Oak Park’s Village Board of Trustees scheduled a special meeting to to discuss the Oak Park 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 for Monday, March 8 at 7 p.m. in the Village Hall Council Chamber, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park.

Details on the project, including public presentations and artists renderings of the proposed development, are posted at www.oak-park.us/planning – just click on the Lake & Forest icon.

From Julia over at FLY BIRD,  719 Lake Street in Oak Park…

Over the last week counterfeit 20-dollar bills have been passed by persons unknown to merchants on Oak Park Avenue and Madison Street in Oak Park.  The $20′s are apparently very good copies. Merchants & Consumers – please make sure you are checking the watermarks.  And do not hesitate to call the Oak Park Police Department if something is not quite right.

Thanks, Julia, for the head’s up!

One of our friends up on North Avenue sent the following:

An ADT solicitor knocked on my door at 7:00 p.m., did not identify himself, until I asked him who he was.  He asked me how busy the traffic was on my street and what kind of security I had.  Information one should not share with stranger.  He wanted to place an ADT sign on my front yard in exchange for free security.  A call was placed to the Corporate headquarters, about this solicitation, a few years ago, and we were told that this is not corporate policy to go door to door.  This solicitor is from a suburban franchise.  Please be alert and warn your neighbors.

A solicitor from US Energy is knocking on doors again. This started a few years ago, when natural gas was deregulated in Illinois. They will ask to see your heating bill. The fine print on the contract states that you must stay with the company for 5 years and if you want to get out of it, you must pay a hefty $1000.00. A neighbor signed up last year and her first bill was $500.00. WBBM TV did an undercover story on this company last year. They target seniors and Hispanics.

Thanks, Lori!

The Oak Park Area Arts Council, which by the way serves not only Oak Park, but also Forest Park and River Forest, is having a fundraiser and one heck of a good party on Saturday, February 27, 2010 from 7:30-10:30 p.m. at the old Oilily Building, 103 Forest Avenue in River Forest, Illinois.

Artful Object 2010: Break the Ice!

I could quote you a whole slew of statistics that “prove” that consistent exposure to art – paintings, sculpture, music, poetry & theater, allows the imaginations of children to grow. But leave it that creating and enjoying art in all its forms is fun and entertaining for both children and adults.

The OPAAC runs three major programs: Artsfunds, Scholarships & Off the Wall.  In 2009, the Arts Council provided $41,175 in ArtsFunds grants to 31 organizations in Oak Park, Forest Park and River Forest and they were able to award five $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors to pursue their education in the arts, as well as hire six young artists for the summer teen arts employment program, Off the Wall.

Tickets are $75 / $130 per couples for members and $85/$150 couples for non-members.

The Oak Park Area Arts Council proudly presents “Our Nation: The Fifty States Art Quilt” during the months of March and April 2010 at Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL.  Artist Pamela Penney worked with Betsy Parkinson’s 2^nd grade class at Beye Elementary School to create this art quilt.

Our Nation: The Fifty States Art Quilt

The second graders incorporated dyed fabric and yarn into their individual quilt squares and finished them with some creative stitchery. The quilt squares  show the important facts the students learned regarding the states that they have studied. And the project is part of Art Start, which brings visual and performing artists into Oak Park Elementary School Classrooms.  Art Start is funded by the Oak Park Education Foundation, in partnership with the Oak Park Area Arts Council.

An artists’ reception will be held on Tuesday, March 2 from 4:30-5:30 pm.

For more information about the exhibit, please call the Oak Park Area Arts Council at (708) 358-5693 or visit the Arts Council’s website, www.OakParkAreaArtsCouncil.org.