A Crowd Gathers for Fireworks and Glow Sticks at Ryan Hummert Park

The warm July 4th night was just right to view the Fair St. Louis Fireworks from Maplewood.

A one-day vacation in the middle of the week ended with a gathering on the hill at Maplewood's Ryan Hummert Park to watch July 4th fireworks. About 100 residents gathered for one of the only officially sanctioned pyrotechnics show in the area this year, the show at Fair St. Louis, at the Arch, seen through the trees. See more photos like these at Maplewood-Brentwood Patch Facebook. (Like it!) There wasn't much oohing and ahhing, considering the distance, but the commute to the park couldn't be beat. These shots were taken at a slow shutter speed, taking advantage of glow sticks flashing and spinning through the camera frame.  

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Free Starbucks July 4 Coffee to Create Jobs

More than 7,000 Starbucks Coffee cafes nationwide are using social media to provide financing to community businesses.

The Fourth of July is about BBQ, fireworks and family fun. This year, it's also about coffee. Starbucks is offering a free hot cup of coffee on Independence Day.  (Keep up-to-date on Maplewood and Brentwood business developments by signing up for our morning newsletter.) As part of CEO Howard Schultz's social media campaign, #Indivisible, the chain will be handing out FREE tall hot brewed coffees to customers on Wednesday, July 4.  The hope is the freebie-backed initiative will start a conversation about where the country is headed. "Let’s tell our government leaders to put partisanship aside and to speak truthfully about the challenges we face," Schultz said in an open letter on the website. "Let’s ask our business leaders to create more …

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Des Peres Hospital ER Nurse Talks Fireworks Safety

The local nurse said even smaller fireworks from a grocery store can be dangerous.

15 Places to Celebrate The Fourth and See Fireworks

"Patch" rounds up 15 St. Louis-area celebrations for July 4.

Still working out your Independence Day plans? With a vast array of fireworks displays, parades, live music, fairs and festivals, there's no shortage of activities in the St. Louis area. The list starts downtown and works its way west, north and south. Fair Saint Louis When: noon–10 p.m. July 4, 4-10 p.m. July 6 and noon to 10 p.m. July 7 Where: Gateway Arch grounds Parade: 10 a.m. July 4 at the corner of Fourth Street and Washington Avenue Entertainment: Heart at 8 p.m. on July 4, Third Eye Blind at 8 p.m. on July 6 and Dierks Bentley at 8 p.m. on July 7 Fireworks: 9:20 p.m. July, 4, 6 and 7 Activities: Air shows, live music from local and other bands, children’s entertainment, concessions Rockin' on the Landing When: noon-11 p.m. July 4,…

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Veterans Gather in Brentwood to Retire Old American Flags

Brentwood's American Legion Goff-Moll Post 101 was host to a small crowd that gathered for an Independence Day ceremony to respectfully dispose of worn American flags.

The American Legion Goff-Moll Post 101 flag retirement ceremony served as both solemn occasion and celebration this Independence Day. Attendees paused to appreciate their freedoms as Americans and the sacrifices of American military veterans, then joined together for traditional Fourth of July barbecue fare. American Legion member Mike Laub said that the post had received about 100 flags for disposal. "Most of them are in pretty bad shape," he said. "People don't know the protocol for when and how to display the flag, so they wear out pretty quickly." "It used to be from dawn to dusk," added Post 101 member Leo Lang, "and now it's gotten to the point where you don't even have to light it at night." Not every flag showed up in shreds …

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Patch Picks: Six Fourth of July Party Ideas

Centered, of course, on red, white and blue.

Independence Day is coming up this weekend. By now you've probably thought to buy fireworks and get a big group of friends and family together to celebrate our great nation's birthday. If you're hosting the party this year, you may be still working out the details of making it interesting and creative. There are a lot of patriotic ideas you can use to make it stand out, and this week's Patch Picks bring you just that.  Patch Picks: Six Fourth of July Party Ideas

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Goff-Moll Legion Post to Offer Fourth of July Flag Disposal

American Legion Goff-Moll Post 101 will hold a ceremonial flag burning for the proper disposal of old star-spangled banners at 11 a.m. on July 4.

If you need to properly dispose an American flag, be sure to contact American Legion Goff-Moll Post 101 before the Fourth of July.  The legion post will hold a ceremonial flag burning for the proper disposal of old star-spangled banners at 11 a.m. on Independence Day. The post will host a hot dog barbecue immediately following the ceremony. Area residents are invited to drop off their worn and tattered flags at any American Legion post. Brentwood's post is open at 11 a.m. Sunday through Friday and is located east of Schnuck's grocery store at 2721 Collier Ave. A post member said that there is usually someone available at the post bar until at least 10 p.m.

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