Issue 6 - InVironments Magazine

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
8 Rochelle InVironments Magazine • August-September 2011
Where life happens. 9