🅿️ Prom Dresses, Summer Bowling, and Adult Dodgeball

SPONSORED BY

Illinois Humanities and Midwest Partners will present “Everyone Has a Story: Performance by Nestor Gomez,” on March 23 at the Prairie Arts Center, 24 Park Ave E, Princeton, IL 61356, from 6:30pm–8:00pm CT, with a reception to follow from 8:00-9:00pm CT. Light refreshments will be served. This family-friendly event is free and a part of The NEA Big Read: Reconsidering the American Dream program. RSVP is required. 

Narrated by dynamic, award-winning storyteller Nestor Gomez, this immersive performance tells Gomez’s personal stories of his American dream—in particular, his family’s immigration to the United States and the social, cultural, and linguistic struggles he has navigated ever since. 

Initially undocumented (now a citizen), Gomez moved from Guatemala to Chicago at the age of 10 in the mid-1980s. He began his storytelling career on a whim, winning first prize at his first Moth Storytelling Slam in Chicago over a decade ago. He has since won 35 Chicago Moth Story Slams and more than 30 others in cities across the nation.   

For those interested in learning to tell their own stories, in writing or performance, Gomez will lead an in-depth Storytelling Workshop the following day, March 24, at The Bike Place, 701 N Main St, Princeton, IL 61356, from 1:00-3:00pm CT. RSVP is required. 

Register Here

Good morning, Princeton, especially the Princeton Christian Academy Scholastic Bowl Team! They won 1st place in the BVEC and 1st place in the conference tournament. Y’all have big brains. Well done. Also, what was up with that sleet yesterday?

Let’s get started.

—Justin Bullington

📬IN THIS ISSUE

💡What You Should Know
☀️Princeton Weather
⛽️Princeton Gas Prices
👨Princeton Person of the Week
💼Princeton Businesses
🔗Top Links This Week
👷‍♂️Princeton Job Openings
💊Letter from Lori

💡WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

• Happy Birthday, Chip Read! 🎈

• Princeton High School baseball won its home opener, 5-4.

• BCR: “A rural Princeton man faces up to 60 years in prison after drug agents said they seized more than a pound of cocaine and 22 firearms in a Friday raid.”

• If you aren’t able to call, you can now text your emergency to 911 in Bureau County. Please only text 911 when help is needed and you are unable to call and speak with an operator.

• The Princeton Public Library is hosting its first meeting of the Writer's Club, Monday at 5:30pm. All current and aspiring writers welcome.

• BCR: The Plan Commission considered the prospect of converting the block from Business B-3 to business B-2. The block, however, still has residential properties, and those residents, along with some from the neighborhood, opposed the rezoning.

• Trout season opens today at the Hennepin Canal.

• Visit the Sauk Trail Gun Show at the Bureau County Fairgrounds today from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and tomorrow from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. to buy, sell, and trade firearms, including a selection of modern and antiques, with free parking. It is open to the public.

• Historic covered bridges are under threat by truck drivers relying on GPS meant for cars: “According to head of the National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges, last November, a tractor trailer truck seriously damaged a covered bridge in Princeton, Illinois, and a bridge in Ohio was damaged in a similar way a year earlier.”

• There are three Easter Egg Hunts in Princeton today: Liberty Village at 10am, the Moose Lodge at 11am, and Aperion Care at 1pm.

• The Chelsea Gives Back Soap Fundraiser for Freedom House: you can pre-order laundry soap, fabric softner, all purpose cleaner, and dish soap in 1 gallon or 5 gallons, along with scent boosters, laundry pods, hand soap, and dish washer tabs until March 30th.

  • Pickup at Freedom House: 11am-1pm on April 27th

  • Join Here to Order

• Princeton NOW+ subscribers also receive City Council meeting summaries — along with local obituaries, arrests, and property transfers, ad free. Upgrade today.

⛅️PRINCETON WEATHER

Today: Mostly sunny conditions are expected with intermittent clouds. The daytime high will be around 44°F, and northeast winds will be blowing at 10 to 15 mph. The evening will turn cloudy with a low near 28°F and east winds at the same pace.

Sunday: Cloudy with a high of 51°F. Winds will pick up, coming from the east-southeast at 15 to 25 mph, and there may be stronger gusts. In the evening, cloudiness will persist, with occasional rain showers later at night. Temperatures will dip to around 45°F, with southeast winds at 10 to 20 mph. The chance of rain will increase to 50%.

Monday: Showers are expected in the morning, leading to windy conditions and steady rain in the afternoon. The high could reach 59°F. Winds from the south-southeast will be strong, ranging from 20 to 30 mph, and the probability of rain is 70%. The evening will continue to see rain with a low of 44°F and southeast winds at 15 to 25 mph. Rain chances will ramp up to 90%, with potential rainfall nearing half an inch.

⛽️PRINCETON GAS PRICES

Regular

Amoco, 720 N Main St: $3.69
Sullivan’s Foods: $3.76
Casey’s West/North: $3.79
Beck’s West/North: $3.79
Road Ranger, N Main St: $3.79
Shell, 2225 N Main St: $3.79

Diesel

Beck’s West/North: $3.99
Road Ranger, N Main St.: $4.09
Casey’s West/North: $4.19
Amoco, N Main St: $3.99
Sullivan’s: $3.89
Road Ranger: $4.11

👨PRINCETON PERSON OF THE WEEK

🏅Dave Mead

Reason for Nomination: “Dave was a well-known mail man in Princeton. He is a valued member of the Bureau County Fair Board. He is one of the original organizers of Nightmare Haunted Fairgrounds, and he volunteers for the Princeton Closet. He is such a great asset to our community!”

Well done, Dave. 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

• TrueLeaves Bookshop: “The secret is out! True Leaves Bookshop is moving to the Sash Stalter Matson Building (the former Matson Public Library)! You'll find us in the new space in June. Until then we are still in our little space. Thanks to the Bureau County Historical Society and History Center for such a wonderful opportunity to be part of Princeton's rich history!”

• Pin Splitter Lanes announced its summer plans with unlimited Monday bowling at $10 per person plus $3 shoe rental, a bi-weekly Bags tournament for $20 per person with a free drink pitcher per team, and all-ages bowling clinics for $10 per person. Join the casual Thursday 3-person league and keep the good times rolling!

• Catch the final two Fish Fridays at Paisano's Ristorante with options like a 2pc or 3pc cod basket starting at $12.99, and don't miss out on their 8pc Shrimp basket and Crab Rangoon pizza available. Plus, you have just 9 days left to savor The Rueben pizza this month. Join them from 4-10pm and elevate your taste experience with their full bar offerings!

• Don't miss the opportunity to spruce up your space—Wyanet Carpet Flooring America is offering half off on all in-stock carpet remnants under 8 feet, only this week!

• Connections Studio has an Open House today. They offer classes ranging from Musical Theatre to Tap for ages 3 to adult, starting at 10 AM. Remember, active wear is a must, and all newcomers need a signed waiver to join in the fun.

• Tony’s Butt Shack was featured in this YouTube video.

• Discover your perfect prom dress at The Princeton Closet where their dedicated volunteers have just stocked the sales floor with stunning dresses in every color and style, all priced at $25 each. Don't miss out on these beautiful bargains!

• Stop by Optimal Health for their latest grocery finds, including delicious Petit Pot desserts in flavors like Oatmilk Chocolate, Pistachio, and Crème Brûlée, as well as premium Rummo pasta in Mezzi Rigatoni and Bucatini varieties—perfect for your next gourmet meal!

• Step back in time at Mattie's on Main, where you can find a newly-curated selection of antiques from rustic earthenware jugs and vintage furniture to quaint home accents.

• Sign up for Once Upon A Craft's Spring Break Camp, live now on onceuponacraft.org. Choose the perfect date for your school's spring break and join us for an afternoon filled with 3D crafts, canvas painting, splatter painting, and games. For $55, kids in grades K-8 can enjoy unlimited creativity from 1-4 PM on March 27th and April 3rd at 518 S. Main St.

• Hollywood & Vine is having a Spring Break Party with 10 hours of live music on March 30th:

  • 3 on the Tree: 1–4 PM, 3 piece Rockabilly

  • Jon Swags: 4–7 PM, Talented new solo show

  • Wreckin' Dixie: 7–11 PM, Country & Rock

  • DiDoughs Truck: 12–9 PM, Delicious Pretzels

• Get ready for a grown-up twist on a childhood favorite at Barrel Society—their Adult Easter Egg Hunt returns on March 29th at 5 PM! Tony's Butt Shack BBQ will be serving up mouthwatering BBQ from 3-8 PM to fuel the fun, and you’ll have the chance to find eggs brimming with candy, gift certificates, and more. This 21+ event requires no reservation; just show up ready to enjoy a good time with great drinks, and bunny attire is highly encouraged.

• There is an Adult Dodgeball Tournament on April 27th at the Bureau County Metro Center, starting at 6pm, where teams of 5 will compete in a thrilling double elimination format. Remember to arrive by 5:30pm for the rules rundown. Call or visit to get your entry in before the March 27th deadline.

🔗TOP LINKS THIS WEEK

1. Someone please adopt Bessie from Friends of Strays.

2. Voting is now closed at the Bureau County Clerk’s office for many contested races. Here are the current results.

3. BCR: Newly minted News Tribune Girls Wrestler of the Year Izzy “Gibson went 21-7, placed second at 140 pounds at the Erie Regional and finished fourth at the Geneseo Sectional to become the first girl in school history to qualify for the IHSA state tournament, where she went 1-2.”

👷PRINCETON JOB OPENINGS

• Material Handler | Ingersoll Rand | Full-time

• Server | Pizza Hut | Full-time

• Food and Grocery | Walmart | Full and Part-time

• Dietary Aide | Liberty Village | Full and Part-time

• Team Member | Culver’s | Full and Part-time

• Delivery Driver | FedEx Express | Full, Part, and Temp-work

• General Labor | Advanced Services | Full-time

• Post Office Handler | Postal Service | Full-time

• Driver | Republic Services | Full-time

• Retail Manager | RP Lumber | Full-time

💊LETTER FROM LORI

This morning, as I was taking my "wake-up" pills, I was reminded that age has not been kind to me. From a young age, I abused my body with hard work and doing things I wasn't necessarily designed or capable of doing. I lifted super heavy things, ran barefoot on rocky terrain, and ignored the temporary discomfort because my youthful body healed more easily. It was resilient and persevered despite my ignorance. I remember my mother's warnings and my dismissal of her wisdom. So, here I am, at 56, taking a daily dose of tramadol and meloxicam so I can perform daily tasks. These medications are known to cause other types of damage to my already crumbling physical being.

I wake and move slowly until the medicine seeps into my system and allows me the luxury of movement. I have been told by doctors that there are surgical procedures that would fix my ailments, but they would incapacitate me for a length of time, and my life doesn't allow me to explore that possibility, so I assuage the pain with temporary, daily doses of painkillers and anti-inflammatories.

How many of us live our lives like this, in an emotional and spiritual sense? We danced through our youth, doing damage to ourselves (or having damage done to us), and instead of fixing what was wrong, we just learned to accommodate the pain. We found medicines to mask it (drugs, alcohol, eating, shopping, busyness, weird habits) but have never addressed the source of the pain or taken steps to actually fix it. We have found excuses or merely ignored it altogether. Have we indulged in MRIs and X-rays to diagnose the underlying problems, or have we been Internet MDs and self-diagnosed (or misdiagnosed)?

So, as I wait for my pills to kick in so I can move on to productivity, I challenge you to take a close look at the source of your pain and determine what steps you need to take to fix what is broken. On the other side of your pain, you will look back and wonder why you didn't do so sooner. Recovery isn't easy, but it is worth it!

—Lori Boekeloo

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