This morning, the wonderful “gals” at Garland Flowers at 137 South Oak Park Avenue in Oak Park were met by an unannounced street closure on Oak Park Avenue. The Village of Oak Park, the Township of Oak Park and the Seniors Center decided that this morning was the perfect day to partially close Oak Park Avenue to disconnect the old water and sewer service to the soon-to-be-opened Senior Center on the east side of Oak Park Avenue.

If a private real estate concern were to engage in trenching the street, there would have to be permits and notifications. There was not advance notice to either Garland Flowers – a wonderful flower shop, if you’re interested – or Maya Del Sol Restaurant over at 144 S. Oak Park Avenue.

Do the Village of Oak Park's plan to tear up Oak Park Avenue have any bearing on the situation? What are the plans for Oak Park Avenue? The Village of Oak Parr is acting like a three-year-old not making any noise. Parents recognize that when a kid is not making noise, he or she is making trouble. The sound of Crickets from the Village is troubling.

How much effort does it take to alert business owners that construction will take place? It seems as if our governmental entities – the Village and Township feel that they can be bad neighbors.

The Village of Oak Park is going ahead with the next step in the installation of Photovoltaic Solar Panels to generate electricity for the Oak Park Avenue Garage. The mounting of the solar panels originally scheduled for last weekend will go forward starting at 5 am on Sunday February 19th. Several large pieces of construction equipment will block North Blvd.

The installation and clean-up should be over by 9 pm. Be advised that parking in and around our fair neighborhood will be... challenging, on Sunday.

And for President's Day, the Village of Oak Park will be taking down all the Christmas garlands and whatnot. They were supposed to be here last week but just couldn't make it happen then. The take-down should be done within one day.

The Avenue Business Association meeting originally scheduled for January 10th will be held on Tuesday, January 24th, at 8:30 a.m., tentatively scheduled in the U.S. Bank Conference Room. Slated to attend will be Oak Park Village Board President David Pope, Oak Park Village manager Tom Barwin and Ms. Loretta Daly, who will be speaking on updates to the Streetscape project and TIF and next steps for The Avenue. Those who wish to attend should contact Carmen, Avenue Business Assn President Brandy Masoncup's assistant at carmen@geppettostoybox.com to make your RSVP.