Drivers leaving from downtown St. Louis, heading west on I-64, should be aware that all westbound lanes will be closed between Forest Park Avenue and Kingshighway from 9:00 p.m. Friday until 9:00 a.m. Saturday. Crews will close all lanes of the westbound interstate, as well as the ramps from Grand and Market to westbound I-64. Crews will be setting girders over the westbound interstate at the Tower Grove and Boyle bridges. To detour around the closure, drivers should use the Forest Park Avenue exit (exit 38A) and follow Forest Park Avenue to Kingshighway. After turning left onto Kingshighway, drivers can follow Kingshighway back to the interstate. 

EARTH DAY FESTIVITIES / ELECTRONICS RECYCLING 

• Electronics Recycling Drive:  Saturday, April 19, 9:00 a.m. to Noon. Hosted by Kirkwood Sanitation, at the Public Works Building, 345 S. Fillmore Avenue. For a list of accepted materials, please visit www.RNAWorldwide.com. Televisions: The first one dropped off, per car, is free. After that, there will be a $15 charge per set. All other electronics will be accepted at no cost.   
• Kirkwood Living Green Earth Day at the Market:  April 19, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at Kirkwood Farmers' Market. This year's celebration includes Edgar Denison Day.  Look for the Easter Bunny.  Live music at Station Plaza (11am to 2pm). 
• Kirkwood Garden Club at Earth Day:  Saturday, April 19, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Farmers' Market Greenway.

FRIENDS' BOOK FAIR OPENS APRIL 23 

The Friends of the Kirkwood Public Library will once again hold its annual Book Fair to benefit the library. This year, the sale will be held at 12309 Old Big Bend Boulevard, just east of the I-270 and Big Bend intersection (in the old McDonnell's Market building). The sale will offer fiction and nonfiction books at bargain prices in a wide variety of categories. Cash or checks will be accepted, but no credit or debit card.

Dates and hours:

~ Sunday, April 27, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Bag of Books Sale: As in the past, on Sunday, all the books you can fit into a bag (which will be provided) may be purchased for $5. Special thanks to A-Mrazek Moving Systems, for providing storage and transportation services, and to Art McDonnell, for providing the space for this sale.

~ Saturday, April 19:  The Edgar Denison Spring Wildflower Walk will be held at Emmenegger Nature Park, 11991 Stoneywood Drive, in Kirkwood, Missouri, on Saturday, April 19, starting at 1:30 p.m.  Please meet at the trailhead kiosk by the creek.  This walk will be led by George Yatskievych, Ph.D., Missouri Botanical Gardens' Native Plants Botanist and Curator of Steyermark's Flora of Missouri.  Participants will enjoy walking the wildflower paths beloved by Edgar Denison with a renowned botanist who hiked the same trails with Edgar himself.

~ Saturday, May 10:  Exploring the River's Edge, led by John Christensen, Webster Groves Nature Study Society, will also be held at Emmenegger Nature Park, on Saturday, May 10, from 10:00 a.m. until noon.   Come explore the hiking path next to the Meramec River in Emmenegger.  Learn how the plants have adapted to live along the river corridor and in the flood plain.  Wear hiking shoes and weather-appropriate gear, and bring a camera and notebook, if desired.   Meet at the trailhead kiosk by the creek.

ALL WALKS will be held rain or shine. These programs are free and open to all ages.

St. Louis HELP accepts:

• 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
• And more:  BUT PLEASE, no oxygen or medications

Clean the attic, garage, or basement, and make a tax-deductible donation of your medical equipment at one of the designated Walgreen's drop-off locations on May 3, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Walgreens' Locations:

• 8571 Watson Road, corner of Elm, in Webster, 962-5545
• 9801 Manchester, corner of Kortwright, in Rock Hill, 963-3256 
• 13992 Manchester Road, corner of Weidman, in Manchester, 636-227-9228
• 1 Grasso Plaza (Gravois at S. Rock Hill) in Affton, 631-8800
• 3920 Hampton Avenue, corner of Chippewa, in South City, 351-2100
• 1001 Bowles Avenue, corner of 141, in Fenton, 636-343-0754 

Pre-emergent is intended to stop the germination of seeds.  It is not selective.  This means it will prohibit grass seed and flower and veggie seeds as well as weed seeds from germinating.  Pre-emergent does not impact existing grass, flowers, shrubs, or veggies.  It will have no effect on plants/weeds that grow from something other that seed.  Caution should be used when putting the product down around self seeding plants like cone flowers, daisies, columbine, etc.  A friend wiped out her wildflower garden when using a pre-emergent to stop weeds.

Hollies, azaleas, boxwoods, and other broadleaf evergreens were severely impacted by this winter's wind chills that created a lot of winter burn.  Avoid pruning or plant removal until mid June.  Hopefully there will be new growth and the plants will survive.  Keep them watered, and use a low dose of fertilizer specifically designed for acid-loving plants.

P.S. Look for the Kirkwood Garden Club booth at the Earth Day festivities on April 19th, in the Farmer's Market Greenway.

APRIL HAPPENINGS AT OAK BEND LIBRARY  

For Kids and Families: 

~ Thursday, April 24, 10:00 a.m. Tech Talks @ OB: Windows 8.  Join library staff in the computer lab as we discuss new and interesting topics in computers and technology. This month we take a look at the Windows 8 operating system. Adults. Registration required.