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ALSO INSIDE ...

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General Manager/Advertising Director Jennifer Heintzelman Magazine editors Rusty Schrader & Kathleen Schultz Page design Rusty Schrader Published by Sauk Valley Media 3200 E. Lincolnway | Sterling, IL 61081 815-625-3600 Articles and advertisements are the property of Sauk Valley Media. No portion of River City Living Magazine may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Ad content is not the responsibility of Sauk Valley Media. The information in this magazine is believed to be accurate; however, Sauk Valley Media cannot and does not guarantee its accuracy. Sauk Valley Media cannot and will not be held liable for the quality or performance of goods and services provided by advertisers listed in any portion of this magazine.

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PUBLICATION • FALL/WINTER 2019

Publisher Don T. Bricker

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Full Steamer ahead

Fulton Elementary School’s new principal has his #wedothework cut out for him, and he’s loving every minute of it

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A burgerful day in the neighborhood A Clinton man fills a neighborly niche with his bar and grill................................................................... PAGE

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Thrilled to Bitzy’s Clinton couple finds happiness and success when they

parlay a pet project into their own shop.................................................................. PAGE

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Rainbow connections Sauk Valley group is keeping their PFLAG flying

loud and proud........................................................................................................PAGE

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Out on her own A Fulton shop owner gives customers a new look in the blink

of an eye..................................................................................................................PAGE

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i t z ’s y STORY SHELBY KUEPKER PHOTOS ALEX T. PASCHAL | FOR RIVER CITY LIVING

Clinton couple harnessed the energy of their

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hyperactive pup and turned it into a successful A business.

Clinton Bitzy’s offers fun, fashion, food and more couple found for man’s best friend, and products for dogs’ best happiness and they friend, too. success when roject p et p a And it all started with Bob and Jenni Flikked ye la ar p n shop ma-Banses’ fidgety fur baby. into their ow g on Bob and Jenni welcomed Bitzy, a Malteseafter embarkin p ee k to Yorkie mix, into the family in 2017 when she was a mission 1 year old and still full of puppy power. dogs safe and snug Continued on page 5

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Continued from page 4

“When she was a puppy, she started escaping from her harnesses, and we realized that we had to do something to contain her,” Bob said.

That’s when Bitzy’s custom-made harness was born – and soon after that, the couple’s business.

The harness was designed for fun, fashion, and practicality – namely, keeping Bitzy on a tight, but comfortable, leash. Bob and Jeanni created a harness that even a Houdini hound couldn’t slip out of and it wasn’t long before Bitzy’s harness was attracting attention, and people who wanted to buy one. The couple began selling their custom harnesses at events and symposiums in the area and eventually expanded to pet stores. As demand grew, the Banses knew that it would require a lot of leg work to keep stores stocked. That’s when they started thinking about opening their own pet store.

Earlier this year, Bitzy’s groomer, Cheri Rehr at Doggie in the Window, told Bob and Jenni about some space that was available next door to the canine clipper.

That’s when they took the leap – and they made sure the inspiration for their success was part of their plan. The store is not only named after the Morkie that stole their hearts, Bitzy is the store’s mascot and most valued customer.

Photos on page 6. Story continued on page 7

If not for Bob Banse and Jenni Flikkema-Banses’ furry little friend, Bitzy (above, with Bob and Jenni), the couple might have never opened their pet store. After adopting the pup, they found she just couldn’t contain herself in store-bought harnesses, so they designed one of their own. After they decided to sell them, the harnesses became so popular that the couple decided to take the next step and open a pet shop.

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The food at Bitzy’s is made with fresh ingredients and contains zero preservatives. The store is licensed and registered with the state to make dog food and treats. “Our brand (Bitzy’s Bistro) has no fillers, nothing artificial, and only great ingredients,” store owner Bob Banse said.

RIGHT: Bitzy’s has more than 75 styles of coffee and travel mugs to choose from. People can pick from ones already made up, or they can special order personalized mugs with their own messages and photos.

Bitzy’s sells a host of pet products, mostly for dogs, but some for cats, too: food from Bitzy’s Bistro, leashes, harnesses, toys, shampoos, CBD products, health products and more. For their two-legged customers, Bitzy’s offers, shirts, mugs, insulated totes and more.

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Continued from page 6

The 3-year-old pup is known for her signature haircut that she gets at Doggie in the Window,, and “she’s a pretty fun dog,” Bob said. She loves playing with her neighbor and best friend, Tot, the groomer’s dog.

Bob said getting the store up and running was like “second nature” to him. He said his experience running businesses in the past helped prepare him for what it takes to make and market pet products.

“You can’t just make dog food and sell it,” he said.

The store sells a host of pet products, mostly for dogs, but some for cats, too: food from Bitzy’s Bistro, leashes, harnesses, toys, shampoos, CBD products,health products and more. For their twolegged customers, Bitzy’s offers, shirts, mugs, insulated totes and more.

Some of the product are designed with tongue firmly in furry cheek – like a Bitzy Zen coffee mug with words of doggie wisdom printed on the side – to the more serious: a harness that helps raise awareness of animal abuse, with “Stop Animal Abuse” printed on one side and “Be their voice” printed on the other, with a portion of the harness’ sales going to the care and recovery of animals. Bitzy’s also sponsored a few dogs at the Clinton Weiner Dog Race during Downtown Clinton Society’s Oktoberfest on Sept. 21, with 100% of the sponsorship money going to the Humane Society.

The harness is just one of dozens Bitzy’s offers,

from the practical to the fashionable – more than 70 styles, colors and patterns, in all, and they can even make custom-fit harnesses.

The food at Bitzy’s is made with fresh ingredients and contains zero preservatives. The store is licensed and registered with the state to make dog food and treats. “Our brand has no fillers, nothing artificial, and only great ingredients,” Bob said.

People can browse at the shop, with pup in tow – “We encourage customers to bring their pets in,” Bob said. “People always want to go shopping and do things with their dogs, and we love meeting them” – or they can order products from the store’s website.

There’s definitely a lot of love in the Banses’ business. Bob and Jenni have been married for 27 years, and say they love what they do.

“It’s not a typical thing – getting to hang out with your dog all day long. If business gets slow, we can play fetch in the store. We love animals, and we love having a business based around animals,” Bob said.

The couple said they enjoy customers sending them photos of their pets sporting one of their fashionable harnesses, and have even received photos of people putting Bitzy’s harnesses on their cats, rabbits, and chickens.

After a couple years selling their harnesses, Bob said he and Jenni still have a spotless track record.

“We’ve still never had a dog get out of one of our harnesses.” n

BITZY’S 1401 N. Second St., No. 4, Clinton, Iowa 563-243-2525 Online: bitzys.com or find Bitzy’s on Facebook.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. MondayFriday; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday Owners: Bob Banse, Jenni Flikkema-Banse .... and Bitzy

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here probably aren’t too many pubs that would be proud to serve up slop.

Unless, of course, you happen to be a bar and grill named Slop’s. In that case, you drop some slop right on your menu and call it good – and you know what?

The customers call it good, too.

Slop’s Food and Spirits has been filling glasses since 2011, and a few years later it started serving up pub grub – appetizers, sandwiches and sides, wraps and more.

But burgers are where they really beef up their menu. They’re a specialty at the local watering hole – and the more adventurous the better. Among the 1/2-pound patties on its menu is the Slop Burger, loaded with Sloppy Joe, coleslaw and egg, and topped off with cheese. If that’s not sloppy enough for you, you can add a side of Sloppy Fries. Or maybe you’d like a Sloppy Chicken sandwich instead?

Continued on page 10

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Continued from page 9

Owner Josh Christiansen, 39, was born and raised in Clinton and has years of experience in restaurants and bars, cooking and serving suds at places around town. Owning a place of his own had long been a dream of his.

His business plan? Fill a niche in the neighborhood with a family establishment where people could relax, raise a glass, watch a game on the tube, and grab a bite to eat.

“There wasn’t a bar in this area of town,” he said. “There are quite a few neighborhoods surrounding us, and I wanted to make a neighborhood place where people could come in with their families, watch sports, and eat some good food.”

Eight years later, people are still bellying up to the bar and pulling chairs up to the tables.

Slop’s is a team of 12, led by Christiansen and his right-hand-woman, manager Lindsay Schroeder.

Schroeder has been with Slop’s since the beginning.

“She’s a great help when I’m not there,” he said.

When Slop’s was just getting started, Christiansen said he “had a lot of help from my friends, family, and the people in the community. They helped build tables and the bar. I was overwhelmed with help and love.”

Today, Christiansen returns the love.

Philanthropy is a big part of his business. He often sponsors local groups, such as traveling baseball softball, basketball, and kickball teams.

Slop’s is a team of 12, led by owner Josh Christiansen and his right-handwoman, manager Lindsay Schroeder (left).

Schroeder has been with Slop’s since the beginning.

He also welcomes fundraisers where groups host events, and Slop’s donates a percentage of the night’s sales to a cause.

And what would a neighborhood bar be without good neighbors? Christiansen also has teamed up with the Deanna’s Java Shop to host parties and cater food and drinks next door.

Slop’s has more than just food and drinks on its menu. The bar has live music or comedians on special occasions, and during the winter,

trivia nights are a popular draw.

(Speaking of trivia, here’s some for you: Where does the name Slop’s come from? It was Christiansen’s high school nickname. When it came time to name his bar, “I wanted a name that wouldn’t be mistaken for any other place,” he said.)

For the first 3 years, Christiansen ran Slop’s exclusively as a bar while he continued working in a steel factory.

Continued on page 11

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SLOP’S FOOD & SPIRITS

1015 13th Ave. North, Clinton, Iowa 563-219-8830 Online: facebook. com/slops.bar/ Kitchen hours: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 9 p.m.

Monday-Friday; noon to 9 p.m.

Saturday; noon to 4 p.m. Sunday Bar open till 2 a.m. every day Happy hour: 3 to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday Slop’s also offer drink specials Monday-Friday, and specials during Hawkeyes, Cubs, and NFL games

After finding his footing, he stepped up his game and added food. That’s when things really took off, Christiansen said.

Now Slop’s is an award-winning watering hole – it recently won Favorite Neighborhood Bar or Pub, Favorite Bar Food, and Coldest Beer in the Clinton Herald’s River City Choice Awards.

It also grabbed the top prize for Favorite Burger, and it’s no wonder people flip for the patties. In addition to their regular offerings – a Peanut Butter Bacon Burger and a Beefy Dip Burger to name a few – Slop’s also offers a different specialty burger each month, the kind that’ll tickle the taste buds and leave them laughing for more.

The journey from kitchen to customer begins when the team comes up with a featured Burger of the Month.

“We always try to do something crazy that nobody’s ever tried before,” Christiansen said. “Things people don’t think would work well together.”

During the experimental process, the staff does in-house taste testing and offers customers samples.

Among the recent burgers of the month: The Tailgate Burger (slathered in rotella cheese dip with Italian sausage and chorizo); a Sloppy Stuff Burger (stuffed with grilled onions, bacon pieces, blue cheese crumbles, sharp cheddar cheese and drizzled with BBQ sauce); the Chips and Dip burger (topped with jalapeno chips, cheese sauce and bacon); and the Atomic Cloud burger (topped with marshmallow fluff, sriracha and diced onions).

Slop’s Owner Josh Christiansen has filled a niche in the neighborhood with a bar and grill where people can relax, raise a glass, watch a game on the tube, and grab a bite to eat.

Recently, people had to control their cravings for a Slop’s burger while the place had some work done. Christiansen completed a total renovation and remodel of the bathrooms, kitchen, and bar area.

“I try to update something in the bar once a year, but it was time to freshen everything up this year,” he said. “I take pride in what I do and I try to keep it nice for people.”

For the past 8 years, Christiansen has succeeded in keeping things nice and neighborly, and it comes naturally.

“It’s something I love to do. I love seeing people, meeting new people, and being a part of the community,” he said. n

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w o b Ra n

s n o t c e n n co , l l a f a e r o f e b o g s s d y n a a w t l s a n t o ’ s n r s Prideimdeose it comes when sak paeSauk Valley somet e counted – just a wn stand to keep up to bp that’s taking its nog loud and proud grou he PFLAG flyi t

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ith apologies to the Queen of Soul, there’s more than one way to spell “respect.”

Sure, you could spell it r-e-s-p-e-c-t. But if you’re a member of the Sauk Valley chapter of a national organization, you spell it P-F-L-A-G. PFLAG Sauk Valley is an organization that, according to chapter President Sarah Schlegel, seeks to “support one another, to educate ourselves and our community, and to advocate so that all hearts and minds respect, value, and affirm LGBTQI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex) people.”

The chapter has been seeking to support the LGBTQI community of the Sauk Valley for more than 13 years, fulfilling its mission through frequent meetings, informal support sessions, informative community outreach events, and social gatherings.

Continued on page 13

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members and the community. “In June, PFLAG partnered with the YWCA to provide a movie and discussion revolving around the Stonewall Uprising of 1969, which marked a major turning point in the modern gay civil rights movement in the United States 50 years ago,” Schlegel said.

“Upcoming events include a picnic, a fundraiser dinner, an ask-a-minister event, and an LGBTQI-friendly business workshop.”

PFLAG’s second ask-a-minister event of the year, set for Nov. 17 at St. Paul Lutheran in Dixon, will feature “a panel of Christian ministers from several Protestant denominations who will answer questions and about the church and sexuality and gender.

While PFLAG is a non-religiously affiliated organization, Schlegel said, local minister deserve a special “shout-out of thanks [for] … participating in PFLAG events and working with their congregations to provide open and affirming spaces for people of faith.”

“Such inclusivity has been, literally, life-altering,” she said.

The Whiteside and Lee county health departments have also been particularly helpful, she said. “They have provided speakers at PFLAG events, and have worked to revise paperwork and programs to be LGBTQI inclusive, showing genuine concern for both the physical and emotional welfare of others.”

Natalie Andrews is from Ogle County and has been a member of PFLAG for around 10 years, convinced to join by founder Barb Schwamberger. During that time, she’s served on the PFLAG board.

Continued from page 12

While the group is geared toward a relatively small portion of the population, its mission is to reach as many people as it can.

“Slightly less than 5% of the U.S. population identifies as gay or lesbian. Less than half a percent identifies as transgender, and about one in every 1,700 babies are born intersex (people with sex characteristics that do not fit typical notions of male or female bodies). I think these numbers are really important to keep in mind because, like any minority group, people who identify as LGBTQI rely on strong ally support to maintain a healthy and positive balance within their communities,” Schlegel said.

PFLAG Sauk Valley has 40 members consisting of family or friends of LGBTQI people and those who identify as LGBTQI, Schlegel said. Additionally, she said, “another 50 allies support the organization, either through volunteerism, financial support, or social-emotional support.”

The majority of the group’s members are from Sterling, Rock Falls, Dixon, and Polo, “because most of our events are held in Sterling or Dixon,” Schlegel said. However, “We do have participants from Fulton, Morrison, Oregon, and other area communities periodically.”

“What ties the groups together is the need for greater understanding and acceptance by the larger population. That’s why organizations like [us] exist,” she said.

“PFLAG meetings and social gatherings provide an opportunity to learn about relevant services in the area, discuss local and national trends, and share personal experiences. All are welcome.”

The group holds many informative events in the area for both

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

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Phone

MORE INFORMATION

Joe Strabala-Bright (right), shown here with husband Keegan, serves on the PFLAG board.

The Sterling couple have been married for about 3 months.

Call 815-408-0604 to learn more about the group.

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

Want to join?

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

Continued from page 13

Now in her mid-60s, Andrews said, “I was raised in the ‘50s, and I came out late in life. What PFLAG offered for me was finding people like me, being accepted, and having open and honest conversations with people that were non-judgmental.”

“It really provides a safe place and allowed me to grow within the organization,” she said, adding that PFLAG is “a support system and education tool for those who are a part of this population.”

PFLAG National is a non-profit of more than 400 chapters across the country. According to its website, “The idea for PFLAG began in 1972 when Jeanne Manford marched with her son, Morty, in New York’s Christopher Street Liberation Day March, the precursor to today’s Pride parade. After many gay and lesbian people ran up to Jeanne during the parade and begged her to talk to their parents, she decided to begin a support group.”

PFLAG originally stood for Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, and was later broadened to Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, but today, it’s simply PFLAG, sans the acronym, after members voted to officially change the name to reflect a more inclusive mission.

The group had “outgrown the acronym as society accepted scientific research that shed new light on gender, including new awareness of what it means to be transgender and intersex,” Schlegel said.

Sauk Valley’s chapter was founded in 2006 by Barb and George Schwamberger and Jane Biddle. “They wanted to provide a source of support and advocacy for the Schwamberger’s lesbian daughter and the gay and lesbian community as a whole,” Schlegel said.

Schlegel, a Polo Middle School English/language arts teacher, quickly became attached to the organization after her eldest son came out as gay in eighth grade.

She first served as a general board member, then secretary, and now president. As she and her husband, Tim, “helped [their] son navigate adolescence as a gay teen,” they were looking for support in regards to “addressing family members’ inquiries and comments.”

Despite her own son’s “positive coming-out experience,” Schlegel is struck by “how many people are still living marginalized lives, or even in outright fear from their own family members.”

While Schlegel continues to help those people feel less like they’re in the margins, she also hopes the rest of society will get on the same page, accepting people for who they are. For her, and other members of PFLAG, that hope is a treasure at the end of a rainbow. n

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STORY SHELBY KUEPKER PHOTOS MICHAEL KRABBENHOEFT | FOR RIVER CITY LIVING

ulton Elementary School’s new principal has a lot of homework to do.

Jeff Hoese is learning the ins and outs of a new job. He’s adapting to a new culture and curriculum while working on creating his own. He’s getting his school ready to deal with changes in the district. He’s building new relationships with students and staff.

“I have more learning to do this year than anybody,” Hoese said.

But that’s doesn’t mean he’s all homework and no play.

Sure, he’s rolling up his sleeves, but that just makes it easier to hand out hugs, toss a football and give 400 fist bumps.

Hoese took over the top spot at the school this year and he didn’t waste any time getting to work.

L I V In fact, it’s right there in the this year’s motto/hashtag: #wedothework.

It’s only four words, but it says a lot about Hoese’s philosophy.

The motto is featured on a sign given to each of the staff members. Hoese said it means “there is no substitute for doing the work. First, we’re relaying this message with staff members, encouraging them to focus on doing the work for the students. Then, we’ll have a conversation with the students about doing the work as well.”

With all that work, you’d think Hoese would have to spend all his time behind a desk, but he doesn’t.

He takes every opportunity he can to get out of the office and into

the hallways and classroom to interact with the students – playing football with some fifth-graders, hanging out in the cafeteria with the kids.

He said he wants “everyone to understand that we’re a school family.

We’re all in this together.”

It’s all part of Hoese’s goal of building relationships with students, faculty, and staff.

He planned a welcome celebration for the first day of school, with staff and faculty waiting outside the school holding “Welcome” signs for the first student drop-off. Preschool teacher Erin Stern – “a great vocalist,” Hoese said – sang karaoke.

N G “It was very well received, upbeat, and exciting,” he said.

One new tradition he’s begun is “adding music to our morning announcements. We pick a new song every morning whether it’s John Cena’s wrestling music or Old Town Road and play it over the speakers.”

“Then, I finish off by saying, ‘If anyone hasn’t told you that they love you today, Mr. Hoese loves you,’ and ‘Go Steamers!’”

Another goal he’s set for himself: learning students’ names. Each and every one of them. All 396.

And he started doing it one fist bump at a time.

During the first day of school, Hoese went from classroom to classroom and fist bumped every student and asked their names.

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Continued on page 19

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“I asked them to help me complete this goal, and they are! I’m being relentlessly quizzed by students coming up to me asking, ‘What’s my name? What’s my name?’” Hoese said.

Hoese builds a lot of what he does on a foundation of three core education values.

The first is “relationships matter,” so doing things like learning students names and creating a welcoming and inclusive community are one of his top priorities.

“I’m as homegrown The second is “student-centered learning and decision making,” and the third is as it gets. I was “continuous improvement.” Hoese said he born and went to wants “all staff and students to be the absoschool here. I’m a lute best versions of ourselves and continue product of our improving every day.”

Because Fulton schools are part of Illielementary and nois’ competency-based pilot program, high school.” there are some changes coming to the district. Hoese said he plans to attack these Jeff Hoese changes head on and work with the staff Fulton Elementary School and faculty to do what’s best for the chilprincipal dren, whatever it takes.

While he emphasizes that he’s “not going to jump in and start changing things,” he said he told the staff “that every process and system is under evaluation.”

With nearly 15 years experience under his belt, from classroom to boardroom, Hoese should be in a good position to cast a critical eye on the processes.

Continued on page 20

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Continued from page 19

He’s a hometown boy who grew up to become principal, so he’s seen things from both sides.

“I’m as homegrown as it gets,” Hoese said. “I was born and went to school here. I’m a product of our elementary and high school.”

Hoese earned his associate degree at Sauk Valley Community College and his bachelor’s from Ashford University. After getting his degree, he taught Business Technology at Fulton High School for 13 years.

He also want on to complete a master’s degree in Integrating Technology in the Classroom from Walden University, and another in Educational Leadership from American College of Education.

During that time, he served as Student Council adviser for about 10 years, coached boys basketball for 12 years and freshman/sophomore and junior tackle footMORE ball for nearly 9 years. For the past 2 years he’s served as presiINFORMATION dent of the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency.

Jeff Hoese It was during his time as union board president that Twitter: JAGHoese Hoese realized administration was the direction he wanted Instagram: JAGHoese to head.

Fulton Elementary “After being able to see behind the curtain of what eduSchool, 1301 Seventh Ave., 815-589-2911 cation is,” with the combination of positive feedback from

union board members and encouragement from other administrators, Hoese said he “gained the confidence to pursue it.”

While he’s sad about leaving the high school behind, he’s looking forward to the opportunity ahead at the grade school, where he has a chance to make a bigger difference in students’ lives. “Then, I was impacting about 20 kids per class. Now, I’m impacting 400 students plus around 50 staff members. The scope and ripples are bigger now.”

He said he loves the creativity he’s already seeing throughout the culture and curriculum at the elementary school, and he’s excited to be a part of it.

Not long after he started at the grade school, he stopped by the cafeteria to visit the kindergartners and first-graders. “One came up and gave me a hug.”

Before he knew it, “there was a mob of 20 kids surrounding me,” wanting to hug him as well. “That is something you don’t see in the high school,” Hoese said.

“The culture I’m trying to establish is based on love and hard work.” Hoese said. “I’m trying to take all of the lessons and advice from my past mentors, adding my personal vision, and making it all come to life.” n

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A Fulton shop owner worked her way up from a basement business to her own salon, where she gives customers a new look in the blink of an eye

STORY BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE

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hey say beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

For the team at Lashed Out, the eyes are just the beginning. The trio of makeover artists at the salon have their hands full with customers’ beauty needs, from head to toe – eyelashes, hairstyling, extensions, massages, full body waxing and airbrush tans.

Lashed Out is run by Kera Sechrest, 30, of Fenton, who brings nearly a decade of experience to her shop.

She’s also bringing in a lot of customers.

“My goal is for the girls to be busy, busy, busy!” she said – and she plans to keep another person busy, too.

“Another hair stylist will be starting in a couple months.”

Sechrest is joined at her shop by hair stylist Crissy Peters and massage therapist Liz Holly. “It is super amazing. We have a great staff, and we all work so well together,” Sechrest said.

Lashed Out owner Kera Sechrest and her staff can take care of all a customer’s beauty needs, from head to toe – eyelashes, hairstyling, extensions, massages, full body waxing and airbrush tans.

Continued on page 23

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While the shop can take care of all a customer’s beauty needs, there’s a reason it’s called Lashed Out: Sechrest’s handiwork with eyelash extensions is what helped build her business from the ground up – out of her basement and into her own shop – and those dashing lashes are still a big draw.

She mastered her craft at Blue Crush Tanning and Spa in Bettendorf, Iowa, where she worked for almost 8 years.

When the owner retired, Sechrest inherited boxes of supplies from the spa.

While she took a couple years to stay at home with her kids, Sechrest ran a makeshift salon and eyelash business out of her basement with the goal of someday starting her own shop.

It didn’t take long for someday to come.

With such a high demand for her eyelash extensions, Sechrest became a seasoned pro making people’s peepers look good. “I had a million people that wanted them. I didn’t have a place, so it made sense to look for one,” she said.

Photos on page 24. Story continued on page 25

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Lashed Out opened its doors May 1, but not before Kera and her husband, Louis, put a lot of time and teamwork into the former flower shop. “My husband and I did a total remodel” she said. “We put in all new floors, built a massage room, built a lash room, we painted everything, and set everything up together.”

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When Wilson’s Flower Shop, which had been there for years, closed, the spot came open for rent. Sechrest didn’t bat an eyelash before making the big leap. “I snagged it up real quick.”

Lashed Out opened its doors May 1, but not before she and her husband, Louis, put a lot of time and teamwork into the former flower shop.

“My husband and I did a total remodel” she said. “We put in all new floors, built a massage room, built a lash room, we painted everything, and set everything up together.”

Kera and Louis have been married for 4 years.

“He was so supportive through the entire thing.

He said if this is what I wanted to do, I should do it,” Sechrest said.

The couple had a blast making Kera’s dream salon come true. “I had a vision of exactly what I wanted, and it turned out exactly like it,” she said.

The shop features an unfinished, rustic theme “just like my home,” she said. The frames around the beauty stations were crafted by Kera herself, made from old barn wood.

Photos on page 26. Story continued on page 27

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Sechrest likes to support her fellow small businesses. Her shop offers Steam Anchor Coffee, from Fulton’s Steam Anchor Coffee and Cafe.

Continued from page 25

Sechrest enjoys supporting her fellow small businesses. Her shop offers Steam Anchor Coffee, from Fulton’s Steam Anchor Coffee and Cafe, and she has a jar on the front counter where people can drop their business cards – and she’d like to see another business card dropped in the jar someday: one from a next door neighbor.

She said the The Fulton Journal storefront is for rent and she would love to see a great neighbor fill the spot. “We joke about how we’d love it if someone would open a cafe or bakery right there,” she said.

Who knows: If there’s someone out there with the same drive and determination as Sechrist, it won’t take long before the“For Rent”comes down and a “We’re Open” sign goes up.

And if it’s a place where people can grab a bite to eat? Well, all the better for a neighbor of Lashed Out. It would be a veritable feast for the eyes. n

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