Veterans Memorial Park {Part 4 - Trails and Lakes}

It's a proven fact that exercise is good for you. We all know that, right? And our town of Union has made great efforts to help us to get off our laurels and get moving.

Beginning at the Union City Park, the city has established 3 routes for walking, running, and biking. Each route is color coded and clearly marked for ease of use. And on top of that, there are even exercise stations along the routes.

The marked trails begin at the Union City Park.

Color coded signs mark the different trail routes.

The walking trails wind through town, over steep hills, through the park system, and around the city lake. What would the new Veterans Memorial Park add to this excellent system? Well, how about trails for the east side of town. Currently, the trail system is only on the west side of Union and towards the downtown area.

The new trails would also be much more forgiving in elevation. The field-like area doesn't have the steep hills like the west end of town.

The trail around the lake is great exercise for those with 2 or 4 feet.

The Veterans Memorial Park would include natural wetlands, or a lake, as well. There are many fishermen in the area, and the city lake can be crowded on a balmy weekend. The parks department also hosts a fishing derby each year that is a big hit with families.

Family fishing time

Fishing is relaxing

On Tuesday, June 5th, Proposition Parks will be the only item on a special ballot. A "yes" vote will be for a .5% additional sales tax, making the tax rate 8.975%. The revenue from this tax is solely for the parks department, and cannot be used for anything else, according to the city website.

What does that amount translate to?

• on a $10 prescription from Walgreens - 0 cents extra
• on a $30 pedi/mani at L'Nails - 0 cents extra
• on a  $75 tank fill up at Mobil - 0 cents extra

Voting will only be held at the Union City Hall Auditorium, 500 East Locust, Union. However, voters may also cast an absentee ballot beforehand if they will not be able to vote on June 5th. The Union Parks Department may be reached at 636-583-8471.

Missed the previous posts? Here they are:

{Part 3 - Soccer}

{Part 2 - Pavilions}

{Part 1 - Baseball}

Up next: more on the other areas of the 43.8 acre Veterans Memorial Park...playgrounds and football fields.


Author: Tyann Marcink
Photos: Marcink Designs

Veterans Memorial Park {Part 3 - Soccer}

The Bourbeuse River flood plain is flooded every weekend in September and October. If not with water, with soccer games and hundreds of boys and girls, as well as their families with their camping chairs.

Parents line the fields in camping chairs to watch the kids play soccer.

There are 36 soccer teams that play in the Union Soccer Association, utilizing 72 coaches and 6 fields. The players range from ages 4 years to 18 years old. The games are refereed by older boys and girls, the porta-potties are bright blue, and the concession stand is on wheels.

Why would the concessions be on wheels? So it can be moved when the river floods. The question during soccer season is not "Will the river flood?" but "When will the river flood?"

From early on, the players learn life skills from team sports.

And when the river floods, the fields are out of commission for several days after the water recedes. The association board carefully watches the river levels so they can quickly move the goals, benches, trash cans, concessions, and porta-potties out of the way of the water.

Practices are held during the week beginning July 20th, and games are held on the weekends, through October 31st. There are no lights, so fields are only playable during daylight.

Fun while learning!

According to Dawn Thompson, Union Soccer Association, the majority of players are from Union, with some from Beaufort and the surrounding area. The older teams travel to other towns to play, including Washington, St. Clair, Pacific, and Gerald.

With the new Veterans Memorial Park, the soccer players would have two additional fields to play on (ones that don't flood), actual restrooms (yeah!), a permanent concession stand (no more mud to cover with planks), and my hope, bleachers.

Tournaments could then be held in Union, Thompson added, bringing people in from the surrounding areas, and thus money being spent in our local restaurants and stores. These people would then be helping to pay for our new park when they go out for celebratory pizza and ice cream after the games.

On Tuesday, June 5th, Proposition Parks will be the only item on a special ballot. A "yes" vote will be for a .5% additional sales tax, making the tax rate 8.975%. The revenue from this tax is solely for the parks department, and cannot be used for anything else, according to the city website.

What does that amount translate to?

• on a $12 pizza from Benito's - 6 cents extra
• on a $40 oil change at Advanced Automotive - 20 cents extra
• on a $489 washer from Appliance Connection - $2.45 extra

Voting will only be held at the Union City Hall Auditorium, 500 East Locust, Union. However, voters may also cast an absentee ballot beforehand if they will not be able to vote on June 5th. The Union Parks Department may be reached at 636-583-8471.

Missed the previous posts? Here they are:
{Part 2 - Pavilions}
{Part 1 - Baseball}

Up next: more on the other areas of the 43.8 acre Veterans Memorial Park...walking trails, splash pad, playground, and football fields.

Author: Tyann Marcink
Photos: Marcink Designs

Where in Union? {May 26}

Do you know where in Union one can find these? If so, you could win a prize from Hair Envy!

Please comment with the exact location, including street/streets, buildings, any identifying landmarks, and even GPS coordinates. The first correct comment wins a prize from Hair Envy. You may comment on this blog post or on the Facebook picture.

Veterans Memorial Park {Part 2 - Pavilions}

If these pavilions could talk...

A place for everyone to gather, the pavilions in the Union parks system enjoy more birthday parties, family reunions, wedding receptions, banquets, concerts, picnics, and political rallies than we will ever know.

Events as large as the Regional FFA Foundation Banquet sponsored by the Union Rotary Club to the city's Long Haul BBQ to even a political rally for a Presidential race have used the Union Parks pavilions.
These highly used gathering spots are a hot commodity on Saturdays from April through October, with many reservations being made well over a year in advance.

One of many family gatherings one will see at the park pavilions.

During the pavilion season, if you want to use one on a Saturday, you have two choices:

1. call the Parks Department and rent one, or
2. arrive at dawn to stake claim to the use of the pavilion for the day.

There are only 3 pavilions in the Union parks that are on a first-come, first-picnic basis, and the other 7 are available to be rented. Of course, if a pavilion is not rented, then it is a first-come, first-picnic basis as well.

A birthday girl at the Garden Pavilion near Clark-Vitt Elementary.

Now, there are also smaller family shelters, a covered picnic table or two. These are always first-come, first-picnic.

According to Angie Breeden in the Parks Department, the new park would most likely have several family shelters, giving Union residents additional spots to enjoy their picnics in the park or just to escape the sun during their visit.

During his campaign in 2008, President Obama held a grass roots rally at the large pavilion.

On Tuesday, June 5th, Proposition Parks will be the only item on a special ballot. A "yes" vote will be for a .5% additional sales tax, making the tax rate 8.975%. The revenue from this tax is solely for the parks department, and cannot be used for anything else, according to the city website.

What does that amount translate to?

• on a $2.75 ice cream cone from Scoops N' More - 1.3 cents extra
• on a $60 dog crate at Dickey Bub's - 30 cents extra
• on a $300 pair of eye glasses from Union Eye Associates - $1.50 extra

Voting will only be held at the Union City Hall Auditorium, 500 East Locust, Union. However, voters may also cast an absentee ballot beforehand if they will not be able to vote on June 5th.

The Union Parks Department may be reached at 636-583-8471.

Up next: more on the other areas of the 43.8 acre Veterans Memorial Park...walking trails, splash pad, playground, soccer and football fields, and more.

Author: Tyann Marcink

Photos: Marcink Designs

Where in Union? {May 18}

Do you know where in Union one can find this time capsule? If so, you could win an ice cream from Scoops N' More!

Please comment with the exact location, including street/streets, buildings, any identifying landmarks, and even GPS coordinates. The first correct comment wins an ice cream from  Scoops N' More. You may comment on this blog post or on the Facebook picture.

Veterans Memorial Park {Part 1 - Baseball}

Nearly every weekday evening and weekend day from April through June, there are many boys scattered throughout the Union parks playing a game of baseball or having a practice. And with 560 boys playing on just 5 game fields, it gets a little crowded.

A team of t-ball boys getting ready to take the field.

I was a little overwhelmed myself when I heard the number of boys playing baseball this year...560 baseball gloves to get home each night, 46 teams to run the bases, 1,120 sweaty socks thrown in the laundry, and thousands of parents, grandparents, siblings, and other family who come into Union to watch these sweet boys play a wonderful game of baseball.

Coaches (aka Dads and Moms) are integral to the league's success.

So one section of the proposed Veterans Memorial Park is for additional baseball fields - 4 regular size and 1 tournament size. And with the rate the baseball program is growing, the league is beyond the desperation point. Consider that just 4 years ago, there were approximately 400 players, according to Jim Jedrey, league organizer. That is a 40% increase!

A few more facts from Jedrey about the program:

• participating boys are ages 4 years to 18 years old
• roughly 200 adults volunteer for managing and coaching
• 450 of the players are from Union
• 110 players are from 12 towns in the surrounding area

Not only are these boys having fun playing one of the greatest games, but they are learning important life skills:

• teamwork
• focus
• positive attitude
• following instructions
• playing by the rules
• listening
• good sportsmanship
• and more

Good sportsmanship begins early.

On Tuesday, June 5th, the Proposition Park will be on a ballot for registered voters to decide if they want a small sales tax to fund the building of this amazing park in Union. The sales tax is a mere one-half cent. What does that calculate to?

• on a $4 hot dog from the Hot Dog Man - 2 cents extra
• on a $35 order of pizza from Benito's - 17.5 cents extra
• on a $95 prom dress from Margo's A Wedding Place - 47.5 cents extra
• on a $175 grocery bill at Frick's - 87.5 cents extra

The little bit of extra change from each person shopping in Union adds up to an amazing park for not just our residents, but for the surrounding area.

Up next: more on the other areas of the 43.8 acre Veterans Memorial Park...walking trails, splash pad, pavilions, playground, soccer and football fields, and more.

All those dirty socks...

"Baseball" - by Marcink Designs

Author: Tyann Marcink

Photos by: Marcink Designs

Complete Automotive Repair by the Experts

Constructing hot rods and a monster truck was just the beginning for Garrick Sitzes.

In the 1990’s, Sitzes and his dad spent weekends building hot rods together for car shows while Sitzes was working in the drafting department at Powell’s Transformers.

And soon, Sitzes’s talent provided an impressive opportunity. In 1994, when Doug Noelke decided to build his monster truck, Big Dawg, he turned to his friend Sitzes help him. Sitzes now travels with Big Dawg to their many truck shows each year.

In 1998 his dad, Jerry Sitzes, helped Sitzes open Advanced Automotive Electric and Repair in a small shop by East Central College. Sitzes and his friend Dave Douglas started out working on alternators and starters.

Then in 2001 they merged with Sitzes’s dad’s business, Jerry’s Automotive, and moved to their current location on East Independence. In 2007, they dropped the Jerry’s Automotive title and began to merge everything into one business. Now retired, Jerry stays on as part owner. 

Now known as Advanced Automotive Electric and Repair, the business takes care of any type of auto service from state inspection and emissions to oil changes and complete engine overhaul.

“Pretty much the only thing we don’t do is exhaust,” according to Stephanie Pracht, sister and employee of Sitzes. “We do trailer and boat wiring, tractors, and we even do a lot of golf carts.”

Sitzes and Pracht live in Union with their families and take much pride in their family business.

Located at 519 E. Independence, Union, Advanced Automotive is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm (lunch from noon to 1pm). Contact them at 636-583-0701 or 636-583-2018.

Also be sure to visit www.advancedautoelectric-mo.com for weekly coupons.


***

Now for the giveaway!

When our Experience Union Facebook page reaches 300 fans, we will be giving away a free oil change at Advanced Automotive Electric (up to $40 value)!

Here's how you can enter to win:

"Like" the Experience Union Facebook page and then comment below that you have done so.

You can get additional entries by doing the following:

1. Follow the Experience Union blog by email and leave a comment below stating that you do (you can find the email box in the top left margin of the homepage).
2. Go to the Advanced Automotive Electric webpage and comment below telling us what service they provide that most interests you.
3. Refer your friends and tell them to leave a comment stating that you referred them.

Where in Union? {May 11}

Ready for another "Where in Union?" game? 

Hint: You more than likely pass this on your way to just about any part of town.

Please comment with the exact location, including street/streets, buildings, any identifying landmarks, and even GPS coordinates. The first correct comment wins a prize package from Sweet Madelynne. You may comment on this blog post or on the Facebook picture.

Living the Sweet Life... Meet Mandi

When first meeting Mandi, anyone can see that her kids come first. This soft-spoken mom loves her children... and she has another love. Baking. Her "sweet life" is one that I envy, since my baking skills have a lot left to be desired.

It was her children that inspired her to take her talents to a new level. "I didn't really get into decorating cakes or making gourmet cupcakes until after I had kids so in a sense, they inspired me to push myself further. I didn't want to have cake at their parties that had been frozen for 3 months and then thawed out when a customer ordered it," Mandi shared.

Mandi's mother also influenced her to bake. "I can remember as far back as to the fourth grade, baking in the kitchen. Everything was always made from scratch. My mom didn't buy any kind of box mix: no Pillsbury, no Hamburger Helper..."

Mandi's work isn't just reserved for family and friends. You can order her treats easily. Email her at amandakuelker@charter.net OR check her out online https://www.facebook.com/SweetDesignsbyMandi http://sweetdesignsbymandi.com http://sweetdesignsbymandi.blogspot.com/

Mandi also plans to offer her goods locally. "We just got our permit for the Union Farmer's Market so we'll be making appearances there on the weekends that we're able to. We'll make updates on our facebook page when we'll be setting up down there."

Please "Experience Union" and check out her blog, website, and/or facebook page... or better yet catch her at the Union Farmer's Market when she's there.

Mandi is a 2001 graduate of Union High School. Photos and copy by Michelle Anne of MK Designs

Where in Union? {May 5}

It's a beautiful weekend in Union to take a walk around downtown. Can you spot where I found Mickey Mouse? 

Please comment with the exact location, including street/streets, buildings, any identifying landmarks, and even GPS coordinates. The first correct comment wins a prize package from Sweet Madelynne. You may comment on this blog post or on the Facebook picture.