Shop. Stay. Explore. April 2025
Election results: After yesterday’s elections we are pleased to officially announce our new Mayor Patti Sontag and our three new Board of Trustee Members- Steven Hall, Linda Mace, Danne Rhaesa and re-elected Marjorie Doerr. Thank you to the village residents who came out and voted. Thank you to former Mayor, Mike Pitchford and former Board of Trustees, Cecily Lee and Bob Phillips.
Next month on May 13th at 7pm the new Village officials will be sworn in at the Civic Center.
Fiber Optics finally making its way to the Village. Have you noticed the multicolored markings on our village streets? Grafton Technologies is putting fiber cable for internet services in Elsah. So, if you see trucks and folks around working on the overhead lines, or digging underground for lines, please realize that they are working hard to bring us fiber optic internet. Please be kind and welcome them!
Grafton Technologies received a grant from the state of Illinois to provide internet services to Elsah. The grant includes connecting EVERY HOME in Elsah at no cost to the owner. However, the connection must be made with this initial installation. So, within the next few weeks, residents will be asked to fill out a form to connect their homes to the fiber cable. It is advisable that every owner complete this form whether they want Grafton Technology's service now or not. If a homeowner does not get the fiber cable connected to their house with this installation, the cost to do it later will be tremendously more.
Details about the dates will be coming soon!
Grafton Technologies website has information about services offered and their prices. https://www.gtec.com/.
Sometimes it is assumed that Elsah was a “dry” community because Principia opened as a dry campus in 1934, with many campus members residing in the Village. But the prohibition on alcohol was actually passed in 1893, marking an end to saloons in the Village. The community remained “dry” for well over 100 years until a liquor ordinance was enacted in 2018. The hope was that it might help promote and appeal to future businesses. Now in 2025 we will have the first business opening that will sell alcohol to its customers: State Street on LaSalle restaurant.
Spring season kicks off with the opening of the Elsah Museum every Saturday and Sunday, 1-4. It will remain open on the weekends thru October. Also marking the season on the weekend of the 26th & 27th is the annual plant sale at Three Rivers Community Farms* 9-4pm and open to the public. Shop for vegetable plants and get seedlings all grown on this organic farm in Elsah. Spring is also when Grafton’s Loading Dock begins hosting one of the largest flea markets in the region. Open April thru October on the last weekend of each month, the season will kick off that Saturday 9-5pm and Sunday 9-4pm.
*If you are interested in more events happening in April and beyond, we recommend the Great Rivers and Routes website or mobile app for a complete listing.
Peace Works -- a Market with a Mission -- has officially reopened at 12 Mississippi St in the Village of Elsah. The fair-trade shop has added a slight twist to its new location. Owner Julie Connoyer has been working with several new artists to join her in the location at the entrance to the Village. The “soft opening” on March 29 and 30 introduced new artists and businesses to Elsah while visitors enjoyed a shopping experience all under one roof.
A local favorite of Peace Works for over 10 years, artist Ellen Connoyer Case continues her offerings at the new location adding a new "Splattering" of artwork in varied mediums: paintings, prints, textiles and mixed media.
Another addition is Buena Vista Art, a favorite that was in Grafton for eleven years before taking a three-year hiatus. Owners Greg and Janey Brummett offer a collection of unique art pieces along with various vintage and antique items. Greg has created unique jewelry crafted out of natural stones, silver and copper for over 40 years. In addition, he has created various steampunk and cyberpunk lamps and tables from antiques, repurposed vintage hardware and handcrafted copper fold form.
The last spot has been filled by Jodelle Langdon, owner of the Columbiana Country Store. Jodelle will be offering homemade jellies, jams, apple butters, salsas, salad dressings, and various baked goods.
Welcome to the new additions in the Village of Elsah business district. A grand opening will be coming soon!
Editor’s Note: As I see it. Spring-time gratitude. It must be the warming weather, the early spring flowers or perhaps my birthday month, but I am feeling happy. In the middle of March, flowers suddenly popped out in the village. In a matter of two days the list continued to grow for blossoms spotted. Crocuses, hyacinths, daffodils, forsythia bushes and two variations of flowering trees! All excited for the pure sunshine-filled days and warmer weather. However, with this warmth are the dreaded snakes. I have spotted along the creekside several non-venomous snakes sunning themselves, enjoying the warmth as well. I saved an over-eager honeybee stuck in a bowl of water after taking a quick drink and accidentally plunged itself a bit too far. Also, as you drive through the village you will notice the yards with clusters of wild chives making a break for it too. If you live close enough to take a scenic walk or drive through Elsah, I strongly encourage it. For readers further away and in cooler weather, we sympathize, and spring is just around the corner. Keep your eyes out for the signs.
In Loving Memory:
Nancy McDow passed away on February 3rd. Nancy’s father was Dewey McDow, the last Dinky Driver (school bus that ran on rails from Alton to Grafton- prior to the River Road being constructed) and is the last of the McDow family to live in the village for over 100 years! We are sorry for the loss.
Bob Smith passed away on Feb 6th. Bob was our former maintenance man for several years and could be seen about the village in the years since. He was always pleasant to stop and speak with. We thank him for his service as a U.S. Navy veteran and for years in and around the village. He is laid to rest in the Elsah Cemetery.
For Elsah Residents:
April 8 (Tue) at 6:30pm- Public Hearing on the FY 2025-26 Village of Elsah Budget (located at the Civic Center). The budget will be posted 48 hours before on the outdoor bulletin board at the entrance to the Civic Center.
Mike Chakur is one of Elsah's newest residents. Among his many talents, he is an EMT who volunteers for QEM fire department. He has informed us that QEM has Free Smoke Detectors with free installation for any residents of QEM Fire District. To schedule the free installation of these smoke detectors, call (618) 786-3300.
Mike has also generously volunteered to teach Elsah village residents a CPR class, which would include how to use our AED. (Automatic External Defibrillator) The AED stays in the lobby of the post office. The date for the class has not been determined yet. More to come about the details. If you have any interest in attending, please contact Susan Young at sioux.zen63@gmail.com.
Meetings open to the Village Residents: Second Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm: The Elsah Board of Trustees meet
First Thursday of the month at 7:00 pm: The Zoning Board Committee meet
*Check times for specific Committees on the Civic Center bulletin board up to 48 hours prior to the meeting or call the Clerk for more information.
Civic Center: (618) 374-1568 / elsah.clerk@gmail.com
*All Monthly Meetings are open to Elsah Residents and may be canceled due to a lack of business to discuss. They are held in the Elsah Civic Center at 51 Mill Street.
Reminder to all Readers:
Email address change: If you have any ideas for featured stories or you would like more information about being a guest writer, please send an email addressed to “Mary” to escapetoelsah.news@gmail.com. The editor will do her best to take all requests and suggestions.
Due to the change of address, please forward any unanswered emails to escapetoelsah.news@gmail.com. We apologize for the delay and lack in response.
Announcements:
5th 2025 Historic Elsah Photo Exhibit opening ceremony (3-4pm Sat at the Elsah Museum)
12th Passover // 13th Palm Sunday // 18th Good Friday
20th Easter Sunday
22nd Earth Day
26th & 27th Plant sale at Three Rivers Community Farms 9-4pm.
26th & 27th The Loading Dock flea market. Open Sat 9-5pm and Sun 9-4pm.
The Elsah Book Club has chosen Howards End by E. M. Forster as April’s book selection. The club meeting will meet on April 28th. For more information, contact cecilyellenlee@gmail.com.
Principia Events open to the public-17th, 18th, 19th at 8pm and 19th at 2pm- Annual Spring Dance Production ($12.00 per adult ticket)
17th (Thur) at 6:30pm- Changemaker Speaker Kotchakorn Voraarkhom (Admission is free, open to the public and no reservations are needed)
Home sporting events, including Softball, Baseball, Tennis- Men’s and Women’s, Track and Field- Men’s and Women’s, and Rugby. For more information on athletic schedules and other news, you can visit www.principiaathletics.com
Principia Spotlight- There have been several Principia students/teams who have received achievements, and we are pleased to share some of those with you. *Please forgive any missed achievements listed here.
Fourteen Principia student athletes earn SLIAC Winter All-Academic Team. To qualify these students must have spent at least one year at Principia with a cumulative 3.5 GPA or higher. Those on the list represent Men’s & Women’s Basketball, Men’s & Women’s Indoor Track & Field
Freshman Sana Udoekong shatters Principia’s 200-Meter Dash Record
Senior Damir Conci voted National Collegiate Rugby’s D1 All- American- twice!
Junior Nana Korantteng qualified for the 2025 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships in the triple jump and finished 13th.
Astronomy
13th- Micro (full) Moon
21st- Mercury will be at its farthest distance from the Sun and a good time to try and spot in the morning sky.
22nd/23rd- Lyrid Meteor Shower peaks
23rd/24th- Earthshine Mornings (when the unlit part of moon becomes visible)
27th- Super (full) New Moon
For Sale within the village! There are currently no new homes or businesses listed since our last Newsletter publication. However, included are the links to view three homes currently for sale in the village.
56 Mill For more information visit: 56 Mill St, Elsah, IL 62028 | MLS #24067471 | Zillow
18 Palm For more information visit: 18 Palm St, Elsah, IL 62028 | MLS #24047081 | Zillow