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Salute to Excellence in Education Read our 64-page special section with profiles of all awardees.

St. Louis American Insert

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CAC Audited SEPTEMBER 24 – 30, 2015

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Vol. 86 No. 25 COMPLIMENTARY

Treasured memories of Holy Rosary

Racing for health

Students from Catholic school in North St. Louis remember the 1970s By Mark Russell For The St. Louis American

n “I expected a lot of the students because we all thought this was the path to success.”

Fifty people drifted into the restaurant banquet room on a Saturday night earlier this summer in suburban St. Louis. It had been at least four decades since they graduated. Some of them have children in college. Others are grandparents. More than a few have graying hair. But their memories of grade school remained sharp. Yes, grade school. The graduates of Holy Rosary Elementary on Margaretta Avenue in North St. Louis’

– Sister Patricia Bober

See ROSARY, A7

‘We celebrate our diversity and immigrant heritage’ Homeland Security Chief becomes first African American to lecture where Churchill gave ‘Iron Curtain’ speech By Courtney Gallagher For The St. Louis American

Photo by Wiley Price

Angela Randall and Leah Hamilton from Harris-Stowe State University’s athletic department raced to the finish line during CHIPS’ 15th Annual 5k Walk and Run Community Health Festival on Saturday, September 19.

FULTON, MO. – On Wednesday, September 16, United States Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson became the first AfricanAmerican to deliver a Green Foundation Lecture at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, where Winston Churchill delivered his famous “Iron Curtain” speech in 1946. Johnson was introduced by Benjamin Ola. Akande, who became the first African-American president See LECTURE, A6

Photo by Rebecca Barr / Westminster College

Benjamin Ola. Akande, president of Westminster College, introduced U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson when he delivered the Green Foundation Lecture on Wednesday, September 16.

Suggs Scholar pursues career in dentistry Brittany Daniel shows persistence while changing career paths By Sandra Jordan Of The St. Louis American

n “I want to work in an urban area, serving medically underserved communities.”

St. Louis American publisher and president of the St. Louis American Foundation, that also includes a With so many exciting career study abroad experience. choices, it took undergraduate Being a Suggs Scholar allowed school at Mizzou and a study Daniel to expand her educational abroad excursion in Australia opportunities. for 2008 Suggs Scholar Brittany “It gave me the opportunity to – Brittany Daniel, 2008 Daniel to narrow down her interest Suggs Scholar go to Mizzou pretty much for free, in health care to dentistry. She has and it also gave me the opportunity applied to several dental schools to study abroad in Australia in the and, if all goes as planned, she will summer of 2011,” Daniel said. start dental school in August 2016. She took courses in Australian culture and animal When she graduated from Trinity Catholic High science, visited a rain forest and “spent time in School, Daniel had her sights set on pre-medicine rural areas and also in big cities and on a few and pediatrics. With that goal in mind, she applied islands as well,” she said. for and was awarded the University of Missouri Somewhere along the way, Daniels interest Columbia Donald M. Suggs Scholarship. This is a four-year, $57,000 scholarship named after the See DANIEL, A6

Brittany Daniel (far right) watches Dr. Karen Richardson work on a patient, Kamekah Hunt, at BJK People’s Health Center, with the assistance of Melvon Ewing. A 2008 Suggs Scholar at the University of Missouri– Columbia, Daniel is seeking a career in dentistry. Photo by Wiley Price

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 24 - 30, 2015

manager. But now your woman is on display. Do you want men looking at your woman? These are talented women, but you strip them. Then their bodies become the tool that is being used to promote the degradation of the woman. And the subjugation of a man…I would want to say to my brother Jay Z, as much as I love and admire him, ‘I want to see my sister beautifully covered.’”

Is Bill Cosby begging for a criminal defense attorney? THE STUFF THAT HAS PEOPLE TALKING Sean Penn slaps Lee Daniels with defamation suit Last week, director Lee Daniels compared actor Terrence Howard with actors Sean Penn and Marlon Brando in terms of media treatment after brushes with the law. Sean Penn was not amused and is suing Lee Daniels for defamation of character. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Penn is suing Daniels claiming Daniels slandered him to promote his hit TV series Empire. He also calls Daniels’ assertion that he and Howard are no different “egregious on several levels.” Howard has been arrested multiple times on domestic violence charges, Sean while Sean’s criminal Penn record consists mainly of assaulting paparazzi. Sean Penn is seeking $10 million in damages.

According to Yahoo.com, Comedian Bill Cosby is desperately seeking to hire a criminal defense lawyer as suburban prosecutors revisit a 2005 sexual-assault complaint against him. The web portal’s entertainment news site says lawyer Edwin Jacobs said late Tuesday that Cosby’s agents had contacted him in the past few days about a pending investigation in Montgomery County. Jacobs, who had represented Cosby in a review of another accuser’s complaint in New Jersey, said he referred Cosby’s agents to another high-profile Philadelphia-area lawyer.

After being dragged for dear life Grahn deleted the tweets and offered apologies. “I apologize for my earlier tweets and not realize I need to check my own privilege,” Grahn said. “My intention was not to take this historic and importing moment from Viola Davis and other women of color, but I realize that my intention doesn’t matter here because that’s what I ended up doing.”

General Hospital actress bashes Viola Davis after historic Emmy win

Louis Farrakhan tells Jay Z to put some clothes on Beyoncé During an interview with Hip Hop Since 1987.com, Minister Louis Farrakhan was asked about the recent Made In America music festival in Philadelphia, He was specifically asked about festival headliner, Beyoncé and the role the singer and other female artists have as women in the public eye. He proceeded to issue a call for Jay Z to lead his wife and female artists he’s affiliated with in the direction of modesty. “Jay Z is a good man,” he said. “Jay Z is a good

Tyga Jenner inserted into KUWTK storyline

RadarOnline.com is reporting that Kylie Jenner and rapper boyfriend On Sunday Viola Davis became the Tyga’s relationship drama will be first African American actress to win a central storyline in the upcoming an ”Outstanding Leading Actress in a season of “Keeping Up With The Drama Series” in the 67-year history of Kardashians (KUWTK).” the Primetime Emmy Awards. Tyga According to insiders, cameras are In her acceptance speech, Davis finally catching Kris and the older quoted Harriet Tubman as spoke of sisters’ skeptical reactions to the18the lack of diversity in Hollywood. year-old’s controversial romance. “General Hospital actress Nancy Lee Grahn “Everyone says they’re worried that Tyga’s did not agree – and shared her feelings with a using Kylie for her money,” a source told good old twitter rant. RadarOnline. Insiders say he is worth about $4 “I’m a [f-word expletive] actress for 40 million – which is small change compared to yrs. None of us get the respect or opportunity the Kardashian/Jenner rumored combined net we deserve. Emmys not venue 4 racial worth $300 million. opportunity,” Grahn tweeted. “I heard Harriet Tubman and thought ‘it’s a [expletive] Emmy Sources: Twitter.com, RadarOnline.com, for God’s sake. She wasn’t digging through a Bossip.com, Yahoo.com, The Hollywood tunnel. Brilliant as she is. She has never been Reporter, Hiphopsince1987.com discriminated against.”

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ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 24 - 30, 2015

Chiefs call for reform of use of force

Police Executive Research Forum releases new critical report on training By Kevin Flannery For The St. Louis American The same research group that issued a blistering report last April on the fragmentation of St. Louis-area police departments has now issued an eye-opening report that calls for an overhaul of police training and culture. The Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) produced the report, “Re-Engineering Training on Police Use of Force,” amid a period of introspection taking place within the nation’s law enforcement community since Officer Darren Wilson shot and killed Michael Brown Jr. in Ferguson in August 2014. That introspection has led to new thinking about issues such as officers’ mentality about their role; the generally unwritten, but widely accepted, 21-foot rule that purports to govern the legality of officers’ use of force in edged-weapon situations; and appropriate crisis intervention training and response. PERF’s primary contribution consisted of creating a space for raising the issues. Comments from high-ranking police officials from across the country make up the bulk of the report and drive the conclusion that a systematic overhaul is needed. “Some of what you will read in this report may be difficult to accept, because leading police chiefs are saying that our practices need to change dramatically,” PERF’s Executive Director, Chuck Wexler, wrote in the introduction. Nowhere is that proposed change more evident than in

police officials’ view that the profession must leave behind its warrior mentality. The role of officers should align more closely with that of guardian, the officials said. The recruiting video for the Denison Police Department in Texas exemplifies the warrior mindset that infects the profession, the officials agreed. Set to pumping techno music and the sound of gunshots, the video portrays officers making what appears to be everyday use of sniper rifles, assault rifles and sidearms, often wearing camouflage and other military-style gear. The video closes with the quote: “People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men and women stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” Joseph Price, police chief in Leesburg, Virginia, responded: “We need to change that mindset, to teach officers that at times they may need to fight like a warrior, but most of the time they need to have the mindset of a guardian.” Added Kenneth Miller, police chief in Greenville, South Carolina: “I think that in many respects this idea of police being ‘law enforcement’ boxes us in, causes us to work at cross-purposes within our departments, and serves to isolate us from the communities and people we serve.” Rodney Moore, Police Chief in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, North Carolina, said: “We have to do a much tougher job of weeding out the candidates who think that that’s what policing is about.” Besides adjusting the profession’s mindset, the mythologized 21-foot rule

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

Protestors in Ferguson on August 15, 2014 called for an end to police brutality.

needs serious reframing, officials said. That rule, developed by a Salt Lake City police officer in the 1980s, suggests that unless an individual with an edged weapon such as a knife maintains a distance of 21 feet or more away from an officer,

“We created the concept of a 20-foot ‘zone of safety,’” Timoney said. “The idea was that as the emotionally disturbed person is moving, you’re backing up or going parallel, to keep yourself 20 feet away and in a zone of safety.”

n PERF concluded: “The 21-foot rule should never be seen as a ‘green light to use deadly force’ or a ‘kill zone.’”

the individual could charge at, attack and injure the officer before the officer has time to draw and fire. A training video by Calibre Press, “Surviving Edged Weapons,” popularized the rule in 1988. John Timoney, a former first deputy commissioner of police in New York City, said the NYPD changed the policy for emotionally disturbed persons.

But he said “that idea got corrupted” and he started hearing about a “kill zone.” “Somehow, the idea became that if you’re less than 21 feet away, you can shoot,” Timoney said. “How the hell did it become a ‘kill zone?’” St. Louis city and county have had police killings of mentally unstable black men armed with knives since Michael Brown Jr.’s death:

Kajieme Powell in the city and Thaddeus McCarroll in Jennings. Cathy Lanier, chief of the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department, said that useof-force incidents should be reviewed for the entirety of the encounter. “The question is not that you can, it’s whether you absolutely had to,” Lanier said. “And the decisions leading up to the moment when you fired a shot ultimately determine whether you had to or not.” PERF concluded: “The 21-foot rule should never be seen as a ‘green light to use deadly force’ or a ‘kill zone.’ Rather, officers should be given broader training in sound decision-making, de-escalation strategies, and tactics for creating time and distance, so they can better manage the incident without needing force.” Providing officers with more and better crisis-intervention training may also reduce the incidence of the use of force,

particularly against the mentally ill and homeless, according to PERF. Another strategy that officers can employ to de-escalate a situation is age-old: retreat, a term that officials increasingly replace with “tactical repositioning.” “I tell my officers that if the guy with a knife isn’t going to hurt anyone else except maybe you, there is no shame in tactically retreating and calling for backup,” said Robert Ferullo Jr., police chief in Woburn, Massachusetts. “This can apply to situations involving firearms as well.” Additionally, officers need to know that they will be held accountable when they do use force, officials said. Danielle Outlaw, deputy police chief in Oakland, California, said sergeants are no longer allowed to “take what officers said at face value, write it in their investigative report and push it up the chain.” “It’s been made very clear that there are higher expectations, regarding investigative sufficiency of the sergeants, and they receive timely feedback regarding their investigations,” Outlaw said. But implementing reforms may not be straightforward or easy. Local police unions could push back on proposals for reform. Kirk Primas, police chief in Las Vegas, Nevada, said it is crucial to include officers during policy development, as they did when revising use of force policy. “We got vocal senior officers to come in and help develop the training and then train everybody else on use of force,” Primas said. “We also made the training relevant and exciting. And the results have shown that it’s successful.” Read the full report at www. policeforum.org/free-onlinedocuments. Kevin Flannery is a St. Louis American intern and a student at the Washington University School of Law.

Charles Richards (618) 257-2397

Act Soon to Close Your “Insurance Gap”

If you work for a fairly sizable company, you may be entering your open enrollment season, when you can add or adjust your employersponsored benefits. While you probably should review all your benefits, you may want to pay special attention to your life insurance to determine if you and your family are adequately protected. How much life insurance do you need? You may hear that you require anywhere from seven to 10 times your annual income in life insurance coverage, but this rule of thumb might not be appropriate for everyone; the amount of insurance you need will depend on your individual situation. To help determine if a “gap” exists between the amount of insurance you have from your employer and the amount you need, your first step is to identify all those expenses that your family would face alone if you were gone. Here are some to consider: • Ongoing income replacement needs and living expenses – If you were to pass away, and your paychecks were to stop,

of living expenses, with it would likely create a gigantic the money kept in a liquid hole in your family’s finances. account. This fund can help Adequate life insurance is neceswith unexpected doctor’s sary to replace the loss of your bills, costly auto repairs future salary and cover ongoing and so on. If you weren’t living expenses. there, could your family • Mortgage – If you weren’t afford to contribute to such around, and your income were to a fund? Again, disappear, would your it’s something to family still be able to n The think about when remain in their home? you estimate your Factor in your mortgage amount of insurance needs. in any calculation of • Surviving life insurance needs. insurance spouse’s retirement • Debts – Apart from – If you’re maryour mortgage, what you need ried, your income other debts do you have? Car loan? Credit will depend may contribute to your spouse’s abilcards? Perhaps even ity to put money some old student loans? on your away in a retireEven if you pass away, individual ment account, these debts won’t all such as an IRA or disappear, especially if situation. 401(k). If you’re some of them are in the gone, your survivnames of you and your ing spouse might spouse. Determine how well have to redirect those much you pay each month on all funds to the day-to-day these debts and include this figure costs of running a housein your life insurance estimate. hold. Therefore, include • Education – As you know, “surviving spouse’s retirehigher education comes with ment funds” as one more some high expenses: Four years item on your insurance estiat an in-state public school can mate worksheet. easily cost upwards of $80,000, As you can see, your while the price tag can be twice absence can jeopardize your as much for private schools. And family’s ability to maintain these costs may continue rising. both their current lifestyle So, if you’ve always planned to and their aspirations for the send your children to college, future. So, take the time to you’d better pencil in some big figure out just how much figures for your life insurance of an “insurance gap” you calculations. face, and then consider • Emergency funds – It’s a options for filling it. It will good idea for most people to be time well spent. maintain an emergency fund containing six to 12 months’ worth

Editorial / Commentary A4

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 24 - 30, 2015

No calling higher than teacher

Photo by Wiley Price

Lexington Elementary School 4th grade teacher John Wright Jr. shows students how an electrical circuit can produce both heat and light. One of our proudest accomplishments at The St. Louis American has continued to be embraced by our community, but remains too little known outside of it. That is the annual Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship and Awards Gala, which has become Black St. Louis’ signature black tie fall gala. We are deeply proud to convene our community around a celebration of classroom educators (and the administrators who guide and support them). This event galvanizes our community and brings out the best in us, we believe, because our community recognizes that teaching is a high calling. There is, in fact, none higher. It’s a shame and tragedy that teaching is not more widely regarded as the noble calling and vital public service it is, in particular with the problems we face today, which are rooted in failing schools and unemployable youth that drop out or graduate as functional illiterates. Demographic and economic shifts have sped up the growth of an undereducated underclass that plays a critical role in the issues being unraveled in the wake of Ferguson. We all suffer from the failure of our educational system to prepare all of our young people to participate fully in the new economy. Advocating for quality urban education is essential to our mission. And, as we all know, the most critical part of urban education is what happens in the classroom. We strongly believe that we must institutionalize the idea, as a region, state and nation, that we need a more comprehensive approach to producing able, well prepared, committed educators and placing them, with fair compensation, in urban classrooms. The Ferguson Commission’s mandate that this region must apply “a lens of racial equity” in addressing our problems is a mandate, in the sphere of education, for placing a high priority on reforming our failing urban schools. We must

stop packing all of our least privileged children in educational ghettoes. Our children need diversity in their classrooms, for the good of the region and of the children themselves. We believe the Ferguson Commission report is a good starting place for pursuing educational reform. In an area of special concern to us, early childhood education, the commission calls for universal Pre-K for children ages 3-4, lowering the age of compulsory school attendance in Missouri from 7 to 5 years old, and forging an effective collaborative model between school districts’ early childhood programs and community-based programs. We heartily endorse these recommendations. We have to reach our children at the earliest age and teach them how to learn and to love learning if they are to reach their full potential, and we as a region are to reach our full potential. But the Education Salute gala is not a night to focus on our problems. The event evolved out of our interest in citing some of the very good work being done in urban classrooms, despite the challenges. The people we celebrate at Salute show that a lot of very good things are being done in our most challenged districts and schools, and these best practices need to be presented to the public and celebrated. With Salute, we aim to raise the stature of educators in our community and express our profound gratitude for those dedicated teachers and administrators doing excellent work. We want to show them how much we appreciate their contributions to our growth and how much we admire them. This year’s Lifetime Achiever, Alice Roach, and Stellar Performer, Tiffany Anderson, perfectly exemplify this commitment to excellence, and we literally can’t wait to show them and our other awardees off at our gala on Friday night. See you there.

Commentary

Kim Davis is no Rosa Parks

By Earl Ofari Hutchinson Guest columnist There is no greater idiocy and insult then to compare Kentucky Deputy Clerk Kim Davis’s defiance of the law to civil rights icon Rosa Parks. But some GOP notables and conservatives fell over themselves to say that because one obscure clerk invoked God and religion to justify not issuing marriage licenses to same sex couples that this puts her in the same league with Parks. Parks was a deeply committed civil rights activist and NAACP member before she was jailed for defying a segregation statute, did not have the benefit of a party’s presidential candidates vying for photo-ops with her, and after her release still was subject to the same Jim Crow segregation laws and the threat of physical abuse. Parks’ act struck a blow against bigotry, intolerance and the century-long denial of rights for African Americans. Davis’ act struck a blow for bigotry, intolerance and the near-millennial denial of rights to gays. The GOP and ultra conservatives have long tried to have their cake and eat it too when it comes to making false, phony and self-serving comparisons with the Civil Rights Movement’s legacy and heroes. It regularly tossed out Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s name to hammer affirmative action programs by distorting King’s “I Have a Dream” speech to purport that he would

Letters to the Editor Correction A column on Floyd Mayweather in our September 17 edition claimed that the boxer “pocketed at least $32 million, per the terms of his Showtime contract.” In fact, the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s public release of fighter purses is a record of what the event promoter pays the boxer. It is not tied to any network agreement or supposed Showtime guarantee.

Urgent action agenda

As I See It - A Forum for Community Issues

Felony disenfranchisement is a crime By John J. Knowledge Guest Columnist One of the primary reasons that the courts and legislators are so indifferent to prisoners’ rights is because we are a group of mainly nonwhites or poor whites who lack the ability to vote for or against judges, prosecutors and legislators. Each year for the last couple of decades, bills have been presented to the General Assembly to lower the 85 percent mandatory minimums or to give eligibility to those serving life without parole. Yet these bills rarely even make it out of committee. This is because the state legislators are concerned only with their constituents, i.e., those who can vote them in/out of office, and those who contribute to their campaigns. Imagine for a moment how government officials would react to our legitimate concerns when, instead of dealing with 32,000 prisoners in Missouri, they are dealing with 32,000 voting citizens who happen to be in prison. Add to that another 68,000 voting citizens on probation and parole, as well as our friends, families and allies. How would this affect the governor’s appointment of a director of Corrections? Or his appointments to the Missouri Supreme Court? How many legislators would visit the prisons during campaign season to make sure that they are up

to international human rights standards? Also remember that as registered voters we would then be constitutionally allowed to file and sign initiative petitions ourselves to change unfair parole guidelines, excessive sentencing laws, sweatshop prison wages, etc. Felony disenfranchisement is an issue of national importance. It affects much more than criminal justice issues. Some 6 million Americans cannot vote due to felony disenfranchisement. Those votes could change the balGuest Columnist ance of power in the U.S., affectJohn J. Knowledge ing everything from education and labor to trade and commerce. If we are diligent in fighting against voter restriction and the desperate conservative attempt to exile/extradite millions of Latinos as a way of slowing the population shift toward a nonwhite American majority, we could have non-white majorities in Congress and the judiciary, and a country where the votes of poor whites count as much as those of wealthy whites. Meaningful change requires leadership from those of us who are capable. Many people would like the perks and

recognition that come with leadership without having to bear the burden and make the sacrifices that it requires. We have to be the change that we want to see. We can’t wait for others to solve our problems for us. Some prisoners will not want to jeopardize their visiting, honor dorm, or working privileges to bring about change. But you cannot tiptoe through the struggle. You can either be satisfied with small tokens, or you can dig in and push for real change. As responsible adults, our only refrain should be that what we do is lawful. As long as we are operating within the law, we must not be intimidated. Also, we must no look back at past failures as our reason for not participating in this movement. The secret to success is to be able to fail time and time again without losing enthusiasm or the drive to succeed. One of my favorite verses in the Bible is 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-control.” That is what we must exercise if we are going to take back the right to vote. For more information about Take Back the Vote, email takebackthevote2016@gmail. com. John J. Knowledge is a pseudonym for an inmate at a Missouri correctional facility who fears retaliation should he publish under his own name.

be opposed to these programs. Some even tried to drag him into the controversy over the Black Lives Matter movement saying that he’d be appalled at its actions. But it’s the Parks name that has always seemed to draw the GOP’s blatant opportunism. This was on horrid display in December 2013. The occasion was the 58th anniversary commemoration of the day that Parks refused to give her seat up on a segregated Montgomery bus and was jailed. The Republican National Committee tweeted a salute to Parks: “Today we remember Rosa Guest Columnist Parks’ bold Earl Ofari stand and her Hutchinson role in ending racism.” The tweet provoked a justifiable storm of outrage aimed squarely at the gigantic absurdity that racism had ended. The RNC quickly retweeted and inserted the word “fighting” in place of “ending” before the word racism. The RNC has a far bigger problem, namely its selfserving delusion that the GOP has shed its chronic racial pandering. RNC Chairman Reince Priebus feeds that delusion when he loudly proclaims that the GOP is doing a deep soul search on race and that he wants the GOP to do everything to woo more blacks, Latinos and Asians to the party.

I want to commend Governor Nixon and the members of the Ferguson Commission for their diligent efforts to shine the harsh light of truth on the many disparities and deep divisions in our region that too many people have been willing to ignore for far too long. I am very gratified that a number of their core recommendations mirror key elements of federal legislation that I have already introduced in Congress, including: the appointment of an independent prosecutor in all cases where police use deadly force; transforming how police officers are trained to increase their sensitivity to minorities; limiting the militarization of local law enforcement; and focusing on the economic and educational empowerment of young people as the best way to address the roots of inequality, unrest and violence. The Ferguson Commission has laid out an urgent action agenda that is worthy of our strong support. At the federal level, I have already acted to pursue many of their goals and I encourage state and local officials to join me in making these recommendations a reality. U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay Washington, D.C.

Old tradition will end Traditionally, the City of St. Louis has had a practice of providing city-wide elected and public officials with city vehicles to take home. That old tradition will end for the

Priebus forgot to tell that to his party. The borderline racial taunts, digs and jabs at President Obama, all under the guise of opposing every Obama initiative, has continued unabated. This reaffirms what the overwhelming majority of blacks and Latinos already know: that the GOP is the inherent enemy of their interests with its relentless assault on health care reform, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security; its loud clamor to slash and burn, if not outright eliminate, dozens of programs that directly benefit the poor and working class; and its assault on health care reform. The very fact that the RNC could credit Parks heroic act in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955 as “ending” racism spoke volumes about the GOP’s mindset. Conservatives continue to invoke Parks, King and the Civil Rights Movement to cover bigotry or worse, as in the case of Davis, make an invidious comparison of the defenders of bigotry to those who steadfastly fought against it. The Civil Rights Movement is the stuff of universal respect and nostalgia. Its heroes are legendary, and thus the temptation is irresistible to invoke their names. Invoking Davis’ name in the same breath with Parks is the ultimate insult. Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. He is an associate editor of New America Media and a weekly co-host of the Al Sharpton Show on American Urban Radio Network.

All letters are edited for length and style.

Office of Comptroller on September 30. At a time when the city is working very hard to address a number of very important needs and issues, I do not want the take-home car to be a distraction. Ending a tradition that began well before I took office gives the public I serve greater confidence in the mission of my office, and it is the right thing to do. As comptroller, and the watchdog of the city’s tax dollars, I want to lead by example and make this announcement ahead of a report on take-home car policies. Comptroller Darlene Green St. Louis

What we can accomplish

I am encouraged that the members of the Ferguson Commission spent such a considerable amount of time and effort examining these issues. They did a great job

The largest weekly newspaper in Missouri 70,000 copies - CAC Audited 100% Independently owned & operated Continuously published, without interruption since 1928

Donald M. Suggs Publisher & Executive Editor Kevin Jones - Sr. Vice Pres. & COO Dina M. Suggs - Sr. Vice Pres. Nathan B. Young (1894 -1993) - Founder N.A. Sweets (1901-1988) - Publisher Emeritus Bennie G. Rodgers - (1914 - 2000) Executive Editor Emeritus Melba Sweets (1909 - 2006) Editor Emeritus Editorial Chris King - Managing Editor Kenya Vaughn - Website Editor Earl Austin Jr. - Sports Editor Sandra Jordan - Health Reporter Rebecca S. Rivas - Senior Reporter Wiley Price - Senior Photojournalist

compiling this report and I commend their efforts. There are an abundance of great ideas in this report. The report is a blueprint, and now the baton passes to my colleagues and me in the General Assembly. It’s time to start focusing on those ideas that we can realistically accomplish together. Early childhood education is an idea that everyone can support, and I think it is doable. We also came very close last session to updating the police use of deadly force statute. With that as a priority next session, we can finally bring Missouri law up to the U.S. Supreme Court standard. I also think it’s time for police body cameras. Everyone knows that body cams protect police and citizens alike. They will be a vital tool in rebuilding the relationship between police and the public. State Senator Jamilah Nasheed, St. Louis

Lawrence Bryant - Photojournalist Denise Hooks -Anderson, M.D. Health Editor Jami Ballentine-Dolby Entertainment Danie Rae - Style Editor Dana G. Randolph Contributing Editor Fred Sweets - Contributing Editor Sales / Marketing Onye Hollomon- Sr. Acct. Exec. Barbara Sills - Sr. Acct. Exec. Pam Simmons- Sr. Acct. Exec. Nevida Medina - Classified Ad Mgr Angelita F. Jackson - Graphic Artist Production Mike Terhaar - Art Director Melvin Moore - Graphic Designer Administration Robin Britt - Controller Cathy Sewell - NIE Manager Ishmael Sistrunk - Web/IT/ Promotions Coordinator Kate Daniel - Exec Assistant Loistine McGhee - Acct. Assistant Mary Easter - Receptionist

2315 Pine Street, St. Louis, MO, 63103. Phone: 314-533-8000 / Fax: 314-533-2332

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 24 – 30, 2015

We need justice, not charity

Photo by Wiley Price

Looking for a job

Michael Roberts advised Daniel Crawford at the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis’ Ferguson Job Fair held Saturday, September 12 at St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley. The events was sponsored by Regional Business Council, USBank Home State Health, America’s Job Center of St. Louis County and SLATE.

Peace rally and march on Saturday

A peace rally will be held on September 26 at the O’Fallon Park Recreational Complex from 8-8.30 a.m. followed by a peace march. The event is intended to bring awareness to area residents about reducing family, community and police violence. A panel discussion will be held from 9:45-11:15 a.m. on the topic of strengthening the civilian oversight board. A discussion from 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. addressing trauma and the effects of toxic stress. A discussion will

be held from 12:45- 2 p.m. on increasing child safety and reducing violence. The event is organized with the support of the O’Fallon Community Development Organization, The Urban league of Metropolitan Saint Louis, The Saint Louis Initiative to Reduce Violence, Saint Louis Public Schools, with the support of state Representative Kimberly Gardner (D-77th District).

By Deborah Castillo and Cindy Duhigg Guest columnists Four days before the anniversary of Michael Brown Jr.’s killing, Mayor Francis Slay restated his support for the proposed Rams Stadium. He said that although the stadium may not bring local revenue, it’s a necessary investment because a football team is “one of the things that make living in a big city fun.” After the last year, it is almost laughable that our elected officials and civic elite think that a $1 billion stadium, paid for by taxpayers, is what this city needs right now, and that “fun” is Slay’s top priority. What St. Louis needs are true commitments towards racial and economic justice. We need a city and an economy where black Lives – not just corporate interests – truly matter. St. Louis activists and organizers recently launched www.PowerBehindThePolice.com, a project to show the connections within St. Louis’ 1 percent. All year, activists have chanted, “The whole damn system Deborah is guilty as hell.” Power Behind the Police is about Castillo revealing those who benefit from this system like corporations, developers, elected officials, universities, law firms and old-money families. As we build alternatives to our current economy, we know that the St. Louis’ 1 percent has tremendous power in moving us towards a racially and economically just city. To get us there, we are demanding 1 percent from the 1 percent to be invested in structural change. One percent of the St. Louis GDP is $1.4 billion – about the same as the proposed Rams Stadium. What would our region look like if this money supported Cindy racial and economic justice? What if we invested in Duhigg projects like community justice centers, schools and urban agriculture, on a scale that would create jobs? What if corporations and universities were required to pay their fair share of taxes to the cities they inhabit? We see CEOs give millions of dollars to charities like the United Way and the Boys and Girls Club. But this charity has not brought about lasting systemic change. Charity has failed to fix the 9.5 percent unemployment rate for black people versus the 4.5 percent rate for white people; failed to change the fact that black people are three times more likely to be in poverty than white people; and failed to change the chronic underfunding of schools in black communities. Charity was never intended to solve the root causes of injustice: structural racism and an economic system designed by the 1 percent, for the 1 percent. Charity fails to address how we got to this point: how the 1 percent – historically white, male and corporate – has run the show, including the colonization and the enslavement of African people; how policies of redlining, Jim Crow and predatory lending prohibited African Americans from building wealth; how urban planning has caused disinvestment in the North Side. If we don’t change the systemic and structural underpinnings of our city, we will remain in a cycle of injustice that provides no support for “racial healing.” We are demanding that our local St. Louis CEOs join us in the quest for economic and racial justice, by giving 1 percent of their profits and salaries to the Justice Fund.

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 24 – 30, 2015

LECTURE

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson delivered the Green Foundation Lecture at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, on Wednesday, September 16.

Continued from A1

in Westminster’s 164-year history when he took office in July after spending 15 years at Webster University in St. Louis. “Since assuming the position of U.S. secretary in 2013, Jeh Johnson has been consumed with the singular task of ensuring that our homeland is protected, and much of his work you and I will never know about,” Akande said. “Yet one thing is unmistakable: this secretary fully understands his role is to ensure that problems don’t become emergencies.” After his introduction, Akande presented Johnson with the Honorary Doctor of Laws. Johnson joined a distinguished group of former Green lecturers, including Churchill, Margaret Thatcher, Mikhail Gorbachev, Gerald Ford and Harry Truman with his address, “Achieving our Homeland Security While Preserving our Values and our Liberty,” delivered on Wednesday, September 16 as part of the college’s annual Hancock Symposium. The speech came just days after the 14th anniversary of 9/11 and amid heightened concerns about homeland security following recent cyberattacks. Johnson’s Green Lecture

DANIEL

Continued from A1 changed from pediatrics to audiology. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in communications science and disorders. She then enrolled in graduate school for audiology at Washington University. “And then I realized I really was more interested in the medical aspects, and audiology is not really rehabilitative,” Daniel said. “I wanted to

Photo by Rebecca Barr / Westminster College

– the 56th – was inspired by Harry Truman’s lecture at Westminster College titled “What hysteria does to us,” in which Truman described the damaging effects hysteria has on a country’s freedom. Throughout his address, Johnson emphasized the need for those in public office to remain vigilant but not overreact during times of crisis. “In a democracy, the former leads to smart and sustainable policy; the latter can lead to fear, hate, suspicion, prejudice

and government over-reach,” Johnson said. Johnson explained that this is particularly true in relation to homeland security. “It’s not simply a matter of imposing on the public as

much security as our resources will permit,” Johnson said. “Rather, both national security and homeland security involve striking a balance between basic, physical security and the law, the liberties and the values

we cherish as Americans.” Johnson stated the need for national security officials to guard one as much as the other and described acts of profiling as both “unlawful and un-American.” “We must recognize that our first impulse in reaction to a threat to the American people is often not the best one,” Johnson said, giving examples of the Islamic State and the outbreak of the Ebola virus. He said in an environment of hysteria, the first impulses

kind of balance my love of medicine, and I would be somewhat autonomous and there would be an artistic aspect to it. And dentistry kind of encompasses everything that I wanted.” It’s ironic, since the namesake of her Mizzou scholarship earned a living for decades as an oral surgeon and dentist – though, for Suggs, it was a trade to raise his family and build wealth, not his dream career. After one semester in graduate school, Daniel

switched to prerequisite courses for dental school through the post baccalaureate premedical program at Washington University. She completed courses in chemistry, biology, organic chemistry, biochemistry, anatomy and general science. She also took a few courses at University Missouri St. Louis. Daniel spends a great deal of her time learning about dentistry outside of classroom settings – by working, volunteering or shadowing dentists at several

dental clinics around St. Louis, including BJK People’s Health Center, at private practices and at BJC. She has volunteered in the Veterans Administration hospital system and at East Central Missouri Area Health Education Center, which she described as “a health-center kind of program that prepares students in middle school or high school for the path to becoming a health care provider – which I was a part of in high school.” She also works in a

neuroscience lab for the medical school at Washington University and at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital. It may seem like she is trying everything at the same time, but Daniel said her persistence and work ethic will make her successful in achieving her goal. “I want to work in an urban area, serving medically underserved communities at a Federally Qualified Health Center or at any kind of nonprofit geared towards helping people in

n “This secretary fully understands his role is to ensure that problems don’t become emergencies.” – Benjamin Ola. Akande, president of Westminster College

may be to suspect Muslims in the United States as potential terrorists and to limit travel from West Africa to the United States. “The reality is the selfproclaimed Islamic State does not represent the Islamic faith, and we must not confuse the two,” Johnson said. And while Johnson acknowledged that his initial reaction to the spreading of Ebola was to restrict travel visas, he said that course of action would have been a mistake. “Had we suspended travel from West Africa at the height of the Ebola crisis, other nations would have followed our lead,” he said. “This would have had the effect of isolating these small African countries from the rest of the world at a time they needed us the most. “ Johnson explained that what was true in Truman’s time, that hysteria limits freedom, remains true today. “We can erect more walls, install more screening devices, and make everybody suspicious of each other,” Johnson said, “but we should not do so at the cost of who we are as a nation of people who cherish our privacy, our religions, our freedom to speak, travel and associate, and who celebrate our diversity and immigrant heritage.” Courtney Gallagher is editor in chief of The Columns, the student newspaper at Westminster College. diverse communities who are medically underserved,” Daniel said. Even if you think you know what you want to be when you grow up, Daniel is proof-positive that it is perfectly all right to change your mind along the way. “Explore all of your options and choose what you think encompasses what you love to do,” she said, “and work hard to eventually get paid to do what you love to do.”

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 24 – 30, 2015

ROSARY Continued from A1

Penrose neighborhood had a lot of catching up to do. They are a far-flung group, coming from New York, Denver, Memphis, Chicago and, of course, parts of St. Louis. They grew up in the 1960s and ‘70s in a far different era. Their St. Louis neighborhoods were like villages, jobs seemed plentiful and restaurants, hardware stores, bakeries and the beloved corner store still held sway. The streets were largely safe. And, of course, neighborhood schools, whether public or parochial, were considered citadels of excellence where students could blossom. Yet an informal survey of the Holy Rosary graduates from 1976 suggests that at least half moved away from the city where they grew up, and most never returned to St. Louis. It is a familiar pattern in some big cities, and the graduates’ exodus from St. Louis helps explain the city’s steep population decline since 1980. Thirty five year ago, an estimated 452,804 people lived in St. Louis. In 2013, the latest year for which Census numbers are available, the city’s population stood at 318,416. Keith Matthews is a product of that era. He grew up on Athlone Avenue in the Penrose area, attended Holy Rosary, Saint Louis University High and DuBourg High. And he recalls the duality of living in his North St. Louis neighborhood. “I grew up a half block from O’Fallon Park in a house where my mom still lives. It was the true definition of the ‘village,’ where you could have blacks from across the spectrum socially, financially and professionally, and where elders were respected and had permission to correct any child at any time,” he said. “It also had an underbelly where the criminal types operated, and you quickly learned where not to go and who to avoid.” After DuBourg, Matthews graduated from the University of Missouri-Rolla and the University of Colorado with a bachelor’s degree and master’s in mechanical engineering. He is a registered engineer in Colorado. After leaving Rolla, Matthews moved to Denver and began working for the Colorado Department of Transportation in June 1985. He celebrates 30 years as a full-time employee this month. Matthews, like other

Holy Rosary Elementary students in 1976.

Class reunion of 1976 Holy Rosary Elementary class. The author, Mark Russell, is far right.

students from Holy Rosary, prospered after attending the school, which closed in 1994 because of declining Catholic population in the area. The parish property is now owned by the St. Louis Dream Center. Angie Elazier also graduated from the ‘76 class. She lived two blocks from Matthews on Clarence Ave. and recalls the “incredible bond” of the class “even though we disagreed and fought. “There was a camaraderie there,” she recalled. “I have so many memories. We were a close-knit class, and some of us have stayed in touch through the years as a result.” Like many of the Holy Rosary students, Elazier’s family was a member of the parish and it was expected that the children would attend the well-regarded parish school. “My mother chose that parish because there were other Creole families who were members,” Elazier said. After Holy Rosary, Elazier enrolled at Mercy High School. Her sister had attended Rosati Kain, and her family and friends she would follow suit.

She had other ideas. “That would have been the better decision, and it was assumed that I’d attend Rosati Kain but because I wanted to step away from my sister’s shadow, I chose Mercy at the last minute.” Elazier also recalls an early, carefree childhood where she felt safe. “We lived near the beautiful O’Fallon Park, even though we hardly went there,” she said. “I remember it being safe to ride our bikes in the neighborhood. It was multi-cultural when I was young, but by the middle of grade school, it became all black. The dynamics changed a lot at that point.” Elazier, who graduated from Webster University in St. Louis and is a sales manager at Macy’s, lives outside Chicago. Gayle Rochelle graduated from Holy Rosary in 1976. “My mom sent us to Holy Rosary because she wanted my sisters and I to have a religious education,” she said. “She thought the communication between teacher and parent would be better and she thought the school was a

convenient option.” Rochelle, then known as Gayle Carter, grew up on Clarence next door to Elazier. They both lived across the street from the sprawling DeAndreis High School, an all-boys Catholic school that closed in 1976 because of declining enrollment. “Our neighborhood was nice and we played outside with other neighborhood kids and would sometimes walk to the corner stores for candy and soda. It was pretty safe back in the day,” said Carter, who also graduated from DuBourg High

School. In high school, Rochelle said her family moved to the Central West End in St. Louis. Rochelle is now a human resources officer for the St. Louis Park School system in suburban Minneapolis. Rochelle says that Holy Rosary was a rock in a changing St. Louis, where busing to achieve racial desegregation had taken hold in St. Louis and suburban schools. Busing also sparked a prolonged period of white flight from once-integrated city neighborhoods. Holy

Rosary, which was integrated into the late ‘60s, by the mid ‘70s was nearly an allblack school, reflecting the changing demographics of the neighborhoods it drew students from. Into this changing racial and social dynamic stepped a young, idealistic and energetic Patricia Bober, a Sister of St. Joseph whose life experience could not have been more different from the community she was then serving. Bober, who joined Holy Rosary in 1973, grew up in the then-all-white Bellefontaine Neighbors area of North St. Louis County. The center of her family’s universe was Our Lady of Good Counsel parish. Her family attended church every Sunday and she walked to the parish school. She went to Rosati-Kain High, playing in the orchestra, and graduated from Fontbonne. Bober decided she wanted to be a nun during high school, entered the convent after graduating from Rosati-Kain and went to Fontbonne as a sister. Going to Holy Rosary “was my first introduction to being part of the black community,” she recalled. “But it wasn’t a big shock. I thought of it as working with kids. And the Catholic schools have been known for strict rules and demanding high expectations. I expected a lot of the students because we all thought this was the path to success. It had worked for others. Why not here?” “Those were some of the best years of my life,” Bober says. “That class has become like an extended family to me.” Now 66, Bober left Holy Rosary in ‘78 to get a master’s degree and is now coordinator of Youth Ministry at Sts. Teresa and Bridget Church in St. Louis. Bober said, “Those years at Holy Rosary will always be a treasured memory.” Mark Russell was a 1976 Holy Rosary graduate. He is now the managing editor at The Commercial Appeal in Memphis.

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 24 - 30, 2015

Community Briefs

Rocking the Cardinals

This summer, Busch Stadium hosted “Ron Wilkinson & Friends” for the July 30 Cardinals vs. Rockies and the August 13 Cardinals vs. Pirates games. Wilkinson (pictured at center), a veteran jazz musician and performer, assembled over 900 game-goers to serve as fundraisers for local churches and non-profits. Members of the group also had the honor of performing The Star Spangled Banner and God Bless America for over 35,000 Cardinal fans at the games.

Nov. 16 deadline to apply for interest-free student loans

The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis is accepting applications for its interest-free, fee-free student loan program until November 16. Qualified students of any age can be issued a renewable, interestfree loan of up to $11,000 annually. Those interested must meet the following requirements: be pursuing a first degree at an accredited, nonprofit college,

university or technical/trade school; demonstrate financial need; have a cumulative GPA 2.0 or higher or have earned a GED; and be a permanent resident of the St. Louis metropolitan area for at least two years prior to application. Students from the following areas are eligible to apply: St. Louis City and St. Louis County; the Missouri counties of Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln,

St. Charles, Warren, and Washington; and the Illinois counties of Bond, Calhoun, Clinton, Jersey, Madison, Macoupin, Monroe and St. Clair. Applicants are selected on the basis of academic potential, personal character and financial need. Students can apply for funding by completing an online general application at www.stlouisgraduates.org.

Upon completion of the general application, applicants can then apply for the interestfree, fee-free loan program. St. Louis Graduates Scholarship Central website has over 50 scholarships. For more information or assistance, contact The Scholarship Foundation of St. Louis at 314725-7990, info@sfstl.org or visit www.sfstl.org.

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 24 - 30, 2015

Be a Tourist in Your Own Town St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission

The Gateway Arch turns 50

Arch 50 Fest takes place October 24 at Kiener Plaza

Artists Pay Homage to Tradition and Craftsmanship

By Kiara Bryant For the St. Louis American What’s your Arch story? Do you remember your first visit or attending a concert at Fair St. Louis? Have you ever taken a tram ride to the top, enjoyed a riverboat cruise or a helicopter tour? Everyone should take a tram ride at least once even if you’re afraid of heights. It’s such a thrilling experience that you will never forget. The Gateway Arch represents our city’s history on the riverfront, as the Gateway to the West. It is the tallest man-made monument in the U.S., and just about as tall as it is wide – 630 feet, to be exact. In fact, it’s taller than the Washington Monument and more than twice as tall as the Statue of Liberty. More than 90 acres make up the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial which is part of the National Park Service. It was created as part of a design competition to pay tribute to Thomas Jefferson and the Westward Expansion of the U.S. After many years of planning the monument was completed on Oct. 28, 1965 when the final piece was set into place. Now 50 years later, we commemorate the legendary icon, a symbol that represents St. Louis, and await the transformation of new Gateway Arch grounds as the CityArchRiver project is underway. CityArchRiver is a $380 million renovation of the Gateway Arch grounds that will feature a park over the highway, enhanced access to the riverfront and new spaces for events. The visitor’s experience at the historic monument will be transformed to provide new park acreage connecting the Arch to the Old Courthouse. Also being renovated is the museum under the Arch, which will include interactive technology and additional experiences for guests. The functionality and accessibility of the grounds will

Jacob Lawrence Builders #1

be enhanced with new bicycle trails, paths and performance venues. This project is scheduled to be completed in 2017.

Be a part of the action in late October You can celebrate the anniversary of the Gateway Arch in many ways. On Saturday, October 24, Arch 50 Fest will take place at Kiener Plaza. The community and visitors are invited to take part in this day-long free event featuring live music, food and drink vendors, children’s activities and concluding with a fireworks show. On Wednesday, Oct. 28, leaders of the National Park Service, local officials and dignitaries will lead a Recognition Ceremony to commemorate the Arch. Additionally, tram ride tickets can be purchased for $1 on Oct. 28 at the Old Courthouse. During the renovation, artifacts from the Museum of Westward Expansion have been moved to the Old Courthouse that is

now the Ticketing & Visitor’s Center for the Arch. Guests can purchase limited edition 50th anniversary merchandise at the Old Courthouse Gift Shop, the Arch museum store and online. The Missouri History Museum is also hosting a number of events and exhibits related to the history of the Gateway Arch. On Oct. 28, you can meet the builders of the Gateway Arch at a free event. The Arch Perspectives exhibit is currently on display at the museum featuring photos of the Arch spanning 50 years. You can also enjoy the award-winning documentary “Monument to the Dream,” and activities that celebrate the Arch’s history. ‘The Gateway Arch: An Icon for Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow’ panel discussion about the history of the arch will also take place at the Missouri History Museum. Everyone is encouraged to take pride in this momentous occasion and purchase tickets prior to your visit to the Arch. You can learn more information about the Gateway Arch at www.gatewayarch.com and for more reasons to love St. Louis, visit www.explorestlouis.com.

www.stlamerican.com

Artists working in their studios is the theme of The Artist and the Modern Studio, an exhibition now on view in Galleries 234 and 235 at the Saint Louis Art Museum. The artists presented in this exhibition create works that reflect the remarkably diverse approaches to representing the studio environment and the activities that take place there. Drawn primarily from the Museum’s permanent collection, the exhibition highlights more than 30 American and European artists, with a concentration of works produced between 1960 and 1990. The studio is not just a representation of the physical space, but the studio also reflects on identity, expressing notions of the artist as hero, craftsman, and teacher. Two artists in the exhibition inspired by their studios include the renowned painter Jacob Lawrence and printmaker Ron Adams. In Builders #1, Jacob Lawrence portrays a powerful-looking man working in a studio strewn with colorful, geometrically formed tools on the table and shelves. Lawrence delighted in the abstract beauty of such tools, which he likened to sculpture. Images of builders have been frequent in Lawrence’s work since the early 1970s; they symbolize for him the aspirations and constructive capabilities of humanity. Lawrence was born and raised in Harlem, New York and began his career in the 1930s forging a personal style influenced by both contemporary Social Realism and colorful abstract composition. As a young artist he admired the many craftsmen and carpenters he knew from his Harlem arts community. The mountain shown through the window alludes to Lawrence’s eventual migration from Harlem to Seattle. Lawrence’s Builders series pays homage to traditions of building and craftsmanship while celebrating African Americans’ efforts to construct meaningful lives for themselves. Also on view in Gallery 234 is Ron Adams’s color lithograph, Blackburn, which portrays Robert Blackburn as a muscular figure commanding a large press as he focuses intently on pulling a print off a lithographic stone. Adams is paying homage to the legendary postwar artist Robert Blackburn who in 1948 established the Printmaking Workshop in New York City, a space that enabled generations of artists to make prints. The Printmaking Workshop continues today as one of the most vital and inclusive shops in our country. Adams situated Blackburn’s studio concretely within the urban landscape of New

York, whose skyline is visible outside of the window in the upper right quarter of the print. A potential patron examines the same print displayed on the studio wall. Thus the workshop is represented as both a place of production and a venue of exhibition. Acquired in 2012, funds to purchase the Blackburn lithograph were provided in part by generous contributions by members of the Art Museum’s Friends of African American Art Collectors Circle.

Male and female figures; Unidentified artist; Male and female figure pair; wood; h. 45 ¼ inches and 38 3/16 inches; Private collection (courtesy McClain Gallery, Houston); Image © Sotheby’s

Closing this Sunday, September 27 You don’t want to miss Senufo: Art and Identity in West Africa Come see a stunning selection of 170 masks, figure sculptures, and decorative arts from Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Mali. For program information and Museum hours visit www.slam.org

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 24 - 30, 2015

A10

Jake Zimmerman, a Democrat who currently serves as St. Louis County assessor, is running for Missouri attorney general.

Texas congressman stumps for Jake Zimmerman Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) did a media call with Jake Zimmerman on Monday, September 21 to support Zimmerman’s campaign for Missouri attorney general. Zimmerman, a Democrat who lives in Olivette, is currently St. Louis County assessor and previously was a state representative. Castro, who attended Harvard Law School with Zimmerman, said he is campaigning for his former classmate because he “believes in him as a public servant.” “I believe that public servants need to come together and build an infrastructure of opportunity, and I believe Jake is doing that in Missouri,” Castro said. As the state’s attorney general, Castro said, Zimmerman would have the potential to “affect almost any part of peoples’ life in the state.” The state’s current attorney general, Chris Koster, a Democrat running for governor, lists the office’s services and programs on the office’s state site. The alphabetized list covers the gamut from A to Z, from “abuse/neglect” to “welcome home – adoption,” only missing entries for Q, X, Y and Z. Covered under “E” is “environmental protection.” Koster currently is suing Republic Services, Inc., which operates a landfill in Bridgeton

with the terrifying combination of radioactive waste and an underground fire. Richard Callow, a spokesperson for the landfill operator (who also consults for St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay), said the alarming scientific reports that Koster recently released are junk science intended merely as fodder for the suit. Zimmerman was asked about the case, which could still be pending if and when he is elected to the office. “While I do not have a PhD in environmental engineering and would have to defer to a professional opinion on the science, these allegations are very serious and very concerning,” Zimmerman said. “When you have radioactive waste in the middle of your community, by definition that’s a source of concern.” He said he had spoken to people on every side of the issue, from environmental activists to landfill officials, but – like a good litigator – declined to comment on pending litigation. He did try to score a campaign point on the issue, however. “The seriousness of this is exactly why we need someone in the attorney general’s office who thinks environmental justice is a big deal and is not for sale to the highest bidder.” The “P” column under the attorney general’s office’s

Photo by Jason Rosenbaum / St. Louis Public Radio

some landmark cases about public records and police body cam footage ahead. When asked how officers will be punished if they don’t activate their camera, he spoke of a “progressive disciplinary process,” ranging from reprimand to suspension, depending on the seriousness of the citizen complaint that is in dispute with no reference to footage the officer should have captured.

15 more city cops

programs and services does not at this time include “policeinvolved shootings” – but it will, if a certain one of the Ferguson Commission’s 189 calls to action is implemented. The commission called for the state attorney general to be given the authority to consider whether to bring charges in police-involved shootings, rather than local circuit attorneys, who work so closely with their local police to prosecute other cases. Zimmerman was asked if as attorney general he would want to take on these cases and how he would handle them. He said it was Missouri lawmakers’ domain to decide whether the office should take on this responsibility, but if given the authority, he would wield it “neutrally and appropriately.” “That means bringing people together, convening a respectful conversation including all communities impacted by questions of law enforcement – black, white, rich, poor, and everyone in between,” Zimmerman said. He said he would look to how Cincinnati has moved forward following its unrest as a model. More generally, he said of the Ferguson Commission report, “It’s not so much a question of the individual merit of every recommendation, but are we going to do something?

Are we going to waste a crisis or are we going to get some good out of this?” Zimmerman’s response to both the radioactive landfill suit – where he has spoken to people on all sides of the issue – and possibly handling police-involved shooting cases – where he envisions convening an inclusive conversation – was consistent with the Harvard Law student that Castro remembers. “In school, Jake was able to get along with people of all political persuasions,” Castro said. “I have witnessed that as a friend, how he hangs out with different groups. He carries that attitude and approach in politics and public service in Missouri.”

‘Bigger than Ferguson’ In other radioactive waste news, state Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City, announced she was resigning from the University City School Board on St. Louis Public Radio on Thursday, September 17. She said she was resigning to focus on issues surrounding radioactive contamination in the region. She said that the situation at the Bridgeton and West Lake landfills is “bigger than Ferguson” and deserved more of her attention.

Pastor gives mayor ‘hell’ Speaking of St. Louis Public Radio, it hosted a “Beyond Ferguson” town hall panel on Monday, September 21 at Wellspring Church in Ferguson. Included on the panel was Ferguson Councilman-atLarge James Knowles, aka the mayor. Harry Wallington, a 50-year-old Illinois resident, showed up wearing his “Recall Knowles” shirt, as

Mariah Stewart reported in The Huffington Post. “My main concern with Mayor Knowles is his prior knowledge of activities in the police department, and him being complacent and not taking ownership of his actions,” Wallington said. Knowles defended Ferguson, as usual, saying “in the early ‘90s Ferguson was one of the only communities in St. Louis that spoke out on race and equality. Ferguson tried to take the lead when people were leaving in droves to go to St. Charles County.” Wellspring Pastor Willis Johnson countered the mayor’s denial, saying, “You’ve got to acknowledge how someone feels.” The pastor then earned a standing ovation from the crowd when he said, “It’s tiresome trying to explain why in the hell it’s important that you let me live.”

Body cams over Berkeley The City of St. Louis is rummaging for money to start a comprehensive body camera program for its police department, but the City of Berkeley announced that as of September 18, it had acquired body cameras for all of its 35-member police force. Police Chief Frank McCall said they plan to store footage for only a limited time if it’s not relevant to a crime and shrugged off fears of extensive storage fees. He is hopeful that the department will snag future grants and pots of money like asset forfeiture, which he said can bring in as little as $10,000 or as much as $100,000 in any given year. McCall said their policy calls on officers to activate their cameras upon “any citizen contact, regardless of how minute or severe,” pretty much guaranteeing that Berkeley has

McCall only has to worry about 35 cops. Fully staffed, the St. Louis Metropolitan has 1,300 cops. That’s a lot more body cameras. The city is about to get a few more cops – 15 is the number quoted. U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay (D-Missouri) announced that the U.S. Department of Justice has awarded a $1.87 million COPS Hiring Program Grant to the city police to put more boots on the ground. The American asked both the DOJ and St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson for more details, conditions and any plan for funding these positions once the grant runs out. No response by press time.

Ferguson Commission wants you “All they can do is issue a report,” cynics always say of urban unrest commissions. The Ferguson Commission is trying to prove them wrong. This commission is trying to pass the baton to another hand-picked agency to continue its work. This week the commission issued an open “Request for Qualifications for Core Intermediary Support,” seeking “to identify organization or partnership that will carry on the day-to-day work of the commission in support of the Signature Priorities.” The RFQs will be scored by a review panel, formed by the same method as the commission working groups. The review panel will present the commission with up to three finalists. Hurry! Proposals are due October 16. Finalists will be notified October 28 and present publicly at a Ferguson Commission meeting on November 9, when the “Core Intermediary” (hopelessly wonky term) will be selected. Organizations interested in responding to the RFQ should review it in its entirety here: http://bit.ly/ fccoreintermediaryrfq. The bad news: no mention of budget; no money on the table at this time.

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 24 - 30, 2015

American wins 29 awards from Missouri Press American staff The St. Louis American won 29 awards, including eight first place awards, from the Missouri Press Association in its 2015 Better Newspaper Contest. Two of the paper’s first place awards centered around The American’s extensive coverage of the unrest in Ferguson: Best Coverage of Government (“Changing Ferguson”) and Best News or Feature Story (Ferguson). Judges noted “This sort of story is a once-in-a-lifetime situation for any newspaper, and the coverage provided by The St. Louis American stepped up to the challenge, providing nuanced coverage of a story that divided a nation.” Judges also stated: “Strong stories, letters, editorials and even video coverage all contribute to an excellent collection of journalistic work.” Other first place awards include: Best Sports Feature Photograph (Wiley Price), Best Local Business Coverage, Best News or Feature Special Section (Diversity, A Business Imperative), Best Front Page (Mike Terhaar) and Best Sports Columnist (Ishmael Sistrunk). St. Louis American senior reporter and

videographer Rebecca Rivas swept the entire Best Video category, winning first, second, third and honorable mention awards. Second place awards include: Best Newspaper Website, Best Military Story (“Chaplain Higgins retires from U.S. Army” – Rebecca Rivas), Best Headline Writing, Best Columnist – Serious (Political EYE), Best Feature Story (“Best in dead lift” – Earl Austin Jr.), Best News Photo (Hands Up, Don’t Shoot – Lawrence Bryant), Best Photo Package (Ferguson October – Melvin Moore, Wiley Price and Lawrence Bryant), Best Newspaper In Education Project (Healthy Kids – Cathy Sewell) and Best Overall Design (Mike Terhaar, Melvin Moore and Angelita Jackson). Third place awards include: Best Investigative Reporting (Ballpark Village – Rebecca Rivas), Best Editorial, Best Photo Package (Chaos Erupts in Ferguson – Melvin Moore, Wiley Price and Lawrence Bryant), Best Newspaper In Education Project (STEM), Best Sports Columnist (Mike Claiborne), Best Columnist – Humorous (Black & Single – Kenya Vaughn) and Best Page Design (Melvin Moore).

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I paddled with friends! I felt strong and proud! I am a Girl Scout! To register your girl, contact: Shirley Artis 314.400.4629

ACLU will help protestors

The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri is committed to helping all who have been charged from Ferguson protests to find legal representation. Those charged should complete the form at http://bit.ly/1PwG6Ve. A representative will be in contact soon with next steps. If you are not sure if you have been charged, Photo by Lawrence Bryant dial 314-615-8760, press 2, then 0 to A protestor was placed under arrest by police on August 10 check your status. during a Moral Monday demonstration.

Choose Girl Scouts Join now!

www.girlscoutsem.org WEEK 6

ONE SMALL CHANGE is an ongoing series that challenges us to take very small steps toward being more environmentally-friendly. If we all participate, then ONE SMALL CHANGE can make a big difference!

RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER! This might be the easiest one small change yet: recycle or reuse this newspaper! The U.S. prints about 63 milllion newspapers every day and around 44 million of those will be thrown away. Recycling the Sunday papers alone would save more than half a million trees each week! You can also reuse this newspaper and put it to good use again before recycling. Save paper and money by wrapping gifts with a newspaper. Another common reuse is for arts and crafts. Newspapers can be laid down to protect your dining room table during a messy painting session. They’re also great for paper mâché crafts like piñatas and sculptures. There are many fun ways to reuse your used newspapers that can be found online. Find a cool project and make this one small change today. THIS CHANGE SAVES HALF A MILLION TREES EACH WEEK!

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 24 - 30, 2015

NEWSPAPER IN

EDUCATION

Planting the Seeds for Success!

The weekly Healthy Kids page provides health tips on nutrition, exercise and more.

Nutrition

Fall Foods! Exercise

Fall Exercise

And...

No Smokin g!

Healthy Kids

Nutrition Challenge: This week brings the first day of fall — and with that comes fall fruits and vegetables! Some things in season now are pumpkin, apples, squash and pears. “In season” generally mean

Fall brings cooler temperatures. It’s no longer

too hot to enjoy the outdoors! So put on your shoes and jacket and go out and enjoy the weather. Choose activities that raise your heart rate and increase your breathing for at least 20 minutes. Studies show that one of the easiest ways to stay healthy and extend your life expectancy is to not smoke. Smoking affects your lungs, your heart and many other parts of your body. And smoking is very addictive. So it’s way easier not to start, than to stop later!

Learning Standards: HPE 1, HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH 3

PRESENT:

that the food is extra flavorful and yummy this time of year, but also easier to find and less expensive! Weekly Newspaper in Education As a class, plan a Fall Foods Feast. What foods would you include, and what are nutritious, healthy ways that you could prepare them? What are ways that these foods might be served that aren’t so healthy?

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH 3, NH 5

One fun fall activity is to have a leaf-catch race. Stand behind a specific line (using sticks or a sidewalk to mark your starting point). When you see a leaf fall from a tree see who can catch it before it hits the ground. The first one to catch 10 leaves wins!

Learning Standards: HPE 1, HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 5

Healthy Snacks P. B. Raisin Dip Ingredients: 1/2 Cp reduced-fat peanut butter 3/4 Cp low-fat vanilla yogurt 1/3 Cp raisins 1 Tbsp honey 1/2 Tsp cinnamon Dippers (celery, pretzels, apple slices, etc.) Directions: Mix all ingredients until smooth. Use as a healthy, fun and tasty dip for fruits and veggies.

Healthcare Careers

Program Rodriguez , Krystle

Medical Assistant

Where do you work? I work at Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine. Where did you go to school? I graduated from Belleville West High School and Sanford Brown College (Medical Assistant Certification). What does a medical assistant do? My job is to make casts to help bones heal, listen to patients’ heartbeats and breathing, and give medicine and shots. I also schedule patient appointments and surgery. Why did you choose this career? I chose working as a medical assistant because I love helping people feel better. What is your favorite part of the job you have? My favorite part of my job is making the casts that help heal patients’ bones.

Learning Standards: HPE 6, NH 3

Content—Cathy Sewell • Design—Beth Sharpe

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ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 24 - 30, 2015

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The St. Louis American’s award winning NIE program provides newspapers and resources to more than 7,000 teachers and students each week throughout the school year, at no charge.

CLASSROOM SPOTLIGHT

SCIENCE STARS African -American Industrial Designer Earl Lucas

Buder Elementary School 5th grade teacher, James Perotti, works with

students on the scientific process to identify a 'mystery seed' after using the science page in the newspaper. Buder Elementary School is in the Saint Louis Public Schools District. Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American. Earl Lucas was born in Dallas, Texas, 1970. As a kid, Lucas loved to draw. He graduated from Booker T. Washington High School of Performing and Visual Arts. At a high school career fair, he met representatives from The College for Creative Studies. Musicians Norah Jones and Erykah Badu attended this school.

Teachers, if you are using the St. Louis American’s NIE program and would like to nominate your class for a Classroom Spotlight, please email: nie@stlamerican.com.

SCIENCE CORNER

Designing A Car!

Have you ever dreamed of designing a car? Do you wonder how these ideas become a reality? Car designers start with research. They study the current trends and interests. The car has to appeal to the buyers. Next, they sketch a design of the car (computers are often used for this stage). After the design is perfected, a prototype is built. A prototype is a sample, or model, of the car. The next stage is testing. Cars must undergo many tests to see how they will handle crashes, extreme temperatures, wind variations, and various road conditions. Once the car has passed the tests, then it will be built.

SCIENCE EXPERIMENT

In factories, a steel sheet is cut according to the size of the part and then is bent and cut in a stamping machine to make parts such as car doors, roofs, and hoods. Welders use electricity to melt these stamps at certain points to join them together to form the car. One car has approximately 30,000 parts counting every part down to the small screws. After the car is formed, it will be painted. Cars can be made customized to the customer’s order.

To create your own car online, visit: http://www.abcya.com/create_ and_build_car.htm.

Learning Standards: I can read nonfiction text for main idea and supporting details.

Design A Puff Mobile!

Background Information:

Analyze: What did you notice about the most effective

In this open-ended experiment, you will design a car. Get ready for some critical thinking!

designs? What surprised you? What would you do differently next time?

Materials Needed:

Learning Standards: I can

• 3 Straws • 4 Lifesavers • 1 Piece of Paper • 2 Paper Clips • 50 Centimeters of Tape

complete an experiment and create a model. I can analyze results.

Lucas went to the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan, to study 3D jewelry design. He later switched to Industrial Design because of his interest in transportation. While in college, he worked with friends to help design a van to transport elderly citizens. After college, Lucas worked designing car seats, panels for doors, and headliners for an auto supply company. In Texas, he got to design extravagant planes with gold, platinum, and jewels for the Sultan of Brunei. In 1999, Lucas was hired to design cars for Ford. He designs the exterior of the car. Of his 10-20 designs, he will narrow it down to one that works. He was part of the design team that developed the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO, 2003 Lincoln Navigator and Expedition. His favorite part about the job? Lucas replies, “You get paid for sketching!” According to Black Enterprise magazine, Lucas is one of 25 to 30 AfricanAmerican car designers in the world. “Whether I’m designing cars for the average person or planes for the world’s richest man, it’s those lessons I learned at College for Creative Studies that helped me become the designer I am today,” said Lucas. “I was used to working in an atmosphere where pressure and competition were the norm. Because I was not treated as a star student, I yearned for better design solutions and attention. This forced me to work harder.”

To read more about Earl Lucas and his designs, visit: http://www.ebony.com/life/the-brother-who-revivedthe-ford-taurus-earl-lucas#axzz3m32AUwm2.

Process:

Learning Standards: I can read a biography

q Use the materials given to design a

about a person who has made a contribution in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.

car. This car will be used for a race. Here’s the catch! You can only move the cars by blowing on them!

MAP CORNER

MATH CONNECTION

Questionable Cars!

Enjoy these activities that help you get to know your St. Louis American newspaper.

Answer these questions about cars.

x An 800 car parking lot is divided A local car show sold 12,000 ztickets into three sections. There are 270 spots its first year and 14,000 tickets its second year. On the third year, it sold 50% more than first two years combined. How many tickets were sold in the third year? ______

in section 1, and there are 150 more in section 2 than section 3. How many cars are in section 3? ______ Angela’s parents buy a used car for c$3,500. They agree to sell it to her if she can pay it off in 16 months. How much will Angela need to pay per month? ______

rented a vcar.Andrew The charge was $19/day plus $.10/ mile driven. If he had the car for two days and drove a total of 180 miles, how much did he spend? ______

DID YOU KNOW? In 2004, Oprah Winfrey gave every member of the entire audience a Pontiac G-6 worth $28,500. There were 276 audience members.

Activity One —

car gets 28 bmilesBen’s per gallon. If he has to drive 350 miles, how many gallons of gas will he use? ______ If gas costs $2.19/gallon, how much will he spend for the gas? ______

Learning Standards: I can add, subtract, multiply, and divide to solve a problem. I can use a formula to solve a word problem. A car engine has more than 500 parts!

The most expensive car, Lamborghini Veneno (Italian for “venom”), is priced at $4.5 million dollars. Only 9 of the cars were produced. The cars have 740 horsepower and can achieve speeds of 220 miles per hour.

In 2008, The Little Tikes Company sold more than 457,000 Cozy Coupes®.

Margin of Victory: Use the sports section of the newspaper to compare numbers. Locate the final scores of two different games. Use pictures, objects, or symbols to calculate the distances covered.

Activity Two — Newspaper Road Map: With a friend, choose a news story to be your make believe road map. Both of you, cut the story from two separate newspapers. Your starting point will be the first word. Your partner will give you cardinal directions (ex: 2 words east, 4 lines south, 1 word west, etc.), while they also navigate the route. When they say “stop,” compare your maps. Choose another article so you can give your partner directions. Learning Standards: I can use the newspaper to locate information. I can compare numbers. I can follow directions.

This special Newspaper In Education initiative is made possible, and delivered to classrooms, through The St. Louis American Foundation and its NIE Corporate Partners:

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ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 24 - 30, 2015

Business

SEPTEMBER 24 – 30, 2015

City minimum wage to be decided next month

People On The Move Kendra Holmes is now vice president, chief operating officer for Affinia Healthcare (formerly Grace Hill Health Centers). She assumed senior leadership of three health center operations, services Kendra at BJC Behavioral Holmes Health and the Flance Early Learning Center, and organization-wide facilities management and security. Previously she was vice president of clinical integration and ancillary services, leading pharmacy, laboratory and radiology services. Adonis Reddick will receive the 2015 Self Advocate of the Year Catalyst Award from The Arc of the US. He is co-founder of the Association of Spanish Lake Advocates, a group committed Adonis to an accessible Reddick world based in full inclusion. The St. Louis Arc provides support and services to adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and their families.

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

St. Louis protesters joined thousands of others across the nation on April 15 to push for a $15 minimum wage. Demonstrations occurred at various locations, including a walk-out strike at the McDonald’s on South Broadway and a rally at Washington University in St. Louis.

Graduated wage increase challenged in court, defended by city By Jason Rosenbaum Of St. Louis Public Radio A St. Louis judge quashed an attempt to temporarily freeze a law raising the city’s minimum wage to $11 an hour by 2018. And the high-stakes legal battle over the measure is expected to resume next month. On Wednesday, September 16, St. Louis Circuit Judge Steven Ohmer denied a request for a temporary restraining order from a group of businesses and business groups. But Ohmer said he plans to make a permanent decision on the law before the first wage hike goes into effect on October 15. Among other things, the plaintiffs contend that the city doesn’t have the authority to raise the minimum wage – citing various state statutes and court decisions. But St. Louis Counselor Winston Calvert said Ohmer’s ruling bodes well for the battle ahead. “This is a confirmation that the harm that workers would experience is much greater than the harm that a few large businesses would experience if there was a [temporary restraining order],” Calvert said. Spencer Fane attorney Jane Dueker noted that Ohmer denied the TRO request because he wanted to have the matter resolved before the city’s minimum wage goes from $7.65 an hour to $8.25 an hour on October 15. “I am worried about people who have to make decision now,” Dueker said. “And it’s very disheartening. It’s coming awfully close to See WAGE, B6

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

St. Louis protesters outside the McDonald’s on South Broadway during the walk-out strike on April 15.

‘Right to work’ effort fails

GOP vows to elect Republican governor and pass bill next session By Jo Mannies Of St. Louis Public Radio Backers of “right to work” fell 13 votes short in the Missouri House, killing the most successful effort so far in the state to enact the law to curb union rights in the workplace. The Missouri House voted 96-63 on Wednesday, September 16 on whether to override Gov. Jay Nixon’s veto of the bill, which would have barred unions and employers from requiring all workers in a bargaining unit to pay dues or fees. The House needed at least 109 votes, and leaders of both sides had privately expected the

n State Rep. Courtney Curtis, D-Berkeley, was the only Democrat voting in favor of “right to work.” chamber to fall short. The vote killed a combined version of HB116 and HB569. As a result, the Senate didn’t act. House Speaker Todd Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff, said later that he’ll work with the GOP caucus to see if a revised version of “right to work’’ that would be veto-proof can be crafted during the next legislative session that begins

in January. Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard, R-Joplin, contended that he had the necessary 23 votes in the Senate for an override. This year’s battle marked the first time that a “right to work’’ bill had passed the General Assembly. Missouri voters had rejected a ballot proposal in 1978. So far, 25 states have passed a “right to work” law. Backers say their aim is to give workers more freedom and save their money, while critics say the effort is geared toward cutting wages and reducing labor’s political clout. Pandemonium erupted in the House’s public See WORK, B2

Angela M. Tate has been promoted to vice president of Operations at Behavioral Health Response (BHR). BHR provides 24/7 crisis line and free mobile outreach services covering Angela M. the Eastern Region Tate of Missouri. Their mission is to be the community’s behavioral health safety net, providing immediate, compassionate, barrier free access to behavioral health services. Eddie Davis was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame and Museum. Upon his retirement, he was ranked fifth in CFL history for Most Defensive tackles in a career with 802, Eddie played 236 career Davis games and is in the Top 10 in Fumble Return Yards and Fumble Return Touchdowns for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He is a graduate of Pattonville High School. Ashley Loewe is chair of the Young Professional Board (YPB) for the St. Louis Crisis Nursery for 2015-2016. An associate producer at HM Risk and graduate from the University of Ashley Missouri-Columbia, Loewe she has been an active member of the Crisis Nursery YPB by volunteering and supporting events and was the recipient of Crisis Nursery’s Young Professional Hero Award in 2014. Art McCoy received a Silver Beaver Award from the Greater St. Louis Area Council, Boy Scouts of America. the highest recognition a Boy Scout council awards to volunteers. A Art member of the McCoy Greater St. Louis Area Council board, McCoy serves on the council’s advisory committee working to increase Scouting’s presence in North County, as well as the council Venturing chairman. On the move? Congratulations! Send your good professional news and a color headshot to cking@stlamerican.com

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 24 – 30, 2015

Personal Finance

10 open enrollment mistakes to avoid By Nathaniel Sillin How much time do you spend reviewing your benefits before open enrollment each year? If your answer is “not much,” you’re not alone. A recent survey by insurer Aflac (http://workforces.aflac.com/ about-the-study.php) says that 90 percent of Americans choose the same benefits year after year and that 42 percent forego up to $750 annually by making poor choices. Rushing through annual benefits updates or making such uninformed decisions in insurance, retirement or other workplace-based benefits are actually part of a bigger story. Open enrollment is just one part of an overall financial plan: Unfortunately, too many employees see it as the only financial planning they have to do all year. In reality, a safe financial future depends mostly on the savings, investing and spending decisions you make outside the workplace. As many employers are looking to shrink or discontinue the retirement and health benefits they offer, it’s time to take a fresh look at open enrollment. Here are 10 benefits mistakes you might want to avoid. 1. Not having an overall financial plan. Your company may offer excellent benefits now. However, the Labor Department reports that

WORK

Continued from B1 galleries, which had been packed with activists on both sides, right after the vote. The seats, and the Capitol’s halls,

average worker tenure at U.S. companies is only 4.6 years, so the biggest open enrollment mistake might be assuming your current benefits assure your financial future. It’s important to work alone or with qualified advisors to determine the right workbased benefits as part of overall spending, savings and investment activities throughout your lifetime.

If an employer is willing to train you to advance in your career, don’t pass it up.

9. Bypassing transportation breaks. If you drive or take public or company-sponsored transportation to and from work, you may qualify for specific discounts or tax deductions. IRS Publication 15-B covers these programs and how to use them most effectively.

2. Making choices at the last minute. Your benefits are important and deserve time for consideration. Put your open enrollment dates on your personal calendar with a reminder a few weeks ahead of time to coordinate with qualified advisors if you have them. 3. Forgetting to coordinate with your spouse or partner. Many employers are planning big changes to spouse/partner benefits. While the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) lets parents keep children on their health plans until age 26, more employers are instituting “spousal surcharges” or excluding spousal coverage altogether if they already have access to employer health insurance.

8. Overlooking wellness options. Many employers pay for exercise, cholesterol screenings, weight loss, smoking cessation, immunizations or related benefits that can make you healthier, save money and possibly lower health premiums.

health plan, it might be worthwhile to familiarize yourself with your state’s ACA-mandated health insurance marketplace ahead of time.

benefit selections.

4. Ignoring your state’s Health Insurance Marketplace. Even if you have employer health insurance, things change. If you lose a job or cannot stay on your spouse or partner’s

5. Underestimating how big life events might affect your benefits. Salary changes, marriage, divorce, serious illness or starting a family are big signals to check your benefits, preferably well in advance of open enrollment. Think through every potential situation you might face and ask questions about how those changes might affect your

6. Passing on flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs). FSAs are workplacebased accounts that allow you to set aside money on a pre-tax basis to help you pay for healthcare and dependent care expenses during the calendar year. HSAs, if you qualify, also allow you to set aside pre-tax dollars in a qualified investment or savings account for long-and-short term medical expenses not covered by insurance. They don’t require you to spend out

soon emptied. Backers of “right to work’’ said the vote will fire up their efforts to get a Republican elected as governor in 2016. All the major GOP candidates have pledged to back the measure. Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster,

the only major Democrat seeking the post, has been vocal in his opposition. Koster recently addressed labor activists at an anti-right to work event, while several GOP candidates addressed like-minded lawmakers at a gathering in the House gallery

before the vote. Richardson observed later, “There hasn’t been a state that’s enacted ‘right to work’ without a Republican governor.” The political power of the issue was evident when even Democratic presidential

those funds every year. Your workplace benefits counselor, qualified financial advisor and Internal Revenue Service Publication 969 can assist with eligibility, types of accounts, contribution limits and tax issues associated with these choices. 7. Leaving retirement selections unchanged. As the Aflac data indicates, many individuals don’t change their investment focus in selfdirected retirement plans for years. That’s why reviewing options in advance is essential.

10. Forgetting education benefits. If an employer is willing to train you to advance in your career, don’t pass it up. However, get advice on the possibility of tax liability for these benefits. Separately, check out employer-sponsored education grant or scholarship awards for you or your kids – that can be free money. Bottom line: Open enrollment is just one piece of a wellorganized financial puzzle. Make sure your employer provided benefits choices compliment savings, investing and spending decisions you’re making on your own. Nathaniel Sillin directs Visa’s financial education programs. To follow Practical Money Skills on Twitter: www. twitter.com/PracticalMoney.

Missouri labor leaders were candidate Hillary Clinton jubilant. weighed in: “In Missouri, The statement by Mike lawmakers said enough is Louis, president of the enough. And by doing that, Missouri AFL-CIO, was they scored a victory for typical: “Reducing wages, Missourians and workers eliminating benefits, and everywhere.” working to take away collective Four House Republicans bargaining rights are not how did switch their “no’’ votes we value work in this country, from last May, including three but they are exactly what ‘right from the St. Louis area: state to work’ laws are designed to Reps. Robert Cornejo of St. do. But brave Republicans and Peters, Randy Pietzman of Democrats stood up Troy and Dan Shaul to show that of Imperial. All n State Rep. today they believe in the three joined Jim Karla May, working men and Neely of Cameron women of Missouri in voting in favor of D-St. Louis, the override. said, “Greed, and in the value of a State Rep. greed, greed. fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.” Courtney Curtis, This what this Nixon declared D-Berkeley, was is about.” in a statement that the only Democrat the vote “sent a voting in favor of clear message to the “right to work.” nation that Missouri The vote will stand by its workers and came after almost two oppose attempts by outside hours of debate. The chief special interests to cut wages sponsor, Rep. Eric Burlison, and weaken the middle-class.” R-Springfield, said it was Meanwhile, Dan Mehan, needed to shift the employerchief executive of the Missouri employee balance. He said the Chamber of Commerce federal Wagner Act of 1935 and Industry made clear his had given unions and workers disappointment: “As a state too much power. In Missouri, that doesn’t support right-tohe said, the result has hurt the work protections, Missouri state’s economic climate. will continue to be overlooked Opponents contended that for job creation and business the aim of right to work was expansion opportunities.” to reduce wages and reduce workers’ protections. State Rep. Karla May, D-St. Louis, Reprinted with permission said, “Greed, greed, greed. from news.stlpublicradio.org. This what this is about.”

n “It’s definitely Floyd’s fault.” – Andre Berto, on the sagging pay-per-view numbers of his recent fight with undefeated Floyd Mayweather

Sports

INSIDE

The great NBA team that never was ~ See ‘Sports Eye’ page B4 ~ B3

SEPTEMBER 24 – 30, 2015

From The East Side

Prep Football Notebook With Earl Austin Jr.

Rivalry week

With Maurice Scott

Flyers set for a run

Shoe Game, Milk Bowl Game and others

It’s Rivalry Week in the St. Louis metro area this weekend as several old adversaries will get together for that one game that matters most to students, parents and alums. On Friday night, St. Mary’s will visit Bishop DuBourg in what is called the “Shoe Game.” The winner gets possession of a Wooden Shoe, which is painted in the school colors of both teams. On the Illinois side, rivals Breese Central and Breese Mater Dei will meet in their annual “Milk Bowl Game.” The winner of the Earl Clinton County Austin Jr. rivalry game takes home a milk can, which is painted in the school colors as well as the scores of all the previous games. Also on Friday night, Fort Zumwalt North will visit Fort Zumwalt South in what is not only a battle of district rivals, but a game between two excellent teams this year. North is currently 5-0 this season while South is 4-1. On Saturday, Lutheran North will host Lutheran South in their annual battle for Lutheran School supremacy. Clayton will visit rival Ladue on Saturday in a battle of good football teams that are in close proximity. East St. Louis will See PREP, B5

ESL faces Belleville West in battle for Bell

Photo by Wiley Price

Soldan’s Maxwell Weber (19) makes a reception over Career Academy’s Keith Austin (1) during Saturday’s game at Soldan. Soldan defeated the Phoenix 36-34 in an exciting finish.

The East St. Louis Senior High Flyers are approaching the meat of their football schedule. They opened the season with a victory over Chicago Simeon, which at that time was ranked in the top five in the Chicagoland area. The following week, it was the “throw my team under the bus” loss to Lombard Montini, the No. 2-ranked team in the state of Illinois Class 6A polls. The past two weeks have served to “throw my team back on the bus” as the Flyers have outscored the opposition 128-0 in moving to 3-1 on the season. The Flyers defeated Alton 56-0 two weeks ago and followed up with a 69-0 victory over Granite City at Jordan Stadium last weekend. Maurice Now, the season really Scott starts a new for Darren Sunkett’s Flyers. First up on the docket is a road contest against Southwestern Conference foe Belleville West. The Maroons and the Flyers have one of the most interesting rivalries in the area. The winning team gets to claim possession of the old Union Pacific Bell. The two teams use to play on Thanksgiving day, just like the longstanding Kirkwood vs. Webster Groves rivalry game. However, politics and other factors put a halt the Southwestern Conference’s Turkey Day Game after the 1977 season. Former Flyers great Kevin Ramsey, who used to be the defensive coordinator at the University of Georgia and is now working at Clark Atlanta University, caught a two-point conversion in the back of the end zone to seal the victory for the Flyers on that cold Thanksgiving day back in 1977. This year’s game is very important for the Flyers for a number of reasons. They are playing their best football right now, with the meat of the conference schedule See EAST SIDE, B5

In The Clutch With Ishmael H. Sistrunk

Salute to St. Louis sports

With the 28th Annual Salute line of standouts with the to Excellence in Education ability to set the nets on fire within our grasp, it’s the ideal at any given time. We look time to take a moment to show forward to watching him next our appreciation for St. Louis year at Duke, playing under the (and Missouri) sports. These bright lights and shining for his Salutes are for those organizahometown. Tatum’s ascension tions or players who into the elite has also currently play in the St. helped pave the way for Louis market as well the next batch of STL as players from the super recruits including 314. Though it seems Carte’Are Gordon like the St. Louis area (Vianney), Courtney remains in a constant Ramey (Webster struggle to prove it is Groves) and Torrence a NFL-worthy city, Watson (Whitfield). our city maintains a It won’t be too long great impact on sports Ishmael H. before we are all witall across the nation, nessing Tatum doing Sistrunk and beyond. Without his thing in the League, further ado, let’s get to the following the lineage of guys awardees. like Anthony Bonner, Larry Hughes, David Lee, Bradley Salute to prep sports Beal and others before him. stars. I’ll be brief here as my esteemed colleague Earl Austin Salute to the STL stadium Jr. has a monopoly on prep project. While I’m fundamensports expertise in these parts. tally opposed to giving welHowever, I must salute local fare to billionaires, the harsh prep stars such as Chaminade’s reality in sports is, you’ve got Jayson Tatum, for performing to pay to play. Kudos to those at such a high level and keepinvolved with the stadium projing St. Louis on the recruiting ect for looking past the obvimap, especially in basketball. ous signs that St. Louis Rams Tatum is the latest in a long owner Stan Kroenke has zero

n I must salute local prep stars such as Chaminade’s Jayson Tatum, for performing at such a high level and keeping St. Louis on the recruiting map, especially in basketball.

Jason Heyward has at least five game-winning hits this season and numerous run-saving plays in the field. He has been a stabilizing force for the best team in baseball. Enjoy him while you can. intentions of keeping the Rams in the Midwest if he has his way. The fact that our city is

putting up a fight to keep its team will bode well for the St. Louis in the future, regard-

less of what happens with the Rams. A new stadium will not only help give a badly needed

facelift to the riverfront, but will likely net the town another professional team – soccer. St. Louis is supposedly the soccer capital of the nation, but hasn’t had a real professional team in ages. No, it’s not an NBA team (file that under not going to happen) but soccer fans on television always seem to be having so much fun. Salute to Nick Foles. I realize that St. Louis Rams QB Nick Foles looked fairly awful in the Rams’ disappointing Week 2 loss to the See CLUTCH, B5

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 24 – 30, 2015

Sports Eye With Alvin Reid

The great NBA team that never was Remember the 1975-76 St. Louis Spirits?

at Providence with a tire iron. He also was one of America’s best basketball players. In If I told you the best ‘75-76 with the Spirits, Barnes professional basketball team in compiled 24.1 points, 10.8 the world played in St. Louis rebounds, two blocks and 1.9 for one season, would you steals per game. believe me? Drugs and a concealed While the St. Louis Hawks weapons charge that landed won the 1958 NBA title with him in jail hindered his NBA Bob Pettit, this super career. But he still St. Louis team was managed to average probably better. There 15.2 points and 9.2 was no championship rebounds for four for this team, and it teams. Barnes died two ceased to exist a year years ago at age 62. later. Don Chaney had But based on what played seven seasons individual players with the Boston Celtics accomplished in the before he jumped to the Alvin NBA (multiple NBA ABA and signed with Reid titles, All-Star Games), the Spirits. While a had it stayed together Celtic, Chaney won the and merged into the NBA it NBA title in 1969 and 1974. would have been an immediate He returned to the NBA with playoff contender and probably the Lakers for two seasons would have won a title. before closing out his career Say hello to the 1975-76 St. with a three-year stint with the Louis Spirits. Celtics, the team that drafted Last week’s him first in 1968. death of Moses Small forward n The Spirits Malone, a M.L. Carr opted are one of the Basketball Hall to sign with the greatest “what of Fame member Spirits as a rookie if” stories in the in 1975 after being who is recognized as the NBA’s allhistory of sport. drafted by the time best offensive NBA’s Kansas rebounder, reminds City-Omaha Kings. us how talented After three seasons the Spirits were. Just a year with the Detroit Pistons, Carr out of high school, Malone joined the Celtics where he was already demonstrating would team with Larry Bird that he would be one of the and other stars to win the 1984 game’s best in the future. and 1986 NBA titles. In nine Malone would win the 1983 NBA seasons Carr averaged NBA Championship with the 9.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per Philadelphia 76ers and closed game. his career averaging 20.6 points Ron Boone, a guard, was and 12.2 rebounds per game. drafted in the 13th round by This includes an astonishing 7.1 the Phoenix Suns and failed to offensive rebounds per game. make the team. He played for Malone would not be the Dallas and Utah in the NBA first former Spirit to win the before joining the Spirits for NBA title. the 75-76 season. By this time, The late Maurice Lucas Boone was a crafty veteran would accomplish that feat who averaged 21 points and in 1977 with the Portland five assists for St. Louis. He Trailblazers. While Bill Walton caught the eye of Kansas City was the NBA Finals MVP that where he signed after the season, Lucas contributed 21.2 Spirits folded and averaged points and 10 rebounds during 22.2 points and 4.1 assists the playoff run. Playing power per game. He closed his NBA forward, he helped defeat Julius career with 13.9 points and 4.3 Erving and the 76ers in a sixassist averages. game series. He averaged 14.4 Gus Gerard was a Spirit points and 8.8 rebounds during for a season and a half and his 12-year NBA career. later pieced together a fiveOne of Lucas’ teammate on year NBA career with several the ‘75-76 Spirits, Caldwell franchises. For St. Louis Jones, was the starting center he averaged 15.7 and 10.3 for those 1977 Sixers. Jones points in those two seasons, averaged six points and 8.1 although he was traded during rebounds per game and would the final season. In the NBA play in three NBA Finals, he averaged 16.4 and 7.3 losing twice to Magic Johnson rebounds. and the Los Angeles Lakers in Freddie Lewis played guard 1980 and 1982. Jones started at for the NBA’s Cincinnati center for the Spirits, and not Royals for one season before the youthful Malone. signing with Indiana of the Of course, the team featured ABA for the 1968-69 season. the late and flamboyant After he joined the Spirits in “Marvelous” Marvin Barnes. 1974, Lewis resurrected his He also was called “Bad News” career by averaging 22.6 points for off-court troubles that began and 5.5 assists in 1974-75. as a youth when he and several The next season he averaged other youths attempted to rob 14.8 points and four assists. a bus. He attacked a teammate He returned to the NBA for his By Alvin A. Reid For The St. Louis American

St. Louis Spirits forward Marvin Barnes lifts a shot over Julius Erving of the New Jersey Nets as Maurice Lucas secures the lane during an ABA game in the 1975-76 season. That Spirits team, which was not included in the NBA, featured a future NBA player two-deep at every position. final year with the Indiana Pacers of the NBA, where he averaged seven points and 1.6 assists. Don Adams was a rarity in that he only played part of the 1975-76 with the Spirits. He would join Bob McAdoo and the Buffalo Braves of the NBA after 20 games, and reached the playoffs. The Braves almost upset the favored Celtics in the NBA Eastern Finals. Before joining the Spirits, Adams had played five seasons in the NBA, averaging 8.8 points and 5.6 rebounds. After one year with the Spirits in 75-76, Steve Green was signed by the Pacers and played three seasons. He averaged 5.8 points and 2.4 rebounds. Power forward Rudy Hackett rarely played for the Spirits, but did make a NBA roster the following year. He played for the Pacers for the New Jersey Nets for one game and the Pacers for five. After two seasons as a backup guard for the Spirits, Mike Barr played one season with Kansas City, where he averaged 3.8 points per game.

Backup center Rudy Denton played one season in the NBA after the Spirits dissolved, averaging five points in just 45 games in 1976-77. Harry Rogers, a Sumner graduate and former Saint Louis University player, played only one year of pro basketball with the Spirits and did not play in the NBA. Center Paul Ruffner and guard Barry Parkhill were the other players that did not reach the NBA. As documented in the ESPN “30 for 30” documentary “Free Spirits,” the New Jersey-based owners of the franchise Ozzie and Dan Silna struck a deal with the NBA when their franchise was not accepted into the NBA. In fact, had the ABA survived the Spirits were headed to Salt Lake City, Utah as the Rockies. The Silnas’ deal guaranteed them 1/7 of TV revenue of the teams that merged into the NBA (the Nets, Pacers, Denver Nuggets and San Antonio Spurs) in perpetuity. By 2012, the New York Times reported that the Silnas had pocketed $255 million. In 2014, the NBA

convinced the brothers to take a one-time $500 million payoff to end the deal. The Spirits are one of the greatest “what if” stories in the history of sport. One thing for certain is that the team featured a future NBA player two-deep at every position. Some would become All Stars and one would reach the Hall of Fame. It would have surely been a NBA playoff team and had a tremendous chance to win in the NBA Finals. My favorite Marvin story Rod Thorn, who now serves as the NBA’s president of Basketball Operations, was coach of the Spirits during the 1974-75 season, but was fired in December 1975 after the team got off to a slow start. He was replaced by Joe Mullaney and the team did not duplicate its playoff success from the year before. Years after his season in St. Louis, I heard Thorn tell this story. One evening the team had finished pre-game warm-

ups and Marvin Barnes was nowhere to be found. Thorn had pretty much given up on having his star player that evening when the doors to the locker room burst open. In rushes Barnes, who had on a full-length leather coat and expensive three-piece suit. He had two quarter pounders with cheese, a large order of fries and a drink. As he put his uniform, he woofed down his food and then hit the court with his teammates. He did not speak a word to anyone before the game. He then went out and scored 30 or more points and the Spirits won. After the game he returned to the locker room, put the coat over his uniform and left into a cold St. Louis night. Again, he spoke to no one. Along with being “the great NBA team that never was,” the Spirits also featured a youthful radio announcer named Bob Costas. Alvin A. Reid is a panelist on KETC channel 9’s mostpopular show “Donnybrook,” and is also a radio commentator and author.

Stop blaming the players

For better and mostly worse, this is Jeff Fisher’s team One of the first things that concerned me about the St. Louis Rams’ first road game of the 2015 season was that there was going to be some sort of hangover after beating Seattle Seahawks in the home opener last week. And not only did the Rams have a hangover, they flat out got their assets kicked by the Washington Redskins, 24-10. In all the years watching and covering this football team, I’ve never seen them get beat so badly. The Rams got beat this badly because they were reading their own press clippings again. They didn’t take this game too seriously. It’s like they thought all they had to do is show up and the Redskins would just kneel before them. After beating the Super

Bowl runner up, I kept hearing about a new Rams’ T-shirt with the catchphrase “Mob Squad.” Man, they need to stop with the shenanigans. How about a meaningful winning streak? How about achieving .500 football? They always win off the field with these great names and catchphrases, but never on that 100-yard field when it counts. For all the talk about how Jeff Fisher is such a player’s coach, we’ve have yet to see it in the win column. And for those that say he’s just an average .500 coach, he’s sporting a losing record since he came to St. Louis. His record here is now 21-281, and this is his team. He constructed this team, and they’re not consistent. They’re consistently inconsistent.

Rams Roundup With Palmer L. Alexander III

I was asked a couple weeks fire him? Fisher has complete ago by Chris Cashman of control. He put this roster KOMO TV-4 in Seattle if this together in the image he sees is a make-or-break year for fit. Fisher. In my opinion, Look at all the no. He’s comfortable. running backs, He only answers to one defensive lineman person, and that’s Stan and secondary players Kroenke. he’s brought in since Let’s use a little bit becoming head coach of common sense for in 2012. He fostered a second. You got an competition at those NFL coach with over positions, yet neglected Palmer L. to do the same at 20 years’ experience Alexander important positions coaching at this level. He hires the general such as linebacker, manager, and it’s a first-time wide receiver, offensive general manager in Les Snead. line and, most importantly, Do you think for one second a quarterback. veteran head coach would hire Middle linebacker James someone who would someday Laurinaitis needs some

healthy competition. He looked absolutely awful in that game against the Redskins. He got sucked up in the wrong gap again and again as the Redskins just ran all over the Rams’ press clipping defense. And this talk during the preseason about resigning Janoris Jenkins is troubling. As usual, he’s “Shaqtin A Fool” on defense by allowing receivers to run past him untouched like you playing football in 4th hour PE class. Then he got burnt like toast by Redskins receiver Pierre Garcon in the red zone for a touchdown and then lobbied to the ref looking for a push off. If he keeps this up, NBA power forward JaVale McGee is going to get jealous. Another big mistake Fisher made was signing tight end

Jared Cook. He couldn’t get in sync with QB Nick Foles. He had several passes go off his hands. Every time he does catches the ball you are almost in shock that he actually caught the ball. Then he gets flagged for a facemask penalty and was just dreadful when it came to blocking. After a while, you stop blaming the players. This is Jeff Fisher’s fourth year, and nothing has changed. He doesn’t think it’s him. But, according to the sub-.500 record it’s him. For more Rams Roundup, please subscribe to YouTube/ stlamericanvideos. You can also hear me on The Charlie Tuna Show M-F 6-8 p.m. on Talk1380AM and on my weekly podcast @NTheZone Sports on Facebook/Twitter.

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 24 – 30, 2015

EAST SIDE

n The past two weeks have served to “throw my team back on the bus” as the Flyers have outscored the opposition 128-0 in moving to 3-1 on the season.

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coming up in the next three weeks. Quarterback Reyondus Estes is playing some of the best football at any position in the area right now. Estes had 325 yards of total offense last Friday night against Granite City. He was nine for 23 passing for 247 yards. In addition, Estes had six carries for another 78 yards rushing. East Side’s ground game was supposed to be a weak link this season, but it has been the exact opposite. Junior tailback Kerrion “Blinky” Chairs had another strong rushing performance last week with 118 yards on 16 carries. AllAmerican wide receiver Jeff Thomas had a breakout game against Granite City with six receptions for 170 yards. The defense is also playing great after posting shutouts in consecutive weeks. Leading tackler James “Bonecrusher” Knight had 11 stops against Granite City. And linebacker LaMontre “State Street” Harvey chipped in with three sacks and nine solo tackles last week. On the other hand, Belleville West has won two in a row with wins over O’Fallon 13-12 and a 43-7 thumping of Collinsville last week. Both wins have come after opening

PREP

Continued from B3 visit Belleville West with the winner of this game taking possession of “The Victory Bell.” These two schools have been battling for this bell since 1914. This annual game for the bell used to be played annually on Thanksgiving Day. Finally, long-time rivals MICDS and John Burroughs will meet on Saturday at Burroughs. This game brings back generations of fans and alums as both schools celebrate their homecoming during the weekend of this big game. Jaguars roll Gateway STEM has an impressive 5-0 record at the midway point of the season. The Jaguars defeated Northwest 50-0 last Friday to

CLUTCH

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Arizona Cardinals. However, I’ll give him a pass since he rarely moved without a defensive lineman in his face and when he did put the ball on the money, it was dropped by Rams receivers like loose change. However, against the Seattle Seahawks, Foles looked like the poised and confident passer that St. Louis has long longed for. Over in Philly, ex-Rams QB Sam Bradford looked like Sam from Quantum Leap. Bradford looked lost and bewildered on nearly every play like he’d just teleported into someone else’s body. Philly fans won’t put up with constant awful performances like St. Louisans did. I firmly expect Bradford to either be booed out of the game or carried out of the game via injury by Week 5 at the latest.

Quarterback Reyondus Estes is playing some of the best football at any position in the area right now. losses to Normal West and Normal Community High. Quarterback Logan Betz leads the Maroons offense, passing for 522 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Kristopher Davis is Belleville West’s leading rusher with 398 yards and two touchdowns. After Belleville West, the Flyers have two more tough

conference games. The biggest is the showdown with visiting Edwardsville next Friday night. And the following week, there is a battle against the upstart Belleville East Lancers. Obviously, this is an important stretch for head football for Coach Sunkett, who last season lost the prestigious Bell to Belleville

record their third consecutive shutout. They have a dangerous passing combination in quarterback Antonio Cunningham and wide receiver Donnell Williams. Cunningham has 10 touchdown passes with nine of them going to Williams. Senior running back Dominique Holman has six rushing touchdowns. Gateway STEM will face Sumner this weekend, before heading into a pair of big Public High League showdowns with Vashon and Miller Career Academy.

scored three touchdowns while Jared Price rushed for 120 yards and one touchdown.

Running of the Lions

Earl’s Pick Game of the Week

The Cardinal Ritter College Prep Lions simply ran wild in their 56-32 victory over Borgia last Friday night. The Lions rushed for 619 yards in an overwhelming performance. Senior running back Naeem Moore rushed for 319 yards and scored four touchdowns. Sophomore Jared Phillips rushed for 179 yards and

Meanwhile, if the Rams offensive line can get it together, expect Foles to lead the consistently inconsistent Rams to a solid season. Salute to Jason Heyward and the St. Louis Cardinals. Enjoy Jason Heyward while he’s here. After a slow start, Heyward is living up to his billing in St. Louis. He’s batting .311 since the All-Star break and is a master defender with a rocket arm and web gems galore. On a Cardinals team that has shuffled players in and out of the lineup the entire season due to injuries, Heyward has been one of the best and most consistent players. Considering that the Redbirds have been atop the league standings for virtually the entire season, Heyward’s stock and price tag is going up every day. The Cardinals are expected to make a serious run to retain his stellar services, but unless Heyward has become

Bobby the Sack Master Sophomore Bobby Matthews of MICDS enjoyed a dominant performance on defense in the Rams’ 38-19 victory over Priory last Saturday. The 5’9” 190pound Matthews had three quarterback sacks and was a general disruption all afternoon against the Rebels.

Kirkwood (4-0) at Summit (5-0), Friday, 7 p.m. – A showdown of two talented teams that are still undefeated and going strong. Kirkwood is led by quarterback Reece Goddard and the dangerous running back tandem of Jerod Alton and Jamahl Scott, who have combined for nearly

enamored with the ‘Cardinal Way,’ I’d expect him to bolt for some Yankees pay. Enjoy the show while it lasts. Salute to black-owned sports. After having St. Louis Surge owner Khalia Collier and guard Bianca Beck on the Rams Roundup, I must give props to the Surge. In a short time, Collier has developed the Surge into a successful WBCBL franchise, winning the championship in 2014 and serving as runner up in 2015. Collier continues to build up her franchise through community engagement and involvement – and success. All things are pointing to 2016 being another successful season for the Surge. If you weren’t aware, World Wide Technology CEO David Steward has been a part of the St. Louis Blues ownership group since 2012. Though Tom Stillman

West. And I’m sure he’s glad Edwardsville’s quarterback Dan Marinko has graduated, since he never beat him while he was at Edwardsville. This week’s game also brings back memories from the 2000 season when the Flyers lost to Belleville West at Old Township Stadium and Sunkett did not shake hands after the game. That prompted East Side alum and state Senator James Clayborne, who represents the 57th Congressional District that includes both East St. Louis and Belleville, to openly criticize the coach and remind him that we don’t represent Flyer football that way. According to members of the “street patrol” and around barbershop nation, Sunkett had better bring that Union Pacific Bell home this Saturday and beat Edwardsville. Or else, it might be a whole lot of talking going on by the “street patrol” before the season ends.

1,000 yards rushing and nine touchdowns. Summit has an excellent quarterback in Brandon Keller, who has 10 touchdown passes. Keller has two excellent receiving targets in Jordan Halliburton and Bam Gilmore. Running back Sam Pennington has rushed for 632 yards and six touchdowns. Other Top Games this Week Belleville East (2-2) at Edwardsville (4-0), Friday, 7 p.m. Vianney (3-2) at Chaminade (4-1), Friday, 7 p.m. Parkway North (3-2) at Pattonville (4-1), Friday, 7 p.m. Trinity (4-1) at Kennedy (1-4), Friday, 4:15 p.m. Parkway Central (3-2) at University City (4-1), Saturday, 1 p.m. Soldan (2-2) vs. Vashon (4-1) at Sumner, Saturday, 1 p.m.

serves as the majority owner and Chairman of the Blues, Steward is a minority owner in every sense of the word. He is one of very few black owners in the four major sports in the US. The image of a black man in the owner’s box helps our youth envision themselves being successful in sports off the field. Follow Ishmael and In the Clutch on Twitter @ IshmaelSistrunk

St. Louis American Prep Athletes of the Week

Naeem Moore Cardinal Ritter – Football The senior running back enjoyed a huge performance in leading the Lions to a 56-32 victory over St. Francis Borgia last Friday night. The 5’9” 200-pound Moore rushed for 319 yards on just 16 carries and scored four touchdowns on runs of 61, 48, 74 and 12 yards. He averaged a whopping 15 yards a carry for the game. For the season, Moore has rushed for 1,210 yards, which leads the St. Louis metro area. He has also scored 13 touchdowns in leading Ritter to a 4-1 record. Cardinal Ritter will visit St. Dominic on Friday night at 7 p.m.

Jordan Jackson Ladue –Football The talented sophomore quarterback led dramatic fourth-quarter rally to lead the Rams to a 38-35 victory at Cape Girardeau Central last Friday night. In his first varsity start, the 5’8” 150pound Jackson amassed 338 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns. He rushed for 126 yards on 14 carries and scored two touchdowns. He completed 15 of 23 passes for 212 yards and one touchdown. Jackson rallied Ladue from a 35-23 deficit in the fourth quarter as he scored on runs of five and 30 yards to give the Rams the victory. For the season, he has rushed for five touchdowns and thrown four touchdown passes. Ladue (3-2) will host rival Clayton on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 24 – 30, 2015

Photo by Katherine Bish

Regional Chamber honors American publisher

Donald M. Suggs – publisher and executive editor of The St. Louis American and president of the St. Louis American Foundation – was presented with the St. Louis Regional Chamber’s 2015 Right Arm of St. Louis Award by St. Louis Treasurer Tishaura O. Jones at its Annual Event No. 178, held Wednesday, September 16 at the Peabody Opera House.

WAGE

continued from page B1 the deadline. I don’t think that it alleviates the harm. So I am concerned for the people who have to start making decisions because it will go into effect right away unless it’s finally enjoined by the court.” Looming over the court’s proceedings is a state legislative bill known as HB722. The Missouri General Assembly on September 16 overrode a veto of the legislation that among other things bans local minimum wage increases. Opinions are divided about what the legislation will mean for the

case, especially since there’s a clause that states the bill “shall not pre-empt any state law or local minimum wage ordinance requirements in effect on August 28, 2015.” “I think whether it’s overridden or not, it’s an acknowledgement by the General Assembly that the city of St. Louis had the authority to pass its own local minimum wage ordinance by August 28,” Calvert said. “And that’s what the city did.” Dueker disagrees with Calvert’s interpretation. “Obviously, the Legislature believes if they override this that they do not want that many different minimum wages in the state of Missouri,” she said. Attorneys will resume

arguments in the case on October 6. Calvert has asked for a jury trial and contended the city has a right to one in this instance. Dueker says she’s never seen a jury trial before in a case over the validity of a law or ordinance. One person who was optimistic about the trial was Frances Holmes, who works at a St. Louis McDonald’s. “We’re just going to go keep fighting, keep fighting, keep fighting and hope that everything works out,” said Holmes, who makes more than $7.65 an hour but less than $11 an hour at her current job. Reprinted with permission from news.stlpublicradio.org.

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C1 • ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 24 - 30, 2015

Rebirth of Miles in Alton

Jazz icon’s birth city bestows bronze statue in his honor By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American “His father was a very affluent dentist who had an office right here on this street,” master of ceremonies Jim Killion said. “Who would’ve thought that 90 years later we would be honoring his son as one of the most important musicians of the twentieth century?” Hundreds gathered two weeks ago to witness the unveiling of the bronze sculpture of Miles Davis in downtown Alton – in the heart of the River Bend city’s entertainment district. The entire block at Third and Belle was closed to accommodate the crowd that came to see the sculpture by Preston Jackson and to celebrate Davis’ incomparable contributions to American music as composer, bandleader and trumpeter.

Sculptor Preston Jackson spoke at the unveiling of his sculpture of Miles Davis in Davis’ hometown of Alton, Illinois on September 12.

Davis only spent a year in Alton before the family packed up and moved to East St. Louis, but Alton now has the distinction of being the only city in the United States to have a sculpture in his honor. “It is just incredible that this committee was able to do this and tell the world that the Alton, Godfrey, Wood River area is recognizing one of the greatest musicians ever to be produced in the United States,” said Illinois state Senator Bill Haine, who bought Davis’ pivotal LP ‘Kind Of Blue in 1959. “Jazz as an art form is unique to America. This is America. He is on the Mount Rushmore of composers and musicians.” According to Miles Davis Memorial Project

Photo by Wiley Price

See MILES, C4

Qristyl Frazier’s ‘plus-sexy’ returns Made in America STL show features styles renowned designer on local runway By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American “I thought it would be a really good idea to be on the home front a bit more to let people know that I haven’t forgotten about St. Louis – that I’m a homegirl,” said Qristyl Frazier of Qristyl Frazier Designs. Based in New York, the Project Runway alum has dressed the likes

of Shonda Rhimes, had her clothes featured on the “Steve Harvey Show,” in ESSENCE Magazine and Jet Magazine, on BET’s “Rip The Runway” and more. She also had a line that was featured at Lane Bryant. But on Sunday, September 27 she will remind everyone that she’s so St. Louis, along with local online boutique owner Amber Turner, as part of the SHOE-icide Made In America STL

fashion show at the Kranzberg Arts Center. “I’ve never done a complete denim collection,” Frazier said about what she will feature in the show. “The collection is called ‘The Celestial Collection’ because it’s very heavenly. I’m trying some different fabrics and silhouettes. They are going to see a lot See FASHION, C4

Shoe-icide’s presentation of Made in America STL: Fashion, Music Art show will take place at 6 p.m. Sunday, September 27 at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 N. Grand.

Tough love on Ferguson In new book, Jamala Rogers goes to the ‘Roots of Rebellion’ – and beyond By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American “Maybe it’s time to stop playing and get to the root causes of anger of black youth and how we can systematically address them,” Jamala Rogers told St. Louis Public Radio just over a week after Ferguson came undone in response to the death of Michael Brown Jr. Jamala She reprinted the commentary within Rogers her book “Ferguson is America: Roots of Rebellion” – which she will sign and discuss on Monday, September 28 at Left Bank Books, 399 N. Euclid Ave. In the book, the author, activist and veteran St. Louis American columnist explores the “why”

as much as the “what” as she lends her perspective to the global phenomenon of “Ferguson.” Her latest book is a compilation of writings pre- and postFerguson that speak to issues she’s been crying out on behalf of the black community for years. Rogers starts back in 1857 with the Dred Scott case to illustrate the origins of the unbalanced relationship between blacks and the justice system and carries through to the 21st century with the death of Brown and the non-indictment of the cop who killed him. See BOOK, C4

• Only Online • Kenny DeShields at the Kranzberg

JAJ2MUSIC will feature the soulful sounds of local soul/R&B/Gospel singer Kenny DeShields with its presentation of “Storytellers” Saturday night (Sept. 26) at the Kranzberg Arts Center.

www.stlamerican.com

Calendar

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 24 – 30, 2015 Sheldon Concert Hall presents Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. For more information, see CONCERTS.

How to place a calendar listing 1. Email your listing to calendar@stlamerican. com OR 2. Visit the calendar section on stlamerican.com and place your listing Calendar listings are free of charge, are edited for space and run on a space-available basis.

concerts Fri., Oct. 2, 8 p.m., Sheldon Concert Hall presents Black Violin. Classically trained Wil Baptiste and Kevin “Kev Marcus” Sylvester are the new standard. 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, call (314) 5339900 or visit www.thesheldon. org. Fri., Oct. 2, 8 p.m., The Chaifetz Arena presents Gateway Music Festival feat. Keith Sweat, Bell Biv DeVoe, Salt-N-Pepa, 112, Silk, and Troop. 1 South Compton Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www.thechaifetzarena. com. Sat., Oct. 3, 8 p.m., Sheldon Concert Hall presents Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. Today’s most honored jazz musician, composer and educator, Wynton Marsalis has been credited with revitalizing jazz as an art form, bringing it into the new century as an American institution. 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, call (314) 533-9900 or visit www. thesheldon.org. Sat., Oct. 10, 8 p.m., World Wide Technology, Inc. presents An Evening with Cedric the Entertainer and Friends feat. musical guest Patti LaBelle. Peabody Opera House, 1400 Market St., 63103. For more information, visit www.ssmstmarys.org. Sun., Oct. 11, 3 p.m., African Musical Arts presents A Cappella Africa featuring flutists Wendy Hymes and Matt Allison, as well as our very own Songs of Africa Ensemble. The concert will present meditation music for flutes and voices. Parkway United Church of Christ, 2841 N. Ballas Rd., 63131. For more information, call (314) 6526800 or visit www.africarts. org/season2015.

Sun., Oct. 25, Stevie Wonder: Songs in The Key of Life Performance, Scottrade Center. For more information, visit www.ticketmaster.com. Thurs., Oct. 29, Janet Jackson: Unbreakable World Tour, Chaifetz Arena. For more information, visit www. ticketmaster.com.

local gigs Sun., Sept. 27, 6 p.m., Jazz Edge Orchestra with Marsha Evans, Kirkwood Station Restaurant & Brewing Co., 105 E. Jefferson Avenue, Kirkwood, MO 63122 Tues., Oct. 6, 7:30 p.m., Sheldon Notes From Home Series Present Wendy L. Gordon & Jeanne Trevor & Friends Memories Lights The Corners Of My Mind, Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Blvd. For Tickets call 314-524-1111 or www. Metrotix.com Wednesdays, 6-10 p.m., Lexus Len’s “Wednesday Night Live” featuring: Cheryl Brown, Jeremiah Allen, Jeff Taylor, Gerald Warren & Amos Brewer, The Marquee, 1911 Locust.

special events Thur., Sept. 24, 8 p.m., Gateway Arch Riverboats Blues Cruise. Experience the sounds of live blues as you cruise down the Mississippi River and enjoy the beautiful St. Louis skyline. Featuring music by Skeet Rodgers & the Inner City Blues Band. 50 S. Leonor K. Sullivan Blvd., 63102. For more information, visit www.gatewayarch.com. Fri., Sept. 25, 5 p.m., St. Mary Magdalen Parish presents Fall Food Festival. Come out and enjoy a night of great food, fun with the kids,

live music, and more. 2618 Brentwood Blvd., 63144. Sept. 24 – 27, Chaifetz Arena presents Disney on Ice: Let’s Celebrate. 1 S. Compton Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www.thechaifetzarena. com. Fri., Sept. 25, 5 p.m., St. Mary Magdalen Parish presents Fall Food Festival. Come out and enjoy a night of great food, fun with the kids, live music, and more. 2618 Brentwood Blvd., 63144. Fri., Sept. 25, 6 p.m., St. Louis American Foundation presents 2015 Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship & Awards Gala. America’s Center, 701 Convention Plaza, 63101. For more information, call (314) 533-8000 or visit www. stlamerican.com. Oct. 2 – 4, 9 a.m., Missouri Botanical Garden presents Best of Missouri Market. More than 120 food producers and crafters from Missouri and the surrounding region offer fresh produce, baked goods, fresh and dried flowers, herbs, handcrafted items, baskets, wooden toys, custom jewelry and more. Live music and a Kids Corner with cow milking, pumpkin decorating and barnyard animals. 4344 Shaw Blvd., 63110. For more information, call (314) 577-5100 or visit www. missouribotanicalgarden.org. Sat., Oct. 3, 7 a.m., Great Things Incorporated Foundation’s 10th Annual

Featured Event

63031. For more information, call (314) 830-3836 or visit www.essentialplayzone.com. Mon., Sept. 28, 7 p.m., Left Bank Books hosts author Jamala Rogers, author of Ferguson is America: Roots of Rebellion. 399 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, call (314) 367-6731 or visit www.left-bank.com. Mon., Sept. 28, 7 p.m., YWCA Metro St. Louis presents Waking Up White, and Finding Myself in the Story of Race: A Talk with Debby Irving. YWCA Phyllis Wheatley Heritage Center, 2711 Locust St., 63103. Wed., Sept. 30, 7 p.m., Left Bank Books hosts author Jocelyn Delk Adams, author of Grandbaby Cakes. This event will feature a tasting of samples courtesy of SweetArt Bakery. 399 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, call (314) 3676731 or visit www.left-bank. com.

Charity Golf Tournament: Hitting the Greens to Feed the Hungry. Entry fee includes 18 holes greens fee, cart, continental breakfast, and lunch. All proceeds assist TGIF in its mission to improve the social and economic environment in St. Louis. Eagle Spring Golf Course, 2575 Redman Rd., 63136. For more information, visit www. greatthingsinc.org.

Delmar Blvd., 63130. For more information or to RSVP, call (314) 690-5673.

Thur., Oct. 1, 7 p.m., St. Louis County Library Foundation and the 2015 Greater St. Louis Humanities Festival present Elizabeth Terry, John Wright and Patrick McCarthy, authors of Ethnic St. Louis. Library Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63131. For more information, call (314) 994-3300 or visit www.slcl. org.

Sun., Oct. 11, 5:30 p.m., Bridge The Gap314 presents Sylent Heart Casino Night Fundraiser. Friends A Meeting Place, 716 N. Compton, 63106. For more information, call (314) 400-0451 or visit www. bridgethegaph314.org.

Thur., Oct. 8, 7 p.m., Left Bank Books hosts author Treasure Shields Redmond, author of chop: a collection of kwansabas for fannie lou hamer. 399 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, call (314) 367-6731 or visit www.left-bank.com.

Sat., Oct. 3, 2 p.m., 10th Annual Grove Fest. Manchester between Kingshighway and Vandeventer, 63110. For more information, call (314) 5355311 or visit www.thegrovestl. com/events.

Sat., October 24, 2015 at 6 pm. The Dr. James Whittico 100th Birthday Scholarship Gala at the St. Louis Airport Marriott. For more information, contact Dr. Jacaqui Turner @jsturner47@ msn.com.

Sat., Oct. 10, 7 p.m., St. Louis County Library hosts Senator John Danforth, author of The Relevance of Religion: How Faithful People Can Change Politics. Library Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63131. For more information, call (314) 994-3300 or visit www.slcl. org.

Sun., Oct. 11, 3 p.m., African Musical Arts presents A Cappella Africa. The concert will present meditation music for flutes and voices. Parkway United Church of Christ, 2841 N. Ballas Rd., 63131. For more information, call (314) 652-6800 or visit www.africarts.org/season2015. (In CONCERTS)

Fri., Oct. 9, 6 p.m., Healing Womens Ministries hosts 2nd Coffee House Session: Ladies Paint Night. Come out for an evening of food, laughter, freedom, and much more. Evangelist Cynthia Bennett will be the guest speaker and there will be a performance by Precious J. This event is free and open to the public. University City Library Auditorium, 6701

literary Sun., Sept. 27, 3 p.m., The Essential Playzone Tutorial Resource Center presents a Poetry Slam. Those ages 1321 are invited to come express their thoughts in poem, spoken word, or song. It will be a good time & snacks will be provided. 640 N. Highway 67,

Tues., Oct. 13, 5 p.m., Left Bank Books hosts authors Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely, authors of All American Boys. 399 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, call (314) 3676731 or visit www.left-bank. com.

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 24 – 30, 2015

theatre Oct. 2 – 11, COCA presents wUNDERland. Shows are Friday through Sunday. COCA Founders’ Theatre, 524 Trinity Ave., 63130. For more information, call (314) 3837685 or visit www.cocastl.org. Sun., Oct. 4, 5 p.m., Black and Blue, by Gitana productions, written by Lee Patton Chiles will be shown at Parkway United Church of Christ, 2814 N. Ballas Rd, in Town & Country, 63131. Sat., Oct. 17, 3 p.m., Freshstart Productions presents “How Bad Do You Want It,” a benefit stage play for The Katherine Dunham Museum, The Sun Theatre, 3625 Grandel Square, St. Louis 63108. For more information, call 314.330.3442 or visit www.JLDFreshstartprod.com

arts Through Sept. 27, The Saint Louis Art Museum presents Senufo: Art and Identity in West Africa. This exhibition introduces visitors to the poro and sandogo societies, the primary settings for the production and use of works of art in the Senufo-speaking region of northern Côte d’Ivoire. One Fine Arts Dr., 63110. For more information, call (314) 721-0072 or visit www.slam.org. Through Sept. 30, Vaughn Cultural Center presents Ten Years After Katrina: Remembering Like it Was Yesterday. 3701 Grandel Square, 63108. For more information, call (314) 6061567 or visit www.racstl.org. Oct. 2 – Dec. 13, COCA presents Daniel Burnett’s Denizen Kim. The opening reception will be held Friday, Oct. 9, at 8:30 p.m. 524 Trinity Ave., 63130. For more information, call (314) 3837685 or visit www.cocastl.org.

lectures/ workshops

where 3 selected startups will have the opportunity to give a two-minute pitch in front of judges from the St. Louis startup ecosystem and local media. Drunken Fish in Ballpark Village, 601 Clark Ave., 63102. For more information, call (314) 3459481 or visit www.bit.ly/ SeptemberFridayMeeting.

Thur., Sept. 24, 6:30 p.m., St. Louis County Library presents In the Know at Your Library: College Cost & Financial Aid. Many college websites do not post the entire cost of attendance. We will teach you where to look so you are not caught off guard when the bill arrives. We will complete the series by explaining various types of financial aid. Registration required. Library Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63131. For more information or to register, call (314) 9943300 or visit www.slcl.org.

health Sat., Sept. 26, 10 a.m., Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc. presents Get Pumped Healthy Heart Kick-off. Come out for free health screenings, exercise demonstrations, giveaways, and more. O’Fallon Park Recreational Complex YMCA, 4343 W. Florissant Ave., 63115. For more information, call (314) 862-2933 ext. 246.

Sept. 25, 9:15 a.m., “Welcome Home to the Future of Dance” with keynote address by Alicia Graf Mack. LorettoHilton Center on Webster University’s home campus in Webster Groves. The event is free and open to the public. To learn more about Webster University’s Centennial celebration, visit http://100. webster.edu. Sat., Sept. 26, 2 p.m., St. Louis County Library presents In the Know at Your Library: College Fair. Come and meet admission representatives from colleges across Missouri. Registration recommended. Library Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63131. For more information or to register, call (314) 994-3300 or visit www.slcl.org. Thur., Oct. 8, 9 a.m., University of Missouri Extension presents Selling to the Government Seminar. 10650 Gateway Blvd., 63132. For more information, call (314) 400-7378 or visit www. missouribusiness.net. Sun., Oct. 11, 3 p.m., The Essential Playzone Tutorial Resource Center presents a College Planning Workshop. 640 N. Highway 67, 63031. For more information, call

The Saint Louis Art Museum presents ‘Senufo: Art and Identity in West Africa.’ See ART for details.

(314) 830-3836 or visit www. essentialplayzone.com. Thur., Oct. 15, 4:30 p.m., For the Sake of All presents Community Action Forum: Investing in Quality Neighborhoods in St. Louis. City Garden Montessori School, 1618 Tower Grove Ave., 63110. For more information, call (314) 622-1250 or visit www. forthesakeofall.org/events. Sat., Oct. 17, 1 p.m., St. Louis County Library presents Be Prepared: Older Adults and Winter Weather. Are you

ready for winter? Join us for a panel discussion, audience Q&A and information from community organizations. Light refreshments will be provided. Reservations are requested. Library Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63131. For more information or to register, call (314) 615-4426. Fri., Oct. 23, 4 p.m., Accelerate St. Louis “Friday Meeting”. Network with St. Louis startups and investors, and enjoy complimentary appetizers and drinks. We will also feature a pitch contest

Sun., Sept. 27, 9 a.m., Foundation Fighting Blindness presents 9th Annual St. Louis VisionWalk. Help raise awareness and funds for sight-saving research for retinal diseases including retinitis pigmentosa, macular degeneration and Usher syndrome, which affect more than $10 million Americans. Tower Grove Park Pool Pavilion, 4256 Magnolia Ave., 63110. For more information, visit www.fightblindness.org/ stlouisvisionwalk. Sat., Oct. 10, 12:30 p.m., Breast Cancer Awareness Seminar. The presenter will be Dr. Denise Hooks-Anderson, M.D., Assistant Professor, SLUCare Family Medicine and well-known columnist for the “Your Health Matters” section in the St. Louis American Newspaper. Donations of New Wigs will be accepted for women who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy treatment. This seminar is free and open to the public. No prior registration is required. Emerson Performance Center, Harris Stowe, 3101 Laclede Ave., 63103. For more information, call (314) 3550365.

Sat., Oct. 10, 9:00 a.m., St. Louis HELP Medical Equipment Donation Drive. We are hosting another medical equipment donation drive at 14 area-wide Walgreens. We accept tax-deductible donations of manual and power wheelchairs, electric hospital beds, shower chairs, canes/ crutches/walkers, grab bars, elevated toilet seats, portable commodes, lift chairs, seating cushions, back supports, folding ramps. For more information and participating locations, call (314) 567-4700 or visit www.stlhelp.org. The Pulitzer has collaborated with local yoga studio Urban Breath Yoga to create a movement and sound class for infants of up to twelve months. For more information and to register, please email programs@pulitzerarts. org.

spiritual Sun., Sept. 27, 3 p.m., Jeremiah Free Will Baptist Church Women’s Day. Guest speaker is Pastor Velda Peals of St. John Baptist Church in Alton, IL. Jeremiah Free Will Baptist Church 538 South 35th Street, East St. Louis, IL 62207. Rev. Dr. H. T. Goodwin Sr., pastor. Sun., Oct. 4, 4 p.m., Berean Word Ministries 5th Church Anniversary. Join us as we celebrate our anniversary and the gift of God’s Grace. Bethel Providence Christian Church, 14700 New Halls Ferry, 63033. Oct. 4- 6, The 161st Missouri Annual Conference Of The African Methodist Episcopal Church, The St. Louis City Center Hotel (Formerly the Sheraton Hotel). 400 S. 14thSt. St Louis, MO 63103 1-855-537-4770. Hosted By The Cathedral @ St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church, 1260 Hamilton Ave. St. Louis, MO 63112. For more information, call 314-385-8900 or email: stpaulcathedral@att. net

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 24 - 30, 2015

FASHION Continued from C1

Photo by Wiley Price

MILES Continued from C1 co-chair Pat Ackman, the idea came from Tom Ragland who was also responsible for the Miles Davis postage stamp – and her son David Ackman. “David asked why there were statues for Robert Wadlow and Elijah P. Lovejoy and nothing for one of the most influential musicians in the world,” Ackman said. “He said, ‘After all he was born right here in Alton, Illinois.’” The two-year journey to realize this idea was culminated with a full day of performances, including a jazz set featuring internationally renowned trumpeter Bobby Shew and Montez Coleman. “It’s impossible to escape Miles Davis in music,” Shew said. “Some people have tried, but he ultimately influenced rock and roll and everything else.”

Molded by Miles Decades before the professor emeritus of sculpture at the Art Institute of Chicago ever thought of becoming a visual artist, Davis’ music ignited the spark in Preston Jackson that changed the course of his creativity. “The first time I heard

‘Kind of Blue’ it affected me deeply,” Jackson said. “I began to try to paint the music – to paint the sounds of Miles. What really struck me was the complexity of the music, the haunting chords and structures and new sound of the trumpet that came because of him.” His shoulders jumped and his head moved in a way that suggested he got caught up in his musical memories. “That’s when I took out my pen and pencils and other media, and I painted the album. I treated him realistically and treated him rather ‘van Gogh-ish’,” Jackson said. “I borrowed from the Cubist artists and German Expressionists and attempted to use these elemental tools in representing Miles.” The image of Davis he was inspired to create appears to be from the late 1960s or early 1970s. Striations pop from his triceps and biceps as he mashes down on his trumpet keys. In a loose-fitting muscle shirt and bell bottoms, this was a Miles who had stepped outside of cool and jumped right into funky. “I wanted to present Miles in his most famous pose,” Jackson said. “The body itself is just an extension of what the horn looks like – a curved metal shape ending with the blast all the way up through the body. I wanted to capture that.”

of fluidity.” For the past several years, Frazier has been returning as part of Mathews-Dickey Sheer Elegance Fashion show. She is happy to lend her talent for the inaugural Made In America STL event because of its worthy cause. A portion of its proceeds will benefit Manasseh Ministry, a non-profit organization that assists children of incarcerated parents. Frazier has made a name for herself as a designer who focuses on full-figured women – ladies she refers to as size “plussexy.” “Even if you’re curvy, you should still try and be healthy, but you need clothing at the size you are,” Frazier said. “You need clothes that look good and fit you well today. I think that what has worked well for me is that women try my pieces and think, ‘I can go to Qristyl Frazier Designs knowing that the clothes will glide over my hips – and I can pull it over my shoulder blades and it’s going to fit the width of my back.’” P. Katrena Bragg, who

BOOK Continued from C1 Long before August 9, 2014, Rogers has been on the frontlines of social justice. A founding member of the Organization for Black Struggle, she has led the community through crises in policing, education, healthcare, basic human rights and livable wages, to name a few. Through “Ferguson is America,” she illustrates how these systemic issues boiled over in Ferguson, Baltimore, Cleveland and New York City over the past year based on her work as an activist for more than 45 years, providing

Qristyl Frazier of Qristyl Frazier Designs and P. Katrena Bragg.

collaborates with Frazier and suggested she be a part of Shoe-icide’s Made in America STL show, knows the feeling. All it took was one purchase to make her want to become a loyal customer and help Frazier grow the brand. “10 years ago I was going to the Corey Spinks fight,” Bragg said. “I realized back then that we only had two stores to shop in – Lane Bryant and Ashley Stewart. You know everybody

in St. Louis was going to be at that fight. And I didn’t want to have on the same thing as everybody else.” A family member suggested Frazier, and Bragg bought a kimono top from the online store. Since then she has gone from faithful customer to partner. “It’s just so unfortunate that when you get over the 14 threshold there are suddenly so many limitations,” Bragg

historical data and case studies. “Black minds matter,” Rogers writes of woes within the public school system, where black students are often the majority. She takes readers on a history lesson of the disenfranchisement of educational systems that serve blacks from Kinloch in the 1930s through desegregation and the 2003 takeover of the St. Louis Public Schools by Marsal and Alverez. Her truth pills are not easy to swallow. “Whenever America attempts to have a conversation about race or poverty, it either starts out with victim-blaming or ends up with it,” Rogers writes. “This is so illogical that it sometimes borders on the absurd. The conversation

cannot start with whites denying the reality of policing because it differs from theirs. The lack of cooperation with police is motivated by hatred of police tactics and behavior. ‘Why should I help the police when they are causing just as much harm as the criminals?’” Doses of her truth are delivered to both sides. “In the months since Mike Brown’s murder, I’ve watched the fire of youthful indignation slowly being doused with smothering sands of police infiltration, ego, money and fame,” Rogers writes. “Being young, black and charismatic doesn’t always translate into young black and committed to the long-term struggle for human rights and justice.” As a matron of the social

said. “With her designs, Qristyl meets a variety of needs. She meets a business need, a ‘plussexy’ need, an after-five need. If you are introduced to her brand, you are going to feel good about being a 14. And let’s face it, it’s a fact that not all of us are going to be a size 10 or under.” More than a decade in, Frazier is working to keep her brand growing. She is working on an active wear line she hopes to launch by spring of 2016. She also hopes to be in stores next year and is courting retailers. “Women want to feel good continuously, not just for a day or for a night,” Frazier said. “That’s what I’m trying to do with my new collection, to make sure women of all sizes can have that.” Shoe-icide’s presentation of Made in America STL: Fashion, Music Art show will take place at 6 p.m. (doors open at 4:30 p.m.) on Sunday, September 27 at the Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 N. Grand. For more information on Made In America STL, e-mail info@ madeinamericastl.com or visit www.madeinamericastl.com. For more information on Qristyl Frazier designs, visit www.qristylfrazierdesigns.com.

justice in the post-civil rights era in St. Louis and beyond, Rogers has earned the right to deliver tough love. She endearingly speaks of giving counsel to the likes of Tef Poe and others thrust into the forefront of the Ferguson unrest – and relying on them to carry the torch. “I firmly believe that if you want to be relevant to the social justice movement,” Rogers writes, “you must be relevant to the young people.” Jamala Rogers will sign and discuss “Ferguson is America: Roots of Rebellion” 7 p.m. Monday, September 28 at Left Bank Books, 399 N. Euclid Ave. For more information, call 314-367-6731 or visit www. left-bank.com.

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 24 – 30, 2015

Celebrations Nuptials

Anniversaries

Dr. Arthur Lipstein and Ramla Gabriel were married on August 16, 2015. The bride, an educator, is a graduate of Mt. Holyoke and Caltech. She is the granddaughter of Lula and Floyd Hall of St. Louis. The groom, a theoretical physicist, graduated from the University of Oxford and is pursuing a fellowship at the University of Durham this fall. They will reside in Durham, England.

Birthdays

Geannette and John A. Carpenter Jr. will celebrate their 11th year of marital bliss on September 25th. Also this month, Geannette celebrated her birthday on the 16th and John celebrates his on the 30th. May God continue His reign of blessings upon them!

Reunions All reunion announcements can be viewed online! Beaumont Class of 1970 will be celebrating their 45th Class Reunion Saturday, October 24,2015, at Catering to You.12775 New Halls Ferry Rd,63033. For more info please contact: Oneita (Meeks) Murphy: (314) 322-4205, Chuck Campbell: (314) 5204581, Toni (Brady) Hopson: beaumontclassof1970@gmail.

Happy 1st Birthday to our angel, Tae’Lor Cheiyene Bailey on September 16! Mommy loves you!

It seems like just yesterday that we stood before our family and friends and made our promises to love each other for the rest of our lives. Thank you for making the last 15 years the happiest of my life! I can’t wait to see what exciting adventures the future has in store for us! Happy 15th Anniversary, Rod (September 23)! Love, Keshia

com, or see our Facebook page. Beaumont High School – Class of 1980 has planned its 35-year class reunion. However all BHS Alumni are welcome to attend. Fri, Nov 13 – Sun., Nov. 15, 2015 Hotel Lumiere; Info available on www.eventbrite. com; Search on Beaumont Class of 1980. We need your home and/or email address immediately. Cutoff for reservations is Sat., Oct. 31, 2015. For more information, please contact: Terri Harris Pruitt: terrilynnhpruitt@att. net, 314-478-8923; Janice Lindsey Alphin: jmaphin1@ yahoo.com, 314-330-7881. Call evenings only please.

Hazelwood East Class of 1995 will be celebrating their 20 year class reunion on Saturday, September 26th, 2015 at Dave and Busters. For more information, please contact kpeoples33@gmail. com Roosevelt High School Class of 1990 is hosting a “Rough Rider Alumni Reunion” and is inviting classes ‘87-‘93 to join them Saturday October 24, 2015 from 7pm -1am at the Bus Drivers Hall located at 1600 S. Broadway St. Louis, MO 63104. Tickets are $10 in adv. and $15 at the door. For more info, contact Talisha Shelton at (314)363-1064 or on Facebook @Roosevelt class of 90.

Happy Birthday, Jolysse Chatman, a 5th grader at Adams Elementary is celebrating 11 years of life on September 25. Much love from your family! Enjoy your special day!

Soldan Class of ‘65 presents: “On the Road Again” to Washington, DC. Cost: $479 per-person, double occupancy, 6-Days and 5-Nights, Thurs. June 2Tues. June 7, 2016. First payment due now $75 each person. For more information and reservations contact: Corinne Stuckes (636)-2944373, Brenda Yancey (314)830-1334 or Isaiah Hair, Jr. (314)-387-7592 email: cstukes@charter.net. Soldan Class of 1971 is planning its 45-year reunion for: June 17-19, 2016 at the Ameristar Casino Resort & Spa. In addition, the class will present a Harvest Dance from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015 at the Barrington

Downs Clubhouse, 3898 Grand National Drive, Florissant, Mo. 63034. Tickets are $15 each and may be purchased in advance only. No tickets will be sold at the door. B.Y.O.B. Set ups available. For tickets and more information call 314385-9554 or 636-486-2621. Calling all University City Alumni to participate in Homecoming Activities Saturday October 10, 2015. Parade starts at 10 am, Football Game at 1 pm and Alumni Homecoming Dance at 7pm. For more information contact Denise WeatherfordBell at 314-484-6318 or msdenise38@yahoo.com.

FREE OF CHARGE Do you have a celebration you’re proud of? If so we would like to share your good news with our readers. Whether it’s a birth, graduation, wedding, engagement announcement, anniversary, retirement or birthday, send your photos and a brief announcement (50 words or less) to us and we may include it in our paper and website – AT NO COST – as space is available. Photos will not be returned. Send your announcements to: kdaniel@stlamerican. com or mail to: St. Louis American Celebrations c/o Kate Daniel 2315 Pine St. St. Louis, MO 63103

Reunion notices are free of charge and based on space availability. We prefer that notices be emailed to us! However, notices may also be sent by mail to: Kate Daniel, 2315 Pine St., St. Louis, MO 63103 Deadline is 10 a.m. on Friday. If you’d like your class to be featured in a reunion profile, email or mail photos to us. Our email address is:

reunions@ stlamerican.com

Religion

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 24 - 30, 2015

New SLU scholarship honors Jesuit saint

Plus, Gospel Youth Rally Concert Saturday at North County Rec Plex American staff

Saint Louis University has established the new St. Peter Claver, S.J., Service Endowed Scholarship. The new scholarship is designed to assist firstgeneration, full-time freshmen from an urban setting who have financial need and foster a love of community service. Newly enrolled freshmen must have a minimum high school GPA of 3.2 and an ACT score of 23. Scholarship recipients must perform 40 hours of community service in North St. Louis and selected surrounding communities per academic year and maintain a 3.0 GPA at SLU. Established by a generous gift from Brian Shelton (A&S ‘80), the scholarship honors the legacy of St. Peter Claver, a Jesuit missionary who ministered to African slaves in Colombia in the 17th century. Shelton first became familiar with St. Peter Claver’s mission work through his parish, St. Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist in North St. Louis, which hosts a Knights and Ladies Auxiliary of St. Peter Claver as living examples of his legacy. The scholarship also honors Shelton’s time at SLU. “I began to understand the meaning of diversity as an undergraduate at Saint Louis University, where I rubbed shoulders with a variety of ethnic groups and discovered that their differences were a gift,” Shelton said. “The Jesuit tradition welcomes diversity and also values service to others, and I saw this scholarship as a natural fit with SLU’s mission.” “We are grateful for Mr. Shelton’s generous support of our Jesuit mission and our students,” said Sheila Manion, vice president for development. “A degree from Saint Louis University

Photo by Maria Tsikalas

Saint Louis University leaders pose with donor Brian Shelton to receive his gift of $25,000 establishing the St. Peter Claver, S.J., scholarship. Left to right: Jonathan Smith, Sheila Manion, Brian Shelton, Will Perkins, President Fred Pestello, Stefan Bradley, Jay Goff and William Kauffman.

changes lives, and all capable students should have access to that life-altering education and experience. Scholarships enable bright students of all socioeconomic backgrounds to not only have access to SLU, but to stay to complete their degrees.” The St. Peter Claver, S.J., Service Endowed Scholarship is eligible for SLU’s Go Further Scholarship Matching Program, meaning that all scholarship gifts of $100 or more will be matched 100 percent by the University.

Gospel Youth Rally Concert The local ministry Project 3 Fourteen is partnering with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes to bring “Stand Up & Stand Out” Youth Rally Concert at the North County Rec Plex, 2577 Redman Ave., on Saturday, September 26 at 6

p.m. Through this free event, host Ryan J. Camper (of Project 3 Fourteen) seeks “to encourage Christian teens and youth to be bold in their faith in Jesus Christ and to live out the life which Jesus Christ taught His followers to live in the Bible.” This free event will feature music from gospel recording artists Prophecy, Scooda, Rob Redeemed, Myss Pecola Jaye, and Morie. The speaker will be Arbie Peterson, who serves as the senior pastor of the Memorial Tabernacle Christian Life Center. “Be sure to wear bright colors!” Camper urged. To get your free tickets, or to reserve your vendor booth, register online at www.standupyouthrally. eventbrite.com. To learn more about this event, or about Project 3 Fourteen, visit www.project3-14.org, or e-mail project3fourteen@yahoo.com. Learn more about the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at www.fca.org.

The Message

Can you trust the Lord? us that only a fool would allow Sometimes words alone themselves to be misused again. cannot convey meaning and Therein lies my question feelings the way we’d like them about trust and what it means to. “Trust,” for example. to you. Can you deal with this The reference point for my meaning is “Trust in the Lord concept every day? How much of a struggle are you having with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. trying to trust people who have taught you not to give them the In all things acknowledge Him time of day? and He will make your paths Can you forgive? Can you straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6. Trust is such a complex thing. ever forget? Do you really want to? How are you treating God in Have you ever been betrayed the trust area? by someone in whom you had “Now it is required that total trust? Have you been able those who have been given a to totally trust another person trust must prove faithful.” 1 since? Corinthians 4:2. See how easy Now exactly who is misplaced trust puts you proving what to whom? in a terribly vulnerable Are you requiring God to place. It’s uncomfortable. prove something to you It’s abnormal. It ain’t fun. before you trust Him? Yet, in this passage Are you demanding from we are instructed to put God those same things our trust in the Lord. you demand from anyone The question is: Can you before you would even do it? Are you able to Columnist consider giving him or put trust in your heart James her your love? after you experienced Washington It is so easy to devastating betrayal? succumb to a lifestyle And we’ve all been which requires proof before love betrayed in one way or another, is given. It’s so easy to demand either by having our beliefs the impossible from people proven false or heart broken. who are incapable of giving it Everyone knows someone who to you. But how can you base has been crippled by a lover or your relationship with God on spouse gone crazy, or watched someone stumble up on the truth worldly principles grounded in betrayal and disappointment? about a situation that everybody Are you requiring God to prove but them knew the real deal. His love before you give yours In the real world, that kind to Him? of stuff hurts. In a real sense, The key to this trust thing lies once destroyed, trust don’t come deep within each and every one round here anymore. But now, of us. We first have to confront wait a minute. Go out and trust those demons which have in the Lord implicitly. You get plagued us for years. And yes, my meaning? that means all the pain that goes Extreme caution usually with them. Then and only then follows crippling betrayal. can we begin to even accept the New relationships are founded concept of trust and loyalty, total largely on mistrust and “prove and without equivocation. it to me,” not, blind faith and unconditional trust. Life teaches

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN

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SEPTEMBER 24 - 30, 2015

RNs and LPNs In-Home Agency hiring RNs and LPNs for Home Visits. Must have Home Health Exp.

Dedicated Runs Available. Frequent Home Time, Top Pay, Benefits; Monthly Bonuses & More! CDL-A, 1yr Exp. Req'd. EEOE/AAP. Limited Positions Available. 866-370-4476

314-361-3373 EOE

www.drive4marten.com

City of Wentzville

POLICE OFFICERS

PART-TIME CLERK I PARKS & RECREATION $14.25 per hour 636-639-2190 or www.wentzvillemo.org E.O.E.

The City of Clayton is seeking Police Officer applicants. Starting salary for those in the Academy is $53,649. With P.O.S.T. Class A Cert, starting salary is $57,404. There is potential for Academy sponsorship. Must be 21 years of age, 60 hours college credit is desirable. P.O.S.T. Class A Certification and/or Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice or related degree are preferred. Selection process includes written and psychological tests and extensive background check. For more information, including details on how to apply, please visit our website at www.claytonmo.gov/jobs. EOE.

“JANITORIAL”

BUSINESS OFFICE MANAGER

Full, Part-Time positions, background check.Steady work history for 3-5 years, forklift or equipment operating experience preferred. MUST apply in person at 314 N. Jefferson at Olive. Monday - Friday 9A to 5P. Two forms of I.D.

JOIN OUR TEAM!

• Competitive wages/free meal per shift/

commuter benefits Open positions in St. Louis On-call catering services, Cashiers, Cooks, Dishwashers, Café supervisors Want to learn more about Bon Appetit and/or apply for an open position? Visit: www.bamco.com/about/join-us

PROGRAM DIRECTOR Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Inc. (LSEM), a non-profit law firm that provides free civil legal assistance to low-income/ low-opportunity persons, seeks an attorney to act as Program Director for our Volunteer Lawyers Program. For more information, see the full posting at www.lsem.org. Interested candidates should submit their resume and cover letter by October 10, 2015 to John Early at jgearly@lsem.org.

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St. Louis Catholic Academy seeks an organized, personable business office manager to assist with financial aspects of the school including tuition setting, assistance, and collection; UDSA food program submissions and billing; and revenue and donor deposits. This part-time position begins immediately, with salaried wage commensurate with experience. St. Louis Catholic Academy is committed to the success of each student regardless of family or cultural background. Located in the Penrose neighborhood of North St. Louis City, St. Louis Catholic Academy offers a quality K-8 Catholic education. School employees are dedicated professionals who seek to meet the needs of every individual child and family. The business manager holds an important role within the school community, serving as an important connection between the families and the school. To apply, please email a cover letter and resume to Stephanie Welling, Associate Superintendent for School Personnel, at swelling@archstl.org. Application Deadline: Friday, October 9, 2015

City of Jennings

SPECIAL SERVICES COORDINATOR Responsibilities include acting as director of purchasing and inventory control, safety and risk management coordinator, Community Development Block Grant coordinator, fleet manager, emergency management coordinator, building maintenance supervisor and IT coordinator. Oversees a staff of three full-time and two part-time employees.

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CORRECTIONAL OFFICER Works a 12 hour shift booking, processing and supervising prisoners. Must be high school graduate or GED; 21 years of age, and have no disqualifying criminal history. Valid driver’s license preferred. Starting salary $26,647.40. Must complete corrections application available at Jennings City Hall, 2120 Hord Ave. or online at www.cityofjennings.org. Returned application must include a current record check from St. Louis City and County Police Dept. Application deadline 5:00 p.m. Friday, October 16th.

POLICE OFFICER:

University City Police Department is currently accepting applications and seeking to hire police Hours of work are generally Monday-Friday, 8:30 to 5:00 p.m. officer applicants. This position is located in In addition, attends city council meetings and other committee meetings University City. Police Officers enforce state as necessary. Starting salary of $37,693.50. statutes, city ordinances, general orders, rules and regulations, and policies of University City. Applications available at Jennings City Hall, 2120 Hord Ave., or online They help to ensure that the City of University at www.cityofjennings.org. NO RESUMES ACCEPTED UNLESS City maintains an atmosphere that is supportive ACCOMPANIED BY CITY OF JENNINGS APPLICATION! to our residents. For further Applicants should include a cover letter detailing their experience in qualifications/application procedures visit our any of the job duties listed above. Applications accepted through web site at www.ucitymo.org. 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 2nd and can be emailed to jobs@cityofjennings.org.

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Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. Friday, October 16th.

The City of University City is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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Goherbalife.com/ getsexymovement

BIDS & PUBLIC NOTICES REQUEST FOR BIDS Small private school servicing 34 students in University City is seeking bids from FSMC for 2015-2016 school year. Please call

(314) 725-5262 for more information

MINORITY, WOMEN, & VETERAN BUSINESS ENTERPRISES – McAfee Construction, Inc. is seeking MBE, WBE, & SDVE Subcontractors and Suppliers who are interested in bidding: MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION CORRIDORS REPLACEMENT - Project No. 61-19-G1 2901 West Truman Blvd., Jefferson City, Missouri 65109 Plans are available at our office or online for viewing only at http://mdc.adsmo.net. Bids are due in our office by Noon on October 1, 2015. Interested bidders please contact McAFEE CONSTRUCTION, INC, AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER at 573-474-4397.

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REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS Planning Services, Engineering, Surveying, Landscape Architecture, and Architecture Services The Great Rivers Greenway District (GRG) requests qualifications for planning services, engineering services, surveying services, landscape architecture, and architecture services in connection with construction of bicycle and pedestrian facilities along an interconnected systems of greenways, parks, and trails. A vendors list will be created. Submission requirements may be obtained by calling 314-932-4903. Proposals are due October 15th, 2015. The Great Rivers Greenway District Attn: Todd Antoine 6178 Delmar Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63112 Tel: 314-436-7009, x.103 GRG reserves the right to reject any or all proposals. EOE

BIDS AND NOTICES

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REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL The Hazelwood School District Board of Education has issued a Request for Proposal for a highly qualified search firm to assist in identifying a new superintendent to join the school district in July, 2016. To review the RFP and for information on how to submit a response, visit their website at www.hazelwoodschools.org, under Board of Education, and superintendent search. The deadline to respond is Oct. 16, 2015 at 3 p.m. CST.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING Posted: September 18, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is holding a public meeting on October 7th relating to the revision of the Missouri School Improvement Program Scoring Guide as required by Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 161.092. This meeting will be conducted in room 450 of the Governor Office Building, 200 Madison Street, Jefferson City, Missouri and will commence at 9:00 a.m. and will conclude at 10:00 a.m. The room will open to accommodate public seating at 8:30 a.m. A tentative agenda is as follows: • Discussion of revisions to Missouri School Improvement Program Scoring Guide • Open Comments Individuals who are unable to provide testimony at the public meeting may submit comment to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in writing to P.O. Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0480 or by email at: msip@dese.mo.gov. Anyone attending the public meeting of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education who requires auxiliary aids or services should request such services by contacting the Executive Assistant to the Office of Quality Schools, telephone (573) 751-4234 or Relay Missouri (800) 735-2966, no later than 48 hours before the meeting. The news media may obtain copies of this notice by contacting: Sarah Potter, Communications Coordinator PO Box 480 Jefferson City, MO 65102 573-751-3469 Communications@dese.mo.gov

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ST. LOUIS AMERICAN

Bids & Notices

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN

CITY OF WELLSTONPARK IMPROVEMENT The City of Wellston will be accepting bids for the asphalt overlay of approximately 875 yds. of surface on the basketball court and the removal of 6 interior railings from the park located at 6300 Wells Ave. This activity is funded in whole with CDBG funds. The City of Wellston reserves the right to accept or decline any and all bids. Bids may be sent to: Janice Trigg, City Clerk/Administrator City of Wellston,1414 Evergreen Ave., 63133 BIDS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 12 NOON ON SEPT. 25, 2015 PLEASE NO TELEPHONE CALLS

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS Sealed bids for Conway Road Bridge No. 206, St. Louis County Project No. AR-1277, will be received at the Office of the Director of Procurement for the County of St. Louis, County Government Center Administration Building, 41 South Central Avenue, 8th Floor, Clayton, Missouri 63105, until 2:00 p.m. on October 7, 2015. Plans and specifications will be available on September 14, 2015 from the St. Louis County Web Site (www.stlouisco.com), or by contacting County Blue Reprographics, Inc., 1449 Strassner Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63144, (314) 961-3800. DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT AND ADMINSTRATIVE SERVICES ST. LOUIS, COUNTY

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS Sealed bids for Murdoch Avenue-Murdoch Cut-Off ARS Infrastructure, St. Louis County Project No.AR-1434, will be received at the Office of the Director of Procurement for the County of St. Louis, County Government Center Administration Building, 41 South Central Avenue, 8th Floor, Clayton, Missouri 63105, until 2:00 p.m. on October 7, 2015. Plans and specifications will be available on September 14, 2015 from the St. Louis County Web Site (www.stlouisco.com), or by contacting County Blue Reprographics, Inc., 1449 Strassner Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63144, (314) 961-3800. DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT AND ADMINSTRATIVE SERVICES ST. LOUIS, COUNTY

University of Missouri – St. Louis

NEW COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION BUILDING PHASE I #S7646 Due: September 6, 2015 @ 11:00 a.m. Wright Construction is seeking bids from minority and disadvantaged certified contractors on or before Tuesday, October 6, 2015 @ 11:00 a.m. for referenced project. Wright is available to assist in the bidding phase of this project as we are attempting to create and maintain an environment that reflects the diversity of the larger community in which we work. Please contact us with questions and / or additional information (636.220.6850).

METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is accepting proposals in the Purchasing Division, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103-2555 until 9:00 a.m. on October 20th, 2015 to contract with a company for: Employee Assistance Program Services. Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from www.stlmsd.com, click on the “MSD AT WORK” link, (bid opportunities). The bid document will be identified as 6132 RFP. If you do not have access to the internet, call 314.768.2735 to request a copy of this bid. Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer. www.stlamerican.com

INVITATION TO BID Sparks Constructors, Inc., a General Contractor, is seeking bids from subs and suppliers for all phases of construction for Chloe Place Apartments to be constructed at 100 Chloe Place in Hannibal, MO. Chloe Place is a new single story, slab on grade, wood framed, apartment housing complex with office building. The project consists of 5 - 1 bedroom apartments, 16 – 2 bedroom apartments, 4 – 3 bedroom apartments and an office / community center building. Bid date & time is Thursday, October 15, 2015 -- 2:00 p.m. A pre-bid conference will be held in the conference room of Preferred Family Healthcare at 4355 Paris Gravel Road in Hannibal on Friday October 2, 2015 at 1:00 p.m.. The project has participation goals of 10% MBE, 5% WBE and 10% Section 3. Prevailing wages must be paid to all workmen employed on this project. Call the G.C. at 660-665-4623 for information on obtaining bidding documents.

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CITY OF WELLSTONSTREET IMPROVEMENTS The City of Wellston will be accepting bids for the milling and asphalting of four streets. Bid packets may be obtained from 10am-2pm, beginning Monday, Sept. 21 through Friday, Oct. 2, 2015: Janice Trigg, City Clerk/Administrator Wellston City Hall 1414 Evergreen Ave., 63133 PLEASE NO TELEPHONE CALLS This activity is funded in whole with CDBG funds. The City of Wellston reserves the right to accept or decline any and all bids. www.stlamerican.com

INVITATION FOR BIDS The City of Dellwood is accepting bids on October 5, 2015 at or before 3:00 p.m., local time from interested parties to provide Energy Efficient Lighting Renovations, and HVAC improvements to the Dellwood Recreation Center. Bid packages will be available on September 14, 2015, and may be obtained from the office of Cochran located at 737 Rudder Road, Fenton Mo 73026, upon payment of a non-refundable fee of $50.00 per set. Electronic copies can be sent upon payment of a non-refundable fee of $25.00. For plans, please call 573-525-0299. Please call ahead to order printed sets. A non-mandatory pre bid meeting will be held on September 22, 2015, at 2:00 pm at the Recreation Center, 10266 W Florissant Ave, Dellwood, MO 63136.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS Sealed bids for Christopher Drive Infrastructure, St. Louis County Project No. CR-1444, will be received at the Office of the Director of Procurement for the County of St. Louis, County Government Center Administration Building, 41 South Central Avenue, 8th Floor, Clayton, Missouri 63105, until 2:00 p.m. on October 14, 2015. Plans and specifications will be available on September 21, 2015 from the St. Louis County Web Site (www.stlouisco.com), or by contacting County Blue Reprographics, Inc., 1449 Strassner Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63144, (314) 961-3800. DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT AND ADMINSTRATIVE SERVICES ST. LOUIS, COUNTY

LETTING #8592 IMPROVEMENTS TO TILLES PARK

NOTICE TO MINORITY / WOMAN (MBE/WBE) BUSINESS ENTERPRISES

Sealed proposals will be received by the Board of Public Service in Room 208 City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Mo. Until 1:45 PM, CT, on October 20, 2015, then publicly opened and read. Plans and Specifications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stl-bps.org/planroom.aspx (BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

Demolition, Concrete, Rebar Fabrication, Rebar Installation, Masonry, Structural Steel Fabrication/Erection, Carpentry, Millwork, Waterproofing, Metal Wall Panels, Roofing, Doors/Frames/Hardware Supply, Glazing, Flooring, Drywall, Painting, Specialties, Equipment, Furnishings, Elevator, Mechanical, Electrical, Excavation, Site Pavement, Utilities, Etc. All interested MBE/WBE business enterprises should contact, IN WRITING, (Certified letter, return receipt requested), David M. Williams, to discuss the subcontracting opportunities. All negotiations must be completed prior to the bid opening date of October 6, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. A true and correct copy of your current certification as a MBE/WBE business enterprise must accompany any written proposal or quotation that you furnish. Award of a subcontract will be based on consideration of the following criteria: (a) responsiveness of the proposal or quotation; (b) work history demonstrating capability to perform the work; (c) price; (d) responsibility of bidder in terms of integrity, reliability and capacity to perform such as would assure good faith, timely and safe performance and completion of the work and adherence to applicable state and federal laws and regulations.

FY 2016 AGENCY PLAN

CAPITAL FUND PROGRAM BUDGETS ADMINISTRATION AND CONTINUED OCCUPANCY POLICY UTILITY ALLOWANCE SCHEDULE FLAT RATES The Wellston Housing Authority (WHA) is submitting to HUD the Annual Submission of the FY 2016 Agency Plan. The Plan outlines the goals and objectives to accomplish its vision over the next five years. WHA has posted the “Draft” FY 2016 Agency Plan for public review on at the management office at 6203 Cote Brilliante Ave. Wellston, MO 63133

A pre-bid conference for all contractors bidding on this project will be held on Monday October 5, 2015 at 10:00 A.M. in Room 208 City Hall. Bidders shall comply with all applicable City, State and Federal laws (including MBE/WBE policies). All bidders must regard Federal Executive Order 11246, “Notice of Requirement for Affirmative Action to Ensure Equal Employment Opportunity”, the “Equal Opportunity Clause” and the “Standard Federal Equal Employment Specifications” set forth within and referenced at www.stl-bps.org (Announcements).

REQUEST FOR BIDS

KCI CONSTRUCTION

SAINT LOUIS ZOO KETTLE CORN BUILDING INSTALLATION

REQUESTS M/WBE SUBCONTRACTOR PROPOSALS for Osage Beach Project Office Building in Osage Beach, MO. Proposals are due by 1 p.m. September 24, 2015. You may view plans and specs by visiting our office in St. Louis or Lebanon or download at www.modot.org. Bids can be emailed to jwalters@kciconstruction.com or faxed to 417-588-9211. KCI is an equal opportunity employer 417-588-9200

The Saint Louis Zoo is seeking project bid requests for the Kettle Corn Building installation. Mandatory prebid meeting on October 14, 2015 The Living World Anheuser Busch Theatre 10 to 11 am. For more information see the Saint Louis Zoo website http://www.stlzoo.org/about/contact/ vendoropportunities

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ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received by the Construction Manager, S. M. Wilson & Co. at the St. Louis County Library – Oak Bend Branch Meeting Room (842 S. Homes Ave. St. Louis, MO 63122), at 2:00 PM on Tuesday October 6, 2015 for the Bid Package(s) described herein. Bids will be opened publicly and read aloud at that time. Bids MUST be hand delivered to the above address by 2:00 pm on October 6, 2015. No mail in Bids will be accepted. Courier bids will be accepted to the above stated bid location with Attention to Mr. Steve Hunter St. Louis County Library. St. Louis County Library Master Plan Phase 1B – 2015 Cliff Cave Branch Natural Bridge Branch Oak Bend Branch Prairie Commons Branch Samuel C. Sachs Branch

Work Package #1 – Demolition / Abatement Work Package #2 – Cast-In-place Concrete Work Package #3 – Masonry Work Package #4 – General Works Work Package #5 – Roofing & Sheet Metal Work Package #6 – Glass & Glazing Work Package #7 – Drywall, Framing, Insulation & EIFS Work Package #8 – Acoustical Ceilings Work Package #9 – Tile & Flooring Work Package #10 – Painting Work Package #11 – Fire Protection Work Package #12 – Plumbing Work Package #13 – HVAC Work Package #14 – Electrical There will be Outreach Meetings/Pre-bid Meetings held on the following dates and locations; Tuesday September 22, 2015 at 10:00 AM Prairie Commons 915 Utz Ln. Hazelwood, MO 63042-2739 Tuesday September 22, 2015 at 2:00 PM Samuel C Sachs 16400 Burkhardt Pl. Chesterfield, MO 63017-4660 Wednesday September 23, 2015 at 8:00 AM Natural Bridge 7606 Natural Bridge Road St. Louis, MO 63121-4905 Wednesday September 23, 2015 at 10:00 AM Cliff Cave 5430 Telegraph Road St. Louis, MO 63129-3556 Wednesday September 23, 2015 at 2:00 PM Oak Bend 842 S. Holmes Ave. St. Louis, MO 63122-6507 The pre-bid meetings will be held in the meeting room at each branch location. The purpose of these meetings is to address technical questions about the projects from the prospective bidders and to encourage collaboration between majority subcontractors and W/MBE subcontractors. This project will have W/MBE enterprise goals of 15% MBE participation and 5% WBE participation.

Bidding documents will be available as of September 15, 2015 and can viewed and/or downloaded from the following link. https://secure.smartbidnet.com/External/PublicPlanRoom.aspx?Id=196113&i=1 Bidding documents may also be viewed in the following locations.

LETTING #8591 2015 Roof Replacement for: Terminal 1, East Extension; ‘D’ Concourse Gates D6-D26 At Lambert-St. Louis International Airport Sealed proposals will be received by the Board of Public Service in Room 208 City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Mo. Until 1:45 PM, CT, on October 20, 2015 then publicly opened and read. Plans and Specifications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stl-bps.org/planroom.aspx (BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made. Bidders shall comply with all applicable City, State and Federal laws (including MBE/WBE policies). A Mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 30, 2015 at 1:30 PM in the Training Room at the Airport Office Building, 11495 Navaid Rd., Bridgeton, MO 63044. All bidders must regard Federal Executive Order 11246, “Notice of Requirement for Affirmative Action to Ensure Equal Employment Opportunity”, the “Equal Opportunity Clause” and the “Standard Federal Equal Employment Specifications” set forth within and referenced at www.stl-bps.org (Announcements).

Smartbid.Net For access to SmartBid.net contact Debra Sheahan at S. M. Wilson. debra.sheahan@smwilson.com

McGraw Hill Online Plan Room www.construction.com/projectcenter

St. Louis Minority Business Council 308 North 21st Street, Suite 700 St. Louis, MO 63103 314-241-1143

Cross Rhodes Reprographics 1712 Macklind Ave. St. Louis, MO 63110 314/678-0087 Reed Construction Data 30 Technology Parkway South Suite 100 Norcross, GA 30092 Hampton Printing Services 2185 Hampton Avenue P.O. Box 5210 St. Louis, MO 63139 314/633-9623

MOKAN 4144 Lindell, Suite 316 St. Louis, MO 63108 314/535-9200 Construction Managers Office 2185 Hampton Ave. St. Louis MO 63139 314/645-9595

The plans may also be ordered from Hampton Printing Services (2185 Hampton Avenue P.O. Box 5210 St. Louis, MO 63139). Contact Hampton Printing Services to order a set of documents. (314-633-9623 phone, keith.tegeler@smwilson.com e-mail, or 314-644-0390 fax.) Contractors must request plans at least 24 Hours in advance of pick up. St. Louis County Library is a TAX EXEMPT entity. All bids are to be submitted without tax.

INVITATION FOR BIDS

Sealed bids for Clayton Curb Ramps (2015 CDBG) Improvements will be received by the City of Clayton Finance Department, 10 N. Bemiston Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105-3397, until 2:00 P.M. CDT, on Monday, October 5, 2015. The bids will then be publicly opened and read aloud at 2:05 PM CDT in Conference Room A/B, 1st floor, 10 N. Bemiston Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105-3397. Also, The Capital Fund Program Five-year Action Plan (FY2016 – FY2020) Bid packages will be available beginning Friday, September 18, 2015 in the City of Clayton Finance Department, 10 N. Bemiston Avenue, Clayton, MO and Annual Statements (FY2016) are simultaneously being made available 63105 upon payment of a non-refundable fee of $15 per set, or for free by for public review and comment. registering and downloading at www.claytonmo.gov/vendors . The Scope of Work includes the removal and replacement of curb ramps, This Agency Plan is subject to public review and comment. Wellston sidewalks, and curb and gutter in order improve accessibility along Shaw Housing Authority is providing a 45 day comment period beginning Park Dr. Traffic control, restoration, and other incidental items shall be September 21, 2015 and ending November 4, 2015. Contact Ernestine included as shown in the specifications. Hernton, Acting Executive Director, at 314 385-4089 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday to schedule an appointment This will be a Community Development Block Grant Program pursuant to Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. The to view the Agency Plan, Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy, available funding is $22,500. If bids come in over budget, the scope will be Flat Rents and/or WHA Utility Allowance Schedule. reduced accordingly. If bids come in under budget, it is anticipated that additional work of the same nature will be completed on curb ramps along Wellston Housing Authority will hold the Public Hearing on Tuesday, Shaw Park Dr. at the same unit prices. November 4, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. to accept comments on its Agency Plan, Not less than the prevailing hourly rate of wages shall be paid to all workers ACOP, Utility Allowance Schedule and/or Capital Fund Program Annual performing under this Contract in this area according to the rates deterSubmissions. The Public Hearing will be held at the WHA Central Office, mined by the Federal Wage Determination and the State of Missouri Wage Conference room, 6203 Cote Brilliante Ave. Wellston, MO 63133. All Determination. parties that wish to speak at the Public Hearing must abide by the WHA’s A bid security in the amount of five percent (5%) of the bid amount must Speaker Policy. A copy of the policy is available at the WHA’s Central accompany each bid in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders. Office. The City of Clayton reserves the right to accept or reject any bid and to waive any irregularities in the best interest of the City. Written comments will be accepted until November 4, 2015. Upon Community Development Block Grant Disclaimer reasonable notice, WHA will make efforts to accommodate the needs of This activity is funded in whole or in part with Community Development individuals with disabilities Block Grant funds pursuant to Title I of the Housing and Community Need a quote? Development Act of 1974, as amended. All applicable federal regulations Send your ad text to vmedina@stlamerican.com shall be in full force and effect. Additionally the draft Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP), a component of the Agency Plan, and a revised Utility Allowance Schedule and Flat Rates that are simultaneously being made available for public review and comment.

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN

SEPTEMBER 24 - 30, 2015

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Williams Brothers Construction Inc., P.O Box 1366, Peoria, IL 61654, (309) 688-0416, is seeking minority and woman - owned business enterprises capable of performing work for the NEW COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION BUILDING – PHASE 1 #S7646, UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI – ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI in the following areas:

THE

St. Louis County Library reserves the right to reject any and all Bids, to waive informalities therein to determine the lowest and best bid, and to approve the Bond (if applicable). The prevailing wage law is in effect on this project. No Bid may be withdrawn for a period of sixty (60) days subsequent to the specified time for receipt of Bids. A Bid Bond or Certified Check made payable to the St. Louis County Library, in the amount of 5% of the Base Bid shall accompany the Bid Packages as a guarantee that the bidder, if awarded the Contract, will furnish a satisfactory Performance and Payment Bond; execute the Contract; and proceed with the work. Upon failure to do so, he shall forfeit the deposit or amount of the Bid Bond as liquidated damages, and no mistakes or errors on the part of the Bidder shall excuse the Bidder or entitle him to a return of the deposit or Bid Bond. If a Bid Bond or Certified Check is not attached to the bid at the time of the opening, the bid will not be read or considered for the project. The Statutes of the State of Missouri require that not less than the prevailing rate per diem, legal holiday and overtime wages in the locality where the work is to be performed, be paid to all laborers, workmen and mechanics employed in the execution of the Contract. All other Statutes of the State of Missouri covering employment shall apply to any Contract awarded. Bidders must be in compliance with the rules and regulations of the Fair Employment Practices Commission. The Construction Management Agency for this project is S. M. Wilson & Co. The Senior Estimator is Mrs. Debra Sheahan, email debra.sheahan@smwilson.com, phone 314-645-9595, or fax 314-645-1700, Pre-Construction Director is Mr. Brian Nuehring, e-mail brian.nuehring@smwilson.com, phone 314-645-9595, or fax 314-645-1700, and the Project Director is Mr. Kort Cole, email kort.cole@smwilson.com 314-645-9595, or fax 314-645-1700.

This is a Missouri Public Works Project. St. Louis County Library is an Equal Opportunity Employer. S. M. Wilson & Co. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

THE

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN

Real Estate & Rentals ST. LOUIS AMERICAN

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ONE UNIT LET

BIDS & PUBLIC NOTICES CONTINUED NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS Notice is hereby given that The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (District) will receive sealed bids for Lucas & Hunt and I-70 Sanitary Sewer under Letting No. 11928-015.1, at this office, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, until 02:00 PM on Tuesday, October 20, 2015, at a place designated. Bids will be received only from companies that are pre-qualified by the District’s Engineering Department for: DEEP SEWER CONSTRUCTION – St. Louis County drainlayer’s license required Plans and Specifications are available for free electronic download. Please go to MSD’s website and look for a link to “ELECTRONIC PLANROOM.” Plans and Specifications are also available for viewing or purchase at Cross Rhodes Reprographics located at 1710 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis MO 63110. All bidders must obtain a set of plans and specifications in order to submit a bid in the name of the entity submitting the bid The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS Notice is hereby given that The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (District) will receive sealed bids for CLAVERACH PARK I/I REDUCTION AND SEWER SEPARATION under Letting No. 11115-015.1, at this office, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, until 02:00 PM on Wednesday, October 21, 2015, at a place designated. Bids will be received only from companies that are pre-qualified by the District’s Engineering Department for: SEWER CONSTRUCTION – St. Louis County drainlayer’s license required

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS SLDC is requesting proposals from qualified consultants for installation of a comprehensive, externally hosted M/W/D/SBE, LBE, Monitoring Systemwhich shall include the management of the organization's contracts, compliance, certification, labor, and workforce components. Proposals are due 4:00pm on October 9, 2015 at SLDC's offices 1520 Market Street Suite 2000, St. Louis, MO 63103, attention Howard Hayes. The complete RFP package may be obtained online from SLDC's website www.stlouis-mo.gov/sldc or by contacting Howard Hayes at 314-657-3707 orhayesh@stlouis-mo.gov

www.stlamerican.com

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS Notice is hereby given that The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (District) will receive sealed bids for UPPER MALINE TRUNK SANITARY RELIEF PHASE IV SECTION A under Letting No. 10026-015.1, at this office, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, until 02:00 PM on Thursday, October 22, 2015, at a place designated. There will be a NON-MANDATORY Pre-Bid meeting for this project. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 13, 2015 at 1:30 pm at District headquarters @ 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, MO 63103 – in Room 109.

Plans and Specifications are available for free electronic download. Please go to MSD’s website and look for a link to “ELECTRONIC PLANROOM.” Plans and Specifications are also available for viewing or purchase at Cross Rhodes Reprographics located at 1710 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis MO 63110. All bidders must obtain a set of plans and specifications in order to submit a bid in the name of the entity submitting the bid.

Bids will be received only from companies that are pre-qualified by the District’s Engineering Department for: DEEP SEWER CONSTRUCTION – St. Louis County drainlayer’s license required Plans and Specifications are available for free electronic download. Please go to MSD’s website and look for a link to “ELECTRONIC PLANROOM.” Plans and Specifications are also available for viewing or purchase at Cross Rhodes Reprographics located at 1710 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis MO 63110. All bidders must obtain a set of plans and specifications in order to submit a bid in the name of the entity submitting the bid.

The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

2125-27 Obear 3 rms, (1 BDRM) $425/mo For details call

314-255-4733 CENTRALLY LOCATED 2 Fam Flat - North City

1BR $450/MO

1Br @ $405/mo 2Br @ $505/mo Extensive Renovations, Stove, Refrigerator, AC, gas & elec., App Fee $25; 1sm pet allowed, nearby schools, shops, businesses & parks; laundry facility, park-like setting; credit friendly, rent credit special Call

(314) 869-5033

Fall is Fun with us!! Move-In Special

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866-347-8650

SEPTEMBER 24 - 30, 2015 FOR RENT 44** Greer Ave

2 bedroom and 1 Bath Nice Spacious Rooms Washer and Dryer hookup First and Last month rent to move in $525 a month

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Call Roderick

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FOR RENT NORTH COUNTY

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COMPLIMENTARY HOME BUYING & INVESTMENT SEMINAR

Looking for a few great tenants to live in a God fearing environment. Sec. 8 welcome with open arms.

314-629-5051 South City!

Remodeled 1 bedroom, all appliances, central heat/air, basement storage, carpet & tile, pets, hookups! $385

Section 8 Welcomed

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NORTH CITY

HOUSES & APTS

for rent North City Clean, cable utils included, off bus line

$105/wk 314-575-6633 ROOM FOR RENT Halls Ferry Circle $450/mo + $50 Dep. Sec. Cameras & Each door has it's own lock. Weapon & Drug Free Property, Social Security/Income Req

Bargain 2 bedroom, cold a/c, hardwood floors, appliances included, fenced for pets, large deck! only $575

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SENIOR APARTMENTS North City 1 & 2 BR $415 - $575 Stable Income / No evictions

1 BR apt. stove & fridge, very clean & quiet Minutes from major grocery store plaza, Senior citizens Discount $450/mo + Dep

2-4 bdrms North City 2-3 bdrms South City Sect 8 OK

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314-772-4563

Carondelet Park!

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Page!

Sec 8 Welcome

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Budget 1 bedroom, appliances, newer carpet, ceiling fans, w/d hookups, part bills paid, close to shop & dine! $400

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North City

3, 4, 5 BR

New Unit $375/mo

Single family homes

5200 Block of Palm

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314-718-0642

ATTENTION!

PRIVATE BATH & KITCHEN FURNISHED KITCHENETTES FOR RENT

$149/wk & up!

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(Nothing Like Your Own) South City!

NEED A NEW CAREER?

Huge 4 bedroom, full basement, central air, redone hardwood floors, all appliances, ready to rent! only $725

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FIND ONE THAT’S PERFECT FOR YOU ON PAGE C7.

FOR RENT

Senior over age 55 & eligible handicapped individual1 bedroom apt. Income base. Electric included call

314-436-0733 ROOMS FOR RENT Good heating and cooling. Fully furnished & Cable

636-227-3647

314-243-3188 PAGE PROPERTIES Large Remodeled 1 BR in nice neighborhood $425/mo + $425 Dep.

618-781-7968

FOR RENT Nice Furnished Studio Apt. Full bath & kitch, appls, all utils incl. Single Occupancy Only Delmar & Union Area $550/mo

314-532-9891

September 24th, 2015

Starting at $100/wk FURNISHED ROOMS FOR RENT

Newly remodeled, fully furnished rooms in North City, central air & heat, utils, near public transportation $400-$500/mo

314-740-1878

314-885-5950

FOR RENT

Natural Bridge!

44xx Floriss Pl St. Louis MO 63115 North City by O’fallon Park, 3 - 4 br $675/ month, washer dryer hook up, stove and refreg Section 8 ready, 2 family Flat. Contact

314 780 9263 FOR RENT

FOR RENT

2 BR apt North City $550/MO + $550 Dep

51XX Cote Brilliante Newly redecorated 1 & 2 BR

314-651-6671

314-382-4826

South City! Large 2 bed house, full basement, ceiling fans, large yard, off street parking, recently remodeled! only $675

BACK ON THE MARKET Newly remodeled apt for rent, 5231 Lotus spacious 2BR, new hdwd fls through out, some utils incl., $625/mo+Dep Neg.,Sec 8 welcome

314-724-2054

APTS FOR RENT MARK TWAIN NORTHWEST CITY 1 & 2 BR Stove, Fridge, a/c, w/d hkup & more. $400-$440/mo

314-863-2399 Pattonville Schools!

AGXM8 314-309-2043

HOTEL Summer discounts avail.

314-421-2980 (Downtown)

Centrally Located & Connected to Metro and Buses, Short Term Weekly RentalsNo credit check $110.50 and up per week (utilities and Housekeeping svcs included) Other terms and conditions may apply. FOR RENT

MOVE-IN SPECIAL 2 Family Flat 817 McLaran Ave $550/mo 1st & last to move in 2 BR newly remodeled, carpet, tile, new heat and air.

3 BR apartment, Large rooms, washer & dryer hook-up. near busline. $550/mo $1000 Dep.

314-537-5978

618-781-7968

Furn. Rm in shared 2 BR 1.5 BA duplex & use of kitch. All utls. heat, a/c, cable, security. Near transportation, on-st pkg, credit & Bkgrd check. $550/mo+ $300 Dep Call 314-348-3728 314-942-7303

HOUSE FOR RENT

ROOM FOR RENT

2 BR in Northwood For information call

Fully Furnished Free Cable, Quiet, $115/wk City & County

314-727-0548

314-532-0928

MOVE IN SPECIAL!!! Under New Management!

Lewis & Clark Apartments Washer and dryers partially finished basements in select units! Terrific onsite management and maintenance team!

PAGE PROPERTIES

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Small 2 BR house in Berkeley $550/mo $550 Dep

South City!

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3 bedrooms, cold a/c, sunroom, basement storage, fenced yard, toasty fireplace, appliances included! $550

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Roomy 2-3 bedroom, 2 bath, family room, basement, vaulted ceilings, appliances, part utilities paid! only $695

ROOMS FOR RENT

SOUTH CITY Near bus line and Metrolink, All Utilities & Cable Included Clean & Quiet

314-484-3147 314-717-9966

Just listed! 2 bed Furnished 1 BR, 2 BR c/a, Dining house, garage, 5468 N. Kingshighway Room Living Room, fenced yard, plenty $450/mo + Dep Fenced Yard , of storage, off street Stove & Fridge parking! only $700 basement rs-stl.com READY NOW! $695/mo + Dep

1 & 2 bedrooms starting at $507/mo

for further details. 8869 Maya Lane, St. Louis MO 63136

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN

3 BRs Newly Rehabbed Section 8 Preferred

2BR $525/MO Parking in rear, near shopping & buses & schools, $10 Non-refundable app fee

REAL ESTATE & RENTALS

Rolling Hills Apts.

THE

Park Place Apts A Senior Community Now Accepting Apps! 62+ Sec 8 housing avail, income restr. apply 1-bdrm apts, A/C, on-site laundry Free gas/water/trash 4399 Forest Park Blvd St. Louis, MO 63108

314-925-9405 TTY 800-735-2966 Equal Housing Opportunity

Professionally Managed by NHPMN Management, LLC

2 MONTHS 1/2 OFF RENT Blue Fountain APARTMENTS has 1 and 2 BR apartment homes for rent and is Section 8 approved. Please call for an appointment today

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We are location on 819 Gustav Ave off of North Broadway in St. Louis City

Winter Garden Apts. 2BR Available TODAY for qualified applicant 62+ and/or disabled Sec. 8 housing avail, income restrictions apply. ADA. Pet friendly, gated, near Metro Link 5708 Kingsbury Place St. Louis, MO 63112

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(314) 869-3400 or visit 1282 Marquis Court, St. Louis, MO 63137 LOVE WHERE YOU LIVE!!!

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE: SAN REMO APARTMENTS Move-In Special!

2BR $575 848 N. Kingshighway St. Louis, MO 63108

314-454-9305 Mon-Fri 8:30am-5:00pm Saturdays 10:00am -2:00pm

Advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, imitation, or discrimination because of race,color, religion, sex, handicap, familial\status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination “We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.”

Call Vida at 314-289-5406 to place your rental/real estate ad today!

EADS SQUARE APARTMENTS 62 YEARS & OLDER 2700 Henrietta

1 Bedrooms

*Coded entry system *Free Gated Parking *Small pets allowed *Includes appliances & utilities.

Please call 314.773.6674 Rent based upon 30% of adjusted income.

SERVICE DIRECTORY 314-289-5406 MEDICARE & MEDICAID ACCEPTED Dental

Hearing Aids 314-334-0211

As low as $150/Pair

$1000/year Dentures, Partials, Crowns, Root Canals & Other Dental Services

Co-pay

Glasses

Summer Clean-up Man & H0is Truck Light Hauling & Yard Work, Moving & Gutter

As low as $15/Pair Co-pay

Call 1-800-733-1912 to see if you qualify.

Cleaning REASONABLE 314-583-6971

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER 24 - 30, 2015

C10

Celebrity Swag Snap of the Week Ginuwine’s show on the Lumiere Live stage Saturday night was a reunion of sorts as his original dancers John Gilliam III and Ro Ro cut a rug during his second show and caught up backstage.

Tearica, Tamika, and Portia let their hair down @ The Marquee Saturday night

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

Nish, Kevin, Nise, and Wizdom the Choreographer showed their moves on the dance floor Saturday night @ HG

STL’s own Model Shanell partied for her birthday with the beautiful celebrity stylist DeCordon Friday night @ HG

Salute Eve. September 25 can’t come quick enough. I get all warm and tingly as I watch the who’s who of black St. Louis and beyond up in America’s Center for the annual Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship and Awards Gala, dressed to the nines as we celebrate instructors, administrators, institutions and students for handling their business in the field of education. I would kill for a rewind button so I could get about 12 more hours on the elliptical machine so that I could have a better fit on this gown. I prayed for it to zip. Perhaps I should have been a bit more specific. As of Wednesday this thing is so tight that one of our newspaper distribution professionals is going to have to wheel me in on a dolly and just prop me up against the wall. That’s right, I’ll be looking good, but there will be no sitting, bending over, dancing (even though DJ Kut is going to make it hard to resist) … or extended periods of breathing involved. Anyway, we are looking at another sold-out event and I can’t wait to serve up the recap. There may be a few little seats somewhere, but I would be a fool to promise such. But call 314-533-8000 or visit www.stlamerican.com to see if you can’t get lucky. For those who will be in the building, be sure to use the #SaluteSTL28 hashtag when you take your selfies and do your mini formalwear photo shoots for Facebook and Instagram. The Mood Suite. My weekend kicked off at Mood for the Urban Hang Suite Friday night. I must say that for the last few weeks Mood has been putting up numbers like a rising NBA star, and Friday was no different. It was a cute crowd and the vibe was just right too. I kept it pretty slow mo for a Friday night mainly because the streets weren’t really serving much up, but it was a good look at Mood that pretty much showed that even when there’s not a whole lot going on you can still have someplace to go to post up and look cute.

Dj Cuddy, Dj Kimmy nu, host KMJ, and Dj Climate kept the party live all night Friday @ OBar for Sky Lounge

Rapper\host Dre’co, Noelle, Jordan, Kia, and Bryssa the RB singer dressed to impress for Friday night @ The OBar

Paige helped her cousin Elexis get into Element Saturdays as she celebrated her birthday @ The Marquee Photos by Lawrence Bryant & John Scott

Boyz to crooning grown men. Saturday night I was up to my eyeballs in ‘90s R&B. So you know this around the way girl was in urban music heaven. First on deck for the double header was Boyz II Men – courtesy of Ozzie Smith’s PGA Reach Benefit Gala at Peabody Opera House. Even before the main attraction, folks got into the groove thanks to Nikko Smith. And I’m telling you that the folks were pretending to be amused because his daddy was behind the whole thing. That crowd got their life … especially when he put his own special sauce on the Michael Jackson classic “Dirty Diana.” After Gary Mule Deer catered to the general population, it was back to the soul with the main attraction. Wanya, Nathan and Shawn stepped on stage in some PlayStation 4 home tournament attire, but the first thing I noticed was what great shape they were all in. They started singing and I was like, “Wait a minute, one of them is all the way off.” Halfway through their opening number, I realized that there was a baby Toby Keith behind me singing full scale to his lovely lady friend in a flowered sundress and cowboy boots. He said, “I’m down on bended knee” and was at the top of those lungs. Anyway, once I realized that their vocals were in order and could focus on the stage, I realized why the men still looked like Boyz. They bounced around that stage with nonstop high kicks, twists and turns … choreee-o-gra-phy for the folks with Wanya doing the absolute most as usual. And I really felt my age when I learned they were the latest of the folks I grew up on to perch in Vegas. It was good to know that they still looked to par and had the stamina to reproduce their act for us. The only thing I would have changed is to beg Nikko’s band to accompany them so they wouldn’t have to get it in to those tracks. But other than that, all I can say is: Thanks, Ozzie! Dirty dancing and dusty vocals. The water didn’t have a chance to run dry (get it) on Boyz II Men before I booked it down the street to Lumiere to see Ginuwine. Most of Ginuwine’s singing was performed in the key of struggle, but nobody really seemed to mind. The fans were on their feet for the whole little hour as he encouraged them to sing along with him, but mostly his background singers. And how did I not notice before Saturday that Ginuwine is the spitting image of a Puerto Rican Mike Epps? Oh well, on with the show. I can’t think of a time when I enjoyed myself more when a singer was vocally giving so little, but it is what it is. I think the real life for me happened when Ginuwine decided that he would bide time to keep from singing and dedicate a portion of his show to a new school versus old school. He had a handful of local dancers performing with him and he called up some his STL native dancing friends from back in the day who he said helped him out when he was just starting in the R&B game. The old school crew wrung the dishrag out on those little thunder cats – especially the dude with the beard. Self-proclaimed Ginuwine body-double Darnell a.k.a. “Lil G” was in the mix and I don’t think anybody was expecting the show within a show he unleashed on the girls. I could tell that he’s been in the gym from the day Lumiere announced that that they would be hosting Ginuwine. Yes, the first announcement back in May. He definitely made the most of the moment pulling out all the moves typically reserved for private dancers. Nobody appeared to be mad at him for it though. New Jack Soul. The ladies of Café Soul are giving the New Jack Swing era of R&B some love this weekend with their September installment at the Marquee tomorrow night (Friday, Sept. 25). I really hope they have one of those auto tune straws so that somebody can pay homage to Teddy Riley. Either way, it’s going to be plenty of get down involved. Just thinking about all the jams has me quietly reenacting BBD’s “Poison” video from the comfort of my home office. Doors open at 8 p.m.

Kayla, Devon, and Bria showed off their beauty and skills on the dance floor Saturday night @ The Marquee

Arius_Sirius and Hurrikane made their way to The Marquee Saturday night

Leonard and Alexis enjoyed a date night with Ginuwine Saturday night @ Lumiere Theater

India and Jasmine in all black Saturday night @ HG

www.stlamerican.com

Page 2

Breast Cancer Awareness

September 24 - 30, 2015

Closing the gap in breast cancer disparities A report on the Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force By Dr. Judith Salerno Of Susan G. Komen for the Cure African American women in the U.S. are 41 percent more likely to die of breast cancer than white women, even though they are less likely to be diagnosed with the disease. They also have the highest rates of the most aggressive and most difficult to treat breast cancer subtypes— such as triple negative breast cancer. African American women are more likely to be diagnosed at younger ages than white women and are often diagnosed with late-stage diseases when treatment options are limited and costly, and the prognosis is poor. Dr. Judith These inequities are Salerno often attributed to a variety of biological, socioeconomic, and cultural factors, but no single factor or combination adequately explains them. One thing is clear: Breast cancer mortality rates in the African American community constitute a health crisis that cannot be ignored. We must get beyond the mantras of “bad genes,” “bad luck,” and “bad lifestyle,” to change these appalling statistics and prevent untimely deaths by ensuring equal access to high-quality care and life-saving treatment. Since 1982, the Susan G. Komen breast cancer organization has invested more than $37 million in over 1,800 community health programs, specifically addressing breast cancer disparities through root cause solutions encompassing community collab oration, health systems improvement, and patient navigation. Komen has also provided about $90 million in groundbreaking medical research grants to aid our understanding of the biological, environmental and social factors that contribute to disparities. One of the most promising community approaches supported by Komen is the

Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force (the “Task Force”). Physicians, community leaders, and public health advocates across Chicago convened to form the Task Force in 2007. Komen provided $2.6 million to support the work of the Task Force, which is a collaboration of the Sinai Urban Health Institute, Avon Foundation for Women, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, National Institutes for Health, Illinois Department of Public Health, Telligen

strategy and lights the path toward closing the gap in breast cancer disparities in communities across the U.S.—a fight that Komen believes is winnable. The following is a summary of the 2014 Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force Report: “How Far Have We Come? Improving Access to and Quality of Breast Health Services in Chicago.” Citations have been omitted. The full version of the

The facts suggested that the health system in Chicago, rather than biology, was at play.

and a host of other public and private entities. Upon its creation, the Task Force set out to reduce breast cancer mortality rates, which were an alarming 62 percent higher for women in Chicago’s most economically disadvantaged neigh borhoods versus more affluent areas of the region. In five years, the work of the Task Force has reported stunning progress: a 35 percent reduction in the death rate gap between African-American women and white women in the region. The Task Force Model informs the

Report can be found here: http://www. chicagobreastcancer.org56. Across the United States, healthcare disparities affecting African-American women in certain locations, such as Chicago, have resulted in significantly worse outcomes for many different major diseases, including breast cancer. As a result, African-American women in Chicago are far more likely to die of breast cancer compared to white women, at rates above the national average and averages of other cities. These realities most recently came to light in 2006

when researchers published a disturbing study documenting a large and growing inequality in survival from breast cancer in Chicago. In the 1980s, black women and white women died of breast cancer at relatively comparable rates. By 2006, improvements in screening and treatments caused breast cancer death rates to fall by half for white women. Those improvements, however, did not seem to reach African-American women, who were dying of breast cancer at a 62 percent higher rate than white women in the region. Additionally, death rates for African-American women in Chicago remained higher in comparison to other cities such as New York, Baltimore, and San Francisco. These facts suggested that the health system in Chicago, rather than biology, was at play.

Call to action Community concern surrounding the published disparities data led to a Call to Action that mobilized the Chicago metropolitan area to demand change and resulted in the creation of the Task Force. The Task Force published an initial report in October 2007 that highlighted three possible issues causing the increased breast cancer death rate for black women in Chicago: less access to mammography, lower quality of

September 24 - 30, 2015

Breast Cancer Awareness

mammography services, and less access to and lower quality of treatment. The Task Force created a specialized healthcare collaborative program called the Chicago Breast Cancer Quality Consortium. The Consortium collects mammography screening and treatment data from area institutions to determine if they are meeting national standards of care for finding and treating breast cancer. Through the Consortium, the Task Force demonstrated that quality of care varies in Chicago, especially for mammography services. This variation and fragmentation of care, particularly on Chicago’s South Side, is likely to affect the stage of diagnosis, the adequacy of treatment, and survival. The Consortium has also shown that Chicago has systemic barriers that inhibit access, including: lack of financial resources, including insurance; public health programs that provide free services but are unreliable because of chronic underfunding, suboptimal equipment, and inadequate staff training and expertise; variation in the quality of care with potentially more lower-quality care provided to poor, uninsured, and publicly insured women; and inequitable distribution of high quality breast care resources and low participation in screening by public providers. It has also been found that the breast imaging centers of excellence are generally absent from areas where the breast cancer mortality is highest and are absent from where women of color live. Many other quality resources are inequitably distributed. The Task Force addresses these challenges by collaborating with health care partners to improve the quality of care and by providing free trainings to health care professionals, especially in safety net venues where resources to pay for trainings are scarce.

35% Decrease in Racial Breast Cancer Disparity

Community outreach The Task Force’s community organizing and public policy pro grams are working to address breast cancer mortality disparities in Chicago. Importantly, the Task Force engages grassroots organizations that serve African American and Latina women, helping to increase success while empowering the community. Through Screen to Live, a free community-based outreach, education, navigation, and quality improvement program, over 1,000 women in Englewood and West Englewood receive services. This area has one of the highest breast cancer mortality rates in Chicago with less than 25 percent of women aged 40 and over receiving regular screenings.58 In 2012, the Task Force launched Beyond October to address the chronic shortfall in mammography services for both uninsured and underserved women,

offering free mammograms to women across Metropolitan Chicago. Through Beyond October, the Task Force worked with health institutions to donate free mammograms, with a goal of providing 1,000 free mammograms by 2013. Both highly resourced hospitals and safety net hospitals generously donated mammography services to Beyond October.

as the Sinai Urban Health Institute’s Beating Breast Cancer program at the University of Illinois, have partnered to improve women’s access to high quality breast care and to navigate women to care. The Task Force has become a leader in comprehensive assessment of the breast health system, measuring quality for breast cancer screening and treatment.

African American women in the U.S. are 41 percent more likely to die of breast cancer than white women, though they are less likely to be diagnosed with the disease.

The Task Force then worked with community organizations to organize outreach events and initiatives in the community. In addition to education and mammogram services, the Task Force also provided navigation services to free diagnostic and treatment services, and collaborated with organizations, such as the Sinai Urban Health Institute to reach, educate, and navigate women to breast care.

Where do we go from here? This report documents the first sign of a decrease in the mortality disparity in Chicago since 2005 after a persistent increasing trend over 20 years. Since 2007, the Task Force and others, such

Our goal is to eliminate this disparity completely. We are proud of the work Chicago has done to close this gap and are committed to forging ahead by: Increasing access to quality breast health care for all women. We will navigate more than 2,000 women in partnership with 18 institutions, which is a 25 percent increase from 2013. Through the Extra Help, Extra Care, Beyond October, and Beyond Enrollment programs, women in need of diagnostics and treatment will receive more cohesive and comprehensive navigation. Improving the quality of mammography services for all women. Through our Mammography Quality Initiative, we expect a 5-to-10 percent participation increase in mam mography facilities and radiologists

Page 3

providing feedback on the quality of mammograms. This would be the first effort nationwide to build such an informative mammography surveillance system, with an estimated 650,000 mammograms expected statewide. Armed with this data, we will continue to engage stakeholders in custom process improvement initiatives to collectively increase the quality of mammography at the provider, technician, and facility level. This information-intervention approach represents one more step towards eliminating the disparity. Improving access to high quality treatment and understanding of breast cancer treatment disparities. We will build upon our treatment quality data project to comprehensively measure the full complement of breast cancer treatment and variation in breast cancer types in Chicago. Advocating to enact policy changes to strengthen our healthcare system and prevent cuts to the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer program. Partnering to expand the Chicago Model as a replicable and scalable model to address breast cancer disparities across the country. It is our hope that this report inspires action. Together we can work to ensure that every woman has an equal chance at survival from breast cancer. Judith Salerno, MD, MS, is president and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Reprinted from the Kelly Report on Health Disparities in America. (http:// robinkelly.house.gov/sites/robinkelly. house.gov/files/2015%20Kelly%20 Report.pdf).

Page 4

Breast Cancer Awareness

September 24 - 30, 2015

Breast Cancer Awareness

Do I need A Pap?

The Pap test (or Pap smear) looks for cancers and precancers in the cervix (the lower part of the uterus that opens into the vagina). Precancers are cell changes that might become cancer if they are not treated the right way. Most health insurance plans must cover Pap tests or cervical cancer screening at no cost to you. Why do I need a Pap test? A Pap test can save your life. It can find early signs of cervical cancer. If caught early, the chance of successful treatment of cervical cancer is very high. Pap tests can also find abnormal cervical cells before they turn into cancer cells. Treating these abnormal cells can help prevent most cases of cervical cancer from developing. Getting a Pap test is one of the best things you can do to prevent cervical cancer. Do all women need Pap tests? Most women ages 21 to 65 should get Pap tests as part of routine health care. Even if you are not currently sexually active, you should still have a Pap test. Women who have gone through menopause (when a woman’s periods stop) and are younger than 65 still need regular Pap tests. I had a hysterectomy. Do I still need Pap tests? It depends on the type of hysterectomy (surgery to remove the uterus) you had and your health history. Women who have had a hysterectomy should talk with their doctor about whether they need routine Pap tests. How is a Pap test done? Your doctor can do a Pap test during a pelvic exam. It is a simple and quick test. You will lie down on an exam table. Your doctor will put an instrument called a speculum into your vagina and will open it to see your cervix. He or she

will then use a special stick or brush to take a few cells from the surface of and inside the cervix. The cells are placed on a glass slide and sent to a lab for testing. A Pap test may be mildly uncomfortable but should not be painful. You may have some spotting afterwards. How can I get a free or low-cost Pap test? Pap tests are covered under the Affordable Care Act, the health care law passed in 2010. Most insurance plans now cover Pap tests at no cost to you. • If you have insurance, check with your insurance provider to find out what’s included in your plan. • If you don’t have insurance, find a program near you that offers free or lowcost Pap tests. • If you have Medicare, find out how often Medicare covers Pap tests and pelvic exams. • If you have Medicaid, the benefits covered are different in each state, but certain benefits must be covered by every Medicaid program.Check with your state’s program to find out what’s covered. For information about other services covered by the Affordable Care Act, visitHealthCare.gov. For more information on Pap tests, call the OWH Helpline at 800-994-9662 or contact the following organizations: - National Cancer Institute Phone number: 800-422-6237 - American Cancer Society Phone number: 800-227-2345 - National Cervical Cancer Coalition Phone number: 800-685-5531 - Planned Parenthood Federation of America Phone number: 800-230-7526 - National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, CDC, HHS Phone number: 800-232-4636

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Breast Cancer Awareness

September 24 - 30, 2015

Study: Yoga benefits breast cancer survivors

Researchers find it reduces fatigue and inflammation By Meghna Chakrabarti Of National Public Radio

New research published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology shows that yoga may be particularly beneficial at helping breast cancer survivors mitigate fatigue and inflammation. According to the study, which surveyed about 200 women, after three months of doing yoga classes, women were experiencing 40 percent less fatigue than those who did not practice yoga. Additionally, the women’s levels of inflammation were reduced 10 to 15 percent. NPR’s Food and Health Correspondent Allison Aubrey joins Meghna Chakrabarti to discuss the findings. Meghna Chakrabarti: If you’re a yogi, you may not need any convincing about the benefits of a regular yoga practice. But a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology helps add to the evidence that yoga may be particularly beneficial at helping breast cancer survivors overcome debilitating fatigue. NPR’s Allison Aubrey joins us to talk about the research. So first of all, tell us about the study. Who was included? And why were the researchers interested in looking at the effects of yoga on fatigue? Allison Aubrey: Well, the study included about 200 women. All of them were breast cancer survivors who had completed the surgery and other treatments for the disease. They range in age from early 20s, all the way up to women in their mid-70s. And these women had one thing in common. They were feeling tired. This can be a big problem among breast cancer survivors. About a third complained about fatigue getting in the way of just normal, daily activities. So the researchers have the idea, you know, hey, what’s a way to get women an option for physical activity that doesn’t seem overly daunting? This yoga class was a very gentle, 90-minute class. It met two times a week. And it was geared towards newbies, so women who had never tried yoga at all. Meghna Chakrabarti: And what exactly did the researchers measure in terms of the effects of the yoga practice? Allison Aubrey: The women completed surveys at the beginning and the end of the study. The surveys asked all kinds of questions about fatigue, energy level, sleep. And the researchers

A new study finds yoga may help breast cancer survivors with fatigue and inflammation. also took blood samples from the women so that they could measure levels of different markers in the blood that signal information. What they found is that after three months of doing yoga, the women were experiencing about 40 percent less fatigue compared to another group of women in the study who did not do yoga. So this meant it was easier to get up and complete daily activities. They spoke to one woman who participated in the study. Her name is Sue Cavanaugh. And she told me that the class made her feel a lot less stressed. As part of her treatment, she had six lymph nodes removed and lost a lot of mobility in her right arm. And she told me that the yoga practice really helped her regained some of this movement. She’s an artist and it requires a lot of movement of her hands and her upper body, so this is really helpful.

Meghna Chakrabarti: A moment ago, you mentioned that researchers took blood samples in the study to test levels of information in the body. First of all, why look at information? And what did they find? Allison Aubrey: What they found is that, at the end of the three-month yoga class, women’s levels of inflammation were reduced about 10 to 15 percent. Then by six months, the researchers documented a slightly higher reduction, up to about 20 percent. Now, it’s not clear that this level of reduction is significant in terms of any particular health benefit. But since inflammation is a risk factor for all sorts of diseases of aging, including heart disease, which a lot of breast cancer survivors go on to develop, any reduction in inflammation certainly can’t be a bad thing and is likely beneficial.

Meghna Chakrabarti: Hmm. Now, is it that yoga itself as a practice is the thing that was causing all these positive benefits, or can any type of movement or exercise have the same benefit? Allison Aubrey: Sure. Well, clearly, exercise is one of the best ways to fight fatigue. And however you can get it in, it tends to be beneficial. Researchers at Duke have found that if physical activity is prescribed and the survivors are leaned on to follow up on this, exercise has a very big payoff. So in a way, you know, no, yoga is certainly not the only way to get those relief. But in this instance, it was a very realistic way for these women to begin moving again. Meghna Chakrabarti: Oh, I’m inspired now to go do more sun salutation. Reprinted with permission from news. stlpublicradio.org.

September 24 - 30, 2015

Breast Cancer Awareness

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Choose mammograms over metastatic breast cancer By Dr. Denise Hooks-Anderson Of The St. Louis American Over the years, the face of breast cancer has appeared in various forms throughout this medical odyssey, of which I have been allowed to experience firsthand. My earliest exposure occurred in medical school at the University of Iowa on my surgery rotation. A woman in her 60s, probably a farmer’s wife, although memory fades me at this point, presented to the surgeon with one of the most horrific looking cancers I had ever seen. Her left breast did not even resemble a breast anymore. It was hard for me to differentiate the breast from her chest wall because the cancer had eaten way so much of her tissue. What was glaring before my eyes was just a large clump of macerated exposed flesh. By Dr. Denise Forgive me for my Hooksgruesome description, Anderson but that is the harsh reality of a parasitic condition that is allowed to progress to such a degree. Having seen that at an early stage of my career, helped shaped my fervent passion for educating women on the importance of early detection and prevention. Cancer that begins in the tissue of the breast is breast cancer. The most common type, ductal carcinoma, begins in the lining of the tubes that carry milk from the lobules to the nipple. Lobular carcinoma originates in the milk glands. Breast cancer can occur in both male and females, but is rarely found in men. For women in the United States, breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer. In 2011, over 220,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer and over 40,000 of those women died. The consensus from most health organizations except the USPSTF, the United States Preventive Service Task Force, is to begin yearly mammograms in women starting at age 40. The USPSTF recommends breast cancer screening starting at age 50. Mammograms are x-rays of the breast tissue and can detect very tiny abnormalities. Contrary to common belief, mammograms are well-tolerated as compared to other types of exams and involve some minor compression of the breast. The technician performing the

Alcohol increases risk of breast cancer for young women x-ray tries to compress the breast tissue enough so that masses are easily visible. Prior to my first mammogram, female patients in my practice had convinced me that the pain from a mammogram was like having your breast slammed in

For women in the United States, breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer.

between steel beams. However, I found that description to be far from the truth. The entire procedure takes less than 10 minutes and compared to the pain of metastatic breast cancer, I would choose the mammogram any day. Though mammography has been the standard of care for some time, many women continue to delay their routine screenings. In 2010, only a third of women over the age of 40 had a mammogram in the last two years. The rates of mammography were even poorer if the woman lacked health insurance, with only 32 percent of uninsured women receiving a mammogram in that same year. Several barriers to screening

mammograms exist, such as low income, lack of access to care, lack of a primary care physician, lack of a provider-driven recommendation, lack of awareness regarding breast cancer risks and screening techniques, and cultural/ language differences. These barriers may help explain why disparities in breast cancer exist for African American women. The incidence of breast cancer is lower in African-American women but the death rate is higher. Research has also shown that African-American women are more likely to present with more advanced breast cancer and are often delayed in receiving the type of care that is needed once the cancer is diagnosed. But what about prevention? Is it possible to prevent breast cancer? Maintaining a healthy weight, regular exercise, eating a diet full of fruits and vegetables and not smoking are all ways to improve the likelihood of not having breast cancer. And it is not too late to start these life-saving habits. In addition, be proactive. Don’t delay yearly mammograms. Throughout the year, several of the local hospitals provide mammography vans across the city. There are even programs that will assist you financially and emotionally if you are diagnosed with breast cancer. Denise Hooks-Anderson, M.D., is the St. Louis American’s medical accuracy editor.

By Véronique LaCapra Of St. Louis Public Radio A new study out of Washington University suggests that young women who drink regularly are at increased risk for developing breast cancer. The study focused on women between the age of first menstruation and first pregnancy. The researchers reviewed data on the breast cancer incidence and drinking habits of just over 91,000 mothers who were enrolled in the Nurses’ Health Study II from 1989 to 2009. “More and more heavy drinking is occurring on college campuses and during adolescence, and not enough people are considering future risk,” said study co-author Graham Colditz. “But, according to our research, the lesson is clear: if a female averages a drink per day between her first period and her first fullterm pregnancy, she increases her risk of breast cancer by 11 percent.” This value for increased breast cancer risk accounts for differences in alcohol intake after first pregnancy, as well as other breast cancer risk factors. According to the researchers, this is the first study to link drinking and breast cancer in this age group. Their findings are published online in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Reprinted with permission from news. stlpublicradio.org. Follow Véronique LaCapra on Twitter: @KWMUScience.

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Breast Cancer Awareness

September 24 - 30, 2015