CanIGetADotCom.com Blog

July 29, 2010

The deadline for calendar items is two weeks prior to the desired publication date. Send information on clubs, lectures, community events, religious events, reunions, support groups and singles to: Community Calendar, Evanston Review, 3701 W. Lake Ave., Glenview IL 60026; fax to (847) 486-7451 or e-mail to evanston@pioneerlocal.com.

Recreation

Evanston operates three community centers: Robert Crown, 1701 Main St., (847) 448-8258; Fleetwood-Jourdain, 1655 Foster St., (847) 448-8254; and Chandler-Newberger, 1028 Central St., (847) 448-8252. The Evanston Ecology Center is at 2024 McCormick Blvd., (847) 448-8256. The city also operates the Levy Center, at 300 Dodge Ave., but activities there are geared to older adults run under a separate listing in the Review’s weekly calendar. For information or to register for the following activities, call the center where the activity takes place, or call the main number at (847) 866-2910. For mobility or communications access assistance, call (847) 866-2910 (VOICE) or (847) 328-4080 (TDD).

The Evanston Lakeshore Arts Festival will take place from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Aug. 7 and Aug. 8 at Dawes Park, Sheridan Road at Church Street. The event features artwork by more than 125 artists, silent auctions, a children’s craft tent, food booths and live entertainment (for a complete schedule visit www.cityofevanston.org/lakeshore). A free shuttle bus will run from the Northwestern University parking lot three blocks north of the festival (signs are posted) and back again. For more information, call (847) 448-8260.

Women’s Basketball for fun and fundamentals takes place at 7:05 Thursdays, Aug. 5 through Sept. 9, at the Chandler-Newberger Center. Beginners are welcome in this class, designed especially for women over age 40. The cost is $66 for residents, $74 for nonresidents. Drop-in fees are available.

The free Starlight Concert Series continues with Front of House from 7:30-9 p.m. Aug. 3 and Singing in the Abbey from 7:30-9 p.m. Aug. 10 — both at Dawes Park, Sheridan Road at Church Street. If rain threatens, call (847) 448-8058 after 4:14 p.m. on the day of the concert for an update. To learn more about the performers visit www.cityofevanston.org/starlight.

Pooch problems? New classes for dog and puppy owners to help solve their pet issues are being offered by the city of Evanston. Choose from a classroom setting (leave pets at home), by telephone or via Internet, and let an expert help. For seminar times, setting up a consultation, pricing or to register, call the Levy Center at (847) 448-8250.

Sign up for A Day at the Beach Trip. Youth ages 10-15 are invited to enjoy a day at North Avenue Beach in Chicago from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 11. Transportation and adult supervision will be provided. This trip may be canceled due to beach closing or inclement weather. Register by August 5; the cost is $8 for residents, $12 for nonresidents. To register, call (847) 448-8250.

Levy Center

The following activities take place at the Levy Senior Center, 300 Dodge Ave., unless indicated otherwise. To register, call (847) 448-8250.

Computer searches can make “cents.” An account with GoodSearch has been established so the center can raise funds for the Life Enrichment Fund of Levy Center Inc. with little or no effort. GoodSearch is used exactly as any other search engine. To begin, visit www.goodsearch.com.

Looking for personalized computer help? One-on-one computer training is offered at the Levy Center. The cost per hour is $55 for members, $65 for nonmembers.

A Master’s Class in Computer Skills will meet from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Fridays, Aug. 6-27, at the center. Advanced word-processing skills, the Internet, e-mail, spreadsheets and databases, and more will be covered. The fee is $100 for members; $120 for nonmembers.

The Writer’s Workshop meets at 1 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month. The group is always looking for new members.

“Focused on Fixed Income” is the title of a program at 1 p.m. Aug. 12 at the Levy Center. There is no charge for this session; preregistration is not required. The presentation will focus on how quality bonds can serve as the foundation of a well-balanced portfolio. Guest speakers are Neil Gardner and Edward Jones.

An Introduction to eBay class for fun or profit takes place from 1-3 p.m. Tuesdays, Aug. 3-24. The fee is $100 for members, $120 for nonmembers. Prerequisite: comfort using the mouse and keyboard.

The Dick Elliott Band will perform favorite Big Band tunes at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, July 16 at the Levy Senior Center. The fee is $5 at the door. Adults are welcome. Refreshments will be served.

Enjoy Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Carousel,” on a musical excursion taking place from 1:30-5:15 p.m. Aug. 18. Presented by Light Opera Works, the romantic score features such hit songs as “June is Bustin’ Out All Over” and “If I Loved You.” The cost is $45 for members, $55 for nonmembers. There is no lunch included in this trip.

Computer searches can make “cents.” An account with GoodSearch has been established so the center can raise funds for the Life Enrichment Fund of Levy Center Inc. with little or no effort. GoodSearch is used exactly as any other search engine. To begin, visit www.goodsearch.com.

Looking for personalized computer help? One-on-one computer training is offered at the Levy Center. The cost per hour is $55 for members, $65 for nonmembers.

A current-events discussion, led by Charlotte Jaffe, takes place at 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays. Admission is free.

Bowling without the heavy ball is offered from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. every Friday. Members can “bowl” for free using the center’s Wii. This virtual-reality game lets can be played alone or with others.

Fridays are bid whist days. Play the game for free, starting at 1 p.m.

Play Bingo at 1 p.m. every Tuesday. Cards cost 25 cents.

Lunches are served from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. weekdays. The cost is $4.

Lunches are served 11 a.m.-1 p.m. weekdays at the Levy Center for only $4.

Evanston Public Library

The activities below take place at the Evanston Public Library, 1703 Orrington Ave., unless indicated otherwise. All activities are free, unless a specific fee is listed. Call (847) 448-8600 or the number listed after the activity or visit the library at www.epl.org.

Visit the Evanston Plaza Summer Reading Stop, at 1958 Dempster St., which is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, through Aug. 26. At the Reading Stop — a library outpost with books and magazines for kids of all ages and their parents — children may sign up for the summer reading game and earn prizes for time spent reading; attend preschool story time at 10 a.m. Tuesdays; play board games, and do arts and crafts; take a book, bring it back and exchange it for another one, with or without a library card; and just spend time reading.

Career counseling is offered at the library from 9 a.m. to noon on the second Monday of each month, as well as the last Thursday.

A free consultation with a career counselor may be scheduled by calling the reference desk at (847) 448-8630 or sending an Instant Message whenever the library is open.

Online Resume/Job Application Help, an ongoing program, takes place from 6-7 p.m. Wednesdays. Computer instructors are available to teach how to set up a free e-mail account or post a resume online. No need to call ahead. Note: Instructors are not career counselors, and cannot edit or help write resumes. For employment help, see the library’s Career Resources page at www.epl.org or call the reference desk at (847) 448-8630 for a referral.

YMCA

The following activities take place at the McGaw YMCA, 1000 Grove St., unless indicated otherwise. For more information or to register, call (847) 475-7400.

A free, weekly Yoga class for unemployed persons is offered from noon-1 p.m. each Wednesday in the Evanston Review Room of the Y. Individuals must register for this class at the Illinois Worknet Center-Evanston, 1615 Oak Ave., and provide proof of unemployment insurance. For questions on registration, call Beverly Lindsey at (847) 864-3530; for class information call David Harper at the Y’s main number, extension 256.

EHC

The Evanston History Center has its headquarters in the historic Charles Gates Dawes house, 225 Greenwood Ave. For more information on events, to purchase tickets or make reservations, call (847) 475-3410, via e-mail to jthompson@evanstonhistorycenter.org or visit www.evanstonhistorycenter.org.

Take a guided tour of Evanston’s Lakeshore Historic District on Aug. 7, starting at 1:30 p.m. at the Dawes House, 225 Greenwood Ave. and ending there around 3:30 p.m. Held in celebration of the concurrent Lakeshore Arts Festival, the tour will have a Women’s History focus — taking participants past the homes of women who were pioneers in women’s rights, art, literature and government. The cost is $10 for EHC members, $15 for nonmembers — payable the day of event. Reservations are recommended; call (847) 475-3410 or e-mail khartzell@evanstonhistorycenter.org.

“Lifting As We Climb: Evanston Women and the Creation of a Community,” a new exhibit highlighting the many contributions women and women’s organizations have made in Evanston, is now on display at the center.

The EHC research room is open from 1-4 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. There is a $5 fee to use the room’s resources; free for students and EHC members.

The Dawes House is open for tours from 1-4 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Tours begin on the hour; last tour begins at 3 p.m. The cost is $10 per person; free for EHC members.

Clubs

Alliance Française du North Shore offers “Cafe Conversation” in French from 10 -11 a.m. Aug. 2 at Panera, 1199 Wilmette Ave. in Wilmette. Membership is not required, and the meeting is open to all fluency levels. For more information visit http://alliancefn.wlkcommunity.com or e-mail alliancefn@yahoo.com.

The Evanston Go Club meets from 6-10 p.m. Wednesdays at Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 1630 Sherman Ave. The club is free and everyone is welcome, regardless of whether they know how to play this game of skill — fun for all ages. Visit www.evanstongoclub.org or call Mark Rubenstein at (847) 869-6020.

Mom4Profit, a business networking group for women in business with children, meets a noon on the first Tuesday of every month at varying locations on the North Shore. Call (847) 363-5394 or visit Mom4ProfitNetworking.com.

The North Shore New Horizons Band rehearses at 9:15 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at 470 W. Maple St., Winnetka. The band is open to adults 50 years or older. Call Doris at (847) 299-6033.

The North Shore Harmonizers, an independent women’s barbershop chorus, holds weekly chorus rehearsals at 7 p.m. Thursdays at St. Augustine Church, 1140 Wilmette Ave., Wilmette. The group is open to any level of experience. Call (312) 409-4215 or visit www.northshoreharmonizers.org.

Community

Nominations for the 2010 Design Evanston awards are now being accepted by this nonprofit design advocacy organization from members of the design community and the general public. The deadline for nominations is Aug. 28, and the awards program is scheduled for mid-October. For a nomination form and explanation of the various award categories, visit www.designevanston.org/awards.html.

A free Mall Walking Program, sponsored by St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, takes place from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. every Saturday at Westfield Old Orchard shopping mall, at Skokie Boulevard and Old Orchard Road in Skokie. Individuals of all fitness levels are invited to join the Westfield Walkers program, and walk as much or as little as they prefer. Meet at the Orchard Food Court, where the one-mile course begins and ends. Membership is free, and registered walkers will get discounts from many participating stores and restaurants.

Free “Financial Literacy for Women” classes, designed for low- to moderate-income women, are hosted by the YWCA Evanston/North Shore. New classes start the first Tuesday of every month and run from 6-8 p.m. every Tuesday for four weeks at the YWCA, 1215 Church St. Transportation vouchers and child care are provided. Participants who complete the four-week cycle may be eligible for a matching savings program with First Bank & Trust in Evanston. For more information, contact Tina White at (847) 864-8445 or via e-mail at twhite@wcae-ns.org.

Volunteers

The Sack-Lunch Soup-Kitchen at the First Congregational Church House, 1417 Hinman Ave., is seeking volunteers (individuals and small groups) from noon-1 p.m. Fridays. Volunteers can purchase, prepare and/or serve the lunches. This is a great project for families and neighborhoods to take on once or twice a year. For more information, send an e-mail message to Mary Beth at roth.marybeth@gmail.com or call (847) 869-0478.

Meals at Home is looking for volunteers to deliver meals to homebound clients. Volunteers pick up meals provided by Evanston and St. Francis Hospitals between 11:15 and 11:30 a.m., Monday through Friday, and then distribute them to clients in Evanston, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Winnetka, east Glenview and east Northfield. No route takes more than two hours to deliver. Some volunteers deliver once a week; others serve once a month. There is also delivery on Saturdays and holidays. Call (847) 729-0911.

The Evanston School Children’s Clothing Association (ESCCA) is seeking volunteers to assist in publicity, new-media communication, Web-site design and marketing. For those who have skills in these areas and can volunteer a few hours a month to work from home or office, send an e-mail message to info@escca.org. For more information visit www.escca.org.

The American Cancer Society, North Shore region, is seeking volunteers to provide services to cancer patients, including driving patients to treatment appointments and providing one-on-one support. Volunteers also are needed to help plan fund-raising events such as Relay for Life and educate the public on cancer prevention and early detection. Schedules are flexible and training is provided. Call (847) 328-5147 or e-mail dawn.matune@cancer.org.

The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders in Highland Park has numerous volunteer positions in its national offices. Full training is provided. Call (847) 433-3996 or e-mail anad20@aol.com.

The North Shore Auxiliary for Lawrence Hall needs volunteers to help young children who live in the Lawrence Hall child welfare facilities. The volunteers would work with others on the North Shore to provide comfortable living conditions for the children. Contact Kathy McCareins at KMM3026@aol.com.

CJE SeniorLife is in need of more volunteers for its home-delivered meals program in the Evanston, Skokie and Morton Grove areas. Hot and cold meals are delivered between 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. weekdays. Volunteers work in teams of two; one person drives and the other delivers the meals to the client’s door. Volunteers may choose one or two weekdays on a regular basis to deliver meals or assist as their schedules permit. Call Cookie, (773) 508-1014.

Heartland Animal Shelter staff teach people how to foster shelter animals from 4:15 to 5:30 p.m. the first Saturday of the month at 2975 Milwaukee Ave., Northbrook. Participants will be asked to sign up for the Volunteer Orientation (required to be an official volunteer for Heartland) offered at 4:15 p.m. the last Saturday of every month. To register, call (847) 296-6400 or e-mail Jenny at jlnogle@yahoo.com.

The Night Ministry is a nondenominational organization that serves homeless people and runaway youths, uninsured individuals, the working poor, unsupervised children and others. Volunteer needs include meal preparation for shelters and other outreach programs, various support for a Health Outreach Bus, a Night Walk to increase awareness of the environment faced by homeless and runaway youth and a First Saturdays project suitable for groups of students. Visit www.volunteercenterntt.org.

NorthShore University HealthSystem’s volunteer program offers opportunities to work with patients and families dealing with a terminal illness. Daytime hospice volunteers are needed to provide companionship and emotional support to patients and relief for their caregivers, provide transportation, run errands and perform light household tasks. An eight-week training course is from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Wednesdays at 4901 Searle Parkway, Skokie. To register, call (847) 982-4365.

The North Shore Senior Center needs volunteer drivers, friendly visitors and Russian and Korean translators. They’ll match the volunteers’ skills, interests and schedules to these and a variety of other current volunteer opportunities. Call Maura Rogan at (847) 784-6052 or e-mail mrogan@nssc.org.

Support

The Beyond Epilepsy support group meets on the second Thursday of each month in Room G952 at Evanston Hospital, 2650 Ridge Ave. The next meeting is at 7 p.m. Aug. 12 and features guest speaker Barry Siegel, who will discuss the “HeARTwords workshop.” This free support group is open to anyone who has or is affected by epilepsy, and offers a safe place to express emotions, thoughts and stories in a variety of formats. For more information contact Patrick Onuscheck at (847) 859-2362 or via e-mail at beyond.epilepsy@gmail.com.

Free one-on-one foreclosure counseling is available with a nonprofit U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-certified housing agency to homeowners with questions or concerns about their mortgages. Call (847) 501-5768, ext. 404.

Presbyterian Homes, the Evanston-based owner/operator of eight retirement communities, recently launched www.SeniorCareAnswerTeam.org, an online resource for adult children, caregivers and helping organizations who may need a better understanding of the considerations that go into choosing senior-care solutions. The site addresses the different types of senior living and community services, financial concerns, long-term-care insurance, veterans’ benefits and more.

The Lilac Tree: Resources for Divorcing Women, at 1123 Emerson St., Suite 215, in Evanston, offers a wide range of workshops, seminars and other events on divorce issues relevant to women. Support groups also are available. There usually are fees, but partial scholarships are available. Visit www.thelilactree.org or call (847) 328-0313.

Evanston Hospital hosts a monthly support group for bereaved parents at the hospital, 2650 Ridge Ave. The group is open to any parent who has had a child die after early infancy. Call Sorelle Stanton at (847) 570-2831.

La Leche League of Evanston and Wilmette provides free breastfeeding information, help and support, welcoming all interested women (and babies/toddlers). Meetings are held at 9:30 a.m. the first Wednesday of the month at Skokie Valley Baptist Church, 1050 Skokie Blvd. in Wilmette; and at 7 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at St. Francis Hospital, 355 Ridge Ave. in Evanston. For more information call (847) 251-5758 or visit www.chicagoiands.org.

The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance-Greater Chicago has free support groups for people with mood disorders and support groups for their families. Meetings take place from 6:30-8 p.m. on the first Monday of every month at Evanston Hospital, 2650 Ridge Ave. in Rooms G952 and G954. For more information call Elaine at (847) 674-6376.

Mather Pavilion, a Mather LifeWays senior residence, hosts an Alzheimer’s Association Support Group from 7-8:30 p.m. the second Wednesday at the residence, 820 Foster St., Evanston. Call Joanne Malleta (847) 492-2525.

Presbyterian Homes’ Westminster Place campus, at 3200 Grant St., offers Stroke Club, a support and education group for stroke survivors, their families and caregivers from 3-4 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month. For more information call Suzanne Keeley at (847) 675-3412.

CJE SeniorLife offers a support group, Care Giving for Loved Ones with Dementia, from 11 a.m. until noon on the first and third Wednesday of every month at CJE’s Adult Day Services, 1015 W. Howard St. in Evanston. Reply to social worker Amy Zahn at (773) 508-1047.

The Autism Society of America, North Suburban Illinois Chapter support group, holds meetings at 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of the each month at the Skokie Village Hall, 5127 Oakton St. The group is open to all who are interested in supporting families, professionals and people involved in caring and helping those with autism-spectrum disorders. For more information contact Richard Fink at (847) 583-5080 or via e-mail at FinkRick@hotmail.com.