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October 14, 2025

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Greetings Skokie73.5! 

Here’s what you need to know this week:

👥 Know your rights: Skokie is a welcoming community, committed to serving all who call Skokie home. Review immigrant rights, resources and where to find help. 

💉 Flu shots: Get your free flu shot at the Village’s clinic this Thursday at Oakton Community Center.

🍂 Leaf collection: Skokie Public Works makes fall cleanup a breeze! Review guidelines for leaf collection and yard waste pickup.

At last week’s Village Board meeting, the Skokie Health and Human Services Department provided an update on the Village’s rat control efforts.

The headline: Active rat control cases are trending downward since peaking in February 2024, but it will take a sustained community-wide effort to continue making progress.

What’s worked: The Village has added internal and contractual resources, enhanced public education, and taken a coordinated, multi-department approach to rat control.

What’s happening this month: It’s “Ratober” – at least in the Village’s Building and Inspection Services Division. Village staff will be conducting seasonal property inspections focused on rat hot spot areas, prioritizing conditions that contribute to rat activity, and identifying burrows for treatment.

What you can do: Your partnership is essential to achieving a rat-free Skokie.

Spread the word: Share this message with your neighbors. Make your property – and your block – inhospitable to rats.

Explore volunteer opportunities with 25+ Skokie-serving organizations at Volunteer Palooza this Sunday, October 19, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., at Oakton College (Skokie Campus). Drop in and find the perfect fit for you!

Families with children are also invited to participate in a hands-on activity to benefit a local nonprofit organization.

The Skokie Fine Arts Commission continues to accept nominations for the 2025 Award for Artistic Excellence. The deadline for submissions is Friday, October 31.

About the award: Each year, one individual and one organization are honored for exceptional contributions to the visual, performing, musical or literary arts. Selection is based on community visibility, artistic talent, impact, recognition and overall excellence.

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At the October 9, 2025 Village Board meeting

Watch a recording of the Village Board meeting for a discussion of these items and more.

Downtown Skokie Trick-or-Treat event. (Photo by Rich Cahan.)

TRUNK OR TREAT AT OAKTON COLLEGE, OCTOBER 17

Join the Skokie Police Department at Oakton College’s Trunk or Treat event this Friday, October 17, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Enjoy games, activities, treats, music and more!

HAUNTED HERITAGE CEMETERY WALK, OCTOBER 25

Explore the early days of Skokie with a haunted heritage cemetery walk on Saturday, October 25, starting at 10 a.m. 

DOWNTOWN TRICK-OR-TREAT, OCTOBER 25

Ghosts, goblins and ghouls of all ages…join us on Saturday, October 25, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., for a free afternoon of costumes, candy, music and spooky fun at the annual Downtown Skokie Trick-or-Treat. 

TRICK-OR-TREAT AT THE SKOKIE FARMERS' MARKET, OCTOBER 26

Don’t miss one of our favorite farmers’ markets of the season on Sunday, October 26! Shop in costume and pick up fresh produce – and treats – from your favorite vendors. Subscribe to the Skokie Farmers’ Market weekly eNewsletter for details.

HALLOWEEN TRICK-OR-TREAT, OCTOBER 31

Official Skokie trick-or-treat hours are 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, October 31. Participating homes are encouraged to turn their porch light on. Homes that do not wish to participate are encouraged to turn their porch lights off.

Lefty’s Righteous Bagels is now serving up its hype-worthy wood-fired bagels, pizza bialys, sandwiches and more at Sketchbook Brewing in Skokie!

Explore LRB: Check out LRB’s mouthwatering offerings on the Village’s Explore Skokie Instagram and Facebook.  

Quirky, eccentric…extraordinary! Find collectible items – think iconic movie props, film projectors turned into lamps, celebrity clothing and more – at Chez Lu’s Extraordinary Finds, 4854 Oakton St., in Downtown Skokie.

A look inside: Owner Midge “Cheez” Ripoli gave WGN’s Spotlight Chicago a sneak peek at some of the unique items for sale.

Has your property tax bill gone up significantly in recent years? You may qualify for help through the Cook County Homeowner Relief Fund, a new $15 million program offering one-time $1,000 payments to eligible homeowners. Applications will be accepted through Friday, October 31.

Medicare costs and coverage are changing next year. During Open Enrollment (October 15 through December 7), you can review and change your Medicare Advantage or drug plan. 

Get guidance: A Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) counselor can help compare plans and find the best fit for 2026. Call Skokie Health and Human Services at 847-933-8252 to schedule your SHIP appointment today!

Pace is holding public hearings on its 2026 budget. View the schedule and how you can provide your feedback.

Photo by Joerg Metzner Photography.

Support the arts in Skokie at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts Foundation’s annual benefit on Saturday, November 8. 

PUBLIC MEETINGS

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