O’Fallon Around Town - March 7 edition

Noon Friday, March 8, 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. Submissions will be edited and appear in the week before the event date.

Send event info via email to lifestyle@bnd.com. Questions, call Jennifer Green at 618-239-2643.

Thursday, March 7

▪ Tri-Township Library Spring Garden Series — 6:30 p.m. Thursdays in March. Tri-Township Library, 209 S. Main St., Troy. Topics include Culinary Herbs – March 7, Butterflies – March 14, Vegetables – March 21, and Birds – March 28. Reservations recommended; supplies limited. Contact the library at 618-667-2133.

▪ St. Clair County Genealogical Society — 7 p.m. Online via Zoom. Program: “East Side Mishpachah: Jewish History and Family in Southwestern Illinois.” “Mishpachah” is the Hebrew word for “family” and is usually used to refer to one’s extended family. Learn about the Jewish communities in East St. Louis and Belleville in this new presentation by St. Clair County Historical Society Executive Director William P. Shannon IV. Rescheduled from January due to technical difficulties. The meeting is open to the public, but space is limited. Reservation information is at stclair-ilgs.org/events or facebook.com/STCCGSIL.

Friday, March 8

▪ O’Fallon Knights of Columbus & Ladies Auxiliary Fish Fry — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4-8 p.m. Knights of Columbus Hall, 402 E. U.S. 50, O’Fallon. Traditional menu of cod, tilapia, catfish, and several side dishes. Dine-in and carryout. Credit cards accepted. Orders can be called in at 618-632-6229. facebook.com/KnightsOfColumbus4239

▪ Smoke & Kettle at the KC Club and Event Center — Noon to 8 p.m. KC Club and Event Center, 5420 Old Collinsville Road, O’Fallon. Catfish, cod, shrimp, barbecue and more. Dine in or carryout. facebook.com/KCClubEastStLouis

▪ Fraternal Order of Eagles #545 — 5-7 p.m. every Friday. Fraternal Order of Eagles #545, 100 Eagle Drive, Shiloh. Cod, walleye, catfish, shrimp and chicken strips. Fish available by pound or plate. Sides: slaw, fries, onion rings, hush puppies, spaghetti, cheese balls and applesauce. Desserts provided by the Ladies Auxiliary. Dine-in or carryout available. 618-624-5412 or facebook.com/shiloheagles545.

Friday, March 8 & Saturday, March 9

▪ Schlafly Beer annual Stout & Oyster Festival — 5-9 p.m. Friday, March 8, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, March 9. Schlafly Bottleworks, 7260 Southwest Ave., St. Louis. Schlafly’s Stout & Oyster Festival is the largest of its kind in the Midwest. Schlafly flies in over 50,000 oysters overnight from both coasts, hosts 20 seasoned oyster shuckers to shuck oysters live all weekend, and brews more than 12 stouts exclusively for the popular festival. For more info: schlafly.com.

Friday, March 8 thru Sunday, March 10

▪ International Gem & Jewelry Show — Noon to 6 p.m. Friday, March 8, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 9, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 10. Gateway Center, 1 Gateway Drive, Collinsville. Shop from rows and rows of quality jewelry, gemstone, bead, jewelry supply and accessory dealers in a unique marketplace setting. Our environment breeds competition and ensures that you will get the best quality merchandise at rock-bottom prices. Find something for everyone when you visit America’s favorite jewelry and gemstone marketplace. Free parking. No children under 9. For tickets and information: gatewaycenter.com

Sunday, March 10

▪ ‘Broadway Pops at the Movies!’ with the Masterworks Chorale — 3 p.m. Sunday, March 10. Hettenhausen Center for the Arts, 400 N. Alton St., Lebanon. A delightful revue of Broadway and pop favorites from the silver screen, including The Sound of Music, Guys and Dolls and West Side Story. This performance features the Masterworks Chorale, Children’s Chorus and Jazz Ensemble with Steve Jankowski as Master of Ceremonies. This performance is part of McKendree University’s Discovery Series. thehett.com

Monday, March 11

▪ Garden Club of Lebanon — 6:30 p.m. Horner Park Hall, Lebanon. Get the buzz about pollinators in your garden. Social time at 6:30 p.m. Presentation starts at 7 p.m. Meetings are open to all. Additional information available at gardencluboflebanon.org or follow on Facebook.

Wednesday, March 13

▪ National Active and Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) Alvin G. Bohley Chapter 1019 – 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. O’Town Food Hall and Tap House, 1214 Central Park Drive, O’Fallon. Speaking at noon: Attorneys Heidi Dodd and Kelly Wambold will talk about estate planning and elder law, and answer questions on legal needs for seniors. All active and retired federal and postal employees are welcome. Meetings held the second Wednesday of each month except for May and December socials. For information, contact James at jbflat2021@gmail.com or call 618-795-5174. narfe.net/site/chapter1019

Wednesday, March 13 thru Sunday, May 5

▪ ‘Animals Aglow’ Lantern Festival — 6:30-9:30 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. Saint Louis Zoo, One Government Drive, St. Louis. The first-ever Animals Aglow lantern festival will bring a dazzling spectacle of lights to the Saint Louis Zoo. More than 60 larger-than-life Chinese lanterns and interactive light displays in the shape of plants and wildlife will illuminate paths throughout the Zoo in this nighttime event. Guests can stroll through the Chinese Dragon Corridor tunnel, pose with dozens of giant glowing animals and play with interactive displays like the Moonlight Swings or color-changing Star Stepping Pads. For tickets and information: stlzoo.org/animals-aglow.

Thursday, March 14

▪ Jarvis Township Senior Center Hand and Foot Card Game — 1 p.m. Jarvis Township Senior Center, 409 Collinsville Road, Troy. Seniors play the second and third Thursdays of the month. No charge to play; you don’t need to know how to play. All seniors are welcome. Call the center at 618-667-2022 for more information.

Other area happenings

▪ O’Fallon Township Senior Committee — 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 21. 801 E. State St., O’Fallon. Dinner and entertainment. For O’Fallon Township residents only. Cost: $3. Reservation deadline: Friday, March 15.

▪ Southwestern Illinois College Health Science Day — Friday, March 22. SWIC Belleville Campus, 2500 Carlyle Ave., Belleville. High school students can explore some of the exciting educational and career opportunities offered in the first responder and health science fields. High school students from surrounding areas are invited to the Belleville campus to get a chance to meet SWIC faculty and staff, and learn about the college’s Health Science, Homeland Security, and Business programs. The day will feature a staged car accident that will demonstrate how each profession has an integral part to play in everyday emergencies. Students will get a chance to watch the accident scene unfold, as well as experience what happens to critical patients in a mock Emergency Room. Not only will students get to experience what it is like working in the field, they will also have an opportunity to speak with potential employers and work with college faculty performing hands-on activities in Health Science disciplines in SWIC’s state-of-the-art labs. To register for this free event, visit https://swic.tfaforms.net/217806.

▪ Breakfast with the Easter Bunny — 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 23. Shiloh Klucker Hall, 14 Park Drive, Shiloh. Continental breakfast with donuts, pastries, coffee, juice and milk. Cost: $5 for 16 and older; kids: non-perishable items. RSVP required by 3 p.m. Friday, March 15. 618-632-1022, ext. 119. Proceeds benefit Weekend Wildcats. Sponsored by Village of Shiloh and Shiloh PTO.

▪ 74th annual Belle-Scott Enlisted Dinner — 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 3. St. Clair Country Club, 100 S. 78th St., Belleville. Cash bar at 6 p.m.; dinner and program 6:30 p.m. The event is in honor of the men and women of Scott Air Force Base. Tickets: $125 - includes sponsoring dinner for attendees and one enlisted member; $50 for military members of the Belle-Scott Committee. Register by Thursday, March 22. 618-233-2015 or https://bit.ly/48op8GI.

▪ Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site Trivia Night & Silent Auction — 7 p.m. Saturday, April 6. Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Interpretive Center Lobby, 30 Ramey St., Collinsville. Doors open at 6 p.m. Evening includes the silent auction, mulligans, 50/50 raffle, used book sale. Cost: $20 per person or $150 for a table of up to 10. This event supports the Cahokia Mounds Museum Society (CMMS) and the Powell Archaeological Research Center (PARC). For reservations: 618-344-7316 or cahokiamounds.org/trivia24.

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HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Radiation Oncology Center to give away free at-home colon cancer test kits, March 16

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital wants people to understand how important it is to not delay preventive screenings which could detect colon cancer in its earliest stages.

Providers at HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Radiation Oncology Center will hold a Colorectal Cancer Awareness drive-through event to give away free at-home colon cancer test kits. The event will be Saturday, March 16, 9-11 a.m. at the Cancer Care Center of O’Fallon, located at 321 Regency Park, O’Fallon.

The InSure ONE at-home screening test includes full instructions for an easy, water-based sampling for specimen collection. Patients MUST return the sample to the Cancer Care Center of O’Fallon by March 22 during normal office hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

St. Elizabeth’s laboratory will analyze, and results will be reviewed by a physician, then provided to each participant and their primary care provider. The kits are available while supplies last.

Those eligible to receive a test include anyone age 45 or older or a person with a first-degree relative who had a colon cancer diagnosis. People picking up the free kits can remain in their vehicles. Staff will be masked appropriately during the distribution and will bring kits and information to the vehicle.

Colorectal cancer is cancer of the colon or rectum, and, excluding skin cancers, it is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women, according to the American Cancer Society. Most colorectal cancer patients do not have a family history and may not have symptoms.

This screening does not take the place of a colonoscopy.

If you have already been screened, talk to your friends and family who are over 45 years of age about getting screened. Together, we can help to eliminate colorectal cancer as a major public health problem.

Routine health screenings and procedures such as this continue to be highly important. Early detection of health issues is key, and St. Elizabeth’s care team urges people to not forgo seeking health care services.

For more information regarding this Colorectal Cancer Awareness event, contact Christy Koenigstein, patient navigator, at 618-607-5545. For more information about the Cancer Care Center of O’Fallon, visit hshs.org/StElizabeths/Services/Cancer-Care.