The 618 Now

Blue January

In this episode, we discuss resources for people who are prioritizing their mental and physical health. Specifically, we share about Counselor's Associates Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners who are helping see patients sooner than waiting to see a psychiatrist. They treat depression, anxiety, ADHD, PTSD and mood disorders. We also revisit PremiereU and their hormone optimization and medical weight loss programs. 

On the calendar:

Tues, Jan 28th 5-6:30pm Business After Hours powered by Lebanon Electric, hosted at The Hut

Thurs, Jan 30th 8-9am Coffee Connect 

Thurs, Jan 30th 3*5pm @ Katy Cavins Parks & Rec Seasonal Job Fair

Sat, Feb 1st 11am-6pm Polar Pub Crawl in support of Special Olympics 

Friday Feb 7, Sat Feb 8th Bank of OFallon Shoot Out 

Fri, Feb 7 6:30-9 Sweetheart's Dance @ Regency

Wed, March 5th 11am-1pm OFallon Woman's Club Empty Bowl Luncheon

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

Thank you, grant, for the financial help!

In today's episode, we talk about the millions of dollars in grant funding the city has received to help provide services for residents. It's money that helps improve traffic flow, infrastructure and recreational opportunities. You can review the grant funding when the city's Finance and Administration committee meeting packets are published (usually once a month).

On the calendar: 

Jan 14 11am-1pm Sunshine Squad Widow/Life Partner loss group @ Wolfersberger Funeral Home

Friday, Jan 25th 11am-4pm Taste of the District 

Jan 30th - April AARP Tax assistance (free) through the OFallon Public Library

Sat, Feb 1st 11am Polar Pub Crawl

Sat, Feb 8th 7am Township Rummage Sale

 

Celebrating at the wrong time

Happy New Year! We're off this week for the holiday (in what is technically our 200th episode) but stay tuned for new episodes in 2025! 

Popular episodes playlist

If you have some downtime over the next week with the holidays, check out the playlist of the most popular episodes from 2024 we compiled.  

After recording this episode, our episode entitled The $1 million weekend in OFallon became our most popular episode EVER (in just 10 days!). 

Here are the other top 5 episodes of 2024:

Economic Update from June (including real estate and housing data) (10:16 mins)

Let's Lead the Rich Bickel Way (11:00 mins)

Secure the Barricade! (22 mins)

Was the City built during a card game? (11:22 mins)

But where will residents live? (10:31 mins)

 

Great episodes that you may have missed:

You can't build that here! (15:19 mins)

Part 2: You can't build that here! (12:52 mins)

OFallon grew by $99 million (so far) in 2024

In this week's episode, we share how residents, small business owners and developers have invested more than $99 million new dollars into OFallon thru Nov 2024. After we recorded the episode, new data was released indicating that the new value is $99million, a $25million increase over what we reported in the episode!! This is the value of approved building permits so far and is 34% higher than the same timeframe last year. There are big projects and small, and each make a difference in our community.

You can track new developments using this interactive map. 

On the calendar:

• Friday, Dec 13th 7pm US Air Force's Band of Mid-America holiday concert @ The Hett on McKendree University. Free tickets can be found here. 
• Sat, Dec 14 @ 1pm and 7pm US Air Force's Band of Mid-America holiday concert
• Dec 14 @ 9am Breakfast with Santa in Shiloh 
• Dec 14 4-8pm Home for the Holidays Winter Market in the downtown district
• Fri, Dec 20th @ noon deadline to order a catered holiday meal from The Regency

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

The $1million weekend in OFallon

In this week's episode, we talk about the tremendous economic impact of the 2024 season at the Family Sports Park, including the likely record-breaking weekend in June. We also talk about where the tax revenue generated from visitors goes. 

On the calendar, 

• Friday, Dec 6 - Sunday Dec 8th OTHS Madrigal dinner. Buy tickets here.
• Sat, Dec 7th 8am OPD's Breakfast with Santa at Carriel Junior High 
• Sat, Dec 14 9am-noon Shiloh's Breakfast with Santa
• Sat, Dec 14 4-8pm Home for the Holidays Winter Market @ OFallon Station
• Sat, Dec 20th @ noon deadline to order your catered holiday meal from the Regency

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

Short and sweet episode

We're taking this week off- hoping everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving in whatever way they celebrated. Don't forget the lighted Holiday parade is Sat, 11/30 @ 6pm in Downtown OFallon! 

Holiday season in our community

There are SO MANY FUN things happening!! In this episode, we highlight events happening in OFallon and Shiloh this holiday season!

• Sat, 11/23 9am-noon Thanksgiving Market @ OFallon Station
• Sat, 11/23 Scouting for Food collection day
• Sat, 11/30 Small Business Saturday!
• Sat, 11/30 @ 6pm Lighted Holiday Parade
• Friday- Sunday Dec 6-8th OTHS Madrigal Dinner 
• Sat, 12/14 4-8pm Home for the Holidays Winter Market @ OFallon Station 

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

 

OFallon Neighbors

In this episode, we talk about O'Fallon Neighbors.... a new, hyper-local nonprofit started by resident and entrepreneur, Mike Clark. With the goal of providing personalized financial help to someone going through extraordinary circumstances, O'Fallon Neighbors has already significantly impacted their first Neighbor, O'Fallon resident, Emily George. 

You can support OFallon Neighbors in several ways. 

On the calendar:

• Friday, 11/15 @ 9pm Howl at the Moon 5k
• Sat, 11/16 12-4pm Kloss Furniture's Cops'n'Kids fundraiser 
• Sun, 11/17 Studio Strong's 3 mile hike - learn more about the hiking program here. Register for the 11/17 hike here. 
• Sat, 11/23 9am-noon Thanksgiving market @ OFallon Station
• Monday, 11/25 @ noon- deadline to order your catered Thanksgiving meal from The Regency
• Friday - Sunday, Dec 6-8th OTHS Madrigal Dinner

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

Chambers are closing!

In this episode we talk about some St. Louis area Chambers of Commerce who are closing their doors permanently - and how and why our Chamber is thriving.

Our impact goes beyond hosting networking events- we have a great relationship with Scott AFB and work hard to help our service members whether they're moving to our area or transitioning into the civilian work force.

On the calendar:

• Friday- Sunday Nov 8-10th the OTHS fall theater production of Clue On Stage
• Monday, Nov 11th @ 11am Veterans' Day ceremony @ First Baptist Church
• Monday, Nov 11th @ 2pm Veterans' Day parade 
• Friday, Nov 15th @ 9pm Howl at the Moon 5k at Family Sports Park
• Sat, Nov 16th 12-4pm Kloss Furniture Cops'n'kids
• Sunday, Nov 17th Studio Strong's Hiking program kicks off with their first hike
• Sat, Nov 23rd Scouting for Food donation day

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