The Leader’s first-ever South County Senior Expo will offer lots of fun activities and information from 8 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, May 1, at the Kennedy Recreation Center, 6050 Wells Road, in south St. Louis County.
Admission is free.
Attendees also will be treated to free doughnuts and coffee, while supplies last. In addition, the event, which is geared toward people 50 and older, will include a variety of vendors who offer products and services for seniors, as well as two sessions of free bingo; live music and dancing; entertaining speakers and informational displays.
“These events are designed for seniors to come to one place and find all the resources they need, from looking into health care options, planning their estate, getting home improvement projects completed, talking with bankers, getting information from the health department, planning vacations and so much more,” said Katelynn Mary Skaggs, the Leader’s digital marketing manager. “While all our vendors offer helpful information to seniors, the event is also fun."
Seniors from St. Louis and Jefferson counties and beyond are encouraged to attend.
Skaggs said she is excited about the new senior expo, which is the second of six the Leader will hold this year.
“Senior Expo days are the best days,” she said. “When the seniors arrive with a big smile on their face, it makes me grin from ear to ear. This is a totally new event and new expo, so you won’t want to miss it.”
The schedule for the morning looks like this:
■ 8 a.m. – Doors open; free coffee and doughnuts will be available, courtesy of Leader Publications. Vendors will be on hand with a wide variety of goods and services. Many will offer giveaways and drawings for free items. Smart attendees will bring pre-printed address labels to simplify entering drawings, filling out forms or requesting information.
■ 8:30 a.m. – A South County YMCA instructor will lead a workout people can do from their chairs.
■ 9 a.m. – The first session of free bingo will be played in front of the stage. St. Louis Police Officer Cecilia Young will call bingo, with prizes of gift certificates to local businesses and restaurants.
■ 9:30 a.m. – Paramedic Nick Marty of the Mehlville Fire Protection District will share safety tips for seniors.
■ 10 a.m. – St. Louis Police Officer Cecilia Young will preside over a second session of free bingo, with prizes of gift certificates to local businesses and restaurants.
■ 10:30 a.m. – Thad Ortman of South County Senior Law and Estate Planning Center LLC will share tips and tricks for estate planning.
■ 11 a.m. – The grand prize and other prizes will be announced.
■ 11:15 a.m. – The J.B. Louis and the Legends band will perform.
■ Noon – Expo closes.
Speakers
Skaggs said she is looking forward to hearing from the speakers.
“Thad Ortman of South County Senior Law and Estate Planning Center will talk about tips for planning your estate and he is full of good knowledge,” Skaggs said. “We will also have a paramedic from Mehlville Fire talking about senior safety and I always learn something while listening to these sessions. “
Skaggs also said she’s excited about Young calling bingo.
“I don’t believe we have ever had a police officer call bingo,” she said. “This specific police officer is a dear friend of mine and I believe she will be an excellent bingo caller. She is sweet and kind, but not afraid to keep any unruly bingo players in line.”
Prizes
Expogoers may register at the Leader booth for a chance to win the grand prize: A two-night stay at Echo Bluff State Park’s Lodge nestled along Sinking Creek near Eminence. A mini grand prize also will be awarded – two tickets to one of the St. Louis Cardinals home games held Monday through Thursday before Sept. 1 (exclusions and blackout dates apply.)
There is a limit of one entry per person, and you must be present to win. Only those 50 or older are eligible to win, but the winner may take a guest of any age.
Photo contest winners
Rosemary Graham of Hillsboro won first place and $100 in the Leader Publications’ “Way Back When” Photo Contest held in connection with the senior expo.
Readers 50 and older were encouraged to send in photos from 1999 or earlier, featuring people, places or events.
Graham sent in a photo from 1968 of a couple of her relatives taken on their farm in Bentonville, Ark.
The winning photos and a full gallery of submissions can be found here:
Two readers from Hillsboro and one from Imperial came up winners in the annual “Way Back When” photo contest, sponsored by Leader Publications…
Upcoming senior expos
The following expos are planned from 8 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays.
■ Festus Senior Expo, June 26, at the Festus R-6 Performing Arts Center.
■ West Side Senior Expo, July 24, at Northwest High School in Cedar Hill.
■ Arnold Senior Expo, Aug. 21, at the Arnold Eagles Hall.
■ Eureka Senior Expo, Oct. 16, at the Timbers of Eureka.
Businesses and organizations interested in securing a vendor space for any of these events may contact the Leader at 636-931-7560 or ads@leaderpublications.biz.