Kirkwood Happenings
City of Kirkwood, Missouri
November 12, 2015
Quick Links
Join Our List
Join Our Mailing List


Welcome to the November 12 edition of the City of Kirkwood's e-newsletter. This is our only edition for November, due to the holiday.

Photo of the Week:  The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) introduces trout each year to Walker Lake, for the winter fishing season.  Trout fishing is allowed on a catch-and-release basis until February 1, when trout can then be harvested, according to MDC regulations.  All fishing in Walker Lake is governed by MDC regulations.  For more information on trout fishing restrictions, please visit their Website here.  General regulations regarding fishing permits under MDC rules can be accessed on this page here. 

 
 
Open House Tonight
Comprehensive Planning EnVision 2035 Open House Tonight, Thursday, November 12
 
Please join us tonight at the EnVision2035 Open House. This is a come-and-go format, at Kirkwood City Hall, 139 S. Kirkwood Road, in Council Chambers, from 4:30 to 8:00 p.m.  This is your chance to impact the future of City planning in Kirkwood. 

Please also visit www.kirkwood2035.org, and participate in the latest survey for the EnVision Kirkwood 2035 Comprehensive Plan.  Be a part of the plan!  Your opinion matters. 
Downtown Holiday Walk
Fun For the Entire Family: Santa and Mrs. Claus Will Visit
 
There will be fun for the entire family at the annual Downtown Kirkwood Holiday Walk in downtown Kirkwood on Saturday, November 21, beginning at 9:30 a.m. 

Activities for children, holiday shopping, free entertainment, and refreshments will make this day a festive way to begin your celebration of the holiday season. 

Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive at the Train Station, via the Amtrak train, which will arrive between 9:30 and 9:44 a.m.  Santa will greet his admirers and letters to Santa will be accepted from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Mrs. Claus will captivate young listeners with holiday stories at 10:00 a.m. The Lucille Rapp Tumblers and Dancers, the Statesmen Singers, the St. Louis Harmony Chorus, and the Central Christian School Choir will perform. The Holiday Trolley will offer free rides around historic Downtown Kirkwood from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 

McArthur's Bakery will serve cookies and hot chocolate (while they last), and Kirkwood Kiwanis will serve free grilled hotdogs near the Station (donations welcome).

The Gingerbread Shoppe and Christmas Tree Lot will be open at the Farmers' market, where they will have special holiday candies, baked goods, and more, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 

Holiday Hours
THANKSGIVING:
 
City Hall, the Community Center office, and most City offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 26 and 27, for Thanksgiving. 

~ There will be no sanitation collected on Thanksgiving Day.  Thursday routes will be collected on Friday.

~ The Ice Rink will be closed on Thanksgiving Day but there will be a special skating session on the day before Thanksgiving (November 25), 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Regular policies and fees apply.

~ The annual Turkey Day Run will take place on Thanksgiving Day starting at 7:30 a.m.  A section of East Adams / Lockwood will be closed to traffic. Registration is still open.  For full details, visit: www.kirkwoodmo.org/TurkeyRace.

CHRISTMAS:

City Hall, the Community Center, and most City offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday, December 24 and 25, for the Christmas holiday.  The Community Center office will be open Saturday morning, December 26, from 9:00 a.m. to noon.

~ Sanitation will be unaffected. All trash, recycling, and yard waste will be collected normally all week, including on Christmas Eve. Special pick-ups will be done on Thursday, instead of Friday, this week. Please schedule before noon on Wednesday, December 23.

~ The Ice Rink will be closed on December 25 but will have a skating session on December 24 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

NEW YEAR'S:

City Hall, the Community Center, and most City offices will be closed on Friday, January 1, for the New Year's holiday.  The Community Center office will close at 4:30 p.m. on New Year's Eve but will be open from 9:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday, January 2.

Sanitation will be unaffected. However, special pick-ups will be done on Thursday this week, instead of Friday.  Please schedule before noon on Wednesday, December 30. 
News from Parks & Recreation
Upcoming Programs, December-January

December 4:  Gum Drop Mountain at the Kirkwood Community Center.  (It's an early-release day for the Kirkwood School District!) This is a drop-off event. Kids will hang out at the Community Center in the afternoon, making candy houses, enjoying pizza and drinks, and playing games in the gym. Noon to 3:00 p.m., $12/residents (per child) and $15/nonresidents (per child). Ages 7-11. Pre-registration is required. Call 822-5855.
 
Saturday, December 12:  Candy Cane Hunt, Kirkwood Park Lions' Pavilion, 10:00 a.m.  Santa's reindeer have been busy dropping candy canes in Kirkwood Park! Some candy canes will have special prizes attached. Dress warmly for this outdoor event.  Come early to decorate a hunting bag. Hunt is followed by hot chocolate and pictures with Santa. Cost:  $3 (if you pre-register) or $5 (day of event). Call 822-5855.
 
Wednesday, December 30:  Kids' Movie Day: "Big Hero 6" in the Robert Reim Theatre at the Community center. Noon to 3:00 p.m.  Ages 7-13. $10/residents, $12/nonresidents. Pizza, lemonade, and snacks included. Call 822-5855.

Friday, January 29, 2016:  Daddy Daughter Dance at the Community Center, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dads, grandpas, or guardians: Grab your dancing shoes and bring your little darlings to our annual sweetheart dance. Appetizers and dessert will be served. Professional photos will be available for purchase. (Moms welcome from 6:30-7:30 p.m.)  $10/resident, $12/nonresident (per person). Ages 3-10. Special appearance by Cinderella and Prince Charming. Pre-registration required. Call 822-5855. 
 
From Kirkwood Public Library
Holiday Book Sale November 20 and 21
 
The Friends of the Kirkwood Public Library will hold a holiday book sale on November 20 and 21 in the Library, 140 E. Jefferson Avenue, Kirkwood. The sale will feature children's books, along with books on Christmas, art, and cooking.  Included are CDs and DVDs.  The hours of the sale are Friday, November 20, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m ., and Saturday, November 21, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  There is no entry fee. Book prices are generally in the $.50 to $3.00 range, with payment by cash or check. No credit or debit cards.
All proceeds benefit the Kirkwood Public Library. For further information, call 314-821-5770, x1023, or email KPLFriends@kirkwoodpubliclibrary.org.

Letters from Santa
The Friends of the Kirkwood Public Library will once again host their annual "Letters from Santa" campaign. They will send a letter from Santa to all the kids, young and old, in your life.  Letters can be ordered and paid for online at: KirkwoodPublicLibrary.org/SantaLetter. Or forms are available at the Library.  For requests received by December 2, every effort will be made to have the letter postmarked at the North Pole.  All requests must be received by December 16.
 
From Kirkwood Historical Society
Two December Programs
 
The Friends of the Kirkwood Historical Society will meet on Monday, December 7, at 10:00 a.m. at Mudd's Grove, corner of Harrison and Argonne.  Our topic will be Christmas Memories - share your own.  You may bring a special ornament, memory, photo, recipe, etc., that is important to you for the holidays, and we will share our memories.  All meetings are free and open to the public.
 
On Tuesday, December 8, at 7:00 p.m. at Mudd's Grove, you are invited to join us for our quarterly meeting, featuring carolers from the St. Louis Christmas Carol Association.  It is also our annual election for officers and board members. The house is decorated for Christmas so come and enjoy seeing how festive things look!  All meetings are free and open to the public. 
Gardening Tip
Bulbs, Mulch, and More...Stuff to Do in the Garden this Month
 
Our recent frost has zapped the foliage on elephant ears and cannas.  Cut back the foliage and dig the bulbs/rhizomes.  Allow the bulbs to dry in a dry, cool area before storing for the winter in a frost free location.  To store, layer bulbs between sheets of newspaper in a paper bag.

The soil has cooled enough to plant spring flowering bulbs.  Follow package directions for the proper depth to plant the different types of bulbs.

Cut back the foliage on perennials as it turns yellow or shows the impact of frost (gets mushy).

Remove spent veggie plants and destroy any plants that were diseased.  Also discard any veggies that have spoiled on the ground.

After removing fallen leaves, mulch around perennials, shrubs, and trees.  Avoid having the mulch touch the base of the plant.  Create a doughnut not a volcano.


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.

The Finish Line...
Greetings!  Happy November...
 
I don't know about you all, but Thanksgiving is sneaking up on me.  I host my family most years, and I just realized I haven't finalized my menu yet. The variable menu details are mostly in the desserts (and breads and veggies) since we do the standard fare of turkey and dressing (my mother's corn bread dressing recipe).  This year we'll be adding crab cakes for my pescatarian daughter (vegetarian + fish). But the desserts...yum, yum, yum. We will be having a chocolate-bourbon pecan pie and a sweet potato cheesecake. And fun.  We will be having a lot of fun.

On a completely different note, we would like to congratulate Jim Wright on his 15-year anniversary as President of the the Kirkwood Des Peres Area Chamber. The City recognized him this week with a "Jim Wright Day" proclamation.  Pictured below (L to R): City of Kirkwood Chief Administrative Officer Russ Hawes (holding proclamation), Des Peres City Manager Doug Harms, Jim Wright, and Kirkwood City Councilmember Tim Griffin. 



Don't forget we will be closed Thursday and Friday of the holiday week, and that part of East Adams into Turkey Toon Lockwood will be closed off for the Turkey Day run. Our next edition arrives in your inbox on Thursday, December 3.

I wish you all a fun and tasty Thanksgiving.    


Beth von Behren
PIO/Happenings Editor