Welcome to the Dutchtown West Neighborhood Association (DWNA) Website!
Please check back regularly for new news and updates!
NEW POST: March 9

The Dutchtown West Neighborhood Association (DWNA) exists to improve the overall quality of life, sense of community, and pride in our urban neighborhood located in West Dutchtown in the city of St. Louis, Missouri. Please, browse around our website for more information by clicking on the page links located either on the left side of the screen, or at the top of this page. Additionally, new posts are listed below!

]]> http://www.dutchtownwest.org/archives/459/feed 0 http://www.dutchtownwest.org/archives/1622 http://www.dutchtownwest.org/archives/1622#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:35:12 +0000 admin http://www.dutchtownwest.org/?p=1622 Congratulations to the winners of the Inaugural Dutchtown West Neighborhood Association (DWNA) Chili Bowl 2010!

1st Place: Christy Roberts
2nd Place: Josh Nardie
3rd Place: Shane Cohn
Honorable Mention: Elan McMillin
Honorable Mention: Sara Dannan

Pictured Left to Right: Sara Dannan, Christy Roberts, Josh Nardie, Shane Cohn, and Elan McMillin

The winner’s of the Chili Bowl each received the highly coveted “DWNA Chili Spoon!” pictured below. Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone that attended!

DWNA Chili Bowl Spoon Awards

If you have issues in the Dutchtown West Neighborhood Association to add to the DWNA Issue List, contact us at leadership@dutchtownwest.org or contact your Neighborhood Stabilization Officer: http://www.dutchtownwest.org/contact

Interested in seeing what properties have sold in the neighborhood? (see map of our neighborhood here).

Thanks to our partnership with Real Estate Agent, Jason Rennegarbe from Coldwell Banker, the properties in our neighborhood that have sold for the month of February 2010 are now posted online and can be accessed here.

October 2009 - April 2010 DWNA Leadership: (from left to right) Ryan Dannan, Chris Wintrode, Dave Garcia, Elan McMillin, Erica Fendler, Christy Roberts, and Dianne Carty

If you are interested in getting more involved in the Dutchtown West Neighborhood Association (DWNA), consider volunteering for one of our leadership positions for 6 months. You can read more about their goals and the position descriptions here.

The Dutchtown West Neighborhood Association (DWNA) has the following article in this edition of the Dutchtowner:

DWNA Working To Improve Our Neighborhood!
The Dutchtown West Neighborhood Association (DWNA)
is moving right along in improving the overall quality of
life, sense of community, and pride in our urban
neighborhood located in West Dutchtown. In December,
St. Louis City Mayor, Francis Slay, issued a city wide
proclamation declaring December 9, 2009 as
“Dutchtown West Neighborhood Association Day” in
honor of our one year anniversary and our accomplishments
throughout the year!

During the last few monthly neighborhood meetings held
at Grbic Banquet Hall (4071 Keokuk) on the 2nd Tuesday
of every month at 7pm, DWNA has hosted a variety
of guest speakers on informative topics related to our
neighborhood. In October, the second term of leaders
within the association were filled with neighborhood volunteers.
The newly elected DWNA leaders have created
goals and tasks for their terms and are energetically
working towards bringing neighbors together to help accomplish
these goals and improve our neighborhood. In
November, DWNA hosted a forum on the redevelopment
of Amberg Park and saw park design plans created by
Saint Louis University and Washington University (in St.
Louis) students. In January, DWNA introduced the new
Public Affairs Officer of the SLMPD 1st District, Officer
Mark O’Brien, who answered crime and safety related
questions from neighbors. Further, DWNA introduced the
new 25th Ward Liaison, Marjorie Dove Kent, who affirmed
her commitment to helping DWNA in its mission.

In addition to our monthly meetings, the DWNA website
(www.DutchtownWest.org) has proven to be a useful tool
in our neighborhood. Since its inception, the website has
seen over 6,000 visitors, received over 68,851 page
views, has over 134 different neighborhood news postings,
and over 41 various comments from neighbors.
Meeting agendas, minutes, power points, and handouts
are all posted and archived online. Pictures, accomplishments,
and new announcements are posted weekly. Additionally,
the DWNA “Issue List” is made available online
in order to track specific neighborhood issues and ensure
that elected officials and city employees are held accountable
for their timely resolution. DWNA has “closed”
over 147 issues on the Issue List since late 2008.

As we enter the Spring season, please consider joining
us at one of our monthly DWNA meetings, Amberg Park
clean-up events, Neighborhood Luncheons, or even joining
our email list to stay informed as to what is happening
in our area. The March 2010 neighborhood meeting will
include a Chill Cook-Off as well as an opportunity to meet
your Alderman and other city officials. For more information,
visit: www.DutchtownWest.org

Come and meet your neighbors and city officials and learn about what is going on in the neighborhood while supporting a fundraiser for a new power point projector! $2.00 suggested donation to vote for bowls of Chili! Contact Christy Roberts with questions: christy@dutchtownwest.org, 352-7135

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE AGENDA

Please check this website, your mail, and your email for any potential changes.  Meetings are always held on the second Tuesday of every month at 7:00 pm unless otherwise announced.

Hours are flexible, with a maximum of 40 hours per week. Pay is $15.25 to $17.00 per hour, plus mileage. Full details, including a practice test, are found at: www.2010censusjobs.gov. Call the St. Louis Census Bureau at 314-800-0660 to sign up for a test session near your home. Don’t wait; the Census is just around the corner.

$8,000 First-Time Home-Buyer Tax Credit! $6,500 is Available for Long-Time Homeowners!
Homeowners who already own a home and have lived there for at least five (5) years would be eligible fora $6,500 tax credit.
Home purchases with accepted contract as of April 30,2010, and closed by June 30, 2010 will be eligible for the credit.
Now Buyers May Be Eligible for an Additional $1,250 Tax Credit in the State of Missouri.

For more information contact:

Jason Rennegarbe (http://www.JasonRennegarbe.cbp2.com)
Coldwell Banker PREMIER Group
4044 Butler Hill Road
Saint Louis, MO 63129
314-433-7019 Direct
314-749-8215 Cell

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/.

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!

The 23 online responses have been summarize after the break:

1. How do you think Dutchtown West Neighborhood Association (DWNA) is doing?

Excellent
30.4% 7
Good
65.2% 15
Fair
4.3% 1
Poor
0.0% 0

2. What interests you most about the organization?

Neighborhood Clean Up
54.5% 12
Block Captain Organization
22.7% 5
Meeting new neighbors in our area
40.9% 9
Communication and updates from St. Louis City Officials
77.3% 17

3. How many DWNA monthly meetings have you attended in the past year?

I have not attended any meetings
8.7% 2
1-3 meetings per year
21.7% 5
4-6 meetings per year
34.8% 8
7-9 meetings per year
26.1% 6
10-12 meetings per year
8.7% 2

4. If you answered no to the previous question, Why do you not attend the monthly meetings?

Schedule conflict
100.0% 6
Find enough information on Dutchtownwest.org
0.0% 0
Not interested in goals of DWNA
0.0% 0
Meeting is a waste of time
0.0% 0

5. What would make the monthly DWNA meetings more interesting?
~The meeting I attended was interesting.
~More time to interact with our neighbors
~Less bickering, more production
~don’t know
~More people; bring in someone new every meeting to tell us a little about the neighborhood and it’s history; or about their business or organization; updates on Block Grant money, etc.
~I like hearing the guest speakers
~I think we fit about as much as we can in the time allowed.
~no suggestions meetings are very good
~Allowing the older crotchety folks less time to complain and focus on the many positives about our area
~I enjoy the quick format of the meeting, I also appreciated the breakout sessions being at the end of the meeting
~being able to hear better, having local businesses featured
~strippers and booze
~I have seen great improvements in the neighborhood and this meeting over the last 3 years! I’d like to see more pressure on elected officials to correct the issues list. Derelict bldgs and drugs sold and thugs hanging out in Amberg park are major items that are not being resolved no matter how many people call the police or write up CSB complaints.
~I have only attended one meeting so far, but it seems to be a constant focus on the same subjects. I know this because I have moved in with my girlfriend, who has been a long time resident of this area. re cap the previous month’s subject matter and then move on to the next. This would drive more residents to attend. KEEP IT FRESH. Talk about what other organizations are doing to be successful. Have guest speakers, maybe even have the Alderman show up or if he can’t, change the date of meetings so we can discuss issues with him. My first question when I went to the meeting was ” Where’s the Alderman????”. I grew up in the 13th ward, Alderman Fred Wessels was always accessible and visible.
~I think they are already interesting.
~Longer productive discussion of important issues (not all in the same meeting) instead of being so controlled by the clock and touching on so many issues with no conclusion or open discussion on any of them. If we are going to make the effort to meet, let’s make the meeting time a productive hour and a half instead of going home frustrated about what was not said or communicated, because the clock controls the meeting!
~Have not been able to attend any.
~Not sure
~Periodic reports from committee chairs including goals & progress toward goals, eg: from Finance, progress toward 501 (c3) status? from Block Captains, goal of 2 new Block Captains each month? or blocks W of Meramec in 2010, E of Meramec 2011? i.e. articulate more clearly some plan to get to where we want to go. Recognize progress, eg. new block captains.
~Keep them at one hour!
~talk about ideas
~I think more guests speaking in front would be better. I thought last meeting was great with all the representatives. We have the groups at the end, and I think that is a great compliment, but sometimes you don’t know what to ask. We could also use more social activities to help learn each other’s names and get to know others.

6. Do you volunteer for activities hosted by DWNA?

Yes
45.5% 10
No
54.5% 12

7. If you answered no to the previous question, why do you not volunteer?

Not physically able
7.7% 1
Schedule conflicts
92.3% 12
Not interested in activity
0.0% 0
Activity does not benefit me/my family/my property
7.7% 1

8. How often should DWNA sponsor/coordinate events outside of the regularly scheduled monthly meetings?

1-3 times per year
40.9% 9
4-6 times per year
40.9% 9
7-9 times per year
4.5% 1
10 or more times per year
13.6% 3

9. What other comments or feedback could you give to us to help improve our meetings and activities?

~Limit guest speakers each month
~Posting signage indicating the monthly meetings in more locations than just along Meramec, so as to increase awareness
~none at this time
~Keep up the good work! If folks want to complain, they should sign up and be allowed a max. of 10 minutes for discussion.
~you are doing an excellent job, keep up the good work, meetings run smoothly and are short
~This has been a very busy year for us we wish we could make more meetings.
~I like several events a year because I cannot make the Saturday amberg park clean ups nor can I make the meeting because of my work schedule and family commitments). If there were more events(volunteer or meeting related) I could have more choices to get involved…even if infrequently.
~I think the organization is off to a very good start. With a new alderman and new NSO, I look forward to a lot of progress. Also, the elected leadership is very hard working. The website gets info out in a timely manner. Minutes need to be kept – not refer to power point slides which do not tell what actions were taken. This is important. Minutes are a history of an organization.
~More productive open discussions where consensus or conclusions may be drawn or at least introduced.
~I like the park/neighborhood cleanup ideas. Should would be nice to get the renters interested and not just the owners. Lofty goal, but that would be awesome if you can help accomplish that.
~Keep up the good work!
~Consider making terms of leadership longer, maybe 1-2 years. Too much time is taken from meetings with 6 mo. committments.
~I think your organization does a good job in addressing isssues. The ability to contact the police with thorough descriptions and followup with prosecutorial matters may help with recedivisim
~I think slightly longer meetings with more people speaking up front (and allowing questions) would be a better method. Then allow the break out groups at the end so people can leave as they please and ask questions as they filter out, that is if the reps have the time to stick around.

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.

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

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

Marjorie Dove Kent’s contact information is:

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