Local

In and Around Park Forest Week of August 31, 2009


john-ostenburg-blondean-davis-sauk-school-dedication-083009

Mayor John Ostenburg addresses the gathering at the dedication of Sauk School Sunday as District 162 Superintendent Dr. Blondean Davis looks on. (PHOTO: ENEWSPF)

Park Forest, IL–(ENEWSPF)– August 31, 2009. The 2009 Autumn Recreation Programs & More brochure was mailed late last week. There are many programs, classes and events for all ages. Be sure to register early as some classes and programs have a limit as to how many can participate. Regardless of the season, there is never an excuse for Park Foresters to become couch potatoes.

Send information concerning your community activities or events during the upcoming week by e-mail to Rosemary Piser, Associate Editor, with the details. Submission deadline is noon on Friday of each week.

Village of Park Forest Board and Commission Meetings

The following Village Boards and Commissions will meet the week of August 31:

  • Plan Commission – Tuesday, September 2 at 7 p.m.;
  • Senior Citizens Advisory Commission – Tuesday, September 2 at 7 p.m.;
  • Economic Development Advisory Group – Wednesday, September 2 at 7 p.m.; and
  • Environment Commission – Thursday, September 3 at 7 p.m.

All meetings are held at Village Hall, 350 Victory Drive. Residents are encouraged to attend.

Rain Barrels – LAST CALL FOR 2009 SEASON

The final sale of rain barrels for the 2009 season will be at the Farmers’ Market on Saturday, September 5. Rain barrels are $49 each. Keep in mind that prices will likely increase in 2010. Residents interested in buying rain barrels can visit the Recreation and Parks window on the main floor of Village Hall, 350 Victory Drive, to pre-order a barrel and pick them up at the Farmers’ Market on Saturday, September 5th. You can also purchase a rain barrel directly at the Farmers’ Market. Rain barrel colors for this final 2009 sale are limited to the stock-on hand. Common rain barrel accessories will also be available for sale at the Farmers’ Market. Payment can be made in either cash or personal check. For further information, call Village Hall at 708-748-2005.

Park Forest Scenic 5 and More – September 7

A day full of excitement in Park Forest is just a couple of weeks away. Plan on making Park Forest’s Scenic 5 and More events part of your Labor Day plans. The Park Forest Scenic 5 and More consists of:

  • 5 Mile Race;
  • 5 Mile Family Bike Ride;
  • Competitions at the Aqua Center; and
  • 5K Walk of the Central Park Wetlands.

For more information, call 708-8748-2005 or visit Park Forest’s website at: www.villageofparkforest.com,

Park Forest Health Department, 350 Victory Drive (lower level)

School and “Sports Only” Physicals

Children of Park Forest and the surrounding area who are going into preschool, kindergarten, sixth grade and ninth grades are required to have a school physical. A fee of $41 will be charged for Park Forest residents and $46 for non-residents (cash only) on:

Saturday, September 12, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Appointments are required. To make an appointment or for further information, call 708-748-1118.

Arts and Entertainment

Man of La Mancha Theater & Lunch Senior Trip – Registration Deadline – September 2

On Thursday, October 1 at 11:15 a.m. participants will depart from Freedom Hall and head to the Theatre at the Center in Munster, Indiana. Lunch will be served before the show and you can choose between roast sirloin of beef or baked cod accompanied with two sides and dessert. Following lunch, sit back and enjoy the Tony Award winning play, Man of La Mancha – the musical based on Cervantes’ Don Quixote. The fee of $58.00 per person includes round-trip coach bus, lunch and the show. Registration deadline is September 2 (tickets are non-refundable). Register in-person at the Recreation and Parks Department of Park Forest Village Hall (350 Victory Drive) or over the phone with a credit card by calling 708-748-2005.

Park Forest Library, 400 Lakewood Boulevard

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

  • Video Games, Friday, September 4 at 3:30 p.m. The Library will host Wii video games for children.

For more information, call 708-748-3731, extension 20.

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

Photographer of the Year Exhibit

PSC’s Photographer of the Year Exhibit opens in the college’s Christopher Art Gallery on August 31 and runs through Thursday, September 24. In addition to works by PSC’s photographer of the year, Leonard Ferris, the exhibit also features selected works by students in fine arts, photography, and graphic communications. A reception will be held to honor Ferris and the student artists on Wednesday, September 2 from 12 noon to 2 p.m. Hours for the Christopher Art Gallery are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Wednesday and Thursday from 5 p.m to 7 p.m. Visits can also be made by appointment. For more information about the exhibit, or to make an appointment for a visit, call 708-709-3636.

Tall Grass Gallery, 367 Artists Walk, Park Forest

With These Hands – 2009 Sculpture Invitational –Thru September 13

A varied compilation of sculptural works will be shown by artists Joshua Andres, Patrician Bohannon, Louis Greer, John Hansen, Angela Lee, Michele P. Owens, Michael Ruback, Eric Steele, Jan Stewart, Grant White, and Robert Williams. Admission is free to the public. Gallery hours are 11 AM to 4 PM Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, call 708-748-3377.

Illinois Theatre Center, 371 Artists Way, Park Forest

A Shayna Maidel

Tickets are now on sale for A Shayna Maidel, the opening production of ITC’s 34th season. A Shayna Maidel dramatizes the saga of the Weiss family, Polish Jews whose lives are irrecoverably altered by the Holocaust. The New York Times described this play as “…a powerful, deeply affecting portrait of a family, which conveys the aftermath of the Holocaust through a poignant, imaginatively conceived examination of one divided family’s experience. A tribute to the sustaining power of family and to man’s indominatability.” A Shayna Maidel will open September 25 and run through October 11. Tickets range from $19 – $21. There is a $1 discount for students and senior citizens at all performances. For more information, call 708-481-3510.

Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University

UMOJA Step Show 2009 – Saturday September 4

On Saturday, September 4, UMOJA “U.N.I.T.Y.” Step Show returns to the Center. Hosted by the Joliet Area South Suburban Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the purpose of this event is to raise awareness to the epidemic of gun violence that is taking the lives of our children every day. This safe, fun event for the entire family will be hosted by “the Hot Boyz” Tone and Shag. Funds raised will help support scholarships and other service projects provided by the sorority. The event begins at 7 p.m. with vending starting at 5 p.m. Advance ticket prices are: $25/box seats and $20 all other seats. Ticket prices at the door are: $30/box seats and $25 all other seats. For more information, call 708-235-2222 or visit the Center’s website at: http://www.centertickets.net/.

Unbound

Paula Marie Productions presents Unbound, a new, hilarious stageplay written and directed by Stacye V. Clark. Unbound will be presented on Friday and Saturday, September 18 – 19 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, September 20 at 3 p.m. Ticket prices range from $22 – $38. For more information, call 708-235-2222 or visit the Center’s website at: http://www.centertickets.net/.

2009 – 2010 Season Subscriptions

Help celebrate the Center for Performing Arts 15 years of touching lives and entertaining audiences in the south suburban area. Performances this season include singer, Jim Brickman, Animal Planet’s Jeff Corwin, the Hubbard Street Dance Troop of Chicago, and Whose Live Anyway, featuring comedian Ryan Stiles to name just a few of the diverse events for adults and children of all ages. Subscription and individual tickets are now on sale. Call 708-235-2222 for more information or visit the Center’s website at: http://www.centertickets.net/.

Freedom Hall Nathan Manilow Theatre, 410 Lakewood Boulevard

2009 – 2010 Season

Regular and subscriber tickets are now on sale for the 2009 – 2010 season. Events at the newly remodeled Nathan Manilow Theatre include: Second City 50th Anniversary Show; Billy Branch and the Sons of Blues Band; Windham Hill Winter Solstice Concert; Funkadesi; Switchback; and Abraxas.

The Senior Series events are: Radio’s Good Old Days; Nancy Hays – “I Love America”; “A White Christmas”; Banjo Buddies Dixieland Jazz Band; “The Rat Pack Jazz Quartet”; and Megon McDonough, “Her Way.”

Children’s Theatre events are: Writing Our World; and Animal Tales & Dinosaur Scales.

Tickets can be ordered by mail, phone or fax, on the web, or in person. Box office hours are: Monday – Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The box office is closed on Wednesday and Sunday. For more information, call the box office at 708-747-0580 or visit the website at: www.freedomhall.org.

Park Forest House Museum, 141 Forest Boulevard (Corner of Forest & Fir)

Relive your childhood memories or show your children/grandchildren what it was like to live in the ‘good old days’ by visiting the Park Forest House Museum. The Museum is open on Saturdays from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults; children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. Group tours are by appointment. Call 708-748-3731.

Educational Lectures

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

Free LSAT Prep Class – Limited Seating

GSU is offering a free LSAT preparation class on Mondays, beginning September 21 and ending May 24. The class is from 7:30 p.m. to 10:20 p.m., in room A2202. Class work will focus on the three main areas of the test: reading comprehension, logic reasoning, and analytical reasoning. While many test prep serves charge as much as $1,000 for LSAT prep class, GSU is offering this class at no charge. Advance registration is required and seats are limited. For more information or to register, call 708-235-3963 or e-mail [email protected].

Public Comments Sought

As part of the comprehensive evaluation conducted by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, GSU is seeking public comments about the university. Comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of the university or its academic programs and should include your name, address, and telephone number of the submitting individual. Comments will not be treated as confidential. Comments may be submitted by October 12, 2009 through the Commission’s website at www.ncahlc.org (click File Third-Party Comments) or by mail to:

Public Comments on Governors State University
The Higher Learning Commission
20 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400
Chicago, IL 60602

This and That

Secretary of State Services at Governors State University (GSU) – Tuesday, September 1

The Secretary of State’s Mobile Service Unit will be at GSU, 1 University Parkway, University Park, IL, on Tuesday, September 1 from 1:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Hall of Governors. Services available include driver’s license renewal, replacement, and corrections; State ID card renewal, replacement, and corrections; vehicle sticker sales; passenger and b-truck license plates; vehicle title registration; parking placards for persons with disabilities; and organ/tissue donor information. In addition, vision tests and written driver’s license exams can be taken. No driving test will be given. Acceptable forms of payment include personal checks, cash, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover credit and debit cards. For more information, call 708-534-4550.

Thorn Creek Nature Preserve, 247 Monee Rd.

Wednesday Morning Walkers

Beginning Wednesday, September 2 through November 18 from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., come and enjoy light exercise as you follow the trails through Thorn Creek Woods. Experience the arrival of fall up-close with a Naturalist. Trails can be wet or muddy, so wear boots or old shoes. Terrain is moderate and covers approximately 1 mile. The event is open for ages 11 through adult. Fee is $2/week. For more information, call 708-747-6320.

Babes In the Woods – New Program

Introduce your young child to the outdoors in this weekly program that will be held on Wednesdays beginning September 2 through October 28th. Designed to encourage parents to bring their children outdoors, this program takes you for a leisurely walk as you meander through Thorn Creek Woods. The event is for children ages 6 months through 1 year. Fees are $5/session or $35 for all 9 sessions. For more information, call 708-747-6320.

Little Twigs Nature Playtimes

On Thursdays, September 3 through November 19 from 10 a.m. to 11: 30 a.m. bring your child or grandchild out for this wonderful program. This hands-on exploratory program teaches young children about the environment through stories, hikes and crafts. Snacks are provided. This program is for children ages 2 – 4 at a cost of $5 per child (parents free). For more information, call 708-747-6320.

Owl Prowl Night Hike

On Friday, September 4 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., join us for this popular program and learn the habits and calls of the Barred Owl, Screech Owl and Great-horned Owl. Registration for this popular program is required as space is limited. Cost is $5/person, family rates apply. This event is for adults only. For more information, call 708-747-6320.

Roots and Shoots

On Saturday, September 5 from 10 a.m. to noon, children ages 5 – 10 can explore the environment, their community and the world around them. This event will be held on the first Saturday of each month. Fee is $5/month. For more information, call 708-747-6320.

Kiwanis Pancake Day

The 58th Annual Kiwanis Pancake Day will take place from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 26 in DownTown Park Forest. Advance tickets will be available at Village Hall at a price of $5 for adults and $2 for children under 12. Tickets purchased on the day of the event will be $6 for adults and $3 for children.

Moo-alisa “Win This Cow” Raffle

Moo-alisa was created by the Salon Artists of Park Forest and was the mascot for the Park Forest 10 Ton Challenge. Raffle tickets are $5 each for your chance to win her. The Drawing will be held on Sunday, September 13 at the Park Forest Art Fair. Raffle proceeds will benefit local children through the Tall Grass Arts Association School and the Abraham Lincoln Allen, Jr., Youth Services Fund of the Friends of the Park Forest Health Department. Contact Brenda Walker at 708-748-1118 or stop by the Park Forest Health Department, 350 Victory Drive to purchase your ticket.

Village of Park Forest Economic Development

Business Person of the Year

Nominate the person you believe should be named Park Forest’s Business Person of the Year. Nomination forms can be found on the Village of Park Forest web site (www.villageofparkforest.com). Nomination forms are due October 30. For more information, call Sandra Zoellner at 708-283-5623.

Shop Park Forest First!

Park Forest Farmers’ Market

The 36th Annual Park Forest Farmers’ Market will be held on Saturday’s from 7:00 a.m. to Noon through the end of October. Vendors from across Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan will have a tremendous array of fruits, vegetables, plants, flowers, breads, cheese, organic eggs and meat, and the “best pork chop sandwiches in the universe.” Come early and enjoy a breakfast burrito and cup of coffee while you shop the Market. The Market is located in the parking lot of the Eagle Movie Theater at the corner of Lakewood Boulevard and Cunningham Drive in DownTown Park Forest.

Greening of Park Forest

Safe Disposal Program – Bio-waste

The Park Forest Health Department and Environment Commission have partnered to provide information on the proper disposal of bio-waste such as used syringes or lancets (medical sharps). Begin by purchasing a Sharps container to dispose of your medical sharps for $10 at the Park Forest Health Department. Return the filled container to the Park Forest Health Department and purchase a new container. Call Brenda Walker at 708-748-1118 for more information. You can find additional recycling information by clicking on the “Recycling” icon found on the front page of eNews Park Forest.

Recycle Used Cell Phones and Cell Phone Accessories

The Rotary Club of Park Forest is conducting a used cell phone and accessory collection drive to benefit the families and programs of the South Suburban Family Shelter. Donated items can be placed in the collection box located in the lobby of Village Hall. For more information, call Denyse Carreras at 708-283-5603.

Go Green with a Free Tote Bag

The Village of Park Forest encourages residents to visit Village Hall to pick up an environmentally friendly canvas bag that can be used for your day-to-day shopping needs. These bags are free while supplies last with only two expectations: 1) that residents have a valid email address so that future environmentally conscious concepts can be shared by the Village’s Environment Commission; and 2) that bags are limited to one per household. For more information on this program, visit the Village Manager’s Office on the second floor of Village Hall of call 708-748-1129.

Human Interest

Donate Unused Air Miles to Support Families of Wounded Servicemembers

“Operation Hero Miles” collects unused frequent flyer miles to help military families visit service members who were injured in Iraq or Afghanistan and are recovering in military hospitals around the world. Airline partners are: AirTran, Alaska Airlines, American, Frontier, Midwest, Northwest, United, and US Airways. To donate airline miles, visit www.FisherHouse.org.

Donate to Troops Serving Abroad

The Village of Park Forest is currently seeking the names and addresses of local military personnel currently serving overseas so that they may receive packaged donations from Park Forest residents. If you are a Park Forest resident and have a family member from your household currently deployed or if you have recently returned from a tour of duty, please call Judi Lancaster at 708-283-5608 or stop by the Manager’s Office at Village Hall, 350 Victory Drive.

Sources: Village of Park Forest Weekly Manager’s Report; 2009 Autumn Recreation Programs, Park Forest Library, Tall Grass Arts Association, Center for Performing Arts, Prairie Sate College, Governors State University, Illinois Theatre Center, and Park Forest Historical Society websites.


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