Morton Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council
Morton Matters Newsletter
 September 2016
In This Issue
Pumpkin Festival Almost Here
Pumpkin Store Open Online
Register for Pumpkin Classic
New Festival Events
Volunteers Still Needed
Festival Entertainment
Carnival Ticket Sales
Welcome New Members
Morton 13th Best City
Business Briefs
Ribbon Cutting La Fiesta
Ribon Cutting Leaves 'n Beans
Groundbreaking Dist. 709
Save the Date
Join Our List
Join Our Mailing List
Chamber Board Members
Bill Aupperle
Brian Cross
Jamie Durdel
Nick Esser
Nick Graff
Lindsay Hall
Barbara Heer
Shelly Hunt, Treas.
Mary Jane Johnson, Past Pres.
Darren Martin, Pres.
Aaron Miller
David Mills
Tim Mueller
Alissa Williams
David Zern, Vice Pres.
150% Club Members
Aaron Miller, Real Estate Broker
Ackerman Consulting 
Ackerman Farms
Alltrust Financial Management
Apostolic Christian Counseling & Family Services
Apostolic Christian Restmo r
Barbara Heer, Broker
Benckendorf & Benckendorf PC
Billy Daniel Excavating 
Blain's Farm & Fleet
Brandon Wood Retirement Center
Carius Dairy Queen
Childers Door Service of Central IL
China Dragon
ClearPath IT Solutions
CMFS Group
Colby Natural Health 
Coldwell Banker Commercial
CORE Construction
Country Financial
Craig H. Barley
Crossroads Concrete
Culver's of Morton
David Mills CPA LLC
David W. Kinsinger DDS
Deputy Duct, Div. ATC Insulators
DSM-H LLC
Elevate Church
Firehouse Pizza
Grimm Bros. Trucking
Heartland Bank & Trust
Heartland Veterinary Clinic
Heavenly Express
Hometown Title Inc.
I llinois Business Financial Services
IRON-A-WAY
JA ROECKER Architecture/Structures
Jim Maloof Realtor
Jim Yordy 
Keach Architectural Design
Kennel Lake Sportsmen's Club
Kmart
Knapp Johnson Funeral Home
Kuhl Insurance
Lennie's Quality Meat Shop 
Libby's Pumpkin
Lighthouse Buick GMC
Liquor Station
Marie Fisk, Realtor
Marion Manufacturing
Markley's Pest Elimination
Massage with Pauline
McDonald's of Morton
Menold Construction & Restoration
Merlin Birky 
Midstate College
Mike Murphy Ford 
Mike Yordy Excavating & Land Improvement
Millennia Prof. Services 
Mohr & Kerr Engineering
Morton Audiology & Hearing Aid Center
Morton Buildings
Morton Collision Repair
Morton Dental Center
Morton Financial Services
Morton Knights of Columbus
Morton Rentals LLC
Morton Unit School Dist. 709
Morton Villa Healthcare & Rehab Centre
Oak Lawn Mobile Estates
Old Smokey's BBQ 
PC Doctor Computer Consulting
PAAR
Quinn Johnston Henderson Pretorius & Cerulo
Ranson & Ranson Dental
Reading, Rhyming & Romping Preschool
Relax Inn
Reliant Auto Glass
Renewal by Anderson of Central IL
Riverview Senior Living Community
RMH Foods
Robert Schnarr
Rocke's Meats Ltd
Schooner's of Morton
Sherwin Williams
Stephens Electric 
TCRC
The Iona Group 
The Prassas Co./Morton
Town Centre
The Whisler Agency 
Thomas E. Davies PC
Tri County Cleaning Systems
Unity Point Clinic Proctor First Care
Until He Return Prophetic Bible Ministries
Village of Morton
Walmart of Morton 
Web Services 
W. Central IL Bldg. & Construction Trades Council 
Witzig Financial Services 
Wm. Aupperle & Sons 
Yinlun USA
Yogi's Super Liquors

Pumpkin Festival Golden Anniversary Almost Here!
We are in the homestretch of preparations for this year's 50th Annual Morton Pumpkin Festival, sponsored by Libby's Pumpkin, on September 14-17! We're celebrating 50 years of memories and the support of countless volunteers, businesses, and community participants that continue to make this one of the premier community and family festivals in the Midwest!

The Pumpkin Store is Open Online
Order your official Pumpkin Festival t-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs, pins, and more at www.mortonpumpkinfestival.org. Online orders can be shipped or marked for pick up. Starting September 6, the Pumpkin Store will be open inside the Morton Chamber of Commerce office at 415 West Jefferson Street. Hours for merchandise sales will be 9 am to 5 pm on September 6, 7, 8, 9, and 12.
Register Today for Pumpkin Classic
pumpkin classic
The Pumpkin Classic 10K/2 Mile registration will close at capacity or on September 9 at midnight, so don't delay! Online registration only.

Packet Pick Up:   Either on Friday, September 16, from 5 - 7 pm at Lincoln School, 100 S. Nebraska Ave., or on Saturday morning beginning at 6 am in the 200 block of North First Avenue.
New Festival Events for 2016
Pumpkin Lip Sync is back! Register now for your chance to perform  on the Gold's Gym Entertainment Stage on Friday night, September 16! Top acts in each category receive $100 in Chamber Checks. Deadline is September 8 at midnight.

The  50 Mile Pumpkin Bike Tour on Saturday, September 10, will include areas of Morton, East Peoria, Tremont and Mackinaw.  All routes begin and end at the Morton Public Library, which will also serve as the Main Rest Stop. Register today.

On Sunday, September 11, kids from kindergarten through 8th grade are invited to participate in the Boxcar Derby, hosted by the Morton Kiwanis Club. Cars will be available or bring your own. Register online.

The Pumpkin Open Tennis Tournament, hosted by the Morton Tennis Association, will be on Sunday, September 11, at the Joal Stanfield Tennis Complex at MHS. Matches will be eight game Pro Sets. Register today.

Zip Line: Race your friends and family on this side-by-side zip line that spans over 300 ft, equivalent to the length of a football field. The zip line will be located on the Apostolic Church parking with the other rides. Purchase tickets there for $5 per zip. Cash only. All proceeds benefit Project Pumpkin.

The World-Famous Budweiser Clydesdales are returning to help us celebrate our 50 Anniversary! They will trot down Main Street on Thursday, September 15, following the Kiddie Parade! (weather permitting)

Don't miss the Fireworks Display on Friday, September 16, at 8:30 pm in the sky above the Festival grounds!

For a complete listing of events, go to  www.mortonpumpkinfestival.org
Volunteers Still Needed!
Thank you to everyone who has already volunteered to help with our Golden Celebration! Additional cashiers are still needed to keep the food lines moving. Cashiering with our iPads is fun and easy! Click HERE to get more information and sign up today!

Festival Entertainment Highlights
Wednesday, September 14, 8:30 pm: Cousin Eddie
Covering four decades of classic songs that will have you singing along with every word

Thursday, September 15, 7 pm: Joe Stamm Band
High energy country-rock

Friday, September 16, 7:30 pm: SEMPLE
"The Voice" finalist and winner of UK "Pop Stars: The Rivals" 

Saturday, September 17, 7 pm: Meet the Beetles
Loving tribute to John, Paul, George, and Ringo with costumes, accents, vintage equipment, and witty banter
Carnival Ticket Advance Sales Start September 6
carnival riders
Advance Discounted Tickets for Wednesday and Thursday come in a  strip of 10 tickets that can be purchased for $20 from Tuesday, September 6 - Tuesday, September 13 at the Morton Chamber office. Eli's Coffee Shop, Grimm's Inc, Kroger, Lennie's Meat Market, and Leaves N Beans will sell the tickets from September 6 until September 14 at noon. These tickets are good at their full value on Wednesday and Thursday and may be used at half their value on Friday and Saturday (Example: it will cost you 2 advance tickets for a ride that costs 1 ticket on Friday and Saturday). A strip of 10 tickets is $25 if you purchase them at the Festival.

Purchase a wristband and ride as many rides as you would like to on Friday, September 16 from 3 to 6 pm.  Advance sale wristbands are $20 and are available for purchase at all advance ticket sales locations and times. Wristbands are $25 at ticket booths on the carnival midway. 
Chamber Welcomes New Members for August
Ann's
Ann VanDerVoorn is re-opening a women's clothing store on the side of the building at 316 South Main Street.

Watch for this new women's clothing boutique to open soon at 125 West Jefferson Street.

LaFiesta
They are now open at their new location across from Kroger in the Jackson Plaza.

Modest yet trendy women's and girl's clothing.
Morton 13th Best Illinois City for Jobs

To help Illinois job seekers find the best opportunities, WalletHub's analysts compared 162 cities across 16 key metrics of job-market health, ranging from "employment growth" to "median monthly starting salary" to "unemployment rate." View the full study HERE.

Morton's Job Market (1=Best; 81=Avg.)
32nd- Time Spent Working & Commuting
12th- Health Benefits
6th- Unemployment Rate for High School Graduates
1st- Unemployment Rate for People with a Bachelor's Degree or Higher
24th- Safety
6th- Housing Affordability
Business Briefs

Heartland Bank and Trust will host a Community Shred Day on Saturday, September 10 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Heartland Bank is offering this shred service free of charge at its 179 E. Courtland St. branch in Morton.

'Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition' opens in late fall at the Peoria Riverfront Museum.  Previews of the exhibit are on display now at Morton Community Bank's Main Bank on Jackson Street in Morton.

Miller-Valentine Group, St. Mary Development Corporation and METEC have announced that Morton Estates at 935 East Jefferson Street in Morton is now open. 61 one and two bedroom apartments are available for adults 55 and over to rent. For more information, call 844-527-9423 or visit YourNextPlacetoLive.com

Thr3ads LLC is a women's clothing boutique that will open the week of Pumpkin Festival. Three sisters have come together to create a clothing experience for women ages 15-65 who want to feel great wearing quality-made clothing in the latest fashion trend styles.
Ribbon Cutting at La Fiesta

Celebrating the Grand Opening of La Fiesta's beautiful new restaurant located at 837 West Jackson!
Ribbon Cutting at Leaves 'n Beans

Congratulations to Leaves 'n Beans Coffee on the grand opening of their new location at 730 West Jackson Street! Stop by or drive thru!
District 709 Groundbreaking 

Congratulations to Morton District 709 on breaking ground for the upcoming expansions and renovations that will take place over the year!