City Hall is closed Saturday, February 16

The City Hall Clerk's Office is open one Saturday a month (except June). After hours, all payments can be dropped in the Night Depository Mail slot to the right of the City Hall main entrance.

Click the buttons above to become a sponsor, register for the parade or sign-up for the CNB 5K run/walk in the 10th Annual Oak Forest Fleadh on Saturday, March 2, 2019!

Pictured from left to right: Honorable Mayor Henry L. Kuspa, Sergeant Scott Durano, Deputy Chief Jason Reid, Chief Timothy J. Kristin.

School of Police Staff and Command Graduations

The Oak Forest Police Department is pleased to announce the recent graduation of Sergeant Scott Durano and Deputy Chief Jason Reid from the School of Police Staff and Command (SPSC) at Northwestern University on January 18th 2019. Both officers have successfully completed the ten (10) week Staff and Command program held in Oak Forest, Illinois. This program, which was implemented by the Center for Public Safety in 1983, has graduated over 16,000 students both nationally and internationally. Sergeant Durano and Deputy Chief Reid were students in SPSC Class # 446.

The School of Police Staff and Command provides upper-level college instruction in a total of twenty-two core or mandatory blocks of instruction. The major topics of study include: Management and Management Theory, Organizational Behavior, Human Resources for Law Enforcement, Budgeting, Staffing Allocation and Personnel Deployment.

Each student is academically challenged through a total of eighteen written examinations, projects, and quizzes in addition to two research papers that are a required part of the curriculum. Upon successful completion, students may be awarded a total of eight units of undergraduate credit from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

The Center for Public Safety was established at Northwestern University in 1936 with the specific goal of expanding university-based education and training for the Law Enforcement Community. Since its inception, the Center has broadened its original objective and now provides a variety of courses and programs in the area of Police Training, Management Training, and Executive Development.

I am extremely proud of the effort and commitment that Sgt. Durano and Deputy Chief Reid demonstrated during this course. (Kristin) This course will assist the two members of the department to do their jobs at a very high professional level.

Deputy Chief Jason Reid was awarded The Franklin M Kremil Leadership Award. This award was established in perpetuity by the centers founder. Its purpose is to recognize and thus encourage the high ethical and professional values and dedication to public service upon which the Center for Public Safety was founded. Deputy Chief Reid was honored for demonstrating unsurpassed integrity and dedication. In addition to this honor, Deputy Chief Reid served as the class president and Sergeant Durano as vice-president.

Next City Council Meeting is Tuesday, February 26, 2019

8:00 PM in City Hall Council Chambers

Click the graphic above to watch coverage of the City Council meeting from February 12.

Oak Forest Municipal Code Changes: Alternative Nicotine Products

Oak Forest Police Chief Tim Kristin, with Oak Forest High School Dean of Students Jason Thormeyer and Principal Brad Sikora, proposed changes to the Oak Forest Municipal Codes #118.056, #118.057, and #118.058 at the City Council Meeting on Tuesday, February 12. The changes would add "alternative nicotine products" to the list of banned items and products effecting the possession, sale and use by any person under the age of 18 years. Alternative nicotine products is defined as a product or device not consisting of or containing tobacco that provides for the ingestion into the body of nicotine by chewing, smoking, absorbing, dissolving, inhaling, snorting or otherwise.

E-cigarettes are electronic devices that heat a liquid and produce an aerosol, or mix of small particles in the air. E-cigarettes come in many shapes and sizes. Most have a battery, a heating element, and a place to hold a liquid. Some e-cigarettes look like regular cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. Some look like USB flash drives, pens, and other everyday items. Larger devices such as tank systems, or “mods,” do not look like other tobacco products. E-cigarettes are known by many different names. They are sometimes called “e-cigs,” “e-hookahs,” “mods,” “vape pens,” “vapes,” “tank systems,” and “electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS).” • Using an e-cigarette is sometimes called “vaping” or “JUULing.” Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine—the addictive drug in regular cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products.

Nicotine can harm the developing adolescent brain. The brain keeps developing until about age 25. Using nicotine in adolescence can harm the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control. Each time a new memory is created or a new skill is learned, stronger connections – or synapses – are built between brain cells. Young people’s brains build synapses faster than adult brains. Nicotine changes the way these synapses are formed. Using nicotine in adolescence may also increase risk for future addiction to other drugs.

The users of vapes, JUULs, and similar products is extremely prevalent among high school students, creating a new generation of nicotine users and “smokers” after years of successful programs aimed at reducing teen smoking. Every day in high schools across the U.S., the use of electronic cigarettes is common and occurs on school grounds undetected by school staff. Vapes and electronic cigarettes have become increasingly discreet and available in an array of enticing flavors. Some vapes now resemble regular pens and are more difficult for teachers and administrators to notice and confiscate. The JUUL resembles a USB stick, and its small size fits into the palm of a hand.

Tobacco products have been banned from school campuses for decades, but some vapes can use flavored vapor without nicotine or tobacco. These devices can also be used for the ingestion of marijuana and related substances. Devices used for these purposes are often called “wax pens” or “dab pens” and are also small and easily pass undetected.

The City Council approved this code change unanimously.

Click here to view the City Council Memo and municipal code changes.

Chicagoland Vintage Home Association Energy Upgrades

Special Movie Screening

IndieFlix, a leading independent online streaming platform, along with its non-profit arm, the IndieFlix Foundation, is sparking a global conversation about anxiety through screenings of its brand-new documentary, “Angst: Raising Awareness Around Anxiety." Bremen High School District 228 will be hosting a free community screening open to all on Thursday, February 21, 2019 at 7:00 pm at Tinley Park High School.

The producers of this film, Scilla Andreen and Karin Gornick, have one goal: to start a global conversation and raise awareness around anxiety. The community event will feature a viewing of the 56-minute film, followed by an informative panel discussion led by experts at Bremen Youth Services and B.Well Studio. More information about the film can be found at angstmovie.com.

Click the image to view and download the February Luncheon flyer!

Oak Forest Senior Luncheon
Thursday, February 28, 2019

Featuring Phil & Amy

Phil & Amy are recognized for performing at many types of celebrations and get-togethers. Phil & Amy perform as a duo, providing their own accompaniment with keyboards and flute. Phil & Amy sing Broadway and the classics.

Join us Thursday, February 28, 2019 at the Senior Center (Oak Forest Community Center) 15501 S. Kilpatrick Avenue. Doors open at 10 AM. Entertainment begins at 11 AM. Lunch is at 12 noon. After lunch, stay for free cash bingo at 12:45 PM.

Tickets are available for $5.00 at City Hall (15540 S. Central; 708-687-4050) or can be purchased at the door on the day of the event. Hope to see you there!

Click the image above to view and download the Upcoming Events flyer.

Join 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.

Volunteers Needed:
Emergency Management Agency
of Oak Forest

Have you ever wanted to be a part of the team responsible for preparing and coordinating responses to emergencies? The Emergency Management Agency (EMA) of Oak Forest is looking for volunteers to add to their team!

Click here to learn more about EMA and to download an application.

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.