Oak Park Fights Climate Change + Students Speak Out

Good morning, Oak Park and River Forest! Welcome back to Patch's round-up of the latest local news in your area.

In today’s Daily, read about Oak Park and River Forest High School students' hopes for a major calendar change, plus Oak Park’s plans to combat climate change.

First, today’s weather: Clear throughout the day, with a high of 65 and low of 47.

Here are the top stories in Oak Park today:

1. The new Village Board discussed protocols at its Monday meeting, led by Village President Vicki Scaman. The former village clerk put an emphasis on transparency for the new term, according to reporter Stacey Sheridan. The next board meeting is set for May 17 at 7 p.m. (Wednesday Journal)

2. The OPRF District 200 Board is expected to finalize the 2021-2022 school calendar at today’s meeting. Jewish students at Oak Park and River Forest High School hope officials will consider Yom Kippur as a non-attendance day, telling F. Amanda Tugade they often feel they have to choose school work over their faith on the Day of Atonement. (Wednesday Journal)

3. The Village announced plans to hire a full-time staff member to help implement recommendations on climate change, Stacey Sheridan reports. “There’s no way we can ever catch up on reducing greenhouse gases if we don’t start now and get serious about it,” Village President Scaman said. Oak Park’s sustainability fund will support the cost of carrying out the recommendations at an expected cost of about $625,000. (Wednesday Journal)

4. The Oak Park Village Board approved plans to convert the U.S. Bank building at 835 Lake Street to a six-story residential development. Michigan Avenue Real Estate Group will now build 78 units instead of the original 84, due to rising costs and obstructed views of Unity Temple and Scoville Park. Permits are expected to be issued on the project this summer. (Oak Leaves)

Today in Oak Park:

• The Spring Choir Concert is on the calendar at Fenwick High School. (7 p.m.)
• Live stream the virtual Historic Preservation Commission meeting to learn about possible additions to the Frank Lloyd Wright-Prairie School of Architecture. (7:30 p.m.)
• Three nationally-touring comedians will take the stage at Oak Park Brewing Company for its monthly Comedy Club event. (8 p.m.)

Oak Park Patch Notebook

• The Village is recognizing National Police Week by acknowledging the Oak Park Police Department’s commitment to “citizen involvement, problem solving and ethical behavior.” (Village of Oak Park Twitter)
• The Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park is asking for the community’s help to keep author's Birthplace Museum open after tourism dropped dramatically during the pandemic. “Unlike many larger museums, the foundation that operates the birthplace home does not have a significant endowment or reserve fund,” museum officials said on their website. (Hemingway Foundation)
• Registration is now open for summer sports camps at Fenwick High School and Oak Park and River Forest High School. Students can register online for 15 sports camps including baseball, volleyball and lacrosse; dates beginning as early as June 7. (OPRFHS)

You're all caught up on what's happening today in Oak Park and River Forest. Let us know what you think about this newsletter by emailing georgi.presecky@patch.com! Thanks for being here.

- Georgi

About me: I am a lifelong Illinois resident and Lewis University graduate with a passion for White Sox baseball, classic literature and local news.