🌱 Neighbors Remember Couple 3 Years After Murder + Starbucks Union

Good morning, Oak Park and River Forest. In today's edition of Patch's five-minute guide to the latest local headlines:

• A fallen firefighter will be laid to rest today in Norridge.
• Local organizations are collaborating on a mental health seminar next week for local parents, as pandemic aftershocks continue to affect young people.
• Forest Park is following River Forest's lead on a new sustainability ordinance.

But first, today's weather: Mostly sunny and warm. High: 81 Low: 57.

Here's to the great local businesses who sponsor this newsletter. Check out what they can do for you:

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

1. Today marks three years since Tom Johnson and Leslie Ann Jones were killed in their Oak Park home, the Wednesday Journal reports. The investigation into their murders remains open. “While we’re still pained by the tragic circumstances of their death, that pain is far outweighed by the countless memories of their being our dedicated neighbors, wise counselors and dearest of friends,” neighbor John Gallo told Wednesday Journal. Friends are planning a gathering tonight outside their home on Fair Oaks Avenue. (Wednesday Journal)

2. Services will be held today in Norridge for a Chicago firefighter who died last week after responding to a call at a DuSable Lake Shore Drive high-rise. More than 3,000 people are expected to attend the funeral and procession. (Paid source: Elm Leaves)

3. Oak Park Starbucks workers are “pushing for unionization” after a “sip-in” protest earlier this week. Co-workers believe the event organizer Amanda Carelli was fired because of her efforts, though the company cited other reasons for her termination. “It was a tactic to scare my co-workers and it has not worked,” Carelli told the Wednesday Journal. “It has only made my team angry.” (Wednesday Journal)

4. OPRF District 200 will host a “Parent University” event next week to address “the pandemic’s toll on children’s mental health.” The free three-hour event on April 19 is open to all local parents, regardless of which schools their children attend. (Paid source: Oak Leaves)

5. Forest Park restaurant patrons will now be required to request plastic utensils for to-go orders. The Village Council voted this week on the ordinance, which is similar to River Forest’s plasticware rule. (Review)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Architectural engineer Mark Nussbaum gives a presentation at Oak Park Village Hall about “integrating geothermal energy into historically significant buildings.” (6:30 p.m.)
• The Elmwood Park Garden Club meets at the library. (6:30 p.m.)
• Make Chinese dumplings at Cheney Mansion’s “Cooking Around the World” class. (6:30 p.m.)
• Scratch On Lake and River Forest Public Library host trivia nights. (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Five Fenwick High School seniors received the Chick Evans Scholarship. (Fenwick)
• A new Oak Park Art League exhibit opens today and runs through May 11. (OPAL)
• The Village of Oak Park is celebrating Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week. (VOP)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Laura Ruiz, REALTOR® at REALTY OF CHICAGO — (Visit website)
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Featured events:

• Spring '23 Weekend Wonders in Elmhurst (1st-5th grades) (April 15)
• Wedding Band Event at Bella Cosa Jewelers (April 15)
• Artisan Market @ Imperial Oak Brewing Brookfield (April 15)
• Taxes in Retirement Webinar (April 18)
• A Charcuterie Happy Hour: Networking Event (April 19)
• Gourmet, fresh pasta meals for the family from Gemma Foods are coming to you! Order by Tuesday. (April 20)
• Spring Dance with the Falconaires Big Band (April 22)
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You're all caught up on the news. Thanks for being here and see you tomorrow!

— 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.