🌱 Explosion In Austin Injures 8 + OPRF Educator To Chair State Board

Good morning, Oak Park and River Forest readers! Here's a midweek update on what's making headlines in the area today, including:

• Vandalism at the Oak Park CTA station.
• Foreclosure looming for a downtown building.
• A new block party to raise funds for pediatric cancer.

But first, today's weather: Humid with a morning thunderstorm. High: 83 Low: 55.

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

1. An explosion at an Austin apartment building sent at least eight people to the hospital Tuesday. More than 100 first responders were on the scene yesterday morning at 5601 W. West End Ave. The building was deemed structurally unsound by the Chicago Fire Department, who have not yet determined a cause for the explosion. (Block Club)

2. Oak Park police said a person shattered a window at the South Boulevard CTA station early Monday morning. The estimated cost of replacement is $1,000. (OPPD)

3. At least three cars were reported stolen Monday in Oak Park. According to police, thefts occurred in the 600 block of North Humphrey Avenue and the 800 block of Filmore Street. A third was reported in the 500 block of Lake Street, where a bicycle was also stolen the same day. (OPPD)

4. A former Oak Park school official will serve as chair of the Illinois State Board of Education. Gov. J.B. Pritzker appointed Dr. Steven Isoye to the role earlier this week. He served as the Superintendent of Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200. (State of Illinois)

5. A virtual 5K and community block party will be held Oct. 1 in Oak Park to raise money for pediatric cancer research. Team Owen is hosting the third annual event in honor of Owen Shaker Petrzelka, a 6-year-old Oak Park resident who died of brain cancer in 2020. “We are creating a celebration that Owen would have wanted us to have,” mother Amanda Shaker said. (Patch)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Lake Theatre continues its “Class of ‘97” series with 25th anniversary screenings of “Good Will Hunting.” (2 p.m. and 7 p.m.)
• OPRF High School hosts a “Rainbow Dinner” welcoming LGBTQ+ families to the new school year. (6 p.m.)
• Learn about “Medicine & Movement” in Lindberg Park. (6 p.m.)
• The Park District kicks off a new “Nature Center Nights” series at Austin Gardens. (6:30 p.m.)
• The 19th Annual Ulyssean Award Dinner & Zoom Presentation is held at Cheney Mansion with a virtual option. (6:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• The FFC building downtown Oak Park will go up for auction next month as it faces foreclosure. (Wednesday Journal)
• The River Forest Traffic and Safety Commission Meeting will further discuss its recent northeast neighborhood traffic study at tonight’s meeting. (VRF)
• Berwyn restaurant Big Guys Sausage will close its doors Saturday and shift its priorities to catering. (WGN)
• River Forest Public Library is seeking survey respondents to “help the library as it engages in formulating a new strategic plan.” (Library)
• Twenty Fenwick High School students were honored by the College Board for their performances on the PSAT. (Fenwick)

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You're all caught up for Sept. 21! Thanks for reading 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.