🌱 Water Tower Removal Plans + Weapons Ban Heads To IL Senate

Good morning, Oak Park and River Forest! In this weekend edition of the Daily:

• The health department issues its weekly COVID-19 report
• A Berwyn restaurant expands to Oak Park
• Pleasant Home plans an event expo

Today's weather: Partly sunny with a high of 36 and low of 23.

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

1. The Illinois House approved measures Friday to ban certain assault weapons and expand abortion rights in the state, the Tribune reports. Both measures are now set for the Senate. A spokesperson for Senate President Don Harmon of Oak Park said senators are “looking forward” to reviewing the proposals. (Paid source: Tribune)

2. Sixty-six cases of COVID-19 were reported in Oak Park this week, according to a health department report. More than 90 percent of residents have received at least their first dose of the vaccine. (VOP)

3. Oak Park and River Forest officials will not share the cost of removing an unused water tower near the Forest Park Green Line station. The CTA proposed that all three villages could pay for its removal. “River Forest has absolutely nothing to do with the tower itself, other than, in our mind, it is unsightly,” Village President Cathy Adduci said. “If Mayor [Rory] Hoskins wanted to get a grant from the state or somebody else, we would support his efforts.” (Review)

4. A French Mexican restaurant is coming to Lake Street, the Wednesday Journal reports. Crepas Culichi first opened in Berwyn in 2019 and is expanding to Oak Park this month. Owned by sisters Estefany and Yency Garcia, the restaurant's menu will feature cocktails, crepes and coffee. (Wednesday Journal)

Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Pre-K kids can build towers at Longfellow Community Center. (9 a.m.)
• Learn about winter reptiles and amphibians at Trailside Museum. (11 a.m.)
• Join the Park District of Oak Park for a field trip to the Right Bee Cidery. (11:30 a.m.)
• Head to FitzGeralds for a blues brunch. (Noon)
• Celebrate the music of Billy Joel and Elton John with a concert at Madison Street Theater. (7:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Police Chief Shatonya Johnson said "murder [cases] are never closed" when asked about the 1996 “flower shop homicides” on Chicago Avenue. A man was shot and killed last week in the same area. (Wednesday Journal)
• A Boutique Event Expo will be held Jan. 22 at Pleasant Home. The free event will feature several wedding planners and vendors, including caterers and musicians. (Pleasant Home)
• Trinity High School will host a make-up entrance exam Jan. 14. (Trinity High School)

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That's all for this Saturday! See you tomorrow for more local stories.

— Georgi

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 Daily? Contact me at georgi.presecky@patch.com.