Thursday, June 9, 2022
Dear River Forest residents,

Tonight, the Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing to consider a text amendment regarding solar energy collection systems. These proposed changes are the result of the Sustainability Commission’s ongoing efforts to bring the very best in environmental practices to the Village, and will aid the Village in reaching a SolSmart Silver designation. I look forward to ongoing discussions with the Village Board in the coming weeks.

Also, on Thursday, June 23, I will join with the Villages of Broadview, Forest Park and Oak Park in a Memorandum of Understanding ceremony, for the forming of the Cross-Community Climate Collaborative - or C4. The goal of this group will be to reduce carbon emissions and share sustainability strategies.

Finally, last week, hundreds of residents attended the Pride flag raising ceremony outside of Village Hall, which was followed by an event at Lincoln School. Thank you to District 90 for its partnership in this inspiring celebration, which served as a reminder that River Forest strives to be a welcoming and inclusive community for all.

Sincerely,
Cathy Adduci, Village President
Village of River Forest
Upcoming Events to Commemorate Juneteenth
Flag Raising Ceremony
The Village, in partnership with the River Forest Public Library, would like to invite residents to the inaugural Juneteenth flag raising ceremony Monday, June 13 at 11:30 a.m. This is a free event and complimentary refreshments will be provided by Addis Cafe and Kribi Coffee. Learn more here.
Parade Reminder
(please click on graphic to enlarge)
The Villages of River Forest, Forest Park, Maywood, Oak Park, along with a coalition of local organizations have partnered for a West Villages’ Inaugural Juneteenth Parade, to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved African Americans on June 19, 1865. The parade will take place on Saturday, June 18 at 11 a.m at the corner of Brown Avenue and Randolph Street, and head west through Forest Park and River Forest neighborhoods. Businesses and organizations that would like to participate in the inaugural parade must register by tomorrow, June 10, here.
Electronic Recycling
Residents in the Village's waste collection program can sign up to have electronic waste (e-waste) collected from their home. There is no additional charge for this service. Requests for e-waste must be received by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, June 15 and materials will be collected the week of June 20. This service is available twice a year, with the second collection in October. To sign up for e-waste collection, click here.
Speaker Welch Job Fair
Join State Representative Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch for his annual job fair on Saturday, June 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Proviso Math and Science Academy. Representative Welch will be connecting local job seekers with employers during this free event, which is open to everyone. Networking opportunities and employment resources will also be available. Attendees are asked to bring face coverings and their resume. For more information, call (708) 450-1000.
Let's Save Water Together
Consider ordering a rain barrel to capture and store rainwater coming off a roof. Water from rain barrels can be used to water your lawn, garden or household plants. Barrels also reduce stormwater runoff, thereby reducing the strain on the Village’s combined sewer system during major storm events. 

Using other water-saving techniques can save money and divert less water from our rivers, bays and estuaries, which helps keep the environment healthy. It can also reduce water and wastewater treatment costs and the amount of energy used to treat, pump, and heat water. Click here for 12 ways to save water.
Business Spotlight
Faust Fundraising is a full-service grant support firm working with medium-sized nonprofits in the greater Chicagoland area. If grants are part of your organization’s fundraising plan, it can help you find the best grant opportunities, and write letters of inquiry and proposals. Grants are essential to a nonprofit’s success, but time is limited and best spent leading your organization, while Faust Fundraising helps secure the grants for you. To learn more, visit faustfundraising.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.
What's Happening in River Forest?

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