Summer construction work has begun at area Hazelwood School District campuses including Russell Elementary School. The construction work is due to Proposition H, which voters approved in 2010 for a $120 million, no-tax-rate-increase bond issue for facility updates. According to the district website construction workers began asbestos removal and replacement of classroom flooring and marker boards at Russell and the following elementary schools about the week of May 23: Jamestown, Jana, Jury, Keeven, Lusher and McCurdy. Russell Elementary summer school will be held at McNair Elementary. Office…

Hazelwood West, which finished second to Pattonville in the Suburban North Conference and in districts for the second straight year, ended the season with a 14-9 record.   

The City of Hazelwood Parks and Recreation Division unveiled Musick Park's new sprayground on Saturday. Hazelwood residents showed up to support and try the new equipment. Ward 6 Councilman Warren Taylor cut the ribbon allowing access to the new park sprayground, and off the neighborhood kids went. Music provided a soundtrack to Musick Park as hot dogs roasted on the grill, fresh kettlecorn popped on an open flame and residents enjoyed each others' company. The City of Hazelwood also gave away custom towels for children to use to dry, embossed with the city's seal. Did you attend Saturday's …

O'FALLON -- Hazelwood West High School trailed St. Dominic until the team caught up scoring five runs in the fifth inning, and six more in the seventh, to blow away the third-ranked team in the city, 11-4, and hand St. Dominic its first loss since March. Remember you can like Hazelwood Patch on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HazelwoodPatch. Don't forget to visit Twitter: twitter.com/HazelwoodPatch, or signup for the Hazelwood Patch newsletter here.

Have you visited First Due Fire Museum? Tell us how it was in the comments section. Remember you can like Hazelwood Patch on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HazelwoodPatch. Don't forget to visit Twitter: twitter.com/HazelwoodPatch, or signup for the Hazelwood Patch newsletter here.

CHESTERFIELD -- Pattonville and Hazelwood West high schools hoped the annual meeting between the girls soccer rivals would raise more than $10,000 for cancer research and awareness in the 3rd Annual Kicks For Cancer game. For the second year, Pattonville was victorious, as the Pirates outclassed the Wildcats for a 4-2 win. Did you attend the event? Tell us about it in the comments section or upload your photos to share with neighbors.

The Pattonville Pirates should be exhausted. They had to work hard to take the win away from the Hazelwood West Wildcats on Thursday. The game went two extra innings, with both teams having chances to win it in either of the extra frames. In the end the Pirates came out on top, claiming a nine-inning, 5-4 victory over the Wildcats, but not without some great plays and hits from both teams. Check out the photos to see what we're talking about. Can the Wildcats take it all the way and end up on top in Suburban North Conference play?

The Blues' shutout streak came to an end Thursday in Chicago, where the Blackhawks' Bryan Bickell scored with 9:22 left in the first period. The 4-3 loss leaves St. Louis still at the top of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League, just 8 points ahead of the Nashville Predators. The Blues hosts its official practices at the IceZone at St. Louis Mills in the City of Hazelwood. The Blues will play the Columbus Blue Jackets at Scottrade Center at 7 p.m. Remember you can like Hazelwood Patch on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HazelwoodPatch. Don't forget to visit…

Garden Villas North in Black Jack was home to the 5th Annual Mayors' Shamrock Ball, March 3.  It was a "green tie" affair hosted by Mayors Matthew G. Robinson of Hazelwood, Thomas P. Schneider of Florissant and Norman C. McCourt of Black Jack.  The evening offered an Irish dance show from St Louis Irish Arts, food, beverages and a performance by the Bob Kuban Band. The night included Irish-themed food, beverages and baked goods from local eateries including Catering to You, Choices Catering, Helfer’s Pastries and Deli, Longhorn Steakhouse, Mattingly’s Sports Bar, O’Charley’s, Crest Bowl, …

Friday marked Dr. Seuss’ 108th birthday. Hazelwood School District Board of Education member Desiree Whitlock stopped by McNair Elementary School on Friday to partake in some reading fun. She read “Green Eggs and Ham” to kindergarten students in Laura Paden’s kindergarten class. McNair students invited HSD employees and community members to read Dr. Seuss stories to students. What are you doing to recognize Dr. Seuss? Here's a few options courtesy of Huntley Patch: Read. He wrote more than 40 books, so pick your favorites and spend some time in the wacky world he created. My favorites are The…

Emerald Automotive, the low emission van company that recently made the City of Hazelwood its US headquarters has unveiled a first look at its hybrid delivery vehicle fleet: the demonstrator t-001, which has a range of more than 450 miles with no compromise on performance and payload. The company released the first photographs of its demonstrator vehicles, currently being tested at Millbrook Proving Ground in the United Kingdom on Monday. “I am delighted to see the vehicles in action, being put through their paces as part of the van development program,” said Emerald Automotive CEO Andy …

More than 500 Special Olympics Missouri supporters turned out to rush into Creve Coeur Lake Saturday afternoon. The organization held a Polar Plunge to raise funds for its local programming. More people came out to participate this year than in 2011. Jocelyn Diehl, Special Olympics Missouri's St. Louis Metro Area Director, said 560 people pre-registered for the event in 2012. Organizers expected between 80 and 100 to register at the event. That's up from the 506 total participants last year, she said. Organizers sent groups of 10 at a time into Creve Coeur Lake. Teams included representatives…

The St. Louis Cardinal's are the 2011 World Series Champions. Are you surprised? The Cards won Game 7 Friday night, 6-2 against the Texas Rangers. The Series saw some incredible sports moments and mishaps. From the Umpire Ron Kulpa controversy to the Albert Pujols homerun show in Game 3 to the David Freese walk-off homerun in the bottom of the 11th inning in Game 6, Cardinals and Rangers fans endured a wide range of emotions during this series. The Cardinals and Rangers made this both a memorable series and time for baseball. Some would even argue this was one of the best World Series' in a …

The City of Hazelwood Parks and Recreation Division held its Fall Tailgate Sale Saturday at the Hazelwood Sports Complex. Gently used goods where available for any who wanted to browse and hopefully buy. Vendors paid $10 as residents, or $20 as non-residents to set up during the sale.  Shoppers could browse for free.  The sale also included an early bird special. Shoppers wanting the pick of the litter could stop by at 8 a.m. to beat the crowd.  

Students, parents, family and friends enjoyed the first Author and Animal Day at McNair Elementary. They had the opportunity to meet and listen to the stories of author Byron von Rosenberg as well as the animals from Cindy's Petting Zoo.

September 16 marked the date of the 8th annual Mingle at the Mills, which took place at the St Louis Mills. The Northwest Chamber of Commerce hosted the event along with NASCAR Speed Park. The event featured family-friendly fun, as well as plenty of food and beverages to enjoy. Visitors could drive go-carts, judge a hot wing cook off, enjoy a classic car show, and more.  

The city of Hazelwood Parks and Recreation Division held an end of the summer luau Saturday. Hazelwood residents and guests from the surrounding area, enjoyed an evening of swimming, music and fun at White Birch Bay Aquatic Center in White Birch Park. Hawaiian-Polynesian Revue made an appearance to entertain the crowd with authentic Polynesian music and dancing. Likewise, steel drum player Nigel Thomas performed bringing Caribbean flavor to the ears. 

Football jamborees always have been a way for coaches, players, fans and reporters to get a preseason assessment on just how good—or bad—our high school teams are. Judging from Friday's Preseason Jamboree at CBC, it looks as if speed to play on the outside and bringing the ball up the field will be central to Hazelwood West's team, while aerial play and gang-tackling will be central to University City's team. Marquette High School used the shotgun formation Friday, which gave its quarterbacks more time to find the big receivers down field. The day wasn't without its fair share of mishaps. …