Suburban Cook County voters can cast an early ballot for the March 19 Presidential Primary Election from March 4 through March 18 including weekends at Village Hall, 123 Madison St. Grace-period registration is also available during early voting hours for those individuals who missed the registration deadline. Valid identification is required to register during the grace period and a vote must be cast immediately after registration. Early voting hours vary by date – details are posted on the Village website.

Following a short pause due to construction at the main fire station, the Fire Department is once again offering a variety of life-saving classes including Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and training in how to use an automated external defibrillator, or AED. Classes are held in the Fire Department’s American Heart Association-certified community training center in the main station. All courses are taught by an AHA-certified instructor. Find the class schedule and more information about the various types of training at www.oak-park.us/cpr.

The Village has long encouraged block parties as an inclusive and engaging way to strengthen community spirit, build camaraderie with neighbors and have fun. Applications for block parties are now being accepted. Each Oak Park block is limited to two events per year. The events can be a block party, a block sale or a combination of both. The total number of events across the community is limited to 30 per weekend. Some weekends fill quickly, so residents are encouraged to plan events early to ensure preferred dates. Find more information and the block event application form at www.oak-park.us/blockparties.

This week the Village helped coordinate the move of approximately 40-50 asylum-seeking migrants to the newly opened Oak Park Family Transitional Shelter located at the former St. Edmund Parish School at 200 S. Oak Park Ave. The move marks the end of the Village’s temporary shelter program at the West Cook YMCA and The Carleton Hotel. Dozens of other asylum seekers who stayed at the West Cook YMCA and The Carleton have been able to access housing through the effort of local volunteers and non-profits. For the latest information about the Village’s emergency response, visit www.oak-park.us/emergencyresponse23.  

Join the Village’s Public Health Nurse for a walk around the indoor track at the Park District of Oak Park's Community Recreation Center at 229 Madison St. from 10 a.m. to noon on Tues., March 5. Public Health Department staff will be on hand to walk and talk with you, as well as offer free blood pressure checks, diabetic risk assessments and answer public health-related questions. Visit www.oak-park.us/walkandtalk for more information about this free, indoor activity.

The Village working to replace lead water service lines with copper water service lines, and a free replacement program is being offered by the Village to individuals who may not be able to afford it through conventional means. The program is made possible by Community Development Block Grant funding. Residents can find more information and learn if they qualify at www.oak-park.us/leadreplacement.

The Police Department welcomed two new employees this week. Police Officer Sunigicela Vera was sworn in during a ceremony at Village Hall. Sunigicela has an associate degree in criminal justice. Kiyrah Yates also joined the department as the newest Community Service Officer. Kiyrah has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Her background includes safety, security, mental health and social work.

The Oak Park Housing Authority (OPHA) will accept pre-applications to add 150 new households to the waiting list for the Housing Choice Voucher Program that helps very-low-income households pay their monthly rent. Formerly known as Section 8, the voucher program is a locally administered federal initiative that helps pay the portion of a program participant’s rent that exceeds about 30% of their monthly income. The 150 new households added to the Oak Park list will be selected through a random lottery process from all pre-applications received between 8:30 a.m. on Mon., March 4 and 3 p.m. on Fri., March 15. Pre-applications will only be accepted electronically through an online portal at www.oakparkha.org. More information about the housing choice voucher list is available on the Village website – click here to view.

Two businesses in the Arts District celebrated grand openings this week with ribbon cuttings as Publican Quality Bread opened its new restaurant at 211 Harrison St. and Laura Maychruk Real Estate opened its new office at 911 S. Lombard Ave. Officials say these latest arrivals to Oak Park’s business community further illustrate the Village’s ongoing economic vibrancy. The Publican Quality Bread opening marks the first restaurant outside of Chicago for One Off Hospitality, the company that owns and operates Publican. Media Production Manager Joe Kreml produced a short video highlighting Publican’s arrival in Oak Park – click here to view. More information about Publican, including its Oak Park menu, is available at www.publicanqualitybread.com. Information about Laura Maychruk Real Estate can be found at www.maychrukrealestate.com.

Join the Oak Park Arts District for its annual WOW! Women Owned Works event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sat., March 16. The event offers an opportunity for the community to celebrate and support the unique, women-owned businesses along Harrison Street. More information is available on the Arts District’s Facebook event page – click here to view.

Water main replacement to begin on Madison Street – Crews have been busy installing traffic control devices, setting up erosion control, accepting material deliveries and saw cutting the existing pavement in preparation for the start of water main installation on March 4. Work will begin at the intersection of Madison Street and Oak Park Avenue and continue east toward East Avenue. The contractor will maintain two-way traffic along Madison during construction. Minor traffic delays may occur at times and portions of the road may be closed to allow work to safely occur.

Forest & Ontario update – The majority of the lighting elements in the area of the Forest Avenue and Ontario Street intersection were installed this week. Old light poles will be removed once the new circuit is lit. Construction in the area will pause after completion of the electric work and then resume in the spring when asphalt plants reopen.

Focus Development update – All perimeter site fencing and right-of-way work is complete at the Focus Development located at the corner of Pleasant Street and Marion Street. Final inspections are ongoing for the site. Exterior metal panels are being installed on the south elevation of the property.