THE signs are all around us. The evenings are cooler and dusk is coming earlier. Gardens are sadly looking a little weaker. Back-to-school supplies are on display in the stores and so are Halloween decorations. The Chicago Bears are dominating the conversation and sports nuts are busy planning their fantasy picks.

Yes, fall is just around the corner. But before we become too excited about the change in seasons, the Lincoln Highway Heritage Festival is here this weekend, helping us to bid adieu to summer and welcome fall.

It’s a great weekend to bring family and neighbors together to enjoy the festivities. Another packed festival has been planned with food, rides, entertainment, business booths, bingo, arts and crafts, the fly-in and much more. The event is August 22-24 and all one has to do is wander downtown to find a weekend’s worth of activities.

Festivals are difficult events to organize. Usually there is a small but dedicated board, orchestrating the activities and we are fortunate to have such a group in Rochelle. Under the leadership of Board President Fred Horner this group has been meeting throughout the year planning your festival.

It can be frustrating. There are never enough volunteers. Sponsorship money must be raised. Scheduling and planning for all of the events is time-consuming.

While it is important to have the co-operation of the city, I’ve never seen a successful community festival that did not have that dedicated group of volunteers. It’s a group of people that are passionate about serving and improving their community.

So enjoy the festival and if you see one of the volunteers that have made it all possible, don’t forget to say ‘thanks.’



“A kind word is like a spring day.”

-Russian Proverb