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March 17, 2026

Greetings Edgewater!

Here’s what you need to know this week:

☑️ It’s Election Day: Find your polling location. Polls are open until 7 p.m.

⛱️ Summer’s coming: Apply for summer seasonal positions with our Public Works, Fire, Environmental Health and Finance departments.

🚊 Transit alert: ComEd utility work will require CTA Yellow Line service disruption this weekend. Free shuttle buses will be available.

🏛️ Village News

A large group of people sit closely together indoors, with several individuals raising their hands. In the foreground, an arm is extended upward with fingers spread. A sign with the number 13 is visible among the crowd. The background shows many additional raised hands and a red-and-white wall.

The Village held a Community Visioning Session in October 2025 to help inform Strategic Plan goals and priorities. (Photo by Joerg Metzner Photography.)

Forward Focus: Skokie Approves Strategic Plan

On Monday evening, the Village Board approved the 2026-2029 Skokie Strategic Plan, which will help guide decision-making, priorities and resource allocation over the next several years.

Five goals: Informed by a comprehensive stakeholder engagement process, the Board identified five strategic goals:

Village Services for Now and the Future – The Village delivers efficient, reliable and forward-looking services that evolve with community needs.
Everyone Has a Place In Skokie – Everyone feels welcome and valued in Skokie. All community members have the ability to access Village services and engage with neighbors and decision makers.
Community Vibrancy – Skokie is an attractive, unique, safe and vibrant destination to live and visit.
Great Governance – Skokie is a model for great governance. The Village operates efficiently, ethically and transparently.
Financial Stewardship – Village services are supported by sustainable, diverse revenue streams. Cost containment and process improvements ensure responsible stewardship of Village resources.

Next steps: Village staff are developing step-by-step implementation plans to advance each initiative and achieve Plan outcomes. Stay tuned for new tools and updates that will allow you to track milestones and monitor progress along the way.

A series of pictures showing people enjoying a block party

Building Community, Block by Block

Congratulations to the 2025 Skokie Block Party of the Year Award recipients!

5100 Elm Street (Laramie to Le Claire)
8100 Long Avenue (Keeney to Reba)
7900 Keeler Avenue (Kirk to Oakton)

The Human Relations Commission presented the awards at Monday evening’s Village Board meeting, recognizing residents who go above and beyond to bring neighbors together to foster community connection.

By the numbers: 84 block parties were held in Skokie in 2025, with 10 nominated for Block Party of the Year.

Start planning: The Human Relations Commission will host its annual Block Party Forum on April 29 to help you jumpstart your 2026 gathering!

The 8100 block of Long Avenue was one of three Skokie blocks recognized with the 2025 Block Party of the Year award.

Board Briefs: March 16, 2026

At its meeting on March 16, the Village Board:

Recognized recipients of the 2025 Block Party of the Year Awards, presented by the Human Relations Commission
Celebrated the swearing in of new Skokie Police Officer Quinten Powell
Reviewed and finalized the Village’s Strategic Plan
Advanced a Plan Commission recommendation to grant a special use permit to operate 3941 Oakton St. as a not-for-profit community space for meetings, educational programming, cultural activities, services for senior citizens, and limited private events
Approved a planned development with 68 townhouse residences at 4600 Main St., the former site of Arie Crown Hebrew Day School

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

A tall outdoor warning siren mounted on a metal pole stands against an overcast gray sky. Below the siren, a pair of rectangular solar panels is attached to the pole at an angle. The scene is minimal, with no other objects or structures visible.

One of the Village’s newly installed outdoor warning sirens.

Outdoor Warning Siren Testing Underway

The Village’s contractor is testing each of Skokie’s nine upgraded outdoor emergency warning sirens this week.

What to expect: Siren testing at each location lasts approximately 15 seconds. If you’re in the area when a siren is being tested, you will hear a brief, audible siren tone as well as a voice message announcing the testing.

System improvements: Following the completion of testing and installation, the Village’s upgraded outdoor siren system will provide improved sound clarity, more consistent coverage, and broadcast clear voice messages with specific safety instructions in addition to traditional siren tones.

Regular monthly testing: Sirens will continue to be tested on the first Tuesday of every month at 10 a.m., and will now include a siren tone followed by a recorded voice message. Siren tones and messages may now be more audible, as coverage has been enhanced.

A wide aerial view shows an expansive suburban area with many houses, tree‑lined streets, and clusters of buildings. In the distance, a large city skyline rises along the horizon beneath thick, overcast clouds. The lighting is muted, giving the scene a dramatic, atmospheric look.

Deadline Approaching: Short-term Rental Registration

Do you operate an AirBnb, VRBO or other short-term rental (STR) in Skokie? The Village has established a pilot program to register and license STRs in Skokie.

Deadline approaching: If you currently operate a registered short-term rental in Skokie or are interested in operating an owner-occupied rental, you must submit an application by Wednesday, April 1, 2026.

🛍️ Business and Economic Vitality

A person in medical scrubs prepares to administer a vaccine to another person’s upper arm at a clinic. A table in the foreground holds medical supplies, including sanitizer and bandage strips.

Find Vintage Toys and Collectibles at Ka-Pow!

A new destination for collectors has arrived in Skokie! Ka-Pow Collectibles, located at 4921 Oakton St., is now open, offering a curated selection of vintage toys and nostalgic collectibles. Whether you’re a lifelong collector or just looking to rediscover a favorite piece of pop culture, Ka-Pow brings a fun, retro experience to the community.

See more photos on the Village’s Explore Skokie Instagram.

💊 Health and Human Services

A resident receives a flu shot at the Village’s fall clinic. (Photo by Joerg Metzner Photography.)

Accessible Care: Skokie Offers Free Community Health Clinics

Skokie Health and Human Services strives to make healthcare accessible for everyone.

WALK-IN WEDNESDAY VACCINE CLINIC, MARCH 18

Get free flu and COVID-19 vaccinations at Skokie Village Hall (lower level) on every Wednesday, 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., throughout March. No appointment needed.

STI POP-UP CLINIC, MARCH 23

In partnership with CALOR, Skokie Health and Human Services will offer free sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, treatment resources and safer sex kits at a pop-up clinic on Monday, March 23, 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at Village Hall (lower level). No appointment or insurance required.

🌱 Sustainability

Several large stacks of corrugated plastic yard signs are piled on a sidewalk outside a brick building.

Get Ready to Recycle Campaign Signs

You can drop off campaign signs for recycling at Skokie Public Works, 9050 Gross Point Rd., through Friday, April 10. Signs can be dropped off 24/7. Both signs and metal stands will be recycled, but please separate them.

A lush garden filled with tall green grasses, flowering plants, and winding paths is shown in the foreground. Behind the garden, a hedge-lined barrier stretches across the scene. Beyond that, a cluster of modern high‑rise buildings forms a prominent city skyline under an overcast sky.

Gardening for the Seasons: Lessons from Lurie Garden

Join the Skokie Beautification and Improvement Commission and Skokie Public Library for Gardening for the Seasons, an inspiring gardening program featuring Kathryn Deery, director of horticulture for Lurie Garden & Millennium Park. The free program will take place Tuesday, April 14 at 7 p.m. at Skokie Public Library.

What to expect: Drawing on the naturalistic plantings of Lurie Garden and the work of designer Piet Oudolf, this talk will explore seasonal gardening techniques and evolving approaches to garden design.

Reserve your spot: Registration is required. (Non-Library cardholders can call 847-673-7774 to register.)

Two bees hover near and land on bright yellow flowers, collecting nectar and pollen. The scene is close‑up, with the bees sharply in focus against a soft, blurred green background of leaves and foliage.

Skokie Joins the World's Largest Biodiversity Census!

Skokie’s Environmental Sustainability Plan calls for increasing native plants to support pollinators and provide stormwater benefits.

Help identify local species. This April 24–27, Go Green Skokie invites you to participate in the City Nature Challenge (CNC). All you need is a smartphone and a curious eye to photograph the wild plants, animals and fungi around you. Your observations using the iNaturalist app will become science-grade data that our community can use to track and protect our local ecosystems.

Want to get involved in this family-friendly community service opportunity? Sign up to choose your CNC role, join the March 23 kickoff event at Emily Oaks, or explore the self‑study guide (PDF) online.

You can also stop by Skokie’s Winter Market on Main on April 26 to grab a wildlife bingo card (PDF) and get tips from Go Green Skokie volunteers.

🏘️ In the Community

Spectators sit and stand along a curbside, watching a parade on a wide street. Some people hold small flags or take photos. Two vintage cars drive down the road, with trees, shops, and additional onlookers visible in the background under a cloudy sky.

Nominate 2026 4th of July Parade Grand Marshals

Who will lead Skokie’s 2026 4th of July Parade? Nominations are being accepted for this year’s Grand Marshals! Help us honor the heroes of our community by nominating a Military Grand Marshal or Community Grand Marshal who represents the very best of the Skokie spirit.

Nominations are open through April 30. Learn more and submit your nomination today!

📅 Community Calendar

PUBLIC MEETINGS

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

Economic Development Commission
March 18, 4:30 PM @ Conference Rooms D&E
Public Safety Commission
March 18, 7:00 PM @ Skokie Police Station
Plan Commission
March 19, 7:30 PM @ Council Chambers
Human Relations Commission
March 23, 6:30 PM @ Conference Rooms D&E
Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission
March 24, 7:00 PM @ Conference Rooms D&E

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5127 Oakton St. | Skokie, IL 60077 US

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