ComEd Tree Trimming, Township Scholarships, Burn Awareness Week and More!

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Dear River Forest residents,

On Monday night, the Village Board will meet at 6 p.m. to review the five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). This annual staff presentation estimates the vehicles, equipment and infrastructure improvements needed over the next five budget cycles. The CIP recommendations will ultimately be incorporated in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget. By planning in advance, the Board can ensure that proper funding is available for all our essential projects.

Next Wednesday I will be in attendance for Governor Pritzker’s State of the State and Budget Address in Springfield. I am honored to be a guest of Speaker of the House Emanuel “Chris” Welch. I look forward to updates on state legislation and hope to learn about additional local government funding opportunities. I plan to give my own State of the Village Address at the February 27 Village Board meeting to provide an overview of Village initiatives and accomplishments.

Lastly, you should be receiving your first installment of Tax Year 2022 property tax bills in the mail between the end of February and the beginning of March. Please note that the property tax due date will be Monday, April 3. This due date extension is only for this year and a result of the last year’s delay in second installment tax bills. If you have any questions regarding your property tax bill, we encourage you to reach out to our River Forest Assessor, Pam Kende at 708-366-2787, or to our Cook County Assessor, Fritz Kaegi at 312-443-7550.

Sincerely,

Cathy Adduci, Village President

Village of River Forest

ComEd Tree Trimming

Preventative tree maintenance helps prevent safety hazards and power outages. Because of this, ComEd arborists will be trimming trees throughout the Village during the month of February. Residents who live in the areas where trimming takes place will be notified by postcard or door hanger no less than 48 hours in advance of the work. For questions, please call ComED at

800-334-7661.

CEDA Assistance

If you or someone you know is struggling to afford utility bills or rent increases, the Community and Economic Development Association (CEDA) of Cook County may be able to help! CEDA offers a variety of services and assistance to low-income families living in the Chicagoland suburbs. Learn more about this program and apply here.

Burn Awareness Week

Burn injuries continue to be one of the leading causes of accidental death and injury in our nation. This week (February 5 - Saturday, February 11) is Burn Awareness Week and the Fire Department would like to bring awareness to this cause of devastating injuries and casualties. This year’s theme is “Hot Liquids Burn Like Fire.” For safety reminders on the prevention of fires and burn-related injuries, click here.

Township Scholarships

Township Officials of Illinois have announced that 2023 scholarship applications are now open! Seven, $2,000 scholarships will be awarded to graduating high school seniors this year who plan to attend Illinois colleges or universities. Applications are due Wednesday, March 1. For more information or to download an application, click here.

211 Metro Chicago Helpline

Are you or someone you know struggling to make ends meet and need someone who can offer some assistance? 211 Metro Chicago is now available to all Cook County residents and offers a free and confidential helpline with 24/7 access. Residents who utilize this service will be put in contact with trained resource navigators, who will connect them to essential health and social service support. Assistance is available for food, housing, utilities, health care, childcare and other vital needs. Simply call 2-1-1 or click here.

Please note: this helpline is not for emergencies, but is instead a way to connect residents with vital services. Please continue to call 9-1-1 to report an emergency.

Green Hearts

Valentine's Day is a time to celebrate love…among family, friends, partners and the planet! As holidays have become more materialistic, our planet has to bear the bulk of waste that results from the large plastic hearts half-filled with chocolates, disposable decorations and sparkling wine bottles among other waste. According to Waste360, the entire carbon emission result of traditional Valentine's gifts, wine and chocolate distributed on February 14, adds up to the total emissions that would be produced from driving around the entire planet 3,993 times.

This year, the River Forest Sustainability Commission wants to encourage River Forest residents to be more environmentally friendly on Valentine's Day. Try to evolve Valentine’s Day into a day of activities rather than materials by decreasing fossil fuels and plastic waste with these fun date ideas:

Bake heart-shaped cookies.
Go for a holiday walk at the Morton Arboretum.
Recite original poems or songs to each other.
Visit one of Chicago’s museums.
Make a progressive dinner.
Host a wine tasting at an independently-owned winery.

River Forest Business Spotlight!

4U Hair & Spa prides themselves on creating a personalized experience for YOU! They offer professional makeovers, rejuvenating body treatments from trained medical estheticians, restorative and anti-aging injectable cosmetic treatments, and surgical reconstructive procedures. To learn more or to make an appointment, call 708-689-0195 or click here.

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.