Historical Summer 2004 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
With Lana out of town this month, pinch-hitting for the Editor’s Notebook has fallen to me, and I will use the opportunity to try and recruit volunteers.
We need you! Over the past couple of years, the “oldest neighborhood newspaper in St. Louis” put out entirely by volunteers, has evolved to include both Lana and myself as Co-Editors. Lana does much of the research and writing, while I organize, compile the stories from all of you, find photographs (and ask King Schoenfeld and Andy Cross for theirs!) and work with our super layout person, Kate Klimut, and with our long-time printer, Arcade Printing. Together, Lana and I set priorities.
After our work is mostly done, we have to rely on others to get the paper to your door. First our very supportive SDCC director Laure Porterfield and her assistant Juanita make sure the bundles are dropped off at the homes of our volunteer distributors on every block.
We also must get bundles to the schools and businesses. That job was previously done by Tim Schoemehl, who is now running for state rep, and we are seeking help to make sure that we get those papers on the doorsteps in a timely way.
If you can help, please let us know. Just an hour or two every other month can truly make a contribution. Deliver on your block, or drop off bundles on Delmar or DeBaliviere. Write one little article, make a couple of calls, and learn something new about your neighborhood.
As I work in community development, I have been surprised to discover how unusual this newspaper is. Many neighborhoods have newsletters which are mailed to residents, which of course costs much more. By having residents actually walk on their blocks to deliver the TIMES, everyone saves-and gains in those “connections”.
It has been such an amazing experience to be a part of this all-volunteer newspaper.
We have recently welcomed new contributors Maggie Peters and Norbert Hart, and we’d love to have more! Let us know how you would like to get involved.
Finally, as a summertime activity, I’d like to suggest taking photographs of all the activity in our neighborhood. You might have an interesting shot of the MetroLink construction (or dump trucks or cranes), a photo of neighborhood folks at the community garden, St. Roch’s, or a party on your block. Or how about the changes on Delmar? Whether digital or just a nice print, we’d love to have your photos for the September issue.
The deadline is August 15, so let us hear from you. You can drop off items at the SDCC office at 6008 Kingsbury or reach me at jvatcha@peoplepc.com. – Jo Ann Vatcha
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, Summer 2004.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2004_06.pdf, printed page(s) 2; PDF page(s) 2.
