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October 22, 2024

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Greetings Skokie73.5! 

🍁 Fall leaf collection begins this week. Follow these guidelines to make leaf collection a breeze.

☠️ It’s National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week. These free webinars can help you mitigate potential lead exposure at home, including from lead-based paint.

🎨 The Skokie Art Spot pop-up gallery will be open for its final weekend this Friday through Sunday. Don’t miss it!

On Monday evening, the Village Seal Committee shared an update with the Village Board regarding the development of a new Village seal. The Committee’s report included the presentation of a recommended design, created by Skokie artist and resident Mary Fedorowski, which includes the following elements:

Highlight reel: Watch a short video summarizing the process to date as well as the inspiration for the design. 

Share your input: Take a brief survey to share your input on the process and the presented design by Monday, November 4. The Village Seal Committee will review survey responses and return to the Village Board at a later date with a final seal design for codification.

Photo by Rich Cahan.

Get a jump start on Halloween at the Downtown Skokie Trick-or-Treat this Saturday, October 26, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., at Oakton Street and Lincoln Avenue! The free event will feature treats from local businesses and organizations, live DJ music, activity stations and more.

Farmers’ Market: Trick-or-Treat at the Skokie Farmers’ Market this Sunday, October 27. Eat, shop and listen to great music along the way!

The big day: Official Skokie trick-or-treat hours are Thursday, October 31, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Explore more Halloween events in Skokie.

Eager to cast your ballot? Early voting for the November 5 General Election is underway.

Locations: View a list of early voting locations, including Skokie Courthouse and Oakton College.

Term limits referendum: In July, the Skokie Village Board passed a resolution to place a referendum concerning the imposition of term limits for Skokie elected officials on the November 5 General Election ballot. Learn about the term limits referendum.

Pictured: Don Julio Cafe, 7919 Lincoln Ave.

On Monday evening, the Village Board approved changes to the Village Code to expedite the process for restaurants seeking an outdoor dining permit.

Expanding opportunities: Outdoor dining is now a permitted use in all commercial and mixed-use zoning districts, shortening the review and approval process. 

Maintaining standards: All establishments must still secure an outdoor dining permit and are subject to the Village’s outdoor dining regulations.

On Monday evening, plans for two new restaurants at Touhy and Linder Avenues were presented to the Village Board.

CAVA: Fast casual restaurant CAVA is inspired by its Mediterranean roots, offering bowls, salads and pitas.

First Watch: Brunch restaurant First Watch offers a rotating seasonal menu inspired by the position of the sun.

Photo: 2023-2024 Cultural Arts Grant recipient Xilin North Shore Chinese School.

The Skokie Fine Arts Commission is accepting Cultural Arts Grant program applications through Thursday, October 31 at 5 p.m. Grants of up to $750 are available to schools and up to $2,000 are available to not-for-profit organizations to help support arts programming. Apply now. 

Who Can Apply

As cannabis use becomes more prevalent, the Skokie Board of Health and Skokie Health and Human Services Department are providing resources to keep you safe and informed.

Health guide: Review the cannabis use health guide (PDF) for practical tips to reduce risks.

Secure storage: Those 21 years and older can pick up a free, lockable cannabis storage bag from the Health and Human Services Department, located on the lower level of Village Hall, 5127 Oakton St. Limited quantity available. 

Pertussis, or Whooping Cough, is on the rise in the U.S. and in Skokie. Infants, pregnant people, and individuals with certain medical conditions are at greatest risk. Learn more about symptoms and treatment.

Need a COVID-19 or flu vaccine? 

Give your pumpkins and jack-o'-lanterns an afterlife as compost at Skokie’s Pumpkin Smash! 

Help smash our record: Bring pumpkins to the northwest corner of Oakton Street and Floral Avenue on Sunday, November 3, from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., across the street from the Skokie Farmers' Market. Last year, 3.25 tons of pumpkins were composted.

Pictured (from left): Deputy Chief Nicholas Eschner, Mayor George Van Dusen, Firefighter Jacob Karkoszka, Firefighter Rey Galsim, Firefighter Jack Logan, and Chief Jeff Hoeflich.

Three new Skokie firefighters were sworn in at Monday evening’s Village Board meeting. Welcome to Jacob Karkoszka, Jack Logan and Rey Galsim!

Join the Skokie Telecommunications and Technology (STAT) Commission for a free seminar on fraud and cybersecurity on Thursday, November 7, 7 p.m. at Skokie Police Headquarters, 7300 Niles Center Rd. 

What to expect: Hear from an experienced information security professional and Skokie Police officers. Materials covered will include an intro to modern information security and digital privacy, how to protect yourself online, and how and when to contact police if you believe you've been a victim of cybercrime. Register in advance.

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