Thursday, October 7, 2021
Dear River Forest residents,


I had the pleasure of participating in the Tour de Proviso bike ride this past weekend, which started at Broadview and ended in River Forest. Mayors from six neighboring communities joined me, along with approximately 100 area residents for this fun and healthy community event. It was the result of a collaboration with leaders from the surrounding towns in order to continue building relationships that serve all of our residents. Thank you to our Village staff members for helping to organize this successful event. 

The Village is also collaborating with Maywood Fine Arts and the Village of Maywood through a walk to ‘imagine more’ and promote diversity, equity and opportunity in the arts. The group will gather at 9:30 a.m. and the walk begins at 10 a.m. this Saturday, October 9, at 20 N. 5th Avenue in Maywood. Participants will walk west on Lake Street to Keystone Park, then walk back to the starting location. To learn more about this wonderful organization, visit maywoodfinearts.org. Again, thank you to the staff for helping make this a great event.

Finally, please note that you have until Monday, October 11 at noon to complete the Sustainability Commission survey. The commission is seeking feedback about current waste hauling services from our residents. Please consider sharing your thoughts so we can ensure we’re providing the best services for our community’s needs. Now is the time to give us your input through the survey vs. taking it to Facebook! Take the survey and help us shape the type of service you need.

Sincerely,
Cathy Adduci, Village President
Village of River Forest
COVID-19 Update
Pre-scheduled and walk-in appointments are still available at several locations, as health officials continue to encourage residents to consider becoming fully vaccinated; the best line of defense against the virus and its variants. Homebound suburban Cook County residents can also learn more about how to receive the vaccine here
 
For the latest River Forest vaccine data, click here and select 'Data by Town', and click here to view percentages of fully vaccinated individuals across the state. For more information about COVID-19 vaccines, click here.
Reminder: Waste Collection Survey
Don’t Forget! The Sustainability Commission’s Waste Collection Survey closes at noon on Monday, October 11. To provide your input, click here and complete the short survey, which will help the Commission develop recommendations for the Village Board of Trustees regarding waste collection services.
Tour de Proviso Recap

Last weekend, community members gathered for the annual Mayors’ Tour de Proviso. Cyclists were joined by the Mayors of Broadview, Bellwood, Maywood, Melrose Park, Oak Park, River Forest and Riverside during the 7-mile ride, which ended at Keystone Park. The community bike ride promotes health and wellness, transportation, and tourism in the Proviso region. Thank you to all of the participants and generous sponsors, who made this event possible. Special thanks go out to our Administration, Lisa Scheiner, Jon Pape, and our fine Police Department for giving our visitors a warm welcome!
Fire Department
Open House

The Fire Department is hosting a family-friendly Open House this Saturday, October 9 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Together with the Police and Public Works departments, and community partners NICOR and the West Suburban Consolidated Dispatch Center, the Department will showcase services available to residents. For more information, click here or call (708) 366-7629
 
October 3 - 9 is also Fire Prevention Week! For resources and educational materials on how to best keep your family and home safe from fire, click here.
Snow Removal Program for Seniors
Seniors ages 65 and up and residents with disabilities may be eligible for the Village’s Snow Removal Program. Residents who qualify for a senior freeze property tax exemption, or other financial/unique hardships are eligible for this program, which provides assistance with snow removal from public sidewalks and front pathways to homes. For more details and to apply, click here. Completed forms should be returned to Village Hall by Friday, October 22.

Home Weatherization Assitance Program

Have you been struggling with expensive utility bills? The Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program provides low-income households with energy-efficient, health and safety weatherization upgrades, which helps save money and conserve energy. To learn more about eligibility and to apply, click here and search the list of partner intake sites for a location near you.
Emergency Rental Assistance

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, along with the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development and the Housing Authority of Cook County, has announced an additional $75M round of Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA 2). ERA 2 provides emergency rental assistance to both landlords and tenants, who are at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability due to the pandemic. To learn more or to fill out an application, click here.

River Forest resident Allison Poplett is the owner of a local graphic design and illustration studio, which specializes in small business branding, book cover design, album cover design and illustration. To learn more about the services offered or make an appointment, click here.
Shop River Forest! Please support our local businesses whenever possible! You can find a listing of River Forest businesses on the Village’s website. If you’d like your business to be featured in the weekly Business Spotlight, please send us an email.
What's Happening in River Forest?

Visit the River Forest Community Calendar at rfhappenings.com
to find out, today!