Tower Grove Heights Neighborhood Association Meeting

Nov. 24, 2009     7:30 p.m.    14 attendees

President Mark Froese chaired the meeting. 

Mark Abbott and Kerri Bonasch were introduced.  Mark has written a book with Kerri entitled Tower Grove (published by Reedy Press) about the neighborhoods of Tower Grove East, Tower Grove Heights and Oak Hill.  The book was available at the meeting and he autographed copies of it before the meeting.  It is available at Grove Furniture, Local Harvest, Barnes & Noble and Borders bookstores for $18, plus tax.

David Carroll, of UrbanFuture, discussed the mentoring and tutoring programs of the organization.   Tutors and mentors work with 4th through 8th grade students in what David described as a community restoration effort—reconnecting home, school and community.  Mentors partner with parents and teachers to focus on character development, goal setting and literacy.  Tutors work with individuals or small groups on academic skills.  David collected signatures of volunteers to work with students at Mann and Fanning Schools.  The sessions are 1 hour per week, 4:30 – 5:30, Mon.-Thurs. at the school.  Training is provided and mentors/tutors are matched with students.  There is a weekly, 1 hour information session on Tuesday s at 4:30.  Contact UrbanFutures at 314-776-3434 or www.urbanfuturestl.org.

Mark Langevin and Chris Lee introduced themselves as the new owners of the pet grooming spa A Walk in the Park , at 3892 Wyoming St.  They provide full grooming services for both cats and dogs.  They don’t yet have any retail services but do have hand-painted bowls and other articles from neighborhood artists for sale in the shop.  For an appointment or further information, contact the shop at 314-664-DOGS (3647) or awalkinthepark@awalkintheparkgrooming.com.

As the Tower Grove Heights Neighborhood Association has done for several years, we will be sponsoring families from the 100 Neediest Cases.  Ellen Wilson organizes this event.  TGHNA pays the expenses for things like the flyers, wrapping paper, etc. and collects the donations.  Ellen organizes wrapping the presents and preparing them for distribution.  Due date for donations is December 18.  Wrapping Party is December 19, 10:00 a.m. at Ellen’s house at 3617 Juniata St.  Drop point and contact:  Ellen Wilson, 314-771-1732.

Mark reported that Jennifer Florida, the 15th Ward Alderman, told him that the signage proposal for TGHNA was approved by the City.  This proposal was to get six permanent, metal neighborhood signs to be distributed at the borders of Tower Grove Heights.  This spring, the six signs will be installed.  The design was done by local architect Tim Barker.   We will have the plans to show to the group when they are returned by the City.

President Mark Froese introduced the slate of candidates for the Board for 2010:

·         Marilyn Browning, President Elect

·         David Kim, Treasurer

·         Claudia Seifert, Secretary

·         Debby Ervin, Membership Secretary

Rick Stein moved that this slate of candidates be elected.  Pauline Ashton seconded the motion.  The election of the candidates was unanimous.

There will be no December meeting.  The TGHNA membership drive will start in January 2010.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m. 

Claudia Seifert, Secretary