THE WEEK >
Your government
Monday, Dec. 1
Flossmoor Board of Trustees will meet at 7 p.m. in village hall, 2800 Flossmoor Road. The agenda is available here. The livestream of the meeting will be available here. Meeting ID 852 1089 4513, passcode 60422.
Highlight:
- Continue discussion of possible regulations for e-bikes and e-scooters.
Tuesday, Dec. 2
Homewood-Flossmoor School District 233 Board of Education Finance Committee will meet at 7:45 a.m. in the Viking Room, South Building, 999 Kedzie Ave. The agenda is available here.
The District 153 School Board will hold a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the James Hart School Resource Center, 18220 Morgan Ave. The board will name the district’s next superintendent.
Homewood-Flossmoor Park District Board of Commissioners will meet at 7 p.m. in the Goldberg Administration Center, 3301 Flossmoor Road. The agenda is available here.
Thursday, Dec. 4
Homewood Appearance Commission will meet at 6 p.m. in village hall, 2020 Chestnut Road. The agenda is available here. The livestream of the meeting will be available here. Meeting ID 844 1118 8079, passcode 170845.
Highlight:
- Review plans for Raising Canes restaurant at 17601 S. Halsted St., formerly home to Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers.
Notices
Flossmoor Public Library Closure. The library will be closed Friday, Dec. 5, all day for a staff in-service.
Homewood Chevy Cares Car Giveaway. Chevrolet of Homewood will give away a car on Christmas Eve to the person whose essay is selected by staff. The deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 8, to submit an essay describing how a car would change your life. Essays can be submitted at HomewoodChevyCares.com or mailed to Chevrolet of Homewood at 18033 Halsted St. Homewood, IL 60430, attention: Homewood Chevy Cares Essay Contest.
Family Meal Kits. Action for a Better Tomorrow, in partnership with local Homewood and Flossmoor Schools, is hosting a Dollar Tree Family Meal Kits + Breakfast & Snack Drive. From Dec. 1 to 16 assemble meal kits and drop them at Homewood Library, 17917 Dixie Highway; Flossmoor Public Library, 1000 Sterling Ave.; and The Rock Shop, 18109 Dixie Highway. Meal options available here. Donate breakfast and snack items, including oatmeal, granola bars, fruit cups, shelf-stable milk, crackers. For more information, text or call Leslie at 708-522-4204 or Jennifer at 312-909-6684. Donations will benefit school families at Willow, Churchill, James Hart, H-F High, Serena Hills and Parker.
Leave It For Love. New, unused gifts will be collected through January and then distributed among low-income, isolated older adults throughout the Chicagoland area. Gifts can be dropped at Beyond Borders Café, 1036 Sterling Ave. in Flossmoor and Loulou Belle, 2049 Ridge Road in Homewood. Suggested items include trinkets, tchotchkes, hostess gifts, personal care items, warm weather gear, household décor and non-perishable food. For more info visit www.leaveitforlove.com or follow Leave It for Love on Facebook @leaveitforlove.
Toys for Tots. Patrick Zamkin’s Edward Jones office is a drop-off location for Toys for Tots Illinois. Bring new, unwrapped toys or games to 18735 Dixie Highway in Homewood by Dec. 12. For more information, call 708-798-9066 or email nichole.o’[email protected].
Stuff to do
Monday, Dec. 1
Teen Leadership Council. Teens meet from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. in the Fort at Homewood Public Library, 17917 Dixie Highway. Teens help with programming ideas, book suggestions or anything else that will help make the world around us a better place. Register here.
Tuesday, Dec. 2
Rising Readers. Homewood Public Library, 17917 Dixie Highway, will host story time from 10:30 to 11 a.m. in Rauch Reading Room for ages 0 to 6 years old with stories, songs, bubbles and more. Register here.
You Matter 2 Holiday Happy Hour Toy Drive. You Matter 2 plans an evening of community, holiday cheer and giving back from 5 to 8 p.m. at Vintrendi Wine Company, 3408 Vollmer Road, Olympia Fields. Enjoy wine, light bites and great company while helping the organization reach its Discover Their Path campaign goal of $5,000 to support youth empowerment, with every dollar matched by Dot Foods. Vintrendi Wine Company will generously donate 15% of all bar and bottle sales to the campaign. Suggested donation: $20 or a new, unwrapped toy for our Adopt-A-Family program to help spread holiday joy to families in need. Please RSVP at bit.ly/49Aqnad. Must be 21 or over to attend.
Cookies & Comics. Homewood Public Library, 17917 Dixie Highway, will host an opportunity to discuss comics and enjoy treats from 6 to 6:45 p.m. Register here.
Just Jane: A Visit With Jane Austen. A Jane Austen performer will provide a glimpse of her life in 1815 in a visit to Homewood Public Library, 17917 Dixie Highway, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The performance delves into the personal life of one of the most beloved and intriguing novelists of the 19th century. The presentation is followed by a Q & A period.
Wednesday, Dec. 3
Read, Rock, n’ Rhyme. Homewood Public Library, 17917 Dixie Highway, will host story time for kids age 0 to 7 years old. Kids will be able to dance, shake and wiggle as we share stories, songs, rhymes, and more from 10:30 to 11 a.m. in the Rauch Reading Room. Register here.
Thursday, Dec. 4
Chess Club for All. Homewood Public Library, 17917 Dixie Highway, will host chess club from 4 to 5 p.m. in the meeting room. Practice chess skills or learn the basics of playing the game. Open to all ages.
Friday, Dec. 5
Holiday Lights in Homewood Festival. The annual holiday gathering in downtown Homewood will go from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The market and family activities will be on Ridge Road west of Dixie Highway and on Martin Avenue south of Ridge. The coveted seasonal mug is gingerbread-themed this year. Mugs are available with mulled wine for $10 or without wine for $5. Mug sales are cash only, limit two mugs per person. The H-F Park District community Christmas tree lighting will be in Irwin Park, 1800 block of Ridge Road. Santa will arrive about 7 p.m. to preside over the tree lighting. Kids can visit Santa until 8:45 p.m.
Pop-up Photo Portraits. Homewood Creative Alliance and Beyond the Book are collaborating on pop-up photo portraits for $15 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at 18063 Dixie Highway. Proceeds will benefit the alliance.
Saturday, Dec. 6
Food Drive for Catholic Charities at St. John Neumann Parish, 17951 Dixie Highway in Homewood, from 9 to 11 a.m. This is a pop-the-trunk event. Cash and check donations will be accepted.
Holiday Sing-Along. Flossmoor Public Library, 1000 Sterling Ave., will host a sing-a-long event for all ages from 10 a.m. to noon.
Homewood Holiday Market. The market will provide a great opportunity for holiday shopping from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the auditorium at 2010 Chestnut Road.
Pictures with Santa. Santa will be at Thomas Photographic Services, 18676 Dixie Highway in Homewood, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for photos. No appointments are needed. Prices start at $25.
Snow Globe Ornaments. Kids in grades K through 6th can meet in the Homewood Public Library meeting room, 17917 Dixie Highway, from 2 to 3 p.m. to make waterless snow globe ornaments that can be hung up or sat upon a flat surface. Register here.
Holiday Crafts for Kids. H-F Park District will host hours of fun making holiday crafts from 2 to 5 p.m. at Irwin Center, 18120 Highland Ave. in Homewood. Children will create several different crafts to be given as gifts or used for holiday decorations. For kids from 6 to 12 years old. Fee is $35 for park district residents, $45 for non-residents. Register here.
Gingerbread Village Display Tour. Flossmoor resident and gingerbread artist/baker Janet Gustafson gives tours of her annual Gingerbread Village display. Tours are open and free of charge, but registration is required. The display is available for viewing from 4 to 6 p.m. Register here.
Shopping with a Kappa. The seventh annual shopping event sponsored by the Chicago Heights Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Walmart, 21000 Western Ave. in Olympia Fields. Donations will help serve more children. Make donations to [email protected] and put SWAK in the subject line.
South Suburban Humane Society Holiday Market. Volunteers are hosting a holiday market from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6 and 7, of handmade crafts and a bake sale at the humane society, 21800 Central Ave. in Matteson. The humane society also has a holiday “wish list” for its operations. Donations can be left at the society during business hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from noon to 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
Grande Prairie Singers. Under the direction of David L. Brunner, the choir will present “A Very Grande Prairie Christmas: One December Bright and Clear” featuring singers, organ and handbells at 4 p.m., St. Paul Lutheran Church, 330 W. Highland Drive in Chicago Heights. The group will perform works by Forrest, Jennings, Chilcott, Rogers, Willberg, Ulreich and Brunner. The audience will be invited to join in on carols. This concert is free, with free will offerings accepted.
James Hart Winter Choir Concert. Sixth, seventh and eighth grade students at Homewood’s James Hart School will perform in concert at 2 p.m. on the stage at Homewood-Flossmoor High School, 999 Kedzie Ave. in Flossmoor. The choir is under the direction of teacher Heather Olsen.
Sunday, Dec. 7
Gingerbread House Extravaganza. Flossmoor Public Library, 1000 Sterling Ave., will host its annual gingerbread house-building workshop from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Helen Wilson Meeting Room. Register here.
Bel Canto 10th Anniversary Choir Concert. The concert will be held in the Mall Auditorium at Homewood-Flossmoor High School, South Building, 999 Kedzie Ave. in Flossmoor, starting at 3 p.m. Tickets range from $8.95 to $13.16 and can be purchased here.
Cruel Yule Krampus Market. Thornton Distilling Co. will host the fourth annual wicked winter market from noon to 6 p.m. at 400 E. Margaret St. in Thornton. Spooky meets seasonal in 35 vendor shops.
Plan ahead
Tuesday, Dec. 9
Santa Driveway Visits. Santa will stop by from 5 to 7 p.m. so kids can tell him what they want for Christmas or take a personal photo with him. For H-F Park District residents only. Fee is $20 per house visit. Register here.
Wednesday, Dec. 10
Santa Driveway Visits. Santa will stop by from 5 to 7 p.m. so kids can tell him what they want for Christmas or take a personal photo with him. For H-F Park District residents only. Fee is $20 per house visit. Register here.
Thursday, Dec. 11
Infamous Flossmoor. Tom Dobrez, author of the recently released Flossmoor history, “A More Perfect Place,” will tell some of the village’s little known stories, like the debacle that made the front page of the Wall Street Journal or the international scandal caused by a Flossmoor resident who was a Playboy centerfold. The presentation will be in the Flossmoor Library’s Helen Wilson Meeting Room from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Professional Women’s Network Sip and Shop. From 5 to 8 p.m. at Gypsy Fix, 1056 Sterling Ave. in Flossmoor, the Professional Women’s Network will host its third annual Sip and Shop event, a fun way to catch up, support small women owned businesses, and share some holiday cheer. Light refreshments will be served.
Friday, Dec. 12
Kayla and Mara’s Hot Chocolate Stand. Sisters Kayla and Mara Winfree will hold their 22nd annual hot chocolate sale to benefit Toys for Tots from 4 to 8 p.m. at 1323 Hillview Road in Homewood. Donations can be made in cash at the stand or by Venmo at
@winfreehotchocolate, by Zelle at 708-539-0514 or by PayPal at @winfreecocoa.
Christmas Movie Trivia Night. Lovers of Christmas movies can showcase their knowledge to use and win a “major award” at the Flossmoor Community Church’s annual Christmas Movie Trivia Night, starting at 7 p.m. at the Flossmoor Community Church Community House, 847 Hutchison Road in Flossmoor. Trivia will be hosted by Jamie O’Shea. Entry is $5 cash or check at the door. BYOB, or $5 Christmas cocktails available. Bring a team or compete as an individual.
Sunday, Dec. 14
SoCoMCM Holiday Gathering and Ornament Sale. From 2 to 4 p.m., Southland Collective of Midcentury Modern will hold a holiday gathering and ornament sale at 2506 Oakwood Drive in Olympia Fields. RSVP encouraged by Dec. 7 to [email protected].
Thursday, Dec. 18-21
Light Up Trail Walk. Irons Oaks Environmental Learning Center will host from 6 to 8 p.m. a stroll each night through decorated nature trails. Hot chocolate and s’mores are included in the ticket price. Early bird fee is $4 until Dec. 12. After that, $5 cash only at the door. Register here.
< THE WEEK
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All the stories
- Humane Society hopes to meet matching gift (Nov. 29).
- Catholic Charities food drive is Saturday, Dec. 6 (Nov. 29).
- A More Perfect Place: Flossmoor’s men of high tech (Nov. 29).
- Families find new shoes and support through Sarah’s Soles program (Nov. 28).
- IDPH issues statement contesting CDC website changes on vaccines and autism (Nov. 28).
- Young roboticists use Legos to help revive Flossmoor archaeology dig (Nov. 27).
- Homewood officials hold first Hot Topics meeting on TIF districts (Nov. 27).
- Suburban Access delivers 1,000 Thanksgiving meals amid rising need (Nov. 26).
- 27 outstanding H-F High musicians performed at district festival (Nov. 26).
- The Drama Group to perform fun musical, ‘A Christmas Story’ (Nov. 26).
- H-F High teacher wins honor for reaching all students (Nov. 25).
- Cook County Board approves funding support for small businesses (Nov. 25).
- H-F Park District earns Distinguished Accredited Agency recognition (Nov. 24).
- Arts council helps student musicians get studio time (Nov. 24).
- Homewood Creative Alliance brings local artists together (Nov. 24).
- Chorale, Gargoyle Brass to offer ‘Holiday Joy & Fanfare’ concerts (Nov. 23).
