Hemingway Tour + Sidewalk Sale + Garden Walk

Happy Friday, Oak Park and River Forest! Let’s get to today’s news.

First, today's weather: Humid and partly cloudy throughout the day, with a high of 87 and low of 73.

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

1. The Oak Park Village Board passed a measure this week to use $14 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds “to reimburse the village for lost revenues during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Stacey Sheridan reports. (Wednesday Journal)

2. The vaccination rate in Oak Park is “slowing significantly,” according to the latest report from the Department of Public Health. About 55 percent of all residents are considered fully-vaccinated; 16 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the Village this week. (VOP)

3. New state guidance recommends all college students get vaccinated to slow the spread of COVID-19 before returning to campus this fall. Local universities Concordia and Dominican have already announced its back-to-school plans. (ABC7)

4. Oak Park and River Forest High School graduate Talib Becktemba-Goss was one of five students in the Chicago area to be named a Class of 2021 Bank of America Student Leader. The program encourages leadership and civic engagement through work with local nonprofits. (Daily Herald)

5. Tomorrow is the annual garden walk of the West Cook chapter of Wild Ones, touring eight gardens in Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park, and Berwyn. Participants are encouraged to bike or drive between gardens and maintain social distancing. (Wednesday Journal)

Today's Oak Park-River Forest Daily is brought to you by our friends at Verizon. They're building the fastest 5G network in the country. To learn how 5G is going to change life for you and your community — and to get access to this amazing technology — click here. And thank you Verizon for sponsoring this community resource in Oak Park-River Forest!

Today in Oak Park and River Forest

• The OPRF Chamber of Commerce hosts virtual office hours. (9:30 a.m.)
• A 90-minute outdoor tour explores young Ernest Hemingway’s connections to Oak Park. (10 a.m.)
• Women In Business Networking Lunch at Kalamata Kitchen. (12:15 p.m.)
• M. Night Shyamalan's new horror film "Old" opens at Lake Theatre. (12:15 p.m., with additional showtimes)
• The River Forest Public Library hosts an outdoor scavenger hunt in honor of the Olympics. (2 p.m.)
• Y6 Oak Park Pop-Up Class at the Centre for Physical Therapy. (4:30 p.m.)
• The Madison Street Sidewalk Sale begins in Forest Park. (All day)
• Celebrate “Uncorked” in the Oak Park Conservatory’s Rubinstein Garden. (6 p.m.)
• The River Forest Public Library hosts animal trivia. (7 p.m.)
• Watch an outdoor movie on the parish green at Ascension Catholic Church. (8 p.m.)

From our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Free Family Food Giveaway (July 24)
• Free 16 HR IL Concealed Carry Training a $200.00 Value Sign Up Now! (July 25)
• Free Family Mini Photo Session (August 7)

Job listings:

• Now Hiring Butchers! (Details)

It’s a busy day in Oak Park and River Forest! To make room for the events, I’m saving our usual notebook section for tomorrow. I hope you have a safe and fun Friday!

— Georgi

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Oak Park-River Forest Daily? Email me at georgi.presecky@patch.com.