Green Christmas

Alton bazaar boosts local vendors

By Jason White Big Z Media

For almost two decades, the Green Gift Bazaar has helped eco-conscious Riverbend residents with their holiday shopping.

For this year’s 19th annual bazaar Nov. 27, the same day as Small Business Saturday, shoppers visited two downtown Alton locations — Jacoby Arts Center and Post Commons. Between them, 20 vendors offered handmade, recycled and upcycled items, including clothing, ornaments, jewelry and art.

First-time vendor Brianna Hill set up in Post Commons, selling soy wax candles and melts for her business, Honeycut Creek. She learned of the bazaar through social media and her involvement with the Alton farmers market.

“There’s a lot of people; it’s really well-organized,” Hill

Marks Mortuary

said. “I like it a lot.”

Another Post Commons vendor, Natalie Emmons of Nats Looking Glass, said events like the bazaar help expand her customer base. She was back for the second time.

“We definitely reach more customers in the community this way,” she said.

Alton Main Street and the Piasa Palisades chapter of the Sierra Club team up for in 2020 amid the pandemic. Although a few attractions were missing this year, for the most part Christmas Wonderland was as expansive as ever. About 250,000 LED lights replaced the old incandescent ones. Children’s movie “Madagascar” inspired a new display this year.

“We’ve got all our displays up this year, and I think we’ve got a few more lights up,” Alford said.

While the volunteers of the Grandpa Gang were putting up lights before the display opened, Alford said a truck drove by and two boys shouted “hello, Grandpa Gang” and “thanks, Grandpa Gang.”

“We could always use some more grandpas,” he said. “I like to say we’ve got the oldtimers, a few in their 80s; those like myself, in their 70s; and then we’ve got our kids, who are 65 and 66.”

Kathy Steinmann, captain of walk-through night, said the donation was $1 or a canned good or toy. She’s been involved with the walk-through for about 20 years. Volunteers were from Behavioral Health

Alternatives and Lovejoy United Presbyterian Church, both in Wood River.

“All the years I’ve been doing it, people come no matter what the weather is,” she said. “It could be pouring down rain, snowy, super cold — they still come.”

Organizations and schools decorated trees in the Enchanted Forest, and visitors could cast their votes for their favorite tree. The top three won a monetary prize. 3 the bazaar. The Sierra Club’s Christine Favilla said it’s an opportunity to support small businesses and protect the environment.

“We think it’s very important to shop local because of the environmental impact that not shopping locally has on your community and on the Earth as a whole,” Favilla said. “We’re looking at things being shipped from other countries that are now sitting in the ocean waiting to get offloaded, and you’re not going to find that here at our local Green Gift Bazaar. You’re going to find unique items that are environmentally friendly and locally made, and it’s a good way to support your community.” 3

Help Wanted

Richard Weems and Kenneth Phegley, 13, look at a reindeer.

Bethany Walker, 2, and Bre Espino, 3, watch a camel.

Downtown Wood River Christmas launches holiday season

By Jason White Big Z Media

Downtown businesses opened their doors Nov. 27 on Small Business Saturday for the inaugural Downtown Wood River Christmas.

A section of Ferguson Avenue closed to traffic so visitors could visit establishments and enjoy a festive start to the holidays. Vendors offered barbecue and s’mores, while a petting zoo and photos with Santa proved to be popular attractions for children and adults.

Organizers were happy with the turnout, Wood River Police Association President

Brady Green said.

“People are walking around everywhere; they’re just happy, dancing — it’s awesome,” he said.

“We’re trying to get as many people as we can to downtown,” he said.

“We’re getting a lot of new businesses.

Joe Petrokovich, the association’s vice president, said the police department’s second annual 5K run earlier in the day raised money to build a memorial at the police station to two Wood River officers who died in the line of duty.

Another first was Friday’s tree-lighting ceremony.

Brothers Bradley and Mason Nickles, ages 9 and 5, greet the Grinch at Downtown Wood River Christmas.

Andrew Russell of the Wood River Enrichment Network said it featured carols, free treats and hot chocolate. Mayor Tom Stalcup lit the tree.

“We did not expect the crowds,” Russell said. “So now that we know that we’re going to be getting a crowd, we’re actually going to try to do a little bit more next year to improve — maybe get more carolers, more events going on, more vendors — trying to build on top of what we had last night.” 3