Thursday, June 10, 2021
Dear River Forest Residents,

As COVID-19 cases continue to decline and we prepare to enter Phase 5 of the Restore Illinois plan tomorrow, remember that businesses and workplaces may adopt and post their own safety measures. Please follow any posted guidelines, and be respectful of one another as we transition into our ‘new normal’.

I am excited to share that the Village’s new, online permit application system is now available. Permits keep residents safe by ensuring that contractors are licensed and projects comply with code. Using this new portal, residents and contractors can easily submit, pay for and track their permit applications online. We hope residents find this tool to be user-friendly and efficient. While Village staff works to turn around permits as quickly as possible, please be sure to review our average plan review timeframes so that you can plan your project and apply for your permit accordingly.

The Village’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Advisory Group held its first meeting on Monday, June 7. The group adopted discussion guidelines and planned its meeting schedule. Please click here to view the group’s mission.

Throughout the pandemic, Little Bits Workshop has nurtured creativity and provided a safe and fun place for children to be together. They offer summer camps, classes and nature experiences for children in preschool through middle school. This fall, Little Bits Workshop will partner with Lincoln Elementary third- and fourth-grade students to paint along the train wall, as has been their tradition for the past several years. It is wonderful to see our community embracing the arts, and enlivening our public spaces. 

Sincerely,
Cathy Adduci, Village President
Village of River Forest
State Progresses to Phase 5 of
Restore Illinois Plan

On Friday, June 11, Illinois will progress to Phase 5 - the final phase of the Restore Illinois pandemic recovery plan. All capacity limits will be lifted for indoor and outdoor settings, and large gatherings of all sizes can resume. Per CDC guidelines, fully vaccinated individuals will not be required to wear face covers, except where required by federal, state, or local regulations, including businesses and workplaces. Unvaccinated individuals should continue to wear face covers in all public settings. For more information, click here.
COVID-19 Vaccines - Six Flags Passes

Cook County Health (CCH) will give away free Six Flags Great America passes for Wednesday, June 16 to all individuals who receive a COVID-19 vaccine at any CCH location. Vaccinations are available on a daily basis; walk-in appointments are available at several locations, or can be scheduled here. Suburban Cook County residents who are homebound due to medical reasons may receive the vaccine in their homes; find more information here.
River Forest Vaccination Rates

Vaccinations throughout the Village continue to progress. For up-to-date vaccine data, specific to River Forest, click here and click 'Data by Town'. Additionally, the percentage of fully vaccinated people in Illinois continues to increase.
Apply for Permits Online
Residents and contractors can now apply for permits on the Village’s new, online permitting portal. The first step in using the portal is to create a user account. Applicants can then submit permit requests online and view projected permit processing times. A confirmation email provides a link to track the permit process online. Click here for helpful videos and detailed information.
Sidewalk Closure
Starts Monday
Image credit: Google Maps

The sidewalk at the northwest corner of Lake Street and Lathrop Avenue will be closed to pedestrians for construction work by ComEd from Monday, June 14 through Wednesday, June 23, weather permitting. Pedestrians are encouraged to seek an alternate route during the construction period.
Learn to Spot ComEd
Energy Scams
ComEd reminds customers to protect themselves against energy scams. Employees will never contact customers to sell electricity, ask for account numbers or personal information, or request payments. If you doubt the authenticity of any communication that you believe is from ComEd, contact the company directly at 800-EDISON-1.
Car Wash Benefits Sarah's Inn

Thanks to more than 150 8th Grade students at Roosevelt Middle School who helped host a car wash earlier this week. The event was held at the same time as Roosevelt's 2nd dose COVID-19 vaccination clinic for 12-15-year-olds. Funds were raised for Sarah’s Inn by students washing many cars - including a Police Department squad!
Veg Out! Every Wednesday
Did you know it takes 10 bathtubs of water to produce a quarter pound of beef? Conserve water by participating in Veg Out!, the Sustainability Commission’s community-wide campaign to raise awareness about the benefits of eating less meat. Meatless meals are good for you and good for the planet! Each Wednesday, participating restaurants showcase a special vegetarian menu. Stop in and grab a bite to show your support! Click here to learn more.
 
Are you a local restaurant interested in joining Veg Out!? For more information or to participate, please send an email to Sustainability@vrf.us.
Did You Know?
The Village has contracted with Christopher Burke Engineering to create a Stormwater Master Plan (SMP) to identify areas of need related to the Village’s sewer system and establish future improvement projects. To gather community input, the Village will hold a series of neighborhood meetings at Village Hall on June 22 and June 24 at 7:00 p.m. Visit the Village’s SMP page throughout the project for up to date information.
Looking for More Information? Visit vrf.us and enter your topic into the search bar (top right of the page) or email info@vrf.us with any questions!
Little Bits Workshop is a studio where children learn the fine craft of upcycling through traditional skills, such as altered art and clothing, embroidery, jewelry making, quilting and more.

Check out their summer classes and camps to learn a new skill! For more information or to register for a class, please visit thelittlebitsworkshop.com/.
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.