Christmas Tree Lot Opens Nov. 26 –
First Capitol Lions
The First Capitol Lions Club will be selling Christmas Trees beginning on Saturday, November 26, 2005. The finest pines from Nova Scotia, Canada will be available in sizes from 4 feet to 9 feet and include Douglas and Frasier Firs, Balsams and Scotch pines. The club will also sell pine roping, grave mats and wreaths. Free delivery of Christmas trees is available to St. Charles City residents.
The lot will be open from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays, and from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sundays through December 19th. The tree lot is located in the parking lot of Lyon’s Frozen Custard at the corner of Elm Street and Duchesne in St. Charles.
FIRST BANKS, INC. ANNOUNCES COMPLETION ACQUISITION
OF NORTHWAY STATE BANK
First Banks, Inc. (“First Banks”) and Northway State Bank (“Northway”) jointly announce completion today of the previously announced acquisition of Northway by First Banks.
Allen H. Blake, President and Chief Executive Officer of First Banks, said, “We are delighted to welcome the customers and employees of Northway to First Banks and are committed to continuing Northway’s dedication to providing the highest level of financial services to its customers.” Mr. Blake added, “Northway is located in Lake County, a growing and dynamic area that leads in business expansions and relocations. This acquisition provides an exciting enhancement to our growing Chicago franchise, which now totals 26 banking offices throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. Our new customers will benefit from an expanded branch banking and ATM network that offers a broad array of financial products and services.”
Terrance M. McCarthy, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of First Banks, said, “First Banks offers the customers of Northway an extensive menu of consumer and commercial loan and deposit product lines in addition to other financial services, including telephone and internet banking, debit cards, mortgage banking, small business lending, brokerage services, trust, private banking and institutional money management services.” Mr. McCarthy added, “We look forward to serving our new customers and further expanding our activities within the local communities.”
Joseph F. Tomasello, President of Northway, said, “Our affiliation with First Banks provides our customers with greater convenience through an expanded branch and ATM network, in addition to enhanced financial products and services that are available through a larger financial institution.”
Mr. Tomasello added, “First Banks will continue to build on the strong foundation that Northway’s directors, management and employees have established as they continue to serve the customers and businesses in our community.”
Northway, an Illinois state chartered bank, is headquartered in Grayslake, Illinois, and operates one banking office in the northern Chicago metropolitan area. At September 30, 2005, Northway reported assets of $50.4 million, loans, net of unearned discount, of $41.9 million, deposits of $44.8 million and stockholders’ equity of $5.2 million.
At September 30, 2005, First Banks reported assets of $9.01 billion, loans, net of unearned discount, of $6.63 billion, deposits of $7.38 billion and stockholders’ equity of $665.1 million. Following completion of the acquisition, First Banks will operate 177 branch banking offices in Missouri, Illinois, California and Texas.
CRESCENDO CONCERT SERIES RECEIVES MAAA GRANTS FOR THREE CONCERTS
The Crescendo Concert Series has announced that it was among a select group of Midwest presenters chosen to receive three Mid-America Arts Alliance grants in support of its 2005-2006 concert season. These awards will support upcoming performances of the Manhattan Brass Quintet on January 26, 2006 at St. Charles Presbyterian Church, Chanson (a male vocal sextet) on March 19, 2006 at the Academy of the Sacred Heart, and cellist Andres Diaz on May 21, 2006 at First United Methodist Church. These concerts begin at 3:00 p.m. and are all in St. Charles.
These presentations are supported by the Mid-America Arts Alliance with generous underwriting by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Missouri Arts Council, and foundations, corporations, and individuals throughout Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. The Alliance enables individuals and families throughout America’s heartland to share in and enjoy the arts and culture of our region and the world.
Mary Kennedy McCabe, Mid America Arts Alliance Executive Director said, “The Crescendo Concert Series is to be commended for its community service with these distinctive events. Audiences in St. Charles and St. Charles County will have the opportunity to hear the exciting work of the Manhattan Brass Quintet, Chanson, and Andres Diaz, many for the first time, and Mid-America Arts Alliance is proud to help support this work and the Crescendo Concert Series.”
These three performances are part of Crescendo Concert Series’ seventh season. Before each event Nancy Rubenstein, Ph.D. will provide an instructive introduction to the music of the concert at 2:30 p.m.
For further information call board spokesman Herb Pundmann at 636-724-2507 or visit the Web site at http://crescendoconcerts.org/. For further information on Mid-America Arts Alliance call their staff at 816-421-1388.
FIRST BANK’S MEREDITH KELLY NAMED CO-CHAIR OF 17TH ANNUAL CHARITY BENEFIT
Community Women Against Hardship (CWAH) event to be held Sunday, November 13
Meredith Kelly, community affairs officer at First Bank and vice president of the Community Women Against Hardship (CWAH) board, has been selected as auction co-chair at the CWAH 17th Annual Charity Event, scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 13 at the Sheldon Concert Hall (3648 Washington Blvd).
Kelly has co-chaired this CWAH annual event for the past four years. In addition to serving on the CWAH board, Kelly is a board member of Vision for Children at Risk and Union West Community Corp. She serves on the advisory boards for Beaumont Academy of Finance, Gateway to Financial Fitness, St. Louis Coalition to Promote Reputable Lending, and Get Checking. Kelly sits on the steering committee for the Habitat for Humanity Friends Group as well.
Community Women Against Hardship is a nonprofit community organization that feeds, clothes, teaches and houses families undergoing hardship in the St. Louis metropolitan area.
First Bank is one of the largest privately owned banks in the country with more than $9 billion in assets and over 175 locations in Missouri, Illinois, Texas and California.
