Highland Around Town — March 23 edition

Noon Wednesday, March 23, 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.

Wednesday, March 23

▪ First Mid Bank & Trust Easter Baskets — Through Friday, April 1. First Mid Bank & Trust, 12616 IL-143, Highland. First Mid Bank & Trust is collecting filled Easter baskets for less fortunate children in the area. Pick up an empty basket at the First Mid branch, fill the basket with goodies for children ages 10 and under and return it by Friday, April 1. Baskets will be distributed by Highland Area Christian Service Ministries to less fortunate children in the area. 618-654-1111, option 1.

▪ Menstrual Hygiene Drive — The whole month of March. Rep. Katie Stuart’s office, 2105 Vandalia St., #16, Collinsville (drop-off location). Collecting essential items like bras, underwear and menstrual hygiene products. Includes unopened boxes of pads, tampons and other menstrual hygiene products. For other drop-off locations: repstuart.com.

Thursday, March 24

▪ Highland Garden Club — 7 p.m. Korte Rec Center, 1 Nagel Drive, Highland. Linda Grinter will present the program, “Birds All Around Us.” 2022 Program Booklets will be available. Guests are always welcome.

▪ 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.

Friday, March 25

▪ Highland Fish Fry — 4-7:30 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, March 25, through Sunday, March 27

▪ McKendree Theatre presents ‘The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong’ — 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 25, and Saturday, March 26; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 27. Hettenhausen Center for the Arts, 400 N. Alton St., Lebanon. A play within a play where its audience witnesses The Cornley Drama Society perform “The Murder at Haversham Manor” as they experience great misfortune, but the show must go on. The actors and crew battle against all odds to make it through to their final curtain call, with hilarious consequences. Tickets and info: 618-537-6863 or thehett.com.

Saturday, March 26

▪ Carlyle Lake Christmas Tree Recycling/Fish Habitat Improvement Project — 8:30 a.m. Dam East Boat Ramp, Carlyle Lake. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers employees have collected over 400 Christmas trees that were discarded after the holiday season. These trees will be used to form fish reef structures in Carlyle Lake, which will provide breeding areas and protection for young fish. The structures also encourage growth of algae and zooplankton, two sources of food for young fish. Recycled Christmas trees make inexpensive and effective habitat for all types of fish. Volunteers are needed to assist with the placement of the trees, helping Park Rangers build tree reefs, or by supplying boats to place the trees in the lake. These contributions will help improve the fish habitat at Carlyle Lake and ensure better fishing opportunities in the future. 618-594-2484.

▪ ImpactLife Blood Drive — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bradford National Bank Platelet Drive, 102 N. Duncan St., Marine. Appointments are required. 800-747-5401 or bloodcenterimpact.org.

▪ The Sheldon presents Flamenco Vivo – Tabalo — 8 p.m. Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Blvd., St. Louis. Experience the powerful spirit of flamenco with America’s premier Spanish dance company! Based in New York, Flamenco Vivo, led by co-founder Carlota Santana, performs throughout the country, building bridges between cultures, performing original choreography and music combined with dramatic, cutting edge works. thesheldon.org

Saturday, March 26, & Sunday, March 27

▪ Heartland Community Chorus: ‘Music for the King’ — 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 26 and 3 p.m. Sunday March 27. St. Paul Catholic Church, 1412 9th St., Highland. Featuring “Mass in D Major” by Antonin Dvorak for chorus and organ, plus additional pieces for the organ, offered by members of the Confluence Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Guest organists on the concert will be Robert Raymond, Gay Anderson and Rene Zajner. Tickets: $15; under 16 free). Tickets available at the door, from chorus members and at heartlandcommunitychorus.org.

Sunday, March 27

▪ Central Illinois Numismatic Association’s 32nd annual Spring Coin Show — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Northfield Center I, 3210 Northfield Drive, Springfield. U.S. and foreign coins, ancient and modern coins, gold and silver bullion, state quarters, paper money. Admission: $1. Members and under 16 get in free. Early bird admission, 7-9 a.m.: $20. 217-528-7634.

Monday, March 28

▪ Red Cross Blood Drive — 1-7 p.m. VFW Hall, 1900 VFW Lane, Highland. To make an appointment, use the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Tuesday, March 29

▪ 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. Free and open to all. For info or to join the Zoom meeting, contact Craig at 618-567-6095. palgroup.org

Wednesday, April 20, & Thursday, April 21

▪ HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland Drive-Thru Health Fair — 6-11 a.m. both days. Highland-Pierron Fire Department, 12611 Iberg Road, Highland. Includes Comprehensive Blood Screenings ($45), 10-hour fast required; Prostatic-Specific Antigen Screenings ($15); Hemoglobin A1C ($10); Vitamin D Screening ($15). Please wear short-sleeved shirts and coats that are easily removed to make the process easier. Those wanting to attend must register for an appointment online at stjosephshighland.org/healthfair before Sunday, April 10. Limited spots available; on-site registration not accepted. If unable to register online, call 618-651-2739.

Madison County Young Authors

The 31st annual Young Authors’ Conference will take place from 8:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 30, at Edwardsville High School, 6161 Center Grove Road, Edwardsville.

The following students (listed by school and grade) will participate:

• Highland Primary: Rhys Goldman (K), Granger Kapp (K), Owen Schuster (1), Eleanor Mitchell (2), Liam Goldman (2)

• Alhambra Primary: Mary Jansen (1), Cecilia Jansen (3), Izybella Loy (3)

• Highland Elementary: Noah Schuster (4), Katie Fenton (5), Cash Jones (5)

• Grantfork Elementary: Peyton Gvillo (4)

• Highland Middle School: Eloise Esmon (6), Joshua Knobloch (6), Elena Batek (7), Callie Wolfe (8), Lilah McCall (8)