🌱 Winter Storm On The Way + Berwyn Bar Shooting Concerns Oak Parkers

Happy Wednesday, OPRF! In today's Daily:

• Chicagoland braces for a winter storm ahead of Christmas
• A River Forest church hosts a "Darkest Night" service for those experiencing holiday pain
• A Major League Baseball pitcher departs River Forest

But first, today's weather: Mostly cloudy. High: 33 Low: 31.

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

1. A winter storm watch will go into effect tomorrow at 6 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. Significant snow, high winds and dangerously cold temperatures are expected across Chicagoland beginning Thursday and lasting through Saturday. (Patch)

2. Two people were injured in a Berwyn bar shooting over the weekend, the Wednesday Journal reports. Oak Park neighbors are expressing concern over the nearby violence at Distro Music Hall. “Just because we live on the other side of the street from Berwyn does not mean that we should be subjected to these life-or-death situations,” resident Jason Koransky told the paper. (Wednesday Journal)

3. The First Presbyterian Church of River Forest will host a “Darkest Night” service tonight for people of all faiths. The somber and reflective service is designed “to provide comfort for those who have lost loved ones, are experiencing grief, or struggle for any reason during the Christmas season.” (Patch)

4. A new food pantry is open at the Dominican University campus to provide for students in need. According to research from the university’s nutrition science department, nearly 30 percent of surveyed students experience food insecurity. (DU)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Head to Scoville Park for a “Light in All the Colors” Unity Event. (3:30 p.m.)
• Oak Park Public Library hosts a simultaneous “Light in All the Colors” story time and discussion. (3:30 p.m.)
• River Forest Public Library hosts a "solar soirée" for middle schoolers. (3:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Two people were injured Monday in an Austin house fire. (FOX)
• More than 180 new laws will go into effect across Illinois beginning Jan. 1, 2o23. (ABC)
• The Cook County Assessor's Office will host a free webinar for taxpayers at noon today. The topic of the Facebook Live event is “Applying for Missing Property Tax Savings.” Second installment property taxes are due Dec. 30. (Assessor’s Office)
• MLB pitcher Sean Doolittle has sold his family home in River Forest. (Paid source: Forest Leaves)
• The Oak Park River Forest Infant Welfare Society is celebrating the season with a holiday spirit week. (OPRFIWS)

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That's all for today! Stay warm and I'll see you back here tomorrow.

— 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.