Kirkwood Weekly HappeningsCity Logo B-W
City of Kirkwood
February 6, 2014
In This Issue
At the Community Center
City offices closed
A Salute to Mike Brown
Lifeguards Wanted
Thank You
Art at the Station
Gardening Tips
News from MODOT
Pancake Supper
Kirkwood Public Library
Oak Bend Library
Last Thoughts
Join Our Mailing List!
Quick Links
  


 
TRACKS IN THE SNOW:  Looking down from the Clay Avenue overpass at the pavilion in McEntee Memorial Park, next to City Hall.  Warmer weather this weekend may finally mark the end of snow on the ground in Kirkwood (for a while, at least). 
COMING UP AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER

THIS WEEKEND:

~ Cabin Fever Productions:  Gem and Mineral Show. February 14, 15 & 16:  Friday:  4:00 to 9:00 p.m.  Saturday:  10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Sunday:  10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. . Cost: $3/adults; $2/seniors and ages 12 to 18; free for under 12.

~ International Brotherhood of Magicians presents: World's Greatest Illusionists - Parade of Magic.  February 15,  2:00 & 7:30 p.m. Cost:  $10/adults, $5/children.

IN MARCH: 

~ Artists Boutique:  Fine Arts and Craft Show.  March 1 & 2 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

~ Kirkwood Theatre Guild presents:  Musical Comedy Murders of 1940.  March 7,8,9 & 13,14,15, & 16, 2014.  For ticket info: 314-821-9956.

WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY CLOSURE
CITY OFFICES CLOSED ON FEBRUARY 17 George
City Hall and most City offices will be closed in observance of Washington's Birthday on  Monday, February 17. Please Note:  THIS IS NOT A SANITATION HOLIDAY.  Sanitation will be collected normally.
A SALUTE TO MIKE BROWN:  YOU'RE INVITED!
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER MIKE BROWN WILL RETIRE MARCH 31
"A Salute to Mike Brown," marking the retirement and celebrating the career of long-time Kirkwood Chief Administrative Officer Mike Brown, will be held Friday, March 7, 2014, at Greenbriar Hills Country Club, from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m.  You're Invited!

6:30 pm: Reception and Cash Bar
7:30 pm: Dinner
Program following dinner

Seating is limited and will be available on a first-come/first-served basis. Dress is dressy casual, but Greenbriar does have a no-denim policy.  Dinner is a dual entree of Chicken Modiga & Grilled Grouper.


Tickets are $45 per person. For more information, please call 314-822-5801. To RSVP, visit the City Website here to download an invitation, and then either mail it with your check or bring it to City Hall, 139 S. Kirkwood Road. 

SUMMER LIFEGUARDS WANTED
NEW AQUATICS MANAGEMENT COMPANY ANNOUNCED
The Kirkwood Aquatic Center has a new management company - Lifeguards Unlimited.  If you, or one of your children, or someone else you know is interested in working as a lifeguard at the Kirkwood Pool, please call 314-423-9899 or visit them online at:  lifeguardsunlimited.com to apply today.
 
THANK YOU!
FROM THE KIRKWOOD STREET DIRECTOR
Kirkwood's Street Director Tony Bonastia wants residents to know that it's not just the street department out there clearing the snow off your streets.  Over the past month or so, several other Kirkwood departments have helped out with plowing, including Glenn Voertman (engineering technician) and Chris Pflasterer (assistant public works director) from the Public Works/Engineering department and Dan Lindquist and Grayer Mallory (maintenance workers) from the Parks Department. 
ART AT THE STATION

THE WORK OF ArtFIBER SAINT LOUIS IN FEBRUARY:

The work of ArtFiber Saint Louis will be on display February 4 thru March 3. Please join us for their opening reception on Thursday,  February 6, 5:30 to 7:00pm at the Kirkwood Train Station. All exhibits are free and open to the public.  Art may be viewed when the Station is open for passengers. 

 

We will be jurying artists who would like to exhibit in the latter part of 2014 on Saturday, February 1, beginning at 11:00 a.m. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact Linda Epp 314-821-2250.
GARDENING TIP OF THE WEEK!

BRING SPRING INDOORS!   

Create some spring indoors by cutting a few forsythia or pussy willow branches.  Make the cut at a 45 degree angle and submerge the cut end in cool water.  Place the branches in a cool, dimly lit area until the buds begin showing on the branch.  Generally this will happen in two to three weeks.  Then move to a sunny location and the flowers will bloom.

TIPS AND NEWS FROM MODOT
HIGH WINDS MAKE GOING TOUGH FOR MOTORISTS IN MUCH OF MISSOURI
The Missouri Department of Transportation advises motorists - especially those driving high-profile vehicles and commercial trucks - that wind gusts in excess of 30 mph are forecast in the state.  Sustained winds of 15 to 25 mph are expected this week.  Winds at this speed can make driving high profile vehicles such as minivans, panel trucks and tractor trailers more difficult in ideal road conditions. Winds paired with covered or partially covered roads have the potential to cause these vehicles to slide off driving lanes.

In addition to these hazards, winds are expected to blow fallen snow onto highway lanes, making it difficult for snowplow operators to gain the upper hand. Expect to see plows in operation well after snowfall ends and give them plenty of room to work.

WESTBOUND I-70 CLOSURE DOWNTOWN THIS WEEKEND:

MoDOT has scheduled a weekend closure of all lanes of westbound I-70.  Current plans call for crews to close all lanes of westbound I-70 downtown between the Poplar Street Bridge and Pine Street starting at 8 p.m. Saturday, February 8, weather permitting. The department will also close a lane on eastbound I-70 at that time, with full closures of eastbound I-70 for up to 15 minutes. Crews will be installing girders over the interstate for the new Walnut Street bridge. All interstate lanes are projected to reopen by noon Sunday, February 9.

NEXT THURSDAY:  ANNUAL PANCAKE SUPPER
KIRKWOOD POLICE PANCAKE SUPPER:  FEBRUARY 13
The annual Kirkwood Police Department's Pancake Supper will be held Thursday, Febuary Pancakes 2013 13, from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m., at Kirkwood High School, 801 W. Essex Avenue.  It's $4 for all  the pancakes you can eat (no carry-outs) plus sausage, eggs, coffee, milk, and applesauce.  Purchase your tickets from any Police Department employee (at the PD, 131 W. Madison, or at City Hall, 139 S. Kirkwood Road), OR at the door.  Questions:  822-5868.
FROM KIRKWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY

ADULT EVENTS:

~ Saturday, February 15, 2pm.  Author visit:  Maria Holmes.  Ms. Holmes will be at the library to talk about her book Connections: Making the Most of the Moment.  The book is available in both Spanish and English.  Books will be available for sale and signing. 

~ Tuesday, February 18, 2pm.  Bingo for Books.  Join other adults for a fun hour of bingo and win books.

~ Tuesday, February 18, 7pm.  Healthy Sleep Habits For Children.  Sleep Consultant Erin

Your Kirkwood Public Library Staff
Meckfessel talks about encouraging healthy sleep habits for young children, birth to preschool.

 

~ Wednesday, February 19, 2pm.  Mystery Readers  Book Club.  We are discussing Death of an Artist by Kate Wilhelm.

~ Tuesday, February 25, 1:30 pm.  Cinema KPL.  We are showing Now, Voyager.

 

EVENTS FOR CHILDREN:

~ Saturday, February 22, 10am-2pm.  Pete the Cat Day.  Drop in for games & crafts featuring your favorite cool cat.  

~ Wednesday, February 26, 4pm.  After School Special:  Make & Take Craft.  

 

STORY TIMES: 

~ Weekly Storytimes: Tuesdays, 10am: Feb. 11-March 25th, Wednesdays, 10am:  Feb. 12-March 26. All ages.

~ Books for Babies:  Thursdays, 9:30am: Feb. 13- March 27.  6-24 months and caregivers.

First Steps Storytime:  Thursdays, 10:30am.  Feb. 13-March 27.  Young 2s.

 

TEEN EVENTS:   

~ Friday, February 14, 5:30-7:30pm.  Anti-Valentine's Day Party.  No Valentine? Does the sight of a candy heart make you ill?  Join KPL in taking the love out of Valentine's Day.

~ Tuesday, February 25, 7:15-8:15pm.  SAT/ACT Prep.  Learn how the library can prepare you for national standardized tests.

 ~ Friday, February 28, 5:30-7:30pm.  Minecraft Night.  Play Minecraft after hours at the library.  Sign up required.

 

HOLIDAY CLOSING:  Kirkwood Public Library will be closed on February 17 in observance of Washington's Birthday.
 
Your Kirkwood Public Library is located at 140 E. Jefferson Avenue.  For additional information or to register for programs, call 821-5770.
FROM OAK BEND LIBRARY
COMING UP IN FEBRUARY Oak Bend Library

FOR TEENS:
~ Minecraft and a Movie.  Friday, Feb. 21, 6:00 p.m. Bring your friends to play Minecraft on the library's server, and watch a movie. Grades 6-12. Registration required.
~ Teen Book Club: Fantasy Favorites.  Wednesday, Feb. 26, 7:00 p.m.  Do you like to read, eat snacks, and talk to people. Bring your favorite fantasy picks to teen book club, and find out about new titles you may enjoy. Come just for the book talk, or stay for Teen Advisory Group (TAG) at 7:30 p.m.. Grades 6-12.

FOR KIDS:
~ Party in Your PJs. Feb. 19, 6:00 p.m.  Wear your pajamas and join us for a party with monster dominoes, a zip line zoo, and more fun bedtime math activities. Ages 3 and up. Registration required.
~ Tweensday:  DIY Gripper Socks. Wednesday, Feb. 26, 4:30 p.m.  Keep your feet toasty warm on cold winter days with a personalized pair of gripper socks. Socks will be provided, but feel free to bring your own for a perfect fit. Grades 3-6. Registration requested.
~ Br. John's African Folktales. Thursday, Feb. 27, 4:30 p.m.  Join acclaimed, motivational storyteller Br. John as we explore the languages and cultures of Africa through fun activities and interactive folktales. The program finishes with an energetic "Harambe" call session. Ages 3 and up.

HOLIDAY CLOSING: All St.Louis County Libraries will be closed on Monday, February 17, in observance of Washington's Birthday.

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
February is American Heart Month:  Every year, about 715,000 Americans have a heart attack, and about 600,000 people die from heart disease.  That's 1 out of every 4 deaths.
Happy Valentine's Day
from Kirkwood City
Council and Staff! 
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in this country.  There are lots of ways to improve your heart health:  Eat healthy, get exercise, reduce your stress, know your numbers (blood pressure, cholesterol, etc.). Read more about all of this from the CDC on their Website here.

My T.I.L.T. (Things I Love on Thursday) for today:  A four-day weekend (I love my job, but I am very much looking forward to some down-time); the new Kirkwood Arts & Culture Commission, which met for the first time last night (more details to come in the months ahead, but it was a great first meeting); WARM WEATHER on the horizon for this weekend; Kirkwood Public Library bloggers rockin' it on the City Blog (read this week's post here); Council Member Nancy Luetzow being selected for the Affton High School Hall of Fame (read about that here); the box of Valentine's candy my colleague Priscilla Utley left on my desk this morning; a movie and lunch tomorrow with my son and then a nice romantic dinner tomorrow night at one of my favorite restaurants.  I will be missing my Seattle daughter, but we will round out the weekend with a family game night and some birthday cake for my great nephew on Saturday. How do you spend this Hallmark holiday with your loved ones? 

Have a great weekend. Stay warm, and see you next Thursday!

Beth von Behren, Happenings Editor 
City of Kirkwood
139 S. Kirkwood Road
Kirkwood, MO  63122
314-822-5894
www.kirkwoodmo.org