Kirkwood E-HappeningsCity Logo B-W
City of Kirkwood
March 19, 2015
In This Issue
News from MoDOT
Historical Society
Women's Tennis
Earth Day
Spring Nature Walks
Clay Bridge Closure
From MSD
Parks & Recreation
Arts Events
Gardening Tip
Library Happenings
Last Thoughts
Join Our Mailing List!
Quick Links
   


PHOTO OF THE WEEK:  Fire Engine 1594 and its patriotic grill (above), at Fire House 2 on Big Bend.  You can read about all of our Fire Department equipment, and view photos on the Website (click here).

FIRE/EMS SALES TAX INITIATIVE:  The Kirkwood City Council approved a Fire/EMS Sales Tax initiative for the April 2015 election at its January 8 meeting.  Proposition 1, if passed, will create a dedicated funding source to support Fire and Emergency Medical Services in Kirkwood. Specifically, passage of the tax will allow the City to add a level of service to the Fire Department by adding seven new firefighter/paramedics.  Currently, the City has two ambulances that are fully staffed.  With passage of the proposed Fire/EMS Sales Tax, the City can add the personnel required to fully staff three ambulances at all times.

For more information on the sales tax initiative, a "Frequently Asked Questions" document is available on the home page of the City's Website, here.
NEWS FROM MoDOT
WORK ZONES FOR MARCH 19-25

Drivers heading to or from downtown should consider alternate routes to avoid anticipated delays because of expected lane closures nights and weekends on I-44 at Compton.  Crews will close two lanes on I-44 at night and over the next two weekends to complete painting the overpass.  In addition, crews will close the Compton overpass, starting at 8:00 p.m. Friday, March 20. The overpass will reopen by 3:00 p.m. Monday, March 30. Pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers can use Nebraska to detour around the closure.

 

As the weather continues to warm, crews will be on the roadway patching potholes and completing routine maintenance.  Motorists are reminded to slow down and move over when they see a MoDOT vehicle with flashing lights.  Also be aware that there could be three or more maintenance vehicles spaced out over some distance to complete maintenance work

For additional work zone information and real-time roadway weather conditions, go to traveler.modot.org/map. For real-time traffic, visit: gatewayguide.com. All work is weather-permitting and may be shifted due to inclement weather.

HISTORICAL SOCIETY
KIRKWOOD HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETING WILL FEATURE KIRKWOOD PARKS' HORTICULTURIST Mudd's Grove
The Friends of the Kirkwood Historical Society will meet on Monday, April 6, at 10:00 a.m., at Mudd's Grove, 302 W. Argonne Drive, on the corner of Harrison. The featured speaker will be Pete Laufersweiler of the Kirkwood Parks' Department.  Pete will discuss plant selection and maintenance in the parks.  Historical Society meetings are free and open to the public.

KIRKWOOD WOMEN'S TENNIS ASSOCIATION
GET YOUR RACKETS READY!
The Kirkwood Women's Tennis Association is currently screening players at all levels of
ability for regular and substitute positions for the 2015 season. Doubles matches are weekly at the courts in Kirkwood Park from May through September. The cost to play is $65.00 for the entire season. There is no cost for substitute players.  For more information or to set up a screening, please contact Pam Henze 
at 314-406-6803 or email: pamhenze@gmail.com. 

SAVE THE DATE
SIXTH-ANNUAL EARTH DAY AT THE FARMERS' MARKET
Kirkwood Living Green presents its sixth-annual Earth Day at the Kirkwood Farmers' Market on Saturday, April 18, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  This year's theme:  Celebrating the Miracle of the Monarch: One of nature's great phenomena. From caterpillar to butterfly is only part of its amazing story.   Meet experts from more than 20 local organizations.  Learn about attracting butterflies and birds to your garden, bee keeping, native plants and wildflowers, growing herbs, organic gardening, composting, urban tree care, sustainability and more. Sponsored by Cornucopia, Kirkwood Living Green, and Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

Additional programs that day:
~ 9:00 a.m. Kirkwood Arbor Day tree planting at the Kirkwood Library, by the Kirkwood Urban Forestry Commission
~ 10:00 a.m.  Planting of the pollinator garden at the Train Station by Kirkwood in Bloom.

SPRING NATURE WALKS

ROCKS, QUARRIES, AND FOSSILS:  Saturday, April 4, 10:00 a.m. 

Geologist Scott George will guide us through Kirkwood's intriguing Meramec Highlands Quarry at Dee Koestering Park. The site is a historic quarry listed on the National Historic Register, with large boulders and quarry spoils providing a view of the unique geology and fossils of the area.  Bring camera and notebook, if desired.  Free.  Rain or shine.  All ages.  Meet at Meramec Highlands Quarry at Dee Koestering Park (1703 Marshall Road), in the parking lot, at 10:00 a.m. 

 

SPRING WILDFLOWER WALK, Saturday, April 18, 10:00 a.m.  

Discover enchanting "spring ephemeral" wildflowers and more on a hike with Missouri Botanical Gardens' native plants expert George Yatskievych.  We'll learn fun and fascinating facts about wildflowers, trees, shrubs and plants as we enjoy their beauty.  Bring camera and notebook, if desired.  Free. Rain or shine.  All ages. Location:  Meet at Emmenegger Nature Park (11991 Stoneywood Drive), at the trailhead kiosk by the creek, at 10:00 a.m.  

 

 

CLAY BRIDGE REPAIR AND PAINTING
CLAY OVERPASS BRIDGE WILL CLOSE FOR TWO WEEKS 
The Clay overpass bridge will be completely closed, day and night, for approximately two weeks starting around the last week of March, for repair and painting. Traffic will most likely be detoured to the Harrison Avenue overpass.  Weather permitting, the work is expected to last for two weeks. We are waiting on final documentation from the railroad in order to begin the work.  Please check the City Website for updates. 
Clay Avenue Bridge
FROM MSD
RATE PROPOSAL INFORMATION AND SCHEDULE OF PUBLIC MEETINGS FOR METROPOLITAN ST LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT (MSD)
Did you know the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) is both a waste water and a storm water utility? Waste water service involves the collection and treatment of "used" water from sinks, toilets, and floor drains at one of seven treatment plants, where it is treated to high standards before returning to our region's waterways. Storm water service is the collection of rain and other water drainage that is not naturally absorbed by the soil, the maintenance of publicly owned storm water management systems (storm sewers) and includes addressing regulatory requirements on the impacts of storm water runoff on receiving stream water quality. MSD must account for the funds for each of these services separately.

On Wednesday, March 4, the MSD presented its Rate Proposal for the fiscal years 2017 through 2020 (July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2020) to its Rate Commission for both waste water rates and storm water revenues. These proposed changes would apply to all MSD customers.

The waste water rate proposal includes a major objective of funding a four-year, $1.5 billion capital improvement program to meet regulatory and system improvement needs. This program is part of MSD Project Clear, a long-term effort by MSD to invest billions to improve water quality and alleviate waste water concerns, undertaken as part of an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Missouri Coalition for the Environment. Within this program, MSD would:

  • Eliminate sanitary (waste water) sewer overflows from sewer pipes
  • Reduce combined sewer overflows (where waste water and storm water share a pipe)
  • Prevent building backups
  • Repair and rehabilitate an aging system
  • Increase waste water treatment plant capacity
The storm water revenue proposal resolves years of unequal funding and service across the MSD service area. Within this program, MSD would:
  • Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal storm water regulations
  • Continue to address impacts of storm water runoff on water quality of receiving streams
  • Fund complete operations and maintenance of public storm sewer system
MSD will host a series of community briefings with the goal of communicating the components of and reasoning behind the proposal. MSD's Executive Director Brian Hoelscher will present the proposal, followed by a question and answer session. While these meetings are designed to provide information to the public, the MSD Rate Commission will also hold its own meetings in May, specifically to hear public comments.

MSD Community Meeting Dates and Locations:
  • Wednesday, March 25, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., International Institute of St. Louis Gymnasium, 3401 Arsenal Street, 63118
  • Thursday, March 26, 7:00-8:30 p.m., James J. Eagan Community Center, 1 James J. Eagan Drive, Florissant, 63033
  • Wednesday, April 1, 7:00-8:30 p.m., St. Louis County Library, Tesson Ferry Branch, 9920 Lin-Ferry Drive, 63123
  • Wednesday, April 8, 7:00-8:30 p.m., The Pointe at Ballwin Commons, 1 Ballwin Commons Circle, Ballwin, 63021.

MSD has supplied the City with several documents, which are now available on the home page of the City's Website. These include:
~ MSD Community Meetings Flyer
~ Final Rate Proposal Fact Sheet
~ Final Rate Commission Fact Sheet
FROM KIRKWOOD PARKS & RECREATION
UPCOMING EVENTS AT KIRKWOOD COMMUNITY CENTER / KIRKWOOD PARK

~ Kirkwood Lions' Easter Egg Hunt:  April 4, 2015, Noon.

~ Taste of Webster-Kirkwood "Chef Wars."  Sunday, April 19, 2015. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.  Chefs serve from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.  Silent Auction.  $35 in advance. $40 at the door. Tickets can be purchased in advance.  Call 314-395-0988 for information.  Proceeds benefit the Shepherd's Center of Webster-Kirkwood.

~ 4th Annual Hook-In St. Louis Hook and Rug Show.  April 25, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, call 314-422-7771 or visit www.TheWoolyLoft.com


Parks/Recreation Programming:

~ Adult Egg Hunt. Friday March 27, 8:00 p.m. (dark), at Wehner Park in Shrewsbury.  Registration begins at 7:30 p.m.  Must be registered by 8;15 p.m.  Hunt begins at 8:30 p.m.  Outdoor event; dress appropriately. Held rain or shine. Don't forget a basket and a flashlight. $5 if you pre-register (on or before March 26); $10 at the door.
~ Teen Egg Hunt. Ages 10-14.  Friday, April 3. Kirkwood Park, Lions' Pavilion.  Event starts with dinner of pizza and wraps up with an Egg Hunt in the park in the dark.  Don't forget a basket and a flashlight. Maximum of 50 teens with 3 chaperones, so don't wait to register.  Pre-registration required:  $5/residents, $7/nonresidents.
~ Crestwood/Kirkwood Youth Theatre presents "Peter Pan, Jr."  Show dates: Thursday through Saturday, April 9-11, 7:00 p.m.  Sunday, April 12, 2:00 p.m. All tickets are $7.  Performances will be held in the Reim Theatre at the Community center.

 

ARTS EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS
FROM THE KIRKWOOD ARTS COMMISSION

~Art at the Station:  In April, the work of the Kirkwood High School Advanced Placement art students will be featured (March 30 through May 4) at the Kirkwood Train Station, 110 W. Argonne Dr., corner of Kirkwood Road. The opening reception will be held on Thursday, April 2, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Exhibits and receptions are free and open to the public, and art may be viewed when the station is open for passengers.  Fred Baugh Photography continues through March 30.

~ Kirkwood Theatre Guild presents "Radium Girls" through March 22 at the Reim Theatre, Kirkwood Community Center, 111 S. Geyer Road.  For information:  www.ktg-onstage.org.

~ Twisted Improv, presented by Kirkwood Theatre Guild, March 20, 8:00 p.m., at the Steamboat Room, 314 S. Clay. For information:  www.ktg-onstage.org.

~ Wind Symphony Concert, with guests North Winds Symphonic Band, at Chaminade's Skip Viragh Center, 425 S. Lindbergh. March 22, 3:00 p.m.  For information: www.stlwindsym.org

~ Con Spirito Concert Series presents Music for Meditation, Friday, April 3, Noon. Chancel Choir will perform Theodore Dubois' "The Seven Last Words of Christ," at First Presbyterian Church of Kirkwood, 100 E. Adams Avenue, in the sanctuary.

~ Shakespeare Festival - Summer Camps:  Registration is now open for Shakespeare Festival St. Louis Summer Camps for students ages 6 to 18. For more information or to register, visit their Website:  http://www.sfstl.com/in-the-schools/summer-camps/

~ Shakespeare Festival's Shake 38 schedule has been announced.  This special event runs April 22 through 26:  38 plays, 38 performances, 38 places.  Click here for more information: http://www.sfstl.com/in-the-streets/shake-38/.   This year, the Festival will produce "Antony and Cleopatra," which opens on May 22 in Shakespeare Glen in Forest Park.

~ Friends of Music Concerts presents its next program on Sunday, April 12, at 3:00 p.m., at Eliot Unitarian Chapel, 100 S. Taylor (at Argonne) in Kirkwood. The program will feature; Max Reger, Suite no. 1 in G minor for solo viola, Op. 131(d), played by violinist Eliana Haig; Francis Poulenc, Sonata for Clarinet and Bassoon, FP32a, performed by Jeanine York-Garesche and Donita Bauer; and Dimitri Shostakovich, Trio #2 in e minor for Violin, Cello and Piano, performed by Lindsey Miller Jones, violin, James Nacy, cello, and Diana Umali, piano.  For further information, call 314-596-2519, or send an email to: fomcstl@gmail.com

GARDENING TIP OF THE WEEK
CUT BACK THOSE ORNAMENTAL GRASSES!

From now until the end of the month is a good time to cut back ornamental grasses.  Low growers such as loriope (monkey grass) can easily be cut with a lawn mower.  Larger varieties like maiden grass and sea oats will need hedge trimmers or possibly a chain saw for large clumps.  Loriope clippings can be left in place to compost and enrich the soil.  Larger varieties can be bound with twine or bungee cords which will allow easier access to the base of the clump.  Binding the grass also makes for easier clean up.  Happy first day of spring tomorrow!


The Kirkwood Garden Club writes a Gardening Tip for each edition of the Happenings newsletter. For more information about the club, visit their Website at www.KirkwoodGardenClub.org.  New members and guests, both men and women, are welcome to attend their meetings and events.  Meetings are typically held on the first Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m., at the Kirkwood Community Center.
FROM YOUR KIRKWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY
IN MARCH:

Adults:
~ Author Event:  Edna Campos Gravenhorst will discuss her book "Famous Barr: St. Louis Shopping at its Finest."  Ms. Gravenhorst will discuss the 95-year history of the St. Louis department store and the ins and outs and impact of this institution. Saturday, March 21, 2:00 p.m.

Children:
~ Calling All Inventors - What Can You Make with a Box of Junk?  Friday, March 20, 10:00 a.m. Channel your inner creative genius. We supply the junk. You supply the imagination.
__________________________________________________________

IN APRIL:

National Library Week:  Food for Fines!  April 12-18
To celebrate National Library Week, your Kirkwood Public Library and KirkCare are proud to announce that the popular Food for Fines program will occur for the fourth consecutive year, April 12-18, 2014.This program enables patrons to pay down their fines by donating canned goods to Kirkwood Public Library. For every item brought in, $1 will be subtracted from overdue fines. A $20 limit applies to fines only, not to lost or damaged materials. Patrons' generosity has been amazing over the past years, and we look forward to another successful event.

Preserving Historical Homes for the Future: Preservation Week
April 30, 7:00 p.m.  Presentation by the Kirkwood Landmarks Commission

Are you interested learning about techniques to help save your historic home? Please join Amy Lowry from Kirkwood Landmark Commission and other licensed contractors to discuss general advise on preserving and maintaining your home. In addition, there will be discussion of historic neighborhoods and landmarks in the Kirkwood area.

 

In the Art Gallery:  Kelene Renberg
April and May.  Reception:  Saturday, April 18, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Programming for Adults:
~ Financial Literacy Week.  April 9: Retirement Planning. How not to outlive your money. Running the retirement marathon. How taxes and inflation impact retirement. Exit strategies. RMDs. Stretch your IRA. Long-term care considerations.
~ Books on Tap.  Second Wednesday of the month at Kirkwood Station Brewing. April 8:  "Ocean at the End of the Lane" by Neil Gaiman
~ Romance through the Ages book discussion.  April 13, 7:00 p.m.  "Jane Eyre," by Charlotte Bronte, and "Jane" (a modern retelling of Jane Eyre), by April Lindner
~ Saturday Morning Perks Club.  "Sisterland" by Curtis Sittenfield.  Saturday, April 11, 10:00 a.m.
~ Mystery Readers.  "By Its Cover," by Donna Leon, Wednesday, April 15, 2:00 p.m.

Programming for Children:
~ Money Smart Art Market, April 11, 1:30 p.m.  Join us for a fun way to learn about money, saving, and spending. Children receive special "library bucks" to make the art project of their choice.
~ Celebrate Eric Carle. April 18, 10:00 a.m. "The Very Quiet Cricket" by Eric Carle turns 25. Join us for a celebration of this beloved author's books.
~ Bedtime Stories. April 21, 7:00 p.m.  Story time and activities in your PJs.
~ Family Book Club, Monday, 7:00  p.m.  For children in grades 5 to 8 and their parents. Books available at the library for check-out. April 13: "Paper Boy" by Vince Vawter
~ Family Book Club Junior, April 6, 6:30 p.m.  For children in grades 3 and 4 and their parents. April 6: What's New in Children's Books.


WEDNESDAY AFTER-SCHOOL SPECIAL, 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Join us on Wednesdays for a different activity each week of the month.  For elementary school age children.
~ Lego Club, April 1
~ Science Fun:, April 8
~ Make and Take After-School Crafts, April 22

STORY TIMES:
~ Time for Twos, Tuesdays, 10:00 a.m. Stories, songs, crafts.
~ Pre-school Story Time, Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m. Stories, songs, crafts.
~ Books for Babies, Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. For babies 6-24 months and their caregivers.
~ First Steps Story Time, Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. For our youngest 2s and graduates of Books for Babies.

BOOK CLUBS:
~ Family Book Club, Mondays, 7:00 p.m. For children in grades 5 thru 8 and their parents. Books available at library for check out. .
~ Family Book Club Junior. For children in grades 3 and 4 and their parents.

 

Kirkwood Public Library is located at 140 E. Jefferson Avenue in Downtown Kirkwood.
FROM THE EDITOR: The Mini Blog
So much can happen in two weeks...where to start... 

Since our last edition:
~ We have had what appears to be the end of winter weather (it's a little chilly out there today but nothing like a month ago).  Last week, on my first outdoor walk around Kirkwood in many months, I found several instances of tulips already breaking through the ground (they are even taller today).
~ We celebrated our employees on March 6 during "Employee Appreciation Day" by visiting all 10 of our buildings (photo below) and as many employees as we could.  Everybody got a little treat and a sincere expression of appreciation from me, our human resources manager, our chief administrative officer, and the mayor. It was a fun, if exhausting, day but it was a good kind of exhaustion.
~ City Council has put the final touches on the FY 2015-2016 budget (a draft of which can be found here on our Website, along with the 3rd Quarter Financial Report). They will vote on the final version tonight.
~ We have had a bunch of new jobs open up at the City, some part-time, some seasonal. If you or someone you know is looking for work, you can read all about them here.
~ The 50 Trees organization in Kirkwood was recognized for its work with the "2014 Missouri Arbor Award of Excellence."  Congratulations to Nancy Luetzow and Kathy Paulsen and their whole group!

And..............SPRING begins tomorrow!


Above:  Kevin Campe (L), the City's MIS Director, gets a treat and a smiley sticker from the City's Chief Administrative Officer Russ Hawes on Employee Appreciation Day.

Enjoy the sunshine!  See you in two weeks (on April 3).
    

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