March 2009

ATTENTION BUSINESS OWNERS!

LITTER PICK UP is required of  all business owners and licensees.
Please pick up any litter from sidewalks abutting your property.

Questions?  Call the 50th Ward Streets and Sanitation office at 312-744-3099.

For businesses located within the Devon Avenue SSA area, sidewalk sweeping is being
provided 6 days per week.  Additionally the residential sidewalks between Leavitt
& Sacramento 1 block North & South of Devon Avenue will be swept on Mondays
begining April 1, 2009 courtsey of the SSA/West Ridge Chamber of Commerce.

Need to know if you are located in the SSA area?

Please contact the Chamber office.
7730743-6022
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Paper Shredding & Computer Donation Event

The Cintas paper shredder will be making a trip to West Ridge on Saturday March
28, from 9am -noon.
Bring your personal, business and banking documents to be shredded while you watch.

Old computer donations will also be accepted By the Computers for Schools Program.
Computers of all types will be accepted for donation.
Computers need not be in working order.

No amount is too great!  Free to the public!

Saturday, March 28, 2009
9am - noon
Devon Bank Parking Lot - 6445 N. Western Ave.
Rain or Shine!

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Children's Programs in March at the Chicago Public Library, Northtown Branch!

Story Time at Your Library!
Spring Session: March 10-April 9
Toddler Time: Tuesdays at 10:00 AM
Preschool Pals: Thursdays at 10:00 AM
Toddler Time and Preschool Pals are thirty-minute programs consisting of songs,
finger plays, rhymes, flannel board stories and books for children and their parent
or caregiver.
Toddler Time is designed for children ages 18-36 months and their parent or caregiver.
Preschool Pals is designed for children ages 3-5 years and their parent or caregiver.
Wednesday, March 11: 10AM
WTTW Kids: Readers are Leaders!
WTTW Kids and the Chicago Public Library are excited to present a fun-filled WTTW
Kids "Readers Are Leaders" program featuring Miss Lori's Campus at the Northtown
Branch. This FREE family event will delight children 3-8 years old and inspire
the whole family to sing-along and participate in reading activities. The live performance,
hosted by Miss Lori, includes original songs, engaging activities, story readings,
and a free children's book for each child in attendance. At the show, families will
have the opportunity to win two free tickets to a Chicago Blackhawks game! It is
a perfect way to have fun and support early literacy development over the winter
months!
Registration is recommended!  You can register in person at the Circulation Desk
or by calling (312) 744-2292.
Wednesday, March 18: 6:30PM
Stories From Quilts: A Family Story and Craft Program
The Chicago Public Library and the Art Institute of Chicago are pleased to announce
the 2009 Art and Reading Together Program, Stitches & Stories: An American Perspective.
Families with children ages 3-12 are invited to participate.  At the March 18 program
we will be reading stories about quilts and creating a quilt for the branch!
Registration is recommended!  You can register in person at the Circulation Desk
or by calling (312) 744-2292.
Wednesday, March 11 & 25 at 4:00 PM
Homework Break
Take a homework break at the Northtown Branch and listen to folk- and fairytales
at 4:00 PM.
Homework Break is designed for school-age children.
No registration is necessary.
After School Homework Help!
Northtown's Teacher in the Library provides free homework help for elementary, middle
and high school students!  The Teacher in the Library is available Monday through
Thursday from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM.  No registration is required.
Contact the branch (312) 744-2292 with any questions or to register for these events.

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2009-10 Membership Directory & Map
To be listed in the West Ridge Chamber of Commerce 2009-10 Membership Directory
& Map your membership dues must be current and paid by April 1, 2009.
Dues
$85 per year for small businesses
$125 per year for large businesses
$25 for Friends of West Ridge - not profits & residents
As a WRCC member you will be listed in our online directory with a link to your
website, in our printed directory and have the ability to host and attend WRCC events
for FREE or at a discounted rate.
Did you know that the more reputable websites- like Chambers of Commerce- that your
site is linked from the easier your business will be to find in Google and Yahoo!
searches??
Not sure if you are a member?  Call the Chamber office!
773-743-6022
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RECYCLE PAPER for EDUCATION
365 days per year, 24 hours per day you can simply drop off you paper items to be
recycled at 2 Paper Retriever Boxes in the nieghborhood.
Devon Bank - Easily accessible in the southeast corner of the lot at  6445 N. Western
Avenue.
High Ridge YMCA - Accessible to all through the YMCA lot 2424 W. Touhy. entrance
on Western Avenue.
We can accept your newspapers, school & business documents, junk mail, catalogs,
soft cover books & magazines.
Did you know that 1 week of daily newspapers can add up to 10 lbs of paper?
The  West Ridge Chamber of Commerce is committed to community education.  Our local
RECYCLING program is in place not only to help the earth, but to assist community
schools.  In the 2007-08 school year the Chamber raised $2,000 through these programs.
Funds provided financial assistance to Boone Community School.  The entire 4th grade
class and 5 teachers were able to attend a science field trip at Experiencia at
no cost to them.
On the trip, students had a chance to experience hands on learning of subjects like
recycling, composting and water conservation and collection.
Help us generate funds to do it again!
Recycle your paper with us
Please call the Chamber offices with questions
773-743-6022
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1st Tuesdays with The West Ridge Chamber of Commerce
March 1st Tuesday Networking
DATE: Tuesday, March 3
TIME: 530-730pm
LOCATION: Performing Arts Ltd., 2740 W. Touhy
Be sure to join us for great refreshments and a chance to meet new people. If you
are a small business owner, concerned resident or work for a large corporation this
is a chance to get out and network. See you then!
As of January 1, 2009 the West Ridge Chamber of Commerce will be charging non-members
a $5 entry fee to 1st Tuesday events. MEMBERS ARE FREE!
Are you a member interested in showcasing your business by hosting a 1st Tuesday
event?
Contact the Chamber today to reserve your date in 2009!
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Peterson Park Health Care Center
Cordially invites you to A Family Night
Wednesday, March 4th, 2009     6:30 P.M.
"New Choices in Long Term Care"
· Learn about the Five Wishes Program
· Learn about Palliative care options
Refreshments will be provided.
Please R.S.V.P. to Peterson Park Health Care at
(773) 478-2000
Sponsored by Seasons Palliative Care
Peterson Park Health Care Center
6141 N. Pulaski Road, Chicago, IL  60646
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Spring Splash - Multi Chamber Networking Event
Explore Airoom's home design showroom while experiencing a live cooking demonstration,
wine tasting, mini massages and more!


Refreshments served.


Sponsored by Airoom, Whole Foods Market, Swedish Covenant Hospital , Sauganash Wellness
Center and the Sauganash & West Ridge Chambers of Commerce .

Date: Thursday, March 26
Time: 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location: Airoom  6825 N. Lincoln Avenue, Lincolnwood
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Community Counseling Centers of Chicago (C4)
Save the Dates:  Community Counseling Centers of Chicago (C4) is sponsoring the
"Art of Survival,"  an exhibition of  artwork by survivors of sexual assault on
Thursday, April 2, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at Northeastern Illinois University, Student
Union Building, 550 North St. Louis, Chicago.
Event features the collection of Jean Cozier, sexual abuse survivor and founder
of the Judith Dawn Memorial Fund for the Arts. Admission free, parking available
in Lot  F. For more information, visit www.c4chicago.org or phone 773.765.0780.
Get your running shoes running for the second annual C4 Miles: Making Strides for
Mental Health on Sunday, May 3.  Proceeds benefit Community Counseling Centers of
Chicago.  For more information, visit www.c4chicago.org or phone 773.765.0808.
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Peterson Urgent Care and Occupational Health Services presents our Open House event:
Location: 2300 West Peterson Avenue, Chicago, IL  60659
Date: Thursday, April 23, 2009    Time: 8:30 am to 10:30 am
Guest speaker:    Douglas Darch, Attorney of Seyfarth Shaw, LLP
How does an employer navigate the complex tangle of overlapping state and federal
laws which apply to employees who are ill or who are injured?
Significant changes in the Americans with Disabilities Act, the regulations under
the Family and Medical Leave Act and Illinois court decisions assure that policies
and handbooks prepared in 2008 or earlier are out of date and need to be revised.
Best practices for managing insurance coverage termination, the return to work
process and physicals, and transitional light duty will be discussed in light of
these changes.
HR mangers, in-house counsel generalist, and plant managers would attend this practical
and information program.  Bring your questions for an informative session.
Contact: Mary Vickery  Phone: (773) 307-6797
Email: mvickery@dmc-doc.com
Please RSVP by Wednesday, April 15, 2009
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News from Indian Boundary Park Fieldhouse
2500 West Lunt, Chicago, IL 60645
The Chicago Park District and Indian Boundary Park are so looking for individuals
to participate in our volunteer docent guide program. Our docents foster a greater
appreciation and understanding of the sites by greeting visitors and providing interpretive
tours of the Park.
The training begins on Tuesday, March 3, 2009 at Indian Boundary Park.  The training
will continue on Tuesday evenings at Indian Boundary until May 2009.  Docents will
receive training from area experts on the art of interpretation, the history of
Indian Boundary Park, landscape, zoology, architecture and horticulture.
Docents are expected to make a minimum commitment of 4 hours per month (1 shift).
  To help you determine whether this volunteer opportunity is right for you we strongly
suggest that you take a tour with one of our existing docents.  Please let us know
and we will have the Docent Coordinator contact you to arrange a docent tour.
We ask that you attend each training session.  While we will greatly appreciate
your commitment to attending every session, however, we do allow one absence. We
will ask you to try to arrange for a make-up session.
Be advised that as a formality all volunteer applicants are required to fulfill
a background check prior to beginning of service. Fingerprinting will take place
before the first day of training at your convenience.  Docents will also be asked
to purchase a cap or T-shirt for approximately the cost of $15.00.
After we receive your application, you will be contacted for a brief telephone interview.
We also encourage you to have an on-site interview with our Docent Coordinator.
    If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Jennifer Albom at (773)
743-3626,
Thank you for your support on and interest in this exciting new initiative.  We
look forward to hearing from you.
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Rogers School Spring Walk-A-Thon
On behalf of Rogers Elementary School, its Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), and
the Friends of Rogers School, we invite you to participate in our 1st fundraising
event - The Spring Walk-A-Thon by Rogers students!
We are looking to partner with local businesses to make this event a success.  The
"Walk-A-Thon" promotes our students walk for new hands-on science equipment.  The
student walk will be held the week of May 18 - May 23, 2008.
Projected benefits from your generous contribution for this walk include -
Hands-on science materials
Increased curiosity and inquiry for our students
Exposure to the tools of science
We ask for a tax-deductible cash donation for the upcoming event.  We welcome other
gifts too, such as services and products suited for this event.  We would like each
student who reaches their fundraising goal to be recognized for their achievement
(t-shirt sponsorship, water bottles, gift certificates or other give-a-ways are
needed).
For your generosity, you will receive the following publicity:
·         Your name and business information will be listed in the "Walk-A-Thon"
program book, distributed to all school families and guests.
·         If you choose, for an incremental donation, you may increase your exposure
by placing an ad in our program book or having your business logo on t-shirts for
students.
To confirm your donation, please contact the Friends of Rogers School at 773/274-1426.
We enthusiastically ask you to contact us if interested in more information about
the event.  We encourage members of the Rogers community to patronize the businesses
who graciously support this event.  The success of our "Walk-A-Thon" is due to the
generosity of individuals, community businesses and institutions like yours.  Thank
you for your kind consideration of this request.
Rogers, a public grade school of approximately 700 students, enrolls preschool through
8th grade children from the West Ridge neighborhood.  We are proud to be part of
the West Ridge Chamber of Commerce and the Rogers Park community.  For more information
about this event, please contact Jeff Meegan - President, Friends of Rogers at 773/274-1426
or at jeff@jeffmeegan.com [mailto: jeff@jeffmeegan.com ].