Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More — An Orange County commissioner is pushing for action to protect Split Oak Forest as plans for a 9-mile toll road move forward The toll road would connect State Road 417 near Boggy Creek in Orange County to Cyrils Drive in Osceola County — a route that requires the road to be built through a section of the forest Last year, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) voted 6-1 accepting a deal to build a toll road through Split Oak Forest including Orange County Commissioner Kelly Martinez Semrad said they were blindsided when they noticed planted stakes on the ground to indicate the highway’s path in Split Oak Semrad says this prompted her to ask Orange County officials for clarification on the road’s status She and other commissioners received a lengthy reply from the Orange County Environmental Protection Division with 80 pages attached outlining the settled decision The memo also indicated that an agreement was reached between Osceola County and the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) since the 1.3-mile segment of road to be built through Split Oak Forest is entirely within Osceola County Semrad adds she was surprised because there was still ongoing litigation between the two counties at the time When asked if anything could derail the project CFX spokesperson Brian Hutchings said “all signs point to go." Now, advocates of the Save Split Oak campaign are calling Osceola County officials out because of a Jan. 30 agreement with CFX and FWC to move ahead with the project They claim that this new deal not only excludes Orange County but it goes against the original interlocal agreement that has protected Split Oak for decades The expressway would affect about 160 acres — 60 acres directly and 100 acres indirectly — of land out of the forest’s nearly 1,700 acres All the affected land in question is located entirely in Osceola County Split Oak Forest is a conservation area jointly owned by Orange and Osceola counties that is managed under an agreement by the FWC both counties partnered together to place protections on Split Oak but the proposed toll road development has landed them on opposite sides experts say it remains one of the state’s most important habitats for the endangered gopher tortoise Now that Osceola County is going ahead with building the toll road Semrad says she believes the public has a right to know what’s going on She said she plans to bring action items against Osceola County during Tuesday’s Board of County Commissioners meeting in Orange County.  the Orange County Environmental Protection Division said: “Orange County does not have jurisdictional or regulatory permitting authority over lands in Osceola County including the portion of (the toll road) proposed to impact (the Split Oak Forest and Wildlife Environmental Area).” Semrad is pushing Orange County staff to bring the issue to the dais to see if there is a way they can leverage Orange County’s relationship with Osceola County to influence the project According to the CFX website: “The Osceola Parkway Extension would provide one solution to enhance mobility for the area’s fast-growing population and economy improve connectivity to Orlando International Airport and relieve congestion on local roads.” You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience it looked like Adams County Christian School and Oak Forest Academy would have no issues getting in Game 2 of their best-of-three 2025 MAIS Class 5A South State Playoffs first-round series That was until the very same system that rumbled through the Miss-Lou earlier in the day moved southeast into parts of southeastern Louisiana So much so that even a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for central Tangipahoa Parish at about the same time the game at Oak Forest Academy would have started — 4:30 p.m Too much rain down there ended up falling for the game to be rescheduled for Saturday So the game ended up being rescheduled for 4:30 p.m That still didn’t matter to the District 3-5A champion and No 1 seed Yellow Jackets as the defeated the District 4-5A No 4 seed ACCS Rebels 13-1 in just four innings to sweep the series two games to none ACCS actually scored the first run of the game in the top of the second inning on a solo home run by Sean Kerry Cothern would be the only offense for the Rebels against starting pitcher Cole Covington and closer Tyler Mulkey Oak Forest Academy took the lead for good thanks to a six-run rally in the bottom of the second inning The Yellow Jackets (22-4) tacked on three runs in the bottom of the third inning and then ended the game early thanks to four runs in the bottom of the fourth did most of the damage offensively for the Yellow Jackets ACCS pitching literally could not get him out as he was also walked twice Maison Bales went 2-for-2 with one RBI and two runs scored Covington went three innings and allowed one earned run on two hits with six strikeouts Mulkey came on in relief and allowed one base hit and struck out two batters in the top of the fourth inning ACCS finished the 2025 season with an overall record of 14-13 As for who the Rebels’ head coach will be for the 2026 season and beyond David King coached in an interim position this season after Matthew Freeman’ stunning decision to step aside from coaching and being the athletics director at the school last November Monday’s SWAC college basketball lineup has lots in store Among those contests is the Southern Jaguars squaring off… Ranked squads are on the Monday college basketball schedule in two games including the Wake Forest Demon Deacons… Monday’s college basketball schedule has several interesting games including the matchup between the McNeese Cowboys and the Stephen… which includes the Tampa Bay Lightning taking on the Florida Panthers Top-25 teams will take the court across two games on Monday’s college basketball slate Adams County residents: Could you live with once-a-week garbage pick up if it would save you significantly on your monthly garbage collection bill View Results rewritten or redistributed without permission https://www.enterprise-journal.com/playoff-pioneers-parklane-drops-game-one-visiting-oak-forest-cloned Click here for additional copyright information about this article Local news coverage is critical for a strong and vibrant community local publications are dying because of monopolistic Big Tech Over 30% of all newspapers are expected to close within the next three years Help support local news by making a donation today You would be supporting a local institution founded upon principles of integrity and strong editorial standards and have roots embedded in our local community Realtime Radar Hourly Forecast 7-Day Forecast Based on data from National Weather Service and OpenWeather User Help/Support Page Copyright website@enterprise-journal.com © Copyright 2025 The Enterprise Journal, 112 Oliver Emmerich Dr. McComb, MS  | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy If you are an existing Print subscriber click HERE for your login info you can also easily register or login with an existing Google you can also easily use an existing Google Miss.-Vicksburg Junior Varsity boys’ soccer team played in the St The Gators came out with a win over Manchester Academy where Brandon Nailor had 2 goals while Casey Brown and Jamarion Young both had assists and Arthur Davis had a total of 15 saves Aloysius defeated Oak Forest 6-1 and tied with Manchester Academy 1-1 Wheeldon scored the Flashes’ lone goal against Manchester Polk and Porter Selected to play in the Central Mississippi All-Star Soccer Game Millsaps Alum Leads Life of Service On and Off the Court For Current Students For Faculty and Staff University Directory for the annual Oak Forest Community Garden plant sale sponsored by the American Beverage Association There will be a wide variety of vegetables and some herbs to browse and all proceeds go directly back to the garden Our prices remain the same as previous years: individual plants are $3 each or you can buy 5 plants for $10 (a better deal) UA Little Rock is a metropolitan research university in the South that provides accessibility to a quality education through flexible learning and unparalleled internship opportunities Released in 2023, the Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5) includes an Art × Climate Gallery The gallery collection features the work of 92 artists This photograph may only be reproduced or re-used in connection with the Fifth National Climate Assessment Any other use must be negotiated with the author The amount of forest burned in the western United States has risen compared to the mid- and late twentieth century. The increase has been driven at least partly by climate warming, the NCA5’s Forests chapter reports The area burned by high-severity wildfires has risen roughly eightfold since 1985 and fire activity is projected to increase with continued warming and drying Jenny Helbraun Abramson produced this triptych with digital photography. This is the artist’s statement, reflecting on the devastation of the Tubbs Fire: The 2017 Tubbs Fire traumatized my home community Dozens of lives were lost and more than 5,000 homes I began to record the state of our beloved oak woodlands and my shock at what fire left behind have wrought a new sense of fragility and responsibility after our naivete was crushed Oak Forest Elementary's Odyssey of the Mind Team is heading to the World Championship this summer Anna Maida (coach) and Matt Notley (coach) Local neighborhood business Yellow Rose Fitness provided space for the students to test their balsa wood structure to see how much weight it can hold The team built the whole set and props for Problem #4 One of the animals featured was a built-from-scratch wooden parrot by 4th-grader Braden Lucas Balsa wood test structure built by the Oak Forest Elementary Odyssey of the Mind team (left) The final design is top secret until the Worlds competition is over Note that the platform holding the weights is carried in its entirety by the seemingly fragile balsa wood structure in the center (right) The sturdy posts are simply there to catch the weights in the event the balsa wood structure should collapse The community has a special group of children to cheer for this spring: Oak Forest Elementary’s Odyssey of the Mind (OM) team has earned a coveted spot at the 2025 OM World Finals to be held May 21–25 at Michigan State University After placing second at both the regional and Texas state competitions the team—comprised of seven talented third through fifth graders—is ready to take on the world is an international creative problem-solving competition that challenges students to think outside the box Participants tackle complex challenges with ingenuity and teamwork—skills that serve them far beyond the competition stage and advancing to the World Finals is an extraordinary accomplishment at any age and Charlotte Notley (3rd) have spent months refining their project they designed and built a lightweight 17.8-gram balsa wood structure that astonishingly held 620 pounds before crashing in dramatic—and crowd-pleasing—fashion Their challenge also included performing an original themed skit to complement their engineering marvel and Matthew Notley have witnessed the team’s transformation firsthand "It’s amazing and it’s why I coach," said a member of the coaching team "I love seeing the transformation through the season as each child gains confidence and begins to see their own strength and creativity and celebrate each other’s unique strengths The sense of pride I know they have over what they’ve created can be seen in their smiles I hope they carry these lessons on with them into the future." Competing at the World Finals is about much more than trophies "Going to Worlds is an incredible honor," the coaches added "We are so excited to represent our community and school (Oak Forest Elementary) as we compete against kids from all over the country This is a potentially once-in-a-lifetime experience for these kids." The team is currently fundraising to cover travel and registration costs through their GoFundMe page Any excess funds raised will help support future Odyssey of the Mind teams at Oak Forest Elementary ensuring that the tradition of creativity and collaboration continues the journey has been just as rewarding as the destination "I love doing something fun and creative after school It’s an opportunity to meet other people and make new friends," said student Maya Abraham I am looking forward to meeting people from around the world and exchanging ideas as well as trading for fun pins from other places." Teammates Sloan Notley and Charlotte Notley shared "Our favorite part of working on our Odyssey of the Mind project was building and painting all the props together with our team We had so much fun coming up with silly and creative ideas and turning them into real things We also really liked solving problems as a team and practicing our skit—even when we messed up we’re super excited to travel to a new place with our team And fifth grader Jillian Maida summed it up perfectly: "I loved making our props and costumes and coming up with the play I'm excited about the feeling I get when I think about everything we've created and that we made it to Worlds and deserve to be there." As they prepare to showcase their hard work on the global stage the Oak Forest Elementary team embodies the spirit of Odyssey of the Mind: bold ideas To support the team’s journey to Michigan, visit their GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-oak-forest-get-to-world-finals Email notifications are only sent once a day there are no recent results for popular images there are no recent results for popular videos there are no recent results for popular commented articles Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Annual logging in the Sparta Mountain Wildlife Management Area (WMA) aims to create young forest areas and enhance oak forest a wildlife biologist with the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) told the Township Council at its March 25 meeting but it turns into something wonderful,” she said the state amended its forest stewardship plan in 2021 limiting forest management to a maximum of 10 acres a year project manager of forestry activities in the Sparta Mountain WMA She works with the DEP Fish and Wildlife’s Endangered and Nongame Species Program Treatments are limited to seed tree and shelterwood because they create young forest and help regenerate oak trees which enhances the biodiversity of wildlife At least a third of the trees that are cut down are left there as they would have been if a disaster brought them down the average number of bird species has increased from 10 to 16 and the number of rare and declining species has doubled from three to six the number of bird species has more than doubled and the number of rare and declining species has quadrupled The area New Jersey occupies was primarily an oak-hickory forest for the past 10,000 years “Less than 7 percent of the forest of northern New Jersey was that old-growth eastern hemlock forest that you might imagine.” more than 90 percent of the Sparta Mountain WMA forest is mature That’s because all the trees started growing back after Thomas Edison abandoned his mining operations there in 1930 “The past land use gives us a forest that is not entirely natural.” a wood thrush will nest in a closed-canopy forest but its young chicks go to the young forest “The longer the distance the chicks have to move to find that young forest more than 322,000 acres of young forest has been lost to development on private land Another 44,000 acres of young forest has been lost on state land during that time as the forest has matured The Sparta Mountain WMA was purchased by the state in 1994 That area and the nearby Edison bog and wetlands was purchased in 2002 and 2007 with a grant from the U.S Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service A forest stewardship plan was approved in 2009 An addendum to the 2017 plan was adopted in 2021 assistant DEP commissioner overseeing Fish and Wildlife programs said the DEP manages habitats for rare species those listed as threatened and endangered and those “that are moving in a direction that gives us concern.” ”Certain species have narrow habitat requirements,” he said “If we don’t have all of those habitat types in our landscape across New Jersey then we won’t be able to do our jobs to make sure that we maintain species in New Jersey - the wide diversity that we currently have - for all the public and all future generations.” executive director of New Jersey Forest Watch and a Sparta resident accused the DEP of “greenwashing” in using young forest as a reason for deforestation Sparta Mountain was purchased with Green Acres funds and “we New Jersey residents do not want to see our public forests continually degraded and destroyed under the guise of making them healthier.” the intact species that need the forest to be a closed canopy - their needs are being ignored.” Logging has hurt the vernal pools and created soil compaction and soil degradation While the DEP measures success by the number of bird species sighted ”We want to encourage a science-based methodology executive director of the New Jersey Highlands Coalition said her group was told in 2018 that no logging would be done at the site “and now it is being logged.” “We don’t believe that we have been heard.” the DEP’s treatment being used in the Sparta Mountain WMA is the same one that a hunting group recommends for creating deer habitat “And we have a terrible problem with the over-presence of deer on Sparta Mountain.” vice president of the New Jersey Forestry Association said the Highlands Council reported that anticipated tree regeneration is occurring on multiple sites and found no observed activities of concern related to Highlands resources the Highlands Council is very critical of these types of projects That’s not reflected in either of these two documents.” Petzinger said her salary is paid by a state wildlife grant and the logging is funded by the state’s corporate business tax The logging contractor controls what happens to the logged trees https://www.enterprise-journal.com/playoff-pioneers-parklane-baseball-against-cathedral-cloned NATCHEZ — It did not take long for visiting Oak Forest Academy to establish itself as the one of the top teams not only in MAIS Class 5A but also the entire state as the Yellow Jackets took care of the Adams County Christian School Rebels 13-0 in just four innings last Tuesday afternoon at Papa New Field Game 1 of this best-of-three 2025 MAIS Class 5A South State Playoffs first-round game between the host and District 4-5A No 4 seed Rebels and the District 3-5A champion and No turned out to be one in which ACCS would rather forget ACCS was out-hit by Oak Forest Academy 10 to two walked a combined seven batters between starting pitcher Coleman Carter and reliever Jackson Anderson winning pitcher Logan Freche walked just two batters and the defense behind him committed no errors The Yellow Jackets (20-4) scored three runs in the top of the first inning and that was pretty much all of the run support Freche needed He allowed just two hits — singles by Colton Rabb and Sean Kerry Cothern who each went 1-for-2 — struck out six batters and the only walks he issued were to Carter as well as Ryder Smith the Yellow Jackets were not even close to being done bringing in players across home plate They did that seven times in the top of the second inning to make it a 10-0 game and that was it for Carter on the mound on eight hits with four strikeouts and five walks in his two innings in the top of the third inning and just like that Oak Forest was ahead 13-0 Anderson was able to keep the Yellow Jackets off the scoreboard in the top of the fourth but the Rebels’ bats remained silent against Freche in the bottom of the fourth as OFA run-ruled ACCS after four innings of play Freche also helped his own cause by going 3-for-4 with a double and one run batted in Keegan Kelsey hit a home run and went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored Kaul Perkins also hit a home run for the Yellow Jackets Blayke Danna was 2-for-3 with two RBis while Cole Covington went 1-for-3 with a double to take on Oak Forest Academy for Game 2 of the series at 4:30 p.m If they upset the Yellow Jackets in that game a third and deciding game will take place at 6:30 p.m shooting a segment for The Houston Collective (Photo courtesy of The Houston Collective) Beth Silva undergoing hair and makeup on set show poster (courtesy of The Houston Collective) longtime Oak Forest residents and partners in both life and business are bringing Houston’s creative spirit and entrepreneurial energy to a national audience with their new show The Houston Collective—the city’s first and only locally hosted series featured on the Emmy-nominated American Dream TV platform Slated to premiere this May on major streaming platforms like Amazon Prime The Houston Collective spotlights the founders and cultural shapers who are defining the future of Houston the series is already in production and will film throughout 2025 Confirmed features for Episode One include local favorites like Mont Art House and Maven Coffee + Cocktails Future episodes will highlight standouts like Coltivare Pizza and Garden and more of the city’s most influential names in design they’re building a narrative—one that starts right here in the Heights-area neighborhoods they love Out of a pool of more than 2.3 million Houstonians Beth and Michael were selected as the only hosts representing the Bayou City on American Dream TV a network with more than 32 million segment views and 55 million impressions To show the rest of the country what makes Houston—and especially the people in it—so special Q: As the only Houston-based hosts selected for American Dream TV’s national platform what does it mean to you both personally and professionally to represent the city through The Houston Collective—and why was it important for you to ground this show in Houston’s local neighborhoods A (Beth & Michael Silva): “Being selected to represent Houston on a national stage is a privilege—and deeply personal and we’ve built our businesses with Houston as our foundation The Houston Collective is about more than real estate—it’s about capturing the heart of this city and sharing the stories that make it unlike anywhere else Oak Forest has been a cornerstone of our work and our life We’ve watched new construction go from the $700s to nearly $2 million Not many real estate professionals get to witness that kind of transformation from the inside out—but we’ve lived it We’re spending time in neighbors’ homes—completely unrelated to work—because this is our community we’re going to bring more eyeballs to Oak Forest than anyone ever has That excites us—to show the rest of the city & country what Oak Forest living really looks like and why this neighborhood is so special.” Q: Your first episode features everything from luxury hotels to design studios How do you choose the people and places to spotlight and what kind of impact do you hope these stories will have on how Houstonians—and viewers nationwide—see our city A (Beth & Michael Silva): “We spotlight people and places that reflect Houston’s energy—those building something meaningful we’re drawn to the “why” behind what they do Our hope is that the stories we tell inspire pride for Houstonians and curiosity from a national audience and we want to reframe how people see it: not as a city you pass through Q: You’ve built a diverse portfolio through Harvard Homes How has your experience across real estate and entrepreneurship shaped your approach to storytelling on The Houston Collective—and what can viewers expect in future episodes A (Beth & Michael Silva): “When you live and breathe every part of the process—building These are the places where astronauts are raised That perspective influences how we tell stories—not just about homes but about the people and decisions shaping Houston’s future And that carries into The Houston Collective Future episodes will go deeper into the deals and the balancing act so many of us are living It’s real life—in all its chaos and beauty.” As The Houston Collective prepares for its national debut the Silvas remain committed to showcasing not just skyscrapers and signature dishes but also the soul of the city—one that begins in neighborhoods like Oak Forest and stretches across every corner of Houston To follow along with the show’s progress and Beth and Michael Silva see https://tinyurl.com/TheHoustonCollective Beth and Michael Silva highlight the founders • Harvard Homes – 3x national award-winning construction company • Happen Houston – Leading real estate agency • Six Two One – Direct-to-seller investment business • Twine Society – Airbnb properties located in Fredericksburg These are Michael and Beth Silva’s vertically integrated businesses One of the episode’s segments focuses on Oak Forest—where Harvard Homes builds B-Roll Locations in and around Oak Forest & The Heights: Guest Features (Outside the Oak Forest/Heights area): 2025 at 3:17 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A community meeting is set ahead of the start of demolition at the Oak Forest Campus at 159th and Cicero IL — With demolition set to begin at the former Oak Forest Hospital campus Cook County officials will hold a community meeting Tuesday The Cook County Bureau of Asset Management (BAM) invites the public to attend the meeting at Markham Courthouse, 16501 Kedzie Ave., Feb. 18 at 1 p.m., or join the meeting virtually for the latest information on demolition at the campus at 159th Street and Cicero Avenue BAM is the agency leading the demolition of buildings at the campus Most of these structures are outdated and costly to maintain," Cook County officials said in a bulletin the County will save millions of taxpayer dollars related to the maintenance and upkeep of the Campus." but paused to explore options for preservation or "adaptive reuse" of some buildings "Robust outreach was also conducted to ensure local businesses and contractors had an opportunity to learn about the project and how to participate," the bulletin reads evaluating and refining such a complex undertaking resulted in administrative delays." Buildings scheduled for demolition are on property owned by Cook County and on the east by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County "The plan for demolition includes the abatement, remediation and removal of all but a few of the structures on the site, as well as the central utility plant and underground tunnels," the County said on its website. The Forest Preserve property is not affected by the demolition Visitors to the Preserve have alternative access to the Oak Forest Heritage Preserve through the southwest corner of the preserve at the Don Gorman Park District facility the 159th Street entrance and the Cicero entrance to the Oak Forest campus are closed to the public Officials have said the demolition project is complex and will take place in multiple phases and activities Structures will be taken apart piece by piece; no explosives will be used This phase includes the demolition of 11 buildings The project team has mobilized and is preparing the site for demolition Mesh has been installed on a six-foot-high construction fence around the site Phase 2 (to last approximately 24 months) includes: "The County and its contractors are diligent about the proper and safe disposal of any contaminants," officials said "All work will comply with standards of the Environmental Protection Agency Occupational Safety and Health Administration Illinois Department of Public Health and National Emission Standards with results available to the public on the County’s website primarily through the use of high-pressure water cannons that wet down masonry and other materials removed from the building as demolition progresses," officials said "Licensed air sampling professionals will conduct onsite air quality monitoring to ensure that dust emissions are properly managed and stay within levels allowed by environmental health regulators." The County will keep residents, businesses and organizations informed via community meetings, briefings with local officials, mailed bulletins and electronic newsletters. The public can also share questions and concerns directly to Cook County BAM at Audrey.Jonas@cookcountyil.gov. Regularly updated information will be posted at www.cookcountyil.gov/oakforest Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 2025 at 10:55 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Oak Forest residents will pay more for water and sewer services beginning May 1 IL — Oak Forest residents will soon pay more for water and sewer services with increases set to go into effect May 1 The increases will cover the cost of operations as well as an increase from its suppliers—the City of Chicago and the Village of Oak Lawn the city’s water and sewer fund must be a self-supporting one The water rates will increase from $11.12 per 1,000 gallons to $11.83 per 1,000 gallons ($.71 increase) for the first 25,000 gallons used (Tier 1) and from $12.50 per 1,000 gallons to $13.30 per 1,000 gallons ($.80 increase) for usage above 25,000 gallons (Tier 2) The sewer rate will increase from $2.20 to $2.28 per 1,000 gallons ($.08 increase) The quarterly water base fee per individual meter will remain at $30 and the fee for multi-family unit buildings serviced by one water meter will remain at $10 The city estimates the increase to the consumer will range between 4 percent to 5.5 percent depending on the amount of water used 2025 at 6:08 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Three candidates are jockeying to become the next mayor of Oak Forest in the April 1 and Oak Forest will come out of it with its first new mayor in nearly two decades current Mayor Hank Kuspa did not seek re-election Three candidates are vying for his spot: Donald Guisinger Patch sent a questionnaire to all candidates Their answers are available in candidate profiles linked below: Guisinger stressed building out the economic development department to help attract new businesses to the city's struggling stretches He also wants to see the city's streets cleaned of litter and debris "My vision is to see this city grow into a vibrant and thriving community," Guisinger said "I'm running because I believe we're on the wrong path I want to put us on the right path so the next generation can feel safe and confident in starting their families here." See more of his answers here. Current 6th Ward Alderman Hortsman would focus on bringing in businesses to our city and working beside the administrative team "to ensure that we continually grow and improve "We will be having three bargaining units coming to the table We need to continue to be fiscally sound with all the items we have We have been working diligently on infrastructure." See more of his answers here. Candidate and businessman Keeler wants to focus on sidewalk and street repair and making Oak Forest more business friendly See more of his answers here. Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Not sure of your polling place? Look it up here 2025 at 10:59 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Three fought to become the next mayor of Oak Forest it appears James Hortsman has secured the spot as the first new mayor of Oak Forest in nearly two decades With longtime Mayor Hank Kuspa stepping back Current 6th Ward Alderman James Hortsman appears to have secured the win as of 9 p.m Check in here for vote totals as they come in Results are unofficial until certified by county clerks Current 6th Ward Alderman Hortsman would focus on bringing in businesses to our city and working beside the administrative team "to ensure that we continually grow and improve."We will be having three bargaining units coming to the table There are no statistics available for this player Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Research shows about five to 10 percent of people with cancer have another separate cancer occur at the same time.  says the first sign something wasn’t right was when he noticed blood in his urine in January 2023 Brtis went to Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital for tests and a mass was discovered in his bladder pathologists diagnosed the Oak Forest man with muscle-invasive high-grade urothelial carcinoma Brtis was given another diagnosis – right lung adenocarcinoma “While undergoing the work-up for the bladder cancer, we were surprised that he, at the same time, had another cancer. It was a lung cancer and that complicated things for him, because it wasn’t a straightforward case,” said Yazan Numan, MD, a medical oncologist at the Northwestern Medicine St. George Cancer Institute in Orland Park Numan says patients can have two cancers at the same time from five to 10% of patients can get diagnosed with two cancers at the same time this is due to a genetic or familial predisposition that certain types of cancers can run in the family,” Dr wasn’t aware of any familial predisposition to cancer he said the lung cancer diagnosis hit him hard And that's about the only thing that scared me which is how I thought about it,” Brtis said Devising a treatment plan to cure two cancers Brtis’ care team held multidisciplinary meetings to come up with the best course of action “We had multiple meetings with different doctors from different specialties we have several tumor boards for different types of cancers and we discussed his case with many doctors to come up with the best treatment plan for him,” Dr Brtis first underwent surgery to remove the mass on his bladder and then began several weeks of chemotherapy When the treatment wasn’t progressing the way the team hoped the decision was made to conduct surgery to remove Brtis’ bladder In May 2023, Joshua Meeks, MD, PhD, urologist at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center at Northwestern Memorial Hospital the removal of the bladder and the prostate.  Brtis began a regimen that included both chemotherapy and daily radiation treatments for his lungs Haider Ali Shirazi, MD, medical director of radiation oncology at the St George Cancer Institute collaborated with Dr “He was treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy,” Dr “It allows the radiation oncologist to make sure we minimize the doses to certain organs and maximize the dose to the tumor while minimizing side effects at the same time.” Cancer treatments don’t have to put life on hold Brtis told his care team that he would like to continue working unloading trucks at RJW Logistics in Lockport Even as he underwent five weeks of daily radiation treatments and weekly chemotherapy infusions Brtis surprised his care team by working the entire time You're putting water in me,’ because nothing was bothering me at all,” Brtis said Brtis experienced minimal side effects from the chemotherapy His only hair loss came in the form of his eyelashes “It's really a testament to William how well he tolerated such intense treatment He was always very friendly despite having to come in for daily treatments for almost six weeks and everyone got to know him and got to love him,” Dr He was scheduled to continue the weekly therapy until September 2024 but scans taken in June showed the lung cancer lesions were gone allowing the immunotherapy treatments to be halted early “William received every tool available to us he has been on a treatment to prevent cancer recurrence that targets a certain mutation of his cancer And that's how we ended up with a successful outcome,” Dr It's almost a year and a half since he completed his radiation treatment He basically has no side effects from his lung cancer treatment He’s been able to adapt to the consequences of his cystoprotatectomy the removal of the bladder and the prostate and he hasn't let it hold him back at all,” Dr With the exception of the cystoprostatectomy, Brtis was able to receive all his cancer care less than 20 minutes from his Oak Forest home at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital and Northwestern Medicine St. George Cancer Institute The Orland Park cancer center offers hematology and medical oncology care A full-service infusion suite and specialty pharmacy provide onsite chemotherapy New cancer therapies are now available in the south suburbs through participation in clinical trials before these treatments become more widely available For more information about the Northwestern Medicine St. George Cancer Institute, visit nm.org Uncorked will feature wine and cheese pairings You can't win if you don't attend the Uncorked fundraiser Oak Forest residents understand community safety is a shared responsibility One of Oak Forest's young residents shows off his Security Member yard sign The Oak Forest Homeowners Association’s (OFHA) wine tasting event and local businesses for an evening of fun The much-anticipated event will take place at the Sonoma Wine and Cheese Garden Oaks location and a silent auction—all in support of the Oak Forest Neighborhood Patrol Program Organized by the dynamic duo of Gabriel Perez the event has become a cornerstone of the Oak Forest community's annual calendar The proceeds from Uncorked directly benefit the Neighborhood Patrol Program which plays a crucial role in maintaining safety and security in the community Oak Forest is the third largest subdivision in Harris County with 5,526+ homes in 18 sections and 24,000 residents "As the largest annual fundraiser for OFHA Uncorked plays a vital role in raising essential funds for our Neighborhood Patrol Program," said Alcorta we've seen a decline in patrol program participation The Uncorked event has been instrumental in helping us regain momentum and ensure the program's continued presence in our neighborhood." The event's success is a reflection of the power of the Oak Forest community Local home builders and businesses contribute through sponsorships and silent auction items But equally important are the amazing neighbors in Oak Forest Their enthusiasm for community and support for the efforts of OFHA volunteers make this event truly special The partnership with Sonoma at Garden Oaks has also been instrumental in the event’s success They have graciously hosted the event since its inception and continue to offer their ongoing support The Neighborhood Patrol Program is vital to Oak Forest's safety strategy Oak Forest residents can opt into this paid membership program becoming “Security Members” and receive benefits such as vacation watch from a trained officer They also receive a yard sign to display their security member status Memberships in the security program can be purchased on an annual or monthly basis the program provides 12 hours of coverage each day the goal is to return to the pre-pandemic 24/7 coverage and Oak Forest’s Uncorked is a key element in achieving that goal "The proceeds from Uncorked are crucial in supporting our Neighborhood Patrol Program," explained Alcorta "Funding from Uncorked ensures we can provide more coverage and maintain a safe environment for our residents attendees are directly investing in the well-being and security of our community and your support brings us closer to achieving our goal of 24/7 coverage." The initiative reflects a broader philosophy within Oak Forest—that community safety is a shared responsibility Uncorked offers a tangible way for residents to contribute to this shared goal while enjoying an evening filled with connection and celebration This year's event promises an array of experiences designed to delight and engage Attendees will enjoy wine tastings with perfectly paired cheeses have the chance to win exciting door prizes and participate in a lively silent auction The organizing committee is still seeking donations of goods and services from local businesses looking to make a bigger impact and community members These contributions are vital to ensuring the event's success and reaching the fundraising goals needed to enhance community safety "is community members spreading the word about the event and the importance of the neighborhood patrol program through social media and word-of-mouth If every security member recruited their non-security member neighbor to the program we would be closer to where we need to be." Texas 77018 (courtesy Mark-Dana Corporation) The community is invited to join the Groundbreaking Ceremony for Lost Oaks a 78-unit affordable housing apartment community for families located in northwest Houston energy-efficient housing in the form of a five-story elevator-served building serving local families at 60% of below the area median income The building will feature an amenity center with a mix of one and three-bedroom units that will provide safe Lost Oaks is a $25,902,591 collaboration between the Mark-Dana Corporation the Harris County Housing and Community Development Department which provided $3.1M in American Rescue PlanAct (ARPA) funding the Harris County Housing Finance Corporation and Stellar Bank as the construction lender and Enterprise Housing Credit Investments etc The project is one of many across Harris County that exemplifies a significant effort to address affordable housing needs for families and foster community development “We are proud to be a part of the Harris County and Harris County Housing Finance Corporation efforts to build affordable and quality housing to help improve the quality of life for residents in Central Northwest Houston,” said David Mark Koogler president and CEO of Mark-Dana Corporation Lost Oaks is located on about 1.7 acres in northwest Houston and other services and will provide much needed affordable housing for families to the area The project is being built in compliance with the ICC-700 National Green Building Standard – Bronze Level Each apartment unit will include nine-foot ceilings washer/dryer hookups and all living rooms and bedrooms will have ceiling fans First floor units will have a private patio and upper floor units will have balconies The design features full perimeter fencing with controlled access gate The building boasts a clubhouse community center and even a swimming pool and outdoor grill facilities will also be included for use by residents the building boasts a clubhouse and community center These spaces are meant to serve as a community gathering point and bring neighbors and families together in positive long-term affordable housing for Harris County families is critical for thriving communities and supports housing stability in northwest Houston The Lost Oaks Apartments is an important development that will contribute to filling the County’s annual demand for housing based on a gap of 20,000 affordable units per year,” said Rene Martinez Executive Director of the Harris County Housing Finance Corporation Lost Oaks is on schedule to be completed by May 2026 WHAT: Groundbreaking Ceremony for Lost Oaks – A new multi-family housing energy-efficient housing in northwest Houston Light refreshments will be served as part of the ceremony IL — Anyone looking for a special treat for their Easter dinner table self-proclaimed "Church Ladies" have you covered The “Church Ladies Test Kitchen” at the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection (15050 Central Ave. Oak Forest) is busy again gearing up for the 2025 Spring/Easter pierogi sale and will have the pierogi ready in time for your Easter dinner All the familiar flavors are back by popular demand "The prices for eggs (and everything else!) might have gone up but we are keeping the same price of $8 per 1/2 dozen as previous years for our delicious pierogi," the chefs said The ladies will serve up a variety of flavors There will not be a pre-order option—it's first come The sale is sponsored by the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection to support the community's ministries polish sausage) SWEET CHEESE (assorted cheeses) MEAT (pork contact the church office at (708) 687-2170 or resurrectionoakforest@gmail.com 2025 at 1:24 pm CTThe Oak Forest Fleadh returns for its 16th year on Saturday (Photo by Kelly Semenow)The Oak Forest Fleadh returns for its 16th year on Saturday and we have all the details you'll need to get in on the fun Now in its 16th year, the Oak Forest Fleadh—a Gaelic term for a festival of Irish music, dancing, and culture—has a schedule jam-packed with festivities. The Oak Forest-Crestwood Area Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the City of Oak Forest at 155th and Betty Ann (two blocks east of Central Avenue) The route takes you through the neighborhood and past Oak Forest landmarks you’ll see lots of green and lots of friendly faces cheering you on Pre-and post-race events will take place in the Oak Forest Fire Station at 5620 James Drive—City Hall campus The parade will kick off at 11 a.m. from 151st and Central Avenue, led by Grand Marshal Gigi's Playhouse Tinley Park Feeling lucky? Hunt for the hidden $1,000 Golden Ticket provided by sponsor Kevin Szabo Jr. Plumbing along the parade route. The 5k route runs through local neighborhoods. The area most impacted is 149th to 156th streets from Long to Lavergne avenues. Street closures are from approximately 8:15 to 10 a.m. View the route 2025 at 1:19 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}James Hortsman won his bid to become the next mayor of Oak Forest IL — Oak Forest came out of the April 1 consolidated election with its first new mayor in nearly two decades Three candidates fought for his spot—Donald Guisinger and Ken Keeler—with current 6th Ward Alderman Hortsman securing the most votes for the win who notches nearly 12 years in the aldermanic role pitched himself to voters as conscientious and proactive He pointed to successes of the City's current leadership Sherwin Williams Paint and the Dollar Store "I speak the truth," Hortsman said in his Patch candidate questionnaire. "I know what stage we are currently at and how we can continue the process to keep the fluidity." Hortsman said he believed voters connected strongly with his platform and that gave him the advantage over his opposition "This campaign was a hard fought one," Hortsman said "Each candidate has commendable qualities and ideas and worked hard to get their messages out to the voters they often told me that my message was resonating with what they wanted to see happen They wanted to be confident that I have the experience to move our city forward and the ability to make changes away from the current administration and I cannot fully express my gratitude to the voters of Oak Forest for coming out and supporting my candidacy for Mayor and additionally share my true thanks to all of the folks that have supported me from the beginning in all of the ways that they did," his statement reads We now have to work together to ensure progress continues to build in our city We must focus on the latest economic development projects that are going on in town—the construction of the multi-use facility at the old ACE Hardware store property and the new senior facility that has broken ground "I will be working with the team in City Hall to get out to have discussions with the residents to hear their concerns and needs I have also already reached out to the Chamber of Commerce who have been instrumental in working with Oak Forest to promote our town "I am hopeful that the next four years will be productive and prosperous I can earn the respect and trust of the constituents I serve." Hortsman also thanked his wife Donna and their family for their love and support IL — The consolidated election is set for April 1 and Oak Forest will come out of it with a new mayor for the first time in nearly two decades current Mayor Hank Kuspa is not seeking re-election Patch has provided a candidate questionnaire for all three and we're now featuring their answers in candidate profiles James Hortsman for Oak Forest Mayor Town of residence: Does anyone in your family work in politics or government This includes any relatives who work in the government you're running for Account Executive (Sales) - Commercial Printing 46 Years in Print - 29 years in Sales Previous or current elected or appointed office: Currently the 6th Ward Alderman - in this Position for 11 3/4 years Term up in May 2025 The most pressing issues facing Oak Forest are _______ and this is what I intend to do about them Bringing in businesses to our city and working beside the administrative team to ensure that we continually grow and improve We will be having three bargaining units coming to the table We have been working diligently on infrastructure What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post I am the only candidate that has more than 11 years of experience in city government and specifically for the City of Oak Forest I have worked with residents in all parts of our city and I would like to continue to work with you I am the only Alderman on the current council that voted against raising the Tax levy this year including one current council member running for mayor candidacy voted for the levy increase and the other candidate (does not sit on the current council) has limited experience with any city operations I worked & fought for the best Interest of Oak Forest the whole time I have been on this Council and will continue that Drive That is why the next Mayor will need to be ready now to work with a New Council I have done that and my opponents have not done anything like that in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency) All three candidates would be brand new to the mayor position but all drastically varying with levels of past experiences and knowledge The mayor position is not a position where we want to train the new candidate on past The mayor position is not a position where you just begin to build your municipality government experience Each Candidate has different ideas about how to be the Mayor but my experience on the city council stands for itself I am not a candidate who would go back to the “old ways of Oak Forest.” I have always stood for what I believe is best for the City of Oak Forest as a whole I believe we need to continue to be fiscally responsible as the current council has already been working for many years One of the mayoral opponents wants to operate the old way where there are "deals" to be made and it is by “who you know” My other opponent has presented doing things that are not feasible or realistic which he would understand in greater depth if he seasoned and educated himself more with what Oak Forest has currently been working on for years I will not present and paint a picture of unrealistic goals and ideas to sound appealing to the voter I know what stage we are currently at and how we can continue the process to keep the fluidity we as a city cannot contribute city funds to new homeowners We also would not be able to acquire the Oak Forest Hospital property Cook County plans to develop the property and to retain all its revenue for Cook County only I have been informed and told this is not something that would work or be possible with the surrounding communities We of course will work diligently and exercise all options but Cook County does want want to keep their property themselves Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform We have had many successes in my time on city government We are continuing to make more headway on many projects We need to continue those successes to bring more opportunities into our city Going back to the “old Oak Forest ways” doesn’t serve the community We have had strategic plans in the past and I will work on reviewing the processes and I will have an upgraded strategic plan during my term This would be one of my first strategic processes to continue in a positive direction Another key component to my mayor position would be working beside administration and departments to ensure all departments are more accountable to the residents and businesses and I will have conversations with any resident that wants to have a conversation or meeting I invite and welcome residents to attend or listen to our monthly board meetings locate the minutes and stay in the know of what is taking place within our community Let’s work together to make Oak Forest a city to be proud of What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job I will stress again; I have many years of experience working on a city council I have ALWAYS worked within to improve accountability and transparency I vote for what benefits the taxpayers of the City of Oak Forest I have been requested to sit in on interview committees for new administration and staff hires I have also sat on negotiating committees with our union organizations I was a liaison alderman to the Crime Prevention Committee and the Social Services Committee I am also the Mayor Pro-temp when our current Mayor Kuspa is not able to attend the council meetings I have always made it my priority that if a resident need resources it is my responsibility to make that happen and I push hard to best assist in getting the issues resolved council or city staff contact me via phone or email I even meet with residents in person to discuss their concerns or questions I have walked the Streets and Backyards of Resident to view issues I will continue to honor and follow through with what I have already been doing for many years I already have established credibility and trust with many residents But for some of you who I do not know or who I haven’t had the opportunity to work with yet I will need an opportunity to prove that trust to you I already have established trustworthiness within the 6th Ward residents I have been sharing testimonials from the voices of many residents of the 6th Ward who have had direct experiences with myself over the years I have invested many years in building trust and competency with our residents and community I have heard some residents’ state; experience is not a platform to be used for the mayoral candidacy I believe experience is essential and a benefit for many jobs positions and boards and should be considered an inexperienced candidate can most definitely learn along the way but I do not recommend our newly elected mayor to learn along the way at the expense of us as taxpayers I encourage and recommend any new persons and interested parties to get started within our city by being more involved with city commissions/boards the mayor position is not a position where there should be a training process and a learning curve that can set back the city The mayor should not be dependent on the alderpersons council and administration to “teach” them city known operations for the next 4 years How will that affect or slow down the city’s progress experience and commitment to our city speaks volume and trustworthiness I am visible and available to the community I have challenged the current mayor and the administration on many topics and issues at board meetings I advocate for the residents and businesses I am proactive in helping you as a taxpayer My oath and fiscal responsibility in any city position is to work for the taxpayers I have been working with many of you for over 11 years now I do not have any grievances to “fit into” my mayor candidacy I do not look to spend OUR money as taxpayers without a full understanding of what needs to happen and why I have worked beside many different council members departments heads and residents these past 11 years learning and trying to be the best that I can be for the City of Oak Forest I will continue those efforts to make progress for Oak Forest what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success I want to see our two business corridors (159th Street & Cicero Avenue) thriving with more businesses and to see the traffic that every weekend goes to the west come back to our city I have come into Oak Forest many times as a young man because Oak Forest had thriving businesses and restaurants that were fueled by Oak Forest Hospital when it was a thriving facility The hospital brought in many visitors from outside of our city with people visiting their loved ones appointments etc.…Who would then also dine at one of our local restaurants or grocery shop when passing thru We need a business engine like what the hospital provided for us and that is what I would strive to create government spending and the handling of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking I am a fiscal conservative; I want to make sure we are during our diligence as financial stewards of the city and budget the taxpayer’s money appropriately and responsibility I currently feel we are doing a fine job of budgeting the funds we have The one issue that I have always seen within our city government is from the county or state level where they give us as the city unfunded mandates It is VERY difficult to make those items pay well without those other government agencies not providing us with their fair share to help us apply their mandates I will make sure the spending in Oak Forest is continually transparent and all businesses or residents know how those funds are being dispersed I came aboard the city council after the 2008 recession which was a very difficult time for the City of Oak Forest and the city budget We must be very cautious and conservative to not be in that position again It heavily impacted the residents and businesses The city administration did their absolute best while working together to get through that difficult financial crisis This is exactly why we need to make sure we continually work together and beside department heads (Fire etc.…) on how each department budgets and spends their funds What are your thoughts on the crime rate in your community and what more can be done to combat crime — especially violent crime — in town but we want to make sure we are doing all that we can in our end to lessen the crime rates within our city We must work together to keep crime rates as low as possible while working closely with our police department I am the son of a Chicago Police Officer that worked for the City of Chicago for 35 years I know the job of policing and crime prevention is not easy and I know it is even more difficult now than many years ago Oak Forest has had issues with petty crimes and deeper crime issues in some areas We need to continue to work with our reputable police department and continue to provide them with all the support and tools to keep crime rates as low as possible these are not easy to address without looking at how we keep recruiting and retaining the best and brightest officers We have invested in new technologies to better assist our police force but we need to continually stay up to date with the newest technologies We also must keep working with the residents and businesses to make sure they are addressed with how we are working on crime issues within our city We also need to work heavily with our state and federal politicians to advocate for the laws we need to have to make all our lives safer What is your view of the city's approach to commercial and residential development Residential and commercial development was not an issue that was marketed well in our city We have now been very much up front to get the information that we use to market our city We have used outside marketing professionals to create a brand for our city and have had much more success now than went I first was elected to the city council We need to ensure that all our resources at city hall are going in the same direction and that we are working for the upgrade and improvement of our city I believe the mayor must be ready to drive that force as we continually move forward We need to be very vigilant to not fall behind on addressing the positives in our city We have had a facade program in place to encourage businesses to upgrade and improve their facades and in result our city and businesses will be more visually appealing We need to keep progress moving as we are moving what are some key areas for improvement or additions you feel are most wanted by residents What will need to be done to make this happen we need to make sure that we can work with developers that are excited about working within our town The developers need to understand what our vision and need is for Oak Forest We also need to make sure the funds for these projects work for all involved this has been happening for a few years now but we need to expand even more and with the right developers and we have marketed those properties for a while We now need to stack the pressure to move those plots of land into development There are also many swaths of property that are privately owned We need to make every effort to keep in contact with those owners to see how we can partner or assist them in developing those vacant parcels The latest efforts have been very successful As for why it is crucial that the mayor has experience and knowledge to continue the pathway We do not have time for a mayor to learn the ropes and for the City of Oak Forest to regress on what we have been striving and working on in recent years I as your mayor will make sure we continue the progress Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office there are no obstacles that would prevent me from serving a full 4-year term I look forward to getting started and working for and beside the residents of Oak Forest I am looking forward to applying what I have learned experienced and witnessed these past 11+ years on the council and now applying those strengths and knowledge to the new position as mayor I look forward to meeting more residents outside of the 6th Ward community We have to work together and not against each other Let’s continue to create and live up to the motto Educating myself on all Issues and Working tirelessly for the Stakeholders I do believe I am the Candidate that will make the most impact in Oak Forest What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions I have been an Oak Forest resident for 29 years I have been invested in all areas of the city My wife Donna and I raised our children in this city from their early elementary school days thru high school and then thru the college years We have always been committed to the City of Oak Forest in some shape or form My wife was a teacher’s aide in districts 142 and 225 and has now been a teacher for over 10 years We volunteered in all of the school booster organizations and in the parent teacher association (PTA) I volunteered and assisted with the Oak Forest Baseball Association in building the batting cages I have also been a high school baseball umpire for 25 years and a football official for over 20 years I volunteered on the district 142 school board for 8 years I was involved in upgrading the facilities in the district to receive improved learning facilities I have been employed with the same Industry for 46 years and I have been in sales for 28 of those dedicated years I have been on the Oak Forest City Council as 6th Ward Alderman since I was elected in 2013 in which that alderman term will conclude in May 2025 heart and dedication are displayed in many areas within my family my career and with the Oak Forest community I have given a lot of myself and time to improve and contribute to our community I have always volunteered and worked to give back to children I humbly ask for your vote on April 1st and choosing JAMES HORTSMAN I respectively ask for you to allow me to work for you Allow me to implement the changes and improvement we ALL want We need to support one another to get the results we want We are all residents and taxpayers of Oak Forest who want Oak Forest to be a safe and successful community for all *If you would like to chat in person or via phone please reach out I am happy to answer any questions to help solidify your vote for the upcoming election U of H Law Center instructor and pollinator enthusiast (Photo courtesy of University of Houston Law Center) Simpson has recorded over 50 butterfly species in her wildlife habitat Simpson's garden is a certified wildlife habitat with some plants chosen specifically to feed caterpillars Julian’s Crossing Wildlife Habitat has been an urban sanctuary for pollinators and wildlife in Houston’s Oak Forest neighborhood Julian’s Crossing is more than just a home garden—it’s a thriving ecosystem designed to support bees and other wildlife while educating the community about conservation What started as a personal mission to create a sustainable garden after Houston’s drought in 2014 has blossomed into a thriving microcosm on just a few yards of land With certifications as a Wildlife Habitat from the National Wildlife Federation Butterfly Garden from the North American Butterfly Association Simpson’s efforts demonstrate how a small urban space can play a vital role in supporting native pollinators Her garden has become a living classroom for anyone looking to transform their own landscape into a haven for wildlife Julian’s Crossing operates without pesticides or herbicides allowing nature to maintain its own balance Simpson has embraced them as an essential part of the habitat we find various aphid species on our garden plants I’ve learned why leaving aphids on my native plants can support a web of life in my garden while allowing aphid populations to be controlled naturally,” she explains are a critical food source for beneficial predators such as lady beetles whose larvae can consume hundreds of aphids before pupating proving that a hands-off approach can actually strengthen a garden’s biodiversity “A healthy garden is a balanced garden,” Simpson says “I never think of my habitat as just a pollinator environment I started this journey because of my interest in pollinators By making the garden hospitable to insects everything that feeds on them thrives here One of Simpson’s goals is to inspire others to start their own pollinator garden Many of the certifications she has earned for St Julian’s Crossing can be achieved by anyone who meets the necessary criteria These certifications not only raise awareness in the community but also support conservation organizations working to protect pollinators Among her most notable certifications is her Monarch Watch Waystation, which provides essential milkweed and nectar plants for migrating monarch butterflies. According to MonarchWatch.org there are over 49,311 Monarch Waystations registered across North America all helping millions of monarchs migrate between the U.S. Julian’s Crossing Wildlife Habitat can also be attributed to the Waystation Julian’s Crossing Wildlife Habitat for our home gardens in honor of St the patron saint of travelers and innkeepers because Monarch Butterflies travel through the 'inn' of our gardens on their migration.” Many people ask Simpson how to start a pollinator-friendly garden or convert an existing landscape into a wildscape intentional steps toward using native plants and becoming involved in local organizations that love to spread the joy nature brings Simpson shares these organizations and a plethora of related information on her Facebook page @St. Julian’s Crossing – Wildlife Habitat and Galveston chapters that offer monthly meetings and expert guidance on native plant gardening several upcoming local plant sales offer the opportunity to purchase true native plants: Julian’s Crossing proves that even a small urban garden can become a thriving wildlife refuge Whether you start with a single flower bed or an entire yard making space for pollinators benefits not just the environment To follow Simpson’s journey and learn more about pollinator gardening visit her on Instagram @st_julians_crossing and Facebook @St Houston Arboretum & Nature Center has announced the opening of the Houston Monarch Story… "Ryan will undoubtedly be a valuable asset to our management team," said Durano "Having observed his leadership over the years I am confident that he demonstrates sound judgment and fosters professional relationships with both his colleagues within the department and external agencies I believe he will continue to grow and excel in his position as deputy chief." Burnett was appointed as a police officer with the Oak Forest Police Department in 2013 He served in the patrol division as a range officer and investigator for the Suburban Major Accident Reconstruction Team before being promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2017 Burnett quickly assumed the role of detective sergeant where he supervised the investigative division He also served as an assistant team leader with the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force Burnett served as a police officer/investigator with the Village of Steger Police Department for nine years Burnett holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Purdue University and is a graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command an intensive leadership and management education program that helps prepare experienced law enforcement professionals for success in senior command positions Burnett also is a certified eligible police chief through the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police 2025 at 8:17 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Donald Guisinger is running for Oak Forest mayor in the April 1 (Courtesy of Angelica Guisinger)OAK FOREST https://www.guisinger4mayor.com/ My wife is an Assistant Principal in School District 151 Manager - Travel Seller Media Customer Delivery at Amadeus Orland Park Open Lands Commission - 2020 - 2022 Economic Development: To ensure our local economy grows and thrives The best tool in our toolbox for this is our economic development department this department is staffed by one person who is excellent at their job but the city has overloaded their to-do list We need to fully staff this department and begin marketing the city-owned properties along Cicero and 159th Street for redevelopment these parcels do not generate any property tax revenue they have the potential to drive not only property tax revenue but also sales tax revenue In order to attract new businesses and new residents Most of our busiest roads are county or state-maintained but the trash that litters the sides of the roads is our problem We need to have crews working to clean the messes along 159th We also need to invest in improving the streetscapes and landscapes along our main streets The city also needs to have pride of ownership and leaving trash to accumulate along fences doesn't show pride I'm not a currently serving politician in the city of Oak Forest I have no vested interest in maintaining the status quo My vision is to see this city grow into a vibrant and thriving community I'm running because I believe we're on the wrong path and because I’m invested in this city I want to put us on the right path so the next generation can feel safe and confident in starting their families here I bring fresh ideas and a new perspective to the issues facing this city My opponents are perfectly fine with the status quo and that's exactly what they're running on they have continually turned a blind eye to the everyday issues facing our community and our population has declined by 4.6% in the last three years there's not a peep from the current officeholders about how to address these critical issues We just need people with vision in place to fulfill that potential I have two other issues that define my platform: public safety and community development Public safety: The vital infrastructure in Oak Forest is failing Our fire department desperately needs new fire trucks and equipment our main fire house was filled with loaned trucks from neighboring communities because ours were out of service for repairs The average vehicle age in our fleet is 12 years The NFPA suggests a front-line vehicle should be in service for 10 years we're destined to continue to have equipment failures and we'll continue to be reliant on the kindness of our neighbors to fight fires in Oak Forest This is not an easy problem to fix as it requires a significant investment in money and then we have to wait 4 years for new vehicles to be delivered as the cost of firefighting equipment continues to rise (27.8% increase from 2022 to 2024) Money can be reallocated within the current budget and we will probably have to look at issuing bonds to finance the new equipment My opponents have been serving on the city council for a combined 14 years but they have failed to tackle this crucial issue Community Development: According to the US Census Bureau the population of Oak Forest has gone down by 4.6% in the last three years and now the median age of our residents is 40.5 We need to stop the population decline and make our city more attractive to younger people I propose we start a down payment assistance program for first-time homebuyers Here's my plan: There is an existing program called Downpayment Plus that local banks and credit unions can use My program would partner with these financial institutions If a local bank or credit union gives a mortgage for a home in Oak Forest they would get a $1,000 grant from the city to help with the customer's down payment we spend about $500,000 on a facade improvement program so most of the money goes back to the city's general fund at the end of the year Instead of spending $500,000 on the facade program and the other half goes to the down payment grant program The local banks and credit unions also get to write more mortgages Community development is more than just homes It’s about growing connections with each other we have a lack of family-friendly community events in Oak Forest I have consistently demonstrated my ability to handle high-level responsibilities and drive organizational success I have held director-level positions where I managed both staff and budgets effectively My educational background includes an MBA from Western Governors University which has equipped me with a solid foundation in business management and strategic thinking I have a history of organizational leadership having served on boards of various non-profit organizations This has further honed my skills in governance and public administration My experience serving such as the Orland Park Open Lands Commission showcases my commitment to community service and my ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders which I believe is crucial for driving efficiency and innovation My track record of managing teams and resources positions me well to contribute significantly to our city's growth and development Voters should trust me because I am dedicated to working hard to accomplish the goals I have outlined I am fully committed to serving the people of Oak Forest to the best of my abilities My fresh perspective means I am not tied to the "good ol' boys club" or beholden to the way things have always been done This allows me to bring new ideas to our community with a no strings attached approach This also allows me to surround myself with qualified people who have the best interests of the citizens in mind instead of rewarding my friends or whoever is “next in line” Securing redevelopment agreements for at least two of the vacant city-owned properties on Cicero Avenue would be a significant achievement Cicero Avenue is our central business district and having empty lots in such a vital part of town is detrimental to our city's image and we must be proactive in seizing the opportunities it presents we can enhance the vibrancy and economic vitality of our central business district making it a more attractive destination for businesses and residents alike I believe in a fiscally responsible approach to managing tax dollars I understand the burden of high taxes and I am committed to keeping property taxes in check our focus should be on attracting businesses that can contribute to our general fund revenue through sales tax While we may not be able to rely as heavily on sales tax as some neighboring areas like Orland Park or Tinley Park we can still make significant strides by expanding our commercial base we can keep the property tax levy in check and ensure a balanced and sustainable budget that supports our community's needs without overburdening our residents there are some areas with higher crime rates than others I believe we need more patrols by our police department I would like to see a more active police presence throughout the neighborhoods Increased patrols are an effective tactic that pays dividends A study from the US DOJ in 1985 shows that visible patrols are effective crime deterrents Having a visible police presence can help deter crime and reduce crime rates by 20% It also builds public trust in the police department The city’s current approach to commercial development can be summed up by one word: lackluster you need to check where the money is being spent Our current economic development department consists of one staff member fund economic development as if it were a real priority The staff would be tasked with building connections with developers and marketing our vacant city-owned properties We just can’t keep asking one person to do it all I believe our city's approach to commercial and residential development should be strategic and balanced attracting businesses is crucial for generating sales tax revenue and keeping property taxes low we can ensure a stable financial foundation for our community without overburdening residents with high property taxes it's important to create safe and vibrant neighborhoods Increasing police patrols and maintaining a visible presence can help deter crime and build public trust makes our city more attractive to both residents and businesses we need to make our city more affordable for our families we can draw in new families and individuals who will contribute to our community's growth and vitality residents are looking for more than just repair shops They want businesses that bring fun and excitement to the community there has been a noticeable lack of recreational options outside of the park district Our city needs a place where families and individuals can enjoy leisure activities and have fun I would like to find a business that can fill this gap By bringing in a place where everyone can have a good time we can create a vibrant and engaging environment that appeals to both current residents and potential new ones This will not only enhance the quality of life in our city but also make it a more attractive place to live and to visit I am fully committed to serving my full term of office I have a strong dedication to my responsibilities and a deep passion for making a positive impact in our community I have no foreseeable reasons that would prevent me from fulfilling my duties throughout my term I was born and raised in northeast Ohio and graduated with my undergraduate degree from the University of Akron in 2005 I earned my MBA from Western Governors University We were married in 2019 and moved to Oak Forest in 2022 I'm a proud father of a wonderful daughter who attends Arbor Park I am also a stepfather to two amazing district 228 graduates (aged 28 and 19) I encourage you to reach out if you have any questions about my positions or if you have ideas on how to make Oak Forest an even better place to live WWW.KENOOTZ4MAYOR.COM BUSINESS EXPERIENCE AND CONNECTIONS WITH BUSINESS OWNERS AND RESIDENTS IN ALL 7 WARDS THE CURRENT COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE GOOD PEOPLE I HAVE LEARNED MUCH ABOUT WHAT RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES WANT AND NEED I WANT TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THEM TO IMPROVE OUR GREAT CITY TRANSPARENTCY IN GOVERNMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO RESIDENTS AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY STARTED A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS AT 23 YEARS OLD THAT HAS PROVIDED EMPLOYMENT FOR HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE OVER YEARS AND THROUGH TODAY BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN THERE FOR THE PEOPLE OF OAK FOREST AND I HAVE ALWAYS GONE OUT OF MY WAY TO KEEP MY WORD TO RESIDENTS MY FELLOW ALDERMEN AND DEPARTMENT HEADS IN THE CITY OF OAK FOREST DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH-PROFILE BUSINESS VACANCIES AND MORE INVOLVMENT OF RESIDENTS ILLINOIS TAXES ARE SOME OF THE HIGHEST N THE COUNTRY WE MOST BE AWARE THAT ANY INCREASES IN LOCAL TAXES WILL HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON BUSINESS AND RESIDENT RETENTION I BELIEVE THE BEST WAY TO DETER VIOLENT CRIME IS ENFORCE THE UPON ALL CRIMES: CAR BREAK-INS, MY APPROACH IS AGGRESSIVELY MARKET OUR AVAILABLE PROPERTIES TO ATTRACT BUSINESSES THAT RESIDENTS WANT AND NEED THE BOWLING ALLEY PROPERTY AND THE TRAILER PARK PROPERTY WE HAVE TO BRING IN EXPERIENCED DEVELOPERS AND USE INCENTIVES TO REDEVELOP OUR AVAILABLE PROPERTIES IF ELECTED MAYOR OF OUR CITY I WILL KEEP MY COMMITMENT TO THE VOTERS OF OAK FOREST I LOVE THIS CITY AND WANT TO SEE IT PROSPER I WILL ALWAYS PUT THE RESIDENTS FIRST - BEFORE ANY POLITICAL PARTY OR INTEREST I HAVE BEEN THERE FOR THEM IN THE PAST AND I WILL BE THERE FOR THEM IN THE FUTURE Santa (aka the Oak Forest Homeowners Association) was good to the officers of HPD’s North Division Differential Response Team this holiday season Patrolling by bike will allow DRT officers the opportunities to access locations that would be more challenging or even inaccessible by vehicle Houston North DRT helped mitigate crime in Garden Oaks The North Division includes all the neighborhoods located within the area depicted in peach and covers 51 sq miles The Houston Police Department’s North Division consists of numerous neighborhoods in a 51-square mile area north of 610 a little beyond Hwy 45 to the east and covering communities around 2/3 of the way up to the north belt Mansfield and numerous other neighborhoods The HPD footprint consists of multiple teams including Patrol According to Officer Christopher Cabrera of the HPD North Division’s DRT Patrol is regarded as the backbone of the division as all police academy graduates start there before being assigned a division and gain on-the-job experience to make an impact in divisions such as DRT Patrol officers are responsible for responding to dispatch 911 calls They initiate and execute the reporting on calls for service calls are forwarded to the tactical team for investigation and processing The patrol and tactical teams both serve very important policing function but tend to be relatively reactive and compartmentalized with respect to contributing to and maintaining public safety,” Cabrera explained DRT is a relatively unfamiliar term to the general public so we asked what he means by ‘proactive’ policing how their efforts contribute to the safety of their division residents He sat down with The Leader to provide an overview of his team’s responsibility in their assigned neighborhoods and introduce its new bike patrol and the respective benefits for the Oak Forest community and beyond the DRT works with communities to improve quality of life and reduce crime by investigating housing and business ordinance violations noise and property maintenance,” said Cabrera He said the main goal of his division and the subsequent addition of the bike patrol was to increase police presence “Being proactive and increasing presence are some of the best ways to deter crime by proactive I mean that our officers work in partnership with the community to try to prevent crime This includes working with homeowners associations Another example Cabrera provided was the Sears property on N were tasked with making the unoccupied property safer It had become subject to trespass and encouraged a host of criminal activity The DRT worked with the property owner and conducted inspections to get a trespass affidavit on file Then they worked to have the abandoned property contained until which time it could be completely demolished These proactive efforts went a long way to reducing crime in Garden Oaks and surrounding neighborhoods North DRT Commander Ryan Watson further described his team’s mission by saying Their objective is to study crime problems determine the underlying causes or circumstances of that crime problem then work cooperatively with the stakeholders to create a lasting solution," Watson said “It takes a careful understanding of issues gained from community interaction and an extremely diverse set of unique skills in their toolbox.”  that accessibility can often become an obstacle to preemptive policing The addition of a bike patrol resource provides that accessibility by complementing the law enforcement success achieved by his officers carrying out their duties from vehicles “My DRT officers all volunteered to go to the 40-hour bike certification course which is one of the more physically demanding courses HPD offers," he said "This will put them in a great position to get out to otherwise unpatrolled areas,” Cabrera added “This new bike patrol was a natural progression for our team’s desire and responsibility to increase visibility and police presence in their community.” There are also other benefits to utilizing bike patrol in addition to traditional vehicle patrol beyond accessibility Cabrera elaborated on visibility and presence saying that their presence would become more familiar to residents but that criminals might not even recognize them as officers “This would allow us to react more quickly and in real time," he said it provides more opportunities to interact with our community on a personal level.” there is a heightened focus on and awareness of their surroundings and subsequently more attention to neighborhood detail.” There is a huge difference in maintenance and usage costs between vehicles and bikes The North DRT is currently staffed with nine officers (some of whom are still in the process of obtaining bicycle certification) in addition to the division’s supervisory sergeant it raised the question about how the logistics of coverage would work given the sheer amount of real estate involved Cabrera said that it would be a rotating schedule that was dependent on the weather and prioritized by need they plan to have a rotation of their officers out in the neighborhoods each week There is always a funding consideration for programs of this kind and that is where community support has been essential The North DRT made their partnering community association leaders aware of their plans and solicited their help There are a number of associations that have committed to assisting with funding in the new year when 2025 budgets are approved and implemented the Oak Forest Homeowners Association really stepped up to the plate in a big way by essentially fronting the cost for the largest program expense: the bikes themselves This allowed the bike patrol plans to be initiated just before the beginning of 2025 Every additional supporter brings us closer to achieving this goal We hope more residents will join us in strengthening our community's safety net and enjoy the benefits of a secure Security is a big push for the association this year provide our neighborhood with more security presence and cover community centers in our neighborhood like parks and schools.” but there are many other costs associated with a new program but there are other considerations including the addition of bike racks on DRT vehicles Alcorta hopes that residents in all the division neighborhoods will participate She believes the program is essential to maintaining neighborhood safety we need more residents to join and support the initiative," she said "It's essential to recognize that neighborhood patrol isn't just about individual homes; it's about creating a collective sense of security and community.” When asked about his plans to grow the headcount for his division and subsequently the bike patrol Watson responded: "Currently the Houston Police Department is approximately 1,600 officers understaffed Those are ready positions that we are actively recruiting and hiring for thanks to the mayor and several city council members supporting the addition of several academy classes in 2025 I would love to be able to add personnel to my division’s DRT because I understand the impact they can have on an area” they will have to make the most productive use of their existing teams Kingwood and Downtown already have bike patrol programs in place “All of these units rely on support from the community to fund these programs,” he stressed Residents are encouraged to reach out to their community associations and civic clubs for information about how to donate and contribute to the ongoing safety of their neighborhood the new playground is designed for children ages 5-12 and features a barn 2025 at 2:42 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Café de Miro is open now in Oak Forest IL — A new café has delightfully made its debut on Cicero Avenue in Oak Forest As word has trickled out about Café de Miro co-owner Botan Alagoz has been pleasantly surprised by the warm reception "People who have been to the shop have been coming again and again," Alagoz said Customers have found their way there organically as some who have stopped in leave rave reviews on neighborhood social media pages because it gives us time to adjust well and organize ourselves to receive more foot traffic," Alagoz said Alagoz owns the café with his mother Fatos and father Apo the family moved to the United States seven years ago the family operates two additional Café de Miro locations Alagoz also launched student-centric Midnight Express Café Café de Miro is coined as Mediterranean fast-casual dining, and "an unorthodox twist on the Kurdish cuisine of casual eating and breakfast," according to its website The Oak Forest location's menu is influenced by the success they've seen at their Michigan ones we know what sells at our locations in Grand Rapids," Alagoz said my mom is a great cook—she has a really good understanding of flavors A look at the menu for the Michigan locations reveals items like falafels The menu for Oak Forest spotted shortly after opening includes hummus Their bread needs are met by Chicago-based West Town Bakery They also partner with a brand for syrups for coffees and teas "We want to make sure we get good products said that experience also plays into the beverage offerings "The drink menu sort of gets influenced by what I think would be good combinations as far as flavors," he said they have a couple of projects in the pipeline for Oak Forest," he said The conversation kind of started from there." Alagoz has embraced the opportunity to get started in the fresh space adding that word of mouth has been helpful in the café's first days open 2025 at 2:48 pm CTThe Oak Forest Fleadh celebrated its 16th year on Saturday (Lauren Traut/Patch)The Oak Forest Fleadh celebrated its 16th year on Saturday IL — Hundreds bundled up and layered their green garb to line Central Avenue for the Oak Forest Fleadh parade Saturday Organized by the Oak Forest-Crestwood Area Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the City of Oak Forest the Oak Forest Fleadh—a Gaelic term for a festival of Irish music and culture—celebrated its "sweet 16" this year Irish eyes were smiling (and squinting) as the parade rolled from 151st to 155th and Central Avenue Grand Marshal Gigi's Playhouse Tinley Park led the way for the parade's 50 entries Rob MacKenzie receives funding from the UK Natural Environment Research Council The BIFoR FACE facility is funded by The JABBS foundation Richard Norby has received funding from the University of Birmingham Institute for Advanced Studies Distinguished Visiting Fellowship Programme University of Birmingham provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation UK View all partners Oak trees accumulate more wood when there is more carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere. That’s the key finding from our new study carried out in a long-established forest in Staffordshire that we have turned into a huge field experiment by injecting with extra CO₂ After we increased CO₂ levels to what will be the planetary level in the 2050s trees took more of it from the atmosphere and their wood production increased by 10% In some ways, this result is reassuring. We know that more CO₂ in the atmosphere can often help plants grow bigger and faster, since photosynthesis captures the carbon from which plants are largely made. However, until now, the only comparable study on an older, mature forest (an Australian eucalyptus forest) found no link between extra CO₂ and tree growth Our work shows the link really does exist – at least in some common broadleaf forests But woodier trees do not offer a silver bullet to solve climate change While carbon is certainly better off in trees than in the atmosphere wood rots away and carbon dioxide is released back into the atmosphere trees are not remotely equivalent to it being locked away in coal seams and oil reservoirs deep underground To study what even more CO₂ in the atmosphere will do to trees in future, we used a technique called Free-Air CO2 Enrichment (Face) This involves installing eight-storey high pipes on the upwind side of various patches of forest and then gently releasing air infused with extra CO₂ We then monitor the trees to see if the CO₂ has had any effect Our new study uses patches of 180-year-old English or “pedunculate” oak (Quercus robur). These trees are much older than those studied previously to see how they will behave in the atmosphere of the future Why did our research on oak trees generate different results from the research on Australian ecalyptuses which found no link between CO₂ and wood growth The difference almost certainly lies in the nutritional condition of the two forests Trees in forests need a balance of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) and a host of “micro-nutrients” if they are to grow well “highly weathered” soil where any extra phosphorus is in very short supply even when given an extra supply of carbon “for free” the trees are unable to use it to lay down more plant material Such intense nutrient shortage does not exist in our oak forest so the experiment more directly tests whether the trees can make use of the new “free” carbon resource Although every forest is unique one way or another our results are likely to be relevant to many of the world’s “temperate deciduous broadleaf” forests – those which are neither exceptionally hot or cold and which drop their leaves each year 2025 at 2:12 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A Meet the Candidate night has been set for Thursday IL — The Oak Forest-Crestwood Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting a candidate meet-and-greet event at Chicago Gaelic Park the event aims to give voters a chance to meet participating candidates The event will feature candidate introductions and one on one interaction and networking with the candidates "Meet the Candidate Night is a valuable opportunity for voters to make informed decisions by engaging directly with those seeking to represent them," said Kim Malecky-Iles Executive Director of the Oak Forest-Crestwood Area Chamber "We encourage everyone in the community to attend and participate in this important civic event." Some school district board candidates may also be in attendance said Chamber Executive Director Kim Malecky-Iles 2025 at 10:10 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The City of Oak Forest has named its next police chief ahead of current Chief Jason Reid's last day Feb IL — The City of Oak Forest has named Scott Durano as its next police chief Durano’s appointment coincides with Police Chief Jason Reid’s retirement “The selection committee unanimously agreed Scott is the right person for the job,” said Mayor Hank Kuspa “We look forward to his continued leadership in ensuring the safety and well-being of the Oak Forest community.” an Oak Forest native and military veteran has spent his entire career with the Oak Forest Police Department climbing the ranks from patrol officer in 1995 to deputy chief of police in 2020 Durano coordinated the integration of the department’s body-worn cameras with high-definition in-car cameras; supervised the city’s 911 Emergency Communications Center; administered the department’s purchasing program; and secured more than $800,000 in grant funding to support agency initiatives “It’s a privilege to serve our residents alongside the dedicated and talented members of the Oak Forest Police Department,” Durano said “I am honored to lead our exceptional team as we continue to uphold our mission of providing outstanding law enforcement services to meet the needs of our residents and all those who enjoy what our community has to offer.” Durano earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s degree in public administration from Governors State University Durano graduated from the Northwestern University School for Police Staff and Command he has served as a team leader for the Suburban Major Accident Reconstruction Team and is a member of the South Suburban Chiefs of Police and Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police There are so many great places to live in Houston that it helps to have an expert on your side The Neighborhood Guide presented by Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty gives you insider access from the agents who live and work there providing in-the-know info about your possible new community Real estate agent Mark Fontenot has been living in the Garden Oaks and Oak Forest area for nearly a decade and he loves showing it off to prospective buyers And it appears they're listening — property values here have continued to rise at a healthy pace as word gets out about the good schools and and ease of getting to and from downtown "There is a lot we love," Fontenot shares the ranch-style homes mixed with new construction and the parks and social spaces that promote life outdoors The massive oak trees also add to the charm." He points out that many great restaurants and amenities are coming north of the Heights and into the neighborhood helping to draw more attention to this "known but underrated" neighborhood an LSU alum whose family has deep Louisiana roots grew up in Houston and enjoys helping others make the Bayou City home "Many first-time homebuyers cannot afford the Heights but want to stay near its social conveniences," he says "I recommend Garden Oaks and Oak Forest because they can get a home with a backyard without having to settle for a three-to-four-story patio home and still be five minutes or less from the Heights." Fontenot offered up a few of his personal favorites about life in Oak Forest Where to eat & drinkNo matter what you're in the mood for But keep an eye out for the Taqueria Mi Leo food truck at the Mr says Fontenot — it's a real hidden gem Where to playSpend an afternoon at Stomping Grounds and dine surrounded by 8,000 square feet of green space the latter of which boasts an excellent hike and bike trail plus a disc golf course Where to liveThe large majority of Garden Oaks and Oak Forest are 1960s ranch-style homes meaning one-story floorplans that are more linear and open in the last five years Fontenot says new construction has become more common throughout the area the lots are larger than what's affordable in the Heights and significantly less expensive," he says "Most ranch-style homes have flexible renovation/add-on capabilities and the brick homes are typically salvaged rather than being torn down so it keeps the older charm of the neighborhood." Fontenot also points out that most of Garden Oaks and Oak Forest is not in a floodplain so there is more peace of mind in buying or building on slab construction here along with the conveniences of being close to the city Mark Fontenot lives, works, and plays in Garden Oaks + Oak Forest. For more information on buying and selling a home in the area, click here, email mark.fontenot@sir.com Photo courtesy of Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty 1960s ranch-style homes are popular in the area One Houston-area city took the top slot on a new list of "the 100 Best Places to Live in 2025." The list — from relocation marketing platform Livability.com — put Sugar Land at No 3 for its appealing size and affordability The list was restricted to small and mid-size cities with populations between 75,000-500,000 residents And it also considered only cities with a median home value of $500,000 or less They considered factors such as average rent and home prices relative to income to keep their list centered around affordability And while Sugar Land did come in at No. 3, the site specifies that the list is not a numbered ranking but one where users are encouraged to create their own ranking based on personal priorities Sugar Land earned the third highest score out of all the cities on the report with a LivScore totaling 854 out of 1,000 possible points with a population of more than 118,000 residents and a median household income that's well into the six-figures Homeowners have median home values of $402,094 "The city is known for being one of the more affluent and rapidly growing master-planned communities in Texas, and the area saw a huge population boom in the late ’90s that has continued to grow," a profile says Sugar Land has 27 city parks that include 35 miles of trails.sugarlandtx.gov/ Sugar Land ranked the highest for its health (89) The report said it's a "business-friendly" city bolstered by its residents' entrepreneurial spirit when it comes to biotech Livability also praises Sugar Land's lively art scene, safe neighborhoods including the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land which features a unique saltwater aquarium and the Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center with various interactive and engaging exhibits," the profile says the Triple-A Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Houston Astros." Seven other Texas cities were also included in the list of best places to live in the U.S.: Flower Mound (875 points) The top 10 cities that earned the most points on Livability's list are: 2025 at 2:54 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The City of Oak Forest this week approved a plan for redevelopment of the former Ace Hardware property on Cicero Avenue IL — Oak Forest officials this week took a next step toward revitalizing the property formerly occupied by Ace Hardware was demolished in February 2024 as part of city officials' efforts to revitalize Cicero Avenue Vacant since the store's closing more than a decade ago the City purchased the building and the land on which it sits in 2016 before buying it back in 2023 to "expedite marketing and redevelopment of the site," Communications Director Chrissy Maher previously told Patch the newly proposed project includes a 5,000-square-foot commercial space with a drive-thru A tenant for the commercial space has not yet been secured the development aims to attract businesses that will enhance the local economy and serve Oak Forest residents," the City said a developer "creating a strong track record in constructing successful mixed-use developments and securing capital for transformative projects "This initiative aligns with the city's ongoing efforts to attract investment and improve underutilized spaces." << Read also: New Oak Forest Café A Culture-Inspired, Bright Addition To Cicero Ave.>> The Best Coffee Shops in Houston The Best New Restaurants in Houston, May 2025 The Best Tacos in Houston The Northwest Houston area is packed with places to eat Whether it’s a wine-fueled dinner at a hidden gem you seek or a quick but satisfying meal on the go here is where to eat and drink in Garden Oaks and Oak Forest This map has been updated to remove Valencia’s Tex-Mex Garage Don’t see your favorite Garden Oaks/Oak Forest restaurant on the list This food truck turned full-service restaurant offers an exciting combination of Thai and Lao cuisines and its signature boat noodles that are known to sell out Sao Lao Thai Cafe also features off-the-menu specials often 28 Iconic Houston Dishes You Should Try Before You Die This Houston restaurant and wine bar’s relaxed dining room and double-tiered patio is beloved by GOOF residents for its seasonal farm-to-table menu and lengthy wine list Choose from appetizers like oysters “Plonkefeller” and yellowtail crudo plus hearty mains like a 72-hour short rib and a poached halibut in a white wine cream sauce and half-off all glasses of wine and beer during happy hour Nestled on a quiet residential street in Garden Oaks homey retreat offering wood-fired pizzas or handmade bucatini with marinara sauce Parents can cool down with a mezcal paloma while the kids entertain themselves with a playground and arcade tucked behind the restaurant Where to Find Excellent Espresso Martinis in Houston This light-filled restaurant is known for its Southern comfort eats slinging chicken-fried steak with green beans and mashed potatoes and a Texas Reuben sandwich slathered with barbecue sauce brunch-goers sip on Katz coffee while enjoying plates of plump shrimp atop creamy grits or a fried oyster-stuffed omelet Take advantage of the restaurant’s new weekday lunch rush menu a two-course meal for $20 featuring numerous combinations such as a wedge salad with a short rib grilled cheese this family-owned barbecue restaurant is highly sought after for its smoked meats and traditional Southern sides Pair brisket or pulled pork with collard greens or craft a sandwich piled high with juicy meats And don’t miss Gatlin’s legendary oversized baked potatoes The Best Barbecue Restaurants in Houston Right Now The Texas BBQ Road Trip You Didn’t Know You Needed This beloved local chain has multiple locations around the city and suburbs where it pairs an approachable global menu with beer followed by its Cajun chicken pasta or beer-battered fish and chips and end with a key lime martini for dessert Brunch at Union Kitchen features unique creations such as pancake tacos or the Thai curry-based Shrimp on a Shingle with Gulf shrimp 30 Houston Restaurants Serving the Best Thanksgiving Day Feasts The wings are the main attraction with various sauces including traditional buffalo and barbecue and more adventurous flavors like Mango Madness consider the tongue-tingling Nightmare sauce Journey through the Dream Wings drive-thru A post shared by The Dream Wings Truck (@thedreamwingstruck) Revisit These 9 Houston Area Spots Featured in Netflix’s Hit Show ‘Mo’ this Indian restaurant is at the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple in Garden Oaks peruse the majestic grounds before or after your meal it can be challenging to settle on where to feed your taco fix but Tacos A Go Go is a consistently reliable choice among them Find frozen margaritas and fresh agua fresca in revolving flavors plus tacos with protein fillings like carne guisada like the tater taco and the crispy Beyond Chicken Kick off the meal with an order of the queso blanco quintero a housemade blend of white cheeses combined with chorizo One of the newer additions to the neighborhood Luloos is situated on prime real estate at the Stomping Yards a multi-use development centered around a communal green space and glass cases full of sweet and savory baked goods and a classic ham and brie with slices of Granny Smith apple The cinnamon rolls focusing solely on corn husk-wrapped delicacies Tamale Joint has expanded its space with a larger dining room and an updated menu featuring tortas order the plato especial—three tamales served with salsa piping-hot churros and chocolate dipping sauce though the sweet corn tamales are indulgent enough to pass as dessert This popular pizzeria brings its wood-fired Neapolitan-style pies to the Stomping Yards in Garden Oaks Enjoy a slice while soaking up the sun in the family-friendly green space before wandering over for a scoop of ice cream at Fat Cat There is no need to drive to Montrose for a meal at Aladdin thanks to the longstanding Mediterranean restaurant’s outpost in Garden Oaks Dig into belly-filling gyro plates or go for a handheld with tender meat or falafel carefully enveloped in warm Local Table prides itself on sourcing fresh quality ingredients from local purveyors and offers a friendly space within the neighborhood for residents to dine Salads and sandwiches are just the tipping point here There are pasta bowls and entrees like chicken-fried chicken with garlic mashed potatoes and Mediterranean salmon with guacamole The casual restaurant also boasts a fully dedicated vegan menu featuring loaded veggie bowls and weekend brunch plates A post shared by Local Table GOTX (@localtablegotx) Getting a banh mi at Les Ba’get is fitting but the casual Vietnamese cafe has plenty more to offer Consider mango shrimp spring rolls and garlic fish dipping sauce to start try a bone-warming bowl of pho made with filet mignon and served in beef broth The Best Vietnamese Restaurants in Houston all-day destination serving hot and iced coffees and sweet and savory eats — available on-site or to-go through its drive-thru Go for the peanut butter and jelly overnight oats a cold Japanese egg salad sandwich made with milk bread Where to Dine and Drink Like Barbie in Houston 2024 at 2:22 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Culver’s CEO & President Rick Silva and co-founder Lea Culver present the finalist award to Culver’s of Oak Forest owner-operator Nick Strache (Courtesy of Culver's Corporate)OAK FOREST IL — Oak Forest Culver's owner Nick Strache basked in the moment a bit Thursday but wasn't about to rest on his laurels just yet While Strache celebrated his location's finish in the top 5 of all 1,000 Culver's locations nationwide he hasn't taken his eye off the ultimate prize—winning the Culver's Crew Challenge and earning $50,000 for his location who is a Midlothian native and 2014 graduate of Bremen High School shared his pride for his business and team following a visit from Culver's CEO Rick Silva and co-founder Craig Culver "From the moment we started interviewing and hiring for this restaurant I knew something special was brewing and in just 14 months this team earned top 5 gold finalist in just year 1!" Strache told Patch "This is the first restaurant out of 1,000 to ever accomplish this feat in only their first year of being open!" restaurants compete in the areas of quality community outreach and team member training and development The winner will be announced at Culver’s annual convention in Dallas in early 2025 "This community and this team strive every day to make a difference," Strache said "People are everything at Culver's in Oak Forest." Strache's dedication to the Oak Forest location at 5410 W has earned him fans and praise from the community since its the October 2023 opening is really making an impact in the community." Bremen District 228 shared "His team includes over 20 Oak Forest High School students and he’s always involved in local fundraisers and events." Strache is also nominated for Newcomer Mentee of the Year at Culver's The designation is given to a new franchisee who excels in operational excellence "From having over 20 Oak Forest High School students to having the best guests in the country right here at home," Strache said "I’m forever grateful for the hard work my leadership team and crew has put in each and every day striving to make moments and create memories for those who walk in these doors." The City of Oak Forest also applauded Strache "There was a lot to celebrate at the Oak Forest Culver’s this afternoon," the City said Thursday Nick is a valuable member of our business community—employing 20 local high school students and hopefully we come home as national champions," Strache said "but no matter what this restaurant will continue to be an anchor for this community and will continue to deliver that top 5 service." 2025 at 11:27 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Oak Forest Police Chief Jason Reid will retire Feb IL — Oak Forest Police Chief Jason Reid will retire in February after nearly three decades of service "I wish Jason all the best on a well-deserved retirement and express my sincere appreciation to him for his years of leadership and dedication to our community," said Mayor Hank Kuspa "Jason has been an exemplary public servant and his thoughtful and compassionate approach to community policing has greatly benefited Oak Forest." Reid began his career with the Oak Forest Police Department as a patrol officer in 1998 and worked his way up to deputy police chief in 2016 Reid utilized cutting-edge technology to deter and solve crimes implemented operational and technological advances in the city’s 911 Communications Center and advocated for training and continuing education for officers Reid was a founding member of a task force comprised of neighboring police departments to collect develop and share best practices in law enforcement "My time serving as chief of this department has been extremely rewarding," Reid said "Police work can be challenging and stressful but I have been fortunate to have the support of a wonderful and the brave men and women of the Oak Forest Police Department I am thankful to them and I am proud of our achievements." The City Council will honor Reid at its meeting on February 25 at 7:30 p.m IL — In the rush to make a complete holiday meal for the entire family it’s inevitable we’ll forget something on our lists—even though we checked it twice (or three If you need another pound of butter or a carton of milk on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day as grocery stores in and near Oak Forest adjust their hours for the holidays A handful of drugstores will be open on Christmas Day. Most 24-hour Walgreens stores will be open as usual, and others may be open for limited hours on Christmas Day. Most CVS locations will be open from 8 a.m Many grocery stores will close early on Christmas Eve so it’s a good idea to check with your local store before making a trip Here’s what we know about grocery and related store hours for Christmas Eve Aldi: Stores will close at 4 p.m on Christmas Eve and remain closed on Christmas Day Stores also close early on New Year’s Eve but are open regular hours on New Year’s Day Costco: Stores are closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day The member wholesale stores are open from 10 a.m CVS: Most locations will be open from 8 a.m Jewel-Osco: Stores generally close at 6 p.m and are open as usual on New Year’s Day and New Year’s Eve Mariano's: Open at 6 a.m All stores and fuel centers will close at 6 p.m Most pharmacies will close at 4pm on Christmas Eve Stores will remain closed on Christmas Day Meijer: Most locations will be open from 6 a.m on Christmas Eve and closed on Christmas Day Stores will be open as usual on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day Sam’s Club: The member wholesale stores close at 6 p.m Target: Stores close at 8 p.m Stores are open regular hours on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day Trader Joe’s: Stores are open 8 a.m on New Year’s Eve and closed on New Year’s Eve Walgreens: Most stores are open Christmas Eve and will close at 6 p.m Stores that are 24-hour will be open on Christmas Walmart: Stores are open until 6 p.m Whole Foods: Open 8 a.m          MCCOMB – The Oak Forest Academy boys basketball team is chasing history          There has never been a team from Louisiana to win a MAIS Overall Tournament boys championship in its history (Central Private won in 2013 but the Overall title was vacated after some players were ruled ineligible)           Oak Forest – with two wins over MAIS Class 6A and Overall title contender Jackson Prep and two wins over 6A traditional power Madison-Ridgeland Academy – could possibly go all the way this season          The Yellowjackets led by 6-foot-9 senior and Southeastern Louisiana signee Garrett Shoemaker took another step Friday night with a 61-36 victory over defending MAIS Class 5A state champion Parklane Academy in a MAIS Class 5A District 3 game before an estimated 1,100 at Parklane’s gym          Oak Forest – which joined the MAIS in 1988 and is located in Amite City about 40 miles south of McComb – improved to 25-2 overall and 7-0 in district play Parklane dropped to 8-7 overall and 4-3 in district play          Oak Forest finished 28-9 and lost to eventual champion Jackson Academy 38-35 in the Overall semifinals last season          Shoemaker is one of four returning starters (senior guard Trendan Spears and 6-4 senior forward Logan Freche) and want to go even further this season Oak Forest’s only losses are to MAIS Class 6A Madison St Joe in the first game of the season and MAIS Class 5A Rossville The Yellowjackets have won their last 12 games by an average of 25 points per game a one-point decision in the Hartfield Academy shootout Jan          Oak Forest started out slow Friday leading only 17-15 after first quarter and 29-21 at halftime but caught fire in the third quarter and outscored Parklane 18-9 to take a commanding Shoemaker scored nine points in the final quarter to keep Parklane from making a run          “I thought it was good for our guys when it comes to things that we have been working on defensively,” said Oak Forest coach Curtis Matherne who is in his 12th season at Oak Forest “I thought Parklane did a good job in the first half extending their possessions and going to a delayed stall circle motion I thought our guys did a great job of making adjustments on timing up the traps and when they rotate and things of that nature I didn’t think we shot the ball well so then I thought we got the ball into the paint and scored very effectively from there It’s always good when you can go on the road there and come out with a conference win          “Believe it or not we haven’t talked much about winning state this year Just a mindset daily on finding a way to get better and run our schematics cleaner and more efficient so that second week in February we’re playing at a high level.”          Shoemaker is averaging 22 points          “Garrett’s dedication to the weight room and working on his game individually has pushed him to be an unbelievable player and one of the best players in the South,” Matherne said.           Freche had 15 points junior Jake DePaula (who missed last season with an ACL injury) had 12 points (four 3-pointers)          Senior JD Dumas led Parklane with 11 points          “I feel we played well for about 20 minutes however against a really good Oak Forest team you have to play well all 32 minutes,” said third-year Parklane coach Alex Ainsworth “We showed last night that we can play at a high level against good competition we just have to be able to sustain that level to have a chance to win big games After not having a team until the last week of November I feel we are consistently improving as the season goes on we can hit stride over the next two weeks to give ourselves a chance to compete at the state level.” Robert Wilson is a national award winning sportswriter regional and state levels in his 23 years as a sportswriter for The Clarion-Ledger/Jackson Daily News covering high school and college sports and writing a tennis column Wilson also produced Victories in Metro Jackson who was the first black football official in the SEC and was an NFL official and a Mississippi educator for several decades Wilson is well known among Mississippians for his ability to paint a picture of the subject he is writing about and not only about their ability Hinds Community College and Ole Miss graduate From a old yellow jacket student from 1976 Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress 2024 at 4:13 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Paityn Castillo is hospitalized and fighting an autoimmune condition that has rendered her paralyzed IL — An Oak Forest teen and Oak Forest High School freshman remains paralyzed in intensive care with her family and friends rallying around as she's gripped by sudden illness Paityn Castillo and her family are facing the unknown stemming from a rare autoimmune condition that struck the 14-year-old late last month had just finished her season on the Oak Forest High School volleyball team when she noticed stiffness and tingling in her legs Initial test results of strep seemed incomplete and with increasing pain and weakness in her legs her doctor referred them to Advocate Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn for additional testing adding that she's now developing pneumonia The timeline—what the doctors keep telling her family—is that there’s no timeline for it Could be mostly back to normal in a few months They don’t really have a timeline to go by The self-professed Swiftie had been set to see pop icon Taylor Swift perform at one of her Indianapolis stops—plans that were abruptly canceled amidst her illness "Her wonderful nurses decorated her whole room in Taylor Swift," she said cardboard cutout of the songstress herself They were small touches that went a long way for the teen "She has a ton of friends," Postovalov said and they're helping her stay on top of her social media contributions via Snapchat "She is very invested in keeping her Snapchat streaks going," she laughed "Everyday somebody from her family goes through her snaps and responds." Castillo had been looking forward to returning to her club volleyball team Christopher in Midlothian—was in the midst of the shift from private to public school Castillo's parents Sandy and Reggie are also scrambling to shift time and attention Sandy is a preschool teacher at Prairie-Hill School District 144; Reggie is a firefighter in Arlington Heights Unplanned time off for both can be difficult on finances Her sister Kamryn is a junior at Oak Forest High School with college consideration and planning in limbo and all of these things are kind of just sitting there," Postovalov said the family is grateful for the support shown for Paityn "They are so grateful for all the support they’ve already received," Postovalov said they’re taken aback by how loved and supported she’s been throughout this whole process." The GoFundMe has raised more than $14,000 to date