Morton Matters Newsletter
 May 2017
In This Issue
Chamber Golf Outing
Advertise in Festival Guide
Memorial Plaza Dedication
Legislative Forum
Leadership Women
MIX
LEAP - Energy Cost Savings
Business Briefs
Fourth Fridays
Morton Tourism News
Save the Date
May 5

May 10

May 16

May 23
MIX

May 26

May 29
Memorial Plaza Dedication

May 31
Business After Hours

May 25
4:30 - 6:00 pm
Join Our List
Join Our Mailing List
Chamber Board Members
Jacque Austin
Paul Beckman
Brian Cross
Jamie Durdel
Nick Esser
Justin Ferrill
Barbara Heer
Craig Hilliard
Shelly Hunt, Treas.
Mary Jane Johnson
Cathy Kemp
David Mills
Tim Mueller
David Zern, Pres.
Alissa Williams, Vice Pres.
2017 Calendar
2017 150% Club
A Brush of Color
Aaron Miller, Real Estate Broker
Ackerman Family Farms
Alltrust Financial Management
Apostolic Christian Restmor
Barbara Heer, Broker
Brandon Wood Retirement Center
Captivation Dance by Kaleigh
Carius Dairy Queen
CMFS
CORE Construction
Country Financial
Craig Barley
Crossroads Concrete
David Mills CPA LLC
David W. Kinsinger DDS
Deputy Duct, Div. of ATC Insulators
DSM-H LLC
Heartland Veterinary Clinic
em.bel.lish hair design
IT360 Inc.
JA ROECKER Architecure/Structures
Jay Fox Insurance Agency
Jim Maloof Realtor
Jm Yordy
Keach Architectural Design
Kennel Lake Sportsmen's Club
Knapp Johnson Funeral Home
Kuhl Insurance
LaFiesta Mexican Restaurant
Le Nails & Spa
Lennie's Quality Meat Shop
Lighthouse Buick GMC
Liquor Station
Littlefield & Lovell Orthodontics
Marie Fisk, Realtor
Markley's Pest Elimination
McDonald's of Morton
Merlin Birky
Mike Murphy Ford
Mike Yordy Excavation
Mohr & Kerr Engineering & Land Surveying
Morton Buildings
Morton Collision Repair
Morton Dental Center
Morton Family Dentistry
Morton Financial Services
Morton VFW
Oak Lawn Estates
PC Doctor Computer Consulting
Peoria Area Association of Realtors
Ranson & Ranson Dental
RMH Foods
Schooner's of Morton
Season's Gastropub
Stephens Electric
The Iona Group
The Prassas Co./Morton
Towne Center
The Whisler Agency
Tri County Cleaning Systems
Two Men and a Truck
Village of Morton
Villas of Holly Brook
Walmart
Web Services Inc.
West Central IL Bldg & Construction Trades Council
Witzig Financial Services
Wm. Aupperle & Sons
Yinlun USA Inc.
Yogi's Super Liquors
Last Chance to Sign Up for Golf Outing
May 5
Shotgun Start at Noon
Pine Lakes Golf Club
$110 per golfer

Enjoy a fun day of golf, networking, and food at the Morton Chamber Annual Golf Outing! Cost includes lunch, green fee, cart, and dinner. $35 for non golfers who want to join us for dinner at approximately 5 pm. Proceeds go to Project Pumpkin, an endowment fund the Morton Chamber launched in 2013 in partnership with the Morton Community Foundation with the purpose of providing access to the Pumpkin Festival for community families in need.

Thanks to our sponsor:
Reach Thousands by Advertising in Festival Guide
It's not too late to reserve an ad in the 2017 Morton Pumpkin Festival Official Guide Booklet. Early bird pricing has been extended to May 12.

Note: An opportunity to advertise on the inside back cover has opened up.
Memorial Plaza Dedication
A ceremony to dedicate the Plaza and Veteran's Memorial to our community is scheduled for Memorial Day, May 29 at 11 am. 

There will be a breakfast at the American Legion prior to dedication from 7-10 am. Free to Veterans.  

Immediately following the dedication, the American Legion will have a Veteran's Ceremony.
Legislative Forum 
May 10
7:30 - 8:30 am
Freedom Hall

The Morton Chamber's Government Affairs committee will be hosting Congressman LaHood and U.S. Chamber Manager of Congressional and Public Affairs Maggie Sheely. They will share legislative updates along with briefings on upcoming bills impacting business, health, education and infrastructure.

Join us at this upcoming forum that will include networking, Q&A, coffee and light breakfast. 
Leadership Women
May 16
11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Kemp 208

Enjoy a delicious lunch at Kemp 208 and hear Dr. Lindsey Hall speak on "Trust: The Critical Component of Effective Leadership."  
Morton Information Exchange (MIX)
May 23
11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Red Rock Bar & Grill

Joe Lahart of Facet Technologies will speak on Cybersecurity. Lahart will cover a general overview of cybersecurity from root causes of attacks to best practices for businesses as well as the everyday user. Lunch and speaker followed by roundtable discussions.
LEAP - Energy Cost Savings
May 31
11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Morton Chamber of Commerce
FREE to Chamber Members

LEED Green Associate John Beintema of Ameren Illinois will talk about energy efficiency programs and cash incentives that are available to Morton area businesses. The presentation will also include examples of businesses that have received Ameren Illinois incentives and were then able to install energy efficient equipment to lower their natural gas and electric bills. Lunch provided.
Business Briefs
Elite Signs & Graphics has a new location at 1460 S. Main St. in Morton. They are across from Tri County Mower and next to Rockford Rigging. 

The next meeting of the Morton Tourism Association will be at 8 am on May 19 at the Morton Chamber office. Business leaders and members are invited to attend and learn how they can become involved. 

Illinois Central College Children's Center has once again received the Gold Circle of Quality designation from ExceleRate Illinois, the state's quality rating and improvement system for early learning and development providers. 

Web Services Inc. has moved into their new space at 416 Riverside Drive in East Peoria. Keep an eye on the website, Facebook and Morton Chamber calendars for upcoming workshops.

Soles for Car Seats will run until the end of June. Sponsored in part by the Morton High School Key Club and the Morton Kiwanis Club. Gently worn, used, or new shoes can be dropped off in Morton at the high school, Chamber of Commerce, Tourism office, or fire station.

Read about summer activities for the Morton Park District and the Morton Public Library.
Vote for Pumpkin Festival in Best of Peoria
2017 marks the second annual Best of Peoria: a list of the people, places and things that make Greater Peoria the best place to live, work and play... according to you!  The nominations are in and now it's time to vote. Voting runs through June 1. 

Vote for the Morton Pumpkin Festival as your favorite festival! Submit your vote today at Best of Peoria.
Fourth Fridays Begin on May 26
Celebrate the Arts in Tazewell County through  Fo urth Fridays - a  Tazewell  Art Loop supported by the Morton and Pekin Chambers  of Commerce and the Tremont and Delavan communities. On the fourth fridays of each month, between May and November, you're invited to have fun and shop local in Morton, Tremont,  Delavan , and  Pekin . 

From 5-9 pm, artists, businesses and organizations will be partnering to create a dynamic  shopping experience.  You'll find local art, mingle with the artists, view featured exhibits, take in performance demonstrations, hear live music and entertainment, explore local shops and restaurants and so much more.

Morton locations to be announced. Click here for further information. Interested in being a Fourth Friday destination? Click here.
Morton Tourism News
by Susan Pyles

The Morton Tourism Association and the 9th Illinois Volunteer Cavalry are proud to host the 1st Annual Morton Civil War Days on May 6 from 9 am to 5 pm, with a Civil War Ball from 7 to 9 pm. The event continues on the 7th from 9 am to 4 pm. Civil War Days are free to attend and are located in Morton's Southwood Park.
Morton Community Foundation News
by Scott Witzig

The Morton Community Foundation Give Day is on Thursday May 11. The goal is 250 Donors, $10,000, One Day, Every Gift Matters, and donations are tax deductible. That's just $40 per person. Gifts of any amount are appreciated.

This year, we're bringing the Kona Ice Truck to the MCF from 11 am to 4 pm on Give Day. 20% of sales will benefit Give Day.
Ribbon Cutting at Better Banks

Morton Chamber Ambassadors held a ribbon cutting to celebrate the grand opening of Better Bank's Morton location at 805 West Jackson Street on April 5. 
Ribbon Cutting at Walmart

Morton Chamber Ambassadors participated in the grand opening of the Morton Walmart Online Grocery with a ribbon cutting on April 28.