Thursday, September 23, 2021
Dear River Forest residents,

At its meeting last week, the Village Board of Trustees endorsed Community Solar, a program that will offer the opportunity to obtain solar power credits to residents who may not own their homes or are otherwise unable to install solar panels. It is anticipated the program will be available to residents in early 2022, so please be on the lookout for more information this winter. Thank you to the Sustainability Commission for their efforts in bringing this program forward.
 
Feeling safe and secure in our community remains a top priority for the Village. I want to thank our exceptional Police Department for the work they do, day in and out, as they serve River Forest. The Department holds quarterly meetings to make themselves available to residents for questions, concerns and to learn more about the department. You can mark your calendar for Wednesday, October 27 for our next Community Safety Meeting. Check back here for details in the coming weeks. 

Please join me for the annual Mayors' Tour de Proviso on Saturday, October 2. Bikers are asked to begin gathering at the Broadview Fire Department at 9:30 a.m. for the 10 a.m. kickoff. The route is about 7 miles long and ends at Keystone Park. Click here for a full route map and details. 

The community bike ride is to promote health and wellness, transportation, and tourism in the Proviso region. This event is sponsored by the Mayors of Broadview, Bellwood, Maywood, Melrose Park, Oak Park, River Forest and Riverside. Thank you to the generous sponsors, which include Proviso Community Bank, Visit Oak Park, The Village Free Press and Neighbors Magazine.

Sincerely,
Cathy Adduci, Village President
Village of River Forest
COVID-19 Update
Health officials continue to encourage all residents who are able, to consider becoming fully vaccinated as the best line of defense against the virus and its variants. For more information about COVID-19 vaccines, click here.
 
Pre-scheduled and walk-in appointments are still available at several locations, and homebound suburban Cook County residents can learn more about how to receive the vaccine here. For the latest River Forest vaccine data, click here and select 'Data by Town'. To view percentages of fully vaccinated individuals across the state, click here.
Text-to-911 Program
Many residents might now be able to use their mobile phones to send text messages to 911 during emergencies. The ‘Text-to-911’ service is available to AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon customers living in or traveling through the West Suburban Consolidated Dispatch service area, which serves the villages of Forest Park, Oak Park and River Forest. This service is especially beneficial for individuals with speech or hearing impairments. For more information about this service, including how and when it should be used, click here.
Mini-Pride Parade
Urban Village Church-West is hosting a family-friendly Mini-Pride Parade with outdoor activities on Sunday, October 3 beginning at 10:30 a.m. The route is tentatively scheduled to circle the church’s block. Wagons, strollers, bikes and wheelchairs are encouraged, and all are welcome to participate. For more information, click here.
Sustainability Commission Survey

The Sustainability Commission wants your input! Click here to complete the Commission’s Waste Collection Survey. This short survey takes only a few minutes to complete, and resident feedback will help the Commission develop recommendations to the Village Board of Trustees regarding waste collection services. The survey closes at noon on Friday, October 8.


Family-owned Bertolli's River Pizza has been operating since 1963. Its commitment to cooking Italian food the 'old-fashioned way' has increased its popularity with local residents, and it has also been featured on the Cooking Channel and TLC! To learn more or to place an order, call (708) 771-2820 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.
What's Happening in River Forest?

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