Historical November–December 2008 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
The Skinker-DeBaliviere Board of Directors held their general meeting on Monday, October 13th at Crossroads School and shared a potluck dinner with neighborhood residents.
In addition to the normal business, well-deserved recognition was given to several neighborhood residents. Executive Director Darcell Braylock presented certificates of appreciation for outstanding service to the neighborhood to Andy Cross (who is clearly involved in just about everything!) and Jo Ann Vatcha, who wears many hats, including co-editor of the TIMES of SKINKER-DEBALIVIERE and also chairman of the neighborhood’s Delmar Commercial Committee. Outgoing board members Gwen Lazar and Shirley Polk were also recognized for their years of service to the neighborhood. Bob Mahon was also given recognition for serving two years as President of the Skinker-DeBaliviere Community Council Board of Directors. Kudos to Darcell Braylock and Bethany Everett.
All the Centennial events relied on SDCC support!
This could not be accomplished without their support in the SDCC office! News from the stork has come in that Jim and Helen Hitchcock of the 6100 block of Kingsbury celebrated the birth of another grandchild this summer. Bruno Erasmo Hitchcock Spampinato was born on July 31st at NYU Medical Center in Manhattan and now resides in Brooklyn with his very proud parents Louisa (Hitchcock) and Rob Spampinato. Louisa is the youngest of the four Hitchcock girls. Bruno and many other people made appearances at various Skinker-DeBaliviere Centennial events. Dating back to the McPherson block party in May (celebrated by the 6000 and 6100 blocks), the huge Kingsbury Centennial party (6100 block) on October 4th, the Westminster party (6100 block) on October 18th, and of course the neighborhood-wide party on October 11th.
It has been a year of nonstop celebration! Nothing but good things can be said about all of these events and everyone who made them happen.
It is no surprise that so many people young and old, present and past residents, turned out to attend any or all of these functions.
The event on October 11th even included appearances from local dignitaries including Mayor Francis Slay.
There were several proclamations, festive music, dancing, and lots of tasty food as highlighted in the special Centennial issue of The Times that was distributed in October. Congratulations to Scott Jones, our Parkview neighbor, on being named North America Medical Director of Imaging Solutions and Pharmaceutical Products Radiation, Environment, Safety and Health, for Covidien, Inc.
He will continue to serve as BarnesCare medical director. BarnesCare strives to help its client companies improve productivity and reduce expenses associated with worker injuries. Welcome to New Neighbors Leslie and Kevin Bley of the 6000 block of Westminster!
The Bleys were among the many folks who came out for the October 18 Westminster Centennial party.
Also new in the neighborhood, welcome to Velocity Cafe and Cyclery, at the corner of Pershing and DeBaliviere, near Forest Park Metro Station. Let’s hope this shop transforms this corner as Kayak’s did the Skinker-Forest Park Blvd intersection!
In the Loop, PI restaurant, which was profiled in these pages a few months ago, has gained a new distinction, as reported by Deb Petersen in the Post-Dispatch, as Barak Obama’s new favorite pizza. Apparently, owner Chris Sommers got the momentous phone call after Obama’s gigantic rally at the arch.
This neighborhood has never had a shortage of educators and we are pleased to congratulate Andrew Abbott of the 6100 block of Kingsbury on his appointment to the position of head of school at John Burroughs. Andy started at Burroughs in 2001 as an English teacher and college counselor, and principal of 11th and 12th grades.
In 2006, he was promoted to the position of director of college counseling and assistant head of school. Andy & his wife Katie have three children. Congrats and well done! And last, but certainly not least, our prayers and well wishes continue to go out to Mary Fleener of Parkview, who is on the mend in St. Louis after a sixweek stay in Chicago hospitals.
We wish her a speedy recovery and are happy she has made it back to St. Louis! Do you have some news to share?
Please send your items to Rachel Boxdorfer at rboxdorf@ cbgundaker.com with the subject line “News of Neighbors.” Thank you!
Original photograph caption
I am Bruno. Feed me pizza! Bruno Erasmo Hitchcock Spampinato. Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, November–December 2008.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Source prints Gwen Lazar in body and Gwen Lazard in caption; Barak Obama also printed. Original source variants retained without merging identities.
Original source: SD_Times2008_11.pdf, printed page(s) 3; PDF page(s) 3.
