New Flossmoor post-race event
As part of its 100th birthday celebrations this year, Flossmoor is staging a new event Sept. 7 titled Kegs & Eggs, a post-race celebration that will immediately follow the 5th Hidden Gem Half Marathon.
Kegs & Eggs will be in downtown Flossmoor from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and feature brunch items from local vendors, specialty beverages and music spun by a DJ.
Food highlights include steak and egg sliders from The Bistro, Italian beef sandwiches from Buona Beef, breakfast tacos from Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery, energy shots from Sug N Jam, plus specials from Dunning’s Gourmet Market & Deli, D’s Cookie Dough Co., Rainbow Cone, Ruby Ella Sweets and Kona Ice. Flossmoor Station has even brewed an exclusive beer for the event: the Hidden Gem Beer.
Flossmoor’s Green Commission will be giving away 100 free oak trees.
The sold out Hidden Gem Half Marathon will kick off at 7:30 a.m. on Flossmoor Road in front of Infant Jesus of Prague School and will end in downtown Flossmoor, along Sterling Avenue. more than 1,200 runners will embark on a 13.1-mile road race throughout Flossmoor in an event named the Chicago Area Runners Association Race of the Year for two consecutive years. More information is at www.HiddenGemHalf.com.
Tinley Park middle schools lauded as ‘distinguished’
Grissom and Prairie View Middle Schools in Tinley Park have been recognized as Apple Distinguished Schools for the 2024–2027 program term, according to a news release from Kirby School District 140. The schools were chosen based on their commitment to continuous innovation in education and using Apple products to create exemplary learning practices, officials said.
“This prestigious honor reflects our unwavering commitment to innovation in education and the dedication of our teachers, students, and community in embracing technology as a powerful tool for learning,” Superintendent Dan Callaghan stated in the release. “Together, we are preparing our students for a future where creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking will lead the way.”
Back to school optimism in Chicago Heights
Staff and administrators at Kennedy Elementary School in Chicago Heights welcomed students and families to a Back to School Night event Aug. 15, where principal Artis McCann introduced staff members and students and teachers had a chance to meet in their classrooms. Free books and school supplies were distributed and everyone had a chance to get a treat at the ice cream truck parked near the playground.
“More great things are ahead this year at Kennedy and this was a great way to start,” McCann said.
Hiking challenge starts Sunday in Will County
The Spring Creek Greenway Trails at Messenger Marsh and at Hadley Valley, both in Homer Glen, are among 10 designated trails on this year’s annual Woods Walk hiking challenge.
The challenge is offered by the Forest Preserve District of Will County and will take place from Sunday, Sept. 1, through Saturday, Nov. 30.
Participants need to hike at least seven of 10 selected trails to earn a 2024 medallion featuring a bald eagle. The medallion celebrates the birth of seven eaglets in district preserves this spring and can be attached to a backpack or walking stick, a district news release said.
Participants complete the hikes on their own schedule over the three-month time frame. The designated hikes, which range from a half mile to 4.4 miles, are located throughout the county.
The others include Forsythe Woods Nature Trail at Forked Creek Preserve in Florence Township; Evans-Judge Nature Trail Loop at Evans-Judge Preserve in Custer Township; Normantown Trail at the Vermont Cemetery Preserve in Naperville; the Plum Creek Greenway Trail at Goodenow Road Access in Crete Township; the Hickory Creek Bikeway and LaPorte Road Nature Trail at Hickory Creek Preserve in Mokena; the Wauponsee Glacial Trail at Sugar Creek Preserve and the Old Plank Road Trail at Washington Street Access, both in Joliet Township and the Rock Run Greenway Trail at Hammel Woods in Shorewood.
Trail maps are listed in the Woods Walk booklet available at forest preserve visitor centers and online starting Sept. 1. Walks can be entered into the Goosechase smartphone app.
Participants have until Dec. 8, to submit their travel logs. Information is at www.reconnectwithnature.org.
“Last Comiskey” author to talk in Evergreen Park
Author Ken Smoller will discuss his book “Last Comiskey” at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 7 at the Evergreen Park Public Library, 9400 S. Troy Ave.
The Last Comiskey project, initiated by first-time documentarian Matt Flesch during the COVID-19 pandemic, resulted in a documentary capturing the final season of Comiskey Park, including the White Sox’s unexpected pennant chase. The film highlights the park’s significance through home movies, stories, and photographs contributed by fans like Ken Smoller. The accompanying book aims to serve as a lasting companion to the documentary, blending Smoller’s photos with new content to capture the essence of Comiskey Park and remind fans of its magic amid discussions of a potential new ballpark.
A book sale hosted by Bookies Bookstore and signing will follow the presentation. Registration for the free event is at 708-422-8522 or evergreenparklibrary.org.
Metra’s Rails, Trails and Ales returns to the Heritage Corridor
Metra will once again be offering special service on the Heritage Corridor Line on six Saturdays this fall, providing opportunities to explore the bike trails, festivals, craft breweries, restaurants, and vibrant communities along this historic route.
The service, dubbed “Rails, Trails and Ales,” is in its fourth year offering three round-trip trains, equipped with Metra’s bike cars, on six consecutive Saturdays from Sept. 7 through Oct. 12. The trains will depart Chicago Union Station at 10:30 a.m., 4:15 p.m. and 8 p.m. and make all stops to Joliet. Inbound trips will depart Joliet at 8 a.m., 1:45 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., making all stops to Union Station. The schedule also provides an opportunity for those living along the Heritage Corridor to use Metra for trips to the city on Saturdays. Full schedules can be viewed at metra.com.
Metra’s Heritage Corridor Line was named after the historic Illinois & Michigan Canal Heritage Corridor, which the rail line parallels. Many of the towns that are now stops on the line are closely linked to the canal’s creation, with rich and interesting histories. Bike paths that use the canal’s former towpath or connect with it are accessible from many of those stops.
Metra’s $7 Saturday Day Pass offers unlimited rides for a single fare, and Family Fares, which allow three children aged 11 and under to ride free with a fare-paying adult, can be used in conjunction with the Saturday Pass. A list of some of the sites, restaurants, breweries, and biking/hiking paths near each Heritage Corridor stop can be found at metra.com.
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