The briefs

Railroad historian coming to museum

Railroad historian Steve Hyett will lead a program titled "When Trolleys Rode the Prairie Path" at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Villa Park Historical Museum, 220 S. Villa Ave. The slide show and lecture will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of passenger service on the Chicago, Aurora and Elgin Railroad. For details, call (630) 941-0223.

Kids can register for soccer program

Lil' Kicks Soccer, for children ages 3 to 5, will be offered from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Oct. 22 to Nov. 12 at the York Center Park District, 1609 S. Luther Ave., Lombard. Register by Monday. The cost is $15 for residents, $20 for others. For details, call (630) 629-0886 or visit www.yorkcenterparks.org.

Psychiatrist slated to lecture Tuesday

The National Alliance on Mental Illness-DuPage Chapter will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at College of DuPage, SRC 1450B, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn.

Dr. Syed Ali, a psychiatrist, will discuss "The Tragedy of Violence in Our Society."

NAMI-DuPage is a not-for-profit organization that provides support, advocacy and education to people with mental illness and their families.

For details, visit www.namidupage.org.

Television host to speak on Latinos

Television journalist Phil Ponce will give a lecture titled "A Culture in Transition: Latinos and the American Mainstream" at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Elmhurst College's Frick Center, 190 Prospect Ave., Elmhurst. Ponce is the host of "Chicago Tonight" on WTTW-TV, channel 11. For details, call (630) 617-6148 or visit www.elmhurst.edu.

Medical school to give mini courses

See what the life of a medical student is like during Mini Medical School from 6:30 to 8:15 p.m. Wednesdays, Oct. 22 to Nov. 12, at Midwestern University, 555 31st St., Downers Grove.

Participants will learn about current topics in medicine such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, bird flu, traumatic brain injury and more. Sessions will be led by university professors.

The cost is $25 and registration is required. For details, call (630) 515-6048 or visit www.minimed.midwestern.edu.

Theater troupe seeks new members

The Village Theatre Guild, Inc. meets at 7:30 p.m. the third Monday of every month at the Village Theatre, Park Boulevard and Butterfield Road, Glen Ellyn.

New members are welcome. The group is seeking adults who enjoy acting and singing, as well as those who want to work behind-the-scenes with makeup, hair, costumes, props, set construction and design.

No experience is needed. Each gathering starts with a short business meeting followed by a one-act play or scene by a member.

For details, call (630) 469-5583 or visit www.villagetheatreguild.org.