Locally First Union County

09/09/2026

🎬 MEET THE DREAM TEAM-ish 🎬
Also known as: the four people behind Simple & Sweet who apparently looked at their already-full schedules and said, “You know what sounds fun? Opening a business.” 😂
ERIC MASSEY
Director of Procurement at SIUC.
Local musician. Lead vocals for Diamond Dog. One half of Steve & Eric Dueling Pianos.
Basically, if he’s not buying something, pricing something, or singing something, we assume he’s asleep.
Frequently heard saying:
“Do we really need that?”
Usually about 30 seconds after Jennifer has already ordered it.
JENNIFER MASSEY
Family & Consumer Science teacher at Anna-Jonesboro High School.
Baker. Dreamer. Idea generator. Professional overcommitter.
Has never met a simple project she couldn’t turn into a full-scale production.
Frequently heard saying:
“Okay, but hear me out…”
Those five words are responsible for most of this business.
REAGAN SCHERER
U.S. Navy veteran and Special Education teacher at Anna-Jonesboro High School.
Daughter of Eric and Jennifer.
She’s survived military life, teaching, and being raised in this family, so honestly, opening a restaurant probably feels like a light hobby. 😂
MACKENZIE SCHERER
Small Business Development Center Director at Shawnee Community College and member of the Union County Chamber of Commerce Board.
The one person in this group who literally helps small businesses for a living.
Naturally, we sometimes treat her professional advice like a strongly worded suggestion. 😂
Between the four of us, we bring education, procurement, business development, military experience, community involvement, live music, too many opinions, way too many ideas, and a rapidly growing pile of receipts.
Our organizational chart looks something like this:
Jennifer: “I have an idea.”
Eric: “What does it cost?”
Mackenzie: “We should probably run the numbers.”
Reagan: “Here we go again.”
And somehow… Simple & Sweet is becoming real.
We’re building a place for good food, sweet treats, ice cream, friends, family, laughter, and memories right here in downtown Anna.
Will we agree on everything? No.
Will Jennifer stop adding things? Also no.
Will Eric sing in the kitchen? Probably.
Will Mackenzie eventually make us act like a real business? We’ll see. 😂
Stay tuned.
Simple & Sweet
Made for Moments Worth Sharing. 🍪🍦

09/09/2026

09/04/2026

If you knew how many small business owners are quietly wondering how much longer they can keep going it might surprise you.

So many small businesses are struggling right now.
Behind the pretty pictures, the products on the shelves, and the packages being shipped is often a family doing everything they can to keep a dream alive.

supporting a business doesn’t always mean spending money.
- Share their post.
- Leave a comment.
- Tag a friend who might love what they make.
- Post a picture of something you’ve purchased.
- Leave a review.
- Tell someone about them.

Those things cost nothing, but to a small business, they can mean everything.
They help us reach someone we could never reach on our own. They remind us that what we’re doing matters and sometimes, on the really hard days, they give us the encouragement to keep showing up.

I’m not posting this just for my business.
I’m posting it for the boutique owner, the florist, baker, farmer, family restaurant, lumber yard, maker etc

If there’s a small business you want to see still standing a year from now, don’t wait until they’re gone to tell everyone how much you loved them.
Show them some love now. Pray for them and their families. Support them in anyway possible.
We all need each other right now.

08/27/2026

Need an excuse to buy some books?!?!📚

08/27/2026

08/25/2026

Janice’s Creations have returned to the Square! 🛍️✨

08/25/2026

Here’s your prescription: treat yourself. 💊✨