🌱 ChiArts Staff Avoid Strike + Oak Park Farmers' Market Pie Bake-Off

Hello, friends. Nicole Fallon-Peek here with your fresh copy of the Oak Park-River Forest Patch newsletter. Keep reading to find out all the most important things happening in town.

But first, today's weather:

Clouds breaking for some sun. High: 71 Low: 59.

Here are the top three stories in Oak Park-River Forest today:

1. To avoid a potential strike, teachers and staff at the nearby Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts) reached a tentative deal late on Wednesday after coming to an agreement with school management. The four-year tentative deal would include staff salary increases, protections for part-time teaching assistants, and the addition of a full-time social worker and nursing assistant by next year. According to the Chicago Teachers Union, which represents ChiArts faculty and staff, educators will have a few days to review and ratify the agreement before it takes effect. (WTTW News)
2. Tomorrow (Sep. 9), the Oak Park Farmers' Market's annual Pie Bake-Off will take place from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. A panel of judges will choose the winners, and each market visitor will be served a slice of pie on a first-come, first-serve basis. Stop by the Pilgrim Church parking lot at 460 Lake Street for a slice of the action! (Village of Oak Park, Illinois via Facebook)
3. Late Wednesday night, a liquor store in nearby Logan Square was robbed at gunpoint by two unidentified suspects. The men showed the cashier handguns as they demanded money from the register, and the cashier complied. No injuries were reported, and no arrests have been made as detectives continue investigating the incident. (FOX 32 Chicago)

Big love to our local sponsor. We couldn’t keep the community informed without you!

Prepare Your Home for Fall with a Stunning New Look! As the seasons change and Fall approaches, it's the perfect time to give your home a vibrant transformation with a fresh coat of paint. Elite Decorating & Remodeling offers top-notch exterior painting services that will revitalize your home and make it look brand new, while also protecting it from the elements. Whether it’s painting, deck renovations, or complete remodels, Elite Decorating & Remodeling has you covered — Click here to learn more or call Mark here.

Want to see your business featured in this spot? Click here to get started.

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

Friday, September 8

• Family Story Time And Play (Ages 0-6) At River Forest Public Library (10:00 AM)
• In Ernie's Footsteps: A Walking Tour Of Young Hemingway's Oak Park At Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Museum (10:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• The Brookfield Zoo's annual Oktoberfest is right around the corner! Stop by the East Mall at the Zoo on Saturday, Sept. 23 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to enjoy fall festivities including live polka music, seasonal beers, and food available for purchase. The event is free with Zoo admission. (Brookfield Zoo via Instagram)
• September is Library Card Sign-Up Month at the River Forest Public Library! Sign up for a library card this month, and you'll be entered into a raffle with prizes donated by local businesses. If you already have a library card, each time you use your library card during the month, you can also fill out a raffle entry. (River Forest Library)
• As a state-funded program, Illinois Solar for All empowers income-eligible homeowners and renters to tap into the power of solar energy. Find out if you're eligible and learn more about the initiative here. (Village of Oak Park via Twitter)
• New data from the 2022-2023 school year reveals that Chicago Public Schools is losing students from low-income families. Ten years ago, 85 percent of Chicago Public Schools students came from low-income households— now, that figure is 73 percent. Experts suggest that the drop is driven by several factors, including gentrification, population and enrollment shifts, and a potential dissatisfaction with district schools. (Chalkbeat Chicago)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Laura Ruiz, REALTOR® at REALTY OF CHICAGO — (Visit website)
• Laurie Christofano, Realtor | RE/MAX In The Village — (Visit Website)
• Add your business here

Featured events:

• Taxes in Retirement Webinar (September 12)
• College Funding Workshop (September 13)
• High Holiday Services 2023 (September 15)
• A Tail to Remember: Animal Care League's 50th Anniversary Gala (September 23)
• Add your event

That's it for today. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.