CALENDAR (CONT.)

SENIOR DISCOUNTS ARE IN YOUR REACH…

No matter where you are or what you are buying, ask about a senior discount! Many establishments do not advertise senior discounts but they do offer them. Here are a few.

DAYS TO SAVE…

Some stores offer discounts on days like Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Kohl’s offers seniors 15% off on Wednesdays.

– Walgreens offers seniors a 20% discount on the first Tuesday of each month.

Michaels craft store offers seniors a 10% discount every day of the week.

Caputo’s Fresh Market offers a 10% discount on non-sale items to seniors 62+on Tuesdays.

PRICE OF ADMISSION…

Theaters and attractions will often offer reduced tickets during off-peak hours but can place restrictions on these specials during holidays or for specific performances.

AMC theaters offer 30% off shows that begin before 4pm.

– Marcus Theatres offer $7 admission and reduced concession prices on Fridays for shows beginning before 5:30pm.

The Art Institute of Chicago offers seniors $6 off the regular adult admission price of $25.

– The Chicago History Museum offers a senior admission for $2 off the regular adult ticket price of $19.

The Illinois Holocaust Museum offers $6 off the regular adult admission price of $18.

– Brookfield Zoo offers seniors $5 off the regular adult ticket price of $29.95.

– Morton Arboretum in Lisle offers seniors $2 off the regular adult admission price of $17.

The National Parks offers a special fee for the America the Beautiful Pass for seniors for $20 for one person for a year and $80 per person for a lifetime. This can be a savings if planning to visit multiple National Parks.

– Ticketmaster offers senior discounts at various venues if available. When ordering tickets, just click the box for senior rates.

– Ravinia, the Highland Park concert venue, offers seniors reduced-price general admission lawn tickets for most Chicago Symphony Orchestra concerts. Check the box for senior pricing when ordering tickets.

TRAVEL SAVINGS…

Reduced fares for seniors are available but can be limited during high travel volume periods. If your schedule is flexible, see if there is a reduced senior fare on a different date.

– Amtrak offers a 10% reduction in most fares for seniors.

– United Airlines has select discounted fares for seniors

– Metra has a reduced far program for seniors but you must apply for and obtain a reduced far permit to receive the discount.

Best Western offers senior discount rates at select hotels for seniors 55 and older.

– Hyatt Hotels have senior room rates available at various locations.

Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise lines have discounted senior fares for select sailings.

– Hertz Car Rental offers a 20% off discount to seniors 50 and over.

DINING DISCOUNTS…

Since most chain restaurants are operated by franchise owners, it is up to these individual owners to offer senior pricing.

Many Denny’s restaurants offer a selection of entrees for guests 55 and older that feature lower prices and smaller portions than regular menu items.

– Sonic offers a discount for menu items or drink specials for seniors at select locations.

– Many IHOP restaurants offer a selection of entrees for guests 55 and older that feature lower prices and smaller portions than regular menu items.

– Applebee’s offers senior discounts at many locations so ask when ordering a meal.

OTHER GREAT DEALS…

Senior Homestead Exemption is offered in many Illinois counties to seniors 65+ on homes that are their primary residence. The exemption lowers the assessed value of the home, which results in lower property taxes.

T-Mobile offers three levels of discounted mobile phone plans for seniors 55 and up. The plans range from $27.50 to $50 per month per line depending upon the level of service needed.

Forest Preserves of Cook County Announce Photo Contest

We’re looking for your very best photos of Forest Preserves of Cook County landscapes, close-ups of plants, insects, birds and other wildlife, images that highlight the seasons and shots of people enjoying the outdoors or participating in our recreational offerings.

Winning photos are featured in our annual wall calendar and on our social media accounts. Winning photographers will receive 10 copies of the calendar as well as a Forest Preserves prize package.

Photos must be submitted via email to fpdcc.info@cookcountyil.gov between August 1 and August 15, 2023, and meet all the following requirements:

– Each photographer may submit up to five photos. Please note that drone photos will not be accepted.

– All photographs must be taken in the Forest Preserves of Cook County (this includes Brookfield Zoo or Chicago Botanic Garden).

Photographs must be in a digital format such as JPEG or TIF at a minimum resolution of 3600 x 2700 pixels at 300 dpi and a maximum file size of 24MB at time of submission.

Each photo must include a caption (in the body of the email or as the name of the image file) with the location and approximate date (e.g. Eggers Grove, March 2019; Poplar Creek Trail, Fall 2021).

– Photos must be free of watermarks and graphics. (All photographers will be credited appropriately.)

– Photos included in the calendar will be horizontal (vertical photos should be cropped before submitting).

– Photos that do not meet all requirements will not be reviewed by the judging panel.

– Though not required, best efforts should be made to identify plants or wildlife in your photos—please include this information in your caption. (e.g. Turkey Vulture flying over Beaubien Woods, July 2019).

– Please keep a safe distance and do not disturb wildlife when taking photos. Any photos that show evidence of feeding, audio playback or approaching wildlife too closely will not be accepted. Check out these guidelines for ethical birding for more information on protecting birds and wildlife while out in the Forest Preserves.

– If you have any questions, please contact: fpdcc.info@cookcountyil.gov.

For further contest instructions, rules, etc., please visit tinyurl.com/5y8pvzty

Holy Virgin Martyrs Parish Selling Football Mania Tickets

Football Mania Tickets are now on sale at Holy Virgin Martyrs Parish in Schiller Park! Each $20 Football Mania Ticket gives you a chance to win a weekly cash prize for each of the 18 weeks of the NFL Regular Season! Prizes range from $25-$400. Tickets are available at the table in the back of the church after all the masses or at the Church Rectory during the week.

For further information visit their website at hvmparish.org. or call 847-678-0138.

Deadline for Homeowners to Apply for Property Tax Savings is Aug 4

Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi announced that the deadline to apply for exemptions is Friday, August 4, 2023. Exemptions are property tax savings that contribute to lowering a homeowner’s property tax bill. The most common is the Homeowner Exemption, saving a property owner an average of $950 dollars each year. The savings from exemptions are reflected on a homeowner’s second installment property tax bill.

“This is the first time in two years that homeowners need to reapply for the Senior Freeze and Veterans with Disabilities Exemptions. It is important that we reach senior and veteran communities to make sure they aren’t missing out on these significant savings,” said Assessor Kaegi. “My office is collaborating with community partners to help reach these particular homeowners.”

Automatic renewals related to COVID-19 ended this year and homeowners need to resume annual filings for the Low-Income Senior Citizens Assessment Freeze “Senior Freeze” and Veterans with Disabilities Exemptions. Seniors and Veterans that need to reapply were mailed application booklets, however they can still apply online to make the deadline.

New homeowners, first-time applicants, or those that need to reapply can now do so online by visiting, cookcountyassessor.com/exemptions. Applying online is easy, free, and can be done in under ten minutes.

If homeowners are unsure of their existing exemptions, they can check by reviewing their “Property Details” and review the Exemption History & Status section.

Homeowners can join a virtual workshop to learn about eligibility and how to file exemptions on Facebook and YouTube on Monday, July 24 at 12pm in English and on Tuesday, July 25 at 12pm in Spanish. For a list of upcoming in-person and virtual outreach events visit, cookcountyassessor.com/event-list.

The Assessor’s Office is proud to announce that exemption forms are available in Spanish, Polish, and simplified Chinese languages. Applications can be downloaded at cookcountyassessor.com/exemptions.

School Supplies Drive

Please help familes in your community

Resurrection Lutheran Church Hosts FREE 2nd Annual Community BBQ

Partnership Financial Credit Union will be running a school supplies drive for local students in need. The drive will run through Friday, August 4th. Donation bins will be located in each office.

Please consider donating items to help a child start the school year off right. Your generous donations will help students feel confident on their first day of school!

Items requested:

Notebooks

Pencils

Plastic Pocket Folders

Glue Bottles/Sticks

Highlighters

Crayons

Markers

Black/Blue/ Red Pens

Fiskars Scissors

Erasers

Back Packs

Paper

Art Supplies

Post-Its

Hand Sanitizer

Ziploc Bags (Qt. or Gal.)

Pencil Pouches

Rulers

Each office will be collecting for a district in their community:

Des Plaines: Des Plaines Community

Consolidated School Dist. 62

Franklin Park: Leyden Area Schools

Schools districts will be responsible for distributing donated supplies based on need.

Thank you in advance for your generous donation toward helping children in your community!

Resurrection Lutheran Church (RLC), located at 9777 Grand Ave in Franklin Park, (the address formerly known by many in the community as “Western Auto” and “Western Bike Shop”) is thanking the Franklin Park and Leyden Township communities for their continued support over the last 79 years by hosting its second communitywide barbeque on Saturday, September 16th from 12-3pm. This event will be in partnership with The Unity in Community foundation.

Community members of all ages are invited to stop by for food and activities in the parking lot of the church.

Alongside the annual barbeque, Food4Life Food Pantry is hosting its annual food drive. They have partnered with businesses such as Jewel in the past. This year they are encouraging attendees of the barbeque to bring a nonperishable food item when they come, however, donations are not necessary to attend. Food4Life Food Pantry has been serving hundreds in the Leyden Township area and beyond in need of food and clothing since 2009. It is vital that the pantry continues to remain stocked to be able to continue to meet the growing demand of needs in our community each and every week. Your support in this effort is greatly appreciated.

RLC began its ministry with Franklin Park in 1944. It now serves Franklin Park by offering worship services on Sundays (9:30am) and Wednesdays (1pm). Bible Study is Wednesdays (2pm). Food4Life Food Pantry and The Giving Closet are open Mondays (12-3pm). For more information or to help sponsor this event, please visit rlcfp.org or call 847-455-7013.

Rep. Stephens Hosts Annual Senior Fair Aug 9

State Representative Brad Stephens (R-Rosemont) is hosting his annual senior fair in Norridge. He invites constituents to join him on Wednesday, August 9th from 9am to 12 Noon at the Salvation Army Norridge Citadel Community Corps (8354 W. Foster Ave.). This event will also double as a drive for the food pantry.

“I’m always happy to provide opportunities for seniors to connect with resources in the 20th District,” said Rep. Stephens. “This event is a great hub for seniors to access information, obtain screenings and vaccines, and connect with their community’s resources. I also encourage all who can to bring food for our food pantry drive and help their neighbors in need. I look forward to seeing you there!”

Participants include Age Options, Aging Care Connections, Angel Caregiver, Aetna Better Health of Illinois, Central Baptist Village, Citizens Utility Board, Humana, Illinois Home Care Ombudsman, Illinois Retina Associates, Juice Plus, Leyden Township, Metropolitan Family Services, National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, Norridge Police Department, Norwood Park Fire Protection District, PACE, Progress Center for Independent Living, Prudential Insurance, RTA, Senior Assistance Center, the Salvation Army Norridge Citadel, United Healthcare, and the University of Illinois Extension.

From Cook County will be the Cook County Assessor, Board of Review, Health Department, and Veterans Assistance Commission. From the State of Illinois is the Secretary of State Organ Donor, Illinois State Police, Office of the Attorney General, Office of the Secretary of State, Office of the Comptroller, and Office of the Treasurer.

There will also be COVID vaccines, HIV vaccines, blood pressure screening, a prescription drug pill drop-off, photo identification cards (NO REAL I.D.), and more information.

Screenings and admission are free. Constituents are asked to bring ramen noodles, pasta, pasta sauce, cereal, canned vegetables, and canned soups for the food drive.

New 730 Area Code Coming to the Illinois 618 Area Code Region

Although this affects the southern region of Illinois, it’s good to be aware of a new area code for Illinois.

With new telephone numbers in southern Illinois in high demand, the Illinois Commerce Commission approved the implementation of the new 730 area code to overlay the existing

618 area code region. The current 618 area code serves all or part of 37 counties, including communities like Alton, Belleville, Cairo, Carbondale, Centralia, Collinsville, East St. Louis, Edwardsville, Effingham, Granite City, Edwardsville, and Marion, among many others. This took effect July 7, 2023.

House Resolution Honors Norwood Park Historical Society For 50 Years of Preserving History in the Community

State Rep. Brad Stephens (second from left) presents a copy of House Resolution 270 to Judy McIntyre, Norwood Park Historical Society president, while former director Stan Banash (left) and Society Vice President Art Krumrey (right), also participate. The resolution, introduced in the Illinois House by Stephens, honored the organization for its 50year role in preserving “the history of Norwood Park for half a century” and enriching “its community by connecting residents with their neighborhood’s history.” The organization was founded on September 6, 1973, and the historic Noble-Seymour-Crippen House (Chicago’s oldest dating back to 1833) is the Society’s headquarters. The building at 5624 N. Newark Ave. was designated a Chicago City Landmark, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Tours are available on Saturdays from noon – 4pm For more information, visit www.norwoodparkhistoricalsociety.org. or call them at 773-631-4633.

There’s Music in the Air at Northlight Theatre

BY ANNA HESSEL

Once again Northlight Theatre brings a socially conscious and enchanting production to the stage; “Marie and Rosetta” is delightful, faithful, and funny. Splendidly written by George Brant, I find the title of the play very intriguing.

Everything about this show is highly entertaining with an interesting twist at the end. It has serious subject matter, handled with discreet, sophisticated, light-hearted humor and gripping emotional intensity.

Both actresses are talented and beautiful; their rapport is fabulous and touching. The vocals and instrumental music are beautiful, especially the gospel numbers. Dialogue about marriage, femineity, and a bevy of other subjects is well done, realistic, and believable.

Bethany Thomas, in the title role of Rosetta, gives a flawless performance. She is a Chicago favorite, as is Alexis J. Roston, who portrays Marie pricelessly.

The show is heartfelt - two Godly women whose faith is manifested in dissimilar ways. These females are both unique, very different yet alike, sharing a common thread. They complement each other beautifully, just as the two real-life ladies that they portray did.

Rosetta’s rivalry with the gospel great Mahalia Jackson is a running joke throughout the play. Forgiveness seventy times seven, as the Scriptures say (they say it as seven times seventy) is brought to light with sincere execution.

As usual, Northlight’s costumes, sound, lighting, and set are spot-on; E. Faye Butler’s direction is superb.

Audiences are reminded of Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s incredible contribution to the world of music, influencing the sounds of Elvis, Tina Turner, Little Richard, Aretha Franklin, Johnny Cash, Mavis Staples, Bob Dylan, and Prince, to name just a few.

I highly recommend putting on some lipstick and blush, and heading out to see this amazing theatrical work - you will be blessed. But this pair will play their last gig together August 13th, so get a groove on.

For tickets or more information, go to the theater’s website at northlight.org.

Take Steps to Not Miss this Hitchcock Spoof

BY WES HESSEL

A book penned in 1914 gave rise to one of Hitchcock’s early masterpieces 21 years later. Now close to a century after, Drury Lane Theatre presents a take-off on John Buchan’s novel, credited with creating the genre of the modern spy story, and the subsequent film.

Skewering such cliche conventions as the hero who is the only one that can save the world (or at least, England), a villain hiding in the plain sight cover of the cultured class, and the prescribed pursuit across multiple locations, “The 39 Steps” hits many of the inevitable inside jokes and references, while carrying on the stiff upper lip British breeding requires. All of this leads to hijinks and hilarity.

Gavin Lee, as the wrongly accused on the run, takes the terse circumspectness of the English stereotype and draws it out to consummate comedy. His unwilling partner in crime is characterized charmingly by Caitlin Gallogly, and the rest of the 150 plus roles is carried by the terrific twosome of Zuhdi Bouwri and Tom Detrinis, changing hats (often literally) with adept aplomb.

Combined with a versatile well-made woodgrain set, appropriate attires, and exceptional effects, “The 39 Steps” walks you right into loads of laughs.

Run to catch this side-splitting spy spoof before the jig is up August 13th.

For tickets or more information, see their website at drurylanetheatre.com.