Hello Everyone,
This year has been a challenging year for most of us but I hope you and your family are doing well. I wanted to be reporting on our recovery from COVID and how great it is to be moving forward, but unfortunately, cases are on the rise again.
Thank you for your continued support of our community and our businesses with your purchases, large and small. It has helped keep our businesses running and food on the table for some.
I also want to thank all of the essential and front line workers in Spring Grove. It's the dedication and commitment of the grocery and other store clerks, the delivery drivers, the restaurant and fast food workers, and many others, that enable the rest of us to have a happy holiday season.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!
Mark Eisenberg,
Village President
|
|
Festive Holiday Centerpieces |
Birds of Paradise has beautiful centerpieces and festive holiday arrangements to add cheer to your home or as thoughtful hostess gifts! Walk-in hours today, Wednesday December 22, and tomorrow from 10-4 or they will deliver! Located at 2404 Spring Ridge Drive or call 815-363-8568.
|
|
|
|
|
McHenry County Moves 2050 Plan Input Needed |
The goal of the McHenry County Moves 2050 is to identify new solutions that will provide a wide range of safe, equitable, sustainable, and convenient travel choices in and across the county. Please take the brief engagement survey to show how you move around, and how the system can be improved.
|
|
The Spring Grove Fire Department is hosting a Blood Drive next Thursday, December 30 from 2:30 - 6:30 pm, at 8214 Richardson Road on the Jingle Bus in the parking lot. To schedule your appointment, visit versiti.org/IL, download the Versiti Donor App, or Call/text Carrie at 815-271-2910. View the flyer.
|
|
|
Photo of the Week
The beautiful star on the Kattner Farm silo can be seen from Route 12 and Wilmot Road! Photo submitted by Kelly Kattner. If you have a photo of Spring Grove you would like to share, email it here.
|
|
Howl-iday Happenings at Nature's Feed |
Elly the Elf's sleigh has officially arrived at Nature's Feed, and she brought gifts! Elly the Elf will be hanging out at Nature's Feed until December 24 at 3 pm! If you can find her, take her picture and post it on Nature's Feed Facebook post that is pinned to the top of their page. One grand prize winner will receive a gift basket valued at $50.00 and all participants will receive a spin on the Wheel of Prizes to win a gift valued up to $20.00! Also, don't miss out on their 12 Days of Christmas one-day-only sales. Thank you for your continued support throughout the year & for supporting local business when shopping for your pets this howl-iday season. Located at 2440 Westward Drive.
|
|
Jingle all the Way - Drive Sober this Holiday Season |
The Spring Grove Police Department will participate in a statewide impaired driving awareness campaign from Dec. 17 through Jan. 3, made possible by federal traffic safety funds administered by IDOT. Keep these tips in mind to help ensure a safe and joyful holiday season:
- Before you head to the party, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or a ride-sharing service to get home safely.
- If you see an impaired driver on the road, pull over and call 9-1-1.
- Help impaired friends get home safely and take away their car keys.
- Always buckle up!
|
|
|
|
Season's Greetings from Salon Jevee |
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from Salon Jevee! View the flyer with salon hours and stylists' phone numbers. Salon Jevee is located at 2207 Route 12.
|
|
Blast from the Past - Lost Valley |
|
Lost Valley Skiing in 1979 (Chicago Sun Times) |
|
1977 Lost Valley Pizza & Game Shack Ad |
|
In 1974, the Hidden Valley ski hill opened in Spring Grove at 1605 N. Route 12. Part of the old road into the complex still exists. The longest run was 1,200 feet with a 120-ft vertical drop. Eight ski runs, two double chairlifts and three rope tows were featured at the slopes which faced northeast with mostly gentle grades and minimum moguls.
The original operators tended to exaggerate the snow conditions and facilities which must have disappointed visitors and caused a low attendance. By fall of 1975 new owners made $100,000 worth of additions and alterations to the ski lodge and changed the name to Lost Valley. By conceding that it was a novice-intermediate area, it hoped to induce more attendance, as Wilmot Mountain wasn't far away for more expert skiers. Lift tickets cost $6.50 with a day-night package of $8.
Even though it was a small place, it had a "bigtime atmosphere" according to a 1978 Ski magazine article. It became famous for live entertainment and nightly dancing, an excellent gourmet restaurant and a hot food cafeteria. There was also a game room, a rental shop and a ski school. A team of 22 instructors taught beginning, intermediate and advanced skiing techniques.
Buddy Rich, Stan Kenton, Mercer Ellington (son of Duke) and other big bands played there. There was a steak house on one side of the building and a seafood restaurant on the other. Two bars and room for 200 people with a large stage for the bands were located upstairs. Bands played to packed houses from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. each night. An orchestra called "That's Entertainment" played a total of 23 instruments with a repertoire that spanned fifty years. They created a new dance step call the Slalom Stomp, that swept "skiers off their feet". Dancers slid from side to side, waving their arms wildly to standing room only crowds.
Then came the disco era... 184 kinds of beer were served at the main bar. In 1979 and 1980, Gary Miller ran the whole operation for a bank in Chicago and he recalls they were overdrawn by about $150,000 when the bank finally said enough and it was closed.
In 1994 a final plat was approved for the Fox Woods subdivision, with 28 lots zoned E-1, (Estate Residential one-acre minimum), that included the ski lodge on lot 27. Homes were built and moved into, but the old ski lodge remained vacant and in deteriorating condition.
In 1997, new owners of the lodge appeared before the Zoning Board with a request to open a restaurant in the building, but because of parking and traffic concerns, the request was turned down by the Village Board. They came back the next year requesting a Special Use Permit to open a day care center, but that idea was also turned down.
Over the years, after changing hands and going in and out of foreclosure, the old ski lodge got enough repairs by an out-of-town owner that it was saved from demolition. One or two remnants of the chairlifts can still be seen today on the sloping hills, other reminders of cold winter nights, skiing, big bands, and disco balls.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
