Saturday, May 19, 2012
Persons with lung and heart diseases, older adults and children are advised to reduce outdoor activities due to increased risks from air pollution.
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has issued a code orange air quality alert affecting Oak Forest and the Chicago region has been issued for Saturday, May 19. Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. Sensitive groups include children, older adults and those with breathing or heart disorders, including asthma and COPD and even active adults. Those with lung diseases, older adults and children may be affected by exposure to the ozone. Persons with heat and lung disease may be impacted by particles in the air. Air quality is expected to return to code yellow or moderate level on Sunday, May 20. On moderate days, air quality levels are acceptable but may affect a small number of people who are unusually sensitive …
Friday, May 18, 2012
Metra commuters are looking at a different experience, between station closures and airport-style security restrictions. Use the convenient resources of Patch to plan your commute during NATO week, especially through the summit.
Oak Forest residents who take the train or drive to work in downtown Chicago should be prepared for delays while world leaders convene for the 2012 NATO summit at McCormick Place from May 20 to May 21. For the first time the North Atlantic Treaty Organization will be holding a summit in an American city other than Washington, D.C. In addition to global leaders, over 2,000 journalists and countless demonstrators and activists are expected to inundate the Chicago region. Use the convenience resources of Patch to monitor traffic on the roadways and find the best prices for gas. We'll also post the latest traffic, train or bus delays on the Patch Facebook page, and we invite our readers to do the same. Like Oak Forest Patch on Facebook and …
Metra riders are prohibited from bringing coffee and will face other restrictions on what they can carry on trains during the NATO summit. Breast milk, however, is OK.
While Chicago gears up for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit at McCormick Place, Metra has stepped up security throughout its rail system, including the Southwest Service and Rock Island lines. From May 19 through May 21, riders will face security screenings and restrictions on what they can carry on to trains while global leaders are in town for the NATO summit, Metra announced Monday. Sign up to receive Patch breaking news alerts. You may also want to ditch the latte. Riders will be prohibited from carrying food or beverages on the train, including coffee. However, breast milk can be carried on a train but is subject to inspection and should be declared if you’re being screened. Riders may also see increased police presence …
Thursday, May 17, 2012
State Sen. Maggie Crotty of Oak Forest announced the legislation pushing through the General Assembly.
Proposed state legislation backed by an Oak Forest Democrat aims to eliminate instances of unneeded institutional care for those with mental health issues. State Sen. Maggie Crotty (D-Oak Forest) is teaming with the Community Behavioral Healthcare Association of Illinois, who initiated the legislation. House Bill 3893 would allow the Department of Human Services to create a plan for establishing a statewide system for services. By establishing this system, the measure would help prevent unnecessary care. “Each person who suffers from a mental health disorder is unique and requires different levels of care and attention,” Crotty said in a statement for the media. “I am working to ensure that there are choices available for those seeking out…
A Cook County plan calls for burying the poor and indigent in a 5-acre section of the hospital.
A Cook County commissioner has proposed a plan that would reserve a 5-acre portion of the former Oak Forest Hospital as a county cemetery. Cook County Commissioner John Fritchey (D-Chicago) has put forward a proposed plan that could save the county $180 million and satisfy burial needs for 100 years, Sun-Times Media reports. The burial of indigent and unclaimed bodies would be handled with more dignity under this proposal, Fritchey said. On Tuesday, Sun-Times Media published an editorial endorsing the plan for the section of the hospital property: Eventually the land might have been used for something more profitable, but we can’t think of many uses more necessary. The editorial goes on to state that the county had "stumbled" in its duty …
41.60325
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Oak Forest Hospital
15900 Cicero Ave, Oak Forest, IL
/articles/real-estate-south-suburbs-oak-forest
1818841
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Saturday, May 12, 2012
In light of President Barack Obama's recent announcement supporting gay marriage and a story that has generated a lot of chatter, we want to hear what you think. Take a moment to vote in our poll.
It's no secret that President Barack Obama has proclaimed his support for same-sex marriage. It was a move—one made during an interview with ABC News that aired in part on Wednesday—that conjured a mixed reaction from those in the Southland. READ: Taking Heart and Umbrage at Obama's Stance on Same-Sex Marriage Chicago Heights resident Zhenya Krassitchkova said the proclamation was like a "breath of fresh air for the gay community." The 29-year-old entered into a civil union with her longtime girlfriend, Marina Bassett, almost one year ago when Illinois became the sixth state in the United States to issue licenses joining any two non-married adults. U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. also applauded Obama's announcement. "I want to congratulate …
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Southland residents reacted Thursday—some positively, some negatively—to President Obama's public support for gay marriage. What do you think?
President Barack Obama's public backing of gay marriage met a mixed reaction Thursday in the south suburbs. Obama said during a recent ABC news interview that he personally supports same-sex marriage, noting that he "already made a decision that we were going to take this position before the election and before the convention." In doing so, he became the first sitting president to publicly support the union. "I've just concluded that, for me personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married," Obama told ABC's Good Morning America. Chicago Heights resident Zhenya Krassitchkova said the proclamation was like a "breath of fresh air for the gay community." "It's obviously …
Troy Ishler, a life-long resident of Oak Forest, has previously served as director of the Public Works department.
Troy Ishler is in as Oak Forest's new city administrator. Ishler, who has previously served as the Pubic Works director, was appointed to the vacant position Tuesday night by the Oak Forest City Council in a unanimous vote. The annual salary for the position is listed at $107,356. The job duties, as outlined in the amended city code, are to "execute, on behalf of the City Council and at the direction of the Mayor, its administrative supervision and control of the affairs of the City in accordance with policy set by the City Council." These "affairs" include supervising all city departments, helping prepare the annual budget, acting as representative for the city and making recommendations to the mayor. Ishler also will continue to oversee …
41.611247
-87.756273
City of Oak Forest
15440 Central Ave, Oak Forest, IL
/articles/council-appoints-ishler-to-top-spot-in-city-government
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Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Oak Forest will push ahead with an electrical aggregation plan, which is expected to drop rates by allowing the city to find a new electricity supplier. Two aldermen raised some objections to an added cost for green energy credits.
Don't expect the ComEd name to go away but city officials are expecting electric bills to decrease as the hunt begins for a new electricity supplier. On Tuesday, the City Council authorized in a 5-2 vote the aggregation of the city's electrical load and put in place a plan to find a new electricity supplier. One of the first steps is to go out to bid on May 10. Voters passed a referendum on March 20 that asked if they wanted to allow the City of Oak Forest to have the authority to arrange for the supply of electricity—known as electrical aggregation. Follow Oak Forest Patch on Facebook to see more City of Oak Forest coverage! The City estimates homeowners will see an average savings of $300 per year, based on what has been seen in other …
41.611247
-87.756273
City of Oak Forest
15440 Central Ave, Oak Forest, IL
/articles/city-electric-bills-could-drop-300-a-year
1354162
/locations/6972790
Richard DeVries
11:15 am on Friday, May 18, 2012
I was going to take my kids downtown. Not with the unemployed moron protesters. They are not to peaceful. Half of them don't even know what they are protesting about.lol more ›