Sugar Grove scales back 'Holiday in the Grove'
The 2007 Holiday in the Grove, which takes place Saturday in Sugar Grove, will be scaled back this year.
No activities are scheduled at Kaneland John Shields Elementary School. Most of the festivities are from 7:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Sugar Grove Community House, 141 Main St.
"We decided to cut back this year," said PTO vice president Mary Elliott, who noted that many of the expenses are paid by the group. "We're about making it warm and fuzzy for the children.
"We very much want to keep this spirited community event going, and we would appreciate the community stepping up to help. We want to open up the planning committee to people and groups outside of the PTO."
This year's event will not include the holiday bazaar where children in past years could shop for gifts for their families.
But you can expect to enjoy many of the other activities that have become a Sugar Grove holiday tradition.
At the community house:
Four seatings are available for Breakfast with Santa, beginning at 7:15 a.m. Members of the Sugar Grove Fire Department will prepare pancakes, sausage and scrambled eggs. Visit www.ptolive.com to register.
If you miss breakfast, a lunch of hot dogs, soda and chips will be available at 11 a.m., provided by the American Legion.
Magician David Fleming will perform at 11:30 a.m. Sleigh rides begin at noon in front of the community house.
Children can create photo album gifts by scrap-booking under the guidance of Jill Konrad beginning at 12:30 p.m. This event requires registration. To register, call Konrad at (630) 466-8413.
And don't forget to stop in at Mrs. Santa's Sweet Shoppe, where members of the United Methodist Church will be selling homemade pies, cakes, cookies and fudge.
At Bliss House
Holiday in the Grove includes a stop at Bliss House, and visitors are invited to tour the 1840 home between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. It is on Main Street south of the railroad tracks.
Guests can sample sweet breads and mulled tea while enjoying holiday songs sung by Judy Swanson. Holiday breads will be on sale.
There will be a raffle drawing for a handmade quilt by Vickie Frantz at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at Bliss House for $5 each or five for $20.
Local author Pat Mighell Paxton will sign her book. The book -- "in-Qua-Sip, a history of Sugar Grove" -- will be available for $24. It can also be purchased at the Sugar Grove Library.
At the library
The Sugar Grove Library, at Snow and Main streets, will host "Coffee with the Mayor" from 9 to 11 a.m. Village president Sean Michels, Village Trustee Robert Bohler and David Burroughs, of the Sugar Grove Chamber of Commerce, will be on hand to answer questions. Residents are invited to join an informal discussion and have a cup of coffee or hot chocolate, and a doughnut.
Library Director Beverly Holmes Hughes will also be present to discuss plans for the new library.
Plus, the library is having a scholastic book sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.