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Oregon artist Martin Spie’s (right) creativity is a positive force to be reckoned with. As he explores humanity and himself through his art, kindness and positivity are a recurring theme in many of his works. “I want to do nice things, I don’t do bad things,” he said. ALEX T. PASCHAL/ APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM
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STORY SCULPTED BY CODY CUTTER FOR SAUK VALLEY MEDIA
OREGON – As long as Martin Spei can remember, there’s nothing quite like having a tool in his grasp. I N G Growing up in Detroit as one of five children in a single-parent home, a young Spei was the household handyman his mother turned to when something was broken. When he didn’t have a screwdriver, a hammer or a pair of pliers in his hand, he had pencils of all kinds to doodle with. He also used to carve things such as totem poles and small animals as a child. These days, Spei, 61, is working with knives, brushes and other tools to create sculptures, and he’s made quite a career out of it.
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that Spei found interesting is that of news magnate Rupert Murdoch. He saw a picture of him in the Chicago Tribune and was struck by his Through the years, his work has been featured in galleries throughout the appearance. United States, Canada, London and Paris. “He just had a great face,” Spei said. “Truth is stranger than fiction. I He’s still creating, but lately, he’s been doing it just outside of Oregon, in could make up faces, but an 1843 farmhouse he and real faces out there are his wife, Nancy, 59, moved way more interesting than to nearly 3 years ago, from what I can make up.” Santa Fe, New Mexico, to Before Spei creates be closer to Nancy’s family. something, he sketches Spei chisels away nearly it out first, sometimes every day in his studio, working up as many as 50 doing what he loves best. drawings before he gets it His latest series of bronze just right. After that he’ll pieces involves rotund, bald make a clay sculpture, men in various positions then put a rubber mold and situations. He’s curon it, followed by a plasrently working on a piece ter mold, and eventually that’s a cross between a it goes to a local foundry person and a bell. where it’s cast. “What I want it to be is One of Spei’s favorite a bell to remind yourself to works is the “Army Man” SVM FILE PHOTO be kind to yourself,” Spei series, which were larger Lugubrious and lumbering, stately and stoic, a graceful determination and a weary said. “You walk by your versions of the plastic resignation … A parade of people and a parade of adjectives can be found in little guy, and you’ll go green Army men children Spei’s work, as in this piece, “Seven,” seen here at Vicarioustyle, a store and salon ‘ding, ding, ding.’ It’s like play with. He made one in downtown Oregon owned by Spei’s nephew, Brad Bauer, and his wife, Kara. a reminder that if you are mold in the standard kind to yourself, you are Army-issue green, but also made one colored “freak” – the name of a going to be kind to others. The whole point is to just be kind.” pinkish color that is commonly used in graffiti paint. Kindness and positivity are a common theme in Spei’s works. So are the aforementioned bald-headed men. One of the more notable heads Continued on page 7 Continued from page 5
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“Color in art has a value,” Spei said. “Color has an emotional, social, sociological value. The color pink definitely has a feminine designation to it. So if I make Army men and then I paint them pink, what I’m saying with the piece when I paint it is that I’m playing with the idea of gender, and what defines gender.” One of the series in Spei’s showcase is “Political Saints,” which was was done more than 20 years ago with Norm Chomsky as Juan Diego, the first Catholic saint indigenous to the Americas; Michael Moore as the famous hobo clown Emmett Kelly; and Ralph Nader as St. Francis of Assisi holding up a donkey and an elephant in each hand. It gave Spei a lesson on what kinds of art sells, and what kind doesn’t; the “Political Saints” series wasn’t a landslide success, but still remains a conversation pieces at Spei’s home. Some of Spei’s creations are interactive. For example, “Happy, Mad, Sad, Glad,” has a cast man that spins on top of a concrete square with the four emotions etched on each side. Photos on pp 8 & 9; Story continued on page 10
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On his website, Spei describes his approach to creating his works of art: My work expresses my desire to understand why and how people do the work they do. My artwork is representational. I work in the figure because I believe it can permit immediate access to interpretation and connection. I am drawn to images of business and politics as I explore the human reaction to these forces. I want to capture the context of societal norms while portraying the inner dialog of an individual as I strive to share the humorous irony I see in our simultaneous connection and isolation.
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Right: This piece, of Norm Chomsky as Juan Diego, is part of a 20plus year-old series Spei did called “Political Saints.
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Spei’s works begin with a drawing, sometimes as many as 50 sketches before he gets it just right. Then he breaks out the tools of his trade to begin the process of sculpting.
Continued from page 7
Front and center in the showcase room are two parts of his “Civility” series, which “is all dealing with togetherness, kindness and respect,” Spei said, and inspired in recent years by what he says has been an increase in negative emotions stirred up by political talk. “Civility Ease” depicts two men laying down reclining against one another; “Civility Clinch” depicts the two men hugging. “I want to do nice things, I don’t do bad things,” Martin said. “I think more people are nice than anything.” When he was younger, Spei’s mother used to take him on trips to the Detroit Art Institute, which helped nurture his love of art. He drew often, all the way through high school, and one of the drawings he’s most fond of from that time is of a friend’s Ford Pinto. He turned the iconic ‘70s subcompact into a racecar on paper, “with an air dam on the hood and big, slick tires,” he said. Spei wound up in Chicago early in adulthood and found a job waiting tables at Charlie Trotter’s downtown, one of the most expensive restaurants in the world during the 1980s. It was there he met Nancy, who is originally from Lombard. Despite waiting on the high-class clientele and making up to $80,000 a year, he knew the restaurant business just wasn’t going to be his career. But the job did give him something he carries with him to this day: an appreciation of coffee. He and his wife both got hooked on it and the smell of coffee beans, so much so that he’s acquired quite a collection of espresso machines. One is a 1979 Italian La Pavoni machine that is Martin’s go-to machine in his studio. The model is hard to find in America, but common in Italy, and he’s rebuilt it twice; it sits next a 19th century hand-crank grinder.
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Rekindling his interest in art, Martin spent time at the Art Institute of Chicago, wandering around and admiring famous works, sculptures in particular. It also was during that time when he began to think he was dyslexic. As it turned out, he was — but that wasn’t all he found out. He also learned he had a very high intelligence quota (IQ), and that led to Martin wanting to explore his creative nature. “I said, ‘The only thing I like doing is making art,’” Spei said. “I like making things and drawing, and that’s what I’m going to do. So I went down to the Art Institute, just went walking around the building, and I saw these great, figurative sculptures. I went, ‘Wow! Who made those?’” It turns out that person was a professor in the building, Preston Jackson. Spei met him and they got to know each other well enough to where he got to hang out in not just his classes, but some others as well. “I did that for 2 years and didn’t pay a dime,” Spei said, noting that it cost $1,450 a credit hour back then, with each class being four credit hours. His ingenuity – and previous stint in the food industry – helped him get access to tools of the trade. He’d whip up food and sold it to the janitors who would pay him with access to some of the Institute’s equipment. Eventually, Spei found work in set building, but his creative interests continued to grow and he wanted to explore more. So he and Nancy took off in a 1959 Willys Jeep station wagon and ended up in Santa Fe. “I tell people, ‘He can’t do anything else,’” Nancy said.
“That’s what he’s good at. He’s had a lot of great experiences.” The city is also a wellspring of creative talent, he said, which encouraged him to tap even deeper into his own talents, all while developing a growing interest in sciences, paleontology, and architecture. “In Santa Fe, you throw a stone and you hit an artist,” Spei said. “It’s beautiful, and there’s a whole history to it. [People go there] and bon vivant around and build themselves little mansions out there.” At one point, Spei had five galleries going at one time. Today, he has two: Blue Rain Gallery in Santa Fe, and Graphite in New Orleans. “I’m really happy with two galleries,” he said. “I was kind of overextending myself, and I did well.” Having only been in the area for a couple of years Spei is interested in seeking out fellow artists of all mediums throughout the area to chat about art, and maybe have an espresso or two. “Wherever Martin goes, he seeks artists,” Nancy said. “He also likes engineers, professors, people who he can have in-depth conversations with.” That’s life to Spei, and his creativity isn’t going away any time soon. “I took the Bohemian Oath – this is what I called it – I’m like, ‘This is what I want to do. I don’t care if I want to make money,’” he said. “I want to make money and everyone wants to survive, but I’m kind of throwing it all [to the wind]. This is what I want to do, this is what makes me happy. So I just took the oath, and said I’m going to do this no matter what, and I’m just not going to give up. n
MORE MARTIN Go to martinspei.com or find him on Instagram @ speistudio2 to see more of Oregon artist Martin Spei’s work. Some pieces are available for purchase. Contact Spei on the website for more information.
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Will White of Byron drives off the tee while playing a round at PrairieFire Golf and Grill. ALEX T. PASCHAL/ APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM
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f you’ve ever golfed, you’ve probably had one of “those days”: bad weather, slow golfers ahead of you on the course, the sun setting too soon, or maybe it’s just a day when you want to hit a few shots but don’t feel like walking the course. PrairieView Golf Club in Byron can help: It has a place where you can have fun golfing year-round in a relaxed environment, in practically any kind of weather, day or night, all while enjoying food and drinks with friends. PrairieFire Golf and Grill opened at the golf course last June and has STORY become a hit with golfers and non-golfers alike, thanks in large part to TEED UP BY its eight heated hitting bays equipped with Toptracer Range technology. ER TT CODY CU The hitting bays allow golfers to send their shots flying in several game EY LL VA UK SA modes on virtual courses. Cameras track and trace the ball as it’s hit out on MEDIA the driving range. Prior to PrairieFire opening, a person would have had to travel more than 50 miles to find that kind of game play. Now, it’s just a chip shot to northeast Ogle County. PrairieFire General Manager Scott deOliveira said the sheltered driving bays don’t just fit golfers to a tee; others love it, too. Some like keeping their skills sharp while others simply enjoy the entertainment aspect of it. Swing a club, smack a ball, and enjoy simulations ranging from long-drive contests, virtual courses, target games, and more; and you can play against other golfers at PrairieFire or others around the world. Continued on page 14
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ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM
PrairieFire General Manager Scott deOliveria said the recently installed high-tech driving bays have been a hit with customers. “It’s a place where golfers and non-golfers alike can come in and enjoy,” he said. “There’s a lot of different things in there that are fun for serious golfers as well as non-golfers and inexperienced golfers.”
“It’s a place where golfers and non-golfers alike can come in and enjoy,” deOliveira said. “It’s a virtual golf experience with eight different game modes. There’s a lot of different things in there that are fun for serious golfers as well as non-golfers and inexperienced golfers.” For the most part, about 75% of people who come are not golfers, said Todd Tucker, Byron Forest Preserve’s executive director. Hitting bays are rented by the hour, even late at night. Each of the colored targets illuminate and blink when a ball lands on it. The system tracks the balls coming out of the bays with two cameras, one on each side, that triangulate the ball’s path, tracking, speed, spin, apex, curve, carry, total distance and more. Statistics are shown on a computer screen at each bay; the displays look similar to how televised golf programs break down shots from professionals, with graphics and statistics. Continued on page 16
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Toptracer also has a kids game, Go Fish, where sea creatures can be captured by swinging shots to targets on a screen. The game can be played individually or in teams of four golfers. Each bay also has overhead heaters and fans as well as fire pits, for cold-weather play, as well as lounge areas that allow for maximum comfort for larger groups. “When you walk in, it’s cozy and its comfortable,” deOliveira said. “If you like golf, but you don’t have that 4 hours to commit to on a Saturday or a Sunday — as busy as people’s lives are these days, to be able to come here for 1 or 2 hours, they can still have fun in a relaxed atmosphere. No matter your skill level, you can still get some swings in.” Continued on page 17
Liam Nichols, 6, of Rockford focuses on the ball while getting in some practice time March 9 at PrairieFire Golf and Grill. Young or old, amateur or pro, PrairieFire’s driving bays are a good fit for all skill levels. ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM
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Golfers and guests can watch the action from the indoor viewing areas right off of the driving bays at Prairie Hill, or they can grab a seat outside to keep an eye on the action. Customers can also grab a drink or a bite to eat, and watch players’ progress on screens. ALEX T. PASCHAL/
APASCHAL@SHAWMEDIA.COM
Continued from page 16
The vision and concept for PrairieFire originated from former general manager and superintendent Matt Henkel, who saw something similar in British Columbia. Henkel and Byron Forest Preserve Executive Director Todd Tucker visited the facility to learn more about it and bring some of its concepts to the Rock River Valley. “The whole concept was based on a need to develop a year-round revenue stream at a golf course in northern Illinois,” deOliveira said. “There was a problem, and we found a solution. The problem was that golf is an expensive sport. To maintain a golf course, it’s expensive. There is a lot that goes into it operationally.
“When you only have select months out of the year to operate, it makes it pretty difficult. The idea behind it was to provide an activity that can generate year-round revenue.” Opening during the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic, PrairieFire’s bays had their social distancing limitations when only four people were allowed per bay and indoor seating was prohibited. With restrictions easing up lately, eight people are allowed per bay as well as limited indoor seating. Tucker and deOliveira are eager to see just how successful this can be in a typical-year setting. Continued on page 18
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Ruby Tucker takes a swing in one of the golfing bays at PrairieFire Golf and Grill.
“We had a rough February because of the bitterly cold temps, but January and December we averaged higher numbers than we had during the summer,” Tucker said. “I’ll really love to see what this place does as more people know about the facility, Covid goes away, and we have a full year of business.” “You can come here for an hour or 2 and not spend 4 or 5 hours on the course,” he added, “plus it’s more interactive with your friends because on the course you’re more spread out, it’s a little more quiet, and you have to have some etiquette. Here, you’re playing music and drinking a beer.” Beginners like to take advantage of the games that Toptracer offers. Serious golfers tend to gravitate toward playing on the virtual courses, which involves more skill. Wish you could link up at esteemed courses such as Pebble Beach, St. Andrew’s or Beth page Black? Come to Byron and make that happen. Continued on page 19
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While playing, golfers also can enjoy a full bar and grill menu just a few feet away from each bay with shareable foods, sliders, loaded fries, and 10 beers on tap. Reservations can be made online or by phone and are opened up 14 days in advance. Golfers can bring their own clubs, or rent them for a session. Leagues are even played at the bays during the week. Group outings can be arranged there, too. Tucker said that he can see it being the future of golf for the northern half of the United States, and they’ll be popping up all over the place before one knows it. The Toptracer system also has an app where users can log their shot data and compare it with other users throughout the world. “PrairieFire is a great place to spend an afternoon or evening with friends and family,” deOliveira said. n
TEE TIME PrairieFire Golf & Grill and PrairieView Golf Club | 6734 North German Church Road, Byron, IL, 61010 HOURS: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday 9 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday (minors must be accompanied by parent or guardian after 10 p.m.) TEE TIMES for PrairieView Golf Club’s golf course are from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Go to prairieviewgolf.com for more information. Go to prairiefiregolf.com or call 815-234-4653 to reserve a tee time at one of Prairie Fire’s bays, or for more information.
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BY CODY CUTTER FOR SAUK VALLEY MEDIA
G
iving back to the community doesn’t have to take a lot of time. In fact, it can take only a few hours — a year. But that little bit of time can make a big difference in people’s lives. Just ask the members of the Ogle County chapter of the 100+ Women Who Care. They’re proof positive that numbers really do add up. Four hours. Five minutes. A hundred bucks. Add them all up and it equals a group that’s given thousands of dollars to local charities and organizations. The Ogle County chapter is part of 100+ Women Who Care, a worldwide organization committed to making a difference in communities around the world through its more than 650 chapters in the United States and Europe, most of them county-based chapters in the U.S. At each meeting, members nominate local charities – not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organizations – and three are drawn from a hat as finalists for the collective gift. Members who nominate the finalists have 5 minutes each to give their pitch to the group about what the charity does and how the money will be used. Then, members take a vote and the winning charity gets a $100 check from each member. Continued on page 22
SUBMITTED PHOTO
At their quarterly meeting last July, the 100 Women Who Care of Ogle County voted to support the volunteer programs of the county’s Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program. Present were (pictured in no particular order) Julie Mann, Arlene Sangmeister, Linda Corwin-Graber, Deanne Haub, Jennie O’Rorke and Kim Montgomery.
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Since its first meeting more than a year ago, Ogle County’s chapter has donated nearly $5,000 to charities and organizations. “We are an informal group of women who are passionate about helping and giving to others, but may not have the time to do a lot of fundraising like planning and organizing events, then trying to get volunteers to help with these fundraisers,” said Ogle County’s chapter founder and leader, Deanna Forrest. “The nice thing about this organization is that there are no administrative fees or salaries, therefore, the time commitment is minimal for the members and all the money is put to the best use possible.” Forrest heard about the organization in February 2019 through her sister-in-law, Charlotte Kaiser, who is a member of the Stephenson County chapter. Forrest saw firsthand just what kind of impact the group can make. When Kaiser, who’s also a volunteer at the Crisis Pregnancy Center in Freeport, learned the group would donate $14,000 to the center, Forrest said she “had never heard her so excited as she was that day.” Continued on page 23
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Among the recipients of funds from the Ogle County chapter of 100 Women Who Care was Believe In The Children. The non-profit in Forreston offers services for adults and children in order to provide kids of all ages a “safe, nurturing and neutral environment. From left: 100 Women Who Care members Linda Graber and Arlene Sangmeister; Patti Jennings, director of Believe In The Children; and 100 Women members Teri Johnson and Deanna Forrest. Go to believeinthechildren.org or find it on Facebook for more information.
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That got Forrest thinking: Why not bring this concept closer to home? She asked Kaiser whether she could attend one of the Stephenson County meetings, and her mission began – she was closer to finding a way to help Ogle County charities and organizations. DeKalb County also has a chapter, and Forrest met with its president to get more information. Getting the Ogle County chapter started took more work than just a single person could take on, so Forrest recruited friends Debby Katzman and Linda Graber to help. By December 2019 they contacted as many ladies as they could think of who thought their mission was worthwhile. “We are women who are driven by the desire to make a difference,” Forrest said. “Inspired by other great 100 Women Who Care groups around the U.S., Canada and the world, we tried to create a local philanthropic group of fabulous women who are capable of doing great things in our community.” One of the chapter’s goals is to have at least one person from each of the communities in the county; that would expand the group’s scope to expose members to more possible candidates for donations. What Katzman enjoys about being a member of 100 Women Who Care is how much of an impact one can make with such a small investment of time. “When I was approached to look into the idea of
100 Women Who Care, I thought, ‘OK, another fundraiser that I will have to work at to raise money for a needy charity,’” she said. “I belong to six other volunteer and service organizations already, and I wasn’t sure how I was going to fit this one into my life. “I think that is the beauty of this fundraising and charity is that it literally takes 1 hour of my time to make a huge impact. I am able to direct my giving to our local community in joint combination with women who also have a heart for caring and giving to make a significant contribution. Like the saying goes: Together we can move mountains.” The first Ogle County meeting was Jan. 23, 2020, at Hickory Grove in Rochelle. There, the group hosted members of the Stephenson County chapter to help get their chapter up and running. Today, the group stands on its own two feet and meetings take place quarterly. The meetings actually last closer to 2 hours, but the first hours is used for social time, before business starts during the second hour. That initial meeting had 12 members, and there were 15 a year later. The COVID-19 pandemic sidelined meeting in person, but it didn’t stop their mission: Zoom meetings are held and votes are still taken. Their mission has taken on added significance this past year, when a growing number of people were forced to rely on help to get them through uncertain times. Continued on page 24
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THE FIRST 100+ WOMEN WHO CARE CHAPTER WAS STARTED IN 2006 BY KAREN DUNIGAN, the former mayor of Jackson, Michigan. Dunigan always found it interesting that one of her greatest ideas was born from something as simple and basic as baby cribs. It was during lunch one day with executive leadership from the Center for Family Health that the CEO mentioned a need for portable cribs for new mothers. Dunigan’s ears perked up and she told the CEO that would be something she would like to know more about. Another lunch was scheduled to discuss that need. During the follow-up lunch, details were shared about how new mothers were bringing their babies home and placing the sleeping infants in boxes, dresser drawers or on their own beds because they could not afford a proper crib. Tragically, some of these babies didn’t survive the night. Dunigan was presented with a list of how many cribs were needed, the cost of mattresses, blankets and beds – $10,000 in all. As Dunigan began thinking about the Center for Family Health’s need, she knew there had to be a way to quickly and easily meet it. With all of her involvement in community, Dunigan knew she could call 10 people and ask them to write $1,000 checks, but she also figured she knew 100 women who would each give $100. She began making calls and scheduled a meeting. At that first meeting, in only 1 hour a group of Dunigan’s friends heard the story and each wrote check to the Center for Family Health, resulting in a $12,800 dona-
tion. Karen’s simple request made it possible to supply new mothers with the simplest need: a crib. Dunigan recognized that she was onto something special, and it, too, was in its own infancy and needed to be nurtured to grow. She founded the first 100+ Women Who Care and scheduled quarterly meetings. The rules were simple: Any member could present a need in the community; the need had to be immediate and the money had to remain local. The idea was a worthy cause that benefited many in the community. Sadly, Dunigan passed away from cancer on April 15, 2014. She saw people for their strengths, and realized when 100 or more people come together in a room, each person becomes a powerful force for doing good work while lifting up their community. We are each strong in our own right, but together we’re stronger. Dunigan knew this, applauded it and was so very proud of 100+ Women Who Care. Dunigan’s legacy lives on through the expansion of chapters throughout the world. The first conference of chapter leaders was held in May 2015. Now there more than 700 chapters in the world and another 250 being developed – and some include men and others are kids and teenage chapters. There are chapters in Australia, Ireland, Mexico, Singapore, Costa Rica, Liberia, Pakistan, and the Caribbean Islands of Tortola, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Guyana and St. Lucia. Go to 100whocarealliance.org or find “100 Who Care Alliance” on Facebook for more information. — Deanna Forrest
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The Rochelle Christian Food Pantry became their first recipient and was awarded $1,100. A few months later, the volunteer programs of the county’s Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program received $1,200 during the summer meeting. The Village of Progress, which serves adults with developmental disabilities in Ogle County, was the recipient of $1,100 this past fall. Believe In The Children, a Forreston-based organization that provides multiple services and programs to assist at-risk families navigating crisis situations, was the latest recipient of the group’s generosity. The organization provides assistance with parenting skills, anger management, supervised visitations and parenting time exchanges – all while helping keeping children the forefront of their focus as families go through difficult times. 100 Women’s $1,000 donation has been earmarked for completing renovations on the 310 Sibling Home, which will provide temporary non-traditional foster care to sibling groups. It’s a place that aims to keep siblings together while families work on bettering their family unit. Believe In The Children Executive Director Patti Jennings not only enjoyed MORE INFO having her organization become the beneficiary of The 100+ Women Who Care Ogle the donation, but she also County chapter typically meets four times a year at various locations looks forward to being a throughout the county. The next member of the chapter in meeting is at 6:30 p.m., April 15, via the near future. the Zoom online video application. “There is great deal of Email Deanna Forrest at forrestneed in our community deanna@hotmail.com for informaand many very deserving tion on how to join the meeting. organizations,” Jennings Other meetings are scheduled for said. “We are honored that July 15 and Oct. 21. the 100 Women Who Care Find 100 Women Who Care Ogle County on Facebook, email wwcoof Ogle County selected glecounty@yahoo.com or call 815Believe In The Children as 384-5555 for more information. their most recent recipient. “Thanks to the generosity of these women and many others, we are moving one step closer to providing a safe, comfortable home for sibling groups in times of crisis.” Rochelle Homeless Shelter and the Lee-Ogle Transportation System (L.O.T.S.) also were finalists for consideration in January, and remain eligible in future meetings. With more than enough need— there are currently 401 not-for-profit registered charities in Ogle County – the group won’t have to worry about coming up candidates anytime soon. “If you are like me, you are tired of spending countless hours fundraising for your favorite local charity, only to find out that you have only raised a small amount of money which does not make a big impact on the charity,” Forrest said. “Come and learn about how we can make a huge difference in some of the local charities in our county.” n
N w h e r e Oi gsle iCtou?nty S
Gratitude was a higher calling for the patriarch of an Ogle County family who was so grateful that his sons returned safely from the service in 1954 that he built a personal shrine to the Virgin Mary. Nearly 70 years later, it continues to be a roadside attraction. Do you know what this is, and where it’s at? Answer appears on page 34 PHOTO: CODY CUTTER/SAUK VALLEY MEDIAMEDIA
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By CODY CUTTER for Sauk Valley Media
M
ost businesses wouldn’t want customers to wash their hands of their products, but Dean Murray hopes that exactly what you’ll do. Murray is the mix master behind his family business, BearMoon Soap in Oregon, which makes a line of handcrafted soaps and other personal care products. For Murray, his recipe for success starts with the Bear necessity — making quality soaps — but the science behind the soap is anything but simple. His cleaning concoctions run the gamut, from ones that sound good enough to eat (Oatmeal, Goats Milk and Honey Soap) to some that sound positively relaxing (Tropical Oasis, Tranquility), to some that’ll give you a chuckle (Grumpy Old Man and Drama Queen soaps). Continued on page 28
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Dean Murray talks cess of about the pro H . is soap is making soap cold process made in the re of regular form, a mixtu d with sodifats combine e to create um hydroxid aca chemical re . n tio
Bearilicious, a maroon-and-white bar that gives off a berry-flavored smell, and Cool Water, like the popular cologne of the 1990s, are just two of the nearly 50 different blends that Murray whips up in his soap-making shop. For those who aren’t looking for soaps that are Heaven scent, BearMoon’s Mechanics soap sticks to the basics: cutting through tough grease and grime. That soap is very high in coconut oil and potent D-limonene, and also has finely ground pumice stone. Soap is made in the cold process, using a mixture of regular fats (such as olive oil, coconut oil and others) and sodium hydroxide to create a chemical reaction. It’ll heat up to anywhere between 150 to 200 degrees while it goes through the process. It takes 60 to 90 minutes to melt all of the oils and mix with sodium hydroxide and water. Wearing a protective mask and respirator, Murray puts the mixture together in a tray that can make 32 bars, and weighs 10 pounds. As it cools back down, it hardALEX T. PAS CHAL APAS ens. Because of the amount of / CHAL @SHA WMEDIA water that’s in the soap, it’s soft .COM when it’s done. Continued on page 29
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After hardening and cutting, bars are put on a rack for at least 30 days in the curing process, exposing it to the air and allowing for ap After the so the moisture e tray, th f o t u o comes to evaporate. s which are ’s cut into bar it After about to cure for 4 ced on a rack la p soap is 6 weeks, it’ll The longer a . ks e e w 6 to As the stop losing er it will be. tt e b e th , d cure t a little water weight. they also ge , n e d ar h s bar eases From the balance incr H p e th r, e mild time bars are develop soap it, and it will b a cut to the end ill lather and ystals that w cr of the cure, it body. cleanse the loses about 15 percent of its weight. The longer a soap is cured, the better it will be. As the bars harden, they also get a little milder, the pH balance increases a bit, and it will develop soap crystals that will lather and cleanse the body. Murray makes two kinds of soaps in the cold process form: soaps that have fragrance oils and micas (mineral) powders to color them, as well as natural soaps made of nothing but herbs, clays and essential oils. More than just ingredients go into Murray’s products; there’s a science to his soap.
ALEX T. PAS CHAL APAS / CHAL @SHA WMEDIA .COM
Photos on page 30; Story continued on page 31
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Bear Moon also makes and sells other personal care items, including foaming sugar scrub (to p right) and colorful bath bombs (bottom right). SCHAL/ ALEX T. PA SHAW@ AL APASCH MEDIA.COM
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“When you look at the ingredients that go into the soap, they have an acid profile and are high in a certain type of acid,” Murray said. “Coconut oil is high in lauric acid, what gives you that clean, squeaky feeling and it also creates a lot of bubbles. That could strip the skin of its own barrier, so you balance that oil with oils that are high to jazz Murray likes in oleic acid. By using the different oils with different outof his bars, up to some comes, you affect what that feeling will be.” e-dye effect creating a ti The science even comes down to the wrapping. es of color to t adds splash a nt th Murray uses a polyolefin wrap so that the scent comes only do I wa soaps. “Not is d h n a d o through, allowing people to get a good whiff of the soap smell go the soap to o before buying it. ional, but als ct e very fun b ,” d o Murray’s favorite soap is one he doesn’t sell, since it ok go I want it to lo takes a very long time to perfect. Olive oil soap doesn’t id. sa e h lather, but when it rinses it leaves skin very soft. It once was considered the “soap of royalty” in medieval times. “When I make it, it has to cure for a year,” Murray said. “If you use it before, it just feels like kind of slimy. As it ages, it becomes very ALEX T. PASCHAL/ moisturizing.” APASCHAL@SHAWWhen Murray isn’t making soaps during the week, he’s selling his MEDIA.COM soaps at least 3 days a week at markets in Rockford, Huntley, and sometimes closer to home in Oregon and Byron. Along the way, Murray will get the occasional special request. When he does, he makes up a small test batch of eight bars to see whether it will work out. While Murray is the soap star of the business, he’s got a strong supporting cast helping him: his family, including his wife, Kim, brother, Keith, brotherin-law Kevin Rude (who owns the building where Murray makes his soap) and his wife Julie. Others chip in by helping with marketing and acting as test subjects for each creation. Continued on page 32
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Murray and his brother wanted to operate a business together, and came up with making soap after hearing about how successful it can be. They looked into the soap business, and Dean was invested in the idea. The brothers eventually turned it from a hobby into a business after Dean had a house full of soap in a year’s time. MORE INFOest Pines “The intent was W 7 0 8 , ap o S just to create a from BearMoon gon, is open ursre O in , A small family e h Th Road, Suit nday throug . o M . n o o business where n day 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fri a gallery to 1 d an , we could work ay d view nsoap.com to op online. o o m ar e together,” b sh Go to r ucts and to Dean said. of their prod 7 or go to the website fo 2 3 -2 2 1 . n While io Call 815-3 at more inform cial media: so customers can n out o ap o Check them S n o o M stop by the shop ar e Facebook: B moonsoap ar e where he makes b Twitter: @ ap bearmoonso the soap, in the Instagram: @ Moon Soap ar e B : e former Ace Hardb YouTu ware building, Murray has been wanting to grow the business and open a proper storefront in the other end of the building. He was aiming to do that last year until the pandemic put those plans on hold, but said he still plans to make that a reality “soon.” Continued on page 33
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Soaps aren’t the only items Murray makes. He also whips up lip balms, body scrubs, body butter lotions, bath balms (made of citric acid and baking soda), beard oil, and even jelly soap for kids. He’s also working on shampoo and conditioner bars and plans to offer then later this year, once they’ve passed all his tests. Murray takes great pride in the quality control of his soap-making process. There’s no cross-contamination, and ingredients, which are never stored on the floor, are logged for each batch. Each bar has a certain identification marker to trace anything back to the original products in case there were ever an issues. BearMoon soaps ship all over the country, and can be purchased online as well as at local markets and shops. After 5 years of success in the family business, Murray is always generating more ideas for special soaps; that, perhaps more than anything, is his favorite part about what he does. “It’s part of me just saying, not only do I want the soap to smell good and be very functional, but also I want it to look good,” Murray said. “Each one of these soaps has a different fragrance. It uses different oils so there’s a different feel, to a degree, for people. We all react differently to different ingredients in the product.” n
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w h e r e i sOgiletC?ounty S ANSWER THE LAFLEUR GROTTO is on the south corner of Kishwaukee and Crestview roads north of Stillman Valley. Joseph LaFleur built the concrete and stone grotto to thank the Virgin Mary for keeping his five sons safe during their service in World War II and the Korean War. Joseph would pray often to the Virgin Mary and promised he would build a grotto in her honor. LaFleur began the grotto using local stones and concrete. Later, visitors donated stones from places around the world, and the family gathered rocks from favorite places while on vacation. Go to mnmuseumofthems.org/ Grotto/LaFleur.html for more information about the shrine. Photos: Cody Cutter/ ccutter@saukvalley.com
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