Get your chocolate fix at Homewood's annual fest

Take a different outlook on Valentine's Day and use it as an opportunity to donate to a charity, to create something special and to say a kind word.

In a world that is so frequently filled with unrest, turmoil and tragedy, it is love that brings light to the depths of darkness and causing hope to float to the surface.

While complaints are frequent concerning Valentine's Day and it being a materialistic holiday intended to spur profit, is it ever wrong to encourage caring displays of affection?

Hatred is all around us; it surrounds our every being. There is hatred for other's life's choices, for their religion, for their culture, for their orientation, just to name a few. The list continues on and, unfortunately, never truly ends.

With hatred at the root of evil, poisoning all that it touches, anything that preaches acceptance should be warmly welcomed.

While evil will always exist, love has the ability to trump it, prevailing in the end.

Although Valentine's Day is often viewed as a romantic holiday, it should be seen and celebrated as much more than just that.

Of course, all relationships need days when couples remind each other why they fell in love, when they vocalize appreciation and when they devote time and energy to listening and spending time with one another.

Yet, don't all relationships deserve much of the same?

Platonic and romantic, personal and work— all these relationships improve if we dedicate time to being nice and to showing gratitude.

This Valentine's Day spread the love in your home and throughout the community.

If you are looking for something the whole family will enjoy, then the village of Homewood offers the perfect solution. The village is hosting its 10th annual Chocolate Fest from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District Auditorium, 2010 Chestnut Road.

Respected chocolatiers will offer delectable treats for sample and purchase. There will be live entertainment, as well as demonstrations by famous chefs. The event has a 1950s feel with a sock hop theme.

There will also be the annual chocolate bake-off hosted by the Community Relations Commission. Anyone wishing to participate in the competition can visit www.village.homewood.il.us for an application.

Attendees can sample all of the competing recipes by making a small monetary donation. Profits will benefit the Girl Scouts organization, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

Downtown merchants will host "Chocolate Around the World." Get a "Chocolate Passport" at the fest and travel along downtown streets, sampling exotic chocolates from different countries. There will also be a raffle sponsored by the Downtown Homewood Business Association.

For a holiday that is all about sweet thoughts and sweet treats, this event offers the perfect combination of both.

Enjoy delicious dessert, spend the day with your loved ones and donate to a community program.

Let the meaning and reason for Valentine's Day transcend far past Feb. 14. Every day unleashes the possibility for you to do a good deed, to say something nice and to be a compassionate and loving person.

The opinions are solely those of the writer. Nissa Yekich can be reached at nini85@sbcglobal.net.