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🌱 Patch AM: Which Champaign-Urbana changemakers made this Person of the Year list?

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Good morning Champaign! We're back again in your inbox, keeping you updated with what's happening in and around town. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Which Champaign-Urbana changemakers made this Person of the Year list?
  • How Illini Chabad is turning Hanukkah grief into community strength
  • Champaign and Illini fans remember trailblazing former head coach Mike White

Also on today's calendar: Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer and 3 more events.

Find out what's happening in Champaignfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: What did the stop sign say to the yield sign? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Champaignfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Monday: Breezy and not as cold, with a high of 28 and low of 14 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
  • Tuesday: Mostly sunny and not as cold, temps: high: 37, low: 28.
  • Wednesday: Times of clouds and sun, with a high of 38 and low of 32 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Big 10: 2025 Person of the Year picks, Part 2 (news-gazette.com) — Community members from Champaign-Urbana and beyond share their picks for 2025 Person of the Year, spotlighting several local standouts. Nominations include a Champaign West Rotary volunteer, a Champaign-Urbana pastor’s choice of a local musician-educator, and others whose work shapes life in the Urbana-Champaign area and far outside it.
   

• First night of Hanukkah filled with mixed emotions this year; Illini Chabad's senior rabbi reflects (wcia.com) — Illini Chabad in Champaign opened Hanukkah with a menorah lighting and traditional foods, even as worshippers grieved an attack on a Jewish celebration in Sydney that killed two of their colleagues. Rabbi Dovid Tiechtel urged students and faculty to channel their pain into pride, continuing menorah celebrations in dorms and Greek houses and inviting anyone needing a menorah to contact Illini Chabad.
   

• Former Illini Head Coach Mike White Passes Away (fightingillini.com) — Champaign readers are mourning former Illini football head coach Mike White, who died Sunday at 89 after transforming Illinois into a high-flying Big Ten contender in the 1980s. He led the Illini to three bowl games, including the 1984 Rose Bowl, and coached record-setting stars like quarterbacks Dave Wilson, Tony Eason, Jack Trudeau, and receiver David Williams.
   

📸 Around Champaign

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Champaign

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

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Other local events
    Wednesday December 17
  • Sweary Coloring with Cats @The Scratching Post!
    The Scratching Post is Champaign's Cat & Board Game Cafe. Enjoy our light snack and drink menu, purchase a game pass to access our massive library of 500+ board games, or make a reservation to visit our cat lounge where 20+ adoptable cats are waiting
    8:30 pm
    • Saturday December 20
  • Candlelight: The Best of Hans Zimmer
    Orpheum Champaign , 346 N Neil St , Champaign
    6:30 pm
  • Candlelight: Tribute to Coldplay
    The Orpheum Champaign 346 North Neil Street Champaign, Illinois 61820
    8:45 pm
    • Monday December 22
  • Open interviews
    Champaign County Chamber of Commerce , 303 W Kirby Ave , Champaign
    9:00 am
    • Friday December 26
  • Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings
    The Orpheum Champaign 346 North Neil Street Champaign, Illinois 61820
    8:45 pm

📣 Champaign 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

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

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Moore’ Rescue Ranch is having a fundraiser at Fannie Mae (402 S Neil St Champaign), on Sunday, December 21st from 1pm to 5pm.
    They will receive 30% of the proceeds. Kittens will be available to pet & cuddle. Come out to support Moore’s, see some kittens and buy lots of… (Nextdoor Timberline & Westlake Sub)
  • Lost dog found.
    Please contact us if she belongs to you. Only a rabies tag. (Nextdoor Lincolnshire)
  • ROE #9 Champaign-Ford County School Districts posted a job opening for Kids Plus After School Program Bilingual Recreation Leaders (multiple positions available) in Champaign. Apply here.
  • Mathnasium posted a job opening for Math Instructor / Tutor in Champaign. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Champaign here.

🗞 Nearby News

Urbana

  • Illinois 4-H youth recreate hometown landmarks in building bricks challenge (chambanasun.com)
  • UPDATE: Urbana Dutch Bros to open Monday (news-gazette.com)
  • Breaking down the secret sauce of road salt (wcia.com)

Ok Champaign! 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 know either. They were speaking in sign language.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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