🅿️Myrtle’s Pies, Trout Fishing, and a 5k

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It’s Saturday, March 16th, Princeton. Have Easter Sunday plans? We’d love for you to join us at Princeton Bible Church on Rt. 34 for our Sunrise Service at 8am, and our Worship Service at 10:15am. Also, I tried the Shamrock Shake at Sisler’s and made this video.

Let’s ride.

—Justin Bullington

📬IN THIS ISSUE

💡What You Should Know
☀️Princeton Weather
👩Princeton Person of the Week
💼Princeton Businesses
🥁Local Music
🗓️Things to Do in Princeton
🗑️Princeton Garbage Pickup
🪱Letter from Lori

💡WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

• It’s Courtney Driscoll’s birthday!🎉 Happy Birthday, C. You are one cool primo gracioso.

• Trivia Question: According to St. Patrick’s Day lore, what animal did St. Patrick drive out of Ireland? (Answer is at the bottom of this email)

• The Informational Weather Event with Cyle Dickens of KWQC has been rescheduled to March 27th at 6:30pm.

• There will be a garage sale at 206 N. Linn Street today, beginning at 8am. Name brand kids and adult clothes. Lots of household items and decor. Kristin Mangrich has a barn full.

• The 2024 Illinois spring trout fishing season starts Saturday, April 6 at the Hennepin Canal Parkway.

• On Tuesday, March 19th, Amtrak will be carrying senior staff and historical dignitaries along the route from Chicago to San Francisco. At each stop, they will stop to say hello, and Princeton is on the list. The California Zephyr will stop in Princeton at 3:44pm.

• An early voting site is open at the Princeton Moose Lodge from 8am-4pm next week.

• Home maintenance tips from Landmark Reality: Clean carpets and soft furnishings. Have carpets cleaned and send out area rugs for professional cleaning. Launder furniture slipcovers, pillow covers and shower curtains. You’ll be surprised how fresh your home feels.

⛅️PRINCETON WEATHER

Today: windy with a high expected to reach 57°F. The RealFeel will be slightly cooler at 51°F. Winds will average 17 mph, with gusts potentially hitting 38 mph. Rain probability will be low at 2%, and the sky will have a moderate level of cloudiness, with 55% cloud cover.

Sunday: The day will be breezier and cooler with variable cloud cover. Temperatures will climb to a high of 42°F, but it may feel like 33°F due to the wind. Winds will be blowing from the northwest at an average of 15 mph, with gusts up to 32 mph. Rain chances will remain very slim at 1%.

Monday: partly sunny and cold, with a high of 39°F and a RealFeel around 31°F. Breezy conditions will continue, with northwest winds averaging 14 mph and gusts that could reach 30 mph. There’s a small 5% chance of precipitation.

👩PRINCETON PERSON OF THE WEEK

🏅Spencer Davis

Reason for Nomination: “Spencer is a thoughtful and generous entrepreneur and an important member of our community in Princeton. He will always go out of his way to help those who need it. He is very appreciated!”

Great job, Spencer. You’ve won the illustrious Princeton Person of the Week.

Okay, everyone. It’s time for you to nominate someone for next week’s Princeton Person of the Week here.

💼PRINCETON BUSINESSES

• Ships of the Prairie will bring Casper the Camel to the Boek-el-ZOO today from 12pm-3pm.

• The Apollo is premiering Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire on Thursday, March 21st at 6pm.
  

• You must be signed up on or before April 22nd to play leagues at Chapel Hill Golf Course this season. The cost is $10 per person. There will be an informational league meeting April 22nd at 6pm.

• Dairy Queen has buster bars, ice cream sandwiches, RWB stars, and dilly bars. Dilly Bar flavors include butterscotch, cherry, churro, chocolate heath, non-dairy, and reduced sugar flavor.

• Optimal Health now sells a new wellness line called Rowe Casa Organics, which includes a magnesium spray, magnesium cream, lymphatic cream, a calming spray, and nerve pain salve.

• Jennifer’s Superior Cleaning Service has openings for housekeeping and yard cleanups: 815-875-7860.

• There is still time to make your reservations at Cafe Grace for Easter Brunch: 815-872-4000.

• Grandma Rosie’s Sweet Treats now serves a Philly Cheesesteak. Call 815-872-1200.

• Redecorating? Holding an Estate Sale? Emptying a family home? Please donate furniture or other goods to The Princeton Closet. Call 815-875-3145 or stop by the store.

• The Barrel Society x Jeppson’s Malort 5k Fun Run/Walk is tomorrow at 11am.

• Little Blue Dress is having a Flash Sale on Hobo Leather’s Sable Wristlet. 30% off.

• Save $20 on Scott’s Annual Seeding Program’s 5,000 sq. ft., $99.99 4-step program. Save $50 on the 15,0000 sq. ft., $239.99 program.

• Town and Country Services is having a big sale on air duct cleaning services this month. Call to schedule yours and claim your free antimicrobial treatment, valued at $99.

🔗TOP CLICKS THIS WEEK

1. I tried the churros at Los Ranchitos and made this Facebook reel.

2. Lots of you were interested in this home in Bryant Woods.

3. There is a death investigation underway in Henry County.

🥁LOCAL MUSIC

• Wayne “The Train” Hancock | Moose Lodge | March 16th, 7pm

• Chris Stevens | Coal Creek Brewery | March 16th, 7-10pm

• Burn n’ Bush; Big on Blondes | Hollywood & Vine | March 16th, 2-11pm

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

• Problem Child | The Moose Lodge | March 30th, 6-11pm

• Joe Rian & The A.M. Drinkers | Barrel Society | March 30th at 7pm

• Howl at the Moon Dueling Pianos | The Cider Mill | Apr. 12th at 6:30pm

• Girls Like Us: Music of Carole King, Carly Simon, and Joni Mitchell | Grace Theater | Apr. 12th at 7:30pm

⛽️PRINCETON GAS PRICES

Regular

• Amoco: 3.49

• Sullivan’s: 3.53

• Casey’s: 3.56

• Beck’s: 3.56

• Road Ranger: 3.56

• Shell: 3.56

Diesel

• Casey’s: 3.85

• Road Ranger: 3.85

• Beck’s: 3.89

• Sullivan’s: 3.89

• Amoco: 3.94

🥁LOCAL MUSIC

• Wayne “The Train” Hancock | Moose Lodge | March 16th, 7pm

• Chris Stevens | Coal Creek Brewery | March 16th, 7-10pm

• Burn n’ Bush; Big on Blondes | Hollywood & Vine | March 16th, 2-11pm

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

• Problem Child | The Moose Lodge | March 30th, 6-11pm

• Joe Rian & The A.M. Drinkers | Barrel Society | March 30th at 7pm

• Howl at the Moon Dueling Pianos | The Cider Mill | Apr. 12th at 6:30pm

• Girls Like Us: Music of Carole King, Carly Simon, and Joni Mitchell | Grace Theater | Apr. 12th at 7:30pm

🗓️THINGS TO DO IN PRINCETON

• Chili Soup Dinner | American Legion Auxiliary 125 | March 21st, 4-7pm

• Sauk Trail Gun Collector’s Show | Fair Grounds | March 23rd-24th, 8:30am-4pm

• Everyone Has a Story: Performance by Nestor Gomez | Prairie Arts Center | March 23rd, 2024

• River Bend Food Pantry Distribution | Fair Grounds | March 27th, 9:30am

• Egg Hunt | New Hope Church of the Nazarene | March 30th, 2pm

• Fair Queen Easter Egg Hunt | Fair Grounds | March 30th, 1pm

• Steam Irish Quartet | Grace Theater | March 30th

• Girls Like Us | Grace Theater | Grace Theater | April 11th-12th

• A Night to Remember Prom | Metro Center | April 20th, 5:30 to 8:30pm

• David Casas Magic | Grace Theater | April 27th

• Fair Queen’s Golf Tournament | Fair Grounds | May 11th, 8am

• Mother’s Day Flea Market | Fair Grounds | May 12th, 8am

• Festival 56 Summer Season | Opens June 22nd

• Shadows of the Blue and Gray Civil War Ball | Bureau County Fairgrounds | April 13th, 6:30

• Nellie Becker: A Titanic Story | Venue 450 | May 11th

• ShrimpFest | Rotary Park | June 1st

• Main Street Concert Series Kickoff: Barracuda | South Main | June 7th

• Beef and Ag Festival | June 15th

• Z Tour Bike Ride | Zearing Park | June 22nd

• Overdrive Monster Truck Show | Fair Grounds | July 20th, 10am

• Bureau County Fair | Fair Grounds | Begins August 21st

🗑️PRINCETON GARBAGE PICKUP

If your regular collection day falls on a holiday, be sure to have your bins out by 5:30am on the alternate date provided below.

Memorial Day
Original: Monday, May 29, 2023
Alternate: Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Independence Day
Original: Tuesday, July 4, 2023
Alternate: Wednesday, July 5, 2023

🪱LETTER FROM LORI

Good morning, you beautiful creatures! I hope your week goes well. Mine began with a flurry of activity. I looked after two of my grandchildren overnight and all day Monday. It makes me wonder how I managed 25 years ago with three small children, two jobs, and a schedule packed with activities. Age and gravity have certainly slowed me down!

Have you, as a parent or grandparent, ever walked with a toddler who wasn’t on a leash? They dash ahead and lag behind. They get distracted, chasing butterflies and putting things in their mouths. Yet, we keep walking on the sidewalk toward our destination, encouraging them to behave along the way. Sometimes we have to jump in to prevent them from danger, or act when our words alone aren’t enough. They might refuse to take our hand, as that would restrict them, tethering them to more proper behavior. There’s no reasoning with them. They don’t listen because they’re too wrapped up in wonder and exploration.

Older children, on the other hand, are often content to walk hand in hand. There’s a chance for conversation about what is encountered on the journey. They appreciate the security of your presence and know that if unknown dangers appear, you will be there to defend them and guide them around obstacles. They might still let go of your hand to investigate something intriguing, but almost always, they return to your side, enjoying your company and the wisdom you offer.

As the parent, it’s important to allow them to explore, as not all who wander are lost. In the wise words of rock ‘n’ roll – which is not necessarily the voice of temptation – 🎶🎵”Hold on loosely, but don’t let go. If you cling too tightly, you’re going to lose control.“🎶🎵

Reflecting on this, I see my relationship with God in a similar light. He was always there, a steady presence, but I didn’t always pay attention to Him. I was aware of Him but indifferent. I did as I pleased, yet He watched over me, protecting me from dangers, from vicious dogs to eating worms to muddy ditches. Personally, I was saved from two rollover car accidents, which I miraculously walked away from unscathed.

As I grew older, I learned to hold His hand and trust Him to guide me. I started to enjoy the scenery along the way and appreciate the beauty I encountered. Even when I didn’t understand the path He chose, I learned to trust that He knew best how to lead me to my final destination safely. He has been where we are going. He knows the journey. I only became truly comfortable with His guidance when I realized that HE IS SMARTER THAN I AM!

So, as you navigate this day and your life, put down the worm, stay out of the mud, take His hand, and engage Him in conversation. He has much to share with you. 🥰

—Lori Boekeloo

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

Trivia Answer: Apparently he drove snakes out. Great job, St. Patrick.