In and Around Park Forest Week of January 5, 2015

N.B. This art week article did not appear last week. That was not the fault of the author, Rosemary Piser, who had her article submitted on time. That was the fault of the editor and publisher, Gary Kopycinski. We apologize that the article did not appear durning "Christmas week."

Park Forest, IL—(ENEWSPF)—January 5, 2015. In its on-going efforts to continue to be a leader in sustainability, the Village of Park Forest is offering residents the opportunity to recycle their Christmas trees and old Christmas lights now through January 31. Details about this recycling activity can be found in the ‘Green Events’ section.

Many of us get through these long, Midwest winters by dreaming about spring baseball. Well, your dreams are closer than you think as registration for the 2015 Park Forest Baseball season is underway. The registration schedule can be found in the ‘This & That’ section.

If your club, organization or local business will be holding activities or events in our community during the upcoming week, please send an e-mail to [email protected] with the details. Submission deadline is noon on Friday of each week.

Village of Park Forest

Village Board Meeting – Monday, January 5

The Board of Trustees will meet hold a Meeting on Monday, January 5 at 7 p.m. at Village Hall, 350 Victory Drive.  Residents are encouraged to attend. Board meetings air live on cable access channels (Channel 4 for Comcast subscribers and Channel 99 for AT&T subscribers) as well as on the Village web site here.

To view previously held Board Meetings, visit the Village’s web site here and click on the date of the meeting you wish to watch.

Village Commissions & Advisory Boards

The following Park Forest Commissions and Advisory Boards are scheduled to meet the week of January 5:

• Tuesday, January 6 at 7 p.m. – Plan Commission
• Thursday, January 7 at 1 p.m. – Senior Citizens Advisory Board
• Thursday, January 7 at 7 p.m. – Environment Commission

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

Arts & Entertainment

Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University (GSU), 1 University Park, University Park

GSU Concert Chorale Gala Performance – Tickets Now on Sale

Tickets are now on Sale for the debut performance of GSU’s Concert Chorale that will take place on Sunday, January 18 at 4 p.m. at the University’s Center for Performing Arts. With the songs of Aaron Copland, Randall Thompson, Moses Hogan & others to commemorate Martin Luther King Day and serving as our fundraiser, it includes a pre-concert reception for all ticket holders. Known for many years throughout the Chicago South Suburban/Northwest Indiana region as the South Suburban Chorale, the GSUCC still provides the area with the finest in choral literature performance. Continuing as it has for the past 16 years under the directorship of Albert M. Jackson, the Chorale remains the Chicago Southland’s premiere symphonic chorus, having performed many of the greatest masterpieces of classical choral and choral/orchestral literature. The 130 member chorus has performed throughout the Chicago south suburbs and Northwest Indiana, with orchestras including the Chicago Metropolitan Symphony, the LaPorte Symphony, the Illinois Philharmonic, and Lakeshore Symphony Orchestra, and undertook a successful European concert tour to Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic in 2011. General Admission tickets are $20 and can be purchased at Buy Tickets. Tickets for the VIP Reception and Golden Circle Seating are $75. For VIP Tickets, please contact Gina Ragland at 708-235-7559. For additional information, visit http://www.govst.edu.

DePaul University Theatre School, 2350 North Racine Avenue, Chicago

‘Symphony of Clouds’ – Opens January 13

Tickets are now on sale for ‘Symphony of Clouds’ by Margaret Larlham, directed by Ann Wakefield, as the winter production of the 2014-2015 Chicago Playworks for Families and Young Audiences season.
Performances will take place on January 13 through February 21, 2015 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 10 a.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. Special Friday performances at 10 a.m. will occur on February 6 and 13 and a Sunday performance will take place at 10 a.m. on February 8. There is no performance on February 7. ‘Symphony of Clouds’ follows the adventures and joyful milestones in the life of young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: boy genius, musical prodigy, and gifted composer. Discover how nature inspires and impacts Mozart, and how his family faces the acclaim, fame, trials, and tribulations of his early creative life in this story infused with music, dance, and a bit of magic. Recommended for all ages. Performances will take place at DePaul’s historic Merle Reskin Theatre, 60 East Balbo Drive at Michigan Avenue in Chicago. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online at http://theatre.depaul.edu/on-stage/productions/2014-2015/Pages/Symphony-of-Clouds.aspx. More information about pre- and post-show educational activities and highlighted curriculum connections is online at www.theatre.depauyl.edu. Free Teacher Guides are also available online or by calling the Box Office at 312-922-1999. The February 6 and 8 performances will be interpreted in American Sign Language. Call TTY at 773-325-7975.

Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, 377 Artists Walk, Park Forest

Brahms and Elgar – Tickets Now on Sale

Tickets are now on sale for the performance of Brahms and Elgar which will be held on Saturday, January 17 at 8 p.m. at the Lincoln-Way North Performing Arts Center, 19900 S. Harlem Avenue, Frankfort. Acclaimed international rising star and 2013 Avery Fisher Career Grant winner, Bella Hristova captivates the audience with her virtuosity in Brahms’ stirring violin masterpiece. Criss-crossing the globe, the orchestra performs American composer Gabriela Frank’s Peruvian-inspired elegy to the South American Andes and English composer Elgar’s mysterious and playful musical references to friends. Tickets are priced at $35, $45, and $55 and can be purchased online at https://secure.ticketsage.net/EventsPage.aspx?&PerfID=251675&SectId=5933. For additional information call 708-481-7774 or visit www.ipomusic.org.   

National Veterans Art Museum, 4041 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago

‘The Things They Carried’ – Permanent Exhibit

The National Veterans Art Museum reopened its permanent exhibit ‘The Things They Carried’ in a brand new gallery space meant to be more immersive for viewers. Inspired by Tim O’Brien’s book ‘The Things They Carried,’ this exhibit serves as a visual companion that illustrates the narrative with fine art and photography from veterans that lived the stories in the novel. Much like the book, the exhibit explores the concept of storytelling and questions how one might share the story of the Vietnam experience. The exhibit takes as its central question “how to tell a true war story” and prompts viewers to consider their personal stories and contemplate how they might share their own narratives. By literally incorporating the essential elements of storytelling: Who, Where, When, and What, ‘The Things They Carried’ begins by chronicling the Vietnam conflict through first-hand visual accounts and descriptions. The exhibit culminates in the re-creation of an authentic Vietnam-era tented shelter to bring viewers into the intimate physical experience of sleeping, living and working in the field during that time. With artworks and objects created and collected by over twenty Vietnam veteran artists, ‘The Things They Carried’ also provides visual interpretations to viewers, illustrating the war by those who were there. This form of pictorial storytelling offers insights into the individual personalities of those who served, where they were in Vietnam both geographically and environmentally, and what the cultural climate of the time looked like. Representations and artifacts come together in ‘The Things They Carried’ to offer an individuated and holistic presentation of the social and historical context of the Vietnam War. With didactic guides and lesson plans that accompany the artwork and artifacts, visitors of all ages can gain a better understanding of “how to tell a true war story” as explored in Tim O’Brien’s book, as well as explore possibilities and benefits of personal storytelling. Featured artists include László Kondor, Dean Sharp, Charles Shobe, William Myles, James McJunkin, John Hosier, Michael Harac, and Arthur Jacobs. The Museum is open Tuesdays – Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and offers free admission year-round. For additional information, call 312-326-0270 or visit: www.nwam.org. 

Park Forest Historical Society, 141 Forest Boulevard

Step Back Into the 1950s House Museum

Step back to see Park Forest when it first began in the 1950s during a visit to the Park Forest House Museum. The Museum is open Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., or by appointment, if possible. Period decorations are on display in every room. Call Jane Nicoll, Museum Director, at 708-481-4252 to confirm opening in case of extreme bad weather. Take a break from the hustle and bustle of 21st Century to revisit your past in this gem of a museum, just down the street. Several Park Forest-related gift ideas are available at the museum and in the online store at www.parkforesthistory.org. Convenient street parking is available in front of the museum!

Park Forest Public Library, 400 Lakewood Boulevard

The following events will be held this week at the Park Forest Library:

• Monday, January 5 at 6:30 p.m. — Family Movie Night – ‘Frozen’ — When a princess with the power to turn things into ice curses her home in infinite winter, her sister, Anna teams up with a mountain man, his playful reindeer, and a snowman to change the weather condition.

For additional information call 708-748-3731 or visit http://www.pfpl.org/

Teen Advisory Board Meeting – Tuesday, January 6

The Park Forest Public Library’s Teen Advisory Board (TAB) will meet on Tuesday, January 6 at 6 p.m. in the Library’s Teen Tech Zone. We want you to join our new TAB and help plan and design this new space for Park Forest and Olympia Fields teens. Ask for an application in patron services. For additional information, call 7087-748-3731.

Tall Grass Arts Association, 367 Artists Walk, Park Forest

Annual Holiday Show – Through January 10

The Annual Holiday Show at Tall Grass Arts Association will run through January 10. The show will feature one-of-a-kind artwork, jewelry and other items, perfect for gift giving. Curated by Giselle Pereault, the entire gallery will be magically converted into a gift shop. Mark your calendar and begin your holiday shopping with a visit to the Tall Grass Gallery. For additional information, visit: www.tallgrassarts.org or call 708-748-3377.

Educational Lectures & Opportunities

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

Job Search Assistance Every Tuesday at GSU

The Mobile Workforce Center’s mobile unit will be at GSU every Tuesday, from 9:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., parked near the university’s front entrance. Center services include resume development, access to online job boards and websites, instruction in how to conduct an online job search and improve keyboarding skills, and assistance of staff. The center is equipped with 11 computer stations with Internet access, printer, and copy machines, and is wheelchair accessible. Services are free and available to residents in all counties. For additional information, contact the Workforce Services Division of Will County at 815-727-4980.

Prairie State College (PSC), 202 S. Halsted, Chicago Heights

2015 Spring Registration Now Open – Classes Begin January 12

Registration for the spring 2015 semester is now open at PSC. New this semester at PSC is Flexible Scheduling – classes starting at different times during the semester. Students can choose their schedule, their class, their time. Hundreds of courses are offered days, evenings, weekends, and online to accommodate busy schedules. The traditional 16-week course option is still available with a start date of Jan. 12 and end date of May 7. New this spring is the 14-week course, with a start date of Jan. 26 and end date of May 7. What were formerly called late start courses are now called 12-week courses with a start date of Feb. 6 and end date of May 7. All of these courses — 16-week, 14-week, and 12-week — offer the same course material with the same credit hours. The shorter the number of weeks, the longer the class period. Also for spring, PSC is offering two different eight-week courses. First eight-week courses start Jan. 12 and end March 9. Second eight-week courses start March 10 and end May 7. The eight-week courses typically are fewer credit hours. Many of the college certificate programs offer eight-week courses, allowing students to fit two courses in a semester and to make progress towards that certificate. Spring registration began Oct. 20 for current students. New students can begin registering on Oct. 27. Students are encouraged to register early as classes will fill quickly. Both credit and non-credit courses are listed in the spring class schedule, available on the PSC main campus, located at 202 S. Halsted St., Chicago Heights. The schedule also is available at area public libraries and online at prairiestate.edu. To register for credit courses, new students must complete an enrollment application in person at the college or online. Enrollment Services is open Monday through Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Current students can register for credit courses in person or online. Students can register for non-credit courses online or in person. To register online via Instant Enrollment, go to prairiestate.edu and follow the directions to choose How To Enroll under continuing education courses. Another option is to complete the registration form available in the back of the printed course schedule. Students also can register for non-credit courses in person at the Matteson Area Center, located at 4821 Southwick Drive in Matteson, or in the Enrollment Services Office on the PSC main campus. The Matteson Area Center is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information about registering for courses, visit www.prairiestate.edu or call 708-709-3500.

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

Paralegal Program Open House – Tuesday, January 6

SSC will be hosting an Open House for its Paralegal Program on Tuesday, January 6, 2015, from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. in Room 5190 at the Oak Forest Center, 16333 South Kilbourn Avenue. Attendees will learn about an exciting career that is expected to grow 18% through 2020 according to the US Department of Labor. Information will be provided about SSC’s Paralegal/Legal Assistant curriculum, including the Associate Degree and certificate programs. In addition, former students from the program, working as paralegals, will be present to answer questions. The curriculum prepares students to work in a variety of legal environments including civil and criminal litigation, insurance, banking, public and governmental agencies, law offices and corporate legal departments. Emphasis is placed on the development of core skills in legal research and writing techniques including compilation and analysis of data, understanding legal vocabulary, law office technology, and preparation of legal documents. SSC has the only American Bar Association (ABA) approved paralegal program in the Chicago Southland region, giving graduates a huge advantage when entering the workforce. The college also requires that all of the instructors in the program are lawyers or judges to ensure the quality of instruction. While the majority of the paralegal classes are offered at the Oak Forest Center, some classes are offered online and some are offered at the Main Campus in South Holland. For more information, please contact Mr. Cieslik at 708-596-2000, extension 2579 or email [email protected]. Spring classes begin Monday, January 12, 2015.

Public Speaking Symposium – Registration Now Taking Place

The Chicagoland Speakers Network would like to help area residents and professionals meet their self-improvement goals in 2015 through a Public Speaking Symposium. The Chicagoland Speakers Network has planned this half-day of educational workshops on various topics related to effective professional speaking at South Suburban College’s Oak Forest Center on Thursday, January 22, 2015, from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Research has shown that the average American greatly fears speaking in public which may hamper growth in one’s career and professional life. The 2nd Annual Public Speaking Symposium topics include:

• How to be the Most Organized Presenter in the Room, by Colleen Klimczak
• Spicing up Your Presentations with Exercises and Icebreakers, Mary Erlain
• Communicate for the Win, by Lori Klinka
• Dazzling Your Audiences with PowerPoint, by Alexandra Glumac
• Panel Discussion Q & A, with the presenters

Advanced registration is $39 through January 15th, or $49 from January 16th through the day of the Speaking Symposium. To RSVP or for more information, please visit www.csnsymposium.eventbrite.com or email Lori Klinka at [email protected]. The Oak Forest Center is located at 16333 S. Kilbourn, Oak Forest, Illinois.

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.

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.

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.

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].

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.

Shirley J. Green Senior Center, 297 Liberty Drive, Park Forest

Senior Citizen Weekday Lunch at the Senior Café

Senior citizens of all income levels are invited to lunch weekdays at the Rich Township Senior Café located inside the Rich Township’s Shirley J. Green Senior Center. The CNN site is open to all south suburban residents, including those living outside of Rich Township. Participants must be 60 years of age or older. The suggested donation for lunch is $2.50. Lunch is served Monday through Friday at noon. Bingo begins at 10 a.m. For additional information or to make a reservation for lunch, call 708-747-2700.

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

Qigong with Jim Kobus – Most Thursdays

UUCC will host Qigong with Jim Kobus on Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the church. This class will usually meet on Thursdays but there may be exceptions, so if you are interested in attending, please send an email to Jim Kobus at [email protected] so he can notify you when class will NOT be held. There is a suggested donation of $5 per class. Please bring your own water. It is recommended that you eat dinner after class, not before. For additional information, please call 708-799-1925 or visit www.uuccpf.org.

Green Events

Thorn Creek Nature Preserve, 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.

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.

Village of Park Forest, 350 Victory Drive

Christmas Tree Disposal at the Park Forest Aqua Center Through January 31

If you’re looking to dispose of your Christmas tree, the Park Forest Aqua Center, 30 North Orchard, is a drop-off site, now through January 31. The north side of the parking lot of the Aqua Center is sectioned off where residents should look to drop their trees. Residents are asked to remove any tree decorations prior to drop-off. Trees that are picked-up with your regular garbage go directly into a landfill. When they breakdown there, they release the second most prevalent greenhouse gas, methane, which harms the environment. Park Forest is looking to offer a more sustainable solution for Christmas tree disposal. By dropping off your Christmas tree at the Aqua Center, trees will be chipped to be reused in landscapes or, at minimum, will be added to yard waste compost that, when finished processing, is a wonderful additive for soil. You may not have known, also, that a hefty truckload of tree mulch produced by the Village can be delivered to residents’ homes (for a small fee) when landscaping season resumes. Help Park Forest continue to be a leader in sustainability by dropping off your tree. Christmas lights can also be dropped off for recycling in the lobby of Park Forest Village Hall, 350 Victory Drive, during normal business hours.

This & That

Park Forest Baseball

Park Forest Baseball Registration for 2015 Season

Registration for the 2015 Park Forest Baseball season is now underway. Upcoming Park Forest Baseball registration dates are:

• January 17 — 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
• January 31 — 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• February 14 — 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.
• February 28 — 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
• March 12 — 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

All fees are due by March 12. For additional information, including registration fees and age restrictions, visit www.parkforestbaseball.org or call 708-975-1294.

Park Forest Running & Pancake Club

5K Midwinter Cruise – Registration Now in Progress

The Park Forest Running & Pancake Club is hosting their annual 5K Midwinter Cruise on Sunday, January 25th.The event will kick-off at the Forest Trail Middle School, 215 Wilson, Park Forest. Pre-boarding (Registration and Packet Pickup) will be in the gym starting at 9:00 a.m. The race will begin at 10:30 a.m. The fee for the event is only $25 if you preregister before January 22nd and $30 for same-day signup. You can register online at our SignMeUp page. This event is USATF Certified and it will be chip timed. There will be quirky souvenirs and trophies for finishers. We are also including a one year membership for the PFRPC for 2015 for all race registrations. (If you are a current member, your membership will be extended.) There will also be raffle prizes such as gift certificates for shoes. And, as always, we will provide "Hot Pancakes" after the race. If you wish to volunteer or have additional questions, please contact Race Director Hilary Tydd by email at [email protected] or call 708-209-0216.

South Suburban Food Co-Op, 208 Forest Boulevard, Park Forest

Six-Week Weight Loss Program – January 10

The South Suburban Food Co-Op’s Education Outreach Team is sponsoring a six-week weight loss challenge. To learn about the program, a free overview will be held at the Food Co-Op, 208 Forest Boulevard, Park Forest, on Saturday, January 10 at 5 p.m. The overview program will be presented by Sherri Samelak, a certified Lifestyle Coach for TLS Weight Loss Solutions. Beginning Wednesday, January 14 at 5 p.m., the six-week weight loss program will meet each week. The fee for the six-week program is $20. To learn more about TLS Weight Loss Solutions, visit www.tlsslim.com.

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

‘Hungry for Change’ Screening – Friday, January 23

UUCC will host the screening of the documentary film ‘Hungry for Change’ on Friday, January 23 at 7 p.m. A discussion will follow the screening. We all want more energy, an ideal body and beautiful younger looking skin. So what is stopping us from getting this? ‘Hungry for Change,’ from the creators of the documentary ‘Food Matters,’ exposes shocking secrets the diet, weight-loss and food industry don’t want you to know about; deceptive strategies designed to keep you coming back for more. Find out what’s keeping you from having the body and health you deserve and how to escape the diet trap forever. The film features interviews with best-selling health authors and leading medical experts plus real life transformational stories with those who know what it’s like to be sick and overweight. Learn from those who have been there before and continue your health journey today. To see a clip of ‘Hungry for Change,’ visit: www.hungryforchange.tv. The event is free and open to the public. Coffee, tea and popcorn will be provided. Optional donations would be gratefully appreciated. For additional information, call 708-481-5339 or visit www.uuccpf.org. UUCC is located east of Western Avenue and south of Steger Road.