🌱 Armed Robbery At Chase Bank + Last Vaccine Clinic

Good morning, Oak Park and River Forest! In today's Daily:

• The FBI is investigating a robbery at an Oak Park bank
• Catalytic converters were stolen from a dozen school buses serving Percy Julian Middle School
• Local hospitals and libraries will serve as warming centers during winter weather

But first, today's weather: Rather cloudy and breezy. High: 42 Low: 38.

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

1. A person was injured Monday morning when three men tried to rob an armored car at gunpoint outside an Oak Park bank. The FBI is investigating the robbery, which was reported after 9 a.m. at the Chase Bank on Madison Street. (Patch)

2. Transportation delays occurred Monday at Percy Julian Middle School after catalytic converters were stolen from more than a dozen buses at a Lakeview Bus Line lot. Principal Jeremy Christian said bus service should move forward as normal for the rest of the week. (NBC)

3. The last local COVID-19 vaccine clinic of the year will be held today at Cheney Mansion, according to the Oak Park Department of Public Health. The flu shot will also be offered as influenza-related hospitalizations are surging statewide. (VOP)

4. The Oak Park Homelessness Coalition published a list of local warming centers as winter weather settles in. All three branches of the Oak Park Public Library serve as warming centers during the day. Nighttime options are offered at Rush Oak Park and West Suburban Medical Center when temperatures drop below freezing. (OPHC)

5. Nine alleys were improved in River Forest this year, according to Village President Cathy Adduci’s weekly letter to residents. Five more projects are set for next spring. (VRF)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Oak Park Bank and the OPRF Chamber hosts a “Holiday Business After Hours” event. (5 p.m.)
• Hephzibah Children’s Association has a Foster Parenting Virtual Open House. (6 p.m.)
• Cookbook author Shauna Sever joins River Forest Public Library and other libraries across Illinois for a virtual holiday event. (7 p.m.)
• Oak Park Temple hosts an event on “Religious Freedom and Abortion Access.” (7 p.m.)
• Take adult improv at Oak Park Public Library. (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Asbestos abatement work is planned at OPRF High School over the holiday break, according to a Dec. 1 letter to families. (OPRFHS)
• Air handler construction has begun at River Forest Public Library and is expected to last six weeks. It will not affect library services. (VRF)
• Construction is set for this week at Pleasant and Marion streets, including utility work and concrete wall installations. (VOP)
• Visit Oak Park is seeking applicants for an executive director. (LinkedIn)
• A grant of more than $3 million will assist Hispanic and Latino students at Elmhurst University. (Daily Herald)

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Events:

• Singers from the Lyric Celebrate the Season (December 19)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Tuesday! I'll see you around.

— 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.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Oak Park-River Forest Daily? Contact me at OakPark@Patch.com