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February 17, 2026

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Greetings Skokie73.5! 

Here’s what you need to know this week:

👷 Plan ahead: Building permit applications will be unavailable February 25 at noon through March 2 as the Village upgrades to a cloud-based system.

🗳 Cast your ballot: The Gubernatorial Primary Election is March 17. Learn about ways to vote, including early voting, election day voting and vote by mail.

🚩 Flag designs: There’s still time to provide your input on Skokie flag finalists.

Starting March 1, the speed limit on most residential streets in Skokie will be reduced from 30 to 25 miles per hour (mph). This change, approved by the Village Board last summer, is part of a broader effort to create safer, more livable neighborhoods.

What streets are impacted: The 25 mph limit applies to most residential streets. It does not apply to State- or County-owned roadways (PDF), streets already posted at 20 mph, or select streets with unique traffic considerations.

Sign swap: Existing 30 mph speed limit signs on residential streets are being replaced with 25 mph signs. In addition, gateway signs at key entry points into Skokie will communicate the Village-wide speed limit unless posted otherwise. 

Enforcement: Skokie Police will focus on education and voluntary compliance during the initial rollout. Targeted enforcement will follow, focusing on locations where speeding has historically been a concern. 

Skokie Environmental Health Officer Derek Walker baits a rat burrow.

Winter is one of the most effective times for rat control, and Village staff have taken advantage of the cold weather we experienced for much of this season to target active burrows.

Operation Freeze and Fill: In January, staff and licensed contractors used smoke devices to treat active burrows and applied a sand and gravel mixture with water to freeze rats out. This disrupts nesting areas and helps prevent population increases.

Next up – Operation B.A.G.I.T.: Properly managing trash is key to depriving rats of food. The Village will be enhancing enforcement of trash storage requirements, particularly in areas experiencing high rat activity. 

Practice B.A.G.I.T.

Your cooperation is key to reducing rat activity.

Skokie community flu shot clinic. (Photo by Joerg Metzner Photography)

Protect yourself from respiratory illnesses! Skokie Health and Human Services (SHHS) continues to offer free flu and COVID-19 shots for Skokie residents every Wednesday this February.

No appointment is needed. Stop by VIllage Hall (lower level), 5127 Oakton St., from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., on Wednesdays. For appointments outside of these hours, call 847-933-8252.

Young Hearts for Life (YH4L) is coming to Niles North High School on Thursday, April 23 to offer EKG screenings to participating students. The goal is to identify students who are at risk for the conditions that lead to Sudden Cardiac Death. Last year, more than 1,000 students were screened as part of YH4L’s event at Niles West!

Want to lend a hand? Skokie Health and Human Services encourages you to sign up to volunteer. 

Skokie Health and Human Services will host a Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Testing Pop-up Clinic in partnership with Howard Brown Health on Monday, February 23, from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. 

Questions? Please call 847-933-8252.

The Winter Market on Main returns this Sunday, February 22, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at 4051 and 4022 Main St.!

Photo op to relish: This Sunday only, snap a selfie with the Winter Market’s special guest, the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile!

Then, stick around to enjoy live music and shop local produce and goods from your favorite Winter Market vendors. See you Sunday!

2025 Artist Networking Event (Photo by Rich Cahan)

Are you a local creative? Stop by our Artist Meetup this Friday, February 20, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at The Storefront, 4051 Main St.!

What to expect: This casual evening is open to all creative types—musicians, visual artists, dancers, theatre-makers, filmmakers and more. Stop by to:

The Skokie Fine Arts Commission is now accepting applications for the newly reimagined Skokie Arts Grant, a competitive funding opportunity that supports new and innovative fine arts programming in Skokie. 

A single grant of up to $5,000 will be awarded to help launch creative projects that strengthen cultural vitality, foster community engagement, and bring fresh experiences to Skokie residents. Learn more and apply by April 1.

Observed by Muslims worldwide, Ramadan begins today, February 17, and continues through March 19.

Reminder: There may be limited on-street parking availability during peak worship times near mosques in Skokie during the 30-day holiday.

February is Black History Month! The Village's Human Relations Commission encourages you to celebrate by participating in upcoming YWCA Evanston/North Shore events and browsing book and music lists curated by Skokie Public Library.

The Village’s electric aggregation program has supported the conversion of more than 2,000 streetlights to LEDs, saving money and reducing emissions.

About 2,000 Skokie residents and businesses will receive a letter this week related to the Village’s electric aggregation program with MC Squared Services. This program helps fund local sustainability projects—like upgrading Skokie streetlights to energy-saving LED lights—at no extra cost to participants.

Why did you get a letter? MC Squared Services periodically reviews accounts to ensure they still contribute to the grant program. This includes checking for new accounts and reassessing existing ones based on changing energy use.

What do you need to do?

You may receive a follow-up letter from ComEd confirming any changes.

Learn more: Visit the Village’s Electric Aggregation webpage for full details. This program never goes door-to-door.

Composting is one of the easiest ways to reduce methane emissions and fight climate change—right from your kitchen. When food scraps and yard waste are composted, they stay out of landfills and become healthy soil.

Free Drop-Off Sites: You can compost for free at Village drop-off sites. Collect food scraps at home and bring them to a nearby location. 

Backyard Composting + $25 Rebate: If you buy an approved backyard compost bin, the Village offers a $25 rebate. 

Curbside Compost Service: Choose subscription container-swap service from:

Learn more about these three convenient composting options in Skokie.

Skokie Clean Green litter pickup volunteers.

As the snow melts away, it’s not just grass making a comeback — litter is popping up, too.

Get an early start on spring cleaning – gather your group and help keep our community clean through the Village’s Clean Green litter pickup program. Litter kits and safety vests are provided.

EVENTS

PUBLIC MEETINGS

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