While we enjoy a beautiful and busy spring, we are looking to a busy summer here in the neighborhood too. Let this serve as a reminder to watch for many wonderful events like the Garden Tour, the concerts at Greg Freeman Park, and festivities for the 50th anniversary of the Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council. And don’t forget about beautiful Forest Park, our adventurous back yard! We are truly blessed to live in such a wonderful, active, and vital neighborhood with neighbors who care for one another and for the place we call home.
In celebration of Earth Day 2016, Great Rivers Greenway led a volunteer blitz along five greenways on Friday, April 22, in an effort to clean up, beautify and maintain our region’s greenways, rivers and creeks. Approximately 100 volunteers from the St. Louis region; including students from Crossroads College Preparatory School; joined Great Rivers Greenway, Open Space Council, the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District and AmeriCorps to complete various conservation projects at five different locations in St. Louis City, Great Rivers Greenway, MSD and students from Crossroads College Prep spent last Friday morning April 22 painting storm water inlets in Porter Park, near Maple Avenue, as a visible reminder that anything poured into them (motor oil, herbicides etc.) drains untreated into area waterways and pollutes our watershed. The project was part of a region-wide volunteer effort, led by Great Rivers Greenway, in honor of Earth Day.
Staying true to the Girl Scout Promise and Law, the St. Roch 8th Grade Girl Scout Troop decided to donate a new washing machine to the Little Bit Foundation with money raised through Girl Scout cookie sales. When Home Depot learned they were donating the machine they were kind enough to donate the dryer so the Girl Scouts could provide a matching set! Little Bit Foundation is an organization that helps St. Louis City and North County school age kids get a fresh start each day with school supplies, food and even clean socks and underwear. The Mission of the Little Bit Foundation is helping disadvantaged school children by creating a positive impact for personal growth, increasing self-esteem and encouraging a more focused and active learning environment. We do this by building strong relationships and partnering closely with St. Louis schools.
We have such talented neighbors and here is an update on another one! On April 1st Cece Younger published her new book of an epic fantasy, “The Seekers: The Secret of the Turtles” (published by Archway Publishing). It is a mystical tale of a Caribbean princess who sets off on a journey with her best friend and a prince of Barbados to save the sea turtles and calm an active underwater volcano. Along the way, she learns she has an extraordinary future unlike any she ever imagined for herself. “When my daughter was 2 years old and wanted to put the Disney Princesses on her wall she turned to me asked ‘why do all the princesses look like you? Why don’t they look like me?’” Cece says. “It broke my heart and from that point I wanted to create kid’s products that reflect diversity of people.” With a diverse cast of characters, many of whom have mixed heritages, and set in a fantastical setting, young readers will find an array of characters to relate to as the group travels on their mystical adventure. Cece and her family live in the 5900 block of Nina Place. More information is available at http://bydwyr.com/
Former Parkview resident (6200 block of Washington) Madeleine Marie Laury, beloved wife of the late Stephan Laury; and mother of Domenic, Marianne and Stephan Laury; passed away on April 11. Madeleine possessed a generous heart and a wicked sense of humor. An accomplished artist, gardener and teacher to many, she lived her life with joy. Our deepest condolences go out to the family, especially Madeleine and Stephan’s children who have now lost both parents.
Ann Hogan Stapenhorst passed away on Saturday March 26th. Her funeral was celebrated at St. Roch. Ann had worked for the St. Louis Development Corporation before her retirement, and both she and her late sister Dorothy were great neighborhood boosters. Their family had lived on McPherson over 70 years. At a memorable TIMES fundraiser held at the Rennard’s home in the 90’s, they graciously shared memories of their childhood in the neighborhood, including the following “special memories” they wrote down for us:
Ann and Dorothy’s Special Memories:
- My mother and father (Hogans) moved from a North St. Louis Neighborhood to 6164 McPherson in July, 1945. We especially remember:
- As a teenager in the 50’s and 60’s, meeting outside St. Roch’s Church after 11:00 a.m. mass. Half of the kids in the area were on the corners of Rosedale and Waterman at noon.
- Walking to the Tivoli and Varsity shows with friends
- Having the Parkview Food Basket grocery store and Sherman Drugstore, later Feldberg’s, at our corner of McPherson and Skinker, where the soda fountain was a great place to meet and have fun.
- More sweet memories–the Busy Bee Candy Shop on DeBaliviere and the Greenlea Ice Cream Store at DeGiverville and DeBaliviere
- Another fond memory: talking with “Madison” when I’d bring my car into the Sinclair Gas Station at our corner. Madison had been there forever. Everyone knew him and he knew everybody. He was one of the nicest persons I’ve ever met.
- Playing in Forest Park and calling it “our backyard”
Congratulations to Monsignor Sal Polizzi, who was feted at the April 17 dinner at the Chase Park Plaza for St. Roch Parish and School. The event, called “Building the Future,” also celebrated Polizzi’s 60 years as a priest, 35 years as pastor of St. Roch parish, and his 85th birthday!
