Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How a Blue Line emergency disrupted Forest Park–bound commuters
Coming up: Bears Vs Packers Saturday Game Day on the Forest Park Patch calendar
Hi there, Forest Park! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- How a Blue Line emergency disrupted Forest Park–bound commuters
- Why protesters targeted Forest Park’s Harlem Avenue Thorntons this week
Also on today's calendar: Bears Vs Packers Saturday Game Day and 8 more events.
Find out what's happening in Forest Parkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Find out what's happening in Forest Parkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Saturday: A p.m. rain or snow shower, with a high of 42 and low of 17 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
- Sunday: Plenty of sunshine, temps: high: 33, low: 24.
- Monday: Some sun, then turning cloudy, with a high of 42 and low of 38 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Man sets self on fire outside Damen CTA station, CFD says; Blue Line trains delayed during morning rush (cbsnews.com) — Forest Park–bound Blue Line riders faced morning delays Friday after a man was critically injured when he set himself on fire outside the Damen station in Wicker Park. Service was single-tracking for several hours, but by about 9:15 a.m. trains to Forest Park were running again with only minor delays. 
• Locals protest Thorntons for serving ICE (oakpark.com) — Residents gathered outside the Thorntons on Harlem Avenue in Forest Park to protest the gas station serving federal immigration agents, a day after officials were seen there. Demonstrators, alerted via social media, held signs during rush hour as Forest Park police monitored the scene under a pre-arranged security plan. The action reflects ongoing local concern about immigration enforcement tactics.
📸 Around Forest Park
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 Forest Park
★ Featured events ★
- Bears Vs Packers Saturday Game Day
Street Eats Express - Middle East Style, 2248 S Cicero Ave, Cicero
7:20 pm - FREE WEBINAR | “A Renaissance Christmas - Remix”
Online,
11:30 am - Lunch & Learn
West Central SDA Church, 1154 Wisconsin Ave, Oak Park
12:30 pm
Saturday December 20
Tuesday December 23
Saturday January 3
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- OPEN STAGE PRESENTS: CASCO HOTDOGS
BABS Comedy Club , 7316 Madison St , Forest Park
6:30 pm - The Heartwreckers: A Tribute To Tom Petty & The Hearbreakers @ Robert's Westside
Robert's Westside , 7321 Madison St , Forest Park
6:30 pm - BABS Babes Improv @ 8
BABS Comedy Club , 7316 Madison St , Forest Park
8:00 pm - Comedy Central's Laurie Kilmartin in Chicago
Comedy Plex Comedy Club , 1128 Lake St Lower Level , Oak Park
8:00 pm - Audio Booth Reservation
Oak Park Public Library , 834 Lake St. , Oak Park
12:00 pm - Winter Break
605 Lake St , Oak Park
12:00 pm - Family Movie at the Library (Families)
River Forest Public Library , 735 Lathrop Avenue , River Forest
10:00 am - Audio Booth Reservation
Oak Park Public Library , 834 Lake St. , Oak Park
10:00 am
Saturday December 20
Sunday December 21
Monday December 22
📣 Forest Park 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
- Books & Brunch - Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
Sweet Toast Café , 2035 S Washington St #135 , Naperville
9:30 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 - Grab and Go Kits: Christmas Tree Craft
Canaryville Branch Library , 642 West 43rd Street , Chicago
10:00 am
Saturday December 20
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 Forest Park PatchAM possible:
- Oak Park Conservatory — (708) 725-2400
Discover Oak Park’s Hidden Gem – A living world of beauty - Laurie Christofano, Realtor | RE/MAX In The Village — (630) 248-1976
Moving doesn’t have to be overwhelming…
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Ferrara posted a job opening for Packaging Machine Operator - 1st Shift in Forest Park. Apply here.
- Sylvan Learning, Inc. posted a job opening for Assistant Director & Teacher in Forest Park. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Forest Park here.
🗞 Nearby News
River Forest
- River Forest Tennis Club withdraws lighting application (oakpark.com)
- Wednesday Journal's Top 10 digital news stories of 2025 (oakpark.com)
- UP and NS say their merger will take 2 million trucks off the highway annually (trains.com)
Oak Park
- Oak Park village and schools tout energy savings, sustainability efforts (oakpark.com)
- Chicagoan of the Year for Pop Music: Rapper Roy Kinsey is founder of the Rapbrary (chicagotribune.com)
- 'Windy City Weekend' celebrates 2025 holiday season with favorite gifts, including Portillo's, Palmer House Hilton stay (abc7chicago.com)
Chicago
Ok Forest Park! 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 dreamed I was swimming in a pool of orange soda, but it was just a Fanta-sea.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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