🌱 Chamber Honors Local 'Titans' + Forest Park Casket Races Return

Good morning! Welcome to the Saturday edition of the Oak Park-River Forest Daily. In today's news:

• Oak Park's new trustee plans to run for a full term
• The police department wins a grant for "deescalating conflict"
• A high school team is eliminated from playoff contention

But first, today's weather: Partly sunny and very warm. High: 77 Low: 60.

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

1. Reported COVID-19 cases decreased this week in Oak Park, according to the village health department. Forty-nine residents have tested positive for the virus since last week. It is the lowest case count since March. (VOP)

2. New Oak Park Trustee Cory Wesley told Oak Leaves he plans to run for a full term next election. He was appointed earlier this month to fill the vacant seat left by Arti Walker-Peddakotla’s resignation. “I stand in this room as a Black kid from the West Side of Chicago who can now make a difference in the lives of other Black kids who might not have thought that this was possible for them,” Wesley said. (Paid source: Oak Leaves)

3. Early voting for the Nov. 8 election begins Monday in several Cook County communities, including Oak Park and Elmwood Park. Voters who requested a mail-in ballot should be receiving them “soon,” according to the County Clerk's Office. (NBC)

4. The OPRF Chamber of Commerce honored “titans” of the community at its recent Spotlight Soiree event. Honorees included Wednesday Journal Publisher Dan Haley and the late Chicago Bears General Manager Jerry Vainisi. (Wednesday Journal)

5. Harvest On Harrison continues today, with trick-or-treating at several arts district businesses. Additional activities begin at 2 p.m. at Village Church, including hot chocolate, face painting and STEM projects. (OPAD)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• The Annual Casket Races return to Forest Park. (10:30 a.m.)
• North Riverside Park Mall hosts a hiring event. (11 a.m.)
• Editor Laurie Petersen visits Oak Park Public Library to discuss the latest edition of AIA Guide of Chicago. (11 a.m.)
• The Oak Park Regional Housing Center celebrates its 50th Anniversary Gala. (6 p.m.)
• City Voices Chorus performs at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• The Oak Park Police Department received a grant of more than $9,000 to “assist with training around deescalating conflicts in the field.” (VOP)
• Oak Park Township will collect unused or unneeded medications Oct. 29 as part of National Prescription Take-Back Day. (VRF)
• River Forest School District 90 opened its preschool lottery this week. The deadline to enter is Nov. 18. (Patch)
• The OPRF High School varsity football team lost Thursday night’s game against York by a score of 34-8. With a 1-5 record, the Huskies will not be eligible for a state playoff run. (MaxPreps)
• Local librarians are offering children’s book suggestions for the Halloween season and Dia de los Muertos. (Instagram)

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That's all for today! Thanks for being here. 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.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Oak Park-River Forest Daily? Contact me at georgi.presecky@patch.com.