About 300 people attended the West Side Senior Expo on July 22 which included a morning of games, prizes and information.
“Overall, I think the expo was so fun. I grew up in House Springs, so this expo feels like coming home for me,” said Katelyn Mary Skaggs, Leader advertising manager. “Northwest High School is such a great space to just have this community event.”
Also in attendance were Northwest High School student council members who helped set up and assist seniors. Skaggs said they provide great fun and energy to the expo.
The expo also featured several speakers.
Cathy Baumann, a volunteer with St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness, spoke to seniors about the cancer awareness program as an ovarian cancer survivor.
Joseph Thurman, Jefferson College history teacher and host of the Jefferson County Minute podcast, spoke about the history of 19th century European immigration to the Cedar Hill area.
Kim Sult, the director of elementary instruction and coordinator of the Oasis Intergenerational Tutoring program at the Northwest School District, shared information about volunteering opportunities for seniors to tutor elementary students.
About 30 vendors shared various types of information with seniors, handed out free items and offered some giveaways.
Mike Cruse of Cedar Hill won the expo’s grand prize: a luxury one-night stay at the Brinkman B&B in West Owensville and a visit to Cool Cow Cheese. The prize includes a luxury hayloft suite, sample cheeses, partaking in a gourmet charcuterie board along with the opportunity to milk the farm’s Jersey cows and feed the baby cows.
Mike and his wife, Peggy, said they are both excited for the experience at Owensville.
“I went and tasted the cheese, came back and told Mike about it, and then we looked at the pamphlet, and (thought) that would be a fun little trip, and he won,” she said.
Peggy said they have attended senior expos in the past.
“We enjoy the people; I do get to see a few of my friends,” she said.
The remaining expos include: Arnold Senior Expo, Aug. 19, at the Arnold Eagles Hall; Farmington Area Senior Expo, Sept. 16, at the Mineral Area College Tech Center; and Eureka Senior Expo, Oct. 28, at the Timbers of Eureka.
The events are free and geared to people 50 and older.
Businesses and organizations interested in securing a vendor space for any of the expos may contact the Leader at 636-931-7560 or ads@myleaderpaper.com.
