The South Suburban Family Shelter is looking for some ‘Angels’
Park Forest, IL—(ENEWSPF) — Residents of Park Forest and other suburban towns have always been known for their generosity to those that are in need of help. While most parents are now doing “back-to-school” shopping, other parents are realizing that they can’t afford to buy most of the items on their children’s school supply lists. For the past 8 years, the South Suburban Family Shelter has been looking for local ‘Angels’ to adopt a school supply list for the more than 350 children who receive services at the Shelter. You, or a group of neighbors, can adopt a student and purchase the items on their school supply list. You can also help by donating gift cards from retailers where school supplies can be purchased. Donors can also submit a check to the Shelter as well. Additional information on how you can become an ‘Angel’ is found in the ‘This & That’ section.
If your club, organization or local business will be holding activities or events in the community, please send an e-mail to RJPiserLPH@aol.com with the details no later than Friday of each week. Thank you.
Village of Park Forest
Village Board Meeting – Monday, August 15
The Village of Park Forest Board is scheduled to meet on Monday, August 15 at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held 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).
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 currently scheduled to meet the week of August 14:
Tuesday, August 16 at 7 p.m. – Recreation & Parks Advisory Board
Tuesday, August 16 at 7 p.m. – Plan Commission
Thursday, August 18 at 6 p.m. – Housing Authority
The meetings will be held at Park Forest Village Hall and residents are encouraged to attend.
Arts & Entertainment
Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University (GSU), 1 University Parkway, University Park
2016/2017 Season – Tickets Now on Sale
GSU’s Center for Performing Arts’ 2016-17 season lineup brings a mix of fresh, fun, and nostalgic programs, showcasing fan favorites like blues prodigy Jamiah Rogers, and Chicago Southland premieres by Porchlight Music Theatre, Chicago Dance Crash, and Chicago Jazz Philharmonic. Enjoy a new view of the arts as you sit on the stage with the artists in one of many “on stage experiences.” Where else can you sit on the stage at a theatre in Chicago? The Center is the first to offer this unique access for a variety of programs, including opera events paired with food and wine, theatre, musical Broadway, and blues. Laugh with the Steve Cochran Comedy Tour, starring WGN Radio’s popular morning show host and featuring comedians Rocky LaPorte (The Tonight Show), Pat McGann (David Letterman) and John DaCosse (WGN Morning Show). Celebrate the Cinderella story in Dallas Children’s Theatre’s Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale. Or ring in the holiday season with a trip to Salt Creek Ballet’s The Nutcracker, featuring international guest artists, a sugar plum party, and pictures with Santa. Plan the perfect Valentine’s weekend date night with Artists Lounge Live’s Unforgettable: Falling in Love with Nat King Cole, starring Evan Tyrone Martin of Porchlight Music Theatre’s Dreamgirls fame. You’ve seen the movies, now be blown away by the sounds of an all-new touring production of Drumline Live! Be one of the first to experience one of the three Chicago Southland national tour premieres: street dance phenomenon, Evil and Good by Chicago Dance Crash, Porchlight Music Theatre’s The Scottsboro Boys and Orbert Davis’ Chicago Jazz Philharmonic’s The Monk Meets the First Lady, a celebration of jazz centennials Ella Fitzgerald and Thelonius Monk. Celebrate the late great Prince at the GSU Dance Company’s spring 2017 dance festival. Immerse yourself in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, performed as never before, outside in the renowned Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park. Join your Center in new ways to experience the arts—with food, fresh views, favorite titles, and of course the friendly customer service you have become accustomed to at GSU. The Center for Performing Arts welcomes you to campus, where parking is free and performances are always more than just a show.
Tickets can be purchased:
Online: www.CenterTickets.net
By Phone: 708-235-2222
In Person at the Box Office: 1 University Parkway, University Park, IL
Box Office Hours: Monday- Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (open to 6p.m. on Thursdays) & 2 hours prior to all performances
For discounts and Box Office information visit www.govst.edu/BoxOffice.
The Center for Performing Arts is honored to be supported by First Midwest Bank, The Chicago Community Trust (Made in Chicago series), Arts Midwest Touring Fund and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency. For a complete list of the Season’s events, and information about purchasing tickets, visit: http://www.govst.edu/About/Center_for_Performing_Arts/All_Events_by_Date/.
DePaul Art Museum, 935 W. Fullerton, Chicago
‘Barbara Rossi’s: Poor Traits’ and ‘Eye Owe You!’ Art Exhibit – Through August 21
Chicago artist Barbara Rossi’s enigmatic drawings and meticulous Plexiglas paintings will be featured at the DePaul Art Museum through Aug. 21. ‘Barbara Rossi: Poor Traits’ is organized by Natalie Bell at the New Museum in New York and marks the most significant presentation of the artist’s work in 25 years. A companion exhibition, ‘Eye Owe You!’ will highlight Rossi’s photographs and artistic process. DePaul Art Museum has organized a companion exhibition, “Eye Owe You!” in close collaboration with Rossi as a way to illuminate her working process. The exhibition features 124 of Rossi’s photographs that have never been exhibited before. This personal archive of visual culture has informed her work for 40 years and also captures an important bygone era in Chicago’s visual urban landscape. Rossi earned her MFA from the School of the Art Institute, where she has taught drawing and painting since 1971. The images from 1971 to 1975 included in the exhibition are from Rossi’s vast collection of 35mm slides and align with the dates of the paintings in “Poor Traits.” Arranged by the artist in a specific sequence to correlate one image to the next, they document hand-painted outdoor signs and window displays in Chicago and cities around the world. A limited edition artist’s book of these images will be published by DePaul Art Museum. The DePaul Art Museum is located just east of the CTA’s Fullerton ‘L’ stop. The museum hours are 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. The museum is closed Mondays and Tuesdays. For more on the DePaul Art Museum’s upcoming exhibitions and events, call 773-325-7506 or visit http://museums.depaul.edu/.
‘The Secret Birds’ – Through August 21
Chicago artist Tony Fitzpatrick will bring his signature brand of witty visual repartee to the DePaul Art Museum this spring with a display of his collage series ‘The Secret Birds.’ The exhibition will run through August 21, and is the largest presentation of his work to date with more than 50 of his intricately layered collages as well as 40 prints from the DePaul Art Museum collection that span more than two decades of the artist’s career. In his ongoing series ‘The Secret Birds,’ Fitzpatrick meticulously draws and layers images, poetry and found materials onto the page. He combines inspiration from his working class roots in Chicago and influences from folk art, comic book characters and tattoo imagery. Each drawn collage depicts a specific species of bird, ranging from the peregrine falcon to the common starling. Several of the works are commentaries on gun violence, drug abuse and other inequities and injustices found in Chicago and beyond. The event is free and open to the public. The DePaul Art Museum is located at 935 W. Fullerton, just east of the CTA’s Fullerton ‘L’ stop. The museum hours are 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. The museum is closed Mondays and Tuesdays. For more on the DePaul Art Museum’s upcoming exhibitions and events, call 773-325-7506 or visit http://museums.depaul.edu/.
‘On Space and Place’ Exhibit – Opens Thursday, September 15
For the first time, viewers of the ART21 or “Art in the Twenty-First Century” television series will be able to see work by artists featured in the new season at the DePaul Art Museum on the Lincoln Park Campus of DePaul University. The exhibition will provide a multi-layered opportunity to learn about the artists on PBS stations, including Chicago’s WTTW-Channel 11, then experience the work in person. The DePaul Art Museum collaborated with the Peabody Award-winning documentary series ART21 to exhibit the 16 artists featured in the show’s eighth season. The exhibition, “On Space and Place: Contemporary Art from Chicago, Los Angeles, Mexico City and Vancouver,” curated by Widholm, will open at the DePaul Art Museum on September 15 and run until December 18. A public opening reception will be held at the museum from 5-8 p.m. September 15. The four-part series will premiere September16 on PBS. The featured artists, chosen by ART21 curator Wesley Miller, are grouped by their unique and revealing relationships to the places where they live, Chicago, Los Angeles, Mexico City and Vancouver, to showcase their cities as vibrant and diverse centers for art. The DePaul Art Museum’s ‘On Space and Place,’ considers how the characteristics and identity of a city can influence the artwork that is made within it while also examining the intersecting concerns of the artists from each of the four cities, according to Widholm. To view a trailer and learn more about ART21 and television dates visit http://www.pbs.org/art21/. The DePaul Art Museum is located just east of the CTA’s Fullerton ‘L’ stop. With free admission, the museum hours are 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. The museum is closed Mondays and Tuesdays. For more on the DePaul Art Museum’s upcoming exhibitions and events, call 773-325-7506 or visit http://museums.depaul.edu/.
Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO), 377 Artists Walk, Park Forest
IPO 2016-17 Season – Tickets Now on Sale
Who will be the IPO’s next Music Director? During IPO’s 2016-17 season, you will have the opportunity to see and hear all five finalists.
Beethoven 3 and the Search for Greatness – Saturday, October 15 at 7:30 p.m.
The IPO’s 39th season debuts on Saturday, October 15th with New Zealand-born Maestra Holly Mathieson, who currently serves as the Resident Conductor of the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland Junior Orchestra. Ms. Mathieson will be leading a program that guarantees to pluck at your heartstrings beginning with Ives’ haunting and poignant work. Next, guest violinist Stefan Milenkovich joins the IPO for Sibelius’ thrilling violin concerto, a signature work by the Finnish master. The second half of the program is dedicated to Beethoven’s revolutionary third symphony (the “Heroic”), one of the greatest symphonies in the entire repertoire.
A Little Night Music – Saturday, November 19 at 7:30 p.m.
November brings conductor candidate finalist Alastair Willis to the IPO stage. Grammy-nominated Willis opens the program on Saturday, November 19 with vivid musical pictures from Borodin’s 1880 work representing the Russian troops and the people of the steppe. American pianist William Wolfram then joins the orchestra for Tchaikovsky’s famous first piano concerto, among the all-time favorites with audiences around the world. The evening continues with Bartok’s dramatic Concerto for Orchestra, a dazzling orchestral showpiece that will display the IPO’s virtuosity.
Winter Wonderland and Holiday Concert – Saturday, December 17 at 3 p.m.
Guest Conductor Francesco Milioto makes his debut with the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra for our very family-friendly Winter Wonderland Holiday Concert returning to its 3PM Saturday matinee time. Maestro will lead the orchestra in familiar favorites from The Nutcracker, featuring dancers from Ballet 5:8 and Vivaldi’s “Winter” from The Four Seasons along with other winter-theme classics. Special guests include the Grande Prairie Singers and the Grande Prairie Children’s Chorus. In the second half, the orchestra will bring the music from the beloved children’s book and movie, The Polar Express, to life. The afternoon is sure to fill all kids and kids at heart with plenty of holiday spirit. (And children’s tickets are just $5 each!)
Slavic Soul – Saturday, January 21 at 7:30 p.m.
The IPO rings in the New Year with conductor candidate Stilian Kirov, Music Director of the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra and Symphony in C, with an exciting program of Eastern European works. Kodaly, like his peer Bartok, was a master of incorporating Hungarian folk melodies into his compositions, and the Dances of Galanta are no exception. Written as recruiting songs to show a soldier’s life as endless “fun,” these dances will delight. Similarly, Ligeti’s work draws on his Transylvanian heritage with tuneful folk melodies. Closing the evening is Rachmaninoff’s demanding Piano Concerto No. 3, featuring guest pianist Sean Chen. This work was featured in the movie Shine, the true story of Australian concert pianist David Helfgott. Rachmaninoff’s piece is one of the most challenging of all Romantic-era concertos…and the most exhilarating. Truly, this concert will set your soul on fire!
Opposites Attract – Saturday, February 25 at 7:30 p.m.
Maestro Darko Butorac takes the stage to deliver a program of considerable contrasts. He is currently Music Director of the Missoula Symphony Association and the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra. Excerpted from Verdi’s tangled tale, La forza del destino, the overture introduces multiple melodies from the charming Italian opera. Soloists Jasmine Lin and Matthew Lipman, who both hail from the Chicago Southland, appear together on Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante, which is considered one of his early masterpieces. This work features unusually rich symphonic texture and is a study in contrasts with the viola tuned a semi-tone higher than normal. On the program’s second half, Maestro Butorac says of Prokofiev’s fifth symphony, “This is a work of incredible positive energy written during one of the darkest periods of human history, deeply affected by the Second World War.” Even while knowing its dark roots, your spirit cannot help but soar as you listen to “A hymn to the free and happy man.”
Season Finale: American Perspectives – Saturday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m.
In the Season Finale, Maestro Sean Newhouse, former Assistant Conductor of Boston and Associate Conductor of Indianapolis Symphony Orchestras, leads the IPO in a captivating musical journey from “sea to shining sea.” All three of these works were written in America, but by composers of diverse backgrounds. The American-born Copland’s Buckaroo Holiday instantly conjures up images of the historical American West, while virtuoso double bassist Edgar Meyer’s captivating and touching Violin Concerto marries an earthy, folk-like feel with toe-tapping contemporary rhythms. Dvorak’s Ninth Symphony, written during his American sojourn, embodies the inspiration he found in African-American spirituals and American Indian legends, as well as the musical heritage of his Czech homeland and the German symphonic tradition. Kentucky-born Tessa Lark joins the IPO for Meyer’s Concerto.
Subscriptions are now on sale, including a Music Lovers All-6-Concert option and an introductory “You-Pick-3” offering for first time subscribers. Details are online at www.ipomusic.org or call 708.481.7774. A Season Preview flyer and subscription form can be downloaded at: http://ipomusic.org/index.php/id-2016-17-season.html.
National Veterans Art Museum (NVAM), 4041 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago
‘Operation Mom’s Couch’ – Through August 27
The NVAM announces the opening of its solo exhibition ‘Operation Mom’s Couch’ —the newest exploration of the veteran experience through the lens of an Airman and his cultural consumption of war stemming back to early childhood memories, juxtaposed with his lived authentic enlisted experience. The way in which war is broadcast to the public and consumed on couches all across the world—becoming a daily part of the home environment—is a phenomenon explored by retired Air Force veteran, and award-winning artist: Eric J. Garcia. The exhibit will run through August 27. Known for mixing history and culture with contemporary themes, Eric J. Garcia creates art that expands the genre beyond aesthetics. Garcia has shown in numerous national and international exhibitions, has received many awards such as the prestigious Jacob Javits Fellowship and is currently an artist in residence at the Hyde Park Art Center. Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Garcia came to Chicago in 2007, to study at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where he earned his Masters of Fine Arts degree. A versatile artist working in an assortment of media, from hand-printed posters, to published political cartoons, to sculptural installations, they all have a common goal of educating and challenging. While the NVAM is one of the only museums in the world to collect and exhibit artwork exclusively created by veterans in a permanent exhibition, it also provides important programming for veterans, their families, and the community. For more information about the National Veterans Art Museum, visit www.nvam.org, or call 312-326-0270.
Exhibit of Work by Chicago Veteran Artist George Klauba – Opens Friday, August 26
NVAM announces the opening of its newest solo exhibition featuring the work of Chicago veteran artist, George Klauba. The exhibition comprises two series of paintings: ‘Nerves on Fire: Reflections on WWII’ and ‘Cuba: Rebels, Orishas & 26 Julio.’ Klauba’s first exhibition at NVAM will open on Friday, August 26th with a reception from 6-9 p.m. NVAM Executive Director and Artist George Klauba will deliver the keynote speech. Klauba’s work recalls the impact of witnessing the homecoming of WWII veterans and making the daily sacrifices to support the war effort on his childhood. He remembers the reverence he felt for the objects brought back from war, and the curiosity invoked by the exotic names of locations in the Pacific. These objects and stories from his childhood eventually merged with an adult understanding of the sorrow and loss experienced by both sides. Klauba masterfully illustrates these vignettes and empathetically weaves them throughout his paintings which he describes as memorials. Nerves on Fire is dedicated to the men and women who were deeply affected by the Second World War. ‘Cuba: Rebels, Orishas & 26 Julio’ is inspired by the indelible experiences Klauba had as a young sailor stationed in Cuba during the revolution. Klauba enlisted in the U.S. Navy and spent a month in Guantanamo Bay during one of his deployments. His personal accounts and first-hand understanding of the political atmosphere of the time lays the contextual foundation for the unique mix of factual and fantastical imagery found in this series. Side by side these two series of paintings offer a glimpse into the way in which military service has both defined the artist’s life and driven decades of contemplation about the impact that war has had on his and others’ lives. The exhibition will be open to the public beginning with the opening reception on Friday, August 26 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., through Saturday, October 29. For more information about the National Veterans Art Museum, visit www.nvam.org, or call 312-326-0270.
Park Forest Historical Society, 227 Monee Road, Park Forest
Step Back into the 1950s at the Park Forest House Museum
The 1950s Park Forest House Museum at 227 Monee Road, (inside St. Mary’s Catholic Church) in Park Forest, will give you a nostalgic look of what a Park Forest home and classroom once looked like. The Museum is open Wednesday and Saturday 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and can also be open at other times by appointment for group tours. Donation is Adults $5; 12 & under free with an adult. Scout and school tours are priced individually. For details, to arrange a special group tour, or to volunteer, visit the Park Forest Historical Society website, www.parkforesthistory.org, or call Jane Nicoll, 708-481-4252.
Park Forest Public Library, 400 Lakewood Boulevard
The following events are scheduled for the week of August 14:
Monday, August 15 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, August 15 at 2 p.m. — Fun with Science! — Join us each week for exciting hands-on experiments. You will be inspired through an interactive environment of discovery that will ignite your imagination. Ages: 12-under, however some experiments are not suitable for children under 8 years old.
Tuesday, August 16 at 11 a.m. – Finger Painting Therapy — Let your fingers do the walking with a relaxing day of finger painting. For ages 12 and under.
Tuesday, August 16 at 2 p.m. – Jewelry Making — Drop in and making something for yourself or a special friend.
Tuesday, August 16 at 4 p.m. — Color-Rama! Coloring Circle — Are you a teen looking to take a break after school with a fun, fresh activity? Come relieve stress and show your creativity with other teens in our coloring circle!
Wednesday, August 17 at 1 p.m. — Wii U Wednesday — GAME ON! Test your skills on the Wii U! Play with friends, our meet new ones. Ages 12 years and under.
Wednesday, August 17 at 4 p.m. — Color Me Happy Circle — Our coloring circle is the perfect way to step back from the stress of everyday life and enjoy some relaxation! All supplies will be provided.
Wednesday, August 17 at 6 p.m. — Movie Night for Adults: ‘Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice’ — Fearing the actions of Superman are being left unchecked, Batman takes him on, while the world wrestles with what kind of a hero it really needs. With Batman and Superman fighting each other, a new threat, Doomsday, is created by Lex Luthor. It’s up to Superman and Batman to set aside their differences, along with Wonder Woman, to stop Lex Luthor and Doomsday from destroying Metropolis.
Thursday, August 18 at 11 a.m. – Get Creative — 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.
Thursday, August 18 at 1 p.m. – DIY Thursday — Join us each week for a special “do it yourself” project! Ages: 12 and under.
Thursday, August 18 at 3 p.m. – Teen DIY: Nail Art — Learn different nail art designs and techniques that you can practice on yourself or on a friend!
Friday, August 19 at 10:30 a.m. – Butterfly Club — The Butterfly Club will track Monarch Butterflies in our backyard! We will collect and raise caterpillars, so we may release butterflies in the library gardens! Registration is Required. Children under 6 must have a chaperone. Shoes, socks, water bottle, and sunscreen are recommended.
Friday, August 19 at 11 a.m. – How to Play Chess for Kids — Learn the basic strategies and Techniques that will bring you victory over your opponents!
Friday, August 19 at 11 a.m. – Kids Coloring Circle — 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. Ages: 12 and under.
Friday, August 19 at 3 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! Are you up to the challenge?
Saturday, August 20 at 1 p.m. – Practical Application Circle — Join us as we read and discuss You Are the One by Kute Blackson.
Saturday, August 20 at 2 p.m. – Back to School Craft — Are you ready for school? Not sure how to decorate that boring locker? Check out some cool ideas we have that are sure to inspire you. Create locker décor or design something special for yourself. Ages: 12 and Under.
All Materials Provided. While Supplies Last.
For additional information call 708-748-3731 or visit www.pfpl.org.
Rich Township Senior Center, 297 Liberty Drive, Park Forest
Thursday Game Days
Come join us at the Rich Township Senior Center, 297 Liberty Drive, in DownTown Park Forest every Thursday morning at 10 a.m. to play games with old friends and new friends. We have a few games on hand, Trivial Pursuit, Racko, Pente, Chess, Pictionary, High Hand and Rummikub. If none of these suit your taste, feel free to bring in your favorites. Come join in the fun. This is a new program, so please help to spread the word.
August Monthly Trip to Isle of Capri – August 21 through 23
The August Monthly Trip will be to the Isle of Capri on August 21 through 23. We will leave at 1 p.m. from the Rich Township Senor Center on Sunday, August 21 and return at approximately 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 23. The price for a single room is $210, a double is $145 and a triple is $135. The trip includes $15 Isle Play on Sunday and Monday, 2 breakfast buffets at the Isle and $5 free play and 1 lunch buffet at the ‘new’ Rhythm City Casino on Tuesday, Reservations are now being taken by phone by calling 708-748-5454.
South Suburban College (SSC), 15800 State Street, South Holland
Join SSC College Symphony Orchestra – Rehearsals Begin August 22
The Music Department of SSC is excited to announce that the SSC String Orchestra is expanding to a full symphonic orchestra, beginning in August, 2016. SSC Director of Instrumental Music, Rob Calhoon, has long felt the need for a community symphony in our area. Rehearsals are on Monday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 8:50 p.m. beginning August 22 at South Suburban College. Any instrumentalists who would like more information about the South Suburban Community Symphony Orchestra, or who would like to schedule an audition should call Rob Calhoon at 708-596-2000, ext. 2299, or email him at rcalhoon@ssc.edu.
‘Graffiti aHEAD: A Documentation of the Midwest Graffiti Writers’ Exhibit — Opens Sunday, August 28
The Art & Design Department of SSC is pleased to announce a special guest artist exhibition titled “Graffiti aHEAD: A Documentation of Midwest Graffiti Writers,” by East Chicago artist Felix “Flex” Maldonado Jr. in the Dorothea Thiel Gallery from August 28th through October 13th. There will also be a closing reception for the artist at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 8th. The Dorothea Thiel Gallery is located on the 4th Floor of SSC’s Main Campus. A proud native of East Chicago, Felix is a self-taught artist with 25+ years’ experience in painting, murals and graffiti art. In 1995, he received his BFA in Advertising from the American Academy of Art in Chicago. His work has landed him at several ad agencies in Chicago directing and producing award-winning spots for companies like Culligan Water, Peoples Energy, Roto-Rooter, Head Tennis and ATA Airlines. Felix Maldonado is an artist in every sense of the word. His passion and enthusiasm for this subject is evident in everything he makes. One particular body of work, that demonstrates many of his abilities and could quite possibly be his strongest work, is a series of portraits of graffiti artists entitled “Graffiti aHead.” Felix has chosen these people to paint because of his admiration and respect for them as graffiti artists. This comes across in the work in various ways, first and foremost the size of the works. SSC Galleries are open at minimum Mondays through Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The galleries are closed on weekends and holidays. The public is welcome to visit art exhibitions and receptions at no charge. For more information, please call 708-596-2000, ext. 2445 or visit www.ssc.edu/art.
Tall Grass Arts Association, 367 Artists Walk, Park Forest
‘Festival of Art’ Exhibit – Through September 18
The ‘Festival of Art’ exhibit runs through September 18. The exhibit is free and open to the public. The ‘Festival of Art’ will feature drawings, paintings, mixed media works, watercolors, acrylics, oils, photography, digital images, sculpture, and more. Exhibiting artists include: Marjorie Anderson, CouSandra Armstrong, Mary Bookwalter, James Bowden, Terry Boykin, Susan Brauer, Carole Joy Brejcha, Joan Bulf, Javier Chavira, Claudia Craemer, Maureen Cribbs, Linda Curl, Michelle Detering, Bronwyn Elkuss, June Finnegan, Val Fischer, Anitra Frazier, Ann Goldsmith, Margi Hafer, Cedric Hampton, Fran Hollander, Nikkole Huss, Pat Coffman Huss, Alice Jacobs, Dennis Jennings, Robert Johnson, Jack Kapost, Michael Kucinski, Jean Lewis, Selma Lisit, Paula Mattson, Claudia McCarthy, Mike McCarthy, Tim McCue, Pam McDonald, Janice Meister, Jennifer Meyer, Robert Mongeau, Patricia Moore, Charles ‘Will’ Mull, Dennis B. O’Malley, Gail Otterson, Michele P. Owens, Kate Patterson, Gisele Perreault, Janice Pratt, John Ray, Antonia Ruppert, Dorothy Sandlin, Richard Schmidt, Mary Ann Trzyna, Jennifer Weigel, Bill Wild, Patricia Wiseman, and Faye Zalecki. The exhibit curator is Janice Pratt. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Adult and student groups are welcome to tour the exhibit by appointment. For additional information or to arrange for a tour, please call 708-748-3377 or visit www.tallgrassarts.org.
Union Street Gallery (USG), 1527 Otto Boulevard, Chicago Heights
Two New Exhibits at USG – Through September 10
Two new exhibits are currently featured at USG on through Saturday, September 10. ‘The Structure’ features work about, made with, and inspired by architecture and architectural materials. The wide variety of work was selected by jurors, Mike Bonhart and Carole Joy Brejcha. Exhibiting Artists: are Cousandra Armstrong, Fermin Barbosa, Rachelle Barmann, Carol Brockman, Alexander Gregory, Eric Hazeltine, Peter Jablokow, Kim Sae Jun, Kellie Lachata, Jess Lassahn, Dawn Leader-Peloso, David Levenson, Steven Lockwood, Sandra Marchetti, Liz Mares, and Taylor Mazer.
‘Project Onward at Union Street Gallery’ is a studio and gallery for professional artists with mental and developmental disabilities. Many of their artists find inspiration in architecture, which pairs perfectly with the Gallery’s regional juried exhibit, ‘The Structure.’ Exhibiting Artists: are James Allen, Franklin Armstrong, Pedro Basantes, John Behnke, Kareem Davis, Louis DeMarco, Andrew Hall, Jason Hines, Adam Hines, David Holt, Brandon Jackson, RJ Juguilon, Sabieon Lavinder, Ray Michalski, Ryan Tepich, Richard Willis, and George Zuniga .
The exhibits are free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Wednesday and Thursday from noon to 5 p.m., Friday from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For additional information, call 708-754-2601 or visit www.unionstreetgallery.org.
Unitarian Universalist Community Church (UUCC), 70 Sycamore Drive, Park Forest
Rainbow Café to Screen ‘Freeheld’– Friday, August 19
The Rainbow Café will screen the movie ‘Freeheld’ at its monthly meeting on Friday, August 19 at 6:30 p.m. “Freeheld’ tells the true love story of Laurel Hester and Stacie Andree and their fight for justice. A decorated New Jersey police detective, Laurel is diagnosed with cancer and wants to leave her hard earned pension to her domestic partner, Stacie. However, the county officials, Freeholders, conspire to prevent Laurel from doing this. Hard-nosed detective Dane Wells, and activist Steven Goldstein unite in Laurel and Stacie’s defense, rallying police officers and ordinary citizens to support their struggle for equality. Rainbow Café is a social event that provides a safe and welcoming environment for single or partnered gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender adults and their allies, by creating a space where they are able to socialize outside of the usual bars. The Care is located at UUCC and is open every third Friday of the month from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. For additional information, call 708-481-5339 or visit www.uuccpf.org.
University of Chicago, 5801 S Ellis Avenue, Chicago
‘Resonant Objects’ – Through Sunday, August 28
A new UChicago exhibition showcases the work of three Chicago-based artists and their shared interest in the social and spatial conditions of their surroundings. ‘Resonant Objects,’ on view through August 28 at the Logan Center Gallery and the Arts Incubator, features the work of Greg Bray, Aquil Charlton and Nazafarin Lotfi, who participated in the University of Chicago’s Arts + Public Life and Center for the Study of Race, Politics & Culture Artists-in-Residence Program. The exhibit is free and open to the public. Over the course of ten months, Bray, Charlton and Lotfi worked in studios at the Arts Incubator, generating research, artworks and happenings that fostered interactive relationships with diverse publics and spaces on Chicago’s South Side. Working across painting and sculpture, Bray blends collage and assemblage with an exploration of random structures. For ‘Resonant Objects,’ Bray presents abstract sculptures informed by his research into the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear purge that occurred in Eastern Japan in 2011. Fashioned from discarded chairs, Bray’s works are uncanny contortions of wood, plastic, metal and electrical cords. At once acquiring anthropomorphic guises and suggesting new forms, Bray’s sculptures speak to humanity’s resilience and capacity to create a new following moments of rupture. As the resident musician in this year’s cohort, Charlton’s work focuses on his music education, sound design and songwriting practices, as well as his research into the life and work of influential American singer/songwriter Eugene “Gene” McDaniels. McDaniel’s politically motivated recordings garnered success in the late 1960s and in recent times various hip hop producers including Prince Paul and Q-Tip of Native Tongues have sampled his work. Following this lineage, Charlton’s presentation infuses music creation with a deep social consciousness and pedagogical intent. Culling elements from McDaniel’s music and lyrics, as well as from his own repertoire, Charlton presents a series of sound installations that interpolate the unique acoustic and spatial qualities of the presenting galleries. Also on view is Charlton’s Mobile Music Box, an interactive vehicle that features instructions and recycled materials for making musical instruments. Lotfi’s sculpture- and performance-based practice explores the relationship between object, body and space. Lotfi engages in daily rituals of walking between her home and several spaces across Chicago’s Hyde Park and Washington Park neighborhoods, accompanied by large-scale, boulder-like sculptures crafted from papier-mâché. These mundane experiences—often reserved solely for the artist and without a prescribed audience—are recorded in physical impressions on the object’s delicate surfaces as they are rolled on the ground, as well as through the artist’s own body as she negotiates holding and carrying them aloft. For the exhibition, Lotfi presents a series of sculptures with distressed and painted surfaces alongside video and photographs documenting her actions in the public sphere. For additional information, call 773-702-8360 or visit www.uchicago.edu.
Educational Lectures & Opportunities
Governors State University (GSU), 1 University Parkway, University Park
Graduate & Undergraduate Program Open House – Registration Required by Monday, September 12
GSU is hosting a graduate and undergraduate program open house on Saturday, September 17, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in E-Lounge. The open house will showcase the many bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, and doctoral degree programs offered at GSU and provide information on financial aid, admission requirements, housing, and much more. Prospective students who attend the open house will receive a waiver code for their application fee. Programs requiring application through Centralized Application Services are excluded. For more information, contact Julie Anderson at 708-534-4086 or email janderson13@govst.edu. To register for the open house, visit www.govst.edu/GSU-openhouse/ by Monday, September 12.
Prairie State College (PSC), 202 South Halsted Street, Chicago Heights
Fall 2016 Registration Open at PSC – Classes Begin August 22
Registration for fall 2016 is open at PSC. Credit courses begin Monday, August 22. Non-credit courses include a variety of single-day and multiple-session offerings that begin throughout the fall. PSC offers convenient, flexible scheduling options. Students can choose their schedule, their class and their time. Hundreds of courses are offered days, evenings, weekends and online to accommodate busy schedules. The 16-week courses begin Monday, Aug. 22. On Tuesday, Sept. 6, 14-week courses begin. The 12-week courses begin Friday, Sept. 16. All of these courses — 16-week, 14-week, and 12-week – end on Thursday, Dec. 8, and offer the same course material with the same credit hours. The shorter the number of weeks, the longer the class period. PSC also offers two different eight-week course sessions. First eight-week courses start Monday, Aug. 22, and end Friday, Oct. 14. Second eight-week courses start Monday, Oct. 17, and end on Thursday, Dec. 8. The eight-week courses typically offer fewer credit hours. Many of the college certificate programs offer eight-week courses, allowing students to fit two courses in a semester and to make progress towards that certificate. Both credit and non-credit courses are listed in the fall class schedule, available on the PSC main campus, located at 202 S. Halsted St., Chicago Heights. The schedule also is available at area public libraries and online at prairiestate.edu. To register for credit courses, new students must complete an enrollment application in person at the college or online. Current students can register for credit courses in person or online at prairiestate.edu/start. Through Friday, Aug. 12, Enrollment Services is open Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the college is closed on Fridays. Beginning Monday, Aug. 15, Enrollment Services will resume regular business hours of 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday. The college also will be closed on Monday, May 30, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. Students can register for non-credit courses online or in person. To register online via Instant Enrollment, go to prairiestate.edu and select “How to Register for Non-Credit Courses” from the A-Z Index. Another option is to complete the registration form available online at prairiestate.edu/noncredit or in the back of the printed course schedule. Students also can register for non-credit courses in person at the Matteson Area Center (MAC), located at 4821 Southwick Drive in Matteson, or in the Enrollment Services Office on the PSC main campus. Through Friday Aug. 12, the MAC is open from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Beginning Monday, Aug. 15, the MAC will resume regular business hours of 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday. For more information about registering for courses, visit prairiestate.edu or call 708-709-3500.
South Suburban College (SSC), 15800 State Street, South Holland
Free Highway Construction Careers Training Program – Orientation/Assessment Testing Begins August 23
SSC will be offering a Free Highway Construction Careers Training Program this fall at their Oak Forest Campus. Orientation and Assessment Testing will be August 23-25 at the Oak Forest Center, with the program set to begin on September 19, 2016. SSC’s Oak Forest Center is located at 16333 South Kilbourn Avenue. The Highway Construction Careers Training Program has been implemented to increase the number of minorities, women, and disadvantaged individuals working on IDOT highway construction projects. The training consists of an intensive 12-week program to learn the skills necessary for acceptance into the highway construction trades and gives the opportunity for a career with high wage potential.
Career Opportunities include:
Cement Mason
Electrician
Pipefitter
Carpenter
Laborer
Equipment Operator
Requirements:
Valid driver’s license
18 years or older
High School diploma/GED
Interest working in the Construction Trades
Construction will always be needed for new buildings, roads, bridges, and other structures. Some of the more skilled construction careers such as engineer require higher education while others such as cement masonry can be learned as an on-the-job apprentice. For more information, please visit our website at www.ssc.edu/hcctp, or call 708-225-6042, or email hcctp@ssc.edu.
Free High School Equivalency & English Language Acquisition Registration Days
SSC’s Adult Education Department is offering a wide range of opportunities for adults to build the basic skills required for success. Adult Basic Education (ABE) helps men and women whose skill levels are below the ninth grade. ABE students improve their skills in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics. Many adults choose to further build on these skills and pursue a high school education through the High School Equivalency (HSE/GED) program. The HSE program will develop the skills required to pass the High School Equivalency exams. Studies will include Reasoning through Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, Mathematics, and the US and Illinois Constitutions. Additionally, English Language Acquisition (ELA) allows non-native students to improve their English skills from beginning to advanced levels. Most of the Adult Education programs are offered both full and part-time at the Main Campus in South Holland or the Oak Forest Center. At the time of registration, all students will take a Placement Test. The complete schedule of locations for registrations and classes is as follows:
PART-TIME ABE/ASE/HSE/GED, MAIN CAMPUS
Address: 15800 South State Street, South Holland, IL 60473
Register: August 29, 30 and 31, 2016, 6:00 p.m., Room L233
Classes Start/End: September 6 – December 16, 2016, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
6:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.
PART-TIME ABE/ASE/HSE/GED, MAIN CAMPUS
Address: 15800 South State Street, South Holland, IL 60473
Register: August 29, 30 and 31, 2016, 9:00 a.m., Room 1243 B
Classes Start/End: September 6 – December 16, 2016, Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. & 12:00 noon
HSE/GED FOR ESL STUDENTS, MAIN CAMPUS
Address: 15800 South State Street, South Holland, IL 60473
Register: August 29, 30 and 31, 2016, 9:00 a.m., Room 2452
Classes Begin: Tuesday, September 6, 2016, Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Room 2452
FULL-TIME ABE/ASE/HSE/GED, OAK FOREST CENTER (OFC)
Address: 16333 S. Kilbourn Ave., Oak Forest, IL 60452
Register: August 29, 30 and 31, 2016, 9:00 a.m., Room 5240Classes Begin: Tuesday, September 6, 2016, Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Room 5240
FULL-TIME ELA/ESL, MAIN CAMPUS
Address: 15800 South State Street, South Holland, IL 60473
Register: August 29, 30 and 31, 9:00 a.m., Room L233
Classes Begin: Tuesday, September 6, 2016, Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Room L233
PART-TIME ELA/ESL, MAIN CAMPUS
Address: 15800 South State Street, South Holland, IL 60473
Register: August 29, 30 and 31, 9:00 a.m., Room L233
Classes Begin: Tuesday, September 6, 2016, Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m. Room L233
PART-TIME ELA/ESL, MAIN CAMPUS
Address: 15800 South State Street, South Holland, IL 60473
Register: August 29, 30 and 31, 6:00 p.m., Room 1243 B
Classes Begin: Tuesday, September 6, 2016, Monday through Friday
6:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. Room 1243 B
PART-TIME ELA/ESL, OAK FOREST CENTER (OFC)
Address: 16333 S. Kilbourn Ave., Oak Forest, IL 60452
Register: August 29, 30 and 31, 9:00 a.m., Room 5320
Classes Begin: Tuesday, September 6, 2016, Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m. Room 5320
All courses are offered free of charge. For the purpose of compliance with Section 511 of Public Law 101-166 (the Stevens Amendment) Federal funds of $331,227 provides approximately 37% of the support of these programs. Indiana residents are not eligible to participate in the Adult Education programs. To request ADA accommodations allow three weeks. Please contact: Gail Bonds-Carpenter, ADA Coordinator, 708-596-2000, ext. 2691. For enrollment and class information, please call 708-596-2000, ext. 2385 or ext. 2240, or visit www.ssc.edu under “Adult and Continuing Education, Adult Education.”
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 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
Park Forest Environment Commission, 350 Victory Drive
Fall in the Garden Presentation – Saturday, August 20
The Saturday Morning Gardening Series presented by the Park Forest Environment Commission continues on Saturday, August 20, with a presentation on fall in the garden. Early fall is the ideal time for lawn care, assessing garden needs, and planning for next year’s garden. Aerating, fertilizing, weed control, seeding the yard, and prepping for new garden beds are all great activities for the fall gardener. The free session begins at 10:30 a.m. at the Wetlands Discovery Center, 30 N. Orchard Drive, located inside of the Park Forest Aqua Center.
Free Rain Barrels for Park Forest Residents Residing in Cook County
Free rain barrels are available to Village residents in the Cook County section of Park Forest through the end of 2016. The rain barrel program is a cooperative effort by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and the Village of Park Forest. Rain barrels are large containers that capture rainwater from your roof, typically via downspouts, for you to use when you need it. The most common use for rain barrel water is for the watering of lawns or gardens, and for washing cars.
How the program works:
Park Forest residents may request up to four rain barrels by visiting the Public Works Department at Village Hall and filling out a short form. Rain barrels are available in four colors: terra cotta, blue, black, and warm gray.
The rain barrels will be scheduled for drop-off at your home by representatives from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District estimates a three to four month waiting period from the time of order to the delivery of rain barrels.
Installing a rain barrel is easy and only requires a few tools. A connecting elbow and detailed instructions are provided with all rain barrels. Place your rain barrel under a downspout, wait for rain, and go!
Please note that boundaries for this program were determined by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. Will County residents are not eligible. For questions about the program, contact Public Works at 708-503-7702.
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 Preserve, 247 Monee Road, Park Forest
Sounds of the Insects Night Hike – Registration Required by Tuesday, August 16
As the sun goes down many animals are just becoming active, and even though it is hard to see them with the fading light, you know they are there because of their calls. Join a naturalist at Thorn Creek Woods on Thursday, August 18 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. to explore the Sounds of the Insects Night Hike on the night of the full moon. You can hear a very special group of insects that have the gift of song like no other. Sunset is the best time to explore and listen to these gifted songsters as we bid adieu to the day shift and welcome in the night shift. We’ll listen and learn the distinct sounds of common local species and why they make these sounds. Please not that this program will take place outdoors, hiking preserve trails over uneven terrain. This program is free and for all ages. Registration is required by Tuesday, August 16. For additional information or to register, call 708-747-6360.
Wednesday Morning Walkers
Discover the wonders of spring in a weekly morning walk. Wednesday Morning Walkers meet every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and is free for ages 13 years to adult. Walkers new to the program must register two days before they first hike. For additional information or to register, call 708-747-6360.
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.
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 gwashington@sertomacentre.org.
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.
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 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 bevfeldt@gmail.com.
This & That
South Suburban Family Shelter (SSFS), Homewood
‘Back to School Angels’ Needed
This is the time of year when the school supply sale ads start to appear in the Sunday paper. For many parents, this is a sign that summer vacation has tipped past the halfway mark and that soon it will be time for “back-to-school shopping.” For other parents, this is a time when they realize they can’t come close to purchasing all of the things on their children’s school supply lists. Over the past eight years, local “Angels” have adopted the school supply lists of over 350 children who receive services at SSFS, an agency that provides services to victims of domestic violence and their children. Many local organizations and individuals have been very generous over the years with donations for this program, and the agency is hoping people will be just as generous this year. SSFS director of clinical services, Carol Gsell, states, “Parents are trying to figure out how they are going to find the money to send their kids back to school with the things they need, and the kids are worried about being the only child in the classroom without their supplies when school starts. School supply lists have become very extensive in the last few years with schools no longer requiring just the basic pens, pencils, crayons, markers and notebooks. Teachers have specific items they need for their classrooms and we want our clients to not worry about how expensive these school lists can be. Many children also need gym shoes and uniforms which our clients just can’t afford to buy. Someone can make a huge difference in the life of a family coping with domestic violence by helping purchase school supplies for these children,” added Gsell. “We are looking for ‘Back to School Angels’ to adopt a child for back to school supplies,” according to Linda Schmidt, volunteer project coordinator. “You can adopt a student yourself, or get a group of people together to adopt a student and split the list up. This is a great opportunity to do community service with your own children because it is something they can relate to and understand.” Schmidt also states that donors do not have to do the actual shopping for supplies. SSFS is accepting gift cards from office supply stores and retailers where school supplies can be purchased. Donors can also send a check payable to South Suburban Family Shelter at P.O. Box 937, Homewood, IL 60430. Those interested in being an Angel or looking to volunteer should contact Schmidt directly via e-mail at: lschmidt97@aol.com or call SSFS at 708-794-2140, ext. 303. For more information about South Suburban Family Shelter, call 708-794-2140, or www.ssfs1.org.
Village of Park Forest, 350 Victory Drive
2nd Annual Paws at the Park Pet Adoption – September 24 & 25
Take part in the 2nd Annual Paws at the Park pet adoption at the Park Forest Bark District on September 24 and 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Every year, Animal Medical Center of Sauk Village teams up with the Village of Park Forest to help hundreds of lovable pets find their forever homes. A craft fair, activities for the kids, and even some pet training demonstrations will take place at the event. The Park Forest Bark District, Park Forest’s own dog park, is located at the corner of 218th Street and Wildwood Drive. Questions about this event, or to apply for a space at the craft fair, should be d