Thursday, September 16, 2021
Dear River Forest residents,

Fire Chief Kurt Bohlmann is retiring after 31 years of exemplary service to our community. We want to thank Kurt for his many years of service; he will be missed and we wish him all the best of luck in his retirement. I’d also like to re-welcome former Deputy Fire Chief Robert Nortier who will be serving as our acting Chief, as we search for a permanent replacement. 

As a reminder, residents who experience power outages or any other issues with ComEd services should click here to file a report. Unless there is a full-scale weather event, or a disaster, ComEd is extremely responsive in its follow-up to reports filed on this web page.
 
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness and Action Month, which is meant to encourage all of us to heed warning signs when we or someone we know is experiencing real challenges. I encourage anyone who needs help to utilize the many resources available (listed below), which include THRIVE Counseling Center.  

September 15 through October 15 marks National Hispanic Heritage Month. In recognition of this, I will bring forward a proclamation at the September 27 Village Board of Trustees meeting. This month, let us reflect on the countless ways in which Hispanics have contributed to our Nation's success, and let us reaffirm our commitment to expanding opportunity and building an even brighter future for all.

Sincerely,
Cathy Adduci, Village President
Village of River Forest
COVID-19 Update
Last week, President Biden introduced several new vaccine mandates for private-sector employees, as well as health care workers and federal contractors. Health officials continue to encourage all residents who are able to consider becoming fully vaccinated as the best line of defense against the virus and its variants. 
 
Pre-scheduled and walk-in appointments are still available at several locations, and homebound suburban Cook County residents can learn more about how to receive the vaccine here. For the latest River Forest vaccine data, click here and select 'Data by Town'. To view percentages of fully vaccinated individuals across the state, click here.
Fire Chief to Retire,
Interim Chief Named

After 31 years of service, River Forest Fire Chief Kurt Bohlmann will be retiring on September 20. During Monday’s board meeting, Chief Bohlmann was recognized for his outstanding leadership and contributions to the community during his tenure. The Village thanks him for his service and wishes him a wonderful retirement. 

Also during Monday’s meeting, Village President Aducci appointed former River Forest Deputy Fire Chief Robert Nortier as the interim Fire Chief until the position is permanently filled. As he is already familiar with the many aspects of the position, Acting Fire Chief Nortier will provide stability and assistance to the Department during this time of transition, and the Village would like to congratulate him on his new role!

Pictured left to right: Interim Chief Robert Nortier, Chief Kurt Bohlmann, Village President Cathy Adduci
Proposed Building Code Updates

Building codes ensure the health, safety and welfare of the public and our residents. These codes have evolved over time to cover all aspects of building construction. They are developed and managed by the International Code Council and periodically updated. During Monday’s meeting, the Village Board discussed proposed updates and the need to adopt the most recent codes, which would not take effect until January 1, 2022, and would not require anything additional other than what the codes outline. For more information, click here. The Village Board will meet again in October to approve these changes, by ordinance, in order for them to go into effect at the start of 2022.
Village Receives
Budget Award
The Village is proud to have been awarded the 'Distinguished Budget Presentation Award' for the May 1, 2021 Budget, by the Government Finance Officers Association. This award represents a significant achievement as it is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting. The Village was recognized for its diligent forecasting and planning, while maximizing resources to provide high-level services to the community.
Suicide Prevention
and Action Month
During Monday’s meeting, the Village Board of Trustees issued a proclamation declaring the month of September as National Suicide Prevention and Action Month. For those in need of local support, Thrive Counseling Center (THRIVE) offers phone-based counseling and medication management. Crisis intervention services are also available 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling (708) 383-7500. For more information and additional resources, click here.

Oak Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce member Kirk Eye Center has been the premier choice for eye care in the Chicagoland area for more than 50 years. Services include general eye exams, a full optical store, LASIK, cataract surgery and more. For more information or to make an appointment, call (708) 627-9400 or click here.
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.
What's Happening in River Forest?

Visit the River Forest Community Calendar at rfhappenings.com
to find out, today!