Five Things to Know Today: Sept. 29

1. Don't Forget: Local Breast Cancer Survivors Will Be Speaking at

Although breast cancer is the most common cancer women battle, not all experiences are identical.

For Elaine Pikula, a 62-year-old resident, lumpectomy and radiation were her only treatments. Patsy Walker, 52, also of Bolingbrook, had a more aggressive cancer and required a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation.

But at 6 p.m. Sept. 29 at Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital’s annual tree-lighting ceremony to commemorate October as National Breast Cancer month, both women will share similar messages: Be consistent with testing and walk in hope if you are currently fighting cancer.

“Cancer is not necessarily a death sentence these days,” Pikula said. “There are so many different treatments now, it can be very manageable.”

Also speaking that night will be Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital Chief Executive Officer Rick Mace, Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar, chaplain Vicky Syren and medical director of the breast cancer clinic, Dr. Jason Goliath. The Bolingbrook High School Choir will sing and refreshments will be served.

For more on this event, click .

2. Chamber of Commerce to Hold Trip to Spain Informational Meeting

The is leading a delegation to Spain in April. You can be one of the lucky people who join this trip by attending one of the chamber's informational meetings being held at the chamber office, located at 201 Canterbury Ln., to find out more details. 

Tonight's meeting will be at 5 p.m.

You can also visit www.bolingbrookchamber.org for a complete trip brochure. Future trips include Peru, Italy's Amalfi Coast, Dubai, and Ireland. Get details on any of these at the informational meetings.

For more info please call (630) 226-8420 or email info@bolingbrookchamber.org.  You can also like our travel page at facebook.com/bolingbrooktravel.

3. Target Donates Nearly $2,000 to Valley View Schools

The board of education accepted multiple cash donations from to two schools earlier this week.

Jaime McGee Elementary School received $693.82 from Target to be used for upcoming field trips, while Bolingbrook High School got 1,187.52 for purchasing various supplies.

4. 'Take Back the Night' Rally and March Info Announced

The 15th annual Will County Take Back the Night march and rally will take place at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 6 at Joliet West High School.

Take Back the Night will bring survivors, supporters, activists and community leaders together in a call for the end of violence against women.

Carmina Salcido, a violence survivor from Sonoma County, Calif., will speak about her experience with violence. In 1989, Salcido's father murdered her mother, aunts and grandmother. He slashed the throats of his three young daughters, leaving them for dead in the county dump. Salcido was the sole survivor.

Salcido went on to compete on American Idol and recently released her book, Not Lost Forever: My Story of Survival.

The free event will include a candlelight vigil honoring women and children from Will County who were murdered over the past 10 years.

The night will include a march down Larkin Avenue, where marchers will take the message of a violence-free world to the streets.

Participants can bring non-perishable food items, paper goods or grocery store and gas station gift cards to be collected at the event.

The donations will be distributed for use by area domestic violence shelters.

For more information, visit www.willtbtn.com.

5. Local Girls and Women to Host Bra Drive 

Local girls and women join forces to "support” a unique women’s issue.

Rosanne and Christiana Harris, founders of Girlfriends Chat; Alejandra Zavala; Lauren Ferencik; Anna Tulley; Kelly Forrest, wwner of Kelly Belly Fitness; Brooke Kosowski, owner of Fine Arts Stageworks; and a national organization called The Bra Recyclers recently came together to create a “bra drive” to collect donations of gently used and new bras to donate to women in need.

The bra donations will be accepted at Kelly Belly Fitness (New Lenox) and Fine Arts Stageworks (Palos Heights) for the month of October to collect bras for a local women’s domestic violence shelter.

Bra Drive Drop off Locations

• Kelly Belly Fitness, 13921 West Illinois Highway, New Lenox
• Fine Arts Stageworks, 12228 S. Harlem Avenue, Palos Heights

The Bra Recyclers is based in Gilbert, AZ. A textile recycling company specializing in recycling bras, the organization does its part to help the environment by delaying the amount of unused bras/textiles that go to landfills, thus reducing the pressure on virgin resources. For more information visit www.brarecycling.com.