Garden Club decorates corner of U.S. 30

2 WHITESIDE NEWS SENTINEL MORRISON BE AT OFFICE 113-115 Peoria Ave. Dixon, IL 61021 WHITESIDE NEWS SENTINEL IDE NEWS SENTINEL SUBMITTED BY SHARON MOORE Garden Club member M o r r i s o n G a r d e n C l u b p o r t r a y e d Whiteside News Sentinel • Tuesday, Dec 14, 2021 To SUBSCRIPTIONS In Whiteside County 24 months - $52 12 months - $32 Outside Whiteside County 24 months - $66 12 months - $38 Out of Illinois 24 months - $86 12 months - $49 Single-copy price is $1 subscribe, make a payment or discuss your delivery, call 815-632-2520 “Comfort and Joy” a little differently than the Chamber of Commerce’s description when they decorated the corner of U. S. Highway 30 and IL Route 78 in preparation for the holiday festivities. “Comfort” is a family at home sitting around the fireplace with the Christmas tree nearby. “Joy” is in a child’s eyes on Christmas morning, seeing the gifts that Santa left. The two larger snowpeople are roasting marshmallows and hot dogs around the fire. There are three pallet trees in the planters nearest the road. Each has one word from the theme painted on it, read from east-to-west: “Our family is made up of snowpeople.” Morrison Garden Club members collaborated on the display. The fireplace and Monday through Friday little snowperson were made by Patrick or send an e-mail to and Sharon Moore. The fire in the firewnsnews@shawmedia.com. place was made by Kathy Anderson. Jan Mayes painted the face on the little one, CLASSIFIED SALES and she made the two, larger snowpeople. 815-220-6942 Boxes for the gifts were built by Vern and apicco@shawmedia.com Mary Latwesen and painted by Sharon Classified Ad Deadline: Moore. Becky Brady made the bows, and Thursday at 4 p.m. other members wrapped the boxes with ribbon. Wreaths under the pallet trees were made by the Latwesens. OBITUARIES “We reached out on Facebook to acquire 815-632-2534 an artificial tree and one was donated by phartman@shawmedia.com Jann Bruns. The fireplace was installed Deadline for obituaries is with the help of Patrick Moore and Tom Monday at 9 a.m. Krueger. The tree was decorated after being placed,” said Moore.

The club had one work day to finish assembling and painting various props, with the display completed on Sunday, Nov. 28. That afternoon work session was hosted by Mary and Vern Latwesen. For

MORRISON

Garden Club spr uces up highway corner Photo provided Morrison Garden Club volunteers are pictured after completing their holiday display on the corner of U.S. Highway 30 and Illinois Route 78. In the front from the left are Mary Latwesen, Sharon Moore and Charla Olson and in the back are Kathy Anderson, Jan Kelly, Becky Brady, Jan Mayes, Kelly West and Patti Nice. Not pictured are Theresa Farrell, Vern Latwesen and Patrick Moore. fun, the club also placed a pallet tree in the pocket park across the street, with a set of elf legs that they’ve used in previous years. The display suffered some wind damage on Saturday, Dec. 11, with club members returning on Sunday to fix it up.

NEWS Sarah Ford wnsnews@shawmedia.com

Advertising Sales 815-632-2554

PUBLISHER Jennifer Heintzelman 815-632-2502 jheintzelman@shawmedia.com

The WHITESIDE NEWS SENTINEL (USPS No. 683-280) is published weekly by Sauk Valley Media, Shaw Media.

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Odell Library continues on even in a pandemic

BY ANNE FRAME Odell Library Board

We soon will acknowledge two years of living in the midst of a pandemic. This pandemic is sly and transforms its variants just as we start to feel safer. Shots, boosters, masks, hand washing and social distancing are everyday words in our vocabulary. When will we go back to normal?

Every institution in our community has made transformations and adjustments in order to serve our community. The Odell Public Library is no exception.

Librarian Meridith Layne states, “Many of the much-loved pre-pandemic programs were reimagined to engage our community even during shutdowns, masking and social distancing. During a time of isolation, connections could still be made through curbside service, digital story-times and online book discussions, along with a modified Summer Reading Club. Odell Public Library strives to provide access to lifelong learning.”

And from enthusiastic patron, MaryKay Campbell, “Odell Library is quite the reading resource and for me, always a lifeline to other imaginations. In 2020 as our worlds became smaller with this pandemic, a visit to Odell, even a curbside pickup, became a highlight. The staff seem glad to have any patron come through the door; and each is helpful and cheerful.”

Our-26 year-old building has been utilized by young and old, looking for a good story in all kinds of weather and even a pandemic. And, just like well-loved books as they are read or thumbed through, the years begin to show on their pages. Our flooring is no different. It has welcomed the public, hosted Summer Reading Clubs, and been a comforting place to thumb through books looking for just that right one. We ask you, the community, for your help to Fund Our Floor. Your donation may be given online at gofundme.com/f/ fund-our-floor, by check in person at Odell or by mail to 307 S Madison St., Morrison.

Your donation will be most appreciated.