🌱 Warehouse Fire + Overdose Prevention Kits + Theater Auditions

Hello, Oak Park and River Forest. Let's get to today's top stories, including:

• Lake Street closures in Austin
• An "incident" on Keystone Avenue
• Free COVID-19 testing is available

But first, today's weather: Increasing cloudiness. High: 44 Low: 38.

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

1. A warehouse fire in Austin caused road closures along Lake Street Monday, NBC Chicago reports. At least one person was injured in the fire in the 4700 block of West Lake Street. (NBC)

2. Police responded to an “incident” Monday night in the 1400 Block of Keystone, the Village of River Forest announced on its website. No further information was given. (VRF)

3. The Village of Oak Park could install several opioid overdose prevention kits throughout the community by the end of March, Wednesday Journal reports. The Oak Park and River Forest Opioid Task Force recommended the purchase after 151 overdoses were reported in the community in 2022. (Wednesday Journal)

4. Oak Park Festival Theatre will hold auditions Feb. 20 at Cheney Mansion for its upcoming production. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” rehearsals begin in June. (Broadway World)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Free COVID-19 testing is offered at the Main Fire Station. (10 a.m.)
• Studio of Art hosts open studio hours. (6:30 p.m.)
• Join the River Forest Public Library for a virtual conversation with author Kwame Alexander. (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• The OPRF High School District 200 board voted against allowing a visiting nonprofit to film next month’s sexual violence forum for seniors. (Wednesday Journal)
• Concordia University graduate and Chicago Public Schools teacher Leonor “Lori” Torres Whitt is running for alderperson in Chicago’s 36th ward. (Paid source: Tribune)
• OPRF High School alum and Elmwood Park native Jeff Mauro was featured on WGN’s “Around Town” segment this week. (WGN)
• Willard Elementary School student artwork is on display at the River Forest Public Library through the end of the month. (Instagram)
• Brookfield Zoo is welcoming a new gorilla named Jontu. (Instagram)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Laura Ruiz, REALTOR® at REALTY OF CHICAGO — (Visit website)
• Laurie Christofano, Realtor | RE/MAX In the Village — (Visit Website)
• Add your business here

Events:

• Consumer Fraud Prevention Tips for Seniors (February 9)
• Chicago Artisan Market in Ravenswood — this Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 11-12 (February 11)
• Winter '23 Weekend Wonders in Elmhurst (1st-5th graders) (February 11)
• Teen Open Mic (February 11)
• Add your event

Housing:

• Trade in your snow shovel for a condo! (Details)
• Add your listing

Thanks for being here! See you tomorrow for another quick guide to the top 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.