🌱 Mack Criminal Trial Approaches + Spring Festival In Thatcher Woods

Hello, Oak Park and River Forest. Let's get to today's top stories.

But first, today's weather: A t-storm around in the p.m. High: 83 Low: 55.

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Here are the top 3 stories in Oak Park-River Forest today:

1. The Village of River Forest made a statement regarding a lawsuit between lender Beverly Bank & Trust and Sedgwick Properties, the Lake & Lathrop project developer. The village “will be working with both parties to reach a resolution that is in the best interests of River Forest and its residents,” according to the statement issued Friday. (VRF)

2. Prosecutors and attorneys for Heather Mack are preparing for a criminal trial this summer, the Wednesday Journal reports. Mack is charged with conspiracy to murder her mother in Bali. The prosecution filed a motion to include reports from the Oak Park Police Department in which Mack physically harmed her mother, Sheila von Wiese, in order to establish “the defendant’s motive and intent to commit” murder. (Wednesday Journal)

3. One Stop Comics owner Rick Manzella is looking for a new space for the shop after more than 30 years on Ridgeland. Manzella told the Wednesday Journal the owner of the building is looking to sell and asked him to relocate. (Wednesday Journal)

📷 Oak Park-River Forest Photo of the Day

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• A Spring Festival is held at Thatcher Woods. (Noon)
• Oak Park Public Library hosts the Writers' Word Feast group. (Noon)
• The “Tales Our Houses Tell” Annual House Walk returns. (Noon)
• OPRF High School hosts its first-ever film festival. (2 p.m.)
• Attend the “Music to Save the World” concert at St. Catherine of Siena - St. Lucy Church. (2 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• A Chicago man was arrested Friday for stealing items from an Oak Park Target. (OPPD)
• Pavement improvements will continue this week on streets south of I-290, the Village of Oak Park reports. (VOP)
• Oak Park vehicle licenses are on sale now through July 15. (VOP)
• Dominican University announced student Natalia Prato will receive the 2023 Mulroy Award. (DU)
• River Forest Public Library is displaying artwork from Maywood Fine Arts this month. (Library)

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Featured events:

• Sunday Jazz Jam with John Scoville & Friends at Tre Sorelle by Mancini (May 7)
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• 2023 Summer Wonders in Elmhurst (June 5)
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That's all for today! This will be the last Sunday edition of the Oak Park-River Forest Daily. Beginning May 13, the newsletter will run Tuesday through Saturday only. Thanks for being here! See you tomorrow for more local news.

— 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.