January/February 2013

NEXT MEETING | JANUARY 28, 7:00 PM Speakers on Safety and Security Issues Officer James Cox and NSO Brian Kolde

OLLY HILLS HAPPENINGS HOLLY HILLS IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION (HHIA) | Grand to Morganford and Bates to Loughborough

IN THIS ISSUE Safety and security to be addressed

Business Listings...... 2-11 at next HHIA meeting If you are a member of HHIA email list, you police liaison, Officer James Cox Real Estate...... 3 know that break-ins during the holidays and 11th Ward NSO Brian Kolde will were a hot topic of conversation. (Not discuss burglary statistics and security on ? Go to hhia.info and scroll strategies such as Neighborhood Holiday Decorations...... 3 down to enter your email or send Watch groups. Please join us for an email to HollyHillsNeighborhood- a constructive discussion of this Cash In on Your Stuff...... 4 [email protected] from important topic. your email account.) In addition, HHIA is in the process of Meeting Minutes...... 5 Because of the level of interest, safety organizing a “Safety Expo” to which we and security will be the topic at our will invite a variety of alarm companies Jan. 28 neighborhood meeting (7 and other security professionals. Stay The Holly Hills Improvement p.m. at the RecPlex). Our community tuned for more details. Association (HHIA) was formed on September 10, 1927. Since its inception, HHIA has worked to promote the well being of Holly HHIA Dues are Due Hills and its residents. For more HHIA membership is by calendar year, And don’t worry, if you send it a information or to become a so it’s time to pay your dues! Dues payment and we see you have paid member, please contact us. are just $15 per year for a household recently, we will simply extend your membership or $25 for a business membership. Why not get in the habit PO Box 22144 membership that includes a business- of renewing each January? St. Louis, MO 63116 card-sized ad in the newsletter for one http://hollyhills.info year (we also have larger ad sizes We rely on dues to pay the cost of [email protected] available). printing and mailing the newsletter, insurance and other expenses. As the Follow us on Twitter: If you can’t remember the last time longest continuously operating @hollyhills_stl you paid, it’s probably time to renew. continued on pg 7 HOLLY HILLS HAPPENINGS January/February 2013

Message from the president New! Pay for your HHIA residential Holly Hills Real Estate holiday Last month, I received an email asking from a man letting or business membership online Courtesy of Paul Sager | listings as of 1/9/13 me know his neighbor’s house had been burglarized and decorating with a credit card. wondering if there wasn’t a way to tell people to be on the 5729 Dewey...... $35,000 (UC) 6139 Ray...... $169,000 contest lookout. Little did he know, there had already been an 3844 Bates...... $56,900 6717 Alexander...... $179,900 extensive conversation on the HHIA email list about the Go to hollyhills.info and click on 5648 Morganford...... $60,000 4147 Alma...... $195,000 In the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season this year, one burglary, prompting us to make safety and security the topic “Membership.” In addition, we’re 4120 Haven...... $71,000 (UC) 3856 Federer...... $199,900 (UC) thing that received short shrift was of this month’s meeting. accepting credit cards for payment 4210 Bates...... $74,900 4074 Holly Hills...... $214,900 the holiday decorating contest. 4114 Fillmore...... $79,900 4102 Federer...... $249,900 But a show of hands at a recent neighborhood meeting at neighborhood meetings. Now The announcement was late 4143 Burgen...... $89,900 6240 Arendes...... $255,000 (UC) indicated most people in attendance didn’t know about it’s easier than ever to support your and these homes did not get the 3829 Burgen...... $98,000 6114 Arendes...... $255,000 (UC) the email list and weren’t members. In addition to spreading neighborhood! “decorating contest winner” signs.” awareness about the burglary – the homeowner had sent out a 4154 Bates...... $109,250 (UC) 5620 Arendes...... $279,900 We’ll do better next year! request asking if anyone had seen anything – the conversation 4120 Fillmore...... $109,500 3999 Holly Hills...... $375,000 turned to security techniques and other solutions. 6007 Leona...... $115,000 (UC) The good news is, HHIA recognized 3966 Burgen...... $120,000 Sold as of January 9, 2013 a number of homes this time - Holly Because crime is thankfully rare in our neighborhood, the list 3637 Fillmore...... $125,000 Hills was very festive this year! 3862 Bates...... $25,000 is most often used to announce lost and found pets or solicit 4161 Loughborough...... $129,500 recommendations for a plumber or plasterer or tuck-pointer. 4151 Bowen...... $43,000 6148 Marwinette had a lovely holly 4133 Haven...... $129,900 People have asked about leaf pick-up schedules, home 6125 Newport...... $65,000 tree motif 3680 Wilmington.... $139,900 (UC) owners insurance and city ordinances. We also announce HHIA 6135 Newport...... $68,500 3939 Fillmore...... $146,900 meetings and events. It’s such a valuable communication tool 6823 Leona...... $85,500 3850 Bowen had a very classy 3662 Wilmington...... $149,900 and you can actually accomplish things using the list! 6101 Ray...... $125,000 display of green & red and with 6111 Marwinette.... $150,000 (UC) white lights 3854 Bowen...... $162,500 I’m always amazed at the number of people in the area who 4138 Haven...... $154,900 (UC) continued on pg 7 4129 Holly Hills...... $185,000 don’t know about HHIA – if you’re reading this newsletter you 4087 Haven...... $165,000 4061 Holly Hills...... $300,000 apparently do. Did you know about the email list? Now you do! Holly Hills Happenings is a publication of the To join, go to www.hollyhills.info and scroll down the page to Holly Hills Improvement Association. the Yahoo list sign up box. Newsletter Editor: Stacy Ross ~ Stacy Ross Layout & Production: Jen Chapman Website Administrators: Jim Ross & Neal Jenney NUMBERS TO KNOW First District Police...... 444-0100 HHIA Board Members Police (non-emergency)...... 231-1212 Anonymous Drug, Gang, Homicide Police Line...... 241-COPS Stacy Ross, President Brian Kolde—Ward 11 NSO...... 657-1364 Kendal Dauphin, Recording Secretary T. J. Minden—Ward 13 NSO...... 622-3444 Citizens’ Service Bureau...... 622-4800 Tara Ohler-Jenney, Immediate Past President Humane Society...... 647-8800 Paul Sager, Past President Alderman Tom Villa 11th Ward...... 622-3287 Beth Murphy, Treasurer Alderman Fred Wessels 13th Ward...... 589-6836 Brenda Smarko, Financial Secretary State Rep. Jake Hummel 108th District...... 457-1792 Anna Baldwin, Member at Large State Senator Jim Lembke 1st District...... 845-8508 Ted Disabato, Member at Large State Senator Robin Wright-Jones 5th District...... 533-8800 Jan Hill, Member at Large

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How to Cash in on Stuff You Don’t Need or Want! HHIA meeting minutes November 26, 2012 If you or someone you know is household items. If you have The companies that will hold partial Roll Call: Present - Stacy Ross, Jan budget is over $900 million. in motion but not completed yet. moving, downsizing, settling an not used Craig’s List, set up an estate sales will work with you to Hill, Beth Murphy, Tara Ohler-Jenney, Forest Park Forever must buy all the estate, or going into a retirement account. I suggest creating a separate items for sale and those Anna Baldwin Nationwide financial crisis started in bonds but still needs the to or assisted living facility, several new e-mail account on hotmail or that are not being sold. 2008—City got A+ credit rating— buy the bonds. City is not going to options are available to make g-mail just for Craig’s List because Guest Speaker - Comptroller first time in 35 years. Maintained stick its neck out without knowing the transition easier. Holding a you do not want people to be able One of the differences between Darlene Green Seventeen years that over last four years. She is Forest Park Forever has their part in garage sale, listing items for sale to send spam or other unwanted an estate sale and a garage on . Comptroller works with a conservative comptroller— place. The other piece is a question on Craig’s List, or hiring an estate email to your regular inbox. Also, sale is that you can command a mayor and the president of the responsibility as city officials to mark—Why? Because what is sale company are all options that do not put an automatic address higher price for items in an estate Board of Aldermen to put together deliver city services to citizens. USA the city collateral going to be for work for many people. Let’s look at and phone number for replies sale than in a garage sale. As a city budget. lost it’s a+ credit rating, but St. Louis bonds for St. Louis parks? From what is involved in these choices. on the emails. It is best to remain person who goes to a lot of estate kept theirs. experience people generally love anonymous while negotiating. I sales and runs estate sales, I look This year $465 million operating St. Louis bonds—across the country Garage Sales: This is the most only look at listings with photos so for sales that are put on by family budget approved. Last year $450 Questions: Parks Bond issue— and on Wall Street—especially St. common way to dispose of include a good photo of the item. members. Why? Because either the million. Slight increase - Some came where does it stand, when going Louis airport bonds. unwanted items. Most garage If possible, plan to meet the buyer merchandise is priced at garage- from citizens because of new fee into effect? sales take place during the in a parking lot of a public place. sale prices (which I love) or the for trash collection and from Cards Does not support the second part warmer months in our area and Do not invite prospective buyers prices are too high (and I quickly winning in 2011. With revenue from Answer: First part is Forest Park of the bonds issue—parks we have passed the best window into your home ESPECIALLY if you move on to the next sale). Airport and water dept. added bond issue - $30million—deal is continued on pg 8 of opportunity to hold a successful live alone. Accept cash only—no sale in a garage or on a lawn or checks—for obvious reasons. Your goal with an estate sale is to patio. If you need to hold a sale in get a wide variety of customers: the next several months, consider Pros: It is free. the person looking to furnish an using your basement. Setting up apartment or house; the dealers a sale requires advertising (usually Cons: It takes time to set up the who sell on e-bay, thrift store or on Craig’s List or in the local account, monitor your e-mail for antique mall; and people just newspaper), clearing a location replies, negotiate a price, and looking for something interesting. An for tables to hold the merchandise, meet the purchaser. There is safety established estate sale company and pricing the items. People are to consider. knows how to bring the buyers to looking for a bargain at this type of your sale. Look for a company that sale so “rock-bottom pricing” is a Estate Sale: Hiring a company to provides free advertising. key to selling everything. Be willing hold an estate sale gives you the to negotiate—people love to walk freedom to put the work in the Pros: You do not have to do any work. away feeling like they were savvy hands of professionals. Estate sale If you plan to hire a company, do hagglers! companies will meet with you at not throw anything away except junk no cost to determine if a sale is a mail. Take personal items such as Pros: You reap the financial reward. good option. People who run estate income tax forms, bank statements, sales organize and price the items etc. out of the house and then let Cons: You do all the work and must for sale, advertise the sale, put up the company determine what will sell your items at a lower price than signs directing people to the sale, sell. Many homeowners dispose of the other options. and handle the sales transactions. things that we know will sell such as It is good to know that with many, metal Band-Aid boxes, half-empty Craig’s List: You may want to list but not all, estate sale companies cans of cleaning products, or a specific items for sale on Craig’s you do not have to move out of rusted garden urn. List—especially furniture and your house to have an estate sale. continued on pg 7

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Dues continued from pg 1 and activities that help make Holly send a check to HHIA, P.O. Box A fifth grader’s view of woerner school Hills a great place to live. 22144, St. Louis, MO 63116. Or join neighborhood association in the online and pay with a credit card There is always something great A really cool thing kids do at I am looking forward to the big city, HHIA is a hub for information To join or renew your membership, through PayPal at www.hhia.info going on at Woerner Elementary Woerner is try out to be a Project Spelling Bee we have every year. School. Most recently, we were Wisdom Speaker. If you are a good It is for students in Grades 1-5 and Decorations continued from pg 3 4086 Haven – If you’ve never in the block on that side of the asked to complete a big Winter speaker and get chosen, you get to is pretty great, especially if you’re a been by this home, be sure to street had some kind of holiday Break Learning Packet. Those of us go to each morning and great speller. 5939 Coronado had a very check it out from time to time. The lights – well done! who completed our packet, will speak on the intercom about our colorful display homeowners change the display in receive a Dance Party. Here we word of the month. For December, Did you know that Woerner School their front window for every season. As always thank you to everyone get to listen to loud, fun music and our word was courage. has single gender classes? It is pretty 4146 Haven also had a festive red In the past they’ve had a really who made our holidays just a little dance. fun because if you are a girl, & green display and train fun Fourth of July display. For the bit prettier by going to the trouble to you get to hang around with winter season they had a very nice put up a display. We try to recognize Woerner is a No Bully Zone. your girl . If you are a 4102 Haven was my personal snowflake and reindeer display. a wide range of decorations – there Woerner School does not like boy, you can hang out with favorite – lots and lots of very are several homes that go above bullying so we do not bully your boy friends. colorful lights! 4000 block (even side) of Alma and beyond every year and we people. Another thing we do was really nice – I think every house especially thank you. is instead of playing outside Woerner is a great school. in the morning, we go to Come by and check us out! the gym and read, read, Cash In continued from pg 4 I hope this comparison of garage For more tips on cashing in on read. We hope this helps our ~ Avionna Cotton sales, Craig’s List, and estate sales unwanted items, send an e-mail to grades in reading. 5th Grade Cons: You pay a percentage of the will be helpful in determining what me at [email protected] Woerner Elementary money from the sale to the people is best for you when you move, or call me at 314.753.5805. who set up and work the sale, but downsize, or need to dispose of an again, you are not the one having estate. ~ Deborah Fisher to do the work.

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Minutes continued from pg 7 city parks) of bond issue. lawyers and a prosecutor and a Minutes continued from pg 8 District then they should close.” He Hills it’s up, too—3 rapes this year— court that deals specifically with it. called for the closure of Imagine none last year. Vehicle thefts are up, maintenance is her high priority Wants to make sure that money Over 9,000 properties have been Won’t take place until 2023 with an Schools—they were performing especially in Holly Hills. Do not warm and she wants that but not capital raised for parks stays in the parks. brought up to code due to the election because it’s easier to do worse than St. Louis Public Schools. up cars and leave them running! bonds because they subordinate Stop taking park money to balance team. Dozens of private attorneys after the 2020 census, numbers Mayor attended Epiphany Catholic Aggravated assaults—initiative in maintenance needs for 30 years. budget. To make sure parks now volunteering their time to released in 2021 and then election school, closed and now has July 2012—chief’s initiative in hot The new stuff will be paid for by maintain their funding, private crack down on problem properties will be 2023. First aldermen will be Charter –Gateway—and there’s a spots throughout city—force trying capital bonds, but the capital people came up with the bond with the City’s team. Partnered with for two years and next election for waiting list. The thing about charter to address that issue. No hot spots bonds would not pay for a pothole issue. Mayor disagrees with Green Bar Association of Metropolitan St. four and then the elections of wards schools is that the sponsor has to in Holly Hills. in that street. about what you can do with capital Louis and downtown firms and yes, will be staggered—won’t elect all be involved (like Lindenwood U, money—says you could fill a they are volunteering. aldermen all in same election. etc.). St. Louis schools have been 11th Ward Alderman Tom Villa Will move forward with capital pothole. If we only complete Forest losing kids and money since long Ald. Wessels and Villa did not vote bonds only if they look like they Park bond issue, then neighborhood Mayor supporting school district’s Question: Charter schools— before charter schools. People the same on the proposed second make sense and right now they parks would suffer. Forest Park bond improvements. Provisional Woman (a psychotherapist) asks have been moving out of St. Louis part of bond issue—Villa agrees don’t. City is flush with money for ($30million) issue is moving forward accreditation, but thinks that’s about level of challenge—one of for decades because of schools. with Darlene Green and does NOT maintaining parks - way better and second part ($34million) of a minimum and educational her child patients was being used We lost 29,000 people in last agree with Mayor. He does not than the County. Half-cent cent two tier idea is the neighborhood excellence is what you really need. as teacher’s assistant because she census and says we lost 22,000 think a city should go into debt for sales tax increase (since 1993 she parks bond issue. Keep in mind Supports good quality charter was so much smarter. children in city and so every person a city park system that is perfectly thinks) and another increase. This this money is staying in the parks. schools along with regular public moved because of lack of quality fine. Carondelet Park does not get money also lets the City balance Revenues we have for the parks will schools. Answer: Mayor has been involved free public education options. any more money if we sell the $34 the operating budget. Right now be used to back the bonds for the with 18 charter schools, he has a million bond, but we get it quicker 100% of maintenance money parks. Mayor says he and Green Unemployment rate in St. Louis has team of people who work on this Officer James Cox New community and once you spend that money, goes to maintenance. If we do respectfully disagree on this one, dropped about 30% from 13.3% and there are some schools, such liaison - has12 years on force, first it’s gone. Thinks Green is using the bond issue, 75% will go for but agree on more things. to 9.3% from high in July 2010. Still as some closed down, that he was in north city Fifth District for five good fiscal prudence. Thinks it’s a bonds and 25% will be left to pay way too high he says, but making has not been involved with. When or six years, then Second District for great city park system. If you spend for maintenance of parks citywide. Mayor’s No. 1 budgetary priority is improvements. St. Louis is recognized charter schools are bad they should a year, then First District for four years. the money that we get judiciously, People on her staff, who usually to keep neighborhoods safe. City as one of top 10 cities in US to start close. “If these schools aren’t better it’s a wonderful park system and it disagree, are in agreement on spends more than $300 million on a business and he says we have than the St. Louis Public School District 1: Rape is up 30%, for Holly works without getting more money NOT wanting these bonds. They’ve public safety—police and fire, law lots of things in city to support such faster. In process of redoing a been in her office for decades. enforcement, courts, prosecutors startups. St. Louis recognized as bunch of parks (Bellerive Park three- (out of the $465Million) Starting July THE TOP city in America for college David J. Borgmeyer, D.D.S. phase project—phase one is dug Guest speaker Mayor Slay 1, 2013, City will have local control educated young people moving up now) (Fanetti Park). Responding to Green’s comments: of police because Prop A passed. into the city—highest number of Augustine J. Borgmeyer, D.D.S. Lot of people with lots of private Now five-person board and Mayor them in city. David Newberger, atty working with money want to do good things is on it. More direct accountability disabled in city office, working on for Forest Park. Raised well over to people is important and save Prop. R passed and board of Modern dental technology with an hooking up Bellerive and Sister Marie $50million. They want to have a several million dollars by now aldermen will reduce by half in old-fashioned “chairside manner.” Charles park—ramp—connect all maintenance fund to make it last having local control of police— 10 years. Aldermen will represent with handicap approvable path—if long into the future. Private people merge resources over time to about the same number of people too steep then need a switchback— concerned that they’re putting share IT, lawyers, accountants, etc. they did in the 1970s. In ‘50s and 5914 Leona Street takes a long time to decide in so much private money into park Any reductions in staff will be by ‘60s aldermen represented even St. Louis, MO 63116 meetings and to do the work. and city keeps taking park money attrition only—NO layoffs. Crime more people than they will in 10 (314) 351-6554 to balance city budget. Park going down, but still more work to years, so it is totally doable and St. Louis board of Aldermen— issue--$30 million on Forest Park (first do to make neighborhoods safer. citizens will still get attention from fax (314) 351-4035 passed an ordinance about used part) of park bond issue and $34 aldermen. Will be more efficient. [email protected] cell phones. million on second part (all other Problem properties team—seven continued on pg 9 continued on pg 10

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Minutes continued from pg 9 evolved into a phenomenon. every neighborhood meeting he Someone said that someone’s attends. Get a club if you don’t War on street lights in Holly Hills— going to get hit by a car because have one—keep an extra for when knocked one down on Holly Hills so very many people. Stacy Ross you have visitors. $13 from NSO and and one on Federer in last 4 or brought up the possibility of having collector of revenue. Larceny— 5 days—people driving too fast. a neighborhood event similar to St. theft out of cars—happens at Rec. Bushes on Holly Hills that were terribly Louis Hills Candy Cane lane. Plex and wherever—do NOT leave overgrown at Arendes and Holly stuff in your car! Hills—street machine scorched 11th Ward NSO Brian Kolde Works them so they were removed in the in Dept of Public Safety and with the Announcements Please pay dues!! last week and will be replaced with police, dealing with lots of problem Pay in person or on website—Paypal something nice. properties. Code problems but also on website or pay with credit card behavioral nuisance activities— here tonight by using Square. Police substation at Southwest occupied buildings and the Crossing apartments has been set problem is the people in the bldgs. Question about out of state plates up—I-55 and Germania. New Planet Former 13th Ward NSO TJ Minden on a car living in a rental place for Fitness—opening fairly soon. Family is now working with city’s Dept of a year and more. Tom Villa doesn’t Dollar on South Broadway-they Emergency Management. NSO have a clue about what to do ground and Grand and Iron Family for Ward 13 temporarily is Maria about it but says if we’re missing Dollar they’re working on inside still. Cuciureanu - phone 657.1374. out on their city earnings tax, that’s New one will be in Jan. or Feb. a problem. He got a couple calls about on Holly Hills—it has Car thefts i an issue for Brian at Meeting adjourned.

page 10 page 11 Holly Hills Improvement Association PO Box 22144 | St. Louis, MO 63116

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