Rush & Fyie Honored At Dinner
Fairfield Attorney, Jay Fyie, was presented with the Community Service Award by Steve Dawkins during the 2008 Annual Dinner of the Greater Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce. Pictured at right is Shaun Rush who accepted the Award for "Business of the Year" on behalf of Rush Appliance & Furniture along with Carroll Rush, pictured below. The event was held at the Community of Christ Family Life Center in Fairfield.
New Wave Communications Opens New Office In Fairfield
Representatives of New Wave Communications were on hand for an Open House to celebrate the unveiling of their new sales & marketing office located across from the courthouse in Fairfield. New Wave Communications recently purchased Charter Communications in Fairfield and have spent the last several months upgrading the cable system throughout Fairfield with fiber optic to provide a high-quality and affordable product for local households and businesses. New Wave Communciations is currently offering a special bundle package that includes Expanded Basic Cable Television, Platinum Internet Service, and Unlimited Telephone Service all for one low price of just $99.99 a month. Cable TV service from New Wave Communications includes local programming that is not available on satellite such as local sports. We also welcome them as members of the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce
Large Turnout At 2007 Chamber Dinner
A large crowd gathered for the 2007 Fairfield Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner on March 12. Ed Potts (below left) owner of Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy was recognized as the "Business of the Year," while Kristi Hornung (below far right) was recognized as the "Citizen of the Year." Guest speaker for the dinner was Larry Rost.
2006 Business of the Year:
"Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy"
The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy of Fairfield was honored at the recent Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner, as the 2006 "Business of the Year." The event was held on March 12, 2007 in the Family Life Center of the Fairfield Community of Christ Church.
2005 Business of the Year:
"Your Flower Shop"
Three generations, 65 years, a love of the business and a whole lot of work pretty well sums up the 2006 Business of the Year – Your Flower Shop in downtown
Fairfield
.
Where did it all begin? In 1941 Earl and Vivian Hollinger made a decision to take their love of flowers and turn it into a business called Hollinger Greenhouse and Your Flower Shop. Little did they know that it would be a decision that would impact the generations to come! Vivian grew many of the flowers they sold while Earl ran the greenhouse. If needed, they would bring flowers in from
Olney
,
IL
and
Princeton
,
IN.
In 1953, their daughter Dorothy and husband Russell Wilson purchased the business. By that time, the floral industry had undergone major changes and the
Wilsons
began to bring flowers from all over the
United States
, esp.
California
and
Florida
. It was during those years that they expanded the gift line and continued to build the business. The
Wilsons
had 3 daughters and Russell felt it was important for the girls to get an education. All three went to college but only Melissa came back to
Fairfield
. She began teaching second grade at
Geff
Grade School
, but on weeknights and weekends she would find herself back at the flower shop.
In 1989, the
Wilsons
approached Melissa to see if she would be interested in coming into the business full time. Melissa said, “The decision to buy the shop was both difficult and exciting. I loved what I was doing but the thought of buying the business and developing it even further was a challenge I couldn’t resist.” Has she ever regretted the decision? NEVER!!
1989 was a year of change for Melissa. She bought the business and married Jerry Garrison. When they married Jerry was working for Trunkline Gas Co, but later joined Melissa in the business. Their three children, Ben Wylie, Jon and Tina Garrison, have helped also, but they have all let her know that she is the last generation in the flower shop.
When asked if the business had changed through the years, she noted the changes were too many to count. They now buy on an international market with flowers coming not only from across the
U.S.
but from
Holland
and
South America
. New varieties of flowers, new techniques for care and handling, Dutch influences on design are just a few of the changes she has seen through the years.
Melissa is joined in the business by her husband, Jerry, Teresa Winter, Micki Baker, Mona Grisham, Lora Harrison, Pastor Rick Fouts, Pastor Gary Cline and Melissa’s mother who keeps retiring every year still works 5 days a week.
To what does Melissa owe her success? “I have some fantastic wholesalers who know what I expect and they send me top quality product. We also have a loyal customer base who push me to continually improve our service and gift line, wonderful employees who make it fun to come to work AND finally – the Bible says in all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct thy path. I do and He has!!”
The 85th Annual Dinner Banquet of the Greater Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce was a huge success on March 13th at Community of Christ Church. "Your Flower Shop" was recognized as the Business of the Year, while Larry Rost, President of Fairfield National Bank, was recognized as the Citizen of the Year. Mr. Rost is chairman of the Junior Acheivement Program in Wayne County, and also serves as a Trustee with the Illinois Eastern Community College District The keynote speaker was Dr. Mike Dreith, President of Frontier Community College. His unique speech was entitled: "One Good Day of Mushrooming and One Good Dog."
Melissa & Jerry Garrison Larry Rost, Citizen of the Year
Owners, Your Flower Shop President. Fairfield National Bank
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