• In the summertime, when the weather is fine … Mary Win Connor at the Youth Commission for Forest Park is planning some fun-filled activities for this summer. They are tentatively looking at a dance on June 3 and a game night on May 6 at The Park. Both dates and activities are subject to change. Also in the works are volleyball pickup games and a fantastic village scavenger hunt.

• Speaking of summer … Summerfest 2005 is around the corner on June 11-12. Businesses wishing to sponsor or participate in the festival should pick up forms at the Chamber of Commerce, 7344 W. Madison St. Get them back to the Chamber by May 16.

• A less remembered holiday … Arbor Day is April 29. As prep, the village will be planting trees! Any requests for tree trimming on the parkways should have been sent to village hall before April 25. If you missed the deadline, call Katie at the village and ask to be put on next spring’s list.

• Success! The Kiwanis Pasta Dinner was a smashing success on April 23. The organization picked up more than $1,000 thanks to the generosity of local businesses and the approximately 225 residents who showed up to eat. Also a success, last week’s St. Bernardine Women’s Club Fashion Show.

• Proviso East is looking for a few good alumni for their Proviso East High School Alumni Wall of Fame dinner on Sept. 30. Nominations should be sent to District 209 Board of Education member Theresa L. Kelly, or to Class of 1966 graduate Pamela A. Marine (nee Zito), at 449-3494. Address: Proviso East Alumni, P.O. Box 436, Maywood 60153. Deadline is May 2.

• Feliz Cinco de Mayo … Proviso East will be celebrating May 5 with two special events. The first is a dance sponsored by club Raza Unida on April 29, featuring the renowned International Band “Renancimiento De Durango” at Memorial Hall. Tickets are $8 in advance and $12 at the door. For more information, please call Mrs. Medina at 202-1635 or Mrs. Diaz at 202-7125.

Also on May 5, the school has an assembly planned to celebrate Mexican Americans who have made a difference in television, media, and film. The event will feature guest speakers Efren Favela, manager of DirecTV; Dalia Tapia, international film director/producer; and Tab Machado, La Raza (Latino newspaper), among others. This will take place at the auditorium from 8:55 to 9:45 a.m.

• Welcome home! To help acclimatize incoming students, Proviso East will host “Welcome Night” for the class of 2009. Several staff members will be available during this event to discuss curriculum offerings in various departments or concerns regarding placement, scheduling, or other items. The event will take place May 5, at 6 p.m. at the auditorium.

• No comments: Tim Hague of Taxman Development Corp. said he couldn’t comment on the businesses planning to open up in the Madison Commons development project until the deals were closed”so no confirmation on the Starbucks rumors.

• Save-the-date: St Bernardine Church will host the annual St. Bernardine Day on Sunday May 22. More details closer to the date.

• Don’t forget the basket: The Park District of Forest Park and the Chamber of Commerce will host the All-School Picnic on May 26. Unfortunately, the park reports, the storied Downhill Derby fell through and has been cancelled due to lack of interest.

• Commissioner Mark Hosty is still seeking resumes to fill the position at the head of the Department for Public Health and Safety. Until the right candidate is found, R. H. Anderson & Associates, the village engineering firm, will be taking over as a consultant for site plan reviews.

Still looking for those potholes: Commissioner Patrick Doolin is still looking for community input for the Department of Public Works at village hall. If you have any new requests for pothole fixes, let them know.