🌱 OPRF High School Approves $102M Finance Plan + Mental Health Month

Happy Monday, Oak Park and River Forest! Let's kick off a new month with a quick guide to the local news.

But first, today's weather: Windy and chilly with rain. High: 47 Low: 39.

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Here are the top 3 stories in Oak Park-River Forest today:

1. Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 officials voted unanimously Thursday on funding the school’s $102 million renovation plan. According to the Wednesday Journal, board members voted to finance the project with a combination of debt certificates, private donations and cash reserves. Construction is expected to begin next year. (Wednesday Journal)

2. The Village of River Forest is continuing its partnership with Thrive Counseling Center in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month. “Thrive provides our officers 24-hour access to their counselors for the people, victims and matters that require expertise outside of the training of our police officers,” Village President Cathy Adduci wrote in her weekly letter to residents. (VRF)

3. Tickets are on sale for this weekend’s Spring House Walk. “Tales Our Houses Tell” is presented by the OPRF Museum and will feature tours of six local homes. (Museum)

📷 Oak Park-River Forest Photo of the Day

Susan Battaglia captures "Spring in Oak Park." Click here to share your photos from around town to be featured in the Patch newsletter.

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• It’s Coffee Monday at River Forest Public Library. (10 a.m.)
• The Nineteenth Century Club presents “The Science of Pandemics” with Dr. Theresa Chapple of the Oak Park Department of Public Health. (1:15 p.m.)
• Listening Sessions continue at Oak Park Public Library. (6:30 p.m.)
• River Forest Public Library offers take-home bags of fun family activities. (All day)

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From my notebook:

• The first Oak Park Farmers Market of the season will be held May 20 in the parking lot of Pilgrim Congregational Church. The weekly event runs through October. (VOP)
• River Forest Public Library will be closed Friday for staff training. (Library)
• A Grove Avenue home with ties to the Mayflower is on the market. (Wednesday Journal)
• The Oak Park Education Foundation will host its annual Bingo Bash May 12. (OPEF)

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Featured events:

• Free Comic Book Day 2023 (May 6)
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• Trinity High School's Summer Experiences (Details)
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That's all for today! See you tomorrow for another edition.

— 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