Kirkwood Weekly Happenings
City of Kirkwood
October 17, 2013
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| Greetings! |
PHOTO OF THE WEEK: Kirkwood's Fire Department demonstrated cycling safety at the Kirkwood Day Out / Open House at the Police Department on October 5.
From left to right: Firefighter/Paramedic Jeremy Palmer, Captain Charlie Dahm, Engineer Johnnie Bay, and Firefighter/Paramedics Jeff Lofquist and Ryan Light.
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COMING UP THIS WEEKEND
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 KIRKWOOD HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION CONFERENCE ON DIVERSITY
The Kirkwood Human Rights Commission will hold its third-annual Conference this weekend. The topic is "The Fabric of Diversity," and the keynote speaker is Rev. Starsky Wilson (left).
Details:
~ Date/Time: Saturday, October 19, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
~ Location: Kirkwood High School, 801 W. Essex Avenue
~ Break-Out Sessions: Anti-Defamation League, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Paraquad, PROMO
~ Service Appreciation Awards: Rev. David Bennett, Tom Gaither-Ganim, Carol Gilster, Andrew Shaughnessy
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CITIZEN OPINIONS SOUGHT
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CITY COUNCIL WANTS CITIZEN INPUT ON CAO SELECTION
The Citizens of Kirkwood are invited to provide their opinions on the selection of the new  Chief Administrative Officer for the City. Mike Brown (right), the City's first and, to-date only, Chief Administrative Officer, has announced his retirement after more than 30 years at the helm. Finding the right person to take the job is very important to the Kirkwood City Council and to the community. The Council is seeking the help of professionals who regularly recruit for such positions but would also like to solicit input from the public on the type of person you think would be best suited for the City's top spot. This online survey will run on the City's Website for several weeks, as well as in our publications. The results will be tabulated and shared with the Council and the recruitment professionals assisting them. Thank you for taking the time to share your opinions.
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COMING UP IN OCTOBER
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FALL NATURE WALKS, SPONSORED BY KIRKWOOD PARKS & RECREATION
~ Saturday, October 26: The Colors of Fall, 10am to Noon, Emmenegger Nature Park, 11991 Stoneywood Drive: Join the president of the Webster Groves Nature Study Society and Kirkwood resident Rich Thoma for a walk through Emmenegger Nature Park to enjoy the brisk fall air and learn about why trees change colors. Expect to see oaks, maples, hickories, and a variety of other plants displaying their fall colors for all to enjoy. You'll learn why plants change color in the fall and about the chemical reactions involved to create those colors. Wear hiking shoes and weather-appropriate gear. Bring a camera and notepad if desired. Held rain or shine. FREE and open to all. Meet at the trailhead kiosk by the creek.
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SIGN UP FOR SKATING NOW!
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FIRST FALL ICE SKATING SESSIONS BEGIN NOVEMBER 4
It may feel warm outside still, but Skating Season is almost upon us. Kirkwood's Skate  School is directed by USFSA Gold Medalist Susie Smith, and online registration for classes is open now. Fall classes start November 4, and there are six or seven sessions available on every day of the week except Sunday, November 4 through December 21 (with winter sessions beginning in January). We offer Figure Skating, Power Hockey, Adult classes, and classes for ages 4 and up (Snowplow Sam for ages 4 to 6 and Basic classes for kindergarten and up). For more information, visit the City Website at kirkwoodmo.org/City Departments/Parks & Recreation/Facilities/Ice Rink. To register, call 822-5855, or register online here.
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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, at the historic Kirkwood Train Station. Mary's work (photo, right) is map-based in content and theme and right at home in a 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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GARDENER'S CORNER
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GARDENING TIP OF THE WEEK, FROM THE KIRKWOOD GARDEN CLUB
As our gardens wind down for the season, remove any diseased or insect-infested plant material from your garden. It may harbor over-wintering stages of disease or insect pests. If you leave this plant material in your garden, you are leaving diseases and insects that will begin to reproduce again next spring and add to next years' problems. Avoid putting diseased or pest-infested material in your compost pile as this could lead to a nightmare next spring.
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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SAVE THE DATE: NOVEMBER 8
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS BOUTIQUE 2013!
The third annual Happy Holidays Boutique, sponsored by the Kirkwood Des Peres Chamber of Commerce will be held on Friday, November 8, from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.  at the Holiday Inn SW-Route 66, 10709 Watson Road, corner of Lindbergh. FREE and open to the public.
ONE-STOP HOLIDAY SHOPPING: More than 100 vendors will be on hand, offering jewelry, books, spa and skincare items, handmade items, kitchenware, purses, embroidery, bakery items, women's clothing and accessories, linens, candles, gourmet food items, home decor, and more! A special gift for the first 200 attendees after the doors open at 10:00 a.m.
BONUS: Special MEN'S HOUR from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with personal shoppers to help men shop for gifts.
LADIES HAPPY HOUR: from 4:00-7:00 p.m., with free drinks and a gift for the first 100 attendees after 4:00 p.m.
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KIRKWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY
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Adult Programs: ~ Thursday, October 17, 7pm. Understanding the Affordable Care Act. Presented by the Missouri Foundation for Health. ~ Thursday, October 17, 7 pm. Classics Revisited. F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. Join staff member Katie Collins as she leads a discussion on a book you always meant to read. ~ Saturday, October 19, 2pm. Maintaining Your Home Series: Maintaing the Exterior of Your Home. Join Billl Riggs of Riggs Construction as he talks about ways to keep the exterior of your home in good repair with an up-to-date appearance. ~ Sunday, October 20, 2pm. Music in the Library. Cellist Garry Lee. ~ Saturday, October 26, 10 am. Saturday Morning Perks Book Club. We are discussing The Story of Beautiful Girl by Rachel Simon. ~ Thursday, October 31, 7pm. St. Louis Mystery - Hoax or Literary Phenomena? Join Bev Schuetz tells the story of Pearl Curran who wrote literature through the spirit of Patience Worth in early 20th century St. Louis. Youth Programs: ~ Wednesday, October 23, 4pm. After School Special: Make & Take Craft. ~ Friday, October 25, 6:30 pm. Stuffed Animal Sleepover. Join us for a bedtime story hour . Your special stuffed friend is invited to spend the night in the library. Pick up your stuffed animal and watch a short show of the night's activities on Saturday, October 26, 9am - Noon. ~ Saturday, October 26, 1:30 am. Halloween Craft. Make a spooky wreath. 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 THE EDITOR: The Mini Blog
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NATIONAL TEEN DRIVER SAFETY WEEK: My 25-year-old daughter is a very good driver today, if a bit over-cautious, but that's just her nature. There was a time, however, when I was extremely frustrated with her. I enjoy telling this story, but I have learned not to tell it around her: She drove on a learner's permit for five years. Yes, you read that right. She passed the written test with flying colors at the age of 15, and did not pass her driving test until she was 20. She had an extreme fear of failure, so she just kept renewing her permit. Then during her sophomore year of college, she mentioned to me that she had driven a friend's car to pick something up for a film project - by herself. I try not to yell at my children, but I'm not sure I succeeded that time. In any case, when she came home for winter break, I told her she was grounded for a year if she didn't go get her real license so I could provide her with real insurance, rather than learner's insurance (I'm still not sure if she would have been covered in the friend's car...I don't like to think about it). She passed her test easily (which you would expect after five years). If you have children of a certain age, you have no doubt been through the trials and tribulations of teaching them to drive and you may have similar horror stories. (If you have younger children, you have so much fun to look forward to.) This coming week is National Teen Driver Safety Week, and here is what MoDOT has to say about it.
From MoDOT: Missouri teens are settling into the fall routine of school and enjoying good times with friends. Trips to ball games or weekend fun is on their to-do list and they're on the road in record numbers. Unfortunately, too many teens still aren't following basic driver safety. The Graduated Driver License Law requirement of wearing a seat belt when they get behind the wheel or ride with others in motor vehicles is one that many teens violate.
Teen Driver Safety Week provides a unique opportunity to focus attention on this national problem. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of fatalities among teenagers in the United States. In 2012 there were 64 teen (ages 15-19) vehicle occupants killed in Missouri traffic crashes, with 81 percent being unbelted. Eleven percent of the unbelted teens who were killed were also impaired drivers. Only 66 percent of Missouri teens wear their seat belts, and teen drivers are more likely to drive distracted. In Missouri, drivers age 21 and under are banned from texting while driving and can be fined up to $200 for this offense.
So if you have a teen driver or a young-adult driver in your household, it may be a good time to recite these statistics to them and remind them to buckle up and leave the phone alone when they're behind the wheel. 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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