Thursday, December 7, 2023 | |
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Dear River Forest residents,
I’d like to congratulate Oak Park River Forest High School senior, Kate Wallace - who was one of six area high school students that participated as a delegate in this year’s UN Climate Summit in Dubai, which focuses on global climate policy. Katie wants to become a mechanical engineer with a focus on sustainable energy and I thank her for her leadership in environmental advocacy.
The Village was thrilled to once again participate in the River Forest Park District’s Holiday Tree Trimming event last week. Residents are encouraged to stop by Lake Street in Memorial Parkway and see all of the beautiful trees decorated by area businesses, organizations, and neighbors. These trees will be lit through New Year’s Day for all of our community members to enjoy as we celebrate the holiday season!
Finally, I would like to wish a Happy Hanukkah to those who observe, starting at sundown this evening, December 7.
Sincerely,
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Cathy Adduci, Village President
Village of River Forest
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As you drive around River Forest looking at the beautiful holiday decorations, keep in mind that December is Art and Architecture Month and observe the beautiful architecture to be found in River Forest. Our oldest building dates back to 1831, in addition to homes that were designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, William Drummond, Spencer and Powers, E.E. Roberts and other architectural leaders and icons. The Village also boasts very diverse architecture styles in the historic district, which is shown in the accompanying graphic. More information about historic landmarks in River Forest can be found here.
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Cyber Safety Presentation | The Police Department will be hosting a Cyber Safety Presentation in the Village's Community Room on Tuesday, December 12 from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. This presentation is open to all parents and community educators to learn about your rights and responsibilities in the digital age relating to your children. It will help those who attend to understand potential risks and how to navigate them, crucial tips and strategies to keep your family safe online and more! For additional information, please call 708-366-7125. | |  |
Kiwanis Light Up
the Night Event
| The Kiwanis Club of River Forest & Oak Park is sponsoring their annual "Light Up the Night" event Saturday, December 16, and have assembled luminary kits for purchase. Each kit is $10, and includes 10 white paper bags, 10 plain wax candles, sand, instructions and helpful hints. Proceeds will benefit local youth, and kits are available for porch pickup at 1043 Keystone Avenue. Cash or checks addressed to the Kiwanis of River Forest and Oak Park can be dropped into the mail slot to the right of the door with the supplied envelope. For additional information, send an email. | | |
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The River Forest Police Department wants to remind residents to stay vigilant this holiday season and avoid becoming a victim of online shopping fraud. Safety tips include:
- Always deal with reputable online retailers, and beware of deals that are too good to be true.
- Don’t browse or shop using public Wi-Fi connections.
- Use strong passwords and do not duplicate passwords for multiple accounts.
- Avoid using debit cards to shop online. Credit cards are safer because they do not have direct access to cash in your account.
- Don’t fall for email scams. Always verify the actual email address of the sender.
Additional crime prevention tips can be found here.
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Property owners who would like to know where their property taxes go now have the ability to learn about this through an online tool offered through the Cook County Treasurer's website. This tool calculates year-to-year changes for each individual property tax bill. The new website addition also allows taxpayers to learn more about how and why tax bills have changed, and how tax bill amounts are determined. To take advantage of this useful information, click here. | | |
"Girls Leading Change" Honorees | In celebration of International “Day of the Girl,” First Lady Jill Biden honored 15 young women who are leading change and shaping a brighter future in communities across the country. One of these bright stars is Anja Herrman, a 17-year-old River Forest resident, who was honored for being a disability rights activist and advocate for equity and inclusion. Since 2021, Anja has served as the youngest appointed member of the Village’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion AD HOC Advisory Group. Learn more about her accomplishments and the other honorees by clicking here. | | |
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Are you interested in learning more about St. Luke School’s play-based preschool and kindergarten programs? Residents can attend their Early Childhood Open House on Wednesday, December 13 from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Visitors can meet staff members, visit the classrooms, and chat with current St. Luke families. Children are welcome to attend. To learn more, click here.
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The Village continues to partner with Elgin Recycling, Inc. to provide an easy way to responsibly dispose of old and unusable holiday lights. Residents can drop off holiday lights for recycling in a receptacle clearly marked for this purpose behind Village Hall under the train overpass. This bin will be available through January 15, 2024. For a list of accepted and unaccepted items, click here.
Elgin Recycling takes the lights and cords, while the strands are separated, baled and sent to be chopped or shredded. They are then sold as a commodity to foundries and mills across the United States.
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Good news for residents looking to reduce their waste! Thanks to a new State law, which takes effect Monday, January 1, 2024, customers of Illinois restaurants and other food retailers will be able to bring refillable containers to use for their purchases. Please note that containers must be clean and durable. Retailers will be able to fill customer containers with either ready-to-eat or bulk food items.
This law could go far to reduce waste caused by single-use containers and bags; however, it will require preparation by customers. One way to do this is to store refillable containers in your vehicle to be used when ordering food, or for leftovers from a restaurant meal.
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River Forest Business Spotlight! | |
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Dr. Robert Jusino's Back & Neck Pain Clinic specializes in chiropractic manipulation, soft-tissue techniques, therapeutic rehabilitation and various chiropractic services to help achieve patients’ health goals. The clinic utilizes an evidence-based approach to chiropractic care. To schedule an appointment, call 708-771-0665 or 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.
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