LTHS celebrates Martin Luther King Jr.
The Lyons Township High School Black and Multicultural Club will host a Martin Luther King Jr. celebration on Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the South Campus Performing Arts Center, 4900 S. Willow Springs Road in Western Springs.
The free event, titled “Everybody Can Be Great,” is open to the public and will feature keynote speaker Rev. James Foster, the founding and senior pastor at Living truth of Christ Church in Lafayette, Indiana.
And more
ν The Lyons Township High School Hall of Fame seeks nominations of graduates and friends of the district who have accomplished great things. If you know someone worthy of induction, contact the 2020 LTHS Hall of Fame committee at 708-579-6483 for a nomination form. Forms are also available in the main offices at both North and South campus and may be downloaded at lths.net by clicking on “Alumni.” Self-nominations are welcome. The nomination deadline is March 1.
ν Riverside Brookfield High School, 160 Ridgewood Road in Riverside, will host its next Water Exercise Techniques (WET) class for adults on Wednesday nights from 7:30-8:30 p.m. through March 11. The class costs $48. The water-based exercise class meant to elevate heart rate and muscular strength, utilizing water as resistance. No swimming involved. For more info email Noelle at bajohrn@rbhs208.net.
ν Riverside Arts Center, 32 E. Quincy St., presents “Line,” featuring the work of artists Diana Gabriel and Azadeh Gholizadeh in the Freeark Gallery and “Energy, Frequency and Vibration” featuring drawings of Andrei Rabodzeenko in the FlexSpace Gallery through Feb. 22. Free. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m.
ν Compassion Factory Art Gallery and Studio, 9210 Broadway Ave. in Brookfield, presents a solo show of work by glass artist Margieann through Feb. 1. Gallery hours are Thursdays from 4 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free.
ν Community Nutrition Network/Meals on Wheels of North Riverside invites you to make a difference in your community by volunteering to help deliver meals to homebound senior citizens, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, contact Linda at 312-207-5290.
ν Brookfield Public Library, 3609 Grand Blvd., presents Shedd Aquarium: Saving the Great Lakes Ecosystem on Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. and Lunch and Learn: Entrepreneurship 101 with Dr. Peter James of College of DuPage on Jan. 31 at noon. Register for events at 708-485-0869 or at brookfieldlibrary.info.
ν North Riverside Public Library, 2400 Desplaines Ave., invites adults and seniors to Trade, Trash or Treasure on Jan. 30 at 2 p.m.; Spanish Language Book Club/Club de Lectura en Espanol on Jan. 31 at 10:30 a.m.; Intro to Android on Jan. 31 at 6 p.m.; Conversation Café/Café y Conversacion on Feb. 1 at 10:30 a.m.; Move and Groove on Feb. 4 at 2 p.m.; iPhone Basics on Feb. 4 at noon; and Internet 101 on Feb. 4at 6:30 p.m. To sign up for senior and adult events, call 708-447-0869 or visit www.northriversidelibrary.org/events.
For kids there’s Lapsit Storytime (thru age 5) on Jan. 30 at 10:30 a.m.; Sugar Cookie Decoration (grades 6-12) on Feb. 1 from 1-3 p.m.; DIY Stickers (grades 5-12) on Feb. 1 at 4 p.m. and Feb. 4 at 6 p.m.; Messy Mornings with Munchkins (ages 2-5) on Feb. 4 at 11:30 a.m.; and Every Child a Reader/Cada Nino un Lector (ages 6+) on Feb. 5 at 4 p.m.
ν The Brookfield Elks Lodge, 9022 31st St., hosts bingo every Monday night. Doors open at 5 p.m. and games start at 7 p.m. minimum cash payout of $2,275 a night, plus pull tabs, lightning, tic-tac and raffles.
ν The community is invited to jog, walk or run inside on the indoor track at the Lyons Township High School South Campus fieldhouse, 4900 S. Willow Springs Road in Western Springs from 6 to 7 a.m. on days when school is in session through March 20. Free.
Foster spent the bulk of his career at Purdue University as a residence hall general manager and as a diversity/community outreach manager. Throughout 30 years at the university, he facilitated diversity and inclusiveness workshops and advised the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.
He received several awards from Purdue, including the One Brick Higher President’s Award, a Special Boilermaker Award from the Alumni Office and the 2009 Dreamer Award.
Before Hollywood, there was Chicago
Join Dave Clark, the “Windy City Road Warrior,” as he presents the rich history of motion picture production in Chicago during “From Chaplin to the Dark Knight: The Movie Industry in Chicago” on Thursday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. at Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road.
Clark will talk about early cinema’s Essanay Film Manufacturing Company, which produced iconic films during the silent screen era starring legends like Charlie Chaplin’s and Gloria Swanson and the city’s film renaissance as a backdrop for films like “The Blues Brothers.”
He’ll also touch on the city’s first great movie palaces by the firm of Rapp & Rapp and Chicago’s continued activity in motion pictures through studios like Cinespace on the West Side — the largest film studio outside of Hollywood.
Soup and Bread for BEDS Plus
The community is invited to BEDS Plus’ annual fundraiser, Soup and Bread, a family-friendly gathering featuring great local food and a variety of craft beers on Sunday, Jan. 26 from 3 to 7 p.m. at Holiday Inn William Tell Banquets, 6201 Joliet Road in Countryside.
Soups served this year include Mon Ami Gabi’s Vichyssoise as well as the stuffed green pepper soup from Saban’s Place and the chicken tortellini soup from Salerno’s Pizzeria and Bar. Other businesses will be serving food as well.
Live music will be provided by guitarist/vocalist Honee Brown and the bands The Pigs and Crows of Furey.
Tickets are $25 per person. Kids 11 and under admitted free. More at beds-plus.org/events/soup-bread.
Stuffed animal storytime and sleepover
Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, invites kids to a Stuffed Animal Storytime and Sleepover, a special two-part event for kids of all ages.
Bring your stuffed friend to a storytime program on Friday, Jan. 17 at 4 p.m. and then tuck your teddy (or kitty or elephant) in for the night. Come back the next morning, Jan. 18 at 10 a.m. for breakfast and to find out what your friend did overnight.
Registration required by visiting the library or calling 708-442-6366.
Volunteers sought for Meals
on Wheels
Community Nutrition Network/Meals on Wheels of North Riverside invites you to make a difference in your community by volunteering to help deliver meals to homebound senior citizens, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For more information, contact Linda at 312-207-5290.
And more
ν Riverside Arts Center, 32 E. Quincy St., presents “Line,” featuring the work of artists Diana Gabriel and Azadeh Gholizadeh in the Freeark Gallery and “Energy, Frequency and Vibration” featuring drawings of Andrei Rabodzeenko in the FlexSpace Gallery through Feb. 22. Free. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m.
ν Compassion Factory Art Gallery and Studio, 9210 Broadway Ave. in Brookfield, presents a solo show of work by glass artist Margieann through Feb. 1. Gallery hours are Thursdays from 4 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free.
ν “The Nerd,” a side-splitting, rollicking comedy perfect for the dark days of winter, runs Jan. 16-26 at Theatre of Western Spring, 4384 Hampton Ave. Tickets are $22 and $24. Call the box office at 708-246-3380 or go to theatrewesternsprings.com.
ν Get your tickets now for Pillars Community Health’s annual gala, “The Ball,” which will be held Saturday, Feb. 1 from 6 to 11:30 p.m. at Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. Tickets are available at PillarsCommunityHealth.org/Ball.
ν Brookfield Public Library, 3609 Grand Blvd., hosts Cutting the Cable Cord on Jan. 16 at 7 p.m.; DIY Craft Time (ages 9-adult) on Jan. 18 at 3 p.m.; and DNA Part II: DNA Share Matches One Step Further with genealogist Suz Bates on Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. Register for events at 708-485-0869 or at brookfieldlibrary.info.
ν Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, invites kids to a School’s Out Movie matinee on Jan. 20 at 11:30 a.m. for a screening of “Toy Story 4.” Adults can join Koru meditation teacher Gina Barsotti for Mindful Meditation on Jan. 16 from 10 to 11:15 a.m. and Pokemon for Parents on Jan. 19 at 2 p.m.
ν North Riverside Public Library, 2400 Desplaines Ave., invites adults and seniors to join Margaret Coffee as she discusses the world of professional book publishing at Book Publishing 101 on Jan. 16 at 6 p.m. There will also be a Device Advice Q&A on Jan. 21 at noon and Safe Surfin’: Internet Security on Jan. 21 at 6:30 p.m. To sign up for senior and adult events, call 708-447-0869 or visit www.northriversidelibrary.org/events.
For kids there’s Lapsit Storytime (thru age 5) on Jan. 16 at 10:30 a.m.; DIY Craft Hour (ages 3-6) on Jan. 17 at 4 p.m.; and Messy Mornings with Munchkins (ages 2-5) on Jan. 21 at 11:30 a.m.
ν The Brookfield Elks Lodge, 9022 31st St., hosts bingo every Monday night. Doors open at 5 p.m. and games start at 7 p.m. minimum cash payout of $2,275 a night, plus pull tabs, lightning, tic-tac and raffles.
ν The community is invited to jog, walk or run inside on the indoor track at the Lyons Township High School South Campus fieldhouse, 4900 S. Willow Springs Road in Western Springs from 6 to 7 a.m. on days when school is in session through March 20. Free.
