The 2024 season of the Oak Park Farmers' Market concludes this Saturday, Oct. 26 with stone soup served as a way of thanking customers for their patronage. Made from ingredients donated by Market vendors, the soup will be ladled up free of charge from about 9 a.m. until the pot is empty. In addition, Pilgrim Church will be selling chocolate donuts and apple cinnamon donuts. Customers are also invited to take a short online survey to offer feedback and ideas for improving the Market next year. More info about the Market is at www.oak-park.us/farmersmarket.

The Public Works and Development Services departments hosted another informational meeting this past week to update Hemingway District business and property owners on the upcoming Renew the Avenue streetscape project. Approximately 38 business and property owners attended the meeting held at the Public Works Center. Attendees heard from Village Engineer Bill McKenna and Development Services Director Emily Egan, who along with Village consultants, presented information and answered question about the construction project starting in early 2025 on Oak Park Avenue. Information about Renew the Avenue improvement project is available at www.renewtheavenue.com. The project’s dedicated website includes a business spotlight section that highlights businesses in the Hemingway District within the area slated for construction.

As part of the Village’s Economic Vitality strategic planning process, a community survey has been launched to gather feedback  about what people value about Oak Park, as well as potential areas for growth and improvement. The survey, a collaboration between Village staff and consultants from Camoin Associates, is now available at bit.ly/vopev24.

The Village hosted a community forum Thursday at the Oak Park Public Library on preventative homelessness, featuring insightful discussions from prominent speakers such as Emily Metz of the Inclusive Economy Lab, Jennifer Hill from the Alliance to End Homelessness and Romiesha Tucker from Housing Forward. The panelists highlighted key policies, programs and strategies aimed at preventing homelessness for both individuals and families. This forum, which is a part of the Village's ongoing educational series, provided a valuable platform for raising awareness, fostering education and promoting advocacy around homelessness prevention, helping to equip the community with the knowledge and tools to address this critical issue proactively. Find more information about the Village’s efforts to support unhoused residents visit at www.oak-park.us/unhoused.

Early voting began at Village Hall on Monday morning. Village Clerk Christina M. Waters reports that through Thursday, 3,004 ballots have been cast at the site with an additional 547 mail-in ballots deposited by Oak Park and Cook County voters. Early voting continues in Oak Park seven days a week through Mon., Nov. 4. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sun., Oct. 27 and Sun., Nov. 3. More information is available at www.oak-park.us/earlyvote24.

On Fridays during the month of October, members of the Village's Public Works staff in the Forestry Division have been sporting pink high-visibility safety shirts. Pictured in front of the Public Works Center are (left to right): Technician Brendan Farmer, Crew Chief Jason Sochacki, Technician Robert Langele and Superintendent Grant Jones. More information about Breast Cancer Awareness Month is available at www.oak-park.us/breastcancerawareness24.

The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) is hosting two training sessions at Village Hall to provide attendees with information about the Illinois Stretch Code, covering the requirements under the state-developed code that are aimed at improving building energy efficiency. There will be two sessions, with one on Nov. 13 covering residential code and the other on Nov. 20 covering commercial code. Both training sessions will run from 9 a.m. to noon in Council Chambers. Click the following links for more information and to register for the Nov. 13 residential code training and Nov. 20 commercial code training.

The Village’s Disability Access Commission is looking to hear from residents about the most pressing needs for individuals with disabilities in Oak Park. An online survey is available at www.engageoakpark.com/disability-access. Information from the survey will help the commission create a framework to support the community’s needs.

Oak Parkers are once again preparing for a spooky swarm of children in the streets this Halloween. Official hours for trick or treating in Oak Park are 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 31. Parents are urged to accompany their young children, especially after dark, and inspect all treats. Police also are asking drivers to be extra cautious and watch for costumed pedestrians, particularly at intersections and along busy neighborhood streets. More information about Halloween in Oak Park is posted on the Village website at www.oak-park.us/halloween.

The Village is collaborating with numerous community partners to co-host Oak Park’s 2024 Día de Muertos Event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sat., Nov. 2 in Scoville Park. The free community event will feature entertainment, food, activities for kids and more. Find more information about the event on the Village website at www.oak-park.us/diademuertos24.

With indoor gatherings increasing and respiratory illness season approaching, Oak Park public health officials are reminding residents that consistent handwashing, staying home when sick and annual immunizations can help keep the community as healthy as possible. In addition to local health care providers, the flu and COVID-19 vaccine are offered at numerous commercial pharmacies, grocery stores and other retail sites in the Oak Park area. Residents can email the Oak Park Public Health Department at health@oak-park.us or call 708.358.5480 with questions about respiratory illness prevention and vaccines.

Ann Dvoretsky joined the organization this week as the Executive Coordinator in the Neighborhood Services Department. Ann is currently working on her master's degree in psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She also has a master's degree in humanities, with a focus on art history from the University of Chicago. She earned her bachelor's degree is in fine art, with a focus on technology, from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Families with young children are invited to participate in a costume parade around Scoville Park at 10 a.m. this Saturday, Oct. 26 as part of the Fall Family Fun event in the Hemingway Business District. Following the parade, families are encouraged to head into the Oak Park Public Library to explore the many early childhood organizations and programs in the community during the Early Childhood Resource Fair coordinated by the Collaboration for Early Childhood. The resource fair takes place from 10 a.m. to noon and will feature fun crafts and the chance to take a photo with Tinkerbell. Businesses throughout the Hemingway District will also be giving out complimentary treats from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Additional family fun awaits in the Oak Park Arts District, which is hosting its Harvest on Harrison event from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. this Saturday. Activities will include an artist vendor fair, costume contest and trick-or-treating at businesses in the Arts District along Harrison Street from Austin Boulevard to Ridgeland Avenue.

The CTA’s Austin Green Line Station will be temporarily closed from 2:30 a.m. on Sat., Nov. 2 to 4:30 a.m. on Sun., Nov. 3 to accommodate CTA utility work at the station. A construction notice sent by the CTA advises that there will be noise while work is being performed, including metal on metal hammering and truck and construction equipment traffic. Upgrades at the Austin Station are included in the CTA’s All Stations Accessibility Program – click here for more information.

Pavement preservation project – The contractor completed all the pavement patching and began crack filling various streets throughout the Village. Micro surfacing is expected to begin next week and be complete before the end of October. Harrison Street from Ridgeland Avenue to Austin Boulevard is slated to be micro surfaced on Monday. Micro surfacing will require lane closures and parking restrictions for one working day. No Parking signs are posted in the affected areas. Following the micro surfacing work, pavement markings are expected to be placed the week of Nov. 11. Pavement marking installation will require parking loss and traffic flagging during work hours. The contractor will be asked to remove No Parking signs from Harrison Street as work is completed. The 2024 capital improvement map at www.oak-park.us/construction displays locations scheduled for pavement preservation work this year.

Madison Street improvements – The contractor removed the existing pavement on the north half of the intersection of Madison Street and Wesley Avenue to pour the new raised intersection. Traffic was shifted to the south side of the road while crews worked on the north half. Once the north half is complete, traffic will shift to the north and the south leg of the intersection will be closed to through traffic on Wesley between Madison and the alley. The electrical contractor will also install new light poles along Madison next week.

Water & sewer improvements – The first lift of asphalt for South Boulevard between Home Avenue and Kenilworth Avenue was placed on Wednesday. Crews then turned their attention to preparing the site for the final layer of asphalt, which is expected to occur on Wed., Oct. 30. The North Boulevard intersection at Forest Avenue will also be paved early next week. Traffic delays are anticipated during paving operations. The estimated completion for the project is early November.

Austin Boulevard sewer improvements – The remaining roadway patching along Austin Boulevard between Garfield Street and Roosevelt Road is delayed to next week. No Parking signs will be posted in the affected areas. Minor traffic delays are anticipated while work is in progress.

Street resurfacing project – All locations included in this year’s street resurfacing project have received the final lift of asphalt. Pavement striping is getting underway this week and parkway restoration will begin 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.

Lot 10 construction – The contractor is returning this week to install street signs throughout the project limits. The remaining electrical work in the parking lot is expected to begin sometime in November.