Park Forest, IL–(ENEWSPF)– Fall activities kick-off this week with a bang in Park Forest. In addition to the events outlined below, be sure to take a few minutes to explore the many classes and activities for young and old alike outlined in the Village’s 2009 Autumn Recreation Programs & More brochure. If you haven’t received your copy in the mail, stop by Village Hall and pick one up. As you’ll see, regardless of the season there is always something to do in and around Park Forest.
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 September 14:
- Plan Commission – Tuesday, September 15 at 7:00 p.m. Please call Village Hall at 708-748-1112 to verify that this meeting will take place as the Plan Commission holds a second monthly meeting on an as needed basis.
All meetings are held at Village Hall, 350 Victory Drive. Residents are encouraged to attend.
Park Forest Health Department, 350 Victory Drive (lower level)
Immunization Clinic for Adults and Children
The new days and hours for the Immunization Clinic for Children and Adults are:
- Mondays – 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.; and
- Fridays – 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Parents must bring a copy of their child’s immunization record to the clinic at the time of their appointment.
Fees are:
- Children — $10 office visit fee and $5 per shot. Please note that some shots may vary in price.
- Adults — $10 office visit fee and variable cost per shot.
For questions or to schedule an appointment, call 708-748-1118.
Prairie State College (PSC), 202 S. Halsted, Chicago Heights
Periodontal Screenings
PSC dental hygiene students are looking for community volunteers to enhance their clinical learning experience. For a $35 fee, clients get a thorough cleaning by a student dental hygienist, a full set of X-rays, mouth impressions and a consultation with the periodontist on staff. Services are available on Mondays, September 21 through October 26 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Appointments are required. No walk-ins will be permitted. To schedule an appointment or for more information, call the college’s dental hygiene department at 708-709-3707.
Arts and Entertainment
Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, 377 Artists Walk, Park Forest
Butternut Creek Woods Musical House Walk — Sunday, September 20
Stroll through three distinctive Frankfort homes in Butternut Creek Woods, indulge in a variety of hor d’oeuvres, and hear special performances by guest musicians including acclaimed harpist Lisa Tannebaum, pianist/guitarist Robert Sampson and the Midwest Motet Society. This event is limited to 60 people. Tickets are $75 per person. Proceeds benefit the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra and its growing education programs. For more information, or to order tickets, cal 708-481-7774 or online at www.ipomusic.org.
Park Forest Library, 400 Lakewood Boulevard
The following events will be held this week at the Park Forest Library:
- Monday, September 14 at 10:45 a.m. — Morning Story Times for children 3 to 6;
- Tuesday, September 15 at 7 p.m. – Pajama Storytime for Children;
- Wednesday, September 16 at 10:30 a.m. – Lap Sit Storytime for children 3 and under;
- Wednesday, September 16 at 11:45 a.m. – Toddler Art for children ages 2 – 4; and
- Saturday, September 19 at 2 p.m. – I’m Starting School Club for children beginning Kindergarten or 1st grade.
For more information, call 708-748-3731, extension 20.
Prairie State College (PSC), 202 S. Halsted, Chicago Heights
Photographer of the Year Exhibit Through September 24
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.
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
Unbound – Performances September 18, 19 and 20
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 Center for Performing Arts 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
Prairie State College (PSC), 202 S. Halsted, Chicago Heights
Grant Writing Basic Training 2009 – September 19
Grant Writing Basic Training is an interactive training and networking program developed for novice and experienced grant writers, consultants, municipal staff, daycare providers, educators, non-profit and faith-based organizations, and individuals who are interested in grant proposal development and administration. The training will be held on Saturday, September 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at PSC’s Business and Community Education Center. Registration fee is $139.00 for materials and box lunch.
For more information or to register, call 708-254-0972 oronline at http://www.relativityresources.com/
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
Park Forest Nurses Club
Laughter Therapy – September 17
The Park Forest Nurses Club begins its 2009 – 2010 year on Thursday, September 17 at 6:30 p.m. with a smorgasbord dinner and “Laughter Therapy.” Guest speaker, Kathy O’Brien, RN, a certified laughter therapist, will demonstrate effective exercises to promote the benefits of laughter. All RN’s LPN’s and student nurses are invited to attend this interesting and enjoyable evening.
The meeting will be held at Calvary United Protestant Church located at Lincoln Highway and Orchard Drive. Members are asked to bring their favorite salad. Dessert and beverage will be provided. For additional information, call 708-481-8387.
Rainbow Café
Monthly Meeting – September 19
The Rainbow Café is an opportunity for single or partnered gays, lesbians, bisexuals or other sexual minorities, and their allies, over age 18 to meet one another and socialize in a safe and supportive atmosphere. Those attending are encouraged to bring some non-alcoholic drinks and a dessert or snack to pass, or bring a financial donation. However, neither is mandatory.
The Rainbow Café is held from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Unitarian-Universalist Community Church, 70 Sycamore Dr. For more information, call 708-481-5539 and connect to the Rainbow extension.
Park Forest Recreation Department
Long-Grove Apple Fest – Registration Deadline September 22
Have bushels of fun with friends and apple enthusiasts at Long Grove’s 16th annual Apple Festival on Saturday, October 3. Enjoy apple-inspired treats, free entertainment, shopping in trendy shops and boutiques and the beautiful ambiance of the historic buildings and colorful garden. Fee is $35 which includes round-trip motor coach transportation. Lunch is on your own. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult. Bus departs from Freedom Hall at 8:30 a.m. and returns at approximately 5:15 p.m.
Thorn Creek Nature Preserve, 247 Monee Rd.
Junior Ecologists Club – September 19
On Saturday, September 19 from 10 a.m. to noon the Junior Ecologists Club will meet. Join them and discover the woods in a new way and join naturalists to explore the woods and track the seasonal changes. This Club meets on the third Saturday of each month and is open to those ages 11 – 15. Fee is $5/month. For more information, call 708-747-6320.
Kiwanis Pancake Day – September 26 – Tickets Now on Sale
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.
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.
Prairie State College Job Fair
Employers looking for candidates to fill open positions are encouraged to register for the Prairie State College annual job fair which is scheduled for Wednesday, October 21 from 1 a.m. to 1 p.m. The job fair is an opportunity for employers to meet and interview potential employees. The fair is open to currently enrolled students, alumni, and community members. Registration is $75 per company and includes seating and lunch for two representatives, table covering, and signage. Each additional representative attending the fair is $25. To register for the job fair, call Tanya Norfleet at 708-709-3755 or visit www.prairiestate.edu and click on the “Save the Date: Fall 2009 Job Fair” icon.
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
“The Pantry” of Rich Township
Fundraiser – November 14
“The Pantry” of Rich Township is a not-for-profit organization that provides food at no cost to over 750 low-income families who reside in the 10 surrounding communities of Rich Township
Help support the mission of “The Pantry” by purchasing a Carson’s Community Day Book for only $5.00. Coupons can be used at any Carson Pirie Scott location on November 14 beginning at 6 a.m. when numerous discounts and savings can be obtained through the various offers detailed in the coupon book.
Coupon books can be purchased at the Economic Development and Planning Office on the 2nd floor of Park Forest Village Hall. For more information about “The Pantry” or the fundraiser, call 708-748-6722.
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: 2009 Autumn Recreation Programs, Park Forest Library, Tall Grass Arts Association, Center for Performing Arts, Prairie Sate College, Governors State University, Illinois Theatre Center, Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, Freedom Hall, and Park Forest Historical Society websites.
