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Community Corner

Free Community Paper Shredding, Electronics Recycling Day

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Residents with paper, or outdated electronics, piling up can take advantage of a free paper shredding event organized by the folks at Sen. Michael Hastings office. From 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, residents are welcome to recycle:

  • Electronics: Computers, Cables, Modems, Fax Machines, Hard Drives, Keyboards, Mice, Speakers, Monitors, Motherboards, Printers, Servers, Calculators, Cell Phones. *No items that may dispense hazardous fumes, liquids, or gases.
  • Paper: Invoices, Tax Records, Financial Records, Legal Documents, Cancelled Checks, Medical Records, Credit Card Receipts, Outdated Business Records, Correspondence and Memos

The event is held at the senator's office, 813 School Ave., in Matteson. Find more info. 

Find out what's happening in Oak Forestwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 23* 

Pick a Pumpkin at Faith United: Faith United Presbyterian Church is trying its hand at the pumpkin trade. From Oct. 17–31, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (dusk) pick a pumpkin for $3 and up (depending on the size of the pumpkin). Enjoy apple cider, snacks and fall decorations during the week. Fridays through Sundays there will be extra activities to entertain children, including a Bounce House, a maze, and a crafts activity table. There will be settings available for photo opportunities, too. The pumpkin patch is a fundraiser to help many of the church's ministries, provide camp scholarships and help its fulfill needs within Tinley Park. Find out more info. *And every day through Oct. 31.  

Find out what's happening in Oak Forestwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

THURSDAY, OCT. 24
Tip a Cop for Special Olympics:
From 4 to 9 p.m., cops in nearby Crestwood will wait tables with the staff from Barraco’s Pizza at 13445 Cicero, collecting money for Special Olympics. They'll donate any tips they receive, and Barraco’s Pizza will also donate 10 percent of your bill towards the Special Olympics. Just tell your servers that you're there for the Special Olympics fundraising. Law Enforcement Torch Run T-shirts, hats and commemorative pins will also be available for purchase.

Learn to Manage Stress: Check out this free seminar on how to handle stress, for those who seek to understand and more effectively manage stress levels, while maintaining or improving physical and mental well-being. Call the Acorn Public Library at 708-687-3700 or stop by the library to register.

FRIDAY, OCT. 25
Halloween Fun Fair

  • When: Friday, Oct. 25, 6 to 8 p.m. 
  • Where: Don Gorman Recreation Center, 4412 Henry St.
  • What: Halloween fun including a costume contest, games, raffles, door prizes, refreshments and more!
  • Cost: $5 before Oct. 21st; $8 after Oct. 21. For more info, call 708-687-8882. 
SATURDAY, OCT. 26
Fall Family Festival
  • When: 12 to 3:30 p.m.
  • Where: Central Park Gymnasium
  • What: Pumpkin carving, Scarecrow-stuffing*, Halloween movies, hayrides and more!  
  • Cost: Free. Preregistration is required. Find more info. 

*The park district is accepting donations of old jeans and flannel shirts. 

Electronics Recycling: The Oak Forest Green Steps Commission again teams up with Vintage Tech to recycle electronics for Oak Forest residents. Acceptable items include: televisionscomputers, keyboards, monitors, cell phones, MP3 players, printers, stereo equipment, CD/VCR/DVD players, fax machines, PDAs, video game consoles, CRTs/LCDs, microwaves, computer mice. For more information, call 708-687-4050 or e-mail ofgreenstepscomm@oak-forest.org.

All month: Jean Therapy in Orland Park is holding a month-long jean drive to help stock Neat Repeats, the resale store operated by the Crisis Center of South Suburbia. People who bring in a pair of jeans to the store throughout October will get $15 off a purchase, and the jeans will all be donated to the Crisis Center of South Suburbia. The non-profit supporting battered women and families in need runs the Neat Repeats resale store, where the donated jeans will be sold. 

Check out Oak Forest Patch's Events Calendar to find out what else is going on and to add your own activities to the mix.

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