Oregon-Mt. Morris Beat
www.oglecountynews.com
School’s Science Fair is Saturday at the BHC Oregon Community Unit School District will hold its 14th annual Science Fair on Saturday, March 15 at the Blackhawk Center. All kindergarten through sixth grade students at Oregon Elementary School are invited to participate. Students should check their projects into the fair on Friday, March 14 between 5 and 6:30 p.m. or Saturday, March 15 between 7:30 and 8:15 a.m. Judging will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m.
FFA toy show a hit By Chris Johnson Reporter Hundreds of farm toy enthusiasts and craft show hunters descended on Forreston Junior/Senior High School March 8 for the annual FFA Farm Toy Show and Craft Fair. Shoppers were browsing a wide variety of home-made items in the craft fair and new and used toys at the toy show. “The show was extremely well-attended,� said Forreston FFA Advisor Robert Nelson. “Both parking lots were full and I don’t think the weather hurt our attendance at all. I think with the harsh winter, people wanted to get out of the house for awhile.� The toy show proceeds support the Ag Department and FFA programs at Forreston High School. Organizers are still calculating Gary Hess, Byron, examines a toy truck and trailer Saturday morning at the the exact turnout and money Forreston FFA Toy Show. Photo by Chris Johnson raised from the event.
The community is invited to come at 11 a.m. to see what the elementary students have accomplished. An Awards Ceremony will follow the judging. Interest forms can be printed from the Etnyre Wing website at https://www. edline.net/pages/Etnyre. Parents may also contact Pam Steele at Oregon Elementary-Etnyre 815-7322181 ext. 1541 or psteele@ ocusd.net.
Church blood drive will be on March 18 The Oregon United Methodist Church and St. Paul Lutheran Church will host a community blood drive on Tuesday, March 18 from 2 to 7 p.m. Staff from the Rock River Valley Blood Center will be at the Family Life Center at the Oregon United Methodist Church, 200 S. Fourth St., Oregon. Anyone who is at least 17 years old (16 years old with parental consent), weighs at least 110 pounds, is in general good health and haven’t donated blood in eight weeks, should be eligible to donate blood. The Rock River Valley Blood center is the sole
supplier of blood and related services to OSF St. Anthony Medical Center, Rockford Memorial Hospital, Swedish American Hospital, Edgerton Hospital and Health Services, FHN Hospital, Mercy Harvard, Swedish American Medical Center – Belvidere, and Rochelle Community Hospital. The blood center needs to collect 1,000 units each week to meet area patient needs. For more information or to schedule an appointment call Nancy at 815-732-2994 or Dawn at 815-732-2367. Contact the Rock River Valley Blood Center at 815965-8751, or www.rrvbc.org.
Oregon Lifeline By Sharon Wallace Lifeline wants to thank the volunteers who sort the clothing and those who serve our clients with food. We really appreciate all that you do. For the month of February, we served 189 clients. Thanks
to all who make contributions to Lifeline. We are in need of kidney beans, cake mixes, canned tuna, chili, canned tomatoes, vegetables, and soup. For information call 815222-6712.
Oregon Republican Reporter, Mt. Morris Times, Thursday, March 13, 2014, Page A9
Oregon offers Spring Fling shopping Special event is March 14-15 starting at 9 am An idea by an employee at an Oregon store has blossomed into the First Annual Merlin’s Spring Fling, slated for this Friday and Saturday in Oregon. After hearing from numerous local merchants all suffering from the same winter blahs—no business and no foot traffic— Brenda Schmauch, an employee at Merlin’s Greenhouse and Flowers, came up with an idea. Schmauch decided the town needed a “Spring Fling�, but rather than having just another sale at one store, Merlin’s asked the local merchants in town if they would like to be involved.
“Oregon is a small quaint town, filled with unique businesses and services. Winter has been hard on all of us, some are just holding on,� said Merlin Hagemann, owner of the Merlin’s Greenhouse and Flowers. “Brenda’s idea was to do something special and fun.� Lynn Knodle, an ambassador for the Oregon Chamber of Commerce and Executive Director of Serenity Hospice and Home, addressed her concerns to the Chamber on behalf of Angel Treasure’s Shop. Angel Treasure’s Shop is a not for profit store that benefits Serenity Hospice and Home. Knodle said donations are down and foot traffic is low. At the same time this concern was being made to the Chamber, Hagemann, who is also on the Chamber
board, and his staff were running with Schmauch’s idea to include and ignite the local merchants. “Between the Chamber members and phone calls made to other area businesses, it became apparent that everyone in town is feeling the effects this winter!,� said Hagemann. “In a day and a half, more than 20 area businesses jumped on board to help each other out. Another example of small town USA coming together to help each other!� Hagemann said these merchants have volunteered their time, products and services to be donated to drawings and giveaways at the First Annual “Spring Fling�, March 14-15. Chris Maves, another employee of Merlin’s, together with her husband Scott, will be donating a one
of a kind hand crafted metal table that will be raffled off in a special drawing with all proceeds going to Serenity Hospice and Home. “Spring Fling� will take place Friday, March 14 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, March 15, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Special drawings will be offered with gift baskets, gift cards, dinner theatre tickets, and 4-hour massages being offered. Local merchants will also be offering discounts in their stores over the same weekend as well as additional surprises. “Merlin’s Greenhouse and Flower’s and The Other Side Boutique along with the many local businesses and Oregon Chamber of Commerce, want to welcome you all to Oregon’s hidden treasures and experience small town customer service,� said Hagemann.
Program. New Fiction Releases The Bear by Claire Cameron Local Souls by Allan Gurganus Brown Dog by Jim Harrison The Kept by James Scott Fear Nothing by Lisa Gardens Queen Sugar by Natalie Baszile I Shall Be Near To You by Erin Lindsay McCabe Confessions of a Wild Child by Jackie Collins The Museum of
Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman The Bird Skinner by Alice Greenway The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd Still Life With Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen Cell by Robin Cook Under the Wide and Starry Sky by Nancy Horan Andrew’s Brain by E.L. Doctorow The library is located at 300 Jefferson Street. For more information and accessibility accommodations, call 815732-2724.
Oregon Library News “Libraries are anything but quiet: they resound with centuries of knowledge and human experience—and I can think of no more perfect music! - Kristen Kittsche, author. Library Book Clubs The Rock River Center Book Club will meet on Wednesday, March 12 at 12:30 p.m. at the Rock River Center to discuss Marley and Me by John Grogan. The Afternoon Book Club will meet on Wednesday, March 19 at 1 p.m. at the
library to discuss The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff. Jan Brett Library Visit Jan Brett, author of numerous children’s books such as The Mitten, Hedgie Blasts Off, Comet’s Nine Lives, is having a contest to win a free Jan Brett visit to friends or supporters of libraries who like Jan Brett on Facebook. Go to Jan Brett Facebook page, click on the entry form and cast your like for the Oregon Public Library. The contest ends April 11.
Oregon GFWC Woman’s Club Presents
64th Annual Oregon, IL Antique Show
Preschool Storytime Story Time continues through Thursday, May 15. Join in on Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. for stories, crafts, friends, and fun. Story Time is designed for 3-6 year olds. Registration is requested. Federal Tax Forms Many of the IRS forms are now available in the foyer of the library.Limit yourself to one of each form so that everyone will be able to find one. The Illinois State tax forms have not yet arrived, but will be placed in the foyer as soon as they do.
Rendered by Toni Cacciatore
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2014 Bookmark Contest Entry forms for the 2014 Summer Reading Program bookmark contest are available at the library. Entries are now being accepted through Monday, March 31. The 2014 theme is Paws to Read! Students in grades K-12 are eligible. Come to the library to get an entry form. All entries will be displayed in April and selected bookmarks will be duplicated and used during the 2014 Summer Reading
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