Subscribe today, get The Sentinel news & sports delivered to your inbox

Don't miss our latest stories and photos from the communities we serve. Get local news and views at home, at the office, or on the go with our e-subscription. Best of all its free!

The Sentinel covers news, sports, and local happenings from seven communities, which include St. Joseph, Royal, Ogden, Sidney, Tolono, Sadorus, Pesotum, Philo, and Urbana. Get daily weather, local high school sports scores, great recipes and more.

Don't miss what everyone is talking about! Sign-up below to receive your free Sentinel e-Subscription.

---

Subscribe Today

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name

Last Name

Recipe: Budget-friendly Crunchy Mushroom Wrap

Family Features -- If the prices of your favorite ingredients have you dreading the next trip to the grocery store, finding ways to stretch your budget can help you feel better at the checkout counter.

One such way: turning to versatile ingredients that help make every dollar count by using them in a variety of your family’s favorite meals. Flavorful options like mushrooms enhance recipes by extending portions when you use a process called “The Blend.” Blending finely chopped mushrooms with ground meat allows you to extend the volume of dishes like burgers, tacos, pasta, wraps and more.

Photo provided

Simply chop your desired mushroom variety to match the consistency of ground meat, blend the chopped mushrooms and meat together then cook your blend to complete the recipe. This Blended Crunchy Mushroom Wrap is a perfect example of an easy yet delicious way to take your grocery budget further.

Visit MushroomCouncil.com for more blended recipe ideas.

Blended Crunchy Mushroom Wraps

Recipe courtesy of the Mushroom Council

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Servings: 6

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 cup finely chopped yellow onion

8 ounces mushrooms, such as white button, crimini or portabella, finely chopped

1/2 pound lean ground beef

1 tablespoon taco seasoning

6 burrito-size flour tortillas (about 10 inches each)

1/3 cup nacho cheese sauce

6 tostada shells

sour cream

6 mini soft taco-size flour tortillas (about 4 1/2 inches each)

shredded lettuce

diced tomatoes

shredded Mexican cheese blend

nonstick cooking spray

Put it together

In large skillet over medium-high heat, heat olive oil.

Next, cook onions 1-2 minutes until translucent.

Add mushrooms and ground beef. Cook about 5 minutes, or until beef is no longer pink.

Stir in taco seasoning. Cook 2-3 minutes and then set aside.

Lay one large flour tortilla on flat surface. Spread 2 tablespoons mushroom-meat mixture on center of tortilla.

Drizzle dollop of nacho cheese over mushroom-meat mixture. Top meat with one tostada shell then spread thin layer of sour cream over tostada shell.

Top with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes and shredded Mexican cheese then one small tortilla. Make sure not to overstuff so wrap doesn’t break apart while cooking.

Fold edges of large tortilla toward center until completely covered. In hot skillet, generously spray with nonstick cooking spray. Carefully place wrap seam side down on skillet. Cook 2-3 minutes until golden brown.

Flip and cook other side until golden brown. Repeat with remaining mushroom-meat mixture, tortillas and toppings.

Cut wraps half and serve.

Four tips to selling your home in today's market

Photo: Francesca Tosolini/Unsplash

NAPSI -- The real estate market is cooling down: Home inventory rose 9.6% between May and June. Interest rates are up. Thirty-year mortgage rates rose to 6.29% a week ago to their highest level since October 2008. And, inflation is still a problem for much of the country.

"The housing market in Illinois is showing signs of a return to normal conditions," Daniel McMillen, Head of the UIC Stuart Handler Department of Real Estate (SHDRE) said in a housing price forecast for the state to Illinois Realtors. "Prices have declined since their peak in June, sales are declining, and foreclosures are increasing. Our prediction is that house prices will continue to decline modestly over the next few months, while the number of sales will show its usual late-year slowdown."

Consequently, potential buyers are delaying their searches and home sellers are facing some daunting challenges.

But the good news is that these challenges are not insurmountable. Amanda Zachman, founder and executive director of MV Realty in Delray Beach, Florida, offers four guidelines to help you sell your home quickly—in any market.

1. Don’t overprice your home. Many homeowners hope to capture the attention of a single buyer willing to pay an inflated listing price but they end up scaring away potential buyers. And if you do attract a buyer at the inflated price, you’ll limit your negotiating power because the buyer has no competition. A better strategy is to list your home at a price equal to or slightly below market value; homeowners who do so often start a bidding war.

The lesson: "You will likely end up with a higher sales price if you begin with a lower list price," says Zachman.

According to Redfin, last month just 37.3% of homes in Illinois sold below asking price.

2. Find a good agent. Yes, you can sell your home without an agent. But should you? The answer is a decisive “no.”

Homeowners offer 6% less than the asking price of an FSBO because they believe they are entitled to a built-in discount since no agent is involved. A seasoned, licensed agent has comprehensive knowledge of the local market and will make the selling process as lucrative, painless and surprise-free as possible.

During a recent sale, for example, Zachman noticed a charge of $6,000 from a title insurance company on the closing statement. She realized that since the sellers had purchased the home less than three years ago, they could use their last policy. Her catch eventually saved the sellers $2,000.

"It’s unlikely that an inexperienced agent would have noticed this," she remarks. To assess the experience of potential agents, Zachman recommends careful research: "Do they know your area? Have they sold other homes in your area? What customer ratings have they earned? These seem like obvious questions, but they’re easy to forget when you’re eager to start the listing process."

3. Take your time. Speaking of eagerness, don’t rush to put your home on the market if it’s not ready. "Don’t list a messy or cluttered house," Zachman cautions. "You want to make sure that it’s orderly, show-ready and professionally photographed. Cellphone photos just won’t cut it."

She adds that the listing should contain all relevant information and that homeowners are prepared to respond to an offer. According to Zachman, "the most important timeframe for a listing is the first 14 days. You need to put your best foot forward so that the listing doesn’t get stale.”

4. Prepare for short-term inconveniences. Bad news for those who hate vacuuming: Your home should stay clean throughout the listing process.

“If you’re pricing your home appropriately, you can expect many showings and some will be at the spur of the moment,” Zachman points out. “But the right price leads to a fast sale, so you won’t be inconvenienced for long. Any effort you put toward mopping floors, washing windows and making beds will be well worth it.

"There are still ample opportunities for both buyers and sellers in this market," Zachman concludes. "If you follow these guidelines, you can successfully navigate through all kinds of market cycles. So, list at a reasonable price, work with an agent experienced in your market, remember that preparation is key, and expect a few inconveniences that shouldn’t last too long. Good luck!”

Don’t list a messy or cluttered house.

~ Amanda Zachman
MV Realty

You have a new business idea, here is how to finance your dream job

Photo:NAPSI

Aaron Mulherin, owner of AM Glass, goes over company financial details with his SCORE mentor John Brockhardt. There are many options for financing a new or existing business, and a mentor can help guide you.

---

NAPSI -- If you’re wondering how to finance your startup, you’re not alone. Depending on your business, financing it can either be relatively simple, such as drawing on your personal savings, or more complex, perhaps requiring you to seek loans or investors.

Here are some common ways to finance a business, along with pros and cons to keep in mind:

Personally Finance Your Startup

In the digital age, many small businesses can be up and running with little to almost no capital, which can make financing your business with your own money more realistic.

Personally financing your business has some distinct advantages—you retain full control over your company, take on zero debt and have no loan payments to worry about.

On the flip side, you could lose money if the business doesn’t work out.

The bottom line is that if you’re willing to take on personal financial risk, using your own money is one of the most straightforward methods of funding your startup, while maintaining full control.

Ask Friends and Family For Financial Support

Help from friends and family is another common method for financing a business. This could look similar to personal financing or a private loan.

The advantages depend on the terms of the contributions. You might retain full control over your company and not have to take on debt or you may have to relinquish some control and agree to repay what you’ve received plus interest.

Take Out a Bank Loan

Banks and credit unions are another financing option. However, you’re taking on debt and will need to make regular payments on the loan, which can cut into cash flow. On the plus side, financing your business with a loan means that you retain full control of your company.

Be prepared to show a bank a business plan, expense sheets and financial projections, often for the first five years.

Securing a bank loan is a challenging process. A mentor can help you prepare a loan application, so you have the best chance of securing the loan you need.

Bring in an Outside Investor

Bringing in an outside investor is typically not a realistic option for most businesses. The experts at SCORE found that only about 2% of businesses have a business model that would interest investors.

Most often, equity investors require not only a percentage of ownership in the company but an “exit plan”—otherwise known as your plan for how they’ll recoup their investment and see a healthy return.

With an investor, though, you get relatively quick access to capital without periodic loan payments, potential access to business expertise, and connections you might lack.

If your startup requires a significant capital investment, bringing in an outside investor may be a smart option.

Rally Support Through Crowdfunding

Once considered an unconventional way to finance your business, crowdfunding is now a common method for raising startup funds.

The structure of a crowdfunding campaign depends on your platform host. The idea is to encourage small contributions from a large pool of people. Funders receive gifts for their support which usually includes the product or service you sell.

The downside to crowdfunding: it takes a lot of effort and money and failure is very public, unlike with private ventures.

Choosing the Right Financing Option is Key

As you develop your startup, connect with a SCORE mentor. They can guide you toward the right financing options for your needs and lead you on the pathway to success.

Learn more about traditional and creative ways to help your business by visitig www.score.org.

C-U Pride Fest Parade Saturday

URBANA -- The annual Champaign-Urbana Pride Fest Parade will be held this Saturday, October 1, starting at 11am in Urbana. The route will start on the corner of Busey and Green Street and head east on Green to downtown Urbana.

Judges for this year's parade are Xander Hazel, Executive Director of the Champaign Center Partnership, long-time local radio personality Diane Ducey, and Berry Stevenson, the Executive Director of the Greater Community AIDS Project. Judges will review entries as they pass from under a tent on the corner of Race and Elm.

This year's awards include the Best Float/Vehicle, Best Marching Group, and an Overall Best of Show. Winners will be announced at the Fair Stage in downtown Urbana at 12:30pm.

Parade route

The parade route will terminate near downtown Urbana at the Pride Fest Fair, which starts at noon until 4pm. In addition to live entertainment, dozens of local artists displaying their work will be onhand, informational booths for community groups about the activities or services, pop-up vendors, and food from the downtown restaurants.

For more information on Saturday's parade and Pride Week activities contact Uniting Pride of Champaign County at info@unitingpride.org.

Urbana District 116 holding Family Forum online tonight

URBANA -- The Urbana School District will host a virtual Family Forum tonight via Zoom from 6-7:30pm.

Topic for tonight's discussions, after a welcome back statement and annual review, will focus on the district's goal and the upcoming Equity Audit in October.

The upcoming Equity Audit will help identify areas of strengths and weakness within the district concerning diversity, inclusion, and deficiencies in available educational opportunities for students. Focus groups comprised of families and district staff members will be meet October 17-21.

To join tonight's zoom meeting, the first of this academic calendar year, go to https://usd116org.zoom.us/j/92586421834 on Zoom. The meeting ID is 925 8642 1834.

For more information contact the school district at https://usd116.org/admin/.

Prep Sports Notebook: Accosta scores SJO's first, Unity volleyball drops heartbreaker

---

Schweighart, Atkins net 6 kills each

Unity's Emmalee Atkins and Kaitlyn Schweighart put away six kills each in the team's home match against St. Teresa on Monday. Their effort was not enough for the Rockets, who fell to the visiting Bulldogs, 2-1.

JJ LeFaivre, who recorded one block, contributed five kills to the UHS cause. Schweighart also had 11 digs and hammered four aces in the non-conference clash.

The Rockets won the opening set 26-24 and then dropped the next two, 25-17, 25-23.

---

Spartans crush visiting Tribe

The St. Joseph-Ogden soccer team went on a first-half rampage, scoring three goals in the first half of their home match against Judah Christian on their way to a 4-0 victory on Monday.

Sophomore Alex Accosta started scoring effort with an unassisted shot between the post. Later, Aiden Cromwell booted one in to put SJO up, 2-0. Before the midgame break, Ryker Lockhart's pass allowed Collin Thomey to join the goal party.

Will Childers, a senior defensive specialist, also recorded a second-half assist after sophomore Logan Mills found the net for the fourth unanswered score of the game.

The win kicks off a grueling schedule for the Spartans (10-3-1), who play five-consecutive matches this week, four at home. This afternoon, SJO will host Central Catholic from Bloomington for a conference confrontation and are back on the pitch on Wednesday for a non-conference bout against Iroquois West.

On Thursday, the soccer team travels to Rantoul to face the Eagles and back at home again on Friday for a varsity-only match against St. Anne.

---

Unity loses soccer match, 7-0

In non-conference action on Monday, the Unity soccer team was shut out 7-0 by the Fisher Bunnies. The Rockets travel to Stanford today to take on the Spartans of Olympia high school in another non-league match.

---

City of Urbana application window open for government rescue plan dollars

URBANA -- Applications for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds available through the City of Urbana are accepted now through November 16. Urbana has $12.97 million to distribute to help those affected by the Coronavirus pandemic that started in March 2020.

"The city is seeking applications for organizations that will provide services meeting the funding goals. Rather than households or businesses seeking individual assistance, applicants should be organizations who will use the funds to facilitate one of the funding goals," according to the City of Urbana website.

The goals include:

Public Health and Safety

Improve accessibility of public recreation space and youth programming
Increase support for community violence interventions

Adequate and Affordable Housing

Reduce housing costs for those that need it most

Human Rights and Social Services

Increase availability and affordability of mental health services
Increase availability and affordability of food

Economic Recovery and Development

Increase job training and placement opportunities
Provide relief and support for local businesses

Sustainable Infrastructure

Invest in infrastructure to increase community health, safety, and future resilience

In the city's distribution plan, individuals or families that need help paying rent or businesses desiring assistance covering their expenses do not qualify for the program. Instead, funding from the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) program, a component of the ARPA passed in March 2021, will be given to organizations with programs that assist with individual housing or provide small business assistance. There is no minimum or maximum funding amount, and the money can be utilized to cover expenses necessary to meet the city's stated goals.

Participating organizations can use the money for "facility investments, personnel, direct assistance to community members, internal capacity building, and administrative costs."

To apply for funding go to https://ccrpc.gitlab.io/urbana-arpa/apply/.

Rogers named interim president at OSF HealthCare Heart of Mary Medical Center

URBANA -- OSF HealthCare Heart of Mary Medical Center named Erin Rogers, MBA, interim president for the Urbana healthcare facility. Effective today, she replaces Dr.Jared Rogers, who recently retired.

In her new role she will be responsible for aligning the Heart of Mary Center with OSF HealthCare's corporate vision. She will direct internal operations to ensure that high-quality, cost-effective health care is will always be received by patients.

Photo provided

"I look forward to carrying forward a culture of collaboration and integration that provides a safe and supportive environment for patients and Mission Partners [employees]," Rogers said. "I'm excited about the vision for the future at OSF Heart of Mary and am committed to embracing the Catholic health care heritage and supporting the Sisters’ Mission of serving with the greatest care and love."

Joining the OSF HealthCare in 2017, Rogers recently served as regional director of business development. Before tenure with the OSF HealthCare Ministry, Rogers spent many years in operations and posesses certification as a Medical Practice Executive. With her ability to build strategic relationships and maintain them, the board of directors anticipates further growth of services provided to the Champaign-Urbana community and the county.

Rogers earned her Bachelor of Science degree at Illinois State University. She continued her education pursuing a Master of Education in Early Childhood Special Education Administration from the University of Illinois and then returned to ISU, where she was awarded with a Master of Business Administration.

Guest Commentary: If today was the last day of your life, how would you live it?

by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator

---

---

Life is one day at a time. You don’t have tomorrow. You hope for tomorrow but it’s not guaranteed. We plan for tomorrow. We save for tomorrow and look forward to tomorrow.

Today is what we have. If today is the last day of your life, how is it going? If you knew for sure, how would you want to spend your last precious 24 hours? You wouldn’t be planning next year’s vacation. No, you would want to get in all that you could possibly do. Only you know for sure how you would want to spend your day and everyone is different. Maybe you would spend your day with loved ones or maybe you would want to be strolling in the mountains or by the oceanside. Maybe you would want to spend your day eating ice cream, hamburgers and pizza. If it’s your last day then why not?

I like ice cream, hamburgers and pizza but my doctor doesn’t recommend them as a daily diet because of the hopes of tomorrow. There are ways that we can shorten our days and too much of what we enjoy is not always very good for us.

Since life is one day at a time, we can’t go back and repeat yesterday. All the good you did is in the past. All the mistakes you made are in the past. You can spend the rest of your life wishing you could repeat high school, college or an old relationship. Actually, you are better off if you don’t sit around and think about it all the time. It’s good to remember the good memories of family, friends, life’s successes and joys but they are in the past. This often makes us sad because we know we can’t relive some of those great moments of life. It’s best to give thanks for them and move forward.

Today is a good day to make some more memories – good ones. Living your life today regardless of what you are doing is the life you have. Make the best of it by enjoying your life. Do what you enjoy. Be good to yourself. Don’t beat up on yourself. Don’t live your life fighting with others. Do your work. Find joy in your work or move on to a work that you do enjoy. Find ways to reduce stress and to be happy.

Keep in mind that you can’t make everyone else happy and don’t take on everyone else’s problems. You probably have enough of your own.

Be patient. All good things take time if they are worthwhile.

Finally, just in case you do live a bunch more years, live today in such a way, that you can look back to today and remember it as a good day.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Dr. Glenn Mollette is a syndicated American columnist and author of Grandpa's Store, American Issues, and ten other books. He is read in all 50 states. The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization.

-----------------------------------------------------------

This article is the sole opinions of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of The Sentinel. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Finance, econ students have just a few days left to sign-up for annual futures trading competition

NewsUSA -- It’s that time of year again: CME Group, the world’s leading derivatives exchange, is calling on college students with an interest in finance to team up and try their hand at futures trading. Registration for its 19th annual University Trading Challenge is now open through Thursday, September 29, and there is no cost to enter.

Photo: Adam Nowakowski/Unsplash

As part of the innovative competition, teams of three to five graduate and undergraduate students from the same university are invited to learn expert techniques using a real-time, simulated trading platform provided by CQG, a leading provider of financial markets technology solutions.

Participants will trade CME Group futures and options contracts across the exchange’s main asset classes -- including interest rates, equity indices, foreign exchange, energy, agricultural products, metals and crypto.

CME Group will also provide students with educational content and market commentary, in addition to live market data and premium news articles from Dow Jones and The Hightower Report.

This year’s challenge officially kicks off on Sunday, October 2 and concludes on Friday, October 28.

"The many uncertainties in today's global economies are driving increased interest in and demand for hedging and risk management strategies," says Anita Liskey, Global Head of Brand Marketing and Communications at CME Group. "We encourage all university students who want to learn about derivatives markets and test their trading skills to participate in this unique, hands-on educational experience."

Each eligible member of the winning team will receive a $2,000 cash prize*. Additional prizes will be awarded for second through fifth place.

Student participants will also have the opportunity to attend CME Group’s Day of Market Education. This one-day forum will provide them with an exclusive look into CME Group and the derivatives industry.

CME Group is committed to educating the next generation of finance professionals on the significance of its global derivatives markets and risk management. In addition to interactive events such as the University Trading Challenge, CME Group also partners with other industry organizations to offer educational tools, such as Futures Fundamentals, a one-stop educational resource that explains the role of futures markets in everyday life. Through interactive features and rich content, the site provides risk management education for learners of all levels and helps simplify complex market topics.

To register and view details on eligibility, rules, regulations and requirements, please visit: https://www.cmegroup.com/events/university-trading-challenge/2022-trading-challenge.html.

For social media updates throughout the competition, make sure to follow #TradingChallenge2022. *Eligibility to receive competition prizes is only open to residents in the United States (US), Canada (CA) excluding Quebec, United Kingdom (UK), Germany (DE), Netherlands (NL), Switzerland (CH), Republic of Korea (KR), Taiwan (TW), and Japan (JP).