ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARDS
     ListedLocal.com and Silvermine Stone Company are the winners of the Eau Claire Area Economic Development Corporation’s 2008 Creating Your Own Business Contest. ListedLocal.com, winner in the micro business category, is a web-based business allowing people to advertise goods and services in the community. The company caters to car dealerships, real estate companies, and free classifieds for private parties. Silvermine Stone Company, winner in the emerging/growth business category, offers a mortar-less stone siding called Stack N Tack, made with a specially designed aluminum lip poured into a cultured stone. The ECA-EDC’s contest has encouraged entrepreneurship and propelled business growth since 1986.

SACRED HEART COAT DRIVE
     Sacred Heart Hospital is seeking winter coats and other things to keep people warm. Each year, hospital representatives collect more than 3,000 winter coats and linens to donate to locals and areas around the world in need. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, an average of 10 percent of Wisconsin community members live in poverty – which can translate to not having a warm coat through the chilly winters. Items needed this year include new or gently used coats, snowsuits, hats, mittens, boots, scarves, blankets, sheets, pillows, and pillow cases. To donate items, drop them off inside the hospital’s main entrance and cafeteria areas. Items will be distributed to those in need on Oct. 25 from 10am-2pm at Sacred Heart Hospital’s Rotunda.

CTV CHANNEL CHANGE CHANGES
     Charter Communications’ recent decision to move Chippewa Valley Community Television channels 11 and 12 to digital channels 993 and 994 has been set on a different course by the Eau Claire City Council. Charter has said it will include CTV in its “Public Affairs Neighborhood” on channels 979-998 – but it also will include public access channels in the 95-99 range so that customers with analog format can still see them. The previous plan cut public access channels for cable customers with analog, but not digital, service. CVCTV director Joel Desprez told the council that almost half of Charter’s customers in Eau Claire do not subscribe to digital cable, and would have lost CTV’s channels under the old plan if they didn’t upgrade.