🌱 Betty White Celebration Honors TV Icon's Oak Park Roots

Hello, OPRF! Thanks for starting your Saturday with Patch.

First, today's weather: A morning flurry; breezy. High: 26 Low: 16.

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

1. The Oak Park Department of Public Health confirmed 1,079 cases of COVID-19 this week. More than 30 percent of new cases were reported in residents 13 and younger. (VOP)

2. Lyons-Brookfield School District 103 will shift to remote learning next week due to the COVID-19 surge. The district did not reveal the number of cases within its schools. Officials will decide Jan. 19 if the “adaptive pause” will continue into the following week. (Landmark)

3. Construction continues on the Animal Care League’s expansion on Garfield Street. A new welcome center is the first phase of the construction project which will ultimately allow the ACL to house more animals. (Wednesday Journal)

4. Hillside representative Chris Welch is reflecting on his first year as speaker of the Illinois House. Welch told Capitol News Service his main goal for the 2022 legislature is passing a budget. (Forest Park Review)

5. Dominican University graduate Brigham Avery is the host of the new Marquee Sports Network TV show “Hollywood and Ivy,” in which he interviews well-known Cubs fans. The show premiered in December and will air new episodes once a month. (DU)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Walk the winter story trail at Trailside Museum. (9 a.m.)
• The Betty White Centennial Celebration will honor the television icon’s Oak Park roots with cake, music, a village ceremony and a pet adoption event. (10 a.m.)
• Play It Again Sports partners with Beyond Hunger for a drive-through fundraiser. (Noon)
• Ascension Catholic Church hosts a food drive. (5 p.m.)
• Triton College displays a cosmic light show set to the music of Queen. (8:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• The state set a record this week for the most COVID-19 hospitalizations ever reported. The Illinois Department of Public Health confirmed 7,380 people were hospitalized with the virus Thursday. More than 1,177 are in intensive care, the highest number of ICU patients since December 2020. (NBC)
• The Park District of Oak Park is reminding residents that proof of vaccination requirements are in place at the Oak Park Conservatory, Cheney Mansion, Pleasant Home and community centers. (PDOP)
• The local group IGov debuted a new monthly Wednesday Journal column on sustainability in Oak Park. (Wednesday Journal)

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That's all for this Saturday in Oak Park and River Forest! See you tomorrow for the Sunday edition of the Daily.

— Georgi Presecky