🌱 Health Department Offers COVID Update + Oak Parker Talks 'The Bear'

Good morning! I hope you're all staying cool during this hot start to August. Now let's get to your Sunday edition of the Oak Park-River Forest Daily.

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Now, today's weather: A shower and t-storm; humid. High: 86 Low: 77.

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

1. The health department reported 131 new cases of COVID-19 in the village this week. Cases have decreased by about 10 percent since the beginning of July, but the weekly reports do not account for at-home tests. (VOP)

2. The West Suburban Special Recreation Association opened a new sensory experience in Melrose Park. The Review reports the Imaginarium Sensory Room is “geared toward kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other disabilities that make it harder for them to process sensory input.” (Forest Park Review)

3. Oak Park native and Steppenwolf ensemble member Amy Morton spoke to WBEZ about her role in the FX/Hulu hit series “The Bear.” The drama follows an accomplished chef who returns home to run his family’s Italian beef restaurant. The show features several Chicago actors and was just renewed for season two. (WBEZ)

4. The Oak Park Farmers Market Corn Roast is set for next weekend. The annual event will be held Aug. 13 in honor of National Farmers Market Week. (VOP)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Ascension and St. Edmund Parish is collecting diapers and baby wipes for various charities. (7:30 a.m.)
• Wheel & Sprocket offers free bike inspections and pizza at Mr. Beef and Pizza. (10 a.m.)
• It’s the final day to enjoy the Taste of Elmwood Park. (Noon)
• Today’s “Uplift Our Future” event at Brookfield Zoo includes free admission, food and parking. (Noon)
• Pleasant Home is hosting a free ice cream social with music, arts and crafts. (1 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• The Village of River Forest's quarterly safety meeting will be held virtually Aug. 17. (Patch)
• Oak Park Public Library will continue the search for its next executive director at a special meeting tomorrow. (OPPL)
• Local bakery Spilt Milk recently launched a grab-and-go lunch menu and Friday night dinners. (Wednesday Journal)
• Early bird registration is open for the Frank Lloyd Wright Race this fall. (PDOP)

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Events:

• Elmhurst Brewing Crafts & Drafts Market! (August 7)
• One-of-A-Kind Meerkat Experience Coming To Oakbrook Center (August 30)
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That's all for today! See you tomorrow for a new week of Dailies.

— 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.