Officers receive sweet treat from local family

On Wednesday, the Guglielmo Family presented Sergeant Kocek with a law enforcement survival kit with a sweet twist. The gift basket included: Lifesavers to remind officers of the many times they've been one; Smarties to give officers wisdom for those split second decisions; Hershey Kisses to show their love for officers; Gum to help everyone stick together; Tootsie Rolls because officers have to roll with the punches; Peppermint Patties to help officers keep their cool; Mounds for the mounds of courage officers show; and Laffy Taffy to remind officers that laughter is a great stress reliever.

Oak Forest police officers were extremely touched by the Guglielmo's gift and sincerely appreciate all of our terrific residents who continue to reach out to show their appreciation to them.

ComEd prepares for high temperatures

Chicago is bracing for some of the highest temperatures since 2013, and ComEd is taking proactive steps to prepare for the excessive heat conditions. The company is closely monitoring forecasts and has additional staffing in place to ensure it’s ready to respond to customers and any potential power issues.

The Eagle Sports Range is another step closer to opening. Please visit the range's website or follow it on social media for the latest information.

Pokemon Go fever has hit City Hall! Did you know that the gazebo is a Poke Gym and the gazebo dedication sign and fire sign are Poke Stops? Happy hunting!

Here's a helpful tip from the Oak Forest Fire Department: Download the FEMA app at the App Store or Google Play for weather alerts, disaster safety tips, interactive emergency checklist, fire safety reminders, and much more.

Is your pet licensed with the city?

City ordinance requires all dogs and cats that are housed in Oak Forest to be licensed with the city. You may download an animal license application form or contact the City Clerk's Office to receive a mailed form. You will need the rabies inoculation number (tag number) along with the date of vaccination. Please note that the city code restricts the maximum number of dogs and cats per household to three.

Water conservation measures are in effect

Please remember that odd/even sprinkling rules are in effect through September 15. Sprinkling is allowed from 7 to 11 a.m. and 7 to 11 p.m. on the odd/even basis. If the last digit in your street address is odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) then you may sprinkle only on odd numbered calendar days. If the last digit in your address is even (2, 4, 6, 8, 0) then you are restricted to sprinkling on even numbered calendar days.

Water conservation is required for suburban communities using water from Lake Michigan. These rules apply regardless of rainfall trends and are intended to keep great lakes water sustainable to serve the millions of residents that rely upon this natural resource.

We're cooling things off tomorrow at the market with a special Christmas in July promotion! Our vendors are mixing it up with Christmas candles, gingerbread smoothies, pumpkin bread, holiday lawn ornaments, and more! And, don't miss our guest vendor, Mike's Custom Cedar Bird Houses. We'll also have face painting and crafts for the kids tomorrow from 10 a.m. to noon.

Taxpayer advocate office hours

Taxpayer Advocate Guy Gattone will be in his office next week on Monday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at City Hall. His office will be open twice a week until Bremen Township closes for appeals with the Cook County Board of Review.

City Hall is closed tomorrow

During non-business hours, please use the night deposit mail slot at City Hall, pay parking or ordinance tickets online or sign up for online water bill payments.

Parade registration is open

Register your group, business or family for the I Am An American Day Parade on Sunday, September 4. Decorate your bikes, scooters, strollers, etc. and help us lead the parade! Parade registration is free and must be submitted by August 26. Parade staging takes place at Hille Middle School at 5800 W. 151st Street at 10 a.m. Parade units line up in the order they arrive.

Free rain barrels available to residents

The City of Oak Forest, in conjunction with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, is pleased to offer free rain barrels to our residents. There is a limit of four barrels per household. Rain barrel orders must be turned in by December 31. Please note that due to the high demand, the delivery time may take up to three months.

City Council meets next week

The City Council will meet on Tuesday, July 26 at 7 p.m. (COW meeting) and at 8 p.m. for its regular meeting in Council Chambers at City Hall. Citizens are invited to attend the meetings and are welcome to participate at the designated time.

Check out what's happening at the library in August

Visit the calendar page on the Acorn Public Library website to find out what programs and events are happening in August.

Tune into CIC-TV

If you are a cable television subscriber, you can view the Community Information Channel (CIC-TV) on Comcast channel 19, Wide Open West channel 6 and AT&T U-verse channel 99 to learn more about city programs and events. 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.

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.