🌱 Dressel's Hardware Sold After 99 Years + Dollar Tree Robbed

Hello, Oak Park and River Forest! Here's your five-minute guide to what's making news near you.

First, today's weather: Colder with clouds and sun. High: 32 Low: 30.

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

1. The Dollar Tree on Madison Street was robbed at gunpoint Friday night, according to the Oak Park Police Department. No one was injured and the total loss is unknown. The Walgreens and 7-Eleven stores on Roosevelt Road were also robbed at gunpoint last week. (OPPD)

2. While some Catholic schools in Illinois will go “mask-optional” today, masks will still be required in all Oak Park schools. The Archdiocese of Chicago made the announcement Wednesday, noting Oak Park and Evanston are excluded from the new rules because of their local health departments. (WGN)

3. Dressel’s Hardware has been sold to an Ace franchise group after being run by the Dressel family for 99 years. Third-generation owner Todd Dressel will stay on as an employee at the Chicago Avenue store. (Wednesday Journal)

4. Oak Park officials are expected to name the next village manager by the end of the week. Kevin Jackson of Long Beach was added to the race, while two of the previously named finalists will no longer be considered. (Wednesday Journal)

5. Triton College will screen “Judas and the Black Messiah” today in honor of Black History Month. Daniel Kaluuya won an Academy Award for his performance as Black Panther Fred Hampton, whose childhood home in Maywood was saved from foreclosure last year and now serves as a community pantry. (Triton)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• DePaul University, Oak Park Township and District 97 present a “Mindful Middle-Schoolers” program on helping young people cope with the stress of the pandemic. (6 p.m.)
• Sample wines at a “Galentine’s Day” tasting at The Depot. (7 p.m.)
• The Garfield Park Jazz Collective performs at Eastgate Cafe. (7 p.m.)
• Scratch Kitchen hosts Trivia Night. (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• The health department will host a COVID-19 vaccine clinic today at St. Giles Catholic Parish. (VOP)
• Brookfield reported only six cases of COVID-19 this week, compared to 14o the week prior. (Landmark)
• Some spaces are still available for this weekend’s Safe Sitter course at the Fox Community Center. (Park District)
• The River Forest Police Department is recognizing Safer Internet Day, in partnership with the Cook County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. (VRF)
• OPRF High School graduate and River Forest resident Mike McAdam died this week at age 33. (Forest Park Review)

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That's all for today, OPRF! See you tomorrow for the Friday edition.

— 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.