From the Office of the Mayor

It was great to see all the kids and families enjoying Halloween last weekend. Thank you to all who made the effort to follow the guidelines issued by the Illinois Department of Public Health, the CDC, and other experts in the medical field that emphasize the use of masks and social distancing.

Unfortunately, our COVID-19 numbers are increasing at a faster rate than in March when guidelines were first issued. Our region is currently at a positivity rate of 11.3% and rising. Every day our state is hitting record-breaking numbers of COVID-19 cases. Let us continue to do our part and wear a mask, wash our hands and stay at least six feet apart. Please do it for your own safety and for others.

I want to send out thoughts and prayers to all those affected by COVID-19. Our city had another COVID-19 related death listed by the Cook County Medical Examiner's website on November 2. This makes our total 11 since March 27, 2020. While we don't know their names or ages, we do know they were someone's loved one.

Next week is our next City Council meeting and also Veterans Day. Thank you to all our Veterans on staff and throughout our Oak Forest community. Your service to this country is greatly appreciated. When you are at City Hall, be sure and check out our Hometown Heroes Wall. It showcases all active duty and veterans. If you would like to be included, or have a family member to add to this wall, please drop off a picture and include name, military branch, years of service and it will be an honor to add them to our wall. Please know that the pictures will not be returned.

Please contact my office at 708-687-4050, x1005, should you have any questions or concerns relating to our community.

COVID-19 Updates

COVID-19 Testing at SSC

South Suburban College (SSC) will continue to offer free COVID-19 testing on its Main Campus located at 15800 S. State Street, in South Holland, Illinois, through December 31, 2020.

Open seven days a week, cars may enter from either 159^th Street or State Street and follow the signage. Daily testing is available from 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, and a security detail is in place while testing is open.

COVID-19 symptoms may include fever, sore throat, loss of taste, cough or shortness of breath. Visit CDC.gov for more information regarding symptoms.

Oak Forest COVID-19 Statistics

Here are the current numbers for Oak Forest from the Illinois Department of Public Health website (www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/covid19-statistics) as of Friday, November 6, 2020:

948 positive cases
10,419 people tested
11.3% Positivity Rate (Suburban Cook County, Region 10)
11 Covid-19 related deaths in Oak Forest since March 27, 2020 with the most recent one on November 2, 2020.

Hometown Heroes

With Veterans Day on November 11, a huge thank you to all our Veterans on staff and throughout our Oak Forest community. Your service to this country is sincerely appreciated.

Next time you are at City Hall, be sure and check out the Hometown Heroes Wall. It showcases all active duty and veterans. If you would like to be included, or have a family member to add, please drop off a picture in the night depository. Include name, military branch, years of service and it will be an honor to add them to our wall. Please know that the pictures will not be returned.

Veterans Commission

The Oak Forest Veterans Commission promotes programs for veterans, raises awareness of veterans' welfare issues, represents the city at community events, participates in programs with other veterans' groups, and recognizes the accomplishments of local veterans. In addition, the Veterans Commission serves as a repository of information about veterans' issues, such as securing benefits from the federal government.

To find out more information and events that are important to you, please send an emial to ofveteranscomm@OAK-FOREST.ORG.

Military and Discount Card

The Cook County Recorder of Deeds Office is now offering all those who served and continue to serve the ability to register online for the Cook County Military and Discount Card at the Recorder of Deeds website at www.cookrecorder.com/veteran-services/. The online registration allows active-duty personnel, veterans, guard members and reservists to register from the comfort of their home.

For more information, contact the Cook County Recorder of Deeds, Veterans Service Office at 312-603-5788.

Toys for Tots Program at City Hall

For the 10th year, the Oak Forest Police Department is a Toys for Tots collection site. Deputy Chief Scott Durano, a 20-year veteran of the Oak Forest Police Department and a United States Marine, recruited the help of his fellow officers in 2010 to start a toy collection program to benefit the United States Marine Corps Reserves’ Toys for Tots program.

The objectives of Toys for Tots are to help less fortunate children throughout the United States experience the joy of Christmas; to play an active role in the development of one of our nation’s most valuable resources – our children; to unite all members of local communities in a common cause for three months each year during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign; and to contribute to better communities in the future.

Bring your unwrapped toys anytime from now until December 10, 2020.

City of Oak Forest Trim-A-Tree Contest

Help bring a little holiday cheer to the Oak Forest City Hall Gazebo and sign up to trim a tree this year. Open to all organizations, business or families, trees will be set up and available to decorate on Wednesday, November 25 at City Hall and must be decorated by Sunday, December 6, 2020.

All decorations must be weather resistant and securely fastened to trees. Lights cannot be accommodated.
Please choose a tree to decorate and provide a sign identifying your tree. Signs on stakes work best.

Due to COVID-19, we will not be having the Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony. However, Trim-A-Tree winners will be notified and announced during the City Council Meeting on December 8th.

Due to the limited amount of trees available, please register for this event by November 23, 2020 by using this link: https://www.oak-forest.org/FormCenter/Oak-Forest-3/Oak-Forest-Christmas-TrimATree-Contest-2-67.

Oak Forest Road Closure Alert

Due to work on the 'culvert' beneath the street, 147th Street between Central Avenue and Ridgeland Avenue is currently closed until Monday, November 9, weather permitting. Motorists will need to use Midlothian Turnpike (143rd Street) as a detour.

2020 Road Program Update!

Concrete has been completed on the first group of streets and our contractor has already started on the second group of streets.

Remember, the contractor will notify all the residents a day before any work will be done to your apron or curb by placing a notice on your door.

This year’s program will include the following eleven street segments to be resurfaced:

1. Willow Lane – Forestview to 151st
2. Condado – 151st to Hillside
3. El Morro Court – El Morro to end
4. Menard – Vine to 147th
5. 149th Street – Laramie to Cicero
6. Essex – Tudor to Reynolds
7. Dolores – Rob Roy to Orogrande
8. Peggy Lane – 159th to Independence
9. Mann – Craig to Blair
10. Newport – Laramie to Bellaire
11. Oakwood Court – Newport to Cul-de-Sac

Next Oak Forest City Council Meeting

The Oak Forest City Council Meeting will be held on November 10, 2020, at 7:30 PM.
To watch the previous meeting from October 27, 2020, please click on the image below.

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