Edward Hospital seeking more dogs for its therapy program
Endeavor Health is looking for dog owners and their pets to serve in its animal-assisted therapy program at Edward Hospital in Naperville.
Therapy dogs must be able to sit, lie down and stay with one command, walk loosely on a leash without pulling, be friendly with other dogs and perform commands without treats. Additionally, they must be at least 1 year old, up-to-date on vaccines, free of skin problems, enjoy people and not bark or whine.
Animals who meet the program’s requirements will be scheduled for temperament testing Sept. 6 or 7 at the hospital, 801 S. Washington St.
A mandatory training session for those dogs chosen to participate in the program and their handlers will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 19 and 20 at the hospital.
Therapy dogs help patients feel better by reducing their anxiety and improving their moods, the hospital’s website said. Specially-trained dogs have made more than 250,000 patient visits since 2002.
Applications are available at www.eehealth.org/ways-to-give/volunteer/animal-assisted-therapy.
For more information, call Cynthia Brooks at 630-527-5305 or email cynthia.brooks@eehealth.org.
Exec director for Will County Mental Health Board announced
Teena Mackey has been named the first executive director of the Will County Community Mental Health Board.
Mackey previously managed mental health services and coordinated operations as executive director of the National Alliance for Mental Illinois Will Grundy, also known as NAMI Will Grundy, a news release said. Mackey was president of NAMI Will Grundy from 2014 to 2023 and has been on the Will County Board of Health since 2019.
She began her career in mental health in 2007 as an entry level case worker with Cornerstone Services. She later became a community support team specialist and served as manager of residential services for Help at Home and as coordinator of community housing at Cornerstone Services.
As executive director for the county mental health board, Mackey will lead its day-to-day operations.
Will County voters approved creating the mental health board via referendum in 2022 to coordinate a system of services to help with mental health issues, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and substance use problems.
Knoch Knolls Nature Center party to celebrate its first decade
Knoch Knolls Nature Center will hold an anniversary party from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, to celebrate 10 years of environmental education.
The free event includes family activities, outdoor yoga, prairie walks, live raptors and reptiles, and giveaways. It will take place at the center, 320 Knoch Knolls Road. Kona Ice will be selling shaved ice at the event.
Before the anniversary celebration, Naperville Park District officials will hold a 9:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony to dedicate the Frank J. Rus Pavilion on the upper grove of Knoch Knolls Park.
Outdoor yoga will be held at 10:30 a.m. A Taste of Forest Therapy Walk will take place at 11 a.m. and prairie walks will start at 10:30 and 11:45 a.m. Fish feedings will be held at 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
For more information, go to www.napervilleparks.org.
Time changes announced for Centennial Beach, other attractions
As summer ends and students return to school, the Naperville Park District is adjusting the seasonal hours for its summer facilities.
Centennial Beach will close for the day, Thursday, Aug. 15, the first day of school for students in Naperville School District 203. After that, the beach will offer weekday afternoon swimming from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16; Monday, Aug. 19; and Tuesday, Aug. 20.
Weekend hours will be 9 to 10:55 a.m. for adult float and 11 a.m. to dusk for open swim on Saturdays, Aug. 17 and 24, and 9 to 10:55 a.m. for adult float and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. for open swim on Sundays, Aug. 18 and 25.
The beach will be closed Aug. 26-30 before reopening for the Labor Day weekend.
Labor Day weekend hours are 9 to 10:55 a.m. for adult float and 11 a.m. to dusk Saturday, Aug. 31, and 9 to 10:55 a.m. for adult float and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday and Monday, Sept. 1-2. Monday’s adult float will be for members only.
The Paddleboat Quarry will be closed Aug. 15 before switching to weekend-only hours from 10 a.m. to dusk through September as weather and staffing levels permit.
Tours of the Millennium Carillon in Moser Tower will be offered Saturdays and Sundays only after Aug. 11 and will continue through fall as weather and staffing levels permit.
Splash pads at Wolf’s Crossing Park and the 95th Street Community Plaza will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Labor Day before closing for the season.
