http://www.kankakee.orgNews related to Kankakee Regional Chamber of Commerce(c) 2009, Kankakee Regional Chamber of Commerce All Rights Reserved.5Beginning November 16, ALDI will offer grocery shoppers a fresh, newly constructed Kankakee store, located at 2705 South Schuyler Ave. Known for its high quality ALDI select brands, ALDI is able to offer these popular alternatives without requiring consumers to buy in bulk. "As thousands of loyal ALDI shippers know, ALDI is the place for high quality fresh produce and grocery items at a fraction of the cost compared to traditional supermarkets," said Heather Moore, ALDI Dwight division vice president. "Once people try ALDI they realize inexpensive can taste great." Customers can expect to find 1,400 of the most frequently purchased items sold under its select brands at prices significantly lower than the competition. The grocer's cost-saving practices include encouraging customers to bring or purchase recyclable bags and using a shopping cart deposit system. ALDI also saves consumers money by keeping stores open during prime shopping times - typically from 9 am until 8 pm. Monday through Saturday and 9 am until 6 pm on Sunday. A grocery retailer that has grown without merger or acquisition, ALDI has gone from averaging 20 to 30 new stores per year to 100 new ALDI stores across the United States in 2008 and plans to open approximately 80 U.S. stores in 2009. About ALDI, Inc. ALDI, a leader in the international grocery retailing industry, began in the United States in 1976. Today more than 1,000 U.S. ALDI stores are located in 30 states primarily from Kansas to the East Coast serving more than 18 million customers each month. A select assortment discount grocer featuring its own ALDI select brands, ALDI applies smart and efficient operational and business practices to save customers up to 50 percent on their grocery bill. ALDI, named 2009 Retailer of the Year by PL Buyer, sells more than 1,200 of the most frequently purchased grocery and household items in manageable, non-bulk packaging. For more information about ALDI, go to www.aldi.us.HTTP://WWW.KANKAKEE.ORG/CWT/EXTERNAL/WCPAGES/WCNEWS/NEWSARTICLEDISPLAY.ASPX?ArticleID=234Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMTPet photos with Santa! Capture this holiday season with a photo of your pet and Santa Claus! Kankakee County Animal Foundation is offering pet photos for Christmas, featuring Santa Claus, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, November 28 at Petco in Bourbonnais. Pet owners are welcome to be in the photos with their pets and Santa. We also have Santa hats and other holiday-theme items that pets can wear for the photos. Our Santa has a real beard, too! Cost is $5 for a 4x6 color print which will be mailed to you within one week after the photo session. Funds go towards KCAF projects, including their low-cost spay and neuter program. To contact the KCAF, call 815-937-9374. HTTP://WWW.KANKAKEE.ORG/CWT/EXTERNAL/WCPAGES/WCNEWS/NEWSARTICLEDISPLAY.ASPX?ArticleID=233Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMTOn December 3, 2009, The Olivet Nazarene University Center for Ethical Leadership and Executive Development will be hosting a seminar with two location choices on Leading Across Generations with Haydn Shaw. There will be a morning session held in the Weber Leadership Center on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m. There will also be an afternoon session held at the Chicago Regional Center, 3601 Algonquin Rd., Rolling Meadows. The afternoon session will be held from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. with registration beginning at 2:00 p.m. Much more than a “conflict resolution” program, participants in the Leading Across Generations program will: • Gain an understanding of the specific differences between the four generations in today’s workforce. • Discover how stereotyping hinders communication and engagement. • Learn how to engage the “whole person” in helping team members from every generation apply their unique talents and contribution. • Know how to conduct a “Whole-Person Engagement Conversation” to identify areas for improving engagement. • Resolve the “points of friction” where one generation’s style or perspective is likely to conflict with those of another generation. • Explore different “points of friction” scenarios using the included reference cards to find solutions. • Follow a powerful 21-day implementation plan to put their new understanding of the generations into practice. The cost is $39 per person. For more information or to register online, please visit www.olivet.edu/graduate/celed HTTP://WWW.KANKAKEE.ORG/CWT/EXTERNAL/WCPAGES/WCNEWS/NEWSARTICLEDISPLAY.ASPX?ArticleID=228Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMTNew at Riverside: Stroke Survivor Support Group meeting the Third Tuesday of Every Month (Kankakee, IL) October 15, 2009 – To support, inform and provide a place for fellowship, Riverside Medical Center’s Primary Stroke Center will be hosting a monthly Stroke Survivor Support Group for all stroke survivors and their families and/or caregivers. The stroke support group is free to all and will be offered the third Tuesday of each month from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Riverside’s Cafeteria Room B (350 N. Wall Street in Kankakee). Topics and guest speakers will vary each month. A complete list of presentation days and speakers are as follows: • Tuesday, October 20, 2009: “Brain Attack: A Medical Emergency” Featuring guest speakers and Riverside Rehabilitation Nurse Leaders Mary Yeates and Sue Kapchinske. • Tuesday, November 17, 2009: “Coping with Stress” Featuring guest speaker and Riverside Clinical Neuropsychologist Kirsten Mitchell. • Tuesday, December 15, 2009: “Healthy Holiday Food” Featuring guest speaker and Riverside Dietitian Katie Swafford, RD. • Tuesday, January 19, 2010: “Safe Exercise” Featuring guest speaker and Riverside Physical Therapist Dodi Callister, PT. • Tuesday, February 16, 2010: “Speech-Memory-Problem Solving-Swallowing” Featuring guest speaker Jan Toth, SLP. • Tuesday, March 16, 2010: “Medical Equipment- What is it for and how do I get it?” Featuring guest speaker and Riverside Health Equipment Store Manager Claudia Hertz. For more information on Riverside’s Stroke Care, please call 815-935-7530 or visit www.RiversideMC.net . HTTP://WWW.KANKAKEE.ORG/CWT/EXTERNAL/WCPAGES/WCNEWS/NEWSARTICLEDISPLAY.ASPX?ArticleID=227Mon, 19 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMTBurke, Montague & Associates L.L.C. - Client Information Bulletin FIVE WAYS TO MANAGE YOUR MONEY IN TOUGH TIMES: How to Weather Current Conditions The economic downturn is certainly taking its toll. Even successful entrepreneurs and well-paid professionals have been forced to tighten their belts. Here are a few practical suggestions to avoid further financial difficulties: 1) Cut down on debt. It is easy to fall into the trap of using plastic to pay for discretionary expenses. But this can quickly mushroom into a financial catastrophe if you don't rein in your spending habits. Do your best to keep credit card purchases within reason while you chip away at the debt. You may want to consolidate debts into a single monthly charge if you can obtain a relatively low rate. NOTE: Personal interest expenses are generally not tax-deductible. 2) Put yourself on a strict budget. This means figuring out how much you spend on a monthly basis and how you can reduce your cash outlays. Perhaps you might decide to forgo a few nights out at expensive restaurants or pass up that extra latte every morning. Obviously, this requires great discipline on your part, but you will notice positive results over time. To help pinpoint saving opportunities, try tracking your budget on a spreadsheet so you can see exactly what you are taking in and what you are spending. 3) Protect yourself against inflation. Even though inflation has not been much of a factor of late, some economic commentators believe that it could return. They point to the $750 billion stimulus package, a proposed federal budget of $4 trillion (up from $3 trillion in the previous year) and billions more in other rescue packages. In addition, short term interest rates are near record lows. These factors could be the kindling that eventually sparks a rapid hike in inflation. For protection, you should refine your investment portfolio to include inflation hedges. 4) Develop a sound stock-market strategy. Many investors have been sitting on the sidelines since the stock market tumbled in 2008. But that is not necessarily the best thing to do. Consider building a diversified portfolio that takes into account both the inherent risks of the market and the potential rewards for smart investments. Of course, your time horizon is a critical factor in these decisions. If you are near retirement or have already retired, you should generally adopt a conservative stance, while younger individuals may be more aggressive. Consult with a professional adviser for an overall viewpoint. 5) Keep more of what you have. Learn your lessons from recent economic developments. You cannot rely on bull markets and escalating home prices to provide security for the future. Be aware that the value of assts typically rises and falls over time. Build yourself an emergency cushion to see yourself through tough times. Financial experts usually advise individuals to maintain cash reserves that could last for six months in the event of a job loss. If that is beyond your means, do what you can. Rely on your professional advisers for guidance in this area. They may provide other recommendations pertaining to your personal situation. HTTP://WWW.KANKAKEE.ORG/CWT/EXTERNAL/WCPAGES/WCNEWS/NEWSARTICLEDISPLAY.ASPX?ArticleID=219Thu, 08 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT