🌱 Patch AM: How Rockford families can support kids who stutter this weekend

Hello Rockford! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How Rockford families can support kids who stutter this weekend
• Which Rockford neighborhoods will get mobile grocery access in 2026?
• Need a safe way home on New Year’s Eve in Rockford?

Today's riddle: The world champion tongue twister just got arrested! 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: A little snow in the p.m., with a high of 27 and low of 24 degrees.
• Wednesday: Breezy in the morning; cloudy, temps: high: 29, low: 5. ⛄️ Brr!
• Thursday: Mostly sunny and frigid, with a high of 18 and low of 11 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. New Rockford chapter offers support for kids who stutter Jan. 3 (rrstar.com) — A new Rockford Family Chapter of the National Stuttering Association is kicking off Jan. 3 at Carlson Ice Arena, offering support for kids and teens who stutter. Local mom Jessica Steinberg and her son Trace will lead the group, creating a welcoming space to build confidence and share resources with parents, educators, and community members.
   

2. Farmers Rising to bring mobile groceries to Rockford (wrex.com) — Rockford neighborhoods facing food insecurity could see mobile grocery service rolling into their streets in 2026. Farmers Rising, which operates in Rockford and Caledonia, plans a Mobile Grocery Initiative to bring affordable food to underserved areas, partnering with City Center Market and the Food Insecurity Taskforce and kicking off with a fundraising and publicity push.
   

3. Winnebago County offers Safe Ride Home program for New Year's Eve (mystateline.com) — Rockford-area residents can get a free Safe Ride Home from the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office this New Year’s Eve, funded by Lamonica Beverages and Hard Rock Casino Rockford. From 9 p.m. Dec. 31 to 4 a.m. Jan. 1, deputies will drive callers safely home if they contact the sheriff’s non-emergency line.
   

4. Rockford woman supports families through ‘Love Us' foundation (wifr.com) — A Rockford mom is growing her Love Us Foundation to mentor local kids and support struggling families, and she’s kicking off 2026 with a free skating night at Skateland on Jan. 12. The nonprofit partners with Rockford businesses for field trips, coat drives, and creative activities, and is seeking volunteers and donations to expand its impact next year.
   

5. Miles Nielsen's band plays on despite the loss of Daniel James McMahon (thegazette.com) — Rockford musician Miles Nielsen is moving forward with his band the Rusted Hearts while grieving the 2024 loss of longtime collaborator Daniel James McMahon. Speaking from his Rockford home, he reflects on their years of songwriting, his family’s Cheap Trick legacy, and how humor and melancholy music help him cope as he debuts new material on tour.
   

📸 Around Rockford

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Rockford

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Thursday January 1

• City Offices Closed - New Year's Day
  Rockford, IL Calendar Rockford, IL 61104

Saturday January 3

• International Soccer League
  Indoor Sports Center , 8800 E. Riverside Blvd. , Loves Park
  7:00 am
• Raptors 5v5 Tournament
  Indoor Sports Center , 8800 E. Riverside Blvd. , Loves Park
  8:00 am

Sunday January 4

• Raptors Friendlies
  Indoor Sports Center , 8800 E. Riverside Blvd. , Loves Park
  8:00 am
• Hispanic Soccer League
  Indoor Sports Center , 8800 E. Riverside Blvd. , Loves Park
  8:00 am

Monday January 5

• Drop-in Softball
  Indoor Sports Center , 8800 E. Riverside Blvd. , Loves Park
  10:00 am
• City Council & Council Committee Meetings
  Rockford, IL Calendar , 425 E. State Street 2nd Floor , Rockford
  5:30 pm

Thursday January 8

• Drop-in Softball
  Indoor Sports Center , 8800 E. Riverside Blvd. , Loves Park
  10:00 am

📣 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

Tuesday December 30

• Big Cat Goalkeeping Clinic
  Indoor Sports Center , 8800 E. Riverside Blvd. , Loves Park
  9:00 am
• Golf Driving Range
  Indoor Sports Center , 8800 E. Riverside Blvd. , Loves Park
  10:00 am
• Tunes & Tales Storytime
  Rockford Public Library , 1238 S Winnebago St , Rockford
  11:15 am

Wednesday December 31

• Closed - New Year's Eve
  Cherry Valley Public Library District , 755 E State Street , Cherry Valley

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:

• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!
• Mike’s Mowing & More Inc — (815) 721-4464
  Property Maintenance, Tree Removal, & Landscaping

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

• Please share & repost to help reunite this lost dog!
  Lulu was LOST on December 28, 2025 in Rockford, IL 61109 near Sandy hollow Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest information or to contact the… (Nextdoor Marshall Street)
• Hi everyone
  This Lil guy showed up at where I feed this colony He's young and friendly praying someone might recognize him He is located between 11th and 12th… (Nextdoor South of 6th)

• ServiceMaster Clean posted a job opening for Cleaner/evenings in Rockford IL in Rockford. Apply here.
• Rockford Public Schools posted a job opening for Integrated Math Teacher Grades 9-12 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 hear they’re giving him a really tough sentence.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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