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Amboy, Ashton, Franklin Grove, Paw Paw, Sublette, West Brooklyn
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CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED
SUMMER 2018
Author leads workshops on nature writing
Family finds success with custom golf carts
Ashton shop provides service close to home
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Support for Sexual Assault Survivors in the Sauk Valley Area Sexual violence is any type of unwanted sexual contact, including sexual assault and rape. This can include words and actions like sexual harassment, catcalling, and nonconsensual sharing of private images, such as revenge porn. Nearly 1 in 2 women and 1 in 5 men have experienced sexual violence other than rape in their lifetime. Anyone can experience sexual violence, including children, teens, adults, and seniors. Sexual violence happens in every community. Healing and justice look different for every survivor. The YWCA of the Sauk Valley’s Sexual Assault Program offers a variety of services to help survivors heal in their own time and their own way. Support and services are also provided in Spanish. Often, people who have been sexually assaulted may not want to talk about the assault with family and friends. Young children may not realize they have been victimized. Older children may want to protect their parents. Teens and adults may fear losing their friends or hurting their family. They may also be concerned that they will be blamed, or they won’t be believed. YWCA staff and volunteers listen without judgment and believe survivors who call their hotline. It doesn’t matter what they were wearing, how they were acting, or if they were drinking. Sexual assault is never the victim’s fault. Some people who have been assaulted will go to the hospital for medical treatment, testing, and evidence collection. These processes can be invasive, lengthy, and confusing. YWCA staff and volunteers will go to the hospital to be with those survivors to support them, explain their rights and options, and help them understand their follow-up care. YWCA Advocates assist survivors who choose to move forward with the criminal justice system. Advocates refer them to the appropriate law enforcement agency or DCFS. They help survivors with Orders of Protection, Civil No Contact Orders, and Stalking No Contact Orders, and provide them with emotional support during the court hearings associated with the assault. Survivors can experience anger, fear, sadness, and other strong emotions. By talking to someone trained specifically to deal with sexual trauma, survivors are able to identify and develop healthy coping skills. The YWCA provides free, confidential counseling to survivors of all ages and genders. They also provide free counseling to family members who have been impacted by the sexual violence. If transportation is an issue, they work with their clients to ensure they can receive counseling services. YWCA counseling services are available no matter how recently or long ago someone was assaulted. Teens are at especially high risk for experiencing sexual violence. The YWCA leads teen groups at several area high schools. The groups provide a safe space for youth to talk about their concerns, struggles, and successes in dealing with sexual violence. Topics include healthy relationships, sexual harassment, consent, and cyber safety. Healing from sexual violence is a unique, ongoing process. Please contact the YWCA’s Sexual Assault Program at 815-625-0333 or 815-288-1232 if you or someone you know would like more information about services.
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• Medical Advocacy & Legal Advocacy • Healthy Relationship Groups for Teens • Emotional Support and Empowerment 24-Hour Crisis Hotline: 815.626.7277 | 815.288.1011 412 1st Ave., Sterling, IL 98 S. Galena Ave., Dixon, IL This project was supported by Grant #2015-VA-GX-0049, awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, through the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. Points of view or opinions contained within this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice, or the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. SM-ST1540549
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Inside
4 Amboy, Ashton, Franklin Grove, Paw Paw, Sublette, West Brooklyn
SUMMER 2018
4 – Ashton Auto Repair 11 – Lincoln Highway Car Show 14 – Franklin Creek workshop 17 – MSK Golf Cars 23 – 4-H’ers fight hunger 24 – Summer event calendar
Publisher Don T. Bricker General Manager/Advertising Director Jennifer Heintzelman Editor Jeff Rogers
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Magazine Editors Lucas Pauley Rusty Schrader Page Design Lucas Pauley
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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 Small Town 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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Mechanic making a difference Community embraces new auto repair shop Story By Lucinda Hall & Photos By Alex T. Paschal For Small Town Living
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Mike Hambley, owner of Ashton Automotive Repair, recently purchased a tow truck to help expand his business in Ashton.
ike Hambley, owner of Ashton Auto Repair, knows more than just a little about repairing automobiles. It’s in
his DNA. “I was pretty much born with a wrench in my hand,� Hambley said. Much of what he knows was learned at the knee of his father who owned a repair shop when Hambley, 49, was just a child. In many respects, he was a natural at mastering the details of being a mechanic, while taking classes over the years to keep up with the changing facets of the business. Continued on page 7
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Continued from page 4
It wasn’t until September 2017, that he decided after more than 25 years as a mechanic in Amboy to try his hand at owning his own business. The building, at 507 Cartwright Ave., in Ashton, had set empty for several years. When it was put up for auction, he and his wife, Lana, decided to give it a try. “We wanted to be careful,” he said. “See how the first year went and take little bitty steps.” The results have been more than gratifying. “The community has been fantastic,” he said. “We started the business with hopes to be in it for the long haul. The community has been awesome and the city has welcomed us with open arms.” The business offers everything from oil changes to engine and transmission repair, as well as air conditioning work, tires and towing. Much of his success has been based on the simple theory of providing quality work at reasonable prices, and that formula appears to be working. And, he’s doing it locally – a real convenience in a community of around 1,000 people. “I have many people happy they can drop their car off, walk to work and come back after work and pick up their car – done and ready to
Hambley has the equipment to mount and balance tires of all sizes in the shop.
go,” he said. “I do the work right the first time and try to keep my prices reasonable.” What’s more, he works with the village to provide maintenance for the fire trucks, ambulance, school buses and plow trucks to ensure all the vehicles are in top shape and pass all safety inspections. Continued on page 9
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Continued from page 7
“It makes me feel good that the community is safer and their vehicles are working well,” he said. For now, it is still a family operation. Hambley does all the repair work. His daughter, April Miller, helps with the administrative side of the business as well as insurance claims as needed. He continues to purchase new equipment as the business grows, including a tow truck. “I bought the truck to help customers out,” he said. “Now, I have the added convenience of being able to tow vehicles in for repairs and save customers extra costs.” He is eager to please. That includes working weekend hours if a customer has an immediate need. Recently, there was just such an occasion. A customer purchased a RV the day before a holiday weekend and was hoping to take a trip in it, but needed new tires. Hambley was quick to help and his customer was motoring away the next day as planned. Another time, an older lady called needing her car washed. “We don’t wash cars,” Hambley said with a laugh. Still, he obliged. After dropping off her car, he took her back home, washed the car inside and out, then dropped it off to her. It’s that type of service that seems to be working well for Hambley and Ashton Auto Repair. “I mean, if someone needs it done and I have the time, I’ll do it.” s
Hambley has the tools and experience to fix your troubles.
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Lincoln, let’s ride Photos By Michael Krabbenhoeft For Small Town Living Archie Jensen of Rochelle brought his 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner to the Lincoln Highway Car Show on May 12 in downtown Franklin Grove. The show featured an impressive lineup of horsepower – and battery power for the golf carts – as well as a 50-50 drawing, raffle, photos shoots, music, and awards. Find more photos on page 13.
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Check out that hot rod Mustang … golf cart? Yep. The customized cart was one of several golf carts on display at the Lincoln Highway Car Show. Golf carts aren’t just for tooling around to the tees anymore. The vehicles can be customized to include just about all the comforts and amenities that real cars have: cargo boxes, chrome wheels, lift kits, stereo systems, and custom paint and bodies. The Mustang and vintage Chevy models in the foreground are the handiwork of MSK Golf Cars in Amboy, a family-owned business that specializes is sales, service and customizing. Find out more about the business and family on page 17.
Mike Moberg of Franklin Grove is directed to a parking spot a he drives his 2000 Chevrolet Corvette into the car show.
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WORDS by which to walk
Author leads workshop on writing about nature at Franklin Creek Story By Lucinda Hall & Photos By Breanne N. Hunter For Small Town Living
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inifred Bird shared a gentle, yet powerful, message on a warm Saturday morning at the Franklin Creek State Natural Area on the edge of Franklin Grove. “Nature is so content and makes its own rules – untroubled and adaptive.” Bird, 38, was there hosting a nature writing workshop that took participants on an adventure to reflect and write about the physical and inspirational messages the earth has to offer. The petite writer, expecting her first child in July, is hopeful that people will become more aware of what is beyond their human communities by understanding the importance and magic of nature. As an accomplished journalist and translator, she now resides in Oregon after a decade of living in Japan. She has written on topics ranging from wildlife and agriculture to nuclear disaster and environmental issues for national and international publications.
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Bird began the interactive workshop by having the group of five women read aloud from the “A Sand County Almanac,” written by Aldo Leopold in 1949. He is credited as one of the first ecologists of the conservation movement. A second reading by poet and environmentalist Gary Snyder set the tone for a discussion of the emotions spring elicits. The group was then encouraged to write about and share their personal connection with spring as an annual rebirth of nature. After a hike into the thriving forest, under a canopy of trees and a carpet of vegetation, the women sought solitude to write about their surroundings. Some chose a seat on a rocky cliff along a meandering stream, another at the edge of a pond, green with algae. The only sounds came from the rustling of leaves, streaming creek, scurrying of small animals in the undergrowth, insects and the flight and songs of birds. “When you’re not talking, you become more aware of nature,” Bird said. “Essential to writing is being able to focus and be in that moment. It is an opportunity to let go of being judgmental of yourself and getting in the right zone.” The women regrouped appearing somewhat changed by the experience.
Online
Go to winifredbird.com for more information on Winifred Bird. The event was presented by Franklin Creek Conservation Association. Go to franklincreekconservation.org or find it on Facebook for more information. Nancy Wadsworth, who lives in rural Dixon, defines herself as a free spirit. She had never participated in a writing workshop but wanted to take advantage of a beautiful day in a new way. She came away feeling rewarded by the experience. “Writing about nature is really off my radar,” she admitted. “But the whole experience led me to think about creation in a new way.” Another participant, Kate Gross of Franklin Grove, had a particularly interesting reaction. “I felt like my feet were rejoicing on the trail. Singing praise to the ground below,” she said. “Nature is so reassuring and brings balance to our lives.” For Bird, she accomplished her two-fold mission of encouraging a greater respect for nature and appreciating writing as a way to interpret a person’s physical surroundings.
Moreover, she has an impressive resume beyond her work for conservation causes. As a skilled translator, she is proficient in Japanese-to-English translations. Initially, she concentrated on translating academic texts, but has added translating fantasy fiction as an additional outlet for her skill. Bird also volunteers for Project Vital at Sauk Valley Community College – a program focused on adult literacy and mastering the English language. Her empathy for students resulted from her own experiences in Japan when she arrived knowing little Japanese. She had an important need to learn the language quickly so that she could integrate and communicate more effectively during her stay in the country. A skilled journalist, she has an appreciation for writing based on facts and research, avoiding political or activist bias. Going forward, she is looking forward to writing essays that will allow her to take more reflective and personal positions to advance environmental causes about which she is passionate. Bird aspires to share the joyfulness of nature with others and an understanding of the partnership people share with the earth. “We need to take care of the earth so it can take care of us.” s
ABOVE: Oregon-based environmental journalist Winifred Bird discusses a writing sample from famed environmental poet Gary Snyder during a free writing workshop on May 26 at Franklin Creek State Natural Area. She guided participants through several writing exercises and reviewed work from various great nature writers of the past. TOP OF PAGE 14: The women went on a hike into the woods to let nature inspire them. BOTTOM OF PAGE 14: Kate Gross of Franklin Grove nestled on the creek bed for the writing exercise. Gazing at the sunlight beaming through the trees above her, she waited for inspiration to strike. ON THE COVER: Dina Lillyman (left) of Franklin Grove and Nancy Wadsworth of rural Dixon record their reflections of the scene around them. Participants met at the Mill to receive advice from Bird before heading out into the park to put their writing to the test.
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Jump Into the
FUN EXPECTED in Lee County
ALWAYS AT YOUR DISPOSAL
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Fairs & Festivals • Parades Camping • Craft Shows • Car Shows Museums • Nature • Music • Art UPCOMING EVENTS
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Annual Petunia Festival JULY 4-8 • DIXON
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Cruise control
Mustang and Jeep custom golf carts sit on display in front of MSK Golf Carts in Amboy.
Amboy custom golf cart shop puts you in the driver’s seat
Story By Jessie Kern & Photos By Michael Krabbenhoeft For Small Town Living
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hat started as a hobby for Matt Koning, today has transformed into a constantly growing family business. Matt and Sue Koning, owners of MSK Golf Cars in Amboy, have gone from working out of their garage to building a shop and storage units. Now, the family is celebrating 20 years of business from their initial foray into golf cart sales. “Well, it started [when] I was told to get a hobby,” Matt said. “We’d been here a few years, I was working 3 days a week in Wisconsin and coming home, and my wife would be like, ‘You need to do something.’”
Matt said that after the idea developed in 1998, the family started selling golf carts out of their garage. In 2000, they bought 2 acres of land next door and built the shop. The business initially focused on sales, but now works with O’Connell’s Yogi Bear Jellystone Park, Mendota Hills Campground, and Pine Country RV and Camping Resort to provide rental fleets throughout the camping season. During the winter months, the business provides storage and maintenance services. Continued on page 19
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Address: 971 Green Wing Road, Amboy Phone: 815-857-4211 Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily April through October; 9 a.m-5 p.m Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Monday November through March and other days by appointment Online: mskgolfcars.com and Facebook
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Determining how the customer intends to use their golf cart is an important first step, Matt said. A lot of campgrounds have restrictions and requirements on what the vehicles need in order to drive on their campgrounds. “When someone gets a [vehicle] from us, we want to make sure they can use it,” Matt said. Custom golf carts are typically special order, but Matt and his son, Lane, recently completed their new favorite, a custom Mustang golf cart. Lane built about 70 percent of the Mustang. He does a lot of the design work for customers. “We operate as a family,” Matt said. Custom golf carts take anywhere from 1 to 2 months to finish, depending on the complexity of the design. Matt said the majority of carts fall between $4,000 and $6,000 because the business focuses on quality over quantity. Shellie Few, 47, of Elburn, recently bought a custom Jeep Wrangler golf cart from the Amboy business. She met the Konings 4 years ago through her husband, who has been working with them since MSK Golf Cars started. Continued on page 21
Walker Knight (from left), Lane Koning, Josh Hintz, and Sue and Matt Koning pose for a photo outside of MSK Golf Carts in Amboy.
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She said her husband, Michael, recently bought a custom golf cart built by Matt and Lane. “My husband’s had a fondness for Lane since he was a baby and so he’s like, ‘He built that and I want to buy that car. If it’s just sitting there, it’s meant to be,’” Few said. Few said she believes in supporting local businesses and at MSK Golf Cars they’re honest, knowledgeable, friendly and have great customer service. “You just don’t get the product, you get the family, you get it all,” she said. Jim Glassman, 61 of Elmhurst, said he’s been coming to O’Connell’s Yogi Bear Jellystone Park since 2002 and initially went to MSK Golf Cars because his lawn mower wasn’t working. He said Josh Hintz spent 2 hours fixing the lawn mower, free of charge. Eventually Glassman decided to buy a golf cart and his recent upgrade was designed by Lane. “He has a ton on his plate all the time, but he’ll spend time talking to you for as long as you want or even longer to just make you feel like you’re part of his family or you’re a really great friend,” Glassman said. Glassman said Matt has hosted several customer appreciation barbecues over the years and once invited campers to sit out a bad storm in his basement. He said Matt cares about his customers and is an incredible people person. “Our motto lately, whenever we get a new customer is, ‘Welcome to the family,’” Matt said. “We try to make everyone feel like part of the family.” s
This 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air golf cart is one of the custom builds you’ll find in the showroom.
We bring life to products.TM
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15 W Wasson | Amboy, Il 61310 | (815) 857-2550 www.maplecrossingatamboy.com 22
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Good things come in 12,000 packages
H
Photos By Michael Krabbenhoeft For Small Town Living
ow do you help fight hunger in your community? Well, packing 12,000 meals to send to local food pantries is a good start, and on May 29, people got started in Amboy. Lee County 4-H’ers and volunteers held an Illini Fighting Hunger event at the Lee County 4-H Center, where they put together meals that will be distributed to local food pantries. On the menu: soy protein, white rice, dehydrated vegetables and chicken-flavored bouillon-type base. According to illinifightinghunger.org, over the past 6 years, the service project has packed 3,094,568 meals containing 186,070 pounds of white rice, 4,430 pounds of pasta, and 51,350 pounds of beans; and it’s engaged 24,521 volunteers who put in 41,275 service hours. The event is part of the 4-H Feeding and Growing Our Communities program, which aims to end hunger throughout the state. Go to shawurl.com/39fj to learn more about the program.
TOP: Lee County 4-H volunteers help package meals May 29 at the Lee County 4-H Center in Amboy. ABOVE: Rice is added to a package by volunteers at the third annual meal-packing event. RIGHT: Kimberlee Kidwell talks to Lee County 4-H members before they begin packing meals in Amboy. Kidwell is a dean at the University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign’s College of Agricultural Consumer and Environmental Sciences. She’s also a a nationally respected scholar of plant breeding and genetics.
We Provide Peace of Mind 815-625-2201
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Young viewers look on as Sookie heads for the pool during the Ultimate Air Dogs’ Fun Jump at last year’s Petunia Festival in Dixon. The annual festival returns from July 3 to 8 this year. (Peter Balser/Pbalser@saukvalley.com)
Set your sights for summer See what’s going on in Lee County through September June 14 Dixon Municipal Band concert; Page Park bandshell on Lincoln Statue Drive; refreshments will be sold; 7:30 p.m.; free; dixonmunicipalband.com
June 15 Blues and Bluegrass; H.I. Lincoln Building, 136 N. Elm St., Franklin Grove; open stage for acoustic musicians; 7 p.m.; franklingroveil.org or 815-456-3030
June 21 Dixon Municipal Band concert; Page Park bandshell on Lincoln Statue Drive; refreshments will be sold; 7:30 p.m.; free; dixonmunicipalband.com
June 15 Riverfront yoga and Musical Fridays with Mike and Matt; Heritage Crossing, Dixon; yoga 11 a.m.-noon, music noon1 p.m.; dixonmainstreet.com or 815-2882308
June 20 Free riverfront movie (TBD); amphitheater steps along Dixon riverfront; participants can bring blankets, not chairs; Dixon Chamber & Main Street on Facebook for update; riverfrontdixon@gmail.com or 815-288-2308
June 22 Riverfront yoga and Musical Fridays with Robbie LeBlanc; Heritage Crossing, Dixon; yoga 11 a.m.-noon, music noon-1 p.m.; dixonmainstreet.com or 815-288-2308
Amboy Veterinary Clinic & Trego Veterinary Service Toni L. Trego, DVM Stephanie Wire, DVM
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1 S. Commercial Avenue • Amboy, IL 61310
Monday ay - F Friday: rida ri day: 88-5 da -5 • S Saturday aturda at day 8da 8-33 • Su Sund Sunday nd 10-1 SM-ST1537558 SM-ST1537558
SM-ST1540551
*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)
jonesberrylumber.com
Building Material & Hardware
June 22-24 World War II reenactment; Elks Page Park, 7883 S. Lowell Park Road, Dixon; reenactment with display of camps and equipment, mock battles with armored vehicles and machine guns; admission is $5; sneak peak Friday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sunday; WWII-recreateddixon.weebly.com June 23 Amboy Summer Concert Series; bandstand, Main Street; music by Jeff Kagy and Todd Lorenc – Flying Fish; 7-9 p.m.; leecountyfun.com or 815-8573814 June 24 June Jam; John Deere Historic Site, 8334 S. Clinton St., Grand Detour; open stage for bluegrass, folk, country and light rock musicians; admission is $5 or a nonperishable food item for the local food pantry; 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; deere. com or 815-652-4551 June 28 Dixon Municipal Band concert; Page Park bandshell on Lincoln Statue Drive; refreshments will be sold; 7:30 p.m.; free; dixonmunicipalband.com June 29 Riverfront yoga and Musical Fridays with Pat Anderson; Heritage Crossing, Dixon; yoga 11 a.m.-noon, music noon-1 p.m.; dixonmainstreet. com or 815-288-2308 June 29 Fifth Friday music; H.I. Lincoln Building, 136 N. Elm St., Franklin Grove; admission is $10; shows at 7 and 9 p.m.; 815-456-3030 July 1 Amboy Fireworks Festival; Amboy Sports Park; food, music and fire truck rides; 6 p.m., fireworks at dusk; Jeff Bryant at 815-857-2000 July 3-8 Petunia Festival; downtown Dixon; pancake breakfast,
bags and poker tournaments, tennis and soccer tournaments, Ultimate Air Dogs, car show, craft show, carnival, music, parade and fireworks; petuniafestival.org, Facebook or 815-288-7465 July 4 Amboy Summer Concert Series; bandstand, Main Street; music by Eileen Quest – Remembering Patsy; 7-9 p.m.; leecountyfun.com or 815-8573814 July 4 Brush & Bloom; 200 block of West First Street, Dixon; families are invited to paint a 4-foot-by4-foot square of the street; registration is $10 in advance, $15 the day of the event; 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; dixonmainstreet.com or 815-288-2308 July 6 Dixon Municipal Band patriotic concert; Old Lee County Courthouse lawn, 112 E. Second St.; refreshments will be sold; 7 p.m.; free; dixonmunicipalband.com July 7 Nuts About Art; John Dixon Park, 515 N. Galena Ave., Dixon; juried art show; 9 a.m.4 p.m.; thenextpictureshow. com or 815-285-4924 July 13 Riverfront yoga and Musical Fridays with Eileen Quest; Heritage Crossing, Dixon; yoga 11 a.m.-noon, music noon-1 p.m.; dixonmainstreet. com or 815-288-2308 July 9 Second Saturdays; downtown Dixon; businesses host artists and musicians; 6-8 p.m.; Facebook or 815-288-2308 July 18 Free riverfront movie (TBD); amphitheater steps along Dixon riverfront; participants can bring blankets, not chairs; find Dixon Chamber & Main Street for update; riverfrontdixon@gmail.com or 815-288-2308
July 19 Dixon Municipal Band concert; Page Park bandshell on Lincoln Statue Drive; refreshments will be sold; 7:30 p.m.; free; dixonmunicipalband.com July 20 Riverfront yoga and Musical Fridays with Todd Lorenc; Heritage Crossing, Dixon; yoga 11 a.m.-noon, music noon-1 p.m.; dixonmainstreet. com or 815-288-2308 July 20-21 Summer Fest; Compton Park; kids games, car cruise, concessions, family entertainment, beer tent and more; 10 a.m.11 p.m.; Facebook July 20 Blues and Bluegrass; H.I. Lincoln Building, 136 N. Elm St., Franklin Grove; open stage for acoustic musicians; 7 p.m.; franklingroveil.org or 815-456-3030 July 26 Dixon Municipal Band concert;
Page Park bandshell on Lincoln Statue Drive; refreshments will be sold; 7:30 p.m.; free; dixonmunicipalband.com July 26-29 Lee County 4-H Fair and Junior Show; 1196 Franklin Road, Amboy; 4-H exhibits, truck and tractor pulls, mud bogs and dirt drags, carnival, music, food; admission is $5, grandstand admission is more; Facebook or 815-857-2603 July 27 Riverfront yoga and Musical Fridays with Jeff Kagay; Heritage Crossing, Dixon; yoga 11 a.m.-noon, music noon-1 p.m.; dixonmainstreet. com or 815-288-2308 July 28 Amboy Summer Concert Series; bandstand, Main Street; music by Jimmy Henkel with special guest; 7-9 p.m.; leecountyfun.com or 815-857-3814 Continued on page 26
Putting lives back together one family at a time. When bad things happen, make sure you have an insurance company that’s committed to helping you repair, rebuild, and grow. Rockford Mutual is the company. We’ve been putting lives back together for over 116 years. Rockford Mutual Insurance Company provides insurance coverage for personal auto, homeowners, business owners, commercial auto, and farmowners.
Contact Roxy Stenzel 815-456-2319 102 N Elm Street Franklin Grove, IL 61031 stenzelinsurance.com
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Aug. 1 Petunia City Brass; Hinders Field in Rock Falls; drum and bugle corps competition; proceeds benefit Kreider Alliance and the Lee County Council on Aging; tickets are $10, $15 or $20 and available at Kreider Services, Lee County Council on Aging or Venier’s Jewelry or dci.org; 7 p.m.; petuniacitybrass.org, Geoff Vanderlin at 815-876-7726 or Becky Reilly at 815-288-6691 (Event moved because of planned work at A.C. Bowers Field at Dixon High School.) Aug. 2 Dixon Municipal Band concert; Page Park bandshell on Lincoln Statue Drive; refreshments will be sold; 7:30 p.m.; free; dixonmunicipalband.com Aug. 3 Riverfront yoga and Musical Fridays with Vicki Michler and Jonna Russell; Heritage Crossing, Dixon; yoga 11 a.m.noon, music noon-1 p.m.; dixonmainstreet.com or 815-288-2308 Aug. 4 Big Rig Show; Atkinson Trucking, 351 N. State St., Franklin Grove; trucks on display, plus music, food and 50-50 raffle; proceeds of show benefit Shriners Hospitals for Children in Chicago; 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Facebook or Brian Atkinson at 815-440-8304 Aug. 4-5 Summer Harvest Festival; Franklin Grove; village-wide rummage sales, historic building tours, art festival, antique equipment show, music, parade; 10 a.m.4 p.m.; chaplincreek.com or 815-456-3030 Aug. 4-5 Hammer In; John Deere Historic Site, 8334 S. Clinton St., Grand Detour; 9 a.m.5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday; deere.com or 815-652-4551
Peter Balser/pbalser@saukvalley.com
Liam Full (left), Levi Prather and Aubrianna Coleman swing through the air on Pharoah’s Fury during the 2017 Amboy Depot Days. The festival returns Aug. 23-26. Aug. 10 Riverfront yoga and Musical Fridays with Steve Robbery; Heritage Crossing, Dixon; yoga 11 a.m.-noon, music noon1 p.m.; dixonmainstreet.com or 815-2882308 Aug. 11 Second Saturdays; downtown Dixon; businesses host artists and musicians; 6-8 p.m.; Facebook or 815-288-2308
Aug. 17 Riverfront yoga and Musical Fridays with Ty Bushman; Heritage Crossing, Dixon; yoga 11 a.m.-noon, music noon-1 p.m.; dixonmainstreet.com or 815-288-2308
Aug. 11 Amboy Summer Concert Series; bandstand, Main Street; music by Barbershop Spontaneous Combustion; 7-9 p.m.; leecountyfun.com or 815-857-3814
Aug. 17 Blues and Bluegrass; H.I. Lincoln Building, 136 N. Elm St., Franklin Grove; open stage for acoustic musicians; 7 p.m.; franklingroveil.org or 815-456-3030
Aug. 11 Venetian Night; Heritage Crossing, downtown Dixon; European-themed food, art and entertainment and lighted boat parade on the river; dixonmainstreet.com or 815-288-2308
Aug. 18 Gardenstock Art and Music Festival; Distinctive Gardens, 2020 Lowell Park Road, Dixon; art, music and food; proceeds benefit Sinnissippi Center’s youth gardening program; 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; tickets are $10 in advance, $13 at gate, $1 kids 12 and younger; diggersdelight. com or 815-285-0014
Aug. 15 Free riverfront movie (TBD); amphi-
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theater steps along Dixon riverfront; participants can bring blankets, not chairs; find Dixon Chamber & Main Street for update; riverfrontdixon@gmail.com or 815-288-2308
Aug. 23-26 Depot Days; downtown Amboy; car show, tractor show, arts and crafts show, 5K walk/run, garage sales, music, 50-50 raffle, carnival and parade; depotdays. com, Facebook or 815-857-3814 Aug. 24 Riverfront yoga and Musical Fridays with Mark Hobbs; Heritage Crossing, Dixon; yoga 11 a.m.-noon, music noon1 p.m.; dixonmainstreet.com or 815-2882308 Aug. 31 Riverfront yoga and Musical Fridays with Kathy Cecchetti; Heritage Crossing, Dixon; yoga 11 a.m.-noon, music noon-1 p.m.; dixonmainstreet.com or 815-288-2308 Aug. 31 Fifth Friday music; H.I. Lincoln Building, 136 N. Elm St., Franklin Grove; admission is $10; shows at 7 and 9 p.m.; 815-456-3030 Sept. 1 Blues, Brews, BBQ and Bags for the Brave; 100 block of First Street, Dixon; blues festival and Honor Flight fundraiser by Dixon Police Association; noon-10 p.m.;
$5; dixonmainstreet.com or 815-288-2308 Sept. 2-3 Lions Club Labor Day Celebration; Village Park, Paw Paw; street dance, truck and tractor pull, car show, craft show, parade and more; admission to tractor pull is $5; 815-790-3030 Sept. 8-9 SubletteFest and Fall Car Show; car show 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday across from Vaessen Brothers Chevrolet, 505 N. Pennsylvania Ave.; featuring Kaiser-Frazer, Willys-Overland, Hudson and Nash vehicles, plus a special Chevrolet exhibit; festival features music tractor pull, 5K run/walk, live music, beer garden, food and drinks; Sublette365 on Facebook, subletteweb. com or Don Dinges at 815-713-5675 Sept. 8 Second Saturdays; downtown Dixon; businesses host artists and musicians; 6-8 p.m.; Facebook or 815-288-2308 Sept. 9 Grand Detour Arts Festival; John Deere Historic Site, 8334 S. Clinton St.; juried art show, student art, music and food; admission is $3 or a nonperishable food item
for the local food pantry; 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; thenextpictureshow.com or 815-652-8663 Sept. 15 Autumn on the Prairie; Nachusa Grasslands, South Lowden Road, Franklin Grove; horse-drawn wagon rides, live music, artist demonstrations, birds of prey and more; 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; parking is $5; nachusagrasslands.org or Bill Kleiman at 815-456-2340 Sept. 16 Scarecrow Festival; downtown Dixon; scarecrow decorating contest and other fall fun; 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Dixon Main Street, dixonmainstreet.com or 815-288-2308 Sept. 21 Blues and Bluegrass; H.I. Lincoln Building, 136 N. Elm St., Franklin Grove; open stage for acoustic musicians; 7 p.m.; franklingroveil.org or 815-456-3030 Sept. 30 Tales From Beyond the Grave; Oakwood Cemetery, 416 S. Dement Ave., Dixon; 1-hour guided cemetery walk with characters in period costumes who give live accounts of people who contributed to the early days of Dixon; 1-4 p.m.; suggested $5 donation; Carol Ortgiesen Wadsworth at 815-652-3775
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CARRIAGE HOUSE ELECTRIC “WIRING FOR THE FUTURE” 1886 Richardson Road, Amboy 815-849-5598
105 12th Street, Mendota, IL 815-538-5598
COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL Authorized Dealer For Generac Generators SM-ST1540554