Around St. Charles County

• May 1 - 3: Augusta Plein Air Art Event
• May 3: Fiber Arts & Spring Planting Festival at Daniel Boone's Home from 9 - 5. Admission.
• May 4: Main Street Bridal Showcase noon to 4:30 in St. Charles
• May 17: St. Charles in Bloom on Main Street 10 - 5
• May 17 - 18: Lewis & Clark Heritage Days 9:30am - 5:00 pm. Parade Saturday at 11 am. at Frontier Park.
• May 17 - June 8: Renaissance Faire at Wentzville's Rotary Park on Saturdays and Sundays. Admission.
• May 31: Moonlight Bike Ride in Cottleville

Spring Cleaning

It is that time of year again, when the weather warms and the ritual of spring-cleaning begins. Across St. Charles, homeowners are packing items up for storage and beginning to take a look around their homes for other items that can be packed away, donated, disposed, or sold.

Spring is a good time to open the windows (which may need cleaned) and enjoy fresh air and natural light. The cool breezes of April can even inspire inside housework. Here are a few tips. Take a moment to change the air filter, replace burnt light bulbs and batteries in fire alarms. Check food and medicines for expired dates and dispose appropriately. If those honey-do jobs are calling to update carpet, fix the cabinets and so on, consider visiting open houses in the area for ideas on the latest trends in curtains, paint colors, flooring, countertops, and much more.

Neighborhood garage sales may also increase area traffic. Some easy curb appeal tips for any home includes trimming the grass, trees, and shrubs, weeding the garden and flowerbeds. A fresh coat of paint on trim, shutters, and the exterior can rejuvenate a home.

Flood relief for Missouri

Rain, Rain, Go Away.... April Showers in Missouri have turned into April Floods. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will provide federal disaster assistance to counties in Missouri affected by the recent floods. Although St. Charles County does not qualify for FEMA or HUD assistance, neighboring counties are receiving guaranteed loans for housing rehabilitation, economic development, and repair of public infrastructure. The assistance provides support to homeowners forced from their homes including foreclosure relief. Victims who have lost their homes are eligible for 100 percent financing, including closing costs to rebuild or buy a new home.

"Those who are forced from their homes need to know that help is available," said Alphonso Jackson, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary. "Whether its foreclosure relief for FHA-insured families or helping these counties to rebuild, HUD stands ready to help in any way we can."

Members of St. Charles County Rescue Task Force were called to action in mid-March to assist emergency crews and rescue operations in Reynolds County. Nearly three weeks after the initial flooding began, area river levels are expected to rise again this week.

Rainy forecasts impact St. Peters annual Operation Clean Stream event that was planned for the first weekend of April. Concerns for volunteers' safety prompted organizers to reschedule the event to Saturday, April 12, 8:30 - 1:30 pm. at Spencer Creek and Dardenne Creek.