🌱 OPRF 34th Best High School + Village Hall Renovation Update

Hello there, Oak Park-River Forest. I'm here in your inbox today to get you up to speed on everything you need to know about what's going on around town.

But first, today's weather:

Warm with a stray t-storm. High: 88 Low: 64.

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

1. Oak Park and River Forest High School (OPRF) has been ranked as the 34th best public high school in Illinois by U.S. News & World Report, marking a five-spot improvement from last year's 39th ranking; nationally, it ranks 907th. The top state rankings continue to be dominated by selective-enrollment Chicago Public High Schools, with Payton College Prep at the forefront, and OPRF is among the top nonselective-enrollment schools, surpassing institutions like York and Lyons Township High School. OPRF excelled in state assessment proficiency but ranked lower in categories like graduation rate, with Superintendent Greg Johnson emphasizing their commitment to continuous improvement regardless of rankings. (Wednesday Journal)
2. Oak Park Village Hall's potential demolition has been reversed, with the village board now focusing on renovating and modernizing the historic building; an architectural consulting firm specializing in historic preservation will be hired to assess the project's feasibility. Preservationists and local advocates, including Frank Heitzman of Preservation Oak Park, have welcomed this change and are optimistic about preserving the Harry Weese-designed structure. While complete demolition remains a possibility, the community hopes that the building can be rehabilitated to serve municipal needs for the next 50 years. (Wednesday Journal)
3. Three individuals sustained injuries in a single-vehicle crash on I-290 in Cook County around 1:36 a.m. on Monday, as reported by the Illinois State Police. The vehicle had collided with an embankment off the roadway, leading to the driver and two passengers being transported to a local hospital for treatment. Additional details about the incident were not provided by the authorities. (FOX 32 Chicago)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

Wednesday, September 6

• Adult Board Game And Lego Night At Oak Park Public Library (6:30 PM)
• Weekly Meditation Class At Kadampa Meditation Center Chicago - Oak Park (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Marie's Pizza and Liquors on Chicago's Northwest Side has temporarily paused its operations since March due to a family member's illness, and owner Nadine Karavidas intends to reopen the beloved pizza institution in the future, although the exact timeline remains uncertain. (Block Club Chicago)
• 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)
• The Taste of Chicago event is returning this Friday, Sep. 8 for a three-day run in Grant Park, but street closures have already begun, affecting several downtown roads like Columbus, Ida B. Wells, and Jackson. (WLS-TV)

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:

• College Funding Workshop (September 13)
• High Holiday Services 2023 (September 15)
• Safe Space Workshop (September 23)
• A Tail to Remember: Animal Care League's 50th Anniversary Gala (September 23)
• Add your event

Alrighty, you're all good for today! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow morning with another 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.