If you do not subscribe to cable television, you can watch Committee of the Whole and City Council meetings online or check out the DVDs at Acorn Public Library. 

March 2018 CIC-TV Programming Schedule

9th Annual Oak Forest Fleadh
Thank you to all those who participated!

Click the links below to view the many amazing photos taken throughout the event! You can review the race results below as well! We are looking forward to next year where we will be celebrating the 10th Anniversary! 

5K Run Photos

Parade Photos

Race Results

Oak Forest Animal Control: Coyotes

Coyotes play an important role in our ecosystem by maintaining the population of mesocarnivores such as skunks, raccoons, and foxes. They also eat insects which help to keep the number low as well. They are common throughout Illinois and reside in almost any habitat, from urban areas to suburban. They communicate with various vocal sounds like yips, howls and barks as well as marking territory with urine and feces, much like domestic dogs. Pups are born in April to May and coyotes may become aggressive if defending their den. Precaution should always be taken when coyotes are near. Here are some important points to remember.

• Never feed coyotes!
• Monitor your pet in your backyard and make sure it is leashed while walking.
• If approached by a coyote, do not run. Instead, yell, wave your arms or throw something in its direction.
• Report any aggressiveness or fearlessness in its behavior.

For more information on coyotes in our area, email the Animal Control Officer at mdrozd@oak-forest.org.

To learn more about coyotes, please visit:

Urban Coyote Research Project 
 
Illinois Extension Coyotes
 
Illinois Department of Natural Resources

State Fire Marshal Reminds Illinoisans to Change Your Clock, Change Your Batteries

Spring into Action this Sunday to Change and Test the Batteries in Your Smoke Alarm

Clocks are springing forward one hour this weekend and the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is urging Illinoisans to take a few extra minutes to change and test the batteries in their smoke alarms.

“Daylight Savings Time is a great built-in reminder for us all to check that our smoke alarms are working in case of emergency,” said State Fire Marshal Matt Perez.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that between 2009 and 2013 three in five home fire deaths occurred in homes that either did not have smoke alarms or the alarms did not work. More than half of the non-working smoke alarms either had missing or disconnected batteries. Dead batteries caused nearly a quarter of smoke alarm failures.

Illinois law requires every household to have smoke alarms within 15 feet of every bedroom and at least one alarm on each floor of the home.
The NFPA provides the following tips for installation and maintenance of smoke alarms:

• Install alarms close to each sleeping area of the house and on every level of the house. Ensure that the alarms are interconnected so when one sounds, they all do.
• Change alarm batteries at least twice a year. Daylight Savings Time is a reminder to “Change your Clock, Change your Batteries.”
• Test alarms at least once a month.
• Replace all smoke alarms when they are ten years old.
• Closed doors may slow the spread of smoke.
• Smoke alarms should be a part of a larger home escape plan for emergencies. Visit the NFPA website for more information on home escape planning. 

Daylight Savings Time is this Sunday, March 11.
For more information on fire safety and prevention, please visit OSFM’s website. 

Spring Craft Show

Come to the 29th Annual Spring Craft Show at Carl Sandburg High School benefiting Carl Sandburg Music Students: March 10, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. and March 11, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Find handmade crafts, home decor, soft goods, food items, jewelry, handbags, clothing and more! Admission is $3; kids under 12 are free! 

It's Lunchtime!

Outstanding Lunches Served to Seniors Monday-Friday!

Bremen Township continues to serve hot lunches Monday-Friday at noon, at our Senior Café located at 15350 S. Oak Park Avenue, Oak Forest. Seniors age 60+ are eligible for this meal funded in partnership with AgeOptions. A donation of $4.00 is requested but is not required. Reservations are also requested but are not always required, depending on availability. Menus are available at Oak Forest City Hall, the Bremen Township buildings on Oak Park Avenue and online at www.brementownship.net (click on  "Services" on the home page and then "Senior Services"). If you'd like to drop in and check it out, the Café opens at 10am. Coffee is available at no charge; Lunch begins at 12 Noon. For more information or to make a reservation, call 708-687-8220. 

Senior Lunch Program in Oak Forest Seeks Adult Volunteer
 
The Bremen Township Senior Lunch Program seeks a volunteer who would like to help serve lunch to Seniors age 60+. If you can move about efficiently and would like to remain active, our Lunch program needs a server for a 2-hour shift one day per week. This position would most likely be on a Wednesday from roughly 11am-1pm and involves set-up of fruit cups before lunch, carrying lunch trays to customers during lunch and retrieving used trays after lunch. Benefits include smiles, appreciative guests and extra "steps" in your workout plan. The Bremen Township Senior Café is located at 15350 S. Oak Park Avenue, Oak Forest. Our program is funded in partnership with AgeOptions. Also seeking substitute servers who would only be called on an "as-needed" basis. If interested, please ask for Sue or Joan at 708-687-8220.

The Oak Forest Senior Commission

The Oak Forest Senior Commission is looking for senior citizens who might like to serve as members of this commission, which meets in City Hall on every second Wednesday of the month at 1:00 PM. The Senior Commission gets involved in various community events, such as the annual Health Fair at the Oak Forest Park District and monthly senior lunches at the Oak Forest Community Center. Should you wish to join this commission, please contact the Mayor’s Office at 708-687-4050, extension 1005. 

e-Briefs is a free, voluntary e-mail service, which provides information about government services, activities and events. On a weekly basis, you can expect to find City Council news and agendas, construction updates, public safety reminders, senior and youth news, and much more!  Please forward this e-mail to friends and family and encourage them to sign up for the weekly e-Briefs by visiting the Notify Me section of our website.  Contact the City of Oak Forest at 708-687-4050 or cityofoakforest@oak-forest.org.