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April 15, 2025

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Greetings Ivan! 

🥳 Planning a block party this summer? Register for our Block Party Forum on April 24!

🏡 Provide feedback on housing and community development needs by taking our Community Needs Survey.

🌳 Reminder: Routine parkway tree pruning is occurring this week in a portion of Skokie.

Newly elected members of the Village Board will be sworn in at the next meeting on Monday, April 21, 7:30 p.m., at Skokie Village Hall. Join the Village in welcoming:

(Unofficial Cook County election results as of April 15, 2025.)

Thank you: Outgoing elected officials, including Mayor George Van Dusen, Trustee Edie Sue Sutker, Trustee Ralph Klein, Trustee James Johnson, and Trustee Khem Khoeun, were recognized at the Village Board meeting on April 7, and will conclude their service at the beginning of the meeting on April 21.

Single-family households in Skokie can use a Hefty ReNew orange bag to collect hard-to-recycle plastics.

Skokie is one of four northeastern Cook County communities participating in the Hefty ReNew Program for Hard to Recycle Plastics, in partnership with Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS) and Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC).

Why it matters: Single-family households in Skokie can use the Hefty ReNew Program’s orange bags to collect hard-to-recycle plastics, such as chip bags, foam egg cartons, plastic pet food bags, plastic grocery bags, bubble wrap, foam cups, plastic utensils and other flexible film and packaging.

How it works: Fill an orange Hefty ReNew bag with accepted items. When the bag is full, tie it up tightly and place it directly in your recycling cart alongside other loose recyclables.

Get started: Skokie residents can request a free Hefty ReNew starter kit online (one per household), and purchase additional Hefty ReNew orange bags at participating locations. Currently, bags are sold in Skokie at Jewel-Osco, 9449 N. Skokie Blvd. Additional locations will be announced.

Who can participate: In order to ensure that hard-to-recycle materials are delivered to a participating recycling facility, the Hefty ReNew Program is only open to single-family households at this time.

The Skokie Farmers’ Market will celebrate its 50th season this summer. Help us celebrate! 

Share your market photos: The Skokie Fine Arts Commission invites you to take part in a special photo exhibit honoring the market’s rich history. Whether it’s a snapshot from the early days in the 1970s (think shopping for fresh produce in bell-bottoms) or a favorite moment from this summer (like jamming to your favorite market band), we want to see your Farmers’ Market photos! 

Mark your calendar: The Market will open on Sunday, June 1. We’ll see you there!

Skokie Electrical and Sign Inspector Paul Hunsicker conducts an electrical inspection.

Don't wait to secure your building permit! Spring and summer are peak times for construction projects.

Why are building permits necessary? Building permits ensure projects are completed safely and in compliance with local building codes and regulations. In addition, permits provide a record of approved construction, which can be valuable for future renovations, insurance claims and property sales.

The fastest option: Apply for your building permit online 24/7 for the fastest processing. The Village also accepts permit applications at the counter at Village Hall.

Helping get your project done faster: To help streamline the permitting process, the Village has implemented several recent updates:

We’re here to help! Call a permit technician at 847-933-8223 or email building@skokie.org.

Two Ways to Hone Your Honeybee Hobby

Interested in honeybee keeping? Skokie residents have two options to support these essential pollinators.

Residential beekeeping: Residents living in detached homes can maintain up to five honeybee hives in their backyard. Apply for a residential beekeeping permit.

Community apiary: Skokie residents can maintain up to two honeybee hives at the apiary on Oakton College’s Skokie campus. Apply for a community apiary permit.

Clean Cars for a Cause: Fire Explorer Program Car Wash, April 26

The Skokie Fire Explorer program will host a car wash fundraiser on Saturday, April 26, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Fire Station 16, 7424 Niles Center Rd.

Help support future firefighters: Contributions ($10 - donations appreciated) will support the fire explorers’ participation in the University of Illinois Fire Service Institute.

More about the program: The Skokie Fire Explorer program familiarizes youth ages 14-20 with careers in the fire service.

For sexually-active individuals, routine STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) testing is an important part of self-care.

Mark your calendar: Skokie Health and Human Services is hosting a free, confidential STI and HIV Testing Pop-up Clinic in partnership with Howard Brown Health on Monday, May 19, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Skokie Village Hall (lower level). Walk-ins available; no insurance required.

Always available: To support safety and health for all community members, free condoms, opioid overdose kits, cannabis lock bags, and local STI clinic directories are always available at Skokie Health and Human Services on the lower level of Village Hall. Questions? Call us at 847-933-8252.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

PUBLIC MEETINGS

Unless otherwise indicated, all meetings are held at Skokie Village Hall, 5127 Oakton Street.