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Retreat center has variety of activities under the sun, stars
Oregon bar corners the market on best craft beers available o g l e
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Burgers - Wings - Sports Video Slots - Beer Garden 2 1/2 Blocks South Of Hwy. 64 115 S. Wesley - Mt. Morris www.maggiesonline.com 815-734-4110 Follow Us On Facebook!
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FEATURE • STORY
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Publisher Sam R Fisher Advertising Director Jennifer Heintzelman Editor Larry Lough Magazine Editor Rusty Schrader Page Design Robin Norburg Breanne Hunter 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 Ogle County 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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features His business is quite a handful
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John Lindhorst promotes the ukulele
It’s a little bit of heaven on earth
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Polo camp offers something for everyone
A camp to some; a home to others Bill and Betty Hare have pitched camp in Oregon for 50 years
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Don’t Dis Our Abilities An Oregon company helps fulfill potential, too
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Bar owner is Museum has Kable Oregon’s craftsman ties to the past
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Tim Taylor helps people find out what’s brewing around America
A swan song decades in the making
Music looms large in their lives
Mount Morris band director passes the baton after nearly 60 years
Mount Morris studio’s owners share their love of music
A driving force behind them
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Volunteers keep Mount Morris history alive
Car club members put their shoulder to the wheel to help others
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Windows of opportunity Customers have been cruising to Sam’s Drive - In since the 1960s
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John Lindhorst has found his Station in life: Promoting the ukulele Continued on Page 7
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LONNIE C. MILLER SPECIAL TO OGLE COUNTY LIVING
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here’s only one item on John Lindhorst’s Christmas list, and if you want to know what it is, go to Ellen DeGeneres’ website. That’s where you’ll find him putting his holiday wish to music. And a-one, and a-two ... “I want a ukulele for Christmas, dear Santa please. All the other girls and boys want a lot of fancy toys, But for me, only a ukulele ...” You probably won’t have to guess twice what instrument the Sauk Valley business owner is playing in the video. Lindhorst wrote his ode to the diminutive and delightful Hawaiian instrument and posted a version on YouTube a few years back, when he strummed the ditty wearing a T-shirt that read, “Got Ukulele?” Eventually, another version he recorded ended up on DeGeneres’ website where the TV talk show host features her favorite videos. If you want to see it, go to ellentube.com and search for “John Lindhorst.” Or better yet, go to Oregon and meet the ukulele virtuoso yourself, where you’ll find him at his shop, Ukulele Station America. This businessman is just as unique and inviting as the lovely little stone building, originally built in 1931, in which his business resides. On a corner of state Route 64 and 10th Street in Oregon (you’ll have to circle the block and pull up on the dead-end side street), the historical cottage is well known and well loved in town. Its proprietor quite possibly falls into the well-known and well-liked category, too. A multi-talented man with many interests, John not only writes music and directs musicals, but has a vast inventory of ukuleles for sale, and offers both instrument and voice lessons to customers of all ages and abilities. John opened his shop officially on July 23, after a long and arduous stint as designer and restorer for the vintage building. It’s beautiful inside and out, clean and tidy, as well as in pristine condition after his efforts and those of the contractors he hired. John’s love of all things musical is palpable in the tiny space. Ukuleles hang from the beams, are propped along the walls and rest on tabletops and counters. John is perpetually singing while he tunes instruments and explains the business in detail. He even has tutorial videos on YouTube. “Ukuleles come in four sizes and musical ranges. The smallest is a soprano, perfect for beginners, and just like its choral counterpart, is higher in pitch than other sizes. Next comes the concert size, with bigger sound and slightly larger in size; then comes a tenor and a baritone. Sound is dependent on many things, including what type of material – wood or plastic – from which the instruments are fashioned.” Prices vary with quality and start around $50, then go up from there. “I search for and buy only instruments that sound good and will hold tune,” said John. “Toy ukuleles will not hold their tune, but professional, even plastic, ukuleles will.” He demonstrates his point with a Dolphin ukulele; it has a dolphin shaped bridge and is made of both wood laminate and plastic. It has a rich, full sound. He also carries instruments made of exotic mahogany, spruce, rosewood, pine, mango and some with zebrawood components. Each one is unique in appearance and sound quality. He says people are drawn to the instrument because it’s fun. A former teacher of music, he’s traveled the United States and back. He’s trained students of all ages from kindergarten through college. He spent several years in Hawaii, where he was the coordinator for Gifted and Talented Performing Arts for the Honolulu District. He then taught in La Mesa, California. He returned to the Midwest because of his longing for simplicity and a quieter lifestyle. But, he didn’t rest on his laurels long; he began to teach in Villa Park and Stillman Valley before finally settling in Oregon. Here, he owned a popular coffee shop in a downtown location. He sold that property when he decided to semi-retire and “go the whole 9 yards” to purchase and renovate what was once known as Mongan’s Conoco Station. It’s here you’ll find John, Uke Can Do It! a smile on his face and a ukulele in his hand, making Ukulele Station America those little strings sing. Online: You can find John Lindhorst on Facebook And who knows? After you and YouTube (search for “John Meola Lindhorst”) get done spending some time Address: 1000 Washington St., Oregon at his shop, you may just Phone: 815-944-1246 Hours: The shop is open 1-5 p.m. Wednesday, end up adding ukulele Thursday, Friday and Saturday, or by appointment. to your Christmas list. s
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All Photos by Alex T. Paschal Ogle County Living
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It's A Little Bit of Heaven on Earth Polo camp offers something for everyone BY KAYLA HEIMERMAN SPECIAL TO OGLE COUNTY LIVING
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ucked away in the far northwestern corner of the county, Rock River Christian Camp and Retreat Center beckons for the faithful to glorify God under the sun, the stars, the trees.
The camp, which has been around since 1945 and at its current site
for more than 60 years, serves some 1,500 youths in the summer, plus hundreds more youths and adults throughout the year through camps, retreats, and other special programs, said Camp Manager Dan Augenstine. The camp boasts almost 100 acres that straddle Route 64. It has two year-round lodges (one is underground) that sleep 40 people, plus two large multipurpose halls. It also has nine summer cabins that house 180
BUILDING COURAGE
people and an old chapel that’s been converted to sleep 56 people. There also is a wilderness camp with three small cabins that sleep 36 people out in the woods. The camp also offers a paintball course, a swimming pool with a diving board and a slide, a 400-foot zipline, a traverse wall, and more than a mile of hiking trails. It also has basketball courts, sand volleyball pits, and campfire rings. Rock River Christian Camp is a nondenominational Christian camp owned by about 30 churches, Augenstine said. It offers camp opportunities
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for youths from first grade through high school throughout the summer, all with an emphasis on Christian worship, he said. The camp also offers specialty camps, including volleyball camp, equestrian camp, paintball camp, arts camp, and wilderness adventure camp, Augenstine said. It has a week set aside at the beginning of each summer for family camp, too, he said. The programming this year also features a 1-day “Young at Heart”
Thomas Emerson leans back for a ride on the zipline at camp.
retreat for senior citizens and a weekend craft retreat for ladies.
Campers bow their heads in prayer during a worship service at Rock River Christian Camp.
“We try to have something for everyone, all year long,” Augenstine said. “We have all kinds of groups that come through here.” s
Paintball at Rock River Christian Camp is one of the more popular activities. Kaylin Storck (middle) untangles herself from other campers during a M.A.D (Music, Art and Drama) camp session at the Rock River Christian Camp.
Dean of Camp Tony Ross (left), and Mike Johnson sing songs of praise at the Rock River Christian of praise Camp during one of the M.A.D camp sessions.
Join Us... Rock River Christian Camp and Retreat Center Address: 16486 W. state Route 64, Polo Phone: 815-493- 6622 Online: www.rockrivercc.net
Show your true colors and help the camp ... The Rock Run is a 5K color run to promote and benefit Rock River Christian Camp and Retreat Center. The run is at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 12. Runners will traverse 3.1 miles through the various terrain of the camp with four color stops - at which they will be splattered with colored powder - along the course. Finishers are invited to join in a color party after the run, too. Participants are urged to wear white or buy a Rock Run T-shirt for $10; the color shows up best on white clothing. Registration starts at $25 for those 12 and younger and $35 for those 13 and older; prices increase closer to race day. Registration and more information is available at www.rockrivercc.net. Proceeds from the run will go to hiring new staff at the camp.
Teams fire off the starting line looking for cover.
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Bar Owner is
BY KAYLA HEIMERMAN SPECIAL TO OGLE COUNTY LIVING
Oregon's Craftsman Tim Taylor helps people find out what’s brewing around America
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rom the outside, it’s a typical corner tavern: The building is painted navy blue with red trim around the windows. A sign hangs on the side, its name obstructed by a lamppost. A warning on the door reminds patrons they must be 21 years old before they can push through the entrance. Even on the inside, it’s a typical corner tavern: It’s dimly lit, the only light cast from a few neon beer signs and four flat-screen televisions, playing an assortment of educational and entertaining programs. There’s wood paneling, front to back, floor to ceiling. And the laminate-topped bar has gouges from years of wear and tear. But Empty Pockets, 101 S. Third St., is anything but a typical tavern. The bar, which opened in early 2012, boasts the largest craft beer selection in Ogle County. Owner Tim Taylor, a graduate of Polo High School, developed a taste for craft beer while living in Chicago and the suburbs. He said he “got burned out on corporate America” and came back to the area to start a new life. “I couldn’t find a job, so I bought a job,” he says with a chuckle. Taylor, 41, named his establishment Empty Pockets – a jab at himself, really. Continued on Page 15
Photos by Alex T. Paschal/Ogle County Living Before owner Tim Taylor orders a beer to serve, he'll check online to see whether any other bars within 40 miles are serving it.
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“I thought it would be a miracle if I made any money out of this; I thought I would have empty pockets after this,” he says. But patrons thought the name was a wry comment on the drink prices – a jab at them. “They thought they would leave with empty pockets,” he said. Taylor, who relies on word of mouth and BeerMenus.com for so-called promotion, has gradually phased out the original name and simply referred to the place as EP. The logo is a plain, rounded “EP” with a circle around it. Taylor started small and slow. “In the suburbs, craft beer was already established,” he says. “But here, craft beer was Guinness or Heineken. Those are more imports than craft beers. But for most people, even just a few years ago, imported beer meant craft beer.” He tapped Supervalu, the nearby grocery store, which has an impressive craft beer selection for a small town, for its distributors, to find out how to get the beers into his bar. “I figured, there’s gotta be a market – if they’re stocking all of that, then people are buying it,” he says. “But not a whole lot of people embraced it, because they didn’t know anything about it.” Taylor took more than a year to build up his “board,” his selection which is listed on an oversized white, dry-erase board hanging high up, toward the back of the bar. He also added a display case, to showcase the bottles and cans of the beers in stock. “People like to see the bottle, see the label,” he says, noting many people choose beer in the same way they choose wine – by its cover. He says people, especially those new to craft beer, tend to gravitate toward those with attractive labels or strange names, such as 400-Pound Monkey, an English IPA from Left Hand Brewing Co. in Colorado. His selection includes most, if not all of the major styles: wheats, la-
gers, pilsners, India pale ales (IPAs), ales, stouts, and porters. Taylor does his research before any beer appears on the big board. His criteria include a rating of 88 or higher and 500 or more reviews from Beer Advocate. He also tastes everything that goes up on the board. “You have to know the ABV [alcohol content], the IBUs [the bitterness level], whether it’s hoppy or sweet …” he says. It’s an individual sale of every single bottle. “People, once they realize you understand your product … they take you more seriously.” Taylor orders only one case of most of his beers, unless it has proved to be popular or he knows he can sell it. And he gets something else when the supply is gone. “You’ll rarely see anything up there longer than 6 weeks,” he says. There isn’t a local favorite beer or a big seller. There’s just a good selection. “I think they would be bored with a stagnant selection. ... You set the standard for yourself, and your customers come to expect that,” he says. Taylor has found that craft beer drinkers don’t mind paying for good beer. Bombers, or 22-ounce bottles, of specialty beers or higher-alcohol beers can run more expensive than the average beer. “Back then, if you would have told me I could get $13 for a 12-ounce bottle, I would have laughed,” he says. “But now, it’s not uncommon.” Taylor likens craft beer drinkers to treasure hunters. He offers a promotion in line with that theory: Thursday is Craft Beer Day. All craft beers are $3, and the Craft Beer of the Day earns the drinker one punch (maximum one punch per day). Patrons who rack up 15 punches earn a T-shirt. There are four shirts, one each for the Club 15, Club 30, Club 45, and Club 60 members. “I have a handful of people who I owe Club 75s to,” he says with a laugh. s
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EMPTY POCKETS Address: 101 S. Third St., Oregon Phone: 815-732-9950 Hours: 2 p.m.-1 a.m., Monday-Thursday; Noon-1 a.m. Friday and Saturday; Noon-11 p.m. Sunday Online: Search for “Empty Pockets” on Facebook
NAME RECOGNITION What’s in a name? Well, when it comes to beer, it can be the difference between a sale and no sale; some samplers of the suds will pick a beer based on its name. Below is a sample of some of the brews that Empty Pockets owner Tim Taylor has, or has had in the past, on his menu: • Coronado Idiot IPA • Buckledown Belt and Suspenders • New Holland Tasmanian Hatter • Smuttynose Homunculus • Coronado Sock Knocker • Greenbush Star Chicken • Left Hand Wake Up Dead Nitro • RJ Rockers Son of a Peace Left: Empty Pockets is located in downtown Oregon. Middle: Empty Pockets owner Tim Taylor pours a brew in his Oregon bar. Taylor is focused on bringing unique craft beers to his business. Right: Taylor’s philosophy is to not over order and keep the brews constantly changing.
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A Swan Song
Photo by Sarah Zuniga/ Ogle County Living Warren Reckmeyer, conducts the last song at Mount Morris Kable Band concert to wrap up the 2015 season. Reckmeyer retired from directing the band after 59 years.
Decades in the Making
BY VINDE WELLS AND SARAH ZUNIGA SPECIAL TO OGLE COUNTY LIVING
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t’s longer than most marriages last. (But not theirs, it should be noted). After 59 years as director of Mount Morris’ Kable Concert Band – the longest tenure of any director – Warren Reckmeyer has handed off his baton. The band, one of the oldest in Illinois, has played every year since 1896. Warren, who might have been the oldest director in the state, had been playing in it since 1955, shortly after he and his wife, Carol, moved to town. Continued on Page 19
Mount Morris band director passes the baton after nearly 60 years on the podium w
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Warren, then the new band director for the Mount Morris School District, was named Kable Concert Band director in 1957. He was its 30th chief baton wielder. “We had hardly set foot in Mount Morris when [the late] Rod Kelsey was knocking on the door about the band,” Carol said. “We were expecting our first child.” Warren’s interest in music began in high school. He planned to pursue a degree in engineering in college, but changed his mind. “Music was the most fun,” he explained with a grin. Warren played in the college band and in a dance band during his 3-year stint in the Army. He plays all instruments, but clarinet and saxophone are his specialty. He also plays almost weekly in a jazz band in Rockford, and in recent years he has played with a circus band during visits to Sarasota, Florida. Talent runs in the family. Carol also was a music instructor, teaching vocal music in Mount Morris schools for years. She’s also a percussionist in the Kable Concert Band. Daughter Sarah is director of the Ottawa High School Band, which has won the state sweepstakes in its class for 19 consecutive years. His reach has extended beyond the village band. Ben Baldwin, a 2015 Oregon High graduate, became Warren’s student when he was in seventh grade. “He’s hugely impacted my musical career,” said Baldwin, who will major in music education at Michigan State University in the fall. “I was just starting to develop musically, and I was just realizing that I really liked music, and that that’s what I wanted to do, and that coincided right when I started taking lessons from him, so it was huge because he was there and I learned so much from him. “He’s just such a great teacher and has so much experience, and to Continued from Page 17
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have him right at that stage where I was developing and getting serious about it, that was huge for me.” July 29 was Warren’s last municipal concert. Wearing his traditional black-and-white ensemble, he handed his baton to Andy Eckardt, the Oregon High School band director who is taking the reins. “Andy does a great job,” Warren said. “He has programmed some stuff that I’ve bought and I looked at it and thought, ‘Oh, that’s too hard for the band.’ But he’s done it.” At the end of his final concert, which was packed with well-wishers, Reckmeyer directed the band’s theme song, “Say It with Music,” by Irving Berlin, one last time. As a final surprise tribute, confetti and balloons were dropped from the top of the band shell, in a box normally used to drop the American flag during the National Anthem. Warren was tickled. “We couldn’t have had a better night, really; that was wonderful.” s
Photo by Earleen Hinton/Ogle County Living Retiring band director Warren Reckmeyer, holds the signed memorial plaque with his wife, Carol, after the last 2015 performance of the Kable Concert Band on July 29. Right: Photo by Chris Johnson/Ogle County Living Warren Reckmeyer plays with the Mount Morris Kable Band during a rehearsal for the final concert.
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SEARCH FOR LOCAL CARS
Photo by Chris Johnson John Comer, Sterling, details his 1984 Oldsmobile Cutlass Hurst during the Polo Car Show.
Car club members put their shoulder to the wheel to help others LONNIE C. MILLER SPECIAL TO OGLE COUNTY LIVING
W
hen members of the car club get behind the wheel to show off their classic cars, they’re not taking an ego trip. They’re helping their community become a better place. In fact, they’re pretty humble about what they do. Group members say they’re “just” a good group of people who like to have fun and do good for others. Twelve members, and nearly as many volunteers, are on the rolls at the Gateway to the Pines Car Club. They invite guys and gals of all ages to join them in their
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pursuits of all things fun, and fundraising for good causes. The group officially started in September 2014. Today, the club meets about once a month, and more often in the weeks leading up to a car show or fundraiser. One doesn’t have to own a classic or antique vehicle to join. Just an appreciation for the cars and a desire to help others is enough to get you into the club. Those two things plus a one-time, good-for-a-life-time dues assessment of $25 will get you a membership. Continued on Page 22
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Continued from Page 21
Club president Cliff Harmon said he got involved with the club
His sidekicks, Cliff Harmon and Bob Cisketti, nod in agreement.
because it’s something he loves and because he cares about his
All three men are understandably proud of the work that goes into
community. “The biggest and most important goal of the car club
the car shows, cruises, and the restoration of any vehicle. There’s a lot
is to raise funds to give away.” That’s right; it raises all funds to give
of planning, hauling, cleaning, and “behind-the-scenes” work
to charity and community entities. No one in the club gets any pay
that goes on before each show. Cisketti’s red 1949 Chevy pickup
for what they do, and they do plenty. Every cent that’s made by various
is a shining example of months of work. He drives it every day, save
fundraising events goes to worthwhile endeavors.
a couple months in the winter. It’s a sight to behold, and pictures
Bob Kuzlik, the club’s official “paper shuffler” this year, says his most important job “is making sure the club’s sponsors, members and volunteers understand how appreciated they are.” He wants to make memories for all involved.
Michael “Mick” Scarantino, an original member of the club, explains the philosophy of the group. “The Gateway to the Pines Car Club is a 501(c)(3) non-profit
The only thing he wishes the club could do: Help out even more than it does now.
organization. We established this in 2015. Because a group of us had been putting on a car show every year in Polo, we decided
“Wouldn’t it be great,” Bob said, “if the Volunteer Fire Department says, ‘We need a $4,000 piece of equipment,’ and the club could provide the whole amount, not just a portion?”
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of many other “projects” grace the club’s website.
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to venture out and become a non-profit organization so we can give to various organizations, groups and charities of our choice. “There is a core group of 12 of us, and we not only produce a car
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show but have also started a car parts swap meet during the show. We
Photo by Chris Johnson - This unrestored example of a 1979 Dodge Lil Red Express owned by Grinny Nolasco, Peru, was on display at the Polo Car Show.
are in our third year of the swap meet, and we are growing every year. I got involved about 3-4 years ago as I knew our president, Cliff Harmon, and it was something I have wanted to do for many years. We had a desire to have a swap meet in the area, so Mike Berogan and I decided to join and help start and run the swap meet in conjunction with the car show. We have trophies in each class of cars, door prizes announced all day, ’50s and ’60s music, food and a 50/50 raffle. “All in all, we want everyone have a good time with the activities and by meeting new and wonderful people who bring their cars out to show. For the Polo show this year, we partnered with the Polo Town and Country Days celebration. The weather was not as cooperative as we would have liked it, but all in all, we still had a great time.” For those folks who want to see how the group lets the good times roll, or for those who want to lend a hand, Mick says, “Watch for fliers for new shows and meets, and come and help us grow.” s
Photo by Chris Johnson - Warren Johnson, Ashton, polishes parts on the engine of his 1955 Belair in Polo.
Join the Club... For more information on the car club, call 815-718-2590, email Robert@kuzliktax.com, or visit them online: www.polocarshow.org
Club adds financial fuel to the fire department The Gateway to the Pines Car Club is off to a roaring start in its mission to help the community. In July, club members joined officials from the Town and Country Days in Polo to present a check for $1,108 to Fire Chief Tony Karrow.
Submitted by Mick Scarantino Bright colors, curves and chrome show off this 1933 Chevrolet coupe, owned by Gateway to the Pines Car Club member Michael Scarantino of Dixon.
The funds were raised during a 50/50 drawing at the car club’s first car show held during Town and Country Days in June. Festival chairman Jon Miller said half of the money raised went to the winner of the 50/50 drawing and the other half to a local organization - this year, the fire department. “We plan on making this an annual event,” Miller said. “We hope people will remember to buy tickets. We plan to give every year to a local group.” – Sauk Valley Media
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Bill and Betty Hare have pitched camp in Oregon for 50 years
A camp to some.
A home to others.
BY LONNIE C. MILLER SPECIAL TO OGLE COUNTY LIVING
O
ne week can change lives in incomprehensible ways. Take the case of Bill and Betty Hare, missionaries by Divine Appointment. Bill and Betty Hare met on the mission field in Nigeria, where he was a volunteer teacher and she was a nurse in a 60-bed hospital. They got married there, and returned from Africa to the Midwest in 1965. They had a 2-year-old child and one on the way. They lived in Polo, and very quickly Betty was asked to be a camp nurse at The Church of the Brethren’s Camp Emmaus in Oregon, “just for a week.” Bill tagged along to help during that week. The nine-member board that oversees the church’s camp ministry soon asked both Bill and Betty to stay on as camp managers. For 9 years each summer, the Hares would move their little family into a cabin at the top of the drive at Camp Emmaus. In the fall, Continued on Page 27
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Above: Photo by Alex T. Paschal/Ogle County Living A collection of camp fun is seen in the dining lodge. Right: Photo Submitted/ Ogle County Living Betty and Bill Hare have managed Camp Emmaus for 50 years.
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after the camp closed, they’d move back to their home in Polo. In 9 years, they moved 18 times. The board members soon decided they wanted to retain the Hares, and proposed building an addition and basement to the original cabin. Now, the Hares have lived at the 97-acre camp year-round for more than 40 years, and managed it for 50 years. As camp managers, the couple are in charge of scheduling, hiring and supervising, purchasing, running the winterized retreat house, maintenance of the grounds and buildings – and for 40 years, Betty also served as on-site nurse and office staff. Today, each incoming group provides its own volunteer nurse, and Betty staffs the camp office while Bill oversees the grounds and such. The camp is also responsible for a tree farm, where they cultivate, replant, harvest and maintain the tree population as needed. “It’s a long-term process, a big commitment,” Bill says. “We want to do it properly, so we don’t deplete Continued from Page 25
the trees.” Bill explained the couple’s dedication to proper care-and-feeding of the campers too. “It’s always been one of our ministries. It’s a place that’s set aside to escape the craziness of life, and to slow down long enough to meet God. Some have never seen stars at night because they come from bigger cities where they can’t even see the stars. Some have never heard the night sounds of the country.” Betty interjects, “The hardest part about some of the campers today, is just getting them to ‘unplug’ from their cell phones and computers long enough to encounter the peace that comes with being here.” Many campers started attending camp in first grade, and came every summer through high school. Junior high and high school students are often the ones who resist “unplugging” for the first few days.
Photos by Alex T. Paschal/Ogle County Living A spirited game of six-square is played inside the lodge.
Anthony Girome, 11, of Rockford produces from great bubbles with his crafted wand. The campers could choose whether to participate in arts and crafts or sports for this session.
“They arrive on Sunday night, and by Wednesday, we see a real Continued on Page 29
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sense of community developing among the students. They actually begin to see the value in those relationships and often end up apologizing to the rest of the group about their initial resistance. We’ve watched these campers grow from crazy kids to wonderful, compassionate, hard-working adults in leadership roles, much of that as a result of their experiences here. Of course, most of our campers come from families that teach those values too.” Until this summer, campers who had graduated from high school had no options to return for a week of peace and quiet. But in the summer of 2015, a former employee is hosting a test-camp for adults who are “young and young-at-heart.” There’s also a women’s retreat Continued from Page 27
offered once each year. The retreat is organized and led by Bill and Betty’s daughter, Beth. The camp is in session from Memorial Day until Labor Day each summer. It offers scheduled daily activities from 6:30 a.m. until 11 p.m. There are hikes, picnics, volleyball, basketball, softball, tetherball, swimming, games, music and campfires, food and fun all week long. Junior high students even hike 6 miles to nearby White Pines Park and hitch a hay-wagon ride back to Camp Emmaus after activities and food. The high school students enjoy work projects such as those that might be encountered on the mission fields, if they should choose to go one day. Fishing is allowed in the pond during off-season, and a retreat house is available for guests to rent during the off-season. s
Hannah Atkinson, 12, of Franklin Grove decorates a craft at Camp Emmaus.
Hope Contractor, 12, of Aurora makes a pinwheel at the camp.
Camp Emmaus Address: 3011 W. Camp Road, Oregon | Phone: 815-734-4268 Online: www.campemmaus.org
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DON’T
Ralph Miller attaches yarn samples to cards at Village of Progress in Oregon.
DIS OUR S E I T I L I B A An Oregon company not only fills orders, it helps fulfill potential, too
T
Photos By: Michael Krabbenhoeft/Ogle County Living The Village of Progress in Oregon has a small park and garden on the property.
SHELBY KUEPKER SPECIAL TO OGLE COUNTY LIVING
here’s a corporation in Oregon that helps make a lot of products, but the most important thing it makes is progress. For many people, finding a job can be hard enough.
For people with disabilities, the challenges can be even greater. That’s where the Village of Progess comes in. The facility is a private, not-for-profit corporation that helps disabled adults in Ogle County gain training and life skills so they can gain job skills, contribute to their community, and live a more fullfilling life. It does this through industrial contract work, for-hire cleaning services, training programs and other specialized services.
Continued on Page 33
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The Village of Progress provides its clients an opportunity to learn many skills needed in the workforce, including social skills, work habits, and how to do production work. The ultimate goal is to help people gain the skills they need to eventually find work within the community on their own, but they are also welcome to continue to work at the Village itself. The facility offers their employees a 5-day work week, normally from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and transportation to and from work. At the moment, there are “about 90 men and women that attend the Village,” said Brion Brooks, executive director of the Village. The Village, which was founded in 1969, obtains business clients to give its employees work. On average, they perform work for 30-40 clients from the U.S. and Canada. About half to two-thirds of their work comes from Sterling’s Wahl Clipper. Brooks said: “Wahl Clipper is very generous about giving work to us. They send us all of the materials that go into the products, and we assemble, package, and ship them out to retailers.” Julius Dursch, 49 of Oregon, has attended the Village of Progress since 1995. Judy Hoffman fills a holder with accessories for Wahl at Village of Progress in Oregon. The facility provides production services for many different businesses. Julius Dursch, a worker at Village of Progress in Oregon, holds one of the tape dispensers that he made for the facility.
He said he loves working there because it gives him an opportunity to “work with my hands. I like to be hands-on.” His hands aren’t the only thing helping out at the Village; Dursch is putting his mind to work, too. The Village currently packages about 3,000 boxes for Wahl Clipper every day. Earlier this year, as Dursch was packing his boxes as usual, he noticed the recurring issue of the strain it takes for those with limited motor skills or impaired eyesight to pull the two stickers off the roll that are needed to package each box. With a determined mind and “whatever scrap materials I could find around here,” he said, Dursch created a sticker dispenser that made it easier to dispense stickers to workers on the line. The dispenser makes the onerous task of pulling off the backing almost nonexistent. Made out of plywood, small pieces of PVC pipe and Plexiglass, and a mousetrap spring, Julius’ creation is a simple and effective way to speed up packaging of Wahl Clippers’ products. Brooks said, “Now just about everybody on the production lines use it.” He loves
A tape dispenser made by Julius Dursch helps workers separate adheasive dots from the backing paper for packaging purposes.
when his employees use their creativity to improve production, but as for Dursch’s invention, “it’s unusual something like that happens.” A village may be able to raise a child, but in Oregon, it’s helping to raise the profile of men and women who are happy, and proud, to have a partner in progress. s Village of Progress executive director, Brion Brooks.
Contact Us... Village of Progress Address: 710 S. 13th St., Oregon Phone: 815-732-2126 Email vopinc@frontier.com Online: www.vopinc.org/home
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ARTIFACTS Antiques.Art.Accents Open Wednesday-Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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Bailey Lynne Photography Oregon, IL | (815) 871-3553 | www.baileylynnephotography.com
LEE-OGLE
TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM Lee-Ogle Transportation System will take you where you need to go in the area Monday through Friday from 6am to 6pm.
Provides Transportation for all residents in Lee and Ogle County Regardless of age, ability, or disability
Lee-Ogle Transportation System is a not-for-profit public agency that welcomes donations to keep the wheels on the road.
Call 815-288-2117 to schedule a ride or to provide a donation today! Lee-Ogle Transportation System is located at the Reagan Transit Center at 210 E. Progress Drive in Dixon!
BY KAYLA HEIMERMAN SPECIAL TO OGLE COUNTY LIVING
Museum has Kable ties to the past – and more Volunteers keep Mount Morris history alive
Photos by Alex T. Paschal/Ogle County Living A large case at the Mount Morris Historical museum is dedicated to Kable Printing, a major employer in the city.
L
ocal lore has it that Mount Morris was one of only two towns (the other was Hershey, Pennsylvania) that thrived amidst the Great Depression because of the successful Kable Printing Co. “People still wanted their chocolate, and they still wanted their reading material,” said Jerry Stauffer, curator of the Mount Morris Historical Museum. The museum, in the lower level of the village hall, houses a significant collection of artifacts and memorabilia from the Kable companies — Kable Printing, which dates back to the late 1800s, and Kable News, a magazine distribution company that dates back to 1932. “It was one of the biggest, if not the biggest, printing companies in the country at that time,” said Stauffer, who worked for the company for almost 30 years. Kable Printing Co. shut down about 5 years ago, after more than 100 years in operation. Kable News Co., however, still distributes hundreds of magazines and other periodicals. The museum also has several items in its collection from Watt Publish-
ing Co., started in the late 1910s by a man who worked for the Kable brothers. Watt Publishing Co. now is WATT Global Media and is based out of Rockford. The Mount Morris Historical Museum is dedicated to maintaining local history. “We try not to be a general museum of ‘old stuff,’” Stauffer said. “We try to limit it to Mount Morris-related items, whether it be advertisements or items from local businesses, memorabilia from the schools…” In fact, the museum started more than 20 years ago, around the time the Mount Morris schools merged with the Oregon schools, with a collection of trophies and plaques from school sports teams and other clubs. The awards otherwise would have been thrown away, Stauffer said. Nearly all of the items in the collection have been donated. A few items have been purchased, such as a 1915 wide-angle photograph of the Kable Band in front of what is known as the Sandstone Building.
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The museum does not keep historical records, except for the attendance books from the high school, therefore it does not offer genealogy services. It does have some unique documents, however, including the original land abstract for the old Mount Morris Seminary, later known as Mount Morris College, which closed in 1932; and a collection of blueprints for homes and commercial buildings built by Buser Lumber Co., which closed in the 1970s. The museum is housed in the village hall, which is known as the new addition to the old grade school; the museum pays no rent or utilities, and has a small budget to acquire new items and to maintain its collection, Stauffer said. About 10 years ago, the museum was falling into disrepair. A new group of volunteers took over and did a complete interior renovation: outside walls were insulated and drywalled, three rooms were opened up and connected, the old ceiling and lighting were replaced, and new carpeting was installed. The museum is open only on election days and by appointment. It would be open more often, but volunteers are needed to entertain visitors, Stauffer said. s Continued from Page 35
1) A plaque recovered from the Rahn Elementary school fire in 2004 is on display in the muesum. 2) The museum contains lots of memorabilia from the high school that merged with the Oregon school district in 1995. 3) Trophies are on display at the museum. 4) Curator Jerry Stauffer gestures toward the Mount Morris College diploma of Kit Sprecher, a long time and prominent resident of Mount Morris. 5) Most visitors to the museum are interested in reliving old high school memories.
Mount Morris Historical Museum Address: 105 W. Lincoln St., Mount Morris Contact info: Village Hall:, 815-734-6425; Jerry Stauffer, curator: 815-734-6627 Online: http://mtmorrisil.net/museum/ Hours: The museum is open on election days and by appointment. Admission is by donation. To donate to the museum or to volunteer at the museum, call curator Jerry Stauffer at (815) 734-6627.
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E G R S LA E S V I M L O R I O E L H T C I S N I U
M
BY SHELBY KUEPKER SPECIAL TO OGLE COUNTY LIVING
W
hether you’re looking for harp lessons, piano tuning, or a professional recording studio, Aireloom Music in Mount Morris offers a wide variety of musical services for surrounding communities. Mary Ley and Kathryn Stauffer opened the music facility in February 2015, and already the business is becoming the place to go for the area’s musical needs of all kinds. They wanted to find a way to “bring arts back to the community,” Kathryn said. The two taught private music lessons in their homes for years, so opening a facility that gave others who shared their passion for music a
place to go seemed like the perfect idea. Aireloom offers private lessons for several instruments, including piano, drums, guitar, bass guitar, violin, mandolin, horns, harp, accordion, Indian flutes, penny whistles, and voice. The instructors at Aireloom – the studio’s website lists seven of them – are local musicians with years of experience who all have a passion for sharing their musical talent with others. The students at Aireloom range from ages 6 to 75, and Kathryn emphasizes that it is never too late to begin learning as the majority of the students are beginners. An impressive aspect of Aireloom’s facility is its state-of-the-art
Mount Morris studio’s owners share their love of music
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recording studio. Mary previously had a recording studio in her home, and recording is something “she has done a long time and is very good at,” according to Kathryn. The studio at Aireloom Music is utilized for all kinds of recording: professional recording, demos, back-up music CD’s, family-fun, story-telling, family history, books on CDs, and just about anything else you can think of. Whether people are looking to record their own demo or just to have some fun, Aireloom can make it happen. The studio even offers the help of experienced sound technicians to assist with recording. Aireloom’s owners also take the time to push the pause button on
their business to give back to the community. Aireloom puts on children’s shows for the community. Mary and Kathryn write interactive music shows to teach children about the beauty of music. Past shows have involved teaching children specifically about rhythm and notes. Kathryn said all the shows “involve education, interaction, and fun!” The shows are performed at local libraries to give children easy access to the excitement where they can learn about music and play with small, fun instruments. Aireloom Music has a nice, cozy atmosphere about the facility and is a wonderful place to find others who share a passion for music. Kathryn loves that Aireloom Music “brings an opportunity to folks who want to learn more about music” because they “love music and want to share it.” s
Harry Connolly, 8, of Dixon, watches as his instructor Mary Ley shows him how to play a scale during a lesson.
Skyler Connolly, 12 (left) of Dixon, plays a scale Tuesday during a lesson at Aireloom Music Studio in Mount Morris.
Aireloom Music Hours: Open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday for lessons. Open for recording or piano tuning by appointment every day Address: 4167 Mud Creek Road, Mount Morris | Contact: 815-973-5697, or aireloommusic@yahoo.com | Online: http://www.aireloommusic.com/ Jasmine Connolly, 13 of Dixon, recites a scale during her vocal lesson with instructor Mary Ley.
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Proceeds benefit the ministry & program of:
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3 &4 rd
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9am - 4pm
We Have the Best Prices & Quality in the Area
StrongholdCenter.org/EnglishFaire.html Owner Gene Green • Kevin Green
Stronghold is a four-season retreat and camping center, operated by the Presbytery of Blackhawk, Presbyterian Church (USA).
Adults: $10 Children 7-12: $5 6 & under: FREE
301 N. Walnut Avenue, Forreston • 815.938.2000 www.greensmotorcompany.com
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FLASHBACK he to t
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Celebrate Our
arade • est Time P
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th Anniversary
Car & Tractor Show, Duck Dash, Donut Eating Contest, Food Court ,Vintage Baseball Game, Create A Canvas, Fun Zone for kids and more!
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We invite you to stop by and enjoy a multi-level shopping experience
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5K
Customers have been cruising to Sam’s Drive-In since the 1960s LONNIE C. MILLIER SPECIAL TO OGLE COUNTY LIVING
A
ny business owner will tell you that customers are the driving force behind the business; for Shirlee Aldrich, that’s especially true.
For the past decade, customers have been rolling into her restaurant,
Sam’s Drive-In, for soft-serve ice cream (more than 50 flavors these days), hand-dipped waffle cones, frosty, frothy root beer floats, and the best Coney dogs in the region – they’re good enough to make a vegan fall off the wagon! Shirlee Aldrich has owned Sam’s Drive-In for 10 years. In her ten seasons of ownership, she’s added a few things, changed a few things, and is perpetually planning more menu items that will meet the demands of an ever-changing clientele. She is quick to give credit for her business success to the community in which she lives, Byron. In fact, she’s posted a huge “Thank You” on the dining room wall of her establishment, thanking all those who made it possible to install the signature sign out front. The 1957 Chevy Bel-Air was installed on 30-foot posts in October 2011. Shirlee says she could not have accomplished what she has without the community support. Her crew members come from local high schools and elsewhere in the community, and she’s most proud of their hard work and dedication to providing great products and good service to customers. “I have many employees for whom this is their very first job. It makes me feel good to see them develop into excellent workers.”
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Shirlee comes from a long line of drive-in owners, and brings those management skills to the table at Sam’s. She understands what it takes to run a successful drive-in. Her grandparents, Grant and Alda Bingeman, started the original Bing’s in Rockford in 1952. Her parents, Keith and Nancy Peterson, were successors, bringing Shirlee on board. She learned the business from the ground up. Meanwhile, in the 1960s, Sam Morrison started Sam’s as a Dog & Suds. That evolved later to became just Sam’s with his own recipe for “World Famous” root beer. When it came up for sale, Shirlee took advantage of the opportunity. Shirlee gives lots of credit to others, but her success most likely also comes from the family recipes she’s added to her menu. Homemade root beer is still made on site, as are the Coney dog sauce, BBQ Sloppy Joes, tacos, Italian beef gyros with cucumber sauce, and cole slaw. Some featured items, such as the Tex-Burger, have two one-fifth pound burgers, homemade Coney sauce, a special sauce, and it’s served on a three-tier bun with lettuce, tomato and pickles. There’s also the Sam’s Burger, a sloppy Joe-style burger with homemade BBQ sauce, special sauce and lettuce. Of course, customers can top off their sandwiches with other condiments, with choices like: The Works: ketchup, mustard, pickle and onion; Deluxe It: Mayo, lettuce and tomato; or Deluxe Plus The works: you get it all! You can get the drive-in’s special sauce upon request. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating, and its food is served picnic-style in paper and plastic. The taste, made possible by incorporating quality ingredients, is truly exceptional. Give this particular drive-in a place on your bucket-list! s
Sam’s Drive-In Address: 705 Blackhawk Drive, Byron Phone: 815-234-8281 Website: www.Sam’sDrivein.com Facebook: Sam’s Drive-in Byron Summer hours: 11 a.m.- 9 p.m. Monday-Sunday; School year hours: 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday, closed on Mondays
Photos by Michael Krabbenhoeft/Ogle County Living
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