All Entries Tagged With: "unincorporated North County"
Volunteers needed for the Confluence Clean-Up
Over the past decade, the nonprofit Missouri River Relief has removed nearly 600 tons of trash from Missouri's waterways. Next up: the Confluence...
FROM THE NEWS WIRE:
The Great Rivers Greenway District is encouraging area residents to join them on Saturday, Oct. 29, and help support Missouri River Relief in its effort to clear trash and debris from the shores of the Missouri River. The Confluence Clean-up, which is the last scheduled event of Missouri River Relief’s month-long, statewide effort to clear litter from the Missouri River, aims to clean up the area near the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.
Volunteers will be ferried by boat starting at 9 a.m. to different riverbanks and islands along the Missouri River to pick up trash that has washed ashore. Additional volunteers are encouraged to clean up trash along the trails and parking lots of this area.
Volunteers of all ages are needed and will meet at the Columbia Bottom Conservation Area Boat Ramp, located at 801 Strodtman Rd. in Spanish Lake. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m., although volunteers are encouraged to register in advance by visiting www.riverrelief.org.
Participants will be provided with water, lunch, t-shirts, work gloves, trash bags and transportation by boat to the various clean-up sites. Missouri River Relief will also be providing lifejackets, but encourages anyone who brings a child to also bring along a proper-fitting lifejacket to keep each child as safe as possible. Following lunch, additional volunteers will be needed to load trash onto the trash barge.
The Confluence Clean-up is the final event of the Big Muddy Clean Sweep, the keystone project of Missouri River Relief’s 10th anniversary celebration. This month-long endeavor, which began on Sept. 26, has included community-based cleanups along the Missouri River, educational field trips, river festivals, barge tours and celebrations across the state of Missouri from Kansas City to the Confluence in St. Louis. The Big Muddy Clean Sweep spans 170 miles in eight towns on the Missouri River, including Kansas City, Jefferson City, Washington, St. Charles and St. Louis.
“We are excited about the opportunity to support Missouri River Relief in its efforts to clean up the Missouri River,” said Susan Trautman, Executive Director of Great Rivers Greenway. “We want to congratulate Missouri River Relief on a decade devoted to restoring our rivers, and we encourage area residents to join them in their fight to beautify the Missouri River and surrounding areas.”
Volunteers participating in the Oct. 29 Confluence clean-up are encouraged to wear work boots or tennis shoes (no flip flops), work clothes, bug spray, sunglasses, sunscreen and bring refillable water bottles. Trash collected from the event will be hauled on a sand barge and unloaded at terminals on the Mississippi River for recycling or for disposal at landfills. To learn more, visit www.riverrelief.org or call 573.443.0292.
NoCo gets some love in new StL Guidebook
If you’re an out-of-town visitor to St. Louis and you go to one of the official tourism websites, you’ll probably notice a suspicious void in the northern parts of the metro area. Nothing to see here – that’s the message you get. And yet, those of us who live in NoCo know that our neighborhoods absolutely do have tourist-worthy stops. But how are we supposed to attract visitors when many of our locals won’t even venture north?
Enter Amanda Doyle. An associate editor at Where Magazine – St. Louis and co-founder of the late, great Commonspace e-zine, Amanda recently authored a new book on St. Louis neighborhoods and, lo and behold, North County has its very own chapter! Though Amanda lives in the Tower Grove area, she has a close friend here in Ferguson who inspired her to run a story about our revitalization efforts way back in 2005, so I’m not the least bit surprised that her new book offers a broad and thorough tour of North County.
Truth be told, Amanda’s Commonspace website was one of my inspirations for NOCO, given its focus on “grassroots civics and culture in St. Louis.” Now I’m hoping her book, which features a number of NOCO advertisers and many of my own favorite local spots, will spur lots of new visitors to our businesses and attractions.
Included in the mix are Fort Belle Fontaine, Cork Wine Bar, White Barn, Columbia Bottom, Hendel’s, BJ’s, Thies Farm, EarthDance and quite a few other North County gems that have been showcased here on NOCO. You can also learn about dozens of other independent local establishments throughout the St. Louis area, even in the Metro East.
Amanda’s book is called Finally, a Guidebook to St. Louis by and for St. Louisans, Neighborhood by Neighborhood and it’s published by Reedy Press. Grab your own copy for just $18 right here.
New York pop artist brings “cerealism” to NoCo
New York artist Michael Albert, who creates colorful collages using cereal boxes, will be teaching workshops at four North County libraries..
FROM THE NEWS WIRE:
St. Louis County Library will host a series of Pop Art Workshops with New York artist Michael Albert. The workshops will be held at seven SLCL branches (schedule below). A public reception featuring the artist’s work will be held at the Florissant Valley Branch on Monday, September 19 at 5:00 p.m. Mr. Albert will give a short talk and answer questions. The Florissant Valley Branch is located at 195 New Florissant Rd., South.
Michael Albert is the author of “An Artist’s America.” The artist is perhaps best known for creating collages out of cereal boxes, a method he calls “cerealism.”
His Pop Art Workshops will offer kids the chance to make their own cereal box collages. The workshops are recommended for ages 7 and up. Registration is required; please call 314-994-3300 to sign up. Workshop schedule is as follows:
Wednesday, September 21
10:00 a.m. – Indian Trails Branch, 8400 Delport Dr., 63114
2:00 p.m. – Natural Bridge, 7606 Natural Bridge Rd., 63121
6:30 p.m. – Rock Road, 10267 St. Charles Rock Rd., 63074
Thursday, September 22
2:00 p.m. – Florissant Valley, 195 New Florissant Rd., South, 63031
The Pop Art Workshops are part of SLCL’s Art @ Your Library programming. For more information please call 314-994-3300 or visit www.slcl.org/art@yourlibrary2011/sept-oct.htm.
Trailnet hosts a trio of fun & healthy local events
More than 200 people participated in last year's Yoga Within the Confluence event, which will return for 2011 on September 18. Photo: Lynn DeLearie
In the St. Louis area, there are few major nonprofits that host regular events in North County. But obviously, nobody told Trailnet. Over the past decade, this 23-year-old organization has spearheaded a number of important initiatives in our neck of the woods – from conservation efforts and bicycling classes to trail building and trash pick-up. Now, Trailnet is gearing up for three more fun events….
Taste of Thies Farm Ride – August 13
First up, this Saturday, bring the whole family for this group-led bicycle ride exploring one of the oldest farms in St. Louis – NoCo’s own Thies Farm, founded in 1885. Thies Farm prides itself on having a wide variety of fresh homegrown produce, and on Saturday, August 13th, they’ll have a free sample day. Riders will get a chance to try late summer veggies fresh off the grill, including Thies’ homegrown sweet corn. As an added treat, Trailnet will have its bike blender stationed nearby, so participants can make their very own smoothie from farm fresh peaches by jumping on the bike and pedaling to power the blender.
The Thies Farm ride is a five-mile trip that’s ideal for riders of all ages and abilities. To join in this free event, show up at Vinita Park City Hall (8374 Midland Blvd, 63114) between 9am and 9:30 on Saturday, August 13. The ride will also end here.
Complete Streets Advocacy Training – August 27
Are you interested in making your community more walkable, bikeable and accessible? If so, don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about Complete Streets Advocacy Training, sponsored by Trailnet, MU Extension and Beyond Housing.
Many communities throughout our region, state and nation are working to develop more complete streets. A Complete Street (also called a Livable Street) allows all residents to safely walk, bike, wheel, or drive around their community. Complete Streets support children walking to school, independence for seniors and people with disabilities, and safe cycling. Complete Streets also provide safe access to physical activity for all residents regardless of ability. Seven municipalities in the St. Louis region have already committed to building Complete Streets through the adoption of local Complete Streets policies, including Ferguson here in North County.
On Saturday, August 27, citizens and local lawmakers are invited to learn how they might implement a Complete Streets program in their own community. This free event will take place from 9am to 1pm at the Natural Bridge Branch Library, 7606 Natural Bridge Rd., 63121. Register online at tinyurl.com/completestreetstraining or by calling Romi Pierce from Beyond Housing at (314) 280-8759.
Yoga Within the Confluence – September 18
OK, so technically this is a field trip, since it’s just beyond our NoCo borders, but how cool! For the third year in a row, Trailnet is bringing yoga lovers together for an inspiring class near the magnificent Mississippi-Missouri Confluence.
Last year, the event was held at Cahokia Mounds and drew more than 200 participants. This year, it inches even closer to the actual Confluence, with a sweeping view of the water from the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary. Located in West Alton, this enchanting place sprawls over 3,700 acres and is home to an ever-changing array of birds and other wildlife.
Show up there on September 18 from 9:30 to 11am and you’ll also find “local musicians and a flowing yoga practice led by guest instructors from throughout the region.” The event is free but donations are welcome. Bring a blanket or yoga mat, a water bottle and (just to be safe) bug spray.
The Audubon Center at Riverlands, within the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary, 301 Riverlands Way, West Alton, MO 63386
