"SAVE A HOME TOUR" HELPING RESIDENTS AVOID FORECLOSURE

Mayor Deyon Dean and Cook County Board President Todd Stroger invite you to attend the "Save a Home Tour" on Friday, January 8, 2010 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM at the Thornton Township Senior, Youth, & Family Center located at 14325 S. Halsted. This program, presented by the Cook County Department of Housing and Industry Professionals, will provided valuable information about foreclosure relief, grants, loans, and other homlessness prevention resources.

Attendees will have an opportunity to learn from the experts on topics such as:

• How to modify your mortgage.
• Borrowing in a tough economy
• Understanding your mortgage documentation
• Understanding the foreclosure process
• Knowing your rights
• Foreclosure mediation
• Techniques for saving your home
• Restructuring your mortgage
• How to participate in Cook County's loan and grant programs
• Job opportunities
• Community building

Learn the tools to save your home from foreclosure today! For more information on County Foreclosure Prevention Programs, please visit Cook County's website.

CEDA WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM COMING TO RIVERDALE!

On January 9, 2010 the Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County, Inc. (CEDA) in assistance with Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will hold an Energy Awareness Fair at Patton School, located at 13700 S. Stewart, from 10:00 am - 2:00 PM. The fair will focus primarily on the weatherization program.

The LIHEAP is designed to assist eligible low-income households pay for winter energy services, in the form of one-time payments to utility companies that are applied directly to the household’s energy bills. The amount of the payment is determined by income, household size, fuel type and geographic location.

CEDA Weatherization is a year-round program using state-of-the-art technology to make homes more energy-efficient for qualifying low-income clients in Chicago and suburban Cook County. Weatherization provides safety and health equipment, repairs or replaces heating systems, seals air bypasses and other drafty areas, increases attic, wall, basement, and crawl space insulation. These measures will save energy for homeowners and keep homes warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

For more information or to find out if your household qualifies, please contact CEDA at 708/339-3610 or visit CEDA on the web at www.cedaorg.net.

 

COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM IN NEED OF DONATIONS

The Riverdale Juvenile Justice Community Service Program is accepting donations for snow removal materials to be used for performing winter work throughout the community. If residents have shovels, brooms, gloves, or any other items for winter clean-up, your assistance would be greatly appreciated! We are also looking for items to perform clean-up in the fall and spring. These items may include rakes, sheers, lawnmowers, etc.

Volunteers are always welcome as well! If you would like to donate or volunteer, please contact Tanya Watkins at 708/841-2006. Also, if you are or know anyone who is elderly and would like to join our list of service homes, please contact the Riverdale Resource Center at 708/841-7054 or send an email to twatkins@villageofriverdale.org. Please note that we may not get to every home, but we sure will try!

 

NEW VILLAGE SEAL REVEALED!

The Village of Riverdale has officially adopted a new village seal. Although we have indeed seen a century of pride it is now time to usher in a new era. The new seal highlights some of Riverdale's most recognizable attributes, its lush greenery and beautiful marina front. In the coming years, we would like to see these aspects and other notable points of interest in Riverdale revitalized. Along with the new seal, we have also updated our motto. We are "a Village with a Vision." We salute the past and look with hope in our eyes towards a bright future!

 

 

NEW ORDINANCE PASSED REGARDING TRASH CONTAINERS

Per Ordinance 2009-05, passed August 11, 2009, all trash containers for single and two-family dwellings "shall not be left in alleys except during designated times for collection. At all other times, collection containers shall be removed for the alley lot line and kept on private property out of sight from the alleyway." In other words, trash containers must be kept in the backyard and pulled out into the alley on your trash-pickup day. At the end of the day, the trash container is to be returned to the backyard.

 

SOUTH CITY JAGUARS HONORED BY MAYOR DEAN

The South City Jaguars were honored at Riverdale City Hall to a packed house of supporters and well-wishers. The team is composed of young people ranging from ages 5 to 14 years old. Headed by Ms. Dee and Coach Verse, the group practices from Wednesday through Friday and includes several cheerleading teams and more than twenty-five volunteers. During the meeting at the Village Hall, Mayor Dean read a proclamation acknowledging the contributions of the Jaguars. He also announced the contributions by local business which included a $200 donation from Riverdale, $200 from ABC Auto Parts, and donations from several other local businesses. To learn more about the South City Jaguars, please visit their website at www.southcityjaguars.com.

 

PARKING CONTRARY TO CURB = $25.00 FINE!

Yes, you read it right. Parking with your driver's side wheels to the curb could earn you a $25.00 parking ticket. Riverdale Village Ordinance #10.60.080 states:

No vehicle shall be parked with the left side of such vehicle next to the curb, except on one way streets on which parking is permitted on the left side of the street. It is unlawful to stand or park any vehicle in a street other than parallel with the curb and with the two right wheels of the vehicle within twelve inches of the regularly established curbline, except that upon those streets that have been marked for angle parking, vehicles shall be parked at the angle to the curb indicated by such marks.

In plain and simple English, all cars should be parked with the flow of traffic. Anyone who is found in violation of this ordinance will be fined.

 

MAYOR DEAN CALLS FOR ACTION ON 138TH STREET DRAIN REPAIR

Residents have called and complained and Mayor Deyon Dean has taken these complaints very seriously regarding the drain problems plaguing 138th Street near the Riverdale Metra Station. “Residents were being splashed; water was was spilling out into the streets. This had become a serious problem,” stated Village Clerk, Deborah Smiley, regarding the constant water damage.

This is why on Monday, June 15th, Mayor Dean along with Public Works Director, Don Blacher, placed a call to Todd Stroger’s office asking that they take care of the matter as soon as possible. By that weekend, Cook County had a crew out to repair the problem that had been troubling 138th Street for years. “Riverdale is important and our residents are important,” remarked Mayor Dean, “This may be a small step, but this is progress. And I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure our voices are heard.”

 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE RIVERDALE BEAUTIFICATION TEAM!

Mayor Deyon Dean is seeking a few good Riverdale residents to volunteer their time to maintain the grounds of the Village. We are asking for a few men and women to come on board and assist the Village in organizing a group of Village "Grounds-Keepers." This project starts immediately! Anyone interested in volunteering should contact the Village Clerk, Deborah Smiley, at 708/841-9587.

It's everyone's responsibility to keep their neighborhood and beautiful and safe place to live!

 

RIVERDALE POLICE CRACKING DOWN ON CURFEW BREAKERS

Summer time is here and now it is more important than ever for parents to keep a watchful-eye over their children. Studies show that incidents of violent crimes increase during the late evening and early morning and the Village of Riverdale takes these startling statistics very seriously. This is why the Riverdale Police Department is strongly enforcing local curfew laws to protect our most precious commodities.

Local curfew laws state that children under 17 years of age should be home (or in a safe location out of view of the public)...

• Fridays and Saturdays between 11:00 pm and 6:00 am
• Sunday - Thursday between 10:30 pm and 6:00 am

Violators and/or their legal guardians will be subject to fines if local curfew laws are broken.

You can read the Riverdale Ordinance regarding curfew in its entirety by clicking here.

 

“REMEMBERING WHEN” FIRE & FALL SENIOR PROGRAM

"Remembering When" is now starting its Fire & Fall Senior Program. This program is sponsored by the Fire Department Public Education Division to instruct older residents on fire and home safety. To qualify you must be a Riverdale resident, 50 years of age or older. For more information, please contact Chris Van Dyke at 708/849-2122.