Oak Park has joined the international movement to challenge citizens to reduce their impact on the environment by giving up single-use plastics such as bags and straws during the month of July.
Called Plastic Free July, this annual global effort aims to raise awareness of the amount of single-use...
Oak Parkers are among the best at diverting materials into recycling and away from landfills. But many of us also are guilty of a common practice that is driving up costs and driving down the value of the community’s curbside recycling program — putting single-use plastic bags into the blue carts....
Bicycle thefts tend to increase during warmer weather. Following these steps, police say, can help deter bicycle thieves:
Register your bike with the Village. Should your bike be stolen and later recovered the registration provides information about its rightful owner.
Don’t leave your bike...
When severe weather brings down branches and even entire trees, property owners are urged not to bring any debris from trees on private property to the parkway or street, which can lead to clogged sewer inlets and localized flooding during heavy rains.
Public Works crews only pick up debris from...
When severe weather brings down power lines, public safety personnel urge residents to be aware of the danger. Their advice — always assume power lines are live, since even momentary contact with a live power line can injure or kill.
If a power line comes down, ideally, a firefighter or police...
If someone calls or knocks on your door promising a better deal on electricity, be cautious — you could be misled into switching to a supplier that will cost more.
Salespeople who offer to save you money may ask for your account number or to see your bill. Most likely they are selling a low...
Four veterans from within the Police Department’s ranks have been promoted to high level command posts.
Joseph Moran, a detective commander with more than 25 years of experience with the Oak Park Police Department, was sworn in as deputy chief, joining Deputy Chief Frank Limon on the Department’s...
The Village encourages block parties as a way to build community spirit, meet neighbors and have fun. Each block may sponsor two block parties per year, but the number of block parties on any given day must be regulated to ensure traffic flow. Since some weekends fill quickly, neighborhoods are...
Anyone interested in learning more about securing a mortgage and buying that first home is invited to attend a free seminar held at 6 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each month at Village Hall, 123 Madison St.
A wide range of related topics is addressed, including the steps in the home-buying process...
Residents who leave their windows and patio doors open overnight to catch a summer evening breeze could unwittingly become targets of burglars who cruise neighborhoods looking for just such opportunities.
Oak Park Police urge residents to use devices that prevent entry by limiting travel of the...
Online referral network The HUB connects individuals with a broad network of local and regional agencies and institutions that offer free and reduced-cost social services, including senior and youth services, developmental disabilities, medical health care and behavioral/mental health services.
The...
Transportation available…Curb-to-curb transportation to and from the Oak Park Farmers’ Market is available. Look for the Oak Park Township bus at the Market entrance during Market hours. The wheelchair-accessible bus will transport shoppers of all ages to locations within Oak Park and River Forest...
With the highest temperatures of the season typically coming in July and August, public health officials urge residents to protect themselves and their loved ones from the sometimes severe consequences of extreme heat. While everyone is susceptible to heat-related illnesses, the elderly and...
Eleven Oak Park restaurants received awards from the Oak Park Department of Public Health and Board of Health in recognition for having the highest two-year average inspection scores. Each of the restaurants’ food service sanitation efforts earned them a Johnson Award, named for Oak Park’s first...
Two individuals and one local non-profit organization have been honored with the Dr. William Fitzsimmons Public Health Award for contributions to the health and well-being of Oak Parkers. The award is named in honor of the Oak Park Health Department’s Medical Consultant from 1976-1992. Dr....
As temperatures rise, so does the threat of the mosquito-borne West Nile Virus. Illinois reported 176 human cases and 16 deaths last year.
Take precautions...Avoid being bitten by mosquitoes by wearing long sleeves and pants, limiting time spent outdoors at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most...
The Village has launched an upgraded alert system to notify residents when emergency situations occur. The new system requires residents to register annually to receive notifications, a best-practices approach that helps ensure the system has the most up-to-date contact information. To sign up,...
Every Oak Park resident who owns or leases a motor vehicle is required to purchase a license for each vehicle before July 15 to get the lowest rate, which increases by $20 after the deadline. Failure to purchase a license also could result in a $78 ticket. A current vehicle license is needed to...
