Park Forest, IL—(ENEWSPF) —The Park Forest Farmers’ Market will be open for its final Saturday of the 2016 season on October 29. Since 1974, the Park Forest Farmers’ Market has been connecting area residents with local farmers, food vendors and businesses. The Market has a variety of items ranging from fresh flowers, fruits and vegetables, bakery goods, herbs and dairy products. You’ll also find artwork, ornaments and more. So visit the Farmers’ Market this Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon and stock up on things you need through the winter, start your holiday shopping, or meet your neighbors.
The Rich Township, Shirley J. Green, Senior Center in DownTown Park Forest will be hosting their Holiday Craft Bazaar and Bake Sale on Friday, November. The Bazaar will be selling homemade craft items and baked goods only. Vendor tables are being offered free of charge, so your profit is your own. If you would like to become a vendor for the event, please call 748-5454 to reserve your table.
If your club, organization or local business will be holding activities or events in the community that you would like published, please send an e-mail to RJPiserLPH@aol.com with the details no later than 5 p.m. on Friday. Thank you.
Village of Park Forest
Village Board Meeting – Monday, October 24
The Village of Park Forest Board is scheduled to meet on Monday, October 24 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).
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 Commission is scheduled to meet the week of October 23:
Wednesday, October 26 at 7 p.m. – Cable Communications Commission
The meeting will be held at Park Forest Village Hall and residents are encouraged to attend.
Street Sweeping Begins – Now in Progress
Street sweeping in Park Forest began Monday, October 17, and will last approximately 10 days.
The street sweeper normally begins in the north part of Park Forest and continues south. The number of streets cleaned each day depends on the amount of leaves and/or debris needing removal as well as contractor work force that day and weather conditions. Residents are asked to remove their cars from the streets during the week of street sweeping in order for the most effective cleaning of the streets to take place. Residents are also reminded that raking or blowing leaves, grass, or debris into the street is strictly prohibited. Leaves clog Village storm sewers resulting in flooded streets. Fines will be issued for any individual witnessed raking or blowing leaves, grass, or debris into the street.
Click for more on street sweeping in Park Forest
Water Main Replacement Project – Now in Progress
Construction continues in Park Forest as part of a year-long four-mile water main replacement project.
Residents should be aware that parking is not permitted on streets with JULIE/utility paint markings and flags. For questions about the project, contact Public Works at 708-503-7702.
Arts & Entertainment
Calumet Heritage Partnership, Chicago
‘Calumet’s Industrial Heritage: Works by Kathy Los-Rathburn and Matthew Kaplan,’ – Through December 18
The Calumet Heritage Partnership will continue its 2016 Calumet Heritage Event Series with an encore show at South Shore Arts’ Crown Point Gallery featuring two local artists who capture the complex beauty and nature of the region’s industrial landscape in watercolor paintings and photographs. Called ‘Calumet’s Industrial Heritage: Works by Kathy Los-Rathburn and Matthew Kaplan,’ the exhibit is a collaboration between the Calumet Heritage Partnership and South Shore Arts and runs through December 18th. The Crown Point Gallery is located at 123 North Main Street in Crown Point, Indiana. The exhibit is free and open to the public. For additional information, call the Gallery at 219-663-0200.
Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University (GSU), 1 University Parkway, University Park
Dark Comedy ‘Fat Pig’ – Opens Saturday, October 29
Cow. Slob. Pig. How many insults can you hear before you have to stand up and defend the woman you love? Neil LaBute’s sharply drawn play, ‘Fat Pig,’ not only wittily critiques our society’s slavish adherence to Hollywood standards of beauty, but boldly questions our own ability and courage to change what we dislike about ourselves. GSU’s Theatre and Performance Studies students will present ‘Fat Pig’ on the Center for Performing Art’s stage on October 29, November 3 and 4 at 7:30 p.m. and October 30 at 2 p.m. The audience will be seated onstage with the performers in theatre-in-the-round. Seating is General Admission but limited to 85 seats per night so advance tickets are recommended. Tickets are just $15 and $10 for students with valid I.D. The play is directed by Assistant Professor Dr. Patrick Santoro. This is the eighth production by Governors State’s Theatre and Performance Studies (TAPS) program, approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education as a Bachelor’s Degree in 2014; the only such degree combining the two disciplines at a public state university in Illinois. Previous performances included Anne Sexton’s “Transformations”, musical theatre “A…My Name is Alice”, docudrama “Still Life”, classic drama Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun”, dark comedy “Kimberly Akimbo”, science fiction drama “Fahrenheit 451”, and a modern retelling of Greek myth “Eurydice”. The opening night performance on Saturday, October 29, will include a pre-show bacon bar including flavored bacons and bacon infused cupcakes at 6:30 p.m. for an additional $15.
How to Buy Tickets for ‘Fat Pig’
Online: Centertickets.net
By Phone: 708-235-2222
In Person at the Box Office: 1 University Parkway, University Park, IL
Box Office Hour: Mon-Fri 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and 2 hours prior to performances. Thursday the Box Office is open until 6 p.m.
Download the Center’s APP: goo.gl/nqy4ul
‘Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale’ – Tickets Now on Sale
Two daughters; one chance to marry the King. What does a father do? Does he choose one and forsake the other? Not in this tale of goodness, generosity, and love! John Steptoe’s ‘Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale’ celebrates the beauty in all of us, with traditional dancing, rhythmic drumming, and glorious African song. GSU’s Center for Performing Arts presents Dallas Children’s Theatre’s family musical program on November 13 at 2 p.m. for one performance only. The play has been adapted for the stage by Karen Abbott with music & lyrics by S-Ankh Rasa. When a great African king desires a wife, only the most perfect maidens in the land are invited to meet him. Mufaro’s pride and joy, his two daughters of very different dispositions, travel a half day’s journey through a mystical jungle and across a deep river to be presented to the king. Along the way the two girls encounter a number of mysterious situations that test their courage, kindness and strength of spirit. Don’t miss this this Caldecott Award-winning Cinderella tale! Ticketholders may join us after the performance for a royal wedding event including lunch & dessert, dancing and drumming, games and more!
Ticket Information
Online: Centertickets.net
By Phone: 708-235-2222
In Person at the Box Office: 1 University Parkway, University Park, IL
Box Office Hour: Mon-Fri 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and 2 hours prior to performances. Thursday the Box Office is open until 6 p.m.
Download the Center’s APP: goo.gl/nqy4ul
Parking is free. For best GPS directions always use the location search term “Governors State University” only.
DePaul Art Museum, 935 W. Fullerton, Chicago
International Art Exhibition ‘On Space and Place’ – Through December 18
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 run through December 18 at the DePaul Art Museum. 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.
16 innovative artists from 4 dynamic cities:
Chicago artists: Nick Cave, Theaster Gates, Barbara Kasten, Chris Ware
Mexico City artists: Natalia Almada, Minerva Cuevas, Damián Ortega, Pedro Reyes
Los Angeles artists: Edgar Arceneaux, Liz Larner, Tala Madani, Diana Thater
Vancouver artists: Stan Douglas, Brian Jungen, Liz Magor, Jeff Wall
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. 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/.
DePaul University Daley Building, 247 South State Street, Chicago
Award-Winning Filmmakers to Offer In-Depth Look at Filmmaking Process — October 28 -29
Documentary filmmakers will gather at the School of Cinematic Arts at DePaul University for “Verité,” two days of events that offer an in-depth look at the filmmaking process. Through a film screening, panel discussion and two master classes, “Verité” creates a venue for students and documentary enthusiasts to participate in the behind-the-scenes processes that go into creating films and other nonfiction media. Events will feature three filmmakers from Kartemquin Films in Chicago: Dinesh Sabu, director of “Unbroken Glass;” Gordon Quinn, executive producer of “Hoop Dreams;” and Leslie Simmer, editor of “The Homestretch.” Events will be held Oct. 28-29 in DePaul’s Daley Building, 247 S. State St. Admission is free and open to the public, but seating is limited.
‘Unbroken Glass’ film screening, discussion with filmmaker and mental health experts
Oct. 28, 5-8 p.m.
Film screening, 5 p.m.
The evening will begin with a screening of the film “Unbroken Glass.” Twenty years after the death of his parents, filmmaker Dinesh Sabu began a journey to finally piece together their story. Uncovering a silenced family history of mental illness, Sabu confronted the legacy of having a schizophrenic mother who died by suicide, the reality of growing up an orphaned immigrant, and the trauma of these events.
Discussion on mental illness and suicide in Asian communities, 6 p.m.
Following the screening, experts will join Sabu for a discussion on issues of mental health in Asian-American communities. Panelists include:
Barbara Harris, faculty member in DePaul’s School of Nursing, will moderate the panel. Harris in an expert on issues of chronic mental illness, women’s issues in mental health and the experience of mental illness in the community.
Aruna Jha is a research assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago in the Department of Criminology, Law and Justice. She is also the founder of the Asian American Suicide Prevention Initiative.
Rooshey Hasnain is a clinical assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago in the Department of Disability and Human Development and the undergraduate rehabilitation sciences program.
The making of ‘Unbroken Glass” discussion, 7 p.m.
Joining Sabu will be the film’s editor, Matt Lauterbach, who is an advocate for accessible media. Lauterbach served as post-production manager of Kartemquin Films during two of the most productive years in the organization’s 50 year history, escorting nine films safely to release. Lauterbach is dedicated to making the arts and digital media accessible to those with low vision and hearing. He co-directed Chicago’s first Disability Film Festival in 2015 and is now producing an interactive multimedia website called “Beyond Blind,” which addresses common misconceptions about blindness.
For more information about the Oct. 28 events, contact Anu Rana at anu.rana@depaul.edu.
Master classes with Kartemquin filmmakers
Oct. 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
RSVP is required for the following master classes at http://bit.ly/2dLUKf6.
Master class with filmmaker Gordon Quinn, 10 a.m.-noon
Gordon Quinn will discuss the relationship between the director, cinematographer and editor, as well as how the experience of taking on the different roles can influence one’s documentary work. Artistic director and founding member of Kartemquin Films, Quinn has been making documentaries for more than 50 years. In 1966, the late film critic Roger Ebert called Quinn’s first film “Home for Life” “an extraordinarily moving documentary.” Gordon executive produced Kartemquin’s best known film, “Hoop Dreams,” in 1994. The film follows two inner-city high school basketball players for five years as they pursue their NBA dreams. Its many honors include: the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival, The Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award, Chicago Film Critics Award for Best Picture, Los Angeles Film Critics Association for Best Documentary and an Academy Award Nomination.
Lunch, Noon-1 p.m.
Master class with Leslie Simmer, 1-4 p.m.
Leslie Simmer will discuss editing documentaries and analyzing editing decisions at different points in a film’s edit. Simmer is Kartemquin’s director of editing as well as senior editor on staff. Her most recent project is “The Homestretch,” which world premiered at Hot Docs 2014. She edited and co-wrote the feature documentary “As Goes Janesville,” a co-production between Kartemquin and 371 Productions which screened on PBS Independent Lens in 2012. Before that, she edited with Steve James on the ESPN film “No Crossover: The Trial of Allen Iverson.” She also edited the Emmy-nominated “In the Family,” for which she received the Best Editing prize at the Best of the Midwest Awards.
Students in DePaul University’s School of Cinematic Arts have access to the latest in motion picture production equipment, plus state-of-the-art post-production facilities. Classes take place on campus and at DePaul’s two soundstages on the Cinespace Chicago Film Studio lot, where students learn alongside project teams from network television shows and Hollywood motion pictures that are filming in Chicago. For more information, visit http://www.cdm.depaul.edu/about/Pages/School-of-Cinematic-Arts.aspx.
DePaul University Humanities Center, 2250 North Sheffield Avenue, Chicago
Mars, Zombies and the Ethics of Voting – Through November 7
A NASA scientist who turns Mars Curiosity rover data into art, the filmmaker of cerebral zombie flick “Pontypool,” and a discussion on the ethics of voting will kick off the DePaul University Humanities Center’s 2016-17 season. The center fosters discussion and research in the arts and humanities on campus and among the greater community. Events are free and open to the public and will be held in the Student Center, Room 120, at 2250 N. Sheffield Ave. on DePaul’s Lincoln Park Campus. “One of the center’s themes this year is an investigation into the relations among the humanities, arts and space sciences,” said Professor H. Peter Steeves, director of the center. “We will feature NASA scientists, and Chicago’s Beethoven and Bach ensemble will play rarely heard works for strings, fortepiano and voice. For this year’s Horror of the Humanities, we will watch one of the greatest, scariest, and most semiotically nuanced zombie films ever made, ‘Pontypool,’” said Steeves. Fall events include:
The Horror of the Humanities IV: “Pontypool” October 26
Everyday horrors haunted house presentation 6-6:30 p.m.
Film screening of “Pontypool” 6:30-8:15 p.m.
Conversation with film director Bruce McDonald and star Stephen McHattie 8:15-9 p.m.
The DePaul Humanities Center’s fourth-annual Halloween event begins with an avant-garde “haunted house” featuring multimedia, interactive posters, installation art, and exhibits pointing to the horror of everyday life. The display also explores the relationship between horror and the history of the humanities. The evening continues with a screening of the zombie film “Pontypool,” and concludes with a talk and Q&A with the film’s director, Bruce McDonald, and its star, Stephen McHattie.
Transformations: “Why You Shouldn’t Vote Tomorrow” November 7, 7-9 p.m.
The final event this fall is a discussion about the ethics of voting. “This event promises to be a lively and untraditional take on the U.S. election and political process in general,” said Steeves. “I think it will challenge those in attendance to consider their own political beliefs and identities.” Following the on-stage discussion, there will be time for questions and comments from the audience. Scheduled participants include:
Colman McCarthy, former columnist for The Washington Post, and current director of The Center for Teaching Peace in Washington, D.C.
L. Stephens II, Chicago activist, labor organizer and co-founder of Orchestrated Pulse.
Stephanie McMillan, cartoonist, author and organizer.
Jibran Ludwig, a student from Shimer College.
The Meijer Twins, authors, teachers, artists.
More events are scheduled for the winter and spring, including a discussion with Royal Ballet Principal Edward Watson, February 16. In June, the final event of the season will celebrate 50 years since the release of the Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” Learn more about the center and upcoming events at http://bit.ly/DPUHmCtr.
Freedom Hall Nathan Manilow Theatre, 410 Lakewood Boulevard, Park Forest
Massenkoff Russian Folk Festival starring Nikolai Massenkoff – Tuesday, October 25
On Tuesday, October 25 at 11 a.m. Freedom Hall’s matinee theater will present Massenkoff Russian Folk Festival starring Nikolai Massenkoff. The Massenkoff Russian Folk Festival is an authentic, cultural presentation of Russian Songs, Balalaika Music and Russian Folk Ballet all equally represented throughout the performance in authentic Russian style, language and costumes. The Company features professional artists, with musicians who are conservatory graduates, professional Russian Dancers, and features Russian Songs, with Nikolai Massenkoff, ” World celebrated singer.” Songs include favorites such as: Kalinka, Moscow Nights, Dark Eyes and Volga Boatmen. View a video of Massenkoff Russian Folk. Tickets are $20. For additional information or to purchase tickets, call Freedom Hall at 708-747-0580 or visit www.freedomhall.org.
Booker T. Jones – Tickets Now on Sale
Freedom Hall will present the soulful music of Booker T. Jones on Saturday, November 5 at 7:30 p.m. Booker T. Jones set the cast for modern soul music with classic hits like “Green Onions,” “Hang ‘Em High,” “Time Is Tight,” and “Melting Pot”. He’s a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Musicians Hall of Fame inductee and GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. His newest album Sound the Alarm, finds the Hammond B3 organ master looking ahead yet again! “On opener “Sound the Alarm,” the lead guitar riff and Hawthorne’s vocals slink around snappy percussion, and “Fun” finds Jones constructing a thumping piece of instrumental pop blues.” — Rolling Stone. Read more about Booker T. Jones and view videos. Tickets are $35. For additional information or to purchase tickets, call Freedom Hall at 708-747-0580 or visit www.freedomhall.org.
Historical Society of Forest Park, 1000 Elgin Avenue, Forest Park, IL
Haymarket Time Capsule Mystery: Researchers, Archaelogists and Historians to Speak – Thursday, October 27
On October 3, 2016, archaeologists unearthed a concrete cylinder with marble caps near the Haymarket Martyrs Monument in Forest Home Cemetery in Forest Park. Researchers believe it could be the Haymarket time capsule buried in 1892 by supporters of the anarchist Haymarket Martyrs.
Oak Park librarian Bleue Benton hunted for clues including 1892 newspaper mentions of the time capsule. In the University of Michigan archives of the Pioneer Aid Society, Benton found an inventory of the capsule which may contain newspaper accounts, photos and trial documents pertaining to the trials of eight anarchists charged with conspiracy in the Haymarket Affair, May 4, 1886.
You are invited to hear about the hunt for and the discovery of the Haymarket time capsule and see photos and video of the dig. The 1892 Haymarket Time Capsule Mystery discussion will take place on Thursday, October 27 at 7 p.m. at the Historical Society of Forest Park, 1000 Elgin Avenue in Forest Park. Researchers, archaeologists and historians will discuss the hunt for and excavation of the 1892 Haymarket Time Capsule. The Panel Discussion will take place after brief Historical Society of Forest Park annual meeting. Panelists include:
Bleue Benton, Oak Park librarian who stumbled upon the forgotten time capsule while researching archives at University of Michigan.
Mark Rogovin, Author of ‘The Day Will Come,’ guide to the Haymarket Martyrs Monument and Radical Row in Forest Home Cemetery.
Rebecca Graff, urban archaeologist Lake Forest College, site lead.
Xhris Fitzgerald, Archaeology student at Lake Forest College.
Larry Spivack, Board President of the Illinois Labor History Society
Tickets for the event are $30 or free for current members of the Historical Society of Forest Park.
Tickets can be purchase here. For additional information about the Historical Society of Forest Park, visit: http://forestparkhistory.weebly.com.
National Veterans Art Museum (NVAM), 4041 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago
CreatiVets Veteran Art Exhibit – Through Saturday, October 29
NVAM is featuring an exhibit of art created by veterans in CreatiVets through October 29. The exhibit is free and open to the public. It will be held at the NVAM facility in Chicago. CreatiVets, an Illinois nonprofit that provides combat disabled veterans with opportunities to use art and music to heal their unseen wounds, recently completed the second year of its veteran art program in partnership with the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). The program teaches veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury to use conceptual-based art and techniques in ceramics, photography and painting as tools for coping with stress, depression and anxiety. Fifteen veterans from across the United States have participated in this three-week intensive course. Visit https://vimeo.com/184878297 for more information about the course and the veterans’ experience. CreatiVets and SAIC are honored by opportunity the NVAM has provided these veterans in sharing their artwork and stories with the community.
Exhibit of Work by Chicago Veteran Artist George Klauba – Through October 29
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 run through Saturday, October 29. This exhibit is open to the public. 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. 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 a1950s Halloween – Through November 9
It’s Halloween at the 1950s Park Forest House Museum. Halloween decorations will be on display through November 9. The Museum, located at 227 Monee Road in Park Forest (inside St. Mary’s Catholic Church), is open Wednesday and Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. or by appointment. Donation is Adults $5; 12 & under free with an adult. Scout and school tours are priced individually. For additional information or to schedule an appointment for a tour, call Mike Gans at 708-305-3308 or Jane Nicoll at 708-481-4252 or visit the Website.
Park Forest Public Library, 400 Lakewood Boulevard
The following events are scheduled at the Park Forest Library the week of October 23:
Monday, October 24 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 24 at 4 p.m. – Teen DIY Halloween Crafts — Do you love Halloween? Come to TTZ and create original Halloween crafts in order to celebrate!
Monday, October 24 at 6 p.m. – Mindfulness Mondays — Each week we will aspire to achieve calmness by focusing our attention on the practice of a different craft. We will explore crafts that will include yarn mandalas, stone mandalas, and zentangle-inspired drawings. Materials will be provided.
Tuesday, October 25 at 2 p.m. – Art Studio — It’s time to create! Materials will be provided. For ages 12 and under.
Tuesday, October 25 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!
Tuesday, October 25 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. For ages 12 and under.
Wednesday, October 26 at 11 a.m. – Lap Sit Story Time — Babies and their parents or caregivers are invited to read, sing and grow in this weekly story time. This program is geared toward babies 0 – 36 months with an accompanying adult. This is the perfect time for families to bond with their child/children.
Wednesday, October 26 at 3:30 p.m. — Art Extreme — We’re taking art to the EXTREME! Explore a wide range of art through painting, drawing, building and more! Art has never been this fun. You don’t want to miss out. For ages 12 and under.
Wednesday, October 26 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, October 26 at 4:30 p.m. — Teen Advisory Board Meeting — We want YOU to join our new Teen Advisory Board (TAB) and help plan and design this new space for PF/OF teens. Ask for an application in Teen Tech Zone.
Wednesday, October 26 at 6:30 p.m. – Writers’ Workshop — Want to improve your skills as a writer? Interested in sharing your ideas or written work with others? Come to the Park Forest Library and join other creators in our bi-monthly writers’ group, led by James Pressler, for all your writing wishes. Writers of all skill levels are welcomed.
Thursday, October 27 at 11 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.
Friday, October 28 at 12 p.m. — Express Yourself — Explore a variety of arts & craft materials and express your inner artist. We’ll provide the materials, you provide the creativity! So let go, have fun, and Express Yourself!
Friday, October 28 at 1 p.m. — Senior Travelogue – Haunted Washington DC.
Friday, October 28 at 3:30 p.m. – Drop in Crafts — Jump Start your weekend with creative crafts! Bring a friend or make new ones. All materials provided. While supplies last. For ages 12 and under.
Saturday, October 29 at 1 p.m. — Chalk Art Talk — Chicago Chalk Art Champ Shaun Hays will share his inspiration and creativity behind his amazing works of art.
Saturday, October 29 at 1 p.m. — Halloween Movie Matinee: Double Feature — Kick-off your Halloween with our SPOOKTACULAR movie day that is sure to tickle your funny bone! DOUBLE FEATURE: Hotel Transylvania and Monster House. All ages welcome.
For additional information, or to register for an event call 708-748-3731 or visit www.pfpl.org.
Potpourri of Lectures – Thursday, October 27
The Potpourri of Lecture for Thursday, October 27 is “National Park Service A Centennial Celebration” with World Traveler, Mr. Yuan Liang. The Lecture will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the Library’s Ringering Room.
Prairie State College (PSC), 202 South Halsted, Chicago Heights
‘Odwindifuor Expressions: Works from Ghana, West Africa’ – Through October 27
‘Odwindifuor Expressions: Works from Ghana, West Africa,’ is the current exhibit at the PSC’s Christopher Art Gallery through October 27. The exhibit is free and open to the public. The exhibition features works in various media by artists and artisans from Aburi, in Ghana, West Africa, offered in partnership with the Chicago Heights Sister Cities Program. Works include wood carvings, masks, textiles and beaded jewelry. Additional information about the exhibit can be found in the Gallery Guide. The Christopher Art Gallery Regular Hours are Monday through Thursday: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday: 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. and by appointment. For additional information or to schedule an appointment to view the exhibit phone 708-709-3636 or visit http://prairiestate.edu/christopher-art-gallery.
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.
Adult Coloring
On the 2nd and 4th Tuesday morning of each month at 10 a.m., come to the Senior Center to participate in the new Adult Coloring Group. The Center has supplies and several types of mediums to color with. For additional information, call 708-748-5454.
Holiday Bazaar and Bake Sale – Friday, November 18
The Rich Township, Shirley J. Green, Senior Center will host a Holiday Craft Bazaar and Bake Sale on Friday, November 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Bazaar will be selling homemade craft items and baked goods only. Vendor tables are being offered free of charge, so your profit is your own. Please call 748-5454 to reserve your table. Join us for a day of shopping, eating and friendship. We will serve coffee and goodies throughout the day, so please join us!
Roosevelt University Gage Gallery, 18 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago
‘Not Forgotten: Chicago Street Memorials’ – Through December 3
‘Not Forgotten: Chicago Street Memorials,’ a new exhibit featuring photos and interviews about Chicago street memorials will be exhibited at Roosevelt University’s Gage Gallery through December 3. A joint project by Roosevelt University journalism professor Anne-Marie Cusac and Wisconsin photographer Thomas Ferrella, ‘Not Forgotten: Chicago Street Memorials’ explores the story behind 35 organic and largely obscure memorials that remember primarily those killed in Chicago neighborhoods. Cusac and Ferrella spent more than a year traveling some of Chicago’s most violence-prone streets in order to gain an understanding of the kind of grieving that goes on in communities long after the violence is over. Gage Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. For more information, visit www.roosevelt.edu/gagegallery or call 312-341-6458
The Drama Group, 330 West 202nd Street, Chicago Heights
‘Little Shop of Horrors’ – Through Sunday, October 30
The Drama Group is excited to present the gleefully gruesome musical, ‘Little Shop of Horrors,’ directed by Mary Ellen Fawk and Andy Leahy. Performances will be held at The Drama Group Studio Theatre on October 27, 28, 29 at 7:30 p.m. and matinees on October 29 and 30 at 2:00 p.m. Seymour is a poor florist assistant who has acquired a plant he has named Audrey II, after the love of his life, Audrey. However, his plant is no normal plant, having come from outer space and requiring a diet of fresh blood. Seymour’s craving for love, fame and fortune lures him into nurturing a horticultural horror with a carnivorious appetite. A fun spoof of ’60’s sci-fi movies, full of rock and roll, doo-wop and Motown. Tickets are $21 for adults; $20 for seniors and $15 for students with ID. Group discount rates are also available. Good seats are still available. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Box Office at 708-755-3444 or online at:http://www.brownpapertickets.com. For directions and other information regarding Drama Group activities, please visit www.dramagroup.org.
Roosevelt University, 430 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago
‘Gone But Not Forgotten’ Quilting Project – Through Thursday, October 27
‘Gone But Not Forgotten,’ a quilting project memorializing people killed by the Chicago Police department, is now featured in the Murray-Green Library at Roosevelt University. Accompanied by Present Absence, a video installation featuring interviews with families and friends of some of the victims, the quilting project records the names, ages, and dates of death of 144 individuals killed by Chicago police since 2006. The six ‘Gone But Not Forgotten’ quilts stretch nearly forty feet in length and were created in a series of community quilting circles and conversations across Chicago in 2015 and 2016. In total, more than 200 people participated in the sewing of the quilts; photos of the quilting process will be part of the installation. The project was a collaboration between artist Rachel Wallis and the grassroots organizing group We Charge Genocide. The Roosevelt University exhibit will be the first time all six panels of the quilt will be shown in public. Present Absence, the video installation by Salome Chasnoff and Meredith Zielke, captures the lives of five of the victims as shared by people who loved them. The exhibit will be open to the public through October 27 and will feature a series of public events including:
Quilting Circle – October 25th, 5:30pm to 8:30pm
Roosevelt University,
location TBA
Day-long Symposium – October 27th – 9am to 5pm
Featuring panels and workshops on the movement against police violence.
Roosevelt University
Congress Lounge
430 South Michigan Avenue
Closing Reception – October 27th 6pm to 8pm
Roosevelt University
Murray-Green Library
430 South Michigan Avenue
The exhibition is co-sponsored by the Mansfield Institute for Social Justice and Transformation and is a part of Media Literacy Week. ‘Gone But Not Forgotten’ is a collaboration between We Charge Genocide and Rachel Wallis. This project is partially supported by an Individual Artist Program Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events, as well as a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.
South Suburban College (SSC), 15800 State Street, South Holland
Art Works by Joe Rejholec – Opens Tuesday, October 25
The Art & Design Department of SSC is presenting a memorial exhibition of Art Works by Joseph “Joe” Rejholec – colleague, mentor, friend, artist and faculty member of South Suburban College, in the college’s Thiel Gallery from October 25 through November 22, with a reception on Thursday, October 27th from 4-7 p.m. Both the reception and exhibit are free and open to the public. A friend and inspiration to many artists, Joe was born in Nyack, New York, He was part of the New York Art Students League, went to Syracuse University on a hockey scholarship for a semester, and later attended Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO, to study history where he became interested in pursuing art and earned a BA. He attended Northern Illinois University for his MA in Fine Art. Joe was our longtime Art & Design department chair, and a dedicated teacher and gallery director at South Suburban College for forty years. He was a tireless supporter of the arts who served on numerous arts panels and selection committees, and he was inspirational in the lives of many students and professionals. He resided in Crete, IL where he worked from his home studio until 2016. Influenced by Abstract Expressionism, Jazz, African Art, the smell of burning metal, Camel cigarettes, and coffee, Joe was “Old School” in so many ways. He epitomized the artist as maker, using the sweet poetry of his welded steel sculpture’s two-dimensional line and mass in the service of framing space in the tradition of David Smith, Jacques Lipchitz, Arshile Gorky, Franz Kline and others. His work flies in the face of the flattening elements of Pop Art & Minimalism, transcending stylistic impulses into the realm of the sculptor’s true passion for the framing of the real space of his world. For additional information or Gallery hours, call 708-596-2000, ext. 2445 or ext. 2300 or visit www.ssc.edu.
Tall Grass Arts Association, 367 Artists Walk, Park Forest
College Art Faculty Show – Through November 5
The College Art Faculty Show will be exhibited at Tall Grass Arts Association through Saturday, November 5. The exhibit is free and open to the public. This invitational show features the work by art faculty from seven area colleges. All full time and part time art faculty from the seven schools were invited to show their two and three dimensional artwork. Governors State University, Joliet Junior College, Kankakee Community College, Moraine Valley Community College, Olivet Nazarene University, Prairie State College, and South Suburban College are represented. Curated by Gail Otterson and Mary Bookwalter. 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.
Seeking Artists for ‘Wings’ Exhibition – Entry Deadline Saturday, November 12
Tall Grass Arts Association invites artists to submit entries for ‘Wings,’ an exhibition of images inspired by the flight of winged creatures. The deadline for entries is Saturday, November 12th. Exhibit dates are January 20 through February 25, 2017. ‘Wings’ is a juried show of 2D and 3D visual artwork (excluding video). Applications will be accepted online through www.EntryThingy.com. Artists may submit up to three (3) entries for jurying. Apply through the EntryThingy site using this code –http://www.entrythingy.com/d=tallgrassarts.org#show=3097 For additional information, call 708-748-3377 or visit http://www.tallgrassarts.com/Wings.html.
Union Street Gallery (USG), 1527 Otto Boulevard, Chicago Heights
‘Politics Now: the Art of Sausage Making’ – Through Saturday, October 29
USG’s national juried exhibition, ‘Politics Now: the Art of Sausage Making,’ will run through Saturday, October 29. The exhibit is free and open to the public. Exhibiting Artists: Scott Anderson, George Larsen, Jeff Lassahn, Dawn Leader-Peloso, Laura Lein-Svencner, David Levenson, Michael Pohlman, Jenna Rothstein, Gary Schirmer, Brian Spies, Kelly Witte, Yuanqing Zhao, and Regina Ziemann. Gallery hours are: Wednesday noon to 4 p.m., Thursday noon to 7 p.m., Friday noon to 4 p.m., and Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For additional information, call 708-754-2601 or visit Website.
‘A Little Garden Art’ – Through Saturday, October 29
Enjoy the Garden Walk experience all over again! This year’s Garden Artists share first impressions, insights into their creative process, methods & materials, sketches & photos, and of course their finished artwork in “A Little Garden Art”. It is an exhibition of art created during the 12th Annual Union Street Gallery Garden Walk. The work can be viewed in the 2nd Floor Classroom Exhibit Space through October 29. Exhibiting artists include: Carole Brejcha, Maureen Cribbs, Pam Eberlin, Margi Hafer, Karen Leader, Christine Leone, Bill Marquardsen, Elaine Martin, Renee Klyczek Nordstrom, Lynn Ruedger, Dorothy Sandlin, Leon Sarantos, and Mary Ann Trzyna. For additional information, call 708-754-2601 or visit Website.
Educational Lectures & Opportunities
Governors State University (GSU), 1 University Parkway, University Park
Undergraduate Open House – Friday, November 11
GSU will host an undergraduate Open House Friday, November 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Information on admission requirements, financial aid, campus life and student housing, as well as specific undergraduate programs will be available for prospective students and their parents. Students will also be able to meet with Governors State faculty, academic advisors and financial aid counselors. For more information or to RSVP, contact the Office of Admissions at 708-534-4490 or gsunow@govst.edu. To register for Open House, go to www.govst.edu/openhouse.
Prairie State College, 202 South Halsted Street, Chicago Heights
Leveraging Diversity Workshop – Registration Required by Tuesday, November 1
PSC is hosting a workshop for business leaders, professional groups and individuals who want to discover how to leverage the power of diversity in the workplace. The workshop will be held from 10 a.m. to noon, Thursday, November 10, in the Adult, Training and Outreach Center on the PSC main campus in Chicago Heights. Kim Olver, founder and director of Coaching for Excellence, LLC, will facilitate the workshop. Olver’s training and expertise has helped thousands of people develop the internal motivation to appreciate and benefit from diversity in the workplace. Participants will learn how to get buy-in from all employees before introducing diversity initiatives, and gain skills to hire, retain and inspire a diverse workforce for peak performance and profit. The cost is $45, and includes a networking lunch immediately following the workshop. Participants must register by Tuesday, November 1. To enroll, visit prairiestate.edu/webadvisor and use code PICOR 039 CI. For more information, call 708-709-7957 or email mguiliani@prairiestate.edu.
Developing the Leader Within You’ – Registration Now in Progress
The Corporate and Continuing Education Department at PSC is bringing back, by popular demand, the 2016 Fall Leadership Series, ‘Developing the Leader Within You,’ featuring facilitator Lee Ann Piano. The series is divided into three sessions, and attendees will “learn the vision, values, influence and motivation required of successful leaders.” All sessions are scheduled from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., and will be held in the Adult Training and Outreach Center on the PSC main campus in Chicago Heights. The first session is scheduled for November 3, and will focus on “What is a Leader?” The second session, scheduled for November 10, is titled, “Leadership is Influence.” The third session on November 17 is “How to Grow as a Leader.” Piano is a keynote speaker, corporate trainer and leadership coach. She has delivered more than 600 seminars nationally and internationally, inspiring thousands to rise higher and achieve more. The cost to attend all three sessions is $149. For more information and to register, contact Michelle Guiliani at 708-709-7957 or mguiliani@prairiestate.edu. The Corporate and Continuing Education Department at Prairie State is committed to lifelong learning by offering results-oriented training to meet workforce development needs. We offer ongoing learning opportunities, prepare diverse individuals for career advancement, a college education, and enrich lives through the pursuit of good health and personal fulfillment. For more information on how PSC can support you or your business, visit prairiestate.edu/training.’
South Suburban College (SSC), 15800 State Street, South Holland
Adult Volunteer Literacy Program – Volunteers Needed
SSC is seeking tutors and participants for the Adult Volunteer Literacy Tutoring Program. The program is structured to train volunteers to become one-on-one tutors for adults in need of basic literacy skills. Instruction in basic literacy includes the development of phonetic reading skills combined with communication skills. SSC is encouraging residents to take this opportunity to volunteer as a tutor or encourage someone you know to take advantage of the free program. New tutor training sessions will take place at the Main Campus in South Holland on October 25th & 27th and November 1st & 3rd. The tutor training is an 18-hour program that culminates with literacy training certification. We also offer online training as well. Once certified, the tutors will go out to visit their adult learners at locations in or near their neighborhoods. Tutoring sites have already been established at the following locations: Acorn Public Library, Oak Forest; Glenwood-Lynwood Library; Harvey Public Library; Phoenix Library; Calumet City Public Library; Grande Prairie Library, Hazel Crest; Homewood Public Library; South Holland Public Library; South Suburban College Library, Main Campus; Oak Forest Center Library, Oak Forest; Lansing Public Library; Dolton Public Library; Riverdale Public Library; Markham Public Library and Midlothian Public Library. Tutoring is scheduled by the availability of the tutors and the learners, and the availability of space and hours of the tutoring sites. Illiteracy is an issue that can be debilitating in so many ways for adults who never received the proper instruction. Adults who are unable to read have a much more difficult time with many daily activities that others may take for granted, along with a clear disadvantage in today’s competitive job market. SSC’s Office of Adult Education administers the Adult Volunteer Literacy Tutoring Program in addition to High School Equivalency (HSE), English as a Second Language (ESL), and Adult Basic Education (ABE). Tutors will receive free professional development services throughout this program. Successful tutors are also eligible for letters of support or recommendation for jobs, scholarships, educational opportunities, and more. These opportunities are made possible by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library (ISL), a division of the Office of Secretary of State, using state funds designated for literacy. If you would like to register for the upcoming volunteer tutor training class please register, or if you know someone who could benefit from tutoring services, please contact Raylynn Stokes, Literacy Coach of the Adult Volunteer Literacy Program, at 708-596-2000, ext. 2558, or email rstokes@ssc.edu.
Registration for Spring 2017 Semester – Now in Progress
Open Registration for the Spring 2017 Semester at SSC is in progress. Spring classes begin Monday, January 17, at the college’s Main Campus and Oak Forest Center. The deadline to submit an application for financial aid for the Spring semester at SSC is January 3, 2017. Apply online at www.ssc.edu to begin the enrollment process. New students will receive an SSC email account and a “My SSC” Username & Password via email which will allow access to the online schedule and class registration. The “My SSC” portal also allows students 24-hour access during college closed periods. Current and prospective students are encouraged to complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov using institution code 001769. Students who wish to use financial aid as payment for fall classes must have an official high school or GED transcript on file. Official transcripts must have a school seal and graduation date on them. Transcripts can be hand-delivered to the Admissions Office or mailed to: Office of Admissions (15800 South State Street, South Holland, IL 60473). If a transcript is hand-delivered it must be in the original sealed, unopened envelope. Contact the Office of Admissions at 708-210-5718 for enrollment information. SSC’s Main Campus is located at 15800 South State Street, South Holland, Illinois. The Oak Forest Center is located at 16333 South Kilbourn Avenue, Oak Forest, Illinois.
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
DePaul University, 2400 North Sheffield Avenue, Chicago
Chicago Climate Festival – Through Monday, October 31
Chicago artists, academics and community groups will gather at DePaul University, Columbia College and other Chicago locations throughout October to address issues of climate change. Inspired by the United Nations’ annual climate talks, the Chicago Climate Festival seeks to use art to change the conversation about global warming and environmental destruction. Events will be held at DePaul University’s Lincoln Park Campus, Colombia College Chicago, and other locations throughout the city. All events are open to the public and most have free admission. Events at DePaul University include:
Alisa Singer: Environmental Graphiti
Through Oct. 31
McGowan South, 1110 W. Belden Ave.
John T. Richardson Library, 2350 N. Kenmore Ave.
Lincoln Park Student Center, 2250 N. Sheffield Ave.
Arts and Letters Hall, 2315 N. Kenmore Ave.
Pop-up exhibits showcasing artist Alisa Singer’s work will be displayed at several DePaul University locations. Singer uses elements of scientific charts and graphs to dramatic effect and created Environmental Graphiti to draw public attention to the critical science of climate change.
‘GROUNDSWELL’ reading
Oct. 25 from 6:30-9:30 p.m.
The Theatre School at DePaul University, 2350 N. Racine Ave., Room 442
The festival will host a staged reading and discussion of the play “GROUNDSWELL” by Karen Fort. The play tells the story of a farming family struggling through a heat wave and emphasizes how climate change can dramatically impact relationships and lifestyles.
The WrapZone/Fieldworks Studios
Oct. 26 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
McGowan South, 1110 W. Belden Ave., Room 104
Artists Amanda Speer from The Wrap Zone and Joshua Mason from Fieldworks Studios will showcase their immersive art which includes paintings, sculptures, photography and sounds in natural environments.
For a complete list of events, visit http://chicagoclimate.org.
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
Soils Hike – Registration Required by Thursday, October 27
Is all soil created equal? Come and see, smell, hear and feel for the parts of soil. Learn how soil supports every form of life in the woods. On the hike with naturalist April Richards, you will observe and touch real samples of Thorn Creek Woods soils. The Soils Hike is for ages 8 through 16 on Saturday, October 29 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The program is free and registration is required by Thursday, October 27. The Soils Hike is one in a series of programs offered for children monthly at Thorn Creek Woods and sponsored by Thorn Creek Audubon Society. Watch for Wild Animal Tracks in December, Beginning Birding for Kids in January and Who Eats Whom in February. For more information or to register for the program, contact Thorn Creek Nature Center, 247 Monee Rd, Park Forest, 708-747-6320, email thorn_creek@att.net, tcwoods.org or stop in the nature center between noon and 4 p.m. on Friday and Sunday.
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.
Halloween Events
Prairie State College (PSC), 202 South Halsted Street, Chicago Heights
Annual Halloween Family Fun Fest – Monday, October 31
The PSC Police Department, along with PSC students, faculty and staff, is hosting its annual Halloween Family Fun Fest from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Monday, October 31, in the Prairie Center gym, located on the PSC main campus in Chicago Heights. The event features games, balloons, popcorn, treats, 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 the public. Children through age 12 should be accompanied by a parent, and costumes for children are encouraged. For more information, contact Gilbert Vargas at gvargas@prairiestate.edu.
Village of Park Forest, 350 Victory Drive
Haunted House – Octobe