🌱 Library Director Resigns + Community Fridge Opens + Church Renaming

Happy Friday, Oak Park and River Forest. Here's a fast and easy guide to what's making headlines in our area today.

First, today's weather: Sunny and warm. High: 85 Low: 66.

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

1. Oak Park health officials are reminding residents to be aware of the signs and symptoms of the monkeypox virus. Four cases have been confirmed so far in the village, with three suspected cases. (VOP)

2. The director of Forest Park Public Library is stepping down next month. Pilar Shaker told the Review she is pursuing “other opportunities.” An interim director will likely be announced at the next board meeting Sept. 19. (Forest Park Review)

3. More than 60 percent of this year's new hires at Oak Park and River Forest High School are people of color, according to a Wednesday Journal report. “I see a lot more teachers of color and even male teachers than I did when I was here,” new dean and OPRF graduate Marquita Thompson said. (Wednesday Journal)

4. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held tomorrow for the new Unity Fridge at the main branch of the Oak Park Public Library. It “will provide 24/7 free access to food and hygiene items for those in need,” according to the library. Click here to learn about community fridge donations. (Library)

5. Centuries & Sleuths will host authors Natalie Y. Moore and Dawn Turner next weekend for a book discussion and signing event. Their award-winning stories are both set in Chicago. The free event is Sept. 18. (Centuries & Sleuths)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• River Forest Public Library celebrates the new Mo Willems book with a pigeon-themed release party. (4 p.m.)
• “Faire at the Square” is held at Cummings Square. (4 p.m.)
• Sample wines at the Elmwood Park Sip ‘N Stroll. (5 p.m.)
• Check out “Stranger Things” Night at the Maze Branch Library. (6 p.m.)
• Learn about fall planting at Austin Gardens. (6:30 p.m.)
• Pleasant Home hosts a “Beauty and the Beast” themed ball. (6:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• St. Giles and St. Catherine-St. Lucy will host a meeting tomorrow about renaming its parish community. (St. Giles)
• River Forest Village President Cathy Adduci is encouraging families to make a safety kit and plan in honor of National Preparedness Month. (VRF)
• A new mural was unveiled on North Avenue as part of the North Art Bridge project. (AWN)
• Registration is open for River Forest Park District’s family camp-out later this month. (Park District)
• The Forest Preserves of Cook County is planning a special Migrating Monarchs Celebration Sunday in Thatcher Woods. (FPDCC)

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• Taxes in Retirement Webinar (September 13)
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Have a great weekend, Oak Park and River Forest. I'll be back tomorrow with another Daily! Feel free to reach out to me at georgi.presecky@patch.com. I truly appreciate your feedback on the newsletter.

— 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.