This Saturday, Oct. 11, is your opportunity to make a difference at Springfield Park, 269 Springfield Drive, Bloomingdale. From 9 a.m. until noon, you can help preserve the wetlands.

In honor of October, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, local businesses are supporting Constance Morris House, a Pillars-sponsored program.

Volunteers can spend their "Make a Difference Day" helping East Branch Forest Preserve in Glendale Heights from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 25.

The Elmhurst Children's Theatre kicks off its 60th season staging the classic musical comedy "The Music Man" 7 p.m. Friday and Saturdays,Oct. 24 and 25 and Nov. 1, and 2 p.m. Sundays, Oct. 26 and Nov. 2, at Sandburg Middle School, 345 E. St. Charles Road, Elmhurst.

YWCA Child Care Resource and Referral will sponsor a workshop in Spanish on “Family Child Care… It is a Business!” from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct.  25, at 739 Roosevelt Road, Building 8, suite 210, Glen Ellyn.

Adventist Hinsdale Hospital’s Center for Hearing Restoration and Ear Research presents “mp3 Players and Hearing Loss,” a lecture featuring neuro-otologist Dr. Robert Battista and audiologist Dawn Maniskas, at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, at the Hinsdale Community House, 415 W. Eighth St.

Baby, it’s cold outside — or at least it will be in a few short weeks. With energy costs rising, tackling winterization chores means a bigger payoff when it comes to keeping out the cold.

Brimming with do-it-yourself fixes are the shelves of local hardware stores, where staff members are happy to share their expertise.

Everyone’s favorite VeggieTales characters take to the stage this fall to perform for audiences nationwide during their 50-city, major-market VeggieTales Live! Tour.

They will be performing at 4 and 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28, in Christ Community Church, 37W100 Bolcum Road, St. Charles.

Concert pianist Robert Vanderschaaf and Matthew Agnew, principal cellist with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, will provide classical interludes between three courses at Niche restaurant in Geneva, kicking off a series of special events.

The Classic Cars for Classic Seniors benefit, the fourth annual Elderday Center car show, will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, in the Bethany Lutheran Church parking lot behind the Elderday Center, located in its Ministry Center, 8 S. Lincoln St., Batavia.

There will be music, 50/50 raffles, food and refreshments. The registration fee is $15 per car, and is limited to classics, hot rods, customs, antiques, muscle cars and trucks. Admission is free to spectators.