🌱 Maywood Mourns Beloved Al's Employee + Summer Pool Schedule

Good morning, Oak Park and River Forest! Let's get into today's Daily.

First, today's weather: Partly sunny. High: 88 Low: 68.

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

1. Oak Park trustees moved to add a temporary speed table to the 1150 block of Lexington Street, Wednesday Journal reports. The device will be installed today between Harlem Avenue and Maple Avenue following a surge of criminal activity and reckless driving in the area. (Wednesday Journal)

2. The Oak Park Public Library is continuing its “unconventional” search for its next executive director, emphasizing diversity and equity. “I think we’re more on the progressive forefront of how public libraries serve their communities,” Board President Matthew Fruth told Wednesday Journal of the search. (Wednesday Journal)

3. Due to COVID-19 guidelines, this week’s Celebrating Seniors blood drive and super senior mobile events have been rescheduled. They will now be held in July. (Township)

4. Maywood community members are mourning the loss of Chokchai “Chuck” Suwannasri, a longtime employee at Al’s Drive-In who died of cancer on May 4 at age 63. At an impromptu memorial service last weekend, customers told Forest Park Review he always knew their orders and remembered them by name. (Forest Park Review)

5. Attendance was up at last weekend’s spring house walk, presented by the Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest. More than 300 people attended the event, which is in its 18th year and featured seven historic homes. (Paid source: Forest Leaves)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Join a migratory songbird watching session at Austin Gardens. (9 a.m.)
• River Forest Public Library offers a DIY neon sign-making class for tweens and teens. (3:30 p.m.)
• “Firestarter” opens at Lake Theatre. (5 p.m.)
• Kick off Celebrating Seniors Week with a pickleball social at Washington Square Tennis Courts. (6 p.m.)
• Trinity High School hosts its Spring Fine & Performing Arts Night. (6:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Tomorrow is the deadline for artists to apply for the Oak Park Area Arts Council Mini-Mural program. (VOP)
• The Village of Oak Park is seeking input on its community health plan. (VOP)
• St. Luke School student Ryann Dawson won the State History Fair. (Fenwick)
• Rehm and Ridgeland Pools will open May 28. (PDOP)

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Featured businesses:

• Laurie Christofano, Realtor | RE/MAX In The Village — (Visit website)
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Events:

• Sertoma Big Event Heroes Cook-off (May 14)
• Oak Brook Artisan Market — Sunday, May 15 (10 a.m.-5 p.m.) (May 15)
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You're all caught up! See you tomorrow for the Friday edition.

— 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 Daily? Contact me at georgi.presecky@patch.com