Visit Chicago Southland unveils new Oasis bureau
Tourism has a new name and a new look in Chicago’s south suburbs. Visit Chicago Southland, formerly known as Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau, held a grand opening ceremony for the new visitor information center last week at the Chicago Southland Lincoln Oasis in South Holland.
“The center will provide a far more expansive, welcoming, vibrant, informative, technological, and self-sufficient experience for the roughly one million people traversing in and out of this Chicago Southland Lincoln Oasis annually,” Visit Chicago Southland President and CEO Mary Patchin said in a news release. “We want this center to be a place of welcome and an invitation for everyone to discover the unique charm of the Chicago Southland Region.”
Dignitaries on hand for the ribbon-cutting included Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse, South Holland Mayor Don DeGraff and U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly.
The new information center includes a wraparound library of brochures and a 360-degree layout walled with QR-coded resources. Those who are more hands-on can explore the interactive touch screens that interface with the Visit Chicago Southland app and speak with specialist Rolanda Hudson, who will continue to staff the center to answer questions. Learn more at VisitChicagoSouthland.com.
Orland police receive traffic safety grant
The Orland Park Police Department received a Federal Fiscal Year 2025 Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program grant. The grant, funded by federal highway safety funds through the Illinois Department of Transportation, will support enhanced traffic safety enforcement efforts designed to save lives and reduce traffic crashes.
“We are grateful for this grant, which allows us to increase our enforcement of impaired driving, seat belt, speeding and other traffic safety laws under the banners of ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,’ ‘Click It or Ticket,’ and ‘Drive High, Get a DUI,’” police Chief Eric Rossi said in a news release.
The STEP grant year, which runs through Sept. 30, 2025, enables the department to conduct additional enforcement operations, particularly during high-risk periods. These operations will focus on behaviors that contribute to crashes, such as speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving, failure to yield, disobeying traffic signals and seat belt violations.
Cal City, Lansing students earn awards in Wolf Lake association’s poster contest
Five students from schools in Lansing and Calumet city earned first-place honors and $25 each in the Greening of the Arts poster contest sponsored by the Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative and Calumet College of St. Joseph. The awards will be presented at 9 a.m. Nov. 16 at Studio 659 in Whiting.
Winners are kindergartner Ruby Rose Soto, who drew a yellow-headed blackbird, first grader LaRiyah David, who drew a yellow perch, second grader Mateo Aceves, who drew a yellow-crowned night heron, and third grader Larry Bell III, who drew a mudpuppy, all of Lincoln Elementary School in Calumet City; and seventh grader James Ali, who drew a view of Wolf Lake with geese, and attends Memorial Junior High School in Lansing.
Stagg Music Boosters host craft fair this weekend in Palos Hills
Art for the season, an arts and crafts fair offered by the Stagg High School Music Boosters, takes place 9 to 4 p.m. Nov. 16 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 17 at the school, 8015 W. 111th St., Palos Hills.
The event features 200 art and craft and vendor booths offering everything from gourmet food products and jewelry to seasonal home decor, clothing accessories, children’s items, soaps and locations and holiday ornaments. Raffles, lunch and food sampling also are included.
The Madrigal Singers perform at 11 a.m. Saturday, walking around the fair. Stagg’s jazz band performs at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Commons. Admission is $3. All proceeds benefit the music program. For information, email staggcraftshow2003@gmail.com.
Local nonprofits earn grants from Franciscan Health
South suburban organizations were among 55 nonprofit organizations receiving a share of $448,000 in funding from Fanciscan Health’s Social Impact Partnership Program for community involvement programs.
The organizations are the Crisis Center for South Suburbia, South Suburban PADS, St. Coletta’s of Illinois, Respond Now and Harold Colbert Jones Memorial Community Center.
Awards are based on the ability to address priority health needs and health equity based on Franciscan’s Community Health Needs Assessment process. Priority health issues include housing support, healthy relationships, mental wellness, parent cafes for parents and caregivers to develop ways to strengthen families and physical activity and nutrition, including food insecurity.
DAR chapter sets talk with National Guard veteran in Palos Heights
Robert Peplowski, a National Guard veteran, will speak about his experiences serving in Afghanistan during a meeting of the Swallow Cliff Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution at 1 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Palos Heights Public Library, 12501 S. 71st Ave.
The NSDAR is a nonprofit, nonpolitical organization dedicated to preserving US history, securing the country’s future through better education, and promoting patriotism. Membership is a unique opportunity for women to honor their lineage and heritage as a descendant of a patriot of the American Revolution.
Prospective members from all south and southwest suburbs are welcome. For information, email swallowcliffdar@gmail.com
Send news to communitynews@southtownstar.com.