Pulse: Toyota has arrived for couple who won it from Bears
From Sun staff and freelance reports January 16, 2013 4:38PM
Tuesday, Filip and her husband, Roger, drove away from Toyota of Naperville in a new 2012 Toyota Camry SE V6 — a car the couple won thanks to a joint partnership between the Chicago Bears and Toyota. | Submitted
Article Extras
Updated: February 19, 2013 1:24PM
Judith Filip has learned her lesson when it comes to contests: you can’t win if you don’t enter.
Enter she did, and Tuesday, Filip and her husband, Roger, drove away from Toyota of Naperville in a new 2012 Toyota Camry SE V6 — a car the couple won thanks to a joint partnership between the Chicago Bears and Toyota. Filip learned she won the car last month when she appeared on the field during the Bears game versus Green Bay.
“I did say I’ll believe it when I see it, and now I have,” Filip gushed after company officials gave her an overview of the car and then ushered her off to an office to sign papers.
Filip ordered a custom black vehicle, complete with all the bells and whistles and a $34,000 list price.
“These kinds of Camry sports editions are hard to find,” said district sales manager Dan Williams. “We learned she wanted one in black and had to get it from another dealership in Indiana. This dealership here in Naperville was actually selected to deliver five cars in the past year that were won by contestants or promotions.”
Filip said the celebration over winning the car already happened a few weeks back, but that there were still plans on tap for Tuesday.
“We’re not going to go home and pop a bottle of champagne, but we’re probably going to a nice place for dinner,” she said.
Get healthy
Best-selling author coming to Anderson’s
Getting healthy and preventing disease through nutritional and natural methods has been the focus of board-certified physician and New York Times best-selling author Joel Fuhrman throughout his career.
Naperville fans will have the opportunity to see and hear the author and PBS television personality speak at 2 p.m. Sunday at North Central College’s Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave.
The event will be offered by Anderson’s Bookshop, arranged by owner Becky Anderson, who said she reached out to Fuhrman’s publisher and offered a proposal.
“Today, authors have these ‘event grids’ that are available in electronic form to legitimate stores, and I presented a proposal some time ago to try and get Dr. Fuhrman to come here,” Anderson said.
“Sometimes you’ll see they only plan to visit New York or Los Angeles, and we’ll urge them to make another stop here so we can show them what a viable bookseller can do.”
Anderson said Fuhrman’s appearance coincides nicely with Naperville Library’s “Healthy, Wealthy and Wise” initiative that is being launched this year.
“We’re hoping the library gets behind this event as we’re always looking to partner with others,” Anderson said.
Tickets for the Jan. 20 event are available with the purchase of Dr. Fuhrman’s new book “Super Immunity” from Anderson’s Bookshop, 123 W. Jefferson Ave.
Each book purchase includes admission for two for the book talk, question and answer, and book signing.
Making authors
Pitch story idea at ‘American Idol’ of books
Getting noticed in the publishing world takes some guidance and exposure, and next week, Anderson’s Bookshop in Naperville plans to once again toss a few curveballs at readers by offering their second annual Pitchapalooza event, which will bring hundreds of writers to Naperville to pitch their book ideas.
The event is being organized by Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry, who are co-founders of The Book Doctors, a company dedicated to helping authors get their books published. They are also co-authors of “The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published: How to Write It, Sell It, and Market It … Successfully.”
Last year’s event drew 300 people to the event Candice Purdom, who handles publicity and events for Anderson’s, calls “the American Idol of books.”
“About 25 authors were picked randomly last year to present their book ideas to this panel of experts that was assembled, and this year, organizers are expanding that by offering 25 others the chance to have their ideas heard the following day if they pre-register,” Purdom said.
The regular Pitchapalooza will be at 2 p.m. Saturday. Those wishing to attend Sunday’s follow-up session for 25 additional authors must pre-register by visiting www.andersonsbookshop.com/events#TICKETS. Cost is $100 and includes a copy of the organizer’s book.
Change of venue
Bubble Bash a smash
at NCC’s Wentz Hall
When folks at the DuPage Children’s Museum decided to move their annual Bubble Bash off site this year to North Central College’s Wentz Hall, there were some concerns about whether a change of venue might negatively impact the event.
But in the aftermath, Bri Bromberek, marketing manager for the museum, said there was nothing to fear.
“We had several hundred people pre-register for the event, but on Dec. 31 when we held our 11th annual bash, there was a huge walk-up crowd and the lines were out the door,” Bromberek said. “It was very well received. A lot of people complimented us this time about the project and felt that the program was not too long or short and that it kept the children entertained.”
Bromberek said some patrons of the museum expressed concerns about how the event might go in a new location, but many who came liked having Wentz Hall as an option and would welcome coming there again.
“We are opening our Smart Café this week, which is why we couldn’t have Bubble Bash here in the lower level, but it’s nice to know if we decide to do this off site again that it’s an option people like,” Bromberek said. “We have a great relationship with the college, and we’re always looking to expand our partnerships.”
top of their game
North musicians strike twice at IMEA
When the 2013 Illinois Music Educators Association annual conference takes place this month, it will be twice as nice for members of Naperville North High School.
The Symphonic Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Dan Moore and Brian Van Kley, and the Jazz Ensemble, under Moore’s direction, will both perform at the statewide convention.
“The Illinois Music Educators Association conference highlights the ‘best of the best,’” said Randy Kulik, Naperville District 203 music coordinator. “When you play at the conference, you’ve made it to the show; only the finest musical originations in the state are invited to perform.”
While ensembles have performed at the annual convention in prior years, Kulik said it’s an incredible honor to have two groups from the same school selected in the same year.
“To have more than one group perform is an indication that the school’s music department is exemplary in multiple facets of music education,” Kulik said. “This is truly remarkable. It’s indicative of a musical curriculum that is extremely well balanced and places emphasis on all aspects of the musical discipline.”
Kulik will be in the audience, soaking up the sounds of the area’s top youth musicians.
“I will be looking forward to brilliant concert and jazz performances that will rival that which is produced by the finest professional musical organizations,” he said. “The passion and sound of a Naperville music organization should be enjoyed by everyone. I hope the house is packed.”
The convention takes place Jan. 23 to 25 at the Peoria Civic Center in Peoria.
Party time
Dems staking a place
in DuPage chambers
People might tell you that the role of partisan politics means little at the local level. Don’t be fooled.
When the legislative and governmental affairs committee of the DuPage County Board sat down Tuesday in its new configuration, five of its six members were on hand — as well as several more board members who apparently were just curious. In all, the turnout was one Democrat to every two Republicans — a larger presence than the board in its entirety, but closer to the four in 10 DuPage residents who identify themselves as Democrats these days. All four of the women on the board also were in the room; the fairer gender’s 22 percent representation on the board still correlates less with the county’s larger population, which is 51 percent women.
Members of the committee include Donald Puchalski, Liz Chaplin, John Curran, JR McBride, Tonia Khouri and James Zay, representing Districts 1 through 6, respectively. Also attending this week’s meeting were former committee chairman Jim Healy and Tony Michelassi, the other two board members who represent Naperville and the rest of District 5, plus newly elected board members Amy Grant of District 4 and Laurie Nowak from District 6.
Asked how it came about that he, Chaplin and Nowak — all three of the Democrats on the 18-member board — came out for the meeting, Michelassi had a concise reply: “United front.”
Criminal activity
You do the math
in vodka, spud capers
Chicagoan Steven J. Raudenbush, 27, was arrested in the early morning hours of Jan. 5, after allegedly trying to skip out on his tab for seven vodka and Red Bull cocktails at Potter’s Place in downtown Naperville.
And just about 24 hours later, and just down the street, 24-year-old Aurora resident Adrian Martinez reportedly tried and failed to make off with a 50-pound sack of raw potatoes from Five Guys Burgers & Fries.
The bar bill came to $63. The potatoes were worth 50 bucks.
Following their misadventures, the hapless Raudenbush and Martinez had to post bonds of $120 apiece just to get out of the Naperville police station’s hoosegow.
And in addition to those unexpected out-of-pocket expenses, there probably will be fines and legal fees aplenty to pay in settling their upcoming cases in DuPage County Circuit Court.
(We know nobody asked us, but if you’re determined to gamble, perhaps you gentlemen should consider playing the ponies, instead.)
Another rye observation
And as long as we’re on the subject of the demon Rum, John C. Karimkuttyil was arrested late Sunday afternoon near Benton Avenue and Washington Street and charged with drunken driving.
A written Naperville police report didn’t indicate what the 58-year-old Karimkuttyil’s reputed beverage of choice had been.
But he does live in the Orleans area of Naperville’s southeast side. On Bourbon Lane.
