Triton College Softball Wins Big + Spring Shopping Guide

Good morning, Oak Park and River Forest! Welcome to the Wednesday edition of the Oak Park Patch Daily.

In today’s Daily, read about recent car-part thefts in Oak Park, a vaccine clinic at Roosevelt Middle School and the Triton College softball team's historic season.

First, today’s weather: Rain in the evening and overnight, with a high of 60 and low of 49.

Here are the top five stories today in Oak Park:

1. Five catalytic converters were stolen from vehicles in Oak Park over a two-day period, according to a police department report. Thefts were reported May 12-13 on Home Avenue, Pleasant Street and Ontario Street, ranging in value from $1,000 to $2,500. (Oak Leaves)

2. The Triton College softball team is competing this week in the NJCAA Division II softball tournament in Alabama. The team won its first Region 4 Championship since 1988 earlier this month and is ranked No. 11 in the country. (Triton)

3. More than 160 Roosevelt Middle School students received the COVID-19 vaccine at an on-site clinic last week. “If we’re talking about children being vaccinated, what better place to have it than at the school they go to?” Principal Larry Gartski said of the event, which was co-sponsored by Jewel-Osco and the Village of River Forest. (Wednesday Journal)

4. Oak Pak students are telling the stories of Vietnam War veterans as part of a community service project. Percy Julian Middle School eighth graders Liam O’Connor and Charlie Newman created a website featuring interviews with five men about their experiences during and after the war, including longtime Oak Park resident Al Krause. (Oak Leaves)

5. Nationwide meat shortages mean higher prices. But in an interview with NBC5, Carnival Grocery owner Arthur Paris said community grocery stores will absorb the extra cost, versus bigger chains where meat prices are “up dramatically."(NBC5)

Today in Oak Park:

• River Forest Public Library hosts a monthly “Social Stitching” event on the library lawn. (10 a.m.)
• The new Sheridan at River Forest offers a virtual exercise class. (10 a.m.)
• It’s the final day of the Oak Park Art League’s “Art & Word” exhibit. (1 p.m.)
• Oak Park Public Library presents “An Introduction to the East Asian Garden.” (2 p.m.)
• Enjoy “Screen Printing and Spritzers” in a craft-and-cocktail workshop at Sugar Beet Schoolhouse. (6:30 p.m.)
• Join fellow French speakers for a virtual conversation hour with Oak Park Public Library. (7 p.m.)

Oak Park Patch Notebook

• Pick Oak Park released a spring shopping guide to help residents support local businesses, online and in person. (Pick Oak Park)
• The Oak Park and River Forest High School water polo team upset top-seeded Maine West in the sectional finals, but were ultimately defeated by York. (Wednesday Journal)
• More than 3,200 people attended the first farmers market of the season this weekend at Pilgrim Church - a drastic increase from last season. (Wednesday Journal)
• Online enrollment opens today for next school year at Oak Park and River Forest High School. (OPRFHS)
• The only lunar eclipse on the 2021 calendar occurred this morning at 5:30 a.m. (Forest Preserves of Cook County)

You're all caught up on what's happening today in Oak Park. Feel free to email me at georgi.presecky@patch.com with what you'd like to see here, to share news or upcoming events, or just to introduce yourself! As my daily 5:30 p.m. date Lester Holt says, "Take care of yourselves and each other."

- Georgi

About me: I am a lifelong Illinois resident and Lewis University graduate with a passion for White Sox baseball, classic literature and local news.