Will County internships attract 75 students
More than 75 students participated in internship opportunities at various employees throughout Will County as part of the Will County for Economic Development’s summer internship program.
The program, begun in 2024, aims to bridge the gap between classroom learning and workplaces by giving high school students exposure to a wide variety of careers and giving employers a chance to engage with emerging talent.
Partners for 2026 include Lincoln-Way High School District 210, Lockport Township High School District 205, Providence Catholic High School, Joliet Township High School District 204, Valley View Community Unit School District 265U, WILCO Area Career Center and Joliet Catholic Academy.
Upcoming sessions for businesses to learn about program updates, guidelines and how to sign up take place 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. A light breakfast is served. Area sessions are Oct. 15 at Lincoln-Way West Warriors Lodge in New Lenox and Oct. 22 at the Lockport Township Offices in Lockport. Sign up at www.willcountyced.com or 815-723-1800.
Longtime Orland Park pediatrician retiring
After three decades as a pediatrician in the Orland Park area, Dr. Mariana Gigea will be retiring as of Sept. 30.
As a result, her office, Evolve Pediatrics on 159th Street in Orland Park, will be closing. Medical records for patients will be available by contacting the office at 10743 W. 159th St., Orland Park, IL 60467 or by calling 708-349-3030.
Free clinic helps veterans get dogs vaccinated
The Cook County Department of Veterans Affairs and the county’s Department of Animal and Rabies Control are joining forces with the South Suburban Humane Society to offer a Vets and Pets clinic for free distemper and rabies vaccines and microchips for dogs owned by Cook County military veterans and current service members.
One is set for 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 18 at Crestwood Armory, 13838 S. Springfield Ave. in Robbins.
The clinics are open to the first 100 dogs on a first-come, first-serve basis. Owners should bring proof of military service, such as a photo ID and DD214, veteran ID or common access cards. Dogs must be leashed.
Details are at www.cookcountyil.gov/vetsandpets.
Leadership change happening at Will County Seniors
Change is happening at Will County Seniors, where Brianne Hetman is moving on from her post as chief executive officer to serve as executive director at Child Network, a children’s advocacy center and court-appointment special advocates agency in Kankakee and Iroquois counties.
Hetman joined Will County Seniors in 2018 at its Joliet headquarters and has led initiatives such as developing the Ovation Center in Romeoville and expanding services for caregivers and relatives raising children. An executive committee is working to fill her position; information is at www.willcountyseniors.org.
Moraine Valley hosts Halloween run/walk, dash for kids
Sign up by Oct. 1 for a discount on the 12th annual Halloween 5K run/walk and Kid’s Dash, set for 9 a.m. Oct. 25 at Moraine Valley Community College, 9000 W. College Parkway, Palos Hills.
Registration is $40 for community residents and alumni and $30 for Moraine Valley employees and students. The Kid’s Dash, open to children 3 to 12 years old, costs $10 per person. Prices go up by $5 on Oct. 1 and another $5 on race day. Children of runners/walkers can join the Little Pumpkin Patch during and after the race. Free activities such as pumpkin decorating will be available; Little Pumpkins Patch participants must register and have a parent registered in a race.
Participants run or walk on a chip-timed 5K path through campus. The dash for kids starts at 10:15 a.m. Those who register in advance receive a T-shirt. Costumes are encouraged, and individual and group costume winners receive prizes. Top finishers in different age categories win a prize.
Proceeds from the event, sponsored by the Moraine Valley Health, Fitness & Recreation Center and the Moraine Valley Foundation, will go to the foundation’s scholarship fund. Information is at morainevalley.edu/fitrec/programs/halloween5k/.
Beverly Art Walk steps off on Saturday
The Beverly Art Walk, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 27, features art, music, vendors, food and family friendly fun at venues scattered throughout Chicago’s Beverly and Morgan Park neighborhoods.
When the event ends, attendees can head to an after-party featuring the 14-piece Chicago Afrobeat Project at Nicky’s of Beverly, 105th and Western Avenue.
The walk, created by the Beverly Area Arts Alliance, features more than 100 artists as well as public art installations, home studio visits and demonstrations in nearly 40 venues, starting with a “rededication” near the alliance’s future headquarters, the Eugene S. Pike House at 1826 W. 91st St., which will become a community cultural center. Bird houses will be sold to benefit the effort.
A map of the event is at beverlyarts.org.
Crafter alert: Stagg show seeks vendors
Crafters, artists and vendors are needed for the A.A. Stagg High School Music Boosters’ annual Art for the Season craft show, set for Nov. 15 and 16 at the school, 111th Street and Roberts Road in Palos Hills.
The fee is $115 for an 80-foot square booth space for both days of the show. Concessions will be sold, and some music performances are planned. Proceeds from the show benefit music programs at the school.
For an application, call 708-974-7520 and leave a message, download an application at www.aastaggmusicboosters.org or email staggcraftshow2003@gmail.com.
Send news to communitynews@southtownstar.com.
