The Village Clerk’s Office welcomed Qiana Carswell, who was sworn in as the new Deputy Village Clerk during a ceremony Monday at Village Hall. Qiana brings a rare combination of deep technical expertise, strong process leadership and genuine community roots here in Oak Park. She’s spent more than two decades building systems that demand precision, transparency and accountability—from FDA-regulated quality assurance work to project management and compliance leadership in both public-facing and highly regulated environments. She also possesses a collaborative spirit that aligns perfectly with the Village’s commitment to service, access and trust.

The Village is partnering with Riveredge Hospital to host the Seasons of Hope winter clothing drive to support unhoused individuals and community members in need. Donations of new or gently used coats, jackets, hats, scarves, gloves, socks and other winter essentials can be dropped off during business hours Monday through Friday in the lobby at Village Hall, 123 Madison St. The winter clothing drive is ongoing through Jan. 31 and includes two additional drop-off locations at Riveredge Hospital, 8311 Roosevelt Rd. in Forest Park and the Proviso Township Mental Health Commission, 4565 Harrison St. in Hillside.

The Village was featured in a three-page editorial in the December issue of Northern Illinois Real Estate magazine. The Office of Economic Vitality composed the article, which promotes Oak Park as an outstanding location for business investment, highlighted by its location, history and quality of life. Northern Illinois Real Estate reaches the mailboxes and digital inboxes of more than 12,000 Chicagoland real estate professionals each month, including commercial developers, contractors, brokers and lending institutions. Click here to read the article, which appears on pages 87-89.

Oak Park residents have a new tool they can use to track water usage at villageofoakpark.my360-app.com. The Village’s new Water Utility Customer Portal gives customers the power to create usage alerts, set water budgets and access their consumption data anytime. The portal offers a proactive way to keep track of water use around the clock. Instead of waiting for a quarterly bill to spot potential issues, customers can identify problems early, helping prevent water loss and avoid unexpectedly high charges. Clear, easy-to-understand charts and graphs make it simple to spot leaks or unusual usage quickly. This web-based customer portal platform works on any desktop or mobile device, providing convenient access for customers. Residents will need the account number included on their quarterly water bill to access the portal. For more information about water & sewer service, visit www.oak-park.us/water, call 708.358.5700 or email publicworks@oak-park.us.

As a courtesy to residents and their guests, starting tonight overnight parking restrictions will not be enforced on most Oak Park residential streets from 2:30 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 20 through the New Year’s holiday. Restrictions will resume at 2:30 a.m., Monday, Jan. 5. Please keep in mind restrictions are not lifted in paid overnight permit areas, including posted on-street zones. All other parking regulations also remain in effect, including daytime restrictions and regulations related to traffic and public safety. More information is at www.oak-park.us/holidayparking.

Village Hall will close at noon on Wednesday, Dec. 24 and remain closed all day Thursday, Dec. 25 in observance of the Christmas holiday. Village Hall also will be closed all day on Thursday, Jan. 1. More information about Village Hall hours is posted on the Village website. When incidents that don't quite rise to the level of a 911 emergency call occur when Village Hall is closed, residents can call the Police Department non-emergency number 708.386.3800 for assistance. Always call 911 in an emergency. The next Village Manager’s Report will be issued Jan. 2.

The Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays will delay refuse and recycling collection by one day the next two weeks for Thursday and Friday service collection days. Residents whose refuse is typically collected on Thursday will receive service on Friday, and Friday service will be delayed to Saturday. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will have regular service. For more information about residential refuse and recycling collection, visit the LRS customer portal or contact publicworks@oak-park.us.

Catch the holiday spirit from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday, Dec. 20 during Downtown Oak Park’s Home for the Holidays event featuring free horse-drawn carriage rides, a visit from Santa and hot cocoa at coffee shops throughout the district. As a reminder, parking is free in the three Village-owned garages and for two hours in pay-by-plate parking spaces downtown this Saturday, Dec. 20. Parking is always free on Sundays throughout the year. Visit www.pickoakpark.com for more information about Oak Park’s vibrant business community.