Meet: Rob Kell and Vega Fireworks

The celebratory pops, bangs, and shazizzles of fireworks are an American tradition this week. Barbecue burgers and hot dogs, strawberry shortcake, fresh fruit salad, and ice cream go right along with the American celebration of Independence Day.

Did you know that the fireworks stands open only 2 weeks before July 4th? Just two short weeks to supply you with sparklers, snappers, killer bees, twitter glitters, and roman candles.

Shopping for fireworks like a kid in a candy store.

This year, the local family owned stand Vega Fireworks has a celebration of their own - 30 years of business. You know their stand - the red and white striped tent near Barreth Ford, right off of Hwy. 50.

Follow them on Facebook right now:

Rob Kell and his daughter Angela now have a total of three stands - Union, St. Clair, and Troy. They hire local young people to help with the stands, providing a fun summer job.

Vega Fireworks has the highest quality fireworks available, with a selection of over 300 different items. They are also the exclusive distributor of Black Market Brand fireworks - the most powerful available by law. The Black Market Brand is guaranteed to have the highest quality performance, including the richest colors, extra long duration stars, and spectacular effects combinations.

Boxes piled high with rockets, Roman candles, sparklers, jumping jacks, and firecrackers.

Not sure what particular fireworks do? Here is a little cheat sheet from their website:

“Cakes” are one wick, multi-shot pieces that are guaranteed to wow audiences with their huge breaks, vivid colors, and thundering explosions. Coming in sizes of 500 gram (the largest) to 200 gram, cakes are the best choice for those who desire a more “automatic”, light-it-and-watch show. Great for impressive finales.

“Reloadables” refer mainly to pieces that offer a single firing tube which is manually reloaded with a variety of explosive shells. The larger the shell, the bigger, higher, and more impressive the effect.

“Fountains” are bright, colorful showers of sparks and flaming balls that typically reach relatively shallow heights. These are ideal for smaller, backyard shows.

"Rockets" are a classic favorite. The larger the rocket, the higher they fly, and the bigger they bang. Rockets typically have a nice visible launch, ending with an explosive break.

Meet Rob Kell, Vega Fireworks, celebrating 30 years of business.

Hours of the Union stand are as early as 7:30 am and as late as 1:00 am for the holiday. Stop by and tell Rob that Experience Union sent you.

Vega Fireworks locations

Union location:

1001 East HWY 50

St. Clair location:

1213 Gravios Rd.

Troy location:

215 Firehouse Ln.

Visit vegafireworks.com and their Facebook page for more information and special announcements.

Have a safe Fourth!
Tyann Marcink

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

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.