Thursday, May 26, 2022
Dear River Forest residents,

The holiday weekend is fast approaching, and we will honor U.S. military personnel who have paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country. The Memorial Day Parade will begin on Monday, May 30 at 9:30 a.m., followed by the Honor Roll Ceremony. More information can be found in the article below. Let us all take a moment to remember the sacrifices made by so many to ensure our freedoms. 

Flamingo Fridays are Back! What is Flamingo Friday? See below or click here for more information. Everyone is welcome and invited.

I also would like to congratulate the seniors of Oak Park and River Forest High School and Trinity High School on their graduation this week. We wish them the best of luck and success in their future endeavors.

Finally, former Village Trustee Mark Walsh was a dedicated and passionate public servant of River Forest, serving on our Board of Fire and Police Commission. Mark suddenly passed away on February 8, 2020. His presence has been greatly missed. At its last meeting, the Village Board honored Mark’s community service by dedicating the 1400 block of Keystone Avenue with a secondary designation, to now be known as Mark Walsh Way. To view the resolution, click here.

Sincerely,
Cathy Adduci, Village President
Village of River Forest
Memorial Day Weekend
Village Hall Closure
Village Hall will be closed on Monday, May 30 in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. Normal business hours will resume on Tuesday, May 31 from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Waste collection will also be delayed by one day this week. View next week’s garbage collection schedule here.
Memorial Day Ceremony
The River Forest Park District, Village of River Forest, and Kiwanis Club of River Forest-Oak Park are proud to present the 96th annual River Forest Memorial Day Parade, Ceremony and Community Picnic this coming Monday, May 30, kicking off at 9:30 a.m. The parade will begin at the corner of Augusta Street and Ashland Avenue, and travel south on Ashland. After the parade, the Honor Roll Ceremony and complimentary hot dog lunch will commence. To learn more, click here.
What is Flamingo Friday?
Flamingo Friday was put together with the understanding that neighborhoods need to interact and have fun in the summertime. Each week one person puts the Flamingo on their lawn. This signifies that they will host the Flamingo Friday Party on Friday night. The host supplies the yard/driveway. Everyone else does BYOB (bring your own beverage and snacks), socializes and has fun on a summer night - that’s it! Volunteer to host a Flamingo Friday here. Sign up for our email list here.
Vehicle Stickers
Vehicle sticker applications for 2022-2023 will go out tomorrow, May 27. Updated stickers 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. For more information, click here.
Senior Meal Pickup
River Forest and Oak Park residents ages 60+ are able to pick up frozen, microwaveable, five-meal packs tomorrow, May 27 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Oak Park Township Senior Services Center. If you are in need of additional meals, simply let them know. The suggested meal donation is $1.50/per meal. Call (708) 383-8060 to reserve meals for pick-up, or for delivery if you are homebound, have a disability, or are otherwise unable to pick up your meals. Learn more here.
What to Do in Spring for a Healthy Lawn
Here are some ideas to care for lawns in a healthy way!
· Test soil to help determine what is needed to keep it healthy.
· Fertilize organically to allow the grass to absorb nutrients gradually.
· Aerate soil!
· Plant something other than non-native turf grass. Consider other ground cover, bushes and trees more suitable for the climate and light conditions.
· Water properly - water deeply and infrequently.
· Mow correctly - at least 3-inches high.
· Banish weeds naturally. Corn gluten applied in early spring can help.
 
Join the pledge! Here are some sites with valuable information and ideas on how to get started! www.beyondpesticides.org and midwestgrowsgreen.org
Household Hazardous Waste Home Collection
Residents in the Village's waste collection program can now sign up to have household hazardous waste collected from their home. There is no additional charge for this service. Requests must be received by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 8 for collection the week of June 20. This service is available twice a year. The next household hazardous waste collection will be in October. Click here for more information, including a list of accepted materials and how to sign up.  
Business Spotlight
Karl's Craft Soup is owned by Karl Bader of Oak Park, who champions nutritious eating and is committed to local sourcing. Karl’s Craft Soup offers small-batch vegetarian and vegan soups, made with the best seasonal produce. Flavors rotate weekly and can be picked up or delivered. You can also visit it on weekends at local farmers markets throughout the area. To learn more or place an order, click here.
 
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.
What's Happening in River Forest?

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