🌱 Parents On Patrol At Proviso + Elmwood Park Pays For Cameras

Happy Friday, Oak Park and River Forest! Here's the news for Dec. 10.

First, today's weather: Afternoon rain; breezy. High: 47 Low: 44.

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

1. The Elmwood Park Village Board passed a program to reimburse homeowners who install security cameras. The Village will pay up to $100 to residents who agree to provide footage to the police if needed. (Paid source: Tribune)

2. The Oak Park Department of Public Health used $40,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funds to hire a registered nurse for one year. Cassidy Olson will assist in the health department's vaccination efforts as “the other nurses are quite exhausted,” Village president Vicki Scaman said. (Wednesday Journal)

3. “Parents on Patrol” is a new program to curb violence in Proviso Township High Schools. More than 50 school parents will monitor the hallways and “put students at ease” at the schools, where fights have been breaking out in recent weeks. (ABC7)

4. The omicron variant of the coronavirus has arrived in Chicago, but new research shows that booster shots are effective in fighting it. Hospitalization was not required for the Illinois case, which was detected in a fully vaccinated and boosted person. (Block Club)

5. More than $48,000 have been raised to support the people affected by last month’s Lake Street fire. Donors have given generously to the businesses and apartment tenants whose homes were destroyed by the blaze. (Wednesday Journal)

Today's Oak Park-River Forest Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at Verizon. They're building the fastest 5G network in the country. To learn how 5G is going to change life for you and your community — and to get access to this amazing technology — click here. And thank you Verizon for sponsoring this community resource in Oak Park-River Forest!

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Seniors can learn about avoiding phone and internet scams. (10 a.m.)
• Learn to paint a Northern Cardinal at a Trailside Museum workshop. (1 p.m.)
• Starring Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo Dicaprio, “Don’t Look Up” is playing at Lake Theatre. (1 p.m.)
• Make vintage holiday decorations and ceramics at Dole Center. (6 p.m.)
• Elevate Oak Park hosts a “Holiday Soiree.” (6 p.m.)
• Prisms of Winter concert is held at OPRF High School. (7 p.m.)
• Concordia's University Band performs a Christmas concert. (8 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Residents can register for the Park District of Oak Park’s winter events beginning tomorrow. (PDOP)
• Forest Park will host a toy drive tonight at Howard Mohr Community Center. (Forest Park Review)
• It’s the last day to register for Unity Temple’s Christmas Spirit lights tour and decoration contest. (UT)
• Visit the Oak Park Conservatory through Dec. 23 to drop off letters to Santa. (SEOPCO)
• The Cook County Department of Public Health is hiring. (CCH)

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• Focus Point Training — (Visit website)
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Events:

• Virtual Holiday Housewalk & Grand Raffle — For Healthy Kids! (December 10)
• FREE-Family Food Distribution (December 11)
• Chicago Artisan Market (Holiday Edition) in Fulton Market — Sunday, Dec. 12 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (December 12)
• Taxes In Retirement Webinar (December 14)
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Announcements:

• Bobby Hull and Duke Sterk Appearing @ Sports Cards and More Show (Details)
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For sale:

• 2 bed, 1 bath home for sale in Burbank Illinois BY OWNER (Details)
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That's all for today, OPRF! See you tomorrow for a Saturday update.

— Georgi Presecky