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July 8, 2025

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Greetings Ivan! 

Here’s what you need to know this week:

🌳 Have a fantastic front yard? Submit your application for the annual Beautification Awards by July 15.

💡 Help with electricity bills: You can now apply for financial assistance through ComEd’s Customer Relief Fund.

🕵️‍♀️ Summer fun: Reserve your tickets for Clue: A Walking Mystery, coming to Downtown Skokie, July 23 through August 17.

On Saturday, July 5, the Village was contacted by concerned community members who reported U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in Skokie, in which an individual was taken into custody.

Response and Policy: ICE does not notify the Village of Skokie or the Skokie Police Department of its operations, as it is federal protocol to keep such actions confidential.

Rights and Resources: All individuals—regardless of immigration status—have legal rights. The Village is committed to supporting and serving all who call Skokie home, and has provided a number of legal resources available to members of our community. For questions, please contact Skokie Health and Human Services at 847-933-8252.

Mayor Tennes and STAT Commission member Jimmy Gonzalez-Vicker presented the annual Telecommunications and Technology award to Skokie students Nabaa Wassem and Sakeena Khan.

At the July 7 Village Board meeting:

Watch the Village Board meeting to view a discussion of these items and more.

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is continuing work on the Oakton Street Bridge Replacement Project over the Edens Expressway.

Happening this week: IDOT has implemented an updated traffic pattern to accommodate completion of pavement resurfacing, to be followed by pavement striping. Traffic will remain open in both directions.

Also in progress: IDOT is coordinating with ComEd to complete street light and traffic signal installation and activation.

Looking ahead: IDOT remains on schedule to complete the project this fall. 

Happening further west: As part of a separate project, improvements at the intersection of Oakton Street and Austin Avenue are nearing completion. Pavement has been fully restored and striped, and all traffic lanes are open. Traffic signal upgrades are in progress. Landscaping and sod restoration will be completed dependent on weather conditions. This project is being monitored by the Villages of Skokie and Morton Grove.

There’s a new (hot) dog in town. Chicago Eater and FOX32 Chicago report that acclaimed late-night eatery, Redhot Ranch, is opening its first suburban location in Skokie!

Where you’ll find them: Redhot Ranch will be filling the space formerly occupied by That Burger Joint, at Dempster Street and Skokie Boulevard. Ownership is targeting an August opening.

The Out of Space outdoor music festival returns to Skokie later this month! Headliners for the four-night event, July 24-27, include Sylvan Esso, Shakey Graves, Rodrigo Y Gabriela and The Decemberists.

Limited-time offer: General admission concert tickets are available for a discounted rate of $40 (or $156 for a four-pack of tickets) through this Friday, July 11 at 10 p.m. with the code, “SKOKIE25.” Don’t miss this chance to score tickets at a significant discount.

Jam along to pop/rock hits from Serendipity this Wednesday evening starting at 7 p.m. on the Village Green!

Summer lineup: The Wednesdays on the Green outdoor music series continues weekly through August 13.

Westfield Old Orchard is hosting a variety of fun, free music, fitness and children’s events open to the public this summer, including:

Skokie Health and Human Services (SHHS) offers vaccinations to protect children from infectious diseases through the federally funded Vaccines For Children (VFC) Program.

Eligibility: The VFC program provides vaccines for children from birth through age 18 who meet one of the following criteria:

A $5 fee per visit applies. Each child will also receive a sticker and one free book!   

Find us: Please call 847-933-8252 to schedule an appointment for your child today. Vaccines are offered Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays each week in the lower level of Skokie Village Hall, 5127 Oakton St.

Another reminder: Don’t forget to call your child’s healthcare provider to schedule an annual wellness exam and a lead screening for all children 6 years and younger.

Extreme heat can be particularly hazardous for children, seniors, those with special needs and pets.

Guidelines: Review tips to protect yourself and others from heat-related illnesses.

Cooling centers: The Village maintains a list of local cooling locations to stay comfortable when temperatures rise.

Looking to dispose of oil-based paints, lawn chemicals, automotive fluids and more? You have options!

🏠 At-home collection: Through the Village’s partnership with the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) and Clean Harbors, you can schedule an at-home hazardous waste collection. The next pickup date in Skokie is July 15. A $75 fee applies – partner with a neighbor on a joint pickup to reduce your cost.

🚗 Drop-off locations: Household hazardous waste can also be dropped off for free at facilities in Naperville and Gurnee. An appointment may be required.

Visit the Village’s Recycling Collection page for more information.

Skokie Spring Greening recycling event. (Photo by Karie Angell Luc)

The Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) will hold an electronics recycling and document destruction event at Glenbrook South High School, 4000 W. Lake Ave., this Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon. Skokie residents are eligible to participate.

Replace Plastic will share practical ways to switch to nonplastics in your kitchen, bathroom, closet and more this Sunday, July 13, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., at Skokie Public Library. Register to attend.

Did you know: The Village’s Environmental Sustainability Plan calls for increasing landfill diversion of recyclable materials 10 percent by 2030 while decreasing contamination of recycling collections.

EVENTS

PUBLIC MEETINGS

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