Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How one Rockford dentist reshaped care for thousands of local kids
Also check out The Thankful Path - A Winter Light Experience at Klehm Arboretum on the Rockford Patch calendar
Morning Rockford! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- How one Rockford dentist reshaped care for thousands of local kids
- Will Rockford commit $300,000 to a new East State senior center?
- What big housing and senior projects could reshape Rockford in 2026?
Also on today's calendar: The Thankful Path - A Winter Light Experience at Klehm Arboretum and 7 more events.
Find out what's happening in Rockfordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Rockford? Post it to Rockford photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️
Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Rockfordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
From our Partner
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Find a T-Mobile store near Rockford.
- Tuesday: Not as cold, becoming breezy, with a high of 35 and low of 27 degrees.
- Wednesday: Freezing fog in the morning, temps: high: 35, low: 30.
- Thursday: Becoming windier; a.m. rain, with a high of 41 and low of 11 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
📰 News we're reading
1. Dentist, vets group lauded for ‘service above self' (chronicleillinois.com) — Rockford’s own Dr. Cyrus Oates has been honored for four decades of work expanding dental care for local children, veterans, and underserved families, including a mobile program serving 12,000 Rockford Public Schools students each year. The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois also recognized VetsRoll and several other regional leaders and nonprofits whose efforts are improving life in Rockford and surrounding counties. 
2. Rockford City Council introduced a potential new senior center (mystateline.com) — Rockford officials are weighing a proposal to help fund a new senior center on East State Street, aimed at offering social, educational, and fitness programs for older adults and caregivers. The Northwestern Illinois Area Agency on Aging is seeking a three-year, $100,000-per-year partnership with the City of Rockford, which was introduced—but not yet voted on—at the latest council meeting.
3. City of Rockford prepares ‘ambitious' start to 2026 with focus on housing, senior center (wifr.com) — Rockford’s city council is lining up major 2026 decisions on downtown housing, historic building reuse, and potentially the city’s first senior center in a decade. Leaders are weighing tax-increment support for News Tower Lofts, help for the former watch factory, funding for a new senior center, and how to refocus cannabis-tax-backed REGROW grants toward neighborhoods most harmed by the War on Drugs.
4. Rockford native qualifies for Milan Cortina Winter Olympics (wrex.com) — A Rockford native and Guilford High School graduate, Cam Smith, has earned a spot on Team USA’s ski mountaineering squad for the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Smith clinched qualification with a World Cup win in Utah and will compete when SkiMo makes its Olympic debut in February 2026.
5. Rockford-area religious leaders call for togetherness (wifr.com) — Rockford faith leaders are urging residents to come together and keep holiday traditions strong after a deadly attack at a religious gathering in Australia. Clergy from Temple Beth-el and Rockford Urban Ministries say local congregations are determined to gather, support one another, and stand against fear during Hanukkah and other seasonal observances.
📸 Around Rockford
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 Rockford
- Golf Driving Range
Indoor Sports Center , 8800 E. Riverside Blvd. , Loves Park
10:00 am - Raptors Soccer Training
Indoor Sports Center , 8800 E. Riverside Blvd. , Loves Park
5:00 pm - Kennedy: Band Winter Concert
Kennedy Middle School , 520 N Pierpont Ave , Rockford
6:00 pm - East High School Winter Concert: Band, Choir, Orchestra
East High School , 2929 Charles St , Rockford
6:00 pm - Auburn HS: Winter Choir Concert
Auburn HS Auditorium , Auburn Street , Rockford
7:00 pm - Mechanical Board Meeting
Rockford, IL Calendar , 425 E. State Street 1st Floor , Rockford
7:30 am - Police Pension Fund Meeting
Rockford, IL Calendar , 425 E. State Street 2nd Floor , Rockford
8:00 am - Golf Driving Range
Indoor Sports Center , 8800 E. Riverside Blvd. , Loves Park
10:00 am - The Thankful Path - A Winter Light Experience at Klehm Arboretum
Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden , 2715 S Main St , Rockford
5:00 pm - The Thankful Path - A Winter Light Experience at Klehm Arboretum
Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden , 2715 S Main St , Rockford
5:00 pm
Wednesday December 17
Thursday December 18
Friday December 19
Saturday December 20
📣 Rockford 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
- Golf Driving Range
Indoor Sports Center , 8800 E. Riverside Blvd. , Loves Park
10:00 am - RPD High School Girls Soccer League
Indoor Sports Center , 8800 E. Riverside Blvd. , Loves Park
4:15 pm - RYSL Fall Indoor Session
Indoor Sports Center , 8800 E. Riverside Blvd. , Loves Park
5:00 pm - Raptors Soccer Training
Indoor Sports Center , 8800 E. Riverside Blvd. , Loves Park
5:00 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.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Rockford PatchAM possible:
- Mike’s Mowing & More Inc — (815) 721-4464
Property Maintenance, Tree Removal, & Landscaping
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Did you know that Kibble Korner Pet Food Pantry has two Resale Shops that sell new and gently used pet items: For both dog and cats: collars, leashes, toys, bowls, harnesses, dog coats, cat harnesses, poop bags, crates, etc.
Proceeds keep the pet food pantry stocked with pet food for folks in need. One shop is inside The Pampered Pet Grooming Salon, corner of Riverside… (Nextdoor Browns Creek) - UPDATE: Owner has picked up their sweet girl.
We found this sweet dog outside our house on South Highland by 120. If she is yours please get in contact with me. (Nextdoor South Highland)
- Get ready for Rumble in the Rock! January 9 & 10 at Rock Valley College $10 weekend pass Friday: 5:30 & 7pm Belvidere North & Hononegah Saturday: 9am... (X: RPS205)
- Laurent Brossoit will be placed on waivers today, Blashill said. If he clears, he will go back down to Rockford. (X: BenPopeCST)
- Cintas posted a job opening for Warehouse Associate - Loader/Unloader - 2nd Shift in Rockford. Apply here.
- Walmart posted a job opening for Merchandise and Stocking Associate in Rockford. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Rockford here.
Ok Rockford! 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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