🌱 Patch AM: This Is The Best Private Company In IL; 10 Others Ranked By Forbes

Hey hey Park Ridge! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Park Ridge’s Koch Foods earns spot on elite Forbes private companies list
• Want a booth at this year’s Park Ridge Farmers Market?
• How did Park Ridge’s Danni Scully spark Ohio’s latest win?

Today's riddle: What did one pirate say to the other? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Saturday: Snow and rain, up to 1", with a high of 38 and low of 22 degrees.
• Sunday: Breezy; morning snow showers, temps: high: 34, low: 26.
• Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 42 and low of 35 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. This Is The Best Private Company In IL; 10 Others Ranked By Forbes (patch.com) — Park Ridge readers can take note that Koch Foods, based in their community, is among Illinois’ top private companies recognized in Forbes’ national ranking of major privately held firms. The list, led in Illinois by Rosemont-based Reyes Holdings, showcases several high-revenue companies across the state and underscores the economic clout of privately owned businesses in and around the Chicago area.
   

2. Park Ridge Farmers Market Looking For 2026 Vendors (journal-topics.com) — Park Ridge vendors, artisans, and community groups can now apply for the 2026 Park Ridge Farmers Market season, running Saturdays from Memorial Day weekend through late October on Prairie Avenue. Applications, including a $35 fee for new vendors, are due online by March 2, with priority given to Park Ridge and Chicago-area artisans, plus opportunities for local cooks and musicians.
   

3. Five Bobcats score in double figures in Ohio women's basketball's 96-87 win over Eastern Michigan (athensmessenger.com) — Park Ridge hoops fans might notice hometown sophomore Danni Scully chipping in 10 points as Ohio University’s women’s team rolled past Eastern Michigan 96–87, their fourth straight win. The Bobcats used a huge second and third quarter surge, with five players in double figures, and now head to Buffalo this Saturday with momentum and a growing role for Scully.
   

4. Poultry Processor Hit with Nationwide Overtime Lawsuit (meatingplace.com) — A major poultry producer headquartered in Park Ridge is facing a federal collective-action lawsuit claiming it shorted hourly workers on overtime by not including certain bonuses in their pay calculations. The case, filed in Chicago’s federal court, seeks nationwide back wages and damages for thousands of current and former employees across multiple states. Koch Foods had not yet responded when the complaint was filed.
   

5. ‘They're killing Americans.' N.J. lawmakers fight to pass plan to limit cooperation with ICE. (nj.com subscription) — A recent photo shows a federal immigration agent working in Park Ridge underscoring how ICE’s presence extends into suburbs like yours even as New Jersey lawmakers move to sharply limit cooperation with the agency. The bills, advanced along party lines after emotional testimony, would restrict information-sharing with ICE and create “safe zones” in places like hospitals and schools, amid national outrage over a fatal ICE shooting in Minnesota.
   

📸 Around Park Ridge

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Park Ridge

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★ Featured events ★

Tuesday January 13

• Cheerful Bouquet!
  Bottle & Bottega by Painting with a Twist, 424 W Touhy Ave, Park Ridge
  6:30 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Monday January 12

• Novel Needles: Knit, Crochet, and Stitchery Group
  Roden Branch Library , 6083 North Northwest Highway , Chicago
  1:30 pm
• Wrestling Home Meet vs Thomas
  Emerson Middle School , 8101 North Cumberland Avenue , Niles
  4:00 pm

Tuesday January 13

• Niles Morning Network Breakfast
  Niles-Maine District Library , 6960 W. Oakton Street , Niles
  7:30 am
• Hines Dr.Thompson
  Niles Memorial VFW Post 3579 , 6839 N Milwaukee Ave #100 , Niles
  9:00 am
• Wrestling vs. Grove (HOME)
  Lincoln Middle School , 200 South Lincoln Avenue , Park Ridge
  4:00 pm
• Kids' Book Club
  Roden Branch Library , 6083 North Northwest Highway , Chicago
  4:30 pm

Wednesday January 14

• Developmental Milestones Playgroup
  Roden Branch Library , 6083 North Northwest Highway , Chicago
  10:30 am

📣 Park Ridge Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Saturday January 10

• MenWalking - In-person, Blue Star Memorial Woods (Glenview, IL)
  Blue Star Memorial Woods , E Lake Ave , Glenview
  9:30 am
• Open Art Studio with Ericka Soto
  McKinley Park Branch Library 1915 West 35th Street, Chicago, IL 60609
  9:30 am
• Grab and Go Kits: Drinking Straw Day Craft
  Canaryville Branch Library , 642 West 43rd Street , Chicago
  10:00 am
• Grab and Go Kits: Rocking Paper Plate Snowman Craft
  Canaryville Branch Library 642 West 43rd Street, Chicago, IL 60609
  10:00 am

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 Park Ridge PatchAM possible:

• Appliance Repair Park Ridge — (847) 449-5310
  Local Same Day Appliance Repair in Park Ridge
• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Roehl Transport posted a job opening for CDL Training - on-the-job program in Park Ridge. Apply here.
• Wahid, Inc. posted a job opening for Retail Sales Consultant in Park Ridge. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Park Ridge here.

Ok Park Ridge! 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 sea you!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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