PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Rock Valley Publishing
**ecrwss Postal Customer
Shopper
The
Published by ROCK VALLEY PUBLISHING LLC
7124 Windsor Lake Pkwy, Suite 5 • Loves Park, IL 61111 • 815.654.4850 • www.RVPNEWS.com
FREE
VOL. 23 • ISSUE 2
Slices of life
THURSDAY, DEC. 30, 2021
MANUS REPAIR & STORAGE
Reflections on ‘21, stepping forward to ’22 I’d drown or not. When I think about how far I’ve come, tears stream down my face. I can’t stop them and don’t think I’d want to. I’ve learned that tears can cleanse. Tears can heal. And 2021 has been a
Columnist
AF
they helped others, but just as much they helped me. I guess what I’m trying to say is “Thank you.” In so many ways, this column kept me going. Kind messages and emails from readers kept me afloat. They kept my head above water at a time when I wasn’t sure whether
RDAB FO
See SLICES, Page 2
FRAME & UNI-BODY STRAIGHTENING
392176
BELVIDERE COLLECTIBLE COINS
EXPERT PAINT MATCHING
NEED CASH? Turn your Gold and Silver into CASH! 10% MORE for Gold • Silver • Jewelry • Coins jewelry with this ad! Flatware • Diamonds • Sterling BUYING ALL: U.S. Rare Coins • World Coins • Proof Sets • Mint Sets • BU Rolls • Gold • Silver Platinum • Dental Gold • Jewelry • Sterling Silver • Scrap Gold Bullion • Currency • Pocket Watches Diamonds • .999 Fine Silver/Gold Plate Costume Jewelry • Silverware • Foreign Exchange
815.547.7111
815-239-1853
320 Reed St.
Pecatonica, IL
393267
219 Main St. 24/7 Pecatonica, IL Access 815-239-2349
FARMLAND AUCTION
TER
Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022 at 10:30 a.m.
4 MOS. $145
Sale to be held at: Prairieview Golf Course (Pavilion) 6734 N. German Church Rd., Byron, IL 61010
SELLING AS FIVE PARCELS RENTED FOR 2022 YEAR 427.704 Acres of Farmland-NO BUILDINGS
Repair on all makes & models Service call
Special $
www.GoldSilverJewelryCoin.com
880 Belvidere Rd. (Logan Square), Belvidere, IL • bcoins60@yahoo.com M-F 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. • Sat. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Ogle County, IL
WA
37 Years in Business PECATONICA, IL Call 239-2588 Complete Auto Repair
403686
JILL PERTLER
392177
By
Randy Manus, Owner
year of healing for me, as I hope it has been for others. I hope I never have to repeat this growth, but now that I’m on the tail end of 2021, I’m glad for all the
LE
$29.95
Sections 14, 22, 23 & 27 in Byron West Township, Ogle County, IL Selling in 5 parcels as surveyed acres
200 OFF
SUMMITFITNESSOFPECATONICA.COM
For complete listing of sale bill, maps, tax info, and terms & conditions, etc. visit www.lennybrysonauctioneer.com
any water conditioner or iron filter!
For Information Contact: Lenny Bryson - Auctioneer P.O. Box 38 Polo, IL 61064 Office: 815-946-4120
815-544-0978 TOLL FREE 1-877-353-7638
EXPIRES 12/31/21. COUPON MUST BE USED AT TIME OF PURCHASE
Serving the area for over 30 years
410215
406251
Groeling Salvage
Owner, Charles E. Hanna Revocable Trust Kathleen Hanna Revocable Trust Trustee, Mitch Hanna Attorney, Emily Vivian, Ehrmann Gelbach Badger & Considine, LLC Phone: 815-288-4949
410302
SUNRISE II GALACTIC ROCHELLE FAMILY RESTAURANT TOOL CO FOODS, LLC 815-962-3420
WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS BUT – CANS – CLOSED FRI., DEC. 31 55¢ per pound AND SAT., JAN. 1 ! 220 E. Exchange St. • Freeport, IL 410115
It’s that time of year. Out with the old, in with the new. It would be an understatement to say that I welcome the new. It would more of an understatement that I still mourn the old. But I’m getting there. It’s been a year of hardship for me as well as a year of healing. Mostly healing. When I look back to last January, I can honestly say I was walking around in a complete fog. It’s a wonder I got out of bed, much less wrote columns - which I did. I didn’t miss a one. I think meeting those deadlines helped in ways I didn’t understand at the time. They forced me to do something - anything. That, in turn got me up each morning. It made me shower and get dressed and pretend to exert some normalcy in a life that was anything but normal at the time. People were counting on me to tap out 600 or so words each week, and I think that helped to keep me going. People were counting on me – at a time when I couldn’t count on myself, when I couldn’t – or wouldn’t – do something for me, because I didn’t have it in me. I was exhausted. Beyond that, honestly. There was no gas in the tank. I felt completely empty. Still do, sometimes, but the emptiness is slowly dissipating. The tank is slowly being replenished. It’s been a process. It is a process. And in the end, I have not only the growth and the renewal of my life, but I have my written words. Columns that came out of the depths of grief as well as the depths of healing and finding life anew. Columns demonstrating the miracle of hope. The miracle of the continuance of life. My written words helped keep me alive. I’m so glad
815-232-2525
410300
815-562-4141 1001 S Main • Rochelle
ATTENTION WAS YOUR FURNITURE DAMAGED BY FIRE?
BUTCH’S ANTIQUES
NORTHERN ILLINOIS OPTICAL
410290
410292
410301
Happy New Year To All Our Customers!
410293
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH H H H H 815-234-4229 1402 18th Ave H H Rockford, IL 101 W 2nd St • Byron H H H H Complete Prescription Service Most Insurance 410291 H H Most Insurance Plans Accepted Plans Accepted H H H H • Expert Refinishing & Restoring H H VO TE D #1 www.cghmc.com H FOR BEST H • Cabinet Making All Credit Cards Accepted Dr. Henry Oh • Dr. Keith Martin RES TO RAT ION www.cghmc.com H H www.cghmc.com • Custom Building IN THE www.cghmc.com Sara Smith,Martin APN,www.cghmc.com CNP(815)284-1600 www.cghmc.com (815)284-1600 815-963-3454 • Fax: 815-963-4384 Dr. Henry Oh • Dr. Keith H REGION H www.cghmc.com (815)284-1600 N Galena Ave • Repairs of Any Kind-Parts Made Dr. Henry Oh •St•Dr.Dixon KeithN Martin 815-946-3661 • 711 S Division Dr. Oh1321 •CNP Dr. Keith Martin 1321 N Galena Ave • Dixon (815)284-1600 (815)284-1600 H H SaraHenry Smith, APN, 121 Madison St •www.cghmc.com Rockford www.cghmc.com 1321 N Galena Ave • Dixon • Kitchen Cupboard Refinishing H Sara Smith, APN, CNP H Sara Smith, APN, admin@nioptical.com 815-946-3661 • 711 S Division St CNP 1321 N Galena Ave • Dixon 1321 N Galena Ave • Dixon northernillinoisoptical@gmail.com • Chair Caning & Rushing 815-946-3661 • 711 SSt Division St H PICK UP & H 815-946-3661 • 711 S Division H DELIVERY H • Furniture Stripping AVAILABLE Hours: H H SERVING THE COMMUNITY H H Monday-Friday 9-6 H H FOR OVER 37 YEARS Saturday 9-1 H H at the corner of Pleasant, Cherry & Broadway Streets H www.byronforestpreserve.com H 330 W. Pleasant, Freeport, IL H 815-562-8784 H 815-234-8535 H H 815-233-4437 621 1st Ave 413 Main St. 7993 N River Rd • Byron www.butchsantiques.com H H Rochelle Pecatonica, IL 410294 HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
PECATONICA PHARMACY PECATONICA Complete Prescription Service PHARMACY
392180
Pecatonica, IL
409763
815-239-1200 239-1200 413 Main St.
PLUMBING, HEATING & COOLING
Here BYRON BYRON FOREST FOREST PRESERVE PRESERVE DISTRICT DISTRICT comes www.byronforestpreserve.com 2022! 7993815-234-8535 N River Rd • Byron 410113
ANDERSON
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9am-6pm Sat. 9am-1pm