Connecting the Community Since 1957
NATIONAL FRIENDS OF LIBRARIESWEEK Third Full Week in October
Wednesday • October 15, 2025
IWPA (Illinois Woman’s Press Association) Fall 2025 Writer’s Workshop Event The Illinois Woman’s Press Association (IWPA) will be hosting the Fall Writer’s Workshop on October 25th, between 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm in the community room located in the South Holland Public Library at 16250 Wausau Avenue, South Holland, IL. The live event will feature educational programming with several expert speakers on an array of professional topics, with Q & A following each session. The presentation will be followed by attendees reading selections of their poetry, novels, or readings of published or in-progress work, in 5-minute increments. There will be mingling and discussions afterwards. The main speakers for the event are Charlie Artsey, producer and social media creator; Benaiah Link, awardwinning playwright; Alex Ross, self-published author, designer, and photographer; Victor Gulley, radio host, short film producer, and playwright; Janice Newman,
television host, author, and columnist; and Mabel Fleming, podcast host; and others. Topics include “Using AI as a Resource”, “Playwright 101”, “Marketing”, and others. Please bring if available fully charged tablets or laptops to work on. If you would like to share your work by reading a selection/sample, or poetry, please contact Janice Newman at Janice.ywhynot@gmail.com. The event is completely free, and registration is not required, but recommended at https://www.shlibrary.org/ event/iwpa-writers-workshop-6409 Attendees are invited to bring a copy of their work if they want to share, display, or discuss during the mingling and discussion time. A table will be provided for attendees to display their books (but not for sale) or other professional collateral. Light snacks and beverages will be provided. Parking and entry to the library are located at the back of
the building. This is the 140th anniversary for The Illinois Woman’s Press Association, which was founded in 1885 and is believed to be the oldest continuous woman’s organization in Chicago. It was created to provide communication and support between writers. The organization has open membership to every walk of life, as it’s not just for women. They focus on supporting writers with education, opportunities, encouragement, recognition, and unity in various aspects of writing. IWPA hosts an annual writing competition for a wide variety of categories from articles to television. www.iwpa.org
The Towle Theater is thrilled to Nothing Good Comes from bring the cult-classic musical Bullying. October is National Little Shop of Horrors to Bullying Prevention Month downtown Hammond! The Towle Theater is pleased to present Little Shop of Horrors. This production is Directed by Dion Stover and Music Directed by John Phillips. This show is sponsored by Hammond Urban Enterprise Association. Little Shop of Horrors, is a dark comic sci-fi spoof following the story of Seymour Krelborn, a meek floral assistant who stumbles upon a mysterious and exotic plant unlike any other. Naming it “Audrey II” after the co-worker he secretly loves, Seymour soon discovers the plant’s shocking secret: it feeds on human blood. As Audrey II grows into a sharp-tongued, soul-singing sensation, Seymour is suddenly thrust into a world of fame, fortune, and moral compromise. But the bigger the plant grows, the hungrier it gets and its appetite could mean trouble for everyone on Skid Row. Making their Towle debuts are TJ Bird (Decatur, IN), Brian Centers (Westmont, IL), Gabriel Levi (Chicago, IL), Marie Molina (Chicago, IL), Taylor Morris (Chicago, IL), Darrow Richmond, Jr (Glenwood IL), and Matthew Williams ( Berea, KY). Returning to the Towle are Amanda Donohoe (Chicago, IL ), and Sean Rhead (Tinley Park, IL). Little Shop of Horrors opens October 24th and runs till November 1st. October 24th & 25th at 7:30pm, October 26th at 2pm, October 31st at 7:30pm & November 1st at 2pm. The box office opens 1 hour prior to performance time.
Pictured - Audrey II and Matthew Williams who plays Seymour Krelborn. Photos Provided.
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Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door. Reservations must be paid for in advance. They are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Group rates are available. There is no late seating. Please arrive no later than 15 minutes prior to curtain. If you arrive after curtain, you will not be seated until intermission. The Towle Theater is located in beautiful downtown Hammond at 5205 Hohman Avenue. Due to major renovations happening in Downtown Hammond, parking is available right in front of the building on Hohman Avenue, street parking along Fayette street, as well as the gravel lot located on Sibley. For more information call 219-937-8780 or visit www.towletheater.org.
October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and its goal is to raise awareness about the serious and lasting impacts of bullying in schools. This year’s theme is “Power for Good,” emphasizing the importance of using personal strengths and influence to speak up against bullying and support positive change in both online and in-person environments. Some of the important days during the month are World Day of Bullying Prevention on October 6th, and Unity Day on October 22nd. Everyone is encouraged to wear blue on October 6th. According to the website stompoutbullying.org bullying comes in various forms: * Physical - kicking, hitting, biting, and making threats. * Verbal - name calling, spreading rumors, and persistent teasing. * Racist - making racial slurs, spray painting graffiti, and mocking a person’s culture. * Sexual- unwanted physical contact or abusive comments. * Cyberbullying- using electronic means via computers and phones, web sites, chat rooms, instant messaging to torment, threaten, harass, humiliate, or target another child. The CDC released a report entitled “The Relationship Between Bullying and Suicide: What We know and What it Means for
Schools.” Bullying has serious and lasting negative effects on the mental health and overall well-being of youth involved in bullying in any way including those who bully others, youth who are bullied, as well as those youth who have observed bullying. Negative outcomes include depression, anxiety, substance abuse, poor school performance, and poor attendance. Both the bully and the person being bullied are at an increased risk for suicide-related behavior. In the report, the CDC says that bullying behavior and suicide-related behavior are closely related. Bullying may not be a direct cause of someone attempting suicide but sometimes combined with other risk factors such as emotional distress, family conflict, relationship problems, and alcohol and drug use will increase the risk of suicide among youth. The Jason Foundation is a valuable resource if you feel that a friend or loved one is struggling with their mental health. JFI is dedicated to the awareness and prevention of suicide through educational programs that equip youth, parents, educators, and the community with the tools and resources to identify and assist those who may be struggling mentally. Currently, suicide is the third leading cause of death for children ages 12-18. Visit www.jasonfoundation.com to learn how to make a difference.
READ THE SHOPPER ONLINE! visit issuu.com/myshopper
Glenwood Approves Program to Attract New Investment The Village of Glenwood has introduced a new economic development tool aimed at eliminating blight, while also making it easier for developers to invest in the community. Mayor Toleda Hart introduced – and the Village Board unanimously approved – the Abandoned Property Acquisition Program, allowing the village to partner with those interested in acquiring abandoned commercial or residential properties and bringing them back to life – and to the tax rolls. “This program is an investment in our community not just today, but for the future,” Mayor Hart said. “Whether
it’s an abandoned house or vacant business, we’re ready to work with developers to welcome new homeowners and businesses owners to Glenwood and attract more private investment.” Vacant properties must be delinquent on property taxes or water bills for at least two years in order to qualify. When a property has been identified by the interested developer, the village requires a small escrow amount to be put down and it will then take the steps to acquire the property on behalf of the developer. That escrow money is used during that process, meaning the program operates at no cost to the village.
As the property works its way through the legal process, the developer has to meet certain benchmarks, including securing a certificate of occupancy within six months of receiving it, meaning they must occupy, rent or sell it within that time. If that is done, they will have acquired the property for nothing more than the legal fees and their cost to rehabilitate it, while the village will have added a new property to the tax rolls and perhaps a new business for residents to support. For more information on the program, contact Village Hall at 708-753-2400.