🌱 Omicron Slows Business + COVID Test Delays + New Waste Hauler

Hello, Oak Park and River Forest! Let's get to the news for Thursday, Jan. 6.

I also wanted to give a special shoutout to some of our Patch Supporters: AJ Massie, Jacqueline Anderson, Oak Park Regional Housing Center, Angela Atwater and Carole Embry. Thanks for helping make local news happen in OPRF! If you want to support local news in the community, click here to learn more about becoming a Patch Supporter.

First, today's weather: Cloudy, brisk and very cold. High: 19 Low: 5.

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

1. Restaurant owners in Oak Park, Brookfield and Berwyn are sharing mostly positive reactions to the Cook County vaccine requirements that went into effect this week. “To be honest, I think omicron will make business slower than the vaccine mandate will,” One Lake Brewing co-owner Kristen Alfonsi told Wednesday Journal. (Wednesday Journal)

2. Oak Park residents are frustrated by delays at some Forest Park COVID-19 testing sites, reporting up to 14 days between test and results. Audrey Deziel told Pioneer Press her rapid results took nine days; Stephanie Simmons said she never received her results at all. (Paid source: Oak Leaves)

3. Lakeshore Recycling Systems will officially begin as Oak Park’s new waste hauler on April 1. The village announced that collection dates and rates will not change with the new contract. (VOP)

4. Oak Park Township and partners will host a nine-week program for Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers, beginning Jan. 10. The free “Stress-Busting Program” will be held via Zoom. (Township)

5. Oak Park and River Forest High School Superintendent Gregory Johnson is a featured co-author in a new book about anti-racism in education. "Public education is an agent of whiteness," Johnson writes in “Strengthening Anti-Racist Educational Leaders” from Bloomsbury Publishing. (West Cook News)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• “Thrifty Thursday” at The Brown Elephant. (11 a.m.)
• Happy Hour returns to MORA Asian Kitchen. (4 p.m.)
• River Forest Supper Club features food from The Publican. (4 p.m.)
• TEDxOakParkWomen holds its annual lecture series at the Nineteenth Century Club. (6 p.m.)
• River Forest Park District hosts a virtual craft beer tasting. (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Illinois health officials are warning against “pop-up” COVID-19 clinics created by scammers to obtain personal information. (Patch)
• Oak Park police are offering tips to protect vehicles as cold weather leads to an uptick in auto theft. (Twitter)
• West Cook News reports the median home sale price in Elmwood Park last year was $255,000. (WCN)
• The Oak Park Plan Commission will meet today to consider a rezoning request by OPRF High School to renovate its tennis courts this summer. (Paid source: Oak Leaves)
• Oak Park librarians curated a list of titles inspired by self-care for the new year. (OPPL)

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That's all for today, OPRF! See you tomorrow for the Friday edition.

— Georgi Presecky