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Monday, July 17, 2023

Dear River Forest residents,


I am pleased to announce at the last Village Board meeting, the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners voted to promote Officer Ben Ransom to the civil service rank of Sergeant. Please help us congratulate Sergeant Ransom on this great accomplishment! We look forward to seeing him continue the exceptional work he does for the community and with our Police Department.


This week, the Village received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association. This award is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and reporting. The Village Board and staff strive for fiscal responsibility and transparency, and we are honored to receive this award.



Lastly, for those who are looking for family-friendly activities this summer, I encourage you to take advantage of the events held each week at the Trailside Museum of Natural History - including, “Stories in the Forest” every Thursday at 10 a.m. this month. You can find additional upcoming events here.


Sincerely,

Cathy Adduci, Village President
Village of River Forest

Traffic & Safety Commission Meeting

Residents are invited to attend the Village’s Traffic & Safety Commission meeting Wednesday, July 19 starting at 7:30 p.m. in the Community Room at Village Hall. The goal of this meeting is to finalize all discussions regarding changes to the northeast corner of the Village. A survey was shared with the community earlier this year asking residents to provide input on how traffic flow could be strengthened, along with any suggestions regarding safety improvements on our roads for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists. The Village has collected this feedback and will now be discussing future steps. To learn more, click here.

Vehicle Theft Prevention Month

July is Vehicle Theft Prevention Month and the Police Department is reminding residents who own a Hyundai or Kia built between 2010 and 2021 to take advantage of complimentary, anti-theft, steering wheel lock devices, while supplies last. Applicants must have a valid River Forest vehicle license sticker affixed to their windshield. Appointments can be made Monday - Friday between 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Email Crime Prevention Sergeant Ransom for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Food Truck Rally

Save the date for the annual Food Truck Rally on Saturday, August 26 at 4 p.m. in Keystone Park West at The Depot parking lot. This community favorite is hosted by the Village, the River Forest Park District, and the Rotary Club of Oak Park-River Forest. This event will feature a variety of food trucks, a beer tent, family entertainment and live music. For the full entertainment schedule, click here. If you'd like to sponsor this family-friendly event, please click here.

Mosquito Safety

Recent heavy rains combined with warm temperatures will result in a major hatch of the Aedes Vexans Floodwater Mosquito. This mosquito does not transmit West Nile Virus, but it is an extremely aggressive biter. The Desplaines Valley Mosquito Abatement District cautions residents that while nuisance mosquitoes will be the predominant mosquito in our area, the species that transmits West Nile Virus is also present. Residents should avoid exposure to adult mosquitos and take safety precautions when going outside, especially at dusk and dawn. For safety tips, how to remove mosquito breeding sources, and more information, click here.

OPRFHS 150th Anniversary

Oak Park River Forest High School (OPRFHS) turns 150 this year! The high school is kicking off the celebration with a Sesquicentennial Challenge - which is an effort to get Huskies past and present to volunteer 150,000 hours of service in honor of OPRFHS by June 30, 2024. Check out their new video with some famous alumni who plan to participate in the Challenge!

Dominican University Magazine

The latest issue of Dominican University’s (DU) magazine is now available online. This edition's cover story highlights how graduates of DU's library and information science program are protecting the right to read and defending access to library materials as book censorship sweeps the country. Read this issue's articles here.

Take the Challenge to Reduce Plastic Waste!

We see plastic everywhere, from food packaging and beauty supplies, to cleaning detergents and beverage bottles. According to the United Nations, plastic production worldwide has grown from about 2 million tons in 1950 to more than 400 million tons today. To make the situation even more serious, those numbers are expected to more than double by 2050. Please follow these tips on how to reduce your own plastic consumption. You can sign up to take the Plastic Free July Challenge here. To reduce plastic waste locally, the Village adopted a Single-Use Plastic Ordinance in 2022, which requires local businesses to only hand out single-use foodware for take-out and delivery orders at the customer’s request. As always, please explore the River Forest Sustainability Commission’s Guide to Sustainable Living for tips on how you can fit elements of sustainable living into your life.

River Forest Business Spotlight!

Oak Park - River Forest Chamber of Commerce member Blackout Baking Co. is a bakery specializing in bite-size gourmet cookies. The business strives to create cookies reminiscent of our childhoods, yet pushing boundaries with a variety of flavors, textures, and forms. To learn more or to place an order, please click here.



Please support local businesses whenever possible! You can find a listing of River Forest businesses on the Village’s Shop River Forest 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!

Village of River Forest


400 Park Avenue

River Forest, Illinois 60305

708-366-8500


vrf.us

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