Fun for the entire family awaits at Oak Park’s ¡VIVA Festival! from 2-6 p.m. this Sat., Oct. 7. The outdoor celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month will be held on the south lawn at Village Hall and will feature food, entertainment from an all-female mariachi ensemble and Peruvian folk dancers, face painters, activities for kids, piñatas and much more. For complete details about the event, visit www.oak-park.us/HispanicHeritage. The Village’s series of Hispanic Heritage Month events will conclude next Fri., Oct. 13 with an outdoor movie screening of Disney’s “Encanto.” Bring a blanket and enjoy the entertaining tale of an extraordinary family, the Madrigals, who live hidden in the mountains of Colombia. Complimentary refreshments will be served.

Oct. 1 marked the beginning of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program year, which will continue to Sept. 30, 2024. Each year the Village receives an allocation of CDBG funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). CDBG funds are intended to provide low-and moderate-income (LMI) households with viable neighborhoods, which incorporate decent housing, a suitable living environment and expanded economic opportunities. Eligible activities include fair housing outreach, housing rehabilitation and preservation, public services, infrastructure improvements, code enforcement, public facilities improvements, economic development and planning/administration.

In the new program year, CDBG funds have already been approved to help support the following community organizations: Beyond Hunger, Community Support Services, Easterseals, Hephzibah Children’s Association, Housing Forward, IWS Children’s Clinic, NAMI Metro Suburban, New Moms, North West Housing Partnership, Our Future Reads, Thrive Counseling Center, UCP Seguin of Greater Chicago, Way Back Inn and Y.E.M.B.A.. In addition to supporting these community organizations, CDBG funds will also help support the Village’s operations in the following three departments:

1. Deveopment Customer Services Neighborhood Services Division: Single-Family Rehabilitation Program, Small Rental Rehabilitation Program, Code Enforcement, and Lead Hazard Reduction Program
2. Public Works Department: ADA sidewalk improvements, alley improvements, street resurfacing and water line improvements
3. Public Health Department: Oak Park Farmers' Market operations

There is still time to submit nominations for the Village’s Green Awards, which are presented each year by the Environment & Energy Commission as a way of recognizing community members and organizations, local businesses and nonprofits, institutions, and collaborative projects and initiatives that demonstrate leadership in advancing equity-centered climate action, climate resilience and sustainability. There are dedicated awards in the categories of community organization, local business and collaborative initiative for nominations that link with Oak Park’s community climate and sustainability plan, Climate Ready Oak Park. The deadline for nominations is Oct. 15. The online nomination form is posted at www.oak-park.us/greenawards.   

The Village's annual fall leaf collection program is scheduled to begin the week of Oct. 30. As an alternative to placing leaves in the street, residents are encouraged to consider leaving the leaves to protect their soil. Raking leaves into garden beds or bagging and storing them for spring application can help support biodiversity in your yard and the community. Click here for more information from local non-profit West Cook Wild Ones about fall yard clean-up practices. More information about the Village's leaf collection program is at www.oak-park.us/2023leaves.

The Fire Department welcomed two new Firefighter/Paramedics as Miguel Lopez-Campos and Ian McNamara were sworn in during a ceremony Monday at Village Hall. Both Miguel and Ian will begin their one-year probationary periods by taking part in the firefighter academy. Devin McDougal is the new IT Coordinator in the IT Department. He has a Master’s degree in theology and also studied information technology and accounting. Devin lives in Oak Park with his wife and son.

The Oak Park Public Health Department is marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month by sharing information about local resources available to help fight the disease. During the month of October, residents of Oak Park, River Forest and Proviso Township without insurance coverage can receive a mammogram for no cost at Rush Oak Park Hospital. To register for a free mammogram, call 708.660.2355. More information about breast cancer awareness and ways to prevent breast cancer is available on the Village website – click here to view. Additionally, members of the Oak Park Police Department are showing support for survivors and those currently facing the disease by wearing special pink uniform patches and pins throughout the month.

Economic Vitality Administrator Cameron Davis joined Oak Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce President Rob Guenthner and other Chamber ambassadors in welcoming SUGARINGNYC Organic Waxing and Lash Studio owners Kaylee and Jonte Wells to the Oak Park business community at their grand opening this week. SUGARINGNYC, located at 1112 Lake St., is one of approximately 80 new Oak Park businesses that have been newly licensed in 2023. Pink flowers in the business’ windows invite customers into the remodeled space. More information about this new Oak Park business is available on its website – click here to view. For a list of new Oak Park businesses, visit www.PickOakPark.com/newbusiness.    

Anyone interested in learning more about electric vehicles is invited to the Green Transportation Rally from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sun., Oct. 8 in the Pilgrim Church parking lot at 460 Lake St. Hosted by the Oak Park Climate Action Network, this celebration of emissions-free driving and active transportation offers a chance for community members to check out EV models, ask questions about battery range and longevity, meet with local vendors and more. More information about owning an electric vehicle in Oak Park is available on the Village website – click here to view.

Visit Oak Park welcomed the new director of the Illinois Office of Tourism (IOT), Daniel Thomas, to Brookfield Zoo this week as he embarks upon a statewide listening tour to assist in formulating an ambitious marketing plan for Illinois. Village staff was among the community leaders who attended the roundtable discussion centered around Enjoy Illinois and local tourism, marketing mixes, opportunities for future collaboration and more.

The Park District of Oak Park is seeking volunteers to help at the upcoming Frank Lloyd Wright Races on Sun., Oct. 15. Assistance is needed for preparations before the event and also along the course on race day to help make the longstanding fall tradition a success. Volunteers are asked to register at www.flwraces.com, and all volunteers will receive a race t-shirt for participating.

Street resurfacing project – The contractor finished pavement removal excavations for bump outs being constructed on Berkshire Street, Greenfield Street and Scoville Avenue as part of this year’s street resurfacing project. Framing and curb placement is underway on Berkshire and Augusta Street while curb and sidewalk removal are ongoing at locations on Elmwood Avenue, Clinton Avenue and Lexington Street. Concrete work will continue next week, followed by site preparation for the upcoming asphalt work.

Sidewalk Improvements – All concrete work is complete for this year’s sidewalk project. The contractor will begin punchlist items in the upcoming weeks. Angle cutting should be complete by the end of this week.

Water & sewer improvements – This week the contractor replaced private water lines for residents on Augusta Street between Lombard Avenue and Hayes Avenue. Underground work will resume next week on Augusta. The street is partially reopened to traffic in both directions. Weather permitting, exploratory digging will begin in the coming days on Euclid Avenue between South Boulevard and Lake Street, which is the site of the second phase of this year’s water & sewer improvement project. Traffic control signs and barriers are expected to be installed on Euclid next week.

Pete’s Fresh Market update – ComEd is scheduled to complete its service transfer on Oct. 13 at the site of the new Pete’s Fresh Market on Madison Street. AT&T will have all cable and cross boxes installed by Oct. 13 as well and will then shift to cable splicing and service transfers in the next two to three weeks.

Forest and Ontario improvements – The closure at Forest Avenue and Ontario Street remains active as brick and concrete removals continue. Multiple sidewalk routes remain closed throughout the site while the electrical contractor is working on installing the remaining conduit.

Division Street improvements – Parkway restoration is complete in areas disturbed during the months-long water & sewer improvement and street resurfacing project along Division Street. Pavement striping began this week and will continue through next week.

Pleasant & Marion update – The main entry storefront is complete and the lobby floor is in progress at the new development at the intersection of Pleasant and Marion streets. Bathroom tile installation is ongoing for level five. ComEd is scheduled to liven the site with permanent power by the end of the month. Right of way work is scheduled to start this month on Marion, with the majority of the work taking place within the jersey wall outside the site.

Miscellaneous construction updates – Work on the punchlist items for the annual alley improvement project is ongoing and will continue through October. Sewer cleaning and inspections at select locations is complete. Meanwhile, Nicor crews will return to town next week to work at the remaining locations selected for excavation.