Comptroller Darlene Green invites all SLPS high school students to win $100, $75 and $50 savings bonds by entering her annual Black History Essay Contest.  Simply write a one to two page essay on the following topic:

What are the challenges facing African-American teenagers today and what would you do to address them?

Essays should be typed and double-spaced using 12-point font.  Be sure to put your name, phone number and school at the top.  Send completed essays to Judy Armstrong, 1520 Market St., Room 3005, St. Louis, MO 63103 or email them to armstrongju@stlouiscity.com.

The deadline for submissions is Friday, Feb. 26 and the winners will be announced in March.

For more information, high school students can ask their teachers or visit Comptroller Green’s Web site at

stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/comptroller/.

The Dutchtown West Neighborhood Association (DWNA) website, DutchtownWest.org has reached a visitor count of 6,000!

Click Image for Source

The DWNA website started in December of 2008 as a tool to communicate news and information to Dutchtown West neighbors as well as serve as an online resource for information that anyone can access 24/7. Additionally, the aim is that the website will aid in the continuity and transition of DWNA leaders in the future.

In addition to DutchtownWest.org receiving 6,000 visitors, there’s been:

• 66,851 different page views on the website
• 134 different neighborhood posts made to the website
• 41 different comments made by guests to the website

Please let us know if you have any suggestions or comments about the website by leaving a comment to this post! Thanks!

In November, 2009, we asked Dutchtown West Neighborhood Association Friends and Neighbors to take a brief online survey asking for feedback on how they think the Dutchtown West Neighborhood Association (DWNA) is doing.

The 23 online responses have been summarize after the break:

Continue reading »

The Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra is offering a free concert on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 @7pm at Powell Hall (718 N. Grand, corner of Delmar).

The popular “On Stage at Powell” series gives audiences a musician’s eye-view of this fabulous hall, and provides an intimate setting for both informative discussions and incredible music-making.  Bring your curiosity and your questions as you sit on Powell Hall’s stage with the members of the Saint Louis Symphony as they perform with guests from the music community. Bring all your senses to enjoy this unique musical experience. On Stage at Powell is free and begins at 7 PM.

Come and sit on stage with the musicians as they perform “St. Louis Musical Heritage Music of Miles Davis, Scott Joplin and Friends with Jazz St. Louis Reginald Thomas, piano.”
Sponsored by the Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation. No tickets needed! Free to all!

For more free community events from the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra that will take place throughout the 2009-2010 season in addition to those listed here, please visit this page for the most current listing of events in your area or call 314-286-4432 for more information.

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Isom has recently announced plans to host the second FREE “Citizens Academy.” Citizens will have an opportunity learn about various aspects of the police department beginning with the spring course scheduled to begin on March 10, 2010 and meeting each Wednesday from 6pm-9pm at the Police Academy for 10 weeks.

After a very successful Fall 2009 class, a Spring 2010 Citizens Academy will begin on March 10.

The Citizens Academy provides an opportunity for St. Louisans to learn the ins and outs of the Metropolitan Police Department. The more citizens understand the difficult jobs you do day in and day out, the better equipped they are to help you as you aim to help the community. Many graduates of the Fall class talked about just how eye-opening the Citizens Academy was, with one citizen saying after the graduation ceremony, “I wish everybody could take this class. It would make people think a lot differently about what police do.”

The course will run for 12 weeks (March 10-May 26), meeting Wednesday nights, from 6pm-9pm at the Police Academy.

A variety of commissioned officers will teach most of the blocks of instruction with a few blocks being taught by civilian employees as well. In addition to lectures, citizens will see active demonstrations and participate in role-playing and simulations.

To be eligible to participate, applicants must:

* Be city residents or business owners
* Be at least 18 years old
* Have no active warrants
* Agree to have a records check performed by the Department

Applications can be found on the Intranet by going to the Public Information page and then clicking on “Public Information Forms.”

Applications MUST be received by February 10.
Applications should be returned to Sgt. Catherine Dennis, room 313 of Headquarters.
Original documents are required to be submitted by mail or in person. Emailed applications will not be accepted.
There are only 30 slots available. Citizens should submit applications as soon as possible.

Questions may also be sent to citizensacademy@slmpd.org

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact:

Erica S. Van Ross
Director of Public Information
Metropolitan Police Department, City of St. Louis
1200 Clark Avenue, Room 611
St. Louis, MO 63103
314-444-5603
314-444-5684 (fax)
esvanross@slmpd.org

Dutchtown South Community Corporation is seeking input about two new community gardens to be built in the 25th Ward! Currently the two proposed locations are Amberg Park and the lot on the corner of Virginia, Liberty, and Alabama. HopeBuild, a St. Louis non-profit organization, will be supporting ward residents in the construction and upkeep of both gardens. Over the summer, 12 area youth will spend three mornings a week working on the gardens through the youth employment program, turning them into something really beautiful. There’s also an initiative to get some of the produce that the gardens produce to be sold in one or two of the corner stores in the ward – places that don’t currently sell fresh produce. The whole project is shaping up to be very exciting – but we want input from all 25th ward residents in this process.

What ideas do you have for the gardens? Design, location, and function ideas are all welcome.
What concerns do you have about the gardens? We want to address these early on.
What are your questions about the garden process?
And importantly – DO YOU WANT TO BE PART OF MAKING THIS HAPPEN?

Are you interested in gardening this year?
Do you want to garden alongside your neighbors?
Do you want advice and support throughout the process?
We are seeking volunteers who want to be involved in our community’s gardens. We need people for a few hours a week starting in late-March and running through early Autumn. Gardening experience is great, but not necessary. Volunteers will have lots of support from HopeBuild throughout the course of the year.

Please contact Marjorie at 314-536-0566, or at marjorie@dutchtownsouth.org with your interest or questions. You may also leave comments to this post!

Marjorie Dove Kent has just started in a new position – the 25th Ward Liaison. She’ll be managing and coordinating ward-wide efforts related to building community, creating an active safety environment, and engaging neighborhood youth. She’ll be working directly with the 25th Alderman Shane Cohn, various City and State offices and the general public on behalf of Dutchtown South Community Corporation.

Marjorie Dove Kent

Marjorie Dove Kent’s contact information is:

Todd Waelterman, the St. Louis City Director of Streets, recently announced that the Department of Streets is experimenting with once-a-week trash pickup in the City of St. Louis in an effort to reduce expenses. Some of the 300 gallon trash receptacles will be replaced with 600 gallon receptacles to compensate.

St. Louis City New Yard Waste Containers/Bins

Waelterman’s letter to the St. Louis City Board of Alderman:

Dear Aldermen,
 
As you know, the City of St. Louis – like most Cities across the country – is dealing with budget constraints because of the global recession, and rising costs of pensions and health care. The Department of Streets, like all other departments, is looking for ways to save money while still effectively providing needed services to our residents.
 
In that spirit, the Department of Streets is experimenting with once-a-week trash pickup, which is the rule for municipalities in the region and in the country.  For the last two months, our Refuse Division has been picking up trash once a week on one alley route in each ward.  During our experiment, we’ve learned many important lessons – and we are making improvements as we get comments and suggestions through the Citizens Service Bureau.
 
Despite the challenges we’ve faced – frozen trash because of the bitterly cold weather and added trash volume after Christmas, among others – we think this program can work. We hope that it will encourage citizens to drop off their recyclables at our 27 sites, to become more aware of what they’re throwing away, to compact their trash, and – if needed – to walk a couple more steps to a dumpster that is not full.
 
This will work better if we replace some of our 300 gallon trash receptacles with 600 gallon receptacles.  We acknowledge that we’ll have to plan occasionally for additional trash pickup in some traditionally heavy times like Christmas.  But, overall, this plan should work, will reduce the amount of waste we put in landfills, and could save the City a projected $1 million per year.
 
There is another benefit.  An increasing number of our fleet of trash service vehicles are outdated and with very poor fuel efficiency.  This change would allow us to retire the most inefficient vehicles, improving our fuel efficiency, and thus making this an even more “green” initiative.
 
The Refuse Division is working to keep the alleys clean.  It’s important for residents to make sure their trash is in the proper receptacle.  As we have been adjusting cans and routes in our pilot program, my employees have been working hard to take care of any overfill trash.  However, if this program becomes permanent, residents will be responsible for making sure their trash is in the proper receptacle.  Once-a-week trash pickup will not mean unsanitary conditions – and my employees are committed to keep that promise.
                                                                                                          
There is a way to reduce our costs while minimizing layoffs.  The recent furlough agreement between the City of St. Louis and the Unions will help to prevent any of our employees – the people who pick up the trash and drive the trash trucks – from being let go during the pilot program.  Currently, the staff displaced with the pilot program balances out the required furlough days off.  If the program continues to be successful, as we expect it to be, a few refuse employees can be reassigned to vacant positions elsewhere in the Department of Streets.
 
Here are some helpful hints to suggest to your residents:
Please take your household trash bags to the alley dumpster as the bags are filled so we can gather accurate data about trash collection.
Many of the items that residents throw away can be easily recycled.  By separating cardboard, cans, paper, or glass items and taking them to one of 27 recycling centers, trash volume will be drastically reduced.  Visit http://stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/recycle/ for the recycling center closest to your home.
Encourage residents to walk their trash to the next available trash receptacle when the receptacle nearest their home is full.  Residents are welcome to use any trash receptacle on their block.
Encourage residents to compact their trash.  They should flatten boxes, which otherwise take up a lot of room in the dumpster.
When you have a problem with trash, please call Citizens’ Service Bureau.  They can be reached at 622-4800 Monday through Friday between 8am and 5pm.  Or, you can submit your comment, problem, or suggestion electronically by visiting http://stlcin.missouri.org/csb/csb.cfm.
 
Thanks for your understanding and your patience.  Once-a-week pickups will save the City money in a challenging time for city budgets – and be more environmentally responsible.
 
We plan to continue this trial run through the spring.  Your comments and suggestions are making it better.
 
Sincerely,
 
 
Todd Waelterman
Director of Streets

South Grand Boulevard, known as the international community of St. Louis because of its diverse population and wealth of ethnic restaurants, contains unique retail and dining opportunities and serves as a destination for visitors and locals. A nationally recognized historic district, South Grand is a growing commercial district located near Tower Grove Park and the Missouri Botanical Gardens.

In 2009, South Grand Boulevard was selected as one of four Great Streets Initiative pilot projects in the St. Louis region. Since 2006, East-West Gateway Council of Governments (EWG) has been helping communities in the St. Louis region expand the way they think about streets. Local leaders and citizens are encouraged to think beyond the curb to see how transportation decisions affect the total built environment.

EWG recognizes the importance of streets as community resources, and through the St. Louis Great Streets Initiative intends to make them more than just conduits for cars. Great Streets in St. Louis will emphasize all modes of travel, especially walking. Great Streets will address and reconsider the auto-centric approach that has dominated design over the years in order to transform these streets into great community resources.
Considering how street design choices affect the pedestrian realm and abutting land uses is central to the St. Louis Great Streets Initiative. Connecting communities requires more than just installing a sidewalk along the edge of a busy street. It requires the careful and intentional creation of an environment that suits walking, bicycling, and transit. It requires taming traffic in a way that still allows for mobility, but at speeds that are safe and undamaging. It requires a ‘green’ approach to storm water management.

To learn more about the development plans for South Grand and the plans for a “green” approach to storm water management, view their plans online here. Or, contact:

Rachel Witt
Executive Director
South Grand Community Improvement District
3203-A South Grand Blvd.
St. Louis MO 63118
Phone: (314)772-5750
Email: Rachel@southgrand.org
Website: www.southgrand.org

Police Officer Thomas Bottini currently serves as the Community Outreach Officer for District One in the City of St. Louis. District One encompasses the Dutchtown West Neighborhood Association area. Officer Bottini recently announced that he will soon be promoted to Sergeant! Congratulations Officer Bottini and thank you for your dedication to our neighborhood!

Officer Bottini will introduce Officer Mark O’Brien, a longtime veteran of the SLMPD, at the next DWNA monthly meeting on Tuesday, January 12, 2010. Officer O’Brien will replace Officer Bottini effective January 25, 2010.

Ward 25 Alderman, Shane Cohn, announced today that Board Bill 183:  “Bill to fund the Justice Assistance Grant Program” was past last Friday at the St. Louis Board of Alderman. The bill appropriated approximately $750,000.00 to allocate additional prosecutorial and police resources dedicated specifically to Dutchtown in effort to reduce crime and build community.

The bill is “An Ordinance authorizing and directing the Director of Public Safety, on behalf of the Mayor and the City of St. Louis, to enter into and execute a Grant Agreement with the U. S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, to fund the Justice Assistance Grant Program, upon approval of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, and to expend funds by entering into contracts or otherwise for grant purposes and containing an emergency clause.”

You can read more about the Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) here.

The hillside erosion issue that has plagued Scruggs Elementary School (4611 South Grand Boulevard) and its surrounding Dutchtown West Neighborhood Association (DWNA) neighbors has finally been fixed! The new Ward 25 Alderman Shane Cohn announced today that after working with the Saint Louis Public Schools (SLPS) to address the erosion issue, they obtained bids for the job and just finished the work!

Picture of Scruggs Elementary Erosion Problem Before Work Completed

Picture of Scruggs Elementary Erosion Problem After Work Completed

If you recall, DWNA added the erosion issue to the DWNA Issue List over 515 days ago when former Ward 25 Alderwoman, Dorothy Kirner, was in office in July of 2008:

Investigate the land erosion that is happening on the edge of the school and why this has not been taken care of. Children using stones to throw at cars.

Thanks to the new Alderman, Shane Cohn, the erosion problem is now fixed and the issue is completed! While Scruggs Elementary is now a closed SLPS school, hopefully this site will not be closed for long.

The City of St. Louis Department of Streets Refuse Division has unveiled NEW refuse containers/bins for yard waste! As seen from the picture below, the new containers are bright green in color to differentiate them from the regular trash dumpsters/containers/bins that are a darker green or brown. The new containers are labeled “green waste” and are for yard waste including grass clippings, leaves, and tree limbs. The city takes this “green waste” and recycles it into mulch and compost (available at Carondolet Park, Forest Park, or O’Fallon Park) for city residents to then use again.

St. Louis City New Yard Waste Containers/Bins

If you recall, the Dutchtown West Neighborhood Association (DWNA) added this issue to our Issue List over 300 days ago:

How can we get permission to place different colored stickers with pictures on the different dumpsters to distinguish Yard Waste vs. No Yard Waste?

Alderman Shane Cohn, for the 25th Ward, announced today that the new green colored yard waste containers will be slowly replacing old/deteriorating dumpsters moving forward.

The new 25th Ward Alderman, Shane Cohn, announced at the last Dutchtown West Neighborhood Association (DWNA) Meeting that the City of St. Louis was looking for ways to meet their current and future budget shortfalls.  Alderman Cohn stated that the City has been looking into the Capital Improvement Accounts for each of the 28 Wards in the city to possibly use to meet the city’s budget shortfall. Click here to see a map of the 25th Ward. Thus, Alderman Cohn stated he was looking to spend the amount allocated to the 25th ward fairly quickly.

25th Ward Alderman Shane Cohn

The 25th Ward has a total of $400,796.59 in its “contingency fund” for future projects in the 25th Ward. The ward was appropriated $185,928.00 for fiscal year 2010. The Board of Public Service provided a current list of funds for the 25th Ward on 11/30/09:  Click here to see a current list of funds for the 25th Ward and how funds have been allocated thus far.

From a fundraising email Alderman Shane Cohn sent out yesterday, he listed  a few of these projects and initiatives he is working on in the 25th Ward: