The Oriole Park Community Club is a volunteer-based, non-political association of community members dedicated to fostering the general welfare of the Oriole Park neighborhood in Chicago.  We hold bi-monthly public meetings, usually in the Oriole Park field house.  Among other things, we host invited speakers, sponsor the annual fourth of July parade and sponsor tax appeal seminars.  We are an important link to neighborhood institutions, including the 41st ward office, library, park, police and school.

The annual Oriole Park Community Club Family Night will be held at Oriole Park Elementary School on this date, starting at 7:00 p.m. It will be a fun night for the entire family featuring Magician Dave Marcus and Buddy. The entire Oriole Park community is invited to attend and enjoy a night of magical illusions and humor, appropriate for all ages.

Conducted by the Cook County Board of Review, co-hosted by the Oriole Park Community Club and sponsored by State Representative Michael McAuliffe, State Senator John Mulroe, Alderman Mary O'Connor and Cook County Commissioner Peter Silvestri.  Attendees should bring their Property Index Number (PIN) to the seminar so they can submit their applications for appeal at the meeting. PIN is found on the property tax bill. 

Please renew your membership for the 2011-2012 year. Individual and family memberships are $10 per year and members over age 65 can renew for $5.  IN ORDER TO CONTINUE EVENTS SUCH AS THE JULY 4 PARADE, YOUR MEMBERSHIPS AND DONATIONS ARE ABSOLUTELY NEEDED!   

State Representative Michael McAuliffe was the principal speaker. He reported on legislation, passed and pending in the Illinois General Assembly. He reported that there will be a lot of cuts in the budget. The state treasurer was looking for a 2% reduction in spending. He voted in favor of the Electrical Smart Grid bill for which ComED was seeking approval. He feels that the state needs an upgrade of its electrical network and that it will also create jobs. He did not vote for increasing the state income tax. He favors casino gambling expansion and would vote for a casino in Chicago. That vote might come up in the Spring. Pension reform is in the works and we could end up with a three tiered system. No more double dipping should be allowed. He voted for allowing bicycles and motorcycles to go through a red light after coming to a full stop and cross traffic is clear. He announced that a veteran's home is slated for the Chicago Read Mental Center. It will accommodate 200 beds and will serve vets with Alzheimers disease and vets from Iraq and Afghanistan suffering from PTSD syndrome. He will be sponsoring a Safe Driving Seminar for Seniors in the Spring.

After Representative McAuliffe's presentation, Frank Clark, park supervisor in Oriole Park, announced that uni-directional hoods or visors were installed on the outfield lights on Diamond #4.  This improvement was put in place to more directly focus the lighting onto the playing field and reduce it on the surrounding areas.

Alderman Mary O'Connor was the principal speaker. She began with a brief profile of her personal history. She then provided details about her office and staff located at 6107 N. Northwest Highway. She also reviewed current issues she and her office are dealing with such as flooding problems, street resurfacing, pot hole repairs, dealing with reduced funding for the public schools. On the latter point, she has arranged a meeting with local school principals and the new superintendent of CPS, Jean Claude Brizzard. In the open forum that followed she fielded many questions and complaints from the audience addressing each one of them individually. Her office has developed an internet bulletin service titled 41st Ward Update for which individuals can sign up to get latest news and announcements affecting the ward. Alderman O'Connor concluded her presentation by affirming that she will work closely with the Oriole Park Community Club for the benefit of the community.

July 4 Children's Bicycle Parade: The parade stepped off from the north end of the park at 9:30 a.m.  Approximately 500 community members participated, including many children with decorated bicycles, the Oriole Park School Concert Band (led by student Kevin Willlems, OPS music teacher Paul Gilvary and parents Scott and Lisa Schwieger,)  The St. Paul Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, the revolutionary war reenactors, Volontaires Etrangers de Lauzun, and the Chicago Police and Fire Departments.  State Representative Michael McCauliffe and 41st Ward Alderman Mary O'Connor also marched.  Honored at the parade were Grand Marshall Pat Conlon and 2011-2012 Junior Citizen Award recipient Lauren Smart.  We thank Park Ridge Dairy Queen (and Jeff Malarski) again for its generous sponsorship of our parade!

Monday, May 16, 2011:  General Meeting:  The community club discussed plans for the July 4 Childrens Bicycle Parade.  The 2011 Junior Citizen Award was presented to Lauren Smart, an eighth-grader at Oriole Park School.  Honorable mentions were awarded to Alicia Wala (St. Eugenes) and Vanessa Kuri (Oriole Park.)  Officers were elected for 2011-2012.

Monday, March 21, 2011:  General Meeting.  Architect Thomas Ciesielski, a resident of Oriole Park, was the featured speaker.  He addressed the following topics:  navigating Chicago's permitting process for new construction and remodeling, identifying ideas and financial incentives for green design, and weatherizing your home.

Monday, January 24, 2011:  The Oriole Park Community Club sponsored its annual Community Family Night at Oriole Park School. Master magician Dennis DeBondt (the Sears Tower of Magic) entertained young and old alike with optical illusions and plenty of humor. 

Monday, November 22, 2010: The Oriole Park Community Club sponsored a Candidate Forum that was held in the Oriole Park School gymnasium, 5424 N. Oketo Av. Over 100 people were in attendance for the forum wherein three candidates for the office of 41st Ward Alderman shared their plans for the ward, if elected, and took questions from the audience. The candidates who participated were Maurita Gavin, Sgt. Richard Gonzales, CPD, and Mary O'Connor. It was a full program that covered a wide range of topics.