Jacksonville’s Festival of Lights runs through Dec. 29:
The Jacksonville Festival of Lights will be lighting up the Morgan County Fairgrounds for a second magical year. This winter wonderland is on display November 29 through December 29.
The drive-thru holiday experience will be open 5-8 p.m. each Thursday and Sunday, plus from 5-9 p.m. each Friday and Saturday. Due to popular demand, the lights will sparkle on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day from 5-9 p.m. The price will remain at $10 per vehicle with up to 8 passengers, $20 per vehicle with 9-15 passengers and $50 for buses.
For more information, call Sarah Shellhammer or follow “Jacksonville Festival of Lights”Facebook page.
Jacksonville Festival Of Lights 501(c)(3) can be reached at 1251 E. Morton Ave., Jacksonville, IL 62650, by phone at 217-291-5722 or via email at jacksonvillefestivaloflights@gmail.com.
Jacksonville Festival of Lights is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our mission is to promote enjoying the holiday spirit.
Wade Mathis earns prestigious CFP® certification:
BOS Asset Management, LLC is pleased to announce Wade Mathis has earned his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP) designation and will now serve as a Financial Advisor. Wade joined the Firm in January 2022, and, in partnership with David Heitbrink, manages client relationships and investment portfolios as a fee only fiduciary. Wade’s office is located at Bank of Springfield, 303 W College Avenue in Jacksonville.
The CFP® marks identify those individuals who have met the rigorous experience and ethical requirements of CFP Board, including having successfully completed financial planning coursework at an accredited college or university and passed the 6-hour comprehensive CFP® certification exam. The exam covers the following areas: Professional Conduct and Regulations, General Principles of Financial Planning, Risk Management and Insurance Planning, Investment Planning, Tax Planning, Retirement Savings and Income Planning, Estate Planning and Psychology of Financial Planning.
When Wade’s not working with his clients, he’s spending time with his wife, Lydia, and their twin 4-year-olds Andrew and Noah and their 2-year old daughter Vera. Wade currently serves on the Jacksonville Kiwanis Board of Directors, is in the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce Contact Club, and in his free time enjoys playing golf.
Since December 2020, BOS Asset Management, LLC, has worked to provide both institutional and individual investors an integrated approach to comprehensive financial guidance. Our team of seven financial advisors serve clients across Illinois, Missouri, and Florida. As of November 2024, BOS Asset Management, LLC had assets under management totaling over $747 million.
Building with Brick – The Art of LEGO” returns to the Jacksonville Area Museum:
The talents of area LEGO enthusiasts are once again on display at the “Building with Brick – The Art of LEGO” exhibit at the Jacksonville Area Museum in Jacksonville, Illinois. The exhibit runs from December 1, 2024 to the end of February, 2025.
Exhibit highlights include a three-foot replica of Hogwarts from Harry Potter, a Star Wars display with a Jawa Sand Crawler, an interpretation of the invasion of Utah Beach in World War II, an operational ferris wheel, Rivendell from Lord of the Rings, and many more remarkable builds.
This third-annual exhibit features original and Lego kit creations from all ages and skill levels. Prizes based on public voting will be awarded in 6 categories:
- Best Build from a Kit (all ages)
- Best Original Build (ages 13+)
- Best Original Build (children ages 8-12)
- Best Original Build (children ages 0-7)
- Best Build Highlighting Jacksonville Architecture (all ages)
- Best Build Highlighting Illinois History (all ages)
This exhibit is one of the most popular events each year at the museum. The public will be encouraged to vote in the favorite builds, with $100 Lego gift cards awarded to the top vote-getters.
The museum’s history exhibits are also available for viewing, including the history of the Illinois State Hospital, Abraham Lincoln in Jacksonville, MacMurray College, J Capps and Sons Woolen Mills, Jacksonville Industry, and others. The museum is currently undergoing a 300% expansion of exhibit space, and some of the regular exhibits may not be available at all times during the renovation. Accessibility may also be limited during construction.
The museum is open Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. The Jacksonville Area Museum is located in the old Post Office building at 301 E. State Street. There is no admission fee but a donation of $5 is suggested to keep the museum operating. The exhibit is part of regular admission to the museum.
Visit www.jacksonvilleareamuseum.org for more information or to find out how to become a museum member or volunteer.
Rural Fire Protection and business licenses expire December 31, 2024:
City Clerk Angela Salyer extends a reminder that rural fire protection contracts and licenses for bowling alleys, movie theaters, skating rinks, taxi services, tree trimmers, children’s hospitals, tattoo parlors, and horse drawn vehicles expire with the City of Jacksonville on December 31, 2024.
Annual rural fire protection coverage is provided by the Jacksonville Fire Department. Owners or occupants of rural commercial, industrial, residential and farm property, located within a certain radius of Jacksonville, can obtain this contractual service through application in the City Clerk’s Office. The annual fee is determined by the assessed valuation of your property. Farmsteads are assessed on current improvements upon one-half acre of rural property.
For more information about Rural Fire Protection, please contact Fire Chief Matthew Summers at 217-479-4656 or by email at jfdchief@jacksonvilleil.gov. For more information about renewal of licenses, permits and contracts, please contact the Jacksonville City Clerk’s Office at 200 W. Douglas Avenue, by phone at 217-479-4613, or by email at (cityclerk@jacksonvilleil.gov) weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Our Saviour Grade School and Routt Catholic High School were each recipients of $125,000 from the 2024 Dreams Campaign:
The 2024 Dreams Campaign has been finalized as the proceeds were presented to each school. The campaign is an annual fundraiser to support both Our Saviour Grade School and Routt Catholic High School.
The Dreams Drawing was held on Sunday, September 1 at the Family Fun Festival. Dreams Chair Lindsay English and Co-Chair Amy White awarded $125,000 to both schools. Each year $110,000 is budgeted and this year, with an additional 200 tickets being sold along with the tremendous support received, an extra $15,000 was given to each school, said Lindsay English, campaign chair.
English said she is thrilled with the success of the 2024 campaign and is thankful for the teamwork and collaboration of the Dreams committee and office staff. We are blessed by the support from our parish, our schools and our community. Together, we are making a difference in the education of the students at Routt Catholic High School and Our Saviour Grade School.
Blue Christmas Service — A community gathering for comfort and hope on December 8:
Grief comes in all shapes and sizes because of death, illness, job loss, or other life stressors. It can be hard to grieve or work through difficult challenges during the holidays when everyone else is “holly and jolly.”
Blue Christmas is a community-wide service for anyone who is feeling “blue” during this Christmas season. The event will provide a comforting space and time to grieve and reflect during the holidays.
The public is invited to the Jacksonville Area Conference of Churches Blue Christmas service on Sunday, December 8 at 1 p.m. Jonathan Warren from Jacksonville’s First Presbyterian Church will offer a message of comfort, and others will share their own stories of loss, grief and hope. The event is hosted at Centenary United Methodist Church at 331 East State St. in downtown Jacksonville.
We wish to offer encouragement and hope to those struggling during the upcoming holiday season.
