A Treasure or Trinket event will be held from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Thursday, May 16, at the Oak Park Arms retirement community, 408 S. Oak Park Ave.

The public is invited to bring in personal items for an evaluation by certified appraisers. Experts in jewelry, fine art, textiles, toys, dolls, coins, furniture and more will be on hand to help people discover what their items might be worth.

Five signs of a valuable antique include:
•    Rarity (few pieces were made or remain)
•    Aesthetics (all elements blend together seamlessly)
•    Desirability (what’s in vogue in the current market)
•    Authenticity (determine/verify materials, signatures or time periods)
•    In good condition

The experts at the Arms will be Judith Martin, ISA CAPP (certified appraiser); Heidi Harders, gemologist; and Mike Murphy, expert in coins and toys.

Martin is a certified member of the International Society of Appraisers as well as a member of the board of directors. She is certified in antiques and residential contents and is qualified to appraise general personal property. Martin is also the owner of a high-end consignment shop, The Perfect Thing Inc. in Wheaton, which is considered one of the finest in the country.

Harders, a graduate gemologist from the Gemology Institute of America, has more than 28 years of experience in the jewelry industry. She is a member of national and local gemological and appraisal associations and has been the president of Chicago Gem Evaluation Services since 1996.

The Oak Park Arms is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

The event is free and open to the public. A $5 donation is suggested to support Celebrating Seniors. A light boxed lunch will be served. Participants are limited to three items.

For more information or to make a reservation, call Jill Wagner at 708-386-4025.