Greetings to PN / February 2019

Above / Remember learning about Pangea in elementary school? PN’s image of Pangea depicts Naperville flagged on a hypothetical supercontinent that included all current land masses around the world. Dating back more than 200 million years to the Triassic and Jurassic Periods, the giant continent is believed to have been in existence before the continents began to break apart 175 million years ago and way before the internet.

Here’s hoping Greetings to PN connect you to some information you might not know, requests that arrive in between issues that might need attention and action now. Thanks!

To PN & Dear Friends, Customers, Business Leaders and Naperville Community, Feb 22, 2019

Janor Sports has been acquired by BSN SPORTS, the nation’s largest direct marketer and distributor of sporting goods to the school and league markets.

Serving the Naperville community for over 12 years has been a tremendously enjoyable and rewarding endeavor. I am deeply grateful to all of you for the confidence and trust you placed in Janor Sports over the years.

I would like to thank all our loyal customers and dedicated employees that contributed to our tremendous success and longevity in the marketplace. I would like to offer special thanks to Mary Kay Lang and Mike Smith. Both Mary Kay and Mike faithfully served Janor Sports and its customers since the very beginning. Without their
contributions in building the business and vast customer base from the ground up, the company would not have flourished, and this opportunity with BSN SPORTS would not have been presented.

I will continue to serve as President of Game Day USA and a Partner within parent company, Athletx Sports Group. Our core business of producing baseball and softball events has skyrocketed in recent months, and has evolved into an industry-leading, year-round event and media business, that has propelled us from New York to California and from Minnesota down to Texas. I have also taken on additional responsibilities within USA Baseball.

With more than 2,000 employees, Dallas-based BSN SPORTS will enable the valued customers of Janor Sports to have immediate access to an industry leading technology platform and a wider range of brands, products and services. Doug Burchett will transition from Janor Sports to the BSN SPORTS team, and we thank Doug for his efforts, and wish him all the best with this new career direction and opportunity.

Mary Kay Lang, Mike Smith, and Ryan Rosmonowski will remain in Naperville with Game Day USA and Athletx Sports Group, and will maintain their key roles in the event management company. All of our phone numbers will remain the same. Please feel free to reach out should you have any questions.

This is a big win for everyone involved.

Regards,
Rich Janor
Founder and President 

To PN & Other Media, Feb. 9, 2019 / CEO UPDATE: Ronald McDonald House near UChicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital

Last week, our Ronald McDonald House near UChicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital experienced significant damage to both guest rooms and living spaces because of a pipe burst that permeated all floors when Chicagoland experienced record breaking sub-zero temperatures.
 
While the damage to the House was extensive, we are incredibly grateful that all families staying at the House were safely relocated to a hotel that evening and continue to find comfort with our hotel partner.
 
Due to the scope of damage, the House will be closed for the next several months so that we can make the necessary repairs.  
 
We would like to thank our partners and members of our community who quickly rallied around us, and for the tremendous outpouring of support we have received. Through your donations, letters, and calls asking where help is most needed, we are truly humbled by your generosity. Thanks to you, we will continue to provide as many of our services as possible to keep families comfortable, and most importantly, close to their hospitalized children.
 
We will continue to provide periodic updates on our progress through social media and through print and e-communications. You may also stay up to date by visiting ronaldhousechicago.org/2019flood.
 
Again, we can’t thank you enough for the love and compassion that has been shown to the families affected by the Ronald McDonald House near UChicago Comer Children’s situation, as well as all families served by our organization.

 
Gratefully, 
Holly Buckendahl
Chief Executive Officer

Editor’s Note / In 2013, PN first became aware of the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Edward and how families benefit from Ronald McDonald Charities. Local families also have received care and respite in Ronald McDonald facilities throughout the nation. Edward Hospital in Naperville also is home to a facility supported by Ronald McDonald Charities. “The Ronald McDonald Family Room” is found in the pediatric unit, providing a home-like atmosphere where families can relax, rest and unwind in order to better support their child during any medical journey. 

For more info about the needs and value of donating to Ronald McDonald Charities, visit https://rmhccni.org.

TO PN and members of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, Feb. 9, 2019 / Legislative Alert: Illinois House to Consider $15/hour Minimum Wage Bill

Naperville Junior Woman’s Club (NJWC) is currently accepting applications for 2019 scholarships to award three $1,500 scholarships to graduating seniors who reside within Naperville School District #203 or Indian Prairie School District #204. Seniors graduating from high schools not included in Districts 203 & 204 qualify as long as they currently live within either district’s boundaries.

The Naperville Junior Woman’s Club has renamed the Scholarship Award to honor our late member, Michelle LaFrey Fregoso, who passed away last May. Michelle was a long standing member of NJWC, as well as the Director of Communications for Naperville School District 203. Because of her passion for both, NJWC proudly renames this award in her honor.

Scholarships will be awarded based on community service, school involvement, scholastic achievement and financial need. The application can be downloaded from our website:

https://napervillejuniors.org/scholarships/

Applications must be received by March 15, 2019.

In mid-April, each scholarship candidate will be notified by email or phone of the committee’s decision. Scholarships will be presented at the NJWC General Meeting on April 25, 2019. To download the application or to get more information, please visit www.napervillejuniors.org/Scholarship.

Let me know any questions and if you need anything else!

Norma Gowdy, NJWC Public Relations

FYI: Naperville Junior Woman’s Club is looking for energetic, enthusiastic women to join us in our volunteer efforts. Each year our members give thousands of hours of service to the community and thousands of dollars to various local charities. Please view our website at www.napervillejuniors.org for more information.

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TO PN, Feb 5, 2019 / American Legion Citizen of the Year

We once again seek your assistance in publicizing the Citizen of the Year Award in Positively Naperville.

Naperville American Legion Post 43 began naming a Citizen of the Year in 1986.  Four years ago, the program was expanded to consider naming a Citizen of the Year to three categories:  Service to the Community, Service to Youth, and Service to Veterans.

We are again asking for your assistance to identify deserving candidates in each category.

Nominees must be Naperville residents whose service must have been performed in a volunteer capacity, rather than as part of compensated employment.

Anyone may nominate a candidate by sending a letter or email that includes:

1. The category they are being nominated for (Service to the Community, Service to Youth, or Service to Veterans)
   2. A comprehensive description of the services the nominee performed
   3. The time frame and duration
   4. The significance of the service to others
   5. Name and contact information of the nominee
   6. Name and contact information of the person offering the nomination.
   7. Letters from other people endorsing the nominee are encouraged.

The Naperville Community is blessed with many people who serve their fellow citizens–the judges have a very difficult task. Comprehensive information—attachments and endorsements are of greatly helpful in selecting the winners.  They may be mailed to: American Legion Post 43, Citizen of the Year, Post Office Box 4, Naperville, 60566 or emailed (preferably) to:   vahlej@comcast.net.

Submissions must be received by:   March 20, 2019.

Winners will be announced in the local media and honored at the Legion’s Awards and Recognition Banquet on April 20, 2019. ​

Thanks for all you have done to promote Naperville American Legion Post 43.

Jim Vahle, American Legion Post 43

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To PN / Riverwalk Adult Day Services: A celebration and community thank you!

Young at Heart!  What a fantastic Gala theme to celebrate 35 years of serving adults who cannot be left alone.  Our heartfelt memorial to Mayor Emeritus George Pradel, whose mother was a Riverwalk Adult Day Services participant, was a special cornerstone of the 35^th anniversary. 

As the strains of the Pete Ellman Band died down, Councilwomen Patty Gustin stepped to the podium and delivered the City of Naperville proclamation recognizing Riverwalk for 35 years of service excellence.  As the president and spokeswoman for the Riverwalk Board of Directors, I want to say Thank you!

Thank you, participants & caregivers, Our Riverwalk Family! 

Thank you, Riverwalk staff!

Thank you, Volunteers and Program Providers!

Thank you, Senior Service Providers and Community Educators!

Thank you, community grant providers, sponsors, & individual donors!

It is sobering to hear that 40% of adults experience isolation or loneliness.  Looking forward 5 years, 1 in 2 US workers will face the challenge of adult dependent care. When statistics show that 50% of adults live longer when they are part of a community, it is critical to develop and sustain centers for adults who are not independent.  Riverwalk Adult Day Services is proud to have provided this community resource since 1983. 

In 2019 Riverwalk will be hosting monthly Educational & informational Seminars and a Caregiver Facebook Support Group.   We would love for you to join us!  

Please help perpetuate the Riverwalk Adult Day Services mission for another 35 years.  Visit our website at www.RiverwalkAdultDayServices.com to help to share in the caring.  Most importantly, if you need a caregiver break/support visit our website or join our Riverwalk family.   

Marian Stricker, President, Riverwalk Adult Day Services

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Greetings to PN

PN welcomes signed letters to the editor that include contact information. Most likely, these letters will appear online only in Greetings to PN. Reader responses in the “comments” also must be signed with contact info that will not be published.

Note that in the past, PN has not posted letters or personal endorsements regarding candidates in political campaigns. Just like all local businesses—printers, restaurants, web designers, newspapers, homeowners newsletters and other media— we welcome support from all the candidates. We always appreciate candidate support for their print and digital ads that assist in getting the word out about every local nonpartisan election cycle.