Meet Your Friends at the OCS

Beth Novotney is the Director of the Office of Citizens' Services and is assisted daily by Denise and Colleen, as well as several office volunteers, located in the east wing of the Hamilton B. Maher Community Center at 3450 W. 97th Street.

These friendly folks create programs and events for the adults and seniors of Evergreen Park.

The OCS was created in 1974, originally operating out of the Village Hall. Their first director was local resident Virginia Wrobel, who is still very active with the department and the Evergreen Park Senior Council. This comes out to nearly fifty years of service for the needs of the residents of Evergreen Park.

Many events had been put on pause during the pandemic, but are ready for a re-boot as the winter passes behind us and the refreshing breath of Spring and Summer rejuvenates us all.

Current programs include Senior Movie Days, where a mainstream film is run (Mondays and Tuesdays) in our comfortable library. The Senior Luncheons take place the third Thursdays of every month; the next offering is a delicious pork roast lunch on Thursday, May 19 ($10 per person, and tickets are available at the office).

The department also offers light exercise groups and has recently started a Pinochle group every Monday at 4pm. Come on out, all are invited!

The office coordinates one-day trips to local sightseeing venues. The next one coming is a one-day trip to the Gardens of Rock River Valley on Wednesday, June 29, with visits to Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, lunch at the Stockholm Inn, then to Janesville to the Rotary Botanical Gardens. That trip is available for $100 per person, and again, tickets can be purchased easily with a trip to the office where the OCS can greet you with a smile.

There are two big events coordinated by the department; the first opens on Thursday, May 5. . .the Annual Evergreen Park Farmers Market! Located at Yukich Field every Thursday from 7am-1pm the Market features a wonderful assortment of vendors. The OCS will also present the Annual "Memories To Go" Village Garage sale on Saturday, September 10.

The Office also maintains a Medical Supply Loan closet for those residents in need of helpful items (walkers, canes, etc.) And, if you need some local transportation, you can enlist the service of our Mini-Bus for shopping and doctors' appointments.

Their current newsletter can be found on their website, but you can also call us at (708) 422-8776 to get any information you need, and also to request to be added to the Village E-mail Newsletter, which is sent out with updates throughout the week.

Above all, please feel free to come and visit, they are always happy to give you the personal touch with a friendly conversation.