Unwind at Art Gecko Studio in O’Fallon

Maybe mother-daughter duo Robin Springer and Cory Hollerbach are optimistic about their new business because they’ve both got solid pedigrees and they know they’re on to something: Springer is a retired high school art teacher. Hollerbach has a degree in art history.

Hollerbach said Art Gecko Creative Studio, which opened April 4 at 125 E. State St. in O’Fallon, offers patrons a chance to unwind, have fun and “be a kid again.”

“We offer a variety of classes,” Springer said. “You can...learn the basic elements and principles of art.”

Also offered are classes geared toward parents and kids, classes for home-school students and group classes for folks who just want to have fun and be creative for an evening. In the case of the latter, bring your own wine.

Art Gecko is just days old, but Springer and Hollerbach have their eyes set on expansion, eventually hoping to manage a gallery and offering space for artists to rent. Hollerbach said she envisions O’Fallon as the metro-east’s answer to Greenwich Village in New York City.

The studio is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. It’s closed Sundays. The studio can be reached at 618-206-6222.

Red Onion will open this week

Lunch will be served at the Red Onion in Belleville starting April 14, according to kitchen manager David Keck.

The new restaurant occupies a familiar space: 923 W. Main St. used to house Flamingos. Before that, it was the iconic Maxwells Restaurant. The Red Onion will be open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Remodeling at the restaurant is still ongoing, so Keck said dinner won’t be served until that’s done. And when will that be?

Stay tuned.

EPA adds Fairmont City site to superfund list

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday added the Old American Zinc plant site in Fairmont City to its national priorities list.

More commonly known as a “superfund” site, the plant was located on 132 acres along Illinois 111. The smelting that occurred on the property led to “elevated concentrations of metal in the soil and sediment on site,” the EPA said. “Elevated levels of contaminants, including arsenic, cadmium, lead, zinc and manganese, were found at the former plant, in the yards of nearby residences and in Rose Creek. Metals in soil and source materials pose a potential risk to construction workers and surrounding properties.”

Old American Zinc operated from 1916 to 1953.

New location for Hubbard’s Pro/Am

The concealed carry instruction business that has been located at 506 W. U.S. Highway 50 in O’Fallon since 2005 is moving — next door.

That’s according to NAI Desco Vice President Tim Johnston, who represented the seller of 510 W. U.S. Highway 50. The site previously housed the Photographique studio. Hubbard’s Pro/Am co-owner Autymn Hubbard confirmed the deal.

Hubbard said it might be January 2017 before operations are up and running at the new site. Work will start soon on an indoor firing range there, a project Hubbard said will require a $300,000 investment.

Hancock Fabrics will liquidate

Hancock Fabrics is calling it quits, announcing its stores will offer liquidation sales before closing permanently.

The chain has had gobs of trouble in the last decade. After filing for bankruptcy in 2007, the only year it turned a profit was 2009. There are two Hancock locations in the St. Louis area: one at 2025 W. U.S. 50 in O’Fallon and at 1229 S. Kirkwood Road in Kirkwood, Mo.

Casey’s, GCS donate to vets groups

You might have noticed “dog tags” available for purchase at Casey’s General Stores.

They cost a dollar and will be displayed in the stores throughout April. The proceeds from the campaign will go toward the non-profit group Hope For The Warriors.

According to a company statement, the dog tag campaign raised $800,000. Casey’s has donated $3 million to the group over the last five years.

Meanwhile, GCS Credit Union workers bent on wearing jeans to work chipped in $1,275 toward a color run to be held in May that will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.

The money was raised throughout the month of March. In exchange for $15 donations, the employees were allowed to wear jeans to work on Fridays and Saturdays.

The 5K Color Run for the Vets is set for May 7 at Civic Park in Granite City.

Survey says

Tax time means satisfaction — or more appropriately, angst — toward taxes is on the mind. A WalletHub survey explored whether or not residents in the United States felt they got a good return on investment for the federal taxes they pay. Some results:

▪  Illinois ranked 31st best in return on investment of federal tax dollars and 36th lowest in total taxes paid per capita (with 1 being the lowest in taxes paid — must be nice, New Hampshire). Illinois ranked 18th best in government services.

▪  Missouri ranked 7th best in return on investment and 4th lowest in total taxes paid per capita. It ranked 34th best in government services.

▪  Neither Illinois nor Missouri ranked in the top-5 or bottom-5 of the following categories measured: school systems, hospital systems, water quality, road and bridge quality, violent crime rate and percentage of residents in poverty.

This story was originally published April 10, 2016 at 7:00 AM with the headline "Unwind at Art Gecko Studio in O’Fallon."