Masks Required In Cook County + Churches Face Changes

Good morning, OPRF! Welcome to the Sunday edition of the Oak Park-River Forest Patch Daily.

First, today's weather: Partly cloudy throughout the day. High: 82 Low: 65.

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

1. Cook County's indoor mask mandate goes into effect tomorrow. Everyone older than two years old is required to wear a mask in all indoor settings, regardless of vaccination status. "We are in a dangerous period, with the Delta variant surging,” said Dr. Rachel Rubin, senior medical officer of the Cook County Department of Public Health. (NBC5)

2. Oak Park's four Catholic parishes are facing a “changing landscape” as the Archdiocese of Chicago works through its Renew My Church process. (Wednesday Journal)

3. The Oak Park Department of Public Health administered 15 booster shots of the COVID-19 vaccine to immunocompromised residents this week. Health Director Dr. Theresa Chapple-McGruder said they are planning more clinics to give additional shots to people with compromised immune systems. (Paid source: Oak Leaves)

4. An inbound BNSF Metra train struck and killed a pedestrian in Berwyn Friday morning. The incident occurred near Harlem Avenue around 6:30 a.m. (ABC7)

5. The daycare center at Edward Hines Jr. V.A. Hospital abruptly closed this week. “The facility was facing structural issues and deemed unsafe for children and daycare staff,” F. Amanda Tugade reports. (Riverside-Brookfield Landmark)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest

• The 2nd Chance Thrift Shop sidewalk sale continues. (10 a.m.)
• Take a Wellness Walk in Thatcher Woods. (1 p.m.)
• Eastgate Cafe hosts a virtual “Professional Jazz Jam Session.” (3 p.m.)
• Chicago Cuatro Orchestra performs in Scoville Park. (6 p.m.)

Oak Park-River Forest Patch Notebook

• Oak Park and River Forest High School basketball guard Justin Mullins is a top recruit for the Class of 2022. (Chicago Sun-Times)
• Yesterday's Micro Brew Review benefited Seven Generations Ahead, an organization that promotes "healthy and sustainable communities." (Yahoo)
• Chicago Tonight visited Austin as part of its community reporting series. (WTTW)
• Pick Oak Park is highlighting the mission of local roastery Whirlwind Coffee Company. (Pick Oak Park)

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Thanks for staying up to date on local news. Looking forward to another week of curating your daily roundup of important stories.

Until tomorrow,

— Georgi

About me: Georgi is a Chicago-based reporter with seven years of experience writing for entertainment-based publications. She represented FF2 Media for five years at film festivals across the U.S., from Sundance to Austin. 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 campus newspaper, she earned honors from The Associated Collegiate Press Association and American Scholastic Press Association. She began working for Patch in 2019.