At the 2019 West Side Senior Expo, Thelma Alexander, left, won a game of bingo alongside granddaughter Breanna Alexander of Pevely. This year, there will be two games of bingo at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m.

At the 2019 West Side Senior Expo, Thelma Alexander, left, won a game of bingo alongside granddaughter Breanna Alexander of Pevely. This year, there will be two games of bingo at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m.

The coffee will be hot, the doughnuts sweet and the entertainment on point at the West Side Senior Expo, coming back on Wednesday, July 27, after a two-year absence.

Sponsored by Leader Publications, the event is slated for 8 a.m. to noon Wednesday, July 27, at Northwest High School, 6005 Cedar Hill Road, near Hwy. 30 in Cedar Hill.

Admission is free, and seniors from throughout Jefferson County and surrounding areas are invited.

A shuttle service will be available on the parking lot all morning, courtesy of New Hope Fellowship. When the doors open at 8 a.m., free coffee and doughnuts will be available, courtesy of Leader Publications.

Vendors will be on hand throughout the morning with a wide variety of goods and services of interest to seniors. Many will offer giveaways and drawings for free items. Smart attendees will bring pre-printed address labels to save time and effort when entering drawings, filling out forms or requesting information.

Throughout the morning, Leader social media maven Katelyn Mary Skaggs will host a hands-on technology help desk, assisted by a swarm of high school students. They will help seniors with social media and other technology needs.

Visitors to the expo are encouraged to head to the Leader Publications booth to enter a drawing for a grand-prize trip to Branson, courtesy of the Branson Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Johnny Morris Foundation.

The winner and three guests will enjoy two nights at the Hilton of Branson, tickets to illusionist Rick Thomas’ “Mansion of Dreams” show and passes to enjoy Branson Jet Boats, Track Family Fun Park and the Branson Ferris Wheel.

In addition, the winner will receive tickets for a visit to Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum at Top of the Rock, 150 Top of the Rock Road, Ridgedale, and an electric cart ride through the nearby Lost Canyon Cave and Nature Trail, 190 Top of the Rock Road, Hollister.

The winner will have until July 31, 2023, to schedule the trip.

There is a limit of one entry per person, and you must be present to win.

The expo will also feature several speakers. 

The first speaker will be Cedar Hill Fire Protection District Battalion Chief John Griffith, who will speak at 9 a.m. in Room B about the importance of having your house number easily seen. 

The second speaker will be from Honor Flight at 9:30 a.m. in Room B. 

The third speaker will be Byrnes Mill Police Chief Frank T. Selvaggio, who will give advice on avoiding scams at 10 a.m. in Room B. 

At 10:30 a.m. health equity specialist Abby Strickfaden from the Jefferson County Health Department will talk about Project Lifesaver and how to enroll in that program in Room A. Also, at 10:30 a.m. someone from the Jefferson County Library will speak in Room B about the satellite branch opening in Cedar Hill.

For more information about this or any of the other upcoming Senior Expos, call the Leader at 636-931-7560.

■ 8 a.m. – Expo opens, vendor booths open, coffee and doughnuts served. Both the Cedar Hill Fire Protection District and the North Jefferson County Ambulance District will have vehicles and personnel on hand.

■ 9 a.m. – The first of two free bingo sessions, this one for those holding blue tickets in Room A, with restaurant coupons and gift certificates as prizes.

■ 9 a.m. – John Griffith, battalion chief with the Cedar Hill Fire Protection District, will speak in Room B about how house numbers save lives and other safety tips.

■ 9:30 a.m. – Rosalie McGaugh will speak in Room B about Honor Flights – what they are, who is eligible, how to sign up.

■ 10 a.m. – Another session of free bingo, in Room A, this time for those holding yellow tickets.

■ 10 a.m. – Byrnes Mill Police Chief Frank T. Selvaggio will talk in Room B about senior scams.

■ 10:30 a.m. – Jefferson County Health Department health equity specialist Abby Strickfaden speaking on Project Lifesaver in Room A.

■ 10:30 a.m. – Jefferson County Library speaker in Room B sharing information on the satellite branch coming to Cedar Hill.

■ 11 a.m. – The grand-prize winner will be announced. Vendor door prizes will be awarded.

■ 11:15 a.m. – J.B. Louis and The Legends, the official Leader Senior Expo band, will perform its popular brand of country and vintage rock music. Seniors are welcome to sing along and dance in the aisles.

■ Noon – Expo closes. See you at the Arnold Senior Expo in October!

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