July 13, 2011
Vol 13 No 28
March 11, 2015
Cottleville goes
green
Recipe
11
School
8
Around Town
5
Business
7
Movie
9
Shamrockin’ recipes
Timberland students earn awards
Submitted photos ABOVE: Parade-goers watch floats go by at a previous St. Patrick’s Day Celebration in Cottleville. This year the parade will consist of around 120 floats. BELOW: Visitors line the parade route during a previous St. Patrick’s Day Celebration in Cottleville.
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration draws thousands of visitors after only a few short years in existence By Brett Auten On Saturday, the St. Patrick’s Day Foundation will host its 7th annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration in Cottleville. Though Cottleville only has a population of 3,500, the foundation’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration is becoming something of a tradition that keeps growing and growing. In 2014, over 4,000 people participated in the 7K run and nearly 70,000 people joined together to watch the parade. The question is why? Why Cottleville? “We ask ourselves that every year,” Mike Reiter said. Reiter and chums Matt McDonough, Tom Smoot hatched the plan for a St. Patrick’s Day Parade on a winter’s afternoon in 2008 at McDonough’s thenrestaurant and tavern, Sherlock’s. The trio, like many in St. Charles, are transplants from North St. Louis County, each having attended Rosary High School. They recalled the annual trips attending downtown St. Louis’ famed St. Patrick’s Day Parade and a spark of inspiration was lit. Reiter, through his community involvement in Cottleville, had a history if of putting together a couple of parades in the past. Smoot, a Cottleville fireman, knew of more than few competitors for a short-distance race and knew where to find a fire truck, and McDonough had the perfect place to throw a party. “Ninety days later, there we were,” Reiter said. “It was amazing. It was almost overwhelming turning the corner for the first time and seeing both sides of the street lined up. We had about
10,000 in attendance and 800 runners.” And things have only swollen from there. At the first parade there were 50 floats and 800 runners compared to this year’s anticipated 120 floats, 4,000 runners for the 7K, with a record-breaking crowd expected on hand. So the question comes up again, why Cottleville? The North County connection certainly has something to do with it but so does the homespun, Norman Rockwell-eque surroundings Cottleville provides. “It’s a great experience and word of mouth has been our best advertisement,” Reiter said. “It’s such a comfortable atmosphere in a smaller area. This is not downtown. We’re kind of an alternative. People really enjoy this and are creating these family traditions. Maybe we’ll get to our 75th year some year.” The St. Patrick’s Day Foundation is an independent group of citizens and business owners in Cottleville that support local charities and host the St. Patrick’s Day celebration. The volunteers are about 100 strong. “I have to give credit where credit is due,” Reiter said. “It’s great to see the quality of people we keep attracting. The more of the better volunteers we find a more of an event we can pull off.” The annual Run for the Helmet 5K online run registration will close on March 10 at 11:59 pm, but registration will take place on March 12 and 13th during t-shirt and packet pickup at the Cottleville Fire Station #1 in Engine Bay. See GREEN on page 2
Charitable organizations honored
Grant given to assist program
“Chappie” aims high
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