The 618 Now

The episode where Nick tells Jess to zip it!

We have a quick episode for listeners this week; it's focused mostly on the calendar. 

• Friday, Aug 23 and Sat Aug 24 is CityFest at the Family Sports Park
• Sat, Aug 24 8am-noon Vine Street Market @ OFallon Station
• Wed, Thurs Friday and Sat live music at The Upright Pub & Music Parlor

Hometown Heroes banner project is accepting applications for 2025. 

 

Have an idea for a podcast topic? Submit it here! Follow us on Instagram @The618Now.

 

Part 2: You can't build that here!

[Part 2] In this episode, we walk listeners through the process of how businesses, developments and projects come to be in the city. You can find Part 1 here.

 

Also, local elections are coming up, but the process starts Aug 20th. Here's the Candidates' Guide to the 2025 Municipal Elections.

 

Thanks to this week's podcast partner, Serra Honda's Complimentary Valet Service!

 

On the calendar: 

• Sat, Aug 17th 8am-noon Vine Street Market at OFallon Station
• Sat, Aug 17 8am-2pm OTHS Band Boosters' Yard Sale @ 600 S Smiley
• Mon Aug 19 4-8pm Tip-A-Cop at Texas Roadhouse in support of Special Olympics 
• Fri & Sat Aug 23 & 24 CityFest in the Family Sports Park

Have an idea for a podcast topic? Submit it here! Follow us on Instagram @The618Now.

Part 1: You can't build that here!

It's the episode you've been wanting and waiting for... this week, we walk listeners through the process of how businesses, developments and projects come to be in the city. 

On the one hand, it seems like a simple process- submit an application and go through 5 public meetings. But in reality, there are nuances that sometimes change the scope and vision of a project. 

Promised links: A Project Report that is prepared for the Planning Commission (step 1 in the 5 step process).

Thanks to our podcast partner, Vine Street Market at OFallon Station! 

On the calendar:

• Friday, Aug 9th 6:30pm Family Movie Night in the Park (Blazier Field) featuring Kung Fu Panda 4
• Sat, Aug 10th 8am-noon Vine Street Market @ Ofallon Station- it's the annual Watermelon Festival!!
• Wed, Thurs, Friday and Sat 7-10pm Live Music at The Upright Pub & Music Parlor
• Sat, Aug 17th 8am-2pm OTHS Band Boosters' Yard Sale @ 600 South Smiley- donations can be dropped off on 8/16 from 4-8pm
• Mon, Aug 19th 4-8pm Tip-A-Cop at Texas Roadhouse in support of Special Olympics

Have an idea for a podcast topic? Submit it here! Follow us on Instagram @The618Now.

When a community is firing on all cylinders

In this episode, we talk about groups within OFallon and Shiloh that are collecting W's! They're firing on all cylinders. 

 

Thank you to this week's podcast partner, Serra Honda!

On the calendar:

• Sat Aug 3rd 8am-noon Vine Street Market @ OFallon Station
• Thurs Aug 8th 7-9pm Auffenberg's Outdoor Summer Concert Series featuring The Funky Butt Brass Band
• Sat, Aug 10th 8am-noon The Watermelon Festival at Vine Street Market
• Sat, Aug 10th 6pm Freedom Sings concert in Shiloh

Have an idea for a podcast topic? Submit it here! Follow us on Instagram @The618Now.

Singing as therapy

In this episode, we talk about a really unique event coming to Shiloh that helps veterans tell their stories through music... Freedom Sings. 

Thank you to this week's podcast partner, Vine Street Market @ OFallon Station!

On the calendar:

• Sat, July 27th 8am-noon Vine Street Market @ OFallon Station
• Sat, July 27 noon-4pm A Wizard's birthday in the Downtown District
• Thurs, Aug 1 5-9pm District Nights in the Downtown District, live music starts at 6pm
• Sat, Aug 24th O-Town Hustle 5k, register now! 

Have an idea for a podcast topic? Submit it here! Follow us on Instagram @The618Now.

Survey says....

In this episode, we talk about O'Fallon's bi-annual citizen survey and how community input helps drive decision making. Fun Fact: the library currently ranks as the highest rated amenity within the city (earning a 94% "excellent" or "good" rating). 

Promised links:

The O'Fallon Public Library's "Library of things."

The O'Fallon Police Department's Citizen Police Academy is accepting applications for their fall class.  

On the calendar:

• Sat, July 20th 8am-noon Vine Street Market @ OFallon Station
• Wed, July 24th 7-8:30pm Shiloh's Music in the Park featuring Friends of the Bluegrass
• Sat, July 27 12-4pm A Wizard's Birthday in the Downtown District (check in begins at 11am)
• Aug 11th is the deadline to apply for the Metro East Start Up Challenge. Listen to this episode to learn more.

Have an idea for a podcast topic? Submit it here! Follow us on Instagram @The618Now.

How to run for elected office

Did you know that local elections scheduled for April 1, 2025 actually start now? The process of running for school board, city council, village and more begins in August of the year prior to the election. In this episode, we cover how to run for an elected position and what it looks like for candidates who want to serve in public office.

On the calendar:

• Sat, July 13 8am-noon Vine Street Market @ OFallon Station
• Sat, July 13 8am Jenn Mueller Memorial Run (race day registrations are accepted!)
• Sat, July 13 @ 10am Battle of the Bands applications for City Fest open (CityFest is Aug 24)
• Sat, Aug 24 O-Town Hustle 5k (part of CityFest) 

Have an idea for a podcast topic? Submit it here! Follow us on Instagram @The618Now.

Unplug this holiday!

This week, we're talking about the upcoming Unplug IL day (July 13th). This is a day that encourages ditching your devices and plugging into nature! There are a number of activities around town including meditations and sound baths plus a cardboard regatta at the city's Memorial Pool!

On the calendar:

• Sat, July 5th 8am-noon Vine Street Market @ OFallon Station
• Wed, July 10th 7-8:30pm Shiloh's Music in the Park featuring Little Known Facts
• Thurs, July 11 5-9pm District Nights in the downtown district, live music starts at 6pm 

Have an idea for a podcast topic? Submit it here! Follow us on Instagram @The618Now.

Economic development updates

Get ready for big economic development updates! We're covering real estate sales for the first six months of the year, plus recapping much of the residential and commercial developments happening around O'Fallon. Fun fact: the avg sales price of a 62269 home is $323,000, up 9.8% over the same time period last year.

 

On the calendar:

• Sat, June 29th 8am-noon Vine Street Market @ OFallon Station featuring the Southwest-Southland Dairy Farmers with their milking trailer. 
• • Market opens at 8am
  • Live music presented by Newbold Toyota and Newbold BMW starts at 9am
• Wed, July 3rd @ dusk Fireworks over OFallon in the Family Sports Park
• Sat, July 13th 8am Jenn Mueller Memorial Race
• Sat, July 13th Battle of the Bands registration opens up (for CityFest)
• Tues, Sept 10th Chamber's annual golf tournament. Register now!

Have an idea for a podcast topic? Submit it here! Follow us on Instagram @The618Now.

When some businesses outperform others

In this episode, we discuss how local businesses are going to win $25,000 in cash prizes, just for existing! We're talking about the Metro East Start Up Challenge.

On the calendar:

• Sat, June 22 8am-noon Vine Street Market at OFallon Station
• Friday, June 28 @ 8am Chamber's Business Over Breakfast
• Wed, July 3rd 8:30pm Fireworks over OFallon @ Family Sports Park

Have an idea for a podcast topic? Submit it here! Follow us on Instagram @The618Now.