Now in its second year, Celebrating Seniors is like the promising infant who has made the astonishing transformation into a precocious toddler.

Last May, the inaugural Celebrating Seniors Week included a variety of events that emphasized the vital role that seniors continue to play in Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park. At the same time, the effort helped raise funds to aid seniors in crisis.

Along the way, the Celebrating Seniors Coalition, comprised of residents of Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park, honored the first "60 Over 60" class–a select group of men and women from the three communities.

On Thursday, May 10, the second such class was honored in a ceremony at the Nineteenth Century Club, 178 Forest Ave. in Oak Park.

The gathering previewed the more than 50 events, nearly all of them free of charge, from May 18-25 throughout the three villages.

Details about those events, as well as brief profiles about "60 Over 60" honorees, sponsor information and more are all contained in a Celebrating Seniors resource guide available at businesses, social service agencies and other locations throughout the area.

Celebrating Seniors events that come with a fee will provide extra doses of entertainment and insight.

Among them is one of the first day's events, on May 18: Big Band Friday Night, featuring The Yorkville Big Band.

A regional favorite for nearly 20 years, the band comes to play from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Howard Mohr Community Center, 7640 W. Jackson Blvd. in Forest Park. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door.

Another prominent event requiring a ticket is a luncheon discussion on Wednesday, May 23 on "Re-Defining Retirement."

Held at Concordia University, 7400 Augusta St., the two-hour session starts at 11:30 a.m. with Roz Varon of ABC7 Chicago delivering the keynote address on that timely and increasingly relevant topic.

The event is in the Oak Park-River Forest Room of the Koehneke Community Center, off Bonnie Brae Place next to the parking garage south of Division Street. Admission is $20 per person, and advance reservations are required.

One trait of the Celebrating Seniors Coalition is its passion to partner with organizations throughout the three communities. One example: on Sunday, May 20 is a pancake breakfast at St. Catherine-St. Lucy Church, 34 N. Austin Blvd. in Oak Park.

The cost is $5 per person, up to $20 for a family of four or more, and you can pay at the door. All of the proceeds will benefit the Celebrating Seniors Coalition emergency and crisis fund, as well as the St. Catherine–St. Lucy Renovation Fund for Lucienne House.

Celebrating Seniors Weeks wraps up on Friday, May 25 with a Sunset Revelry from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Holley Court Terrace, 1111 Ontario St. in Oak Park. Tickets are $10.

For all of these fee-based events, tickets can be purchased at www.celebratingseniors.net. You can also visit the website for more information, including details about events, a listing of this year's "60 Over 60" class and sponsors.

Anyone with further questions can contact Jim Flanagan, Celebrating Seniors Coalition chairman, at 708-386-3100.