Latest news with #BeaTrailblazer
Chicago Tribune
30-07-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Around the Southland: Moraine Valley health career boot camp, donation benefits forest preserves, more
Moraine Valley Community College and Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital paired up to present a free health careers boot camp, introducing high school students to medical careers. Nearly 50 students from Argo, Sandburg, Stagg, Evergreen Park, Oak Lawn, Lincoln-Way, Mother McAuley, Reavis, Shepard and Eisenhower high schools participated, hearing presentations by Moraine Valley faculty and joining hands-on activities such as how to stop bleeding, packing a wound, using a military tourniquet and how to use personal protective equipment. Including health-related options, Moraine Valley offers more than 140 degree and certificate programs and noncredit classes. Registering students can attend the school's Super Saturday registration event, 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 9 in Building B on the main campus, 9000 College Parkway, Palos Hills. A list of classes is at New students must complete an admission application. To learn more, call 708-974-2110. The Nature Foundation of Will County has given $59,525 to the Forest Preserve District of Will County, supporting the district's habitat restoration, community engagement and nature education efforts. The money will be used for such things as a redesigned Willy's Wilderness website for kids that launched this summer, teacher appreciation events like yoga, as well as prescribed burns, volunteer supplies, the Smithsonian Pollinator Exhibit and Pollinator Party at Isle a la Cache Museum. A foundation partnership with Cabela's Outdoor Fund and Bass Pro Shops supports the forest district's fishing derby season and the Be a Trailblazer digital scavenger hunt. 'Our donors, partners and sponsors support programs that protect nature, inspire discovery and bring people and nature together,' Tara Neff, the foundation's executive director, shared in a news release. 'Our well-being is inseparable from the health of our environment.' The Village of Flossmoor hosts its annual National Night Out & Touch a Truck free event from 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 5 in the parking lot at Village Hall, 2800 Flossmoor Road. Attendees can explore vehicles from the Police, Fire and Public Works departments, as well as talk with representatives from those departments. Tours of the police station will be given, and the Fire Department will give a fire sprinkler demonstration. A bounce house, games and face painting will be available to kids, and everyone can join the water balloon toss. A new option this year is free back-to-school immunizations and vaccinations for the public given by the Cook County Department of Public Health from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Board Room at Village Hall. Walk-ins are welcome, and no registration or insurance is required. A parent or guardian must accompany children. Information is at The 22nd annual Taste of Orland Park presented by Northwestern Medicine returns from 5 to 11 p.m. Aug. 1, 3 to 11 p.m. Aug. 2 and 3 to 9 p.m. Aug. 3 at Village Center, 14700 S. Ravinia Ave. Parking, activities and admission are free, and food and beverages will be available. An ATM will be at the site. Attendees can sample signature dishes, drinks and desserts found at booths throughout the center from more than a dozen area restaurants. Two stages feature live entertainment, including a variety of bands as well as a battle of the bands contest on Aug. 1, live band karaoke and a 'Family Feud' game on Aug.; 2 and 'Orland Park's Got Talent' on Aug. 3. Kids' activities are offered all three days. Parking is at the Orland Township lot, 14807 S. Ravinia; Orland Park Public Library, 14921 S. Ravinia Ave.; Red Lobster's west lot, 14750 S. LaGrand Road; and garage at 9650 W. 143rd St. Ravinia will be closed between 147th and 149th streets. Rules and a full schedule are at or 708-403-5000. The Palos Park Police Department has planned a series of events to mark National Night Out Week. Residents can stop by the department, 8999 123rd St., at 7 p.m. Aug. 1 to have coffee with Police Chief Joe Miller for updates about the department and to ask questions. The Police Department and Palos Fire District host Touch a Truck from 3 to 4 p.m. Aug. 5 at the Village Green. Coffee With a Cop is set for 11 a.m. Aug. 6 at Plush Horse, 12301 S. 86th Ave. Scam awareness sessions with officers Bob Kotsianis and Scott Van Wagner are set for 2 and 6:30 p.m. Aug. 5 at the Kapture Center, 8999 W. 123rd St. They are designed to heighten awareness of scams and financial exploitation of older adults and provide tips on personal and home safety. Pike House Fest, a chance to enjoy art demonstrations, food, cocktails and live music, takes place noon to 4 p.m. Aug. 3 at the historic home, 1826 W. 91st St. in Chicago's Beverly neighborhood. It's hosted by the Beverly Arts Alliance, and admission is $20 per person or $25 per family. An online silent auction of experiences, objects and art can be previewed at Money raised will go to the Eugene S. Pike House Foundation to rehabilitate the home as a cultural center. Information is at This year's Jean Derting memorial Scholarship, $2,000, has gone to Indian Springs School District 109 graduate Ceceilia Beradoni. She is a 2021 graduate of Wilkins Junior High School in Justice and will attend Fordham University as part of her quest to become a doctor. The scholarship, now worth $2,000, has been given out since 1971. Smith Village's Party of the Porch features music by the cover band JD and The Tunes at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 7 on 112th Place between Western and Oakley avenues. It's open to all Smith Village residents, their friends and families and neighbors. No reservations are required. Participants are encouraged to pack a cooler with snacks and drinks and bring a chair or blanket to sit on. Fat Tommy's will sell hot dogs, and beer and wine will be sold. Visit
Chicago Tribune
09-04-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Naperville News Digest: Trailblazer challenge offers prizes for nature-themed missions; Naperville residents named Presidential Scholar candidates
Trailblazer challenge offers prizes for nature-themed missions The Forest Preserve District of Will County is challenging residents to take part in the Be a Trailblazer spring session, which will give away more than $10,000 worth of prizes. Starting this week and continuing through Saturday, May 24, the competition begins by downloading the free Goosechase app and entering the code PQNL75, a news release said. Points are awarded for completing nature-themed missions, and a leaderboard will show who is in the top spots. However, prizes will not be based on points, the release said. Each mission completed will count as an entry in weekly giveaways for themed T-shirts. Prizes also will be connected to specific missions, earning everyone who successfully completes that mission entry into a random drawing. Sponsored by the Nature Foundation of Will County, prizes include kayaks, sleds, Fitbits, Yeti coolers, tent and sleeping bag packs, fishing equipment, hiking poles, picnic packs and more, the district said. There is no limit on the number of prizes that can be won. Naperville residents named Presidential Scholar candidates Numerous Naperville students from several high schools have been named candidates for the 2025 Presidential Scholars program, which honors distinguished graduating high school seniors. The U.S. Presidential Scholars program, established in 1964 to recognize the nation's top seniors, selects about 4,000 general program candidates mostly based on test scores, a news release said. About 650 students will go on to be named semifinalists and, from there, about 160 students will be selected as Presidential Scholars. The Naperville candidates are: Waubonsie Valley High School (Naperville residents): Mannsha Assudani, Sajiv Harikrishnan, Anjali S. Madheswaran, Sanvi Maganti, Rida Majeed, Shruthi Muthiah, Vikram J. Narasimhan, Wing Y. Ng, Prakrti Senthil and Akshath Sivachidhambara. Neuqua Valley High School: Neel Chawla, Aditya Rakshit, Andrew Z. Wan, Andy W. Yu and Alexander Zhao. Naperville North High School: Chloe S. Chen, Jai Gupta, Aanika M. Parekh, Anderson Peng, Sophia R. Xi and Cathy Yang. Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (Naperville residents): Shrikar Dulam and Kumara Venkata Sadkr Malladi. Isaac Chang, of Naperville, also made the list. Applications due Tuesday for KidsMatter SpringBoard Summer Series Teens 16 and older who want to participate in KidsMatter's SpringBoard Summer Series must apply by Tuesday, April 15. The free program allows high school students to explore various professions, completing classwork and having field experiences in a variety of career sectors, a news release said. Now in its third year, the series has expanded to include a new Physical and Life Sciences program at Fermilab in Batavia. Other programs include Survey of Healthcare Careers, Pharmacy Technician Prep Course and Construction Management and Trades, the release said. All costs are covered, including books and fees. Students should indicate on their applications if transportation assistance is needed. Sessions will be held in early June and early August. Instruction is led by experts, and some programs provide college credit through the College of DuPage or the opportunity to complete the Teen Mental Health First Aid certification from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. For more information, go to Naperville Woman's Club donates $26,000 to charities The Naperville Woman's Club has distributed $26,124 to charity from the money raised through Glam Witches Night Out, the Clay Space Empty Bowls project, member donations and a partnership with the Downtown Naperville Alliance and local businesses. Some of the recipients included Loaves & Fishes; Metropolitan Family Services; Families Helping Families; KidsMatter; Humanitarian Service Project; Ready, Set Ride; Naperville Riverwalk Foundation; Almost Home Kids; and the Alzheimer's Association.
