| NEWS |
|
|
|
|
 
|
Lake & Forest project advances toward final approval March 9, 2010 – The Village Board voted unanimously Monday night to accept the findings of the Plan Commission in favor of a plan to redevelop the corner of Lake Street and Forest Avenue, including replacing the aging public parking garage. A final vote likely will occur later this month – click here for more information. ***
Rally to launch local 2010 Census effort March 8, 2010 – A rally featuring the U.S. Census Bureau's interactive traveling road show will kick off Oak Park's efforts to maximize citizen participation when the actual count begins on April 1. The rally is scheduled for 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Tues., March 9, at Village Hall, 123 Madison St. The Oak Park rally is one stop in the National Census Road Tour that includes 13 vehicles traveling across the country from January to April, distributing information and using images and stories to explain why the census will make a difference to individual communities. The Oak Park stop will include live streaming video via the Census web site featuring interviews with local residents. In addition to the U.S. Census vehicle, representatives of the wide range of community organizations involved in the local get-out-the-count effort are working to make the Oak Park rally a street festival, with a quiz show hosted by the costumed Census Count Crusader, prizes, speakers and entertainment provided by local talent. The rally also will air an original video featuring local artists with unique census messages. Artwork from the video will be on display inside Village Hall. For more information on the Census 2010 rally in Oak Park, call 708.358.5670 or e-mail clerk@oak-park.us. ***
Board to discuss recommendations for Lake & Forest Feb. 26, 2010 – The Village Board has scheduled a special meeting to discuss the Plan Commission's recent findings of fact in favor of a proposal to redevelop the corner of Lake Street and Forest Avenue, including replacing the aging public parking garage. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m., Monday, March 8, in Village Hall Council Chamber, 123 Madison St. The meeting will be broadcast live on VOP-TV, available to Comcast subscribers on channel 6 and AT&T subscribers on channel 99. Click here to read more about the project, including public presentations and artists renderings of the proposed development. Click here to see Village Board agendas and related materials. ***
Building owners, managers seminar scheduled Feb. 26, 2010 – The annual management seminar for multifamily building owners and managers is scheduled for Wed., March 10. Two sessions will be offered — one from 10 a.m. to noon, the second from 7 – 9 p.m. Both will be in Village Hall, 123 Madison St. Among the topics discussed will be fair housing, new lead-based paint rules, how the Village and Oak Park Housing Authority will work together to coordinate apartment inspections and how to ensure that residents are counted in the 2010 census. Call 708.358.5410 or e-mail housing@oak-park.us for more information. ***
Historic preservation newsletter available on-line Feb. 26, 2010 – The latest issue of Landmark Link, an electronic newsletter published by the Oak Park Historic Preservation Commission, is now on-line – just click here to download a copy. Residents interested in the latest information on Historic Preservation Commission meetings, events, workshops and other activities can e-mail kaarre@oak-park.us to receive monthly electronic updates. ***
Drop boxes accept payments 24/7 Feb. 11, 2010 – Payments for many municipal services and fines may be made by check or money order at Village Hall, 123 Madison St., any time via drop boxes – one outside by the parking lot and one just inside the south entrance by the stairway to the Police Department. Checks should be accompanied by any support materials required to make sure the payment is properly applied, including writing the account number on the check memo line. Payments for some services may be made online – click here for options. Standard mail payments also are accepted. Cash should never be used for drop-box or mail payments. In-person cash or credit card payments are accepted during regular business hours of 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and until 7 p.m. on Mondays. For more information on paying for Village services, call 708.358.5460 or e-mail finance@oak-park.us. ***
Police to crack down on drivers who violate new cell phone use regulationsJan. 4, 2010 – Oak Park Police say they will aggressively enforce a new state law that places strict guidelines on texting and calling from a cell phone while driving. Under the new state regulations effective Jan. 1, motorists will be prohibited from using cell or smart phones to compose, send or read electronic messages while driving. Talking on a cell phone while driving through a school or construction speed zone also will be a violation come Jan. 1. The new law does not apply to using a cell phone that is in hands-free or voice-activated mode. Click here to read the text of the new law. ***
State, federal funds to transform Roosevelt Road Dec. 14, 2009 – The goal of revitalizing Roosevelt Road from Harlem Avenue to Austin Boulevard moved from concept to reality with a written commitment from the Illinois Department of Transportation authorizing nearly $7 million in state and federal funds for the project. With IDOT's written commitment, efforts to create a more pedestrian-friendly, landscaped and vibrant commercial corridor along the busy Roosevelt Road thoroughfare shared by Oak Park, Berwyn and Cicero will begin by summer 2010, officials say. Click here to read more… ***
VOP-TV videos win national programming awards Oct. 9, 2009 – Original programs produced by VOP-TV, the Village of Oak Park's municipal cable television station, were big winners in national competition, garnering three first place awards for individual productions and finishing third in overall programming. The awards were presented by the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA), a non-profit professional association that recognizes the accomplishments of municipal television stations through annual programming awards. Click here to read more and watch the videos… ***
Public Works Center earns LEED gold certification Aug. 21, 2009 – The Village's Public Works Center has earned a gold rating from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, the preeminent, internationally recognized green building certification system. Oak Park's Public Works Center, located on South Boulevard at Lombard Avenue, opened in late 2007, and was Illinois' first public works facility to pursue LEED certification. Click here to read more... ***
Police do not endorse alarm companies Aug. 7, 2009 – Home security systems salespeople using police community alert materials to help market their products may have falsely created a perception that they have earned a professional endorsement of local law enforcement officials. While alarm systems can be effective crime deterrents, Oak Park Police say they do not endorse any specific systems or manufacturers. Anyone considering a home security system is urged to thoroughly research the options before signing a contract, police say. For more information, contact your Resident Beat Officer – click here for details. ***
Survey: Residents give high marks to life in Oak Park Feb. 9, 2009 – When it comes to quality of life, acceptance of people of diverse backgrounds, sense of community and overall appearance, Oak Parkers say it doesn't get much better than right here. These are some of the key findings of a formal community survey recently presented to the Village Board. Survey respondents also ranked Oak Park's fire and police services very high – in the top 10 percent of national comparisons – while giving Village workers fine marks for their knowledge, responsiveness and courtesy. Not all was positive, of course. Respondents were not happy with parking or the quality of development. They also exhibited what researchers called a mild distrust of government. The 90-plus page survey report delves not only into questions about quality of life, sense of safety, municipal services and a range of other categories, but also into how respondents' views were related to their length of residency, income, age and gender. The results of this latest survey, along with surveys conducted in 2000 and 2004, are posted on this web site - just click here and look for the link along the right margin. For more information on the survey, call 708.358.5770 or e-mail the Village ***
Partnership helps find homes for strays April 15, 2008 – The Village and the Animal Care League (ACL) are partners in caring for and helping find homes for stray animals. Strays picked up by the Village’s Animal Control Division are brought directly to the Animal Care League facility at 1013 Garfield St. Pets not claimed by their owners join the other animals that find their way to the shelter, where efforts focus on finding good homes. For more information on Village animal control services, call 358.5680 or e-mail the Animal Contro Division ***
Crime tips accepted anonymously online
***
Foreclosure assistance available Feb. 7, 2008 – One-on-one foreclosure prevention counseling is now available via a new toll-free, telephone hotline sponsored by the Illinois Housing Development Authority. The hotline, 1.888.995.HOPE, is aimed at targeting homeowners in the early stages of mortgage difficulties – before foreclosure becomes the only remaining option. From 1999 to 2006, Oak Park averaged 84 foreclosures per year. But midway through 2007, Oak Park had 70 foreclosures, putting the Village on pace to more than double the number of annual foreclosures over the last nine years. Homeowners fearing foreclosure also are encouraged to attend Homeowner Outreach Days, a series of 30-minute workshops conducted by the Illinois Housing Development Authority. Click here for a list of workshop times, dates and locations. For more information on assistance programs available to Oak Park residents, contact the Housing Programs Division at 708.358.5424 or e-mail the Housing Division ***
Meter keys offer convenient alternative to coins Dec. 14, 2007 – Parking meters in Oak Park accept payment via a cash key as a convenient alternative to coins. A key can be purchased at the Parking Permit office at Village Hall, 123 Madison St., and pre- ***
Police posting daily neighborhood crime maps on web site Nov. 7, 2007 – Crimes reported by location are now listed on maps posted daily on the Police Department section of the Village web site. The crime information page may be accessed from multiple places within the web site, including through a dedicated icon visible on the main landing page of the Village web site ***
Family doubles reward to help catch professor's killer June 21, 2007 – With the two-year anniversary of the brutal murder of University of Illinois Chicago Professor Peter D'Agostino approaching, the family of the victim has doubled the cash reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual responsible. Mary Mapes, the widow of D'Agostino, said in announcing the increase in the reward to $50,000 she hoped to heighten public awareness and generate new leads that could help solve her husband's murder. D'Agostino, 42, was attacked at about 5:30 p.m., June 22, 2006, in the 1100 block of south Harvey Avenue in southeast Oak Park, just blocks from his home. Oak Park Police believe a sledgehammer was used to kill the professor as he walked home from Blue Line stop at Austin Boulevard. D'Agostino died from blunt force trauma to the head in what police described as a vicious attack. Oak Park Police have identified a person of interest. He is described as an African American male with medium complexion in his mid-20's to mid-30's, five-feet-10 inches to six-feet-two inches tall and thin to medium build. He was believed to have been driving a mid-sized, older model passenger vehicle, turquoise or light blue, with a maroon or dark-colored front passenger side fender. A flyer with a computer-generated image of the person of interest is posted on the Oak Park Police Department's web page. Anyone with information is asked to call 708.358.5403, a dedicated telephone number for tips. ***
|
|
|
Copyright © 1997 - 2006 Village of Oak Park, All Rights Reserved |
|
|
|
programmed to any desired amount. A $10.50 deposit is required. When the key is inserted into an electronic meter, the first minimum increment is electronically deducted as payment for time on the meter. The key then can program the desired time up to the maximum allowed on the meter. Parkers are reminded that meter feeding – paying to park at a meter for longer than the maximum period permitted by the meter timer – is illegal in Oak Park. for more information, call 358.5750 or 
