I like to think that the holidays bring out the very best in us.  Just days ago, the Oswego Chamber’s Inspiring Women of Oswego presented a check to Mutual Ground, the local charity they chose and raised funds for throughout the course of the past twelve months.  Also just days ago, our five leads groups challenged each other to determine which group could provide the most assistance to the Kendall County Food Pantry.  When the dust settled on the “Great Hunger Challenge”, it took 4 vans to haul all the food plus in excess of $2,500 in cash to the pantry in Yorkville.

Now here we are celebrating Thanksgiving weekend, the unofficial kickoff of the Christmas season.  Our Chamber is going to be involved in a couple of major events beginning next week with the Christmas Walk in Downtown Oswego.  This annual event begins on Friday, December 2 at 5:00 pm and runs through 9 pm that evening.

Main Street will be blocked from Van Buren to Jefferson to make room for Santa’s Train, a skating rink, chain saw ice sculpture carving, lots of food vendors and more.  Santa will make his appearance at The Garden Faire where he’ll pose for pictures with all the kids.  Our Chamber Volunteers will be at the Masonic Lodge, 71 Main St., where we’ll conduct a silent auction of items donated by Chamber businesses for the benefit of the Oswegoland Optimist Club Needy Families at Christmas program.  We’ll also be selling our remaining stock of collectable Oswego Christmas Tree Decorations.

Santa moves around this time of year and he plans an appearance on Friday, December 2 at the AmericInn from 6:00 – 9:00 pm with fresh baked cookies and hot chocolate.  On Saturday, Dec. 3, events are scheduled at Mason Square, Route 34 and Douglas Road from 10:30 am – 2:30 pm which include  Santa & Mrs. Claus at Culvers, horse drawn wagon rides, Bednarcik & Thompson Jr. High School choirs, the Great Chicago Kiddie Train, a Merchant Scavenger Puzzle with over $5,000 in prizes to the various winners, the Heartland Blood Mobile at Edward Jones and more.

Finally, Oswego Chamber members will join together for some cheer at our annual Christmas Party on December 8 at the Knights of Columbus Hall where the winning Snowball Raffle tickets will be drawn.  Tickets are available at the Chamber office and you need not be present to win.  Special thanks goes to our ticket sponsors:  Citizens First National Bank, Leads Group 4, Alarm Detection Systems Inc, Oswego Chiropractic, RJ Automotive, SERVPRO and Premier Mailing Services.

Don’t look for me if you’re one of those people who hit the stores before dawn on Black Friday.  My wife does all the Christmas shopping for which I’m grateful.  I only hope she remembers that nifty fishing pole I pointed out the other day at the sporting goods store.  Merry Christmas!

Chamber notes is an occasional column written and provided by Steve Hatcher, the president and CEO of the Oswego Chamber of Commerce.