🌱 River Forest Library Goes Remote + D97 Hosting Feedback Forum

Good morning, Oak Park and River Forest readers! Let's get to the Daily.

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First, today's weather: Not as cold, becoming windy. High: 29 Low: 29.

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

1. An Elmwood Park man has been charged with a December shooting in the Montclare neighborhood. Efrain Rivera was arrested Thursday in connection with shooting and injuring two people at a bar in the 6900 block of West Grand Avenue. (Paid source: Elm Leaves)

2. The COVID-19 positivity rate in Illinois is 17.3 percent, with more than 19,200 new cases reported statewide Monday. Close to 59,000 cases were reported over the weekend. (ABC)

3. Chicago Public Schools teacher Victor M. Augilar was arrested at O’Hare last week for carrying a concealed weapon at the airport. The Dominican University graduate was charged with a misdemeanor. (Chicago City Wire)

4. Oak Park Elementary School District 97 has narrowed its superintendent search to two candidates. The district is inviting community members to a virtual forum tomorrow to “meet” candidates Dr. Kim Nalls and Dr. Ushma Shah via Zoom. (District 97)

5. Illinois House Republican Jim Durkin is calling on Oak Park Representative Camille Lily to take action after Department of Children and Family Services Director Marc Smith "was held in contempt of court for violating the rights of children,” CBS reports. Lilly is the chairperson of the Human Services Appropriations Committee. (CBS)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Art exhibit “Figures and Faces” opens at the Oak Park Art League. (1 p.m.)
• Oak Park Counseling and Wellness presents a virtual interactive workshop on managing stress, in partnership with the library. (5 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Due to the omicron surge, all River Forest Public Library programs will move online until mid-February. (RFPL)
• Every Tuesday in January, River Forest waste haulers will collect Christmas trees, wreaths and garland for the village composting program. (VRF)
• Fenwick High School cross country coach Dave Rill was named the Illinois Track and Cross Country Coaches Association’s Coach of the Year. (Fenwick)
• Volunteers are “badly needed” at the Catholic Charities food pantry in Cicero. (Ascension Catholic Church)
• Oak Park Public Library is curating titles for the new year, along with resources that honor the memory of Martin Luther King Jr. and Betty White. (OPPL)

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That's all for today, Oak Park and River Forest! See you tomorrow for another edition.

— Georgi Presecky