🌱 Local Ukrainians Speak Out + Mask Up On Metra + Paczki Day

Georgi Presecky
Updated ·4 min read

Good morning, Oak Park and River Forest! Welcome to a new month of daily newsletters.

First, today's weather: Mostly cloudy. High: 49 Low: 33.

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Here are the top 5 stories in Oak Park-River Forest today:

1. Ukrainian Americans in Elmwood Park, River Forest and River Grove are speaking out about the Russian invasion. Many are sharing stories of loved ones experiencing the crisis in their native country. “The people are determined to resist,” said Vadim Karpinos of River Forest. (Paid source: Oak Leaves)

2. There is currently a “low” chance of contracting in COVID-19 in Cook County, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. The state’s weekly COVID-19 case rate has dropped by 70 percent since Feb. 9. (WTTW)

3. Two Apple iPhones were stolen from the Oak Park and River Forest High School cafeteria last week, according to the police department. Headphones were also reported stolen, adding up to a total loss of $1,000. (OPPD)

4. Oak Park Bakery is celebrating Paczki Day with 10 flavors of the popular pastry. The bakery asks patrons to order ahead due to high demand on Fat Tuesday, celebrated every year on the day before Lent begins. (Bakery)

5. First installment property taxes are due today in Cook County, according to the treasurer’s office. Online payments will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. (Cook County Treasurer)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

  • Selleria Veneta Boutique hosts a design trunk show. (11 a.m.)

  • Celebrate Mardi Gras at Shanahan’s Louisiana Creole Kitchen. (Noon)

  • See Oscar-nominated short films at Lake Theatre. (2 p.m.)

  • Pre-teens can drop in to River Forest Public Library’s “Middle School Makers” event. (3:30 p.m.)

  • Explore culture through cooking at Cheney Mansion. (4:30 p.m.)

  • Berwyn musician Ian Leith performs at the Friendly Tap. (8:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

  • Masks are still required on Metra and CTA trains, buses and platforms under a Transportation Security Administration mandate. (Patch)

  • Oak Park author and professor Roy Plotnick published a new book, “Explorers of Deep Time: Paleontologists and the History of Life.” (Paid source: Oak Leaves)

  • In-person events will return to River Forest Public Library this month. (RFPL)

  • Tickets are on sale for Dominican University’s Annual Trustee Benefit Concert this Saturday, featuring Kristin Chenoweth. (DU)

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That's all for today, OPRF. See you tomorrow for more local news.

— 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.

This article originally appeared on the Oak Park-River Forest Patch