Ogle County Newspapers / oglecountynews.com • Friday, Dec 3, 2021
OGLE COUNTY NEWS
8
LOCAL HISTORY
Thanksgiving is over, time to decorate for Christmas
T
hanksgiving is over and we are all full of turkey and dressing. I still have not gotten my pumpkin pie and right now it does not sound all that great. I have come down with a bug and immediately one thinks of COVID-19. So I gave my granddaughter, Dr. Amy, a call. She said quickly that I did not need a COVID test since others in the family had come down with the same thing at the same time. Symptoms were a bit different than the virus. I also have had both vaccinations and a booster. Obviously some small child had something that is typical of little kids and we had several little ones. It was fun to watch the 2 year olds learning to play with their cousins. We also had a 4-month-old passed around from person to person and Holly, the 5-yearold, was helping everyone. This weekend, we had another great grandchild, Mary Elizabeth, baptized in Winston-Salem. I did not even attempt to go down with my knee the way it is. Kyle and Rebecca sent me pictures by email and I enjoyed seeing Mary in the family christening gown. She seemed to sleep through the whole
POLO HISTORY Betty Obendorf event. The O’Connor family had their Thanksgiving/Christmas event that lasted several days. I enjoyed soup night at Susan Zook’s home, which kicked off the big occasion. A big group of them went out to the skating rink at the Pines and they found it to be very lovely. All redone a while back. How many of you remember going to the skating rink? Kenneth and I went there when we dated over 70 years ago. It was fun to skate to Pauline Grant as she played the organ in fine style. We had our skates for many years and we would even go out there and sit in the car and watch the skaters. We always enjoyed listening to the music. It is nice to know that it is still being used by the younger crew. The area is fortunate to have this activity still available. This week I decorated my Christ-
mas tree. Last weekend Krista was here and she got it all straightened in the stand. The cat when she was a kitten spent most of her time in the tree. Each year we bend the branches back up and try to get it looking somewhat presentable. The cat leaves it alone now, but every now and then she flings off a Shiny Brie ball. As soon as the lights are on I have to have it lit as I put on the ornaments. It is a big tree and all the Shiny Brite ornaments go on that particular tree. I am most fortunate to have many Shiny Brite ornaments in their original boxes. Shiny Brite ornaments were the first ornaments to be made in the United States. Max Eckardt, born in Germany, came to the U.S. and settled in New York. He had been importing ornaments to sell from Germany since 1907. He also had been ordering all our holiday cards from Germany as well. Last week Linda was surprised to see how so many of the earlier cards all came from Germany. They are very beautiful and colorful. Next week I will tell you more about Max Eckardt.
• Betty Obendorf is a volunteer for the Polo Historical Society.
POLO CHAMBER CHATTER Polo Christmas Festival Dec. 4 Polo Christmas Festival Christmas Cash 60/40 Raffle Tickets are available at First State Bank, Country Insurance, The Polo Public Library, Scholl Insurance, Inc, Our House Antiques and available during the Christmas Festival. Who wouldn’t love a little extra cash right before the holiday? Make sure to get your tickets for the Polo Christmas Festival’s 60/40 raffle where the winner gets 60% of the proceeds! We are bringing back some community favorites like the House Decorating, Tree Lighting, Carriage Rides, Holiday Stories, Photos with the elves, a visit from the big man himself and a NEW Polo Historic Trolley Tour that will be lead by Betty Obendorf! Shop Local at The Christmas Cupboard, Country Floral and Our House Antiques. There is a Craft and Vendor Show at Crossroads from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., The Cub Scout Pack 337 Christmas Wreath and Swag Fundraiser at St Mary’s Church from 1-3 p.m. Sip and Shop Vendor Fair
Photo provided
Kyle, Rebecca, Anna Fay and Mary Elizabeth Obendorf are pictured here at the christening of Mary Elizabeth.
YOUR ENVIRONMENT 2:30- 7 p.m. located next to Chesty P’s. Visit the Polo Christmas Festival on Facebook for more information. The Polo Lions Club Christmas Dinner is on Saturday, Dec. 4, from 5-7 p .m. at the Polo Fire Station. Sit down or drive-thru service. Donations are accepted with all proceeds going toward local community projects. Decorating Contest Don’t Forget to enter Polo’s Holiday Home Decorating Contest it is open to all homes and businesses within the Polo School District. Residents will be able to vote for their favorite decorations online and winners will be announced in four categories: People’s Choice/Best in Show, Best Use of Lights, Most Creative, Best Business. To view rules and enter your home or business into the Holiday Home Decorating Contest, please visit www.polochamber.org. Voting will take place Dec. 4 thru Dec. 18. Coffee With a Cop Visit the Polo Public Library for Coffee with a Cop on Wednesday’s
at 10:30 a.m. Enjoy a cup of coffee and a nice chat with a Cop. Business After Hours If you are interested and would like to host a Business after Hours or Breakfast before Business call the Chamber at 815-946-3131. Certificates of Recognition The Polo Chamber of Commerce would like to issue Certificates of Recognition to any Polo Chamber of Commerce business members who are celebrating five years of being in business, or those with five-year increments of being in business in Polo. Contact us so that we can announce your special business celebration during our Annual Dinner. Get the Word Out Contact The Polo Chamber of Commerce at 815-946-3131, polochamber@gmail.com, or mail to P.O. Box 116, Polo, IL 61064 if you would like to post your event on the Chamber Sign, Chamber Website (www.polochamber.org), Chamber Face Book Page and/or the Chamber Chatter.
Recycle those old holiday lights The Ogle County Solid Waste Management Department (OCSWMD) is again partnering with local fire departments and villages to offer several convenient drop-off boxes so those frustrating, nonfunctional holiday light strands can be recycled. Drop-off boxes are available at the following fire departments: Rochelle, Byron, Stillman Valley and Mt. Morris. They are also located at the village halls in Polo, Forreston, and Davis Junction and Creston. Light strands are also accepted at the Ogle County courthouse and at the OCSWMD office at 909 Pines Road in Oregon. Boxes will remain at these locations until Jan. 21. Accepted light strands include Italian mini-lights, traditional lights, LED lights, and other holiday light strands. Extension cords are also accepted. Materials not accepted includes rope lights, wreaths, garland, metal stakes or silhouettes, live greens, plastic decorations, timers, and light packaging, plastic bags, or cardboard boxes. Placing just the light strands and cords into the bins increases material value and makes the recycling process more efficient for the processor. Lights and cords will be shipped to Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations in Onalaska, Wisconsin to be recycled. For more information, call 815-732-4020 or visit www. oglecounty.org.
