La Grange Today

Video: Santa Claus comes to La Grange - 2010

Check out the video below to watch Santa Claus on his visit to downtown La Grange during the annual Hometown Holiday held Dec. 2.

Santa and Mrs. Claus La Grange arrive via fire engine at Village Hall, where they are formally welcomed by Ryan Williamson, president of the La Grange Business Association. La Grange President Elizabeth Asperger then asks the crowd to join Santa in lighting the village's Christmas tree.

Santa Claus in La Grange 2010 is hosted by Vimeo.

Sustainable agriculture focus of free library event

Interested in learning about community sustainable agriculture?

The La Grange Public Library and Go Green La Grange this Sunday, Nov. 14, will host a program featuring Jody and Beth Osmond of Cedar Valley Sustainable Farm in Ottawa.

The Osmonds will explain how farming methods they employ emphasize responsible stewardship of natural resources while producing local, healthy and environmentally friendly foods.

Attendees also will learn how to make educated choices dining and shopping choices.

The free program begins at 2 p.m. at the library, 10 W Cossitt Ave. Registration is encouraged but not required.

For more information, call the library at 708-352-0576.

Park District hosts Halloween party Friday night

The Park District of La Grange will host its annual Halloween Party on Friday, Oct. 29, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at its recreation center, 536 East Ave. 

Children ages 12 & younger are welcome, accompanied by an adult.  Admission is free and costumes are encouraged.

There will be games with prizes, pumpkin decorating, a magician, tattoo parlor, balloon artist, and chocolate dipping, sponsored by Fannie May Candies.

There also will be a bike raffle, sponsored by the La Grange Firefighters Union, and the White Sox Academy will be open too.

To prepare for the event, the center's track and gymnasium will close at 10:00 a.m.

Related story:

• 2010 Halloween Walk set for Saturday, Oct. 30

2010 Halloween Walk set for Saturday, Oct. 30

The annual La Grange Halloween Walk will commence this Saturday morning at 10:30, from the playground of Cossitt School, 115 W Cossitt Ave.

Sponsored by the La Grange Business Association, the walk will wind its way through downtown La Grange as merchants dispense treats to costumed youngsters from their storefronts.

Click on the video below to watch last year's Halloween Walk.

Related story:

• Park District hosts Halloween party Friday night

Video: Citizens Council hosts Gordon Park forum

A hearing on the merits of the Park District of La Grange's latest petition to sell 2.82 acres of Gordon Park is scheduled to begin Tuesday morning in Cook County Circuit Court. The public is welcome to attend.

But those persons unable to attend can watch a video of a forum on the topic held Sept. 8 by the La Grange Citizens Council.

In the video, Tom Beyer, an attorney for the La Grange Friends of the Parks, a group of residents who oppose the sale, describes the legal issues involved, explains the Friends' positions and takes questions from the audience.

Admittedly, it is a one-sided presentation. The Park District was asked to participate but declined the invitation.

Click the image below to watch the video.

Video: Town meeting at Seventh Ave School

Only about 20 residents attended the La Grange village board's "town meeting" Monday night in Seventh Ave School gymnasium.

Village President Liz Asperger attributed the low turnout to the Monday Night Football television broadcast, featuring the undefeated Chicago Bears versus conference rivals, the Green Bay Packers. (The Bears won, 20-17).

But here's your opportunity to view full video coverage of  the town meeting. Simpy click on the image below.

Family Fest offers fireworks, music, games & beer

Family Fest, a rite of summer hosted by the Park District of La Grange, takes place tonight in Gordon Park.

Click here for all the details.

Potters prepare 'empty bowls' to combat hunger

Empty Bowls, a community event designed to help fight hunger by raising funds for local food pantries, will take place April 22 from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. in downtown La Grange.

Volunteer potters from throughout the area have been converging at Terra Incognito Studios & Gallery, 35 S La Grange Rd, where they are making hundreds of clay bowls in preparation for the event.

Anyone who purchases a bowl ($20 for adults, $15 for children) can take it to any or all of 19 participating restaurants and food retailers during the three-hour event and have it filled with soup, pasta, and desserts and other fare.

The money raised will be donated to food pantries at St. Cletus Church, Second Baptist Church and St. Francis Xavier Church.

Watch the video below to learn more about the event from Terra Incognito owner David Toan, and see the potters at work:

Palmer's celebrates St. Pat with five-day festival

Palmer Place, the popular restaurant and biergarten in downtown La Grange, is celebrating St. Patrick with its 27th Annual Shamrock Festival: five days and nights of Irish music, drink and, of course, green beer.

While you may have missed the initial festivities held this past weekend, they were just a warm-up to Tuesday and Wednesday's high points.

La Grange Today visited with co-owner Steve Palmer last Friday morning, and later on checked out the music and the first-night crowd.

Watch our video report below:

Cops & Kids raise $2,600 for Cari Cook Family Fund

Countryside Interim Chief of Police Scott Novak presents Matt Cook, holding daughter Ellie, with a symbolic check for $2,600 as Mayor Robert Conrad looks on.

The family of Cari Lyn Cook, the young Countryside mother who was struck and killed last May while crossing 47th St with her two small children, received a check for $2,600 at tonight's meeting of the Countryside city council.

The money was raised at the 13th Annual Cops & Kids basketball tournament held February 18 at Gurrie Middle School in La Grange.

To learn more about the event, watch the video below. To learn more about the Cari Lyn Cook Family Fund, click here to visit the website.