Go Dark for Valentine’s Day – Chocolate, That Is

Dark chocolate is not only delicious, but may also be beneficial to your health.

Do you have sweet spot for the sweet stuff on Valentine’s Day? Chocolate and Valentine’s Day go together like pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving or champagne on New Year’s. It’s a celebration treat doled out with love, affection — and sweetness, says Lisa Eaton Wright, wellness coordinator for Moraine Valley Community College and media spokesperson for the Illinois Dietetic Association. The latest research suggests dark chocolate is the way to go, Eaton Wright said. The magic ingredient in dark chocolate is flavanols — a naturally occurring substance found in plants that boost chocolate’s antioxidant action. These antioxidants help defend our body’s cells against damage caused by free radicals formed through normal body processes, like breathing…

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Lemont Retailers Offer Plenty of Gift Ideas for Valentine's Day

Local shop owners share tips on romantic floral arrangements, gift boxes and meals for Monday's holiday.

A word to the wise this Valentine’s Day: bigger doesn’t always mean better. “A bouquet doesn’t have to be huge,” said Viviana Grasso of Petal Play Design, a boutique-style flower shop located at 435 Talcott Ave. “Something small but breathtaking — a bouquet of our tulips wrapped in beautiful raspberry tissue paper — will leave a lasting impression more than the standard rose bouquet.” For shop owners like Grasso, Valentine’s Day rivals Mother’s Day as one of the busiest retail times of year. Across town, Irene Sukvietis, of Always With Flowers, 1138 B State St., said she has prepared for Monday's holiday by stocking her store with an array of gift options. “We’re preparing for the big boom,” Sukvietis said. “Mostly of course we have …

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Moms Talk Q&A: Kids' Valentines

How do your children celebrate Valentine's Day?

Moms Talk is a new feature on Lemont Patch, part of a new initiative on our Patch sites to reach out to moms and families. Lemont Patch invites you and your circle of friends to help build a community of support for mothers and their families right here in Lemont. Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council of experts and smart moms will take your questions, give advice and share solutions. Moms, dads, grandparents and the diverse families who make up our community will have a new resource for questions about local neighborhood schools, the best pediatricians, 24-hour pharmacies and the thousands of other issues that arise while raising children. Moms Talk will also be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic. Do …

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Five Things You Need to Know This Week

Feb. 7-11: Ellie's Fundraiser, Park District Events

Lemont Patch gets you ready for the next five days with five things you need to know this week.

Lemont Mayor Brian Reaves announced last week two scheduled meetings to discuss public education in Lemont. The first is an intergovernmental meeting with all of Lemont's taxing bodies, which will be held at Thursday, Feb. 24., at 7 p.m. in Village Hall, 418 Main St. The second is a town hall meeting, and will be held Wednesday, March 16, at 7 p.m. at Lemont High School, 800 Porter St. Anyone interested in volunteering with Relay for Life of Lemont and Homer Glen is invited to attend a planning committee meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Illinois Bar and Grill, 1131 State St. This year's event is scheduled for July 8-9 at the Lemont High School Sports Complex on 131st Street and Bell Road. For more information, check out our feature story on …

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