🌱 Oak Parkers On Primary Ballot + Monkeypox Reported In Forest Park

Good morning, Oak Park and River Forest! Thanks for starting your Tuesday with the Daily.

First, today's weather: Breezy in the afternoon. High: 86 Low: 69.

🏡 Attention, real estate pros in Oak Park-River Forest! We're now offering an exclusive sponsorship opportunity for an agent interested in attracting local clients and standing apart from the competition. Click here to learn more.

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

1. At least eight catalytic converters have been stolen from parked cars in Oak Park since June 10, Oak Leaves reports. Estimated losses range from $250 to $4,000. (Paid source: Oak Leaves)

2. The county’s first probable case of monkeybox was detected in Forest Park, the health department reports. Cook County Department of Public Health COO Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck said “the risk to residents... remains low” but urged the public to educate itself about potential symptoms. (Paid source: Sun-Times)

3. Today is the Illinois Primary election, including races for governor, county officials and Secretary of State. Oak Parker Richard Boykin is running against incumbent Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. Fritz Kaegi, also of Oak Park, is running for re-election as Cook County Assessor. (NBC)

4. More than 95,000 ballots have already been cast through early voting and mail-in ballots. Visit the Cook County Clerk’s office website to find your polling place. (County Clerk)

5. The Oak Park Public Library is accepting donations for its August book fair. Books, DVDs and CDs can be dropped off at the main branch through July 22. (OPPL)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Take a storybook nature walk in Scoville Park. (9 a.m.)
• Magical Minds Studio hosts a ceramics camp. (9 a.m.)
• Oak Park Conservatory offers “Discovery Garden Exploration Time.” (10 a.m.)
• Anyone older than six months old can get vaccinated at Cheney Mansion. (4 p.m.)
• The Paul Abella Trio performs at Q BBQ. (5:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• The Oak Park Police Department is taking part in a statewide “Click It or Ticket” campaign to increase traffic safety leading up to the July 4 holiday. (VOP)
• Residents have raised more than $30,000 to support Big Guys Sausage in Berwyn. The restaurant had to close unexpectedly this month due to staffing shortages and other issues. (GoFundMe)
• Few spots remain for River Forest Public Library’s upcoming “splatterball” event on the library lawn. (Library)
• Beyond Hunger is hiring. (BH)

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That's all for today! See you tomorrow for more local stories.

— Georgi

About me: Georgi Presecky 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.