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!

The Village of Oak Park has announces albeit in a bas ackward fashion, the schedule of Construction for 2012 in the Village.  See the Forest Leaves article “Road construction projects reach all corners of Oak Park “.

South Blvd will receive sewer lines and resurfacing from Oak Park Avenue west to Forest.  North Blvd will receive attention to water service.

Since our offices are smack in the middle of one of the construction projects, we’re wondering why the Village neglected to inform businesses and residents affected.  Maybe they’re going to surprise us?

In other news there have been no pronouncements about Oak Park Avenue… The Sound of Crickets …

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 the Oak Park Police Department:

Oak Park Police are seeking the public’s help in identifying a man who robbed the Bleeding Heart Bakery, 1010 North Boulevard, Mon., Dec. 5 and left the clerk locked in a basement storage area.

Sketch of Bleeding Heart Bakery Suspect

The robber is described as African American, five feet, eight inches tall, and approximately 24 years old. He was last seen wearing a brown, zippered hooded jacket and a Louis Vuitton style baseball hat. A sketch is attached.

The robbery occurred at about 7:15 p.m. The suspect entered the business, grabbed the clerk and demanded money from the cash register. He then forced the clerk to a basement storage area, where he removed additional cash from a lock box. He locked the clerk in the basement area and fled. A neighbor heard the clerk’s shouts for help and called police. The clerk sustained minor injuries.

Anyone with information about the suspect or the crime is urged to call the Oak Park Police Department at 708.386.3800. Anonymous tips can be made by telephone to 708.434.1636 or via e-mail at www.oak-park.us/police.

As soon as we have a picture, we’ll post it here.

According to the Village of Oak Park, a recent rash of successful and attempted garage burglaries in one general area of north central Oak Park has the Oak Park Police urging residents to be on the lookout for suspicious persons or activities and not to hesitate to call 9-1-1 immediately if they observe anything out of the ordinary.

Overnight on October 19th, eleven garages were targeted with one or more offenders gaining entry to six garages and causing damage to five others in failed attempts to gain entry. According to an official statement, the intruders used either a pry bar or brute strength to gain entry. Among the items stolen were: golf clubs, a lawn mower, a snow blower, a bicycle and a camera.

While many garage burglaries in Oak Park occur because doors are left unsecured, Police say the garage owners in these instances had locked their doors, which is why entry was not gained to five of the garages.

“A determined thief can defeat most any kind of lock,” said Police Chief Rick Tanksley. “But as we saw in these instances, the thieves had to work for it and didn’t succeed in five of the attempts. In cases such as these, an observant property owner or neighbor willing to call 9-1-1 is the best defense.”

In addition to locking garage entry doors with deadbolts, Police also are urging property owners to install good lighting with features like motion detectors or automatic dusk-to-dawn switching.

In any case, the Oak Park Police will be stepping up patrols in alleys throughout the community.

If you have any information about these incidents or related matters please call the Oak Park Police at 708.386.3800 or e-mail police@oak-park.us.