Village Hall to honor Honor Flight residents
Returning Honor Flight honorees Joseph Byrnes, Dennis Close, Clifford Leber, Donald Lines and Gary Steger will be celebrated. A reception and celebration will be held Thursday, Sept. 23 at 12 noon on the parking lot of Forest Park Village Hall, 517 Des Plaines.
Veterans oral history project
Even in a close-knit community like Forest Park, there is an awful lot we don’t know about our neighbors — the struggles they’ve faced, the sacrifices they’ve made or the obstacles they’ve overcome.
Despite the yearly holiday dedicated to honoring them, this is particularly true of our neighbors who are veterans of the Armed Forces. The Historical Society of Forest Park has an ongoing oral history project and is looking for Forest Park veterans to share their stories which are archived for the future.
If you are a veteran, and would like to share your story, email to forestparkhistory1975@gmail.com. If you would like to support these efforts, you may become a member and/or leave a donation at forestparkhistory.org.
Ella & Friends Storytime with Maui Jones
Forest Park Public Library invites families to attend the new Ella & Friends Storytime events based on the “Everyday with Ella” book series by local author Maui Jones.
He’ll explore themes of community, culture, inclusion and curiosity through the characters of Ella and her friends. This live storytelling experience takes place Sept. 22 and 29 at 10:30 a.m. at Veteran’s Park, 7501 Harrison St.
Registration to attend by visiting the Forest Park Public Library website at fppl.evanced.info/signup/Calendar.
Author event at Centuries & Sleuths
Centuries & Sleuths bookstore, 7419 Madison St., invites you to an afternoon with Ben Strand, author of “A Black Hawk War Guide: Landmarks, Battlefield, Museums and Firsthand Accounts” on Saturday, Sept. 25 from 2 to 4:15 p.m.
Strand explores the final conflict east of the Mississippi River between Native people and the United State militia and troops. He outlines museums, wayside markers, parks and more related to the struggle, which has historical significance in America.
Follow the fallout of the war from the Quad Cities on the Illinois/Iowa border and the Trembling Lands along the kettle moraine and driftless areas of southern Wisconsin. This pairing of local insight and big-picture charts an overlooked quadrant of this local landscape.
Magic with Gary Kantor
Children can learn to amaze family and friends when learning tricks using cards, ropes, coins, mind-reading and more from professional magician, Gary Kantor on Sept. 27 from 6:45 to 7p.m.
This class is a co-op class between the Park District of Forest Park and Park District of Oak Park.
Materials are provided and each child will receive a magic kit to take home. Children are grouped by age in order to learn tricks that are appropriate. Classes will be held at the Park District of Oak Park.
Registration through the Park District of Forest Park website at pdofp.org/classes-and-programs/youth-programming.
FlipCon Virtual Fandom Fest
FlipCon, the Forest Park Public Library’s comic and fandom two-day extravaganza is back with a virtual twist in 2021.
On Friday, Sept. 25 from 2 to 6 p.m., which focuses on young adult events and activities, includes a presentation by Gene Ha (“How to Draw Everything”) and more.
On Saturday, Sept. 26, there will be child and family activities from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., including “Superhero Training with Wonder Woman,” cosplay, drawing workshop and a comics recommendations.
Registration is required. Zoom links will be sent to gain entry. Registrants will receive swag bags while supplies last. Visit fppl.evanced.info/signup/Calendar to sign up for each day you will be attending.
