Arts scholarship benefit...The Oak Park Area Arts Council (OPAAC) and the
Oak Park & River Forest High School Alumni Association will
present its annual benefit concert for the OPAAC Fine Arts
Scholarship program at 7 p.m., Sat., May 7, at the Arts Center,
200 N. Oak Park Ave. This year's Jazzin’ Oak Park will
feature Kurt Elling, a six-time Grammy nominated vocalist known
for the neglected art of putting words to the recorded horn
solos of musicians such as Wayne Shorter, John Coltrane, and
Paul Desmond. Five of Oak Park and River Forest High
School's very best jazz musicians will open the show.
Tickets are $45 for non-OPAAC members and $35 for OPAAC
members, OPRF High School alumni, seniors, students and groups
of 10 or more. For more information or to purchase tickets call
358.5690. Since the program began in 1997, 48 students have
received scholarships to pursue art studies in college.
Volunteers to be honored...Residents who have served on one of the many
Village volunteer boards and commissions during 2004 will be
honored at a special event scheduled for 7-9 p.m., Thurs.,
April 21, at Cheney Mansion, 220 N. Euclid Ave. For more
information call 358.5670 or email clerk@oak-park.us.
Day application deadline...April 15 is the deadline to submit applications
to participate in a Day in Our
Village, an annual festival where
local groups showcase their organizations to the community. New
or established Oak Park-based civic, cultural, business, social
service, religious and educational organizations wishing to
attract volunteers, clients or new members are invited to
participate. Fundraising or selling arts and crafts are not
allowed, and only participating local restaurants may provide
refreshments. This year's event is Sun., June 5.
Volunteers are still needed to help plan and execute the event.
For more information on participating or volunteering, call
358.5409 or email comsvcs@oak-park.us.
Preservation award nominations...April 15 is the deadline for nominations for the
2005 Historic Preservation Awards Program. Single-family
residences, apartment buildings, commercial buildings,
public/institutional buildings or religious structures may be
nominated in any of four categories -- restoration,
rehabilitation, adaptive use and additions. Projects should
have been created within the past five years, and located
within the boundaries of the Village. Nominations need not be
in an historic district. Interior work also may be considered.
Nomination forms are available on-line at www.oak-park.us, at the customer
service desk in Village Hall, 123 Madison St. or by calling
358.5417.
Sign prohibition...Placing any type of sign in the public right of way
such as the parkway space between the sidewalk and the curb in
front of your house is prohibited. The prohibition includes,
but is not limited to garage sale signs, political signs, open
house signs and contractor signs. For more information call
358.5430 or email building@oak-park.us.
Film permits required...A permit is required for any residential or commercial
property to be used as a location for a television commercial
or other filming. Neighbors must be notified by flyer as to
when and where the shoot is to occur. If police presence is
required, services of off-duty police must be paid by the film
crew. For more information call 358.5409 or email comsvcs@oak-park.us.
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A free seminar to help prospective
first-time homebuyers learn about loan programs available in
Oak Park is scheduled for 7 - 8:30p.m., Wed., April 13 at
Village Hall, 123 Madison St. In addition to explaining the
range of financial assistance programs available to first-time
homebuyers, the seminar, which is offered each month, also will
provide tips on how to work with lenders and real estate
brokers. The seminars highlight four programs administered by
Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA). These programs
include the Below Market Rate program, which offers a 30-year fixed rate loan
at 1Ú2 percent below IHDA's regular lending rate; the I-Loan Certificate
program, which gives a tax credit of 25 percent of the annual
interest paid; the HELP program, which offers a gift of 3 percent of the
down payment and 1.25 percent towards the origination fee; and
the ASSIST program, which provides a 30-year fixed rate mortgage with down payment
assistance. To be eligible for the assistance programs
borrowers must meet income and purchase price requirements,
have not owned a home in the previous three years, qualify for
a mortgage loan and intend to use the home as a principal
residence. Since the Village began working on these programs
with IHDA in 1999, some 124 households have obtained more than
$11 million in mortgages. To register for the seminar or for
more information on housing assistance programs available to
Oak Park residents, call 358.5408 or email comsvcs@oak-park.us.
