Village of Oak Park

Tickets are on sale for the first Oak Park, IL Film Festival, which will be held across two local landmark venues on Sept. 12 and Sept. 14. The event is a celebration of local movie-making talent, with all festival films having a connection to #OakPark through setting, cast, crew or filming location. Opening night at the Lake Theatre features a red-carpet gala and a screening of a special edition of The Abyss starring Oak Park’s own Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. The festival continues with an all-day screening of films at Madison Street Theater on Sept. 14 culminating with an awards ceremony across several categories, honoring the best in local talent. Find more information and purchase tickets at www.opilff.org. And check out a segment previewing the film festival that aired on WGN's "Spotlight Chicago" this week at https://shorturl.at/bV3JV

Calling all pie lovers! The #OakPark Farmers' Market's annual Pie Bake-Off is taking place from about 9 to 11 a.m. this Saturday, Sept. 7 in the Pilgrim Church parking lot at 460 Lake Street. A panel of judges will choose a first, second and third place winner from this year’s entrants. To top it off, samples of pie will be given away to Market visitors after the contest on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information about the Market, visit https://lnkd.in/ePP3fK9.

September is Suicide Prevention Month, and the Village is partnering with the Oak Park Community Mental Health Board and Thrive Counseling Center to share resources and increase the conversation on this topic. Throughout the month, #OakPark residents are invited to pick up a You Matter sign at Village Hall, 123 Madison St., or the Community Recreation Center, 229 Madison St., and display it in their yards. Residents can participate in a social media contest by posting a picture of their yard signs. Find more information at www.oak-park.us/SPMcontest. The yard sign highlights 988, the national suicide and crisis lifeline, which people can text or call at any time to talk to a mental health professional. If you notice a friend or family member is not acting like themselves, is excessively worried or anxious, or has mentioned thoughts of suicide, reaching out to them could make all the difference. Ask if they would like to talk, and check out https://lnkd.in/gWhApGUu for more resources. #YouMatterOP

Did you know the Village partners with the Animal Care League to help find and return lost pets and promote adoption of stray animals? In this clip Animal Control Officer Pablo Rivera tells the story of one lucky little dog, Chase. If your pet is missing, call the Village's Animal Control Office at 708.358.5486 or the Animal Care League at 708.848.8155. More information about Animal Control is at https://lnkd.in/eQKBRDC. #OakPark

The Village is updating its Fall Leaf Collection Program this year after reviewing leaf collection processes for 150 Illinois municipalities. #OakPark residents will no longer place leaves directly in the street when the Fall Leaf Collection Program begins in November, but instead can choose from a variety of leaf collection options. Find more information at https://lnkd.in/gZ-BcVA5.

The #OakPark Sculpture Walk is in full swing with about a dozen sculptures on display as part of an outdoor exhibit in the Downtown Oak Park business district in the vicinity of Lake Street and Marion Street. This year’s Sculpture Walk will be on display until spring 2025 and features the work of artists from throughout the Midwest. The sculptures were chosen through a juried competition and vary in materials. The Sculpture Walk is organized by the Oak Park Area Arts Council. More information about the Sculpture Walk is available on the Downtown Oak Park website at https://shorturl.at/IPSS3 or by downloading the free Otocast app to access information about the sculptures and hear descriptions of the work by the artists.

The Village is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Firefighter/Paramedic. The Oak Park Fire Department will be hosting an optional information session for potential candidates from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 27 at the main fire station, 100 N. Euclid Ave. Anyone interested in applying can get a feel for #OakPark’s Fire Department during the event and ask any questions. More information about the position, including application requirements and how to apply, is available at www.oak-park.us/jobs.

It’s been 10 years since Carnivore Oak Park opened its doors to offer locally-sourced and responsibly-raised foods. There’s no better time than this celebratory milestone to revisit this feature on the history of the weisswurst and Carnivore’s take on the popular German sausage. Learn more about the artisan butcher at www.carnivoreoakpark.com or stop in at 1042 Pleasant St. For more information about #OakPark's innovative business community, visit www.pickoakpark.com.

The Village is preparing to implement a user fee of 25 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) for electric vehicle charging stations owned and operated by the Village. The new user fee will be effective Aug. 26. Officials say the fee will help ensure the long-term financial viability of the Village’s charging station network while also providing a sustainable path forward in the effort to expand access to charging station infrastructure, particularly for #OakPark residents without access to private parking facilities. More information is at www.oak-park.us/EVuserfee.

The Village is accepting applications from qualified candidates for the position of Police Officer. Entry-level and lateral-hire officer positions with the #OakPark Police Department are open. For more information about benefits and how to apply, visit www.oak-park.us/policejobs