Neighborhood Chronicles

Neighborhood Chronicles — The Times Of Skinker-DeBaliviere

By JoAnn Vatcha

April–May 2002

Historical April–May 2002 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.

“The oldest neighborhood newspaper in St. Louis”, THE PAPER, later renamed THE TIMES, began with a controversy in 1970.

The big story was entitled “Jack in the Box Conflict” and covered an important topic for many urban neighborhoods: tearing down an old building for a fast-food restaurant.

The brandnew publication was not just a flyer about a timely topic. Instead, it was typeset, had photographs, news, features, and paid ads: news of schools, the upcoming Art Fair, the Police, a Black Nationalists Culture Center opening, a Bill Kohn art show, clean-up activities, a food editor, and a second major story: “Open Enrollment at St. Roch’s”, which was about to admit non-Catholics for the first time in the fall of 1970. That first issue established high standards, which volunteer writers and editors have tried diligently to meet. Emphasis has always been on facts, figures, fairness, often defusing rumors and clarifying important issues, and providing a forum for expressing ideas about improving the community.

There have been book reviews, restaurant reviews, recipes (“Macho Menus” ran for years.), political profiles, and much more. “Vicissitudes”, which recorded the everyday important events of individual people in the area, ran for more than a dozen years. Tom Hoerr’s humor column, “In Your Ear”, has lasted more than 22 years. Others have covered the Scouts, the schools, and numerous morale-building activities like the Art Fairs and House Tours, and, in more recent years, the Community Garden, the building of the Playground, Operation Brightside, and much. much more.

The TIMES has provided a medium to air proposals and gain the input of residents.

The Historic District Ordinance was printed in full (requiring six full pages), well before it was introduced to the Board of Aldermen. Every new redevelopment plan, including the early DeBaliviere Place plans, Nina Place, and, more recently, the Delmar Link Redevelopment Plan, have all been fully disclosed and debated, because of THE TIMES. Often. THE TIMES has dispelled rumors and brought clarity to important issues and everyday problems.

A modest article, for example, clarifies a lot.

An example is “Crime Down”, from December, 1972, in which Jim Hitchcock carefully wrote: “The incidence of crime in the Skinker-DeBaliviere area followed an irregular pattern from May to October of this year. with no clear evidence of long-range increase or decrease except in home burglaries.

There were three murders in August, and one in October, but none in May. June, July, or September.

There were no reported rapes during the summer but two in September and one in October… crimes in most categories decreased in the Seventh District over the same period in 1971, and total number of crimes decreased by 9%.” This precise report never resorted to stereotypes and presented a clear contrast to the TV reports of the 70’s (even now), which often refused to see the promise of the neighborhood. And, looking back, this is what people mean when they say “urban pioneers.” It has always been the volunteers who made the publication a success.

In the 70’s and 80’s, without personal computers, writing and layout was often a group activity, often on the 3rd floor of Marj Weir’s home. Far and away our longest-serving volunteer. Marj Weir served as editor, wrote articles, did layout, first with scissors and paste, then with computer finesse, and brought others together to participate in reporting about events and people for very nearly the entire 32 years of the paper’s existence. Many, many people have been involved through the years: reporters. advertising solicitors, layout helpers, distributors. Art Santen and Brad Weir have tirelessly delivered bundles of papers to those loyal businesses and institutions and block distributors every single issue. Shirley Polk, Anna Busch, Willie Kinds, Arline Webb, Mike Stahl. to name only a few, have made it possible for every house on every block to receive a copy of THE TIMES.

All for free. TIMES’ fundraising activities have often brought together all parts of the neighborhood to greet new neighbors (and we’ll be doing it again this summer) and have fun. One year there was a Prom; the Chocolate Chip Cookie Contests were legendary.

As we enter our 33rd year of publication, we have many new volunteers, who are helping energize the board and the newspaper itself. Tim Schoemehl is helping long-time volunteer King Schoenfeld put together an advertising campaign. Andy Cross, Sole Van Emden. Katrina Stierholz, and Laurie Porterfield, are all helping write and gather information useful and of interest to everyone.

Finally, our Editors are recognized for their many hours of service: Sharon Meier, 4/70-9/70 Jody Creighton, 9/70-4/71 Jean Eberle and Mary Parker, 71-72 Marj Weir and Chris Lange, 72-75 Marj Weir, 75-78 Karen Bynum, 78-79 Lois Schoemehl and Jo Ann Vatcha, 5/79-11/79 Peggy Griesbach, 79-81 Pat McLafferty, 82 King Schoenfeld, Venita Lake, and Jo Ann Vatcha, 10/82- 9/83 Katie Kurtz, 83-88 Sue Rothschild, 88-91 Lana Stein, 92-present Happy Anniversary to the TIMES.