🌱 Patch AM: Why Barrington’s Good Shepherd Hospital ranks among Illinois’ top maternity centers

Good day Barrington! We're here again with what you need to know today. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Why Barrington’s Good Shepherd Hospital ranks among Illinois’ top maternity centers
• How will 75 new trees change Advocate Good Shepherd’s campus?
• Why is Barrington still missing two games on its 2026 schedule?

Also on today's calendar: This week, holiday food events delivered to you from Bittersweet, Manny's Deli, Urbanbelly, & more! and 1 more event.

Today's riddle: What did one astronaut stranded on the moon say to another? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Friday: Brisk and much colder, with a high of 25 and low of 23 degrees.
• Saturday: Breezy with clearing, temps: high: 41, low: 12. ⛄️ Brr!
• Sunday: Sunny and colder, with a high of 30 and low of 23 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• These 23 IL Hospitals Are Ranked Among Best For Maternity Care (patch.com) — Expecting parents in Barrington will be glad to know Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital has been named one of Illinois’ best hospitals for maternity care in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 rankings. The statewide list evaluates hospitals on C-section rates, newborn complications, breastfeeding support, and more, helping local families compare options for safe, uncomplicated births.
   

• Advocate Health plants 75 trees at Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital (shawlocal.com) — Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington just added 75 new trees to its campus, part of Advocate Health’s larger push to plant 30,000 trees systemwide by 2030. Volunteers and hospital leaders joined October planting days aimed at improving green space, reducing stress for staff, and supporting community health. More healing gardens and green roofs are also planned.
   

• Plenty of changes coming to IHSA football in 2026 including shakeup to MSL, CSL schedules (dailyherald.com) — Barrington High’s football team is still hunting for opponents in weeks one and two of the 2026 season as new IHSA rules expand playoff qualifiers and move the start date to Aug. 21. The story explains how conference shakeups and new crossover games with DuPage Valley schools will reshape schedules for Barrington and other Mid-Suburban League programs.
   

📸 Around Barrington

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Barrington

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★ Featured events ★

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Other local events

Friday December 19

• This week, holiday food events delivered to you from Bittersweet, Manny's Deli, Urbanbelly, & more!
  3:00 pm

Sunday December 21

• Home for the Holidays
  Barrington's White House , 145 W Main St , Barrington
  1:00 pm
• Home for the Holidays: Nancie Tobison, BHS Alumni, & Friends
  Barrington's White House , 145 W Main St , Barrington
  3:00 pm
• Home for the Holidays: With Nancie Tobison, BHS Alumni, & Friends 3 pm show
  Barrington's White House , 145 W Main St , Barrington
  3:00 pm

📣 Barrington Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Friday December 19

• Live & Looped
  The Hampton Social , 100 W Higgins Rd , South Barrington
  5:00 pm
• Celebrate the Holidays with Consonance - Chicago Choral Artists' A Christmas Carol
  Grace Lutheran Church , 7300 W. Division , River Forest
  7:30 pm

Saturday December 20

• Palatine Winter Farmers Market — Sabor Salsas
  Palatine , 137 W Wood St , Palatine
  9:00 am
• Puzzlemania for Adults
  Chicago Bee Branch Library , 3647 South State Street , Chicago
  9:30 am
• Open Art Studio with Ericka Soto
  McKinley Park Branch Library , 1915 West 35th Street , Chicago
  9:30 am
• Therapeutic Yoga with Elizabeth
  Mindful Movement Yoga , 48 S Old Rand Rd , Lake Zurich
  10:00 am
• Grab and Go Kits: Christmas Tree Craft
  Canaryville Branch Library , 642 West 43rd Street , Chicago
  10:00 am
• Bilingual Story Time / Hora de Cuentos Bilingüe
  Back of the Yards Branch Library , 4650 South Damen Avenue , Chicago
  11:00 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Deferred, not Defeated: Wreaths Across America hosted December 15th in Barrington —Jacqueline Marcus Read on Patch

• The intersection of Butterfield and Wolf in Hillside was shut down due to a serious crash involving several vehicles, but has since reopened.
  1:36PM on Dec 17: Accident closes Butterfield Rd (Route 56) eastbound/westbound between Elm St and Wolf Rd. (Nextdoor )
• Chicago police are searching for a third suspect following a high-speed chase that ended in a crash near 69th and Kedvale, with two suspects in custody.
  11:39AM on Dec 17: Multiple suspects bailed from a vehicle that crashed following a Chicago Police Department chase. (Nextdoor )

• Cold Stone Creamery posted a job opening for Crew Member in Barrington. Apply here.
• Costco Wholesale Corporation posted a job opening for Stocker in Lake Zurich. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Barrington here.

🗞 Nearby News

Palatine

• ‘A good thing for people': Palatine Township levies first tax for community mental health board (dailyherald.com)
• Club Pilates Palatine Angel Tree donations to Palatine Township (dailyherald.com)
• Palatine grandfather publishes children's book (dailyherald.com)

Hoffman Estates

• AEW Offering Big Holiday Discount On Tickets (wrestlezone.com)
• ‘Real and present threat': Judge orders man charged in Schaumburg slaying detained (dailyherald.com)
• Windy City Bulls Partner with Local Townships for Pack the Bus Food Drive (oursportscentral.com)

Arlington Heights

Ok Barrington! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t think you know the gravity of this situation.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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