Community Calendar

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Updated: November 24, 2011 3:34AM

Submissions for the Community Calendar are required 10 days preceding the date of publication. Send to: Pioneer Press, 3701 W. Lake Ave., Glenview IL 60026. Information may be faxed to (847) 486-7495 or e-mailed to mbottari@pioneerlocal.com.

Center of Concern

The Center of Concern, 1580 N. Northwest Highway, Suite 310, Park Ridge, (847) 823-0453, calendar of events includes:

Mondays, through May 23 - Employment counseling, by appointment.

Saturday, May 21 – Legal counseling, by appointment.

Saturday, May 21 – Blood pressure and blood sugar testing, 10 a.m.-noon (no appointment needed).

Note: The center will be closed for Memorial Day weekend May 28-30.

Preparation of simple wills and durable powers of attorney for health care and property also is available by appointment. All services are offered at the Center of Concern offices at 1580 N. Northwest Highway, # 310, in Park Ridge. For services that require an appointment, call (847) 823-0453 weekdays, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (The center is open only until noon on Fridays.) The Center of Concern also offers housing counseling for seniors and others seeking affordable housing, programs designed to prevent homelessness, friendly visitors for the homebound, and volunteer opportunities in the office and in the field. See www.centerofconcern.org.

Center counselors also are available to help eligible residents apply for Illinois Circuit Breaker property tax relief grants and license plate discounts, Illinois Cares Rx (prescription drug assistance), the senior citizen real estate tax exemption and deferral, the senior citizen tax assessment freeze, and the long-time occupant homeowner property tax exemption.

Civic

State Rep. Rosemary Mulligan, R-65th, has opened her new district office at the following address: 1420 Renaissance Drive, Suite 306, Park Ridge IL 60068. Her other contact information remains the same: Phone: (847) 297-6533; fax: (847) 297-2978; e-mail: repmulligan@usa.net; website and E-News sign-up: http://repmulligan.com. The 65th District includes all or portions of Des Plaines, Park Ridge, Mount Prospect, Rosemont, Norridge, Harwood Heights, Niles, Elk Grove Village, and the northwest corner of the 41st Ward of Chicago.

Classes

An exercise class combining low-impact aerobics and upper and lower body toning exercises is available from 7-8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays is under way at Forest Preserve Bible Church, 7430 W. Forest Preserve Drive, Chicago. Bring a mat or rug. Admission is free. Call (708) 867-9462.

Clubs

I Chiacchieroni Italian-language dinner group meets at 6:30 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at Salerno’s, 1716 E. Kensington Road, Mount Prospect. The next meeting is June 9. Call Gabriella, at (847) 292-0089, or e-mail ichiacchieroni@yahoo.com.

The Korean War Veterans Association, Greater Chicago Chapter No. 25, meet at 7 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month at the Montclare-Leyden VFW Post, 6940 W. Diversey Ave. Call Joe Henmueller, (773) 774-9671.

The Norridge-Harwood Heights Rotary Club meets at 12:15 p.m. Tuesdays during the lunch hour at Vince’s Restaurant, 4747 N. Harlem Ave. Attend as a guest and learn more about the club and how to become involved in the community.

The Polish Women’s Alliance has a research library and reading room based on the Polish experience, at 6643 N. Northwest Highway, second floor, Chicago. Many wonderful books both in Polish and English are available to browse and read. Hours are 9 a.m.-3 p.m. For a list of already-catalogued books visit www.pwaa.org and click on the library button. Contact Vice President Sharon Zago, (847) 384-1208, or Treasurer Barbara Miller, (847) 384-1206.

Community

A Spring Luncheon will be held May 25 at Martin Luther Lutheran Church, 6850 W. Addison St., Chicago. Doors open at 11 a.m., with lunch at noon. Entertainment will be provided by Those Were The Days Radio Players. There will be a boutique, raffles and prizes. Tickets are $10. Call ahead for tickets to Anne Walker at (708) 453-7294.

The Maine South High School Art Awards Exhibition is running through June 5 at Brickton Art Center, 306 Busse Highway in Park Ridge. The opening reception is 6-8 p.m. May 12. This year, the art on display will represent the creative work of both Maine South and Park Ridge-Niles Elementary District 64 students. The work of nearly 80 Maine South students and about 20 “up and coming” artists from District 64’s Lincoln and Emerson Middle Schools will be featured.

The Salvation Army Church, 8354 W. Foster Ave., Norridge, will present its Spring Festival of Brass featuring Charles Vernon, bass trombonist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the 45-member Salvation Army Norridge Citadel Brass Band at 2:30 p.m. May 22. Bandmaster is Peggy Thomas. Free. Call (708) 456-6220.

The Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County recently established a Battery Recycling Program for rechargeable and alkaline batteries, partnered with Interstate Batteries in Skokie to provide recycling at no cost to SWANCC communities. Common household batteries are no longer accepted at Illinois EPA-sponsored household chemical waste events and facilities due to their benign nature and high recycling costs. Batteries accepted in SWANCC’s program: Alkaline: AA, AAA, C, D and 9V; rechargeable: NiCd, NiMh, lithium ion, lithium polymer. Before dropping off rechargeable batteries, residents need to tape the contact points on each battery or place in an individual self-locking plastic baggie to avoid sparks. Local drop-off sites include: Niles Public Services Department, 6849 Touhy Ave., (847) 588-7900, 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; Niles Village Hall, 1000 Civic Center Drive, (847) 588-8000, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Mondays through Fridays; Park Ridge Public Works, 400 Busse Highway, (847) 318-5240, 7 a.m.-4 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. Additional drop-off sites are posted at swancc.org/recycling/batteryrecycling.html.

Any women interested in joining the Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care Threshold Singers can contact Kathy Huber at (847) 685-9900. Practices are held on two Thursdays each month starting at 6:45 p.m. in Park Ridge. Threshold Singers are trained to sing in groups of two and three at the bedside of those who are sick and dying. The songs are generally traditional or simple rounds, chants, lullabies and hymns that can be chosen to respond to musical taste and spiritual direction. Singers go through patient care volunteer training, but there are no auditions; only requirements are a love of music and a desire to serve others.

Avenues Thrift Shoppe offers great prices and specials on gently used clothing for infants, children and adults, shoes, household items, books and small furniture. On Wednesdays, seniors 60 years and older receive 10 percent off all regularly priced items. The main shop is located at 7710 W. Touhy Ave. in Chicago, and the “boutique” shop at 7700 Touhy Ave. features upscale clothing, outerwear, collectibles and finer merchandise. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays and 1-8 p.m. Thursdays. Donations are accepted 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays only. Donate only gently used clothing; broken or obsolete electronics cannot be accepted. Purchases help adults with developmental disabilities. Avenues to Independence is a nonprofit organization based at 515 Busse Highway in Park Ridge that offers a variety of programs to enhance an individual’s work, social, and daily living skills. For information on donations or to volunteer, contact Michael Frustini, (773) 631-6230.

Fundraisers

Ava’s Giving Tree will host its second fundraiser to honor and celebrate the life of the late Ava Lillian LaVere, 5-year-old daughter of Jennifer and John LaVere, of Evanston. Ava passed away from complications of congenital heart disease, a condition for which the cause is often unknown. The public is invited to attend the Ava’s Giving Tree 2011 Fundraiser 3-7 p.m., June 12 at Edison Park Inn, 6715 N. Olmstead Ave., Chicago. The family affair will include on-site photography services, raffle prizes, children’s crafts and music activities, a bake sale, a silent auction, a 50/50 raffle, cash bar, and live music performed by a local band, Straight Ethyl. The silent auction will begin a few weeks before the event on www.avasgivingtree.org and will close the day of the event. Raffle tickets will be sold at the event. Tickets are available at the Children’s Heart Foundation website, www.childrensheartfoundation.org, and at the door, at $20 per adult or $5 per child. Included with each ticket will be pizza and live music. Parking is free in the Edison Park Inn’s lot, west of the Metra tracks at the intersection of Oliphant and Olmstead avenues; the restaurant is opposite the Metra Train Station. All proceeds will be given to the parent organization, the Children’s Heart Foundation. With the help of a medical advisory board, Ava’s Giving Tree will decide what Congenital Heart Disease studies will be funded.

The community is coming together to showcase local businesses and to support Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care. On May 21 from 6-9 p.m., “Home Sweet Home” will showcase the elegant residence of 530 N. Ashland Ave., Park Ridge. The home, listed by Park Ridge-based Sebastian Realty, will play host to home furnishings by Amphora and local fashions by New Prospects and Pines for Men. For a small ticket price, partygoers get to experience great food, furnishings and a host of themes and events. In addition, there will also be appetizers from All on the Road Catering and tea & chocolate pairings from TeaLula and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, as well as music by local Chicago jazz group, Joe Brown and Friends. All proceeds go to support Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care for its work in caring for the terminally ill and bereaved within the community. Tickets are available online by visiting www.RainbowHospice.org or by calling (847) 292-2353.

Health

Our Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center, 5645 W Addison St., offers a comprehensive medical weight loss program to help individuals suffering from obesity. The program includes four minimally invasive surgical solutions – laparoscopic gastric bypass, laparoscopic gastric band, single incision laparoscopic gastric band and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. These procedures, along with postoperative changes in diet and lifestyle, can help severely overweight people lose excess weight and improve their overall health. A comprehensive approach to weight loss and weight management is tailored for each individual with full support from a multidisciplinary team. The program is under the direction of general surgeon, Dr. Frederick Tiesenga, who has performed more than 400 bariatric surgery procedures. He is fellowship-trained in laparoscopic gastric bypass, and is an affiliate surgeon of the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons and a U.S. Surgical Proctor for Bariatric Surgery. Starting in 2011, free informative sessions will be held the third Tuesday of each month, 6-8 p.m. To register for any of the sessions, call (708) 456-7874.

Senior Advocate of Advocate Lutheran General Hospital offers free blood-pressure screenings each month. Screenings will be from 10 a.m. to noon the first Wednesday of every month at the hospital’s Patient Resource Center, 8820 W. Dempster Street, Niles (across from the hospital). No appointment is necessary. Call (847) 723-7277.

Kids

Kidwinks.com is a website that provides free and easy information about the Chicago area’s hottest family-friendly activities, free or budget-friendly events and easy-to-access activities, developed by Nina Taluc and Jean Lemke, two Park Ridge moms. The database includes relevant listings from area museums, park districts, libraries, city and county organizations, businesses and more. Parents can quickly click through the events calendar to find out what is happening on any given day, plan ahead for a special weekend or when guests come to visit. Kidwinks members, who join for free, can also sign up to receive e-mail reminders of upcoming events they do not want to miss. Cruise through the activities area to find activities that meet specific interests or to get ideas of new places to visit. The kids eat free calendar is a popular feature, showing for any given day where kids can eat free or at a discount. Free and discounted admission days at area zoos and museums are listed on the events calendar for easy access and planning. Kidwinks members can sort any search result list in order of distance from their house, so they can choose those closest to them. Members can also sign up for Kidwinks’ weekly newsletter sent by e-mail, which highlights some of their favorite picks for the upcoming week, and also announces regular contests for prizes such as gift cards, tickets to area shows and amusement centers and products. Visit www.kidwinks.com.

Library

Eisenhower Public Library, 4613 N. Oketo Ave., Harwood Heights. Call (708) 867-7828 or (708) 452-8989 to register for all programs or online at eisenhowerlibrary.org:

Anyone tired of knitting alone can join the Knitting Circle which meets from 2:30-3:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month. Bring needles, yarn and knit over snacks and coffee. No registration.

Computer Classes – Intermediate Internet: 2:30-3:30 p.m. May 20; Portable Aps: 7-8 p.m. May 25.

Learn some new tips and tricks for using oils and vinegars to flavor vegetables, salads and more from 6:30-8 p.m. May 24. Get some new recipes and sample some yummy creations, presented by Camille Stagg; $3 tasting fee.

Classic Films begin at 1 p.m. Discussions are led by Ralph J. Amelio; free popcorn. May 26: “The Wizard of Oz” with Judy Garland.

Parenting

Maryville Crisis Nursery, 4015 N. Oak Park Ave., Chicago, conducts Baby Talk Classes for parents and children up to age 6 at 5 p.m. every third Wednesday of each month. Topics include dealing with stress, fun indoor activities, and exploring social connections. There is no charge for the classes and pre-registration is not required. There is no charge, and registration is not required. Call (773) 205-3600.

Parks

Norridge Park District, 4631 N. Overhill Ave., (708) 457-1244 or visit www.norridgepk.com.

Designed for children 3-5 years of age, Preschool Camp meets from 9 a.m.-noon Mondays through Fridays. Children will enjoy splash time in the pool, playground fun, organized group games, art projects, songs, stories, special activities and a snack (provided by parents). Each weekly session is based on a theme. Preschool Camp dates and fees - June 13-17: Don’t “Bug” Me; June 20-24: Octopus Garden; June 27-July 1: Red, White & Blue; July 5-8: Let’s Have a Luau; July 11-15: Turtles, Frogs and Lizards; July 18- 21: Music Fun!; July 25-29: Jr. Astronauts in Space; Aug. 1 -5: Camping in the Forest; Aug. 8-12: Dinosaur Time. Cost of most of these camps are $66, residents; $96, nonresidents plus a one-time registration fee of $10. Siblings will receive a 20 percent discount. Call (708) 457-1244.

A Teen Dance will be held from 7-9 p.m. May 20 at the Norridge Park District for sixth- to eighth-graders. Cost is $5 per person at the door.

The Norridge Park District invites all interested teams, captains and/or players of 16-inch softball to pick up information sheets. A mandatory meeting for all registered captains will take place the week before the season starts: Women’s Tuesday/Thursday League: (10 games) $560, begins May 31. All other leagues are under way.

Norridge Park District’s “Island in the City Festival” is looking for business vendors for its 2011 Business Expo which will be held July 7 to 10. Call the Festival Committee, (708) 457-1244.

Youth Gymnastics for ages 5-13 teaches fundamental skills including tumbling balance, beam and other maneuvers. Program runs, according to aptitude level, from 4:30-5:15 p.m., 5:15-6 p.m., 6-6:45 p.m. Fees $60 residents; $70 nonresidents.

The Norridge Park District offers a boys and girls Youth Basketball League designed for children in third through eighth grades who are looking to learn the basics and get some game experience. Players will be placed on teams based upon their evaluation and age. Sign-up fees: first child: $85, resident, $105, nonresident; second child: $70, resident, $90, nonresident; each additional child: $55, resident, $75, nonresident.

Reunions

USS Columbus CA-74/CG-12/SSN-762 Reunion will be held from Sept. 21-24 at Sheraton National Hotel-Arlington, Va. Contact Allen R. Hope, president, 3828 Hobson Road, Fort Wayne IN 46815-4505. Call (260) 486-2221 from 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. Eastern time, fax: 260-492-9771 or e-mail: Hope4391@ frontier.com.

The Maine East Class of 1969 Reunion and 60th Birthday Bash will take place from 7-11 p.m. July 16 at Marriott Lincolnshire Resort, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. Cost is $69 per person includes dinner and dancing with a cash bar. Contact: Anita Pedersen, anitawarrenpr@sbcglobal.net, (630) 803-7593.

Maine Township High South, Class of 1966, is spearheading a two-day “Mass Reunion” to be held Aug. 26 and 27. Accompanying classes that represented the first collective student body to attend the newly opened high school in 1964 as well as their spouses and guests are to be included. The nucleus of new students that celebrated the opening of Maine South High School migrated from both Maine East and Maine West and includes the classes of 1965, 1966 and 1967. The two-day event will be held in Park Ridge at the recently developed Uptown Plaza located at the intersection of Touhy and Prospect avenues and Northwest Highway. The Friday evening event will take place at Houlihan’s Restaurant, which will be closed to the general public. The alumni festivities will reignite on Saturday evening, and the venues will include Houlihan’s, Jason’s Deli and various neighboring entities within the Uptown Plaza. Tickets for one or both evening events are on sale now and must be purchased in advance. For reservations, contact event coordinator, Glenn Woerz (Class of 1966), at MassReunion@gmail.com or (847) 757-8377. Maine South alumni can also subscribe to the “Hawk Droppings” newsletter via the above e-mail address to receive updates and ongoing information on classmates and relevant information.

The 1966 Class of Ridgewood High School is planning a reunion and looking for graduates. Anyone with information concerning alumni is asked to e-mail haydelju@comcast.net or call (217) 352-7254.

St. John Brebeuf is looking for all St. John Brebeuf School Alumni. If interested in finding out what is going on at St. John Brebeuf School or to find fellow classmates, contact Libby Ryder at (847) 966-3266 or e-mail lryder@sjbschool.org. Submit name, year graduated, address and phone number, maiden name (if applicable) and e-mail address. Share a special story or tell how St. John Brebeuf made an impact on your life.

St. Priscilla School, 7001 W. Addison St., would like to keep alumni aware of its good news, events, and developments. Anyone who graduated before 2003 is invited to update contact information by calling the school office, (773) 685-3581, or visit www.stpriscilIa.org. Name and address changes keep classes connected and informed.

Seniors

Central Baptist Village, 4747 N. Canfield Ave., will present “America’s First Ladies” at 10 a.m. May 19 with Ceci Wiselogel. See all the Presidents’ wives replicated as a lovely doll figurine in the gowns they wore on Inauguration Day. Refreshments and tours provided. If attending, call (708) 583-8500.

St. Thecla’s Seniors Leisure Club meets at 11:30 a.m. on the first and third Thursdays of the month throughout the year. Dues are $7 per year. Meetings, parties, bingo, day trips, card-playing and more featured. To join, call (773) 774-3052.

Oriole Park “Over 50 Club” meets at 11 a.m. on the first and third Thursday of each month at Oriole Park Field House, 5430 N. Olcott Ave., Chicago. Join in the conversation and fun. Seniors play bingo after coffee and rolls. Call (708) 457-1836.

The Mellotones, a senior chorus, have resumed rehearsals at 1 p.m. every Tuesday at Merrimac Park, 6343 W. Irving Park Road. Seniors 55 and older are encouraged to join the four-part mixed chorus in a variety of Broadway, patriotic, sacred, Hawaiian and holiday songs. Call Rudy Oliva at (773) 777-4226.

The Golden Fellowship Club welcomes adults age 55 or older who live in Norridge to its meetings at 7 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at the Estelle Sieb Center, at Irving Park Road and Ozark Avenue. The club offers seniors a place to chat and socialize; plays bingo after refreshments, and sponsors day trips and programs. Contact (708) 457-1836.

The Happy Seniors of Norwood Park Township meet at 12:30 p.m. the first and third Fridays of the month in the township hall, 7833 W. Lawrence Ave., Norridge. Some play cards before the meeting, and afterward refreshments are served bingo is played. Trips are featured frequently. Dues are $5 per year, and $1 is collected at each meeting to cover cost of refreshments.

Mather’s–More Than a Cafe, 7134 W. Higgins Ave., Chicago, invites adults 55 and older to experience professionally taught, free moderately-priced programs such as lifelong learning programs, fitness classes, free blood-pressure checks and health screenings, free consumer seminars, special-interest workshops and special events and day trips. Call (773) 774-4804. Chess Club for checkmate champs and new people who want to learn the rules and basic strategies. Sessions are Wednesdays, at 1 p.m. Jazzercise – A fitness program that combines aerobic exercises with elements of jazz dance. A series of dance routines is set to popular music while incorporating yoga, Pilates, cardio-kickboxing, and other fitness styles. The classes move incrementally through different intensity levels, so anyone is welcome to join. Classes are held at 11 a.m. Wednesdays, $5.35. Line Dancing is offered at 11:15 a.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. Each class costs $3. A variety of exercise classes fit for every level is offered. Try the gentle-moderate exercise class, 11:15 Mondays and 10 a.m. Tuesdays featuring a combination of seated and standing exercises for a complete cardiovascular workout. The moderate-high energy class is at 11 a.m. Thursdays and Fridays, giving more of a challenge with cardio, strengthening, stretching, and toning routines. Each class costs $3. $10 Computer Classes – All classes are four weeks and meet once a week for two hours. Begin with level one and advance through to level four. Classes are regularly forming and are offered every month.

Senior Link Alliance, in collaboration with the city of Chicago Department on Aging, is offering a free Home Repair Referral Service to all seniors living on the North and Northwest sides of Chicago. Now with a sponsorship in part from the Chicago Community Trust, the program is expanding to the suburbs, including Park Ridge, Niles, Harwood Heights, Norridge, Scholar Park, River Grove and Elmwood Park. The program helps seniors find honest reliable workers to help maintain their homes. When seniors call the Home Repair Referral Service they are given three names of prescreened qualified handymen or contractors who are matched to the type and size of the job. Jobs include: carpentry, plumbing, drywall, plastering, painting, gutter cleaning and repair, electrical work, roofing, washing windows, errand running, yard work, snow removal, furnace repairs, wallpapering, tuckpointing, tiling and more. If you are older than 60 and want to find a reliable, reasonably priced tradesman to help you maintain your home, call Carol McDavid, (773) 777-0202.

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White has taken the necessary steps to make senior drivers in Illinois safer while on the road. White’s office offers a free Rules of the Road Review course. The class is designed to give drivers, especially seniors and persons with disabilities, the knowledge and confidence needed to renew or obtain a drivers license. During the refresher course participants will get an explanation of the driving exam. Additionally, people will have the opportunity to take a practice written exam. Also, for those who qualify for accessible parking, the course offers information on disability parking placards, as well as disability license plates. Visit www.cyberdriveillinois.com, and view the 2007 Review course schedule, or call (217) 782-8893 or (888) 261-5238 (TTY, NexTalk).

Support

Widowed Support Group is an ongoing support group that addresses losses faced by people, as a general guideline, who have been widowed less than two years. This group meets from 7-8:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care, 444 N. Northwest Hwy., Suite 145, Park Ridge; $5 per session. Call (847) 692-8884 to register.

A support group for women who have been widowed for two years or less is under way at the Norwood Park Satellite Senior Center, from 1-1:45 p.m. Sessions will be held at the Norwood Park Satellite Senior Center, 5801 N. Natoma Ave., Chicago, facilitated by Betty Mitchell, PhD, LCSW. Group meets every other Wednesday. Participants may join the group at any time. The Widows Support Group will provide an opportunity, in a safe and confidential setting, for widows to discuss issues of grief and loss, as well as plan strategies for moving forward after the death of a spouse. Interested persons can obtain more information or register for the group by calling (773) 775-6071.

Families Anonymous is a support group for family members and friends who are concerned about and affected by the substance abuse or behavioral problems of a loved one. Group 831 meets at 10 a.m. every Friday at Carter Westminster Church, 4950 W. Pratt Ave., Skokie, in the basement; enter from parking lot in the rear. Group 173 meets at 7:30 p.m. every Monday (except holidays) at First United Methodist Church, 418 W. Touhy Ave., Park Ridge in Parlor Room, south portion of main level; use entrance at rear (Grant Place), across from parking lot. No dues or fees required. First names only used at meetings to preserve individual anonymity. This is a non-professional and non-religious program. Call (773) 777-4442 or visit www.familiesanonymous.org.

REFF Organization (Family Recovery Education Group) meets at 7 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of each month at Our Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center, 5645 W. Addison St., lower level Cafe Meeting Room. Reff has brought early intervention education, increased understanding of the addiction/recovery process and resources to improve coping skills to families living with an addicted loved one. The program is open and requires no registration. Call Resource Help Line, Chicago: 773-800-1106 or 708-536-8775, suburban.

One Hope United, formerly Kids Hope United, is seeking foster, adoptive parents to provide homes for at-risk children. Call (847) 245-6543 or visit www.onehopeunited.org.

The Maryville Crisis Nursery, 4015 N. Oak Park Ave., Chicago, offers twice-monthly tours of the facility. Tours are held on the first Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m. and on the fourth Tuesday at 4 p.m. The Maryville Crisis Nursery, which opened in 2006, is a safe haven for children, newborn to age 6, whose families are experiencing crises in their lives, such as: job/medical issues, homelessness, domestic violence or other stressful situations. The nursery cares for children for up to 72 hours while parents concentrate on resolving the problems that are the root cause of the stress. There are no charges for services. Children are cared for by professionals and skilled childcare volunteers. The Maryville Crisis Nursery is available to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The 24 hour help line number is (773) 205-3637. Call (773) 205-3600.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness, Cook County North Suburban, invites the public to attend its Family Support Group for families of individuals with a mental illness. Program is free and meets from 7-8:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month at the Nesset Center, 1775 Ballard Road, north of Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. Free parking. Call (847) 716-2252.

Our Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center, 5645 W. Addison St., is offering prenatal care. The New Beginnings Prenatal Program is aimed at assisting uninsured and underinsured pregnant women by providing them with quality prenatal care, counseling and emotional support. The program is located on the second floor of the hospital. Appointments can be made by calling (773) 527-5850. Each woman who participates is offered the following services: a multilingual staff, including Polish and Spanish; an initial exam and routine office visits; lab and ultrasound tests; nutrition counseling; childbirth, infant care, parenting and breastfeeding classes; and assistance in filing forms for Medicaid and the state’s All Kids program that covers children and mothers who need health insurance. A free infant car seat will be provided to those who qualify. Labor, delivery and postpartum care take will place in the Family Birthplace at Resurrection Medical Center, 7435 W. Talcott Ave., Chicago, with expert care, modern delivery capabilities and pleasant, comfortable birthing suites.

The MOMS Club is a nonprofit support group designed for the at-home mother and their children. The club holds weekly activities (playgroups, outings, museums, park dates) and monthly member meetings and its popular Moms Night Out. Call (773) 853-2834 or visit http://sites.google.com/site/momsclubofnorthernchicago.

Good Mourning Program is a monthly support group of Rainbow Hospice for children, teens and families who have lost a loved one through death. It meets from 6:45-8 p.m. on the third Monday of each month in Lutheran General Family Care Center, 9375 Church St., Des Plaines. Call (847) 692-8884.

An Alzheimer’s Caregivers support group, cosponsored by Advocate Medical Group and the Alzheimer’s Association, is offered monthly at the Nesset Pavilion on the campus of Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. Meetings take place from 1:30-3 p.m. the third Thursday of each month in the lower level conference room of Nesset Pavilion, 1775 Ballard Road in Park Ridge. Meetings are free and no registration is required. Contact Sandy Guarise, at (847) 318-2501.

The Neptune Society, the largest independent cremation company in the nation based in Des Plaines, is bringing comforting teddy bears to Chicago area children who are hurt, frightened or alone. The Neptune Society Teddy Bear Program names a teddy bear in honor of every person whose death care is handled by Neptune on the one-year anniversary of their death. The teddy bears are then donated to organizations such as Rainbow Hospice in Park Ridge and local fire departments to be given to a child in need.

An Alzheimer’s support group for caregivers and family members of individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease meets at 10:30 a.m. every second Saturday of the month at Central Baptist Village, 4747 N. Canfield Ave., Norridge. Call Jessi Lenth, group facilitator, (708) 583-8509.

Holding Onto Hope is a monthly daytime group for widowed persons who are grieving the loss of a spouse. It meets from 1-2:30 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of the month at Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care, 444 N. Northwest Highway, Suite 145, Park Ridge. Registration is required. Admission is $5 per session. Call (847) 692-8884.

Life Transitions Group is an ongoing support group for those who, as a general guideline, have been widowed for one to four years, meeting from 7-8:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of the month at Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care, 444 N. Northwest Highway, Suite 145, Park Ridge. Fee is $5 per session. Call (847) 692-8884.

Good Mourning Program is a monthly support group of Rainbow Hospice for children, teenagers and families who have lost a loved one through death. It meets 6:45-8 p.m. the third Monday of each month at Lutheran General Family Care Center, 9375 Church St., Des Plaines. A preliminary interview is required prior to registration. Call (847) 692-8884.

A new chapter of TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) has been started at the Edison Park Lutheran Church, 6626 N. Oliphant Ave., Chicago. The chapter meets from 9:30-11 a.m. Saturdays in the first-floor conference room. TOPS promotes a life style of balanced nutrition, variety, and moderation. Cost is $24 for the whole year plus a small monthly chapter fee of $3. Interested persons may attend one meeting as a guest free of charge. Call (773) 631-9131.

Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation support group meets from 7:30-9:30 p.m. every third Thursday of the month at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, 1775 Dempster St., Room 1063, Park Ridge. Focus is to assist patients with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, their families, significant others and friends in coping more effectively with the illness. Call (847) 827-0404.

Resurrection Medical Center sponsors a variety of free cancer support groups for both patients and their family members. All support groups are free and meet in the Cancer Conference Room (ground floor, Entrance C). For more information, contact Carol Flanagan at (773) 792-5116.

The Cancer Support Group for cancer patients, families and friends meets monthly, every last Wednesday, from 7-8:30 p.m.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Family Support Group for people with leukemia, lymphoma, myelodysplastic syndrome, multiple myeloma, Hodgkin’s Disease and their families meets every first Wednesday of the month.

The Butterfly Club is a support group for children ages 6 to 13 whose parent or caretaker has been diagnosed with cancer. This group meets every first Wednesday of the month. Registration and parental consent are required.

The Us Too! Prostate Cancer Support Group meets every second Wednesday of the month.

The Teen Cancer Support Group is for teens ages 13 to 18 whose parent or caretaker has been diagnosed with cancer. This group meets every third Wednesday of the month. Registration and parental consent are required.

Multiple Sclerosis Support Group meets the last Saturday of each month in the Resurrection Rehabilitation Center of Chicago, first floor, Professional Building, Entrance C. For more information, call (773) 594-7856.

Alzheimer’s Support Group meets the second Tuesday of the month in the Health Management Classroom in the Resurrection Rehabilitation Center of Chicago, first floor, Professional Building, Entrance C. Free. For more information, call Health Management at (773) 792-5022.

Afterglow Support Group for stroke survivors and their family/friends meets the second Wednesday of the month in the Resurrection Rehabilitation Center of Chicago, first floor, Professional Building, Entrance C.

Parkinson’s Support Group meets the third Wednesday of the month from 5-7 p.m. in the Resurrection Rehabilitation Center of Chicago, first floor, Professional Building, Entrance C. Call (773) 594-7866.

Advocate Lutheran General Hospital is forming a support network for women living with breast cancer. The Breast Cancer Networking Group meets from 2-3 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month. The support group provides breast cancer survivors the opportunity to share information and experiences with other women. The group, facilitated by Ashley Harlow, an American Cancer Society Patient Navigator, will be held at Lutheran General’s Center for Advanced Care, 1700 Luther Lane, Park Ridge, in the ground floor conference room G104. Call (847) 723-8130.

Northwest Suburban Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome Support Group of Illinois meets at 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month in Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, 1775 Dempster St., Park Ridge, Conference Room 1064. E-mail: bzarnikow @aol.com to be added to the e-mail list for meeting announcements.

Celebrate Recovery, a recovery support group for those with addictions, meets at 7 p.m. every Monday at Northwest Free Will Baptist Church, 5318 W. Diversey Ave., Chicago. Meetings are open. Call (773) 427-9300 for more information, or just show up at any meeting. Everyone is welcome.

Volunteers

To meet the increasing need of older adults who want to remain independent in their homes, Norwood Seniors Network is preparing to expand its meal-delivery service and is looking for more volunteers. The not-for-profit Norwood Seniors Network, at 6009 N. Nina Ave. in Chicago, provides freshly prepared nutritious meals each weekday for delivery to homes in northwest Chicago or near northwest suburbs by a handful of volunteers who use mapped routes. Each route takes from one to two hours to complete. Meal deliveries are made between 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, and volunteers can assist for one or more days a month. Persons interested in volunteering must have their own vehicle and insurance. Call Bryan Manasse at (773) 577-5387, e-mail to bmanasse@norwoodlifecare.org, or visit www.norwoodlifecare.org.

Individuals who have few of hours to spare are urged to join the Avenues to Independence Thrift Shoppe Team of Volunteers. Avenues is looking for friendly, hard-working men and women to help staff at the Thrift Shoppe, 7710 W. Touhy Ave., Chicago. Volunteers are needed on a regular basis from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, or 1-8 p.m. Thursdays. Volunteers receive a discount. No experience is needed. All proceeds from the Thrift Shoppe help Avenues continue valuable programs for adults with developmental disabilities. Contact the store manager, Michael Frustini, (847) 292-0870, Ext. 771.