Halloween is Saturday, October 31 but there are many events happening all weekend. Please watch out for all the little goblins and ghouls when driving this weekend.
Park Forest, IL—(ENEWSPF)—October 26, 2015. The final Park Forest Farmers’ Market for the 2015 season will be held on October 31 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. This will be your last chance to stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables, bakery goods, herbs and other wares. The Park Forest Farmers’ Market is located in the parking lot closest to 271 Lakewood Blvd, at the corner of Lakewood Boulevard and Cunningham Drive, just across from the Park Forest Police Department.
Saturday, October 31 is also Halloween. Trick-or-treating hours in Park Forest this year are from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Please exercise extra care when driving through the streets on Saturday as excited trick or treaters may not be looking out for cars. You’ll find a list of safe Halloween events taking place all week in the ‘2015 Halloween Events’ section.
Have a happy and safe Halloween!
If your club, organization or local business will be holding activities or events in our community during the upcoming week, please send an e-mail to [email protected] with the details. Submission deadline is noon on Friday of each week.
Village of Park Forest
Village Board Meetings – Monday, October 26
The Board of Trustees will meet on Monday, October 26 at 7 p.m. at Village Hall, 350 Victory Drive. Residents are encouraged to attend. Board meetings air live on cable access channels (Channel 4 for Comcast subscribers and Channel 99 for AT&T subscribers) as well as.
To view previously held Board Meetings, visit the Village’s web site hereand click on the date of the meeting you wish to watch.
2015 Halloween Events
Park Forest House Museum, 227 Monee Road
Step Into a 1950s Halloween – Through November 7
The 1950s Park Forest House Museum is now decorated with vintage Halloween decorations which will be on display through November 7. The House Museum is now located at 227 Monee Road (in St. Mary’s Catholic Church). Display items include a collection of Gurley Halloween candles, die-cut decorations, and a boxed costume with mask. The Museum is open Wednesday and Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Group tours can be given by appointment. Admission donation is $5 for adults. Children 12 and under are free with an adult. For additional information or to schedule a group tour call Mike Gans at 708-305-3308 or Jane Nicoll at 708-481-4252 or visit www.parkforesthistory.org.
Park Forest Public Library, 400 Lakewood Boulevard
After School Pumpkin Painting – Wednesday, Thursday & Friday, October 28, 29 & 30
On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, October 28, 29 and 30 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. each day, celebrate the season with everyone’s favorite gourd. Mini pumpkins and art supplies will be available in the Teen Tech Zone, while they last! For additional information, call 708-748-3731 or visit www.pfpl.org.
‘Face Your Fears’ – Saturday, October 31
On Saturday, October 31 at 2 p.m., the Library will host the ‘Fact Your Fears’ event. Are you ready to be amazed? You don’t want to miss this live animal show presented by Lil Critters. You’ll have the opportunity to see some common, as well as some not-so-common pets up close, all while learning about them. For additional information, call 708-748-3731 or visit www.pfpl.org.
Prairie State College (PSC), 202 South Halsted, Chicago Heights
Annual Halloween Family Fun Fest – Friday, October 30
The PSC Police Department, along with PSC students, faculty, and staff, is hosting its annual Halloween Family Fun Fest from 4 to 7 p.m., Friday, October 30, in the Prairie Center gym, located on the PSC main campus in Chicago Heights. The event features games, hayrides, balloons, popcorn, prizes, and other surprises. Members of Chicago Heights Police and Fire Departments also will be available to educate children about personal and fire safety. The event is free and open to children through age 12, accompanied by a parent, and costumes for children are encouraged. For more information, contact Gilbert Vargas at [email protected].
Village of Park Forest, 350 Victory Drive
Park Forest Safe Halloween Events – Friday & Saturday, October 30 & 31
Park Forest’s popular Safe Halloween is back! Several events are planned over a two-day period, including a haunted house, a costume contest, and more! Click on the link below for the full schedule of events happening in DownTown Park Forest. Trick-or-treating hours in Park Forest this year are from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Click to view the Safe Halloween activities!
Arts & Entertainment
Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University (GSU), 1 University Parkway, University Park
Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 – Tickets Now on Sale
GSU’s Theatre and Performance Studies presents Ray Bradbury’s ‘Fahrenheit 451” on Saturday, November 7 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, November 8 at 2 p.m. This powerful drama tells the story of the inner struggle of Guy Montag, a fireman. Montag has worked as a civil servant for ten years burning books, but lately he has become increasingly unsure about what he is doing. It is not until he meets 16-year-old Clarisse, who has strange ideas, that he is led into a dangerous and highly combustible situation. Now he must choose between his mundane existence and risking everything for the right to think. The play has Mature Themes. Tickets are $18. BUY TICKETS For additional information, call 708-235-2222.
Ghashee w Mashee (The Dumbass) – Tickets Now on Sale
NGM Entertainment presents Ghashee w Mashee (the Dumbass) on Saturday, November 14 at 8 p.m. As if Im Hussein hasn’t already endured sufficient setbacks and struggles to fill years of stage plays, playwright Najee Mondalek sets her up for another crisis – dealing with the ignorance of her know-it-all husband. Tucked in between the lines of the main story are other issues that affect the Arab American community: divorce for infertility, drug abuse, conflict between two generations, welfare fraud, and more. Remaining tickets are priced at $45 and $85. BUY TICKETS For additional information, call 708-235-2222.
DePaul University Art Museum, 935 West Fullerton, Chicago
‘Idol Structures’ – Through December 20
Advertisements permeate public landscapes with billboards, signs and different forms of mass media. ‘Idol Structures,’ an exhibition of sculpture and photography by Chicago artist Matt Siber will run through December 20 at the DePaul Art Museum. This new body of work emphasizes the physical structures that are meant to stay invisible and passive while helping to relay the image, text, or graphic to the consumer. The sculptures and photographs featured in the exhibition are designed to make you more aware of your environment as you go about your daily life. Siber, who teaches advanced digital imaging at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, has been working on this type of artwork since he was a graduate student. The sculptures are modeled after the photographs by using fine craftsmanship to reconstruct the signs out of wood and florescent tubes. Some of the sculptures are almost to scale, with the largest one measuring 14 feet tall. ‘Idol Structures’ is supported by a grant from the David C. and Sarajean Ruttenberg Arts Foundation. More about Matt Siber at http://siberart.com/projects/structures. The DePaul Art Museum is located just east of the CTA’s Fullerton ‘L’ stop, is open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Fridays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. It is closed Mondays and Tuesdays. For more information, call 773-325-7506 or visit http://museums.depaul.edu.
DePaul University Health Theatre, 2350 North Racine Avenue, Chicago
‘The Lady from the Sea’ – Through November 1
‘The Lady from the Sea’ by Henrik Ibsen will begin the 2015 season in the Healy Theatre. The play will run through November 1. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday through Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Ellida Wangel has a secret. Her marriage is on the rocks, and a former flame haunts her. When a mysterious stranger arrives, Ellida’s fears and desires come to the surface. She must decide once and for all where she belongs—should she embrace her connections on land or succumb to the siren song of the sea? Tickets are $15. For additional information, call 312-922-1999 or visit www.theatre.depaul.edu.
DePaul University Merle Reskin Theatre, 60 East Balbo Drive, Chicago
‘Esperanza Rising’ – Through November 14
The Theatre School at DePaul University will open the 2015-16 Chicago Playworks for Families and Young Audiences series with ‘Esperanza Rising’ by Lynne Alvarez, based on the book by Pam Muñoz Ryan, music by Victor Zupanc, directed by Lisa Portes and with musical direction by Mark Elliott. Based on the award-winning book, ‘Esperanza Rising’ is recommended for ages 8 and up. Esperanza loves fancy dresses, pretty dolls and birthday parties, but when tragedy hits her home in beautiful Mexico, she is forced to flee to the United States where things are very different for her. Facing new challenges, Esperanza learns to take care of herself and her family. In the process, she discovers her own power to create a new home. Complimentary teacher guides for ‘Esperanza Rising’ are available online for educators and interested audience members. These include activities and discussions for before and after the performance, which highlight core learning goals. Themes from this production include: culture, customs and traditions, home, hopes and dreams, immigration, justice, perseverance, prejudice, principles, social studies, society and class. The production will run through November 14 at DePaul’s historic Merle Reskin Theatre. Performances are Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. and Saturdays at 2 p.m. Special Friday performances will occur at 10 a.m. on October 23 and November 6. A Sunday performance will be held on November 1 at 2 p.m. There will be no Saturday performance on October 31. The performances on October 29 and November 1 will be interpreted in American Sign Language. Call TTY at 773-325-7975 for more information. October 10 is United Service Organization Day in Illinois. U.S. Armed Forces personnel and their families can attend the performance for free with a valid military ID. Visit www.tixfortroops.org to reserve tickets, or call 312-922-1999 for more information. Join the cast for a post-performance autograph session on Oct. 10. The performances on October 22 and November 7 will be followed by a post-show discussion. Visit the website or call the box office for additional details. Tickets are $10. Subscriptions and group rates (15 or more people) are available. DePaul employees, alumni and college students receive a discount (with ID). Tickets are available online or by calling the box office at 312-922-1999. If patrons require wheelchair accessible and/or companion seating or have any other hearing or vision needs, please let the box office agent know when reserving tickets, so that the theatre staff can ensure an excellent visit to the theatre. DePaul’s Merle Reskin Theatre is located at 60 E. Balbo Dr., in Chicago. For information about parking, please contact the box office. The theatre is accessible via CTA busses (3-King Drive, 29-State Street, 146-Michigan/Museums and others), and CTA ‘L’ stops (Red, Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Purple and Pink).
Freedom Hall, 410 Lakewood Boulevard, Park Forest
Ava Logan with the Southland Jazz Ensemble – Tickets Now on Sale
Ava Logan with the Southland Jazz Ensemble will perform at Freedom Hall on Sunday, November 8 at 4:00 p.m. Join us for an evening of jazz standards, the music of Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, George and Ira Gershwin, and more! This concert features jazz vocalist Ava Logan backed by the big band sound of the Southland Jazz Ensemble! Ava Logan is an award winning singer-actress. A graduate of Yale and the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Logan is a veterinarian by day and a jazz singer at night. The classically trained vocalist has performed jazz, pop, and rhythm and blues in the U.S. and abroad including portraying two of her idols, Ella Fitzgerald and Nancy Wilson, at the Black Ensemble Theater. Veteran jazz critic and radio voice Neil Tesser wrote that “Ava Logan offers a fresh breath of old-school glamour, bringing sass and swing to the classic jazz singer’s repertoire while retaining the swanky class that this material deserves. Throw in her superb intonation, and her willingness to always serve the song, and you get a most impressive performance.” View a video of Ava Logan with the Southland Jazz Ensemble. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at the Freedom Hall box office, by phone at 708-747-0580 or visit www.freedomhall.org.
Franc D’Ambrosio ‘I’ll Be Seeing YOUZ’ – Tickets Now on Sale
On Tuesday, November 3 at 11 a.m., Franc D’Ambrosio will bring his world renowned singing voice to Freedom Hall in a tribute to Veterans titled “I’ll Be Seeing YOUZ.” This show features the lovely and lively tunes made popular during WWII. Franc takes his audience on a nostalgic walk through the popular music of WWII with his rich tenor voice and a patter that is utterly natural and charming. Franc D’Ambrosio is best known as the “Phantom” in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tony Award winning Musical, “The Phantom of the Opera.” Affectionately known as “The Iron Man of The Mask,” Franc was awarded the distinction as the “World’s Longest Running Phantom,” with over 2,300 performances of the lead role, a title he held for nearly a decade. This accomplishment was immortalized in a cemented hand ceremony. He also portrayed Al Pacino’s opera singing son, Anthony Corleone, in The Godfather Part III. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the Freedom Hall box office, by phone at 708-747-0580 or visit www.freedomhall.org.
Green Community Connections, 520 Washington Boulevard, Oak Park
‘One Earth Rocks’ Fundraiser – Tickets Now on Sale
Get your Green Groove On at Wire Music Club, 6815 Roosevelt Road, in Berwyn on Friday, November 6 at 7:30 p.m. at a fundraiser for the ‘One Earth Film Fest 2016’ — the Midwest’s premier environmental film festival. There will be sustainable spirits, healthy and scrumptious food sales by Native Foods, incredible auction and raffle items, great live music by acclaimed local group The Redmonds, and a short film preview of One Earth Film Fest 2016. All this for just $35 before October 30 ($40 after). Come support your environmental film festival —— One Earth Film Fest. Your support will mean another successful year of compelling films that inspire action. Don’t miss it – Reserve your tickets now. Bring your neighbors, co-workers, and friends.
We’re Gearing up for our Best Fest Yet – One Earth Film Fest returns March 4-6, 2016 for its milestone 5th annual event. The Festival requires more than 200 volunteers, collaborates with over 150 partners, and is pleased to officially partner once again with the City of Chicago Department of Sustainability (read the letter of support from Karen Weigert, Chief Sustainability Officer). Teams are now forming to help pull off another successful run. Volunteers with specific skills, and a few contract professionals are sought to help with specific roles. Volunteers of all types and skills are sought for the overall Planning Team — helping with film selection & programming, marketing, fundraising, community engagement, events & logistics, our Young Filmmakers Contest, and more. For questions, and to join our fun, change-making team, contact [email protected].
Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO), 377 Artists Walk, Park Forest
Russian Masters – Tickets Now on Sale
The IPO will perform selections from Russian Masters on Saturday, November 21 at 8 p.m. at the Lincoln-Way North Performing Arts Center, 19900 South Harlem Avenue, Frankfort. Performances will include: Lera Auerbach ‘Icarus’; Rachmaninoff ‘Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini – Di Wu, Piano’; Tchaikovsky Suite from ‘Swan Lake’; and Stravinsky ‘Firebird Suite.’ Tickets are priced at $55, $45, and $35. In addition, IPO has and introductory offer where “we pick the seats” and will seat you in the best seats available and hold your tickets at will call for pick up before the concert. These tickets are priced at $25. For additional information or to purchase tickets, call 708-481-7774 or visit www.ipomusic.org.
National Veterans Art Museum, 4041 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago
‘Tactical Formations: Collective Practice in the Veteran Art Movement’ – Through January 30
The NVAM will feature its newest exhibit, Tactical Formations: Collective Practice in the Veteran Art Movement through January 30. The exhibit is free and open to the public. Tactical Formations takes the basic military strategy of organizing troops into units to carry out tactical missions during combat and applies it to the practice of forming and operating art collectives in order to achieve socially grounded goals through artistic production. The exhibit explores three art collectives: The Vietnam Veterans Arts Group (VVAG), The Dirty Canteen, and the NVAM Teen Council. The VVAG first formed in 1981 when a group of Vietnam veterans began making artwork as an artistic response to their experiences of war. The VVAG was unique in launching the first exhibition composed exclusively of artwork made by combat veterans. The Dirty Canteen collective formed in 2013, and includes veterans from the Gulf War, Kosovo, and the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars, who strive to create and maintain open dialogues about past and current military engagements. Finally, the NVAM Teen Council represents a growing group of high school students who create artwork while developing skills in leadership and museum practices in collaboration with veteran artists. These three groups represent NVAM’s foundation, its growing population of post-Gulf War veterans, and its future leaders and artists. For additional information, call 312-326-0270 or visit: www.nvam.org.
Park Forest Public Library, 400 Lakewood Boulevard
The following event is scheduled the week of October 26:
- Monday, October 26 at 11 a.m. – Sunrise Story Time — Jump start your morning with a series of stories that are sure to get you moving. Ages 12 and under.
- Monday, October 26 at 4:30 p.m. – Art for ALL Ages — Enjoy a relaxing afternoon of Art for ALL ages. Explore the vast realm of your own creativity while having fun! Each week we explore different forms of art, from painting, oil pastels, making collages and anything else we can get our hands on. All ages welcome.
- Tuesday, October 27 at 7 p.m. –Pajama Story Time — Share special moments with your child through stories, crafts, and more. Wear your pj’s and wind down from a busy day. Ages 12 and under.
- Wednesday, October 28 at 11 a.m. — Baby Time — Story time for infants to 35 months of age with an adult. This story time is designed to engage children through movement, music, stories, and more.
- Wednesday, October 28 at 4 p.m. – Color Me Happy Circle — Our new circle is the perfect way to step back from the stress of everyday life and enjoy some relaxation! All supplies will be provided.
- Thursday, October 29 at 22 a.m. — Toddler Art — Bring your imagination, creativity, and throw on some old clothes to bring out your inner Picasso through art projects and more… Some projects may involve paint. Ages 3-5.
- Thursday, October 29 at 3:30 p.m. – Art in the Afternoon — Unleash your inner artist. Drop in to create an amazing project using different tools and techniques with oil pastels. Ages 12 and under.
- Friday, October 30 at 1 p.m. — Cemetery Art Symbolism — Discover the rich symbolism displayed in cemeteries of the Victorian Era.
- Friday, October 30 at 1 p.m. — Senior Travelogue: Amazing Caves — This month’s Senior Travelogue takes us inside some of the world’s most beautiful and truly humbling caves.
- Friday, October 30 at 3:30 p.m. – Fun Friday — It’s Fun Friday with a special story time! Come out and enjoy storytelling, crafts and more. Ages 12 and under.
For additional information or to register for an event call 708-748-3731 or visit www.pfpl.org.
Potpourri of Lectures – Thursday, October 29
The Potpourri of Lectures will be held on Thursday, October 29 at 10:30 p.m. in the Library’s Ringering Room. This week’s topic is “Nine Years on the Appalachian Trail” with Terry Cunningham. For additional information call 708-748-3731 or visit www.pfpl.org.
Prairie State College (PSC), 202 South Halsted Street, Chicago Heights
2015 Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference Jazz Festival – Saturday, November 14
PSC is hosting the 2015 Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference Jazz Festival from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, November 14, in the Barnes & Noble College Auditorium, located on the college’s main campus in Chicago Heights. The event is an annual festival of jazz bands and combos from schools in the conference, who will perform and be rated by a panel of jazz clinicians. Schools represented include College of Lake County, Elgin Community College, McHenry County College, Moraine Valley Community College, Morton College, Oakton Community College, PSC, and Waubonsee Community College. The morning opens with the college performances and jazz workshops. Afterwards, there will be a judges’ performance and awards ceremony. Among the clinicians who will be featured in the afternoon performance are Diane Ellis on saxophone, Coco Elysses on drums, Sam Hankins on trumpet and Marlene Rosenberg on bass. For more information, contact PSC Professor Valerie Nicholson at 708-709-3742 or [email protected].
Roosevelt University, 430 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago
International Real Estate Leader to Keynote Real Estate Gala – Thursday, November 5
Gerald D. Hines, founder and chairman of Hines, will serve as the keynote speaker for the 14th annual Real Estate Gala hosted by the Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate at Roosevelt University. The event will be held on November 5 at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, 120 E. Delaware Place, Chicago, starting at 5:30 p.m. Hines founded his namesake firm in Houston in 1957. Since then, the company has steadily grown into a global powerhouse in real estate investment, development and management. Today, the Hines portfolio of projects underway, completed, acquired and managed includes more than 1,100 properties representing $84.9 billion of assets with locations in 185 cities in 19 countries. Hines is credited with pioneering quality architecture as a new business model in commercial real estate and setting new industry standards for quality in real estate investment, development and management. As a result, he has received many honors, including the Honor Award from the National Building Museum (2000); the Lynn S. Beedle Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (2004) and the first Visionary Leadership in Real Estate Development Award from Harvard University (2008). More than 450 real estate and related industry leaders are expected to attend the Gala which offers unparalleled networking opportunities, an elegant reception and formal dinner. Highlights include the presentation of the Lifetime Industry Leadership Award to Daniel T. McCaffery, CEO and Edmund C. Woodbury, president, of McCaffery Interests. Gala tickets are $500 per person. For information visit www.roosevelt.edu/realestate or call Latosha McKinney at 312-281-3269. Tables can be purchased for $5,000, $10,000 and higher and other sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information on tables and sponsorships, please call 312-341-3617 or email [email protected].
Tall Grass Arts Association, 367 Artists Walk, Park Forest
‘Stillness’ — Six Contemporary Artists of Still Life – Through November 7
‘Stillness’ featuring the still life work of six contemporary artists will run through November 7. The exhibit is free and open to the public. This large exhibit of more than 70 works by regional artists Maureen Andrews, Michael Chelich, RexAnne Coad, Julie Dekker, Kathleen Farrell, and Mary Ann Trzyna illustrates their dedication to portraying objects in a representational style, from extremely realistic to expressive interpretations. All six artists have made long-term commitments to creating still life images, and have had their work exhibited and awarded honors in numerous regional, national and international shows. They also have been commissioned for many projects in the worlds of business, science, health, education, and government. For additional information or Gallery hours, call 708-748-3377 or visit www.tallgrassarts.org
Educational Lectures & Opportunities
Roosevelt University Gage Building, 18 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Author Kerry Howley to Read & Discuss Work – Thursday, October 29
Writer Kerry Howley, author of the book-length essay Thrown, will read and discuss her work at 5 p.m. on Thursday, October 29 in Room 700 of Roosevelt University’s Gage Building in Chicago. The reading is free and open to the public, and is part of the Roosevelt University Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing Program’s Fall Reading Series. A New York Times’ Notable Book of 2014, Thrown explores the subculture of mixed martial arts cage matches in the Midwest. Its publication is forthcoming in German, British, Dutch, French and Swedish editions. Howley’s essays, reviews, stories and reportage have appeared in The Paris Review, Harper’s, New York Magazine, Granta, New York Times Magazine, Slate, Atlantic, Wall Street Journal, Gulf Coast, Vice.com, and frequently in Bookforum. She is an assistant professor at the University of Iowa, where she teaches in the Nonfiction Writing Program. The reading is presented by Roosevelt’s Department of Literature and Languages, its Creative Writing Program and the University’s literary magazine Oyez Review. A reception with refreshments begins at 4:30 p.m. and the reading begins at 5 p.m. For more information, contact [email protected] or 312-341-2417.
Online Educational Resources
Online college programs are a great way for today’s busy people to complete or earn a degree. To find an online college program in Illinois, visit http://www.onlineschools.org/guides/Illinois/ where you will find a compilation of every college program offered online in Illinois offered on a full or part-time basis.
Top U.S. Universities
Choosing what college or university to attend can be a very daunting experience. With educationalcosts continually increasing, it’s more important than ever to choose a university that meets your specific educational needs. At http://www.topschools.com/, you will find a comprehensive resource that ranks each university throughout the nation by size, degrees offered, tuition costs, admission, graduation and retention rates.
Healthy Living
Governors State University (GSU), 1 University Parkway, University Park
Free Psychotherapy Available from GSU’s Psychology Program
GSU’s Psychology Department is offering free psychotherapy services to members of the community. Conversations with a psychotherapist can help people cope with depression, anxiety, relationship issues, stress, and life transition problems. Confidential, one-on-one sessions are held with a GSU graduate student in psychology under the supervision of a Licensed Clinical Psychologist. Individuals and couples, 18 years and older, are eligible. All sessions are conducted in Matteson, IL. The number of sessions is determined by the client’s needs. For additional information or to schedule an appointment, call 708-235-2841.
Sertoma Centre, 4343 West 123rd Street, Alsip
Free Community Education and Prevention Programs about Mental Health
Sertoma Centre’s Mental Health Services facility is offering community mental health seminars, free of charge to community groups, schools, law enforcement agencies, religious organizations, and other community groups at their location in Matteson or facility. Education Programs will include: Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) which increases public awareness of suicide and improves one’s ability to identify and refer those at risk for suicide. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a public education course that helps participants identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance disorders. Also included is Mental Health First Aid for Youth and Anxiety/Depression Screenings. Thanks to a grant, these educational opportunities are available at no cost to you or your organization. To arrange a free educational opportunity for your club, group, workplace, organization, or church, call Gia Washington at 708-748-1951, Ext. 418 or email at [email protected].
Park Forest Fire Department, 156 Indianwood Boulevard, Park Forest
CPR Classes
CPR classes are available at the Park Forest Fire Department. Click on the following link for more details: http://pffd.vopf.com/cpr-classes.html
Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA)
Assistance With Medications & Health Services
If you, or someone you know, are struggling to pay for medications every month, they may be able to get the medicines they need for free or almost free through the Partnership for Prescription Assistance. If you live in Illinois, you can get access to more than 475 public and private program available to help you pay for your medicines. Simply visit http://www.pparx.org/en/click_illinois to find out if you can apply to any of these great programs and to get connected with 10,000 free clinics and doctors.
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 708-481-5339 or visit www.uuccpf.org.
Qigong with Jim Kobus – Most Thursdays
UUCC will host Qigong with Jim Kobus on Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the church. This class will usually meet on Thursdays but there may be exceptions, so if you are interested in attending, please send an email to Jim Kobus at [email protected] so he can notify you when class will NOT be held. There is a suggested donation of $5 per class. Please bring your own water. It is recommended that you eat dinner after class, not before. For additional information, please call 708-799-1925 or visit www.uuccpf.org.
Buddhist Meditation – Saturdays
Learn to enjoy the simple and straight-forward practice of meditation. Please join us for sitting and walking meditation in the Zen and Theravadan Buddhist traditions. This is an on-going event led by Steve McCabe and Beverly Feldt will be held on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at UUCC. There is no cost but a free will offering is most appreciated (proceeds go to UUCC). For additional information contact Steve McCabe at 708-465-3116 or Beverly Feldt at [email protected].
Green Events
Thorn Creek Nature Preserve, 247 Monee Road, Park Forest
Wednesday Morning Walkers – October 28
Wednesday Morning Walkers can enjoy the early morning and late summer’s floral delights on these leisurely (or brisk – take your choice) trail walks. The group walks on Wednesdays from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Trails can be wet or muddy, so please wear sturdy shoes. Age 13 through adult are invited. For additional information, call 708-747-6320.
Become a ‘Friend of Thorn Creek’
Friends of Thorn Creek Woods is the citizen activist group responsible in very large part for preserving and securing the dedication of the Thorn Creek Woods as an Illinois Nature Preserve. Friends’ volunteers continue to provide support in so many ways: staff the nature center on weekends; trail work; displays; leading hikes; special events; cleaning; pruning; artwork; music; research; and so on. Friends is a voice for the Woods and preservation values, donates funds for equipment and sponsors an annual meeting, Garlic Fest and Earth Day. Members receive a quarterly newsletter. Annual membership in Friends is $10. For additional information, call 708-747-6320.
Experience the Thorn Creek Nature Center
Thorn Creek Nature Center is housed in a historic building, originally Immanuel Lutheran Church of Matteson, Illinois built in 1862, and later Village Bible Church of Park Forest. A gothic frame country church, its notable architectural features include curved ceiling, tongue-and-groove paneling and a raised pulpit. Its current attractions are displays of the preserve’s flora and fauna, a bird feeder viewing area, Eugene E. Schwartz reference library and an expanded children’s section. The Nature Center is open Friday through Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. Trails are open daily year-round, dawn to dusk. For additional information, call 708-747-6320.
This & That
Forgotten Chicago
Exclusive Bus Tour – Chicago and the Rise of Barack Obama – Tickets Now on Sale
One year to the day before the 2016 election that will mark the final chapter of President Barack Obama’s unprecedented political career, Forgotten Chicago and Pullman-area native Tom Shepherd are proud to present an exclusive tour of sites crucial to the rise of Barack Obama in Chicago in the years before his first election to the White House. Join us on Sunday, November 8 for what promises to be a unique and enlightening bus tour highlighting many Chicago sites that helped shape Obama and his historic rise to the presidency between 1985 and 2008, including his early role as a community organizer. The tour will include a rare opportunity to hear from those who worked with Obama during his early career in Chicago. The tour will take place on Sunday November 8 at 10 a.m. Rain or shine. Check-in by 10 a.m.; bus leaves at 10:30 sharp. The tour will begin and end in front of the Chicago Cultural Center, Randolph at Michigan (77 E. Randolph). Check-in will take place in the inner Randolph Street Lobby. The bus tour will last approximately 5 1/2 hours (including a couple blocks of walking in Hyde Park), returning to the Cultural Center by 4 p.m. Tickets are $65 per person and includes cafeteria lunch at Valois. Advance purchase is required. To purchase tickets click here. No walk-ups. All sales are final. No refunds or exchanges. If severe weather cancels the tour, credit will be issued for use on a tour of equal value. For additional information, visit: www.forgottenchicago.com.
Unitarian Universalist Community Church (UUCC), 70 Sycamore Drive, Park Forest
Medical Cannabis Education Association Meeting – Sunday, November 1
The Medical Cannabis Education Association will meet at &CC on Sunday, November 1 at 12 noon in Classroom 1. The event is free and open to the public. This group meets on the first Sunday of each month. For additional information, call 708-471-5339 or visit www.uuccpf.org.
