Miracle on Cicero Avenue: Volunteers Feed the Hungry on Christmas

Big Pappa's Gyros serves and delivers 1,840 to local residents in need on Christmas with help of 100 volunteers.

The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is alive and well at Big Pappa’s Gyros in Oak Lawn on Christmas Day. Owners and partners Sandi Digangi and Eddie Memishi are at the center of controlled chaos of preparing and distributing 1,840 turkey dinners and fixings. Mounds of toys and games, reduced by late morning, are ready to be distributed to the children of families requesting meals. Connect with Patch: Oak Lawn / Beverly-Mt. Greenwood / Evergreen Park One such recipient of Big Pappa’s Gyros’ generosity is former Oak Lawn resident Rosemary, who now resides in Palos Hills. She came to the event last year with a friend and heard about this year’s free dinnerl giveaway yesterday from her brother. She decided to stop in late this morning…

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Add a Punchline to Our Rudolph and Santa Cartoon

If you've got wit, add your punchline to Patch's weekly comic and win a personalized print.

Are you blessed with insight and good humor? Or just bored today? Share your wit with your south suburban neighbors by entering Patch's comic caption challenge. Just add your dialogue for today's comic in the comment section of this post. Our only requirement is that you keep it clean! At week's end, we'll pick the winning punchline based on how many of us here at Patch giggle and smile at your contribution. The user who produces the winning punchline will get a personalized proof of the comic, with the winning words and a credit line, from cartoonist Chuck Ingwersen and Patch. Congratulations to Sclarey, who provided the winning punchline to last week's Doctor and Bear comic: Whew!?! Its only terminal cancer. I thought you were gonna tell…

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Watch: Make Your Own Holiday Memories

Jodi Klusacek, an officer with the Oak Forest Green Steps Commission and distributor of eco-friendly Shaklee products, shows how you can turn old tin canisters and empty mason jars into new holiday keepsakes in a Patch video.

The idea of going green for the holidays is one Oak Forest Green Steps Commission officer Jodi Klusacek embraced long ago. She now shares green tips and healthy lifestyle choices regularly on her Nature's Resources Facebook page. And she shares a couple of tips here in a Patch video to help you prepare of the holidays. Why not turn an old tin canister into a Christmas gift box? Or illuminate a bathroom with a scented mason jar light?

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Christmas Fun Facts and Trivia

How much will we spend this year? And what's the best-selling Christmas song of all time? Find the answers below.

We know that there were three Wise Men, 12 days of Christmas and that Santa delivers all his presents around the world in one night. But did you know... $23,439.38  How much it would cost to buy your "true love" all the gifts in the 12 Day of Christmas . 12.9 billion hours, $447 billion How many hours Americans were expected to spend shopping, wrapping and returning gifts last year. That was about 42 hours and $688.87 per person.  Get your postman/postwoman a gift According to Hallmark, Christmas is the largest card-sending occasion . Nearly 1.5 billion cards are sent to friends and family every Christmas Season. (That's actually down 400 million cards since 2004.) $983 million The value of U.S. imports of Christmas tree ornaments from …

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Despiser of Obama

8:52 am on Sunday, December 23, 2012

Calling the kettle black by saying the one closest to your Church.   more ›

Today is a Holiday, Too! See What's Open

Since Christmas fell on a Sunday, today is the observed holiday for many businesses. Before venturing out to run errands, be sure your destination isn't closed.

Because Christmas fell on a Sunday this year, today is the observed Christmas holiday. This means that Dec. 26 might not necessarily be business as usual. Check our list before you head out on your errands. Note about Metra: The regular Saturday schedule will also be in effect on Dec. 31, with the exception of trains departing after midnight that day. Trains will be held at the downtown terminals until 1:15 a.m. to accommodate passengers attending New Years Eve events in Chicago.  Looking for more holiday news? The Bar Fly's Guide to Escaping In-Laws on Xmas, Partying on NYE There's Still Time to Enter Your Decorated Home in Our National Contest! Benevolent Spirit Pays Christmas Bills at Toys R Us Oh Come, All Ye Faithful: Where Do You …

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For Christmas, Win Your Tinley Park Schools $100,000

Merry Christmas, folks! :) You only have ONE MORE DAY to enter our Deck the House contest. Please take a moment to do so and increase Tinley's chances of winning $100K for its local schools! What better Christmas present could there be?

Let it Snow? It is On Google, But Maybe Not Here

Christmas may be green in Chicago's south suburbs, but in the meantime, check out the cool search engine effect.

Will it snow in the south suburbs this holiday weekend? Maybe not, but you can get some of the Christmas magic on Google. Join millions in typing "let it snow" in a Google search and watch what happens. You can clear it up by hitting the "defrost" button or by "scraping" with your mouse. According to forecasts from the National Weather Service in Romeoville, the Chicago area might not see much snow. This map shows little to no snow coverage throughout the area now, and most forecasts say we'll be without a White Christmas. The Weather Channel's forecast map shows that the Chicago area will be without a White Christmas. That doesn't necessarily mean we won't have snow; on that map, "White Christmas" means at least an inch of snow. According…

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Five Last-Minute Christmas Gifts for Dad

It’s not too late to get your dad a great Christmas present. We have come up with some great options you can still have under the tree by Sunday morning.

Finding the right gift for dad can be the most difficult task on a holiday list. This results in many years gone by with the old standby present, a shirt and tie. Surprise dad this year and switch out that old boring gift with something special.  No matter your choice of gift, dad will be surely be happy just knowing you took the time to think of him. The gift is just a bonus! Merry Christmas!

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Oh Come, All Ye Faithful: Where Do You Pray?

Please join the discussion on Patch and leave reviews in our business directory.

  Each week Patch focuses on a different product or service. This week, we're doing something a little different. With Hanukkah starting this week and Christmas this weekend, many readers will be visiting places of worship. New residents might even be looking for the right place for them. So tell us where you worship, readers, what newcomers can expect, and why your place is special. When a new family moves into your neighborhood and they ask for your recommendations for stores, take-out places or professional services, what do you say? Because Patch has an extensive directory of businesses, we want all of our readers to benefit from your experience the way your neighbors do. What are your go-to places for dinner on those nights when you …

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