School Board Drama + Summer Street Change + Sky-High Unemployment

Good morning, Oak Park and River Forest! Welcome to the Thursday edition of the Oak Park Patch Daily.

My name is Eileen O'Gorman and I'm taking over for Georgi this entire week. I'm a Patch breaking news reporter in Illinois. If you're interested in reading more of my writing: feel free!

In today's Daily, read about Oak Park's worsening unemployment rate, a second round of the Slow Streets Program and promising COVID-19 vaccination updates.

First, today's weather: Lots of humidity with a high of 85 and low of 65.

Here are the top five stories today in Oak Park:

1. Patch data editor Rich Scinto took a look at Cook County's unemployment rate. Overall, the area is doing better than we were in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, but unemployment was 8.7 percent in April, which was up from 8.4 percent in March. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the vast unemployment comes at a time when job openings are at a record high. (Patch)
2. A popular initiative to increase social distancing in the warmer months last year was Bike Walk Oak Park, a plan that called for shared streets and easier bike access. While the Slow Streets Program could come back again in time for bike riding season, the group hopes to see the full Greenways program enacted, which would drastically reduce vehicle traffic on residential streets. (Wednesday Journal)
3. Only two new cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the past week, the Oak Park Department of Public Health announced today. The area tragically lost 52 residents from coronavirus, but officials said the low transmission numbers are a good sign. (Oak Park)
4. Proviso Township High School District 209 Superintendent James Henderson was given a five-year contract renewal with an increased salary during the June 8 school board meeting. Two board members voted against the salary bump, which would put Henderson at $262,500 a year. (Forest Park Review)
5. The Harrison Street apartment project continues to divide neighbors. Many in support of the increased affordable housing are upset that the proposal gets smaller at each community meeting, others think the decreased parking and unstable stormwater management aren't worth it. (Forest Park Review)

Today in Oak Park:

• Downtown Oak Park Thursday night out. (5 p.m.)
• Craft night for seniors. (7 p.m.)
• The Board of Education meets for Oak Park River Forest High School. (6:30 p.m.)
• Take a load off, laugh at Oak Park Comedy Club's headliners. (8 p.m.)
• Monarch Thursday at Trailside Museum. (2 p.m.)

Oak Park Patch Notebook

• The Oak Park Public Library is accepting applications to fill one open seat as a library trustee on the seven-member board. (Oak Park Library)
• Trinity High School will celebrate the class of 2021 at the school's 100th commencement ceremony. (Forest Leaves)
• School of Rock's "Rookies" program is opening back up, with the first meeting of the mini rock-stars on Thursday. (School of Rock)
• Popular Ridgeland Ramble Walking Tour is back for tourists and visiting family members. (Oak Park River Forest Museum)

You're all caught up on what's happening today in Oak Park-River Forest. Feel free to email me at eileen.ogorman@patch.com with what you'd like to see here, to share news or upcoming events, or to tell me how much you miss Georgi! Always an honor.

- Eileen

About me: I'm a graduate of Loyola University Chicago with my degree in journalism and environmental science. My favorite days consist of thrift shopping, heist movies and watering my plants.