Forest Park Vaccine Site Closes + Delta Variant Dominates

Good morning Oak Park and River Forest! Welcome to a new week of daily newsletters from Patch.

First, today's weather: Clear throughout the day. High: 89, low: 66.

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

1. The delta variant of COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the Chicago suburbs, with new cases of the virus more than tripling in Oak Park last week. “This is becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated,” CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said. “If you remain unvaccinated, you are at risk.” (WBEZ)

2. The Oak Park Farmers Market Commission is under new leadership. Rachel Hahs and other commissioners discussed vendor output and upcoming events at its latest meeting. (Wednesday Journal)

3. The District 97 board announced its final new administrative hires of the summer: Cathie Pezanoksi and Tim Kilrea will share the role of senior director of human resources. The pair will serve on an interim basis. (Wednesday Journal)

4. The Oak Park Plan Commission has not made a final decision on whether the Village will permit accessory dwelling units. If approved, the move would allow homeowners to convert basements or garages into rentable living spaces. (Oak Leaves)

5. Forest Park's mass vaccination center will close today. The Cook County Department of Public Health is shifting its efforts to focus on communities with low vaccination rates. According to the Tribune, “clinics will spring up at back-to-school events, festivals, in the forest preserves, and at other locations” in the coming months. (Chicago Tribune)

Today's Oak Park-River Forest Daily is brought to you by our friends at Ring, the home security company. Ring does a lot more than doorbells: check out their full suite of smart home products at Ring.com. And thank you Ring for helping to make local news happen in Oak Park-River Forest!

Today in Oak Park and River Forest:

• Oak Park Public Library hosts a virtual book chat about the mystery “Bad Intentions.” (noon)
• Kids can take a beginner’s quilling class with River Forest Public Library. (3:30 p.m.)
• The River Forest Library board meets. (4:30 p.m.)
• Get gardening advice and tips from plant experts in the park district’s live virtual Q&A. (7 p.m.)

Oak Park-River Forest Patch Notebook

• Amtrak is returning to its pre-pandemic passenger schedule this week. (AP)
• It’s “New Book Tuesday” at City Lit Books, owned by a Dominican University alumna. (Facebook)
• Performances from the Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest are now streaming. (Symphony of OPRF)
• An Oak Park filmmaker’s documentary on Tibet is available for viewing through the Gene Siskel Film Center. (Wednesday Journal)
• The Cook County Department of Public Health is advising the removal of birdhouses and bird feeders due to widespread bird death due to an unknown illness. (CCDPH)

From our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Free Family Mini Photo Session (August 7)

Announcements:

• Jessica Rivera Completes BHHS Chicago Transform Training Program (Details)

Job listings:

• Now Hiring Butchers! (Details)
• Jobs: Custodian/Porter positions (Details)

That's all for today! I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow with another update.

— Georgi

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Oak Park-River Forest Daily? Reach out anytime to georgi.presecky@patch.com.