O’Fallon Around Town — Nov. 4 edition
Noon Thursday, Nov. 4, 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: O’Fallon Progress Around Town, Belleville News-Democrat, P.O. Box 427, Belleville, IL 62222-0427. Questions, call Jennifer Green at 618-239-2643.
Thursday, Nov. 4
▪ The Hett Film Art Series: ‘Kinky Boots’ (2005) — 6 p.m. Russel E. and Fern M. Hettenhausen Center for the Arts, 400 N. Alton St., Lebanon. Based on a true story, the film tells of a struggling British shoe factory’s young, strait-laced owner, who forms an unlikely partnership with a drag queen to save the business. Rated PG-13. 1 hour, 48 minutes. Screen Talk host: Dr. Jessica Campbell, associate professor of English. Free admission. 618-537-6863 or thehett.com.
▪ 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, Nov. 4, through Sunday, Nov. 21
▪ 30th annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival — Thursday, Nov. 4, through Sunday, Nov. 21. Tivoli Theatre, 6350 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, and Webster University Winifred Moore Auditorium, 470 E. Lockwood Ave., Webster Groves, Missouri. Screenings at the Tivoli will take place Thursday, Nov. 4, through Sunday, Nov. 14, and Thursday, Nov. 18, through Sunday, Nov. 21. Viewings at Winifred Moore Auditorium will be held Friday, Nov. 5, through Sunday, Nov. 14. For the festival schedule and ticket information: cinemastlouis.org
Friday, Nov. 5
▪ Book Sale — 9 a.m. to noon. Tri Township Library, 209 S. Main St., Troy. Book donations are accepted during the book sale and on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library. 618-667-2133.
▪ O’Fallon Fish Fry — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. Fridays. Knights of Columbus Hall, 402 E. U.S. 50, O’Fallon. Traditional menu of cod available along with hamburgers, hot dogs, pork steaks and additional side dishes. Dine-in and carryout. Credit cards accepted. Orders can be called in at 618-632-6229.
▪ Shiloh Eagles Fish Fry — 5-7 p.m. Shiloh Eagles 545, 100 Eagle Drive, Shiloh. Cod, walleye, catfish, shrimp and sides. Full menu. Dine-in or carryout available. For carryout, call 618-624-5412.
▪ St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: Mozart, Brahms and Nikolaj — 7:30 p.m. Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis. Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider, frequent guest conductor and soloist, plays alongside SLSO musicians for a night of enchanting chamber music. W.A. Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet glides through Powell Hall, beaming all the while. Johannes Brahms‘ String Sextet is an emotional tour—loving, lamenting, excited, and serene. For tickets and information, visit slso.org.
Saturday, Nov. 6
▪ Prepared Childbirth Class — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, 1 St. Elizabeth’s Blvd., O’Fallon. These classes teach relaxation techniques, controlled breathing, physical and emotional changes that occur during labor and birth. Pain control options are discussed. Both mother and support person learn how to take an active part in the birth process. Cost: $20. To register, email childbirtheduc@hshs.org. hshs.org/StElizabeths
▪ Food for Vets Food Drive — 10 a.m. to noon. Urban League St. Clair County Division, 10220 Lincoln Trail, Fairview Heights. Food supplies will be available for the first 155 registered veteran families in need. Drive-thru pick up. To register, call 314-680-2905 or visit TheKaufmanFund.org
Saturday, Nov. 6, through Sunday, Nov. 7
▪ St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: Stéphane Conducts Shostakovich — 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 7. Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis. Stéphane Denève believes in the healing power of music. James Lee III processes the grief of his father’s death in “Emotive Transformations.” Dmitri Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony responds to stinging criticism with defiance and renewal. Jean Sibelius’s Violin Concerto, with soloist Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider, is an intimate conversation between close musical friends. For tickets and information, visit slso.org.
Sunday, Nov. 7
▪ City of the Sun 5K Trail Run — 9 a.m. Cahokia Mounds, 30 Ramey St., Collinsville. Join this rain-or-shine event to help raise funds to preserve Cahokia Mounds. Please be aware that this is a trail run and that the ground may be wet and uneven. Entry fee: $30. For more information: cahokiamounds.org.
Tuesday, Nov. 9, & Tuesday, Nov. 16
▪ Prepared Childbirth Class — 5:30-8:30 p.m. both days. HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, 1 St. Elizabeth’s Blvd., O’Fallon. This two-part class teaches relaxation techniques, controlled breathing, physical and emotional changes that occur during labor and birth. Pain control options are discussed. Both mother and support person learn how to take an active part in the birth process. Cost: $20. To register, email childbirtheduc@hshs.org. hshs.org/StElizabeths
Wednesday, Nov. 10
▪ O’Fallon Sunrise Rotary Meeting — 6:45 a.m. O’Fallon Township Building, 801 E. State St., O’Fallon. 618-210-8156 or ofallonsunriserotary.org
Other area happenings
▪ The Rotary van is back in service. All restrictions have been lifted and trips to Walmart, Target and St. Clair Square mall will resume. Call the Township office at 618-632-3517 for reservations.
▪ Polar Express Train Ride — Nov. 17-Dec. 30. St. Louis Union Station, 201 S. 18th St., St. Louis. Tickets are now on sale for the Polar Express Train Ride holiday attraction at St. Louis’ Union Station. Tickets start at $35. Prices will vary by day and time. stlthepolarexpressride.com
Residents encouraged to participate in Veterans Day programs
Mayor Herb Roach and the O’Fallon City Council encourage the residents of O’Fallon to participate in the annual VeteransvDay parade, beginning at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 11, at the O’Fallon Community Park. In addition to the parade, the annual Veterans Day program will be at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 at First Baptist Church, 1111 E. U.S. 50.
The Veterans Day program will include the introduction of the new inscriptions to the monument; the O’Fallon Township High School AFJ ROTC Program; VFW Post 805; Athena King, OTHS Student Choir; Mayor Herb Roach; Maj. Gen. Donald W Bennett, USAF (retired); in addition to many others. The featured guest will be Maj. Gen. Vincent Barker, USA, Chief of Staff, USTRANSCOM.
As per current COVID-19 mandates in Illinois, masks are required to enter the church building.
For more information about the ceremony, please visit the monument website at ofallonveteransmonument.org.
Local organization sponsors student essay contest
The Looking Glass Prairie Chapter, National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, is sponsoring an American history essay contest. Students in grades fifth-eighth attending a public, private, or parochial school, and those who are home schooled in O’Fallon, Lebanon, Collinsville, and Shiloh all qualify. This contest is conducted without regard to race, religion, gender or national origin.
Students should base their essay on the following: “November 11, 2021, marks the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Imagine that you had a brother who lost his life on the battlefields of France during World War I. You and your family attended the November 11, 1921, dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington, D.C. Describe what this meant to you and your family. Why is it important to remember those who gave their lives to serve our nation?”
The deadline is Wednesday, Dec. 1. One essay at each grade level will be selected as the chapter winner. Chapter winners will receive a medal and certificate and advance to compete with winners from other district chapters. For more contest details, please contact Nicole at nicoleddrayer@gmail.com.
O’Fallon Police Department news
Eric Buck has been promoted to patrol lieutenant in the O’Fallon Police Department. He has been with the OPD for 19 years, serving in the patrol division and was a narcotics agent for MEGSI. Most recently, Buck was the detective sergeant.
Additionally, Clay Hoff has been promoted to detective sergeant. He has been with OPD for eight years, and served for five years with the Carlinville Police Department before that. Hoff was most recently detached to MEGSI.
“Lt. Buck and Sgt. Hoff both bring excellent work ethics and leadership qualities that will serve our community for years to come. We are fortunate to have them in our command staff,” said O’Fallon Police Chief Eric Van Hook.
Both of these promotions resulted from the recent retirement of Lt. Craig Koch, Van Hook said.