Melinda Moore –

Residents petting horses during Horsin' Around Day at the Danada Equestrian Center in Wheaton, where the horses sport costumes and children trick or treat. This year’s event is Oct. 31. (Forest Preserve District of DuPage County)

Community news: Danada Equestrian Center offers Halloween fun, and more

October 24, 2026 at 5:04 a.m.

News from the community includes items from DuPage County, La Grange, North Riverside, Hinsdale, Oak Park and more.

The community, alums, parents, staff and students at Evergreen Park Community High School teamed up to lead a food drive for the Evergreen Park Food Pantry. Students Fivia Lukacs and Ryan Brennan hold some of the donations with Beth Novotney, center, director of the Office of Citizen Services for the Village of Evergreen Park. (Evergreen Park Community High School)

Around the Southland: Evergreen Park students donate food, blues in Burbank, more

October 22, 2026 at 2:45 p.m.

News from around the Southland includes items from Evergreen Park, Burbank, Lemont, Orland Park, Palos Park, Beverly and more.

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has named its 2026 photo contest winners. Mike Nielsen’s photo of a doe and her fawn in Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve in Oak Brook won Voters’ Choice. (Forest Preserve District of DuPage County)

Community news: Deer, ducks, sunset and stream take top honors in Forest Preserve photo contest

October 15, 2026 at 5:04 p.m.

News from the community includes items from Forest Preserve District of Will County, Western Springs, Franklin Park, Berwyn and more.

Cy the coyote has been named as the new mascot of Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills. The costume is designed to accurately portray coyotes native to northern Illinois. (Moraine Valley Community College)

Around the Southland: New mascot at Moraine Valley Community College, and more

October 14, 2026 at 4:52 p.m.

News from around the Southland includes items from Palos Heights, Flossmoor, Orland Park, Oak Forest, Palos Hills, Beverly and more.

Psychologist Jessica Loftus speaks during a forgiveness seminar last year at Gaelic Park in Oak Forest. She’s hosting another seminar Oct. 27 at Water’s Edge Golf Club in Worth. “Forgiveness is a skill that takes practice, persistence, patience, proper form and pro advice, just like the game of golf,” she said. (James Opon)

Seminar at Water’s Edge Golf Club touts health benefits of ‘letting go of toxic resentment’

October 14, 2026 at 12:06 p.m.

To forgive is divine, or so the proverb goes, but it can also help prevent illness, according to a Palos Heights psychologist. “Chronic anger causes a lot of problems with...

Costumes will be encouraged during Scary Skate on Oct. 24 at the Franklin Park Ice Arena. (Melinda Moore/Pioneer Press)

Community news: Costume contest, casket races and spooky farm highlight Halloween-themed events

October 9, 2026 at 5:07 p.m.

News from the community includes items from Franklin Park, Forest Park, Countryside, La Grange, Lemont, Warrenville and more.

Palos Heights Public Library Director Jesse Blazek, left, and Swallow Cliff Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Regent Audra Gray, right, flank other community representatives during the dedication of a tree and bronze marker at the library. (Swallow Cliff Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution)

Around the Southland: Commemorative America250 tree planted in Palos Heights, and more

October 7, 2026 at 3:19 p.m.

News from around the Southland includes items from Palos Heights, Will County forest preserves, Orland Park. Stagg High School, more

League of Women Voters of the LaGrange Area members Jane Sunderlande, left, and Ann Lee recently led a workshop to explore what will be on the November ballot. The club hosts a program on the security of the election on Oct. 13. (League of Women Voters of the LaGrange Area)

Community news: La Grange League of Women Voters demystifies ballots, and more

October 5, 2026 at 5:13 p.m.

News from the community includes items from La Grange, Oak Park, Westmont, Oak Brook, River Forest, Triton College, and more.

Troy Swanson, of Woodridge, adjunct professor in the School of Information Studies at Dominican University in River Forest and chairman of the Library/Learning Resources Center at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, has been named Academic Librarian of the Year by the Illinois Library Association. (Melinda Moore/Daily Southtown)

Educator with ties to Moraine Valley, Dominican University, deemed state’s Academic Librarian of the Year

October 1, 2026 at 2:10 p.m.

Troy Swanson, who works at Moraine Valley Community College and Dominican University, has been named the state's Librarian of the Year.

Derrick Wolf shops with his twin daughters, Evelyn and Aliyah, after Making Disciplies founder Eric Bassette surprised the family by paying for their back-to-school supplies. (School District 162)

Around the Southland: Mentoring program sponsors shopping spree in Matteson

October 1, 2026 at 10:21 a.m.

News from around the Southland includes items from Matteson, Frankfort, University Park, Orland Park, Evergreen Park, Palos Hills, more.

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