🌱 No Fireworks This July 4 + Student Film Fest + Pools Open

Happy Friday, Oak Park and River Forest! In today's Patch digest, find out:

• Why Oak Park will not host a fireworks display this July 4.
• Which school just won a decades-long "legal battle" with the Village of River Forest.
• How to see new short films created by local students.

But first, today's weather: Mostly sunny and warm. High: 86 Low: 64.

Here are the top 5 stories in Oak Park-River Forest today:

1. Austin activist Tara Stamps was appointed to serve on the Cook County Board after five rounds of voting in Oak Park, the Review reports. She will serve in Mayor Brandon Johnson’s former 1st district seat until the end of 2024. (Review)

2. The Village of Oak Park will not host a July 4 fireworks display for the second consecutive year, the Wednesday Journal reports. The 2022 event was canceled out of respect for the victims of a mass shooting in Highland Park. This year the usual space for setting off fireworks is unavailable due to renovations at OPRF High School. The parade will still be held July 4 at 10 a.m. (Wednesday Journal)

3. Trustees declared Oak Park a “book sanctuary” earlier this week. The resolution was presented by Village Manager Kevin Jackson and Library Director Joslyn Bowling Dixon. (Library)

4. More than 600 people attended Oak Park’s Juneteenth festivities over the weekend, the Oak Leaves reports. Events included a flag-raising ceremony, parade and community picnic. (Paid source: Oak Leaves)

5. Student short films will be screened next week at the Oak Park and River Forest High School Film Festival. Ten films made by local students will be shown Monday night at Lake Theatre. Admission is free. (OPRFHS)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• River Forest Public Library hosts "Park Play" at Keystone Park. (10 a.m.)
• Oak Park Public Library offers a "Barbie & Ken Club." (10 a.m.)
• Public swim opens at Ridgeland (Noon) and Rehm pools. (1 p.m.)
• Pineapple Dance Studio and Desueño Dance host a Bachata Bash Dance Social in Forest Park. (8:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• The Oak Park Pride Party will be held Saturday on the south lawn at Village Hall. (VOP)
• Keystone Montessori School achieved tax-exempt status this week after a decades-long “battle” with the Village of River Forest. (Wednesday Journal)
• Rush Cardiologist Daniel Luger, MD will give a presentation on heart health this weekend at the Oak Park Public Library’s main branch. (Library)
• The Park District of Oak Park released the lineup for its weekly summer concert series in Scoville Park. (PDOP)
• A 16-year-old giraffe at Brookfield Zoo is expecting a calf. (WGN)

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:

• An Afternoon of Blues with Pierre Lacocque and Mississippi Heat (June 25)
• Elmhurst Running Club 4 on the 4th (July 4)
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That's all for today! Thanks so much for being here and have a great weekend.

— Georgi Presecky

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.