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Join Jessica Lotz and Jonathan Simmons Friday mornings for a snapshot of what’s happening in the O’Fallon and Shiloh (Illinois) area right now. We’ll give highlights of new developments and projects, details of upcoming events and report on good news happening in our community! Listen to The 618 Now to be in-the-know. This podcast is a production of the O’Fallon-Shiloh Chamber of Commerce.
Episodes
Thursday Sep 29, 2022
Thursday Sep 29, 2022
- Oct 1st is National Coffee Day! Our local coffee places are some of the best! The CoffeeHouse Company, Sweet Katie Bee's, Junes Breakfast and Patio, Happy Bakery , and Wood Bakery
- Be a Kid for A Night in support of Caritas Family Solutions- arcade games, carnival games, bounce houses and more!
- Sat, Oct 1st @ 8am Vine Street Market at O'Fallon Station, live music starts at 9am
- Tues, Oct 4 @ 6-8pm Night to Unite in the Community Park, hosted by O'Fallon Police. Free food, fun and demonstrations.
- Wed, Oct 5th 6:30pm Townhall Meeting at City Hall to discuss upcoming renovations to the community park.
- Thurs, Oct 6th @ 6pm Pub Table Historian @ Gears (inside Bike Surgeon)... "Haunting Tales of Old O'Fallon"
- Sat, Oct 8th 4-9pm Witches and Wizards Festival in the Downtown District.
We will feature our biggest Witches Market to date! There will be vendors such as Everything's Shiny Creations, art by Kat Martin, Koviak Kreations, Grave Markings, The Extraordinary Witch and many more!Activites area that will include Photo Booths, a Tea leaf Reader and a Bone Reader, a Face Painter, a Henna artist and a glass blower.There will be special guests and performances including The Headless Horseman, Fire Dancers, Stilt Walkers, and dancers! Award winning author Ellen Dugan and poet Ember Grant will be there doing book signings. The marvelous Beth Saltz will be back with her Tarot Card readings and she will be hosting the Costume Contest! We have added a few more categories to the Costume Contest this year that you must go see.This year we will have a Food Alley that will have 6 different food vendors for you to choose from.
- Sat, Oct 8th 4-8pm Fall Festival at Rock Springs Rotary Park Hay rides, s'mores, hot cocoa table, live music, games and more!
Friday Sep 23, 2022
Friday Sep 23, 2022
- Congrats to the Lead In Class of 2022 who recently graduated
- Applications for the Class of 2023 are being accepted thru Dec 5th. Must be under the age of 40 and live or work in O'Fallon/ Shiloh.
- Edley's BBQ is open!
- Dogwood Social House's grand opening is 10/1
- Sat, Sept 24 @ 8am is Vine Street Market @ Ofallon Station, it's Military/First Responder Day! First 100 takers receive $5 in Market bucks.
- Sat, Sept 24 9am-noon is a Metals and Electronics Recycling event at Carriel Junior High
- Sat, Sept 24 4-10pm is St Clare's Oktoberfest!
- Friday, Sept 30 5:45-7pm is Parks and Rec Fishing Derby in the South pond at the Family Sports Park
- Wed, Oct 5th @ 6:30pm is a TownHall Meeting at City Hall. It is a Parks engagement meeting for the public to provide feedback for the changes being suggested in the community park.
Thursday Sep 15, 2022
Thursday Sep 15, 2022
This episode is a bit different; we cover the process it takes to run for local elected office. Elections are April 4, 2023 but the process begins now.
The IL State board of Elections released their Candidate's Guide for 2023.
On the calendar:
Tonight (Friday, Sept 16th) is Tip-A-Cop at Texas Roadhouse in support of Special Olympics. Officers and athletes will be on hand and 10% of sales go towards the cause.
Sat, Sept 17 8am is the Vine Street Market at O'Fallon Station
Sat, Sept 17 9-10:30am is Character Day at Auffenberg Volkswagen in Shiloh. Visit with your favorite princesses and superhero as well as Louie from the St. Louis Blues.
Sat, Sept 24 9am-noon is a Metal and Electronics Recycling event @ Carriel Junior High.
Sat, Sept 24 4-10pm is the 22nd annual St Clare Oktoberfest. Huge biergarten, live music, festival foods, games and more.
Thursday Sep 08, 2022
Thursday Sep 08, 2022
In this episode, we discuss:
- a downtown staple gets a new owner and new name, the Schwarz Center. Chad Schwarz credits the energy and revitalization of the Downtown District with his desire to invest in the heart of downtown.
- what's up with the "We Love Our Military" signs popping up around town.... get yours here.
- with how busy this fall is around town, we created a calendar to help you keep track of it all!
- Fri and Sat, Sept 9 & 10 is Shiloh Homecoming, fireworks are Friday night at 9pm
- Sat, Sept 10th 10am-noon is Touch-a-Truck at the community park in O'Fallon
- Sat, Sept 10th 10am-5pm is BaconFest in the Downtown District in support of our local veterans. Maple bacon ice cream, bacon wrapped oreos... and be sure to check out the celebrity dunk tank too!
- Rape Aggression Defense classes offered through the O'Fallon Police Dept are being held October 4, 11, 20 and 25th from 6-9 PM. Learn more here and register here.
- Friday, Sept 16th from 4-9pm is Tip-A-Cop at Texas Roadhouse in support of Special Olympics.
Thursday Sep 01, 2022
Thursday Sep 01, 2022
- The Witches and Wizards Festival coming to the Downtown District on Oct 8th. Fire dancers, tarot card readers, stilt walkers, a Witches' Market and so much more! This is not your average downtown event! This is a ticketed event for adults only!
- Sat, Sept 3 @ 8am is the Vine Street Market @ O'Fallon Station
- Thurs, Sept 8 6-7:30pm is the Friends of the Library Open House
- Thurs, Sept 8th @ 7pm is RETRONERDS Summer Concert at Auffenberg in Shiloh!
- Friday, Sept 9 and Sat Sept 10th is Shiloh's Homecoming
- Sat, Sept 10th 10am-5pm is BaconFest in the Downtown District
Thursday Aug 25, 2022
Thursday Aug 25, 2022
- The nearly $1M truck you'll see on the roads of O'Fallon-Shiloh soon!
- The Citizen Police Academy is accepting applications for their next 8-week session! It's one of Nick and Jess' favorite community activities!
- The O'Fallon Police Department recently won the highest honor in the state for volunteerism!
- Sat, Aug 27th 8am Vine Street Market @ O'Fallon Station
- Sat, Aug 27th 8am-2pm OTHS Band Boosters Annual Fall Yard Sale at the Smiley campus
- Sunday, Aug 28th OTHS Band Boosters Annual Mattress Sale 10am-5pm at the Smiley campus.
Thursday Aug 18, 2022
Thursday Aug 18, 2022
We're taking this week off! We'll be back at it next week, though.
And we've got lots in store for the fall, so keep tuning in!
On the calendar this week:
Friday and Sat is CityFest in O'Fallon!
Aug 24th 4-8 pm is Butterburgers & Badges with the O'Fallon Police Department in support of Special Olympics.
Have an idea for a podcast topic? Submit it here! Follow us on Instagram @The618Now.
Friday Aug 12, 2022
Friday Aug 12, 2022
- we discuss the postcards property owners received last week in the mail and what it means and how it differs from the postcards they received back in March
- we share about the USPS's new Connect Local service that helps local, small business ship same day/next day
- Sarah Burton, Vine Street Market Coordinator, is in the studio with us talking about National Farmers' Market Week! Sarah does a great job highlighting what's happening at this weekend's Vine Street Market!
- Fri, Aug 12th, 3-6pm Root Beer Float Social to support the Children's Miracle Network at TownePlace Suites (455 Regency Park). Donations welcome!
- Fri, Aug 12th, 6pm Encanto Family Movie Night in the Park- yard games and activities begin at 6pm, the movie starts at dusk in the community park across from Dairy Queen
- Friday, Aug 19th and Sat, Aug 20th is CityFest in O'Fallon!
- Aug 24th 4-8 pm is Butterburgers & Badges with the O'Fallon Police Department in support of Special Olympics
Thursday Aug 04, 2022
Thursday Aug 04, 2022
- we review recent economic development numbers.. $42 million in 7 months!
- we share how the O'Fallon chapter of Habitat for Humanity is building TWO new homes for deserving families and how these are truly building up our community
- Sat, Aug 6th 8am-noon Vine Street Market at O'Fallon Station
- Sat, Aug 6th 9am-noon Kids' Day at Auffenberg Kia (at their new Shiloh location!) featuring a free exotic petting zoo, bounce houses and more.
- Fri, Aug 12th, 3-6pm Root Beer Float Social to support the Children's Miracle Network at TownePlace Suites (455 Regency Park). Donations welcome!
- Fri, Aug 12th, 6pm Encanto Family Movie Night in the Park- yard games and activities begin at 6pm, the movie starts at dusk in the community park across from Dairy Queen
Thursday Jul 28, 2022
Thursday Jul 28, 2022
- We're wrapping up Parks and Recreation month by highlighting Jessica's favorite park: Rock Springs Rotary Park.
- We discuss how it's truly a community park because of the investment of time, money and labor from the Rotary Clubs as well as from the Boy Scouts (community groups that have made it what it is today!)
- We share current plans for future additions to the park including a bike park/pump track and more nature trails!
- We review the upcoming IL sales tax holiday for school supplies
- Friday, July 29th @ 7pm is the OTHS Marching Panther's field show season kick off at the football field!
- Sat, July 30th is Vine Street Market @ O'Fallon Station 8am-noon
- Sat, July 30th 11am-4pm is A Wizard's Birthday in the Downtown District
- Sat, July 30th, 3pm Wizarding Weekend at Global Brew in O'Fallon
- Sat, July 30th @ 6pm, Miss O'Fallon Pageant at Milburn campus of OTHS, it's their 100th anniversary!
- Aug 19 & 20th is CityFest! Mark your calendars! Email ofallonilcityfest@gmail.com to volunteer. Register for the O-Town Hustle Super Spring Triathlon.