Would you like to support any of these events through sponsorship?  We have multiple commitment levels available, so you can choose the amount and benefits that work best for your business!  Learn more on our sponsorship blog post, and then sign-up with our online form.  Thank you!

A ribbon cutting was held Thursday, December 17 to celebrate the new location for Creative Touch Paint & Design!
The business, owned by Janet Rudd, offers Interior and Exterior painting, Designing, Faux finishes, Murals, Wallpaper, Furniture and Cabinet painting.  Creative classes will be offered in 2021 as well. 
​The business is located at 5475 Hwy 100, Unit C.  For more information, visit www.creativetouch.design.

*Masks were worn at this event and removed only briefly for the photograph.

The Creative Touch Paint & Design by Janet Rudd Facebook Page is full of work samples and videos.  Their work is amazing and so much fun to watch!

The Washington Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome Tricia Piontek (The Magnet Group) and Kevin Richardson (Zick, Voss, Politte & Richardson, P.C.) to the Board of Directors.  They were chosen through a membership-wide ballot that included four nominees, selected by a committee of past board chairs. 
 
“We’re excited to add Tricia and Kevin to our team.  Both have a great appreciation for our community, and we are grateful for their willingness to serve our Chamber in this capacity,” said Chamber President, Jennifer Giesike.  Board members typically serve two, 3-year terms on the board, although if selected by fellow directors to the Executive Board, additional years can be served.  Piontek and Richardson will replace Dave Politte (Zick, Voss, Politte & Richardson, P.C.) and Casey Zastrow (American Family Insurance), whose terms will end on December 31, 2020.
 
Tricia Piontek has been with The Magnet Group since 2002 and currently holds the position of Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Brands Division.  She served on the Our Lady of Lourdes School Board and is an experienced volunteer, helping plan and execute school auctions, parish breakfasts and dinners, and fundraisers for the Washington Junior ROTC Booster Club.  She and her family enjoy supporting local events and businesses.  Tricia and her husband, Allan, have five adult children – Nicole (Brueggenjohann), Holly (Wunderlich), Sydney, Samuel, and Jackson. 
 
Kevin Richardson is a partner and attorney at Zick, Voss, Politte & Richardson, P.C., where he has worked since 2003.  Kevin has served on the Board of Directors for TEMCO, Inc. and the Franklin County Area United Way and on the Parish Finance Committee at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish.  He was President of the 20th Judicial Circuit Bar Association, and was named to the Chamber Outstanding Young Professionals Class of 2013.  Kevin and his wife, Sarah, have two children, Audrey and Will.
 
Piontek and Richardson will join 14 others on the 2021 Board of Directors.
 
Executive Board

• Paul Brune (MFA Co-Op #2) – Chairman
• Andy Robinson (School District of Washington) - 1st Vice Chair
• Jay Nowak (Bank of Washington) - 2nd Vice Chair
• Dan Cassette (Cassette Electric) – Ex-Officio
• Steve Strubberg (Horn Architects)
• Karen Timpe (Legacy Embroidery & Screenprinting)

Board of Directors

• Josh Brinker (Bank of Franklin County)
• Becky Cox (Four Rivers Family YMCA)
• Scott Hillermann (Hillermann Nursery & Florist)
• Joe Maniaci (PFG Fox River Foods)
• Tanya McCormack (Washington Hearing Center)
• Luke Meyer (Citizens Bank)
• Craig Mueller (Imo’s Pizza / Sugarfire Smokehouse)
• Jason Unnerstall (Past Fair Chairman)

In a normal year, it is about the time we would be warning you about influenza (flu) and how you can tell whether you or your child is suffering from the flu or a cold. But as we all know, this is no normal year. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is another threat to your health that can add to the confusion.

These three diseases are somewhat similar – they are all respiratory illnesses caused by viruses. They can all cause coughing, a sore throat and a runny or stuffy nose. Both the flu and COVID-19 can cause a fever, headache, body aches, pains or chills. But, there are ways to tell the difference.

The COVID-19 symptom that stands out, and that you have probably heard about, is a new loss of taste or smell. It also can cause shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, along with nausea or vomiting and diarrhea. These gastrointestinal symptoms are more common in children.

When it comes to telling the difference between a cold and the flu, keep in mind that a cold can cause sneezing and may cause only a low-grade fever or no fever at all.

Even if you know which infection you are dealing with, and you do not need emergency care, it is a good idea to contact your primary care physician. We may want you tested to confirm whether you have COVID-19 or the flu, and one test can be run to check for both viruses. You can then work with your doctor to determine the best treatment and to monitor you in case more aggressive treatment is needed. That treatment will not include antibiotics, which do not treat viral infections.

Here’s the good news with all of these viruses: the actions you take to protect yourself from one of them will protect you from all three. The steps we recommend to prevent the spread of COVID-19 – wearing a face mask around others and staying at least six feet apart – work well. But do not forget about the simpler steps we should always take, such as washing your hands, cleaning high-touch surfaces regularly and staying away from others when you are feeling ill.

You also can protect yourself and others by getting your flu shot. While it is best to get vaccinated in September or October before flu season typically starts, it is not too late. You can still benefit from getting your flu shot.
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A COVID-19 vaccine is on the way, but it will be several months before it is available widely. Please continue to wear a mask in public and keep your social distance while we work to get the vaccine to our patients as quickly as possible. If you have any concerns about a vaccine, please discuss them with your primary care physician. We are here to help you.

Dr. Christina Garretto is a board-certified family physician. She cares for patients of all ages at Mercy Clinic Primary Care – Patients First Drive in Washington. Learn more about her at mercy.net or call her office at 636-239-4100.

On the Sunday after Thanksgiving, we celebrated a different, but still magical Olde Fashioned Christmas event!  With a small army of volunteers, lights were hung, donated decorations were placed throughout the Main & Elm parking lot and goodies were staged along the route.

Participants received an event booklet with activities and a coloring sheet, crayons, and candy canes early in the line, and then received hot cocoa or cider and sugar cookies as they pulled in front of the Farmers' Market.  A take-home craft packet was given to children as they drove through the decoration display, and after driving past the live reindeer and Mr. & Mrs. Claus, children had a chance to leave a letter for Santa at the North Pole Post Office.

Olde Fashioned Christmas is always a free event, but this year we did encourage participants donate canned goods.  In total, 208 items and $135 were taken to Loving Hearts Outreach after the event.

Our traffic plan worked well for the 300 cars that drove through the event and we saw many excited and grateful smiles. 

​Thank you to everyone that helped make this event a success!