August 2014 BN Inc.

BNinc.

Connecting Central Illinois business

August 2014

Plus Balancing kids and careers Expert advice news you can use

Fashionable address GIGI Bottega's oWner talks about making a mark in Downtown Bloomington

INSIDE

BNinc.

Connecting Central Illinois business

Julie Bechtel Publisher

Bernard Beoletto Advertising manager

MARK PICKERING

Pantagraph interim editor

karen Hansen Editor, BN Inc.

Steve Gardner Designer

August 2014 www.pantagraph.com/bninc A publication of Pantagraph Publishing Inc. 301 W. Washington St. Bloomington, IL 61701 The entire contents may not be reproduced in any manner, either in whole or part, without permission of the publisher.

Advertisements are not endorsed by the publisher. The publisher is not responsible or liable for errors or omissions in any advertisement beyond the paid price of that advertisement.

New subscriptions, renewals, inquiries or change of address, mail to: BN Inc. Advertising 301 W. Washington St. Bloomington, IL 61701

At work

Features

Striking the right balance

Health

Moms find juggling work and home can be done with the right choices as more companies begin to offer new ways to make it all fit together.

With the right prep work and recipes, you can get a meal on the table on hectic weekdays.

Page 16

Tourism Route 66 is a unique attraction that can benefit the Twin Cities economy.

Page 18

Page 12

Business Bio

Employee relations

To advertise or questions regarding advertising, call 800-747-7323, Gigi Bottega 309-820-3359.

The owner of Gigi

Take charge of your time and utilize your talent to boost your career.

© 2014

by Lee Enterprises Inc. Any editorial content or advertising published is the property of Lee Enterprises Inc.

News in brief

www.pantagraph.com/bninc

LORI ANN COOK-NEISLER, The Pantagraph

State Farm occupational health nurse Lisa Freimann, along with her husband, Mike, balance work and raising their 13-year-old daughters, Kirsten and Katie.

BN inc.

Connecting Central Illinois business

August

Bottega answers questions about running a clothing store.

Page 4

On the Cover:

Page 19

Find out the latest happenings in the B-N area.

Page 20

LORI ANN COOK-NEISLER, The Pantagraph

Jennifer Vericella Prado is manager of Gigi Bottega’s in downtown Bloomington.

www.pantagraph.com/bninc

Commercial Lots     

Commercial Lots — Golden Centre — Leroy (agent interest)…………….Call for Size & Pricing 1.27 acres —Rt. 51 South — Bloomington…….…$180,000 1.4 acres — I-55 interchange, Springfield, IL…………$4/sf 1.91 acres — Rte’s Corner of 47 & 165,Sibley….…$60,000 26,118 sq ft — 1202 Morrissey (Great Retail Site, Zoned B-1, Make Offer………………….$150,000

 

30,391 sq ft — 2403 G.E. Road (Prime Location, some Engineering Complete).(REDUCED TO: $179,000) 31,338 sq ft — 1418 Woodbine (B-1, Multi-Use Site, East Side, agent interest)………………………...$5.75 sf

Available for Lease            

600 sq ft — 510 I.A.A. Dr. Store Front Office.…$700/mo.

625 sq ft — 2424 Lincoln (Office/Retail)……..$1,000/mo.

800 sq ft — 204 Prospect(Ex.Office,Utilities In)$1,000mo.

1,000 sq ft — 3703 Ireland Grove Road (office)…….$18/sf 1,100 sq ft — 321 Susan Dr. (Executive Office)…....CALL 1,200 sq ft — 510 I.A.A. Dr. (office/retail)…….$1,300/mo.

1,200 sq ft — 2424 Lincoln (office/retail)….......$1,500/mo.

1,260 sq ft — 1319 Veterans (office/retail)…….$1,500/mo.

1,266 sq ft — 211 Landmark (office)………………...$14/sf 1,400 sq ft — 1531 Ft. Jesse (Office/Retail)……. $900/mo.

1,700 sq ft — 1210 Warriner (Warehouse)…..…$1,000/mo.

2,000 sq ft — Rt. 9 West (Warehouse/Office)….…$8.00 sf

          

2,000 sq ft — 1319 Veterans Parkway (Office)……..$14/sf 2,000 sq ft— 2303 E. Washington—Great Veterans Exposure … Prime Retail……….…………………….CALL 2,300 sq ft — 1531 Ft Jesse (Office/Warehouse)..$2,450/mo.

2,390 sq ft — 321 Susan Dr. (Executive Office)……..CALL 2,500 sq ft — 407 Kays Dr (Class A Office)………….$12/sf 3,050 sq ft — 2303 E. Washington (Prime Retail).$14/sf nnn 3,712 sq ft — 710 Eldorado (Veterans Retail Exposure.$12N 4,000 sq ft — 1001 W. Market (Retail)…………$10/sf (nnn) 4,608 sq ft — 108 S. Grove, Colfax (Warehouse) ..$850/mo.

7,000 sq ft — 1507 Circle Ave (Warehouse/Office)… $3,500 9,041 sq ft — 115 Merle Lane (Warehouse/Office)…$7.50sf

For Sale / Investment Opportunities      

3,600 sq ft — I-55 & PK Keller Hwy, Lexington, IL (Insulated Warehouse/Shop)…...…$324,900 32,440 sq. ft — 1107 E. Cemetery, Chenoa, IL on 5 Acres Big Reduction 2 Outbuildings, Possible TIF….$199,900 Operating Car Wash — 2 Automatics & 3 Self-Serve Bays...Recently Refreshed…(Reduced)……...…$460,000 3,000 sq ft — C-Store w/Gas, 2444 S. Main, Bloomington Closed/Ready For Fresh Start….$475,000 4,608 sq ft — 108 S. Grove, Colfax (Warehouse) $79,900 BAR & GRILL—Downs, IL—Leasehold-FF&E $89,900

    

40 Acres, Rte. 9 East (Saybrook Area) — Pasture, CRP, 2 Ponds (Home Site, Ranch, Hunting/Fishing…….CALL 10 Acres, Development Property, Just off I-74 @ Exit 174, Mahomet, IL…(Zoned for Business)…...$1,300,000 1.91 Acres, Sibley, IL (Corner of Rte.’s 47 & 165) Zoned Commercial…………………………….…$60,000 350 sq ft — 1209 1/2 Towanda (Retail w/2 Drive-Thru Windows/Grease Trap) Leased Ground…...…….$89,000 6,000 sq. ft. — Flex Space, Free Standing Bldg., 1,800 sf office/4,200 sf warehouse, 2 14’ O/H Doors, can divide in half for additional revenue—McLean, IL……...$250,000

Call for Information on Income Producing Commercial Properties

Big Reduction—5 Acres 32,440 sq. ft.—Chenoa

Bar & Grill Available

Warehouse/Office 32,440 Sq. Ft. Building 2 Out Buildings 5 Acres

$89,900—Leasehold Great Rent—Downs, IL Gaming Approved

“Selling your Business ….is our business”

Registered Business Brokers Real Estate Services Property Management

Greg Schrof 309-825-0101 gregschrof@gmail.com SCHROFCOMMERICAL.COM

Carl Schrof 309-825-0677 cgs36@aol.com

2303 E. Washington—Suite 5-A — Bloomington, IL 61704

Business bio

Gigi bottega

LORI ANN COOK-NEISLER, The Pantagraph

Jennifer Vericella Prado talks at Gigi Bottega, a clothing store she manages in downtown Bloomington. She is the sister of owner Gina Vericella.

Bloomington trendsetter For nearly five years, Gigi Bottega has featured stylish and affordable clothing, shoes and accessories for students and young professionals at its downtown Bloomington location, 413 N. Main St. Owner Gina Vericella was inspired to open the business after seeing similar boutiques near the University of Mississippi campus while she was a student and prides herself on offering options that aren’t available at typical mall stores.

BN inc.

Connecting Central Illinois business

August

Did you always expect to own your own business?

I have always loved fashion and growing up I wanted to own a women’s clothing boutique. In college, I wasn’t sure what route I would go, being a graphic design and journalism major, but I always had it in the back of my mind that I wanted to be in the fashion industry more than graphic design. I come from a family of entrepreneurs and was supported in my decision to open the store after graduating from Ole Miss.

What

drew

you

toward

women’s

Please see Gigi, Page 6

www.pantagraph.com/bninc

Leaders Jason S. Bartell

Bartell Powell LLP

Bloomington

309.807.5275

Leading Bloomington Area Lawyers

Bankruptcy & Workout: Commercial; Closely & Privately Held Business; Corporate Finance; Securities & Venture Finance

A. Clay Cox

Cox & Associates LLC

Bloomington

309.828.7331

Bankruptcy & Workout: Commercial; Closely & Privately Held Business; Employee Benefits; Tax: Business; Tax: Individual

Thomas J. Arkell

Dunn Law Firm LLP

Bloomington

309.828.6241

Employment: Employee; Employment: Management; Immigration: Employment; Immigration: Individual; School

James P. Ginzkey

James P Ginzkey Trial Attorney

Bloomington

309.821.9707

Timothy W. Kelly Kelly Law Offices Personal Injury: General; ADR: Personal Injury

Bloomington

309.820.0600

Eitan Weltman

Bloomington

309.829.4422

Bloomington

309.828.5281

Bloomington

309.828.5281

Bloomington

309.828.5281

Bloomington

309.828.5281

Bloomington

309.828.5281

Personal Injury: General; Personal Injury: Professional Malpractice

Law Office of Eitan Weltman

Creditor's Rights/Commercial Collections; Real Estate: Residential

Thomas M. Barger, III

Livingston Barger Brandt & Schroeder

Closely & Privately Held Business; Real Estate: Commercial; Trust, Will & Estate Planning

Peter W. Brandt

Livingston Barger Brandt & Schroeder

Commercial Litigation; Medical Malpractice Defense; Personal Injury Defense: General

Thomas A. Jennings

Livingston Barger Brandt & Schroeder

Agriculture; Real Estate: Commercial; Trust, Will & Estate Planning

Christopher L. Nyweide

Livingston Barger Brandt & Schroeder

Health; Medical Malpractice Defense; Personal Injury Defense: General

Richard E. Stites

Livingston Barger Brandt & Schroeder

Commercial Litigation; Medical Malpractice Defense; Personal Injury Defense: General; Products Liability Defense

William C. Wetzel

Livingston Barger Brandt & Schroeder

Bloomington

309.828.5281

Land Use, Zoning & Condemnation; Public Utilities: Gas/Water/Electric; Real Estate: Commercial; Real Estate: Residential; Tax: Business

William A. Mueller, Jr.

Mueller Reece & Hinch LLC

Bloomington

309.827.4055

Association & Non-Profit; Closely & Privately Held Business; Commercial Litigation; Construction; Trust, Will & Estate Planning

Jay D. Reece

Mueller Reece & Hinch LLC

Bloomington

309.827.4055

Closely & Privately Held Business; Land Use, Zoning & Condemnation; Real Estate: Commercial; Real Estate: Residential

Robert T. Varney

Robert T Varney & Associates

Bloomington

309.827.4444

Insurance, Insurance Coverage & Reinsurance; Personal Injury Defense: General; Products Liability Defense; Toxic Torts Defense

Terence B. Kelly

Thomson & Weintraub

Bloomington

309.829.7069

Bloomington

309.829.7069

Bloomington

309.829.7069

Thomson & Weintraub

Bloomington

309.829.7069

Thomson & Weintraub

Bloomington

309.829.7069

Personal Injury: General; Personal Injury: Professional Malpractice; Workers' Compensation

Kathleen McDonald Kraft

Thomson & Weintraub

Adoption & Reproductive Technology; Family

Melissa M. McGrath

Thomson & Weintraub

Civil Appellate; Civil Rights/Constitutional; Employment: Employee

Alan I. Weintraub Family

Gina L. Wood

Criminal Defense: Felonies & Misdemeanors; Family; Juvenile A lawyer CANNOT buy the distinction of being a Leading Lawyer. This distinction was earned by being among those lawyers who were most often recommended by their peers in statewide surveys. Respondents COULD NOT recommend themselves or lawyers at their law firm. For a complete list of all Leading Lawyers and to view profiles of the lawyers listed on this page, go to www.LeadingLawyers.com.

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Business bio

Gigi bottega

G

LORI ANN COOK-NEISLER, The Pantagraph

Gigi Bottega has been at 413 N. Main St. in downtown Bloomington for nearly five years.

gigi

From Page 4

fashions? Tell us about some of the brands you carry. How do you decide what to stock in the store?

I never really noticed a point where I was all of a sudden into women’s fashion. I have loved it my whole life, since I was 5 years old or so. I would always go into stores and create outfits on the racks while my mom was shopping. I saw a need for an affordable but on-trend women’s clothing boutique in Bloomington. We have two big colleges, four or more high schools, junior colleges, State Farm’s headquarters and many other businesses who employ women. We only had the stores at the mall; there was a lack of unique clothing.

Most boutiques are expensive and people have to think about

BN inc.

Connecting Central Illinois business

August

their purchases. I wanted our store to allow women to pick up a few cute tops or dresses and have it not break the bank. I spend hours finding the “right” brands for Gigi Bottega. I look for quality and price. I always think about our customers when I am buying and want to provide what they want! We carry smaller brands, most people aren’t familiar with the lines. Some of our main brands are Olivaceous, Naked Zebra, Yetts, BB Dakota and RD International.

What are some of the store’s bestsellers?

Our best sellers at Gigi tend to be tops and dresses. We find that although we do sell “trendy” pieces, the majority of our customers like more basic colors and styles. We try to provide styles that are easily paired with items that are already in your closet. We also sell a lot of necklaces and scarves. These are fun pieces to add a pop of color to your outfit.

Please see Gigi, Page 7

www.pantagraph.com/bninc

w

Business bio

Gigi bottega

gigi

From Page 6

How did you decide on the name Gigi Bottega?

Coming up with a name for a business is harder than you think! We wanted to portray a name that would be easy to pronounce but still fun and chic. We named the store Gigi Bottega because my nickname is Gigi, and we put Bottega on the end because it means boutique in Italian. My grandparents came to the U.S. from Italy, and the Italian heritage has been a big part of our lives.

What kind of feedback do you receive from customers?

We try to provide an inviting and unique shopping experience for our customers. We want them to feel at home and able to shop like they were in a friend’s closet. Our sales staff is not pushy, we aren’t on commission and we don’t want to force people to buy. I get a lot of positive feedback about LORI ANN COOK-NEISLER, The Pantagraph our relaxed atmosphere. I think people also like that they can find different styles than the big box stores provide. We Gigi Bottega interns, Elisabeth Rill, left, and Hannah Brooks, right, select clothing to model and photograph for Internet blogs.

Please see Gigi, Page 10

MEETINGS MADE EASY . ..because they should be.

-

IT ’ S E A SY TO P O I NT YO U R G R O U P S I N O U R D I R E C TI O N !

The Bloomington-Normal area benefits economically when meetings are held in our hometown. The Convention & Visitors Bureau wants to find out what meetings, sporting and special events you attend on a regular basis, so we can try to bring them to BloomingtonNormal! Help point your groups in our direction by emailing info@visitbn.org with your group’s information and receive a Visitors Prize Pack!

BloomingtonNormalCVB.org 800.433.8226 3201 CIRA Drive, Suite 201 Bloomington, IL 61704

August

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BNinc.

Connecting Central Illinois business

HEART OF AMERICA REALTORS®

ADDRESS

309-662-3377

LAND FOR SALE SIZE

AGENT

802 E. Washington, BL ........................................................................ 13,576 Sq. Ft. .................................................................................. Greg Yount 4013 Pamela Dr., BL............................................................................ 32,380 Sq. Ft. .................................................................................. Greg Yount 611 W. Raab, NL.................................................................................. 34,078 Sq. Ft. .................................................................................. Greg Yount 3 Currency, BL (Sold) .......................................................................... 50,000 Sq. Ft. ..................................................................................Mike Flynn 515 Chancelor, BL ............................................................................... 65,340 Sq. Ft. .................................................................................. Greg Yount 1807 S. Morris, BL. .............................................................................................1 Ac ..................................................................................Mike Flynn 201 Susan Dr., NL................................................................................................1 Ac ............................................................................... Mike O’Neal 1271 Airport, BL...............................................................................................1.1 Ac .................................................................................. Greg Yount 420 Kays, NL ....................................................................................................1.5 Ac .................................................................................. Greg Yount Highpoint Hill Subdivision, Lot 1 (LEX) .......................................................1.16 Ac .................................................................................. Greg Yount 1041 Wylie Dr (SE Corner), BL .......................................................................1.2 Ac .................................................................................. Greg Yount 2016 S. Main, BL..............................................................................................1.4 Ac .................................................................................. Greg Yount 419 Bronco, BL (Reduced!)............................................................................1.83 Ac .................................................................................. Greg Yount 406-408 Detroit, BL........................................................................................2.41 Ac ..................................................................................Mike Flynn 2613 Veterans Pkway, BL ...............................................................................3.92 Ac .................................................................................. Greg Yount 111 Merle Lane, NL .............................................................................................4 Ac ..................................................................................Mike Flynn 210 Greenwood, BL........................................................................................4.15 Ac .................................................................................. Greg Yount Wylie Dr. & Enterpise, BL...................................................................................5 Ac .................................................................................. Greg Yount Truckers Lane, Lot 1, BL................................................................................5.88 Ac .................................................................................. Greg Yount 2402 E. Empire, BL .......................................................................................6.04 Ac .................................................................................. Greg Yount Truckers Lane, BL.............................................................................................6.4 Ac .................................................................................. Greg Yount Lumbertown Road, NL ...................................................................................7.38 Ac ..................................................................................Mike Flynn Veterans Parkway & Shepard, NL ....................................................................7.4 Ac .................................................................................. Greg Yount Olympia & Wicker, BL............................................................................. 2-10.24 Ac .................................................................................. Greg Yount Rt. 9 West, BL.....................................................................................40 Ac divisible .............................................................. Mike Flynn/Greg Yount Empire Business Park, BL ................................................................................. Vary .................................................................................. Greg Yount LeRoy Plaza Sub, (LRY) .................................................................................... Vary .................................................................................. Greg Yount Constitution Trail Center, NL.............................................................................. Vary ............................................................................... Mike O’Neal

PROPERTIES FOR SALE/LEASE

1906 S. Morris, BL

1713 A Tullamore, BL

2023 Ireland Grove Rd, BL

1501 N Main, Normal

3901 GE Rd, BL

447 Oak, Minonk

4,800 Sq. Ft. Flex John Armstrong

2,280 Sq. Ft. Office Greg Yount

5,000 sq. ft.

Flex Laura Pritts

2,650 Sq. Ft. Restaurant Greg Yount

3,122 Sq. Ft. Office Greg Yount

25,000 Sq. Ft. Warehouse Darren Sheehan

1414 Woodbine, BL

1 Lafayette Ct. B, BL

407 N Hershey, BL

4109 E. Oakland, BL

5,697 Sq. Ft. Office Greg Yount

2,440 Sq. Ft. Flex Mike Flynn

7,000 Sq. Ft. Restaurant Mike O’Neal

3,750 sq. ft.

Flex Laura Pritts

802-804 W Chestnut, BL 2002 Fox Creek Rd, BL

REDUCED 4,800 Sq. Ft. Warehouse/Office Gary Trembley

4,982 Sq. Ft. Office Greg Yount

No warranties or representation, express or implied, is made as to the AccurAcy of the information contained herein, and same is submitted subject to errors, omissions, change of price, withdrawal without notice, and to any special listing conditions imposed by our principals.

© Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation. Coldwell Banker Commercial® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation. An Equal Opportunity Company. EAch Office is Independently Owned and Operated Except Offices Owned and Operated by NRT Inc.

14170 Carole Dr, BL

2401 E Oakland, BL

2200 Ft. Jesse, NL

11,000 Sq. Ft. Flex Gary Trembley

1,125 Sq. Ft. Retail Mike O’Neal

14,771 Sq. Ft. Office Greg Yount

810 IAA, BL

205 N Williamsburg Unit B, BL East at Benton, Morris

902-908 White Oak Rd, BL 1655 & 1657 N Main, Morton 1655-1659 N Main, Morton

28,000 Sq. Ft. Flex on 7.2 acres Gary Trembley

10,000 Sq. Ft. Warehouse Greg Yount

25,000 Sq. Ft. Warehouse investment Greg Yount

1408 E Empire, BL

2507 E. Oakland, BL

Constitution Trail Centre, NL

PENDING 37,458 Sq. Ft. Office/Warehouse Greg Yount

1 Unit Office/Investment Larry Hundman

66,170 Sq. Ft. Warehouse Darren Sheehan

4,095 Sq. Ft. Retail/Office Gary Trembley

1,600 Sq. Ft. Retail Mike O'Neal

1,225-11,440 Sq. Ft. Retail Mike O’Neal

607 Arcadia, BL

2439 S Main, BL

2402 E. Empire, BL

706 Oglesby, NL

2706 McGraw, BL

1012 Ekstam Ste 3, BL

LEASED 6,000 Sq. Ft. Flex Greg Yount

61,075 Sq. Ft. Industrial Greg Yount

43,125-86,250 Sq. Ft. Industrial Greg Yount

700 Sq. Ft. Office Mike O'Neal

760 Sq. Ft. Office Gary Trembley

1,386 Sq. Ft. Office Mike Flynn

2011 S Main, BL

803 E Layfayette, BL

1316 E Empire, BL

205 N. Main Suite, BL

808 Eldorado, BL

1540 E. College, NL

1,500-6,000 Sq. Ft. Office Mike O'Neal

2,600 Sq. Ft. Office Greg Yount

2,500 Sq. Ft. Office Gary Trembley

2,800 Sq. Ft. Office Gary Trembley

3,500-7,060 Sq. Ft. Office Greg Yount

3,500 Sq. Ft. Retail Greg Yount

602 S. Kingsley Unit 114, NL

314 N. Stillwell B, BL

616 Raab Ste B & C, NL

1304 E Empire, BL

1701 E Empire, BL

2507 E. Oakland, BL

1,800 Sq. Ft. Retail/Office Mike O'Neal

2,000 Sq. Ft. Retail Mike O'Neal

2,875 Sq. Ft. Retail John Armstrong

4,636 Sq. Ft. Office Greg Yount

3,000 – 6,200 Sq. Ft. Retail Greg Yount

10,069 Sq. Ft. Retail Mike O'Neal

512 Main St. Lexington

127 N. Williamsburg

1717 Ft. Jesse, NL

1615 Commerce Parkway, BL

2203 E. Empire, BL

1706 E. Hamilton, BL

1,691 Sq. Ft. Restaurant Darren Sheehan

2,500 Sq. Ft. Office/Salon Greg Yount

9,048 Sq. Ft. Retail Greg Yount

7,887 Sq. Ft. Office Greg Yount

1,830 Sq. Ft. Office Greg Yount

2,940 Sq. Ft. Flex Mike Flynn

2047 Ireland Grove Rd, BL

604 Orlando, NL

207 E. Washington, BL

707 N. East St. HEART OF AMERICA REALTORS®

150,244 sq. ft.

Warehouse Greg Yount

1 Auto, 4 Manual Bays Car Wash Laura Pritts

10,456 Sq. Ft. Retail/Office Greg Yount

600-1,000 sq. ft.

Office Laura Pritts

309-662-3377

No warranties or representation, express or implied, is made as to the accuracy of the information contained herein, and same is submitted subject to errors, omissions, change of price, withdrawal without notice, and to any special listing conditions imposed by our principals. © Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation. Coldwell Banker Commercial® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation. An Equal Opportunity Company. Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated Except Offices Owned and Operated by NRT Inc.

Business bio

Gigi bottega

G

gigi

A mannequin display at Gigi Bottega in downtown Bloomington.

From Page 7

only get in two of each size so you won’t see yourself coming and going. We strive to provide a higherend look for an affordable price point.

​Why did you choose to open downtown? What do you like about the area?

I love downtown Bloomington, I feel that although it’s not as high-traffic as some of the new construction stores, it is fun and has character. I think the downtown is going to grow. I like supporting local businesses. When people actually go downtown I think they find unique restaurants and other smaller stores that they may not have known about. It is certainly a destination spot and it’s good to break out of the box a little. Downtown Bloomington has First Fridays every month with a different themed-event going on in local businesses. This really drives people to check out the downtown. A lot of college kids go out downtown at night and we Please see Gigi, Page 11

ee y o l Emp

LORI ANN COOK-NEISLER, The Pantagraph

t ffor E am e T :A e c eren f n o C d ite m i l Un t n e m p o el v e D 14 0 2 20, enter t s u C Aug Astroth ber.org

, lege ocham l o ity C cleanc n u omm www.m C nd a 1 Keynote Speaker l t r a e H 8 Breakout Sessions Unlimited Opportunities 10

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Connecting Central Illinois business

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Business bio

Gigi bottega

gigi

From Page 7

try to light up our window so they see it and know to come back.

Three years ago, you opened a location in Evanston. What drew you there? Is the store similar to Bloomington’s?

I wanted to move to Chicago and still own a store. I scoped out a few areas but what drew me to Evanston was Northwestern University. Like Bloomington, Evanston has a major college right in the town. Evanston also has the Rotary headquarters in its downtown and other businesses that employ women in my demographic. The stores are very similar; Evanston’s is a little bigger but we mainly buy the same items for both locations. Some demographics are different so we have to cater a little differently to each area.

How do you decide what merchandise to feature in the window? What inspires you?

The window is very important to update each week. We like to style the mannequins to show people how to wear our clothing.

A lot of times we sell what is on the mannequin because people will come in from what they see in our window displays. We also take pride in making our window a different creative theme each season.

What is the hardest thing about being a small business owner? The most enjoyable?

There are certainly ups and downs to owning a small business.

Some of the challenges I face are feeling the pressure to provide jobs, contributing to the community and ultimately being responsible for all matters of the store. It feels like I have 10 jobs instead of one. The most enjoyable part of my job is being able to please the customers. I love when I see people wearing our clothing. I love helping women style their outfits and helping them feel great in what they are wearing.

What’s a typical day like for you?

I start out my day with mostly business-type, behind-thescenes work. I also get on my vendor sites and see what is new. I take inventory of what has sold from the previous day to determine what we need. We also manage our ISU interns each day for social media updates. The store is also re-merchandised every other day.

Other than that, we help people to find what they want!

If you didn’t own a women’s boutique, what would you be doing?

I​ f I didn’t have the store I would love to work on fashion photo shoots doing editorials. I am so inspired by high-end fashion and using creativity to create “stories” out of clothing.

What’s one thing people should know about Gigi Bottega that they might not know already?

We want people to know that we keep a limited selection of clothing to keep our items unique. We also try to match our styles to look like higher-end contemporary pieces, but at an affordable price point. Be sure to check out our gifts items such as necklaces, candles and Turkish handmade jewelry!

August

www.pantagraph.com/bninc

LORI ANN COOK-NEISLER, The Pantagraph

A display of fashion accessories at Gigi Bottega in downtown Bloomington.

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At work

Working mothers

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LORI ANN COOK-NEISLER, The Pantagraph

Bloomington attorney Allison Kushner works at her kitchen table with her daughter Aria, 20 months, on her lap.

Balancing act

More companies find ways to help working mothers find the right work-life trade-off

By Pat Shaver pshaver@pantagraph.com

BLOOMINGTON — Allison Kushner has two jobs, and both involve day-to-day chaos, a rigorous schedule and a keen sense of focus.

Her work day starts early in the morning, as a full-time mother to her 20-month-old daughter, Aria. When her daughter relaxes later in the morning, she becomes a full-time attorney. Then she switches back to a mom, then back to an attorney.

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It’s all in a day’s work, she said.

“The days are long, the nights are long. Sometimes I don’t get to do work before she’s in bed. But it is worth it to me,” Kushner said, who has operated her own law firm, Bloomington Law Mom, out of her home for about a year.

Kushner and other women in today’s workforce deal with challenges, but also reap the benefits of managing a household while maintaining a career. About 58 percent of women in the U.S. are in the workforce, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor

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At work

Working mothers

State Farm occupational health nurse Lisa Freimann keeps photographs of her twin daughters, Kirsten and Katie, on her desk along with a photograph of a recent family vacation to Germany.

LORI ANN COOK-NEISLER, The Pantagraph

Act

From Page 12

Statistics. More than half of mothers with young children work in the U.S. today, compared to about one-third in the 1970s, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Today, more companies doing what they can to offer resources focused on work-life balance, said Barbara Ribbens, an Illinois State University associate professor of management.

“The good news is I think it has become easier for moms to work in and out of the workplace,” Ribbens said.

More companies are offering parents the option to work from home, offering informational programs for new mothers and allowing busy mothers to have flexible work schedules, Ribbens said. “Businesses see the healthiness of having employees who have a healthy family life. That trickles over into the workplace. If you are having family issues, it certainly has detrimental effects.”

Erin Link, ISU coordinator of communication and marketing for health promotion and wellness, said the university offers several programs for employees to help with work-life balance.

“Research shows that employee and family programs increases productivity, improves moral and employees are more loyal to the workplace,” Link said. “It helps alleviate stress, which is one of the top reported health issues. Anything we can do to mitigate that stress is helpful.”

Work-life balance and wellness programs are nothing new, Link said, but it has become more important for businesses to attract and retain employees.

“I don’t think the need is new, but I think people are just

Thursday, November 6, 2014 7:30-9:00 a.m.

Double Tree Hotel, Bloomington Keynote Speaker Ken Schmidt Brand Visionary and Former Communications Strategist for Harley-Davidson Motor Company

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At work

Working mothers

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Bloomington attorney Allison Kushner left a job at a private law firm to start her home-based practice.

LORI ANN COOK-NEISLER, The Pantagraph

Act

From Page 13

becoming more aware of what the needs are. There’s also more openness to talk about certain things, too,” Link said.

“People are also more open about the struggles in their family.”

At ISU, employees are offered a variety of programs focused on family life.

For mothers, it recently started a support group where women can meet at in informal setting once a month and discuss different common issues they are having at work and at home, Link said.

“It all goes back to minimizing stress.

We see wellness as very holistic and it involves many things, not just fruits, vegetables and physical activity. It involves overall work-life balance. If we can

provide people an outlet for their family to have fun, or a workshop that they can apply to their life, it will make them healthier and happier which makes them a better employee who is more connected and more fun.”

For Kushner, 31, the idea of not working never crossed her mind.

“I went to law school so I didn’t ever think that I wouldn’t work. I always wanted to work,” she said. “I realized when I got pregnant that I also wanted to be a full-time mom. I started thinking outside the box and came up with a mobile firm. It allows me to do both and give 100 percent to both.”

Kushner left a job at a private firm to start her own practice. It allows her more flexibility and sometimes she even brings Aria to meetings with her.

“I’ve taken my daughter to real estate

closings before. People seem to relax a little bit when she’s around,” she said, adding that the hardest part is prioritizing and balancing schedules.

That’s a common issue for many parents.

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At work

Working mothers

Act

Women in the workforce

From Page 14

Meanwhile, Lisa Freimann, occupational health nurse at State Farm in Bloomington, has twin daughters, Kirsten and Katie, 13. Freimann and her husband, Mike, both work fulltime and are saving for college.

“When they turned 3 years old, they went to pre-school fulltime and I chose to go back to work full-time because my husband and I wanted to make sure we were able to save money for college, a new car and vacations,” Freimann said, adding that State Farm also offers flexible work schedules.

The company has on-site fitness classes available, stressmanagement resources, chair massages and other parenting and child care resources.

With both parents working full-time, sometimes they have to miss school events, day-time activities and field trips, she said. The hardest part, she said, is juggling four schedules while working full-time and managing the household.

“The time we do have together we try to make it valuable.

Every night we sit down as a family to have dinner and talk about the day,” Freimann said.

Kushner’s husband, Josh, also works full-time in banking as a portfolio manager. When her husband gets home from work, she is able to get work done and attend evening meetings.

She tries to get to bed by 11 p.m. and aims for seven hours of sleep, though that doesn’t always happen.

“I think it is important to let little stuff go. If things don’t always get picked up, it doesn’t matter. It is more important to have fun with your kids in the moment,” she said.

For Leann Seal, vice president of sales and marketing for the Snyder Cos. in Bloomington, living in the moment is made

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$20,600: Median earnings of women employed full-time in 1960 $36,300: Median earnings of women employed full-time in 2009 32.3 percent: Total amount of women-owned businesses in 1997 35.9 percent: Total amount of women-owned businesses in 2007 61 percent: Ratio of women’s to men’s median earnings in 1960 77 percent: Ratio of women’s to men’s median earnings in 2009 Source: U.S. Census Bureau

easier by the flexibility she’s allowed in her schedule. That’s helped her manage her work and home life for the past 17 years.

Despite that, her biggest challenge is not having enough time in the day.

Her son, Jackson, 9, has sports activities that often start at 5 p.m. Seal is allowed to leave work early to attend. When he was younger, she left in time to be home when he was done with school. But Seal admits that she isn’t perfect, and that’s OK, she said.

“Let go of making sure your house is spotless. Let go that you forgot to get milk on the way home. Don’t worry if you had pizza twice a week and your son had Oreos for breakfast when you were getting ready for work,” Seal said. “Those are the small things.”

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Health

Kim McClintic

is a registered dietitian with the Center for Healthy Lifestyles at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center. She holds a bachelor’s degree in dietetics from Iowa State University and her master’s degree from Drake University.

Healthy meals for busy weeknights If you are a busy parent, working full-time and constantly juggling extracurricular activities, putting a meal on the table on weekday evenings can be a struggle. Cooking and eating together tends to take a backseat to all of our other obligations during the week. Before ruling out home-cooked meals entirely, consider the benefits of preparing your own meals, and try the following timesaving tips for efficient yet healthy meals.

Benefits of home-cooked meals There are several advantages of eating at home versus eating out. To begin, home-cooked meals cost less than eating out or buying pre-packaged meals. When preparing our own meals, we also have more control regarding the quality of our food. We are able to make easy and healthy substitutions with any recipe, so our meals at home can contain more whole-grains, lean meats, low-fat dairy products, more fruits and vegetables, and healthier fats. This also helps us control the amount of food allergens in our meals.

When preparing our own meals, we also have more control over the amount of fat, sugar and salt in our food. We can also better regulate our portions. Meals at restaurants are jam-packed with added fat and salt, and the portions are much higher than the recommended serving size. For instance, a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture study shows the average steak served at a restaurant is 144 percent bigger than the USDA recommended serving size.

With portions like these, no wonder we have a hard time staying slim!

Most importantly, dinnertime is more than just about food. A meal at the table with family encourages conversation, laughter and closeness.

Time-saving tips Many steer clear of cooking a meal from scratch, because it takes up a significant amount of time on a busy weeknight. However, here are several tricks to help save you time in the kitchen: • Have ingredients for two to three meals you can easily whip up on busy nights. One of the biggest obstacles to eating at home is not having the ingredients on hand.

• Use quick cooking methods. Stir-frying, broiling, grilling, and microwaving are typically faster than baking or roasting. Slice meat, poultry, and vegetables in thinner slices for faster cooking.

• Batch cook when possible. Cook a few extra chicken breasts, an extra pound of lean ground beef, brown rice, or extra vegetables to be used in the next few days for a soup, salad, or casserole.

• Get those kids in the kitchen to help; there’s something to do for just about any age! Kids can tear salad greens, stir, measure, mash, set the table, open a jar, or crack an egg.

• Double or triple the recipe and freeze the leftovers.

• Cook on weekends to save food “prep” time on weekdays.

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Freeze leftovers in individual meal containers for quick thawing midweek.

• Serve assemble-your-own dishes like mini pizzas on English muffins; a baked potato bar with various healthy toppings like cottage cheese, cooked veggies, and salsa; or a taco bar. The whole family will enjoy personalizing their own plate!

Serving dinner to your family doesn’t have to be a struggle. Even when time is short, keep in mind it is possible to prepare delicious and nutritious meals the whole family will enjoy!

To learn more about the Center for Healthy Lifestyles at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center or to view a current class booklet, please visit www.osfstjoseph.org or call (309) 661-5151.

No-chop Veggie ‘n Ham Stew Serves: 6 6 cups low sodium, fat-free broth (beef, chicken, or vegetable) 6 ounces cubed cooked ham (or cooked chicken, turkey, or lean beef) 2 (15 oz.) cans no-salt added diced tomatoes 3 cups shredded coleslaw mix 10 oz. package frozen mixed vegetables 1 Tbsp. dried oregano, crumbled ½ cup frozen chopped onion 2 Tbsp. cider vinegar 1 cup frozen chopped green pepper ¼ tsp. black pepper (to taste) 1 Tbsp. minced garlic (or 1 tsp garlic powder) Combine all the ingredients and spices in a large soup pot or Dutch oven; bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 30-45 minutes. Add additional pepper and oregano to taste.

Nutrient Analysis: (1 1/2 cups) 113 calories, 3g fat, 6g fiber, 12g carbohydrate, 10g protein, 340mg sodium.

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Nutritional Analysis: 278 calories, 6g fat, 35g carbohydrate, 7g fiber, 21g protein, 47mg cholesterol, 491mg sodium.

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Tourism Crystal Howard

is the director of the Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. She can be reached at crystal@visitbn.org.

B-N’s historic Route 66 The Bloomington-Normal community will be able to get from abroad came from the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands. their kicks on Route 66 in the very near future. The McLean Our new visitor center’s projected opening is 2015. The visiCounty Museum of History, the Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Illinois Office of Tour- tor center will be funded primarily through the visitor-paid ism have partnered to hotel tax. The visitor exopen a new Route 66penditures are estimatBloomington-Normal is considered a Route 66 ed at $2.5 million, with and Abraham Lincolnthemed visitor center community as the internationally recognized high- an increase of 25,000 on the first level of the visitors. way runs through both the town of Normal and the additional museum.

The visitor center will It was a collaborative city of Bloomington. Running about 2,400 miles include one wing dedieffort by many and has to Route 66 and from Chicago to Santa Monica, Calif., Route 66 cated been long overdue, but one wing dedicated to we will now have the has become an American and international icon Abraham Lincoln, with opportunity to share cohesiveness in décor. and pilgrimage. In June 2011 a study was conInteractive exhibits and our Route 66 and Abravideo monitors will be ham Lincoln stories ducted by Rutgers, The State University of New Jerwith visitors throughplaced in each wing. sey, in collaboration with the National Park Service There will also be new out the world.

Bloomington-Noroutside the cenRoute 66 Corridor Preservation Program and the signage mal is considered a ter for better visibility.

World Monuments Fund. The study educates us on The center will include a Route 66 community as the internationally shop, children’s play the historic preservation, economic landscape and gift recognized highway area and a small seating runs through both the heritage tourism of Route 66, and indicated that av- area. Museum hours will town of Normal and the the same. erage spending for Route 66 tourists was $1,500 to remain city of Bloomington.

The Museum is Running about 2,400 open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $2,000 per trip. miles from Chicago to Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Santa Monica, Calif., Route 66 has become Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday. an American and international icon and pilgrimage.

We will be working on signage on Interstate 55 to capture the In June 2011 a study was conducted by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, in collaboration with the National traffic that has, for far too long, passed by Bloomington-Normal.

Park Service Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program and the World Monuments Fund.

Our many attractions sitting along Route 66 include Sprague The study educates us on the historic preservation, ecoSuper Service Station, Illinois State University, Illinois Wesnomic landscape and heritage tourism of Route 66, and indileyan University, Avanti’s restaurant, Lucca Grill, Gene’s Ice cated that average spending for Route 66 tourists was $1,500 to Cream, Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts, the U.S. $2,000 per trip.

Cellular Coliseum, Tobin’s Pizza, Monical’s Pizza, Kick’s Bar and Grill, Towanda dead man’s curve, Funks Grove Pure Maple Annual direct economic effects from Route 66 spending include $27 million in museum spending alone. There are 450 Sirup, the Dixie Truck Stop and the McLean County Museum museums along Route 66, and the median annual number of History. of visitors to Route 66 museums was 7,500. Traveler origins The Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is enthusiastic about the opportunities that the new visiindicated 84.7 percent of visitors were U.S. residents while 15.3 percent came from abroad. The largest number of visitors tor center will provide our community.

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Employee relations Richard D. Galbreath

is the founder and president of Performance Growth Partners, Inc., a full service organizational development firm. Contact him via email at rick@performtogrow.com.

Take control of your time People often do less well in their careers than their intellect, abilities and ambitions justify. I call the difference between actual and potential career achievement the “talent utilization gap” (TUG).

There are many causes for TUG but one of the main culprits is ineffective use of time. In short, in spite of abilities, many talented people fail to produce at a high enough level to be positively noticed by those responsible for career advancing decisions. If you aren’t special, you are like everyone else – and treated accordingly.

In my coaching of executives over the years, it is rare for me

to find a person who was over 50 percent effective in the use of time available to them. Please understand that even though these executives are bright, capable and put in lots of hours, they typically complete less than half of the work they could on a daily basis. Ineffective time use is rife in America.

As a result, many people go home each day with a nagging feeling that they haven’t accomplished as much as they should.

Worse, this nagging feeling often makes it difficult for them to stop thinking about work at home. In response to this feeling, some work even longer hours at the office, at home, keep a

Please see gap, Page 20

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News in brief Business developments Apartments in Dillon stables being updated NORMAL — A 125-year-old former horse barn near uptown Normal is getting a face lift inside and out.

Crews recently completed tuckpointing the brick on the east side of the former Dillon horse barn, 102 W. Phoenix Ave., and have gutted and started remodeling the largest of the two units in what now is an 11-unit apartment building owned by Ralph Endress and Ken Verkler.

Work is expected to be finished by mid-August for student move-in.

Additional bathrooms also were added to the five-bedroom, first-floor unit and the six-bedroom, second-floor unit, he said. A building permit with the town recorded $68,500 in work.

The brick building was built in the late 1880s by Ellis Dillon as a barn for Percheron draught horses.

City OKs liquor for Palace BLOOMINGTON — The Carmike Palace Cinema 10 has been approved to sell alcohol at the east-side theater that is set for $3 million to $6 million in renovations, including upgraded movie technology and the addition of a restaurant.

The City Council approved a liquor license for the Palace in a 7-2 vote. Ward 1 Alderman Kevin Lower and Ward 4 Alderman Judy Stearns voted “no.”

Mayor Tari Renner said the Palace’s proposed business model — with a full kitchen, luxury seating and in-theater runner-service — is different from past proposals earlier councils have rejected.

Taxis added as city reviews rules BLOOMINGTON — The city has not yet changed taxi and vehicle-for-hire, or party bus, rules deemed unconstitutional last year, but it has granted permission for such companies to expand and expects to send rule changes to the City Council in August.

Yellow Cab, 1513 S. Main St., and Bloomington-Normal

gap

From Page 20

notepad by the bed so that when they wake at 2 a.m. they will be able to capture “to do” list items for the next day, etc. This feeling is called the “personal enjoyment gap” (PEG) and it is, unfortunately, a common concern.

Making PEG better First, determine how effectively you use time now. Logging your work over a several day period provides a good way for you to find out what you are really doing at work. I use a scientific approach to time sampling, but for those without the requisite technology, a simple log of what you are doing at pre-selected moments (for example – 8:23 a.m., 8:31 a.m., etc.) throughout the day works fine. You’ll want 35 to 60 “hits” a day to ensure you have enough data for your analysis of your time usage.

Write down specifically what you are doing at the times you’ve selected. Don’t write down “reading email.” Instead

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Taxi, 208 N. Morris Ave., both went through a hearing process and were approved to start operating taxis in city limits in April. Yellow Cab — owned by Aaaron Halliday, who also owns Checker Cab — approached the city again in June to add five taxis to its current fleet of four and received permission in early July.

Government/taxes Normal OKs fire station design firm NORMAL — Work on a new fire station that will serve as Normal Fire Department headquarters is expected to begin next year.

The City Council on July 7 approved a contract with BLDD Architects of Bloomington to design the station that will replace the department’s No. 2 Station at 604 N. Adelaide St. but be built at a different location.

The town is in talks with Illinois State University about a possible land swap; ISU would get the Adelaide Street site and Normal would get another university-owned property for the new station.

Transit system sells bus ads BLOOMINGTON — A new initiative at Connect Transit could bring in up to $1.4 million in local revenue without raising fares or taxes.

The bus agency started a pilot on-bus advertisement program that allows businesses and community groups to rent space on Connect Transit’s 35 fixed-route buses to display advertisements ranging in size from a full outer bus wrap to an interior placard.

Melissa Chrisman started in April as Connect Transit’s first business development manager and is heading up the advertisement program. She said the goal for the program’s first year is to bring in $45,000 but if every available space is rented it could bring in $1.4 million.

CIRA eyes developing property BLOOMINGTON — Central Illinois Regional Airport is Please see news, Page 21

write down “reading email, customer complaint” or “reading email, copied to many others, no real value to me.” You need to write enough down so that you can later assign each “hit” a category (customer service, personal, etc.), determine its worth, priority and other factors.

Once you have good activity data, you can review it to decide what is really robbing you of productivity. People are frequently surprised by what they find. Sensory adaptation occurs and something that you thought was boring, unnecessary, overly complex or otherwise distracting becomes accepted as everyday work – even though these distractions actually take you away from the work you want to do.

After you get the data, the fix really isn’t that difficult.

People do have to change the way they plan and process work, the type of work they allow themselves to do, when they do it and other things but, when done, a significant increase of effectiveness results.

There is an old saying, “Time flies – are you the pilot or a passenger?” Take control of your time and be rewarded for doing so. This is one of the surest ways to eliminate the TUG from your life.

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Public to vote on electing auditor

From Page 20

developing a long-term goal to develop about 700 acres of airport-owned land that is being farmed or not used otherwise.

Representatives with the Farnsworth Group presented an initial report about how to develop the land at the Bloomington-Normal Airport Authority’s July meeting.

There are several spots along Empire Street/Illinois 9 near the entrance of the airport that could be developed into gas stations, restaurants, offices or a hotel. Other areas for potential development include land on Towanda Barnes Road and along Ireland Grove Road.

Normal Theater manager resigns NORMAL — Dawn Riordan, manager of the Normal Theater for nearly 20 years, stepped down effective June 16.

Normal City Manager Mark Peterson said Riordan has “given her life to that theater and it’s taken a toll on her. We can’t replace the experience and dedication Dawn has brought to the table. Normal Theater wouldn’t be what it is today without her guidance.”

The town decided to revamp the position to give her successor a larger role in community civic arts programming.

BLOOMINGTON — The McLean County Board voted June 17 to place a referendum on the Nov. 4 ballot that will ask voters if the position of an elected auditor should be eliminated and the duties performed by someone appointed by the board.

Current Auditor Michelle Anderson declined comment at the meeting and referred questions to Pamela Palmer, president of the Illinois Association of County Auditors, who addressed the board at the start of the meeting.

She told members the pros of an elected officer include being an independent watchdog and someone who performs internal audits. Conversely, she said, an appointed official would be accountable to those who made the appointment and likely would not have time for internal audits.

County OKs road deal with Enbridge BLOOMINGTON — A road agreement that does not include an endorsement of the planned Enbridge pipeline but does include measures to ensure county roads are restored after the pipeline project was approved by the McLean County Board.

The first proposed pact was rejected in May by the Transportation Committee after representatives from Illinois People’s Action and some members voiced concern about the project.

Included in the agreement is a requirement that Enbridge Please see news, Page 22

Can people leave the workplace healthier than they arrive?

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This means it’s as important as ever to meet the physical, cognitive and social needs of today’s office worker. It’s time to move beyond traditional ergonomics, to ideas that encourage workers to move and change postures throughout the day.

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Well-being is not just good for people; it’s good for business.

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News in brief News

County may recover $500K in case

From Page 21

notify the county highway department within one hour of a problem. The county also will receive $41,250 in permit fees, rather than the $25,000 in the initial agreement.

Enbridge also will provide a $1.5 million surety bond that the county may draw against if the company fails to cover the costs of road repairs it caused.

One Main, town drop suits NORMAL — The Champaign company that failed to develop the west side of Uptown Circle has dropped its lawsuit seeking $6.5 million from the town and the town has dropped its $8.6 million counter-suit.

One Main Development filed a federal lawsuit in Urbana in June 2013 alleging the town used copyrighted works without permission and owed the company for the abandoned foundation it built for a condo and retail project that was to be finished by 2008.

The town countered that One Main breached its contract by failing to develop the site, per a redevelopment pact with the town.

Tartan Realty now is building a $25 million, eight-story Hyatt Place Hotel on the site.

Court document fees raised BLOOMINGTON — It will cost $25 more for McLean County civil, traffic and criminal cases.

After much discussion, the County Board approved raising the document storage fee from $5 to $15 and the court automation fee from $5 to $20 as allowed by the Illinois General Assembly in 2003.

The fees are levied on each civil case when it is filed and added to the standard fees in each traffic and criminal case.

The expected $135,000 in additional annual revenue would be used by the circuit clerk to send more documents for microfilming, add a staff member to work on storage issues, and help pay for the future replacement of the aging Integrated Justice Information System.

Zoo receives $700K grant BLOOMINGTON — Miller Park Zoo is receiving $700,000 for a new monkey exhibit, additional parking and renovations to the zoo’s entrance, including adding a concession stand.

The grant is the largest ever awarded to the zoo and requires no local funding match, according to release from the city.

The zoo and two Twin City museums are among 47 organizations receiving Illinois Public Museum Capital Grant Program funding for improvement projects and new exhibits. The money is from $20 million in state capital investments through the Illinois Jobs Now construction program, administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Jail reforms paying off, officials say BLOOMINGTON — Efforts to devote McLean County jail space to housing the most serious and dangerous offenders have been successful, according to data shared July 8 with the McLean County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council.

Data covering the first six months of each year from 2007 through 2014 shows a trend toward keeping a larger percentage of people charged with more serious charges in jail while holding a smaller portion of those facing minor charges.

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Connecting Central Illinois business

August

BLOOMINGTON — McLean County stands to recover about $500,000 spent on legal fees defending a federal lawsuit filed

by Alan Beaman after his exoneration of murder charges in the 1993 death of Jennifer Lockmiller.

In his ruling, Macon County Circuit Judge A.G. Webber agreed with the county’s position that State’s Self-Insurers Risk Retention Group Inc. was obligated to cover legal costs above a $250,000 limit.

The total cost of defending the lawsuit that was dismissed in U.S. District Court in December amounted to about $750,000, according to county estimates. The $500,000, which included fees to the Itasca firm of James G. Soros and Associates, was paid out of the county’s general fund.

Education ISU board chairman resigns NORMAL — Michael McCuskey officially submitted his resignation from the Illinois State University board of trustees, effective July 2, leaving two vacancies on the eight-member board.

McCuskey, the board’s chairman, retired in June as a federal judge and subsequently was sworn in July 3 as resident circuit judge of Marshall County in the 10th Judicial Circuit.

The board has been one member short for nearly 18 months since Joanne Maitland’s term expired and the governor has not nominated anyone to fill that seat.

Heartland OKs 3 percent raises NORMAL — Heartland Community College employees received raises of 3 percent starting July 1.

For faculty, the raise was part of a compensation package negotiated in a multiyear contract, President Rob Widmer said.

But the administration recommended and the board approved a 3 percent raise for all employees, using the faculty raise as a benchmark.

Last July, employees received a 2.75 percent pay raise.

ISU OKs 2 percent tuition hike NORMAL — The Illinois State board of trustees on June 6 approved a 2 percent increase in tuition for new undergraduates but expressed concern over diminishing or stagnant state support for higher education.

State appropriations represent only about 18 percent of ISU’s operating budget, President Larry Dietz said.

ISU’s appropriation of just under $73.89 million in the budget just approved by the General Assembly is about $200,000 less than last year.

Social services Museum launches $3M campaign BLOOMINGTON — The McLean County Museum of History plans to develop new first-floor exhibits, expand its technology, increase education programs at schools and nursing homes, and change outside landscaping with money raised from a $3 million capital campaign currently underway.

A behind-the-scenes fundraising effort started about six months ago but was not announced publicly until June’s History Makers Gala. The campaign, “Extending Excellence,” already has raised $1.9 million.

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The McLean County Chamber of Commerce is a key component to helping the Cornbelters partner with local businesses. Through the Chamber my staff has been able to connect with key businesses throughout the community, helping us build both professional and personal relationships.

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