ALMAS to host ‘The Olmec Legacy: Art, Culture and Influence’
ALMAS, the Alliance of Latinos Motivating Action in the Suburbs, will join with other community organizations in presenting “The Olmec Legacy: Art, Culture and Influence,” from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, at the Nichols Library, 200 Jefferson Ave.
The event is being held in collaboration with the city of Naperville, Naperville Public Library, Naperville School District 203 and Indian Prairie School District 204.
Participants can learn about the history of the Olmecs, often referred to as the “Mother Culture of Mexico” at the free event, which will feature a presentation by University of Chicago Professor Claudia Brittenham, an expert in ancient Mesoamerican art and author of several books.
Children age 11 and younger can take part in an art session led by Daniel Ponce, who will be leading a program on how to draw indigenous art pieces and color Olmec-themed sheets and monarch butterfly designs. The butterflies will be displayed as part of a Dia de Muertos event presented by ALMAS on Saturday, Nov. 2.
Naperville is hosting two sculptures as part of the “Olmec Trails: Culture and Legacy” exhibit to showcase the region’s collective effort to celebrate Mexican heritage and promote cultural awareness. The renditions of iconic Olmec heads will be displayed at Nichols Library and the 95th Street Library through Oct. 15.
Naperville woman among Will County’s Take It Outside winners
Six people, including Naperville resident Rita Mueller, are the first-place winners in the Summer Soiree edition of the Take It Outside challenge hosted by the Forest Preserve District of Will County.
As part of the challenge, participants earned points by completing nature-themed missions between June 30 to Sept. 21, a news release said.
Each winner completed all 206 missions, earning 4,135 points and tied for first place, according to the forest preserve district. Two other participants completed all of the missions as well but but were ineligible for the prize because they either won previously or were a forest district volunteer, officials said.
In addition to Mueller, the other winners were Marisa Dion of Crest Hill, Kelly Kastner of Woodridge, Randy Markz of Frankfort, Aisha Ray of Romeoville and Lynn Rowley of Bolingbrook.
The first-place winners will each receive a $150 share of the $900 prize pool in the form of Amazon gift cards.
More than 30 people received other prizes provided by Wild Birds Unlimited in Joliet, Crumbl Cookies in Mokena and The Nature Foundation of Will County.
The final Take It Outside challenge, Fall Frolic, will take place from Sunday, Oct. 6, to Saturday, Dec. 14. To participate, download the Goosechase app to a smartphone and use code ED7MGP. For more information, go to www.reconnectwithnature.org.
Nomination info packets available for COD board candidates
Candidate information packets for those who want to run for three College of DuPage/Community College District 502 Board of Trustees positions in spring 2025 are now available.
Nominating peititions for two six-year terms and one two-year term must be filed Nov. 12-18 in order for a candidate to appear on the April 1 election ballot, a news release said. They can be filed in person at the police dispatch office in the college’s Student Resource Center or by mail by sending to the College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd, Glen Ellyn.
Ballot position is determined by the date and the time of filing. A lottery will be held Wednesday, Nov. 20, if candidates file at a simultaneous time, the release said.
Six-year trustees will serve from April 2025 through April 2031. The two-year term runs through April 2027.
For more information, go to www.cod.edu/about/board_of_trustees/election.
