The Village of Oak Park is giving serious consideration to tearing-up Oak Park Avenue between Ontario and Pleasant to create a Streetscape similar to those of Marion Street.

An artist rendering of South Oak Park Avenue if streetscape improvements are approved by the village. (Graphic submitted by the Village of Oak Park)

Many Oak Park residents, retail merchants, restaurants and service business owners are not so sure that this is a good idea.  To keep up on the debate and to get more information about the proposed costs & benefits, visit www.opans.org.

Panhandling is a persistent issue in the commercial districts in Oak Park.  In large part it is due to the generosity of those who live in Oak Park.  However, many panhandlers may be asking for money for reasons other than food, clothing and shelter.

We have the good fortune to have many resources in our community that help those who are truly in need. These is not one of these agencies who are in need your support to continue doing the valuable work they do.

• Oak Park-River Forest Area Walk-In Ministry 708-386-1946
  Offering help and Restoring Hope in Times of Unexpected Hardship
• Oak Park-River Forest Food Pantry 708-386-1324
  Working together to provide hunger relief in our community
• Thrive Counseling Center 708-383-7500
  Building healthy minds, families and communities
• Threshholds   773-572-5205
  Bright futures for people with mental illness
• West Suburban PADS 708-338-1724
  Opening doors, building futures, ending homelessness

One way to show your concern for those who are needy is to hand out Palm Cards instead of cash when approached by a panhandler this holiday shopping season in Oak Park. The Palm Cards offer a list of organizations that can help someone in need, as well as a list of overnight shelters.

Palm Cards are available from Downtown Oak Park Merchants, or click here for a printable version.

Oak Park Shoppers and Merchants get an early holiday present on weekends – free parking in Village parking garages in the business districts. Free Saturday parking actually will begin the day after Thanksgiving when garage parking will be free on Fri., Nov. 25 and Sat., Nov. 26. Free garage parking also will be offered on Saturdays, December 3, 10, 17 and 24. Parking in Oak Park always is free on Sundays. Among its nearly 1,000 retail businesses, Oak Park boasts more than 90 restaurants, a multi-screen theater, many specialty shops and art galleries, and a mix of both national chains and local stores. For more information about shopping and dining in Oak Park, visit www.ShopOakPark.com. For more information on parking in Oak Park, e-mail parking@oak-park.us.

Anita Alverez Cook County State’s Attorney  Westside Community Justice Center in partnership with the The Oak Park Police Department and Downtown Oak Park presents:

“HELP OUT – DON’T HAND OUT’’ PANHANDLING SEMINAR

Information on:

• State & Local Laws applicable to panhandling
• The importance of NOT giving out money to panhandlers
• Alternative Assistance “Palm Cards” which list Agencies & Services that provide assistance

Please meet us at the:
OAK PARK PUBLIC LIBRARY,
834 LAKE STREET,
OAK PARK, ILLINOIS
in the VETERAN’S ROOM
on
Tuesday November 22, 2011
9 am – 11 am.

RSVP to (708) 386-7301 Westside Community Justice Center 4 Chicago Avenue, Oak Park,, Ill 60302

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.