Walking tour to highlight Haas murals

A walking tour sponsored by the Flossmoor Public Library of Homewood’s collection of large murals by artist Richard Haas will benefit an effort to bring a veterans memorial to Flossmoor.

The tour will be from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on July 2, launching from Martin Square at Martin Avenue and Ridge Road in Homewood and concluding at the Homewood Veterans Memorial at Harwood Avenue and Olive Road.

In between, Kristine Condon, author of “Richard Haas Murals in Homewood,” will guide participants on an informative tour with stops at each of Haas’ 15 murals in the village, as well as quick history lessons and stories about other people and places along the way.

Registration for the walking tour is $5 at the Flossmoor Public Library, 1000 Sterling Ave., or at https://flossmoorvets.square.site.

Copies of Condon’s book and other commemorative items will be on sale at the tour July 2. All proceeds will be directed to the effort to construct the Veterans’ Wall of Honor on a 9,500-square-foot parcel north of Flossmoor Road and east of the Metra/CN tracks. Designed by Flossmoor architect Michael Matthys, the Wall of Honor will provide a tribute to all current and former Flossmoor residents who are serving or have served our nation’s armed forces, according to a news release.

Work underway on expansion at Stagg High School

A two-year, $15.5 million expansion project at Stagg High School officially kicked off last week with a groundbreaking ceremony at the school in Palos Hills.

The project will add 11 classrooms, four science labs, additional teacher workspace, office space and a conference room, as well as a rooftop environmental learning space, according to a news release from District 230.

Work is expected to be contained to the school’s south courtyard for the first year of the project, then shift to the north courtyard in 2024.

District 230 Superintendent Robert Nolting called the expansion “modest” but said it will bring “much-needed, long-overdue classroom and teacher workspace to Stagg.”

“It will allow for greater programming flexibility and give students some breathing room as they navigate the hallways,” he said.

Stagg alumni Nikki Bridges and Brian Otte of Studio GC Architects will oversee the design of the project.

Plant sale to benefit forest preserves

An online Summer Blooms native plant sale hosted by The Nature Foundation of Will County is underway via the Foundation’s website, willcountynature.org, where orders can be placed through July 9. The plant pickup and pop-up sale is planned July 29 and 30, at the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville.

The Summer Blooms sale features a variety of late-blooming native plants that are much-needed sources of nutrition for pollinators, especially bees and butterflies, according to a news release from the foundation. Among the more than 60 species of native plants available are blazing stars, asters, goldenrods, anise hyssop, ironweed and culver’s root.

The Nature Foundation supports the education, recreation and restoration efforts of the Forest Preserve District of Will County.

Garden Walk returns for 32nd year in Crete

The Crete Woman’s Club garden walk will return for its 32nd year.

The A Day in the Country event will include five gardens — two in Crete, two in Monee and one in Steger — that showcase nature’s beauty along with each gardener’s designs, whimsy and knowledge, according to a news release from the organization. The gardens can be previewed from 4-7 p.m. on June 20 and toured from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on June 21 and 22.

Accompanying the event is a free art and craft fair from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on June 21 and 22 at Crete Methodist Church, 1321 Main St. in Crete.

Tickets for A Day in the Country are $20 and available at businesses around Crete. More information is at cretewomansclub.net or by calling 708-672-9438.

Ticket proceeds support the Crete Woman’s Club’s scholarship program and general philanthropy.

Queen of Martyrs first graders spread joy

A class of first graders from Queen of Martyrs School topped off their school year with a visit to Mercy Circle retirement community Monday in Chicago’s Mt. Greenwood neighborhood. The students colored pictures in advance of the visit and brought games to play with the residents and also read stories.

Katie McKirdie, life enrichment director at Mercy Circle, said the youngsters “really made everyone’s day. The students and the residents connected immediately. It touched my heart to see them enjoying each other’s company.”

SummerFest set in Orland Park

A new event, SummerFest, is planned by the Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce from June 15-18. According to a news release, the event combines a carnival, live music, car show, outdoor market and community expo at 142nd Street and LaGrange Road in Orland Park.

The event will kick off June 15 with a Sensory Carnival Session for people with special needs. The carnival will open to everyone at 5:30 p.m. on June 15. It opens at 2 p.m. on June 16 and 17, and events continue through 11 p.m. SummerFest wraps up June 18 with events from noon-9 p.m.

Volunteers, sponsors sought for Palos car show

Organizers are seeking volunteers and sponsors for the 20th annual Palos Heights Classic Car event, scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. on July 20.

The event includes live music, local food vendors and raffles, along with classic car exhibitions and other family fun.

More information is available by emailing carclassic@palosheightspd.org.

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