Where in Union? {July 6}

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 from Planet Ice!

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.

 

A Cool Retreat To Beat The Heat

Get a break from the heat wave with a super cool, shaved ice treat from Planet Ice!  Located on Vondera, right next to Planet Gymnastics, Planet Ice offers a wide variety flavors that are sure to please everyone in the family! 

 Super smooth ice is shaved fresh for eat treat!  Make sure to pay them a visit and tell them we sent you!

Hours of Operation:
Monday - Thursday 3pm to 9m
Friday 3pm to 10pm
Saturday 12pm to 10pm
Sunday 12pm to 9pm
Open until Mid-September!

Union's "Little Treat"

Meet Cassie of A Little Treat. Cassie is a born and raised "Unionite", operating a small baking business out of her home.   "I fell in love with baking when I was a child but now that I am an adult I became more and more interested in it!  I stumbled upon a book about cake pops and now the rest is history."

What is a cake pop?  It is candy or chocolate coated cake on a lollipop stick.  Yum!

They start as little balls of cake ... and end up as a candy coated treasure!

A Little Treat specializes in small treats such as cake pops, truffles and brownie bites.  Cassie's dream is to one day to have a bakery with all things small and sweet!

Perfect designs for your holiday and seasonal get-togethers!

She does special events too!

Small treats galore!  Truffles, Boston Cream Pies, Cake Balls, Chocolate Strawberries and more!

Please visit her blog at for some fun recipes, more info about Cassie.  She has photos of different pops that she has made that are available to order.  You can also follow A Little Treat on Facebook and Twitter to stay updated on the latest treats!

Photos Courtesy of A Little Treat

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.

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.

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.


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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.

Kids Caring for the Community

Local Girl Scout's Daisy troop #4596 did more than have a play date at the park Tuesday night, they were there to work!  The girls showed how much they care about their community by planting two red bud trees at the main city park.

They were all smiles as they got to each take turns shoveling dirt onto the trees and then watering them.

These first grade girls were very proud to know that they would always have a reminder of how they helped to make their park more beautiful.

Planting the trees was fun, but they weren't done yet!  After donning their blue gloves, they ran around the park picking up litter.

They were very excited every time that they found a cigarette, soda can, plastic wrapper or other piece of trash.  When they were finished, they had filled a large sized trash bag!

"Look how much we found!"  Each girl was very proud of what they had accomplished.  While wrapping up the work day, many of the girls were talking about how they were so happy that they could make the park a healthier and safer place to play!

These girls are the future of our community and are trying to do their part to take care of and protect it.  Way to go girls!!


Gussie Schmitz

And it begins...

Experience Union.

What does it all mean and who are we?

We come from varied backgrounds, we three who are starting this adventure.

Some of us are transplants to the area, while others are locals with family lines that go far back.

What brought us together is our love of photography, telling stories, and of the town we live in: Union, Missouri.

We found great inspiration from our friend Slava Bowman and her work with Re-Discover Washington, and it has been with her blessing that we have started this venture, or more like an "adventure" in our own backyards.

Gussie, Tyann, and Michelle will find the stories of the people, places, and events that make Union a place to experience. The stories and photographs will all be done by us and for you our readers.

Maybe you are a bit like us, and have found yourself NOT experiencing Union as much as you could, but if this blog can get us out of our little routines in life and seek out new experiences in our own hometown - perhaps it can do the same for you. At least that is our wish...

Thank you and welcome... to Experience Union.