🌱 OPRF High School Principal Wins Award + Package Thefts Continue

Good morning, Oak Park and River Forest! In today's newsletter:

• Oak Park trustee candidates will speak tomorrow at a virtual candidate forum
• A local man is honored for looking into his family's background in Europe
• Appointments are open for tomorrow's blood drive at the library

But first, today's weather: Rain and drizzle in the p.m. High: 53 Low: 44.

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

1. Porch pirates continued to target Oak Park homes over the weekend. At least four packages were reported stolen Feb. 10-11, according to Oak Park police. (OPPD)

2. The Center West Oak Park Neighborhood Association will host a forum Wednesday with Oak Park trustee candidates. The topic of the virtual event is "how to promote economic development in the village while also protecting surrounding neighborhoods." (Patch)

3. Oak Park and River Forest High School’s Lynda J. Parker was named West Cook Region High School Principal of the Year. “Working at OPRFHS has been the most exhilarating professional challenge for me and one that continues to be personally rewarding on so many levels,” said Parker, who also serves as assistant superintendent. (OPRFHS)

4. Oak Park resident Alan Hoffstadter was awarded a prize for his research into his German roots, the Wednesday Journal reports. Hoffstader befriended the leaders of the town of Datteln, his mother’s hometown, despite persecution of the Jews in Germany during World War II. His Etienne Bach Prize honors his commitment “to promoting understanding and reconciliation between people of different, historically adversarial, cultures.” (Wednesday Journal)

5. A blood drive will be held tomorrow afternoon at Oak Park Public Library. Appointments can be made online through the Community Blood Center website. (Library)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Oak Park Conservatory hosts its in-person Valentine’s Market. (10 a.m.)
• Studio of Art kicks off a six-week watercolor painting class. (4:30 p.m.)
• Civinte Candle Bar hosts a candle-making workshop. (7 p.m.)
• Maya del Sol offers a Valentine’s Day tasting menu and live music from the Tim Fitzgerald Trio. (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Oak Park officials announced new hires joining the village staff this week, including a civil engineer and finance coordinator. (VOP)
• Oak Park Public Library is offering resources for Black Love Day, celebrated during the week of Valentine’s Day. (Library)
• Trinity High School observed National Teen Dating Violence Action Month with a presentation from Sarah’s Inn. (THS)
• Four comics will perform Feb. 17 at Madison Street Theater’s “Valentine’s Hangover Reboot.” (MST)
• Berwyn Shops is seeking muralists for its live-painting event. (Berwyn Shops)
• Brookfield Zoo is in the running for a USA Today reader’s choice award for best zoo. (USA Today)

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Featured events:

• Handel Week Festival Concert I (February 19)
• Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest Performs Rarely-Heard Masterpieces (February 19)
• Symphony Presents Ravel and Vaughan Williams (February 19)
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That's all for today's digest. Happy Valentine's Day!

— 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 georgi.presecky@patch.com.