🌱 Porch Pirates Caught On Camera + Boxed Water Initiative

You're halfway through the week, Oak Park and River Forest. Let's get caught up on some of the latest local news, including:

• A health department COVID-19 testing campaign to promote safety during spring break travel.
• A recap of the recent Oak Park trustee candidate forum.
• A Women's History Month event honors trailblazing local women.

But first, today's weather: Cloudy with a shower or two. High: 55 Low: 42.

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

1. The Oak Park Department of Public Health is urging local families to test for COVID-19 ahead of spring break travel. Free testing events will be held this afternoon in Barrie Park and Thursday at Cheney Mansion. Two more are set for Friday at the Main Fire Station and Rehm Park. (Health Department)

2. “Porch pirates” targeted three Oak Park homes over the weekend, stealing Amazon packages in the 200 block of South Taylor and South Grove. Two of the thieves were caught on home surveillance footage and reported to Oak Park police. (OPPD)

3. More than 100 people attended last week’s Oak Park trustee candidate forum at Village Hall. Four candidates for the board discussed topics including “policing, affordability and high property taxes.” Highlights are viewable on the Wednesday Journal website. (Wednesday Journal)

4. Takeout 25 launched a new boxed water project last week. A portion of proceeds from sales of the 99-cent boxed water will support local organizations. They are available at Carnival Grocery and the West Cook YMCA, with more vendors to come. “We learned pretty early on in Takeout 25 that Oak Park really wants to make a difference to the planet,” Events Coordinator Amy Parakkat told Wednesday Journal. “This allows them to do it.” (Wednesday Journal)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• The Forest Preserve Districts of Cook County offer a spring fest with nature activities in Cummings Square. (11 a.m.)
• Take a senior fitness walk in Thatcher Woods. (1 p.m.)
• Oak Park Public Library presents “Katharine Hepburn: In a Class All Her Own.” (2 p.m.)
• The annual OPRFHS Best Buddies Talent Show is held at the school’s Little Theatre. (5:30 p.m.)
• The OPRF Visual Arts Department hosts a Panache Art Exhibit Open House at Cheney Mansion. (6 p.m.)
• It’s Nature Center Night at Austin Gardens. (6:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Oak Park River Forest Museum is planning a free virtual Women’s History Month event March 31. (Museum)
• The Park District of Oak Park is seeking lifeguards for the summer season. (PDOP)
• “More Than A Mic” Open Mic Night returns to the Oak Park Public Library today. (Library)
• Two Trinity High School students won medals at the Science Olympiad Regionals. (THS)

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

— Georgi

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.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Oak Park-River Forest Patch newsletter? Contact me at georgi.presecky@patch.com.