Since Valentine's Day falls on Thursday, a school night, local businesses that cater to the family are especially feeling the love this year.  Papa Murphy's, (the fifth largest pizza chain in the nation) is swamped with cheesy Valentine's orders for their HeartBaker™ - a pizza in the form of a heart. In fact, V-Day is a heart stopper for sure - one of the busiest pizza days of the year!  We'd love to have you come out to a Papa Murphy's in our area this week to show how we make the HeartBaker™ - a perfect gift for the entire family!

You could cover this as part of a bigger story on how local businesses are swamped with V-Day orders - (businesses like Papa Murphy's, florists, card shops, candy stores, jewelry shops).

Papa Murphy's Difference:

Papa Murphy's is so successful on Valentine's Day because the company capitalizes on the new trend of staying home with the family on Valentine's Day - especially when it falls on a school night.  In a recent survey, 90% of women with children say they're happy to  spend V-Day at home with the kids.  62% say the high prices and big crowds deter them from going out on Valentine's Day. At Papa Murphy's, you pick your own fresh ingredients and take the HeartBaker™ home to bake in your own oven - vs. - going out or waiting for the pizza boy with a cold delivery. Papa Murphy's brings families together through food, people and love. 

CUPID WANTS YOUR DOUGH (Crazy Facts about Valentine's Day Spending)

Did you know On Valentine's Day  -

• Spending is expected to reach more than $17 billion nationwide
• 141 million cards are exchanged worldwide - (second to only Christmas in card sales)
• The average consumer will spend $126
• Men spend double what women spend - $168 compared to $85
• 85% of women prefer quality time with their significant other instead of a gift
• 52% of women say they feel guilty if their significant other spends too much on a V- Day gift
• Half of women say they would end the relationship if their significant other forgot V-Day
• 198 million roses bought on V-Day  (mostly red)
• Folks will spend $1.7 billion on followers - 73% bought by men, 27% by women
• 8 billion candy hearts will be produced - enough to be laid out from Rome, Italy to Valentine, Arizona - 20 times and back again
• 11% of Americans will get engaged on V-Day

So don't be a heart breaker!! Come out and show how we make the HEARTBAKER! I've enclosed a press release with OTHER heart-shaped VALENTINE'S gift ideas and would love to help you tell this story.

Lifelong Public Advocate to Help Protect Illinois Consumers; 

New Leaders Named at Illinois Schools for the Deaf and Visually Impaired

CHICAGO - February 8, 2013. Following an announcement made in his recent State of the State address, Governor Pat Quinn today appointed lifelong public advocate Miguel del Valle to the Illinois Commerce Commission. The governor also announced the appointment of Janice Smith-Warshaw as superintendent of the Illinois School for the Deaf (ISD) and Serena Preston as superintendent of the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired (ISVI). Today's appointments continue the governor's commitment to making state government more accountable, transparent and effective.

"Miguel del Valle has devoted his life to serving others across Illinois, and he will be a strong voice for consumers on the Illinois Commerce Commission," Governor Pat Quinn said. "The extensive experience Janice Smith-Warshaw and Serena Preston will bring to two of our most important schools will help ensure students at ISD and ISVI achieve their full potential."

Miguel del Valle previously served one term as City Clerk of Chicago and was the first Hispanic elected to the Illinois State Senate, where he represented his constituents for 20 years and held chairmanships of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus and the Senate Executive committee. He is the co-founder of the Illinois Association of Hispanic State Employees and the Illinois Latino Advisory Council on Higher Education. Because of his work to improve education for all Illinois students, he was appointed by Governor Quinn to chair the Illinois P-20 Council in 2009. He holds a Master's degree in Education and Guidance from Northeastern University.

Janice Smith-Warshaw will become the first deaf superintendent of ISD since the school opened in 1839. She has served at the California School for the Deaf, Riverside since 2000, where she has risen from elementary teacher to principal and now as curriculum supervisor for the school, which serves students ages three to 21. She has also taught at the Model Secondary School for the Deaf in Washington D.C. and the Delaware School for the Deaf. She holds a Master's Degree in Deaf Education from McDaniel College and is a doctoral candidate in Leadership for Educational Justice at the University of Redlands.

Serena Preston, of Jacksonville, Illinois, has served as Acting Superintendent of ISVI since February, 2012, where she has overseen all school operations and been a strong voice for improving education for students with special needs. During the past 16 years, she has worked as ISVI as a vocational principal, behavior specialist and high school math teacher. She holds a Master's Degree in Special Education from Illinois State University and a Bachelor's degree in Learning Disability's and Social Emotional Disorders from MacMurray College in Jacksonville. She is an extensively licensed Illinois educator and is an active member of the community, serving as superintendent of the 4-H county fair show for 22 years, as well as vice chair of the Jacksonville Area Transition Planning Council.

For more information about Illinois' boards and commissions or to apply for a position, visit appointments.illinois.gov.    

Players from the Quad City Mallards will be joining us for the regular Lego Club programs this month at our 30/31 and Southwest Branch. Join us and make something creative:

4:00 pm, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 30/31 Branch, 3059 30th Street, and

4:00 pm, Wednesday, Feb. 20, Southwest Branch, 9010 Ridgewood Road.

Lego Club is free and is open to grades K through 6.