Moraine Valley speech and debate team takes first in state event
The speech and debate team at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills recently earned a first place award in the community college division and fourth in the open division at the Illinois Intercollegiate Forensics Association State Tournament held at Prairie State College in Chicago Heights.
Earning a first place were Javier Ramirez, of Alsip, for Oratory and Communication Analysis, and Laura Galindo, of Burbank, for Prose Interpretation; Ramirez also won fourth place for Speech to Entertain and fifth place in the open division of Dramatic Interpretation.
Second-place awards went to Aaron Vinicio Lopez, of Bridgeview, in the option division of Oratory, who also won fourth in the open division of After Dinner Speaking; and Magali Garcia, of Summit, for Program of Oral Interpretation, who also got third in the open division of Duo Interpretation with Alexandra Zepeda, of Summit. Lopez also was chosen to represent Illinois at the Interstate Oratorical Association’s national tournament in April, the first time a Moraine Valley student has qualified for that event.
Zepeda earned third in the open division of Duo Interpretation with Garcia and sixth in Poetry; Andrew Banaszak, of Bridgeview, won third for Extemporaneous Speaking and fifth for Communication Analysis. Palos Hills resident Tuana Ozbir won third in the open division of Debate, seventh in the open division of Informative Speaking and sixth in Impromptu Speaking and Duo Interpretation with Aya Mustafa, of Palos Heights. Mustafa also earned sixth place in Communication Analysis.
Kandyce Swain, of Blue Island, won fifth in the open division of Informative Speaking, and Amin Trekrour, of Oak Lawn, earned fifth in Oratory.
Pathlights plans free seminar to help caregivers
Pathlights offers a free educational seminar open to the community titled The Caregiver’s Heart: Healing the Hidden Losses of Eldercare April 30 at the Palos Heights Recreation Center, 6601 W. 127th St.
The seminar offers a “compassionate space to address the complex emotional losses that erode health, including mourning changes in your loved one’s memory or health while they are still here, and coping with the heavy burden of resentment and guilt that can build up,” according to a news release. The session provides practical tools to set boundaries, help find a new sense of purpose and manage burnout.
Check-in starts at 10:15 with the presentation at 10:30 a.m. Refreshments will be provided. Register at www.pathlights.org/events or by calling 708-361-0219.
Bluegrass bands play at fundraiser for festival
The Frankfort Bluegrass Festival committee hosts a spring fundraiser from 6 to 10 p.m. May 1 at CD & Me, 23320 S. La Grange Road in Frankfort, to benefit the 16th annual free Frankfort Bluegrass Festival in July.
Three live acts will perform: Andy Miller & The 145s, The Grateful String Band and Anderlik, Otto & Church. Tickets include appetizers from the Frankfort Restaurant Association group, beer tastings with Trails Edge Brewery and Werk Force Brewing, raffles and silent auction items. A cash bar will be available, and parking is free.
Tickets cost $45 in advance or $55 at the door. Sponsorship opportunities and information are at www.frankfortbluegrassfest.com.
Artsy garden items needed for Flossmoor auction
Artists have until April 30 to donate or commit to a creative project for the Flossmoor Public Art Commission’s Garden Art & More Online Auction.
Applications close April 30 and artwork will be collected by May 27. Photos of the completed projects will be posted in June for an online auction that supports the village’s public art program. Apply at www.ArtFlossmoor.com/Garden-Art.
The auction will feature one-of-a-kind bird baths, bird feeders, wind chimes, flowerpots, lawn chairs, wind spinner and other lawn decorations. New this year, the commission also would like donations of flowers, gardening services, garden tools, gift cards, gift baskets, experiences and event tickets.
Details are at www.ArtFlossmoor.com or via email at [email protected].
Free concerts planned at Moraine Valley
The Moraine Valley Concert Band presents “All Aboard!” at 3 p.m April 26 in the Dorothy Menker Theater in the Fine and Performing Arts Building at the community college, 9000 W. College Parkway in Palos Hills.
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The performance will feature the music of the 1920’s New York Central Railroad Concert Band and other selections.
The Jazz Ensemble performs its “Spring Jazz Spectacular” at 7:30 p.m May 1 in the Dorothy Menker Theater, featuring a range of big band styles from gritty funk to swing and soulful blues. The Jazz Combo plays at 7:30 p.m. May 5 in the John and Angeline Oremus Theater.
The college’s Percussion Ensemble will perform “Rhythmic Grooves and Re-Percussions” at 7:30 p.m. April 30 in the Dorothy Menker Theater. The concert features guest artist Gregory Beyer, who will show his skills on the marimba and berimbau and play two of his compositions with the ensemble.
All these concerts are free, and no tickets are required. Information is at 708-974-4300.
Olympia Fields blood drive honors heart cancer patient
The sixth annual Kristin Arielle Oliver Memorial Blood Drive takes place 10:30 to 12:45 p.m. April 25 at Bradford Barn at Sgt. Means Park, 20712 Western Ave. in Olympia Fields.
The drive, done with Versiti Blood Centers, honors Oliver, who died in June 2020 at the age of 31 after being diagnosed with cardiac sarcoma, a rare heart cancer. Oliver always wanted to help others, so her family started the blood drive, which has grown to become a community health event serving families in the south suburbs.
Attendees have access that day to services such as HIV testing through Cook County Health, community-based resources from Rich Township, blood pressure and glucose screenings from New Faith Baptist Church Health Ministry and wellness support and nutrition from Center for Food Equity in Medicine.
Participants are encouraged to bring monetary donations or grocery store gift cards for the Center for Food Equity in Medicine, which helps people with chronic illnesses receive nutritious food.
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