🌱 Town Nominations Requested + School Supply Drive + Cooling Centers

Hello all! Nicole Fallon-Peek here with your Thursday edition of the Oak Park-River Forest Patch newsletter, filled with all the community information you need to know right now.

But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny, hot and humid. High: 93 Low: 76.

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

1. The Village of Oak Park is seeking nominations for the 2023 Cavalcade of Pride, Historic Preservation, and Sustainability awards, aiming to recognize organizations, individuals, and businesses that contribute to property preservation and sustainability efforts. The awards encompass various categories, including property maintenance and improvement, historic preservation, and climate action and resilience. Nomination deadlines are set for Sept. 15, Sept. 29, and Oct. 15, respectively, with online nomination forms available on the Village's website. (Oak Park Village)
2. Oak Park and River Forest Townships have launched a drive to collect school supplies for PreK-12 students in the local area, ensuring they have the necessary tools for a successful school year. Their goal is to fill more than 250 backpacks with essential supplies, and donations are welcome until Aug. 4 to support this initiative and empower students in the community. (Beyond Hunger via Twitter)
3. The National Weather Service has issued warnings for hot, humid, and potentially stormy weather conditions in Cook County through Friday, with peak heat index values expected between 95 and 105 degrees. To help residents cope with the extreme heat, Cook County is expanding its cooling centers to include Skokie, Maywood, and Bridgeview courthouses. Residents without adequate access to air conditioning are encouraged to seek respite at these cooling centers and follow safety tips such as staying hydrated, avoiding alcohol and sugary drinks, seeking shade or staying indoors, and checking on vulnerable populations during the heatwave. (Shaw Local)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

Thursday, July 27

• Stories In The Forest (Ages 0-6) At River Forest Public Library (10:00 AM)
• Oak Brook Concert In The Park At Oak Brook Park District (6:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Brookfield Zoo boasts one of the largest hand-carved wooden carousels in the United States, featuring an impressive collection of 72 animals from around the world, including iconic species like lions, tigers, and zebras. Visitors are encouraged to take carousel photos and tag the zoo on Instagram, allowing the zoo to share these cherished memories on their Instagram stories, creating a fun and interactive experience for visitors and animal enthusiasts alike. (Brookfield Zoo via Instagram)
• The Cook County Department of Corrections is actively seeking candidates to fill various civilian positions, including the role of Administrative Hearing Officer for the Inmate Discipline Unit. This crucial position involves overseeing the inmate disciplinary process on a daily basis, and interested individuals can find more information on this and other open positions on their website. (Cook County Sheriff's Office (Official) via Facebook)
• The Oak Park Police Department is gearing up for National Night Out, a free community celebration scheduled for Aug. 1 from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. on the south lawn behind Village Hall. The event promises an array of exciting activities, food, and music, and residents can find more details here. Mark your calendars and join the fun-filled evening to foster community connections and celebrate together! (Village of Oak Park, Illinois via Facebook)

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)
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Featured events:

• Delicious Savory Crust empanadas delivered to your door! Order by Tuesday. (August 2)
• Fresh and Delicious Slices from Top-Rated Five Squared Pizza coming to you! Order by Wednesday. (August 3)
• Gourmet, fresh pasta meals for the family from Gemma Foods are coming to you! Order by Wednesday. (August 4)
• La Grange Endless Summerfest Aug. 4-6 (August 4)
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Other featured classifieds:

• The intermix of Anxiety & Depressive Disorders (Details)
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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! I'll see you soon.

— 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.