Local

In and Around Park Forest for the Week of February 11, 2018


Valentine's Day
(Source: History.com)

Park Forest, IL—(ENEWSPF)—Don’t forget that Thursday, February 15 is Valentine’s Day and across Park Forest and beyond, candy, flowers and gifts will be exchanged between loved ones. Still trying to think of something to do? Here are a few ideas to help make your holiday special.

On Monday, February 12, the Park Forest Library, 400 Lakewood Boulevard, will have a special Teen DIY program at 4 p.m. to make Valentine’s gifts and cards. On Wednesday, February 14 at 4 p.m. you can bring your special someone to the Library for a Valentine’s Day inspired craft and a romantic comedy movie.

On Tuesday, February 13 at 4:30 p.m., the Crete Public Library, 1177 North Main Street will have a card making program for ages 5+ to make a Valentine care for your favorite person.

Interested in seeing how we celebrated Valentine’s Day in the “good old days”? Head over to the Park Forest House Museum, 227 Monee Road, on Wednesday, February 14 between 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to see the ‘Step Back Into a 1950s Valentine’s Day’ exhibit. There will be vintage Valentine’s cards and decorations on display throughout the house. And be sure to check out the ‘Boomer Toys & Dolls’ exhibit while you’re there.

You can find out additional information about all of these activities and events in the ‘Arts & Entertainment’ section. And Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone.

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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.

Village of Park Forest Administration

Village Board Meeting – Monday, February 19

The Village of Park Forest Board will meet on Monday, February 19 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). 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 are scheduled to meet the week of February 11:

  • Wednesday, February 14 at 7 p.m. – Economic Development Advisory Group
  • Thursday, February 15 at 6 p.m. – Housing Authority

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, 1 University Parkway, University Park

GSU’s Dance Company to Present ‘Dance to the Movies’ — Tickets Now on Sale

GSU’s Dance Company will present ‘Dance to the Movies’ on Thursday, March 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Center for Performing Arts. Celebrate dance, as seen on the big screen, through a variety of dance disciplines including contemporary, Broadway musicals, jazz, ballet, tango, hip-hop, and more. Patrons will enjoy movie clips brought to life on stage through stunning choreography by Director Megan Lindsay and featured work from GSU student choreographers and dancers, and special guest troupe Fatal Dance.

Tickets & Additional Information

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for Students

Buy Tickets

By Phone: 708-235-2222

In Person at the Box Office: 1 University Parkway, University Park, IL

Box Office Hours: Monday- Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (open to 6p.m. on Thursdays) and 2 hours prior to all performances.

Parking is free.

For best GPS directions always use the location search term “Governors State University” only.

Chicago Design Museum, 108 North State Street, Chicago

‘Hey! Play! Games in Modern Culture’ — Through February 17

An interactive exhibition that encourages play and offers guests a look at the world of games beyond what’s found on Xbox or Steam is now open at the Chicago Design Museum. Co-curators Brian Schrank and LeAnne Wagner, both School of Design faculty members, created “Hey! Play! Games in Modern Culture,” with all ages and experience levels in mind. The exhibition features nine games that range across three big areas in gaming: high art, outsider art and indie games, said Schrank. High art games can help connect history and art and incorporate elements of graphic art, music or story. Outsider art involves individuals who aren’t necessarily trained in the arts and won’t be in the elite art galleries or museums, but involve art done out of obsessiveness. Small studios or independent artists who are blending art and commercialization make indie games. A few of the games on display and available to play at the exhibition include Robin Arnott’s “Sound-Self,” Feng Mengbo’s “Long March: Restart,” and Champlain College Emergent Media Center’s “Spacebox.”  The other games on display include “SuperBetter” by Jane McGonigal, “Slapsie” and “Parachute Game” by Bernie DeKoven, “Videoball” by Tim Rogers, “Untitled Game” by JODI, a collection of games by Anna Anthropy, and Terry Davis’s TempleOS operating system ready for play on a desktop computer. Founded in 2012, the Chicago Design Museum is located on the third floor of the Block Thirty-Seven mall at 108 N. State St. It’s open from noon to 7p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. “Hey! Play! Games in Modern Culture” runs through Feb. 17, 2018. Admission to the museum is free, but donations are encouraged. For additional information on the Chicago Design Museum is at https://chidm.com/.

Crete Public Library District, 1177 North Main Street

The following events are scheduled at the Crete Public Library District the week of February 11:

  • Monday, February 12 at 10 a.m. – Come and Play – Drop-in to explore toys, puppets, sensory bins, books, and musical instruments.  For ages 0-5.
  • Monday, February 12 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. – SNAP Help – Drop-in assistance with applying for Food Stamps or Link. For adults.
  • Monday, February 12 at 7 p.m. – Book Club – Discussion of Spoonbenders by Daryl Gregory. For adults.
  • Monday, February 12 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, February 13 at 11 a.m. – Storytime at Aurelio’s – Drop-in for stories, songs, and fingerplays. For ages birth-5.
  • Tuesday, February 13 at 1 p.m. – Preschool Storytime – Storytime for ages 4-5. Register.
  • Tuesday, February 13 at 4:30 p.m. – Valentine’s Day Card Making – Drop-in to make a valentine card for your favorite person. For ages 5+.
  • Wednesday, February 14 at 10 a.m. – Toddler Time Stations – Parents and children will explore thematic stations together. For ages 2-3. Register.
  • Wednesday, February 14 at 4:45 p.m. – Art Academy – Recreate art using the techniques of famous artists and illustrators. For ages 9-12. Register.
  • Thursday, February 15 at 10 a.m. – Toddler Time Stations – Parents and children will explore thematic stations together. For ages 2-3. Register.
  • Thursday, February 15 at 1 p.m. – Preschool Storytime – Storytime for ages 4-5. Register.
  • Thursday, February 15 at 3 p.m. – Afternoon T(w)een Craft – February’s craft is bath bombs. For ages 11+.
  • Thursday, February 15 at 6 p.m. –STEAM Junior – Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math program. For ages 3-5. Register.
  • Thursday, February 15 at 6:15 p.m. – Film Club – Showing Meek’s Cutoff. For adults.
  • Friday, February 16 at 10 a.m. – Babies & Books – Storytime for ages birth-24 months. Register.

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

Inspirational Speaker Charmaine Moore’s Presentation ‘Choosing Love’ – Thursday, February 22

On Thursday, February 22 at 7:00 p.m. the Crete Public Library will host inspirational speaker Charmaine Moore’s presentation “Choosing to Love.” This program is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is requested by calling the library at 708-672-8017. In this empowering workshop, Charmaine Moore will show participants how to eradicate the lies that have kept them back from standing out and becoming their authentic selves. She will demonstrate how to build a new life that is based on truth and love. Charmaine Moore is a life coach and speaker from our local area. She has overcome sexual, verbal, and physical abuse; depression and suicidal thoughts. She is a wife and mother to six children. Her mission is to empower women to choose to love, live, and thrive in life. Through her workshops, she helps others unlock what has been holding them back from loving themselves and enjoying their lives. Charmaine considers herself a life speaker – someone who speaks life with positive and powerful words to create peace, love, joy, freedom, growth, healing and hope in her own life and in the lives of others. Learn more about her on her website: http://faceofhopeandbeauty.com. For more information, please call the Crete Public Library at 708-672-8017.

DePaul University Art Museum, 935 West Fullerton Avenue, Chicago

3 Winter Exhibitions – Through Sunday, March 25

Printed works from various artists will be on display at DePaul Art Museum this winter. Three exhibitions will include works by lithographers Clinton Adams and June Wayne of the Tamarind Institute, as well as by Chicago artists Barbara Jones-Hogu and Jose Guerrero, from the city’s South Side and Pilsen neighborhood, respectively. The exhibitions run through March 25.

Rock, Paper, Image: Lithographs by Clinton Adams and June Wayne from the Belverd and Marian Needles Collection

Clinton Adams and June Wayne are widely credited with reviving interest in lithography in the mid-20th century. As co-founders of the Tamarind Institute, a center for lithography based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, they instructed artists and shared innovative techniques while simultaneously pursuing their own independent practices. This exhibition presents a selection of both artists’ work from the 1950s through the 1990s, showcasing how their approaches to subjects, ranging from landscapes and color to literature and politics, evolved over time. Adams is best known for his work in modernist abstraction, with an emphasis on the Southwestern landscape. Wayne’s work shows an interest in science, natural phenomena, the cosmos, genes and social justice. She was feminist and a strong advocate for women artists.

Barbara Jones-Hogu: Resist, Relate, Unite 1968-1975

The first solo museum exhibition by Barbara Jones-Hogu, who died Nov. 14, 2017, features works on paper including woodcuts, etchings, lithographs and screen prints. Jones-Hogu, a founding member of the African Commune of Bad Relevant Artists (AfriCOBRA) and a central figure of the Black Arts Movement, was a Chicago-based artist, filmmaker and educator. She was a contributor to Chicago’s “Wall of Respect” mural, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2017. The exhibition boasts over 20 pieces and includes Jones-Hogu’s print work from 1968-75 as well as screen prints and sketches, ranging from black-and-white images to colorful works. One of Jones-Hogu’s most famous works of art is a screen print on paper titled “Unite.” The work was made in 1971 and features several African-American persons holding their clinched fists in the air with the word unite written out repeatedly.

Jose Guerrero, Presente: A Memorial Print Portfolio

Jose Guerrero, who died in 2015, was an artist and leader who influenced his community through printmaking, mural painting and activism. He is best known for his work in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, where his studio and workshop was a hub for art classes, mural tours and political organizing. The exhibition “Jose Guerrero, Presente” features a portfolio of prints made in his memory by 25 Chicago artists, as well as some of his own works on paper. Artists include: Monserrat Alsina, Rene Arceo, Cathy Cajandig, Viky Cervantes, Héctor Duarte, Nicolas De Jesus, Roberto Ferreyra, Eric Garcia, José L Gutierrez, Salvador Jimenes, Alexy Lanza, Edgar Lopez, Alfredo Martinez, Dolores Mercado, Luis Montenegro, José L Pina Morales, Oscar Moya, Art Olson, Antonio Pazaran, Kate Perryman, Eufemio Pulido, Erik Salgado, Diana Solis, Benjamin Varela, Gabriel Villa and John Pitman Weber. A native of San Antonio, Texas, Guerrero moved to Chicago in 1964. He was a popular artist who infused activism and political organizing into community art making by opening his own print studio and leading mural tours in the Pilsen neighborhood, teaching people about the symbols and meaning behind cultural imagery, explained Lopez. Included in the 26-piece portfolio by Guerrero’s students, colleagues and friends are screen prints, woodcuts and linocuts. Themes that were central to Guerrero’s artistic practice and life’s work, including labor rights, displacement and gentrification, immigrant’s rights and social equality, are expressed in the collection. An iconic image in the exhibition is a linocut titled “Migrant” by Weber, founder of the Chicago Public Art Group. “Migrant” illustrates a man raising his arms over his head in a moment of strife.

Hours for the DePaul University Library are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The museum is closed Monday and Tuesday. Admission is free. Additional information at http://museums.depaul.edu​ or 773-325-7506.

DePaul University Student Center, 2250 North Sheffield Avenue, Chicago

Welcome Year of the Dog – Friday, February 16

Chinese New Year is all about family, food and firecrackers. This year, it’s also about Fido.
The holiday, also known as Lunar New Year throughout Asia, begins on February 16 and it’s the “Year of the Dog” based on the Chinese astrological signs of 12 animals. The last year of the dog was in 2006.
Chinese New Year in China is akin to Christmas in the United States, said Li Jin, director of DePaul University’s Chinese Studies program and an associate professor of Chinese. The event, which is open to the public, requires registration, and starts at 6 p.m. Friday, February 16 in the Student Center, 2250 N. Sheffield Ave., Room 120 on DePaul’s Lincoln Park Campus. The free event includes cultural performances by DePaul students and traditional Chinese New Year food. Details and registration can be found at www.2018chinesenewyear.eventbrite.com. More information about DePaul’s Chinese Studies program in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences is at http://bit.ly/DPU_ChineseStudies

DePaul University Theatre School, 2350 North Racine Avenue, Chicago

Stage Adaptation of Richard Wright’s ‘Native Son’ – Through February 18

The Theatre School at DePaul University presents the stage adaptation of Richard Wright’s 1940 novel “Native Son,” adapted by Theatre School alumna Nambi E. Kelley, and directed by graduate student Mikael Burke. The production which runs through February 18. The Theatre School and DePaul’s Center for Black Diaspora also will host several events in conjunction with the run of “Native Son” to open dialogue.

‘Racism is poison’
The story takes place in 1930s South Side Chicago and explores the systemic racism and poverty that oppressed a young man named Bigger Thomas from birth. Bigger lands a job with a wealthy white family, but his fate is sealed when a violent act unleashes a chain of events that cannot be undone.

Production and ticket information
The production runs through February 18. Performances are slated for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday. The February 11 and February 15 performances will be followed by a post-show discussion. The Feb. 15 performance will also be interpreted in American Sign Language.

Tickets are $15, preview tickets are $10 and student tickets are $5. Tickets are available by calling the box office at 773-325-7900 or by visiting http://theatre.depaul.edu. Members of the active military and their families can receive a discount with a valid ID. Patrons with impaired vision or who require wheelchair accessible or companion seating are asked to call the box office. Subscriptions and group rates (six or more people) are available. All tickets are reserved seating.

Dialogue events
The Theatre School and DePaul University’s Center for Black Diaspora will host several events in conjunction with the run of “Native Son.”

February 12, 5 p.m.
Screening of “Black Boy” in The Theatre School, Room 546, hosted by David Akbar-Gilliam, associate professor of Spanish and department chair of Modern Languages at DePaul.

February 13, 5 p.m.
Screening of the 1951 film adaptation of “Native Son,” starring Richard Wright, in The Theatre School, Room 546. Discussion facilitated by Dexter Zollicoffer, diversity advisor at the school.

February 14, following the 7:30 p.m. performance of ‘Native Son’
This post-show discussion will be facilitated by Ted Anton, a professor of English at DePaul and chair of the Age Studies Executive Committee of the Modern Language Association.

February 16, following the 7:30 p.m. performance of ‘Native Son’
This post-show discussion on the topic of “Richard Wright, The Expat,” will be facilitated by Juelle Daley, assistant director of DePaul’s Center for Black Diaspora.

Additional information about The Theatre School at DePaul University is online at https://theatre.depaul.edu/, and information about DePaul’s Center for Black Diaspora is at http://bit.ly/DPU_CBD.

Freedom Hall, 410 Lakewood Boulevard, Park Forest

Children’s Theatre to Present ‘Nugget and Fang’ – Tickets Now on Sale

‘Nugget and Fang’ will be featured at Freedom Hall’s Children’s Theatre on Friday, February 23 at 7 p.m. ArtsPower’s colorful new musical tells the story of Nugget, a minnow, and Fang, a shark, who get along swimmingly — until Nugget’s first day of minnow school. There, Nugget learns that minnows are supposed to be afraid of sharks! To regain Nugget’s trust, Fang takes desperate and hilarious measures. Nothing goes as planned. Fang is moping in deep waters when he notices that Nugget and his minnow schoolmates are caught up in some big trouble (and one very big net). Holy mackerel! Can Fang save the day and prove he’s a true friend? Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at Freedom Hall, by phone at 708-747-0580 or online at www.freedomhall.org.

‘Cherish the Ladies’ – Tickets Now on Sale

Freedom Hall’s Matinee Series will present ‘Cherish the Ladies’ on Tuesday, March 6 at 11 a.m. It is simply impossible to imagine an audience that wouldn’t enjoy what they do”, says the Boston Globe speaking of Cherish the Ladies, the long-running, Grammy-nominated, Irish-American super group that formed in New York City in 1985 to celebrate the rise of extraordinary women in what had been a male-dominated Irish music scene and has since toured the world, played the White House and the Olympics, and recorded 16 outstanding albums. They are in constant demand worldwide as their reputation and admiration from both fans and critics alike continues to grow. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at Freedom Hall, by phone at 708-747-0580 or online at www.freedomhall.org.

Mokoomba – Tickets Now on Sale

Tickets are now on sale for the performance on Friday, March 16th by Mokoomba.  The event will take place beginning at 7:30 p.m. Mokoomba is one of Africa’s most exciting young bands to emerge from the African continent in the past 10-15 years. Hailing from Zimbabwe, they are setting dance-floors ablaze with their unique mix of traditional Tonga and pan -African music cultures with dashes of Rap, Ska, Soukous and Afro-Cuban music. Mokoomba has toured more than 40 countries in Africa, Europe, Asia and Oceania. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at Freedom Hall, by phone at 708-747-0580 or online at www.freedomhall.org.

Park Forest Historical Society, 227 Monee Road

“Step Back into a 1950s Valentine’s Day” Exhibit – Through March 7

The 1950s Park Forest House Museum invites you to “Step Back into a 1950s Valentine’s Day,” through March 7. One room represents a classroom in Forest Boulevard School, which was set up in a row of townhomes. The classroom is decorated for a 1950s Valentine’s Day party with crepe paper candy baskets, and construction paper heart-shaped Valentine “mailboxes” on each desk.  Red honeycomb, puffy hearts and vintage Valentines are on display throughout the house. “Boomer Toys & Dolls” exhibit is also on display. 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 February 11:

  • Sunday, February 11 at 1:30 p.m. – Library Lovers Project — It’s Library Lovers Month!
    Create a special card or bookmark to show your appreciation.
  • Monday, February 12 at 11 a.m. – Sunrise Story Time — Join us for a delightful morning of stories!
  • Monday, February 12 at 3:30 p.m. – kids Art in the Afternoon — Unleash your inner artist. Drop in to create a seasonal masterpiece that will be displayed on the wall in kids’ zone. For ages 12 and under.
  • Monday, February 12 at 4 p.m. — Teen DIY: Valentine’s Day Gifts and Cardmaking — Stumped on gift ideas for your Valentine’s Day? Swing by Teen Tech Zone and create awesome gifts for that special someone!
  • Monday, February 12 at 5:30 p.m. — Digital Literacy Workshop: Internet Basics — A beginner’s guide to browsing the internet. Registration Required.
  • Monday, February 12 at 6:30 p.m. – Family Movie Night — Now Showing: ‘Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature.’ Rated: PG.
  • Tuesday, February 13 at 12:30 p.m. – Getting Started with Microsoft PowerPoint, Part I —  Learn the basics of making a presentation with Microsoft PowerPoint. Registration Required.
  • Tuesday, February 13 at 1 p.m. — Youth Astro Net — Youth ages 9-12 are invited to register for an awesome opportunity to remotely access Harvard telescopes, request images of celestial objects and process images using the same software that astronomers use. Registration is limited and parental consent is required.
  • Tuesday, February 13 at 4 p.m. — Color-Rama! Coloring Circle — Take a load off before starting your homework! Learn different media of art and show your creativity with other teens.
  • Tuesday, February 13 at 6 p.m. – Night Time Storytime — JAM OUT in your PJ’s with stories, crafts, music and more.
  • Wednesday, February 14 at 11 a.m. – Baby Time — Babies and their parents or caregivers are invited to read, sing and grow in this weekly story time. This program is geared toward babies 0 – 36 months with an accompanying adult. This is the perfect time for families to bond with their child/children.
  • Wednesday, February 14 at 3:30 p.m. — Kids DIY Project — Drop in for a special Valentine’s Day project! For ages 12 and under.
  • Wednesday, February 14 at 4 p.m. – Adult Coloring — Join us as we spend some time unwinding and relaxing with adult coloring books.
  • Wednesday, February 14 at 4 p.m. – Valentine’s Day Movie and Drop-In Craft — Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a romantic comedy and a craft!
  • Wednesday, February 14 at 6 p.m. — Earth Wise Movie Night: “Before the Flood” — Actor Leonardo Dicaprio meets with scientists, activists and world leaders to discuss dangers of climate change and possible solutions.
  • Wednesday, February 14 at 6:30 p.m.—Writer’s Workshop — Want to improve your skills as a writer? Interested in sharing your ideas or written work with others? Come to the Park Forest Library and join other creators in our bi-monthly writers’ group, led by James Pressler, for all your writing wishes. Writers of all skill levels are welcomed.
  • Thursday, February 15 at 11 p.m. – Toddler Art — Bring your imagination and creativity to bring out your inner Picasso through art projects and more. Some projects may involve paint. Ages 3-5.
  • Thursday, February 15 at 3 p.m. – Throwback Thursday Movie Matinee — Join us for movies from various generations. Some movies will be Rated: PG 13
  • Thursday, February 15 at 5:30 p.m. – Getting Started with Microsoft PowerPoint, Part I —  Learn the basics of making a presentation with Microsoft PowerPoint. Registration Required.
  • Thursday, February 15 at 6 p.m. – PJ Storytime — Pajama Story Time is Back on a New Day and Time! Share special moments with your child through stories, crafts, and more. For ages 12 and under.
  • Friday, February 16 at 3 p.m. — Drop-In Chinese New Year Craft — Drop-In for a festive project to celebrate Chinese New Year. For ages 12 and under.
  • Friday, February 16 at 3 p.m. – Explore a World of Wonder — Drop by the new PFPL Explore Space to discover and engage in interactive materials on display. Bring your questions with you. Impromptu exploration is welcome.
  • Friday, February 16 at 3 p.m. – Flashback Friday Movie Matinee — We’re going back in time! Drop in to see what film we’re showing from the past. Some films are rated: PG 13.
  • Friday, February 16 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, February 17 at 12:30 p.m. – Practical Application Circle — Join us as we read “Soulful Simplicity” by Courtney Carver.

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

Potpourri of Lectures Series – Thursday, February 15

The Potpourri of Lectures series will continue on Thursday, February 15 at 10:30 a.m.  This week’s lecture is ‘Ancient Healing Techniques’ presented by Liz Pilotto and Regina Sargent, RN, CWS, HTP, Healing Touch Practitioner. The Lecture will be held in the Library’s Ringering Room. For additional information, call 708-748-3731 or visit www.pfpl.org.

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

‘Altered: Works’ – Reception Thursday, February 15

The next exhibit at PSC’s Christopher Art Gallery is ‘Altered: Works’ by Kate Ingold, Katsy Johnson, Javier Chavira, and Rose Camastro-Pritchett. The Exhibit will run through Thursday, March 15. A reception will take place on Thursday, February 15 from noon to 2:30 p.m. Both the exhibit and reception are open to the public. Artists in this exhibition use found imagery and make it their own through various means of alteration. The media and techniques vary greatly from artist to artist, but in each we recognize a source of imagery that has been changed and individualized. Gallery hours are Monday & Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Wednesday & Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and by appointment. For additional information or to schedule an appointment to visit the Gallery, call 708-709-7738 or visit www.prairiestate.edu/christopher-art-gallery.

30th Annual Jazz Fest – Friday, February 16

PSC is celebrating its 30th Annual Jazz Fest in 2018. Some of the nation’s top jazz artists will perform during the special concert event at 7:30 p.m., Friday, February 16, in the Barnes & Noble College Auditorium in the Conference Center located on the PSC main campus in Chicago Heights.  Featured musicians include Chicago trumpeter Orbert Davis, drummer Ernie Adams, percussionist Rubén P. Alvarez, bassist Larry Gray and saxophonist Ed Petersen, as well PSC’s Professor of Music Valerie Nicholson on piano. Ticket prices are $15 for general admission. Student and senior citizen tickets are $10 each. Tickets are available in advance online at https://give.classy.org/prairiestatejazzfest, or by visiting the PSC Foundation Office in room 2266 of the main campus. Tickets also can be purchased at the door on the evening of the concert. Those who attend the evening concert also are invited to join the Jazz Fest musicians for a pre-concert VIP reception at 6 p.m. A $30 VIP and Concert Package ticket can be purchased in advance or on the night of the event. VIP guests will enjoy heavy hors d’ oeuvres, refreshments and entertainment, as well as the opportunity to meet the jazz fest masters. The reception is sponsored by the PSC Foundation. For more information, email [email protected]. The Friday performance is part of the annual festival hosted by PSC, which also includes instrumental clinics led by the featured artists. The clinics are for local junior high and high school jazz musicians. It is an opportunity for students to receive instruction in technique and performance from the jazz masters. Select students from the instrumental clinics also will be invited to perform with the guest artists during the concert. For more information on the Jazz Festival, or to purchase tickets to the concert, call 708-709-3631.

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 in, 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.

Tall Grass Arts Association, 367 Artists Walk, Park Forest

‘Water, Fire, Ice, Earth and Air’ – Through February 24

Tall Grass Arts Association’s exhibit ‘Water, Fire, Ice, Earth and Air’ will run through Saturday, February 24. This exhibit is free and open to the public. This invitational show features artists Elizabeth Busey, Lorna Filippini, Cheryl Holz, Beth Shadur and Valerie Taglieri and includes drawings, paintings and prints inspired by natural forms and forces, concern for the environment, and unexpected methods and materials to represent nature’s elements. Curated by Claudia Craemer.  Gallery Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday through Saturday. The Gallery is closed on Sunday and Monday. For additional information, call 708-748-3377 or visit www.tallgrassarts.org.

The Drama Group, 339 West 202nd Street, Chicago Heights

‘Little Red Riding Hood’ – Tickets Now on Sale

The Drama Group is always pleased to present quality live theatre for children, schools and daycare. This season The Drama Groups’ Children’s Theater brings you the beloved classic, ‘Little Red Riding Hood,’ directed by Charlie Misovye. Performances will be held on March 21, 22 & 23 at 9:30 a.m. and noon; Saturday, March 24 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.; and Sunday, March 25 at 1 p.m. Tickets are $6 in advance; $5 for groups of 25+ and $7 at the door. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Box Office at 708-755-3444. For directions and other information regarding Drama Group activities, please visit www.dramagroup.org.

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

Rainbow Café to Screen Film ‘Get Real’ – Friday February 16

The Rainbow Café will screen the film ‘Get Real’ on Friday, February 16 at 6:30 p.m. The Rainbow Café is located in the UUCC in Park Forest. ‘Get Real’  is a tenderly romantic film that tells the story of Steve, a young boy in a at secondary school, as he struggles with coming out and falling in love with John, the top athlete at school – who, amazingly, falls in love with him as well. The Rainbow Café is a safe and welcoming environment for the LGBTQ community and their allies to meet. The Café is open on the 3rd Friday of each month from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. For additional information, call 708-481-5339 or visit www.uuccpf.org.

Immigrant Prisons Film Series – Friday, February 23

On Friday, February 23 at 7 p.m., UUCC will screen Brave New Films Immigration Prisons series. A discussion will follow the film screening. The event is free and open to the public. The United States has the biggest immigrant prison system in the world, yet most Americans are unaware of the conditions found in immigrant prisons, and the mistreatment many detained immigrants endure. Brave New Films has hand-selected three short films for this series to change that. With the current surge of anti-immigrant rhetoric, stock in the immigrant prison industry is skyrocketing and more ICE agents are being hired to patrol communities and lock up immigrants. This means more people are being detained every day and forced to live for days, weeks, and even months at a time in unsustainable conditions, all while giant corporations turn a profit. The films ‘Immigrant Prisons,’ ‘Immigrants for Sale,’ and ‘No More Detention: Free Pastor Noe’ will help you to learn more about the immigrant prison industry and how it profits off the detention and suffering of people. These films examine issues related to immigration in the United States that impact undocumented and refugee communities, including DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). Free coffee, tea and popcorn will be provided. Bring a snack to share if you wish. Optional donations appreciated. For additional information, call 708-481-5339 or visit www.uuccpr.org.

University of Chicago Oriental Institute, 1155 East 58th Street, Chicago

Book of the Dead: Becoming God in Ancient Egypt – Through March 31

In ancient Egypt, you did not go to the afterlife empty-handed. The Book of the Dead, a collection of spells and charms, was there to guide you. Now through March 31, visitors to the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago will have a unique opportunity to peruse copies of the Book of the Dead: Two 2,200-year-old papyri, each more than 30 feet long and beautifully illustrated with texts and images. They are on display in their entirety for the first time at a museum, accompanied by the mummy of a woman who lived over 2,000 years ago, as well as statues, stelae, scarabs, magic bricks, ushabtis (small funerary figurines) and other artifacts. The exhibit presents 76 artifacts that demonstrate how religious beliefs shaped the lives and material culture in Egypt over a period of more than 2,000 years (from 2500 B.C. to 100 A.D). Most are from the permanent collection of the Oriental Institute, whose museum holds the Chicago area’s largest collection of Egyptian art and artifacts, as well as galleries devoted to the other cultures of the ancient Middle East. A central feature of the exhibit is an enclosure featuring the mummy of an ancient Egyptian woman from the city of Akhmim. In the display, she is surrounded by mortuary objects inscribed with Book of the Dead spells—typical for an Egyptian burial chamber, where multiple copies of the same spells could be found. Long strips of linen inscribed with Book of the Dead spells reveal how ancient Egyptian priests wrapped the Book of the Dead around the body to protect it within an amuletic cocoon of powerful religious texts. The two Book of the Dead papyri on display, from two different regions of Egypt, were painstakingly hand-produced by a team of skilled scribes and illustrators. Seeing the papyri laid out end-to-end makes their compilation starkly apparent, the curators said; each Book of the Dead papyrus is not a single book at all, but a collection of shorter spells compiled together in a single manuscript. The Field Museum of Natural History has loaned several rarely displayed objects, including several limestone blocks inscribed with large Book of the Dead spells from the tomb of a man named Bakenrenef, as well as a papyrus inscribed with a composition known as the First Book of Breathing. Over the course of the second and first centuries B.C., the Book of the Dead was largely abandoned in favor of the Books of Breathing; they represent the last documents in a tradition of funerary literature stretching back more than 2,500 years. A companion catalog contains essays by 13 prominent scholars with expertise in religion and the use of funerary literature in ancient Egypt. It includes complete photographic documentation of the two Book of the Dead papyri from the Oriental Institute in color for the first time. “Book of the Dead: Becoming God in Ancient Egypt” runs  through March 31, 2018 at the museum. Admission to the Oriental Institute is free, however, there is a suggested donation: $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for children under 12. For groups of 8 or more people visiting the museum, please register by completing and submitting the following form: Tour Reservation Form. Learn more about the Oriental Institute here. https://oi.uchicago.edu/

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

PSC’s 60th Anniversary Celebrations – Begin Wednesday, February 21

PSC is welcoming members of each of the communities of the college’s district to campus for an evening of networking, fun, and a chance to learn more about PSC, as part of the college’s 60th anniversary celebrations in 2018. The celebrations are scheduled once per month, and will be held outside the Christopher Art Gallery on the college’s main campus in Chicago Heights. The events are intended to give attendees chance to hear about all the great opportunities the college has to offer our district residents and businesses, and invite them to become a part of the college’s history. Community members will have the opportunity to provide suggestions to PSC administration and staff. Distinguished alumni and community members also will be recognized during the evening celebrations.

Upcoming celebrations include:

  • Glenwood/Lynwood – Wednesday, February 21
  • Steger/South Chicago Heights – Thursday, March 29
  • Olympia Fields/Tinley Park – Thursday, April 12
  • Sauk Village/Ford Heights – Tuesday, May 15
  • Monee/University Park – Thursday, June 28
  • Matteson – Wednesday, July 18
  • Crete/Beecher – Thursday, August 30
  • Richton Park/Park Forest – Wednesday, September 12
  • Hazel Crest/Country Club Hills – Wednesday, November 14

Each event is scheduled from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served, so RSVP’s for the anniversary events are strongly encouraged at https://f8s.co/1wl0. As the college celebrates this special anniversary, we are looking to reconnect with our alumni. If you have ever attended classes at PSC, we want to hear from you. Please visit http://prairiestate.edu/alumni-and-friends and register to hear more about all the anniversary activities planned throughout the year.

Black History Month Event: Engineering Conflict —Tuesday, February 27

In recognition of Black History Month, PSC is hosting a special guest speaker, Dr. David Stovall of the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), who will present “Engineering Conflict: Distractions, Conflict and the Future of Black Life,” from noon to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, February 27. Dr. Stovall’s presentation is free and open to the public, and will be held in the Barnes & Noble College Auditorium on the college’s main campus in Chicago Heights. Stovall will discuss concrete examples of the challenges and contradictions of dealing with conflict and distractions central to education. A panel discussion focusing on the relevance of these lessons for students, community and families, as well as educational leaders and teachers of all subjects and grade levels will follow Stovall’s presentation. Stovall is a professor of educational policy and African-American studies at UIC. His research interests include critical race theory, the relationship between housing and education, the intersection of race, place and school and the relationship between schools and community stakeholders. The event is supported by PSC TRiO Student Support Services and Male Success Initiate (MSI), as well as the MSI program at Governors State University. For more information, visit www.prairiestate.edu/msi-events.

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

BCI Workshop Presents – Crucial Conversations: The Crisis of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace – Tuesday, February 13

SSC’s Business & Career Institute (BCI) presents a Breakfast with BCI Workshop titled Crucial Conversations: The Crisis of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace, on Tuesday, February 13, from 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., with check-in and continental breakfast to begin at 8:15 a.m. This workshop will be held in the South Suburban College Main Campus in the MB Financial Suite on the 1st floor, and will be facilitated by Attorney Sonia D. Coleman and Alexandra Glumac, SSC Client Solutions Specialist. Allegations of sexual harassment and workplace misconduct permeated the news in 2017. As a result, several movements have been created to bring awareness to the egregious improprieties taking place in many industries. In order to support these initiatives, Attorney Sonia D. Coleman and HR Consultant Alexandra Glumac will answer three important questions:

  • What is sexual harassment?
  • What do you do if you experience or witness it?
  • Whose responsibility is it to stop it?

Join us for this frank discussion on a crucial workplace topic. Business owners, C-Suite executives, HR managers, supervisors and employees are encouraged to attend. The cost of the workshop with continental breakfast is $25 per person or $20 per person if 3 or more from the same company attend. Reservations are required by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, February 9th. To register, please call 708-596-2000, ext. 3254 or email [email protected].

Seeking Star Awards Nominations for the Chicago Women’s Conference – Nominations Through February 13

SSC is seeking nominations for The Star Awards, which will be presented at the 10th Annual Chicago Women’s Conference being held at South Suburban College on Friday, March 16. The two awards recognize women for their outstanding leadership in business, community activities and/or education and their encouragement of others to also be STARS. One of the awards recognizes lifetime achievement of a South Suburban College alumna. STAR awardees are role models because they not only focus on achieving their own goals, but through inspiring actions profoundly motivate others to do the same. Applications are being accepted through February 13 and are available on the website: www.thechicagowomensconference.org. This year marks the third year of the Star Awards. This year’s conference theme is “You Can Be Your Own Superhero.” Last year’s Star Award winners were SSC Lifetime Alumna winner Janice Crowe, a graduate of the college’s nursing program and Star Award winner Bridgett Annicks, an outstanding elementary school educator. Women can nominate themselves and others by going to the website for more information visit: www.thechicagowomensconference.org and register now to come to the event on March 16.

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

‘Feeding the Birds’ Presentation – Saturday, February 17

The 2018 Park Forest Gardening Series continues on Saturday, February 17 with a presentation on ‘Feeding the Birds.’ What do you feed birds especially in the dead of winter? Why are some feeds so messy? What seeds should you buy so that you aren’t wasting your money? You’ll learn this and more at this event which will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the Wetlands Discovery Center, 30 North Orchard Drive (next to the Park Forest Aqua Center). The event is free and open to the public. The Gardening Series is sponsored by the Village of Park Forest and the Park Forest Environment Commission.

Sauk-Calumet Sierra Club Group, Matteson

Backpacking the John Muir Trail – Monday, February 12

The next meeting of the Sauk-Calumet Sierra Club Group will be on Monday, February 12th, at the Frankfort Public Library, 21119 Pfeiffer Rd. in Frankfort at 7:15 pm. The program will highlight a father-daughter team who backpacked the John Muir Trail in California this past summer.  Mel Tracy and his 17-year-old daughter Molly will share slides and tell tales of their joy-filled 250-mile backpack trip hiking north on California’s John Muir Trail from 30 miles south of Mt. Whitney to Yosemite Valley.   Their 3 week experience included snow, then floodwaters, and finally fire danger. All meetings are open to members and the general public.  For more info or for questions about the Club and its activities email Patrick Coffey at [email protected].

Thorn Creek Audubon Society, Park Forest

Audubon 2018 Photo Awards Contest – Entries Accepted Through April 9

The National Audubon Society, in association with Nature’s Best Photography, announces its annual bird photography contest: the 2018 Audubon Photography Awards. Judges include birding legend Kenn Kaufman and 2015 Grand Prize winner Melissa Groo, as well as Allen Murabayashi, chairman and cofounder of PhotoShelter. Winning photographs will be published in Audubon magazine and Nature’s Best Photography magazine, and they will also be displayed within the 2018 Nature’s Best Photography Exhibition at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.  More information on the contest, prizes, and submission guidelines can be at www.audubon.org/photoawards.

Categories:

  • Professional (individuals currently earning $5,000 or more per year selling photography)
  • Amateur (individuals currently earning less than $5,000 per year selling photography)
  • Youth (individuals aged 13 to 17 who are making less than $5,000 a year selling photography; children 12 years old or younger are not eligible)

Entry Period:

January 8 – April 9, 2018.

Entry Fees:

  • $15 per image from 12:00 p.m. EST on January 8 through 11:59 a.m. EST on April 2
  • $20 per image from 12:00 p.m. EST on April 2 through 11:59 p.m. EST on April 9
  • No fee for Youth category entries or entries submitted via the mail
  • No limit to number of images submitted

Contest Prizes:

  • Grand Prize: $5,000 USD
  • Professional Prize: $2,500 USD
  • Amateur Prize: $2,500 USD
  • Youth Prize: Six days at Audubon’s Hog Island Audubon Camp (Arts and Birding/Photography Track) on July 8–13, 2018 for the winner and one parent/legal guardian.

How to Enter:

Judges will score eligible photographs using the following criteria: a) Technical Quality (30 percent); b) Originality (30 percent); and c) Artistic Merit (40 percent). Judges include:

  • Kevin Fisher, creative director, National Audubon Society
  • Steve Freligh, publisher, Nature’s Best Photography
  • Melissa Groo, wildlife photographer and 2015 grand prize winner
  • Kenn Kaufman, bird expert and Audubon field editor
  • Sabine Meyer, photography director, National Audubon Society
  • Allen Murabayashi, chairman and cofounder, PhotoShelter

For more information on the Audubon Photography Awards, please read the contest rules and Frequently Asked Questions. Last year’s winners can be found here. Contest begins January 8, 2018 and ends April 9, 2018. Must be at least 13 years of age and a legal resident of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, or Canada (excluding Quebec) to enter. Entrants under the age of majority must get permission from their parent or legal guardian to enter. Subject to Official Rules, which will be posted 1/8/2018. Void where prohibited.

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

Beginning Birding for All – Saturday, February 17

Come to Beginning Birding for All open house, Saturday, February 17 from 9 a.m. to noon for help with all things birds!  For basic bird identifications – and tricky ones, too -, choosing binoculars, bird feeding and feeder tips, local bird checklists and more. Birders of all levels are welcome. Make a bird feeder to take home, enjoy interactive bird games and watch birds from our special bird viewing area. Join expert birder Sue Zelek for a Beginning Birding Hike at 9 a.m. Beginning Birding for All is free and for all ages. Call or email to register for the event. The Beginning Birding for All event is sponsored by the Thorn Creek Audubon Society. The TCAS mission is to promote the enjoyment and appreciation of birds, to educate adults and children concerning our natural environment, to preserve, protect and restore wildlife habitat, and create awareness of local conservation issues.   Find information on TCAS meetings, field trips and membership at www.thorncreekaudubonsociety.org. The Thorn Creek event will prepare you for participating in the Great Backyard Birding Count (GBBC) – an annual count hosted by Audubon and Cornell Lab of Ornithology.  Across America and Canada people watch and count birds with the results providing a snapshot of the whereabouts of more than 600 bird species. “When thousands of people all tell us what they’re seeing, we can detect patterns in how birds are faring from year to year,” said Janis Dickinson, director of Citizen Science at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Anyone can be part of the GBB Count! It’s easy. Just watch and count birds in your backyard or on a trail for at least 15 minutes, then report what you saw at www.birdcount.org for the GBBC days February 16 through 19. For more information or to register for programs, please call 708-747-6320 or email [email protected].  Visit our website at http://www.tcwoods.org./

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

ACLU of Illinois

Tele-Town Hall on Reproductive Rights — Thursday, March 1

January 2018 marks the 45th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Roe v. Wade – a decision that freed women across the United States to make the most important decision in life: if and when to become a parent. In the four-plus decades since the court issued its decision, we have seen two things happen. Women have advanced in our society – in business and industry, education, and in a host of other spheres. And, we have seen anti-abortion advocates conspire and scheme to undermine this fundamental right. What have we learned during the past 45 years, and what is the current state of reproductive freedom in the United States and here in Illinois? Get answers to these and other questions by joining me for a phone conversation on Thursday, February 1 with my colleague, Lorie Chaiten, director of the ACLU of Illinois Women and Reproductive Rights Project. RSVP today! Participants will receive a call from Stones Phones, our communication technology partner at the start of the event. When you answer the call, you will be connected to the tele-town hall. Participants will have the opportunity to submit questions to a moderator during the call by using the touchtone keypad on your phone. We hope you are able to join us for this celebration of 45 years under Roe and a look at our work ahead. For additional information, visit: ACLU of Illinois.

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].

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

Knights of Columbus, Park Forest

Annual Fish Fry – Through March 23

The Knights of Columbus want you to know they have dinner for you on Fridays during Lent. Their annual Fish Fry will begin at St. Irenaeus Gym, 78 Cherry Street, Park Forest February 16. The rest of the calendar for this year’s feasts include February 23, and March 2, 9, 16, and 23. The menu includes all you can eat fish for $9.00, or six pieces of shrimp for $9.00. A combo meal with two fish and three shrimp costs $11.00. Soda or water are $1.00 each. All meals include mac & cheese, green beans, cole slaw, bread and butter. Coffee and tea are complimentary. Food is served between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Carry-outs are available, and there’s usually a 50-50 raffle or two or three happening each evening.

League of Women Voters Park Forest Area

Candidate Forum for 38th Congressional District State Representative – Sunday, February 18

The League of Women Voters will host a Candidate Forum for the 38th Congressional District State Representative on Sunday, February 18 at 2 p.m. The Forum will be held at the Matteson Community Library, 701 School Avenue in Matteson. The event is open to the public. Come out and meet the candidates to find out where they stand on important issues in a written question and answer format with moderator. The event is sponsored by the League of Women Voters, and the League of Women Voters of the Homewood-Flossmoor and Park Forest Area. For additional information contact Diane Hodges at [email protected] or Barbara Moore at 708-481-5251. The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization which encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. The League of Women Voters encourages citizens to register to vote and provides public education for voters on election issues. The League does not support or oppose any candidate for public office. Anyone interested in promoting responsible government is invited to be a member. For more information visit lwvpfa.org

Park Forest Commission on Human Relations

Black History Month Program – Saturday, February 24

The 2018 Black History Month program is scheduled for Saturday, February 24, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Freedom Hall, 410 Lakewood Boulevard. The Commission on Human Relations is sponsoring a program titled “Superman, Blackman, Me”. It is a one-man program written and acted by Jonathan Kitt who is a 2010 graduate of The Theatre School at DePaul University. He is also currently a professor of theatre at Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta Georgia. The show is open to the public and free of charge. For more details, visit the Village web site www.villageofparkforest.com or the lobby of Village Hall.

Park Forest Police Department, 200 Lakewood Boulevard

Park Forest Team Participating in Special Olympics Polar Plunge Seeking Support – Team Racing in Honor of Officer Tim Jones

The Law Enforcement Torch Run and GEICO’s 2018 Polar Plunge provides a unique opportunity to support Special Olympics athletes by taking a flying leap into the frigid waters of Manteno Lake located in Kankakee County. Each participant must raise $100 in donations from friends, family, neighbors and co-workers in exchange for jumping into the icy waters. The Park Forest Team will be taking the plunge in honor of Officer Tim Jones who suffered gunshot wounds in the line of duty in March of 2016 and is still recovering. The 2018 Polar Plunge is scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 3 at the Manteno Sportsmen’s Club, 851 North Main Street in Manteno. Registration will take place at noon with the plunge at 2 p.m. Join the team by donating to a great cause and come out on March 3 and support Special Olympics Illinois!  Make a donation or register for the 2018 Polar Plunge here.

Park Forest Toastmasters Club

Meeting – Tuesday, February 26

The Park Forest Toastmasters Club will meet on Tuesday, February 26 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.

Park Forest Youth Baseball

2018 Park Forest Baseball Registration – In Progress

Registration is now open for the 2018 baseball season for Park Forest Youth Baseball. Families with kids ages 4 to 14 who might be interested can visit Park Forest Baseball online to learn more details about the upcoming season. Their web site is www.pf-baseball.club or calls can be directed to 708-627-0586.

Village of Park Forest’s Economic Development & Planning Dept.

Presentation on Impact of Tax Reform on Business’ Bottom Line – Thursday, February 15

The Village of Park Forest’ Economic Development & Planning Department will host a presentation on ‘What Tax Reform on Your Bottom Line’ on Thursday, February 15. The event will be held at Dining on The Green Banquet Hall, 349 Main Street in DownTown Park Forest. This free event is open for community businesspersons and their associates. NeDonya Jackson, CPA, MBA of Accurate One Tax & Accounting Services, Inc. Will discuss the new business tax rate and best practices of record management. A complimentary full breakfast and networking is scheduled from 7:45 a.m. to 8:20 a.m. The presentation will be from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. To register, visit www.pfjanbustax.eventbrite.com, or call Monica DeLord at 708-284-5617 or email [email protected].

Village of Park Forest, 350 Victory Drive

Youth Summit – Friday, February 16

The Park Forest Police and Recreation & Parks Departments will be hosting a Youth Services Summit. It will take place from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, February 16th at Dining on the Green, 349 Main Street in DownTown Park Forest. The idea behind this summit is to bring numerous youth service providers together so as to analyze all that is offered, what might be duplicative and how various entities can partner in providing programming for the youth of our community. Questions about the Summit can be directed to Director of Recreation and Parks Rob Gunther at 708-748-2005.

Business Attire Wanted – Collection Now in Progress

The Village of Park Forest is collecting gently used or new men and women business attire. Clean out your closet and contribute to a good cause.  This project will provide business attire for any constituent looking to dress professional for work or interviews. Donations may include:

  • Suits for men and women
  • Ties, belts and shoes
  • Blazers,
  • Dress pants,
  • Dress shirts
  • Blouses,
  • Dresses and skirts, and
  • Clothing Racks and Hangers

Drop off is by appointment only. For additional information or to schedule a drop-off appointment, call or email Evelyn Sterling at 708-283-5621 or [email protected].

 


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