LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Chamber thanks community for Cherry Fest support

On behalf of the Washington Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Staff we wish to thank the community for a wonderful Cherry Festival 2010.

We truly believe there is not a better or more supportive community than Washington, Illinois. The business community is constantly flooded with requests for donations of money, time and other resources; and yet they are gracious and giving, even in these economically challenging times. Without our strong and committed volunteers, this event would not take place; and we would not be able to show the surrounding communities what a wonderful spirit exists in Washington.

We would like to thank the following businesses for their financial support to the 2010 Cherry Festival:

Premier Cherry Sponsor: CEFCU
Grand Cherry/Fireworks Sponsor: Uftring of Washington, Washington Community Bank
Christian concert sponsor: South Side Bank
Community Night Sponsor: Heartland Bank and Trust Company
Cherry Blossom Sponsor:
Walmart Supercenter, COUNTRY Financial/Pat Sams
Enterntainment sponsors:
Washington Times-Reporter

Platinum sponsors: AmerenCILCO, Fondulac Bank of Sunnyland

Gold Sponsors: OSF Healthcare, Professional Therapy Services

Silver Sponsors: Casey’s General Store, Comcast Spotlight, Jim Maloof Realtor, Kimpling’s Plumbing/Ace Hardware/Mary’s Gifts, McDonald’s, WRC Inc. Realtors

Bronze sponsors: Alexander-Murray Agency, Associates in Dentistry, Black, Black, & Brown Attorneys, Cherry Tree Associates, Denhart Baking Company, Essig Law Office, 4 Paws Animal Clinic, Johnson Accounting , Mescher Law Offices, P.C, Michael Moon, DDS, Moehle, Swearingen & Umholtz, Neal Tire & Auto, Ralph’s Floor Fashions, State Farm-Roger Hickman, Teegarden Veterinary Clinic, Washington Veterinary Medical Clinic

Special donations: 2nd Cinema Video, 4 Paws Animal Clinic, Acrylic Dreams & Sunbeams, Akron Brass, Bernardi’s Restaurant, Bethany Community Church, Bloomin’ Attic Florist, Brunk’s Sports Center, Country Financial, Crossroads Methodist Church, Cummin’s Family Restaurant , Dairy Queen, Denhart Baking Company, Didley’s Place, Inc., Districts 50, 52 & 308, Dr. Michael Moon, DDS, Faith Christian Centre, Firehouse Pizza, Five Points Washington, Gracie’s Sports Grille & Pizza, Heartland Bank & Trust, Holland’s Mercantile, Holiday Presence, Kimpling’s Ace Hardware, Lee’s Hallmark, Lindy’s Downtown Market, Lori’s Kitchen Store, McDonald’s , Michael’s Italian Feast, Monical’s Pizza , Neal Tire & Auto, Peoria Chiefs, Pepsi, Print Services, RJR Transportation, RTR Cycles, Russell’s Cycle & Fitness, Scout Pack 73, Sol Azteca, State Farm Insurance/Roger Hickman, Summer & Associates, Taco Bell, TeamWorks by Holzhauer, Tequila’s Mexican Restaurant, The Pit, Touch of Homespun, Tractor Supply Company , Uftring’s Used Car Outlet, United Methodist Church, VFW Post 9016, Wal-Mart, Washington Park District, Washington Specialty Shops, WRC Inc., Realtors: Marc Wells & Marc Helmuth

And of course we would like to thank our volunteer chair people, who work for many months prior to the festival to plan the event and then many hours during the actual festival. Some even take vacation time so that they can be on the grounds at all times. The 2010 Festival Committee is: 5K Run/1K Fun Walk: Doug Damery; Baby Photo Contest: Debbie and Pattie Vanlandingham;Baggo Tournament: Joe Howe; Chamber Board Representative: Joe Winne; Cherry Cookery Contest; Patty Schlink; Cherry Festival Chairman: Marcia Bragg; Cherry Pie Eating Contest: David Finck; Cherry Pit Booth: Audrey Nielsen; Cherry Pit Spit Contest: David Finck; Children’s Events: Denise Magnuson, Kim Hess, Kristi Howell; Christian Concert: Mike Barclay; Community Dinner: Dianne Ellenson; Community Night: Marcia Bragg; Concessions: Marcia Bragg; Crafters: Lori and Mike Peifer; Disc Golf Tournament: Greg Nettles; Entertainment: Chamber Staff; Euchre Tournament: im Hamilton; Family Bike Ride: John and Frances Riopell; Feature Food/Cherry Taco: Steve Hull, Jim Culver, Rob Musselman; Festival Beer Garden: Linda Frasco; Grounds: Terry Long; Merchants’ Tent: Jackie Mason; Operations: Jim Kellerstrass, Steve Hullcranz; OSF Honor Student Day: Mary Calhoun; Pancake and Sausage Breakfast: Washington Rotary; Parking: Mark Friedrich; Photography: Tiffany Wyse-Fisher; Publicity: Susan Wise; Signs: Julie Manikowski; Special Kids Day: Joi DeArmond; Teen Night: Matt Slater, Dalton Ruzika, Katie Bahr; Volunteers: Jackie Mason

In addition, there are many individuals in the community that spend time helping with set up, tear down, manning boothes, and parking cars.

There are a number of other organizations that also support the festival in various ways that we would like to recognize.

First Baptist Church: preparing and serving Cherry Brisket Tacos; Fletcher Landscape Services: Grounds landscaping; Heartland Bank: Serving the Community Dinner; Tractor Supply Company: for the use of their parking lot; Washington Lions Club: organizing & running Kiddie Tractor Pull; Washington Park District: various donations of equipment; Washington High School Leadership Challenge: fencing and grounds preparation; City of Washington: Police service, equipment, grounds preparation, and any other job we needed to have completed.

And a very special thank you to John Bearce Companies and the John Bearce family for the use of their property.

— Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
Washington