Issue 6 - InVironments Magazine

46InAdventure 

Chicago Skydiving 

Center: A high in the sky 

VOLUME 2 

ISSUE 

AUG - SEP 20116 

16InHome 

Setting up an effective 

study space 

20InHealth 

Yoga exercises for 

gardening 

26InGarden 

Steve and Sue Kivikko: 

A honey of a business 

32InFood 

30 Men who cook: 

Eat your heart out 

for education 

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2 Rochelle InVironments Magazine • August-September 2011 

Where life happens. 3

feature: 

20 

Health 

Yoga exercises 

for gardening 

16 

Home 

Setting up 

an effective 

study space 

54 

Business 

Rochelle 

Community 

Hospital 

Auxiliary: 

Giving 

back to the 

community 

what’s side 

12 Community 

Hispanic Heritage Festival 

The pride of the Hispanic 

culture in Rochelle 

38 People 

Organ transplants 

Saving lives during loss 

42 Health 

Smile Express 

Bringing dental care to 

Rochelle’s children 


Where life happens. 5 

32 

Food 

30 Men 

Who Cook 

Eat your 

heart out for 

education

46 

Adventure 

Chicago Skydiving 

Center: A high in the sky 

How to Write Us: 

Do you have a question, suggestion, or comment about 

Rochelle InVironments? Email your letter to renee@ 

invironmentsmag.com. Please include your full name and city. 

You will be contacted via email if your letter is a candidate for 

publication. Letters may be edited for brevity. 

Contact Us 

Rochelle InVironments 

P.O. Box 4, Sycamore, IL 60178 

Renee Page, Editor 

renee@invironmentsmag.com 

Joe and Dana Meyers 

Publishers/Advertising 

meyers@invironmentsmag.com 

26 

Feature: 

Garden 

Steve and Sue 

Kivikko: 

A honey of a business 

58 Education 

St. Paul Lutheran School 

Celebrating 50 years of Christian 

education 

64 Events 

Keep up-to-date on 

Rochelle events 

and activities year-round 

66 Best of 

The votes are in! 

Find out who is considered 

the “Best of” Rochelle 



Message from the Editor 

Dear Reader, 

The heat and humidity of summer are here. Summer brings to mind backyard 

cookouts, bowls of bright watermelon, swimming pools, and, for a lot of people, 

the family reunion. 

The Page Family Reunion is always a highlight of my summer. I have rarely 

missed the occasion. As a child, our reunion seemed like a huge event, normally 

held in Cooper Park, with all my cousins and second cousins in attendance. My 

dad was the youngest of eight children that migrated to Illinois from southeast 

Missouri. I’m the youngest of my generation. Thirty-five years separates me from 

the oldest of my generation. 

As the years have passed, the reunion has moved around from the Ashton Bank 

basement to the Nash Recreation Center in Oregon to Reynolds Church. As the 

older generation has passed away and the younger generations become busier 

and unable to attend, the reunion has gotten small enough to be held in a home– 

specifically, my home. 

But all the work is worth it to bring together three generations of the Page family 

each year. Despite the fact that a number of us live within a few miles or even a 

couple of blocks of each other, this day in July seems to be the only day we can be 

sure that we see each other. My niece has done extensive research on our family 

tree so she often presents her new findings or helps us to remember facts that we’ve 

forgotten. It seems to be a fitting tribute to the legacy of Charles and Aslee Page. 

As I work on this issue of InVironments, I’m reminded of how important family is, 

even in the non-traditional sense of the word. Jodi Sage tells us the story of her 

mother’s fight for life while Barb Kemp tells us of the tragic generosity of her family 

upon the loss of her son, Adam. St. Paul Lutheran School students, alumni, and staff 

talk about the feeling of family they experience within the walls of the school. Even 

the honey bees that Steve and Sue Kivikko keep are a “family” as they return to care 

for their hives and broods. 

So keep your family together by reuniting on a regular basis. And keep your 

community “family” close by reading about their stories in InVironments. 

Finding “In”spiration in you, 

Renee Page 

Renee Page 

Editor 

Message from the Publishers 

Dear neighbors and friends, 

Ahh, home sweet home! After another weekend of baseball games, I am glad to be here. 

My son has played a lot of baseball this summer. Minor league, travel ball, and most 

recently a tournament team have kept our schedule full. I love being at the Rochelle 

baseball fields and seeing so many of you that I don’t see throughout the year. I try really 

hard to watch the games, but will admit I usually miss something because I get too 

chatty. I love the sense of community that can be felt at our baseball fields and cherish the 

memories being built there. 

Evan’s travel and tournament teams have given us the opportunity to experience a 

different kind of camaraderie with our neighbors. As guests to whatever community 

we are in, we cheer on our boys, pitch sun canopies, and keep an eye on each other’s 

children. Throughout the season, we have seen some fabulous coaching and some flat out 

horrible coaching from other teams. I am not talking about coaching errors like having a 

kid steal when he should have stayed on base. I am talking about the part of coaching that 

either lifts the spirit of a young player or crushes it, the part of coaching that fosters good 

sportsmanship or turns its back on it. Watching some of the coaches from other teams has 

increased my appreciation of our Rochelle coaches. 

I walked away from this weekend blessed once again by the men that work with these 

boys. My mom probably said it best when she pointed out the respect our coaches 

gave our boys. They played to win (which I believe in, by the way) but they coached 

to build winners. As a community, our youth programs are filled with men and women 

who positively affect our kids and I just want to say, “thank you”. Thanks to ALL of you, 

no matter what sport you work with, for believing in the potential of our kids. Strong 

extracurricular activities aid in the shaping of character in ways that nothing else can 

touch. Your dedication has added value to Rochelle and is appreciated. 

One of our reasons for publishing InVironments is to help add value to the community. 

We love to be able to celebrate successes and shine a spotlight on all the good things that 

make Rochelle a winning community. We hope that when you finish reading an issue, you 

will walk away with your head held a little higher knowing you are part of something great. 

Thanks for spending time with us. 

With you “In” mind, 

Joe & Dana Meyers 

For Subscriptions: www.inrochelle.com 



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Community 

DaNIEL WILLIams/LIfEWORks ImagINg: 

Bacilisa Silva, left, Rosario Herebia, center and Edna Nava 

H i s p a n i c 

H e r i t a g e 

Festival 

By Daniel Williams 

Rosario Herebia said she remembers the days when Hispanic youth 

had plenty to do in Rochelle. She remembers after school programs, 

tutor programs, and plenty of other things to keep her and her 

friends on the right path. But those days have come and gone. 

The 23-year-old said, over time, 

those programs seemed to fade and 

with it, the pride and identity of the 

Hispanic culture in Rochelle. 

So unlike many other people who might 

complain, reminisce and then move 

on, Rosario and a small group of friends 

and acquaintances decided to act. 

Rosario and five other women, Edna 

Nava, Bacilisa Silva, Rose Huermo, 

Shelley Belmonte, and Charlene 

Jackson, formed a committee to do 

something about it. That action brought 

about Rochelle’s first-ever Hispanic 

Heritage Festival last September. 

Rosario said another group in town 

had put a Hispanic Heritage Festival 

together in the past but for whatever 

reason, it never lasted. She and 

the committee she is working with 

hopes this event is here to stay. 

The committee successfully organized 

the first annual festival last year because 

they felt there weren’t enough events 

specifically for the Hispanic culture. 

“We never have anything for us,” 

Rosario said. “The Hispanic people in 

Rochelle don’t really have a voice.” 

So with a little planning and a lot of last 

minute help, they sparked what they are 

hoping will be a long lasting tradition 

just in time for Hispanic Heritage Month, 

which starts in the middle of September. 

This year’s event, set for September 

10, is just around the corner and the 

group is trying to put the finishing 

touches on all the planning. Rosario 

said she’s hoping to be able to expand 

on some of the success they had last 

year, especially when it comes to 

attendance. “We had about 100 people 

last year and we’re hoping to have 

about 200 people this year,” she said. 



Community 

Rosario said more vendors, 

more bands, and a 

greater knowledge in the 

community should help 

boost those numbers. 

Last year they were able to bring in 

about four dancers and one band, but 

she’s hoping the last year’s success will 

spark more participants. She’s not sure 

exactly how many more since they’re still 

confirming acts but she’s optimistic. 

“We’re also still looking for sponsors but 

last year it worked out great,” she added. 

The group has added a community 

leadership award to this year’s event 

that they will vote on soon and award 

to a Hispanic community leader. 

There will still be all the same attractions 

as last year, including kids’ games 

and prizes and several dance acts that 

represent different Hispanic countries. 

There will also be information on 

this year’s beauty pageant, which 

is geared toward Hispanic girls. 

The pageant is another offshoot of 

Rosario’s group. They started the pageant last year as 

the sole fundraiser for a scholarship given to one of the 

girls. “There are a lot of pageants like this around.” 

Last year the group raised about $500 for one lucky girl and 

they are hoping this year will be an even bigger success. 

The scholarship amount always depends on the number of 

participants. Any of the money raised from the festival actually 

gets put back into the scholarship and helps to form the 

non-profit group Rosario and her committee hope to create. 

“That’s the ultimate goal,” she added, “To form 

a not-for-profit group for Hispanics.” 

With the level of success they’ve had so far, it shouldn’t take 

them long – especially if they continue to receive the help and 

support they’ve had from other communities and groups. 

Rosario said groups from Sycamore, DeKalb, and Rockford 

have all helped them in the past and they are hoping to 

incorporate those groups into their activities in the future. 

For now though, it’s all about keeping it simple. 

They’d like to eventually add the pageant to the 

actual festival but are still keeping it in November this 

year in case it rains since there is no rain date. 

Rosario said this year’s event runs from 3 to 10 pm at Atwood 

Park. They are holding it five days prior to the start of Hispanic 

Heritage Month because other communities will be having 

their own festivals and they didn’t want to detract from those. 

It also gives them the opportunity to work together with 

those other communities and build stronger community ties 

and enrichment. That goes for non-Hispanics too. Rosario 

said the event isn’t meant just for the Hispanic residents. It’s 

meant as a celebration of her culture and to also showcase it 

for non-Hispanics in order to build stronger community ties. 

“That’s the whole point,” Rosario said. 

Anyone wishing to volunteer 

can contact Rosario via email at 

rherebia@hispanicheritagefestival.com 

and more information can be found 

on the festival’s website at 

www.hispanicheritagefestival.com 

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Home 

Setting Up 

an effective 

Study Space 

By DeAnna Radaj, Bante Design LLC 

As “back to school” time approaches 

(I hear the cheering of parents far and 

wide!), one of the items that should 

be part of any student’s “to-do” list is 

setting up an organized and efficient 

space to study and do homework. 

In setting up an effective study space, 

use Feng Shui principles when laying 

out the space plan. Feng Shui is the 5000 

year old Chinese science of creating a 

balanced environment (yin-yang), and 

while there are three principle schools of 

Feng Shui (Compass, Form and Bagua/ 

Black Hat Sect), they all use nature, 

accessories, and focus on placement of 

items to activate energy (chi) of the space. 

In the case of a child’s bedroom serving 

double duty-sleeping and studying, the 

bed is the most important furniture 

piece, with the desk being secondary. 

When using a bedroom as the place 

where most homework is done, the bed 

should be placed in the Power Position 

(diagonal corner from the doorway 

looking in to the room), with the desk 

being placed in the Knowledge Life Area 

(closest left corner on entryway wall). 

The desk should face into the space if 

possible, not looking out a window or at 

a wall. The worst location for the desk is 

directly in line with the door or entryway. 

In Feng Shui terms this is called the 

“death position,” and you don’t want that! 

This is due to the person sitting at the 

desk being vulnerable with each person 

passing the door; there is no security in 

this location. Besides, if your back is 

to the door, you can easily be startled, 

disrupting your work focus. Think of 

how a work cubicle is set-up to illustrate 

this point. If a desk is set up facing a 

window, the person seated at the desk 

can get distracted by what is going on 

outside. A desk facing a wall can literally 

cause the person seated at the desk 

to “hit a brick wall” when it comes to 

problem-solving, or being creative. If this 

is the only way a desk can be situated 

(small space), then hang some detailed 

artwork or a bulletin board up to help 

engage stimulating mental activity. 

You want your desk facing into the room 

so you can see anyone entering. You also 

want a solid wall behind your chair for 

support and security (not a window). 

Next, make sure the desk has an 

efficient lay-out. Is everything you need 

easily accessible? Can you open drawers 

and file cabinets easily? Can you walk 

through the space without tripping 

over, stepping around, or bumping 

into anything? If not, change it around. 

Bruises, cuts, and irritation at moving 

an item to reach another item cause 

stress which isn’t good on any level. 



Home 

• To help “activate” the Knowledge 

Life Area, use the color blue, the 

Earth element and square shapes. 

Think blue desk accessories, picture 

frames or a chair mat/area rug. 

The Earth element can include: 

tile coasters, stone figurines, or 

even a globe. Square shapes can 

be used for desk blotter, picture 

frames, bulletin board or area rug. 

• Motivational quotes are perfect to 

activate any student. Quotes can 

be stenciled on to the wall, used as 

a screen saver or a framed print... 

• De-clutter the desk/room. Ask: Do you 

love it? Do you need it? Do you use it? 

If an item does not serve a purpose, 

it shouldn’t be in the space. So, if an 

item is not “study related” it shouldn’t 

be on/near the desk. This helps cut 

down on procrastination and feelings 

of being overwhelmed or anxious. 

One of the biggest obstacles I’ve seen in my clients 

is not having the desk/work space efficiently 

organized. Take time to actually walk through the 

students’ process as to how they do homework. 

Do they need pens/paper or do they primarily 

work on a laptop? The desk needs to be cleared 

of any clutter and have an outlet close by. 

Some Feng Shui tips include: 

Many children (and adults) are afflicted 

with allergies and asthma, while many 

children and teens are concerned 

about the environment and want to 

be more eco-friendly. Here are some 

tips that you can easily incorporate 

“green” into their rooms, while also 

creating a “healthy” space for those 

who may have some health concerns: 

• Make use of any natural light that 

enters the space. This is good for 

morale and helps in the production 

of melatonin in the body (a lack of 

this is a cause of the SADD disorder). 

Strategically-placed mirrors (45 

degree angle to the window) will 

help diffuse the light into the room. 

• Hang/place plants by computers 

and printers. All emit EMF 

(electromagnetic fields) and the 

printer toner off-gasses chemicals 

which you then breathe in. Plants 

such as spider plants help detoxify 

the air. You should ideally have 

one plant for every 100 square feet 

of space to help clean the air. 

• Only have accessories or pictures 

that are positive and supportive. 

Anything else can be confusing 

and just add to mental clutter. 

• Make sure your child has an 

ergonomically sound chair for 

him or her to sit on-one that 

encourages proper posture. 

• Use eco–friendly, natural cleaners. 

• Make sure every space has task 

lighting to cut down on eyestrain. 

Computer monitors should have 

a screen to cut down on glare. 

By implementing these tips, your child 

will not only have a beautiful, productive 

space in which to study, but one that 

benefits their health and all who enter. 

DeAnna Radaj, owner of Bante Design 

LLC, can enter a space and help to redesign 

the space to work better to suit its 

function and the lifestyle of the occupants 

of the space. She is a nationally 

recognized speaker on healthy home 

design, color therapy/theory, psychology 

of clutter for adults and children. 

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Our Extremity MRI is for those times when a specific area of the arm or leg 

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at

Health 

Yoga 

exercises 

for 

gardening 

The gardening 

season is in full 

swing, but it’s not 

too late to get your 

body in better shape 

for it. Gardening 

demands heavy and 

sustained work at 

times, yet many of us 

who are gardeners 

are not necessarily 

in shape to do it. 

If you move your body well, you can use gardening as a way 

to improve the “core muscles” that everybody is talking about. 

On the flip side, if you simply bend over to do things, you are 

probably just wearing out your back. Not that bending over 

is such a bad thing, but when it’s the only movement your 

body knows, it gets tired and starts to rebel. Adding variety 

to your movement is an important way to distribute the 

workload. Yoga is a great way to get your body working better 

for the many contortions of gardening. Yoga scares many 

people off; they feel they have never been flexible and never 

will be. The truth is that if you do it, you will slowly be it. 

Take a walk through these photos with us and we will show 

you common gardening situations and the yoga poses that 

help to make it happen more comfortably, fluidly, and with less 

regret at the end of the day. If you don’t like the word yoga, 

substitute stretching and holding instead! Consider working 

in the sequence laid out here to ease your body into it. As with 

any exercise, modify them for your comfort and safety and 

consult your doctor or physical therapist if you have questions. 



|

Health 

1. 1a. 2. 2a. 3. 3a. 5. 6. 7. 8. 

1. Powerful pose (Utkatasana): Bend 

your knees lowering your buttocks 

toward the floor and behind your center 

of gravity. Tuck the tailbone under and 

keep the knees behind the toes. Your 

hands can be positioned straight out 

in front of you or for more challenge 

position them straight over head. 

1a. Simple variation: Lean your back 

against a wall and pull the pelvis under. 

Your feet should be positioned 12-18 

inches away from the wall. Slide down 

the wall into a chair position taking care 

to sit with the degree of bend that works 

for your strength and knee health. 

2. Downward facing dog (adho mukha 

svanasana): Start from your hands and 

knees. Pushing down into the floor lift 

your bottom up and back toward your 

feet. The arms press as if pushing away 

from your head and are completely 

elongated from the shoulder. 

2a. Modified downward facing dog: 

Use a sturdy armless chair or low table 

that will not slip. Place your hands on 

the chair’s sear, about shoulder-width 

apart. Walk slowly backward, allowing 

your spine to lengthen and your head 

to come between your upper arms. 

Hold for 15 to 30 seconds. To release, 

walk forward to the chair and bend 

your knees, keeping your spine long 

as you lift into an upright position. 

3. Forward bend (uttanasana): 

Exhaling, release your arms in wide 

arcs as you fold forward. Bend your 

knees if you feel pressure on your 

lower back, support your hands on 

blocks if they don’t reach the floor. 

Release your neck so that your head 

hangs heavily from your upper spine. 

3a. Simple variation: Sit in a chair and 

slowly curl your spine down from the 

top until you are draped over your legs. 

4. Rotated lateral angle (Parivritta 

Parsvakonasana): Place one foot up on a 

low chair and lean the pelvis forward in a 

lunge hinging at the hips. Turn through 

the abdomen and spine so that the elbow 

opposite the leg that is up rests on the 

outer knee. Press the knee into the elbow 

and the elbow into the knee to improve 

the trunk rotation. Keep the spine 

elongated. Press both palms together. 

5. Deep squat (malasana): Either balance 

or hold on to a fence post and squat as 

low as you can leaving the heels down 

for as long as you can. This will open the 

low back and stretch the heel cords. 

6. Pigeon pose (kapotasana): Bring 

your right shin forward so that your 

right foot is in front of your left hip and 

your right shin is nearly parallel to the 

front edge of a yoga mat. Flex your 

right foot. Stretch your left thigh back 

as you draw your left hip forward. If 

your right hip is off the floor then place 

a folded blanket under it for support. 

6a. Simple variation: Sit in a chair and 

be aware of both sitting bones being 

connected to the chair. Cross one leg 

on top of the other so that the ankle 

is connected just behind the opposite 

knee. Feel your outer hip and gluteals 

stretching. Lean your belly toward your 

legs and then fold your body forward. 

7. Gate pose (parighasana): Kneel with 

one foot forward as if you are proposing 

marriage. Turn the back leg so it forms 

a right angle to the front leg. Your 

abdomen and pelvis face out to the side. 

Lean toward your front leg bringing the 

hand down to the floor in front of the 

foot. Lift the back hand up to the sky. 

8. Cobra pose (Bhujangasana): Lay on 

your belly with your elbows bent and 

hands placed by the side of your chest. 

Elongate your tailbone toward your 

heels. Arch your spine back and lift your 

chest up, focusing on the upper back 

and using your hands for support. If you 

feel back pain you are lifting too far. 

8a. Cobra pose with a wall: (Modified 

Bhujangasana) Stand facing a wall 

at arms distance, with your feet hipwidth 

apart, and place both palms on 

the wall no higher than your shoulders. 

Step very slightly closer to the wall, so 

that your elbows bend a little. As you 

exhale, bend your legs, round your back, 

and look down. Then, as your inhale, 

straighten your legs and slowly arch 

your spine back. Try to arch primarily 

in the middle and upper back instead of 

in the lower back. Keeping your hips in 

line with your feet will help with this. 

8b. Wall push-ups: In the above position, 

bend your elbows to bring your body 

toward the wall. Keep elbows close to the 

ribcages. Don’t allow your back to arch. 



4.

TIPS FOR HEALTHIER GARDEnInG: 

1. Keep long handled pruners close to the body instead of reaching away too far to save shoulder 

tendons. If you cannot avoid this break up this task or bring the shears closer when you can. 

2. Stand and arch your back if you have been bending for long periods. 

3. Keep your wrists flexible to prevent elbow pain. 

4. Use good lifting practices. 

5. Transport heavier loads with a sturdy cart or wheelbarrow. 

6. Use light weight containers. 

7. Keep your tools sharp and clean. 

I marvel at how all types of people have adapted their methods and their gardens 

to be able to garden. A love of gardening spurs inventiveness in tools to help, and in 

ways to use your body. Here is a helpful link for ideas in adaptive gardening. 

8a. 9. 10. 

9. Tree pose (vrksasana): Shift your 

weight toward your left side. Bend 

right knee and reach down to grasp the 

ankle. Place the foot at the groin with 

the toes pointing down. Press the foot 

inward toward the groin. The pelvis 

should be centered over the stance 

leg. Bring hands together in front of 

your chest, or lift the arms to the sky. 

10. Tree pose variation: Stand near a 

wall for support. Shift your weight to 

one leg and place the other foot onto 

the calf with the knee pointing out. 

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11. Horse stance with Victory Goddess 

(deviasana): Stand with your feet 3 feet 

apart, both turned out, and bend your 

knees into a comfortable squat. Then, 

bend your elbows, inhale, and stretch 

your palms open so your thumbs touch 

your shoulders. Release jaw, face, and 

neck tension. Open your mouth, lift your 

eyebrows, stretch out your tongue, and 

waggle it, as you exhale forcefully with a 

sound for 10 seconds. Release, stand tall, 

and observe your body and mind. This 

pose has the added benefit of scaring 

away bunnies, crows, and neighbors! 

Jason C. Popp, M.D. 



11. 

All images were taken at 

Blumen Gardens in Sycamore

Garden 

Steve and Sue KiviKKo: 

a Honey 

of a BUSineSS 

By Renee Page 

“ 

A lot of people don’t understand bees,” 

said Sue Kivikko. “They are engaging 

little creatures. I examined 39 hives 

yesterday. They were the sweetest, 

gentlest bees ever. They were not 

interested in stinging me at all. They 

don’t perceive you as a threat unless 

you are threatening them.” 

Steve and Sue Kivikko are on a 

mission to bring the misunderstood 

honey bee back to the fore in 

Northern Illinois. They have started 

Northern Beekeepers, a group of 

hobbyist beekeepers who produce 

honey and beeswax products 

from north central Illinois. 

Steve first became interested in 

beekeeping as a child in 6th or 7th 

grade. His parents bought a house 

in Holcomb that had some old hives 

on the property. His baseball coach 

in Lindenwood, Ralph Pullin, was a 

beekeeper and Ralph came out and 

started taking care of the Kivikko 

family’s hives. “I used to stand back 

and watch, but he finally made 

me get in there and help. I used to 

ride with him and his son to take 

care of his hives,” Steve said. 

He said that Rockford had a lot of 

empty lots and Ralph would put his 

hives in some of those lots to help 

pollinate the crops. For instance, 

the land where Ingrassia Furniture 

now stands was once a squash 

field where Ralph kept hives. 

“It was a lot of fun. Beekeeping 

is a lot different now than it 

was then,” Steve said. 

After nearly 20 years out of the 

beekeeping business, Steve realized 

something: he hadn’t seen any 

honey bees for a long time. Sue 

asked him if he ever thought about 

keeping bees again. When they 

found out that their neighbors were 

moving and needed to sell their 

hives, the Kivikkos bought them and 

were back in the honey business. 

“Honey bees and bumble bees 

are the only creatures that do 

no damage or destruction to 

the environment. They have only 

a positive impact,” Sue said. 



Garden 

Honey bees, bumble bees, and butterflies 

are all pollinators. They are very efficient 

because their fuzzy bodies allow 

them to carry more of the pollen. 

Every hive has a queen, thousands of 

worker bees which are all female, and 

drones, the male bees. The queen lays 

eggs in comb in a rainbow pattern. They 

store pollen above that rainbow and 

the honey is stored above that. Honey 

bees make more than 12 times the 

honey they will need in their lifetime. 

A hive has two hive bodies at the bottom, 

topped by up to 10 “supers,” boxes that 

store the excess honey. A super full of 

honey can weigh up to 30 pounds; a full 

hive body can weigh up to 100 pounds. 

The worker bees all have jobs to do. 

There are bees that do the housekeeping 

to keep the hive clean, nurse bees to 

care for the young bees, construction 

bees, guard bees, and foragers. 

The drones do no work. Their only 

job is to eat honey and mate with the 

queen. Sue said the drones leave the 

hive in the early afternoon and hang 

out at the bee “watering hole,” and wait 

for the queen to fly by. Once a drone 

mates with the queen, the drone dies. 

While worker bees will always return 

to the same hive, drones are not as 

particular and will return to any hive. 

“Each hive has a different personality,” 

Steve said. The Kivikkos have between 

20 and 30 hives a year and they are 

located around the area. While they 

have several located on their farm near 

Esmond, they also have hives or apiaries 

in Lindenwood and Paynes Point. 

Sue added, “I opened up a hive on 

a chilly day. All the bees looked up 

at me and had their wings spread 

out to protect the brood. It’s so fun 

to watch them do what they do.” 

As we walked around the hives, the 

Kivikkos explained how each hive worked. 

It was a windy day and the worker 

bees were struggling to fly against the 

wind. Steve explained that the weather 

this year has had a somewhat negative 

effect on the bees. The harsh winter 

had caused some bees to die off and the 

long, wet spring had affected pollination, 

washing away the pollen before the bees 

could get to it. The strong winds also 

keep bees from reaching the pollen and 

blow the pollen away. These conditions 

don’t bode well for honey production. 

“It is a lot of work. The bees don’t work 

the same from year to year. Not every 

hive produces every year,” Sue said. 

The Kivikkos explained that there is a 

large demand for local honey, in part 

because of the local food movement 

that promotes good quality local foods. 

Honey is an almost perfect food. “Honey 

is the highest antioxidant food you can 

get,” Sue said. “Broccoli, dandelions, 

mint...their flowers contain the nectar 

that is as good for the bees as it is for 

us.” From that nectar, we get honey. 

The color and flavor of honey change with 

the flowers and the seasons. Sue handed 

me a spoonful of their current honey 

crop which was nearly clear in color 

and had a sweet, light flavor. She told 

me it was made of alfalfa and raspberry 

pollen. It was amazing! They also shared 

a bottle of last year’s clover honey and 

a tub of whipped honey. Both have a 

unique flavor and color all their own. 

“This area of Midwest makes the best 

honey in the world because of the 

variety of flowers and trees,” Sue said. 

The Kivikkos sell their honey to support 

their “bee habit,” they said. Their honey 

is sold at Grubsteakers, Headons, Salinas 

Chiropractic, and Cherry Valley Feed, 

to name a few area locations. Right 

now, most of the places are sold out. 

Still, they are concerned about 

the diminishing number of honey 

bees and other pollinators. 

“Our pollinators are in crisis. People 

keep honey bees but not bumble bees 

or butterflies. NIU is doing research 

around here to see which creatures 

are here and which aren’t.” 

the FactS 

About bees And Honey 

A typical strong colony 

consists of 50,000 bees. 

A honey bee will produce 

twice as much honey as she 

will consume in her lifetime. 

Honey is the only food 

that never rots. 

Honey bees have sophisticated 

communication system, 

second only to humans. 

Honey is naturally antibacterial 

and has been used as a dressing 

for wounds for thousands of years. 

Although honey bees are not 

native to America, our modern 

agriculture depends on honey bees. 

Drones cannot sting. 

Honey bees work for the 

good of the hive and will only 

sting to protect themselves 

or to defend their hive. 

Honey bees will range up to 

five miles to gather nectar. 

A queen will lay an average 

of 2,000 eggs per day. 

Steve believes that honey bees are losing 

numbers because of the globalization 

of the world. Just as the early colonists 

brought smallpox to America and 

infected the Native American, so bees are 

exposed to diseases they cannot fight. 

For instance, getting rid of dandelions 

is bad for the pollinator populations. 

“When I look around at the lawns 

and see lots of color, I see honey. 

When I see a pristine green lawn, I 

see empty gas cans,” Steve said. 



• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

•

Garden 

The agricultural activities of this 

region also have an influence on the 

honey bee population. “People are 

using more chemicals and getting rid 

of the weeds in their lawns and field,” 

Steve said. This harms the bees in a 

variety of ways, from ridding the area 

of the plants bees enjoy, like clover and 

catnip, to killing the bees outright. 

“I’m very fortunate. The farmers around 

me are very good about letting me know 

when they are going to spray. They know 

I am keeping bees,” Steve said. With 

warning, Steve can net his hives to keep 

the bees from leaving the farm and being 

affected by pesticides and herbicides. 

“I’m not opposed to spraying; I just 

need a heads up so I can protect 

my bees,” he continued. 

One way he is protecting his bees is 

through Driftwatch. Driftwatch is a 

website developed by Purdue University 

that allows Steve to register his apiaries 

so farmers and crop dusters can notify 

him and other beekeepers, organic 

farmers, or other sensitive crop farmers 

when chemicals are being applied. 

Beekeeping can be a fun hobby or a 

profitable business. For those interested 

in beekeeping, Steve recommends a 

beginning beekeeping class sponsored by 

the Byron Forest Preserve on the second 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

uSeS 

FoR Honey 

Honey is rich in antioxidants that are 

proven to bolster immune function. 

Honey can be substituted for 

half of the sugar in most recipes. 

According to Food Network chef 

Paula Deen, use ¾ cup honey for 

each 1 cup sugar and reduce other 

liquids by ¼ cup. 

A daily dose of 1 teaspoon of local 

honey a day can help hay fever 

sufferers reduce reactions to honey. 

For shiny hair, combine 1 teaspoon 

honey and 4 cups warm water for 

an after-shampoo leave-in rinse. 

Mix 2 teaspoons each of honey and 

milk for a soothing face mask. Rinse 

after 10 minutes. 

Sunday of every month (not including 

holidays.) He cautions that it takes a least 

a year to develop a productive hive. 

As you listen to Steve and Sue’s 

enthusiasm for their “hobby,” you can’t 

help but catch the fever. They can 

quote statistics and authors of various 

bee books and studies. And yet Steve 

says, “I don’t think we will ever know 

everything there is to know about 

bees.” My guess is that if anybody 

does, it will be Steve and Sue Kivikko. 

Have you thought about 

weight-loss surgery and just 

come up with more questions? 

Now is the time to nd out the answers to these and 

other questions about weight-loss surgery. Come join 

our Mercy Bariatric team for free and informative 

seminars. We'll talk about the procedure and help you 

answer all your questions. Plus, we'll have an insurance 

specialist on hand. 

MERCY BARIATRIC 

Weight Loss 

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To Find Out More Information 

About Upcoming Seminars 

call us at: 

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or visit us at: 

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Mercy Bariatric and Wellness Center 



Food 

30 

Men 

Who Cook: 

eat your heart out 

for eduCation 

By Renee Page 

Every non-profit organization looks for the ultimate fundraiser–an event that will earn 

enough money to support a project or budget. Lots of fundraisers sound good but 

don’t work as well in execution. Then there is 30 Men Who Cook, the popular yearly 

fundraiser for the Rochelle Township High School Education Foundation (RTHSEF). 

Now in its fifth year, 30 Men Who Cook 

is scheduled for September 17, from 

6 – 9 pm, at the Rochelle Airport. 

Board member Cathey Stoddard said, 

“I came onto the foundation board in 

2007. They had run several fundraisers. 

A good friend of mine was in charge 

of the 50 Men Who Cook fundraiser in 

DeKalb and she helped us set it up. The 

first year we raised about $9,000. We 

raised as much in that one fundraiser 

as the group had raised running several 

fundraisers a year. Now we only run 

the one fundraiser each year.” 

During the event, 28-30 chefs prepare 

dishes in one of four categories. For 

the price of $30 a plate ($35 at the 

door), diners can sample as many of 

the dishes as they can eat. They then 

vote for their favorite in five categories: 

appetizer, entrée, side dish, dessert, 

and best decorated booth. There is 

also a 50/50 raffle, prize raffle, and 

live music and dancing from 9 pm to 

midnight. The band Snydley Whiplash 

will donate their services for the music. 

“It is just so unique,” said Board member 

Amy Hayden. “It appeals to a wide 

variety of people from all age groups.” 

Cathey added, “We have different 

chefs from different walks of life so we 

bring in a lot of different people.” 

Board president Joe Hill said, “It’s really 

an amazing thing. With as bad as the 

economy is, last year was one of our 

best years. And it seems like there 

are always different people there.” 

Snydley Whiplash 

Joe admits he was skeptical when 

they first presented the idea of 30 Men 

Who Cook. “I just didn’t know if we 

would find enough people to come to 

the event. I was pleasantly surprised,” 

he said a bit sheepishly. Last year, 

more than 300 people attended. 

The event was originally held at the 

Rochelle Country Club, but its popularity 

forced the board to look for a larger 

location. The airport administrators 



Food 

approached the group about using the 

new hangar. After looking at the space, 

Amy said they knew they could use the 

space and allow the event to grow. 

The chefs take their job very seriously, 

coming up with flavorful dishes. Some are 

simple and some are elaborate. Joe said, 

“The first couple of years the decorations 

were very elaborate. But now it seems 

like the chefs are focusing more on their 

food and less on the decorations.” 

Male rivalry takes over and the trash 

talking during setup and during the 

dinner shows the guys are having a 

good time. When the heckling stops, the 

chefs buy each other a beer. Chefs get 

to sample each other’s work in a preevent 

reception. The board adds some 

fun to the reception by giving away 

funny awards for everything from being 

the last to arrive to kitchen calamities. 

“The men are really doing the 

cooking. There is a camaraderie and 

competitiveness among the chefs,” Amy 

said. Among the chefs that are signed 

up this year are Rep. Bob Pritchard, 

RTHS principal Travis McGuire, and 

local chiropractor, Dr. Tim Salinas. 

The chefs bring their own food and 

utensils; the foundation provides the 

paper products. Guest are handed a 

plate and ballot and are allowed to visit 

the booths, where sample sized servings 

are available. “You can really have one 

heck of a meal,” Joe said. “I was floored 

at how good the food was the first year.” 

Not everyone gets to every station. 

Popular stations have been known to 

run out of food. Organizers encourage 

chefs to prepare something that can 

be stretched if the event attracts 

more diners than expected. 

“It amazes me. People are still 

talking about the food days later,” 

Amy said. People are starting to 

come from all over the region as the 

reputation of the food grows. 

“The first year, a couple came in wearing 

chaps. They were riding their motorcycle 

through the area, saw the sign, and came 

in for dinner,” Cathey reminisced. They 

swore to come back the next year. 

“This is an event for anyone. The 

cost of the ticket is all you have to 

spend. You can participate in the 

raffles and silent auction or not. The 

amount you spend is up to you. And 

you don’t need to buy special clothes 

to come and join us,” Amy said. 

Planning for the event takes several 

months but it seems to be a labor 

of love for the Foundation board. 

When the evening is over and funds 

are counted, the board gets on with 

the best part of their job – awarding 

grants to RTHS teachers. 

The RTHSEF was formed in 1993 by Dr. Jerry Wilson 

and other visionaries who wanted to create a lasting 

source of funding to improve RTHS. Teachers submit 

grant proposals to the foundation for items to enhance 

their classroom or curriculum. Most are looking for 

larger scale items that the school budget can’t afford. 

Their first project was to renovate the Counseling Center 

in the old high school. Since then, they have funded the 

creation of the Foreign Language lab and bought items 

such as a stove for the Life Skills Class and a cooler for 

the Horticulture class. They have also bought items 

such as smart boards, computers, and e-readers. 

“If we can’t fund the entire request, we work with 

the teacher or department to figure out what the 

most important part is we can fund,” Joe said. 

Amy added, “Every department but two has 

benefitted from the foundation.” The two unfunded 

departments have never submitted requests. 

Most recently, the RTHSEF has partnered 

with the Rochelle Area Community 

Foundation to start an endowment fund. 

The RTHSEF put in $10,000 and received a 

matching grant from the RACF for $5,000. 

“This endowment will allow us to handle 

larger grants. It’s our way of looking down 

the road to prepare for the future,” Joe said. 

“Education is such an important part of this society. 

The foundation has made a large impact at the high 

school. It gives them another avenue to get the items 

they need when the state is in trouble,” Joe said. 

As a teacher in the elementary district, Amy 

said that it’s nice for teachers to get the thing 

they want or need to facilitate learning. 

Cathey said part of the grant process includes follow-up on 

the projects the foundation has funded. “The foundations 

impact on the students becomes so clear,” she said. 

The board members include Joe Hill, Cathey Stoddard, 

and Amy Hayden as well as Joel Thompson, Jared 

Thompson, Pam Draves, Jessica Hughes, Kathy 

Connor, Marilu Dougherty, Scott Mincemoyer, Sharon 

Duncan, and RTHS liaison, Dr. Liz Freeman. 

To help our students through the RTHSEF, eat 

your heart out at the 30 Men Who Cook. For more 

information, go to their website at http://rthsef.org. 



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People By Leah Shearer 

Organ 

transplants: 

Saving lives 

during loss 

One healthy organ can save a life. 

Unfortunately, there are many stories 

of people who die waiting for that 

organ. Making the decision to be 

an organ donor could transform the 

ending of those tragic stories. Death 

is a hard thing to think about. The 

death of a loved one is devastating. 

But understanding that you can help 

humanity even in death makes the 

thought more bearable. If you make 

the decision to be a donor, your legacy 

will live through the people you 

saved. Here are the stories of two local 

families who have lived through the 

agony of the life-changing decision. 

Kathleen Haas 

Kathleen Haas was the mother of six children and a wife of 

40 years. She lived in Rochelle her whole life and attended 

Rochelle Township High School. She worked at the Rochelle 

Wal-Mart for 17 years. She was known by her friends and 

family as a person of extreme generosity and compassion. 

Her daughter, Jodi Sage, remembers that she used to have 

only one pair of shoes. Jodi says, “She wore them to work, 

church, a restaurant, or wherever…to make sure there was 

enough money for her children to have what they needed. 

She was always taking in kids who needed a place stay. She 

loved her family with all her heart, and they loved her back.” 

Kathleen’s daughter, Katie Haas, says, “She taught us, ‘You 

always help family out. It doesn’t matter what comes up; 

family comes first.’” Kathleen Haas loved Disney and she 

loved Christmas. She valued hard work. She taught her 

family the importance of a caring about others. Kathleen 

loved people and family and life. 

In the spring of 2001, Kathleen became ill. She constantly 

felt fatigued and her blood pressure increased dramatically. 

After taking an ultrasound of her kidney, the doctors 

determined that she had Polycystic Kidney Disease; she 

would eventually need a transplant. In 2005, she began 

dialysis treatments. In 2009, she was placed on the waiting 

list. On May 30, she got a call about a possible deceased 

donor transplant. Kathleen went to the hospital and received a 

kidney transplant that night. Jodi remembers that she and her 

family were very excited about the transplant. She thought, “Mom 

is finally going to be better.” 

But Kathleen never felt great after the transplant. Soon, the family 

had to face the possibility that the problem was not Kathleen’s 

kidney. At the end of November, Kathleen became extremely ill. 

She was hospitalized for a month and the doctors told Kathleen 

she needed a new liver. Her condition was desperate and she 

was put at the top of the list. Doctors informed the Haas family 

that there was a two week window of opportunity in which 

Kathleen could recover. If she didn’t receive a transplant within 

that time, there wasn’t much hope for survival. The family prayed 

desperately. They knew that Kathleen was a fighter and believed 

there was hope for her to pull through. 

Then, on January 3, 2010, the family was told that a suitable liver 

had been found. The Haas family began to believe that their hope 

would be become reality. Doctors prepared Kathleen for surgery. 

Right before the surgery began, the operating surgeon inspected 

the liver he was going to use. He spotted signs of Cirrhosis and 

determined that the liver would not be healthy enough to support 

Kathleen’s body functions. The family was devastated. When 

Kathleen found out the liver didn’t work, she cried. Jodi says, “I 

think she knew that was her only shot.” Kathleen Haas passed 

away on January 11, 2010. The family now holds on to the legacy 

of Kathleen’s fierce love, compassion, and generosity. 

Kathleen Haas and her grandson 



People 

Adam J. Kemp 

Adam J. Kemp was born and raised 

in Rochelle. He loved being outdoors 

and he loved fishing. Adam was 

a New York Yankees fan. He was 

warm, friendly, and outgoing. 

His mother, Barb Kemp, remembers that 

he was “always surrounded by little ones 

wanting to play with him.” Before high 

school, he played little league baseball 

and Junior Tackle football. He continued 

playing baseball and football for Rochelle 

Township High School, where he graduated 

in 1997. After graduating, Adam decided to 

pursue his father’s occupation and worked 

for the Aurora Ironwork Apprenticeship 

Program. Adam’s family was proud of his 

accomplishments and loved him dearly. 

On October 3, 2003, Adam was the 

passenger in a single car accident. With 

serious injuries, Adam was rushed to 

Rochelle Community Hospital. From there, 

an emergency helicopter transported him 

to St. Anthony Hospital in Rockford. When 

the Kemp family was notified about the 

accident, they hurried to the hospital. 

Adam quickly slipped into a coma and 

the doctors informed the family that his 

physical state was dire; it would take 

a miracle for him to survive. Adam’s 

brother, Shawn Kemp, remembers that 

the support given by the community was 

“phenomenal.” Over 70 people gathered 

in the waiting rooms, showing their 

love for Adam and praying for the best. 

Adam fought for 19 hours but his injuries 

were too severe, causing his brain to 

hemorrhage. The doctors finally had to 

tell his friends and family that hope had 

faded. Adam’s body could continue to 

function only with the help of a machine. 

As the immediate family tried to absorb 

this devastating news, the doctors asked 

them to consider donating Adam’s organs. 

At first, Adam’s mother was hesitant. In a 

dazed state of grief, she worried that her 

son might feel pain if his organs were taken 

from him. But Shawn insisted, “Adam 

would have wanted it.” Once the process 

was explained more thoroughly to Barb, 

she made the difficult and selfless decision 

to donate her son’s organs and tissues. 

Friends and family grieved deeply over Adam’s death. At 

the funeral, family friend Ed Rice told the family, “The whole 

community of Rochelle is mourning over the loss of your son.” 

Adam’s death was tragic, but his legacy was powerful. He 

became a hero to many, even in death. His giving spirit 

persevered by saving the lives of many others. Because Adam’s 

organs were so healthy, showing no signs of drug or alcohol 

abuse, they were used to save and help over 65 people. 

Two young women can now see because they received corneal 

transplants from Adam’s eyes. Adam’s kidney and pancreas 

saved a woman who suffered from end stage kidney failure. 

His other kidney was given to a man who had suffered from 

diabetes for years. Adam’s liver saved a 54-year-old man who 

lived to walk his daughter down the aisle at her wedding. Adam’s 

tissue helped many recover from serious injuries and illnesses. 

Adam Kemp can never be replaced. His family and 

friends still miss him immensely and would give 

anything to have him back, but as his brother Shawn 

reflects, “To those people he’s a hero…it’s like he 

lives on through those people that he helped.” 

When Jodi Sage’s son, Taylor Isley, received the Adam Kemp 

Memorial Scholarship, she emailed Barb Kemp to thank 

her for making the decision to donate Adam’s organs. 

Jodi says, “I give my highest regards to 

anyone who is put in that position.” 

Jodi has felt the pain of losing a loved family member who 

didn’t receive a needed transplant. She knows that a healthy 

organ can be the difference between life and death. 

Since then, Jodi and Barb have kept in contact, informing 

each other when they hear an inspiring story about organ 

donation. Jodi feels that they are “connected” by their similar 

life experiences. Both Jodi and Barb are advocates of organ 

donation. They hope to raise awareness of the need for organ 

donors. They both believe that their cause can and will save 

many lives. 

To become an organ donor, visit 

www.lifegoeson.org. Click on the 

“Register Now” link; save lives. 



By Renee Page 

Health 

SMILE EXPRESS: 

Imagine sitting in your school desk with 

a nagging toothache. It feels like your 

whole face hurts, making it difficult to 

concentrate on the teacher’s words. 

Chewing is painful so you haven’t 

eaten; your stomach hurts with hunger 

pains. All you can focus on is the pain 

rolling through your body. You want 

to make it go away, but your parents 

can’t afford to take you to the dentist. 

The U.S. Public Health Service estimates 

that children lose nearly 51 million 

school hours because of dental-related 

illnesses. In Rochelle, Smile Express is 

working to bring dental care to our school 

children who are uninsured or rely on 

Medicaid for their health care issues. 

Smile Express is a group of local dental 

hygienists and school nurses who are 

partnering with Onsite Dental to bring 

dental care into Rochelle schools. They 

are passionate about their mission. 

Lincoln School Nurse Joelle Builta 

brought the problem of untreated dental 

issues to the attention of a group of 

interested parties including the former 

Community Action Network and Rochelle 

Community Hospital. Kathy Olson, one 

of the dental hygienists that works with 

Smile Express, said the two groups were 

investigating ways to get a mobile dental 

service here a couple of times a year. 

But Joelle and Kathy, along with 

nurse’s aide Michelle Rogers-Gittleson, 

hygienists Jeanie Jandak, Tracy Haan, 

Betsy Chandler, Jen Kissack, and Danielle 

Worley believed that Rochelle needed a 

program to provide more regular care. 

“Most mobile programs offer preventive 

care but not restorative care,” Kathy said. 

Restorative care includes filling cavities, 

pulling teeth, and baby root canals. 

Earlier this year, Dr. Jason Grinter 

started Onsite Dental, a mobile dentist 

service that can offer diagnostic 

and restorative dental services on 

location. Known as Dr. Jay, he had met 

Kathy during his association with the 

Milestone Dental Clinic and the Ronald 

McDonald Care Mobile in Rockford. 

Together, they realized that Dr. Jay had 

the ability to meet the needs of the 

children in Rochelle and they partnered 

together to hold a one-day clinic at 

Lincoln School in May. They view it as a 

pilot program for a long-term association 

with the Rochelle school districts. 

Dr. Jay and his assistant, Beth Krominga, 

brought his mobile dentist office to 

the school where Joelle and Michelle 

arranged for more than 30 children to 

see Dr. Jay for exams, x-rays, and dental 

care. Dr. Jay performed more than 184 

procedures from extractions to fillings. 

Dental health is left untreated for a variety 

of reasons. The chief reason is economic. 

Either parents don’t have dental 

insurance or are on Medicaid. There is 

no Medicaid dental provider in Rochelle 

so parents have to travel to Rockford 

or Dixon for treatment. This causes 

additional hardship because it may 

require a parent to take time off work. 

“The reality is, unless you are in 

significant pain, people avoid dental 

care. They aren’t going to take time off, 

Bringing Dental Care to 

Rochelle’s Children 

Jeanie Jandak, left, holds a patient's hand 

as Dr. Jay Grinter works with the assistance 

of Beth Krominga. 

Smile Express 

Helping Rochelle’s children one smile at a time 

spend money on gas, and go to Rockford 

or Dixon for dental care,” Dr. Jay said. 

What makes Smile Express a perfect 

solution is that Dr. Jay comes to the 

school, so children don’t lose much 

time from their studies and parents 

don’t have to take time off work. 

“The new buzz word in the dental 

industry is the concept of the ‘dental 

home.’ It’s outside the box to have a 

mobile dental home,” Kathy said. 

One reason bringing dental care to 

the school works is because children 

are comfortable at school, Kathy 

said. “They feel safe there. They 

perceive it as a safe setting so they 

feel comfortable and cared for.” 

Another reason that school is a good 

venue for dental care is that the 

parents don’t have to be present. 

“ 

Parents sometimes bring 

their own fears to the 

dental care situation. 

Kids pick up on those 

fears and it adds to the 

hysteria of dental care,” 

Dr. Jay said. “The school 

setting eases that.” 

The families that wanted to participate 

in the clinic signed permission 

slips for the children to be seen and 

treated by Dr. Jay. Joelle and Michelle 

coordinated the day with the school, 

setting up space in the school for 

exams and treatment. “During the 

clinics we are providing the children 

with oral hygiene instruction. We 

are teaching them the importance 

of dental hygiene, how to brush and 

floss, nutrition, and preventing tooth 

decay and gum disease,” Jen said. 



Health 

Left to right: Michelle Rogers-Gittleson, Jen Kissack, Kathy Olson, 

Jeanie Jandak, Dr. Jason Grinter, Tracy Haan, and Betsy Chandler 

As children were treated, they shared 

their treatment as a badge of honor. 

One child put his two pulled teeth 

in a little necklace around his neck. 

Siblings argued over who had the 

most impressive dental work done. 

One family with four children needed to 

turn in their paperwork. But the parents 

left for work early, before the children left 

for school, and the children had forgotten 

the paperwork at home. Knowing that 

the family needed dental care, one of 

the boys ran home as soon as school 

was out and got the paperwork, then 

ran back to school before the nurses 

left. “He knew how important it was 

that they get care,” Michelle said. 

“The parents were just so grateful for the 

opportunity to get dental care,” Jeanie 

Jandak said. She held students’ hands 

as the dentist went about his work, 

keeping them calm and offering support. 

“The kids were excited when they got back 

to their classrooms,” Tracy said. “School 

is the best way to do this. Parents don’t 

have to take time off work. Kids don’t 

lose much school time,” she continued. 

Dr. Jay pointed out, “Collaboration is 

the key. The school administrators were 

very supportive of the program and 

without that, we wouldn’t be here.” 

With the cooperation of the school district, 

Smile Express would like to expand to 

serve all the schools in Rochelle. They 

hope to raise funds to purchase some 

of their own equipment. By law, if the 

dentist writes the order for preventive care, 

hygienists provide that care while the 

dentist focuses on the restorative care. 

They could also use money to 

offer free care to children whose 

parents can’t afford dental care. 

Dr. Jay has long been interested in 

public health and has worked with the 

Ronald McDonald Care Mobile for 

several years. With Onsite Dental, he 

has taken his mission to the next level. 

“We have a goal that three-quarters 

of the kids we see will ultimately 

have a dental care plan,” he said. 

Dr. Jay said the reason he agreed 

to partner with Smile Express was 

“that there was a group of people 

here that really wanted to make this 

happen.” The Care Mobile visited the 

Rochelle Head Start program and Dr. 

Jay saw the need within the city. 

“I’m willing to come here because I know 

it’s going to be worthwhile,” he added. 

Dr. Jay said the Rochelle program 

is unique. “This is not really 

going on anywhere else. This is 

a community-driven program for 

restorative care,” he said. 

The hygienists stressed that the program 

is not designed to take business away 

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Providing Transportation to residents of all ages residing in Lee and Ogle Counties. 

TRANSPORTATION IS PROVIDED TO RESOURCES SUCH AS: 

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from the local dentists. Smile Express 

is trying to reach the people who aren’t 

getting dental care anywhere else. 

“These are people who aren’t getting 

dental care in the first place,” Jeanie 

said. In fact, the group would like to 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

More information is available from the school health office or by 

contacting the group at rochelle.smile.express@gmail.com or by 

contacting Dr. Jay at www.onsite-dental-services.com. 

Early tooth loss caused by dental decay can result in failure to thrive, 

impaired speech development,absence from and inability to concentrate 

in school, and reduced self-esteem. 

Children who take a test while they have a toothache are unlikely to score 

as well as children who are undistracted by pain. 

Poor oral health has been related to decreased school performance, poor 

social relationships, and less success later in life. Children experiencing 

pain are distracted and unable to concentrate on schoolwork. 

People who are missing teeth have to limit their food choices because of 

chewing problems, which may result in nutritionally inadequate diets. 

Children are often unable to verbalize their dental pain. 

From Oral Health and Learning: When Children’s Health Suffers, So Does Their Ability to Learn (2nd ed.) © 2003 by 

National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center, Georgetown University. 

develop relationships with area dentists 

for assistance with emergency care. 

Smile Express expects to run another 

clinic at Lincoln School in October and 

would like to add at least one other 

clinic at a Rochelle school this year.

Adventure 

Chicago Skydiving Center: 

A HigH in tHe SKy 

By Leah Shearer 

I push myself off the 

last step and enter the 

plane. It drones deep 

and loud. I straddle one 

of the two long benches 

that span the length of 

the plane’s interior. The 

last few people board 

and sit in front of me. 

A bearded man with a jump pack closes 

the clear door, sliding it from the ceiling 

to the floor. Then I look out the window 

and see the earth dropping quickly as we 

ascend. The green field that surrounded 

the plane becomes one of many small 

green and gold squares. The plane travels 

through a layer of thin cloud vapor, and the 

view takes on a majestic haze. I look down 

at the altimeter strapped to my wrist and 

see that we have reached about 7000 feet. 

I grab the bar above the window with 

my right hand, squeezing tightly as we 

continue to rise. We pass over herds of 

clouds and I can see their dimpled and 

curvy tops. Then I feel my instructor, 

Jackson, clipping my tandem harness 

to his. He adjusts several straps and 

attaches the bright orange ripcord handle. 

He casually wipes a smudge off my 

goggles and jokes about the last jumper 

sneezing during freefall, splattering the 

clear plastic. I laugh a little, pretending 

I’m just as calm. Then an instructor 

slides the side door open again. 

Cool air and excitement pour into the 

plane. Everyone exchanges high-fives, fist 

pumps, and excited yells. I see the people 

in front of me scoot to the end of the bench 

and then jump into bright blue air. I nod 

my head with determination and take a 

deep breath, ready to experience the sky. 



Adventure 

I hear Jackson laughing into my ear. “You 

have to let go of the bar,” he says. I look up 

at my whitened hand clenching it, laugh 

a little, and let go. We slide to the end of 

the bench and sit on the edge of the plane. 

My feet dangle over the edge. I look down 

and see the earth spread out, bending 

to meet the whitish blue of the horizon 

line. We rock forward once, then back, 

then we are falling into sunlight and sky. 

Air pushes against my skin, seeming 

to hold me up even as I near the 

earth. Jackson spins us a few times 

and blue whirls in front of my eyes. 

Then our videographer is right in 

front of me, reaching for my hand. 

We circle one another, connected by 

outstretched arms. We separate and 

continue the downward flight. 

I see Jackson’s hand in my face with one 

finger extended. I think, “That means 

‘PULL!’” I grab the orange handle at my 

hip and pull it away from my body. The 

parachute opens, I feel a slight jerk, and 

I am floating gently toward the ground. 

We drift for a few minutes, admiring the 

fertile Midwest landscape. Jackson gives 

me control of the steering toggles and 

tells me how to guide the parachute. I 

pull down with my right hand and the 

parachute veers right. I tug it back and 

forth a few times. Then he takes over 

as the ground draws near. He pulls the 

parachute gently, shifting positions until 

we are squared up for a landing. We 

are swooping toward the ground. I hear 

Jackson yell, “Now!” I lift my feet out in 

front of me and the heels of my shoes slide 

across the grass until he tells me to stand. 

Then I am on my feet again. I look up at 

the sky, take a deep breath, and smile. 

From the moment I opened the car door 

and stepped onto the gravel parking 

lot at Chicagoland Skydiving Center, 

I could feel the buzz of anticipation. 

The place seemed to be in a constant 

state of excitement. People walked 

around exchanging animated stories 

of past jumps and enthusiastic 

comments about the perfect weather. 

During the 20 minute pre-dive class, 

the instructor kept my small class 

laughing at his antics and expressions 

as he thoroughly explained the 

process. I learned that I was about 

to participate in something called 

tandem skydiving. I would be securely 

attached to an experienced instructor 

who would talk me through the process 

both before and during the dive. 

After completing the course, I felt a 

sense of companionship with the other 

jumpers. Eyes bright with understanding, 

instructors would ask me how I was 

feeling about my first jump. With an 

unwanted tremble in my voice, I say 

something like, “Well, to be honest, 

I’m pretty nervous.” I would usually 

get a chuckle or a slap on the back 

and some reassuring words. Everyone 

seemed to share the experience with 

me and enjoy it as much as I did. 

I soon learned that I would be diving with 

a very capable instructor, Steve Jackson, 

who is a globally rated skydiving instructor 

and coach. He is also a commercial airline 

transport pilot and a former member of 

British Skydiving Competition Team. 

He has made over 16,000 skydives. 

Jackson is just one of the many qualified 

instructors on the CSC staff. While the 

United States Parachute Association 

requires divers to jump 500 times 

before they can become tandem 

instructors, every instructor at CSC 

can boast of at least 5000 jumps and 

most have multiple certifications. 

I also learned that each diving pack has 

two parachutes: one that opens when the 

diver pulls the ripcord, and a backup that 

automatically deploys when it senses the 

diver is free falling too close to the ground. 

Douglas Smith, the current owner of 

the center, gave me further details 

about skydiving and CSC. In 1968, the 

center started as a small skydiving 

club in Hinckley. Skydiving was 

then a much different sport than it 

is today. Doug called it “an unknown 

sport,” usually involving ex-military 

men using surplus military gear. 

Then in the late 1970s and early 

1980s, tandem skydiving emerged 

as a mainstream variety of the sport, 

transforming its image. Like me, 

many inexperienced people now had 

access to skydiving and could jump 

with an experienced professional. 

As the sport became more popular, 

companies continued to create more 

efficient gear. Doug says that today 

“the sport has evolved so much 

that the equipment never fails.” 



Adventure 

Doug took his first dive in 1994, and he loved it. He told me, 

“It is really a feeling of flight.” Six years later he bought the 

Hinckley Skydiving Club and began to make improvements. 

Wanting the company to grow in a hub of commerce, he 

moved the center to Rochelle and opened on April 1. 

The center is located just south of town right next to the 

airport. So far, it consists of a gravel road and parking lot, 

two buildings, and a large tent, but Doug intends to build 

an 18,000 square foot facility complete with a hanger for the 

airplanes, a restaurant and bar, welcome center, retail space, 

conference rooms, shower rooms, and team rooms. He says, 

“It’s going to be world class. There really isn’t another skydiving 

center out there that can offer what we are going to offer.” 

CSC uses and will continue to use local labor for their major 

renovation project. Doug told me, “It’s something I am proud 

of; we’re trying to make a statement to community that we 

want to work with them. We want to keep the money local.” 

CSC is currently involved in many aspects of skydiving. They 

have a team that explores skydiving forms such as free flying 

and belly diving. When belly diving, the team members fall 

in a belly-to-earth orientation and create different formations 

together. Free flying allows for more personal creativity as divers 

experiment with body positions during freefall. CSC also 

has several competitors in the division of canopy piloting, 

in which the divers execute stunts with their parachutes 

deployed. These divers also land at incredibly high speeds, 

often sliding across the ground at 70-80 miles per hour. 

Doug said that CSC is already established as “one of the 

most highly regarded skydiving operations in the world.” 

CSC hosts approximately 40,000 jumps per season. People 

travel from such places as Australia, Finland, Mexico, 

Canada, Brazil, and New Zealand to jump here. This 

summer, three young men from New Zealand purchased 

CSC’s PROpass which allows them unlimited jumps for 

the whole season. They live in Rochelle for the summer 

months, skydiving as many times as they can fit in a 

day. Doug says, “They treat it like a full time job.” 

When I tell people how much I enjoyed my jump, the 

skeptics typically give me a quizzical look, one eyebrow 

raised. “Then tell me this,” they say, “would you 

honestly do it again?” If you happen to be one of those 

questioners, let me put your over-extended brow to rest 

and answer definitively once and for all: “Yes, I will.” 

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Sports 

Don’t miss issue. 

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Our free distribution will continue, but if you live outside our direct 

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is... 

Sameer Jain, MD, is a Family Medicine physician with the KSB Hospital Medical 

Group. His practice is located in the Ashton Clinic. 

In 2009, Dr. Jain completed his medical training at KSB Hospital, graduating from 

the University of Illinois at Rockford-Dixon Rural Training Track Family Medicine 

Residency program. He previously obtained a Master’s degree in Public Health 

from Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, and graduated from the Government 

Medical College, Nagpur, India. 

Dr. Jain’s specialty is Family Medicine, with a focus on public health and 

preventive medicine. He is board certified by the American Board of Family 

Medicine. 

Dr. Jain is accepting new patients at the Ashton Clinic. For an appointment phone 

815-453-1212.

Business 

Rochelle 

Community 

Hospital 

Auxiliary: 

Giving Back to 

the Community 

By Renee Page 

When you walk into the main entrance of Rochelle 

Community Hospital, you see the gift shop directly in 

front of you.The bright colors and unique items catch 

your attention through the glass windows. 

The shop attendant greets you with 

a smile and offers to help. You’ve 

just seen the Rochelle Community 

Hospital Auxiliary at work. 

The Rochelle Hospital Board authorized 

the organization of the Rochelle Hospital 

Women’s Auxiliary in 1946, starting with 

nine board members. Sixty-five years 

later, the group of more than 200 members 

is still actively supporting the hospital 

in its mission to serve the community. 

According to a history written by Sue 

Armstrong, membership in the early 

years was by invitation only. By 1957, 

membership was opened to all women 

in the community. Today, anyone 

who pays the $10 yearly membership 

fee or $150 lifetime membership fee, 

male or female, is welcome to join. 

The Auxiliary has two main purposes: 

to raise funds for hospital improvements 

and scholarships and to use volunteers 

to provide services for the hospital. 

According to Sue Armstrong, the 

Auxiliary is dedicated “to the service and 

comfort of patients and the hospital.” 

Long-time member Jeanne May showed 

off her pink lab coat, a remnant from 

the days when Auxiliary members were 

called the Pink Ladies. She said that 

volunteers filled a number of roles in the 

early years of the hospital, from running 

the switchboards to sewing rugs and 

mending sheets. They served coffee 

to the patients’ relatives and friends, 

delivered mail, and controlled visitation. 

Both Jeanne and Sue Armstrong talked 

about the Sewing Committee. Twenty 

women met each month in the Auxiliary 

room in the hospital basement to sew 

crib sheets, gowns, baby jackets, 

towels, and assorted surgical wraps. 

“They mended sheets, gowns, 

and surgical garb when it came 

from the laundry,” Sue noted. 

Jeanne said the women brought in their 

own sewing machines and worked 

for endless hours on their projects. 

With the move toward plastics and 

disposable items, the Sewing Committee 

eventually became unnecessary. 

While the Auxiliary’s active role in the 

hospital is focused on running the gift 

shop, manning the lab reception desk, 

and giving Happy Hospital tours to school 

children, the volunteers have taken on a 

much more active role in fundraising. 

In 1970, when the new addition was 

added to the hospital, it included an area 

for a gift shop. Jeanne May, long-time 

hospital board member, was appointed 

to be the first gift shop manager. 

She appointed a committee to assist 

with getting the shop underway. 

The gift shop is the primary means of 

raising funds. Currently managed by 

Geneva Brune, the gift shop carries 

jewelry, scarves, purses, sandals, gifts, 

garden items, greeting cards and 

holiday items at reasonable prices. 

Geneva has managed the gift shop 

for more than ten years. “We are the 

hospital’s best kept secret,” she laughs. 

In addition to retail merchandise, the 

gift shop sells items made by volunteers 

including soft afghans and other knitted 

goods. “One of the hospital employees 

has recently supplied us with a bag that 

attaches to a walker or wheelchair to 

help the user carry items,” Geneva said. 

Board members complimented Geneva 

on how she runs the shop, noting that 

she changes the merchandise around 

often and adds new merchandise 

regularly. “There are several very 

creative ladies who do the displays 

in the gift shop as well as displays 

around the hospital,” Geneva added, 

giving credit to her volunteers. 

Auxiliary president Chris Willis 

said, “People are always stopping 

in to see what’s new.” 

54 Rochelle InVironments Magazine • August-September June-July 2011 2011 


Business 

The gift shop coordinates the annual 

hospital bazaar, scheduled for October 

21 this year. The Auxiliary holds a 

bake sale with coffee hour, and a 

large variety of gifts for Christmas 

including some handmade items at 

the First Presbyterian Church. In the 

spring, the shop also oversees the 

annual garage sale which sells items 

donated by auxiliary members, hospital 

employees, and community patrons. 

Chris said, “The gift shop is staffed 

entirely by volunteers, including 

the manager, so all the money 

raised by the gift shop goes back 

to projects within the hospital.” 

In addition to the gift shop, the 

Auxiliary oversees the Memorial Fund 

which includes family memorials and 

other earmarked donations to the 

hospital. Money from the Memorial 

Fund was recently used to renovate 

the lab. Through the years, Auxiliary 

funds have contributed to a long list 

of hospital needs. Some of the more 

recent purchases include: recliners for 

the new Infusion Room, a new picnic 

table for the front entrance, and other 

needed equipment. The Auxiliary is 

currently paying for the renovation 

of the Meditation Room, adding new 

furniture, drapes, and paint. “We want 

to make it a more peaceful area,” said 

Memorial Fund Chair Sue Felker. 

Names of donors are engraved on the 

“Tree of Life,” located across the hall from 

the elevators. This beautiful sculpture 

boasts a leaf for each $1,000 donation, 

small stones for $2,500 donations and 

large stones for $5,000 donations. 

Annually, the Auxiliary grants six $1,000 

scholarships to students entering the 

health profession from their fundraising 

efforts. The estate of Ward A. and Mabel 

T. Miller funds one of the scholarships 

as does the Marie Hayes Kelley Nursing 

Award, donated by the Kelley Trust 

Fund from St. Patrick’s Church. 

Through its fundraisers, the Auxiliary has 

made major contributions to the hospital. 

“We gave $75,000 to the capital campaign 

for the emergency room renovation,” 

Carol Elliott said. Geneva laughed, 

“When they said $75,000, our jaws 

dropped to the ground but we did it.” 

All monies the Auxiliary raises are given 

back to the hospital to provide the best in 

patient care. The Auxiliary has purchased 

televisions for patient rooms, bought 

patient beds, an ophthalmology chair for 

surgery, and a refrigerator for the kitchen. 

The Auxiliary was also instrumental 

in the refurbishment of the old wing of 

the hospital when the new wing was 

added, according to Sue Armstrong. 

Auxiliary volunteers spend more 

than 3,000 hours a year working for 

the betterment of the hospital. The 

volunteers are treated to a volunteer 

appreciation brunch given by the 

hospital administration each year as 

well as an annual Christmas Tea. 

On a statewide level, the RCH Auxiliary 

was the recipient of the coveted “Hospital 

Constituency Health Care Advocacy 

Award” in the past fiscal year. This 

Auxiliary was one of 27 auxiliaries in the 

State of Illinois to receive the award. 

Chris said, “We have a good 

working relationship between the 

auxiliary and the hospital staff.” The 

Auxiliary has a hospital liaison, 

who works with the volunteers. 

One thing the volunteers all have in 

common is respect for the hospital. 

Many volunteers are former hospital 

employees. “I worked here as a nurse. 

This is a way I can stay involved 

with the hospital,” Geneva said. 

“We are very lucky to have this hospital. I 

worked here for 12 years and I have a love 

for it. This community is very fortunate 

to have the hospital,” Sue Felker said. 

Chris added, “It’s rewarding to 

see what we’ve contributed to 

such a worthy organization. You 

get back more than you give.” 

It’s that generosity of spirit that 

makes the Rochelle Community 

Hospital Auxiliary such a vital part 

of the Rochelle community. 

Gift Shop hourS: 

Mon-Wed-thu 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 

tue & fri 8 a.m.-4 p.m. 

Sat 9 a.m.-12 noon 

upcoming Events: 

Saturday, October 1 – GermanFest at 

Rochelle Country Club, 6:00 p.m. 

Friday, October 21 – Holiday Bazaar 

and Bake Sale at First Presbyterian 

Church, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. 



Left to right: 

Sue Felker, 

Jeanne May, 

Carol Elliott, 

Chris Willis, and 

Geneva Brune

By Renee Page 

Education 

St. Paul Lutheran School: Celebrating 

50 years of Christian education 

On August 31, 1961, Betty Metzger taught the first kindergarten class at the new St. Paul 

Lutheran School. She had 11 students in her class, the only class in the school. 

Today, the school serves nearly 200 

children from pre-school through 

eighth grade and stands as the only 

parochial school in Ogle County. 

St. Paul Lutheran Church first started its 

Christian day school in 1919 but closed 

it in 1934 due to lack of enrollment. The 

school was reinstated in 1961 with 

classrooms added on to the church in 

1964. Some church members thought 

the school wouldn’t last long but figured 

the rooms could be put to use for Sunday 

school. How wrong the skeptics were… 

What has developed over 50 years is a school 

environment that is safe, happy, exhilarating, 

and, yes, loving. Whether you talk to 

alumni or current students they all describe 

the school environment as “a family.” 

Current principal Daryl Kruse said it’s 

typical for Missouri Synod Lutheran 

churches to start schools and their 

school system is second only to the 

Catholic churches in size. “The church 

wanted to have a place where children 

could received their basic of education 

and also learn about God so they 

could grow in their faith,” he said. 

Daryl said the school must meet the 

same requirements as public schools. 

“The main difference is the overall 

Christian environment. It’s a more 

loving environment. The children 

feel comfortable with each other. 

This helps the children to excel.” 

Lori Wallace, teacher and admissions 

director, said, “The school has a 

family atmosphere. They form family 

bonds. The students are all very 

close by the time they graduate.” 

In the past, grades were combined to 

make large enough classes but enrollment 

has grown to the point that this past 

school year is the last one where there 

is a combined class. Starting next year, 

each grade will have its own classroom. 

Alumna Dean Wren said that during 

his days at St. Paul, everyone in the 

class spent time together both at school 

and after school. “We didn’t have a 

lot of outside friends except from our 

neighborhood,” he said. Lori added 

that the kids all still go home with each 

other and hang out together but they 

do have more interaction with children 

outside the St. Paul school system. 

“There are a lot of opportunities for our 

kids. We have sports programs beginning 

in the fourth grade, which is earlier 

than the public school system,” Lori 

said. These activities give the St. Paul 

students a chance to socialize with other 

children in the public school system. 

Because the classes are small, 

Kindergarten teacher Patricia Kruse says 

the teachers get to know the students 

and their families well which leads to 

the closeness everyone feels. Recent 

graduate Lauren Murphy said she enjoyed 

the smaller classes and the individual 

attention she got in the school. 

Daryl pointed out that the school uses 

the same textbook publishers the 

public schools use with the addition 

of religious education. “We use the 

same curriculum, but we set higher 

expectations for their performance. 

When the expectations are higher, the 

students rise to meet them,” he said. 

In the earlier days of the school, they 

weren’t always able to offer classes 

in practical skills like typing, but now 

the school is able to offer the current 

technology as well as the public schools. 

Daryl said the school has a lot of 

technology from smartboards to laptops 

available in most of the classroom. 

The computers allow the students to 

be more productive in their work. 

Most of the students at St. Paul feed 

into Rochelle Township High School. 

Lori said the students are more than 

prepared when they step into the high 

school for the first time. “They are just 

a very involved group of kids when they 

get to the high school,” she said. “We 

get a lot of compliments from the high 

school teachers on our students.” 

Lauren will be a freshman at RTHS 

this year and she said she felt very 

prepared for entering the public school 

system. Since the sports programs at 

St. Paul play against the Rochelle public 

schools, she feels she already knows 

a lot of the people that she will join at 

RTHS. Rebecca Scheid, another 2011 

St. Paul graduate, said she feels a little 

more nervous since she will be entering 

Mendota High School but she feels 

prepared for the classroom experiences. 

Both Lauren and Rebecca pointed out 

that everything is different socially at 

St. Paul as opposed to public schools. 

“Our conversations are so different,” 

Rebecca said. “Our words are different. 

We don’t use swear words.” 

Lauren added, “Our beliefs come 

through in our actions and our words.” 

The students aren’t the only ones 

who feel the “family” bond. The 

teachers also feel a strong bond to 

each other and to their students. 

“A big reason for the support we get 

for our school is the dedication of the 

teachers,” Daryl said. “They are willing 

to go above and beyond by staying after 

school to help students who are having 

trouble or by working on extracurricular 

activities. They are willing to do all 

that for salaries that are less than what 

they can make in the public school 

system. It’s been a consistent theme 

throughout the lifetime of the school.” 



Education 

Dean added, “We had excellent teachers. 

Gary Pawlitz (St. Paul teacher from 

1968 -1974) wasn’t just our teacher. 

He let us see the kid in him.” 

The teachers at St. Paul are free to 

use their imagination to bring their 

subjects to life. Lori pointed out that 

Patricia has been known to transform 

her classroom into an undersea world 

complete with “fish” hanging from the 

ceiling or have children bring in their 

bicycles for a transportation lesson. 

In addition, the school emphasizes 

giving back. Several of the classes get 

involved in philanthropic activities. 

For instance, Lori takes her class to 

TAILS, an animal shelter in DeKalb, 

to volunteer. The fifth through eighth 

graders volunteer at Feed My Starving 

Children in Aurora, an organization that 

packs and sends meals to malnourished 

children in other countries. The younger 

children have collected non-perishables 

to send to soldiers overseas and coats, 

hats, and mittens for needy children. 

Another project allows students to 

donate their own money (not money from 

parents but money they have earned) 

to go shopping and buy Christmas 

gifts for children living in the HOPE 

domestic violence shelter in Rochelle. 

“We try to be a positive part of the 

community. We know we need to reach 

out to the community; we can’t just stay 

in our own little cluster,” Lori said. 

The school currently employs 11 teachers, 

a part-time music teacher, a part-time art 

teacher, and two part-time secretaries. 

As the enrollment has grown, so has 

the school building. In 1999, the school 

added five classrooms to enable the 

enrollment to continue to expand. 

First grade teacher Cindy Mallory finds 

joy in the fact that students want to 

come back and visit, as they often do 

during breaks. “In the first grade, I 

wonder what this little person is going 

to turn out like. Then they grow up and 

come back to visit. I’m glad to have 

had a chance to be part of their lives.” 

She added that the students in her very 

first class are now college graduates. 

From the alumni point of view, Dean said, 

“You don’t forget the people you met here 

or the closeness of the people. Long after 

you leave, you still remember them.” He 

has created a Facebook page for St. Paul 

alumni, teachers, and administrators 

to help those memories stay alive. 

Daryl said one of the reasons for the 

school’s success is the support of the 

congregation and the community. 

“The congregation has always been very 

supportive. Members look at the school as 

one of its main ministries. They provide 

us with monetary support so we can 

keep tuition low,” he said. He told of a 

parent from a neighboring community 

who told him that St. Paul’s tuition was 

the lowest they could find in the area. 

Daryl continued by saying, “The 

community has always been supportive. 

The high school supports us as a 

feeder school and the elementary 

district often invites our teachers 

to training sessions and institutes.” 

He said St. Paul is included in the 

District 231 hot lunch program. 

Another support system for the 

school is the parents. “Throughout 

the years, parents have played a 

huge role in the development of the 

school, from acting as carpenters and 

repairmen to chauffeurs for school 

events,” alumna Wendy Horn said. 

“Lots of parents get involved 

as volunteers,” Daryl said. 

The school celebrates its anniversary 

on August 21 at a special Sunday 

morning service that will include visits 

from past principals and teachers. An 

alumni reunion will follow the service 

and celebration luncheon at noon. They 

also plan to have a float in the Lincoln 

Highway Heritage Festival that afternoon. 

As the teachers, students, and alumni 

discuss their school, it is clear that 

St. Paul is no ordinary elementary 

school. The love and affection they 

have for each other comes through 

in every statement and glance. 

As Lori said, “I love when the kids show 

their love for you. I love being part of 

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Groups for Depression - Anger Management - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy 

To schedule your 

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or to learn more 

please call 

or visit us 

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• Dr. Diana Kraft, Psychiatry 

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• Dr. Thomas Dennison, Psychiatry 

(Patients 18 and older , Sycamore/Sandwich locations) 

• Licensed Therapists (Sycamore/Sandwich locations) 

760 Foxpointe Drive, Sycamore 

815.748.8334 

their life. You get to know them so closely 

that it is hard to let them go when they 

graduate. It’s more than education. It’s the 

listening and learning from the students.” 

Wendy probably puts it best. “I bet… 

if you ask any student who ever 

went to St. Paul they would probably 

tell you that they wouldn’t have 

wanted to go to any other school.” 

For 50 years, St. Paul Lutheran School 

has been providing a loving Christian 

learning environment for students from 

several communities, from diverse 

religious backgrounds, and from various 

economic levels. And God willing, 

they will be around for 50 more years. 

1310 North Main Street, Sandwich 

815.786.3764 

www.kishhealthcounseling.org

MORE ACTIVE. LESS LIMITS. 

Traveling out 

of state to 

see family. 

Playing with the 

grandkids every 

chance I get. 

The latest technique 

is customizing your 

new knee using MRI. 

Learn more from 

Dr. Rajeev Jain 

Wednesday, 

July 27 6:30 p.m. 

Roberts Conference Center 

at Kish Hospital 

Dinner provided. Space is 

limited. To register, call 

815.756.1521 

x153316 

Golng with 

my wife 

and friends. 

Joe LoCascio 

DeKalb 

INTRODUCING a new hospital program just for our knee and 

hip replacement patients. A place for education, surgery, recovery and rehabilitation. 

Our goal is to get you back to your favorite activities as soon as possible. 

Learn more about the program and read comments from Joe and other patients at 

www.kishjointcenter.org 

or call 815.756.1521 x153316. 



Events 

August 

19-21 – LiNCOLN HiGHWAy HERiTagE fEsTIvaL 

Downtown Rochelle. Celebrate our transportation 

heritage in this fun three-day festival. Activities are 

located throughout the city. 

20 – CRESTON BOOSTER CLuB PLAy DAy 

10 a.m., Rochelle Country Club. Proceeds to benefit 

the renovation of the Creston Opera House. Call or 

email Deanna Forrest at 815-384-5555 or 

forrestdeanna@hotmail.com. 

REGuLARLy SCHEDuLED MEETiNGS 

TuEsDays 

Rochelle Rotary Club Meeting 

Noon. Rochelle Country Club. 

WEDNEsDays 

Rochelle Kiwanis Club Meeting 

12:15 p.m., Abraham’s. 

THuRsDays 

Rochelle Golden K Breakfast Meeting 

8:15 a.m., Rochelle Country Club 

Rochelle Lions Club Meeting 

6:30 p.m. dinner, 7:15 p.m. meeting, Rochelle Country 

Club (2nd and 4th Thursdays, January – October; 1st 

and 3rd Thursdays in November and December) 

EDiTOR’S NOTE: Want to see your event in the calendar? 

Email the name, date, time, and location along with a short 

description to renee@invironmentsmag.com. Please send 

events for October 20 – December 20 by September 10. 

September 

9 – RTHS ATHLETiC HALL OF FAME iNDuCTiON 

Class of 2011 Inductees include: Kristy Pence, tennis; Chet 

Ellis, former football coach and athletic director; Bruce 

Miller, football/wrestling; Malcolm Milligan, wrestling; Oscar 

Whitlock, a 1930s era standout and cousin of RTHS football 

great Elzie Cooper; and Kyle Zick, football, basketball and 

now coaching high school ball. 

10 – HiSPANiC HERiTAGE FESTivAL 

3 – 10 p.m., Atwood Park. Celebrate Rochelle’s Hispanic culture. 

12-13 – AuDiTiONS FOR vCCT’S PRODuCTiON OF 

thE Diary of annE frank 

7-9 p.m., Paddock Hall, Hickory Grove Civic Center. Looking 

for five males (one teen), five females (one teen), four extras. 

The play is scheduled for early March. For information, email 

Ross Freier, rsfreier@rochelle.net. 

17 – 30 MEN WHO COOK 

6 – 9 p.m., dinner; 9 p.m. – midnight, music and dancing to 

Snydley Whiplash. Rochelle Airport. Local male chefs prepare 

a variety of dishes to raise funds for the Rochelle Township 

High School Education Foundation. Tickets are $30 in 

advance, $35 at the door. 

29 – RTHS HOMECOMiNG PARADE 

6 p.m., kick-off from City Hall. Homecoming coronation 

at 7 p.m. in the RTHS gymnasium. 

October 

1-2 – AuTuMN ON PARADE. DOWNTOWN OREGON 

A variety of free entertainment, activities, and events to 

celebrate autumn in Ogle County. For information, see 

the website, www.autumnonparade.org. 

6 – RTHS PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES 

12:30 - 4 p.m. and 6 - 8 p.m. 

31 – FAmILy TRICk OR TREaTINg 

2 – 5 p.m. Downtown Rochelle. Families are encouraged 

to dress up and visit the downtown businesses during 

the afternoon for this free and fun event. Businesses 

that are participating will be clearly marked with a 

pumpkin in the window with a DRA on it, to show their 

Downtown Rochelle Association Membership, as well 

as a few non-members who are involved in our event. 

Parents must accompany their children. 

A1 Hot Body Detailing 

Call to set up 

an appointment 

815-562-6393 

leeann-angel@hotmail.com 

903 South 7th St., Rochelle 

King Arthur didn’t clean his castle, why should you? 

CASTLE CLEANERS 

Residential & Commercial Cleaning in 

Rochelle and Surrounding Areas. 

Contact Tina for free estimates 

815-566-2826 

We guarantee to offer the lowest prices. 

If you receive a written estimate from 

our competitors, we will beat it! 

Door dings • Hail damage • Minor dents 

SUPERIOR DENT SERVICES 

www.superiordentservices.com 

Richard Smith 

President 

Performing the fine art of 

paintless dent removal 

(815) 762-8969 



Best of 

BEST 

AUTO MEChAniC/ 

SERViCE CEnTER 

MedCare 

Health Center 

MedCare would like to thank 

the community for voting 

dr. cass 

“Best of Rochelle”. 

BEST 

ChiROpRACTOR 

“i appreciate everyone who voted me Best of 

Rochelle. The success of my practice has always 

hinged on my patients’ loyalty. Thanks for 

making me part of your healthcare team.” 

Dr. Cass Headon DC 

Rochelle 

CAST YOUR VOTE TODAY! 

www.inrochelle.com/favorites 

www.inrochelle.com 



68 

Rochelle InVironments Magazine • August-September 2011

Issue 6 - InVironments Magazine

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