🌱 Austin Politician To Run For Chicago Mayor + Halloween Events

Happy Halloween, Oak Park and River Forest! In today's Daily:

• Forest Park loosens its entertainment license rules
• The Cook County Assessor announces changes
• Halloween celebrations, hours and safety tips

But first, today's weather: Mostly cloudy, brief showers. High: 61 Low: 45.

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Here are the top 4 stories today in Oak Park-River Forest:

1. Federal oversight of the Cook County Assessor’s office is expected to end tomorrow after several decades. The role is currently held by Oak Park resident Fritz Kaegi, who is running for reelection. (Paid source: Tribune)

2. The Forest Park Village Council will no longer approve entertainment licenses for local businesses looking to host events. That role will now go to the village administrator. A stricter license approval process was established in 2021 due to reports of “rowdiness” at several Madison Street bars. The Review reports the complaints have “died down” in recent months. (Review)

3. Austin resident and Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson announced he is running for Chicago mayor. Johnson’s current constituency includes parts of Austin, Oak Park and Forest Park. (Austin Talks)

4. Trick-or-treating begins at 3 p.m. today in River Forest and 4 p.m. in Oak Park and will last four hours. Both villages are reminding drivers to be extra cautious and mindful of trick-or-treaters. (VOP/VRF)

Patch deal of the day:

Good knives make all the difference in the kitchen, but you don’t need to overpay for them. Seido Japanese knives are made with strong high-carbon stainless steel (high-carbon knives are more durable and usually more expensive) and have an acute 15-degree angle for a noticeably sharper cutting face (most Western-style knives have edge angles of 25 degrees). For a limited time, Patch readers can get a 5-piece Seido Japanese master knife set for 71 percent off. At just under $70, this chef-quality set is perfect for any home cook and would also make a great gift for the holidays.

(The Patch Deals team scours the web for deals we think you'll love; we may earn a commission on purchases. All deals are as of publication and could change.)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Oak Park Public Library hosts a Monster Mash Dance Party. (10 a.m.)
• Hear “spooky stories” at River Forest Public Library. (10 a.m.)
• The Nineteenth Century Club hosts "Horror, Halloween and Hollywood." (1:15 p.m.)
• A trunk-or-treat event is held at Austin Town Hall. (4 p.m.)
• Fall Fest at the Quinn Center. (5 p.m.)
• Horror film “Viral” screens at Lake Theatre. (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Rush University Medical Center reminds parents to watch for symptoms of RSV in children. (ABC)
• Fenwick High School sophomore Lily Brecknock won the Class 1A singles state title in tennis. (Paid source: Forest Leaves)
• Oak Park’s fall leaf collection program begins today and runs through Dec. 9. (VOP)

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That's all for today. Have a safe and happy Halloween. See you tomorrow for another Daily!

— Georgi

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.