Where in Union? {June 29}

Where in Union is this? If you know and are the first one to correctly comment on this blog post or the Facebook post, you will a sweet treat to help you beat the heat!

Please comment with the exact location, including street/streets, buildings, any identifying landmarks, and even GPS coordinates. The first correct comment wins the prize. Please be as specific as possible! You may comment on this blog post or on the Facebook picture.

Where in Union? {June 24}

Where in Union is this? If you know and are the first one to correctly comment on this blog post or the Facebook post, you will win a prize package from MK Designs Photography Fine Art and Portrait!

Please comment with the exact location, including street/streets, buildings, any identifying landmarks, and even GPS coordinates. The first correct comment wins the prize. Please be as specific as possible! You may comment on this blog post or on the Facebook picture.

Meet the team: Michelle

My name is Michelle and I have lived in Missouri all my life. Big Piney, Eugene, Warrensburg, Warrenton, Marthasville... and Union have all been the towns I have called "home." I moved to Union well over a decade ago because it was a great fit for me and provided an easy commute to my job teaching in a neighboring school district. I've come to love the town square, the parks, and the little things that make this town special.

I must say that the biggest joy in my life is my daughter. She's my #1. I had been warned my whole life how much a child will change who you are - that parenthood redefines you - all those people were so right! :)

Here are a few other random words that help "introduce" me to you. Camping. Creativity. Travel. Reading. Teaching. Honesty. Art. Photography. Humor. Journalism. UCM - GO MULES! Yosemite. Mark Twain National Forest. Catfish.

Always remember: Not all those who wander are lost.

You can follow my photography blog here: http://mkdesignsphoto.blogspot.com/
Or see my photo website here: http://mkdesignsphoto.weebly.com/

2012 Franklin County Fair and {Fabulous Fair Freebies}

Sticky cotton candy fingers, juicy turkey legs, tasty warm waffle ice cream sandwiches, powder sugary funnel cake faces, tantalizing roast beef sandwiches...can't you smell the delicious fair food now?

The Franklin County Fair is a long time tradition for Union. The four days of fair fun each July beckons to families from all over Franklin County every year. Fair days are filled with sights, sounds, and scents that create wonder and amazement, making everyone feel like a little kid again.

This year, the dates are Thursday, July 5th, through Sunday, July 8th. For all the exciting happenings at the fair this year, a schedule of events, and where to pick up your season passes, see the Franklin County Fair website.

So what is your favorite summer fair memory? Is there something special at the fair you want your children to experience? Tell us and you could win family passes to a day at the Franklin County Fair!

Maybe it is...

The storming of the midway rides.

...or is it...

The thrill of the dragon roller coaster.

...or even...

The wonder of a first ride on the carousel.

 Maybe it's the activities...

The feats of strength in the kids' pedal tractor pull.

...that only a fair has...

The muddiness of the pig scramble.

Oh, and I know there are more (can't make this post too terribly long!)...horseshoe tournament, 4-H exhibits, FFA petting zoo, teen dance, Fair Queen Contest, Antique Tractor Pull, money and candy scramble, Little Mr. and Miss Contest, dairy show, beef show, rabbit show, bubblegum contest, LollyPop the Clown, Super Farmer Contest, Demolition Derby...the list goes on and on and on...

See the entire schedule of fair events at the Franklin County Fair website.

So what do we have for {Fabulous Fair Freebies}? Oh, sweet mothers, do we have some freebies for you!

(4) passes to Thursday
(4) passes to Friday
(4) passes to Saturday
(4) passes to Sunday
(2) VIP passes to the Main Stage concert of Hotel California, a salute to the Eagles
(4) dinners of your choice from the Kiwanis stand
(4) roast beef dinners from the New Hope Assembly of God stand
your choice of treat from the Lions Club stand (more details coming soon)
(10) snowcones and (10) giant drumsticks from the Democratic Club stand

How to win {Fabulous Fair Freebies}
Simply comment on this blog post with your favorite fair memory or a memory you look forward to making this year.
That's it!

Now, how about additional entries? Sure!
(1) Share this blog post on Facebook



Now enter another comment below that you have shared this opportunity with your friends.

(2) "Like" Experience Union on Facebook.

Just click this button --->

Now enter another comment below that you "liked" us.

(3) "Subscribe" to Franklin Co Fair on Facebook.

Just click this button --->


Then leave another comment.

(4) Leave a comment saying which day of the fair you want to win passes for.

(5) Post a picture of you or your family enjoying the fair on the Experience Union Facebook wall.
Then leave another comment.

(6) Leave a comment as to your favorite food at the Kiwanis stand.
Here is what they will have this year:
pork steaks, bratwursts, turkey legs, rib eye, pork burger, hamburger, baked beans, chips, and giant pickles

(7) Leave a comment as to your favorite food at the New Hope Assembly of God stand.
Here is their menu this year:
all day: pizza, pretzels, nachos, roast beef, hot dogs, chili ala carte or as a topping
breakfast: biscuits and gravy on Thursday, breakfast burritos on Friday, sausage and cheese biscuits on Saturday
drinks: milk and juice
oh, and fresh fruit!

(8) "Like" New Hope Assembly of God on Facebook.

Just click this button --->


Now enter another comment below that you "liked" them.

(9) Leave a comment as to your favorite treat at the Lions Club stand.
Here is what they will have this year:
Dippin' Dots, waffle ice cream sandwiches, funnel cakes, shakes

(10) Leave a comment as to your favorite treat at the Democratic Club stand.
Here is what they will have this year:
granddaddy drumsticks, snowcones, soda, water, candy, chips

(11) "Like" the Democratic Club's candidate Mary Jo Straatmann on Facebook.

Just click this button --->


Now enter another comment below that you "liked" their page.

Bonus entry: If you have completed all 10 additional entries, leave just one more comment that you have done it all!

Super Bonus entries: Share this post every day until July 2nd and then come back and comment that you did so. Each share that you comment about is another entry...woo hoo! That makes 25 possible entries...oh, yeah!

Winners will be drawn on Monday, July 2nd! We look forward to seeing and hearing more about the fair through your experiences!!!

Author: Tyann Marcink
Photos: Marcink Designs

Where in Union? {June 15}

Where in Union is this stone? If you know and are the first one to correctly comment on this blog post or the Facebook post, you will win a pizza from Philly's!

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

Also note that I love a very thick crust with chicken, black olives, and extra cheese. I don't mind some marinara dipping sauce, either. ;) Sorry, no hint for this week!

Meet the Team - Gussie

Growing up in Krakow instilled a love of country/small town life in me.  Now, a stay at home mom and small business owner, I am raising my children in an area that I love!

My name is Gussie Schmitz.  My husband and I are raising our two amazing girls in Union.  We own Mach 1 Audio, Video, Security in Washington.  I also own a small business, Sweet Madelynne, for which I sell hair accessories at several fall craft fairs.

I have a passion for cooking, crafts, photography and family.  I blog about all of those topics at Little Mama.  My passion for family overflows into a love for Union.  Small town life is such a perfect setting for me to raise my family.

I joined Experience Union because I wanted to support the town where I am raising my children.  Our town has so much to offer if you just do a little digging and I wanted to share that with others.

Cub Scouts Clean up the Park Creek

Recently, the Osage District Boy Scout Order of the Arrow Chapter and Cub Pack 442 cleaned up the creek in the City Park. The scouts and other volunteers cleaned from the bridge at the Jaycee Fairgrounds to the tennis courts, including from the bridge at the Union Swimplex also.

According to Valerie Howland, pack 442, the boys climbed down into the stream to haul out several bags of trash.  Everything from candy wrappers and soda bottles to a large piece of siding, a bicycle pedal, and metal rods were fished from the water.


While there is not much water in the stream currently, the tadpoles, crayfish, and other animals that call the creek home now have a cleaner environment to live in. 

Cub Scout Pack 442 is open to all boys in the area who are entering 1st through 5th grade. Sign ups will be held September 13th at 6 pm at Central Elementary. Note that there are also Cub Scout packs at both Beaufort Elementary and Immaculate Conception Schools as well.

Article and photos submitted by Valerie Howland.

Where in Union? {June 9}

Do "think" you know where in Union one can find this graffiti? If so, you could win a pack of yummalicious cupcakes from Sweet Designs by Mandi!

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

Hint: Take a stroll through city-owned spots to find this sign.

Veterans Memorial Park {Part 6 - Playgrounds, the Memorial, and Cost}

There is nothing like the feeling of flying through the air. No matter your age, flying down a slide or swinging through the air is a thrill and a rush.

Union has 4 playgrounds for families to enjoy:

1. City Park on Park Street
2. Clark Vitt Memorial Park on Clark Vitt Drive
3. Hoffert Park on Hoffert Street, behind Shop-n-Save Pharmacy
4. the little park on College Meadows Drive

There are pavilions, restrooms, and family picnic shelters are the first 2 parks, the larger ones. The second 2 parks only have a family shelter besides the playground equipment.

If you look at the map, you will notice that if a family who lives in St. Andrews (the largest subdivision in not only Franklin County, but the surrounding counties), wants to go to the playground, the nearest park would be College Meadows Drive. The other 3 parks are completely across town.

The growth of Union on the east side has exploded in the past decade, and the new Veterans Memorial Park would fill the need for additional playgrounds for the 3,000 new residents (numbers based on the 2000 and 2010 censuses).

The new east park is tentatively planned to have 3 playgrounds, 3 swing sets, and a splash pad, in addition to sports fields, walking trails, conservation areas, and a fishing lake.

And...the park will contain a Disabled Veterans Memorial. A memorial that will honor the men and women who have served our country so that we have the freedoms we love.


Some major numbers have been estimated for building this amazing park, and those numbers are staggering...millions and millions of dollars. However, the park will not cost near what the estimation is, according to the Parks Department and the Missourian.


Why? Because the numbers are based on St. Louis costs, not based on using local contractors. The number also doesn't figure in the federal grants that are available to help us build the new Veterans Memorial Park.


But why not go for the grants first? Good question!


The Parks Department cannot apply for grants until there is a financial plan to build the park. The grant money will not be given unless the community is committed to building the park. And passing a tiny sales tax says that we are committed to continuing the growth of our community with the Veterans Memorial Park is exactly what the grant granters are looking for.


***
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.

Voting will only be held at the Union City Hall Auditorium, 500 East Locust, Union, from 6am to 7pm. The Union Parks Department may be reached at 636-583-8471.

Missed the previous posts? Here they are:
{Part 5 - Football}
{Part 4 - Trails and Lakes}
{Part 3 - Soccer}
{Part 2 - Pavilions}
{Part 1 - Baseball}

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!

Author: Tyann Marcink
Photo: Marcink Designs

Veterans Memorial Park {Part 5 - Football}

The Union High School football team has been trampling area teams the past couple years, and part of that may be due to the strong junior league in town.

"Our youth sports programs feed into the high school programs. Union High School has had a good run of successful sports teams which I believe is due in part to the hard work and dedication of those involved in youth sports," stated Jeff Watson, President of the Union Wildcats Junior Football League. "It’s a source of pride in our community."

Team sports teach important life skills to children, and the junior football league is all about teaching the young men skills.

According to Watson, Union Wildcats Junior Football League will have approximately 200 participants in the 2012 football season on 8 teams for kids in grades 3rd through 8th.

Last year, there were 7 teams...with 5 teams practicing on one field at the middle school and 2 other teams practicing on baseball fields. Just a little crowded...

The high school allows the use of their field for games, but in the event of heavy rain, the high school field cannot be used...and that can be detrimental to the Union program. Last year, when the Union team had earned a home playoff game, the game was moved to Washington because of heavy rain. Union still had to pay the referees, but Washington collected the gate receipts and concessions.

Photo used with permission

Watson added that an additional venue for games and practices for the football league would be very beneficial to the football program as well as the baseball program. The Union fall baseball league is growing, but the field space is limited with fall baseball and football running at the same time. By having enough football practice facilities, more fields are freed up for fall baseball to be able to expand.

***


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 hanging basket from Platt's Nursery - 6 cents extra
• on a $27 knife from a Pampered Chef consultant - 14 cents extra
• on a $95 stack of college class supplies at the ECC Bookstore - 48 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 4 - Trails and Lakes}
{Part 3 - Soccer}
{Part 2 - Pavilions}
{Part 1 - Baseball}

Just one more post to go on the 43.8 acre proposed Veterans Memorial Park...playgrounds.

Author: Tyann Marcink

Where in Union? {June 1}

Do you know where in Union one can find this Kiwanis International logo? If so, you could win a For the Love of the Game fine art photographic 8x10 print from Marcink Designs - your choice of the St. Louis Cardinals or the St. Louis Blues. What a perfect gift for Dad for Father's Day coming up...{wink}.

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

Hint: Don't forget about Founder's Day at the Union City Park on Saturday and the Proposition Park vote on Tuesday at the City Hall Auditorium. You may want to take the weekend to check out the various city park areas this weekend.