Kirkwood Weekly Happenings
City of Kirkwood
September 26, 2013
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| Greetings! |
PHOTO OF THE WEEK: Boy Scout Garrett Das (middle) helps his mother Jean (right) and Kirkwood Police Officer Jim Cox (left) unload backpacks he collected for Project Backpack. Project Backpack distributes new backpacks and baby totes to children who are the innocent bystanders in domestic violence situations, often at the scene or after they have been taken into Division of Family Services' custody. Garrett is a junior at Kirkwood High School and a member of Boy Scout Troop 981. He collected the backpacks for his Eagle Scout project in what became a long process of donations, sorting, and distribution. He solicited donations of cash, to purchase the backpacks, and products to put inside the packs from his church, his orthodontist, friends, and local businesses. Garrett then sorted everything and purchased what was still needed with the cash donation, shopping around for good sales. According to Project Backpack St. Louis, their backpacks are generally valued at from $50 to $75 each and everything in the packs is new.
Garrett and his team put together packs valued at more than $70. His "Backpack Brigade" of volunteer scouts, family, and friends packed 8 diaper bags (2 girl/2boy for 12-18  months; 2 girl/2 boy for 18-24 month) and 24 backpacks (3 girl/3boy for: 3-4, 5-8, 9-11, and teens) with items that included a tooth brush, tooth paste, shampoo/conditioner, comb, brush, washcloth, soap, lotion, hand sanitizer, night shirt, school shirt, 2 pairs of socks, 2 pairs of underwear, a stuffed animal, notebook paper, pencils, pens, ruler, highlighter, calculator, an age appropriate book, markers, and other supplies. Kirkwood's Police Department will use the backpacks for domestic violence situations or any other situation in which a backpack for a child may be very helpful. (The photo above shows Garrett at home with the donated supplies.) |
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FALL NATURE WALKS AND TALKS
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EXPLORING FALL WILDFLOWERS AND TREES:
Join a past president of the Missouri Native Plant Society and author of
Steyermark's Flora of Missouri for an exhilarating and educational hike through Emmenegger Nature Park. Expect to see asters, goldenrods, sumacs, and the first glimpse of fall colors. You'll learn to identify Missouri native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers - and enjoy their beauty! Wear hiking shoes and weather-appropriate gear, and bring a camera and notebook, if desired. Held rain or shine. FREE and open to all. Meet at the trailhead kiosk by the creek. Saturday, September 28, 10am to Noon, Emmenegger Nature Park, 11991 Stoneywood Drive.
THE SCOURGE OF INVASIVE PLANTS:
Come learn from Pete Laufersweiler, Kirkwood Parks' Horticulturist, why invasive plants are so harmful to our environment. Methods to identify and control non-native invasive plant species will be given. Some discussion of appropriate replacements with Missouri native species will be given. FREE and open to all. Wednesday, October 2, 7:00-8:00 p.m., Kirkwood Community Center, 111 S. Geyer Road.
Sponsored by Kirkwood Parks & Recreation.
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KIRKWOOD-OAKLAND DAY OUT OCTOBER 5
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OPEN HOUSE AT THE KIRKWOOD POLICE STATION
Historically, the National Night Out has been hosted by police departments across the country on the first Tuesday in August. Several years ago, however, the Cities of Kirkwood and Oakland decided to move their "Night Out" event to October, when weather conditions are more suitable for an outdoor event. This year, it will be held at the Kirkwood Police Department, 131 W. Madison Avenue, during the day on Saturday, October 5, from Noon until 4:00 p.m.
Stop by for food, fun, and games. FREE food - hotdogs, hamburgers, chips, snow cones, beverages. We will offer free Child Photo ID cards to children with a parent or guardian present. Invited Guests Include:
- The Magic House
- Operation Lifesaver
- Powder Valley Nature Center
- St. Louis County Department of Health
- Target
- Tropical Moose
- Kirkwood Electric (Display)
- Kirkwood Fire Department (Display)
- Kirkwood Parks & Recreation
- Kirkwood Police Chaplains
- CERT: Citizen Emergency Response Team
- Safety Bounce House
The Police Department wants to encourage all residents who still want to schedule their own neighborhood block party to do so at any time during the year including on the Night Out /Day Out date. If you contact the Community Service Officer at 314-822-5868, arrangements can be made for both Police and Fire personnel to stop by for a visit. To set up a block party, use the form on the Website here, or call 822-5806.
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ART AT THE STATION
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MIXED MEDIA WORK OF MARY NASSER IN OCTOBER
The Kirkwood area Arts Council will feature the mixed media work of Mary Nasser in October. Please join us for her opening reception Thursday, October 3, 5:30 p.m., at the historic Kirkwood Train Station.
This month, KAAC will also hold a jury for artists interested in participating in "Art at the Station 2014" on Saturday, October 5, beginning at noon at the Train Station. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, please contact Linda Epp at 314-821-2250.
Art at the Station may be viewed when the Kirkwood Train Station, corner of Kirkwood Road and Argonne, is open for passengers. The exibits are FREE and open to the public. Donations are always welcome.
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HANDS ON KIRKWOOD OCTOBER 5
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HANDS ON KIRKWOOD: IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO VOLUNTEER
Hands on Kirkwood (HOK) is a one-day mission blitz of the Kirkwood community on Saturday, October 5. It's a special day when every member of the community is encouraged and empowered to go and to serve.
Want to volunteer? It's simple. Just sign up on their Website, at: www.handsonkirkwood.org, or call 314-965-2349. Want to donate? There are drop-off sites around the City for gently used winter clothing, including: Kirkwood Public Library, 140 E. Jefferson.
Know someone in need?
~ For home projects (yard work, small home repairs, simple household chores, etc.), call 314-965-2349.
~ FREE winter Clothing Store, 9:00 a.m. until Noon, at Kirkwood Baptist Church, 211 N. Woodlawn avenue. New and gently used clothing for men, women, and children in various sizes will be available.
~ Electronics Recycling and Paper Shredding: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., St. Louis Community College at Meramec, 11333 Big Bend. Limit of two boxes to shred and one "old style" TV per car, but other than that, if you can plug it in, they will take it! Thank you to Shred It and the Midwest Recycling Center.
~ Winterize Car Check: 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Kirkwood Baptist Church, 211 N. Woodlawn Avenue. FREE of charge, volunteers will inspect cars and provide visitors with items to follow up on with their local mechanic. In addition, windshield wiper fluid will be topped off and tires and batteries will be checked. For additional information, visit: handsonkirkwood.org, or call 314-965-2349.
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ELECTRONICS RECYCLING DRIVE OCTOBER 5
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NOTE: LOCATION INADVERTENTLY LEFT OUT OF TRASH TALK:
The City's Recycling Drive, on Saturday, October 5, will be held at the Public Works Building, 345 S. Fillmore (backs to the Scheidegger Recycling Depository), in the parking lot, from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon.
WHAT WILL BE ACCEPTED:
Commercial, Residential, Industrial: Computer, Network, Medical and Lab, Telecommunications, A/V Equipment, Electronic-Operated, Battery-Operated Items, Batteries.
Accessories: LCD Displays,CRT Monitors,LCD Display-laptops,CD, CDRW, and DVD Drives,Hard Drives,Disk Drives,Zip Drives,Scanners,Printers,Speakers,Battery back-ups, Laser Toner,Ink Cartridges,
Miscellaneous: Adding & Answer Machines,Phones (Cell, Cord/Cordless),Pagers, Pocket PCs, Cartridges, PC and Digital Cameras, Batteries,Power Cords, Cables and Wire, Appliances (Toaster Ovens, Washing Machines).
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MEDICAL EQUIPMENT RECYCLING DRIVE OCT 12
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EQUIPMENT DONATION DRIVE: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 9AM TO 2PM
Do you have medical equipment that is not being used? Do you NEED medical equipment? St. Louis HELP (Health Equipment Lending Program) is here to help! St Louis HELP Accepts Donations of:- Manual and power wheelchairs
- Electric hospital beds
- Shower chairs
- Canes, crutches, walkers
- Grab bars
- Elevated toilet seats
- Portable commodes
- Lift chairs
- Seating cushions
- Back supports
- Folding Ramps
PLEASE NO OXYGEN OR MEDICATIONS! St. Louis HELP loans the donated home medical items to anyone in need - AT NO COST OR FEE. So...clean the attic, garage, or basement out, and make a tax-deductible donation of your medical equipment at one of the following WALGREEN'S drop-off locations on October 12. For additional locations, visit their Website: www.stlhelp.org. - 8571 Watson Road (Watson at Elm, in Webster): 314-962-5545
- 13992 Manchester (at Weidman, in Manchester): 636-227-9228
- 1 Grasso Plaza (Gravois at S. Rock Hill in Affton): 313-631-8800
- 9801 Manchester (at Kortwright, in Rock Hill): 314-963-3256
- 1001 Bowles Avenue (at Hwy 141, in Fenton): 636-343-0754
- 3920 Hampton Avenue (at Chippewa, south City): 314-351-2100
St. Louis HELP provides $1,400,000 worth of home medical equipment to the uninsured, the elderly, the poor, and the disabled - for FREE. St. Louis HELP serves more than 3,500 program recipients and receives donations of 8,000 pieces of equipment each year. This has the added benefit of protecting the environment by diverting this usable equipment from area landfills. THANK YOU. |
MODEL TRAIN SHOW AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER OCT 12 / 13
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MISSISSIPPI VALLEY / GREATER ST LOUIS METRO AREA MODEL TRAIN SHOW
The 23rd annual Greater St. Louis Metro ARea Model Train Show will be held at the Kirkwood Community Center on Saturday/Sunday, October 12 and 13. St. Louis' best "home grown" model train show, organized by one of the area's oldest model train clubs, is a family event, and all children attend FREE. The show features an entire gymnasium full of operating model train layouts and a second gymnasium with model trains for sale. Attendees might catch a glimpse of a hundred-car coal model train, a half-inch high passenger train with working horns and lights, and model steam locomotives with whistles and real steam. Kids will have the chance to get up close and personal with a large "Garden Railroad" featuring multiple trains running on the gymnasium floor.
OPERATING MODEL TRAIN LAYOUTS INCLUDE:
~ Large operating layout made entirely of LEGOs
~ Five-time First Place Award-Winning Layout
~ Thomas the Tank Engine model train
~ Dozens of meticulously detailed scenes, including a lock and dam and automobile plant
~ The latest in digital remote model train control and authentic train sounds.
WHEN: October 12 - 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. October 13: 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: Kirkwood Community Center, 111 S. Geyer Road
COST: $7 for adults - KIDS GET IN FREE! (Includes students with ID)
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GARDENER'S CORNER
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GARDENING TIP OF THE WEEK, FROM THE KIRKWOOD GARDEN CLUB
Perennial flowers and plants, such as hosta, along with ornamental grasses, like sea oats and maiden grass, can be divided now through October. To do so, water well the day before. You can dig the entire clump of plant material, divide, and replant as you choose. Another option is to cut a section from the main plant and move to the desired location. After replanting/moving water well.
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. |
BENEFITS OF STREET TREES
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WE NEED YOUR TREE PLANTING IDEAS
Having trees on the street and in right-of-way areas is a great way to provide cooling shade for on-street parking, which reduces the heat island effect and auto emissions and can help with stormwater runoff. Click here to visit the Urban Forestry Commission page on the City's Website, and then scroll down and click on the "Benefits of Street Trees" document to learn more. Why is this important? On that same page, you can also click on the Street Tree Request Form to request that a tree be planted in the right-of-way (ROW) in front of your house. Kirkwood's City Council and Urban Forestry Commission are working together to purchase new street trees, but they want your ideas and feedback on where the trees should be planted. Follow the directions on the form. Thank you!
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KIRKWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY
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Adult Programs: ~ Saturday, September 28, 2pm. The Steamer Admiral and Strekfus Steamers. Join author Annie A. Blum as she tells about her 18 years working on the steamer Admiral and for the Strekfus family company. Books available for sale and signing. Children's Programs: ~ Saturday, September 28, 1:30-4:30 pm. Harry Potter Mania. Immerse yourself in the world of Harry Potter. Fish in Hogwarts Lake, decorate a broom craft, De-gnome the Garden, Harry Potter Wii games, Horcrux Hunt and more. Drop in anytime to join the fun. For kids and teens. Story Times:
~ Tuesdays, 10 am, September 10 - December 10, 2013. All ages. ~ Wednesdays, 10 am, September 11-December 11, 2013, all ages. ~ Thursdays, 9:30 am, September 12-December 12, 2013. Books For Babies for babies 6-24 months and their caregivers. ~ Thursdays, 10:30 am. September 12-December 12, 2013. First Steps Storytime for young 2s. The Kirkwood Public Library is located at 140 E. Jefferson in Downtown Kirkwood. For additional information, please call 821-5770.
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MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC...
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TONIGHT IN STATION PLAZA: LAST CONCERT OF THE SUMMERKirkwood Stock plays tonight, starting at 6:30 p.m., sponsored by Kirkwood United Methodist Church.
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FROM THE EDITOR: The Mini Blog
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After my mother died in 2002, I had to figure out what to do with all of her possessions, as so many of us do when we lose a parent. At the time, she had two pieces of medical equipment that were in good working order - a three-legged cane and a walker - but I couldn't find any organization that would take them, not even Goodwill. So I literally left them sitting in the parking lot of her retirement community with a sign saying "Free to a good home." I was very much afraid they would end up in the dumpster and to this day I'm not sure they didn't. Here's the good news: St. Louis HELP (Health Equipment Lending Program) now takes this kind of equipment, as well as other items, off your hands. They refurbish as needed and loan them out, at no cost or fee, to anyone in need. Do you have a piece of equipment - walker, wheelchair, ready-lift chair - that an elderly or disabled person could use? See the article above about how to donate your items on October 12. And thank you. (They are not taking oxygen or medicine. Medications, however, can be taken 24/7 to the Kirkwood Police Department, 131 W. Madison: There is a deposit box in the lobby.) Did you see that Keysor Elementary School in Kirkwood has been named a "Blue Ribbon" school? That's actually kind of a big deal, and we warmly send a shout-out to the teachers, staff, parents, and KIDDOS at Keysor for all the hard work they put into achieving this recognition. Here's an article on Patch about that.There is just a TON of stuff going on in Kirkwood this week and in the coming few weeks.  For the second year in a row, for example, the Mississippi Valley / Greater St. Louis Model Train Show is coming to the Kirkwood Community Center - on October 12 (see story above). Last year I stopped by for a few minutes while they were setting up to take some photos (right). If you like model trains, this show should be a lot of fun. Coming up in a week or so is FIRE PREVENTION WEEK, which is a national observation that reminds us all how important kitchen safety is in preventing home fires. If you would like to read about my own fire-safety story (you know it's a good one!), read it here on the City's Blog: All Aboard.
That's all for me. I'll be busy this weekend at my 30th college reunion over at Webster University. I'm really looking forward to seeing some old friends and enjoying yet another weekend of beautiful weather. I hope you have great weekend plans as well.. 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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