W E D N E S D A Y
May 1, 2024 Vol. 44, No. 44
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JOURNAL @oakpark
of Oak Park and River Forest
Summer’s portal: Ice cream cones at Courageous Bakery Page 6
From polio to the pandemic Oak Park Public Health Department celebrates 75th anniversary By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter
Oak Park’s Public Health Department has been a state-certified local health department for 75 years, but facets of the robust department residents know now existed long before then, too. It’s unusual for municipalities’ public health department to have this state-certification and only a handful do, according to village officials. Some requirements of state certification include having an environmental health supervisor, creating an emergency preparedness plan, ensuring the director meets certain qualifications and implementing a board of health, said Theresa Chapple, Oak Park’s public health director. Oak Park has high standards, said Frank Lipo, executive director of The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest. The “world’s largest village” as it was known for part of the See PUBLIC HEALTH on page 9
ON TRACK TODD BANNOR
OPRF High School boys track team sprinters compete in the 100 meter race during the opening meet on the school’s new running track on April 29. See more photos, page 5
callingeasll Beatl fans!
THURSDAY, MAY 9
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