Effective Monday, May 20, the closing time for Westhoff Plaza will be 10 p.m. Westhoff Plaza is the City’s facility for skateboarders, BMX bikers and inline skaters in Paul A. Westhoff Park, 810 Shepard Drive, O’Fallon, Missouri 63366. Formerly, the facility closed at 11 p.m.

Be a part of O’Fallon’s awesome Heritage & Freedom Fest Parade, which will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 4, in downtown O’Fallon. This year’s theme is “Made in America.” Civic organizations, veterans posts, bands, churches, scout troops, businesses and others are encouraged to create an entry and join the competition for prizes. Or, just have fun and show your patriotism. Hurry and apply before the deadline, Friday, May 24, or until space fills.

Entries will be judged on how well the parade theme is expressed, with extra points awarded for incorporating music and mechanical movement. Plaques will be presented for “Best Musical Float,” “Most Patriotic Float,” “Best Color Guard,” and “Mayor’s Choice.” In addition, first, second and third-place prizes of $500, $400 and $300 will be awarded to “Best Overall” winners.

Weather permitting, on Thursday, May 16, from 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. drivers can expect some lane closures at the intersection of Highway N, WingHaven Boulevard and Bryan Road. During this time, the intersection will be a four-way stop as work on traffic signals proceeds. Signs will alert drivers, but some delays can be expected.  

The public is invited to attend an Armed Forces Day ceremony that will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 18, at O’Fallon Veterans Memorial Walk, 800 Belleau Creek Road, O’Fallon, Missouri 63366. Free parking is available.

Traditionally, Armed Forces Day is dedicated to Americans serving in the five branches of military service: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. O’Fallon’s ceremony will focus on women in the military, and Col. Anne M. Winkler, U.S.A.F., will be the keynote speaker. Am Vet Post 404, a women’s membership post, will present colors and fire a rifle salute.

The O’Fallon City Council and the Parks and Recreation Department have scheduled an open house to discuss the master plan and possible development of a lodge proposed for the City’s O’Day Park. The meeting will be held in the Multipurpose Room on Tuesday, May 21, 2013, from 5:30-7 p.m. at the O’Fallon Municipal Centre (City Hall), 100 North Main Street, O’Fallon, Missouri 63366.

For more information, visit www.ofallon.mo.us, or call 636-240-2000.

For kids, the best thing about O’Fallon’s annual Public Works Fair is the chance to sit in the driver’s seat of some of the City’s big equipment, such as a street sweeper, backhoe, paint striper, recycling truck, snow plow and other machinery.

Kids will get that chance at the 8^th Annual Public Work Fair, which will be held from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 22. The fair will be held in the west ballpark parking lot at Tom Ginnever Avenue and T.R. Hughes Boulevard, O’Fallon, Missouri 63366. Admission, parking and activities are free. The event commemorates National Public Works Week May 19-25. Free activities include:

Actors, singers, dancers, gymnasts, jugglers, artists, tech crew, costumers and sculptors are needed for the O’FallonTheatreWorks’ summer production of Aladdin, Jr., which will be performed on August 2-4 and 9-11. Filled with magic, mayhem, flying carpets and favorite Disney characters, this stage adaptation of Disney’s hit film, Aladdin, includes the Academy-award winning movie score and the songs “A Whole New World” and “Friend like Me.”

Principal parts are written for the voice of the middle school-aged child, and auditioners should bring 16 bars of upbeat music, a bio and a headshot. The chorus is open to ages 6 – 16, and those trying out for the chorus should bring 16 bars of upbeat music and a headshot. Please note, parental support is both appreciated and required for this production.

To accommodate the O’Fallon Cup Criterium bicycle race, Fort Zumwalt Park in O’Fallon, Missouri, will be temporarily close to vehicles at dusk on Friday, May 17, through 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 18. The race will be held Saturday and the public is invited to attend the event, free. Spectator parking will be available at First Baptist Church of O’Fallon, 8750 Veterans Memorial Parkway (63366).

More information about the race is available online at www.momentumcycles.com.

Students in 4^th through 8^th grade are eligible for a new five-day program, the RSC Coed Basketball Clinic with Coach Kyle Key. The clinic will be held Monday through Friday, June 24-28, at the Renaud Spirit Center (RSC). The recreation complex is located at 2650 Tri Sports Circle, O’Fallon, Missouri 63368. For students entering 4^th through 6^th grade, the clinic will meet from 9 a.m. – noon, and students entering 7^th through 8^th grade will meet from 12:30 – 3:30 p.m.

The clinic is designed for fun, but participants can expect to work hard on strengthening fundamental skills through repetition and drills, and be able to take their game to the next level. Participants will receive a T-shirt and, at the end of the week, a player evaluation. As a bonus, participants age 12 and under will be able to enroll in that week’s Camp J.A.C.K. session at a discount.

The City of O’Fallon was recently recognized as a StormReady community by the National Weather Service, which sponsors the program. To be recognized as StormReady, communities must demonstrate severe weather readiness and meet communication and other guidelines established by the National Weather Service in partnership with federal, state and local emergency management programs.

“We can be proud of O’Fallon’s designation as a StormReady community,” said Police Officer Andy Stowers. “As we saw this month, with spring storms following on the heels of severe winter weather, it’s important to know when major storms are coming and be prepared to deal with them.”