Climb aboard!
North Riverside Parks and Rec will host a Transportation Exploration Day on May 4 from 4 to 6 p.m. in the parking lot of the North Riverside Police Department, 2359 Desplaines Ave.
Kids can get in the driver’s seat of some of the biggest, coolest vehicles in the area. Meet the drivers, honk the horn, sound the sirens and explore. Free and open to the public.
Call 708-442-5515 for more info.
Salt Creek cleanup day
The Salt Creek Watershed Network is putting out a call for nature-loving volunteers to help with their Salt Creek Spring Cleanup on April 30 in Bemis Woods North.
Individuals, families and groups are welcome. Participants can also enjoy environmental programs and a complimentary cookout lunch. If you would like to bring your own canoe or kayak and paddle along the creek to collect debris, call Scott Saacke at 424-241-8192 prior to the event.
Volunteers should meet at the Bemis Woods North Forest Preserve foot bridge by 9 a.m. to sign in. Water craft users will meet by the bridge at 7 a.m. for sign-in to be back in time for the 11 a.m. cookout lunch.
Entrance to the Bemis North parking area is off of Wolf Road between Ogden Avenue and of 31st Street.
More info at saltcreekwatershed.org or call Ron Hursh at 708-354-4434.
Naz presents ‘SpongeBob: The Musical’
Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? Find out during Nazareth Academy Drama’s spring musical “SpongeBob Squarepants” on the stage of the Romano Family Theater at the school, 1209 W. Ogden Ave. in LaGrange Park.
Performances are April 28-April 30 at 7 p.m. and on May 1 at 1 p.m. Tickets are $18. Call 708-387-8515 for reservations.
Mark Arbor Day in Brookfield
The village of Brookfield invites community members to its Arbor Day celebration and tree planting on April 29 at 1:30 p.m. in Ehlert Park near 9001 Shields Ave. (south of the skate park and fire station).
Courtesy of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, the village will hand out 30 oak saplings in one-gallon containers to interested attendees. Brookfield will mark its designation as a Tree City U.S.A. for the 41st year running.
Native plant presentation and sale
Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, will host a presentation on Native Plant Gardening and a Plant Sale on April 30.
Get inspired about native plants during this talk with local gardener and author Cathy Maloney and purchase plants to support UCP Seguin. The sale is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The presentation is at noon.
Registration required for the presentation but not the sale. Visit riversidelibrary.org/events.
And more
- The Frederick Law Olmsted Society and village of Riverside will hold a Landscape Workday on April 30 from 9 a.m. to noon at Indian Gardens near the Scout Cabin. Come for as long as you like. Supervised children welcome. Bring work gloves and a water bottle. All other supplies and snacks provided. Look for the public works dump truck.
- The League of Women Voters of the LaGrange Area and LWV of Oak Park/River Forest will host a candidate forum for the Congressional District 7 primary on May 4 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. Submit questions in advance to league@lagrangearealwv.org (put CD7 in the subject line). Register to attend by visiting lagrangearealwv.org.
- Riverside Arts Center, 32 E. Quincy St., hosts its Riverside-Brookfield High School Annual Advanced Placement Art Exhibition through May 7 in the Freeark Gallery and Sculpture Garden. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m.
There’s also a photography exhibition, “Love You Bro” featuring the work of Stephanie Graham in the lobby of the Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, through June 30. Hours are Mon.-Thurs. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- North Riverside Public Library, 2400 Desplaines Ave., invites you to make an appointment to visit the Ancestry Help Desk on April 29 from 2 to 6 p.m. There’s also Stretching and Meditation via conference call (800-747-5150, code 1453322) on May 2 at 6:30 p.m. and a family Pajama Storytime via Zoom on May 2 at 6:30 p.m. Register for programs at online.
- Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library, 3541 Park Ave., invites you to join film enthusiast Marty Blank and jazz enthusiast Ian Tiele as they present “The Rich History of Chicago Jazz” on April 30 at 1 p.m. in the Meeting Room and to learn about invasive plant species during “Wanted: Invasive Species in Your Ecosystem” on May 2 at 7 p.m. Call 708-485-6917 or visit online to register for programs.
- Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, hosts a screening of ‘Monty and Rose 2’ about a pair of endangered piping plovers attempting to nest on a Chicago beach on April 28 at 7 p.m. Talk with director Bob Dolgan follows. To register for programs visit online.
- The Brookfield Elks Lodge, 9022 31st St., hosts bingo the second Sunday of every month. Doors open at 1 p.m. and games start at 2 p.m. with cash payouts.
