What's New?
National Night Out
Looking for something to do on August
5th? How about hosting a Block Party?
Not in to hosting, how about attending a
Community B-B-Q? The Epiphany
United Church of Christ is holding an "All you Can Eat"
Community B-B-Q on August 5th from 5 pm until 8 pm. They will
be serving up some hamburgers, brats, hot dogs, veggie burgers, all
the sides and lots of deserts! All this for only a $5 donation
(or more if you can) per person or a donation of canned food to
their food pantry!
Benton Park
Annual Picnic
Friends, who came and those on vacation
or who had other plans
I write the BPNA newsletter column on "walking the dog" and Minnie
was waiting when we returned last evening to hear about the picnic.
We declined to tell her that several well-behaved dogs had attended
and socialized. (We did return to the scene at 6:00 a.m. to smell
around the tables - small consolation!)
To the 90 folks who enjoyed the socialization with friends and with
those they met for the first time - I believe everyone felt welcomed
and positively heard. As an older adult I appreciated the wonderful
parents and they grace and love in parenting theirs and other young
children. Just having the kids was enough to make the picnic a
success; one and all they were a joy.
To the LaRouches who labored with love to decorate the tent - Thanks
- behind the scenes hard work always happens but seldom is
recognized
John - walker of Minnie and VP of the
Association
Is there an Actor in you?
We finally have a plan for a play
reading group and if you remain interested this is the plan we
the newly created Pasttime Players have decided on. The purpose
is to have fun; as in enjoying the experience.
Meet once a month: Sunday at 5:00
at a members home
Host has the "main dish" and
others bring salad, wine, bread, desert
Director of month (non host)
selects the play(s) for the month and a week prior has the
script in the hands of attendees.
After plays read the continuing
discussion will included the possibilities of plays for the next
Director to consider.
First date is July 13th at the
Doggette's home; The LaRouche's will be the initial directors
and will identify the plays within a few days.
ACTION: If you are committed
please join us. If not ready yet please be straight so we can
include others. We intend to not have more than ten.
John and Karen Doggette
802-8938
Benton Park in the News
Veruca Bakeshop &
Cafe
St. Louis Post-Dispatch - MO, United States
Veruca, next to Niche on the leafiest and most sun-dappled of
Benton Park streets, is Rice's daytime venture, where he doles
out highbrow riffs on lowbrow ...
Stepping Out
Student Life - St-Louis,MO,USA
Sidney Street Café is located in the Benton Park neighborhood
near the Anheuser-Busch Brewery. Though we had detailed
directions, we still got lost trying ...
Last Night: Grand
Opening at The Stable
Riverfront Times - St-Louis,MO,USA
Last night it seemed as if half of St. Louis arrived for the
grand opening of Benton Park’s latest gem -- The Stable. Set in
a recently renovated area once ...
First Look:
Stable Restaurant and Micro-Brewery, Cherokee Street ...
Riverfront Times - St-Louis,MO,USA
The restaurant, micro-brewery and micro-distillery is housed in
a mammoth brick building at the corner of Cherokee and Lemp
streets in the Benton Park ...
The Stable
opening doors to new brewing
St. Louis Post-Dispatch - MO, United States
By Kevin C. Johnson The old Lemp Brewery is home, once again, to
beer making now that the Stable is opening at 1821 Cherokee
Street in the Benton Park ...
Cherokee Street Liquor Ordinance Under Review
Riverfront Times - St-Louis,MO,USA
The draft ordinance was slated for further discussion Thursday
night during a meeting of the Benton Park West Neighborhood
Association.
Blues in Benton Park
Wow!
The concert this past Saturday was amazing. I have never seen the
park utilized by so many people at one time. Some have suggested up
to 300 people in attendance. We were blessed with great weather and
a band that had so much groove, the kids were dancing.
Thanks to everyone who helped with Blues in Benton Park. It proved
to be a successful collaboration between the Benton Park and Benton
Park West neighborhoods. So many spectators were heard requesting
more events in the future. I heard nothing but positive comments
about the concert, and some very good suggestions for improvements
as well.
Although many people from Benton Park were in attendance, I was
thrilled to meet people from other neighborhoods as well. I met one
woman who came from O'Fallon, IL and was ecstatic about the location
and music. She received the news via an email from a friend who
received it from a friend. She thought, upon getting the email:
"Where is Benton Park?" She eagerly awaits the next concert. This
event really showcased our park.
Now that the newness of the concert has slightly worn off, I hope
that you and your neighbors continue to support the Park in any way
you can.
I hope the concert is just the start of new things for Benton Park.
By working together we can help our Park reach it's full potential.
As you can see, it is possible...and fun.
McLozzi's Summer BBQs
Join McLozzi Deli & Marketplace on Sundays from 12:00-4:00pm during
July & August for some international BBQ, drink specials and
entertainment!
July 6th & August 3rd: Hawaiian BBQ
Huli Huli Cornish Hens,
Island Salad & Fried Rice
Drink Special: Mai Tai
July 13th & August 10th: Caribbean BBQ
Jerk Chicken, Grilled
Plantains & Mango Slaw
Drink Special: Rum Runner
July 20th & August 17th: St. Louis BBQ
Ribeye Steak, Tossed
Salad & Corn on the Cob
PBR Beer Specials
July 27th & August 24th: Argentina BBQ
Grilled Steak w/Chimichurri,
Roasted Bell Peppers & Rice
Drink Special: Argentina
Red Wine
McLozzi Deli & Marketplace
2870 McNair Ave.
314-773-2621
(Corner of Pestalozzi & McNair Ave. in Benton Park)
Benton Park Building Plaque
Buy your new Benton Park building plaque
before supplies run out Since the Benton Park Neighborhood
Association Marketing Committee began selling new building plaques
in March, more than one-third of the plaques have been sold.
Only 14 architectural bronze (gold tone)
and 10 cast aluminum (silver tone) plaques remain. Both feature
classic BPNA artwork and raised lettering on a black field. The
plaques measure 5.75" wide, 11.5" tall and 0.125" thick.
The plaques will be available for
purchase on July 1 at the BPNA’s annual picnic in Benton Park. They
are $155 each. Cash and checks will be accepted.
If you're interested in buying a plaque
or would like more information, call Tom Hockett at (314) 516-5827
or e-mail hockett@umsl.edu.
Thank you.
--BPNA Marketing Committee
From the desk Jeanette Mott Oxford
your Democratic State Representative for the 59th District
Friends, Constituents, and Allies,
Legislative Session 2008 ended at 6
p.m. on Friday, May 16, with the final 24 hours containing a
flurry of activities. A log-jam had formed because of the
Speaker blocking legislation in order to prevent repeal of "the
village law" that was slipped into legislation in 2007. (The
village law would have allowed developers to avoid local zoning
or environmental ordinances by declaring their developments "a
village.") When back-room deal-making finally led to a
resolution that allowed the repeal vote to happen, the GOP-led
majority pushed through more than 70 bills in the final day of
Session, usually by "calling the previous question" to cut off
debate.
Combined with another long evening
of slam-bam/no debate on the House consent calendar bills,
perhaps two-thirds of all bills passed by the House happened in
two single days of a five month long Session. This was not good
government in action, and I hope not to see a repeat of this
practice in coming years. Even writers connected to the
Republican party were critical of Jetton's actions. See one
commentary at:
Summary of Some Key
Legislation from 2008
139 of the 1336 House Bills and 577
Senate Bills that were filed were "truly agreed and finally
passed" and will be sent to Gov. Blunt for signature to become
law. Few of this year's bills were of major importance, but here
are a few that you may find of interest:
Missouri’s 2009
Budget: The Missouri
General Assembly approved a $22.4 billion state operating budget
for Fiscal Year 2009, an increase of nearly $1 billion over the
previous year. The spending plan includes a $121.3 million
increase in the formula for distributing state money among
Missouri’s 524 public school districts. The funding is within
the standard range of increases public education receives each
year. The budget also includes a $43 million increase for
Missouri’s colleges and universities, although total funding for
these institutions remains below FY 2001 levels, the high-water
mark for higher education funding. The budget does not restore
the cuts to health care made in 2005.
Scrap Metal
Theft: Senate Bill 1034
makes it easier for law enforcement officers to track scrap
metal dealers that have bought and sold stolen copper and
aluminum. The bill requires scrap metal dealers to obtain a copy
of photo identification from individuals who are not regular
business customers but are selling more than $50 worth of metals
such as copper and aluminum. Dealers must retain records for law
enforcement review for two years. A violation is a misdemeanor
punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine, up from
the current fine of $25 to $500.
Also, scrap metal
dealers must pay with a check or some other traceable payment
method for certain purchases of more than $500. The bill makes
it a felony, punishable by up to seven years in prison, to steal
wire, electrical transformers or any pipe used for conducting
electricity or transporting natural gas or other fuels.
It also prohibits
scrap dealers from buying manhole covers, bleachers, guard
rails, signs, traffic lights or cemetery materials without
written permission from the utility, governmental entity or
cemetery. They also are prohibited from buying metal beer kegs
unless from the brewer or its authorized representative.
Campaign
Contribution Limits:
Senate Bill 1038 eliminates contribution limits to candidates
for political office, allowing donors to give unlimited amounts.
Missouri voters first imposed the limits with a 1994 ballot
measure that passed with 73.9 percent support. Currently,
individual donors can give candidates for statewide office no
more than $1,350 per election, with donations capped at $675 for
Senate candidates and $325 for House candidates. The bill takes
effect Aug. 28, meaning that the limits will remain in place for
this year’s Aug. 5 primary election but unlimited donations will
be allowed for the Nov. 4 general election.
Property Tax
Relief & Enhancement of Circuit Breaker:
Senate Bill 711 provides relief to
Missourians who experienced excessive property tax increases
resulting from higher property values. The Missouri Constitution
requires taxing jurisdictions to roll back their tax rates
following property reassessments, which occur every two years,
so that they bring in the same amount of revenue that they did
prior to reassessment, plus the value of new construction and an
inflationary adjustment. Because many jurisdictions have tax
rates below their legally authorized rate ceiling due to past
rollbacks, some decline to further lower their rates, resulting
in higher taxes for homeowners. SB 711 requires taxing
jurisdictions to roll back from their actual collected levy to
ensure they don’t profit from reassessments.
The bill also enhances the state
Circuit Breaker program that provides senior citizens property
tax relief. The bill increases the maximum annual household
income a senior citizen can have to qualify for the Circuit
Breaker to $30,000 from $27,500. The spousal exemption will
double to $4,000 from $2,000. The maximum benefit from the
Circuit Breaker will increase from $1,100 from $750.
Missouri
Commission on Autism Spectrum Disorders:
Senate Bill 768 is part of
Missouri’s efforts to enhance autism health and education
services and empower families to improve the quality of life for
Missourians of all ages living with autism. The legislation
creates the Missouri Commission on Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
to make recommendations about all levels of ASD and to develop a
comprehensive, coordinated system of healthcare, education and
services for people living with ASD. According to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, autism affects one in 150
children — more than AIDS, juvenile diabetes and pediatric
cancer combined. The Missouri Commission on Autism Spectrum
Disorders will provide another much-needed resource for
families, who deserve the best resources available for
diagnosis, treatment and support services.
Immigration
Reform: House Bill 1549
contained some redundant provisions that were already a part of
federal law such as denying food stamps and other public
assistance to those without legal status. It also bars state
contractors from employing undocumented immigrants and imposes a
fine of up to $50,000 for employers that misclassify such
workers as contractors instead of employees as a way of avoiding
the restriction. The legislation precludes communities from
adopting so-called "sanctuary" polices for providing safe harbor
to undocumented immigrants (even though MO city had yet declared
itself a sanctuary), bars individuals from transporting or
harboring such immigrants, and requires commercial driver’s
license tests to be administered only in English. I was
disappointed in this bill which I believe may increase profiling
and prejudice toward immigrants who are here with documentation,
including New Americans. I prefer comprehensive federal
immigration reform to provide a pathway to citizenship and
family reunification.
Green Sales Tax
Holiday: Senate Bill 1181
gives consumers a tax break on energy efficient appliances. The
legislation creates the Show-Me Green Sales Tax Holiday to
remove the state sales tax on the first $1,500 of the price for
energy certified appliances such as washers, dryers, water
heaters, ovens and refrigerators. The holiday will run from
April 19 through April 25 beginning in 2009. The legislation
also requires 10 percent of the money in the state's maintenance
fund for state buildings to go toward energy-efficient projects.
To find a
complete list of all Truly Agreed To and Finally Passed
legislation, please go to:
http://www.house.mo.gov/content.aspx?info=/bills081/rpt/truagree.htm
Surrounding Our
Schools With Care Update
Thanks to all who donated to or
volunteered in St. Louis Public Schools in 2007-08. I have
compiled a list of many of the activities that I took on to help
the schools in the 59th district and beyond this year. If you'd
like to receive a copy, simply reply to this e-mail and request
it. I will be issuing a press release on this topic next week,
and I will be inviting all St. Louis representatives and
senators to join me again for an August kick-off of "Surrounding
Our Schools With Care."
Primary Campaigns
Heating Up
I've been to fundraising parties
recently for a number of candidates who have contested primaries
and also for the National Women's Political Caucus of Metro St.
Louis and for NARAL. There are some really excellent candidates
running this year. Here are some I hope you will help:
Stacey Newman:
http://staceynewman08.com/
Judy Baker:
http://judybakerforcongress.com/ (a chance for the Democrats
to pick up a seat in Congress; I served with Judy for four years
and she's wonderful! I believe she has the best chance of
several good Democratic candidates when it comes to winning in
November.)
Jim Trout:
http://www.votetrout.com/
Robin Wright-Jones:
Her new website will debut very shortly, but for now, call her
manager Glenn Burleigh at 314-258-4149 to volunteer. There's a
big canvas day on June 21. Robin is the most progressive
candidate for the Senate 5 seat being vacated by Sen. Maida
Coleman. I will have a yard sign for her delivered to your home
if you will call me at 314-771-8882.
Anheuser-Busch
Developments
Some have expressed concerns about
whether A-B, landmark in the 59th and a major regional employer,
will be purchased. After weeks of speculation, Belgian brewer
InBev SA announced a $46 billion offer to buy St. Louis-based
Anheuser-Busch Cos., the nation’s largest beer producer. Gov.
Matt Blunt issued a statement opposing the deal, which he called
"deeply troubling."
The takeover of Anheuser-Busch at
the very least would strike a heavy psychological blow to the
St. Louis region, which has taken great pride
in being the company’s headquarters for well over a century.
From a financial standpoint, company employees and state and
local leaders are
concerned about InBev’s reputation for slashing costs. A-B
currently employs about 6,000 people in St. Louis and has a
tradition of providing
high wages and good benefits. A-B is also known for generous
investments in the community and for progressive company
policies, like same-sex domestic partner benefits.
InBev offered a cash bid of $65 per
share, a premium of $6.65 above Wednesday’s closing price of
$58.35 per A-B share. The Anheuser-Busch
Board of Directors must approve the deal. If the board rejects
it, however, InBev could take its offer directly to shareholders
with a hostile takeover attempt.
Neighbors Working to Make
Our Streets Safe
In recent visits to the Benton Park
and Gravois Park neighborhood associations, I learned about
activities that community volunteers are undertaking to monitor
court cases involving criminal activities in their neighborhoods
and also about the committed service on new members of the
Neighborhood Accountability Board. Thanks to those who are
participating. For addition information, contact Rita Ford at
GPNA or Cipriano Medina at
BPNA,
In addition, I've spoken with
Alderman Ortmann and Alderman Schmid about a new program of the
Family Court-Juvenile Division. They are developing a Youth
Leadership and Development Program for Youth who are on Official
Court Supervision (OCS), and reside in South St. Louis. This
program is designed to provide a support system to youth who are
in need of guidance in choosing responsible behaviors, settings
goals, understanding self-image, and job readiness/job retention
skills.
We are in need of volunteers who can provide
information/resources in the following areas: employment
readiness, leadership development, and community service
opportunities. We are also in need of program incentives for the
youth participants (gift cards, admission passes, etc.).
Please direct all inquiries and offers of help to: Tamara N.
Taylor, DJO/NAB Coordinator at the 22nd Judicial Circuit of
Missouri, Family Court-Juvenile Division, 3827 Enright Ave.,
63108, 314-552-2470
Announcements of Events
for Fun, Education, and More
M*A*S*H star Mike
Farrell at Ethical Society: Mike
Farrell, star of M*A*S*H and anti-death penalty activist will
give a public talk and sign copies of his recent book,
Just Call Me Mike: A Journey to Actor and Activist.
Suggested donation at the door $5. The event is Saturday, June
28, 8 p.m., Ethical Society of St. Louis, 9001 Clayton Road, St.
Louis 63117. The sponsoring group is Missourians to Abolish the
Death Penalty (MADP), and their contact is Rose Rita Huelsmann,
314-881-6019.
There will also be a fund-raising reception to benefit MADP from
6:00-7:30 p.m. before the public talk on Saturday, June 28th at
the
Ethical Society. Admission: $100/person or $125/couple includes
wine, cheese, hors d'oeuvres, photos and an autographed copy of
Just Call Me
Mike. Reserve your place by mail to MADP, 4127 Forest Park Ave.,
St. Louis 63108 or online at
www.moabolition.org
Events for Five Star Senior
Center:
- Friday June 27th
"All You Can Eat Spaghetti
Dinner" 3-8 p.m. (Join the fun and bring your own wine if
you would like.)
- Friday July 18th Join us and
"Party on the Pergola" - Don't miss this great
opportunity to spend a evening in one of the city's most
unusual venues. Is it a new neighborhood deli? Is it a new
office? NO, it's Millennium Restoration"s hottest new home - a
new construction with all the charm of a historic city
neighborhood. Don't miss this opportunity to experience a bit
of
Italy in Tower Grove East with your host Ron and Ann
Auer. 6-8 p.m. 3015 Juniata $30 per person. Includes Hors
D'oeuvres and Libations. Only the first 50 who get their money
in will be able to attend. Act fast don't be left out on this
one.
- Saturday August 9th the ever popular and growing attended
"Texas Hold'em Tournament" doors open at 6 p.m. Game
starts at 7 p.m.
Rummage Sale:
As many of you know, my partner's mother is moving up from
Jackson, MS, to become a part of our household in late June. In
order to make room for some things she wants to bring, we have
to sell some of our considerable collection of "stuff and
things." To that end, you are cordially invited to a
multi-family rummage sale in the air-conditioned fellowship hall
of Epiphany United Church of Christ, 2911 McNair, Benton Park.
It's this Saturday, June 14, 2008, 7 a.m.-noon.
What will we have? A whole lotta of
this and that ---- like dishes, housewares, computer components,
art work, fabric, knick-knacks, books, cassettes, Christmas
decorations, and more. I've heard one of the other participating
families will have an exercise bike, and the collection of books
will be quite eclectic given the political activism of the
households that are participating. Please come on out and help
us have Less Stuff-More Mama.
Jeanette Mott Oxford
State Representative - 59th MO House District
314-771-8882 (home); 314-775-8940 (cell)
2910 Lemp, St. Louis, MO 63118
Last updated:
Saturday, July 05, 2008
