⚡️ MADD Awards, Summer Tunes & Schnucks Gives

Author

Jared Michel
May 17, 2024

👋 Good Morning, West County!

In today’s ⚡️ West County Pulse newsletter:

  • 🏆 MADD Honors DWI Heroes

  • 🎶 Free Summer Concerts

  • 🎖️ Schnucks' Folds of Honor

Let’s jump into today’s newsletter!

— Jared Michel

THE DIGEST

🏆 MADD Honors Local Officers for DWI Efforts

Several West St. Louis County police officers were recently honored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Missouri for their commitment to keeping drunk drivers off the streets. Officers from the Town and Country, Manchester, and Creve Coeur Police Departments received awards at MADD's 2024 Law Enforcement Recognition Awards 'Heroes for Heroes' event. The recognized officers collectively made nearly 60 DWI arrests in 2023, helping to make local roads safer.

🎶 Free Summer Concerts Are Back in West County!

Music lovers are in for a treat this summer with the return of many free concerts. Ballwin, Chesterfield, Creve Coeur, Ellisville, Manchester, Town & Country, and Wildwood are hosting concerts featuring a wide range of musical genres. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, and picnic baskets to enjoy the shows under the stars. Read more details here.

📝 Surveys Help 911 Center Boost Caller Experience

St. Louis County's 911 center has started sending text surveys to callers after their incidents to gather feedback on how dispatchers are handling calls. The partnership with NEOGOV allows the community to provide input, which is then shared with bureau members to highlight their good work and identify areas for improvement. With the dispatch center nearly fully staffed for the first time in years, the surveys are expected to boost morale and retain employees by reinforcing the positive impact of their daily work.

🚧 Route 141 Closure: Plan Ahead for Sunday

Heads up, West County commuters! On Sunday, Route 141 will be closed between Route 364 and Marine Ave. from 5am to 12pm for the Lou Fusz Subaru St. Louis Triathlon. Expect additional lane closures and exit ramp closures along Route 141 during this time.

BUSINESS

🎖️ Schnucks Launches 7th "Round Up" for Folds of Honor

Schnucks is launching its seventh annual "Round Up at the Register" campaign to support the Folds of Honor Foundation. Customers can round up their purchases to the nearest dollar at checkout or donate their Schnucks Rewards points to fund scholarships for family members of fallen and disabled military veterans and first responders. Since 2018, Schnucks has raised over $5 million for Folds of Honor, supporting more than 1,000 scholarships. Read the full press release here.

🏆 St. Louis' Top Workplaces Revealed for 2024

The St. Louis Business Journal announced the winners of its annual Best Places to Work Awards, recognizing 83 top workplaces across five size categories. CarShield, ITF Group LLC, and Axes Physical Therapy took the top spots in the giant, medium, and large categories respectively. The awards, based on employee surveys, highlight companies that prioritize employee engagement, teamwork, and leadership. Many of the honored firms offer unique benefits and perks to promote work-life balance for their employees.

🤝 BJC & Encompass Partner on $40M Rehab Center

The Rehabilitation Institute of St. Louis-West County, a new 40-bed inpatient rehabilitation facility, has opened its doors in Town and Country. The $40 million center is a partnership between BJC HealthCare and Encompass Health, offering state-of-the-art care for patients recovering from various conditions. The facility features private rooms, a therapy gym, and a courtyard to help patients regain strength and independence.

SCHOOL DISTRICT UPDATES

Parkway

🌿 Parkway ECC Takes Learning Outdoors

This year Parkway's Early Childhood Center worked to combat excessive screen time by taking classes outside. Children aged 3-5 spent up to 5 hours a day learning and playing outdoors. The curriculum aimed to improve behaviors, imagination, and social skills. Read more here.

🥫 Parkway Pantry: 38,000 Food Items Distributed

Parkway's food pantry has helped over 7,600 people in the past year, according to its annual report. The pantry, supported by the charitable organization Parkway Pantry Partners, distributes food, personal care items, and feminine care products to 150-160 families per month. With rising food prices and student lunch debt, the pantry aims to address food insecurity among students and families in the district.

Rockwood

🎨 Lafayette Student Wins Congressional Art Contest

Lafayette High sophomore Michelle Chen won first place in this year's Congressional Art Competition for Missouri's second district. Rockwood Summit junior Nathaniel Carroll earned third place, and Eureka junior Bronwyn Mueller won Best Photo. Rockwood students have now won the competition for four consecutive years. The winning artworks will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol and Congresswoman Ann Wagner's offices.

CITY HIGHLIGHTS

Chesterfield

🌊 Exclusive Swim Nights for CFAC Passholders!

This summer the Chesterfield Family Aquatic Center (CFAC) will host exclusive season pass swim nights on May 24, June 29, and July 27. These special events will take place from 5-8pm on May 24 and 7-9pm on June 29 and July 27. Season pass holders can bring one guest to enjoy evenings of poolside fun with all amenities open.

Des Peres

🚗 Expect Delays: Manchester Rd Resurfacing

Utility work along Route 100 (Manchester Road) near Lindemann has been rescheduled due to recent rain. Next week (M-F), various lane closures will be in effect, potentially causing traffic delays. Drivers are advised to consider alternate routes during this period. Read MoDOT’s full press release here.

Eureka

🏋️‍♀️ Timbers' Fitness Area Partially Closed Today

The west side of The Timbers' fitness area will be closed today from 7:00am to 3:30pm for preparations ahead of upcoming fitness improvements. Most equipment will still be accessible on the other side of the area during this time.

Manchester

🎓 Parkway South HS Class of 2024 Parade Tomorrow

The Parkway South High School Class of 2024 Parade will take place tomorrow from 4-5pm. The parade route will run between Southwest Middle School and South High School via Big Bend Woods Drive. Some road closures will be in effect during the parade, so plan accordingly. Come out and show your support for the graduates along the route!

♻️ Schroeder Park Hosting Recycling Event Tomorrow

Schroeder Park is hosting an Electronics and Metal Recycling collection event on tomorrow from 8-11am. Residents can drop off their old electronics and metal items for proper recycling, but should arrive by 10:30am to ensure their items are accepted. Read more about the city’s recycling program here.

🏊‍♂️ Last Call: Dive into Early Bird Savings

Just a friendly reminder that Manchester Aquatic Center's early bird season pass sale ends May 24. Visit weekdays, 9am to 6pm, to secure your summer fun!

Wildwood

👔 Garritano Officially Wildwood's Top Leader

Joe Garritano has officially taken his oath of office and assumed the role of Wildwood's new mayor. In a Facebook post following the ceremony, Garritano expressed gratitude for the support and his commitment to making a positive impact on the city.

UPCOMING EVENTS

  • Today: 

    • Town & Country Concert @ Town Square at 6pm. Learn more here.

    • Wildwood Concert @ Town Center from 6:45pm to 9:15pm. Learn more here.

  • Saturday:

    • Manchester Craft Beer Festival @ Schroeder Park from 3pm to 6pm. Learn more here.

    • West County Home & Garden Expo @ Queeny Park from 9am to 2pm. Learn more here.

    • La Salle Retreat Center Bee Dash 5k at 8:30am. Learn more / register here.

    • Rockwoods Rockin’ Horsefest @ Greensfelder Park from 9am to 6pm. Learn more here.

    • Two Chicks Vintage Marketplace’s Warehouse Eggstravaganza from 9am to 4pm. Learn more here.

Next Week

  • Monday May 20: Circle of Concern’s 18th Annual Golf Tournament @ Aberdeen Golf Club. Learn more here.

  • Saturday May 25: 

    • Eureka’s Timbers Outdoor Pool Grand Opening from 12pm to 2pm.

THANKS!

Thanks for reading this edition of the ⚡️ West County Pulse newsletter. If you found something useful, please share it with a friend!

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