Nothing tops a Midwest winter for the folks who love snow. For the rest of us, spring can't come soon enough! Love it or hate it though, snow has to be removed early and effectively before the next snow falls, every time. If not, the original snow will freeze underneath, causing unsafe pockets of slippery ice. In addition, if snow isn't removed from your vehicle quickly, you might find getting into your car quite challenging. The door frames are likely to freeze, making opening your door difficult (especially if you have a minivan). All Cedarwood Coop members enjoy complimentary snow removal in all the common areas including main, street-facing sidewalks, parking lots, and courtyard walkways, but not the personal walkways nearest to their homes. We do offer snow removal service for the personal walkways at a small fee and if interested, Members are urged to call the office for details. For those Cedarwood members who do not contract for our snow removal services, removing the snow as it falls is essential for staying in compliance and being safe all winter long. Below, you'll find easy and effective ways to stay on top of snow removal this winter whether you live here or elsewhere. Shovel Early & Shovel Often Some believe you should wait for all the snow to fall before going out with the shovel. Others know the secret to success is staying on top of it early and often. Plan to go outside and shovel every 2 -4 inches or at minimum, halfway through the full amount of snow the weatherman has predicted. By shoveling midway through the expected snowfall, you reduce the weight of the snow on your shovel. This can help make the job easier on you and your back. Also, because some walkways are shared between Members, shoveling midway helps clean up the snow before shoeprints stamp it down, making removal even more challenging. Remember, always lift with your knees and keep your back straight when bending over to scoop up your flakes. Salt Smart There is no sense in sprinkling salt midway during the falling snow unless you've completely cleared the sidewalks. However, if you do salt mid-snow, the salt you just laid down will likely get shoveled up the next time you head out to clear the sidewalks - wasteful and ineffective. Our advice is to wait until the snow finishes, shovel it all off, then salt thoroughly to prevent the ice from building up overnight. Another great time to salt is after a warm day when the snow melts some by the heat of the sun. Spread salt on the walkways right before sundown to prevent that melted snow from from becoming a skating rink of ice outside your door. Chop Thick Ice There are times when we try to keep the ice to a minimum, but nature determines a different fate. When this happens, salt the ice patch with a thick layer. Let it sit for about 10 minutes, then grab an ice chopper (available at local hardware stores) and begin to chop. Spread your feet apart to ensure you do not accidentally clip your foot. Hold the handle firmly and chop straight up and down with force. Start from an outside edge and work your way across from one side to the other. This allows you to chip away at the ice, using the natural cracks created by the salt you just poured to assist in your endeavors. Once it's all chopped up, shovel it off the sidewalks and onto the lawn. That's it! Simple, easy and effective ways to keep your walkways clear of snow and free of ice. Staying safe during the winter months is important to prevent slipping and falling and unnecessary wear and tear on your back! When you're ready to explore the benefits of housing cooperative membership, give the office a call. We'd love to share with you current availability and explain how incredible life is as a Member of Cedarwood Cooperative.

We polled the community and found out the top 4 pizza spots near Cedarwood Cooperative in Park Forest, Illinois. Some enjoyed the classic Chicago-style deep dish (with the sauce on top of course) and some liked thin crust the best. Some said they liked ham and pineapple, and others said that combo was just plain wrong! What they all had in common though, was that they agreed pizza is a solid staple in this midwestern community. So, let's dig in! #1 Aurelio's Aurelio's seems to be near and dear to many locals' heart. This is understandable as the very first Aurelio's pizzeria opened up in Homewood (about 10 miles down the road from Park Forest) back in 1959. Joe Aurelio, pizza maker and entrepreneur, began his business in a small, 4-table spot on Ridge Road with a single pizza oven. Whether it was his incredible personality or the scrumptiousness of his food, after about 10 years into the business, his pizzas grew in popularity. Soon after, he had to expand into the adjoining 2 storefronts and then saw the need to expand further. Now, the Aurelio's franchise has grown to over 37 locations in 6 states. It could be that their tremendous success is due to their delicious pizzas, but many feel it's also their focus on family tradition. In fact, the original owner Joe made people feel so welcome, that the slogan was born "Tell 'em Joe sent me." (source) #2 - Chicago Dough It's clear why the runner up on our list is the Chicago Dough Company. Started by two long-time friends at the current Richton Park location, Chicago Dough began as a franchise of Pizza Inn back in 1976. After just 2 years, the friends realized their potential to improve the pizza quality if they simply changed the recipe from canned, pre-made ingredients issued from the Pizza Inn headquarters to fresh, made in-house ingredients. Unhappy with the recipe changes and the slow progress in the area, Pizza Inn dropped the their contract, which was exactly what these two friends needed to propel the business in the direction they envisioned. Since then, they've opened up 2 additional locations - one in Bourbonnais and the other in New Lenox. Upon asking a few of the residents we polled, they explained the reason they chose Chicago Dough as their favorite pizza spot wasn't just because of the delicious pies, but also because of their strong involvement within the community. As sponsors of many youth leagues, the Park Forest Pancake Club, various races and school events, it's clear the Chicago Dough has earned its badge as a staple in the Park Forest community. (source) #3 - Beggars Let's be clear, Beggars pizza is ranked within the top 4 pizza spots near Park Forest because they "Lay it on Thick". With seemingly endless toppings, juicy sauce, a thick layer of cheese and huge platters of dough, Beggars has one of the most filling pizzas in the area. "Beggars opened its first store in Blue Island in 1976 and has since expanded to 23 locations." (source) Clearly, it's not just us Park Forest residents who love this style of pizza. The whole state seems to as well. #4 - Dozeli Pizzeria A local favorite, Dozeli Pizzeria is a small, locally-owned and operated pizza spot offering thick and thin crust pizzas with quality ingredients. Started by two brothers with over 28 years of experience in pizza making, Dozeli's is slowly becoming a staple in our community. With 2 locations in Chicago Heights and South Chicago Heights, Park Forest residents can get fresh, hot pie delivered right to their front door! That might be why they love it soooo much! Our residents have spoken and these pizza spots were hands-down their favorite. If you're ready to move to an area with this many excellent pizzerias, give us a call. Our housing cooperatives are the perfect balance between owning a single family home and renting. The best of both worlds at an extremely budget-friendly price. Call today to discuss current availability.

Park Forest, Illinois, with its rich history and gorgeous, natural surroundings offers a plethora of volunteer opportunities to those who call the area home. Whether you can commit an hour or a dollar, every act of involvement adds to the community spirit. Volunteering has been a cornerstone in the development of the area, offering both a way to strengthen community bonds and help lift those who need lifting the most. Take a moment to explore just a few ways that you too can become involved in the Park Forest community. Who knows, you may find out that your simple act of kindness does more for your neighbors that you ever thought possible. Serve on a Board or Commission Park Forest offers its residents the opportunity to become involved on a political level through its boards and commissions. Spanning a wide range of concerns, Park Forest has a commission for everything from youth programming to senior citizen outreach to environmental issues. If interested, first determine which topic resonates with you the most. Then, complete an application on the Village's website, indicating which board you'd like to be considered for. Once submitted, the major will review your application to determine if you would be a right fit for that board. If approved, and if a seat is open, you would then partake in the regular meetings, brainstorming and planning for that department. Becoming a board member is a great way to have a powerful impact in your community by volunteering your time. Donate to Local Charities Park Forest has many charities and causes that its residents can donate financially or physically to. From church charities to national charities to local, seasonal charities, the area is home to many organizations that seek to empower and enhance the lives of those who call Park Forest home. Without showing a preference to any one charity by listing them here, a simple Google search will reveal many that you can become involved with. Join Park Forest Facebook Groups Park Forest has many Facebook groups that span a wide range of topics. From the Park Forest Police Department Page to the Residents and Stakeholders Group to the Buy Nothing Park Forest group, the options are many. The wonderful thing about staying connected with your community through dedicated Facebook groups is that you can stay informed of additional opportunities to get involved through others' posts. Many residents link to current toy drives or food drives. Some link to organizations who are requesting immediate help due to recent tragedies both in Park Forest and surrounding areas. For example, a recent fire in Richton Park prompted many to donate clothing, toys, toiletry items and money to the 30+ families who were displaced by the fire. The results were so massive that the organizers had to request that donations stop flooding in as they didn't have enough volunteers to sort it all! What an amazing community we live in! Pick up Litter Nothing can bring down the appearance or energy of a community faster than trash on the streets and lawns. A simple walk through your own neighborhood or down a busy street will reveal the massive opportunity to become a steward of the land. If you can manage the time, commit to picking up litter just one day a week. Grab some gloves, maybe a pick-up stick and a garbage bag or two. Walk down the street and pick up any litter that you find. Be careful not to touch any sharp objects. After a month or so of doing this regularly, you will see a major change in the appearance of the area you wish to keep clean. Seeing you pick up trash can also motivate others to do the same in their area. Maybe they'll want to join you in your efforts, in which case, a team of volunteers can make an even greater impact than a single clean up crew. Positivity spreads like wildfire. It would be amazing if you could be the catalyst. Plant a Community Garden Park Forest has designated many sites to allow its residents to plant community gardens. Once planted and harvested, many will donate the fruits of their labor. Some post the available vegetation on the Park Forest Facebook groups. Some place them in designated give-a-way boxes for community members to drive by and choose at will. This is a great way to help beautify the area and provide food for those who need it the most. Another important aspect of community gardening is learning and teaching the youth. As gardening has become a lost art with many families who rely solely on grocery stores, this opportunity to teach and learn becomes ever more valuable. While this is just a small list of ways you can become involved in your community, it certainly offers ideas to get started. If we want our community to remain strong and connected, it's important that we be the glue that binds it together. Every single act of kindness multiplies exponentially into one huge act of kindness. Like Gandhi said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." If you are not a current Park Forest resident, and would like to become a part of our growing community, call Cedarwood Housing Cooperative today to explore its unique alternative to home ownership. Experience the benefits of owning a home without the stress or financial burden of traditional maintenance. Call today to view available units and to learn more.

It's no secret that sealing up old windows with plastic helps to keep heating costs down during the winter, but did you know you could take steps now to save on utility costs throughout the year?! The following tips offer just a few ways you can make your home more energy efficient. Check your local electricity company or gas company website as well. They might even have a free energy efficiency kit to send you to help make the changes. STRATEGIZE YOUR COOKING Many don't consider how much energy is used up while cooking, especially if your using all your appliances. Instead of heating up the oven for a few pieces of toasted garlic bread, consider using your toaster oven instead. Instead of steaming a vegetable on the stove, while roasting meat in the oven, try roasting the vegetable and meat in the same oven. This reduces the amount of gas or electricity used and will certainly help keep utility costs down. Another great idea is to prep, plan and cook your entire week's menu in just one day! Of course, when the day comes to eat, you'll have to use some sort of energy to re-heat, but the savings will certainly outbeat the expense. Not only will this strategy likely save money by preventing a last minute stop at the drive-through (which can really drain the budget), but it also uses the same philosophy as above: one oven, cooking multiple dishes at a time, ultimately saves. DON'T OVERWORK THE THERMOSTAT Whether the winter or summer, it's always best to adjust your thermostat to a comfortable setting and leave it alone. Dropping or increasing the temperatures drastically based on your "needs" puts strain on your HVAC system and can freeze your air conditioner. A great rule of thumb is to set the temperature in the winter to 70° and in the summer to 75° F. This creates a comfortable atmosphere with room to use your clothing as additional temperature support. If it's winter, bundle up in warm clothing! If it's summer, dress in thin layers. Regulating your thermostat and body temp in this way will save you big time! CHANGE FURNACE FILTERS FREQUENTLY Depending on the filter you purchase, the average furnace filter lasts only 1-3 months. A clean filter is essential for proper airflow. Free-flowing air means your furnace doesn't have to work as hard to push the air throughout the house. This can save you money. While this sounds so simple (and cheap...filters run only $1-5) it is really easy to forget about it. As the saying goes...out of sight, out of mind. So a great way to stay on schedule, and save on utility costs is to set a monthly reminder on your phone or calendar. Another tip is to purchase 6 months worth of filters up front. Then, when your reminder comes due, you only have to walk to the basement and get it done, instead of driving to the hardware store. SWITCH TO ENERGY EFFICIENT FIXTURES Energy efficient light bulbs, water faucets, shower heads and more can really stack up the savings both in energy and costs, plus it's an easy fix even for the not-so-handy man. Another tip is to replace your appliances with energy efficient ones. While it may not be feasible to switch all your appliances out to new ones at once, make the commitment now to purchase the energy efficient kind later when your current appliances need replacing. WASH CLOTHES IN COLD WATER This one is as easy as it sounds and actually helps to preserve the bright colors in your clothes along with saving on your bill. Energystar.gov indicates that, "Water heating consumes about 90% of the energy it takes to operate a clothes washer." Considering that the average American washes about 400 loads per year, you can begin to see the benefit of turning that dial to cold water instead of hot or warm. The great thing is that many laundry detergents these days now offer a cold wash soap specifically designed to dissolve and wash clothes effectively even in cold water. No risk, all reward! HANG DRY YOUR CLOTHES This doesn't always work, depending on your space, but thankfully our cooperatives have huge basements with plenty of space to install a hanging bar for drying clothes. You can also purchase a portable clothes rack at your local department store for pretty cheap if you are not comfortable with installing a clothes rack. Hanging your clothes saves on the gas and electricity required to dry them in the dryer. It also keeps fabrics looking their best for longer. So this trick actually saves you money up front on your utility bills and in the end by not having to purchase new clothes as often. Double bonus! Do you have energy saving tips to share that we haven't listed above? Great! Contact us to let us know and we'd be happy to feature them on our Facebook page. When you're ready to take advantage of a unique housing opportunity, give us a call to arrange for a home showing.

Autumn is the perfect time of year to go exploring at local family farms. Not only do they typically have a ripe harvest of fruits and vegetables for purchase, but many also have pumpkin patches, hay rides and fun activities for the little ones to enjoy. We've gathered a small handful of local family farms near our housing cooperative in Park Forest, Illinois to get you started, but don't let this list limit you! There are so many more farms to explore just a further drive away in Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Iowa and more! Dollinger Family Farm With a rich history, dating back to 1836, this family farm is a must see in Channahon, Illinois (southwest of Joliet). From mid September to the end of October (dates vary), this farm offers a massive pumpkin patch, War reenactments, parades, kids spy hunts, horse demos, tug-of-war competitions and so much more! The best part if that admission and parking are all FREE! Plan to spend the day with the family as you leisurely stroll the entire farm, learning about its incredible history. Let the kids play while the grown-ups admire the farm's finely preserved antique buildings and equipment. Rader Family Farms The Rader Family Farm prides themselves on "Connecting the community to the farm through the influence of faith, family and fun." (from their website) They offer tons of activities for kids including an apple blaster, corn maze, a jumping pillow, duck races, a double barrel shoot, rat rollers, straw castles, wild horses, tire tower, u-pick pumpkin patch and so much more. Unique attractions, right outside Normal, Illinois, make this family fun farm a must visit. Honey Hill Orchard While Honey Hill is more of a u-pick-your-own-fruit farm, it also has a few activities for families to enjoy, especially families with small children. West of Aurora, Honey Hill has tons of yummy treats to purchase at their gift shop including apple cider donuts, honey, pies, caramel apples and of course, over 25 varieties of apples from their orchard. The also have a free children's play area with farm petting zoo and straw maze, plus weekend wagon rides. Settlers Pond Shelter For just a small admission, this no-kill animal shelter is a great place to take the family for a quick trip to the farm. Just south of Park Forest, Settlers Pond offers tons of attractions for all ages including barrel train rides, hayrides, livestocks exhibits, a fiberglass milking cow, egg display and more! Be amazed by the diverse group of wildlife rescued by the owners of Settlers Pond Shelter including monkeys, camels, porcupines, coatimundi, kinkajous, tortoises and more! Have you visited any of these farms? Send us a picture via email so we can showcase your family fun trip! At Cedarwood Cooperative, we love showing off our member's having fun at the farm!

Sad as it may be, summer is on its way out. Fall is slowly creeping in, bringing cooler weather, regular moisture and frosty nights. Garden plants are beginning to shrivel, shrubs are going dormant and the wildlife are busy scurrying together the last of their winter food supply. Cedarwood members too have begun to prepare for the winter ahead. Many have shut down their air conditioning, a few have kick-started their furnaces and some have taken down lawn ornaments already. Before the snow begins to flutter, we recommend the following to prepare your housing cooperative for the coming winter as well. Trim Shrubs, Pull Old Plants and Perform Final Weeding Nothing improves the appearance of your yard like a well-manicured garden. As fall approaches, it's important to trim back bushes and shrubs. Their near-dormant state means that this final trimming should preserve their "hair cut" all winter. Be sure to pull dead plants to prevent leaving behind old, brown debris that will ugly-up your yard. Also, pluck the last of those pesky weeds to prevent them from reproducing in spring. The more you clean up now, the better your yard will look for the next 6 months and the less work you have to do come spring. Store Lawn Decorations and Tools After cleaning up your property, it's important to clean, dry and store all your tools and lawn decorations indoors or on your back porch, covered and secured. This is not only required as per co-op rules, but it also preserves the integrity and appearance of your precious items. The contracting of wood, plastic and porcelain from the cold winter air can break down items not meant to make it through the winter exposed. Make sure you store all your items before November 1st to avoid receiving a notice from grounds staff. Cover Your Basement Windows Cedarwood cooperatives have window wells that allow natural light to shine through in the basement. Unfortunately, if they aren't covered, they can cost you a handful of troubles. Placing a window well cover over your window well allows the light to still shine through while protecting your home from a cool winter's draft. Doing so also prevents autumn's leaves from piling up, which can lead to unwanted water leaks and decreases your chances of hosting a seasonal critter. While this list isn't exhaustive, it's a great start. Make sure to clean and store your lawn mower, put away patio tables and chairs, disconnect your hoses and shut off the water to your outdoor spigots. If you have any questions on what is required of you, as a Member here at Cedarwood Housing Cooperative, feel free to contact the office. Please find our contact information below.

This past week's severe storm has brought many Park Forest residents damage, frustration and fear of uncertainty. Uprooted trees, smashed cars, torn off porches, tree limbs breaking through roofs, power outages and so much more has proved to be quite burdensome for many in the Park Forest area. While the "mini tornado" we'll call it, took only a few hours to touch down, its effects have lasted for days. Thankfully, many Cedarwood Housing Cooperative members were blessed to have had no damage whatsoever. Most did have to deal with power outages for up to 3 days and some walked outside after the storm to find their lawn furniture was whisked away by the heavy winds. All seemingly minor in comparison to what it could have been. One thing is for certain though, all Cedarwood Members came together in the spirit of community to help each other out. We saw children raking elderly neighbors' lawns of sticks, gentlemen helping to return lawn ornaments to their rightful owners, and people of all kinds removing branches from walkways. At Cedarwood Cooperative, we are so proud to be a part of a community that truly cares for and helps one another. While this week's storm did prove to be challenging, we are confident that it also proved to be a source of strength and resilience for our housing community. It also showed us the importance of being even more prepared for this type of severe weather in the future. Though we know this blog is too little too late for aiding in this past week's events, our hope is that it will help if and when another severe weather storm ever hits our area again. The more prepared we can be, the better equipped we are to handle the emergency with confidence and efficiency. The following links provide a wealth of information on how to be best prepared for severe weather and we encourage everyone to take the time to read through them. You never know when you might need to call on this information! Emergency Action Plan - Severe Weather by the Redwood Group Severe Weather on Ready.gov Tornado Drill Checklist Severe Weather Preparedness on the National Weather Service Simple Family Preparedness Tornado and Preparedness Response Checklists by OSHA Preparing for a Winter Storm by the CDC Disaster Supply Kit by the Weather Underground In the meantime, stay safe, stay healthy and stay strong. From all of the Cedarwood staff, we are here for you if you need us.

Regardless of how you may feel about Covid19 and its effects on American life, it's important that you take the risk seriously. Making adjustments to our daily lives is essential for keeping us all safe and healthy. Most of these tips are ideal to consider incorporating into our regular lives as they add to our overall health and wellness regardless of whether or not we are experiencing a global pandemic. Proper hygiene, good eating practices and common courtesy are always a welcomed addition to daily life. Tip #1 - Wash Your Hands This tip seems silly to even have to mention, considering most reading this are adults. However, studies have shown that many adults do not wash their hands after key "dirty" activities. This can lead to spreading germs, viruses and bacteria that can cause harm to ourselves and others. It's also important to teach the younger generation, and stay on top of reminding them, how important hand-washing is for the prevention of spreading Covid19. Consider the following "top times" to wash your hands: After using the bathroom (make sure not to touch the door on the way out; use a tissue to grab the door handle if you have to, then discard the tissue.) After coughing or sneezing After touching your face, nose, mouth or eating After touching door handles or other public touch points Upon entry into your home Prior to leaving your home Prior to cooking After engaging in physical contact with others Tip #2 - Eat Vitamin-Rich Foods While this tip is important year-round, it is even more essential while a potentially harmful virus is circulating within the community. When viruses enter our bodies, they begin to reproduce immediately, devouring healthy cells in the process. If our bodies are full of vitamins and minerals, then our bodies have the necessary ingredients to begin to fight off the virus like a group of ninja's. If our bodies are not strong and healthy, then the virus can begin to overwhelm the cells in our bodies, creating system-wide havoc. Eating vitamin-rich foods ensures that your body has what it needs to beat almost anything that comes its way! Tip #3 - Support Your Immune System While this tip goes hand-in-hand with tip #2, there is a bit more to the story. Certain herbs, foods and supplements can specifically enhance your immune system in ways that support a healthy diet. Vitamin C supplements, for example, have been recommended to boost your immune function, especially while Covid19 is such a high risk. Herbs like echinacea and elderberry have been shown to improve immune function when taken regularly during cold and flu season. Foods such as garlic, onion and thyme have also been shown to have anti-viral properties and are recommended to incorporate into your diet during this challenging time. Tip #4 - Stay Home If You Feel Sick Even if you just feel a little "under the weather", STAY HOME! Viruses spread from infected person to infected person. It is understandable to go out in public when you don't know if you are infected, but it's simply irresponsible to risk exposing other people if you already feel symptoms. Many people who you are likely to come into contact with in public spaces have immune systems that are compromised. To prevent infecting them or anyone else, quarantine yourself until you no longer feel any symptoms. Ask friends and family to run your errands or grab your groceries if need be, and leave them outside your front door to eliminate any contact with the outside world. Then grab them, wash your hands and get back to bed! Tip #5 - Keep Your Distance and Wear a Mask As recommended by the CDC and WHO, be consistent with wearing a mask and keeping your distance from others. Masks help prevent your respiratory "spray" from entering the air, possibly infecting others if you are a carrier of the virus. Distance reduces the possibility for physical contact, thus preventing the spread of the virus from mutual surfaces. Following these tips will not only help you stay safe during this pandemic, but also improve your overall health and well-being by practicing good hygiene, healthy eating and common courtesy. At Cedarwood Housing Cooperative, we are practicing all recommended guidelines for ensuring the safety of our members and staff. We are consistently sanitizing surfaces, practicing social distancing, properly hand-washing and wearing protective gear when entering members' homes during maintenance. We take your safety and health seriously and only wish the best for you. Please be careful and safe!

The weather is beginning to break and the itch to light up the charcoal is upon us. As much as we LOVE the smell of burgers on the barbecue, we also LOVE the peace of mind knowing those patties are being cooked up safely. Now, we're not talking about the internal temperature. We'll leave that up to personal preference, chef. We are talking about making sure that you consider the safety of every person and every thing involved while grilling at Cedarwood Cooperative. Tip #1 - Stay by the Grill An unattended barbecue grill will undoubtedly lure neighborhood kids. It must have something to do with the law of attraction - like the red button you shouldn't push. So, it is imperative that before you spark that first match, you have everything you need outside by the grill already. Not only will this make you look like the barbecue king/queen that your apron declares you are, but it will ensure that you are overseeing your fire at all times. If you can't make this happen, make sure you have a "runner" to grab the things you need, when you need them, while you "man" or "wo-man" the grill! Tip #2 - Clear the Area Grills tend to pop, sizzle, crack and spark. While this is fantastic for adding flavor to your ribs, it is terrible for the siding, porch, gutters and so forth. Before tossing in the charcoal, pull the grill away from all structures and make sure it is level on the ground. Cedarwood does not allow grilling on the front or back porches or near the buildings. A good rule of thumb is to stay at least 8 feet away from everything. Yes, you may be in the middle of the common sidewalk, but because you are carefully tending to your grill, you can direct people to walk around to stay safe. Never, ever, ever grill near gas cans, aerosol cans of any type, oil containers or lawn mowers. No explanation needed...kaboom. Tip #3 - Stick Around to the End Grilling safety doesn't end after you tong the last hot dog off the rack. It continues until the grill has cooled down completely and has been put away. Make sure that you can watch the grill until it's cooled, dump the used charcoal into a fire-safe container and move the grill back to it's regular storage location. Take this opportunity to kick back, relax and enjoy your friends and family. Pull out the picnic table and welcome everybody to eat outside, while simultaneously keeping a watchful eye on that grill! Cedarwood cooperative in Park Forest, Illinois is the perfect community to park your grill. We offer 1, 2 and 3 bedroom co-ops with spacious living rooms, excellent natural lighting and ample storage for all your grilling accessories. Many families, retirees, single persons and couples have been calling Cedarwood Cooperative home since they were built in the 1940's. If you're ready to experience life cooperatively, give us a call at 708-747-3833 or stop by the office today for more information. See you soon!

Let's face it, with nation-wide lock-downs, we are spending more time in our homes than ever before. All this time lends itself to staring at the walls, floors, lamps and other household objects that may have survived beyond their expected lifetime. If you feel like your interiors need a little facelift, then read on to learn ways that you can spruce up your home on a budget! 1. Re-cover Old Lamp Shades Cedarwood Cooperative was built in the 1940's when overhead lighting wasn't so popular. Therefore, many of our members have invested in floor lamps to light up their lives! After a few years of handling lamps, however, the shades can tend to degrade, looking dingy, old or worn. Especially, if you have little ones turning the lights on and off for you! We found a great picture tutorial on how to re-cover an old lamp shade with new fabric by Apartment Therapy. A project that takes less than a few hours to complete could completely transform your lighting at a fraction of the cost to replace all your lamps or lamp shades. Plus, if you purchased lamps gradually throughout your time here at Cedarwood, leaving you with a hodge podge of designs and colors, this simple re-covering tip can really give your home a new cohesive look! 2. Strip and Paint Baseboards It seems silly to spend so much time and effort on boards that are close to the floor and many times, hidden behind furniture, but it's not. Baseboards can enhance or dampen the look of any wall just because they create the framework for the room. Think about it. Let's say you freshly painted. Every wall looks crisp and clean. But as your eyes make rounds from top to bottom, those scuffed up, dirty baseboards pop out at you and not in a good way! Here's our solution... Using a basic paint stripper, found at your local hardware store, simply apply, scrape, and repeat. Make sure to lay protective floor covering like paper or plastic and wear a face mask as the fumes can be a bit much. After a few applications and scrapings, your baseboards will reveal a whole new side of themselves. Striped of years and layers of paint, they are likely to recover their beautiful, crisp, clean edges once again. Then, simply apply a thin coat of paint and relish in a job well done. For only a few dollars, this can not only improve the overall look of your home, but it will also keep you busy during these lock-downs! 3. Rearrange Your Furniture and Pictures The best thing about this tip is that it literally costs you nothing! Plus, while you're rearranging, you can get some much needed spring cleaning done. But before you get started, sit down and draw out your new layout. Take a mental inventory of the items you have in your home on every floor. Maybe you'll find that a picture from your bedroom now goes great above the couch after moving it to a new wall. Maybe that lamp from the basement now fits perfectly in the corner of your dining room. Explore, have fun and delight in creating a new space without spending a dime! Even better, make it a family affair, including the children. This is sure to give them a sense of pride in contributing to the beauty of their home. Use these home improvement tips to help spark an interest in your indoor space once again. As we are all required to spend more time in our homes right now, we might as well love what we see. If we don't, it's time to follow the above tips and create a space we DO love! Are you ready to learn about the benefits of co-op housing? Considering a move? Give us a call today to see what your options are. 708-747-3833