Highland Around Town — March 15 edition

Noon Friday, March 17, 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 15

▪ First Mid Bank & Trust Easter Baskets — Through Friday, March 24. 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.

▪ HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland Colleagues & Mission Committee Basket Raffle — Through Friday, March 31. HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland Gift Shop, 12866 Troxler Ave., Highland. Baskets can be viewed near the hospital gift shop. Tickets are $1 each or $5 for six tickets (cash only). Tickets can be purchased Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the St. Joseph’s Gift Shop and 1-4 p.m. at the front registration desk. Winners will be drawn March 31 and notified the first week of April. Proceeds benefit Leaps of Love.

Friday, March 17

▪ Highland Fish Fry — 4-7 p.m. VFW Post 5694, 1900 VFW Road, Highland. Dine-in and carryout. No call-in orders. facebook.com/vfwpost5694

▪ Highland Knights of Columbus Fish Fry — 4-7 p.m. Highland Knights of Columbus, 12454 IL Route 143, Highland. Fried and baked fish, fried shrimp, chicken strip dinners, two sides from fries, cole slaw, macaroni salad, applesauce, plus hush puppies, bread, iced tea, coffee. Cash bar. facebook.com/HighlandKnightsofColumbusCouncil1580

▪ Aviston Legion Fish Fry — 4:30-7 p.m. American Legion Post 1239, 601 S. Clinton, Aviston. Cod (baked or fried), catfish, shrimp, hush puppies, chicken strips, fries, baked potato, slaw, applesauce. Dine-in and carryout. 618-228-7311 or avistonlegion.com.

Friday, March 17 through Sunday, March 19

▪ Hard Road Theatre Productions: ‘Jimmy Buffett’s Escape to Margaritaville’ — 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 17 and Saturday, March 18, and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 19. The Olde Wicks Factory, 1100 5th St., Highland. A musical comedy featuring the most-loved Jimmy Buffett classics, this hilarious, heartwarming musical is the party you’ve been waiting for. Tickets available at hardroad.org or at the Louis Latzer Library.

Saturday, March 18

▪ Carlyle Lake Christmas Tree Recycling/Fish Habitat Improvement Project — 8:30 a.m. Saturday, March 18. Allen Branch Boat Ramp, Eldon Hazlet State Park, Carlyle. Volunteers needed to assist with the annual spring Christmas tree recycling/fish habitat improvement project. The trees will be used to form fish reef structures in Carlyle Lake, which will provide breeding areas and protection for young 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. 618-594-2484, ext. 2 or carlylelake@usace.army.mil.

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

Sunday, March 19

▪ Aviston American Legion Spring Pork Sausage & Roast Beef Dinner — 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aviston American Legion, 601 S. Clinton, Aviston. Menu: Whole-hog pork sausage, roast beef, mashed potatoes/gravy, sauerkraut, green beans, applesauce, dessert. Carryouts made to order, sitdown dining available. 618-228-7311.

▪ Immanuel United Church of Christ-Hamel Chicken Dinner — 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Immanuel United Church of Christ-Hamel, 5838 Staunton Road, Edwardsville. Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, slaw and applesauce. Drive-thru and carryout only. Cost: $12 per meal. Raffle: queen-size quilt, 32-inch TV, Easter table runner, $50 gift card. 618-633-2277.

▪ Buzz’d Beer Festival 2023 — 1-5 p.m. The Old Bakery Beer Company, 400 Landmarks Blvd., Alton. Celebrate the 8th Anniversary of The Old Bakery Beer Company at the Buzz’d Beer Festival. Tickets provide samples of over 50 different beers (and ciders and seltzers) from over a dozen different local breweries, a commemorative glass, live music and an overall good time. Each brewery will have one offering that features flowers, honey or fruit in part of our effort to educate about and celebrate the importance of insect pollinators. Tickets are $35 in advance, $40 at the door. Ten percent of ticket sales will be donated to the Piasa Palisades Sierra Club. Food in line with the theme will be available for purchase, and live music will set the mood for the day. https://bit.ly/3F32MyT

▪ Polka Dance — 2-5 p.m. Highland Knights of Columbus, 12454 IL Route 143, Highland. Doors open at 1 p.m. Live music by Josef Polach and the St. Louis Express. Cash bar, kitchen open. No carry-ins. Admission: $10.

Tuesday, March 21

▪ 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

Other area happenings

▪ Boating Safety Class — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 25. Lake Lou Yaeger’s Milnot Beach House, 4932 Beach House Trail, Litchfield. This course will cover general boating terms, laws and regulations, safety and safety equipment, navigation rules, locks and dams, anchoring and more. While it is intended as an introductory class, those of all skill levels are welcome, however students must be at least 10 years of age to participate. Participants do not need to own a boat to take the class. Pre-registration required by March 20. Fee: $25, includes textbook, Boating Safety Certificate, Boating Safety Wallet Card and end-of-course examination provided by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. A $5 fee for each additional person, after a book has been purchased, includes the certificate, wallet card and examination. Participants are asked to bring a sack lunch. To register, please contact Lake Superintendent Terry Hancock at lake@cityoflitchfieldil.com or call 217-324-5832.

▪ Heartland Community Chorus Spring Concert: ‘Celtic Celebration’ — 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 25, and 3 p.m. Sunday, March 26. St. Paul Church, 1411 Main St., Highland. Enjoy traditional Irish folk music in wonderful choral arrangements. The singers will be joined by a fiddle, penny whistle, bodhran (Irish drum), and additional percussion instruments. In addition to folk songs, there will also be choral settings of poems by William Butler Yeats, the Irish poet who is one of the foremost figures in twentieth century literature. Tickets for the concert are $15 (16 and under are free) and are available from any chorus member, or use your credit card to purchase tickets on the website: heartlandcommunitychorus.org.

▪ HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland Health Fair — 6-10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 4. HSHS Medical Group Family Medicine office at 7342 IL-162, Troy. Includes comprehensive blood screenings, prostatic-specific antigen screenings, hemoglobin A1C and Vitamin D screening. Please wear short-sleeved shirts to make the process easier. Those wanting to attend must register for an appointment online at stjosephshighland.org/troyhealthfair before Wednesday, March 29. There are limited spots available and on-site registration will not be accepted. If you are unable to register online, you can call 618-651-2739 for assistance.

This story was originally published March 5, 2023 at 12:00 AM.