Trustees Debate Zoning + High School Changes Hall Pass Policy

Happy Friday, OPRF! Thanks for starting your day with the Daily.

First, today's weather: Partly cloudy throughout the day. High: 85, low: 69.

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

1. The Oak Park Department of Public Health reported 48 new cases of COVID-19 in the village this week. There were 51 cases the week prior. (VOP)

2. Data from the Illinois Department of Public Health says 36,869 Oak Park residents are now considered fully-vaccinated, which is "significantly higher than previously reported," according to a village statement. (VOP)

3. Longtime Oak Park resident and Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi is running for another term. (Forest Park Review)

4. River Forest trustees are debating the zoning of the Dominican University priory, which is zoned for “non-taxable public and recreational uses.” Some trustees believe it is limiting opportunities for use of the land, while others are open to commercial buyers. (Wednesday Journal)

5. A River Forest couple whose diplomat daughter died in Afghanistan is speaking out about the Taliban taking over the country. Tom and Mary Beth Smedinghoff’s daughter Anne was on a U.S. mission to deliver books to a school in Zabul province when she was killed by a suicide bomber in 2013. (Subscription: Forest Leaves)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest

• This month’s “Park to Park: Walk and Talk” goes from Maple Park to Longfellow Park. (9 a.m.)
• River Forest Public Library hosts a virtual campfire party. (10 a.m.)
• Practice runs begin today for this weekend’s Air and Water Show in Chicago. (10 a.m.)
• Build outdoor plant shelves at Dole Center. (6 p.m.)
• Watch an outdoor movie at Ascension Catholic Church. (8 p.m.)

Oak Park-River Forest Patch Notebook

• OPRF High School is changing its hall pass policy due to parental concerns. (OPRFHS)
• “River Forest’s youngest entrepreneur,” 13-year-old Alec Olson runs Spoke Café, a pedal-cart selling cold brew and root beer floats. (Wednesday Journal)
• The Micro Brew Review is set for tomorrow in Oak Park. It is considered the largest zero-waste craft beer fest in the Midwest. (WGN)
• Registration closes today for religious education at St. Giles Parish. (St. Giles)

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That's all for this Friday, OPRF. I'll be back tomorrow for the weekend edition of the Daily. In the meantime, email me any time at georgi.presecky@patch.com with your thoughts. And if you're enjoying the newsletter, don't forget to share this link to subscribe!

Stay well,

Georgi

About me: Georgi is a Chicago-based reporter with seven years of experience writing for entertainment-based publications. She began working for Patch in 2019.