💃Dance Recitals, Miracle Worker, and a Live Nativity

SPONSORED BY

Happy Saturday morning, Princeton. Especially all those wonderful young ladies who participated in last evening’s Holiday Dance Recital with Main Street Dance Academy at the High School. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year!

Let’s go.

—Justin Bullington

📬IN THIS ISSUE

💡What You Should Know
🎄The Christmas Walk
☀️Princeton Weather
⛽️Princeton Gas Prices
🏆Princeton Person of the Week
💼Princeton Businesses
🦅The Miracle Worker
📍Outside City Limits
🍗Free Thanksgiving Dinner
🔭A Look Ahead
📖Letter from Lori

💡WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

• Princeton Tourism: Princeton is hosting several festive events this season, starting with the Christmas Walk Weekend from November 22–24 and Small Business Saturday on November 30. Enjoy the Christmas Light Drive-Thru from November 29–December 25, along with Princeton’s “Night of Lights” on December 6. Don’t miss the Christmas Craft & Vendor Show and History Center Open House, both on December 14.

• The 1st Presbyterian Church will host its annual Live Nativity on Friday, December 13, from 5 PM to 7 PM. Stop by to experience this beautiful tradition.

• City of Princeton: City offices will close at 3:00 PM on Wednesday, November 27, and remain closed through Friday, November 29, for Thanksgiving. Thursday garbage will be collected on Monday, December 2, and Friday garbage on Tuesday, December 3, with regular routes for December 2 and 3 unchanged. Note that Thanksgiving week is not a recycle pick-up week, and there will be no yard waste collection.

• Santa Claus will visit the Princeton Firehouse on Tuesday, December 17, from 6 PM to 8 PM. Families are invited to meet Santa and enjoy this special holiday event.

• The fresh pies at this small-town bakery are totally worth the drive!

• Support the Bureau County Farm Bureau Fill a Ford Food Drive on November 30

• The “Home for the Holidays” Christmas Craft & Vendor Show and Gift Sale will take place on Saturday, December 14, from 9 AM to 2 PM at 811 West Peru Street. For more information, visit www.bureaucountyfair.com or call 815-866-3606—vendor spaces are already sold out.

• Join the Thanksgiving Day Family Turkey Trot at Zearing Park on Thursday, November 28, starting at 8 a.m. Participants can walk, jog, or run the one-mile course to kick off the holiday with a healthy activity. Registration costs $5 per individual or $10 per family for Princeton residents and $7 per individual or $12 per family for non-residents; sign up at the front desk or call 815-872-0804.

🎄THE CHRISTMAS WALK

Experience the magic of the season this weekend at Princeton’s Christmas Walk! Stroll through the beautifully decorated downtown, enjoy horse-drawn carriage and trolley rides, shop local for unique gifts, and take part in caroling and special events: stop into the Prouty Building for Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce Greenery Sales, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and hot chocolate and cookies from 11 AM–2 PM on November 23-24; visit Open Prairie Church’s annual Christkindlmarkt from 9:30 AM–3 PM; and explore the Handmade for the Holidays Artisan Market at the Prairie Arts Center Gallery from 10 AM–3 PM on November 23-24.

☀️PRINCETON WEATHER

🌤️Today: Partly cloudy skies will turn mostly sunny by the afternoon, with a high of 45°F. Winds will come from the northwest at 10 to 15 mph. Overnight, the skies will remain mostly cloudy, and temperatures will drop to 34°F. Winds will be light, blowing from the west at 5 to 10 mph.

☁️Tomorrow: Cloudy skies dominate the day with a high of 56°F and winds coming from the south at 10 to 15 mph. During the evening, partly cloudy skies will gradually turn cloudy overnight. Temperatures will fall to a low of 39°F with light winds from the southeast at 5 to 10 mph. A mild day overall with calm conditions expected at night.

⛅️Monday: The day will be partly cloudy, reaching a high of 45°F, with light winds from the south-southwest at 5 to 10 mph. Overnight, the skies will remain mostly cloudy, and temperatures will drop significantly to 23°F. Winds will shift to come from the east-northeast at 5 to 10 mph. Expect a chilly and calm night under overcast skies.

Weekend Clouds, Cooler Week Ahead

Saturday and Sunday are expected to feature a combination of clouds and sunshine, with cloud cover increasing later on Sunday. Next week may turn more unsettled, with the potential for at least a mix of rain and snow affecting parts of the area on Monday. Wednesday, Thursday, and even Saturday might bring additional chances for snowfall. Highs will peak in the mid-40s on Saturday, briefly climbing to the 50s on Sunday. By Monday, temperatures will slide back to the 40s, with cooler mid to upper 30s settling in from Tuesday through Friday.

⛽️PRINCETON GAS PRICES

Regular

Amoco, 720 N Main St: $3.19
Sullivan’s Foods: $3.26
Casey’s West/North: $3.29
Beck’s West/North: $3.29
Road Ranger, N Main St: $3.29
Shell, 2225 N Main St: $3.29

Peru Gas 👀

Sapp Bros.: $2.86

🏆PRINCETON PERSON OF THE WEEK

Did someone go the extra mile? Did a Princeton Person bless you or someone else you know? Nominate them, give me the details, and they may be chosen as the Princeton NOW Person of the Week. Nominate your Princeton Person of the Week by emailing your nomination to [email protected].

🔒PRINCETON NOW PREMIUM

• Princeton NOW Premium subscribers receive:

  🚫Ad free

  ❤️Local Obituaries

  🚔Arrests

  🏡Property Transfers

  🔍Health Department Food Inspections

  💍Marriages

  🏛️Board and City Council Meeting Summaries

  ⏫Upgrade your newsletter today and join 188 others.

💼PRINCETON BUSINESSES #SHOPLOCAL

• Christmas drinks debut today at Bean Buzz just in time for the Christmas Walk. Enjoy festive options like the Hot Gingerbread Latte, Christmas Crunch Frappe, or Peppermint Mocha topped with pink peppermint cold foam and peppermint sugar.

• Sean Philip Bridals is offering deals on sample wedding gowns ($99-$999), prom dresses ($69), homecoming gowns ($39), and evening gowns ($69) until December 1.

• The Apollo Theater will launch its BYOB (Bring Your Own Bucket) 2025 T-shirts on Small Business Saturday (today) at 2 PM. These limited-edition shirts, priced at $30–$32, allow moviegoers to enjoy discounted popcorn throughout 2025 during Tuesday promotions. The theater is back to full hours, showing Wicked (PG), Red One (PG-13), and Moana 2 next week, with open-captioned Sunday night shows. Special highlights include Moana 2’s Pajama Premiere Day on Wednesday, with showtimes starting at 1:00 PM.

• Boek-el-ZOO is hosting a Lottery Tree event from now through December 20, with chances to win prizes and tickets available for purchase or through daily specials. Keep your tickets handy as random winning numbers will be drawn throughout the holiday season. Boek-el-ZOO has great gift ideas for snake or reptile lovers, featuring beautiful reptiles ready for adoption this holiday season. Stop by to find the perfect scaly companion and make a unique Christmas memory.

• Sisler’s Ice Cream offers holiday gifts for ice cream lovers, including hoodies, popcorn, and cooler bags. Visit during the Christmas Walk or their regular hours, Tuesday through Saturday from 11 AM to 8 PM, to complete your shopping.

• Have you reserved your spot for Holiday Tea at Wild Ginger Bistro yet? Join them for a festive afternoon on December 8th, 15th, and 22nd (seatings at 11:00, 12:45, and 2:30), featuring beautifully decorated surroundings, delicious three-tiered trays, and special touches to make your visit memorable. Reserve your spot by emailing [email protected], with packages ranging from The Duchess at $33 to The Queen at $47, plus a $17 Children’s Tea option—because everyone, including real men, can enjoy tea!

• Save the date for Flowers by Julia’s Christmas Open House from November 22-24! Enjoy festive shopping hours today (8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.), and Sunday (12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.).

• Stop by The Princeton Closet for winter essentials and holiday gifts! Open today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a wide selection of coats, hats, and jewelry for the season. Donations are accepted Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to help keep the community warm.

• Mardog’s Grooming Room is excited to announce its grand opening. Open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., they offer a variety of grooming services from baths to full grooming packages tailored for all dog sizes. Customers are invited to enjoy exclusive opening-day discounts, giveaways, and treats; for more information, call (563) 239-4899.

• The Bureau County Metro Center is hosting a Nerf event on Friday, December 20, with sessions for K–2nd grade (2:45–3:30 PM), 3rd–5th grade (3:45–4:30 PM), and 6th–8th grade (4:45–5:30 PM). Participants should bring their own launchers, while standard darts and balls will be provided (or bring your own larger ammo if needed). The cost is $10 for members, $15 for residents, and $20 for non-residents.

✉️NEW SUBSCRIBER?

You have access to all previous newsletters: click here to read them.

👉Please, please, please make sure to add the Princeton NOW newsletter email address as a “contact,” “VIP,” or “Whitelist” in your email service. This will prevent it from going to spam or bouncing.

📍OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS

Walk Tiskilwa

The Tiskilwa Historical Society invites everyone to join the festivities at the Christmas Markets in Tiskilwa on Saturday, December 7th, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Attendees can explore local history displays, visit a variety of vendors, and meet Santa Claus. The event will also feature live music, decorated Christmas trees, carriage rides, tours, and opportunities to participate in drawings and raffles. This is a perfect way to kick off the holiday season.

Blue Christmas Event in Sheffield

Sometimes “Merry Christmas” is just not so merry.

You or someone you know may struggle with finding joy this Christmas, because of a recent change or loss due to death, divorce, sickness, or unfortunate and tragic circumstances. The constant refrain on the radio and television, in the shopping malls and churches, about the happiness of the season, about getting together with family and friends, reminds many people of what they have lost. The anguish of broken relationships, the insecurity of unemployment, the weariness of ill health, the pain of isolation - all of these can make us feel very empty in the midst of celebrating and spending. Adding to this blue mood is the darkest day of the year, the winter solstice, which falls on December 21st of 2024.

The Cornerstone Community Wellness Center in Sheffield is offering a Blue Christmas Candlelight Community Service on December 6th, 2024 at 6:30 pm. All are welcome and encouraged to bring a friend.

Come experience a simple time of music, readings, and reflection that acknowledge Emmanuel, God with us, in the midst of hard times. You might be surprised by how many people need this kind of service during the season of Christmas.

The short service will be followed by a brief time of light refreshments and fellowship.

Other news

• The body found near an old mine outside of Cherry, Illinois, has been identified and the death is being investigated as a homicide.

• Coroner Explains Why It Took Some Time To Identify Body Found At Cherry Mine

• Tiskilwa woman to compete in the National Finals Rodeo qualifier

🦅THE MIRACLE WORKER BY PRINCETON CHRISTIAN ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL

The Princeton Christian Academy high school students will present Willam Gibson’s THE MIRACLE WORKER on Friday, November 22 and Saturday, November 23 at 6:30 in the auditorium. The play is the story of how 20-year-old Annie Sullivan miraculously opened the dark world of 7-year-old blind and deaf Helen Keller by teaching her language. Ava Clausen plays the role of Annie Sullivan, and Helen is played by Miriam Bayer. 

Helen’s parents, Captain and Kate Keller are played by Josiah Gale and Brooke Clausen, and her half brother James is played by David Lunger. Aunt Ev is Abigail Freeman, the doctor is Jeremiah Bauer, Viney is Amelia Baker, and children are played by Annalise Baker, Lily Bullington, and Presleigh Morrissey. The play is directed by Marty Kiser. 

The public is invited to these performances to see “the miracle” performed.  A free-will offering will be taken, but no admission will be charged.  Princeton Christian Academy is located two miles northeast of Princeton on US Highway 34 at Princeton Bible Church. 

Family Christmas Portraits

• Cozy Christmas: Snuggle up in your pajamas and enjoy a festive atmosphere with our warm, inviting backdrop.

• Elegant Holiday: Dress to impress and create stunning portraits in front of our Farm Fresh Christmas Tree backdrop.

• Packages starting at $125

Santa’s Magical Adventure with Santa John (Original Santa for returning clients)

• One-on-one time with Santa: Your children will have the chance to chat with Santa, share their Christmas wishes, and receive a gift.

• Story time with Santa: Snuggle up with Santa and enjoy a heartwarming Christmas story together.

• Cookies: No Santa visit is complete without Mrs.Clauses delicious cookies.

• Beautiful, lasting images: Our experienced photographer will capture precious moments of your children's magical Santa experience.

• More than just photos, it's a tradition!

• 30 minutes —$325

🍗FREE THANKSGIVING DINNER

The Evangelical Covenant Church in Princeton along with St. Louis Catholic Church and Christ Community Church will be providing a Free Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday, November 28^th from 11:00 – 1:00 pm.  There will be no dine-in option this year.  The meal consists of turkey, mash potatoes and gravy, stuffing, green beans, dinner roll, and your choice of apple or pumpkin pie.  

 Reservations are required.  Meals will be available for curbside pick-up at the Evangelical Covenant Church located at 24 N. Main St. in Princeton or delivered to your home within a 15-mile radius of Princeton.

 This is our 24^th year in providing a free Thanksgiving Dinner to anyone who wishes to have a meal.  To register for a meal, curbside or delivery, visit www.eccprinceton.org/Thanksgiving or call Tad Smith at 815-878-5473 by 5pm on November 27^th .  A free-will offering will be taken and will other local outreach events.  

🔭A LOOK AHEAD

2024 Holiday Market at The Elowen Room (Saturday, November 23rd – Sunday, November 24th): Support local artists and makers during this two-day Holiday Market from 10 AM to 4 PM each day! Featuring 8-10 vendors showcasing unique handmade items perfect for holiday gifts and décor. The event will also include festive holiday music and a cozy coffee bar for a warm, cheerful shopping experience. Located near the trolley stop on the North End of Main Street, it’s part of Princeton’s Christmas Walk Weekend, so make sure to stop by!

Moana 2 Pajama Premiere Day (Wednesday, November 27): Celebrate the return of Disney’s beloved Hawaiian Princess Moana with a day full of fun at the Apollo Theater. Kids can enjoy the holiday break with shows at 1:00 PM, 4:15 PM, and 7:00 PM. Wear your pajamas for an extra surprise! Tickets are available at www.apolloprinceton.com or at the box office. Don’t miss this magical event!

Home for the Holidays Christmas Light Drive-Thru (November 29th - December 25th): Drive through the dazzling holiday lights at the Bureau County Fairgrounds. Open Fridays and Saturdays from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, and Sundays from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Special openings on December 23rd, 24th, and 25th. Hosted by the Princeton Area Chamber of Commerce and Bureau County Fair.

Brunch with Buddy the Elf (Saturday, December 7th): At 11 AM, join the festive fun with Buddy the Elf at Cafe Grace, 1009 N Main St. Expect holiday activities and a “buddylicious” feast.

Trio: Barrel Society (Saturday, December 7): Join The Bart Attacks at the Barrel Society for an evening of live music from 7 to 10 PM. This is their debut performance, and they are excited to perform down by the river. Make sure to check it out for a great night of entertainment!

Home for the Holidays: Christmas Craft & Vendor Show (Saturday, December 14): Explore unique crafts and gifts at the Bureau County Fairgrounds from 9 AM to 2 PM. Admission is free, making it a perfect opportunity to find holiday treasures while supporting local vendors. The fairgrounds are located at 811 West Peru Street. For more information or to sign up as a vendor, visit www.bureaucountyfair.com or call 815-866-3606.

Christmas Market (Saturday, December 14): Visit the festive Christmas Market at Rotary Park from 10 AM to 8 PM. Enjoy arts and crafts, delicious food and drink, and live music. Presented by Midland States Bank, this event is a perfect opportunity to celebrate the holiday spirit with family and friends. Vendor applications are currently being accepted. For more information, call 815-876-2565 or visit princetontourism.org.

📖LETTER FROM LORI

I have recently rediscovered the joy of reading. As a child, I read voraciously. I devoured books by the dozen and was always the winner in my class for the number of pages or books read each year—and it was always a landslide. My favorite books were long and detailed, vividly painting mental images of the landscapes and characters. I was not deterred by the absence of pictures. In fact, the more words, the better. I could conjure up images and create alternate realities by immersing myself in the worlds my books provided.

Then I grew up, and reality struck. When my college days began, textbooks took over. After college, there was work. Darn the dollar and the need for it to survive. Once motherhood arrived, my reading material was reduced to the back of cereal boxes or instructions for noisy toys that needed parts and batteries. Over the years, I graduated to reading Sam I Am and Dick and Jane aloud, but that was about the extent of it.

For the past 11 years, it has been my unwritten goal to finish just one—yes, one—entire book per year. I usually manage this on vacation. I pick one book that piques my interest, cling to it during my “downtime,” and try to soak in as much as I can. I don’t read for pleasure anymore; I read with a sense of purpose, almost aggression. I want to better myself—so one year, I read a self-help book. I want to be smarter—so another year, I chose a book about mental challenges. Gone are the days of escaping into literature for sheer enjoyment. Now, I treat books as tools, though I don’t much like their hard edges.

Reading is no longer an experience of curling up on the couch with a cozy blanket. It has become a goal to accomplish, a box to check on a progress chart. There are no soft edges, no comfort—just duty and obligation. I didn’t like my new attitude toward reading. Life had sucked the joy out of it. (Isn’t life like that with so many things?)

When I felt God calling me to write, I sought the wise counsel of other writers. One suggested I read Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, a sort of instruction manual for writers. Oddly enough, this man barely knew me but felt I would appreciate her work. Less than a week later, another man—also a stranger—suggested the same book and even loaned me a copy.

If you’ve ever picked up an Anne Lamott book and know me even a little, you’ll understand why I love her writing so much. I still haven’t figured out why the men who recommended her enjoy her, though. Both are men of the cloth, and Anne can be…gritty. She is real. She is honest. She tells it like it is, pulls no punches, and has a wonderfully weird sense of humor. She also uses a bit of foul language, but since I haven’t fully conquered that demon myself, I can be forgiving.

Not only have I read one book—I’ve actually finished two in less than a year! And I did it wrapped in a cozy blanket, with my cat at my feet, warm lighting in the corner of my couch, after the kids had gone to bed—and I enjoyed myself! I was so inspired that I rushed to my computer, Googled her, and even explored eBay in an attempt to own her books. I want to write notes in the margins and absorb her words at my leisure.

So often, in my faith journey, I find it difficult to quiet myself enough to read the really Good Book. I know it’s full of drama, suspense, romance, and mystery, yet I often put other things first. I struggle with my inability to read the words that I know will encourage and uplift me. Words that will challenge me to be better, guide me in the way I should go, and provide hope, entertainment, and—most of all—enjoyment. Maybe we just need to retrain ourselves to enjoy reading again. After all, God has some really good material.

Lori owns the Book-el-ZOO in Princeton. It’s not just a pet shop — it’s an experience!

Want to advertise? Email: [email protected].