🌱 Filing Period Opens For Local Candidates + Maple Park Master Plan

It's a new week, Oak Park and River Forest! Let's get to today's top stories.

But first, today's weather: Rather cloudy. High: 41 Low: 32.

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

1. Today marks the beginning of the candidate filing period for people interested in running for office in Oak Park. The April election will include open seats on the library, park district and village boards. (VOP)

2. According to the Wednesday Journal, two OPRF High School trustees will not return to the board next year. Sara Dixon Spivy and Ralph Martire announced they do not plan to run again in April. School board candidates can file today through Dec. 19. (Wednesday Journal)

3. The Park District of Oak Park will host a virtual meeting tomorrow to review its master plan for Maple Park. The park board revisits master plans every 10 years. (PDOP)

4. Classic Cinemas is among those interested in operating the Pickwick Theatre, the Tribune reports. Several parties are meeting with the owners after they announced the nearly-century-old cinema would close in January. The Pickwick is “completely in our wheelhouse,” CEO Chris Johnson said of Classic Cinemas, which owns the Lake Theatre. (Tribune)

5. Oak Park librarians recently announced the library's most-requested items of the year, from novels to musical albums to television series. Selections on the curated lists include TV shows “Abbott Elementary” and “Hacks,” books “This Time Tomorrow” and “I Kissed Shara Wheeler,” albums “Midnights” and “Special,” and films “Dune” and “Nope.” (OPPL)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• “Emancipation” screens at Lake Theatre. (4:10 p.m.)
• The River Forest Village Board hosts its final meeting of the year. (7 p.m.)
• See “It’s A Wonderful Life” at FitzGeralds. (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Oak Park Township is seeking a facilitator for its Girls on the Rise program. (Township)
• St. Giles Parish has opportunities to help the unhoused this Christmas Eve, from food and gifts to warm clothing. (St. Giles)
• Holiday lights can be recycled at River Forest Village Hall through Jan. 15. (VRF)

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Events:

• Raised in the Shadow of the Party (December 12)
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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 georgipresecky@patch.com