INTRODUCING…..a new book on environmentally based land use planning, “PLANNING CONNECTIONS Human, Natural, Man Made” by N.J. “Pete” Pointner FAICP, ALA, ITE

This is a practical book about how to achieve more sustainable, attractive, efficient and livable human communities.  It is about “green”, environmentally based land use planning and context sensitive design.  It presents planning principles and illustrates their application with 19 case studies of approved plans and implemented projects.  There are chapters on comprehensive planning, town centers, site planning, growth management tools, review and processing of development applications and transportation corridors.   

Pete is an architect and planner with 47 years of experience beyond his masters degree in City and Regional Planning.  He is a consultant with Corporate Services Inc. of Wheaton, Illinois. He has been elected to the college of fellows of the American Institute of Certified Planners, is a lifetime member of the Institute of Transportation Engineers and is a member of the Association of Licensed Architects. 

Pete has been an active member of the Wheaton Chamber and served as vice president of the board and worked on many committees including the Hubble School, Tax Increment Financing, bridge street bridge replacement and local government affairs committees. 

For more information, or to order a copy, go to www.petepointner.com or call Pete Pointner at 630-221-8225.

Join us in celebrating together the unity and diversity of faiths and the power of combined thought in upcoming events:

Du Page Inter-Faith Thanksgiving Service
Monday, November 24, 7:30 p.m.
The 15^th annual Inter-Faith Thanksgiving Service will be celebrated at St. Procopius Abbey in Lisle (corner of Maple and Yackley).

Following the 1986 Assisi Model of praying in each other’s presence, many traditions will be represented:  Theosophist, Roman Catholic, Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, Zoroastrian, Baptist, Bahai, Native American. No charge

Meditation for World Peace
December 31, 2008, 6-7 a.m.
Meditation for World Peace is a free yearly event in which participants use their concentrated thought power to help generate energy for peace.

This wave of peaceful thought travels around the world as it coincides with group meditations across the globe from 6 to 7 a.m. in each time zone! By releasing light, love, and spiritual energy into the world, we hope to help heal the sense of separation between human beings. This is a global event and we urge you to participate wherever you are.  Refreshments and fellowship after the meditation.

Place: 
The Theosophical Society
1926 N. Main St.,
Wheaton, IL 60187

Theosophical study and practice focuses on the unity and interconnected nature of all things. We uphold that all human beings have spiritually and physically the same origin which is the fundamental teaching of Theosophy or Divine Wisdom. Having said that, being a theosophist does not replace the religion that one may belong to, if any. There is no dogma that a person must believe in order to become a member.

For more information, visit www.theosophical.org or call 630-668-1571, ext. 300. The Theosophical Society is a world-wide, non-profit, membership organization that encourages open-minded inquiry into world religions, philosophy, science, and the arts in order to understand the wisdom of the ages, respect the unity of all life, and help people explore spiritual self-transformation.

College of DuPage Calendar of Events December 2008

2, Tuesday
At the McAninich Arts Center - Small Group Jazz. McAninch Arts Center, Studio Theatre, noon, free. For more information, call (630) 942-4000.

3, Wednesday
At the McAninich Arts Center - Percussion Ensemble. McAninch Arts Center, Theatre 2, 7:30 p.m., $4. For more information, call (630) 942-4000.

4, Thursday
At the McAninich Arts Center - Guitar Ensemble. McAninch Arts Center, Theatre 2, 2:30 p.m., free. For more information, call (630) 942-4000.

4, Thursday
At the McAninich Arts Center - Concert Choir/Chamber Singers. McAninch Arts Center, Mainstage, 7:30 p.m., $4. For more information, call (630) 942-4000.

4, Thursday
At the McAninich Arts Center - Small Group Jazz. McAninch Arts Center, Studio Theatre, noon, free. For more information, call (630) 942-4000.

4 to Jan. 10
Gahlberg Gallery Art Exhibit - Studio Art Faculty Exhibit. An exhibition of new work by College of DuPage studio art faculty. Features painting, sculpture, drawing, design, printmaking, photography, jewelry and more. Gallery hours: Mondays to Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Thursdays, 6 to 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; also open during Mainstage events and by appointment. For more information, call (630) 942-2321.

5, Friday
At the McAninch Arts Center - The Mulligan Mosaics Big Band with special guest Judi Silvano. With regular Chicago appearances and a featured performance at last summer’s Chicago Jazz Festival, The Mulligan Mosaics Big Band presents the music of jazz giant Gerry Mulligan and his Concert Jazz Band. Led by baritone saxophone virtuoso Ted Hogarth and featuring some of Chicago’s most sought-after musicians, the band is joined by guest vocalist Judi Silvano. With flair and precision, The Mulligan Mosaics promote the genius, magic and beauty of Gerry Mulligan’s music. McAninch Arts Center, Mainstage, 8 p.m., tickets $30/28/20. For ticket information, call (630) 942-4000.

7, Sunday
At the McAninch Arts Center - DuPage Chorale. Major works are performed with the DuPage Chorale Orchestra and soloists. McAninch Arts Center, Mainstage, 7:30 p.m., tickets $16/14/6. For more information, call (630) 942-4000.

9, Tuesday
At the McAninich Arts Center - DuPage Community Concert Band. McAninch Arts Center, Mainstage, 7:30 p.m., $4. For more information, call (630) 942-4000.

10, Wednesday
At the McAninich Arts Center - Chamber Orchestra. McAninch Arts Center, Mainstage, 7:30 p.m., $4. For more information, call (630) 942-4000.

13, Saturday
At the McAninch Arts Center - A Celtic Holiday featuring Gavin Coyle, benefiting the People’s Resource Center. Celebrate the holidays with award-winning singer-songwriter Gavin Coyle. Singing original tunes and traditional holiday songs, his concert engenders the warmth of Christmastide. Holiday favorites and Irish carols will release the holiday spirit in us all, as Gavin shares his music and we share with those in need. McAninch Arts Center, Mainstage, 8 p.m., tickets $25. For ticket information, call (630) 942-4000.

13, Saturday
At the McAninch Arts Center - New Classic Singers: A Child’s Christmas. A family-friendly salute to the holidays, featuring timeless carols and a special bearded visitor. McAninch Arts Center, Mainstage, 1 p.m., tickets $10/8. For ticket information, call (630) 942-4000.

14, Sunday
At the McAninch Arts Center - New Classic Singers: Family Christmas Album 27, All Carols. Our holiday tradition! An entire concert of beloved holiday carols, spanning the world and the centuries, with great arrangements by Luboff, Waring, Shaw-Parker and the newest generation of choral arrangers. A treat for your ears, your memories and your hearts. McAninch Arts Center, Mainstage, 4 p.m., tickets $22/20/12. For ticket information, call (630) 942-4000.

19, 20 and 21, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
On Tour at the McAninch Arts Center - Von Heidecke Chicago Festival Ballet: The Nutcracker. Celebrate the holiday by creating childhood memories that only sugarplum fairies, toy soldiers and swirling snowflakes can conjure. This timeless classic returns, taking Tchaikovsky’s marvelous score and creating a winter wonderland of excitement and awe with colorful sets, luxurious costumes, exquisite ballerinas and Kenneth von Heidecke’s innovative choreography. Co-sponsored by Hilton, Lisle/Naperville. McAninch Arts Center, Mainstage, Friday, 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 2 and 7 p.m., tickets $35/33/25. For ticket information, call (630) 942-4000.

31, Wednesday
At the McAninch Arts Center - New Philharmonic - Viennesse Pops New Year’s Eve. Chosen by the Chicago Tribune last year as a not-to-be-missed sold-out concert … reserve your seats now for this unique New Year’s Eve celebration. Experience the Viennese waltzes and polkas, and, of course, all of the musical surprises that only Maestro Muspratt has up his sleeve. Returning for this celebration is soprano Michelle Areyzaga, who thrilled our audiences singing Mimi in La Boheme. McAninch Arts Center, Mainstage, 8:15 p.m., tickets $60/58/50. For ticket information, call (630) 942-4000.

WHEATON LIONS CHARITIES CONFERS COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP FOR QUALIFIED VISUAL AND/OR HEARING IMPAIRED HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES
Our 85th Year Helping the Wheaton Visually and Hearing Impaired Community  

Wheaton Lions Charities, Ltd., and the Wheaton Lions Club has again awarded scholarships to qualifying high school seniors residing within the boundaries of School District 200 who are challenged by visual or hearing related conditions, including type 1 diabetes. The scholarship money is to be used toward college, technical school or similar educational program to enhance a career of their choice. Winners this year are Richard Dykstra, Michael Cantieri and Victoria Klopf, and each received $1,500. 

Richard will attend Universal Technical Institute; Michael will attend Rochester Institute of Technology; and Victoria is a junior at Illinois State University and received the Tom Yule Memorial Scholarship as a tribute to deceased member, Tom Yule. 

Wheaton Lions Club is a local service club affiliated with The International Association of Lions Clubs which has over 45,000 clubs located in 197 countries and represented by over 1.3 million men and women members.  The Wheaton LIONS raise money to primarily assist the visually and hearing impaired who otherwise would not be able to obtain needed service for their impairment and in recent years provided scholarships to assist qualified students to attend college.

The Wheaton LIONS Club meets nearly every Tuesday at noon at the Masonic Temple on Wesley Street in Wheaton.  The Wheaton Lions Club began its charter on October 23, 1923. For further information about the LIONS scholarship selection, please call Bill Davis at 630-668-1167.

The Wheaton LIONS have long maintained their LIONS Eye Care Program within the community, working with local schools and local eye physicians, for the purpose of screening needy individuals, especially children, who have visual impairments. This program includes eye exams, glasses and other apparatus like magnification devices. The Wheaton LIONS also strongly support the Deicke Center for Visual Rehabilitation.  Funding for these and other causes come primarily from activities such as the annual Lions Nite Walk in June, a golf and steak fry each summer, Candy Day collections in October, and a Christmas time auction.

Individuals interested in joining may obtain further information from the club’s website www.WheatonLions.org or by calling Membership Chairman, Jim Ellingson at 630-665-9471.  Prospective members are invited to attend our weekly luncheon meetings held on Tuesdays at Noon to 1:00PM in the Masonic Building, 120 W. Wesley, Wheaton, IL 60187.

Central DuPage Hospital Vascular Surgeon Volunteers to Treat Soldiers Injured in Iraq

Dr. Joseph R. Schneider of the Vascular and Interventional Program of Central DuPage Hospital (CDH) in Winfield, Ill. has volunteered to serve in the surgery rotation of Landstuhl Regional Medical Center at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany. This medical center is where many of the soldiers injured in Iraq are treated.

Dr. Schneider will volunteer October 18 - November 2, 2008. He joins 32 other members of the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) in relieving the limited number of vascular surgeons in the military who are filling positions in military hospitals in the United States and abroad.

“We are lucky to have hundreds of physicians who go above and beyond at CDH,” says CDH Medical Staff President John Born, MD. “Dr. Schneider embodies this spirit to go the extra mile that our patients, and our servicemen and women need and deserve.”

“Our members understand how important expert surgeons are to the military in saving the lives and limbs of these young military heroes,” said K. Wayne Johnston, SVS immediate past president. “We were contacted by SVS member Col. David Gillespie, the vascular surgery consultant from the Office of the U.S. Army Surgeon General and a professor of surgery at Walter Reed Medical Center, and our members quickly responded to the call. I am proud to represent a specialty that unselfishly contributes where they are needed.”

Injuries incurred in the Iraq war are unique in that they include blast injuries from IEDs (improvised explosive devise) and high-velocity injuries from crashes. Vascular surgeons repair the damaged arteries and veins by using both minimally invasive and open surgical techniques.

About the Society for Vascular Surgery
The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) is a not-for-profit association that seeks to advance excellence and innovation in vascular health through education, advocacy, research and public awareness. SVS is the national advocate for 2,600 vascular surgeons dedicated to the prevention and cure of vascular disease. Visit the Web site at www.VascularWeb.org.

Click the link below to view the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce’s November/December 2008 Advantage Newsletter.

November/December 2008 Advantage Newsletter

The Deicke Center for Visual Rehabilitation is changing its name.  As a special friend of our organization, we cordially invite you to join us for a brief ceremony and open house celebration when we will reveal our new name, new look and expanded scope of programs supporting the cause of low vision.

Date:  Thursday, October 23, 2008
Time:  4:00 p.m. Name Unveiling Ceremony
           4:15 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Open House
Location:  219 E. Cole Ave., Wheaton

Our open house provides an opportunity for you to meet our staff and patients and will feature demonstrations of the latest adaptive technology for individuals with vision loss.

We look forward to sharing information with you about what led to our name change and why we selected the name we did. I can assure you the name we chose is as unique as the low vision programs and services we offer.

For more information, contact Tracy Williams at 630-690-7115.

The Theosophical Society in America and The Henry S. Olcott Memorial Library, located in Wheaton, Illinois, received a $25,000 grant awarded by the Illinois State Library (ISL), a Department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), under the federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). The grant requires matching funds and will enable theosophical material to be more accessible nationwide with full and updated bibliographic records.  In addition to increased sharing of resources, the Olcott Library will benefit by migrating its server to the DuPage Library System’s care and maintenance through the MAGIC (Multi-type Automation Group in Cooperation) consortium.

For more information, contact Ruthann Fowler, Public Program & Outreach Coordinator, at 630-668-1571, ext.331 or www.theosophical.org.

Quality Web Site Testing of Wheaton is proud to announce that it is open for business starting October 1, 2008. The company specializes in evaluating and testing web sites for businesses and web site designers. Their services include custom web site evaluations and web site testing services on a variety of browsers on PC, Mac, and mobile platforms. Visitors to www.qualitywebsitetesting.com can try out their services by registering for a free 5 minute web site analysis. The web site also offers visitors the opportunity to register for a free e-tips newsletter. Quality Web Site Testing is an active member of the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce.

Mary Gammel is the owner and principal consultant of Quality Web Site Testing. Her education includes bachelors and masters degrees in computer science. She has worked over 25 years in the computing industry with experience in software development, software quality assurance, computer networking, and project management. From 1997 to 2004, Mary owned The Technology Department, Inc., a computer consulting firm that catered to small businesses.

For more information, please visit www.qualitywebsitetesting.com or call 630-767-9859.

The Center for History is pleased to present Civil War Prisons of the North:  Stories, Myths and Facts as part of its Thursdays at the Center series of programs.  Civil War historian George Webber is back with his vast knowledge of the War Between the States on Thursday, September 25 at 7:00 p.m.  He will once again entertain and inform his audience - this time on the horrors of Civil War prisons - with little known facts and amazing stories.  Webber’s dedication to the truth about the Civil War makes his presentations meaningful and memorable. 

Programs are held at the Center for History, 315 W. Front Street, 2^nd floor, Wheaton.  Reservations for Thursdays at the Center are recommended as seating is limited.  They can be made by calling 630-871-6601 or email info@wheatonhistory.com.  Programs are free and museum admission applies:  $7.50 adult; $6.50 senior (60+); $5.50 student; Center for History members and children 8 and under are free.  The Center for History is a privately funded 501c3 supported by fees and donations.