🌱 Pie Bake-Off Returns + Inaugural Convivencia Celebration

Welcome to the weekend, Oak Park and River Forest. Here's a quick breakdown of what's making news near you today.

📣 Our readers love to celebrate good news! You can now shout out your big announcement at the top of the Oak Park-River Forest Daily newsletter. Whether it's a grand opening, new product for sale, birthday, anniversary, engagement, wedding or new baby, let everyone celebrate alongside you! Submit your announcement here.

First, today's weather: Warm; breezy in the afternoon. High: 86 Low: 70.

🏡 Attention, real estate pros in Oak Park-River Forest! We're now offering an exclusive sponsorship opportunity for an agent interested in attracting local clients and standing apart from the competition. Click here to learn more.

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

1. Cases of COVID-19 decreased again this week in Oak Park. The health department reported 56 new cases, down from 68 last week. (VOP)

2. Oak Park entrepreneur Ryan Thompson received a grant from the village to install solar panels at home through the Better Homes Better Planet program. Thompson runs the sustainable local business Sideyard Coffee. (Wednesday Journal)

3. Two 5K races are being held in the area today. The Makin’ Tracks 5K begins at 8 a.m. at Concordia University. The Austin POWER 5K Run and Walk takes place on Chicago Avenue and is meant to “honor survivors on the West Side.” (Park District/AWN)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• The Annual Pie Bake-Off returns to the Oak Park Farmers Market. (9 a.m.)
• Oak Park Public Library presents a discussion on “American Modernism: Poetry of T.S. Eliot.” (11 a.m.)
• The Oak Park Regional Housing Center celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with its first-ever Convivencia at Taylor Park. (Noon)
• OPRF Museum hosts “Latinos in Illinois and the USA: Music as a Cultural History.” (3 p.m.)
• Salerno’s Pizza hosts an end-of-summer bash. (5:30 p.m.)
• Petty Union performs Tom Petty covers at Dominican University. (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• OPRF High School is seeking substitute teachers. (OPRFHS)
• Forest Park is moving ahead with a plan to improve its alleyways. (Review)
• St. Catherine–St. Lucy and St. Giles Parish will host its annual rummage sale Sept. 23-24. Items can be dropped off beginning Monday. (SGP)
• A brown bear named Jim died at Brookfield Zoo this week at the age of 27. (WGN)
• Revolution Brewing released a beer made from Garrett’s caramel corn this week. (FOX)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Laurie Christofano, Realtor | RE/MAX In the Village — (Visit website)
• Laura Ruiz, REALTOR® at REALTY OF CHICAGO — (Visit Website)
• Add your business here

Events:

• BHHS Chicago Sponsors Free Community Shred Event and Food Donation Drive on Sept. 17 from 9 a.m.- noon (September 17)
• Art Market @ HopGarten Itasca (September 17)
• Imperial Oak Brewing Artisan Market (September 18)
• Add your event

Gigs & services:

• Personalized Italian Language Lessons (Details)
• Add your gig or service

Thanks for reading today's Daily! I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow with a Sunday 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 Daily? Contact me at georgi.presecky@patch.com