🌱 Reynolds Retires + Interim Police Chief Named + Custodian Contest

It's Friday! Here's your Oak Park-River Forest Patch Daily for April 15.

First, today's weather: Breezy with variable clouds. High: 54 Low: 36.

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

1. Police Chief LaDon Reynolds officially retires today after 28 years with the Oak Park Police Department. The Interim Police Chief will be Shatonya Johnson, a 22-year veteran of the department and its highest-ranking woman in history. (VOP)

2. The Oak Park Department of Public Health reported 101 new cases of COVID-19 in the village this week. Cases are up more than 10 percent from last week and more than 175 percent from 30 days ago. (VOP)

3. Forest Park’s water rates will increase by five percent beginning June 1. The increase is "in direct response to Chicago increasing its water rate," the Review reports. (Forest Park Review)

4. It’s the final day to vote for Washington Irving Elementary School custodian Frank DiPaolo in the annual Custodian of the Year contest. He was chosen for the top 10 out of 2,200 nominations. DiPaolo has been with the school for 25 years and principal John Hodge said, “Frank contributes to our entire school community through the relationships he builds with students, families and staff.” (D97)

5. Chicagoland author Jennifer Close’s new novel is set in Oak Park. The story follows the Sullivan family, whose local restaurant makes “the best burgers in Oak Park.” The North Shore native’s book “Marrying the Ketchups” will be out April 26 and she will appear at events in Winnetka and Chicago later this month. (Patch)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• See “Ambulance” at Lake Theatre. (6:30 p.m.)
• Sample wines at a “Wines For Humanity” fundraiser at Cheney Mansion. (7 p.m.)
• It’s Disco Night at Donny G’s. (8 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Local faith communities are observing Good Friday and Passover today. (Oak Park Temple)
• Some taxpayers are voicing criticism of OPRF High School’s proposed plans to replace its 1920s-era swimming pools with a new structure. (Paid source: Oak Leaves)
• Forest Park is offering tips for keeping rodents away during the spring season. (Forest Park Review)
• RGW Consulting was named the executive search firm to find the next Oak Park Public Library director. (OPPL)

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Events:

• League of Women Voters Lake Michigan Region Climate Change Forum with Tom Skilling & Expert Panel (April 16)
• Taxes in Retirement Webinar (April 19)
• Earth Day: Church of the Wild one day retreat (April 22)
• A Family Concert (April 30)
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You're all caught up for today! I hope you have a great, safe holiday weekend. Patch and I will be back in your inbox on Tuesday, April 19.

— 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.