🌱 Patch AM: Oak Park community mourns longtime resident Ellen Jean Hickey, 75

Hi there, Oak Park! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Oak Park community mourns longtime resident Ellen Jean Hickey, 75
• Oak Park and River Forest remember designer John Scott, 72
• How did an Oak Park upbringing shape this Sundance filmmaker’s bold new short?

Also on today's calendar: This week, food events delivered to you from George's Deep Dish, Manny's Deli, 3LP, & more! and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What did King Tut say when he had a nightmare? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Some sun, then clouds, with a high of 28 and low of 25 degrees.
• Friday: Snow, up to 1", temps: high: 36, low: 17. ⛄️ Brr!
• Saturday: Cloudy, snow showers; colder, with a high of 21 and low of 8 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Ellen Hickey, 75 (oakpark.com) — Oak Park neighbors are saying goodbye to Ellen Jean Hickey, a 75-year-old lifelong community member who grew up here, attended local schools, and loved the Oak Park Library Book Fair. She died in November after a short illness. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Jan. 23 at St. Giles Catholic Church on Columbian Avenue in Oak Park.
   

• John Scott, 72 (oakpark.com) — Oak Park and River Forest residents are invited to remember designer John Scott, whose work and life were closely tied to homes and properties in both communities. The longtime interior designer and former Oak Park resident died in December at 72. A memorial gathering is planned Jan. 22 at Cheney Mansion on North Euclid Avenue in Oak Park.
   

• ‘Together Forever' brings Latter-day Saint experience to Sundance (parkrecord.com) — Oak Park native Gregory Barnes is drawing on his Latter-day Saint upbringing to fuel a new short film, “Together Forever,” premiering at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. The piece explores awkward newlywed intimacy and Mormon culture with dry humor and empathy, continuing themes from his earlier award-winning Sundance short.
   

📸 Around Oak 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 Oak Park

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Friday January 16

• This week, food events delivered to you from George's Deep Dish, Manny's Deli, 3LP, & more!
  3:00 pm

Sunday January 18

• Rembrandt Chamber Musicians: Philippe Quint plays Chausson
  Chicago Temple Building, 77 W Washington St, Chicago
  3:00 pm

Monday January 19

• Chicago’s Japanese-American History: Resettlement Stories
  The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association, 178 Forest Ave, Oak Park
  1:15 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Friday January 16

• Jazz Prayer - Where Jazz Meets Spirit
  Good Shepherd Lutheran Church , 611 Randolph St , Oak Park
  7:10 pm
• Dinner + a Show with Comedian Adam Burke
  Salerno's Pizza & Pasta of Oak Park , 7128 Roosevelt Rd , Oak Park
  8:00 pm
• Dinner + a Show with Comedian Joe Kilgallon
  Salerno's Pizza & Pasta of Oak Park , 7128 Roosevelt Rd , Oak Park
  8:00 pm

Saturday January 17

• Dixon's Violin LIVE!
  Belle's Lounge by Valentine Distilling Co. , 161 Vester Ave , Ferndale
  4:00 pm
• Zach Porlier @ Scratch on Lake
  Scratch On Lake , 733 Lake St , Oak Park
  7:00 pm
• Abstract Mystical Forest Sip and Paint 🎨
  Toast To Paint , 7185 W Bloomingdale Ave , Chicago
  7:00 pm

Sunday January 18

• Create Your 2026 Vision: A heart-centered vision board + visualization workshop
  Unity Oak Park Spiritual & Family Center , 405 N Euclid Ave , Oak Park
  11:00 am
• The Best Jazz Jam In the Western Suburbs Happens Every Sunday at Tre Sorelle!
  Tre Sorelle Ristorante & Pizzeria , 1111 Lake St , Oak Park
  4:00 pm

Wednesday January 21

• Kindergarten Readiness: Returning to Routines through Movement and Mindfulness
  St. Catherine - St. Lucy Catholic School , 27 Washington Blvd , Oak Park
  5:00 pm

📣 Oak 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!

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 Oak Park PatchAM possible:

• Art Studio 928 - Oak Park, IL — (312) 371-9526
  From Team Off-Sites to Parties – Host It at Studio 928!
• Doug Lalli - Jazz Musician, Composer and Teacher — (708) 228-7150
  Call 708-228-7150 to arrange for your first FREE lesson!
• Laurie Christofano, Realtor | RE/MAX In The Village — (630) 248-1976
  Moving doesn’t have to be overwhelming…
• Doug Lalli - Pianist/Composer/Teacher — (708) 228-7150
  Call 708-228-7150 to arrange for your first FREE lesson!
• Oak Park Conservatory — (708) 725-2400
  Discover Oak Park’s Hidden Gem – A living world of beauty
• 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.

🪧 Patch Classifieds

• BHHS Chicago’s Kindness Foundation Granted $35,000 to Philanthropic Organizations in 2025
  The Kindness Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Chicago real estate brokerage Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago, made 2025 year-end grants... (More info)

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Domino's Pizza posted a job opening for Assistant Manager(02735) - 7656 Madison St in Forest Park. Apply here.
• Walgreen Company posted a job opening for Inventory Specialist in Forest Park. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Oak Park here.

🗞 Nearby News

River Forest

• River Forest's troubling ethics (oakpark.com)
• Term limits whiplash (oakpark.com)

Forest Park

• Zero sum results of Forest Park Zoning (forestparkreview.com)
• Why you should join the Recreation Board (forestparkreview.com)
• Like a letter from home (forestparkreview.com)

Chicago

Ok Oak 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 want my mummy!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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