What's New

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE MARCH 2010 EDITION OF
THE RIVERDALE QUARTERLY

SAFER FOUNDATION SECOND CHANCE SEMINAR - MAY 22ND

Are you a South Suburban resident between the ages of 19 and 21 with a criminal background? Are you looking to turn your life around? Safer Foundation may be able to help you get your life on track! Find out what services Safer Foundation offers including intense/advanced job training, employment placement, GED classes, and substance abuse referrals

A representative from Safer Foundation will be at the Riverdale Community Resource Center located at 13725 S. Wabash on Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 10:00am to find out how you or someone you know can get a second chance.

For more information, call Safer Foundation at (708) 339-1372 or the Riverdale Community Resource Center at (708) 841-7054.

SPRING CLEAN-UP ON JUNE 12TH

The Village of Riverdale in cooperation with Tri-State Disposal Inc. will sponsor Riverdale's Annual Spring Clean-Up on Saturday, June 12, 2010. Pick will begin at 6:00 AM. Items must be placed in the same area that Tri-State Disposal picks up your weekly garbage. Items should not be placed outside before Friday, June 11, 2010. Items that will be accepted for pick-up are: furniture, clothing, bicycles, and other unwanted household items. Also, white good such as refrigerators (doors must be removed), stoves, washers and dryers will also be picked up. ITEMS THAT WILL NOT BE PICKED UP INCLUDE: tires, batteries, construction materials and hazardous waste materials (used oil, paint, or chemicals). THE TRUCKS WILL ONLY MAKE ONE TRIP! Have all unwanted items in your pickup area by 6:00 AM. Questions regarding the Spring Clean-Up may be directed to the Public Works Department at 708/841-2202. *Please note: trash at buildings that use a scavenger service other than Tri-State Disposal will not be picked up.* Residents may pick up biodegradable garbage bags (limit 3) at the Village Hall or Riverdale Community Resource Center during normal business hours.

RIVERDALE C.A.P.A. PROGRAM STARTING IN APRIL

The Village of Riverdale is encouraging all energetic “residents and business owners” to become active participants in the new direction of the village. As residents and business owners, we want you to have the best tools possible to combat and prevent crime in your neighborhood and businesses now and into the future. Therefore, we respectfully request that each entity enroll into the “Riverdale CAPA Program” on Thursday, April 29, 2010” (Riverdale Public Safety Building – 725 W. 138th Street, Riverdale, IL. 60827). Classes start at 6:30 PM (Sharp) and are slated for only two (2) hours; applications can be picked up at the “Public Safety Building”, Village Hall and Village Library. Any additional questions, contact Officer Powers at (708)-841-2203, Ext. #2.

The CAPA Program provides insight into the operations of the Riverdale Police Department. Its purpose is to provide practical information to Riverdale citizens about basic law enforcement, so they can make informed judgments about police personnel that serve them day in and day out while performing their duties. Additionally, these sworn police officers learn what citizens anticipate what their roles are in the community. United (police/community) as a team, you demonstrate to the entire community that it is everyone’s responsibility to serve the citizens of the village. Through the successful graduation of the CAPA Program, residents and business owners will gain a better appreciation of how and what is the best way to prevent crime in the community of Riverdale.

Note: Each graduate will receive a certificate of completion of this distinguished program.

The CAPA Program is for residents and business owners who are 18 years of age or older and can successfully pass a basic back-ground check. The curriculum is developed to teach the following functions and duties of the Riverdale Police Department: Administrative/Operations of Department, Police Officer Field Training, Lock-up and Detention, Fire-Arms/Police Proficiency, Central Dispatching/Records, Detective Division, Emergency Response Team, Bike Patrol, Community Policing Program, Juvenile Division, Domestic Violence Intervention and Crime-Free Housing Program.

In summary, we both look forward to working, learning and walking side-by-side of each of you as we venture into instituting another key facet of the mayor’s “Smart Path Initiative Program” … progressive and responsive policing and safety services to all members of the community.

POLICE CRACKING DOWN ON THOSE WALKING IN THE STREET

There has been increased concern in the community about children walking in the streets. This practice causes multiple problems with traffic-flow and, moreover, is very dangerous! It is important that we continuously remind them that pedestrians are restricted from loitering in the roadway and must yield the right-of-way to all vehicles. Individuals or the legal guardians of individuals found violating this ordinance will be fined. Please refer to Village Ordinance 10.84.020 for specific information.

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.

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.

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.

“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.