O’Fallon Update The Official Quarterly Publication of the City of O’Fallon, Missouri Winter 2014–15 • www.ofallon.mo.us
Wishing you and yours a blessed holiday O’Fallon again makes Money magazine’s list of America’s Best Places to Live For the fifth consecutive time, O’Fallon, Missouri, has been named one of the nation’s “Best Places to Live” by Money magazine for cities with a population of 50,000–300,000. O’Fallon is the only Missouri city included on Money magazine’s 2014 list. In addition to Money’s rankings in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014, in the past year O’Fallon also has been named “one of the best cities in Missouri to live and find a job” (nerdwallet.com), rated one of the 20 “safest cities in America” (CQ Press) and the “safest large City in Missouri” (SafeWise Report for cities of 50,000+).
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t is truly a wonderful time to live in O’Fallon. There’s so much going on and our City glows with holiday lights shining from house to house and Christmas trees lighting up windows all over town. The holidays are here in O’Fallon. This year, we have even more to celebrate. I’m thrilled that O’Fallon has again been named as one of “America’s Best Places to Live” by Money magazine. This year’s ranking means that our City has been recognized as one of America’s best for nearly a decade. No other city in Missouri can make this claim. This holiday season, you can help keep O’Fallon as one of the best places to live by supporting our many great retailers and restaurants when you shop and dine “in the O.” When you support our local businesses, your tax dollars fund the essential City services and amenities that we all count on. O’Fallon’s Parks and Recreation Department plans family-friendly events that make the most of each season, and this winter is no exception. The Celebration of Lights is open in Fort Zumwalt Park through December 30, except for Christmas Day. When you go, tune your radio to 90.3 FM to hear music synced to the displays. For details, just turn to page 3. After New Year’s, we can look forward to Cabin Fever Daze on January 24–25. Admission is free, and there are so many free, exciting and fun activities that you’ll have to see the list for yourself on page 5. I hope to see you there! In the past couple of years, O’Fallon has had significant snowfall, and based on early indications, that may again be the case this winter. Page 8 of this newsletter is dedicated to explaining what to do when snow begins to accumulate. Take a look to see how you can help our snow crews keep traffic on the move. In closing, thank you for another great year in O’Fallon! From our families to yours, the O’Fallon City Council, City staff and I wish you a very merry Christmas, a blessed holiday season and a prosperous New Year.
Bill Hennessy, Mayor
In this issue 3
Celebration of Lights
5
Cabin Fever Daze
6
Upcoming Events
8
Snow Control
9
Roscoe’s Den
11 Veterans Affairs Office
Mayor to deliver “State of the City” address, live O’Fallon Mayor Bill Hennessy will deliver his annual “State of the City” address at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 9, 2015, in the City Council chambers at the O’Fallon Municipal Centre (City Hall). The public is invited to attend the event. The address also will be broadcast live on O’FallonTV (Charter Cable channel 991 and AT&T U-Verse channel 99) and on the City’s website, www.ofallon.mo.us.
See reverse for the Winter Parks & Rec Guide