Highland Around Town — Dec. 8 edition
Noon Wednesday, Dec. 8, is the deadline to appear in next week’s “Around Town” listing. We must receive your event in writing with a contact phone number for questions. Due to the number of submissions, events may run only one time in print, will be edited and appear in the week before the event date.
Email: lifestyle@bnd.com. Mail to: Highland News Leader Around Town, Belleville News-Democrat, P.O. Box 427, Belleville, IL 62222-0427. Questions, call Jennifer Green at 618-239-2643.
Thursday, Dec. 9
▪ National Alliance on Mental Illness Southwestern Illinois (NAMI SWI) — 7-8:30 p.m. Online via Zoom. Virtual support meetings for family members and other caregivers of individuals with mental illness. Meetings are peer-led and rely on the knowledge and experiences of the group to help one another. Registration is required in order to receive the link to these meetings. For more information or to register, contact Pat Rudloff at silverlining6@charter.net.
▪ A Gospel Christmas with Oleta Adams — 7:30 p.m. Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis. Ring in the holiday season with gospel renditions of holiday favorites. Returning to Powell Hall, guest artist Oleta Adams joins your SLSO and IN UNISON Chorus, directed by Kevin McBeth, to share this soulful celebration sure to warm your heart. slso.org
Friday, Dec. 10
▪ Red Cross Blood Drive — Noon to 5 p.m. Breese Fire Department, 50 N. Germantown Road, Breese. Appointments are recommended but not required. To make an appointment for the upcoming blood drive visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767.
▪ Highland Fish Fry — 4-7 p.m. VFW Post 5694, 1900 VFW Road, Highland. Fish, chicken, shrimp, sides. Carryout and limited indoor dining. Masks required for customers going through the serving line. No call-in orders. facebook.com/vfwpost5694
▪ Aviston Legion Fish Fry — 4:30-7 p.m. American Legion Post 1239, 601 S. Clinton, Aviston. Cod (baked or fried), catfish, shrimp, chicken strips, fries, baked potato, slaw, applesauce. Dine-in and carryout. 618-228-7311 or avistonlegion.com.
Friday, Dec. 10, through Sunday, Dec. 12
▪ The Hett and State Street Dance Co. co-present ‘The Nutcracker’ — 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10 and Saturday, Dec. 11, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12. The Hettenhausen Center for the Arts, 400 N. Alton St., Lebanon. The ballet classic returns to the Hett this Holiday Season! This timely holiday classic features local dance talent and principals from leading professional companies. thehett.com
Saturday, Dec. 11, through Sunday, Dec. 12
▪ Live at Powell Hall: Disney’s ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’ in Concert — 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12. Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis. Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and all the beloved Muppets star in their adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic tale. Follow Ebenezer Scrooge’s transformation on the big screen through Christmases past, present, and future, while your SLSO performs the music live. There will be no “bah, humbugs” after this! slso.org.
Sunday, Dec. 12
▪ Winter 2021 Concert — 3 p.m. Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Blvd., St. Louis. Showcasing the best young musicians in St. Louis, The Sheldon and HEAL Center for the Arts’ North County Big Band, led by Harvey Lockhart, and The Sheldon’s City of Music All-Star Chorus, led by Maria A. Ellis, provides students with invaluable skills that prepare them for their futures — no matter what their dreams may be. Free admission. Donations accepted at the door. thesheldon.org
Monday, Dec. 13
▪ Red Cross Blood Drive — 3-7 p.m. Carlyle Grade School, 951 6th St., Carlyle. Appointments are recommended but not required. To make an appointment for the upcoming blood drive visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767.
Tuesday, Dec. 14
▪ Red Cross Blood Drive — 1-6 p.m. St. Rose Development Club, 8004 S. First St., St. Rose. Appointments are recommended but not required. To make an appointment for the upcoming blood drive visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-733-2767.
▪ Parents of Addicted Loved Ones — 7-8:30 p.m. Online via Zoom. The PAL group provides education, support and hope to family members and loved ones of someone who has an addiction of substance use disorder. If you would like to join the teleconference, please call/text 618-567-6095 or email craigloddeke@yahoo.com. palgroup.org
▪ 2nd annual Jingle Jam to Benefit the Collinsville Food Pantry — 7-9:30 p.m. Old Herald Brewery & Distillery, 113 E. Clay St., Collinsville, and live streamed from Old Herald’s Facebook page. Featuring seven acoustic acts. Old Herald will provide a free beer to adults who bring a new, unwrapped toy. Additional food and beverages will be available for purchase, and the venue will donate a dollar for every pint of beer or cocktail purchased during the show. Fifty tickets are available at $25 each, with 100% of proceeds benefiting the Collinsville Food Pantry’s holiday drive. oldheraldbrewing.com
Wednesday, Dec. 15
▪ ImpactLife Blood Drive — 1:30-5:30 p.m. Deien Chevrolet, 555 N. Madison St., Trenton. All person’s age 17 and up (or 16 with a signed parental permission form) who weigh at least 110 lbs. and are in general good health meet the basic eligibility requirements for blood donation. All donors will get their choice of a long sleeve T-shirt or a gift card. bloodcenter.org
Wednesday, Dec. 15, through Thursday, Dec. 16
▪ Mercy Holiday Celebration at Lindenwood — 7:30 p.m. both days. J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts, Lindenwood University, 2300 W. Clay St., St. Charles, Missouri. Check laughter and cheer off your holiday list at the SLSO’s Mercy Holiday Celebration. Sing along to your favorite holiday classics performed by the orchestra and Denzal Sinclaire, plus, enjoy a special visit from Santa Claus himself! This unforgettable experience will put you in the holiday spirit and show you why thousands of St. Louisans make this concert an annual tradition. slso.org
Other area happenings
▪ Due to supply issues the Highland Optimist Club will be suspending the Christmas tree sales for the 2021 Christmas season and will return for the 2022 Christmas season. The Highland Optimist Club thanks all past and future customers for their loyal business and wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas!
Harris Cemetery in Alhambra
The Harris Cemetery of Alhambra has burial sites for sale. The price is $100 per burial site during the 2021 calendar year. The board of directors voted to increase the price to $200 per burial site effective Jan. 1, 2022, in order to help assure on-going cemetery maintenance. Anyone interested in purchasing sites at the $100 rate should contact Dennis Brueggemann at 618-488-2629 before Monday, Dec. 20.
Harris Cemetery of Alhambra is located in a quiet, shaded area southwest of Alhambra. The entrance to the cemetery is along Alhambra Road, approximately 1/2 mile south of Illinois 140. The Harris Cemetery Association operates the cemetery, which is not affiliated with a church.
The board of directors encourages the purchase of burial sites during December, especially for those considering such a purchase but have not yet acted.
This story was originally published November 28, 2021 at 12:00 AM.