🌱 Woman Rescued From Des Plaines River + Pete's Breaks Ground

Happy Friday, Oak Park and River Forest! Let's start the weekend with some local news.

First, today's weather: Partly sunny. High: 40 Low: 34.

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

1. Police will be patrolling at local schools today "in light of a circulating TikTok post referencing a shooting in all U.S. schools," NBC reports. OPRF High School said there is currently no credible threat but prepared police protection "out of an abundance of caution." (NBC)

2. A 74-year-old woman was rescued from the Des Plaines River in Forest Park Thursday after she lost control of her car on Roosevelt Road. Police swam into the water to pull her from her car, and she was sent to the hospital in good condition. "In 25 years, I've never done a water rescue like this," said Officer Pete Morrissette. (ABC)

3. More than 30 tenants of a Cicero apartment building were displaced by a massive fire Wednesday morning. “It is a miracle that there are no injuries and no fatalities in this fire,” Cicero Fire Chief Mike Piekarski said. Several sought shelter with family or friends, while more than 20 individuals are being sheltered at the Cicero Stadium. (Suburban)

4. Oak Park officials broke ground on the new Pete's Fresh Market location this week. The 46,000 square-foot store at 640 Madison St. is expected to open in late 2022. (VOP)

5. Today is the final day to purchase a Takeout 25 gift card bundle to benefit local restaurants. The “Secret Santa” bundles offer a surprise collection of $25 cards from more than 40 restaurants in Oak Park, Forest Park, Elmwood Park and more. (Takeout 25)

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:

• Walk “The Snowy Day” story trail at Trailside Museum. (9 a.m.)
• Film Lover Friday at River Forest Public Library. (Noon)
• Tour the landmark Marie Schock House with The Nineteenth Century Club. (2 p.m.)
• Michele McGuire Happy Hour at FitzGeralds. (5 p.m.)
• Make a winter collage at Dole Center. (6 p.m.)
• Cello ensemble concert at Unity Temple. (7 p.m.)
• Free screening of “Scrooge: The Musical” at Unity of Oak Park. (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Oak Park resident Teresa Powell is helping raise funds for Festival Theatre after it suffered losses from last month's Lake Street fire. “It would mean so much to me and to all of us who value local theater to have your support,” Powell wrote. (Wednesday Journal)
• Today marks the end of the first semester for most Oak Park and River Forest schools. (OPRFHS)
• ViaClay is hosting a handmade pottery holiday sale from 3 to 8 p.m. today. (ViaClay)
• Oak Park Public Library is offering “Dial-A-Story” for children to hear stories from local librarians over the phone. (OPPL)
• Locals donated six boxes of toys to the village Toys for Tots campaign. (Instagram)

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That's all for this Friday, OPRF! See you tomorrow for more local news.

Until then, have a safe and happy weekend.

— Georgi Presecky