Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How Dream Center Peoria kept 150 neighbors safe in deadly cold
Spotted on the Peoria calendar: Wednesday Night Trivia at Obed & Isaac's!
Hey there, Peoria! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- How Dream Center Peoria kept 150 neighbors safe in deadly cold
- How a Peoria photographer is using portraits to lift struggling teens
- What led Peoria police to arrest two teens after a car theft?
Also on today's calendar: Tuba Christmas Peoria 2025 and 6 more events.
Find out what's happening in Peoriafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Peoria? Post it to Peoria photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️
Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Peoriafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
From our Partner
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- Tuesday: Freezing fog in the morning, with a high of 38 and low of 29 degrees.
- Wednesday: Freezing fog in the morning, temps: high: 39, low: 32.
- Thursday: Periods of rain and a t-storm, with a high of 47 and low of 13 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
📰 News we're reading
1. Peoria homeless shelter houses 150 people during extreme weather conditions (centralillinoisproud.com) — Dangerously low temperatures in Peoria pushed Dream Center Peoria’s homeless shelter to house about 150 people over the weekend, including extra guests who just needed warmth, food, or a shower. Staff say they refused to turn anyone away despite capacity strains and are urging residents to support their work through donations so they can keep doors open during future cold snaps. 
2. Cedarville University alumna creates nonprofit to help at-risk teens (whio.com) — A Peoria photographer is using her local studio to offer faith-based, confidence-building photo sessions for at-risk teens through her new nonprofit, Purposed Generation. By partnering with youth organizations and mental health professionals, she creates personalized shoots and follow-up reveals that help teens challenge negative self-talk and see themselves in a more hopeful light.
3. Teenagers arrested after allegedly stealing vehicle in Peoria (933thedrive.com) — Peoria police arrested two teenage boys late Saturday night after a reported vehicle theft near Forrest Hill and Gale, following a short foot chase from a car stopped on Molleck. A 16-year-old faces multiple vehicle-related and resisting charges, while a 15-year-old was taken to juvenile detention on an active warrant.
4. Rivermen player and his fiance will marry, with team on hand, at Peoria County Courthouse (pjstar.com) — Peoria Rivermen defenseman Cory Dennis and his fiancée Allie Domagalski will tie the knot Tuesday at the Peoria County Courthouse, with his teammates cheering them on. The story traces their proposal, her Wisconsin roots, and Dennis’s winding hockey journey that now has him hoping to win a championship in a city he says already feels like home.
5. Peoria County village first in state to build solar farm on public school property (25newsnow.com) — A new solar farm next to Brimfield High School is the first in Illinois built on public school property and could save the Brimfield district over $22,000 a year. Residents who subscribe through the Illinois Shines Program can cut Ameren bills by up to 15%, while the project also boosts local tax revenue and supports a more stable electric grid.
📸 Around Peoria
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 Peoria
★ Featured events ★
- Wednesday Night Trivia at Obed & Isaac's!
Peoria RiverFront Market, 212 Southwest Water Street, Peoria
6:30 pm
Wednesday December 17
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Historic Preservation Commission Meeting
Peoria, IL Calendar , City Hall 419 Fulton Street, Conf. Room 400 , Peoria
8:30 am - Fire Department Foreign Fire Tax Board Meeting
Peoria, IL Calendar , Central Fire Station 505 NE Monroe , Peoria
9:00 am - 7/8 Boys Basketball vs Peoria Heights Grade School
Pleasant Valley SD 62 , 3314 W Richwoods Blvd , Peoria
4:30 pm - Primary Concert
Pleasant Valley Elementary School , 4623 W Redbud Dr , Peoria
1:30 pm - Peoria Housing Authority Board Meeting
Peoria, IL Calendar , Peoria Housing Authority 100 S. Richard Pryor Place/Multi Purpose Room , Peoria
4:30 pm - 7/8 Boys Basketball @ Hollis
Pleasant Valley SD 62 , 5624 W Tuscarora Rd , Peoria
5:00 pm - YPGP Ugly Holiday Sweater Party
Kelleher's Irish Pub & Eatery , 619 SW Water Street , Peoria
5:30 pm - Tuba Christmas Peoria 2025
Redeemer Lutheran Church , 6801 N Allen Rd , Peoria
3:30 pm
Wednesday December 17
Thursday December 18
Sunday December 21
📣 Peoria 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
- Toddler Time
Peoria Heights Public Library , 816 E Glen Ave , Peoria Heights
10:00 am - Transportation Commission Meeting
Peoria, IL Calendar , 419 Fulton Street Conference Room 404 , Peoria
3:00 pm - Cancellation Notice for Transportation Commission Meeting
Peoria, IL Calendar , 419 Fulton Street 3505 N. Dries Lane, Main Conference Room , Peoria
3:00 pm - 7/8 Boys Basketball vs Beverely Manor
Pleasant Valley SD 62 , 3314 W Richwoods Blvd , Peoria
4:30 pm
Tuesday December 16
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Rep. Spain’s Annual Holiday Diaper Drive Spreads Cheer to Families in Need —IL House Read on Patch
- Social Security scam!
Watch out! Do NOT click and reply to an email that looks like it's from the Social Security Administration with a subject line like this: Re : Update… (Nextdoor Wyndermere) - Reminder: Food Pantries Open Mondays
***** MONDAY Christ Alive! Community Church 9320 W. Route 150, Edwards (Kickapoo) 309-693-2393 Food pantry open 1st and 3rd Monday of each month… (Nextdoor Bournedale)
- As the year winds down, we’re taking a look back at stories from our Communications Division that put a spotlight on city operations. From January... (X: CityofPeoria_IL)
- It's been a challenging year for farmers across Illinois. 25 News in Peoria recently spoke with Charlie Hensley of the Peoria County Farm Bureau... (X: AFSPIL)
- Illinois Staffing posted a job opening for SAP Transportation Management Manager - Industrial in Peoria. Apply here.
- Sam's Club posted a job opening for Merchandise and Stocking Associate in Peoria. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Peoria here.
Ok Peoria! 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 know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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