community briefs
Flu is a serious contagious disease. Each year in the United States, on average, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized and 36,000 people die from seasonal flu complications. However, this flu season could be worse because of the virus called 2009 H1N1.
"We really need to get the word out," said Sandra Peterson, community outreach manager for Provena. "It's very important, especially this year, for people to be aware of symptoms and what to do if you are experiencing symptoms. Rachel will provide the latest findings."
With seasonal flu, seasons vary in terms of timing, duration and severity. Seasonal influenza can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. However, the 2009 H1N1 (earlier referred to as "swine flu") is a new influenza virus first detected in people in the United States in April 2009.
This virus is spreading from person-to-person worldwide, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread.
Among those the government has prioritized for the voluntary vaccine: all school-age children, pregnant women, caretakers of young babies and people with chronic health conditions that could weaken their immune systems.
Again this event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.timbers-shorewood.com or call 815-609-0669.
He has been an agent for American Family since 1992. His office is located at 15515 S. Route 59 in Plainfield. Nick has now achieved this award four of the last five years.
"This is our fifth year of applying the Distinguished Insurance Agency criteria to our agents," said Jack Salzwedel, American Family president and chief operating officer. "With each passing calendar quarter, American Family has witnessed an improvement in customer service. Our agents are strongly attuned to the needs of our customers and how best to meet those needs."
The service excellence distinction was determined through a two-part evaluation process conducted by J.D. Power and Associates. The first part consists of a customer satisfaction survey, which measures customers' overall experience with their current American Family agent. In order to proceed to the second step, agents must meet or exceed the standards measured on a national benchmark established by J.D. Power and Associates' annual auto and home insurance customer satisfaction studies. Only agencies that perform in the top 20 percent of all agencies nationwide based on customer satisfaction surveys are eligible to become a Distinguished Insurance Agency.
Agents who meet or surpass the overall national average must then pass a rigorous on-site evaluation based on five best practice areas: proactive reviews of customer insurance needs, claims handling, positive customer contacts, responsiveness and office environment.
The workshop will feature information about what employers are looking for when they screen resumes and how various electronic job search sites can help your job search efforts.
McAsey will be joined by the Will County Workforce Investment Board.
For more information or to RSVP to the career building workshop, please call McAsey's Constituent Service office at 815-588-0085.
Donations can now be dropped off at all fire stations as well as at the administration building in downtown Plainfield.
The last date to donate toys is Dec. 9 to allow time for processing of the donations.
Only donate new toys and do not gift wrap the toys. Clothing and used stuffed animals will not be accepted for the Toys for Tots program.
The addresses of fire stations are: Station One, 14415 S. Coil Plus Drive; Station Two, 23810 W. 135th Street; Station Three, 25001 W. 119th St.; Station Four, 15930 S. Frederick St.; and the Fire District Administration Building, 15025 S. Des Plaines St. (donations can only be accepted from 8 a.m. through 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the downtown location).
For more information about the Toys for Tots program, visit the Web site at www.toysfortots.org.
The program is offered in an effort to promote hunting safety by giving hunters access to state police ranges for the purpose of sighting in their shotguns. This will provide an opportunity for any legal firearm for harvesting deer in the state of Illinois to be checked in a controlled environment, with firearms experts present, ensuring the safe and appropriate use of the weapon.
Conservation police officers will assist.
To pre-register, call Chris Garibay at 815-726-6377, Ext. 255.
