Auto care shop is recognized as ‘Working Forward Small Business’
Clark’s Car Care, a local small business, recently was awarded the Working Forward Small Business Award from Synchrony Financial.
As one of ten “Working Forward” award recipients, Clark’s will receive $20,000 to dedicate to business growth and community involvement.
Since 2016, Synchrony Financial has awarded $300,000 to winners in 15 cities across the U.S., chosen from more than 2,600 applicants. Each small business has less than 30 full-time employees.
For the last 16 years, Clark’s Car Care, located at 440 Industrial Dr., has aimed to do more than simply provide top-quality car maintenance and repair; they’re making additional investments in the community, their customers, and their automotive team, presenters said.
Led by Laura and Matt Weber, Clark’s has implemented beneficial programs such as car safety classes to share tips of the road with local drivers.
Clark’s will invest in their dedicated employees by enrolling them in the Sandler customer service training program that will enable staff to improve communication skills in order to further educate drivers.
Clark’s will continue to fund the Cares for Cars program to provide low-cost maintenance and repairs to vehicles of individuals in need. Clark’s is committed to servicing the needs of the whole community, including those with financial hardships, and ensuring everyone is able to drive to work and provide for their families.
‘Buy a Brick’ Campaign continues
During the Riverwalk 2000 fundraiser launched in 1997, the Daily Herald sponsored a “Buy a Brick” ad campaign featuring different residents holding the “Your Name Here” brick.
Today, the initiative that gives individuals the opportunity to write a message to be engraved on a brick or a granite stone continues to be a popular gift item and a way to support the Riverwalk Foundation.
Find complete details with photos about this personalized gift in a story featured at www.positivelynaperville.com. Search “Buy a Brick.”
To order a 4 x 8 brick ($150) for the Riverwalk extension or an 8 x 8 brick ($250) for Fredenhagen Park, simply send a check made payable to the Riverwalk Foundation with your 12 character per line, 3-line ($150) or 6-line message ($250) to Jan Erickson, Riverwalk Administrator, City of Naperville, TED Business Group, 400 S. Eagle Street, Naperville, IL 60540. Include your name, address, phone number, e-mail or other contact information.
For more information, contact Erickson at (630) 305-5984 or ericksonj@naperville.il.us.
Enter lottery to host bake sale at Naperville Municipal Band Concert
The Naperville Municipal Band is now accepting application letters for bake sale sponsors for the free series of 11 band concerts in Central Park this summer. The deadline to be entered in the lottery is Mon., March 5.
Concerts are held at 7:30PM on Thursdays from June 7 through Aug. 16, 2018. Any nonprofit organization serving the Naperville community is eligible to apply.
And what’s the most popular item at the bake sale? Pie. Pie. Pie. Especially rhubarb pie. Homemade cookies and brownies come next.
The applicant’s letter should include the organization’s name and a brief explanation of its purpose, in addition to the name, address, email address and telephone number of the organization’s president or concert bake sale chairperson.
Application letters must be received by Monday, March 5, 2018, to be eligible for the lottery.
Send the application letter to: Concert Bake Sale Chairman, Naperville Municipal Band, P.O. Box 474, Naperville, IL. 60566. Or email to rlmansoor@att.net.
For more information, email info@napervilleband.org or visit www.napervilleband.org.
Save the date! NMB Winter Concert is Feb. 18
And while thoughts are beginning to turn to summer evenings in Central Park, mark your calendar for the Naperville Municipal Band’s winter indoor concert, slated to begin at 3PM on Sun., February 18, at Plainfield East High School, located at 12001 Naperville Rd. in Plainfield, Illinois. The concert includes a joint performance with Plainfield East High School Band. The concert is free of charge.
For more information, email info@napervilleband.org or visit www.napervilleband.org.
Every vote matters to determine winners
KidsMatter received a record number of video submissions for the 2018 Digital Footprint Video Contest slated for 7-8:30PM Mon., Feb. 12, to be viewed on the big screens on stage at the Yellow Box Church, Rickert at Emerson, just off Ogden.
Results will be in the hands of all who attend, organizers said. The public is welcome to join School Districts 203 and 204, Mayor Steve Chirico, and KidsMatter for a unique Hollywood Red Carpet Premiere event to celebrate all of the student videographers as well as the 12 finalist videos.
Audience members will determine the winning videos by live vote using their own mobile devices. The more friends and family in attendance and in support of the student videographer, the better the chance to win. The top three grade level winners will receive cash prizes live on stage. The top overall video will receive $500 for the respective school and a traveling trophy.
Naperville Women among “Best of Best” at Top Women Advisor’s Summit
Naperville residents Vicky Campbell and Ruth Doepel from Raymond James | Alex. Brown are among “Best of Best” financial advisors, according to Barron’s Winner’s Circle Top Women Advisor’s Summit held late last year in Palm Beach.
The summit promotes best practices in the industry and reinforces the critical value of financial advice to the investing public. The invitation-only conference recognized both Campbell (CFP®, CIMA®) and Doepel (CFP®, CIMA® ), selected for being in the top one percent of producers as designated by Raymond James | Alex. Brown.
“It is truly a privilege to attend this event and spend time with colleagues to learn from the brightest and best financial analysts and economists,” Doepel stated in a news release.
Campbell noted, “It’s always exciting to be invited to the Barron’s Top Women Advisor’s Summit, where we hear from top money managers across the nation.”
Attendees participated in workshops, led by Barron’s published 100 top women financial advisors, which explored current issues from business development ideas and managing high-net-worth accounts to portfolio management in turbulent times and retirement planning with healthcare at the forefront.
Naperville fish fry tradition continues
The Judd Kendall VFW Post 3873 will host its annual “All You Can Eat” Friday Night Fish Fry 4:30 to 7:30PM Fri., Feb. 9, through March 30.
Post membership realizes that over the last 50 years, this tradition has become a much-beloved part of the Naperville Friday night social scene, serving as a great place for a family dinner or to get together with friends to celebrate the end of the week.
The menu varies with kid-friendly items and will always offer baked tilapia, fried cod, chicken and/or chicken nuggets, salad, vegetables (8 hot items), plus rolls, dessert and coffee every Friday. The buffet is prepared by Belgio’s Catering. The full menu is available at www.napervfw3873.org, or call (630) 420-9820.
In spite of inflationary pressures, organizers are able to maintain the same pricing as last year. Adults will cost $12, seniors $10, children 4-11 $7, and children 3 and under are free.
Spread the word to relatives, friends, neighbors and co-workers about this annual fun and fundraising event. The Judd Kendall VFW Post is located at 908 W. Jackson Ave., with plenty of parking south of the building.
A Cup of Hope: Garden Tea to Solve Hunger will be held at Hotel Arista March 4
The Executive Women’s Council of Northern Illinois Food Bank reawakens spring gardeners while they enjoy afternoon tea for a worthy cause. The mission of Women’s Executive Council is to bring awareness to Northern Illinois Food Bank plus generate very important funds for children nutrition programs. One in five children are food insecure in the 13 counties that Northern Illinois supports.
The third-annual event, to be held Sunday, March 4 at Hotel Arista in Naperville, will gather gardeners and Food Bank supporters alike for a traditional afternoon tea party experience, complete with an extensive selection of sparkling wines, teas, appetizers and raffle prizes.
The afternoon will also include a presentation by Bill Shores, of Shores Garden Consulting, drawing on his experience in the farm to table movement to discuss “Designing with Edibles.”
Shores has been professionally involved in small-scale, intensive gardening and food production since 1993. He specializes in space-efficient gardening systems suited to the urban/suburban environment including container gardens, indoor gardens, raised beds, rooftop gardens, and intensively planted small space, in-ground gardens, all of which utilize season extension, composting and plant propagation techniques.
For tickets and more info, visit www.solvehungertoday.org or contact Kate Thomas at (630) 443-6910 ext. 117 or kthomas@northernilfoodbank.org.
