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In and Around Park Forest Week of June 1, 2009


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Judy Redmond, center, stands with young gymnasts during a talent showcase at Gainers Gymnastics in DownTown Park Forest Sunday. (Photo: Tom Roome)

Photo Gallery: Gainers Gymnastics Talent Showcase – May 31, 2009

Park Forest, IL–(ENEWSPF)– June 1, 2009. This week in Park Forest, commissions meet, rain barrels are available at Village Hall, the Health Department is making available school “sports only” physicals Friday, Will County hosts a Hazardous Waste Collection on Saturday, and a Summer Energy Workshop is just around the corner. And there’s more.

Thanks to everyone who has been providing event information and for all the positive feedback we are receiving about this column. If your club, church, organization or local business will be holding activities or events in our community during the upcoming week or if you would like to announce personal events such as engagements, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, etc., please send an e-mail to Rosemary Piser, Associate Editor, with the details. Submission deadline is noon on Friday of each week.

Village of Park Forest Commissions & Advisory Groups

The following Park Forest Commissions/Advisory Groups will meet this week:

Plan Commission – Tuesday, June 2 at 7:00 p.m.

Economic Development Advisory Group – Wednesday, June 3 at 7:00 p.m.

Environment Commission – Thursday, June 4 at 7:00 p.m.

All Commission and Advisory Group meetings are held at Village Hall, 350 Victory Center. Residents are encouraged to attend.

Greening of Park Forest

Rain Barrels

The Park Forest Environment Commission and the Park Forest Recreation and Parks Department are facilitating the sale of rain barrels for $49 each. Residents interested in buying rain barrels can visit the Recreation and Parks window on the main floor of Village Hall, 350 Victory Drive, to order a barrel in the color of their choice (terra cotta, gray, black or blue) and pick them up at the Farmers’ Market on Saturday, June 6th, July 11th, August 1st or September 5th. You can also purchase a rain barrel at the Farmers’ Market with colors limited to the stock-on hand. Common rain barrel accessories will also be available for sale at the Farmers’ Market. Payment can be made in either cash or personal check. For further information, call Village Hall at 708-748-2005.

Summer Energy Workshop

CNT Energy in conjunction with the Village of Park Forest and the Park Forest Environment Commission will be conducting a summer energy workshop to help you manage your summer energy electricity costs. The workshop will be held on Wednesday, June 10 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Village Hall Board Room. Refreshments will be served and a compact fluorescent light bulb will be given to each family while supplies last. To sign-up for the workshop, call CNT Energy at 773-279-4037 or email [email protected]. Registration by email should include your name and phone number.

Will County Household Hazardous Waste Collection

On Saturday, June 6, the Will County Land Use Department will be sponsoring a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day. This event is open to residents of Will County only and will be held at the Crete-Monee High School (east parking lot) from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Items that can be dropped-off include: household batteries, paint thinners, used oil, used oil filters, fluorescent light bulbs, unwanted medication and pool chemicals. For more information, please contact the Will County Land Use Department at 815-727-8834 or visit their web site at www.willcountylanduse.com.

Go Green with a Free Tote Bag

The Village of Park Forest encourages residents to visit Village Hall to pick up an environmentally friendly canvas bag that can be used for your day-to-day shopping needs. These bags are free while supplies last with only two expectations: 1) that residents have a valid email address so that future environmentally conscious concepts can be shared by the Village’s Environment Commission; and 2) that bags are limited to one per household. For more information on this program, visit the Village Manager’s Office on the second floor of Village Hall of call 708-748-1129.

Village of Park Forest Fourth of July Parade

Applications are now being taken on the Village web site for those businesses or organizations who want to be part of the Fourth of July parade in Park Forest.

Park Forest Aqua Center – Opening Day

The Park Forest Aqua Center, 30 North Orchard, opens on Saturday, June 6 from 12 noon to 7:00 p.m. Make plans now to be part of a great Park Forest summer experience. Pool membership is $50 per person for residents and $60 per person for non-residents. Daily guest passes are $10 per person. Evening guest passes after 5:00 p.m. are $5 per person. For more information, call 708-747-9490.

Park Forest Health Department, 350 Victory Center (lower level)

School and “Sports Only” Physicals

Children of Park Forest and the surrounding area who are going into preschool, kindergarten, sixth grade and ninth grades are required to have a school physical. The June and July physicals are compliments of the Friends of the Park Forest Health Department. Current non-HMO Medicaid recipients must show their card. Physicals will be given this week on:

Friday, June 5, from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Appointments are required. Call 708-748-1118 to make an appointment or for further information.

Human Interest

Donate to Troops Serving Abroad

The Village of Park Forest is currently seeking the names and addresses of local military personnel currently serving overseas so that they may receive packaged donations from Park Forest residents. If you are a Park Forest resident and have a family member from your household currently deployed or if you have recently returned from a tour of duty, please call Judi Lancaster at 708-283-5608 or stop by the Manager’s Office at Village Hall, 350 Victory Drive.

Shop Park Forest First!

Park Forest Farmers’ Market

The 36th Annual Park Forest Farmers’ Market will be held on Saturday’s from 7:00 a.m. to Noon through the end of October. Vendors from across Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan will have a tremendous array of fruits, vegetables, plants, flowers, breads, cheese, organic eggs and meat, and the “best pork chop sandwiches in the universe.” Come early and enjoy a breakfast burrito and cup of coffee while you shop the Market. The Market is located in the parking lot of the Eagle Movie Theater at the corner of Lakewood Boulevard and Cunningham Drive in DownTown Park Forest.

Arts and Entertainment

Park Forest House Museum, 141 Forest Boulevard (Corner of Forest & Fir)

Relive your childhood memories or show your children/grandchildren what it was like to live in the ‘good old days’ by visiting the Park Forest House Museum. The Museum is open on Saturdays from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults; children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. Group tours are by appointment. Call 708-748-3731.

Park Forest Library, 400 Lakewood Boulevard

The following event will be held this week at the Park Forest Library:

Tuesday, June 2 at 8:00 a.m. – Tuesday Morning Walkers. Meet in the north parking lot.

For more information call 708-748-3731.

Governors State University (GSU), 1 University Parkway, University Park

Two-for Tuesdays

On Tuesday, June 6, the Director and Curator of the Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park, Geoff Bates, will lead discussions about Jerry Peart’s, Falling Meteor, and Irene Highstein’s, Flying Saucer. The discussions will take place at 12:30 and again at 3:45 p.m. in room D-1497. The talks take place indoors and involve no walking or touring of the park. For more information, call 708-534-4486

Tall Grass Gallery, 367 Artists Walk, Park Forest

Landmarks: Restoration & Regeneration

This exhibit shows close and distant views of the Earth’s natural process and formations. These inspired new works in encaustic, fiber and mixed media were created by Nikkole Huss, Heather Page and curated by Claudia Craemer. This exhibit continues through June 27th, Tuesday – Saturday, 11: 00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Educational Lectures

Governors State University (GSU), 1 University Parkway, University Park

Information Session on Occupational Therapy Programs

GSU’s Occupational Therapy Department will host an information session for individuals interested in learning more about the Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) and Doctor of Occupational Therapy (DrOT) degree programs on Thursday, June 4, in room G127, at GSU’s main campus. Registration will begin at 5:30 p.m. The program will run from 6 to 8 p.m. For more information, call Mary Tracy at 708-534-7293.

Presidential Historian Michael Bescholoss to Appear at GSU

On Friday, June 5 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in Sherman Hall, presidential historian and best-selling author, Michael Bescholoss will present a lecture as part of GSU’s Distinguished Lecture Series. The lecture is free and open to the public. Seating is limited. Call, 708-534-4497 to RSVP.

This and That

St. Paul’s Good Shepherd U.P. Church, 480 Lakewood Blvd.

St. Paul’s Cafe

Come join us on Friday, June 5 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. for an open microphone café. This will be a time for youth and young adults to showcase their talents. They will have an opportunity to sharpen their poetry skills, play instruments, sing and dance. Enjoy positive fun. Young at hearts are welcome. For more information, call 708-748-5451.

Celebration in the Garden

Come experience the warmth of the “Son” under the comfort of a tent on Sunday, June 7 at 11:30 a.m. We will be celebrating the beauty of nature. For more information, call 708-747-5451. All ages are welcome.

Thorn Creek Nature Center, 247 Monee Rd.

Historic Farm Walk

Visit the Hornicek Farm on Sunday June 7 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and tour an early 20th century farm. Wander through gardens, collect eggs from the chickens and enjoy the afternoon. All ages, $5 per person, family rates apply. Registration is recommended. Call 708-747-6320 to register or for more information.

Village of Park Forest Commission on Human Relations

Good Egg Award

Do you know someone who went beyond the call of duty? The Commission on Human Relations is looking to honor an individual or individuals who have made an impact in race relations, good neighborliness, human relations, and/or is a proponent of diversity in the South Suburbs. Nomination forms are to be submitted by August 3. Nomination forms can be found on the Village of Park Forest web site (www.villageofparkforest.com), or by emailing Evelyn Sterling at [email protected], or calling 708-283-5621.

Sources: Village of Park Forest Weekly Manager’s Report; Spring/Summer 2009 Calendar of Events, Park Forest Library, Governors State University, Center for Performing Arts, and Park Forest Historical Society web sites.

Photo Gallery: Gainers Gymnastics Talent Showcase – May 31, 2009


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