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"HIGHWOOD FOR THE HOLIDAYS" EMBRACES LOCAL MILITARY PERSONNEL FROM GREAT LAKES NAVAL BASE & FORT SHERIDAN RESERVE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

5th Annual Celebration
to take place Sunday December 8th from 3-6pm, Downtown Highwood



 



HIGHWOOD, IL
(DECEMBER 8, 2013)
– As people everywhere make plans to spend their holidays with
family, the Highwood Chamber of Commerce is recognizing the servicemen and
women stationed in nearby Naval Station Great Lakes and Fort Sheridan Reserve
with a celebration to make them feel at home in Highwood for the Holidays. The
Highwood community will embrace over 300 military personnel at the fifth annual
Highwood for the Holidays, taking place on December 8th from 3-6pm
throughout Downtown Highwood.

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The City will be magically transformed into a winter
wonderland complete with lit ice luminaries lining the streets, local
businesses welcoming the Military with specials, food, drinks, fresh roasted
chestnuts, live music, a special address to the military from local dignitaries
at 5pm, followed by the soldiers marching in cadence through the luminary lit
streets.  New for 2013, the Rotary Club
of Highland Park/Highwood will be supplying an interactive photo booth that
will allow soldiers to take photos with Santa and immediately share them with
family and friends around the country and fellow soldiers around the world.
Also, K9 Reading Buddies of the North Shore will be bringing a
"troop" of dogs over to the event to pose for photos, or to simply
spend time with a soldier who may be missing the companionship of their own
animal.

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“We are encouraging
all members of Highwood and our surrounding communities to come out and show
their appreciation to the military men and women who stand in uniform to
protect and defend the liberties, and the way of life, we so dearly cherish,”
states Mayor Pecaro. “We are inviting everyone to show their support and
holiday spirit by creating ice luminaries to line the streets to honor our
soldiers when they visit Highwood and march in cadence through our
streets.”  Ice luminaries are simple to
create with household items and can be dropped off at City Hall anytime after
2pm on December 8th. Please see DIY example of ice luminaries in
which anyone can make: http://www.designmom.com/2013/01/diy-ice-luminaries.



 



Local dignitaries will address the Military personnel at the
honorary ceremony at 5pm at Buffo’s (431 Sheridan Rd). The troops will then
march in cadence at 5:30 pm along the lighted frozen luminary path to Oak
Terrace Elementary School (240 Prairie Avenue), where an exclusive dinner,
supplied by Wildfire, Highland Park Hospital, Pastificio, The Bent Fork and
Buffo’s, will be held at 6pm.  The
evening will end with a special Military release of sky lanterns, (weather
permitting).



 



“As the new principal of Oak Terrace Elementary School, I am
honored to be a part of this great tradition of hosting our local heroes for
the holidays,” says Jim Kallieris, Principal at Oak Terrace Elementary
School.  “The Oak Terrace community is grateful for the sacrifices that
our service men and women have made to make our country what it is today.”



 



There is no cost
to attend, however, Highwood is asking local residents and businesses to
sponsor Highwood for the Holiday gift certificates that will be given to the military.
These gift certificates can be used at local businesses throughout the day to
help in purchasing gifts for their friends and family, to enjoy a meal in Highwood, or to utilize any
other of the many services Highwood businesses offer.



 



Gift certificates
may be purchased beforehand in $10 increments at businesses throughout town,
such as The Toadstool Pub, The Bent Fork Bakery, Jordan Joseph Encore,
Consignments Etc. Jen Z's, ANY MORE?? or by sending a check made out to the
Highwood Chamber of Commerce to PO Box 305, Highwood, IL 60040, or the day
of the event.  Sponsor a Soldier forms can be downloaded at http://www.celebratehighwood.com/HighwoodForHolidays2013SponsorSoldierFormFINAL.pdf.



 



For more information on all of Highwood’s festivals, please
visit www.CelebrateHighwood.com,
or call 847-432-6000. For updates on all Celebrate Highwood events, please visit
the City of Highwood Facebook
page, or follow Celebrate Highwood @CityofHighwood
on Twitter.



 



ABOUT THE HIGHWOOD
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE



The Highwood Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to promoting
and improving the business community in Highwood, Illinois. The Chamber
continues to improve the unique and vibrant city through special events,
cultivating new business, and implementing successful business strategies.
Known as a “regional chamber”, Highwood provides businesses from all over
Illinois and Wisconsin with valuable networking opportunities. 2013 marks the
50th anniversary for the Highwood Chamber.



 



The Highwood Chamber of Commerce is located at 445
Sheridan Road, with a mailing address of P.O. Box 305, Highwood, IL 60040. For
more information, please visit www.highwoodchamberofcommerce.com,
www.celebratehighwood.com, or
call 847.433.2100.
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