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Dear River Forest residents,
Thank you to everyone who joined Village staff members and myself for the quarterly “Casual Conversation” event on Saturday. The focus was on the Village’s development review process, and how any proposal must go through many steps - including strong engagement with our residents - before approvals are considered by the Village Board. We received some compliments on the open format of this event, and how it provides an informal opportunity for resident questions and feedback. The next event will take place in August, so please look for updates once the date and location are set. I invite all community members to join us and share your thoughts on the future of our community.
At this event, we did get some questions about the Madison Street properties and our partnership with broker, JLL, Inc. This national real estate brokerage firm has already begun marketing this important property in town by reaching out to potential developers. Once any interested parties respond, JLL will be fielding inquiries to work toward the best uses for these properties. Stay tuned for updates in future newsletters.
Finally, I’d like to extend a warm welcome to our newly-elected Village Board members, Village Trustee Megan Keskitalo and Village Clerk Rosa Castellano. I’d also like to thank our returning Trustees, Respicio F. Vazquez and Lisa Guglielmone Gillis, for their continued dedication to serving our community.
Sincerely,
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Cathy Adduci, Village President
Village of River Forest
| | In Memoriam: Mary Anne Brown | | |
This week, River Forest mourns the passing of Mary Anne Brown, the longtime Executive Director of Hephzibah Children’s Association and a steadfast advocate for children and families. For decades, Brown devoted her life to transforming how vulnerable children were cared for - creating safe, nurturing environments through trauma-informed group homes, family-based foster care, and after-school programs.
Under her leadership, Hephzibah became not only a cornerstone of child welfare services in the region, but a model for compassion-driven community care across Illinois. Her legacy is reflected in the thousands of children whose lives were made safer, more stable, and more hopeful through her efforts. The Village Board recognized Brown in 2017 with an honorary street sign designation on 7500 Lake Street. For funeral and donation information, please click here.
| | Attend Memorial Day Celebrations 100th Anniversary! | This year’s River Forest Memorial Day celebration marks its 100th anniversary with something new - an exciting Business Bash featuring local and veteran-owned businesses. Join the community in honoring our fallen heroes on Monday, May 26 for a full morning of honor and remembrance. The parade kicks off at 9:30 a.m. at Iowa Street and Ashland Avenue and marches to Keystone Park, followed by the Memorial Day Honor Roll ceremony and a complimentary hot dog lunch. Hosted by the Village, Park District, Kiwanis Club, and Oak Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce, this cherished event highlights the men and women who have bravely served our country. Don’t forget - the deadline is May 19 to nominate a local hero for the 2025 Honor Roll. You can also share your thoughts by taking a brief poll on this day of events here. | |  | |
At the latest Lake & Lathrop hearing, Cook County Judge Kyriakopoulos ruled that the current condition of the site does not warrant demolition and denied the Village’s ability to pursue restoring the vacant project site. The Village is disappointed by this ruling, in that it does not require Wintrust Bank and Lake Lathrop Partners, LLC. to remove unsightly, and what are considered unsafe structures, that have remained in place for more than two years.
Separately, the Village continues to encourage the resolution of the ongoing foreclosure case between the bank and developer, with an ultimate goal to bring a new development to this site that benefits the community, as soon as possible. To learn more about the site history at Lake & Lathrop, please click here.
| | | Local Government in Action - Roosevelt Middle School | | Last week, students from Roosevelt Middle School’s Student Leadership Club got an exciting and immersive look at local government during a visit to Village Hall. Hosted by Village President Cathy Adduci, the students toured the Police and Fire departments before stepping into the roles of public officials during a mock Village Board meeting. Students debated real-world topics, including a proposal to purchase a new fire truck and potential funding for improvements along Washington Boulevard. The Village is grateful for the opportunity to engage with young people in our community! | | The Village’s Economic Development Commission has introduced a new program to assist small businesses within the Madison Street and North Avenue Tax Increment Financing Districts. This initiative offers grants to eligible business owners to help fund a variety of approved improvements. These include energy efficiency upgrades, accessibility enhancements, façade repairs, landscaping, updated signage, and parking lot improvements. The Village remains committed to supporting local businesses and economic growth. For more information or to apply, click here. | | | Swing by Dunkin’ in Forest Park tomorrow (Friday, May 16) between 5 a.m. and noon for “Cop on a Rooftop.” This annual fundraiser, hosted by the Forest Park and River Forest police departments, supports Special Olympics Illinois. Officers will be on the rooftop, collecting donations and raising awareness for this inspiring cause. Stop by for a coffee, meet your local officers, and help make a difference. All proceeds will support programs for Special Olympics athletes across the State. Learn more here. | | |
The Comprehensive Plan: A Guide to Future
Development and Growth!
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The Village’s Comprehensive Plan was unanimously approved in 2019 and impacts day-to-day discussions and decisions related to land use, and future growth and development throughout River Forest.
Land use is a central focus of the Plan, guiding how different areas in River Forest are used for housing, businesses, parks, and infrastructure. It lays out different areas with a goal to determine the most suitable uses - for example, identifying areas that are ideal for new homes, retail and office space, or green spaces for parks.
A key goal is to maintain a balanced mix of residential, commercial, and recreational spaces to meet community needs, while promoting sustainability and environmental health. The Plan also recommends improvements to enhance the look and feel of key areas, such as adding landscaping and improving aesthetics around streets - all of which helps to make River Forest an attractive and welcoming community. To learn more about the Comprehensive Plan click here.
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Thank you to everyone who supported the Earth Month partnership with EcoShip - their campaign to promote redistribution of shipping materials to businesses for reuse was a huge success! More than 200 poly mailers, 110 bubble mailers, two large bags of bubble wrap and air pillows, 25 pairs of athletic shoes, and a wide range of reusable packing supplies were collected. Also gathered were packing paper and peanuts, tissue paper, plastic utensils, and an assortment of additional packing materials. While the Earth Month drive has ended, EcoShip continues to accept many of these items year-round. Click here to see what’s currently accepted, find drop-off locations and hours, or even pick up free shipping supplies for your own needs.
| | River Forest Business Spotlight | | |
Elizabeth Faith wreaths are thoughtfully handcrafted with the same care and creativity as a custom-designed bouquet. Each wreath is made to order, offering a one-of-a-kind piece tailored to your style and space. Because of the attention to detail in every design, these wreaths are available by custom request only. To learn more or begin your order, reach out to design@elizabethfaith.com.
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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What's Happening in River Forest?
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