The Neighborhood Services Department introduced its Make REAL Change, Not Spare Change initiative during a meeting with businesses in the Pleasant District on Wednesday. By shifting the narrative around panhandling, the campaign intends to encourage meaningful and impactful ways to support those in need. This initiative is designed to support local businesses, educate the public, promote long-term solutions to homelessness, enhance public safety and coordinate community resources. Through sustainable solutions and community collaboration, the Village aims to:

• Educate the community about homelessness vs. panhandlers and available resources.
• Engage local businesses and residents in supporting strategic solutions.
• Empower individuals experiencing homelessness with access to coordinated care and services.

The Village is coordinating meetings with all business districts throughout 2025 to provide insights into the campaign. A presentation is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Feb. 26 at Village Hall for anyone interested in attending to learn more about the initiative. More information is also available at www.oak-park.us/realchange or by contacting Vanessa Matheny, Community Services Administrator, at 708.358.5416 or vmatheny@oak-park.us.

The Information Technology Department led the launch of the Village’s new online platform for submitting Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for public records this week. The new FOIA Request Portal powered by JustFOIA is intended to provide users with a streamlined and user-friendly experience while enhancing efficiency and accountability. The Village has comprehensive procedures and instructions for obtaining public records under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act. Find more information about FOIA requests at www.oak-park.us/foia.

The Public Health Department offers free in-person trainings on opioid overdose prevention and the use of Narcan nasal spray. The next training opportunity is scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. Click here to sign up to participate in the training. The 90-minute training is ideal for people who want to be ready to respond if they encounter a person experiencing a potential opioid overdose. The training covers harm reduction principles, signs and symptoms of opioid overdose, how Narcan works in the body, hands-on practice with Narcan nasal spray and time for questions and answers. Participants will also receive a free opioid overdose prevention kit to take home.

Oak Parkers out and about town this month may have noticed one of the 16 bus shelter ads installed by the Public Health Department encouraging vaccination for respiratory illness. Health officials say it’s not too late to get your flu, COVID or RSV vaccinations, which protect both you and your loved ones from contracting and spreading these winter-time respiratory viruses. Call your health care provider or local pharmacies like Walgreens, CVS or Jewel-Osco to find vaccines. Community members having difficulties finding or paying for vaccines are encouraged to reach out to the Public Health Department at health@oak-park.us or 708.358.5480 for guidance.

January is National Blood Donor month, and the Public Health Department partnered up with the Oak Park Township to provide community members the opportunity to donate blood and save lives. At the Jan. 28 blood drive held at the Township offices, all available appointment slots were filled. Fourteen participants donated, supplying enough blood to potentially save 46 lives. Donated blood is used to support people in a wide variety of need, including car crash victims, people receiving chemotherapy and those with birth complications. Another blood drive is being planned for March, and when details are available, they will be posted on the Village website at www.oak-park.us/blooddrive.

JT Terry, Deputy Fire Chief of EMS Operations and Infectious Disease, has been accepted into the U.S. Fire Administration’s two-year Executive Officer Program.  The program provides an opportunity for chief officers to build relationships with other chiefs and gain insight into the leadership requirements of running a fire department.

The Village Manager’s Office welcomed Jack Malec to the team this week as he fills the position of Assistant to the Village Manager. Jack earned a Master of Public Administration degree from Northern Illinois and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Nebraska. He comes to the Village after spending the past three years working in Metra’s Strategic Planning Department. He also worked for the Village Manager’s Office at the Village of Plainfield while in graduate school. In other employee news, Ruth Schaeffer was promoted to the role of Payroll Accountant within the Finance Department. Ruth recently served as an Account Clerk in the Finance Department and has more than 28 years of service with the Village.

The Village is seeking volunteers to assist with community events being planned throughout the year to celebrate Oak Park’s diversity. Volunteers who are able to dedicate time to helping plan the celebrations are encouraged to sign up to serve on a planning committee. Volunteers are also needed to assist with logistics on the day of events. Find an online volunteer sign-up form and more information about the series of community events on the Village website at www.oak-park.us/communityevents. Additional information is also available by contacting the Village’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at DEI@oak-park.us.

Development Services staff joined Chamber of Commerce representatives in congratulating owners Jaime and Kurt Ericson on the opening of Dandelion Book Shop, located at 139 Oak Park Ave. in the heart of the Hemingway Business District. In addition to an inviting space at the shop location, the business also has a vibrant website presence at www.dandelionbookshop.com. The Village thanks the Ericson family for its ongoing investment in the Oak Park business community.

In recognition of Black History Month, the Oak Park Area Arts Council is proud to present the work of local artist Tia Etu in the gallery at Village Hall. Tia was the first artist to have a studio and gallery space in the Oak Park Arts District back in the mid-1990s. Her show will remain on display through the end of March, and additional gallery installations are being planned for later in the year.

Several Village elected officials participated in Oak Park and River Forest High School’s Civic Learning Fair on Thursday. In addition to hosting an information booth, the group also participated in a panel discussion during the event, which is intended to support students in OPRF’s civics program who are looking to obtain volunteer hours within the community.

With the 2025 Consolidated Election coming up on April 1, the Oak Park Library and League of Women Voters of Oak Park & River Forest are hosting a series of virtual candidate forums to help voters familiarize themselves with the individuals running on the ballot for this local election. Find complete details and register to attend the forums at www.oppl.org/voting.

Visit Oak Park is sharing information with the local business community about an upcoming webinar hosted by the Illinois Restaurant Association and the American Business Immigration Coalition packed with information on navigating intensified immigration enforcement. The Business Owners – Know Your Rights webinar is scheduled for 10 to 11 a.m. on Feb. 26. Business owners are in invited to RSVP online.

ComEd will soon begin a project to improve system capacity for a proposed United States Postal Service facility in Forest Park. The project will entail trenching new conduit for approximately one mile through Oak Park along Euclid Avenue from South Boulevard to Randolph Street, along Randolph from Euclid to East Avenue, along East from Randolph to Washington Boulevard, along Euclid Ave from Madison Street to Jackson Boulevard and along East from Jackson to Harrison Street. The proposed conduit is primarily located beneath the roadway and only small areas of parkway disturbance are anticipated. The conduit installation is set to begin the week of Feb. 10. Traffic will be maintained during construction hours by flaggers, and the street will be reopened to traffic and parking at the end of each day. Residents with permit parking in the impacted areas will be contacted by the Village with further instruction. The impacted streets will be resurfaced after the conduit is installed. The entire project is scheduled to be complete by the end of June.