Dear Members:
Community Bank of Elmhurst will again host our Chamber’s Annual Holiday Business After Hours on Thursday, December 8, from 5 to 7 p.m. Click HERE to register.
Also, each attendee will play a role in determining which one of 30 local charitable organizations will receive a $5,000 donation from CBE in a 6:15 p.m. drawing from a drum of ping pong balls.
Gun Violence Prevention Coalition
Yours truly was among representatives from across DuPage County invited to participate in NorthShore – Edward-Elmhurst Health’s inaugural Community Gun Violence Prevention Coalition meeting at the E-EH Corporate Center in Warrenville on November 30.
Guns have surpassed motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of death among children and teens across the United States and in Illinois, and an estimated 4.6 million live with unlocked, loaded guns in their residence. In Illinois homicides account for 61 percent of gun deaths and suicides total 36 percent. Many more survived gun-related attempted homicides and suicides.
In response to the crisis, the healthcare system has united with Northwell Health and thousands of hospitals, health systems, the American Hospital Association, the Children’s Hospital Association and the Catholic Health Association of the United States in promoting an “It Doesn’t Kill to Ask” campaign to encourage parents, grandparents and caregivers to ask if there is an unlocked gun before dropping a child at someone else’s home.
Moderated by retiring NorthShore – E-EH South Region CEO Mary Lou Mastro, the two-hour meeting featured presentations by Chief Strategy Officer Annette Kenney, Linden Oaks Behavioral Health President Gine Sharp and Community and Government Relation Manager Colin Dalough, who also serves on ECCI’s Board of Directors as Second Vice Chair. Also speaking were DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin and Elmhurst Police Chief McLean, whose Project Child Safe program offering free gun locks to residents with firearms.
State’s Attorney Berlin reported that DuPage County accounted for 62 percent of the state’s Firearm Restraining Orders (FRO), which he called an “incredible tool.”
Chief McLean reported that in 2022 Elmhurst police personally visited 35 residents whose Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card were revoked by the Illinois State Police to assure that those firearms were either surrendered or properly transferred to a valid FOID card holder.
Additional Elmhurst attendees included Mayor Scott Levin, City Manager Jim Grabowski, Fire Chief Bill Anaszewicz and Tonya Daniels, Executive Director of Communications and Community Relations at Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205.
ChamberMaster GrowthZone
Our Chamber has expanded its contracted services with ChamberMaster’s GrowthZone to include secured online credit card payments for membership dues, programs, products and services, which primary member representatives can access via their login and password.
Outdoor Dining Downtown
Following two years of pandemic-initiated expanded outdoor dining in downtown Elmhurst, the Elmhurst City Council’s Development, Planning and Zoning (DP&Z) Committee at its December 12 meeting will continue review of sidewalk, curbside parking space (or parklets) and street closure options for City Centre restaurants and bars come 2023.
Elmhurst City Centre’s Board of Directors (on which I serve as a non-voting Ex-Officio member) has taken positions in support of expanded sidewalk dining and in opposition to the renewal of parklet dining.
In 2022, only one of every 10 downtown businesses was eligible to participate in the parklet program and, of those, only one of every three eligible businesses opted to participate.
Proponents believe that the parklets attract more diners to downtown Elmhurst and enhance the ambiance and street vibe, while opponents feel that the parklets eliminate too many parking spaces, especially given that patronage is mostly between Thursday and Saturday.
Economic Development Projects
The City of Elmhurst’s Zoning and Planning (Z&P) Commission at its November 29 meeting continued its review of a Planned Unit Development (PUD) application for a developer to construct a 28-unit condominium at 196 to 202 North York Street and will close out the Public Hearing with applicant rebuttal on December 13 (rescheduled from December 20). The Commission will vote at its January 10, 2023, meeting (rescheduled from January 3) and forward its decision for review by the DP&Z Committee and then full City Council.
As recommended by the DP&Z Committee, the Elmhurst City Council approved some $1.3 million in Tax-Increment Financing (TIF-2) funding assistance for a PUD development to construct 30 townhomes along West Lake Street’s frontage road on a long-vacant property. The developer sought nearly $1.7 million, while the city first offered nearly $900K.
New Members
Our Chamber welcomed four new members in November as follows: Duraclean Restorative Services, Geode Health, Law Offices of Gerstner & Gerstner and Moltajete Mexican Grill.
Retained Member
New Owner Brixmor Property Group has renewed Elmhurst Crossing’s membership.
Reactivated Member
Sam Arpino – Merrill Lynch-The Speers Group has reactivated as a member after a brief absence.
Happy Anniversary
Nine members are celebrating Chamber anniversaries in December as follows: 40 years—Phillip’s Flowers & Gifts; 35 years—Fiebrandt HVAC; 30 years—Elmhurst Art Museum and Episcopal Church of Our Saviour; 20 years—JB Painting; 10 years—Hinsdale Management Corporation; and 5 years—Elmhurst Brewing Co., Kimmer’s Ice Cream and Every Door Direct Media.
Dropped Members
The Chamber said goodbye to the following six members in November: Edward Jones Financial Advisor-Miceli, Elmhurst Citizens Climate Lobby, iSolved HCM, Lindsay Sebion-BDO, The Law Offices of Mia S. McPherson P.C. and Waxing The City Elmhurst.