The Village is now offering a collection of used textiles and small household items as part of its ongoing effort to help residents reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills. The textile service is provided by Simple Recycling and is free to all Oak Park residents. Free pickups can be scheduled online through Simple Recycling’s website at www.simplerecycling.com or by phone at 866.835.5068. Recyclables are then placed in a bag or box outside the resident’s front door by 7:30 a.m. on the scheduled pickup date. More information, including an extensive list of items accepted, is available at www.oak-park.us/textilerecyling.

Two variance requests were approved at the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting this week. Petitioner David Hyde requested a variance to construct a front yard addition at 802 Home Ave. with a proposed 6.07-foot setback. No one testified in opposition to the variance request, which was approved by the ZBA with a 5-0 vote. The second petitioner, Murphy Dental Group, PLLC., requested a variance to operate a dental practice on the ground floor of the existing building at 100 S. Kenilworth Ave., with a 2,600-square-foot addition, located within 50 feet of the South Boulevard street line. No one testified in opposition to the variance request, which was also approved with a 5-0 vote.

Residents are urged to move their cars from the streets when temporary no-parking signs go up to allow private contractors to prune parkway trees quickly and safely during the winter pruning cycle. One-third of the Village’s 18,000-plus parkway trees are scheduled to be pruned this winter. The focus will be on trees located between Chicago Avenue and Division Street. Crews follow the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) guidelines for tree care to address three key issues — tree health, resident safety and protecting property from damage. More information about tree pruning is available at www.oak-park.us/treepruning24. Residents may call 708.358.5700 or email publicworks@oak-park.us with questions or concerns about the type or quality of work being performed by contractors. More information on the care of trees on public property is posted at www.oak-park.us/trees.

The Police Department welcomed Alexis Perez, who was sworn in Tuesday as a Police Officer before beginning police academy training. Alexis attended Northeastern Illinois University and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology. The Village also bid farewell to two longtime employees this week. Parking Facilities Supervisor Paul Sturdivant retired on Jan. 2 after a 28-year career with the Village, and Police Officer Leonard Donaire’s 27-year career ends with his Jan. 5 retirement.

Community members are encouraged to save the date for a public meeting about Oak Park’s housing vision for the next decade from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thurs., Jan. 25 at the Oak Park Public Library Veterans Room. Participants will be asked to weigh in on what housing or housing-related challenges they see in the community, and their ideas on how to address them. The Village is partnering with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus to update the Homes for a Changing Region Plan it prepared in 2012. Since Oak Park in 2024 is in many ways different from Oak Park in 2012, fresh eyes, perspectives and ideas are needed. In addition, a housing vision-related community survey is still available online at www.engageoakpark.com/housingsurvey.

Mark your calendar for the Vision Zero Safe Streets Workshop, which will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sat., Feb. 3 at the Oak Park Conservatory. This family-friendly, public workshop will include craft activities, light snacks and an opportunity for community members to talk about traffic safety. Residents are encouraged to stop by at any time during the open house event to learn more about the Vision Zero project, which aims to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries on local roadways. By providing feedback and ideas, participants will be eligible to enter a raffle to win one of several gift card prizes. Visit www.engageoakpark.com/visionzero for more information about the Vision Zero project.

Holiday trees are being collected through next week (Jan. 8-12) from residential properties of five or fewer units served by the Village refuse hauling contractor. All decorations and stands should be removed, and trees placed in the regular collection area by 7 a.m. on the property’s standard refuse collection date. Since trees are mulched and used for soil enrichment, they should not be left in disposal plastic bags. Trees set out after the collection program ends will require a pink bulk refuse sticker to be attached. Wreaths and garlands cannot be collected for recycling because they contain wire and should be placed in the trash container. More information is at www.oak-park.us/holidaytreecollection24.

The Village is tracking a range of sustainability metrics related to goals outlined in the Climate Ready Oak Park comprehensive plan. Find data related to local building energy, transportation, waste reduction and biodiversity at www.sustainoakpark.com/climate-ready-progress. The page also includes links to both the Climate Ready Oak Park plan and the plan's one-year progress report.

U.S Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-7^th District) is hosting an award ceremony for local students from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sat., Jan. 6 at Village Hall. The event will recognize local students, including several from Oak Park and River Forest High School, who are excelling academically and have earned scholarships.

Focus Development update – Final inspections with the Village are in progress throughout the new Focus Development building at the corner of Pleasant Street and Marion Street. Crews are working on punch list items and finishing paint touchups this week. Floor and countertop installations are in progress for the maisonettes. Crews are also pouring concrete to prepare the site for the blue stone pavers.

Sewer televising update – This week the contractor for the sewer televising project focused on Iowa Street near Oak Park Avenue. Once complete, the contractor will move to Erie Street near Ridgeland Avenue. Partial lane closures are anticipated while work is ongoing.