🌱 Air Quality 'Worst In The World' + Fourth Of July Events Guide

We're halfway through the week, Oak Park and River Forest. In the Wednesday edition of the Patch Daily:

• An armed home invasion was reported on Austin Boulevard.
• Food Network chef Jeff Mauro is partnering with an Oak Park area business.
• The River Forest Community Herb Garden is open.

But first, today's weather: Warmer with sun and clouds. High: 85 Low: 67.

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

1. A home invader pointed a handgun at a resident Saturday night, according to the Oak Park Police Department. An “armed burglar” entered an apartment in the 300 block of South Austin Boulevard and pointed a gun at the tenant before fleeing. (Wednesday Journal)

2. The Chicago area had the “worst air quality in the world” Tuesday due to “atmospheric inversion” of smoke from Canadian wildfires. The National Weather Service warned people to limit outdoor activities as “very unhealthy” air conditions persisted throughout the day. “If I look out my window right now, you’d swear that it was overcast,” Argonne National Laboratory atmospheric scientist Scott Collis told Block Club. “But there are actually no clouds above us right now. That’s all smoke.” (Block Club)

3. Beer Shop is partnering with Food Network chef and River Forest resident Jeff Mauro. The Oak Park business and Mauro Provisions are “offering customers a package of premium meat and a discount on beer for the Fourth of July.” Thursday is the last day to preorder. (Wednesday Journal)

4. Patch has a guide to fireworks and other July 4 events across Chicagoland, which begin as early as Friday. The round-up includes parades and other festivities in Oak Park, Elmwood Park, Berwyn, Riverside and more. (Patch)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

• Kids 2-4 can join a “Dino Stomp” in Lindberg Park courtesy of the Park District. (1 p.m.)
• River Forest Public Library is launching a community art project. (3:30 p.m.)
• Join a sound bath meditation at the Main Library in Oak Park. (6 p.m.)
• Trinity High School hosts a wine tasting in the courtyard. (6:30 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Evictions reached a four-year high in Cook County in May. (WEBZ)
• The River Forest Community Herb Garden is now open at the corner of Augusta Street and Keystone Avenue. (VRF)
• The Hemingway Birthplace Museum will host a free discussion tomorrow on the Oak Park author’s time serving in World War I. (Foundation)

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Featured businesses:

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Featured events:

• Elmhurst Running Club 4 on the 4th (July 4)
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That's all for today, OPRF. Thanks for being here.

— 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 writing has been recognized with awards from the Ernest Hemingway Foundation, 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 Patch newsletter? Contact me at georgi.presecky@patch.com.