Village President Races Contested in Oak Park and River Forest

Several vying to be River Forest trustee; River Forest library board will have to name one person to its board.

  Candidates will vie to become village president in Oak Park and River Forest and there will be a contest for trustee in the latter community this spring. One other race in Oak Park will be competitive in the April 9 election as five people will be running for four seats on the library board, according to filing information provided by both communities. Three of them are incumbents. Several races will not be competitive including contests for Oak Park trustee and village clerk, park board in both communities and Oak Park Township. Information was not available on a slate for River Forest Township. As only one candidate filed documents to run for the River Forest library board of trustees, the sitting board will be required to fill the …

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There's Still Time to Run for Public Office

Residents wanting to run for public office in the upcoming local election still have a bit of time left to make up their minds. Filing starts Monday Dec. 17 and ends Dec. 26, thanks to a change in state law.

Oak Park Township Slate Announces Intent to Run

Seven candidates, including five incumbents and two newcomers, will be on the April ballot.

A slate of five incumbents and two newcomers has announced their intention to run for seven Oak Park Township positions on the ballot this spring. The candidates are running under the banner of the Township Services Party. The position of supervisor, four trustees, the assessor and clerk will be open on the April 9 ballot. The township collector position was eliminated statewide as a township position by the Illinois General Assembly this past spring. Seeking a third full term as supervisor is David Boulanger. Elected as a trustee in 1997, Boulanger was the liaison to the township’s Senior Services and Youth Services committees. He was appointed township supervisor in 2002. His  service to the community includes board positions with the …

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There's Still Time to Run for Local Elections

School, parks, library and township contests on ballot in April in addition to village board.

The Oak Park-River Forest area may have just gone through an election. But now it's time to gear up for the local ones in the spring. In addition to village board, there will be other contests on the ballot April 9, and residents interested in serving on any boards still have time to collect signatures before the filing deadline. Packets containing petitions and other election information are available at the respective administrative offices or on the State Board of Elections website. Filing dates are from Dec. 17 to Dec. 24. Slates have already announced for Oak Park and River Forest municipal races, to be held on the same day. Here are other contests on the ballot. Oak Park Elementary District 97 The administrative office at District 97…

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Oak Park Response to "Citizens United" on Tuesday Ballot

Township advisory referendum asks officials to regulate money in politics.

Ever since the U.S. Supreme Court removed virtually all restrictions on corporate money in politics, groups around the country have been attempting to overturn the results of "Citizens United." Now communities such as Oak Park are giving residents a voice on whether that should happen. Oak Park Township has placed an advisory referendum on Tuesday's ballot asking voters for governments on all levels to consider a constitutional amendment regulating political funding of campaigns. The initiative also makes it clear that the rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution are intended for people, not coporations, what some proponents of the referendum have called "corporate personhood." Here's the intiative: "Oak Park Township, Amend Constitution…

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Oak Park Township to Offer Help with Property Tax Appeals

Session scheduled for Aug. 29 will help taxpayers seeking help with reducing property tax bills.

A message from Oak Park Township Assessor Ali ElSaffar: Oak Park property owners concerned about their property taxes have an opportunity to do something about next year’s tax bills. According to Oak Park Township Assessor Ali ElSaffar, Oak Park property owners can appeal their 2012 assessed values with the Cook County Board of Review through September 4. The township is offering residents two ways to get help in filing an appeal. The first option for residents seeking help with appeals is to attend a meeting with the Board of Review on August 29. At the meeting, representatives from the office of Board of Review Commissioner Larry Rogers, Jr. will explain the appeal process and help residents file appeals. The meeting will take place at 7…

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Oak Park Township Briefs: Shopping Trip, Support Group and Senior Lunch Program

A look at the agency's early August offerings.

A few news briefs, direct from Oak Park Township, 105 S. Oak Park Avenue.  Oak Park Township Senior Services is sponsoring a shopping trip to theNorth Riverside Shopping Mall on Wednesday, Aug. 15 at 9:30 AM. The suggested donation for the trip is $2.00. All seniors within Oak Park and River Forest age 60 and over are welcome and encouraged to participate. Advance registration is necessary Call (708) 386-4806 to reserve your seat for this trip or for general information about Oak Park Township Senior Services Transportation.  Oak Park Township Senior Services offers a caregiver support group open to all individuals who are caregivers or have been, and with issues they would like toshare with others. This ongoing support group is free and …

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New Senior Services Center to Open Aug. 1

Grand opening slated for Aug. 11.

It’ll be moving day as Oak Park Township prepares to open its new facility on Aug. 1. Furniture, file cabinets – anything worth moving, according to Township Supervisor David Boulanger  -  will be going from the Oak Park Arms, 408 S. Oak Park Ave., to a new home for senior services at 130 S. Oak Park Ave. The building, which also will house youth programs, is just across the street from the Township's main office at 105 S. Oak Park Ave. An opening ceremony is slated for 10 a.m. Aug. 11. Afterward an open house will take place until 1 p.m. when staff will be on hand to answer questions and offer tours. It is a dream come true for township officials, staff and clients who for years have wanted to move into quarters that offered more space …

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Oak Parker Breathes Life Into Anti-Smoking Film

With its powerful anti-smoking message, "The Call" aims for distribution across American classrooms.

Screenwriter Felice Bassuk was kind enough to offer us a sneak peek of an unfinished version of The Call, the anti-smoking film she co-wrote with the help of a collaborator. At a little more than nine minutes, it's a powerhouse package with a strong message. Namely, that smoking is devastating to your health and will lead to heartbreak. "The message is there," she said. "You can't miss it." The film revolves around two kids, actors Ryan Newman and Jonathan Morgan Heit, in a desperate attempt to reach their dying grandfather, played by Menahem Zilberman. The kids are hanging out on the beautiful beaches of Santa Monica, Calif. as their grandfather hacks and wheezes "in a crappy nursing home 100 miles from the ocean," the kids say. We won't …

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