Master Chorale offers free concerts
The South Holland Master Chorale will present free Sunday concerts at 4 p.m. May 17 at Thorn Creek Reformed Church, 1875 E. 170th St. in South Holland, and at 4 p.m. May 31 at St. John the Evangelist Church, 10701 Olcott Ave. in St. John.
Selections include pieces by English composer Vaughan Williams, Czech composer Antonin Dvorak and an Irish blessing by US composer Elaine Hagenberg.
Philip J. Bauman directs the chorale, which is made up of 70 members from throughout the Chicago area. Organist Kevin J. Vaughn and pianist Marilyn Bourgeois will accompany the chorale. Information, including how to support the organization, is at southhollandmasterchorale.org/classical-concerts/#mass.
Entrance road work closes Homer Glen preserve
Visitors to Messenger Woods Nature Preserve in Homer Glen will need to find a new preserve to get their nature fix.
The Forest Preserve District of Will County is closing the entrance road from May 18 through June 5 to replace the entrance road. During the project, the road will be removed and replaced from the first parking lot to Bruce Road, thanks to a contract by the Board of Commissioners awarded in April.
Weather and other factors may affect this timing, but updates will be available at ReconnectWithNature.org.
Lansing commission hopes performers join stage
The Lansing Human Relations Commission needs performers for the third annual Lan-Sing: Music for the Soul event, which takes place 1 to 5 p.m. May 31 at Fox Pointe, 18138 Henry St. in downtown Lansing.
The event highlights spiritual and soul-stirring music, and churches, schools, community organizations, solo performers and musicians are invited to apply to share their music.
Applications are available at FoxPointe.org. Information is at 708-895-7208.
Millennium Station elevator closes for renovations
The elevator that allows access to Millennium Station for people with disabilities will be closed starting May 18 while it is being replaced. Riders should use the Van Buren Street Station as an alternative.
The project, expected to take until next winter, is part of a bigger project to renovate the South Water Street entrance to the station, which began in October 2025. That means the stairs between platforms and Michigan Avenue at South Water also will be closed. Riders still can enter and exit from South Water Street.
The larger project, expected to wrap up in 2027, includes renovating public restrooms, staff office areas and the water area; creating a new vendor space; adding new lighting, signs, station amenities and benches; digital displays with train-tracking information and replacing staircases, elevators and canopies.
Metra has created a webpage at metra.com/MEELevators to provide project updates along the Metra Electric Line, as well as details about connecting CTA, rideserve and Pace services near the line’s stations downtown.
Palos Park police offer free bicycle helmets
Palos area residents are invited to obtain a free bicycle safety helmet for their child as part of the National Children-N-Safety Program from 9 to 5 p.m. weekdays at the Palos Park Police Department, 8999 W. 123rd St.
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Parents who come after hours can use the radio phone and an officer will come to the station to help.
The goal of the giveaway program is to prevent head injuries in children as they ride bicycles in the area. Information is with Chief Joe Jiller at [email protected] or 708-671-3771.
Beverly’s Ridge Run includes parade, ceremony
The Beverly Area Planning Association will host its 49th annual Ridge Run on Memorial Day, May 25, which has been added to the Chicago Area Runners Association racing circuit for the first time.
The run, paired with the Memorial Day ceremony at 9 a.m. at Ridge Park, 9625 S. Longwood Drive in Chicago, honors members of the U.S. Armed Forces who have died. It includes the Beverly Hills/Morgan Park Memorial Day Parade, which starts at 10:15 a.m. from 110th and South Longwood Drive, ending at Ridge Park. U.S. Army veteran Carol Macola, of Beverly/Morgan Park, will be the grand marshall.
Ridge Run includes a 10K run, 5K run/walk, 5K/10K challenge and youth miles for those 6 to 12 years old. Sign up online at bapa.org/ridgerun or in person from 1 to 6:30 p.m. May 22 or noon to 5 p.m. May 23 at Running Excels, 10328 S. Western Ave. Additional registration and packet pickup is noon to 4 p.m. May 24 at Ridge Park or 6:30 a.m. to 30 minutes before each race May 25, although registration fees increase on race day.
To volunteer for the event, sign up online or call 773-233-3100.
Quilters host U of I expert on gardening
The University of Illinois Extension Center will provide a speaker who will discuss the secrets of container gardening at 6:30 p.m. May 19 at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 651 E. 166th St. in South Holland.
The session is offered by the Heritage Quilters Guild of South Suburbia. Members also will show flower quilts. The public is welcome. Information is at www.heritagequilts.org.
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