Kirkwood Weekly Happenings
City of Kirkwood
August 22, 2013
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| Greetings! |
 PHOTO OF THE WEEK:
Choo Choo! All Aboard...... It's the Book Caboose! If you have spent any time at the Kirkwood Aquatic Center this past month, you may have noticed a miniature wooden caboose full of books. The Caboose was built and donated by Riggs Construction & Design and housed at the pool, where anyone and everyone could take a book for their poolside reading pleasure. It's full of donated books, so no need to bring your library card to the pool. If you'd like to donate books for the Book Caboose, you can drop those off at the Library. The Caboose will over-winter at the Library, where it will display regular library materials until it is called into aquatic service again next May. Left to right: Bill Riggs (with Riggs Construction & Design), Sarah Erwin (Kirkwood Library Director), and Lisa Henry (KPL's Director of Operations).
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!
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FROM PARKS & rECREATION
| TENNIS / HANDBALL COURT UPDATE:
One of the initial elements in the Central Ridge Phase 4 project in Kirkwood Park is now underway. Tennis Court 9 is being resurfaced with "Premier Court" surfacing material.  Weather permitting, it will take about two weeks to complete the process. The remainder of the project will begin after the conclusion of the 2013 Greentree Festival. Elements included in this phase include a new building for the tennis staff, construction of two outdoor handball courts, and improvements to the sidewalks and bleacher areas around the courts. Construction on these elements are expected to continue into the spring of 2014. Please note that during construction there may be restrictions on access to the tennis courts themselves as well as the parking lot at the tennis courts.
FALL / WINTER PARKS & RECREATION PROGRAM GUIDE IS ON ITS WAY!
The Fall / Winter Program Guide is being mailed to Kirkwood households this month. Some residents may already have received theirs. Click here to access the Guide online. Registration for all Fall and Winter programming begins August 26. Skate lesson registration is open now.
RAPTORS IN FLIGHT: SEPTEMBER 5The Webster Groves Nature Study Society and the World Bird Sanctuary present "Raptors in Flight" at Kirkwood Park, Picnic Site 13, on Thursday, September 5, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. This event is FREE and open to the public. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket. NOTE: No one will be allowed to stand while the raptors are flying. Additional information about the event will be posted at www.wgnss.org.
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MEET YOUR UTILITY DIRECTORS!
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KIRKWOOD ELECTRIC AND KIRKWOOD WATER ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS!
Where: Kirkwood Public Library, 140 E. Jefferson
When: September 4 (Electric) and September 25 (Water), 7:00 p.m.
Mark Petty, Kirkwood Electric Director, and Bill Bensing, Kirkwood Water Director, will give informational presentations to residents at Kirkwood Public Library in September. Kirkwood's utility directors will talk about their utility's history and operations, the municipal water and electric industries, how Kirkwood's utilities compare with that of other municipalities, and the benefits the City and its residents receive by owning our own utility companies. Also: How rates are set, new technologies, AMR (automated meter reading), materials, construction methods, and what the long-term plans are for each utility. After the presentation, each director will open it up for questions from the audience.
So mark your calendars. First Up: On Wednesday, September 4, come listen to
 | | Mark Petty (holding plaque) poses with City Council members after presenting them with the Scattergood Award. L to R: Gina Jaksetic, Bob Sears, Paul Ward (partially hidden), Iggy Yuan, Jerry Biedenstein, Petty, Mike Brown (chief administrative officer), Art McDonnell (mayor), and Nancy Luetzow. |
Kirkwood Electric Director Mark Petty, who spearheaded Kirkwood Electric's drive to be the best in the nation! It's true. In April, Kirkwood Electric was awarded the E.F. Scattergood System Achievement Award by the American Public Power Association. This award is given to ONE public utility each year and recognizes the municipal utility's "sustained outstanding performance," meaning that for 2013, Kirkwood Electric was recognized as THE BEST municipal utility in the nation. Mark will answer your questions on the 4th, starting at 7pm.
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FROM OASIS: FOR SENIORS
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CATCH HEALTHY HABITS PROGRAM
Adult volunteers age 50-plus are needed for OASIS' CATCH Healthy Habits program! Funded by Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation, the program helps combat childhood obesity. For just one hour per week for 8 weeks , join a team of volunteers to teach children about good food choices, share healthy snacks, and play games! Training, lesson plans & equipment provided
New volunteer training starts soon - contact Shelby at 314-653-4092 or sschroeder@oasisnet.org to  RSVP today, for one of these sessions:
~ August 19 or August 21, 9 am - 3 pm (includes lunch). Crown Center - Weinberg Lounge, 8350 Delcrest Drive, St. Louis, MO 63124
~ August 28, 9 am - 3 pm (includes lunch). City of St. Charles School District, Administration Center (Benton Elementary), 400 N 6th Street, St. Charles, MO 63301
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REDUCED HOURS AT THE POOL START NEXT WEEK
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REDUCED POOL HOURS THROUGH LABOR DAY:
~ Monday-Friday: 4-7:30 p.m. LAP POOL, FAMILY POOL & SLIDES OPEN.
~ Saturday and Sunday: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. ALL POOLS OPEN.
~ Labor Day (Monday, September 2): 10 a.m.-6 p.m. ALL POOLS OPEN. Other Dates: ~ River Walk Club: Continues through August 31 ~ Early Morning Lap Swim: Continues through August 30 Dog Pool Parties: A chance for your four-legged friends to enjoy the cool Recreation Station waters! Sponsored by the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation and Pool Paws for Humane Laws. Current shot records, DHLPP and Rabies, must be provided. Two dates! ~ Tuesday, September 3, 5:00-7:00 p.m. ~ Thursday, September 5, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. ~ $10 per dog/owner $3 for each additional person |
GARDENER'S CORNER
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GARDENING TIP OF THE WEEK, FROM THE KIRKWOOD GARDEN CLUB
Water, water, water. Last week's cool breezy weather was as drying as the forecast for  this week with hot, dry, and humid weather. Gardens, lawns, shrubs, and trees are struggling as we reach the end of summer. About an inch of water per week should keep every thing growing well. Watering early in the day is best, but if that is not possible, get the watering accomplished when you can.
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.
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NEWS FROM MoDOT
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MoDOT MARKS 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF MOTORIST ASSIST PROGRAM
For 20 years, the Missouri Department of Transportation's Motorist Assist operators have come to the rescue of stranded motorists on St. Louis area interstates and highways. While the driver of a broken down vehicle may be relieved to see the familiar yellow and black Motorist Assist uniform, helping motorists is just part of what they do. In 2012, Motorist Assist handled nearly 37,000 incidents, including over 8,000 abandoned vehicles, over 7700 mechanical repairs and nearly 5500 tire changes. These tasks help alleviate congestion on interstates, by moving incidents off to the right side of the road, allowing other commuters to safely and more easily reach their destination. Clearing incidents sooner helps air quality by reducing congestion. It saves Missourians time and money that could be spent sitting idle, stuck in traffic, wasting gasoline.
Many of the travelers helped by Motorist Assist will have the chance to personally thank the operators as MoDOT marks the 20th anniversary of Motorist Assist in the St. Louis district with an open house on Thursday, August 29, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. The open house is located at the Motorist Assist station at 669 Salt Mill Road, Chesterfield, MO 63017. The public can view exhibits about the history of Motorist Assist and personally thank a Motorist Assist operator. Kids can learn more about safety and participate in other fun activities.
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SAVE THE DATE: CONFERENCE ON DIVERSITY
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CONFERENCE ON DIVERSITY: OCTOBER 19
The Kirkwood Human Rights Commission presents its third annual Conference on October 19 at Kirkwood High School, 801 W. Essex Avenue, 2:00-4:00 p.m. This year's conference theme is "The Fabric of Diversity." The keynote speaker will be Rev. Starsky Wilson. Speakers hosting break-out sessions and discussions include:
~ National Alliance on Mental Illness
~ Paraquad
~ PROMO
~ Anti-Defamation League
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ART AT THE STATION
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AUGUST - SEPTEMBER EXHIBITS:
~ Ongoing: The multi-media work of The Turner Center for the Arts continues through September 3
~ The oil and watercolor paintings of Mark Robinson opens September 5 and runs through September 30. The opening reception will be held Thursday, September 5, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
All art exhibits are on display at the Kirkwood Train Station, located at the corner of Argonne & South Kirkwood Road. The exhibits and receptions are free and open to the public. Art may be viewed when the station is open for passengers.
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| MAKIN' MUSIC CONCERT SERIES IN KIRKWOOD PARK |
SUMMER CONCERTS - WINDING DOWN:
Tunes at Ten, select Saturday mornings, 10;00 a.m., Kirkwood Farmers' Market:~ August 31: Rocky Santhuff ~ Sept 7: The Lulus
~ Sept 21: Salt of the Earth
"Makin' Music" Series Concludes Season on August 24
~ Saturday, August 24: St. Louis Wind Symphony, 7pm, Lions' Amphitheatre
Thursday Night Concert Series, selected Thursdays, 6:30 p.m., Station Plaza:
~ Thursday, August 29: Yukon Jake, sponsored by West Community Credit Union
~ Thursday, September 5: American Idol Band, sponsored by Bar Louie
~ Thursday, September 19: Push the Limit, sponsored by Kirkwood Station Plaza
~ Thursday, September 26: Kirkwood Stock, sponsored by Kirkwood United Methodist Church
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| FROM KIRKWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY |
TEEN EVENTS:
~ Friday, August 23, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. City of Bones Movie Release Party: Watch movie clips, create runes & other fun.
SATURDAY MORNING PERKS: Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. ~ August 31: The Three Miss Margarets, by Louise Shaffer
The Kirkwood Public Library is located at 140 E. Jefferson in Downtown Kirkwood. For additional information, please call 821-5770.
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FROM OAK BEND LIBRARY
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FOR ADULTS:
~ Bookies Book Discussion Group. Monday, August 26, 2:00 p.m. Join the Bookies to discuss "The Destiny of the Republic," by Candace Millard. Visitors welcome. Open membership.
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.
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FROM THE EDITOR: The Mini Blog
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Happy Thursday!
Scam Alert: We received an email this week from a resident who attended last week's Saturday night "Makin' Music" concert in Kirkwood Park. She wrote to ask if there was a cost to attend these concerts because someone had stopped her as she entered the sidewalk leading to the Lions' Amphitheatre and asked her for $5. If you attend these concerts, please know there is no cost to attend. We don't know if this was an ongoing scam, or a spur-of-the-minute attempt by a young man to make some money, but park rangers will be on the lookout for anyone soliciting money at the concert on August 24. St. Louis Wind Symphony performs on the 24th, and that will wrap up the series for this season. Autumn is almost here!
Speaking of which, our family is already planning our Labor Day get-together. This year, it's going to be a BIG BARBECUE BLOW-OUT on the Sunday of the holiday weekend, and I am charged with bringing a salad (I'm thinking Greek!) and a dessert (oh, so many delicious options from which to choose). Then on the holiday, I plan to visit the pool one last time (barring bad weather). How about you? The holiday weekend is just a little over a week away. Summer is almost over??!! I know, right? Maybe it was the lack of horrible heat that makes it hard to believe we will soon be carving pumpkins, but there it is. The Greentree Festival starts three weeks from tomorrow, and Halloween is only six and a half weeks after that.
Be sure to check out the schedule (above) for the last weeks of Pool Season, and if you have some poochies who like to swim, don't miss the Dog Pool Parties the week after the pool closes to humans for the season.
That's all for now. Have a great weekend, and see you next Thursday!
Beth von Behren
Happenings Editor
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City of Kirkwood
139 S. Kirkwood Road
Kirkwood, MO 63122
314-822-5894
www.kirkwoodmo.org
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