The St. Louis Area Agency on Aging provides programs and services through its neighborhood senior centers for older adults and persons with disabilities. SLAAA serves home delivered meals to more than 2,200 persons within the city each day.

“This is the season of giving and we are so thankful that Subaru has decided to give back to our program to help us deliver meals to our clients for the holidays,” said David P. Sykora, Executive Director of The St. Louis Area Agency on Aging. “This grant truly is a gift. We currently have more than 100 persons on our waiting list for home delivered meals. This grant and the fundraising opportunity Subaru has offered will help us considerably.”

Subaru, which was the only auto manufacturer with a sales increase in 2008 and continues to outpace the industry with record-breaking sales, will continue its mission to give back to charities in need. The “Share the Love” campaign will run from November 21, 2009 to January 4, 2010.

“Many of our Meals On Wheels programs across the country are struggling to provide meals in this down economy,” said Enid Borden, President and CEO of Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA). “We can’t thank Subaru enough for understanding that their support will help us provide the next meal ‘so no senior goes hungry.’”

About Meals on Wheels Association of America: Meals on Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) works every day with thousands of local Meals on Wheels programs and hundreds of thousands of volunteers who all share in the mission to end senior hunger. The organization provides the tools and information its programs need to make a difference in the lives of others. It also gives cash grants to local senior meal programs throughout the country to assist in providing meals and other nutrition services. For more information, visit: www.mowaa.org

Human Services
City of St. Louis
Human Services web site

Department of Personnel Administrative Regulation No. 137 states that “City employees, because of the public nature of their employment are held to high standards of compliance with these tax laws by the general public. These standards of compliance are perfectly proper and shall be the standards against which City employees are measured. Employees who don’t pay [by Dec. 31] are subject to disciplinary action.”

We have made more payment options available to continually improve customer service. We hope you will take advantage of them and pay your tax bill by Dec. 31.

There are many ways you can make your personal property and real-estate payments. You can send us a check via US mail; you can pay online at www.officialpayments.com; you can pay by phone by calling 1-800-2PAY-TAX as noted on your bill; and through Dec. 31 you can pay at six area bank locations identified on the back of your statement. As always, you can pay in person in Room 109 of City Hall with cash, check, debit card or credit card from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. A third party convenience fee applies to all debit and credit card transactions with our office.

My staff in the office and at the neighborhood banks is thoroughly prepared for a robust property tax season. We look forward to serving you and all the taxpayers of the City of St. Louis!

Collector of Revenue Gregory F.X. Daly
City of St. Louis
Collector of Revenue web site

The Foreclosure Prevention Event at America’s Center, sponsored by Hope Now and NeighborWorks America, is scheduled to take place, November 4, from 2 – 8 p.m., at the America’s Center, located at 701 Convention Plaza in downtown St. Louis.

This event will provide an opportunity for residents to meet one-on-one with their lender and/or a non-profit housing counselor to discuss workout options to prevent foreclosure. Attendees should bring all necessary mortgage and financial documents. For a complete list go to: www.hopenow.com/upcoming-events.php or call the United Way helpline at 1-800-427-4626.

The most recent data from Hope Now, the private sector of mortgage servicers, investors, mortgage insurers and non-profit counselors shows foreclosure starts dropped 21 percent to 224,000 and foreclosure sales are down 16 percent to 75,000 from July. Workout plans were up 28 percent to 325,000. Repayment plans increased by 38 percent and loan modifications were up by 7 percent. The Treasury Department reported on September 9 that 360,000 HAMP trial modifications are underway.

“Our data suggests a correlation between the drop in foreclosures and the increase in workout solutions to help at-risk borrowers,” said Faith Schwartz, Executive Director of Hope Now. This shift suggests progress is being made using all of the tools available, such as HAMP – the government backed modification program – and other workout solutions, to slow the pace of foreclosures.

Hope Now survey data shows a 6 percent increase in homeowners who are 60 days plus delinquent, 3.3 million borrowers in August from 3.1 million in July. This may include the significant number of trial modifications under the HAMP program that are not yet permanent.

“Mortgage servicers and non-profit housing counselors are working hard to help homeowners who are facing hardship in these tough economic times,” said Schwartz. “As HOPE NOW continues its outreach to consumers through its foreclosure prevention workshops across the country and through the Homeowner’s Hope™ Hotline (888-995-HOPE), we see firsthand the commitment to offer consumers the best solution that meets their individual needs. We continue to work with key regulators, servicers, investors and nonprofit counselors to make a positive difference in people’s lives by using all the tools available.”

Friday. Oct. 16       7pm         Webster G.              Webster G.

Friday, Oct. 23       7pm         Chaminade             Chaminade

Saturday Oct. 31    1:30pm    Vianney                   Roosevelt

Several after-school programs are starting at Roosevelt including: reading, gardening, cooking, Explore St. Louis, and possibly French, track, and/or ”rap, rhythm and rhyme.” If you are interested in helping with any of these after school groups, contact Sarah Chilenski, Sarah.Chilenski@mimh.edu.   Supplies are needed for the cooking and gardening groups. If you are able to donate any of the following, contact Sarah Natwick, sarah.natwick@slps.org: measuring cups, spoons, aprons, fabric, thread, yarn, knitting needles, crochet hooks.   Another exciting new program at Roosevelt High School is “Conscious Choice” which gives young women support in delaying motherhood and completing a college degree. Shirley Harvey and Karessa Morrow report that 198 Roosevelt students have joined! Mentors are needed for these young women, and activities that are currently planned include career shadowing, visiting college campuses together, and assisting with the college application process. Let’s throw a “college shower” for these 198 young women, instead of a baby shower! To volunteer, e-mail Gwendolyn Meyers, gwendolyn.meyers@slps.org.   Principal Sonya Wayne says things are off to a great start at Shenandoah Elementary School. To volunteer at Shenandoah, call her at 314-772-7544.   Several excellent principals retired from 59th district schools in 2009: Dr. Alice Roach from Carnahan High School of the Future, Dr. Gerald Arbini from Monroe Elementary, and Dr. Carol Hall-Whittier from Shepard E-Mints. Thanks for your many years of service, and happy retirement to all. Awards Recently Received I am thankful to have been recognized this year by the following groups:

• Progressive Legislator of the Year, MO Progressive Vote Coalition
• Human Rights Award, Church Women United, St. Louis Region
• SAGE Visionary Award
• Faith Aloud Award
• Certificates of Appreciation, MO Immigrant and Refugee Advocates & Interfaith Legal Service for Immigrants

Serving in the minority party makes it very difficult for me to move legislation forward. It’s always appreciated when ally groups notice that I am trying hard to win progress on our shared agenda for justice. Note: To reserve tickets for the Nov. 14 Pro-Vote Annual Awards dinner, go to: http://www.missouriprovote.org/ProgressiveAwardsDinner.asp Opportunities to Do Good Things Repower America has asked me to share this announcement. Repower America is a campaign in support of transitioning to a clean energy economy to create millions of jobs, break our dependence on dirty fossil fuels, reduce the threat of harmful pollution and leave a healthy Earth for our families. Right now, landmark clean energy and climate legislation is moving through the U.S. Congress and our Senators may cast the deciding vote. If you support clean energy and comprehensive climate legislation, please call 877.9.Repower to leave a message for Senator McCaskill and Senator Bond and let them know. To learn more about Repower America and sign up to get involved, you can check out this website, www.repoweramerica.org. —– “Come Cruise Down the River” on the historic Becky Thatcher Riverboat and sing Happy Birthday to Ollie Stewart of Southside Senior Citizens Center, 3017 Park Avenue. Boarding starts at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, at 50 N. Lenore K. Sullivan Blvd. on the Riverfront. Tickets are $60 for the two-and-one-half hour voyage which includes a brunch, Dixieland music, and a chance to mingle with a fun crowd including radio legend (and all-around-great-guy) Bernie Hayes. For more information, call Ollie Stewart or Ruth Rowan at 314-664-5024. —— “Are you smarter than a Youth?” – A Trivia Night event supporting the youth group (grades 6-12) at Lafayette Park United Methodist Church in missions, service, and fun activities. It’s at 2300 Lafayette on Oct. 17. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; play starts at 7 p.m. Popcorn and refreshements will be provided as long as the supply lasts.  Feel free to bring your own foods and beverages – No alcohol allowed. Mulligans, raffles, 50/50 will be available.  Also, a silent auction will offer items for sale. —– Congratulations to the Chippewa-Broadway Business Association for receiving a substantial Neighbors Naturescaping grant from Operation Brightside! Get your Halloween groove on by attending their special networking membership social, Thursday, October 29, from 5 – 7 p.m. at the Jefferson Avenue Bistro. Holloween costumes are optional. Refreshments will be served. Door prizes. Guests are welcome. —–

Metro Transit Planning Workshops

Moving Transit Forward

Beginning October 13, Metro will launch a series of transit planning community workshops where the public will be asked to help create the long-range vision of transit in the St. Louis region, and share their ideas for improving transit service and expanding the system.

You are invited to participate in one of more of these important discussions throughout the region:

Thursday, October 15

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club

Sportsman’s Park Unit

2910 N. Grand Ave.

St. Louis, MO 63107

Metro Access: #70 Grand

Saturday, October 17

9:00 am – 11:00 am

Southwestern Illinois College

Main Complex, Room 1410

2500 Carlyle Ave.

Belleville, IL 62221

Metro Access: College

MetroLink Station

Monday, October 19

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

St. Louis Community College

Florissant Valley

Student Center, Multi-Purpose Room

3400 Pershall Ave.

Ferguson, MO 63135

Metro Access: #36 Spanish Lake

Tuesday, October 20

11:00am – 1:00pm

City of St. Louis City Hall

1200 Market Street, Rotunda

St. Louis, MO 63103

Metro Access: Civic Center MetroLink Station, #99 Downtown Circulator

Thursday, October 22

5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Eric P. Newman Center

Washington University

Medical Center

320 S. Euclid Ave.

St. Louis, MO 63110

Metro Access: Central West End

MetroLink Station

Monday, October 26

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Carpenter Branch,

St. Louis Public Library

3309 S. Grand Blvd.

St. Louis, MO 63118

Metro Access: #70 Grand

Tuesday, October 27

5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Mehlville High School Library

3200 Lemay Ferry Rd.

St. Louis, MO 63125

Metro Access: #73 Carondelet

If you cannot participate at the above public forum in your area, please considering attending one of our workshops in other districts.  Up-to-date information on the transit planning community workshops can be found at the new Metro blog, Nextstopstl.org.

If you have questions, please email ajones@metrostlouis.org.  Thank you for supporting public transit in St. Louis.

—–

Looking for a little Halloween fun? Then attend the Democratic Central Committee Party:

Friday, Oct. 23
7:00 – 10:00 PM
Glaizers Union Hall
5916 Wilson Ave, St. Louis City

$100 Tables (includes 10 tickets)
$15 tickets in advance
$20 at the door

Please make checks payable to: St. Louis City Democratic Central Committee, PO Box 1233, St. Louis, MO 63188. For more info, Jack Coatar, (314) 374-0691.

Correction to District Directory For those who received a district directory through the mail, please make this correction. On page 11, delete the American Red Cross Adult Day Care. This facility is no longer open. JMO Jeanette Mott Oxford
State Representative – 59th MO House District
314-771-8882 (home); 314-775-8940 (cell)
2910 Lemp, St. Louis, MO 63118
www.jmo4rep.com

Pipeline to Public Office

The Sue Shear Institute for Women in Public Life offers this timely two-day workshop for participants to self-assess their readiness to become a candidate or work on a campaign. In this nonpartisan program, participants will learn personal skills and organizational strategy that are the key elements in successful campaigns: creating a winning campaign plan, fundraising, reaching voters, networking and identifying your audience. The program also includes a hands-on campaign simulation with women office holders.

FACULTY INCLUDES DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN WOMEN WHO HAVE HELD OFFICE AND MANAGED CAMPAIGNS.

Friday, Oct. 23, 6:30-9:00 p.m. / Sat. Oct. 24, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Location: 222 JC Penney Conference Center, UM-St. Louis

Fee: $75 on or before 10/16; $100 after

See the attached flyer for more information or call the Sue Shear Institute at 314.516.4727

Registration is available on-line at http://www.umsl. edu/~iwpl/ programs/ pipelinetxt. html

Rhiannon Reynolds

Sue Shear Institute for Women in Public Life

University of Missouri-St. Louis

One University Boulevard

St. Louis, MO 63121

(314) 516-4727

www.umsl.edu/ ~iwpl

The principal event will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, when City officials and neighborhood leaders will turn on the fountain, located in the center of the nearly one-acre pond just south of the historic Compton Hill Water Tower.

A companion event at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, will be a “Duck Race.” Small rubber ducks, purchased by friends and visitors as a fund-raising gesture, will be placed in the newly rebuilt pond. Prizes will be awarded to the winner of the “race,” as well as runners-up.

Rebuilding of the pond and restoration of the fountain, costing $159,000, is a joint project of City agencies and private parties that began more than five years ago. Barbara Absher, a resident of the Compton Hill Reservoir Square Neighborhood, is president of the Water Tower and Park Preservation Society (WTPPS). The organization was formed to supplement City Water Division and Parks Department’s efforts to maintain Compton Hill Reservoir Park and the landmark Water Tower, its most prominent feature.

Absher said that, using private funds, the organization developed a Master Plan for Restoration in 2004. A priority was to address the crumbling, weed-filled pond, but City agencies made clear that they couldn’t afford a major restoration. The WTPPS had little money, as well, but began searching, Absher noted.

About two years ago, $100,000 in federal grant money which had been allocated to the Compton Hill Reservoir Square Neighborhood by the then-6th Ward Alderman Lewis Reed was redirected by Ald. Triplett, and was earmarked for the pond restoration. The WTPPS raised the balance — some $59,000 — over the years by offering public tours to the top of the 179-foot-tall Water Tower on Saturdays, by recruiting dues-paying members and by seeking grants and donations from other groups.

Absher said the Water Division helped by demolishing the existing pond, removing the old fill and providing planting rings for water lilies. The City’s Board of Public Service helped design the pond and fountain, solicited construction bids and provided management of the entire project.

Among the City officials expected to attend the celebration are former Water Division Commissioner Dave Visintainer, current Water Commissioner Curtis Skouby, and Parks Commissioner Dan Skillman, plus other City and State elected officials.

Absher, of the WTPPS, said future projects for Reservoir Park include restoration of the comfort station, designing and installing new lighting, repaving park walkways, expanding garden and planting areas and installing decorative entryways at the corners of the park.

Construction work nears completion on the rebuilding of a reflecting pond and center spray fountain at Compton Hill Reservoir Park. The $159,000 project was jointly funded by the City and the Water Tower and Park Preservation Society, a group of neighbors and volunteers interested in the park and its most prominent feature, the Compton Hill Water Tower. A celebration marking the completion of the pond and fountain is schedule for Sat., Oct. 3 and Sun., Oct. 4.

via City of St. Louis Newsgram

ST. LOUIS (KWMU) – Missouri Rep. Talibdin “TD” El-Amin has pleaded guilty to a federal bribery charge for accepting a $2,100 payment from a St. Louis gas station owner.

El-Amin admitted Thursday in federal court that he solicited and accepted the payment in exchange for trying to help the gas station owner resolve problems with city government.

El-Amin is the third Democratic lawmaker from the St. Louis area to plead guilty to federal charges in the past month.

State Sen. Jeff Smith and Rep. Steve Brown pleaded guilty in August to a scheme to obstruct a federal investigation into finance violations by Smith’s unsuccessful 2004 congressional campaign.

Rep. Mott-Oxford’s district is in the Tower Grove East neighborhood of the 8th ward.    She will be given the award at the 14th Annual Awards Dinner on Nov. 19 – click here for more info.

Missouri Progressive Vote Coalition (Pro-Vote) is a statewide coalition of forty labor unions and community groups founded in 1992 to give grassroots organizations the tools to engage their membership in the public policy process.

They work on a wide variety of issues, including quality public education, quality & affordable health care access, workplace safety, environmental protection, living wage, civil rights, gun safety, reproductive rights, lesbian / gay / bisexual / transgendered rights, and pay equity.

The MOST 529 Plan is a state-sponsored, tax-advantaged plan that lets parents save for qualified higher education expenses(trade and graduate school included), including tuition, certain room and board expenses, books, and supplies. It only takes $25 to get started, all earnings grow tax-deferred, and qualified withdrawals are free from federal and state income taxes. But like any investment, there are risks of loss.
What I found interesting to learn was that not only immediate family can contribute to the account – grandparents, teachers, even neighbors can support higher education for their student.   MOST can also link with services like Upromise, and Ugift, for even easier contribution options.  If your student decides not to go on to college, the account can be transferred to another family member, deferred, or withdrawn (with tax penalties).

As in past years, the success of the Wine Festival is in the hands of the volunteers who graciously donate their time and work with friends, family or co-workers pouring wine or selling tickets, beer and soda.

The scheduled shift times are as follows:

Saturday, October 3rd
11:45 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
3 – 7 p.m.

Sunday, October 4th
11:45 a.m. – 3 p.m.
2:45 – 6 p.m.

Volunteers receive a ticket to the Festival and a T-shirt. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Gus at stevensong@stlouiscity.com or 531-0080 (Jewel Box).

For more information about the Wine Festival, visit www.stlouiswinefestival.com.

A portion of the proceeds will be contributed to the Flora Conservancy of Forest Park, a not-for-profit volunteer organization that maintains the gardens at the Jewel Box and Pagoda Circle.

Sen. Arlen Specter was expected to face a tough primary challenge in 2010.

Sen. Arlen Specter was expected to face a tough primary challenge in 2010.

The Specter party switch would give Democrats a filibuster-proof Senate majority of 60 seats if Al Franken holds his current lead in the disputed Minnesota Senate race.

“Since my election in 1980, as part of the Reagan Big Tent, the Republican Party has moved far to the right,” Specter said in a statement posted by his office on PoliticsPA.com.

“Last year, more than 200,000 Republicans in Pennsylvania changed their registration to become Democrats. I now find my political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans.”

read more via Longtime GOP Sen. Arlen Specter becomes Democrat – CNN.com.

via Stltoday:

PBS’ “NewsHour With Jim Lehrer” will turn a spotlight on St. Louis in exploring the impact of President Barack Obama’s first 100 days in office. More details follow in a release from KETC (Channel 9), but note that the first event in this two-week series is Friday night in St. Charles County. For more information or to attend the taping, follow THIS LINK.

This event will intentionally occur while the National Socialist Movement (Nazis) are having a rally under the Arch in the same space that Barack Obama stood.  Experience has taught us that face to face confrontation only generates more publicity for white supremists.

For more info, visit the Vital Voice link above.

clarification via Huffington Post:

Thursday night Biden will be at a $2500/ticket DNC fundraiser at the ritzy St. Louis Club in Clayton.  Sorry folks, I can’t offer any tickets!  The event on Friday at UMSL is “Making College more affordable for our families”, and is the 3rd in a series of lectures that the V-P and the Middle Class Task Force is giving across the country.

via Biden to visit Whiteman, St. Louis, Jeff City | KansasCity.com Prime Buzz.

Here comes Joe.

Vice President Joe Biden will visit Whiteman Air Force Base Thursday where he is to have lunch with the troops and give a brief talk.

Then he’ll be off to Jeff City that afternoon to visit the ABB factory. There, he’ll highlight how the federal stimulus law has created a market for the company’s transformers for wind power plants.

On Friday, the vice president will host a task force meeting at the University of Missouri-St. Louis on ways to make college more affordable.

Also scheduled to attend that event is Biden’s wife, Jill, who is a college instructor.

VOICE YOUR OPINION TO YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS!!!
Sponsored by: Missouri ACORN

Co-Sponsored by: Missouri Pro-vote, SEIU, UAW Cap, CWA, AFL-CIO, AFSCME, PROMO, IUOE, NARAL, MCU, & Planned Parenthood

WHO: ANY INTERESTED CITIZEN

WHEN: SATURDAY APRIL 25, 2009 @ 11:00AM

WHERE: FOREST PARK COMMUNITY COLLEGE THEATER

REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED

Please contact Jennifer Judd for further information: jenrjudd@gmail.com (248) 565-6064
Start Time: 11:00
Date: 2009-04-25

ST. LOUIS, MO (2009-03-31)

Mayor Francis Slay, Rev. Elston McCowan, and former state Senator Maida Coleman at the St. Louis Public Library (KWMU photo)

Two of the three challengers to Mayor Francis Slay in the general election used a debate at the St. Louis Public Library Monday night to lay the blame for city’s problems at his feet.

Both independent candidate Maida Coleman and Green Party candidate Elston McCowan targeted Slay on a wide range of issues, including the city’s struggling school system, its police department, the stalled Ballpark Village development, and the ongoing racial divide.

via KWMU: Candidates play blame game in mayoral debate (2009-03-31).

The event is free, family-friendly, and open to the public. Visit our
website: wupa.wustl.edu/africanfilm for more details about each film and
the film schedule. Please contact wtoliver@artsci.wustl.edu or (314)
935-7879 for more information. Brown Hall is located at the corner of
Forsyth and
Chaplin Drive

I attended Congressman Carnahan’s State of the District address in Festus along with several other members of the 8th Ward.  I was impressed with the frankness with which he addressed questions and also the responsiveness of his staff.  A transcript of his speech is below:

Good Afternoon / Evening

(Special Recognitions)

Thank record number of voters who hired me for a third term to serve..

It is an honor to represent you …and it is my job to not just represent you, but even those who didn’t vote for me, didn’t vote at all, or are waiting to be voters.

Now more than ever, we are all in this together.

I want to thank all of you for coming and give special thanks to my Congressional Advisory Committees and the thousands who have written, e-mailed, called, or met with in Missouri and Washington.

Your combined ideas inform me and your common sense ideals inspire me – everyday as your Representative in Congress.

STAFF

FAMILY

Of all the remarks I have made over the years about the State of the District, these are without question the toughest times we have ever faced.

Thank you to all who braved the bitter cold to help out.  Thanks also to Dana Grey of SouthWest Garden for providing hot chocolate and Floyd Wright for taking pictures. Check out the media center for more pictures of this event.

8th ward cleanup day

Join 8th Ward Committeewoman Cara Jensen for President-Elect Barack Obama’s Day of Service on Monday, Jan 19, 2009 .  Meet at the Southwest Garden Neighborhood Association Office ( 4950 Southwest Ave. ) at noon to help clean up some of our busiest thoroughfares.  We will focus on Kingshighway, Vandeventer, and Southwest Avenues within the 8th Ward of the City of St. Louis .  Please call 773-2881 for more information.

For more information on this Day of Service, click

http://www.usaservice.org

I want to especially thank those members of the 8th ward who came out and supported this celebration.  As chair of the event, it meant a lot to me to see “my people” there having a good time.

A big Thank You to all who came out to the Pageant for our Presidential Inauguration Celebration on Tuesday night!  We collected over 990 pounds of food for Operation Food Search and drank almost 8 kegs of Schlafly InaugurALE!!

Check out the event pictures and videos:

http://stltoday.mycapture.com/mycapture/folder.asp?event=675985&CategoryID=38925

http://toastedrav.com/post/6181/trav_video#0

http://stlouis.metromix.com/events/photogallery/inauguration-for-the-people/906428/content

We would love to post your pictures of the event!  Please send them to citydemsparty@sbcglobal.net.

There are still event t-shirts available.  These are one-of-a-kind-historic-memorabilia-kinda shirts with the Schlafly “InaugurALE” logo on the front and the event details on the back.

Shirts are $10 and sizes range from S to 3XL

A limited supply of logo bottles are also available with each t-shirt order – when they are gone, they are gone!!

Please email citydemsparty@sbcglobal.net with your order.

Special thanks:

• The Pageant
• Operation Food Search
• Schlafly Brewery
• Joe Dryer & Rosemary Watts
• The Sean Holland Band
• Paul Brown and the Killing Devils
• DJ Tossin’ Ted
• Thurman Grill & Provisions
• Donna Brooks, City Cable Channel 10
• Gerald Palmer
• Our volunteers