🌱 Shoplifters Arrested + Candidate Forum + Trailside Turns 90

Happy Wednesday, Oak Park and River Forest! Here's your quick guide to the latest local headlines.

First, today's weather: Cold with clouds and sun. High: 48 Low: 41.

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

1. Oak Park police arrested two shoplifters on April 25, according to the latest police activity report. One was charged with stealing bottles of liquor from Jewel at 201 Madison St.; the other stole clothing and alcohol from the Target at 1129 Lake St. (VOP)

2. Seventh Illinois Congressional District candidates will speak at a virtual forum tonight. The free event is hosted by the Leagues of Women Voters from La Grange, Oak Park and River Forest. (Patch)

3. Politico reported late Monday that a draft of an upcoming Supreme Court ruling plans to overturn Roe v. Wade. Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Tuesday that “abortion will always be safe and legal here in Illinois.” (Patch)

4. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle visited River Forest last weekend to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Trailside Museum of Natural History. The building dates back to the 1870s and was the first headquarters of the Cook County Forest Preserves. It has been home to the museum since 1932. (Paid source: Forest Leaves)

5. The Oak Park Fire Department has resumed in-person CPR classes. The department will also train residents in the use of an automated external defibrillator. Registration is available on the village website. (VOP)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• A ribbon-cutting ceremony is held at the new Kettlestrings Grove. (5:30 p.m.)
• Austin Gardens Environmental Education Center hosts “May the Forest Be with You.” (6 p.m.)
• Officials from OPRF High School and the Park District of Oak Park will discuss an unofficial plan to redo the school’s athletic fields. (7 p.m.)
• Join Oak Park Temple for Wednesday Yoga. (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• New signs on the Eisenhower Expressway will direct drivers to the Haymarket Martyrs’ monument in Forest Park. (Forest Park Review)
• The Michael Teolis Singers will perform a concert in honor of those “Gone Too Soon” on May 7 at First United Methodist Church of Oak Park. (Paid source: Oak Leaves)
• Tonight’s “Postcards and Visual Culture” event at OPRF Museum has been postponed. (OPRF Museum)
• Beer Shop will host a Cinco de Mayo bottle share Thursday. (Beer Shop)
• Today in local history: Norwegian royalty visited Oak Park on this date in 1939 and were greeted by more than 4,000 locals. (OPRF Museum)

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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)
• Spirito Singers Spring Concert ~ May 15 (May 7)
• 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, Oak Park and River Forest. Thanks for reading.

— 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.