Thursday, October 19, 2023 | |
Dear River Forest residents,
The safety of our residents is a top priority for our Village Board of Trustees. Under the impressive leadership of Police Chief Jim O’Shea, Deputy Chief James Greenwood and their team of sergeants, patrol officers, detectives and special tactic units, we cordially invite you to our Quarterly Community Safety Meeting on Wednesday, October 25 at 6 p.m. For more information please view an article below. These regular safety meetings were established several years ago so that our Police Department and our community can engage in conversations relating to safety for our residents, business and visitors to our Village.
I invite residents to join me at the Bal Dominique Gala, hosted by Trinity High School. This event celebrates the successes of the institution, the service of their honorees, and the benefits of the educational opportunities they provide for our greater community. Proceeds from the Gala support student scholarships and tickets can be purchased here. If you are unable to attend the Gala, consider making a one-time donation here.
Next Saturday, October 28 is “Make a Difference Day” and an annual observance that encourages residents to volunteer, raise funds and donate to good causes that benefit the community. I encourage everyone to celebrate this day by donating non-perishable food items to the Oak Park-River Forest Food Pantry or participating in the Halloween Fun Run on Sunday, October 29 at 9 a.m. Proceeds from the race will go towards child welfare and family services offered through the Hephzibah Children’s Association.
You can also make a difference by volunteering for a Village Board or Commission to serve our community. The volunteer form can be found by clicking here.
Sincerely,
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Cathy Adduci, Village President
Village of River Forest
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Quarterly Community Safety Meeting | |
The Village’s next quarterly Community Safety Meeting will be held in-person on Wednesday, October 25 at 6 p.m. in the Community Room at Village Hall, and also on Zoom. This meeting will provide safety updates for residents, while encouraging community involvement to help prevent crime. For more information, click here.
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Thrive Counseling Center is hosting their annual Community Closet Drive now through Monday, October 23. Participants are asked to drop their donations off at the Center, Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. - 8 p.m., Fridays from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. For more information or a list of acceptable donation items, click here. | | |
Fire Department
Open House
| The Fire Department would like to thank all of our residents who attended their open house last week. The theme of the event was, "Cooking Safety Starts with You" and firefighters gave a presentation on safety, answered questions and offered educational materials about smoke detectors, sprinklers, stoves, escape routes, fire prevention and more. | | |
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.
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After a year hiatus, the Candy Drop will be returning to the 1100 Block of Keystone Avenue! Residents Sam and David Zimberoff have been making touch-free candy delivery contraptions for nine years that have become a Halloween tradition. Trick-or-treaters can stand at the sidewalk and see their candy drop from the sky on Tuesday, October 31 from 3-7 p.m. To learn more, click here. | | |
Trick-or-treating will take place in the Village on Tuesday, October 31 from 3-7 p.m., and residents are requested to participate within these hours. For families who choose to take part in the holiday fun, please be considerate of residents who have made the decision not to participate, and visit only homes with their outside lights on. | | |
Most Haunted Places in Illinois | |
River Forest Township and the River Forest Public Library have partnered to bring residents a presentation on the most haunted places in Illinois. This event will take place in the Library’s Barbara Hall Meeting Room on Sunday, October 22 at 2 p.m. Paranormal researcher and author Chad Lewis will take participants on a spooky journey through the most haunted locations in the state of Illinois. Whether or not you believe in ghosts, this presentation will be a fun and informative way to mark the Halloween season. To learn more, click here.
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Trinity High School Hosts Annie | Trinity High School’s first fall musical in their newly renovated auditorium, will be a performance of Annie from Friday, November 17 - Sunday, November 19. Seventh and eighth grade girls who are interested in learning more about Trinity High School and their Performing Arts Center are invited to attend, “Pizza and a Play” before the Friday, November 17 performance. Future Blazers who attend this event will be offered a pizza dinner at 6 p.m. and then tickets to Annie. For more information, click here. | | |
Join the Historical Society of Oak Park-River Forest for a “Night at the Museum” on Wednesday, November 1 at 7 p.m. at the Oak Park-River Forest Museum. This event is free to attend and donations are currently being accepted. Night at the Museum is one in a series of gallery talks, which will be held on the first Wednesday of each month now through May 2024. To learn more, click here. | | |
The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) suggests you skip raking, at least some of the leaves. Leaving leaves in flower beds helps wildlife during the winter, and many insect and animal species rely on leaf layers. Leaves also form natural mulch, provide plants with a protective blanket during the winter, conserve water year-round, and enrich the soil as plant materials decompose. The NWF also recommends mulching leaves with a lawn mower and leaving the clippings on the lawn. Click here to learn more. | | |
“Green your Halloween'' by taking your pumpkins to the Pumpkin Smash at Roosevelt Middle School on Saturday, November 4, co-sponsored by Green4Good and Lakeshore Recycling Systems. Between 9 a.m. and noon, you can compost your carvings in River Forest, rather than having them end up in a landfill. Please remove candles and decorations from your pumpkins before composting them. For more information and other locations, click here. | | |
River Forest Business Spotlight! | |
Butter Cream Flour is a River Forest home bakery owned by resident Laura Riff that specializes in buttercream cakes and cupcakes with sleek and current designs. They build decadent cakes made from scratch with high-quality ingredients and flavorful fillings, topped with a special buttercream recipe that is just the right balance of silky and sweet! Check them out by clicking 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.
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