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.

March 2018 CIC-TV Programming Schedule

City Hall will be closed on
Saturday, March 3, 2018

It's Finally Here!
The 9th Annual Oak Forest Fleadh!

Saturday, March 3, 2018

Are you ready for the 5K run? Have you picked out the perfect spot to watch the parade? The 9th Annual Oak Forest Fleadh is this Saturday, March 3rd! The 5K begins at 8:30 a.m.! Be sure to get there early and stretch! After the 5K, children and adults can bike, blade, and play a car-free Cicero Avenue until the family parade steps off at 11 a.m. We proudly recognize the Oak Forest Veterans Commission and all veterans who have served or are serving in the armed forces as the 2018 parade grand marshal.

Online runner registration has ended but that doesn't mean you're out of luck! Come the day of the event and register at the Arbor Park Metra Lot on 159th and Oak Avenue (one block west of Cicero). Race participants will be able to access that lot from 160th Street off Cicero Avenue.

Participants can donate personal care items and clothing at the event for veterans at the Manteno Veterans Home which provides care for up to 294 skilled care and special needs veterans. Requested items must be new and include: electric razors, roll-on deodorant, body wash/spray, denture cream/tablets, combs/hairbrushes, mouthwash, aftershave, railroad or diabetic socks, men's t-shirts (M, XXL, XXXL), sweatpants (M-XXXL), sunglasses, batteries, postage stamps, small flash lights, individually packed snacks (no nuts), coffee, and lemonade mix.

Volunteers Needed!

Want to be a course marshal for the 5K Run? Want to help us with the parade? Join the fun and contact the Oak Forest-Crestwood Area Chamber at 708-687-4600 today!

IRS Alerts Taxpayers about Refund Scam

The IRS warns taxpayers of a new twist on an old scam. Criminals are depositing fraudulent tax refunds into individuals’ actual bank accounts, then attempting to reclaim the refund from the taxpayers. Here are the basic steps criminals follow to carry out this scam. The thief:

Hacks tax preparers’ computers to steal taxpayer data.
Uses the stolen information to file tax returns as the taxpayers.
Has refunds deposited into taxpayers’ bank accounts.
Contacts their victims, telling them the refund money was mistakenly deposited into their accounts and asking them to return it.

While the IRS is aware of variations of this scam, the agency also knows that this scam may continue to evolve. If someone contacts them about an erroneous refund, taxpayers should remember:

There are established procedures taxpayers should follow to return erroneous funds to the IRS. Tax Topic Number 161 - Returning an Erroneous Refund has full details about how to return the money, including the actual mailing addresses where a taxpayer should send a paper check, if necessary. By law, interest may accrue on erroneous refunds.
The IRS encourages taxpayers to discuss the issue with their financial institutions because there may be a need to close bank accounts.
Taxpayers receiving erroneous refunds also should contact their tax preparers immediately.

Early Voting Begins March 5th

Oak Forest City Hall is a designated early voting location for the upcoming Illinois Gubernatorial Primary Election. If you're unable to vote at your regular polling location on election day, come to the Council Chambers at City Hall between March 5 - March 19 to cast your vote early. Election Day is Tuesday, March 20, 2018. Early voting hours are as follows:

Monday - Saturday, March 5 - March 10
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, March 11
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Monday - Friday, March 12 - March 16
9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 17
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, March 18
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Monday, March 19
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

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!

Detours and Lane Closures: 159th Street and Cicero Avenue IDOT Construction

Click the links below to view traffic detours and lane re-routes arranged by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). These improvements are scheduled to begin April 2, 2018

Stage 1 Map: April 2 - June 2: Shows IDOT detour for 159th Street while the road between Cicero Avenue and Oak Street (one block West) is under construction.
Click here to view map of Stage 1

Stage 2 Map: June - August: West side of Cicero closed. 2-lane traffic on east lanes. All lanes open on 159th Street.
Click here to view map of Stage 2

Stage 3 Map: August - November: East side of Cicero closed. 2-lane traffic on west lanes. All lanes open on 159th Street.
Click here to view map of Stage 3

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.

It's Lunchtime!

Seniors! Need a good meal? There are lunch programs to help!

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 Ave, 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 the "Senior Services" Link on the left side). 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 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 Ave, 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.

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.