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Left Morris Area Garden Club member Ginny Bellamy and Mary Russell from Contrary Mary's Plants || Submitted photo

Morris hospital auxiliary announces volunteer recruitment fair

MORRIS — The Morris Hospital Auxiliary is hosting a Volunteer Recruitment Fair from 5:30-7 p.m. June 22 in Whitman Assembly Room 1 at Morris Hospital, 150 W. High St., Morris.

The fair provides an opportunity for teenagers and adults who are interested in learning more about volunteering at Morris Hospital to meet volunteers in various assignments and tour the hospital. Refreshments will be provided.

“Volunteers play a very important role in the mission of Morris Hospital and Healthcare Centers, and they tend to find numerous personal rewards from their volunteer experience,” says Karen Nowosielski, Manager of Volunteer Services at Morris Hospital. “We are committed to placing each volunteer in a position that best matches the volunteer’s wishes, interests and availability, along with the needs of the hospital.”

The Morris Hospital Auxiliary is particularly in need of volunteers at the reception desk and gift shop during evenings and on weekends. Other volunteer opportunities include staffing the surgery waiting room and outpatient greeter desk; assisting with the Lifeline, Patient Transportation, or the Courtesy Shuttle service; helping various departments throughout the hospital with special projects; and knitting, crocheting or sewing items for newborns.

In addition to attending new volunteer orientation, all volunteers receive thorough training in order to carry out their specific responsibilities, says Nowosielski. Hospital volunteers are also provided a uniform and picture identification badge to wear while performing volunteer duties. In appreciation of their service, Morris Hospital provides volunteers complimentary flu shots, participation in Morris Hospital fitness classes, health screenings, meals in the hospital on the day of service, as well as recognition for service hours.

“In addition to all the special perks, the greatest benefit that comes with volunteering is the opportunity to make new friends and learn new skills, not to mention the great personal satisfaction volunteers experience from assisting others,” says Nowosielski.

For more information on the Volunteer Recruitment Fair, call 815-942-2932, ext. 7022.

Three C’s Of Change Will Be Focus Of Grundy Will HR Association Meeting

The most important factors that drive organizational change will be the focus of the Wednesday, June 22, meeting of the Grundy Will Human Resources Association at Joliet Junior College, 1215 Houbolt Road, Joliet. Networking begins at 7:30 a.m., with the chapter meeting scheduled for 7:45 a.m. The one-hour program begins at 8 a.m. and is approved for one hour of continuing education credit. The GWHRA meeting and program are open to area human resource professionals and interested members of the business community. There is a $10 fee for non-members.

“The Three C’s of Change” will be presented by featured speaker Danielle Henderson of BlessingWhite. Henderson will discuss how a focus on “three C’s”—clarity of purpose, capabilities to deliver, and commitment to the entire workforce—have a multiplier effect in helping organizations successfully manage change and enhancing business success. She will focus on development and implementation of change strategies that balance needs and expectations of organizations, employees, and stakeholders and engage employees in successfully navigating change.

The Grundy Will HR Association is an affiliate of the Society for Human Resource Management

For more information about Grundy Will HR Association or the upcoming program, call Melissa Schroeder at 708-532-1800.

Thirty-Two Teams to Hoop it Up in the Braidwood Shootout

BRACEVILLE – Thirty-two high school basketball teams will tip off next weekend for the 16th annual Braidwood Shootout, which features Braidwood Generating Station as a title sponsor for the eighth straight year.

The shootout brings schools from all over the state to the Reed Custer Field House for the two-day event. Local teams competing include Coal City, Dwight, Seneca, Wilmington and host Reed Custer.

“We are very excited to have Exelon Nuclear as our title sponsor again for this year’s shootout,” said Athletic Director Rob Lathrop. “We appreciate the continuing support from Braidwood Generating Station.”

“This is a tremendous event for Reed Custer High School that is enjoyed by many of the surrounding communities,” said Braidwood Station Site Vice President Dan Enright. “The fans enjoy the experience an the players relish the opportunity to hone their skills for the upcoming basketball season.”

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 24 and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on June 25. For more information, contact the field house at 815-458-4130.

Braidwood Generating Station is approximately 60 miles southwest of Chicago. The station’s two nuclear energy units can produce a total of more than 2,300 megawatts net at full power - enough electricity to power more than 2 million homes.

Morris Hospital Auxiliary Announces Golf Outing

MORRIS — The Morris Hospital Auxiliary will host its annual Golf Outing and Bridge/Euchre Tournaments on June 27 at Morris Country Club. Proceeds from this year’s event will benefit two important Morris Hospital services — Patient Transportation and Lifeline.

The event begins with lunch served from 11 a.m. to noon. At noon, golfers will head out on the links for 18 holes of golf while card players begin the Bridge and Euchre tournaments in the clubhouse. All participants are invited for hors d’oeuvres in the tent at 4:30 p.m.

Golfers will have an opportunity to enter a raffle drawing for a chance to have former Chicago Bears tight end Jim “Robocop” Thornton join their foursome as a fifth player.

The cost for 18 holes of golf, lunch and hors d’oeuvres is $150 per person or $540 for a foursome. The cost for bridge and euchre is $25 per person and includes lunch and hors d’oeuvres. All participants will have the opportunity to enter raffles throughout the day.

Patient Transportation and Lifeline both provide vital services to the communities served by Morris Hospital. The Patient Transportation Service offers complimentary transportation to and from healthcare appointments, having provided more than 16,000 rides last year alone.

Lifeline is an emergency response system with over 520 local subscribers that provides instant access to emergency assistance and peace-of-mind for individuals who live alone.

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities for individuals and businesses, or to make reservations for golf, cards, or dinner, call Julie Wilkinson, Development Officer for the Morris Hospital Auxiliary and Foundation, at 815-942-2932, ext 7021. Reservations can also be made online at www.morrishospital.org/golf.

Angels of Hope “TIKI TROT” 5K Run/Walk

COAL CITY — Angels of Hope, Inc., NFP, will host its second 5K Run/Walk at 6:30 p.m. July 16, with check-in beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Coal City’s Campbell Memorial Park located on South Broadway Street across from the Police Department at 545 S. Broadway).

Pre-race registration before July 1 is $25 while later registration is $30. All pre-registered participants will receive a T-shirt, swag-bag and refreshments. T-shirts not guaranteed for registrations received after July 1. Awards will be given at 8:30 p.m. The race will be held in conjunction with the Village of Coal City’s “Island Night” with live, Caribbean-style entertainment before, during and after the 5K so, dress accordingly--prizes will be given to the most creative Island wear. Alcohol available for purchase.

All proceeds will go towards continuing beautification of the Angel of Hope Memorial Garden within Campbell Memorial Park, the Everlasting Footprints grant which provides families financial assistance with headstone/burial fees for the loss of a child birth to age 3, the Creating Miracles grant which provides financial assistance to married couples experiencing infertility issues, and the Sawyer’s Heart Project which provides memory boxes to bereaved families who have experienced the loss of an infant.

For more 5K information, including a registration form, visit www.signmeup.com , the Angels of Hope Facebook page or our website at www.angelsofhopeinc..org. For questions, call Colleen Hansen at 815-955-7187 or cmcarrol@hotmail.com

Relay For Life of Wilmington/Braidwood August 6

American Cancer Society relay for life set to “celebrate. remember. fight back.”

WILMINGTON/BRAIDWOOD — The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Wimington Braidwood will be held from 3 p.m. Aug. 6 to 7 a.m. Aug. 7 at Wilmington High School, 209 Wildcat Court, Wilmington.

Relay For Life of Wilmington Braidwood is an annual overnight event to celebrate the lives of those who have cancer, remember those lost to the disease, and fight back against a disease that takes too much. Teams of local businesses, schools, churches, community groups and families raise funds - prior to and at the event - to help fund support services for area patients and their families, cancer research, community educational programs and advocacy initiatives.

Anyone wishing to form a team, participate in survivor activities or honor a loved one with a luminaria should contact the American Cancer Society at 708-633-7770 or visit www.relayforlifewilmingtonbraidwood.com.

Siren Test Reminder

MORRIS — Illinois Law requires tests of outdoor warning sirens to be conducted at 10 a.m. on the first Tuesday of each month.

Tests originate from the Grundy County Dispatch Center for the entire Grundy County siren system, followed by a test from the Morris Dispatch Center for the Morris portion of the siren system.

Should the outdoor warning siren system sound at any time other than for the monthly test, tune to local radio stations WBEQ 90.7 FM, WCSJ 103.1 FM or WJDK 95.7 FM for the latest information and possible emergency instructions.

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In the photo: MAGC member Ginny Bellamy with Mary Russell from Contrary Mary’s Plants.

Informational Speaker

Morris Area Garden Club met in May with another exciting, informational meeting and entertaining speaker. Mary Russell from Contrary Mary’s Plants in Minooka gave members and guests quite “A Plethora of Perennials to Pique Your Passion” that evening.

Mrs. Russell emphasized that perennials are not annuals; it’s not as important as to how long a perennial blooms, but what does it look like when not in bloom. A plant should have a decorative interest even when it’s not blooming.

She explained that “ full sun” is 5 to 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. She said that tags on plants can be deceiving. When the tag says full sun, your plants will need some shade during the day and the same goes for shade plants...they do need some filtered sunlight.

Mary is a “hostas fanatic” and said if you ask her which is her favorite, she’ll answer, “Which one is in front of me?” She said to NOT remove hostas flowers, because hummingbirds love them.

Members were told that perennials last longer and do better next season if the foliage is left through winter. It also helps to recognize the new plant growth in spring.

Mary brought numerous sun and shade plants and offered them for sale after the meeting. It was quite beneficial to see, feel and smell the plants as she was describing each of them.

Some of her “Gotta-Haves” for sun were Black Night Hollyhock, Awesome Echinacea - Coneflower, Peonies - ‘Bartzella’ and ‘Early Scout’, Euphorbia - ‘Bonfire’ and ‘Ascot Rainbow’, Caryopteris - ‘Snow Fairy’, Phlox - ‘Shockwave’.

“Gotta-Haves” plants for shade that she recommended were Digitalis - ‘Dalmatian White’, Shredded Umbrella, Hot Heucheras, Cimicifuga - ‘Chocoholic’, Viola - ‘Black Magic’, Hellaciously Hot hostas, Geum - ‘Totally Tangerine’, Perennial Fox Glove...and the lists go on and on.

When asked if there was any book on perennials that she would recommend, Mary suggested, “The Well Tended Perennial Garden” by Tracy DiSabato-Aust. This book has been recommended in the past to MAGC members at a couple other meetings by other speakers.

You can visit Contrary Mary’s Plants at 2735 Rt. 52, Minooka (about 7 miles west of I-55) and on the web at www.contrarymarysplants.com.

MAGC meets next on July 19th at 6:00 p.m. when they will tour a few of the MAGC members’ private gardens. Please visit the MAGC Facebook page for more details as they become available and the website at www.morrisareagardenclub.com for information on MAGC or call Pam at 815-212-0272. Come grow with us.

Matthew Chinski graduates

Sergeant Matthew Chinski Graduates from Northwestern University’s Center for Public Safety

MINOOKA — The Minooka Police Department announced recently the graduation of Sergeant Matthew Chinski from the School of Police Staff and Command (SPSC), the 10 week staff and command program held in Plainfield from Jan. 10-May 13. This program was implemented by the Center for Public Safety in 1983, has graduated over 14,000 students both nationally and internationally. Chinski was a studente in SPCSC Class 308th, which acommodated a total of 44 students for the 10 week period.

The Minooka Police Department anticipates a variety of benefits from Chinski attendance at this program. Many of the program’s graduates do go on to achieve a variety of leadership positions within their respective agencies.