[ballwin]
I would have called it Shred-ORama, but they didn’t ask me. Still, Shredfest is a fine name for what Ballwin police produced recently, an opportunity for anyone to destroy sensitive documents they no longer needed or had room for. The third annual event was May 2, and people could shred contracts, credit-card receipts, cancelled checks, legal documents … you name it. Folks were on hand in the Ballwin Target parking lot to help participants carry heavy items from vehicles to the shredding truck. There may even have been some bad family portraits from the 1970s in there; you know, the ones that fade to green over time? But nobody’s talking, and all that was left were shreds to be taken away and, we hope, recycled. There was a ton of it, literally; police say about 2,500 pounds of documents were shredded for a good cause. The annual event benefits Circle of Concern, a food pantry in Valley Park, and a donation of $5 or a bag of nonperishable food items was the suggested ‘price of admission.’ About $300 in cash was collected, as well as six sacks of food. Cops say the event was particularly timely in light of the 380 cases of tax fraud reported this year, twice the number from 2014. (Shredfest. Now, that also could be the great name of a festival for virtuoso guitarists. Or, not.)
[central west end]
If you weren’t aware, the StL is the world headquarters for that most ancient of games. No, soccer moms, not that game. Chess! There’s the national champ collegiate team at Webster University, and there’s the World Chess Hall of Fame at 4652 Maryland Ave. in the CWE. Two exhibits open May 14 in this elegant, stimulating space. In one of them, Mischief Makes a Move, the centerpiece is Marcel Dzama’s film, Une Dans des Bouffons, which the visual and film artist calls a ‘Dadaist love story.’ Indeed. Alt-rockers, take note: Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth performs in the film, and members of Arcade Fire did the score. (Watch out, soccer moms: the film has ‘adult’ themes.) In contrast, Encore!— the other, simultaneous opening—is a great exhibit for the whole family. It highlights ivory chess sets owned by Jon Crumiller and is the second time the collector has collaborated with the hall. The historic chess sets are a great way to learn about art and history, not to mention help stir the ongoing debate about owning and selling ivory (even if it is antique).
[st. louis]
Cyclists in the city are celebrating new and upgraded routes for their twowheeled contraptions. Since September, crews have been implementing street markings and signage to provide 40 miles of new routes and 60 miles of upgraded routes to the Bike St. Louis network, bringing the total to 135 miles. The project includes shared lane markings, bike lanes, seven new bike corrals, and signs throughout the city. Some streets also feature a reduced number of driving lanes, helping to alleviate traffic and make room for parking and bike lanes. The official unveiling of Bike St. Louis Phase III was held April 25, featuring free bike tune-ups and Trailnet-led bike rides (8 miles and 20 miles), both activities provided courtesy of Great Rivers Greenway. Funded through a $1.1 million federal grant and local matches by each partner, Bike St. Louis is the result of input from the community with the goal of creating a more bike-friendly city. Ah, yes … you can get there from here. (Pictured, above)
[st. charles]
Talk about turning on a dime! In one of the more amusing stories we’ve heard, thanks to KMOV’s investigative reporter Chris Nagus, MSD threatened a St. Charles woman with collection action after she mistakenly wrote a check for 58 cents less than the amount due on the sewer bill for her deceased mother’s home. So she wrote a 58-cent check to cover the arrears. And here’s where the dime comes in. After her recent interview with KMOV, the woman said she received a letter of apology from MSD. It included a refund of 48 cents—the cost of postage for mailing the check. Talk about absurd.
[webster groves]
Webster. Groves. It will truly resonate after you read this item. Judge William H. Webster, 91, is a native son. He and his wife, Lynda, are tree-huggers, in the best sense of the term. Lynda and some of her honorable husband’s friends provided funds for the 300 trees—a veritable grove—planted in North Webster on April 25 to commemorate Arbor Day (April 24). The WGHS grad and his bride were in town May 2, when he was honored as the 2015 Community Tree Steward. Lynda is the past chair of American Forests, the oldest national nonprofit conservation organization. The Websters, who reside in Washington state, are fierce advocates for the protection and expansion of forests. The planting effort was a joint project of American Forests, Forest ReLeaf of Missouri, and the Webster Groves Parks & Recreation Department. A bench dedicated in honor of the onetime federal judge was placed in Ivory Crockett Park at Bell and Alementor avenues. Judge Webster has one of the most impressive C.V.s around. In 1960, he was appointed U.S. District Attorney by President Eisenhower and later was named to the federal bench by President Richard Nixon in the early 1970s. President Jimmy Carter named him FBI director, a post he held from 1978 to 1987, and he was CIA director under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, serving from 1987 to 1991. In 2002, he was named first chairman of the Homeland Security Advisory Council. Retirement? Pah!
[chesterfield]
How’s that ol’ lawn chair holding up? If you’ve had it for nearly 30 years, probably not so well. Maybe to celebrate the 28th iteration of the Chesterfield Summer Concert Series, you could spring for a new one. The first show in the 10-week run spotlights local heroes The Bob Kuban Band, slated for 7 p.m. June 2. Stay after the show ends at 9 p.m. to enjoy fireworks and free cake in celebration of the city’s anniversary. A variety of bands plays every Tuesday night (except July 7) through Aug. 11, when another regional fave, Billy Peek, hits the stage to close out the series. No need to bring a cooler—beer, wine, soda, water, popcorn and candy are available for purchase, along with chow from area restaurants. What’s more, food trucks will be on hand. On June 16, check out Rockin’ Chair, a reunion of members from ’70s regional bands Mesa and Nickels celebrating the music of Buffalo Springfield, The Byrds, The Band, The Allman Brothers Band, etc. Donations of new and gently used clothing will be accepted in the parking lot on the evening of each show. So, come on out—and give away that pair of embroidered bell-bottoms that your significant other has wanted you to get rid of since 1972.
[wildwood]
Here’s a story with roots in Wildwood that didn’t exactly go viral, but it did wind up in ‘High School Notes,’ a blog from U.S. News & World Report: testing fatigue. Shari Sevier, a counselor at Lafayette High School in Wildwood, is board chair of the American School Counselor Association. She was among experts who provided some tips for parents to work with their kids on staying sharp and not losing steam at the end of the year, when they take all those state-mandated tests, AP tests, SAT and/or ACT exams… and finals. It’s all overwhelming, says Sevier, and some students just want to check out. What do you know? That, in fact, is just what’s recommended, sort of. One tip for parents: allow room for downtime. Tell students not to overthink it or stress out about it, which is easier said than done, but take a nap. Go work out. Chill. Another tip: prepare. But don’t overdo it. Perusing study notes is critical, but don’t cram. Study smart, not hard. Look over the notes for about 10 minutes a night. A third tip: Don’t agonize over the results. Test scores aren’t the be-all and end-all, says Sevier. Hmm … I wish she’d been my counselor. Maybe she could have advised me against staying out all night before the morning of my ACT? Relaxing, it w asn’t.
