What:   The Clerk’s office will officially unveil its new Web site, Cook County Genealogy Online, with a presentation and Q&A session at the International Conference on Jewish Genealogy. The online database of more than 6 million historical Cook County vital records offers free index searches to users researching their ancestry. For a fee, genealogists can download high-resolution scans of original documents from the comfort of their home.

Where: Chicago Marriott, 540 N. Michigan Ave., Ballroom B

When: Aug. 18, 5 to 6:15 p.m.

Why: Clerk David Orr sought to make genealogy research in Cook County more convenient and accessible to genealogists from around the world. Since the site went live, nearly 10,000 people from 45 countries have become registered users. The site also translates into greater efficiencies in the Vital Records department because less staff time is needed to do research when genealogists can “dig through” the records themselves.

About genealogy: Genealogy sites are consistently among the most popular on the Web. A 2000 poll found that 60 percent of the public is interested in researching their family history. By Illinois law, genealogy records are defined as:

* Birth certificates 75 years or older;
* Marriage licenses 50 years or older;
* Death certificates 20 years or older.

About the conference: The International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies is hosting their 28th International Conference on Jewish Genealogy. More than 600 attendees from around the globe will participate in the six-day conference. For more information about the conference, contact Anne Lee at federlee@msn.com or visit www.chicago2008.org.

Chicago to Host Nation’s First-Ever Outdoor Professional Squash Tournament

CHICAGO – August 15, 2008 – Chicago will make sports history September 9-15 as Michigan Avenue plays host to the Sweet Home Chicago Open – the first-ever professional squash tournament to be held outdoors in North America – sponsored by Lakeshore Athletic Clubs, Zeller Realty Group, Caledonian Fund Services, SmithBucklin and The Fairmont Chicago.

The open-to-the-public event – to be held in an all-glass court in Pioneer Court (pictured at right), between Tribune Tower and the Chicago River – is expected to draw the world’s top-ranked players as the newest stop on the Professional Squash Association (PSA) and U.S. Squash Association tournament series.

“Being among the first squash tournaments of this scale to be held outdoors, the Sweet Home Chicago Open will be an innovative forum to show off the fun and exciting game of squash,” said Kevin Klipstein, President, U.S. Squash.  “With its passionate base of fans who also participate in all types of sports, Chicago presents the ideal location to host this first-of-its-kind event.” 

Endorsed by the U.S. Squash Association and the PSA, the Sweet Home Chicago Open will include professional and exhibition matches, as well as clinics involving children from area schools and the METROSquash program, which combines academics and

athletics for inner-city youth attending Chicago Public Schools.  Exhibition play will

feature Canadian-born Jonathon Power, a two-time World No. 1 champion who is regarded by many as the greatest squash player of his generation. 

In conjunction with the professional tournament, this event will also showcase approximately 200 local and national amateurs in the Great Lakes Open, which will be

-more-

held at The University Club of Chicago, Lakeshore Athletic Clubs and the Union League Club of Chicago.  The exhibition matches will further reinforce Chicago’s love of amateur athletics, as evidenced by the city’s bid for the 2016 Olympic Games.

“Squash has long been a game that celebrates the skill and accomplishments of the professional and amateur athlete,” said Gus Cook, North America Representative, PSA.  “As the squash community aspires to find its place among other Olympic events, the Sweet Home Chicago Open is the perfect opportunity to demonstrate the appeal of and enthusiasm for this great game and the skill of the athletes who play it.” 

To date, squash – a racquet sport recognized by the IOC and one of 5 sports under review for incorporation into the 2016 Olympics – is played in more than 150 countries by an estimated 15 million people, including some 500,000 players in the United States.  The widespread interest in the game was a draw to many of the tournament’s sponsors.

“As Chicago’s sponsor of the Virginia Slims Invitational in 1974 and the partner and co-founder of World Team Tennis, we believe the Sweet Home Chicago Open is just as unique and intriguing as those sporting institutions,” said Jordon Kaiser, Founding Partner, Lakeshore Athletic Clubs. 

For more information, please visit www.sweethomechicagoopen.com.  For all media inquiries, please contact Ryan Kuntz at 312/765-8770 or via e-mail at rkuntz@healyandschulte.com.   

August 12, 2008

Cook County Clerk David Orr issued a warning to the public today to steer clear of any websites or organizations which offer to register them to vote and require a payment.

“Voting is a right in this country,” Orr emphasized. “You do not have to pay one red cent to register to vote.”

Orr strongly warned voters against a specific Internet site called “iwanttovote.com” which claims to register voters for a $9.95 fee. The site requires a voter to turn over a credit card number and personal information-including part of a social security number or driver’s license number. However, the ‘iwanttovote’ website lists no staff, no phone number or street address.

“In an age of Internet crime and identity theft, the last thing to do is pay for something online that is free from your local county clerk,” added Orr.

Illinois voters can register to vote between now and October 7 for the November 4 presidential election at a variety of local government offices including city clerks and township clerks.  The Cook County Clerk has offices where residents of suburban Cook County can register to vote at 69 W. Washington, Suite 500, in downtown Chicago and at five suburban courthouse mini-centers.

Suburban Cook County residents can also download a voter registration form at no cost at www.voterinfonet.com. Instructions on filling and mailing the form are also on the website.

Orr reminded voters to sign up to vote soon. “The presidential election will be here before you know it. Early Voting starts on October 13.”

Helpful information on how to vote, polling place locations and addresses is also available on voterinfonet, the Cook County Clerk’s award-winning website. Residents of other counties can find links to their local clerks at the Illinois State Board of Elections’ website: www.elections.state.il.us.

Early Voting will be offered from October 13-30 at 44 sites in the Cook County suburbs. Any suburban Cook resident with a government-issued photo ID will be able to vote at any of the sites, without needing to provide an excuse. Sites will be listed on www.voterinfonet.com.

With the foreclosure rate high and the economy at its low, every bit of financial assistance can go a long way.

American Street Mortgage Company and the Latino United Community Housing Association have decided to help families facing foreclosure with its first Annual American Streetball Classic 3-on-3 Charity Basketball Tournament. The tournament takes place at the Moody Bible Institute Solheim Center, 930 N. Wells St, on August 2nd from 10:00am to 5:00pm.  A portion of the proceeds from the tournament will go to families facing foreclosure. Special event prizes include a Playstation 3 and a Wii and a silent auction will take place.   Further details at the event.

Run for Cover 5K Fun Run/Walk - October 25, 2008

Watch the slideshow »  59 slides

HomeAid’s 2008 Run for Cover 5K Family Fun Run/Walk
Saturday - October 25th, 2008
9 a.m. Start
Busse Woods, Elk Grove Village
Groves 5-16

Run/Walk to help end temporary homelessness and Support HomeAid Chicago!

Printable Registration Form

Online Registration available soon!

 You don’t have to be a runner to enjoy this 5k (3.1 mile) run/walk.  Last year the general public, our members and their families ran and walked together to raise awareness and funding for HomeAid Chicago.  New in 2008 is a “Stroller Strut.”

Awards will be given to top male and female finishers.  Parking is available onsite.  Trained staff will be on-call in case of emergency.  Race numbers, shirts, and all other information will be available in advance.

Download 2008 Sponsorship Opportunites

Civil Engineering Partnerships

Quality, Commitment, Success

Roundtable Discussions Centered Around

Minority Partnerships, Involvement, and Participation

Galleria Marchetti

825 W Erie St

Chicago, IL 60622

July 22, 2008

11:30 AM until 3:30 PM

Cost: $40.00 per person; lunch will be served 

We invited Mayor Daley to provide the Keynote Address

Hosted by the Illinois Section ASCE Minority Affairs Committee

Check one:  Sponsorship: $250, includes two guest registrations               

                        Sponsorship: $500, includes four guest registrations

Guest registration: $40/ guest                    $

                                                                                 Total                 

Erie Neighborhood House

Learn. Lead. Create Community.

HOW SAFE ARE YOUR TIRES?

Watch this video and then you be the judge as to how safe your tires are.

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897

Host: Jay Butler / Renie Curry

Location: Village Greens of Woodridge
1575 W. 75th Street, Woodridge, IL

When: Sunday, August 10, 12:00pm

Phone: 630-719-9904

Come celebrate a successful softball season!

Play 18 holes of golf including:
- greens and cart fees
- driving range usage
- brats and burgers off the grill
- complimentary tee gift
- professional scorecard
- much much more!

$100 per person (larger donations accepted)

Golf with other Rebels, or bring your own foursome ~ tee times will be assigned on a first come first serve basis.

The Arboretum of South Barrington to Hold Free Job Fair

July 21 at Chicago Marriott NW, Hoffman Estates

Retailers to Fill 1,000 Jobs from Entry Level to Management
SOUTH BARRINGTON, Ill. (June 27, 2008) – In anticipation of its fall grand opening, The Arboretum of South Barrington will hold a free job fair to assist retailers in filling approximately 1,000 new jobs created by the completion of the 600,000-square-foot lifestyle center. The fair will be held on Monday, July 21 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Chicago Marriott Northwest in Hoffman Estates, in Prairie Stone Rooms III and IV. The hotel is located at 4800 Hoffman Blvd, Hoffman Estates, IL 60192, just west of the shopping center on Higgins Road.According to Michael Jaffe, principal of The Jaffe Companies, which owns and develops the center, up to 30 of the center’s retailers will be represented at the fair, with job opportunities ranging from part-time entry level to management in a range of categories. Among retailers confirmed to participate are the country’s first Gold Class Cinemas, a concierge-based luxury cinema experience that will open its first US location at The Arboretum; and LL Bean, the Maine-based outdoor gear and apparel store that is opening its first Midwest store here.

“This is a great opportunity for anyone who wants a unique job experience to meet some of the top retailers and restaurateurs in the country, as well as those unique to our region,” Jaffe says. “And for high school graduates new to job seeking, we suggest they come in business casual attire with copies of their resumes in hand.” He says that later, moving beyond this first phase of job openings, The Arboretum’s Web site will serve as a continually updated resource for job seekers.

Economic Impact of The Arboretum

“We’re pleased to be able to offer the community an event like this, especially during such tough times. Right now, I’m not aware of any other company in the entire metro area of 8 million that can fill over 1,000 jobs at once. So, I’d say this is the place to be for jump-starting a new career. And the event is free, which not all job fairs are,” says Mr. Jaffe. He adds that along with the 1,000 new jobs added this summer, there have already been 550 development-related jobs on the payroll. “We estimate that The Arboretum’s economic impact in the region will exceed $300 Million in the first year of operation alone,” Mr. Jaffe says. “There’s a tremendous inner satisfaction we all feel in creating job opportunities for willing capable workers.”
Job Fair Contact

For further information on the free job fair, contact Jeff Rutzen, Marketing Director for The Arboretum of South Barrington, at (847) 421-3273

WEB LINKS:
The Arboretum: www.thearboretumsb.com

PRESS CONTACTS
The Arboretum of South Barrington
Jonelle Kearney

Kasia Yuska
kyuska@dodier.com
DODIER & COMPANY
(800) 970-7392 or (520) 299-1000

American Lung Association of Illinois – Greater Chicago

More than 35 million Americans suffer from lung disease. Help fight against Asthma, COPD, Lung Cancer and other lung diseases with The American Lung Association of Illinois – Greater Chicago. Participate in one of the two 2008 Lung Walks, September 14, 2008 in Chicago’s Grant Park or on September 21, 2008 at the McDonald’s Corporate Campus in Oak Brook. Visit www.lungwalk.org for more info or call 1800-LUNGUSA.

Help Wanted: Jobs For Chicago’s Youth

Jobs For Youth/Chicago has opportunities for Chicago teens and young adults

CHICAGO, IL.  (June 3, 2008) – Twenty-four students murdered from Chicago Public Schools from September 2007- April 2008.  Most of them shot.  A predicted summer teen employment rate of 34.2%, a rate below last year’s historically low employment numbers.  It is a bleak picture for Chicago’s teens.  But there is hope.

Jobs For Youth/Chicago (JFY) has more job orders than clients.  Currently, there are at least 964 unfilled jobs from 229 different employers.  Since 1979, JFY has made over 25,000 job placements for Chicago’s low-income 17-24 year olds who have their high school diploma or GED.  Working with over 600 Chicagoland employers, JFY prepares Chicago’s teens and young adults with the skills necessary to find a job.  From July 1, 2005 – June 30, 2007, Jobs For Youth has trained and placed 1,682 youth making 2,907 job placements with an average wage of $8.68/hour.

Youth employment is crucial to the economy and the sustainability of businesses.  In a sample of 137 students that Jobs For Youth placed into jobs under its TIF (tax-increment finance district) contract, JFY’s young men and women had total earnings of $1.75 million (earnings over five quarters in 2004 and 2005).  Jobs For Youth’s investment into these students was $347,000.  Over $1.4 million was the net investment into Chicago’s economy.

Kiplinger’s Names 10 Best Cities of 2008—The Nation’s Top Spots to Live, Work, and Play— Washington, DC (May 29, 2008)—Kiplinger’s Personal Finance has named the top ten cities in which to live and work, selecting locales offering strong economies, abundant jobs, reasonable living costs—and fun things to do. This year’s favorites are profiled in the July issue of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, on newsstands June 10, and online at www.kiplinger.com/money/bestcities. To identify the Best Cities of 2008, Kiplinger’s teamed up with Kevin Stolarick, research director at the Martin Prosperity Institute, a think tank that studies economic prosperity. Stolarick helped develop a formula which highlights cities not just with prosperous pasts, but also with the ingredients for future success. “One key to a bright future is a healthy shot of people in the creative class,” says Stolarick. “People in creative fields—scientists, engineers, architects, educators, writers, artists and entertainers—are catalysts of vitality and livability in a city.” “We know our readers put a premium on affordability, so cost of living was also a key ingredient in our formula,” says Kiplinger’s senior editor Robert Frick. “Another big factor was livability. We wanted places with great entertainment and cool places to live and shop.” Kiplinger’s Best Cities of 2008:1.      Houston, TX—Back with a roar after the oil bust of the 1980s, Houston has reclaimed its title as energy capital of the U.S. and added aerospace, technology and medical companies to the mix, generating more than 100,000 jobs in 2007. 2.      Raleigh, NC—On the road to renaissance, Raleigh is bringing urban living to the city through the Raleigh’s Livable Streets project. Top-notch research schools in the area fuel a smart workforce, the main reason companies relocate to the area. 3.      Omaha, NE—This city’s success is defined by its mid-western values. People believe in giving back to the community—and that includes the executives of the five Fortune 500 companies headquartered here. 4.      Boise, ID—This Rocky Mountain town boasts high-tech businesses including Micron Technology and Hewlett-Packard,  the Boise Valley’s two largest employers. With a median home price of $235,000, housing is affordable, and the average work commute is only 18 minutes. 5.      Colorado Springs, CO—Natural beauty abounds at this 6,000-foot-high city. A strong military presence—with U.S. Army and Air Force operations, as well as the U.S. Air Force Academy—adds fuel to the economy, as do the aerospace and defense sectors attracted by the military.  6.      Austin, TX—Home to the University of Texas and the state capital, Austin is known for great music and a lively culture, but it also offers a strong economy and affordable housing. It has expanded its economy to include digital media, green energy and biotech, creating 114,000 jobs in the area in the past five years. 7.      Fayetteville, AR—The Green Valley city is attracting businesses and start-ups in the area with a sustainability spin in industries such as electronics, water purification, dairy products and packaging.  8.      Sacramento, CA—A hub of technology, biotech and energy, many Fortune 500 companies have a strong presence in Sacramento. Newcomers are won over by the city’s subtle charms, including more than 210 tree-filled parks. 9.      Des Moines, IA—Des Moines’s hometown atmosphere, top public schooling, and affordable cost of living make it an ideal place to raise a family. It also offers big-city amenities such as art galleries, a symphony and a ballet and opera house. 10.  Provo, UT—The Provo area has grown into the country’s second-largest software center, featuring top employers Novell and Micron Technology. Workers are drawn to great job opportunities as well as the low cost of living and year-round outdoor lifestyle.

Chicago Connection is a Non-Profit, Non-Political Public Affairs Radio Program. Chicago Connection, hosted by Greg Murray, is designed to share info about goods and services that could enhance the lives of B96 Listeners.

Chicago Connection gives you Chicago’s Hits along with interviews and views of some pretty amazing people from around the world on very interesting topics. There are no commericals, only Public Service Announcements.

Chicago Connection can be heard on WBBM-FM/B96.3 and at www.B96.com every Saturday Morning beginning at 5am central.

If you know of something that should be on Chicago Connection or this blog, please send it to greg.murray@cbsradio.com, we will try to get it out to the listeners of B96!