Village clerk earns board's praise

Sugar Grove village clerk Cynthia Welsch holds a public position but prefers staying out of the spotlight.

She was the center of attention, however, at the beginning of last week's board meeting when she accepted the gratitude of the village trustees, along with a beautiful fall bouquet, for her work organizing Sugar Grove's 50th anniversary celebration, held Sept. 7-8.

It was a brief moment, considering the months of work she put in.

"I'm generally the one planning the surprises, but they really surprised me this time," Welsch said.

Welsch said that planning and coordinating the special event was part of her job, but admitted she put in extra hours.

"It was fun, and very special," she added. "We had a great core committee. I had heard horror stories about groups like this infighting, but I was really pleased. We didn't have any arguments."

The core committee included Janet Backus, Robert Carroll, Tina Cella, Linda Ebinger, Bobbi Erdmann, Pat Graceffa, Marianne McNulty, Donald and Theresa Meisinger, Kadie O'Connor, Karen Pritchard and Gerald Swatek.

The two-day celebration included a mock drive-in theater, an old-timers breakfast, children's games, arts and crafts, dance and hula hoop contests and lots of music from the 1950s. Sugar Grove was incorporated as a village in 1957.

Welsch also coordinated the creation of historic photo albums and a time capsule, which is temporarily being kept at the village hall until a permanent place is determined.

Senior club welcomes all

It may be called the Elburn Seniors Club but members come from Sugar Grove, Batavia, Yorkville and from the retirement village in Huntley.

"We don't say no to someone who wants to come," said Phyllis Christensen, who helps her husband Don with the duties of club secretary.

The group meets the first Thursday of the month with regular meetings held at the pavilion at Lions Park.

You're welcome to join the group at noon Oct. 4, but please bring a dish to share.

"It's a very nice group of people," Christensen said. "We get together to eat, and some stay for bingo or cards.

"When we have potlucks, some people bring a dish they wouldn't make if they live alone, and a lot of these women are really good cooks."

Christensen says the club has about 90 members and about 50 or 60 usually show up for meetings. Dues are $15 a year.

There is a Thanksgiving dinner in November and the club splurges in December for a holiday dinner at Fishermen's Inn in Elburn. Because dues help pay for the meal, the event is for members only.

The club also travels. There are frequent jaunts to Illinois and Iowa casinos and members can travel to Vermont next month to see the fall foliage.

For information, call Christensen at (630) 466-4495.

The last market

The Sugar Grove Chamber of Commerce's final farmers market will be this Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at John Shields Elementary, 85 S. Main St. It will include produce, eggs, hormone free chicken, pork and beef, plus crafters and businesses booths.

Children's activities will include a train ride, clowns, balloon art, the Big Rock Haunted House Display and Pumpkin painting.

Not-for-profit organizations and vendors are still being welcomed. Call Pat Graceffa at (630) 466-1014.