More than 100 MetroSouth Medical Center staffers tossed off their sterile booties, donned cowboy boots and line danced to the tune “Achy, Breaky Heart,” made famous by Billy Ray Cyrus. The un-rehearsed electric slide dancing and freestyle moves were done to promote the hospital’s “Know Your Numbers by Heart” campaign to raise awareness of heart disease prevention.

The hospital’s “Know Your Numbers by Heart” campaign kicks off Saturday, February 6, from 10am to 1pm with an open-to-the-public event and free heart screenings in the lobby of the hospital, located at 12935 Gregory Street. The event features heart-healthy recipes from south side restaurants, and appearances from TV celebrities and local VIPs who will share their own heart numbers. More free screenings are also scheduled at various locations on the southside during February. To register, call 708-489-7927. For a complete list of screenings, visit www.metrosouthmedicalcenter.com.

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The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is holding a public meeting on Thursday, Feb. 4 from 4pm-7pm at the Posen Village Civic Center, 14401 Campbell Street.  IDOT will discuss updates to the I-295/I-57 Interchange Project, review modified plans, and allow time for comments and public input.

An Amendment to the Environmental Assessment can be viewed online at http://www.dot.il.gov/desenv/env.html#I294.

Click Here to download the Notice of Availability and Public Meeting from IDOT.

City Hall will be closed on Monday, January 18 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The Blue Island Public Library is hosting a Remembering MLK event at 3 p.m. on Sunday at Christ Memorial United Church of Christ, 2440 York St.  Writer, actor and social satirist Aaron Freeman will headline an event honoring the life of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.  Freeman, who also appears on National Public Radio and PBS, will read selections from King’s speeches. The Advocate Church Music Ministry will perform. A reception will follow. The event is free, but reservations are requested. Information: (708) 388-1078, Ext. 30.

A great way to mark this holiday is to volunteer in your community – seek small ways to make a difference. There are many opportunities all around. Sites like Serve.gov or VolunteerMatch provide a place to search, or pick up the latest issue of StreetWise, which features a guide to non-profits, many of them in our area. Ask your churches, your hospitals (see this article about a Doctor at MetroSouth making a difference in Haiti), your schools… you’ll never know how good you feel about it until you try it!