A reimagined Welcome Center in the lobby at Village Hall is offering a more inclusive and inviting space for visitors to Oak Park’s municipal government headquarters. Gone are the partitions erected as a safety measure amid the COVID-19 emergency. In their place is a more free-flowing layout complete with a centrally located help desk where visitors can access a wide range of local government services and information. While public access beyond the expanded lobby remains limited, the changes help restore Village Hall’s open interior plan intended to reflect the transparency and accessibility of Oak Park’s municipal government. The reimagined Welcome Center is an extension of the Neighborhood Partnerships Division’s efforts to support community and civic engagement through a neighborhood-focused lens. For more information, visit www.oak-park.us/neighborconnect. For more information about Village Hall, visit www.oak-park.us/villagehall.

The Neighborhood Services Department and Police Department were honored to recently receive a holiday gift from community partner Way Back Inn, a non-profit organization that works to rebuild lives impacted by addiction. This gesture reflects the Village and Way Back Inn’s strong partnership and shared commitment to supporting Oak Park residents. Village staff appreciates Way Back Inn’s ongoing collaboration and looks forward to continuing joint efforts to provide community-centered services throughout the year.

The Public Health Department’s ads encouraging community members to get vaccinated this season are on display at local Pace Bus shelters and on the CTA Green Line platform at the Oak Park Avenue station. The ads are part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ “Risk Less. Do More” campaign. The co-branded ads are funded through a grant from the Illinois Department of Public Health. Oak Park health officials remind the community that there is still time to get both the flu and COVID-19 vaccine to help limit the spread of respiratory viruses this season. More information is on the Village website at www.oak-park.us/25respiratoryillness.

The Village is celebrating a milestone in its commitment to sustainability and climate action. Through hard work and participation in ComEd’s Strategic Energy Management (SEM) Program, Village Hall, the Public Works Center and local schools – including Oak Park Elementary School District 97 and Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 – have achieved significant energy savings, reducing both environmental impact and operational costs. The Public Works Department’s Building Maintenance Division and the Office of Sustainability & Resilience played leading roles in helping implement energy efficiency initiatives at Village Hall and the Public Works Center. These efforts are part of the Village’s broader commitment to reduce municipal energy use by 30% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. By implementing strategic energy-saving practices and engaging employees in energy efficiency initiatives, these locations have successfully reduced their energy consumption, resulting in combined cost savings of more than $400,000. More information is at www.oak-park.us/SEM.

The Fire Department is reminding the community that while winter holidays are a time for friends and families to gather, some of the traditions of the season can mean a greater risk of fire. The Fire Department's Keep the Wreath Green safety campaign is underway until Jan. 1. For every holiday-related fire in Oak Park, Fire officials will change a bulb in the wreath from green to red. To help promote the message of keeping the wreath green, and other fire safety tips this holiday season, Fire Deputy Chief Kevin Fadden was featured in a festive new musical PSA created (and sung) by Media Production Manager Joe Kreml – click here to view. Check out the Fire Department’s fire safety tips to help keep you and your family safe this holiday season at www.oak-park.us/wreath25.

With dangerously cold temperatures forecast Saturday night through Sunday, the Village is reminding residents to limit time outdoors for themselves and their pets, as well as to check in on friends and neighbors who may need assistance. Housing Forward’s Anderson Emergency Shelter will be operating expanded hours starting at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. The facility will stay open all day on Sunday, Dec. 14 and Monday, Dec. 15, and until 8 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16. The overnight shelter is located at 112 S. Humphrey Ave. For more information about warming centers and tips for staying safe in the cold, visit www.oak-park.us/coldweathersafety.

The Development Services Department welcomed new Account Clerk Khairi Holloway this week. Khairi’s prior experience includes operational, data and financial analysis. He has a bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in finance from Florida A&M University.

The holidays can be a difficult time of year for many. With this in mind, the Village is highlighting resources available for anyone feeling overwhelmed, stressed or just not themselves. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached by simply calling or texting 988, anywhere in the United States. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. Visit www.988Lifeline.org to connect with compassionate care and support for mental health-related distress. Residents seeking follow-up care or help navigating local resources can contact the Village’s E.C.H.O. team at echo@oak-park.us at 708.358.5640. More information about E.C.H.O. is at www.oak-park.us/echo.

The Village Board celebrated the Fenwick football team’s Class 6A state championship by reading a proclamation honoring the Friars at this week’s Village Board meeting. Fenwick defeated highly touted East St. Louis 38-28 earlier this month to claim its second state championship in five seasons.

The Art & Wine Walk is happening this Saturday, Dec. 13 on Harrison Street in the Oak Park Arts District. Guests follow a tour of the Arts District stopping at 18 locations for wine tasting and small bites. A limited number of tickets are still available – click here for more information. And click here to watch a promotional video for the event produced recently by Media Production Manager Joe Kreml.

Street resurfacing – All winter shutdown activities will be completed once the snow and salt clear away enough to complete work. Sign posts will be moved and delineators installed. Detector loops will also be installed on South Boulevard at Ridgeland Avenue and on East Avenue at Washington Boulevard. Additionally, temporary stop bars and select temporary crosswalks will be painted.

Bridge repairs – The final asphalt repairs for the Lombard Avenue and Oak Park Avenue bridges are scheduled for next week, finishing out the project.