Emergency Declaration Expires + Oak Park Now Hiring

Hello and welcome to a new week of the Oak Park Patch Daily!

Georgi here: I’m so happy to be back and recapping your daily news in Oak Park and River Forest. A massive thank-you to the wonderful breaking news reporter Eileen O’Gorman for taking over for me last week while I was away. Illinois Patch is lucky to have her, and her statewide coverage is a must-read!

Now on to today’s Daily, which focuses on Illinois officially reopening, the latest crime report in Oak Park and a local business making a difference.

First, today’s weather: Clear throughout the day, with a high of 74 and low of 59.

Patch Pick: The White Sox and Cubs both swept their respective division rivals over the weekend. Both teams are in first place, and Wrigley Field and Guaranteed Rate Field have plans to eliminate capacity restrictions. I should leave town more often.

Here are the top five stories in Oak Park today:

1. The Oak Park Police Department reported six stolen catalytic converters in the area between June 3 and June 10. Incidents of aggravated assault and retail theft also occurred in the Village last week, according to the department’s latest crime report. (Oak Leaves)

2. The Village of Oak Park is no longer in an official state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As of today, the Village’s COVID-19 emergency declaration is officially expired. It was first issued on March 13, 2020, followed by local and state stay-home orders. (Oak Leaves)

3. As the state of Illinois officially enters its final phase of reopening, the Village of Oak Park is making changes to its mask requirements and capacity limits, including at the weekly Farmers’ Market. Masks are still required for some people in certain settings. As of June 9, about 52 percent of the Village was considered fully vaccinated, according to the Oak Park Department of Public Health. (Village of Oak Park)

4. The Village is hiring! Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for seven roles, including Budget and Revenue Analyst, Sustainability Coordinator, and Civil Engineer. Applications are available on the Human Resources section of the Village website. (Village of Oak Park)

5. WGN featured Oak Park’s Whirlwind Coffee Company in a segment about local businesses this weekend. The coffee shop on Madison Street is owned by David Silverstein and his 9-year-old daughter Maya, and donates all its net profits to charity. (WGN)

Today in Oak Park:

• Teens can join a “Paint Your Pet” event at the River Forest Public Library. (3:30 p.m.)
• The Oak Park Public Library hosts a virtual session on the impact of author James Baldwin. (7 p.m.)
• Gerald McClendon will perform at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn. (7 p.m.)
• A Community Mental Health Board Meeting is planned. (7 p.m.)
• The Citizen Police Oversight Committee meets. (7:30 p.m.)

Oak Park Patch Notebook

• A new album was released Friday from recording artist and Oak Park native Rachel Baiman. (Chicago Sun-Times)
• Forest Park’s Gasse School of Music is celebrating its 20th anniversary. (Forest Park Review)
• An exhibit on display at the Oak Park and River Forest Museum honors the legacy of the Oak Park Area Lesbian and Gay Association. (OPRF Museum)
• The Park District of Forest Park is lifting several COVID-19 pandemic restrictions as the state reopens. (Forest Park Review)
• The River Forest Supper Club has announced its June menus. (Village of River Forest)

You’re all caught up on Tuesday’s news and events in Oak Park and River Forest. Please feel free to email me at georgi.presecky@patch.com to share your thoughts on this daily newsletter! Thank you for all of your messages ahead of my vacation - I really appreciate the kindness in this community.

Onward,
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.