O’Fallon Around Town - Aug. 17 edition

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

Email: lifestyle@bnd.com. Mail to: O’Fallon Around Town, Belleville News-Democrat, P.O. Box 427, Belleville, IL 62222-0427. Questions, call Jennifer Green at 618-239-2643.

Thursday, Aug. 17

▪ 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. Third Thursday of every month. Facilitators: Diane Borawski and Pat Rudloff. For information: kelly.nami.swi@gmail.com or 618-798-9788.

Friday, Aug. 18

▪ O’Fallon Knights of Columbus & Ladies Auxiliary 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

▪ Swansea Fish Stand - New Location – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays. KC Club & Event Center, 5420 Old Collinsville Road, O’Fallon. Cod, walleye, catfish, shrimp and more. Open for carryout, call-in and dine-in orders. 618-222-7171. facebook.com/KCClubEastStLouis

▪ 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 or shiloheagles545.com

Saturday, Aug. 19

▪ Vine Street Market at O’Fallon Station — 8 a.m. to noon. O’Fallon Station, 212 E. 1st St., O’Fallon. Locally grown vegetables, flowers, fruits, eggs, cheese and meats. A selection of bakers and sweet treats along with coffee, craft brew beverages and artisans. Live music, patio seating, food truck on site. Bicycle and pet friendly. 618-624-0139 or ofallonvinestreetmarket.com.

▪ 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.

Sunday, Aug. 20

▪ Golden Anniversaries Film Discussion: ‘Badlands’ — 1 p.m. Hi-Pointe Main Theatre, 1005 McCausland Ave., St. Louis. An impressionable teenage girl from a dead-end town and her older greaser boyfriend embark on a killing spree in the South Dakota badlands. Intro and discussion by T.J. Keeley, Ph.D. student in contemporary American literature at Saint Louis University and teacher of English and film at college prep schools in the St. Louis area. cinemastlouis.org/golden-anniversaries

Tuesday, Aug. 22

▪ Metro-East Chamber of Commerce 20th annual Golf Tournament — Noon. Stonewolf Golf Club, 1195 Stonewolf Trail, Fairview Heights. Check-in and lunch at 10:30 a.m. Cost: $125 per golfer or $500 per team, includes 18 holes, range balls, cart, lunch, dinner, drink tickets and goodie bag. metroeastchamber.org

Wednesday, Aug. 23

▪ 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.

Other area happenings

▪ Belleville Black Knights Drum & Bugle Corps 70th Anniversary Reunion — 2 p.m. to midnight, Saturday, Aug. 26. Catholic War Veterans Post 370, 3535 State Route 159, Belleville. Performances by Ainad Shrine Drum & Bugle Corps, The Ancient & Honorable Drummers of the Black Knights, Alumni Color Guard Ensemble. Guest speaker: Belleville Black Knights Alumnus Major General Jeffrey Pennington, USAF. Open to the public. Admission $5 per person. For info, visit the Black Knights Facebook page or bellevilleblackkni.wixsite.com/blackknights or email bellevilleblackknights@gmail.com.

▪ Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois 5th annual United We Lead Gala — 5 p.m. (doors open) Saturday, Sept. 9. Gateway Convention Center, 1 Gateway Drive, Collinsville. Let’s celebrate Girl Scouts together! Join us for drinks, dinner and entertainment. Bid in our live and silent auctions, or enjoy many other ways to share your support. Share an evening filled with fun and inspiration with people who care so much about our mission. Tickets must be purchased online at gsofsi.org or by contacting the Fund Development team at 800-345-6858.

▪ 28th annual Camp Ondessonk Golf Benefit — 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 30. Roland Barkau Memorial Golf Course, 1501 N. Waterworks Road, Okawville. Funds raised during this annual event help sustain and enhance camp programs, fund scholarships allowing children of all income levels to experience camp, and fund new initiatives to fulfill our mission to provide exceptional outdoor and spiritual adventures empowering kids of all ages. Cost: $115 per player or $460 per foursome. Hosted by Korte & Luitjohan Contractors, Inc. of Highland. For info or to register, 618-695-2489 or ondessonk.com.

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Veterans Day Dedication

The deadline for submission of applications for inclusion on the O’Fallon Veterans’ Monument for the Veterans Day dedication on Saturday, Nov. 11, is Friday, Sept. 1.

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 East Wesley, O’Fallon, or visit ofallonveteransmonument.org. For more information, call 618-632-9826.

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Missing a bicycle?

The O’Fallon Police Department says officers pick up 30 abandoned bicycles every year and store them for six months before donating any unclaimed bikes to charity.

If you have had a bicycle go missing this year, they may have it.

To check, contact evidence technician Clara Harrison at 618-624-9515. You may be required to provide an accurate description or serial number to claim a bicycle.

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Local Rotary Club financially supports the Rotary International PolioPlus Fund

The Rotary Club of O’Fallon recently made a $500 donation to The Rotary International PolioPlus Fund. A check was presented to District 6510 Governor, Chris Lyons, who spoke at the club’s weekly meeting at the Katy Cavins Community Center. This donation will be matched 2:1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to help obtain the support, transportation and materials needed to help vaccinate children across the world.

“Due to Rotary’s work, nearly three billion children in 122 countries have been protected from this paralyzing disease. Today, polio remains epidemic only in two countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan. But it’s crucial to continue working to keep all countries polio-free. If eradication efforts stopped, within 10 years, polio could paralyze as many as 200,000 children each year,” according to Rotary International.

Rotary International has been working to eradicate polio for more than 35 years. As a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, Rotary clubs have contributed to the reduction of polio cases by 99.9% since the first project to vaccinate children in the Philippines began in 1979.

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Your Back-to-School Prep List: Get your kids ready for the first day

Are your kids prepared for the new school year? Are you? While children need to prepare emotionally and mentally for getting into the back-to-school routine, parents need to get ready on many fronts too. HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital and HSHS Medical Group offer this handy checklist of preparations to tackle before school starts.

Health Prep

To help make sure your child stays healthy during the school year:

• Update vaccinations. Dr. Saba Bajwa, HSHS Medical Group pediatrician, shared, “Immunizations are crucial for protecting children from serious diseases by boosting the body’s natural immunity.”

The best way to protect your child is to follow the recommended vaccine schedule from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules. It lists immunizations that children of various ages need, including:

• Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)

• Chickenpox (varicella)

• Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap)

• Polio

• Meningitis

• Pneumococcal (pneumonia)

• Hepatitis A and B

• Human papillomavirus (HPV)

• Rotavirus

If you have questions or concerns about vaccines, you can always talk to your child’s primary care provider. They can help you determine which shots your child needs and when.

Also check with the school to find out what vaccinations they require.

• Arrange for a sports physical if your child plays sports. An exam can give you peace of mind that your child can handle the physical demands of school sports and extracurricular activities. In fact, most sports require a physical for a medical eligibility form.

HSHS Medical Group clinics in the O’Fallon area are offering sports physicals for a flat fee of $20 (school physicals are billed to insurance). Contact your local HSHS Medical Group office to learn more. For locations and options, visit hshs.org/medical-group/school-and-sports-physicals.

At-Home Prep

Before the first day of school, spend time with your child on some important issues:

• Transition to school sleep/wake schedule. A good night’s sleep will help your child concentrate, retain information and prevent mood swings. To aid the transition from vacation time to school time, set bedtime and waking time incrementally earlier in the week or two leading up to the start of school, eventually settling on the times that work best for their schooling. Limit time with electronics such as video games, television, cell phones or tablets before bed as these items stimulate the brain and are not conducive to good sleep.

• Create a study area. Prepare a well-lit place where your child can do their homework. Make sure it’s a quiet space without electronic distractions.

• Choose a suitable backpack. For safety’s sake, a filled backpack should weigh no more than 10% to 20% of your child’s body weight. Adjust the backpack so the bottom meets your child’s waist. If your child’s load is heavy, consider a rolling backpack. And don’t forget to tuck an in-case-of-emergency contact card in the backpack.

• Talk to your kids about bullying. Bullying is linked to a range of educational and emotional problems. Make sure your child knows:

To-and-From-School Prep

Whether your child rides the bus, bicycles or walks to school, take steps to ensure their safety:

• Review your child’s route to school in advance. Drive the route so your child knows what to expect. If they will be riding their bike or walking, ride or walk the route with them.

• Talk to your child about bus stop, bicycling and walking safety. Make sure they know about crosswalk, biking and walking protocols.

• Set up carpooling shifts. If you prefer to drive your child, find other parents who are safety minded.

Before-and-After-School Care Prep

• Arrange for caretaking. If you need help before or after school, look into responsible school programs, off-site institutions, or caretakers at your home or theirs.

By following these tips, you can help ensure your child has a healthy, safe and successful school year.

Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Sleep Foundation