Highland Around Town — March 30 edition

Noon Wednesday, March 30, 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 30

▪ 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 31

▪ ImpactLife Blood Drive — 2-5 p.m. Jim’s Formal Wear, 804 E. Broadway, Trenton. Appointments are required. 800-747-5401 or bloodcenterimpact.org.

▪ 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.

Thursday, March 31, through Saturday, April 2

▪ Triad High School presents ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ — 7 p.m. all three days. Triad High School, 703 US-40, Troy. Set in the little village of Anatevka, the story centers on Tevye, a poor milkman, and his five daughters. With the help of a colorful and tight-knit Jewish community, Tevye tries to protect his daughters and instill them with traditional values in the face of changing social mores and the growing anti-Semitism of Czarist Russia. Rich in historical and ethnic detail, the play’s universal theme of tradition cuts across barriers of race, class, nationality and religion, leaving audiences crying tears of laughter, joy and sadness. Tickets are $5 adults, $3 students and seniors.

Friday, April 1

▪ Book Sale — 9 a.m. to noon. Tri Township Library, 209 S. Main St., Troy. Book donations accepted during the sale and on Tuesdays 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Masks are required. 618-667-2133.

▪ 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.

Sunday, April 3

▪ St. Teresa Church Marydale Drive-Thru Chicken Dinner — 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. or until sold out. St. Teresa Church, 18021 Marydale Road, Carlyle. Packaged meal $12, includes 1/2 fried chicken, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans and slaw. Located six miles north of Carlyle on Route 127. Follow the signs. facebook.com/MarydaleStTeresa

Monday, April 4

▪ Pilobolus: Big Five-Oh! — 7:30 p.m. The Hettenhausen Center for the Arts, 400 N. Alton St., Lebanon. Pilobolus is turning 50! The remarkable company that secured an iconic place in American culture in the early 1970s is still wowing audiences with its irresistible mix of wit, sensuality, and stunning physical acumen. Now, to celebrate 50 years, the tour brings audiences a mix of pieces ranging from the vintage and visionary to the fresh and electrifying. And in the paradoxical Pilobolus tradition of breaking with tradition, the tour presents works dynamically reimagined for a never-before-seen Pilobolus experience. mckendree.edu/the_hett

Tuesday, April 5

▪ 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 6

▪ Free Blood Pressure Checks — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. HSHS Medical Group Multispecialty Care, 1188 S. State Route 157, Edwardsville. High blood pressure is a very common but serious problem. Nearly half of American adults have it, according to the American Heart Association. The free blood pressure checks are available on a walk-in basis, and both established and new patients are welcome. 618-692-5900.

▪ ImpactLife Blood Drive — 2-6 p.m. HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital, 12866 Troxler Ave., Highland. Appointments are required. 800-747-5401 or bloodcenterimpact.org.

▪ The Sheldon presents David Halen, Violin — 8 p.m. Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Blvd., St. Louis. Symphony concertmaster David Halen leads a performance of Mendelssohn’s glorious Octet, written when the composer was only sixteen years old, and performs Richard Strauss’ Sonata for Violin and Piano. Also on the program is a new work for violin and piano by Mizzou composer Emily Shaw. thesheldon.org

Thursday, April 7

▪ The Sheldon Rhythm & Jazz Series: Dianne Reeves — 8 p.m. Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Blvd., St. Louis. Dianne Reeves is one of the pre-eminent jazz vocalists in the world today, known for her virtuosity, improvisational prowess and unique jazz and R&B stylings. She will be joined by longtime bandleader and jazz pianist, Peter Martin. This concert was originally scheduled for Jan. 22. Subscribers and ticket buyers able to make the new date should retain their current tickets. thesheldon.org

Saturday, April 9

▪ Annual Easter Egg Hunt — 2-2:30 p.m. Highland Chamber of Commerce, 1216 Main St., Highland. In case of rain, watch Facebook announcements. Sponsored by Lisa Sauer State Farm. Eggs filled by participating businesses and organizations. 618-654-7402.

Tuesday, April 12

▪ National Alliance on Mental Illness Southwestern Illinois (NAMI SWI) ‘Family to Family’ Course — 6:30-9 p.m. Tuesdays starting April 12. Online via Zoom or in person. A free eight-week educational course for family members and other caregivers of individuals who have a mental illness. Includes evidenced-based information about mental illnesses, treatment options, community resources, coping skills and much more. Registration is required. Email kellyjefferson@charter.net for more information and/or to have your name put on a waitlist.

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.

HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland honors nursing staff

HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland recently honored four registered nurses who continued their clinical development growth by participating in the hospital’s Nursing Clinical Ladder program.

The NCL promotes the lifelong pursuit of expertise of the clinical nurse. The overall goal of the program is to continue to provide high quality nursing care and opportunities for clinical nurses to experience professional growth and advancement. To apply for the program, nurses must complete a pledge of participation to commit to the program over a determined period of time.

There are four levels of clinical growth outlined in the program, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Each level outlines requirements for achievement that increase the higher the level. These include references from co-workers/managers and some exemplars (written illustrations of the nurse’s professional practice) about patients the nurse has cared for and learned from. Nurses are also required to have a selection of continuing education pertinent to their unit.

St. Joseph’s recently honored the following RNs who continued their clinical development growth in the NCL program:

• Lyndsey Gelly for Platinum Level
• Holly Deien, Emily Duffin and Stephanie Grant for Silver Level

Each level has monetary awards for recipients who achieve that level, funded by the HSHS St. Joseph’s Foundation. A total of $6,000 was divided amongst the four individuals depending on the level of achievement reached.

Teresa Cornelius, chief nursing officer, shared, “I congratulate these nurses whose participation in this program demonstrates their commitment to advancing their knowledge, leadership and practice excellence. Their dedication ultimately leads to higher quality care for our patients.”

For more information about HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland, visit the hospital’s website at stjosephshighland.org.

This story was originally published March 24, 2022 at 6:04 PM.