🌱 Police Talk Carjackings + New Restaurants Open

Good morning, OPRF! It’s great to be back curating your local news! Let's get to what's making headlines today.

First, today's weather: Clouds giving way to some sun. High: 70, low: 63.

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

1. Oak Park residents can offer feedback on the Village’s use of American Rescue Plan Act funds at a virtual listening session today at 9 a.m. Another session will happen tomorrow at 7 p.m. Comments and questions can be sent to ARPAcomments@oak-park.us. (VOP)

2. Today is also the first of several virtual town-hall meetings for residents to discuss the recent uptick in crime with residential beat officers from the Oak Park Police Department. Police Chief LaDon Reynolds said officers will discuss the increase in vehicular carjackings and other resident concerns at the seven meetings, set to occur throughout October. (VOP)

3. A man fleeing the scene of a North Austin shooting crashed his car in Oak Park Friday at Austin Boulevard and Harrison Street. He was later arrested in the 700 block of Lyman Avenue. (CBS2)

4. River Forest’s Superintendent of Operations retired this week after 28 years of service to the village. Mark Janopoulos became superintendent in 2001. “If you’ve ever called the Village with questions about parkway trees over the last three decades, there is a good chance that Mark was involved in responding,” the Village’s October newsletter said. (VRF)

5. Several new businesses have opened in Oak Park in recent months, with new restaurants like Kyuramen and Taco El Tio set to open soon. Pioneer Press has a breakdown of all the new shops, from gift store Einnim to fitness center STRIDE. (Paid source: Oak Leaves)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• All Ages Stick & Puck at RCRC Ice Rink. (9:45 a.m.)
• Free day at Brookfield Zoo. (10 a.m.)
• Midday Meditation with Oak Park Public Library. (Noon)
• Trinity High School hosts a virtual Oktoberfest cooking event. (6 p.m.)

Oak Park-River Forest Patch Notebook

• Oak Park native and McDonald’s mogul Ray Kroc was born on this day in 1902. (OPRF Museum)
• Oak Park Trustee Susan Buchanan said the village has not made enough progress on safety for bicyclists. (Wednesday Journal)
• Dominican University is seeking food service workers. (Patch)
• Applications are open for River Forest’s Snow Removal Program for seniors or people living with disabilities. (VRF)
• A memorial will be held Oct. 18 for longtime Oak Park school social worker Michael Kelly who died last month at age 52. (Paid source: Sun-Times)

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Featured businesses:

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Events:

• Forum on Strategic Real Estate Investment (October 6)
• Free Family Food Distribution (October 9)
• Chicago Artisan Market - 100+ top artisans (Sun, Oct 17 | 10am-4pm) (October 17)
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Job listings:

• Cooks, Foodservice/Prep and Dishwashers - Dominican University (Details)
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That's all for today, Oak Park and River Forest! See you tomorrow for the Wednesday edition.

— Georgi Presecky

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