š± How a Belleville native is transforming a historic Main Street landmark
Hey there, Belleville! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. āļøļø
In today's newsletter:
- How a Belleville native is transforming a historic Main Street landmark
- How did Belleville stack up in Illinoisā new livability rankings?
- Why does Belleville have the most lawyers in St. Clair County?
Also on today's calendar: Monday Morning Windchimes and 5 more events.
Today's riddle: What did the inventor of the knock-knock joke win? š¤ (Answer below!)
From our Partner
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Find a T-Mobile store near Belleville.
- Friday: A stray afternoon t-storm, with a high of 85 and low of 52 degrees.
- Saturday: A few morning showers; windy, temps: high: 60, low: 40.
- Sunday: Plenty of sunshine, with a high of 65 and low of 41 degrees.
š° News we're reading
ā¢ Belleville native buys historic downtown building for law office, loft apartment (bnd.com) ā A Belleville East graduate has bought the historic 1865 building at 122 W. Main St. to open a satellite law office and create a high-end loft apartment. He plans up to $100,000 in mostly cosmetic renovations and will rename it The Jefferson Building, honoring his Belleville school roots while joining and investing in the downtown Main Street business community. 
Ā Ā Ā 
ā¢ Illinois village named the best suburb in America. How did the metro-east fare? (bnd.com) ā Belleville earned an A- grade in Nicheās 2026 āBest Places to Liveā rankings, putting it in strong company with nearby Swansea, Fairview Heights, and OāFallon. While no metro-east town cracked Illinoisā top 10 overall, several local communities scored A-range marks, highlighting strong schools, safety, and quality of life close to home. Ā Ā Ā
ā¢ St. Clair County had 275 lawyers with active licenses in March (metroeastsun.com) ā Belleville leads St. Clair County with 165 actively licensed lawyers out of 275 total, according to March figures from Illinoisā attorney regulator. The piece also notes Illinoisā high statewide lawyer concentration and outlines typical salary ranges, giving residents context for the local legal market. Ā Ā Ā
šø Around Belleville
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š
Upcoming Events in
Belleville
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
ā Featured events ā
-
Monday Morning Windchimes - National Parks Week - Belleville, IL 2026
Charles E Nichols Center, 515 E D St, Belleville
9:30 am
Monday April 20
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
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Belle-Clair Fairgrounds Flea Market
Belle-Clair Fairgrounds -
Mothers & Sons Glow Dance
Belleville, IL Calendar , 2300 W Main St , Belleville
6:00 pm -
OCE Fireside Chat
Belleville, IL Calendar , 1111 West Main Street , Belleville
6:30 pm -
Monday Morning Windchimes
Belleville Parks and Recreation , 510 W Main St , Belleville
9:30 am -
4/20/26 Monday Morning Windchimes - National Parks Week - Belleville, IL 2026
Charles E Nichols Center , 515 E D St , Belleville
9:30 am -
National Parks Week: Monday Morning Windchimes
Belleville Parks and Recreation , 510 W Main St , Belleville
9:30 am -
Home v. West Soccer
Whiteside Middle School Belleville, IL 62221
4:30 pm
Saturday April 18
Monday April 20
š£ Belleville Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
š Events Nearby
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Tropical Vibes Await - School Dance
Wingate Elementary School Belleville, IL 62221
6:00 pm -
Eckertās Belleville Farm Wine Run 5k
Eckert's Pick Your Own Belleville Farm , 951 S Green Mt Rd , Belleville
9:00 am -
Spring Artisan Festival
Restoration Ranch , 1644 Hartman Ln , Shiloh
10:00 am -
SPRING VENDOR MARKET! 2026 SPRING MARKET AT RESTORATION RANCH
Restoration Ranch , 1644 Hartman Ln , Belleville
10:00 am
Friday April 17
Saturday April 18
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
š¬ Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Earlier today, I posted a video about a squirrel that we feed.
Here is a slow motion video that I took of the squirrel with my husband. He clearly loves my husband much more than me. He will sit on his lap to eatā¦ (Nextdoor Southwest Shiloh) - Thought I would share something different to read/ watch beside politics and drama.
This is Bandit..he comes to get almonds twice a day. He eats about 12, then takes off and goes back to where ever he comes from. Dont worry, he isn'tā¦ (Nextdoor Southwest Shiloh)
- ServiceMaster Clean posted a job opening for Future Opening: Evening Cleaner Roxana Woodriver IL in Belleville. Apply here.
- The Auto Club Group posted a job opening for Customer Service Specialist in Belleville. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Belleville here.
š Nearby News
Swansea
- Pritzker announces $4.85 million in Illinois tourism grants to 66 recipients (riverbender.com)
Fairview Heights
- New eatery aims to elevate Cahokia Heights with upscale menu, local hiring (bnd.com)
- Nearly 1 in 4 people seeking abortions out of state chose Illinois. Here's why (macon.com)
- Bargain Lovers From Across Illinois Are Obsessed With This Enormous Thrift Store (familydestinationsguide.com)
O'Fallon
- O'Fallon Officers Provide Safe Space for Nesting Goose (riverbender.com)
Ok Belleville! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: The NO-BELL prize (Thank you Gina M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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