O’Fallon Around Town — Nov. 18 edition

Noon Thursday, Nov. 18, 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. 18

▪ The Hett Film Art Series: ‘My Octopus Teacher’ (2020) — 6 p.m. Russel E. and Fern M. Hettenhausen Center for the Arts, 400 N. Alton St., Lebanon. A filmmaker forges an unusual friendship with an octopus living in a South African kelp forest, learning as the animal shares the mysteries of her world. Rated G. 1 hour, 30 minutes. Screen Talk host: Dr. Brenda Boudreau, professor of English. Admission is free. 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.

Friday, Nov. 19

▪ Book Sale — 9 a.m. to noon. Tri Township Library, 209 S. Main St., Troy. Book donations accepted during the 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.

Friday, Nov. 19 and Saturday, Nov. 20

▪ St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: Schubert’s Great Symphony — 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 19, and 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20. Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis. Conductor David Danzmayr makes his SLSO debut with music that lives in the ambiguity of human emotions. Franz Schubert’s Symphony No. 9 wavers between light and shadow, between joy and pain. The SLSO gives the U.S. premiere of Anna Clyne’s “PIVOT,” music looking inward, toward a glowing core. Violinist Simone Porter finds vulnerability and spontaneity in the warmth of Max Bruch’s “Scottish Fantasy.” For tickets and information, visit slso.org.

Saturday, Nov. 20

▪ O’Fallon Moose Lodge 2608 BBQ — 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. American Legion Post 137, 109 N. Penn, O’Fallon. Menu includes brats, pulled pork sandwiches, pork steak sandwiches, jumbo turkey legs, plages, sides of coleslaw, potato salad and baked beans. Dine in or carryout. Proceeds will be donated to the O’Fallon High School Hockey Team. 618-632-8879.

▪ Senior Swing Timers Thanksgiving Dance — 7:30-10:30 p.m. American Legion Post 137, 109 N. Penn St., O’Fallon. Dr. Dee is the DJ. Wear Autumn colors for a chance to win a $20 prize. Open to the public. Admission: $12 at the door. 618-277-4540.

Saturday, Nov. 20, & Sunday, Nov. 21

▪ The Philharmonic Society of Belleville and the Belleville School of Ballet present ‘The Nutcracker’ — 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 21. Love Church (formerly Scottish Rite), 1549 Frank Scott Parkway West, Belleville. Tickets are $25 each. bellevillephilharmonic.org

Tuesday, Nov. 23

▪ Community Thanksgiving Service — 7 p.m. Central Christian Church, 1420 Illini Drive, O’Fallon. Special Speaker will be Rev. Jeffrey Roth from Skyline Church in O’Fallon. The public is cordially invited to attend this annual community service. A fellowship time with pie and coffee will follow. For more information, call Pastor Donald Andreasen, Pastor’s Network Chairman, at 618-632-5584.

Wednesday, Nov. 24

▪ 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

Thursday, Nov. 25

▪ Eighth annual Thanksgiving Luncheon — 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Faith Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 520 E. U.S. 50, O’Fallon. This year the event is curbside to go. Open to all residents of Shiloh, O’Fallon, Scott AFB and surrounding areas. All donated food and cash donations not used that day will be given to the O’Fallon and Shiloh food pantries. 618-235-1588 or ofallonthanksgiving@gmail.com.

Monday, Nov. 29, & Tuesday, Nov. 30

▪ ‘Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia: The Latest Advances in Treatment, Care and Research’ — Noon and 5:30 p.m. both days. Keystone Place at Richland Creek, 1050 Fountain Lakes Drive, O’Fallon. Topics include: Forgetfulness: what’s normal and what’s not; What you can do now to reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s; What to do when you suspect a memory problem; Treatments currently available to slow Alzheimer’s, including what to know about a new FDA approved drug; Update on the latest Alzheimer’s research; Resources available for dementia caregivers. Seating is limited and reservations are required. The public may register by calling 618-576-6178 or visiting Info.KeystoneSenior.com/RC-NovEvent.

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.

▪ The Bach Society of St. Louis Chorus presents ‘Thanksgiving and Hope’ — 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 28. St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church, 1411 Cross St., O’Fallon. Doors open at 2:30 p.m. First responders, health care workers, teachers, essential workers, military personnel and all others who served and protected area communities during the pandemic will be celebrated in a free community concert of “Thanksgiving and Hope.” Free admission. General admission seating. Wheelchair accessible. For tickets and information: bachsociety.org.

▪ ‘Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia: The Latest Advances in Treatment, Care and Research’ — Noon and 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 29 and Tuesday, Nov. 30. Keystone Place at Richland Creek, 1050 Fountain Lakes Drive, O’Fallon. Topics include: Forgetfulness: what’s normal and what’s not; What you can do now to reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s; What to do when you suspect a memory problem; Treatments currently available to slow Alzheimer’s, including what to know about a new FDA approved drug; Update on the latest Alzheimer’s research; Resources available for dementia caregivers. Seating is limited and reservations are required. The public may register by calling 618-576-6178 or visiting Info.KeystoneSenior.com/RC-NovEvent.

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.

HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital receives prestigious award

HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital announced it has been named a 2021 Guardian of Excellence Award winner by Press Ganey, the national leader in health care consumer and workforce engagement. Press Ganey recognizes St. Elizabeth’s as a top-performing health care organization achieving the 95th percentile or above for performance in clinical quality.

The Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award is a preeminent, competitive achievement for leading health care organizations. Presented annually, the award applauds hospitals and health systems that consistently sustained performance in the top 5% of all Press Ganey clients.

“Press Ganey is honored to recognize HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital as one of the nation’s leaders in clinical quality,” said Patrick T. Ryan, chairman and chief executive officer, Press Ganey. “This award reflects an unwavering commitment to earn the trust and loyalty of patients throughout unimaginable challenges.

“We are humbled by HSHS St. Elizabeth’s incredible efforts, and their ability to adapt to imperatives of COVID-19 on top of the increasing demand for consumerism in health care.”

Some of the quality initiatives put into place over the past year which have helped achieve clinical excellence focused on hospital acquired C. difficile infection reduction, reduction in surgical site infections and readmission rates, to name a few.

“We are truly honored to receive the Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award for clinical quality,” said HSHS St. Elizabeth’s President and Chief Executive Officer Patti Fischer.

“Despite the challenges they faced over the past year and half, our colleagues and medical staff remained committed to provide exceptional, high-quality care to our patients. I couldn’t be prouder of their efforts to elevate the care they provide to those who chose St. Elizabeth’s for their care.”

Fischer further explained that Press Ganey’s Guardian of Excellence Award demonstrates that the metro-east region can receive top-rated care close to home.

In addition to HSHS St. Elizabeth’s, another hospital in Hospital Sisters Health System that has achieved the 2021 Press Ganey Guardian Of Excellence Award for clinical quality is HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham.

For more information about HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, visit steliz.org.

This story was originally published November 10, 2021 at 3:09 PM.