Thanks to those who purchased tickets for The Melting Plot, the musical comedy at my daughter, Lian’s, school. We open this Thursday! Panino’s Pizzeria will be selling pizza on opening night so you can have ‘dinner and a play’. Liberty Bank is a show sponsor which is perfect since the Statue of Liberty is a main character! We’re still selling tickets – the 7 shows are 2/25 to 2/28 and 3/5 to 3/6. $8 ticket – and its a family show! Ben Wilson, Falkor Group, plays Mayor Yankee Doodle Dandy; Cindy Clark from the Chamber and I both play moms and we’re all singing and dancing. There’s an Italian family and a French family, a donkey family and elephant family… you’ll be rolling in the aisles!!! Email me for the ticket form and I’ll send it to you!
We have another busy week planned – read on to find out about the new member orientation, business after hours and Women in Business – all this week!
And, CONGRATULATIONS to Dorothy Brownstein at the Chamber who just celebrated 10 years with the Chamber!
Come to 720 Garden Street this Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. for the Chamber’s Monthly Business After Hours Networking event!
Our host is the Park Ridge Community Fund. It will also be a ribbon cutting with Mayor Schmidt and other City officials plus the Chamber Board and Ambassadors and YOU are invited!
All on the Road Catering & Bakery will provide the appetizers. Many fun things are scheduled and, of course, there will be lots of networking!
There were a lot of people at the Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting for ATI Physical Therapy, 951 W. Touhy Avenue last week! I bet around 40 came out to celebrate the opening and ribbon cutting. As usual, Barb at All on the Road Catering & Bakery did a fabulous job with the food! Diddy Blyth, A Sterling Design, took tons of pictures while Mayor Schmidt cut the ribbon. Pictures are posted on our website and also on www.triblocal.com.
February 23, Tuesday, 9:00am – 10:00am New Member Orientation, Chamber Office at 720 Garden Street – All new members are invited to this Ambassador Reception to meet the Chamber Ambassadors, Chamber Executive Director, a Board of Directors Representative and other new members. Get your questions answered and discover how to maximize your membership investment.
We have 17 new members attending the Ambassador’s Orientation! Here they are:
1 Jon Beaty ATI Physical Therapy
2 Stephanie Avelar Dentalplans.com
3 Joe Campagna Grant Merchant Services
4 Joe Dydio Houlihan’s Restaurant
5 Angela LaRue Integrity Physical Therapy
6 Sue Irmo Irmo Insurance Agency, Inc.
7 Nicole Bujewski Le Flour Bake Shop
8 John Mackin Mackin Associates
9 Anne Stephens Meeting Professionals Expectations
10 Karen Black Messiah Lutheran Child Care Center
11 Carole Crawford Minuteman Press of Deerfield
12 Maria A. Renella Mortgage Banker
13 Sue Mellin Rabjohns Financial Group
14 Joanna Czapla Subway of Park Ridge
15 Jeff Nathanson The Heartland Group
16 Margo Jacquot The Juniper Center
17 Mary Tremont The Moorings of Arlington Heights
Tomorrow is going to be a busy morning! Right after the new member orientation is the non-compete leads and referral networking group, Park Ridge Executive Network (PREN 2), which will meet from 10:30 to 11:30 and several of the new members will stay to try it out.
If you stay and find out there is already someone who has been in PREN 2 in your profession, you can observe but won’t be able to discuss your business. We may have enough people to start a 3rd group. We should have competitions between the PREN groups!
February 26, Friday, 8:00 am – 9:30 am Women in Business Networking Breakfast Chamber Office at 720 Garden Street – Speaker Kim Uhlig, Economic Development Director, "What’s Happening with Park Ridge Business and City Hall".
Catered by All On The Road Catering and Bakery. $10 Members; $15 Prospective Members.
March 3, Wednesday, 9:00am – 10:00am Marketing Subcommittee of the Retail Committee Meeting Chamber Office, 720 Garden Street
March 4, Thursday, 10:00am – 11:30am (EKG) Entrepreneurial Knowledge Group MonthlyMeeting, Regus, 350 S. NW Highway, Suite 300 – A group for new and emerging entrepreneurs.
Please send me news about your business so I can send it out to 600 member contacts! People always tell me how much they enjoy reading about what’s going on each week. Just stick it in an email so I can copy and paste without re-writing or editing it.
Karen Anderson, Dental Auxiliary Placement Service, Inc., who is the Immediate Past President for the Chamber Board, and her husband, Kent, won the silent auction prize at the Annual Installation Dinner which was dinner with the mayor. Last week they had dinner at Affresco with Mayor Dave Schmidt! They said everything was wonderful!
Tasty Pup at 49 Summit Avenue is selling Pepper and Egg sandwiches everyday for Lent!
Happy belated birthday to Chris Valentine who’s birthday was Feb. 14!!!
Also, Chris serves on the board for the Park Ridge Teen Center and asked if anyone might have a vacuum cleaner that they're not using and may want to donate to the PR Teen Center.
If so please let Chris or Kerry (Teen Center) know. Kerry's phone # is 847-696-9211 & Chris’s office # 847-824-9922. Thank You!
Chris Valentine, Financial Advisor , Edward Jones
A new development for one of our Chamber members - Park Ridge moms, Nina Taluc and Jean Lemke creators and founders of Kidwinks.com discuss Indoor Play Areas on WGN's Midday News segment Focus On The Family. To view the video click here.
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kidwinks.com
The site to know with kids in tow
As seen on ABC, WGN, FOX & NBC
Spring training doesn’t just apply to baseball. Get your business ready for this year’s campaign by learning new skills at Oakton Community College. With reasonably-priced classes at under $300 each, Oakton offers a variety of business courses that will level the competition this season.
Prepare for the growth opportunities ahead by improving your promotional techniques through a marketing course at Oakton. Several seven-week courses begin in March, including: Principles of Marketing (MKT 131); Advanced Public Relations and Special Events (MKT 244); Green Events Planning (MKT 263); Integrated Marketing Communications (MKT 270); and Brand Marketing (MKT 271).
To better captain your team, sharpen leadership skills with a management class at Oakton. Courses beginning in March include: Principles of Management (MGT 121); Supervisory Development (MGT 140); Intro to TWL (MGT 156); Effective Leadership (MGT 225); Managing Diversity in the Workplace (MGT 232); and Employee Staffing and Selection (MGT 266).
Registration for these courses is going on now. For details, contact Sue Cisco, chair of marketing and management, at scisco@oakton.edu. A comprehensive list of other available courses can be found at www.oakton.edu/late_start/late_spr10.pdf.
Mega Connect Multi-Chamber Networking Lunch With the DBR, Des Plaines, Glenview, Glencoe, Highland Park, Mt. Prospect, Niles, Northfield, Park Ridge, Skokie, Wheeling/Prospect Heights, Wilmette, Winnetka and Chicago Area Gay & Lesbian Chambers of Commerce
Thursday, March 18•11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Bristol Court Banquets, 828 E. Rand Road, Mount Prospect (beside Brunswick bowling alley)
RSVP and Payment Due by 5 p.m. Thursday, March 11
Member Pre-Registration Fee: $25 ($35 after 5 p.m. March 11); Non-Member Fee: $35
Walk-ins strongly discouraged and may not be accommodated!
• Multiply your networking potential! Chamber members from the 14 chambers will have the chance to promote their businesses to an expanded audience.
• Members looking for a productive networking experience will enjoy the structured format of this program. It gives each participant an opportunity to speak to a receptive audience about his/her company’s products and services.
• The event will begin with informal networking over lunch. After that, the group will be divided into small groups at assigned tables where each gives a 2-minute presentation on his/her firm. Following will be an additional presentation to a second and third group of participants. In addition, everyone will receive a contact list of pre-registered participants. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to expand your reach and resources!
• Please note that table assignments will begin promptly at 11:45 a.m. If you are not there by 11:45 a.m., your space may be given away to another participant and you will need to check-in at the “Late Registration Table.” Please arrive on time to get the most out of your networking experience!
District 64 Elementary Learning Foundation (ELF): It’s Party Time!!!
Join ELF for a day of fun at Party Time Palace Family Entertainment Center on Friday, March 12th between 11am and 9pm for a fun family activity for all ages. Party Time Palace is an indoor party and play center featuring inflatables, laser tag, Chicago style miniature golf, inflatable bull riding, spacewalk, prize games, 40’ electric train, toddler activities, food and drink, awesome prizes and more.
It’s simple – no advance reservations or purchase needed. When you arrive at Party Time Palace you can select which family special package you would like to buy or simply purchase game tokens or attraction tickets based on what your child or family wants to do at this exciting entertainment center. In advance, visit their website at www.partytimepalace.com or call 847-437-3100. Their address is 723 West Golf Road in Des Plaines.
Party Time Palace is owned by District 64 family, and they are donating 25% of net proceeds from this day to ELF which in turn benefits the students of District 64!
Questions? Contact Marci Derrick, ELF Trustee, at marciderrick@yahoo.com.
CARDINAL FITNESS DONATES TO HAITI RELIEF: Helping Those In Times of Despair
Cardinal Fitness is in the process of donating over 2,000 cases of bottled water to those devastated by the recent earthquake in Haiti. As a community-focused fitness center, Cardinal Fitness hopes to spread health and replenishment in this time of need. By partnering with Friends of the Orphans, a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the lives of orphaned, abandoned and disadvantaged children in Latin America and the Caribbean, Cardinal Fitness will transport the 34 pallets of water to where it is needed in Haiti.
"Friends of the Orphans and Cardinal Fitness have partnered during this time to help in the Haitian relief efforts. Cardinal Fitness has donated over two thousand cases of fresh water and we are encouraging our communities, members, friends, and business partners to join us in this effort by making monetary donations at www.friendsoftheorphans.org. Even the smallest donations are a tremendous help," said Emilie McClughen, Cardinal Fitness director of marketing. “We would also like to thank our friends at Dr. Pepper/Snapple for providing the water to us at floor cost and DHL’s assistance in delivering the water. They helped make this possible.”
For more information on Cardinal Fitness’s efforts and how you can help, please visit cardinalfitness.com. Cardinal Fitness fans can follow us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/cardinalfitness) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/cardinalfitness). Also, please visit www.friendsoftheorphans.org to donate to the relief effort.
(scroll down if there is a break here!)
About Cardinal Fitness
Cardinal Fitness is a state-of-the-art fitness center that offers memberships for only $19.95 per month. Memberships are month-to-month with no long-term contracts. As one of the fastest-growing health club chains in the Midwest, members enjoy access to more than 50 locations.
About Friends of the Orphans
A 40-year-old nonprofit organization with six regional offices in the United States, Friends of the Orphans supports a network of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH, Spanish for “Our Little Brothers and Sisters”) homes and their outreach programs in nine Latin American and Caribbean countries. Together, Friends of the Orphans and NPH transform the lives of orphaned, abandoned and disadvantaged children by creating families for life through values of unconditional love, shared responsibility and education. This enables children to transcend poverty and grow into caring and productive members of their communities.
Since its founding in 1954, NPH has assisted nearly 16,000 children and currently cares for more than 3,300 in Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Peru. NPH outreach programs, including the only free pediatric hospital in Haiti, serve more than 30,000 children and adults each year. By making a difference in the lives of the children through volunteer and donation opportunities, our supporters’ lives are enhanced as well.
The Park Ridge Fine Arts Society proudly celebrates 2010 as milestone for "50 Years of Summer Concert".
Emily Kosaka, Dennis Van Mieghm, Dan Aranda, Dawn Himley-Grandi and the rest of The Park Ridge Fine Arts Society Board (PRFAS) are proud to announce the celebration of 50 Years of Concerts in Hodges Park this year.
"Save the Date". The Park Ridge Symphony Orchestra will play and honor the 50 year anniversary and the special people of the City of Park Ridge Friday July 16, 2010. We will also celebrate this milestone at Our Annual Fundraiser Benefit Saturday, November 6, 2010 at the Park Ridge Country Club.
"Mark your calendars and Save the Date". We welcome memorabilia, ideas and help for this milestone year. Please email prfas@yahoo.com if any questions, or contact one of our board members.
Park Ridge Community Fair Connect. Volunteer. Explore
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Sponsored by the Park Ridge Public Library
Is your organization looking for a way to showcase the many services it provides? Would your group benefit from an opportunity to tap into the resources and talents of residents and other community organizations? Is so, please plan to participate in a Community Fair being sponsored by the Park Ridge Public Library as part of our celebration of National Library Week. This year’s theme, “Communities Thrive @ your Library”, provides an ideal opportunity for the Library to partner with community organizations in support of the vital role these organizations play in making Park Ridge a thriving, vibrant community. We hope that your organization will participate.
The fair will be held on Saturday, April 24, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to Noon. To accommodate as many participants as possible, tables for the fair will be set up in both the Large Meeting Room and on the Second Floor. Some organizations will need to share tables. Table locations and the sharing of tables will be assigned based on the order that registrations are received. We will email you to confirm your attendance and send a parking map closer to the date of the fair.
Each fair participant will have table space available for displays and handouts. Some wall space can also be made available. We expect the fair to be well attended; please have at least 100 brochures to distribute.
We would like you to be represented at this year’s Community Fair. If you have any questions, please contact Angela Berger at (847) 720-3202.
We hope to hear from you by March 15. As part of the fair, we will be distributing a booklet with information on each participating organization. If you would like to attend or have your organization’s information in the booklet, fill out the following survey by March 15:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RWHDFMD
The deadline for ads in The Center's 3/6/10 program has been extended to 2/22/10. Very affordable costs are $100 full page, $50 1/2 page and $25 1/4 page. For more benefit info, visit our website at www.centerofconcern.org. Your support will be most appreciated!
The Center of Concern
1580 No. Northwest Hwy., Suite 310
Park Ridge IL 60068
847/823-0453 x138
fax 847/824-8437
Security Tip from Bill Hominick, The Youth Campus
Graffiti is Everyone’s Problem…
Graffiti costs American communities more than $8 billion per year. It hurts property values, drives away business, and sends the message that nobody cares about the community. Graffiti is a gang’s way of marking its perceived territory. Graffiti is everybody’s problem. Here’s what you can do to help.
Report It
◗ Report graffiti immediately. The sooner it is reported, the sooner it can be removed.
◗ If you see graffiti in progress, report it—don’t try to intervene. Call the police. Some places have graffiti hotlines or tiplines, which usually, like the police offer anonymity to people reporting crimes.
◗ Encourage everyone in the community to report graffiti as soon as it happens.
◗ Contact the property owner whose building has been vandalized by graffiti. Stress the importance of quick cleanup. Form a neighborhood group to help property owners clean up graffiti quickly.
◗ Take a photo of the graffiti. It may provide information that will lead to identification of the vandal.
Remove It
◗ Removing graffiti promptly is the best way to prevent it. Prompt, persistent removal usually results in a nearly zero rate of recurrence. Before any graffiti removal begins, however, find out whether the police want to photograph it as evidence.
◗ Some communities paint a mural over the graffiti if the site is suitable. Involve the community in painting a mural to celebrate the history of the community or its diversity. (Ask local paint companies to donate the supplies.) Vandals seldom put graffiti on murals.
◗ When painting over graffiti, save some of the paint for touchups in the event of future vandalism.
◗ Some municipal governments have guidelines for removing graffiti. Check with your local government. In some jurisdictions, property owners are given a certain time period in which they must remove graffiti, after which a violation can be issued.
◗ Look in the Yellow Pages (under “Graffiti Removal”) or on the Web for companies that specialize in cleaning up graffiti.
Prevent It
◗ Rapid removal is one of the best ways to prevent future graffiti. Removing graffiti tells the vandals that people care about the community and that their work has little chance of being seen.
◗ Plain smooth surfaces invite graffiti. For walls, choose patterned and rough concrete surfaces
or tiled or mosaic surfaces; for fences, use chain, lattice, or wooden picket fences.
◗ Choose paints and coatings to deter graffiti. Dark colors make graffiti harder to see. Anti-graffiti
coatings are available as well. A sacrificial coating is one that can be easily removed if graffiti artists strike. A protective coating can be easily cleaned.
◗ Plant trees, shrubs, or climbing vines to restrict access to tempting walls. Plants with thorns or
strong scents are good deterrents.
◗ Use good lighting to deter vandals from popular graffiti sites.
◗ Encourage community groups to adopt a wall or area to keep it clean, well maintained, and graffiti free.
◗ Encourage local merchants who sell paint and painting supplies to become responsible retailers. Responsible retailers observe existing laws against selling spray paint and broad
tipped markers to customers under the age of 18 and do not display these items where they might be vulnerable to shoplifting. They post warning signs about the penalties for graffiti vandalism.
◗ Coordinate a graffiti awareness campaign in your community. Educate potential graffiti artists about the legal consequences of graffiti vandalism: the vandal’s driver’s license may be suspended, and fines—or even jail time—may be the result of future offenses. Victims of graffiti may sue the perpetrator’s parents, and the parents may be fined or ordered to provide restitution.
◗ Encourage anyone you think might be tempted to do graffiti to check out art schools instead or to get involved by doing posters, murals, and other art projects at their schools.
◗ Like our Merchant’s Association Newsletter, Involve the media. Distribute information about the harm graffiti vandalism can do to a community. But caution them not to display the work. Graffiti vandals want their work to be seen and publicizing graffiti only encourages them.
◗ Contact Keep America Beautiful (www.kab.org) to see what you can do to make your community beautiful and crime free
The news below was run in last week’s eblast but is still timely so I’m leaving in.
Please join us and support teen substance abuse prevention programming in Maine Township!
Cheeseburger in Paradise on February 23, 2010 from 5-8 p.m.
All you can eat – soft drinks included. Live, engaging, musical entertainment by Victor Pacini (Author, Speaker, Entertainer). Raffles & Prizes. For tickets call Vickie at 847-391-5403
Or mail check to MCYAF
2720 S. River Rd. Suite 128
Des Plaines, IL 60018
Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at the door
Bring family and friends.
Please forward to any and all.
Support Teen Substance Abuse Prevention Programming in Maine Township
MCYAF
Maine Community Youth Assistance Foundation
2720 S. River Rd. Suite 128
Des Plaines, IL 60068
847-858-7090
Illinois Workforce Compromised and Threatens Drug-Free Workplace (pg. 9, lines 2-6, pgs 19-20, lines 26, 1-6)
• This bill will not permit the ingestion of cannabis in the workplace but will permit the ingestion before entering the workplace. The bill nullifies drug-free workplace laws by stating that the employee is not considered to be under the influence “solely because of the presence of metabolites or components of cannabis that appear in insufficient concentration to cause impairment.”
• The bill establishes a mythical level of “impairment”. Unlike alcohol whose level of impairment is .08, a level of impairment for marijuana has never been established and remains zero.
• Emerald Steel Fabricators Inc. v. Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries; court found that , by discharging the temp to hire employee because of his medical marijuana use the employer failed to reasonably accommodate complainant’s disability. (September 2007)
Aging 101: In 60068
Know your healthcare options, And keep it local!
Join us on March 1st at 1:00 PM for an interactive forum led by three premiere Park Ridge health care providers. Professionals from Abiding Care, Saint Matthew Center for Health and Sunrise Senior Living will identify quality healthcare options BEFORE you need them!
Learn of the local resources available to you and your loved ones; from private duty home care to rehab to assisted long-term care.
March 1st at 1:00 PM
Park Ridge Senior Center
100 S. Western Ave.
Light snacks and beverages will be served. Don’t miss this FREE informative event!
Registration suggested by calling (847) 692-3597.
Raffle prizes donated by local Park Ridge businesses, including a Gift Certificate from the Park Ridge Chamber of Commerce.
The Park Ridge Fine Arts Society proudly celebrates 2010 as milestone for "50 Years of Summer Concert".
Emily Kosaka, Dennis Van Mieghm, Dan Aranda, Dawn Himley-Grandi and the rest of The Park Ridge Fine Arts Society Board (PRFAS) are proud to announce the celebration of 50 Years of Concerts in Hodges Park this year.
"Save the Date". The Park Ridge Symphony Orchestra will play and honor the 50 year anniversary and the special people of the City of Park Ridge Friday July 16, 2010. We will also celebrate this milestone at Our Annual Fundraiser Benefit Saturday, November 6, 2010 at the Park Ridge Country Club.
"Mark your calendars and Save the Date". We welcome memorabilia, ideas and help for this milestone year. Please email prfas@yahoo.com if any questions, or contact one of our board members.
Gail Haller
Executive Director
Park Ridge Chamber of Commerce
720 Garden Street
Park Ridge, IL 60068
phone: 847.825.3121; fax: 847.825.3122
email: gail.haller@parkridgechamber.org website: www.parkridgechamber.org
Thank you to our Platinum members!
1. Accounteque Services Inc.: 847.768.9100
2. All on the Road Catering & Bakery, Barbara Tyksinski: 847.518.8958
3. Aqua Plumbing, Heating and Cooling: 847.459.7900
4. ATI Physical Therapy: 847.292.0151
5. barrett-TECH, John Barrett: 847.823.1830
6. Cardinal Fitness of Park Ridge: 847.318.7550
7. Catalyst Marketing-Public Relations, Inc.: 847.298.8748
8. Falkor Group LLC: www.falkorgroup.com
9. Global Handmade Hope: 847.720.4084
10. Home Comfort Heating & Cooling: 847.824.4336
11. J.C. Lilly Windows & Doors: 773.588.4332
12. K.G.M. Plumbing, Inc.: 847.583.8988
13. le Flour Bake Shop, Nicole Bujewski, 773-631-1400
14. Leys, Kirsten; Prudential Financial Services: 847.627.3950
15. Park Ridge Community Fund: 847.825.5311
16. Periodontics of Niles, P.C. Dr. Dorothy Anasinski: 847.685.6686
17. Perry's Pizzeria & Ribs/Catering, Nick Straub: 847-823-4422
18. Pickwick Theatre: 847.825.5800
19. Resurrection Health Care, Theresa Olson: 847.813.3210
20. Ross E. Rubino, D.D.S.P.C. & Associates 847.825.1002
21. Sebastian Co. Real Estate; Don Sebastian, Jr.: 847.823.3117
22. Subway of Park Ridge at 2618 Dempster: 847.813.9552
23. The Juniper Center, Margo Jacquot: 847-759-9110
24. Unbound Technology, Joshua Nichols: 847-235-4994
25. You Can Say…Yes! Motivational Guidance Services, Lynda Tourloukis: 847.401.5787
26. Y-Tech Heating & Cooling: 847.696.0477
27. You can be here!
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