🌱 River Forest Doctor Commits Fraud + Holiday Event Preview

It's Friday, Oak Park and River Forest! In today's Daily:

• A U-Haul rental van is stolen
• Local lawmakers honor President Barack Obama
• Several holiday events are planned this weekend

But first, today's weather: Windy and milder. High: 50 Low: 21.

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

1. A River Forest physician plead guilty to Medicaid fraud this week, the Tribune reports. The Attorney General’s Office said OBGYN Dr. Monique Brotman billed Medicaid for nearly $60,000 in procedures and tests that were not conducted. (Paid source: Tribune)

2. Three suspects stole a U-Haul rental van from the company’s storage facility on Harlem Avenue last week, according to a Review report. Forest Park police said they broke into a lock box to steal the van’s key. (Review)

3. Illinois lawmakers gathered Thursday to celebrate a new marker at the Old State Capitol in Springfield honoring President Barack Obama’s historic 2008 campaign. Oak Parker and Senate President Don Harmon said Obama “carried to the highest office in the land the same curiosity, demeanor and willingness to ask tough questions that he had while serving in Springfield.” (ISD)

4. Oak Park is on its way to having the state’s first Green Dining District, the Wednesday Journal reports. The Illinois Green Business Association will fund efforts to help Takeout 25 restaurants “meet their sustainability goals.” (Wednesday Journal)

5. The Oak Parks Arts District is getting in the spirit with a weekend-long holiday celebration beginning at 2 p.m. today. Several local businesses are participating in the “Holiday Lights On Harrison Street” event, which includes a Christmas concert, ornament workshops, hot beverages and more. (OPAD)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• “Violent Night” opens at Lake Theatre. (Noon)
• “Christmas comes to Madison Street” for Forest Park’s annual Holiday Walk. (6 p.m.)
• FitzGeralds hosts a free family screening of “Elf.” (6:30 p.m.)
• Elmhurst University hosts in-person and virtual versions of its Festival of Lessons & Carols. (7 p.m.)
• The Tim Fitzgerald Trio performs at Maya del Sol. (8:30 p.m.)

From my notebook: ❄️ 🎄 🕎

Kicking off the holiday season this weekend? Let Patch help you plan ahead with this local event preview.

Saturday (Dec. 3):

• Downtown Oak Park hosts its signature Winterfest and Cookie Walk event. (DTOP)
• “The Nutcracker” performances run all weekend at Dominican University’s Lund Auditorium. (DU)
• Check out the Holiday Art and Craft Fair at St. Giles Church. (SG)
• Oak Park’s holiday lights show is held near Scoville Park. (VOP)

Sunday (Dec. 4):

• Oak Park Temple opens it Maccabee Market. (OPT)
• The “Holiday Lights on Harrison Street” celebration continues. (OPAD)
• Oak Park River Forest Museum hosts its annual Holiday Open House. (Museum)
• Chicago a capella performs a holiday concert at Pilgrim Congregational Church. (CAC)

Check back next Friday for another local holiday event guide! WBEZ and the Tribune also have guides to holiday events across the Chicagoland area.

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Events:

• 8th Grade Entrance Exam (December 3)
• Hot Chocolate and a free Selleria Veneta $25 gift card with purchase 🎁 (December 3)
• Favorite Hymns of Fanny Crosby (Free Concert) (December 3)
• Crafts & Drafts Holiday Market (December 4)
• MIDWINTER'S TALES: Simple Gifts (December 4)
• Taxes in Retirement Webinar (December 8)
• Holiday Soirèe (December 9)
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That's all for today! See you tomorrow for another Daily.

— 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.