The Village Manager’s Office and Office of Communications and Engagement recently completed a project that involved updating the Village logo and branding. Inspired by the original people tree logo from 1973, an updated logo has been created using familiar elements. The plan is to roll out the new look with the launch of the redesigned Village website that is on target to happen this year. In the meantime, you may see the new logo and branding incorporated in select places such as the updated header for the Village Manager’s Weekly Report above. More information about the updated logo and branding guidelines will be shared closer to the formal rollout. In the meantime, any questions can be directed to Chief Communications Officer Dan Yopchick at dyopchick@oak-park.us.

The Village recently established a Housing Trust Fund for the sole purpose of providing and preserving affordable housing opportunities in Oak Park. Visit www.oak-park.us/HTF for more information and a link to the online application form. Village staff is available to discuss potential project ideas with applicants and answer questions about applying for these funds. Questions can also be directed to the Neighborhood Services Department at housing@oak-park.us.

The Fire Department celebrated the promotion of Randall Antos to the rank of Lieutenant during a ceremony held Monday at the Fire Department. Randall has served the community as a Firefighter/Paramedic since 2004. The Police Department also held a swearing-in ceremony Monday as it welcomed new Police Officer Jason Aguirre. Jason graduated from Western Illinois with a degree in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration. The Public Works Department this week welcomed Robert Langele as the Forestry Division’s newest Forestry Technician. Robert earned a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife, Ecology and Management from Arkansas State.

The Village participated in City Hall Selfie Day on Thursday by sharing selfies taken by Village employees via its social media channels. The annual celebration of public services showcases pride in local government institutions and is organized by Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL).

As part of a pilot program this month, Village Hall will close at noon on Fridays for the remainder of August. Beginning today (Aug. 16) and including Aug. 23 and Aug. 30, Village Hall will be open only from 9 a.m. until noon. Anyone needing to conduct in-person business on those dates is encouraged to do so in the morning. Residents are also reminded that many routine municipal services that do not require a visit to Village Hall are available online via links at www.oak-park.us/onlineservices, including construction permits, business licenses and parking permits. The initiative is intended to provide Village employees with more flexibility during the final weeks of summer. Services provided by sworn public safety staff in the Village’s Fire and Police Departments will not be impacted by this change.

Have you been itchy lately with mysterious bites that don't look or feel like mosquito bites? The cause could be itch mites: microscopic insect-like creatures that cannot be seen by the naked eye. The Public Health Department is sharing information on its Facebook page about the phenomenon of itch mites, which live on tree leaves and may feed on the eggs of 17-year cicadas, which emerged in Illinois this summer. Itch mite bites resemble chigger bites and can be treated by over-the-counter topical anti-itch creams and oral anti-histamines. Click here for more information about itch mites from the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The Police Department is working with the Human Resources Department and Office of Communications and Engagement to recruit qualified candidates for the position of Police Officer. Applications are being accepted for both entry-level and lateral-hire officer positions. A dedicated landing page with information about benefits and how to apply is posted at www.oak-park.us/policejobs. Information about the openings is being shared through various law enforcement job recruitment sites and via the Village’s communications channels.

The Village is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Firefighter/Paramedic. The Fire Department will be hosting an optional Department Open House for potential candidates from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 27 at the main fire station, 100 N. Euclid Ave. Anyone interested in applying can get a feel for Oak Park’s Fire Department during the event and ask any questions. More information, including application requirements and how to apply, is available at www.oak-park.us/jobs.

The Village is reminding residents that items that do not fit in their green trash carts require the use of pink refuse stickers for the items to be hauled away by LRS, the Village’s waste contractor. This includes bulk items such as furniture or household appliances. Stickers can be purchased for $3.25 each at Village Hall as well as grocery and hardware stores throughout the community. One pink refuse sticker must be attached to each extra bag, and two stickers must be attached to each household item. Find more information and a list of locations where pink stickers are sold at www.oak-park.us/refuse. Should residents observe any instances of illegal dumping, they are encouraged to notify the Village's code compliance team at 708.358.5410 or propertyissues@oak-park.us.

This week the Village mailed a postcard with information about upcoming changes to the annual Fall Leaf Collection Program to households served by the Village’s waste hauler Lakeshore Recycling Systems. The postcard included a QR code that links back to www.oak-park.us/leafcollection, which houses the latest information related to leaf collection. A flyer with information for landscapers in both English and Spanish was recently added to the page. Village staff plans to use the flyer to proactively inform landscapers of their leaf disposal options now that leaves should no longer be raked into the street.

The largest zero-waste craft beer fest in the Midwest is happening right here in Oak Park this weekend. Tickets are available for the Oak Park Micro Brew Review this Saturday, Aug. 17 in Downtown Oak Park. Proceeds from the event support Seven Generations Ahead. More information is at www.sevengenerationsahead.org/opmbr. And click here for the latest in a series of promotional videos created by Media Production Manager Joe Kreml to help promote the event.

The Oak Park Sculpture Walk is in full swing with 12 sculptures on display as part of an outdoor exhibit in the Downtown Oak Park business district in the vicinity of Lake Street and Marion Street. This year’s Sculpture Walk will be on display until spring 2025 and features the work of artists from throughout the Midwest. The sculptures were chosen through a juried competition and vary in materials. Download the free Otocast app to access information about the sculptures and hear descriptions of the work by the artists. The Sculpture Walk is organized by the Oak Park Area Arts Council.

Chamber of Commerce representatives and Village Economic Vitality Administrator Cameron Davis joined in a ribbon cutting this week for Oak Park’s new Three Spoons Ice Cream shop at 133 N. Ridgeland Ave., just north of Lake Street. Pictured here with the scissors cutting the ribbon is business owner Jim Cahill, his wife Nicole and their three children. The Village appreciates the Cahill’s investment in the Oak Park business community. For a full list of new Oak Park businesses, visit www.pickoakpark.com/newbusiness.

The Collaboration for Early Childhood, a non-profit organization that serves children ages zero to five and their caregivers, is hosting an Open House from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Thurs., Sept. 5 at 171 S. Oak Park Ave. The public is invited to stop by and join in the festivities. Anyone planning to attend is invited to register at www.collab4kids.org/open-house.  

The Downtown Oak Park Business Alliance is gearing-up for this year’s Octoberfest event Sept. 13 and 14. Music headliners Bette Smith (Friday) and Cracker (Saturday) will join a total of eight bands playing over the two-day event. Oaktoberfest features delicious food, with new Oak Park restaurants like Café Cubano joining the available choices. Visit www.oaktoberfest.net for more information.

Lot 10 construction – Landscape restoration for Lot 10 will be complete this week. North Boulevard and Forest Avenue adjacent to the site were resurfaced earlier this week. Pavement striping for North Boulevard and Forest Avenue will occur soon. No parking signs are posted in the area and businesses have been notified.

Street resurfacing update – Tree fencing and root pruning will be complete by early next week at locations scheduled for street resurfacing this year. Curb and sidewalk removal is getting underway at the Clarence Avenue and Kenilworth Avenue locations, weather permitting. Residents who will be impacted by the roadwork have received parking passes.

Water & sewer improvements – Underground work is expected to wrap up on Linden Avenue early next week. The crew is working to make the final lateral connections on Linden near Augusta Street. Sewer improvements are in progress on South Boulevard. The contractor is also chlorinating the new water main this week. Water service transfers to the new main are scheduled for late next week. The estimated completion date for this project is October.

Madison Street improvements – The contractor is in the process of pouring the new light pole foundations along the south side of Madison Street. Street lighting and traffic signal work on the south side will continue through to next week.