Music Lessons

This fall Veterans Park District began offering group music lessons at Bulger Park. Instructor Cherrie Perrett offers Group Music lessons that focus on music appreciation, fundamentals, and theory. Five of her beginning students preformed at the annual Winter Fest on December 10th. The students put on a very nice performance. Ms. Cherrie also offers private piano lessons. Cherrie is the Treasurer and has been a Board Member of the Illinois Music Association for 15 years. She has had students win awards at the State and National levels. Cherrie plays piano, accordion, organ, trumpet, and clarinet professionally and a host of additional instruments recreationally. Cherrie is a talented teacher that has been teaching music for 40 years.

Fright Night

We had a wonderful crowd this year! An estimated 400 youth came out to enjoy the activities. During the event the kids played games, ate hot dogs, created crafts, and enjoyed our haunted house. We look forward to next yearÕs Fright Night!

Autumn Fest

This year's Autumn Fest was bigger and better than ever! All of the kids enjoyed pony rides, face painting, magic shows, inflatables and a corn maze (new this year). Taffy apples, pumpkins, and gift bags were given away to the first 750 children. Due to the success of this year's event, look for an even bigger, better Autumn Fest next year!

Veterans Park District Conquers Cape Cod!

Veterans Park District returned from SeptemberÕs trip with smiles on their faces, knowledge in their brains, and pure Cape Cod enchantment.

Trip participants enjoyed a guided New England tour, a day at MarthaÕs Vineyard – a charming island with delightful homes, unique shops, historical sites and beautiful light houses – Province Town, Hyannis, Chatham, and the JFK Museum. Forty six travelers enjoyed this memorable trip.

If you missed out on the Cape Cod trip, check out our next great extended trips to Savannah in May and Mount Rushmore in September.

Winter Fest

In partnership with the city of Northlake, the Northlake Youth Commission and the Kiwanis Club, Winter Fest was held at Grant Park Recreation Center on December 10. Over 500 children and adults came out for the event. We had a horse-drawn carriage ride, free books from the Kiwanis Club, crafts, inflatables, a free lunch, family bingo, performances from children in the Music Lessons program and Brian Wismer had children dancing and performing activities as our entertainer. The weather was cold but the event was delightful!

Breakfast with Santa

Over 150 people attended this charming breakfast! Families decorated gingerbread houses, enjoyed a hot breakfast including the hot cocoa buffet, and children all received a gift from Santa Claus.

Congratulations to the Leyden Bears and Melrose Park Gaels for another great season!

Congratulations to the Leyden Bears and Melrose Park Gaels for another great season! The Leyden Bears and Melrose Gaels had another great season of football and cheerleading. The Leden Bears practice at Grant Park Recreation Center and the Gaels practice at Bulger Park Community Center. A special congratulations to all the players and cheerleaders for their hard work!

Proviso Township Mental Health Commission Awards Grant to Veterans Park District

We recently received a grant award in the amount of $24,156 from Proviso Township Mental Health Commission to be used towards developing additional Special Recreation programs and events. In the past several years, our Special Recreation Department has expanded to better serve the needs of our residents. Most notably, the Special Recreation Day Camp began two years ago with students from Proviso Area for Exceptional Children and Enger School. Also a partnership with West Leyden High School has helped us to provide programs for high school students. This funding will be used to offer a free Special Event for special needs individuals, increase part time staffing needs, provide training to staff, purchase equipment for programs, and to create a soft play area for young children with special needs. We are very excited and appreciative of this opportunity to partner with Proviso Township Mental Health Commission and the prospect of enhancing our recreational programs and events for our special needs population.

VPD Senior Clubs Receive Check from Park District

Executive Director Donna Peluso & President Darlene Trevino presented a check on Oct. 20 to the Northlake Senior Club board members and on Oct. 26 to the Bulger Park Melrose Seniors.

Advertise in the Park District Brochure

23,000 Brochures printed each season! • Affordable! • Four Great Options!

1. Full Page, Full Color Ad
8.5" x 11", front or back inside cover
$1,500 per brochure, $3,600 for 3 brochure commitment

2. Full Page, Black and White Ad —
8.5" x 11", inside pages
$750 per brochure, $1800 for 3 brochure commitment

3. Half-Page, Black and White A d
8.5" x 5.5" horizontal or 4.25" x 11" vertical inside pages
$325 per brochure, $900 for 3 brochure commitment

4. Business Card Sized Ad —
3.5" x 2" horizontal or 2" x 3.5" vertical, inside pages
$150 per brochure, $360 for 3 brochure commitment

For more information or to place an ad, call (708) 343-5270 or stop in at Grant Park Recreation Center, 44 W. Golfview Dr., Northlake, Ill.