Historical April–May 2011 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Let’s start with some wonderful baby news, shall we? Dan & Lou (Laurence) Yawitz of the 6100 block of Kingsbury welcomed two healthy baby boys to their family on Friday, March 18th. Max Alexander & Elliot Hugh Yawitz were born after a long day of labor and both the boys and mom are doing really well. Lou had been on bed rest since Thanksgiving and the boys were 36 ½ weeks and about 5 lbs each at birth. Welcome to the neighborhood Max and Elliot! Congratulations to Dan and Lou!
The Kirkwood School District recently announced their Teacher of the Year Awards.
A big round of applause for Mark Banaszak of the 6100 block of McPherson on being named the Teacher of the Year for 2011-2012 at Nipher Middle School. Mark teaches German to 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students and has been at the school for approximately 18 years.
The teacher of the year is nominated by fellow teachers and chosen by the previous Teacher of the Year. Congratulations to Parkview resident Jan Scott, who received one of just four “Women Trailblazers” Awards at UMSL’s celebration of Women’s History Month on March 23. Other winners were Melissa Alper, Marisa Smith, and Natissia Small. Rabbi Susan Talve was the featured speaker.
These days brings recognition of our neighbors’ accomplishments in many different media. Westminster resident Mike Scheller, a physical therapist with Paraquad and Washington University, demonstrated moves to ease lower back pain on video, viewable at STLhealthandfitness.com, part of the Post Dispatch online news. Troop 98 Boy Scout Troop at St. Roch Church has had a long successful history and has had countless boys go through the program. Many of those scouts continue on in leadership roles as adults. One of those scouts, Bert Bender, who grew up on the 6100 block of Kingsbury, just received the Silver Beaver Award in Atlanta.
The award is the councillevel distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America. Recipients are recognized for the impact they make in the lives of youth through service given to the council. Bert is the second son (and Eagle Scout) of Rick and Joan Bender (and also my brother!). Rick received the same award years ago through the St. Louis Area Boy Scout Council. Congratulations from your old neighborhood, Bert! St. Roch 8th grader, Sarah Cross, of the 6000 block of McPherson has been composing her own music for some time now. Recently, Sarah performed one of her original pieces for the school. Later, Regina Morris, the music teacher, helped Sarah record the composition “Good Combinations” and entered it into the Creating Original Music Project at the University of Missouri at Columbia.
This is an annual statewide competition that recognizes Missouri students who compose original musical works in a variety of music styles. Sarah received an honorable Mention in the Popular Music Category. Congratulations Sarah!
We look forward to hearing more of your original music!
It seems we have many well traveled neighbors in Skinker DeBaliviere.
The latest to share tales of her trip is Arline Webb of the 6100 block of Pershing. Arline recently went to Cartegena, Columbia for a mini-vacation.
She toured the walled city which was only a block from the Caribbean, loving all the vibrant colors of the houses, the flowers, the beautiful clothes, and especially the warm, friendly people. Arlene says that this is where the film Love in the Time of Cholera takes place. Long time parishoners and alumni from St. Roch will be happy to hear that Lucy Peace is enjoying her time at the Charless House. Reports are that she is walking again after the surgery to fix broken bones in her foot and that she is handling her cancer treatments well, with no side effects at all. Our thoughts and prayers are certainly with Mrs. Peace. Continuing education takes place in all sorts of careers. Jen Barton of the 6100 block of Westminster recently passed her Senior Professional in Human Resources certification. Great job, Jen! Amy and Amrit Gill of Parkview, and longtime St. Louis developers, recently celebrated the opening of the Blackhawk Hotel in Davenport, Iowa on January 29th.
The Gills have saved many St. Louis landmark buildings, restoring them to their former glory.
The Blackhawk Hotel had declined from its beautiful beginning to a problem property for the city of Davenport.
It is now restored and a beacon in that city. Other neighbors who were in Davenport for the grand affair were Andy Cross, David Hart and Jim Shaughnessy. I’ve often said how I hate to report on the deaths of our neighbors in this column.
However, it is probably more important to think of it as honoring a life well lived.
As is the case with our neighbor, Betty Renard of Parkview. Betty passed away on February 17th, 2011 and will certainly be missed.
She was a longtime neighbor and active member of St. Roch Church.
She and her husband, the late Robert Renard, raised eight children and she was dearly loved by them and by her many grandchildren too.
As the new year seems to be moving along rather fast already, let me share with you a couple of reminders. First of all, if you have not already, don’t forget to send in your contribution to the Friends of Skinker DeBaliviere campaign.
We are so fortunate to live in the wonderful neighborhood we do and this campaign helps to support our many programs and special events. Along those lines, please save the date for a couple of important events.
The third annual Dine Out for SDCC will take place on Tuesday, June 21st. More information to follow on participating restaurants! And the third annual Skinker DeBaliviere Homecoming will take place on Saturday, October 8th at Crossroads College Prep.
As you read this, the Homecoming Committee is hard at work pondering the theme for this fun/fundraising event! Do you have some news to share?
Please send your items to Rachel Boxdorfer at rboxdorfer@prudentialalliance.com with the subject line “News of Neighbors”. Thank you!
Original photograph caption
Max Alexander and Elliot Hugh Yawitz. Descriptive caption supplied.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, April–May 2011.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Source Cartegena, Columbia and Arline/Arlene variants retained; no silent identity or geography correction.
Original source: SD_Times2011_04.pdf, printed page(s) 3; PDF page(s) 3.
