4th of July

Gitzell FairTrade International celebrates grand opening with ribbon cutting

Submitted photo

Zellipah Githui, President of Gitzell FairTrade International celebrated the grand opening of her new business venture with a ribbon cutting on June 17. Joining Githui was her husband and son along with extended family, business associates, employees – and making a special presentation from Washington D.C. was Robert Ng’ong’a, Trade / Commercial Attache to the Ambassador of Kenya. Also on hand was Molly Dempsey from St. Charles County Government and members of the Greater St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce board of directors, ambassadors and chamber staff. Gitzell FairTrade International works with individuals from the Island of Bali and Sub-Sahara Africa to produce an assortment of natural handmade art and craft goods. Gitzell FairTrade International brings these items to the U.S. as a wholesaler and helps these artisians earn a decent living by selling their products at a fair and sustainable market price. Gitzell FairTrade International is located at 2099 Exchange Drive in St. Charles. Gitzell FairTrade International is holding an open house where the public can come and shop her selection of handmade products at retail prices in her warehouse. For more information, please call 314-378-6452 or visit their website at gitzellimports.com.

Westlake Ace Hardware celebrates grand opening with board cutting

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General Manager Rena Payne celebrated the grand opening of Westlake Ace Hardware with a board cutting on June 18. Joining Payne were her corporate partners, assistant managers and employees. Also on hand was Molly Dempsey from St. Charles County Government and members of the Greater St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce ambassadors and chamber staff. Westlake Ace Hardware is located at 915 Jungermann Road and is your neighborhood hardware store. Selling everything from Traeger pellets and accessories to paint and power tools, for personalized service from small business owners in your community, Westlake Ace Hardware is where to shop for all your home improvement needs. For more information on Westlake Ace Hardware, please call 636-239-6761 or visit their website at https://www.westlakehardware.com/store/westlake-acehardware-st-peters.

Happy 4th of July

from all of us at

O’Fallon welcomes the Remembering Our Fallen traveling memorial to Heritage & Freedom Fest

In partnership with Lowe’s Home Improvement, a highly emotional exhibit Remembering Our Fallen will be displayed at the Heritage & Freedom Fest on July 2-4 in O’Fallon. This touring memorial reminds visitors of the ultimate sacrifice made by those who died from wounds suffered in Iraq and Afghanistan while wearing our country’s uniform.

On July 2, O’Fallon will be hosting a procession in honor of the Remembering Our Fallen memorial as it travels to its final stop during the Fourth of July weekend. The community is invited to attend this procession, which includes a police escort followed by National American Veteran (AMVETS) Riders, a Lowe’s truck and the Remembering Our Fallen truck with a wrapped trailer containing the memorial.

The procession begins at 8:15 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial Walk and will proceed down Belleau Creek Road. It will then turn onto Mexico Road and travel past the O’Fallon Lowe’s. From there, the procession will turn onto Highway K, continue down Main Street, and turn right onto Tom Ginnever, ending up at the Heritage & Freedom Fest grounds. The public is encouraged to stand anywhere along the route leading up to the festival grounds and welcome this memorial to O’Fallon.

“We hope everyone in the community is able to come out and see Remembering Our Fallen,” said Jennifer Hoisington, Tourism & Festivals Manager. “It’s such a moving experience to see this touring monument, which contains military and personal photos of more than 5,000 members of the U.S. armed forces. It’s important, as we celebrate our country’s birth, to recognize those who sacrificed their lives in defense of America.”

Remembering Our Fallen will be located near the entrance to the festival grounds on T.R. Hughes Boulevard, in front of Entertainment Alley. It will be available for viewing at the Heritage & Freedom Fest on July 2 from 4–10 p.m., July 3 from 12–11 p.m., and July 4 from 4–11 p.m.