The Sports Authority, coming soon at 1033 N Elmhurst Rd in Mount Prospect has plans to open on Friday, August 6, 2010. The building faces west toward Elmhurst Road, just south of Bed, Bath and Beyond. The new sports store is basically a move from the old Arlington Heights location on Rand Road just West of Arlington Heights Road.

Jersey Mike’s, Five Guys, Chipotle Mexican Grill and T-Mobile have already opened at Randhurst Village. PNC Bank, PetSmart and The Hampton Inn have signed leases with plans to open within the year or two. The plans for the PetSmart location put the new store at the current theater, which is being replaced by a new state-of-the-art theater.

A new approximately 2,000 seat theatre will anchor the Mainstreet section of Randhurst Village — replacing the existing 16-plex at Randhurst. Groundbreaking for the new theater was Tuesday, May 18, 2010.

AMC Randhurst-12 will be the company’s first LEED certified theatre incorporating several elements of environmentally sustainable design ranging from the use of locally sourced materials for construction, energy conservation through the use of efficient mechanical systems with no harmful discharge of CFCs into the environment, and water conservation through the use of low-flow fixtures among several other sustainable initiatives.

Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies intended to improve performance in metrics such as energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.

Construction for a state-of the-art movie theater is underway. AMC Randhurst-12 will be representative of AMC’s newest state of the art theatre design.

Theater features:
Comfortable lounge-style seating areas in each auditorium for families and groups to enjoy their entertainment experience;

State-of-the-art 4K digital projection in all auditoriums including 3D screens and live broadcast capabilities in several auditoriums.

One auditorium with a special, large-format screen presentation designed with the latest in digital projection and an upgraded sound system; and

Innovations in concession design offering a retail environment for the guest with an extensive variety of customized food and beverage choices.

AMC Randhurst-12 is expected to open to the public in May 2011.

See also …
CASTO lifestyle PROPERTIES — castolp.com
randhurstmall.com

Check out The Cardinal fan pages like SHOPPING and ENTERTAINMENT below …

Economist and former Reagan Economic Adviser Art Laffer argues 2011 tax hikes will cause financial disaster.

The Coming Tax Hikes — As of January 1, 2011

Highest federal personal income tax rate rises to 39.6%

Highest federal dividend tax rate rises to 39.6%

Capital gains tax rate hits 20%

Estate tax rate soars to 55%

Arthur Betz Laffer (born August 14, 1940) is an American supply-side economist who became influential during the Reagan administration as a member of Reagan’s Economic Policy Advisory Board (1981–1989). Laffer is also known for the Laffer curve, an illustration of tax elasticity which asserts that, in certain situations, a decrease in tax rates could result in an increase in tax revenues.

In 2009 Laffer said on CNN: “If you like the post office and the Department of Motor Vehicles and you think they’re run well, just wait till you see Medicare, Medicaid and health care done by the government.”

Debrahlee Lorenzana: I’m know Angelina Jolie, I’m no Eva Mendes.

A woman in New York is suing Citibank claiming she was fired from her $70,000 per year job for looking too attractive. Debrahlee Lorenzana, 33, claims her bosses at Citibank fired her because her body image was reportedly “too distracting” for her male colleagues.

Lorenzana, a single mother, says she was told “she must refrain from wearing certain items of clothing, in particular, turtleneck tops, pencil skirts, fitted business suits, or other properly tailored clothing” because the form-fitting fashion drew too much attention around the office.

Front entrance sign to Mariano’s Fresh Market.

UPDATE …
See grand opening update from The Cardinal Mike Ditka & Chicago Blackhawk 2010 Champion Players Dave Boland, Adam Burish to Highlight Grand Opening Events for Mariano’s Fresh Market

When will Mariano’s open?
Both the front entrance sign and the corner sign at Kensington and Dryden is up and on display at the new Mariano’s Fresh Market. Landscaping is underway and the parking lot shopping cart racks complete with a roof were installed today. Looks like they will be stocking the shelves soon. Word is out that the first Mariano’s Fresh Market, a new supermarket from Roundy’s of Wisconsin, will open July 19 in Arlington Heights with a charity event. The regular store opening is planned for July 20, 2010.

Not only is the fresh market store a huge grocer, it will feature an indoor-outdoor cafe/deli area, an eat-in sushi bar, Italian espresso and gelato cafe, European bakery, wood-fired pizza station, custom sandwiches including panini, food sampling, catering, and a wine and beer department specializing in pairings with customers’ menus. Mariano’s Fresh Market has not officially confirmed the July opening.

The front entrance of the Mariano’s Fresh Market grocery store.

The new website for Mariano’s Fresh Market with the motto Shop Well. Eat Well. Live Well.
marianosfreshmarket.com

View Arlington Heights Restaurants ~ Taste-of-Arlington.comshowing Mariano’s Fresh Market new location in a larger map
Blue shape approximate size and location of Mariano’s Fresh Market — the new location in Arlington Heights coming this summer 2010 (overlayed on the former Lattof Chevrolet site).

PALATINE, IL – State Sen. Matt Murphy (R-Palatine) is inviting citizens to attend a Citizens Utility Board (CUB) Seminar on how to save money on phone bills.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their cell or landline phone bills to learn about possible monthly savings.

Senator Murphy and Representative Sidney Mathias are hosting the CUB Seminar at the Arlington Heights Public Library, 2nd floor, on June 3, 2010. The event starts at 10:00 am and lasts till noon. The library is located at 500 North Dunton Avenue in Arlington Heights.

For more information about this event, please contact Senator Murphy’s office at 847-776-1490 or by E-mail at SenatorMattMurphyATgmail.com.

Updated photo (May 19, 2010): Front entrance sign to Mariano’s Fresh Market.

UPDATE …
See grand opening update from The Cardinal Mike Ditka & Chicago Blackhawk 2010 Champion Players Dave Boland, Adam Burish to Highlight Grand Opening Events for Mariano’s Fresh Market

Both the front entrance sign and the corner sign at Kensington and Dryden is up and on display at the new Mariano’s Fresh Market. Landscaping is underway and the parking lot shopping cart racks complete with a roof were installed today. Looks like they will be stocking the shelves soon.

Not only is the fresh market store a huge grocer, it will feature eat-in sushi bar, Italian espresso and gelato cafe, European bakery, wood-fired pizza station, custom sandwiches including panini, food sampling, catering, and a wine and beer department specializing in pairings with customers’ menus. Mariano’s Fresh Market is opening their first store in Arlington Heights this July.

The front entrance of the Mariano’s Fresh Market grocery store.

The new website for Mariano’s Fresh Market with the motto Shop Well. Eat Well. Live Well.
marianosfreshmarket.com

The Arlington Heights Village Board approved plans for the construction of 66 row house on a little over five acresPulte also agreed to build 26 guest parking spaces in two areas. Pulte also agreed to remove construction debris, grade and seed another seven acres that are currently zoned for single-family residences.

Streets near the row house will be kept private at 22 feet wide. Each home also will have two spaces in its driveway behind its garage. Pulte also agreed to pave 26 guest parking spaces in two areas.

Only trustee Bert Rosenberg opposed the plans, hoping for a 6- or 7-foot wide strip of land so their could be wider streets with onstreet parking.

The middle units will have 1,464 square feet with base prices in the mid-$200,000 range. End units will have 1,736 square feet with prices starting in the upper $200,000 range.

Continental CEO Jeffery Smisek United Airlines CEO Glenn Tilton says the deal to create the world’s largest carrier is not designed to raise fares.

Combining United and Continental, according to the airlines, would save them $1 billion to $1.2 billion a year by 2013, including between $800 million and $900 million in new yearly revenue.

United shareholders will hold a majority stake, the airline will be based in United’s hometown of Chicago and it will be called United. However, the tail of aircraft will take on Continental’s logo.

The new parent company will be called United Continental Holdings Inc., and have about $29 billion in annual revenue based on 2009 results and $7.4 billion in unrestricted cash. The airline will be run by current Continental CEO Jeffery Smisek. United CEO Glenn Tilton will be non-executive chairman for up to two years before Jeffery Smisek adds the chairman title.

Video from the Center for Freedom and Prosperity (College of William and Mary).

The CF&P reports that the tax system is a complicated nightmare that forces taxpayers to devote ever-larger amounts of time, money, energy, and other resources in hopes of complying with the internal revenue code and avoiding IRS persecution. This CF&P Foundation video shows that this corrupt mess is the result of 97 years of social engineering and industrial policy that began almost immediately after that dark day in 1913 that the income tax was created. www.freedomandprosperity.org

“A tax bureacracy that employs more people than the FBI and the CIA combined.”

The Video Reports (partial transcript) …
U.S. taxpayers and businesses spend about 7.6 billion hours a year complying with the filing requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. It would requrie 3.8 million workers to consume 7.6 billion hours effectively making the ‘tax industry’ one of the largest industries in the United States.

During a time of great need for taxpayer assistance, the IRS’s goal for fiscal year (FY) 2010 is to answer 71 percent of the call from taxpayers who want to speak with an assistor (not a recording), down from 83 percent in FY 2007. In other words, the IRS is planning to be unable to answer about three out of every ten calls it receives. Moreover, those taxpayer that are able to get through to an assistor will have to wait, on average, twelve minutes.

Video of Texas Stadium demolition that was replaced by a news stadium last year.

Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas was imploded with over 2,700 pounds of dynamite today. The stadium was reduced to rubble by multiple detonations in less than a minute. The Dallas Cowboys played for 38 years in Texas Stadium, and won all five of their Super Bowl titles there. Emmitt Smith broke Walter Payton’s rushing record there in 2002. Banners for A & R Demolition, Dykon and Demolicious went down with the structure.

View NFL Stadiums — National Football League Stadiums in a larger map
Texas Stadium satellite view.

View NFL Stadiums — National Football League Stadiums in a larger map
New Cowboys Stadium near Texas Ranger stadium — The Ballpark in Arlington.

Home for sale 516 South Belmont Avenue in Scarsdale in Arlington Heights.

516 S Belmont
Arlington Heights, IL 60005

Beautiful home with stone exterior has 4 bedrooms and 2.10 bathrooms. The home with beautiful interior and backyard is located at 516 S Belmont in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

Price : $799,900
MLS #: 07440226

More info
Virtual Tour — http://tour.circlepix.com/D59LWW

Frank Pantell
EQUITY REAL ESTATE CONSULTANTS, INC.
800 W. Central, Suite 142
Mount Prospect, IL 60056
847-342-0840 fax 847-342-0886
cell 708-987-4447

Village Bank & Trust has started a Refer a Friend Program at the bank. Current customers will receive $50 for each referral until December 31, 2010. The referral must open a new checking account with direct deposit.

Village Bank & Trust has three locations in Arlington Heights and one in Prospect Heights. Visit the bank’s website at www.bankatvillage.com.

Two story townhome w/2 bedrooms plus a loft. Master has walk-in closet & private bath w/double vanity & whirlpool tub. Large living/dining room w/fireplace & sliding doors to patio. Open kitchen is fully applianced & has plenty of cabinet & counter space. 1st floor laundry. Attached garage. Freshly painted throughout & windows re-newed w/thermopane glass. New furnace & A/C 02/09. Near shopping, restaurants & METRA.

View Larger Real Estate Map of the Wheeling neighborhood …

TWO BEDROOM TOWNHOUSE WITH LOFT
Government Buyer Incentives Set to Expire April 30th.
270 11th Street, Unit A, WHEELING, IL 60090
2 Bedrooms / 2.1 Bathrooms / 1 Half Bathroom
$197,500

Steve Heilig
Broker, GRI
Baird & Warner – Lincoln Park

Phone: 312-307-1855

A man who owed $160,000 on a $350,000 house, destroyed his house one week before it went into foreclosure.

Terry Hoskins had been in a struggle concerning his home with RiverHills Bank for nearly a decade. Hoskins said he tore down the house so that the bank couldn’t sell it for more than what it was worth. He may not have broken any laws, but he still has to pay the $160,000.

Similar financial problems are involved in a carpet store and a banquet hall that Hoskins owns. People are worried that property may also be demolished. The business property is due to be sold at a sheriff’s auction next Tuesday.

FEB 15 2010 ARLINGTON HEIGHTS -– Village Bank & Trust will be holding a free Home Buyers Seminar on Tuesday, March 2nd from 6:00 p.m.– 8:00 p.m. at the bank, 234 W. Northwest Highway.

Jackie Welch, Senior Mortgage Consultant, of Wintrust Mortgage will discuss how to become an educated buyer and maximize your potential in today’s uncertain housing market. Other topics will include potential pitfalls and profits in buying foreclosures and short sales, details on the Federal Tax Credit for first time and repeat buyers, qualifying for a mortgage, low down payment options for today’s home buyers and how to buy a “fixer upper” with very little money down and get up to an extra $35,000 for repairs and upgrades

Attendees will also be entered into raffle to win a $100 VISA® gift card!* Space is limited, so please call Jackie Welch at (847) 870-5010 to reserve your spot for this informative session.

Village Bank & Trust has three locations in Arlington Heights and one in Prospect Heights. Visit the bank’s website at www.bankatvillage.com.

————–
Residential mortgage lending provided by Wintrust Mortgage Corporation, an affiliate of Village Bank & Trust. All approvals are subject to underwriting guidelines. Program rates, terms and conditions are subject to change at any time.*No purchase or bank transaction necessary to enter drawing or win. Limit one entry per person. Drawing will be held on 03/02/2010. Winner must be present.

What’s Being Built at Kensington, Dryden and Northwest Highway?
The former Lattof Chevrolet dealership property at 800 East Northwest Highway is beginning to look at home in the neighborhood. A new supermarket grocery store is being constructed south of the Arlington Market shopping center, which is mostly undeveloped after a residential project ran out of money. The supermarket is a plus for the area with almost 70,000 square feet of store space. The project is being built by Osman Construction for Roundy’s Supermarkets, Inc. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Roundy’s currently operates with brand names of Pick ‘n Save, Copps and Rainbow Foods. The privately held company is one of the Midwest’s oldest and largest grocers. Roundy’s owns and operates 154 retail grocery stores in Wisconsin and Minnesota under the Pick ‘n Save, Copps Food Center, and Rainbow Foods banners. The new store in Arlington Heights is the first store in Illinois, and is expected to have a new banner name.

View Arlington Heights Shopping Centers in a larger map

Many Arlington Heights residents are unhappy with the failure of the Arlington Market site, but welcome a grocery store to the area. Regarding visibility, Northwest Highway is probably a much better location for the grocery store than the location of the former Jewel/Osco about a quarter mile north on Dryden. The grocery store location will be especially welcomed by residents who live close to the railroad tracks, but north of the tracks. Most of those residents have to face the gridlock near Arlington Heights Road, Palatine Road and Rand Road, head east toward the Jewel near Euclid and Elmhurst, or shop at the smaller Jewel in downtown Arlington Heights.

Osman has built many retail buildings for retail businesses across Chicagoland including Best Buy, Ethan Allen, Kohl’s, Old Navy, Jewel Food Stores,Borders Books, Sportmart, Sunset Foods, La Z Boy Furniture, and Walgreens.

Roundy’s has not yet published the new store information on their website. The date for opening has not yet been announced.

See also …
roundys.com
osmanconstruction.com

copps.com
picknsave.com
rainbowfoods.com

Anyone want to guess what the new name will be? Anyone heard rumors? Add it to the comments section below …

FEB 10 2010 ARLINGTON HEIGHTS — Village Bank & Trust and Wayne Hummer Wealth Management will host a Roth Conversion Strategies Seminar on Thursday, February 18th from 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at Grand Station Restaurant, 101 West Campbell Street, Arlington Heights.

The informative seminar will discuss recent retirement strategy changes and opportunities for 2010, along with ways to help you prosper and plan during this time of change.

The discussion will begin promptly at 6 p.m. and light appetizers and beverages will be served. Reservations are required due to limited seating. Please R.S.V.P. to Bonnie Flood at (847) 385-7047 or bfloodATwhummer.com by February 12th.

Village Bank & Trust has three locations in Arlington Heights and one in Prospect Heights. Visit the bank’s website at www.bankatvillage.com.

Wayne Hummer Wealth Management
As a leading provider of trusted financial advice, Wayne Hummer Wealth Management has helped clients achieve their financial goals throughout our history of more than 79 years. Wayne Hummer is a subsidiary of Wintrust Financial Corporation, a financial holding company with assets in excess of $12 billion. Our experienced financial professionals combine industry leadership and technological resources with a commitment to personal service and objective advice. Wayne Hummer Wealth Management is comprised of three companies: Wayne Hummer Trust Company, Wayne Hummer Asset Management Company, and Wayne Hummer Investments (Member SIPC). Each serves a specific purpose for our clients, while working in concert with one another. Together, we provide investment advice, brokerage services, portfolio management, professionally managed trust and estate settlement services, and integrated financial planning. Our Wayne Hummer professionals assemble the proper combination of services to address the specific requirements of each client’s wealth management needs. www.whummer.com.

Michael Jones Mortgage Loan Officer Wintrust Mortgage

Arlington Heights, IL (January 26, 2010) – Village Bank and Trust and Wintrust Mortgage are pleased to announce that Michael Jones, Mortgage Loan Officer, will operate out of the Village Bank & Trust Midtown Branch, 311 S. Arlington Heights Road.

Michael served in the United States Army for 10 years before beginning his career in the mortgage business. He brings 15 years of mortgage experience and integrity to Village Bank & Trust and Wintrust Mortgage, spending the past year with Wintrust in the retail division of their Community Lending Group.

“Michael will be an asset in our goal of increasing volume within the banks and creating a greater customer service and relationship-building perspective,” said Tom Adams of Wintrust Mortgage. “We are excited to congratulate him on his move and look forward to benefiting from his experience and energy.”

Michael received his Bachelors Degree in Business Management and Computer Science from Hiram College.

Village Bank & Trust has three locations in Arlington Heights and one in Prospect Heights. Visit the bank’s website at www.bankatvillage.com

Obama: We can’t continue to spend as if … the hard-earned tax dollars of the American people can be treated like Monopoly money.

Blaming the extraordinary levels of government debt on his predecessor’s “profligacy”, President Barack Obama said that the deficit would reach nearly $1.6 trillion this year, exceeding the amount the White House predicted last year. The record high debt is alienating voters.

Most economists say that a budget deficit of more than 3 per cent of gross domestic product is unsustainable over the long term. This year’s deficit is projected in the budget to reach nearly 11 per cent.

SOURCE: TIMESONLINE Obama gambles on spending spree to save jobs as deficit hits new high

Pamela’s Parkside Grill has replaced Regina’s Ristorante at 27 West Campbell Street next to Harmony Park at Campbell Street and Dunton Avenue. The new owners are Howard Maybloom and Pamela Olin-Maybloom. Howard Maybloom was food and beverage manager at The Four Seasons restaurant in New York City, and his wife is a sculptor known for her artistic welding.

Pamela’s Parkside Grill is open 4 to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 4 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, and 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for Sunday brunch.

Pamela’s Parkside Grill — pamelasparkside.com (official website)

Check out the first and last of several videos posted on the official website for Pamela’s Parkside Grill …

Early rehab and makeover of the new Pamela’s Parkside Grill.

Video from a friends and family night on December 30, 2009, just before Grand Opening.

View Arlington Heights Restaurants ~ Taste-of-Arlington.com in a larger map

What is Cadillac Tax?
A tax on those insurance companies who offer more expensive medical coverage to those who can afford it.

Arguments against the Cadillac tax comes from powerful labor unions, who claim that in many cases middle-class union members gave up wage increases in return for better medical coverage and more extensive healthcare benefits.

The proposed excise tax amounts to a 40% levy on health care plans over a certain dollar amount. The tax is to be levied on insurance companies who are then free to pass it on to companies and workers.

Overnight Thursday to Friday (Jan. 14/Jan. 15) President Barack Obama and leaders of Congress decided and announced that unions will be exempt for eight years. State and local government employees, which constitute an increasing percentage of the U.S. workforce, will also be exempt from the new tax until 2018.

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka
Labor leader who got concessions from
Democrats on taxes of high-end health plans.

FOXNews television crews and reporter Steve Brown at Woodfield Mall about 9:45 a.m. covering sales slump/municipal property tax report.

For years the village doesn’t charge property tax because it has relied on sales tax, especially from Woodfield Mall. A shopping slump is blamed for a deficit over $17.5 million that could lead to a municipal property tax in Schaumburg. Of a 10 percent sales tax, 2 percent goes to the Village of Schaumburg.

Village Manager Ken Fritz reports that Schaumburg went into the recession with a $20 million surplus, which is expected to run out next year. A municipal property tax is expected to be required to run municipal services, such as police, fire and public works departments.

Woodfield Mall is the fifth-largest shopping mall in America.

Membership office set up at the site of the new FITNESS 19 at 1601 West Campbell Street.

Fitness 19, describing themselves as an extremely affordable, family-friendly facility that offers state-of-the-art cardio, strength and free weight equipment is coming to Westgate Shopping Center near Campbell Street and Wilke Road. Fitness 19 chooses it locations close to dense residential populations and offers its members month-to-month memberships. The fitness center is currently in the build-out stage at the former Essence of Europe grocery market, and is offering pre-sale membership rates from a membership office on site. The fitness center is expected to open late-February or March 2010. The Fitness 19 telephone number at the Westgate location is 847-259-1919.

See also …
fitness19.com

Workers install a Verizon Wireless sign at the new store on Palatine Road between Arlington Heights Road and Rand Road.

In time for holiday shopping, the Verizon Wireless store at 138 East Rand Road in Arlington Heights will be moving a few blocks east to the former Boston Market outlot building on Palatine Road between Arlington Heights Road and Rand Road. The new store is reported to be one of the largest Verizon Wireless stores in the Chicago area. Also, the Verizon Wireless location in Mount Prospect at 1 West Rand Road will be closing and consolidated into the new larger store in Arlington Heights.

My Town – Arlington Heights is a locally developed economic stimulus and consumer discount program that provides exclusive access to on-line offers, discounts, and incentives from Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce chamber member businesses. Residents can enroll and access online coupons and start saving at the Chamber of Commerce of Arlington Heights website at www.arlingtonhtschamber.com or discoverarlingtonheights.com.

There is a $25 registration fee to become a My Town member. The first 1,000 registered members will receive a $5 discount off the yearly fee and a $10 Downtown Arlington Heights Gift Certificate.

View Arlington Heights Real Estate in a larger map … if markers are not displayed, refresh browser.

FIND THIS MAP ANYTIME IN A LARGER VIEW AT streetsofarlington.com/realestate

Amazon.com announced Thursday that it will offer a same-day delivery service to customers, through an option called “Local Express Delivery”.

The new shipping option offers customers same-day delivery in seven major cities including New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore, Las Vegas, Seattle and Washington D.C. The service will be extended to Chicago, Indianapolis and Phoenix in the coming months.

Amazon has also expanded Saturday Delivery options. Now, items ordered before the cut-off time on Thursday using Two-Day Shipping will be delivered on Saturday instead of Monday. For Prime members, Thursday-to-Saturday delivery is free using Two-Day Shipping. For all other customers, the service is offered at the current Two-Day Shipping rates. Saturday Delivery is also available for orders placed before the cut-off on Fridays for $6.99 per item for Prime members and an additional charge for all other customers. Full details on shipping can be found at amazon.com/help/shipping … or go direct to Local Express Delivery.

According to Toy ‘R’ Us, Quality and Value matter: Value has two components: what consumers pay for an item and what they get for that price. Toys that last for years to come and provide open-ended play are among the most sought-after items during the holiday season. With thousands of toys to choose from, Toys”R”Us stores have the best and broadest assortment of products that offer both quality AND value.

The top toy company, which unfortunately closed their store in Arlington Heights a few years ago, has introduced two toy lists for the upcoming holiday and Christmas season: The ‘Fabulous 15′ and the ‘THE TOYS”R”US 2009 HOLIDAY HOT TOY LIST’ — 36 news toys that offer outstanding quality price and play.

THE TOYS”R”US 2009 HOLIDAY HOT TOY LIST

Available only from Toys R Us
Barbie® b-nails digital nail printer from Mattel®
Young fashionistas can glam it up like Barbie with a spa-like manicure in the comfort of their own home. This new digital nail printer, available exclusively at Toys”R”Us, allows girls to select designs from over 1,000 available images or upload their own creations from their computer. Whether using the printer to add decals over polish or directly onto a nail, young manicurists can place their fingernail into the printer after using scaling and sizing tools to select the perfect style. Printing takes only a few seconds and the designs last for days. No batteries required. Ages 8 years and up.

Not found on Amazon
Disney Netpal™ from ASUS
Available in Princess Pink and Magic Blue, this Disney-themed netbook computer was designed with Internet safety in mind, allowing parents to create a web-safe computing environment for their kids with more than two dozen parental controls. Once kids turn on the netbook, they’re logged on to the Disney Desktop, an intuitive software program that offers simple operation for children, along with easy access to the Disney web browser, which is preloaded with several kid-friendly websites. The Disney Desktop also comes with a “gadget tray” with icons for easy access to applications and a collection of 15 widgets, including a stopwatch and a digital memo pad. Rugged and durable, this Toys”R”Us exclusive version has a spill-proof keyboard and a 16GB SSD drive that can withstand bumps. A preinstalled card allows the Disney Netpal to access networks wirelessly. 1 “4200mAh Polymer” internal rechargeable battery is required (included). Ages 6 years and up.

Full list from Toy R Us
Baby’s First Christmas
3-in-1 Smart Trike from little tikes®

Laugh & Learn™ Learning Farm from Fisher-Price®

Little Superstar™ Jammin’ Band™ Musical Microphone from Fisher-Price®

13 months to 2 years
Color Me a Song™ from Crayola Beginnings™

Little Mommy™ Baby Ah-Choo™ from Fisher-Price®

Sesame Street® The Original Tickle Me™ Elmo from Fisher-Price®

Tonka® CHUCK & FRIENDS™ CHUCK MY TALKING TRUCK™ from Playskool®

2 to 4 years
Disney Princess: Just One Kiss Princess Tiana Doll from Mattel®

Imaginext® Dragon World Fortress™ from Fisher-Price®

Paperoni® Deluxe Studio from Spin Master®

SCATTERPILLAR SCRAMBLE from Hasbro Games

Text & Learn from LeapFrog®

5 to 7 years
BAKUGAN® BATTLE BRAWLERS™ NEW VESTROIA™ Maxus Helios™ 7 in 1 from Spin Master®

Barbie® Fashionista doll collection from Mattel®

Battle Strikers™ Turbo Tops Tournament Set from MEGA™ Bloks

ChixOs™ Pink Design-A-Luxury Loft from Spin Master®

Egyptian Pyramid from playmobil®

Harumika™ RUNWAY SHOWSTOPPER SET from Bandai®

Matchbox® Rocky the Robot Truck™ from Mattel®

Moxie Girlz™ Jammaz™ dolls from MGA Entertainment®

NERF N-Strike® Raider Rapid Fire CS-35™ from Hasbro®

Star Wars: The Clone Wars™ Clone Turbo Tank™ from Hasbro®

TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN CONSTRUCTION DEVASTATOR from Hasbro®

Zhu Zhu Pets™ Hamster from Cepia

8 – 11 years
Barbie® b-nails digital nail printer from Mattel®

Disney Netpal™ from ASUS

EyeClops Mini Projector from JAKKS Pacific®

Fast Lane JLX OVER DRIVE™ RADIO CONTROL ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE

Liv™ from Spin Master®

Mindflex™ from Mattel® Mindflex

Star Wars Fan’s Choice Anniversary Edition Home One Mon Calamari Star Cruiser from LEGO® Systems, Inc.

Big Kids
DS™i from Nintendo®

Reader™ Pocket Edition™ from Sony®

Wii Sports Resort™ from Nintendo®

See also …
Chicago-Shops.com
Toysrus.com/HotToys

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The U.S. dollar (USD) (also known as the Greenback or Buck is the official currency used in the United States of America. Around the world, 85% of all currency transactions involve the US dollar, which is the world’s primary reserve currency. Twenty-five different currencies are pegged to the US dollar.

What does a strong dollar mean?
A strong dollar can benefit businesses, such as Wal-Mart Stores (WMT), that import raw materials or manufactured goods into the United States. A strong dollar can mean lower oil prices, as the United States purchases much of its oil abroad.

What does a weak dollar mean?
A weakening dollar benefits companies with foreign competitors, such as US Steel (X), since their competitors’ goods become more expensive. A weakening dollar can also lead to rising interest rates, as investors require higher rates to compensate for the added currency risk. Higher interest rates, in turn, have significant consequences for the housing market and business investment in general.

A weak dollar usually results in oil producers charging more to protect their margins.

Adrian Holovaty

Adrian Holovaty’s EveryBlock, which is based in Chicago and runs so-called “hyperlocal” or “microlocal” news sites in several cities, has been purchased by MSNBC for an undisclosed price. EveryBlock provides hyperlocal news in Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle and Washington, D.C.

The 24-hour cable news channel MSNBC, a joint venture between Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) and General Electric’s (NYSE: GE) NBC Universal unit, has hired all of EveryBlock’s workers, according to EveryBlock’s blog. Critics and observers of the network, including antithesis FOXNews, claim that MSNBC has become increasingly biased to the liberal side of politics, compared with other networks, especially with its prime-time lineup of personalities Chris Matthews, Rachel Maddow and Keith Olbermann.

Adrian Holovaty, 28, is a web developer, journalist and entrepreneur living in Chicago, Illinois. Holovaty, a Ukrainian American, grew up in Naperville, Illinois. He graduated from the Missouri School of Journalism in 2001 and worked as a web developer/journalist for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Lawrence Journal-World and The Washington Post before starting EveryBlock in 2007.

In 2005, Holovaty launched chicagocrime.org, a Google Maps mashup of Chicago Police Department crime data that was then succeeded by Everyblock after Holovaty was awarded a $1.1 million Knight Foundation grant and left his job as editor of editorial innovations at washingtonpost.com to start EveryBlock in 2007. Chicagocrime.org won the 2005 Batten Award for Innovations in Journalism and was named by The New York Times as one of 2005′s best ideas. As one of the first Google Maps added value products, it helped influence Google to create its official Google Maps API.

Related links …
EveryBlock.com
EveryBlock Chicago — chicago.everyblock.com
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GOLD (XAU 959) is one of the most highly-sought after precious metals in the world. It is used in jewelry, electronics, and coinage. Gold is widely considered to be an effective hedge against inflation, which means that when the dollar depreciates, demand for gold increases. In addition, during times of economic and political uncertainty, the demand for Gold rises due to its high intrinsic value and relative stability. More on wikinvest …

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SILVER (XAG 961) is a precious metal that is used in many different areas such as jewelry, photography, and a wide array of industrial applications. In fact, industrial applications (for example computers, cell phones, TV, batteries, pharmaceuticals) made up about 54% of the world’s silver fabrication demand in 2007. More on wikinvest …

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PLATINUM (NYMEX: PL) is an exceedingly rare (30 times rarer than gold), silvery-white precious metal used in jewelry making, electronics components and various industrial applications. About half of all global platinum consumption is for the manufacture of automobile catalytic converters. More on wikinvest …

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PALLADIUM (XPD 964) along with platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium and osmium form a group of elements referred to as the platinum group metals (PGMs). Platinum group metals share similar chemical properties, but palladium has the lowest melting point and is the least dense of these precious metals. Palladium is found in many electronics including computers, mobile phones, multi-layer ceramic capacitors, component plating, low voltage electrical contacts, and SED/OLED/LCD televisions. Palladium is also used in dentistry, medicine, hydrogen purification, chemical applications, and groundwater treatment. Palladium plays a key role in the technology used for fuel cells, which combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, heat and water.

ISO 4217 (in parentheses after each precious metal title, except for platinum) is the international standard describing three-letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The ISO 4217 code list is the established norm in banking and business all over the world for defining different currencies, and in many countries the codes for the more common currencies are so well known publicly, that exchange rates published in newspapers or posted in banks use only these to define the different currencies, instead of translated currency names or ambiguous currency symbols. ISO 4217 codes are used on airline tickets and international train tickets to remove any ambiguity about the price.

As part of the 2009 budget, three reduced-service days were planned for 2009, days which are unpaid holidays for all affected employees:

The Friday after Thanksgiving
Christmas Eve
New Year’s Eve, which the City Council recently approved to move up to Monday August 17, 2009

Emergency service providers including 9-1-1, police, firefighters and paramedics will be working as usual, but most services not directly related to public safety will have a holiday.

Services with the day off include:
City offices (most)
Garbage collection (expect a one-day delay this upcoming week)
Health clinics
Libraries
Senior service centers
Street sweeping

According to the City of Chicago’s official website …
“The national recession continues to have a significant impact on the City of Chicago’s budget. And despite efforts to reduce costs and better manage government, the City’s 2009 revenue shortfall is expected to be about $300 million.”

“In addition to the reduced service days, all non-union employees were asked to take a series of furlough days and unpaid holidays. Most non-sworn union employees agreed to take similar unpaid time off. These savings are expected to reduce the City’s 2009 budget deficit by more than $34 million.”

Information obtained from the official website of the City of Chicago — cityofchicago.org.

USAA Federal Savings Bank is about to offer an iPhone application that customers can use to deposit a check. Most checks will effective with immediate availability of funds. Using an iPhone application, USAA members sign the back of any check and then use their iPhone camera to take a picture of the check’s front side and back side.

Customers enter required information into the application — including the amount and where it’s to be deposited — and then the funds are credited to the designated account.

United Services Automobile Association (USAA) is a Fortune 500 financial services company offering banking, investing, and insurance to people and families that serve, or served, in the United States military.

USAA is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, occupying 286 acres (a former horse farm) with one of the largest single-occupancy buildings in the United States, rivaling the Sears Tower and The Pentagon.

In mid-May, USAA released an iPhone app that allows people to access their accounts, pay bills, transfer funds and locate an ATM.

WILL BE AVAILABLE VIA iTunes …
USAA Mobile … gives you immediate and secure access to your account from your moile device so you can be ready for what’s ahead … 24/7 access to your accounts.

usaa.com

The proposal to relocate Lauterberg & Oehler Funeral Home from its current location on Northwest Highway to Memory Gardens Cemetery at the corner of Euclid and Waterman was rejected at a Village board meeting Monday night.

The village board voted 6-2 against an ordinance that would have allowed the construction project to begin at the west end of Memory Gardens Cemetery. Thomas Hayes and Helen Jensen voted for the project’s approval. A preliminary vote July 20 to allow the ordinance variance was 7-1 in favor of Lauterburg and Oehler Funeral Home.

Service Corporation International, owner of both the cemetery and the funeral home, was seeking a zoning variance to build in the cemetery, but the plans failed because SCI, which owns the cemetery and the funeral home, would not agree to move the funeral home further east.

Service Corporation International options are to move the project further east, at additional expense, or find another property location.

Related links …
Service Corporation International — sci-corp.com

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Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

Miseryindex.us — Unemployment Rate U.S. from January 1948 to current …

View Larger Street View of proposed site of Lauterberg & Oehler Funeral Home.

The Arlington Heights Village Board voted for preliminary approval of Lauterberg & Oehler Funeral Home to build a new funeral home next to Memory Gardens at the southeast corner of Euclid Avenue and Waterman Avenue. The only trustee who voted against the plans was John Scaleta. The vote came after midnight after more than 25 residents gave feedback — opposing and supporting the new location.

The board voted against a crematorium. An embalming facility may be included later. If finalized, Lauterberg & Oehler Funeral Home would move from their building of over 50 years at Northwest Highway and Gregory Street.

View Planning & Construction in Arlington Heights in a larger map

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Charts
A-List Metals Precious Metal Charts: Gold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium
DJI Dow Jones Industrial Average Chart
DJTA Dow Jones Transportation Average Chart
NASDAQ COMP National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations Comp Chart
NASDAQ-100 A stock market index chart of 100 of the largest domestic and international non-financial companies listed on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations index.
S&P 500 Standard & Poor’s 500 chart of large cap common stocks actively traded in the United States.
USD per EURO Value of the dollar versus the Euro (chart)

New Business Watch
New businesses — retail or commercial — opening in the area.

New Construction
Commercial New commercial construction projects in the area.
Residential New residential construction projects in the area.

OMG
Orange Juice, Milk and Gas Index or the Oh My Gawd! Index. Watch this page coming soon with price information.

Press Releases
Local business announcements.

Real Estate
Distant Properties — fun locations or good retirement locations
Picket Fence Realty

Shopping
Cool House Gifts — Shopping ideas for the home on CoolHouseGifts.com. Column on The Cardinal includes new items and resources for items introduced to CoolHouseGifts.com
Garage Sales — garage sales, yard sales for Arlington Heights and northwest suburbs.
Woodfield Connection — Woodfield area deals and news.

Stocks
Notes on stocks.

Village Meetings
News from Arlington Heights village board meetings — coming soon.

Garage sale signs & garage sales kits.

  GO DIRECT TO CRAIGSLIST NORTHWEST SUBURBS GARAGE SALES LISTINGS …
  GO DIRECT TO CRAIGSLIST NORTH CHICAGOLAND GARAGE SALES LISTINGS …
  GO DIRECT TO CRAIGSLIST CITY OF CHICAGO GARAGES SALES LISTINGS …

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The top 25 daily newspapers ranked by circulation for the six months ending March 2009, according to Audit Bureau of Circulations. The percent change compares daily circulation for the same period ending in March 2008. Please note the figures are daily averages from Monday-through-Friday.

USA TODAY — 2,113,725 – (-7.46%)
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL — 2,082,189 — 0.61%
THE NEW YORK TIMES — 1,039,031 — (-3.55%)
LOS ANGELES TIMES — 723,181 — (-6.55%)
THE WASHINGTON POST — 665,383 — (-1.16%)

DAILY NEWS (NEW YORK) — 602,857 — (-14.26%)
NEW YORK POST — 558,140 — (-20.55%)
CHICAGO TRIBUNE — 501,202 — (-7.47%)
HOUSTON CHRONICLE — 425,138 — (-13.96%)
THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC — 389,701 — (-5.72%)

THE DENVER POST (02/28/2009 to 03/31/2009) — 371,728 — N/A
NEWSDAY — 368,194 — (-3.01%)
THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS — 331,907 — (-9.88%)
STAR-TRIBUNE, MINNEAPOLIS — 320,076 — (-0.71%)
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES — 312,141 — (-0.04%)

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE — 312,118 — (-15.72%)
THE BOSTON GLOBE — 302,638 — (-13.68%)
THE PLAIN DEALER, CLEVELAND — 291,630 — (-11.70%)
DETROIT FREE PRESS — 290,730 — (-5.90%)
THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER — 288,298 — (-13.72%)

THE STAR-LEDGER, NEWARK, N.J. — 287,082 — (-16.82%)
ST. PETERSBURG (FLA.) TIMES — 283,093 — (-10.42%)
THE OREGONIAN, PORTLAND — 268,512 — (-11.76%)
THE ATLANTA JOURNAL CONSTITUTION — 261,828 — (-19.91%)
SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE — 261,253 — (-9.53%)

Tribune Co. papers rolled out highly touted redesigns in this period, but lost readers. The Chicago Tribune lost 7.4% of its daily circulation down to 501,202 and 4.5% on Sunday down to 858,256 copies.

The Daily Herald reports from a 2008 ABC Audi Report that it had a daily circulation of 144,107 and a Sunday Circulation of 144,073. Arlington Heights had the largest daily circulation Chicagoland communities with an average daily circulation of 11,107 (11,080 for Sunday average).

Daily circulation at The Wall Street Journal was up 0.6% to 2,082,189.

Daily circulation at USA Today was down 7.4% to 2,113,725 due to a decline in hotel copies.

See more …
accessabc.com
Daily Herald Circulation from the Daily Herald

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The Dow Jones Industrial Average (NYSE: DJI, also called the DJIA, Dow 30, INDP, or informally the Dow Jones or The Dow) is one of several stock market indices. The Dow was created by Charles Dow, a nineteenth-century Wall Street Journal editor and Dow Jones & Company co-founder . The Dow is an index that shows how certain select stocks have traded. Charles Dow compiled the index to gauge the performance of the industrial sector of the American stock market. The Dow is the second-oldest U.S. market index, after the Dow Jones Transportation Average, which Dow also created.

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Helpful Links …
Historical components of the DJIA on Wikipedia …