New Youth Campus + Vaccine Portal + Free Comic Book Day

Hey, Oak Park-River Forest! Here's everything you need to know to get this Saturday started off right.

First, today's weather: Clear throughout the day. High: 80, low: 62.

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

1. The Illinois Department of Public Health is offering a new portal for vaccinated citizens to check their vaccine records. Vax Verify is available through the IDPH website for individuals 18 and older. (VOP)

2. As the fall semester begins Monday for most Oak Park public schools, residents like Christa Van Ermen are weighing in on the importance of following the science. “While the children may be OK, the people they carry the virus to may not,” she wrote in a letter to the Chicago Tribune. (Paid source: Tribune)

3. Local institutions, including Dominican University, are expressing support for Rachelle Zola, who completed a 40-day hunger strike to raise awareness for reparations. (Wednesday Journal)

4. Community leaders broke ground this week on a $31 million “state of the art youth campus” in Austin. (AustinTalks)

5. One Stop Comics on Ridgeland Avenue is giving away free comic books today, with special guest illustrators and authors in attendance for the annual Free Comic Book Day. (Wednesday Journal)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest

• The annual Farmers’ Market Corn Roast takes place. (9:30 a.m.)
• Make a hanging bird feeder at Dole Center. (10 a.m.)
• Take a paste-paper workshop at Dole Center. (Noon)
• D&D Adventures at Longfellow Center. (Noon)
• “Animal Olympians” at Oak Park Conservatory. (1 p.m.)
• The Replays perform a porch concert. (5 p.m.)
• Live music at Wild Tied Onion House (6 p.m.) and Tre Sorelle Ristorante (8 p.m.).
• The White Sox won the iconic Field of Dreams game in Dyersville Wednesday, and tonight the Yankees come to Guaranteed Rate Field for the first time since 2019. (6:10 p.m.)
• The Annual Wright Ride kicks off. (All day through Aug. 22)

From our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Free-Family Food Distribution (August 14)
• Free comic Book day (August 14)
• Blackfoot Poetry from Einstein to Spacetime (August 20)
• Free Family Mini Photo Sessions! (September 4)

Job listings:

• Head custodian/handy person (Details)

It's a busy day in Oak Park and River Forest, so I'm saving the usual newsletter notebook for tomorrow's Sunday edition. Have a great weekend, and stay safe.

— Georgi

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