April 28, 2021
Dear Village Resident,
MCCC Public Zoom Meeting 2 - May 12 at 6:00 pm!

Mark your calendars for the next McHenry County Connection public meeting for the new pedestrian, bicycle, and trails master plan which will be held on May 12 at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom. They have taken all the feedback they received and are now making route, location, and facility recommendations and want your opinion!

To register for the meeting, use this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_C2XBXDKdQEKcbsc4V8Kk0A. If you can't make it, you can still register after the meeting is over to watch it. You can also submit questions ahead of time or email Emily Daucher here.
 
We hope you can attend!

Mark Eisenberg
Village President
Fun Learning with Your Dog at WAGs
If you're looking for something fun to learn with your dog and want to build a better relationship with your pooch, WI-IL Agility Group (WAG), has openings in these classes: Trick Dog and AKC STAR Puppy on Tuesdays, Canine Good Citizen on Wednesdays & Thursdays and Relationship Building for Better Behavior on Thursdays. The next session starts the week of May 2 for 8 weeks. For more info on these and other classes or to register, visit their website here. Like them on Facebook! Located at 2807 Rt. 12.
Spring Cleaning Recycling Event
McHenry County residents can bring their old documents, clean Styrofoam, textiles, light bulbs and electronic recyclables to McHenry County College, 8900 U.S. Route 14 in Crystal Lake, on May 22 from 9:00 a.m. to noon. View more information on electronics recycling at this event here. Residents can also call Flood Brothers to pick-up e-waste. Flood Brothers has a $12 charge for each TV.
Blood Drive Today!
The Spring Grove Fire District is sponsoring a blood drive today, April 28, from 1:30 - 6:30 p.m. To schedule an appt., call Carrie at 815-271-2910 or visit www.versiti.org/IL. View the flyer here with additional information. Make sure to eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of water prior to your donation!
Photo of the Week
A beautiful Magnolia at Night taken by Paul Fionda in the Oak Valley Estate Subdivision. If you have a photo of Spring Grove you would like to share, email it here.
2021 Summer Recreation Guide Brochure
The Summer Recreation Brochure is now available! View the Rec brochure with exciting new programs and old favorites! Download full-page registration form. Sign up now for the Mighty Mites t-ball, an exciting five-week program for boys and girls. Volunteer coaches are needed! View the registration form for t-ball.
Tulip Festival Open
The new Tulip Festival is open seven days a week from 11:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. (the gift shop stays open until 8:00 p.m.). There will be thousands of tulips blooming. They anticipate being open through Mother's Day, but Mother Nature will determine how many days the tulips bloom. Air temperature and sunshine are two of the determining factors. View more information with all the fun activities here!
Lou Malnati's Pizza Fundraiser Runs thru Saturday
The SG Fire Explorer Post's Lou Malnati’s Pizza Fundraiser runs until May 1. Purchase a coupon for $13.00 for a 9” frozen pizza to be redeemed at any Lou’s location. Cash or checks accepted (payable to: Spring Grove Explorer Post 1800). Coupons will be delivered at a later date. Please call the fire station at 815-675-2450 or stop by! Located at 8214 Richardson Road.
COVID-19 Vaccine - New Information
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McHenry County residents 16 and older are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. There are multiple ways you can receive the COVID-19 vaccine, including Regional Healthcare Systems, Retail Pharmacies, Mass Vaccination Sites, and Local Community Health Centers. View links to all of these options here: https://bit.ly/MCDHCOVIDVaxLoc.

Please note that 16 &17 year olds are only eligible for the Pfizer vaccine and must sign up for this vaccine when making their appointment. A parent/guardian will need to be present and proof of birth date will need to be shown. 

The Illinois Department of Health has FAQs regarding COVID-19 vaccinations. View information about getting tested here. View more information here.
COVID-19 Update
Face Mask 2
The CDC said this week that it's safe for fully vaccinated people to go outdoors without face coverings in many situations, with the exception of events with large crowds. Illinois will be updating their guidance to be in line with the CDC's new mask guidance. Previously Illinois required masks outdoors whenever people weren't able to maintain at least 6 feet of distance. The CDC guidelines say those who are at least two weeks past their final shot don't need to wear masks when attending small outdoor gatherings, even if unvaccinated people are also present.

Illinois should be moving into the Bridge Phase between Phases 4 and 5 of the Restore Illinois Plan; however, increasing cases and hospitalizations, combined with decreasing ICU bed availability has put those plans on indefinite hold.
 
Fully vaccinated people can travel within the U.S. without getting tested or quarantining, according to new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control. You should still wear a face covering, socially distance and avoid crowds.

If you have health questions, call the COVID-19 hotline at 800-889-3931 or email questions here.
Blast from the Past - St. Mary's Mission
The church was located next to the Spring Grove Cemetery at 1813 Main Street bottom right of map
The front doors to St. Mary's Mission
Rev. Peter Arvedson
Robert Richardson
Last week we learned the story of the Methodist Church at 8102 Blivin Street that was built in 1872. Just a year later, the construction of St. Mary's Mission began at 1813 Main Street (the first services of this Episcopal Church were held in 1868 in the schoolhouse) and officers were appointed, including Robert Richardson and Robert Tweed. John Sutton of Solon Mills was the builder. Although the church was located next to the Spring Grove Cemetery, it was not affiliated with it, as the cemetery had its start in the 1840s.

In 1876, Reverend Peter Arvedson wrote, "At St. Mary's Mission, Bliven Mills, we have at last finished our little church, 22 x 40, cost of the whole about $1,300. We have been three years building, going slow but very sure." The list of donations included fine linen, a communion set, new carpet and monetary contributions from Wm. G. Hibbard and C.R. Larrabee of Chicago, to help "procure the nice stained glass windows". Robert Richardson also donated money and much of the interior embellishments.

Rev. Arvedson had 12 children and lived in Algonquin. He would farm during the week and drive a circuit on the weekends, holding services twice a month in the little church. He died in 1880 at the age of 58 and other visiting pastors held services infrequently through 1894. The last entry in the church's registry was from Bishop C.P. Anderson, who wrote on Easter Monday in 1900, "Mr. Robert Esh called on me...and explained the condition [of the church] and the prospects for renewing work there." That year, the newspaper reported, "The Catholics of this community have purchased and taken possession of the Episcopal church."

In 1912, Nicholas Weber purchased the church. It was dismantled and he built a Dutch Colonial on the site in 1913. Nick saved some pieces of the church including the church railings, which he used on his porch for a while, and the curved front doors (seen above). Alice Weber, wife of Paul Weber, and Nick's daughter-in-law, donated the doors and railing to the McHenry County Historical Society in 1976. No photo of the church exists that we know of.
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