Maplewood resident announces run for Ward 3 council seat

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Scott Criscione announced this week on Twitter that he would be taking a petition with 65 signatures to Maplewood City Hall to file to run for a Ward 3 council seat in April. Criscione is a Realtor. https://twitter.com/scottcriscione/status/1062850126715252738

Eleanor Pardini has announced she is running for Ward 2 in April. Ward 2 council member Tim Dunn’s term expires in April, 2019 and Ray Crader’s expires in 2020. Jason Goldkamp announced on his Facebook page, that he is running for the Ward 1 seat.

Church plans Thanksgiving giveaway

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Anointed Hands Christian Church, inside Christ Church at 2200 Bellevue Avenue, is set to help more than a hundred families with food this Thanksgiving, according to Rose Washington, co-pastor of the church. On Nov. 20, from 9 – 11:30 a.m., Anointed Hands will help unfortunate families with food for their Thanksgiving dinner. It’s the third year in Maplewood and the 13th at other locations. “We are so thankful to be able to help those in need in the Maplewood community with spiritual and physical food,”Washington said.

Blue Devil Zach Barton signs to play college soccer

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Maplewood Richmond Heights senior Zach Barton signed a letter of intent Wednesday to attend Southern Indiana University. Barton’s dad, David Barton posted that USI will be offering Barton a student-athlete Grant-in-Aid for the 2019-20 school year, and that Barton has been a standout on the MRH soccer squad, helping take the team to post-season play during numerous seasons, and was among the fastest runners on the MRH track team as well. Barton won the 100 meter dash state title in May 2018, as the Blue Devils took second in the state meet. https://twitter.com/mrhhighschool/status/1062816467467542531

Barton wins the 100 at the state meet:

Interest in opening a medical marijuana shop in Maplewood, and more from council meeting

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Maplewood could ending up being one of the cities in Missouri with a medical marijuana dispensary. Following statewide passage of Constitutional Amendment 2 earlier this month, once the governor sets up the process, at least one person is interested in opening a shop in Maplewood. The city “can’t not allow it,” City Manager Marty Corcoran said. He said he wouldn’t be surprised if it didn’t come to the forefront in the next six months. He also said it will be on the upcoming planning and zoning commission agenda, which will need to determine which zoning district would be appropriate for the business.

Speed humps installed on Marietta Avenue

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Maplewood city employees were installing the first of two speed humps (more gradual that speed ‘bumps’) Wednesday morning on Marietta Avenue. Maplewood officials OK’d the speed humps in August. Marietta residents have said the number of children on the block has increased to 17 in the past 12 years, and are worried about speeders, especially during morning rush hour. A traffic study showed that Marietta qualified for speed bumps — both in the number of cars going over the limit and total number overall. Update: the crew installed 0ne half of one of two speed humps on Wednesday (shown in photo).

Former Wilkinson School under contract: apartments planned

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The former Wilkinson School, on Arsenal in the Ellendale neighborhood, is under contract and will be redeveloped into apartments and mixed use, St. Louis aldermen Scott Ogilvie posted on Twitter Tuesday. St. Louis Public Schools had listed it for sale at $602,500 and now says it’s under contract. Also according to the school district: “Wilkinson School was dedicated on January 3, 1928.

Brentwood Police Department Accreditation Assessment – Public Information Session planned

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A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®), will conduct an on-site assessment of the Brentwood Police Department to determine the Department’s compliance with the standards required for international law enforcement accreditation by CALEA. The assessors will arrive at the Brentwood Police Department on Monday, November 26, 2018. They will examine all aspects of the Police Department’s policies, procedures, operations and support services to ensure the Brentwood Police Department is in compliance with best practices and standards in those areas. The CALEA assessors conducting the on-site assessment are Sharon Massey, assistant chief of police in Deer Park, Texas, with over 35 years of experience. Also Pamela Kunz, retired from DeKalb County Police Department in Tucker, Georgia.

Police release photos of GameStop robbery suspect; FBI is involved

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Maplewood Police released photos and described a robbery suspect in a Nov. 6 release. The ‘person of interest’ is suspected of robbing the GameStop in Maplewood and four other area robberies in October. Police are seeking the identity of an individual responsible for business robberies at the:

Maplewood GameStop on 10/10/2018
Florissant T-Mobile on 10/12/2018
St. Louis City GameStop on 10/17/2018
Maplewood Boost Mobile on 10/19/2018
Granite City GameStop on 10/30/2018

Maplewood Police reports that in each of the robberies the suspect displayed and threatened employees with a firearm.

Maplewood businesses

Penzeys Spices in Maplewood moves to temporary location

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Beginning Sunday, Nov 11 Penzeys Spices in Maplewood will operate out of a new temporary location — 7345 Manchester Road, across the street from their usual spot and two doors down from Schnucks (between Nu Fashion Beauty and Clarkson Eyecare), the store has announced. It’s the planned location through the holidays while repair work continues following a fire above the store in the 7300 block of Manchester Road in August that caused smoke and water damage.

Richmond Heights Veterans Day ceremony: a resident reports

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Richmond Heights resident Mike Jones emailed photos and a statement to 40 South about the Veterans Day ceremony in Richmond Heights. “I was so proud of our Police and Firemen on Sunday 11-11-11. What a great group we have in our city. A job that was more than well done. It was great to seeing our first responders taking on another duty and showing others we have a first class group that works together for its residents.

Maplewood police report armed robbery; Update: suspects in custody

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Maplewood Police are reporting that on Nov. 5 at approximately 11:40 p.m., three victims were confronted by two suspects in the 7200 block of Lyndover. 

The suspects displayed firearms and demanded property from the victims.  One of the victim’s vehicle was also taken during the robbery. No injuries were reported. Update: Maplewood police reports that Maplewood detectives have identified two St. Louis men as suspects in this robbery.

Women’s clothing boutique opens in Maplewood

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A new women’s clothing boutique, Leopard Boutique, “the spot to shop,” has opened its doors in Maplewood, at 7407 Manchester Road, they have announced. Leopard had a grand opening on Nov. 3. Leopard Boutique specializes in tops, dresses, and reasonably priced designer denim. In addition, Leopard sells shoes, accessories, seasonal items, beauty products, and gifts.

MRH award-winning teacher with WashU connection: in the press

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Maplewood Richmond Height biology teacher Chuck McWilliams, winner of the 2018 Missouri Outstanding Biology Teacher of the Year by the National Association of Biology Teachers, also has a WashU connnection. WashU has featured McWilliams.

Brentwood was also in the news the past week. KMOV — Brentwood weighing ideas to fix Deer Creek flooding issues

St. Louis Post-Dispatch — Brentwood opts not to join Ladue in study of traffic on McKnight Road
St. Louis Post-Dispatch — Schnucks adds curbside grocery pickup at four St.

Steak ‘n Shake robbed; Update: suspect arrested

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A man held up Steak ‘n Shake in Maplewood Wednesday, Oct. 24 at around 3 a.m., Fox News 2 has reported. According to the report the man displayed a gun, demanded money and fled the scene. No one was hurt. Update, Nov.

Open house set for Great Rivers Greenway through Maplewood

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The city of Maplewood has been working with Great Rivers Greenway and the city of St. Louis to extend the Deer Creek Greenway from the Deer Creek shopping center through Maplewood and the City of St. Louis to connect to the River des Peres Greenway. Project partners are hosting a community meeting on Wednesday, November 14, from 5 – 9 p.m. at the Maplewood firehouse (7601 Manchester Road) to gather feedback from residents and businesses about potential intersection options along the proposed route. Project leaders will be giving duplicate, 30-minute presentations at 7:30  and 8:30.

Neighbors but not owners come to Maplewood nuisance hearing

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Neighbors of two Maplewood houses cited for violating city maintenance ordinances said at a nuisance hearing Thursday at Maplewood City Hall that the houses are in dangerously bad condition. Neither of the owners were there. Maplewood city housing inspector, Phil Gold, said the city had received complaints about the house at 7412 Zephyr Place, that a large dying oak was in the front and the back had considerable trash. Neighbor the east, Leah O. Leah, said she’s worried that the buildup of pine needles is a fire hazard. Also that opossums and raccoons live in the back yard, but added, “they have to live somewhere.”

The Heights renovation to begin in March, run into 2020

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Richmond Heights Parks and Recreation Director Teresa Proebsting gave an update Monday night on the planned renovations at The Heights. The pool is set to close in March 2019 for six months to be totally rebuilt. The new pool will have four 7-foot wide lanes in addition to the open swim area and lazy river. Proebsting said she’s still working on an alternative pool for the months when the Maplewood Aquatic Center is closed. The east court will become a fitness room and the area above it will be an open 3,200 square foot fitness area. The balconies off the fitness room and the library will be enclosed with glass.

Maplewood council member at city officials summit in LA

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Maplewood City Council member Sandi Phillips left Monday for the National League of Cities Summit in Los Angeles, she posted on Facebook. “Honored and excited to represent Maplewood this week, and looking forward to hearing Elon Musk speak!” she said. From the meeting’s website: “City Summit is the only opportunity for all local officials—elected and staff—to learn about the issues affecting local governments and expand their professional network. The conference provides education for leadership development, meaningful discussions on common local-level problems and new best practices to address the trends affecting cities.

Brentwood opts out of McKnight Road study; Richmond Heights plans improvements for the road

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The Brentwood Board of Aldermen voted 6-2 on Monday against working with Ladue in a study of ways to reduce traffic congestion and improve safety on McKnight Road between Litzsinger Road and Highway 40, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has reported. Brentwood borders the east side of the road and Ladue is the west. The plan was for the cities to split the $19,700 cost for the study by CBB Transportation Engineering Planners. At the meeting the aldermen expressed concern that the study would reflect Ladue’s concerns and not theirs.