🌱 Store Santa Gets Egged + Schools 'Keep An Eye' On Omicron

Good morning, OPRF! Thanks for starting your Wednesday with the Oak Park-River Forest Patch Daily.

First, today's weather: Partly sunny and colder. High: 32 Low: 30.

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

1. Administrators from Dominican and Concordia Universities are “keeping a watchful eye” on the omicron variant during winter break to determine how the pandemic will impact in-person learning in the new year. University of Illinois will hold January classes remotely as COVID-19 cases surge statewide. (Paid source: Oak Leaves)

2. A neighborhood Santa Claus was egged on an Oak Park street corner last weekend. Community members have stepped up to help Adam White replace his costume after he was pelted with eggs by masked assailants Dec. 18. He will continue to appear as Santa Claus at the shop Needful Things this week. (CBS)

3. Oak Park Village Hall remains closed as 10 vaccinated employees tested positive for COVID-19. A tentative return to in-person services is set for Jan. 4. (Paid source: Oak Leaves)

4. The state champion Fenwick Friars are committing to colleges. Four players signed letters of intent last week to play football at Division I schools, including All-Area Football Player of the Year Kaden Cobb. (Wednesday Journal)

5. Oak Park cartoonist Keith J. Taylor died this week “after a long battle with cancer complicated by COVID-19.” He served as president of the Oak Park Art League and spent 50 years “contributing to Chicago art and media.” (Patch)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• “Sing 2” opens at Lake Theatre. (Noon)
• Story Stretchers at River Forest Public Library. (4 p.m.)
• The Park District hosts a virtual bedtime story with Santa. (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Oak Park police are participating in a statewide campaign to “crack down on impaired and unbuckled drivers." (VOP)
• The oldest house in Austin is seeking landmark status from the Chicago City Council. (Wednesday Journal)
• The Paul Hruby Ice Arena announced new winter break hours for public skating. (PDOP)
• On this date in 1941, 300 people gathered at Oak Park and River Forest High School to raise money for the Red Cross Emergency War Relief Campaign. (OPRF Museum)

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That's all for today, Oak Park and River Forest. See you tomorrow for more local news!

— Georgi Presecky