Thursday, January 18, 2024 | |
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Dear River Forest residents,
Our number one priority is the safety of you and your family.
Recent crime trends are showing a rise in vehicle thefts throughout the Chicagoland area. For tips on how to avoid becoming a victim of this crime, click here. For more information on how our Police Department is responding to this and other trends, I encourage everyone to attend the Village’s first Community Safety Meeting of 2024 on Wednesday, January 31.
Residents who own a Hyundai or Kia built between 2010 and 2021 can still take advantage of complimentary, anti-theft, steering wheel lock devices provided through our Police Department. To make an appointment, send us an email.
As a result of the bitterly cold temperatures, the Cook County Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security has opened warming centers to the public. Please share this information with anyone who may need to utilize a warming center. For cold-weather tips and warming center locations, click here.
Lastly, I encourage all of our residents to be good neighbors and check on the elderly or anyone with special needs during these extreme temperatures. If you encounter anyone who needs help, please call 911.
Keep warm out there!
Sincerely,
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Cathy Adduci, Village President
Village of River Forest
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Ascend Real Estate Group, the court-appointed receiver for the Lake & Lathrop property, continues to market this site to developers and investors. The receiver expects to call for final offers in February. Any proposed development for the site will be subject to Village zoning and permitting approval. Sedgwick Properties has filed a motion to reconsider to prevent the marketing and potential sale of this property for redevelopment. The motion to reconsider will be presented to the Cook County Circuit Court on January 24, 2024. Past project updates remain available on the Village website, including information about the successful remediation of the site.
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The Village wants to ensure there is help for migrants seeking asylum in our area. To achieve this, the Village is working with Chicago officials and leaders from neighboring towns so that these migrants have a safe place to stay through organizations offering resources and supplies. If you are interested in donating to help this cause, the Community of Congregations has taken a lead role in this effort. Visit this link if you’d like to help. | |  |
Quarterly Community Safety Meeting | The Village’s next quarterly Community Safety Meeting will be held in-person on Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at 6 p.m. in the Community Room at Village Hall and also on Zoom. These meetings were established several years ago so that the Police Department and our community can discuss issues related to the safety of our residents, businesses, and visitors to our Village. For more information, click here. | | |
New Scholarship Opportunity | |
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There is a new scholarship opportunity for Oak Park River Forest High School (OPRFHS) seniors! A school alumni, Grayson Adelstein, has launched a unique $1,500 business scholarship open to all seniors who have a passion for business. In addition to the scholarship, recipients will also receive invaluable mentorship from an advisory board of successful OPRFHS alumni in the business world. If you are a senior with a minimum 3.0 GPA and interested in a business major or minor, fill out the scholarship application found here by Friday, January 26. To learn more about the scholarship opportunity, click here.
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High-efficiency furnace vents are susceptible to clogging due to heavy snowstorms or low temperatures, pushing carbon monoxide (CO) into your home which can be dangerous and even deadly. After a snowstorm and during extreme cold temperatures, remember to visually inspect vents. If there is a substantial amount of snow, clear a path of two to three feet around each vent. If you see ice forming, gently knock it off so there is no damage to the pipes. For additional information, call the Village's Fire Prevention Bureau at 708-714-3562. | | |
With the drop in temperatures, pipes can freeze and lead to flooding, structural damage, and mold - which are all costly issues to fix. You can prevent frozen pipes by keeping garage doors closed if water supply lines are located there, and opening kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors underneath sinks to allow warmer air to circulate around plumbing. Please be sure to move any harmful cleaners/household chemicals out of the reach of children. If you are going out of town during the colder weather, set your thermostat to a temperature no lower than 55 degrees. For additional winter tips, click here. | | |
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Time is running out to recycle your holiday greens! Holiday greens such as live Christmas trees, wreaths and garland will still be collected on the following Tuesdays: January 23 and 30. These items must be placed on the parkway before 7 a.m. on normal trash pickup days, and all lights, tinsel, ornaments, metal hangers, plastic material, and stands must be removed. Please note: this pickup does not include yard waste and/or leaves and collection is available only to residents that utilize the Village’s waste hauler – Lakeshore Recycling Systems. Businesses and multi-family residential buildings will need to arrange tree disposal directly with their contracted waste hauler.
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The submission deadline for the River Forest Public Library’s Winter Photo Contest is Monday, January 22. Submit your photographs of freshly fallen snow, icicles, a steaming mug of hot cocoa, kids or pets in wintry gear, or anything else winter-related. Enter your submissions here and learn more about the contest details here. | | |
Sled Hill at
Keystone Park
| The Park District offers a sled hill at Keystone Park. Weather permitting, the sled hill is open daily Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 7 a.m. - Dusk. Please walk up the side of the sled hill to get to the top. The sled hill is unsupervised, so sledding is at your own risk. | | |
Historical Society Museum Gala | |
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Save the date for the Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest’s Heart of Our Villages Award Ceremony on Thursday, March 7 at The Nineteenth Century Club at 6:30 p.m. This award recognizes exceptional Oak Park and River Forest residents whose services have positively impacted the community. To learn more, click here.
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UIC Planning Project for River Forest | The Village is working with University of Illinois at Chicago's Department of Urban Planning and Policy this spring to create a Climate Action Plan for River Forest. Two classes of graduate students will be working on this project, and at the end of the spring semester, each class will produce a Plan and a poster to communicate information about it to the community. | | |
River Forest Business Spotlight! | |
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4U Hair & Spa prides themselves in creating a personalized experience for YOU! The spa specializes in relaxing and rejuvenating body treatments from trained medical estheticians that provide restorative and anti-aging injectable cosmetic treatments and surgical and reconstructive procedures. To learn more or make an appointment, call 708-689-0195 or click here.
Please support local businesses whenever possible! If you have a business located in River Forest with a valid business license, it can be featured in the Village’s business spotlight. If you’d like your business to be featured, please send us an email. You can find a listing of River Forest businesses on the Village’s Shop River Forest website.
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