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September 3, 2024

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Greetings Skokie73.5! 

🤒 Fight flu: Register for October flu shot clinics beginning this Wednesday at 9 a.m.

✅ Last call: Take Skokie’s Community Survey by this Friday, September 6.

🗑️ Reminder: Review the Labor Day week refuse, recycling and yard waste pickup schedule.

Photo by Rich Cahan

This morning, ComEd joined Governor JB Pritzker in presenting Mayor Van Dusen and the Village with a $45,000 electric vehicle (EV) rebate check, helping to further electrify our municipal fleet. 

The rebate supported the Village’s purchase of six electric municipal fleet vehicles, and will help Skokie replace 15 more aging vehicles with EVs over the next year.

Why it’s important: Skokie’s Environmental Sustainability Plan sets a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions community-wide by 35 percent by 2030, and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. With transportation accounting for roughly one-third of all emissions in Skokie, the Village has made electrifying our vehicle fleet – and making it easier for residents to electrify theirs – a priority.

Governor Pritzker: “The Skokie fleet electrification program is a sterling example of what smart, sensible environmental policy looks like. Through their partnership with ComEd, the Village of Skokie is improving the quality of life for its residents, responsibly stewarding taxpayer dollars, and working to leave its residents' children and grandchildren a better and more sustainable environment. Paired with its already robust public transit infrastructure and ambitious carbon reduction goals, Skokie is an example to other municipalities of how to fight the climate crisis affordably and aggressively.”

As part of efforts to reduce noise and air pollution, the Village and Skokie Park District are offering landscaping companies, facilities and grounds managers, and public and private schools the opportunity to learn about and try out commercial-grade electric-powered landscaping equipment at our first-ever Field Day.

Spread the word: Tell your landscaping company or property manager to register for the free event, which will take place on Thursday, September 12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Gross Point Park, 9100 Gross Point Rd.

The Skokie Roots for Trees campaign aims to plant 1,000 trees in Skokie, supporting the Village’s Environmental Sustainability Plan goal of increasing tree canopy coverage Village-wide. Help us reach our goal!

Plant a tree in your yard this September or October. Take a photo and add it to the Skokie Tree Counter. You’ll be entered in a raffle for a $100 gift card.

Want a tree planted in your parkway? Fill out the Village’s Parkway Tree Request Form to let us know you’re interested. Limited quantities are available this fall, but additional inventory will be available in the spring.

The Village’s Health and Human Services Department has joined other public health departments in offering free opioid overdose kits to help combat the growing public health crisis. 

Where to find them: Kits are available on the lower level of Skokie Village Hall adjacent to the Health and Human Services Department customer service desk. You can pick up a kit – no questions asked – to use if and when you may need it.

At tonight’s Village Board meeting, a proclamation will be presented to officially recognize September as National Suicide Prevention Month.

Need support? Resources and Village programs are available to assist you and your loved ones.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a 24/7, free, and confidential support for people in distress. 

Look for the autumn edition of NewSkokie in your mailbox this week, or read the digital version online.

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