A new temporary driver services office opened Tuesday at Prairie State College in Chicago Heights.

The office at Coolidge Street and Vollmer Road will provide motorists the ability to renew their driver’s licenses, secure Real IDs, take driver’s tests, and receive other services on the college campus.

Such services have been lacking in the southeast suburbs since a fire last summer knocked the busy Chicago Heights facility out of action. The closing of the facility forced motorists to visit other secretary of state facilities in Midlothian, Joliet, Naperville, Orland Park, Lockport, Bridgeview and Bradley to seek out services.

Officials said they still plan to reopen the facility in Chicago Heights, where restoration work is ongoing.

Silver Cross breaks ground on outpatient center in Mokena

New Lenox-based Silver Cross Hospital broke ground last week on a 20,000-square-foot outpatient care center at the southeast corner of U.S. Route 30 and Owens Road in Mokena.

Scheduled to open in September, the single-story medical office building will provide urgent care services and physician offices. Hospital officials said it is the first phase of Silver Cross Hospital’s vision for a comprehensive medical campus in Mokena. The site has been master planned for additional services to be developed on an adjacent 5.6-acre parcel.

Mokena Mayor Frank Fleischer said he was thrilled when Silver Cross Hospital President and CEO Ruth Colby expressed interest in expanding the hospital’s services to Mokena.

“This facility will bring in more than 100 people to the village daily in the Route 30 area,” he said. “This will really be a great service for all our residents.”

This will be the second Urgent Care Center that Silver Cross Hospital has opened within the past year. In July 2020, Silver Cross introduced Silver Cross Urgent Care Center in Pavilion D on its New Lenox hospital campus.

In addition to the main hospital campus and other locations in New Lenox, Silver Cross also offers outpatient services in Homer Glen, Lemont, Joliet, Manhattan and Lockport.

Farmers markets kick off

The annual farmers market kicked off for the season last Thursday at Yukich Field, 89th Street and Kedzie Avenue in Evergreen Park.

The market will be there every Thursday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. through October.

In Palos Heights, the 2021 Farmer’s Market opened on Wednesday at the Municipal Parking Lot located at 12217 S. Harlem Ave. The market will be held every Wednesday through October 13 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

In Brookfield, the Farmer’s Market will open Saturday, June 5, on the west side of Brookfield Village Hall, 8820 Brookfield Ave.

This is the 13th season for the market and visitors will find a variety of fresh locally grown vegetables, fruits, eggs, honey, bakery goods, sauces, soaps, and unique artisan pieces.

The market runs Saturdays through October 16 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Volunteers are needed to help the Garfield Ridge Chamber of Commerce make its seasonal farmers market a success.

This year’s weekly market starts at a date to be determined in June, in the parking lot of Mayfield Banquets, 6072 S. Archer.

For details, contact the GRCC market manager through facebook.com/GRFarmersMarket.

Cicero Avenue lane reductions begin May 17

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that improvements to the bridge that carries Cicero Avenue (Illinois 50) over the Belt Railroad tracks, in Chicago and Bedford Park, will begin, weather permitting, May 17.

To accommodate the work, Cicero will be reduced to two lanes in each direction between 67th and 71st streets. Access to residences and businesses within the work zone will be maintained throughout construction.

The project, which consists of a new bridge deck overlay with joint replacement and structural steel repairs, is expected to be completed in November.

Bob Bong is a freelance columnist. He can be reached at bobbong@hotmail.com.