Wilmington Chamber of Commerce News: 2015

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Member of the Week~ R.S. Web De Sign's

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Employee of the Month ~ Joanne Cacic

Sunday, December 13, 2015

Member of the Week~Chic, Geek & Antique

Friday, December 11, 2015

Wilmington Chamber Parade 2015

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Chamber Welcomes Freedom EMS

Bale named businessman of the year

11/26/2015 5:43:00 AM
Bale named 2015 businessman of the year

Pam Monson
Editor

A $4,000 loan established a business that has been supporting Wilmington and its residents for more than 50 years, support that would add up to countless times more than that original investment.

And this year, the owner of that business, Henry Bale, wasn't going to be allowed to turn down the nomination for business person of the year that he'd declined twice already.

Wilmington Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Wes Smith announced that Henry Bale, owner of The Bale Agency, was selected as the 2015 Business Person of the Year. He joins such notable local businessmen as Eric Fisher, Angelo Aggelopoulos, Larry Clennon and Ralph "Tuffy" Stevens as a recipient of the award that was created in 1999 to honor a business owner or manager's contribution to the community.

By the time Bale learned of a business opportunity in Wilmington in 1961, he already had a couple of years in his father's insurance agency and a stint in the National Guard under his belt. He heard about a small agency here that was for sale - the Julian Frost agency, located at the rear of the old First National Bank at the downtown intersection. He borrowed the money, bought the small business and moved in to its rented office space.

The next summer, Jim Riggs and Gayle Ferris, who worked at the arsenal but ran the Wilmington Agency, asked if he wanted to buy them out. Bale took them up on the offer, and moved up the street to a space behind Nelson's Furniture's downtown location that had an access on Jackson Street.

"I was always back door," Bale said with a laugh. He grew that back door business into a thriving agency that's protected what residents hold dear for decades.

The Bale Agency, as the business came to be known, sold insurance and real estate. Jim Gale asked Bale to sponsor him in Real Estate so Gale could obtain a license, and Gale became Bale's first salesperson. Other than Bun Partridge, they were the only licensed realtors in town.

The business moved to the southwest corner of the intersection of Baltimore and Main Street, in a two-story building owned by the First Savings and Loan. It leaked like a sieve, but didn't stop the Bale Agency from being active in the real estate game as the arsenal transitioned to inactive status.

"I got thrown out of Baltimore Street, literally," Bale said. As the bottom fell out of the savings and loan industry, the property transferred to a series of caretakers. When the last came to see the property, they offered to sell it. Bale asked if he could buy on contract; they said possibly, they'd have to get back to him.

Bale waited for word, and as winter set in, he finally called the owners. He was told he couldn't buy the building and that he had until Jan. 1 to get out; it was going to be demolished.

"The first of the year came around and I wasn't out. They sent one of their henchmen down and he wanted to take me outside," Bale said. The man reached over the counter trying to grab Bale, and Bale reached for the phone to call the police. The henchman left.

"I was afraid, I'm not a fighter," Bale said. He hired an attorney who helped buy him some time, since little commercial space was available in town during the winter of 1983-1984.

Bale purchased the laundromat that had just closed at his current location. He hired Bill Davy as his contractor, and remade the space, rebuilding all but the central masonry building with the 1-foot thick walls.

Few people realize the contributions this third-generation insurance agent has made in this community. He is a long-time member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club, as well as organizations serving Joliet and the three rivers area, and the Christ Episcopal Church.

As a business owner and member of the Chamber and Rotary, Bale has been involved in countless local projects, from scholarship fundraisers to delivering turkey dinners; but more importantly, he has been providing financial support to local causes for half a century, both as a business owner and a member of the community.

Bale and his wife Diane, whom he married in 1963, support the Kuzma Care Cottage, the Christian Help Association, Our Caring Closet and the local schools.

"Everybody needs," Bale commented.

Bale decided not to renew his real estate license this year - somewhat of a semi-retirement - but he and Diane still run the insurance agency by themselves. When he does finally decide to retire completely, maybe they'll travel. Henry and Diane could remember only one trip they've taken together, to Michigan, as one was always here to run the office while the other traveled with their two children, Andrew and Betsy.

Henry will be honored as the grand marshal in the Chamber's Winter Wonderland lighted Christmas parade on Saturday, Nov. 28, which steps off from the middle school campus at 5 p.m. After the parade, he will throw the switch that lights up the decorations in Claire's Corner Park.

Sunday, December 6, 2015

Member of the Week~ Evans Lawn and Garden

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Member of the Week~ Rosie O'Grady's

Friday, November 27, 2015

Small Business Saturday

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Parade & Tree Lighting 2015

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Member of the Week~Absolute Home Care Plus

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Member of the Week~ The Corner Tap

Sunday, November 8, 2015

Member of the Week~ The Trinity Knot

Sunday, November 1, 2015

Member of the Week~ Whitmore Ace Hardware

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Member of the Week~Riverside Rehabilitation Services

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Member of the Week~Nelson's Furniture

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Employee of the Month ~ Gina Cartelli

Sunday, October 11, 2015

Member of the Week~ The Flower Loft

Sunday, October 4, 2015

Member of the Week~ Robert Bolser, Country Financial

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

First Dollar Awarded to ~ Two Hounds Antiques

Sunday, September 27, 2015

Member of the Week~ Kelly's Ink, Resume Services

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Member of the Week~ G & D Tire and Alignment

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Member of the Week ~ Crockett GunSmithing

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

First Dollar Awarded to ~ PT's on Rt 66

Employee of the Month ~Barb Osburn

Sunday, September 6, 2015

Member of the Week ~Don Mahoney State Farm

Sunday, August 30, 2015

Member of the Week ~SC Spinners

Sunday, August 23, 2015

Member of the Week ~City Pizza & Sub Co

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Member of the Week ~ Wilmington Island Park District

Sunday, August 9, 2015

Member of the Week ~ TALL OAKS FARMS MINIATURE HORSES

Sunday, August 2, 2015

Member of the Week ~ Chic-A-Dee

Monday, July 27, 2015

Trudy Trinity Services medallion was not found.

Medallion News:
Trudy Trinity Services medallion was not found. It was hiding until 8 a.m. this morning (Monday extra 10 hours) in front of the Wilmington Lions Hall/ City Civic Center on River Street

Sunday, July 26, 2015

Chambers Visitor's Center

Member of the Week ~Dockside Marine

Friday, July 24, 2015

Mudder of All Catfish medallion Found!

And that leaves just one...
Joshalyn Cox and her four children, of Wilmington, just found the Mudder of All Catfish medallion worth $250. They have been out looking for it since 9 a.m. this morning and at 4 p.m. they realized the clue: "North South, East, West" put them at the Wilmington softball field where there is a mason compass in the concrete. They found it in the home dugout.

That leaves one medallion left, Trudy Trinity Services worth $500

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Member of the Week ~Ray's Collision Center

Saturday, July 18, 2015

Clue for the 2014 D'Orazio Ford medallion.

Here is the clue for the 2014 D'Orazio Ford medallion. If you find it, contact Eric Fisher right away at 815-922-7966.

The rules for the hunt are property accessible to the public, including (but not limited to) city buildings, parkways, schools, playgrounds, parking lots and parks. The South Island Park will be excluded from the hunt as long as it remains closed. Paper medallions and the 2015 medallions will be hidden Friday and Saturday, July 24 & 25. Any unfound medallions will be collected at 6 a.m. Sunday

The time before, I was left behind

I'm back aqain hiding, for you to find

I dare you to find me, as I didn't go far

track me down, and you'll be a star

>>>>>>>UPDATE>>>>That was quick! The 2014 D'Orazio Ford medallion has been found. Took less than 45 min. for Heather Dido and brother David Crichton to figure out it was on the DARE car at the former police station. They focused on the word "star" in the clue and thought where there was a public building with a star (police badge). May have been too simple with the word "dare" right in the clue. Stand tuned, more clues to come Friday!!!

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Medallion hunt begins before Catfish Days "Test and tune" starts July 18

Medallion hunt
begins before Catfish Days

"Test and tune" starts July 18
Free press Staff report

The Wilmington Chamber of Commerce and Industry is going to get the town's motors revving early, and give residents a chance to hunt down one of the game pieces in the 2015 Off to the Races Medallion Hunt starting next weekend.
   The first of four, hard-to-spot clear acrylic disks, each 4 inches in diameter, will be hidden on public property within the city limits on Saturday, July 18. Public property includes government buildings, parks, parking lots and parkways - that strip of land between the sidewalk and the street.
        The test and tune race will be for the 2014 D'Orazio medallion, which will bring $250 in chamber gift certificates to the lucky person who finds it. D'Orazio escaped detection last year, while hiding in plain sight at the former Booth Central School lot on North Kankakee Street. He won't be so easy to find this year, though, nor as valuable as he comes back for a second heat at half his original purse.
   The Chamber and the member businesses who are sponsoring the program will provide clues to the medallion's whereabouts on their web and social media pages - this might be a great time to "like" their pages, so you get the clue right away and leave the tree before anyone else.
    The big event begins during Catfish Days. Medallions will be hidden between Thursday, July 23 and Saturday, July 25.
    Medallion Hunt regulars Mudder of all Catfish and Willy Whiskers will be joined by "Trudy-Trinity Services," named for Trudy Curtis, the 2014 Business Person of the Year. They will be worth $250, $100 and $500 in Chamber gift certificates respectively. The grand prize medallion could be hidden on any given day.
Mudder will be offered by geocache coordinates available from sponsoring businesses, at their physical locations and online beginning July 24. A complete list of those sponsors will be found at www.wilmingtonilchamber.org and published in the Prairie Shopper July 20 and this publication July 22.
There's more to the Medallion Hunt than racing through public places. Those who don't want to reach into that hollow tree can take the Medallion Challenge. Sponsoring businesses will challenge potential participants to complete a simple, fun task, like stacking red cups in a pyramid, hula hooping for 60 seconds or riding a small tricycle around cones. Anyone who tries will be handed an entry for a drawing for one of two prizes of $50 in Chamber gift certificates. The odds of winning one of the prizes gets better with each location visited.
The challenges will take place during normal business hours on the Friday of Catfish Days. Some of the challenge locations will be open Saturday too.
The drawing will take place on Monday, July 27.
Many of the sponsoring businesses will also make brightly colored paper medallions available, generally valued at $5 in offers, which will be hidden throughout the community.
No purchase is necessary to participate in the Medallion Hunt. All disks will be hidden within the city limits, on public property. There will be no need to trespass, get wet, climb or dig.
The acrylic medallions can be redeemed at The Free Press Advocate office at 111 S. Water St.

Employee of the Month ~Pam Brooks

Sunday, July 12, 2015

Member of the Week ~NO BOX IT

Sunday, July 5, 2015

Member of the Week ~Jackson Landscaping

Sunday, June 28, 2015

July 3, 2015 Business Operations

Member of the Week ~RE/MAX Results

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Employee of the Month ~ Irmgard Staples

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Member of the Week ~D'Orazio Ford

Friday, June 19, 2015

Dream Big Small Business of Year Award

Congratulations to the extended family of a Wilmington Chamber Member. Michael Francis is the nephew of Stephen Francis - owner of Daily and Francis Financial Services.

Payette Brewing was one of seven small businesses up for the Dream Big Small Business of Year award from the Us Chamber of Commerce.

You can view the full story and video on the US Chamber of Commerce website here:

https://www.uschamber.com/blog/chamber-quarterly-special-edition-tapping-potential-business-dream