SAFETY TIPS:  DRIVING IN HEAVY FOG 

Have you noticed all the foggy days we've had lately?  With spring almost here, there will probably be more.  Driving in heavy fog is like driving with a blindfold on and it is statistically the most dangerous driving hazard in existence. Here are some tips to help you stay safe should you find yourself in fog conditions:  

• Turn on your headlights. Because many cars today have headlamps programmed to automatically turn on at night, some drivers have come to assume their lights are on whenever needed. It's a wrong assumption because these lights don't turn on automatically in foggy conditions during daylight hours.
• Use low beams and fog lights, if equipped. Low beams direct light down onto the road and help other drivers to see you. 
• Reduce your speed and keep an eye on your speedometer. Studies show that some drivers acclimate themselves to foggy conditions and unconsciously increase their speed over time. Most fog-related traffic fatalities occur because someone was driving too fast and couldn't stop in time to avoid a collision.
• Don't use your emergency flasher. Studies have shown that drivers are attracted to flashing lights and tend to drive into them inadvertently. 
• Keep your minimum safety gap to three seconds in ideal conditions; with the decreased visibility fog causes, this interval should be increased substantially. 
• Signal early and apply your brakes slowly smoothly.
• Always use your defroster and windscreen wipers in foggy conditions to keep the windows clear. 
• Use the right edge of the road (aka fog line) as a guide rather than the center line, to avoid running into oncoming traffic or becoming distracted by their headlights.

Source: Fleet Safety News (automotive-fleet.com)

The Missouri Department of Transportation and its contractor, KCI, will begin a major shift in traffic around downtown St. Louis this Friday, March 14.  The shifts will end with the reopening of the new, wider Walnut Street bridge over I-44 on Friday afternoon.

Between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., on Friday, crews will be installing signs and preparing for the traffic shift. Cews will close northbound Memorial between Walnut and Pine Street and close southbound Memorial between Chestnut and Market Streets.  In addition, crews will reverse traffic on Memorial between Walnut and Market as well as between Chestnut and Pine. This will allow traffic to come across Walnut and loop around Luther Ely Smith Park.

After the traffic switch, drivers heading into downtown can use the Congressman William "Bill" Clay Sr. Bridge (the PSB) or eastbound I-44. From the Clay Sr. Bridge, drivers will be able to take the ramp to eastbound I-44 or exit to Walnut. From Walnut, they can head west to 4th Street or north to Market. From Market, they can loop around Luther Ely Smith Park to Chestnut.  From eastbound I-44, motorists will be able to take the new exit ramp at Washington Avenue, take the U-turn ramp before Washington and get onto Pine Street to head into downtown.

Heading out of downtown, drivers can use Walnut to access westbound I-44, southbound I-55 or eastbound I-64.  Drivers can also take Broadway to Gratiot, turn left and take the 6th Street ramp to eastbound I-64.

This work is part of preparations for the CityArchRiver Park Over the Highway project. Crews have completed some substructure work for the Park Over the Highway, and will soon start to build the bridge over I-44.  Work around Memorial Drive and the interstate ramps near Pine continues. The CityArchRiver Park Over the Highway project will create a seamless park experience from the city to the Mississippi River, providing visitors with a more vibrant and safer place to visit, enjoy, and return. This work will not significantly impact access to the Gateway Arch, which remains open during construction.

MARCH HAPPENINGS:

• Art at the Station:
  The photography of Brian Nedwek and Fritz Schaeffer continues through March 31.  In April:  Kirkwood High School Advanced Placement (AP) Art Students' work will be on display. Please join us for their opening reception on Thursday, April 3, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m., at the Train Station, corner of Argonne and Kirkwood Road.  Art may be viewed when the Station is open for passengers. The exhibit and reception are free and open to the public. Donations are welcome.(Pictured: 2013 AP Student Andrea Keltz's art work.) 
• Kirkwood Theatre Guild presents Musical Comedy Murders of 1940. March 13, 14, 15, 16. Reim Theatre, Kirkwood Community Center. For times and ticket information, call 314-821-9956.
• Wizard of Oz Auction:  From the collection of Elaine Willingham, Saturday, March 29, Kirkwood Community Center, 111 S. Geyer Road.  Doors open at 11:00 a.m. For more information, visit EstateAuctionPros.com (314-952-7355) or RobertsvilleAuction.com (636-675-5566. 
• Due Date for Rainscape Rebates - Last Round:  Friday, March 21, 2014 (original due date was February 12. Project notifications will be distributed on April 18. For complete information, visit their Website at DeerCreekAlliance.org.    

APRIL HAPPENINGS:  SAVE THE DATE! 

• Chamber Grand Marketplace EXPO:  Tuesday, April 1, 4:00 to 7:30 p.m. Hosted by the Kirkwood Des Peres Area Chamber. The public is invited to shop and taste at the 26th Annual Grand Marketplace Expo, at the Holiday Inn SW Route 66, 10709 Watson Road, at Lindbergh in Sunset Hills. This festive free event features more than 80 exhibitors and several local restaurants that will be providing free tastes and sips of their delicious fare. The variety of exhibitors ranges from hair cuts to hospitals. In addition, attendees can take a chance on winning a $500 Walgreens gift card or dinner for six at Café Provencal. Also, the Premier Prize Wheel will be back with lots of great items.  
• Taste of Webster/Kirkwood:  Shepherd's Center of Webster/Kirkwood - Taste of Webster/Kirkwood, April 27, 5:30 to 8:00 p.m., at the Community Center. Call 314-395-0988 for information. 

TIME TO CUT THE GRASS(ES)!  

Now is a good time to cut back ornamental grasses and loriope (monkey grass) as well as mums and other flowers you may have left for the birds to enjoy during the winter.  Tall and bushy ornamental grasses are easiest to cut if they are wrapped in twine or bungee cords before cutting.  This makes it very easy to pick up the cut blades.  If the plant is very thick, a hedge trimmer or chain saw will make the job easier.  For loriope, a lawn mower or grass whip makes the job easier.

The Kirkwood Garden Club periodically shares a Gardening Tip of the Week with 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.  

~ Friday, March 14, 2:00 p.m. Spring Break Movie: Monsters University. Running time: 104 minutes. MPAA rating: G  

~ Wednesday, March 26, 4:30 p.m. Tweensday: 8-bit Art. From Mario to Minecraft, create your favorite videogame characters in the real world by melting fuse beads together to achieve that pixelated look. Supplies provided. Grades 3-6. 

~ Friday, March 21, 6:00 p.m. 8-bit Art.  From Mario to Minecraft, create your favorite videogame characters in the real world by melting fuse beads together to achieve that pixelated look. Supplies provided. Grades 6-12. Registration required.  

~ Wednesday, March 26, 7:00 p.m.  Teen Book Club: Mysteries and Mayhem.  Do you like to read, eat snacks, and talk to people? Bring your favorite mystery 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. Grades 6-12.  

~ Wednesday, March 26, 7:30 p.m.  TAG: Techno Creations. Create bracelets, key chains, sculptures and much more using discarded computer parts. Grades 6-12. Registration requested.  

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.