Archive for the ‘Community’ Category

• Vacant since late 2008, Ferguson’s former Circuit City building may have a new owner soon: St. Louis Community College. The school’s board of trustees is currently weighing a proposal to purchase the $2 million property, which is adjacent to the Flo Valley campus, and convert it into a job training center. Recently the college has received $3.2 million in grants for “green jobs” training, and officials there are looking to expand existing workforce development programs and possibly introduce others, which the new building would allow them to do.

Just around the corner from the old Circuit City, another exciting real estate development is coming soon. The Ferguson Wal-Mart is being converted into a Supercenter! Groundbreaking for the demolition and re-build begins March 20.

• In an effort to spur economic development and revitalization along Natural Bridge Road, the East-West Gateway Council of Governments is working with several local municipalities to develop a long-range improvement plan for the street. Elected officials and other area stakeholders have been meeting with consultants to hash out design ideas and potential upgrades as part of the Natural Bridge Great Streets Initiative, and for the first time this Thursday, the public will have a chance to participate.

Focusing on the 3.8-mile corridor between 170 and Lucas and Hunt, the project will develop a land use plan that incorporates ways to beautify Natural Bridge and make it more pedestrian-friendly. If you’d like to learn more about phase one of the initiative and contribute your input, be sure to attend the public meeting: Thursday, March 4, from 4-8pm in UMSL’s JC Penney Auditorium.

Dividing Natural Bridge into three distinct zones, the Great Streets Initiative aims to build on existing assets while also adding new improvements.

• The Old Ferguson West Community Garden recently won a competitive grant from Gateway Greening to cover the cost of building five new raised garden beds. Coordinators Larry and Heather Robinett plan to build a total of 15 beds this season, and already 12 of those are spoken for. In less than a year, garden volunteers have installed a water tank at the site, built a compost bin, and planted hedges, grape vines and apple trees. Look for even more progress in 2010! Congratulations and awesome work, OFW Garden!

Adam Sturgeon

• Looking to have fun and support some great local causes at the same time? Then head to one (or both!) of these upcoming fundraisers:

First up is the Adam Sturgeon Benefit on March 6, a day of games, good food and live music to help a 26-year-old NoCo man who’s fighting a rare form of lymphoma and will soon need a bone marrow transplant. To be held at VFW Post 4105 at 410 rue St. Francois, this event will feature a BB shoot, raffles, 50/50 draws and pot shot cards. And of course, proceeds go toward Adam’s rising medical expenses. For more info or to make a donation, contact Greg and Joan Lohman at (314) 703-1737. The benefit runs from noon to 7pm.

Two weeks later, on March 20, get ready for a swingin’ evening of dancing and fine drinks as Ferguson’s historic Savoy theater is transformed into “Club Savoy” for one night only! Guests at this nightclub-inspired fundraiser benefiting Blessed Teresa of Calcutta School should come dressed to impress and ready to dance to three decades worth of groovin’  music. Light snacks and a martini bar will also be available, along with silent auction items. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door, and you can purchase them at Ferguson Style & Spa, Thyme Table Cafe and BTC School or by calling (314) 521-2545. Doors open at 7pm. The Savoy is located at 119 S. Florissant Road.

• Are you an entrepreneur with an innovative, highly marketable product or service? If so, you can enter the 2010 St. Louis Regional Business Plan Competition for a chance to win up to $50,000 in seed money. Only companies with $100,000 or less in annual revenue are eligible, and you must enter soon! The deadline for submitting business plans is March 9.

• Kudos to the St. Louis American for being the only local news outlet (until now) to cover a story that has the potential to affect every single person in North County. Earlier this month, the paper followed a group of residents and St. Louis City aldermen as they toured the West Lake landfill at St. Charles Rock Road and 270, where illegally dumped radioactive waste threatens to contaminate the local drinking water.

The radioactive material originally came from Mallinckrodt Chemical, which once produced uranium for atomic bombs, and it was dumped just a few miles upstream from the intakes that supply ALL of the drinking water in North County and some in St. Louis City.

My grandfather worked at Mallinckrodt for 45 years, longer than almost any other employee, and he was there during the Manhattan Project days when uranium was being made. He has told me many times about chemicals and other toxic materials being carelessly dumped, and in fact, he and other longtime workers have received financial settlements to compensate for the cancerous tumors and other serious health issues they’ve endured as a result of working at Mallinckrodt and handling these substances.

In other words, these are very dangerous materials we’re talking about, and unfortunately, they are already in contact with our groundwater. Let’s hope that elected officials in Bridgeton, where the landfill is located, can work with other North County leaders to address this problem before it gets even worse.

Happy Valentine’s Day, NOCO fans! There’s a lot to report today…

• In case you haven’t seen it yet, the St. Louis Business Journal published a potentially explosive story this week, raising questions about possible conflicts of interest in the proposed Riverview Casino development in unincorporated North County. The entire article is only available online to subscribers, but you can find the Business Journal at libraries and newsstands.

Credit: St. Louis Business Journal

Essentially, the story reveals two sticky facts: One, that Pipefitters Local 562 owns a 365-acre recreational complex just north of the proposed casino site. And two, that St. Louis County Councilman Mike O’Mara, who voted in favor of rezoning the proposed site to allow the casino project to move forward, has been a member of that same local since 1984.

In fact, O’ Mara served as Local 562’s assistant business manager for 15 years, from 1992 to 2007, and is now an international representative of the United Association of Plumbers, Pipefitters and Sprinklerfitters.

So…let’s see here. You’ve got a union that, by its own admission, has 500 dues-paying members out of work, trying to maintain a massive recreational complex and golf course in a remote corner of North County, where there has been virtually no new development in many years. It’s no wonder the Pipefitters support the casino.

The question is, what (if anything) are they doing behind the scenes to ensure the development goes through? And why the heck hasn’t Mike O’Mara recused himself from the process? If the rumors and tips I’m hearing from dozens of local residents are any indication, you can expect this story to get MUCH more interesting. Stay tuned.

• If you saw the Grammy’s recently, chances are you saw a NoCo native in action! Drummer Kim Thompson, a 1999 Pattonville High School graduate, performed with Beyonce as a member of her all-female band. Thompson is a renowned jazz drummer who has played with many top musicians. She also received a 2006 Grammy nomination for jazz composition for her work on Mike Stern’s “Who Let the Cats Out?” Go, KIM!

• Got a pair of old eyeglasses that you’re not using anymore? UMSL’s Pre-Optometry Student Club is working with two other student organizations to hold an eyeglasses drive this week. Donations, which can be dropped off at the Millennium Student Center Bridge or Marillac Hall, will benefit needy people in Haiti and other developing countries. For more info, call (314) 516-6030. Donations must be received by February 19.

• Thanks to a nomination from Forest ReLeaf, an organization dedicated to preserving urban forests, Little Creek Nature Area and the Ferguson-Florissant School District are set to receive a 2010 Missouri Arbor Award of Excellence from the Missouri Department of Conservation. The award recognizes projects that show outstanding stewardship of trees. And Little Creek, of course, is a 97-acre outdoor classroom that boasts a farm, prairie and beautiful forest land.

Hazelwood North eighth-grader Tyler White has performed with the Black Rep Theatre for six years.

• Tyler and Alexis White, two sisters who attend Hazelwood schools, recently performed in the Black Rep’s production of “Black Nativity” by Langston Hughes, marking their sixth year with the nation’s largest African-American theatre company. Tyler, an eighth-grader at Hazelwood North Middle School, and Alexis, a sophomore at Hazelwood Central, will also appear in the Rep’s summer production of “The Me Nobody Knows,” which runs from June 2 – July 2.

• If you’re looking for great way to meet some interesting people and learn a lot about organic gardening, make your way to the EarthDance Community Potluck on February 21. Open to all, this fun, casual event will let you share a delicious meal with the 2010 Freshman Farmies from EarthDance’s organic farming apprenticeship program.

Following the botanical theme of the meal, you’re encouraged to bring a potluck dish based on the letter of your last name. If your last name begins with the letters A, B, or C: bring a dish that contains at least 1 ingredient from the Ameryllidaceae family (Alliums). For other letters…

D, E, or F: Chenapodiaceae family.  G or H: Cruciferae family.  I or J: Compositae family.  K or L: Cucurbhaceae family.  M, N, O, or P: Solanaceae family.  Q, R, or S: Gramineae family.  T, U, or V: Umbelliferae family.  W, X, Y, or Z: Leguminosae family

The potluck will be held Sunday, February 21, from 4:30-6pm at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 33 N. Clay, Ferguson, 63135. For questions, call EarthDance at (314) 521-1006.

IWA's varsity Knightline dance team

• For the second time in recent years, the Incarnate Word Academy Knightline squad qualified to participate in the National Dance Team championships in Orlando, Florida. Despite not advancing past the primaries, the girls were honored to be selected for this prestigious tournament, which features hundreds of teams from across the United States.

• Following a lengthy selection process, the city of Ferguson announced this week that it has hired St. Louis County Police Captain Tom Jackson to serve as its new police chief. Jackson, who replaces retired chief Tom Moonier, is a lifelong North County resident with 30 years in law enforcement. His lovely wife, Pat, was featured in my story on St. Stanislaus Museum, and I’m hoping to do a full feature on him very soon.

• Over in Hazelwood, it’s the fire department making news. Battalion Chief David Gulley announced on Thursday that the Hazelwood Fire Department EMS Division recently earned its Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) state certification, meaning that crews have upgraded their equipment and training to better respond to emergencies involving children. Hazelwood joins 13 other ambulance services in the St. Louis area in achieving this distinction.

• Finally, I’m excited to report that NOCO will soon have its very own comic strip, created by talented NoCo artists Mary Nichols and Steve Lawson. The work of Mary and Steve is always a highlight at the NAC Gallery in Ferguson, so I hope you’ll enjoy the latest creative endeavor from this dynamic couple!

I slept through most of Sunday with a bad cold, but no worries, the news clips are here! A day late but still fresh…

• Recent fundraisers all across North County have generated thousands of dollars for good causes. To help Haitian earthquake victims, students at Jana Elementary School raised $1,600 for the American Red Cross, while Saturday’s NoCo for Haiti benefit concert at the Savoy in Ferguson raised $3,000 for Doctors Without Borders. Employees of the Hazelwood School District have also been quite generous, raising more than $35,000 for the United Way of Greater St. Louis, bringing their total donations since 1975 to $825,000. Wow!

• Astronaut Robert Behnken, a 1988 Pattonville High School graduate and U.S. Air Force Lt. Colonel, will soon make his second trip on the space shuttle Endeavor, serving as a NASA mission specialist as his crew docks with the International Space Station. Launching at 4:39pm EST on February 7, Behnken, who still has family in St. Ann and Hazelwood, will perform three space walks during the 13-day mission. His first trip to space was in March 2008, and let me tell you, if you want to read an inspiring biography, read his! This NoCo native is an extremely accomplished man who we should all be very proud of. [Lt. Col. Behnken, if you want to broadcast your North County pride from outer space, I will gladly send you a NoCo sticker!]

Storyteller Bobby Norfolk

• As part of the Black History Month celebration at St. Louis Community College, the Flo Valley campus will host a free performance by Emmy award-winning storyteller Bobby Norfolk. At 11am on Thursday, February 4, Norfolk (who is very entertaining!) will present “Drums and Music of Africa,” a vibrant, interactive musical experience featuring drumming, dance and living history. Take the kids to see this show – inside the Student Center Multipurpose Room.

• The battle over Bridgeton’s proposed Wal-Mart Supercenter has made national news. This weekend, the Huffington Post ran an article questioning why the country’s 117th richest person, billionaire Stan Kroenke, needs to request nearly $8 million in tax increment financing (TIF) to fund his new development. “Given the foul mood the public is in regarding bail outs for the rich, it’s a wonder this proposal has any legs left,” wrote the article’s author.

Catch a screening of the St. Louis roller-skating documentary, The Rink, on February 10.

• If you missed seeing The Rink at last year’s St. Louis International Film Festival, you’ll soon have a chance to watch this great local documentary with its director, DJ Ron “G-Whiz” Butts. At 11am on Wednesday, February 10, Flo Valley will host a free screening of this fun film, which showcases the African-American roller-skating tradition in St. Louis and East St. Louis during the disco era. What an interesting and enjoyable slice of local history! The film will be shown in Private Dining Room B inside the Student Center.

• If you’ve always wanted to see an opera at the Touhill but couldn’t afford the tickets, it’s your lucky day! This weekend, UMSL’s Opera Theatre will host two free performances, each featuring some of the opera world’s most celebrated love songs. Come hear pieces from Carmen, La Traviata, Manon and more, all in the beauty of the Touhill’s Lee Theater. For more info about “L’Amour,” which runs Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm, call (314) 516-4949.

• Bridgeton Parks & Rec is hosting two fun events for kids and their parents in February. On Friday the 12th, girls ages 5-12 can bring their favorite adult male to the Sweetheart Ball, an evening of dinner and dancing for just $25 per couple ($30 for non-residents). Then, on February 20, boys ages 3-8 and their favorite adult can participate in the Dinosaur Dig, an afternoon of crafts, snacks and swimming. Registration is $20 ($25 for non-residents). For more info about either event, call (314) 739-5599.

Pi Day returns to the Metamo4ic Math Center on March 13.

• Scout troops, home-school groups and other nonprofit organizations looking to raise funds are invited to host a booth at the Metamo4ic Math Center’s annual Pi Day festival on March 13. This year’s theme is “Pi Minus 1/100″ (in honor of the 3.13 date that doesn’t quite equal Pi), and some of the day’s activities will include Pi trivia, face painting, a kite decorating and flying contest, a puppet show, a pie eating contest and Ping-Pong Pandemonium. If you want to register for a booth or sign up for the kite contest, the deadlines are February 20 and 26, respectively. All are welcome at this family-friendly math celebration, so don’t miss it!

• Finally, it’s not really news, but I just wanted to take a brief moment to thank the generous local businesses that have stepped up as NOCO sponsors: CORK Wine Bar, Vincenzo’s Italian Ristorante, Hendel’s Market Cafe and Farmers Insurance agent Martin Menke. CORK and Vincenzo’s are both owned by my friend Mike Lonero, who has been supporting revitalization and new ideas in Ferguson for many years. Hendel’s, of course, is a North County classic, renowned for its fine cuisine and now its cozy new piano bar, which hosts live music every Thursday through Saturday. And Martin Menke is not only my personal insurance agent (and a classically trained trumpet maestro), he’s also my neighbor and dear friend. I am proud to support all of these great businesses and to have them as advertisers!

Because NOCO is all original content, not just verbatim press releases like some local newspapers, it demands a lot of time. So I truly appreciate the small monthly investment that these sponsors make to support my mission and North County in general. If your business would like to sponsor NOCO and reach the nearly 20,000 people who visit this site multiple times every month, ads start at just $65. Please email me for more info: shannon@nocostl.com. Thank you!!

Supporters of all ages packed Northwest Plaza's center court today to show support and discuss ideas for the mall's revitalization.

Nearly 300 concerned citizens gathered today at Northwest Plaza, aiming to spur interest in its revitalization. The mall-walk and unofficial rally was organized by St. Ann resident Steve Erdelen, who grew up hanging out at the plaza’s Grand Court Fountain in the 1960s and 70s and recently launched a popular Facebook group called “I hung out at the fountain at Northwest Plaza as a teenager.”

As supporters streamed into the mall this afternoon, many astonished by just how empty it has become, security guards and other mall employees noted that they hadn’t seen this many people at Northwest Plaza in at least five years. “A lot of folks assume it’s dangerous here, but the fact is it’s mostly just dead,” one Sears employee told me. “I would love to see the place redeveloped, because it has so much potential.”

St. Ann mayor Gary Guittar addresses the crowd of Northwest Plaza supporters

That sentiment was echoed frequently at the rally, with most of the attendees recalling fond memories of Northwest Plaza and many still residing in the North County area.  “It’s just such a waste,” Judy Gaithers of Overland said. “I don’t see Northwest Plaza becoming what it used to be, but surely it can be converted into something positive.” A corporate headquarters, a college campus, a mixed-use development with residential and retail – those were some of the ideas being kicked around the crowd.

Yet despite the hopeful spirit of today’s gathering, mall management tried to prohibit the media from taking photographs and initially denied Erdelen’s request to hold a much larger event. “This is not an insurrection, it’s a resurrection,” he told the audience, which included officials and staff from the city of St. Ann. “We’re here to show our support for the future of Northwest Plaza.”

“We will revitalize this mall,” St. Ann mayor Gary Guittar later assured the crowd. “With the support of citizens like you, we can do this.”

He and Erdelen then led the group on a quick mall-walk, firing up many attendees but also raising questions with others. “I’m thrilled to see so many people show up today,” a Florissant woman with two young children told me. “But what’s next? Where do we go from here?”

It’s hard to feel useful in the face of the unspeakable tragedy in Haiti, but several North County residents have stepped forward to do what they can. On Saturday, January 30, the Savoy in Ferguson will be hosting NoCo for Haiti, a benefit concert featuring music from at least five popular local performers, including Javier Mendoza and The Skyline Band.

Co-sponsored by NOCO, this family-friendly event will also have delicious snacks, auction items, dancing and a cash bar. Admission is whatever goodwill offering you choose to give, so please be generous! Proceeds will benefit the Doctors Without Borders Haiti Fund.

January 30 from 4pm-? at The Savoy, 119 S. Florissant Rd, 63135. For more info, call Chuck Henson at (314) 565-4829.

If you can’t make the concert, perhaps you can help in another way. Ferguson resident Stefannie Wheat (a dear friend of mine) has organized a donation drive for items desperately needed by earthquake victims, with all donations going directly to a Haitian family. Stefannie’s husband works with a Haitian woman named Marie, whose family members survived the earthquake but are now in urgent need of various everyday items.

Requested donations include: adult and children’s clothing (good condition, any size), hygiene items (toothpaste, sanitary products, hand sanitizer, etc), medical items (aspirin, band-aids, bandages, etc) and canned food. Money, of course, is also needed.

Stefannie will be accepting donations at her home and delivering them personally to Marie, who will ship them to her family in Haiti. If you can contribute anything, please drop off items at 403 Harrison in Ferguson (on the front porch if no one is home). Donations will be accepted through Friday, January 29. For more info, call Stefannie at (314) 482-0619.

Thank you!!

Dear NOCO fans,

It’s easy to get stuck in the past in North County, recalling the way things used to be and laying blame for all the change we’ve endured. But I’m a future-minded kind of gal, and I’m looking to move us forward.

So today, in honor of MLK day and my belief that NoCo can only thrive when we celebrate (rather than apologize for) the diverse community we’ve become, I’m giving away FREE STICKERS!

If you send me your mailing address in the next 24 hours – that’s by 5pm on Tuesday – I’ll send you a complimentary NORTH COUNTY PRIDE bumper sticker! Slap it on your vehicle and imagine how much good PR we can drum up for NoCo!

Just email shannon@nocostl.com with FREE STICKER in the subject line and I’ll send your prize right out. Instead of mailing, I’ll also be happy to offer pick-up at the Corner Coffee House in Ferguson.

We can make this community better, folks! Thanks for reading!

Shannon Howard