Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How Forest Park officers will help patrol CTA buses and trains
Happening soon: Saxophonist Tim Warfield's Brings Holiday Cheer to the Famed Jazz Showcase. on the Forest Park Patch calendar
Good morning Forest Park! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- How Forest Park officers will help patrol CTA buses and trains
- Which Forest Park stories grabbed the most attention in 2025?
Also on today's calendar: Saxophonist Tim Warfield's Brings Holiday Cheer to the Famed Jazz Showcase. and 7 more events.
Find out what's happening in Forest Parkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Today's riddle: What did one astronaut stranded on the moon say to another? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Forest Parkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Friday: Breezy and much colder, with a high of 27 and low of 25 degrees.
- Saturday: Breezy, temps: high: 42, low: 15. ⛄️ Brr!
- Sunday: Plenty of sunshine, with a high of 32 and low of 24 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• City to boost CTA security with new surge of cops, security teams (cwbchicago.com) — Forest Park police officers will be part of a new security surge on Chicago’s CTA, with more local cops and private guards riding buses and trains starting Friday. Chicago officials say the expanded overtime program, which also taps Oak Park and Evanston officers, will boost daily transit staffing and canine patrols as they respond to safety concerns despite modest crime declines. 
• Top 10 stories of the year in Forest Park (forestparkreview.com) — Forest Park Review is looking back at 2025’s most-read local stories, from No Kings protests in Constitution Court and a severe rat outbreak to crime reports, Blue Line tragedies, and McGaffer’s Saloon’s closure. The editor invites Forest Park readers to suggest deeper follow-ups and new story ideas for the coming year.
📸 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 ★
- Saxophonist Tim Warfield's Brings Holiday Cheer to the Famed Jazz Showcase.
Jazz Showcase, 806 S Plymouth Ct, Chicago
5:00 am - Lunch & Learn
West Central SDA Church, 1154 Wisconsin Ave, Oak Park
12:30 pm
Friday December 19
Saturday January 3
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Creative Studio Media Stations Reservation
Oak Park Public Library , 834 Lake St. , Oak Park
10:00 am - Shake, Rattle & Read
Oak Park Public Library , 834 Lake St. , Oak Park
10:00 am - Audio Booth Reservation
Oak Park Public Library , 834 Lake St. , Oak Park
10:00 am - Young & Restless
Oak Park Public Library , 834 Lake St. , Oak Park
11:00 am - Holiday Jazz w/ The Chris Greene Quartet
Comedy Plex Comedy Club , 1128 Lake St Lower Level , Oak Park
3:00 pm - Kid-Prov! Improv for the Kiddos!
BABS Comedy Club , 7316 Madison St , Forest Park
3:00 pm - Crime & Coffee: "The Serial Killer Whisperer"
Oak Park Public Library , 834 Lake St. , Oak Park
3:30 pm - The Heartwreckers: A Tribute To Tom Petty & The Hearbreakers @ Robert's Westside
Robert's Westside , 7321 Madison St , Forest Park
6:30 pm
Saturday December 20
📣 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
- Family Storytime and Play (Ages 0-6)
River Forest Public Library , 735 Lathrop Avenue , River Forest
10:00 am - Family Movie at the Library
River Forest Public Library , 735 Lathrop Ave , River Forest
10:00 am - Holiday Concert with Little Miss Ann
West Belmont Branch Library , 3104 North Narragansett Avenue , Chicago
11:00 am - Film Lover Fridays
River Forest Public Library , 735 Lathrop Avenue , River Forest
1:00 pm
Friday December 19
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:
- Laurie Christofano, Realtor | RE/MAX In The Village — (630) 248-1976
Moving doesn’t have to be overwhelming… - Oak Park Conservatory — (708) 725-2400
Discover Oak Park’s Hidden Gem – A living world of beauty
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
- 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 )
- Proviso Township High Schools District 209 posted a job opening for Dean **1 Vacancy** in Forest Park. Apply here.
- Dominican University posted a job opening for Adjunct Faculty, Mathematics (Spring 2026) in River Forest. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Forest Park here.
🗞 Nearby News
Maywood
- These 23 IL Hospitals Are Ranked Among Best For Maternity Care (patch.com)
River Forest
- River Forest Tennis Club withdraws lighting application (oakpark.com)
- Wednesday Journal's Top 10 digital news stories of 2025 (oakpark.com)
- Locals protest Thorntons for serving ICE (oakpark.com)
Oak Park
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 don’t think you know the gravity of this situation.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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