Local

Saturdays Busy with Ten Ton Challenge and Farmers’ Market


Ten Ton Walkers

Ten Ton Challenge Walkers stroll the DownTown Mile. (Photo: VOPF)

Park Forest, IL–(ENEWSPF)– Ten Ton Challenge participants were out in force on Saturday, May 3, taking to the streets of Downtown Park Forest for a mile walk. The walk kicked-off at 9:00 am with participants gathering at the corner of Main Street and Cunningham Drive. Sporting their Ten Ton Challenge t-shirts, some chatted with friends while others listened to music during their stroll of Downtown. The walkers completed two rounds of a walk down Main Street, from Western to Indianwood Boulevard.

At the completion of the walk, Christine Blue, Director of the Park Forest Health Department, provided Challenge participants with coupons good towards the purchase of fresh produce at the Park Forest Farmers’ Market, celebrating its 35th opening day on Saturday a block away.

Challenge participants joined a group gathered in the parking lot of Eagle Movie Theater for a 9:30 ribbon cutting and balloon release with Village officials also present to kick-off the season. Environment Commissions members were also in attendance at Saturday’s Market opening to distribute CFL bulbs to residents, as part of the Village’s Greenest Region initiative.

Joann Lindholm

Joann Lindholm of Fresh Starts restaurant makes a salad for Ten Ton Challenge participants Saturday. (Photo: ENEWSPF)

This past Saturday, Joann Lindholm, owner of Fresh Starts restaurant in Flossmoor, presented “Healthy Cooking” at Dining on the Green in Downtown Park Forest.

Lindholm prepared a salad with penne pasta and vegetables, advising participants to "eat the rainbow," putting a numer of different colored vegetables in the salad. She explained how fresh ingredients and moderate portions can make all the difference in the nourishment of a family.

The lecture, demonstration and food sampling event began at 10 am.

The Park Forest Ten Ton Challenge recently celebrated the completion of month 3, as many Challengers are already reporting success. The first participant to lose 20 pounds autographed the Challenge mascot in the lobby of Village Hall last week.

To date, over 722 pounds have been lost by Challenge participants. Their efforts in the program have also provided a local food depository with over 3600 pounds of donated food.

Farmer's Market Balloons

Village Board members and residents watch balloons fly at the opening of the 35th Annual Farmers’ Market on May 3. (Photo: ENEWSPF)

The Park Forest Ten Ton Challenge is an ongoing effort in 2008. New participants can register Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10:30 am and Monday evenings at 6:00 pm throughout the year. Those interested in signing up are encouraged to contact the Park Forest Health Department at 708-748-1118.


ARCHIVES