Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Where can Vernon Hills residents recycle their Christmas trees for free?
You won't want to miss Willow Hill Lights - Open nightly thru Jan 4 on the Vernon Hills Patch calendar
Hello Vernon Hills! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- Where can Vernon Hills residents recycle their Christmas trees for free?
Also on today's calendar: Willow Hill Lights - Open nightly thru Jan 4.
Find out what's happening in Vernon Hillsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Find out what's happening in Vernon Hillsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Wednesday: A little snow, up to 1", with a high of 34 and low of 7 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
- Thursday: Partly sunny and colder, temps: high: 22, low: 17.
- Friday: Partly sunny, with a high of 27 and low of 13 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• County residents have options in disposing of Christmas trees: ‘They can't be disposed of in a landfill' (chicagotribune.com) — If you’ve got a natural Christmas tree to ditch in Vernon Hills, you can drop it at Half Day Forest Preserve, where it will be recycled into trail wood chips. Lake County Forest Preserves and most waste haulers, including LRS, are offering free tree collection through late January, with forest preserve drop-offs accepted until February 1. 
📸 Around Vernon Hills
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 Vernon Hills
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
- This week, food events delivered to you from Quartino, Urbanbelly, Smoque BBQ, & more!
3:00 pm
Friday January 2
📣 Vernon Hills 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
- Million Dollar Quartet - Lincolnshire
Marriott Theatre , 10 Marriott Dr , Lincolnshire
1:00 pm - New Year's Even Family Skate Party
Just for Fun Roller Rink - Mundelein , 139 N Seymour Ave , Mundelein
3:00 pm - Family New Years Eve Party
Just for Fun Roller Rink - Mundelein , 139 N Seymour Ave , Mundelein
3:00 pm - NOON Year's Eve Skate Party
Just for Fun Roller Rink - Mundelein , 139 N Seymour Ave , Mundelein
3:00 pm - Library closes at 5:00 pm
Lake Forest Library , 360 E Deerpath Rd , Lake Forest
5:00 pm - New Year's Day
Buffalo Grove, IL Calendar - Ela Township Offices Closed in Observance of New Years Day: January 1, 2026
Ela Township , 1155 E Route 22 , Lake Zurich - OMNI: SMART Recovery
Buffalo Grove, IL Calendar , 1111 West Lake Cook Road , Buffalo Grove
6:00 pm - Reg 'n' Go Kit: Lace Snowman
Lake Forest Library , 360 E Deerpath Rd , Lake Forest - GLMV Conversations 4 Success Network Group (C4S) - FREE
Holiday Inn Express , 975 Lakeview Parkway , Vernon Hills
8:00 am - Puzzle Exchange
Buffalo Grove, IL Calendar
12:00 pm
Wednesday December 31
Thursday January 1
Friday January 2
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 Vernon Hills PatchAM possible:
- FIF (Fly Is Fundamental) — (773) 922-5363
'' Defined by Style. Driven by Culture." - Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Start 2026 with a basic computer skills course!
Lake County is offering no-cost basic courses in computer skills in January. Residents who meet certain requirements may earn a laptop to take home… (Nextdoor ) - Start the New Year Right: Enjoy Free New Year’s Eve Rides on Pace
To help everyone celebrate safely this New Year’s Eve, Pace will provide free bus and ADA Paratransit rides from 10 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31… (Nextdoor )
- Kroger Family of Companies posted a job opening for Grocery Clerk in Vernon Hills. Apply here.
- Archdiocese of Chicago posted a job opening for Part-time Seasonal Maintenance and Custodial Employee - St. Mary of Vernon - Indian Creek - Vic. I in Vernon Hills. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Vernon Hills here.
🗞 Nearby News
Lincolnshire
- Evangelization, prayer are big drivers of success at 25-year-old Relevant Radio - The Leaven Catholic Newspaper (theleaven.org)
Long Grove
- Those we lost: Local leaders, former governors and a conservative activist among notable deaths of 2025 (dailyherald.com)
- Lake County business officials hope to build on strong 2025: ‘One of the most dynamic economic transformations in Chicagoland' (chicagotribune.com)
- Firefighters rescue dog after home's chimney engulfed in flames, leaving family displaced in Gurnee (lakemchenryscanner.com)
Libertyville
Ok Vernon Hills! 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 heard there’s only a 50 percent chance of snow.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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