Paying for parking in any of more than 4,000 public spaces throughout the Village will get a lot more convenient come Oct. 7, as Oak Park launches a new program that accepts payment via a smartphone app or toll-free telephone call.
The new service is provided by PassportParking, an industry leader...
Anyone interested in learning more about finding affordable health insurance is invited to attend a presentation on how to navigate the requirements of the federal Affordable Care Act, which becomes effective Jan. 1. A presentation is scheduled for 7 p.m., Wed., Oct. 23 in Council Chamber of...
Residents selected to take a community survey who have not yet returned the document are urged to do so as soon as possible.
Surveys were mailed in early September to addresses chosen randomly. About 1,200 responses are needed for a 95 percent confidence level. Respondents remain anonymous.
While...
Change smoke detector batteries when changing clocks as daylight saving time reverts to standard time at 2 a.m., Sun., Nov. 3.
Speak out against distracted driving
Have you ever been stopped at a traffic signal that turns green, but the car in front of you doesn’t proceed until you blow your horn? Ever had a driver make a turn without signaling? Ever seen a vehicle do less than the speed limit, while swerving ever so...
Here’s what is coming up in October at the Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield St.:
Columbus Day Hours – The Oak Park Conservatory will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., on Columbus Day, Mon. Oct. 14. The Exploration Station will be open until noon allowing youngsters to touch and smell various...
Condominium owners and board members interested in learning how to secure financing and owner support for large projects are invited to a free presentation scheduled for 7 p.m., Tues., Oct. 8, in Village Hall, 123 Madison St.
A local condominium association will walk through the process they used...
Owners and managers of multi-family apartment buildings with four or more units in Oak Park are required to attend an annual seminar to learn about a wide range of programs, services and legal requirements.
Representatives are on hand from various Village and community organizations, including the...
The annual fall leaf collection program is scheduled for Oct. 21 – Dec. 5 with seven pickups planned for each section of the Village.
Residents should rake leaves into the street at least 18 inches from the curb the day before the scheduled pickup dates indicated on the map. Leaves raked into the...
The Centers for Disease Control recommends inoculation for influenza as soon as vaccine becomes available since flu seasons are unpredictable and can begin as early as October.
Everyone should get a flu vaccine beginning by age 6 months, officials say, especially individuals who have medical...
Individuals interested in learning more about buying a first home and securing a mortgage are invited to attend free seminars offered at 7 p.m., on the fourth Tuesday of every month in Village Hall, 123 Madison St. The next meeting is Oct. 22.
Among the topics covered will be identifying financial...
Oak Parkers who could use help with the down payment to buy a home may want to investigate a program offered by the West Cook County Housing Collaborative, a joint effort of Bellwood, Berwyn, Forest Park, Maywood and Oak Park to expand housing opportunities and strengthen neighborhoods in west...
Sat., Oct. 26 will be the last opportunity this year for residents to safely dispose of unwanted electronic items now banned from landfills. Items will be accepted from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Public Works Center, 201 South Blvd.
Just about any kind of electronic item will be accepted, including...
Residents interested in giving back to the community are urged to volunteer to serve on one of the Village Board’s citizen advisory boards, commissions and committees. Volunteers are needed for the Farmers Market Commission, which helps to operate the seasonal weekly market, the Community Design...
Residents who need to retrofit their homes or apartments with accessibility modifications may be eligible for financial assistance through the Village.
Forgivable loans of up to $15,000 each are offered to homeowners and renters with physical or age-related impairments who meet income eligibility...
To keep up to date on the activities of the West Cook County Housing Collaborative (WCCHC), view homes for sale and learn about transit-oriented development opportunities visit the organization’s new website, www.westcookhousing.org. From its beginning in 2009, the WCCHC, which is a joint effort of...
For the second year in a row, the use of green power through the Village’s Community Choice Electricity Aggregation Program has earned Oak Park special recognition from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The USEPA recognized Oak Park as one of only two communities selected from among nearly...
Two episodes of You Really Should Eat This, a local series produced by VOP-TV and starring OakPark.com food critic David Hammond, will screen at the 4th annual Chicago Food Film Festival next month.
The series airs on the Village’s YouTube channel www.youtube.com/vopnews and is broadcast regularly...
Paul L. Stephanides, 48, became Village Attorney in September. With 20-plus years of municipal government-related legal experience, Stephanides was chosen from a field of more than 50 applicants for the post last held by Raymond Heise, who served as Oak Park’s Village Attorney for nearly 30 years...
October is the final month for the 2013 season of Oak Park Farmers’ Market, held from 7 a.m. – 1 p.m. every Saturday, mid-May through October.
Traditional stone soup made from Farmers’ Market vegetables will be ladled up from about 9 a.m. until the pot is empty at the final market on Sat., Oct. 26...
Official hours for Halloween trick or treating are 3 – 7 p.m., Oct. 31. Parents should accompany young children, especially after dark, and inspect all treats. Other safety tips include:
Use make-up instead of masks
Choose flame-retardant costumes
Wear light-colored clothing at night or add...
