Cross Community Climate Collaborative, Community Safety Meeting, Radon Awareness Week and More!

Thursday, January 19, 2023

Dear River Forest residents,

If you drive around the Village, you may notice construction fencing around the Village-owned properties on 7612-7620 Madison Street. The fencing was installed earlier this week in anticipation of a demolition, which is expected to begin late next week. The Village Board voted in September of 2022 to demolish the properties. The cost of this demolition is covered through a grant provided by the Illinois Department of Economic Development to help attract new development projects. More details about the demolition schedule and process will be available on this page next week.

Recently there has been an alarming increase in credit card skimmers discovered at outdoor gas station pumps. Skimming occurs when thieves modify the card readers at gas stations and place their device on, or over the credit card machines. The altered device then captures your credit card information and is used for fraudulent purchases. To avoid being a victim of this scam, use your chip reader instead of the magnetic strip on your credit card. If you have to use the magnetic strip, it is safer to pay inside the gas station.

To learn more about recent crime trends and how law enforcement is responding, I encourage residents to attend the Village’s first Community Safety Meeting of 2023 next week which is hosted by our Police Department. To learn more about the meeting, please read the article below.

Finally, I would like to remind residents who haven’t signed up for the WaterSmart portal, that it is not too late to do so. WaterSmart is part of the Village’s ongoing “smart city” advancements that automate water readings and allow residents to monitor their home’s water consumption in real-time, as well as receive notifications when irregularities arise. I have signed up personally, and I use the reports that are automatically sent daily with water consumption. To sign up, click here.

Sincerely,

Cathy Adduci, Village President

Village of River Forest

Cross Community Climate Collaborative Awarded

This week at the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the American Beverage Foundation awarded the Childhood Obesity Prevention and Environmental Health and Sustainability Award to the Cross Community Climate Collaborative (C4). C4 is a partnership between the Villages of River Forest, Oak Park, Broadview and other near west suburbs to tackle the challenges of climate change and achieve equity outcomes. C4 was awarded the 1^st place award for the Small City category, and will receive a grant for $125,000. Watch the accompanying video to learn more!

Community Safety Meeting

The Village’s Community Safety Meeting is held quarterly and provides safety updates for residents, while encouraging community involvement to help prevent crime. The next meeting will be in-person on Wednesday, January 25, from 6 - 7:30 p.m. in the community room at Village Hall and also on Zoom. This meeting will include additional information and updates pertaining to the SAFE-T Act. For more information on the meeting or to get the Zoom link, click here.

EPA Rebates

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency will continue to offer rebates for low-income residents who have purchased an electric vehicle, now through Tuesday, January 31. A third cycle of rebates will be made available to all Illinois residents when more funding becomes available. To learn more, click here.

One Earth

Filmmakers Contest

Submissions are now being accepted for the One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest. Students in third grade through the age of 25 are invited to enter the contest and submit their film through Sunday, June 25. There is no fee to participate, and additional information can be found here.

Radon Awareness Month

January is Radon Awareness Month, and a time to make sure you are protecting yourself and your family from the harmful effects of Radon gas. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the nation and is naturally released from outdoor elements. It becomes dangerous when it enters the home, because it has no way to escape and can reach harmful levels. The CDC is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, January 25 at 1 p.m. to educate the public on its causes and how to protect your home. Learn more here.

Sustainability Commission Seeking Commissioners

The Sustainability Commission is seeking applicants to fill vacancies for Commissioner. If you are interested in serving as Commissioner, please complete the volunteer application. All applications will remain confidential unless an applicant is appointed to the Commission.

River Forest Business Spotlight!

SunStar Dental is a family dental practice that serves both children and adults. With children's dental healthcare month coming up in February, now is the time to make an appointment by calling 708-771-8101 or visiting their website for more information.

Please support local businesses whenever possible! You can find a listing of River Forest businesses on the Village’s Shop River Forest website. If you’d like your business to be featured in the weekly Business Spotlight, please send us an email.