Pets Need Homes + Birds Get West Nile + Liquor Licenses Issued

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First, today's weather: Mostly cloudy throughout the day. High: 65, low: 49.

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

1. The Oak Park Department of Public Health says the increasing number of bird deaths in the area is due to West Nile virus. Mosquitoes carrying the disease are infecting bird populations across Illinois. Environmental health professional Susan Wolf said residents should not touch the birds and wear gloves if removing them from their property. (Wednesday Journal)

2. A new law signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker and championed by Sen. Don Harmon means school districts in Oak Park “will have easier access to students’ files and information to build better datasets across grade levels.” Officials from Districts 90, 97 and 200 say the new law is good news and will help them streamline the process of accepting students from eighth grade into high school. (Wednesday Journal)

3. Oak Park Animal Care League is at full capacity. Dozens of pet shelters across Chicagoland are reporting record numbers of pets who need homes. “We are getting constant phone calls of people trying to return their dogs, cats and rabbits,” said OPAC pet adoption counselor Michelle Wilfred, who believes communities reopening after the peak of the pandemic have led people to leave pets behind. (Paid source: Chicago Tribune)

4. The Oak Park Village Board at its Monday meeting granted five new liquor licenses to local businesses. Most have yet to open, including Bourbon Fire, Betty’s Pizza and Pasta, The Grove and Fritzi’s Delicatessen. (Paid source: Oak Leaves)

5. Fenwick High School has lost another Hall of Fame coach: Ed Galvin died Sept. 18 at age 88. He coached basketball at Fenwick for 10 years and was the first Head Men’s Basketball coach at Rosary College, now Dominican University. (The Friar Files)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• One Lake Brewing offers half-price bottles of wine. (4 p.m.)
• Based on the Tony-winning musical, “Dear Evan Hansen” opens at Lake Theatre. (7 p.m.)
• Sample craft beer and sausage on the front porch of Pleasant Home. (7 p.m.)
• The League of Women Voters of Oak Park & River Forest host “SOS Democracy: The Fight for Voting Rights.” (7 p.m.)
• Learn the steps of self-publishing with River Forest Public Library. (7:30 p.m.)

Oak Park-River Forest Patch Notebook

• River Forest is seeking community feedback on waste collection services. (VRF)
• The Village is reminding residents that COVID-19 vaccines are available at CVS, Walgreens and Jewel-Osco pharmacies. (VOP)
• The health department’s mobile response van is available to provide COVID-19 vaccines and rapid testing at local events. (VOP)
• It’s Library Card Sign-Up Month at River Forest Public Library. (RFPL)
• Metra is recognizing National Rail Safety Week. (Metra)

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That's all for today, OPRF! See you tomorrow with more local news.

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