🌱 Free COVID-19 Tests To End + Animal Care League Luncheon Returns

Hello! In today's Oak Park-River Forest newsletter:

• A Berwyn child's death has been ruled a homicide.
• Access to free at-home COVID-19 tests will end soon, but the Oak Park Department of Public Health is offering in-person testing at several local venues.
• Oak Park Public Library created a new role based on sustainability efforts.

But first, today's weather: A couple of showers. High: 46 Low: 37.

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

1. A 1 year old from Berwyn was found dead in a North Lawndale home Thursday, Chicago police said. His death was ruled a homicide and child abuse case by the Cook County Medical Examiner. (ABC)

2. Access to free at-home COVID-19 tests will end with the pandemic emergency declaration on May 11. Village Manager Kevin Jackson is reminding residents with private insurance to obtain free tests before that deadline. The Oak Park Department of Public Health will continue its testing clinics through “at least June 30.” Testing is being offered today at Cheney Mansion and Wednesday at Rehm Park and the Main Fire Station. (VOP)

3. Oak Park Public Library welcomed a new environmental programming specialist earlier this month. Christine Poreba will lead the library’s sustainability efforts in the new role. “Dedicating a staffer to environmental and sustainability programming and information is something we’ve been interested in for a long time,” Manager of Adult Services Alexandra Skinner said. (Library)

4. Animal Care League will host its annual “Spring for the Animals" Luncheon Sunday at Oak Park Country Club. The event has not been held in person since 2019. (Chamber)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• OPALGA+ hosts its monthly restaurant meet-up at Jerusalem Cafe. (6:30 p.m.)
• Illinois Libraries hosts “A Virtual Conversation with Will Shortz,” editor of the New York Times crossword puzzle. (7 p.m.)
• President of the Illinois Labor History Society and Oak Park resident Larry Spivack gives a presentation at the OPRF Museum. (7 p.m.)
• Oak Park Public Library offers virtual adult improv. (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Several local boards will meet tonight in Oak Park, including the board of trustees, liquor control review board and housing committee. (VOP)
• It’s the final day to purchase early bird tickets to the Oak Park Education Foundation’s upcoming Bingo Bash. The annual event is set for May 12. (OPEF)
• Beer Shop will celebrate eight years in Oak Park with an anniversary event this weekend. (Beer Shop)
• Registration is full for tomorrow’s family pond paddle at Trailside Museum. (FPDCC)
• Lake Theatre announced the lineup for its summer morning movie series. “Trolls: World Tour,” “Lyle Lyle Crocodile,” “Paddington 2” and more family films will be screened on Wednesdays with a two-dollar ticket price. (Classic Cinemas)

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That's all for today!

— 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.