• Send typed business announcements at least two weeks in advance of the desired publication date to Business Notes, in care of Suburban Life Publications, 1101 W. 31st St., Suite 100, Downers Grove, IL 60515. Business Notes also can be faxed at least two weeks in advance of the desired publication date to Business Notes at (630) 969-0228, or e-mailed to business@mysuburbanlife.com. Items run based on the availability of space.

• First National Bank of La Grange was ranked the No. 1 community bank in Illinois and No. 5 in the nation in a survey of 200 high-performing community banks in the country by U.S. Banker magazine.

The rankings, which appear in the magazine’s June 2008 issue, were based on three-year average return on equity. First National was the only bank in Illinois to make the rankings.

• Sharon Deavens of La Grange recently joined the La Grange office of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, expanding the existing sales team to over 60 full-time professionals. The announcement was made by Rose Rachford, branch manager of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. For further information, visit www.coldwellbankeronline.com.

• West Suburban Women Entrepreneurs meeting will be held at 8 a.m. Thursday, July 17, at Holiday Inn Countryside, 6201 W. Joliet Road. The feature speaker will be Angelika Coghlan of Catwalk Consulting Inc., presenting “Empower Your Marketing with Podcasts.” The meeting is open to all female entrepreneurs. Networking starts at 8 a.m., with the meeting formally beginning at 8:30 a.m. The cost is free for members and $35 in advance for nonmembers registering by the Monday prior to the meeting. For further information or to register, contact Karen Hanrahan, call (708) 482-0678 or visit www.wswe.org.

• Westside Multimedia & Gallery is now open for business. Located at 7023 Roosevelt Road in Berwyn, Westside Multimedia & Gallery is a production studio and art gallery all in one. Owner James Currie started Westside after many years of working for others in the industry.