Features

[DEC. 4, 2002]  Main Street Lincoln has received a $20,000 Illinois FIRST grant that will be used to put new businesses on the courthouse square, Cindy McLaughlin, Main Street director, told the Lincoln City Council this week.

Grant money will be given either to new businesses or to existing ones that want to relocate in the Logan County Courthouse Historic District. The historic district includes the square and areas up to two blocks from the square, McLaughlin said.

Grants may be awarded up to a maximum of $10,000. They will not fund the complete startup of a new business but could fund as much as one-third of the cost, according to McLaughlin. The money can be used for almost anything except inventory, including remodeling, facade renovation or historic signs.

Businesses must invest in a Main Street Lincoln Partnership to be eligible and must provide a business plan based on or similar to the Small Business Administration model.

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The Main Street Lincoln Economic Restructuring Committee had expected to receive the grant a year ago, but it didn’t come through until Nov. 7 of this year, McLaughlin said. The Main Street group held a meeting with local bankers and other lenders immediately so these institutions could tell prospective business owners about the possibility of getting the extra funds.

A recommendation from a lending institution, as well as the approval of the Economic Restructuring Committee, is required for the award of the grant. Grant recipients should also consult with the Main Street Lincoln Design Committee to comply with historic district guidelines for signs and facade improvements.

McLaughlin said one potential new business owner has already come in to discuss applying for the grant. She hopes to see the grant money used by the end of March 2003.

[Joan Crabb]

[Click here for eligibility criteria and details on the grant process.]

Record crowds throng downtown
shops for Sunday event

[NOV. 7, 2002]  The turnout exceeded everyone’s expectations.

By a long, long way.

In spite of gray skies and a cold drizzle, Sunday Tea at the Lincoln T, an event organized by an informal group of downtown Lincoln merchants, brought crowds to the square to browse through the stores, eat pastries and other munchies, listen to music, visit and just simply enjoy themselves.

"This is the best thing that’s happened downtown for a long time," said Connie Dehner, who was part of the crowd elbowing its way through the local shops. "It’s wonderful to see all these people downtown. They’re having a great time."

Even though her store was "just packed all day long," Melody Shew of MKS Jewelers also noticed that people were enjoying themselves.

"Everybody was in such a good mood and having a good time," she said.

[Photos by Joan Crabb]

Others thought it was like old times in downtown Lincoln. "We haven’t seen it like this for a good many years," said Tom O’Donohue, owner of General Consulting Services. "This is really amazing for a dreary November afternoon."

The crowds had turned out for an event in which at least 22 businesses opened their doors from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3, and offered free refreshments, preseason specials and a drawing for door prizes

Music by four local groups was an additional inducement to leave a cozy living room and come downtown. The temporarily empty Gresheim building on the corner of Kickapoo and Broadway was an ideal place to schedule the entertainment, and several people commented on its unexpectedly good acoustics.

During the afternoon, the Possum Holler Pickers played old-time tunes, the Community Chime Choir performed show tunes, the Second Baptist Church Choir rocked the room with gospel music, and the Methodist Church Madrigal Singers wove traditional music into intricate patterns.

Shoppers were quick to say they were enjoying themselves.

Browsing at MKS Jewelers, Barbara Dahm, Jan Ulrich and Betty Tiffany thought the Sunday event was a wonderful idea.

"We are Christmas shopping with a difference," Dahm said. "We’re getting ideas for presents our children can give us. This is the nicest thing they’ve done downtown for a long time."

Not just Lincoln folks, but people from other communities were impressed. Joyce Dings from Havana is planning to come back and take home some Christmas gifts she spotted Sunday. "I haven’t been here for a while, and I couldn’t believe how many craft shops there are downtown," she said.

Suzanne Kubat of Lincoln thought it was a wonderful opportunity to bring in out-of-town visitors. Even though she’s from Lincoln, she commented, "I didn’t know the number of treasures that were hidden here."

Margaret Peifer, buying a piece of jewelry at That Place/Merle Norman, may have summed it up when she said, "I’ve never seen so many people strolling around and having a good time. It’s like a little community celebration."

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Store owners were amazed at the number of people in their shops. Some tried to count the customers but soon got so busy they lost track.

Treasure Chest proprietor Barb Reinwald had never before had people standing in line at the cash register. "I lost count at 75, and that was a half hour ago," she said at about 2:30.

Julie Tarter, owner of That Place/Merle Norman, said she started trying to count the crowd on her computer but lost track at 90, not long after 2 o’clock.

"We had people in all day, from the moment we got here," said Jeanie Xamis of Serendipity. "Many were new people, not my regular customers." Husband Nick, her Sunday help, said he’d brought a book to read if things were slow, but he never got a chance to open it.

"I don’t remember the last time it was hard to find a place to park downtown," said Angela Getchel, who was taking the day off from her job at MKS. Getchel and 6-year-old daughter Ashley were gift shopping, and she said she appreciated the chance to see what other merchants had to offer.

People were not just shopping, they were also taking the opportunity to sit down at Cookie’s Bakery, eat a bite and visit with friends.

Marcia Phillips, who works at Sports Plus, was one of them. She was enjoying a quiet moment eating white chili soup and visiting with friend Becky Malerich.

"Even though I work downtown, I don’t get an opportunity to see everything that’s for sale. I think this is wonderful, seeing all these people in spite of the nasty weather. If the weather had been nice, we wouldn’t even be able to walk around down here."

When four o’clock came and the crowds had gone home, a group of merchants got together at Cookie’s. Their feet might have been hurting from standing all afternoon, but their spirits were high.

Everyone agreed that the day had far exceeded expectations.

"We asked ourselves, ‘What would it take to make us feel the event was a success?’ Our answer was 100 people," Cookie Wentworth said.

At 2:30 that afternoon, by actual count, there were well over 100 people just in the Gresheim building, listening to the Second Baptist Church Choir rock the rafters, and still customers were crowding the shops, some of them standing in line to be waited on.

How did it all start? No one merchant wanted to take the credit. A group who like to meet for lunch at Cookie’s began asking themselves how to bring more people downtown. They were concerned that many new businesses closed within just a few years. They didn’t think people really knew what was available in downtown Lincoln.

"People say, ‘There’s nothing downtown anymore.’ I ask, ‘How long since you’ve been here?’" Wentworth said.

"We know we’ve got some wonderful shops here and wonderful people that love to show their products and visit with people. We didn’t do this just to get sales, we did it to show people what there is in downtown Lincoln."

While working out a map of the retail and service establishments people could visit, Sam Redding of Prairie Years saw that the stores on Broadway and Kickapoo Streets formed a T, so the name became "Sunday Tea at the Lincoln T."

The success of Tea at the T has the merchants already talking about doing it again. They are meeting this week to evaluate Sunday’s event and plan for the next one. No date has been set yet, but they are not going to wait a year to do it again, Wentworth said.

Those who participated include Serendipity, Three Roses, Sugar Creek Essentials, Beans & Such, Treasure Chest, Prairie Years, Action Rental, Becherer’s Jewelry, Sew Many friends, Seventh Heaven, Cherished Memories, Wibben’s Computer, Abe’s, That Place/Merle Norman, Lincoln Music Center, Kathleen’s Hallmark/Lighthouse, Prairie Eye Center, Sports Plus, Pink Shutter, MKS Jewelers, Cookie’s Bakery and Glenn Brunk. State Bank of Lincoln, Union Planters Bank and A.G. Edwards gave donations to help cover expenses.

[Joan Crabb]

[NOV. 2, 2002]  There’s one thing you can do as a computer user that can ruin a good computer faster than just about anything else, and you probably don’t even know that it’s a problem.  That one thing is plugging and unplugging certain devices while the computer is on.

There are three especially sensitive plugs on your computer system, and you should always turn your system off before unplugging or plugging these.  They are the keyboard plug (the little round plug with a ps/2 connector), the mouse plug (same connector, maybe a different color) and the parallel printer cable. 

If you plug these devices in or unplug them while the computer is “hot” or on, you run the risk of damaging the controlling chip inside, and that usually means lotsa downtime and an expensive repair bill.  Turn the computer off first!  And just to make sure that the computer is off rather than in power-save mode, unplug the power cable from the back of your system.

Plugging the mouse or the keyboard into the wrong port can also cause damage to some systems.  So, look before you leap (or in this case plug).  Reading the little symbols on the back of your computer can save you some serious bucks.

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Oh, and one more thing: Those little round ps/2 plugs are rather tender. You should look at the alignment of the plug and the socket before you attempt to plug them in.  Holding the plug to the socket and turning it to find the proper orientation usually results in bent pins and the need for a new keyboard or mouse!

[For those techies out there who may be reading this article: Serial devices, USB devices, firewire devices and even the old AT-style keyboards can usually be safely plugged and unplugged while the system is hot. However, it is always safer when the system is off, especially in static season.  Turn it off, ground yourself out and then plug it in].

[Jim Youngquist]

Shop at ho-ho-home
with Chamber Bucks

[OCT. 30, 2002]  The Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce will issue a new holiday version of their popular "Chamber Bucks" to encourage businesses and individuals to patronize local businesses during the holiday season. The new holiday gift certificates will be available in denominations of $10 and $25 and will be accepted in more than 75 member businesses.

"Individuals and businesses enjoy the convenience of giving the Chamber Bucks, and people love receiving them," said Bobbi Abbott, executive director of the local chamber of commerce. "The certificates can be used to purchase practical items like groceries, gas, health care services or household needs. Or, recipients can indulge themselves and redeem them for fun items such as massages, specialty gifts or dining out."

The holiday certificates take the guesswork out of gift giving. They can be included with a greeting card, tucked in a Christmas stocking or added to gift baskets. Each certificate lists participating businesses and is valid for 180 days from the date of purchase. Certificates can be personalized with a name and a message line.

The Chamber Bucks are accepted as cash, with no administrative charge added for the purchaser or the recipient. Purchasers need not be members of the chamber.

For more information or to order the certificates, please call 735-2385.

Participating members of the Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce

J.M. Abbott & Associates

Abe’s, Lincoln

ALMH Auxiliary Gift Shop

Advanced Carpet Cleaning

Advanced Eyecare of Lincoln

Alexander Lumber Co.

All About You

Avon, Larry Adams

The Award Shop

B & K Antiques

Beans & Such

Becherer’s Jewelers

Big R of Lincoln

Blue Dog Inn

Bode’s Welding

Bonanza Restaurant 604

Glenn Brunk Stationers, Inc.

Burwell / Thornton Oil

The Carpet House

Century Dental Center

Closet Classics

Computer Consulting Associates

Cracker Barrel, Lincoln, IL

Domino’s Pizza, Lincoln

Eagle Country Market 32

Eckert’s, Inc. or Capone’s

El Rey Mexican Restaurant

Fifth Street Food Mart

Flowers & Things

Franz Express

Thomas W. Funk Law Office

Graue, Inc.

Graue Pharmacy

Green Oil Co., Lincoln

Guzzardo’s Italian Villa

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The Health and Fitness Balance

Hicksgas, Lincoln

Interstate Chevrolet

Kathleen’s Hallmark

Key Printing

Kroger, Lincoln

Lincoln Cycle Center

Lincoln Heating & Cooling

Lincoln IGA

Lincoln Land Communications

Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce

Lincoln Medical Equipment

Lincoln Park District

Lincoln Printers, Inc.

Lincoln Vacuum

Logan County Health Department

Logan Lanes

Main Street Lincoln

McDonald’s, Lincoln

McEntire Appliance & Repair

McQuellon’s Appliance

Meier Accounting & Tax Service

Michelle’s Home & Garden Shop

Mitchell-Newhouse Building Center

MKS Jewelers, LTD

The Mustard Moon

NAPA Auto Parts, Lincoln

Neal Tire

Dr. Todd Nobbe, OD

Papa John’s Pizza

Prairie Years

R. & H. Farm Supply

The Restaurant at the Depot

Row Motor Sales

Carol Runyon, Creative Memories consultant

Sew Many Friends

Tarter Brothers Heating & Air Conditioning

Team Express

That Place Inc.

The Treasure Chest

Vintage Fare

Wal-Mart of Lincoln

Wibben Computer Service

Jim Xamis Ford-Lincoln-Mercury

The following financial institutions are members of the Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce. However, because of the nature of this promotion, they have agreed not to participate:

CEFCU

Central Illinois Bank

Illini Bank

Logan County Bank

State Bank

Union Planters Bank

[Press release]

Announcements

[NOV. 19, 2002]  SPRINGFIELD — In an effort to raise funds for grants, the Memorial Medical Center Foundation is selling calendars and giving away cash prizes totaling $20,000. By purchasing a Memorial calendar for $25, participants are entered into a drawing to win daily cash prizes in the year 2003 of $50, $100, $200 and $1,000. After a person’s name is drawn, it will be re-entered in the drawing, making the person eligible to win again.

Since 1981, the Memorial Medical Center Foundation has awarded more than $4 million in grants, not only to Memorial Medical Center, but also to other not-for-profit health-related community organizations. Proceeds from the sale of the calendars will allow Memorial to continue to deliver state-of-the-art health care and take a leadership role in education and research.

For more information about the foundation’s grant funding opportunities or to purchase a calendar, please call the Memorial Medical Center Foundation at (217) 788-4700.

[Press release]

The Chamber Report

["Shop at ho-ho-home with Chamber Bucks"]

Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce

Bobbi Abbott, Executive Director

303 S. Kickapoo St.

Lincoln, IL 62656

(217) 735-2385

chamber@lincolnillinois.com
www.lincolnillinois.com

Honors & Awards

Main Street Corner News

[DEC. 4, 2002]  Purpose: To provide partial funding to facilitate new businesses in the downtown area.

Eligibility criteria

1.  Grant recipients must invest in a Main Street Lincoln Partnership in order to be eligible for this grant.

2.  Business location must be within the Logan County Courthouse Historic District.

3.  Business should consult with the Main Street Lincoln Design Committee concerning signage and potential facade improvements in order to comply with historic district standards and guidelines.

4.  As part of the grant application, business must provide a business plan based on or similar to the Small Business Administration model.

5.  Grant is available to potential business owners upon recommendation from the Economic Restructuring Committee and with Main Street Lincoln board approval.

Process

1.  Application for the grant is made as part of the business loan application process at participating local lending institutions. Contacts made to Main Street Lincoln will be referred to lending institutions.

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2.  Grant will provide no more than one-third of the equity or down payment for a bank loan of a maximum of $10,000.

3.  Approval of the grant will be considered at a regular monthly meeting of the Main Street Lincoln Economic Restructuring Committee. A lending institution recommendation is required for the award of this grant. The committee reserves the right to reject any and all grant applications.

4.  Payment of approved grants will be made at the time of the business loan closing.

Reporting requirements

In order to meet Main Street reporting requirements, the business agrees to provide Main Street Lincoln with the following information within three months: listing of capital improvements to the building, dollar amount spent on improvements, number of full-time and part-time employees of the business.

[Main Street Lincoln]

Santa Shopping Spree

[NOV. 30, 2002]  Shoppers in Lincoln have the opportunity to win a $1,000 shopping spree at local businesses through the Santa Shopping Spree, a new holiday promotion organized by Main Street Lincoln.

Booklets of shopping spree entry forms are available at participating businesses and at the Main Street Lincoln office, 303 S. Kickapoo St. The booklets also will be distributed at the Festival of Trees at the Logan County Courthouse Dec. 5-8. In addition, major employers are providing the booklets to their employees.

Completed entry forms can be turned in at participating businesses. The winner's name will be drawn on Dec. 20 at the Main Street office. The winner, who won't need to be present to win, will receive $1,000 in Santa Shopping Spree bucks, good at the participating businesses.

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Those businesses are Serendipity Stitches and Custom Frame Shop, The Mustard Moon, Beans & Such, Three Roses Floral, Kathleen's Hallmark, MKS Jewelers, That Place/Merle Norman, Blue Dog Inn, Action Rental, Lincoln Printers, and McEntire's Appliance & TV.

The Santa Shopping Spree replaces the former Ho Ho Dough program, which was discontinued by the Lincoln/Logan County Chamber of Commerce and Main Street.

"We created this promotion as a fun opportunity for shoppers to discover what our local businesses have to offer," explained Jeanie Xamis, shopping spree coordinator. "We also wanted to keep the prize money in Lincoln."

[Main Street Lincoln press release]

[NOV. 8, 2002]  Main Street Lincoln and the city of Lincoln have unveiled the design of this year’s official Christmas ornament. The new ornament will feature Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary
in 2002.

Fourth in the series, the ornament is 24-karat gold over brass and will be enclosed in a burgundy velvet presentation case with the city seal embossed in gold on the cover. The limited edition ornaments will have a numbered certificate of authenticity, including information on the history of the hospital and a miniature version of the proclamation naming it the official city ornament. The cost is $15.

Ornaments reserved in advance (by Nov. 15) will be available for pickup around Thanksgiving and also for retail purchase at select downtown locations.

A limited number of ornaments from the past two years are available for $20 each. The Lincoln Public Library was featured in 2001 and City Hall in 2000.

For more information, call Main Street Lincoln at (217) 732-2929.

[Main Street Lincoln press release]

Main Street Lincoln

Cindy McLaughlin, Program Manager

303 S. Kickapoo

Lincoln, IL 62656

Phone: (217) 732-2929

Fax: (217) 735-9205

E-mail: manager@mainstreetlincoln.com

Job Hunt

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Employers, you can list available jobs by e-mailing ads@lincolndailynews.com. Each job listing, up to 75 words, costs $10 the first week, $20 for eight days to one month.

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