🌱 Mail Thieves Stealing Checks + Julian Teacher Wins Obama Award

Happy Wednesday, Oak Park and River Forest! Let's get to today's top stories.

First, today's weather: Sunny and pleasant. High: 80 Low: 64.

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

1. Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson announced he is “exploring” a run for mayor of Chicago, WTTW reports. He is “expected to coast to victory” in his election this November in the 1st district, which includes Oak Park. (PBS)

2. Mail theft is on the rise in Norridge and Harwood Heights. Offenders are opening envelopes and “washing” checks to steal money. Both police departments are urging residents to head to the post office to mail checks, instead of placing them in standalone mailboxes. Free pens will also be available to residents with tamper-proof ink. (Paid source: Elm Leaves)

3. The Nineteenth Century Club will host its second annual community yard sale this weekend. More than 20 sellers will display goods Sept. 10 at the event in the club’s parking lot. (NCCA)

4. A Percy Julian Middle School teacher has won the 2022 Barack Obama Library Award. Literary specialist Nora Flynn was honored by the Illinois Reading Council. She will receive $1,000 worth of books for Julian students. (D97)

5. The Forest Park Arts Alliance is partnering with the library for a month-long “Use Your Voice” writing contest. Entries will be accepted through Sept. 18, with a ceremony and celebration planned for Sept. 23 at Centuries & Sleuths. (Forest Park Review)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• The OPRF Chamber recognizes a change in ownership at the Loads of Fun laundromat with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. (10 a.m.)
• Head to Lindberg Park for the first of three free “Medicine & Movement” sessions. (6 p.m.)
• Activist and author Terence Lester gives a free talk at Riverside-Brookfield High School. (6:30 p.m.)
• River Forest Public Library hosts an evening book club. (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• The prescription drug drop-off program at the Oak Park police station has been temporarily paused after a fire at its collection facility. (OPPD)
• Scotch Reserve Scottish Smoked Salmon has been recalled in Illinois for potential contamination causing listeria. (Patch)
• Small Batch Barbecue has closed after three years in Forest Park. (Review)
• The Oak Park Art League is celebrating more than 100 years with “Art 101: A Regional Juried Exhibition,” running through Sept. 30. (OPAL)
• A “creative-reuse carnival” will be held Friday in Cummings Square. The Forest Preserves of Cook County will present “themed games made out of repurposed materials.” (FPDCC)

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That's all for today, Oak Park and River Forest! See you back here tomorrow for another Daily, including a weekend event preview.

— 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.