Thursday, May 27, 2021
Dear River Forest Residents,

On Monday, the Village Board approved a program to provide financial assistance to private property owners planning to replace lead water service lines. Please read more below to take advantage of this helpful opportunity. 

Another congratulations goes out to Oak Park River Forest High School students who are graduating this weekend, and to our elementary and middle school students who will be heading off into summer break the second week in June. Also, congratulations to all of the Fenwick and Trinity students who are graduating and beginning their next journey in life!

The holiday weekend is fast approaching where we will honor veterans who have served our country. I would like to recognize one veteran in particular, Henry Guralnick M.D., who has been a River Forest resident since 1962 and still lives here. Dr. Guralnick was born in Haifa, Israel and immigrated to the United States as a child in 1930. He was a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy from 1957-1959, serving as an onboard surgeon stationed on the USS WASP aircraft carrier off the coast of Italy. Upon his return home, he completed his surgical training and was a practicing surgeon until 2005. Thank you to Dr. Guralnick, and all our veterans, for their service. 

This is also a time when gatherings with family and friends take place to kick off summer. Please remember to be safe when grilling outdoors, and while swimming - as many pools open this time of year. Local non-profit CAST Water Safety Foundation provides valuable tips and other important reminders to keep you and your family members safe in the water, and is run by our own River Forest resident, Liz Huber. 

Enjoy the holiday weekend!

Sincerely,
Cathy Adduci, Village President
Village of River Forest
Village Hall Closure
Village Hall will be closed on Monday, May 31 in observance of Memorial Day. Normal business hours will resume on Tuesday, June 1. Waste collection by Roy Strom will also be delayed by one day, due to the holiday. Click here for more information.
Memorial Day Ceremony
The River Forest Park District is hosting a Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 31 at 10 a.m. at the Memorial Parkway War Memorial. Please visit this link to view a list of all the local veterans who will be honored on this solemn day. 
Village Hall Face Cover Requirements

In accordance with the CDC’s new guidance regarding face covers, they are now optional for fully vaccinated individuals who visit Village Hall. Individuals who have not been vaccinated are expected to continue to wear face covers, and some interactions with the public may require Village employees to wear face covers, regardless of their vaccination status. Members of the public may ask an employee of the Village to wear a mask. Please note that businesses may still require face covers, and individuals may continue to wear them if they so choose. Please be respectful and follow posted guidance. Learn more here. Photo Credit: CDC
Updates on Local and Statewide Vaccinations

COVID-19 vaccinations throughout the Village continue to progress. For up-to-date vaccine data, specific to River Forest, click here and click 'Data by Town'.

Additionally, the percentage of fully vaccinated people in Illinois continues to increase. Walk-in appointments continue to be available at a number of locations, or can be scheduled here. Suburban Cook County residents who are homebound due to medical reasons and would like to receive the vaccine in their homes, can find information here.
Village Recognizes June as LGBTQ+ Month

On Monday, the Village Board approved June as LGBTQ+ Month in River Forest, to show support for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer communities who contribute to the success and diversity of River Forest. As part of this resolution, the Pride flag will be displayed immediately below the River Forest flag on the flagpole at Village Hall for the entire month of June. Click here to view the resolution.
Lead Service Line
Replacement Program
Also at Monday’s meeting, the Village Board approved a Lead Service Line Replacement (LSLR) Program, which provides partial funding for the removal and replacement of lead water services throughout the Village. The LSLR Program only applies to those properties that are voluntarily replacing lead water service lines - but not those that require replacement for compliance with the Village ordinance. Learn more about lead in water and get program details here.
Demographics of
Clean Energy Jobs
On Saturday, May 29 at 1 p.m., the NAACP Chicago Westside Branch’s Environmental and Climate Justice Committee will be hosting a Zoom Speaker Series titled The Demographics of Clean Energy Jobs. Residents can join using Meeting ID: 959 6923 5249 and passcode 211128. The guest speaker will be Midwest Advocate with Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) Micaela Preskill, who creates the annual Clean Jobs Midwest Report.
Did You Know?
Are you in need of a permit? If so, be sure to visit the Village’s new, online permitting portal. Residents and contractors can now apply for, track, pay for and receive permits all online! The first step to using the portal is creating a user account. Help videos and more information can be found here.
Looking for More Information? Visit vrf.us and enter your topic into the search bar (top right of the page) or email info@vrf.us with any questions!
Braids by Quita specializes in crochets, braids, locs and natural hairstyles. Follow along on social media for the next braid class, which is coming soon! For pricing or to make an appointment, call (708) 522-1451 or 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.