🌱 New Arts Organization To Launch + $1M Grant For Park District

Hello! In today's Oak Park and River Forest newsletter:

• A new bank is coming to Oak Park Avenue
• Improvements are on the way for two local parks
• Endorsements are announced for West Side mayoral candidate Brandon Johnson

But first, today's weather: A bit of snow and rain. High: 42 Low: 32.

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

1. The Park District of Oak Park will receive a $1 million American Rescue Plan Act grant to improve Andersen and Barrie parks, the Wednesday Journal reports. The request for funding was made in December, a month before the park district announced and subsequently canceled a controversial cooking course centered around the Transatlantic slave route. Trustees approved the funding after “upbraiding” park district officials about the class at its March 6 meeting. (Wednesday Journal)

2. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle endorsed Brandon Johnson this week in the race for Chicago mayor. The Austin resident currently serves as a County Commissioner. (Block Club)

3. Local arts organizations are coming together to launch “One Voice for the Arts.” According to the Chamber of Commerce, the group includes the Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest, Oak Park Festival Theatre, Oriana Singers and Pro Musica Youth Chorus. A launch party will be held tomorrow at First United Church of Oak Park for the partnership, which is designed to “support and promote the arts in the OPRF area and to provide a single point of contact for government, businesses, and media wishing to address the local performing arts community.” (Chamber)

4.“Lifelong Oak Parker” and former Community Bank CEO Walter Healy will lead a new branch of Hoyne Savings Bank on 810 S. Oak Park Ave. An opening date has not been announced. (Wednesday Journal)

5. The Oak Park Public Library will host its 13th Annual Oscarthon this weekend ahead of the Academy Awards. Three films will be shown Saturday, including Steven Spielberg’s best picture nominee, “The Fabelmans.” (Library)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Kids can conduct science experiments at Austin Gardens. (Noon)
• The OPRF Museum Gala is held at the Nineteenth Century Club. (6:30 p.m.)
• Carnivore Oak Park hosts a food event at Cheney Mansion. (6:3o p.m.)
• A virtual forum is held with Oak Park Public Library board candidates. (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Candidates running for District 209 school board seats are debating the potential for a Proviso charter school. (Review)
• The Chicago Bears organization is expanding its high school girls flag football league to the UK, in partnership with the New York Jets. The team reported a recent “300 percent growth in Illinois leagues” for girls, including a team in Oak Park. (Yahoo)
• A water valve is being replaced this week at 902 S. Austin Blvd. (VOP)
• More than 300 students attended a STEAM fair last week at Oak Park Public Library. (Instagram)

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Featured events:

• One Voice for Arts Launch Party (March 10)
• Margaret Murphy-Webb at Tre Sorelle by Mancini for Jazz Thaw (March 11)
• Taco Shop brings Taco Tuesday home! Don't skip the fajitas or burritos either! Order by Sunday. (March 14)
• Taxes in Retirement Webinar (March 14)
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That's it for today. See you all tomorrow morning for another update!

— 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 OakPark@Patch.com