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CommunityLink.com

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production manager creative director director of publication design editorial director copywriting copy editor proofreader director of photography photography lead design web site creation & support director of media purchasing

MATT PRICE Clint Eilerts Amanda White Laura Wilcoxen mark Edmondson Laura Wilcoxen Christina Reese Lisa LEHR Devin Miller Amanda White JOSH CHANDLER DIANA VAUGHN

What’s Inside

business development director of business development George Prudhomme

director of client relations JERRY ross

director of outside sales debbie moss

director of inside sales NANCY ODOM

marketing specialist shawna moyers regional director of publications George Prudhomme business development manager Bonnie Ebers

customer service director kathy Risley customer service representative Judy Jones

advertising

director of ad development kacey wolters

ad research Mary kopshever

MILLY MASON

Amy SchwartzkoPf Kathy Scott

ad traffic Carol Smith

senior ad designer joseph goetting

ad design nick marler JOSh Mueller

administrative support

administrative support

account support

human resources assistant

customer service advocate

mailroom technician

Kathy Hagene carol Smith Terri Ahner Tricia Cannedy Teresa craig Julie Vordtriede melinda bowlin

information technology

publishing systems specialist

christopher miller

executive leadership

chairman and founder chief financial officer

Craig Williams Rhonda Harsy

ABOUT This book is published by CommunityLink

and distributed through the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce. For advertising information or questions or comments about this book, contact CommunityLink at 800-455-5600 or by e-mail at info@CommunityLink.com.

FOR INFORMATION Champaign County Chamber of

Commerce, 1817 South Neil Street #201, Champaign, IL 61820, Telephone 217-359-1791, Fax 217-359-1809, www.champaigncounty.org © 2008 Craig Williams Creative, Inc., 4742 Holts Prairie Road, Post Office Box 306, Pinckneyville, IL 62274-0306, 618-357-8653. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher.

2 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

2008 Champaign County Community Profile Welcome Where Technology Meets Tradition

Health Care 4

Relocation & Homes Champaign County Booms

8

Growing to Serve

24

Carle Clinic

25

Christie Clinic

26

Agribusiness

Community Growth Through Community Effort

10

Urbana Celebrates 175 Years — and Its Lincoln Connection

11

Historic Urbana

12

A Variety of Homes

13

Personal Finance

14

Bridle Brook Adult Community

15

Education

Fueling the Future

28

Corn in Your Tank

30

Clearing the Air

31

Blowin’ in the Wind

32

FutureGen

34

Business Vignettes Entrepreneurs in Action

36

The Atkins Group

37

Artisan Scientific

38

Classic Granite and Marble

42

Urbana & Champaign Educators Make National Headlines

16

“How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Icing”

17

IF Design

43

Biodiversity in a Bowl

18

Jimmy John’s

44

Code4PC

45

Contact Information: Champaign County Schools

19

“Stories of Us”: Stopping Bullies Through Communication

20

Libraries

22

Table of Contents

Technology

Restaurant Guide

Innovation

47

For Your Dining Pleasure

Research Park at the University of Illinois

47

Lodging Guide

Obiter Research

48

Volition, Inc.

49

Recreation & Tourism

Be Our Guest

69

Index of Advertisers Please Support Our Advertisers

Time to Play

51

Sports Commission

51

Get Golfing

52

Get Fit

53

Is It a Path or a Trail?

53

Award-Winning Parks Systems

55

Culture & Entertainment On With the Show

56

Champaign-Urbana Theatre Company

57

Krannert Center for the Performing Arts

58

Boneyard Pottery

60

62

72

“A vibrant business community provides the backdrop for encouraging new commerce and industry.� www.champaigncounty.org 3

Welcome

Where Technology

Meets Tradition

For 175 years Champaign County has been developing its unique blend of rural tranquility and urban sophistication.

4 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

Dear Reader: Our rich sense of history, which influences Champaign County today, ensures that, as a community, we have always been destined for success. Since 1833, when Champaign County was founded, it has been a welcoming guidepost on the Illinois prairie. In the 1850s, it was a stopping point for a young lawyer named Abraham Lincoln, who frequently visited friends in Champaign and Urbana as he traveled the circuit from Springfield for the Eighth Judicial District.

Throughout the years, Champaign County has continued to be both a final destination and a stopping point. As home to the world-renowned University of Illinois, our community has attracted scientists and senators, teachers and tradespeople, Nobel Prize winners and many other notables. Many stay for a lifetime, enriching the community; some receive or contribute to worldclass teaching before moving on to influence others in different communities.

Regardless of the amount of time people spend here, they help develop a unique relationship between this region and the rest of the world. While many of our residents will not receive world accolades, they are the fiber of our community, and they are the primary reason that Champaign County is a great place to call home.

Welcome

What is it that draws and keeps people in Champaign County? In a phrase, it’s “quality of life.” The 998 square miles of the county include the communities of Champaign, Urbana and Savoy, which make up the commercial hub of the county and the largest population center, with over 100,000 residents. In these tri-cities, homes for every family size, income level and lifestyle are available.

Bolstered by outlying areas, which claim some of the world’s richest farmland, the county offers unique opportunities in agriculture and related businesses. The rural nature of the smaller communities has attracted specialty businesses and sole proprietorships, as well as significant new residential growth.

A vibrant business community provides the backdrop for encouraging new commerce and industry. As the home of the University of Illinois National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), Champaign County is recognized as a center for computing and technology, attracting and retaining a diverse group of traditional and high-tech companies and becoming a leader in building the national and global information superhighway.

An assortment of cultural resources and facilities abounds in the area.

From museums and performing arts centers to a planetarium and botanical gardens, the offerings are matched only by those in the nation’s largest metropolitan centers.

What is it that draws and keeps people in Champaign County?

In a phrase, it’s “quality of life.”

www.champaigncounty.org 5

Welcome

Choices continue in education where public, private and parochial school systems strive for excellence in every aspect of staff, facilities, technology and curricula. Nationally and internationally recognized city and county park systems provide recreation opportunities for all ages. The spires of more than 100 churches rise above the Champaign County skyline, reflecting a variety of religious beliefs.

Much of the area’s business growth is attributable to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Several high-tech firms are spin-offs of university research efforts. Even the area’s agricultural potential substantially benefits from the school’s ongoing crop experimentation, which includes efforts to cultivate disease-resistant crop strains through biotechnology and the development of precision farming methods and information systems.

Recent building projects include the university’s South Research Park, the new One Main building in downtown Champaign, the redevelopment of Lincoln Square Village in Urbana, the schools built by the Village of Tolono and its citizens, the aquatic center in Urbana and the new pork processing plant in Rantoul. These are all concrete examples of people and government entities working together to build for our future.

It’s the blending of these facets that produces Champaign County’s unique qualities. The combination of visitors and residents adding their substance to the area is evident in the many cultures present here, from turn-of-the-century German immigrants, who settled in the northern and eastern parts of the county, to more recent arrivals, including a large number of students, faculty and researchers from other parts of the globe.

Champaign County has built on ample resources and, true to its history, it continues to be warm and welcoming, a comfortable mix of technology and tradition.

The Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

6 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

Relocation & Homes

New developments, construction and road work promise a better quality of life for residents and future residents alike.

8 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

Relocation & Homes

C

hampaign County, home to 185,000 people, has seen rapid growth in the last 10 years. More than 20,000 people have flocked to the county to enjoy the benefits of booming business, a top research university and the hope of a better life in an opportunity-filled area.

According to Jerry Schweighart, mayor of Champaign, for the past five years building permits have surpassed the previous year’s issuance. “This year is no exception,” Schweighart said. “We’re going to set a record again.”

Though the economic impact of such an influx of people is remarkable, the county must continually upgrade its infrastructure to compensate for the growth of its population. Twenty-thousand extra people mean a lot of extra cars on the roads. The City of Champaign will build an interchange around Curtis Road and Interstate 57 to allow residents access to other parts of town via the interstate, which should greatly reduce the amount of traffic on city streets. But merely sending the traffic elsewhere is no solution to the problem — that’s why Champaign County will upgrade Olympian Drive to open up a huge area for development as well as to provide a way for locals to get around the area without getting on the interstate.

The City of Urbana’s major push is a project along Illinois Route 130, a retail and residential development zone that’s home to WalMart and is the future site of Menards and other possible retailers.

Several hundred homes are also planned for the site. The road will be widened from two lanes to four lanes in front of the Menards site. Other developments, including work on Windsor Road and Goodwin Avenue, will make these streets friendlier to pedestrians, bicyclists and buses.

Savoy, directly south of Champaign, has also seen fantastic growth, with five subdivisions being built in the past two years. Proper infrastructure and growth planning are critical to these additions, Village President Robert McCleary said. He credited the Regional Planning Commission for its efforts in helping the Village compensate for its expanding borders and future additions.

More than 20,000 people have flocked to the county to enjoy the benefits.

www.champaigncounty.org 9

Relocation & Homes

Community GROWTH

Through

Community Effort

T

he once-small community of St. Joseph has seen a lot of construction equipment on its streets these days.

St. Joseph sports nearly 1,000 newly built houses. In addition, a new subdivision and community park will open this year.

How does a community of fewer than 4,000 people do it? According to Mayor B.J. Hackler, it’s the community spirit of St. Joseph that keeps it moving forward. For instance, when a company requested volunteers to set up playground equipment, they were astonished at the turnout. “They wanted 75 volunteers,” Hackler said. “We had 95 people show up.”

Not only did they show up, but they also brought all the tools and equipment they’d need. The majority of these volunteers had previously set up equipment for St. Joseph’s grade school, so they came prepared. “They knew what they needed, and they knew how to do it,” Hackler said. “Six hours later, the project was done.”

10 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

In another instance, 58 trees needed to be planted. Time was running out to get the trees in the ground, and the heavy root balls required several people to lift. One Friday, after a high school football game was cancelled, the coach took the team to the site. After a couple of hours, all the trees were in the ground.

This type of volunteerism happens all the time in St. Joseph, Hackler said. And it shows no signs of slowing down as the community grows. People move to St. Joseph, about a 15-minute drive east of Urbana, for the education system, its convenient interstate access and for the safety and security that come with small-town life.

New residents are being met with new facilities. The grade school is relatively new. The high school is in the middle of a $10 million expansion and renovation project. A huge project is also under way to create a community park. The park, which opens this year, will showcase three softball diamonds, playground equipment, a pavilion, a combination pee-wee football and soccer field and a combination roller hockey

Relocation & Homes

Urbana Celebrates 175 Years — and Its Lincoln Connection

A It’s the c o that kee mmunity spirit o ps it mo ving for f St. Joseph residents w ard. Ma v o luntee ny playgrou nd equip red to help set up in the co ment an d plant mmunit trees y.

and basketball court. “It’s a big undertaking for a community this size — 3,825 people to do a $3 million sports complex,” Hackler noted.

Additional funds for projects have also come from two OSLAD (Open Space Land Acquisition and Development) grants from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, which provide 50 percent reimbursement of expenses.

The first grant helped fund the acquisition of 40 acres for the community park, while the second grant was used for development of the south half of the park. The two grants totaled $493,000. St. Joseph plans to apply for a third grant for the north half of the park.

St. Joseph continues to prepare for even more growth. A parcel of land has recently been annexed into the town that will support 400 homes.

Another parcel, also recently annexed, will support 100 homes and 23 businesses. Construction on both areas is ongoing.

s Abraham Lincoln, then a lawyer, rode into Urbana one day in his carriage, his horse took an unannounced detour and knocked down a little tree. Lincoln, probably embarrassed about the incident, paid to replace it. That new tree — now an old, gnarled pine tree — stands on Main Street as a testament to Lincoln’s generosity and responsibility.

That’s the legend, at least. And even if it isn’t true, the city wouldn’t dare take a saw to the hallowed pine.

Historians have said that if it wasn’t for Urbana, Lincoln may have missed out on the presidency. Therefore, Lincoln legends run deep in the city. When Mayor Laurel Lunt Prussing told the tree story at a luncheon, she was approached afterwards and told that Silvercreek Restaurant has a rock on which Lincoln purportedly stood to give a speech.

So in 2009, on the 200th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth, Urbana has big plans to commemorate Lincoln’s early years. In addition, this year Urbana and Champaign County will celebrate their 175th anniversaries. Plans are extensive for the celebration, and other works, such as refurbishment of historical markers, are planned. The induction of Urbana’s Main Street as a historical district is also being considered. Passers-through won’t see buildings from Lincoln’s time, though. Most were destroyed in a citywide fire that started in a stable — curiously, on the same day Chicago burned.

Urbana isn’t just known for its history. Nor is it just known as the place where, fictionally, supercomputer HAL9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey was erroneously programmed or where giant, man-eating grasshoppers were accidentally bred in the 1957 film The Beginning of the End. It’s also known as one of the top 10 places in the United States to live “green,” according to Country Home Magazine. East Urbana received the Governor’s Hometown Award for its work on Victory Park, while West Urbana was named by the American Planning Association as one of the greatest neighborhoods in America.

www.champaigncounty.org 11

Relocation & Homes

Historic Urbana The beauty and warmth of classic Americana is evident when you walk down the street in the neighborhoods of Urbana.

Boasting brick sidewalks, globed streetlamps, mature shade trees, graceful landscaping and lovingly restored and maintained homes, the historic neighborhoods of Urbana balance the region’s modern, 21st-century urban appeal with a warm tradition that’s grown over several proud generations.

While the historic homes of many college communities have been co-opted and divided for student housing, an active citizenry in Urbana has saved many of the city’s historic properties. Urbana has 18 properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places and five properties listed as local historic

landmarks. Tudor-style homes, stone cottages and warm, brick turn-of-the-century houses blend in appealing, walkable neighborhoods.

Residences are complemented by historic public buildings, including the city’s 1874 library, as well as parks with abundant green spaces.

Urbana’s Historic Preservation Commission was formed in 1998 to review nomination requests for landmarks and districts, promote historic preservation throughout the community, review requests to significantly alter the exterior of designated landmarks, conduct educational and outreach events and protect and save historically significant buildings. Founded in 1981, the Preservation and Conservation Association is a citizens’ group dedicated to similar purposes. Markers draw attention to the city’s historic neighborhoods and give residents and visitors a glimpse into an era long past.

You can become part of Urbana’s community and heritage. The city offers a very diverse mix of small, affordable homes and large historic properties, attracting residents of all ages and walks of life.

The city of Urbana continues its commitment to preservation. Tax incentives are available for owner-occupiers who rehabilitate their historic homes.

SANDRA C. GORDON REAL ESTATE Sandy Gordon - Broker/Owner

s $EDICATED TO PROFESSIONALISM s !SSIST HOME BUYERS TO lND THEIR DREAM HOME s !SSIST SELLERS SELL THEIR PROPERTY FOR THE BEST PRICE IN THE LEAST AMOUNT OF TIME AND AT THE LEAST INCONVENIENCE TO THEM s +NOWLEDGE OF HOME CONSTRUCTION s ,ONG TIME RESIDENT 1606 N. Willow View Road, Suite 2-D Urbana, Illinois 61802 217-202-4692 • Fax: 217-367-2670 sgordon149@aol.com www.sandygordon.com

12 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

Relocation & Homes

A Variety of Homes C hampaign County is one of those areas where the opportunities to own a piece of history, build a dream home or relax in an urban loft coexist peacefully down brick-lain streets and blackened asphalt roadways. The area is experiencing record-setting growth, and many communities continue to surpass new construction value records each year. This growth is managed, which preserves the quality lifestyle for which Champaign County is known.

Champaign • Ashland Park: Reasonably priced singlefamily homes in northwest Champaign.

• Boulder Ridge: 800 lots will be developed over the next 15 years.

• Chestnut Grove: Single family homes in west Champaign.

• Ironwood West : An upscale subdivision with duplexes, condominiums and singlefamily homes in southwest Champaign.

• Jacob’s Landing: Single-family homes.

• Legends at Champaign: Single- and multi-family homes and duplexes bordering a nine-hole golf course.

• Liberty on the Lake: Traditional lots in southern Champaign.

• Sawgrass: Fourplexes and single-family homes.

• Trail’s Edge: Luxury single-family homes in southwest Champaign.

• Trails at Abbey Fields: A luxury subdivision with larger home sites that border a five-acre lake.

• Will’s Trace: Upscale single-family homes in southwest Champaign.

• Wyndemere Point, inside Trails at Abbey Fields: $1 million-plus homes with 15 one-acre lots.

Fisher • Heritage Estates: 67 lots with plans for an additional 38 lots for single-family homes. Duplexes for residents aged 55 and older.

• Hobbs: Four lots available.

• Ingram: 15 large 2.5-acre lots.

• Matthews: 12 lots.

Mahomet • Hunters Ridge: Featuring single-family homes, duplexes and multi-family units on 66 acres.

• Prairie Crossing: Duplexes and singlefamily homes in a 40-acre subdivision.

• Summerfield: 25-acre subdivision.

• Thornewood: Luxury single-family homes on large, wooded, estate-type lots.

• The Villas: Single-family homes, duplexes and fourplexes for people aged 55 and older.

Savoy • Fieldstone: Singe-family homes and duplexes • Lake Falls: Upscale subdivision offering single-family homes with three-car garages.

• Liberty on the Lake: Single-family and duplex homes.

• Prairie Fields and Prairie Meadows: Single-family, duplex and condominium homes in neighboring subdivisions.

• Wilshire: Single-family upscale homes.

Urbana • Capstone Quarters Condominiums: 208 upscale units in west Urbana.

• Creek Apartments: 500-unit upscale building in southeast Urbana.

• Prairie Winds: Single-family homes, condominiums and a senior apartment complex on a 30-acre subdivision designed for those aged 55 and older.

• Ridge: Zero-lot-line two- and threebedroom homes in southeast Urbana.

• Stone Creek: A 500-acre luxury subdivision surrounding a championship 18-hole golf course in southeast Urbana.

• Stratford Residences: 38 luxury apartments in downtown Urbana.

www.champaigncounty.org 13

Relocation & Homes

Personal Finance Whether you’re looking for a bank as a newcomer to Champaign County or a current resident refinancing your home, find the right place to take care of your personal banking needs in Champaign County at any of these Chamber member banks. Area code, unless specified, is 217.

BankChampaign, N.A. 2101 S. Neil St., Champaign 5 Convenience Center Rd., Champaign Busey Bank 100 W. University Ave., Champaign 314 S. Randolph St., Champaign 614 S. Sixth St., Champaign 909 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign 907 W. Marketview Dr., Ste. 1, Champaign 2011 W. Springfield Ave., Champaign 3002 W. Windsor Rd., Champaign 312 E. Main St., Mahomet 200 E. Sangamon Ave., Rantoul 1231 Grove St., Rantoul 108 Arbours Dr., Savoy 104 N. Main St., St. Joseph 101 N. Main St., Thomasboro 128 E. Holden St., Tolono 201 W. Main St., Urbana 2710 S. Philo Rd., Urbana

351-2870 351-2876 351-6500 351-2700 365-4552 384-3400 355-1580 351-2854 351-2820 586-4981 892-2181 892-4121 384-3424 469-7631 892-2181 485-6021 365-4500 365-4930

Central Illinois Bank 2913 Kirby Ave., Champaign 302 W. Springfield Ave., Champaign 219 S. David St., Sidney 1514 N. Cunningham Ave., Urbana

355-0900 366-4535 688-2301 328-7000

Chase 201 W. University Ave., Champaign 303 S. Mattis Ave., Champaign 405 N. Broadway Ave., Urbana

353-4470 353-4428 351-3271

CIB Marine Bancshares, Inc. 1604 Rion Dr., Ste. C, Champaign

531-2561

14 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

Commerce Bank 1015 W. Windsor Rd., Champaign

359-9790

602 S. Vine St., Urbana 1103 W. Oregon St., Urbana

First Bank of Savoy 1251 Woodfield Dr., Savoy

351-3526

Hickory Point Bank & Trust, FSB 701 Devonshire Dr., Champaign 351-7100

First Busey Corp.

201 W. Main St., Urbana

365-4556

Marine Bank 2434 Village Green Pl., Champaign

239-1000

National City Bank 30 Main St., Champaign 1771 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign 505 E. Green St., Ste. 5, Champaign 507 S. Broadway Ave., Urbana

351-0500 363-4070 363-4080 255-6959

Prairie State Bank & Trust 1902 Fox Dr., Champaign

239-7617

Regions Bank 111 S. State St., Champaign

352-9440

Strategic Capital Bank 1608 Broadmoor Dr., Champaign

398-3800

TCF Bank 809 S. Wright St., Champaign

265-6500

First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust 2229 S. Neil St., Champaign 359-9837 601 S. Vine St., Urbana 367-8451 First Midwest Bank 812 W. Springfield Ave., Champaign 378-7629 2004 Fox Dr., Ste. K, Champaign 378-7634 First State Bank Windsor Rd. and Neil St., Champaign 239-3000 FREESTAR Bank 631 E. Green St., Champaign 1205 S. Neil St., Champaign 1611 S. Prospect Ave., Champaign 806D Eastwood Dr., Mahomet 410 N. Broadway Ave., Urbana 1819A S. Philo Rd., Urbana

351-6688 352-6700 351-6620 586-5322 351-2701 351-2867

Heartland Bank & Trust Co. 1101 W. Windsor Rd., Champaign 359-5555 2101 W. Springfield Ave., Champaign 359-5555

359-5555 359-5555

U of I Employees Credit Union 206 E. University Ave., Champaign 278-7700 1401 W. Green St., Urbana 278-7700 2201 S. First St., Champaign 278-7700

Relocation & Homes

Bridle Brook Adult Community

B

ridle Brook Adult Community, currently being built in Mahomet, provides assisted-living, extended-care and maintenance-free homes for older adults. Additionally, Bridle Brook has a clubhouse complete with a big-screen television, family room and kitchen.

Phase I of Bridle Brook Adult Community offers 19 villas with two bedrooms, two baths and attached garage. Villas are sold with a guaranteed buy-back. Bridle Brook will also offer six studio villas with attached garage, which will be leased. With the assisted-living option, “light care� packages of assistance may be purchased, which include biweekly cleaning, yard maintenance in the summer and snow removal in the winter.

Phase II of the project involves completion of the Bridle Brook Assisted Living Center for those needing more assistance with daily activities. The apartment complex will consist of 50 regular apartments and 30 special-care apartments (dementia care) as the next option. Bridle Brook Assisted Living will open in 2008.

Phase III of the community will provide a medical office building with a doctor/medical director, home health care and hospice services.

Inspect before you buy!

JIM SADLER

Cell: 217-778-4017 s #OMPLETE (OME )NSPECTIONS s (OME %NERGY !UDITS 3UMAC $RIVE s #HAMPAIGN ),

www.advancedhomeinspections.biz www.champaigncounty.org 15

Education

Urbana & Champaign Educators

Make National Headlines W

hether it’s with a film to stop bullies, efforts to get students off the couch and outside to appreciate their environment or how to bake a carrot cake that would make Martha Stewart proud, Champaign County educators are winning national awards and finding ways to improve the lives of middle schoolers all over the world.

Urbana middle school teacher Janice Hari was awarded the President’s Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Secondary Education for her innovative and exciting Biodiversity Bowl project.

16 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

Education

“How I Learned to Stop Worrying and

Love the Icing”

“I

t’s tough to be a middle schooler,” said Deborah Tamimie, a family and consumer science teacher at Urbana Middle School (UMS). “They want to be independent ... but they really don’t know how.”

Tamimie’s efforts in the classroom encourage her students and show them ways to accomplish tasks they’ll need once they reach adulthood. She teaches ideas as far-ranging as conflict resolution and money management to how to make carrot cake.

Learning a basic recipe may not seem like much, but cooking is an important skill that Tamimie believes needs to be revived, as recent headlines have focused on the growing issue of childhood obesity. The nutrition tips that come from these lessons are now, more than ever, invaluable. “Many of my students come from homes where, for whatever reason, people aren’t cooking,” she said.

When she walks through an exercise and dictates a recipe, some students don’t always pay attention. Key ingredients — including carrots — can, and have, been left out. However, after more than 30 years of classroom carrot cake, Tamimie usually knows what happened with just a taste. “There are a lot of successes and there are a lot of failures,” Tamimie said.

If the cake is a complete failure, though, she won’t make the kids eat it.

Ideas such as money management are also stressed in a creative way. The class takes part in a game in which different occupations are handed out randomly to students.

The class then has to figure out where they’ll live, the car they’ll drive and how to allocate free time with the salary provided.

Another of Tamimie’s classes, called “Families,” explores the differences between types of families, as the nuclear family, by definition, is not as common as it once was. In addition, the students in the class bake and sell bread. The proceeds are then donated to a nonprofit organization of the students’ choice.

“It gives them the feeling of power,” Tamimie said. “That children need to be protected and think, ‘Even though I’m not grown and I don’t have a job and I don’t donate money, I can do this in my class.’”

Tamimie’s efforts led to her receipt of the 2007 Teacher of the Year award from the Illinois Consumer Science Teachers’ Association.

“I love what I teach,” she said. “It doesn’t matter what your career is, the things that are taught are practical life skills that help people deal with life a little better.”

Nancy Clinton, principal of UMS, said because Tamimie’s award came from people in her field, the nomination is that much more important. “They know when you do a good job,” Clinton said. “It’s pretty prestigious.”

“I love what I teach.”

17

Education

Biodiversit diversit y in a B wl F

or most middle schoolers, video games have replaced the mud pie. The television commands more of an adolescent’s time than the outdoors. Homework, however, hasn’t changed much and is still largely ignored.

Enter Jan Hari, Urbana Middle School (UMS) science coordinator and eighth grade teacher.

A 25-year-long passion for education has taken her from West Berlin, Germany, to Urbana, teaching everything from nursery school to high school. But middle school, she said, is the best place to be.

“I like eighth graders,” Hari said. “They’re very excitable ... and very interested in a lot of things.”

However, as the majority of 13-year-olds shift from tree climbers to computer gamers, getting kids outside can be tricky. “Some of them don’t like to walk in the grass,” Hari said. “They don’t get their shoes dirty.”

This is why Hari, with assistance from Matthew Richardson, a University of Illinois doctoral student studying ecology, came up with a project called the Biodiversity Bowl. A bowl with a bit of saltwater, set outside over the course of two nights, collected a good cross section of the insects around a student’s home. These insects were brought back to the classroom to be analyzed to determine the ecosystem around Urbana.

“We really talked this up with the kids,” Hari said. “We said, ‘This is your chance to be published if we collect the data.’” And collect they did. The project was published in The American Biology Teacher Teacher, a scientific journal for classroom educators.

Hari teaches what she calls “real science.” Her hands-on approach to ecology and natural science keeps the subject interesting.

“We don’t study insects like ‘Here’s the head, here’s the legs’ and all that,” she said.

“The Biodiversity Bowl experiment is exciting, because they collected insects right next to their house.”

The project led Richardson to nominate Hari for The President’s Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Secondary Education, given by the Entomological Society of America to recognize teachers who go beyond the traditional methods of education and explore the use of insects as educational tools. She was awarded the prize at the society’s annual conference in San Diego.

Additionally, the project was adapted for use elsewhere, including in an environmental science class at Kent State University.

“It was an effort to show the students science and ecology in their own backyards and then connect it to larger issues,” Hari said. “They did a wonderful job.”

18 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

Education

Contact Information:

Champaign County Schools Public Schools Champaign Unit #4 School District 351-3800 • www.champaignschools.org Fisher Community Unit School District #1 897-6125 • www.fisher.k12.il.us

Private Schools Champaign Chesterbrook Academy (Pre-K) 355-6601 • www.nobellearning.com Chesterbrook Academy (Pre-K) 344-4863 • www.uiuc.chesterbrookacademy.com

Mahomet-Seymour Community Unit School District #3 586-2161 • www.ms.k12.il.us

Countryside School (K–8) 355-1253 • www.countrysideschool.org

Rantoul City Schools – District 137 893-4171 • www.rcs.k12.il.us

The High School of St. Thomas More (9–12) 352-7210 • www.hs-stm.org

St. Joseph Community Consolidated School District #169 469-2291 • www.stjoe.k12.il.us

Holy Cross School (K–8) 359-2631 • www.holycrosselem.org

St. Joseph-Ogden High School (9–12) 469-2332 • www.sjo.k12.il.us Tolono Community Unit School District #7 485-6510 • www.unitsevenschools.com

Judah Christian School (K–12) 359-1701 • www.judah.org St. Matthew School (K–8) 359-4114 • www.stmatt.net/stmattschool.htm

University Laboratory High School (Sub 9–12) 333-2870 • www.uni.uiuc.edu

Local Colleges and Universities Parkland College 351-2200 • www.parkland.edu

University Primary School (Pre-K, K, 1) 333-3996 • www.ed.uiuc.edu/ups

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 333-1000 • www.uiuc.edu

Urbana School District #116 384-3600 • www.usd116.org

For more information:

info@uniquejewelryclub.com

217.255.5300 Shirley Knauss, Fundraising Coordinator P.O. Box 17204 Urbana, IL 61803

www.champaigncounty.org 19

Education

“Stories of Us” Stopping Bullies Through Communication

20 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

Education

Bully. (bul·ly) It’s a little word.

An unassuming word.

A few drops of ink spattered on a page.

But its darkness creeps into the lives of people from all races, classes and creeds. It causes many to look back on an otherwise average childhood with anger, fear or remorse. Its implications change with the ages, and the present day is no exception.

In fact, experts say bullying is getting worse.

The schoolyard bully, whether a girl or boy, is no longer confined to the playground and the back row of the classroom. A bully now has an arsenal of electronics — cell phone text messages, Internet social networking sites and online chat rooms — to further torment the life of his or her focus.

Recent headlines have seen the recipients of such torment tragically take arms to fight back. School shootings — previously unheard of — have become a part of Americana.

And to make matters worse, anti-bully programs in place are outdated, thereby rendering them almost useless.

But Chris Faull has a plan to address these problems.

The Australian filmmaker spent nearly three months in Champaign interviewing Franklin Middle School (FMS) students about what it means to be bullied and how bully-producing situations arise. He then took this information and, with the assistance of the FMS eighth grade honors class, drafted a script for a film on the subject. Teaching guides included with the film will allow teachers to engage in discussion with students about the scenarios enacted on the TV screen, which opens a discussion and finds better ways to deal with the incidents.

Franklin Middle School principal Angela Smith said the project spotlighted different forms of bullying and opened up a line of communication between students and teachers to address problems before they got out of control.

“It created a voice and a forum for our students to be able to talk about situations that have been avoided,” she said.

Smith said because there is such an open dialogue about bullying at FMS, a bully feels out of place picking on weaker students.

This is the first step towards a solution, she said.

“We try to create a culture where bullying is not a comfortable element,” she said. “We have to create a climate where kids are safe in school.”

The FMS students took a very active role in the film. Nothing went into the movie without their approval. The scenes were all created by the students based on their own experiences. All Faull did was tidy up the edges.

“These are real-life situations they have either been in or watched,” Smith said.

“There’s nothing I made up,” Faull told the News-Gazette. “It all came from them.”

The concept worked in Australia. The scenes, according to the “Stories of Us” Web site (www. readymade.com.au/stories) seemed so real that people didn’t realize the students were acting. After viewing the film, students often yearned for more. The film series was internationally acclaimed by academics in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.

The “Stories of Us” Web site states that an independent study of earlier films showed students’ reactions were impressive. Almost 20 percent of Australian students who said people who get picked on “had it coming” said they changed their minds after the film.

Smith said the movie will provide an element of realism to the bullying problem across the United States by illustrating the problem in a way students, parents and teachers can understand. The lessons taken from FMS are ones that can be used at schools all across the nation. In fact, the film is accompanied by a 120-page curriculum written by the University of Illinois College of Education to help U.S. educators address this issue in school.

“Students finally have a voice to express what hasn’t been easily defined,” she said. “We will address it and our building will be better conducive to learning, and we hope that other buildings will be able to do the same.

“We are aware this is a problem,” she said. “And we won’t hide our heads in the sand.”

“We have to create a climate where kids are safe in school.”

www.champaigncounty.org 21

Education

Libraries T

here are a lot of readers in Champaign County. So many, actually, that Places Rated Almanac called the county the fifth “reading-est� place in North America.

The Lincoln Trail Libraries System, a collection of 122 libraries across Central Illinois, is headquartered here. Additionally, a new library in Champaign just opened its doors to serve the growing population of readers, and a new library in Mahomet is in the planning stages.

Champaign Public Library The new Champaign Public Library, like all new buildings in Champaign County, pushes to be as energy-efficient as possible.

Using easily replenished bamboo for most of its construction reduces the strain on forests.

Lots of skylights allow healthy natural light to cut back on energy consumption, and angled pillars block the hot sun of a Central Illinois summer from overtasking the air conditioning system.

The library features many other amenities.

It has a coffee shop that serves light meals; 122,600 square feet of meeting rooms, bookshelves and study rooms; a used book store; a children’s area; and a teen area that boasts music and colorful design. In addition, 122 computers can access online databases to find the obscure reference materials the library may not carry.

Urbana Free Library For years, the American Library Association has put the Urbana Free Library in the upper 1 percent of all libraries in the nation. This distinction doesn’t come easily — it revolves around public support, volunteerism, collection size and efficiency of operation. The library is also recognized as one of the best libraries in the state.

In 2005, the library unveiled its new addition, an expansion that doubled the size of the facility while keeping the Classic Revival architecture intact.

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The library showcases 50 computer stations, 200 reading spots, a book store, meeting rooms and 250,000 books. Visitors are encouraged to use the Cherry Alley walkway and take notice of the 20-ton limestone sculpture titled Slow and Steady, an homage to Aesop’s fable The Tortoise and the Hare that was created on-site by Todd Frahm.

Mahomet Library Mahomet residents recently approved a $3.3 million plan to build a new library on Illinois Route 150, east of the village center.

The library will have a meeting room that can seat 80 people, computer stations, seating for readers, a children’s department, workspaces for staff members and improved accessibility for children and people with handicaps.

The library will sit on 5.25 acres, which gives it ample space for expansion should the need arise in future years.

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22 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

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Health Care

Growing

to Serve In addition to their high-quality health services, these health care providers are among the largest employers in the region.

24 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

Health Care

Carle Clinic

C

arle Clinic, one of the largest care facilities in the United States, has three new projects in the works for Champaign County.

In Champaign, a two-story, 68,000-square-foot facility will be built along Curtis Road. The development will include primary care, adult medicine and family and pediatric care facilities and will allow more room and privacy for patients. Because of its location on Champaign’s Curtis Road interchange, when the construction is complete, the clinic will be easily accessible to people inside the city and from rural areas by means of the interstate.

In addition, free parking will be provided for patients.

A location on Windsor Road in Urbana will be an identical facility and will provide similar amenities to the one on Curtis Road.

Tim Meneely, medical director of primary care and pediatric subspecialties at Carle Clinic, said the expansions were prompted by need. “We continue to have the need to bring in new physicians,” he said. “Our current facilities weren’t allowing that.”

Carle Clinic also plans to open a new cancer center in Urbana.

The 2.3-acre complex will be located next to the Mills Breast Cancer Institute and will provide dedicated care for patients with cancer.

“There is a growing need for specialists at our main campus in Urbana,” Meneely said. “It was time to make room for them as well.”

This is the second phase of construction dedicated to cancer diagnosis and treatment on the Carle Campus. The Mills Breast Cancer

Institute is being built to focus on diagnosis, treatment and research of breast cancer. The center opens in June 2008.

Carle Cancer Center also has received funding from the National Institutes of Health. The grants are due, in part, to Carle’s dedication to cancer treatment trials. The center offers more than 170 clinical trials for the prevention and treatment of cancer.

“The more active we and our patients are in clinical trials, the more opportunities we have to bring even more leading-edge care and thera-

“The more active we and our patients are in clinical trials, the more opportunities we have to bring even more leading-edge care and therapies to our region.” pies to our region,” said Kendrith Rowland, MD, principal investigator of oncology research at Carle Clinic. “This is a great accomplishment for our center and our patients.”

The Carle Clinic operates under the guiding hand of the Carle Clinic Association, headquartered in Urbana. The association is comprised of more than 300 physicians who work in 11 clinics across Central Illinois. These clinics can be found in Urbana, Champaign, Rantoul, Danville, Bloomington, Mahomet, Tuscola and Monticello. www.champaigncounty.org 25

Health Care

Christie Clinic

F

ollowing the opening of Christie Clinic’s Cancer Center in 2006, which was modeled after the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., Christie Clinic is again expanding.

The clinic is building a new medical facility on Windsor Road in Urbana, which will be home to pediatrics, MRI, X-ray technology, family medicine and a Convenient Care Center. Christie Clinic also plans to relocate its Mahomet location to a new, 8,000-square-foot building in 2008.

26 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

“As Mahomet grows, Christie Clinic wants to grow with it,” said Christie Clinic CEO Alan Greghorn in a press release. “We’re examining what the community wants and, more importantly, needs in regard to medical services and technology. Christie Clinic is dedicated to the future of this growing community.”

Christie Clinic has provided health care to citizens of East Central Illinois since 1929, making it the oldest health care provider in the region. Since its early days, Christie Clinic has expanded to 40 different departments with 35 different specialties.

Health Care

Christie Clinic has provided health care to citizens of East Central Illinois since 1929, making it the oldest health care provider in the region.

Christie Clinic also recently opened a new Convenient Care Center in Champaign, located at County Market on Glenn Park Drive. This center is one of several planned for the region. A Convenient Care Center will also open at the corner of Fourth Street and Springfield Avenue in Champaign.

Christie Clinic operates clinics on University Avenue in Champaign, CU Sleep in Champaign, Provena Covenant in Urbana and clinics in Danville, Mahomet, Rantoul and Tuscola.

www.champaigncounty.org 27

Agribusiness

Fueling the Future Central Illinois goes green.

I

f the oil wells run dry, the lights probably won’t go out in Champaign County.

A global push for renewable energy sources, brought on by dwindling petroleum reserves and increasing fuel prices, has brought Champaign County’s agricultural sector into the forefront of national research. More than $2 billion is invested in the region for research into efficient production of alternative power. The area has plans for two ethanol distilleries, and the University of Illinois is part of a huge grant to find ways to better produce the environmentally friendly fuel. One of the largest wind power plants in the world came online last year in McLean County, which borders Champaign County to the north.

Additionally, a power plant that may very well save the world by exploring new ways to produce coal power without contributing to global warming is being considered in Mattoon, just south of Champaign County.

More than $2 billion is invested in the region for research into efficient production of alternative power.

28 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

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Agribusiness

Corn in Your Tank

I

llinois is one of the largest ethanol producers in the United States, second only to Iowa. Once two new ethanol distilleries around Champaign start production, the extra 220 million combined gallons produced may push the state into closer competition for first place with its neighbor to the west.

The Andersons, Inc., a grain and ethanol marketing company, has proposed a plant that will be built next to the Champaign grain elevator. Larry Wood, general manager of The Andersons Agriservices, said the company has taken all the necessary legal steps to build the plant. “All the i’s are dotted and the t’s are crossed,” Wood said. “We’ve done a lot to get things squared away to build it.”

Wood said the plant is awaiting corporate approval to begin construction. If approved, the plant will consume 55 million bushels of corn and produce 110 million gallons of ethanol per year and 350,000 tons of distillers dried grain, an animal feed additive.

The increased demand for the fuel has caused rapid expansion of ­technologies, so when it gets the green light, Wood said 30 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

the plant may also have the option to produce corn oil, as well as to explore ways to utilize other parts of the corn kernel not needed for fuel production.

Illini Ethanol, LLC, has also received the go-ahead from regulators to construct a 110-million-gallon facility near Royal, Ill. The increased demand for corn — a major component of ethanol — has been good news for area farmers as well. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, corn prices have risen sharply, from a decades-long average of about $2.40 per bushel to $3.30 or higher per bushel. Though the price hike is not entirely related to ethanol, Wood said it does play a part.

This price boost has also saved the government money. The U.S. Department of Agriculture issues additional payments to corn farmers when the price is low.

Yvonne Odum, director of the Champaign USDA office, said that with the increased price, she issued very few of those payments last year.

Agribusiness

Clearing the Air B

ack in the Roaring Twenties, when Chicago became known for gangsters and speakeasies, some farmers found that a conversion of corn into alcohol was a great, albeit illegal, way to make some extra cash. And with a few engine modifications, the moonshine runners found they could pour their illicit goods in the gas tanks of their cars and outpower the law enforcement vehicles of the time.

Henry Ford’s Model T was supposed to have run on distilled corn alcohol. The diesel engine was designed to run on vegetable oil from locally grown plants.

Today, this concept is making a comeback.

Rising oil prices and the question of how people can power their cars, heat their homes and generate electricity without the aid of petroleum prompted oil giant British Petroleum (BP) to look into a way to keep the company in business once oil gets too expensive to extract.

BP decided to explore what are called “advantaged molecules” — types of plantbased carbon molecules that have the potential to replace petroleum. But when BP checked its employee roster, it found that it had only one biologist on its worldwide staff.

To solve this problem, BP looked to academia. After a series of applications, the University of Illinois, in partnership with the University of California at Berkeley, got the job. The 10-year, $500 million project will establish the Energy Bioscience Institute on

the U of I campus, to be housed inside the Institute for Genomic Biology.

“Doing big science ... is something public universities do well,” Richard Herman, U of I’s chancellor, said about the grant. “We can and should be national leaders in alternative energy sources.”

In order to offset the rising price of corn, the BP grant is poised to analyze other natural mediums that can efficiently be distilled into ethanol, such as a hybrid grass or corn stalks.

The grant will not only explore the use of alternative methods for ethanol production, but will also examine the environmental impact of such production.

For instance, giant miscanthus, a type of hybrid grass, is considered an excellent source of ethanol. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that, for each metric ton, giant miscanthus has the potential to produce close to 1,000 gallons of ethanol. When compared to corn, which can produce 600 gallons from the same amount, the idea of growing grass sounds enticing to ethanol companies.

Charles Zukoski, vice chancellor for research at the University of Illinois, said the soil may also benefit from the transition.

Corn requires more maintenance than grass, so miscanthus would save time and fuel for farmers. With miscanthus, no fertilizer would ever have to be added to the soil.

“Corn takes a lot of fertilizer,” Zukoski said. “With these grasses, at the end of the season the nitrogen and phosphorus go back into

the roots. You’ll harvest for a decade without ever putting anything on the ground.”

There are potential problems that ongoing research must also address. One of the big concerns is the impact a transition to grain- or grass-based fuels would have on global food prices. Plus, the technology and infrastructure to convert grass to ethanol are limited.

Another concern is that grass seeds could invade adjoining corn and soybean fields, thereby ruining the crops. However, this is not a concern with miscanthus, Zukoski said, as the grass produces infertile seeds. “You don’t have to worry about invasion. The bad news is that you can’t plant seeds to get it to grow.”

Zukoski said John Deere wants to help find a way to plant and harvest the crop.

Other companies that study genomics and perennial grasses also want to move into the U of I’s Research Park.

The research is just getting started, Zukoski said, but some materials are already growing on the campus farm. Later, when research requires more products to convert to biofuel, the university will branch out. “In Champaign County you’ll begin to see test plots of these different materials growing,” he said.

Larry Wood of The Andersons, Inc., expects something remarkably innovative to come out of the combined research of the U of I and Berkeley. “Ethanol is the first baby step over to using more biofuels,” he said. “Who knows what will come out of research.”

“We can and should be national leaders in alternative energy sources.” www.champaigncounty.org 31

Agribusiness

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Blowin’ in the Wind T

here’s more than corn in Central Illinois. There’s wind, too.

Horizon Wind’s Twin Groves Wind Farm, located just north of Champaign County, is doing its best to take advantage of that other natural resource that’s so prevalent on the Central Illinois plains. The 396-megawatt plant, complete with 240 turbines spread across 21,000 acres, will produce enough power for about 120,000 homes in its first two phases.

Project Manager Bill Whitlock said phases one and two of the plant are online, while phases three and four are in development.

If built, when these phases come online, an additional 170 wind turbines should push Twin Groves to about 680 megawatts of power.

Major arguments against wind energy usually revolve around the noise the 200-foot-tall turbines make as they slice through the air.

However, Whitlock said the noise is minimal because the turbines are placed at least 1,500 feet from any buildings. At that distance, the sound of the wind drowns out the blade noise.

32 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

Another argument concerns the hazards the whirring machines pose to birds. Recent data suggests that only one to two birds are killed annually by each turbine — contradicting old arguments about hundreds of bird deaths per year. The Twin Groves facility is an active participant in a U.S. Department of Wildlife study on the topic.

The Twin Groves Wind Farm, Whitlock added, is endorsed by the Audubon Society. “I think anyone with any knowledge on the subject supports wind energy technology,� he said.

A new Illinois state law for wind turbine tax assessment allows for $9,000 to be taxed for each megawatt of power a turbine produces. Twin Groves’ turbines are all 1.65-megawatt generators, which works out to $14,850 apiece. This property tax money goes to schools, bolstering the Ridgeway and Tri-Valley school districts. A good thing, Ridgeway School District Superintendent Larry Dodds said, because devaluations of farmland in McLean County have cost the school about $9 million in the last six years.

Agribusiness

“Anyone with any knowledge on the subject supports wind energy technology.�

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“We’ve had to plan for our loss,� Dodds said. “So this will go a long way.�

Dodds added that the turbines are not only a plus to the school district, but since they are leased by Horizon Wind to the landowners, the farmers benefit as well. Whitlock said lease payments to landowners exceed $1.2 million.

Dodds said he also appreciates the turbines because they keep oil in the ground and instead utilize wind to generate power.

Fortunately, he said, the towers make very little noise. “Since we’re paying so much for oil, I look at it as an alternative,� he said. “It’s a fantastic idea that benefits farmers, and it’s a plus for the school district.�

Whitlock said the presence of the turbines has people paying closer attention to the weather. The breezy plains, once largely ignored by residents, have become a topic of conversation. “People are much more aware of the wind,� he said.

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Agribusiness

FutureGen

F

utureGen, a one-of-a-kind coal research plant, is designed to be the cleanest fossil fuel power plant in the world. The project would attempt to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by employing a method called coal gasification. On December 18, 2007, the FutureGen Alliance announced that Mattoon, Illinois, located just south of Champaign County, is their choice for the construction of the state-of-the-art facility.* Cutting-edge technology would be used to mix coal and steam under high temperatures, which reduces the coal to hydrogen — burned cleanly for power — and carbon monoxide, as well as other chemicals and detritus that can be used in different applications.

The carbon monoxide would then be converted to carbon dioxide. And this is where the new technology plays a key part. Instead of releasing the carbon dioxide into the atmosphere — contributing to global warming — the plant would liquefy the gas and inject it into deep saltwater aquifers more than a mile underground, a technique called geosequestration. One of FutureGen’s goals is to see if this gas will remain trapped underground, diluted in water and capped on top and bottom by thick layers of sandstone, or if it will fizz back to the surface.

34 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

“Illinois is ready to get to work to ensure that FutureGen is a success.”

The plant’s success could bring a revitalization to the Illinois coal industry. More than 65 percent of the state sits atop coal reserves, but Illinois coal — dirty and full of sulfur — doesn’t mix well with federal clean air laws. Because of its nature, fewer power plants have purchased Illinois coal, devastating the state’s coal industry.

The FutureGen plant would be small, providing power to just 150,000 homes. It is designed, above all, to be a research plant to prove that coal can be a clean, usable energy source. The technologies gleaned from the procedure will be used for future plants around the world.

“We are thrilled that Illinois will be home to FutureGen,” Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich said at the time of the FutureGen Alliance’s announcement Mattoon’s selection. “As the entire world watches, Illinois is ready to get to work to ensure that FutureGen is a success.”

Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Director Jack Levin said the plant would affect all of Central Illinois because of the increase in jobs and the economic benefits that will come with the

Agribusiness

construction and operation of the plant. “This is a win for all of Central Illinois, and the economic benefits will flow far and wide.”

In a recent study, Southern Illinois University Carbondale estimated that more than $1 billion worth of revenue and 1,225 indirect jobs would be created statewide during the construction period alone. Construction has been slated to begin in 2010, with the plant coming online in 2013. *Editor’s Note: At press time, the U.S. Department of Energy had pulled out of the project, citing budgetary concerns. However, the FutureGen Alliance Board has unanimously agreed that constructing FutureGen in Mattoon remains in the public interest, and Illinois legislators, including Senators Dick Durbin and Barack Obama, continue to petition the White House to support FutureGen in Mattoon. www.champaigncounty.org 35

Business Vignettes

Entrepreneurs

in Action Young businesses find a great atmosphere for success in Champaign County.

36 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

Business Vignettes

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The Atkins Group

T

he Atkins Group is a locally owned and managed real estate development company. More than 30 years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Clinton C. Atkins started The Atkins Group in Champaign County with residential property. The firm has quietly grown and diversified into a portfolio of residential, apartment, commercial, industrial and farm properties.

The company owns strategic property across Champaign County and is positioned to develop properties in a rapid manner to meet the aggressive schedule demands of its clients and tenants.

The Atkins Group builds speculative shell facilities for businesses to relocate and then custom-fits the interior of the building to the particular needs of the client.

This process saves months of development time for the prospective client and allows them to quickly locate in Champaign County. To be competitive in the global economy, the ability to provide ­economical facilities in a quick time frame is a key factor.

Mark Dixon, director of commercial and industrial real estate at The Atkins Group, said the company’s — and Champaign County’s — success in the industrial sector can be attributed to the quick access to the rest of the country via the interstates (I-74, I-57 and I-72) that cross through the county and a well-educated and dedicated labor pool. California and Washington state can be reached by truck within two days in most cases.

However, Dixon said, The Atkins Group credits the majority of its success to its relationships with the community. Four generations of Atkins family members either live or have lived in this community, and the company has close ties with local businesses and residents. “Not only do we work and invest here,�

Dixon said, “but we live here. “We wouldn’t have reached this level of success without the support of the community.�

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Business Vignettes

Artisan Scientific

A

rtisan Scientific got its start in Champaign in 1999 by manufacturing specialized scientific research equipment. When it comes to building

“We’ve been on a pretty high growth curve since we started this business.” these products, expensive test equipment is needed to ensure everything is put together properly and to ensure the equipment will work when delivered to the customer.

This test equipment is expensive, so the company bought used, broken equipment and repaired it. When they were done with the equipment, they sold it, said David Markun, president of Artisan Scientific. Eventually, this developed a whole new market, and the company shifted from a production facility to a repair facility.

Business has been good, Markun said.

In 2007, the company moved into a building twice the size of its first and has no signs of slowing down. “It’s very exciting for us,” he said. “We’ve been on a pretty high growth curve since we started this business.”

Specializing in hometown Real Estate brokerage services Ph: (217) 355-4999 Fax: (217) 355-3903

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www.joelwardhomes.com 38 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

Joel Ward, Jr., Owner/Broker

Business Vignettes

Classic Granite and Marble

F

ollowing multiple requests for granite countertops, Classic Granite and Marble’s long-standing burial vault business changed direction and started producing countertops to fill a much-needed niche in Champaign.

The 75-year-old business, with facilities in Champaign and Danville, creates each countertop with a computer-controlled milling machine on its factory floor, located on-site in Champaign. The company also produces and installs stone for commercial and residential building products, including tables, bathroom vanities, shower walls, bar tops, benches, signs and monuments.

Because granite is not a naturally occurring stone in Champaign County (aside from the random dropstone left behind by the glaciers of bygone days), it is imported from all over the world to satisfy customers’ color and pattern requirements.

The 7,000-square-foot facility and its showroom are located on Springer Drive in Champaign.

42 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

Business Vignettes

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oohyun Kang originally attended the University of Illinois as an English major, but quickly realized that her true passion was graphic design. As the owner of IF Design Co. in Champaign, she has been doing professional design work for five years.

Kang has created both print materials and Web sites for various businesses in Champaign County and beyond, including sushi restaurants, multimedia companies, clothing stores, food markets and more. “Each client has a story to tell,� she said. “My job as a designer is to express the true essence of my client’s business or organization.�

As a designer helping businesses communicate effectively, Kang believes in the importance of creating a strong identity and image for each client, paying attention to the small details. “Recognition is what every company or organization wants,� said Kang. “Imagine a movie without any close-ups or long shots, or a song in which all the notes are held for the same duration. It would be painful. We need rhythm to achieve the maximum impact.�

With the importance of effective marketing in print and on the Web becoming more prominent, Kang hopes to continue to grow both her business and her skills as a designer. “My plan is to go big — go as big as I can!�

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Business Vignettes

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44 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

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In 1983, 19-year-old Jimmy John Liautaud formed Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwich Shops in a Charleston, Ill., garage.

According to the Jimmy John’s Web site, Liautaud checked out a number of cookbooks from the local library to learn how to make bread. After receiving praise from family and friends, he opened his own shop. Though rent was cheap, his financial situation was meager.

A used refrigerator, an oven and a few other necessities — with the exception of an ice machine — were what he used. Still without an advertising budget, he went to the streets and passed out free sandwiches to hungry college students.

Twenty-five years later, the company has 600 locations, both corporate-owned and franchised, in 35 states. The corporate office, based in Champaign, uses a simple motto, “Make a deal, keep a deal,� to direct its dayto-day operations.

Business Vignettes

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Code4PC

an Ault started Code4PC in 2003 as a part-time gig while he worked as a police detective investigating high-tech crimes. The information security company grew quickly, and Ault said he walked away from a 15-year police pension to develop the company into what it is now.

Ault partnered with Jon Khachaturian, CEO of an engineering company, to get Code4PC running. Later, he hired the head of a large bank’s Internet security division. Ault said the talent he has on board differentiates his company from competitors, which are usually staffed only by technicians. This adds a whole different set of perspectives and helps Code4PC communicate with CEOs and company decision-makers in plain English, as opposed to the technical terms often used in the industry.

The company provides a single point of contact for computer sales and service, including its own brand of PC. Code4PC is also an authorized Apple dealer. In addition to sales, the company also specializes in Web site creation and promotion, security assessments and scans for data safety. Code4PC also offers what is called “third-party assurance,� an assessment of a company’s network followed by recommendations to remedy any security problems found. “If you’re not protecting that data, and that data is lost, you’re out of business,� Ault said.

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www.champaigncounty.org 45

Technology

46 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

Technology

Innovation

The region has joined the ranks of the country’s hot technology centers.

Research Park at the University of Illinois

T

he Research Park at the University of Illinois is home to more than 50 companies that employ about 1,000 people. The park has grown rapidly since it opened its gates in 2000. Companies such as Yahoo!, State Farm and Caterpillar have all set up shop inside the park. Smaller companies such as Obiter Research have gotten their start in the park as well.

Students also gain experience in the park. More than 200 serve as interns, gaining valuable work experience they’ll need upon graduation.

Additionally, Fox/Atkins Development, developer of the Research Park, is building a fivestory hotel on the premises, with meeting rooms and a restaurant to better serve the park and surrounding area.

www.champaigncounty.org 47

Technology

Obiter Research

O

biter Research, a Champaign-based chemical research and development company, got its start in the University of Illinois’ Small Business Incubator in the Research Park.

Five years later, the company has 13 staff members, nine of whom are scientists, housed in a new 20,000-square-foot building in Apollo Park.

The building, designed to be as energy-efficient as possible, has the capabilities to house as many as 35 people. The company’s general manager, Theron Sands, said it will be full in two years, but Obiter is prepared to expand — once the current building fills up, there’s an open lot next door ready for an additional building.

The company’s secret to success isn’t complicated, even if it wasn’t easy. It took “hard work — lots of hard work — long hours and perseverance,” according to Dennis Compton, Obiter’s director of chemistry.

The dedication of its chemists has been equally critical to the company’s success. “We’ve had to invest our own money to make a project come to completion,” Sands said. “We always deliver, no matter the cost.”

48 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

Obiter Research specializes in chemistry “other companies won’t do,” Sands said. Many of their products are considered “high-risk,” because certain reactions have never been tested.

“People think of chemistry as a well-documented field,” Compton said. Chemistry journals go back 150 years, and some chemistry organizations date back to about the same time. But some of the chemicals being manufactured today involve processes that before were unneeded or unknown.

“We’re doing things that ... in 150 years of publications ... you will not find an example of the reaction,” Compton said.

That’s when Obiter Research’s chemists shine. They invent processes to create the required compound and deliver the product to the client or provide instructions to large factories to produce tons of the chemical.

“It’s a continual learning process,” Compton said. “It’s fun.”

“It’s a continual learning process.

It’s fun.”

Technology

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Volition’s early years were spent as a company called Parallax Software. Two friends, Mike Kulas and Matt Toschlog, formed the company and created the popular computer game Descent in 1995.

The game received critical acclaim from PC Magazine and became one of the most widely played games on the Internet.

Descent 2, also released in 1995, was a game that was preloaded on many PCs at the time.

Later that year, due to a mutual agreement between the founders, Volition, Inc., was born. Mike Kulas kept the company in Champaign, while his partner formed Outrage Entertainment. They worked closely until Outrage closed.

Volition now finds itself in a huge new building in One Main Plaza in downtown Champaign, with 230 full-time employees.

Volition’s parent company, THQ, will relocate its game testers to Champaign in 2008. The testers — between 120 and 150 of them — ensure there are no bugs in a game and that all the gadgets inside the game work as they should.

Volition continues to churn out highquality games. Red Faction and Summoner, released between 2001 and 2002 for the Playstation 2, were instant hits, as were the sequels to both games.

Kevin Fanning, Volition’s recruiter, said the company appreciates Champaign because it provides an alternative to hour-long commutes, as well as affordable homes for its employees. “We hire people who appreciate ... a much better lifestyle,� he said. “In Champaign, it’s a better quality.� www.champaigncounty.org 49

Recreation & Tourism

50 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

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Recreation & Tourism

Play Champaign County residents work hard and play hard, too.

F

rom the action of basketball, football and baseball, to a leisurely round of golf or relaxing stroll, to intense gymnasium workouts, Champaign County has everyone in mind when it comes to burning off stress or calories.

The Champaign County Sports Commission coordinates and creates sporting events across Champaign County, which boosts the economy in the county and keeps the not-for-profit organization running strong. For the duffer of the house, golf courses exist almost everywhere in Champaign County. The courses range from challenging to basic, perfect for the experienced or those who are just trying to lose to their boss.

And when it comes to working out, fitness centers across the county offer personalized services to make the most out of your time and membership dues.

Sports Commission When people think of Champaign County, visions of basketball and football players come to mind. It’s no doubt that one of Champaign County’s claims to fame is the success of the University of Illinois sports teams. Footballs and basketballs exist in nearly every home. Whether they get any use, though, is sometimes debated. This is where the Champaign County Sports Commission steps in.

The commission coordinates available resources to attract, create and retain sporting events in Champaign County. It promotes the community as a top sports destination, therefore generating economic impact while improving the sports atmosphere in the community and youth.

The Sports Commission was developed in 2003 and incorporated in November 2004. Even though the organization has been in existence for more than four years, it has expanded in the past two years.

As a not-for-profit organization, it relies heavily on support provided by the community, whether through donations, membership or participation.

The Sports Commission contributes to many Champaign County sporting events, including the IHSA State Football Championships and the IHSA State Wrestling Finals. The Sports Commission has also created or obtained high-profile sporting events, such as the Shootout at the Hall, Holiday Hoops Classic, Winter “Fast” Break, Gus Macker 3 on 3 and the Senior Softball Midwest Championships. www.champaigncounty.org 51

Recreation & Tourism

Get Golfing

N

ever before has golfing been better in Champaign County. Six member courses spread across the prairie, owned by five separate golf clubs. Most offer more than golf, too. Clubhouses with meeting rooms, tennis, banquet halls and swimming pools can entertain the rest of the family while the resident duffer helps his buddy search the woods for his lost ball.

• Lake of the Woods Golf Course – Mahomet: The Lake of the Woods Golf Course is an 18-hole municipal golf course with a par of 72. It also features a ninehole, par-three course located directly next to the 18-hole regulation course. This golf course features 6,520 yards of blue grass with a rating of 71 and a slope of 118.

The course also features a large dining area capable of hosting banquets, dinners and large golf tournaments.

• Stone Creek Golf Club – Urbana: Opened in 1999, this Tim & Dick Nugent design features one of the most enjoyable 18-hole public championship golf courses in 52 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

downstate Illinois. Its manicured bent grass greens, tees and fairways, smooth slopes and subtle elevation changes make Stone Creek an outstanding golfer’s experience.

With numerous lakes and stone-laden creeks, the course holds true to its name.

• University of Illinois Orange and Blue Golf Course – Savoy: This location is equipped with two 18-hole regulation golf courses. The more challenging of the two courses is the par-72 Orange Course, with a length of 6,817 yards, a rating of 72 and a slope of 120. The par-73 Blue Course opened in 1930 and has a length of 6,579 yards, a rating of 70 and a slope of 114. It is also equipped with a large clubhouse and outdoor pavilion, which comes in handy for hosting large golf tournaments.

• Urbana Golf & Country Club – Urbana: The Urbana Golf & Country Club is a private club. In addition to a championshiplevel golf course, the club also features tennis, a swimming pool and social programs.

Golf and tennis professionals are available for private lessons. The course has a length

of 6,350 yards, a rating of 70.6 and a slope of 124. A clubhouse and dining area are available for business meetings and parties.

• Champaign Country Club – Champaign: Founded in 1904, the private Champaign Country Club boasts a 37,000-square-foot clubhouse, an 18-hole golf course with a rating of 71 and a length of 6,452 yards, a swimming pool, a dining room and tennis courts. The club’s restaurant provides lunch and dinner specials daily, and dining facilities, including a grand ballroom, are available to accommodate parties.

• Lincolnshire Fields Country Club – Champaign: This 18-hole private course is the site of much activity for all ages.

Men’s and women’s golf leagues, junior golf and golf tournaments take place here.

Private and group golf lessons are available for those ages 5 and older, and the club hosts an annual Twilight Golf tournament. Lincolnshire Fields also features private swimming lessons, swim teams and tennis courts.

Recreation & Tourism

Get Fit

Many fitness centers across Champaign County keep residents fit, often without the need to fill a spare room with workout equipment. The fitness centers offer everything from dietary plans, to aerobics, to weight-loss programs, to serious weight training. There’s a lot going on in Champaign County’s workout world.

Cardinal Fitness 2414 Galen Dr., Champaign

351-4700

Champaign County YMCA 500 W. Church St., Champaign

359-9622

The Fitness Center, Inc. 2508 S. Galen Dr., Champaign

356-1616

iPower/Nutrition@Work 1612 S. Neil St., Champaign

355-4797

Is It a Path or a Trail?

As fuel costs continue to rise and global warming remains an issue, the need for more cost-effective and environmentally friendly means of transportation increases. With more trails available connecting neighborhoods, businesses, parks and communities, more people will see walking or riding bicycles as a viable option not only for recreational purposes, but also to save money and reduce pollutants in the air. In Champaign County, trails and paths interconnect areas all over town.

These pedestrian and bicycle routes save fuel and time and keep the cash in your pocket from going out your car’s exhaust pipe.

The Champaign Park District has more than 12 miles of trails and nearly two miles of paths on which residents can walk, run or ride, and each offers a different experience and a great way to relax and enjoy the outdoors. In Champaign County, a path is a linear route found within a park. A trail is

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U of I Campus Recreation 201 E. Peabody Dr., Champaign

333-3086

a linear route that links businesses, parks, schools and other trails.

In response to a local needs assessment, and to further encourage people to get out and enjoy their local parks, new paths have been added to Champaign Park District’s Hessel, Mattis and Douglass parks. Additional paths are being planned for next year for Morrissey, Powell and Johnston parks, and an additional trail is in the works on the Marathon Ashland Pipe Line, located north of Windsor Road between Staley and Rising roads.

With these paths and trails and joint ventures with agencies throughout the county, the Champaign Park District is working to meet the growing demands for recreation and open space in our community. Through a countywide effort, the regional Natureways, Bikeways and Trails (NBT) plan has been developed, which identifies and connects existing trails to each other and to planned NBTs within the county.

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www.champaigncounty.org 53

Recreation & Tourism

In Urbana, interconnecting trails network five parks to places all over town. The system is designed to make most places in Urbana accessible by foot or bicycle, including the University of Illinois. These natural areas include Busey Woods, a 59-acre forest preserve that is part of the original forest that stood when settlers first arrived in Urbana.

Since the 1970s, the Urbana Park District has worked to preserve this area of town and Meadowbrook Prairie, which re-creates Illinois’ original open fields.

The Urbana Park District is currently working to restore other natural areas of the city, adding trails and open areas, along with offering programs on environmental education, bird-watching and recreation.

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Water Fountains

Acres

Walnut St. & Eureka St. South of Kirby Ave., just east of I-57 Market St. & Garwood St. 1/4 mi. north of Bradley Ave. & Staley Rd. Crescent Dr. & Kirby Ave. McKinley Ave. & Charles St. Davidson Dr. & Church St. Mattis Ave. & Parkland Way Fifth St. & Grove St. Russell St. & University Ave. Garden Hills Dr. & Bloomington Rd. Mattis Ave. & Glenn Park Dr. South of Duncan Rd. & Windsor Rd. Neil St. & Bradley Ave. West of Country Fair Dr. & Bradley Ave. Grandview Dr. & Kirby Ave. Goldenview Dr. & John St. East of Duncan Rd. & Springfield Ave. West of Fox Dr. & Devonshire Belmeade Dr. & Maywood Dr. Scottsdale Dr. & Meadow Square Ln. Cherry Creek & Willoughby Rds. Elm St. & Eureka St. Bel-Air Ct. & Windsor Rd. Plymouth Dr. & Harrington Dr. Mullikin Dr. & Stonebridge Dr. East of Galen Dr. & Sterling Dr. Just north of Rising Rd. & Windsor Rd. Crestwood Dr. & Clayton Rd. West of Brett Dr. & Southmoor Dr. Meadows West Dr. & Springhill Ln. Second St. & Springfield Ave. Harris Ave. & Harvard St. Bardeen Ln. & Leggett Ln. Cobblefield Dr. & Balmoral Dr. Second St. & Daniel St. Third St. & Beardsley Ave. State St. & University Ave. North of Lakeside Dr. & Broadmoor South of Staley Rd. & Windsor Rd.

Grills

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Beardsley Bian* Bristol Boulder Ridge* Centennial Clark Davidson Dodds Douglass Eisner Garden Hills Glenn Hallbeck Hazel Heritage Hessel Johnston Kaufman Mattis Mayfair Meadows Square Millage Mini Park #8 Moore Morrissey Mullikin Noel Porter Family* Powell Robeson Robeson Meadows West Scott Spalding Toalson* Turnberry Ridge Washington Wesley West Side Wisegarver Zahnd

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CHAMPAIGN PARK DISTRICT • 217-398-2550 • www.champaignparkdistrict.com

URBANA PARK DISTRICT • 217-367-1544 • www.urbanaparks.org Park Name

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Ambucs Blair Park Canaday Carle Chief Shemauger Crestview Crystal Lake Dog Park Judge Webber‡ King Leal Lohman Meadowbrook Patterson Prairie South Ridge Sunnycrest Tot Lot Victory Weaver*‡ Wheatfield Park

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www.champaigncounty.org 55

Culture & Entertainment

w o h S e h t h t i W On

56 Champaign County Chamber

iving r h t l re al a t r a r and e t a e h t Music,

Culture & Entertainment

Champaign-Urbana Theatre Company

T

he Champaign-Urbana Theatre Company (CUTC) was formed in 1991 for the purpose of putting on plays and musicals in the Virginia Theatre, a Vaudeville theater in downtown Champaign. Following an announcement that the 70-year-old theater would close and be sold, members of the just-formed Champaign-Urbana Theatre Company approached the owners to see if they could put on a show or two. The owners agreed, shows were produced and the theater stayed open. The theater was eventually sold to the Champaign Park District, and it remains a venue for CUTC and other shows, including the annual Ebertfest — Roger Ebert’s Overlooked Film Festival — and various musicians, movies and comedians.

But the musicals are what CUTC does, and for Kathy Murphy, one of the original founders of the company, the experience of a live performance easily outweighs the experience one gets from the best movie of the year.

“There’s an energy at a live production that you don’t get at the movies,” she said. In addition to four or five musicals per year, the Champaign-Urbana Theatre Company also produces murder-mystery dinner theaters and singing valentines.

The singing valentines especially are a hit, Murphy said. The company practices a repertoire of love songs and delivers one to what Murphy considers the “victim” at his or her home or place of work. The quartets have sung for husbands, wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, parents, children, fiancées and even a child in utero. Marriage proposals have been given. A quartet sang for a man undergoing kidney dialysis.

Many lectures at the University of Illinois have been interrupted.

“We deal in what we call ‘MEF,’” Murphy said. “Maximum Embarrassment Factor.”

“There’s an energy at a live production that you don’t get at the movies.”

here.

www.champaigncounty.org 57

Culture & Entertainment

Krannert Center for the Performing Arts

K

rannert Center for the Performing Arts encompasses two city blocks on Goodwin Avenue in Urbana. The massive five-story complex hosts theater promotions, classical chamber music, modern ensembles, a resident quartet and performances by the University of Illinois arts departments. The Center also has a café, a bar, a gift shop and free wine tastings every Thursday evening.

Four indoor theaters can seat a total of 4,000 people, though Foellinger Great Hall, designed by a renowned acoustics master, is by far the Center’s main attraction. Additionally, an outdoor amphitheater provides a spot for student productions as well as a summer music festival.

“We have something going on all the time,” said Bridget Lee-Calfas, the Center’s public information director.

The Center features performers and acts from all over the world on its five stages, including cellist Yo-Yo Ma, the Russian

58 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

Culture & Entertainment National Ballet and the Vienna Philharmonic. Krannert Center also hosts a three-day event called the Wall2Wall Guitar Festival, which in 2007 brought in 11,000 people.

The festival hosted such talents as The Delta Kings, Los Lobos, Sonny Landreth and others. The next festival is scheduled for 2009.

Krannert Center was opened in 1969 — a gift from Herman and Ellnora Krannert. Herman was a 1912 graduate of the University of Illinois and made his fortune as the founder of Inland Container Corporation, one of the nation’s largest producers of corrugated containers.

After it opened, The New York Times called it one of the most “ingeniously worked out art complexes anywhere.� That label still stands, and Krannert Center continues to be a top arts venue in the nation.

The Center features performers and acts from all over the world on its five stages.

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www.champaigncounty.org 59

Culture & Entertainment

M

ichael Schwegmann got his start in pottery while at Kalamazoo College in Michigan. He took a couple of classes to master the art and then noticed an issue piling up around his house.

“After you do that for a while, you have all these pots lying around,” he said. “So you have to figure out what to do with them.”

In 1995, Schwegmann met a man who owned a hobby shop called Boneyard Pottery. Due to the addition of a retaining pond for Boneyard Creek, which runs through Champaign and Urbana, the owner had to move the shop and offered Schwegmann a deal.

“He didn’t want to move it if it was just him,” Schwegmann said. “So he found me and said, ‘Why don’t you take this place over and run it. When we move, you can buy it.’”

Schwegmann took the job. Two years later, the shop was relocated, and in 2000, he bought it. “I don’t think those kinds of opportunities happen very often,” he said.

Now a full-time potter, Schwegmann said that because of business responsibilities he spends less time making pots than he would like, but that’s the part of his passion that pays the bills. “All the time I spend doing business just makes me hungrier to make the work,” he said.

Schwegmann also rents space to other artists, which he said he appreciates because it breaks the isolation that comes from an artist’s toils. “If I was in my basement all day making pots it would be a pretty lonely life,” he said. “It’s nice to have some people around me.”

Schwegmann said he’s never had a “real job” in an office and often wonders what life would be like in a cubicle farm, but is pretty happy with his lot in life.

“Even if I had to go become an accountant or something, I haven’t wasted these 12 years,” he said. “It’s been a good run.”

Boneyard Pottery

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60 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

Restaurant Guide

For Your Dining

Pleasure Area code, unless otherwise noted, is 217.

Alexander Steakhouse 202 W. Anthony Dr., Champaign 1905 S. Neil St., Champaign Bentley’s Pub 419 N. Neil St., Champaign Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano 2235 S. Neil St., Champaign Billy Barooz Pub & Grill 2521 Village Green Pl., Champaign Blues BBQ 1103 W. Oregon St., Urbana Boltini, Inc. 211 N. Neil St., Champaign Boomerang’s 1309 E. Washington St., Urbana Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar 907 W. Market View Dr., Ste. 5, Champaign 1335 Savoy Plaza Ln., Savoy 62 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

359-1789 356-8040 359-7977 356-4300 355-8030 239-9555 378-8001 239-7264 378-4400 356-9464

Bunny’s Tavern 119 W. Water St., Urbana

367-8175

Burger King 608 S. Staley Rd., Ste. B, Champaign

398-0194

Carmon’s 415 N. Neil St., Champaign

352-5880

Cheddars 2101 N. Prospect Ave., Champaign

356-7388

Chevys Fresh Mex 103 W. Marketview Dr., Champaign

898-9022

Cochrane’s of Champaign, Inc. 214 W. Main St., Urbana

328-4282

Cold Stone Creamery 505 E. Green St., Champaign

367-5555

Courier Cafe 111 N. Race St., Urbana

328-1811

Restaurant Guide

www.champaigncounty.org 63

Restaurant Guide

Cowboy Monkey 6 E. Taylor St., Champaign

398-2688

Flat Top Grill 607 S. Sixth St., Champaign

344-3200

Cracker Barrel 2101 Kenyon Rd., Urbana

344-9087

Foudini’s 107 N. Watson, Tolono

637-2625

Culver’s 903 W. Marketview Dr., Champaign 2302 S. Neil St., Champaign

356-8132 352-1699

Great Harvest Bread Co. 2149 S. Neil St., Champaign

398-5623

D.Q. Grill & Chill 3602 N. Mattis Ave., Champaign

373-2412

Guido’s 2 E. Main St., Champaign

359-3148

Dunkin’ Donuts/Baskin Robbins/Dunkin’ Deli 515 S. Neil St., Champaign

359-7005

Hickory River Smokehouse 1706 N. Cunningham Ave., Urbana

337-1656

El Toro II 1805 S. Neil St., Champaign

378-7807

Hideaway of the Woods 809 S. Prairieview Rd., Mahomet

586-7722

Escobar’s 6 E. Columbia Ave., Champaign

352-7467

The Highdive 51 E. Main St., Champaign

356-2337

Esquire Lounge 106 N. Walnut St., Champaign

398-5858

Hilton Garden Inn 1501 S. Neil St., Champaign

352-9970

Famous Dave’s 1900 Round Barn Rd., Champaign

403-1166

Hooters of Champaign 1706 S. State St., Champaign

355-7682

Farren’s Pub & Eatery, Inc. 308 N. Randolph St., Champaign

359-6977

jim gould 1 E. Main St., Champaign

531-1177

64 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

Restaurant Guide

Jimmy John’s 1511 N. Prospect Ave., Champaign 43 E. Green St., Champaign 1811 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign 601B E. Green St., Champaign 807 S. Lincoln Ave., Urbana

359-6700 344-6200 359-9100 344-4443 328-3100

JT Walker’s Restaurant & Sports Bar 401 E. Main St., Mahomet

766-3109

Junior’s Burgers & Cozy’s Custard 1511 W. Springfield Ave., Champaign

355-9020

Jupiter’s Pizza & Billiards 39 E. Main St., Champaign 2511 Village Green Pl., Champaign

398-5988 366-8300

Kam’s 618 E. Daniel St., Champaign Kennedy’s at Stone Creek Restaurant 2560 S. Stone Creek Blvd., Urbana Kentucky Fried Chicken 2201 W. Springfield Ave., Champaign 1308 N. Prospect Ave., Champaign 410 W. University Ave., Urbana

337-3300 384-8111 352-0900 356-2525 328-3379

Kentucky Fried Chicken/A & W 1321 N. Dunlap Ave., Savoy

356-1861

Krannert Center - Intermezzo 500 S. Goodwin Ave., Urbana

333-8412

Le Peep 2209 S. Neil St., Champaign

352-7599

Little Caesars Pizza 1211 S. Mattis Ave., Champaign

352-5544

Marble Slab Creamery 1211 Savoy Plaza Ln., Savoy

359-5950

McAlister’s Deli 421 Town Center Blvd., Champaign

355-6480

McDonald’s 1605 S. Neil St., Champaign

359-4020

Mezzaluna 2502 Village Green Pl., Champaign

352-3333

Mike N Molly’s 105 N. Market St., Champaign

355-1236

www.champaigncounty.org 65

Restaurant Guide

Milo’s Restaurant 156 Lincoln Square, Ste. D, Urbana

344-8946

Minneci’s 401 S. First St., Champaign

Panera Bread 1765 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign 1903 Convenience Pl., Champaign

355-9885 239-5000

352-4425

Monical’s Pizza 103 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign

Papa Del’s Pizza 206 E. Green St., Champaign

359-7700

356-4243

Murphy’s Pub 604 E. Green St., Champaign

Pasha Foods, Inc. 2506 Village Green Pl., Champaign

355-2200

352-7275

Noodles & Company 528 E. Green St., Champaign

Pia’s Sports Bar & Grill 1609 W. Springfield Ave., Champaign

351-1993

367-2000

O’Charley’s 730 W. Town Center Blvd., Champaign

Red Lobster 1901 N. Prospect Ave., Champaign

355-2577

355-3901

The Office 214 W. Main St., Urbana

Rosati’s Pizza 701 S. Gregory St., Ste. H, Urbana

328-2334

344-7608

Original Pancake House 1909 W. Springfield Ave., Champaign

Seaboat 403 W. Kirby Ave., Champaign

355-9933

352-8866

Outback Steakhouse 2402 N. Prospect Ave., Champaign

Seasons Restaurant 1001 Killarney St., Urbana

328-7900

398-3322

The Seven Saints 32 E. Chester St., Champaign

351-7775

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2147 S. Neil St., Champaign (217) 359-8339 • (877) 791-8MRI www.illiniopenmri.com 66 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

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Restaurant Guide

Silver Mine Subs 612 E. Daniel St., Champaign

328-5000

Silvercreek 402 N. Race St., Urbana

328-3402

Smoothie King 1912A Round Barn Rd., Champaign

351-0800

Soma Ultralounge 320 N. Neil St., Champaign

356-0006

Sun Singer Wine & Spirits, Ltd. 1115 W. Windsor Rd., Champaign

351-1115

T.G.I. Friday’s 100 Trade Centre Dr., Champaign

352-5595

Texas Roadhouse 204 N. Country Fair Dr., Champaign

355-9901

Tomato Express Ltd. 313 N. Mattis Ave., Champaign 108 E. Green St., Champaign

351-1020 359-1212

Za’s 2006 W. Springfield Ave., Champaign 1905 N. Neil St., Champaign

355-4990 355-4990

Zelma’s 1103 W. Windsor Rd., Champaign

359-1994

www.champaigncounty.org 67

Lodging Guide

68 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

Lodging Guide

Be Our Guest Area code, unless otherwise noted, is 217.

Baymont Inn & Suites 302 W. Anthony Dr., Champaign 1006 Southline Rd., Tuscola

356-8900 253-3500

Best Western Paradise Inn 709 N. Dunlap Ave., Savoy

356-1824

Comfort Inn of Champaign 305 Marketview Dr., Champaign

352-4055

Country Inn & Suites 602 W. Marketview Dr., Champaign

355-6666 / 800-456-4000

Courtyard by Marriott 1811 Moreland Blvd., Champaign

355-0411

Days Inn 1019 Bloomington Rd., Champaign

356-6873

Days Inn of Farmer City 975 E. Clinton Ave., Farmer City

309-928-9434

Drury Inn 905 W. Anthony Dr., Champaign

398-0030

Eastland Suites Hotel and Conference Center 1907 N. Cunningham Ave., Urbana

367-8331

Econo Lodge Inn and Suites 914 W. Bloomington Rd., Champaign

356-6000

Fairfield Inn 1807 Moreland Blvd., Champaign

355-0604

Gateway Studios LLC 1505 N. Neil St., Champaign

359-1601

Hampton Inn at U of I 1200 W. University Ave., Urbana

337-1100

Hawthorn Suites Ltd. 101 Trade Centre Dr., Champaign

398-3400

Hilton Garden Inn 1501 S. Neil St., Champaign

352-9970

Historic Lincoln Hotel 209 S. Broadway Ave., Urbana

384-8800

Holiday Inn Express I-57 & Rte. 36, 1201 Tuscola Blvd., Tuscola

253-6363

Holiday Inn Hotel & Conference Center 1001 Killarney St., Urbana

328-7900

www.champaigncounty.org 69

Lodging Guide 352-9960

Red Roof Inns 212 W. Anthony Dr., Champaign

I Hotel and Conference Center 1802 S. First St., Champaign

819-5000

Sleep Inn 1908 N. Lincoln Ave., Urbana

367-6000

La Quinta Inn 1900 Center Dr., Champaign

356-4000

Super 8 207 S. Murray Rd., Rantoul

893-8888

Linda’s Oak Meadows Bed & Breakfast Resort 789 County Rd. 3300 N., Dewey

897-1775

Sweet Dreams Bed & Breakfast 300 E. Adams St., Pesotum

722-5109

384-4800 379-2589 / 877-945-6569

Homewood Suites by Hilton 1417 S. Neil St., Champaign

352-0101 / 800-THE-ROOF

Microtel Inn 1615 Rion Dr., Champaign

398-4136

Motel 6 1906 N. Cunningham Ave., Urbana

Sylvia’s Irish Inn (formerly Lindley House B&B) 312 W. Green St., Urbana

344-1085

Park Inn 2408 N. Cunningham Ave., Urbana

TimberCreek Bed & Breakfast 1559 E. State Rte. 9, Paxton

344-8000

Ramada 902 W. Killarney St., Urbana

Victorian Rose Bed & Breakfast 411 W. Hill St., Champaign

328-4400

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70 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

352-7029

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Index of Advertisers

Index of Advertisers Adult Care/Senior Living Bridle Brook Adult Community — p. 15

1617 Patton Drive, Unit A Mahomet, IL 61853 (217) 586-3200 www.bridle-brook.com

fax (217) 586-4100

Canterbury Ridge — p. 58

1706 East Amber Lane Urbana, IL 61802 (217) 328-3150 canterburyridge-md@emeritus.com www.emeritus.com

fax (217) 328-3152

Canterbury Ridge offers our residents the quality of life they expect and the respect they deserve.

HCR ManorCare - Champaign — p. 35 309 East Springfield Avenue Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 352-5135 430ADMIN@hcr-manorcare.com www.hcr-manorcare.com

fax (217) 352-9139

Advertising Specialties Creative Visions Limited — p. 49 200 Turner Drive Rantoul, IL 61866 (217) 892-2960 lschiff@creativevisionsltd.com www.creativevisionsltd.com

fax (217) 892-2680

Attorney 44 Main St., Third Floor Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 359-6494 www.efbclaw.com

• Banking & Collection Law • Municipal Law • Real Estate Law • Corporate Law • Taxation, Trust & Probate Law • Litigation in Federal & State Courts • General Practice 306 West Church St. Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 352-1800 www.meyercapel.com

Willard Airport (CMI) — p. 54

One Airport Road Savoy, IL 61874 (217) 244-8600 www.FlyCMI.com

Served by American Airlines and Northwest Airlines, with daily flights to Chicago O’Hare, Dallas-Ft. Worth and Detroit. Use CMI Tripster to compare travel costs — visit www.FlyCMI.com.

fax (217) 352-1083

fax (217) 352-4900

Singleton Law Firm is dedicated to serving the legal needs of business and individual clients with an emphasis in the areas of corporate, intellectual property and commercial real estate law.

Architect IGW Architecture — p. 76 fax (217) 328-1401

Smith/Burgett Architects, Inc. — p. 53 fax (217) 367-6725

• Architecture • Engineering • Planning • Interior Design

Arts Wind Water and Light — p. 59

10 Main Street Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 378-8565 windwaterlight@aol.com www.windwaterlight.com

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DR. SAMIR SAYEGH s &ULL 2ANGE OF %YE #ARE s ,ASER 3URGERY s %YEWEAR #ONSULTANTS !VAILABLE 7INDSOR 2D s #HAMPAIGN ),

( ) 72 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

Stout’s Complete Cleaning — p. 70 1253 Marshall Circle Urbana, IL 61802 (217) 384-5690 www.stoutscomplete.com

• Commercial and Industrial Cleaning • Full Janitorial Service • Contract Cleaning • Floor Striping and Waxing • Carpet Cleaning • Pressure Washing • Locally Owned and Operated • Guaranteed Service • Licensed, Bonded and Insured

Construction/Contractors 807 N. Neil St. Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 356-0596 www.englishbrothers.com

fax (217) 356-6049

English Brothers Company is a full-service general contracting company specializing in commercial, institutional and industrial construction. Established in 1902.

Kurland Steel Company — p. 73

Awnings, Canopies & Tents TCT & A Industries — p. 70

fax (217) 328-5759

510 East Main Street P.O. Box 442 Urbana, IL 61803 (217) 367-2323 www.kurlandsteel.com

fax (217) 328-6758

Suppliers of all of your steel needs, carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, cold rolled steel.

Fabricators of structural steel and steel building products.

Consulting Engineers

• Awnings • Custom Sewing • Graphics • Curtain Walls • Industrial • Instant Shade • Tent Rental • Banners

GHR Engineers & Associates, Inc. — p. 66

Building Materials Hundman Lumber — p. 76

601 North Country Fair Drive Champaign, IL 61821 (217) 356-7221 www.hundmanlumber.com

fax (217) 359-3908

English Brothers Co. — p. 70 fax (217) 367-3752

308 East Anthony Drive P.O. Box 638 Urbana, IL 61803 (217) 328-5749 tctandaind@awning-tent.com www.awning-tent.com

fax (217) 344-3004

Cleaning Service

• Transactional Business Law • Estate Planning & Probate • Environmental Law • Real Estate Law • Employment Law • Litigation

Airport

809 South 5th Street Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 344-0297 www.mckinley-church.org

3002 West Bloomington Road Champaign, IL 61822 (217) 359-8909

Singleton Law Firm P.C. — p. 19 One East Main, Suite 215 Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 352-3900 info@singleton.law.pro www.singleton.law.pro

McKinley Presbyterian Foundation — p. 22

New Horizon Methodist Church — p. 74

Meyer Capel, A Professional Corporation — p. 78

202 Lincoln Square P.O. Box 189 Urbana, IL 61803 (217) 367-1126

102A West Main Street Urbana, IL 61801 (217) 367-8409

fax (217) 359-6468

Webber & Thies, P.C. — p. 43

• Promotional Products • Incentive Programs • Graphic Design • Corporate Apparel

114 West Main St. Urbana, IL 61801 (217) 328-1391 www.igwarchitecture.com

Churches

Evans, Froehlich, Beth & Chamley — p. 26

fax (217) 356-6055

1615 South Neil Street Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 356-0536 www.ghrinc.com

fax (217) 356-1092

Professional Consulting Engineers providing mechanical and electrical system design for buildings and infrastructure including plumbing, sanitary, process piping, fire protection, heating, ventilating, air conditioning, lighting, power, alarm and communications systems.

Index of Advertisers Counseling

Energy Consulting

A Woman’s Fund — p. 74

NPL Associates, Inc. — p. 75

Rape Crisis Services Assault Hotline 1 (877) 236-3727 (217) 355-5203 A Woman’s Place Domestic Violence Hotline 1 (877) 384-4390 (217) 384-4390

Education

912 West Armory Ave. Champaign, IL 61821 (217) 356-5402 georgehm@aol.com www.n-plasma.com

NPL has developed a compact, high-power density fuel cell for distributed power applications. Power levels range from 10 to 1000 watts. Demonstration units are available.

Champaign Community Unit 4 Schools — p. 44 703 South New Street Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 351-3822 www.champaignschools.org

fax (217) 351-7386

Champaign Unit 4 schools provide high-quality curriculum and instruction in advanced academics, in the fine arts and in extracurricular activities. Contact the Community Relations Office at 351-3822 for more information.

Eastern Illinois University School of Continuing Education - Bethany Craig — p. 59 600 Lincoln Avenue Charleston, IL 61920 (217) 581-5114 bcraig@eiu.edu www.eiu.edu/~adulted

fax (217) 581-6697

Eastern Illinois University School of Continuing Education offers bachelor’s, master’s and specialist degrees at various sites across Illinois and specializes in nontraditional formats, such as evening courses, weekend courses and off-campus courses.

Greenville College — p. 77 315 East College Greenville, IL 62246 (888) 818-4625 www.greenville.edu

fax (217) 356-4272

Engineering Berns, Clancy & Associates, PC, Engineers, Surveyors — p. 73 405 East Main Street Urbana, IL 61802 (217) 384-1144 www.bernsclancy.com

fax (217) 384-3355

Geocon Engineering, Inc. — p. 66 3000 Research Road, Suite 1 Champaign, IL 61822 (217) 403-9990 www.geocon.cc

JPING KURLANDSTEEL COM

fax (217) 403-1559

Sodemann & Associates, Inc. — p. 39 340 N Neil Street Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 352-7688 www.sodemann.com

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fax (217) 352-7922

Full-service consulting civil engineering firm founded in 1955.

Providing site engineering and surveying work, street design and maintenance, storm drainage studies, design and construction of water and wastewater systems, infrastructure management, as well as grant and loan management.

Event/Banquet Facility

The Greenville College Adult Degree-Completion program offers classes on the Parkland College campus. Students can complete a Bachelor’s degree in 18 months, taking classes one night per week.

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute — p. 37 2021 S. First St. (UI Research Park) Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 244-9141 www.olli.uiuc.edu

fax (217) 378-5178

Financial Institutions Busey Bank - Champaign — p. 39 502 West Windsor Drive Champaign, IL 61801 (217) 365-4837 www.busey.com

Parkland College — p. 42 2400 West Bradley Avenue Champaign, IL 61821-1899 (217) 351-2200 www.parkland.edu

University of Illinois School of Medicine — p. 60 fax (217) 333-8868

Urbana School District #116 — p. 53 205 North Race St. P.O. Box 3039 Urbana, IL 61801 (217) 384-3600 www.usd116.org

2302 West John Street Champaign, IL 61821 (217) 355-4444 info@refineyourself.com www.refineyourself.com

Events at Refinery is a 7,000-square-foot event venue. Our ballrooms feature wall-to-wall maple floors and floor-to-ceiling windows as well as a state-of-the-art kitchen and bar. Perfect venue for any event.

Over 50? The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) provides members with interesting courses, free or discounted services, a wellness program, and much more.

506 South Matthews Street, Suite 196 Urbana, IL 61801 (217) 333-6524 med.uiuc.edu

Refinery — p. 35

fax (217) 365-4879

Central Illinois Bank — p. 49 2913 Kirby Avenue Champaign, IL 61821 (217) 355-0900 www.centralillinoisbank.com

fax (217) 366-0186

Offering all of the financial products and services you need to create the life you want, while providing unparalleled personalized service. We can get you there!

Commerce Bank, N.A. — p. 61 fax (217) 337-4973

Employment Spherion - Champaign — p. 22

701 Devonshire Drive, C-2 Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 359-4488 www.spherion.com/champaign-il

fax (217) 363-1968

Spherion is a full-service staffing company specializing in traditional temporary, temp-to-hire and direct hire placements.

We also offer human resource functions; applicant screening, background checks and testing.

120 North Center St. Bloomington, IL 61701 (309) 823-7254 www.commercebank.com

fax (309) 823-7320

Commerce Bancshares, Inc. is a $15.5 billion regional bank holding company. For more than 140 years, Commerce has been meeting the financial services needs of individuals and businesses throughout the central United States. Commerce provides a diversified line of financial services, including business and personal banking, wealth management and estate planning, and investments through its affiliated companies.

First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust — p. 12 2229 S. Neil Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 359-9837 www.firstmid.com

First Mid has three banking centers in Champaign County, each with a drive-up ATM for 24-hour service. Access our Toll-Free Telephone Banking at 800-500-6085.

www.champaigncounty.org 73

Index of Advertisers

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First State Bank — p. 32 Windsor Road at Neil Street P.O. Box 6990 Champaign, IL 61826-6990 (217) 239-3000

Glass

fax (217) 239-1164

Hickory Point Bank & Trust — p. 77

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701 Devonshire Drive Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 351-7100 steve_tock@admworld.com www.hickorypointbank.com

SYLVIA’S IRISH INN 312 W. Green Street Urbana, IL 61801

(217) 384-4800

2600 Stone Creek Blvd Urbana, IL 61802 (217) 367-3000 www.stonecreekgolfclub.com

Marine Bank — p. 71

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC • 18-Hole Championship Golf Course • Golf course boasts generous Bent Grass fairways, tees and greens • Full-Service Golf Shop, Practice Facility with Bent Grass tee and practice green

Strategic Capital — p. 44 1608 Broadmoor Drive Champaign, IL 61821 (217) 398-3800 www.strategiccap.com

fax (217) 356-0670

Full-service bank and trust company that caters to clients who have business and investment needs. Our excellent personal service and expertise make us the financial institution of choice in our community.

Forging

fax (217) 352-4629

• Producing custom gear forgings in carbon, alloy, stainless and tool grades of materials • Complete die-shop on premises • Heat treat and rough-turning services available • ISO 9001:2000 Certified “Forging Partnerships of Value Since 1919â€?

Unique Jewelry Club.com is the easiest fundraiser you’ll ever do!

Host a jewelry open house. We do all the setup, take the orders, collect the money AND ship the jewelry. Ongoing continuous revenue.

Furniture/Cabinetry Techline Green Street Studio — p. 38

24 East Green St., #8 Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 352-5570 www.techline-cu.com

Experience the vision and functionality of Techline furniture.

Classic design means Techline will never go out of style. Choose from an outstanding selection of home and office furniture.

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fax (217) 398-3037

Founded in 1977, Precision Graphics has grown to become a premier illustration, composition, graphic design and animation studio serving the nation’s largest educational publishers, the University of Illinois, and many other Champaign County and Illinois businesses.

Health & Fitness 2302 West John Street Champaign, IL 61821 (217) 355-4444 info@refineyourself.com www.refineyourself.com

fax (217) 378-5178

Refinery Gym is a state-of-the-art fitness facility that features 15,000 square feet of equipment, a full-service juicebar, men’s and women’s locker rooms and steam rooms, and over 7,000 square feet in group fitness studios.

Health care Carle Clinic — p. Inside Front Cover 602 W. University Ave. Urbana, IL 61801 (217) 326-1894 www.carle.com

With 330 physicians in 50 medical and surgical specialties, Carle Clinic’s network of 11 regional clinics provides comprehensive care to patients throughout central Illinois and western Indiana.

Carle Foundation Hospital — p. 1 611 West Park St. Urbana, IL 61801 (217) 383-3311 www.carle.com/research

Christie Clinic — p. 27 fax (217) 352-6691

Danville Gardens — p. 59

Hours Mon-Fri 7:30am-6pm Saturday 8am-12pm

106 South Neil Street Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 359-6655 info@precisiongraphics.com www.precisiongraphics.com

Refinery — p. 35

Unique Jewelry Club.com — p. 19

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Graphic Designers

Clifford-Jacobs Forging Co. — p. 78

2410 North 5th Street Champaign, IL 61824-0830 (217) 352-5172 sales@clifford-jacobs.com www.clifford-jacobs.com

fax (217) 384-5453

Precision Graphics — p. 22

P.O. Box 17204 Urbana, IL 61803 Office (217) 255-5300 info@uniquejewelryclub.com www.uniquejewelryclub.com

3002 W. Bloomington Rd Champaign, IL 61822 (217) 359-8909 www.newhorizonchurch.org

Golf Course

Hickory Point Bank & Trust is a full-service financial institution that distinguishes itself by providing exceptional service and expertise in a personal banking environment.

Fundraising Company

SUNDAY WORSHIP: 8:30, 9:45, 11:10 A.M. TUESDAY YOUTH WORSHIP: 6:30 P.M. CHILDREN’S MINISTRY: SUNDAYS AT 8:30, 9:45, 11:10 A.M.

Sales, repair and installation of glass products for over 75 years!

Stone Creek Golf Club — p. 12

Helping businesses, home owners and families achieve their goals with personalized, full-service financial solutions. Drive-up open seven days a week to serve you.

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fax (217) 352-3568

fax (217) 351-7818

2434 Village Green Place Champaign, IL 61822 (217) 239-0100 www.ibankmarine.com

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322 North Neil Street Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 352-4331 info@cotterglass.com www.cotterglass.com

1413 N. Prospect Champaign, Il 61821 (217) 378-5330 customerservice@danvillegardens.com www.danvillegardens.com Come and see the seasons change at Danville Gardens.

We carry a large selection of: • Flowering Hanging Baskets • Annuals • Trees & Shrubs • Perennials • Garden Gifts • Gift Certificates • Mums • Pansies • Poinsettias

101 West University Ave. Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 366-1200 www.christieclinic.com

Serving East Central Illinois since 1929, Christie Clinic’s approach to meeting your health care needs is simple: We find the best doctors and staff, implement the latest medical technology, and surpass our patients’ expectations.

Health Alliance — p. 23

301 South Vine Street Urbana, IL 61801 1 (800) 851-3379 TTY (866) 883-8551 for the hearing impaired www.healthalliance.org Health Alliance offers health insurance products, including HMO, PPO, POS and even high-deductible health plans that are compatible with HSAs and HRAs. Health Alliance also offers Third Party Administrative services.

Index of Advertisers Illinois Open MRI — p. 66 2147 South Neil Street Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 359-8339 www.illiniopenmri.com

Holiday Inn Express - Tuscola — p. 12

Home Inspection Advanced Home Inspections — p. 15

fax (217) 359-9833

To provide state-of-the-art outpatient diagnostic imaging services giving special emphasis to the specific needs of each patient and the referring physician including claustrophobic and larger patients.

Laser Therapeutics — p. 70 1606 Willow View Road, Suite 1-O Urbana, IL 61802 (217) 384-0123 (877) 384-0123 info@lasertherapeutics.org www.lasertherapeutics.org

Holland Home Remodeling — p. 75

Prairie Center Health Systems — p. 78

401 East Vine Street Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 352-7605

fax (217) 352-7636

• Licensed and Insured • Complete Repair and Renovation • New Construction and Additions • Kitchen • Bath • Decks and Roofs • Ceramic and Hardwood Floors

fax (217) 239-1129

Hotels/Motels/Bed & Breakfasts

Prairie Center Health Systems, Inc., is a not-for-profit organization providing a continuum of substance abuse and addiction treatment services for youth, adults and families in east central Illinois.

Provena Covenant Medical Center — p. Outside Back Cover 1400 West Park Street Urbana, IL 61801 (217) 337-2000 www.provena.org/covenant

• Advanced Home Inspections — Serving Central Illinois • Thorough home inspections and detailed reports with pictures. • Inspections for buyers, sellers or simply consulting. • Now also offering Energy Inspections!

Home Remodeling

Laser Therapeutics uses a drug-free, non-invasive, relaxing program for smoking cessation, stress relief and weight control that encourages the body’s natural responses to cold laser stimulation of acupuncture points.

718 West Killarney Street Urbana, IL 61801 (217) 328-4500 bseidel@mail.prairie-center.com www.prairie-center.com

2308 Sumac Drive Champaign, IL 61821 (217) 351-2195 cell (217) 778-4017 j_w_sadler@yahoo.com www.advancedhomeinspections.biz

fax (217) 337-2075

The Provena Medical Group is a network of skilled, compassionate, health care professionals dedicated to building communities of healing and hope in Champaign and Vermilion counties.

Heating & Cooling Chief / Bauer Heating & Air — p. 42

520 North Hickory Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 352-5211 (217) 429-1738 (217) 828-9189 www.chiefbauer.com

Eastland Suites Hotel & Conference Center — p. 7 1907 North Cunningham Urbana, IL 61802 (217) 367-8331 aoneal@eastlandsuites.com www.eastlandsuitesurbana.com

1201 Tuscola Boulevard I-57 & Route 36 Tuscola, IL 61953 (217) 253-6363 hiextuscola@yahoo.com www.hiexpress.com/tuscolail

fax (217) 253-6655

• 82 Deluxe Rooms • Meeting Room • Free High-Speed Internet • Complimentary Breakfast Bar • Indoor Pool and Hot Tub

Park Inn — p. 49

2408 N. Cunningham Urbana, IL 61802 (217) 344-8000 parkinnur@msn.com www.parkinn.com/urbanail

fax (217) 344-0013

• Free Continental Breakfast • Free Wi-Fi in all rooms • Newly remodeled interior • 500-capacity meeting & banquet facilities • Fitness center • Outdoor pool • 140 luxury guest rooms & suites • Conveniently located off I-74

Ramada Limited — p. 23

fax (217) 384-3370

902 West Killarney Champaign, IL 61801 (217) 328-4400 royhitch@yahoo.com www.ramada.com

fax (217) 328-6623

Convenient location and great service! Enjoy daily breakfast, wireless Internet access, area shuttle service and indoor heated pool! Weekly and monthly rates available. Visit our website for a virtual tour!

Ramada offers a new experience for the traveler. We feature 48 beautifully appointed guest rooms and 20 luxurious jacuzzi suites. Guests are welcomed by a friendly, efficient staff. We also offer a meeting room for your convenience. Please contact hotel for more info.

Hilton Garden Inn — p. 33

Sylvia’s Irish Inn — p. 74

1501 South Neil Street Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 352-9970 www.champaignurbana.stayhgi.com

fax (217) 384-7736

Homewood Suites by Hilton 1417 South Neil Street Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 352-9960 www.champaignurbana.homewoodsuites.com Welcome to the Premier Hotels in Champaign County — The Hilton Garden Inn & The Homewood Suites by Hilton, both opened in November of 2006.

Formerly The Lindley House 312 West Green Street Urbana , IL 61801 (217) 384-4800

fax (217) 384-7736

Victorian House built in 1895 that offers 3 queen rooms and 1 king suite. Very comfortable with elegant surroundings. Breakfast is exceptional and referred as a highlight.

Housing/Apartments Illini Tower — p. 77

409 East Chalmers St. Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 344-0400 saleschampaign@edrtrust.com www.illinitower.net

fax (217) 344-8162

HHR

Illini Tower is a premier private certified housing complex on the campus of the University of Illinois. Illini Tower offers convenient summer conference lodging for professional or academic conferences.

HOLLAND HOME REMODELING CORA HOLLAND CONTRACTOR/INSURED

Complete Repair & Renovation New Construction & Additions Kitchens, Baths, Decks & Roofs Ceramic & Hardwood Floors Phone: 217-352-7605 Fax: 217-352-7636 LICENSED AND INSURED

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Index of Advertisers Royse & Brinkmeyer Apartments — p. 75 211 West Springfield Street Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 352-1129 www.roysebrinkmeyer.com

fax (217) 378-2257

Immaculate Apartments at Exceptional Prices! • Over 20 choice locations • Amenities for every budget • Furnished and unfurnished available

South Pointe Commons L.L.C. — p. 74 200 West Frost Avenue Rantoul, IL 61866 (217) 892-4555 www.sthpointe.com

fax (217) 892-2292

Town & Country Apartments — p. 42 1032 Kerr Avenue Urbana, IL 61802 (217) 344-7717 www.TandCapartments.com

fax (217) 344-2722

At Town & Country Apartments you will enjoy easy living, great convenience, luxurious space, 10 unique floorplans and 30 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds. Come join us today!

Mahomet Insurance Centre, Inc. — p. 72

fax (217) 586-5687

Independent insurance agency providing personal lines, commercial lines, and life, health and group coverages.

fax (217) 244-9367

The Levis Faculty Center provides space and an environment conductive for university, business and community groups to meet for educational and social purposes.

Prairieview Landscaping Company — p. 44 fax (217) 378-8410

Celebrating 15 years of quality and service • Landscape Design • Maintenance • Irrigation • Fencing

Media The News-Gazette — p. 70

P.O. Box 677 Champaign, IL 61824 (800) 660-READ www.news-gazette.com/subscribe

Chanute Air Museum — p. 53

fax (217) 398-0413

Dynamic office complex providing a unique business environment in a park-like setting. Concentrate on your core business while we manage your front office reception area, T1, fax, copy machines and phone system.

3301 Farber Drive P.O. Box 6267 Champaign, IL 61826-6267 (217) 356-7291 www.prairielandsbsa.org

The Octave Chanute Aerospace Museum opened in 1994 to preserve and interpret the life and accomplishments of Octave Chanute, Chanute Field and Air Force Base, the history of Illinois aviation, and the community of Rantoul.

fax (217) 356-7785

Prairielands Council provides the Scouting programs of Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturing, Exploring and Learning for Life to youth in nine counties of central Illinois and western Indiana.

Girl Scouts of Central Illinois Champaign Regional Service Center — p. 65 701 Devonshire, Suite B16 Champaign , IL 61820 (217) 328-5112

1011 Pacesetter Drive Rantoul, IL 61866 (217) 893-1613 fax (217) 892-5774 director@aeromuseum.org www.aeromuseum.org

We deliver the Girl Scout Leadership Development programwhere girls 5–17 discover by doing and having fun, connect with other girls and adults, and take action through leadership and community service.

With over 40 military and civilian air planes, Chanute is the premier place for aviation history. See planes from WWII pilot trainers and fighters to the modern-day F-15.

Champaign County Humane Society — p. 76 1911 East Main Street Urbana, IL 61802 (217) 344-7297 www.cuhumane.org

Providing shelter and care to companion animals in need.

Adopt your next pet from CCHS.

Habitat for Humanity ReStore — p. 54 119 East University Avenue Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 356-6460 restore@cuhabitat.org cuhabitat.org

fax (217) 363-3373

Habitat for Humanity ReStore is a 20,000-square-foot resale store that sells gently used furniture, household goods, appliances and building materials to the public at low cost. Donations accepted; pick-up service available.

2500 Village Green Place Champaign, IL 61822

STEPHANIE HOLDERFIELD

Call me now at 217-202-2158 or view all of the MLS at www.shoptilyoudrophome.com

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LUMBER COMPANIES

601 N. Country Fair Dr. Champaign, IL 61821 (217) 356-7221 www.hundmanlumber.com 76 Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

701 Devonshire Drive C-2 Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 398-5759 www.btcservices.net

Boy Scouts of America - Champaign — p. 32

1011 Pacesetter Drive Rantoul, IL 61866 (217) 893-1613 fax (217) 892-5774 www.aeromuseum.org

RealtorÂŽ,

Office Space and Support Services Business Technology Center — p. 59

Organizations

Museums

Non-Profit

Landscaping 1069 CR 900 East (S. Duncan Rd) Champaign, IL 61822-9657 (217) 355-9422 www.prairieviewlandscaping.com

919 West Illinois St. Urbana, IL 61801 (217) 333-6241 levis@uiuc.edu www.levis.uiuc.edu

Octave Chanute Aerospace Museum Foundation — p. 72

Insurance 403 East Main Street P.O. Box 1010 Mahomet, IL 61853 (217) 586-5656 lynferdinand@mchsi.com www.mahometinsurancecentre.com

Meeting/Conference Center Levis Faculty Center University of Illinois at U/C — p. 37

Pianos The Piano People — p. 70 503 South Country Fair Drive Champaign, IL 61821 (217) 359-7601 thepianopeople@sbcglobal.net www.pianopeople.us

The Piano People, established in 1979, offers new and used piano sales, piano tuning, and repair, and specializes in complete rebuilding, restoration and refinishing of fine grand pianos.

Printer, Copy & Duplicating Service Dean’s Superior Blueprint — p. 33

404 East University Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 359-3261 kevin@deansblueprint.com www.deansblueprint.com

fax (217) 359-1515

New Graphics Division Now Open: 3103 Research Rd. Champaign, IL 61822 (217) 363-1390

www.illinitower.net Rooms Available on Campus for Summer Conferences.

Professional or Academic Stay.

Summer Students, Professors and University Conferences.

409 E. Chalmers St. • Champaign, IL 61820 Ph: 217-344-0400 • Fax: 217-344-8162

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Index of Advertisers Ramshaw Real Estate — p. 35

Printing Custom Color Graphics — p. 65

1050 West Bloomington Road Champaign, IL 61821 (217) 359-0308 ccginc@insightbb.com

fax (217) 359-0380

Prosthetic Devices Omni Prosthetics & Orthotics, Inc. — p. 80

502 South Vine Street Urbana, IL 61801 (217) 344-6664

1817 South Neil Street Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 359-6400 chuck@ramshaw.com www.champaign-realestate.com

Rental Service McCabe Brothers Tool Rental, Inc. — p. 66 fax (217) 359-6423

• Commercial and Residential Brokerage • Serve Champaign County in residential service and throughout the United States in commercial service • I am Prof. Engineer, R.E. Broker, GRI, and ABR

RE/MAX Choice — p. 61 fax (217) 344-9282

Public/Private Partnership Champaign County Economic Development Corp. — p. 71 1817 South Neil Street, Suite 201 Champaign, IL 61820-7269 (217) 359-6261 www.champaigncountyedc.org

fax (217) 359-1809

The Champaign County Economic Development Corporation is a public-private partnership dedicated to fostering a cooperative, county-wide approach to economic development by successfully driving business attraction, retention and expansion.

fax (217) 359-2334

RE/MAX Choice is the new name for Brady Miller Inc. We are a full-service real estate office, specializing in marketing homes and assisting buyers with home purchases.

The Atkins Group — p. 40, 41

Ashland Park Urbana, IL 61822 (217) 356-HOME mike@atkinsgroup.com www.ashland-park.com

2009 Fox Drive Champaign, IL 61820-7349 (217) 352-5700 www.RealEstateChampaign.com

Coldwell Banker Devonshire Realty / Stone Creek Team — p. 38 2702 Boulder Drive Urbana, IL 61802 (217) 344-1988 yourteam@stonecreekurbana.com stonecreekurbana.com

Properties are available with golf course frontage, course and lake views as well as zerolot neighborhoods. The Stone Creek Subdivision features miles of walking, jogging and biking paths surrounding a public 18-hole golf course.

The Devonshire Group — p. 29

William L. Johnson Director of Professional Services Marketing bill.johnson@devonshire-realty.com (217) 403-3344

Restaurants

fax (217) 367-2670

Real Estate - Developers One Main Development — p. Inside Back Cover One Main Development, LLC One Main Plaza, Suite 206 Champaign, IL 61820 www.1-main.com (217) 531-1122 stacey@1-main.com cynthia@1-main.com

One Main Development is a progressive development company specializing in the revitalization of downtown areas. Our latest project, M2 on Neil, a beautiful 260,000-square-foot mixed-used building in the heart of downtown Champaign will combine unique retail, premium office space and luxurious condominiums.

fax (217) 356-4344

Menu features homemade and imported pastas, soups and salads, pizza, seafood, chicken, steaks, and a great dessert selection. Served in large portions at affordable prices in a casual, comfortable atmosphere.

Marble Slab Creamery — p. 66 1211 Savoy Plaza Lane Savoy, IL 61874 (217) 359-5950 marbleslabsavoy@gmail.com

Pekara Bakery & Bistro — p. 53 116 N. Neil St. Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 359-4500 pekarabakery@gmail.com

fax (217) 359-4560

• Sandwiches • Salads • Crepes • Pizzas • Soups • Pastries and Breads Baked Fresh Daily

2805 South Boulder Drive Urbana, IL 61802 (217) 367-2121 mark@atkinsgroup.com jane@atkinsgroup.com www.atkinsgroup.com

Joel Ward Homes — p. 38

2235 South Neil Street Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 356-4300 www.biaggis.com

We now offer catering! Enjoy the Freshest Ice Cream on Earth at your next event. Several options are available. Contact us to see what works best for you.

Real Estate Development

Consisting of 7 divisions providing extensive experience in the interrelated fields of real estate, our service areas can be tailored to fit your specific needs. Contact us today to discuss your single source solution needs.

Rental Service Stores & Yards Rental City — p. 32

Biaggi’s Ristorante — p. 67

The Atkins Group — p. 40, 41

Shawn J. Luesse Director of Business Development shawnl@devonshire-realty.com (217) 403-3343

Full-service rentals including: • Heavy Equipment • Lawn & Garden • Scaffolding • Trailers • Small Tool In addition, Delivery & Pick-up is available for a nominal fee, including outside the Champaign-Urbana area.

7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday–Saturday

Sandra C. Gordon Real Estate — p. 12

Over 13 years as a Realtor and over 17 years as a legal secretary.

Buyers and Sellers are treated fairly and honestly. By the way, I love referrals.

Whether you are buying your first home or are ready for a smaller place to retire to, you will enjoy the quality construction and convenience of location Ashland Park affords.

fax (217) 352-5937

2508 North Mattis Champaign, IL 61822 (217) 359-6127 fax (217) 359-6180 info@cuatrentalcity.com www.cuatrentalcity.com

RE/MAX Realty Associates — p. 43

Sandy Gordon - Broker/Owner 1606 North Willow View Road, Suite 2D Urbana, IL 61802 (217) 202-4692 sgordon149@aol.com www.sandygordon.com

Real Estate

3115 Village Office Place Champaign, IL 61822 (217) 355-4999 www.joelwardhomes.com

2919 Crossing Court Champaign, IL 61822 (217) 359-3131 www.realtorschoice.net

411 North Wright Street P.O. Box 562 Champaign, IL 61824-0562 (217) 352-5620 www.mccequiprental.com

Retail Flooring Surfaces, Inc. — p. 78

There is no “one-size-fits-all� approach when it comes to development, and we understand that. The Atkins Group is proud to provide one-on-one service to its clients. We ask you the right questions, so we can establish design and construction parameters to fit your specific needs.

401 East Mercury Champaign, IL 61822 (217) 398-1900

fax (217) 398-9007

Wal-Mart Supercenter #01-1734 Champaign — p. 26 2610 North Prospect Avenue Champaign, IL 61822 (217) 352-0700 Walmart.com

fax (217) 344-6180

fax (217) 355-3903

As one of the area’s leading independent real estate firms, our highly trained agents pride themselves on protecting and promoting the interests of each of our buyer or seller clients.

Kay’s Team Keller Williams Realty — p. 19 821 South Neal Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 649-3933 kay@kays-team.com www.TeamKay.com

fax (217) 356-6116

Prudential Snyder Real Estate — p. 76 Stephanie Holderfield, Realtor, CMS 2500 Village Green Champaign, IL 61822 (217) 202-2158 stephanieholderfield@msn.com www.shoptilyoudrophome.com

7E OFFER DISTINCTIVELY DIFFERENT REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITIES WITH YOUR NEEDS IN MIND (OME SITES CUSTOM SPEC HOMES ZEROLOT COMMUNITIES AND PREVIOUSLY OWNED HOMES TO l T THE LIFESTYLE OF FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS AT ALL STAGES OF LIFE 9OU LL l ND LIFE AS IT SHOULD BE AT 3TONE #REEK

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Index of Advertisers Retail - Food Supervalu — p. 29

Telecommunications

2611 North Lincoln Avenue Urbana, IL 61801 (217) 384-2736 supervalu.com

Communications Data Group, Inc. — p. 37

fax (217) 384-2687

Senior Living Clark-Lindsey Village — p. 54 101 W. Windsor Road Urbana, IL 61802 (217) 344-2144 (800) 998-2581 www.clark-lindsey.com

fax (217) 344-9147

Since 1978, Clark-Lindsey Village has been a leader in Central Illinois in total lifecare and the hallmark of gracious retirement living. Clark-Lindsey Village is a comprehensive lifecare community offering apartment living, sheltered, skilled nursing, and Alzheimer’s/dementia care.

Storage AAA Storage — p. 54 2202 North Market St. Champaign, IL 61822 (217) 356-4777

fax (217) 355-8890

102 South Duncan Road Champaign, IL 61822 (888) 234-4443 info@cdg.ws www.cdg.ws

fax (217) 351-6994

Transportation Baldwin Shuttle — p. 74 1638 E. Eldorado Decatur, IL 62521 (217) 422-5906 (800) 747-3593 www.baldwinshuttle.com

CDG is a telecommunication billing solutions source for wireline, Internet, cable, VoIP, and IPTV convergent billing, electronic billing, service provisioning, customer care, mediation, and Carrier Access Billing System (CABS).

Since 1993, Baldwin Shuttle has provided safe, convenient and comfortable transportation throughout the Midwest, including Chicago, Indianapolis, St. Louis and everywhere in between.

Please call to make your travel arrangements.

Digital Network Development Companies — p. 45

Champaign / Urbana Mass Transit District — p. 68

313 North Mattis Avenue Suite 116 Champaign, IL 61821 (217) 351-6400 www.dndcillinois.com

fax (217) 351-5950

Providing reliable, high-quality and cost-effective equipment and services to large businesses. Highly trained and skilled service organization with an old-fashioned concept of customer service and a desire to excel in all aspects of integrated telecommunications systems.

Midwest Communications Group, Inc. — p. 58 1910 N. Federal Drive, Suite 111 Urbana, IL 61801 (217) 344-5678 www.mcginc.us

1101 East University Ave. Urbana, IL 61802 (217) 384-8188 jkijowski@cumtd.com www.cumtd.com

C-U MTD provides local bus service to Champaign, Urbana and Savoy. Please see www.cumtd.com for a complete listing of services.

Trucking & Plumbing

fax (312) 577-0960

2611 West Cardinal Road Champaign, IL 61821-8914 (217) 352-0476

Veterinarian Curtis Road Animal Hospital — p. 74

Artisan Scientific — p. 66 fax (888) 55-SOURCE

SAVE UP TO 80% on your equipment purchases! Reduce your equipment costs with certified used and pre-owned optical, scientific, and electronic test and measurement equipment. We offer Industry-Leading Return Guarantee and Extended Warranties.

210 West Curtis Road Savoy, IL 61874 (217) 351-5814 www.curtisroadvet.com

fax (217) 351-8104

Curtis Road Animal Hospital provides you and your pets with high-quality care. We offer boarding as well as bathing services for all household pets.

Vision Eye Center of Dr. Samir Sayegh — p. 72

Towing Services Reynolds Towing Service, Inc. — p. 45 210 E. University Ave. Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 337-0913 www.reynoldstowing.biz

fax (217) 352-2266

A contracting company specializing in site work including excavation, grading, and trucking. We have a welding and machine shop that includes portable welding. Also, we do all types of plumbing jobs.

Test and Measurement 301 East Mercury Drive Champaign, IL 61822 (888) 88-SOURCE sales@artisan-scientific.com www.artisan-scientific.com

fax (217) 384-8215

Miller Enterprises — p. 43

Telecom services and management for small to medium businesses in Illinois and Indiana. Local POTS/PRI, Long Distance Switched/Dedicated/Toll Free, LAN/WAN, Internet T1-OC3, Wireless Internet, Wireless Cellular/walkie-talkie/data/GPS. Sprint/Nextel Sales and Service.

fax (217) 352-9277

Reynolds Towing serves the community 365 days a year, utilizing the latest in towing technology and equipment. We pride ourselves on prompt, courteous service and customer satisfaction.

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403 Windsor Road Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 352-2020 eyecenter_2020@yahoo.com

fax (217) 398-4040

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Where Your Quality of Life Comes First!

Omni Prosthetics and Orthotics is an orthopedic appliance office located in Urbana, Illinois, serving the surrounding areas. Our office specializes in custom or prefabricated orthotics as well as prosthetic limbs designed to function at maximum performance.

Our selection includes: - Artificial Limbs - Arm Braces - Arch Supports - Diabetic Shoes

- Back Braces - Leg Braces - Orthopedic Shoes

At Omni Prosthetics and Orthotics, we specialize in custom items derived from individualized specifications and considerations. Our caring and supporting staff is readily available by appointment. Please call today!

Bob Devlin, CPO/L Certified and Licensed Prosthetist/Orthotist Hours of Operation Monday–Friday 9am–5pm Available by appointment

“We offer everything ANY “big city� office does yet we also care. In fact, we have people drive from St. Louis and Chicago as patients.� – Bob Devlin

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