Kirkwood Happenings
City of Kirkwood, Missouri
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July 16,2015


Photo of the Week:  The crowd waiting for the concert to begin at Station Plaza on July 2.  See below for the series schedule.
 
 
Meet Your Local Government
Community Day in Kirkwood - This Saturday
at Avery Avery Playground Park!

 

The City of Kirkwood will hold a "Community Day at the Park" on July 18 from 10:00 a.m., to noon, at Avery Park, on the heels of the first successful event in June. Residents are encouraged to attend and meet their City staff and elected officials in a fun, informal morning gathering.  Light refreshments will be served.

 

This is a great opportunity for residents to get to know their local government, ask questions, pick up some information, find out about volunteer opportunities, and learn more about the City's comprehensive planning initiative - EnVision2035.  Residents can take a look at the City's plans for the future and contribute ideas and thoughts to the planning process. The event will feature touch-a-truck exhibits with police and fire vehicles as well as booths staffed by representatives from many City departments - fire, police, electric, water, parks, the Library, and other. 

 

Avery Park is located at 225 Avery Drive. Future events will be held as follows, also from 10:00 a.m. to noon:

  • August 15, Ella & Charles Monfort Memorial Park, 2036 Briargate Lane
  • October 10, Meacham Memorial Park, 340 New York Street
Hotdog Dayz of Summer
This Week: Monfort Park
 
Hotdog Dayz of Summer continues on July 17 at Monfort Park, on the corner of Briargate and Barberry Lane, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  Bring the kids for a hotdog lunch and some games.  Sponsored by Kirkwood's Police and Parks & Recreation departments. This is a great opportunity for Kirkwood kids to get to know the Police Department in a fun setting.  Additional dates (all are subjec to change due to weather):

~ July 24, Loewnau Park, corner of Oakland and Sappington
~ July 31:  Fillmore Park, corner of Fillmore and Clinton
 
News From Downtown Kirkwood
Peach Festival / Downtown Sidewalk Sale - This Peaches Saturday, July 18
 
Look for bargains in downtown Kirkwood this Saturday, starting at 10:00 a.m.  Look for the red and white checkered tablecloths at participating merchants.

PEACH FESTIVAL:  Come to the Kirkwood Farmers' Market for all things peachy this Saturday too!  Visitors will enjoy seasonal produce and peach samples from local farmers and peach-related treats.

~ 8:00 a.m.  Market opens.
~ 9:00 a.m.  Walk-Away Waffles truck opens.
~ 9:00 a.m.  Hands-on activities with Kirkwood Public Library
~ 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Sidewalk Sale
~ 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.  Best-Tasting Peach Contest
~ 10:00 a.m. Maple Jam Band plays
 
Payment System Down for Maintenance
No Online Payments July 24-25
 
The City's Click2Gov program will be unavailable during routine maintenance beginning the evening of July 24 and continuing throughout the day on July 25.  This means, residents will not be able to make any online utility payments during this time. The inclusive times are:

~ Beginning Friday, July 24, at 4:45 p.m.
~ Ending:  Saturday, July 25, 4:00 p.m. (barring any unforseen problems).

Thank you for your patience. 
Making Music Summer Concert Series
Enjoy the Sounds of New Orleans in Kirkwood Park

 

July 25:  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 thrown into the mix.  For more information, visit their Website at www.funkybuttbrassband.com.

 

Future dates and performers are:

 

~ August 8:  Lucky Old Sons
~ August 22:  St. Louis Wind Symphony


 

For a full description of each band, download the flyer on the City's Website at:  www.kirkwoodmo.org

Thursday Night Concerts
Thursday Evening Concert Series in Station Plaza: Thursday is THE Night!

All concerts run from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m., at Station Plaza, 110 N. Kirkwood Road. Bring your folding chair or blanket! For inclement weather information, call 822-0084, ext. 5.

Upcoming Concerts:

~ July 16:  Vondrukes, sponsored by Bar Louie
~ July 23:  Erin Bode, sponsored by Kaldi's Coffee House and James Durbin Jewelry Design
~ July 30 and August 6:  TBA
~ August 13:  Matt Jordan, sponsored by Bar Louie

Backpack and School Supply Drive
Sponsored by Meacham Park Neighborhood Association

 

Meacham Park Neighborhood Improvement Association (MNIA) provided students with 150 backpacks last year, stuffed full of school supplies. This year, with your help, they can surpass that number. What is needed:

 

~ Backpacks (new, for elementary through high school students)
~ Pencils, pens, rulers, calculators, dictionaries, thesauri, index cards, construction paper, markers for arts and crafts, notebooks

 

Drop off your donations at the J. Milton Turner offices, 1099 Milwaukee Street, in Kirkwood, Suite 260 (care of the Law Office of Bruce Hilton), between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. or between 5:00 and 6:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday. The backpacks will be distributed at the back-to-school rally on Saturday, August 8.

 

If you would prefer to make a financial donation, earmarked specifically for the Backpack School Supply Drive, visit www.meachamparknia.org, or mail your check payable to MNIA, P.O. Box 220664, Kirkwood,MO 63122. Thank you. (Questions? Call 314-690-1691.)

Let's Walk to School!
Walk to School Program Workshop

Trailnet will hold a workshop on building a Walk-to-School program, on Thursday, July 16, at Robinson Elementary School from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. For questions or to register, please contact Taylor March at 314-436-1324, ext. 102, or email: Taylor@trailnet.org. 
Gardening Tip
Apres Le Deluge

 

Recent deluges have caused problems for many gardeners.  Plants in pots, be they flowers, veggies, herbs, etc., have suffered because major amounts of nutrients have been washed out with the rains.  This can be amended by fertilizing and/or adding some compost.  Tomatoes may be looking skimpy with yellowing and drying leaves at the bottom of the plant.  Again this is most probably the need for fertilizer.  When using fertilizer be sure to use the type specific to the plant you're treating.  General purpose fertilizer (10-10-10) won't be much help with your tomatoes.

 

Standing water in gardens and yards is another problem facing gardeners.  Overflowing gutters can also cause pooling of water near your foundation.  Cleaning the gutters usually fixes that issue.  Creating better drainage or filling in low spots in your yard and gardens will help with pooling.  Remember to always create drainage going away from your house.


 

Emerald Ash Borer Tip:  You may have read that the Emerald Ash Borer has made its way into the St. Louis region.  Here's a tip that might help to reduce how quickly it spreads:  If you are planing to go camping this summer, instead of transporting wood there and back, buy your wood near where you will be camping.  If you have any left over, leave it at the campsite. 

 

The Kirkwood Garden Club writes a Gardening Tip for most editions of Happenings.  For more information about the club, check out their Website at 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.

Arts Happenings!
Arts News from the Kirkwood Arts Commission

 

  • Art at the Station:  The photography of Max Arens continues through August 31 at the Kirkwood Train Station, 110. W. Argonne. The watercolor and collage work of Sandy Baker runs August 31 to September 28, with opening reception on September 3, 5:30 p.m.  All exhibits may be viewed when the Station is open for passengers. Art at the Station is presented by the Kirkwood Arts Commission, with the generous support of the Kirkwood Arts Foundation. 
  • Wine Glass Painting:  Kirkwood Public Library presents a Wine Glass Painting on Wednesday, August 26, at 7:00 p.m. for Crafter Work: Wine Glass Painting.  Library staff member Julie will show you some tips and tricks for designing and painting your own wine glass. Space is limited. Free.  All supplies provided. Call 821-5770, ext. 1012, to register, or register online here.
Upcoming at Kirkwood Public Library
July Events and Programming


 

FOR ADULTS:

 

Special Events

~ No Ordinary Hero: Neil Armstrong. Come celebrate the life of Neil Armstrong - the first man on the moon.  Join us for a book discussion on Neil Armstrong: A Life of Flight, by Jay Barbreer. Monday, July 20, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

~ The Real James Bond. Presenter: Gary Jackson. The story of the real man who was the real spy that inspired Ian Fleming. Wednesday, July 22, 7:00 p.m. 

 

FOR THE FAMILY/FOR KIDS:

 

~ Percy Jackson Trivia Night. Love The Lightning Thief?  Are you a Percy Jackson expert? Challenge yhourself with our Trivia Night.  Sign-up requested.  Friday, July 31, 6:30-8:30 p.m. 

~ Wacky Wednesdays.  July 22, 10:30 a.m.:  Animal Tales presents Animal Avengers.  July 29:  Babaloo - shows at 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. 

 

August Events and Programming

FOR ADULTS:

Special Events

~ One Book, One Kirkwood Skype Conversation with Robin Sloan, author of Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore. Wednesday, August 5, 7:00 p.m.

~ Adult Board Game Night. Monday, August 17, 7:00 p.m.

 

Book Clubs

~ Books on Tap. Wednesday, August 12, 7:00 p.m. Kirkwood Station Brewery.  Discussing Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. Follow a traveling Shakespearean theatre company in a post-apocalyptic North America. It's also about friendship, memory, love, celebrity, our obsession with objects, oppressive dinner parties, comic books, and knife-throwing.

~ Romance through the Ages Book Discussion. Monday, August 3, 7:00 p.m. The Importance of Being Alice by Katie MacAlister.

~ Saturday Morning Perk's Club. August 1, 10:00-11:00 a.m. The Autobiography of Mrs. Tom Thumb by Melanie Benjamin.  "Mrs Tom Thumb was only 34 inches tall- find out why she is someone we can all look up to."

~ Mystery Readers.  Wednesday, August 19, 2:00 p.m.  Select a book with a collection of short mystery stories, and be able to discuss one of the stories.  A free mystery book exchange will also be available.

~ World War I Book Discussion Series. Wednesday, August 12, 7:00 p.m.  1918 and the Armistice. We will discuss the last year of World War I and the changes in European boundaries and cultures as a result of the League of Nations.  Suggested books to read include Collapse at Meuse-Argonne:  The failure of the Missouri-Kansas Division by Robert H. Ferrell; Veiled Warriors:  Allied Nurses of the First World War by Christine E. Hallett; With Our Backs to the Wall:  Victory and Defeat in 1918 by David Stevenson; and Paris 1919:  Six Months that Changed the World by Margaret MacMillan.

~ Adult Craft Series.  Wednesday, August 26, 7:00 p.m. Wine Glass Painting (see full description under Art News above).

FOR TEENS:
Superhero Craft Series. August 11, 3:00-5:00 p.m.  Perler Bead Captain America Shield. Create your own mini-Captain America Shield with perler beads.

FOR CHILDREN:

Story Times
~ Weekly:  Tuesdays, 10:00 a.m., June 2 to August 4
~ Books for Babies:  For babies 6-24 months, Thursdays, 9:30 a.m., June 4 to August 6
~ Family Book Club: Mondays, 7:00 p.m.  August 3: Rain Reign by Ann Martin

~ Family Book Club Junior: Mondays, 6:30 p.m. August 10: Stolen Children by Peg Kehret

~ CHAMP Reading Dogs, Sundays, 3:00-4:00 p.m. August 2.

~ KPL @ Farmers' Market:  September 26, 10:00 a.m. to Noon

 

Kirkwood Public Library is located in downtown Kirkwood at 140 E. Jefferson Avenue.  For additional information, call 314-821-5770. 
From Oak Bend Library
Special Events and Programs

 

~ Creative Writing and Poetry Share Group. Thursday, July 16, 7:00 p.m. If you enjoy writing and would like to share your creativity, bring some of your work and join us for our creative writing and poetry share group.  Adults. Registration requested.

~ Hollywood Game Night. Friday, July 17, 6:00 p.m. You don't have to be a celebrity to play the wacky party games on TV's craziest game show.  Grades 6-12. Registration required.

~ Princess Power. Wednesday, July 22, 6:30 p.m. Dress as your favorite princess and join us for activities all about princess power.  Ages 3-5. Registration required.

~ Party in Your PJs. Wednesday, July 29, 6:30 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 3-7. Registration required.


 

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. 

The Finish Line...
Living Near Trees is GOOD for Your Health!
 
According to a July 9 article in the Washington Post, having trees in your neighborhood, particularly street or public trees, is good for you.  It's good for your health and your well-being.  They think this probably has to do with how well trees improve air quality, but there may also be a psychological factor.  Seeing trees in our neighborhoods may just make us happier, and happier people are healthier people.  Here's a link to the full article if you're interested.

In Kirkwood, there are two ways to get new trees planted in the public right-of-way areas in your neighborhood.

1)  Request a tree-planting site.  Residents and businesses in the City can request that a City tree be planted in the parkway or right-of-way at the front of their residence or business.  For more information and to access the request form, please visit the Urban Forestry page on the City Website here.

2) Nominate a tree planting site for the "50 Trees" program hosted by Keep Kirkwood Green.  The 50 Trees program began in 2010 to honor the 50th anniversary of the Greentree Festival, but it's been going strong ever since. This year, the program was recognized with the 2014 Arbor Award of Excellence by the Missouri Department of Conservation. The group hopes to plant 75 trees this year, all of which will be planted by local volunteers as a result of this citizen-led initiative. Visit their Website here for more information. If they have met their goal for this year, don't worry.  You can apply again next year. 

On a completely different note. I'm beginning to wonder if this is the Year of the Apocalyptic Novel, at least for me. I just finished The Last Policeman trilogy, by Ben H. Winters, about a world coming to grips with a civilization-ending asteroid headed to Earth and a police detective trying to solve murders and other mysteries as all of humankind awaits the impact. And now, after reading about the book that will be "on tap" at Kirkwood Public Library's upcoming "Books on Tap" monthly event on August 12 - Station Eleven, by Emily St. John Mandel - I can't wait to start reading that one.  (See the description above under "Upcoming at Kirkwood Public Library.")  As a lover of all things Shakespeare, how could I pass it up!

That's all for now.  Stay cool out there, and see you in two weeks!

Beth von Behren
PIO/Happenings Editor