Rally For Peace Held In Scoville Park + New Curfew At Nearby Bars

Good morning, Oak Park and River Forest! Welcome back to the Oak Park Patch Daily, your five-minute guide to what’s happening today in the area.

In today’s Daily, learn about a rally in Scoville Park for peace in the Middle East, a new curfew ordinance in Forest Park and how the pandemic is affecting graduation plans at Oak Park and River Forest High School.

First, today’s weather: Light rain in the morning and afternoon; temperatures will reach 78 with a low of 67.

Patch Pick: June marks the 40th anniversary of the Oak Park and River Forest High School baseball team’s 1981 championship. The former Huskies spoke to the Wednesday Journal’s Melvin Tate about that special season, and how they’re rallying around the team's co-captain Joe Citari after his ALS diagnosis last fall. “I was born and raised in Oak Park, and I want to thank the community for all its support,” Citari said. A GoFundMe page to support his family has raised more than $30,000. (Wednesday Journal)

Here are the top five stories in Oak Park today:

1. More than 100 people gathered in Scoville Park Monday to call for peace in the Middle East as air strikes have killed more than 200 Palestinians this week.“We have been working on educating the community about the reality of life in Israel and Palestine and encouraging people to speak out about justice for all inhabitants of the region,” said Rebekah Levin, an Oak Park resident from the Committee for a Just Peace in Israel and Palestine. (Chicago Tribune)

2. River Forest police are investigating an incident with a starter pistol in the 1400 block of William Street. The Village said in an online news release that “parties involved in this incident are known to each other and the public is not at risk.” (Village of River Forest)

3. An 11 p.m. curfew is now in effect at Forest Park bars after residents reported excessive noise, increased crime and rowdy crowds along Madison Street. Forest Park Chief of Police Tom Aftanas said officers issued 75 citations in March and April, a record high. The new ordinance remains in effect for 30 days. (CBS2)

4. Newly-lifted COVID-19 restrictions will have no effect on commencement plans at OPRF High School. Despite capacity limits increasing to 60 percent, space required for social distancing measures mean “we are moving ahead with our stated plans of holding two graduation ceremonies,” Supt. Dr. Joylynn Pruitt-Adams wrote in her weekly memo. Commencement is scheduled for May 29. (OPRF High School)

5. The Oak Park Fire Department has begun testing fire hydrants to ensure proper operation. Testing of the village’s more than 1,200 hydrants is expected to continue into early June. Residents who notice cloudy water are asked to run the faucet until it clears; fire officials assure this is a normal result of the testing. (Village of Oak Park)

Today in Oak Park:

• Story performer and Oak Park resident Chris Fascione will act out children’s literature in a performance on the front porch at Pleasant Home, geared toward children ages 3-5. (10 a.m.)
• The Community Mental Health Board of Oak Park Township, local hospitals and the Entry Point team will discuss homeless youth in the Chicagoland area at a “Lunch N Learn” event. (11 a.m.)
• Join the Park District for a scrapbooking and card-making workshop at Dole Center. (3:30 p.m.)
• A remote meeting of the Disability Access Commission can be viewed online or local cable. (6 p.m.)

Oak Park Patch Notebook

• Four OPRF High School students were named semi-finalists in the prestigious Illinois Biotechnology Innovation Organization BioGENEius Challenge. (OPRF High School)
• The Village is now accepting permit applications for special events, which can begin June 10. (Village of Oak Park Facebook)
• River Forest was recently recognized for achievement in financial reporting by the The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. (Village of River Forest)
• Oak Park Library is shining a light on local youth like Matthew Erlec, who designed a contest-winning logo to promote the Leading Edge Teen Advisory Board. (OPPL)

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Featured events:
May 19: Modern Design + Post-War & Contemporary Art Auction
May 20: Animal Care League Trivia Night
May 22: The Collaboration for Early Childhood Equity Summit

That’s what’s happening in your neck of the woods! Thank you for reading. My inbox is always open at georgi.presecky@patch.com.

- Georgi

About me: I am a lifelong Illinois resident and Lewis University graduate with a passion for White Sox baseball, classic literature and local news.