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The Weeks | Sept. 21: Vikings win homecoming, Flossmoor streetscape, sewer relocation, OAKtoberfest, painting with light, LWV legislative write-in, Anew gala, Recyclepalooza, H-F musical

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Your government

Flossmoor School District 161 Board of Education Learning and Instruction Committee will meet at 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22, in Normandy Villa, 41 E. Elmwood Drive, Chicago Heights. The agenda is available here.

Flossmoor School District 161 Board of Education will meet at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22 at Normandy Villa, 41 E. Elmwood Drive, Chicago Heights. The agenda is available1 here. The meeting livestream will be available here.

Highlight:

  • The board will hold a public hearing on the 2025-2026 budget prior to the regular meeting and will consider approving the budget during the regular meeting.

Flossmoor Community Relations Committee will meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22, in village hall, 2800 Flossmoor Road. The agenda is available here.

Flossmoor School District 161 Board of Education Community Engagement Committee will meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, at Normandy Villa, 41 E. Elmwood Drive, Chicago Heights. The agenda is available here.

Homewood Board of Trustees will not meet Tuesday, Sept. 23, as originally scheduled. In honor of Rosh Hashanah, the meet has been rescheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30.

Homewood Planning and Zoning Commission will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, in village hall, 2020 Chestnut Road. The agenda is available here. The meeting livestream will be available here. Meeting ID 991 8481 1606, passcode 573812.

Highlight: 

  • Consider a request to re-subdivide Washington Park Plaza at 17748-17956 Halsted St. 

Notices

Flossmoor Road Closure. Crews will work Monday through Friday relocating a sanitary sewer that currently runs under the Civic Center building. Flossmoor Road will be closed from Leavitt Avenue to Sterling Avenue. Work will take place from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. for about two weeks, depending on weather. Residents who reside in the closed section will have access to their buildings. A road detour will be in place for others during the closure using Sterling Avenue, Hawthorne Lane and Leavitt Avenue. Village officials urge everyone to allow more time to travel, follow the directions of flaggers and detour signs and drive cautiously.

Flossmoor Streetscape Project Update. Downtown streets will be closed Monday as crews begin as early as 6 a.m. applying asphalt surface. Landscaping work and light pole painting will continue. Last week crews applied the asphalt base to the streets, adjusted streetlight bases and reset brick pavers in the traffic circle.

Stuff to do

Monday, Sept. 22

Prime Time Fitness with Gigi. Low-impact aerobics for beginners or mature exercisers starts at 10:30 a.m. at the H-F Racquet and Fitness Club, 2920 W. 183rd St. in Homewood.

Card Gamers Unite. Homewood Public Library, 17917 Dixie Highway, will host card games in the FORT from 4 to 5 p.m. for anyone going into 7th through 12th grades. Registration is preferred, not required.

Strong Foundations – Bone Health Through All Ages and Stages. Homewood Public Library, 17917 Dixie Highway, will host from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dr. Veena Nayak, an Advocate Health rheumatology specialist, who will educate, empower, and engage adults on how to build and maintain optimal bone health. Registration is required.

Light Painting. Flossmoor Public Library, 1000 Sterling Ave., will host a session from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on painting with light on your phone. Participants will need to download the free “Light Painting” by WowStuff app. Participation requires a minimum of 2 people; one to “paint” and one to record on their phone. Space is limited to 14 participants. Those who register will enter first, then first come first served. Children under 9 years old must have an adult caregiver stay with them at the program.  Registration required.

Adolescent Activists. Homewood Public Library, 17917 Dixie Highway, will host from 7 to 8 p.m. a platform for teens to share their opinions and views on real world issues and events. Discussions on a picked topic will be facilitated by a member of the Teen Leadership Council.  Adolescent Activists welcomes all teens who want to be heard through conversations with their peers. Registration is required.

Tuesday, Sept. 23

Parent Night: Standards Based Grading. Flossmoor School District 161 will host an opportunity from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. for parents to learn more about the district’s new standards-based grading system at Parker Junior High, 2810 School St. Refreshments served from 6 to 6:30 p.m. Register here.

Wednesday, Sept. 24

Aqua Zumba with Gigi. This class is a low-impact, high-energy aquatic exercise at the H-F Racquet & Fitness Club, 2920 W. 183rd St. starting at 9:30 a.m. Fee is $10 for club members, $20 for guests.

Blood Drive. The Divine 9, a group of Black sororities and fraternities, is marking September as Sickle Cell Month by hosting a blood drive from 2:30 to 7 p.m. at the Irwin Center, 18120 Highland Ave. in Homewood.

Family Yoga with Serendipity Yoga and Wellness. Flossmoor Public Library, 1000 Sterling Ave., will host a yoga session from 6 to 7 p.m. led by Liz Smith of Serendipity Yoga and Wellness. The family yoga class will be full of connection, movement and fun. Bring your yoga mats or a towel. It will be helpful children participating are old enough to follow general directions and young enough to be willing and able to play games and get up and down from the floor. 

Thursday, Sept. 25

Legislative Write-In. The League of Women Voters Homewood Flossmoor Area will host an opportunity from 5:30 to 8 p.m. for food, fellowship, fun, reuniting, recruiting and writing letters to legislators about important issues. The meeting will be at Irwin Park Community Center, 18120 Highland Ave. in Homewood. Tickets are $40 per person. RSVP here or email [email protected].

Community Bonfire. The Homewood-Flossmoor Park District will host a community bonfire from 6 to 8 p.m. at Pinewood Park, Hedgerow Lane and Fresno Avenue in Homewood. Make s’mores and friends and roast marshmallows. Standard s’more materials will be provided, but  feel welcome to bring any other ingredients you’d like to add.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical. The Homewood-Flossmoor High School Theater Department will present “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical” at 7 p.m. in the auditorium at Homewood-Flossmoor High School, 999 Kedzie Ave. This hour-long children’s play will bring the chaos of middle school to the stage. It’s a heartfelt story that sneaks in a radical idea: popularity fades but belonging sticks. Tickets are $6 for students and senior citizens and $11 for adults and are available through gofan.co.

Friday, Sept. 26

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical. The Homewood-Flossmoor High School Theater Department will present “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical” at 7 p.m. in the auditorium at Homewood-Flossmoor High School, 999 Kedzie Ave. This hour-long children’s play will bring the chaos of middle school to the stage. It’s a heartfelt story that sneaks in a radical idea: popularity fades but belonging sticks. Tickets are $6 for students and senior citizens and $11 for adults and are available through gofan.co.

Saturday, Sept. 27

Food Drive. The Parish of St. John Neumann is sponsoring a food drive from 9 to 11 a.m. to benefit Catholic Charities. Canned goods, dry cereal, soups and other non-perishable food items can be dropped off in the parish parking lot at 17951 Dixie Highway in Homewood.

Recyclepalooza. Area residents can drop off hard-to-recycle items from 9 a.m. to noon in the Parker Junior High School parking lot. There is a fee for televisions, $15, and monitors, $10.
For a complete list of accepted items, visit www.Flossmoor.org.

Fall Costume Collection. Homewood Public Library, 17916 Dixie Highway, will host a fall costume swap. Bring your gently-used costumes to the library from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
and pick a new-to-you costume.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical. The Homewood-Flossmoor High School Theater Department will present “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical” at 2 p.m. in the auditorium at Homewood-Flossmoor High School, 999 Kedzie Ave. This hour-long children’s play will bring the chaos of middle school to the stage. It’s a heartfelt story that sneaks in a radical idea: popularity fades but belonging sticks. Tickets are $6 for students and senior citizens and $11 for adults and are available through gofan.co.

Homewood Outdoor Farmers Market. The market will be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Martin Square on Martin Avenue between Chestnut and Ridge Roads in downtown Homewood. Vendors will offer fresh produce, baked goods, handcrafted jewelry, skincare and more. Food trucks will be on hand and ready-to-eat meals will be available.

STEM Saturday. Science play and learning from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Homewood Science Center, 18022 Dixie Highway.

Barb & Dan’s Road Ride. Riders of all experience levels can join the group which leaves at 8 a.m. from GoodSpeed Cycles, 2125 183rd St. in Homewood. There is a no-drop group that rides about 20 miles and stronger riders sometimes go farther. Helmets required, daytime lights strongly recommended.

Off-leash Ride. A leisurely just-riding-around nine-mile ride every Saturday. Route includes Butterfield Creek bike path, Rovers Run and Izaak Walton Preserve. Starts at GoodSpeed Cycles, 2125 183rd St., at 8:30 a.m. sharp, ends back at the shop 9:45ish for donuts.

Sunday, Sept. 28

Beer, Books and Bourbon. The Thornton Distilling Co., 400 E. Margaret St. in Thornton, and The Rock Shop will host from noon to 5 p.m. a literature fest with south suburban craft brewers, brick-and-mortar booksellers, area authors and publishers along with local literarily themed artisans.

Plan ahead

Friday, Oct. 3

Haunted Night Out. You Matter 2 will host a spooky adventure for kids in 6th through 12th grade. Participants will visit the Basement of the Dead in Aurora from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Dinner and roundtrip transportation are included. Meet at Flossmoor Community Church, 2218 Hutchison Road. Cost is $30 for You Matter 2 members, $35 for non-members. Register by Friday, Sept. at youmatter2.org/events.

Keeping Dreams Alive Sneaker Ball. Anew: Building Beyond Violence and Abuse will celebrate the organization’s 45th anniversary at its annual gala, an evening of dinner, dancing, silent auction, raffle and an awards ceremony honoring those who continue to bring awareness to domestic violence. The event will be from 6 to 10 p.m. at Georgios Banquets, 8800 W. 159th St. in Orland Park. Tickets are $150 per person. Register by Sept. 26. 

Saturday, Oct. 4

OAKtoberfest. Flossmoor’s autumn festival will take place in two stages. Village arborist Dave Becker will lead an educational tree walk at 10 a.m. beginning at Brassie Avenue and Flossmoor Road. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. there will be interactive workshops and demonstrations focused on sustainable living, organic gardening and native plantings in Flossmoor Park.
There will be nature-themed crafts just for kids plus rock climbing, a bubble performer and facepainting. The second stage from 4 to 9 p.m. will be OAKtoberfest Music Festival in the south commuter lot. Music by DJ Emilio will be followed by live performances by ReTurn2Soul and Chicago-based Ring of Music Band & Orchestra.

Building Modern South Suburban Communities: The Work of McPherson, Swing & Associates. Flossmoor Public Library, 1000 Sterling Ave., will host from 3 to 4 p.m. a presentation by Marcy Dinius, professor at DePaul University, on influential mid-century modern architect John McPherson, whose firm designed numerous south suburban commercial and residential buildings, including in Homewood and Flossmoor. This event is co-sponsored by the Southland Collective of Mid-Century Modern. Registration is not required.

Van Sipma Jewelers Anniversary Jewelry Event. Van Sipma Jewelers is celebrating its 125th anniversary with a vintage and estate jewelry event opening on Saturday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.. to 4 p.m., and resuming Oct.. 7 through 11. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. The store is at 2011 Ridge Road in downtown Homewood.

Learn to Curl. Today and Oct. 11 from 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. H-F Park District will host curling lessons at the H-F Ice Arena for beginners and those looking to refine their skills. This program will introduce participants to the foundational rules, techniques and gameplay of curling in a supportive and fun environment for ages 15 and up. Fee is $80. Click here to register.

Saturday, Oct. 11

Homewood Fall Fest & Chili Cook-off. The annual autumn festival will return from noon to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11, on Martin Avenue in downtown Homewood. The festival will feature food, live music and activities for kids, including face-painting, crafts and a rock-climbing wall. The event features the annual Chili Cook-Off. Judging will take place at 2 p.m. and at 3 p.m. tasting will open to the public for a $5 donation. Proceeds will go to Spotlight Performance Academy.

Frank Lloyd Wright House Tour. The Foundation for the Preservation of Flossmoor History is sponsoring tours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. of the recently restored Frederick D. Nichols house at 1136 Brassie Ave. The home was designed by iconic architect Frank Lloyd Wright and was built in 1906. Tickets may be obtained online or at the door for a $30 per person donation to the foundation. Funds are being raised to restore the foundation’s home, the Wagner Building at 2709 Flossmoor Road. 

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