Nick's Pizza continues helping grateful customers
Even though this recession makes us feel as if we are stuck in quicksand, it has taught many consumers how to look for a good deal - and for businesses to provide more of them.
This holds true at all levels of spending, particularly when we're thinking about eating out. That's why reader Mark Perry sent a note to say he appreciated the half-price pizza being offered Monday nights at Nick's Pizza and Pub on Randall Road in Elgin.
"What's nice about this is that Nick's has recently announced they will be continuing this Monday half-off deal until, as they put it on their notice board, 'The unemployment lines are down,' " Perry explained.
"Granted, going out for a pizza isn't a big deal for most of us," Perry added. "However, for a family with a bunch of kids with little income coming in, it can be a break from the reality of what this economy has dealt them - even if it's just for an hour or two."
We're seeing more of this kind of thing going on, with big crowds at Rookies in St. Charles during $1 burger and hot dog months, and other restaurants promoting inexpensive specials.
If it helps a family or individual's pocketbook and brings customers in the door at a business, then it's a win-win.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if gas stations could offer half-price days or a $1 off your gasoline bill on occasion?
Links recognition deserved: It's nice when something local folks have known for a long time gets confirmed through a national spotlight.
It also confirms that it hasn't been my imagination or my bias when playing Pottawatomie Golf Course in St. Charles, and telling myself, "This has to be one of the nicest nine-hole courses around."
Turns out, it depends on how you define "around" because it comes as no major surprise that Golf World magazine has ranked Pottawatomie one of the nation's Top 25 nine-hole courses.
Pottawatomie pro Jim Wheeler has done a great job at the course along the Fox River for 30 years now, but he's always giving credit to his groundskeepers.
Big congratulations should go to groundskeeper Denise Gillett-Parchert, who works tirelessly on making Pottawatomie a treat for the eyes and an interesting and challenging course for players.
Pottawatomie was designed by Robert Trent Jones and created in 1939 as a Works Progress Administration project. Golf historians point to the third hole at Pottawatomie as one of the first island greens that Jones incorporated onto a course.
Showing support: Hundreds of area residents put the recession aside last weekend at Eagle Brook Country Club in Geneva in supporting the annual TriCity Family Services benefit Friday and the CASA benefit Saturday. Both are essential organizations and it was too bad their main fundraisers landed on the same weekend.
In tight economic times, some tremendous auction items went at great bargains.
dheun@sbcglobal.net