Mark your calendars and join Danille Ferrari for her open house on Monday, February 2, 2009, from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.  Danielle’s office is located at 1120 N. Main St., Glendale Heights.

Chamber members and guests are welcome to stop by and welcome Danielle to her new location. Refreshements will be served.  For more information, call 630-790-4850.

Dr. Kristina Sargent, of Restor Healing Centre, has been asked by ABC 7 News to do another interview with Sylvia Perez. They will be discussing organic calories, and ways to incorporate organic foods into your diet among other issues that didn’t make it into the small segment airing TONIGHT Thursday, January 29, during the 10 o’clock news. The new interview can be seen this Friday, January 30, at 11am. 

Wheaton Christian Grammar School has announced the addition of a full-day kindergarten option. Beginning in the fall of 2009, incoming families will be able to choose between the new full-day program and the current half-day sessions.

The school has scheduled weekly, informal Drop In and Learn More events each Tuesday this spring, 9 to 10 a.m., beginning January 27. Prospective parents will be able to learn more about the schools mission, programs, and distinctive learning environment. In addition, a Saturday Open House is scheduled for February 21 at 11 a.m., followed by an evening event on Thursday, April 16 at 7 p.m.

Applications are now being accepted for grades K through 8 at the private Christian school, located at 530 E. Harrison Avenue in Wheaton.

WCGS, founded in 1942, is accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), and has a current enrollment of nearly 500 students. Spring groundbreaking is scheduled at the school’s new thirty-five acre campus in nearby Winfield. Parents can learn more at the school’s website, www.wheatonchristian.org, or by calling 630.668.1385, ext. 216.

Central DuPage Hospital (CDH) is one of only 270 hospitals to receive HealthGrades Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence Award™. This distinction is based on an independent study released today by HealthGrades, the leading healthcare ratings company.

The study of quality at the nation’s nearly 5,000 nonfederal hospitals places CDH in the top five percent for overall clinical quality. According to the HealthGrades study, Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence had mortality rates that were, on average, 27 percent lower than other hospitals, and major complication rates that were eight percent lower.

For seven years now, HealthGrades has conducted comprehensive studies of hospital quality in America, producing ratings for every non-federal hospital. Hospitals that receive the Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence are those hospitals that excel across the 26 procedures and diagnoses rated.

“We are proud to have received this recognition again,” said John R. Born, D.O., president of the medical staff at CDH. “It is a reflection of the teamwork among all of our caregivers and a commitment to provide the very best care to our patients.”

The study also shows that Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence™ are improving at a greater rate in more procedures and diagnoses than all other hospitals, lowering risk-adjusted mortality rates over the years 2005, 2006, 2007 by an average of 18%.

“Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence comprise an unparalleled group of hospitals that excel across the board, not just in one or two specialties, and they should be commended for their relentless commitment to exceptional patient care. Patients should expect and demand the same level of care at all hospitals,” said Rick May, MD, HealthGrades senior physician consultant, and an author of the study.

For its study, HealthGrades analyzed almost 41 million Medicare hospitalization records that cover the latest three-year period, from 2005 to 2007. Because the hospitalization records come from the federal government, no hospital can opt in or out of HealthGrades’ rating process. The analysis is risk-adjusted to account for differences in patient populations between hospitals.

HealthGrades found that Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence™ outperformed all other hospitals across the procedures and diagnoses studied. HealthGrades estimates that 152,666 lives could have been saved and 11,772 complications could have been avoided over the three years studied if all Medicare patients were treated at Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence.

Central DuPage Hospital’s overall clinical outcomes are in the top 5% of hospitals in the United States. CDH has now received the HealthGrades Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence designation for three consecutive years – 2007-2009. CDH was also named a HealthGrades Distinguished Hospital for Patient Safety for three consecutive years – 2006-2008. Only 80 hospitals in the United States achieved both the Clinical Excellence and the Patient Safety designations in 2008. Those hospitals achieving designations in Patient Safety for 2009 will be announced later in the spring.

Chamber members and guests enjoyed some tasty treats at Pad Thai’s Business After Hours.

Chamber member, Jeff Van Dyke, was inducted into the Ambassador’s Committee at the January luncheon.

Mayor Mike Gresk presented the “State of the City” at the January membership luncheon.

Wheaton Chamber of Commerce members joined First State Bank at their ribbon cutting on Monday, January 26th.

MARCH 2009 MULTI-CHAMBER LUNCHEON
ADDISON, BARTLETT, CAROL STREAM, DARIEN, DOWNERS GROVE, ELMHURST, GLEN ELLYN, HANOVER PARK, HINSDALE, LISLE, LOMBARD, NAPERVILLE, VILLA PARK, WARRENVILLE, WEST CHICAGO, WESTMONT, WHEATON, AND WOODRIDGE

Thursday, March 12, 2009
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Abbington Distinctive Banquets in Glen Ellyn
3S002 IL Route 53, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137

Keynote Speaker: Patrick G. Ryan, Chairman and CEO, Chicago 2016
TOPIC: Chicago 2016 – Olympic Impact on West Suburban Business

Pat Ryan is the chairman and CEO of Chicago 2016, the organization bidding for the privilege of hosting the 2016 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Chicago. Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley chose Ryan to lead this committee due to his distinctive experience as part of Chicago’s business, civic and sport communities. Mr. Ryan will discuss the economic impact the Olympic Games may hold for west suburban businesses.

COST: $35 for chamber members. $50 for non-chamber members. To RSVP or for more information contact the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce, 630-668-6464 or reply by email to sandyl@wheatonchamber.com.
Seating is limited and is available on a first come, first served basis.

For a flyer about the event click HERE.

Mardi Gras Fundraiser Dinner event, to benefit Northern Illinois Food Bank (NIFB)

Who: All friends of the Food Bank, who enjoy Cajun food, and would like to support NIFB’s efforts in the fight against Hunger in DuPage County and Northern Illinois, are invited and encouraged to attend.

What: Cocktails, four-course Cajun meal prepared especially by Chef / Owner Jimmy Bannos, wine-pairings included, along with live entertainment by a jazz pianist.

When: Tuesday, February 3^rd, cocktails at 6pm and dinner at 7pm.

Where: Heaven on Seven – Naperville, 224 South Main St., Naperville

Why: NIFB’s mission is to provide nutritious food to all those in need through its own efforts and those of our non-profit partners.  Your support of this event will help us to continue toward our vision of creating a hunger-free northern Illinois.

How: Call now for tickets – Matt Szejda – NIFB – 630.443.6910 ext. 18

THANK YOU for your support in the fight against Hunger!

Central DuPage Hospital’s (CDH) Auxiliary will be awarding scholarships to high school, college and graduate students interested in pursuing a career in healthcare.

Scholarships will be awarded to students attending a college, university or graduate program in the fall of 2009. In order to qualify, students must document academic excellence, plan to pursue a career in healthcare and live within Central DuPage Hospital’s service area.

Scholarship guidelines and applications are available online February 1 at www.cdh.org. The completed application, personal statement, transcripts and reference letters are due by March 31, 2009.

If you require additional information about the scholarship program, please call the Central DuPage Hospital Auxiliary voicemail at (630) 933-4119 or TTY 630-933-4833. Your call will be promptly returned.  

One of Wheaton’s best little secrets is about to open and be better than ever!  The Wise Penny Resale Shop at 122 N. Main in Wheaton will be opening on Monday, January 19^th after a whole new facelift!  New floors, walls, cabinets and fixtures have helped brighten up the popular shop – run by volunteers and two employees.  One hundred percent of the profit from Wise Penny purchases support the Central DuPage Hospital Auxiliary – a volunteer organization that recently completed a one million dollar donation for oncology services at CDH.  The Auxiliary supports many other programs and projects including ThinkFirst Injury Prevention and special pediatric projects, among others.

Shop Manager Nancy Stastny tells me they are scurrying to fill the shelves for the opening.  There are items as low as 25 cents up to a $120 full length fur available.  The inventory changes everyday – for the opening she told me there will be plenty of china and dishware, complete bedroom furniture sets for less than $25, Hummels, winter coats, boots and recently one donor brought in 35 brand new brand name purses.  The Wise Penny has always been known for their fine jewelry – and the selection is great, including watches with all brand new batteries installed.

A little known fact about Wise Penny, some house wares (including china and crystal) and furniture worth more than $25 can be sold on consignment – the seller will get 60 percent and the shop will take 40%.

The store will be open 10 am – 4 pm Monday – Saturday, and donations are accepted 10 am – 3 pm Monday – Saturday.  Nancy assures me that all donations they accept will be used, whether for sale in the store, or donated to another charity in need.

For more information, or to arrange a “sneak peak” before shoppers arrive on Monday, contact Nancy at 630-665-8626 or me at the information below.  Photographers and reporters are welcome!

Following other successful campaigns to boost ridership on Pace Route 714 College of DuPage-Naperville-Wheaton Connector, commuters have another opportunity to ride free of charge on the route Jan. 20-30. The promotion will be funded by a federal congestion mitigation grant from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning to DuPage County, and it is promoted by the College of DuPage Connector team.

Route 714 has been providing weekday service linking the communities of Wheaton, Naperville, and Glen Ellyn since August 2006. Popular destinations include Wheaton College, Danada Square, both Wheaton train stations, Edward Hospital and the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Rice Campus. The route also connects with several other Pace routes.

Using public transportation allows riders to contribute to the City’s goal to “Turn Wheaton Green” by making environmentally choices.

Schedules and maps for Route 714 and all Pace service are available at www.pacebus.com or by calling Pace Customer Relations at 847-364-7223.