The Police Department marked the one-year anniversary of the tragic death of Det. Allan Reddins during a memorial service Saturday. Det. Reddins was killed on Nov. 29, 2024 while responding to a call on Lake Street. Despite snowy conditions, a somber crowd filled the Village Hall courtyard for the ceremony, which included speeches from members of the Police Department and elected officials. It was also announced during the ceremony that a new sign has been installed on the ramp near the main entrance at Village Hall where police vehicles are parked, designating it Reddins Way. For more pictures from 2025 memorials honoring Det. Reddins, visit www.oak-park.us/reddins.

The Village has named Kevin Bueso, MBA, a seasoned public-sector finance leader with more than 15 years of experience, as its next Chief Financial Officer. Bueso will oversee the Village’s financial operations, long-term fiscal planning, budgeting and financial policy development. He will officially begin his duties on Jan. 12, 2026. Bueso arrives in Oak Park after most recently serving as Chief Financial Officer and Senior Deputy Executive Director of Finance, Innovation and Technology for the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA). Prior to his tenure at the RTA, Bueso served in a similar capacity as Chief Financial Officer for McHenry County, where he oversaw all financial operations for a countywide organization with an annual budget exceeding $250 million. Bueso will succeed Interim Chief Financial Officer Donna Gayden, who has been with the Village since September 2023. She will aid in the transition and assist with other ongoing projects throughout the coming months. Click here to read more about Kevin’s background.

Development Services Director Craig Failor participated in a presentation and conversation Thursday with the Housing & Community Development Committee of the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus regarding Addressing Housing Needs of the Growing Senior Community. The Committee is chaired by Village of Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson. The meeting was attended by more than 30 municipal and residential developer participants. Craig was joined by Charlie Hoch, Organizer of the Oak Park Commons Development on Madison Street in Oak Park. Craig discussed the entitlement process for the Oak Park Commons Co-Housing Development located at 839 Madison St. – the first multi-generational co-housing development within Illinois. This 24 residential dwelling unit development was approved by the Village Board in November 2022. The building was constructed as an all-electric structure using the National Green Building sustainability rating system. It offers parking and a small commercial space on the first floor. Charlie spoke about the challenges and benefits of the co-housing project. There are 16 of 24 units sold at this time. The building should receive final approval from the Village soon.

The Oak Park Fire Department and Police Department were excited to provide a special sendoff for the Fenwick football team Tuesday morning as it departed for the Class 6A state championship game in Normal. Emergency vehicles helped lead the way as the team bus traveled along Madison Street to Harlem Avenue. The Friars went on to defeat highly touted East St. Louis 38-28 to claim their second state championship in four years. The team is expected to be recognized at the Dec. 9 Village Board meeting.

The Office of Economic Vitality attended the Oak Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce Annual Membership Meeting on Dec. 3 at the Lake Theatre along with more than 200 civic and business leaders. Nicole Nodi, the newest member of the Economic Vitality team, was introduced to members of the Chamber during the event, which featured a Star Wars themed video/movie with several members of the Chamber Board and staff playing starring roles. The Chamber also disseminated its Annual Impact Report for August 2024 to July 2025 – click here to view.

Village staff from the Development Services Department and Office of Economic Vitality joined the OPRF Chamber of Commerce in celebrating Color Me Mine’s grand opening Nov. 21. Located in the heart of the Hemingway District at 124 N Oak Park Ave., Color Me Mine is a paint-your-own pottery studio that welcomes walk-ins every day. Anyone looking for a fun hands-on activity or a great place to make a one-of-a-kind gift is encouraged to stop by Color Me Mine to support this new local business.

The Police Department welcomed a trio of newcomers this week. Mitchell Rawson and Jessica Herrera (pictured above) were both sworn in as Police Officers during a ceremony Monday at Village Hall. Both officers will now begin their training at the police academy. Loreal Barnes also arrived as a new Community Service Officer. Loreal has a background working in security, cosmetology, audio engineering and pageantry.

Village Engineer Bill McKenna accepted the Excellence in Green Infrastructure Partnership Program Maintenance Award from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) at the 13th annual Sustainability Summit hosted by MWRD last month. The award recognizes the Village for its ongoing care of the Oak Park Public Works Center’s Demonstration Rain Garden filled with native landscaping accompanied by a walking path and educational signage. The annual Sustainability Summit highlights collaboration and stormwater innovation throughout the region. Click here to read more.

Oak Park residents can recycle holiday lights by dropping them off in a bin located in the lobby of the Public Works Center, 201 South Blvd. The bin will be available during regular business hours Monday through Friday through the end of January. Residents served by the Village’s waste-hauling contract can also schedule an e-waste pickup at www.lrsrecycles.com/oakpark. For more information, contact the Public Works Department at publicworks@oak-park.us or 708.358.5700.

Public Works crews stayed busy last weekend cleaning up from a winter storm that dumped around 8 inches of snow in Oak Park on Saturday. There were 10 trucks and the trackless out plowing and salting roads, bridges and garages throughout the day Saturday and much of Sunday as part of the Village’s snow removal plan. Crews were pressed into duty again Monday night when an additional inch of snow fell across the area. During the snow storm the Village issued reminders about Oak Park’s snow emergency parking rules and the requirement that residents remove snow and ice from the public sidewalk following any snow, sleet or freezing rain.

The Village’s Fall Leaf Collection Program has been extended one extra week, with the final round of pickups now set for the week of Dec. 8-12 in each quadrant of the community. Residents can place paper yard waste bags filled with leaves in the parkway for pickup. Participants in the Village’s compost program can also continue to dispose of leaves and other yard and food waste in their gray organics cart throughout the winter. Additionally, residents are encouraged to consider leaving them on the lawn or in garden beds to promote soil health. More information about leaf collection is at www.oak-park.us/leafcollection.

The Village and its Renew the Avenue team are ramping up communication about the upcoming construction project that will replace 100+ year-old infrastructure with new, state-of-the-art water and sewer underground infrastructure in and adjacent to Oak Park Avenue’s Hemingway District. Following these repairs and upgrades, new streetscaping will bring renewed life and energy to the district. Construction is expected to begin early in 2026. Find more information about the project and sign up for progress updates at www.renewtheavenue.com.

Street resurfacing – The Village’s street resurfacing contractor is preparing for a winter shutdown. Signs will be moved, and delineators will be installed before the end of the year. Temporary stop bars and select temporary crosswalks will also be painted. Traffic signal detector loops are slated to be installed at South Boulevard/Ridgeland Avenue and East Avenue/Washington Boulevard.

Bridge repairs – The asphalt repairs have been postponed due to weather. The final date for the repairs is not yet determined.

Downtown Oak Park’s annual Winterfest and Cookie Walk is taking place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday, Dec. 6 in the area surrounding Lake & Marion streets. Participants will be able to enjoy tasty treats while watching performances and perusing local stores. Cookie tins have already sold out, underscoring the event’s enduring popularity. Click here to watch a promotional video for the event produced last month by Media Production Manager Joe Kreml. Find more information about the event on the Downtown Oak Park website.

There was a good turnout for the Roosevelt Road Corridor Plan team’s community open house Nov. 19 at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn. For those who were unable to attend, a virtual open house featuring the same questions presented to attendees at the in-person event is available – click here to take the survey. Share your input to help guide the future vision for the Roosevelt Road Corridor through Dec. 15. For more information about the initiative, visit www.RooseveltRoadCorridorPlan.com.

Pace Bus is seeking input as it finalizes an I-290/I-88 Express Bus Study to explore potential transit opportunities within a five-mile radius of the Interstate-290 Eisenhower Expressway corridor. A public open house will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 9 at the Howard Mohr Community Center, 7460 Jackson Blvd. in Forest Park. Attendees can comment on proposed service plans, station locations and connections to Oak Park and other communities in the region. A separate activity table for children will be provided, and families are welcome and encouraged to attend. An online survey is also available for anyone who is unable to attend the open house.

Whether you’re a parent, caregiver or someone who supports youth, the December Thrive Talk will provide practical skills to strengthen understanding, building connection and communicating clearly with youth. This free event presented by Thrive Counseling Center will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at the Dole Branch of the Oak Park Public Library, 255 Augusta St. Participants will leave the session, led by Demian LaPointe, MAE, MEd., with language that empowers, strategies for diffusing tension and a new understanding of communication with youth. Free to the public, this session also offers CEUs for counselors or social workers for $20. Click here to learn more about the event or register for CEUs.