Local

In and Around Park Forest for the Week of September 16, 2018


1966 Park Forest
Print by Mike Gans is from a painting by Annabelle Gould, 1966, showing moms and kids in front of the Park Forest Plaza and Holiday Theatre. (Source: Facebook)

Park Forest, IL—(ENEWSPF) — The Park Forest Historical Society will be holding its Annual Meeting on Sunday, September 23 at St. Mary Catholic Church’s Ryan Hall, 227 Monee Road in Park Forest. Jane Nicoll will present a slide show on the early development of Park Forest. Following the meeting, the Park Forest House Museum, located inside St. Mary’s, will be open to view the displays celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Village of Park Forest. You can find additional information about the meeting in the ‘This & That’ section.

Did you know that the Crete Public Library’s Coffee Connection is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon during the school year? The Coffee Connection began in 2002 with a grant done in partnership with the library and the Crete-Monee 201-U Special Education Department. Students from the high school come to the library to serve hot and cold beverages, bottled water, biscotti and Nutrigrain bars. Participating students gain experience interacting with the public, preparing coffee, and handling the money. Many of the programs past participants have gone on to secure paying jobs in the community. You can learn more about the Coffee Connection in the ‘Arts & Entertainment’ section

There’s still time to submit your receipts from local Park Forest businesses for the September 28 ‘Water Bill Buck Buster’ drawing. The winner of the raffle will get a $100 water bill credit. Receipts are due the day before the drawing. The final drawing will be held on December 28. You can find out details about the ‘Water Bill Buck Buster’ contest in the ‘This & That’ section.

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

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

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

Administration — Village of Park Forest

Village of Park Forest, 350 Victory Drive

Petition Packets Available for April 2019 Park Forest Election

Park Forest Village Clerk Sheila McGann announced that the first date for candidates to circulate petitions for the office of Village mayor, Village trustee or Library trustee is Tuesday, September 18, 2018. The first day to file petitions is December 10, 2018. The last day to file petitions is December 17, 2018. The next Park Forest election will be held on April 2, 2019. There will be three (3) Village trustee candidates, each are elected to a four-year term; and mayor, to be elected to a four-year term. The Park Forest Public Library board has two (2) trustee candidates, each for a six-year term; and one (1) vacant trustee candidate, two-year term to expire. Those interested in running for Village office should pick-up packets in the Village Manager’s office, located on the second floor of Park Forest’s Village Hall, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, contact Angela Thurston at 708-748-1112 extension 5605.

Village Board Meeting – Monday, September 24

The next Village of Park Forest Board is scheduled to take place on Monday, September 24

at 7 p.m. at Village Hall. Residents are encouraged to attend. 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 September 16:

  • Tuesday, September 18 at 7 p.m. – Plan Commission
  • Tuesday, September 18 at 7 p.m. – Recreation & Parks Advisory Board

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

Arts & Entertainment

Crete Public Library District, 1177 North Main Street

Coffee Connection is Back – Monday through Thursday During School Year

With school back in session, Coffee Connection at the Crete Public Library has just begun its 17th year of providing refreshments for library visitors. Coffee Connection began in 2002 with a grant written by then-director Jane Schulten, as a partnership with the Special Education Department at Crete-Monee 201-U. Students from the high school come to the library to serve a selection of hot and cold beverages, including coffee, tea, cocoa, juice, and bottled water, and offer prepackaged biscotti and Nutrigrain bars. Under the supervision of Brigitte Calgaro, Job Coach, the students brew the coffee, run the cash register, bus tables, and practice their customer service skills. They also set out small vases of fresh flowers, provided by The Finishing Touch florist in Crete. This endeavor provides a unique opportunity to the students, who gain experience interacting with the public, preparing the coffee, and handling money.  Many of the program’s past participants have gone on to secure paying jobs in the community after graduation. Coffee Connection is open from 10 a.m. until noon, Monday through Thursday, during the school year on days that school is in session. Please stop by the library to visit us!

The following events are scheduled at the Crete Public Library District the week of September 16:

  • Monday, September 17 through Saturday, September 22 – Talk Like a Pirate Week – Stop by the library in your best pirate garb with your best pirate voice. Participate in pirate themed activities around the Youth Service Department.
  • Monday, September 17 at 3 p.m. – T(w)een Cooking – Create and taste a recipe you can take home with you. For ages 11+.  Register.
  • Monday, September 17 at 6 p.m. – Teen Movie Night – Call the library for the film title. For ages 13+.
  • Tuesday, September 18 at 1 p.m. – Preschool Storytime – Number recognition, alphabet, books, music, and craft projects that are all geared in learning early literacy skills. For ages 4-5. Register.
  • Tuesday, September 18 at 6 p.m. – The Young Adult (for Adults) Book Club – Discussion of Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys. Group meets at The Loft Restaurant, Crete. For adults.
  • Tuesday, September 18 at 7 p.m. – Your Best Garage Sale Yet! – Discover the best tips and ideas for making your garage sale successful. You will learn how to price your items, how to get the crowds to come to your sale, and most importantly how to get the customers to make a purchase! For adults, register.
  • Wednesday, September 19 at 10 a.m. – Toddler Time – Children, ages 2-3, are encouraged to come for stories and to practice their ECRR 2.0 skills: Read, Write, Sing, Talk, Play. Parents and children will explore the thematic stations together. Register.
  • Wednesday, September 19 at 3 p.m. – Photo Editing 101 – Gain skills in photo editing and graphic design. This month’s project is a four image composition with variant gradients/colors. For ages 11 to adult. Register.
  • Thursday, September 20 at 10 a.m. – Toddler Time – Children, ages 2-3, are encouraged to come for stories and to practice their ECRR 2.0 skills: Read, Write, Sing, Talk, Play. Parents and children will explore the thematic stations together. Register.
  • Thursday, September 20 at 1 p.m. – Preschool Storytime – Number recognition, alphabet, books, music, and craft projects that are all geared in learning early literacy skills. For ages 4-5. Register.
  • Thursday, September 20 at 6 p.m. – T(w)een Craft Night – Make a clay leaf bowl. All materials provided. For ages 11+.
  • Thursday, September 20 at 6 p.m. – Tween STEAM: Art (Ro)Bot – In this science, technology, engineering, art, and math program, make an Art Ro(Bot). For grades 3-5. Register.
  • Thursday, September 20 at 6:15 p.m. – Film Club – Showing Coherence with refreshments and a brief discussion afterwards. For adults.
  • Friday, September 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Babies & Books – Join us for weekly for a storytime that integrates the power of structured play with stories and songs. This program will provide guidance in how to read with your little one and other early literacy concepts. 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.

DePaul Art Museum, 935 West Fullerton Avenue, Chicago

Fall Art Exhibits – Through Sunday, December 16

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

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

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

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

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

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

DePaul University Daley Building — 247 South State Street, Chicago

Courier 12 Screenwriting Conference – Registration Now in Progress

Entertainers, producers and screenwriters will join the DePaul University School of Cinematic Arts for the annual Courier 12 Screenwriting Conference September 29. Held on DePaul’s Loop Campus, Courier 12 is the premier screenwriting event in the Midwest and will feature panel discussions from leading writing talent in the entertainment industry. The conference will take place from noon to 7 p.m. in DePaul’s Daley Building. Admission to the event is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to reserve a seat at http://bit.ly/courier122018. Panels include:

Second City Legends — Noon
Producer Trevor Albert (Groundhog Day) and writer Dick Blasucci (SCTV Mad TV) discuss their adventures in the world of comedy. Particularly the benefits of embracing improvisation in all aspects of one’s professional life.

The YouTube Launchpad — 1:30 p.m.
Allison Raskin is a screenwriter, podcast innovator, New York Times best-selling novelist, and co-creator of “Just Between Us,” a YouTube comedy channel with 750,000 subscribers. She will delve into the process behind self-distributing content, exploiting your voice and how streaming platforms can help writers build a career. School of Cinematic Arts faculty member Brad Riddell will moderate.

Culture of the Writer’s Room — 3 p.m.
Rafael Agustín is a writer on “Jane the Virgin,” a 2016 Sundance Fellow, and currently serves as the Executive Director of the Latino Film Institute, for which he was named one of the 50 most essential people in Los Angeles. As an alumnus of the CBS Diversity Comedy Showcase, he will discuss culture and television writing with School of Cinematic Arts faculty member, José Soto.

How to Win an Emmy — 4:30 p.m.
Megan Amram currently writes for “The Good Place,” and has written for “Parks and Rec,” “The Simpsons,” “Transparent,” Adult Swim’s “Children’s Hospital,” and “Silicon Valley.” Amram is a 2018 Emmy Award Nominee for her web series, “An Emmy for Megan,” which is about her quest to win an Emmy. She will discuss writing for television, creating a web series and her Emmy aspirations with School of Cinematic Arts faculty member Anna Maria Hozian.

Finding A Quiet Place — 6 p.m.
Scott Beck and Bryan Woods are the writing team behind 2018’s smash-hit horror/thriller film, “A Quiet Place.” Their screenplay has proven to be revolutionary in many ways, and they will discuss its inspiration, evolution and execution with “Go Into the Story” blogger and School of Cinematic Arts faculty member Scott Myers.

DePaul’s School of Cinematic Arts was recently ranked No. 13 on The Hollywood Reporter’s list of America’s Top 25 Film Schools. Starting this fall, DePaul is offering comedy filmmaking degrees with The Second City, Chicago’s iconic center for improvisational comedy. DePaul’s 35,000-square-foot facilities at Cinespace Chicago Film Studios on the city’s west side include three professional soundstages, green screen cycloramas, a 3-ton grip truck and high-end editing suites and mixing studios. For more information, visit http://cdm.depaul.edu/film.

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

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

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

‘Artifacts’ Exhibit — Through Saturday, September 22

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

Park Forest Historical Society, 227 Monee Road

“Step Back into a 1950s Halloween” –Through Wednesday, November 7

Vintage Halloween decorations are on display in the 1950s Park Forest House Museum, from September 15 through November 7.  Located at in St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 227 Monee Road, the museum is open Wednesday and Saturday1:00 to 3:30; or for groups by appointment. Display items include Gurley Halloween candles, die-cut decorations, and a boxed costume with mask.  Park Forest 70th Anniversary Exhibits are on display throughout 2018-2019, including “Design through the Decade, 1948-1958.”  The museum always tells the story of how Park Forest was developed and describes life in the village in its first 5 years, 1948-1953. Toys, dolls, books, clothing and household furnishings all help portray life in the early 1950s to 1960s. September marks the 20th Anniversary of the museum, which was started for the 50th Anniversary of Park Forest. Information is on the website at http://www.parkforesthistory.org and with Jane Nicoll at 708-481-4252, or Mike Gans at 708-305-3308.  Admission donation is adults $5; children 12 and under free with an adult.

Park Forest Public Library, 400 Lakewood Boulevard

The following events are scheduled at the Park Forest Library the week of September 16:

  • Sunday, September 16 at 1:30 p.m. – Create Zone Craft — Stop in kids’ zone and create something special today.
  • Sunday, September 16 at 2 p.m. – Book Talk — Join Olympia Fields author Arlene Burke.
  • Monday, September 17 at 11 a.m. – Story Time Stars — Rise and Shine! Parents can jump-start the day with stories and a craft for your little one. Ages 12 and under.
  • Monday, September 17 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.
    Ages 12 and under.
  • Monday, September 17 at 4 p.m. – All Day Drop In Projects –Stop by the Lab for a spur-of-the-moment activity.
  • Monday, September 17 at 4 p.m. – Explore This World of Wonder —  Drop in to the Explore space and discover something new.
  • Tuesday, September 18 at 12:30 p.m. – Drop In Craft — Drop in to kids’ zone and see what we are creating today. For ages 12 and under.
  • Tuesday, September 18 at 3:30 p.m. – Kids Art Studio — Drop in and discover your inner artist with one of our guided projects. For ages 12 and under.
  • Tuesday, September 18 at 4 p.m. – Color-Rama! Coloring Circle — Cool down inside from the summer heat with a fun activity that helps you to unwind and relax.
  • Tuesday, September 18 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.
  • Wednesday, September 19 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, September 19 at 3:30 p.m. – Color Me Mine — Travel to a world of relaxation for kids. Lose yourself in patterns, curved flowers or even runaway stems. Color yourself Happy in our kids’ coloring circle. For ages 12 and under.
  • Wednesday, September 19 at 4 p.m. – Adult Coloring — Join us and relax a bit with our coloring circle. All supplies are provided.
  • Wednesday, September 19 at 4 p.m. – All Day Drop In Projects — Stop by the Lab for a spur-of-the-moment activity.
  • Wednesday, September 19 at 6:30 p.m. – Movie Night for Adults — Join us as we watch a newly released movie.
  • Thursday, September 20 at 11 a.m. – Toddler Art — Bring out your inner Picasso through art projects and more… Some projects may involve paint. Ages 3-5.
  • Thursday, September 20 at 3:30 p.m. – Drawing Theory — Do you enjoy Drawing and Sketching? Learn how to draw your favorite animations and more. For ages 12 and under.
  • Thursday, September 20 at 4 p.m. – Teen Movie — Cool down this summer with a featured film.
  • Friday, September 21 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.
  • Friday, September 21 at 3:30 p.m. – Comic Creations — Be inspired to become a graphic novelist/comic creator! Each week explore ways to create comic strips, books, graphic and more. For ages 12 and under.
  • Saturday, September22 at 11 a.m. – Blooming Bulbs — Spring bulbs are a nice touch for any landscape or garden. Due to the diversity with blooming times for different bulbs, they will add color to the scenery from January until June and beyond.

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

Park Forest Board of Trustees Meeting – Thursday, September 20

The Park Forest Public Library Board of Trustees is elected to set policies and oversee the operation of the Library. Trustees receive no payment for their service. The meetings are open to the public. The meeting agenda includes an opportunity for audience members to address the Board. The meeting will take place on Thursday, September 20 at 7 p.m. in the Library’s Ringering Room.

Olympia Fields Focus Group – Sunday, September 23

Calling all Olympia Fields residents! Drop in and meet your Library Trustees. They are interested in your feedback and ideas. For more information please contact [email protected]. The focus group will take place on Sunday, September 23 at 1:30 p.m.

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.

Salon Artists Gallery, 294 Main Street, Park Forest

‘Our Truth’— Through Sunday, September 30

The Gallery will present the ‘Our Truth’ exhibit which will run through Sunday, September 30. The exhibit is free and open to the public. The exhibit features the works of Artists Sandra Armstrong, Janice Pratt and Faye Zalecki. For additional information and Gallery hours, visit www.salonartistsgallery.com or call 708-703-7806.

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

‘Day By Day’ Exhibit – Through Thursday, October 11

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Art & Design Department of SSC is pleased to present a solo exhibition entitled ‘Day By Day, Artworks by Daniela Kovačić.’ The exhibition will be on display in the Dorothea Thiel Gallery through Thursday, October 11. On September 26, Ms. Kovačić will deliver an Artist Lecture at 12 noon in room 4340 with an artist reception to follow at 1 p.m. Both the exhibit and reception are free and open to the public. Born and raised in the Chilean Patagonia, Daniela has dedicated her career to oil painting. Her work explores different topics around self-identity, largely through the depiction of women and children. She has a master’s degree from the New York Academy of Art and a bachelor’s degree from Universidad Finis Terrae, Santiago, Chile. Daniela has received prestigious awards and scholarships such as Fulbright, Becas Chile, Robert Gamblin Painting Award, NYAA scholarships and a residency from the Terra Foundation for American Art. Her work has been exhibited and published internationally since 2005.  The Dorothea Thiel Gallery is located on the fourth floor and is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The galleries are closed on weekends and holidays. For more information contact 708-596-2000 ext. 2316. Para Información En Español Llame: 708-210-5740.

Tall Grass Arts Association, 367 Artists Walk, Park Forest

‘Soundwaves – Colorcodes – Natureforms’ Exhibit – Opens Friday, September 28

The ‘Soundwaves – Colorcodes – Natureforms’ exhibit feature the work of four artists who interpret objects and ideas through abstract imagery. The exhibit includes paintings, prints, photographs and sculptures by artists who have created a large body of work that is primarily abstract; who explore concepts related to music, sound, natural forms and pure geometric design. Works represent a clearly identifiable and personal language of form, shape, color, texture, imagery and mark-making or process. Artists include: James Bowden, Bill Dixon, Linda Haynes, and Patricia Moore. The exhibit opens on Friday, September 28 and will run through Saturday, November 3. The exhibit is free and open to the public. Gallery Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 11a.m. to 4 p.m. For additional information, call 708-748-3377 or visit www.tallgrassarts.org.

Educational Lectures & Opportunities

Online Educational Resources

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

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

‘Understanding Workers’ Compensation: What You Need to Know to Minimize Risk’ – Registration Now in Progress

The South Suburban College Business & Career Institute (BCI) presents a Breakfast with BCI Workshop titled ‘Understanding Workers’ Compensation: What You Need to Know to Minimize Risk’ on Thursday, October 4, 2018, from 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 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. With job-related injuries and illnesses on the rise, the onus is on managers, supervisors and the HR team to make certain protocols are followed and documentation is timely and accurate. In order to minimize the possibility of lawsuits and other legal actions, those in leadership positions must be knowledgeable about best practices. In this workshop, employment law attorney Sonia D. Coleman, PC and HR specialist Alexandra Glumac, SHRM-CP will review the “whats”, “wheres”, “hows”, and “whys” to successfully managing a workers’ compensation claim from injury to resolution. Join BCI for this informative 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 $15 per person or $10 per person if three or more from the same company attend. Reservations are required by 4 p.m. on Friday, Monday, October 1st. To register, please call 708-596-2000, ext. 3254 or email [email protected]. The Business & Career Institute is a regional headquarters for workforce preparation, employee training and business development. BCI provides assessment and training, consulting, and economic and business development resources for the Chicago Southland. BCI works with a number of industries including agriculture, business and information, construction, education, health services, hospitality, manufacturing and transportation.

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

Thorn Creek Audubon Society, Park Forest

Nature Education Programs at Thorn Creek Nature Center

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

Thorn Creek Nature Center, 247 Monee Road, Park Forest

Garlic Pop Up Sale — Saturday, September 22

Exotic and heritage garlic bulbs, grown organically at Thorn Creek’s Historic Farm, will be available for purchase at a “Garlic Pop Up,” for one day, Saturday, September 22 from 7 a.m. to Noon, at Park Forest Farmers Market, 152 Main Street, next to Dollar General. Thorn Creek Nature Center will have a booth that one day at the Farmers Market to sell garlic and provide planting information. Garlic bulbs of some 20 varieties will be sold for $2.50 per bulb to benefit the Nature Center.  Garlic can be used for eating or for planting in your garden mid-October. Planting instructions will be available. There will be hand-cleaned garlic bulbs and some “on the stem” which can be used for braiding or other projects. The Pop Up Garlic Sale takes the place of the nature center’s former day-long garlic festival, which was a wonderful event but a serious strain on staffing. However, this has been an exceptional year for garlic, with perfect weather conditions that have yielded large and hardy bulbs that should delight planters and palates alike, according to grower Judy Mendelson. The garlic featured at the Pop Up was all hand planted and harvested and dried at the century-old historic farm. There will be limited quantities of some exotic varieties, in addition to supplies of favorite Inchelium, a soft neck variety, tasty and well adapted to the Midwest. For more information, contact Thorn Creek Nature Center at 708-747-6320 or [email protected]. Visit our website www.tcwoods.org. The Nature Center is open Friday and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. and trails are open daily, dawn to dusk.

Become a ‘Friend of Thorn Creek’

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

Experience the Thorn Creek Nature Center

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

Will County Green, 58 East Clinton Street, Joliet

Recycling in the South Suburbs — Ongoing

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

Recycling Locations

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

For additional information, visit www.countygreen.com.

Healthy Living

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

Free Psychotherapy Available from GSU’s Psychology Program

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

Park Forest Fire Department, 156 Indianwood Boulevard, Park Forest

CPR Classes

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

Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA)

Assistance With Medications & Health Services

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

Sertoma Centre, 4343 West 123rd Street, Alsip

Free Community Education and Prevention Programs about Mental Health

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

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

Park Forest Economic Development and Planning Department

Water Bill Buck Buster – Next Raffle Friday, September 28

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

  • September 28
  • December 28

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

Park Forest Historical Society

Annual Meeting – Sunday, September 23

The Park Forest Historical Society will hold its Annual Meeting on Sunday, September 23 at St. Mary Catholic Church’s Ryan Hall, 227 Monee Road in Park Forest. The meeting will include the election of new Board Members. After this brief meeting, Jane Nicoll will discuss and present a slide show on the early development of Park Forest. The Park Forest House Museum, located inside St. Mary’s, will then be open to view displays celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Village. The first residents moved in to Park Forest on August 30, 1948. The Museum’s Halloween decorations will also be on display. The meeting is open to the public and refreshments will be served. For additional information, visit: www.parkforesthistory.org

Park Forest Toastmasters Club

Meeting – Tuesday, September 25

The Park Forest Toastmasters Club will meet on Tuesday, September 25 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.

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

13th Annual Bulldog Baseball Golf Outing – September 21

The 2019 SSC Baseball Team is hosting its 13th Annual Bulldog Baseball Golf Outing to raise funds for athletic equipment and travel costs for nationwide tournaments. The Bulldog Golf Outing will take place on Friday, September 21, at Lincolnshire Country Club, 390 E. Richton Road in Crete, IL. Registration begins at 11 a.m. with a shotgun start at noon. The cost is $150.00 per golfer or $500 for a foursome, which includes golf (four‐man scramble) with dinner and door prizes to follow. Hole Sponsorships are also available for $100.00. For more information please contact Head Coach Steve Ruzich at 708-596‐2000, ext. 2413, or email [email protected]. Checks should be made payable to “South Suburban College Baseball” and delivered to 15800 South State Street, South Holland, IL 60473. Hole Sponsors should indicate what to display on the sponsorship when sending in the check, and must be returned by September 17th. Bulldog Golf 2018 Registration & Flyer

Village of Park Forest, 350 Victory Drive

Park Forest Main Street Market – Every Saturday through October 27

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


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