Oak Park Nerd
@oakparknerd.bsky.social
I hope something good happens to you today.
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Oak Park Nerd
@oakparknerd.bsky.social
· Nov 23
Our political motto should be: “Oak Park: Where You Are Always Doing It Wrong.” Interesting clash of liberals, progressives, and ultra progressives. But, we try.
Reposted by Oak Park Nerd
Oak Park-based Pro Bono Network to celebrate 15 years
Oak Park-based Pro Bono Network to celebrate 15 years - Wednesday Journal
An Oak Park-founded group that helps attorneys get involved in pro-bono legal aid work is celebrating a decade-and-a-half of operation. Pro Bono Network, founded in 2011 in Oak Park attorney Donna Peel’s...
www.oakpark.com
January 8, 2026 at 8:05 PM
Oak Park-based Pro Bono Network to celebrate 15 years
Early morning on the Green Line platform in Oak Park. (Credit to Bob Tucker!)
January 8, 2026 at 2:40 PM
Early morning on the Green Line platform in Oak Park. (Credit to Bob Tucker!)
Reposted by Oak Park Nerd
📣 Reimagining Public Safety Town Hall – Oak Park
🗓 Jan 13 | ⏰ 7 PM
Hear from community leaders & elected officials on how we can reduce violence in Illinois, featuring the RIFL Act (HB3320/SB2279), CVI & street outreach, community policing, and more.
👉 RSVP bit.ly/OakParkTownH...
🗓 Jan 13 | ⏰ 7 PM
Hear from community leaders & elected officials on how we can reduce violence in Illinois, featuring the RIFL Act (HB3320/SB2279), CVI & street outreach, community policing, and more.
👉 RSVP bit.ly/OakParkTownH...
January 8, 2026 at 12:01 AM
📣 Reimagining Public Safety Town Hall – Oak Park
🗓 Jan 13 | ⏰ 7 PM
Hear from community leaders & elected officials on how we can reduce violence in Illinois, featuring the RIFL Act (HB3320/SB2279), CVI & street outreach, community policing, and more.
👉 RSVP bit.ly/OakParkTownH...
🗓 Jan 13 | ⏰ 7 PM
Hear from community leaders & elected officials on how we can reduce violence in Illinois, featuring the RIFL Act (HB3320/SB2279), CVI & street outreach, community policing, and more.
👉 RSVP bit.ly/OakParkTownH...
Reposted by Oak Park Nerd
One more from Oak Park.
January 8, 2026 at 1:25 AM
One more from Oak Park.
Donate books year-round. “Two Open Books collection bins are in the alley just north of the [Oak Park] Main Library building at 834 Lake St. Access the alley by driving south on the 100 block of North Grove Avenue until you reach the cul-de-sac, then turn west (right).” www.oppl.org/about/donate...
Donate Books
Share your gently used books & materials year-round Two Open Books collection bins are in the alley just north of the Main Library building at 834
www.oppl.org
January 8, 2026 at 2:28 PM
Donate books year-round. “Two Open Books collection bins are in the alley just north of the [Oak Park] Main Library building at 834 Lake St. Access the alley by driving south on the 100 block of North Grove Avenue until you reach the cul-de-sac, then turn west (right).” www.oppl.org/about/donate...
Did you know this? Oak Park Public Library offers free delivery to library card-holders “who have limited mobility, are ages 60+, or have children under the age of 5.” I love this. www.oppl.org/use-your-lib...
Oak Park Home Delivery
Oak Park Home Delivery brings library materials to residents who have limited mobility, are ages 60+, or have children under the age of 5. Find more about
www.oppl.org
January 8, 2026 at 2:25 PM
Did you know this? Oak Park Public Library offers free delivery to library card-holders “who have limited mobility, are ages 60+, or have children under the age of 5.” I love this. www.oppl.org/use-your-lib...
The proposed Illinois Responsibility in Firearm Legislation would require manufacturers to pay into a fund “based on how frequently their products are recovered in an injury or death. The funds will be allocated to evidence-based violence prevention strategies...”
www.oakpark.com/2026/01/06/r...
www.oakpark.com/2026/01/06/r...
RIFL takes aim at the firearms industry - Wednesday Journal
Dr. Anthony Douglas is coming to the Oak Park Public Library Veterans Room at 7 p.m. next Tuesday, Jan. 13, to speak about the Illinois RIFL Act (Responsibility in Firearm Legislation) also known as H...
www.oakpark.com
January 8, 2026 at 1:56 PM
The proposed Illinois Responsibility in Firearm Legislation would require manufacturers to pay into a fund “based on how frequently their products are recovered in an injury or death. The funds will be allocated to evidence-based violence prevention strategies...”
www.oakpark.com/2026/01/06/r...
www.oakpark.com/2026/01/06/r...
Ugh. Can Oak Park ever take a break from trying to build more pools?
January 8, 2026 at 1:47 PM
Ugh. Can Oak Park ever take a break from trying to build more pools?
“In absolute terms, a $600 billion increase in military spending is an enormous rise. It is more than the entire defense budget — $582.7 billion — proposed by the Obama administration in 2016, the year before Mr. Trump’s first term began.” www.nytimes.com/2026/01/07/u...
Trump Proposes Huge Increase in Military Spending
www.nytimes.com
January 8, 2026 at 1:42 PM
“In absolute terms, a $600 billion increase in military spending is an enormous rise. It is more than the entire defense budget — $582.7 billion — proposed by the Obama administration in 2016, the year before Mr. Trump’s first term began.” www.nytimes.com/2026/01/07/u...
The decision is “a finger in the eye to the billions of people, including Americans, suffering through intensifying wildfires, storms and droughts, threats to the food supply and to biodiversity, and other dangerous and costly effects of a warming planet.” www.nytimes.com/2026/01/07/c...
Trump Pulls Out of Global Climate Treaty
www.nytimes.com
January 8, 2026 at 1:39 PM
The decision is “a finger in the eye to the billions of people, including Americans, suffering through intensifying wildfires, storms and droughts, threats to the food supply and to biodiversity, and other dangerous and costly effects of a warming planet.” www.nytimes.com/2026/01/07/c...
Trump “and his national security team are holding active discussions about a U.S. purchase of Greenland, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday.” www.reuters.com/world/china/...
White House says Greenland purchase is an active discussion, Trump is committed to NATO
President Donald Trump remains committed to the NATO alliance even as he and his national security team are holding active discussions about a U.S. purchase of Greenland, White House spokeswoman Karol...
www.reuters.com
January 8, 2026 at 1:35 PM
Trump “and his national security team are holding active discussions about a U.S. purchase of Greenland, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday.” www.reuters.com/world/china/...
Reposted by Oak Park Nerd
The CEO of Barnes & Noble says they aren't hurting indies, but in Chicagoland they're exclusively opening near independent bookstores. I threw together a map. Blue pins are indies, red pins are new B&Ns (recent and upcoming)
Map here: indiebooks.nerdychicago.com
Map here: indiebooks.nerdychicago.com
January 6, 2026 at 11:16 AM
The CEO of Barnes & Noble says they aren't hurting indies, but in Chicagoland they're exclusively opening near independent bookstores. I threw together a map. Blue pins are indies, red pins are new B&Ns (recent and upcoming)
Map here: indiebooks.nerdychicago.com
Map here: indiebooks.nerdychicago.com
Reposted by Oak Park Nerd
For locals who are interested, a list of indie bookstores in and around Oak Park:
- The Book Loft www.thebookloftoakpark.com
- Dandelion Bookshop dandelionbookshop.com
- The Looking Glass www.thelookingglassbooks.com
- Mission Curiosity Bookstore www.missioncuriosity.org
Please feel free to add! 👇
- The Book Loft www.thebookloftoakpark.com
- Dandelion Bookshop dandelionbookshop.com
- The Looking Glass www.thelookingglassbooks.com
- Mission Curiosity Bookstore www.missioncuriosity.org
Please feel free to add! 👇
January 6, 2026 at 1:42 PM
For locals who are interested, a list of indie bookstores in and around Oak Park:
- The Book Loft www.thebookloftoakpark.com
- Dandelion Bookshop dandelionbookshop.com
- The Looking Glass www.thelookingglassbooks.com
- Mission Curiosity Bookstore www.missioncuriosity.org
Please feel free to add! 👇
- The Book Loft www.thebookloftoakpark.com
- Dandelion Bookshop dandelionbookshop.com
- The Looking Glass www.thelookingglassbooks.com
- Mission Curiosity Bookstore www.missioncuriosity.org
Please feel free to add! 👇
Reposted by Oak Park Nerd
Oak Park grants $645k to Housing Forward for 2026 emergency shelter operations
Oak Park grants $645k to Housing Forward for 2026 emergency shelter operations - Wednesday Journal
Oak Park will provide over $645,000 in funding this year to cover operating costs for the new emergency overnight homeless shelter.
www.oakpark.com
January 6, 2026 at 10:32 PM
Oak Park grants $645k to Housing Forward for 2026 emergency shelter operations
The Broadview zoning board recommended restricting “prisons and detention centers within 1,000 feet of residential areas, school districts, day care centers, cemeteries, park districts, forest preserves, senior-living facilities and public housing.” chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
With an eye on ICE, Broadview village board approves restrictions on detention centers
Under the new limits, prisons and detention centers can't be within 1,000 feet of schools and residential areas. The Trump administration has been searching for locations to expand immigration detenti...
chicago.suntimes.com
January 6, 2026 at 1:52 PM
The Broadview zoning board recommended restricting “prisons and detention centers within 1,000 feet of residential areas, school districts, day care centers, cemeteries, park districts, forest preserves, senior-living facilities and public housing.” chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
Also open to high school juniors and seniors with at least a 3.0 GPA. Per the website, student surveys show:
— 93% report being more likely to vote in the future
— 90% report that they would be willing to serve again in the future.
Application: connect.cookcountyclerkil.gov?fbclid=IwRlR...
— 93% report being more likely to vote in the future
— 90% report that they would be willing to serve again in the future.
Application: connect.cookcountyclerkil.gov?fbclid=IwRlR...
January 6, 2026 at 4:28 AM
Also open to high school juniors and seniors with at least a 3.0 GPA. Per the website, student surveys show:
— 93% report being more likely to vote in the future
— 90% report that they would be willing to serve again in the future.
Application: connect.cookcountyclerkil.gov?fbclid=IwRlR...
— 93% report being more likely to vote in the future
— 90% report that they would be willing to serve again in the future.
Application: connect.cookcountyclerkil.gov?fbclid=IwRlR...
One is opening in Oak Park.
I read earlier today that Barnes and noble is opening a location downtown too. I didn’t see it as a negative immediately when it opened in wicker. It’s a beautiful space.
But if they’re opening next to small bookstores it’s hard to argue they aren’t pushing them out slowly.
But if they’re opening next to small bookstores it’s hard to argue they aren’t pushing them out slowly.
Barnes & Noble is Opening Four New Chicago-Area Locations in 2026
If reading more books is on your list of resolutions, we’ve got some good news—Barnes & Noble is expanding in Chicagoland this year! The big-box retailer will add four new locations in the coming mon...
secretchicago.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:57 AM
One is opening in Oak Park.
Please don’t let this happen in Oak Park once B&N moves in.
January 6, 2026 at 3:55 AM
Please don’t let this happen in Oak Park once B&N moves in.
“For any student or lover of politics, 2026 will be nothing short of a banner year with so many races and a bumper crop of candidates vying for what could be an unprecedented number of open congressional seats. Voters will have plenty to think about this year.” abc7chicago.com/post/2026-el...
2026 elections: What to know about major political races in Illinois this year
2026 will be nothing short of a banner year with so many races and a bumper crop of candidates vying for what could be an unprecedented number of open congressional seats.
abc7chicago.com
January 5, 2026 at 2:43 PM
“For any student or lover of politics, 2026 will be nothing short of a banner year with so many races and a bumper crop of candidates vying for what could be an unprecedented number of open congressional seats. Voters will have plenty to think about this year.” abc7chicago.com/post/2026-el...
“If there is an overriding lesson of American foreign affairs in the past century, however, it is that attempting to oust even the most deplorable regime can make matters worse.” www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/o...
Opinion | Trump’s Attack on Venezuela Is Illegal and Unwise
www.nytimes.com
January 3, 2026 at 3:48 PM
“If there is an overriding lesson of American foreign affairs in the past century, however, it is that attempting to oust even the most deplorable regime can make matters worse.” www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/o...