Highland Around Town - May 3 edition
Noon Friday, May 5, 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.
Email: lifestyle@bnd.com. Mail to: Highland Around Town, Belleville News-Democrat, P.O. Box 427, Belleville, IL 62222-0427. Questions, call Jennifer Green at 618-239-2643.
Wednesday, May 3
▪ 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 (mens, womens, 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.
▪ Empty the Shelters Adoption Event — Through Monday, May 15 at multiple area shelters. BISSELL Pet Foundation is helping homeless pets go from shelter kennels to the couches of loving homes by sponsoring reduced adoption fees of $50 or less during its Spring National “Empty the Shelters” adoption event. From May 1-15, BISSELL Pet Foundation is teaming up with Dogtopia to host our largest “Empty the Shelters” event yet, with more than 350 participating shelters in 45 states, including Partners For Pets in Troy and Metro East Humane Society in Edwardsville. To see the full list of participating locations, visit bissellpetfoundation.org.
Thursday, May 4
▪ Twilight Thursdays Concert Series: Whitney Houston Anthology — 6-8 p.m. Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis. Start the Twilight Thursdays season with a tribute to “The Voice,” with vocals performed by Cheryl Brown. In 1985 Whitney Houston had her first Top 10 single, “Saving All My Love.” Six Grammy awards and nearly 40 years later, she is remembered as one of the greatest of all time. Bring family, friends, food and blankets/lawn chairs, and revel in the music as the sun sets. The area’s best food trucks will be on hand. Concert-goers are invited to park on the lot at the Loop Trolley facility located at 5875 Delmar Ave. mohistory.org/twilight-thursdays
▪ National Alliance on Mental Illness: 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.
Thursday, May 4 thru Wednesday, May 10
▪ 16th annual QFest St. Louis — May 4-10. Hi-Pointe Theatre, 1005 McCausland Ave., St. Louis. QFest St. Louis uses the art of contemporary gay cinema to spotlight the lives of LGBTQ people and to celebrate queer culture. The event will excite, entertain, and enlighten audiences of all identities. This year marks the 16th anniversary of QFest. The fest, which largely features films that would not otherwise screen in St. Louis, is presented by Cinema St. Louis (CSL), organizers of the St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF). This year’s QFest features 26 films from 9 countries (Brazil, Canada, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Morocco, Spain, U.K., and U.S.), including eight narrative features, two documentary features, 15 narrative shorts, and one documentary short. For more info and the full schedule, visit cinemastlouis.org/qfest.
Friday, May 5
▪ Tri Township Library Book Sale — 9 a.m. to noon. Tri Township Library, 209 S. Main St., Troy. Doors open at 9 a.m. 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.
▪ 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
▪ 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.
Friday, May 5 & Saturday, May 6
▪ St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: ‘The Damnation of Faust’ — 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 5, and 8 p.m. Saturday, May 6. Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis. We’ve all had Hector Berlioz’s experience with a good book. “I couldn’t put it down. I read it at meals, in the street.” Berlioz was so intrigued by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s book that he transformed it into a concert opera, “The Damnation of Faust.” It is among Stéphane Denève’s favorite works, and he brings a dream cast of vocalists to tell its story of love, death, and the devil. slso.org
Saturday, May 6
▪ Garden Club of Lebanon Plant Sale — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lebanon May Market, St. Louis Street, Lebanon. The 2,500+ greenhouse grown seedlings have been up-potted by the members. Available are annual flowers, herbs and vegetables, along with house plants. Donations are appreciated to support community projects. Shop early for best selection.
Sunday, May 7
▪ Powell Hall Playlist — 3 p.m. Powell Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis. Doors open at 2 p.m. for pre-concert activities. Participate in a musical scavenger hunt featuring the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra and more. It’s those special pieces of music that, much like a time machine, spark our memories and transport us into the past. We each have a unique soundtrack that underscores our lives. In this concert, we’ll travel through some of our favorite Powell Hall memories with music from “The Sound of Music,” “The Nutcracker,” and Beethoven’s famous Fifth Symphony. Powell Hall Playlist will inspire you to share your own playlist with your family. slso.org
Monday, May 8
▪ Marine Historical Society: The Story of the Mississippi River Festival — 7 p.m. Marine Township Activity Center, 101 W. Silver St., Marine. Mark Pierce, author of “When the Stars Came Out: The Story of the Mississippi River Festival,” will share a presentation about the festival and sign copies of his book, which will be available for purchase. After a break for the book signing, the Historical Society will hold their business meeting. Guests are welcome to attend. Membership is open.
Tuesday, May 9
▪ 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, May 10 thru Friday, June 2
▪ Chamber Project Saint Louis: American Women in the Arts Festival — Various times and locations in St. Louis. In collaboration with the Saint Louis Art Museum and St. Louis County Library, the American Women in the Arts Festival offers a unique array of events celebrating the creativity of American women. Chamber Project St. Louis brings their 15th season to a close with a festival celebrating several of the main pillars of their work; collaboration, innovative events and lifting up women in the arts. In collaboration with the Saint Louis Art Museum and St. Louis County Library, the American Women in the Arts Festival offers a unique array of events celebrating the creativity of American women. From an interactive rehearsal, to a curator-led tours of the Saint Louis Art Museum and finally a narrated concert, this Festival offers many ways to enrich your spring with interesting stories, stunning art and beautiful music. For the festival schedule: chamberprojectstl.org.
Other area happenings
▪ Damiansville & Albers Village-wide Spring Garage Sales — 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 13. (Some sales will be open Thursday-Friday, May 11-12.) Exit 34 off of Interstate 64. Something for everyone.
▪ Leaps of Love Just for Fun Friday: Dueling Pianos — 7-11 p.m. Friday, May 19. Lindendale Park Ballroom, 2005 Park Hill Drive, Highland. Live entertainment, cash bar, BYO snacks. Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Proceeds benefit the 2024 Ms. LOL Pageant. leapsoflove.networkforgood.com
▪ Party on the Patio —6-9 p.m. Saturday, June 3. Schlafly Highland Square, 907 Main St., Highland. This event raises funds to support health care initiatives at St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland. The casual garden party style event will feature a full menu of appetizers, drinks and live music by the band, Phoenix. Tickets are $150 for attendees and are available now at stjosephshighland.org/foundation.
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Emily Vandersand from Highland designated a Gold Award Girl Scout
Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois congratulates Emily Vandersand of Highland for becoming a Gold Award Girl Scout, a designation she earned by providing resources to students with special needs.
For her Gold Award project, Emily worked to enhance inclusiveness for students with special needs. She wanted to create an outlet for the students to soothe themselves in the classroom so that they could remain engaged with their classes. Knowing she wanted to incorporate upcycling into her project, Emily started her research and discovered how to create helpful fidget tools out of cloth bands that were made from used T-shirts. The bands allow students to exercise their motor skills in a way that helps them release energy and focus without creating any distractions for others. She began collecting shirts and then cut them into strips, attached the ends together, braided them, and sewed them together in a circle. Emily’s Busy Bands were a big hit.
“I was happy about how excited the students were about the Busy Bands; they all wanted to pick their favorite color,” Emily stated.
In addition to creating the Busy Bands, Emily held a presentation for younger Girl Scouts and students to bring awareness about autism, ADHD, ADD and bullying. She hopes her presentation will help make a difference.
“When doing the research for my presentation, I learned of the high statistics of students with special needs being bullied. I was saddened by this. Hopefully the students I spoke to will stop this cycle,” said Emily.
As they take action to transform their world, Gold Award Girl Scouts gain tangible skills and prove they are the leaders our community and world need. The Gold Award is earned by girls in grades 9-12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership in developing sustainable solutions to local, national and global challenges. Since the highest award was established in 1916, Girl Scouts have answered the call to drive lasting, impactful change. The Gold Award is the mark of the truly remarkable.
Emily is the daughter of John and Laura Vandersand. She is currently attending Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, majoring in Elementary Education. Emily is a Trifecta Girl Scout who has earned the Girl Scout Bronze Award, Girl Scout Silver Award, and Girl Scout Gold Award.
Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois serves over 6,150 girls and engages nearly 3,000 adult volunteers in 40 counties in Southern Illinois. Join Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois today. Adult volunteers and girls in K-12 are welcome. Call 800-345-6858 or email customercare@gsofsi.org. Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois is a not-for-profit organization supported by various United Ways, businesses and individual donors throughout the region.
