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River Forest Township
 

River Forest Township
Senior News

 

January 2026

 

Hi everyone,

Happy New Year! Here is your Township Senior News for January 2026, including our programming with the River Forest Public Library. If you have any questions, please respond to this email or call 708-366-2029 x 13.

What programming would like to see at the Community Center?Please take this survey if you haven’t already. (The survey will be open through January 10)

 

Township Programming at River Forest Civic Center (8020 Madison St.):

 

Tuesdays: 3:00-5:00 p.m.: Beginning Chess in room 202

Thursdays: 1:00-3:00 p.m.: Mahjong in room 202

Pickleball - Our next class will be January 23 from 1:00- 3:00 p.m. (upcoming classes will be January 23, February 25 (Wednesday)*, March 20 and April 10). Learn more here. Please reach out to Betsy at seniors@riverforesttownship.org to register. * Note: February’s date has changed (February 25 is the new date- it falls on a Wednesday)

Dominoes is on hold until we can find an instructor. (If you are skilled at Dominoes and are willing to help teach new players, please reach out to me.)

Zumba is temporarily on hold for the winter.

Indoor Walking Track coming soon.

If there is other programming you would like to see the township provide, please fill out above questionnaire.

 

Other Township News:

 

Benefits and SHIP Counseling: See what benefits (i.e. RideFree Program, license plate discount, Medicaid and more) you may be eligible for by calling 708-383-8060. Ask to schedule an appointment with a Benefits Counselor. Appointments will take place at the Oak Park Township Senior Services office (130 S. Oak Park Ave.) or over the phone. Learn about the SHIP (Senior Health Insurance Program) here.

Oak Park Township Senior Services offers programming for River Forest residents at the Senior Center at 130 S. Oak Park Ave. See their calendar online here. (ie. plarning, art classes, educational talks/workshops, line dancing). Call the activities hotline at (708) 725-9129 to check availability and to register. Oak Park/River Forest Township January- March Newsletter (coming soon): Click here for the program calendar and more.

North West Housing Partnership, our partner for the Home Repair and CAPABLE/ OAHMP programs, is able to help you age in place or stay in your home longer. Programs are for older adults of all income levels. Call (847) 969-0561 if you have small repairs that need to be done around your home or if you would like a home safety assessment.

Oak Park and River Forest Township Senior Services is seeking volunteers for Meal Delivery. Contact Mercedes Nash, Nutrition Site Supervisor at 708- 383-8060 x 134 or mnash@oakparktownship.org to learn more. They are also looking for Money Management Volunteers. See money management brochure here. Call 708-383-8060.

Other Information:

The Kehrein Center for the Arts invites friends of River Forest Township to A Conversation and Concert with Demarre McGill on January 23 from 7:00- 8:30 pm. Learn more here.

Snow removal Services from the Village: If you are eligible for the Senior Freeze, fill out this form here or reach out to lmasella@vrf.us Also, here is a list of licensed snow removal companies from the village website here.

 

River Forest Township Programming with River Forest Public Library: 

 

Programming is in the Barbara Hall Meeting Room at the Library (735 Lathrop Ave.) unless otherwise noted.
(No need to register, except for yoga and special events where you must register online or call the library at 708-366-5205) See Calendar here.

January 5 from 10:00-11:00 a.m.: Coffee Monday with Beyond Hunger and Music and Potlucks.


January 10 from 2:00- 3:00 p.m.: Chair Yoga. Register here.


January 11 from 2:00-3:30 p.m.: Local History: Oak Park’s 1950s Doomsday Cult. Learn about “The Seekers” who waited for the end of the world to come on Christmas Eve, 1954. (See calendar above for more details).

January 16 from 1:00-3:30 p.m.: Film Lover Fridays with Jim Jacob. The film will be The Thing (produced by Howard Hawks)

January 18 from 2:00- 3:00 p.m.: Winter Concert: Sunflower Chamber Orchestra. Featuring youth from 3rd- 12th grade.

January 29 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.: Silent Reading Party. Come to a happy hour for introverts. Learn more and register here.

Note: If you are interested in February’s Craft and Chat, remember to sign up as soon as registration opens in January (just about one month before) See details here.

Other Library Events:

January 13 from 7:00- 8:00 p.m.: Illinois Libraries present Bringing History to Life with Jonathan Eig. Learn more and register here.

January 17 form 10:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.: Community Blood Drive. Call the library to register for a spot.

January 25 from 2:00-4:30 p.m.: Global Film Forum featuring Petite Maman (France)

Note: The library also has book clubs if you are interested (as does Oak Park Township and the Lifelong Learning program through the Park District of Oak Park) Don't forget you can borrow a "hotspot" from your local library, so you can get access to wi-fi when needed. (i.e. if you are traveling or don't have wi-fi at home this will give you access). Call your library for more information.

 

Community Connect

 

If you want to hear about other events/programs happening outside of the River Forest Township programming, and/or if you want to share information about upcoming events in River Forest or surrounding communities, request Community Connect Mail to be delivered to your in-box. This is also a great way to connect with others with similar interests. Click this link or email communityconnectmail@gmail.com and share this information with anyone you think may want to receive Community Connect.

 

Fraud/Scam Information

 

Be careful of scammers or people trying to take advantage of you, whether they call or come to your door, including utility scammers. If you have any concerns, call your local police department and the Illinois Attorney General's Senior Citizen Consumer Fraud Helpline at 1-800-243-5377.

Frauds and Scams to watch out for: Click here.

See Crime Prevention Fraud/Scam Tips from the River Forest Police Department here.

Fraud tips from Byline Bank here.

Another resource is the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline: 877-908-3360 a toll-free service available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Visit AARP's webpage here).

The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) provides help with utility bills. If you have any concerns about your bills, call 1-800-669-5556; Call 1-855-433-2700 for a Free Home Energy Assessment: An Energy Advisor will do a walk-through of your home and provide you with products to make your home more efficient.

 

Call me with any questions, concerns or suggestions.

Betsy Burton Kelly

Senior Outreach Coordinator

River Forest Township

bkelly.rftownship@gmail.com

(708) 366-2029 x13

River Forest Township Senior Services

 
River Forest Township

River Forest Township
8020 Madison St.
River Forest
United States

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