Community News
Benld Council approves $90,000 MFT street maintenance resolution
Members of the Benld City Council on Monday night voted unanimously to approve a motor fuel tax resolution authorizing expenditures of up to $90,772.65 for next summer’s street maintenance program. The vote followed a brief presentation by Doug Ratermann of HMG Engineers, Carlyle. The new resolution exceeds last year’s by about $16,000, and is subject to final approval by the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Ratermann said one of the few differences between the 2023 resolution and the resolution for 2022 is the proposed inclusion of 4,800 gallons of HFE 300 road oil, which is said to be a superior product for application to road beds that have been disturbed due to construction. He said he included a provision for the product because of street surfaces that were torn up as a result of the city’s extensive sewer improvement project. The resolution also includes a proposal for 8,600 gallons of HFE 150, a more traditional road oil for motor fuel tax projects. Whether or not the city is able to actually use HFE 300 on selected streets will depend upon the Transportation Department’s approval, Ratermann said.
The resolution calls for appropriating $56,226 in motor fuel tax funds, which is less than the $74,000 in motor fuel tax monies appropriated last year. In addition, the proposal includes an appropriation of $34,547 in Rebuild Illinois funds. The Rebuild Illinois money, Ratermann noted, must be spent by the end of next year or go back to the state. A total oil $7,356 is allotted for engineering fees, including on-site supervision.
Similar to an appropriation, the motor fuel tax resolution sets the maximum amount the city can spend on its annual street maintenance program next summer. In actual practice, the cost of the street maintenance program will be less than the amount appropriated.
The resolution approved Monday night includes estimates of $32,250 for 8,600 gallons of HFE 150, $15,600 for $4,000 gallons of HFE 300, $11,000 for 500 tons of seal coat aggregate chips, $13,000 to spread and roll the chips, $2,438 for 125 tons bituminous patching material, and $9,500 for 100 tons of aggregate CA-6 rock.
“This spring, we’ll see how the streets held up over the winter,” Ratermann said, “and start putting together a list of streets, depending on oil prices.”
In other action, the council agreed to buy certificates of deposit with money remaining in the Atrazine Fund, hired a new sewer affluent tester and gave the mayor power to act in hiring a new custodian for the Civic Center.
WATER TOWER PAINTING PROJECT
Following a brief presentation by Justin VonderHaar, also with HMG Engineers, the council voted to seek bids for a project to repaint the city’s water storage tower and to apply for a grant of up to $30,000 to assist in surveying city water customers to document homes served with lead water lines as part of a state-mandated program to locate and replace such lines.
VonderHaar said he had developed bidding specifications for the tower painting project. Bids will be opened at 10 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 15, with the expectation a contract will be awarded on Monday, Dec. 19, during the council’s regular monthly meeting.
Answering a question from Ald. Jerry Saracco, VonderHaar said the project cost is anticipated to come in between $150,000 to $200,000.
VonderHaar said the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency recently announced a grant program to assist eligible municipalities in determining which homes are serviced with lead lines. Lead water lines have been determined to be a hazard to municipal water users because quantities of lead can leach into water customers use for drinking water. To be eligible to apply, more than one-half of a municipality’s households must report low or moderate incomes, which Benld does. The grant money, if awarded, can be used only to pay outside vendors. It cannot be used to pay city employees or acquire equipment for the city.
HMG Engineers serves only one other client that meets the eligibility requirements, VonderHaar said.
“They decided it wasn’t worth the effort because they plan to use their own people for the survey,” VonderHaar said.
VonderHaar seemed to steer the council away from the grant applicattion not only because the city is likely to use city employees to conduct the survey but also because water lines from the water main to the meter have been replaced in recent years. “That eliminates the lines from the main to the meter,” VonderHaar said. “What’s left is from the meter to the home.”
To survey those lines, the city plans to send out questionnaires asking residents to report whether or not they have lead lines in their homes. For households that do not respond, city employees will make door-to-door visits seeking permission to enter the home and inspect water lines. Households that do not respond to the questionnaire and refuse permission to examine lines will be listed as homes with potential lead lines.
“When the replacement project begins, you might dig up a line and find out it’s not lead,” VonderHaar said. “In that case, you cover it up and move on.”
VonderHaar was somewhat critical of the lead water line replacement program because it will force city employees to enter into private homes. “It’s always been the line of demarcation was the meter,” he said. “EPA is basically forcing people into homes and that’s not a good spot.” To avoid controversy and allegations of impropriety, VonderHaar urged the city to send city workers to private homes in pairs.
Despite VonderHaar’s misgivings about the grant program, Ald. Saracco moved to apply for the grant, with a second from Ald. Mickey Robinson. VonderHaar will provide information and documentation to City Clerk Terri Koyne to prepare the grant application.
VonderHaar also reported that Water Treat Technology, Central, sprayed vegetation at the city’s sewage lagoon about six weeks ago and that most vegetation is either dead or dying. The company plans to survey the lagoons next week with a small remote-controlled boat equipped with a sonar device to measure the amount of sludge at the bottom of the lagoon.
“At that point, we’ll know what we’re up against,” VonderHaar said. The lagoons passed an EPA inspection last summer but state officials directed the city to determine the amount of sludge the lagoons are carrying and determine whether or not it needs to be removed. VonderHaar has previously said the expense of dredging could be prohibitive but that it might be possible to use sewage-consuming bacteria to remove the sludge material.
VonderHaar also reported that the city’s extensive sewer improvement program is essentially complete with the only major item left to be done is replacing a control panel for one the system’s lift stations.
NUISANCE PROPERTIES
Following a 35-minute executive session with the City Attorney, the council accepted a bid of $5,800 from Sam Shafer, Jr., Pontoon Beach, to raze and remove a structure on a church-owned property at 311 North Fifth Street. Shafer recently was retained to demolish the old bank building on Central Avenue. One other bid was received from Mark Ranger in the amount of $10,000. Once Shafer has removed the structure, filled in the basement and reseeded the site to grass, a lien will be filed against the property.
Council members also voted unanimously to accept a proposal to purchase property previously deemed a nuisance property at 301 East Central Avenue for $750. Additionally, the city will have to pay about $550 in delinquent property taxes to redeem the property. In the same action, the council agreed to declare the property as surplus and offer it for sale to the qualified bidder submitting the highest bid.
The council also voted unanimously to declare the former Gay Hardware building at 409 East Central Avenue as a public nuisance. The building, owned by Catherine Young of White City, has been the focus of discussion for the past several months after the city cited Young for building’s condition. Young has made several appearances before the council to report on her progress in dealing with the structure. Last month, she told the council she had decided to raze the building but was non-committal about a timeline.
“She’s strung us along long enough,” said Ald. John Balzraine, who moved to formally declare the building a nuisance and have the City Attorney contact Young by letter.
CITY REPORTS
Council members voted unanimously to approve the recommendation of Ald. Saracco, Finance Committee Chair, to invest about $270,000 from the Atrazine Fund in four-month, eight-month and 12-month certificates of deposit. Saracco said the city will earn upward of 4.7 percent in interest by investing in CDs, which exceeds what the city currently earns.
Ald. Balzraine, City Property Chair, reported that he Ald. Saracco, Ed Saracco and J.O. Kelly recently used a trailer loaned by Mayor Jim Kelly to travel to St. Louis to purchase an additional 175 white folding chairs for the newly remodeled Civic Center. Balzraine said the city used a $2,000 donation from Nicholas Saracco and a $2,300 donation from the Italian Club of Benld to make the purchase. With the 75 chairs initially purchased with a donation from the Build Benld organization, the city now has a full complement of 250 chairs for the Civic Center.
Mayor Kelly reported that he recently met with Gillespie city officials regarding the city’s contract with Gillespie to provide police protection. Gillespie is urging communities that currently contract with Gillespie for police services to contact state representatives and senators about the possibility of forming a police district which would have the ability to levy property taxes to pay for police protection services. Communities currently contracting for police protection from Gillespie include Benld, East Gillespie, Eagarville, Sawyerville and Mount Clare.
PERSONNEL
The council voted unanimously to contract with Robert Risley, owner of Water Treat Technology, Central, to test sewage effluent to comply with EPA requirements after Mayor Kelly reported that the city’s former tester, Ethan Martin has resigned, effective at the end of November. Ridley agreed to provide his services for $576 per test, including mileage, which is less than what the city was paying.
The council also gave the Mayor power to act on hiring a new custodian for the Civic Center after accepting the resignation of Tom Turifliatto, who has cleaned the facility for the past several years.
In other personnel action, the council approved Christmas bonuses of $125 for full-time employees and $75 for part-time employees, which are the same amounts given to employees last year.
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Ye Olde Christmas is the theme of the Macoupin County Historical Society’s annual Christmas Show, which will be held Friday through Sunday, December 5–7, at the John C. Anderson Home and Museum, 920 West Breckenridge in Carlinville.
“The Christmas Show is one of the most magical times to visit the Anderson Home,” said MCHS Board Member and House Manager Brandy England. “Some families make it an annual Christmas tradition to visit the Anderson Home when it is decorated for Christmas. It’s a great opportunity to get into the Christmas spirit and pick up some ideas for decorating your own home for the holidays.”
MCHS member Kendra Mize, of Bunker Hill, who has coordinated the decorating effort for more than two decades, has again marshalled a small army of volunteers to decorate all 13 rooms of the home. Each room features a themed Christmas tree, along with mantle pieces, centerpieces, tabletop decor, garlands and florals, and other special touches.
The home will be open for self-guided tours from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, December 5; from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, December 6; and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, December 7.
“We’re very excited to offer for the first time candlelight tours from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday,” said Shawna Ashby, who serves as a co-manager with England. “Viewing the decorated home by candlelight promises to be a magical experience.”
The final candlelight tours on Friday and Saturday start at 7:30 p.m. Admission to the home is five dollars for adults and one dollar for children ages five to 12, with four-year-olds and younger admitted free of charge.
The Anderson Home Gift Shop will be open during tour hours, offering one-of-a-kind gift items and stocking stuffers. Santa Claus will be on hand in the downstairs parlor to greet children and listen to their Christmas wishes from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 6.
While the decorated home is the centerpiece of the Christmas Show, several other features on the Historical Society’s grounds will be open. The Red Barn will be open and serving hearty beef stew, chili, homemade pies, and warming holiday beverages such as wassail and hot chocolate on Friday and Saturday.
The General Store and Print Shop will be decorated and open to the public, with the Print Shop offering its popular handmade Christmas cards and other items produced in the shop; kids can print their own blank “Santa List” to keep track of their Christmas wishes.
“The General Store offers unique gift items, including some small antiques, for shoppers to peruse,” England noted.
Local blacksmiths will demonstrate their craft in the MCHS Blacksmith Shop located on the north side of the Historical Society Grounds, with wrought iron gift items, including stocking hooks and decorative pieces, available for purchase.
The Macoupin County Historical Society’s Christmas Show runs concurrently with the Carlinville Christmas Market and Downtown Christmas events, and a free trolley and shuttle buses include the Anderson Home as a regular stop during the festivals, enabling visitors to ride from the square or the Macoupin County Fairgrounds to the Historical Society grounds.
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Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night voted to approve a property tax levy request totaling $3,920,295 for 2025 property taxes payable in 2026. Because of tax caps and other factors, however, the district expects to collect only an estimated $3,786,607 of the requested amount.
In addition to acting on the tax levy, the board also held a lengthy discussion regarding annual district “report cards” issued by the Illinois State Board of Education to assess school performance from last year, approved a high school band/choir performance trip to Chicago in March, and agreed to apply for a school maintenance grant of up to $50,000 in matching funds.
The new proposed levy exceeds last year’s tax extension of $3,599,569 by more than $320,726—an increase of about nine percent if the levy were to be approved at the county level. The more realistic anticipation of $3,786,607 exceeds last year’s extension by $187,038, or an increase of about three percent. A Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL), approved by Macoupin County voters in 1995, restricts increases in the levy to five percent or the federal Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is less. This year’s CPI is estimated at 2.9 percent.
The approved levy seeks $1,650,000 for the Education Fund while expecting to realize $1,653,831; $450,229 for Operations & Maintenance, while anticipating $438,041; $200,000 for Transportation while expecting $180,434; $35,000 for Working Cash while expecting $42,602; $174,700 for the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund while anticipating $117,788; $154,101 for Social Security while expecting $105, 248; $247,264 for Tort while anticipating $240,570; and $33,501 for Special Education while expecting $32,593. For Bond and Interest, which is not subject to PTELL, the district is levying $975,500 while anticipating the same amount.
Local property tax revenue accounts for about 20 percent of the district’s overall annual budget.
Because the levy request exceeds 105 percent of the previous year’s extension, a public hearing is required. That hearing is scheduled at the start of the board’s regular December meeting at 6 p.m., Monday, Dec. 15. In the meantime, the proposed levy is available for public inspection on the district’s website and in the district office.
Using a PowerPoint presentation, Owsley emphasized the levy request is essentially a wish list for what the district would like to raise through property taxes.
“The levy is the ‘Christmas list’ I talk about every year,” Owsley said. “If you don’t put it on the list, you’re not going to get it.”
Projecting what the district can legally seek under tax caps can be challenging because the district’s total equalized assessed valuation will not be confirmed until after Jan. 1 while state law requires the district to file its levy request before the end of December. For that reason, local school districts routinely file requests that exceed what they actually expect to receive in property tax revenue, and rely on the County Clerk to adjust the request to the maximum amount the district can receive.
“Because of tax caps, we have one shot to capture increases in the EAV and new construction,” Owsley said. “If we don’t do that, we lose it in perpetuity.”
To calculate the new levy, Owsley projected a 15.12 percent increase in the EAV—nearly double the previous year’s rate of increase. By overestimating the EAV growth, the district expects to capture the entire increase in assessed valuation when that number is finally determined.
“Even though we know the EAV will likely be around the historical average, we base our levy on a much higher amount so as not to lose revenue from new growth,” Owsley told the board. “We can do this without running the risk of overtaxing taxpayers because the district will receive no more than what we are entitled to by law.”
Owsley said relatively stable increases in EAV have resulted in a steadily declining tax rate. Since 2014 when the rate was $4.24 per $100 in EAV, the rate has fallen to $3.20 for 2024. In other words, the county can use a lower rate to generate the extension to which the district is entitled because the value of taxable property has increased.
“As long as the EAV goes up by more than the Consumer Price Index, our tax rates are going to go down,” Owsley noted.
SCHOOL DISTRICT REPORT CARDS
The board spent several minutes discussing recently released school report cards issued by the Illinois State Board of Education. Interested persons can view local report cards by visiting https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/.
All three attendance centers received a “Commendable” designation, meaning there are no student groups that are underperforming academically, and the high school graduation rate exceeds 67 percent. Last year, BenGil Elementary School achieved an “Exemplary” designation—the top designation a school can achieve.
Elementary Principal Angela Sandretto said administrators knew the school would not earn an Exemplary rating, even though students are state average in English/language arts, math and science. The Report Card designations are based on growth rather than academic performance. With students already exceeding state standards last year, the opportunity for growth was limited.
Assistant Principal Tara Cooper agreed, noting BenGil Elementary’s student performance is in the upper half of schools statewide that are meeting academic standards. “So, while we are not ‘Exemplary,’ we’re very happy with where we are.”
Supt. Owsley told the board the State Board of Education is working on revamping the assessment system because of the growth vs. performance issue. “That’s why they’re redoing all of this because they are penalizing schools for meeting goals,” he said.
For Gillespie Middle School, the report card shows students meeting or exceeding state averages in math and science but significantly lagging in English/language arts.
“ELA is our most concerning area,” Principal Patrick McGinthy told the board, “along with absenteeism.” The report card shows a chronic absenteeism rate of 25 percent, but Owsley and other administrators said the rate is exacerbated by the State Board of Education including nearly all absences whether or not they are excused.
Rosentreter noted the State Board will allow a student to be absent five days for illness without a doctor’s excuse. On the sixth day, however, the absence is unexcused unless the parent or guardian provides a doctor’s slip. Many parents, however, are reluctant to pay for a doctor’s visit for a child that is suffering from a minor illness.
McGinthy said Middle School teachers are attempting to address the deficiency in English/language arts by increasing writing exercises and requiring students to write in conjunction with other curriculum areas.
Rosentreter noted that the assessment standards for high schools differ from the standards for elementary and middle schools in that the State Board emphasizes graduation rates. For Gillespie, the graduation rate is an impressive 86 percent, though chronic absenteeism checks in at 31 percent.
“Math is definitely our shining star,” Rosentreter said, noting the school scored 17.8 points compared with the state average of 18. The school performed less well in the areas of English/language arts and science, scoring 16 points on ELA compared with the state score of 18 and 17.2 points compared with the state average of 19.
The report cards are based on results for the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) test for elementary and middle school students, and ACT scores for high school students.
Administrators said it’s difficult to motivate students to do well on state-mandated tests since the tests do not affect the student’s grade point average. To incentivize testing, Rosentreter said the high school is offering to let students skip final exams if they hit state standards on the mandated tests.
Owsley noted that the district report card documents the continuing decline in school enrollment—dropping from 1,325 seven years ago to 1,082 for the 2024-25 academic year.
“We don’t see that turning around anytime soon,” Owsley said. “It’s not just a Gillespie thing; it’s a trend for schools throughout Macoupin County.
BAND/CHOIR TRIP TO CHICAGO
Following a presentation by band/choir instructor Brad Taulbee, the board approved a high school band and choir performance tour to Chicago set for March 19-21. Taulbee said the tour company retained for the trip places emphasis on security and safety for traveling students. The company supplements hotel security with its own security personnel to monitor student rooms during the trip.
The tour includes workshop sessions at Vandercook College in downtown Chicago, and performances by the choir at the John Hancock Center and by the band at one of the city’s museums.
Taulbee said he is attempting to keep the cost affordable for participating students. Depending upon the number of students who ultimately go on the trip, he said he expects the cost to be about $739 per person. Additionally, he is lining up sponsors who can help with expenses for students who could not otherwise afford to participate.
“Security is my main concern,” said Board President Mark Hayes. “We just came back from there and seven people were shot in the area we were in.”
Taulbee said he expects to recruit seven to 10 chaperones and will ensure that the ratio of students to chaperones does not exceed 1:10.
SCHOOL MAINTENANCE GRANT
The board concurred with Supt. Owsley’s recommendation to again apply for a state School Maintenance grant of up to $50,000. The grant is a “matching” grant requiring the district to match grant funds dollar for dollar. The district has successfully applied for the grant for the past several years.
If the application is successful, Owsley said the funds will likely be used to remove asbestos-containing floor tiles in the choir room and elsewhere in the Middle School.
PERSONNEL
Following an executive session of about 40 minutes to discuss personnel and other issues, the board voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Tim Wargo as an assistant high school baseball coach and post the position as vacant, and voted to appoint Wargo as the head high school baseball coach for the coming season.
In separate actions, the board approved maternity leaves for Alexis Lupkey, district paraprofessional, and Gear-Up Coordinator Jordan Bartok. Lupkey’s leave is tentatively scheduled from Dec. 8 through March 18. Bartok’s leave is expected from Dec. 12 through Jan.6.
Board members voted unanimously to hire Christopher Whaley as a substitute bus driver, pending a routine background check and documentation of certification.
The board also voted unanimously to terminate Makayla Huff as a three-hour cook and post the position as vacant.
On a motion by Bill Carter, seconded by Weye Schmidt, the board voted unanimously to rehire fall coaches as follows: Jordan Bartok as head high school girls volleyball coach with Shelsie Price, as an assistant coach; Cory Bonstead as head football coach with Nate Henrichs, Jarrod Herron, Korben Clark, Alex Jasper, J.O. Kelly, Billy Gill and Florian Seferi as assistant and volunteer assistant coaches; Jay Weber as head coach for the parent-funded high school cross-country program with Jack Burns as a volunteer assistant coach; Jake Kellebrew as head coach for the parent-funded high school golf program, with Michael Otten as a volunteer assistant coach; Tim Wargo as head middle school baseball coach with Trae Wargo as assistant coach; Michelle Smith as head middle school softball coach with Jim Matesa, Joe Kelly and Melissa Heigert as assistant coaches; and Liz Thackery as head coach for the parent-funded middle school cross-country program with Laura Peterson as a volunteer assistant coach.
DISTRICT FOCUS
During a District Focus segment, Supt. Owsley introduced newly hired School Resource Officer Jacob Linhart, and High School Principal provided a report with photos of a recent school-wide Veterans Day observance.
Linhart, who has served five years as a police officer on the Gillespie Police Department, replaces Wade Hendricks, who recently retired after serving three years as the CUSD 7 School Resource Officer.
Linhart said it is a “great privilege” to serve as a Resource Officer, protecting students and staff. “I’m honored that you guys are allowing me to do it,” he said.
High School Principal Rosentreter said the school served breakfast to about 200 veterans and their families Tuesday morning, Nov. 11. Later, the veterans were joined by nearly 700 high school and middle school students for a recognition ceremony in the high school gymnasium.
Since the event coincided with the 25th anniversary of CUSD 7’s Wall of Honor program, the annual event did double duty as an induction ceremony for five are individuals, all of whom happened to be U.S. Military veterans.
The inductees included the late Sergeant Major John Marion Malnar, Command Sergeant Major John “Jack” Burns, Colonel Mark Daley, Lieutenant Colonel William P. Falke and Captain Robert Leone. Rosentreter said Daley and Leone traveled with their families from Colorado and Texas, respectively, to attend the ceremonies.
Burns, a retired CUSD 7 teacher, later visited BenGil Elementary School to present a program and teach students how to properly fold an American flag.
Rosentreter recognized the City of Gillespie for a donation of $1,000 to help purchase food for the veterans.
Born in Benld and a resident of Sawyerville, “Big John” Malnar earned a Silver Star during the Korean Conflict and a Gold Star, awarded posthumously after he was killed in action in 1968 in Vietnam. A Marine training center at Camp Geiger in North Carolina is named in his honor.
Though not a Wall of Honor inductee, Jacob Miller, a 100-year-old World War II veteran and recipient of two Purple Hearts, was recognized with a standing ovation.
The annual Veterans Day breakfast and ceremony provides students with an opportunity to meet and recognize local veterans as potential role models for their own futures.
Owsley said the event is a major event on the district’s calendar which grew out of a simple flagpole ceremony initiated 25 years ago.
CEJA GRANT FUNDS
Board members briefly discussed plans for about $74,000 in anticipated Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) grant funds. The federal program is intended to compensate communities that have experienced revenue loss as a result of coal mine closures.
Owsley said the district committed about $86,000 in last year’s CEJA grant funds to the City of Gillespie to help pay for improvements to Plum Street, which is heavily used by district school buses. He has not transferred those funds, however, pending the start of the project.
Owsley said he was seeking the board’s input on how the money should be used.
“We could continue to partner with the city on Plum Street,” he said. “But there are plenty of project areas within the school.” The money could be used, for example, for continuing asbestos abatement. He identified other upcoming needs, including a new roof for the high school/middle school and an HVAC project.
President Hayes pointed out the school district paid for improvements to Kelly Street when BenGil Elementary was built and subsidized a project to reconfigure drainage on Broadway Street, in addition to the dollars committed for Plum Street.
“The school district is not in the business of building roads,” he said. “I think we’ve been more than generous with the city.”
Board member Peyton Bernot agreed the money should be committed for use by the school district.
TRIPLE I CONFERENCE
Several board members who attended a conference for board members and administrators Friday-Saturday, Nov. 21-23, in Chicago, commented briefly about their take-aways from conference sessions. Popularly known as the Triple I Conference, the convention is sponsored by the Illinois Association of School Boards, Illinois Association of School Administrators and the Illinois Association of School Business Officials.
Owsley said more than 700 Illinois school districts were represented, making the Triple I the largest gathering of education professionals in North America.
Bernot briefly reported on a session he attended regarding upcoming legislation and financial outlooks for school districts. He described the session as “much less optimistic” than sessions he’s attended in the past.
Owsley was among the convention presenters, discussing social-emotional learning. He commented that several districts attending reported efforts to involve students in school administrators. Some districts, he said, appointed a non-voting student representative to the school board to take part in discussions directly affecting students.
“When you think about it, we hear from faculty members and we hear from parents,” Hayes commented. “The people we don’t hear from are the most important part of what we do.”
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The Holiday Sparkle Committee of Gillespie is preparing for the 4th Annual Holiday Sparkle Lighted Parade and Community Tree Lighting, set for Sunday, November 30, at 6:00 p.m. in downtown Gillespie. This beloved community tradition invites residents and visitors to kick off the holiday season with lights, music, and festive cheer.
Food trucks will line the parade route starting at 4:00 p.m., offering a variety of tasty options for families to enjoy before and during the celebration. The event will culminate in the illuminated parade and the ceremonial lighting of the community tree, signaling the official start of the season’s celebrations.
A highlight of this year’s festivities will be a special performance by Gillespie area students in grades 3 through 5. The group will join together to sing Christmas carols, lending their voices to the town’s joyous welcome to the holidays.
Parade participants are invited to bring extra sparkle to the evening—whether by entering a parade float, walking in the parade, or simply attending to enjoy the atmosphere. Participation helps make the event truly magical for the entire community. The only requirement for the parade is all entries have to incorporate holiday lighting.
To join the parade lineup, interested participants can sign up at https://forms.gle/L7Q4tEkgjj8Lt5E47. The Holiday Sparkle Committee expresses gratitude for the ongoing support of residents, businesses, and volunteers who help bring this festive occasion to life each year.
The second part of the holiday festivities will take place on Saturday, December 13 when the Sparkle will sponsor the vendor fair and food trucks in downtown Gillespie including a visit from Santa. Vendors will be located in the Gillespie Civic Center, Zion Lutheran Church, and Emma G’s Upscale Boutique while local businesses and eateries will also be open. An egg nog jog benefitting Gillespie Cross Country will also be held on December 13 and interested participants can join here.
The Holiday Sparkle Committee invites everyone to mark their calendars and join in the celebration. For more information, please contact the committee by email at gillespieholidaysparkle@gmail.com or visit Gillespie Holiday Sparkle on Facebook.
