Sunday, May 1
Run, Walk, Roll Away From Violence
Frontier Park
7-11 a.m.
Sponsored by Bridgeway Behavioral Health Foundation, this event will benefit the domestic violence and assault programs. The event features a warmup, a competitive 5k race and a 5k fun walk and roll. To register, visit the Bridgeway website.
Sunday, May 1
The Vino Fondo, Missouri’s Grand Fondo Bicycle Race
Begins in Augusta at Mt. Pleasant Winery
8 a.m.
A traditional pairing of challenging riding and a tour of some of Missouri’s best and oldest vineyards. Fully supported with three different ability rides. Proceeds from registration will benefit Trailnet. The ride is sponsored Big Shark Bicycle and Mt. Pleasant Winery. For more info go to the Trailnet website or call Big Shark at 862-1188.
Sunday, May 1 – Monday, May 31
Antique Quilt Show
Frenchtown Heritage Museum, 1121 N. Second Street
Wednesday - Saturday: 12-3 pm
This special exhibit of antique doll quilts and beds as well as quilts from the past centuries on display for you to enjoy. A special viewing will be held Mother's Day Sunday, May 9th from 12 pm -3 pm.
For more information call 636-946-8682.
FREE
Thursday, May 6
Concert in the Park
St. Peters City Centre Amphitheater
7-8:30 p.m.
For the St. Peters centennial celebration in 2010, the city hosts a series of concerts. This week the Kelly Band, a traditional and contemporary Celtic band will entertain concert goers.
FREE
Friday, May 7, Saturday, May 8
Some Enchanted Evening
Lindenwood University’s J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts
7:30 p.m.
The Theater Department presents a revue of production numbers from the musicals of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, including “Oklahoma,” “Carousel,” “South Pacific,” “The King and I” and “The Sound of Music.” For information or to order tickets call 636-949-4433 or online at the Center for the Arts website.
Saturday, May 15
Historical Children’s Festival
First Missouri State Capitol Historic site, South Main St.
10 a.m.-4p.m.
Modern day kids can live and play as children did in the 1820s. Hands on activities include butter churning, quill pen writing, cow milking, candle dipping, baby farm animals, and storytelling about Missouri’s struggle for statehood. For information call 636-940-3322.
FREE
Saturday, May 15 –Sunday, May 16
Lewis and Clark Heritage Days
Frontier Park
Historic St. Charles Downtown District
9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. on Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday
This annual festival features an authentic reenactment of Lewis & Clark's encampment in 1804 prior to their journey up the Missouri River. Also featured are re-enactor encampments, Fife and Drum Corps demonstrations, boat replicas, museum tours,19th century crafts and period food.
For more information call 1-800-366-2427 or visit the Heritage Days website.
FREE, some activities charge a fee
Saturday, May 15 –Sunday, June 6
Greater St. Louis Renaissance Faire
Saturdays, Sundays and Memorial Day only
Wentzville Rotary Park 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Travel back to a 16th century French village and thrill to the exploits of jousting knights; roam the village shops; enjoy stage acts performing comedy, music and daring feats; and interact with colorful villagers, nobles, and peasants. There will be food and fun for the entire family.
$13; seniors, students, $11; 12 and under, $8
For more information call 636-916-1643 or visit www.stlrenfaire.com
Friday, May 21-Sunday, May 23
Friends of the St. Charles City-County Library book fair
St. Charles Convention Center
9 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday
As one of the largest book fair in the metro area, attendees can choose from more than 250,000 hardback, paperbacks, set, records and magazines. Proceeds benefit the Library.
FREE, except on Friday-$5 admission or Friends membership. For information call 838-441-2300 or visit the Friends’ website.
Sunday, May 23
Mountain Biking 101
St. Charles County Parks and Recreation Broemmelsiek Park, Shelter 2
Learn the basics of mountain biking and maintenance with experts from the Gateway Off Road Cyclists. Following each session is a guided ride. All ages and abilities welcome. Participants should bring their own bikes and helmets.
FREE
Written by Myra Vandersall
Showing posts with label St. Charles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label St. Charles. Show all posts
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
St. Louis region ranked in top 10 best housing markets
Our area is also a “best-bang-for-the-buck” and home prices edge up.
It seems as though St. Louis has a lock on the good news department lately. Our region was selected for two Forbes.com lists and home prices are moving up. If you’re shopping for a house, St. Louis is one of the best markets, according to Forbes.com. The magazine recently released their list of Top 10 Best Housing Markets and St. Louis landed in the number eight slot. The list is based on the stability of each metro area as measured by affordability rankings and foreclosure rates as an indicator of a lack of excess inventory, making the top cities what they call the best opportunities for home shoppers. The top 10 housing markets include: Pittsburgh, PA, Louisville, KY, Houston, TX, Minneapolis, MN, Indianapolis, IN, Memphis, TN, Columbus, OH, St. Louis, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX and Austin, TX.
In another Forbes list, St. Louis made the “Best-Bang-For-The-Buck Cities” analysis. This top 100 list is based on solid housing markets, relatively stable employment, a low cost of living and quick commutes.
Home prices are on the way up too, growing for the second straight month in January–up 0.6%, according to real estate data firm First American Core Logic’s Home Price Index. In December the year-over-year increase was 1.54 percent, the first positive number after at least nine months of declines. Nationwide, prices are still falling, down 0.7 percent in January, according to First American.
All good news as we look forward to a spring surge in home sales.
Written by Myra Vandersall
It seems as though St. Louis has a lock on the good news department lately. Our region was selected for two Forbes.com lists and home prices are moving up. If you’re shopping for a house, St. Louis is one of the best markets, according to Forbes.com. The magazine recently released their list of Top 10 Best Housing Markets and St. Louis landed in the number eight slot. The list is based on the stability of each metro area as measured by affordability rankings and foreclosure rates as an indicator of a lack of excess inventory, making the top cities what they call the best opportunities for home shoppers. The top 10 housing markets include: Pittsburgh, PA, Louisville, KY, Houston, TX, Minneapolis, MN, Indianapolis, IN, Memphis, TN, Columbus, OH, St. Louis, Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX and Austin, TX.
In another Forbes list, St. Louis made the “Best-Bang-For-The-Buck Cities” analysis. This top 100 list is based on solid housing markets, relatively stable employment, a low cost of living and quick commutes.
Home prices are on the way up too, growing for the second straight month in January–up 0.6%, according to real estate data firm First American Core Logic’s Home Price Index. In December the year-over-year increase was 1.54 percent, the first positive number after at least nine months of declines. Nationwide, prices are still falling, down 0.7 percent in January, according to First American.
All good news as we look forward to a spring surge in home sales.
Written by Myra Vandersall
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Down payment assistance makes home ownership easier
Homebuyers can take advantage of a variety of tax credits to choose the perfect home.
An array of financial assistance for home purchase is available for qualified buyers in just about every income level. Of course there’s the $8,000 tax credit for first-time buyers and $6,500 for repeat buyers, which expire on June 30, but potential buyers can also look for help with the down payment.
Here’s a run down of what to expect:
The city of St. Charles– The HOME St. Charles Down Payment and Closing Costs Assistance Program helps low to moderate income purchasers to become homeowners. HOME St. Charles will make up to $10,000 available for qualified households to help with the down payment and closing costs. Down payment assistance for St. Louis County is $3,000 and Jefferson County $7,500.
Income levels apply and the sale price must be under $185,000. A mandatory nine-hour home buying seminar and a one-on-one counseling session to review finances and credit history is also required.
And there’s more. The Missouri Housing Development Commission is offering up to a $1,250 credit in property tax breaks for qualified buyers with an extra $500 thrown in if the house is energy efficient or if the buyer begins energy efficient steps within 60 days of closing. The MHDC offers more assistance, administering a number of housing programs, from purchasing a home with a First Place loan, assistance for veterans, buying property in a disaster area, foreclosed properties and home repair grants.
The federal government is also offering tax credits for energy efficient upgrades, up to $1,500 or 30 percent of the improvement cost, which includes windows and doors, insulation, roofs, air conditioners and furnaces. The tax credit is applied for either 2009 or 2010 taxes and expires on December 31, 2010.
With all of this assistance, plus a wide variety of properties to chose from, now is really the time to make that move!
Written by Myra Vandersall
An array of financial assistance for home purchase is available for qualified buyers in just about every income level. Of course there’s the $8,000 tax credit for first-time buyers and $6,500 for repeat buyers, which expire on June 30, but potential buyers can also look for help with the down payment.
Here’s a run down of what to expect:
The city of St. Charles– The HOME St. Charles Down Payment and Closing Costs Assistance Program helps low to moderate income purchasers to become homeowners. HOME St. Charles will make up to $10,000 available for qualified households to help with the down payment and closing costs. Down payment assistance for St. Louis County is $3,000 and Jefferson County $7,500.
Income levels apply and the sale price must be under $185,000. A mandatory nine-hour home buying seminar and a one-on-one counseling session to review finances and credit history is also required.
And there’s more. The Missouri Housing Development Commission is offering up to a $1,250 credit in property tax breaks for qualified buyers with an extra $500 thrown in if the house is energy efficient or if the buyer begins energy efficient steps within 60 days of closing. The MHDC offers more assistance, administering a number of housing programs, from purchasing a home with a First Place loan, assistance for veterans, buying property in a disaster area, foreclosed properties and home repair grants.
The federal government is also offering tax credits for energy efficient upgrades, up to $1,500 or 30 percent of the improvement cost, which includes windows and doors, insulation, roofs, air conditioners and furnaces. The tax credit is applied for either 2009 or 2010 taxes and expires on December 31, 2010.
With all of this assistance, plus a wide variety of properties to chose from, now is really the time to make that move!
Written by Myra Vandersall
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Around St. Charles
Through March 28
2010 Orchid Show
Missouri Botanical Garden
9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Annual orchid show features more than 800 orchids from the Garden’s world-class collection in a lush garden of French-inspired design. Winding streets lead to a French bistro beneath the shadow of the Eiffel Tower.
$5 plus garden admission
Free for member
Friday, March 5
Star Parties
St. Louis Science Center Planetarium
6:45 p.m.
Visitors are treated to viewing the night sky through telescopes at the Planetarium. Members of the St. Louis Astronomical Society will be on hand to answer questions. Included is a viewing of “The Sky Tonight” in the Orthwein Starbay. For night sky updates, call 314-289-4453
Saturday, March 6
St. Louis Moolah Shrine Parade
N. Riverside Dr.
Noon
The 68th annual Shrine Circus Parade will be held in historic St. Charles, beginning on N. Riverside Dr. and ending in the parking area at the Lewis & Clark Boat House and Nature Center. More than 100 parade units will entertain parade viewers. Also, the Moolah little cars, national grand champion marching bands, the Wehrenberg Calliope and the Schnucks giant shopping cart.
Free
Thursday, March 11-Sunday, March 14
Missouri Valley Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament
Family Arena
The 15th annual women’s tourney features 10 league schools with opening round action beginning at 5 p.m. on Thursday and the championship game on Sunday. For details go to the Missouri Valley Conference website.
Thursday, March 11
Caregiving: What to do in emergencies
1-2:30 p.m.
Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital
Learn what you can do to prepare for an emergency and do what’s best for your loved one to minimize stress. Call 636.928.9355 to register.
Free
Thursday, March 18-Sunday, March 21
St. Louis Moolah Shrine Circus
Family Arena
Thurs., March 18, 7:00 p.m.; Fri., March 19, 10:30 a.m., 7:30 p.m.
Sat., March 20, 10:00 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 7:30 pm
Sun., March 21, 1:30 p.m., 6:00 p.m.
Hearing Impaired Performance: Sun., March 21, 1:30 p.m.
Shrine Circus comes to town with trapeze artists, clowns, tigers, elephants and carnival food and much more. Attendees can ride elephants and ponies at this family-centered event. For ticket info, go to the Moolah Shrine Circus website.
Friday, March 26
Lewis, Clark and Sacagawea in Missouri
10 a.m. – noon
St. Charles Community College
Dianne Moran, folklorist/naturalist and Chautauqua scholar will portray the story of Sacagawea, a Plains Indian woman, and how she helped Meriwether Lewis and William Clark secure their place in history as great explorers. Sacagawea visited St. Louis in 1809.
Fee: $15
Sunday, March 28
Spring Concert
Lindenwood University Cultural Center
2 p.m.
The St. Charles Municipal Band & Community Big (Jazz) Band present their annual spring concert. The Municipal Band, under the direction of Nancy Garza, will open its 140th season with a concert of contemporary American music. An Intermission will feature complimentary cookies & refreshments. The Big (Jazz) Band with vocalist concludes the afternoon's performance with swing and contemporary jazz.
Tuesday, March 30
New Trail-Dardene Creek
9:30 a.m.
Explore the back woods of St. Peters. Approximately 3-5 miles, mostly flat, partially paved trail. Meet at the St. Peters Rec-Plex, 5200 Mexico Road, St Peters, MO, near trailhead.
Free
Written by Myra Vandersall
2010 Orchid Show
Missouri Botanical Garden
9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Annual orchid show features more than 800 orchids from the Garden’s world-class collection in a lush garden of French-inspired design. Winding streets lead to a French bistro beneath the shadow of the Eiffel Tower.
$5 plus garden admission
Free for member
Friday, March 5
Star Parties
St. Louis Science Center Planetarium
6:45 p.m.
Visitors are treated to viewing the night sky through telescopes at the Planetarium. Members of the St. Louis Astronomical Society will be on hand to answer questions. Included is a viewing of “The Sky Tonight” in the Orthwein Starbay. For night sky updates, call 314-289-4453
Saturday, March 6
St. Louis Moolah Shrine Parade
N. Riverside Dr.
Noon
The 68th annual Shrine Circus Parade will be held in historic St. Charles, beginning on N. Riverside Dr. and ending in the parking area at the Lewis & Clark Boat House and Nature Center. More than 100 parade units will entertain parade viewers. Also, the Moolah little cars, national grand champion marching bands, the Wehrenberg Calliope and the Schnucks giant shopping cart.
Free
Thursday, March 11-Sunday, March 14
Missouri Valley Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament
Family Arena
The 15th annual women’s tourney features 10 league schools with opening round action beginning at 5 p.m. on Thursday and the championship game on Sunday. For details go to the Missouri Valley Conference website.
Thursday, March 11
Caregiving: What to do in emergencies
1-2:30 p.m.
Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital
Learn what you can do to prepare for an emergency and do what’s best for your loved one to minimize stress. Call 636.928.9355 to register.
Free
Thursday, March 18-Sunday, March 21
St. Louis Moolah Shrine Circus
Family Arena
Thurs., March 18, 7:00 p.m.; Fri., March 19, 10:30 a.m., 7:30 p.m.
Sat., March 20, 10:00 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 7:30 pm
Sun., March 21, 1:30 p.m., 6:00 p.m.
Hearing Impaired Performance: Sun., March 21, 1:30 p.m.
Shrine Circus comes to town with trapeze artists, clowns, tigers, elephants and carnival food and much more. Attendees can ride elephants and ponies at this family-centered event. For ticket info, go to the Moolah Shrine Circus website.
Friday, March 26
Lewis, Clark and Sacagawea in Missouri
10 a.m. – noon
St. Charles Community College
Dianne Moran, folklorist/naturalist and Chautauqua scholar will portray the story of Sacagawea, a Plains Indian woman, and how she helped Meriwether Lewis and William Clark secure their place in history as great explorers. Sacagawea visited St. Louis in 1809.
Fee: $15
Sunday, March 28
Spring Concert
Lindenwood University Cultural Center
2 p.m.
The St. Charles Municipal Band & Community Big (Jazz) Band present their annual spring concert. The Municipal Band, under the direction of Nancy Garza, will open its 140th season with a concert of contemporary American music. An Intermission will feature complimentary cookies & refreshments. The Big (Jazz) Band with vocalist concludes the afternoon's performance with swing and contemporary jazz.
Tuesday, March 30
New Trail-Dardene Creek
9:30 a.m.
Explore the back woods of St. Peters. Approximately 3-5 miles, mostly flat, partially paved trail. Meet at the St. Peters Rec-Plex, 5200 Mexico Road, St Peters, MO, near trailhead.
Free
Written by Myra Vandersall
Monday, January 25, 2010
Efficient home heating
Efficiently heated homes save money and increase potential sales
Sealing your house up tight for both winter and summer is the cost-effective way to go.
The temperature is inching up toward the 40s and every once in a while the sun shows promise. The days of subfreezing temperatures and windy blasts are over, right? Not so fast there. We humans can have remarkably short memories, and here it is just the middle of January. Instead of reminding your family that layering clothes is perfectly normal inside, let’s revisit why you should get serious about home heating efficiency.
While these tips are primarily about the heating season, they are just as applicable for the summer months too. An air leak is an air leak, whether heat is leaking or the cold air conditioning is leaking.
Stop the leaks. Finding air leaks is the first task on the road to make your home more heat efficient. Anywhere there is an opening in your house, the potential for air leaks exists. Check window frames, doorframes, attic entrances, electrical outlets and ductwork. To check for leaks, use a lit incense stick and watch for horizontal smoke. Hardware stores have a multitude of weatherproofing kits and caulking. Addressing even the most minor air leaks can result in substantial utility savings.
Ductwork systems may be wasting your energy dollars. Often overlooked, typical duct work can lose 25-45 percent of your heating or cooling energy. Look for leaky joints or holes in the duct system, disconnected ducts that have separated from each other and un-insulated or poorly insulated ducts in attics and crawlspaces.
Sealing ductwork is really a job for the professional, who can assess your problems, especially in unconditioned spaces. Minor fixes are temporary at best. Going the professional route can reduce your annual utility bills by as much as $300 and better yet, improves the overall air quality.
Total house insulation is another job for the pros. This is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce energy loss and outside noise. Research the recommended standards for your region in R-values. The higher the R-value, the less transfer of heat through the material.
Thermostats can save big bucks. For every one degree you lower the temperature in your house over a 24-hour period, savings can go up three percent. Adjusting your thermostat down 10-15 percent for an eight-hour period each day gives you a 10 percent annual savings. Programmable thermostats will automatically turn the heat down while you are at work during the day and at night.
Ceiling fans aren’t just for summer. While we think of ceiling fans as a way to stay cool in the summer, they are also heat savers in the winter. By reversing the blades, ceiling fans re-circulate the rising warm air back down into the living area.
Plugging leaks is the single most effective way to make your home energy efficient not only for you and your family, but also for potential buyers, who are even more cost-conscious than usual.
And it shows your home is well taken care of and maintained.
Written by Myra Vandersall
Sealing your house up tight for both winter and summer is the cost-effective way to go.
The temperature is inching up toward the 40s and every once in a while the sun shows promise. The days of subfreezing temperatures and windy blasts are over, right? Not so fast there. We humans can have remarkably short memories, and here it is just the middle of January. Instead of reminding your family that layering clothes is perfectly normal inside, let’s revisit why you should get serious about home heating efficiency.
While these tips are primarily about the heating season, they are just as applicable for the summer months too. An air leak is an air leak, whether heat is leaking or the cold air conditioning is leaking.
Stop the leaks. Finding air leaks is the first task on the road to make your home more heat efficient. Anywhere there is an opening in your house, the potential for air leaks exists. Check window frames, doorframes, attic entrances, electrical outlets and ductwork. To check for leaks, use a lit incense stick and watch for horizontal smoke. Hardware stores have a multitude of weatherproofing kits and caulking. Addressing even the most minor air leaks can result in substantial utility savings.
Ductwork systems may be wasting your energy dollars. Often overlooked, typical duct work can lose 25-45 percent of your heating or cooling energy. Look for leaky joints or holes in the duct system, disconnected ducts that have separated from each other and un-insulated or poorly insulated ducts in attics and crawlspaces.
Sealing ductwork is really a job for the professional, who can assess your problems, especially in unconditioned spaces. Minor fixes are temporary at best. Going the professional route can reduce your annual utility bills by as much as $300 and better yet, improves the overall air quality.
Total house insulation is another job for the pros. This is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce energy loss and outside noise. Research the recommended standards for your region in R-values. The higher the R-value, the less transfer of heat through the material.
Thermostats can save big bucks. For every one degree you lower the temperature in your house over a 24-hour period, savings can go up three percent. Adjusting your thermostat down 10-15 percent for an eight-hour period each day gives you a 10 percent annual savings. Programmable thermostats will automatically turn the heat down while you are at work during the day and at night.
Ceiling fans aren’t just for summer. While we think of ceiling fans as a way to stay cool in the summer, they are also heat savers in the winter. By reversing the blades, ceiling fans re-circulate the rising warm air back down into the living area.
Plugging leaks is the single most effective way to make your home energy efficient not only for you and your family, but also for potential buyers, who are even more cost-conscious than usual.
And it shows your home is well taken care of and maintained.
Written by Myra Vandersall
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Buying a home in Missouri in 2010 has incentives
A proposal before the
Buying a home in
The property tax break is supported by Gov. Jay Nixon and State Treasurer Clint Zweifel, the MHDC chairperson. This $15 million proposal would be funded from the Commission’s reserve fund. An estimated 9,000-11,000 households could benefit. Show your environmentally friendly side and the commission will provide an extra $500 if the house is energy-efficient or if the buyer can begin energy efficient steps within 60 days of closing. This perk includes improvements like insulation, energy star rated appliances, efficient water heaters and windows.
Income limits do apply, ranging from $58,300 to $98,560.
The big day is Friday, December 18, when commission members vote on the proposal. Because of all these incentives, those thinking about buying a home next year need to set up a planning schedule and begin sprucing up your house for sale. The first step is to analyze your finances, work on getting as big a down payment as possible, and check that credit score. There may be reports on your score that are wrong or fraudulent, reducing your score and the size of loan. By checking now you’ll avoid problems when you are ready to buy.
And, investigate the MHDC to see if you qualify for more assistance. The Commission administers any number of housing programs, from purchasing a home with a
Written by Myra Vandersall
Monday, November 16, 2009
Holiday Traditions in St. Charles
St. Charles is in the news again, this time in the AAA Midwest Traveler Magazine. Our holiday festivities, Christmas Traditions, is prominently featured in the November/December issue. To read the feature story, go to http://www.ouraaa.com/traveler/mid/2009/11/tank.html
This joyous season kicks off with opening ceremonies on Friday, November 27, at 11 a.m. at Kister Park. Santa and Mrs. Santa arrive in a horse drawn carriage, escorted by the Lewis and Clark Fife and Drum Corps and the Legends of Christmas.
To learn more about our premier event, go to www.stcharleschristmas.com
Written by Myra Vandersall
This joyous season kicks off with opening ceremonies on Friday, November 27, at 11 a.m. at Kister Park. Santa and Mrs. Santa arrive in a horse drawn carriage, escorted by the Lewis and Clark Fife and Drum Corps and the Legends of Christmas.
To learn more about our premier event, go to www.stcharleschristmas.com
Written by Myra Vandersall
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