Community Calendar Events

GRIEFSHARE grief recovery and support group will meet at the Parish Hall at Trinity Lutheran School, 515 S. MacArthur Blvd., Springfield. The fall session will begin on Tuesday, September 2, 2025 from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm and meets weekly for 13 weeks. GriefShare features nationally recognized experts on grief recovery topics including "Is This Normal?," "The Challenges of Grief," "Grief and Your Relationships," "Why," and "Guilt and Anger." Thanks to a grant from Thrivent Financial, the workbook fees for this session will be waived.
This event is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required to ensure there are enough materials for everyone.
For more information or to pre-register, please call 217.899.9418 or register at trinitygriefshare@yahoo.com.

GriefShare “Surviving the Holidays” allows attendees to lend support and acceptance of each other’s grieving process in a safe, caring environment. A 40-minute video will be shown that features advice from people who have faced the holidays after the loss of a loved one. There will be time for discussion after the video.

Participants will receive a “Holiday Survival Guide” that contains over 30 encouraging readings, helpful charts and tips to manage the holiday season. Tips include how to treasure past family traditions while creating new traditions and how to cope with the overwhelming feelings of sadness while juggling the social events of the holiday season. The goal for this seminar is to help participants find ways to honor their loved ones while putting themselves on the path towards healing and well-being.

This event is free and open to the public; pre-registration is requested to ensure there are enough materials for everyone. For more information or to register for this event, please call 217.899-9418 or e-mail trinitygriefshare@yahoo.com.

Do you enjoy or want to learn needlework? Join the Southern Illinois Stitchers! SI Stitchers is a local chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America, Inc., which supports and promotes Embroidery, Crewel, Cross-stitch, Needlepoint, Hand Quilting, Beading, and other Needle Arts. Gathers monthly on the 4th Sunday to stitch, learn new techniques, and enjoy the company and support of other needle artists. All skill levels are welcome!

LEARNING IN RETIREMENT ANNOUNCES FALL SESSION II CLASSES
Southern Illinois Learning in Retirement (SILIR) will offer the following classes beginning the week of October 13. Please note that Session II classes vary in the number of times they meet as noted. All classes, with one exception, meet at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Carbondale.
• Religion and Stories Cost: $15
Instructor: Paul Mundschenk
Meets Mondays, 1:30-3:30 pm, October 13-November 10 (5 sessions)
• London in the Time of Dickens Cost: $15
Instructor: Gary Hartlieb
Meets Tuesdays, 1:30-3:30 pm, October 14-November 11 (5 sessions)
• Understanding Diversity, Understanding Difference Cost: $5
Instructor: Sandy Pensoneau-Conway
Meets Tuesdays, 9:30-11:30 am, October 14 and October 21 (2 sessions)
• Remembering Columbo Cost: $15
Instructor: Steve Dollinger
Meets Thursdays, 1:30-3:30 pm, October 16-November 13 (5 sessions)
• Historical Highlights in Southern Illinois Cost: $5
Instructor: Jon Musgrave
Meets Wednesdays, 1:30-3:30 pm (2 sessions)
November 5, The Old Slave House: America’s last station on the reverse
underground railroad
November 12, The Civil War in southern Illinois—Lessons from the home front
• A Stock Taking on the first 10 months of Trump 2.0 and a Look Ahead to the Midterms
Instructor: John Jackson
Meets Tuesdays, 9:30-11:30 am, October 28-November 18 (4 sessions) Cost: $15
• Paint Your Own Barn Quilt Panel (24-inch aluminum panel)
Instructor: Jeff Kurtz
Meets Monday, October 20, 9 am–1 pm (one session only)
Location: Congregation Beth Jacob, 904 N. Norwest Lane, Carbondale
Cost: $50 (cash or check to Jeff Kurtz)
Mail or deliver payment to Pam Matthews, 104 S. Rod Lane, Carbondale, IL 62901
For questions, contact Pam at 207-320-5657 or pam15river@gmail.com

Enrollment requires SILIR membership, open to anyone 50 or older. Annual dues are $25. To join and register for classes, contact SIU Events and Outreach at 618-536-7751. More information about SILIR and these classes can be found in the monthly newsletter, Golden Opportunities, at https://conferenceservices.siu.edu/silir/. Registration for SILIR classes is now available online.

GRIEFSHARE grief recovery and support group will meet at the Parish Hall at Trinity Lutheran School, 515 S. MacArthur Blvd., Springfield. The fall session will begin on Tuesday, September 2, 2025 from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm and meets weekly for 13 weeks. GriefShare features nationally recognized experts on grief recovery topics including "Is This Normal?," "The Challenges of Grief," "Grief and Your Relationships," "Why," and "Guilt and Anger." Thanks to a grant from Thrivent Financial, the workbook fees for this session will be waived.
This event is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required to ensure there are enough materials for everyone.
For more information or to pre-register, please call 217.899.9418 or register at trinitygriefshare@yahoo.com.

LEARNING IN RETIREMENT ANNOUNCES FALL SESSION II CLASSES
Southern Illinois Learning in Retirement (SILIR) will offer the following classes beginning the week of October 13. Please note that Session II classes vary in the number of times they meet as noted. All classes, with one exception, meet at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Carbondale.
• Religion and Stories Cost: $15
Instructor: Paul Mundschenk
Meets Mondays, 1:30-3:30 pm, October 13-November 10 (5 sessions)
• London in the Time of Dickens Cost: $15
Instructor: Gary Hartlieb
Meets Tuesdays, 1:30-3:30 pm, October 14-November 11 (5 sessions)
• Understanding Diversity, Understanding Difference Cost: $5
Instructor: Sandy Pensoneau-Conway
Meets Tuesdays, 9:30-11:30 am, October 14 and October 21 (2 sessions)
• Remembering Columbo Cost: $15
Instructor: Steve Dollinger
Meets Thursdays, 1:30-3:30 pm, October 16-November 13 (5 sessions)
• Historical Highlights in Southern Illinois Cost: $5
Instructor: Jon Musgrave
Meets Wednesdays, 1:30-3:30 pm (2 sessions)
November 5, The Old Slave House: America’s last station on the reverse
underground railroad
November 12, The Civil War in southern Illinois—Lessons from the home front
• A Stock Taking on the first 10 months of Trump 2.0 and a Look Ahead to the Midterms
Instructor: John Jackson
Meets Tuesdays, 9:30-11:30 am, October 28-November 18 (4 sessions) Cost: $15
• Paint Your Own Barn Quilt Panel (24-inch aluminum panel)
Instructor: Jeff Kurtz
Meets Monday, October 20, 9 am–1 pm (one session only)
Location: Congregation Beth Jacob, 904 N. Norwest Lane, Carbondale
Cost: $50 (cash or check to Jeff Kurtz)
Mail or deliver payment to Pam Matthews, 104 S. Rod Lane, Carbondale, IL 62901
For questions, contact Pam at 207-320-5657 or pam15river@gmail.com

Enrollment requires SILIR membership, open to anyone 50 or older. Annual dues are $25. To join and register for classes, contact SIU Events and Outreach at 618-536-7751. More information about SILIR and these classes can be found in the monthly newsletter, Golden Opportunities, at https://conferenceservices.siu.edu/silir/. Registration for SILIR classes is now available online.

Calling all fiction enthusiasts and aspiring writers! Whether you're a seasoned author or just starting your journey into fiction, CPL's monthly Adult Fiction Writers' Workshop is open to all experience levels and all genres. Let your imagination run wild and your stories come to life! Join us every 1st Wednesday, 6-7:30PM. Learn more and see all of CPL's writing programs at carbondalepubliclibrary.org/art

Are you a veteran with dreams of starting your own business?

This workshop is designed to equip you with the tools and knowledge to turn your vision into reality, whether you're just starting to explore business ownership or ready to take the next step. Boots to Business, an SBA program, provides an overview of entrepreneurship and business fundamentals for veterans, service members, and spouses. Reboot offers the same training to veterans of all eras and those who have transitioned out of service.

Event Details
Two locations to choose from:

Thursday, Dec. 4 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Carbondale VA Outpatient Clinic
1130 East Walnut St., Suite 100
Carbondale, IL
(Old Office Depot Building)

Friday, Dec. 5
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Veterans Resource Center
1406 Atchison Road
Marion, IL
(Near Marion Kroger)

During the workshop, you'll learn fundamental aspects of:
• starting a business
• developing a business plan
• evaluating market potential
• understanding legal and financial foundations
• various funding options for veterans
• and more!

Lunch will be provided.
Registration is required.
Seating is limited.

Register:
https://forms.office.com/r/DKyGS8rzqf

Who Should Attend? Veterans, active duty
or: econpower@siu.edu
service members, and their partners and spouses

The Illinois Economic Empowerment Center (EEC) at SIU offers no-cost services to individuals and very small businesses (VSBs-10 employees or less). We provide tailored support through one-on-one advising, workshops, training, mentorship and technical assistance.

For language access assistance please contact the Illinois Economic Empowerment Center at SIU at (618)453-2083.

The Illinois Economic Empowerment Center is made available at no cost from funding through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and Southern Illinois University.

The Boots to Business Program is provided through the coordinated efforts of the SBA and its valued partner network. All SBA services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

Are you a veteran with dreams of starting your own business?

This workshop is designed to equip you with the tools and knowledge to turn your vision into reality, whether you're just starting to explore business ownership or ready to take the next step. Boots to Business, an SBA program, provides an overview of entrepreneurship and business fundamentals for veterans, service members, and spouses. Reboot offers the same training to veterans of all eras and those who have transitioned out of service.

Event Details
Two locations to choose from:

Thursday, Dec. 4 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Carbondale VA Outpatient Clinic
1130 East Walnut St., Suite 100
Carbondale, IL
(Old Office Depot Building)

Friday, Dec. 5
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Veterans Resource Center
1406 Atchison Road
Marion, IL
(Near Marion Kroger)

During the workshop, you'll learn fundamental aspects of:
• starting a business
• developing a business plan
• evaluating market potential
• understanding legal and financial foundations
• various funding options for veterans
• and more!

Lunch will be provided.
Registration is required.
Seating is limited.

Register:
https://forms.office.com/r/DKyGS8rzqf

Who Should Attend? Veterans, active duty
or: econpower@siu.edu
service members, and their partners and spouses

The Illinois Economic Empowerment Center (EEC) at SIU offers no-cost services to individuals and very small businesses (VSBs-10 employees or less). We provide tailored support through one-on-one advising, workshops, training, mentorship and technical assistance.

For language access assistance please contact the Illinois Economic Empowerment Center at SIU at (618)453-2083.
The Illinois Economic Empowerment Center is made available at no cost from funding through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and Southern Illinois University.

The Boots to Business Program is provided through the coordinated efforts of the SBA and its valued partner network. All SBA services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

LEARNING IN RETIREMENT ANNOUNCES FALL SESSION II CLASSES
Southern Illinois Learning in Retirement (SILIR) will offer the following classes beginning the week of October 13. Please note that Session II classes vary in the number of times they meet as noted. All classes, with one exception, meet at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Carbondale.
• Religion and Stories Cost: $15
Instructor: Paul Mundschenk
Meets Mondays, 1:30-3:30 pm, October 13-November 10 (5 sessions)
• London in the Time of Dickens Cost: $15
Instructor: Gary Hartlieb
Meets Tuesdays, 1:30-3:30 pm, October 14-November 11 (5 sessions)
• Understanding Diversity, Understanding Difference Cost: $5
Instructor: Sandy Pensoneau-Conway
Meets Tuesdays, 9:30-11:30 am, October 14 and October 21 (2 sessions)
• Remembering Columbo Cost: $15
Instructor: Steve Dollinger
Meets Thursdays, 1:30-3:30 pm, October 16-November 13 (5 sessions)
• Historical Highlights in Southern Illinois Cost: $5
Instructor: Jon Musgrave
Meets Wednesdays, 1:30-3:30 pm (2 sessions)
November 5, The Old Slave House: America’s last station on the reverse
underground railroad
November 12, The Civil War in southern Illinois—Lessons from the home front
• A Stock Taking on the first 10 months of Trump 2.0 and a Look Ahead to the Midterms
Instructor: John Jackson
Meets Tuesdays, 9:30-11:30 am, October 28-November 18 (4 sessions) Cost: $15
• Paint Your Own Barn Quilt Panel (24-inch aluminum panel)
Instructor: Jeff Kurtz
Meets Monday, October 20, 9 am–1 pm (one session only)
Location: Congregation Beth Jacob, 904 N. Norwest Lane, Carbondale
Cost: $50 (cash or check to Jeff Kurtz)
Mail or deliver payment to Pam Matthews, 104 S. Rod Lane, Carbondale, IL 62901
For questions, contact Pam at 207-320-5657 or pam15river@gmail.com

Enrollment requires SILIR membership, open to anyone 50 or older. Annual dues are $25. To join and register for classes, contact SIU Events and Outreach at 618-536-7751. More information about SILIR and these classes can be found in the monthly newsletter, Golden Opportunities, at https://conferenceservices.siu.edu/silir/. Registration for SILIR classes is now available online.