Oak Park Election Endorsements: The Journal Makes its Picks

The Wednesday Journal makes endorsements for village president and the crowded District 200 school board race.

The Wednesday Journal made endorsements this week for the local elections that are contested, including the village president seat and the crowded District 200 school board race. The election is Tuesday, April 9. By policy Patch does not make endorsements during elections. But read below for the Journal's picks and links to its full endorsements.  Agree? Disagree? Tell us who you'll vote for in a letter to the editor.  Endorsed: John Hedges Also running: Anan Abu-Taleb What the Journal says: "By his actions as a village trustee over the past six years, John Hedges has proven himself to be an independent person with a critical eye, particularly on spending levels at village hall and the lack of forward motion in solving nagging process …

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Oak Park Village Board at the Farmers' Market

Got something to say to Oak Park's elected officials? Of course you do.

Saturday will be a good chance for a little back-and-forth with the members of the Oak Park Village Board, who will be out and about at the Farmers' Market from 7:30 a.m to noon. The market takes place 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the lot outside the Pilgrim Congregational Church 460 Lake St.

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Economic Issues Forum in Oak Park

Public meeting will address residents concerns about "nurturing business investment in the community."

Got something to say about economic development in Oak Park? You're invited to a public forum, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday at Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison St. Organizers say they hope Monday's session paves the way for the type of public feedback that goes "beyond the formal, procedural limitations of a typical board meeting." To that end, various village officials in charge of economic development will be on hand to chat and answer your questions. They include representatives from the businesses services and finance departments, as well as someone from the village manager's office. Here's what's on tap: Monday's discussion will focus on "programs and policies intended to encourage economic development as a tool to grow the tax …

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UPDATE: Barwin Resigns from Oak Park Village Manager Job

Surprise announcement revealed at Tuesday's Village Board meeting.

Update, 1:25 p.m. We heard back from Tom Barwin earlier today. Among our first questions was whether or not he was forced to resign. Here’s what he said: “I think I’m going to email you my comments [from Tuesday's Oak Park Village Board meeting], I really want to keep the initial focus on those comments,” he said. “I’m making every effort to be completely professional and wrap up some of those loose ends…I’d emphasize that it’s never an easy time or a good time to leave something you enjoy and you think you’re doing pretty well at.” So this decidedly isn’t a retirement? “Oh no,” he said. “No, not in my view. I’m only 57 years old and getting near the top of my skill set." Barwin went on to say he’s exploring options in the private sector …

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Is It Time To Rethink Marijuana Laws?

Records show most busts are for a relatively small amount of marijuana. Should local leaders consider decriminalizing?

With a growing chorus of Chicago and Cook County officials calling for legislation that would decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana — and Evanston actually making the move last month — is it time to start the conversation here?  To get a better handle on who’s being arrested, and for what, Oak Park-River Forest Patch asked for arrest reports for pot possession in both villages, and what we got was a 19-month snapshot revealing dozens of busts for relatively small amounts of marijuana.  Related: Fake Weed, Real Problems Most of the possession charges stem from traffic stops, and of the 79 people arrested or cited for marijuana possession from January 2010 to July 2011, just 24 had addresses in Oak Park or River Forest. …

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Pleasant District Grand Opening Celebration

With a ribbon cutting and a block party, a new business district debuts.

Village officials gave the green light for a $5.4 million tax increment financing-funded project to renovate South Marion Street back in May. Earlier: South Marion to Get $5.4 Million Facelift Almost immediately, construction for the overhaul, which includes new lamps, brick streets, granite curbs, lighting, benches and bike racks, interrupted the busy corridor with traffic rerouting and pedestrian detours. But no longer. Village officials, business owners and residents came out Thursday to celebrate the end of the navigational hassles with a block party. Thursday's event also marked the debut of the "Pleasant District," the name in which the business district will now be known. Like a good block party? Like our Facebook Page!

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Oak Park Elected Officials Holding a Tweet-Up

Get a word in with Oak Park's elected officials at Wednesday's event.

You elected them, now go talk to them. That's right, the Oak Park Village Board is hosting its first ever Tweet-Up at Eastgate Cafe, 102 Harrison St. in the Oak Park Arts District. The event starts at 6 p.m. and runs until 8 p.m. During that two hours, residents and followers of the village's official Twitter account are invited to kibitz with board members. It's part of a push by Oak Park officials to better connect with residents/ Recent efforts have included a cameo by trustees at a recent Oak Park Farmers Market and a presentation by Police Chief Rick Tanksley to residents addressing local crime. Officials say more special sessions are planned around the issues of economic development, infrastructure and public health.

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AGENDA: Oak Park Village Board Meeting, Sept. 26

Health plan, electricity aggregation, Ike overhaul will be discussed at special session.

A special meeting of the Oak Park Village Board will take place 7:30 p.m. Monday at Village Hall, 123 Madison St. The meeting will be preceded by a closed executive session at 6:30 p.m. Included on the special agenda are:  If you can't make it out to the meeting, the Village of Oak Park streams the the proceeding on its official website.

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Oak Park to Buy Two-Story Office Building

Measure passes unanimously; TIF funds will help purchase "strategic" downtown property at 1133 Westgate.

Nineteenth Century Charitable Organization Honored

Local group's century-plus of service recognized.

The Nineteenth Century Charitable Assocation has been recognized for its outstanding achievements. The Oak Park Village Board on Tuesday unanimously approved a proclamation marking the group's 120 years of community service. Village President David Pope read the resolution, which highlighted the group’s many charitable activities as well as its cultural and educational programs. The proclamation accompanies this article as a PDF. The measure comes as the organization, which maintains the Nineteenth Century Club, celebrates its anniversary at 1 p.m., Oct. 3, at 178 Forest Ave. President Mila Tellez said the adoption of the village initiative was "a real honor."

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