Ok, I must confess, the topic of sports is not my specialty. Even though my father was a huge White Sox fan, my family leaned more toward the arts. However, I have a great respect for professional and amateur sports. For the most part, the fans are loyal and passionate. The coaches are inspiring and the players skilled and relentless. I repeat - for the most part. I know there are disappointing situations and teams and seasons. But when our favorite teams win, WOW, the energy changes. The excitement is palpable!
In this week's Purple Plans, we focus on the collaboration, positive team work and the camaraderie the love of sports conveys. The same type of team work we see exhibited from our downtown Lombard businesses. (Oh, yes, I always have a tie-in...)
In our Friday Feature we meet new LTC Business Member, Scott Ellis of S.L.S. Plumbing, Heating & Cooling. As a business owner and former amateur football coach, Scott knows exactly how experience and positive team work can bring about success.
We also share stories about local business owners who have a love for the game, fun places to watch the game, and cool shops where you can buy sports themed accessories!
"Sports do not build character, they reveal it." -Heywood Brown
Live, Work, Play, Purple!
Lynne Magnavite
Interim Executive Director
Lombard Town Centre
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Friday Feature - A Winning Team
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SLS Plumbing
When Scott Ellis of S.L.S. Plumbing, Heating & Cooling 820 N. Ridge was about five years old, he would fix things. He helped his father repair cars and things around the house. When Scott was 18, he discovered construction and learned framing, roofing, and gutters. He remodeled and rehabbed houses. But when the market crashed, Scott focused on a specialty - plumbing, heating and cooling and his business grew quickly.
As a family-owned-and-operated company since 1990, S.L.S. Plumbing Heating & Cooling, is dedicated to providing their customers in and around Lombard, IL with industry leading plumbing, heating, and cooling services. They give customers long-lasting and high-quality solutions to their home mechanical needs. Scott and his team strongly believe in quality over quantity and note that there is no job too big or too small.
Capable and engaging, Scott, like the owners of other family owned businesses, wears a lot of hats. A stickler for quality, Scott takes every business task from trade work, to administration, to marketing, very seriously. He is very proud of his website which includes comprehensive information about the training required of his knowledgeable and expert staff, the products and services he delivers, customer reviews and in the near future, tips and videos!
A family man first and foremost, Scott likes to spend time with wife, three daughters who graduated from Glenbard East, and his son who is currently a freshman at the high school. For six years, Scott enjoyed coaching the Lombard Falcons, a feeder league. He also coached his son's eighth-grade team serving as assistant coach for 3-years and head coach for 3-years. Coaching football is a way for Scott give back to the community and have a blast with his son! It's also a way to teach young players leadership, teamwork, and hustle, all necessary skills to be successful in life.
Scott's shop isn't necessarily a visible brick and mortar business in downtown Lombard, but he is always out and about servicing customers in the area. Downtown Lombard is his extended family!
Look for Scott and S.L.S. Plumbing, Heating & Cooling's booth at the 11th Annual Spooktacular Fall Festival, October 16th from Noon to 4:00 p.m. Scott has a way of making everything lively and fun - can't wait to see what he has in store!
S.L.S. Plumbing, Heating & Cooling
820 N. Ridge
Lombard, IL
630-495-0960
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Downtown Lombard businesses love their sports! Here are a few downtown Lombard sports stories...
Dan and Colleen Whittington of
The Cellar, 141 W. St. Charles are
HUGE sports fans and are so excited with the Chicago Cubs this year! Stop in to The Cellar for a glass of wine or craft beer and chat up Dan on one of his favorite teams! www.vinocellar.com
Tom Masterson is another big sports fan from college ball to pro. You never have to guess how the Cubs are doing - just drive down St. Charles Avenue and slow down by Thomas J. Masterson & Company, 128 W. St. Charles. The flag in the window will give you an indication of a win. A broom in the window...a sweep! We hope to see that flag and broom a lot...
The Nolan Agency, 110 W. St. Charles and their carrier Safeco sponsor the Player of the Game for the Glenbard East football team. Annually, they generously donate money to the sports team and at the beginning of each home game Pete Nolan gives a medal and certificate to the winner of the Player of the Game from the previous game. Pete understands the value of recognizing up-and-coming athletes. It's an incredible opportunity to showcase the sports program at the high school.
Team Building
The sports arena is competitive, but the one thing everyone has in common is team work! Two downtown businesses, Sky Centers Martial Arts, 112 W. St. Charles and The Dance Centre, 9 N. Main Street, both have experienced teams who produce incredible performances. Look for these two teams at the 11th Annual, Spooktacular Fall Festival , Sunday, October 16th in downtown Lombard. And watch for the 10/7 Purple Plans where we feature these two groups!
The Dance Centre
Elite Team, Sky Centers Martial Arts
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Where to watch the game...
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TGIM! Monday Night Football at MKT
Yes, Monday is the new Friday at Marquette Kitchen and Tap, 18 W. St. Charles! Why stay home and watch the game, when you can join a fun crowd and get ½ priced drinks! The kitchen is open until 9:00 p.m. and MKT's delicious brat sliders and bacon chili are fan favorites.
Monday Hours: 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Happy Hour 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Kitchen closes at 9:00 p.m.
18 W. St. Charles
630-613-9056
www.marquettekitchenandtap.com
Shannon's
Did you notice anything different while passing by Shannon's Deli, 11 S. Park? The new outdoor sign is a terrific addition to the beautiful rooftop deck! Check out Shannon's delicious menu and instead of takeaway, why not sit up on the deck and enjoy the fall weather or sit inside among all of the cool sports photos and watch the game!
Shannon's Deli
Hours:
Mon - Sat: 10:30 am - 8 pm
Sun: 11:00 am - 3 pm
A Neighborhood Place
Punky's Pub, 16 S. Park is
the friendly neighborhood pub where everyone knows each other! If you are new the crowd, you will be best friends with the group by the evening's end. The outdoor area is perfect for a warm fall evening enjoying good chat and good drinks. And inside is a welcoming place to enjoy the game!
Outdoor Viewing Night!
Lombard Town Centre is in the middle of planning another Sports Outdoor Viewing Night in October. We will close down South Park Avenue between St. Charles and the Metra train station, put up our 20-foot screen and sports fans can enjoy the evening in our beautiful downtown.
Details coming soon!
Lombard Town Centre
2 S. Park, Suite 2 C
630-620-8063
director@lombardtowncentre.org
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Angela Pinto, owner of Paradiso, 6 S. Park Avenue, knows fashion and her sports tees are really fun! You can still look cute even at a baseball game! Stop by Paradiso to get your Chicago Cubs t-shirt's or any of your favorite Chicago teams attire Friday 9/30 for only $15!!!
Fairy Tales, 28 W. St. Charles has a large selection of Tervis products. These high-quality insulated tumblers, water bottles and mugs are perfect for sipping your beverage of choice while watching your favorite game. Match the Tervis to your team! This week get a 15% discount on sports related Tervis items. And Fairy Tales also carries Blackhawk ornaments!
Co-founders and designers, Claudia Arroyo and
Shannon
Johnson of ClaSha
, 19 W. St. Charles create unique and carefully crafted gifts. Check out their Team Store for sports totes, hats, gloves and more!
http://clasha.com/t/team-shop
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Residents Invited to Open House with Fire Department
The Lombard Fire Department is inviting residents to attend a community open house at Fire Station 45 at 50 E. St. Charles Rd., on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 6-8 p.m., in conjunction with National Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 9-15.
The free open house will include fire safety education and the opportunity to get a closer look at Fire and EMS vehicles, and the apparatus involved in firefighting. This year's Fire Prevention Week Theme, "Don't wait, check the date", is highlighting the importance of checking the expiration date on the back of smoke detectors. All smoke alarms need to be replaced when they are 10 years old or if they don't respond when tested.
One grand prize raffle winner, who attends school in within Lombard school districts, will win a ride to school in a fire truck. To enter the raffle, bring non-perishable food items to the open house. Each item equals another chance to win, up to 10 entries per person. Items will be donated to the Lombard Villa Park Food Pantry.
Participants who purchased a pink shirt in early Sept. are invited to wear their shirts for a group photo with the Fire Department at 7 p.m. The pink shirts are sold annually to raise funds for the Good Samaritan Hospital's Cancer Care Center.
The event is hosted by the Lombard Fire Department in partnership with ComEd, DuPage Public Safety Communications (DUCOMM), DuPage County Office of Emergency Management, Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, Good Samaritan Hospital, National Fire Sprinkler Association, Lombard Historical Society, Lombard Police Department, West Suburban Bank, and many others.
Anyone with questions about the event can contact Lombard Fire Lt. Tony Sally (630) 620-5736.
Also, check out the Village's Facebook page and Twitter for more news about our Village!
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THANK YOU SPOOKTACULAR FALL FESTIVAL SPONSORS!!!
On Sunday, October 16th, Lombard Town Centre in partnership with the Prairie Food Coop with host the 11th annual Spooktacular Fall Festival from 12:00 noon - 4:00 p.m. at the intersection of St. Charles and Park Avenue in Downtown Lombard.
Each year the festival has grown and this year will be no exception, with live performances by Mighty Joe, Tommy Pope, dynamic showcases from Sky Centers Martial Arts and The Dance Centre, and other live entertainment.
There will be trick-or-treating in the downtown businesses from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m., games, a petting zoo, pumpkin decorating while supplies last, Arts & Crafts vendors and plenty of food and fun for all! Wristband price for all games and activities: $1/children, adults, free.
We thank our wonderful sponsors
for their generous support.
Thomas J. Masterson & Company,
Lombard Town Centre is dedicated preserving and promoting our historic downtown as the heart of Lombard and a vibrant commercial destination.
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"You can't buy happiness, but you can buy local and that's kind of the same."
Lynne Magnavite
Interim Executive Director
Lombard Town Centre
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