January 27th, 2024: 🎓🏒💇‍♀️

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Princeton. We had, like, two weeks of Winter and now it feels like Spring. Such is the life of a Midwesterner. Get out those galoshes, dust off the scuba gear, and practice your doggie-paddle — that snow is melting.

I hope all of your basements stay dryer than a mummy’s handshake.

Let’s dive into this newsletter.

—Justin Bullington

📬IN THIS ISSUE

🚨What You Should Know
💇‍♀️Princeton Person of the Week
☔️Princeton Weather
📅Princeton Events
🔗Top Clicks This Week
💰Princeton Business News
🥁Local Music
⛽️Gas Prices
✉️Letter from Lori

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Are you a Princeton resident and have a recent birth you’d like to announce?
Email me at [email protected] with the details.

• Happy Birthday Kyle Burrows, Miles Rose, Jordan Sluis, Luke Heaton, Tori Anderson, and Jeralyn Glass! 🥳

• Princeton High School graduation has been scheduled for May 18th at 10am.

• The 2024 Primary Election is on March 19th, 2024.  If you would like to work as an election judge, please contact Matt Eggers, Bureau County Clerk at 815-875-2014 or [email protected].

• Due to the warmer weather, the ice rink at BCMC has closed until further notice.

• The Historical Society is selling the new Red Covered Bridge books on their website. The books are $14.50 plus $5.00 for shipping and handling.

• PHS wrestler Augustus Swanson has taken the #1 spot at 106 pounds. See the story in the BCR. Ace Christiansen has joined the 100-win club

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• A Weekly Events Digest

🏅PRINCETON PERSON OF THE WEEK

🏅Mary VanKeulen

Reason for nomination: “Mary has been an integral part of Princeton for over 35 years. As a business owner (Sophisticuts), non profit organizer (Believe Foundation), and community supporter, she has always been generous with her time and resources. She is a shining example of a strong, entrepreneurial woman and deserves to be recognized as a leader.”

This one takes the cake. We’re grateful you’re a part of us here in Princeton, Mary. You’ve won the illustrious Princeton Person of the Week.

You can nominate someone for next week’s Princeton Person of the Week here.

PRINCETON WEATHER

Today: today will start with areas of fog before noon, then turn cloudy. The high is expected to be around 38°F, with a north wind of 5 to 10 mph. At night, it will remain cloudy, with a low around 33°F and a north wind around 10 mph.

Sunday: mostly cloudy with a high near 37°F. The night will continue to be mostly cloudy, with the temperature dropping to around 30°F.

Monday: partly sunny with a high near 41°F. There is a 30 percent chance of rain after midnight, and the night will be mostly cloudy with a low around 34°F.

click here for closures.
click here for road conditions.
click here for an I-80 traffic camera. 

PRINCETON EVENTS

• The Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the band Fiddlerock today at Hawg House Saloon, from 3-6pm. Tickets are $20.

• The Princeton FFA Alumni will host a pork chop and pork burger stand on January 30th, at the upcoming PHS and BV basketball game.

• The Prairie Arts Council is hosting a Vase Painting class February 6th at 6pm. To reserve a spot, message @prairiearts on Facebook. Cost is $25.

• The Moose Lodge will host a Sock Hop Dance on February 9th, from 6:30-9pm.

• Princeton Tourism: Bureau County communities can sign up to do town-wide Garage Sales during "More in Bureau County Father's Day weekend.” Takes place June 14th and 15th.

🔗TOP CLICKS THIS WEEK

1. Five 22 has a large sale of several clothing items on their website.

2. Peru PADS homeless shelter needs our help. They are near capacity and are getting low on essentials. You can buy directly from their Amazon list and it will be shipped directly to them.

3. Former Princetonian Cyle Dickens’ appreciation for the “Hello” campaign played a significant role in his career, as he was instrumental in reviving this iconic news music image campaign for the station's 75th-anniversary celebration in 2023.

PRINCETON BUSINESS NEWS

Own a Princeton business and have an announcement you’d like to make? Email me at [email protected].

• Sisler’s Ice Cream is having three different giveaways on February 3rd. Here’s how to win: 1) Go to their ice cream for breakfast event on Saturday February 3rd and enjoy one of their breakfast menu items, 2) Enter your name into one of our 3 prize drawings, 3) Their first prize will be drawn at 11:00am, second prize at 12:00pm, 3rd prize at 1:00pm, 4) Get there early, best prizes will be drawn first. They will be opening at 9:00am on February 3rd, 5) Have your phone nearby, they will give you a call if you are a lucky winner.

• Escape The Knox Hotel: Work together in a group to find clues, solve mysteries, and escape before time runs out. It is only available this weekend and next weekend. Sign up here.

• Little Blue Dress has a 50% off sale on various items in the store and online.

• Sayler’s General Store has 60% off various items.

• Eclectic Joy is offering 60% off all Christmas items.

• The Studio is selling some women’s lounge fits for 50% off.

• Sophisticuts Salon & Medi Spa has a Galentines sale: book a pedi and receive a free lipstick. Botox is $11 per unit.

• Optimal Health is now selling Tik Tok favorite sea moss, buy one, get one half off.

• Buy one, get one half-off all store items at Wild Honey Boutique, which is open 10am-5pm today.

• Lodestone is selling Christmas items for 50% off.

• Finder’s Keepers is back open after a brief hiatus.

• Gateway Services is now hiring a consumer benefit advocate.

• Shawna Fillenwarth Photography is now booking Senior, maternity, family, and couples photos.

• The special today at Grace Cafe is Ribeye steak with parm butter and mushrooms.

• Tyler Scott, owner of TMS Creations, now sells keychains and wristlets, wood signs, coffee mugs, and cups.

• There will be a Rock, Paper, Scissors tournament Friday, March 8th at 7pm at the Barrel Society.

• Thursday, February 1st from 2-4pm, Boek-el-ZOO is teaming up with Grandma Rosies Sweet Treats to bring you Pongo, a Dwarf Dairy Cow Reticulated Python. He will be available for photo ops. Grandma Rosies will be giving out coupons for a free cone with sprinkles.

LOCAL MUSIC

Princeton

• Fiddlerock | Hawg House Saloon | Princeton | Jan. 27th, 3pm

• Wild Card | The Cliff | Princeton | Feb. 10th, 7pm

• The Generics | The Moose Lodge | Princeton | Feb. 9th, 6:30

• Pat Owen Leary | The Barrel Society | Feb. 10th, 7pm

• The Wise Guys | Hawg House Saloon | Princeton | Feb. 10th, 3p

• Brushville | Hawg House Saloon | Princeton | Feb. 17th, 8pm

• Zack Fedor | Barrel Society | Princeton | Feb. 23rd, 7pm

• Wayne “The Train” Hancock | Moose Lodge | Princeton | March 16th

• STEAM Irish Quartet | Grace Theater | Princeton | March 30th at 7:30pm

Local

• Open Mic | Speak Easy on 1st | Lasalle | Jan. 31st, 7-10pm

• Open Mic | The Camden | Lasalle | Feb. 6th, 8-22pm

• Trippin Molly | Didley’s Bar and Grill | Walnut | Feb. 10th, 9pm

• Tailgate Confessions | Troy’s | Arlington | Feb. 11th, 2pm

• Open Mic | Core Cafe | Spring Valley | Feb. 16th, 7pm

• Gator Gang | Ninth Street Pub | Lasalle | Feb. 17th, 6pm

• Rockstar 2024 | Starved Rock Lodge | Utica | Feb. 21st, 7pm

• Midnight Rider | Green River Saddle Club | Amboy | Feb. 24th, 5pm

• Black and White Ball | Starved Rock | Utica | Feb. 24th, 5pm

• Dueling Pianos | Sublette 365 | Sublette | Feb. 24, 6:30pm

• Danger Zone | Route 30 Slots | Rock Falls | Feb. 24, 6pm

PRINCETON GAS PRICES

Regular

1️⃣Amoco, 720 N Main St: $2.99
2️⃣Sullivan’s Foods, 125 Backbone Rd: $3.04
3️⃣Casey’s West/North: $3.07
3️⃣Beck’s West/North: $3.07
3️⃣Shell, 2225 N Main St: $3.07
3️⃣Road Ranger, N Main St: $3.07

Diesel

1️⃣Casey’s West/North Peru St: $3.45
1️⃣Beck’s West/North: $3.45
1️⃣Casey’s West/North: $3.45
1️⃣Road Ranger, N Main St.: $3.45
2️⃣Sullivan’s Foods, 125 Backbone Rd: $3.49
3️⃣Amoco, N Main St: $3.59

LETTER FROM LORI

Was anyone fortunate enough to drive through the fog this week? I know I didn't enjoy it. It's both frustrating and a little scary when you can't see what lies ahead. You know where you want to go, and you have a plan to get there, but what if you encounter an obstacle?

I've found that the key to successfully driving in foggy weather is to slow down.

You need to let go of your need for speed and consider other aspects of the journey besides just reaching your goal. Sometimes, focusing on the white line on the side of the road helps. Occasionally, you may see a little further and can increase your pace. At times, you might encounter a patch of sunshine that allows you to accelerate to full speed. However, the fog might become dense in a valley, requiring you to practically crawl forward. Once in a while, we might have to stop completely because we can't see what lies ahead. We must wait for circumstances to change before we can move again. During these times, it's important to remember our goal but also to be patient. Moving too quickly may cause us to crash or run into an obstacle in our path.

Through it all God is there to guide you. He will, if you listen, tell you exactly when to go fast and when to slow down. He will help you avert disaster and get you safely to your final destination, because He sees beyond the fog. He sees what you cannot, so trust and listen and you will get there in His time, not necessarily yours.

—Lori Boekeloo of the Boek-el-ZOO