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As the leaves turn shades of amber and gold, and the air becomes crisp, it’s time to embrace the beauty of fall and prepare your home for Thanksgiving. This season is an opportunity to create a warm, inviting atmosphere that reflects the bounty of the harvest and the spirit of gratitude. In this article, we will explore various fall home decor ideas that will enhance your living space for Thanksgiving, making your home a festive haven for family and friends. Embrace Natural Elements 1. Incorporate Seasonal Foliage One of the simplest and most effective ways to welcome fall into your home is by incorporating seasonal foliage. Use garlands made of faux or real leaves to drape around doorways, railings, or mantels. Opt for a mix of colors—deep reds, oranges, and yellows—to create a vibrant display. Example: A beautiful centerpiece can be crafted using a shallow bowl filled with pinecones, acorns, and colorful leaves. This arrangement not only brings the outdoors

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November 7th holds a treasure trove of historical significance, with events that have shaped nations, inspired movements, and changed the course of history. In the realm of international politics, November 7, 1917, also known as the October Revolution in the Julian calendar, saw the Bolsheviks seize power in Russia. This event not only led to the establishment of a communist government but also set the stage for the Russian Civil War and the eventual rise of the Soviet Union. The revolution was a catalyst for change around the globe, influencing countless movements and ideologies that sought to challenge existing power structures. Fast forward to November 7, 2000, when the U.S. presidential election became one of the most contentious in American history. The race between George W. Bush and Al Gore culminated in a decision that would not only affect the future of the country but also highlight the complexities of the electoral process. After a protracted legal battle over the

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The start of a new relationship can be a very exciting chapter in our lives. New relationships can bring new opportunities to learn about yourself and how to be a good communicator and reliable partner. While the honeymoon phase can feel electrifying, if your new partner seems too good to be true, you could be experiencing love bombing. What is love bombing? It’s a form of emotional and psychological manipulation that involves your romantic partner quickly escalating the relationship to create an intense emotional bond in an effort to manipulate you into a relationship with them. While many people may be capable of love bombing, it is most commonly exhibited by people with anxious or insecure attachment behaviors and can be done intentionally or unintentionally. It is mostly recognized in romantic relationships, however it can be experienced in platonic or familial relationships, too and tends to occur in three phases: Idealization phase: During this phase, your partner

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EDWARDSVILLE - The historic Wildey Theater in Edwardsville will host three international films this weekend as part of the 33rd annual St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF). As the only Illinois venue on the SLIFF schedule, the event will not only give locals a taste of international culture and cinema, but will also draw visitors to see what the Edwardsville community and surrounding Metro East region have to offer. On Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, the Wildey will show four Oscar-qualifying documentary short films starting at 1 p.m., followed by two full-length features at 3 and 5 p.m. The four short documentary films include “ Broken Flight ,” “ The Last Observers ,” “ Chouteau: Scenes from Below ,” and “ Capturing the Carbon .” More information about each short film is available on the SLIFF website , where you can also watch trailers and purchase tickets to see all four films for just $5. A 3 p.m. showing of

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COTTAGE HILLS — Richard F. Moody, a Marine who served in the Vietnam War, was honored posthumously for his sacrifice after being killed in action on December 21, 1965. Moody, who held the rank of Private, is remembered by his community as a very proud man. Moody’s service was marked by his commitment to his country, culminating in the receipt of a Purple Heart for his bravery. Moody's legacy is carried on in Cottage Hills, where residents reflect on the impact of his sacrifice. Brenda M. Copeland, a submitter of Moody's information to the Veteran's Salute, emphasized the pride he felt in serving his nation. The community continues to recognize and honor the contributions of veterans like Moody, ensuring that their sacrifices are not forgotten. Click here to submit a Veteran's Salute to Riverbender.com.

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LEBANON — Maryville's Destiny Johnson, a senior at McKendree University, has been recognized as the 2024-2025 Student Laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois, an honor awarded for exceptional leadership, service, and academic excellence. Johnson, a Collinsville High School graduate, received the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award during a ceremony held on Saturday, Oct. 26, in Springfield, Ill. The Lincoln Academy of Illinois grants this prestigious award to one outstanding senior from each college and university across the state. Johnson, majoring in chemistry and mathematics, is also a member of McKendree's Honors Program. Her academic achievements include winning the American Chemical Society Outstanding Junior Chemistry Award in 2023 and the GLVC Brother James Gaffney Distinguished Scholar Award in 2022. Recommenders highlight Johnson's remarkable competence and maturity. Dr. Vince Dunlap, her advisor and an associate professor of chemistry at McKendree, noted her

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SPRINGFIELD — Nikki Budzinski announced her reelection to Congress this morning, securing a significant victory in Illinois’ 13th Congressional District. Budzinski's performance in the 2024 election showed improvement across all seven counties she represents, suggesting increased support compared to her initial election in 2022. In her statement, Budzinski expressed gratitude for the trust placed in her by the voters of Central and Southern Illinois. “Two years ago, voters in Central and Southern Illinois placed their faith in me to go to Congress and work across the aisle to get things done for our communities," she said. "I’m so honored that my constituents have seen my record of results and given me the opportunity to keep fighting for them.” Budzinski emphasized her commitment to addressing the needs of working families, lowering costs, and securing the southern border. She also highlighted her intention to defend democracy and protect fundamental

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GLEN CARBON – Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSofSI) has wrapped up the annual Fall Product Program for 2024. Girls in Southern Illinois sold over $470,000 in tasty treats, magazines, and other fun products. Let’s give a shout out to the following girls for being Fall Product Top Sellers for their respective areas: Alvina Farley from the Alton/Godfrey/Wood River/Roxana Service Unit sold $1,387 in product Paislee Travis from the Granite City/Madison/Venice Service Unit sold $1,324 in product Katelynn Norman from the Bethalto Service Unit sold $2,176 in product Kinsley Godier from the Edwardsville/Glen Carbon Service Unit sold $1,039 in product Rylee Barnett from the Troy/St. Jacob Service Unit sold $846 in product Olivia Jackson from the Highland Service Unit sold $611 in product Margeaux Williams from the Collinsville Service Unit sold $711 in product “The Fall Product Program is an excellent way for girls to raise funds as they start their new Girl

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ALTON - The SIU School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) will be hosting the seventh annual Veterans Dental Care Day on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. Patient care, which includes exams, x-rays, cleanings, fillings and extractions, will be provided in the SIU SDM Main Clinic on the Alton Campus. The appointment schedule is 8 a.m. and 11 a.m., with patient arrival times at 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Patients should pre-register for free appointments at 618-474-7012. To best manage patient care, patients will be seen by appointment only; no walk-ins will be accepted. The SIU School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) students, residents, faculty and staff manage approximately 30,000 patient visits each year at its patient clinics in Alton, East St. Louis and Edwardsville. These patient care experiences provide students and residents the training they need to graduate and become highly skilled dentists and specialists. The School of Dental Medicine is a vital oral health care provider for dental patient

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ALTON - The Sierra Club Monthly Speakers Series continues on November 12, 2024 6:30 p.m. with "What's Happening to Frog Species in the St. Louis-Metro Area?" Mike Dawson, Educator for the St. Louis Zoo's "Frog Watch Program" will focus on three frog species once abundant in the St. Louis area, and relevant concerns for the possible absence or decrease of these species. Come join us and find out what Mike is learning about his work and indications of a larger environmental issue. This is a live presentation at the Old Bakery Beer Co., 400 Landmarks Blvd., Alton, Ill. Come early and bring dinner and drinks into the venue prior to the 6:30 p.m. program. For questions, contact Chris Krusa, Sierra Club Program Chair at 410-490-5024.

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MURPHYSBORO - U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) today released the following statement regarding President Trump's historic victory: “Donald J. Trump has completed a political comeback for the ages. After being written off by the Beltway pundits and pollsters, he connected with the American people like no other candidate could and earned the first non-consecutive presidential terms in over 130 years. "The American people are desperate for fearless leadership, secure borders, a strong economy, and an end to the woke nonsense. I’m confident that President-Elect Donald Trump will deliver on all fronts. Congratulations to President-Elect Trump and Vice President-Elect Vance; I look forward to working together to Make America Great Again!”

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RIVERBEND REGION - With all eyes on the Presidential Election results for 2024, most of the discussion will center on states and electoral college votes - but what about our local counties here in the Riverbend? Here’s how your county voted in the Presidential race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris: Madison County voters supported Trump more narrowly than other counties in the Riverbend, though the race still wasn’t exactly close. Trump earned 55% of Madison County votes, totaling 73,723 votes cast. Harris, meanwhile, earned 55,971 votes to earn 42% of the total. Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. earned 1.74% with 2,319 total votes recorded. In St. Clair County, a neck-and-neck Presidential race saw Harris lead Trump by just 164 votes. With both candidates earning 48% of the total, Harris’s 47,242 total votes just barely put her ahead of Trump’s 47,078 votes. Meanwhile, Kennedy’s 1,857 St. Clair County voters earned him just 1% of the

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EDWARDSVILLE – The Edwardsville Municipal Band will once again spread a little joy to the world during its annual winter holiday concert, and this year it will take place at the historic Wildey Theatre in downtown Edwardsville. The free concert is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, December 7. “It’s such a historic venue; the sound and the history are just amazing,” said Steve Wehling, a musician with the band and the chairman of the Municipal Band Board. “It’s a neat experience to play and hear a concert at the Wildey. We’re really excited to be back there this year.” The concert is a winter tradition for the Municipal Band, and will once again feature student musicians from area schools joining the band onstage for a few holiday selections. The Municipal Band and the Wildey Theatre also are teaming up with the Edwardsville Police Department to benefit Illinois Special Olympics, a cause long supported by the police. Visitors to the Wildey

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EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville welcomed nearly 500 prospective students and guests to campus on Saturday, Oct. 26 for Preview SIUE. A second Preview SIUE event is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 11. The day-long program, coordinated by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, gave high school students, transfer students and their guests the opportunity to experience life as a student at SIUE. Attendees had the chance to explore the full spectrum of academic programming, student-life opportunities and support services available to SIUE students. “There was a lot of excitement and enthusiasm from everyone in attendance,” said Alicia Taylor, assistant director of admissions for campus visits in the Office of Admissions. “The students were genuinely happy to be here on campus, and our staff and faculty were eager to show them how SIUE can help them achieve their academic goals.” In its reimagined format, Preview SIUE assists prospective student

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ST. LOUIS - About 1,000 people turned out Nov. 2 for an expo-style event to celebrate Kumon’s 40th anniversary in St. Louis at the Education and Cultural Center in Manchester. Kumon Instructors, students and parents from all 15 Kumon Centers in the Greater St. Louis area enjoyed games, math competitions, face painting, a balloon artist, a student awards ceremony, snacks and more. Special guests included Dr. Dan Kimura, the Instructor who opened the first St. Louis-area Kumon Center in Ladue, and Julie Chan, the Instructor who ran the Kumon Center in Chesterfield for 30 years. In 1984, Kimura, a professor of computer science and engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, opened the Kumon Center of Ladue because he was concerned about the education of his sons, then fifth and sixth graders. He had learned about the Kumon Method in his hometown of Moriguchi, a suburb of Osaka, Japan, where Toru Kumon, a math teacher, had created the Kumon Method in 1955 to help his own son.About

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ALTON – The 2024 season of the Alton Farmers' & Artisans' Market has concluded, and organizers at Alton Main Street are reflecting on the vast social and economic impact that this popular event contributes to our community. Alton Main Street volunteers conducted a survey of vendors and shoppers during the 2024 season, with the intention of gaining a greater understanding of the financial and non-financial impacts of the market. In partnership with the Economics Department at Principia College, the survey data was used to create estimates regarding the impact on our local economy. The survey also highlighted a range of non-financial benefits that the presence of the market contributes to our community. The study estimated that the Alton Farmers’ and Artisans’ market generates over $1.1 million of additional spending in the Alton zip code over the 24-week season, or around $46,000 per week. This is new spending that would not occur otherwise without the presence of

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GODFREY - Water service has been fully restored to all customers following a significant repair to a water main that occurred in the evening hours. The restoration was completed at approximately 11:30 p.m. Tuesday night, Nov. 5, 2024, according to a statement from Illinois American Water. Illinois American Water said the repair of the water main has led to lane restrictions on the affected roadway, with one northbound lane and one southbound lane now reopened for local traffic. However, officials have indicated that these lane restrictions will remain in place for at least the next two weeks as pavement restoration is scheduled. In the meantime, 46 customers remain under a boil water order. These customers were notified directly by Illinois American Water. Terry Mackin, of Illinois American Water's Communications & External Affairs, provided information regarding the situation.

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EDWARDSVILLE – The Cougars opened their season at First Community Arena against Missouri-St. Louis. SIUE led the 26-21 at the break, before the Tritons took the game 60-54. Brianna Wooldridge had 12 total points while Emiyah Cobb followed with 10 total points and three blocks. SIUE connected on 30 percent (18/60) of its shots from the field. The Cougars scored 73 percent (15/22) of their free throws and scored 29 points off the bench. UMSL was lead by Katie Hamill (15 points) , Alex Wolff (11 points) and Mara Rieder (11 points). The Cougars continue their campaign in Murray Ky. against Murray State November 7. Tip off is set for 6:00 p.m. Stay connected with the Cougars on Instagram , X , and Facebook The preseason Ohio Valley Conference Poll predicted an eighth-place finish for the Cougars tied with UT Martin. Southern Indiana was selected as regular season champions with 20-first place votes. Graduate guard KK Rodriguez and junior Macy Silvey earned Preseason

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MILLSTADT - Today, State Representative Kevin Schmidt (R-Millstadt) released the following statement: “This victory is a testament to the power of hard work and holding the Chicago machine accountable. In the coming days, we will see a few more ballots come in, but our margin is clear. I want to thank everyone who supported our campaign, from those who volunteered, donated, made calls, and to every voter. Together, we’ve shown that putting people over politics and working across the aisle can truly make a difference in our community. Now, I’m ready to get back to work to lower taxes, reduce costs for families, and bring more jobs and opportunities to the Metro-East. Thank you for the opportunity to continue to serve as your State Representative.” To learn more visit: www.SchmidtForIL.com.

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GRAFTON — The city of Grafton is set to commemorate Veterans Day with a ceremony at the Grafton American Legion Post 648 at 11 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. The event aims to honor both living veterans and those who have passed. Pastor Tom Foster from the Grafton Lighthouse United Pentecostal Church will open the ceremony with an invocation, followed by a reading detailing the history of Veterans Day. The program will also include the singing of the National Anthem and a 21-gun volley rifle salute performed by the Legion honor guard. Grafton Alderman Russ Roy, a veteran and spokesman for the Grafton Legion Post 648, emphasized the significance of the event, stating, “The ceremony will be brief but meaningful for our veterans, both living and those who have passed on.” The public is encouraged to attend and participate in this tribute to honor the sacrifices made by veterans.

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