Highland Around Town — March 22 edition

Noon Friday, March 24, 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 22

▪ National Alliance on Mental Illness: NAMI Connection Recovery Support Group — 6:30-8 p.m. Online via Zoom. Free peer-to-peer support group for adults with a mental health condition working towards recovery. Every Wednesday. Open the Zoom app and enter 3914844542. For information: kelly.nami.swi@gmail.com or 618-798-9788.

▪ First Mid Bank & Trust Easter Baskets — Through Friday, March 24. First Mid Bank & Trust, 12616 Illinois 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.

▪ Shoe Collection Drive Fundraiser — Through Saturday, May 6. Bulldog Barber Shop, 1008 Laurel St., Highland. Fundraising for 4 Paws for Ability Autism Assistance Dog for 22-month-old Tucker. How to help: Donate new or gently worn shoes (mens, womens, or kids—no cleats, please) at Bulldog Barber Shop. Pick up can be arranged for group donations. The goal is to collect 100 bags of shoes to raise funds to help cover fees for a service dog for Tucker. For more info: facebook.com/4paws4tucker.

Thursday, March 23

▪ Exhibit Opening: ‘Here I Have Lived: Home in Illinois’ — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Jan. 21, 2024. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, 212 N. Sixth St., Springfield. The major new exhibit will explore the elusive idea of “home” and the many different ways Illinoisans have made this state their home over the centuries. presidentlincoln.illinois.gov

▪ Highland Garden Club — 6:30 p.m. Latzer Library Auditorium, lower level, 1001 9th St., Highland. Randy Harrison, Master Gardener, Naturalist and Astronomer will talk about Astronomy and Moon Gardens. If weather permits, telescope viewing will be available following the program. Guests are always welcome.

▪ National Alliance on Mental Illness: Family Support Group — 7-8:30 p.m. Online via Zoom. These support meetings are for family members, significant others and/or friends of persons with a mental health condition. Facilitators: Pat Rudloff and Beverly Churchill. Held the fourth Thursday of the month. For information: kelly.nami.swi@gmail.com or 618-798-9788.

Friday, March 24

▪ 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.

Saturday, March 25

▪ Boat America Course — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Lake Lou Yeager Beach House, 4943 Beach House Trail, Litchfield. This exciting, in-depth boating safety course will give you knowledge to enhance your boating experience. It will cover general boating terms, boating laws and regulations, boating equipment, navigation rules, operating your vessel safely, anchoring, personal watercraft and so much more. The boating class will give you the knowledge needed to obtain a boat license or safety certification. In Illinois, those born after Jan. 1, 1998, need to have one to pilot a boat. Cost: $25, includes the course book, boating safety certificate, boating safety wallet card and end of course exam. A $5fee for each additional person, after a book has been purchased, includes the certificate, wallet card and end of course exam. To guarantee a book and seating, register by contacting Public Education Officer Larry Miller at 618-616-9415, eljayem@gmail.com.

Saturday, March 25 & Sunday, March 26

▪ 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.

Sunday, March 26

▪ Central Illinois Numismatic Association 33rd 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, American eagles, paper money. Admission: $1. Members of the Central Illinois Numismatic Association and children under 16 get in free. Open to the public. 217-528-7634.

Tuesday, March 28

▪ 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

▪ Community Link Run for Possibilities Gala — 5 p.m. Saturday, April 1. American Legion, 575 N. Main St., Breese. The evening will kick off with a cocktail reception at 5 p.m. The silent auction, photo booth, and horse wheel will be available. Dinner, catered by Cygan and Delaney, will begin at 6 p.m. with the games and celebration commencing about 7:15 p.m. The night will round out with a live auction followed by the drawings for the race winners at 10:15 p.m. For tickets and info: commlink.org/gala.

▪ 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 14, 2023 at 12:00 AM.