O’Fallon Around Town — Feb. 16 edition

Noon Friday, Feb. 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: 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, Feb. 16

▪ Butterfly House’s Morpho Mardi Gras — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays through Feb. 21. The Butterfly House, 15050 Faust Park, Chesterfield, Missouri. Escape the cold by visiting Morpho Mardi Gras: Bugs, Butterflies and Beads! Bring your Krewe to the carnival during the month of February. Join the party at our Bugs on Parade, make a masquerade mask, and immerse yourself in a sea of blue as the Butterfly House floods the tropical conservatory with thousands of Blue Morpho butterflies. With the sounds of jazz in the air, inaugurate the season with these and other majestic creatures. Included with admission. For additional information about or purchase tickets, visit butterflyhouse.org.

▪ Botanical Resonance Virtual Talk Series: Annika Kapper, ‘Liquid Landscapes’ — 12:30-1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16. Online via Zoom. Join the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Stephen and Peter Sachs Museum to learn more from artists who created artworks for the “Botanical Resonance” exhibition in a special virtual speaker series. The exhibition showcases different plants used to create musical instruments in cultures around the world, as well as some plants make unique sounds throughout their life cycles in nature and in the Garden. For the species used to make instruments, many are threatened in their native environments due to the increasing production and demand for the desirable plant material. Register: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WeWbmwO1RzqYBF6HWYT6vA

Friday, Feb. 17

▪ O’Fallon Fish Fry — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. Knights of Columbus Hall, 402 E. U.S. 50, O’Fallon. Traditional menu of cod, tilapia, catfish, hamburgers, hot dogs, pork steaks and several side dishes. Dine-in and carryout. Credit cards accepted. Orders can be called in at 618-632-6229. facebook.com/KnightsOfColumbus4239

▪ 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. facebook.com/shiloheagles545

▪ St. Louis Symphony Orchestra presents Crafted: Debussy and Ravel — 6:30 p.m. Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. In this happy hour concert, Stéphane Denève invites us to travel with him through music. Debussy’s “Ibéria” transports us to coastal Spain and Ravel transforms a Viennese waltz into a spinning top. Enjoy drink samples and complimentary snacks from local vendors including Doggie Mac’s, New York Tom’s, Perennial Artisan Ales and more for only $30. Mingle with SLSO musicians after the concert. slso.org

Friday, Feb. 17 through Sunday, Feb. 19

▪ St. Louis Working Women’s Show — 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18; and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19. St. Charles Convention Center, 1 Convention Center Plaza, St. Charles, Missouri. The show returns for its 36th year with a focus on food, fashion, fitness and fun. Fun and informative presentations take place all weekend on the Main Stage, the Inspired Cooking Stage and the Fitness Stage. For tickets and info: wwssonline.com

Saturday, Feb. 18

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

▪ Jazz at Lincoln Center Presents ‘Songs We Love’ — 8 p.m. The Sheldon, 3648 Washington Blvd., St. Louis. “Songs We Love” takes the listener on a journey through the first 50 years of jazz! Under the musical direction of Riley Mulherkar, three guest vocalists join an all-star band made up of New York’s rising stars to sing their way through four decades of music, beginning with the early blues and jazz of the 1920s and ending in the early 1950s. Part of The Sheldon’s Rhythm & Jazz series. thesheldon.org

Saturday, Feb. 18 & Sunday, Feb. 19

▪ St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: Debussy and Ravel — 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19. Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis. Grab your passport for a program with Stéphane Denève that crosses borders and travels to new places, thanks to a trio of French composers. Debussy looks to coastal Scotland and Spain, while Ravel transforms a Viennese waltz into a spinning top. Grammy Award-nominated violinist Tessa Lark makes her SLSO debut on works by Chausson and Ravel. slso.org

Sunday, Feb. 19

▪ Saint Louis Chamber Chorus: ‘Depth to Height’ — 3 p.m. Third Baptist Church, 620 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis. A new song cycle from Kerensa Briggs introduces a program of extremes, from the depth of despondency evoked by Carl Rütti to the highest praise aroused by Magnus Williamson. Much of this music is dedicated to the late Sarah Bryan Miller, music critic and friend. chamberchorus.org

Monday, Feb. 20

▪ Chamber Music Society of St. Louis: ‘Guess Who? The Return’ — 7:30 p.m. 560 Music Center, 560 Trinity Ave., University City, St. Louis. Bringing back our musical game show “Guess Who - The Return” where the audience vies for prizes by guessing the composers. chambermusicstl.org

Tuesday, Feb. 21

▪ St. Michael’s annual Pancake & Sausage Dinner — 4-7 p.m. St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, 111 O’Fallon Troy Road, O’Fallon. Dine in or carryout. Cost: $10 adults, $5 children 6 and older, free for 5 and under. Handicapped accessible. For preorders and tickets: https://saint-michaels-episcopal-church.square.site/. 618-632-6168.

▪ St. Louis Speakers Series: Scott Kelly — 8 p.m. Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis. Kelly made history as the first American astronaut to complete a record-breaking year-long mission aboard the International Space Station. slso.org

Wednesday, Feb. 22

▪ 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.

▪ O’Fallon Woman’s Club annual Empty Bowl Luncheon — 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Gateway Classic Cars, 1237 Central Park Drive, O’Fallon. The need in our community is greater than ever. The rising cost of groceries and inflation have impacted so many more than in years past, and many of our neighbors need assistance. This year, all event proceeds will go to the O’Fallon Food Pantry. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at Wolfersberger Funeral Home. Furchild, Carrollton Bank, or from any Woman’s Club member. Tickets can also be purchased online at ofallonwomansclub.org and facebook.com/OFallonWomansClubInc. These tickets will be available for pick up at the “will call” desk at the event.

Other area happenings

▪ The deadline for submission of applications for inclusion on the O’Fallon Veterans’ Monument for the Memorial Day dedication on Monday, May 29, is Tuesday, Feb. 28. All honorably discharged veterans who lived in O’Fallon School District #203 at any point in their life are eligible. Applications are available at O’Fallon City Hall, O’Fallon Public Library, at The Monument at 737 E. Wesley, O’Fallon, or visit the website at ofallonveteransmonument.org. For more information, call 618-632-9826.

▪ Candidate Forums — 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 9. Shiloh Community Center, 7 Park Drive, Shiloh, and 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 16. City Council Chambers, 255 S. Lincoln, O’Fallon. A Forum Moderator will introduce all candidates, ask questions, manage time, and maintain proper decorum. The public is invited to attend all Forums; seating will be limited. O’Fallon Broadcast details coming soon. A letter has been sent to all candidates inviting them to the upcoming forum. The public may submit questions ahead of time, by Tuesday, Feb. 21, to connect@ofallonchamber.com. Questions will be vetted by committee prior to the forums. Please feel free to contact the Chamber of Commerce office at 618-632-3377 with any questions.

O’Fallon Police Department news

On Thursday, Feb. 9, at the 2023 Illinois Torch Run Kick off in Bloomington, the O’Fallon Police Department debuted their Special Olympics Illinois Patrol Car.

The O’Fallon Police Department has been a strong supporter of Special Olympics since 1988. Throughout the years, the OPD has participated in the Special Olympics regional and state games, The Law Enforcement Torch Run and many different fundraising activities.

Over the past 10 years, the department has raised over $340,000 for Special Olympics Illinois. They have been the top fundraising police department in the state the past several years for the Polar Plunge (Last year raising an amazing $43,776). In 2022, the OPD was awarded the Governor’s Cup for their work with Special Olympics.

“We are extremely proud of our involvement in Special Olympics Illinois and we felt this was a fitting way to show that pride to our community,” a press release from the department stated. “This Special Olympics patrol car is outfitted like all our other patrol cars and will be out on patrol in your neighborhoods. We also plan on using it as a display when we have Special Olympics events.

“All of this is possible because of the hard work, dedication, and countless volunteer hours put in by our officers, civilians, and community partners. Their commitment to the athletes of Special Olympics is something we can all be proud of.”

This story was originally published February 10, 2023 at 12:02 PM.