Riverside Brookfield Landmark
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Riverside Parks & Recreation invites kids to drop off a letter in Santa’s Mailbox, which is located near the water tower on Longcommon Road, by Dec. 20 and, as long as there’s a return address on your letter, you will receive a special note back from Santa.
Aging Care Connections is launching Pride Café, a new initiative aimed at connecting with LBGT+ older adults who are looking for a safe space to meet, learn and build community.
The organization will host an initial listening session, open to LGBT+ seniors, adult children of LGBT+ parents and seniors who want to learn more about the LGBT+ community, to help chart Pride Café’s course on Dec. 7 from 5 to 6 p.m.
You can attend in person at Aging Care Connections, 111 W. Harris Ave., LaGrange, or via Zoom. Email info@agingcareconnections.org for a link.
Join author Cindy Wilson for “How the Hard Winter Became the ‘The Long Winter’” a look at the genesis of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s autobiographical novel on Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. in the Meeting Room of the Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library, 3541 Park Ave.
Wilson uses historical documents and letters informed Wilder’s 1940 book about her experiences as a 14-year-old living in the Dakota Territory during the “hard winter” of 1880–81.
Register to attend by calling 708-485-6917, ext. 130 or at brookfield.evanced.info/signup.
Triton College, 2000 5th Ave. in River Grove, kicks off the season with its drive-thru Holiday Festival of Trees from Dec. 9 through Jan. 2 on the campus’ Circle Drive.
Drive through the main entrance and experience rows of brightly lit trees. Selfies and family photos encouraged. The speed limit is 10 mph. Please use caution and watch for pedestrians.
Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library, 3541 Park Ave., invites you to get your Christmas presents wrapped via its Friends & Foundation Holiday Gift Wrapping Service on Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Gift wrapping is free of charge, but donations to support the Friends & Foundation are welcome.
You can also pick up some literary gifts at the Mini Book Nook and have those wrapped as well. For more info, call 708-485-6917.
North Riverside Public Library, 2400 Desplaines Ave., hosts a Video Game Tournament for kids in grades 6-12 on Dec. 10 from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
Who will be the best at Super Smash Bros.? You’ll have to play to find out. To participate register online.
Riverside Foods, 48 E. Burlington St. in Riverside, will host a Pack the Truck food drive from Dec. 12-18.
There will be a trailer in the store’s parking lot, and community members are being asked to fill it with as many non-perishable items as possible. Those items will be donated to the Riverside Township Food Pantry for distribution to those in need in the immediate area.
Toiletries, canned foods, soups, pasta and pasta sauce and other non-perishable food items are most in need. Riverside Foods has assembled pre-made grocery bags and will have deeply discounted cases of products that can be purchased to facilitate the food drive.
Call 708-447-0324 with questions.
There’s also “The Art of Seeing,” featuring botanical boxes by Shilin Hora, at the Riverside Town Hall, 27 Riverside Road, through Dec. 31. Viewing hours are Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit riversideartscenter.com for more.
