🌱 Johnson Sworn In As Oak Park's First Female Chief + COVID-19 Update

Good morning! In today's Oak Park-River Forest Daily:

• Local depression rates are increasing
• Plans move ahead for the Mars factory
• Purple Heart medals are found at Oak Park banks

But first, today's weather: Mostly cloudy and colder. High: 38 Low: 26.

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Here are the top 5 stories today in Oak Park-River Forest:

1. Local COVID-19 cases increased by more than 25 percent this week, according to the Oak Park Department of Public Health. Residents reported 67 new cases of the virus from Nov. 4-11. (VOP)

2. Chief Shatonya Johnson was sworn in Friday as the first female leader of the Oak Park Police Department, telling WGN she “won’t be the last.” Johnson has been serving in the role on an interim basis since April. (WGN)

3. Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs is continuing his Operation Purple Heart campaign, which aims to reunite military medals with their rightful owners. Two Purple Hearts have been found inside safety deposit boxes at Oak Park banks over the past 30 years. (CBS)

4. Cook County Health will use American Rescue Plan Act funds to launch a $14 million grant program to improve mental health programs for residents, Wednesday Journal reports. The organization’s data shows nearly one in five adults living in Oak Park and River Forest experiences depression. Applications are open through Dec. 7 for the Building Healthy Communities Behavioral Health Initiative. (Wednesday Journal)

5. Mars executives will make the final decision on the future of its Galewood factory, which will close in 2024. Compiled resident feedback suggests developing the space into a multi-use center for business, health care and other community uses. The factory could also be considered for historic landmark status. (AWN)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Learn about native plants during Sustainable Saturday at Austin Gardens. (10 a.m.)
• Paint gourds at Dole Center. (10 a.m.)
• The Forest Preserve District hosts Orienteering 101 at Miller Meadow South. (10 a.m.)
• Beer Shop hosts a Super Smash Bros. Tournament. (1 p.m.)
• Attend a Prairie Seed Collection Workday at Trailside Museum. (1:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Oak Park native, Tribune reporter and “White Sox historian” Bob Vanderberg has died of Parkinson’s disease at age 74. The team plans to honor him on Opening Day next year. (Paid source: Tribune)
• This Veterans Day weekend, Hines VA Hospital is sharing stories of “what service means” to its patients. (Hines)
• The Village of Oak Park is seeking resident feedback through its community survey, which is open through Nov. 16. (VOP)
• Oak Parkers donated six boxes' worth of hygiene goods for the unhoused during a recent library drive for Housing Forward. (OPPL)
• Brookfield Zoo is looking back at 100 years of history as it celebrates a century since breaking ground. (WTTW)

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Thanks for reading today's Daily! Have a great weekend.

— Georgi

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 georgi.presecky@patch.com.