The Village has begun selling vehicle stickers, as renewal notices have been mailed to the nearly 26,000 residents who purchased stickers last year.

Every Oak Park resident who owns or leases a vehicle is required to purchase and display a Village sticker annually before midnight, July 15. Anyone who misses the deadline must pay a $20 late fee in addition to the cost of the sticker. Failure to display a valid Village sticker also could result in a $50 ticket.

Residents whose vehicles already are registered with the Village can save 10 percent by renewing online at www.oak-park.us/onlineservices, rather than via mail or in person at Village Hall, 123 Madison St.

First-time vehicle sticker purchasers – and residents who have turned 65 since they last renewed – must come to Village Hall and provide proof of residency, such as a lease, utility bill or other government-issued item. A driver’s license and vehicle information also is required. A current vehicle sticker is needed to purchase a parking permit.

Renewal forms mailed to current sticker holders include a unique web identification number that allows a vehicle owner to correct or update most data, including address and telephone number, and vehicle information. Online renewals require a credit card and an e-mail address for confirmation. The sticker is delivered via U.S. Mail, typically within a few days of purchase.

New this year, anyone who loses the renewal notice will be able to look up their web ID number using the e-mail address or telephone number included in the previous year’s application.

Residents who would like to renew online, but don’t have access to a computer can come to Village Hall where a computer is available to the public for official Village business. Computers also are available at the Oak Park Public Library.

In-person sticker purchases and renewals are offered in the Parking Service Center at Village Hall from 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. Mondays, and 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Tuesday – Friday. The Center also will be open for vehicle sticker purchases and renewals from 8:30– 11:30 a.m., Sat., July 6. Village Hall will be closed on Mon., May 27 and Thurs., July 4. Individuals renewing in person are urged to bring their renewal notice to speed up processing.

The online renewal system will continue to be available through July 15, but will automatically assess the late fee after the midnight deadline.

Vehicle sticker rates vary by type of vehicle. The fee for a passenger car is $50, or $45 for online renewals. Persons 65 years old and older, or who have a state-issued handicapped license plate or placard, receive a discount.

For more information, including rates for various types of vehicles, call 708.358.7275, option 5, visit www.oak-park.us/parking or e-mail parking@oak-park.us.

For several weeks, weve all been hearing about the upcoming food truck rally hosted by Pilgrim Congregational Church. Today, was the big day and depending on who you talk to, people are saying that it was a huge success or an epic fail.

I have to say that Im in the huge success camp. We went as soon as it opened so the lines were not too bad and the trucks were still well stocked with food. I had a pretty tasty grilled cheese sandwich with chicken and ham from the Toasty Cheese truck along with one of the churchs famous doughnuts.

By around 3:00 I started seeing tweets from folks saying that most of the trucks had run out of food, lines were long and people were a little ticked off. While its definitely a bummer that so many people missed out, Im hoping that the turnout for todays event leads the way for future food truck events in Oak Park. I think it would be great if Oak Park could get some food truck love on a bi-weekly or even monthly basis in the summer so Im going to keep my fingers crossed!

For those of you who did attend, what did you think? 

A few months ago, I read about how people were setting up Little Free Libraries in different communities across the country. Heres how one article in the Statesman Journal described the libraries:

Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization based in Wisconsin that was formed in 2009. The group’s mission is to promote literacy, build a sense of community and share skills and creativity around the world. It started with a small one-room red school house built by Todd Bol as a memorial to his mother. Bol placed books in it for local residents to enjoy and the idea grew from there.

So imagine my surprise when I was out for a walk this week and discovered that Oak Park had its very own Little Free Library near Oak Park Avenue and Division! I dont know the owners (also known as "stewards" in Little Free Library speak), but Id just like to thank them for setting up their library and sharing some of their favorite books with their fellow residents.

Improve your memory, age gracefully, or just sit back and enjoy a film. Oak Park Public Library provides three great ways to celebrate during Celebrating Seniors Week, May 16 - 23.

IMPROVE YOUR MEMORY WITH DR. BURTON FISCHMAN - Thursday, May 16 at 2 pm

Learn new ways to improve your memory and gain confidence with Dr. Burton Fischman, an octogenarian who earned his certification as a personal trainer on his 80th birthday. A retired Communications Professor, Dr. Fischman uses his talents as a former stand-up comedian to help seniors learn new ideas for improving short term memory.

JOIN DOUG DEUCHLER FOR A SCREENING OF "THE BUCKET LIST" - Monday, May 20 at 2 pm

Film historian Doug Deuchler presents "The Bucket List" (2007), featuring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman as two terminally ill men who escape from a cancer ward and head off on a road trip. The travel with a bucket list of to-dos. Bring your own bucket list to share.

FIND THE RIGHT PATH TO AGING GRACEFULLY - Thursday, May 23 at 1 pm

Learn new ideas for healthy living and graceful aging with Dr. Sheila Dugan, M.D., Rush University Medical Center. Dr. Dugan has helped thousands of patients to age gracefully through appropriate physical activity and healthy habits. You can too.

Enjoy these free programs at Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake Street. The library is wheelchair accessible and offers two hours free parking in the attached underground garage.

WHATS BLOOMING ON HARRISON

IN THE OAK PARK ARTS DISTRICT

FRIDAY, MAY 17 & SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2013

Your family can be a part of the art by designing a Petite Parade Float! Petite Parade floats take their cue from the generations-old, New Orleans grade-school tradition of decorating shoeboxes to look like Mardi Gras floats. Think diorama but on top of the box, not inside.  Your float theme must be family friendly.  The base of the float should be roughly the size of a shoebox and you must have someone available to pull your float through the parade scheduled to start at 3:00pm outside Art Gecko, 21 Harrison Street.  Questions?  Please contact lisa@artgeckoltd.com or laurel@oakparkartsdistrict.com.

Come to Manga Cafe Sunday at the Main Library from 1:30 to 5:30 pm. Learn to draw manga, experience “cosplay” (costume play), watch a special  3 p.m. screening of Hayao Miyazaki’s _Spirited Away_, make candy sushi, and get free comics (while supplies last), courtesy of One Stop Comics in support of Free Comic Book Day. Presented in collaboration with FAASt (Families of Asian American Students).

Pleasant Home Foundation is hosting our annual Wearable Arts Sale this weekend! 

Local artists will sell their handmade jewelry & textiles at this unique small scale art event set in a beautiful turn of the century Prairie Style home. Vintage jewelry and clothing collections will also be available for purchase.

Admission to the sale is free! Friday, 10am-8pm, Sat-Sun 10am - 3pm.

 

Urban Threads Studio, a new nonprofit textile arts and sewing collaborative - founded by two Oak Parkers - has just opened and offers workshops, after-school programs, textile art parties, summer camps, and an annual community project to the general public of Chicago and surrounding areas. Through textile art we ignite our ability to make something with our own hands, hearts and minds.  Every Thursday we offer a workshop at the Life Long Learning Center at the Oak Park Arms and all other classes are at the Bridgeport Art Center.  For more information please visit our website at http://urbanthreadsstudio.org.  Our next free community events are "Mending Cafe" on Wednesday, May 1st from 6:30pm til 9:30pm and "TGIT-BYOB" on Friday May 17th from 6:30pm til 9:30pm.  Space is limited so register early on our website under workshops.

Become an official Friend of the Oak Park Public Library, and hear folk singer Michael Smith live in the Main Library Veterans Room, 7 pm.

Ten Oak Park restaurants will receive awards from the Oak Park Department of Public Health and Board of Health in recognition of their food service sanitation efforts.

The Johnson Restaurant Award, named for Oak Park’s first lunchroom that operated in the 1890s at 124 Lake St., is presented each year to restaurants that consistently meet or exceed state food safety standards. This year’s winners were chosen from 79 eligible restaurants.

“Restaurants earning this award have achieved sanitation scores that are the best in Oak Park,” said Mike Charley, the Health Department’s environmental health supervisor. “These establishments have demonstrated that they take food protection seriously and have incorporated food safety and sanitation practices into their day-to-day business operations.”

The awards are based on scores from a 45-point inspection survey. Officials say the winning eateries are responsible for some of the most complex aspects of food service and meal preparation, including cooking, cooling, reheating and serving. Each of these processes must be carried to out to the exacting standards mandated by the Illinois State Food Service Sanitation Code.

The Health Department inspects more than 200 food service establishments in the Village every year, from day care centers to senior living facilities and traditional restaurants to cafes. These businesses are divided into three broad categories based on the complexity of their food service operations.

“The Johnson Award winners are all restaurants that have fairly complex food service processes,” Charley said. “Because of this, they’re required to maintain competent management and continuous supervision of every step of their food service operations.”

This is the 28th year that the Johnson Restaurant Awards have been presented. Recipients receive a door decal and a recognition certificate from the Health Department.

For more information on the awards, call 708.358.5480 or e-mail health@oak-park.us.

JOHNSON RESTAURANT AWARD WINNERS (IN ORDER OF SCORE):

* Marion Street Grille, 189 N. Marion St. * Aripos Venezuelan Arepa House, 118 N. Marion St. * King & I, 105 N. Marion St. * Cucina Paradiso, 814 North Blvd. * Pennys Noodle Shop, 1130 Chicago Ave. * Jerusalem Café, 1030 Lake St. * Buzz Café, 905 South Lombard Ave. * Flat Top Grill, 726 Lake St. * New Rebozo, 1116 Madison St. * Eyrie, 128 N. Oak Park Ave.

The Village of Oak Park has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officer Association (GFOA) for fiscal year 2013, which began Jan. 1.

In a statement notifying the Village of its selection, the GFOA, a nonprofit professional association that serves more than 17,500 government finance professionals across North America, called the award “the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting.”

“This award represents a significant accomplishment for Oak Park,” said Village Manager Cara Pavlicek. “Preparing the annual budget is one of the most important administrative tasks we undertake every year. The Village Board has established the budget process as a priority and staff has worked hard to improve the budget document. It is wonderful news to hear that the organization’s work has been independently recognized.”

To earn the award, the Village had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation. The budget was assessed as a policy document, financial plan, operations guide and communications vehicle. GFOA judges used 14 mandatory criteria within these categories to determine those entities who would receive the award.

“Its an honor for the outcome of all our hard work to be recognized,” said Oak Park Chief Financial Officer Craig Lesner. “The GFOA recognition is a great first step in moving the Villages finances toward greater transparency. Staff looks forward to making the budget process and document even better in the coming years.”

While crediting the hard work of the Village Board and many municipal staff members who play key roles in the annual budget creation process, both Pavlicek and Lesner singled out James Harris III, the Village’s budget director whose dedication and attention to detail they called essential to creating the document that earned the GFOA award.

“Oak Park’s budget is complex,” Pavlicek said. “Compiling it in a form that can guide day-to-day municipal operations, and be accessible to taxpayers is the goal we set when the 2013 budget process began. With James’ dedication, I believe we made substantive improvements to the budget process. As we begin the 2014 process in the next few months, we expect to continue the pursuit of excellence in our budget document.”

The annual budget process typically begins in late summer or early fall and includes numerous reviews by the Village Board Finance Committee and public discussions led by the full Village Board. The budget usually is approved in late November or early December. The 2013 budget is posted online at www.oak-park.us/finance.

For more information on the budget or budget creation process, call 708.358.5460 or e-mail finance@oak-park.us.

“I didn’t appreciate how nurturing of an environment I was in until I came back,” Ansell said about his experiences growing up in Oak Park. Ansell’s family moved to the suburb from the city when he was young. It was his experiences attending William Beye Elementary School, growing up on Humphrey Avenue, reading voraciously – that shaped his love of storytelling. Ansell counted one experience – painting murals on the walls of the elementary school – as particularly affecting.

“This concept that this communal space doesn’t just have to be a walk through and that you can empower kids to do what they want to do was powerful,” he said. “The idea that you could make stuff and comment on the human experience as performance stuck with me.”

http://www.wbez.org/blogs/britt-julious/2013-04/how-90s-rap-shel-silverstein-and-oak-park-influenced-former-chicagoan

Another multi-million dollar park renovation! Who really benefits? Find out at ALACARTOON.COM/HOME/FOUNTAIN

I typically am not a fan of eating at restaurants that are more like bars because the food usually isnt very good, so I have to admit I had fairly low expectations when I walked into Scratch Kitchen in Forest Park despite the tasty sounding name.

While the service was a little slow and my fries were cold, Im willing to give them a pass since theyre still relatively new. With that said, the food (cheese burger and mac n cheese) was actually pretty good and we would definitely go back. 

Has anyone else been to Scratch Kitchen yet? What did you think? 

If youre looking for an opportunity to volunteer with a local organization, Walk-In Ministry (now known as the non-profit Prevail) is looking for people who can help clients in need of emergency assistance:

After serving more than 4,000 clients since 2005, Walk-In Ministry is taking a big stride forward, focusing its mission and renaming the non-profit organization as Prevail, which reflects its positive influence in helping area residents facing financial hardship on a path to stability.

“We’re keeping a step ahead of the needs of neighbors in our community,” says Bob Hahn, chairman of the board since 2007. “The past two years we have grown from providing emergency services to those facing financial hardship to introducing programs that seek to resolve the underlying problems of their financial challenges. We are well prepared to continually expand our services further to help area residents achieve stability in their lives and prevail.”

Prevail is our community’s compassionate advocate for those neighbors facing financial crisis and seeking a path to stability, says Cristy Harris, executive director, and we are the frontline organization in the community to addresses these needs.

The organization has updated its mission to: Prevail provides immediate and compassionate response to individuals and families facing financial crisis and offers them supportive services leading to future stability.

“Our success the past eight years is due to our approach,” adds Harris. “Through compassionate listening we seek to understand the factors which are contributing to a client’s financial problems. Our talented volunteers then provide emergency services to address pressing financial problems and education in financial literacy and job training for long-term resolution of the underlying causes of adversity.”

For those at risk of housing loss or other vital basic necessities, Prevail provides emergency financial assistance, plus resource referrals for food, housing and transportation. To help clients achieve financial stability and plan for future financial well‐being, the organization offers basic budgeting and debt management classes along with one‐on‐one financial coaching with qualified volunteers. A Job Readiness Program introduced in 2012 enhances clients’ employability through one‐on‐one sessions with experienced HR professionals and computer instructors to assess job opportunities; improve presentation, communications, and interpersonal skills; create resumes and cover letters, practice interviewing and develop basic computer and internet skills required to search and apply for jobs online.

“The work we do is more important than ever as witnessed by the growing number of new clients who visit our center each week,” says Harris. “Unemployment in the surrounding area is estimated at 7.5 percent to 15 percent and more than 8 percent of the residents in the surrounding 12 zip codes live at the poverty level or below. Even here in our communities many live dangerously close to a financial breaking point.”

To meet the growing demand for its services Prevail is doubling its public services hours at its operation at First United Church at 848 W. Lake Street in Oak Park. New hours are Monday- Friday 10 a.m.- noon; Saturday 9:30-11:30 a.m.; 1st Wednesday of each month 7 - 8:30 p.m.; all other Wednesdays 3:30- 5 p.m.; and by appointment. Financial Literacy training classes are held once a month. Job Readiness Program sessions are by appointment Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9:30 a.m.-noon.

To accommodate this growth, Prevail is in need of additional volunteers to work with clients in emergency assistance and referrals counseling, financial literacy education, and human resources/job readiness training and technical training. Additional support opportunities are available in database and website management and administrative assistance. Interested volunteers can contact the organization at volunteer@PrevailOn.org.

A new website has been launched at www.PrevailOn.org and the public can reach the organization at info@PrevailOn.org. Office telephone is (708) 386-1946.

The organization has bolstered its board of directors in the last year with the addition of several Oak Park residents: Jerry Lordan of Fenwick, Sarah Dolan of Maiden Street Group, Jim Heininger of Dixon|James Communications, Laura Gurski of ATKearney, Cindy Huber formally of Oak Park Township, Linda Schembari of The Onyx Group, Deborah Bluminberg of OPRF High School and Kristine St. Martin of Deloitte.

Hey Neighbors

 

Some of you know of my passion for education and also that I recently taught fifth grade for four years. So I was upset when I read the Wednesday Journal’s non-endorsement of OPRFHS School Board candidate Steve Gevinson.

 

In the Journals critique of his candidacy, which I’ve included below, they implied that his desire for less administration and more decision making by the OPRF teachers was not in the best interests of our students.

 

Ironically, I’ve never met Steve Gevinson, but only know of him through his daughter Tavi who spent a couple afternoons at our house as a mother’s helper with Sage and Leif… this was six years ago. At the time, Dawn and I were amazed at her depth of knowledge and maturity (she was in sixth grade), and found out that her Mom was from Norway and her Dad was the English Department Head at OPRF. After that, Id hear Steve Gevinson name in reference as to one of the best teachers at the high school or from reading that he was helping his daughter stay grounded while she gained more media attention.

I contacted Steve to ask him about the Journal’s non-endorsement and to read a draft of a rebuttal letter I was writing on his behalf. He clarified a few of my points and felt the same way as I did about what the Journal had said. Im sure that if I would have met him earlier Id have pitched in to help with his School Board candidacy from the start.

 

WHY AM I SAYING ALL OF THIS? 

 

I hope youll read the Wednesday Journal except and my rebuttal below. (You can read the Journals entire OPRFHS School Board endorsements article here.)

 

IF YOU AGREE WITH ME, then please click on this link to get a free yard sign for Steve (they make great baseball and soccer targets after the election). You can also forward this on to any other Oak Parkers who might feel the same way, or just vote for him this coming Tuesday, April 9^th and tell a few friends why you are.

 

Thanks for reading this and voting—for any of the candidates.

 

Eric Bryning

816 S Harvey

"Steven Gevinson is a career educator who spent decades in vital posts at OPRF as a teacher, division chair and union leader. He is dedicated to this school but has an outlook that we simply disagree with. Gevinson would, in our opinion, look backward to a time when the faculty was ascendant, the administration was hamstrung and the school board was tippling the "Those Things That Are Best" Kool-Aid. He believes the current administration is too large and too powerful while we believe it has just retaken leadership of the school. OPRF is poised to accomplish great things on many fronts. As much as we admire and respect Gevinson, this is not the time to turn back."

_I think the Wednesday Journal got it wrong last week when they dismissed Steve Gevinson as a candidate for the OPRFHS school board. _

_ _

_As a former 5th grade teacher, I cringe whenever it’s insinuated that administrators know more about the educational needs of students than their classroom teachers. Any quality educator will tell you that the best administrators are the ones who empower teachers to reach their students in meaningful ways. _

_ _

_As a parent of a second and fifth grader at Longfellow school, I know that this perspective pales in comparison to the real world insight that my children’s classroom teachers acquire every school day._

_ _

_So the Journal would have us believe that a “career educator who spent decades in vital posts at OPRF,” an educator who’s had two children graduate from OPRF and another who’s currently a junior, a teacher who’s consistently praised by his former students, a professional who currently teaches at two of the most prestigious educational institutions in the country—that this is someone who would sacrifice the purported recent progress at OPRF because he has too high a regard for educators? Are we talking about the same person? _

_ _

_And he’ll do this at the expense of furthering the education of our students and the future success of our high school? Does that make sense? It doesn’t. That’s why I hope this village comes out and supports passionate educators like Steve Gevinson by electing him to the OPRFHS board next week._

_ _

_Eric Bryning_

_816 S Harvey_

_ _

See?

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/suburbs/oak_park_river_forest_forest_park/community/chi-ugc-oak-park-easter-bunny-20130405,0,4105750.photogallery

The Village’s fourth annual celebration of green living – Earth Fest – is scheduled for 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Sat., April 20, in the LEED Gold-certified Public Works Center, 201 South Blvd.

This year’s event will focus on the zero waste movement. Most aspects of the festival, including event banners and food service products used for chefs’ demonstrations, will be reusable or compostable. Organizers will have sorting stations located at the event to help attendees compost and recycle as much waste as possible.

“Green living means being smart about our resources – not just consuming less but also creating less waste. This years focus on zero waste will help folks learn about reducing waste at home, in the garden, at school and work,” said Maria Onesto Moran, an Earth Fest organizer. “Our vendors range from a restaurant using goat milk produced in Chicago, to composting experts offering free information on backyard composting.”

In addition, Earth Fest plans to partner with Oak Park’s Public Works Department to offer a close-up look at the many services provided to the community. Kids and parents can explore snow plows, heavy-duty trucks and other essential pieces of equipment.

Dozens of Earth Fest vendors will provide plenty of hands-on activities, free samples and information for families. Some of the day’s scheduled highlights include:

* Free composting and organic gardening consultations * Up close and personal visits with urban goat farmers * Chef demonstrations from Marion Street Cheese Market and Constructive Chaos * Details on zero-waste lunch initiatives in Oak Park’s schools * Car sharing information * Tips on eco-friendly landscaping * Important details on raising chickens and keeping honeybees in Oak Park Back by popular demand, Earth Fest once again will feature Recycle Alley – an on-site opportunity for residents to bring items that aren’t part of the regular blue bin recycling program. Items to be recycled include blue jeans, glasses, hearing aids, prescription medication, CFL light bulbs, cell phones, rechargeable batteries and corks.

For more information on Earth Fest 2013, call 708.660.1443 or e-mail maria@ghexperts.com. Information also is posted online at www.oak-park.us/earthfest.

Hey crafters, its time for a little spring cleaning:

Oak Park Public Library News

Clean out & clean up at our Craft Swap

Calling all crafters who want to turn old supplies into new projects. Bring your unused supplies in good condition to the Main Library on Saturdays, April 13 & 20, from 10 am to noon. Then, return for our Craft Swap, Saturday, April 27. Your donations will have earned you early entry. Learn more about these thrifty events, and more ways the library can help you flex your financial muscle as part of Money Smart Week.

Just wanted to pass this along in case anyone is looking to get some exercise while supporting a good cause:

Nia instructors from all over the Chicago area will take turns leading participants in dance at a Nia Jam on Saturday, April 13 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Fitness Formula Clubs’ (FFC) Oak Park location, 1114 Lake Street. In honor of Earth Day, proceeds from the $15 admission fee will benefit the Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Nia, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, is a fusion fitness technique that draws from the dance arts, martial arts and healing arts in a fun, freeing workout for body, mind and spirit. It is performed barefoot with eclectic, soul-stirring music and is open to students of any age, gender or fitness level.

It is not necessary to be a FFC member to attend, but non-members will need to sign a waiver. Two hours of free parking in the garage behind the gym on Marion and Ontario Streets are available with club validation.

For more information about the Nia Technique, go to www.nianow.com. For questions about the Nia Jam, email lisabrowdy@gmail.com .

The owner of Taste of Brasil has been named one of the final 17 candidates to host Check, Please! on WTTW. I hope youll vote for her. More information here:

http://gint-aras.com/2013/03/26/check-please-vote-for-cristiane-pereira/

Hi All,

I am an unapologetic book and movie nerd and Ive been really wanting to meet more of my own kind!  Since I live in Oak Park, Id love to do this with people in the Oak Park and Forest Park areas.I was wondering if anyone would be interested in getting together over some food and/or drinks to talk about books theyre reading, movies theyve seen, and what they recommend. Maybe we could even plan some movie nights at the Lake St. Theater.

Please respond with a post if youre interested and Ill try and put something together for us in the coming weeks.

Thank you! Hope to hear from people.

Kandice

Join the Pleasant Home Foundation TONIGHT for the last in our lecture series titled "Unauthorized Anecdotes of Architecture" featuring Arthur Miller:

"POST-PURITAN, ESTATE-ERA NORTH SHORE ARCHITECTS AND CLIENTS: WRIGHT, SHAW, GRANGER, ADLER AND FRAZIER" Art Miller will give anecdotes about some architects and related artists, planners, etc. who lived and worked in Lake Forest/upper North Shore: Adler; Adler and Shaw; Shaw, Shaws daughter Sylvia Shaw Judson (sculptor) and granddaughter Alice Hayes (founder, Ragdale Foundation); planner/architect Edward H. Bennett; Alfred H. Granger; and Frazier & Raftery, whose main base was in Geneva and linked to the Little Traveler store there, begun by Rafterys mother.

If time permits, he will include some stories about Prairie landscape genius Jens Jensen, told by his grandson, Bruce Johnson.

LOCATED AT PLEASANT HOME, 7PM, LECTURE IS FREE, DONATIONS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED. For questions call (708) 386-2654 or email hruehlemay@pleasanthome.org

Oak Park Police issued 25 citations – including five for driving under the influence – during a late-night crackdown over the St. Patrick’s Day weekend that targeted drunken drivers and individuals not wearing seat belts.

 

Police stopped 40 motorists between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. over the two nights, focusing their efforts when statistics show that the highest numbers of motorists drink and drive and the fewest use seat belts.

 

“Too often individuals get caught up in the holiday spirit and don’t think before they get behind the wheel, which is a serious accident just waiting to happen,” said Oak Park Deputy Chief Anthony Ambrose. “Our goal is to get impaired drivers off the road before they hurt themselves and others.”

 

Ambrose said that while the primary focus of the holiday crackdown was on impaired drivers, police also were on the lookout for motorists and passengers who were not wearing seatbelts.

 

“It is not just about enforcing the letter of the law that requires vehicle passengers to buckle up, but also educating the public about their responsibility,” he said. “Sometimes it takes a ticket to get people to think seriously about the risks when they don’t take the simple, yet proven life-saving step of buckling a seatbelt.”

 

The Oak Park crackdown was part of a statewide effort funded by federal traffic safety grants through Illinois Department of Transportation’s Division of Traffic Safety as part of the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over and Click It or Ticket public education campaigns.

 

Similar high-visibility enforcement efforts are launched during other major holidays, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

http://www.downtownoakpark.net/special_pages/lunch_specials.html

I had a really nice lunch at Falafill and an okay lunch at Jerusalem Cafe. Heads up/FYI. 

Just passing along this alert shared by the village. Glad to see they caught the guys:

Oak Park Police are holding two men in connection with a residential burglary today in the 600 block of South Scoville Avenue.

Police responding to a 9-1-1 call from a neighbor at about 12:20 p.m. came upon the suspects as they were about to flee the scene. As the responding officer approached the rear of a dark tan SUV parked near the reported incident, the vehicle accelerated in reverse, ramming the squad car, then fled southbound on Scoville.

The collision rendered the Oak Park squad car inoperable, but the officer immediately broadcast an area-wide alert with a description of the vehicle. Illinois State Police stopped the suspects in the 600 block of North Kedzie Avenue in Chicago about an hour after the incident was first reported.

No injuries were reported from the incident. However, police did ask nearby schools to lock down as a precaution, while the area was cleared.

The front door of the home where the burglary occurred was damaged in what appeared to be a forced entry. Police are still determining what might have been taken.

More information will be provided as it becomes available.

Be An Informed Voter this Spring: District 200 Candidate Forum & Village President and Trustee Forum Coming to South East Oak Park! Sponsored by SEOPCO and the Wednesday Journal District 200 Candidate Forum - Oak Park River Forest High School Board Candidates Date:      Thursday, March 14 Time:      7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Place:     Irving Elementary School Auditorium, 1125 S. Cuyler Village President and Trustee Candidates Date:      Thursday, March 21 Time:      7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Place:     Irving Elementary School Auditorium, 1125 S. Cuyler For further information, please contact SEOPCO at seopco@gmail.com. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@SEOPCO).