West Newsmagazine 8-15-18

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WESTNEWSMAGAZINE.COM
August 15, 2018
WEST NEWSMAGAZINE
I 23
NEWS BRIEFS, from page 9
Police Department, four
goats escaped from a hole
in the farm’s fence and were
found wandering along Doddridge
Avenue, munching on
yard plants. A passerby spotted
the goats and called the
police.
According to a post on
the department’s Facebook
page, one officer described
the goats as “very aggressive
with large horns.” Still, the
officers were able to corral the bunch until
Animal Control arrived on the scene.
The goats were returned to their owner
unharmed.
WILDWOOD
City increases social
offerings for seniors
The city of Wildwood is helping seniors
get out and about while facilitating new
connections in the community. As of this
summer, the city is offering programs specifically
for adults age 60 and older. All
senior programs are free for Wildwood
residents who meet the age requirement;
some programs allow non-residents for a
minimal fee.
Some of the city’s current senior athletic
offerings include a general Senior Fitness
Class at the Wildwood YMCA, located off
Hwy. 109, and a Senior Chair Yoga Class
at Wildwood Yoga & Wellness,
located off of New College
Avenue. Both classes are
$5 for non-residents.
The city is looking to
expand its athletic offerings
in the future and is in the
process of initiating discussions
on a Senior Water Aerobics
class at the Wildwood
YMCA.
The city also is looking to
collaborate with the Lafayette
Older Adult Program, which is a
partnership between Manchester, Ballwin,
Chesterfield, Ellisville, Wildwood, Winchester
and the Parkway and Rockwood
School Districts. The opportunity is available
for individuals age 55 and up.
Participants meet from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
on the second and fourth Mondays of the
month between September and May at the
Ballwin Golf Course, off Holloway Road.
The cost is $2 per person per meeting.
Examples of programs include day trips,
bingo activities, special speakers and networking
opportunities with other people
from across West County. Coffee, soda and
dessert are provided. Occasional special luncheons
require a reservation and cost more.
For more information on specific opportunities,
call (636) 391-6326, ext. 401. For
more details and to register for any city
programs, visit cityofwildwood.com
[Maryland Heights PD photo]
TINY HOUSE, from page 11
Rachel Mens, a Summit student, put it
this way, “Choosing the GIC class rather
than honors geometry was the right choice,
and it was the beginning of an inspiring,
hard-work and 100-percent teamwork
opportunity.”
The Rockwood School District has
responded by expanding the GIC offerings
to its other high schools in the coming
school year, with both Eureka and Summit
now having two such classes instead of one.
Dr. Eric Knost, Rockwood’s superintendent
of schools, said the tiny house program
fits well with the district’s emphasis
on helping young people thrive creatively
and finding the spark that gets them excited
about school.
Knost said members of the Rockwood
staff had heard about the tiny house concept
in other cities and had investigated
how the district could be involved in a
similar effort locally. “We want to nurture
a culture of people, not compliance,” he
noted.
The hands-on, experiential learning combined
well with lessons about doing good
things for others, Knost added.
The tiny houses measure 14 feet by
26 feet and are designed for two people.
Included in the structures are kitchen and
bathroom facilities, heating and air conditioning.
NGNS will manage the rental of the units
and SJ4A leaders have met with agencies
that work with people who are in need or
homeless to refer clients as future residents.
Plans call for the tiny houses to be transported
by truck to the N. Market site later
this month. There, they will be placed on
foundations already in place and hooked
up to utilities.
Marshak said he would like to see the
program expanded to St. Louis schools as
well.
“There’s definitely more need for this
type of program and we believe there are
ample locations where tiny houses can be
placed and be a positive factor in neighborhood
revitalization,” he observed.
Fundraising and donations remain critical
ingredients in the program’s ongoing
efforts. A GoFundMe page has been established
to receive contributions [gofundme.
com/tinyhouses-stl]. All donations to
NGNS are tax deductible due to its 501[c]
[3] status.