🌱 Green Line Rider Attacked + District 97 Names Superintendent

Happy Friday! Here's your new edition of the Oak Park-River Forest Daily.

First, today's weather: Breezy; a little morning snow. High: 40 Low: 17.

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

1. A CTA Green Line passenger was robbed at gunpoint on a train leaving Austin last Friday, according to Oak Park police. The assailant stole $100 before fleeing on Oak Park Avenue. (VOP)

2. An ATM with more than $10,000 inside was stolen from George’s On Belmont in January, Elmwood Park police said. Three thieves smashed the front window, stole the machine and fled on Belmont Avenue. (Paid source: Elm Leaves)

3. The Oak Park Public Library received a $22,000 grant from Illinois Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White. More than 200 organizations in the state were given about $6 million in funds to help their pandemic responses. (Wednesday Journal)

4. Dr. Ushma Shah will be the next superintendent of schools at District 97. She currently serves as the Interim Chief Portfolio Officer in Chicago Public Schools. Her official start date is June 1. (D97)

5. Oak Park Olympian Emery Lehman said this year’s winter games bring a variety of new challenges, including COVID-19 and a 14-hour time difference in Beijing. The speed skater stepped in for his COVID-positive teammate Casey Dawson in the 5,000-meter race Feb. 6, finishing 16th. (Paid source: Oak Leaves)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Hike Trailside Museum’s Olympic Trail. (9 a.m.)
• “Death on the Nile” opens at Lake Theatre. (1:30 p.m.)
• Keystone Center offers a “Parents Night Out” with games, food, crafts and movies for kids. (5:45 p.m.)
• Learn to paint a Paul Cézanne masterpiece at Dole Center. (6 p.m.)
• Join Kadampa Meditation Center for a spiritual discussion. (6:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Cook County Health is offering $100 gift cards to people who get vaccinated or boosted this weekend. (FOX)
• Oak Park Township and partners will host a “Memory Cafe” Tuesday for individuals living with memory loss. (Oak Park Township)
• Illinois Health Testing Services opened a new COVID-19 testing site in Brookfield this week. (Landmark)
• After 60 years in Oak Park, The Onion Roll is finding new ways to “up its bagel game.” (Wednesday Journal)
• Boy Scout Troop 16, which dates back more than 100 years in Oak Park, is seeking new members. (Forest Park Review)

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Events:

• Chicago Artisan Market (Love & Local) in Ravenswood — Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 12-13 (February 12)
• Lowered Costs for 2022, Get Your Cannabis Card in 24 hours from home! (February 12)
• FREE-Family Food Giveaway (February 12)
• Chicago Artisan Market (Love & Local) in Ravenswood — Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 12-13 (February 13)
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Announcements:

• Centre Physical Therapy — Now Open in Riverside, IL (Details)
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Job listings:

• Full Time Accounting Asst for Oak Park Property Management Co (Details)
• Clerical Support to Oak Park Property Management Team (Details)
• Park Maintenance-Western Springs Park District (Details)
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That's all for this Friday in OPRF! See you tomorrow for another Daily.

— 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.