7 minute read
Business News
from Forreston Journal
by Shaw Media
COVID-19 & BUSINESS Salon receives emergency small business grant
BY JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com
After some renovations aligned with a closure amid the COVID-19 pandemic, w@sh Salon in Oregon received some good news recently.
The salon was one of 11 area businesses that received emergency small business grants from the state to aid small businesses with layoff aversion strategies.
“Receiving financial aid from the SBA has been equally a relief and a stressor,” w@sh Owner Meggan Dickson-Grennan said. “I have to make sure dispersed funds are used as deemed appropriate by the SBA. However, knowing I can make ends meet helps me sleep at night. w@sh salon will survive. The comeback is greater than the setback.”
Applicants like w@sh submitted their applications in April and May for approval by the state. $5 million was set aside and a total of $94,362 has been made available to those that were approved. Awards are being made on a reimbursement basis and companies are expected to price documentation of expenses.
No other Ogle County business received one of the grants. After w@ sh was allowed to reopen in recent months, it was booked up for its first
Supplied
The “w@sh dolls” recently delivered donated bottles of shampoo from their “Look Good, Feel Good” campaign to the Dixon PADS Women’s Shelter. “With the help of our community, w@sh was able to donate more than 50 bottles of shampoo. Thank you for helping someone Look Good AND Feel Good!” said Meggan Dickson-Grennan, owner w@sh salon in Oregon. Pictured, left to right, are: Bridgette Andel, Kendra Remrey, Meggan Dickson-Grennan (owner), Terra Lorenzen (PADS Executive Director), and Jeni Allen.
three weeks. During the closure, w@ sh doubled its square footage to 900 and added three stations, allowing it to hire more stylists.
“If I hadn’t been forced to do this, I don’t know if I’d be as successful,” Dickson-Grennan said. “We made changes. I never had time to do ideas I had. I had 10 weeks. As much as it was draining, it was also a gift in disguise. We’re coming out of it bigger and better.”
OREGON LIBRARY
Library Update - Yes We Are Open!
Please call to check on procedures for browsing and pick up of materials.
We do offer curbside pick- up, but if you wear a mask you may enter the building to pick up your materials. Hours for curbside will be Monday - Thursday 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Friday and Saturdays. The building is open regular hours.
You can put holds on items in our Library through our catalog or by calling the library at 815 732-2724.
All materials should be returned in the outside book drop that is open 24/7. All library materials are quarantined for at least 3 days and then checked in. You will still see these items on your account and still receive notification of overdue until the quarantine period is over.
We are fine free, so you will not be charged for overdue items. However, materials that are not returned will result in replacement costs.
This bill is generated after materials are 21 days overdue. As long as materials are returned with no damage you will not be charged the replacement fee. Read More ~ Worry Less!
Trivia Night - Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. - Go to crowd.live and type code DJMVE
We will continue to use Crowdpurr. com for our Trivia format.
You can play alone or send the link to your friends and create a team.
You MUST send your Team Name to cbergoply@gmail.com to have it created before Sept. 8.
The game will begin promptly at 6:10 p.m. and will be 56 questions from the following topics: Sports, Movies, Books, Science, History,Geography, TV and Word Puzzles.
Any questions or for more information, email cbergoply@gmail.com or call the library 815-732-2724.
Yoga With Jennifer is Back! - Starting Sept. 12 - Saturday mornings at 9:30 a.m.- only 5 spots available.
Registration required 815-732-2724
Illinois Cemetery Safari - Saturday, Sept. 12 at 1 p.m.
Join us for a slide show journey around our state to see the final resting places of famous, infamous and obscure people and animals.
You’ll see unique headstones and burial sites and visit the graves of Burl Ives, Chester Gould, Kathy Sh-Boom and Dorothy Louise Gage. Don’t know some of these names? Join us to find out. Registration required at 815-732-2724.
Oregon Writers Group - Second and last Tuesday of each month
Meeting will occur via Zoom- Zoom. com The OWG is a gathering of writers or writer-wannabes who meet to support each other and to further their own writing. The purpose of the group is to help and encourage you in your writing. If you need brainstorming ideas, we can help suggest ideas or aid with the creative process. at 12:30 p.m. to discuss The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz.
The Afternoon Book Club meets Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 1 p.m. to discuss This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger.
Books on Tap Book Club meets on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. at Cork n Tap to discuss The Grace Year by Kim Liggett.
DNA and Genealogy Research: Sim
plified – Sept. 22 at 2 p.m. via ZOOM
DNA testing has become a popular topic. Did you get your results and now you don’t know what to do with them? This program will discuss the different DNA tests and compare the major testing companies.
Learn to use your genealogy skills to unravel the mysteries of your DNA results. Join our Zoom call with Steve Szabados, Genealogist.
Register at 815-732-2724. Registration required.
MT. MORRIS Stay Puft Marshmallow man conquers straw contest
Online voters choose winners of the 2020 competition
The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man may not have conquered the three Ghostbusters in their epic Hollywood film battle, but he won the day in Mt. Morris at the US National Straw Sculpture competition.
The 17-foot straw creation by Danica and Mark Rogers finished first in voting in the Public and Artists’ Choice division.
On-line voting for the five new sculptures of 2020 ended on Aug. 23 with the following results: 1 st Place Public and Artists’ Choice, Danica & Mark Rogers. 2 nd Place Public and Artists’ Choice, Polished Hair & Nails and Hair on Main. 3 rd Place Public Choice, Steve & Michelel Lentz. 3 rd Place Artists’ Choice, Chris, Cecilia & Ellen Mann.
“Thank you to our sculptors,
TOP LEFT: “Something Strange in Your Neighborhood”, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, from the movie Ghostbusters, took first place in the People’s Choice and Artists’ Choice divisions. CENTER: “Jungle Life” took third place in the Peoples Choice division. RIGHT: “Granddaddy Snapping Turtle” took third place in the Artists’ Choice division.
ComEd our sponsor, and the thousands who have visited and continue to visit and follow the 2020 US National Straw Sculpting Competition!,” said Jeff Bold, organizer.
There is still time to see all the entries on display on the Mt. Morris Campus through Sunday, Aug 30. The campus includes five new sculptures, all built by returning artists, along with 12 additional sculptures from previous years are on display, including one or more from each of the 2020 sculptors, the Community Big Build from 2019, Lady Liberty from 2016-17, and others.
“The display is spaced for comfortable social distancing on the beautifully shaded campus in the center of Mt. Morris. There is nothing like seeing this unique art form in person, but photos of the sculptures and information are available at StrawUSA.com,” Bold said.
For more information about Encore! Mt. Morris visit www. encoremtmorris.com.
CONCERTS CANCELLED Mt. Morris Jamboree concert season cancelled
BY JEFF HELFRICH jhelfrich@oglecountynews.com
The entire 2020 Mt. Morris Jamboree free concert season has been cancelled due to COVID-19, Event Organizer Larry Ubben said.
“We had hoped for enough improvement with the COVID-19 pandemic to safely allow the presentation of a few concerts by summer’s end, but we see that is not the case,” Ubben said. “We are rescheduling all of the bands we had set for this year to 2021, including classic/oldies rock and roll groups ShInDiG! on July 2 and Chicago Tribute Anthology on Aug. 20.”
Mt. Morris Jamboree received a grant from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois for $3,000 that can be applied for next year. Ubben also thanked local businesses and individuals that have contributed to the program this year.
They include Spectrum Preferred Meats, George and Nancy Poe, Steve Duncan, Dave and Mary Jane Warkins, Frank and Dianne Swingle, Moundertown.com, Aken’s Auto Body, Inc, Bill and Cindy Nicholson, Finch Funeral Home, Mike and Brenda Anderson, BerryView Orchard, John and Beth Chase, Jim and Mary Francis, Dave and Sylvia Saunders, Gilmour Insurance Agency, Rob and Karen Urish, Paul Smith, R.E. Wolber and Sons, Trin
