Week Ending - May 6th, 2022 |
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Welcome to the newest edition of the Village of Forest Park's weekly e-newsletter! Please use this newsletter as a resource with the latest news, events and resources in and around Forest Park!
This week, please find a memorial note for former Police Lt. Chuck Whelpley, an upcoming blood drive, free White Sox tickets for Veterans, important community notices, updated job opportunities, property tax resources and more.
If have news or events or that you would like to share in future editions, please let us know. Have a fantastic weekend!
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In Memoriam: Fmr. Police Lt. Chuck Whelpley |
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Our condolences to the family of Retired Police Lt. Chuck Whelpley who passed away on May 2, 2022. Lt. Whelpley served the Village of Forest Park for 31 years, from 1963 – 1994 in the Forest Park Police Department.
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Outstanding Service Award: Isaac Beal |
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The Village of Forest Park will be presenting Isaac Beal with the Outstanding Service Award for his 30 years of dedicated service as Neighborhood Watch Ambassador. Please join us as we recognize Isaac for his outstanding service to the Neighborhood Watch program and the Village of Forest Park on Monday, May 9th during the 7:00 p.m. Village Council meeting. |
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The CDC today has moved all collar counties in northeastern Illinois, including Cook, to the medium transmission level regarding Covid-19. While it is not mandated, IDPH is recommending that people wear facemasks in all indoor settings. Facemasks are optional and supported at Village Hall. |
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Upcoming Event: Blood Drive (5/12) |
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Hiring: Childcare Worker Positions |
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The Village of Forest Park has immediate openings for its before and after school programs. Part-time hours are M-F 2-6 p.m. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a driver’s license and also must pass drug screening and background checks. $12.00 per hour.
Applicants may apply in-person at the Howard Mohr Community Center, 7640 Jackson Boulevard, Forest Park, IL 60130. For more information, please contact 708-771-7737. Employment applications are available to download by clicking here.
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Community Notice: Public Works Announcements |
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Yard Waste Disposal
Please be advised that home owners are responsible for disposal of all yard waste and leaves, unless it is during the village’s leaf removal program from October 1st – December 1st. Residents shall not put any debris into the street that can hinder water flow and cause flooding and blockage of catch basin lids. Spring is here and the threat for heavy rain fall is upon us. Please do your part in helping keep our streets clean. Thank you.
Electronics Recycling
The Public Works yearly bulk pick-up and electronics recycling event will take place Monday, May 16th – Saturday, May 21st. During that time, village residents are encouraged to put any bulk items on their parkway to be hauled away. All electronics, lightbulbs, batteries and oil can be brought down to the Public Works facility at 7343 W. 15th St. for disposal. Proof of residency is required. Public Works will be open that week from Monday – Saturday 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Paint is not allowed. If you are trying to dispose of paint, you can open the lid and let it slowly dry or add cat litter to speed up the process. At that point, Republic Services will haul it away with your other trash in the alley.
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Spring weather also brings out pests and rats are no exception. Follow these tips to help Forest Park control rats in our village.
- Look for rat activity and food sources each month. Take actions right away before things get worse.
- Store trash in rate resistant toters and dumpsters.
- Rinse cans and bottles for recycling.
- Eliminate rodent hiding places such as tall grass, weeds and other ground covering vegetation. Wood piles, lumber, litter, old boxes, and junk in the yard must also be eliminated.
- Immediately clean up after pets in the yard.
- Remove pet food from the garage and store in heavy duty, tight closing containers.
- Clean bird feeders weekly and rake bird food on the ground.
- Weatherize your home. Seal all possible pest entry points.
- Work with neighbors by sharing information and lending a hand to combat pest problems.
- Contact the Village of Forest Park at 708-615-6276 when you see a rat or damaged rat bait station.
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Community Notice: Harlem Ave Resurfacing/I-290 Bridge Work |
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The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that patching and resurfacing of Harlem Avenue (Illinois 43) from 26th Street, in Berwyn, Riverside and North Riverside to North Avenue (Illinois 64) in Oak Park, passing through Forest Park and River Forest, will require intermittent daytime lane closures, beginning, weather permitting, Tuesday, March 29.
The $5.7 million project consists of resurfacing the 4.5-mile stretch of Harlem Avenue, installing new ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps and replacing deteriorated curbs, along with deck repairs to the bridge carrying Harlem Avenue over the Eisenhower Expressway (Interstate 290). Access to residences and businesses within the work zone will be maintained throughout construction, which is expected to be completed in late October.
Des Plaines Ave and Circle Ave Bridge work is also expected to begin in April. Cleaning and painting of the existing steel structures will take place along 290
Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to flaggers and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits and be on the alert for workers and equipment.
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Community Notice: Mobile Payment App Scams on the Rise |
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In the latest scam trend, scammers contact ComEd customers by phone, text or email to demand payment to a particular account under the threat of immediate service disconnection. The imposter then instructs the customer to use a mobile payment app, which often have higher transaction limits than prepaid cash cards. The full release is posted here.
To help customers identify and avoid scams, ComEd offers the following tips:
1. ComEd will never call or come to a customer’s home or business to:
- Ask for direct payment with a prepaid cash card, cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin, or third-party payment app like Cash App, QuickPay, Venmo or Zelle.
- Demand immediate payment.
- Ask for a ComEd account number or other personal information, such as a Social Security number, driver’s license number or bank information.
2. To identify an actual ComEd employee or communication, remember:
- All ComEd field employees wear a uniform with the ComEd logo and visibly display a company ID badge with the logo and employee’s name. ComEd recently changed its logo, so you may continue to see the former ComEd logo on uniforms, badges and vehicles until it is phased out.
- Check the name on email or websites and make sure they match the name and address of the company you do business with. Look for misspellings or slight alterations.
- Make a call to verify the suspected email or website is from a trusted source. Use a phone number from your personal business records or the company’s official website and not the number provided in the email.
ComEd urges anyone who believes they have been a target or victim of a scam to call ComEd at 1-800-EDISON-1 (1-800-334-7661). To learn more visit ComEd.com/ScamAlert.
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Community Notice: Mail from the Assessor's Office |
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In response to COVID-19, the Cook County Assessor’s Office will continue the automatic renewal of the Senior Freeze, Veterans with Disabilities, and Persons with Disabilities Exemptions; the Homeowner and Senior Exemptions will continue to auto-renew every year. If a homeowner received any of these five exemptions last year (tax year 2020), they do not need to reapply this year (tax year 2021).
Homeowners were mailed either a postcard or letter last week confirming which exemptions will be automatically renewed. If you received a letter or postcard, no action is needed on your part. However, homeowners are encouraged to scan the QR code with their phone and fill out the short online form to continue receiving updates about their property tax exemptions next year.
To verify which exemptions were received last year, homeowners can visit the Cook County Property Tax Portal at cookcountypropertyinfo.com, enter their PIN and look under the exemption tab.
For first-time applicants, the 2021 tax year exemption filing period is now open and homeowners are encouraged to file online. To learn more about property tax exemptions and eligibility, click here.
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Community Notice: Applications for Property Tax Savings |
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Please see a press release below from the Cook County Assessor's Office regarding new for applications for property tax savings.
New, Easier-to-use Applications for Property Tax Savings are Now Available Everything Homeowners Need to Know
Cook County - Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi announces property-tax-saving exemptions for the 2021 tax year are now available online in a new, streamlined application. Exemptions are savings that contribute to lowering a homeowner’s property tax bill. The most common is the Homeowner Exemption, which saves a Cook County property owner an average of $973 dollars each year. Before existing and new homeowners apply, there are a few things to know that will save them time and effort.
First, existing homeowners should determine which exemptions they received last year (tax year 2020) and determine if they will automatically renew this year (tax year 2021). The Assessor’s Office will continue the automatic renewal of the Homeowner, Senior, Senior Freeze, Veterans with Disabilities, and Persons with Disabilities Exemptions. Homeowners can check their exemptions by visiting the Cook County Portal and reviewing the Exemption History section. (Read more English/Spanish. )
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CEDA Low-Income Water Assistance Program |
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The Illinois Low Income Household Water Assistance Program is a crisis program for water and wastewater. Eligible customers may receive a benefit of up to $1,500 total for:
- Reconnection Assistance
- Disconnection Prevention
- Past Due Balance
- Disconnection Fees
- Late Fees
For more information, please click here.
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Reminder: Village of Forest Park - Utility Payment System Change (Effective Immediately) |
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Take care of your water and sewer bill quickly and efficiently by paying online.
Beginning in January 2022, the Village of Forest Park began phasing out use of the e-Pay portal and is asking customers to use the Springbrook Civic Pay portal to pay water bills online.
Springbrook Civic Pay portal allows water customers the ability to view and download their water account activity, including usage, billing, and payment history. The portal enables 24/7 access to accounts, with the option for safe collection of payments commonly made in person. Payments are posted in real time. Users can make one time payments or create an online profile, choose paperless billing as an option, and sign up for auto pay.
When you pay your next water bill, please click here to create a new account in Springbrook Civic Pay and have access to bill payment and account history. You will need you water account number when creating your account.
Customers will still be able to use the Village's Automatic Debit Program. This free and convenient method pays your water bill from your checking or savings accounts. For information on the automatic debit program, contact us at 708-366-2323.
*Special Note* – If you sign up for auto pay after the invoice has been generated, it will not go into effect until the next billing cycle.
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Local Hiring Opportunities |
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The Village of Forest Park and a number of community partners are hiring! Please see the links below for more information and to apply:
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Free White Sox Tickets for Veterans |
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Cook County Clerk Karen A. Yarbrough is teaming up with the Chicago White Sox to offer game tickets to Veterans, Active-Duty Military, National Guard and Reserves. See the flyer below for more information. |
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Upcoming Event: Electronic Recycling Program (5/16-21) |
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The Village of Forest Park is proud to announce the return of the annual electronics recycling program as a part of National Public Works Week (May 16th - May 21st). See the flyer below for more information on the event and for a list of accepted items. |
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Upcoming Event: #SignsForChangeFP (5/22) |
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The Forest Park Juneteenth Committee and Forest Park Art Alliance are launching the 2022 Juneteenth celebrations with a community art event: #SignsForChangeFP.
You are invited to enjoy a day of Unity, Freedom, and Empowerment, with entertainment, refreshments and camaraderie. Join us to create your own Juneteenth-inspired yard sign* at this family-friendly event!
Event Details:
Sunday, May 22 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. at Reiger Park, Circle Avenue at 16th Street.
$10 per ticket in advance / $15 day of the event includes all art supplies, 1 blank sign, and yard stake if needed. Family members are invited to enjoy the day, but each ticket will give you a sign to make. There will be designs, stencils and other aids available for use.
Refreshments will be available for purchase from Robinson's Ribs and the Brown Cow Ice Cream Parlor and Living Fresh.
Parking is available at Sarah's Inn (1547 Circle), or street parking on Circle/Marengo/Hannah.
*The signs could be displayed in a window, storefront, or with the ground stakes (available without extra fee).
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Forest Park Senior News and Resources |
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The newest edition (April/May/June) of the Forest Park Senior News is now available. Please click here to read more.
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