Oak Leaves

Dickens still relevant after 200 years

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:37:49 -0600

It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness … Here is a short quiz for those “literary type” types among us: 1) Identify the author of the following line: Marley, was dead, to begin with. 2) Which author created the characters Miss Havisham, Fagin and Sydney Carton? 3) Who is 200 years old and yet still has Great Expectations? The answer to all of the above is Charles Dickens, of course, and the world is now celebrating the bicentennial of his birth. The international acclaim is appropriate as Dickens is arguably the greatest of all the …

Oak Park-River Forest Community Calendar, Feb. 9

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:36:43 -0600

Oak Leaves and Forest Leaves welcome items for the Community Calendar, as well as items for Business Briefs, Campus News, Community Briefs, School Digest and Your Page. Items must be received minimum of 10 days prior to publication. Fax (708) 383-3678; e-mail oakpark@pioneerlocal.com; or mail to Pioneer Press, 1010 W. Lake St., Suite 104, Oak Park, IL 60301. Benefits “B-flat Breakfast”: 7:30-11:30 a.m. Feb. 11 at 7970 W. Lake St., (corner of Lake Street and Thatcher Avenue) in River Forest. Have some “B-flat Pancakes” and help benefit the music program at River Forest United Methodist Church. Come enjoy pancakes, sausage, …

Share the love at Whole Foods Feb. 15

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:37:14 -0600

When I want to taste the love in a dish, I insist on starting with the finest ingredients. I purchased all of the ingredients for my hearty ragu recipe at the River Forest Whole Foods Market, and it won’t be the same without a dollop of their hand-dipped ricotta. I was delighted to discover Whole Foods will share the love with the Children’s Clinic during Valentine’s week. Have a heart! Check out the info below and help out a worthy community organization by shopping at Whole Foods. What: River Forest Whole Foods Market Community Support Day When: Wednesday, Feb. 15 …

Oak Park Public Library Calendar, Feb. 9

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:38:01 -0600

M ain Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake St., (708) 383-8200; Maze Branch, 845 S. Gunderson, (708) 386-4751; Dole Branch, 255 Augusta, (708) 386-9032. Registration is required unless otherwise noted; www.oppl.org. All events free and open to the public. All events are at the main library unless otherwise stated. For class dates and full descriptions, visit www.oppl.org/events/classes.htm. Chess Open Play: 5:30-9 p.m. Mondays. Open play, all ages, all skill levels. Drop in when you can. Great Decisions: 1 p.m. Feb. 9 at Maze Branch. “Middle East Realignment.” Series of discussions about international issues. Explore eight issues over eight sessions. Each …

Nominate seniors who volunteer by March 15

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:37:32 -0600

The Home Instead Senior Care offices serving seniors in Chicagoland has announced the “Salute to Senior Service” program to honor senior volunteers for the tireless contributions they make to their local communities. The program will include a search for the most outstanding senior volunteer in each state and culminate with the selection of a national “Salute to Senior Service” winner during Older Americans Month in May. Nominees must be 65 years of age or older and volunteer at least 15 hours a month. Nominations will be accepted at www.SalutetoSeniorService.com through March 15. Nomination forms also can be requested at ckoehler@homeinsteadinc.com. …

A Valentine’s Day dinner your family will love

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:56:01 -0600

Warm, gooey pizza is the perfect Valentine’s Day treat. Keep the good times rolling with this sweet dessert: Strawberry Sushi.

How digital culture changed dating

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:06:03 -0600

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Pet of the Week

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:51:22 -0600

Name: Fluff and Pilar Species: Cats Breed: Domestic Shorthair Color: Fluff is Black; Pilar is Orange Gender: Male Age: Adults The newest ACL Pet of the Week is actually a pair of cats, “Fluff and Pilar”. Not quite “The Odd Couple” or even “Starsky & Hutch”, Fluff and Pilar are just a couple of guys who like to hang out. Whether racing around on the floor in main Cat Room or taking a quiet moment to relax and just watch the world go by, Fluff and Pilar are an amusing pair. Pilar is the sensitive quiet type and he’s found …

Chocolate for your wardrobe

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:00:03 -0600

Chocolate has powers. It’s been a magical food flavor for millennia. It’s been a holy substance for religious rites, as well as payment for taxes and goods. In modern times, the sweet delight most often serves as an offering to attract the attention — or procure the forgiveness — of the object of one’s affections. So it’s quite reasonable that several local chefs have combined their love of chocolate and their passion for helping others pursue culinary career ambitions in a tasty project to promote a worthy cause. Chocolate event Because sugar is the livelihood of most of these creative …

Score big with these Super Bowl sliders

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:58:00 -0600

The National Restaurant Association predicts that a whopping 48 million people will order take out on Super Bowl Sunday this year. When the New England Patriots battle the New York Giants for the NFL Championship on Feb. 5, most folks will feast on pizza, wings, nachos, potato skins, chips and dips in between watching fumbles and funny commercials. Sure, most of these menu items are just a phone call away, but why not throw caution to the wind and whip up some home-cooked gluttonous goodies for the big game? Game day fare offers even the most heath conscious cook the …

Three local chefs lose weight on new ‘Fat Chef’ series

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:58:00 -0600

Three local chefs are featured in the Food Network’s new series “Fat Chef,” which premieres at 9 p.m. Jan. 26. The series follows overweight culinary pros from Chicago, New York, New Jersey and Ohio on a 16-week journey to overcome weight issues with the help of therapists, nutritonists and trainers.

Meet your match at 20s & 30s mixer Feb. 11

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:30:01 -0600

There’s nothing like February in Chicagoland to bring out the grumpy in local singles. There’s plenty of slush to step in, the sun sets before you leave work in the evening and everybody but you is celebrating their love with heart-shaped chocolates. Before you decide to wallow in another pint, be it ice cream or beer, take a closer look at the Oak Park Public Library, where you just might find the tool you need to meet your match. Before you set out to find Mr. or Ms. Amazing, visit the library and check out a style guide to help …

Oak Park Public Library Calendar, Feb. 2

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:30:01 -0600

Main Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake St., (708) 383-8200; Maze Branch, 845 S. Gunderson, (708) 386-4751; Dole Branch, 255 Augusta, (708) 386-9032. Registration is required unless otherwise noted; www.oppl.org. All events free and open to the public. All events are at the main library unless otherwise stated. For class dates and full descriptions, visit www.oppl.org/events/classes.htm. Chess Open Play: 5:30-9 p.m. Mondays. Open play, all ages, all skill levels. Drop in when you can. School’s Out Movie: 2 p.m. Feb. 2 at Maze Branch. Screening of “Dolphin Tale,” a family-friendly story based on real events. Best for ages 5 and …

Oak Park - River Forest Community Calendar, Feb. 2

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:30:01 -0600

Seniors pay no property tax through Deferral Program

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 09:30:01 -0600

Senior citizens struggling with property tax bills can enroll in a program in which they pay no property taxes at all, according to Oak Park Township Assessor Ali ElSaffar. Under the Senior Citizen Tax Deferral Program, qualifying seniors can defer payment of their property taxes until their homes or condominiums are sold. To qualify, seniors must have annual household income of less than $50,000, have equity in their homes that exceeds the sum of property taxes deferred and have lived in their homes for three years. Small multi-family properties such as two-flats that generate rental income are not eligible for …

Teacher brings Yiddish music, stories into kids’ lives

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:14:57 -0600

They were playful songs she used to sing to her children in the car or at home, anywhere where she could put a smile on their faces. And anywhere where she could continue to teach them Yiddish. Dr. Khane-Faygl Turtletaub of Skokie always sang her made-up songs to her kids in Yiddish, a language she wanted to pass down to them. A Yiddish teacher at Northwestern University, Turtletaub is now trying to pass down her treasured language to other children as well. Her songs make up a vibrant new book/CD, “Yiddish Songs For Children.” “The first words my children ever …