Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How will Auburn Street’s $14M overhaul change your daily commute?
And on the Rockford Patch calendar - FREE WEBINAR | "A Renaissance Christmas - Remix"
Hello Rockford! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- How will Auburn Street’s $14M overhaul change your daily commute?
- Meet the Rockford teacher turning “figuroutable” into a classroom superpower
- How will Midtown’s big 2026 revitalization plans reshape your neighborhood?
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.
Today's riddle: Last night I had a dream. 🤔 (Answer below!)
From our Partner
Today's Rockford Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. Everyone deserves to be connected. That's why T-Mobile and UScellular have joined forces to connect people from big cities to small towns and everywhere in between. UScellular is now a part of T-Mobile. Find out more at T-Mobile.com/Better-Together.
Find a T-Mobile store near Rockford.
Find out what's happening in Rockfordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Saturday: Clearing; breezy, not as cold, with a high of 40 and low of 12 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
- Sunday: Plenty of sunshine, temps: high: 28, low: 20.
- Monday: Mostly cloudy, with a high of 39 and low of 34 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Neighbors plead for safer Auburn Street as Rockford plans $14M reconstruction (wifr.com) — Rockford is moving ahead with a $14 million reconstruction of Auburn Street, aiming to make one of the city’s busiest corridors safer for pedestrians, bus riders, and drivers. Neighbors are speaking out after a serious pedestrian crash, pushing for better winter sidewalk clearing, safer bus stops, and more attention to the west side as phased construction begins in 2026. 
2. Rockford Honors a Teacher Who Proves Everyone Is ‘Figuroutable' (97zokonline.com) — A Rockford first-grade teacher, Trisha Scott of Hillman Elementary, has been named 97ZOK’s Teacher of the Week for creating a joyful, safe classroom where every child feels welcome. Despite personal hardships, she’s pursuing a second master’s degree, keeps learning fun, and was surprised with local gifts recognizing her impact on Rockford students.
3. R1's Livable Community Initiative announces Midtown neighborhood as the latest recipient to their revitalizing planning assistance (wrex.com) — Rockford’s Midtown neighborhood has been chosen as the next focus of Region One’s Livable Communities Initiative, with public planning meetings starting February 12, 2026. The data-driven effort aims to revitalize this diverse “middle neighborhood” through infrastructure upgrades, creative reuse of vacant land, and close collaboration with residents and local businesses over several years.
4. Transportation reform bill signed into law, backed by local state representative (wrex.com) — Rockford riders could see improvements to local bus service after a new state transportation reform bill, backed by Rep. Dave Vella, was signed into law. The measure steers nearly $150 million to downstate transit, with Vella emphasizing better funding and safety for systems like the Rockford Mass Transit District without raising fares or adding new delivery or rideshare taxes.
5. Unreliable weather leaves opening day for Rockford's Alpine Hills sliding down calendar (wifr.com) — If you’re waiting to tube or snowboard at Rockford’s Alpine Hills, you may have to be patient as warm spells slow snowmaking despite a fast-starting snowfall season. The Rockford Park District says the hill needs about four feet of mostly man-made snow and is tentatively eyeing January 2, 2026 for opening, but that date could shift with the weather.
📸 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
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- FREE WEBINAR | “A Renaissance Christmas - Remix”
Online,
11:30 am - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Maddox Theatre, 5050 E State St, Rockford
7:00 pm
Tuesday December 23
Saturday December 20
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- The Thankful Path - A Winter Light Experience at Klehm Arboretum
Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden , 2715 S Main St , Rockford
5:00 pm - Winter Development Soccer League
Indoor Sports Center , 8800 E. Riverside Blvd. , Loves Park
8:00 pm - Hispanic Soccer League
Indoor Sports Center , 8800 E. Riverside Blvd. , Loves Park
8:00 am - IYSA ODP Soccer Training
Indoor Sports Center , 8800 E. Riverside Blvd. , Loves Park
8:00 am - Holiday Pops - Rockford Symphony Orchestra
Coronado Theatre , 314 N Main St , Rockford
3:00 pm - Winter Development Soccer League
Indoor Sports Center , 8800 E. Riverside Blvd. , Loves Park
8:00 pm - Drop-in Softball
Indoor Sports Center , 8800 E. Riverside Blvd. , Loves Park
10:00 am - Golf Driving Range
Indoor Sports Center , 8800 E. Riverside Blvd. , Loves Park
10:00 am
Saturday December 20
Sunday December 21
Monday December 22
📣 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
- International Soccer League
Indoor Sports Center , 8800 E. Riverside Blvd. , Loves Park
7:00 am - IYSA ODP Soccer Training
Indoor Sports Center , 8800 E. Riverside Blvd. , Loves Park
8:00 am - Santa Skate at Carlson Ice Arena
Carlson Ice Arena , 4150 N Perryville Rd , Loves Park
3:00 pm - Sleigh Bar: A Holiday Pop-Up Experience
Rockford City Market , 116 N Madison St , Rockford
4:00 pm
Saturday December 20
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
- Hello Everyone, It’s Leah Baskin over on Calvin Park Blvd.
I have a beautiful orange and white kitty in my basement at the moment wearing an Apple tag collar. He’s (or she, haven’t been able to look yet)… (Nextdoor Palmwood) - Anyone can point me in a direction that does low income for spray n neuter adult female cats.
She always in heat and has had many kittens over n over. We cant do it anymore but cant afford to have her fixed spayed . We're out of options. Any… (Nextdoor Midtown District)
- A suspect was taken into custody after stealing an ambulance in Rockford, fleeing from police and traveling through McHenry County before being... (X: LMCScanner)
- A man in an ambulance stolen in Rockford was arrested in Chicago Wednesday night, police said.-... (X: ABC7Chicago)
- MyJobsCorner posted a job opening for Activities Assistant Jobs: Hiring Immediately! Full Time / Part Time - $20-$37/Hr in Rockford. Apply here.
- YMCA of Rock River Valley posted a job opening for Morning Lifeguard - $300 Hiring Bonus 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 dreamed I was swimming in a pool of orange soda, but it was just a Fanta-sea.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
👉 Help make Patch AM better
- Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
- Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
- List items for sale or services offered
We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.