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Carnival: St. Elizabeth Parish Picnic




St. Elizabeth Annual Parish Picnic in Granite City Illinois Family Entertainment & Carnival

The St. Elizabeth’s Parish Picnic has taken place annually since 1981.  Furthermore, “the picnic has become one of the premier picnics in the Metro East,” the first year being held in 1981 – STLToday.com.  However, it’s not the only carnival in Granite City!

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Moreover, my children were young enough for me to pull them both around in a Radio Flyer wagon the first time I took them.  Furthermore, I hope it continues for generations yet to come.  Most importantly, to beat the heat of the summer we focus on fun activities.  For instance, when we think of summertime, swimming, camping and carnivals are what we get excited about!

granite city carnival

Furthermore, this Granite City Carnival is held on the blacktop parking lot with designated parking in the soccer field of Saint Elizabeth Catholic Church. Additionally, the address is 2300 Pontoon Rd, Granite City, IL 62040.  You can’t miss it!



carnival funnel cakes
Funnel cakes are worth the wait!

“The St. Elizabeth Church Parish Picnic is one of the highlights of the Granite City summer season.  Moreover, dinners are served in an air conditioned cafeteria and includes dessert, coffee, and iced tea.  As a result of access to, people are able to cool down and avoid heatstroke.

st elizabeth carnival

Moreover, attractions of the St. Elizabeth’s Annual Parish Picnic consists of a carnival with over 20 rides.  Furthermore, area bands provide live entertainment throughout the event.  Other St. Elizabeth Parish picnic activities are corn hole toss tournaments, Bingo, a variety of raffles, and a silent auction.  

Picnic activities included a 5K race, a car show, Area First Responders equipment display, and a reptile show.  Game booths and food and refreshment stands remain open on the grounds throughout the picnic.” – GreatRiverRoad.com. Thousands of people have enjoyed this event through the years.



A Fortunate Winner Participated in the 2019 Car Raffle and is the Lucky Driver of a Chevy Spark Compliments of Weber Chevrolet!

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Carnival Game Booths, Carnival Rides & More in Granite City
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granite city carnival st elizabeth picnic



Granite City Police
Granite City Police Officers Keeping the Peace & the People Safe
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St. Elizabeth Carnival



st elizabeth fair

Plan to attend  St. Elizabeth’s Annual Parish Picnic!  Most importantly, like their Facebook page to keep updated.

granite city carnival
Tornado ride at Granite City carnival
Granite City Illinois Carnival

There are three annual carnivals that take place in Granite City.  Aside from the St. Elizabeth Church Parish Picnic,  Holy Family Church holds an annual event.  Furthermore, the Patriots In The Park is the 4th of July Celebration and it takes place over the course of several days too.  Click here to view the scheduled parades and events in Granite City, Illinois.

Elks Lodge also hosts entertainment events now and then.  For instance, we attended a carnival and enjoyed rides like The Hurricane, as shown in the video below.  That carnival isn’t an annual event.  However, it’s still another place that provides summer fun activities for families to attend!

ferris wheel

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The Downtown Diner

The Downtown Diner

 

The Downtown Diner is a nostalgic restaurant located in downtown Granite City Illinois.   Moreover, this place has an excellent location just down the road and near a local movie theater.



Furthermore, specific food items on the menu are familiar to citizens like me who attended Granite City School District 9.   I personally acquired a taste for and looked forward to the square pizza when I was a kid.  Moreover, I had no shame dipping it in ketchup.  I like my fries with ketchup too.

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Encouraging Creative Marketing Strategies

The Downtown Diner used a common social media marketing strategy to boost awareness of and engagement with their business, and at little cost to them.  For instance, what they did was make a post offering citizens an opportunity to win a strawberry shortcake dessert just by liking and sharing their post.  As an already experienced customer I was delighted to engage in their marketing strategy!  The dessert was free, but I went as a paying customer.



 I Liked And Shared This Post For A Chance To Win This Delicious Dessert.

 And Won The Sweet Treat!

 Cerise & Taylor Were The Waitresses Who Tended To Me Upon Entry.  They Were Cheerful and Very Polite!

 

“Downtown Diner Is Open 24 Hours A Day, Seven Days A Week”  – BND

downtown diner granite city illinois souvenirs

About The Owner

Moreover, the dessert was free, but I still became a paying customer.  Additionally, I did research and found interesting background information about the owner.  Her name is Brenda Whitaker.   I learned that before investing her savings back into the economy, she spent “fifteen years earning her keep as a coil operator” at one of the steel mills Granite City is most famously known for.  – National Public Radio.

Bed Bath & Beyond Deals

Her history displays a record of her hard working ethics in the biggest of businesses in Granite City, and her determination to ensure her hometown thrives is what cemented her future of running unique businesses for herself.   There are so many neat places to visit in Granite City thanks to this lady!

Such businesses are, the Downtown Diner, Alfresco Production Company, Novel Ideas Bookstore and More, Garden Gate Tea Room, and The BoardGamery.   Additionally, Brenda organizes The Melting Pot Market events.

Furthemore, the Melting Pot Market take place in Civic Park located on 20th and Delmar St., Granite City, IL 62040.  Click here to view information about upcoming Melting Pot Market Events.



“The Melting Pot Market venue features arts and crafts, an assortment of collector’s items, locally grown fresh produce, baked goods, jams, jellies and other assorted food items.   Moreover, kids activities, and family friendly vibes add to the festive atmosphere.”

granite city souvenirs
Finally, Granite City is just twenty minutes from downtown St. Louis, Missouri.  In other words, make plans to attend a Melting Pot Market event, to see a movie, and to treat your taste buds at Downtown Diner.  Furthermore, check out Happy Trails Farm for more places to go and things to do in Granite City.



This website is a partnered associate and receives commission from affiliate partnerships.  Learn more here

Classic Car Show

Smokin’ Hot Classic Car Show





The “Smokin’ Hot Classic Car Show” took place at O’Brien Tire & Service Center on Nameoki Road.  Moreover, the event started at 4pm, and it was bustling with activity when I arrived at 4:30pm.   More crowds were arriving when I made my departure. Are you a fan of classic car shows?  Do you like looking at or flipping hot rides?  If so, then you’ll want to attend car shows like this!  Check out these fun things to do somewhere near you!

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 Furthermore, a lucky winner was notified of a time and place to pick up the grand prize.  Moreover, see the custom electric golf cart in the images below.   Additionally, if you missed this classic car event, you’ll want to plan ahead for the next automotive show nearby.

 A Fundraising Raffle Benefited the Illinois Make-A-Wish program.


Furthermore, make a Wish Foundation enables the youth enduring hard times to experience making happy memories.  It’s a worthy cause to donate to.
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 Local Author Mike Dixon Who Wrote “The Factory Of Dreams,” Happily Made An Appearance With A Handful Of His Show Cars, Including His Famous Stingray Corvette on the cover of his book..
Order Now!

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Additionally, check out latest Classic Car listings on Ebay!

cor vette
Stingray Corvette Classic Car

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That Majestic Looking Machinery Was Just One of Many Hot Rod Rides on Display.

things to do close to me, attractions to do near me, car shows near me auto show near meSomeone is huge fan of Jurassic Park!

Jurassic Park

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smoking hot classic car show autoshow Classic Cars car shows this weekend classic car showMoreover, classic cars like these are surprisingly affordable on Ebay! affordable classic cars car shows today

Consider liking O’ Brien Tire & Service Center On Facebook, especially should you wish to attend their next event.

Finally, bookmark this article for updates about future automotive show listings.  Furthermore, keyword search “car shows near me” or click here to see what classic car events and are happening near you!




This website is a partnered associate and contains affiliate links, which enable me to earn commissions from various partners. Full disclosure is available here. Partners include Ebay, Amazon, Google Adsense, and others.

Attention Musicians: How To Get Booked On News Stations

An Opportunity For You To Gain The Exposure You Need To Turn A Dream Into Reality. Succeed At Getting Booked On News Stations And Boost Your Publicity.

Sound Advice From Kim Hudson
Everett Dean is a Shining Star in Chicago and St. Louis. Learn more about him and his style of music!

Kim Hudson is a successful multimedia journalist for Fox 2 News, and she has taken the time to make a video offering advice for how hopeful musicians can gain exposure and get booked on news stations.



Kim is looking for bands to book for the St. Louis area audience with the potential reach to be in the several hundred thousands, however; this advice is applicable for getting booked on just about any news station nationwide.

Whether You’re A Solo Artist Or A Brand Name Band, Kim Knows It’s An Opportunity For You To Gain The Exposure You Need To Turn A Dream Into Reality And She Wants To Help You Succeed At Getting Booked On News Stations!



While famous bands go on tour selling out show after show, they all had to start somewhere.   Do you know or have you heard of a band that became famous after traveling from station to station performing on news segments?   These days you can even advertise your own channel.  Make contact with me if you’d like some help with that.



Youtube maybe a modern outlet, but news segments are still a tried and true approach too, especially if you want a reason to travel!  You could make a tour of it.  You’ve got to invest first in order to reap any returns.   Fox 2 Now even has a Youtube channel and may upload your performance at your request, which you can then use to  further appeal to a worldwide audience (especially if you know how to advertise it.)

Some Change Will Come by Grigorios Krantaidis
Gregory Style is a Greek Entertainer With The Ability To Calm Kings. Click The Image To Hear His Chords.
Though Not For A Musician, I Personally Booked A Segment For A Local Business With Kim Hudson.

She’s easy to communicate with, was very thorough expressing what she needed from us to make the segment a success, and it all went wonderfully because we followed her instructions, so I have no qualms about praising her while I recommend you listen to what she has to say so you too can learn how to get booked on news stations.  Watch the video below:

Follow Kim on Twitter.   Like her page on Facebook.  Subscribe to Fox 2 News on Youtube and save her email kim.hudson@tvstl.com to your contact list!  Make the connection and support Kim back in exchange for her being so supportive of your endeavors.  Why?  Because successful people #SupportOneAnother!

Hard work is not just about trying to make a bunch of money.  It’s about applying the time and efforts to make something good happen.  Shine on superstars!



 

Encountering A Symbol Of Authority: Handling Police Confrontations

In The Event of An Encounter With A Symbol of Authority, Perception Matters and So Do Manners.

Encountering a symbol of authority can be anxiety inducing for most people; which makes handling police confrontations more difficult.  It’s a good thing to be perceptive It means to be aware of our environment and the behavior of those in it.

The Madison County Sheriff’s Department is located in Edwardsville Illinois.  They created an educational video to serve as a tool for helping to reduce confrontation anxiety.    If you’d rather skip past the lessons and see  funny viral videos of police department lip sync challenges, then just keep scrolling down.


Maybe You Were Stopped By Police While in a Rush to Get to Work.

Maybe you’re trying to avoid severe weather, are running late for school, or just appear suspicious.  For whatever reason you find yourself stopped by a cop, remain calm and try to be pleasant, even if you encounter an officer who isn’t.  View the video below to watch their lesson. It covers what to expect during a traffic stop in under four minutes.  “This video is designed to reduce the stress and anxiety through information and knowledge. An informed community is a safer community.” – Lt. Kris Tharp.

Now Ponder This!

When we use our manners to behave respectfully towards others, we ideally expect them to return the gesture.  Realistically, that doesn’t always happen.  Police officers are a symbol of authority and looked to as an example. Not all set a good one though, and bad experiences can be disheartening for those of any viewpoint.

Remember This For Handling Yourself During Police Confrontations.

When we abase each other we make unpleasant memories that cause discord and separation, which then leads to issues further contributing to a social crisis.  The truth is that it’s important to consider how we interact with others.  Whether online or off, as a civilian or officer, our actions invoke a reaction from others.  Developing and improving our social skills is vital for human survival.

It’s possible as individuals for us to reach our highest levels of potential no matter our titles or hindrances. Social media is an excellent tool for getting practice. Practice is what makes the master.  Those who choose to partake in uncivil or lawless behavior risk harm or death the same as the lawful called upon to restrain them.    There is no law anywhere in the world against self control, but those living by weapons risk dying by weapons.



Not All People Deserve the Condemnation
They’ve Endured

There are bad apples in every tree.  It doesn’t mean the branches are bad or that the roots are dead.  It’s important to remember that we’re all human beings.  Most of us care to right the wrongs that are done.  That’s why many humans enlist as officers and put their lives at risk in the first place.  Productive members of society seek to labor according to our abilities in order to be enabled to provide for our families.

It’s stated by definition that police officers aren’t civil servants, and that they’re lower ranked as public servants, yet it’s their job to respond first and intervene in uncivil situations.  They are meant as keepers of the peace for the betterment of the public, and they wear badges as symbols of authority, so I beg to differ.

When Police Fail to Set The Example.

Civilians should think to set the example of respect by being the first to show it.  We don’t need to be paid by the public to be civil or to live up to civil servant standards.  It’s necessary for our civilization to thrive.  You may be surprised to discover how behavior is reciprocated.

Maybe you won’t.  Even if you’ve been robbed, gas-lighted, defamed, falsely accused, charged, jailed, maced, and beaten for having the audacity to regard your rights despite others violating them, don’t take it out on the next officer you see.  I’m not going to deny the negativity, it’s controversial, and I’ve had some bad experiences myself.  I’m well aware how predators will disguise themselves as protectors in an effort to gain easy access to prey, but all predators in nature eventually wind up exposing themselves by their individual behaviors. However, my aim here is to point out the positive in an effort to make the most of what I’ve learned from my experiences.

The World is Riddled With News of Those Who Abuse Their Position of Trust & Power of Authority.

Predators deliberately seek out positions of trust and power of authority because it’s how they gain easy access to prey, but just like not all animals eat meat, not all people are predators.  We have to remember and remind ourselves that not all are guilty over those who are, regardless of our experiences with the bad apples that manage to infiltrate any association.  If there’s any position we are all associated with it’s being human. We all make mistakes.  We all start out inexperienced and we all share the desire to be a success, to celebrate our successes and to be regarded and respected by others.



I’m perceptive and I’ve observed a strong movement.

When I saw the “Lip Sync Challenge” videos by departments all over the nation become viral sensations, I witnessed more than something fun and entertaining for people to watch.  I saw a psychological tool for progress that triggered more than just my sense of respect for police officers.  Not all of them are deliberately out to harm others.  Many have lost their lives genuinely trying to protect society.

I see it from an empowering point of view.  These videos display our ability to relate, unite, and serve as a reminder to our own and other nations, through the use of entertainment, that even though we’ve made mistakes, our bonds can still be strengthened.

America is a melting pot of a nation, made up of cultures as various as the colors of the spectrum.  We live in an era of worldwide virtual connection and our social structures are ever changing.  We can be conservative by holding on to the good and liberal by changing the bad.  That’s how we find middle ground.  The best way to get along with someone who is different than us, or whom we disagree with is to point out and focus on our likenesses.



Below is a list of Lip Sync Challenge videos by various departments.

  Wouldn’t it be neat to see more police departments all over the world represent themselves as keepers of the peace by accepting the challenge?  I’ve certainly found it entertaining and educational.  Some tactics maybe unorthodox but they can still be extremely useful, especially when it’s moral and unites our communities.  Click here and add your State to the search bar to see if your department has participated, and if you don’t see your community involved, then be the first to encourage your community to participate.  Black lives do matter, even those wearing the badges!

Illinois State Police Department

Columbia Illinois Police Department

Leroy Police Department

Norfolk Virginia Police Department

Bexar County Texas Sheriff’s Office

Granite City Illinois Police Department
Granite City Illinois Police Department

Should you wish to study to become a police officer, the job openings are endless.

 

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links in which a commission is earned in some instances.  Thanks for  backing the badge!

 

Learn to prevent viral infections.  Click here to learn more!

David Winters: An Iconic Figure

David Winters: An Entertainment Icon

This multi-talented entertainment powerhouse developed and utilized  amazing skills throughout the course of his life.  David was born on April 5, 1939 and participated in over 200 television series, television specials, and motion pictures as a writer, dancer, actor, choreographer, producer, and director before passing away on April 23, 2019.

View David’s Media Reel.



Above is a photo of David accepting one of his hard earned awards.  It was a wonderful experience to witness.

David won three awards for the film  “Dancin’ It’s On,” that night.



The awards David is holding in the image below were for Best Director, Best Music Score, and Best Editing.  They were presented to him by the Wide Screen Film & Music Video Festival in March of 2015.

Watch The Awards Show Below. David Wins Best Editing At About Forty One Minutes In, And The Best Director About An Hour And Eleven Minutes In.

Watch The Trailer Of “Dancin’ It’s On” Below

 

Did you like that trailer?   Click Here To Buy The Movie!

David Released His Autobiography In June of 2018.

Tough Guys Do Dance, went straight to the top of the best sellers list on Amazon with five star reviews.  David’s face will remain a familiar one to the entertainment industry for times to come, with his behind-the-scenes stories and life events.   Being “associated with some of the biggest names in show business, such as  Ann  -Margret, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Barbra Streisand, and Michael Jackson,”  makes this an interesting read for those interested in a new piece of history across a variety of genres. – Times Square Chronicles

Click Here Or On The Image To Get Your Copy Of His Book.

His Work In Broadway Shows And Hollywood Films Is Legendary!

West Side Story was where David found his stardom. He inspired millions of boys and men alike to embrace the art of dance and truly showed them that “tough guys do dance!” If you’re a student of dancing or an aspiring actor, producer, or director, then you want to study the work of David Winters.  David’s first Directing job was on “THE MONKEES” TV series.

David Winters serves as an inspiration for all generations across a variety of genres.  “He choreographed the 1976 remake of A Star Is Born with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson, as well as the TV movie Star Wars Holiday Special. In 1981, he choreographed and served as creative consultant for the TV special Diana, starring Diana Ross, Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson.” – Best Classic Bands

 



You Can Click Here To Join This Group If You Wish To Converse With Other Fans and Friends Of David’s.

David Kept Himself Busy. Be Like David And Make Your Lifetime Just As Full Of Achievements!
David Winters holding awards
Photograph by Aram Hovsepian Photography

For More Information About The Achievements of David Winters Click Here

Regards From His Fellow Celebrities:

David Winters Obituary





 

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Director Jesse V. Johnson

Director “Jesse V. Johnson Was Born In Winchester, England and Is An American Film Director and Screenwriter. See The New Trailer For Triple Threat!

About Director Jesse V. Johnson and Review of The Debt Collector Film.

Director “Jesse V. Johnson was born in Winchester, England and is an American film director and screenwriter.”   He’s an accomplished stuntman and coordinator who worked on the set of The Shawshank Redemption.   Holding both US & EU passports he has traveled and worked in exotic places.”   I first met Jesse in person at the Widescreen Film & Music Video Festival event in Miami Florida, where he gave a speech about the making of his fan film trailer for Wonder Woman.  Watch the trailer below.

Wonder Woman – Fan Film from Jesse V. Johnson on Vimeo.

Since then, Jesse has released a number of films with accomplished actors Scott Adkins, Louis Mandylor, Tony Todd, Tony Jaa, Selina Lo, and many more.   The Debt Collector, had a very successful theatrical premiere in Santa Monica California and London, England.  It’s now available on Netflix.



Watch An Interview With Jesse V. Johnson at the Santa Monica Debt Collector Screening below.

Theater tickets sold well in the United Kingdom and the special post movie interview with the director and actors was witnessed by some very lucky movie goers.

You Can Watch The Whole London Q & A Interview By Clicking Here (Fighting Spirit Film Festival Channel ) or Here (Channel Fight.)
 Tony Todd had a lot of fun working on this film.

Louis Mandylor Was Ecstatic About The Project!

Check Out Behind The Scenes Footage!

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Man it was nice to be a man called SUE’ fun times’The Debt Collector’ behind scenes of some action setups!

A post shared by Louis Mandylor (@louismandylor) on

Spoiler Alert!  Skip This Paragraph If You Don’t Want To Read My take From The Movie.

Despite the blood, gore, and violence, I really liked the movie because of the figurative message in it.  It’s powerful enough to make one ponder their own purpose, plus it’s always nice to see when a bad guy changes his mind and does the right thing.  I think the ratings should be much higher than what they’ve been.  People might not be displaying their lack of understanding, or completely disregarding the content of it in their own written reviews, if they understood that the clips of the cows shown in it is a figurative message pertaining to people being spitefully used for a specific purpose before being removed by those who used them.


There is some nudity and sexually provocative segments in the film too, so it’s for mature audiences.  Watch The Debt Collector on Netflix and consider rating the film on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes when you’ve finished.  I hope you enjoy the film as much as I did!

Triple Threat Is Scheduled To Be In Theaters March 19, 2019!

Watch The New Trailer  Released Below Of Triple Threat!

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Triple Threat (2019) In theaters March 19th. #indiemoviemaking #actionmovies #action #karate #muaythai #kungfu #ufc #silat #mma #martialarts

A post shared by Jesse V Johnson (@actionjessevjohnson) on

Also look for “Avengement”  in the future, and a sequel to “Accident Man.”   It looks to me like Jesse has found himself an excellent team to work with.  You can follow along his journey by connecting with him on Vimeo, Instagram, and Facebook.

See Scott Adkins bring a comic to life in “Accident Man!”






 

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