All Entries Tagged With: "Ferguson"
The 427 Gallery debuts in Ferguson this Friday
Today it's just a real estate office, but on Friday evening, Ferguson's Pearce Neikirk & Partners will be transformed into a new art gallery.
There are dozens of reasons why I love my new job as a real estate agent, but probably the main one is getting to work with my broker, Pearce Neikirk. After 28 years in the business, he recently opened his own office in the heart of downtown Ferguson’s Citywalk district. And from day one, he started dreaming of creative uses for the space, with a focus on how it could best benefit the community.
With the closing of the NAC gallery up the street, and two big ol’ walls just sitting there empty, some kind of art venture seemed like the best idea. So when I started digging up all kinds of interesting treasures from my own collection, the answer was pretty obvious… Let’s open an art gallery!
Fast forward a month or so and our new endeavor is finally ready for its big debut. Starting this Friday, the simply-named “427 Gallery” (@ 427 S. Florissant Road) will begin hosting regular exhibits, with a new show every 4-6 weeks.
Our first show is called “Five Room House” and it features beautifully rendered architectural drawings from 1940, created by the late Delmar Loveall of Florissant. Mr. Loveall was an Air Force pilot and barbershop chorus singer who taught shop class in the Special School District for many years. I discovered his amazingly detailed drawings at an estate sale sometime around 2004, and I’m thrilled to finally be able to share them.
You can see Mr. Loveall’s work during various weekend hours throughout February, or just make it easy and come to the opening gala this Friday. Why not grab a drink at Cork or Ferguson Brewing and then walk on over…
“Five Room House” opens February 3 with a reception from 7-9pm. All are welcome! The 427 Gallery is located at 427 S. Florissant Road in the Streetcar Lofts.
EarthDance graduates growing 8 new projects
Jody Vogler, an apprentice in EarthDance Farms' 2011 training program, is one of eight "sophomore farmies" launching independent projects this year.
If you’re a gardener, chances are you’re spending these winter months planning and dreaming. The colorful new seed catalogs have started to arrive, and those barren patches in your yard are just waiting for the new possibilities of spring.
Here in Ferguson, even Missouri’s oldest organic farm is still sleeping, but that doesn’t mean the good folks of EarthDance Farms haven’t been busy. In fact, these nonprofit stewards have educated dozens of St. Louisans in the ways of organic farming and small farm management, and now eight of their 2011 apprentices are returning the favor.
During 2012, these “sophomore farmies” will continue to work in the fields at Mueller Farm and sell their produce at local farmers markets, but they will also pursue independent projects of their own. I don’t know about you, but it makes me very happy knowing that so many neat people are converging and creating just a few blocks away. Here’s what they’ll be up to in the coming months…
- Judy Vogler plans to cultivate a traditional Native American “Three Sisters” garden, featuring heirloom corn, squash, and beans.
- Early riser Ann Owens will continue to make early morning trips to the greenhouse. As Greenhouse Coordinator, she will create a guide to greenhouse pest management to be utilized by future classes of first-year farmies.
- Laura Vetter will explore natural crafting with plants and other found items on the farm.
- Katrina Gillespie will develop displays to inform visitors about Mueller Farm’s rich history.
- Faith Labeaume will study herbs as medicine.
- Anna Gall will help train new marketeers at the Ferguson Farmers Market.
- Engineering student Maria Stoica will investigate permaculture design at the farm.
- And Tim McHale will help keep EarthDance blooming as he supervises flower production this year.
Pretty cool, huh? For more info on EarthDance and how you too can get involved in the fun, visit the EarthDance Farms website or call the office at (314) 521-1006.
Natural healing expert to speak in Ferguson
A few years ago, when an old back injury started causing me serious pain, the only person who could help was a chiropractor. I was reluctant to see him at first, knowing that many folks consider chiropractic care to be a scam, but boy, am I glad I went. Not only did my pain disappear, but my posture improved and I even grew a bit taller!
Since then, I’ve been fascinated by the full spectrum of natural medicine techniques, which rely on the body’s own ability to heal. I know there are still many naysayers, and that’s fine, but for me, natural is the way to go.
That’s why I was excited to learn that a world-renowned master healer is making a rare appearance in St. Louis, and he’ll be hosting a free lecture right here in Ferguson. Chiropractic physician Dick Versendaal, whose revolutionary Contact Reflex Analysis method can determine imbalances in the body’s subtle energies, will lead a dinner talk to discuss how the body works, what leads to illness and how you can find healing.
Rather than focusing on how to treat disease, as traditional Western medicine does, Dr. Versendaal, who originally hails from the Netherlands, has made it his life’s work to teach about prevention and wellness. So if that approach resonates with you, I hope you’ll come to St. Stephen’s Church on February 16 to hear him speak.
Admission is free, but donations of non-perishable goods to the St. Stephen’s food pantry will be greatly appreciated. To RSVP (by 2/12) or schedule a private appointment with Dr. V before the lecture, contact Ferguson Wellness and Chiropractic at (314) 524-2580 or jessica@getwellferguson.com.
Dr. Versendaal’s dinner talk will take place Thursday, February 16, 7-10pm, at St. Stephen’s Church, 33 N. Clay, 63135.
Here’s a “souper” way to help the Metamo4ic
With its former home severely damaged in the Aprill 2011 tornado, Ferguson's Metamo4ic Math Center is looking to re-open at a new location, following some serious fundraising and a "green" renovation.
When a tornado swept through North County last April, leaving a path of destruction from Bridgeton to Bellefontaine Neighbors, it wasn’t just houses that bore the brunt of it. Several churches were hit hard as well, including the First Baptist Church of Ferguson, which had generously donated its entire third floor to the nonprofit Metamo4ic Math Center.
This kid-friendly math museum, which was featured on NOCO back in 2010, is a wonderful labor of love from teacher Vicki Adams, who cashed in her pension to open it and built all of the exhibits herself. Largely destroyed in the tornado, the Metamo4ic had an uncertain future for a while there. But now, thanks to a kind donation from Sportsprint’s Ralph Rockamann, the math center has a new home at 123 S. Florissant Road, the site of the former Ferguson Bowling Lanes.
Of course, there is a bit of a catch. The property needs about $700,000 worth of renovation, which the small nonprofit must raise in order to re-open. But the good news is, YOU CAN HELP!
This Saturday, January 28, the Metamo4ic is hosting a fundraiser at Dick Weber Lanes called the Souper Bowl, in which teams compete for cash prizes in two different contests. The first contest is a mix between crazy bowl and football, and could land your team 300 bucks. The second is a soup competition that yields $100 for the winner.
If you’d like to participate, the cost is $150 per six-person team plus a crockpot full of your best soup. And don’t worry if you can’t pull a whole group together. There’s also a “potluck” team for individuals, at a cost of $25 per person. All are welcome!
To register or get more info, contact Vicki Adams at (314) 807-3290.
The Souper Bowl is January 28, 1-4pm, at Dick Weber Lanes, 4575 Washington, 63031.
