By Vivian Malli
CASA CENTRAL ROUND-UP
Active seniors can return to work through the Over 55 Senior Work Assignment Program sponsored by the Chicago Department on Aging. Applicants may qualify for an assignment within Casa Central, 1335 N. California Ave., for 20 hours a week. Call (773) 645-2431 or visit www.casacentral.org.
Consider adopting a foster child by attending Adoption Training at Casa Central. Call (866) 409-1990.
FREE TAX PREPARATION
Families who earned less than $40,000 and individuals who earned less than $15,000 are eligible for the Center for Economic Progress's free tax return preparation service through Tuesday, Apr. 5. Locations are Immaculate Heart of Mary Hall, 4521 S. Ashland Ave., Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30 to 8 p.m.; Abraham Lincoln Centre, 3858 S. Cottage Grove Ave., Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5:30 to 8 p.m.; Cathay Bank, 222 W. Cermak Rd., 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. the Saturdays of Feb. 2 and 9 only; and Malcolm X College, 1900 W. Van Buren St., Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call (312) 630-0273.
CAF ROUND-UP
Visit the Chicago Architecture Foundation, 224 S. Michigan Ave., for the free exhibitions Map This!, open daily through Friday, Mar. 21, and Do We Dare Squander Chicago's Great Architectural Heritage?, which opens Thursday, Feb. 7. The Devil in the White City bus tours start at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 8, and Sunday, Feb. 24. Local architects are featured in the Eric R. Multhauf lunchtime lecture series on Wednesdays from 12:15 to 1 p.m.
Adults are invited to a three-session architectural history course, Hunting For Your Home’s History, on the Saturdays of Feb. 9, 16, and 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost is $180, $150 for CAF members, $170 for students. Call (312) 922-3432.
CHM ROUND-UP
The Chicago History Museum (CHM), 1601 N. Clark St., presents The ‘68 Experience series on select Tuesdays at 7 p.m. On Feb. 12, You Say You Want a Revolution? features former activists Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn. On Feb. 19, Born to be Wild explores the Chicago counterculture’s roots. Cost is $10, $8 for members. On Feb. 26, Dance to the Music will consider how the music of 1968 affected culture and politics and will conclude with the Captain Blood Orchestra’s 90-minute performance of music from 1968. Cost is $15, $12 for members. The Magic Bus: 1968 Chicago tour will take participants through Chicago’s pivotal sites of 1968 on Saturday, Mar. 1, from 1 to 5 p.m. Cost is $45, $40 for members. A combined ticket good for all three ’68 Experience programs and the bus tour costs $72, $60 for members. Call (312) 642-4600.
CHM recently won an archive of legal documents relating to the 1919 Chicago “Black Sox” scandal. Once processed and catalogued, the archive will be accessible to the public.
The following In the K/Now programs will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and are free, but reservations are required. On Sunday, Feb. 3, see the film Find Yourself a Dream: The Bob Love Story. On Tuesday, Feb. 5, Gentrification: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly will address public housing’s history in the city and the role of gentrification.
CHM celebrates President’s Day with music, drama, and kids’ crafts on Monday, Feb. 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Call (312) 642-4200.
LIBRARY ROUND-UP
The Chicago Public Library Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St., will present a free Law at the Library lecture, Changes in Tax Law, on Monday, Feb. 25, at 12:15 p.m. Call (312) 747-4300.
Several events are scheduled at the Theodore Roosevelt Branch, 1101 W. Taylor St.; all require registration, and a parent or adult caregiver must be present for children up to age 8. Copies of books are available at book discussions with a limit of one copy per person or family. Call (312)746-5656.
The lap-sit program Toddlers & Twos combines picture books and flannel board stories with songs, finger plays, and action rhymes for children ages 18 through 35 months on Wednesdays, Feb. 6, 13, and 20, at 10:30 a.m.
Join a teen book discussion of Dead Connection on Thursday, Feb. 7, at 3:30 p.m.
Join the Read & Romp! circle time for stories, songs, and finger plays for children up to five years old on Fridays, Feb. 1, 8, 15, and 22, at 10 a.m.
Hello, Baby! story time features board books, rhymes, and creative play for children up to 17 months old on Monday, Feb. 4, at 9:30 a.m.
The Positively Preschool story time features picture books, flannel board stories, songs, finger plays, action rhymes, and crafts for children ages three through five years old on Monday, Feb. 4, at 10:30 a.m.
Board games are available to children five years and older on Mondays, Feb. 4 and 11, at 3:30 p.m.
Crafty Afternoon explores different craft techniques and materials with children age seven years and older on Tuesday, Feb. 5, at 3:30 p.m. Craft supplies are provided. Unwind with After-School Stories for all ages on Wednesdays, Feb. 6, 13, and 20, at 3:30 p.m.
Listen to Saturday Stories for all ages on Saturdays, Feb. 2, 9, and 23, at 10:30 a.m.
Join a lively conversation and fun activities celebrating Barbara Park's Junie B. Jones and the Mushy Gushy Valentine for ages seven and older at the Roosevelt Reads! Family Book Party on Saturday, Feb. 9, at 3:30 p.m.
Come to an adult discussion of Bernice L. McFadden’s book Sugar on Thursday, Feb. 21, at 6:30 p.m.
DEVELOPMENT AWARDS
The 14th annual Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards will honor local architects, community leaders, and developers on Thursday, Feb. 7, at the Hyatt Regency, 151 E. Wacker Dr. Second City will perform at 3 p.m., followed by the awards presentation at 4:30 p.m. Cost is $50 per person, $55 at the door. Call (312) 697-6455 or visit www.lisc-cnda.org.
PARK ROUND-UP
The Chicago Park District (CPD) encourages residents to enjoy complimentary classes during Free Yoga Week, Monday through Sunday, Feb. 4 through 10, at nearby parks: Commercial Park, 1845 W. Rice St., (312) 742-7558; Daley Bicentennial Plaza, 337 E. Randolph St., (312) 742-7648; Fosco Park, 1312 S. Racine Ave., (312) 746-5086; Harrison Park, 1824 W. Wood St., (312) 746-5491; McGuane Park, 2901 S. Poplar Ave. Call (312) 747-6497.
CPD will offer free boxing instruction and coaching at Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph St., to beginners ages eight to 17 on Saturday, Mar. 1, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. as part of the Gloves Not Guns program. Call (312) 746-5494.
Come to the last Polar Adventure Day on Saturday, Feb. 23, from noon to 4 p.m. at Northerly Island, 1400 S. Lynn White Dr., on the Museum Campus. Oceanographer Chris Linder will present a slide show of Arctic and Antarctic photography from his upcoming Field Museum exhibit Exploring the Arctic Seafloor. Call (312) 742-PLAY.
CPD commemorates Black History Month with free local events. Children ages six to 12 can visit Anderson Park, 3748 S. Prairie Ave., between 4 and 5 p.m. for the Black History Quiz on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from Feb. 4 through 29. Call (312) 747-6007. The Black History Month Celebration features music, entertainment, and skits on Saturday, Feb. 16, noon to 2 p.m. at Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph St., (312) 746-5494.
The Park District celebrates Valentine's Day at local parks. Children ages five and younger can enjoy the Little Cupid Valentine event at Skinner Park, 1331 W. Adams St., on Saturday, Feb. 9, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is free. Photos cost $1. Call (312) 746-5560. Dads and their daughters can attend the free Daddy/Daughter Dance on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 6 to 8 p.m., at Wicker Park, 1425 N. Damen Ave., (312) 742-7553.
Children ages six through 12 can attend three park events on Thursday, Feb. 14. Kennicott Park’s Valentine dance costs $4 per person and will be held from 3 to 6 p.m at 4434 S. Lake Park Ave., (312) 747-7138. A Valentine party at Wentworth Gardens Park, 3770 S. Wentworth Ave., (312) 747-6996, costs $2 each and will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. A free Sweetheart Day event will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. at Anderson Park, 3748 S. Prairie Ave., (312) 747 -6007.
Cornell Square Park, 1809 S. Wood St., hosts a Valentine dance that costs $1 for children ages nine through 12 on Wednesday, Feb. 13, from 5 to 7 p.m. and another dance that costs $2 for children ages 13 through 17 on Thursday, Feb. 14, from 6 to 8:45 p.m. Call (312) 747-6097.
Taylor Park in Bronzeville, 39 W. 47th St., (312) 747-6728, will host a Valentine dance that costs $1 for children ages 11 through 15 on Thursday, Feb. 14, from 4 to 7 p.m.
CANCER FUNDRAISER
Children’s Memorial Hospital and Comer Children’s Hospital will host the Cold
Hands, Warm Hearts fundraiser at Crobar, 1543 N. Kingsbury St., on Saturday, Feb. 9, 6 to 10 p.m. Bill Rancic from The Apprentice will host the event, which will include
complimentary cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, dancing, and live and silent auctions. Cost is
$100, or $125 at the door. Call (312) 322-0001, ext. 62.
CHINATOWN ROUND-UP
See marching bands, floats, lion teams, a 100-foot mystical dragon, and Miss Friendship Ambassador at Chinatown’s Lunar New Year Parade, which celebrates the Year of the Rat, 4706, on Sunday, Feb. 10, at 1 p.m. on Wentworth Ave. from 24th St. to Cermak Rd.
Alaka Wali of the Field Museum, Christine Wu of the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry, and Jinhong Zhu of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources will be honored by the Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce as 2008’s outstanding Illinois Asian American Women in Science and Technology at the chamber’s Lunar New Year celebration luncheon at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, 2233 S. Martin L. King Dr., on Wednesday, Feb. 13, at 11:30 a.m. Cost is $75 each for regular seating, $125 each for premium seating. Call (312) 326-5320.
The Chinese New Year After-Hours Networking Party for Chinatown Chamber members will be held Wednesday, Feb. 27, 6 to 8 p.m. at Citibank’s Chinatown Square Financial Center, 2022 S. Archer Ave. Admission is free, but seats are limited to the first 100 registered guests. Call (312) 326-5320.
PASSPORT DELAYS
Chicago residents who travel outside the U.S. should apply for passports well in advance because processing may take up to 12 weeks. Passports are required for travel to any foreign country, including Canada and Mexico. Apply for a passport at the City Clerk's Office, 121 N. LaSalle St., Room 107, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Call (312) 744-2020.
NEW NURSING PROGRAM
The City Colleges of Chicago and the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of Nursing have partnered to encourage minority nurses to obtain education beyond an associate degree. Under the new partnership, 30 minority nursing students who are midway through their associate degree from the City Colleges will be selected for a special preparatory and support program to help them transition into UIC's baccalaureate curriculum. Call (312) 996-7800.
ADOPTION SEMINAR
Join Fertility Centers of Illinois, 900 N. Kingsbury St., Suite RW6, for a free seminar about adoption on Monday, Feb. 4, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Call (847) 680-9411.
FIELD IS FREE
General admission is free to the Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr., for February 2008.
FXW GALA
Come for dinner, dancing, raffles, and auctions when Frances Xavier Warde School hosts its Dream Big Gala on Saturday, Mar. 8, 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. at the Navy Pier Grand Ballroom, 600 E. Grand Ave. Call (312) 268-2515.
HOULIHAN FRIENDS
Friends for Michael Houlihan is hosting a benefit for Michael Houlihan, 36, who recently lost medical benefits and is battling a rare kidney cancer. The fundraiser will be held Saturday, Feb. 16, 6 to 8 p.m. at Nativity of Our Lord Parish, 653 W. 37th St. Cost is $25. Call (773) 386-8100.
DRUG-FREE BABIES
Haymarket Center, 120 N. Sangamon St., recently celebrated the birth of the 200th drug-free baby in its program for recovering and chemically dependent pregnant women and their children. For more about Haymarket, call (312) CAN-HELP.
BIKE FORUM
Discuss how to create successful and sustainable bicycle programs in the Community Bike Programs Forum at the Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 S. Cornell Ave., on Saturday, Feb. 9, 1 to 3:30 p.m. Call (312) 427-3325.
ONLINE LAW COURSES
The John Marshall Law School, 315 S. Plymouth Ct., will use innovative electronic formats to teach JD, MS, and LLM courses in 2008. This spring, Paul Wangerin will teach Commercial Transactions, and Doris Long will teach Patents for Poets. This fall, Wangerin will teach Remedies, and William McGrath will teach For Copyright Law and Practice. Each course will offer full classroom lectures online and an interactive student-teacher component. Call (312) 427-2737.
WINE TASTING
Wine retailer Just Grapes, 560 W. Washington Blvd., will showcase the top 25 wines costing less than $25 at a tasting on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Cost is $25 for Savvy Sippers, $35 for non-members. Call (312) 627-WINE or visit www.justgrapes.net.
WINTER FESTIVAL
February visitors to the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink can skate on artist Gordon Halloran’s abstract ice painting embedded into the rink, which is a part of Museum of Modern Ice, a new winter festival in Millenium Park. Weekends throughout the month-long festival offer free family games, crafts, and activities in a heated tent adjacent to the rink. Call (312) 742-1168.
STROKE SURVIVORS
Mercy Hospital & Medical Center, 2525 S. Michigan Ave., offers a free support group for stroke survivors, family members, and caretakers dealing with the aftermath of a loved one’s stroke. The group meets every second Thursday (Feb. 14) at 1 p.m. in the 12th floor conference room. Call (312) 567-2160.
NNHS ROUND-UP
The Near North Health Service Corporation (NNHSC) won a $25,000 grant by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois to continue providing health care and social services to medically indigent and uninsured residents at community-based health centers, including the following programs.
Teen Talk is a free weekly group treatment/educational session for 13- to 21-year-olds held Tuesdays, 4 to 6 p.m., in the large conference room at Winfield-Moody Health Center (WMHC), 1276 N. Clybourn Ave. Teens must provide a completed parental consent form to participate. Call (312) 337-1073, ext. 240.
Free HIV testing and STD counseling are provided Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Komed-Holman Health Center, 4259 S. Berkeley Ave., and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at WMHC. Testing is open to anyone 13 and older; no parental consent is necessary. Test results are available after ten days. Call (773) 268-7600, ext. 177.
A free prenatal breastfeeding class for Spanish-speaking pregnant mothers is held Tuesdays at 2:30 p.m. on WMHC’s lower level. Breastfeeding classes in English are held Mondays at 1:30 p.m. at WHMC and the Chicago Nutrition Education Center, 1924 W. Chicago Ave. Call (312) 337-1073, ext. 128.
Free smoking cessation classes are held Tuesdays, 9 to 10 a.m., at WMHC. Participants must complete a counseling form. Call (312) 337-1073, ext. 248.
NNHSC recently started the Tree of Life Sponsorship Program to raise funds for its social service and indigent medical programs and to recognize donors at various levels. Call (312) 337-1073, ext. 217.
LIBRARY MEDAL
The Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton St., received
the 2007 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest
honor for extraordinary public service.
ONIAC HIGH SCHOOL PREP
The Old Neighborhood Italian American Club recently sponsored a high school entrance exam preparation class for 18 eighth-grade students from Bridgeport Catholic Academy, St. Jerome, and Santa Lucia grammar schools. Besides tutoring, ONIAC supplied materials and a free pizza party for students and their parents. Call (312) 326-6420.
OLD ST. MARY'S ROUND-UP
Old St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 1500 S. Michigan Ave., celebrates its 175th anniversary Saturday, Feb. 16, with a 5 p.m. Mass by Cardinal Francis George, followed by a dinner and dance at the Union League Club, 65 W. Jackson Blvd. Cost is $150 per person and includes cocktails, dinner, and dancing. Transportation will be available; sign up on sheets provided in the back of the church. Call (312) 922-3444.
Old St. Mary’s invites all past or current parishioners to share information, photos, and memorabilia for an upcoming commemorative book.
The fourth annual Fat Tuesday party will be held at Grace O’Malley’s Restaurant-Pub, 1416 S. Michigan Ave., featuring a New Orleans-style dinner with beer, wine, and music on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 7 to 10 p.m. Cost is $40, or $45 at the door.
TEPEYAC 80TH ANNIVERSARY
Our Lady of Tepeyac, 2228 S. Whipple St., is observing the 80th anniversary of its high school, formerly known as St. Casimir's. Events included an anniversary Mass celebrated by Cardinal Francis George on Friday, Feb. 1, at the church. To learn about Our Lady of Tepeyac, call (773) 522-0023.
PRITZKER ELEM ROUND-UP
Jerry Weissbuch, A.N. Pritzker Elementary sixth grade teacher, and the members of one of his stock market teams were named top elementary school team in the fall 2007 Illinois Capitol Challenge! based on their stock portfolio’s outstanding performance. Music and drama teacher Jenai Jenkins received an Oppenheimer grant for her Global Percussion Ensemble proposal. Jenkins will use the grant to buy more xylophones and drums for classroom use. She also received a grant from the Chicago Foundation for Education and will use it to buy books on the Harlem Renaissance.
A.N. Pritzker Elementary School is located at 2009 W. Schiller St. Call (773) 534-4415.
FREE RADON TESTING
The Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago offers free radon test kits to determine if radon, the second leading cause of lung cancer, presents a risk in your home. Call (312) 628-0217.
ROOSEVELT ROUND-UP
Roosevelt University offers non-music majors a chance to sing Broadway, spiritual, and folk music in choir this spring in the new University Chorale class, held 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays at the Chicago campus. Call (312) 341-3785.
Chuck Middleton, Roosevelt’s president, was elected to a two-year term beginning on Jan. 1 as chairman of the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities.
Roosevelt’s organizational development and special events classes recently raised $6,800 for the Marriott Foundation for People with Disabilities’ Bridges from School to Work program.
RUSH ROUND-UP
Richard M. Jaffee was elected chairman of the board of trustees of Rush University Medical Center.
The newly FDA-approved Penumbra Stroke System, a device to remove blood clots in the brains of patients with acute ischemic stroke, is available at Rush, which studied the system’s safety and effectiveness under the guidance of neuroendovascular surgeon Demetrius Lopes. Call (312) 942-6644.
Surgical advancements can fix broken wrists without a cast, and patients typically can use their hand and wrist within days of the fracture according to Rush orthopedic surgeon Mark Cohen, who specializes in hand, wrist, and elbow surgery. Call (312) 243-4244.
Rush is a participating study center for the new Alzheimer’s Disease Genetics Initiative, which seeks to recruit 1,000 families to discover the genes responsible for Alzheimer’s disease. Eligible families must have at least two living relatives with Alzheimer’s and one living relative older than 60 who has no memory concerns. Participants will undergo a neurological examination and must provide a blood sample. Call (312) 942-8264 or (800) 438-4380.
'PARTY GRAS' FUNDRAISER
St. Barbara School and Church and St. Mary of Perpetual Help Church in Bridgeport are co-hosting the Party Gras festival on Feb. 23, 7:30 to 11:30 p.m., at the St. Mary Church Hall, 1040 W. 32nd St., with a live rock ‘n’ roll band, “street food,” cash bar, and raffle. Cost is $20, $25 at the door, $15 for seniors. Buy tickets at St. Mary or at St. Barbara, 2859 S. Throop St. Call (773) 927-6646 or (312) 842-7979.
QUEEN SOUGHT
The St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee seeks a queen and court of four for this year’s parade. Any unmarried woman of Irish ancestry, age 17 through 28, is eligible to enter the contest. Send a snapshot with your name, age, address, phone number, brief biography, and explanation why you want to be queen to Queen Contest, 1340 W. Washington Blvd., Chicago, IL 60607. Postmark deadline is Friday, Feb. 8. Call (312) 263-6612.
MASS AND TRIVIA
St. Sylvester's Roman Catholic Parish, 2157 N. Humboldt Blvd., will host an alumni Mass and trivia night on Sunday, March 2. The Mass will be at the church at 5 p.m. followed by a trivia game from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the school in Schwinn Hall. Cost is $5 a person for trivia and prizes will include Chicago Blackhawks tickets. Call Scott Neudecker , (773) 772-5222, ext. 200, or e-mail sneudecker@bigshouldersfund.org.
ST. THERESE BENEFIT
St. Therese Catholic School, 247 W. 23rd St., will feature cultural entertainment, a raffle, and a silent auction at its Chinese New Year dinner benefit Saturday, Feb. 16, 6 to 11 p.m. at Furama Restaurant, 2828 S. Wentworth Ave. Cost is $65 for guests 13 and older and $40 for those age four through 12. Platinum sponsorship costs $2,500 for a premium table for ten and a full-page ad. Gold sponsorship costs $1,800 for a preferred table for ten and a half-page ad. Call (312) 326-2837.
ORGAN DONOR REGISTRY
Secretary of State Jesse White encourages residents to re-register on the State’s organ and tissue donor program. Due to a new law, a person’s decision to donate now is legally binding; previously, the decision remained with the person’s family. Donors who registered before 2006 must re-register with the Secretary of State to guarantee their wishes to donate are fulfilled. Visit any Illinois State driver’s facility or call (800) 210-2106.
SHERIDAN PARK SIGNUP
Sheridan Park baseball league registration will be held at the park's 910 S. Aberdeen St. location on the Saturdays of Feb. 2 and 9 through 1 p.m.You also can register online at http://eteamz.active.com/SheridanPark. Sheridan Park proposed leagues are are: T- Ball (ages five and six); Rookie (pitch machine; ages seven and eight); Minors (ages nine and ten); Majors (ages 11 and 12); Pony (ages 13 and 14) and Girls Softball (ages eight to 13). Call (312) 746-5369.
POMPEII ROUND-UP
Celebrate your marriage at the sixth annual Pilgrimage for Married Couples at the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii Church, 1224 W. Lexington St., Saturday, Feb. 9. Mass and renewal of vows begin at 6 p.m. followed by a champagne reception with music and entertainment from 7 to 9 p.m. Cost is $80 per couple. Reservations recommended. Visit www.ourladyofpompeii.org or call (312) 421-3757.
The 20/20 Raffle returns with 1,000 tickets for sale. Weekly winners receive $50; winning tickets return to the hopper for the chance to win again. The first pull is Sunday, Feb. 10. If all 1,000 tickets are sold, the shrine awards the grand prize of $5,000 and two prizes of $2,500 each on Saturday, Jun. 21. Cost is $50 per ticket.
Create a palm bouquet for Holy Week in a hands-on workshop with master palm weaver Eugene Fedeli on Saturday, March 8, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Cost is $35 per person. Bring scissors; all other supplies included. Pre-register by Tuesday, March 4. Class is limited to ten people.
Join the shrine for a Lenten day of reflection and reconciliation, Saturday, March 8, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost is $20, $25 at the door. Lunch is included.
Rev. Richard N. Fragomeni celebrates the Mass and blessing of the Feast of St. Joseph Sunday, Mar. 9, immediately following the 11 a.m. Eucharistic Liturgy. Enjoy traditional Italian pastries at the 28th Annual St. Joseph's Day Bountiful Table, which remains open from noon to 3 p.m.
CANINE SOCIAL
The South Loop DogPAC board will bring hot coffee, treats for you and your pooch, and dog-friendly conversation to a Canine Koffeeklatsch on Saturday, Feb. 2, 7:30 to 10 a.m. at Dearborn Park, 9th St. and Plymouth Ct. Call (312) 264-5630.
PREPAID COLLEGE TUITION
State Rep. Elga Jefferies encourages parents to enroll in College Illinois!, a 529 prepaid college tuition program for Illinois residents. Applications are available at Jefferies's office, 435 E. 35th St. Visit www.collegeillinois.com or call (877) 877-3724.
CASH DASH
The State Treasurer’s Office is holding about $1.4 billion in lost money and assets and more than $167.8 million in uncollected refunds for overpayments on property taxes. Visit www.cashdash.net to search for your name on the State’s online database of unclaimed property. Check to see if you have a property tax refund due by visiting www.cookcountytreasurer.com or call (312) 443-5100 to hear information in English, Polish, and Spanish.
VALENTINE TANGO
Join the Valentine party on Thursday, Feb. 14, at TangoChicago, 408 S. Michigan Ave., for a beginners' tango class from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. with refreshments, followed by a buffet supper and dancing until midnight. Cost is $60 for class, dancing, and meal ticket; $40 for class and dancing only. Call (312) 788-3408.
UIC ROUND-UP
University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) researchers are participating in a multi-center research trial to evaluate whether Allovectin-7, an investigational treatment for advanced melanoma designed to train the body's immune system to recognize and destroy tumor cells, is more effective than standard chemotherapy. Participants must be at least 18 years old and have confirmed recurrent metastatic melanoma with at least one tumor. Call (312) 413-3863.
Tellabs Foundation is funding islet cell research at UIC with a $300,000 award to José Oberholzer MD's team, which works with the Chicago Project to improve pancreas transplant success rates.
Pier Cristoforo Giulianotti, MD, Lloyd M. Nyhus, MD, and Fabio Sbrana, MD, recently performed a landmark robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery to remove a renal arterial aneurysm and reconstruct the artery using a graft from a vein in the patient's leg. For information, call (312) 355-1945.
The UIC Flames men’s basketball team will play home games at the UIC Pavilion Saturday, Feb. 2, at 7 p.m. against Youngstown State; Monday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m. against Valparaiso; and Wednesday, Feb. 20, at 7 p.m. against Butler. Call (312) 413-UIC1. The UIC Soccer Winter 2008 Center of Excellence is open for registration and is available to boys and girls in the 4th-8th grades on Tuesdays and high school boys and girls on Thursdays. The 55.
UIC senior midfielder Pavle Dundjer made the 2007 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/Adidas All-America Third Team. Dundjer and sophomore goalkeeper Jovan Bubonja were named to the NSCAA/Adidas All-Great Lakes Region First Team, while senior midfielder Cesar Zambrano was an All-Great Lakes Region Second Team pick.
WACKY 5K RUN
The 17th annual Wacky 5K Run benefits the Blind Service Association and celebrates National Snack Food Month. The event begins and ends indoors at Plumbers' Hall, 1340 W. Washington Blvd., on Sunday, Mar. 2, at 10 a.m., followed by a post-race, indoor buffet of snack food from 11 a.m. to noon. Cost is $30, $35 on-site. Call (773) 868-3010.
WBDC ROUND-UP
The Women’s Business Development Center is hosting the following seminars. Pre-registration is required for all events. Call (312) 853-3477, ext. 0.
The free workshop Take the Mystery Out of Obtaining Financing For Your Business will be held Wednesday, Feb. 6, noon to 1:30 p.m. at ComEd, 10 S. Dearborn St., 48th Floor, Room NE-003.
Entrepreneurs are invited to the financial forecasting workshop Financial Analysis II on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 5:45 to 8:45 p.m. at Macy’s, 111 N. State St., 11th Floor Red Room or Thursday, Feb. 7, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at ComEd. Cost is $45 and includes a workbook guide.
The four-part sales training series Accelerating your Sales Performance will be held 6 to 8:30 p.m. on the Thursdays of Feb. 7, 21, and 28 and Mar. 6 at Macy’s. Cost is $125 for all four sessions and includes all materials.
A business plan workshop will be offered Wednesday, Feb. 13, 5:45 to 8:45 p.m. at Macy’s and Thursday, Feb. 14, 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at ComEd. Cost is $45 and includes a workbook guide.
A business exchange for women business owners generating at least $50,000 in annual sales will be held Wednesday, Feb. 20, 7:45 to 10 a.m. at ComEd. Cost is $20 for the session, which can be applied to membership fees ($150 for one year or $90 for six months).
Is Certification Right for You?, a free workshop for business owners who want to expand into corporate and government markets, will be held Thursday, Feb. 21, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at ComEd.
Form Strategic Business Alliances to Increase Revenue without Increasing Overhead is open to established business owners and will be held Friday, Feb. 29, 8 to 10 a.m. at ComEd. Cost is $30, $20 for certified Women Business Enterprises.
PEOPLE
Fulbright scholar Gentle Wagner recently joined The Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center as resident curator.
The Merit School of Music recently appointed Troy Anderson dean of programs and Timothy Riordan and Shalisa Kline Ugaz co-artistic directors.
The Archdiocese of Chicago awarded theology teacher John Paulett of Fenwick High School the 2007-08 Heart of the School Award for teacher recognition.
