New Year's Tip: How To Safely Open A Bottle of Champagne

The American Academy of Ophthalmologists offers some good advice on safely opening a bottle of champagne without poking your eye this New Year's Eve.

If you’re like millions of Americans, you’re probably going to be uncorking a bottle of bubbly this New Year’s Eve. It’s the uncorking, however, that can potentially poke your eye out and possibly cause blindness, the American Academy of Ophthalmology warns. Improper cork removal can cause serious, potentially blinding injuries, including rupture of the eye wall, retinal detachment, bleeding, dislocation of the lens and damage to the eye’s bone structure. Champagne bottles contain pressure as high as 90 pounds per square inch, more than the pressure found inside a typical car tire, the American Academy of Ophthalmology said. This pressure can cause a champagne cork to shoot at 50 miles per hour as it leaves the bottle—fast enough to …

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Ring in 2013: New Year's Eve Events

Find a place to celebrate New Year's Eve at one of these neighborhood hot spots.

Still need New Year's Eve plans? Patch has your New Year's Eve plans under control with these area events for families and adults. So strap on your party hat, grab your noisemaker and peruse our list of neighborhood events happening for Monday, Dec. 31, 2012: Riddles Comedy Club at 5055 W. 111th St., Alsip, is offering dinner and a show, followed by a DJ and dancing on New Year's Eve for $45 per person. Doors open at 7 p.m. Rock around the clock--literally--in Blue Island on New Year's Eve. Gather under the clock at Vermont Street and Western Avenue between 11:30 and midnight. There will be free party favors, fireworks and a lighted ball drop at midnight. FREE. We've included the flier. Wish all the animals 'Happy Zoo Year' at the …

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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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Where to Find the Best Holiday Lights in Tinley Park

We're making a map. We're checking it twice. We're going to find out which homes are fancy and bright. Tell us where your favorite decorations and light displays are in the village.

Editor's Notebook

Where are the Best Holiday Lights in Tinley Park? (Updated)

We're making a map. We're checking it twice. We're going to find out which homes are fancy and bright. Tell us where your favorite decorations and light displays are in the village.

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 me where your favorite light-draped houses and inflatable Santa-adorned lawns are in Tinley Park. Think your neighbor has a classy spread? Have a …

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Village Videos: Kids Get a Bit of Christmas Early Thanks to Nonprofit Group

Patch spotlights videos that give you a different look at the community, past and present. This week, we feature employees and volunteers from Together We Cope sharing the holiday spirit.

Village Videos features videos from Patch, from around the web and from readers that showcase Tinley Park. Want your video featured? Upload it to our Neighborhood Gallery and email me at joev@patch.com to say you want to see it in Village Videos. Employees and volunteers from Together We Cope got to play the role of Santa early this year, handing out donated Christmas gifts last week to families in need as part of the nonprofit's Adopt a Child program. READ: Together We Cope Provides Christmas for Needy Kids This year, the program had 1,800 children from needy families, up from last year's 1,300. People and organizations have "adopted" these kids, donating gifts that Together We Cope gathered together in gift bags. Although the program is …

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Contest: Enter the Great Patch Christmas Cookie Bake-Off

Do you craft the most perfect Christmas cookie in town? Do your family and friends drool at the sight of your sugary creations? Enter your cookie in Patch's contest for a chance at a $100 gift card and other sweet prizes.

Who Made a Difference in 2012? Nominate Him or Her for Person of the Year

Is there a person you know who has made Tinley Park a better place thanks to his or her actions this year? Tell us by nominating that person. Deadline is 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 10, and then readers will vote for the winner.

Last month, voters chose a president and certain state and county officials this year's general election. But guess what, Tinley Park residents? You're electoral days for 2012 aren't over yet. There's one final honor you have the responsibility of bestowing. READ: Tree Lighting Kicks Off Holiday Season in Tinley Park You need to decide who deserves to be Tinley Park Patch's Person of the Year for 2012? If you know someone who made Tinley Park a better place in the past year, contributed time and energy to various causes or even made a smaller impact that's still important, nominate him or her. Now's the time to shine a spotlight on that man or woman who doesn't draw the attention he or she so richly deserves. Fill out the form on this page…

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Together We Cope Provides Christmas for Local Kids in Need

The Tinley Park-based organization, which serves families across the southwest suburbs, says need is increasing.

Together We Cope and its Adopt a Child program hopes to create Christmas smiles for nearly 1,800 south suburban children this holiday season. Instead of empty stockings, these children will be able to unwrap gifts given to them by strangers who care. READ: Ways to Give Back for the Holidays In these ongoing difficult economic times, Together We Cope turns to the communities it serves and asks for help. In turn, the organization help individuals and families in need in four townships: Bremen, Orland,  Palos and Worth. The communities they serve include Tinley Park, Orland Park, Oak Forest and 24 other nearby towns. When it comes to the annual gift drive, the sponsors have been generous, according to Margaret Seltzner, communications manager…

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