🌱 Board Passes Budget + Stolen Packages + Property Taxes

Hello, Oak Park and River Forest!

As you may know, Amazon Web Services experienced an outage on Tuesday that affected the Daily. Some of you might have received a late newsletter on Wednesday, or no newsletter at all. Please know this was unfortunately beyond our control, but we are fully back in business! -Georgi

Let's get to the news for Thursday, Dec. 9.

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First, today's weather: Cloudy and breezy. High: 43 Low: 32.

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

1. The Oak Park Village Board passed the 2022 fiscal year budget Monday. The budget includes $160.3 million in net expenditures. (Wednesday Journal)

2. An attempted armed carjacking occurred Dec. 3 in the first block of Erie Court, according to the latest police department crime report. The owner of a 2013 Jeep was able to escape the robbers and recover his car. (OPPD)

3. An anonymous donor gave $50,000 to District 97 to help students year-round, far beyond the district's annual coat drive. The funds will help families in need pay for school supplies, field trips, snacks and more. (Wednesday Journal)

4. Oak Park River Forest High School defeated Fenwick 66-52 at the Chicago Elite Classic this week. Fenwick had won nine times over the last 10 years. (Paid source: Sun-Times)

5. Oak Park taxpayers have until Jan. 4, 2022, to appeal property tax assessments. Appointments are available with Township Assessor Ali ElSaffar's office for assistance with filing the paperwork. (Paid source: Tribune)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• John Mills Elementary School has a Winter Concert. (4:30 p.m.)
• Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” opens at Lake Theatre. (5 p.m.)
• Make snowball bath bombs at River Forest Public Library. (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Leaf collection ends tomorrow in both River Forest and Oak Park. (VRF)
• The Village of River Forest is offering tips to avoid package theft this holiday season. (VRF)
• The Suburban Unity Alliance toy drive runs through Dec. 21 with drop-off locations at Brewpoint Craft and the Hampton House. (Newsbreak)

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Events:

• UChicago Medicine OR Hiring Event (December 9)
• Virtual Holiday Housewalk & Grand Raffle — For Healthy Kids! (December 10)
• FREE-Family Food Distribution (December 11)
• Chicago Artisan Market (Holiday Edition) in Fulton Market — Sunday, Dec. 12 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (December 12)
• Taxes In Retirement Webinar (December 14)
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Announcements:

• Bobby Hull and Duke Sterk Appearing @ Sports Cards and More Show (Details)
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For sale:

• 2 bed, 1 bath home for sale in Burbank Illinois BY OWNER (Details)
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That's all for today! See you tomorrow for the Friday edition.

— Georgi Presecky

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