Oak Lawn officials will talk to senior residents over lunch Thursday about plans to move senior activities to the library.
Oak Lawn Mayor Terry Vorderer said he and some fellow Village Board members will discuss the topic at 11 a.m. Thursday, with seniors who gather for a boxed lunch and bingo at the Oak Lawn Senior Center, at 5220 W. 105th St.
The village plans to close the center, which is housed in the former McGugan Junior High School, where the village rents space from Elementary District 123.
Vorderer said he believes the library can offer as many activities as the seniors now enjoy and possibly more.
“I do firmly believe this is a positive thing for the seniors,” Vorderer said at Tuesday morning’s Village Board meeting.
He also said he expects senior bus service will once again be offered in the village, in partnership with Worth Township.
Upcoming observances
Vorderer reminded residents about the Memorial Day ceremony the Johnson-Phelps VFW Post 5220 will hold at 11 a.m. Monday at the village’s Veterans Memorial, on the north side of the Oak Lawn Library at 95th Street and Raymond Avenue
Following the ceremony, members of the community are invited back to the VFW Post, 95th Street and 52nd Avenue, in Oak Lawn, for free coffee and doughnuts.
Residents also are invited to show their support for police officers and firefighters by participating in the Blue Ribbon Walk on June 4, in Lake Shore Park by 96th Street and East Shore Drive. The event begins at 11 a.m., with walkers setting off at noon on a mile route around Oak Lawn Lake, and includes free food, a face painter and other activities.
Massage business
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The Village Board also voted 4-2 to approve a new massage business at 4701 W. 95th St.
The owner, Xiashui Yang, said through an interpreter the business, called Comfort Massage Spa, will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and will employ only licensed professionals as masseuses.
Vorderer said the only massage center in Oak Lawn is Massage Envy.
The village previously closed a different massage parlor because of illegal activity there, Vorderer said. Consequently, village officials will keep an eye on Yang’s spa to make sure it’s a “legitimate massage business,” he said.
“There has been a bad reputation about some massage businesses,” Vorderer said.
Yang assured the board only legal massages to relieve stress or pain will be offered.
She operates two similar businesses in the Chicago area, including Nature Massage Spa in Tinley Park, Yang said.
Kimberly Fornek is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.