Veterans, community members and supporters crowded American Legion Goff-Moll Post 101 on Saturday during the post's annual G.I. Joe Breakfast. A photo gallery accompanies this article, and more photos are available on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/MaplewoodBrentwoodPatch. See related stories on Patch: Photo Gallery: Veterans Gather in Brentwood to Retire American Flags (July 4, 2011) American Legion Post Loses Nonprofit Status - Sort of (July 19, 2011) Mayor's Tie-Breaking Vote Rejects Smoking Ban Exemption for Legion Post (April 4, 2011)

Balls-N-Strikes opened in Brentwood last spring, and the facility is offering a number of summer clinics. A group of nine area boys had a blast during a morning hitting clinic last week. The inside facility was a great place to be in the summer heat.The boys broke up into two teams for competitions, like a home run derby (they were the Cookie Monsters vs. the Storm Clouds). The hitting team hit a foam ball off a tee while the opposing team fielded. Some were dead serious and others did Happy Gilmore impersonations when taking their turn at bat.One of two instructors, Cie Arell, a physical …

Brentwoodians have gathered at the Brentwood Swim Club since 1961, and for most of those years, swimmers from ages four up to 18 have competed on the Brentwood Gators swimming team.Sean Dooley has been the head coach for the past 13 years; long enough to see some swimmers' entire Gator career. “This is my first year of my ‘ittie-bitties,’ my 6-5 year-olds, being with me all the way from start to finnish,” he said. “I’ve obviously coached a lot of swimmers that have gone into college.”The only qualification to join the team is to swim a length unassisted, even if it's doggie paddle. Dooley and…

The Sounds of Summer 2011 concert series kicked off in Brentwood Park on Friday with the Woo Daddies, a St. Louis trio that played "jump-blues, rockabilly-swing, standards, classic country, surf, and pop." However it's defined, it had Brentwoodians dancing. This is the 13th year of the Brentwood summer concerts, and the West Community Credit Union has been a title sponsor for the past 11, according to representatives there. The Ultrviolets will play on July 8 and J. Rob on August 12. Music will also be a part of Brentwood Days on Sept. 16 and 17.    

On the cooler of the two weekend days, some those not watching the Cardinals beat the Cubs were outside washing or otherwise fixing up their beloved wheels. Power washers and plain old hoses were put to use on everything from Model Ts to Mercedes, on shady drives all over Brentwood.

Airedale Antics, a shop for pet supplies in Maplewood, sponsored its fourth annual Pet Fest in the Marietta Parking Lot last Saturday. Pet services vendors, like pet portrait photography and training, held booths at the event, but getting dogs into "forever homes" as the biggest goal of the day, said Sheri Phipps, co-owner of Airedale Antics. Boxers, dobermans and samoyeds were among the rescue dogs featured. Phipps said all the rescue dog services, including the Animal Protective Association of Missouri, which was there too, all have the same goal: to match up dogs with their new owners.

The Brentwood Evening Optimists fire up the grills twice a year to raise funds for local charities. They set up shop by the Gene-Del Printing parking lot, the same place they sell Christmas trees in December. One Evening Optimists member, Sherry Nappier—"like happier with an N," she jokes when spelling her name—said setting up the tents usually means a storm will blow through, but they persevere. Another member, Mary Meers—"like beers with an M," she cracks—was headed to Brentwood High School afterward to award two scholarships to seniors in memory of two past members. Girls Town/Boys Town of…

Cheerleaders from Maplewood Richmond Heights High School held a carwash last Saturday to raise money for cheer camp.  The cheerleaders will attend a four-day cheer camp at Southeast Missouri State University at the end of June. Each girl on the squad is responsible for raising $269 toward that goal. They hoped to raise about $350 at the carwash. This is the second year they've held the car wash at the Shell gas station across from their school. The camp is sponsored by the United Cheerleaders Association. The girls sold coookies and cupcakes as well as polishing wheels and cleaning …

On a cold, rainy Saturday morning, Brentwood families came to the Public Works Department garage to paint the city's trash cans. Brentwood employees pre-painted the 55-gallon cans white, giving area Picassos the perfect canvas. Public works employees, all dressed in their orange city T-shirts, made sure the artists had all the paint and brushes necessary, and even passed out candy bars and sodas to attendees. Look for the freshly-painted cans at bus stops and other locations around town.

Members of Knights of Columbus and ribs for the people who stopped by the barbecue at Schaeffer Shell. During the second weekend of each month from March through November (except August, when it's too hot), look for a Knights of Columbus crew at the corner of Big Bend Boulevard and Manchester Road. They'll be serving up delicious barbecue for passersby and drive-up customers. The proceeds benefit St. Vincent de Paul, Special Olympics and Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital. September's barbecue will raise money for Backstoppers. The Knights of Columbus started raising money for the …

More than 60 people from Maplewood Richmond Heights Girl Scout Daisies, Lions Clubs, Brentwood High School National Honor Society and handfuls of families showed up Saturday morning at Brentwood's Memorial Park to pick up trash. Brentwood Starbucks and Whole Foods provided breakfast treats for the volunteers, who also were bused to Hanley Park, Oak Tree Park and Brentwood Park for cleanup. REI employee Maria Erb said they spread the word by email and she was very happy with the turnout. This is the cleanup's fifth year. Volunteers got a Missouri Stream Team t-shirt.