News
Village contacts
Contact Village Clerk Barb Ostrowski (618-374-1568) or Mayor Mike Pitchford (618-616-4948) for Elsah government matters. Zoning Board and Trustees meet monthly, open to public. Trustees include Connie Davis and others. Agendas are posted outside the Post Office. Visit Civic Center at 51 Mill Street; Darr Hall available for rentals.
2024 Hosmer-Williams Lecture Series – save the dates!
The Historic Elsah Foundation presents the Hosmer-Williams Lecture Series, featuring free talks on local history and culture at Farley Music Hall. The 2024 lineup includes topics on mammoth excavation, Chautauqua, the Semple family, and the Great River Road, aimed at preserving and sharing Elsah's heritage.
Fiber Optic Internet Coming to Elsah!
Elsah will soon upgrade to high-speed internet through a Connect Illinois grant awarded to Grafton Technologies for fiber optic installation, at no cost to residents. Led by Susan Young and Connect Elsah!, the project aims for completion by summer's end, enhancing connectivity in Joywood, Elsah Hills, and part of Lockhaven.
National Tennis Champion
Associate Professor Shannon Carney, Women’s Tennis Coach at Principia College, recently won the 2023 U.S. Tennis Association’s National Senior Women’s 65 Singles and Doubles Championships.
VILLAGE MATTERS: February 2024
For Black History Month, Farley's will screen "One Night in Miami" on Feb. 20 at 7:30 pm, directed by Regina King. The film imagines a discussion on advancing civil rights among Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Jim Brown, and Sam Cooke, followed by a group conversation. Also, a surprise 70th birthday party for Gary Davis was held at Farley's on Jan. 27, with family and neighbors. Lastly, the "Escape to Elsah" newsletter seeks a new writer starting April 1, as Cecily Lee steps down. This volunteer role involves creating community news content.
Spotlight: Elsah Winter Birds
In Elsah, the elusive Pileated Woodpecker, larger than a crow, is known for its distinct call and red cap, inhabiting areas like Mill Street and Elsah Hills. They require large territories of 100+ acres. The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, another local bird, feeds by drilling holes in trees to drink sap and eat insects. The small, tuxedo-clad Juncos, or "snowbirds," visit in winter and migrate north for summer. The common White-throated Sparrow, with its distinctive song and appearance, is also a winter visitor in Elsah, found near forest edges and parks.
Village Government
The Village of Elsah is hiring a part-time maintenance worker for light building and groundskeeping, offering $19.03/hr for about 20 hours weekly. Residents can attend the budget hearings on Feb. 21 and April 9 to discuss the FY 2024-25 budget. Contact information for village matters and details on public meetings, including Zoning Board and Trustees meetings, are provided.
Happy Home for the Holidays, everyone! – Saturday Dec. 2
The Elsah Home for the Holidays House Tour on December 2, 1-5 p.m., features eight private homes and public buildings, with local pianists, carolers, a brass quartet, and holiday treats, available at www.historicelsah.org/tickets. Residents are reminded to display traditional Elsah-style holiday decorations by December 2.
“1857 Elsah home has been lovingly cared for through the years”
The St. Louis Post Dispatch featured an article on November 13 about the historic 1857 "Parsonage" in Elsah, cared for by Steve and Cindi Hall, complete with a digital version showcasing interior photos and a video of the couple discussing their home and community.
Eat out with Treehouse to save wildlife – December 3
Join the Treehouse Wildlife Center for an all-you-can-eat chicken dinner fundraiser on December 3rd, 11 am - 3 pm, at Edwardsville Moose Lodge, featuring raffles, door prizes, and a dessert table, with tickets available online or at their gift shop.