Thomas Parker of Champaign has started a new taxi and charter business called Green Transport.

For those of you keeping track of your carbon footprint, he offers rides in-town and out-of-town in a flex-fuel-converted Chevrolet Astro Van. That means he can fill up the tank with E85, fuel that contains 85 percent ethanol.

"It is a push to change the way transportation is done," he said. "If there is a way to do something better using technology, we ought to do it."

Parker's long-term plan is to include hybrid vehicles in his fleet as well.

The 35-year-old Parker, born and raised in Champaign, graduated from Central High School, where he played football, track and basketball. He started the charter service a few months ago and is now expanding to include the taxi service.

He will take passengers to airports such as Willard Airport in Savoy, Midway or O'Hare in Chicago and elsewhere, as well as practically any destination his clients want to go, he said. Parker is also planning to launch shuttle services to and from Champaign and Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, as well as between Champaign and Rantoul.

You can make an appointment for a ride by calling Parker at 721-5533 or visiting www.gogreen1.us.

New Image salon

Hair Design at Knollwood in Champaign is under new ownership and is now called New Image Salon and Day Spa at Knollwood.

Cathy Colbert, who owns two new tanning salons called New Image in Campustown and another in Monticello, has purchased the salon and spa in the Shoppes of Knollwood, 2219 S. Neil St., C.

This will be the second location for a salon and spa under the same name. She also runs New Image Salon at 300 S. Charter St. in Monticello. That spa and salon will remain open.

In the Champaign salon, she plans to add new services, such as permanent makeup and eyelash extensions. Part of the salon will include space for a bareMinerals storefront, where customers can buy from that makeup line. That portion of the salon will open in a few weeks.

She's in the process of adding staff members and updating the space.

The salon and spa will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. More information is available by calling the salon at 352-6588.

Late-night hours

Got a hankering for Chinese food at 1 a.m.? Shanghai 1938, the Chinese restaurant in the Village at the Crossing near Duncan and Windsor roads in Champaign, is staying open later on weekend nights for pickups and deliveries.

Now, on Friday and Saturday nights, the restaurant is open until 2 a.m., again for delivery and pickup orders only.

More information is available by visiting the Web site, www.shanghai1938.biz, or calling 351-8886.

The hours for the restaurant, 2504 Village Green Place, are: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. for dine-in and until 2 a.m. for pickup and delivery Friday; noon to 10 p.m. for dine-in and until 2 a.m. for pickup and delivery Saturday; and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday. They have regular, kids' and gluten-free menus.

Food drive

Sprint has partnered with the Eastern Illinois Foodbank to increase awareness of hunger and help fill the shelves of the local food bank.

A food drive at local Sprint stores will be held from Thursday through Sunday during the company's customer appreciation week. The company is asking people to drop off nonperishable food at two Sprint locations in Champaign: 61 E. Marketview Drive or 2706 N. Prospect Ave.

The theme during the four-day event is football tailgating. And attendees (you don't have to be a Sprint customer to attend, or even win) have a chance to win several prizes, including a flat-screen TV, football jerseys and a football as well as Bluetooth headsets and 40 percent off Sprint cell phone accessories.

If you're interested in switching cell phone companies, Sprint is also waiving the activation fee during the event.

Health tidbits

Diet plan. In celebration of National Women's Health and Fitness Day on Sept. 30, Curves in Champaign is offering a no-cost, 30-day diet plan for area women. The program is a series of free weight-management classes.

More information is available by calling Curves of Champaign at 398-9780, e-maiing 97ATS6N@curvesmail.com or visiting www.curves.com. No membership is required.

"We hope to show local women how they can benefit from these specialized classes," said Darby Coleman, "and invite them to learn a brand-new way to lose weight and keep it off, without counting points, calories or carbohydrates."

It Works

Terri Palumbo has become an independent consultant with It Works, a company that markets a product called the Amazing Applicator Body Wrap, which Palumbo said can help eliminate cellulite. More information can be found visiting http://instantmakeover.itworks.net or calling Palumbo at 863-2008.

Are you opening a new business or changing an existing business? Christine des Garennes can be reached by phone at 351-5388 or 800-252-3346; by e-mail at cgarenne@news-gazette.com; or by regular mail at The News-Gazette, c/o It's Your Business column, P.O. Box 677, Champaign, IL 61824-0677.