Morton Matters Newsletter
 November 2017
In This Issue
Vote for 2018 Theme
Hometown Holidays
Purchase Luminaria
Sucre Sweets Open House
Fourth Fridays
Leadership Women
Leadership Morton
Chamber Closed
Business Briefs
Welcome New Members
Student Consulting Applications
Morton Community Foundation News
Best Decorated Business
Best Costume
Drawing Winner
Save the Date
Business After Hours
November 16

Hometown Holidays
November 17-25
Business After Hours

1709 N. Main St.
Morton

November 16
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.
150% Club Members
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
 
Vote for 2018 Festival Theme
Let us know what you'd like the theme for 2018 Morton Pumpkin Festival to be.

Choices are:
Pumpkin Harvest Moon
Pumpkin Homecoming
Pumpkin Celtic Fest
Pumpkin Sportsfest
Pumpkin Italiano
Starry Nights Pumpkin Festival
Retro Pumpkins
Other - tell us you own idea

Click HERE to take a short Pumpkin Festival survey and vote for the 2018 theme.
I Shop Morton: Hometown Holidays
Hometown Holidays kicks off on  Friday, November 17 from 5 to 9 pm with holiday strolling and the Community Christmas Tree Lighting at the Memorial Plaza at 7 pm. 

On  Saturday, November 18 from 10 am to 3 pm people are encouraged shop local with promotions that will continue on through Small Business Saturday on November 25 to the end of December.
Hometown Holidays Luminaria
Help us light the Village of Morton by purchasing a luminaria for the Hometown Holidays Tree Lighting Celebration on Friday November 17. Luminaria will be placed along Main and/or Jefferson Streets. 

Cost is $5 each. Return completed form and payment to the Morton Tourism Association by November 13.   Download Form
Sucré Sweets and Socials Open House
The public is invited to Sucré Sweets and Socials Official Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, Open House and Grand Opening Celebration at 4 pm on November 8. Sucré is located at 321 South First Avenue in Morton.

Enjoy $1 off one scoop of cookie dough from 
4-6 pm.

The ribbon cutting will take place at 4 pm. This is a family-friendly event open to the community. 
Fourth Fridays taking a Holiday in November
Rather than coming out on Friday, November 24 for Fourth Fridays, everyone is invited to Shop Small on Saturday, November 25 from 10 am to 3 pm instead.
   
Starting in May of 2017, we celebrated the Arts and Businesses in Tazewell County on Fourth Fridays: the Tazewell Art Loop. The program was supported by the Morton and Pekin Area Chambers of Commerce and the Tremont and Delevan communities! On the Fourth Friday of each month between May and October, residents, visitors, and friends had fun, enjoyed local art and shopped small in Morton, Tremont, Delevan, and Pekin. 

The Tazewell Art Loop program will launch again in 2018.  Contact the Morton Chamber of Commerce at [email protected] to learn more.
Leadership Women Save the Date
Tuesday, December 5
11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Kemp 208 Main Street Grille
Speaker:  Kelly Scarfe, 
Artist & Owner of Jefferson Street Studio and Gallery

Registration opens on Monday, November 6.
$30 for Chamber members; $40 for non-members.
Leadership Morton 2018 Save the Date
Leadership Morton Logo
Learn about Leadership Morton and make plans to participate this year! Sessions will take place every Thursday 8:00-10:00 am from January 11 - March 29, 2018 at Midwest Food Bank conference room and off-site business tours.

More information to come.

Chamber Closed for Thanksgiving
The Morton Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development office will be closed on November 22, 23, and 24 for Thanksgiving. The office will re-open on Monday, November 27. 

Business Briefs
The Caterpillar Foundation has awarded Goodwill of Central Illinois a workforce development grant for the Peoria Metro Region. Through this funding Goodwill be be able to hire an employment specialist and continue to meet our community's need for employment services.

Letters to Santa will be accepted from November 17 to December 14. Santa Mailboxes will be located at Morton Kroger and Dairy Queen. No postage needed, but remember to include a return address or email.

Morton Kiwanis and Morton High School Key Club present the Annual Christmas Lighting Contest on Monday, December 18. If you are interested in making sure your property is judged, email [email protected] by December 16 at 1 pm.
Chamber Welcomes New Members for October
Candy, shakes, and events
Student Consulting Applications Being Accepted
Is your business looking to create any of the following?  The Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Bradley University may have the solution.
  • marketing strategy
  • feasibility study
  • strategic growth plan
  • launching a new product or servicestarting your own business
Learn more or apply by visiting the Senior Consulting Project website.
Morton Community Foundation News
by Scott Witzig
MCF logo
What is a community Foundation?

A community foundation is supported by the public; a community that believes in it and ensures its growth year after year It is governed by a board of local residents who understand the challenges and aspirations.
Best Decorated Business Winner

CONGRATULATIONS to the team at Coldwell Banker - The Real Estate Group for once again winning the Best Decorated Business Award for Trick or Treat Main Street! They'll receive a Chamber advertising package worth $500!

Best Costume Winner
CONGRATULATIONS to Carol of Lulu's on Main for winning our Trick or Treat Main Street Best Employee Costume contest: she was a beautiful jellyfish! Carol won $50 in Chamber Checks!

Midwest Food Bank Drawing Winner
THANK YOU to everyone who brought a canned food item to Trick or Treat Main Street to support the Midwest Food Bank! All donors were registered for a chance to win a $25 Chamber Check. Chamber Board President Dave Zern drew the winning name: Diane Wuthrich! Congratulations, Diane!