Thursday, May 12, 2022
Dear River Forest residents,

The Village is excited to share that this year, we will be providing complimentary, six-month memberships to River Forest businesses wishing to join the Oak Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce! The Chamber supports local small businesses with training, educational resources and advocacy. To take advantage of this opportunity, call the Chamber at (708) 613-0550 or visit oprfchamber.org for more information.

The Village Board approved the renewal of an intergovernmental agreement with the Oak Park and River Forest Townships in conjunction with the Northwest Housing Partnership for operation of the OPRF Home Repair Program. This service benefits residents 60 years of age and older, and those aged 18-59 with a disability. The program is limited to minor home repairs only and is not an emergency repair service. For more information, click here.
 
During Monday’s Village Board meeting, the Village Board of Trustees voted unanimously denoting June as LGBTQ+ Month in River Forest, to show support for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning communities that contribute to the diversity and success of River Forest as a community. The Village remains steadfast in being a welcoming place for all, and encourages all residents to celebrate our Village’s rich diversity. 

Additionally the Village Board of Trustees voted unanimously on a resolution recognizing Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day. Juneteenth is the symbolic commemoration of the official end of slavery on June 19, 1865 - more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. 

Lastly, time is running out to register any veterans or active duty service members for the Memorial Day Honor Roll. The River Forest Civic Association will honor these residents at the Memorial Day Ceremony at Keystone Park immediately following the parade.

Sincerely,
Cathy Adduci, Village President
Village of River Forest
Celebrate Seniors Week!
Senior Housing Forum
It's the first day of Seniors Week and all are invited to attend a Housing Forum to learn from the experts at Aging in Our Communities: Housing Accessibility, Affordability & Possibilities on Saturday, May 14 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. and lunch will be provided. The event will be held at Concordia University, Kretzmann Hall on the first floor in room 225. Parking is available in the parking garage on Bonnie Brae. To learn more, please contact the Senior Outreach Coordinator of River Forest Township at (708) 366-2029 x13.
Pancake Breakfast
The River Forest Fire Department is partnering with The Sheridan at River Forest for a Senior Outreach Event. A pancake breakfast will be held on Friday, May 20 from 8 - 10 a.m. The chefs of the Sheridan will cook breakfast for residents, and members of the Fire Department will be servers. During the event, an area will be set up for residents to receive information about the In Case of Emergency (ICE) Packet Program. The ICE packet contains important personal medical information, which residents are directed to keep in home freezers in the event the Department responds to an emergency. For questions or to RSVP, call Amanda Gosnell, executive director, at (708) 402-9202 or email here.
New Hire Announcement
It’s National Police Week and the River Forest Police Department (RFPD) is proud to honor the men and women who keep our community safe. RFPD is also pleased to announce the hiring of three new officers, who have joined the Department. Please learn more about them in the accompanying graphic.
Smoke Detector Disposal
Looking to dispose of your old smoke detector? The Fire Department can help! Residents seeking to recycle their smoke detectors can do so free of charge on the second floor of Village Hall - look for the bright yellow recycling cans.
Severe Weather Reminders
As we approach summer and the chance for severe weather becomes more common, it's important to note several reminders about severe weather warnings; the outdoor warning sirens are tested at 10 a.m. on the first Tuesday of each month, unless there is threatening weather in the area. Also, the outdoor warning sirens are only activated for a tornado warning that could affect River Forest. Lastly, outdoor weather warning sirens will not sound an all clear signal. Therefore, it is best to stay inside until the National Weather Service warning timeframe has passed. For additional severe weather safety reminders, click here.
Make the Mulch Around Trees Look Like Donuts, Not Volcanos!
We’ve all seen mulch around the base of trees, but residents are reminded that those rings should look like donuts, not volcanos! Why? A donut ring of mulch that leaves space around the base of the trunk protects the roots, and improves moisture retention and soil conditions. A volcano shape piled up against the tree trunk can cause decay in the trunk and makes it harder for moisture to get to the roots. Visit the Morton Arboretum website to find out more about the benefits of mulch and how to apply mulch correctly. If you see trees incorrectly mulched, please fix them - it’s easy to do! Or, submit a service request to the Village if trees are located on the parkway.
Business Spotlight
Based out of the River Forest Kitchen, Popify makes artisan ice pops full of unexpected flavors, quality ingredients, and fun! If iced coffee, Arnold Palmer, vegan salted chocolate, blueberry lemonade or strawberry agave flavors sound delicious, then you're in luck! Pops are available for delivery by the Popify team on a weekly basis. Large order deliveries and full-service catering are also available for special events. Visit popifypops.com to order and follow them on social media at @popifypops.
 
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!