"I didn't realize there was a neighborhood back there!" That's the most common comment that I get when showing homes to prospective buyers in the Ginger Creek neighborhood of Glen Carbon, Illinois. The entrance to the popular subdivision is filled with professional office buildings that house medical offices and associations. Behind those offices, the residential part of Ginger Creek is tucked away in its own, quiet world. You'll know you've reached Ginger Creek when you see the charming red mill and water wheel pictured to the right. Located off of IL-157, Ginger Creek is close to everything. Less than a mile from the Edwardsville High School, it's also a close drive to I-270, I-255 and the highways and byways of Madison County. If you commute to work in the county or to the west side ... 09/02/2009

Take a leisurely drive down Meridian Road in Glen Carbon and you'll pass the entrance to the lovely Somerset subdivision on the west side of the street. (Heed my advice and be sure the drive is "leisurely," if you know what I mean, because the speed limit is just 30 mph on Meridian.) Currently there are four homes for sale in this prestigious neighborhood. Three are one-and-a-half story models and one is a two-story. They range in square footage from a high of 3,800 square feet to a low of 2,584. The largest offers five bedrooms and the other three are four-bedroom homes. The Somerset homes currently for sale range in price from $285,000 to $339,900.  See the homes for sale in Glen Carbon's Somerset neighborhood (current as of September 2, 2009).  (Note: If you're reading this post much... 09/02/2009

Every once in awhile, there is that special real estate transaction where everyone is very happy.  Below are the buyers and sellers at such a deal that closed today.  Notice the smiles.  That is what keeps me in the business.  Certainly it's not the size of the sale, or the commission, it's the size of the smiles.  The young couple are my clients, first time buyers.  The seller, Mike, (that's his SUV) is a real estate agent from Missouri, but in this case, he was just the owner and seller.  (His property was listed by an Illinois agent that represented him.)  Mike, as the owner, went far beyond what he had to do.  He fixed things that didn't have to be fixed, painted things that didn't have to be painted, cleaned things that were clean - all to make sure the buyers were getting the best... 08/27/2009

Once apon a time, Glen Carbon, Illinois was just a small coal-mining village on the east side of the Mississippi River near St. Louis.  But today the thriving town is ranked as one of Money magazine's 2009 Top 100 Places to Live. Learn more about Money's ranking here. The village's children attend schools in the Edwardsville School District or a variety of private institutions. The award-winning Glen Carbon Centennial Library is one of the country's top small libraries and Glen Carbon's covered bridge is a well-known symbol of the village. This is one of a series of blog posts that will take a look at the neighborhoods of Glen Carbon. The popular Savannah Crossing neighborhood is located along Old Troy Road on the southeast side of the village. Homes in Savannah Crossing are noted for t... 07/28/2009

We knew it all along, of course, but it's nice to hear someone else say it:  Glen Carbon, Illinois has been named among Money Magazine's Top 100 Places to Live.  The publication's researchers fanned out across the country this year to find America's top small towns. They looked at housing, school districts, employment figures, crime and a variety of other indicators to come out with the Top 100 list. Glen Carbon began life as a 19th-century coal mining village here in southwestern Illinois. Today the vibrant community is close to Southern Illinois University at Edwardsvillle and is a commuter's dream with easy access to I-270, I-55, I-70 and I-255. As one of St. Louis' Illinois suburbs, Glen Carbon also serves as a place to live for employees who work throughout the Missouri and Illinoi... 07/14/2009

Yanda Log Cabin Opens for 2009The historic Yanda Log Cabin in Old Town Glen Carbon (pictured right) is now open for the season.  The cabin and grounds are available for rent for special events. Call 288-7271 for reservation information. The Yanda Log Cabin is located at 148 South Main Street in Glen Carbon. Built by Austrian immigrant and blacksmith William Yanda in 1853, the cabin is a beloved relic from the region's past.Glen Carbon's Arbor Day Ceremony, April 25Think green this spring by attending the village's annual tree planting ceremony. The Arbor Day event will be led by the Mayor, who will host a ribbon cutting for a new self-guided nature walk. A tree planting clinic and children's activities also will be held. Activities will take place at Greenspace North on Saturday, April ... 04/18/2009

Pssst, hey Buddy, want to dump an old computer?  No, the streets of Edwardsville and Glen Carbon aren't suddenly filled with shady characters offering to take your out-of-date electronics. It's actually Madison County's recycling program kicking into high gear just in time for spring cleaning. You can recycle your old computers, TVs, cell phones and small electric household appliances this coming Saturday, April 18, in the Sears Auto Center parking lot at the Alton Square Mall.  The event runs from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.    Sponsored by the Sierra Club, Madison County Recycling, Totall Metal Recycling and the mall, the collection event is for Madison County, Illinois residents only. Attendees should be prepared to show proof of residency. Bring those computers, but remember that no large a... 04/15/2009

March is coming in like a lion at the award-winning Glen Carbon Centennial Library. Get ready to release your tensions at a series of free yoga classes. Bring your own mat and enjoy the sessions held at 6:30 p.m. tonight, March 3, and again on the 17th and 31st. Would you like to join the Library's Book Club?  The next meeting is March 10 at 6:30 p.m. This month's title is Loving Frank by Nancy Horan. New members are always welcome.  If you have a soon-to-be-college-aged child you know what FAFSA means and you know it can be a daunting process to apply for the Federal college aid. Get the information you and your child need to plan, apply, and pay for a college education during this free program on Thursday, March 12 at 6 p.m. Did you know that seniors are one of the savviest group of g... 03/03/2009

The Madison County Recycling Program is hard at work again helping everyone stay safe and green. if you have household hazardous waste, it can be turned in on Saturday, September 27 from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m.  Just take your items to the Madison County Wood River Facility at 101 E. Edwardsville Road in Wood River. (That's the former Wood River Hospital.) You will be asked to show proof of Madison County residency to participate. If you have questions, call the Madison County Recycling Hotline at 618-296-6647 or click on www.madisoncountyrecycles.com. (Car lovers can be environmentally responsible too by taking part in the Used Tire Collection event on October 3 and 4. Your worn tires can be turned in on October 3 & 4 at the Nike Base Storage Facility on Fruit Road north of Marine, IL.) 08/20/2008

Glen Carbon, Illinois is beautiful anyway, but the G.L.E.N. (Gardening,Landscaping,Enhancing Nature) Committee is working to make it look even better. They're hosting a special meeting at the Glen Carbon Community Center on August 13, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. The committee will be viewing plans for the new village limits welcome signs and discussing landscaping ideas for these sites.  The public -- and that means you -- is invited. For more news about Glen Carbon, visit http://www.glen-carbon.il.us. 08/09/2008