🌱 Forest Park Man Missing + Starbucks Workers Unionize

Welcome to the weekend, Oak Park and River Forest. In today's Daily:

• A comedy club could open soon in downtown Oak Park.
• Local COVID-19 transmission remains low.
• This weekend's local events range from crafts and fashion to comedy and sustainability.

But first, today's weather: Breezy in the morning. High: 79 Low: 59.

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Here are the top 4 stories in Oak Park-River Forest today:

1. A 65-year-old Forest Park resident has been missing since April 10. Jerry L. Sadler has Alzheimer’s disease and other health conditions requiring medication, "[so] the police are hoping to find him as soon as possible," the Review reports. (Review)

2. COVID-19 transmission remains in the CDC’s “low” category in Oak Park. The health department reported 30 new cases this week. President Joe Biden declared an end to the pandemic national emergency on April 11. (VOP/NPR)

3. Workers at a local Starbucks voted 12-1 to unionize, the Wednesday Journal reports. The Lake Street coffee shop can begin the collective bargaining process next week if no complaints are filed with the National Labor Relations Board. (Wednesday Journal)

4. A comedy club could open in downtown Oak Park as soon as this summer. According to the Wednesday Journal, three comics with Oak Park roots were granted a zoning permit to open a venue at 1128 Lake St. The plan still has to be approved by the liquor commission and village board. (Wednesday Journal)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Do a pour painting craft at Dole Center. (10 a.m.)
• River Forest Public Library hosts Saturday Stories. (11 a.m.)
• Learn about dandelions at Austin Gardens. (12:30 p.m.)
• Oak Park River Forest High School's Enviro Club heads to Oak Street Beach for a community clean-up. (2 p.m.)
• See Dominican University’s Annual Fashion Show. (2 p.m.)
• OPRF High School presents “One-Acts: Coming Home, Giving Back.” (7 p.m.)
• Salerno’s hosts a “Dinner and a Show” comedy night. (7:30 p.m.)
• Beer Shop hosts a “Golden Age of Hip Hop” theme night. (8 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• A television was stolen from an Oak Park apartment in the first block of Washington Boulevard earlier this week. (OPPD)
• A Spring Wine Walk will be held next weekend in Forest Park. (Explore Forest Park)
• Oak Park and River Forest High School observed "Breaking the Silence Day" Friday to "push back against the silencing of LGBTQ+ youth and erasure of their experiences." (OPRFHS)
• Ten Trinity High School athletes announced commitments to college teams this week. (THS)

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Featured events:

• Wedding Band Event at Bella Cosa Jewelers (April 15)
• Artisan Market @ Imperial Oak Brewing Brookfield (April 15)
• Music to Dine by with Doug Lalli at Tre Sorelle (April 15)
• Taxes in Retirement Webinar (April 18)
• A Charcuterie Happy Hour: Networking Event (April 19)
• Spring Dance with the Falconaires Big Band (April 22)
• Add your event

That's all for this Saturday! 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 Patch newsletter? Contact me at georgi.presecky@patch.com.