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ForestParkReview.com Vol. 108, No. 39
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BEST SSMALL WEEKLY WEE NEWSPAPER NEWS ILLINOIS IN ILL
OCTOBER 1, 2025
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Chamber shares marketing plans for Forest Park
Vanessa Belmonte, village clerk, retires after over 20 years
Figuring out how to advertise the village with $20,000 from Forest Park’s ARPA funds By JESSICA MORDACQ
Praised by colleagues at her last council meeting
Staff Reporter
You might see new or more advertisements for Forest Park in the coming months. The Forest Park Chamber of Commerce and Development supports the village’s business community and markets the village so business owners, residents and visitors want to spend time in town. During a presentation at the Sept. 22 village council meeting, the Chamber’s executive director Laurie Kokenes laid out how she’s been using funding to market Forest Park, and how she plans to use money in the future. Upcoming Chamber marketing efforts for September to February include designing content for an I-290 billboard to promote Forest Park. After searching for See CHAMBER on page 6
Fall clean-up
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
TODD BANNOR
The Holiday Walk on Madison Street is one of the Chamber’s most successful marketing events.
At the Sept. 22 village council meeting, Village Administrator Rachell Entler read a proclamation honoring Village Clerk Vanessa Belmonte for over two decades of working for Forest Park before retiring. That Monday was Belmonte’s last time reading off village department bills, guiding meetings by calling commissioners to vote on agenda items, and marking resolutions — she ended her career by recording the 100th resolution of the year at her last council meeting. “Throughout her tenure, Vanessa has demonstrated unparalleled commitment, professionSee BELMONTE on page 7
Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
A look back in time: Pennant Fever, 1989
Tom Holmes: Atonement and repentance
Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
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IN Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 THIS ISSUE Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11