So You Don't Celebrate Christmas Today, What's Your Plan Instead

Whether for religious reasons or because of work, not everyone is celebrating the holiday today.

For those who don't celebrate Christmas today (or any day) Dec. 25 can still be a nice day. Almost everyone has the day off, so maybe you take advantage of that to spend the day with family and friends. Downtowns, parks and streets are usually empty, so perhaps you hit a favorite ethnic restaurant that's open or go for a quiet run or long walk.  For those working, the day often means visits from family bearing the gift of a home-cooked meal and the promise of a Christmas celebration on another day. What's your non-Christmas Christmas Day tradition?

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Grayslake Resident Collecting Ornaments for Area Hospitals

Bring a little Christmas cheer to those young and old who will be spending this holiday in the hospital by donating an ornament to HOPE Ornaments.

Living with a high blood pressure disease that has caused blackouts and seizures, Lyzzi Elliott, 28, of Grayslake, has spent several holidays in a place no one wants to be—a hospital. She's made it her mission to bring Christmas cheer to others in the same situation, by collecting holiday ornaments to donate to hospitals throughout Illinois and Wisconsin. Elliott said she was inspired to establish HOPE Ornaments seven years ago after bringing an ornament to her friend's daughter, who was hospitalized with leukemia. "The moment she saw the ornament she smiled, and it changed everything," said Elliott, who understands what it's like to be stuck in a hospital bed for the holidays instead of celebrating at home with family and friends. Elliott…

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Holiday Recipes: Cookies, Candy and More

Patch editors from across Chicagoland share some of their favorite Christmas recipes.

Patch.com editors from across the Chicago area dug into their cookbooks and came back with some of their favorite holiday recipes to share with readers. We hope you enjoy. Happy Holidays! Share your favorite holiday recipes with Patch! Send your recipe as well as any photos to Editor Amie Schaenzer at amie.schaenzer@patch.com and we will include your recipe in this article.

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How did you Decorate Your Christmas Tree This Year?

Tinsel? Garland? Glitter? Faux poinsettias? Let's see those decorations!

I took an interesting approach with my Christmas tree this year. Instead of garland (which my cat, Spooky, would just try to eat), I placed small bunches of faux poinsettias in the tree. There's also A LOT of glitter (I love glitter). I don't have a tree-topper yet, largely because I just can't seem to find what I'm looking for. What I think would make the tree look super fabulous is a small- or medium-sized top hat. If you know where I can find one, please let me know! What does your Christmas tree look like this year? Upload your photos here on Patch!

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Korrina Grom

2:02 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Beautiful tree, Samantha! Love all of those stars!   more ›

'It's a Wonderful Life' Actress Recalls Classic Film Role

Virginia Patton of Dexter, who portrayed Ruth Dakin Bailey in 'It's a Wonderful Life,' appeared recently at the Penn Theatre in Plymouth, MI.

VERNON HILLS, IL -- Giving up a promising career in Hollywood to start a family might be a difficult choice for a talented young actress, but for Virginia Patton, the decision paved the way for a wonderful life away from the limelight. Patton, now 86, portrayed Ruth Dakin Bailey in the 1946 Frank Capra classic It’s a Wonderful Life, starring alongside such screen legends as James Stewart and Donna Reed at just 20 years old, but left acting soon afterwards to move to Ann Arbor to pursue a family with husband Cruse W. Moss, a successful automotive executive. Patton, of Dexter, MI, and Moss appeared together recently at the historic Penn Theatre in downtown Plymouth, MI, for a screening of It’s a Wonderful Life, where the former actress …

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Where to Cut Your Own Christmas Tree

Patch put together a map of cut-your-own Christmas tree farms for the northern Chicago suburbs.

Are you one of the 21 percent of United States homes that have a real Christmas tree? That's the number of people that opt for the real deal, according to the University of Illinois Extension's Christmas Tree fact page, compared to 48 percent who chose to have an artificial tree. (The rest don't have a tree.) If so, then perhaps you're also part of the 21 percent of those with real trees who like to cut them down yourself at a tree farm. Patch has assembled this map of cut-your-own Christmas tree farms in the vicinity of the northern Chicago suburbs. Click on the pins for more information about the farm or move the map around and zoom in on an area near you. Happy chopping!

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NORAD Website Tracks Santa Throughout His Journey

Kids and adults can follow St. Nick’s every move before and after he reaches Lake Zurich.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is charged with keeping the United States and Canada safe from dangers originating from the sky or space. Tonight, however, the Colorado-based government agency adds one more important task to its daily list of duties. The agency will again provide its Official Santa Tracker (http://www.noradsanta.org/) that marks The Big Man's every move as he makes his way throughout both hemispheres. Included on the site is a countdown and activity page (http://www.noradsanta.org/en/index.html) and a flight tracking system (http://www.noradsanta.org/en/track3d.html) Kids and adults can enjoy this very entertaining site that will have sugar plums dancing through everyone's head before retiring.  

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Ask Christy, the Career Coach

‘Tis The Season for Strategic Search

Everybody knows that companies don’t do much hiring over the holidays. I think I’ll take the next month off and get back at it in January. What do you think? – Casey

Hi Casey, How can I say this politely? No. NO. NO! I completely disagree with your strategy. There are so many opportunities this holiday season to move your job search forward. You can't afford to miss out on them. Here are my Top 10. Happy Holiday Search to All! Your neighbor and career coach, Christy

Lake Zurich Merchants Poised to Sell, Sell, Sell

Local stores join the Black Friday frenzy with extended hours, deals and discounts.

Bargains, extended hours, marketing incentives and promotions abound – it's the jolliest time of the year for shoppers. And it's a time when many retailers hold their collective breath, hoping consumers open their wallets a little wider. The holiday retail shopping season officially begins Friday, Nov. 26, aka Black Friday. Shoppers at Lake Zurich retail outlets, like kindred spirits all over the country, will find deals available in their own neighborhood on the day after Thanksgiving and beyond. Projections indicate that shoppers will be out en masse. More than 138 million shoppers are expected to visit stores across the country over the Black Friday weekend, according to the results of a survey conducted for the National Retail …

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Lake Zurich Police Officer Heads Toys for Tots Collection

New and unwrapped toys will be accepted until Tuesday, Dec. 21 at locations throughout town.

For the past 63 years, the Marines Toys for Tots program has had the goal of bringing hope and happiness to less fortunate children at Christmas time. And the Lake Zurich Police Department, which is the central collection location, is again playing a large part in ensuring the program's success for this holiday season. For the past 10 years, Officer Vince TeRonde has overseen the collection of gifts for Toys for Tots.  Until they are distributed, donated toys will be kept in a 12-foot storage unit donated by Pods, which is currently located in the police department parking lot.  New and unwrapped toys will be accepted for children of all ages and can be dropped in collection boxes through Tuesday, Dec. 21. When the boxes become filled, …

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