Week Ending - March 18th, 2022 |
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Welcome to the latest Village of Forest Park's e-newsletter, a weekly resource to provide you with the latest news and events and resources happening in and around Forest Park.
In this edition, please find updates on collecting items for Ukraine, community alerts, Mayor Hoskins' Monarch pledge, income and property tax assistance and more. As a reminder, you can visit www.forestpark.net to pay your water bill, parking permits and more. Enjoy your weekend!
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The Howard Mohr Community Center and the Forest Park American Legion are currently collecting items for Ukrainian citizens. Please see the flyer below for more information on the items needed and drop-off locations. Items will be collected through April 1st. |
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Village of Forest Park - 2022 Vehicle Stickers |
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2022 Vehicle stickers are now available! When renewing your vehicle sticker online, follow these steps to compete the renewal process:
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Choose GUEST when logging into the system. Do not use your email address.
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DO NOT enter your VIN number
- Enter the license plate number and first 3 letters of your last name exactly as they appear on your renewal form.
The system will only recognize license plate numbers and last names exactly as they are on your renewal forms. If changes to your form need to be made, or you are registering a new vehicle, you will need to visit the office. You may also mail in your form or drop it in the night depository and we will mail you your vehicle sticker.
As reminder, vehicle stickers need to be displayed by April 1, 2022.
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Reminder - New Clerk’s Office Hours |
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This week, the Clerk’s Office temporarily changed its hours due to a staffing issues. The Clerk’s Office window will be open to the public from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, until further notice. All other Village offices will remain open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Skip the line, pay online! Many of our services can be completed online! Pay your water bill, purchase parking permits, pay tickets, and more by visiting www.forestpark.net.
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Community Notice - Click It or Ticket |
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This St. Patrick’s Day, a designated driver is your lucky charm
Forest Park, IL – As we head into St. Patrick’s Day weekend, the Forest Park Police Department is reminding motorists that they will be out in full force to keep our roads safe while the green beer flows.
“This St. Patrick’s Day, make your own luck by designating a sober driver,” said Chief Ken Gross. “If you’ll be drinking, planning ahead is the best way to ensure you and your friends make it home safely.”
In addition to looking for alcohol- and drug-impaired drivers, the Forest Park Police Department will be stepping up seat-belt enforcement, particularly at night when seat-belt usage rates are lowest. Speeding, distracted driving and other traffic laws will also be strictly enforced.
The campaign runs March 11-18.
While designating a sober driver is the simplest way to avoid a tragic crash or DUI arrest, here are some additional tips to help you keep yourself and others safe:
- If a friend is about to drive impaired, take their keys and help them get home safely.
- Buckle up. It’s your best defense in the event of a crash.
- Remember, pedestrians are at risk, too. If you’re walking, keep an eye out for cars. If you’re driving, remain alert for impaired walkers who may not obey street signs.
The St. Patrick’s Day enforcement effort is made possible by federal traffic safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation.
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As the weather starts to warm up and residents begin to think about their gardens, consider butterfly gardens as part of your landscape!
Mayor Rory Hoskins is taking part in the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge and taking action to help save the monarch butterfly, an iconic species whose eastern populations have declined by 90% and western populations by 99% in recent years. Through the National Wildlife Federation's Mayors' Monarch Pledge, U.S. cities, municipalities, and other communities are committing to create habitat for the monarch butterfly and pollinators, and to educate residents about how they can make a difference at home and in their community.
Residents of Forest Park can join Mayor Hoskins in helping to save the Monarch Butterflies. Visit Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (mwrd.org) to take their pledge and get free milkweed seeds to use in your garden this Spring. Milkweed is the sole source of food for monarch caterpillars. Milkweed can be found in several of the bump-out planters throughout the village.
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AARP Tax Aide - Tax Preparation Services |
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AARP Tax-Aide provides free tax preparation help to people with low to moderate incomes. Tax-Aide is the nation’s largest free tax assistance and
preparation service in the United States — giving special attention to people over age 60. Services are available every Monday and Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, please call 708-771-7737. Services are available through April 4th and 5th.
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We Are 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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Garbage and Recycling Can Information |
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A friendly reminder, please make sure garbage and recycling cans are easily accessible for the garbage and recycling trucks. Homeowners, landlords and tenants need to make sure cans are not buried in snow or ice. Cans that cannot be accessed will result in delayed service until they can be accessed by the garbage company.
Remember to store garbage and recycling cans away from the alley way. Receptacles cannot impede traffic or be located in places where they can cause issues for travelling vehicles.
We appreciate your help with keeping our alleys safe!
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Fix a Leak Week - March 14th - March 20th |
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Do you know how much water a family of four uses every day in the United States?
Not 50 gallons, not 100 gallons, but 400 gallons!
You could take up to 10 baths with that much water—but who would want to do that? Fortunately, there are many things we can do to save.
Are you ready to chase down leaks? Household leaks can waste nearly 1 trillion gallons of water annually nationwide, so each year the EPA hunts down the drips during Fix a Leak Week, EPA's annual Fix a Leak Week is March 14 through 20, 2022. Click here to learn more.
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Community Notice - Fillmore Lane Closure |
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The East bound lane of Fillmore St., between Ferdinand Ave. and Beloit Ave. has been temporarily closed due to damage from a water main break. The lane will reopen once street restoration has been finalized. This repair may take several weeks to complete. We appreciate your patience and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause while we repair and restore the street. |
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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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ComEd - Smart Assistance Manager |
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Please see a recent press release below from ComEd regarding the launch of its Smart Assistance Manager, a new tool that makes it easier for customers to take control of their bills and energy use.
New Tool Makes It Easier for ComEd Customers to Take Control of Their Bills and Energy Use
Smart Assistance Manager guides customers to individualized financial-assistance and energy-saving options
CHICAGO (March 1, 2022) – With the launch of its Smart Assistance Manager (SAM), ComEd has made it easier for families and individuals to access customized financial-assistance options, as well as programs to help them manage their electric bills.
SAM is an online self-service tool for all residential customers that finds and displays support options based on their household information, such as energy usage and billing history. Customers who create an online account with ComEd through the "My Account" tool can log in while using SAM to get even more personalized, targeted results. (Read more here.)
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ComEd - Future of Energy College Scholarship |
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Please see a recent press release below from ComEd regarding its Future of Energy college scholarship program.
ComEd Encourages Illinois Students to Apply for
College Scholarships of Up to $10,000 Each
$250,000 ComEd Future of Energy program seeks to build a diverse, inclusive future energy workforce by increasing the number of women, minorities in STEM fields
CHICAGO (Feb. 16, 2022) – ComEd today launched its Future of Energy program, which will provide up to $250,000 in scholarships for women and minorities pursuing STEM degrees in college. Today through March 28, 2022, students in Illinois can apply for the scholarship program, which will provide financial assistance awards of up to $10,000 and a chance to intern with ComEd.
“A diverse and inclusive workforce is critical to our mission of strengthening the communities we serve, which is why ComEd is making investments today to remove barriers and to build an industry more inclusive with those who have traditionally been left out,” said Diana Sharpe, vice president of large customer operations and interim vice president of economic and workforce development with ComEd. “The ComEd Future of Energy scholarship empowers young leaders and works to see that more people of color and women are prepared to enter careers in the fast-growing energy industry.” For more information, please click here.
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Community Notice - Emergency Overnight Shelter |
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Housing Forward is opening an emergency overnight shelter to supplement warming center options in the community. The shelter will be open 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday during March and April. This flyer includes all the details for the month of March. Please share with your networks or anyone that you know who may need to take advantage of an emergency overnight shelter.
If you need more information about other warming sites, please click here for a complete listing of local warming centers and emergency warming shelters.
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Community Notice - Applications for Property Tax Savings are Now Available |
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Please see a press release below from the Cook County Assessor's Office 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 will begin 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.
The e-pay portal will continue to be available only for a limited time. 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* – The payment links noted above will take you away from the Village’s website.
*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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Upcoming Event: Community Meeting with the Forest Preserves of Cook County |
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The Forest Preserves of Cook County will be investing $1 million in new improvements in three sites around the County, and Miller Meadow is one of our target sites for new investments. The Preserves will be hosting a public meeting and open house in River Forest on Thursday, March 31st from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Thatcher Woods Pavilion on Chicago Ave, west of Thatcher Ave, River Forest, IL 60305. This is a great opportunity to hear from the community about what kinds of improvements you’d like to see at Miller Meadow.
All are welcome to attend and share their perspectives. Registration for the event here.
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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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