Kirkwood Weekly HappeningsCity Logo B-W
City of Kirkwood
June 19, 2014
In This Issue
MoDOT News
Food Drive
Summer Concert Series
Thursday Night Concerts
Hotdog Dayz
Greentree Bookfair
Arts Calendar
Gardening Tips
Kirkwood Public Library
Oak Bend Library
Last Thoughts
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PHOTO OF THE WEEK:  It's that time of year again!  It may be hot and humid right now, but we are already getting ready for the return of winter weather.  The Street Department received 2000 tons of salt in May and June. We are already at 90 percent capacity. We order it early because it is much cheaper at this time of year.
NEWS FROM MoDOT
MoDOT WILL CLOSE LANES ON NATURAL BRIDGE NEAR UMSL

The Missouri Department of Transportation will permanently reduce lanes on Route 115 (Natural Bridge) beginning the morning of Tuesday, June 24.  Crews will start construction on the Natural Bridge Great Streets Project by reducing lanes from five to three between Hanley Road and Florissant Road.  Motorists will have one through lane in each direction with a center turn lane. For more information on this project, click here.  
FOOD DRIVE TO HELP KIRKCARE
HELP OUR NEIGHBORS: PLEASE GIVE TO FOOD DRIVE AT POOL & ICE RINK
People go hungry year-round, but food pantries have a hard time filling their shelves during the summer months, when donations are typically much lower than during the holidays.  Kirkwood Parks & Recreation is partnering this summer with KirkCare to collect food for the KirkCare food pantry.  Please drop off food donations at the Kirkwood Pool or at the Ice Rink, from July 7 through 20.  Here is what they need:

~ Packaged, non-refrigerated items
~ Canned or packaged meat, stew, pasta, fruit, cereal, vegetables
~ NO refrigerated or frozen items, please

The National School Lunch Program, which provides free and reduced-price lunches and often breakfast for low-income school children, is on hiatus after school lets out, but kids still need to eat. Please consider making a donation.

Thank you.
SUMMER CONCERT SERIES IN KIRKWOOD PARK
MAKING MUSIC SCHEDULE - THROUGH JULY
We have several requests from readers to re-run the schedule of summer concerts in Kirkwood Park, so here it is.

~ June 28:  Gateway City Big Band.  This 17-piece dance band with two vocalists has been entertaining audiences in the St. Louis area and beyond since 1966.  Read more about them at:  www.gatewaycitybigband.com.  

~ July 12:  Funky Butt Brass Band.  This New Orleans-style brass band plays everything from traditional jazz to 70s funk, with a little Chicago blues, southern rock, and St. Louis R&B in the mix.  The Funky Butt Brass Band has been named "Best Soul/Funk Band" by The Riverfront Times Music Awards for the past four consecutive years. The band is known for its high-energy performances that appeal to a wide range of audiences. Read more about them at:  www.funkybuttbrassband.com.
~ July 26:  One More Time:  A Tribute to Johnny Cash.  This is an era-driven Johnny Cash tribute band, offering an authentic look, sound, and feel of a Johnny Cash performance. They showcase all of his hits from the 1950s through the 1990s. A June Carter vocalist with a powerful stage performance will join the band to present Johnny and June duets. Read more about them at:  www.jcashtribute.com.

 

All Making Music concerts are held at the Lions' Amphitheatre in Kirkwood Park, starting at 7:00 p.m.  These concerts are free and open to the public.  Donations are encouraged.

THURSDAY NIGHT CONCERTS AT STATION PLAZA
DOWNTOWN SUMMER CONCERT SERIES:

~ June 19:  Fair Warning.  Sponsored by The Haiti Orphan Project, an initiative of The Keane Insurance Group

~ June 26:  Soulard Blues Band.  Sponsored by STL Real Estate, Spencer's Grill, and One 19 North.

HOTDOG DAYZ OF SUMMER ARE BAAAAAAAAACK!
FIRST HOTDOG DAYZ OF SUMMER EVENT IS TOMORROW!!
Hotdog Dayz
Officer Jim Cox (r) with Hotdog Dayz attendees from a previous year

The Kirkwood Police Department and the Kirkwood Parks & Recreation Department will team up again this year for some fun in the parks!  Officer Jim Cox and School Resource Officer Yvonne Bonner will serve hotdog lunches, while recreation staff set up some fun games and activities for kids.  All ages welcome.  All Hotdog Dayz events run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., subject to weather cancellation.  Here's the schedule:
  • June 20:  Meacham Memorial Park, corner of Meacham and Orleans
  • June 27:  Walker Park (Turtle Park), corner of Washington and Taylor
  • July 11:  Monfort Park, corner of Briargate and Barberry Lane
  • July 18:  Loewnau Park, corner of Oakland and Sappington
  • July 25:  Fillmore Park, corner of Fillmore and Clinton  
GREENTREE BOOK FAIR COLLECTION
DONATE BOOKS TO SUPPORT BAND/ORCHESTRA PROGRAMS:
Donations of books and other materials will be accepted beginning Saturday, June 14, for the annual Greentree Book Fair.  Donations may be placed in the bins located at the Kirkwood Train Station. Tax-deductible letters will be located in envelopes inside each bin.  Donations of the following are requested:  Hard-cover and paperback fiction and non-fiction books, children's books, sheet music, videos, DVDs, and recorded music.  PLEASE NO encyclopedias, textbooks, magazines, software, or Reader's Digest magazines.  The Book Fair is sponsored by Kirkwood Band Boosters and the Kirkwood Orchestra Parent Association. Proceeds benefit students in the instrumental music programs in the Kirkwood School District. Typically, the collection continues through mid-July. Thank you.
ARTS PROGRAMMING IN KIRKWOOD
ART AT THE STATION
The Kirkwood Area Arts Council will feature the paper cutting work of Stephen Davis June 30 through August 4. Please join us for his opening reception on Thursday, July 3 from 5:30-7:00pm.  Continuing through the end of June - the oil paintings of Elaine Harris. The Kirkwood Train Station is located at the corner of Argonne & South Kirkwood Road. Exhibits and receptions are free and open to the public (donations are welcome). Art may be viewed when the station is open for passengers.

ART EXHIBITS AT KIRKWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY
~ Julie Hammond, June 2 thru July 31. The public is invited to an opening reception for artist/illustrator Julie Hammond on June 20, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m, at the Library, 140 E. Jefferson.
~ Hal Moran, August 1 thru September 30 (reception, August 17, 5:30 p.m.).
 
If you have an arts event that you would like the Commission to consider for inclusion in its calendar, please send the information to:  Arts@KirkwoodMO.org.
GARDENING TIP OF THE WEEK!
UNEXPECTED TREASURES IN THE GARDEN

Don't overlook the gifts birds and other animals bring you.  A few years ago I discovered an inch-tall holly that had started to grow in one of my gardens.  I moved it to a better location, and it is now an eight foot tall tree!  The same thing happened with native columbine that started growing.  I now have a beautiful area of columbine.  Not all gifts are good, some are weeds, but some are treasures.

 

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.
FROM KIRKWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY
JUNE EVENTS AT YOUR KIRKWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY

Story Times:
  • Weekly: Tuesdays, 10:00 a.m., June 3 thru August 5
  • Books for Babies:  For babies 6 to 24 months and their caregivers, Thursdays, 9:30 a.m., June 5 thru August 7
  • First Steps: For young 2s, Thursdays, 10:30 a.m., June 5 thru August 7 
Stories in the Park - Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m.:
  • June 24: Fillmore Park

KPL @ Farmers' Market:  June 14, 9:00 a.m. to noon

   

Reading Buddies - Children entering 1st thru 4th grades partner with teen volunteers for one-on-one reading time. Children and teens must apply to participate: 

  • Mondays, thru July 28
  • Session I:  1:30 to 2:15 p.m.
  • Session II:  2:30 to 3:15 
Summer Science Club - Fun with science; recommended for kids ages 6 and up. Thursdays at 2:00 p.m. and Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.
  • Saturday, June 28: Weather 
Art in the Yard:  June 26, 6:30 p.m. Meet us in the front yard for some most likely messy art!

Mister Max's Hunt for Lost Things: June 25, 2:00 p.m.  Join us on a treasure hunt for Max's lost things. Prizes!

 

Wacky Wednesdays!

  • June 25:  Animal Tales presents Reptiles, Scales, and Tails

For Teens:

  • Doctor Who at the Library.  One Saturday a month (June 28), 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.  Whovians unite to create fan fiction videos and writings and to discuss important Doctor Who topics.
  • Minecraft Night:  Last Friday of the month (June 27), 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.  Play Minecraft in the library on our server. Sign-up required.

For Adults:

  • Music in the Library, Sunday, June 29, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.  Glen Goewert

Adult Book Clubs:

  • Saturday Morning Perks (Saturdays, 10:00 a.m.).  June 21:  Maid's Version  
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 PUBLIC LIBRARY
OAK BEND HAPPENINGS IN JUNE

For Kids:
~ Christian the Magician.  Wednesday, June 25, 2:00 p.m. Catch this family-friendly program filled with comedy, magic and zany audience participation. Groups, please contact to inquire about space availability.

For Teens:
~ Button Making.  Friday, June 20, 6:00 p.m.  Create a mini piece of art to wear or share with friends. We'll use online software to design the button, so feel free to bring your own digital pictures. Supplies and button machine provided. Grades 6-12. Registration required. Groups, please contact to inquire about space availability
~ Teen Book Club: Your Choice!  Do you like to read, eat snacks and talk to people? Join our teen book club to share your favorite books and find out about new titles you may enjoy. Come just for the book talk or stay for Teen Advisory Group. Grades 6-12.
~ TAG:  Pizza Party. Wednesday, June 25, 7:30 p.m. Join the Oak Bend Teen Advisory Group and become involved in planning teen activities for the year. Bring your friends to make your own mini pizzas. Grades 6-12. Registration requested.
~ I Want Candy!  Friday, June 25, 2:00 p.m.  Want to be a candy scientist? Experiment with sticky, sweet and colorful treats to unwrap the secrets lurking inside. Grades 6-12. Registration required. Groups, please contact to inquire about space availability.

For Adults:
~ Bookies Book Discussion Group. Monday, June 23, 2:00 p.m. Join the Bookies to discuss our featured selection "Life Among the Savages" by Shirley Jackson. New members are always welcome! Recommended for adults.
 

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
Baby, it's HOT out there.  Summer has arrived.  It technically arrives this Saturday, on the summer solstice, at 6:51 a.m.  It looks like we will see temperatures hovering at around 90 degrees from now until Monday, with some hanging-around humidity as well, and that means a heat index (what it FEELS like) of closer to 100 degrees.

So far, the National Weather Service had issued neither an excessive heat advisory nor an excessive heat warning for the St. Louis region.  An "excessive heat advisory" will be issued when the heat index, which is a combination of air temperature and humidity, is expected to reach 105 degrees OR if the heat index falls in the range of 100 to 104 for four consecutive days.  If the heat index reaches 110 degrees, with a minimum heat index of around 75 degrees or higher at night, for two consecutive days, then an "excessive heat warning" is issued.  If either of those happens, and you or someone you know needs a cooling center, please check the home page of the City Website - kirkwoodmo.org.  We will post a list there of area cooling centers whenever a heat advisory or warning is in place.

The weather for next week looks a little more reasonable - temperatures in the mid-80s with lower humidity.  But until then, don't forget to visit the Aquatic Center for some great cooling off in the pool and on the lazy river.  Pool hours for the weekend are 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., both days.

Have a great weekend, 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