The Fire Department is hosting its open house from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Saturday, Oct. 12 at the main fire station located at 100 N. Euclid Ave. The event is held annually as part of Fire Prevention Week, allowing residents of all ages to get up close to equipment and talk to the firefighter/paramedics who keep the community safe. In addition to touching the cool equipment essential to the mission of a modern fire department, the event also will include tours of the fire house, presentations about safety and fun handouts. More information about the open house is available at www.oak-park.us/fireopenhouse2024.

To help supply local community blood centers, the Oak Park Fire Department is sponsoring a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday, Oct. 12 during its open house event at the main fire station, 100 N. Euclid Ave. Though walk-ins are welcome, appointments are recommended. More information is at www.oak-park.us/blooddrive.

The Fire Department recently purchased a new power ring cutter tool to replace an old manually-operated device. In less than two days of placing it in service, a resident walked into the station who needed to have her wedding ring removed after 30 years of wearing it. It took less than a minute to deploy and remove the ring safely from her finger. This new tool cuts with a fine blade, which allows a jeweler to repair the ring easily if desired. The Fire Department’s old cutter did not cut cleanly and took a lot longer to use.

During the first nine months of the year there were 571,502 daily parking sessions recorded at the Village’s Holley Court, The Avenue and Lake & Forest public parking garages. This represents a 5% decrease as compared to the first nine months of 2023 and continues a trend of lower public parking garage utilization attributed to work-from-home office adjustments and shopping habit changes that have lingered after the pandemic. When compared to the same time frame in 2019, the total number of parking sessions for the first nine months of the year is down 27%. The Holley Court Garage has experienced an 8% decrease in use compared to last year. Daily parking sessions are up 6% at the Lake & Forest garage. In terms of revenue generation, across all three garages, the Village’s 2023 parking adjustments have resulted in an increase in daily parking revenue of $127,095 in 2024 as compared to the first nine months of 2023. However, even with the rate adjustments, the Village’s 2024 parking revenue for the first nine months of the year remains 1% lower than pre-pandemic 2019 totals when daily utilization at the garages was at an all-time high.

More than 100 people were in attendance as the Aging in Communities Commission marked Ageism Awareness Day on Wednesday by hosting writer and anti-ageism activist Ashton Applewhite for a lively discussion at the Nineteenth Century Charitable Association. The Village’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion played a key role in helping to coordinate the free event, which featured entertainment and light refreshments. Author of "This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism," Applewhite was named one of the Healthy Aging 50 - a group of leaders "transforming the world to be a better place in which to grow older" - by the Decade of Healthy Aging, a collaboration between the United Nations and World Health Organization.

With autumn temperatures settling in, the Village is issuing a reminder that landlords must furnish heat to all Oak Park rental dwelling units from Sept. 15 through May 15. An average minimum temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit must be maintained from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., and 65 degrees Fahrenheit from 11 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Complaints may be made by contacting 708.358.5410 or propertyissues@oak-park.us. More information is posted at www.oak-park.us/housing.

The Public Health Department welcomed Chris Simpkins this week to the role of Licensed Environmental Health Practitioner. Chris has a bachelor’s degree in environmental health from Loyola University Chicago and expertise in the areas of vector disease surveillance, food safety, occupational health and private/public water system management. Meanwhile, Tavaris Coleman is the newest Water & Sewer Worker at the Public Works Department. Tavaris attained an associate's degree in applied science from Heartland Community College.

Chamber of Commerce representatives, business owners and Village Economic Vitality Administrator Cameron Davis joined in a ribbon cutting this week for Oak Park’s new Sweet Dim Sum restaurant at 1100 Lake St. The Village appreciates the Jim Chen Restaurant Group’s investment in the Oak Park business community. For a full list of new Oak Park businesses, visit www.pickoakpark.com/newbusiness.

The Oak Park Area Arts Council has issued a call for artists to submit work to be considered for the Pete’s Temporary Construction Mural Project. Selected art will be printed on to a mesh material that will adorn the chain link fence surrounding the ongoing construction of the new Pete’s Fresh Market at 644 Madison St. The stipend for the mural is $10,000. The deadline to submit artwork is Nov. 1. The winning design will be selected Nov. 11. Click here for information in the project guidelines and application packet.

Oak Park’s climate and sustainability leadership is being recognized on a global platform through the We Love Cities public engagement campaign that allows people across the world to express support for sustainable urban development by voting for their favorite finalist from WWFs One Planet City Challenge. Click here to vote for Oak Park, which is recognized for having a comprehensive climate action plan. Oak Park joins San Francisco and Bloomington, Ind., as the three communities in the U.S. among the global finalists in the One Planet City Challenge.

Oak Park residents and business owners whose properties sustained damage during severe weather events from July 13-16 could be eligible for federal funding to help in recovering from the storms. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is working with emergency management officials throughout Cook County to get the word out about options available for applying for assistance. Residents can apply online at www.disasterassistance.gov, in person at one of FEMA’s Disaster Recovery Centers, via the FEMA app or by calling 800.621.3362. More information, including links to flyers with info about loans for homeowners and businesses, is on the Village website at www.oak-park.us/disasterrecovery24.

The Oak Park River Forest Infant Welfare Society is promoting its Holliday Housewalk and Market taking place Dec. 6 and 7. Early-bird tickets are on sale now for $65, with prices going up starting Nov. 1. The event features tours of six homes in Oak Park and River Forest and an opportunity to shop the OPRF IWS holiday market for unique gifts. Learn more and purchase tickets at www.oprfiws.org/holiday-housewalk. All proceeds support the IWS Children’s Clinic providing medical, dental and behavioral health care for all infants, children and young adults, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.

Madison Street improvements – The contractor worked on patching the remaining utility trenches and placing the first lift of asphalt on Madison Street from Oak Park Avenue to East Avenue. Brick paver installation along Madison Street is in progress. The contractor anticipates starting the work for the elevated intersection at Wesley Avenue next week.

Water & sewer improvements – The contractor spent the week working on restoring the pavement under the Forest Avenue viaduct. All remaining sidewalk, curb, pavement and driveway aprons on South Boulevard between Home Avenue and Kenilworth Avenue were poured back this week. The next steps involve the contractor grinding the roadway surface. The first lift of asphalt for North Boulevard and South Boulevard is expected to be placed the week of Oct. 21.

Lot 10 construction – The contractor temporarily closed the western half of the intersection of Marion Street and North Boulevard to repair the crosswalks earlier this week. Once the working area was blocked off with barricades, the intersection was reopened to traffic. The contractor also replaced the damaged bluestone pavers in the sidewalk island at the northeast corner of the intersection.

Street resurfacing project – The contractor began replacing topsoil in parkways affected by this year’s street resurfacing project. The final lift of asphalt will be placed next week starting at the Garfield Street location. All streets are expected to have the final layer of asphalt by the end of next week. Visit www.oak-park.us/construction to view a map of 2024 capital improvement projects, which shows locations scheduled for street resurfacing this year.

Austin Boulevard sewer improvements – The contractor is scheduled to return next week to patch the roadway in various areas along Austin Boulevard. No Parking signs will be posted in the affected areas. Minor traffic delays are anticipated while work is in progress.