🌱 Elmwood Park Plumber Dies In Collapse + Grants For 21 Nonprofits

Welcome back. In today's edition of the Oak Park-River Forest Daily:

• A local server is injured by dine-and-dash customers
• Faith leaders recognize Christmas pain with special services
• Animal Care League plans an open house for prospective foster homes

But first, today's weather: Rain; breezy in the morning. High: 45 Low: 36.

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

1. A plumber from Elmwood Park died Tuesday after a trench collapse at a Buffalo Grove home. Nikodem Zaremba, 27, was working when a trench wall collapsed and buried him under at least eight feet of dirt. (Patch)

2. A Cajun Boil employee was injured earlier this month after following two diners outside when they left without paying their check. They escaped in a Jeep SUV, striking their server as they fled. (Wednesday Journal)

3. The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation announced it will distribute more than $225,000 in grants to 21 local nonprofits. The grant program will assist organizations emphasizing education, mental health, housing and more. This year’s recipients include the Chicago West Community Music Center, African American Christian Foundation, New Moms, Inc. and Cicero Independiente. (Patch)

4. Local faith organizations are recognizing those who experience pain or difficulty around the holidays with special ceremonies. First United Methodist Church is planning a “Blue Christmas Observance” Dec. 19, including a “service of hope for the heavy-hearted.” The First Presbyterian Church of River Forest will have a “Darkest Night” service Dec. 21 to “provide comfort for those who have lost loved ones, are experiencing grief or struggle for any reason during the Christmas season.” (First UMC/First Pres)

5. Animal Care League will host an open house Friday for residents interested in learning about fostering dogs. The walk-in event begins at 6 p.m. (Animal Care League)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Lake Theatre hosts its final “Class of ‘97” celebration of the year with 25th anniversary screenings of “The Lost World: Jurassic Park.” (2 p.m. and 7 p.m.)
• Check out a “Knitting in Nature” Workshop at Thatcher Woods. (5:30 p.m.)
• Attend Nature Center Night at Austin Gardens. (6:30 p.m.)
• Dominican University hosts “An Olde-Fashioned New England Christmas,” featuring virtual holiday storytelling from Joshua Kane. (7 p.m.)
• A new adaptation of “Little Women” opens at First Folio Theatre in Oak Brook. (8 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Metra and the Chicago Transit Authority are “staring down a $730 million budget hole” when federal pandemic relief funds run out in 2025, the Tribune reports. (Paid source: Tribune)
• Sewer inspections are taking place across Oak Park this month. (VOP)
• Julian Davis Reid will perform a concert of holiday favorites at First United Methodist Church of Oak Park this Sunday. (First UMC)
• The Cook County Assessor’s Office will host a free property tax webinar Dec. 21. (VRF)
• Planning ahead for New Year’s Eve? The Oak Brook Doings has a list of events being held in the area at the end of December, including an “Eve of the Eve” dinner and dance being held at Oak Park’s Cheney Mansion. Other events are planned in Berwyn and Brookfield. (Paid source: The Doings)

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Events:

• Singers from the Lyric Celebrate the Season (December 19)
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That's all for today, Oak Park and River Forest. See you tomorrow for more local stories.

— 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.