🌱 Armed Carjackings + Tree Trimming + Mental Health Center

Good morning, OPRF! Let's start December with some local news.

First, today's weather: Variable clouds; breezy, mild. High: 51 Low: 47.

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

1. Two armed carjackings were reported in Oak Park last week. A Hyundai Santa Fe was stolen at gunpoint in the daytime hours of Nov. 23 in the 1100 block of South Kenilworth Avenue, according to the police department. A car stolen Nov. 23 in the 900 block of Home Avenue was later recovered. (Paid source: Oak Leaves)

2. The Village plans to trim one third of the more than 18,000 parkway trees in Oak Park this winter. Crews will be focusing on trees between Roosevelt Road and Madison Street, plus some north of Chicago Avenue. (VOP)

3. The free combo meals in the Oak Park River Forest High School cafeteria list French fries as a vegetable under USDA guidelines, to the dismay of some students and parents. “I’d say 80 percent of our children take the fries as their vegetables,” director of food services Micheline Piekarski said. (Wednesday Journal)

4. Local nonprofits are working their way back to public gatherings despite the ongoing pandemic. Organizations like Maywood Fine Arts, Oak Park’s Wonder Works, The Symphony of Oak Park and more are planning December events with added safety measures. (Wednesday Journal)

5. A new mental health center opened in South Austin this month. Services are free and open to everyone at the Renaissance Living Room. (Paid source: Tribune)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Ribbon-cutting ceremony at Hines Insurance & Financial Services. (4:30 p.m.)
• Virtual Pajama Story-time with Oak Park Public Library. (6:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Monday is the deadline for enrollment in Oak Park Township’s Senior Health Insurance Program. (VOP)
• Fenwick High School is selling state championship football gear online today and tomorrow. (Fenwick)
• Send a letter to Santa with Oak Park Conservatory’s Santa Express mailbox, open now through Dec. 23. (Facebook)
• Registration is now open for OPRF Pony House League baseball. (OPRFPHL)
• Though all spots are filled for Cheney Mansion’s "Breakfast and Lunch with Santa" events this weekend, registration remains open for Tea with Santa. (PDOP)

From our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Emergency Family Food Assistance — Christmas FOOD DRIVE (December 3)
• Obstacles and Intimacies: new art from Stephanie Brooks (December 3)
• Taxes In Retirement Webinar (December 14)
• Add your event

That's all for today, OPRF! See you tomorrow for more news.

— Georgi Presecky

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