The Naperville Post

Blogging About Naperville News And Events

Local Husband and Wife Team Take The Naperville Handyman Business By Storm

Posted by The Naperville Post On June - 10 - 2009 ADD COMMENTS

With economic times taking their toll on the housing market, homeowners have been opting to stay in their homes until the market begins to pick up again. Some homeowners are now looking to remodel and do some basic handyman work to their homes as opposed to selling, this gives them the advantage of having a new living space without purchasing a new home. If they decide to sell, remodeling puts their home a step above the competition, making it more sellable.

RiverOak Builders, Inc. provides the quality handyman and carpentry service to Naperville area residents that they are looking for. Founded by Naperville resident Leo Rosignal along with his wife Patty Rosignal they have over 30 years of experience in all facets of handyman and remodeling services. They provide Naperville area residents with the peace of mind that comes with choosing a dependable remodeling contractor and handyman. Quality workmanship finished with attention to detail, in an honest and timely manner is what you will come to expect when working with Riveroak Builders.

With the ability to design and complete both large projects and small, RiverOak Builders is your answer for all of your home improvement projects. They will provide their expertise for jobs from large room additions, a new kitchen to small trim repairs or carpenter and handyman services in Naperville and surrounding areas.

RiverOak Builder’s goal is to provide you with an enjoyable remodeling experience. They are dedicated to providing quality, integrity and dependability to every client.

Leo Rosignal, owner of Riveroak Builders in Naperville IL, has been a carpenter for over 30 years and has owned his own company for over 25 years. He has experience in all phases of carpentry from rough framing to finished trim. He is a meticulous carpenter with an eye for detail.

Patty Rosignal, Leo’s wife, is a kitchen/bath design specialist with St. Joseph Cabinetry and Design, located in Yorkville, Illinois. She has also had many years of design experience with a highly-regarded furniture retailer and extensive experience as a Realtor. The combination of these experiences make for a well-rounded designer with an eye towards helping you design beautiful, functional and cost-effective changes to your home.

Leo and Patty have been residents of Naperville, Illinois for 25 years. They have two daughters away at college, so now they spoil their dog, Sammi!

If you are looking for a kitchen and bath remodel, room addition, finishing a basement, home office, custom woodwork, trim work, window and door replacement, or handyman services then RiverOak Builders is who you should call.

Contact Info:
Leo & Patty Rosignan
River Oak Builders

Naperville Handyman & Carpenter Service
2438 Wendover Drive
Naperville, IL 60565

630-664-0090

How to Leverage Your Local Naperville Newspapers For Publicity

Posted by The Naperville Post On March - 27 - 2009 ADD COMMENTS

This month, I’m turning the tables on the media. Rather than being the interviewer, I’ve asked Meg Dedolph, Business Editor of our local newspaper, the Naperville SUN, to be the interviewee. Why? Well, one of the many ways an entrepreneur can increase credibility and visibility is through the print media. So I figured I’d go right to the source to get her take on how to make the most of this great resource.

Q: Looking at each of the ways an entrepreneur can use the media, what advice or tips can you give us for each? For example, one way is to pitch an idea and have the publication write an article.

Meg: The key to a successful pitch is to call when you have some news about your company - that includes changes in location, management or key employees, or a change in business focus, for example. Business anniversaries are generally reported as a brief - not with a full story - unless it’s a notable anniversary, such as 25 years.

When it comes to stories about new businesses, I personally find original, independent businesses much more interesting than someone opening a franchise - those stories tend to have more behind them than, “Well, I talked to a franchise broker and figured it was either real estate or pet sitting.”

Another key is to make sure you’re speaking with the right person. Know the publication you are sending your release to. For example, even though the Naperville Sun focuses on the Naperville area, I recently spent some time on the phone with a PR rep who wanted to know why I hadn’t run his press release. It was about a business in Tinley Park with no Naperville connection - that’s why.

Finally, what often happens is, we run an article on XYZ. Then, the week after, we get calls from people in similar situations, or who have done similar things, who say, “Well, you ran an article last week on XYZ, and I’m doing the same thing, so you should write about me.” That makes sense from one point of view - if Bob Smith’s better mousetrap is worth a story, then John Jones’ better mousetrap is worth one too - but for the sake of variety, I try not to run stories on the same topic within a few months of one another.

Q: Another way to get visibility is to contribute an article you’ve written. Can that really be done, and how?

Meg: I use professional columnists, who are drawn from the community and who write on topics including law, accounting, financial issues and career issues. They are not paid. It’s viewed as a marketing opportunity for them. For my own planning purposes, I prefer regular contributors - even if it’s just once a month.

There’s an interesting situation I ran into recently regarding this. I’m aware that people in many financial industries must have everything they write approved by their company’s compliance department. Obviously, that’s fine, but I was approached a couple months ago by someone who wanted to submit articles written by their compliance department with the company employee’s name on top - even though the employee didn’t write the article. I turned them down, and I’ve turned down similar requests since then, because I don’t think that’s being honest with readers.

Columns should be free of grammar and spelling mistakes and should be readable. By that, I mean, writers should avoid jargon that ordinary readers, who are not in their profession, don’t understand.

Q: And of course, everyone will want to know how to get their Press Release in print.

Meg: Most of my press releases are used for my business calendar or business briefs, which are short pieces (two or three paragraphs long) that run several at a time, in a column. Again, the key is to send out a release that provides news about the business - those topics can include a business opening, expansion, closing, transfer of ownership or personnel changes. I prefer releases that are short and to the point. I don’t use quotes printed in a press release.

Press releases about events for the calendar listings, which are free, should always include the date, time and location of the event - including the town. I received one recently for an event at Colonial Café. There are Colonial Cafes in three towns served by our publications. If there is a fee or a registration deadline, the release should include that, and there should always be a phone number or a web site (preferably both) that readers can go to if they have questions.

Q: Any last words of advice for businesses looking to leverage the print media?

Meg: Sometimes I encounter a misperception when I talk with business owners. While an article in the newspaper may bring them more business - that’s not my goal. My goal is to fairly and completely report on the business community in Naperville.

Here’s an example: I had a conversation recently with someone in the financial industry, who was telling me about a new product their company is offering. She suggested I might like to write about it. I said I’d be happy to keep her press release on file as a reference for future stories, but right now, I didn’t think I would write an article about them (especially as their company had recently been used as a source in another article.) She said that Naperville had been a difficult market for them to break into. I said perhaps what she needed to do was advertise the new product, which would allow the company to put its own message out, the way they wanted to do it, on their timetable. She said the company felt it would carry more authority if their new product were written about in an article. While that may be true, it’s not a reason I’m going to consider in deciding whether to do a story about them.

Naturally, your mileage may vary - other editors may have different ideas about the kinds of information they want from their business community. It’s always good to ask.

I’d like to thank Meg, once again, for taking the time to help clear up some of the misconceptions businesses have of the media. Keep in mind that the media are looking for news to print! So jump in and send that press release! It’s one of the simplest and inexpensive ways to create awareness for your business!

Pat Price has worked with numerous clients to generate more business and boost their marketing effectiveness. She is a professional speaker and president of The Price Group, Inc, a full-service marketing firm serving small to mid-sized organizations. To receive her free Marketing Tips! newsletter, go to http://www.PatPriceSpeaks.com/resources.php She can be reached at 630.717.8332 or through her website at http://www.patpricespeaks.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pat_Price

Local Businesses, Naperville News

Healthy, eco-friendly Pizza Fusion comes to Naperville

Posted by The Naperville Post On March - 15 - 2009 ADD COMMENTS

Naperville Pizza News

It’s a lot greener around Naperville as the Chicago area’s first Pizza Fusion opened this week - and I‘m not just talking about the veggies and pesto available to top your pie.

The organic pizza chain, boasting some of the greenest shops in the nation, extols a motto of “Saving the Earth, one pizza at a time” and the company makes an extra effort to help ’za lovers by using organic ingredients and having gluten-free offerings and the environment gets its fair shake with everything from bamboo flooring to eco-friendly paint. Employees deliver using Toyota Prius hybrids, too.

The gourmet thin crust pies are oval in shape and toppings are all-natural, organic and inventive: New York strip steak, wild caught Maine lobster and Key West shrimp, Portobello mushrooms, artichokes, soy or goat cheese and a couple dozen more.

Order a premium specialty pizza like Pesto & Walnut, Artichoke & Red Peppers or Organic Veggie Medley, among others or go for a classic pepperoni or sausage. Even the pizza sauce is made using only 100% certified organic ingredients including tomatoes, salt, oil and herbs and dough is made with certified organic flour. Salads and sandwiches round out the menu and dessert is simple - a fresh homemade brownie or warm chocolate chips cookies.

There’s a roster of organic soft drinks, beer and wine and the Naperville location stocks Two Brothers beer, brewed in a Warrenville microbrewery.

Make an entire green day of it by shopping at Whole Foods next door or hop on one of the bicycle paths in the adjacent Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve.

Naperville Pizza Fusion
2555 W. 75th St.,
Naperville, IL.
(630) 355-9898

City of Naperville Now on Twitter and Facebook

Posted by The Naperville Post On February - 17 - 2009 ADD COMMENTS

Several New Online Offerings Let Naperville Residents Stay Connected With Their Government

The City of Naperville would like to inform residents and interested parties that there are several new ways they can now receive the latest news from the city, including Twitter, Facebook and RSS feeds.

“The city is constantly seeking new ways to connect with and inform our residents,” Community Relations Manager Nadja Lalvani said. “We want to reach the broadest audience possible and that means embracing new technology such as social media platforms and Web 2.0. We encourage all residents who use these online services to sign up to receive the latest city news.”

If you are a Twitter user and prefer to receive updates about the city in the form of a “Tweet,” visit the city’s profile page at http://twitter.com/NapervilleIL and click the “Follow” button. You’ll receive updates about when the city issues the latest news and event notifications.

If you are Facebook user, become a fan of the “City of Naperville, Illinois.” You’ll find links to the latest news releases, photos of the Naperville area and more. You can access this page by visiting www.naperville.il.us/facebook.html.

Recently, the city also began offering Real Simple Syndication, or RSS, feeds for its city news, public safety news, City Council agendas and City Council minutes. Simply put, RSS allows visitors to dynamically retrieve Naperville news content from a Web site they are interested in without even visiting that site. Users can employ a third-party service known as an RSS feed reader or RSS news aggregator to compile new and updated content from RSS-enabled Web sites and display it all in one place for easy viewing. For more information on RSS feeds, or to sign up for the city’s RSS feed offerings, visit www.naperville.il.us/rssfeeds.aspx.

In addition, the city reminds residents that it offers a free, voluntary e-mail service to anyone interested in learning more about city services, activities and events. This service keeps residents informed of road closures, construction alerts and much more. You can decide what type of information you want to receive and can choose to unsubscribe at any time using a link within the e-mails. Sign up at www.naperville.il.us/enews.aspx.

In January, the city also began streaming City Council meeting video online at www.naperville.il.us/granicus.html. Users can view the meeting video live or on-demand and have immediate access to agenda materials that correspond to their agenda item of interest.

“All of these communication methods help with enhancing transparency in government while demonstrating our commitment to the environment,” Lalvani said. “Using current technology not only saves taxpayer dollars but also conserves precious environmental resources.”

About Naperville: Located 28 miles west of Chicago, Naperville, Ill. is home to more than 140,000 people. Naperville consistently ranks as a top community in the nation to live, raise children and retire. The city is home to acclaimed schools, the best public library system in the country, an array of healthcare options and an exceptionally low crime rate. With ready access to a variety of transportation, housing and employment options, this booming suburb attracts thousands of new residents each year, making it one of the fastest growing communities in the United States. Naperville’s diversified employer base features high technology firms, retailers and factories, as well as small and home-based businesses. Residents also enjoy world-class parks, diverse worship options and an active civic

The Naperville Sun

Naperville Dog Walker Continues To Sit For a Cause In 2009

Posted by The Naperville Post On February - 16 - 2009 ADD COMMENTS

Naperville’s Waggs n Wet Noses Pet Sitting Service Continues To Sit For a Cause In 2009

Waggs n Wet Noses is excited to announce they are continuing to sit for a cause in 2009. A dollar of each pet sit is donated back to rescue and shelters to help save homeless animals.
naperville-per-sitters
Waggs n Wet Noses Pet Sitting Service was launched in the summer of 2008 in Naperville, IL. This pet sitting service offers daily and vacation pet sitting to Naperville area residents. What makes this company unique is that it also gives back to homeless animals. Most pet sitters will agree that they pet sit as a career because of their love of animals. Waggs n Wet Noses takes it one step further by donating a portion of each pet sit to a rescue group and shelters.

In 2009, Waggs n Wet Noses assisted in the rescue of longhaired dachshunds living at a kill shelter in Virginia, IL, PETA, and other rescue groups. This year Waggs n Wet Noses’ goal is to also donate locally to such shelters as the Naperville Humane Society and ADOPT. Shelters and animal rescues are seeing a higher numbers of pet abandonment due to the downturn of the economy. More than 4 million dogs along are euthanized in the US each year and those numbers may rise in 2009 due to the increased number of animals coming into shelters.

“Donating a portion of each pet sit is only a small gift of kindness we feel that we can do to help these organizations who work diligently to save the lives of these animals” said Stacy Jones, owner of Waggs n Wet Noses.

Waggs n Wet Noses offers daily and vacation pet sitting for Naperville area residents. They are dedicated to offering the most professional and loving care that pets will experience while their owners are away. It is a pet sitting service for the discerning pet owner.

For more information about Waggs n Wet Noses Pet Sitters or to find out about their donation program please contact Stacy Jones, 630.305.6334 or visit www.WaggsnWetNoses.com

Waggs n Wet Noses is a Naperville area pet sitting service that is dedicated to the quality and care of sitting for pets while their owners are away.

To learn more about the Naperville pet sitter service Waggs n Wet Noses give Stacy a call at 630.305.6334

Naperville Comedy Shrine To Host Fun Ladies Night Out

Posted by The Naperville Post On February - 16 - 2009 ADD COMMENTS

Laughtime Comedy Network for Women Featured At The Naperville Comedy Shrine

chick-shtick-february-2009 Thursday Night Ladies Night is returning to The Comedy Shrine with a brand new show. On Thursday, March 5th the ladies who brought you Chick Schtick will start preview performances of a spoof of cable television’s Lifetime Network with a show called, “Laughtime Comedy Network for Women”

This Thursday night show at The Comedy Shrine will combine sketch and improv comedy with audience participation. The show is a takeoff on the wide variety of Lifetime shows geared for the female audience. But like the Comedy Shrine’s earlier Ladies Night shows, it’s made for women, but strong enough for men as well.

No matter which sex you are, you’ll enjoy parodies of the ever popular Lifetime made for TV movie tearjerkers, TV dramas, talk shows, and commercials. No topic is taboo for The Comedy Shrine’s “Laughtime Comedy Network for Women!”

This hilarious farce of female television will include “The Best Friends Forever Game Show.” The game show similar in format to the old Newlywed Game will pit actual audience members against each other for valuable prizes to see who knows their best friend best!

“The Laughtime Network for Women” will begin previews starting on Thursday, March 5th at 8pm at The Comedy Shrine, 22 E. Chicago Avenue in downtown Naperville. Admission is $23 for adults and $18 for students.

The show will have an open run. There is a one drink minimum. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Comedy Shrine at (630) 355-2844 or online through Ticket Web. For more information go to www.comedyshrine.com

Naperville Events

KidsMatter Student Job Fair

Posted by The Naperville Post On February - 3 - 2009 ADD COMMENTS

KIDSMATTER STUDENT JOB FAIR. On Thursday, March 19, from 5 to 8 p.m., the KidsMatter Student Job Fair will be held in the Merner Field House on the campus of North Central College.

KidsMatter

If you have multiple employment opportunities that can be filled by high school or college students, showcase your business at the annual KidsMatter Student Job Fair. Last year over 1300 young people attended this Fair! The registration packages begin at $100 and all packages include a six-foot display table. Registration closes on February 25 and forms are available at http://www.KidsMatter2us.org or by calling the KidsMatter office at (630) 527-6562. for more information, contact Karen Brother, KidsMatter Program Manager, at kidsmatter2us@aol.com or (630)527.6562.

“The KidsMatter Student Job Fair will provide you with the perfect opportunity to fill your part-time employment needs in a single evening. Last year’s Fair brought over 1300 students to the 50 businesses that participated. This allowed them to hire on the spot or distribute information to potential employees.

The Job Fair provides our Members with an amazing chance to hire staff for a fraction of what it costs to place one Help Wanted ad in the newspaper.

Consider registering today!”

-Richard Greene, President and CEO, Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce

Naperville Events

Public Vote For Naperville Downtown Photo Contest

Posted by The Naperville Post On February - 3 - 2009 ADD COMMENTS

Public Invited to Vote for their Favorite Downtown Naperville Photo

People’s Choice to be Awarded as Part of the Downtown Naperville Photo Contest

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - The City of Naperville invites all interested parties to vote for their favorite photo of downtown Naperville at www.naperville.il.us/photocontest.aspx. The photo that receives the most votes will receive the People’s Choice Award. Voting is open through Monday, February 16.

The photos were submitted as part of the Downtown Naperville Photo Contest, which ran from June 1 through December 31, 2008. The contest encouraged amateur photographers to capture the atmosphere, activity and culture of downtown Naperville.

The city received more than 50 entries. A panel of judges reviewed the entries and selected the top 15 photos that are now eligible to receive the People’s Choice Award. The winner will have their photo displayed within the updated Downtown Plan (slated for release in 2010) and will receive an award certificate.

In addition to the People’s Choice Award winner, the panel of judges has also selected first, second and third place photo award winners in separate youth and adult categories.

First prize winners will have their photos showcased on the cover of the updated Downtown Plan.

Second place winners will have their photos prominently displayed within the Downtown Plan and third place winners may also have their photos displayed within the Downtown Plan.

All winners will receive an award certificate to be presented at the March 3, 2009, City Council Meeting. Winners of the Downtown Naperville photo contest will be named the week of February 16.

To vote for the People’s Choice Award, visit www.naperville.il.us/photocontest.aspx.

Dumpster Rental in Naperville, Illinois

Posted by The Naperville Post On February - 2 - 2009 ADD COMMENTS

Don Mulder of Heritage Disposal in Naperville, Illinois

For simple, reliable and affordable dumpster rentals in Naperville and Chicago, IL, Call Heritage Disposal at 630-885-0747

Rent Dumpsters in Naperville, IL

Heritage Disposal is an excellent choice for dumpster rental in Chicago, Schaumburg, Joliet, IL, Naperville IL, Cicero IL, Downers Grove Illinois, and throughout Metro Chicago.

Homeowners and contractors can reach Heritage Disposal at 630-885-0747 to rent a dumpster in Chicago area or learn more on the internet at: Naperville Dumpster Rental
Heritage Disposal has a reputation built over the past years based on reliable and affordable dumpster rentals. Chicago contractors and homeowners deserve consistently on time trash dumpster service and Heritage Disposal delivers. Roll off dumpsters are delivered on time, picked up promptly upon request, and offered at the best roll off dumpster prices in Chicago, IL.

Heritage Disposal offers multiple roll off dumpsters for rent in Chicago and surrounding cities. The following dumpster sizes are available:

•   10 yard dumpsters
•   15 yard dumpsters
•   20 yard dumpsters

The 10, 15 and 20 yard roll off containers offered by Heritage are perfect for home remodeling, home and garage cleanouts, construction projects, demolition projects, or new home construction.

Service Area to Rent a Dumpster in Chicago, IL area -

Heritage Disposal provides roll off dumpsters and dumpster rentals in Chicago, Schaumburg, Joliet, IL, Evanston, Cicero, Oak Park IL, Hammond, Chicago Heights, East Chicago IL, Bolingbrook, dumpsters in Aurora, Buffalo Grove, Carol Stream, Dekalb, Tinley Park, Glenview, Elgin, Naperville, Mount Prospect, Wheeling, Illinois, and other surrounding communities in the Chicago, Illinois area.

Call Don at Heritage Disposal today at 630-885-0747 to learn more about dumpster rental

Local Businesses

Naperville Resident Creates New GPS Review Site

Posted by The Naperville Post On December - 16 - 2008 ADD COMMENTS

New GPS Reviews and Specials

Have you lost your way? Don’t worry there’s nothing to fear, the new blog AutoNavigationGPS.com is here! A new blog was started by Bruce Jones, a Naperville IL resident and web designer to help potential navigation system consumers choose the right GPS for them.

Remember when cell phones hit the market. So many people swore they would never get a cell phone. These days it is hard to find someone without a cell phone, Well GPS systems are the next hottest item that everyone will have to have. Have you been on the road looking for a place and end up calling them to get directions because you cannot find them? GPS systems are your solution, Not only are they reliable and get you to where you need to go, they also have developed ways to track you children when they run off in a crowded area, track fish to find the best spot to anchor the boat and so much more. They are available in so many styles. I will tell you that having a GPS system will make your life much easier. Why not get something to help simplify one more thin in your complex life. Take a look at this website and learn how GPS is right for you.

AutonavigationGPS.com is designed to help the curious customer make an informed decision when it comes to purchasing a navigation system, whether online or at the local store. They provide buyers with an unbiased opinion on the best navigation systems, such as TomTom and Garmin, and also give full in-depth reviews for the more serious buyer.

Bruce Jones the Owner/Founder of Autonavigationgps.com - “We hope to provide our readers with useful information so they won’t find themselves disappointed after purchasing that first navigation system”.

Not only does Autonavigationgps.com provide the buyer with great information about navigation systems, occasionally they provide you with great information on where to get them for a discounted price too. Additionally, they manage to provide great information about navigation systems in general, whether on foot, walking, or sailing!

Autonavigationgps.com hopes to become your #1 source for GPS news, reviews, and information. They also hope to be able to save you some cash by providing you with exclusive knowledge on where to get great navigation systems at a discount and helping you make an educated decision on which ones are worth purchasing, and which ones are not.

About Auto Navigation GPS Reviews:

Founded on the basis that consumers needed an honest resource when checking on what’s the best GPS navigation system and a place to collect information on GPS special deals.

Auto Navigation GPS Reviews
http://www.AutoNavigationGps.com
Meadow Green Drive,
Naperville IL 60565
Info@autonavigationgps.com
630-330-2780