🌱 Racist Graffiti Found In OPRF Bathroom + Masks Recommended

Good morning, Oak Park and River Forest! Here's your five-minute guide to today's headlines.

First, today's weather: Sunny to partly cloudy. High: 56 Low: 47.

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Here are the top 5 stories in Oak Park-River Forest today:

1. "Racist and antisemitic" graffiti was discovered on a bathroom wall at Oak Park and River Forest High School Friday, according to an NBC report. School officials are investigating and asking students to refrain from sharing images on social media. "Please consider that posting hateful speech or symbols spreads it,” a letter to students said. (NBC)

2. Indoor masking is highly recommended by Cook County health officials as COVID-19 cases climb in the region. “Thankfully our COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths remain at or near all-time pandemic lows in Chicago,” department head Dr. Allison Arwady said. “But it is reason for more caution, and for more care with masking." (Patch)

3. Oak Park Village President Vicki Scaman signed a letter condemning the U.S. Supreme Court for its draft plan to overturn Roe v. Wade. More than 70 female mayors signed the letter on May 4 to advocate for reproductive rights. “It’s definitely just not acceptable in my mind to sit by and not sign this letter,” Scaman told Wednesday Journal. (Wednesday Journal)

4. The Oak Park Area Arts Council is seeking artists for its Mini-Mural Program. Selected artists will be paid to create paintings along the Green Line corridor. Applicants must be 18 years old but do not have to reside in Oak Park. The application deadline for the first round of submissions is May 13. (VOP)

5. Development plans are “in the works” for the site at the northwest corner of Roosevelt Road and Austin Boulevard. Original plans to build a Taco Bell were scrapped. (Wednesday Journal)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Take a guided bird walk at Trailside Museum. (9 a.m.)
• One Stop Comics celebrates Free Comic Book Day. (10 a.m.)
• Take broken items Fox Center’s monthly. Repair Cafe. (10 a.m.)
• Make a kite craft or homemade card at Dole Center. (10 a.m. and 12 p.m.)
• Join the Garlic Mustard Removal Workday at Trailside. (10:30 a.m.)
• Theatre of Western Springs presents a Mother’s Day tribute to Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli and more. (7 p.m.)
• The Michael Teolis Singers perform a “Gone Too Soon” concert at First United Methodist Church. (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Save the date: the historical society will host a Thatcher Woods walking tour on May 14. (OPRF Museum)
• A community clean-up will be held today in Amundsen Park. (AustinTalks)
• Brookfield Zoo announced its summer programming, including an “Ice Age Giants” exhibit, live music events and “ZooBrew” beer festival. (Paid source: Oak Leaves)
• Forest Park officials are planning to “expand and clean up” the village’s water reservoirs. (Forest Park Review)

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• Laurie Christofano, Realtor | RE/MAX In The Village — (Visit website)
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Events:

• Free comic book day 2022 (May 7)
• "Descendants" The Musical (May 7)
• Spirito Singers Spring Concert ~ May 15 (May 7)
• "Descendants" The Musical (May 7)
• "Descendants" The Musical (May 8)
• Hire A Pro to Tackle Mom's To-Do List (May 8)
• Sertoma Big Event Heroes Cook-off (May 14)
• Oak Brook Artisan Market — Sunday, May 15 (10 a.m.-5 p.m.) (May 15)
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Job listings:

• Residential Leasing Agent with Oak Park Residence Corp. (Details)
• Accounting Assistant with OPRC (Details)
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That's all for today! Have a great weekend.

— 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.

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