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Hello Belleville! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. 

In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: $2 billion shopping and entertainment plan, Lucky Leprechaun 5K, and meet the Easter Bunny + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around Belleville protect their savings as gold and silver continue to gain momentum. Their free guide explains what’s driving the surge… and what to know before adding precious metals to your portfolio. Grab your free copy here.

📰 In the news

Thousands of jobs envisioned: Nearly $2 billion in shopping and entertainment is planned in Glen Carbon near I-270. Trustees approved a STAR bond district, with state sign-off required, by a Belleville and O’Fallon developer — see projections and timeline.

Statewide fundraising honors announced: O’Fallon Police in St. Clair County raised over $33,000 on February 28 for Special Olympics Illinois, after leading 2025 totals in their statewide size category — see where they ranked statewide.

All-ages adventures await: Recent roundup shares 10 family-friendly Illinois spots beyond Chicago, including Cahokia Mounds near Belleville, Rockford’s Discovery Center Museum, and Monticello’s Allerton Park for kids and parents — check out the full lineup.

Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Highlights this week:

• Paint a clothed model, enjoy open mic
• Design a sparkling crushed glass masterpiece
• Kids celebrate Jesus at Easter egg hunt
• Unlock clinical-level wellness data from home

💎 Local business spotlight

Craving real pie? From classic apple and cherry to caramel apple walnut and French silk, Eckert’s Belleville Farm Bakery bakes homestyle pies that taste like your kitchen caught a cinnamon breeze and a little good judgment. Perfect for weeknight dessert… and no one needs to know you didn’t bake it.

A midweek mood-lifter: Grimm & Gorly Florist delivers that “tell them what you want, and they’ll nail it” energy, with gorgeous custom bouquets, lively plants, and thoughtful add-on gifts from a team that clearly loves the craft; everything arrives polished, so future-you looks brilliant.

Climb-adjacent fun: If top ropes are scarce, Pride of Illinois scratches the itch with ninja-style obstacles and balance challenges that fire up your grip. A simple midweek shake-up for locals: burn energy, build strength, and let the kids (or you) channel that inner mountain goat.

These aren’t ads or sponsored placements, just some cool nearby spots we think are worth a visit.

🫶 We got your back

Your data is for sale right now: There are over 400 websites selling your info to marketers, political campaigns, and scammers. They’ve got your phone number, home address, relatives’ names… you name it. That’s how robocallers seem to know everything about you before you pick up. You can remove your info one site at a time, or pay a service to do it for you. Here’s what we recommend →

Why your last diet didn’t work: Sustained weight loss is nearly impossible with diet alone. Your body literally fights back by making you hungrier the moment you start restricting calories. That’s why more doctors are recommending GLP-1s. The best part? Getting them has never been easier. We compared three programs to help you find the right fit. See which ones stood out →

What doctors wish every 65+ adult had at home: Physicians call it “long-lie,” and it’s the real reason falls are so dangerous for older adults. It’s not a broken bone… it’s lying on the floor for hours waiting for someone to notice. We dug into the options that actually solve this problem, and one stood out. See which one →

Thinning hair? It only gets worse: A few months ago, I noticed my ponytail getting thinner. I tried the usual stuff (biotin, shampoo, etc.) but mostly just hoped it would fix itself… until I learned that active follicles can permanently go dormant if you don’t do something about it. The good news? You can get treatment that actually works with no office visits or trips to the pharmacy. Check out my favorite online options →

📆 Fun for the whole fam

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🎨 Kids Craft Night @ Quintons Crafthouse (Collinsville) | Wednesday (3/11) at 6:00 PM – Hand the kids over to Quintons Crafthouse for Kids Craft Night, where they’ll make a paper straw necklace, a sand planter, and a calming bottle, and you’ll dodge the glitter cleanup. It’s $20 a kid, ages 5 to 12, supplies included, sanity preserved.

🍀 Sham-Rock the Park! @ Woodland Park – Collinsville, IL | Friday (3/13) at 8:00 AM – Trade green beer for a green paintbrush and help Sham-ROCK Woodland Park for St. Paddy’s week. Register for a free kit, paint and hide a few, then round up the family to hunt 100 festive rocks, keep or re-hide them, and call it cardio.

🎨 Spring into Art: Kids-Only Pizza & Paint Party @ 1020 Artworks Studio | Friday (3/13) at 5:30 PM – Cash in on a rare slice of quiet by dropping the kids, 5 and up, at kids-only studio night with springy painting and a pizza party. Supplies, two slices, and cleanup you do not have to supervise included, mess encouraged. Reserve online, then enjoy peace.

🏃 Lucky Leprechaun 5K and Kids’ Rainbow Dash @ Union United Methodist Church, 721 E Main St, Belleville, IL | Saturday (3/14) at 9:00 AM – Take a break from inertia and hit Belleville Main Street for the Lucky Leprechaun 5K, plus a 50-yard Rainbow Dash for the kids. It’s your East-Side St. Paddy’s warm-up: quick miles, neighborly vibes, a new tee, and medals for the mini crew, proud glow included.

🐰 Meet the Easter Bunny @ Quick Service Center by Serra Honda O’Fallon | Saturday (3/14) at 11:00 AM – Meet the Easter Bunny at Serra Honda, snap a photo, then let the kids loose on crafts, games, and candy. It is peak spring in the showroom, which somehow works. Bring the grandkids, leave with memories, maybe a sugar rush.

🧇 Annual Waffle Breakfast @ St Paul’s United Church of Christ (Freeburg) | Sunday (3/15) at 8:00 AM – If you like your carbs with a side of community, head downstairs for the Annual Waffle Breakfast, meet Ms. Megan, and see why Teeny Tot wins over tiny critics. Real syrup, real conversation, real basement vibes, bring your appetite, and your curiosity.

🛼 WB Skate Night with SpongeBob @ Skate City | Monday (3/16) at 5:00 PM – Skate City goes full SpongeBob for the last skate night of 2026, so dust off the quads, squeeze into your best square pants, and help pack the rink. Bring the kids, or your inner 12-year-old, and expect nostalgia, wobbly ankles, and surprisingly decent cardio.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Belleville report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 69°F – Low: 32°F – Precip: 90%

Showers and thunderstorms before 4pm. Mostly cloudy. High near 69, with temperatures falling to around 49 in the afternoon. West wind 12 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32. Northwest wind 5 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 55°F – Low: 44°F – Precip: 0%

Sunny, with a high near 55. West wind 2 to 8 mph. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. South wind 8 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.

This house is wild

In the Millstadt School District, this open plan home shows vaulted ceilings and Brazilian Walnut floors. A wrap around deck with a propane heater leads to a hot tub patio. The walkout basement offers a 3/4 bath and flex space. An oversized garage and wide drive complement a 2023 roof, 2020 high efficiency HVAC, and most windows updated in 2025.

Take a peek inside →