🌱 Anti-Vax Board Member Asked To Resign + More Snow For OPRF

Good morning! Let's get to the latest news in Oak Park and River Forest.

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First, today's weather: Snow showers, 1-3 inches; very cold. High: 26 Low: 17.

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Here are the top 5 stories in Oak Park-River Forest today:

1. Parking is prohibited on Oak Park and River Forest streets today due to the snow. Residents are asked to remove cars from streets to make room for snow removal vehicles. (VRF)

2. A Chicago man was hospitalized at Rush Oak Park after being assaulted on the CTA Blue Line. According to Oak Park police, the assailants hit the victim with a baseball bat, stabbed him and stole his phone and wallet. (Wednesday Journal)

3. Oak Park is expanding its village manager search to include a fourth candidate: Long Beach Deputy City Manager Kevin Jackson. They could announce a final decision as soon as this evening, according to a village press release. (VOP)

4. Concerned residents are calling on an unvaccinated Board of Health member to resign. Wynne Lacey is openly against COVID-19 vaccines and Village President Vicki Scaman said “she would not have been appointed” if her views were known. (Wednesday Journal)

5. Rev. Carl Morello said Oak Park parishioners might not see major changes when the village’s churches switch to a new structure in July. All four buildings will remain open but will function as two communities with new mass schedules. “I think the unification is going to help strengthen the Catholic identity within the Oak Park community,” he told Pioneer Press. (Paid source: Oak Leaves)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Get vaccinated or boosted at Cheney Mansion. (3 p.m.)
• “Moonfall” opens at Lake Theatre. (6 p.m.)
• River Forest Park District hosts a virtual beer tasting. (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Yesterday’s refuse collection in River Forest was delayed by the snow; garbage and recycling will be picked up today. (VRF)
• Oak Park Village Hall did not reopen as expected yesterday due to the weather. (VOP)
• OPRF High School celebrated the start of the Lunar New Year this week. (OPRFHS)
• A limited number of free at-home COVID-19 tests are available for online order in Oak Park. (VOP)
• West Sider Jermaine Jordan is raising funds to provide “Healthy Hot Free Meals” to people in need.” (AWN)

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That's all for Thursday, Oak Park and River Forest. Thanks for reading, and see you tomorrow!

— 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.