Property Tax Workshop, Child Passenger Safety Week, Positive Reinforcement for Bike Helmets and More!

Thursday, September 21, 2023

Dear River Forest residents,

After the update on the Lake & L athrop project was sent out Friday, September 15 through this E-newsletter, the Village took proactive steps to ensure this important commercial property is improved and marketable for future development. On Monday, Village crews repaired disturbed sidewalks at Lathrop and Ashland avenues near the project area, which are now open to the public. Village officials also met with the court appointed receiver for the property, and separately with bank representatives this week, to initiate plans for the clearing, cleanup and any repairs needed at the construction site. For more on these most recent updates, click here.

September is National Preparedness Month. I encourage all River Forest residents to plan ahead and make sure you are prepared for emergencies and disasters. Be sure to have an emergency kit that includes water, food and other supplies, and that you have an emergency plan. Also, don’t forget any items you may need for your pets if a disaster or emergency were to occur. Learn more at Ready.gov.

In an effort to keep the children in our community safe, River Forest Chocolates has partnered with the Police Department for some positive reinforcement! Police officers will be giving coupons for River Forest Chocolates to children they observe wearing their helmets while riding bicycles. See the article below for more information on this collaboration.

Lastly, I would like to encourage all residents enrolled in the Village’s waste collection program to take advantage of the complimentary, upcoming Household Hazardous Waste Collection. Requests to take part in it must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, September 29. More information on the collection is available in an article below.

Sincerely,

Cathy Adduci, Village President

Village of River Forest

Child Passenger Safety Week

The Police Department has partnered with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for Child Passenger Safety Week, which runs through September 23, to help ensure the safety of young children traveling in vehicles. The annual safety week will end with National Seat Check Saturday on September 23 at the River Forest Town Center parking lot from 9 a.m. to noon. The event will give parents and caregivers free child safety seat checks and instruction on how to correctly install and use the right car seats for their children. This event is especially important due to the latest research that shows 46% of car seats are misused. For more information, click here.

Property Tax Workshop

River Forest Township is now open for appeals with The Cook County Board of Review until Tuesday, October 17 at 11:59 p.m. If you would like an appeal packet from the River Forest Township Assessor with directions on how to appeal and have comparables emailed to you, sign up here: Packet Request.

Additionally, River Forest Township Assessor Pamela Kende is hosting a Board of Review Appeal Workshop on Monday, October 2. For more information, click here.

Positive Reinforcement for Bike Helmets

The Police Department has partnered with River Forest Chocolates to reward bicyclists for wearing their helmets, in accordance with Village Ordinance 9-4-8. Police Officers are now handing out coupons for a free chocolate truffle at River Forest Chocolates to bike riders who prioritize safety and are seen wearing helmets while riding their bicycles. The Department has also partnered with Forest Security to offer free bike helmets to community members who would like to have one. Contact Crime Prevention Officer Megan Drake for more information by sending her an email or calling 708-714-3543.

Safe School Walking Routes

School District District 90 (D90) encourages students and parents to be mindful of traffic and other pedestrian or cyclist hazards during travel to and from school. D90 recommends that families review the maps for Safe Walking Routes to School, which are part of the Safe Walking Routes to School Plan, an effort that was jointly commissioned by the School District and the Village.

Tour de Proviso

The fourth annual Tour De Proviso will be hosted by the Village of Westchester and take place Saturday, October 7 at Mayfair Park, located at 10835 Wakefield Street in Westchester. Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. and this event is free and open to area residents of all ages. To learn more, to register, or to make a donation, click here.

Pavement Restoration (Click image to enlarge)

Weather permitting, the annual crack filling and pavement preservation project is expected to wrap up at the beginning of next week (the week of September 25). Location maps of the work areas for this project can be found in the accompanying graphic. If you have any questions, please send us an email.

Fall Family Fun Fest

Triton College’s 15th annual Fall Family Fun Fest is going to be “unbel-leaf-able” and they're hoping you can join in the festivities. The Fest will take place Saturday, September 30 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on the Triton College campus. Families can take home a free pumpkin (while supplies last), enjoy crafts, family portraits, games and so much more. Food will also be available for purchase. Learn more here.

Food Insecurity

Health Panel

A Public Health Panel on food insecurity will take place on Thursday, October 5 at 2:30 p.m. in Martin Recital Hall on the Dominican University campus. Experts in the fields of public health, education, nutrition and dietetic sciences will present a panel discussion exploring topics such as access to food, equity in nutrition, and the emerging concept of food as medicine. Registration is required for this free event, and can be completed by clicking here.

Illinois Rail

Safety Week

Illinois Rail Safety Week runs through this Sunday, September 24. The Police Department wants to remind residents that safe decisions around trains and railroad tracks save lives. As a reminder, motorists should always wait for the railroad gate arms to go up completely before crossing the tracks, and pedestrians should always avoid walking on the tracks. To learn more about this annual safety campaign, click here.

Hazardous Waste Collection

Time is running out for residents to have household hazardous waste collected from their home at no additional charge, a service provided by the Village’s waste hauler, Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS) in partnership with Clean Harbors. Requests must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, September 29, and a confirmation email will be sent by Clean Harbors regarding the collection date. For more information and to sign up, click here.

River Forest Business Spotlight!

Save the date for the Oak Park - River Forest (OPRF) Chamber of Commerce's 2023 Business Spotlight Celebration on Tuesday, October 10 at 5 p.m. This event celebrates businesses that add to the character of our communities! If you’re a business community member and not yet a OPRF Chamber member, take advantage of a complimentary six month membership - offered through a partnership between the OPRF Chamber and the Village - by calling 708-613-0550.

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.