🌱 Patch AM: Will OPRF’s student-led snack cabinet program get full funding?

Good morning Oak Park! We're back again in your inbox, keeping you updated with what's happening in and around town. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Will OPRF's student-led snack cabinet program get full funding?
• Where does OPRF rank among Chicago's top suburban high schools?
• How did Fenwick's new-look Friars start their title defense?

Also on today's calendar: Voices of Hope Community Chorus — Fall Invitation and 1 more event.

Today's riddle: What did one strawberry say to the other strawberry? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high of 80 and low of 65 degrees.
• Wednesday: Humid with a t-storm in spots, temps: high: 84, low: 65.
• Thursday: Chance of a shower, with a high of 79 and low of 65 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• OPRF snack cabinets are stocked for now as students keep up push (oakpark.com) — Students at Oak Park and River Forest High School will keep finding four hallway snack cabinets stocked with free food at least through this semester, thanks to a commitment from administrators. A student-led group is still pushing the District 200 board to fund eight cabinets long term, arguing the program helps address food insecurity while officials study broader solutions.
   

• The Best Suburban Public High Schools (chicagotribune.com) — Oak Park and River Forest High School earns a top spot in a new ranking of suburban public high schools, highlighting strong performance data from the 2024–25 school year. The list, based on Illinois State Board of Education metrics, lets Oak Park families compare OPRF with other standout districts across the region.
   

• Fenwick rolls in opener over Joliet Catholic (oakpark.com) — Fenwick High School's football team, based in Oak Park, opened its 2026 season with a 28–13 road win over Joliet Catholic after a sluggish first half. Junior quarterback Myles Hill threw three touchdowns, including an 84-yard strike on the first play, as the Friars showed they can reload after last year's state title run.
   

📸 Around Oak Park

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Oak Park

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★ Featured events ★

Thursday August 27
• Voices of Hope Community Chorus — Fall Invitation →
  St Lukes Lutheran Church, 205 N Prospect Ave, Park Ridge
  7:00 pm
Tuesday September 15
• Fundraising in the Age of AI →
  12:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday August 27
• Voices of Hope Community Chorus is Seeking Experienced Singers →
  St Lukes Lutheran Church, 205 N Prospect Ave, Park Ridge
  7:00 pm
Friday August 28
• Ladies Night "Red Bottoms" Sip and Paint →
  Toast To Paint, 7185 W Bloomingdale Ave, Chicago
  7:00 pm

📣 Oak Park Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Tuesday August 25
• PTA Meeting
  Elmhurst SD 205 Elmhurst, IL 60126
  9:00 am
• Cross Country Practice
  Elmhurst SD 205 Churchville Middle School, 155 Victory Pkwy, Elmhurst, IL 60126
  3:30 pm
• Middle School Makers (Grades 5-8)
  River Forest Public Library 735 Lathrop Avenue, River Forest, IL, 60305, US
  3:30 pm
• Sweat, Talk, And Rise Up fitness classes
  Oak Park - River Forest (OPRF) Chamber of Commerce Yoga Lofts Studios at 115 N. Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park, IL
  4:00 pm
• B/O Roy Recruitment
  Mannheim SD 83 Franklin Park, IL 60131
  4:00 pm
• Chamber Business After Hours | The Picklr
  Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce The Picklr 260 W. North Avenue Villa Park, IL 60181
  5:00 pm
• Curriculum Night-REACH
  Lincoln Elem School Elmhurst, IL 60126
  5:30 pm
• Read to a Dog, Read with Me (Grades K-4) - Dog 1
  River Forest Public Library 735 Lathrop Avenue, River Forest, IL, 60305, US
  6:00 pm
• Field Curriculum Night 2026-2027
  Field Elem School Elmhurst, IL 60126
  6:00 pm
• Read to a Dog, Read with Me (Grades K-4) - Dog 2
  River Forest Public Library 735 Lathrop Avenue, River Forest, IL, 60305, US
  6:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Oak Park PatchAM possible:

• Cathy Yanda | Baird & Warner | Oak Park & River Forest — (773) 315-7005
• Cathy Yanda | Baird & Warner | Oak Park & River Forest — (773) 315-7005
• Nickola Wells — 7736422454
• Oak Park Conservatory — (708) 725-2400
• British International School of Chicago, South Loop — (773) 312-3956
• RowCal - Arlington Heights — (630) 296-9991
• Art Studio 928 - Oak Park, IL — (312) 371-9526

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• On the PBS NewsHour, Judy Woodruff has been filing occasional in dept reports about what's going on in the US.
  One of her outstanding reports explored the importance of local newspapers. She visited cities and towns in which the last surviving newspaper had… (Nextdoor Oak Park)

• Pet Supplies Plus posted a job opening for Store Shift Supervisor in Elmwood Park. Apply here.
• Old Dominion Freight Line posted a job opening for Dock Worker/Forklift Operator - AM/PM Shift in Berwyn. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Oak Park here.

🗞 Nearby News

River Forest

• The making of the PGA Tour's Player of the Year (firstcallgolf.com)

Forest Park

• Top-5 Prince William football countdown: No. 5 Forest Park (insidenova.com)
• LifeSpeed launches new day program in Forest Park for adults with special needs (abc7chicago.com)

Berwyn

• Stage Buzz: The Ooozin' Ahhs at Berwyn Car Show • Cigars and Stripes BBQ • Berwyn (illinoisentertainer.com)
• One Year Ago Today, We Lost the Last Surviving Member of the Vocal Quartet Whose No. 1 Hit Soundtracked 'Halloween,' 'Deadpool,' and 'Stranger Things' (americansongwriter.com)

Ok Oak Park! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: If you weren't so sweet, we wouldn't be in this jam! (Thank you Patti F. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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