like to see you play.’ I had seen him play the piano with his feet before. He stayed quite a while with us. Bought five or six rounds of drinks. He was giving the ladies his autograph on bar napkins. We had a good time with him. God, he was a nice guy.” While the live music scene has quieted over the years, other traditions have remained. Dave’s Place is a Bears and Cubs bar, with a large wall of Bears posters and memorabilia, much of it going up after Chicago’s Super Bowl victory in 1986.
Dave remembers watching Super Bowl XX at the tavern —“We had a big party,” he recalled. He also watched the Bears play in Super Bowl XLI in 2007. There was another big gathering, although Dave’s memories of the game are considerably less celebratory. “The last Super Bowl we had a pretty big party as well,” Dave said. “When the kickoff was run back, my brother and nieces called me from California. We went downhill from there. Ron Turner was calling the plays. He should have kept running the football! My gosh. The Colts were giving up 4.2 or something yards per run, and we don’t keep running the football? It had the worst pass our quarterback had all year.” When the Cubs finally won the World Series in 2016, Dave wasn’t at the tavern for the celebration, but a friend later told him there had been quite a party following Game 7. Other games keep people coming back to Dave’s, too. The bar hosts pool and dart leagues. Five pool tables, six gambling ma-
chines, bags and a foosball table occupy portions of the tavern. The business has also undergone changes in its identity over the years, including a few memorable slogans. One of Dave’s early sayings was “Helping ugly people have sex,” which he put on T-shirts. Another T-shirt slogan, “Party ‘till you puke at Dave’s Place,” unexpectedly found an audience beyond town. “I had a bike-a-thon that year that started in New York and going to California,” Dave said. “I had bought a bunch of pink shirts that had the saying on it: ‘Party ‘till you puke at Dave’s Place.’ There were bikers who came in and bought them all. There was a guy here in town, and I said to him, ‘You got to make me more shirts.’ They’re calling their friends in New York, and they’re calling me ordering so many shirts, and they’re coming through in a week or 10 days. It was amazing. I think we sold around 600 t-shirts through that bike thing.” SERVING cont’d to page 29
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SERVING cont’d from page 28 Dave has also watched the tavern’s clientele, atmosphere and economics change dramatically since he opened its doors. The prices reflected a different era, too. Illinois’ legal drinking age was 19 in 1979, before being raised to 21 in 1980. Dave is among the relatively small number of longtime tavern operators or bartenders who can remember legally serving customers who were 19 or 20 years old. Nearly five decades later, the bar still carries pieces of all those eras: the sports memorabilia, the pool tables, the stories of bands and unexpected visitors, the photographs of regulars, and a kitchen operated by his daughter. “When I started in ‘79, I got a lot of business fast,” Dave said. “I was very lucky. I had two bartenders on weeknights. That was back when tap beer was a dime, a frozen mug for 15 cents, and a lot of mixed drinks were 25 or 35 cents. It’s a lot different now.” n Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.
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When the owner of a furniture and decor store didn’t have the run of a Mill anymore, she decided to transplant her business and transform it into a place where customers can feel like they ’re in go o d C ompany with a pair of DESIGNING WOMEN who are happy to help people find a new look that will make them feel right at home
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Baylee Manus (left) and Sylvia Vehmeier are the design and decor duo behind Black Iris Design Co. in downtown Lena, where they help customers find furnishings, accessories and design ideas suited to their homes. CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM
omes evolve right alongside with the people who live in them. Tastes change, families grow and everyday routines shift, creating new opportunities to make a living space more comfortable, functional and personal. Sylvia Vehmeier and Baylee Manus have spent much of their professional lives helping people navigate those changes, bringing together furnishings, colors, textures and ideas to create spaces that reflect the people who inhabit them. Vehmeier and Manus are the creative team behind Black Iris Design Co. in downtown Lena offering furniture, window treatments, home accessories and interior design services, with an emphasis on understanding each customer’s lifestyle, preferences and budget. Vehmeier is the sole owner of the business, while Manus is her lead “partner in crime,” as she likes to say. Together they help customer navigate something that they say can be overwhelming to some people: coming up with an interior decorating plan. While some people come in knowing just what they want, others are looking for a helping hand and a second, and third, set of eyes, whether they’re furnishing an entire home or simply looking for a few finishing touches. Putting customers at ease is a major part of keeping the business thriving, especially in a small town. BLACK IRIS cont’d to page 32
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BLACK IRIS cont’d from page 31 “We’re facilitators. Tell us what you need, and we’ll get you to that point. We’re the worker bees,” said Vehmeier, who bring nearly 45 years of experience to her job, keeping on top of changing trends and tastes through decades of designing. Furniture is the business’s foundation, with customizable options that allow customers to select configurations, styles and pick out fabrics from a collection of hundreds of patterns to suite any customers’ needs. “All of the furniture on the floor is customizable so that you can order sofas as love seats or order them as sectionals, and can choose different fabrics,” Manus said. “We’re really tailored to what the customer is looking for, what their tastes and styles are, and if they’re looking for a performance fabric — if they have kids and pets — or if they want something that’s more of a tailored sofa, or leather. We really have everything to cater to what their style is.” BLACK IRIS cont’d to page 33
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When Black Iris owner Sylvia Vehmeier moved from her former, and larger, location in an old mill, she wanted to create a space that was more comfy and cozy, focusing on putting more thought into a selection of goods that make the best of use of the space inside the downtown store.
BLACK IRIS cont’d from page 32 They help customers narrow their choices by asking questions about their needs and tastes and how they use their living spaces. Fabric selections, for instance, can be guided by preferences for durability, texture or ease of cleaning. On a budget? No problem. They’ll work with customers to find furnishings that’ll fill a room but not empty their bank account, helping them make decisions without feeling pressured to spend beyond their means. “If a customer comes in looking for something specific, we’ll find what they’re looking for,” Manus said. “Say they want a blue sofa. I’ll pull some blue fabrics for them and tell them, ‘Here are some options for you.’ It can get overwhelming to see all of these fabrics and think about how you’re going to choose. If you start with asking whether they need a performance fabric, or want it to be water-clean, or if they want tweed or soft, we’re pulling out fabrics for the customer to narrow down their choices so that it’s not so overwhelming.” BLACK IRIS cont’d to page 34
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Customers who don’t want cookie-cutter choices can add their own flavor to their furniture at Black Iris. “All of the furniture on the floor is customizable so that you can order sofas as love seats or order them as sectionals, and can choose different fabrics,” says Baylee Manus.
BLACK IRIS cont’d from page 33 Vehmeier and Manus aren’t always working at the store. Sometimes they are out on house calls, offering in-home consultations where they can evaluate a room, take measurements and offer recommendations. Keeping files from those visits allows them to revisit plans when customers are ready to tackle another room or begin a new project. Staging services also are provided to help homeowners prepare their properties for sale. Learning about customers’ everyday lives, including their pets, grandchildren and accessibility needs, helps Manus and Vehmeier recommend furnishings that better accommodate individual circumstances. “That’s really important because we can make whatever they’re buying function better for them,” Manus said. “It’s always nice if someone is looking to buy something like a sofa, and rearrange or redo a room in their house, it’s nice to do a house call to see the room ourselves, and measure and make sure what they’re buying is going to fit.” BLACK IRIS cont’d to page 36
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Whether it’s a pillow, vase, lighting or other added touch, accents and accessories are decor that can do more with less — smaller pieces that can make a room pop with personality. Below, Baylee Manus showcases a tabletop vase at Black Iris Design Co.
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BLACK IRIS cont’d from page 34 The showroom offers its own source of inspiration, with furniture, lamps, artwork, greenery, vases and decorative accents arranged in staged living spaces. Seasonal changes bring new merchandise and displays, giving visitors something different to dis-
cover each time they stop in. They often carry brands that aren’t found at most online retailers or big box stores, leading to a wide range of unique patterns and designs. Vehmeier also encourages people to visit even when they aren’t looking for a particular item, to just browse
and gather ideas or simply enjoy the surroundings. “We always say that this is retail therapy,” Vehmeier said. “If you’re not in a good mood, or something’s going on in your life, just come in and wander around. This is a nice place to be. Wander. Soak it in.” The business has undergone a significant change in both location and identity in recent years. Vehmeier opened The Mill Furnishings in 1994 in a former Ralston Purina mill building east of Lena. After more than 30 years, a rebrand was necessary after needing to move out of the old building. When a downtown building became available, she and Manus walked through it and saw potential for a new showroom. They moved into the space in July 2025, transitioning from the former 5,000-square-foot location to a 2,800-square-foot store. BLACK IRIS cont’d to page 37
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BLACK IRIS cont’d from page 36 As they weren’t in a former mill anymore, they decided to start fresh — like a freshly picked flower. “When we came here I said to Baylee we can’t be The Mill anymore, we’re not in a mill anymore,” Vehmeier said. “We wanted to be a little more boutiquey.” The smaller showroom allows them to feature distinctive furnishings and accessories, including products from companies that primarily supply independent retailers rather than mainstream outlets. “If we want to have a lamp, we’ll tend to look for a more unique lamp than you’d see at a box store, or Wayfair,” Vehmeier said. “We try to find companies that aren’t selling to the mainstream. A lot of companies have lines that are geared toward brick and mortar stores.” Helping customers gain confidence in their choices remains central to the experience. Vehmeier enjoys seeing people become more comfortable experimenting with design as they move through the process, discovering possibilities they may not have initially considered. “Once they pick their fabric, then we’ll go to the pillows, and that’s a lot of fun,” Vehmeier said. “Then they get the wind under their wings and go, ‘I can put this on my pillow?’ That’s not so scary. They get into it and have fun. Our intent is to really put them at ease here. It’s not very easy shopping for most people.” n Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.
Pick your next piece Black Iris Design Co., 119 W. Railroad St., Lena, is open 10 a.m.5 p.m. TuesdayFriday, and 10 a.m.4 p.m. Saturday. Find it on Facebook, go to blackirisdesignco.com or call 815-369-5300 for more information.
SMALL-TOWN SERVICE. SERIOUS AUTOMOTIVE EXPERTISE. Expert care for your vehicle, just down the road in Pearl City.
Gator Owner
Cactus
Service Manager
Brian Technician
211 N. Main St. (Rt 73), Pearl City, IL
815-821-2037
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N RATIO LUST
M IL ER/SV
RAD
Y SCH RUST
10/22/2026 7:52:11 AM
ars don’t always tell you what they’re going to need. Sure, there’s the occasional rattle, clunk or clatter that tells you something’s not right, but repairs can also sneak up on a vehicle owner. Sometimes it takes someone with the right tools to keep that from happening, and one area mechanic keeps one his toolbox that he believes does the trick: a crystal ball. The difference between an unexpected breakdown and a manageable repair often comes down to communication, preparation and a willingness to look beyond the next oil change. Gator Caswell has built his approach to automotive repair around that philosophy, emphasizing the importance of understanding a vehicle’s condition and anticipating what it will need in the months ahead. At Hometown Motors in Pearl City, Caswell and his team provide comprehensive automotive repair and maintenance services, helping drivers keep their vehicles on the road through complimentary inspections, customer education and long-term maintenance planning. The business also operates locations in Davis and Loves Park. HOMETOWN cont’d to page 40
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HOMETOWN cont’d from page 39 Proactive maintenance is central to Caswell’s approach. Over the years, he has encountered vehicles with problems that went unaddressed for years, sometimes resulting in expensive repairs or unexpected breakdowns that could have been avoided. “I think all of that can be avoided by proper communication with the customer. You can eliminate a crisis or breakdown by that whole process,” Caswell said. “As people are coming in, we’re really focusing on helping them create a repair process and game plan that stretches out 18 to 24 months in advance, so that you’re not coming in all of a sudden spending money that you didn’t expect to spend, or have a plan to spend.” The process begins with a complimentary, comprehensive inspection whenever a vehicle comes into the shop. Customers receive a PDF report detailing what technicians have examined and
what they have found, giving them a clearer understanding of their vehicle’s overall condition. From there, Caswell and his team work with customers to prioritize repairs, distinguish immediate needs from future maintenance and develop a realistic budget. Advance planning also gives customers time to budget for upcoming repairs, particularly when expenses compete with other household needs. Caswell encourages seasonal maintenance well before winter, often beginning those conversations in September or October. The additional preparation can help reduce unexpected expenses while giving drivers more control over their vehicle’s upkeep. “We’re having conversations,” Caswell said. “We’re looking at a car that needs new front brakes, but we’re probably 12 to 18 months away. We’ll tell them what the brake job is and to start budgeting for that, and here’s what to start listening to and what to pay attention to. That way, if I
tell you it’s going to cost a certain amount for your brakes, you’re not going to be shocked; we’ve been talking about this for a while.” Caswell’s path to that approach began with an interest in automobiles that developed during childhood. His father spent weekends tinkering with old cars, introducing him to the mechanical side of the hobby. Caswell also became interested in recreational motorsports, including dirt bikes, four-wheelers and snowmobiles. His professional journey initially took a different direction. During the late 2000s and early 2010s, Caswell played semi-professional and lower-level professional baseball across the country as a catcher. In his final season, he led the Coachella Valley League in California in runs batted in. Eventually, he turned his attention to automotive repair, starting with a small operation out of a mobile trailer. HOMETOWN cont’d to page 41
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40 | A Shaw Media Publication | Lake Lifestyle | November 2026
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Gator Caswell, owner of Hometown Motors in Pearl City, has built a business centered on preventative maintenance, customer relationships and helping drivers plan for future repairs. HOMETOWN cont’d from page 40 As business grew, he began considering the next step. Caswell purchased the former Pearl City Garage from Del Murray in 2013, renovating the building that had once been part of Army barracks from Camp Grant in Rockford. Hometown Motors opened in January 2014, initially with Caswell as its sole employee. “It grew really quick, and I kind of got to where I needed to buy another truck,” Caswell said. “My wife and I started looking around and this place had just went up for sale. Del was dealing with cancer and was looking to part with some assets, so we came in and got it and fixed it up.”
He expanded his technician crew in 2016 before eventually opening his other two shops, fulfilling a longstanding ambition to operate a multi-location business. As the company grew, Caswell gave considerable thought to what would distinguish it from other automotive repair shops. He wanted to build a business centered on customer relationships, supported by consistent communication, follow-up and service. “If I said that we fix cars right the first time, shouldn’t that be every auto repair shop’s saying?” Caswell said. “I started thinking about what our vision was here, and at our other locations, and what was going to differentiate us at each location. When they come to Hometown Mo-
tors, what’s going to make us different? Our whole focus is so customer-centric that we have a lot of systems in place for retention, connection and follow-up.” Caswell’s commitment extends to the shop’s technical capabilities. It provides complete mechanical repair services, excluding body work, and works on domestic vehicles as well as European and other imports, including BMWs, Volkswagens, Audis and Mercedes-Benz vehicles. He also has pursued additional training in European vehicles, an area he finds particularly interesting. Caswell also invests in equipment and software to accommodate newer automotive technology, including systems that allow technicians to service Teslas. HOMETOWN cont’d to page 43
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Gator Caswell (left) works on a truck alongside auto tech Brian Dorsey at Hometown Motors in Pearl City, where ongoing training and teamwork help the shop handle a wide range of automotive repairs.
CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM
42 | A Shaw Media Publication | Lake Lifestyle | November 2026
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HOMETOWN cont’d from page 41 “I don’t like when someone comes in here and I have to tell them I don’t have the tools for it,” Caswell said. “We’ve spent a lot of money in investment, and what’s great in having a three-shop network is that all of my techs all know each other, and one tech can call another about working on something. It makes for a really efficient network because we can bounce ideas off of each other.” As far as his name goes, Gator is indeed his legal name. Growing up with it as a nickname, he had it changed as a high
schooler. In Pearl City, Caswell’s brother, “Cactus,” is among the technicians helping carry out Gator’s business philosophy. Unlike his brother and boss, “Cactus” is simply a nickname he goes by. “This is the first job I’ve had where I haven’t dreaded coming in Mondays,” “Cactus” said. “Gator’s a great boss. He’s my brother, and we’re able to set aside family and work professionally together. His focus is integrity and taking care of his employees, and he expects us to work hard and have integrity ourselves.” HOMETOWN cont’d to page 44
PHOTOS: CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SHAWMEDIA.COM
“Cactus” Caswell, Gator's brother and a technician at Hometown Motors, takes a phone call at the Pearl City shop. “Gator’s a great boss. ... His focus is integrity and taking care of his employees.”
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Pioneer 1000 Powersports.honda.com PIONEER 1000 IS ONLY FOR DRIVERS 16 YEARS AND OLDER. MULTI-PURPOSE UTILITY VEHICLES (SIDE-BY-SIDES) CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO OPERATE. FOR YOUR SAFETY, DRIVE RESPONSIBLY. ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET, EYE PROTECTION AND APPROPRIATE CLOTHING. ALWAYS WEAR YOUR SEAT BELT, AND KEEP THE SIDE NETS AND DOORS CLOSED. AVOID EXCESSIVE SPEEDS AND BE CAREFUL ON DIFFICULT TERRAIN. READ THE OWNER'S MANUAL BEFORE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. NEVER DRIVE AFTER CONSUMING DRUGS OR ALCOHOL, OR ON PUBLIC ROADS. DRIVER AND PASSENGERS MUST BE TALL ENOUGH FOR THE SEAT BELT TO FIT PROPERLY AND TO BRACE THEMSELVES WITH BOTH FEET FIRMLY ON THE FLOOR. PASSENGER MUST BE ABLE TO GRASP THE HAND HOLD WITH THE SEAT BELT ON AND BOTH FEET ON THE FLOOR. RESPECT THE ENVIRONMENT WHEN DRIVING. Pioneer® is a registered trademark of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. ©2021 American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
A Shaw Media Publication | Lake Lifestyle | November 2026 | 43
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HOMETOWN cont’d from page 43 Caswell’s wife, Hännah, also contributes to the business through marketing, while operating a seasonal Christmas store, The Christmas Barn, next to the store that features holiday decorations, Christmas trees and products from local vendors and entrepreneurs. It’s open from the week before Thanksgiving to the weekend before Christmas. Despite his company’s growth, Caswell’s focus remains on helping customers understand their vehicles and prepare for the expenses that come with keeping them in working order. “For a lot of vehicles, we can look into a crystal ball and have good idea of what your car is going to need in the next 12 to 18 months,” Caswell said. “We can help you formulate a plan so that you can approach it accordingly.” n Shaw Media reporter Cody Cutter can be reached at 815-632-2532 or ccutter@shawmedia.com.
... And while you’re in the neighborhood Stop by the shop that Gator’s wife Hännah, runs: The Christmas Barn, a seasonal holiday store next to Hometown Motors in Pearl City.
Hometown Motors,
211 N. Main St. in Pearl City, is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Others locations are in Davis and Loves Park. Find it on Facebook, go to hometownmotorsautorepair.com or call 815-821-2037 for more information.
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44 | A Shaw Media Publication | Lake Lifestyle | November 2026
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A Guide To
Lake Carroll Real Estate
Are you looking to enjoy the Lake Lifestyle? The following pages will show you the properties available to you right now! A Shaw Media Publication | Lake Lifestyle | November 2026 | 45
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KNOWS LAKE CARROLL MAKE LAKE CARROLL YOUR SANCTUARY Call us to Buy or Sell SECLUDED WATERFRONT HOME
815-493-SOLD END
ING
24-80 Saddlewood Lane
Stunning Waterfront Estate with 187 Feet of Serene Shoreline. Ranch home with walk out to the water has attached 3 car garage PLUS 35X46 Finished Outbuilding
SPECTACULAR CLASSIC WATERFRONT HOME ON 3.57 ACRES WITH OVER 228’ OF SHORELINE. A magnificent home with attached 3 car garage. First time to the market.
5 BEDROOMS - 3 BATHS -3541 SQ FT.
5 BEDROOM - 3 BATHS - 5000 SQ FT
HAS A BOATHOUSE AT THE WATER
SOLD BY RE/MAX
NEW PRICE $1,599,000
$1,499,000
SOL
24-83 Ranchwood
Experience exceptional waterfront living in this one-of-a-kind custom post-and-beam estate, offering 84 feet of pristine shoreline, two private docks, and outstanding swimming waters. Has a boathouse and a 36X40 Extra Building
5 BEDROOMS - 3.5 BATHS - 4660 SQ FT
NEW PRICE $999,000
Cal
21-78 LAKE CARROLL BLVD • LAKE CARROLL, IL
NEW LISTING
E P SAL
24-92 Hidden Valley Ct
Town Lake & Country
D
26-24 Westwood SPECTACULAR WATERFRONT LOT
1.66 ACRES
$730,000 Listed by Fawnridge Real Estate Company
TOWN L A KE & COUNTRY
NEW LISTING
SOL
N
D
27-43 Ridgeview
24-72
SPECTACULAR WATERFRONT LOT Stunning lakefront home with 188’ of Glorious shoreline. Hardscaping and landscaping all new in 2026. Gorgeous home in immaculate condition.
WATERFRO on 2.3 ac outstandin
5 BEDROOMS - 3.5 BATHS - 4100 SQ FT
5 BEDROO
95 FEET OF SHORELINE
EQUE
$1,499,000
E P SAL
END
$1
ING
21-51 Marina Ct.
28-70
WATERFRONT HOME WITH A DEEDED SLIP IN THE EAST MARINA (B18) - BRAND NEW CONSTRUCTION - READY FOR OCCUPANCY IN MAY 2026! Five bedrooms and three bathrooms make this a very spacious home.
EQUESTRIA A Working h Charming ra
5 BEDROOMS - 3 BATHS - 3520 SQ FT
4 BEDROO
NEW PRICE $699,000
www.buylakecarroll.com • email us at: BuyLakeCarroll@yahoo.com
NEW PR
Julie Wenzel
Patti Kloepp
815-541-1001
815-266-40
Managing Broker juliewenzel@remax.net
Broker Assoc
46 | A Shaw Media Publication | Lake Lifestyle | November 2026
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pattik@remax
LL
CALL US TO LIST YOUR LAKE CARROLL PROPERTY
untry
CARROLL, IL
OLD
Call us for a FREE, NO OBLIGATION VALUE ESTIMATE FOR YOUR PROPERTY
G
NEW LISTING
WATERFRONT ESTATE
SOLD BY RE/MAX
SOL
ew
ONT LOT th 188’ of ping and 2026. te condition.
24-72 Saddlewood Lane
23-48 Barrington Ct.
WATERFRONT DREAM HOME! Log home on 2.3 acre mature lot and 174 feet of outstanding shoreline and deep water.
MAGNIFICENT WATERFRONT HOME. Perched along a pristine stretch of shoreline, this ideal lake house blends scale, comfort, and effortless connection to the water.
5 BEDROOMS - 4 BATHS - 3643 SQ FT
4100 SQ FT
00
$1,499,000
ELINE
EQUESTRIAN PROPERTY
G
5 BEDROOMS - 4.5 BATHS - 5675 SQ FT
$1,390,000
2.92 ACRE LOT WITH WATERVIEW
SOL
Ct.
28-70 Lake Carroll Blvd
LIP IN THE EAST CTION - READY bedrooms and acious home.
EQUESTRIAN PROPERTY WITH 2.56 ACRES AND 2 HORSE BARNS. Working horse property at Lake Carroll! Charming ranch home with 2 finished levels.
520 SQ FT
4 BEDROOMS - 3 BATHS - 3200 SQ FT
000
NEW PRICE $475,000
D
28-12 Lake Carroll Blvd.
3 BEDROOMS - 3.5 BATHS - 3800 SQ FT
$459,000
ie Wenzel
Patti Kloepping
Tracey DeCrane
David Peterson
Jess Schumacher
-541-1001
815-266-4020
815-677-2164
815-238-2269
608-347-3659
aging Broker nzel@remax.net
Broker Associate pattik@remax.net
Broker Associate
traceydecrane@gmail.com
Broker Associate
dcpeterson@remax.net
25-78 Lake Carroll Blvd.
WATERFRONT HOME ON 2 ACRE LOT WITH 233 FT. OF GLORIOUS SHORELINE. OVER 4700 FINISHED SQ FT., 4 BEDROOMS, 3.5 BATHS AND NICE FINISH AT THE WATER.
$1,390,000 Listed by KW Inspire
NEW LISTING
E P SAL
EXCITING NEW PROPERTY! Completely REBUILT contemporary beauty on 2.92 private lot with gorgeous open play area. Fabulous views. MUST SEE INSIDE.
D
END
ING
3-359R Lake Carroll Blvd
DEEDED SLIP WEST MARINA G-32 INCLUDED. Charming NEW ranch home on the beautiful Lake Carroll Golf Course.
3 BEDROOMS - 2 BATHS - 1517 SQ FT
$449,000
Broker/Owner
jess.schumacher@remax.net
PHILANTHROPIC SPONSOR
A Shaw Media Publication | Lake Lifestyle | November 2026 | 47
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$3,100,000 26-62 BLACKWOOD CT
$
PRICE IMPROVED
5 BATH
4 BDRM
5706 SQFT
Luxury WATERFONT Home Built in 2021 27' Vaulted Ceilings | Wet Bar & Wine Cellar 2 Ensuite BRs | Designer Kitchen 238' Waterfrontage | Inground Pool Beach House | 2 Heated Garages | 1.60 A
LAKE CARROLL AREA PROPERTIES FOR SALE $1,350,000
$669,000
$674,000
GO
3-369
$1
$320,000
W
COUNTRY VIEWS
COUNTRY VIEWS
WATERFRONT
26-8 WYNWOOD CT
4 BA
27-43
PRICE IMPROVED
NEW LISTING
26-1 LAKE CARROLL
23-37 BROADVIEW
WOODED
Repres
3-540 FAWN RIDGE
3 BDRM 4098 SQFT
4 BA 5 BDRM 4300 SQFT
2.5 BA 3 BDRM 2135 SQFT
3 BA
Spacious Ranch | Expansive Deck/Patio | Pavilion | 3+ Car Gar | 234' Waterfront | 1.63 A
2 Story Home | Large Yard Open Concept | 3 Car Garage Primary BR on Main | 1.68 A
Open Concept | Custom Home Built In 2024 | 4 Car Tandem Garage | 1.72 A
Open Concept | Upper & Lower Composite Decks Well Maintained | 0.31 A
$294,900
$259,900
$259,900
$625,000
3 BDRM 2292 SQFT
Deeded Slip
Deeded Slip
Deeded Slip
Deeded Slip
Deeded Slip
Deeded Slip
Deeded Slip
Deeded Slip Deeded Slip
Deeded Slip
PRICE IMPROVED
PRICE IMPROVED
DEEDED SLIP
COUNTRY VIEWS
GOLF COURSE
5-68 DUSKY CT
4-23R GRANDVIEW DR
2 BDRM 1558 SQFT
2 BA 2 BDRM 1319 SQFT
4 BA 4 BDRM 5788 SQFT
Well Maintained | Scenic Furnished | Open Floorplan 2 Car Garage | 0.28 A
15th Hole of Course Expansive Deck | Furnished 1 Car Garage | 0.83 A
Full Brick Ranch | 3-Season Porch | Large Detached Garage | Expansive 15.33 A
31-66 WAKONDA DR 3 BA
2 BDRM 1800 SQFT
Country Views & Large Yard Open Concept | 2 Car Gar Unfinished Bsmt | 1.21 A
Lake Carroll Office: 3-203 Association Dr. Lake Carroll, IL 61046
2 BA
FREEPORT WOODED ESTATE
2856 W FOREST RD
info@fawnridgerealty.com
815-475
www.fawnridgerealty.com
$30
815-493-2829
SM-ST2356051
48 | A Shaw Media Publication | Lake Lifestyle | November 2026
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KAYLA B
DESIGNATED BROKER |
10/22/2026 7:41:10 AM
CT $780,000
WATERFRONT
WATERFRONT
WATERFRONT
3-369 LAKE CARROLL
16-228 STONEHEDGE
24-56 SADDLEWOOD
5-216 HEATHCLIFF DR
SO
SO
LD
LD
SO LD
GOLF COURSE
SO
SQFT
n 2021 ne Cellar hen Pool | 1.60 A
$950,000
$877,500
LD
$415,000
LAKE CARROLL MARKET SUMMARY
$1,400,000
# Active Homes
Avg Sale Price as % of Ask
16
SO
LD
Sold Homes YTD
PLATINUM SPONSOR
WATERFRONT
27-43 RIDGEVIEW DR
D
Represented The Buyer
RIDGE
00
44
6
Avg DOM - Sold Homes
Avg. Sale Price/Sq.Ft.
67
$194
Homes Pending
Avg Sale Price
6
$632,773
Balanced Market
Source: NorthWest IL Alliance of REALTORS
DEEDED SLIP LOTS
2292 SQFT
Upper & te Decks d | 0.31 A
BUY. SELL. BUILD. LIVE!
Months of Inventory
(Jan 1 - Oct 21, 2026)
00
96.7%
LAKE & COUNTRY VIEW LOTS
Deeded Slip
26-2 Lake Carroll Blvd
1.97 A $15,500
20-31 & 32 Fox Run
0.53 A
$10
12-124R Briarwood
0.77 A
Deeded Slip
23-9 Lake Carroll Blvd
1.09 A $16,300
12-251R Spring Crk
0.57 A
$10
5-15 Berkshire Ct
0.97 A
$9,995
2-272 Parkview Cir
0.28 A $1,000 4-168R Beachcomber 0.76 A 18-2 Lake Carroll Blv 1.12 A $2,500 17-200R Lake Carroll 1.16A
$10,000
1.46 A $5,000 25-69 Cottage Hill 13-73R Lakeview Ct 0.57 A $5,000 25-26 Lake Carroll 5-53R Chadbourne 0.57 A $5,500 23-5 Lake Carroll
$21,900
Deeded Slip
22-2 Lakewood Ct
1.08 A $18,000
Deeded Slip
23-122 Lake Carroll Blvd
1.11 A
$20,000
Deeded Slip
31-26 Cog Hill Ct
1.03 A $20,000
Deeded Slip
31-28 Cog HIll Ct
1.00 A $20,000
Deeded Slip
31-29 Cog Hill Ct
1.10 A $20,000
Deeded Slip Deeded Slip
28-8 Colonial Ct 24-22 Lake Carroll Blvd
1.68 A $23,500 3.55 A $24,900
Deeded Slip
27-65 Ridgeview Dr
2.96 A $36,000
18-17 Lake Carroll
1.55 A
$6,900
$14,400
1.95 A
$24,900
1.49 A
$29,000
23-21 Broadview Dr 1.20 A $6,000
RT
STATE
EST RD
788 SQFT
3-Season etached ve 15.33 A
KAYLA BLOCK
NICK BLOCK
DESIGNATED MANAGING MANAGING BROKER OWNER BROKER | OWNER
815-475-8060
815-906-1701
CYNDY GRIFFIN BROKER 815-238-7597
BARB HILL BROKER
815-766-2758
JOANNE KUTZ
TOM MILLER
GARY SHELLHAUSE
815-858-4845
815-297-4968
815-238-4368
BROKER
BROKER
MANAGING BROKER
$30 Million In Lake Carroll Properties Sold In 2025! A Shaw Media Publication | Lake Lifestyle | November 2026 | 49
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Amy Barnes Designated Managing Broker 815-238-8360
www.BarnesRealtyInc.com
866-493-2300
PENDING 4-249 GRANDVIEW DRIVE, LAKE CARROLL GOLF COURSE LIVING 3 Bedrooms | 3 Baths | Call Amy Barnes 0.38 Acre Lot | 2 Car Garage | $399,000
SOLD
21-9 TIMBER SHORE DRIVE, LAKE CARROLL
19-28 HIDDEN VALLEY DRIVE, LAKE CARROLL
PRIVACY, NATURE, & DEED BOAT SLIP!
LARGE LOT, OPEN FLOOR PLAN, BASEMENT FINISH!
3 Bedrooms | 2 Full/2 Half Baths | Agent Owned 1.07 Acre Lot | 3 Car Garage | $449,000
3 Bedrooms | 2 Bathrooms | Call Amy Barnes 2.93 Acre Lot | 2 Car Garage | $229,000
VACANT LOTS
SOLD
31-5 MEDINAH DRIVE, LAKE CARROLL NEAR CLUBHOUSE & GOLF COURSE
3 Bedroom | 2 Baths | Call Amy Barnes 1.03 Acre Lot | 2 Car Garage | $339,000
SOLD
12-211 ROSEWOOD LANE, LAKE CARROLL RANCH STYLE ON 1+ ACRE CORNER LOT 3 Bedrooms | 3 Baths | Call Amy Barnes 1.23 Acre Lot | 2 Car Garage | $285,000
Doug Moll Managing Broker 815-238-3626
17-152 Edgewater Dr | $10 16-27 Elmhurst Ct | $10 3-487 Shady Lane | $750 22-6P Lakewood Ct | G $1,000 ENDIN 4-4 Grandview Drive | $1,000 4-8 Grandview IN|G$1,000 PENDDrive 13-102 Quail Hollow Dr. | $2,000 12-245 Birchbark Ct. | $3,900 17-91 Whitewater Drive | $5,000 4-209 Beachcomber Lane | $10,000 31-65 Wakonda Dr. | $25,000
SOLD 17-90 WHITEWATER DRIVE, LAKE CARROLL WARMTH, FUNCTIONALITY, & ATTENTION TO DETAIL
SOLD 25-14 COUNTRY HILL COURT, LAKE CARROLL EXPOSED RANCH WITH DEEDED BOAT SLIP 4 Bedrooms | 3 Baths | Call Margaret 1.72 Acre Lot | 3 Car Garage | $495,000
Aime Heldt Broker 815-291-8256
Trish Oppold Broker 815-541-7138
Margaret Rominski Broker 815-291-5269
4 Bedroom | 3 Baths | Call Amy Barnes 0.53 Acre Lot | 3 Car Garage | $499,000
960 WOODSIDE TERRACE, FREEPORT BEAUTIFULLY APPOINTED COLONIAL
4 Bedrooms | 2.5 Baths | Call Amy Barnes 1.02 Acre Lot | 3 Car | Workshop | $399,000
Gary Ludwig Broker 815-541-5959
24490 Payne Rd, Shannon, IL 50 | A Shaw Media Publication | Lake Lifestyle | November 2026
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REAL R EA AL ES ESTATE STATEE M MADE AD A D M MOD MODERN ODEERN RN R N
123 N Galena Avenue, Freeport, IL
Text/Call:
815.541.5557
Kimberly Taylor Broker/Owner
www.nexthomefirstclass.com Residential · Commercial · Land · Farms - Closed over $48M in 2025, AVERAGING A CLOSING EVERY 2 DAYS IN 2026
SOLD: 23633 Carroll Road $295,000
5-124 Sunrise Ct $765,000
24-100 Shenandoah $435,000
309 S Linn Street $175,000
24-134 Hidden Ranch Dr
$320,000
Access Lot Access Lot
Access Lot
26-4 Wynwood Ct
27-20 Norwood Dr $2,500
$5,000
Agent Owned
5-143 Chadbourne Dr $1
520 N Burns St $140,000
10489 Maple Grove Rd $225,000
204 W Pearl St $189,500
Specializing in Lake Carroll & Northwestern Illinois Real Estate Experienced in Lakefront, Luxury, Rural & Recreational Properties Strategic Pricing & Premier Marketing Proven with National Awards Professional Photography, Drone Imagery & Digital Exposure Expert Negotiation & Personalized Representation From First Showing to Closing – I'm With You Every Step of the Way Proudly Serving Buyers & Sellers Throughout Northwestern Illinois
-Licensed d over 25 Y Years ears - Lake Carroll H Home ome Owner Each E ach office off o ffffiice ce is independently independen pend denttly ly owned ow and nd operated. operate
A Shaw Media Publication | Lake Lifestyle | November 2026 | 51
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HUGE SALE ON IN-STOCK PONTOONS & FISHING BOATS! Professional Fall Services Let us winterize your 2027 Crest Conquest 235 SLRC
Outboards Inboards Stern Drives PWC’s
Falcon F20 Predator
Ballast Tanks/Boat Heaters Shoreline Dock & Lift Removal Boat Bottom Cleaning Detailing Pickup & Delivery Storage
Monday-Friday 7am-4pm Saturday 7am-Noon
www.millersport.com
Crestliner 1750 Pro Tiller
Bait & Tackle in stock
7,000 sq. ft. Showroom Competitive Prices • Dedicated Staff Largest Accessory Dept. in the Area Quality Service from Factory Trained Technicians On Water Service • Indoor Storage • Dock & Lift
SM-ST2355055
52 | A Shaw Media Publication | Lake Lifestyle | November 2026
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