the daily

Christmas Walk 2009 offers an evening of festivities

The 18th annual Christmas Walk takes place Saturday (Dec. 5) in downtown La Grange.

Click here for a schedule of events and a map of merchants holding open houses this year.

Christmas tree rises once again on Village Hall lawn

In its annual November ritual, a public works crew Monday hoisted a Christmas tree into place on the lawn of La Grange Village Hall.

What kind of evergreen is it? They were not sure. Balsam fir, maybe?

Where did it come from? Hmm ... Wisconsin, they think.

But hey, they didn't order the tree. Their job is only put it in place.

We'll get the tree details from Mike Bojovic, assistant director of public works. In the meantime, you can watch a short video of the event.

There's a snowfall coming soon, no doubt.

Last minute events: Library's Xmas craft programs

If you are one of those people who bought their Christmas decorations when they hit the store shelves before Halloween, a presentation tonight at the La Grange Library on making wreaths and other holiday decorations in the fashion of Colonial Williamsburg may be too late for you.

But if you're one of those people who puts everything off until the last minute, this program is perfect because its commencement is only hours away.

Librarian and traveler Nancy McCully will host Christmas in Williamsburg, a slide lecture, beginning at 7 p.m. in the Dierkes Community Room. Reservations are recommended and can be made online by clicking here. Don't worry, it's not booked up. We checked with the library late Monday afternoon.

Don't worry about a sitter either. The library also is offering a Holiday Card Workshop for children at the same time. Well, almost. That program starts at 6:45 p.m. in the library's Youth Services department. Register for that program by phoning (708) 352-0576.

Admission is free to both events.

Video: Highlights of La Grange Halloween Walk 2009

The La Grange Halloween Walk 2009 started last Saturday morning under sunny skies that quickly clouded over. But the rains that drenched the village for much of October stayed away.

Temperatures dropped but spirits remained high for the hundreds of children who followed a winding, sugar-laden route of treats offered by downtown merchants.

View highlights of Halloween Walk 2009 by clicking the image below.

New hours for Halloween Walk & door-to-door treating, both scheduled for this Saturday

The annual Halloween Walk in downtown La Grange has a new starting time—10:30 a.m. this Saturday, Oct. 31.

Children are invited to don their costumes and visit a variety of merchants to receive free treats until 12:30 p.m.

A map of the suggested route can be found on the website of the La Grange Business Association, sponsor of the Halloween Walk.

Afterwards, the kids might as well keep their costumes on as trick or treating door to door throughout the neighborhoods occurs from 3:00 until 7:00 p.m. this year.

The new hours were decided upon by village officials based on feedback from residents.

La Grange fire department hosts 2009 open house

The La Grange fire department will hold its annual open house this Saturday, Oct. 3, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Several demonstrations of firefighting and rescue techniques are planned, and free hot dogs and refreshments will be served from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.

Representatives of the La Grange police canine unit, Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital, the La Grange Library, Park District of La Grange and the Indiana Harbor Beltway also will be on hand with exhibits and information.

The fire station is located at 300 W Burlington Ave. Click here for a map and directions. For more information, call (708) 579-2338.

Cossitt School holds 2009 used clothing sale Saturday

This year's used clothing sale at Cossitt School will be held Saturday, Oct. 3, from 8 a.m. until noon.

The sale features fall and winter clothing in "gently used" condition for boys, girls and infants. Sports shoes, bicycles and baby equipment also will be offered for sale.

A half-priced yellow-tag sale runs from 11 a.m. until noon.

Only adults will be admitted before 10 a.m. Children will be allowed thereafter if accompanied by an adult.

Cash and personal checks (with ID) will be accepted as payment. Sorry, no credit or debit cards.

The school is located at 115 W Cossitt Ave, one block west of La Grange Rd. Click here for map and directions.

For more information, call (708) 352-1931.

Annual Race Unity Rally takes place Sunday, Sept. 13

La Grange will celebrate the diversity of its residents Sunday afternoon, Sept. 13, at the 18th Annual Race Unity Rally. The event begins at 3:00 p.m. in the village hall auditorium.

"The rally is an annual reminder to our community that we all need to work together to appreciate our differences while recognizing our similarities," said Marion Honel-Wilson, co-chair of the event, which is sponsored by the CommUNITY Diversity Group of La Grange.

The theme for this year's rally is “Quality Education for All Our Children,” Honel-Wilson said.

"We believe, as President Obama said in Philadelphia last year, that '…we cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together - unless we perfect our union by understanding that we may have different stories, but we hold common hopes; that we may not look the same and we may not have come from the same place, but we all want to move in the same direction - towards a better future for our children and our grandchildren,'” she said.

The event's keynote speaker is Henri Boyd Banks, a former La Grange resident, who currently is with Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. In addition, Lyons Township High School’s new Superintendent, Dr. Timothy Kilrea, will introduce himself.

The CommUNITY Diversity Group will present its annual achievement award to Joyce and Gaylon Lightner in recognition of their active contributions to the La Grange community.

The CEP youth leadership performance group “Watch My Feet” will perform skits and dances to get their message across, and the Village of La Grange will present its annual proclamation recognizing the event.

West End Art Fair 2009 sets up this weekend

The 14th annual West End Art Fair happens this Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 12-13, along Burlington Ave in front of the Stone Ave train station in La Grange.

The juried festival, which features 125 artists from across the country, will be open from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. both days. Visitors will find paintings, sculptures, woodwork, jewelry, photography, watercolor, and mixed media creations.

One of the easels to be offered at the
Art Under the Stars auction.

The fair also will be the setting for an Art Under the Stars auction Saturday evening of 47 artworks that were displayed on easels all summer long throughout the downtown and the West End business districts. The artworks all are take-offs with a La Grange twist of well known masterpieces by the likes of Picasso, Van Gogh, Rockwell, Wyeth and Salvador Dali.

Click here to view all 47 easels in an online gallery hosted by the La Grange Business Association (LGBA), which sponsored and promoted the event known as The BIG Picture. The easels also will displayed all day Saturday under the trees at the Stone Ave station.

Proceeds from the auction, which begins at 5 p.m., will benefit the Pets and Pals Charity and the La Grange Historical Society.

In conjunction with the auction, the LGBA also is hosting three other events on Saturday:

• High School Film Festival from 11 .a.m to 4 p.m. in the newly renovated La Grange Theater. Students from Lyons Township High School and Nazareth Academy will showcase their short films on the big screen. The festival has five categories including dramatic shorts, comedic shorts, stop-motion animation, computer generated animation and music video. A first prize of $100 in LGBA gift certificates will be given in each category in addition to a $100 overall audience favorite award. The awards will be presented at 5:30 pm at the Art Under the Stars auction.
  
• Masterpieces on Glass from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Indian Guide tribes, Boy and Girl Scout troops, church youth groups, and individual families will team up with local businesses to create a painting of “Their La Grange” on a 4x4 foot section of the sponsoring business’s window. The pieces will be judged and prizes will be awarded at the Art under the Stars auction that evening. There is no entry fee for this contest and those interested should contact Heather Cavanaugh at heather@lgba.com for more information.
• Architectural/Historic Trolley Tours of La Grange from noon until 4 p.m. The La Grange Historical Society will host the trolley tours, which are intended to give interested residents and visitors the opportunity to learn about both the history and architectural importance of La Grange. The tours are free but tickets are required. Tickets are available at the community development office in the La Grange village hall and, if there are tickets remaining, at the festival.
  

Drop-off event to dispose of old medicines, syringes

La Grange residents seeking to dispose of expired or unwanted prescription medications, syringes and medical devices containing toxic materials such as mercury are encouraged to drop off those items to the Franklin Park police department this Saturday, Aug. 15, from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Personnel from the Cook County Department of Environmental Control, along with other county and state agencies, will ensure that these hazardous materials are disposed of in a safe and appropriate manner.

The Franklin Park police department is located at 25th and Belmont Aves. The phone number is (847) 455-6663.

For additional information, including a list of what items will and will not be accepted, click here.