🌱 Police Assessment Results + Gender Identity Workshop

Happy Monday, Oak Park and River Forest! Welcome to another week of local news, delivered every morning. Let's get to today's top stories.

But first, today's weather: Chilly with increasing clouds. High: 43 Low: 32.

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Here are the top 4 stories in Oak Park-River Forest today:

1. A comprehensive assessment of the Oak Park Police Department will be presented at tonight’s Village Board meeting. The results are also available for online viewing. (VOP)

2. The River Forest Village Board will also meet today. Trustees will consider the 2022 property tax levy and hiring a contractor to perform a study on electric vehicle charging. (VRF)

3. Nonbinary Oak Parker Aaron McManus will host an educational gender identity workshop tomorrow in partnership with the nonprofit Oak Park Our Whole Lives. They also assisted with a library display in honor of the Transgender Day of Remembrance. (Wednesday Journal)

4. The Publican will offer a take-home Thanksgiving feast this year, available for pick-up at the River Forest depot parking lot. The Tribune has selected more than 70 other Thanksgiving takeout specials available this month. (Paid source: Tribune)

Patch deals of the day:

The Patch Deals team scours the web for deals we think you’ll love. These limited-time offers are worth a look — especially if you’re doing some early holiday shopping.

• AquaSonic Black Series Ultrasonic Whitening Toothbrush + Travel Case (78% off) — This electric toothbrush removes up to ten times more plaque than a manual one.
• Speedy Mag Wireless Charger for iPhone (59% off) — Optimized for iPhone 12 and newer, this fast compact charger is ideal for when you're on the go.
• 8-in-1 Maglight Mini Super Bright Utility Flashlight - 2-Pack (40% off) — This mini flashlight — which doubles as a bottle opener — fits in your pocket and shines 30 times brighter than your phone.
• Gamma Graphene-Infused Heated Jacket + Heated Power Bank Bundle (65% off) — Cold winter ahead? A good heated jacket isn't cheap, but you can nab this one for just under $200.

(Patch may earn a commission on purchases. All deals are as of publication and could change.)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• The Nineteenth Century Club presents a free panel featuring historical fiction authors. (1:15 p.m.)
• Join Oak Park Public Library for “Mindful Mondays.” (5 p.m.)
• Cooper’s Hawk Winery presents a “Friendsgiving” dinner. (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• The Greater Chicago Food Depository launched a new interactive way for residents to find the nearest food bank. (Review)
• Two students at Oak Park and River Forest High School will be the first ever to receive mentorship from the Center for Oldest Ice Exploration. (Paid source: Oak Leaves)
• Brookfield-based Mold-A-Rama is featured in a new exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry. (Landmark)
• OPALGA+ is now accepting 2023 scholarship applications. The deadline is Jan. 31. (OPALGA+)

That's all for today! See you tomorrow for more local stories.

— 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.