Celebrate Arbor Day
Arbor Day is this week, and there are plenty of opportunities for you to get outdoors, spruce up natural areas or simply celebrate trees.
On Arbor Day, April 28, join Victor Janusz, Brookfield’s arborist, for a public tree planting to celebrate Brookfield’s 42nd year as a Tree City U.S.A. community at 1:30 p.m. near the playground in Kiwanis Park, at Arden and Brookfield avenues.
Thirty oak tree saplings, courtesy of the MWRD, will be given out for free to anyone who wants one.
There’s much more on April 29, starting with the Hofmann Dam River Rats Spring River Cleanup from 9 a.m. to noon. Meet in the forest preserve area east of the Barrypoint Bridge near Hofmann Tower. Wear long pants, sleeves and sturdy shoes. Bags and poker sticks provided. Refreshments served. The River Rats will also be collecting aluminum cans to raise money for future clean-up events.
Also on April 29, the Salt Creek Watershed Network hosts its own Spring Cleanup. Meet by 9 a.m. at the Bemis North Forest Preserve footbridge to sign in. The entrance is off Wolf Road at the creek between 31st Street and Ogden Avenue.
Those wanting to participate by canoe or kayak should contact Kevin Kell at 630-849-6212. A cookout lunch follows the cleanup at 11 a.m. Visit saltcreekwatershed.org for more.
The Frederick Law Olmsted Society hosts two events on April 29. FLOS partners with the village of Riverside for a Landscape Workday from 9 a.m. to noon at the Longcommon/Downing Triangle. During that event join Village Forest Mike Collins for an Arbor Day planting of two bur oak trees.
Finally, at 1 p.m. there will be a ribbon cutting for the Olmsted Overlook, a specially designed grove of native trees overlooking the Des Plaines River planted last spring on the Swan Pond bluff in the 100 block of Fairbank Road. Visit olmstedsociety.org for more.
Hop on in!
North Riverside Parks and Rec will host a Transportation Exploration Day on May 3 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Village Commons, 2401 Desplaines Ave.
Get in the driver’s seat of the coolest vehicles in the area during this free family-friendly event. Meet the drivers, explore and learn while you climb aboard, honk the horns and sound the sirens.
‘Olmsted’s Riverside’
The Frederick Law Olmsted Society invites you to join Riverside architect, professor and preservationist Charles Pipal for the special presentation “The Sweep and Curve: Olmsted’s Riverside” on April 27 at 7 p.m. at the Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road.
Pipal will discuss the history of the village and how it should be viewed not just in a historical context but as a model of sustainability that needs care and stewardship. Register to attend at riversidelibrary.org/events.
Radio Players present Gildy and Benny
The Riverside Township Radio Players return to the auditorium stage of the Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road, on April 28 at 7:30 p.m. to perform two classic comedy episodes from the Golden Age of Radio.
The troupe presents “Substitute Secretary” from “The Great Gildersleeve” and “Four Girls in White” from “The Jack Benny Program.”
Free and open to the public. Visit riversidetownshipradioplayers.com for more.
And more
- Friends of the Chicago Portage present “The Chicago Portage: A Lasting Gift” by author, scientist and historian Richard Lanyon on April 29 at 1 p.m. at the Lyons Public Library, 4209 Joliet Ave. Free and open to the public. For more, visit chicagoportage.org.
- Aging Care Connections, 111 W. Harris Ave. in LaGrange, presents Pride Café, a monthly in-person and virtual program providing space for LGBT+ seniors who are interested in age-related or LGBT+ related topics, discussion and social opportunities, on April 29 at 11 a.m. This month’s topic is Advance Planning for LGBT+ Seniors. Contact Hanah Sebek at 708-603-2270 or hsebek@agingcareconnections.org to get the Zoom link or with questions.
- Riverside Arts Center, 32 E. Quincy St., presents “One Ends and Another Begins” featuring the work for Regin Igloria and “Over the Rainbow, One More Time,” featuring the work of Laura Kina through May 6. Gallery hours are Thursday-Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m.
There’s also “Everything Fades,” featuring the paintings of Natalie Shugailo at the Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road in Riverside through June 30. The township hall is open Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit riversideartscenter.com for more.
- North Riverside Public Library, 2400 Desplaines Ave., presents After School Art Escape (child with adult) on April 27 at 4 p.m., Make a Mother’s Day Gift on April 29 from noon to 3 p.m., Morning Munchkin Stories with Ms. Karen on May 1 at 10:30 a.m., Cinco de Mayo Snack Hat Craft (kids under 10 with adult) on May 1 at 4 p.m. and Safari ABCs (child with adult) on May 3 at 10:30 a.m. Register for programs online.
- Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library, 3541 Park Ave., presents Fairytale Storytime on April 27 at 10:30 a.m., ChatGPT, Bard & the Artificial Intelligence Revolution on April 27 at 7 p.m., Chair Yoga (virtual) on May 1 at 11 a.m., Rice for Mexican Treats: Horchata and Arroz con Leche with Violete on May 1 at 7 p.m. and Stress Less: Resilience for Success (grades 6-12) with NAMI on May 3 at 4 p.m. Call 708-485-6917 or visit online to register for programs.
- Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, presents All Ages Yoga Storytime on April 28 at 10 a.m., Mindfulness Together meditation on April 28 at 11 a.m., Grow a Mother’s Day Orchid on April 29 at 1 p.m., Little Hands Activity Time (ages1-4) on May 2 at 9:30 a.m. and Drop-In Tech Help on May 2 from 2 to 3 p.m. To register for programs, visit online.
- The Brookfield Elks Lodge, 9022 31st St., hosts its next bingo session on May 21. Doors open at 1 p.m. and games start at 2 p.m. with cash payouts.
