🌱 Patch AM: How a Lake Zurich traffic stop turned into a DUI crash

Greetings Lake Zurich! Your go-to source for what's happening in town is here. Stay in the loop and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How a Lake Zurich traffic stop turned into a DUI crash
• Where Lake Zurich residents can recycle Christmas trees for free

Also on today's calendar: This week, food events delivered to you from Quartino, Urbanbelly, Smoque BBQ, & more! and 1 more event.

Today's riddle: Playing golf is bad for your brain. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Some sun, then clouds; colder, with a high of 21 and low of 14 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Friday: Partly sunny, temps: high: 27, low: 15.
• Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high of 27 and low of 16 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Lake Zurich police squad struck while officer was conducting a traffic stop (dailyherald.com) — A Lake Zurich police squad car was hit during a nighttime traffic stop on Route 12 near June Terrace, though no injuries were reported. Police say a McHenry driver now faces DUI and multiple traffic-related charges, including a Scott’s Law violation for failing to slow down and move over for the emergency vehicle.
   

• County residents have options in disposing of Christmas trees: ‘They can't be disposed of in a landfill' (chicagotribune.com) — Lake County is offering free recycling for natural Christmas trees, including drop-off at Heron Creek Forest Preserve in Lake Zurich through February 1. Trees must be completely undecorated and not bagged, and many will be chipped into mulch for local forest preserve trails. Residents using LRS or other haulers may also have curbside pickup options, depending on their town’s contract.
   

📸 Around Lake Zurich

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 Lake Zurich

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Friday January 2

• This week, food events delivered to you from Quartino, Urbanbelly, Smoque BBQ, & more!
  3:00 pm

Saturday January 3

• Willow Hill Lights - Open nightly thru Jan 4
  Willow Hill Golf Course, 1350 Willow Rd, Northbrook
  5:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Monday January 5

• Board of Trustees
  Lake Zurich Calendar , Village Hall 70 East Main Street , Lake Zurich
  7:00 pm

Tuesday January 6

• Tree Commission
  Lake Zurich Calendar , Community Services 505 Telser Road , Lake Zurich
  6:30 pm

📣 Lake Zurich 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

Thursday January 1

• Drop-in Game Center
  Lakefront Park , 10 Riverview Avenue , Fox Lake
  1:00 pm
• OMNI: SMART Recovery
  Buffalo Grove, IL Calendar , 1111 West Lake Cook Road , Buffalo Grove
  6:00 pm
• Bingo Night
  Herman's Rest A While , Port Barrington, IL.
  7:00 pm

Friday January 2

• Grab & Go: Solve a Cold Case
  Wauconda Area Public Library , 801 N. Main St. , Wauconda
• Reg 'n' Go Kit: Lace Snowman
  Lake Forest Library , 360 E Deerpath Rd , Lake Forest
• Winter Break | All Schools Closed
  Arlington Heights SD 25 Arlington Heights, IL 60005
• GLMV Conversations 4 Success Network Group (C4S) - FREE
  Holiday Inn Express , 975 Lakeview Parkway , Vernon Hills
  8:00 am
• Film Screening: Same Kind of Different as Me (2017)
  Back of the Yards Branch Library , 4650 South Damen Avenue , Chicago
  10:00 am
• New Year's Story Time
  McKinley Park Branch Library , 1915 West 35th Street , Chicago
  10:30 am
• Grayslake Giving Tree Winner Announcement
  Grayslake Heritage Center & Museum Grayslake Heritage Center & Museum and the Grayslake Heritage Center & Museum Facebook page. - Grayslake IL 60030
  12:00 pm

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 Lake Zurich PatchAM possible:

• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!

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

• Lake County is excited to share that over 3,500 residents have taken part in digital skills programming, and over 1,000 devices have been distributed to residents in need.
  The Lake County Digital Growth Initiative (DGI) is looking forward to continuing digital skill-building efforts in the new year! The DGI offers no… (Nextdoor )

• Village of Lake Zurich, IL posted a job opening for Summer Day Camp Counselor (May - August 2026) in Lake Zurich. Apply here.
• Wal-Mart posted a job opening for Janitorial Associate in Lake Zurich. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Lake Zurich here.

🗞 Nearby News

Wauconda

• Firefighters rescue dog after home's chimney engulfed in flames, leaving family displaced in Gurnee (lakemchenryscanner.com)
• Column: Predicting three true outcomes in 2026 (chicagotribune.com)

Mundelein

• 25 of 25: Countdown's top spot belongs to QND girls basketball team's championship reign (muddyriversports.com)

Buffalo Grove

Ok Lake Zurich! 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 just heard a golfer say he had four strokes on the first hole!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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