NoVember 2015 • freeport, ILLINoIS Freeport Chamber Boosts ... · In addition, online shopping...

Tony CartonCommunication Editor

The Freeport Area Chamber of Commerce is asking area residents to participate in this year’s Small Business Saturday, Nov. 28.Small Business Saturday is a day dedicated to strengthening our local business community by supporting local small businesses as residents begin shopping for the holiday season. Freeport is fortunate that so many local businesses and the shoppers who frequent them get involved in Small Business Saturday. It is usually a day to shop with friends and family fi nding interesting and remarkable gifts; it is all part of the allure of the day. “Small local businesses are the heart of our community,” said Chamber Director of Program Development, Promotion & Operations Tiffany King. “Our friends and our families are running these businesses and when we shop local and shop small a lot more of that money stays in our community. We need to do everything we can to support them.” She said shopping small supports

Freeport area businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods. Small Business Saturday started quietly fi ve years ago by simply encouraging folks across the country to support their small local businesses. By 2011 from Washington D.C. to Washington State, governors, mayors, senators, and even President Obama, all voiced their support for Small Business Saturday. The day continued to grow, with more individuals and local organizations pledging to support the day as Neighborhood Champions. And, by 2013, nearly 1500 Neighborhood Champions had signed up to rally their communities in support of small businesses. Shoppers supported their neighborhood businesses like never before, continuing to embrace the day as a holiday shopping tradition. Those shoppers proudly spent in excess of 14.3 billion dollars at small independent businesses in recognition of Small Business Saturday. King said since Small Business Saturday falls between the

traditional Black Friday and Cyber Monday during the weekend following Thanksgiving, Small Business Saturday can be a fun part of any holiday weekend schedule. By shopping locally, residents support the small businesses that help create the identities of our communities and make local cities or towns feel like home. “We want shopping local to remain foremost in everybody’s mind for the whole holiday season and we are running a special shop small selfi e campaign on Small Business Saturday for a number of participating businesses,” King said. “What you do is when you shop at any small business in Freeport, you take and then upload a selfi e to our Facebook page and you will be entered into a drawing for really neat prices all from a select group of local businesses. We have gift cards from Frank Jewelers and Vogue Boutique and a number of local restaurants and much more. So it will be a really fun and exciting way to remember to shop local.” There is still time for your

business to get involved. Major retailers waste no time promoting holiday shopping, and you shouldn’t either. Contact the Freeport Area Chamber of Commerce for digital and print marketing materials to help promote Small Business Saturday. In addition, online shopping reached an all-time high during the holiday shopping season in 2014. Small businesses with successful online storefronts can have a distinct advantage. Make sure your inventory has been updated online and special promotions are prominently displayed. Also, cater to the busy shopper by ensuring your website is fast, processes transactions quickly and is optimized for mobile phones. Whatever you do, don’t ignore social media: Between Twitter,

Freeport Chamber Boosts Small Business Saturday With Promos and Selfi e Campaign

11 RIBBON CUTTINGS

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9 JOB LISTINGS5 MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS4 SPECIAL MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

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JobListings

DATES TO REMEMBER...NOVEMBER 26-27

Chamber Offi ce Closed - Happy Thanksgiving!

DECEMBER 1Part 4 of 5 Social Media Series with Rebecca Wardlow

Topic “Creating Visual Images & Videos”Steph. Cty Farm Bureau, 210 W. Spring St, 6-7 pm

DECEMBER 2

Rise ‘N Shine Breakfast hosted byFreeport/Stephenson County CVB, 7:30- 8:30 am

DECEMBER 9

Maximize your MembershipStephenson County Farm Bureau, 11:45 am-1 pm

DECEMBER 15

Chamber Executive Board MeetingChamber Offi ce, Conference Room #1, 7:30 am

Part 5 of 5 Social Media Series with Rebecca Wardlow

Topic “Using Facebook Ads”Steph. Cty Farm Bureau, 210 W. Spring St, 6-7 pm

DECEMBER 16Membership Committee Meeting

Chamber Offi ce, Conference Room #1, 12 pm

DECEMBER 17Chamber Finance Committee Meeting

Chamber Offi ce, Conference Room #2, 7:30 am

Business after Hours hosted by Stewart & AssociatesStewart Centre West, 5-9 pm

2 freeport area chamber of commerce

The weather has turned cooler, there’s snow in the forecast. I guess wintertime is upon us. I even went out and bought a brand new shovel – so bring on the snow! We want to thank our members who attended our recent lunches with our elected offi cials including a visit by our United States Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. She took time out of her very busy schedule to have lunch with several Chamber members. Her message of trying to reach across the aisle to attempt common ground on many important subject matters was certainly refreshing. Too bad our Illinois elected offi cials can’t agree on passing a budget that is so critical to eh future of so many businesses and organizations. Hopefully each side can give a little to get a state budget passed before more organizations have to lay off more employees!

Our Chamber is starting to wind down for the year but happy to announce it has been a very successful year. We have a record number of new members joining this year, our recent Social Media Marketing seminars have been very well received. Our weekly Eblasts have been very successful as well as great support for our Annual Chamber Dinner and Golf Outing. We look forward to our new Community Book being published soon and hope you have enjoyed our monthly Communicator newsletter. We thank all the Chamber members who helped host our recent Rise ‘n Shine Breakfast in the Lincoln Square Building and we thank the Country Inn & Suites for hosting last week’s Business after Hours. I hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving and try to do most of your shopping in your own hometown. It’s always important to support your local businesses and keep those sales tax dollars in your own community.

27 W. Stephenson St, Freeport IL 61032www.freeportilchamber.com

Phone: 815.233.1350 Fax: 815.235.4038

DIRECTOR OF PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, PROMOTION AND OPERATIONS:

Tiffany King • [email protected]

DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND SALES:

Kim Grimes • [email protected]

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT: Julie Huber • [email protected]

COMMUNICATION EDITOR: Tony Carton

The Chamber of Commerce Communicator is published on a monthly basis with the partnership of The Journal-Standard paper. We thank

them for their continual effort to keep this publication in print!

Visit us online atfreeportilchamber.com

Kim’s Korner

freeport area chamber of commerce 3

Facebook, Instagram and other social media tools, it’s hard to keep up. But don’t despair; social media can be your greatest asset, if used correctly. The Small Business Saturday page on Facebook has more than three million fans, making it a great resource. Always use the #SmallBizSat or #ShopSmall hashtags on Twitter and Instagram to highlight special offers or discounts when the topics are trending. Also, your customers need to know their personal and credit card information is safe when purchasing from your business. There can be no loyalty without trust. Take every precaution to ensure all payment data is as secure as possible. A few safeguards every small business should have in place include: compliance with payment card industry (PCI) standards, end-to-end encryption, properly trained employees and no storing of credit card information. Customers want to see

promotions and discounts from their favorite stores, so make sure you’re reaching out directly to existing customers. Email, or better yet, make a quick phone call to let your customers know about special deals or a complimentary item they’ll receive in your store on Small Business Saturday. Your Core Being is one of the many Freeport businesses working to celebrate Small Business Saturday. Jess Caruso, a member of the YCB marketplace staff said they are working with local vendors and will be showcasing their products on Small Business Saturday. “We will be serving mulled wine and cider all day on Small Business Saturday and we will be featuring some specials,” said Caruso. We’ve already posted our selfi e things and we’ll have our customers pose in yoga poses or pose with their favorite items. Those venders include Melissa & Doug toys and beautiful Fair Trade gifts and ornaments. A new line of body care made just for Your Core

Being by KOPA Naturals based in Colorado and there will be specials on products distributed by Serrv, a nonprofi t organization with over 60 years of experience in fair trade and international development. “We are really all about being downtown and supporting each other and all our local small businesses,” Caruso said. “I think it’s extremely important to get involved with projects like Small Business Saturday. I moved back to this area two years ago. I like being involved and I can see these shop local projects are helping grow other small businesses especially in our downtown area. I think everybody should be involved.” In an age of global markets and capitalism, it’s far too easy for small businesses to struggle and fail, even if they have superior products and services. As consumers, we have the power to change this, and Small Business Saturday encourages people everywhere to shop with small businesses for just one day, and to change the world a little bit.

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1freeport area chamber of commerce Small business

Saturday list of participating businesses. be sure to stop by these shops and upload your selfi es to be entered

into the drawing.

frank Jewelersfluegel’s embroidery

Sports boutiqueYour core being

freeport/Stephenson county convention & Visitors bureau

rite-Way furniture & appliance9 east coffee

SwingnSplashVogue boutique

Zealous art Studio & tattooelliot Graphix

this Is It eateryeats & Sweets coffee café


MEMBERspotlightSpecial

generations since 1940. “We lost our dad, but we are working hard to carry on his legacy and make him proud of us when he looks down to see what we are doing for the holidays,” Deininger said. “We’ll have cookies and punch and fruit and we try to put out a big spread to make the occasion even more festive,” Deininger said. “There will be carolers stopping by helping to make this a traditional Christmas.”Deininger Floral also offers home and business decoration and delivery services for the holidays. “We will come to your home or business and put up wreaths, string fresh and artifi cial garland,” Deininger said. “We can decorate indoors or out and we also do fruit and chocolate baskets for gifting or just to have available for the holidays.” For the very best in fl owers in Freeport, look no further than Deininger Floral Shop. They provide a wide variety of fl oral bouquets to choose from or they can create a custom design that’s

just right for your special occasion. Your fl owers will arrive hand-arranged in a vase at their peak of freshness, never in a box. Whether you order online or by phone, you can depend on Deininger Floral Shop, one of

the most experienced fl orists in Freeport IL. Stop by Deininger Floral Shop at 1 W. Main St. Freeport, IL, or call them at (815)232-6192 or (888) 232-6191 for all your fl oral needs this holiday season.

BUSINESS AFTER HOURSPhoto by Jim Readeker

The Chamber kicked off the holiday season with our Business after Hours this month hosted by Country Inn & Suites. Everyone enjoyed a wonderful evening of great food and conversation. We would like to say a special thank you to David Swift from Swift Hospitality Group, Jody Mercier from Country Inn & Suites and the entire staff for working so hard to make this event a complete success. Congratulations and thank you for all the hospitality!

Deininger Floral Shop

No matter what the occasion, Deininger Floral Shop, your local Freeport fl orist, is your one-stop shop for all your fl oral needs. Browse their wide online selection or call for a custom bouquet to fi t your needs and budget. Deininger Floral Shop will deliver fl owers and gift baskets to Freeport and nationwide through their extensive network of dependable fl orists and when speed is the priority, same day fl ower delivery is available at no additional cost. The professional staff at Deininger Floral Shop is dedicated to handling your order with care, and will provide beautiful arrangements to suit your budget. Trust Deininger Floral Shop to deliver exquisite fl owers and gift baskets in Freeport, nearby communities as well as nationwide. “The Mistletoe Walk is defi nitely the kickoff for holiday shopping in downtown Freeport and we cannot say enough about how important it is for our business and all the businesses in the downtown area,” said Deininger Floral Shop partner Craig Deininger. “All the stores are open on Mistletoe Sunday and all the businesses make sure their shops are decorated inside and out.”He said the event draws big crowds and presents an opportunity for shoppers to preview what each merchant has to offer. “With all the added activities planned for the downtown that day it’s really a big deal and we always spend a lot of time getting ready,” Deininger said. “We rope the store with fresh evergreens and garland, we decorate trees and we do a lot of fresh centerpieces with fresh greens, holly and seasonal berries. Of course, everything we have out is available for our customers to use in their own homes for the holidays.” The shop has been on the corner of Main and Chicago for fi ve

Photos by Tracy SiegnerYou can always trust Deininger Floral Shop to deliver exquisite fl owers and gift baskets in Freeport, nearby communities and nationwide. The professional staff at Deininger Floral Shop is dedicated to handling your order with care, and will provide beautiful arrangements to suit your budget.


FIESTA TEQUILAFiesta Tequila is

redefining Freeport’s concept of a Mexican restaurant. From the fresh limejuice in every margarita to the home style corn and flour tortillas, Fiesta Tequila focuses on the fresh, flavorful tastes that are at the core of Mexican authentic food and drink. The rustic, colorful and casual environment will allow you to sit back, take your time, and enjoy Fiesta Tequila’s modern take on traditional Mexican dining.

“We are a Mexican restaurant,” said Eduardo Torres who owns Fiesta Tequila with wife Claudia. “We have the best of everything here.”

He got his start with his brother when the two operated the Fiesta Cancun facility in Freeport.“I worked at the Cancun for the past eight years,” Torres said. “I started as a dishwasher and worked my way up, so I can do any of the jobs that need to be done here.”When he opened Fiesta Tequila in October of this year Torres had been working at his brother’s Loves Park location and decided he wanted to open his own business before the winter set in. When the West Galena Avenue location opened, he jumped in and the business shows every sign of taking off.

“I would like to see our restaurant grow bigger over the next couple years,” he said. “We are always looking at new menu items and bringing in new cooks and staff.”He said the staff will sit down and discuss what could be added to the menu and when they have an idea that looks good they go ahead.

“We give it everything we’ve got,” he said. “We greet everybody with a smile and serve the best food at reasonable prices. Good service is

always important too.” Whether it is a family get together or just enjoying a cocktail with a friend Fiesta Tequila will serve your every need. Locally-owned by the same folks that brought you Fiesta Cancun in both Loves Park and Michigan City IN, Fiesta Tequila invites you to experience their passion for the flavor of old and new Mexico.Stop in at 2022 West Galena Avenue; Fiesta Tequila is open Monday-Thursday 11 – 9 p.m., Friday and Saturdays 11 -10:30 p.m. and Sundays 11 – 9 p.m. Carryout is available or sit and relax with something from their special lunch menu. A full selection of entrées is always available and the margaritas are chilled and ready. Call 815.616.5809 to order carry out or to reserve tables. ¡Bienvenidos!

Get-A-Pro has a team with over 100 years of experience helping homeowners in Rockford, Cedar Rapids, Davenport and the Quad Cities, and the surrounding areas with their home improvement projects. Whether you are looking

to increase your home’s energy efficiency, home value or design your dream home the professionals at Get-A-Pro can help. They are a Better Business Bureau accredited company with an A+ rating. The folks at Get-A-Pro are also accredited by the Building Performance Institute, Inc. (BPI) and are a proud member of the National Association of Remodelers and the Metal Roofing Alliance. Get-A-Pro offers energy efficient products like our replacement windows, and stone-coated metal roofing to help keep your energy costs down. They also have a full range of bath and shower products like replacement bathtubs, shower liners, tub-to-shower conversion, walk-in tubs and more to design your dream bathroom. With Get-A-Pro, you get a locally owned and operated company that is fully licensed, bonded and insured. This means that whatever your needs are, you can count on Get-A-Pro to provide you with high quality products and professional

installation designed to meet the needs of homeowners in Rockford, Cedar Rapids, Davenport and the Quad Cities, and the surrounding areas. Contact Get-A-Pro today to learn more about how they can help you complete your next home improvement project. Call 1-800-749-4883

HEAVENLY SCENT PASTRIES If nothing says loving like something from the oven then the Macklin girls have the love game under control. They operate Heavenly Scent Pastries in Freeport and are building for the future. “I’ve been baking all my life,” said Heavenly Scent Pastries co-owner Candy Macklin. She operates the business with daughter Amber. “My mother and my grandmother were also bakers and my daughter Amber has developed a passion for baking, so the tradition will continue.”

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MEMBERspotlights

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Photo by Tracy SiegnerBirthdays and family gatherings are always a little more special when you celebrate them with the folks at Fiesta Tequila in Freeport.


Our Rise ‘N Shine Breakfast was a special one this month. It was hosted by all our Chamber Members located in the Lincoln Boulevard Building at 773 W. Lincoln Blvd in Freeport. Everyone enjoyed a great hot breakfast by 9 East Coffee. Our Attendees also enjoyed some tours and had a chance to do some important networking as well. We would like to say a special thank you to all of our Chamber Members who hosted this event. They are as follows: Brian LeBaron, LCPC, Changes Place, Integrity Investments, Nelson Financial, New Directions- Taylor Rockwell, PhD & Martha Wolf, LCSW, Peak Medical Home Care Inc. and Schardt Orthodontics. Thank you for all your hospitality!

RISE ‘N’ SHINE

Freeport Area Chamber of Commerce board member Kim Boldt is employed as Leasing Manager and Broker at Winter & Associates 320 N. Park Blvd. Freeport, IL 61032. As Leasing Manager and Real Estate Broker Boldt specializes in residential and commercial leasing and Real Estate. She has 23 years of property management experience. “I am on the Chamber board because I am a Chamber Ambassador President,” Boldt said. She said the ambassadors are an extension of the Chamber. “As ambassadors we assist the Chamber in fundraising, we welcome new member and attend the various Chamber events including Business after Hours and the Rise and Shine Breakfasts,” said Boldt. “We do ribbon cuttings for new businesses that are joining

the Chamber. We welcome those new businesses to the area and encourage them to be involved with the Chamber.” Boldt said she sees employment problems as an issue in the Freeport area. “I know there is a Chamber Business Advocacy committee and they are working with city offi cials and NIDA to encourage businesses that might possibly come in to Freeport,” she said. “We have a fantastic membership. We have over fi ve hundred members and I think our board members, our ambassadors and our membership are very involved. Everybody chips in and helps when needed. We also have a great staff at the Chamber and they work hard to accommodate everyone’s needs.”Boldt and husband Shawn live in Freeport and the couple has two children.

Boardmember Spotlight...Kim Boldt

2015 PREFERRED MEMBERS

We would like to give special recognition to the following businesses that provide extra support to the Freeport Area Chamber of Commerce.

Elliott & Trainor, P.C. • Flachtemeier MonumentsRock River Valley Blood Center • Heilman Properties

Carl Larson – Stephenson County State’s AttorneyBest In Sight • Rite-Way Furniture & Appliance

Fishburn, Whiton, Thruman, LTD • PHK BicyclesSchofi eld Plumbing • United Way of NW Illinois, Inc.Christian Supply Center • Bomar Heating & Cooling

Winter & Associates • M45 Marketing ServicesHughes Resources • Stout Insurance Agency, LLCFreidag Associates CPAs • Altman Automotive Inc.

Swift Hospitality Group, Inc. • Liberty Village of Freeport Above and Beyond Associates • NWIL Friends of the NRA

Freeport Community Foundation • Brown’s ShoesBamberg Plumbing • Holman/Dahms Insurance Agency

Norman C. Sleezer Youth Home • Furst Staffi ngBTL Capital Management • Spherion Staffi ng Services

Eagles Club • Fehr-Graham & Associates Highland Community College Foundation

Pearson • TB & B Accounting & Tax, Inc. Freeport Home Medical Equipment • Two Men and a Truck

Plager, Krug, Bauer & Rudolph, Ltd • Proto-CutterRAMP • Nate Luy Stephenson County Circuit Clerk

GoLD memberS

Task Trainers • Stephen Spyrison DDS Tim’s Auto Care • Freeport Family ChiropracticBill George Plumbing & Heating • FS Farmtown

SILVer memberS

Fruth-Simmer Insurance Agency • Beloved Freeport Twice As Nice Consignments • Laura Welti • Parkview

Floor Covering Plus • Union Savings BankDental Connections • Family Health Quest

Hulsebus-Gehlsen Chiropractic • Sanitary Cleaners New Millenium Directories • Saxer Accounting Services, LLC

State Farm Insurance – Steve Johnson • Family Affair Café Stephanie Helms – Stephenson County Treasurer

broNZe memberS

Candy’s brother is with a consulting agency in Chicago and recently shared some Heavenly Scent Pastries products with a partner who by chance owns a chain of Chicago area restaurants. The partner fell in love with the pastries and the rest is becoming Freeport baking history. “We try to be different,” she said. “The recipes that we use are recipes that have been handed down for generations and a lot of them are from my husband’s family and from the south. Some are recipes that I developed over the years. That’s what we’re about; we are a family business.” The Macklin ladies are a three generation Freeport family and looking to the future. “Right now our goal is to open an actual bakery,” said Macklin. “We started off in my kitchen, but we outgrew that and now we are baking in our church kitchen.” They are currently based at Faith Center in Freeport where they are developing a reputation and a following for their Heavenly Scent cinnamon rolls. “We sell our products at the church every weekend,” she said. “We have cinnamon rolls and then some other pasties so people don’t get bored with just the one product.” She said by the time they get their bakery they will have built their

business to the point where they will need a shipping department to move their products to the public.“We will need a production floor and shipping,” she said. “One of our goals is to hire people from this area and build our business with support from our community.”They are also building a web presence. “My brother’s company is helping us build our web site,” she said. “We would like an older style feel to the site, but we want it to be easy for folks to navigate.”She said their key to success will always remain customer service and good tasting pastries. “We want people to be happy with our pastries and enjoy them,” she said. “We will do what we have to do to keep all our customers happy.” Learn more about the products and services available through Heavenly Scent Pastries. Stop by the Faith Center at 203 W Pleasant St, Freeport or call 815.616.8493.

YOUR CORE BEING Combining the two disciplines of Yoga and health coaching, Pat Leitzen Fye, Founder and Owner of Your Core Being, developed the concept of a Wellness Collaborative in early 2013. Working independently as both a Yoga teacher and Integrative Health

Coach, she quickly found a need to bring these services – and others – to a “bricks and mortar” space. In October of 2013, the doors to Your Core Being – A Wellness Collaborative, opened. At Your Core Being, we believe that wellness is more – way more – than just the absence of illness. It’s a combination of physical health, emotional wellbeing, spiritual depth, and mental acuity attained and maintained through movement of the body, eating and enjoying Real Food, managing stress, and developing strong loving relationships with family, friends and community. Long a believer in community building, Pat’s hope for Your Core Being is that the students, customers and shoppers who come into the Wellness Collaborative feel a sense of wellbeing and welcoming while also feeling comfortable, relaxed, and well-served. To the yoga studio and health coaching, she added wellness services – massage and skin care – to enhance the wellness of body and mind. And the Wellness Market, a shop filled with products

to serve not just our customers’ wellness, but the wellness of the community and the world at large. Our goal with the marketplace is to provide products of high quality, organic, and free of unnecessary and unhealthy chemicals, sourced sustainably, locally and regionally, as well as Fair Trade products from all over the world. Body ~ Mind ~ Spirit ~ It all comes together at Your Core Being. Here, at Your Core Being Wellness Collaborative in this beautiful quiet space, we focus on total wellness - the connection of mind, body and spirit - along with the amazing benefits of Yoga Asana (poses), Pranayama (breath work) and the connectedness of gathering together in the “Sangha Studio”, a lovely and sacred space.Massage Massage therapist Vicki Johnson tailors her services to your individual needs and preferences. She offers full body massage with a blend of relaxation and therapeutic massage techniques and utilizes hot stones, warm towels, and Young Living therapeutic grade essential oils as requested by the client. The 60 and 90 minute massages include all of the above; the 30 minute massages are for those who seek a therapeutic focus to a specific body area that

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5


The Chamber of Commerce along with the Chamber Business Advocacy Committee recently had the honor to host a very special luncheon with U.S. Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. We would like to say a special thank you to Congresswoman Bustos for taking time out of her very busy schedule to come talk with our members. Her message of trying to reach across the aisle to attempt common ground was inspiring! Thank you to everyone who came and we hope you enjoyed this event!

CHERI BUSTOS LUNCHEONThe Chamber hosted our annual Membership Drive last month. We ended our membership drive with a special evening at Generations Brewing Company located at 1400 S. Adams Street in Freeport. We would like to thank everyone who came to our open house and a special thank you to Generations Brewing Company for all your hospitality!

MEMBERSHIP DRIVE


The Chamber is proud to be hosting our 5 part Social Networking Series with Rebecca Wardlow. In these workshops Rebecca shows us everything from which social media best fi ts your business, creating a marketing plan, to how to create images to post on social media and much more! We would like to thank Rebecca Wardlow for taking the time to come help us learn more about everything that you can do to promote your business on Social Media. If you would like more information on Rebecca Wardlow please visit her website www.rebeccawardlow.com.

SOCIAL MEDIA SERIES

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We want to recognize the anniversaries of our long-standing members. thank you for your continued support!

55 YearSmidwest community bank

36 YearSfreeport Industrial roofi ng, Inc.

29 YearSmanpower

27 YearSKurt Koester Studio

23 YearSLemanski heating and air conditioning, Inc.

18 YearSGill business Group

16 YearSGill’s freeport Disposal

15 YearSbomar heating & cooling

Member Anniversaries

NOVEMBER 2015

has been causing them pain and/or lack of movement. Reiki is an ancient form of hands-on healing that works with the subtle energy fi elds of the body. Reiki gives you the extra energy you need to clear emotional traumas and the accumulation of stress in the body so that you can come back into alignment with who your spirit yearns to be. There is a focus on clearing and aligning the chakra system which correlates with meridian pathways used in acupuncture. It is believed that when your chakra system is balanced and energized you are better able to live your life with ease and grace. Clients remain fully clothed during a Reiki session, lying on the massage table while Vicki lays her hands on various parts of the body in a safe and gentle way. It is a deeply relaxing experience. Reiki massage is similar to therapeutic massage, but with an emphasis on Reiki to balance and clear the energy fi elds. These are very relaxing but potent sessions. Raindrop Technique is a toxin-releasing treatment that incorporates the application of various essential oils to the refl ex points on your feet and along your spine. Massage is used to help deepen the effects along with the use of warm towels to help the body absorb the oils deeper into the body. It is a great way to help boost your immune function, release toxins, and relax. Skin care Stacie Green started her esthetic journey at Tricocci University

of Rockford 5 years ago. Since then she has attended additional skin care courses and educational training to keep up in this ever growing profession. She has been a licensed esthetician for four years. Skin care isn’t a luxury! Caring for your skin is very important for your overall wellness. Skin is the largest organ of our bodies and it is our fi rst line of defense. Stacie has always been intrigued by the skin and how to take care of it. Skin care is her passion and she enjoys every aspect of being an esthetician. From her fi rst meeting with clients, discussing likes and dislikes, problematic skin, fi ne lines and wrinkles or other concerns, to helping design a plan of action to achieve the desired results. When her clients feel good, Stacie feels good! She believes in what she does and how important it is to educate customers on the benefi ts of proper skin care. Stacie uses all organic products to ensure there are no harmful chemicals applied to your skin. For many customers, she also uses different organic peels to get a deeper exfoliation. She also specializes in facial and body waxing. “Choose a job you love, and you will never work a day in your life” - Confucious To learn more about the products and services available through Your Core Being drop by the studio at 107 W. Main St. Freeport or call 815.297.1545 or visit them at yourcorebeing.com.


JobListings

For a complete job description, detailed list of skills needed and information on where to apply visit

freeportilchamber.com and click on

Job Postings.

Nationwide Inbound

50 W Douglas St

CUSTOMER CARE

REPRESENTATIVES

CUSTOMER SERVICE

OPERATIONAL MANAGER

INSIDE SALES

REPRESENTATIVES

www.nationwideinbound.com

description, detailed list of skills needed

freeportilchamber.com

ListingsListings

Furst McNess120 E Clark St

COMMODITY SALES

TEAM LEADER

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STRATEGIC MARKETING

MANAGER

www.mcness.com/careers

Thin & Healthy18 W Stephenson St

SALES POSITIONPart-Time

Contact: 815-233-0066

Stephenson Nursing Center

2946 S Walnut

WEEKEND ACTIVITIES

ASSISTANTPart-Time

Apply in person at:

2946 S. Walnut Rd. Freeport, IL 61032

The Journal-Standard

50 W Douglas St

INSIDE SALES POSITION

Full-Time

Send your resume to:

[email protected]

ListingsListingsStewart & Associates

50 W Douglas St

SECURITY OFFICERS

LEASE ORDERING

AGENTSFull & Part-Time Available

Send your resume to: 50 W Douglas,

Ste 1200, Freeport, IL 61032

Hughes Resources

217 W Exchange St

Hughes Resources is a staffi ng

agency with 34 jobs listed

www.hughesresources.com/

currentopenings

Committed to your Success!

INTEGRITY TRUSTEXPERIENCE

COMMITMENTYEARS

Stop in to seeMark

Larry Shane

Luann Laura

Karen

These have been the pillars of our Bank for over

48 years. At Midwest Community Bank we are

dedicated to serving your business.

What are the qualities you look for in your Bank?

FH

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Happy Holidays from your friends at FHN!

Singin’ at the KingLocal school choruses Thursday, December 3 • 5:30 p.m.King Community Campus gymnasiumSuggested donation of one non-perishable food item for entry

Big Radio’s Festival of GivingJoin FHN and the stations of Big Radio, and the Salvation Army in a day of celebration, prizes, and on-air fun! Donation of toys and money will be accepted throughout the day to benefit disadvantaged children in our areaFriday, December 4 • 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.HCC Student/Conference Center

Highland Youth Choir PerformanceEnjoy holiday carols and tour the FHN Community Festival of TreesMonday, December 7 • 5:30 p.m.Freeport Public Library, 100 E. Douglas Street, Freeport

Community Festival of TreesEnjoy holiday trees decorated by local service organizations, clubs and church groups competing for prizes. Vote for your favorite through Saturday, December 19!December 7 – January 2 Freeport Public Library, 100 E. Douglas StreetHosted by FHN and the Freeport Public Library

Luminary WalkEnjoy the sight of luminaries lighting the sidewalks along Stephenson Street and Lincoln Boulevard as FHN joins this annual neighborhood tradition.Sunday, December 13 • DuskAlong Stephenson Street and Lincoln Boulevard

We hope you will join us at one or all of FHN’s Festival of Trees events – there’s something for everyone!

Celebrate the Season

13 WREX’s morning newscast awarded 2015 Regional Emmy for Outstanding Achievement 13 WREX received a Regional Emmy Award from the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the National Academy for Television Arts & Sciences for”Outstanding Achievement for News Programming – Morning Newscast: Smaller Markets (51+). The Regional Emmy winners were announced Saturday night at the 57th Annual Chicago/Midwest Emmy Awards in Downtown Chicago. WREX received at total of five nominations in four different categories. The winning submission was for 13 WREX’s coverage of the April 9th tornadoes that ripped through Rochelle and Fairdale. WREX’s comprehensive, wall-to-wall coverage of the storms the morning after on 13 News Today was one of only two morning newscasts nominated. “It is an incredible honor for our team to be awarded with a Regional Emmy in such a competitive category,” said Josh Morgan, News Director at 13 WREX. “We are very humbled by this award and very proud to be recognized for all of the hard work that our staff puts in day-in and day-out. This is truly a team award.” The coverage of that storm and its aftermath on 13 News at 10, on the night of the storm, was also nominated for a Regional Emmy in the “Outstanding Achievement for News Programming – Evening Newscast: Smaller Markets (51+). 13 News Anchors Sean Muserallo and Kristin Crowley as both were nominated in the On-Camera Talent - News Anchor category. Sean and Kristin were two of only four anchors from across the three-state Emmy region to be nominated. The final nomination for the 13 WREX team came from Marketing Director Kyle Yonkers, whose series on BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding & Educational Center was

one of eight stories nominated in the News Specialty - Human Interest category. WREX was the only local station in the Rockford television market to win a Regional Emmy Award and to receive multiple nominations. Here is a full list of the nominations received by the 13 WREX team, starting with the winning category: • Category #2-b Outstanding Achievement for News Programming – Morning Newscast: Smaller Markets (51+) (Award to the Team of Reporters, Meteorologists, Anchors, Producers, Photographers, Editors, Writers, Directors, and Assignment Editors)The Aftermath of an EF-4 Tornado: Josh Morgan, Ivana Hester, Elliot Grandia, Morgan Kolkmeyer, Alex Kirchner, Rebecca Klopf, Christie Battista, Lindsey Clark, Gus Polly, Derek Bayne. WREX• Category #1-b Outstanding Achievement for News Programming – Evening Newscast: Smaller Markets (51+) (Award to the Team of Reporters, Meteorologists, Anchors, Producers, Photographers, Editors, Writers, Directors, and Assignment Editors)EF-4 Tornado Rips through Rochelle, Fairdale: Josh Morgan, Mary Sugden, Lindsey Clark, Dan Cohen, Kristin Crowley, Elliot Grandia, Rebecca Klopf, Kelsie Passolt, Sean Muserallo, Alex Kirchner, Nolan Baker, Tori Clark.WREX• Category #6-g Outstanding Achievement for News Specialty Report/Series - Human Interest (Award to the Reporter/Producer)BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding & Educational Center: Kyle Yonkers, Producer. WREX• Category #21-a Outstanding Crafts Achievement for On-Camera Talent - News AnchorSean Muserallo – Composite. Kristin Crowley – Composite.

Fehr Graham Announces Acquisition of Thomas Graceffa and Associates of Rockford Engineering and Environmental firm Fehr Graham today announced the acquisition of landscape architecture and planning firm, Thomas Graceffa and Associates, Inc. (TGA), of Rockford, Illinois. The acquisition adds landscape architecture to the full line of engineering and environmental offerings Fehr Graham currently provides to the Midwest market. With the acquisition, Fehr Graham’s Rockford branch has grown to 25 staff members. Thomas Graceffa and Associates, Inc., was established in 1974 as a Landscape Architecture/Planning firm with the goal of providing quality, state-of-the-art services for a variety of Midwestern clients. “We are very excited to add the talented staff from Graceffa enabling us to provide expanded services for our clients. The addition of Landscape Architecture allows us to offer an enhanced and more comprehensive solution to our clients,” said Mick Gronewold, Principal and Board Chairman. “We are proud to welcome TGA’s team and their clients to the Fehr Graham family.” “The ability to join forces with Fehr Graham, who has a great reputation, was very attractive to us. Our philosophies are well aligned with Fehr Graham’s, making for a good match between our two firms and for ensuring continuity of service,” said Tom Graceffa, TGA’s Principal. “Fehr Graham’s resources will benefit our public and private clients by providing expanded services.” The acquisition became official on October 1 and the TGA team has moved to the Fehr Graham Rockford office, which is located in the renovated Prairie Street Brewhouse at 200 Prairie Street, Suite 208. Fehr Graham has 10 offices located in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin.

Fehr Graham Announces Addition to Staff Fehr Graham, a leading Midwest engineering and environmental firm, is pleased to announce the addition of a new team member to its Freeport office. Deidra McIntosh joined Fehr Graham in October as a Human Resources Generalist in the firm’s Administrative division. In her role, Deidra will provide a wide range of human resource duties using and expanding upon her prior experience. Deidra will provide leadership in the areas of benefit administration, employee relations, staff acquisition and development in the consulting services business. Prior to Fehr Graham, Deidra was responsible for labor relations, payroll and benefits, employee relations, recruiting, on-boarding and training in the industrial sector. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational/Corporate Communication from Northern Illinois University and a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Ashford University-Iowa. “We are thrilled to have Deidra part of the Fehr Graham team,” said Todd Weegens, Managing Member. “Her human resource expertise and enthusiasm is a great addition to our team.”

Freeport High School Named 2016 GRAMMY Signature Schools Semifinalist For the 17th consecutive year, the Freeport High School music program has been named a semifinalist in the GRAMMY Signature Schools program. The GRAMMY Foundation announced Wednesday that it has selected 119 schools nationwide, including Freeport High School, as GRAMMY Signature Schools semifinalists for 2016. According to the Foundation, the GRAMMY Signature Schools program was created in 1998 and recognizes top U.S. public high schools that are making an outstanding commitment to music education during an academic school year.

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MEMBERnews


TECHbytes Comcast Xfinity Wi-Fi Discloses Customer Names and Addresses

Steve Ragan Salted Hash- Top Security News

The Xfinity Wi-Fi service from Comcast is disclosing the full name and home address of residential customers, which is something the company says isn’t supposed to happen. The disclosure of such information increases an already exposed attack surface, by allowing anyone with malicious intent to selectively target their marks. It has been just over two years since Comcast launched the Xfinity Wi-Fi service, which created a separate wireless network in homes and businesses for existing customers and the general public. This network, often identified with an SSID of “xfinitywifi” is supposed widen the availability of Wi-Fi access for customers, and it is sometimes pitched as a security measure, since customers with Xfinity Wi-Fi enabled can let visitors use the guest network, thus keeping the primary Wi-Fi password a secret.

There were two issues that immediately cropped up when this service was initiated, physical security and accountability. The physical security concern existed because customers didn’t want their names and home addresses to appear in the public Xfinity Wi-Fi search results. Comcast addressed that fear in the media and public FAQs informing customers that only business information would be shared – customer names and home addresses would not appear on the map. But the problem is, names and addresses were listed, and they’re still being displayed in the search results when someone searches for an Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspot.Clearly this is an error on Comcast’s part, and when Salted Hash last spoke to Comcast about these customers, the representative said they would look in to it. “I can confirm that our policy is to only include addresses of small business Wi-Fi hotspot locations

and of outdoor/public/shopping district hotspot locations,” a Comcast spokesperson explained via email when asked about the information disclosure. Again, as this article was being written, the customer information was still available via the Xfinity Wi-Fi website as well as the mobile app provided by Comcast. Having a name and address exposed might not seem like a big deal to some, as its public information. However, this is data that Comcast isn’t supposed to be sharing, and as mentioned, it’s also something the company stated rather clearly that they wouldn’t share. A criminal, armed with little more than the Comcast Xfinity application and a laptop, can pull enough public information to selectively target a person within minutes. A person’s full name and address, along with the city and state, can be used to pull mortgage documents, which in turn often reveal banking details. With those records combined, a criminal could develop

a targeted Phishing campaign aimed at financial gain. Or worse, they could use the information to develop a new ID and attempt to get loans in their victim’s name. What Comcast’s mistake has done is open the door to a level of exposure that most people don’t consider. Again, a person’s name and address are public record, but no one expects their Internet provider to provide it to the masses complete with a link to “get directions to this location.” Another level of exposure centers on accountability. Comcast customers, when the Xfinity Wi-Fi service came online, worried that criminals would use their shared wireless access to commit crimes, leaving the customer taking the fall. Comcast, in a statement to Salted Hash, said that each user must sign-in with an email address and the device’s MAC address is also logged. Moreover, there are two IP addresses in use on the Xfinity Wi-Fi service, one for the homeowner and one for the hotspot (guest account). Thus, it’s possible

The Ambassadors recently had the honor to cut the ribbon along with 160 Driving Academy located on the Highland Community College Campus at 2998 W. Pearl City Road in Freeport. Looking for a new career? Interested in learning how to drive semi-trucks? Classes will be starting up soon. Stop by the 160 Driving Academy to get more information everything they have to offer. We would also like to say a special thank you to Tim Hood, President of Highland Community College for joining us at our ribbon cutting. Congratulations 160 Driving Academy! We wish you nothing but success well into the future.

RIBBON CUTTING

The Ambassadors had the honor to cut the ribbon along with Cork Keg & Liquors as they celebrated the official Grand Opening the new store located at 1823 S. West Avenue in Freeport. They have a huge selection of wine, liquor, beer, and more to choose from. Stop by and check out this store for yourself. Congratulations Cork Keg & Liquors! We wish you many years of success and welcome to Freeport!

RIBBON CUTTING


The Ambassadors had the honor to cut the ribbon along with Fluegel’s as they celebrated the official Grand Opening the new store located at 146 W. Main Street in Lena. Fluegel’s does everything from embroidery, screen printing, and much more! They also have a wonderful clothing store for men and women. Stop by and check out this store for yourself. Congratulations Fluegel’s! We wish you many years of success well into the future!

RIBBON CUTTING

for Comcast to tell who was doing what, which should make residential customers feel at ease - since a criminal can’t use the service for illegal activities while leaving them on the hook Comcast says that all usage is tied to the account holder and the MAC address of their device. For non-customers, or those that use the guess access offered by the Xfinity Wi-Fi service, their usage is tied to their email account and the MAC address of the registered device.Ken Smith, senior security architect with K Logix in Brookline, Ma., discovered that Comcast is relying on the device’s MAC address as a key component of authentication. He made this discovery while doing a bit of digging on his system for research unrelated to this story.Smith says that Wireshark captures and wireless logs makes it appear that Comcast stores the user’s MAC address in a database the first time a device is connected (where the user is presented with a request to provide Comcast login). Once that initial login and registration is done, the next time the user is near an ‘xfinitywifi’ hotspot, they’ll auto-associate with

access point with a password of “password” and a check to confirm that the MAC address on the device matches the one previously stored in the database. If that happens, access is granted. Comcast’s documentation supports Smith’s findings. Auto-association is generally a bad way to deal with Wi-Fi access, but it’s also the most common form of access used. This issue isn’t new either, security experts have warned against trusting auto-associated hotspots for years. In 2014, Greg Foss at LogRhythm discussed the issue of Xfinity Wi-Fi auto-association, and how a criminal could imitate the “xfinitywifi” SSID to trick Comcast customers into handing over their usernames and passwords. Foss developed some scripts to mimic a Comcast login page that could be used with a WiFi Pineapple from Hak5. Those scripts were later removed from their official hosting point, but they’re still freely available for anyone who wanted to look for them. Another way to exploit the verification process would be to scan the wireless traffic near an

Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspot and make note of the MAC addresses that are using the network. From there, the criminal could spoof the MAC address on their device and connect automatically using one of the previously authenticated ones. In some cases, the criminal could connect as the customer by spoofing the homeowner’s MAC address, which would leave them on the hook for any additional acts taken on the compromised account.Comcast has taken some steps to secure the Xfinity Wi-Fi service recently, but their efforts have actually created a new problem.Apple and Android users can download a new security application for Xfinity Wi-Fi (it isn’t available for Windows users) that will create a secure profile and protect their wireless sessions. However, researcher Ken Smith discovered that the process of developing the secure profile on the device downloads a file (XFINITY.mobileconfig) containing the Xfinity

Wi-Fi login name (often [email protected]) and password in clear text. Comcast discourages customers from disabling the Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspot service. Their support page explains why: “We encourage you to keep your XFINITY WiFi Home Hotspot feature enabled as it allows more people to enjoy the benefits of XFINITY WiFi and you will no longer need to provide your private XFINITY WiFi home network password to guests.” Again, they drop hints that this service has security benefits. It doesn’t, and for some customers the service created additional risk by exposing their names and home addresses, as well as relying on technical controls that can be defeated with a bit of time and a small amount of effort.

The Ambassadors cut the ribbon along with General Nutrition Center (GNC) as they celebrated the Grand Opening of the brand new store located at 2725 IL Route 26 S. in Freeport. As always it is our honor to be there to help celebrate this special day with one of our members. Why not stop by and see this beautiful new store for yourself. Congratulations GNC and welcome to Freeport!

RIBBON CUTTING


The Ambassadors had the honor to cut the ribbon along with the Senior Resource Center as they celebrated their Grand Re-Opening at their new location of 206 East Stephenson Street in downtown Freeport. If you have some time stop by and take a tour. Congratulations Senior Resource Center! We hope you will continue to serve our community well into the future!

RIBBON CUTTING

The Ambassadors cut the ribbon along with Parkview as they celebrated the official Ground Breaking for the new Parkview Wing. Construction has already started and we look forward to watching the new addition being built over the next few months. Congratulations!

GROUND BREAKING

Freeport Area Chamber Young Professionals Network wants you to be a

part of their organization Are you looking for a way to become active in the Freeport community? Freeport Area Chamber Young Professionals Network (FAYPN) wants you to be a part of their organization. FAYPN a committee of the Freeport Area Chamber of Commerce, and prides itself in providing networking opportunities for professionals ages 40 and under. FAYPN looks to recruit and retain young professionals into our community.Through community service projects, social events, corporate tours and professional development Lunch N’ Learns, FAYPN members develop strong ties in the Freeport community. YPN is a committee to the Freeport Area Chamber of Commerce and anyone who works for the a Freeport Chamber Member has a complimentary membership to YPN! Interested in learning more about YPN - Young Professionals Network? Contact the Chamber of Commerce at (815) 233-1350 or email us at [email protected].

COMMITTEE The Freeport Area Chamber of Commerce Business Advocacy Committee (BAC) recently sent a survey to Chamber members. The committee would like to thank those who participated. The survey included some general questions from the BAC, and also included questions submitted by Freeport School District 145, Highland Community College, Freeport Downtown Development Foundation, City of Freeport, Stephenson County and State Representative Brian Stewart. Soon we will release the survey results to the Chamber members as well as the general public. In the meantime, here are the results of one of our general survey questions. Question: Please rate the following organizations for their

success in operating within their means (that is, effectively managing with the amount of revenue currently available to them.) Scale: 1=Poor, 5=Excellent This is the weighted average of ratings for each organization: • Highland Community College 3.6• City of Freeport 2.8• Stephenson County 2.8• Freeport School District 2.7• State of Illinois 1.2 This was the first survey of Chamber members by the BAC. We learned a great deal from the process, and the results. We plan to survey Chamber members for more input in the future.

BusinessAdvocacy


This year, Freeport High School is the only school in Northwest Illinois to receive the designation and is one of only two Illinois schools not in Chicago or the surrounding suburbs to make the list. In mid-March 2016, the GRAMMY Foundation will announce the finalists for the GRAMMY Signature Schools program. Those schools will receive a custom award and a monetary grant ranging from $1,000 up to $6,000 to benefit their music program. The top programs are designated Gold recipients, and the best program of the Gold recipients is designated as the National GRAMMY Signature School. The remaining schools are designated as GRAMMY Signature Schools.

Highland agriculture students win awards at fall conference Highland Community College agriculture students competed at the Illinois Post-Secondary Agriculture Students (PAS) Fall Conference on Friday, Oct. 23, in Bloomington. Seven students won in four categories. Michaela White earned first place in the Ag Sales Presentation Award Area; Danielle Hinshaw won first place in the Floriculture Employment Interview Area and Ryan Nadig took first place honors in the Ag Equipment Service Employment Interview Area. Finishing in second place was Ben Patterson in the Fertilizer/Chemical Employment Interview Area. Each of these students are now eligible to compete in the National PAS Conference in Kansas City, Missouri on March 15-18, 2016. State Bank, Freeport sponsors student participation in the PAS activities. Funds from their generous sponsorship were used to purchase material in preparation for competition as well as expenses to register and travel to the conference. The next Illinois PAS Conference will be held on Friday, Feb. 19, 2016, at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield.

The mission of the PAS Organization is to provide opportunities for individual growth, leadership and career preparation by “Uniting Education and Industry in Agriculture.” The Following students that participated in their respective areas: · Michaela White (Pecatonica) – AG Sales Presentation & AG Sales Employment Interview · Danielle Hinshaw (Byron) – Floriculture Specialist Team & Floriculture Employment Interview · Heidi Smith (Sycamore) – Floriculture Specialist Team & AG Business Administration Employment Interview · Ben Patterson (Lanark) – Crop Specialist Team & Fertilizer/Chemical Employment Interview · Ryan Nadig (Stockton) – Crop Specialist Team & AG Equipment Service Employment Interview · Marshall Fink (Lanark) – Crop Specialist Team · Emily Hanlin (Byron) – AG Education Employment Interview

Highland Community Foundation recognizes distinguished alumni The Highland Community College Foundation presented its 21st annual Distinguished Alumni Awards on Thursday, October 29, at the Freeport Country Club. The distinguished alumni are nominated each fall by friends, family members and peers before the applications are reviewed by a selection committee made up of Foundation board members and Alumni Association steering committee members. This honored distinction is reserved for individuals who exemplify community leadership, demonstrate professional achievement, and believe in the mission of community colleges and higher education. The 2015 award recipients are Amy Baker (McConnell), Jim Dole (Freeport), Steven Manson (La Crosse, Wisconsin) and Tim Myers (Rockford). Amy Baker was born and raised in McConnell, and earned

her Associate of Science Degree in May 1995. She earned an accounting degree from Illinois State University. After several years working accounting jobs in Chicago, she and her husband Ray returned to Amy’s hometown to raise their three children. She is now chief financial officer and corporate treasurer at Citizens State Bank and its holding company, First Lena Corporation. She is also a graduate of Highland’s Leadership Institute. She is an active leader in Grace Free Church in McConnell and is an elected school board member with the Orangeville School District, where she also coaches athletic teams. Jim Dole graduated from Freeport High School in 1979. He then went on to serve five years in the Air Force. He returned to his hometown and completed his Associate of Science degree from Highland in 1993. He then received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics in 1997 from Rockford College and the attained a Master of Science in Computer Information Systems from the University of Phoenix in 2003. He is employed as an IT specialist at MacLean-Fogg Component Solutions in Savanna. He is also the volunteer director of the Doug Firebaugh Observatory in Freeport. He has been teaching an Introduction to Astronomy course at Highland since 2007 and added an online astronomy course in 2011. In 2013, he completed his Master of Science in Astronomy from Swinburne University in Australia. Steven Manson attended Highland from 1974-1976. He has practiced medicine at Gunderson Health System in La Crosse, Wisconsin for more than 23 years. His specialty is pediatrics and serves as chair of the pediatrics department. Since 2009, he has joined other volunteers by serving residents of Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, recently ranked the third poorest reservation in the United States. He was awarded the Wisconsin Medical Society’s 2015 Physician Citizen of the Year award and is active in talking to youth about bullying, reads to elementary

school children and provides volunteer medical services to St. Clare Health Mission, a non-profit clinic in La Crosse. Tim Myers graduated from Highland Community College in 1985, and during his time at HCC, he was a member of the men’s basketball team. He continued his education at Northern Illinois University, graduating in 1988. He later earned a master’s degree in Sports Management from Western Illinois University, which lead him to a position as director of tickets and group sales with the Rockford Lightning CBA basketball team. He is now general manager and sales manager at WIFR Channel 23 in Rockford. He is active in the community and serves on the board of the Rockford Area Convention and Visitors’ Bureau and the Board of Directors/President’s Circle of the Rockford Area Development Council, and is a member of the Media Advisory Board for Transform Rockford.

Master Gardeners win Teamwork Award The University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners in Stephenson County were recognized for their volunteer efforts at the recent statewide University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener Conference held in O’Fallon, IL. The Master Gardeners from Stephenson County earned a Teamwork Award for their recent work on the Freeport Roundabout planting located on the west edge of FreeportThe Freeport Roundabout located at the intersection of Pearl City Road and Kiwanis Drive, completed construction in December of 2013. In March of 2014 the Stephenson County Highway Department contacted the University of Illinois Extension about the possibility of the Master Gardeners designing a plant layout for the center of the roundabout.The Master Gardeners embraced the project and moved quickly into the planning phases. The planning and design team broke into three teams, each taking one third of the

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roundabout to research and design. With only seven weeks to create a plant layout, have it approved for funding, order plants and get them planted was a challenge and only possible by working as a team.As the team of Master Gardeners planned the planting they set several goals in place which included: select native plants that are hardy to this area, tolerant of salt, drought and dry conditions, and will withstand wind, create a design with a mix of grasses and flowers that offered a full season of interest with flowers and foliage, prepare the site for optimal growing conditions to enhance plant vigor and minimize weeds, ultimately these goals all contribute to the overall goal of demonstrating to the public the use of regionally native plants to create a sustainable landscape. The team knew the environment in the center of the roundabout would be harsh: full sun, variable rain, surrounded by concrete, no barriers of wind, backfill of variable quality, and salt splash in the winter. Setting these goals helped them with correct plant selection for this site. “The Master Gardeners were committed to making this project a success,” stated Nikki Keltner, Program Coordinator with the University of Illinois Extension, “They were very aware of the high visibility of the project and the extremely tough growing conditions that the plants faced at this location so they knew that plant selection was crucial.” Planting was completed by a team of Master Gardeners and friends on May 27-30, 2014. The Master Gardeners planted 2,900 plants and shrubs in the roundabout. The project is now completing its second growing season and is maturing nicely under the watchful eye of the Master Gardeners that monitor the project growth. The planning and design committee for the Freeport Roundabout project consisted of Fran Cihak, Freeport, Lynn Czech, Pearl City, Danny Dannhorn, Davis, Jill DeGraw, Freeport, Shey

Lowman, Leaf River and Wes Robinson, Freeport. The planting committee for the Freeport Roundabout project included members of the planning and design committee as well as Jim Bald, Freeport, Cindy Bielefeldt, Freeport, Candy Doyle, Winslow, Wilma Faerber, Davis, Cora Hudik, Lena, Bernard Lischwe, Freeport, Joan Oliver, Freeport, Carol Pinter, Davis, Judy Ross, Freeport, Deb Schwartz, Freeport, Carol Snyder, Freeport, and Dorathy White, Winslow. “The group of Master Gardeners that worked on this project are truly deserving of this award,” said Keltner, “they stepped up and put forth a huge effort planning and planting this project.”For more information about the Master Gardener program or the Freeport Roundabout planting visit the University of Illinois Extension on line at web.extension.illinois.edu/jsw and click on the Stephenson County Master Gardener tab.

Three Stephenson County Master Gardeners recognized for service Three University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners from Stephenson County were recognized for their achievements at the State Master Gardener Conference. Fran Cihak and Jill DeGraw from Freeport and Shirlee Iverson from Shannon all received Outstanding Master Gardener Awards for their volunteer efforts in the U of I Extension Master Gardner Program in Stephenson County. The Outstanding Master Gardener Award, given to Fran, Jill and Shirlee, recognizes exceptional Master Gardeners throughout the state. The Master Gardeners are nominated by staff at the county level and selected for the award by a statewide committee of their peers. In order to qualify for this award the individual must have completed over 180 hours of volunteer service in the Master Gardener Program

including involvement in volunteer projects throughout the community and a strong leadership role in the projects. Fran Cihak from Freeport trained as a Master Gardener in 2010. She received an Outstanding Master Gardener award because of her work on several area Master Gardener projects including but not limited to Krape Park Demonstration Gardens, Native Plants Demonstration Garden at the Stephenson County Visitors Center, the Valeria Weigand Memorial Garden at the Stephenson County Courthouse, the Rain Garden Demonstration Project at the Stephenson County Visitors Center, and the recent Freeport Roundabout planting. She also volunteered giving educational presentations about growing iris and helping home gardeners with questions about iris and other home horticulture issues. Fran has contributed over 300 hours of volunteer service to the Master Gardener Program in Stephenson County. More information about the Freeport Roundabout project and the Rain Garden Demonstration Project can be viewed at: web.extension.illinois.edu/jsw under the Stephenson Master Gardener tab. Completing Master Gardener training in 2011, Jill DeGraw from Freeport received an Outstanding Master Gardener Award and has completed over 350 hours of volunteer service thorough the Master Gardener program in Stephenson County. A few of the community projects that Jill has contributed to include: Valeria Weigand Memorial Garden at the Stephenson County Courthouse, Krape Park Display Gardens, the Freeport Roundabout planting, and the U of I Extension Demonstration Garden. Jill is also a founding member of the Bookworms bookclub and volunteers with the Master Gardener Helpline which provides individuals with information about their home horticulture questions. Jill also volunteers at the various

educational programs offered by the Master Gardeners. One very unique project that Jill took on in the past year is the compiling the history of the Master Gardener program in Stephenson County to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of Extension. The complete history of the Master Gardener Program in Stephenson County can be viewed at: web.extension.illinois.edu/jsw under the Stephenson Master Gardener tab. Shirlee Iverson from Shannon complete Master Gardener Training in 2011 at the time when she received her Outstanding Master Gardener Award she had completed over 250 hours of volunteer service to the Master Gardener program in Stephenson County. Shirlee has volunteered on many area demonstration gardens and with various educational events offered by the Master Gardeners. Shirlee developed and presented an educational program called “Reading Between the Leaves” reviewing a large number of garden related books. In 2013, Shirlee formed the Bookworms a bookclub focusing on garden related titles. Shirlee’s booklist from her programs and more information about the Bookworms can be found at:web.extension.illinois.edu/jsw under the Stephenson Master Gardener tab. Master Gardeners are specially trained volunteers that complete a 12 week training on horticulture topics led by University of Illinois Extension Educators. After completing training Master Gardeners volunteer in the community completing their mission of “Helping Others Learn to Grow.” If you are interested in becoming a Master Gardener call the University of Illinois Extension at (815) 235-4125. Master Gardener Training is scheduled to be held in Elizabeth in February of 2016.

Joint Replacement Center of Excellence

RAPID RECOVERY

Monroe Clinic

Wisconsin Average

National Average

2.25 3.0 3.2

Number of Days in the Hospital

NoVember 2015 • freeport, ILLINoIS Freeport Chamber Boosts ... · In addition, online shopping...

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