Local

In and Around Park Forest for the Week of August 12, 2018


Play that Uke
(Source: Bernunzio Uptown Music)

Park Forest, IL—(ENEWSPF) — The Park Forest Library is looking for ukulele players from 12 to 112 for its new Ukulele Orchestra. Those that are well-seasoned or just beginners are invited to join the group. There are also a few seats open for Kazoo players over the age of 65. The group will meet for the first time on Saturday, August 25 in the Library’s Ringering Room. You’ll find additional information about the Ukulele Orchestra in the ‘Arts & Entertainment’ section.

The Sauk-Calumet Sierra Club Group is resuming their monthly meetings after the summer hiatus on Monday evening, September 10 at the Frankfort Public Library with a discussion on the National Maple Tree Study. You’ll find additional information about the meeting in the ‘Green Events’ section.

Be sure to check out all the other events and activities taking place In & Around Park Forest. Have a great week!

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Events and activities featured in ‘In and Around Park Forest’ take place in Park Forest, the surrounding suburbs and locations that are just a short drive or train ride away. You’ll find that many of these events are free or of a nominal charge.

If your club, organization or local business will be holding activities or events in the community that you would like published, please send an e-mail to [email protected] with the details no later than 5 p.m. on Friday.  Thank you.

Administration — Village of Park Forest

Village of Park Forest, 350 Victory Drive

Village Board Meeting – Monday, August 13

The Village of Park Forest Board will meet on Monday, August 13 at 7 p.m. at Village Hall. To view previously held Board Meetings, visit the Village’s website here and click on the date of the meeting you wish to watch.

Village Commissions & Advisory Boards

The following Park Forest Commissions are scheduled to meet the week of August 12:

  • Tuesday, August 14 at 6:30 p.m. – Commission on Human Relations
  • Tuesday, August 14 at 7 p.m. – Youth Commission

The meetings will be held at Park Forest Village Hall and residents are encouraged to attend.

Arts & Entertainment

Crete Public Library District, 1177 North Main Street

The following events are scheduled at the Crete Public Library District the week of August 12:

  • Monday, August 13 at 7 p.m. – Book Club – Discussion of Road to Little Dribbling by Bill Bryson. For adults.
  • Monday, August 13 at 7 p.m. – Knot Just for Knitters – Share camaraderie while working on knitting, crocheting or any other type of needlework project. For adults.
  • Tuesday, August 14 at 7 p.m. – Asteroids and Comets – Learn about the giant rocks that share the solar system with the planets. This presentation includes a history of terrestrial hits and discusses the chances of collisions happening in the future. Register.
  • Thursday, August 16 at 6 p.m. – T(w)een Craft Night – Make a Perler Bead keychain. For ages 11+.
  • Thursday, August 16 at 6:15 p.m. – Summer Film Club – Showing Coriolanus with a brief discussion afterwards.

For more information or to register for a program, please call the Crete Public Library at 708-672-8017 or visit www.cretelibrary.org.

DePaul Art Museum, 935 West Fullerton Avenue, Chicago

Fall Art Exhibits – Open Thursday, September 6

DePaul University has announced its Fall 2018 Art Exhibitions. The exhibitions open Thursday, September 6 and run through Sunday, December 16, 2018, at DePaul’s Lincoln Park Campus are free and open to the public.

Brendan Fernandes: “The Living Mask”

A classically trained ballet dancer, Fernandes started thinking more critically about the profession after he left it. Born in Kenya to descendants from Goa — a former Portuguese colony in India — Fernandes and his family left Kenya for Toronto in 1989 due to political unrest in the country. That background plays strongly into Fernandes’ work as he continues to explore his African heritage through art. Among the pieces Fernandes provided for the exhibition are several black-and-white photographs from his “As One” series taken in 2017. The images show white ballet dancers in poses alongside African masks positioned on stands. The ballet poses are specific and intentional and show deference to the masks, Fernandes explained. Three African masks made with neon lights also are displayed in the exhibition. Fabricated African masks sold as tourist souvenirs on Canal Street in New York City, but base on objects in the Metropolitan Museum of Art Collection inspired Fernandes to create these pieces. Nine African objects from DePaul’s collection, including masks from the Republic of Congo, Cameroon, and Nigeria, round out the exhibition.

Yasuhiro Ishimoto: “Someday, Chicago”

Born in the United States and raised in Japan, Ishimoto returned to the U.S. in his late teens. Only a few years later he became one of more than 115,000 Americans with Japanese ancestry forced into internment camps during World War II. It was in the internment camp where he first developed an interest in photography, showing a formal rigor and keen eye for composition, according to the exhibition’s guest curators, Jasmine Alinder and John Tain. Alinder is an associate professor of history at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Tain is head of research at the Art Asia Archive in Hong Kong. Following his release at the end of the war, the U.S. government sent Ishimoto to Chicago, where he developed a lifelong love of the city and continued his work with photography. Living in the city from 1945-52 and then again from 1958-61, Ishimoto developed his unique modernist vision. He studied at the Institute of Design at the Illinois Institute of Technology and took photographs on the city’s streets, creating images of iconic Chicago landmarks like the Loop and the ‘L’ train, and also of everyday life — people walking to work or a car driving by. He went into segregated neighborhoods to take photographs of daily life, as well as public spaces where racial and class mixing more commonly occurred. A well-known artist internationally, Ishimoto is considered a master of black-and-white photography. After returning to Japan in 1961, he revisited his earlier interest in architectural photography and later turned to Cibachrome photography, which was an innovative color process he utilized to create abstract images. Though Ishimoto visited Chicago numerous times, he lived primarily in Japan until his death in 2012. The DePaul Art Museum exhibition “Yasuhiro Ishimoto: Someday, Chicago” features more than 50 works that include both black-and-white photographs from his work in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s in Chicago and his Cibachrome photographs from the early 1980s. The exhibition is part of Art Design Chicago, an exploration of Chicago’s art and design legacy, an initiative of the Terra Foundation for American Art with presenting partner The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation.

Whitney Bradshaw: “Outcry”

Defined as a loud, piercing cry or cries expressing excitement, great emotion or pain, a scream can be a powerful tool for the overlooked to express public anger or disapproval. In her exhibition for DePaul Art Museum, Bradshaw’s “Outcry” features 108 portraits of women screaming that she’s photographed since Jan. 20, 2018, the day of the Women’s March on Washington. Each photograph is a document of much more involved events created by Bradshaw in her home studio where she invites groups of women to scream in response to the silencing they’ve experienced. “Outcry” challenges stereotypes around women and femininity, while celebrating their resilience and insisting on a reconsideration of beauty and power, she said. Bradshaw developed the idea of exploring the silence surrounding sexual violence and harassment while working with the local nonprofit organization Rape Victim Advocates when she was in her 20s. With the recent rise of the #MeToo movement, Bradshaw felt the time was right for the project since she had identified a way to explore these difficult issues that was positive, therapeutic, empowering and fun for the women involved, she said. In addition to the images on display, Bradshaw will hold two scream sessions at the museum Sept. 21 and Nov. 10. Just as in her home studio, Bradshaw will work with small groups of 10-20 women who don’t know one another to create a safe space in which each can practice expressing themselves unencumbered. She will make individual portraits of each woman as they take turns screaming in front of the camera while being encouraged by the others in the group. These portraits will be added to the installation over the duration of the exhibition along with any new portraits she makes during her continuous home studio sessions.

Neon art piece: “Tourist/Refugee”

One additional work of art will hang in the West-facing window closest to the Fullerton ‘L’ stop between the summer and fall exhibitions in August and then again in December between the fall and winter exhibitions. Called “Tourist/Refugee,” the piece is a blinking neon light that flashes the word tourist followed by the word refugee. Chicago-based artists Adam Brooks and Mathew Wilson, who call themselves “Industry of the Ordinary,” designed the piece in order to address the implications of foreign policy on the movement of people across borders and the humanitarian responsibility of providing aid for refugees. On Oct. 8, Columbus Day — or Indigenous People’s Day — Industry of the Ordinary will hold a silent vigil at 5:30 p.m. at Saint Vincent de Paul Church in remembrance of the many thousands of displaced people who have recently tried, and often failed, to find safe harbor. Titled “Genuflect,” the procession will then head east to Lake Michigan.

DePaul Art Museum is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The museum is closed Monday and Tuesday. Admission is free. Additional information at http://museums.depaul.edu or 773-325-7506.

Governors State University (GSU), 1 University Parkway, University Park

GSU’s Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park Hosts Farm to Table Dinner Amidst Collection – Tickets Now on Sale

The Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park at GSU is preparing to host its annual benefit dinner al fresco amidst the park’s unparalleled collection. On September 15th, “Sculpture, Wine, and Dine…where the city meets the prairie”, kicks off at 4:30 p.m. with elegant appetizers and welcome remarks from The Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park board. The Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park, lauded as one of the top ten outdoor sculpture parks in the world, presents significant large-scale public art, inspiring visitors to experience art and nature in new and unexpected ways. Featuring a locally-sourced menu from Limelight Catering, guests will experience the finest in the culinary arts, while surrounded by large-scale art in an outdoor museum setting. Tickets are $150 per person. Guests are invited to stay for an Afterglow Party, including drinks by the fire, live music and mingling on the Patio near E-Lounge and the Visual Arts Gallery, which will be featuring the recent work of Terrence Karpowicz and Christine Tarkowski, two of the Park’s artists. The Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park is a free public resource for the community. Here, you are invited to explore the connection of art and nature, where wonder emerges around every corner. Sculpture, Wine, and Dine guests and the events’ generous sponsors are investing in the future growth of the Park and its community programs. Event sponsors include BMO Harris Bank, Bimba Manufacturing, SUSANIN’s Art Auctioneers, Mesirow Financial, AT&T, Bruna’s Ristorante, High West Distillery and Shall We Wine. To RSVP call Gina Ragland at 708.235.7559 or [email protected]. To purchase tickets online, visit http://www.govst.edu/wd.

National Veterans Art Museum (NVAM), 4041 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago

‘The Lost Children of Chon Thanh’ – Through Saturday, September 22

The NVAM is proud to announce ‘The Lost Children of Chon Thanh,’ our upcoming exhibition of then-and-now photographic portraits by Bob Shirley and Reed Young. The exhibit will be on display from through Saturday, September 22nd. In 1969, U.S. Army medic Bob “Doc” Shirley worked in a temporary clinic in the village of Chon Thanh, providing medical care to the local people. During that time, he captured poignant images of some of the children he treated. Over 40 years later Larry Johns, curator of the current exhibition, saw Shirley’s haunting portraits and began to wonder whether any of these children had survived, and what their lives were like now. Johns had lost a brother who was serving at a remote artillery post near Chon Thanh and had been trying to seek out people who might have had a connection with his brother during the war. Johns and his Vietnamese wife began a two-year search for the ‘lost children.’ With the help of New York freelance photographer, Reed Young, and others, they were able to find 16 ‘kids’ who had survived. Johns listened to stories and made emotional connections with the now-adult subjects, many of whom had become farmers with children and grandchildren of their own. Meanwhile, Reed Young– whose colorful portrait essays have appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, National Geographic, TIME magazine, and NPR–created stunning new portraits of the ‘children.’ ‘The Lost Children of Chon Thanh’ contrasts enlargements from Bob Shirley’s exceptionally well preserved 1969 original 35mm Ektachrome slides with Reed Young’s present-day high definition digital images printed on metal. More information about ‘The Lost Children of Chon Thanh’ can be found here. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Admission is free. For group admission reservations visit www.nvam.org.

‘Artifacts’ Exhibit — Through Saturday, September 22

NVAM is proud to announce ‘Artifacts,’ our upcoming exhibition that explores the material and speculative objects that hold personal, cultural, and political import for those directly and indirectly impacted by war. The exhibition features The Invisible Enemy Should Not Exist by internationally celebrated artist Michael Rakowitz; Exit Wounds and What We Carried by the award-winning photographer Jim Lommasson; Battle Beyond the Battlefield by former Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Fellow and veteran artist Alicia Dietz; Sum of My Father by former de Young Fine Arts Museum Resident and veteran artist Rodney Ewing; The Shrapnel Project by Purple Heart recipient and artist Phillip Schladweiler; and the award-winning Combat Paper by veteran artist Drew Cameron. Bringing together photography, sculpture, and installation, the artworks in ‘Artifacts’ serve to expand the definition of “artifact,” and examine the ways in which collected objects hold meaning and significance for people, societies, and history impacted by war. For more information about ‘Artifacts,’ visit: visit: https://bit.ly/2qDR8Ee. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For group reservations, visit www.nvam.org. The National Veterans Art Museum is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and exhibition of art inspired by combat and created by veterans. No other gallery in the world focuses on the subject of war from an artistic perspective, making this collection truly unique. The National Veterans Art Museum addresses both historical and contemporary issues related to military service in order to give patrons of all backgrounds insight into the effects of war and to provide veterans an artistic outlet to work through their military and combat experiences.

Park Forest Historical Society, 227 Monee Road

Park Forest House Museum – Wednesdays, Saturdays and By Appointment

Step back into the 1950s at the Park Forest House Museum which has a wonderful selection of toys, games and dolls that have been assembled for you to enjoy. Photographs, scrapbooks and sales brochures from the Park Forest Local History Collection and Archive are also on display. Park Forest move-ins began 70 years ago in late August 2018. Admission is Adults $5; children 12 and under free.  Park in the small lot by the flagpole and knock on the classroom door next to the museum sign. A guide will tell village history, and social and fashion trends of the era. The Museum is open Wednesday and Saturday, 1 to 3:30 p.m. and by appointment. For additional information or to schedule a tour, please call Jane Nicoll at 708-481-4252, or Michael Gans at 708-305-3308 or visit: www.parkforesthistory.org.

Park Forest Public Library, 400 Lakewood Boulevard

The following events are scheduled at the Park Forest Library the week of August 12:

  • Monday, August 13 at 11 a.m. – Story Time Stars — Rise and Shine! Parents can jump-start the day with stories and a craft for your little one. For ages 12 and under.
  • Monday, August 13 at 1 p.m. – Drop-In Craft Day — Drop into kids’ zone and see what we are creating today.
  • Monday, August 13 at 3 p.m. — All Day Drop-In Activities — Stop by Teen Tech Zone for a spur-of-the-moment activity!
  • Monday, August 13 at 4 p.m. – Explore the World of Wonder — Drop into the Explore space and discover something new.
  • Tuesday, August 14 at 12:30 p.m. – DIY Button Project — Stop in kids’ zone and customize your own button with a few simple tools. For ages 12 and under.
  • Tuesday, August 14 at 4 p.m. – Color-Rama! Coloring Circle — Cool down inside from the summer heat with a fun activity that helps you to unwind and relax.
  • Wednesday, August 15 at 12:30 p.m. – LEGO Builders — Drop in and see if you have what it takes to make the best Lego creation.
  • Wednesday, August 15 at 3 p.m. – All Day Drop-In Activities — Stop by Teen Tech Zone for a spur-of-the-moment activity!
  • Wednesday, August 15 at 3:30 p.m. – Color Me Mine — Travel to a world of relaxation for kids. Lose yourself in patterns, curved flowers or even runaway stems. Color yourself Happy in our kids’ coloring circle. For ages 12 and under.
  • Wednesday, August 15 at 4 p.m. – Adult Coloring — Join us and relax a bit with our coloring circle. All supplies are provided.
  • Wednesday, August 15 at 6:30 p.m. – Movie Night for Adults — Join us as we watch a newly released movie.
  • Thursday, August 16 at 12:30 p.m. – Comic Creations — Be inspired to become a graphic novelist/comic creator! Each week explore ways to create comic strips, books, graphics and more. For ages 12 and under.
  • Thursday, August 16 at 4 p.m. – Teen Movie — Cool down this summer with a feature film.
  • Friday, August 17 at 11 a.m. — Digital Literacy Workshop: Intro to Email — Learn the basics about signing up and using an email account. Registration Required.
  • Friday, August 17 at 1 p.m. –Family Movie Matinee – Drop in to see what film we’re showing today. All ages are welcome. Films Ratings Range: G, PG or PG-13.
  • Friday, August 17 at 3:30 p.m. – Teen Game Day — Show off your competitive side with your friends! From board games to video games, there will be plenty of fun.
  • Saturday, August 18 at 1 p.m. – Back to School Project — Get a jump start on school supplies with a custom-made notebook! For ages 12 and under.

For additional information, or to register for an event call 708-748-3731 or visit www.pfpl.org.

Park Forest Board of Trustees Meeting – Thursday, August 16

The Park Forest Public Library Board of Trustees is elected to set policies and oversee the operation of the Library. Trustees receive no payment for their service. The meetings are open to the public. The meeting agenda includes an opportunity for audience members to address the Board. Meeting will be held in the Library’s Ringering Room. For additional information, call 708-748-3731 or visit www.pfpl.org.

Join the Park Forest Library’s Ukulele Orchestra – First Meeting Saturday, August 25

The Park Forest Library is forming a Ukulele Orchestra. Looking for ukulele players from 12 to 112 who are well-seasoned or just beginners, to join the group. Players under 16 must be accompanied by a participating adult. There are also a few seats open for Kazoo players over the age of 65. The group will meet for the first time on Saturday, August 25 in the Library’s Ringering Room. You must have your own instruments to join. The Library will provide sheet music and other supplies. If you would like to join but do not have a ukulele, a reasonable priced option is available here. For additional information, call George Manno at 708-748-3731, extension 22. Come out and have some fun!

Prairie State College (PSC), 202 South Halsted, Chicago Heights

Annual Photographer of the Year Exhibit – Opens Tuesday, August 21

“It took me a while to grasp the fact that there was a difference between simply taking photographs and actually creating them. Taking photographs is easy because all there is to it is pushing a button. But to actually create a photograph takes so much more,” said Prairie State College (PSC) 2018 Photographer of the Year award winner Kacey Culbreth. A selection of Culbreth’s photos, along with various other student works will be on display in the PSC Christopher Art Gallery, from Tuesday, August 21 through Thursday, September 20, 2018, during the Annual Photographer of the Year and Student Exhibition. A reception with the student artists is being held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, August 29, in the Gallery, located on the college’s main campus in Chicago Heights. Both the reception and exhibit are free and open to the public. The Photographer of the Year award is given annually to an outstanding PSC photography student. Culbreth was chosen through a portfolio competition. In addition to being the featured artist in the student show, Culbreth also will receive a $1,500 scholarship. The annual student exhibition also will include works from various classes during the 2017-2018 academic year, and have been chosen by the fine art faculty members. Works include photographs, paintings, drawings and three-dimensional works. The Christopher Art Gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. The Gallery is closed on Monday, September 3, in recognition of Labor Day. Visits also can be made by appointment. For more information about the exhibit or to make an appointment for a visit, call 708-709-7738. For more information about exhibits and events in the Christopher Art Gallery, visit www.prairiestate.edu/christopher-art-gallery.

Rich Township Senior Center, 297 Liberty Drive, Park Forest

Lunch at the Senior Center – Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays

The Rich Township Senior Center will be serving lunch at 12 Noon, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Rich Township School District 227 is preparing delicious meals for a cost of $3.00. You MUST make your reservation two days in advance by stopping i, or calling 708-748-5454. Lunch Menu examples: Chicken, Hamburger, Turkey Sandwich, all served with Soup & Chips.  Also, we have Pasta dishes, side salads, desserts. Optional: Chef Salad. All served with Lemonade.

Salon Artists Gallery, 294 Main Street, Park Forest

‘Iconoclast’ – Through Thursday, August 30

‘Iconoclast’ exhibit, featuring the works of Wyll Mull, will run through Thursday, August 30. The exhibit is free and open to the public. For additional information and Gallery hours, visit www.salonartistsgallery.com or call 708-703-7806.

South Suburban College (SSC), 15800 State Street, South Holland

‘Re Pose’ Exhibit – Through August 30

SSC’s Art & Design Department is pleased to present a new exhibition located in the Dulgar Gallery on SSC’s Main Campus in South Holland. An exhibition of art works by Brent Fogt titled “Re Pose” is on display through August 30, 2018. Reception date for Fogt is to be announced. Brent Fogt has completed artist residencies at the Vermont Studio Center, Djerassi Resident Artists Program, I-Park Foundation and Yaddo. He holds a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Michigan and a Master of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University. The public is welcome to visit the art exhibition and reception at no charge. The Dulgar Gallery is on the first floor. SSC Galleries are open at minimum Mondays through Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The galleries are closed on weekends and holidays. For more information, please call 708-596-2000, ext. 2445 or ext. 2316, or visit www.ssc.edu/art.

Tall Grass Arts Association, 367 Artists Walk, Park Forest

‘Taking an Art Trip’ – Through Sunday, September 16

‘Taking an Art Trip,’ the 2018 Annual Exhibit of Works by Tall Grass Gallery Artists will run through Sunday, September 16.  The exhibit is free and open to the public. Gallery Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 11a.m. to 4 p.m. For additional information, call 708-748-3377 or visit www.tallgrassarts.org.

Educational Lectures & Opportunities

Online Educational Resources

Online college programs are a great way for today’s busy people to complete or earn a degree. To find an online college program in Illinois, visit http://www.onlineschools.org/guides/Illinois/ where you will find a compilation of every college program offered online in Illinois offered on a full or part-time basis.

Prairie State College (PSC), 202 South Halsted, Chicago Heights

Musician Ensembles at PSC – Registration Now in Progress

Fall 2018 registration is open at Prairie State College (PSC), and the schedule brings exciting opportunities for musicians to join one of the various ensembles the college offers during the semester.

  • The Wind Ensemble, directed by music educator Phil Crews, performs significant concert band literature. Members of the ensemble include student musicians from the college and local high schools, community members and local music teachers and band directors. The ensemble meets on Mondays, September 10 through December 11, from 6:30 to 9:20 p.m., in room 105 of the K Building (K-105), located on the north side of Vollmer road across from the college’s main campus at 202 S. Halsted St. in Chicago Heights. An audition for placement in the ensemble may be requested.
  • The Jazz Choir, directed by singer Toni Bell, provides experience in singing jazz and other related contemporary styles of music in a small choir. Improvisation and jazz vocal techniques are explored. The course will meet Mondays, August 21 through December 11, from 7 p.m. to 9:40 p.m., in room 3275 on the college’s main campus. Prior experience in a jazz choir is not required, and there are no auditions to join this group.
  • Veteran jazz musician Eugene Vineyard will direct the Jazz Ensemble on Tuesdays, August 21 through December 11, from 7 to 9:40 p.m., in room K-105. The Jazz Ensemble is intended for intermediate to advanced musicians who want to develop their improvising and ensemble techniques. Several performances will be scheduled on the PSC campus and in the community. An audition for placement may be requested.
  • Rubén Alvarez, Chicago’s premier Latin jazz percussionist, will lead the Latin Music Ensemble on Saturdays, from September 15 through December 12, from 10 a.m. to 12:50 p.m., in K-105. This ensemble explores a variety of styles of Afro Cuban jazz. Students will be introduced to the foundational rhythms and performance techniques of various percussion instruments and learn about the cultural aspects of the music. Instrumentation also includes those with prior experience playing horns, bass, guitar and piano.

Musicians taking the course for credit will pay tuition for one credit hour. Musicians not interested in receiving credit for participating will pay a $25 course fee. For questions about any of the ensembles, contact Elighie Wilson, dean of liberal arts at [email protected].

Top U.S. Universities

Choosing what college or university to attend can be a very daunting experience. With educational costs continually increasing, it’s more important than ever to choose a university that meets your specific educational needs. At http://www.topschools.com/, you will find a comprehensive resource that ranks each university throughout the nation by size, degrees offered, tuition costs, admission, graduation and retention rates.

Green Events

Park Forest Environment Commission

Gardening in Dry Shade – Saturday, August 18

The 2018 Park Forest Gardening Series will continue on Saturday, August 18 at 10:30 a.m. at the Wetlands Discovery Center, 30 N. Orchard. The topic will be gardening in dry shade. The most difficult place to plant is under a shallow-root tree. Coping tips, indestructible plants, and ideas for making the most of your deep dark shady spot will be discussed.

Sauk-Calumet Sierra Club Group, Matteson

National Maple Tree Study Discussion — Monday, September 10

The Sauk-Calumet Sierra Club Group will be resuming their monthly meetings (after the summer hiatus) on Monday, September 10th, at the Frankfort Public Library, 21119 Pfeiffer Rd. in Frankfort at 7:15 pm. The program at this meeting will be presented by Wendy Smith, Park Ranger at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Smith will be discussing a national study of maple trees which the National Lakeshore participated in which will help to determine how these trees are faring despite the impacts of climate change. All meetings are open to members and the general public.  For additional information about the meeting or about the Club and its activities email Patrick Coffey at [email protected].

Thorn Creek Audubon Society, Park Forest

Nature Education Programs at Thorn Creek Nature Center

Calling all schools, home school groups, day cares, preschools, youth, adult and family groups! Nature Education Programs are offered at Thorn Creek Nature Center throughout the year where your group can discover the plants and animals of Thorn Creek Woods. These Nature Education Programs are sponsored by the Thorn Creek Audubon Society. The Audubon Society and the Thorn Creek Nature Center announce their new Partnership for Programming to further the Society’s environmental education mission and give valuable assistance to Thorn Creek Nature Center in providing nature programming for groups of area children and adults. Some of the nature education programs offered this year include Birding by Sight and Sound, Creek Walk (the world of aquatic insects and metamorphosis), Trees Big and Small (identification by leaves and bark), Insects (what makes an insect unique), the Web of Life (interdependence of producers, consumers, predators and decomposers), Soils Hike (how soil fuels and supports life), and Night Hikes. On the Fall Color Hike learn why leaves change colors and what trees do to prepare for the long months of winter. Discover clues to wild animals’ identities and behavior by trails and trails in Wild Animal Tracks. Make your own track replica. On Vixen’s Trek you are the fox following your daily routines on Thorn Creek trails. Or visit the Historic Farm in the woods to explore an early 1900’s woodland farm. Groups can also arrange for a naturalist to come to your location for programs such as Wild Animal Tracks, Web of Life, Woodland Wildflowers, Soils, History of Thorn Creek Woods, and the like. The new partnership has already collaborated in sponsoring three programs: the Learn 70 Birds by Spring class, which runs from January through March; the Great Backyard Bird Count Open House that was held in February; and the Build a Gourd Birdhouse sessions to be held in March.  For information about Thorn Creek Audubon Society membership, events and projects: Thorn Creek Audubon Society, P. O. Box 895, Park Forest, Il 60466, or www.thorncreekaudubonsociety.org.

Thorn Creek Nature Center, 247 Monee Road, Park Forest

Become a ‘Friend of Thorn Creek’

Friends of Thorn Creek Woods is the citizen activist group responsible in very large part for preserving and securing the dedication of the Thorn Creek Woods as an Illinois Nature Preserve.  Friends’ volunteers continue to provide support in so many ways: staff the nature center on weekends; trail work; displays; leading hikes; special events; cleaning; pruning; artwork; music; research; and so on.  Friends is a voice for the Woods and preservation values, donates funds for equipment and sponsors an annual meeting, Garlic Fest and Earth Day.  Members receive a quarterly newsletter.  Annual membership in Friends is $10.  For additional information, call 708-747-6320 or visit www.tcwoods.org.

Experience the Thorn Creek Nature Center

Thorn Creek Nature Center is housed in a historic building, originally Immanuel Lutheran Church of Matteson, Illinois built in 1862, and later Village Bible Church of Park Forest. A gothic frame country church, its notable architectural features include curved ceiling, tongue-and-groove paneling and a raised pulpit. Its current attractions are displays of the preserve’s flora and fauna, a bird feeder viewing area, Eugene E. Schwartz reference library and an expanded children’s section. The Nature Center is open Friday through Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. Trails are open daily year-round, dawn to dusk. For additional information, call 708-747-6320 or visit www.tcwoods.org.

Will County Green, 58 East Clinton Street, Joliet

Recycling in the South Suburbs — Ongoing

Have old electronics, TVs or computer monitors sitting around your house gathering dust? Want to get rid of them for free? There are places in Will County where you can properly dispose of them. Each recycling location will accept only 2 televisions per vehicle. ID will be required to prove that you are a Will County resident. However, Park Forest residents residing in either Will OR Cook Counties may participate.

Recycling Locations

Richton Park Donation Drop Spot Peotone Police Department New Lenox Township
Richton Park Village Hall 208 E. Main Street 1100 S. Cedar Road
4455 Sauk Trail (Located along Latonia Lane) 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 2nd & 4th Wednesdays
7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. (lines will be cut off at 7 p.m.) 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. (lines will be cut off at 7 p.m.
7 days a week Closed on Holidays Closed on Holidays

For additional information, visit www.countygreen.com.

Healthy Living

Governors State University (GSU), 1 University Parkway, University Park

Free Psychotherapy Available from GSU’s Psychology Program

GSU’s Psychology Department is offering free psychotherapy services to members of the community. Conversations with a psychotherapist can help people cope with depression, anxiety, relationship issues, stress, and life transition problems. Confidential, one-on-one sessions are held with a GSU graduate student in psychology under the supervision of a Licensed Clinical Psychologist. Individuals and couples, 18 years and older, are eligible. All sessions are conducted in Matteson, IL. The number of sessions is determined by the client’s needs. For additional information or to schedule an appointment, call 708-235-2841.

Park Forest Fire Department, 156 Indianwood Boulevard, Park Forest

CPR Classes

CPR classes are available at the Park Forest Fire Department. Click on the following link for more details: http://pffd.vopf.com/cpr-classes.html

Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA)

Assistance With Medications & Health Services

If you, or someone you know, are struggling to pay for medications every month, they may be able to get the medicines they need for free or almost free through the Partnership for Prescription Assistance. If you live in Illinois, you can get access to more than 475 public and private program available to help you pay for your medicines. Simply visit http://www.pparx.org/en/click_illinois to find out if you can apply to any of these great programs and to get connected with 10,000 free clinics and doctors.

Sertoma Centre, 4343 West 123rd Street, Alsip

Free Community Education and Prevention Programs about Mental Health

Sertoma Centre’s Mental Health Services facility is offering community mental health seminars, free of charge to community groups, schools, law enforcement agencies, religious organizations, and other community groups at their location in Matteson or facility. Education Programs will include: Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) which increases public awareness of suicide and improves one’s ability to identify and refer those at risk for suicide. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a public education course that helps participants identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance disorders. Also included is Mental Health First Aid for Youth and Anxiety/Depression Screenings. Thanks to a grant, these educational opportunities are available at no cost to you or your organization. To arrange a free educational opportunity for your club, group, workplace, organization, or church, call Gia Washington at 708-748-1951, Ext. 418 or email at [email protected].

Shirley Green Senior Center, 297 Liberty Diver, Park Forest

Healthy Aging Class — Thursday, August 23

A Healthy Aging Class will be offered by a Jewel Osco Dietitian will be held on Thursday, August 23 from 11 a.m. to noon. The class is free and open to the public.

Class participants will:

  • Sample two easy-to-fix dishes while learning about the 5 steps to Healthy Aging, and
  • Receive a 42-page guide filled with tips for cooking and shopping for 1 or 2 plus 30 delicious and quick recipes that help people follow the 5 steps to Healthy Aging.

For additional information or to register for the class, call 708-748-5454.

Unitarian Universalist Community Church (UUCC), 70 Sycamore Drive, Park Forest

Yoga Classes by Karen Nielsen – Mondays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays

Yoga classes by Karen Nielsen are available at UUCC on Mondays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and Wednesday evenings from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  No reservations needed.  Drop-in fee is $10 per class and the 6th one is free.  For additional information, call 708-755-3577 or visit www.uuccpf.org.

This & That

Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs

Nominations for ‘Honor 200′ Now Being Accepted — Deadline is August 31

Illinois will be honoring 200 veterans from across the state who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to benefit and provide inspiration to their community. More than 100 veterans have already been nominated to be recognized as part of Illinois’ Bicentennial celebration, but the state is looking for more nominees. More than 100 veterans have already been nominated to be recognized as part of Illinois’ Bicentennial celebration, but the state is looking for more nominations.  Nominees will be evaluated based on their achievements in dedicating their time and energy to build their communities and assist their fellow veterans and service members. The honorees will be announced in September and will be featured guests at the Bicentennial Party Gala, which will be held at Chicago’s United Center. Anyone can nominate a hero. The Governor’s Office of the Illinois Bicentennial and the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs will accept nominations through August 31, 2018.  Written nominations should be sent to the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, 69 W. Washington Street, Chicago, IL 60601 or online by clicking on “Honor 200” at www.illinois.gov/veterans. The Official Illinois Bicentennial Celebration began last December 3rd, 2017 with events in Springfield and Chicago. The celebration has continued with programs and events throughout 2018, ending with the Bicentennial Birthday Party on December 3rd, 2018 at the United Center.  The HONOR 200 veterans will be recognized during the Birthday Gala.  For information on the Bicentennial and to find out how your community can participate go to www.illinois200.gov

Park Forest Economic Development and Planning Department

Water Bill Buck Buster – Through December 28

Park Forest Economic Development and Planning Department ‘Water Bill Buck Buster’ contest will continue through December 28. Spend $150 or more each quarter at local Park Forest businesses and you can enter a raffle for a $100 water bill credit. You can also win Village swag with the first $50 in receipts in each quarter. Submit receipts from local Park Forest businesses totaling $150 or more dated within each quarter.  Limit of one entry per household per quarter. Three drawings will be held in 2018:

  • September 28
  • December 28

Receipts are due the day before each drawing. Locate Park Forest businesses in the Park Forest Shopping & Service Guide found here. Email your receipts and include your name, address and phone number to [email protected] or drop off the information at Park Forest Village Hall 2nd Floor, 350 Victory Drive. For additional information, call 708-283-5617 or check your water bill statement.

Park Forest Toastmasters Club

Meeting – Tuesday, August 28

The Park Forest Toastmasters Club will meet on Tuesday, August 28 at 7:30 p.m. at Calvary United Protestant Church, 425 N. Orchard Drive in Park Forest. The meeting is open to the public. The Park Forest Toastmasters Club meets on the 1st and 4th Tuesdays of each month. Members develop speaking and leadership skills in a friendly and supportive atmosphere. For additional information, visit www.parkforesttoastmasters.toastmastersclubs.org.

Village of Park Forest, 350 Victory Drive

Park Forest Mobile App – Now Available

The Village of Park Forest mobile app is now available. This new digital tool provides an on-the-go connection for individuals seeking resources, news, and information from their smart phones or tablets. The Village of Park Forest app can be used to enjoy convenient access to Park Forest calendars, news, employment opportunities, board meeting agendas, frequently asked questions, and more.

To download the app on an Apple® device:

  • Visit the app store and search “CivicMobile.” Make sure to choose “CivicMobile” and not the “CivicMobile Preview” or “CivicMobile Demo.” For users currently on mobile devices, visit the Apple app page here.
  • Once the CivicMobile app is downloaded, search Village of Park Forest.
  • Once Village of Park Forest has been selected during the first use, it will open the Village of Park Forest app each time the app is used.

To download the app on an Android device:

  • Visit the Google Play store and search Village of Park Forest. For users currently on mobile devices, visit the Android app page here.

Park Forest Main Street Market – Every Saturday through October 27

The Park Forest Main Street Market, previously known as the Farmers’ Market is open every Saturday, rain or shine from 7 a.m. to noon through October 27 for shopping, food and entertainment. Along with its new name, the Market has a new location at 152 Main Street in DownTown Park Forest. The Market accepts Link/SNAP & Senior Nutrition Coupons. For additional information about the Market, call Brenda Walker at 708-748-1118, email [email protected] or the Market’s website.


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