🌱 Early Readers Passport Program + Recycling Pickup To Resume In May

Up and at 'em, St. Louis! Here's everything you need to know to get this Thursday started off right.

First, today's weather:

Variably cloudy and warmer. High: 75 Low: 62.

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Here are the top 3 stories in St. Louis today:

1. The St. Louis County Library is offering a new interactive early literacy experience. Between now and Jun. 15, families can pick up an Explore-a-Story passport at any SLCL branch and check off each location they visit. Anyone who marks five different branches on their passport will be entered in a raffle to win a St. Louis Union Station Attractions gift card. (KTVI Fox 2 St. Louis)
2. Recycling pickup will resume next month after it was initially suspended in December due to staffing shortages. Mayor Tishaura Jones made the announcement in her State of the City address on Tuesday, emphasizing the need to retain the workforce necessary to avoid another suspension. Until collection resumes in May, St. Louis City residents wishing to recycle will need to bring their items to a nearby drop-off location. (KSDK.com)
3. St. Louis has been named the fifth most affordable place in the world to buy a home. The city is the only locale in the midwestern United States to crack the top five in the report from Bloomberg/Quint. Pittsburgh, PA came in at the top spot, followed closely by Oklahoma City, OK and Rochester, NY. (KHMO News-Talk-Sports)

Today in St. Louis:

• Found Poetry At Lewis And Clark Branch Library (4:00 PM)
• Stories & Playtime At Richmond Heights Memorial Library (4:00 PM)
• Feature Film: Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings At Mid-County Branch Library (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Join St. Louis County Parks for a night in the wild at Lone Elk Park on Saturday, Apr. 30, through Sunday, May 1. Campers will participate in numerous activities such as a night hike, canoeing on the lake, learning about trees, and more. (Facebook)
• From May 12-15, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra will be performing "Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi" at Powell Hall. Tickets are on sale now. (Facebook)
• Join the Saint Louis Science Center on Apr. 29 for "Conversations at the OMNIMAX®: Wings Over Water" featuring a new documentary film, discussion, and delicious food and drinks. (Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Thursday. I'll see you soon!

— Helen Eckhard

About me: Helen Eckhard is a marketing assistant at Lightning Media Partners. She is a self-professed logophile who is currently pursuing her master’s degree in library science. Outside of work, you can find Helen constructing crossword puzzles, knitting, or devising increasingly crafty ways to kill off characters in her mystery novels.