Update on Bike/Pedestrian Trail
Hello Everyone,
Wow! The first public comment meeting for a future bike/pedestrian trail throughout McHenry County last Wednesday night was well-represented by our residents. We nailed it for attendance!
If you haven’t filled out the short survey, please go to this link (located on the top of the the page) and let them know we need to be included in their planning process. One major trail would be to connect the Richmond Prairie Trial through Spring Grove to the Chain of Lakes State Park. Please help us secure a future major trail system.
Thank you for your participation!
Mark Eisenberg
Village President
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Village Treasurer Retires |
Village Treasurer Judy Olson retired last week. Judy rendered distinguished service to the Village for over 18 years, demonstrating the highest standards of integrity and professionalism, applying her expertise and sound judgement to the policies and laws governing the responsibilities of the Village Treasurer.
She has been characterized by Village Board members and colleagues as hard-working, dedicated, honest, supportive, having a wealth of knowledge, always keeping a positive attitude, and one who leads by example. She has also shown the utmost dedication, being always available to the Village Board, her colleagues and the public.
Judy will be missed by many. We wish her nothing but happiness on her next journey. The village will forever be grateful for her commitment and dedication.
I would also like to welcome Charis Attermeier as our new Treasurer.
Mark Eisenberg,
Village President
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New Leaf Home Hidden Hearts Event |
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It's that time of year! New Leaf Home Furnishings has hidden paper hearts throughout the store with monetary values to apply to purchases from February 1 - 28. Also in the month of February they have double punch days. Loyalty Card members must check their email the first week of February to find out which days! Located at 2449 Pierce Drive. Join them and see what's new on Facebook.
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Valentine's Day Flowers & Gifts |
Valentine's Day is Sunday, February 14. Birds of Paradise Flowers and Gifts has beautiful roses, tropical bouquets, blooming plants, sweet treats, and hot cocoa bombs for your Valentine! They deliver, or pick up is available. Extended hours during Valentine's week. Visit their Facebook page or call 815-363-8568. Located at 2404 Spring Ridge Drive behind Jewel.
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Huddle Up and Designate a Sober Driver for the Super Bowl |
The Spring Grove PD reminds football fans that designated drivers are the best defense against the dangers of impaired driving. If your Super Bowl plans involve alcohol or cannabis, make the right play and pass your keys to a sober driver. “...driving after even one drink or hit can impair judgment,” said Chief Thomas Sanders. “If you’ll be watching the game away from home this year, we urge you to answer a simple question: ‘Are you drinking or are you driving?’ Never do both.” View more here.
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Snowmobiling in Spring Grove |
Snowmobile trails are marked and maintained by local clubs. Please respect the property of others when driving to the trails. Do not travel in excess of 15 mph when on village right-of-ways. Stay off lawns and driveways, yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and come to a complete stop before crossing a road.
It is unlawful to drive a snowmobile on private property without the consent of property owners and using the trails when they are closed is considered trespassing.
The operation of snowmobiles in the village is prohibited between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. Sunday-Thursday and midnight to 7 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. For trail conditions call the McHenry County Hotline at 815-334-7669.
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Get that someone special a Salon Jevee Gift Card for this Valentine's day! Located at 2207 Route 12 in the Spruce Pointe Mall. View the flyer here and visit them here to see a complete line of services.
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Photo of the Week
These geese don't want to get too close to the edge of the ice on the pond at Hatchery Park. Photo submitted by Jan Erdmann. If you have a photo of Spring Grove you would like to share, email it here.
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The R/SG Area Rotary is hosting their Annual Spaghetti Dinner to benefit the R/SG Community Food Pantry on Wednesday, February 10, from 4:30 - 7:30 p.m. Take-out orders to be picked up drive-thru style from Richardson Adventure Farm located at 909 English Prairie Road. All dinners - $12 - include spaghetti, salad, bread, and dessert. View more info and pre-order online by Saturday, February 6, here!
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Fundraiser for SGE PTO and RBCHS National Honor Society |
Richmond Motor Sales and Service is donating 10% of any bill for service or maintenance in February to the Spring Grove Elementary PTO and the RBCHS National Honor Society. View the flyer here and present it at time of service to give back to your school! Richmond Motor Sales and Service is located at 10400 Main St. in Richmond.
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Kindergarten Registration Now Open |
Nippersink School District 2 kindergarten registration is now open for all District 2 children born on or before September 1, 2016. Register on-line here. View more information and how to register if you have no computer access here.
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February is Pet Dental Month |
Nature’s Feed is offering 20% off select dental products in February, during Pet Dental Month. Did you know that oral disease is the number one health problem diagnosed in pets? Bacteria in the mouth can cause oral disease and also lead to diseases of the organs. Dogs who are fed a raw diet, which is high in moisture and no starch, (which is contained in all dry pet food), have the best teeth because there is no sticky substance (starch) in raw food. Stop by Nature’s Feed to learn more on how diet can play a role in your dog’s oral health. Located at 2440 Westward Drive.
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If you are in Phase 1B and Phase 1C, complete the enrollment form and once a clinic becomes available to each group, additional information on how to schedule an appointment will be directly emailed to you. The Illinois Department of Health has FAQs regarding COVID-19 vaccinations. View information about getting tested here. View more information here.
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McHenry and Lake counties advanced to Tier 1 mitigations for COVID-19. Bars and restaurants can now open at 25% capacity or 25 people (whichever is less). Tier 1 also increases capacity of meetings and gatherings to 25 guests or 25% of overall room capacity. Restrictions have loosened further on organized sports and recreation, and indoor fitness centers can increase to 50% capacity.
A complete list of Tier 1 mitigations can be found here. Current restrictions on sports, which differ based on the activity, can be found here.
With new variants of the virus emerging, it is more important than ever to keep wearing your mask, washing your hands frequently, and staying six feet away from others. Anyone who develops loss of taste and smell and has a fever, cough or other respiratory symptoms might be coming down with COVID-19. That person should be tested as soon as possible and contact health professionals for the next steps.
A map and information of the status of every Illinois county can be found on the IDPH website here. View a map of the United States and other countries to view potential risks associated with traveling. Areas with increased risk of COVID-19 are based on case rates.
If you have health questions about COVID-19, call the hotline at 800-889-3931 or email questions here.
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Silo with his signature diamond top |
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In 1919, when Joe Kattner took down the very first silos ever built, and located on the Hatch Farm he just purchased, he surely did not realize their historical significance. Maybe he took them down because his grandniece, Matilda "Tillie" Kattner had recently married Frank May, a builder of cement silos. There are old cement silos on the property, but they are missing Frank's "signature", which would identify them, but it's still a possibility, as many of the signatures have been lost over the years...
Tillie was the daughter of William Kattner & Emma Oeffling from the Johnsburg/Spring Grove area. Frank was the son of Mathias May & Margaret Freund. Frank grew up on a farm by Spring Grove Road but rather than continue farming, he began his company when he was a teenager. Tillie and Frank were married in 1913 and moved to 8013 East Street where they stayed for many years.
Frank was a cement contractor and built barn foundations and concrete silos. His "signature" was the diamond-shaped, three-dimensional concrete pinnacle he put on the top all of his silos. (One of his silos has been restored as part of the Nature Center at the Volo Bog in Volo.) In addition to his work, Frank was also a village trustee for 40 years, from 1915 - 1955.
Tillie and Frank had four children. Arnold was the oldest, born in 1918. He worked for his dad, starting as a young boy, mixing cement and then taking on more responsibility. Arnold wanted to study civil engineering at the U of I, but Frank thought it was a waste of time and wanted him to take over the silo business and refused to pay for any of his tuition. Arnold worked and put himself through college.
Arnold built the first bathroom in his parents house and installed plumbing in the kitchen so they could have running water in the house. Later, he developed many of the properties in the industrial sections of Spring Grove. The next youngest child, Frank Jr. "Pro" also attended the U of I. They were both in the ROTC
Their sister Lorraine, married Stanley Freund and they farmed on the southeast corner of Spring Grove Road and Ringwood Road. The baby, Eugene, stayed in Spring Grove, raised a family and was village president from 1980-1983. His wife and family still lives in the subdivision just east of East Street. Tillie lived until age 103 and was honored as the 4th of July Grand Marshal with her friend Stella Richardson in 1980 when she was 91.
Frank's granddaughter, Marianne May, drove around the area (with the help of Lorraine) logging the locations of all the silos with diamond pinnacles and has a list of about 30 with more to be found. Like barns, everyday there are fewer and fewer silos as the old farmsteads fall into disrepair or are swallowed up by new development. If you know the site of one, email me here and I will check her log!
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Children Arnold, Frank Jr., Lorraine and Eugene |
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Frank & Tillie in front of house at 8013 East St. |
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