Oak Park Daily: Farmer's Market Return + New Vaccine Site Hours

Good morning, Oak Park!

This is the debut edition of the Oak Park Patch Daily — the quickest way to get caught up on the biggest news and events happening in town. I’m Georgi Presecky, a former film critic from the Southwest suburbs and a longtime Oak Park admirer. I hope you’ll enjoy this daily newsletter and share it with more of "Chicago’s next-door neighbors."

In today’s Daily, learn more about expanded hours at Cook County vaccine sites, the summer Farmer’s Market returning to Pilgrim Church and a new gardening project at the Maze Branch Library.

First, today's weather: Below average temperatures continue with a high of 53 and low of 40, with clear and sunny skies.

Patch Pick: Brothers Benjamin Groll and Caleb Groll helped the Fenwick High School volleyball team sweep visiting DePaul Prep over the weekend. “It’s fun to watch brothers play together,” Coach Kate Whitman told Melvin Tate of the team’s return to the court after the 2020 season was cancelled due to the pandemic. (Wednesday Journal)

Here are the top five stories in Oak Park today:

1. Oak Park Police are searching for two men who stole an unlocked car in the 6400 block of West North Avenue May 5. Officers responded to a string of local thefts in the area last week, with residents reporting stolen wallets, bicycles and cash. (The Oak Leaves/Chicago Tribune)
2. Children’s Librarian Shelley Harris announced that Oak Park Library staff will distribute community gardening kits for locals with disabilities. The Community Sensory Garden at the Maze Branch Library doesn’t open to the public until June 1, but kits will include gardening tools, books and resources to help disabled residents practice the therapeutic hobby at home. (Oak Park Public Library)
3. Volunteer slots are now open for the Oak Park Farmer’s Market, which returns to the Pilgrim Church parking lot May 22 and runs every Saturday through October. Residents interested in spending two-hour shifts as a “Friend of the Market” can email farmersmarket@oak-park.us. (Village of Oak Park)
4. Beginning today, all Cook County mass vaccination sites are extending their hours to offer Pfizer vaccines from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Cook County Department of Public Health is also seeking feedback from parents to gauge their interest in vaccinating children 12 and older. (Oak Park and River Forest High School)
5. After swearing in new members and announcing its interim superintendents last week, the District 97 Board of Education will meet virtually at 7 p.m. The meeting comes after the news that four people at Percy Julian Middle School tested positive for COVID-19 since in-person learning resumed May 3. The public may participate in the meeting through Zoom. (Patch)

Today in Oak Park:

• Sound Opinions: The 10 Most Important Artists In Chicago Music History: Music critics will trace the city’s musical history in a virtual event presented by Oak Park Public Library. (7 p.m.)
• The Spoken Word Club from Oak Park and River Forest High School will give a virtual performance tonight. OPRF has one of the largest spoken-word programs in the country, with a long history of producing award-winning poetry. (6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.)
• The Village Transportation Commission will address on-street parking at Fenwick High School, plus more agenda items at its evening meeting. (7 p.m.)
• The Fenwick Friars boys baseball team takes on DePaul Prep at home. (4:30 p.m.)

Oak Park Patch Notebook

• The Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park recently announced the winners of its annual short story competition, on the heels of Ken Burns' PBS documentary "Hemingway." (The Oak Leaves)
• Chicago's top comics will once again perform at Oak Park Brewing Company’s weekly comedy club. Tickets are $5 every Thursday, with social distancing required. (Eventbrite)
• Area shelters have added new pets for adoption this week. (Patch)
• The Historic Pleasant Home and Mills Park will provide the backdrop for an upcoming dance showcase. (The Oak Leaves)

From our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• May 12: Frank Lloyd Wright Trust Presents Virtual Youth Design and Architecture Club (Grades 3-5)
• May 12: New Trier Extension Community Education Presents “The Adoption Process from A to Z"
• May 12: Family Action Network Presents “Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer”

You're all caught up on what's happening today in Oak Park. Feel free to email me at georgi.presecky@patch.com with what you’d like to see here, to share news or upcoming events, or just to introduce yourself! As my daily 5:30 p.m. date Lester Holt says, “we’ll see you right back here tomorrow.”

- Georgi

About me: I am a lifelong Illinois resident and Lewis University graduate with a passion for White Sox baseball, classic literature and local news.