Village of Evergreen Park issued the following announcement on March 17.
Hello Neighbors,
I wanted to check in with you again on this Friday afternoon, before the weekend begins; and if you don’t mind, I’d like to check in with you again next week.
As you know, I went through a very difficult illness a few years ago, and I don’t want any of our people to ever go through anything like that. Therefore...please continue to follow those guidelines that you hear so much about; washing your hands frequently and avoiding large crowds if you can. If you are sick, even with mild cold symptoms, I urge you to stay home. Please look to www.cdc.gov for more specific guidelines.
You may have heard about a testing station available at 98th and Western by a medical group. Please understand that you cannot simply drive-up. You need to call ahead, at (708) 572-7575. That being said, please call your doctor first, if you are feeling symptoms.
The Village Hall will be closing today (Friday, March 20, at noon) and we are awaiting word from the State as far as our schedule next week. We will pass that information along to you. In the meantime, if you need to pay a water bill, please do so online or use the drive-up box in the parking lot. You can leave a message on our answering system and reach us by email to epinf@hotmail.com.
Waste Management is on their normal schedule, though they want to suspend bulk furniture pickup for a little while so that their drivers can concentrate on the pickup of everyday trash and recycling, which is, of course, increased now with families spending more time at home.
The Police Department, Fire Department and Public Works are at full strength. You may phone 911 for any emergency.
It is only human nature to find yourselves addicted to the news, and certainly it is important to be informed. And yes, it is a very scary time. I implore you to take some time out from the constant barrage of headlines and opinions during this time of social distancing. Enjoy your families. Watch a movie. Play some board games. Be creative, make up your own entertainment. If the weather is comfortable, go out and sit on your porch and enjoy some fresh air.
Please remember to utilize our Evergreen Park restaurants that offer pickup and delivery. As I mentioned before, they need you and we need them. Now is the time, during this period of national unity, that we buy American and shop Evergreen Park! A few of our grocery stores have designated specific hours for seniors to shop. Thank you to them!
My friends...working together, and practicing common sense...we will get through this.
from TUESDAY, MARCH 17
To Our Wonderful Evergreen Park Community
First of all, I want to wish you all a Happy St. Patrick’s Day and St. Joseph Day. It is a beautiful Tuesday afternoon, the sun is shining; despite all the news that surrounds us on this day, let’s take a moment to reflect on the many blessings that we do share.
We are experiencing something now that is something very new to us and has forced us all to make temporary changes to our lifestyle. I do not mean to underplay the seriousness of the Coronavirus situation, but I also have faith in the scientists and doctors who are guiding us through this new and unsettling experience.
I also have faith in the people of Evergreen Park and I know that you are following the guidelines suggested by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to take care of yourselves, things that you know already and that need not repeating here.
In an abundance of caution, our programs through the Recreation Department, the Youth Department and our Office of Citizens Services are suspended for now, but I look forward to the day coming in the very near future when they resume with great celebration.
All other public services available from the Village continue; your waste pickup is on schedule, your water service continues, your Street Department is on task, and your Police and Fire Departments are at full strength. As you know, we have reduced hours at the Village Hall, but we are there for you every day and we are only a phone call away.
Also, please remember that our local businesses are there for you. Indeed, by state directive, our dine-in restaurants are closed for a while, but many of them still continue with drive-up, delivery and carry-out services. Please use them. Please keep the green in Evergreen so that, when all this passes, they too can return to full strength. We need them, and they need you.
When you are shopping, please get what you need, but leave enough for those who can’t get out as quickly as you. Our stores are doing the best they can to keep the essentials stocked, but there is no need to hoard unnecessarily. There are things that are far more important than toilet paper!
Friends, we will weather this storm. Again, I urge you to follow the recommendations of your medical experts who are far more educated in this than I. Keep an eye out for your neighbors, help where you can, and most of all, enjoy your families during this time of recommended isolation.
I continue to be so proud of Evergreen Park and, again, we look forward to great fellowship and celebration when this has all passed.
Mayor James Sexton
Original source can be found here.
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