SkokieNews - Festivals, sales and more adventures

April 30, 2024

Community-wide Garage Sale Set for May 31 to June 2

Looking to reduce, reuse, recycle or resell? Registration is now open for the 2nd annual Skokie Community-wide Garage Sale, May 31 through June 2.

Sign up: Registration is free and does not count towards a dwelling’s three allotted garage sales per year. Registrants will receive an email when yard signs are available for pick up at Village Hall (while supplies last).

Or Shop: An interactive map with garage sale locations, hours, and items for sale will be available online prior to the event.

Save the Date: Festival of Cultures, May 18 and 19

Mark your calendar for the Festival of Cultures on Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19 at Oakton Park!

Celebrate Skokie’s cultural diversity: Enjoy music and dance performances, food and beverage vendors, interactive cultural booths, and more. Admission is free.

Photo by Rich Cahan

Skokie Fire Training Spotlight: Auto Fires and EVs

The Skokie Fire Department continuously trains to meet our community’s evolving needs.

New this month: The department began training with a specialized electric vehicle (EV) nozzle, which will be deployed in the event of any EV fire. The nozzle is designed to slide under vehicles and provide water to cool the battery system, helping prevent extremely high temperatures that can occur in lithium-ion battery fires.

Adventures in Composting - May 5

Join Sketchbook Brewery, the Village of Skokie, and the Illinois Food Scrap & Composting Coalition at the Adventures in Composting event to kick off International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) on Sunday, May 5 at 2 p.m.

Take a sustainable brewery tour of the Sketchbook taproom (4901 Main Street) and discover the story of repurposing spent grains into livestock feed for an Illinois farm.
Learn about composting options at home, including how to make the perfect compost at home and how to get started in the Village's free compost drop-off program.
Enter into a raffle for a compost starter kit to begin your adventure!

The event is free to attend, and no RSVP is necessary. All participants will receive a token for $1 off any beverage.

Help the Village Help You

The Village is conducting a brief community preparedness survey as part of the Cook County Hazard Mitigation Plan's mandatory 5-year update. Residents are requested to complete the survey by May 24.

The purpose of the questionnaire is to help the County understand the needs of the community and minimize risks and potential future losses. Responses will be kept confidential.

Apply for Permits Promptly, Please!

Don't wait! Spring and summer are peak times for construction projects.

Why the rush? Permit applications are processed in the order they are received, but high demand means longer approval times. In addition, larger projects take longer to review and approve. Construction must begin within 6 months of the permit being issued, so obtaining your permit early and starting the project when the weather permits is a good idea.

Permit Process

Check the Building & Inspection Services page for permit requirements. Questions can be submitted via Access Skokie.
Apply for permits on Skokiepermits.org.
Call 847-933-8223 to schedule the required building permit inspections.

Explore Skokie

Have you ever been curious about the large, ornate building situated at the corner of McCormick and Howard?

Well, mark your calendars for this Saturday, May 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., as the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District is hosting an open house at the O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant (3500 Howard Street). During this event, you can enjoy free tours and discover how the plant processes millions of gallons of water each day.

As part of the Chicago Water Week celebration, visitors can also participate in a drawing to win a rain barrel and receive a complimentary oak sapling or milkweed seeds to take home.

Mother’s Day Diaper Drive

The Skokie Commission on Family Services, in partnership with the Skokie Public Library and the Niles Township Food Pantry, is hosting a Mother's Day Diaper Drive to benefit township families in need.

How to donate: From May 6 through 12, drop off whole packages of diapers (size 4, 5 and 6 especially in demand) at Skokie Public Library, Skokie Police Department, Skokie Fire Station 16, or Central United Methodist Church, or purchase online and ship directly.

Free Tire Collection: Don’t Give Mosquitoes a Place to Breed

The North Shore Mosquito Abatement District collects unused and discarded tires to reduce mosquito breeding sources. Complete the service request form to schedule a pickup.

Seconds Save Lives: Stroke Seminar, May 8

Endeavor Health will host a free virtual seminar, “The Essential Guide to Stroke Savvy,” on Wednesday, May 8 at 1 p.m. to arm you with essential insights into stroke prevention, symptoms, and life-saving response techniques. Register and learn more.