Quaint store not in keeping with facts

Peggy Kessler makes a nice pitch for Cancer Treatment Centers of America on a TV commercial that was shot in the Tri-Cities area.

She tells her story about being told she had two months to live in her battle against pancreatic cancer, but then came upon the treatment center for a second opinion.

After several treatments, she is still doing well today, some five years later.

Area residents may have noticed that the backdrop for Kessler is the Wayne Country Store. What they might not know is that Kessler not only does not work at or frequent Wayne Country Store, she's not even from this area.

"She had a wonderful story to tell, but they just rented my store two years ago to shoot the commercial," said Sandy Neslund, owner of Wayne Country Store. "They wanted something with a soft setting that was comfortable, relaxed and old -- and that was us."

Although it may have left many to believe that Kessler had some kind of tie to the unique store on Army Trail Road, Neslund was pleased with how the commercial turned out.

"My store looked nice though, didn't it?" she asks.

It's not the first time Wayne Country Store has caught the eye of filmmakers. It was used in a couple of scenes from the 1990 film "Men Don't Leave" starring Jessica Lange.

For Neslund, who has owned the store for four years, any mention of it helps -- especially since she has taken out the delicatessen and emphasized the sale of English and Western "tack" or horse-riding supplies, marketing those products to riders and hunt club members in the region.

So far, Neslund says, the change in her store "has been awesome."

Ding-a-ling time: It's time for all good ding-a-lings to step forward.

The signup sheet went around the room at my service club meeting last week, marking the time to volunteer to ring the bell for the Salvation Army during the holiday season.

Major Steve Koehler has set the goal for this year's fundraising at $270,000 for the Tri-Cities region, or about $9,000 more than last year.

Koehler, who came to the Tri-Cities with wife Melody after two years in Kalamazoo, Mich., said the agency has had tremendous support from area businesses, even from those who do not allow bell ringers in front of their stores.

"We would love to be at Target and Meijer, but they are helping us in so many other ways throughout the year with grants and contributions," Koehler said.

More than 400 volunteers will be mobilized to give upward of 3,500 volunteer hours during the "ringing" season of Nov. 16 to Dec. 24. Volunteers also help with the prep work prior to those dates by filling out paperwork regarding families' needs and requests.

"With direct mail, Internet and the kettles, we are confident we can reach our goal," Koehler said.

Your own boss: It didn't surprise me the Elgin Community College newspaper recently had a story touting the entrepreneurship program of its business college.

It seems it is going to get more popular to attempt to be your own boss and find your own way in the future, and programs like this are going to become vitally important.

The nice thing about programs of this nature is they provide knowledge and insight into business, whether you're going to operate a mom-and-pop shop or begin an e-commerce business.

Developing a business idea, creating a business plan and learning about cash flow management remain the key ingredients, regardless of the type of business.

Diploma stays same: The high school diploma being handed to a student will be the same, regardless of where it is handed out.

That's basically the way I look at St. Charles school officials thinking about moving East and North high school graduation ceremonies to the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates.

After all, Geneva students and parents survived the chilly atmosphere of the Fox Valley Ice Arena for the graduation ceremony when the high school was undergoing its expansion project about six years ago and wasn't available.

Seeking heroes: You'd think that the Hometown Heroes breakfast in March presented by the Fox River chapter of the American Red Cross is a year-round affair. And those who organize this recognition event probably feel that way.

The word is out already to make nominations for the annual honors in eight different categories. Petitions have been sent out in the mail, but you can also nominate heroes online at redcross.org/il/foxriver.