Patch wants to help make your life easier. So, at the start of every day, we're here to offer you all the information you need.

We've done all the searching for you. All you've got to do is click to get your live, local information. In the event of something out of the ordinary, such as a major crash, Patch editors will update this as quickly and accurately as we are able.

• Where do I find the lowest gas prices today in Crystal Lake?
• Show me the live traffic from Crystal Lake to Chicago.
• Tell me the most recent weather forecast for the area.
• Check out all the places you can visit in Crystal Lake.
• Give me a list of today's events.

Is there information you'd like to get every day that we haven't included here? Let Crystal Lake Patch Editor Michael Bivona know, and we'll try our best to include it!

Today's Birthdays:

• 1986 Miko Hughes (actor)
• 1978 Jen Frost (singer)
• 1975 Drew Barrymore (actress)
• 1972 Michael Chang (tennis player)
• 1971 Lea Salonga (actress)
• 1968 Brad Nowell (singer)
• 1962 Steve "Crocodile Hunter" Irwin (naturalist)
• 1950 Julius "Dr. J" Erving (Basketballer)
• 1946 Dan Millman (motivational speaker)
• 1945 Oliver Swofford (singer)
• 1932 Edward Kennedy (MA Democrat)
• 1926 Bud Yorkin (director)
• 1907 Sheldon Leonard (Bershad) (actor)
• 1907 Robert Young (actor)
• 1900 Luis Bunuel (director)
• 1889 Lady Baden-Powell (wife of army officer)
• 1857 Lord Baden-Powell (army officer, founder of the boy scouts)
• 1810 Frederic-Francois Chopin (composer)
• 1778 Rembrandt Peale (artist)
• 1732 George Washington (1st US President)