🌱 Storm Damage At St. Edmund + Oak Parker In 'Schmicago'

Hello, Oak Park and River Forest! In today's Daily, learn about:

• Local voters elected new trustees and school board members Tuesday.
• How Chicago's next mayor is connected to Oak Park.
• A retail theft arrest at CVS Pharmacy.

But first, today's weather: Mostly sunny; breezy, cooler. High: 56 Low: 36.

These are the great local businesses who sponsor the Oak Park-River Forest Patch newsletter. We love what they do, and we think you will, too:

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• Get ready to try the only Laotian food in Chicago. Laos to Your House is coming to Oak Park on Friday, April 14 bringing traditional, lesser-known Asian cuisine to the suburbs. They’re serving original family recipes from Laos, such as Laap — chicken or beef mixed with herbs, fish sauce, lime, chilis, and served with sticky rice. Or, try their take on a charcuterie board, called the LAOcuterie Board — with spicy sausage, brisket, wings, jerky, and spicy papaya. Order here by Thursday, April 13.

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Here are the top 4 stories in Oak Park-River Forest today:

1. Trustees Cory Wesley and Susan Buchanan will remain on the Oak Park Village Board after unofficial election night wins, the Wednesday Journal reports. First-time candidate Brian Straw was also elected Tuesday. (Wednesday Journal)

2. Austin resident Brandon Johnson will serve as the next mayor of Chicago following Tuesday’s run-off election against former school district CEO Paul Valls. Johson represents Oak Park and surrounding communities as Cook County commissioner. (AP)

3. Steeples, spires and sidewalks were damaged at St. Edmund Church during Tuesday’s storm. Both the parish and school building sustained damage during the high winds. Roof damage and fallen trees were also reported at Pilgrim Congregational Church. (ABC)

4. Emmy nominee and Oak Park native Cecily Strong returns for season two of “Schmigadoon,” with its premiere now streaming on Apple TV+. This year’s storyline takes the musical farce to “Schmicago.” (TVLine)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• River Forest Public Library offers “Toddler Time.” (10 a.m.)
• Author Kelly Richmond Pope discusses her book "Fool Me Once: Scams, Stories & Secrets From the Trillion Dollar Fraud Industry" at Oak Park Public Library. (6:30 p.m.)
• Chicago comic Patti Vasquez performs at Cheney Mansion’s Comedy Night. (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• OPRF High School District 200 and River Forest School District 90 added a collective six new members to their boards following this week's election. (Wednesday Journal)
• A LaGrange man was arrested on retail theft charges Tuesday at a Madison Street CVS Pharmacy. (OPPD)
• Austin Gardens will remain closed through Friday due to “significant storm damage.” (PDOP)
• As the campaign season ends, River Forest residents can recycle plastic yard signs on Central Avenue near Village Hall through April 14. (VRF)
• The Oak Park and River Forest High School Science Olympiad team is headed to the state tournament April 22 for the fourth year in a row. (OPRFHS)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Laura Ruiz, REALTOR® at REALTY OF CHICAGO — (Visit website)
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Featured events:

• Experience Chicago's Best Deep Dish: Pequod's Pizza. Order by Tuesday. (April 12)
• Wedding Band Event at Bella Cosa Jewelers (April 15)
• A Charcuterie Happy Hour: Networking Event (April 19)
• Add your event

That's all for today, Oak Park and River Forest! Thanks so much for subscribing to the newsletter. See you tomorrow for more local news.

— 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 Patch newsletter? Contact me at georgi.presecky@patch.com.