Business & Tech

Spotlight Focuses On Niles At Night of Roses

Hundreds turn out for gala annual awards and scholarship dinner sponsored by the Niles Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

From the friendly greetings to the applause that heralded the 14 award recipients Saturday evening, the hundreds who attended the Niles Night of Roses created a celebratory mood.

The Niles Chamber of Commerce sponsored the annual awards night and scholarship dinner, which, since it started in 2004, has become perhaps the most prominent social event in the Niles community. 

Business people, teachers, police, firefighters, library staff, government officials, volunteers, people involved in parishes  and non-profit organizations and residents--about 375 people in all, according to Katie Schneider, the Chamber's executive director--turned out in force to support friends and neighbors who were receiving awards. 

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The evening started with a cocktail hour and the presentation of scholarship awards. A group of musically-talented employees from Shure Inc., an internationally known manufacturer of audio equipment based in Niles, played jazz and big band standards during dinner. During the awards presentation, Iwona Filipiak, the event's chairperson and also the first vice president of the Chamber, introduced each recipient. In most cases, last year's recipient handed the award to this year's awardee, and then awardees made brief speeches.

Former Niles Mayor Nicholas Blase attended the event with his wife Faye. It marked one of the first times Blase, who was released March 2 after serving 10 months in federal prison for mail fraud and tax evasion, has appeared at a community gathering.

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Watch for additional coverage of Niles Night of Roses on Patch.com.


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