The last three years, the Village of Norridge honored our hometown heroes during the months of May through August on our Facebook page. This year, we will once again be showcasing our Veterans and active Military Members each Tuesday beginning in May. If you would like your hero spotlighted, please email a photo, branch of service, years of services, war or conflict served in, or any other information which you would like us to share with the Community. Emails should be sent to Joanna Skupien at jskupien@villageofnorridge.com by April 30th. Prior submissions will once again be honored this year, and do not need to be resubmitted.

Please feel free to contact Joanna at the above email if you want to update last year’s submission or have any questions.

We all knew the mild weather couldn’t last forever, and now that we have the first measurable snow fall under our belts, many questions have been asked about the two different snow route designations and the regulations regarding them.

Odd/Even snow route area

The Historic section of the Village, East of Harlem Avenue, the 8200 & 8300 blocks of Foster Avenue, and some streets near Leigh School are located in the odd/even snow route area. Simply put, from Wednesday through Sunday, after two inches of snow has fallen, there is no parking from 8:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. on the side of the street with even addresses on even calendar dates and no parking on the side of the street with odd street addresses on odd calendar dates. These restrictions will remain in effect until the snow event is over and snow removal is completed.

Why the change? Like many municipalities, the odd/even snow removal restrictions are in place to aid Public Works in removing the snow quicker and more efficiently.

Why Wednesday – Sunday only? Year round street maintenance restriction days in the historic section are Mondays and Tuesdays. You are already moving your cars for these days. NOTE: THE MAJORITY OF THIS CHANGE AFFECTS THE HISTORIC SECTION AND EAST OF HARLEM. IF YOU ARE IN THE AREA NEAR LEIGH SCHOOL THAT IS AFFECTED, YOUR STREET MAINTENANCE DAYS ARE WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY.

Where can I park my car? You may park your car on the opposite side of the street, or as you do on your street maintenance day.

Designated snow route areas

This area, where houses have driveways, the snow route restrictions have not changed. Please utilize your driveways, and move all cars off the street, after two inches of snow has fallen, until the snow event is over and snow removal is completed. By moving your cars, the plows can remove the snow fall before it freezes, which will eliminate any boulders being thrown back onto driveway aprons on street maintenance days.

As a reminder, once the two inch threshold has been reached, the Village immediately activates the snow route hot line (708-583-5775), our website, GovDelivery and our social media pages.

You can find the maps for the two snow route areas, as well as any updated information on our home page, under the tab “Snow Route Maps & Information.

If you are interested in having your name added to our 2022-2023 Property Maintenance list, or if you would like to receive a copy of the list, please contact Patty Spain at 708-453-0800 or at pspain@villageofnorridge.com. You may also obtain a list on our website at www.villageofnorridge.com, or on our Facebook page. All financial arrangements are made between the parties.

PLEASE NOTE: The list is subject to change. For the most current list, please check our website and Facebook page periodically.

Snow on your apron and driveway An unavoidable, and unfortunate, consequence of municipal snow removal operations is when snow from the street ends up at the end of your apron or driveway. We understand the frustration this may cause. Here are some tips and reminders to help avoid headaches and backaches.

• Clear about 10 feet of snow from the right side of your driveway (as you are facing it).
• Pile the snow to the left of your driveway-downstream of plowing operations.
• Remember, shoveling or blowing snow from your driveway onto the street is prohibited, and can also create hazardous conditions for drivers.
• If you hire a snow removal service for sidewalks, driveways and parking lots, please make sure to talk with your contractor to ensure that snow is placed on private property and not on the right of way.

It really isn’t that hard. Though this quote pertains to so much more then snow removal, we can all remember a time when neighbors would be out in droves helping each other to clear the sidewalks and driveways of snow. Listed below are a few reminders of ways to be kind when the snow falls:
• Clear the sidewalks adjacent to your property of snow as soon as possible. Landlords are responsible for keeping sidewalks, parking lots and all common areas, including open stairwells, free from hazardous conditions at all times.

• When clearing the snow from your property, please do not blow it back into the street. Doing so can create hazardous conditions for cars. If you hire a snow removal service, please make sure they place all snow on private property and not on the right of way.

• The #1 complaint to the Village Hall is frustrated residents who have moved their car, cleared the snow from their apron or driveway, and then snow from the neighbor who didn’t move their car is deposited back onto their clean driveway. Be a good neighbor and aid with snow removal by following the Village’s snow routes and move your car. It will also save you from receiving a ticket.

• Residents are encouraged to help the Norwood Park Fire Department by shoveling out the fire hydrants. Shoveling a three-foot perimeter around a hydrant, and a path to the hydrant from the street, will allow quick access in the event of an emergency.

• Be a good neighbor by snow blowing, or shoveling your neighbors driveway and sidewalk. They may surprise you and clear your snow the next time. Check on your elderly or homebound neighbor.

• Thank a snow plow driver. They are working diligently to ensure that our streets are cleared, curb to curb of snow for our community, only to go home and have to shovel their own sidewalk and driveway.

Working together as neighbors and as a community, will help make our roads and sidewalks safe for all, and you may even have a little fun doing so.

Pictured to the right is a storm drain at an intersection.  Drainage is one of the reasons snow on corners is pushed up.  If the snow at corners is not pushed up, melting snow will create flooding and icy conditions, if the temperatures drop below freezing.

If you have one in front of your property, or in the vicinity of your property, it would be a great help if residents could check the area and keep it clear of snow, ice, leaves and debris to help minimize flooding.  If you are unable to clear the drain, but observe it is blocked, especially if you see water starting to pool, please contact the Village Hall.

No one individual or agency working alone can prevent crime. It takes police and citizens working in partnership. The Norridge Police Department community policing strategy provides many ways for the police and communities to work together to prevent crime and build safer neighborhoods.

One of the most important things you can do is to know who belongs in your neighborhood and be alert in protecting not only your home, but your neighbors' as well. Report any suspicious persons immediately to 9-1-1. In addition, don’t enter your home if it looks like it’s been illegally entered. Leave the premises and call the police.

Ruse Entry Burglary Prevention Tips

Ruse entry burglaries or “distraction burglaries” are an attempt to enter someone’s house through deception, usually with the intent to steal valuables or cash money kept in a house. Senior citizens are often targeted by these groups during daylight hours. Offenders usually will pose as outside workers, such as surveyors, utility company workers, tree trimmers or city water department employees to get homeowners outside and lure them away from the front entrance. Once the homeowner is outside the home or isolated to a particular area of the home, another offender will sneak inside to snatch small items like jewelry or cash.

Protect yourself from ruse entry burglaries with these tips:

• If you’re not sure who is at your door, don’t open it.

• Check the identity of the person by calling the company they are purporting to be from. Do not use any telephone numbers provided by the individual, though. Find the company's number online, on a utility bill or through other means.

•Many utility service providers will call on the phone prior to arriving at your home. In many cases, the caller will be the technician who will be arriving. Ask them for their name ahead of time.

•Safeguard valuable items and documents in a safe or safe deposit box.

•Keep your doors and windows locked at all times.

• If somebody shows up at your home asking for help or needing to make a phone call, assist them through a closed door or call a friend or neighbor to come and assist.

When to call 9-1-1:

• If you are suspicious or it just doesn’t “feel” right.

• If someone forces entry or enters your home without permission.

• If you notice valuables or money have gone missing shortly after someone has visited.

• Whenever you think a crime has been, or is about to be committed.

Additional Prevention Tips

Keep doors, windows and garage doors locked even when at home. Patrol officers report hundreds of open garage doors each month during the evening hours.

• Never leave a house key in an obvious place such as in a mailbox or under plants or doormats.

• Don't tell a stranger that your neighbor is not home or volunteer any personal information about your neighbor.

• Do not post on any social networking sites that you are going out of town.

• While traveling, keep your home looking lived-in by having the grass cut, mail and newspapers picked up, and lights turned on and off with timers.

• Know who belongs in your neighborhood and be alert in protecting not only your home, but your neighbors’ as well. Report any suspicious persons, vehicles or activity immediately to 9-1-1.

• Report all unusual activities and unrecognized cars circling the area. The thieves that are targeting our area are scouting the neighborhood and observing people as they are leaving their house to ensure that there is no one at the house when they break-in. Be vigilant.

• Discuss the importance of home security with everyone. It only takes one person to forget to lock a door or window.

• The best place to keep important items safe is in a safety deposit box in the bank. Keeping too much jewelry and a lot of cash at home is not only impractical, but also makes you a target for a burglary.

First Place

The Hussey Family

8236 W. Agatite

Third Place

The Monno Family

4445 N. Overhill

Judge's Choice

The Bertolli Family

4850 N. Pittsburgh

Judge's Choice

The Yeshchenko Family

5001 N. Pittsburgh

3rd Recycling Cart Distribution Event  March 25, 2023 7:00 A.M. - 10:00 A.M. (or until we run out of carts)

Thanks to residents’ participation in the Electrical Aggregation Program through MC Squared Energy Services, LLC, the Village has been receiving civic contributions since the onset of the program in 2020. These civic contributions were used for the purchase of new recycling carts, with wheels and lids, similar to the current black garbage carts. In the first phase, the Village has purchased 800 recycling carts! We only have 246 left!

•Enter the Public Works facility from EASTBOUND FOSTER AVENUE ONLY. Left turn (west) from northbound Cumberland will be prohibited.

•Exit from the facility SOUTHBOUND CUMBERLAND AVENUE ONLY.

•This is not a trade in event. You do not need to bring in your old green recycling bin. Please keep your green bin for overflow, as needed.

•The new recycling cart is 42”x 21.5”x 21.5”. Please make sure the cart will fit into your vehicle.

•ID’s will be checked. Please have your Driver’s License or Village of Norridge water bill ready when you pull up.

•Quantities are limited.