🌱 Earth Day Events + Bike Exchange + Wine Walk + Paper-Shredding

Hello and happy Earth Day, Oak Park and River Forest! In today's newsletter:

• Reported COVID-19 cases hit a 20-month low in Oak Park.
• Oak Park Public Library is set to unveil a new creative space next week.
• Chicago City Council helps fund a new future for a shuttered Austin elementary school.

But first, today's weather: A shower; breezy in the p.m. High: 49 Low: 35.

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

1. The Oak Park Department of Public Health reports 26 new cases of COVID-19 in the village this week. It is the lowest reported case count since July 2021. The department’s weekly COVID-19 reports do not include at-home test results. (VOP)

2. Oak Park police officers now wear body cameras due to a statewide requirement. Village Manager Kevin Jackson wrote in his weekly report that “body-worn cameras automatically activate when an officer’s weapon is unholstered. Otherwise, officers must activate the cameras.” (VOP)

3. The Oak Park Public Library will cut the ribbon on its new creative studio April 27. The ceremony is set for Thursday afternoon on the third floor of the main branch building. (OPPL)

4. The now-closed Emmet Elementary School building in Austin will become a community center with $12.5 million in funding approved by the Chicago City Council. The school closed in 2014. (Block Club)

5. A full slate of Earth Day events are on the calendar today in Oak Park, River Forest and surrounding communities. Local activities are being held at Austin Gardens, Compound Yellow, Dancing Krow Studio, School of Rock and Trailside Museum. The full schedule is available here, with additional events listed below. (Sustain Oak Park)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• The River Forest Park District and Forest Preserves of Cook County host a Des Plaines River Cleanup. (8 a.m.)
• A free paper-shredding event is offered at the Oak Park Public Works Center. (9 a.m.)
• River Forest hosts its 3rd Annual Community Bike Exchange at Roosevelt Middle School. (10 a.m.)
• Join the Depot District Mini-Golf Pub Crawl in Berwyn. (11 a.m.)
• Author Mia. P. Manansala discusses her books at Oak Park Public Library. (Noon)
• Sample wine and small bites at the Forest Park Spring Wine Walk. (1 p.m.)
• Oak Park filmmakers Adria Dawn and David Tarleton screen their films at Oak Park Public Library. (2 p.m.)
• Thrive Counseling Center hosts its spring benefit at Oak Park Country Club. (6 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Major crime decreased by more than 25 percent in Riverside last year, according to a new public safety report. (Landmark)
• Library listening sessions continue today, with a discussion set for noon at the Dole Branch. (Library)
• Hines VA Hospital is hosting a job fair today, with an additional fair set for April 27. (Lawndale News)
• Brookfield Zoo will present Earth Day programming today from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Zoo)

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Featured events:

• 7th Annual West Loop Spirits, Cocktails & Wine Festival with Artisan Delicacies, April 22 & 23 (April 22)
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That's all for today! See you tomorrow for the Sunday 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.

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