⚡️ Schoolhouse Bday, Chesterfield Shines & Big Brains

Author

Jared Michel
March 27, 2024

👋 Hi there, West County!

In today’s ⚡️ West County Pulse newsletter:

  • 🎂 Schoolhouse Birthday

  • 🌟 Chesterfield Livability

  • 🧠 Brain Bee Success

Let’s jump into today’s newsletter!

— Jared Michel

THE DIGEST

🎂 African Schoolhouse #4 Turns One at Faust Park

This week St. Louis County celebrated the one-year anniversary of African Schoolhouse #4's grand opening at Faust Park’s Historic Village. The oldest Black schoolhouse in the county, built in 1894, was moved from private land and restored by St. Louis County Parks and Recreation staff and the St. Louis County Parks Foundation. The schoolhouse, which was in use until 1950, now serves as a testament to the history of Black students and their families' fight for education in the county. Read more about the schoolhouse’s background and upkeep here.

🌟 Chesterfield Shines in National Livability Rankings

A recent study has ranked Chesterfield among the top 20 best places to live in the United States for 2024. The ranking considered factors such as cost of living, schools, crime rates, outdoor activities, job opportunities, and diversity. Chesterfield's high ranking showcases why our area is a great place to call home! Read Fox 2’s full story here.

🧠 West County Students Shine at WashU Brain Bee

Students from both Rockwood and Parkway showcased their neuroscience knowledge at the 14th annual St. Louis Area Brain Bee, held at Washington University on March 2. The Brain Bee is a competition that tests high school students' understanding of the brain and nervous system, offering them a chance to conduct experiments and explore careers in neuroscience. Among the top 12 finalists were Hansika Gonuguntla, a Marquette High sophomore, alongside Bhavya Agarwal from Parkway North, Radhika Sinha, and Hannah Mathew from Parkway Central, in a competition that drew participants from 32 area high schools. Read more about the Brain Bee on WashU’s website here.

🚒 Big Bend Temp Closed After House Fire

Last Thursday a house fire near the Treetop Shopping Center in Manchester temporarily closed Big Bend Road. Thankfully, no one was majorly injured in the incident. Although, the homeowner escaped with minor injuries, and several firefighters also sustained minor injuries while battling the blaze. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but it does not appear to be suspicious. Read more about the fire here.

LOCAL BUSINESS

🛝 Slick City Plans Nationwide Expansion

Chesterfield-headquartered Slick City Action Park, a unique indoor "waterless water park," has begun franchising with plans for rapid nationwide expansion. Founded by Bron Launsby in 2021, Slick City features patented, friction-reduced slides up to 20 feet tall, bouncy sport courts, and other fun attractions. With 11 locations set to open by year's end and strong franchise interest, Slick City aims to entertain both kids and adults in the booming experiential economy. Read the full story here.

🌟 Wildwood Designer Showcases Versatile Lighting

Wildwood's Anne Marie Design Studio recently appeared on Fox 2's Studio STL, showcasing the beauty and versatility of drum lights. Anne Marie Boedges, the studio's president, demonstrated how these lights can be incorporated into various spaces, including kitchens, bathrooms, and home offices:

CITY HIGHLIGHTS

Ballwin

💪 No-Cost Diabetes Program Comes to Ballwin

The Pointe has teamed up with HabitNu to bring a new diabetes prevention program to the community. Eligible participants can join the program at no cost, with meetings held on Thursdays at 1pm. Interested individuals can check their eligibility through the provided link, and the program will begin once all spaces are filled.

Chesterfield

🏊 10% Off Pool Passes - Ends March 31

Residents have until this weekend (March 31) to purchase Chesterfield Family Aquatic Center (CFAC) season pool passes at a 10% early bird discount, and beginning April 4, season passes can be picked up every Thursday in April from 10am to 6pm at the aquatic center.

Eureka

🏋️ April Fitness Classes at The Timbers Released

The Timbers in Eureka has released its April schedule for fitness classes, which are open to everyone, including non-residents and non-members. Taught by nationally certified instructors from across the St. Louis area, the classes are varied and offered at different times throughout the week. All classes are free with membership and are drop-in style, requiring no pre-registration.

🚧 Bald Hill Rd to Stay Open During Weekend Events

Mayor Sean Flower announced that Bald Hill Road will remain open during weekend events starting this upcoming weekend. The city will install 4-foot fencing, post speed limits and crosswalk locations, and add lighting to crosswalks inside the park to improve pedestrian safety while maintaining traffic flow. The decision comes after reviewing the situation over the past two weeks with police and public works staff.

Manchester

🤝 Civic Season: Care Upcoming on April 6

This year Manchester is launching its inaugural Civic Season, an initiative aimed at reigniting the civic spirit and fostering community unity. The first Civic Saturday event will be held on April 6 at 10 a.m. at the Manchester Parks Building, focusing on the theme of Care. Through music, readings, and conversations over coffee, attendees will explore the role of care in building trust and vibrant communities, while discovering opportunities to combat isolation and promote solidarity.

UPCOMING EVENTS

  • Tonight: Parkway board candidate forum @ the Parkway Welcome Center from 7pm to 9pm. Learn more here.

  • Friday: Parkway South’s 3rd Annual Community Color Run @ Parkway South starting at 9am. Learn more here.

  • Saturday: Chesterfield Regional Chamber’s 7th Annual Blossom Bolt & Sprout Sprint in the Chesterfield Valley. Learn more / register here.

  • April 2: Election Day from 6am to 7pm. Learn more here.

  • April 4: Senior Health Fair @ the Chesterfield Community Center starting at 10am. Register by emailing [email protected]

🥚 Egg-citing Easter Events in West County

Today:

  • Manchester’s Middle School Flashlight Egg Hunt, Pizza & Games @ Schroeder Park (Ages 10-14, 7:30pm-9pm, Preregistration required) Learn more / register here.

Friday:

  • Farmers & Merchants Bank (Eureka)’s Meet the Easter Bunny + Petting Zoo @ Eureka Bank Location (10am-12pm). Announcement here.

Saturday:

  • Ballwin's Underwater Egg Hunt in the Pointe’s Indoor Pool (Ages 8-10, 12pm-2pm, Preregistration required). Register / learn more here.

  • Brookdale Farms' Easter Egg Hunt & Pancake Breakfast (Ages 0-12, 9:30am-4pm). Learn more / buy tickets here.

  • Twin Oaks’ Easter Egg Hunt @ Twin Oaks Park (Ages 1-12, 10am). Learn more here.

THANKS!

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

Did I miss something? Let me know at [email protected]

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