HAPPY NEW YEAR! Magazine. Local Calendar of Events See Inside. Serving Washington. January 2018

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1 January 2018 Serving Washington Magazine HAPPY NEW YEAR! Local Calendar of Events See Inside A Community Publication Provided By MTCO Communications

2 Happy New Year 2018 has arrived! Happy New Year 2018 to our customers and readers of Connected Magazine! The past year was another great year for us, and we hope you finished out 2017 reaching your goals and feeling like you have accomplished great things along the way. At MTCO, we are most hopeful the upcoming year will be another positive and uplifting year. Since 1945, we have strived to be a great company and friend to the community. After 72 years, we are very happy to continue serving the Metamora and Germantown Hills in the new year. The editors of Connected Magazine are excited to publish this local resource for yet another year! If you haven t met us yet, we would like to introduce ourselves to you. We are Bob Becraft and Kip DuBois, founders and editors of this magazine since its inception in May of We started this magazine to keep us connected with you and the communities we serve! Kip has been with MTCO for over 18 years, while Bob came to work with the company over 21 years ago. Together, we have many years of sales and marketing experience, and love the work we are able to do for MTCO. Both of us wear other hats for the company as well, and really look forward to publishing a new magazine every month. We hope you have found it to be valuable for events in our small town. It s been a pleasure serving the communities with information and events happening every month. Our goal is to be involved in the community that we work and live in. Magazine We depend on you to keep us informed with information for upcoming editions. Unfortunately, we sometimes make some errors, and always accept corrections and guidance from our readers. We are not a main stream media type of magazine. This magazine is here to promote local events, meetings and organizations that help make up our small town life. Do not hesitate to send us your events to be included in Connected Magazine. If you have a great picture of life in our small town and would like to share it with our readers, send it to us for consideration to be printed. Our contact information is located at the bottom of this page. Happy New Year from all of us at MTCO! On The Cover Happy New Year Washington! Pictured on the cover is our Happy New Year Baby Luc, the grandson of Jim and Tina Vance. We hope everyone has a great year in 2018! Connected Magazine will be here keeping you connected to it all! MTCO Communications 220 N. Menard Street Metamora, Illinois connected@mtco.com President & CEO Glenn Rauh Vice President & CFO Ann Dickerson Media Manager Editor - Connected Magazine Bob Becraft bbecraft@corp.mtco.com Marketing Manager Editor - Connected Magazine Kip DuBois kdubois@corp.mtco.com Connected Magazine is published monthly by MTCO Communications with corporate office located at 220 North Menard Street, Metamora, Illinois, The publication is intended for use of the residents of Washington. No article in this issue or any part of this publication may be reproduced without the expressed written permission of the Publisher. For more information about this magazine, or for additional copies, contact Bob Becraft or Kip DuBois at or connected@mtco.com. If you have questions or concerns regarding your services, please contact our Customer Service Representatives at (309) or Copyright 2018 MTCO Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

3 Entertainment & Technology Smart Robot Vacuum The Botvac D7 Connected is Neato s smartest, most powerful robot vacuum that adapts to your home for the most convenient and personalized clean. With Neato s advanced brush system, Ultra Performance Filter, and the best connectivity (including 5GHz Wi-Fi), this clever wonder keeps floors free of dirt, hair, fur, and allergens. The exclusive LaserSmart technology maps and remembers your home s unique layout to navigate up to 5000 square feet with greater precision. Neato s distinct D-shape design allows the Botvac D7 Connected to get deep into corners and close to walls, unlike round robots. It tackles an entire floor with ease and automatically recharges. Channel Updates The rebranding of Spike TV (digimax channel 80/567HD) as the Paramount Network will take place at 9 p.m. on Thursday, January 18th. Series premieres in early 2018 include Waco, American Woman, and Yellowstone. Yellowstone, starring Kevin Costner, follows the sometimes violent world of the Dutton family, who controls the largest ranch in the United States. The Olympic Channel (318/476HD) will launch content to be available on digimax On Demand and watchtveverywhere in early January Look for feature coverage of competitions, as well as programs focusing on Olympic athletes. Chill Out If a microwave can also chill a room-temperature beer down to 37ºF in just six minutes, is it still a microwave? Well, this one is. The Frigondas is a new countertop appliance that looks just like a microwave, and even heats food just like a microwave. But if you press a button on the control panel, the Frigondas can cool drinks and flash-freeze fresh food in seconds. The Frigondas was designed by engineers in Spain and built in Korea (the name is a portmanteau of the Spanish words frigorífico and microondas refrigerator and microwave). The designers of the Frigondas claim its dual evaporators and unique fan design can freeze fresh fruits and vegetables in just six minutes, a process that takes almost 15 times as long in most home freezers. Ice takes just 12 minutes and, most importantly, it will chill your beer in six minutes. That makes it ideal for RVs, boats, and vacation homes. TV Premieres Ellen s Game of Games - Tuesday, Jan. 2nd at 7 p.m. on NBC. Ellen DeGeneres hosts this new hilarious and energetic comedy game show. Contestants are pulled from her audience and have to maneuver massive obstacles, answer questions under intense time pressure, and face plunges into the unknown, all in a quest for cash prizes. Planet Earth: Blue Planet - Saturday, Jan. 20th at 8 p.m. on BBC America. Take a trip into the mesmerizing world of our oceans, the most undiscovered place on the planet. Complete with heart-pounding exploration and incredible cinematography. Keep up with Entertainment and Technology news. Add MTCO to your Facebook and Twitter groups, and visit the MTCO Blogspot at

4 Who is thinking snow? Not Ron Patterson of Morton. He enjoyed a round of golf on December 20th.

5 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday American Legion Meeting 6:30pm Legion Riders Meeting 6pm Washington Rotary Club Meeting 12pm Washington Lions Club Mtg. at Kep s 6:30pm Washington Rotary Club Meeting 12pm Central District 51 Board Meeting 7pm All-You-Can-Eat District 50 Board Meeting 6:30pm District 52 Board Mtg. 7pm District 308 Board Mtg 7pm Rotary Club 12pm WHIP Food Pantry 8:30am - 11am 4:30pm - 6pm WHIP Food Pantry 8:30am - 11am 4:30pm - 6pm STEAM Power Projects Washington Branch Libary 4pm Queen of Hearts Drawing American Legion 7pm Queen of Hearts Drawing American Legion 7pm Queen of Hearts Drawing American Legion 7pm Breakfast Taylor Masonic Lodge #98 7am-10am Washington Chamber Trivia Night Countryside Banquet 7om Washington Park District Board Meeting 6pm Washington Rotary Club Meeting 12pm Queen of Hearts Drawing American Legion 7pm Washington Rotary Club Meeting 12pm

6 In Our Community The Answer Is... The 4th Annual Washington Chamber of Commerce Trivia Night will take place at 7 p.m. on Saturday, January 20th at Countryside Banquet Facility. Tables and dress are encouraged to go along with this year s theme World of Sports. Trivia questions will not necessarily pertain to the theme. The evening includes seven rounds of trivia fun, with chances to get free answers and bonus rounds for extra points. Prizes will be awarded for Best Decorated Table, Best Dressed Team, and first place winners. There will be a cash bar and food provided by Countryside Banquet. Registration deadline is Tuesday, January 16th. To register, contact the chamber at or info@washingtoncoc.com. No table reservations will be available after the deadline. Be prepared to give your name as the contact person, your and phone number, form of payment (cash, check or charge), and your team name for the evening. Cost is $180 per table (minimum of four, maximum of eight per table). STEAM Power Project The Washington Branch Library invites kids ages three and up on the first Thursday of each month for a new STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) project. Make a kaleidoscope on Thursday, January 4th at 4 p.m. Daddy Daughter Princess Ball Enjoy an evening out with your special princess on Saturday, February 3rd at 6 p.m. at Countryside Banquet Center! Dinner, dancing, food, and quality time await you. A DJ, photo booth, and professional photos will be provided. The theme this year will be Vintage Circus. Contact the Washington Park District to make your reservation, or visit them online at www. washingtonparkdistrict.com. Annual Chamber Awards The Washington Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for its three annual awards. Registation deadline is Wednesday, January 24th for all three awards. Washingtonian Award Nominate a local resident for their service to the Washington community. They should be an individual with a history of unselfish service and committment to the community. Business Beautification Award Nominate a Washington business for outside improvements to a Commercial/Industrial Property, which adds to the neighborhood s beauty and community pride. Outstanding Business Award This award is for a Washington business that goes above and beyond in their business dealings and their customer service. Contact the Washington Chamber for nomination forms or more information at Do you have some community news to share with the residents of Washington? Send it to connected@mtco.com, or mail it to us at 220 N. Menard St., Metamora, IL Attn: Connected Magazine.

7 It s Happening at Five Points New Year s Greeting - That s Amore! Saturday, January 6th - 7:30 p.m Start the year off right with a night of Italy s beloved music with two vocal stars, Sarah McMahon and Sal Viviano, bringing the sizzle from a Frank Sinatra tune to an aria by Verdi from Babbino Caro to Volare! Eat, Drink and Be Married Bridal Event Saturday, January 13th - 12 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Free admission with wine tasting, appetizers from local caterers, photobooth fun, and bridal offers from area businesses. Contact Five Points online at or by calling (309) All-You-Can-Eat Breakfast The Taylor Masonic Lodge #98 at 119 N. Wilmor Rd will serve an all-you-can-eat breakfast from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday, January 20th. All-you-can-eat breakfast includes biscuits, gravy, scrambled eggs, sausage, hash browns, fruit cocktail, grits, pancakes (regular or blueberry), french toast and beverages. Cost is $7 per adult, $3.50 for kids 6-12 years old. Kids under six eat free. Proceed with Caution Spammers are becoming more sophisticated using offical-like addresses, actual corporate logos, and the use of personal data to lure their victims. Here are a few reminders to always be cautious to protect yourself from fraud artists and phishing attacks: Never participate in offers that pop up on your computer screen or your smartphone that ask you to participate in polls or surveys to receive prizes or rewards. Below are samples of two recent scams people have received. These scams may steal personal information and if you offer your credit card number it may be stolen or you may receive a much larger charge for an item they are promising. When making a transaction online, make certain you have a secure link. Check for a padlock symbol in the browser window frame, and that the web address begins with The s stands for secure. Make sure you regularly install updates to your operating system, and have the latest version of your web browser. (For example Chrome or Firefox.) This will ensure you have the latest security features. Legitimate online companies will not ask for your login details, such as your password or user ID. You should only need to provide this information when you are logging into a service such as online banking. Never provide your username and/or password for your account if you receive a random from an address that looks like it is from MTCO. If you question anything that says it is from MTCO, please delete it or call MTCO to verify its legitimacy.

8 A New Year s Gift to You - MORE DATA!! MTCO is increasing the amount of data provided per month in three new data plan tiers, effective January 1, 2018: 1 TB - Included at NO CHARGE! 2TB - $15/mo. Unlimited - now only $35/mo.! 1 Terabyte (TB) = 1000 Gigabytes. What will 1 TB deliver? Stream 330 HD movies, play online games for more than 12,000 hours, or stream 16,570 hours of music. Get the most out of your wireless Internet at home. Smoother streaming. Faster downloads. Extended Range. Optimize whole home performance on ALL your wireless devices! digimax Managed Wi-Fi Service with GigaCenter only $7/mo. Local remote tech support, auto updates, easily replace if it fails, and you will not be tied to equipment as technology changes. Other charges, requirements and restrictions may apply. CALL TODAY! MTCO (6826)