Elmfest 2003
Elmfest will celebrate its 21st Anniversary in the streets of downtown Elmhurst on Friday through Sunday, June 13-15. The Elmhurst Jaycees Carnival will open on Thursday, June 12.
A “close proximity” fireworks show, sponsored by Community Bank of Elmhurst, will be staged both Friday and Saturday at 10:05 p.m. (weather permitting).
Entertainment will be provided on the Fifth Third Bank City Centre Stage and Comcast Entertainment Center.
Fred Messerschmidt, 86, Co-Founder of Elmhurst Federal Savings & Loan Association (now a Charter One Bank), will be the 12th honoree inducted into the Chamber’s Civic Hall of Fame during the Opening Ceremonies at the City Center Stage on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Free attractions include a 25-foot climbing wall (Larry Roesch Chrysler-Jeep), 33-foot slip & slide (Elmhurst Lincoln-Mercury), pony rides (SBC, LaSalle Bank and the Chamber), show pony photos (CARSTAR Elmhurst, Kiwanis Club of Elmhurst and Bank One) and moon walk (Elmhurst Family YMCA and Allstate Insurance).
Visit www.elmfest.org for complete festival information.
Business After Hours
Catalano Mortgage Group of First Home Mortgage (112 South York Street) and Edward Jones Investments (112-A South York Street) will co-host the Chamber’s Business After Hours on Thursday, June 12, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in celebration of Elmfest 2003.
Chamber Anniversaries
The following four businesses are celebrating their Chamber Anniversaries in May:
10 Years—Wide Scope Staffing Services, Inc. (4415 West Harrison, Suite 232, Hillside); and
5 Years—Elmhurst Newcomers & Neighbors Club (P.O. Box 416), Everdry Waterproofing (2439 Curtiss Street, Downers Grove) and Uncommon USA, Inc. (1125 East St. Charles Road, Lombard).
Cost of Doing Business
Time-off and disability program costs averaged 15 percent of payroll in 2001, up from 14.6 percent in 2000, according to the 2002 Survey of Employer’s Time-Off and Disability Programs by Mercer Human Resource Consulting. For a worker earning $40,000 annually, that translates into a $6,000 cost for 39 days of absence. Unscheduled absences accounted for 4.7 percent of payroll.
According to the Society for Human Resource Management’s 2002 benefits survey, the percentage of employers offering vision insurance has increased to 73 percent, up from 60 percent in 1998.
Membership Breakfast
Advanced Rehabilitation Clinics (533 West North Avenue, Suite 50) will host the Chamber’s Membership Breakfast on Wednesday, June 25, from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.
New Members
The following six businesses joined in the past two weeks:
Champion Window Co. of Chicago LLC (717 Industrial Drive), replacement windows, sidings and doors, Pat Matos, 279-0909;
Daedalus Medical Research & Development LLC (500 South Kenilworth Avenue), medical research and development, Thomas Gurrin, 359-9013;
Family Care Diminution (P.O. Box 414), health benefits, Representative Jeannette Elderkin, 290-2845;
Gourmet Food Sales (740 North Kenilworth Avenue), gourmet foods, Angela Brenka, 833-6738;
Leads Club-Elmhurst (P.O. Box 328), business networking, Rick Craig, 240-951; and
Taste of Greece (2105 Grove Avenue, Berwyn), Elmfest food vendor, Spiros Synadinos, (312) 26-6346.
Newsmakers
Kathy Rezny, Co-Owner of York Furrier (107 North York Street), recently was elected Pesident of the Associated Fur Industries of Chicagoland.
The reconstruction project at York Community High School (355 West St. Charles Road) was featured in “Learning By Design: A School Leaner’s Guide to Architectural Services/2003,” published by the American School Board Journal, as one of three Illinois high school that best exemplify the basic principles of good school design.
Special Events
The Elmhurst Jaycees (P.O. Box 235) are sponsoring a “Get To Know Us” Membership Social at Buffalo Wild Wings (749 North York Street) on Thursday, May 29, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The leadership organization is open to ages 21 through 39.
Immanuel Lutheran Church (142 East Third Street) is sponsoring a “Direct from the Mills” Linen Sale of Thursday, June 5, from 10:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Friday, June 6, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday, June 7, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Call 832-1649 for more info.
The Tom Lynch Trunk Show will be on display at Wallscapes Custom Framing & Art Gallery (108 North York Street) on Friday, June 13, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, June 14, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Spring Road Business Association and Chamber will co-sponsor Music at the Gazebo on Thursday, June 19, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.