SVM Small Town Living East - Summer 2022

Glass is in session at a new bar in Nelson

A FREE PUBLICATION OF

PAGE

*****ECRWSSEDDM***** Postal Customer

Wood crafters create pieces with love

Holistic healer offers a ’Rae of Hope

Expanded edition of “Where is It?” in Lee County

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 440 Sterling, IL 61081

From Surviving to THRIVING WE BELIEVE YOU. WE ARE HERE TO HELP. We Offer FREE and CONFIDENTIAL Services for All Genders and Ages.

• Sexual Assault Counseling • Legal Advocacy • 24-Hour Crisis Intervention • Medical Advocacy • Se Habla Español

24-Hour Hotline: 815.626.7277 • 815.288.1011

ywsauk.org Funding provided in whole or in part by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority.

2

S m a l l

To w n

L i v i n g

E a s t | S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

Publisher/Ad Director Jennifer Heintzelman Magazine editor & Page design Rusty Schrader Published by Sauk Valley Media 113 S. Peoria Ave. | Dixon, IL 61021 815-284-2222 Have a story idea for River City Living? Let us know ...

Call 815-632-2531 or e-mail news@saukvalley.com Articles and advertisements are the property of Sauk Valley Media. No portion of Small TownLiving 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.

B V-A

12

Small Town

inside Gee ... It’s the Beaver!

Looking for a good place to Bend your elbow and sink your teeth into something good? Head to Paw Paw.

6

22

A ’Rae of hope

30

When two hearts create as one

The Oracle has spoken, and it says if you feel like could use a helping hand with your health, there’s a whole world of healing out there if you open your body and mind to what comes naturally.

Glass is in session There’s a new bar in Nelson with a touch of class — a quiet place to kick back with friends in a former school where the only head of the class these days is on the beer.

What do you get when you combine a burning desire for art with a flair for woodworking? You get a marriage of talents and a business that prides itself on creating pieces made with love.

Plus ... An EXPANDED Where Is It? Page 4 120 W. South Street | Franklin Grove 815-456-2334 | www.bradfordmutual.com

BRADFORD VICTOR-ADAMS

MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY Member Owned and Operated

Adami Insurance State Insurance Adami Insurance Agency First First State Insurance Chicago Rd, Paw Paw Agency 712 First Avenue, Rock Falls 385 385 Chicago Rd, Paw Paw 815-627-8552 712 First Avenue, Rock Falls 815-625-6220 815-627-8552

Providing insurance coverage for local homes & farms since 1869

Leffelman & Associates Insurance Query Insurance Agency, Cornerstone Baylor Insurance Inc. Agency Agency Amboy 330 May Mart Drive, Rochelle

gsaf74@yahoo.com 815-625-6220 tracey.adamiinsurance@gmail.com tracey.adamiinsurance@gmail.com gsaf74@yahoo.com

815-857-2125 815-562-4152

Center 102 Lee W. Main, Morrison 815-857-2716 815-772-7782 rbaylor1@gmail.com

Hugh F. Miller Insurance Hugh F. Miller Agency, Inc.

LaMoille

lsandrock@2cornerstone.com

Insurance Agency, Inc. 801 First Avenue, Rock Falls 801 First Avenue, Rock Falls 815-626-1300 815-626-1300 hughmillerinsurance.com hughmillerinsurance.com

Sauk Valley Sauk Valley Insurance Services Services Insurance 1096th 6thStreet, Street,Dixon Dixon 109 815-288-2541 815-288-2541

www.saukvalleyinsurance.com www.saukvalleyinsurance.com

lisa@leffelmanassoc.com tbecker@crumhalsted.com

Stenzel Insurance

102 N. Elm, Franklin Grove Stenzel Insurance 815-456-2319 102 N. Elm

Leffelman & Associates Cornerstone 815-638-2171 MelInsurance Saad Agency Agency Amboy lexi@leffelmanassoc.com Main Erie 815-857-2125 928 102 8th W. Avenue, Morrison lisa@leffelmanassoc.com Sublette 309-659-2470 815-772-7782 815-849-5219 LaMoille saad@mchsi.com lsandrock@2cornerstone.com

office@stenzelinsurance.com Franklin Grove 815-456-2319 Miller Insurance Group office@stenzelinsurance.com 427 N. Main Street, Rochelle

815-561-9911 chris@leffelmanassoc.com 815-638-2171 insure10@frontier.com Miller lexi@leffelmanassoc.com Kaczmarzyk Agency Inc. Insurance Group Saad Agency Query Insurance Agency, Inc. Baylor Insurance Agency 1022Mel S IL Rt 2 Oregon Center 427 N. Main Rochelle Lee Sublette 928 8th Avenue, Erie 330 May Mart Street, Drive, Rochelle (815)732-3148 815-561-9911 815-849-5219 309-659-2470 815-857-2716 815-562-4152 insure10@frontier.com tbecker@crumhalsted.com

chris@leffelmanassoc.com rbaylor1@gmail.com

saad@mchsi.com kaczins@outlook.com

SM-ST1984562

S m a l l

To w n

L i v i n g

W e s t

|

F a l l

2 0 2 1

3

An occasional feature of Small Town Living highlighting local landmarks and locations off the beaten path. We’ll feature a photo and it’s up to you to guess where it was taken.

Road? What road? This overgrown path was once a road that extended a half mile past this sign and a mile in the opposite direction. Where is it, and what closed it?

Near a busy intersection in Lee County, there’s a place where French settlers were buried after they died of a contagious illness. Native Americans were also buried near this memorial.

No “X” marks the spot, even though it’s still a railroad crossing — sort of. Today the tracks are only a shadow of what they used to be, put to rest and paved over.

4

S m a l l

To w n

L i v i n g

E a s t | S u m m e r

Why is there a patch of concrete in this cornfield? It’s hard to see in this photo, but it’s actually a concrete arrow — which leads to the question: What’s the point?

2 0 2 2

If you are looking for a simple solution to cover your vehicle, trailer or boat from heat, rain or snow, United Metal Buildings is the right place!

CARPORTS • RV PORTS • GARAGES • HORSE SHELTERS • UTILITY SHEDS • AGRICULTURAL BUILDING TRUSS BUILDINGS • CUSTOMIZE AVAILABLE

407 East Ave. • Sterling

(309) 278-8000

www.unitedmetalbuildings.us S m a l l

To w n

L i v i n g

E a s t

|

S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

5

There’s a new bar in Nelson with a touch of class, a quiet place to kick back with friends in a former school where the only head of the class these days is on the beer 6

S m a l l

To w n

L i v i n g

E a s t | S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

on’t ring the dismissal bell yet: Class is back at sesA former classroom that once housed seventh- and sion in Nelson, where part of the village’s former eighth-graders has been transformed into a neighborhood school has been given a new life, thanks to a pair hangout where people can relax in the laid-back of Nelson natives and longtime residents lounge. They can even hear themselves think who were determined not to close the book when they drink. on the onetime elementary school in this western Open four days a week — Wednesday through

By Cody Lee County railroad town.

Saturday — the bar has a quieter atmosphere Cutter ey Dave and Tracy DeVries have written a new chapSauk Vall than most others: “It’s quiet in here,” Dave said. ia d ter in Nelson Elementary School’s history book by Me “We don’t have hardwood floors, so it’s not all opening The Classroom Bar and Lounge this past that noisy. The carpet and insulation absorb a lot New Year’s Eve in one of the classrooms at the former of sound, so it’s not the typical bar scene where it’s school. The bar compliments the DeVries’ other busiloud and you can’t hear anything.” ness venture there: Parties on Pope, a banquet and events center that opened in 2018 in the school’s old gym.

CLASSROOM cont’d to page 8

S m a l l

To w n

L i v i n g

E a s t

|

S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

7

CLASSROOM cont’d from page 7 The bar’s story began in the banquet center, where the DeVries would bring in a portable bar and some coolers for customers holding events at Parties on Pope. As business picked up, they found themselves putting a lot of mileage on the bar-on-wheels. Eventually, instead of rolling it back and forth all the time, they just left it in an adjoining storage room, cut a hole in the wall, and served people from there.

Turns out that storage room was full of potential.

One day a friend of Dave’s saw the set-up in the storage room and saw something else, too: a bar. Why not turn the room into something more permanent, he suggested, with a bar, tables, jukebox and video gambling machines? Dave thought about it awhile and decided to give it a shot.

“It just kind of blossomed,” Dave said. “It wasn’t a master plan. It was just already there, and there wasn’t a whole lot more to do. The parties we do really support the bar.”

CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SAUKVALLEY.COM

When Dave and Tracy DeVries opened the Parties on Pope events center in the former Nelson school building, they didn’t plan on opening a bar, too, but the idea “just kind of blossomed,” Dave said.

CLASSROOM cont’d to page 9

Jones Funeral Homes

AMBOY • 303 E. Main St. • 815-857-2611

WE SPECIALIZE IN PORTABLE STRUCTURES!

Patrick R. Jones, Jr.

Ask Us About Our Guaranteed Prearrangement Contracts

STOP & SEE OUR DISPLAY MODELS Large or Small, You Name It, We Design It, We Build It...YOU LIKE IT! CALL FOR A FREE LITERATURE PACKAGE

779-861-3542 ROCKYR@IBYFAX.COM

SM-ST1984383

8

3500 S. CHANA RD., CHANA, IL 61015

S m a l l

To w n

L i v i n g

DIXON • 204 S. Ottawa Ave. • 815-288-2241 Christopher Jones

w w w. t h e j o n e s f h . c o m

E a s t | S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

CLASSROOM cont’d from page 8 They set about renovating the room and reworked it into a bar. Now the former storage room is stocked with beer and liquor: bottles and cans of the usual domestic staples — Budweiser, Coors, Miller, Michelob, and more — as well as bottles of Samuel Adams, Corona and Dos Equis. Spirits include vodka, tequila, gin, rum, whiskey, along with white zinfadel and pink moscato wines. If you want a pop quiz, you can grab a soda. They’re keeping the offerings fairly simple for now, Dave said, but if things take off, the drink lineup could expand to include craft beers and more mixed drinks.

If you get hungry, basic bar fare is available: frozen pizzas cooked behind the counter, and complimentary popcorn.

If you want to catch a game, an 80-inch TV will toss one your way, likely a Cubs game — unless Rock Falls High School graduate Jakob Junis is pitching in a San Francisco Giants game.

CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SAUKVALLEY.COM

From classroom to Classroom ... The DeVries renovated a former classroom adjoining Parties on Pope. Now, The Classroom Bar and Lounge not only compliments the event center, it’s a place where people who don’t like bars with a loud crowd can stop by for a drink. “It’s not the typical bar scene where it’s loud and you can’t hear anything,” owner Dave DeVries said.

CLASSROOM cont’d to page 10

August 25, 26, 27, 28 Carnival, Free Live Music, 5K, Beer Garden, Crafts, & So Much More!

50/50

er

Winn ’s r a e Y t s a L

0

58 Won $105,

AMBOY, ILLINOIS depotdays.com “The Camping Center of Northern Illinois” S m a l l

To w n

L i v i n g

E a s t

|

S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

9

CLASSROOM cont’d from page 11 Drink specials include Thirsty Thursday, with $2 16-ounce drafts of Bud Light and $2 margaritas on occasion. The classroom-turned-bar recently celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week in May, where those who had their school ID on them got $10 in match play on any of the bar’s five gambling machines.

“Any reason people can think of to come together and have a good time, it happens,” Dave said.

The 815 Twin City Baggers club hosts its weekly bags games in the gym on Wednesdays, and the club welcomes people to try their hand at the game.

The former gym has turned out to be the perfect place to play the game when Parties on Pope and The ClassClass still is in session at The the weather outside doesn’t cooperate with playing room Bar and Lounge are at Classroom Bar and cornhole.

207 Pope St. in Nelson. The bar Lounge, where re“They like the facility. They like the height of the ceiland lounge is open from 4 p.m. minders of the building; it doesn’t interfere with your bag throwing,” Dave to midnight on Wednesday and ing’s former tenant said, adding that being able to play anytime of year in a Thursday, 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. on can still be climate-controlled environment “works out pretty good.”

Friday, and 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. on found. The bar “If we’re not having a party, people can come out and Saturday. Find it on Facebook, menu is on a sit at the tables in the gym,” Tracy said. “We have basketgo to partiesonpope.com, email chalkboard, balls out and they’ll go shoot baskets, they play bags, they partiesonpope@gmail.com or and the play ping pong — they play like kids, but they can still call 815-441-1446 to schedule an bar recome up to the bar and get a beer.” event or for more information. sembles Beer and basketball — that’s not a combination you a chalkwould have seen when The Classroom was still just classrooms. The Nelson school was board, with built in 1922 and a gym and classrooms were added in 1960. It housed students for 91 years illustrations on the counter of before closing in 2013 when the Nelson School District consolidated with East Coloma the school, its sports team masSchool in Rock Falls. The main building was razed 3 years later, but the 1960 addition cot, and industrial images, as a escaped the wrecking ball. The DeVries, who live nearby, bought it in 2017 with plans nod to the village’s rail hisof opening a community center. That plan eventually became Parties on Pope, tory, drawn by the DeVries’ named for the street it’s on. The gym hosts fundraisers, wedding receptions, class daughter-in-law, Stephanie reunions and more, and can accommodate up to 250 guests.

“When it came for sale, I just didn’t want to see it turn into one of those bad schools that they let go to hell,” said Dave, who also owns and is managing broker of Xtreme Realty in Rock Falls, where Tracy also is a broker.

“We wanted to make it a community center where the community could use it. They had parties here from time to time. We just didn’t want to see it get run down.”

CLASSROOM cont’d to page 11 PHOTOS: CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SAUKVALLEY.COM

Amboy Veterinary Clinic & Trego Veterinary Service

We invite you to stop by and enjoy a multi-level shopping experience

Toni L. Trego, DVM *Please Call For Appointment* 815-857-2215 or 815-857-3121 Office Open Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri 8-5 Tues & Sat 8-12 315 S. Mason Ave. (On hwy 52)

SM-ST1984564

10

S m a l l

To w n

L i v i n g

E a s t | S u m m e r

307 First Ave., Sterling Monday-Sunday 10am-4pm

2 0 2 2

CLASSROOM cont’d from page 10 The DeVries’ daughter-in-law, Stephanie, designed the art for the bar counter. Its black surface and white drawings conjure up memories of a chalkboard, and the illustrations hearken back to Nelson’s heyday: the school complex; its sports team logo, the Blue Raiders; and gears, railroad signs and other drawings are a nod to the village’s rail history.

The Nelson subdivision line of the former Chicago and North Western railway (now Union Pacific), which goes south to Pekin, was built in 1901, and the small town boomed after that. Many children who attended the school were sons and daughters of railroad families.

“When we were kids, that was the big industry around here,” Dave said. “There were a lot of railroad trucks and lots of guys working down at the roundhouse, the yard and all over. That’s all kind of gone away, but now it’s a fairly quiet town. It was a great place to raise our kids.”

The DeVries themselves are like a living history lesson at the former school. Dave’s mom and Tracy’s dad attended Nelson School, as did Dave and Tracy, followed by their own children.

Life is a little quieter these days in Nelson, except when the trains rumble through, but the DeVries are doing their part to bring a little more life and give something back to the community they’ve called home for so long, so take it from the them: Whether you’re looking for a place for a party, somewhere to shoot hoops, or just want to hang out with friends over a beer, there’s no place like home. n

Up for a game? The Classroom has darts, video slots — and if there’s nothing going on next door in the Parties on Pope area, you can shoot some hoops or play some bags.

PHOTOS: CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SAUKVALLEY.COM

EXPERIENCED • RESPONSIVE • TRUSTED

Farmers National Bank Ag Lenders Serving Northwest Illinois Since 1902

For All Your Ag Banking Needs

PROPHETSTOWN

114 West Third Street

TOP

• Operating for Crops and Livestock

(815) 537-2348

100

• Equipment and Irrigation

GENESEO

Ag Bank in the U.S.

• Buildings, Livestock and Grain Facilities

www.FarmersNationalBank.bank

• Farm Land

To w n

(309) 944-0580 MORRISON

1100 East Lincolnway

• Prompt and local decisions with access to as much as $10 million per farm customer

S m a l l

700 US Highway 6 East

(815) 772-3700

L i v i n g

E a s t

|

S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

11

12

S m a l l

To w n

L i v i n g

E a s t | S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

By Cody Cutter | Sauk Valley Media

Small Town

here’s a four-pawed friend in a two-pawed town that can’t wait for folks to stop by its den for a drink and a bite to eat.

If you want to find it, just head to Paw Paw and look for a big ol’ buck-toothed grin beckoning people to the Beaver Den Tavern and Grill, a downtown watering hole and restaurant that’s gone all in on a theme that gives a nod to an ecosystem engineer that can stop a stream dead in its tracks.

Out front of the village’s only restaurant, a larger-than-life wood version of the woodland creature welcoming people inside, where they’ll find even more grinning faces — and more beavers.

Tavern owner Chris Bend has fun combining whimsy with nature’s woodworker.

There’s a stuffed beaver behind the bar, merchandise adorned with beer-drinking beavers, a beaver-themed menu, and other beaverly touches.

“We thought we could have fun with it,” Bend said. “People can take it different ways, too.

It’s fun to watch people come in and read the menu and they get a chuckle. It’s fun.”

Beaver sandwiches come in a variety of versions: simple, complicated, smokin’, or hot and spicy. The simple beaver is a basic ham and cheese sandwich; the complicated beaver is grilled or fried chicken bites, bacon, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato and the house Den Sauce between two slices of panini bread.

The sandwiches that’ll put a little fire in your belly are made of grilled or fried chicken breasts: The hot and spicy beaver has buffalo sauce, and the smokin’

beaver has barbecue sauce. Sandwiches can also be prepared wrapped in a warm tortilla shell or laid in a bed of fresh salad.

Beaverburgers, range from the main beaver, a half-pound cheeseburger, to a bad ass beaver, a 3/4-pound patty with pepper jack cheese, chipolte sauce, bacon, onion straws and jalapenos, along with the usual lettuce and tomato.

Want to start off your meal with an appetizer? Try some beaver teasers. The beaver rings are onion rings made with a house batter; beaverooms are mushrooms and cheese curds; and then there’s the beaver-themed tacos and mozzarella sticks. Can’t decide which one to try: Try all four in full beaver plate.

PHOTOS: ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SAUKVALLEY.COM

S m a l l

To w n

DEN cont’d to page 14

L i v i n g

E a s t

|

S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

13

DEN cont’d from page 13 The Den also offers weekly specials, including Italian beef sandwiches on Wednesday, chicken on Thursday, seafood on Friday, and prime rib on Saturday.

The beavers may give people a chuckle, but its the food and service that keep them coming back for more.

“I strive for a family atmosphere,” she said. “We cater to everyone. I strive for excellent customer service, great food, and to have a place where everyone can come and enjoy themselves and socialize.”

As for the story behind the name? Bend was inspired when she saw a beaver den — the beaver-built earthen structures that the critters call home — while swimming at a local lake.

DEN cont’d to pages 15 & 16

ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SAUKVALLEY.COM

Bend opened her bar in 2020, and before long she expanded to a neighboring building. “It was quite the undertaking” restoring and renovating it, she said, but it was worth it. Today, “it’s somewhere where people can enjoy a beautiful atmosphere.”

Our Agents are Here To Assist You With All Your Real Estate Needs

Abigail Vaessen, Broker, 815-508-9715 abbivaessen@erbesrealty.com Tonja Greenfield, Broker, 815-761-3220 tmg1973@gmail.com Lori Erbes, GRI, Designated Managing Broker/Owner 815-535-6295 lorierbes@gmail.com Marcia Kosowski, Broker, 779-423-5947 mkosowski@erbesrealty.com

1922 Tower Road, Sublette, IL 61367 www.Erbes-Realty.com Over 30 Years Experience 14

S m a l l

To w n

L i v i n g

E a s t | S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

FACEBOOK

PHOTOS: ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SAUKVALLEY.COM

All things, beaver, that’s what. Among the dishes: beaver sandwiches (left), beaverburgers — including the Bad Ass burger: a 3/4-pound patty with pepper jack cheese, chipolte sauce, bacon, onion straws, jalapenos, lettuce and tomato (above left) — beaver teasers, den tenders (top right), BBQ beaver, beaver wraps and more. Weekly specials are also available, including Friday night’s seafood special: cod, shrimp or blue gill (bottom right).

Kids under 13 play free with a member or paying adult

2022 Green Fees May 20-Sept. 1

Monday-Friday 9 holes w/cart $17 • 18 holes w/cart $28 Saturday & Sunday 9 holes w/cart $22 • 18 holes w/cart $38 Membership (includes cart) Couple $1,122 Add kids $25 each over age 13

$100 dis co for mem unt be over 65 rs a Shady O nd a stockho ks lders

Single $816 Single <35 $612 Junior (no cart) $153

First time member discount 30% year 1 | 20% year 2 | 10% year 3 Punch Card: 11 18-hole rounds for $300

577 US RT 52 Sublette, IL 61367 • P.O. Box 137 Amboy, IL 61310 • 815-849-5424

www.shadyoakscc.com Like us on Facebook!

S m a l l

To w n

L i v i n g

E a s t

|

S u m m e r

SM-ST1984380

2 0 2 2

15

DEN cont’d from page 14 “There was a beaver den right there in the pond, and I just thought that was the coolest thing,” Bend said. “They can build something like that in such a short amount of time. One day it changed, and then it was bigger and bigger. That’s how it started, it was a small beaver den and it became a community of beavers, pretty much.”

Nearly 3 years after she opened the doors of her own den, she’s built her own community — happy hobnobbers who stop in the visit with friends and family, locals who want to hoist a few, and diners who drop by for a bite to eat in the village she’s called a lifelong home.

ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SAUKVALLEY.COM The business’s growth hasn’t been Bend shows off photos of beaver dens, which inspired her bar and grill’s name. unlike the birth of a beaver den: Find a ence inspired her to want to have a restaurant of her own one day. place where you want a watering hole and start building it.

Bend’s dream eventeually became a reality when she opened Bend grew up between Paw Paw and Earlville and landed a her first Beaver Den in Earlville in 2017. Business went well job bussing tables at the former Horseshoe Inn on the east end of enough there that she decided to open a second location in Paw downtown Paw Paw in the early 1980s. She remembered the reguPaw on Jan. 7, 2020. lars who would always come and have a meal or a drink, as well as all of the chit-chat and stories people would share. That experiDEN cont’d to page 17

RECOGNIZE IT. REPORT IT. 24/7 ELDER ABUSE HOTLINE

1-866-800-1409 24/7 ELDER ABUSE HOTLINE 1-866-800-1409 Only 1 in 24 cases of elder abuse are reported, while 1 in 6 adults 60 or older experienced abuse in the past year.

SM-ST1984411

16

Learn more about Lifescape’s Adult Protective Services program at www.lifescapeservices.org

S m a l l

To w n

L i v i n g

E a s t | S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

DEN cont’d from page 16

ALEX T. PASCHAL/ APASCHAL@SAUKVALLEY.COM

Beaver offspring are called kits. People call theirs kids — and in some cases, bartender. Owner Chris Bend’s daughter, Darby, works at her mom’s business.

Then COVID-19 changed things.

She closed shop in Earlville and put all her efforts into Paw Paw. Going through the growing pains has been a challenge, but Bend said it’s been a great feeling to get past the nerve wracking struggles that the pandemic brought.

“We’ve been very fortunate through COVID to have the support that we’ve had. People from Paw Paw and the other local communities have really supported us; they want the business to grow also.”

And grow it did.

Bend’s business took off, and she was able to expand the tavern’s footprint to a neighboring building, which had fallen into disrepair over the years. “It was quite the undertaking,” she said, but she had a vision and saw it through, breathing life back into the building. Today, the location has been renovated and restored, from the wood floor to the brick walls to the tin ceiling.

DEN cont’d to page 18

Get the expert attention your car needs, as well as the friendly, professional service you deserve.

Air Conditioning • Oil Change Factory Scheduled Service • Tune-Ups Brakes • Timing Belts • Heating & Cooling Electrical • Transmissions • ABS/SRS Light Computer Diagnostics •Tires • Towing Front End Alignments 507 Cartwright Ave, Ashton • (815) 453-2770 • 108 E Lincoln Highway, Franklin Grove (Coming Soon) S m a l l

To w n

L i v i n g

E a s t

|

S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

17

DEN cont’d from page 17

ING • PAINT CO L I A T RRE DE O CT T AU

Becker Detailing

• ION

AMIC COATING CER

EXTERIOR & INT ERI OR

“It’s somewhere where people can enjoy a beautiful atmosphere,” she said.

Not only are Bend and her staff thankful for the locals who keep the Den hopping, but passers-by who pop in off Interstate 39 to experience the small-town charm that the Den delivers — like a couple from Green Bay, Wisconsin, who stopped by recently on their way back from a visit to St. Louis.

Another silver lining to the Covid cloud? She’s noticed that people have become more supportive of small businesses like hers since the pandemic began, wanting to do their part to help local businesses.

“It was a tough time, but rewarding on the other side, too,” Bend ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SAUKVALLEY.COM said.

“To be able to go out for dinner, have great service and to see people happy and socializing, and have people who haven’t seen each other for 3 months or 6 months reconnect when they’re here — to me, I love that,” Bend said. “Paw Paw is a close-knit community.

The Beaver Den Tavern Being born and raised here, I still see people that come in from when I was a kid. They’re older, and Grill, 347 Chicago of course, and I’m grown up, and those people’s kids and those people’s grandkids have stuck Road in Paw Paw, is around. They support each other, they support themselves, and, to me, that’s what it’s all about.” open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

A bit of Paw Paw’s history is depicted in a large mural on the wall showing the village’s downTuesday, Wednesday, town: It’s been there since 1998, well before the Beaver Den opened, but it still draws attention.

Thursday and Sunday; People like to gaze at it to try to figure out which building they’re in. Not many of the places in and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. the mural are still around, but the ones that have survived stand proud, and Bend is glad to have Friday and Saturday. two of them under her ownership, to not only serve up food and drinks but also preserve the Find it on Facebook or heritage of the small town she loves. call 815-627-2377 for “I can’t reiterate enough how blessed and grateful I am to be a part of a community like Paw Paw,” Bend said. “All of this is because of them.” n more information.

204 N Jefferson Ave • Amboy

815-823-7697

SM-ST1985021

18

S m a l l

To w n

L i v i n g

E a s t | S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

N

t i s i E e r e h W

S

aNsweR

S m a l l

To w n

L i v i n g

E a s t

|

S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

19

t i s i E e r W he

S

aNsweR

Willow Creek Road used to cross the Dry Run Creek at this now-abandoned pony truss bridge, not too far west of its intersection with German Road. Most of the road leading toward Scarboro has become private property, as well as fragments of the road east of the bridge that were cut off after construction of Interstate 39 in the early 1980s.

Scarboro once was once served by the former Milwaukee Road railway, but the line was removed in the 1980s. The tracks split off from a shared route with the former Chicago, Burlington and Quincy in Steward, and rolled through Scarboro (seen in the background), as well as Roxbury and Welland as it went southward through Lee County.

YOU WORK HARD FOR THIS. WE CAN HELP PROTECT IT, FOR TODAY AND FOR TOMORROW. Grit. Passion. Support. We understand what it takes to make big dreams a reality.

Let’s talk about the protection your farm deserves.

Bob Maltry, Agent 709 N Brinton Ave Dixon, IL 61021 (815) 288-4206

American Family Mutual Insurance Company, S.I. & Its Operating Companies, 6000 American Parkway, Madison, WI 53783 ©2019 016630 – Rev. 11/21 – 16289562

20

S m a l l

To w n

L i v i n g

E a s t | S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

t i s i E e r W he

In the days before high-tech navigation systems, pilots flying across the country used a simple tool to point them in the right direction: a network of beacons and giant concrete arrows. The only remaining concrete arrow in northern Illinois rests quietly in the Lee County countryside just north of Scarboro off of German Road. The square base of the arrow was where the beacon tower was mounted.

Airmail pilots would fly from beacon to beacon with the arrow pointing toward the next beacon. This practice lasted from the 1910s to the late 1930s. This photo, from a 2021 post on the “ILLINOIS Abandoned Images” Facebook page, shows the arrow in better detail. Go to tinyurl. com/a7e6evhx to read more about the arrows.

aNsweR St. Mary Twin Grove Church, southeast of Scarboro on German Road, once was northwest of St. Mary German Cemetery from 1864 to 1917. The church is long gone, but the cemetery was preserved. New corner markers retold the story of several interesting bits of local history, including that of the three French settlers who were buried not too far from where Interstate 39 and U.S. Route 30 meet.

We bring life to products.TM

Serving Lee, Whiteside, Carroll, Bureau and Ogle Counties • • • •

Weekly residential service 2-8 yard commercial containers 10-40 yard roll-off containers Compactors, radio-dispatched trucks and experienced local drivers • Licensed special waste & asbestos hauler

1214 S. Bataan Road | Dixon, IL 815.625.1000 or 815.284.2432 RepublicServices.com

F l a v o r s

25 E. Main St., Amboy, IL

815-857-3691

®2018 Republic Services, Inc. SM-ST1984385

SM-ST1984403

S m a l l

To w n

L i v i n g

E a s t

|

S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

21

22

S m a l l

To w n

L i v i n g

E a s t | S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

SAUKVALL

M

A CH

SCH AL A PA S

To w n

A T. P

S m a l l

AL

Dezarae’ Haley, owner of The Herbal Oracle, shown here with her dog Bella.

PHOT O:

L@

O

EX

EY .C

By Cody Cutter | Sauk Valley Media

L i v i n g

hen we were kids and didn’t feel good, moms always knew what to do. It seems like they could cure anything. If you ask Dezarae’ Haley, moms still can, no matter how old you are — especially one mom in particular.

Mother Earth.

Haley runs The Herbal Oracle, a homebased alternative and holistic health service business just west of Lee. For her, healing is more about finding what works naturally and seeing the whole picture than it is modern medicine and chemical concoctions.

Haley not only runs a store at home, she supplies it, growing several of the herbs she sells and creating bars of scented soaps and other personal care products with natural ingredients. She also conducts classes to lead clients down the road to better health by considering the whole person: body, mind, spirit and emotion.

“Herbal medicine improves functions of one’s own healing ability. You give the body what it needs to heal itself,” Haley said. “We live in a world where we look for directions on how to use everything, and we don’t have the common knowledge to utilize our own plants for our health anymore. It’s kind of sad, because people can save so much money.”

ORACLE cont’d to page 24

E a s t

|

S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

23

ORACLE cont’d from page 23 The business is by appointment only, and customers can set up a time visit the store and learn about a more natural approach to healing and health. Her products also are available online and can be shipped, picked up, or delivered anywhere in Lee County.

Haley’s home business is stocked with a variety of herbs, arranged neatly on shelves in packages that look like mason jars, a design Haley chose to reflect simpler times — but not everything is a nod to the good old days. Haley embraces current tech, too.

She use QR (quick response) codes on her products to allow customers to scan the square code with their phone and learn more about the products. If you’re phone isn’t that smart, no worries. Haley, a graduate of the online-based American College of Healthcare Sciences, is more than happy to give customers a crash course in her goods and services. She’ll also work with clients virtually.

ORACLE cont’d to page 25

AMBOY

SUBLETTE

815-857-2125 815-849-5219

LAMOILLE

Our Family Protecting Your Family.

815-638-2171

Local Agents Serving You for Generations & Will be for Generations to Come!

• Auto • Home • Vacation Home • Farm

• • • •

Crop Business Life Health

10072020

24

S m a l l

To w n

L i v i n g

E a s t | S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SAUKVALLEY.COM

For Dezarae' Haley, healing is just as much about finding what works naturally and seeing the whole picture as it is modern medicine and chemical concoctions. “Herbal medicine improves functions of one's own healing ability, she said. "You give the body what it needs to heal itself.”

ORACLE cont’d from page 24 Earning some extra income is nice, but it’s helping spread her message and educating people that drives Haley’s passion. Have a baby with a nagging diaper rash? Dealing with high anxiety? There’s an herb for those — chamomile, that she’ll tell you all about.

“I like to educate people,” Haley said. “I don’t want to just say, ‘Here, this is good for this,’ and walk away. I want to say, ‘Here’s why,’ and ‘This is what you want out of it.’ Like for diaper rash, a lot of people want to buy the expensive creams and stuff, but a really easy home remedy is to go get some chamomile tea bags, steep them, and dot them on the rash — as long as they don’t have a ragweed allergy. Chamomile is soothing and it takes out the inflammation and the irritation, and that’s a lot cheaper than a lot of those heavy duty medicated creams.”

Haley’s fascination with natural products started

S m a l l

To w n

when she was caring for her son, Jaden, who developed eczema, a skin inflammation, as a baby. Clinic visits and treatments weren’t working, so she took matters into her own hands started looking for ways that she could help her son herself. She took a deep dive into natural remedies and learned to make her own.

It didn’t take long for her commitment to research to pay off.

The pine tarja bar of soap was Haley’s first creation, with Jaden in mind: The bar contains organic olive oil, water, organic coconut oil, saponified sodium hydroxide and other natural ingredients.

“Within the first use, the redness was going away,” Haley said. “The skin was softening. Within a week, it was almost completely gone.”

ORACLE cont’d to page 26

L i v i n g

E a s t

|

S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

25

ORACLE cont’d from page 25 Haley discovered that pine tarja also works with other skin problems, such as psoriasis, dandruff, fungus and dry skin. She began to make batches for friends, and that lead to still more people learning about the soap. She started promoting the product at farmers markets, and the success from that, as well as personal stories from her customers, inspired her to learn even more about holistic and alternative healing methods.

Eventually, that pine tarja paved the way for face creams, beard oils, deodorants, lip balms and other kinds of soap — and her son wasn’t her only inspiration in the family. One of the soaps she made, a “mechanic and gardener buddy,” was in memory of one of her cousins, Christopher Freeman, who died when he was young. He was a mechanic, and Haley thought of him when she came up with it. It’s designed to draw bad oils from the skin and scrub away dirt and grime, while also remoisturizing the skin.

“I try not to be just girly and fru fru,” Haley said. “I try to be very natural, organic and appealing to all demographics, not just women. I feel like a lot of the soap and body works are geared more toward being pretty and all that. Mine is about being more functional.”

ORACLE cont’d to page 27

ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SAUKVALLEY.COM

Haley's home business is stocked with a variety of herbs, most of which she grows on her property, and other plants, sold in packages that resemble Mason jars. One of her favorite products is Bladderwrack, a type of brown seaweed that contains varying amounts of iodine that can be used for thyroid disorders, obesity, aging skin, constipation, and other conditions.

WE ACCEPT MEDICARE & MEDICAID

MALE WELLNESS PANEL

FEMALE PANEL #1

INCLUDES ALL THE TESTS BELOW AT A DISCOUNT

INCLUDES ALL THE TESTS BELOW AT A DISCOUNT PRICE

OTHER AREA LABS=$1,667.00

OTHER AREA LABS=$1,305.00

✔ CBC ✔ CMP ✔ CRP H ✔ LIPID ✔ PSA

✔ CBC ✔ CMP ✔ CRP H ✔ LIPID ✔ THYROID PROFILE ✔ COMPLETE UA

250

$

✔ TESTOSTERONE ✔ COMPLETE UA

200

$

Offering thousands of tests at prices you can afford.

We are here to help 832 N Galena Ave., Dixon Mon.-Fri 7am-4pm 815-677-9384 www.valuelab-dixon.com

26

S m a l l

To w n

L i v i n g

E a s t | S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

ORACLE cont’d from page 26 Haley’s handiwork in healthy alternatives eventually led to her enroll at the American College of Healthcare Sciences to learn even more about herbalism and complementary alternative medicine. She earned an associate degree and is also working on a bachelor’s degree in integrative sciences. Along the way, she’s taken an interest in other creative ways of finding a cure for what ails people, including those struggling with mental issues.

The aforementioned chamomile can also help with anxiety and depression, and sound baths can do the same. There’s no water but there are still waves. People taking sound baths have their eyes covered and are immersed in an audio experience created by the tapping and rubbing of bowls by a second person. The sound waves are meant to calm and relax a person.

ALEX T. PASCHAL/APASCHAL@SAUKVALLEY.COM

Along with the growing and harvesting herbs, Haley makes her own soap. She also teaches classes on the craft.

PLAY SLOTS

ORACLE cont’d to page 28

f u to all o Thank yo rs e m o st cu our loyal l wonderfu for their se e th h g u ro support th mes !

COVID ti

DAILY SPECIALS

Regular Menu Served along with the Daily Specials

TUESDAY

Mexican Food night featuring all of your favorites.

WEDNESDAY

All You Can Eat Wings Family Style Chicken

DRINK SPECIALS TUESDAY

Margaritas & Corona

WEDNESDAY $1 Drafts

THURSDAY THURSDAY Beef Brisket & Ribs

FRIDAY

Fish Night

SATURDAY

Steak Night

SUNDAY

Family Style Chicken & Spaghetti

$2 Domestic Bottles & Cans

UR TRY ONE OF O S U O M FA WORLD

FLAVORED MARTINIS

55 S. East Ave. • Amboy • (815) 857-3486

Sunday, Tuesday-Thursday 5pm-9pm Friday & Saturday 5pm-10pm, Closed Monday

www.aeplayer.com Must be 21 or older to play slots.

S m a l l

To w n

L i v i n g

E a s t

|

S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

27

ORACLE cont’d from page 27 Haley offers individual and couples sessions in her office, starting at 30 minutes. She’s aware of the growing importance of mental health among teenagers, and offers free 15-minute sessions to them to see if it’s something they would like to engage in further.

“I’ll let people talk about whatever is on their mind whenever they need to release whatever it is that is bothering them, and then I ask them to set an intention for what they want relief from during the session.

There’s really a complete serenity feeling.”

When someone finds inner peace, it’s the most beautiful thing in the world, Haley said.

ORACLE cont’d to page 29

Dezarae' is active on her business's Facebook page (“The Herbal Oracle, LLC”), where she keeps customers up to date on products she’s working, special events, and information on plants and their benefits, including this familiar flora that may be popping in your yard. According to her post: “Many people mistake me for an intrusive weed. That hurts my feelings! I am actually a medicinal herb.” Check out the post on her Facebook page to learn its name and more about this helpful plant.

Choose the best.

Come see us for all of your new and used vehicle purchases.

CARS • TRUCKS • CROSSOVERS • SUV’S

Great Deals, Great Service, since 1926 Serving our Local Communities for Over 95 Years.

Rt. 52 N. Sublette, IL Ph. 815/849-5232 or 1-800-227-5203

www.vaessenbrothers.com 28

S m a l l

To w n

L i v i n g

E a s t | S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

ORACLE cont’d from page 28 “The world that we live in, we not only carry so much of our own stresses, but also the stresses of our loved ones,” she said. “Sometimes depending on how empathetic a person is, they’ll need help getting back to a baseline.”

Haley has dealt with her share of stress firsthand: She is a disabled combat veteran who served in Iraq — but her time in the military also brought her great joy: it’s where she met her husband, Nathan, which led to beginning a family, and eventually her devotion to exploring alternative and herbal healing. Help from the GI Bill also helped pay for her college education.

The Haleys’ four children take great pride in learning from their mom about how herbs, plants, fruits and vegetables can make people healthier and happier. Even though she caters to all ages, it’s those in the youngest generation that she enjoys educating, with the hope that the seeds she’s planting will someday grow into the same appreciation and passion that she has for natural medicine.

“The kids have this natural curiosity, and think it’s so cool that they get to see this little plant go from a seed all the way to a salad, pretty much,” Haley said. “They really enjoy it.”

And you know what? So does Haley. n

More info

The Herbal Oracle 1333 Woodlawn Road, Lee Open by appointment. Call 815-677-4175 to plan a visit.

Online: Find “The Herbal Oracle, LLC” on Facebook or go to herbaloracle.com

UKULELE STATION AMERICA is a unique shop specializing in the sale of Ukuleles and Accessories. We have the perfect instrument to match your taste and fit your budget.

OREGON MUSIC GARAGE features Acoustic Guitars, Electric Guitars, Amplifiers, Banjos, Mandolins, Ukuleles, Autoharps, Dulcimers, World Percussion and more. Come visit. We guarantee it will be a fun experience.

NOW OPEN REGULAR SHOP HOURS: Sunday – Tuesday Closed | Wednesday – Saturday 1-5 All sales are now being conducted in Oregon Music Garage 1000 Washington Street | Oregon, Illinois 61061 | (815) 994-1246 | Owner: John Meola Lindhorst S m a l l

To w n

L i v i n g

E a s t

|

S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

29

30

S m a l l

To w n

L i v i n g

E a s t | S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

When Cindy and John Koke married in 2009, they decided to take matters into their own hands to come up with something that symbolize their love.

Instead of a unity candle lighting, they created this two-piece heart, signifying the two halves of a whole coming together.

Today, they’re still in love and they’re still creating custom wood pieces for the home, office and more.

CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SAUKVALLEY.COM

By Cody Cutter | Sauk Valley Media

t’s a business that was born in the hearts of the Country.

He enjoyed woodworking, she enjoyed creating crafts, and they both enjoyed each other’s company, so why not marry their talents — and each other — together?

That’s just what John and Cindy Koke did when they created Koke Country Creations, finding not only partners in business, but partners in life.

Today, the husband-and-wife team are sharing their hobby together at their home-based business in rural Compton, in the 1860s-era house they live in on a 3.5-acre farmette they call Koke Country.

John does the cutting, and Cindy does the design work, which includes painting, stenciling and pyrography — the art of designing through woodburning. Their creative works of signs, puzzles, cell phone holders, and a wide array of decor art can be found online at Koke Country Wood Creations Facebook page and Etsy.

KOKE cont’d to page 32

S m a l l

To w n

L i v i n g

E a s t

|

S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

31

KOKE cont’d from page 31 Downtime during the COVID-19 pandemic gave the Kokes a chance to work on their crafty interests and sell them, both with items suggested by customers and some items made from their own minds. By May of 2020, the endeavor turned out to be a hit as the Kokes got to know other like-minded people and those who enjoy a little color and art around the house through social media and appearances at farmers markets.

“We love doing custom requests,” Cindy said. “I like having free range for artistry, too, but you never know if something you like is going to be something that someone else would like.

So we like our special requests.

We translate your vision through our hearts back to yours.”

KOKE cont’d to pages 33 & 34

CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SAUKVALLEY.COM

Cindy and John Koke have turned their free time and talents into a home-based business that creates wood decor and more. “We translate your vision through our hearts back to yours,” Cindy said.

CURB-TO-CURB SERVICE. NO BUS STOPS! We pick you up at your home, office or any other location and deliver you right to your destination.

LEE-OGLE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IS GETTING YOU WHERE YOU NEED TO GO! Whether you need to get to work, the grocery store, a doctor appointment, or another location in Lee or Ogle Counties, we’ll help you get there!

LOTSIL.ORG

Book your ride today! 815-288-2117

32

S m a l l

To w n

L i v i n g

E a s t

|

S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

A Marine veteran, John Koke has made several piece with a military theme, such as these envelope holders for desks.

Koke Country also makes a variety of cell phone holders in different themes, too, like this Big Foot model.

Poo-dolph the Red-Nose Reindeer will give you a yuletide chuckle.

The Kokes don’t like to send leftover wood to the scrap heap; they use it instead. These little googly-eyed critters were created from leftovers of bigger projects.

S m a l l

To w n

L i v i n g

E a s t

|

S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

33

KOKE cont’d from page 32 When it comes to customer requests, John is always up for a challenge.

“A lot of people will ask all of the time, ‘Can you do it?’ I’ve pretty much got it figured out,” John said.

“We can pretty much do what anyone asks, as long as I can create it. I’ll be honest and tell them if I can do it or can’t do it, but I always like the challenge so I’ll take up the challenge and do it.”

The Kokes have made all sorts of creations.

Decorative signs for the home have been popular, along with bereavement signs with messages to help people cope with the loss of a loved one.

Holiday-themed decor also has been popular, especially Christmas and Easter items. They get a lot of requests for office items, too: holders for cell phones, business cards, eyeglasses and envelopes.

They’ve also made pieces with their creations — wooden puzzles for both the young and young at heart. With pieces from a half-inch to an inch thick they can be assembled on a flat surface or upright.

Both kids and adults have enjoyed them, Cindy said, and they’re made to last.

CODY CUTTER/CCUTTER@SAUKVALLEY.COM

Cindy Koke shows off a set of puzzles her husband, John, made.

"We call them our forever puzzles because they’re made of wood and should last forever," she said.

KOKE cont’d to page 35

• $15.05/hour base wage,additional earning potential with differentials such as Float DSP, Overnights and Weekends • Increase after 6 months and 1 year of eligible employment.

• 10 paid holidays annually • 80 hours of vacation time earned annually • 88 hours of sick time earned annually Additionally, we offer these other benefits: • Medical insurance through Blue Cross Blue Shield of IL. • Dental insurance through Delta Dental.

• Vision insurance through Eye Med. • Voluntary life insurance, critical illness and accident insurance through Blue Cross Blue Shield Ancillary.

• $27,000 of paid life insurance to all full time employees.

• Wellness reimbursement program.

• 403b through Mutual of America. Kreider will match the 50% of the first 4% deferred after 1 year of service.

• Access to an EAP (employee assistance program) for yourself and the members of your household.

500 Anchor Rd. • Dixon • (815) 288-6691 • www.kreiderservices.org • 34

S m a l l

To w n

L i v i n g

E a s t

|

S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

KOKE cont’d from page 34 “They’re good for senior citizens, too, for eye-hand coordination,” Cindy said.

“We call them our forever puzzles because they’re made of wood and should last forever.”

Like the rest of the world trying to find their way through the pandemic, the Kokes weren’t alone in finding ways to use the time on their hands. They found others who tapped in to their creativity Koke Country Wood Creations is very active on socia and were sharing their handiwork with a l media ; go to linktr.ee/AllThingsKokeCountry to view its worldwide audience online and through online platforms on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and social media.

Etsy.

Email kokecountrywoodcreations@gmail.com or call While many crafters used oak, John 815-901-4815 for custom orders or for more information. said he likes to incorporate other woods, to distinguish the Kokes from the rest of the creative crowd. Oak is an option, but he also uses walnut, black walnut, hickory, African mahogany,mahogany, purpleheart, poplar, cherry, maple, aspen and a reddish blend called padauk.

“We try to use them all so that it’s unique,” he said.

“We try not to waste an inch of wood,” Cindy said. “We try Poplar is popular with Cindy, as opposed to walnut and not to waste a single little bit.” oak, which can be a bit more of a challenge when it comes The Wood Creations page isn’t the Koke’s only Facebookwoodburning. based endeavor. Cindy also operates the “The color, the hues, the grain, there Koke Country DIY page, a place where she are so many variables [to poplar],” Cindy live streams craft lessons. Streams typisaid. “When you sand it and prep it, it cally air at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Monday looks so nice and it’s cool to burn on.” and Wednesday.

Ambrosia maple also is used for some “That’s where we create with you,” projects; it comes from a tree that was Cindy said. “We’ve done wooden cutouts infected by an ambrosia beetle, which that others can embellish and decorate bores holes into the tree, allowing various however they want to.” minerals seep in and give the wood a difThe Kokes went to high school together ferent look. in West Chicago, where they knew of each John loves working with African maother, but that’s as far as it went. That hogany because of its golden appearance. changed during their 30th high school Each type of wood has its own unique reunion in 2016 when they became reaccharacteristics — grain, hardness or softquainted with each other. After about a ness, even the way it smells. year, the two started messaging back and “I enjoy working with all of the differforth, a romance developed, and they Every Sunday, Monday and Wednesent woods, working with the smells and married in 2019. The wedding took place day at 7:30 p.m., Cindy Koke hosts a the feel,” John said. “Every piece you cut at the farmette, and instead of a unity Facebook Live episode demonstrating candle, often used in ceremonies, the has got its own unique smell to it. The creative works on the Koke Country African mahogany and the padauk both Kokes turned to their own talents to symDIY Facebook page. have very sweet smells.” bolize their love: They made two halves of Designs can be simple or elaborate, and a heart adorned with Cindy’s woodburnthe Kokes can think outside the box to put a special twist on ing work — art with a heart. their creations.

The couple enjoys sharing their time and talents together, “Even though we may do a few of something, they’re all a not only making each other happy, but their customers too. little different,” John said. “They’re all unique, one-of-a-kind.”

“We love what we do,” Cindy said. “We can do just about As with any woodworking project, there are always leftover anything that anyone requests of us, and we’ll put our minds pieces, but the Kokes don’t scrap them, they use them, turning together. We love each other very much and we pour our love those little pieces into “googly-eye critters” and other creations. into this.” n

More Info

S m a l l

To w n

L i v i n g

E a s t

|

S u m m e r

2 0 2 2

35

Mabley is Hiring Medical Administrator (Licensed Physician)

Salary: $98.77-$132.76/hour Registered Nurses starting at

$6,176-$6,883/month Mental Health Technicians Trainee (Similar to a Nursing Assistant) starting at

$3,202-$3,647/month

Psychologist Associate/Psychologist starting at

$4,162-$6,699/month Social Worker III starting at

$5,326-$7,530/month Health Benefits, Annual salary increases, sick/vacation/personal days

CALL TODAY! 815-288-8340

DHS.MABLEYHR@ILLINOIS.GOV 36

S m a l l

To w n

L i v i n g

E a s t | S u m m e r

2 0 2 2