🌱 Lake & Lathrop Project Extended + Civics Fair + Armed Robberies

Hi all. It's me, Nicole Fallon-Peek, your host of the Oak Park-River Forest Patch newsletter — here to tell you everything you need to know about what's happening in the community.

But first, today's weather:

Cooler; breezy in the morning. High: 70 Low: 56.

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

1. The Lake and Lathrop condominium project in River Forest received another building permit extension from the River Forest Village Board, with conditions to be met by Sep. 15. The developer, Sedgwick Properties, has faced financial troubles and a lawsuit from Beverly Bank and Trust, leading to delays in the project. The Aug. 30, 2024 extension requires conditions such as securing viable financing, resolving litigation with the bank, paying permit extension fees and property taxes, and providing construction updates at village board meetings. (Wednesday Journal)
2. Oak Park and River Forest High School hosted its first Civics Service Learning Fair, which was attended by local politicians and nonprofit leaders, including Congressman Danny Davis and Oak Park Village President Vicki Scaman. The fair aimed to inspire the school's juniors and seniors to engage in civic life and fulfill the community service requirement for graduation. The event featured panel discussions and interactions with community organizations, giving students ideas on how to participate and make a meaningful impact. (Wednesday Journal)
3. A Univision news crew was robbed in Wicker Park early Monday morning, amidst a surge of attacks in the neighborhood and across the North Side. The robbery occurred as the crew was preparing for a live shot, with three men wearing ski masks and displaying firearms robbing them of their belongings before fleeing in vehicles. The incident highlights the increasing security concerns in the area and serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance for reporters, news crews, and residents alike. (Block Club Chicago)

Shoutout to the awesome local business that keeps this newsletter running:

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Today in and around Oak Park-River Forest:

Wednesday, August 30

• New Chicago Waffles Location Opening At 726 Lake St. (7:00 AM)
• Bitter Jester Music Festival Satellite Series: Kathleen Lane At Harry Caray’s Tavern, Chicago (6:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Contractors are in the process of applying the final road surface on Division Street in Oak Park, with the resurfacing work set to conclude by Friday. After the roadwork is completed, pavement markings will be added, and the installation of new sod in parkways will continue in September with minimal disruption to traffic. (Village of Oak Park, Illinois via Facebook)
• Are you looking for a new family member with four paws? Check out the list of adoption-ready pets in the Oak Park-River Forest area at the link! (Oak Park-River Forest Patch)
• As a part of the "Boost Up Cook County" back-to-school immunization campaign, the Cook County Department of Public Health distributed 350 "Boost Bags" filled with germ-prevention supplies and vaccination schedules to students and families on Monday. The initiative included arts and crafts activities and physical exercises, with plans to extend outreach efforts at future community gatherings. (Cook County Department of Public Health via Facebook)

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:

• How To Protect Your Business: Avoiding 6 Common Mistakes (August 31)
• High Holiday Services 2023 (September 15)
• A Tail to Remember: Animal Care League's 50th Anniversary Gala (September 23)
• Add your event

You're officially in the loop for today! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow with a new 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.