I’ve wanted to attend a women’s self-defense class for years, but was hesitant to actually register and go through with it for a few reasons. My resistance stemmed from the instructors I saw offering the classes. No shade to any particular instructor or school, but I had a real worry of being stuck in a class with an instructor who’d bark orders similar to a drill sergeant, or someone who would make me feel less than if I wasn’t able to physically do the moves or pick them up right away. And as a woman, I don’t think I’m alone in those feelings.
When I was approached by Timothy Fancher, owner of American Street Edge, a self-defense school in St. Clair, about attending a women’s self-defense seminar in exchange for writing an article about my experience, I immediately said yes.
The group of ladies in attendance at the women’s self-defense seminar at American Street Edge in St. Clair. Photo credit: American Street Edge
This past spring I connected with Tim to write an article about the school, which opened in March of this year. During our initial conversation it was evident he had a calm demeanor and loads of expertise (he’s got 40 years in martial arts, and is a fourth-degree black belt in American Kenpo Karate). Immediately following our initial interview in March, I was able to stick around and watch him teach a group of kids.
Part of being a writer is being an observer and after 20 years as a journalist, I’d like to think I’m pretty darn good at observing people. When I watched Tim teach a class full of elementary school aged kids I noticed that he’s not just a patient instructor, but that he also had a way of explaining the techniques and strikes to kids that were relatable and easy to understand.
Now that I’ve been a part of the women’s self-defense seminar I can see that Tim instructs adults in the same way. The difference in his instruction comes down to multiple factors: his diverse professional background and martial arts experience, years of real street defense, and his distinctive, academic approach to guiding students on ways to manage fear, and together, these elements help make up the American Street Edge system that Tim has developed.
The seminar is a mix of physical self-defense techniques and verbal instruction – and the two modalities work hand in hand, explained using real-life scenarios, that will help you gain not only practical skills, but the “why” behind the techniques. Since you’re using those movements, either with a partner or on the school’s self-defense dummies Bob and Ivan, you start to build muscle memory right in the seminar through repetition.
And, because not all forms of self-defense are physical, there were several instances where Tim helped us all understand steps to not only stay calm, but how to stop certain scenarios quickly. One such instance is how to stop a verbal bully in their tracks. As far too many of us have experienced, bullying isn’t something that stops at the playground. Today people are bullied online and in their workplace, among other places, and during the verbal portion of the seminar, we learned a simple yet effective method to stop a workplace bully before the situation takes a toll on your mental or physical well-being.
Tim asked me to act like a workplace bully for a toxic workplace scenario, and let’s just say, I understood the assignment. He’s lucky he has thick skin! Also, Tim, I’m sorry for what I said during improv 🙂 Photo credit: American Street Edge
I learned a ton that evening and even though I was in a group of seven other women, six I’d never met before (my sister attended with me), I instantly felt comfortable. Here’s a run down of the things I learned in the 2.5 hour class:
Multiple techniques to defend myself in a variety of scenarios
How to carry myself so I don’t look like a victim
Ways to increase my environmental awareness
How to shut down a conversation with “twitchy strangers” that may approach me in a public place
Practical ways to be “better at violence” than those who might want to do me harm
An easy breakdown of the techniques I learned and an explanation of how to practice them at home, like using a wall for a certain move to make sure I’m keeping proper form
A verbal method to shut down a bully, while remaining composed and respectful
Bonus – channeling my inner improv skills (and mean girl) by being selected to be the “workplace bully” in a toxic workplace scenario
I can’t stress enough the amount of skills and knowledge that’s presented to attendees in the seminar and the incredible value offered. There are plans for additional women’s self-defense classes this fall, so be sure to follow American Street Edge on Facebook to learn more about any upcoming seminars. In addition, there are weekly, no contract adult classes, and you can even take a trial class first to be sure it’s a good fit, so you have nothing to lose. Find the schedules for all the classes offered along with other helpful information on the American Street Edge Facebook page. The school is also offering a variety of freebies the week of Aug. 24-28, 2026, details on the free offerings are outlined in this post.
It’s been two years since I decided to take Small Town Socialite from an idea in my head to a website and social media presence. Although the official launch date for the website didn’t happen until January 2025, I started planning the brand in August of 2024.
Even though I’ve never let my readers know, from the very beginning I have had BIG goals for this small town brand I’m building. I launched the website in Franklin County, Missouri and surrounding areas because that’s where I live, and being in the media industry writing for larger publications in nearby bigger markets like St. Louis, Jefferson City, and Lake of the Ozarks I saw firsthand how the publications in those areas didn’t have much interest in covering small businesses, events, or people in the rural towns in the Franklin County area.
I launched Small Town Socialite as a test, of myself, the brand, and the people in my community. I started with no money, and to this day I’ve still never spent a dime to advertise this website or my social media accounts. Could I have grown faster if I’d poured money into advertising? Probably, but I wanted to see if I could really do this, as an “outsider” who is a transplant to the rural community I write about. I wanted to know if the people would believe in what I’m doing or if this idea was just a huge flop.
The brand recognition is not where I want it to be yet, but my website and social media traffic has only grown with time, purely through word of mouth and people spreading the word both on Facebook and in real conversations with their family and friends. That’s given me the confidence to go back to those BIG goals I set out for myself when I mapped out what I wanted Small Town Socialite to become back in August 2024.
Through my 20 years of working in the media industry I’ve watched publication after publication get bought out by corporations and huge media conglomerates. I’ve watched publications with a long history go belly up. I’ve been a part of the freelance staff that’s watched those beloved publications go away.
And nowhere has been hit as hard as the rural areas. Back in the day, almost every community had a small town, local paper. Now, it’s rare to find a weekly or bi-weekly news outlet in small towns, and it’s even rarer that they’re locally owned or aren’t a part of a larger corporation. To make ends meet, most local papers keep their online content behind a paywall, meaning readers can’t read any articles for free. While I get the reasoning for paywalls, it’s not helpful to the every day person in a small town that just wants to know what’s going on in their community or read an article about the small business down the street from them.
Now that you hopefully understand what motivates me to publish content for free on the internet in a rural community, I want to get to the real point of this post. On August 31, I’m launching Small Town Socialite Southern Illinois, or Small Town Socialite SoIL for short.
I have big plans to launch in other rural regions that lack a centralized media outlet, but I chose to start in Southern Illinois rather than another community in my current state because Southern Illinois was my first home. Both sides of my family called the area home for generations, so what better way to honor my heritage than to expand into an area I already have a deep connection to, and that I know is deeply under-served when it comes to media coverage.
The SoIL site will work just like this one, but every two weeks I’ll be sharing event round ups for the entire Southern Illinois region: from the Metro East, to an area I’m calling the Route 3 Corridor (Red Bud, Sparta, Chester), to Little Egypt, and areas in between. Eventually I’ll share small business and people features from the area as well.
The dog days of summer have arrived, but don’t worry, there’s plenty of things to do both indoors and outside over the next two weeks in Franklin County and nearby communities. There’s crafting events, car shows, touch-a-truck events, plus live music events, community markets, and much more.
As a reminder, always double check with event venues before heading out just in case an event gets canceled, rescheduled, or experiences weather delays.
Did I miss an event? Tag me on Facebook or Instagram and I can share the event in my stories.
Various dates and times Great 8 Cinema in Union and Sullivan 6 Cinema are also featuring a special kids summer film series that kicks off mid-May and runs through late August. Additionally, the admission is $2, and there are $5 value combos available. Get details on Facebook.
Multiple days The USDA Summer Food Service is partnering with the Washington Public Library to help area families to provide food service beginning Monday, June 29 and continuing on every Mondays until public school starts. The food service includes 7 days of breakfast and lunch, with fresh fruit, vegetable, and dairy. This service is for families with children ages 1-18. Pickup is at the Washington Public Library on Mondays between 4-6 p.m. Get more info.
Multiple days Scenic Regional Library and Foundations for Strengthening Families are partnering to help area families with summer food service beginning Monday, June 29 through Monday, August 17. The service will provide one week’s worth of breakfast and lunch items for kids, available while supplies last. Food pickup will be in each library branch’s parking lot and pickup times and days vary by each branch. Find pickup days and times.
Multiple days in August Old Farm Winery in Catawissa has a number of events like a car show, karaoke, and live music throughout August. Get all the details.
Tuesday, Aug. 11 Each month, the Washington Public Library hosts a crafting event, providing all the supplies attendees need to make a themed craft. This month, attendees can opt to create disco-themed fall crafts and can choose from a ghostie or a disco ball inspired mini pumpkin. Find out more.
Tuesday, Aug. 11 Washington Historical Society is hosting The American Zither Verband for its monthly Evening at the Museum event. The fun begins at 7 p.m. Get more info.
Tuesday, Aug. 11 The St. Clair Branch of Scenic Regional Library is hosting an author event with Sue Blesi. Attendees will explore the legacies of some of St. Clair’s most notable residents through lively storytelling by local historian and author, Sue Blesi. Register here.
Friday, Aug. 14 The next City of Union Market off Main is happening from 4-7 p.m. Find food from Savy’s Food Truck and Hot Tamales Love at First Bite, as well as numerous items for sale from local vendors. Find out more.
Friday, Aug. 14 Glittering Grapevine Line Dancing will guide guests in line dancing at Ace’s & Eagles The Office Bar in Washington. Learn more.
Friday, Aug. 14 The American Legion in New Haven continues its America 250 live music series with a live performance by Brooke Bockting from 5-8 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 14 American Street Edge Self-Defense Systems in St. Clair is hosting a Women’s Safety & Self-Defense Seminar from 6-8:30 p.m. Spots are limited, so reserve yours today. Reserve your place.
Saturday, Aug. 15 Red Cedar Inn Museum & Visitor Center in Pacific is hosting the Gateway HET Car Cruise from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Learn more.
Saturday, Aug. 15 First Christian Church in Washington is hosting a Touch-a-Truck event from 9-10:30 a.m. Get up close and personal with a variety of big trucks and vehicles in the church parking lot. Honk the horns, check out the equipment, and enjoy a morning of hands-on fun for all ages! Find out more details.
Saturday, Aug. 15 It’s been one year since Andy’s Produce Too in Union moved from its original location on U.S. 50 to its current location on Main St. in Union. To celebrate, Andy’s is hosting a customer appreciation event from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. that will include local vendors to shop from, a seafood boil, and beginning at 10 a.m., free burgers and chips for the first 50 customers. Learn more.
Saturday, Aug. 15 Goddess Gowns in Union is hosting a bridal and beyond pop-up event from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. This event is perfect for anyone getting ready to say “I do” as well as women looking to refresh their accessories. Shop permanent jewelry and upgrade your hat collection with Burned Wildflower Creations, a custom hat business that creates beautiful burned designs on hats. Get more details.
Sunday, Aug. 16 Aset Center in Washington will welcome Michelle Nolan Sanchez of Akashic Soulwork to lead an akashic dance, and later a sound bath led by Allison Chrisman will bring attendees into deep relaxation as she creates restorative sound with her gong and other instruments. Register and learn more.
Sunday, Aug. 16 St. Patrick’s Old Rock Church in Catawissa is having its church picnic. Find chicken, cold beer, hot dogs and snow cones, as well as kids games, plus custard cups from Hoffmans. Find out more.
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Tuesday, Aug. 18 Head to Scenic Regional Library’s St. Clair Branch to learn more about all things gardening at the branch’s monthly club called Growers and Sowers. The meetings are from 6-7 p.m. and this month’s topic is backyard birds. Register to save your spot.
Tuesday, Aug. 18 Join Project Linus of East Central Missouri at the Union American Legion and help make an impact for area children in need of comfort. Bring your own sewing supplies and make blankets any time during the hours of 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Get more info.
Thursday, Aug. 20 After a brief hiatus, Music on Main returns to downtown Union. The fall concert series kicks off with music from Bag Lunch Blues Band, and food and drinks available for purchase from Sip on Main, White Rose, Boxcar Express, and Sip Chicks. The fun happens at Hansen Park, beginning at 6 p.m. Find out more.
Thursday, Aug. 20 – Sunday, Aug. 23 New Earth Fest is a music, wellness, and arts festival happening at Lost Hill Lake in St. Clair. Find workshops on things like yoga and breathwork, as well as creative and hands on activities like art, shop from vendors, and sway to a live music show complete with lights and lasers at night. Tickets range in prices and access, with day passes to full weekend access available. Learn more.
Friday, Aug. 21 & Saturday, Aug. 22 *Rescheduled from Aug. 14 & 15 due to heat* The St. Clair Saddle Club is hosting rodeo fun on Friday and Saturday. Find 5D barrel racing and more. Get more details on Facebook.
Friday, Aug. 21 The Book Booth in Washington is hosting a Meet and Greet Book Signing event for the book Porch Time with Lynnie: A Place for Healing. The event starts at 5 p.m. Get more details.
Friday, Aug. 21 Head to Union City Park for an outdoor showing of Wicked for Good, the Lawn Chair Movie Night event of August. The movie begins at dark, and guests should arrive early with their lawn chairs to get their preferred seats. Learn more.
Friday, Aug. 21 Sip, snack, and create your own dragonfly sun catcher at The Eclectic Dragonfly in New Haven from 5-7 p.m. Get more info.
Friday, Aug. 21 Sugar & Whisk Cafe in New Haven is hosting a Back to School Bash from 2–5 p.m. The afternoon of fun will include face painting, bubbles, and outdoor games, plus food and drink selections including coffee, sweet treats for the whole family, and BBQ plates and hot dogs. Find out more.
Friday, Aug. 21 Glittering Grapevine Line Dancing will guide guests in line dancing at McKelvey Vineyards in Washington. Learn more.
Friday, Aug. 21 The Roundup Event Space in St. Clair is hosting another Tailgate Sale in the grassy area located near the event space (at the corner of Main and Hibbard in downtown St. Clair). The event happens from 5-8 p.m. and will feature food trucks, dirty sodas, and a number of vendors including plants, jewelry, boutiques, and more. Find out more.
Friday, Aug. 21 The American Legion in New Haven concludes its America 250 live music series with a live performance by Eric Englebrecht from 5-8 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 22 With August being the Dog Days of Summer and everyone needing a little something to look forward to, from 2-6 p.m. hang out on the patio at Pinckney Bend in New Haven for its Wieners & Dieners event. Josh Lang & Pinckney Bend will cook up hot dogs, sausages, and brats on the big grill, with live music by Matt Diener. Get more details.
Saturday, Aug. 22 The annual Foodstock event in Washington is happening from 5-10 p.m. at the Washington Farmers Market. This event benefits local food pantries and features live music by area musicians and admission is either a monetary donation or non-perishable food. Find out more.
Saturday, Aug. 22 The Back to School Farmers Market is happening at Frisco Farms from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Find goods from local vendors and makers, as well as locally grown produce, local honey, and meat. Learn more.
Saturday, Aug. 22 Downtown Sullivan is the site of a cruise in car show that has various hot rods, trucks and Jeeps. Get more info.
Sunday, Aug. 23 The Alley cordially invites all princesses and princes to its Princess Brunch event. Kicking off at 9 a.m., attendees will have brunch, a meet and greet, and arcade games with four iconic princesses. All ages are welcome to attend, but tickets are limited, so don’t wait! Cost is $35 admission includes brunch, a meet and greet, and a $20 game card. Learn more.
Road Trippin’
Take a little road trip to some of these events happening within a short drive of Franklin County.
Thursday, Aug. 13 Tour The Historic Daniel Boone Home in Defiance free of charge. All ages are welcome and admission is first-come, first-served. Tours are open-house format, allowing guests to explore all levels of the house and speak with docents about the Boone family and the history of the Femme Osage Valley. Learn more.
Saturday, Aug. 15 RGM Farms in Bourbon is hosting a monthly event called Social Saturdays, which are an opportunity to come together with friends new and old, enjoy food, and entertainment from 3-7 p.m. Get tickets.
Saturday, Aug. 15 Onondaga Cave State Park is hosting a series of night sky viewing events with astronomy enthusiast Joe Parish in the visitor center parking lot. These events are free and open to the public, and there is no need to register. Although a telescope will be provided, visitors are welcome to bring viewing devices of their own. Find out more.
Friday & Saturday, Aug. 21 & 22 Mid-Missouri Rodeo Association is coming to the Rolla Saddle Club. The rodeo fun kicks off at 7 p.m. each evening. Get more info.
Saturday, Aug. 22 Want to volunteer your time with an organization making an impact in the lives of veterans? Head to The Freedom 13 Healing Camp in Bourbon for a day of giving back and helping the nonprofit build cabins and a recreational space that veterans and their families can use. Learn more.
Saturday, Aug. 22 Head to Brookdale Farms in Eureka, for the Back-to-School Bash, a family celebration packed with fun, entertainment, and community spirit. Spend the afternoon exploring the farm with giant inflatables, hayrides, pony rides, our petting zoo, bubble zone, sunflower photo opportunities, yard games, and more. Dance in the foam party, enjoy live music, and grab dinner from local food vendors. Get tickets.
Have a public event coming up? Submit your event details like time, location, and cost to attend. Be sure to include your website and social media details so I can help spread the word about your event!
A wellness, music, and arts festival all rolled into one, New Earth Fest is happening Thursday, Aug. 20, to Sunday, Aug. 23 in St. Clair. This all ages, family-friendly, alcohol-free gathering aims to create a more present and connected festival experience for its attendees and is founded and organized by St. Louis resident Christine Kick.
“I love the idea of being able to create events that can build culture, specifically around positive things,” Christine shares. “It’s a way to come together around the idea of envisioning the world in a positive way.”
Prior to creating New Earth Fest, Christine had been a part of other festivals in various ways: as an aerialist performer, teaching yoga, and as a singer and musician, since she also makes electronic music under the name Harmony Om. After attending other festivals, she noticed a couple of things that were missing at most events.
“I noticed the need for spaces that are family-friendly and clearly focused on wellness,” she says.
Although she lives in St. Louis, when Christine started planning the festival she knew she wanted it to happen somewhere that was close to the city, yet at a location that was nature focused and would allow attendees to stay for more than one day.
“Having people stay together creates more of a vibe and a community,” Christine explains.
More than a music festival, New Earth Fest offers ways for attendees to connect and form community through wellness and arts workshops, as well as through spending time together in nature at Lost Hill Lake in St. Clair. Photo via Christine Kick, New Earth Fest.
She found what she was looking for at Lost Hill Lake Events. The St. Clair venue features an onsite lake and Meramec River access, glamping as well as RV hookups, outdoor showers, and an outdoor dry barrel sauna, making it an ideal setting for a festival that’s rooted in wellness, embracing nature, community, and positivity.
Workshops, music, and activities
Even though it’s a multi-day event, attendees can choose attendance options that are right for their schedule, with day passes available, as well as a multi-day ticket option that allows for glamping onsite. No matter if someone plans to come out for the day, or stay for the entire festival, there’s activities that span across interests and wellness areas.
The festival features daily workshops centered on wellness practices like yoga and breathwork, as well as arts, and spirituality. Photo via Christine Kick, New Earth Fest.
The daily workshops center around wellness and somatic practices like yoga and breathwork, as well as sound healing, which is a practice of using frequencies, vibrations, and tones from sources like chimes, singing bowls, and gongs to promote relaxation and mental well-being.
Attendees can also expect to find spiritually focused workshops on things like manifestation. There will also be interactive workshops focused on crafts, painting, and making things, plus kid oriented activities, as well as windows of time where kids can be dropped with staff so parents in attendance at the festival can have solo time to attend workshops.
And for those who plan to stay onsite for multiple days, the festival schedule features breaks in the afternoons so attendees can enjoy the lake, explore the hiking trails, or simply relax and take in the natural landscape.
At night, expect a full production music experience, with lights, lasers, and plenty of room for dancing. It should be noted that the music performances go until 2:30 a.m., and it’s recommend people staying onsite bring earplugs if they’re not planning on attending the full music performances at the event.
New Earth Fest features musical performances each night, complete with lasers and lights. Photo via Christine Kick, New Earth Fest.
There will be vendors onsite, as well as food and drinks available for purchase and in place of serving alcohol at the festival, expect beverages made with cacao or adoptogens such as mushroom powders, plus sparkling waters, juices, and cannabis seltzers through a partnership with Mighty Kind, as well as CBD drinks.
Day pass and multi-day ticket sales are available in advance online, or onsite at the event. Find out more about New Earth Fest on Facebook or by visiting the festival’s website.
