 This year the merchants are
offering something special each weekend right up to Christmas
Eve. So far, special events have included the tree lighting ceremony
on the courthouse lawn, Saturday with Santa and the annual Main
Street fundraiser at Hallie's. In addition, each week there have
been drawings where three lucky winners have received Main Street
Money, gift certificates from the weekend's spotlighted business and
a third special gift.
The stores have dressed up their front windows to depict scenes
from their favorite Christmas song, and each weekend there is a
townwide theme song.
This Friday, commonly known as Black Friday, the most special
event of the day will actually take place in the evening -- the
annual downtown Christmas parade.
But before that, the stores around the square will be open and
anxious for Black Friday shoppers to come in and see all they have
to offer.
Staying true to the overall downtown theme, the parade theme this
year will be "Songs of Christmas." According to Wanda Lee Rohlfs;
director of Main Street Lincoln, several entries have signed up to
participate in this year's event.
Among those will, of course, be Santa Claus, who plans to spend
Friday and Saturday in Lincoln, visiting with local children as well
as the young at heart.
The grand marshals this year will be the Illinois Main Street
Volunteers of the Year, Jacquelyn Baker and Theresa Richert. Baker
and Richert are long-standing Main Street Lincoln volunteers who
have given freely of their time and talents to help the organization
promote and preserve the historic downtown and its businesses.
Also slated to make an appearance in this year's parade are Miss
Logan County Fair Kelsi Ubbenga and Little Miss Logan County Julia
Collins.
In addition, in honor and recognition of all he has done for the
Lincoln and Logan County community, Lincoln's Christmas ambassador
is Sen. Larry Bomke.
The parade will include a judging
with several prizes being awarded. They are as follows:
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Floats -- First
place, $250; second place, $150; third place, $75.
-
Walking entries --
First place, $75; second place, $50; third place, $25.
-
All bands will be
awarded $100 each.
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The "Mayor's Choice" will receive $100.
The parade is scheduled to commence at 5:30.
Before, during and after the parade, the Oasis Senior Center will
host a chili supper fundraiser from 3 to 7 p.m., and it is reported
Santa will stop in there after the parade.
Saturday is Small Business Saturday, and across the country
smaller communities will participate in special events to promote
local shopping.
According to recent national publications, the small store is
making a comeback across the country. Marketing analysts are
discovering that the shopping mall is losing its luster, and many
consumers are seeking out smaller shops where merchants are hands-on
with their customers and always willing to help them find an item or
make a choice.
As a part of this special day, Main Street is once again
featuring two downtown businesses.
The featured retailer will be MKS Jewelers, on the north side of
the city square.
"MKS Jewelers Ltd., owned by Melody Shew, has been a part of
downtown Lincoln for almost three decades and is currently the only
jewelry store on the square," Rohlfs commented recently. "Melody is
a perfect example of that hometown, family-owned business."
Shew began her career as a jeweler working for Williams Jewelers.
That business was a storefront located on the southeast corner of
Pekin and Kickapoo streets. She had been with that business about
seven years when it came up for sale. Shew took advantage of the
opportunity and bought out the Williams business.
When the building was lost to fire shortly after her purchase,
Shew moved to a spot on the west of the square, but she held hopes
of one day occupying the location where she is now. Eventually she
was able to move her store to her choice spot, and it has remained a
large part of the community ever since.
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Shew runs the store with assistance from her daughter, Angela
Getchel, and a staff that includes several family members.
"Inside you will find her family, and outside you will find her
store represents the essence of family with the entire downtown
businesses," Rohlfs said. "As a mainstay, MKS represents the epitome
of small town charm."
MKS is also the location of the Main Street drawing box this
week. On Saturday at 1 p.m., prizes will once again be given to
lucky winners. They will receive Main Street Money, a gift
certificate from MKS and other gifts to be announced.
Kids, and parents, be sure to keep an eye out for Santa on
Saturday. The jolly elf has promised he will spend much of the day
in Lincoln, beginning at approximately 10 a.m., when he will set up
inside his Santa hut on the courthouse lawn and visit with area
children for at least two hours.
Afterward, he also is planning to do a "walk about town,"
visiting with shoppers inside several local businesses.
And, he'll be giving away tickets to a special drawing. In order
to qualify, when you have a "Santa sighting," be sure to go up to
Santa, say hello and receive a special ticket from him. Tickets
should be filled out with name and phone number and deposited in a
special collection box at National Rent to Own. The special drawing
will be at that store at 4 p.m.
This year, Rohlfs has made an effort to recognize not just the
retail businesses in the historic downtown area, but also those who
provide valuable services to the community.
Among those is Lincoln Logan/May Enterprise Insurance Agency, at
305 Decatur St.
"Although retail is significant, we have a diversity of
service-oriented businesses," Rohlfs said. "This week Lincoln
Logan/May Enterprise Agency is featured as a service business in the
business of insurance. There is that strong feeling of family as
they work with and support Main Street endeavors. They are just a
phone call away and always eager to help, and usually with curb
service."
Bob Jeckel is the foundation of the business. In addition to
offering insurance products to the community, Jeckel is also a
strong supporter of many local groups and organizations. A cancer
survivor, he has participated in Relay for Life events and supported
the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital Light Up A Life event. He's
been involved in several local organizations, including Rotary, and
serves on the board of directors of the Oasis Senior Center.
Earlier this year, he was recognized by Main Street Lincoln at
the Looking for Lincoln Partnership Dinner, where he received the
Business Advocate Award.
With Thursday being Thanksgiving, families will be gathering
together, enjoying some good food and good fellowship. It will be a
day for giving thanks for what we have, not so much the material
things, but the blessings of life: family, friends, our health, our
freedom, our right to complain about politics and pick our favorite
football team.
It might also be a good time to give thanks for the community you
live in. Lincoln is a city large enough to offer scores of
amenities, from convenience stores and fast food to nice
restaurants, from athletic facilities to a state-of-the-art
hospital, from larger discount retailers to charming downtown shops,
and they are all owned or managed by your neighbors, your family and
your friends.
After giving thanks for all of those, take some time between now
and Christmas to show them your support before you leave town. You
might be surprised to find that once you've explored all the stores
here, you won't need to go anywhere else.
[By NILA SMITH]
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