BCR_Real All About Us_022523

READ ALL ABOUT US

See the new Princeton Chevy-GMC where we have hugely increased our inventory and added staff to better serve our incredible customers and have doubled the size of our customer lounge and added top- of-the line Wi-Fi. We’ve recently changed our name from Piehl Chevrolet to Princeton Chevy-GMC. While our name has changed the reliable service you’ve come to know and appreciate remains the same.

We are community focused and locally owned. We strive for excellent customer experience in every department: Sales, Service Parts and Body Shop.

We carry a large selection of vehicles to meet all our customers needs, from that first car for a teen to the upgrade in your current ride or find a dependable family car. Last Fall we are bringing in the latest makes and models including a selection of electric vehicles.

We even offer free delivery of your vehicle right to your driveway.

Our stellar service department can work on any make and model vehicle. Schedule an appointment that works with your day or drop in for service. We also have well- trained mechanics to handle your body shop repairs that will have you and your vehicle back on the road quickly. And we recently increased the size of our customer waiting lounge and added free Wi-Fi to make your visit more comfortable.

Our Quick Lube serves all makes and models and is open Monday through Saturday. No appointment is necessary. Our happy customers know they will find the best selection and quality care at Princeton Chevy-GMC.

Norberg Memorial Home, Inc. & Monuments proud to continue serving Princeton!

Written by Janice Smallwood

Working at Norberg’s with his father Bodie, JD started at a very young age assisting with everything from cleaning the office, cutting the grass and running errands. Even a time or two that he had to make a run to Peoria to pick up additional frog legs for a frog fry at The Park Tavern.

JD, a graduate of Worsham College of Mortuary Science in 1996, purchased Norberg’s from his father Bodie before his passing in 2008. JD has seen the industry change over time. Covid has caused changes for all of us, says JD. We really did our best to facilitate families during this incredibly difficult time. This was a test for all of us, says JD. Coming out of Covid, JD had to face another challenge, his alcoholism. Taught at a young age the challenges of the job and how to push down feeling. Alcoholism is a serious problem in the funeral industry. JD will be celebrating his 2nd year of sobriety June 6, 2023. He gave it to God and hasn’t looked back.

Janice, born in Chicago, IL, moved from Chicago to Princeton at the age of 11, then moving to South Carolina when she was 16. She moved back to the area

in 2016, after rekindling their love, JD and Janice were Skate-a-Rama sweetheart’s, they celebrate their 7-year anniversary

this April. Working in accounting most of her life and suffering her own losses, she brought an outsiders view to the funeral

home. I didn’t grow up in the industry and honestly was afraid of death, says Janice, who lost her mother when she was 20, her father when she was 23 and her husband when she was 50.

Getting to know and love the families, says Janice, is the best part of the job and a part of the job I try to focus on. I was one of them, I can empathies with them. Then I realized I could be everything I wanted and didn’t get when I lost my loved ones.

JD and Janice have made small changes, adding rocking chairs out front and planting a huge sunflower field in the back of the funeral home for all in the community to enjoy. Janice and JD are active in the community from their volunteer work to Janice’s face painting and barn quilts.

At the end of the day, we just hope our community knows how honored and grateful we are to assist the families, during their time of need.

For more information on services, prearrangements or monuments, please visit www.norbergfh.com or call 815-875-2425.

Meet your Princeton banking team

Now in our 83rd year of community banking, First State Bank has been providing high-quality financial products and services since 1940. We offer an entire suite of business and personal banking options including our popular high-interest FSBPremier checking account. FSBPremier combines the innovative banking products you would find at the big banks but with the First State Bank personal touch they can’t match. FSBPremier accounts pay consumers to use their account and receive what interests them most — high interest! Come see your friends at any one of our 19 locations, including our location at 1693 N. Main St. in Princeton. Give us a call at 815.872.0002 or visit us online at firststatebank.biz.

Visit Us And Meet Our Managers

Come in to our Princeton location and meet store manager Nancy Roberts (center) as well as assistant managers Calina Durey-Borsh (right), Savannah Cashmore (left) and their crew. At our Spring Valley location, you can meet store manager Kyle Madsen and his crew. Both locations are proud to serve their communities and look

forward to the opportunity to do so every day. Gift cards are available. Also, download our McDonald’s App and register to be a part of the Rewards program earning points with each purchase.

GROW Spring Valley

From community events to supporting the business community, there’s plenty to do and see with GROW Spring Valley.

The organization is a collaborative effort among community partners that include business owners, local event coordinators and the city to create enjoyment and help people see the tremendous opportunities to being a part of Spring Valley.

Formerly known as Spring Valley Boosters, the movement is working hard to support the community and spread the word about the great opportunities for businesses and families in Spring Valley.

JC Heerdt was recently voted into the role as the organization president and is excited for the collaborations in the coming months. Even before the holiday season, the group was

pulling together events and activities for 2023!

Start the Easter season with the Spring Valley Easter Egg Hunt from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. April 1 where kids can meet the Easter bunny and participate in an interactive Easter egg hunt. The year will also feature a fall event, Christmas in the Valley and the annual Spring Valley Lights Parade.

GROW Spring Valley members are excited to welcome visitors to the community. Together everyone can make a difference and GROW Spring Valley welcomes new members to its meetings, event planning and of course, the amazing volunteers who help bring everything together. Visit its social media page on Facebook for the latest information and events calendars.

Ready - Set - GROW!

GROW Spring Valley is a collection of community members and business owners with the common goal of growing Spring Valley to its full potential.

For over 175 years, Maze Lumber has been providing top-quality building materials to the residents of the Illinois Valley. Whether you are building a new home, remodeling your kitchen, replacing your deck, adding a fireplace, or simply updating your front door, Maze has the products and expertise to make sure your project goes smoothly and lasts a lifetime. We offer a 15,000 square foot modern showroom to showcase many of our great products, along with an award-winning staff to assist you with your project.

Stop by in person or on Facebook and see what we can do for you!

In Home Care Connection

1848-2023

The In-Home Care Connection team has a passion for providing Home Health, Hospice, & Caregiver Services to Veterans, Senior Citizens and the Disabled living in our community. We come together as a locally owned and operated agency providing care to our clients and employing over 150 staff members. Many of us have years of experience providing home health, hospice, and caregiver services in the community or have backgrounds in longterm care and hospital settings. We understand the importance and desire to live safely and independently in your home for as long as possible. Please call us if you or someone you know may benefit from Home Health, Hospice, or Caregiver Services.

Front Row Left to Right: Kris Reinbeck/RN Director of Patient Care Services, Penny Lusietto/Care Coordinator, Angela Schultz/ Social Worker, Tara Bitting and Kim Park/Care Coordinators. Back Row Left to Right: Joe Park/Owner, Hannah Bohm/RN Case Manager, Michelle Hansen/RN Administrator, Darin Jones/Spiritual Care Coordinator.

facebook.com/springvalleyillinois/

City of Spring Valley

Welcome to Spring Valley, a wonderful place to live, work and shop. We have a lot to offer from great parks, local businesses and a variety of food and delicious dining choices. We are in close proximity to the Illinois River providing boating and fishing opportunities, Echo Bluff Nature Park offering year-round activities, a local 18-hole golf course and several parks for your outdoor pleasure. We invite you to experience our small-town community pride!

Visit our website springvalleyil.us for local events and activities throughout the year.

Valley Coin, Jewelry and Pawn

If you are in need of a quick, short-term cash loan, visit Valley Coin Jewelry Pawn in Spring Valley. We are a collateral-based pawn shop. Just bring in an item of value and receive cash for your item within minutes. No credit checks. No dipping into your banking accounts and no hassle. We are a non-recourse lender. Your collateral (pawn) becomes security for your cash loan.

To redeem your pawn, just come back in with the amount given to you plus a modest finance charge. Or you can extend the loan another 30 days by just paying the minimum finance charge.

Shop our store for a variety of things such as jewelry, coins, tools, musical equipment and the unusual.

For more information, visit valley-coin-jewelry-pawn.com, follow us on Facebook and Instagram or stop in at 123 West St. Paul St., downtown Spring Valley.

Pictured are (left to right) Brock Drewel, Luke Drewel, Noah Drewel, Chris Drewel, Janet Drewel, Abby Drewel and Jonah Drewel

How consumers can help small businesses

Small businesses continue to be the backbone of the North American business community. According to the career resource Zippia, there are 33.2 million small businesses in the United States. Those organizations employ around 62 million people. The financial wellness company Fortunly says that small businesses account for nearly half of all private sector jobs in Canada. In fact, small employer businesses made up 98.1 percent of all businesses in Canada in 2021.

Despite the prevalence of small businesses and the abundance of people willing to become entrepreneurs, 20 percent of these firms fail within the first year, and only 55 percent survive five years or more, says Zippia. The COVID-19 pandemic was particularly harsh on small businesses. However, many of them survived through digitization that they plan to continue to utilize even when the pandemic is long gone.

Maintaining a small business through economic highs and lows and other issues often comes down to customer involvement. Consumers are the driving forces behind the success of small businesses. Here are some effective ways for consumers to help small businesses grow.

• Shop local. The “Shop Local” movement has been around for awhile but remains as relevant as ever. Shopping local means becoming repeat patrons at the independent businesses that comprise Main Street as opposed to the chain stores that dominate strip malls.

• Share on social. Social media can be a great way to spread the word about businesses you like and point out particular examples why you shop there. Utilizing social media platforms to highlight the positive attributes of a business can help that business grow.

• Call direct for take-out orders. Those ubiquitous third-party food delivery services may be convenient, but businesses have to share the profit from your purchase with the delivery service, cutting into their bottom lines. Pick up your

Look

Kettman Heating & Plumbing has been a trusted name in the heating and air conditioning business for over 50 years. The company, located in Granville, has fully-stocked service trucks ready to go 24 hour HVAC emergency services. Kettman’s specialize in the installation and service of all major brands of heating and air conditioning systems, boilers, in-floor radiant heat, commercial refrigeration, plumbing and duct cleaning. Kettman Heating was opened in 1966 by Frank and Ann Kettman; they wanted to provide quality products and service to the people in and around Putnam, Bureau and LaSalle counties.

order or rely on the restaurants’ own delivery teams.

• Engage with the business online. Complicated algorithms and other factors determine how a business’ website or social media page gets seen by the public. You can help things along by liking pages, visiting the website frequently and sharing any posts.

• Speak about a business in person. When out and about, whether you’re dining with friends or chatting with a stranger, try to push and recommend businesses you support. If someone compliments your lawn, shoes or haircut, mention the businesses that did the work or sold you the products.

• Suggest opportunities for exposure. If you know about a school or organization looking for vendors, make the suggestion to a small business you use frequently. They may get new customers from participating in the event. Small businesses are driving forces in the economy. Consumers can do their part to keep them thriving and profitable.

for the man in the Orange and White Van!

Dr. Lori Schultz, Dr. Dennis Farrell, Dr. Jarred Farrell

Our firm follows a holistic Retirement 22 Roadmap which guides clients through the most important steps of retirement (Guaranteed Income, Investments, Insurance, Tax Planning, Health care & Legacy Planning etc..). The firm employs Investment Advisors, CPA’s & Financial Planners who work as a team, walking clients through the entire planning process. Founded in 1999 by Christian J. Cyr CPA, the firm is an independent Registered Investment Advisor with locations in

Grassers Plumbing & Heating is a reliable air conditioning, heating, plumbing and appliance company located in McNabb IL. serving the Illinois Valley for over 75 yrs. Our family owned and operated company is friendly, reliable, and affordable to bring your home or business total comfort.

Model 75742

Model 20339

TORO RECYCLER 22” SELF-PROPELLED SMARTSTOW® LAWN MOWER

the self propel high wheel lawn mower with SMARTSTOW is a first of its kind space saving lawn mower with proven reliability.

• Briggs & Stratton 163cc EXi 725 Series™ Engine

• Save up to 70%* floor space by storing the mower upright, with no fuel or oil leaks

• 22” Recycler® Cutting Deck

Sale $429

TORO 75749 42”

TIMECUTTER ZERO TURN MOWER 22HP KOHLER

The Toro 75749 TimeCutter is a 42-inch zero-turn mower that is built to be easy to store while also giving quality cuts and easy maneuverability. This mower is powered by a 22-horsepower Kohler engine and dual hydrostatic Hydro-Gear ZT-2100 transmissions.

• 22HP Kohler V-Twin engine

• 42” Stamped cutting deck

• Dual hydrostatic Hydro-Gear ZT-2100 transmission

Sale $3,399