News and Information from the City of Kirkwood

Kirkwood Weekly Happenings City Logo B-W

City of Kirkwood
June 13, 2013

In This Issue

Hotdog Dayz of Summer

Summer Driving Tips for Teens

Gardening Tip

Rainscape Rebates

Kirkwood Public Library

Oak Bend Library

Last Thoughts

Quick Links

City Blog: All Aboard

City Website

Kirkwood Public Library Website

MoDOT Website

Greetings!

PHOTO OF THE WEEK:

Murray Pounds, Kirkwood's Parks & Recreation Director, sent this to Weekly Happenings last week. Curt Carron, Superintendent of Parks, took this photo in Kirkwood Park, near diamond #6. Not to worry. Murray says: "I believe that is your basic black snake, although a pretty good sized one. Not poisonous." That last part is the important part, of course.

Have you taken a really great photograph of something or someone in Kirkwood recently? Your editor would love to use it in the newsletter. Simply email it to Info@Kirkwoodmo.org (or just reply to this newsletter), along with a brief description and your name. Thanks!

HOTDOG DAYZ OF SUMMER ARE BACK!

FIRST HOTDOG DAY IS TOMORROW!

The Kirkwood Police Department and Kirkwood Parks & Recreation Department are once again teaming up this summer to reach out to Kirkwood and Oakland children on Fridays, from June 15 through July 26. We will serve a hotdog lunch and play games with the kids. The Kirkwood PD wants the children of Kirkwood to know we are here if they need us. FREE. Fridays, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Schedule subject to change, due to weather conditions. SEE YOU THERE! Here's the full schedule:

June 14: Meacham Memorial Park, corner of Meacham and Orleans
June 21: Walker Park (Turtle Park), corner of Washington and Taylor
June 28: Avery Park, 221-225 Avery Drive
July 5: Monfort Park, corner of Briargate and Barberry Lane
July 12: Loewnau Park, corner of Oakland and Sappington
July 19: Fillmore Park, corner of Fillmore and Clinton
July 26: Meacham Memorial Park, corner of Meacham and Orleans.

GREENTREE BOOKFAIR RETURNS

GREENTREE BOOK FAIR DONATIONS ACCEPTED STARTING JUNE 18

Do you have books you would like to donate to a worthy cause? Starting June 18, you can begin to drop off your donations at the Kirkwood Train Station. Donation bins will be placed on the northwest side of the station. Tax-deductible letters will be left in an envelope inside the bins. The following donations will be accepted: Hard-cover and paperback fiction and non-fiction books, children's books, sheet music, videos, and recorded music. Please NO encyclopedias, textbooks, magazines, or software.

All proceeds benefit the instrumental music program in the Kirkwood School District (all grade levels). The Greentree Book Fair is sponsored by the Kirkwood Band Boosters and the Kirkwood Orchestra Parent Association (parent support groups). Thank you.

MAKIN' MUSIC CONCERT SERIES IN KIRKWOOD PARK

ELEVENTH ANNUAL SUMMER CONCERT SERIES CONTINUES

Concerts start at 7:00 p.m. in the Lions' Amphitheater in Kirkwood Park on Saturdays.
SUMMER 2013 SCHEDULE:

~ Saturday, June 22: The Scandaleros

~ Saturday, July 13: Rocky and the Wranglers

~ Saturday, July 27: Maple Jam Band

~ Saturday, August 10: Route 66 Jazz Orchestra

~ Saturday, August 24: St. Louis Wind Symphony

TUNES AT TEN

LIVE MUSIC AT KIRKWOOD FARMERS' MARKET - SCHEDULE:
~ June 22: Sutton Street Shuffle

~ June 29: Salt of the Earth

~ July 6: Rocky Santhuff

~ July 13: Maple Jam Band

~ July 20: The Lulus

All concerts are located near the pergola and begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday mornings.

FROM THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT

DOWNTOWN KIRKWOOD SUMMER CONCERT SERIES IN STATION PLAZA

All concerts start at 6:30 p.m., on Thursday nights, in Station Plaza, across from City Hall.

~ TONIGHT: Blues Incorporated performs. Concert sponsored by Amigo's Cantina, Riggs Construction & Design, and Grapevine Wine & Spirits

~ JUNE 20: The Hulapoppers perform. Concert sponsored by Down By The Station, Checkered Cottage, and Moonbeans

~ JUNE 27: Project 324 performs. Concert sponsored by Spencer's Grill

~ JULY 11: Erin Bode performs. Concert sponsored by Kaldi's Coffeehouse.

In the event of threatening weather, concerts will be cancelled. Call 314-822-0084 and enter 4 for the Event mailbox and to receive special event updates and cancellation information.

SUMMER DRIVING TIPS FOR TEENS

DO YOU HAVE A TEEN DRIVER IN YOUR HOME?

As summer vacation approaches, parents of teen drivers face high-risk summer driving months. Summer vacation means teens have more freedom and tend to stay out later. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is the deadliest for drivers age 15-20. According to 2011 data, three out of the five deadliest days for youth on our nation's highways occurred during the summer season. On July 23 and July 30, 2011, for example, 50 youth died in car crashes.

Before summer vacation begins, Ford Driving Skills for Life recommends parents discuss these safety responsibilities with their teen drivers. Click here for the full article (on the City's Website).

GARDENERS' CORNER

GARDENING TIP OF THE WEEK

Before investing in lawn and garden fertilizers it would be wise to have a soil test done. The results of this test will provide information on what is lacking, or abundant, in your soil. With that knowledge you can purchase a fertilizer, or other products, to meet your needs. Knowing what your soil needs saves money, time, and energy.

The Kirkwood Garden Club will periodically share a Gardening Tip of the Week with Weekly Happenings readers. For more information about the club, visit their Website at kirkwoodgardenclub.org. New members and guests - both men and women - are always welcome to attend their meetings and events. Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m., at the Kirkwood Community Center.

RAINSCAPE REBATES PART 2

RAINSCAPE REBATES, PART 2:

Once again, landowners will be eligible for a reimbursement of 75 percent of approved and documented expenses - up to a maximum of $2,000 - related to landscaping yards to improve storm water management. The Deer Creek Alliance's Round Two applications can be picked up at Kirkwood City Hall, 139 S. Kirkwood Road, or downloaded from their Website, where you can also find additional information.

FROM KIRKWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY

KIRKWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY'S SUMMER SCHEDULE

TONIGHT: Bellefontaine Cemetery. Thursday, June 13, 7:00 p.m. Join Carol Shepley for an evening of stories, featuring both the famous and infamous occupants of the historic cemetery.

ONE BOOK, ONE KIRKWOOD - UPDATES:

Your Kirkwood Public Library is hosting its second annual summer Community Reading Event and the authors of our 2013 selections will be at the library next week!

Joseph Schuster will be at the library on Tuesday, June 18, at 7:00 p.m. to discuss his book, The MIght Have Been, which is the library's One Book, One Kirkwood selection for adults. Michael Northrop will be at the library on Thursday, June 20, at 7:00 p.m., to discuss his book, Plunked, the library's One Book, One Kirkwood selection for kids. Also: Come early for free hot dogs and popcorn and a chance to win St. Louis Cardinal Tickets thanks to Fifth Third Bank of Kirkwood!

SUMMER STORY TIMES:

~ Tuesdays, 10:00 a.m., through July 30

~ Thursdays, 9:30 a.m., Books for Babies, through July 25

~ Thursdays, 10:30 a.m., First Steps Storytime, through July 25

KIDS' SUMMER BOOK CLUB TIMES:

Mondays, 7:00 p.m.

Family Book Club. For children grades 4-6 and parents.
~ June 10: Plunked, by Michael Northrop
~ July 8: Pie, by Sarah Weeks
~ August 12: Lone Wolf, by Kathryn Lasky

Thursdays, 6:30 pm.

Family Book Club Junior . For children grades 2-4 and their parents.
~ June 6: The Crazy Case of the Missing Thunder by Tony Abbott
~ July 11: Piper Reed Rodeo Star by Kimberly Willis Holt

~ August 1: How Oliver Olson Changed the World by Claudia Mills

STORIES IN THE PARK, Tuesdays, 6:30 pm.

~ June 18: Meacham Memorial Park

~ June 25: Fireman's Park

~ July 9: Fillmore Park

~ July 16: Little Mitchell Park

~ July 23: Kirkwood Park, Lions' Pavilion

WACKY WEDNESDAYS, Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.

~ June 19: Animal Tales presents Underground Animals

~ June 26: Yo-Yo Kid - Ian Cole and Yoyo-ology

~ July 3: Worm Races

~ July 10: Juggling Jeff

~ July 17: World Bird Sanctuary presents Creatures of Myths & Legends

~ July 24: Laughing Matters presents "Toss, Catch, Dig"

~ July 31: Babaloo : shows at 10 am and 11 am

KPL @ THE FARMERS' MARKET:

We're at the market from 9:00 a.m. to noon on the following Saturdays:

~ Saturday, June 15: Donuts and Dads

~ Saturday, July 13: Picnics

~ Saturday, August 10: Summer Reads

READING BUDDIES! Mondays, June 10 through July 29
~ Session 1: 1:30 to 2:15 p.m.

~ Session 2: 2:30 to 3:15 p.m.

Children entering 1st through 4th grade partner with teen volunteers for one-on-one reading time. Children and teens must apply to participate. Applications are available in the library.

CHAMPS READING DOGS: Sundays, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m., July 7, August 4.

FAMILY LEGO DAY: Family Lego Day: Saturday, June 29, 10:30 - 11:30. Master builders and their parents are invited for some Lego building fun.

TEEN EVENTS IN JUNE:
~ Roaring 1920s Jazz Party: Trivia, Music, Dance - Just in time for The Great Gatsby movie release. Friday, June 21, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
~ Duct Tape Craft Hour: Sunday, June 23, 2:00-3:00 p.m.

~ Doctor Who Fan Fiction Writing Competition: Wednesday, June 26, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
~ YouTube U: Creating the Surface and the Creatures Beneath: Friday, June 28 (and again on July 26), 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.

ADULT PROGRAMS:

KPL Cinema, Tuesdays, 1:30 p.m. Movie titles for June:

~ June 18: National Treasure

~ June 25: National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets

Wanderlust Series: Wednesdays, 7:00 p.m.

~ July 24, 7 pm: Chesterfield Archeological Dig, by Joe Hart.

~ August 7, 7 pm: Tropical Destinations, presented by Wes Lipe.

~ August 14, 7 pm: Missouri Caves, presented by Jim Reudin.

Special Events for Adults: Wednesdays and Thursdays

~ Intergenerational Art Classes. Wednesday, July 10 and July 31, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Ages 9 to adult.

Mystery Readers, Wednesdays, 2:00 p.m.
~ June 19: The Crowded Grave by Martin Walker

Saturday Morning Perks, Saturdays, 10:00 a.m.

~ June 22: Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce

The Kirkwood Public Library is located at 140 E. Jefferson in Downtown Kirkwood. For additional information, please call 821-5770.

NEWS FROM OAK BEND LIBRARY

EVENTS FOR KIDS:

Toddler Drive-In Movie. Monday, June 17, 10:30 a.m. Create fun with your little one! Decorate a cardboard box car together and enjoy a short film before "driving" home. Ages 1-3. Registration requested.

Over in the Ocean. Monday, June 17, 2:00 p.m. Dart like a clownfish and flutter like a seahorse as we go on an imaginative movement adventure inspired by Marianne Berkes' "Over in the Ocean." Ages 4-6. Registration required.

FOR TEENS:

Guys Read Twitter Chat. Wednesday, June 19, 8:00 p.m.: "One Shot at Forever: A Small Town, an Unlikely Coach, and a Magical Baseball Season" by Chris Ballard. Join us on Twitter each month as we discuss a great book with guy appeal. In June, we celebrate "America's Pastime" with a discussion of "One Shot at Forever," the true story of an inspiring, radical teacher who led a ragtag bunch of rural Illinois teens to state finals in 1971. Recommended for any high schooler who loves baseball. How do you join a Twitter chat? It's easy! Four Simple Steps:

1. Log on to Twitter between 8:00 and 8:45 p.m.

2. Search for the hashtag #guysreadstl

3. Use this hashtag when tweeting to join the discussion

4. Follow Guys Read STL at twitter.com/GuysReadSTL for a recap of the

discussion.

Oak Bend Library is part of the St. Louis County Library system and is located at 842 S. Holmes Avenue. For more information or to register for a program, call 314-994-3300. Note: The City provides the Oak Bend Library listings in Friday Happenings for the benefit of Kirkwood residents who live near Oak Bend Library. Not all Kirkwood residents live within the Kirkwood Public Library (KPL) District. However, ALL Kirkwood residents are encouraged to obtain a FREE Kirkwood library card, check out materials from KPL, and attend KPL programs and events.

FROM THE EDITOR: The Mini Blog

We haven't had a lot of days so far this summer that have been warm enough for swimming, so the summer swim season is just now getting under way. Coincidentally, and even though May is the month where all the water safety articles usually surface (because May is National Water Safety Month), I've been reading a lot of articles about swimming and drowning just these past two weeks. One in particular caught my eye (link below).

My son, who is 20 now and spent four years competing on his high school's swim team (and is a lifeguard himself, see photo), nearly became a "drowning statistic" at the age of two. We were in Washington, D.C., for two weeks while his father attended a conference. During the hotel-search process, I became very focused on finding a hotel with a pool, because what else are you going to do with two young children for two weeks, but I

was also insistent that the pool have a lifeguard (most hotels do not). I was fortunate to find one, and I booked it. We had been there three days when my toddler, who had been playing quietly on a blanket far from the pool's edge, very suddenly got up and toddled over to the deep end of the pool and climbed in, while I was in the shallow end with his sister. He ignored my calls to STOP (I can still see that mischievous, daring grin), and before I could get out of the pool to grab him, he was at the ladder. I started to swim toward him, but my panic made me an even slower swimmer than I normally am, so I stopped, saw he was face down in the water, and screamed "HELP." Before I had gotten the word completely out - I am not exaggerating - the lifeguard had dived into the pool, scooped Simon up, and had him on his shoulder as he climbed up out of the water, using the same ladder my baby boy had so playfully misunderstood as being safe. Simon held on to that young lifeguard for 20 minutes.

I tell this story anytime somebody talks about what a great swimmer my son is: We got him lessons because he almost drowned. And it wasn't easy. As you can imagine, for several years, he was very afraid of the water. Of course, today he's a fish.

Here's the thing: Everybody needs to know how to swim. Swimming is great exercise, sure, but more importantly, knowing how to swim could save your life. Here is the article that inspired this little storytelling exercise of mine. If you want to enroll your kids in a swimming class this summer, it's not too late. If you never learned to swim yourself, it is TOTALLY not too late. Kirkwood Parks & Recreation offers swim and dive lessons, both group and private lessons. You can find hours and rates here. Or you can call 822-5855 to see what is still open (it varies by age). We also offer private lessons for adults.

Have fun in the water this summer: Learn to swim.

Have a great weekend. See you next Thursday!

Beth von Behren

Happenings Editor/Public Information Officer

City of Kirkwood
139 S. Kirkwood Road
Kirkwood, MO 63122
314-822-5894
www.kirkwoodmo.org