Dominican University Named 2nd Most Beautiful Campus: Local Voices

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Dominican University named second most beautiful campus in America: Dominican University’s Main Campus has been named the second most beautiful campus in America according to Ranker.com, a social consumer web platform. Dominican followed St. Olaf College (MN) and was ranked higher by voters than Macalester College (MN), Pepperdine University (CA), University of Washington, Sewanee: The University of the South (TN), Kenyon College (OH), University of Mississippi, Scripps College (CA) and Colgate University (NY).

American, Japanese Students Have a Life Changing Experience in YMCA Service Learning Exchange Program: While their friends and classmates passed  summer days leisurely, a group of American and Japanese teens chose to spend several weeks in service to others as part of a Service Learning Exchange Program between the West Cook YMCA and the Saitama, Japan YMCA. Ten American and 13 Japanese teens traveled 8,780 miles to their respective destinations to participate in the month-long program, which began in mid-July.

Makin' Tracks 5k: Come join us Sept. 14 for our 16th Annual Community Bank Makin' Tracks 5K! Net proceeds from this event will benefit the West Suburban Special Recreation Association (WSSRA) to provide superior recreation services for adults and children who have a physical impairment, developmental delay, a mental disability or any other type of disability. 

Future Urban Farmers of America: The Edible Garden Tour was a huge success, and we're already brainstorming for next year. The Smith family may have set a record for visiting all 15 garden sites! They have two kids, Nolan, 6, and Margot, 4. We're told they were the ones pushing the family to see more, so we had to hear what they thought of the tour.  

Dominican presents Entrepreneur's Boot Camp: Dominican University’s Brennan School of Business will present its fifth biennial Entrepreneur’s Boot Camp on Saturday, October 5. 

River Forest student wins Metra poster contest: Mia Reynes, a fifth grader at Roosevelt School, is a first-place winner in Metra's Safety Poster and Essay Contest.  Mia's poster will be distributed to 2,000 schools in northeast Illinois.  It will also be featured in station displays and in Metra's 2014 safety calendar.

Thank You from The School of Rock!: Thank you to everyone who helped to welcome the SOR All-Stars to Oak Park on August 1! With the help of Maya Del Sol and many friends and neighbors, we were able to successfully raise $5,000 for our scholarship fund.  The money that was raised will come right back to the community in the form of rock music lessons for kids whose families need help with the cost of tuition. 

Loving Penelope needs a Loving home: "I like the outdoors and walk nicely on a leash, I love attention and food. I'm the quiet type, meaning in my two months here nobody has heard my voice. I don't roam, I don't chew things in the house, but I am a little naughty about food that is left unattended."

Those Thrilling Days of Yesteryear presents: "The Big Show" at the Oak Park Arms: Those Thrilling Days of Yesteryear, an all volunteer radio reenactment group, will present “The Big Show” at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8, at the Oak Park Arms retirement community, 408 S. Oak Park Ave. 

The Junction Diner Gives Back: The Junction Diner, 7401 Madison St. Forest Park, is collecting food for the Forest Park Food Pantry.  Bring in a couple nonperishable goods and get a coupon off your next meal at The Junction Diner.  Help us support the community!

Weekend Open Houses: Open houses from Gloor Realty

Unique Dining Room Furniture & More!: New items from Divine Consign.

Don't let varicose veins slow you down: For those who have spotted the start of those large, ropey, raised swollen blood vessels in their legs—medically termed varicose veins–there is a way to turn back the hands of time.