Highland Around Town — April 5 edition

▪ Noon Friday, April 7, 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, April 5

▪ 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.

▪ 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 (men’s, women’s, 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, April 6

▪ Diabetes Support Group — 4 p.m. Frisse Conference Room, HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland, 12866 Troxler Ave., Highland. Open to those with diabetes and their family members and/or caregivers. The group meets on the first Thursday of each month. Participants will be required to wear non-cloth, medical-grade masks, as masks are still required in health care facilities per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. Registration is required. 618-526-5743 or lisa.ketchem@hshs.org to register or for more information.

▪ National Alliance on Mental Illness: NAMI Family Support Group — 7-8:30 p.m. Online via Zoom. The Family Support Meetings are for family members, significant others, and/or friends of persons with a mental health condition. First Thursday of every month. Facilitators will vary. For information: kelly.nami.swi@gmail.com or 618-798-9788.

Friday, April 7

▪ Tri Township Library Book Sale — There will be no book sale on Friday, April 7, at the Tri Township Library, 209 S. Main St., Troy. The next book sale will be Saturday, April 15. Please note that our Bookmark Calendars had the wrong date for the Saturday in April Book Sale. The Saturday in April Book Sale is April 15.

▪ Missouri Arbor Day Tree Giveaway — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Kemper Center for Home Gardening, Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis. Celebrate Arbor Day in Missouri and receive a free Missouri native tree sapling from the William T. Kemper Center for Home Gardening. Kemper Center staff will provide planting and care tips and will be available to answer your tree care questions. Others who will help us celebrate the day include the St. Louis Arborists Association, Missouri Department of Conservation, and Spire. Included with Garden admission. Tree saplings available while supplies last. mobot.org

▪ 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 Illinois 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.

▪ Good Friday Event: ‘It’s About the Cross’ — 6:30 p.m. Highland Community Church, 2307 Broadway, Highland. An evening of music, reflection and God’s Word. Reception following. 618-654-5751.

Saturday, April 8

▪ The Sheldon presents: A Tribute to Dean Martin and Friends — 8 p.m. The Sheldon, 3648 Washington Blvd., St. Louis. From Las Vegas to The Sheldon — “Dean Martin and Friends” — a hilariously-entertaining tribute starring Tom Stevens. It’s a non-stop parade of spot-on impressions that will not only amaze but also make you laugh until your sides hurt! It’s the perfect cocktail of music and fun brought to you by one of the most exceptional talents Vegas has to offer. thesheldon.org

Tuesday, April 11

▪ 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 12

▪ National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) Alvin G. Bohley Chapter 1019 — 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. O’Town Food Hall and Tap House, 1214 Central Park Drive, O’Fallon. Speaker at noon on COVID After Effects followed by meeting. All active and retired federal and postal employees are welcome. Speakers/meetings held the second Wednesday of each month except for May and December socials. NARFE remains the go-to resource for the federal community. For information, contact James at jbflat2021@outlook.com or 618-795-5174.

Other area happenings

▪ Race for Love: 2023 5K Charity Run for Leaps of Love — 8 a.m. Sunday, April 16. The Hettenhausen Center for the Arts, 400 N. Alton St., Lebanon. The 5K Race for Love lets us support Leaps of Love, an organization located in Highland that embraces families that are or have been affected by childhood cancer. To register or for more info: mcksportmgmt.com.

▪ HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland Drive-Thru Health Fair — 6-10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 18, and Wednesday, April 19. Highland-Pierron Fire Department, 12611 Iberg Road, Highland. Includes comprehensive blood screenings, prostatic-specific altigen screenings, hemoglobin A1C, Vitamin D screening. The health fair is a self-pay service. No payments will be taken at the time of pre-registration; payment will be expected the day of the health fair by cash or check only. Participants are strongly encouraged to arrive with exact cash or a check written out totaling the amount of the services they are to have on the day of the health fair. Those wanting to attend must register for an appointment online at stjosephshighland.org/healthfair before Sunday, April 16. 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 25, 2023 at 12:00 AM.