This year’s West Side Senior Expo is sure to entertain visitors with games of bingo, prizes, guest speakers, live music and more.
“This expo is a favorite of mine,” said Katelyn Mary Skaggs, digital marketing manager for the Leader. “For one, it’s in my hometown, and, secondly, it’s a great venue, and we always have a lot of fun.”
The event is set for 8 a.m. to noon Wednesday, July 24, at Northwest High School, 6005 Cedar Hill Road, in Cedar Hill.
Admission is free and open to the public, with activities catered to those 50 and older.
About 34 vendors will be on hand to talk to attendees about products and services they provide.
Speakers include representatives from the Open Door Animal Sanctuary in House Springs and Cedar Hill Improvement Partnership, a group that plans to renovate the town’s historical mill and open it as a local museum.
“The animal sanctuary has a program that matches seniors with senior pets. The group will be bringing along cats and dogs, if you’re looking for snuggles,” Skaggs said.
“And, if you’ve missed the stories published in the Leader about the Cedar Hill Improvement Partnership, it will catch you up with what the group has been planning for the town’s historical mill and how to get involved.”
In addition, Cedar Hill Fire Protection District Battalion Chief John Griffith will speak about the district’s program to provide lockboxes to homeowners that would allow first responders quick access in case of emergencies, as well as other key safety information.
“Desi Kirchhofer will have an encore performance as our fabulous bingo caller. He’s quick, so there are even more chances to win,” Skaggs said.
Seniors will want to stop by the Leader booth to enter the grand prize drawing. The lucky winner will get a two-burner Blackstone outdoor griddle, courtesy of Houska’s Ace Hardware in Arnold, valued at over $300.
The morning will be rounded out with a musical performance from J.B. Louis and the Legends.
“You don’t want to miss it. I always ask them to play ‘Mustang Sally,’ and they never fail to rock the house,” Skaggs said.
Expo lineup
■ Doors open at 8 a.m., with free doughnuts and coffee available while supply lasts.
Stop by the Leader booth to enter the drawing for the grand prize. Only those 50 or older are eligible to win, with one entry per person. The winner will be selected at random and must be present at the 11 a.m. drawing to win.
Vendors will be on hand, many offering giveaways and drawings for free items. Bring along pre-printed address labels for easy entry.
■ At 8:30 a.m. in Room B, Amie Moschetto, the volunteer coordinator for Open Door Animal Sanctuary in House Springs, will talk about the organization’s mission and how to get involved.
■ At 9 a.m., the first of two bingo sessions will be played in Room A, with the chance to win restaurant coupons, gift certificates to local businesses and other prizes. Retired Northwest Superintendent Desi Kirchhofer will call the game.
You must have a blue ticket to play this round.
■ At 9:30 a.m. in Room B, a representative from Cedar Hill Improvement Partnership will talk about the group’s work in the community.
■ At 10 a.m., Kirchhofer will call the second bingo session in Room A, with the chance to win prizes.
You must have a gray ticket to play this round.
■ At 10:30 a.m. in Room B, Cedar Hill Fire Protection District Battalion Chief John Griffith will talk about lockboxes that can be installed on houses to provide easier first responder access.
■ At 11 a.m., the grand prize winner will be announced, along with winners for vendor prizes.
■ At 11:15 a.m., J.B. Louis and the Legends band will perform.
The band, led by Jerry Blanton on lead guitar and vocals, performs country and rock classics and is celebrating its 10th year as the official Leader Senior Expo Band.
■ At noon, the expo closes.
Upcoming contest, events
Winning pictures for the My Best Ride photo contest, which is being held in conjunction with the West Side Senior Expo, can be seen here:
Earl Stephens of Arnold won the $100 top prize in the My Best Ride photo contest for his photo of a 1923 Ford T-bucket he bought in memory of …
Hometown Gems, a brand new contest being held in conjunction with the Arnold Senior Expo to be held in August, has just kicked off. For that contest, senior readers are asked to send in pictures of their favorite places throughout Jefferson County, Eureka and Wildwood.
Three winners will be drawn at random from among all the entries to win cash prizes – $100 for the first name drawn, $75 for the second and $50 for the third.
Be sure to include the entrant’s name, age, address and phone number so winners may be contacted, as well as date and place the photo was taken and by whom; names of any people in the photo; and any information about why the picture is special.
Readers are limited to three entries per person. Entries are due by 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1.
Submissions from businesses or business owners advertising their products or services will not be accepted.
Send entries by mail to Hometown Gems, c/o Leader Publications, P.O. Box 159, Festus, 63028; drop them off at the Leader office, 503 N. Second St., in Festus; or email them to news@leaderpublications.biz.
Photos accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope will be mailed back; others will be held for pickup.
The Arnold Senior Expo will be held from 8 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Aug. 21, at the Arnold Eagles Hall. The Eureka Senior Expo, set for Oct. 16 at the Timbers of Eureka, will be the final expo of the year.
More information about both expos will be published closer to the events.
For more information about the contest or about future expos, call the Leader at 636-931-7560 or visit myleaderpaper.com/seniorexpo.
Senior Expo attendees could win a Blackstone outdoor griddle
West Side Senior Expo attendees will want to enter the Leader grand prize drawing for a chance to win an outdoor Blackstone griddle, along with griddle seasoning, an eight-piece breakfast kit and a three-piece barbecue tool set.
The West Side Senior Expo is tailored to those 50 and older and will be held from 8 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, July 24, at Northwest High School, 6005 Cedar Hill Road, in Cedar Hill.
One lucky winner will go home with a new Blackstone grill valued at $349.99, plus an eight-piece breakfast kit, a three-piece barbecue tool set and griddle seasoning.
After expo attendees enter the drawing, a name will be drawn and the lucky winner will receive the Blackstone griddle and the accompanying supplies.
“Blackstones are in high demand and Blackstone makes good-quality products,” said Rob Godbey, a sales associate at Houska’s Ace Hardware in Arnold.
The griddle has two burners and is powered by propane.
He said people love the griddle because it’s versatile.
“You can cook anything – bacon, eggs, smash burgers, fajitas and breakfast. Your options are endless.”
Godbey said people need to season the Blackstone flat-top, steel griddle and take care of it like a cast iron skillet.
Houska’s Ace Hardware, 1520 Jeffco Blvd., in Arnold is providing the griddle, which is valued at $349.99.
“If you are interested in buying any type of grill, visit Houska’s Ace Hardware in Arnold and they will take care of you,” said Skaggs, digital marketing manager for the Leader.
Cotton’s Ace Hardware, 111 Hilltop Village Shopping Center, in Eureka, donated the griddle seasoning, breakfast kit and the barbecue tool set.
“Cotton’s Ace Hardware can also help those looking for grills and accessories,” Skaggs said.
The breakfast kit includes four egg rings, an 8-inch omelet ring, a crepe spreader, a bacon press and a batter dispenser. The three-piece barbecue tool kit includes a spatula, a basting brush and tongs.
“You are going to win a Blackstone grill and accessories you can use to fill your summer with lots of delicious things,” Skaggs said.