Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Des Plaines remembers Virginia McCaskey and civic leader Rosemary Argus
Happening soon: Willow Hill Lights - Open nightly thru Jan 4 on the Des Plaines Patch calendar

Hello Des Plaines! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- Des Plaines remembers Virginia McCaskey and civic leader Rosemary Argus
Also on today's calendar: Willow Hill Lights - Open nightly thru Jan 4 and 4 more events.
Find out what's happening in Des Plainesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Find out what's happening in Des Plainesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Wednesday: A little snow, up to 1", with a high of 35 and low of 9 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
- Thursday: Colder with partial sunshine, temps: high: 23, low: 18.
- Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 29 and low of 15 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Those we lost: Local leaders, former governors and a conservative activist among notable deaths of 2025 (dailyherald.com) — Des Plaines is prominently remembered through Virginia McCaskey, a longtime resident and Chicago Bears owner, and civic leader Rosemary Argus, whose name graces Friendship Park Conservatory and who served on the city council and led the Des Plaines Community Foundation. Their stories appear alongside other suburban officials, educators, and public figures honored in this year‑end look at notable 2025 deaths.
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📸 Around Des Plaines
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 Des Plaines
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Willow Hill Lights - Open nightly thru Jan 4
Willow Hill Golf Course, 1350 Willow Rd, Northbrook
5:00 pm
Saturday January 3
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- This week, food events delivered to you from Quartino, Urbanbelly, Smoque BBQ, & more!
3:00 pm - Everyone's favorite Chicago-style pizza from Pequod's is headed to you! Order by noon.
5:45 pm - Healing Meditation Tues. January 6, 2026 7 pm
Unity Des Plaines, 259 E Central Rd, Des Plaines, IL, 60016
7:00 pm - Des Plaines Garden Club January meeting
Des Plaines Public Library , 1501 Ellinwood St , Des Plaines
9:30 am - Master Bespoke Tailor Launches Hands-On Fashion Classes at E.W.S. Fashion Academy, est. 1995
137 N Oak Park Ave , Oak Park
9:00 am - Illinois Secretary of State Mobile DMV
500 W Irving Park Rd , Itasca
10:00 am
Friday January 2
Tuesday January 6
Thursday January 8
Saturday January 10
Monday January 12
📣 Des Plaines 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
- Family Fun: New Year's Eve Craft
McKinley Park Branch Library , 1915 West 35th Street , Chicago
2:00 pm - New Year’s Eve Une Annee Family Pajama Party — Une Année | Hubbard's Cave
Une Année | Hubbard's Cave Brewery & Barbecue , 6343 W Gross Point Rd , Niles
4:00 pm - Teen Study Hour
Chicago Bee Branch Library , 3647 South State Street , Chicago
5:00 pm - Origami Night for Teens
Chicago Bee Branch Library , 3647 South State Street , Chicago
6:00 pm - New year 2026
Atlantis Banquets , 1273 North Rand Road , Arlington Heights
8:00 pm - New Year 2026 in Arlington Heights IL - near Chicago
Atlantis Banquets , 1273 North Rand Road , Arlington Heights
8:00 pm
Wednesday December 31
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Des Plaines PatchAM possible:
- Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible! - Appliance Repair Park Ridge — (847) 449-5310
Local Same Day Appliance Repair in Park Ridge
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- A large fire has broken out in a pile of scrap metal at a recycler on Central south of the Ike, with no injuries reported.
4:18PM on Dec 29: A fire has broken out in a large pile of scrap metal at a recycler on Central south of the Ike, with no injuries reported. (Nextdoor )
- Filtration Group posted a job opening for Accounts Payable - Accounting Analyst in Des Plaines. Apply here.
- US Foods Holding Corp. posted a job opening for DoD SkillBridge: Transportation Manager in Des Plaines. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Des Plaines here.
🗞 Nearby News
Park Ridge
- A teardown-proof Zook in Chicagovland gets a $1.5M makeover (therealdeal.com)
Rosemont
- Lunchbreak: Bub City Daybreaker Breakfast Burrito (wgntv.com)
- These IL Retail Stores Could Shutter In 2026 As Business Closures Continue (patch.com)
- Purdue's senior stalwarts aim for the mountaintop (purdue.edu)
Niles
Ok Des Plaines! 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 heard there’s only a 50 percent chance of snow.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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