Dear River Forest residents,
Congratulations to our residents who were unanimously appointed to a number of Village boards and commissions during Monday’s Village Board meeting. We are fortunate to have so many individuals who are invested in River Forest through volunteering. I invite everyone to learn more about the different ways to serve the Village. If you are interested in serving on a board or commission, we invite you to please fill out an application and tell us what you are interested in. The application and information on the various commissions can be found on our website at www.vrf.us. We are also improving our communication about the various boards and commissions. The Village Board directed the staff to develop a guide on all of our boards and commissions. Please look for this new guide soon!
I’d also like to call attention to River Forest’s own Alec Olson, who is the owner/operator of Spoke Cafe - a mobile cafe that specializes in serving up Nitro Cold Brew Coffee and more! Alec’s mission is to provide the community with a unique product offered in convenient locations, such as the Depot and the River Forest Tennis Club area. Please follow Spoke Cafe on Facebook or on Instagram for the weekly schedule and locations, and keep a lookout for Spoke Cafe around town July 7 - 9!
Finally, with the July 4th holiday nearly upon us, I hope that all of our residents can enjoy a time of celebration, relaxation and appreciation in realizing that we have truly turned an important corner in regards to the pandemic. It was just a year ago that our lives were so very different.
Please enjoy the holiday, and stay safe!
Sincerely,
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Catherine M. Adduci, Village President
Village of River Forest
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In observance of the Independence Day holiday, Village Hall will be closed on Monday, July 5, and will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, July 6. Additionally, garbage collection will be delayed by one day.
Also, please remember that the possession and/or use of fireworks in Illinois and in the Village of River Forest are illegal, and are prohibited by Village ordinances and State laws. Please be courteous to your neighbors and mindful of the law by refraining from using fireworks during your holiday celebrations.
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For the most current River Forest vaccine data, click here and select 'Data by Town', and find the percentages of fully vaccinated individuals across the state here. Walk-in appointments are available at several locations and can be scheduled here. Homebound suburban Cook County residents can receive the vaccine in their homes; find more information here.
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Deadline Approaching for Vehicle Stickers
Reminder! Vehicle stickers for 2021-2022 are available for purchase and must be affixed to windshields by Wednesday, July 14 to avoid late fees and citations. All vehicles registered in Illinois with a River Forest address must also be registered with the Village through the purchase of a vehicle sticker license. Click here to renew or for more information.
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Stormwater Master Plan Questionnaire
Last week, the Village held two open-house meetings to collect resident feedback for the Stormwater Master Plan. These meetings were designed to help understand residents’ past flooding experiences and concerns, in order to best plan for future improvements. If you would like to provide feedback or input, please fill out this questionnaire.
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Hephzibah Children's Association Fundraiser |
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A Yoga Retreat and Wine Tasting event to support Hephzibah Children's Association will take place on Saturday, July 24 at 4:45 p.m., at the home of event organizer Dorota Szerszenowicz. It will feature two hours of professional yoga, followed by a wine tasting, appetizers and pizza. The suggested ticket price is $100 and RSVPs are requested by Friday, July 16. Contact Dorota by email or at (908) 868-8378 for more information.
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Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over |
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The River Forest Police Department (RFPD) is continuing its Fourth of July traffic enforcement safety campaign through July 6, with a focus on impaired and unbuckled drivers. The Independence Day holiday period is one of the deadliest times on Illinois roads, so the RFPD has joined forces with the Illinois State Police for this increased statewide enforcement effort to help save lives. To learn more, click here.
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River Forest Police are proud to partner with 7-Eleven for Operation Chill®, the company’s signature community outreach program. 7-Eleven will be donating free Slurpee drink coupons to officers, who will reward children they see observing safety rules, participating in positive activities, or performing good deeds and acts of kindness. Click here for more information!
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Firework Safety
In 2019, more than 120 people in Illinois were injured by fireworks, with nearly a quarter of those being children. While fireworks are illegal in Illinois, should you plan on using them in a neighboring state, please review these firework safety tips, first.
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Grilling Safety
Summer weather and grilling go hand-in-hand. But grills, whether propane or charcoal, can also be fire hazards and cause serious injuries. This is especially so when placed too close to homes. Follow these simple steps to help avoid grilling pitfalls and stay safe while barbecuing.
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Gasoline Safety
With summer in full swing, many residents are relying on gasoline-powered equipment to help maintain their landscaping and properties. But do you know how to properly store your gas tanks or how to effectively clean-up accidental spillage? Click here for important tips!
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River Forest Cleaners
River Forest Cleaners understands that first impressions are everything! With highly trained garment care specialists, dry cleaners and tailors/seamstresses on-site, they promise to treat each and every piece of your wardrobe as if it were their own. Click here to learn more!
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Preserving Wildlife Habitats |
The River Forest Sustainability Commission is working to certify the Village as a Community Wildlife Habitat, through the National Wildlife Federation. For more information or to register your home as a ‘wildlife habitat’, click here.
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'Green' Block Parties
are Back!
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The District 90 offices will be closed on Monday, July 5 in observance of the Independence Day holiday. Summer school will also not be in session on this day. The School District staff wishes everyone a safe and happy Fourth of July! |
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Family Science Night
Explore different hands-on STEAM experiments during High Touch High Tech for Family Science Night on Monday, August 2 from 6 -7:30 p.m. at Roosevelt Middle School. All supplies and materials are provided, which families will get to take home to recreate experiments. If you are interested in exploring the wonderful world of STEAM, click here for details.
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Thursday Concerts
in the Park
Grab your chairs and blankets, and join us for Circle of Fifths on Thursday, July 15 at 6 p.m. in Constitution Park, to hear a variety of dance party music and classic rock hits! All concerts are family-friendly and free, and include a hot dog, chips and frozen treat. Please note, beverages are not included and alcohol is prohibited. To view the concert schedule, click here.
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Welcome To New
Operations Manager
The River Forest Public Library is excited to welcome Katie Cangelosi as the new operations manager. With more than eight years of customer and library service experience, Ms. Cangelosi will work closely with Director Emily Compton-Dzak, sharing responsibility for library administration, finances and facilities, as well as overseeing the Materials Services Department.
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Exciting Summer Programming Continues
Families - mark your calendars for Friday Night Flicks on the library lawn, featuring Jurassic World on Friday, July 16 at 8:30 p.m. (for young people in fifth grade and up). And, don’t forget to sign up for summer reading, which offers challenges and prizes for all age groups! To view a full list of in-person and virtual events being offered this summer, visit our website.
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The Township would like to remind residents that a number of services and programs continue to be offered virtually. To learn more, click here, view the River Forest community calendar here, or email Supervisor Carla Sloan.
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Seniors: Sign Up for
Community Connect
River Forest seniors are invited to subscribe to the Community Connect Enews! Sign up to stay informed about all of the latest events and programs happening in the greater River Forest-Oak Park area. The weekly email newsletter is sent out by the Township in partnership with Arbor West Neighbors. To sign up or for questions, please email Senior Outreach Coordinator Betsy Kelly or call (708) 366-2029.
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Senior Home Repair Program
River Forest and Oak Park residents ages 60 and over are eligible to receive assistance with simple home repairs as part of the North West Housing Partnership Senior Home Repair Program. Nominal hourly fees for this service are based on income. Types of work include installation of grab bars or door locks, hanging of pictures, sink/faucet repair, and light fixture installation/repair. Emergency repairs are not available. For questions or to make an appointment call (847) 969-0561 or send an email here.
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Delayed: Second Installment of Tax Bill Mailing |
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The second installment of tax bills have been delayed, as they have not been calculated or printed as of Monday, June 28. Tax bills could be mailed out in July or August, though the exact date is still undetermined. With this delay in the mailings, the tax bills will be due at least 30 days past the mailing date. For questions, please contact the Cook County Treasurer’s Office.
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Still looking for more River Forest information? Click below!
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400 Park Avenue
River Forest, Illinois 60305
(708) 366-8500
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