Triton radio station celebrates young DJ
The high school freshman who brings “The Dean Winnick Show” to the airwaves from 1 on WRRG is the youngest disc jockey at Triton College’s noncommercial radio station, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year.
From 1 to 3 p.m. Sundays on 88.9 FM, Dean Winnick, of Franklin Park, plays a mixture of classics and new songs, highlighting independent artists. He began at the station last year after his grandmother enrolled him in a radio camp last summer at the college, which is in River Forest. Kelli Lynch, who oversees programming at the station, helped him secure his own show.
He was inspired to become a DJ after wanting to have control over music coming over the airwaves and to help people discover new artists and songs. “I get to pick out all the songs I want to play. Whatever I’m in the mood for, I get to play, which I think is really awesome, and I’m grateful I get to do it,” he shared via a news release.
The teen especially enjoys introducing people to bands that aren’t well-known. “It’s cool being able to listen to new bands first and share my discoveries with others,” he shared in the release.
Information about the station can be found at its website, www.triton.edu/wrrg.
Families can apply for grant to pay gas bill
Nicor Gas is accepting applications for its Shield of Caring program for income-eligible residential customers.
Residents who have a gross household income below 400% of the federal poverty level in the last 30 days can apply at shieldofcaring.com.
Shield of Caring offers grants of up to $250 per year. The emergency assistance program, run by The Salvation Army, helps residential customers who are behind on paying their Nicor Gas bill and experiencing financial hardship because of military deployment, job loss, illness, a disability or other issues. Last year the company and The Salvation Army gave out $1.5 million in grants to more than 6,000 customers.
Those eligible for financial help from other programs, such as the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, are encouraged to apply to those programs first. The federally funded program helps economically vulnerable families by providing financial assistance for heating and cooling bills. For LIHEAP, a household’s gross income for the month before applying must be at or below 60% of the state median income, which is $6,407 monthly for a family of four.
Nicor also offers other resources for customers, such as a sharing program, low-income discount program, energy aid program, payment arrangements, budget plan and energy efficiency program. Details are found at nicorgas.com/billpaymentassistance.
Historical society gala features awards presentation
The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest will present two area couples with the Heart of Our Villages Awards during the society’s annual Museum Gala, set for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. March 12.
Sandra and David Sokol, of Oak Park, and Laurel and Dennis McMahon, of River Forest, will be celebrated during the event, which takes place at the Nineteenth Century Association’s headquarters, 178 Forest Ave. in Oak Park.
The gala features entertainment, hors d’oeuvres and beverages at 6:30 p.m. with the awards ceremony following at 7:30 p.m. Proceeds benefit the society.
Tickets cost $125 per person and must be bought by March 6. Do so by visiting oprfmuseum.org or by calling 708-848-6755.
Grant brings renovations to Oak Park’s Longfellow Park
Longfellow Park will be getting a bit of a makeover, thanks to the Park District of Oak Park receiving a $600,000 Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development grant.
When the work is finished, the park will have an expanded splash pad, sensory garden, new playground equipment and four dedicated pickleball courts.
Fencing is expected to go up around the park at the beginning of March for work to begin, and the project is expected to be finished in the fall.
Enrichment series offers talk on reliable energy
Power Generations for a Reliable Energy Future is the title of the latest of the Nineteenth Century Charitable Association’s Monday Enrichment Series talks, and it takes place at 1:15 p.m. March 19 in the second-floor ballroom at 178 Forest Ave. in Oak Park.
Project manager Dale Jones will discuss alternative technologies used now or being developed to diversify how energy is created and its infrastructure can be more sustainable and reliable.
The talk is free and open to the public, although donations are welcome. Details are at www.nineteenthcentury.org.
Learn more about women of Pleasant Home
To celebrate Women’s History Month, the Park District of Oak Park offers a special exhibit at Pleasant Home, 217 Home Ave. in Oak Park.
The exhibit, which focuses on the women of Pleasant home, can be viewed from noon to 3 p.m. every Thursday in March.
Typically, Pleasant Home is open for free, self-guided tours from noon to 3 p.m. Thursdays. A $2 donation or nonperishable food item for Beyond Hunger are suggested donations.
Details are available at 708-725-2095.
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