Hills Street News www. stlouishills.org - "Your Neighborhood Resource." St. Louis Hills Block Captain Program
August 2005 Vol. X No. III
In this issue Block Captain Chair Report
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The Grass Isn’t Always Greener in the County
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Lawn and Garden Contest Winners
11
Captain Warnecke Named Second District Commander
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NSO Update
5
Rosemary’s Corner
12
Sunday Morning in Francis Park
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Avoid a “Wilting” Floral Experience
13
Business District Update
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What Does SLHNA Stand for?
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Growing Up in St. Louis Hills…
14
New Community Center…
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Go West Young Man to Hampton Shoe Repair
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From the President Past
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From the President
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SLHNA Board & Committee Members
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A Word From the 16th Ward Alderman, Donna Baringer
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Run for the Hills Registration Form
Leaf Pick-up Schedule
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Ladies T-shirts Available for the Run!
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Calendar of Events
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2005 SLHNA Scholarship Winners
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Run for the Hills Route
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St. Louis Hills House Tour & Art in the Park
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Block Captain Chair Report All the Comforts of Home By Bob & Kelly Klasek, Block Captain Program Co-Chair
We just celebrated 10 years of living in our home. After the honeymoon period of about six months, we realized we were in for a lot of remodeling plans. We first saw only the "character" that so many refer to when describing St. Louis Hills homes, reflecting the time when they were built. We are mindful as to not lose that quality as we update and redecorate our house. We have chosen, as have many of you, to put up with the occasional film of contractor's dust to live in a neighborhood where we can walk almost anywhere we need to go, clearly hear our church bells, and consider our neighbors to be some of our closest friends. Continued on page 6
Hills Street News
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Captain Mary Warnecke Named Second District Commander By Nancee Nocchiero, Second District Public Affairs Officer
A St. Louis Hills resident, Captain Mary J. Warnecke was recently named Commander of the Second District of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Captain Warnecke is a 23-year veteran of the Police Department and the District's first female captain. Captain Warnecke began her career as a Police Cadet before being commissioned as an officer. Most recently, she was the Fourth District Commander and has served as the Director of the Police Academy and Commander of the Sex Crimes/Family Violence Unit. Captain Warnecke has commented how much she is enjoying being a part of a strong neighborhood based police district. "The strength of the area is directly related to the involvement of the residents and community". Getting out into the community and attending the neighborhood meetings is one of the first goals for Captain Warnecke. "Building relationships and keeping everyone informed on activities’ results in a great working team." She encourages anyone with concerns to contact her at the South Patrol Station located at 3157 Sublette or at 444-0120. Editor’s Note: The SLHNA wishes a fond farewell to Captain Greg Wurm. We wish him all the best in his new position as the Chief of Police in Ladue, MO.
Business District Update •
FYI International at 6984 Chippewa will open in August. It is located next to the new Rally’s. FYI International will specialize in bulk costume jewelry, knock-off designer purses and scarves. This will be a fun place to shop, especially for teenage females.
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Rally's held their grand opening on June 23.
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Steak n’ Shake & Taco Bell - The long-awaited final plans for the two vacant lots on Chippewa are now official. The Steak n’ Shake lot will be a drive-thru Starbucks and the Taco Bell will be a Lion’s Choice. The developer hopes to have both stores up and running by December.
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Target store will open their new store on October 9 , so be ready to shop until you drop. Target is currently having a hiring fair. If you or someone you know is interested, they can send an e-mail to this address: T1515.HR@Target.com
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On Saturday May 14 the City Planning & Urban Design Agency (PDA) hosted a workshop about the th commercial districts of the 16 Ward at Bishop DuBourg High School. About 35 residents and business owners/operators participated in the morning-long event. The workshop was a great success. PDA has assembled the results and is using it to develop a strategy for each of the three districts. This work will be completed in September and another community meeting will be scheduled to present the findings.
Hills Street News
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New Community Center – What do you think? By Ken Crecelius
As many of you may be aware there is an effort underway to determine the strength of community support for a an exciting new project for the neighborhood, a modern community center on the site of Nottingham School at Nottingham and Donovan. The multi-purpose complex would fit in with the architecture of the neighborhood and contain facilities for people of all ages including common spaces for lounging, meeting rooms, work out facilities and pool and water venues. A group of sixteen neighborhood residents has been working for over a year to create a plan including architectural drawings and a means to fund construction in order to present it to the community for its feedback. The plan has been shared with approximately 400 people throughout the 16th ward with feedback so far strongly in favor of the project. Concerns voiced so far have been traffic, noise and parking issues. Changes in the design have already been made to increase on-site parking and to reduce noise and traffic for those who live in the immediate area of the proposed complex. Funding for construction would occur by creating a Community Improvement District within the 16th Ward and a proposed special assessment for property owners. There have been discussions with members of the St. Louis Public School District regarding the status of Nottingham School and the possibility that it may be an acceptable site for the development. To date there has been no decision and the discussions continue. The organizing group called the Southwest St. Louis Community Improvement District is continuing to present the idea to individuals within the community and seek their input. If community support is strong enough and the school district decides to make Nottingham School available, a petition drive will be initiated to gain a 51% majority of signatures of property owners and establish the Community Improvement District. If you would like additional information about the project, would like to comment about it or would like to volunteer to help, contact Ken Crecelius @ 351-7070 or Bill Burnes @ 721-4100.
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Hills Street News
A Word From the 16th Ward Alderman, Donna Baringer Residents have inquired as to why some trees are dropping their leaves and others are shedding their bark. The answer is that it is due to our droughtlike conditions over much of Missouri. It is expected that many trees will continue to drop their leaves. For some tree species, dropping leaves and shedding bark are natural responses to the heat. This process means less for the tree to look after. But don’t be alarmed. July was the midpoint of the growing season, so most trees have stored their sugar for next spring’s new leaves.
Leaf Pick-up Schedule for St. Louis Hills Starting October 30.
Areas south of Eichelberger First & Third Mondays Areas north of Eichelberger First & Third Tuesdays
The leaves that haven’t fallen will do so in abundance in October. Last year leaf pick up ran smoothly and the goal is to repeat the success. Leaf pick up will begin October 30th and end the second Friday in December, or once an accumulating snowfall has occurred. The key ingredient is that leaf pick up usually occurs on designated street cleaning days. If you want your street leaf-free and cleaned, you must remember to move your car on street cleaning day. Fall block parties would be an ideal time to remind everyone when street cleaning is and how important it is to move one’s car.
2005 SLHNA Scholarship Winners By Anne Orso
Congratulations to the following eighth graders who won the SLHNA 2005 Scholarship Awards. All applicants were judged anonymously in the following areas: Scholastic achievements and extra-curricular activities Letter of recommendation Community service Student essay on "Why I am deserving of this scholarship" The winners of this one-time $600 high school scholarship are: Kerry Banahan, who graduated from St. Gabriel's and will attend Cor Jesu High School. Emma Palleja, who graduated from St. Joan of Arc and will attend Cor Jesu High School. Gary Newcomer, who graduated from St. Gabriel's and will attend St.Louis University High School. The judges said the applicants were all very good this year, and the decision process was difficult. Thanks to all the students that applied, and good luck in high school! We know all of the students will bring the same enthusiasm to their high schools that they gave to their grade schools and our community.
Hills Street News
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Drive safely. School starts soon! The Grass Isn’t Always Greener In the County! By Ann Zanaboni
Bigger house, bigger yard! We’ve all thought about the M word…Moving, but a few of us have done it, seen the light, and moved right back! Back to the place where the grass isn’t always abundant, the closets aren’t walk-in and the bricks usually need tuck pointing, but the life is sweeter. The lure of more floor space is particularly appealing when raising a young family. What we city-ites enjoy, that is unique to only a select few communities, is the pleasure and comfort of knowing our neighbors. In many parts of the newer county neighborhoods the garage doors go up at 5:00 p.m., the people pull in from work, the garage doors come down and the neighbors are holed up inside. Unlike our neighborhood, where neighborliness is all but expected, we’d never think of going inside without a wave or a “how ya doin’? (or how you’s doin’ if you’re a true south city-ite).”. After having lived in the county, seen the light and moved right back, I can honestly admit that the lack of community, cohesive neighborhood and the comfort of knowing your neighbors are very rare in the newer neighborhoods. There are few places in the St. Louis area, much less the nation, that can compare. The idea of knowing your neighbors is almost foreign to some of the county-ites. In the words of the one family, who moved to Kirkwood, saw the light and moved back to St. Louis Hills, “I drove to the kids’ school nine times in one day,” says Colleen Burghoff, mother of five and lover of St. Louis Hills. “Sure our house was bigger, we had a pool and a big yard, but nothing can compare to having your kids’ school within walking distance.” “I also missed the community feeling and tight-knit relationships that we formed in this neighborhood,” she continued. Colleen’s husband, John, loves the community so much that he was the coordinator for Francis Park restoration. He loves the park, the neighborhood feeling and community spirit in St. Louis Hills. “Where else could you ask people to come out and help beautify the flower gardens in a community park and have enough people to get the job done,” he says. “There is no where else that has that much community commitment. We are all committed to keeping our neighborhood beautiful, that’s why this neighborhood is so great,” he continued. So, when the grass is looking greener and the closets are looking bigger, don’t forget that the life is sweeter where you know your neighbors, the kids can walk to school and the parks are kept up by the neighborhood.
NSO UPDATE Until recently the Neighborhood Stabilization program had been set up by neighborhood, but as of th th th July 25 the NSOs are now assigned by Ward. The 16 and 14 Wards will share one NSO, her name is Sandy Colvin and she can be contacted at 773-0638. Sandy is an excellent NSO and we are fortunate to have her assigned to our ward.
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Sunday Morning In Francis Park By Jim Hatfield
Each Sunday morning, from the first in May until the last in October, you’ll find the "Rosa Rats" playing Indian Ball in Frances Park. Indian Ball is a piece of culture unique to St. Louis that was very popular in the 1940’s, 50’s and early 60's. Men of these generations, finished with competitive team sports, picked up again the game of Indian Ball. The Rosa Rats have been playing together since the end of World War II. Passers by have often stopped to ask what the game is called and how it is played. Some have even joined in to play. The Rosa Rats' name is taken from the street name, Rosa Avenue. The original players all lived in the neighborhood that is Rosa Avenue to Holly Hills and Hampton to Kingshighway. There are currently about 16 Rosa Rats ranging in age from 26 to 65. Some fathers and sons participate together. Approximately half grew up in St. Louis Hills or a surrounding neighborhood. Some of the family names include Bini, Kaufmann, Leonard, Hatfield, Intagliata, Baldi and Gengler. Players attended Our Lady of Sorrows, St. Raphael’s or Busch School and grew up on the Busch School playground. The sport of softball/Indian Ball binds them together to this day. When asked why they come back, year after year, they respond, "It’s a combination of things; it’s challenging and competitive, there’s recognition, a feeling of achievement, and good fellowship. We are all just kids at heart, blessed that we are still healthy enough to play the game and have been given the opportunity to spend a Sunday morning having fun with friends". The Rosa Rats welcome all Indian Ball players to come out and enjoy the games. Indian Ball Game Rules: Played with the minimum of four players, cones or bases mark and define the playing area. Players pitch a softball to their own teammates. A batter is out if he hits a ground ball to an infielder and he catches it, if a fly ball is caught, or if one foul ball is hit outside the boundary markers. Otherwise, you have usually achieved a base hit without having to run any bases.
R. JOHN W. TABASH CHILD & ADULT ORTHODONTICS 4224 WATSON AT CHIPPEWA ST. LOUIS, MO 63109 314-353-5430
Block Captain Chair Report continued from page1
Families on our block get together a few times a year. It is a pleasure to watch the kids grow up together. One neighbor has many relatives in St. Charles, a nice enough area. Finally, when he was asked, yet again, when he was going to move out there, he responded, "You just don't get it. St. Louis Hills is like a throw back in time". We have much more invested here than just a piece of property. Enjoy the fall edition of Hill Street News and the stories from a few new contributors.
Bob & Kelly
Hills Street News
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What Does SLHNA Stand For? By R.K. Dreier
If you know the acronym stands for St. Louis Hills Neighborhood Association, you may also know the community organization is much more than an event planning social club. Residents often think of the neighborhood association as a social organization, because so much enjoyable socializing goes on there. However, it actually operates in a business fashion – taking care of the business of running St. Louis Hills. Aside from planning for the most enjoyable aspects of living in Saint Louis Hills, the association oversees the maintenance and development of your parks, streets, alleys, commercial areas, and common areas. Your SLHNA is the communication headquarters of the neighborhood. The SLHNA works with the Second District Police to address crime and safety issues. It also works hand-in-hand with Alderman Donna Baringer and its Neighborhood Stabilization Officer to manage issues like trash pick-up, derelict or abandoned vehicles, untended lawns, animals, speeding, noise pollution and any other nuisance. It is the association enforcing body called the Board that sees to it that your neighbor does not build a house shaped like a rocket ship, or a fence out of tires. Also, the SLHNA publishes this quarterly newsletter to keep you informed about happenings in the neighborhood. Your most accessible person and voice to the SLHNA other than yourself is your Block Captain. You may already know them as your Hills Street News delivery person. This is a simple explanation of a more complex business your association conducts on your behalf. There is much work that goes into managing the community. It takes much time and energy communicating with the proper agencies to get things done. St. Louis Hills enjoys a solid relationship with their alderman/business partner who is visibly present at meetings. Her presence is testament to the strength of your St. Louis Hills Neighborhood Association. All these efforts go into keeping our community stable and protecting property values. Attend a meeting and see how business is being conducted. What does SLHNA stand for? It stands for YOU.
Hills residents are asked to keep their dogs on leash when visiting our parks. The police have been issuing tickets.
Hills Street News
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GO WEST YOUNG MAN to Hampton Shoe Repair
Rob is truly a cobbler. His love is working with customers who need custom orthotics. He makes them by hand first, making a mold of the foot and then applying his craftsmanship to help make a happy foot. He also makes build-ups for leg length discrepancies, rocker soles and wedges.
By Steve Doss
Rob Egan heard the call. He moved to the promised land of St. Louis Hills, when he purchased Hampton Shoe Repair.
In 2003, Rob began to represent orthopedic footwear from Apex & Advance. Now he can sell you the correct shoe and maintain them for the life of the shoe. Recently he has begun to represent Cape Shoe Company, which is a CAPE Girardeau, MO manufactured shoe. 100% American made, this line includes work boots and oxfords in both non & steel toes for safety.
Raised in Washington Park, IL, Rob, a graduate of Althoff Catholic High School in Belleville, worked after school doing sales and shoe repair for a neighborhood store. Rob always had the entrepreneurial spirit, so when a shoe vendor rep told him that Hampton Shoe Repair was for sale, he decided to investigate the opportunity. After a drive down Hampton, Rob was hooked. In September 1989, at the ripe age of 19, Rob Egan became the proprietor of Hampton Shoe Repair at 5435 Hampton Avenue. When he needed to expand his operation in 1998, he moved to 5104 Hampton Avenue.
Rob and his wife of five years, Tricia, now travel to Kansas City and Indianapolis with their new mobile shoe service to call on manufacturing plants and spread the word that there is an American boot company. They also promote their new venture on the web: www.americanmadeworkboots.com. While on the road, Rob’s assistant Helen, keeps the local customers happy. If you need to buy shoes, have them repaired or shined, stop off and visit Rob & Helen. Helen’s smile and Rob’s excellent work will bring you back.
Editors Note Thanks to all those who responded to my plea for writers in the last issue of the Hills Street News. I am thrilled to include some new blood and ideas. Anyone interested in contributing, please contact me at jmstarbuck@aol.com. or 832-6171.
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Hills Street News
Ladies T-shirts Available for the Run! We are excited to be offering ladies t-shirt sizes (in addition to the unisex sizes) for this year’s Run for the Hills. The 70%cotton/30% rayon tees are cut smaller for a more stylish fit. The new sizes are S(4/6), M(8/10), L(12/14) and XL(16/18). Because the ladies tees are slightly more expensive than the standard 100% cotton unisex tees, they will only be available for the individual fee of $12 each. They are not offered in the family plan of $25 for three shirts. Run entries that include the new ladies sizes MUST BE RECEIVED BY AUGUST 24. Any questions, please call Ann Layton, 752-3185.
Run Route for the 2005 Run for the Hills
Hills Street News
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2005 St. Louis Hills Lawn and Garden Contest Winners By Linda Ruzicka
Congratulations to all the winners of the Lawn and Garden awards. Christine and Lo Lofstedt 5874 Walsh
Peggy and June Fiebelman 5842 Loran
Emil and Barb Brier 6770 Delor
James and Betty Kuda 6317 Devonshire
Pat Gooden and Larry Kiesel 6459 Westway
Mark and Linda Smith 6560 Neosho
Steve and Loraine Brazile 6519 Walsh
Craig and Gina Ratajczyk 6423 Devonshire
Sam and Nancy Patti 5844 Neosho
Joel and Sherry Oliver 6608 Itaska
Jim and Kate Agliata 4715 Vienna
Frank and Rosemary Duda 6534 Walsh
Block Award – 6500 Walsh Thank you to all the judges for spending your time driving around the neighborhood to pick the winners! If you would like to be a judge next year, please call me at 352-2119. I would like to have more judges for the 2006 awards. The holiday season will be here before you know it, so get together with your neighbors to plan your lighting displays!
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Hills Street News
Rosemary’s Corner METRO VOLUNTEERS MULCH FRANCIS PARK TREES If the beautiful trees in Francis Park survive this summer's heat spell and drought, it will be thanks in large part to the efforts of a group of volunteers from the St. Louis Interfaith Community Explorations (SLICE) Program of the Faith Beyond Walls Organization. This is a non-profit organization that mobilizes resources and interfaith volunteers to carry out community improvement projects.
Alderwoman Donna Baringer and Francis Park Committee Chairman Michael Flowers welcome Faith Beyond Walls/SLICE Volunteers to Francis Park.
On June 21 and 22, 2005, under ninety-plus degree temperatures, nineteen students and leaders displayed tireless energy as they did a great job mulching all perimeter trees and newer trees in Francis Park. The St. Louis Hills Neighborhood Association began reforesting Francis Park over four years ago; however, we lacked the large number of volunteers needed to undertake the labor-intensive effort of mulching so many trees. Only with SLICE volunteers was this task completed.
Our thanks to Mrs. Beth Damsgaard-Rodriguez, Director of Projects and Volunteer Administration for Faith Beyond Walls, for overseeing this project, and thanks to the SLICE volunteers for reaching out to our St. Louis Hills community. Additional thanks from all participants in this project to Ted Drewes Frozen Custard for donating forty cups of frozen custard for the SLICE volunteers to enjoy during their lunch break.
FALL PARK CLEAN-UP & PLANTING Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 15, 2005, to volunteer for park clean-up and bulb/perennials planting. Your help is truly needed at either Francis Park or Willmore Park. Work begins at 8:30 and we finish around Noon. If you can spare an hour or more, we need your help to keep our parks beautiful.
PARK VANDALISM We have been experiencing some random vandalism in Francis Park (i.e. graffiti, broken benches, broken lights) particularly in the playground area. We are requesting your help in stopping these acts before they escalate to more serious crimes. If you are walking/driving around the park after 10:00 p.m. and see people (youths or adults) congregating around the playground area (or any park area), call 911 and report it immediately.
FLAGS ARE FLYING A new shipment of St. Louis Hills house flags has arrived. If you are interested in purchasing a flag ($30) contact Rosemary Spitler, 352-4885.
TTThats all folks!
Hills Street News
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Avoiding a “Wilting” Floral Experience By Ray Grimes, KaBloom Florist on Grand - 664-4800
Now that the “Hallmark” holidays are behind us, we would like to take this opportunity to assist you in making your floral purchasing experiences happy ones! As the old saying goes, “The early bird catches the worm”. When you’re thinking of sending a friend, relative or significant other a beautiful floral arrangement, plan ahead! Call your florist a week before the special event and let them know what you have in mind. They will be certain to order the specific flowers, greenery, and accessories in the colors you request so that they will be in the shop on the day you would like your gift to be delivered or ready to pick up. If you wait until the special day to call, your florist cannot guarantee they will have the necessary items in stock or a timely delivery. Reminders are our friends. Mark all of your calendars, daytimers, palm pilots, etc. with your family and friends’ birthdays, anniversaries, and special occasions so they will not sneak up on you. Again, after noting the special days on your calendars, go back a week before the event and make a note to call your florist to place an order for your floral needs. Deliveries can be tricky. If you wish to have your floral gift delivered, please check with the recipient to make sure they will be home to receive it on delivery day. If the recipient is elderly, it is especially advisable to alert them that someone will be coming to their door to deliver flowers. Your florist cannot guarantee a beautiful bouquet if the flowers have to be left at the entry or an alternative location. Hospital deliveries can be difficult as well. For the best results, provide the recipient’s full, legal name. Most hospitals adhere to the laws concerning privacy, and if the names do not match, there could be a problem with the delivery. Room numbers are a big help, too! On occasion, the hospital staff will not allow flowers to be taken into a patient’s room for one reason or another. Please check at the nurses’ station before assuming the flowers were not delivered. News of the death of a friend or loved one often takes us by surprise, allowing little time for planning. When ordering funeral flowers, make certain you have the correct name and address of the funeral home where the delivery is to be made. (Some cities have several funeral homes with the same name—different locations) It is also very important to know the time of visitation so that the flowers can be delivered prior to the family’s arrival. Paper Mache containers normally accompany the casket to the cemetery, while plants and vase arrangements go home with the deceased’s family or are sent to a nursing home or other special location. Many people are surprised to learn that bouquets normally do not come with a vase. Your florist makes every effort to ensure that the flowers in the bouquet have a water source from the time they are arranged until they are delivered. This could be as simple as heavy-duty paper towels soaked in water and wrapped in multiple plastic bags, or the bouquet standing in a container of water. Often times the recipient of the bouquet is surprised (i.e. DISAPPOINTED) that a vase was not purchased with the order—spend a little bit more and guarantee that they will ADORE you and their floral gift! Getting a date to homecoming, prom or your friend’s wedding can be stressful enough. Order your corsage and boutonniere several days in advance of the special day to ensure the flowers and a designer will be on hand to create a memorable floral piece! Continued on page 16
Hills Street News
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Growing Up in St. Louis Hills in the 1930s By Bill Rund, St. Louis Hills Neighborhood Association 1960-1961
A kid growing up in St. Louis Hills in the 1930s experienced a marvelous world of development and change. Back then there were few paved streets, no street lights, no schools and no churches in the area bounded by Hampton, River Des Peres, Chippewa and what is now Eichelberger. While there were no parks or playgrounds, a great portion of the area was farmland and woods loaded with rabbits, squirrels, quail, doves and other wildlife. There were ponds in which to swim, strong ropes tied to trees on which a kid could swing over deep ravines. Then, too, there were areas where one could find and pick loads of wild blackberries. Icemen, milkmen, men selling produce, bread and baked goods would drive their horse drawn carts up and down the streets and alleys seeking buyers for their goods. St. Louis Hills was a fantasyland in which to live for all the children in the neighborhood. While a great deal of home building was going on all around them, one group of youngsters decided to erect their very own clubhouse on a lot on Lansdowne, near where Steak 'N' Shake once stood, using scrap lumber and building materials from nearby building sites. Cyrus Crane Willmore, the developer of the Hills, didn't look too kindly on the project, so he sent his man, Tony, to evict the lads from their joyous clubhouse and to tear it down. The eviction and demolition of their clubhouse was a bitter pill for the boys to swallow, but they managed to put it behind them and move onto other childhood activities. One has to keep in mind, at that time St. Louis Hills was like a developing small town within a large city. For the children, it was like being a part of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town. Today, St. Louis Hills still offers children a wonderful community in which to grow up, learn and play, with its parks and playgrounds, schools, churches, shops and stores. As the world turns, the growth and development of St. Louis Hills experienced by the youngsters in the 1930s will long be remembered. Even now, seventyfive years later, there is a proposal being circulated in the area to create a Community Improvement District (CID) to fund the construction of a neighborhood community center and pool on the property now occupied by Nottingham School.
Hills Street News Advertising Advertisers in this newsletter are required to be members of the Hampton-Chippewa Business Association and pay an annual fee for advertisement. Questions regarding advertising should be directed to Ken Crecelius at 351-7070.
Porch Lights On From Dusk ‘Til Dawn Reduces Crime
Hills Street News
From the President Past -
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By Wayne Myrick, President SLHNA
For the past ten years, I have been blessed to work closely with some amazing people. I’m referring to your neighbors who serve you as officers and board members of the St. Louis Hills Neighborhood Association. My three-year term as President of the SLHNA has recently come to an end and it has been my honor and privilege to serve along with such an energetic, caring, and cohesive group. The board is comprised of people who make things happen. These are the people who coordinate the many activities and events in the neighborhood throughout the year; work with our alderman and city leaders to address issues in St. Louis Hills or nearby communities; help promote our neighborhood to commercial developers and maintain solid relationships with our business community; oversee and coordinate our block captain program; write our newsletters; attend meetings and sub-committee meetings; maintains our accounting records; documents our meeting activities; coordinate our membership drive and I could go on and on. They are your neighbors of all ages and backgrounds who live all over our neighborhood. They are committed to St. Louis Hills and the City of St. Louis. They serve with only the best interests of St. Louis Hills as their driving force. I’m very thankful to be part of this wonderful group and I can honestly say that serving with them has enriched my life. The really great news is that Carol Wilson is the new president of the SLHNA. If you know Carol, you know that she fits right in with this board. She is proactive, full of energy, much smarter than the last three presidents and usually has a great, big smile on her face. She is excited about the opportunities that come along with serving our neighborhood and she will be a terrific president. I get tired just thinking of the energy generated between our new president and our alderman, Donna Baringer. I don’t think you can find an alderman at City Hall who is as devoted to her ward as Donna is in the 16th. She attends one thousand meetings a week and is constantly focused on ways to improve our neighborhood whether it be issues related to speeding, upkeep of rental property and businesses, attracting developers to the area or improving our infrastructure. She is proactive, loyal and has as much energy as my three-year-old daughter, Ali. Our neighborhood association and alderman enjoy an outstanding relationship that will strengthen even more under the leadership of Donna and Carol. I want to thank my sweetheart, Cathy, and my children Christopher, Peyton and Ali for devoting so much family time together to the neighborhood over the last three years. If I was involved in a project, that usually meant that Cath was involved also. The boys were at my side for many activities and since most of their world is in St. Louis Hills, they thought I was the president of the whole world. I’ll never forget the time that I was just starting to introduce Mayor Slay and Senator Talent to the mass of people at a Christmas Tree Lighting and I was interrupted by Peyton (preschooler at the time) tugging and my pants and asking “Daddy, this is really important, can I have another cookie?” I was also very proud of Christopher who would always be so excited about the park clean-ups. I thought, wow- this is great; this little boy has already caught the spark for community service and really enjoys cleaning up the park and helping out his neighborhood. I soon found out that he liked that part of it but he really had a passion for the donuts that Rosemary Spitler brings to all the park clean-ups. So, catch the spark and become involved, whether in your neighborhood or other volunteer based organizations. There is much to be excited about in St. Louis Hills. The new Target is only about 60 days away (October 9), a new Lion’s Choice and Starbucks are coming soon, a Metro station will be just a short walk or bike ride away in 2006, the River des Peres bike trail is being connected to a new path as part of the Trailnet system and commercial developers are expressing a high level of interest in our Hampton Chippewa business community. My final words as president of the world- Get involved, welcome your new neighbors to your block, get excited about the prospect of a community center and pool right here in St. Louis Hills and to steal a line from a friend of mine- “Be on fire, wherever you are. “
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From the President -
Hills Street News By Carol Wilson, President SLHNA
This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the Wilson family’s move to St. Louis Hills. Tim and I moved to Itaska, not far from the house on Walsh where he had been raised, so our children could grow up with the same sense of community and stability that he had enjoyed as a child. Within a few years I became involved in what was then the St. Louis Hills Home Owners Association and served as its president from 1992-1994. I am happy to serve now in that capacity for our St. Louis Hills Neighborhood Association. To a casual observer there have been few changes here in the past two decades. We are still a neighborhood of architecturally delightful homes, well-manicured lawns and beautiful parks. Yet in many ways this is not the community I thought it would be; it is an even better one. In early 1992 I recall a board member telling me that we should not participate in an event that gave city neighborhoods the opportunity to set up booths to promote their organizations. “We don’t want anyone to know we are here,” he said. I saw that attitude change dramatically with Run for the Hills, as people came from all over the metropolitan area, charmed by what they found here. I watched this neighborhood explode with vitality and involvement as residents came forward to join this association and participate in its activities. SLHNA has been a part of my life for many years, and what has always struck me as extraordinarily special is the “we” spirit that pervades this organization. I have never seen so many unselfish, committed people come together to maintain and improve the quality of life in their community. Perhaps we could put bios of our board members in a future issue so you could see the breadth of knowledge and talent on your board. There are no glory seekers here, no huge egos. We may not always agree, but we work through issues until we come to a consensus. Reason and humor are far more prevalent than discord at our meetings. In addition to a board that works well together, this Association has always enjoyed a close working relationship with city government and our police department. Alderman Donna Baringer, 2nd District Captain Mary Warnecke and I will be conferring frequently, and I am excited about working with them. We will make an excellent team. If teasing is a measure of affection, I have surely found many wonderful friends on this board, and I am looking forward to serving you with them. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome (offers of help, creative projects or solutions, and smiles are heartily encouraged, too), so feel free to contact me at home (832-4487), at work (843-7200) or by email at carolannwilson@msn.com. My job takes me into homes that are for sale in neighborhoods throughout the metropolitan St. Louis area, yet I have never been tempted to move. Twenty years ago I thought it was the location and the physical beauty of this neighborhood that made it so popular and made its property values steadily increase. I was wrong. It is the people who make St. Louis Hills so special. Floral Experience continued from page 13
Potpourri Remember that flowers are sensitive and do not hold up well in high temperatures. (Tropicals do not fair well in extremely cold temperatures) Tulips, iris and roses are especially heat sensitive. You like fresh water, and so do flowers. Try to change the water in the vase every three or four days and trim the bottom of each stem about a quarter of an inch before placing them back in clean water. Use the floral food that is included with each purchase.
Hills Street News
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SLHNA BOARD & COMMITTEE MEMBERS SLHNA Officers President Carol Wilson Treasurer Bob Lange
1st Vice President Mitch Hanneken Secretary Terri Borowiak
Past President Wayne Myrick
2nd Vice President Peggy Stelzer Executive Director Jamie Lenze
SLHNA Committee Members Block Captains Business Relations Business Relations Commercial District MgrSt. Louis Development Corp Communications Community Relations
Bob & Kelly Klasek Ken Crecelius Steve Doss
Gary Weinhold
Laura Geiser Jim Wurm
Executive Committee Executive Committee
John Burghoff
Lawn & Garden, Xmas
Linda Ruzicka
Mark Daly
Membership
Lisa & Dave Anderson
Executive Committee
Chris Hohn
Neighborhood Stabilization Officer
Sandy Colvin
Executive Committee
Jeanne Magee
Public Works Projects
Tom Gilmore
Executive Committee
Paul Padberg
Run for the Hills
Mike Banahan
Nancy Vordtriede
Scholarship
Anne Orso
Nick Zervos
Streets & Property
Dave Ehnes
Executive Committee Executive Committee
Events
Ann Layton
Francis Park
Mike Flowers
Volunteer Coordinator
Rosemary Spitler
Executive Committee
Brad Arteaga
Insurance
Tom Mummert
Web Manager, HSN Editor
Janice Starbuck
Hills Street News
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Calendar of Events
St. Louis Hills House Tour & Art in the Park
Compiled by Steve & Carol Pariani
August
By Jamie Lenze, SLHNA Executive Director
17
HCBA Bavarian Fest, Bank of America Featuring the Waterloo German Band.
21
Hope United Church of Christ Bar-BQ on church grounds.
6-? 11:30am – 7pm
September 11 17 25 25
Hope United Church of Christ Rally Day outdoor picnic at church grounds Run for the Hills – Francis Park St. Andrew Presbyterian Church community Bar-B-Q Southwest City Night at Busch Stadium. See stlouishills.org for details.
Sign Posted 8am Noon – 1:30pm 7:10pm-?
October 7
Bishop DuBourg Homecoming football game vs. St. Mary’s HS
7pm
St. Louis Hills House Tour & Art Fair – Francis Park Hope United Church of Christ 12 Rummage Sale Donations Hope United Church of Christ 13 Rummage Sale Trivia Night at Bishop DuBourg HS. 22 Call 832-3030 for ticket info. Trivia Night at Hope United Church. 22 Call 353-2288 for details. Bishop DuBourg Guild Production. 27-30 Call 832-3030 for details. Hope United Church Art Fair. Local 29 artist exhibits for sale. Refreshments available. 9
10 - 6 8:30am - 2pm 8:30am -2pm 7pm Call Call 9am-5pm
The St. Louis Hills Neighborhood Association is sponsoring a House Tour and Art Fair on October 9, 2005. The House Tour will be from Noon until 5:00 PM and will showcase some of the finest properties in St. Louis Hills, featuring an eclectic Tudor, a sprawling ranch estate, and traditional two story homes. House Tour tickets will be $15.00 until October 1, 2005 and $18.00 the day of the Tour. Pre-registration forms will be available at the corners of Nottingham and Tamm and Eichelberger and Donovan in Francis Park beginning September 1, 2005.
Art in the Park will feature local artists and favorite foods from the neighborhood. Admission will be free to the Art Fair. The Art Fair will be located by the Francis Park lily pond on the Nottingham side of the park and will be from 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM. For information, call 752-2748 or 752-3185.
LOST AND FOUND
November 8:30am1pm
9
Blood Drive at Bishop DuBourg
19
Bishop DuBourg annual Gala Dinner & Auction. Call 832-3030 for details.
Call
A ring was found during the first week of July on side of Lily Pond in Francis Park. To claim, contact Rosemary Spitler at 352-4885.
Hills Street News is a quarterly publication of the St. Louis Hills Neighborhood Association's Block Captain Program. P.O. Box 190314, St. Louis, MO 63119-6314 Block Captain Committee Co-Chairs: Bob & Kelly Klasek The Block Captain Committee: Terry Arthur, Victor Cowell, Bee Danback, Dave Ehnes, Dan & Patty Faust, Kathy Fernandez, Ray Goedeker, Morty Jones, Donna McEvoy, Bill Olson, Steve Pariani, Carolyn Schainker, Herb Wuertz Hill Street News Editor: Janice Starbuck (jmstarbuck@aol.com)