🌱 New Fire Chief + Critical Blood Shortage + Canceled Events

Good morning, OPRF! Let's get to today's top stories.

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

1. Oak Park Village Hall will remain closed through at least Jan. 28. In-person services have been paused since Dec. 14 due to employees contracting COVID-19. (VOP)

2. A 19-year-old woman told Forest Park police she was shot Tuesday in her car at the corner of Desplaines Avenue and Harrison Street. She is being treated for a gunshot wound to her thigh. (Forest Park Review)

3. At least 99 students contracted COVID-19 last week in Riverside Elementary School District 96. Despite six percent of students testing positive for the virus, the district has no plans to shift to remote learning. (Landmark)

4. Oak Park and River Forest High School will also continue in-person learning, despite 16 percent of students being absent on average. “Of the roughly 500 student absences each day last week, about 170 were due to COVID,” Superintendent Dr. Greg Johnson wrote in a letter to families. (OPRFHS)

5. The River Forest Village Board unanimously approved its new fire chief this week. Chief Tom Gaertner was sworn in Monday via Zoom. He will serve in the role through May 2025. (Wednesday Journal)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Join Chef Tara Humphrey for “Cooking Around the World” in the Cheney Mansion dining room. (6:30 p.m.)
• Oak Park Public Library hosts virtual “cozy pajama story time.” (6:30 p.m.)
• “Scream” opens at Lake Theatre with a Q&A live stream. (7 p.m.)
• Free team trivia at Scratch on Lake. (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• The Red Cross declared the first-ever national blood crisis as blood banks face the worst shortage in more than 10 years. (CNN)
• More than 40 people applied to join River Forest’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Group. (Wednesday Journal)
• WGN’s Around Town segment visited Oak Park’s Yoga Six to demonstrate at-home workout routines. (WGN)
• Chicago-area abstract artist Kim Piotrowski will bring her work to Dominican University for an exhibit beginning Jan. 26. (Paid source: Oak Leaves)
• Elmwood Park’s 8th Annual Fight Night boxing event has been postponed indefinitely due to COVID-19. (Paid source: Elm Leaves)

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That's all for today, Oak Park and River Forest! See you tomorrow for the Friday edition.

— Georgi Presecky