With temperatures dropping and snow flurries briefly visiting the south suburbs Monday, Tinley Park is beginning to feel like it's getting into the holiday spirit. Of course, one of the best indicators that Christmas is right around the corner is the abundance of elaborate decorations and lights throughout village neighborhoods. Readers have been asking on the Tinley Park Patch Facebook page where some of the best holiday displays are in town. That's why I've put together a map that locates some of the neighborhoods with homes that have caught my eye. But this just gets the ball rolling. Tell…

Like other towns across the country, Tinley Park will hold a Veterans Day ceremony Sunday to honor the men and women from the community who have served in the military. And while Sunday's event also will dedicate the Veterans Plaza at the renovated 80th Street Metra Station to Patrick Rea, a retired brigadier general and current village clerk, the Tinley Park ceremony stands out for another reason: It shows yet again the strong, long-standing bond the village has developed with its veterans. READ: New Veterans Plaza to be Dedicated to Rea "Tinley Park is very veterans-friendly," said American…

The result of Saturday afternoon's 5A second-round playoff game wasn't what fans of Tinley Park High School had hoped for their Titans. But not all the victories happen on the field. READ: Ivlow, JCA Run Over Tinley in 2nd Round of 5A Playoffs Thanks to incredible support of Titan fans—particularly Jennifer Fisher and her daughter, Caty Perakis; Titan Fan; and TP Fan—Tinley Park Patch will be donating one canned good to Together We Cope for every school spirit photo readers shared last week as part of our School Spirit Challenge. That means the village charitable organization will be …

It really was just a matter of time. Chicago already has a Lingerie Football League team, the Chicago Bliss. Now, the city can look forward to having a founding franchise in the budding Bikini Basketball Association, Chicago's NBC 5 news reports. VOTE: Would You Support a County-Wide 'Violence Tax'? The Chicago Desire held tryouts Saturday, Oct. 13, scouting prospective players "based on skill, personality, athleticism, drive, attitude, competitiveness, and of course, looks," the news report stated. Games start in the summer of 2013.I'm sure someone like Cheryl Miller—arguably a better …

Emiyah Twietmeyer might only be 10, but she has more charity food drives under her belt than most people twice her age. But this fifth-grader at Christa McAuliffe Elementary School doesn't get hung up on age, whether it's her own or other people's. She just wants to help the less fortunate by working with Together We Cope, a local nonprofit group that serves families and individuals in crisis. READ: Food Pantry Coordinators Hungry for Help, Donations "I have learned that age doesn’t matter," she wrote in a flyer this year for her Fourth Annual Emiyah and Friends Food Drive (you can view it in…

When five men, faces covered, burst in to Tinley Park's Ashford House in May and attacked a group of diners and some random patrons, the incident made national news, the kind of event that makes headlines because of its audacity but fades into the background—except at the local level—after a few days, replaced by footage of improper TSA pat-downs or Kim Kardashian updates. READ: Ashford House 5 Lawyers Call Arrest 'Invalid' In fact, a hearing to determine whether evidence in the case of the Tinley Park 5—the five Indiana men accused in the attack—was illegally obtained is scheduled for …

Wondering how toasty or cool it will get in Tinley Park this week? We've got your answers. Here is this week's forecast from the National Weather Service: Today: Sunny, with a high near 82. South southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. At night, expect a low of 59 degrees. Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 84 degrees during the day and mostly clear, with a low around 63 in the evening. Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. A slight chance of showers at night; cloudy, with a low around 62. Friday: A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 75. Want your news…

Summer is in full swing, which means many of us have made a dent in our annual closet cleaning. It also means garage and yard sale season is under way. Here at Tinley Park Patch, we pride ourselves on local, useful information. That includes who has books for a bargain, a dresser in their driveway or some clothes laid out on the lawn. Posting your garage sale on our site is easy ... and better yet, it's free. You must be registered on Patch and logged in to enter an event, so do that first at tinleypark.patch.com/login. (If you're signing up for a new account, remember that our Terms of Use …

There's nothing that says "back to school" quite like a bag lunch with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich inside. But not all kids are fortunate enough to enjoy such meals. That's why The Marley Project, an Illinois nonprofit organization, is coordinating back-to-school Peanut Butter and Jelly drives throughout the area, including Tinley Park. The project helps area food pantries keep their shelves stocked throughout the year—peanut butter and jelly are typically in short supply in pantries. Other items greatly appreciated for lunch boxes include:   Individually wrapped cheese and/or peanut …

Facebook is mandating that users to switch over to its new timeline template. The transition might be sudden or unwanted for some, so if you're scrambling for a cover photo—the long horizontal one at the top—we've pulled together some local shots for you to use. And if you've ever doubted the beauty of your beloved village, doubt it no more. We stopped by Centennial Parkdowntown Tinleythe Oak Park Avenue Metra Station in the afternoon. We're also including some of our favorite local photos taken at various events during the year.  So take this opportunity to show your hometown pride. Brag …

It always feels good to bring along a little piece of home when you head back to school.  Whether you’re an eager freshman or a wizened senior, let Tinley Park Patch help you stay in touch with your hometown while you’re off living the collegiate life. Like us on Facebook: Let your newsfeed do the work as Tinley Patch posts information, photos and updates throughout the day. Download the Patch app: Are you an iPhone girl or Android guy? Either way, Patch has you covered. The iPhone app highlights the top five most relevant stories and blog posts of the moment. Patch Places for Android will …

Lunch boxes have changed in design and shape over the years, but the basic idea is the same. Along with space inside for a cold drink, sandwich and snack, the cover is devoted to a favorite cartoon, character, TV show or movie. Subscribe to our free, daily e-newsletter. That's why Justin Bieber and Darth Vader and Japanese cartoon characters are staring out at shoppers from the shelves of your Tinley Park Target. Back in the '70s, the lunch boxes were aluminum. In the '80s, they gave way to plastic. Vintage lunch boxes now are highly collectible. They are displayed as art in people's homes, …

In our never-ending search for bloggers to join our Local Voices team, Tinley Park Patch is actively seeking people who want to share their talents. What does blogging for Patch entail? Not much, really. Blogging for us is quick, easy and free. You can blog as much or as little as you wish.  There are no deadlines or requirements. All you have to do is enjoy sharing your voice! Interested? To pitch a blog idea to Tinley Park Patch, e-mail Editor Carrie Frillman at carrie@patch.com. Or - if you'd like to get started right away, click on this link and follow the instructions. While you're at it…

There’s something about watching Olympic athletes that makes you want to get off the couch and go break a world record. Well, maybe not a world record. But at least run around outside. Which is why Patch is excited to be joining with First Lady Michelle Obama for Olympic Fun Day. The first lady is leading the U.S. Olympic delegation at the Summer Games opening ceremonies in London on Friday July 27. Her fitness initiative, Let’s Move, and Patch are teaming up to bring Olympic sports to life for you and your family in town. Here's how: 1. If you (or anyone you know) are interested in trying an…

If you're superstitious, you'll want to keep your good luck charm extra close today. For the third time in 2012, it's Friday the 13th. This year is the first since 1984 that a trio of the unsettling day has fallen within the calendar year. Does that freak you out? Just wait. Here are 13 facts about Friday the 13th that you may find spooky:  Fear of Fridays is thought to be rooted in the Bible. It was supposedly the day on which both Eve ate the forbidden fruit and Christ was crucified. If the day freaks you out, you may have paraskavedekatriaphobia, also known as friggatriskaidekaphobia—the …

Today's weather forecast includes a sunny, high of 89 degrees. Although that's about 10 degrees cooler in Tinley Park than it was last week at this time, it's still bound to be a summer scorcher. If you're looking for a way to cool off and don't have a chance to take a dip at White Water Canyon Water Park, we've got a compromise for you. In case you didn't notice, today is 7/11. It's the 85th birthday of the 7-Eleven chain, which is celebrating by giving away free 7.11-ounce Slurpees. The nearest store to the downtown area is at 16658 Oak Park Ave. The branch at 7601 W. 159th St., will also …

Today is the day you've been waiting for! OK, maybe not exactly. But hey, it's the day we at Patch have been waiting for. Today, your Southland Patchers are flocking to Tinley Park to volunteer, visit with business owners and most importantly for you — hand out TONS of giveaways, such as free gift cards to anyone who utters the secret word, "Zabrocki", to us while we are out and about. This also brings us to our seventh and final day of our weeklong scavenger hunt. READ: 'Tour de Patch' Heads to Tinley If you are the first to correctly identify where this bridge can be found in our village, …

Day two of our weeklong scavenger hunt is upon us. The game will culminate Wednesday, May 30, when Patchers blanket Tinley Park with our zealous spirit, volunteer efforts and most importantly for you — LOTS of giveaways, such as free gift cards to anyone who utters the secret word, "Zabrocki", to us while we are out and about that day. READ: 'Tour de Patch' Heads to Tinley but First, Let's Hunt for Clues If you can identify where the photo was taken that accompanies this story, you get free coffee from Patch in the form of a Starbucks gift card. As of about 11 p.m. May 23, there had yet to be…

  We at Patch believe there are two kinds of people— those who love us and those who haven’t found us yet.  So on Wednesday, May 30, we'll be pounding the glorious Tinley Park pavement to spread the word. How, you ask? By stopping in nonprofit organizations, like Together We Cope on Oak Park Avenue, popping into businesses to hand out freebies and introduce ourselves, and most importantly, mingling with perfect strangers during our journey. To give you a preview of the fun—it includes handing out a free gift card to anyone who utters the secret word, "Zabrocki", to Patchers who are out and …

In the midst of chaos, violence and tragedy, our Patch readers took it upon themselves to start a conversation. It was—and remains—one that has at times been combative and accusatory. It has also been constructive and raw. After all, isn't that the nature of conversations that foster outcomes to the world's conflicts? Shortly after breaking the news of a mob of 'anti-fascists' attacking a specific group of guests at a Tinley Park restaurant on Saturday, the story received its first comment from user NovemberReign: "This is exactly why I carry and conceal whether or not the law in this state …