🌱 Park District Mandates Vaccines + Grocery Chain Staff Shortage

Good morning! Thanks for starting your Thursday with the latest local news in OPRF.

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First, today's weather: Breezy with a passing shower. High: 61, low: 47.

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

1. The Village readjusted its development agreement with Pete’s Fresh Market, which is set to open its second Oak Park location in November 2022. Pete’s CEO Stephanie Dremonas told the village board this week construction could be delayed due to staffing shortages. (Wednesday Journal)

2. Employees at the Park District of Oak Park will be required to get the COVID-19 vaccine or undergo mandatory weekly testing. The park district board voted unanimously for the mandate, which gives employees until Oct. 28 to be fully vaccinated. (Wednesday Journal)

3. Gov. J.B. Pritker told reporters Wednesday “we'd like very much to get to a place where we can remove certain mask mandates.” He urged Illinoisans to remember that COVID-19 metrics must continue to drop if mitigations are going to be lifted. (NBC5)

4. Residents of Forest Park, Oak Park and River Forest can now text 9-1-1. AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon customers should only use the texting service when calling is not an option, the Village of River Forest said in a press release. (VRF)

5. Forest Park will host its ninth annual Casket Races event this Saturday. Commissioner Jessica Voogd said the race is based on Forest Park history and brings the community together. (Forest Park Review)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• The Daughters of the American Revolution host “Myth or Truth” at Dole Center. (3 p.m.)
• Long-awaited science fiction epic “Dune” opens at Lake Theatre. (6 p.m.)
• Fenwick High School musicians perform a free instrumental fall concert. (7 p.m.)
• Oak Park Writers Group meets at the library. (7 p.m.)

Oak Park-River Forest Patch Notebook

• OPRF High School is recognizing Red Ribbon Week, an annual drug-abuse prevention campaign. (OPRFHS)
• A monarch butterfly “waystation” opened behind Oak Park's Public Works Center. (VOP)
• Discover Magazine says Oak Park chemist Percy Julian “isn’t a household name, but he should be.” (Discover)
• Triton College is planning musical education events in November. (Paid source: Oak Leaves)
• Oak Park police will hold its final two zone meetings next week to discuss the uptick in crime. (OPPD)

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Thanks as always, OPRF! See you tomorrow for the Friday edition of the Daily.

— Georgi Presecky

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