Senior Services Plus

SSP HVAC Services – Summer is Here! Our HVAC team with 20+ years’ experience can make sure your air conditioner is working properly. Call now to schedule your air conditioner clean and check. For more information call 465-3298 x118. 

SSP Lawn Care Services Now Available – Call 465-3298 x118 to schedule all of your lawn care needs! Mowing, weed eating, brush removal, and brush hogging. Call now for an estimate! 465-3298 x118. 

School House Grill is Open! No reservation needed. The grill is now open 7 a.m. – 1 p.m. Monday-Friday for breakfast or lunch with the full menu available. Curbside pickup is still available. Please call 465-3298 x100 in advance. Temperature check, masking, and social distancing are mandatory. 

Pickleball Now Offered at the SSP Wellness Center! USAPA Approved Pickleball Court is now open for Wellness Members! We have open court hours Thursday from 1PM-2PM, Friday from 4PM-8PM, Saturday 10AM-3PM and Sunday from 10AM-3PM. Limit 6 people per hour. Reserve time by phone at 618-465-3298 EXT 109 or online at bit.ly/3gAddfp.  

The SSP Wellness Center is open with NO reservations needed to attend classes or for workout times. Workout classes are included in all memberships, and 14 different class types to choose from. Please call 618-465-3298 ext109 to request a tour Hours: Mon–Fri 6:00 AM-8:00 PM, Sat 7:00 AM-3:00 PM, Sun 10:00 AM-3:00 PM. https://www.facebook.com/SSPWellnessCenter/ Call 465-3298 x120. 

SSP Upcoming Zoom Events – Socialize with your community and SSP via our Online Zoom events, hosted every week. Find out what online events are happening and register for them via our Facebook event page at www.facebook.com/seniorservicesplus1973/events 

• Aug 18: Jacoby Arts Center: Redesign Intervention 
• Sept 1: Land of Lincoln Legal Aid: TBD 
• Sept 15: Dr. Maranda Trahan: Keeping Your Brain and Body Active Throughout Dementia 
• Oct 6: Dr. Maranda Trahan: Scrub-A-Dub-Dub: Steps for Simple Showers 

• Oct 27: National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC): Bats 
• Nov 3: SSP Long-term Care Ombudsman: Ombudsman 
• Nov 17: The Nature Institute: Hiking Day 
• Dec 1: Land of Lincoln Legal Aid TBD 
• Dec 15: Gent Funeral Home: Preplanning Funeral 

SSP, 2603 N. Rodgers Ave., Alton, IL 62002, 618.465.3298, www.seniorservicesplus.org 

CALLING ALL ‘GRANDPAS’ FOR CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND

The holiday transformation of Rock Spring Park in Alton will begin in early September, and new Christmas Wonderland volunteers are always needed to help put together displays to ensure the holidays sparkle in 2021.

An informational meeting for volunteers is planned for 11 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 10 at Meunstermann Pavilion in Gordon Moore Park. The Grandpa Gang, which coordinates the annual Christmas event, is looking for volunteers to help with tasks like setting up wooden displays and hanging lights throughout the park. Volunteers are able to work any time between 8 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday and work continues through the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Volunteers are not required to work each day of set up. Set up in the park is expected to begin Monday, Sept. 13 at 8 a.m.

If interested in volunteering but unable to attend the Aug. 10 meeting, volunteers should contact Dick Alford at 618-781-2482 or Tom Spahr at 618-250-0670.

“We always look forward to meeting new volunteers and working together to make Christmas Wonderland shine,” Dick Alford, head Grandpa, notes. “This is a wonderful opportunity to do something great for the community and all the thousands of people who look forward to the light show each year.”

Rock Spring Park has been decorated for the Christmas season for over 25 years with Christmas Wonderland. This year’s holiday light display will begin Friday, Nov. 26 and run through Monday, Dec. 27. Christmas Wonderland comes to life from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

The Grandpa Gang, a group of retirees and volunteers, organizes and designs a Christmas spectacular of cascading lights, tunnels, and displays for visitors and locals to enjoy each year. Each evening, the park sparkles against the night sky with three million glistening lights, all hung by volunteers and the “gang.” Visitors and families can turn off their headlights and let the holiday displays carry them through the magical scene. Even a few of Alton’s historical figures visit, including displays of Robert Wadlow, the World’s Tallest Man, placing the star on the Christmas tree, and the legendary Piasa Bird carrying a bag of gifts for the kids.

KONG’S NIGHT OUT is the next show at ALT

The Alton Little Theater Showplace closes out the 87th Season in “high style” with an outrageous comedy by Playwright Jack Neary. The show is a clever mixture of real events and total imagination — one incredible night in a New York Penthouse Suite overlooking Times Square and all of New York City — where five men and four women take on the incredulous events that transpire when dueling Broadway producers tried to best each other with the “biggest” star on the Great White Way!

Because every movie has a ” back-story” and KONG’S NIGHT OUT takes some plausible and hysterical guesses at what would happen – what did happen (in the movie) if Kong escaped in New York City and came looking for his lady love (Fay Wray)! The antics, witty dialogue, and twists and turns never stop until one big, messy, supercilious HAPPY ENDING — of course!!

Director Gail Drillinger found the perfect cast with Tori Stukins, Lisa Hinrichs, Randy Manning, John Kirkpatrick, Cody Cole, Hal Morgan, Tiffani Bowen, Michael Arthur, and Kathy Piercy.

The show will happen August 20th through 29th — eight performances, with six evening performances at 7:30 and two Sunday matinees.

The theater group will launch the 88th Season on September 10th with seven shows and three special concert events scheduled September 2021 through May 2022! Information about all of ALT’s production plans and tickets can be obtained by calling 618-462-3205 or http://www.altonlittletheater.org.

Don’t miss KONG’S NIGHT OUT — and take advantage of the last month to purchase the GREAT 88th Season Tickets at an incredulously low SALE PRICE of $80!

And yes, in compliance with Illinois’ guidelines, audiences will be required to wear masks during the performance!

Grafton Weekly Calendar

Thu July 29, 2021

• 10am – 4pm Edward Amburg Museum & Visitor Center Open, Grafton Visitor Center, 950 E Main St
• 7pm – 9pm Music in the Park with Rockabilly Revival, Grove Memorial Park
• 9:30pm – 9:45pm Fireworks on the River, Lighthouse Park Grafton

Fri July 30, 2021

• 10am – 4pm Edward Amburg Museum & Visitor Center Open, Grafton Visitor Center, 950 E Main
• 6pm – 10pm Scott & Karl – Live Music, The Loading Dock, 401 Front St

Sat July 31, 2021

• 10am – 4pm Edward Amburg Museum & Visitor Center Open, Grafton Visitor Center, 950 E Main St
• 3pm – 7pm NGK Band- Live Music, Grafton Winery Inc, 300 W Main St
• 6pm – 10pm Griffin & The Gargoyles – Live Music, The Loading Dock, 401 Front St
• 7pm – 11pm Exit 52 – Live Music, Grafton Oyster Bar, 215 Water St

Sun Aug 1, 2021

• 10am – 4pm Edward Amburg Museum & Visitor Center Open, Grafton Visitor Center, 950 E Main St
• 2pm – 6pm Scott Logan & Leslie Craig-Live Music, Grafton Winery Inc, 300 W Main St
• 3pm – 7pm NGK Band – Live Music, The Loading Dock, 401 Front St

City of Grafton Tourism & Marketing Committee

http://www.graftonilchamber.com | http://www.enjoygrafton.com

Sierra Club Speakers Series: Time Travel and Transformation in the Lower Mississippi Valley

On August 10, 2021, from 6 – 7:30 PM will be a Piasa Palisades Group, Sierra Club Virtual Monthly Speakers Series presentation by Jason King, Executive Director of the Center for American Archaeology. Join us to learn about the Native American people who lived in the Lower Illinois River Valley during the Middle Woodland period (50 BC to AD 400).  Dr. King has directed extensive fieldwork at many sites and this summer is working at an important site near Kampsville, IL. 

This is a ZOOM event – you must register at “sierraclub.org/illinois/piasa-palisades” and click on Events and go to August 10. For more details contact Chris Krusa at 410-490-5024.

Dr. Megan Sauer, OB/GYN, Joins Medical Staff

Dr. Megan Sauer, OB/GYN, has joined the Alton Multispecialists and Alton Memorial Hospital medical staff.  Dr. Sauer joins Dr. Rachel Durham at Alton Multispecialists, 1 Professional Drive in Alton. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 618.463.1181.

Dr. Sauer provides care for all aspects of pregnancy, from pre-pregnancy counseling to post-partum care. She will advise on prenatal nutrition, and exercise, and will help patients choose the delivery options that best suit their needs. A native of the Metro East, Dr. Sauer earned her medical degree from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. She completed her Obstetrics Residency at Saint Louis University earlier this year.

AMH Medical Staff Adding Pulmonary Physician

Jaffer Asif, DO, a board-certified pulmonary physician, is joining the Alton Memorial Hospital medical staff and will begin seeing patients on Aug. 2. His office is in Suite 220 of Medical Office Building A on the AMH campus. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 618-433-6750.

Dr. Asif, a member of BJC Medical Group, provides care to patients ages 18 and older for conditions including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, pulmonary fibrosis, interstitial lung disease (ILD), sarcoidosis, pneumonia, acute and chronic respiratory failure, acute and chronic shortness of breath, acute and chronic cough, pulmonary embolism, and cares for patients experiencing ongoing respiratory symptoms from COVID-19. Dr. Asif also provides various bronchoscopy procedures.

Dr. Asif earned his medical degree from the Kirksville (Mo.) College of Osteopathic Medicine. After graduating from medical school, Dr. Asif completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at Loyola University Medical Center and a pulmonary and critical care fellowship at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. His leadership roles have included serving as an intensive care medical director, outpatient clinic medical director, as well as developing advanced bronchoscopy procedures and a comprehensive lung nodule program.   

Metro-East Contractor Named “Top Workplace” and “Best Place to Work” on St. Louis Area Lists

Helmkamp Construction has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2021 honor by The St. Louis Post-Dispatch Top Workplaces.  The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage, LLC.  The anonymous survey uniquely measures 15 culture drivers that are critical to the success of any organization: including alignment, execution, and connection, just to name a few.

“During this very challenging time, Top Workplaces has proven to be a beacon of light for organizations, as well as a sign of resiliency and strong business performance,” said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO.  “When you give your employees a voice, you come together to navigate challenges and shape your path forward.  Top Workplaces draw on real-time insights into what works best for their organization, so they can make informed decisions that have a positive impact on their people and their business.” 

For 10 consecutive years, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has recognized the importance of effective leadership, strong values, and motivated workers.  Over 1,600 employers were invited to have their employees take the survey and any business with at least 50 employees was eligible to participate.  However, only 151 earned recognition in Top Workplaces.  Helmkamp ranked #12 on this year’s list.  2021 was their 3rd consecutive year of both participating and earning a spot on the list.

The St. Louis Business Journal also named Helmkamp Construction Co. as a Finalist on their 2021 Best Places to Work list.  The Journal is partnered with Quantum Workplaces which uses its own algorithm to measure communication, management structure, benefits, teamwork, and several other factors.  The companies are grouped by size, then ranked by Quantum to determine the St. Louis area’s most employee-friendly workplaces.  More than 250 nominations were submitted and 75 were honored as Finalists across all categories. 

Helmkamp was among the 20 winners identified in the medium-sized category.  Winners of each category will be named in a special publication on July 30th.  This was Helmkamp’s 3rd year of participating in the Best Places to Work program.  They earned a spot on the list in 2019 and 2021, while earning the Business Journal’s special category award for their charitable impact on the community in 2020.   

Rob Johnes, President & Owner of Helmkamp Construction, said “We have a clear definition of success and it’s tied around integrity.  Every person that works for us believes in doing the right thing for each other and our customers and follow a decision-making tree that is based on those things.  Our employees tell us they are proud to work for a company that does the right thing and cares about their well-being.  We reward our employees and tailor our benefits around their health and future, so they experience a fulfilling career and enjoy a happy and healthy life with their families.”

Red Cross Blood Drive Aug. 5 at Alton Memorial

Alton Memorial Hospital will host an American Red Cross blood drive from 12:30-4:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 5, in the cafe meeting rooms. This is the first blood drive at AMH open to the general public since the pandemic began.

To register for a time, please call Destanie Garrett at 314-341-6229 or email destanie.garrett@bjc.org. Please include your full name, phone number, and email address if leaving a message. You can also register online at https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/drive-results?zipSponsor=AltonMemorial.

Courtesy of the American Red Cross, all donors will have a chance to win an exclusive VIP journey for two to the sold-out 2021 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival.

Also, donors ages 18-24 will automatically be entered for a chance to win an exclusive tech package. There will be five total winners for all the area drives held in August. Each package includes:

• One 13-inch MacBook Pro (256 GB, comes with USB-C charge cable & USB-C Power Adapter
• One set of AirPods Pro
• One USB-C digital AV Multiport Adapter
• One $200 Apple Gift Card