From the Village of Oak Park:

Rising temperatures prompt public health warnings, advice

With temperatures predicted to soar to dangerous levels, public health officials are reminding residents that protection from the heat is vital for everyone, but especially the elderly and individuals with chronic diseases. On excessively hot days like those predicted this week, avoid strenuous activity and stay inside whenever possible. In addition, wear lightweight, light-colored clothing and hats, drink lots of water and take regular breaks if involved in physical activity. And be sure to check on relatives, friends and neighbors — especially the elderly — when temperatures rise. Residents who don’t have access to air conditioning are encouraged to take advantage of Oak Park’s free cooling centers at Rush Oak Park Hospital, 520 S. Maple Ave., and West Suburban Medical Center, 3 Erie Court. Free transportation is available by calling the Oak Park Police Department’s non-emergency telephone number, 708.386.3800. Relief from the heat also can be found during business hours at Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison St., and all three branches of the Oak Park Public Library. More information on dealing with the heat is on the Village web site.

Refuse haulers to start early to beat the heat

Due to predictions of extreme heat conditions this week, crews from the Village’s refuse contractor, Waste Management, will begin collections at 6 a.m., Thursday and Friday, an hour earlier than usual. The special request to start early was granted to help ease heat-related safety concerns for drivers who service up to 800 homes per day. All routes south of Madison Street will be affected. Click here for more information on refuse hauling routes and guidelines.

Understand the message

Weather forecasters use various phrases when predicting high-heat conditions. Here’s what they mean:

• Excessive heat watch – Conditions are favorable for an excessive heat event to meet or exceed local warning criteria in the next 24 to 72 hours.
• Excessive heat warning – Heat Index values are forecast to meet or exceed locally defined warning criteria for at least two days, with daytime highs 105° – 110° Fahrenheit.
• Heat advisory – Heat Index values are forecast to meet locally defined advisory criteria for one to two days, with daytime highs 105° – 110° Fahrenheit.

Stay Cool and take care!

From our good friend, Wendy Tannenbaum, President North Avenue Business Association:

The City of Chicago unveiled a snow response website at www.chicagoshovels.org to assist residents and businesses during severe winter weather.  The site has a GPS system which will feature real time locations of Chicago snowplows.

The site includes online winter apps that will help people better navigate during the winter months.  Twoinch.es informs and alerts drivers of winter snow routes and parking bans.  Wasmycartowed.com uses data to assist with towed or relocated cars. There’s also a shovel-share program.

Call Oak Park’s snow info line at 708/358-SNOW (7669) to find out if the emergency snow parking ban is in effect.

For more info, go to Oak Park’s website at www.oak-park.us/publicworks.   Then click on the Winter Snow link.   Find out info about winter snow parking routes, snow parking FAQ’s and restrictions and sidewalk shoveling requirements. For more info, contact the Department of Public Works at 708/358-5700.

Shoveling requirements

Below, please find the requirements for snow removal from the City of Chicago and the Village of Oak Park.   To view, please click below:

• Chicago Snow Removal Ordinance
• Oak Park Snow Removal Ordinance

Emergency Preparedness Resources

NABA has put together an Emergency Preparedness Resource list. This valuable list includes phone numbers and websites.  To view,  click on NABA Emergency Preparedness Resource List.

Chicago’s Emergency Preparedenss info and resources:  www.AlertChicago.org

Oak Park’s link to Emergency Preparedness Planning and Response, go to: www.oak-park.us/prepared/index.htm.

Sign up for Emergency Alert Notifications:

Sign up to receive emergency alert notifications at www.AlertChicago.org.

Sign up for alerts from Oak Park’s Community Notification System by using this link: www.oak-park.us/notifyme/. You can be notified by phone, email or text when the no parking ban goes into effect.

Seconds Count in the Event of an Emergency

Please attach address numbers on the back of your building or garage abutting the alley, so that emergency vehicles can find your residence or place of business in the event of an emergency.

The National Weather Service predicting up to eight inches of snow today and tonight.  Our local municipal officials in Oak Park, River Forest & Forest Park are urging residents, merchants and visitors to plan accordingly.  When – let’s be proactive here and assume the worst – the Snow Emergency Parking Rules go into effect, cars may be towed.

Also, please be considerate of your neighbors by shoveling their sidewalks, if you’re able to do so.  You might receive some home-made goodies, or at least a smile from them.  What a wonderful way to show that you’re not such a bad neighbor.

Finally, we’ve said it before and we’ll say in again… if you experience an emergency, please dial 9-1-1;  and be sure that you’re not overexerting yourself moving the snow.  Many a heart attack comes from “just one shovel more!”

• Please pay close attention to the cold temperature and how tired you become. Don’t work to the point of exhaustion. Take breaks indoors to warm up.
• Stay hydrated – and that doesn’t mean beer or hard liquor!  You sweat more than you think while shoveling snow. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids before and after shoveling to replenish fluids lost in the process.
• Bend legs slightly at the knee, letting thigh muscles do most of the pushing and lifting work. Better yet, push the snow, do not pick it up!
• Your clothing should be well-fitting and worn in layers, and you should shed clothing as the body becomes warm. Remember, overheating puts strain on the heart. Wearing a scarf over the nose and mouth helps reduce breathing cold air, which also makes the heart work harder.

And remember… Snow shoveling is not the exercise to use to start getting in shape!  Use common sense and reach out to your neighbors both to assist and for assistance!

From our friend Paul Zimmerman, President of the Roosevelt Road Business Association and the Berwyn Development Corporation and from our dear friend and community activist (in the best sense of the word) Sandra Sokol:

The Office of
ANITA ALVAREZ
Cook County State’s Attorney
in partnership with the
Oak Park Police Department
present:

Burglary & Auto Theft
Prevention Workshop

Learn tips on how to make your home and car less of a target for burglars.

Special Guests: Sgt. Tim Gainer, Director of the Illinois State Police North East Auto Theft Task Force and Officer Maudessie Jointer, Chicago Police Department presenting the “Keepin’ it Real” program.

Please join us
Thursday, June 2, 2011
6:30 p.m. — 8 p.m.

Village of Oak Park
123 Madison Street
Council Chambers

For more information, contact the
Cook County State’s Attorney’s
West Side Community Justice Center at (708) 386-7301

With the threat of West Nile Virus now widespread throughout the Oak Park / Forest Park / River Forest / Berwyn communities, public health officials urge residents to take precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. Precautions include wearing long sleeves and pants, limiting time spent outdoors at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active and wearing insect repellent containing DEET, Picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus. For your own safety, the safety of your family, friends and neighbors, we urge you to eliminate potential mosquito breeding sites by cleaning roof gutters, storing containers upside down and emptying birdbaths every few days. Click here for more prevention information.