Oak Park Nerd

OPRFHS Welcomes Griff, New Facility Dog Supporting Student Wellness

https://www.vitaminrush.com/277654/oprfhs-welcomes-griff-new-facility-dog-supporting-student-wellness/

Oak Park and River Forest High School (OPRFHS) is proud to introduce the newest member of the Huskie community: Griff, the …

For the exterior of his home, Wright adapted the picturesque Shingle style, fashionable for the vacation homes of wealthy East Coast families and favored by his previous employer, Silsbee. The stamp of Sullivan’s influence is apparent in the simplification and abstraction of the building and its plan. In contrast to what Wright described as “candle-snuffer roofs, turnip domes [and] corkscrew spires” of the surrounding houses, his home’s façade is defined by bold geometric shapes—a substantial triangular gable set upon a rectangular base, polygonal window bays, and the circular wall of the wide veranda. (Frank Lloyd Wright Trust)

Originally designed in the Tudor Revivial style in 1895, the house was partially destroyed by fire in 1922, allowing Wright to rebuild it in a style that was more his own. "While Wright took this opportunity to completely redesign the house, he retained the essence of the Tudor style. The foundations as well as most of the first floor walls and south porch were retained. A slate roof and masonry chimneys were rebuilt in almost identical form to the originals, but Wright chose to leave out the second floor walls. The new roof sat directly on the first floor, thus making the entire structure significantly shorter. Each side featured paired lancet windows and a facing of intricately adorned terracotta. While half-timbering was limited to the peaks of three gables, the remaining surfaces were replaced by banding of terracotta and heavily carved, geometrically patterned wood. In these details, Wright not only drew inspiration from English Tudor, but also from Mayan architecture and the elaborate, organic style of Louis Sullivan." (Wikipedia)

"Solid and monolithic, the Heurtley house is one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s greatest residential designs. Located a short distance from Wright’s own Home and Studio in Oak Park, the house was commissioned by banker Arthur Heurtley and his wife Grace. While the rectangular form and monumental massing of the building evokes Wright’s earlier Winslow house of 1893, the design reflects the remarkable evolution of Wright’s work, and the emergence of his mature Prairie style design vocabulary. Situated on an expansive lot, the house is anchored to its site by a substantial stone water table. A low-hipped roof with broad, overhanging eaves shelters the residence. The horizontal form of the building is further emphasized by Wright’s use of two colors of Roman brick, laid in alternating, projecting bands. On the upper level of the house, in place of a decorative frieze, a continuous band of leaded glass casement windows extend across the façade." (Frank Lloyd Wright Trust)

Frank Lloyd Wright in the snow. Forest Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois

DOJ lawyer says it's 'wrong to allege' Operation Midway Blitz is over The comment came during a hearing Thursday in front of U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis on how best to wind down a lawsuit initiated earlier this fall by protesters, clergy and journalists over federal ...

“‘And while it was the government’s position that no agent did anything illegal or unconstitutional, having watched the videos, having read the reports, having listened to the witnesses, I strongly disagree,’ the judge said.” www.chicagobusiness.com/politics/doj...

Kristi Noem appearance at annual Christmas tree offload sparks protests at Navy Pier U.S. Secretary of the Department of Homeland Secret Service and Kristi Noem made an appearance at the 26th annual Christmas tree ship ceremony at Navy Pier.

Andy Thayer: “I think it’s insulting that she came to our city after doing so much destruction…We’ve had families separated, we’ve had people losing their jobs because of what she’s done, and she’s got some nerve to show up.” www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/06/k...

Ahead of Kristi Noem’s visit to Chicago Saturday, immigration agents make show of force in west suburbs Federal immigration agents detained at least three people in the western suburbs Friday in a sudden burst of aggressive action.

Agents “detained at least three people in the west suburbs Friday in a sudden burst of aggressive action, chasing workers who tried to hide on top of a truck before running through a Menards parking lot in Cicero and questioning people walking in Berwyn.” www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/05/k...

Supreme Court to decide if Trump can limit the constitutional right to citizenship at birth The Trump administration is seeking to roll back the historical understanding that birthright citizenship extends to almost anyone born in the United States.

www.nbcnews.com/politics/sup...

A tally of tardy taxes - Wednesday Journal For most Oak Park taxpayers, the recently released second installment property tax bills represent an annual tax increase of about 4.5% compared to last year’s bills. But the delay in issuing the bill...

“Taxpayers from Oak Park and surrounding suburbs may file in the reopened appeal period between December 3 and 12. Oak Park residents who want help filing an appeal can call the Oak Park Township Assessor’s office at 708-383-8005 to set up an appointment.” www.oakpark.com/2025/12/02/a...

Cook County property taxpayers get another shot at appeals Citing this year’s record property tax hikes, the Cook County Board of Review is giving taxpayers another brief shot at knocking down their bills for next year.

“Every Cook County township will reopen for appeals to property tax assessments, the county’s estimate of a home or business’ value, through Dec. 12.” www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/04/c...

CTA State/Lake Station Will Be Demolished in January, Gleaming Replacement to Open in 2029 At 130 years old, the Chicago Transit Authority's State/Lake Loop elevated station has had a good run, but that run is ending in January.

news.wttw.com/2025/12/04/c...

How The Feds Used Propaganda To Frame Their ‘War’ On Chicago: 'They're Lying Constantly' Homeland Security has sought to reshape violent encounters into triumphant narratives — even as judges, journalists and experts said the agency has repeatedly distorted facts, misled the public and at...

The “pattern goes beyond spin. In press releases and social media posts, the Department of Homeland Security has built a narrative meant to project control and valorize its agents… At the same time, it has cast protesters and bystanders as threats or obstacles.” blockclubchicago.org/2025/12/04/h...

Broadview conspiracy defendants want to see if White House played a role in their case A significant legal battle appears to be brewing in the case of six people facing federal charges tied to protests outside an immigration facility in Broadview.

“Defense attorneys now say they’re also pursuing the kind of claim raised in the prosecutions of ex-FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Selective prosecution arguments were raised in both cases...” chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...

Trump’s 33 page “National Security Strategy.” www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...

Trump reveals what he wants for the world The National Security Strategy, which presidents usually release once each term, offers a formal statement of U.S. global priorities.

“The 33-page document is a rare formal explanation of Trump’s foreign policy worldview by his administration.” www.politico.com/news/2025/12...

ICE Arrest Data Shows Many Immigrants With No Criminal Record (Gift Article) In high-profile operations, more than half of those arrested had no criminal record, an analysis shows.

www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Oak Park Trustee Brian Straw’s case was heard today. The federal prosecutor “said the government will provide another set of discovery materials to the defense after the first week of January…Those discovery materials will likely include ‘White House communications’” www.oakpark.com/2025/12/04/o...

This impacts residents of Evanston, Oak Park, and Skokie. All three municipalities have adopted RCV, but the Cook County board of elections had just "decided" they don't want to implement it on a law that is obviously not interpreted the way they are to suit their own political whims.

IL Cracking Down On ICE Agents Swapping License Plates On Rental Cars: Giannoulias The secretary of state said his office is holding rental car companies, DHS accountable following hundreds of complaints from the public.

"We're making it very clear when it comes to protecting our communities, no one is above the law," Giannoulis said. patch.com/illinois/acr...

Trump administration sued for South Shore raid footage that fed propaganda videos The filming by federal immigration agencies of their military-style operations was central to their strategy of gaining public support for the raids in Chicago and its suburbs.

“The posts included glamour shots of Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino… Democracy Forward said the videos were ‘valorizing the dangerous and unjustified action.’” www.wbez.org/immigration/...

The 2025 Oak Park vigil to remember victims and support survivors of gun violence will be next Monday, December 8th (indoors!) at 7:00 p.m. @newtownaction.org @sandyhookpromise.bsky.social @krisbrown.bradyunited.org @rachelajacoby.bsky.social @samuelschwartz.bsky.social @laurenharper.bsky.social

Melania Trump Makes Christmas Spooky Again The First Lady’s all-black outfit and the president’s glowering, bloody portraits give the White House Christmas decorations an ominous vibe.

“The official theme is ‘Home Is Where the Heart Is.’ But the vibe here is more ‘Darth Vader surveys progress on the second Death Star.’” nymag.com/intelligence...

Great Chicago representation on list of Top 50 steak houses in North America. abc7chicago.com/post/chicago...

In 2011, a group of talented Oak Park women attorneys gathered. They then formed Pro Bono Network, which provides attorneys training and resources to provide pro bono services to those most in need. Please consider donating $25 and get a $250 match! www.pbnetwork.org/donate www.pbnetwork.org/donate

Bonds! Up on the 12/2 Oak Park Village Board Consent Agenda— issuing $75M in bonds for streetscape and infrastructure improvements and “refunding” some outstanding bonds. Looks like it is $55M in “refunding” (like refinancing) bonds, and $20M in new bonds. oak-park.legistar.com/LegislationD...

On the 12/2 Oak Park Village Board Consent Agenda: $628K for “Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons” (RRFB) for cyclists and pedestrians. Map below shows planned locations. Agenda item: oak-park.legistar.com/LegislationD...

Continued public hearing on the Oak Park Village Budget will be on 12/2. Note the change in levy from up 5% to now only up 3.24%. Trustee Wesley wants you to come by and make a public comment on the annual budget, because he is sad that no one ever does! 🙂
oak-park.legistar.com/LegislationD...

On the Consent Agenda at the Oak Park Village Board meeting on 12/2: applying for an $8K county grant so residents can create water usage alerts, set a water budget, and view their own consumption data 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. oak-park.legistar.com/LegislationD...

Fifteen pigeons lined up on three power lines against a gray sky

Oak Park has very posh pigeons that can't be bothered with city garbage. They are waiting for a turn at my bird feeder. 😱

Pace Bus express service could expand to Chicago’s western suburbs Pace Suburban Bus is asking for public input on potentially expanding its express bus service to the western suburbs.

"Such a service expansion would help connect commuters coming from major suburban hubs like Oak Park, Forest Park, Oak Brook and Schaumburg to Chicago"
www.fox32chicago.com/news/pace-bu...

Liberal towns backtrack on license plate trackers amid concerns about privacy — and Trump As Trump’s return to office brought an increased and forceful presence of federal agents to states across the country, some local officials now argue the cameras themselves pose the bigger danger for ...

www.politico.com/news/2025/11...

Map shows Donald Trump’s approval rating in each state after 10 months Trump's approval rating is underwater in every swing state but holds firm in traditional Republican areas.

www.newsweek.com/map-donald-t...