🌱 Theft Arrests At Jewel, Target + River Forest Budget Online Now

Good morning, Oak Park and River Forest! In today's Daily:

• Starbucks union efforts continue at Chicagoland locations, including Oak Park.
• OPRF Museum hosts an inside look at its upcoming house walk.
• Oak Park's new director is planning a listening session today related to senior services.

But first, today's weather: Warmer with sunshine. High: 56 Low: 41.

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

1. Oak Park police made three retail theft arrests over the weekend. Offenders stole from local Walgreens, Target and Jewel stores. (OPPD)

2. River Forest Finance Director Rosemary McAdams told trustees the village is in a “strong financial position” at last week’s budget presentation, which can now be streamed online. A balanced budget was presented April 10. (Wednesday Journal)

3. Workers at a Greektown Starbucks are on strike this week after staff members accused the coffee company of “union-busting.” The news comes a week after Oak Park baristas voted to unionize. (CBS)

4. Oak Park River Forest Museum will host a presentation tonight about the work that goes into planning the annual house walk. This year’s event is set for May 7 and will feature six historic homes. (OPRF Museum)

5. Earth Month events continue in the area this week, including a native plant sale and webinars on gardening and air quality. The sustainability based One Earth Mini Film Festival also kicks off Wednesday at venues across Chicagoland, including Thatcher Woods. (Sustain Oak Park)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Concordia University’s Ferguson Art Gallery presents the Senior Capstone Exhibition. (9 a.m.)
• The Citizens Utility Board hosts a free utility bill clinic. (2 p.m.)
• Oak Park Public Library Executive Director Joslyn Bowling Dixon hosts a listening session on services and events for seniors. (4 p.m.)
• Richard Donner's "Superman" screens at Lake Theatre 45 years after it was first released. (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Thresholds Health cut the ribbon on a new center in the Austin neighborhood. (AWN)
• Fenwick High School pitcher Talia Lorenzo surpassed 400 strikeouts on April 14. (Wednesday Journal)
• Forest Park steakhouse The Golden Steer is up for sale, the owners told the Review. (Review)
• Chicago music group Poison Squirrel, including Oak Park guitarist King Cormack, is looking back on their only single, released in 1980. (Chicago Reader)

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Featured events:

• Taxes in Retirement Webinar (April 18)
• A Charcuterie Happy Hour: Networking Event (April 19)
• 7th Annual West Loop Spirits, Cocktails & Wine Festival with Artisan Delicacies, April 22nd & 23rd (April 22)
• Spring Dance with the Falconaires Big Band (April 22)
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You're all caught up! See you tomorrow for more local stories.

— 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.