Farmers Weekly Review

By Stephanie Irvine

Residents of the Village of Elwood were in for a special treat on December 6 when two special guests attended the tree-lighting ceremony and holiday light parade.

Mr. and Mrs. Claus flew in from the North Pole on their sleigh, pulled by their reindeer with the most famous reindeer of all, Rudolph, lighting the way.

The couple, known locally as Jill and Paul Mihelich of Elwood, have been annual participants.

“We’ve been doing this since it’s been a parade, and we did it when it was in the hall,” Paul Mihelich said.

Residents and those participating in the parade assembled outside the Elwood Village Hall in anticipation of the official light switch flip that lit up the Village Hall’s Christmas tree.

Elwood Mayor Doug Jenco had the honor of flipping the switch.

Jenco kicked off the event with a few words to a small crowd assembled outside the Village Hall to see the tree lit up. He thanked everyone for coming and wished everyone a Merry Christmas before flipping the big switch that lit the Village’s Christmas tree.

Once the switch was flipped, attendees made their way back to their cars or parade floats for the light parade. The light parade included about ten vehicles decorated and lit up with Christmas lights slowly weaving up and down Village streets.

Jackson Township Assessor Delilah LeGrett brought her kids out, complete with her youngest daughter, Vivian, age 3, dressed up as an elf.

“The elf loved seeing Santa!” LeGrett said.

The Elwood Police and Fire Departments participated, as did Public Works and a float with Village officials, including Administrator Julie Friebele and Village President Doug Jenco.

The Elwood cheer and baseball teams had floats. Jackson Township also had their truck in the parade.

Elwood residents Valerie and David Darin attended the lighting ceremony with their family and nieces. This year, they drove a truck in the parade for the Elwood Baseball team.

“It’s just a great, small-town thing,” David Darin said of the event.

The event delighted all ages, especially the little ones bundled up with rosy cheeks and noses, pink from the cold.

Elwood resident Ehrin Villalobos, who is on the parks and rec committee, attended the tree-lighting with her daughter, Rory, age 3.

When asked what her favorite part of the parade was, Rory excitedly replied, “All the decorations!”

In the neighborhoods, residents snuck out of their warm houses to collect candy canes and chocolates tossed from the parade floats. The streets weren’t packed in the way that they are for the Elwood Days Parade, but a drive through the neighborhoods showed plenty peeking out of windows, waiting for the lights to arrive.

Some even had golf carts and ATVs decked out in holiday lights, like Ashleigh and David Duda, who waited on the corner for the parade to come through with their 2-year-old son.

They were all bundled up and expressed their excitement and gratitude that the Village does the lighted parade.

Ashleigh Duda explained that they had been coming out since its inception.

“We love it,” she said of the holiday event.

Elwood is certainly embodying the holiday spirit, having just wrapped up a toy drive with Jackson Township. They also have a winter coat drive in the entryway to the Village Hall.

Residents who missed the light parade can drive through the Village to experience the festivity.

The Village Hall is completely decked out with lights, and several lighted figurines are set up throughout the property. There is even a mailbox for letters to Santa.

Stephanie Irvine is a freelance reporter.

The Elwood cheerleaders are bundled up together on their float as they await the start of the parade.

Ehrin Villalobos poses for a quick picture with her daughter Rory, age 3, next to Santa’s mailbox.

Mayor Doug Jenco flips the switch to light the Village tree.