Community Notes

The beautiful Green Garden Country Club in Frankfort was the site for the 3rd annual Make Your Mark golf outing on Sept. 26. A total of 112 golfers gave up their Saturday afternoon to tee it up, have some fun, and contribute to the Mark Staehely Pediatric Cancer Foundation, also known as the Make Your Mark Foundation.

The four-person scramble event was attended by men and women of all age groups and from all different cities in the area: as far north as Chicago, as far south as Bloomington, as far west as Morris and even east into Indiana. Also from Indiana was special guest for the day, former Chicago White Sox star Ron Kittle, who took part in the Beat the Pro contest on one of the par three holes. Besides being one of the current ambassadors for the Chicago White Sox, Kittle is also the chairman of Indiana Sports Charities, which has been fundraising for the last 20 years to help find a cure for cancer.

Everyone was treated to lunch and dinner, which was served in the clubhouse at the conclusion of play. The after-dinner program included drawings for all the raffle prizes and the presentation of the golfing awards, which included prizes for: (2) longest putts, (3) closest to the pin, and a longest drive for both women and men.

The lowest-scoring team of the day included Bob Manion, Louie Robinson, Fred Darnell and J.R. Quiles.

St. Jude Church in New Lenox had a successful Fair Trade Fair the weekend of Oct. 17-18. The sales of the hand-crafted merchandise brought in more than $24,000. This translates into approximately 20 annual salaries for the artisans from more than 30 developing countries around the world.

The Peace and Social Justice Ministry of St. Jude, along with Ten Thousand Villages in Evanston hosted the event. Every fairly traded item purchased supplies a fair income to the artisans and their families. It helps them to lead healthier lives and lives of dignity and it also helps improve the economy of their communities.

To learn more about Ten Thousand Villages and fairly traded items, go to www.tenthousandvilages.com.

The Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of New Lenox are asking for support by participating in an annual food drive to benefit those who need help in the community.

The Scouts will be distributing paper grocery bags to front doors the first week of November. They will return on Nov. 14 to collect donations.

The National Center for Women and Information Technology is offering its annual award for young women with a strong interest and ability in technology.

Sponsored by Bank of America, the NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing showcases the technological abilities and spurs the ambitions of girls in grades 9-12.

Each national winner receives $500, a laptop computer, a trip to the Bank of America Technology Showcase and Awards ceremony in Charlotte, N.C., on March 27, and engraved awards for herself and her school.

To qualify, applicants must be high school students and U.S. citizens who have demonstrated aptitude, interest and leadership ability in the computing field. Applicants should also have a good academic record and plan to continue their education after high school.

Applications, which must be submitted online, are available at www.ncwit.org/award. The deadline for submitting an application is Nov. 15. Questions can be e-mailed to aspirations@ncwit.org.

Applicants in Illinois will also be eligible for an Affiliate Award.

KidsWork Children's Museum in Frankfort invites adults of all ages to get in touch with their inner child at the "Holidays Around the World" kickoff party at the museum on Nov. 14.

The night will start with a champagne and chocolate reception at 7 p.m. Guests will be treated to entertainment throughout the evening and can sample sweet treats from around the world at a variety of dessert stations. Special promotions, including discounted museum memberships and up to 50 percent off in the gift shop, will be offered. The winner of the 2nd annual Christmas Tree Raffle, sponsored by Alsip Home and Nursery, will be announced. The decorated tree will be on display and is valued at more than $1,200.

Raffle tickets are $5 each and can be purchased the night of the event or by calling the museum. All funds raised will go toward operational expenses as well as exhibits and programming.

Tickets to "Holidays Around the World" are $15 per person. R.S.V.P. by calling the museum at 815-469-1199.

When the economy starts shaking off a recession like a punch-drunk fighter, recovery can cause stumbles before it's back on its feet.

Vivette Payne, chair of the Professional Womens Network (PWN) has seen those stumbles and is making sure that PWN has the tools in place to help.

"This market has been so challenging for so many businesses, and to the women who own them or are employed by them," says Payne. "The need for education, networking and simple inspiration has escalated. That's what PWN does for all women and we think it's important to make that as accessible as possible during this recovery. We want our members -- and the community as a whole -- to succeed."

PWN's new program, Join and Save, dovetails with PWN's mission of "Impact, Inspire, Uplift. Enrich Yourself."

"We are offering an extended membership," Payne said. "When a woman joins PWN by Dec. 21 she'll get a full year of membership and then ... she'll get the remaining months until Dec. 31, 2010, included in that one-year membership fee. Obviously, the sooner a woman joins, the longer her "bonus membership" will be."

Professional Womens Network is a 200-plus membership organization for women throughout the Chicago area, though most of them live or work in the south suburbs.

To learn more about PWN or to get an application for membership, visit www.pwncentral.com, e-mail info@pwncentral.com or call 708-937-5525.

Business women are being told to get a Facebook page, start blogging and start Twittering to connect to clients and prospects in a whole new way. Many of these women are ready and willing, but lack the knowledge that makes them able. Fortunately, Juli Barcelona has the answers and is willing to share.

Professional Womens Network will host "Marketing On a Shoestring" with Juli Barcelona at 11:30 a.m. Nov. 19 at the Tinley Park Convention Center, Interstate 80 and Harlem Avenue in Tinley Park.

"Social media presents new challenges and opportunities for businesses and their brands. Blogging, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn afford small businesses the ability to build relationships, create meaningful conversations and increase word of mouth," says Barcelona. She will explain ways to make these outlets part of an overall marketing strategy, share success stories and answer questions.

Barcelona is vice president of Barcelona Creative Group, a marketing communications and public relations firm. She received a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn. She is a member of the Publicity Club of Chicago (where she is also the committee chairman for the 2010 education series), the Construction and Financial Management Association (CFMA), the Palos Heights, Orland Park and Tinley Park chambers of commerce and a graduate of the Dale Carnegie training program.

This program includes lunch and costs $25. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. Learn more about PWN and register for this program by visiting www.pwncentral.org, calling 708-937-5525 or e-mailing info@pwncentral.com.

Lincoln-Way Area Business Women's Organization will hold its holiday auction on Dec. 2 at New Lenox VFW, on Vine Street north of Route 30. Featuring fun, food, festivities, dinner, music and cash bar. Ticket cost $20.

Proceeds benefit the LWABWO Scholarship Fund (scholarships to Lincoln-Way High School seniors and women continuing their education.

For more information, call Judy Niemann at 815-485-2724 or Mary MacKenzie at 815-464-5409.

Winners of Mokena Park District's People's Choice Awards received them for the top Haunted Trail scenes at the 28th annual Halloween Hollow on Oct. 18.

Living Mortals category: First place "Fear on Fiona," Triola and Friends; second place, "Power Your Mind with Books," Mokena Community Public Library.

Dummy Mummies category: First place, "Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street," Trend Setters Paul Mitchell School of Cosmetology; second place, "Children's Country Club Ghoul School," Children's Country Club.

First-place winners received $150. Second place winners received $75.

For more information, call 708-390-2401 or visit www.mokenapark.com.

The winners of Mokena Park District's Jack-O-Lantern and Great Pumpkin contests were announced at the 28th annual Halloween Hollow on Oct. 18.

Jack-O-Lantern, first place, Jason and Will Marquardt; second place, Gina and Keith Burgess.

Great Pumpkin weigh-in contest: first place, Amanda Brunner, pumpkin weight 300 pounds; second place, Russell Davis, 154 pounds; third place, Nick Brunner, 136 pounds.

Winners received gift cards to local businesses and ribbons. For more information, call 708-390-2401 or visit www.mokenapark.com.

American Chartered Bank in Tinley Park is seeking businesses to exhibit at its annual Prom Expo on Feb. 20.

Businesses are encouraged to promote their services benefiting young adults' participation in proms, graduations and spring celebrations. The expo will attract the future leaders of communities from eight local high schools. Businesses interested in exhibiting should contact Emily Peterhans at American Chartered Bank at 708-403-6318 or e-mail epeterhans@AmericanChartered.com.

Newly opened SouthWest Laser and MedSpa chose to give back to the area which has welcomed it by having a Family Fun Fest for the community.

"We hope to make this an annual event for Mokena," said Pam Neitzel, clinical director.

On Oct. 24 from 1-5 p.m. SouthWest Laser and MedSpa hosted the event with complimentary food and beverages, entertainment, a balloonist, face painter, goodie bags for children, giveaways, drawing for a $300 gift certificate toward a product or service.

SouthWest Laser and MedSpa is one block west of LaGrange Road at 19255 Everett Lane in Mokena. Disc jockey Mike Chinino played music for the event and kept children entertained with Hula-hoop contests, musical chairs and the limbo. Tours of the medical facility were offered throughout the day.

For more information about the event, contact Kathy Harper, director of marketing and development at 708-479-4488 or visit www.swlaserandmedspa.com.