Mokena Local News

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High Ho Gems, Inc.
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16

community members love this business

16

community members
love this business

High Ho Gems, Inc.

A welcoming space for healing, exploration, and spiritual education.

Step into our crystal and rock wonderland in Mokena, Illinois. Visit our retail store to explore crystals from around the world, spiritual books, gemstone jewelry, traditional brass singing bowls from Nepal, and a wide variety of holistic offerings.

At High Ho Gems, Inc., experience immersive sound baths featuring the world’s leading Crystal Alchemy Singing Bowls by Crystal Tones. These extraordinary instruments are also available for purchase, as we are a registered partner.

Education is at the heart of what we do. We offer a wide range of classes and events, including Reiki certification (Levels 1–3), chakra studies, crystal education, meditation, women’s circles, Reiki Shares, holistic markets, and our long-running concert series.

Shop consciously sourced crystals, receive Reiki, experience sound healing, and grow through guided classes and workshops in our Mokena healing studio. We are a family-owned small business, proudly serving the community since 2014 and rooted in Mokena since 2020.

Mission

At High Ho Gems, Inc., our mission is to create a heart-centered community where people of all backgrounds feel safe, welcomed, and supported. We offer authentic, high-vibrational experiences that help individuals connect more deeply with themselves, spirit, and their purpose—uplifting, inspiring, and bringing light to every soul’s journey.

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16

community members love this business

16

community members
love this business

Patch Local Partner

Creations by Beth Photography LLC
Patch Local Partner

1

community members love this business

1

community members
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Creations by Beth Photography LLC

Every family, business, and milestone has a story worth preserving — the quiet moments, the growing families, the exciting new beginnings, and the passions that shape who you are.

At Creations by Beth Photography, I specialize in heirloom newborn, maternity, children’s, family, branding, and professional headshot photography in Mokena, IL and the surrounding Chicagoland communities. My goal is to create timeless, heartfelt imagery that not only looks beautiful, but truly feels meaningful for years to come.

I’m proud to officially welcome clients into my boutique studio space in Mokena — designed to be warm, calm, and comfortable whether you’re documenting your growing family, updating professional headshots, or creating elevated branding imagery for your business.

From guided maternity portraits and baby-led newborn sessions to professional branding and headshots that help you confidently represent yourself and your business, every session is thoughtfully customized to create an experience that feels relaxed, personal, and genuine.

As a Certified Newborn & Portrait Photographer, safety, connection, and creating a stress-free experience are always at the center of what I do.

I am currently accepting bookings for:
• Newborn Photography
• Maternity Portraits
• Children & Family Sessions
• Professional Headshots
• Branding Photography

If you’ve been thinking about documenting this season of life — personally or professionally — I would truly love the opportunity to create something meaningful for you.

šŸ’» Learn more or reserve your session:
[www.CreationsbyBethPhotography.com](http://www.CreationsbyBethPhotography.com)

šŸ“Mokena, Illinois
Serving Mokena, Frankfort, New Lenox, Orland Park, Tinley Park, and surrounding Chicagoland areas.

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community members love this business

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community members
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Patch Local Partner

Peace Preschool
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3

community members love this business

3

community members
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Peace Preschool

Peace Preschool is a smaller-scale Christian preschool that offers classes to children ages 3-5 in a loving and nurturing environment.

What makes us unique?

* large outdoor play area with playground
* full-sized gymnasium
* dedicated library
* many field trips and special events throughout the school year
* opportunities for parents to assist in the classroom

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community members love this business

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Patch Local Partner

Clearway Exteriors
Patch Local Partner

37

community members love this business

37

community members
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Clearway Exteriors

We put our customers first walking you through the entire process creating a seamless experience the clearway of doing Business. Home renovations replacing or installing windows, doors, roofs, siding, gutters, gutter guards, soffit & fascia, painting.

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37

community members love this business

37

community members
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Mokena|Neighbor News|

Hoodwink'd live on the ROOFTOP

Hoodwink'd plays live on the Joliet Museum's Outdoor ROOFTOP on Friday, May 29th at 7pm (doors open 6:15pm)

Hoodwink'd live on the ROOFTOP

Patch Local Partner

Will County Children's Advocacy Center
Patch Local Partner

244

community members love this business

244

community members
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Will County Children's Advocacy Center

The Will County Children's Advocacy Center was founded in 1995 by State's Attorney James Glasgow to partner with multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) comprised of law enforcement, DCFS investigators, medical personnel, prosecutors, and Will County CAC forensic interviewers, family advocates, and trauma therapists in response to reports of severe physical abuse, sexual abuse, commercial exploitation, neglect, and exposure to violence of children, in Will County, IL.

Our Will County CAC intake/MDT coordinator, forensic interviewers, family advocates, and trauma therapists provide the following services:

* Forensic Interviews: After a child is referred to the Will County CAC by law enforcement or the IL Dept. of Family Services (DCFS), our Intake Coordinator schedules a forensic interview for the child. One of our 4 forensic interviewers listens to the child’s story and asks non-leading, developmentally-appropriate questions as the child talks about the trauma he/she has experienced. Law enforcement, prosecution, DCFS, and mental health professionals observe the interview from a separate room. This reduces trauma for the child and provides a stronger foundation if the case goes to court.

* Family Advocacy: Our family advocates are committed to helping each family navigate the complex systems that a family enters when a child makes an outcry of abuse. As each case goes through the investigation, prosecution and healing process, the team is there to help the family understand the process, learn about their rights and successfully access resources that will help their family during crisis.

* Trauma-Focused Therapy: Our team of licensed clinical social workers provide short-term, trauma informed therapy to children who have received a forensic interview. Since child abuse affects the whole family, the services are available at no cost to both the child and their non-offending family members. Individual and group therapy is offered in English and Spanish.

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244

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244

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Mokena|Neighbor News|

Obituary: Eugene George Balavender

The last words he spoke were how much he was going to miss everyone.

Obituary: Eugene George Balavender