Community Safety Meeting, WaterSmart, Trick or Treating Safety Tips and More!

Thursday, October 20, 2022

Dear River Forest residents,

On Monday night, the Village Board will consider approval of a contract for a Village-wide traffic study. The study will provide a review of traffic patterns and speeds throughout the Village, and make recommendations for improvements. As part of the study, the consultant will seek public input to gather information about residents’ experiences and observations. Please look for more information on this process in future newsletters and Village communications.

In the next few weeks, the Village will begin demolition of several Village-owned properties in the Madison Street TIF district. The properties have been vacant and in need of environmental cleanup. The goal is to attract appropriate development on that site. Demolition costs will be fully funded by a grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Please check our website in the coming weeks for information on the project plan.

Congratulations to our newly sworn in Officer Coleman who recently graduated from the Police Academy. Our Police Department, under the leadership of Chief O’Shea, is fully staffed and engaged in our community. Please attend our Police Quarterly Community Safety meeting hosted by our Police Department - more details are available below.

Finally, Halloween is coming up at the end of the month and I would like to acknowledge the unique and creative Halloween decorations that are displayed throughout our Village! Trick-or-treating hours are Monday, October 31 from 3 - 7 p.m. For families that choose to trick-or-treat this year, please be considerate of residents who have chosen not to participate - and only approach homes that have their front lights on. Trick-or-treat safety tips are included in the article below and more information is available here.

Sincerely,

Cathy Adduci, Village President

Village of River Forest

Community Safety Meeting

The Village’s Community Safety Meeting takes place quarterly and provides safety updates for residents, while encouraging community involvement to help prevent crime. The next meeting will be held in person on Wednesday, October 26, from 6 - 7:30 p.m. in the Community Room at Village Hall, and also on Zoom. To join the meeting virtually, click here. More information on the meeting can be found here.

WaterSmart

The Village will soon be rolling out a product called WaterSmart as the final stage of the Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Project. This web-based software will allow water customers to review current and past water consumption data, as well as set notifications to alert you to potential leaks. There will also be links available to make paying your water bill easier. There is no cost to sign up and an introductory letter with additional details should be arriving in the mail next week. The Village encourages everyone to sign up. Residents are able to view the new WaterSmart portal here.

Congratulations to Officer Coleman

Newly sworn in Police Officer Eddie Coleman joined our Police Department in May of 2022 and then went on to attend the Chicago Police Department Metro Academy. He graduated from the Academy on October 14 after 23 weeks of training and then began his 14-week Field Training Program. Officer Coleman will receive on-the-job training from experienced officers during this next step in his career. Please join the Department in welcoming Officer Coleman to the River Forest team and congratulating him on his recent career accomplishments.

Trick or Treating Safety Tips

Halloween is a time for sweet treats and fun as little ghouls, ghosts and goblins walk around our neighborhoods as they trick or treat! Please see the following tips to ensure the holiday is a safe one for all:

• Make sure costumes are visible to vehicles and others by wearing light colors or reflective clothing.

• Do not allow children to trick-or-treat alone.

• Only approach homes that are well lit and have front lights on; only approach front doors.

• Stay on sidewalks and obey traffic signs/signals.

• Carry a flashlight.

• Always check a child's candy before they eat it.

For additional safety tips, click here.

Dominican University Receives Title V Grant

Dominican University is the recipient of a new grant aimed at accelerating universities toward excellence as Hispanic-Serving Institutions. The Title V federal grant from The U.S. Department of Education has granted the University $3 million over the next five years to implement a project entitled, “Avanzamos: Advancing Dominican University from Hispanic-Enrolling to Hispanic-Serving,” and aims at closing equity gaps in the workforce after graduation. Learn more here.

Last Farmers Market of the Season

The last Oak Park Farmers Market of the season will take place Saturday, October 29 from 7 a.m. - 1 p.m. Enjoy locally grown and sourced produce, baked goods and more. There will also be a “Stone Soup Event” on the last day, so patrons will have a chance to warm up with free soup made from farmers’ donations. For a list of Farmers Market vendors and events, click here.

If you're looking for fall plantings, please also support Good Earth Greenhouse at 7900 Madison Street and explore their wide selection!

River Forest Library Hosts Ghost Busting Event

The River Forest Public Library invites middle school students to become ghostbusters on Thursday, October 27 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Students will make their own ghost busting equipment and find out once and for all if the library is actually haunted! Learn more here.

Composting is Great for Our Environment, and Easier Than You Think in River Forest

Scraps and yard waste together make up more than 30% of what we throw away in the garbage, but it can actually be put to use and be composted. If you haven’t taken advantage of the Village’s Curbside Composting Program, now is the time! Composting is less expensive this year and you can get a return on your investment next spring when the Village delivers finished compost, otherwise known as “black gold” for your garden. All organic yard waste, food scraps (including meats and dairy) and items such as paper, compostable plates and pizza boxes can go in the refuse cart. Costs vary from $13-$17/month based on cart size and are picked up every Tuesday in the fall, and twice per month in the winter on posted dates. Sign up today! For questions, contact Village Hall at 708-366-8500 or click here.

River Forest Business Spotlight!

Allison Poplett Studio is owned by River Forest resident Allison Poplett. Her studio specializes in graphic design and illustration, along with small business branding - as well as book and album cover design. New clients can receive 10% off their first order if they sign up for Allison’s mailing list. To learn more or to make an appointment, visit https://www.apoplett.com/.

Please support 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.