“Monty Python’s Spamalot” is playing at the Metropolis Performing Arts Center through Oct. 25. For ticket information, visit www.metropolisarts.com.

Cook County

Agency advocating homeless seeks volunteers

Journeys/The Road Home, an area non-profit agency that serves the homeless population in North and Northwest Suburban Cook County, reported that is seeking volunteers to staff its overnight PADS shelters, located in various area churches. According to the report, Journeys is suffering from a severe shortage of volunteers in 2015, and needs volunteer workers for the first shift (6-11 p.m.), second shift (11 p.m. to 3 a.m.) and third shift (3-7 a.m.). No experience is required; responsibilities include maintaining the intake desk, preparing breakfasts, packing lunches and awakening clients. The PADS season annually runs from Oct. 1 to April 30. For more information, call Journeys/The Road Home’s main facility, located at 1140 E. Northwest Highway, in Palatine at (847) 963-9163 or visit www.journeystheroadhome.org. In addition, the organization will host its Bid For Hope Masquerade Ball at 7 p.m. Oct. 23 at Medinah Country Club, located at 6N001 Medinah Road, in Medinah. The fundraising event promises that $100 from each ticket sold will directly go to programs and services for area homeless people. For details and registration information, visit www.journeystheroadhome.org.

County encourages residents to test for Radon

The Cook County Department of Environmental Control is encouraging county residents to test their homes for Radon, which the United States Environmental Protection Agency lists as the nation’s second-leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking. To purchase a test kit, mail a $7 check the Cook County Department of Environmental Control, 69 W. Washington St., Suite 1900, Chicago, IL 60602. For more information, call (708) 865-6177 or visit www.cookcountyil.gov/environment.

Arlington Heights

Forest View offers retirement planning classes

The Forest View Education Center, located at 2121 S. Goebbert Road, will conduct Retirement Planning Today, an educational course for adults (ages 50-70) designed to develop a personalized plan regarding retirement planning, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Oct. 15, 21, 22 and 28. The course is divided into eight sections, including Retirement Needs & Expenses, Retirement Roadblocks & Mistakes, Retirement Income Sources, Risk Management & Asset Protection, Estate Planning, and more. John Mateyko and Peter Lewis, of IDEX Financial Group, will serve as classroom instructors. The course also includes a 224-page textbook, which features examples, illustrations and workbooks. The fee is $49, and advance registration is required. To register, and for more information, call (847) 232-1523.

Mount Prospect

Library continues Bella Italia programming series

The Mount Prospect Public Library, 10 S. Emerson St., continues its Bella Italia: Under the Italian Sun programming with a presentation of the movie, “Golden Door,” at 7 p.m. Oct. 12. The film tells the storyiof a desperate and poor southern Italian family’s decision to immigrate to the United States. Discover Sicily’s Cities, Islands and Historic Places will be held at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13. The program will examine the ancient theater at Taromina, Cefalu’s world-famous 12th Century Norman cathedral, the tuna catch on the Egadi Islands, and more. The library’s Book Voyagers group (for first- to third-graders) will present Pizza Power — featuring a craft, stories with an Italian flavor, and more — from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Oct. 19. Registration is required for each event, and the programming continues through October. For more information, call 847-253-5675 or visit www.mppl.org.

Palatine

Village approves office space for Wheat Mission

A report stated that the village council voted to approve the use of office and classroom space at 855 N. Sterling Ave. (located north of Northwest Highway) to assist disabled residents under the jurisdiction of the Wheat Mission, which is headquartered at Northwest Presbyterian Church, 301 Ridge Ave., Elk Grove Village. Staff members at the new space will oversee social and life-skill training, arts and crafts activities, and more for developmentally disabled individuals.

Niles

Family Resource & Wellness Fair set for Oct. 10

The Niles Senior Center, 999 Civic Center Drive, will present its Family Resource & Wellness Fair from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 10. Resource booths will represent numerous community and service entities, including the offices of Mayor Andrew Przyblo. Sen. John Mulroe, State Rep. John D’Amico and the Secretary of State — as well as the Niles Chamber of Commerce, fire department, police department, park district, public library and many others. Wellness booths will feature a Lutheran General Hospital blood draw, flu shots, a chiropractor, an accupuncturist, and more. Children’s entertainment includes live music, refreshments, a bounce house, a reptile show, free refreshments and more. The event is free. For more information, call (847) 588-8014 or visit www.vniles.com.

Elk Grove Village

Straub named as new Queen of the Rosary pastor

Queen of the Rosary Catholic Church, 750 Elk Grove Boulevard, in Elk Grove Village, announced that the Rev. David Straub will serve as its new pastor. Straub replaces the Rev. Edward Pelrine, who held the post since 2007. Straub was ordained a Catholic priest in 1994, and served in churches on Chicago’s South Side before taking an appointment as associate pastor at St. Zachary, in Des Plaines. He then served as associate pastor at Prince of Peace, in Lake Villa, beginning in 2009.

Tinley Park

Odyssey Fun Farm offers pumpkin patch, corn maze

Odyssey Fun World is presenting the Odyssey Fun Farm Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze, 18900 Oak Park Ave. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Oct. 31. The ongoing event offers a 15-acre corn maze, a 13-acre pumpkin patch, and a 5-acre courtyard featuring a petting zoo, bouncy horses, corn cannons, pig races, a cow train, hay rides and more; pony rides are available on Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is $11; free for ages 2 and under. In addition, the After Dark Zombie Safari Hayride is being offered from 7 p.m. to midnight on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 31. The event includes hayrides outfitted with paintball guns, mounted turret-style, to be used when actors dressed as zombies appear. The fee is $22. For more information, call (708) 429-3800 or visit www.odysseyfunworld.com.

Dolton

Fire dept. to host open house event

The Village of Dolton Fire Department, located at 14022 Park and 830 Engle Place, will hold its 2015 Open House from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 10. Hot dogs, chips and water will be provided, and a drawing will be held (for Dolton residents only) to distribute a fire extinguisher and five smoke detectors. For more information, call the fire department’s non-emergency line at (708) 849-2145 or visit www.vdolton.org.

–Cook County News Briefs–