Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Who is taking over as Skokie’s new top village attorney?
And check out Willow Hill Lights - Open nightly thru Jan 4 on the Skokie Patch calendar
Cheers Skokie! We’re back, helping you stay up to date with what’s happening. Let's take on the day together! ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Who is taking over as Skokie’s new top village attorney?
- How today’s Yellow Line shutdown could disrupt your Skokie commute
- Why Skokie trustees killed a six-story project at Lincoln and Oakton
Also on today's calendar: Willow Hill Lights - Open nightly thru Jan 4 and 9 more events.
Find out what's happening in Skokiefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Skokie? Post it to Skokie photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️
Today's riddle: The doctor told me to drink carrot juice after a hot bath. - Did it help? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Skokiefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Wednesday: Areas of morning fog, with a high of 36 and low of 31 degrees.
- Thursday: Windy with rain, then cooler, temps: high: 46, low: 17. ⛄️ Brr!
- Friday: Colder; windy in the morning, with a high of 29 and low of 24 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Skokie To Appoint New Corporation Counsel (patch.com) — Skokie’s Village Board is set to appoint attorney Steve Elrod and his firm Elrod Friedman LLP as the village’s new corporation counsel, effective January 1, 2026. After a months-long search following Michael Lorge’s retirement, local officials chose Elrod, an experienced municipal lawyer who already advises several nearby suburbs, to handle Skokie’s legal matters going forward. 
2. Commuters face delays after track issue in Skokie halts Yellow Line trains (wgntv.com) — Yellow Line trains are currently halted near Hamlin Avenue in Skokie due to a track problem, with no clear timeline for service restoration. CTA is running shuttle buses between Howard and Dempster-Skokie and urging riders to allow extra travel time or use nearby Skokie bus routes.
3. Skokie rejects plan for downtown 6-story building, citing financial concerns (chicagotribune.com) — Skokie’s Village Board has rejected a six-story mixed-use building at Lincoln and Oakton, citing traffic, business mix, and serious concerns about the developer’s finances and timelines. Trustees questioned whether the project fit a prime downtown retail corner and imposed strict financing proof requirements before ultimately voting it down. The decision leaves a key intersection’s future uncertain for nearby residents and businesses.
4. Jewish community fridge in Skokie, named after Hersh Goldberg-Polin, offers free food to people in need (cbsnews.com) — A new always-open community fridge in a Skokie alley is offering free, kosher food to anyone facing hunger, with volunteers quietly keeping it stocked around the clock. Launched by Jewish organization Solu and named Hersh’s Fridge in memory of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, the project aims to reduce stigma, honor his legacy of compassion, and may inspire similar fridges elsewhere.
5. The Government Unconstitutionally Labels ICE Observers as Domestic Terrorists (cato.org) — Residents should know this piece describes federal agents repeatedly threatening people who follow and film immigration enforcement operations, including several documented encounters in Skokie where observers were warned they’d be arrested for “impeding.” It argues these threats reflect a broader national policy that may chill First Amendment rights to record and protest law enforcement activity.
📸 Around Skokie
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 Skokie
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Willow Hill Lights - Open nightly thru Jan 4
Willow Hill Golf Course, 1350 Willow Rd, Northbrook
5:00 pm
Saturday January 3
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Music with the Rabbi
Congregation Kol Emeth , 4435 Oakton St , Skokie
7:00 pm - Band Concert (Grades 5-8)
Lincoln Junior High School , 7839 Lincoln Ave , Skokie
6:30 pm - Orchestra Concert
Evanston Township High School , 1600 Dodge Ave , Evanston
7:00 pm - The Real Story of Chanukah
Congregation Kol Emeth , 4435 Oakton St , Skokie
7:00 pm - Public Safety Commission
Skokie Police Station , 7300 Niles Center Road , Skokie
7:00 pm - Prayer Literacy
Congregation Kol Emeth , 4435 Oakton St , Skokie
8:00 pm - Erev Shabbat Service
Congregation Kol Emeth , 4435 Oakton St , Skokie
7:30 pm - Shabbat Morning Service
Congregation Kol Emeth , 4435 Oakton St , Skokie
9:45 am - Glow Gnomes Campfire
Emily Oaks Nature Center , 4650 Brummel St , Skokie
6:30 pm - A Johnny Mathis & Friends Christmas
Skokie Theatre - Performing Arts Center , 7924 Lincoln Ave , Skokie
7:30 pm - Weekly Torah Study
Congregation Kol Emeth , 4435 Oakton St , Skokie
7:00 pm
Tuesday December 16
Wednesday December 17
Friday December 19
Saturday December 20
Sunday December 21
Monday December 22
📣 Skokie Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
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 Skokie PatchAM possible:
- Stephens Dentistry — 8478648151
Evanston's Hometown Dentists - ProCare Family Dental – Morton Grove — (847) 965-6223
Top-Rated Family Dentist Serving Morton Grove & Nearby Areas - Alzen Cleaning Group LLC — (224) 491-9928
You dream we clean
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
🪧 Patch Classifieds
- Beyond Shelter, Finding Home
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago is being spotlighted on the Sherri Takiff Zirlin Community Art Wall located in the lobby of First... (More info)
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- A Johnny Mathis and Friends Christmas at Skokie Theatre December 21 —Dave Gallagher Read on Patch
- North Suburban YMCA Hosting 2nd Annual KidPalooza Event on February 1 —North Suburban YMCA Read on Patch
- Georgia Nut Company posted a job opening for QA Specialist Level II (2nd shift) in Skokie. Apply here.
- Wal-Mart posted a job opening for Stocking Team Associate in Skokie. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Skokie here.
Ok Skokie! 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. I can never finish drinking the hot bath!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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