In and Around Park Forest Week of April 21, 2014

Park Forest, IL—(ENEWSPF)—April 21, 2014. Earth Day aims to inspire awareness of and appreciation for earth’s environment. While some people celebrate Earth Day on April 22 each year others celebrate this entire week. You’ll find many diverse Earth Day activities that are taking place in the ‘Earth Week’ section.

On Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Park Forest Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will sponsor a Prescription Drug Take-back Day at Park Forest Police Department, 200 Lakewood Boulevard. The event is free to take part in and all individuals disposing items will remain anonymous. The Prescription Drug Take-back Day initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that go unused in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards. So clean out your medicine cabinet this week and drop off those old medications on Saturday so they can be safely disposed of.

If your club, organization or local business will be holding activities or events in our community during the upcoming week, please send an e-mail to [email protected] with the details. Submission deadline is noon on Friday of each week.

Village of Park Forest

Park Forest 2014 – 2015 Vehicle Stickers – Must Be Displayed by May 1

Park Forest vehicle stickers for 2014-2015 are now on sale. Park Forest vehicle stickers must be displayed on every vehicle registered in the Village or Park Forest before April 30, even if the vehicle is not located in the Village, to avoid late fees and fines. Vehicle stickers are available for purchase at Village Hall during normal business hours. Stickers are also available for online purchase. For additional information about purchasing a vehicle sticker, along with applicable fees, visit: villageofparkforest.com

Village Board Meeting – Monday, April 21

The Board of Trustees will meet on Monday, April 21 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) as well as on the Village web site at villageofparkforest.com.

To view previously held Board Meetings, visit the Village’s web site here through eNews Park Forest and click on the date of the meeting you wish to watch.

Park Forest Scholarships – Application Deadline is May 2

Attention all Park Forest graduating high school seniors: the deadline to apply for the Park Forest Scholarship is May 2. Four awards are available; three for $500 and one for $1000. Graduating high school seniors with a grade point average of at least 2.75, and living in the Village of Park Forest, are eligible. Learn more about the Park Forest Scholarship.

Earth Week Celebrations

DePaul University, Chicago

Earth Week Activities at DePaul

Conservation biologist and film director Curt Meine will speak at DePaul University after a screening of his documentary, “Green Fire,” as part of a series of Earth Week events on campus. The film documents the work of Aldo Leopold, an ecologist who many consider the father of wildlife management in the U.S. The screening and a panel discussion will be held April 24 from 6 to 8 p.m. on DePaul’s Lincoln Park Campus in McGowan South, Room 108, 1110 W. Belden Ave. The event is free and open to the public.  Other Earth Week public events at DePaul include:

• The Organic Gardner – Monday, April 21 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
  Jeanne Nolan, founder the Organic Gardener, will discuss strategies for growing a successful organic vegetable garden. This event is sponsored by the Public Policy Studies Department, Department of Environmental Science and Studies, and DePaul Sustainability Network.
  Location: McGowan South, Room 108 (Lincoln Park Campus), 1110 W. Belden Ave.
• Planting Workshop – Monday, April 21 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
  Want to do some gardening but have limited space to grow your greenery? Learn how to plant wheat grass and alfalfa sprouts during this workshop sponsored by the Ray Meyer Fitness and Recreation Center and DePaul’s Urban Farming Organization.
  Location: Ray Meyer Fitness and Recreation Center, Room 135 (Lincoln Park Campus), 2235 N Sheffield Ave.
• Coleman Connection: Food Entrepreneurs – Tuesday, April 22 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
  Chicago entrepreneurs will discuss how their businesses focus on “green” food initiatives. This event will be sponsored by the Coleman Entrepreneurship Center and DePaul Urban Farming Organization.
  Location: Student Center, Room 314A (Lincoln Park Campus), 2250 N. Sheffield Ave.
• Blue Ecologies: Science, Aesthetics, and the Creatures of the Abyss – Tuesday, April 22 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  Stacy Alaimo, a professor of English at the University of Texas at Arlington, will discuss her new book project regarding ocean ecologies. This event will be sponsored by the DePaul Humanities Center and the Institute for Nature and Culture.
  Location: McGowan South, Room 105 (Lincoln Park Campus), 1110 W. Belden Ave.
• Fair Trade and Sustainable Fashion Show – Thursday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m.
  DePaul’s Fair Trade Committee will host Fashion Revolution, an organization that raises awareness about fair labor practices and sourcing in the garment industry, from cotton production to the people sewing your clothes.
  Location: Munroe Hall, Rooms 114-116 (Lincoln Park Campus), 2312 N. Clifton Ave.
• Impact Entrepreneurship & Innovation – Thursday, April 24 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  Experts will discuss ventures in Chicago that are using entrepreneurship and innovation to tackle social and environmental challenges. Panelists will include Claire Tramm of Effortless Energy, Nicole DelSasso of Farm Energy and Patrick Murphy of DePaul’s Social Enterprise Collaborative. Nisha Sutaria from the Campaign for Better Banking will moderate.
  Location: DePaul Center Room 8209 (Loop Campus), 1 E. Jackson Blvd.
• Recycling Drive for Household Hazardous Waste and Electronics – Friday, April 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  The Environmental Health and Safety Office invites the DePaul community as well as the general public to bring their household hazardous waste and unwanted electronics to be disposed of and recycled safely.
  Location: Welcome Center parking lot at Sheffield Avenue and Montana Street (Lincoln Park Campus)

Prairie State College (PSC), 202 South Halsted Street, Chicago Heights

Earth Week at PSC – Monday, April 21 through Saturday, April 26

PSC is celebrating Earth Week from Monday, April 21, through Saturday, April 26. There are several exciting events scheduled during the week that are intended to help PSC students, faculty, and staff, as well as the PSC community, understand about pressures on the global and local environment, increase awareness of and educate for the green economy, and address social issues in our community to ensure a quality of life for future generations that is greater than the present. There are events scheduled each day of the week, beginning Monday, and a full list of events scheduled is available at prairiestate.edu/sustainability. All events will be held on the college’s main campus in Chicago Heights. The week’s events are sponsored by Emerald Sponsors the Sustainable Business Center and UPS, Jungle Sponsor UsAgain, and Forest Sponsors SouthStar Services, Magic Pure, Chiro One Wellness Centers, and Barnes & Noble Bookstore. Among the highlighted events are a Wednesday, April 23 Green Vendor Fair, sponsored by the Sustainability Center and Cook County Department of Environmental Control. Thursday, April 24, the Student Government Association is sponsoring “Conservation Through Education,” featuring representatives from Settler’s Pond Animal and Rescue Shelter in Beecher, who will conduct an interactive demonstration, highlighting some of their animals to discuss conservation. The week closes with a Protégé sponsored event, “Real Men Recycle: Community Recycling Drive,” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, April 26. A full list of items being accepted is available at prairiestate.edu/sustainability. For more information about the events scheduled during Earth Week, visit prairiestate.edu/sustainability, or email Allesandra Cairo at [email protected].

Thorn Creek Nature Center, 247 Monee Road, Park Forest

Earth Underfoot at Thorn Creek’s Earth Day Celebration –Saturday, April 26

Earth Day at Thorn Creek this year celebrates soil on Saturday, April 26 from noon to 4 p.m. What is soil anyway? Soil is more than just dirt, and it is always forming. More is known about stars millions of miles away than the soil right here under our feet. Creatures of all kinds live in and help form the soils under our feet. Come discover all about soils at Earth Underfoot. Is soil dirt? Join us for a presentation at 1 p.m. to find out what makes up soil and how soil is formed here in Illinois. At 2 p.m. join naturalist April Richards and Jon Mendelson on a hike to understand the story told by the layers of soil here in Thorn Creek Woods. Your guides will help you see the land formations in the preserve. And you’ll take soil samples to discover what the different soil types look and feel like. Come and view life sized dioramas from The Field Museum depicting life underground. These special displays are rare snapshots of life down in the earth. See cicadas, moles, burrowing crayfish and burying beetles. View scenes of soils beneath forests, meadows and wetlands. Find out about the insects and earthworms that populate the soil. See maps of Thorn Creek’s soils and landforms and soil profiles. Touch and feel different soils. Refresh yourself with a Soil Sundae that you build yourself. See how it is a reflection of the living organism soil. There will be lots of fun for everyone including Soils Sundae refreshments, activities, crafts, displays, a hike and the start of our Spring Raffle. Thorn Creek is known for remarkable raffles. This year features themed baskets, suncatchers fashioned by one of our volunteers, a signed numbered print of Marikay Peter Witlock’s “Prairie Chapel”, three “almost new” bicycles and more. Raffle chances are $1 and 6 for $5. Raffle tickets are available Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays noon to 4 p.m.at the nature center. The Spring Raffle items will be awarded at our Picnic at Thorn Creek Woods Fundraiser on Saturday May 10. The Earth Day program is free and open to all ages. Registration is not required. Please watch for parking signs. For more information, contact Thorn Creek Nature Center, at 708-747-6320 or [email protected]. Visit our new website tcwoods.org. The nature center is open Friday-Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. and trails are open daily, dawn to dusk.

Arts & Entertainment

Angels on Assignment, 1370 Main Street, Suite 7, Crete

‘Angels Day at the Derby’ – Tickets Now on Sale

Angels on Assignment will host a fundraising event, ‘Angels Day at the Derby’ on Saturday, May 3 at Balmoral Race Track, 26435 S. Dixie Highway, Crete. The event begins at 4:30 p.m. in Balmoral’s 1st floor Grandstand. Upstairs the dining room opens at 6 p.m. The buffet runs from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. with deserts available until 9 p.m. The first race starts at 7:10 p.m. There will also be a Silent Auction and Raffle Prizes. The donation is $50 and includes dinner, complimentary clubhouse admission and a complimentary official racing program. There will be a race dedication to Angels on Assignment and a group photo in the Winner’s Circle. Tickets can be requested by calling the office at 708-367-1100 or go to angelsassigned.org for details.

About Angels on Assignment
The Angels on Assignment organization works to help children by providing solutions for families with a seriously ill member. The organization’s mission and efforts reflect the impact on individuals when a community works together to help families struggling with serious illnesses. In early 1999, Angels on Assignment was formed by residents and local business and community leaders following a fundraising event for a sick child. Energized by the fundraising event, this group recognized the ongoing need to support families and children dealing with serious illness. For additional information about Angels on Assignment, please visit angelsassigned.org.

Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University (GSU), 1 University Parkway, University Park

Dee Alexander in Concert – Saturday, April 26

On Saturday, April 26 at 8 p.m., the Center will present Dee Alexander in concert. Chicago’s Best Singer (2009 Chicago Magazine) Dee Alexander celebrates the music of Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, Nina Simone and Dinah Washington, highlighting her versatility as a jazz, gospel, soul and world music vocalist. Dee Alexander is among the premier vocalists and songwriters in American music today, and one of Chicago’s most gifted and respected artists. Her performances span virtually every music genre including gospel, blues, neo-soul, rhythm-and-blues, and world music. But her true heart belongs to jazz, the one idiom that can encompass all her influences. Her 2007 “Sirens of Song” tribute to Nina Simone and Dinah Washington at Chicago’s Pritzker Pavilion (commissioned by the Jazz Institute of Chicago) attracted world recognition. Ms. Alexander is known by Chicago’s jazz elite (including Ramsey Lewis, Orbert Davis, and Nicole Mitchell), and leads two of her own bands: the Dee Alexander Quartet and the Evolution Ensemble, which emphasizes her original compositions. Her accolades include “Chicagoan of the Year” (Chicago Tribune, 2008) and “Jazz Entertainer of the Year” (Chicago Music Awards), and her 2009 album Wild Is The Wind received five stars (highest honor) from Downbeat Magazine, which named it among the Top Ten recordings of the new millennium.  Tickets are $25 and can be purchased on-line at: http://purchase.tickets.com or call the Box Office at 708-235-2222.  The box office is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and two hours prior to performances.

‘Beauty & the Beast’ – Tickets Now On Sale

On Sunday, May 4 at 2 p.m., ‘Beauty and the Beast’ will be performed at the Center for Performing Arts. American Family Theater’s award-winning musical tells of Beauty’s adventures at the castle of the Beast and leads to the magical moment when the Beast becomes a man. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased on-line at: http://purchase.tickets.com or call the Box Office at 708-235-2222.  The box office is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and two hours prior to performances.

DePaul University Art Museum, 935 West Fullerton, Chicago

Quilt Show ‘From Heart to Hand’ – Yvonne Wells to Lecture April 26

DePaul University’s Art Museum will unveil a new exhibition, “From Heart to Hand,” will run through June 22 featuring 23 quilts produced by African-American women. Originally organized by the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts in Alabama, the exhibition demonstrates that quilts are not just household goods, but are also a means of personal expression. While quilting has been around in various forms for centuries, Louise Lincoln, Museum Director, explains that it was approximately 15 years ago that the contemporary art world “discovered” the distinctive work of the women in the town of Gee’s Bend, Alabama, who created quilts with intricate patterns that resembled abstract paintings. As the Gee’s Bend artists have become famous, quilt exhibitions have grown in popularity and have been featured in major museums, including the Whitney Museum in New York. The collection on display at DePaul Art Museum will include examples from Gee’s Bend, as well as other styles and subjects from the region of western Alabama, giving viewers rich insight on tradition and community. Celebrated quilter and one of the featured exhibition artists, Yvonne Wells, will give a lecture on April 26 at 1 p.m. Both the exhibit and event are free and open to the public. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/PUx4cp. The DePaul Art Museum at 935 W. Fullerton, just east of the CTA’s Fullerton ‘L’ stop, is open Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. The museum is closed Mondays and Tuesdays. For more information, call 773-325-7506 or visit depaul.edu/museum.

DePaul University Theatre School, 60 East Balbo, Chicago

‘Jackie & Me’ – Through May 10

The Theatre School at DePaul University will present ‘Jackie & Me,’ by Steven Dietz, adapted from the novel by Dan Gutman, and directed by John Jenkins, as the final production of the 2013-2014 Chicago Playworks for Families and Young Audiences season. This production runs through May 10 at DePaul’s historic Merle Reskin Theatre. Performances are Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. and Saturdays at 2 p.m. Friday performances will be held on May 2 and May 9 at 10 a.m. A special Sunday performance at 2 p.m. will be held on May 4. There will be no Saturday performance on May 3. Joey Stoshack has a talent that many kids dream of: the ability to travel through time. When Joey is assigned to write a report on an African American role model, he uses his powers to travel back to 1947 and meet Jackie Robinson, one of the greatest baseball players of all time. Through their adventures, Joey learns about real courage and what it feels like to walk in someone else’s shoes. This production is recommended for ages 8 and older. Educational themes include: baseball, courage, facing prejudice, family, history, thinking of others and overcoming adversity. For more information about pre-show and post-show educational activities and highlighted curriculum connections, please visit theatre.depaul.edu to download our free teacher guide.

You can also request a teacher guide by calling the box office.

For patrons who are blind or have low vision, the performance will be audio described on Saturday, April 19 at 2 p.m. with a pre-performance touch tour. Call 312-922-1999. The performances on May 2 at 10 a.m. and May 4 at 2 p.m. will be interpreted in American Sign Language. Call TTY: 773-325-7975. April 12 at 2 p.m. is USO of Illinois Day. U.S. Armed Forces personnel and their families, with a valid military ID, can attend the performance for free. Visit tixfortroops.org to reserve tickets, or call 312-922-1999 for more information. In addition, a wide range of events will be held in conjunction with this production including community partner days, an ice cream social, opening day autographs, post show discussions and more. For details visit the website or call the box office. Tickets are $10. Subscriptions and group rates (15 or more people) are available. DePaul employees, alumni and college students receive a discount (with ID). Tickets are available online or by calling the box office at 312-922-1999. DePaul’s Merle Reskin Theatre is located at 60 E. Balbo Drive at Michigan Avenue in Chicago. For information about parking, please contact the box office. The theatre is accessible via CTA busses (3-King Drive, 29-State Street, 146-Michigan/Museums and others) and CTA ‘L’ stops (Red, Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Purple and Pink).

The Drama Group Studio Theatre, 330 West 202nd Street, Chicago Heights

‘Ragtime’ – Tickets Now on Sale

Tickets are now on sale for the musical ‘Ragtime’ which will be presented on May 2 and 3 at 7:30 p.m. and May 4 at 2 p.m. The production will take place at Bloom Theatre, 101 West 10th Street, Chicago Heights. This musical tapestry depicts an African-American family, a Jewish immigrant family and a wealthy suburban White-Anglo Saxon Protestant family in turn-of-the-century America. Tickets are $20 for adults; $19 for Seniors age 65+; and $19 for students with Student ID. Group rates are also available.

For additional information or to purchase tickets, call 708-755-3444.

Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, 377 Artists Walk, Park Forest

Bus to Harris Theatre with the IPO – Saturday, April 26

Enjoy a special evening downtown with the IPO and leave the driving to someone else. Board a chartered bus at 6:30 p.m. in Frankfort, at the Lincoln-Way North Performing Arts Center, 19900 S. Harlem Ave., on Saturday, April 26, 2014 and relax with friends as we head downtown for the Orchestra’s high profile concert with the Avalon Quartet at the Harris Theater. Following the concert, the bus will depart Harris Theater at 10:30pm. Purchase your round-trip bus ticket here for $20 at https://secure.ticketsage.net

NOTE: Tickets for the concert must be purchased through the Harris Theater directly. For more information on the concert, and to purchase tickets, click HERE or call 312-334-7777.

National Veterans Art Museum (NVAM), 4041 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago

Espirit de Corps Exhibition – Through August 1, 2014

NVAM is celebrating its first anniversary in its Milwaukee Avenue location with its art exhibition, Esprit de Corps, an exhibition highlighting the spirit of creative resilience. Esprit de Corps features art by nine veterans of Vietnam, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Global War on Terror. The NVAM will be free and open to the public through August 1, 2014. Esprit de Corps is sponsored by Omicron, Bank of America and Paratech Incorporated. Drawing on breakthroughs in using art to assist with reintegration of veterans and for therapeutic expression, Esprit de Corps traces the process and roles of therapeutic art from the act of initial perception through expression of experience to an ultimate communal sharing and understanding of the real impact of war. Featured artists include Joseph Fornelli, Jerry Frech, Jonathan Hancock, Peter Sullivan, Benjamin Suarez, Thomas Gilbertson, Theodore Gostas, Richard Williams and Erica Slone. High resolution images of work in the show are available through the NVAM’s Dropbox. For additional information and hours, visit the museum’s website at nvam.org. 

Park Forest Public Library, 400 Lakewood Boulevard, Park Forest

Wimpy Kid Week at the Park Forest Library – April 21 through 25

Spring Break is Wimpy Kid week at Park Forest Public Library! Join us April 21st through 25th to create video clips and vote for YOUR favorite Wimpy Kid book. On Thursday, April 24th come to the library to view your video clips and watch the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie. Write a comic strip, illustrate a cover and cast a ballot to vote for your favorite Wimpy Kid book. Registration is required, click here to register.

This Week’s Events at the Park Forest Public Library

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

• Thursday, April 24 at 1 p.m. — Diary of a Wimpy Kid the Movie — Join us on to watch the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie and view the video clips created by Wimpy Kid Week participants.

• Friday, April 25 at 1 p.m. – Senior Travelogue — Topic: Barcelona

For additional information or to register for certain events, please call 708-748-3731 or visit pfpl.org

Park Forest Historical Society, Park Forest

Step Back Into the 1950s Easter at the Park Forest House Museum – Through April 30

The 1950s Park Forest House Museum at 141 Forest Blvd, Park Forest, will have up its spring exhibit, "Step Back into a 1950s Easter," from March 15 through April 30, 2014. Open Wednesday and Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the museum can also be open for groups by appointment, at other times. Donation is Adults $5; Children12 & under free with an adult. Scout and school tours are priced individually. Decorations include Easter die cuts, honeycomb rabbits and baskets, plastic and tin decorations, children’s books and Easter baskets with candy available in the 1950s. There is a very special display of hand blown, hand-painted eggs brought back from World War II. For details, to arrange a special group tour, or to volunteer, visit the Park Forest Historical Society website, parkforesthistory.org, or call Jane Nicoll at 708-481-4252.

Park Forest Plaza Print for Sale

Annabelle Gould’s print of the Park Forest Plaza is available for sale at the Park Forest House Museum, 141 Forest Boulevard. The vibrant print is from an original watercolor, showing kids and their moms in the Park Forest Plaza, in front of the old Holiday Theatre and Golden Hanger Shop. The print can be purchased at the House Museum during normal hours of operation on Wednesdays and Saturdays or through the Society’s online store on their website at parkforesthistory.org. Prints are $15 each. Online purchases also required an additional $6 fee for postage and handling. For additional information on other items for sale by the Society, visit parkforesthistory.org.

Prairie State College (PSC), 202 South Halsted Street, Chicago Heights

Star Violinist to Return for Southland Performance – Monday, April 21

Violinist Jasmine Lin, a distinguished graduate of Homewood-Flossmoor High School, will return to the area for a performance with the ensemble, Trio Voce, at 7:30 p.m., Monday, April 21, in the PSC Auditorium. Trio Voce is composed of Lin, cellist Marina Hoover, and pianist Patricia Tao. Hailed by Fanfare magazine for its "deeply committed and passionate" performances, the ensemble has garnered acclaim for its concerts in New York, Chicago, the north Midwest, California, Edmonton, Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa. Lin was age 12 when she was named the 1985 winner of the senior division of the WTTW/Illinois Bell Illinois Young Performers Competition. Since her 1985 triumph, Lin has soloed as a teenage prodigy with the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra. She also has appeared with many orchestras including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, and the Symphony Orchestra of Brazil, and in recital in such cities as Chicago, New York, Nova Scotia, Rio de Janeiro, and Montevideo. The New York Times describes her as having "electrifying assertiveness" and "virtuosic abandon." She is on the faculty at Roosevelt University and a member of the Chicago Chamber Musicians. The April 21 performance will benefit the Friends of the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra and the Prairie State College Foundation. Tickets are $25 for general admission and $5 for students and are available at the door. For more information, call 708-799-5520 or email [email protected].

Chicago Shakespeare Theater Production of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ – Monday, April 21

PSC is hosting a Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at 11 a.m., Monday, April 21, in the Conference Center Auditorium on the PSC main campus. The event is being sponsored by the PSC Foundation, Division of Liberal Arts, and Office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs. Tickets for the play are $5 for students, faculty, and staff of PSC, and $10 for general admission. The performance includes the 75-minute production, followed by a 15-minute talk back with the actors. Tickets are being sold before the event in the Business Office. Tickets also will be available at the door the morning of the performance. Chicago Shakespeare Theater produces award-winning plays on their home stage on Navy Pier, as well as throughout Chicago’s schools and neighborhoods and on stages around the world. The company has been honored with numerous national and international awards, including the Regional Theater Tony Award, three Laurence Olivier Awards, and seventy-seven Joseph Jefferson Awards. CST was the 2012 recipient of the Folger Shakespeare Library’s national Shakespeare Steward Award for innovative teaching of Shakespeare in American classrooms. For more information, contact Justin Vidovic at 708-709-7981 or email [email protected].

Representative Robin Kelly, 600 Holiday Plaza Drive, Suite 505, Matteson

Congressional Art Contest for High School Students – Submissions by Appointment Only Through April 19

Representative Robin Kelly has launched her annual Congressional Art Competition open to high school students residing or attending a school within the Second Congressional District. The winner’s artwork will be displayed at the U.S. Capitol for one year. Students can submit their artwork at either of Rep. Kelly’s district offices, located at 1000 E. 111th St., 11th Floor, Chicago, or at 600 Holiday Plaza Drive, Suite 505, Matteson. Submissions will be accepted by appointment only, April 14-19, from 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Appointments can be made by calling the Matteson office at 708-679-0078, the Kankakee office at 815-933-0437 or the Chicago office at 773-568-2623. Artwork must be two dimensional, framed no larger than 28” x 28” x 4” and can include paintings, drawings, collages, prints, photographs, computer generated art, or mixed media (use of two or more mediums: pencils, ink, watercolor, etc.) All artwork must be original. Representative Kelly will host a reception where she will announce the winner and runners-up on April 26, beginning at 9 a.m., in the Lee E. Dulgar Gallery, located at South Suburban College in South Holland. The high school art competition was established by the U.S. House of Representatives in 1982 to acknowledge and support the artistic talent of America’s young adults. For more information, call Danielle Echols at 708-679-0078. Contest entry rules can be found at robinkelly.house.gov.

Roosevelt University’s Gage Gallery, 18 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago.

Photo Exhibit on Southeast Ohio’s Post-industrial Landscape – Through May 10

An exhibition by award-winning photo essayist Matt Eich, who tells the story through his photographs of an Ohio community abandoned by major industry, runs through May 10 in Roosevelt University’s Gage Gallery. Featuring images of southeastern Ohio from 2006-12, Carry Me Ohio is a catalog of working-class issues and people who were forced to adapt after industry, including mining for coal, salt and clay and the cutting of timber, left the region approximately 40 years ago. One of the nation’s most promising young documentary photographers, Eich began taking pictures in southeast Ohio while he was a photojournalism student at Ohio State University. He has worked as a freelancer for GQ, Esquire, Mother Jones, Time, Fader, Harper’s and National Geographic, among others. Free and open to the public, Roosevelt’s Gage Gallery has hours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information, visit roosevelt.edu/gagegallery.

Salon Artists Gallery, 294 Main Street, Park Forest

‘Mudd’—Through April 30

Join us at the Gallery for ‘Mudd’ which runs through the end of April. What do artists do with ‘Mudd’? Come take part in art fun on Friday, April 25 from 6 p.m. to 9 pm. where you can meet the artists and enjoy refreshments and music. The exhibit and reception are free and open to the public. For additional information and Gallery hours, call 708-833-5108.

South Suburban College (SSC), 15800 South State Street, South Holland

‘News That Stays News’ –Through Monday, April 21

SSC’s Art & Design Department is pleased to present a new exhibition titled “News That Stays News” in the Dorothea Thiel Gallery on SSC’s Main Campus in South Holland. The art works–created separately by Burleigh Kronquist and Jenny Roberts–are on display through the closing reception with the artists on Monday, April 21st at 12:30 p.m. Taking magazines and newspapers as both material and subject, artists Kronquist and Roberts make work that reflects on, plays with, and “reads” these materials, rearranging or altering layers of visual and textual information to reveal dormant beauty and explore latent meanings. Through his process-based practice, Kronquist paints on newspaper pages or takes pages from magazines and alters them using markers, pens, pencils and paint thinner, creating poetic abstractions and metaphoric scenes that still retain traces of the original text and images. Roberts takes a more conceptual approach, tracing, copying and appropriating found visual and textual information and reconfiguring it to make it visible and legible in new ways. The public is welcome to visit art exhibitions and receptions at no charge. The Thiel Gallery is on the 4th floor in the Art & Design hallway. 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. For more information, please call 708-596-2000, extension 2445 or extension 2300, or visit ssc.edu/art.

Art Exhibits at SSC

The Art & Design Department of SSC is pleased to announce two exhibitions coming to galleries on the college’s Main Campus in South Holland. First, a solo exhibition of paintings by guest artist Mark Riesterer is currently running through May 2nd in the Lee E. Dulgar Gallery. There will be a closing reception for the artist on Wednesday, April 30th at 12:30 p.m. Riesterer is an emerging, Chicago-based artist. He earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Lake Forest College in 2009. His work has been exhibited in Chicago, Colorado and India. His paintings reflect the artist’s interest in stained glass, illustration, the urban landscape and light. Additionally, the college’s Biannual Student Art Exhibit will be on display from April 29th through May 7th. More than 300 original artworks of Painting, Sculpture, Ceramics, Drawing, Jewelry, Photography, Digital Graphics and Animation created by SSC student artists will exhibit in the Dorothea Thiel, Photo Four, and the Lee E. Dulgar Galleries. A Pot Luck Reception will be held Wednesday May 7th at 12 noon in the Art & Design Department on the 4th Floor. Exhibits are viewable to the public at no charge Mondays through Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. The Thiel and Photo Four Galleries are on the 4th floor in the Art & Design hallway, while the Dulgar Gallery is located on the college’s 1st floor. The galleries are closed on weekends and holidays. For more information, please call 708-596-2000, ext. 2445 or ext. 2300, or visit ssc.edu/art.

Tall Grass Arts Association, 367 Artists Walk, Park Forest

‘Near and Far’ by Nikkole Huss & Richard Schmidt – Through May 10

Tall Grass Arts Association invites everyone to visit our newest exhibit, ‘Near and Far,’ consisting of nearly 70 works by Nikkole Huss and Richard Schmidt. The exhibit will run through May 10. In ‘Near and Far,’ Huss and Schmidt follow the centuries-old tradition of finding inspiration in nature – natural forms, organic growth and decay, light and weather, time and space. But their methods of discovery and interpretation have taken them on two very different paths. Richard Schmidt works from environments he actually visits in Illinois, New York, New Hampshire and Maine to gather information for his very literal, highly-detailed oil and watercolor paintings. Nikkole Huss studies landscape from a distance, documented through satellite images and telescope records from hundreds of miles above the earth. She redefines and recreates nature in encaustic, often viewing from great distances the same kinds of places Richard studies from a few yards away. The exhibit is free and open to the public. For additional information and Gallery hours, please visit the Tall Grass website (tallgrassarts.org), or call the Gallery 708-748-3377.

Union Street Gallery, 1527 Otto Boulevard, Chicago Heights

‘Entrances & Exits’ – Reception Friday, April 25

Union Street Gallery presents an exhibit of select photographs by members of Gallery 7 in Joliet, Illinois. The exhibit will run through May 10. ‘Entrances & Exits’ can be literal representations such as doors and windows or symbolic manifestations representing the entering or exiting of a place or time in our lives. Viewers will see a wide range of Entrances & Exits in this moving and beautiful photography exhibit. An opening reception will be held on Friday, April 25 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Both the exhibit and reception are free and open to the public. For additional information or Gallery hours, call 708-754-2601 or visit unionstreetgallery.org.

Regional Juried Exhibit of Small Works – Reception Friday, April 25

A regional juried exhibit of Small Works will run through May 10. Art does not have to be large to make a statement. Some of the most powerful pieces of art are the smallest. Small art is deliberate and intimate; it draws the viewer in closer, causes them linger. Small art can be playful and whimsical like a toy, familiar like everyday objects, or precious like a small altar. Minute Musings is an exhibit of art that is 12" and smaller. The exhibit will include 69 works of art by 45 talented artists from the Midwest region. Art exhibiting includes painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, ceramics, digital art, collage, assemblage, mixed media and video. An opening reception will be held on Friday, April 25 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Both the exhibit and reception are free and open to the public. For additional information or Gallery hours, call 708-754-2601 or visit unionstreetgallery.org.

Educational Lectures & Opportunities

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

Job Search Assistance Every Tuesday at GSU

The Mobile Workforce Center’s mobile unit will be at GSU every Tuesday, from 9:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., parked near the university’s front entrance. Center services include resume development, access to online job boards and websites, instruction in how to conduct an online job search and improve keyboarding skills, and assistance of staff. The center is equipped with 11 computer stations with Internet access, printer, and copy machines, and is wheelchair accessible. Services are free and available to residents in all counties.  For additional information, contact the Workforce Services Division of Will County at 815-727-4980.

Prairie State College (PSC), 202 S. Halsted, Chicago Heights

Opt In to Technology at PSC

You can bridge the gap between technology and a new you at PSC’s new Opt In program that consists of two computer training centers and free classes to teach basic technological skills. One location is at the Adult Training and outreach Center in Room A145 at PSC’s main campus. Hours are Monday through Thursday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The other location is at the Matteson Area Center’s Computer Training Lab located at 4821 Southwick Dr., Matteson. Hours for this location are Monday through Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. No matter what skill level you have or want to have, Opt In can help. Both computer labs and on-site tutors are free and open to the public. For additional information, call Lisa Zeigler at 708-709-3548 or e-mail [email protected].

Rich Township Free Basic Computer Classes for Adults

Rich Township is offering free basic computer skill classes for adults every Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Leonard Robinson Family Services Center, 22013 Governors Highway, Richton Park. Participants will learn Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, internet skills, résumé building skills, and more. Classes are open only to residents of Rich Township. For additional information, call Mark Mason or Joe Moran at 708-748-6722.

South Suburban College (SSC), 15800 South State Street, South Holland

‘Law Day’ – Registration Now in Progress

SSC’s Legal Studies Department will host their second annual ‘Law Day’ on Thursday, May 1, 2014. This year’s event will feature a special live court case. Oral arguments for a real criminal First District Appellate Court case will be heard in the Performing Arts Center. This is a rare opportunity for the community to observe the First District at work at an off-site location. The general public–especially educators and students–is encouraged to attend this unique opportunity to witness some of the area’s most talented, professional litigators in action. Opening remarks will begin at 10:30 a.m. Following the arguments, the audience will have an opportunity to ask questions of the Appellate Prosecutor and Appellate Defender. The justices will return to the PAC for another question and answer session at approximately 12 noon. This event also provides guests with an opportunity to find out more about educational and career opportunities in the judicial field, and to learn about SSC’s Paralegal, Court Reporting and Criminal Justice programs. For more information about Law Day or to RSVP for the day’s events, please email [email protected] or contact Jason M. Cieslik, J.D., Paralegal Coordinator, at 708-596-2000, extension 2579.

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 onlineschools.orgguides/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 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.

Healthy Living

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

‘Spring Into Wellness’ Family Health & Wellness Fair – Saturday, April 26

The health of the entire family, especially the children, is the theme of the Family Health and Wellness Fair at Governors State University on April 26 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. “Spring into Wellness – Empowering Healthy Families” is free and open to everyone. The fair presents resources for health and wellness for the entire family. Qualified professionals will provide general physicals for children. Developmental screenings will also be offered in speech, hearing, and physical development. Experts will also provide information on affordable healthcare options and available community services. Children will enjoy a crafts and activities table and there will be raffles, give-aways and samples. Resources will be provided by the following participants: Advocate South Suburban Hospital, Aunt Martha’s Head Start, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Child and Family Connections #15, Child Health Life, Easter Seals of Metropolitan Chicago (Child and Family Connections #12), Good Shepherd Center, Governors State University College of Health and Human Services including faculty and students from the departments of Communications Disorders, Health Administration, Nursing, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy, Lakeshore, Park Forest Health Department- Nurses Plus Home Health Care, Respond Now, South Suburban Family Shelter, State of Illinois- Illinois Attorney General’s Office and Will County Health Department. The Family Health and Wellness Fair is sponsored by Governors State University Family Development Center, Early Head Start and the Health Services Advisory Council.

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.

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 [email protected].

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

Shirley J. Green Senior Center, 297 Liberty Drive, Park Forest

Senior Citizen Weekday Lunch at the Senior Café

Senior citizens of all income levels are invited to lunch weekdays at the Rich Township Senior Café located inside the Rich Township’s Shirley J. Green Senior Center. The CNN site is open to all south suburban residents, including those living outside of Rich Township. Participants must be 60 years of age or older. The suggested donation for lunch is $2.50. Lunch is served Monday through Friday at noon. Bingo begins at 10 a.m. For additional information or to make a reservation for lunch, call 708-747-2700.

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 pparx.orgen/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.

Green Events

Thorn Creek Nature Preserve, 247 Monee Road, Park Forest

Wednesday Morning Walkers – April 23

On Wednesday, April 23 from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., enjoy light exercise and experience nature firsthand on Thorn Creek’s winding trails. Trails can be wet or muddy, so please wear sturdy shoes. Terrain is moderator. The Wednesday morning walks will continue each week through April and walkers new to the program must register two days before they first hike. For additional information, please call 708-747-6320 or e-mail [email protected].

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.

This & That

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

Annual Spring Market – Thursday, May 1

Get ready for spring with a shopping trip to Governors State University. The GSU Civil Service Senate is hosting the Annual Spring Open Market on Thursday, May 1, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. in the Hall of Governors. More than 30 crafters and vendors will have unique items and gifts just in time for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, birthdays or just because. The market is free and open to the public. Interested vendors and crafters are encouraged to participate. Space is limited. For more information or to register, call 708-235-7559.

Park Forest American Legion Post 1198, 1631 Western Ave., Chicago Heights

Friday Fish Fry

Join Park Forest’s American Legion Post 1198 for fish, shrimp, wings, beef and appetizers on Friday, April 25 beginning at 6 p.m. Carry outs are available. For additional information, call Jesse Rodriguez at 708-481-3055.

Rich Township Shirley J. Green Senior Center, 297 Liberty Drive, Park Forest

South Suburban Senior Fair – Luncheon Reservations Must be Made No Later than Tuesday, May 1

The South Suburban Senior Fair 2014 will be held on Friday, May 9 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Rich Township Shirley J. Green Senior Center. This event features more than 25 businesses, organizations and services that hold seniors as their main priority. Come out and gather information and talk with experts in the field of senior services. You may also win a raffle or a door prize. Coffee and refreshments will be served. Reservations are not required. Transportation for $1 (roundtrip) is available by calling 708-748-6727. At noon, lunch will be served in the Rich Township Senior Café for $2.50. If you would like lunch, please call 708-747-2700 by Thursday, May 1 to make your reservation. The only requirement to have lunch is that you or your spouse be age 60 or older. For additional information or questions, please call 708-748-5454. The Senior Fair is a joint venture between the Park Forest Rotary Club, Park Forest Health Department (Nurses Plus) and the Rich Township Senior Center.

Sertoma Centre, Inc., 4343 West 123rd Street, Alsip

Sertoma Centre’s BIG Event – Saturday, May 3

Firehouse chefs from across the Chicago land area will be the stars of the Sertoma Centre’s BIG Event as they fiercely compete for the title of Best Firehouse Chef in the categories of ribs, poultry, chili, ethnic dishes, and the people’s choice award. Sharing the spotlight this year, several members of Sertoma United, Sertoma Centre’s Self-Advocacy group requested to participate in the cook-off competition. Firefighters from Lombard, Crestwood, Robbins, Blue Island, Lemont, Niles and two Chicago Firehouses plan to heat things up at 115 Bourbon Street, in Merrionette Park, IL. Four returning champs are ready to defend their titles or possibly take home a new trophy. Sponsored by local Sertoma Clubs, businesses and the Aileen S. Andrew Foundation, attendees can sample the food as celebrity judges select the best firefighter chefs in the competition. Dave Fleming, a magician and juggler will perform on stage at 6:30 pm and live music will be provided by Audiomatic. Pockets the Clown and Boomer from the Windy City Thunderbolts will also be part of the festivities. The designated kids area will feature games and crafts. There are raffles and fun for the entire family. Please mark your calendar and join us on Saturday May 3, from 5 – 9 p.m. at 115 Bourbon Street in Merrionette Park, IL. Admission: Adults $10 for entry fee donation/food sample tickets, children 12 & under $5, children under 3, free. Proceeds from the event benefit the almost 750 individuals with disabilities served by Sertoma Centre, Inc. For more information, call 708-730-6210 or go to sertomacentre.org. Sertoma Centre, Inc. is a nationally-accredited, not-for-profit agency that provides services to individuals with developmental, physical and emotional disabilities, and/or mental illness.