🌱 COVID Update + Reparations Presentation + Shop Outdoor Sale

Happy Friday, Oak Park and River Forest! In today's Daily, the health department offers details on Oak Park's current COVID-19 transmission level, John Quinn's lawyer responds to his departure from Fenwick and local author Jessamine Chan gains national recognition. Let's get to it!

First, today's weather: Beautiful with plenty of sun. High: 81 Low: 65.

🏡 Attention, real estate pros in Oak Park-River Forest! We're now offering an exclusive sponsorship opportunity for an agent interested in attracting local clients and standing apart from the competition. Click here to learn more.

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

1. Oak Park remains at the medium risk level for COVID-19 after 154 people tested positive for the virus this week. About 20 percent of this week’s cases were reported by residents in their 40s, according to the Oak Park Health Department. (VOP)

2. “The idea of local reparations in Oak Park is gaining momentum,” according to a Wednesday Journal summary of the July 11 village board meeting. Though no official action was taken, reparations advocate Robin Rue Simmons gave a presentation Monday about the possibility of implementing the practice in Oak Park. (Wednesday Journal)

3. The attorney for former Fenwick High School teacher John Quinn released a statement to the Wednesday Journal this week after Quinn was let go from the school after alleged inappropriate conduct toward students. Attorney Thomas Quinn wrote that Fenwick “omitted critical information” in its public statement about the departure, “including that the independent investigator completely exonerated John from any sexual misconduct whatsoever.” (Wednesday Journal)

4. The Shop Outdoor Sale is underway at downtown Oak Park and Hemingway District businesses. Discounts are available at more than 20 local businesses through Sunday. (Downtown)

5. Oak Park author Jessamine Chan continues to collect accolades for her best-selling book “The School for Good Mothers.” Both The New Yorker and NPR included the dystopian novel on their lists of summer reading recommendations. (WBEZ)

From our sponsor:

Interested in insanely high-paying cash back cards with no annual fee? A long-time credit card writer says these are some of the best deals he's seen in his years of writing for top financial websites.

You can pocket a $200 bonus with these high-paying cash back credit cards. Plus, enjoy high ongoing cash back rates, no annual fee, or 0 percent interest for 15 months on purchases. Start racking up huge cash back rewards. Visit here to learn more.

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• It’s Film Lover Friday at River Forest Public Library. (Noon)
• “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris” opens at Lake Theatre. (1:50 p.m.)
• LifeSpan Counseling and Psychological Services opens an office on North Avenue. (3 p.m.)
• Happy Hour on the Patio at FitzGeralds. (5 p.m.)
• Make assemblage art at Dole Center. (6 p.m.)
• River Forest Public Library hosts an “Encanto” sing-along. (6:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Today is the final day to obtain a village vehicle license in Oak Park. After the deadline, the fee increases by $20. (VOP)
• The Park District of Forest Park received a $400,000 grant to renovate Reiger Park next spring. (Forest Park Review)
• Applications are open for Triton College’s Alumni Legacy Scholarship. (Paid source: Oak Leaves)
• Oak Park Public Library is teaming up with Ravinia to provide free concert tickets to cardholders. (OPPL)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Laurie Christofano, Realtor | RE/MAX In the Village — (Visit website)
• Add your business here

Events:

• White Tent Event — up to 70 percent off (July 14)
• StyleChicago.com's 8th annual Cruise in Style (Evening Dinner + Cocktail Cruise) (July 14)
• Donuts on your door? Yes, please! Order Do-Rite for Saturday. (July 15)
• Five Squared Pizza is coming to you! Don't miss out. Saturday delivery. (July 15)
• Glitzy Gatsby Style Gala (July 16)
• Chicago Artisan Market — Sunday, July 17 at Morgan MFG (Fulton Market) (July 17)
• An Afternoon of Jazz with Robin Watson (July 17)
• Taxes in Retirement Webinar (July 19)
• Taxes in Retirement Webinar (July 21)
• Add your event

That's all for July 15. See you tomorrow for another edition of the 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.