🌱 High School Safety Report + Graduation Weekend + Narcan Training

Good morning, Oak Park and River Forest! In today's Daily:

• Oak Parkers sign an open letter seeking gender-neutral restroom signs in certain places.
• The Archdiocese of Chicago will assess building damage at St. Edmund Church this summer.
• Beyond Hunger reports a 30 percent increase in food insecurity since last April.

But first, today's weather: Sunny, breezy and cooler. High: 63 Low: 49.

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

1. OPRF High School issued a report answering questions posed at its April safety meeting. The online summary also includes suggestions made by community members on how the school can improve safety. (OPRFHS)

2. More than 50 Oak Parkers signed an open letter urging officials and business owners to comply with a state law on placing gender-neutral signs outside single-occupancy restrooms. “I really believe that the issue is one of awareness raising and not something that business owners are resistant to,” resident Sarah Corbin told Wednesday Journal. (Wednesday Journal)

3. Naloxone training will be offered by the Oak Park Department of Public Health today at Village Hall. The kits were installed throughout the village to address the opioid overdose crisis. (VOP)

4. St. Edmund Church remains closed after an April storm caused significant damage to its exterior, according to a weekend bulletin. An assessment of the building as a whole will be conducted this summer by the Archdiocese of Chicago. Activities will take place at the Ascension Catholic Church campus in the meantime. (SCSLSG)

5. Beyond Hunger is featured in a Crain’s Chicago Business report on the surge in food insecurity since federal pandemic aid ended. The Oak Park pantry saw a 30 percent increase in demand since last April, according to Crain’s. (Paid source: Crain’s Chicago Business)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Learn the basics of archery at National Grove South. (4 p.m.)
• Join OPRF Museum’s History Book Club. (7 p.m.)
• Make summer tablescapes at Pleasant Home. (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• A “minor” deck fire broke out Sunday night in River Forest after a resident discarded a still-lit cigar. (Wednesday Journal)
• Trinity High School will host its graduation ceremony tonight, while Fenwick students graduate tomorrow. OPRF High School commencement is set for June 4. (THS/FHS/OPRFHS)
• Pet licenses are on sale now at River Forest Village Hall. (VRF)
• A free vintage car show will be held June 10 at OPRF Museum. (Museum)

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:

• Welcome summer with lobster rolls to your door. Order Happy Lobster by Tuesday. (May 31)
• Gourmet, fresh pasta meals for the family from Gemma Foods are coming to you! Order by Tuesday. (June 1)
• Date Night Tapas at Home from Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba! Order by Wednesday. (June 2)
• Nationally ranked Jewish Nosh Spot Manny's Deli headed to you! Order by Friday. (June 3)
• Add your event

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

— Georgi

About me: Georgi is a Chicago-based newsletter writer and partner content curator. She spent five years on the entertainment beat for FF2 Media covering film festivals across the U.S. Her feature articles have been recognized with awards from the Illinois Women's Press Association and National Federation of Press Women. As editor-in-chief of the Lewis University newspaper, she and her staff earned honors from the Associated Collegiate Press and American Scholastic Press Associations. She began working for Patch in 2019.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Oak Park-River Forest Patch newsletter? Contact me at georgi.presecky@patch.com.