NOVEMBER 11TH, 2020
"How important it is for us to recognize
and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!"

- Maya Angelou
HONOR means to regard with great respect.

This patriotic sentiment is near and dear to me. With two older brothers who both served in the military, I have an appreciation for what serving our country can mean. It can mean being thousands of miles away in the belly of a ship or on an Iraqi sand dune celebrating Christmas. It can mean expanding who you call family and adopting a larger unit that includes the men and women who eat, sleep and fight along side you. It can mean coming home to family and friends that seem unchanged, knowing that for better or worse,
you will never be the same.

In the year's while my brother's served our county, my world continued to pass by with all the luxuries of home. I went about my day as usual, while men and women all over the world fought to maintain my privilege of personal freedom. I will never be able to fully understand the bond formed when one commits to active duty and puts our country, our people and their safety, and our measurement of greatness before that of their own life. But what I can understand and embrace is gratitude. I can be grateful and HONOR those who made, and who continue to make, the bold and brave decision to go and do what is necessary for the betterment of our nation.
And for that I say, Thank You!
Thank you to the 17.4 million Veterans who reside in the United States.
And Thank You to the 1.3 million individuals who are actively serving
in the U.S. Military.

Today the Elkhorn Chamber would also like to recognize and
say THANK YOU to our local Veterans!
We stand and applaud your efforts for the time you served our county and we continue to applaud your efforts while your serve our community.

THANK YOU...

Brian Madl
Edge Broadband
Navy - 2001-2004

Lawrence Gaffey
Walworth County Fairgrounds
Army 1983-1986

Thomas Kegley
Sperino's Loyal Supporter!
Marine Corps 2008-2012, Afghanistan 2012

Larry Green
Habitat for Humanity Walworth County
Army 1969-1972

Michael A. Lange
Wedige Automotive
Navy 1967-1971

Michael Ranson*
Ranson Electric, Inc.
Navy 1996-2000

Daniel Ranson*
Kunes Country Commercial Trucks
Army 1998-2009 Operation Iraqi Freedom Tour I, III & IV

Jacob Swatek
Welcome Home!
Marine Corps 2010-2020

Christopher Phillips
Shorewest Realty

Ben Swatek
Department of Homeland Security
Marine Corps
2009-2017

Steve Yardley
Team Peacemakers

Ray Alberth
Westenn Mechanical
Army 1989-1991

David Dresdow
Photographer - Elkhorn Independent

Joe Etten
Local Farmer

John Giese
Retired Elkhorn Police Chief

Bob Cornelison
Elkhorn Chamber Volunteer Extraordinaire

Jim Boardman
Walworth County Historical Society

Willis Loveless
Retired Elkhorn Police Office

Matt Belanus
EASD

And to the men and women who are not listed, we say Thank You!
It's our honor to call you co-workers, neighbors, family and friends!
Keep smiling, keep sanitizing, and stay safe!

The Elkhorn Chamber
*Submitted by Kate Abbe: proud little sister

If you or a veteran you know can benefit from speaking with the Veterans Service Office of Walworth County, please click below to learn more about the benefits offered in our county.
REMINDER:
The Elkhorn Chamber and it's staff continue to provide weekly
e-blasts for all of our newsletter subscribers and chamber partners. If you have business updates or events to share please send to Kate Abbe at kate@elkhornchamber.com. Let us help you continue to grow and engage with the Elkhorn community and surrounding areas!
If you or a business you know are in need of assistance please reach out
CHAMBER UPDATES
December 4th, 2020
7pm-9pm
(immediately following the tree lighting downtown Elkhorn)

Located at the WALWORTH COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS

Join us for a .5 mile drive-thru festival of lights at the fairgrounds. There will be whimsical work stations for Santa’s favorite helpers, music and cheer provided by local favorites and a Santa-Station with the jolly man in red himself that will spark the magic of Christmas. Children are invited to bring their letters to Santa as there will be a special mailbox with straight to the North Pole express service. Guests must remain in their vehicles, unless using restrooms.
This is a “give-back” county wide celebration to ensure that all households in Walworth County have a bright and cheery holiday season!
If you would like to be involved in the production:
Gather the family and decorate a tree along Balsam Boulevard!
LIMITED NUMBER of Family Glow Trees available with $25 donation.
39TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARADE!
December 5th, 2020
1:30PM
2020 CHRISTMAS CARD TOWN ORNAMENTS ARE HERE!!!
Stop by the Elkhorn Chamber
to get the latest decoration for the holidays!
COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS
For the past many, many years, HOPE NOW of Elkhorn and the Elkhorn School District have coordinated food and gift assistance for families in need during the Holidays. In order to limit exposure of our donors, volunteers and families to households outside their own, we will be requesting donations of food cards and store gift cards. HOPE NOW kindly requests the donation of grocery gift cards and store gift cards (ex. Piggly Wiggly, Aldi, WalMart, Target, Kohl’s).

Gift cards will be distributed to families in need based on family size. 
VETERAN'S DAY PROGRAM
 1:00 P.M. NOVEMBER 11, 2020

PRESENTED BY
Walworth County Historical Society
and American Legion Post 45
                        
VETERANS DAY PROGRAM
@ HERITAGE HALL 
103 E. Rockwell St, Elkhorn
COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVE
SPONSORED BY WCHRA

NOVEMBER 18TH: 2PM-7PM
NEW Location: Associated Bank Community Room,
10 N. Lincoln Street, Elkhorn
LIVE EVENTS RETURN TO
YOUNG AUDITORIUM!

Be one of the first to attend a live concert this season at Young Auditorium! We’re re-
opening our doors for two private, limited-seat, socially distanced benefit concerts to help raise funds for

Whitewater food pantries. Join us as the Irish musicians and dancers of Derek Byrne and Paddygrass bring the
Young Auditorium stage back to life - Saturday, November 14th - 5:00pm & 7:30pm shows!
DONATIONS ACCEPTED AT THE
ELKHORN CHAMBER!

The Big Bundle Up is once again taking over Wisconsin and we’re looking for your help collecting warm winter items for those in need. This year’s campaign will run Thursday, November 5, 2020 through Tuesday, January 5, 2021. 
JOIN US TO CELEBRATE THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF PROHIBITION!
@ OLD WORLD WISCONSIN
Buy your ticket for this exclusive VIRTUAL event complete with music, cocktails, fashion, games, and insight into next season at Old World Wisconsin. With your ticket, you will receive a Party in a Box complete with recipes, cocktail kit with all of the ingredients to make the demonstrated cocktail (except the alcohol, you will need to purchase that yourself), a prohibition game, replica pin-on buttons proclaiming your opposition to prohibition, popular candy/sweets from the 1930’s, and a balsa wood plane kit.
GROWTH THROUGH GRIEF
NOVEMBER 18TH - 6PM
The Elkhorn Resilience Coalition and Walworth County Human Services invite you to a panel discussion "Growth Through Grief." Listen to a panel of four, who have lost a child, a spouse, a parent, and grandparent—and have found their resilience to grow through their grief and empower the legacy of the loss. WalCo Human Services moderator, LeeAnn Jackson, will guide you through the different forms of grief, help answer questions, and share resources as the holidays approach.

You are not alone, our community thrives together.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m., limit 75.
Social distancing protocols in place. Masks required.
BUSINESS UPDATES
GRANT DEADLINE APPROACHING!



Grants are awarded to support historical and environmental preservation, education, health care, youth programs and the elderly. The Fund is advised by a board of community volunteers who initiate fundraising activities and determine grant awards. Once per year the advisory board awards grants to non-profit organizations, the local school district, and/or local government agencies for charitable programs or projects serving the good of the community.
Elkhorn Fund Logo small
LEARN & GROW
Preventing Infection with
Good Hand Hygiene
No place can be completely free of germs – even hospitals and other health care settings. But you can partner with your caregivers and take steps to lessen the presence of germs. Hand hygiene plays a major role in preventing the spread of diseases.
JOIN THE TEAM!
JOIN THE L'BRI TEAM!
THRIVENT is GROWING!

Know someone like a coach, pastor or teacher who is energized by helping people reach their goals? What about someone who’s motivated to run their own business or wants to make an impact in their communities?
COVID-19 UPDATES
Walworth County COVID-19 Phased Guidance 
This document provides broad guidance for recovery from COVID-19 in our community. Walworth County encourages organizations and individuals to consider this guidance and apply it where able. Organizations should feel empowered to implement solutions that best meet their needs and should develop plans to adjust practices in the event of another rise in COVID-19 cases.
Fear of Coronavirus Continues to Hammer U.S. Travel Industry 
According to the most recent Longwoods International tracking study of American travelers, about half of American travelers say fear of spreading or contracting COVID-19 is preventing them from taking trips. Beyond fears of spreading or contracting COVID-19, American travelers are hindered from taking trips by unclear health and safety protocols (37%) and personal health concerns (36%). Only 13% of American travelers have no hesitations about traveling.