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Dear Village Resident,
Thank you to the following businesses and individuals who helped make the 2023 Merry and Bright in Spring Grove Festival very special this year! View more photos here!
- Spring Grove's Community Engagement Committee
- Billy’s Beef Hot Dogs & More for donating the hot chocolate
- Coffee Masters for donating the hot chocolate packets for the tree bags
- Richardson Farm for donating the tree that was raffled off to a lucky winner
- Bryon Kelly for donating his tractor and wagon for the hayrides
- Rich Tobiasz for donating his time to tell stories on the hay wagon rides
- The RBCHS National Honor Society for helping the children with crafts
- T's Toffee: donating their delicious treats for our volunteers
- Santa’s Elves: Lahey O'Connor and Kate Nielson
- Spring Grove Fire Department for use of their facility
- Spring Grove Public Works for setting up our event and displays!!
And finally, Mr. & Mrs. Claus for taking the time out of their busy schedule to visit with the children to hear their Christmas wishes!
The VOTE FOR THE BEST SNOWMAN is STILL RUNNING!!!! The nominees for our first annual snowman decorating contest can be selected by vote: the funniest, most creative, and best presentation. Log on to our website or drive by through Horse Fair Park to scan the QR code and get your votes in!!!
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Holiday Movie Night
Need a couple hours to get some holiday shopping done? Children in grades K-5 are invited to a holiday movie and craft night. This Friday, December 8th from 5:00 -8:00 p.m. at the Spring Grove Municipal Centre located at 7401 Meyer Rd. $10.00 per child. Popcorn and a drink will be served. Space is limited, sign up here, click here for the flyer.
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Fabian Seafood
This Friday, December 8th from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. Fabian Seafood will be in the parking lot of Platinum Terrain selling fresh shrimp and seafood products, they sell out quickly so don't wait! For more information on their products, visit their website. This will be the last sale of the 2023 season.
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Letters to Santa
Keep and eye out and you might get a peek at one of Santa's elves!! Letters to Santa are being collected to take back to the North Pole.
Our "Letters to Santa" mailbox will be at Main Street Park, 8013 Blivin, from now until Christmas.
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Santa and his Reindeer
Richmond Township wishes you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! The Township Supervisor, Paul Hain has extended an invitation to visit Santa Claus and his Reindeer on December 9th from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Click here for location. "Toys for Tots' will be collecting unwrapped gifts, and will be appreciated. Non-perishable food for the pantry may be dropped off during your visit as well.
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Tinsel Tavern at the The Grove
As the holiday season approaches, find joy in the various ways people celebrate Christmas; decorating trees, singing carols, exchanging gifts, and performing generous acts. Christmas is truly a magical time, filled with joy, kindness, beauty, and love, it's a moment to reflect on blessings and express gratitude. In the spirit of gratitude, The Grove team extends a heartfelt thank you to all of their loyal customers! Now for some exciting news-The Grove has transformed into a Christmas pop-up bar, and it's officially called "Tinsel Tavern" for this holiday season. Their dedicated staff has put in a tremendous effort to create a festive atmosphere that captures the spirit of the season. Come one Come all!! Join in making this holiday season at Tinsel Tavern unforgettable with Santa's Little Helpers at Tinsel Tavern. Merry Christmas!
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Winter Storm Updates
Our Public Works department works diligently to keep our roads clear from hazards and ice. When the forecast indicates temperatures are dropping, the department produces its own liquid chemical called GeoBlend with the aid of an in-house production and blending system. You will recognize when a road has been given the application as it will have brown lines down each lane of travel.
The Village Hall located at 7401 Meyer Road is a warming center with power and is open to the public between the hours of 8:00am to 4:00pm. The Spring Grove Fire Department, located at 8214 Richardson Road is a warming center that is open 8:00a.m.-4:00p.m.
Please do not travel during dangerous storms if you do not have to, but if you must, you can view continually updated road conditions at:
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Toys For Tots
The mission of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys or books during November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the community! You could also drop a check into the Toys for Tots donation box. Toys and donations will be collected until December 11. Drop off locations are located at Eclipse Hair Studio, 2020 N. Route 12 Spring Grove, Suite U, and New Leaf Home Furnishings, 2449 Pierce Drive Suite 3. Thanks in advance for your continued support.
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RBBA 2024 Season
RBBA registration for the much-anticipated Spring 2024 season and 40th year is now live! They are extending a warm welcome to all of the dedicated parents and aspiring young athletes. RBBA has been a cornerstone of our community, providing a platform for children to develop skills, build friendships, and foster a love for baseball, softball, and tee ball. To express gratitude for your continued support, they are offering early pricing options throughout the month of December. RBBA welcomes Spring Grove Resident, Mike Baird, for the 2024 Season as the new RBBA President!! Click here to register now!
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2024 Community Farmer's Market
NEW for 2024, the Community Farmer's Market will be located back at Main Street Park Pavilion!! Food and Beverage specials will be offered across the street at The Grove during market hours. If you would like to be a vendor at our 2024 Community Farmer's Market, sign up before January 1st and take advantage of our early bird special rate! Payment can be made online from the Village website. We are looking forward to a variety of vendors to make this our best season yet!!!! Click here for more information and dates.
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Photo of the Week
Holiday Season in Spring Grove Village!!! Thank you, Community Engagement Committee and our Public Works Department for a magical Merry and Bright Festival!!! If you have a photo of Spring Grove you would like to share email it here.
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HOA Meeting - Forest Ridge Estates
The next Forest Ridge HOA quarterly meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 11th at 6:30 p.m. at the Nippersink Public Library. Of note, Forest Ridge residents are strongly encouraged to come to these meetings for awareness about HOA and the community.
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Vintage T-shirts and Clothing
Pimped Vintage is a vintage shop and looking for your vintage t-shirts, jackets, and pants!! Do you have unique items in great condition that they might be interested in adding to their collection? Stop by their shop between 12:00p.m-7:00p.m. at 2020 Route 12 Suite C . They also have a winter coat drive set up from now until December 11th. Thank you to all who have participated!!
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Adopt-A-Highway
Thank you to the following families, businesses, groups and organizations for volunteering their time to the Adopt-a-Highway Program and keeping Spring Grove a clean and beautiful place to live!
The Rosemeyer Family
In Loving Memory of Jake Vinyard
Katie Walker
The Gary & Amy Stark Family
The Spring Grove SnoGrovers Snowmobile Club
Craig Lesperance, Stateline Dream Homes
Scot Forge
Boy Scouts Troop #340
The Breezy Lawn Homeowners
Thousand Oaks Families
The Schmitt Family Farm
The Richard Graves Family
Peggy Bailey & Salli Renz, Baird & Warner Real Estate
The Langlois/Turnbull Families
Smiles By Design
The Greenhill and Poirier Families
Tapia Family
In Memory of William H. Mols
Also a shout-out to the volunteers who are part of other Adopt-a-Road programs who clean township, county, and state roads in the Spring Grove area. Thank you!
Thank you!!
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McHenry County Dial-A Ride
What is MCRIDE? Dial-a ride is a great way to get around McHenry County. Whether you need transportation for work, school, shopping, or medical appointments, McRide provides an affordable and flexible way to travel for people of ALL AGES!! Click the link here for more information on this great service for eligible residents. Read the brochure here for details. Call 815-334-4981 with questions about McRide.
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Keep the Wreath RED
The Spring Grove Fire Department is once again participating in "Keep the Wreath Red" program. If a fire occurs that is determined to be the result of a holiday decoration, the fire station replaces one red bulb in the wreath with a white bulb. This is a reminder to practice fire safety during the holiday season. Please be careful with candles, holiday lights and other decorations and help them "Keep the Wreath Red"!
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Holiday Light Recycling
If your lights have lost their twinkle, don't throw them away - recycle them at the Municipal Centre! Located at 7401 Meyer Road, Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Click here to see which kinds of lights and cords are accepted.
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Yard Cleanup and Burning Regulations
Please remember burning of landscape waste was only allowed in the Village of Spring Grove on weekends in October and November. See burning regulations here.
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Village Stickers
Have you purchased your 2023-2024 village sticker?
The vehicle sticker fee is now double to $40 per vehicle and tickets will now be issued. The police will be making subdivision checks to make sure stickers have been purchased for all vehicles and that they are being displayed properly. Drop the envelope in the Municipal Centre drop-box, purchase in person, or make a payment on-line here.
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Basketball Program
Basketball registration is still open!! Visit our website to sign up.
We are looking for 4th and 5th grade girls to fill a lot of empty slots!! click here to sign up
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Richmond-Burton Rockets Music Department Fundraiser at Rosati's
Please come out to Rosati's in Richmond next Thursday, December 14th to help raise funds for the Richmond-Burton Rockets Music Department. Dine in, carry out, and delivery are all available when their flyer is mentioned.
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Village of Spring Grove Police Department
This Holiday Season, the Spring Grove Police Department is joining the Illinois State Police and local law enforcement to ensure holiday travelers are buckled up and driving sober. "Click It or Ticket" and "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" enforcement campaign runs in December!! Buckle up and drive sober!
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Blast from the Past - 8007 Blivin Street
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Mark & Minnie 1913 wedding photo | | |
Silas' blacksmith and carpentry shop at left | |
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Property records for 8007 Blivin are hard to discern but the house was probably built in the 1880s. Mark Rix Pierce (Rix was his mother’s maiden name) married Minnie Siedshlag in 1913. They rented a farm in the teens, but by 1920 Mark was driving a truck for a lumber yard. They had three sons: Clarence, born in 1913, Clyde Allen “Al”, born in 1919, Ralph, born in 1926.
In 1926, they purchased 8007 Blivin and added a new kitchen and basement to the house. Also, at some point in the home's existence, the front porch was enclosed. In the early 1930s, Mark converted Schram’s Hall at 8003 Blivin into a garage where he repaired cars and sold gas until the early 1950s.
Mark and Minnie were faithful members of the Methodist Church on Blivin Street. Minnie also enjoyed playing cards and entertained members of her card club often in her home. Their son Clarence married, moved to Chicago, where he was a garage attendant, and had three children. Their son, Al, was a staff sergeant in WWII and operated Pierce’s cabinet shop for 20 years in Richmond. He married but had no children and died in 1975 at the age of 55. Son Ralph lived with his mother at 8007 Blivin, was also a veteran of WWII, and was employed as a construction worker. He, like his brother, died in 1975 when he was 49 of some type of injury. He had no children.
8007 Blivin is next to 8009 Blivin which we learned about last week, but in-between by the sidewalk was the carpentry and blacksmith shop of Silas Pierce, Mark’s father. Silas erected the building in 1901 and could make anything out of wood and also repaired things and sharped skates. He manufactured violins and other stringed instruments. He was exceedingly fond of music and took great delight in fiddling for dances in town. In 1932, he was the oldest fiddler in an old-time fiddler’s contest and was accompanied by the youngest drummer: his 6-year-old grandson. One of his unfinished fiddles is housed at the McHenry County Historical Museum in Union.
Silas outlived two wives, (Lizzie Rix, who died when Mark was 16, and Mary Potter) and died in 1938 at age 89. The funeral services were held in Mark’s house and Silas was laid to rest in Cole Cemetery. (Funeral services were also held in the home for Mark’s 25-year-old cousin, Emily Pierce, in 1935.)
Mark had an illness for several years before passing away at home at the age of 68 in 1960. Minnie outlived her husband and two sons, dying in 1985 at the age of 91. In 1987 Jeff and Sue Bychowski purchased the home and still live there today
Story by Laura Frumet
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