Welcome to the city of St Joseph's weekly digital newsletter. City Link is your source for timely and relevant information from your local government.
Thursday, May 27, 2021
Greener and Cleaner Spaces

The city of St. Joseph’s Adopt-A-Park and Adopt-A-Trail/Parkway program encourages volunteerism from families, school groups, neighborhoods, companies and other organizations to protect and enhance our community’s ribbon of green. This can be a rewarding experience that only requires a little of your time and effort. There are two ways to become involved:
  • Traditional Adoption: Participants pick up trash in their selected park or trail/parkway a minimum of four times during the year. It is recommended to contact the Parks, Recreation & Civic Facilities Department office with your estimated day and time of clean-up. This is important for a successful adoption as it allows administration to record your clean-up dates and schedule trash pick-up. It is also encouraged to report all vandalism, damage and unsafe conditions you come across during your clean-up. Trash bags are provided.
  • Specialty Project Adoption: Participants agree to a one-time, special project. These may be done as you have time and you may do as many as you wish. This includes projects such as painting shelters, picnic tables, or benches, weeding gardens and picking up storm debris. You can contact the Parks, Recreation & Civic Facilities Department for a full list of possible projects and locations. Projects are also open to suggestions from the participant, but they must be approved by the department.

To become involved with Adopt-A-Park and Adopt-A-Trail/Parkway, call the parks administration office at 271-5501 or visit 1920 Grand Avenue to select an eligible location or discuss a specialty project. An application is also available on the city's website.
Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Baseball is back in full swing for the St. Joseph Mustangs as next Wednesday, June 2, is opening night at Phil Welch Stadium. The team will be taking on the Des Moines Prospects for their home opener. The gates open at 5:30pm with the first pitch set for 7pm. For more information or to view the season schedule, visit stjoemustangs.com.
Don't Fry Day

The Friday before Memorial Day is known as Don’t Fry Day to encourage sun safety awareness and remind everyone to protect their skin while enjoying the outdoors. Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, with more new cases each year occurring than breast, prostate, lung and colon cancer combined. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, taking the lives of more than 9,000 in the U.S. alone.

The exact cause of melanoma is unknown, but certain risk factors are linked to this disease. Different cancers have different risk factors. Some risk factors, like smoking, can be controlled. Others, like a person’s age or family history, can’t be changed. Some risk factors for skin cancer include Ultraviolet (UV) light, fair skin, family history and others.

A major risk factor for all skin cancers is the use of indoor tanning beds and booths. The UV radiation emitted from indoor tanning devices is classified as a cause of skin cancer by the United States Department of Health and Human Services and the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer. The United States Food and Drug Administration warns consumers that UV radiation emitted by tanning devices poses serious health risks.

The National Council urges everyone to think beyond sunscreen to protect their skin while enjoying the outdoors. The generous use of sunscreen, 30 SPF and above, is an important way to protect your skin from the sun, but add these sun safety measures to help prevent skin cancer:
  • Avoid sun burning, intentional tanning and using tanning beds. 
  • Wear sun-protective clothing, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.
  • Seek shade.
  • Use extra caution near water, snow and sand.
  • Get vitamin D safely through food and vitamin D supplements.
Fairview Junior Summer Camps

Want to get your child introduced to golf? Fairview has just the summer camp for you! There will be two camps, one in June and one in July, for this upcoming season. Both camps will feature one hour a morning during two days a week through the month. Golf course PGA Professional John Leimbach will be teaching the camps and all registration goes through him. 

Basic golf etiquette as well as basic golf techniques are introduced to each camper. Camp fees include instruction and range balls. Each camper will need to provide their own clubs and balls to play out on the course. 

John takes the kids out on the course, as daily play allows, and lets them experience playing a hole. He encourages all kids to practice in between to improve. For more information on the summer camps and how to register, view the flyer. For more instruction, you can book private lessons with John.
Memorial Day

Thank you to the men and women who gave their lives to serve our country. We remember their sacrifice. In observance of Memorial Day on Monday, May 31, transit buses will not be in service and city offices will be closed with the exception of:
  • Remington Nature Center 10am-5pm
(816) 271-5300