Tues., Feb. 17 is the final day for
citizens to register to be eligible to vote in the March 16
Primary, including those who wish to transfer their
registration information to a new address. Two types of
identification are required, at least one with a current
address. A driver's license or picture ID is preferred,
along with additional identification such as a utility bill.
Residents can register at the Office of the Village Clerk at
Village Hall, 123 Madison St., or at the Oak Park Township
Office, 105 S. Oak Park Ave. For more information on
registration or the March primary election, call 358.5670,
email clerk@oak-park.us or visit www.voterinfonet.com, a website operated
by the Cook County Clerk.
Ike Update
The Village has asked Illinois Governor
Rod R. Blagojevich to help ensure that Regional Transportation
Authority's planned studies of transportation options in
the Central Cook-DuPage Corridor objectively examine all viable
alternatives to mitigate congestion and not allow the Illinois
Department of Transportation to study widening the Eisenhower
Expressway on a separate track. The Village has urged the
Governor to take steps to ensure IDOT and the RTA consider all
major transportation capacity enhancing options that might
address mobility and congestion problems in the I-290 corridor
as part of a single, integrated, balanced and comprehensive
multimodal corridor study along all I-290 and I-88 as called
for in the recently approved Regional Transportation Plan for
the Chicago region. Village contacts with IDOT over the past
year have raised concerns that the Governor's written
position supporting an "objective examination" of
options may be threatened by current IDOT plans to restart a
separate highway expansion study later this year before the
RTA's multimodal corridor study is completed. The Village
is urging the governor to make the RTA study the planning
vehicle to determine the best capacity improvements in the
whole I-290 area, and not allow state transportation planners
to separately examine adding highway lanes along the Eisenhower
through Oak Park. For more information, call 358.5778, email
the village or visit www.oak-park.us -- click on
news, then the I-290 icon on the right side of the page.
358.5480 or email health@oak-park.us
Youth board member sought
The Board of Health is seeking a volunteer
16 years or older to become a member and work with the Health
Department to review disease prevention and control measures
and recommend corrective intervention. For more information on
volunteering call 358.5670 email health@oak-park.us.
Stop smoking help
"Freedom From Smoking," a
six-week program developed by the American Lung Association
will have an orientation session at 7 p.m., Tues., March 2, at
the Maze Branch Library, 845 Gunderson Ave. The $20 fee will be
refunded to participants who attend all six sessions. Financial
assistance is available. Call 358.5484 or email health@oak-park.us for information
on this program and other stop smoking support.
Dentists needed
Volunteer dentists are needed to treat
low-income residents at a reduced cost. The Oak Park Oral
Health Referral Program matches financially eligible residents
with practitioners who agree to accept a pre-determined fee for
services. Referred patients have been pre-screened and have a
treatment plan and x-rays. Practitioners select the patients
they wish to treat. The program has reduced lab costs through a
nonprofit dental lab. Call 358.5484 or email health@oak-park.us.
Senior dental health information
The Oral Health Coalition will present a
free program entitled "Dental Health for Seniors"
at 12:30 p.m., Wed., Feb. 25, in the Oak Park Township Senior
Services, 408 S. Oak Park Ave. Call 358.5484 or email health@oak-park.us.
Affordable health insurance available
Adults and children who meet financial
eligibility guidelines are now being enrolled in
low-cost/no-cost health care plans. KidCare covers doctor visits, hospital and clinic care,
X-rays, lab tests and prescriptions for children and pregnant
women, and helps pays premiums of employer-sponsored or private
insurance plans. Access to CareÊalso covers doctor visits, lab tests, x-rays
and prescriptions, but participants are responsible for a
nominal co-pay for each service. To learn more call 358.5484 or
email health@oak-park.us.