Home Care In Oak Forest, IL

OAK FOREST, IL — Oak Forest residents will again see an increase in the City's portion of their property tax bill, after officials this week passed a tax levy with an increase from last year.

On December 8, the Oak Forest City Council approved a 2025 tax levy of $12,905,393, resulting in an increase of $606,150, or 4.9% from last year.

Homeowners will see an estimated annual property tax increase of $71 on the city’s portion of the property tax bill, the City said in a release. It's a bigger increase than in the City's 2024 tax levy, which was a 3.7 increase over the prior year.

The tax levy calculation requires an increase of $864,000 in property taxes "due to fiscal year 2027 operating expenses, capital projects, and authorized full-time personnel," the City said in a release.

The City also said it dug into its reserves to offset the impact to residents somewhat, according to the release.

"Realizing that many residents and business owners are struggling from increased energy, food, insurance, and interest costs, the city is using $250,000 of general fund reserves to close the gap," the City said in a release. "Utilizing reserves is a short-term strategy to minimize the tax levy this year. Even with the withdrawal from the reserves, the city meets its fund balance policy."

Keeping it below 5 percent also eliminated the need for a public hearing. The Truth in Taxation law requires a taxing district to compare the amount of its proposed aggregate property tax levy, to the amount of taxes extended for the district in the prior year. A notice must be published in a newspaper and a public hearing must be held, if the proposed aggregate tax levy is more than 5 percent greater than the previous year’s tax extension.

The City provided a table and chart illustrating the total amount of property tax owed by a resident, and how that money is distributed among taxing districts. In the example, school districts receive 67 percent of property taxes, while the city's portion of the tax bill is just under 15 percent.

The 18-year-old still needs to find his match in a living liver donor. Find out how to help.

OAK FOREST, IL — If things had gone according to plan, Brody Lynch would be out west right now, well into his freshman year at Arizona State University.

The passionate videographer and media coordinator at Bremen High School was locked on to a media production major and ready to leave in August, when life dealt him an unexpected blow.

The Oak Forest native, 18, has been battling chronic liver condition primary sclerosing cholangitis since Jan. 2024, and as he awaited a much-needed liver transplant, his condition was declining.

His doctors told him to stay put.

"The phone call from the doctors about not going to ASU was difficult for the whole family because he had his heart set on leaving for college," his father, Michael Lynch, told Patch.

As he dealt with that disappointment, Lynch's symptoms worsened and in October, he was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma—bile duct cancer. The teen now finds himself in even more urgent need of a living liver donor as he fights the two conditions.

"It's tough," Michael Lynch told Patch. "The initial diagnosis of PSC came after an injury at a wrestling match. He still tried to wrestle the next day through extreme pain, showing his resilience."

Though most would be overwhelmed, Lynch has been steadfast—actually, his father said, "throughout the whole situation he has been relentless."

In PSC, the liver’s bile ducts become inflamed and scarred, and eventually blocked.

His attitude in facing his health challenges head-on shows the same spirit that fuels Lynch's creative efforts, his father said.

"Brody is a hard-working, determined, creative young man who puts 110 percent in everything he does," Mike Lynch said. "From academics, sports, photography and video, he always rises to the challenge and overcomes it."

The father and son both work at Bremen High School, where the elder Lynch is a language arts teacher, Bremen District 228 TV advisor and wrestling coach. Mike Lynch has witnessed his son's skill set broaden, though they don't often get to work alongside each other.

"Brody is a talented young man who has developed skills that rivals some professionals in the industry," Mike Lynch said. "His technical abilities of working with a camera through video, photography, and editing combined with his amazing ability to tell a story will result in him being successful.

"... I have taught media for over 20 years, and Brody has what it takes to be successful in the industry."

Lynch won a Crystal Pillar Award in April—a nod from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences to recognize outstanding television production by high school students. He's also currently nominated for a National Student Production Award through the same academy, for a documentary he produced about his close friend's rare disease.

Lynch's sharp eye and storytelling are artwork, skills carefully and passionately honed over time. A graduate of Victor J. Andrew High School in Tinley Park, Lynch in his senior year participated in a work study program in the media program through Bremen High School.

"I love working at Bremen High School," Lynch said. "The staff, students, and overall community is very nice and supportive. Working alongside my dad is fun, even though we don’t see each other often while at work, he always helps me with planning events to make sure everything’s perfect to capture.

"I love videography and photography because it allows me to tell and create stories for others to be impacted by. ... I would love to keep the same passion for storytelling and filmmaking. Whether that be sports, broadcasting, film, etc."

Parents Mike and Andrea would like to see Lynch chase that dream and love for his craft in Arizona. But first, they need to find him a liver, and it must be from a living donor.

A match for donating to Lynch must meet three basic criteria, to start:

The form can be completed online. Though many have submitted their information, a match has not yet been found.

Meanwhile, Lynch will undergo chemotherapy and radiation.

"I noticed since things have progressed, I’m a bit more fatigued, I’m jaundiced, and I have stomach pains," Lynch said. "I do my best to take one day at a time. As for my immediate future, I just want to get past my chemo and radiation treatment, and prepare for a possible liver donor."

The Bremen District 228 community is rallying around the Lynch family, sharing word of Lynch's need for a liver in hopes of compelling potential matches to come forward.

"Mike Lynch is a Bremen guy through and through," said Bremen High School Principal Dr. Jessica Rucinski. "He's a proud alumni (Class of 1996) and a dedicated teacher and coach who has spent his career pouring into our students and this community. As the leader of our Communication Arts and Technology program, Mike has inspired countless young people over the years, including his son, Brody.

"Brody Lynch is an exceptionally talented filmmaker, and it’s been a joy to see him use his creative gifts to highlight everything that makes our school such a special place. Through his films, Brody has spent his time shining a light on others, and now it’s our turn to shine the spotlight on him.

"Bremen has always been a place where people look out for one another, and now the Lynch family needs us most. We hope that by sharing Brody's story, we can help this remarkable young man find the match he deserves."

As word spreads via news coverage and social media, applications have increased, the family learned.

"Most of the time you see the negative aspects on social media," Lynch said. "Everything that is going wrong in the world. It just shows there are kind people that are willing to help a stranger. And I’m very grateful for that."

The support has been humbling, Mike Lynch said.

"It's been overwhelming," he said. "We are an extremely private family, but we are in need of some help in finding a live liver donor. And we will do anything to help our son."

The team's 12-1 season brings them to a semifinal showdown with Providence Catholic High School on Saturday, Nov. 22.

OAK FOREST, IL — Oak Forest High School is celebrating a historic achievement, as its varsity football team advances to the state semifinals for the first time since 2008. With a season record of 12-1, the Bengals’ impressive performance has energized both the school and the Oak Forest community.

“This accomplishment is huge for our school and our community,” said Athletic Director Matt Manzke. “Our coaches and players have worked tirelessly — not just during the season, but throughout the offseason and summer — to reach this point. It’s not just about the high school; it’s about everyone in Oak Forest rallying together and taking pride in what this team has achieved.”

The Bengals’ only loss this season came against Hillcrest, but Manzke emphasized that the setback became a turning point. “The most satisfying thing for me is how our guys responded to that loss,” he said. “They came back together, got better, and showed incredible maturity and leadership. That’s what great teams do.”

Under the leadership of Head Coach Zachary Sadek, who is in his first year at the helm, the Bengals have demonstrated remarkable resilience and unity.

“Making the state semifinals is a testament to the work put in by these players, both on the field when they were being coached, and off the field when no one was watching,” said Sadek. “They have believed in the process, and their success is the byproduct of holding themselves to a standard of what it means to be a student-athlete at Oak Forest.

“This being my first year as head coach of the program, the credit lies solely with our players and our staff,” Sadek continued. “I believe in empowering a staff to make decisions, and they have done a great job being teachers of young men and holding them accountable. These players put in the work with the staff that helped lay the foundation — when they didn’t have a coach, and when they got a new coach. It is a testament to their ability to overcome adverse situations.”

Manzke also credited the team’s senior leadership as the backbone of the Bengals’ success. “Our seniors have had a goal to get to state since they walked in as freshmen,” he said. “They’ve set the tone and shown what true dedication looks like.”

Oak Forest will face Providence Catholic High School this Saturday in the semifinal round. The game is at Providence Catholic High School, 1800 W. Lincoln Highway, at 1 p.m. Tickets are $10.45 and can be purchased online.

If victorious, the Bengals will advance to the IHSA State Championship, held at Illinois State University in Bloomington-Normal on Saturday, Nov. 29. The championship matchup would feature Oak Forest against either Belvidere North or Wheaton St. Francis.

Manzke expressed optimism as the Bengals continue their historic run.

“At this point in the season, every team you face is great,” he said. “But our guys are playing awesome football right now. Why not go get another win?”

A nasty, highly contagious form of norovirus called “winter vomiting disease” is spreading across the country, including in Illinois, according to an analysis of wastewater at two surveillance sites in the state.

Norovirus cases typically spike after Christmas and New Year’s gatherings, but the number of new cases in November showed a notable increase, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.

The CDC tracks norovirus through voluntary reporting from clinics and state health departments, but says such data is unreliable because most people who get it are miserable for a few days, but don’t seek medical attention or require hospitalization.

The agency doesn’t monitor viral activity in wastewater; however, data from WastewaterSCAN, an academic program through Stanford University in partnership with Emory University, shows that norovirus has been rising nationally since mid-October.

In Illinois, monitoring sites in Wheaton and Glen Ellyn are tracking the virus. Wheaton saw a large increase in cases the week of Nov. 10, while Glen Ellyn saw a spike just before Thanksgiving. But the holidays could bring even more cases; last year, cases of norovirus spiked massively in both cities in early January.

There are about 2,500 reported norovirus outbreaks a year, according to the CDC. Some health experts worry that the variant GII.17, which was responsible for last year’s spike, may have mutated and become more contagious.

The GII.4 strain dominated norovirus outbreaks for more than 30 years, but last year, the GII.17 mutation was responsible for about 75 percent of outbreaks, according to the CDC.

Dr. Robert Atmar, professor in the Department of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, told NBC News there are two possibilities: Either the virus changed to make it more transmissible, or changes in the population made more people susceptible.

“And probably it’s a combination of both,” Atmar said. “But whether it’s going to persist this year, I think, is one of the big questions in our scientific community.”

Symptoms of the GII.17 strain include forceful vomiting, intense diarrhea and stomach cramps that are especially hard on children under 5, adults over 85, and those with underlying health conditions, according to the CDC. Dehydration is a primary risk.

Because GII.17 is a new strain, people have less built-up immunity and may experience more severe illnesses.

“When new strains emerge, people are exposed to a strain that they have not previously been exposed to, and hence are more likely to get infected,” Lee-Ann Jaykus, a professor in the Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences at North Carolina State University, told Newsweek.

“Historically, new strains emerge every seven to 10 years, and we were due for one, so this is not surprising,” Jaykus said.

Vigorous hand-washing with hot water and soap and other good hygiene practices are crucial to limit the spread of norovirus. It spreads easily, either through direct contact with someone who is sick, eating food or drinking liquids contaminated with the virus, touching contaminated surfaces, and poor hand-washing.

The Bremen D228 grad is excited for his team, selected among the top 5 of 1,000 Culver's locations in the country, and vying for $100K.

OAK FOREST, IL — For the second year in a row, the Oak Forest Culver's location has been named among the top 5 in the country.

The location at 5410 W. 159th St. has earned recognition as a Gold Finalist in the annual Culver’s Crew Challenge, which will crown a winner in January 2026.

Nick Strache is the owner-operator of the Oak Forest Culver’s, which has established a strong culture of service excellence and guest satisfaction since its October 2023 opening. In that short time, the team has won over the hearts of their community on the way to its second Crew Challenge Finals appearance. It was previously recognized as a finalist in 2024.

In the Crew Challenge, restaurants compete in the areas of quality, service, cleanliness, hospitality, community outreach and team member training and development. The winner will be announced at Culver’s annual convention in Nashville in January 2026.

Each of the five finalists will receive prize money, with the winning team awarded $100,000 and the 4 others $25,000. Winnings are shared between the restaurant managers and team members.

Strache, who is a Midlothian native and 2014 graduate of Bremen High School, shared his pride for his business and team following a visit from Culver's Co-Founder Leah Culver and Culver Franchising System CEO Julie Fussner.

"There is a lot to be said about being top 5 two years in a row," Strache told Patch. "I think for starters, it truly shows how committed the team is here to truly make a difference for their community. After being top 5 and not bringing home a national championship (in 2025), this team had a fire in them to elevate the experience for our guests each and every day. They were truly up to the challenge."

Strache said his team focuses on going above and beyond for the customer.

"This team is truly led by young individuals that use the foundation that Culver's set to execute and exceed operational standards and Hospitality with heart," Strache said. "They truly believe that it costs nothing to be kind and have bought into the culture that this is a people business first, and we just happen to also serve great food."

The City of Oak Forest also lauded Strache and his Culver's location.

"The Oak Forest Culver's is basking in the limelight today as Nick and his team celebrate another Top 5 Culver’s Crew Challenge Award," they said, in a social media post sharing news of the co-founder's Dec. 2 visit. "… second year in a row! They will compete for the national champion title next month in Nashville! We're rooting for you!"

The Bremen D228 grad is excited for his team, selected among the top 5 of 1,000 Culver's locations in the country, and vying for $50K.

OAK FOREST, IL — Oak Forest Culver's owner Nick Strache basked in the moment a bit Thursday, but wasn't about to rest on his laurels just yet.

While Strache celebrated his location's finish in the top 5 of all 1,000 Culver's locations nationwide, he hasn't taken his eye off the ultimate prize—winning the Culver's Crew Challenge and earning $50,000 for his location.

Strache, who is a Midlothian native and 2014 graduate of Bremen High School, shared his pride for his business and team following a visit from Culver's CEO Rick Silva and co-founder Craig Culver.

"From the moment we started interviewing and hiring for this restaurant, I knew something special was brewing and in just 14 months this team earned top 5 gold finalist in just year 1!" Strache told Patch. "This is the first restaurant out of 1,000 to ever accomplish this feat in only their first year of being open!"

In the Crew Challenge, restaurants compete in the areas of quality, service, cleanliness, hospitality, community outreach and team member training and development. The winner will be announced at Culver’s annual convention in Dallas in early 2025.

"This community and this team strive every day to make a difference," Strache said. "People are everything at Culver's in Oak Forest."

Strache's dedication to the Oak Forest location at 5410 W. 159th St. has earned him fans and praise from the community since its the October 2023 opening.

"Nick, a proud Bremen High School grad, is really making an impact in the community." Bremen District 228 shared. "His team includes over 20 Oak Forest High School students, and he’s always involved in local fundraisers and events."

Strache is also nominated for Newcomer Mentee of the Year at Culver's, he told Patch. The designation is given to a new franchisee who excels in operational excellence, hospitality, and community involvement.

"From having over 20 Oak Forest High School students to having the best guests in the country right here at home," Strache said, "I’m forever grateful for the hard work my leadership team and crew has put in each and every day striving to make moments and create memories for those who walk in these doors."

The City of Oak Forest also applauded Strache.

"There was a lot to celebrate at the Oak Forest Culver’s this afternoon," the City said Thursday. "... Nick is a valuable member of our business community—employing 20 local high school students, giving back through various fundraisers, and participating in community events."

Strache said he's hopeful they'll win, but ultimately, proud of his team.

"It was a tough year, and hopefully we come home as national champions," Strache said, "but no matter what this restaurant will continue to be an anchor for this community and will continue to deliver that top 5 service."