🌱 Successful 'Mutt Strutt' 5K + Kribi Coffee Opening In Oak Park

Hello, everybody! It's me, Nicole Fallon-Peek, your host of the Oak Park-River Forest Patch newsletter — back in your inbox with all the most important things happening in town.

But first, today's weather:

Thunderstorm. High: 88 Low: 65.

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

1. The Animal Care League organized its annual "Mutt Strut" virtual 5K event in Oak Park, drawing around 100 participants to support homeless animals. The fundraiser aims to provide financial aid for the shelter during the busy summer season when they receive more stray, injured, and lost animals. The event encouraged people to register, raise money, and volunteer to help the shelter care for the animals and find them loving homes. (Audacy)
2. Forest Park's Kribi Coffee is opening a new location on the first floor of the Albion high-rise building on Lake Street in Oak Park. This will be the company's third shop and is intended to become its flagship site. Kribi is a Black-owned, environmentally sustainable coffee company that works directly with coffee bean farmers worldwide to combat poverty and supports local causes in Chicago, including access to safe abortions and youth education. (Wednesday Journal)
3. During a daring retail theft at Jewel-Osco on Saturday afternoon, two unidentified individuals stole duffel bags filled with a wide range of cosmetics. The incident took place at 7036 W. Roosevelt Road in Oak Park. The thieves made verbal threats to the store manager who confronted them before escaping in a maroon van. The exact value of the stolen cosmetics is yet to be determined, and the police are actively investigating the incident by reviewing surveillance footage and seeking information from residents to aid in the investigation. (Country Herald)

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Today in Oak Park-River Forest:

Thursday, July 20

• Oak Park Veteran Virtual Job Fair Hosted By JobFairX (11:00 AM)
• The Half Brits At Thursday Night Out (5:00 PM)
• Author Visit: "Transforming Retirement: Rewire & Grow Your Legacy" With Janis Clark Johnston At Oak Park Public Library (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Join Ovation Academy's teen program, Encore, for its summer production of "The Prom," a lively musical comedy. This performance promises non-stop laughs, high-energy dance numbers, and a heartwarming message of inclusion and being true to oneself. The show will be performed by teens aged 14-19 and has a runtime of approximately 90 minutes with one intermission. The show will take place on Friday, Jul. 21 at 7:30 p.m. (Oak Park-River Forest Patch)
• The Oak Park Public Library is hosting a circle event for adults with hidden/non-apparent disabilities on Jul. 23 as part of its Disability Pride Month celebration. The gathering will center on healing and provide a space for participants to share, listen, and reflect on their experiences. (Oak Park Public Library)
• Head down to the River Forest Public Library on Friday, Jul. 21 for the "Film Lover Fridays" event! This week's classic film is "Wanda." (River Forest Public Library via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Laura Ruiz, REALTOR® at REALTY OF CHICAGO — (Visit website)
• Laurie Christofano, Realtor | RE/MAX In The Village — (Visit Website)
• Add your business here

Featured events:

• Welcome summer with lobster rolls to your door. Order Happy Lobster by Tuesday. (July 26)
• Get sushi from new hotspot Itoko on Friday, order by Tuesday! (July 28)
• The BEST BBQ in Chicago is coming to you! Order Smoque by Thursday. (July 28)
• Heading to Ravinia? Get gourmet Vietnamese food like you've never experienced from HaiSous! (July 28)
• Sweet Mandy B's is coming! Don't miss this sweet treat on Saturday. Order by Thursday. (July 29)
• Add your event

Alrighty, you're all good for today. I'll see you around!

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.