🌱 Booster Shots + Blood Drive + Daycare Vaccine Mandate

Happy Sunday, Oak Park-River Forest! Here's what's happening today in your neck of the woods.

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First, today's weather: Periods of rain. High: 52, low: 51.

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

1. A blood drive will be held today at Temple Har Zion in River Forest at 9 a.m. Blood donors are urgently needed in the Chicago area. The Red Cross reported that in recent weeks, the supply has dwindled to only a day's worth of life-saving blood. (Patch)

2. The Village of Oak Park is now accepting applications for 14 available jobs. Experienced workers are needed for roles including legal secretary, parking enforcement officer, sewer worker and more. (VOP)

3. COVID-19 booster shots are now available to eligible populations, regardless of whether they originally received the Pfizer-BioTech, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccines. The CDC approved “mix and match” doses for booster shots this week. Click here to see if you’re eligible. (VOP)

4. Daycare workers in Illinois must get vaccinated against COVID-19 by December, according to a new executive order by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. NBC reports the mandate “applies to more than 55,000 staff members who work at 2,872 licensed daycare facilities statewide.” (NBC5)

5. Oak Park physician Connie Moreland wants to create a “free movement.” Her Facebook group “Free To Good Home” has reached 4,600 members in Oak Park and surrounding areas, and involves recycling and reusing unwanted items within the group at no cost. (Wednesday Journal)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Author Michelle Kuo does a virtual Q&A with Oak Park Public Library. (2 p.m.)
• Celebrate Beethoven with the Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest. (4 p.m.)

Oak Park-River Forest Patch Notebook

• The intersection of Harlem and Grand Avenue in Elmwood Park was christened “Honorary Angelo Caputo Way” this week in honor of the late grocery store founder. (Paid source: Elm Leaves)
• Forest Park could potentially revoke the liquor license at Pioneer Tap after its owners failed to report an accident in July. (Forest Park Review)
• A new restaurant called Bourbon Fire is set to open at the site of the former Oak Park Food Market. (Wednesday Journal)
• The River Forest Fire Department is offering fire safety tips as the weather turns colder. (VRF)
• Snow guards, a new roof-top AC unit and playground mulch were all installed at St. Giles Parish this week. (St. Giles)

From our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Wondereen & Boo! A SPOOK-tacular Halloween Event! (October 24)
• Celebrate Beethoven with the Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest (October 24)
• HIRING EVENT - UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial (October 26)
• Taxes in Retirement Webinar (October 26)
• Taxes in Retirement Webinar (October 28)
• USA CBD Expo Chicago - The nation's largest CBD & hemp event! (October 29)
• USA CBD Expo Chicago - The nation's largest CBD & hemp event! (October 30)
• Save 15 Percent On Boo-tiful Flowers This Halloween! (October 31)
• Add your event

Announcements:

• Meet Jason Gann LIVE at USA CBD Expo Chicago!! (Details)
• Add your announcement

Job listings:

• Join one of Northwestern's premier research institutes (Details)
• Add your job listing

That's the news for Oct. 24. Have a safe and healthy Sunday!

— Georgi Presecky

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