Fomer La Grange Village workers’ household donates Vacation tree

The Bible has a passage in John 16:16, 20 the place Jesus is quoted as saying “you can be sorrowful, however your sorrow will flip into pleasure.”

The late Fred McSwine, Sr., a La Grange Village worker and longtime resident, might need come throughout that passage in some unspecified time in the future, as a result of he planted a tree in honor of the 12 college students and 1 instructor that have been killed within the 1999 mass capturing at Columbine Excessive Faculty in Colorado.

That very same 15-foot pine tree was transported to the La Grange Village Corridor Monday to be the Village’s official 2023 Vacation Tree.

“A neighbor instructed me that your dad was so upset when that occurred, he instructed her he was going to get a tree and plant it,” McSwine’s daughter Shirley mentioned in a current phone interview. “He was so upset he didn’t know what to do.”

McSwine’s mom nonetheless lives in the identical home on Bluff Avenue, and can flip 93 on New 12 months’s Eve. Her father would have been 95 on Christmas Day.

And the household’s reward to the Village doesn’t shock Village President Mark Kuchler.

“La Grange is a group the place neighbors assist each other and have fun collectively,” he mentioned. “This yr’s tree, donated by the McSwine household, would be the centerpiece of our Vacation Stroll on Dec. 2, the place households can benefit from the magic of the season, due to the hospitality of our companies and the dedication of the La Grange Enterprise Affiliation and Village Workers.”

Whereas the disclosing of the Vacation Tree is the unofficial starting of the La Grange Hometown Holidays, a celebration in its thirty second yr, it formally begins at 5 p.m. Dec. 2 with the La Grange Vacation Stroll.

“The La Grange Vacation Stroll has been a practice for households for 30 years,” Deputy Village Supervisor/Group Improvement Director Charity Jones, mentioned. “Our charming outlets, eating places, and 1000’s of twinkling vacation lights all through La Grange create the right setting to take pleasure in a night with family and friends.”

The festivities start with Santa’s arrival by hearth truck and final till 9 p.m. Included will likely be Vacation Choirs, a petting zoo, pony rides, kiddie trains.

The presenting sponsor of Hometown Holidays is Dubak Electrical; co-organizers sponsors are the La Grange Enterprise Affiliation (LGBA), and the Village of La Grange.

Ice sculptures and oversize mild shows will brighten numerous locations downtown, and letters to Santa will likely be composed on the Stone Avenue Practice station.

“The Vacation Stroll is a magical occasion in La Grange,” Cathy Domanico, Govt Director of LGBA, mentioned. “The Vacation Stroll has one thing for everybody and features a go to from Santa, the lighting of the official vacation tree, and from our native retailers and eating places.”

Among the many vacation actions scheduled is the Digital Vacation Want Ebook, an occasion begun 4 years in the past that has turn into a well-anticipated a part of La Grange’s Hometown Holidays.

The Want Ebook, sponsored by Horton’s Dwelling Lighting, is a 32-page interactive on-line flip guide providing particular items from 27 native companies.

The Want Ebook opened on Nov. 14 and can run by way of December 31. Every native retailer will showcase 3 to five fashionable vacation items. Collaborating companies embrace longtime La Grange corporations like Horton’s, TATES Outdated Long-established Ice Cream, and the La Grange Artwork League.

Newer additions to the La Grange companies group taking part will likely be Olivaceto, Jack’s West Finish, and Crumbl Cookies.

“The Vacation Want Ebook is an thrilling digital procuring device that brings out native companies and distinctive reward concepts to anybody,” Domanico mentioned. “We invite everybody to buy the want guide this yr to get their vacation procuring completed from the consolation of their properties whereas supporting native companies.”

(Data on the Digital Vacation Want Ebook may be discovered at lagrangewishbook.com)

Subsequent up will likely be Small Enterprise Saturday, an annual flash sale on Saturday, November 25.

Greater than 20 small La Grange companies will provide customers particular affords and restricted time affords between 10 a.m. and three p.m.

Horton’s Dwelling Lighting will give a $25 bounce again coupon to clients that spend $50 or extra. The coupon will likely be legitimate from Nov. 27 by way of Dec. 24; the La Grange Artwork League will give 50% off prints of the Stone Avenue Practice Station by Botes; Santiago’s Mexican Restaurant will give clients a 20% off coupon for his or her subsequent go to after they purchase $100 price of reward playing cards or $75 price of Patron Tequila.

“There’s delight and energy in procuring domestically and placing cash straight in our group,” Domanico mentioned. “Our Small Enterprise Saturdays are vital for all of our small companies in La Grange.”

JAYNE, a ladies’s clothes boutique, is the presenting sponsor of the Small Enterprise Saturday Flash Sale.

For additional data on the La Grange Hometown Holidays may be discovered at lagrangeevents.com.

Hank Beckman is a contract reporter for Pioneer Press.