Community News
Benld tables plans to implement e-pay for water bills
Susan Tiburzi asked the Benld City Council for permission to place the Little Free Library and a consensus on where it should be located.
A month after voting to enter into contracts that would allow local water customers to pay their bills online or through automatic deductions, the Benld City Council on Monday night rescinded those actions pending further study of the issue.
“We still have a long way to go with this, in my opinion,” said Mayor Jim Kelly. “I know we had a vote last month. However, a lot has come up since then.” Kelly reported that City Clerk Terri Koyne and Deputy Clerk Gina Frensko had done research since the council’s last meeting and are exploring the possibility of using an application available within the city’s current billing program that would allow the city to offer online and automatic payment options without having to resort to outside vendors.
In February, the council voted 5-1 to spend $2,000 for computer software to offer the payment options to local water customers. The measure included $1,000 for software from CUSI, the company that provides the software the city currently uses to prepare water bills, to enable online bill paying, and $1,000 to prepare National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA) files to enable customers to have their monthly payments automatically deducted from their bank accounts. The council also approved a contract with First National Bank calling for the city to pay $12 per month to have automatic deductions deposited into the city’s bank account.
City Attorney Rick Verticchio advised that February’s action had not yet become law because there was still time for the Mayor to veto it. At Kelly’s request, Ald. Peyton Bernot withdrew his February motion to purchase the software and Ald. Brian Frensko withdrew his second, essentially vacating the action. Kelly said Monday night’s action will delay implementation but reaffirmed he still wants move forward with providing the payment options for city water customers.
[pullquote]This is going to put it off a little bit, but when we do it, I want it to be done right.[/pullquote]
“This is going to put it off a little bit,” he said, “but when we do it, I want it to be done right.”
He referred the issue back to committee with an eye toward future action. City officials expect to conduct a telephone poll in the coming month to determine the actual level of interest among water customers for having the expanded payment options available.
LITTLE FREE LIBRARY
Without taking formal action, the council agreed to give permission for Susan Tiburzi and Kim Link, teachers at Ben-Gil Elementary School, to locate a “Little Free Library” next to a park bench in front of Benld City Hall. Tiburzi, who is acting as the Little Library’s “steward”, said she and Link had secured a grant through the federal Title education program to establish two Little Free Libraries—one in Gillespie and one in Benld. She said she was asking for permission to place the library and a consensus on where it should be located. There is no cost to the city.
“I’m hoping we can come up with a place for it,” she said. “That’s my goal.”
The Little Free Library foundation is a non-profit international organization that assists communities with establishing Free Little Libraries of their own. Since the inception of the program in 2009, more than 50,000 Free Little Libraries have been established in communities throughout the United States as well as in more than 25 foreign countries, including Canada, Spain, France, Australia and the Netherlands. Registered Free Little Libraries are eligible to be included on a Little Free Library World Map accessible at littlefreelibrary.org.
[pullquote]I wanted to get Benld on that map.[/pullquote]
“That’s one of the reasons I wanted to do this,” Tiburzi said. “I wanted to get Benld on that map.”
A Little Free Library basically is a community book exchange where patrons can take a book to read and leave a book for other patrons to take.
“It’s not just for children,” she said. “It belongs to the whole town.” In addition to books for all ages, the facility will have magazines and other publications available for exchange.
In addition to encouraging reading and the exchange of books, Tiburzi said the program will foster community involvement.
For the local program, Tiburzi said the Alton Telegraph donated two retired newspaper boxes that she and Link repainted and decorated for use as a Little Free Library Box. She said a “grand opening” for the Little Library is planned for 3 to 4 p.m., Saturday.
CONTRATTO BUILDING
Mayor Kelly asked the City Property Committee to look into the cost of hiring an architect or engineer to determine the feasibility of razing the back of the Contratto Building on Central Avenue while leaving the street-facing facade in place. The building is the focus of a potential condemnation but the city has not yet acted to take possession of the nuisance property. City Attorney Verticchio said a Macoupin County Judge has continued the case to the end of the year, but the city must make a determination regarding its intentions before that time. The litigation has been ongoing for about three years.
Kelly suggested having an architect look at the facade to see if it can be cost-effectively salvaged while demolishing the rear of the building.
“Then we can decide what we are going to do,” he said. The demolition, if the city decides to proceed, would have to be done by a demolition specialists who is bonded to perform such work, Kelly said.
[pullquote]Leaving the facade intact “would look better than leaving a big hole there”[/pullquote]
Leaving the facade intact “would look better than leaving a big hole there,” Ald. Teresa Tucker commented.
The committee is expected to get proposals from several architects who also are licensed for engineering to determine the cost of hiring an architect and the cost of having the demolition done.
“We need a starting point and that starting point may be enough to put us out of the business,” Kelly noted.
Ald. Bernot asked Verticchio is the city could refile its nuisance complaint at a later date if the cost of demolition is cost prohibitive.
“Yes,” Verticchio replied.
“We have to do something,” Bernot said. “The roof (of the building) is in the basement.”
SEWER GRANT SURVEY
Council members approved exceeding $500 if necessary for postage for self-addressed, stamped envelopes to accompany a mail survey to be sent to residents within areas affected by a proposed $600,000 sewer improvement project. To qualify for a Community Development and Assistance Program grant, the city must document that more than half the residents in the areas that will benefit from the project are low to middle-income households. The city has until fall of this year to apply for the grant but hopes to have the income survey completed this spring.
City officials may survey households door-to-door if the mail survey fails to yield enough responses. A legal notice to be published this week confirms that the income data provided by residents is confidential and cannot be accessed through Freedom of Information Act requests.
Mayor Kelly said a first step toward authorizing the project will be determining whether or not the city qualifies for the grant, which will cover 75 percent of the project’s cost.
“Let’s see if we’re qualified first,” he said. “Then we will have to do some soul searching to decide if we want to go ahead with this.”
Last month, Jesse Maynard of Henry, Meisenheimer and Gende Engineers, told council members that the tentative project would include replacing two sewer lines on the northeast side of the city, renovating two lift stations on Hickory and Chestnut streets and upgrading 20 manholes.
ITS BIKE TRAIL
The council took under advisement a resolution of support for the ITS Bike Trail. The issue will be placed on the agenda for the council’s April meeting. Bill Vogt, a member of the ITS Trail Committee, appeared before the council to ask for the city’s support in developing an extension of the ITS Trail from Staunton to Benld and linking with the Benld-Gillespie Bike Trail. The trail already has been developed from Edwardsville to Staunton.
Vogt said the Committee has been working on the project since 2006 but is renewing its effort because some of the previous obstacles, primarily with the railroad along whose right of way the trail will run, appear to be nearing resolution.
“We’re not giving up,” he said. “We’re still trying.”
The council approved a similar resolution in 2006.
“We’re not asking for anything other than your support,” Vogt said.
In a related matter, the council tabled action on approving a project to reseal the city’s portion of the Benld-Gillespie Bike Trail. Mayor Kelly said the City of Gillespie reportedly is working on an application for an Illinois Department of Natural Resources grant to subsidize part of the cost.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the council:
- Approved the purchase of a third Panasonic Toughbook laptop computer to be installed in a city police car at a cost of about $900. The council previously approved purchase of two similar computers for the Police Department’s other two squad cars.
- Approved the purchase of a rebuilt pump from Missouri Machinery and Equipment to be installed in the sewer lift station on Locust Street at Siepp Street. Rebuilding an existing pump would have cost in excess of $6,000, Ald. Brian Frensko reported, because of the age of the pump.
- Approved the expenditure of $550 for three water meter stands from Midwest Meters. The equipment has already been purchased, but Mayor Kelly explained that officials initially thought the purchase would come in below the $500 threshold requiring council approval.
- Referred to committee the issue of purchasing three new, steel double-doors for the Civic Center. Ald. Frensko reported he had a bid for replacing all three doors, but Ald. Bernot suggested the council might not want to replace all three at once and that the city might be able to buy the doors for less money online. A representative of R.P. Lumber is expected to meet with committee members to discuss specifications for the doors, after which the committee is expected to make a recommendation to the full council. Mayor Kelly noted that the door replacement project is not urgent now that winter weather is no longer an issue, but the doors should be replaced before fall.
- Agreed to seek bids for removing a tree on the city boulevard on Eighth Street. Ald. Bernot suggested getting bids for removing several trees at a time rather than bidding removals piecemeal on a monthly basis. “I have no problem getting bids for several at a time,” Kelly said. “But we have to be careful with money.” The council also approved paying a $600 bill from removing a downed tree following a recent storm.
- Referred to committee the issue of whether to repair or replace a fence around a basketball court at Veterans Memorial Park. The committee is expected to make a recommendation to the full council at a later date.
Comments
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.
Comments
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.”
Comments
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.
