Shop selling ‘everything sweet’ to take former Boardwalk Waffles & Ice Cream location

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On Friday, two days after Boardwalk Waffles moved out of 7326B Manchester (to relocate to its new spot at 7376 Manchester), a new owner was beginning work for the small location’s new business. Shannon MacMiller plans to open a shop selling “everything sweet,” she said, including pies, cakes and cookies. Her sons and a friend were beginning the buildout work. MacMiller hopes to open in the middle of September.

City asks group helping food-insecure neighbors to remove mini pantries on city property; they start a petition

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The group calling itself MapleGOOD, started to help food-insecure residents of Maplewood during the pandemic, is being asked by the city to removed three of the mini-food and hygiene pantries they stock around the city. The pantries were discussed at a recent city council meeting and council members were concerned about liability to the city. MapleGOOD started a petition to tell the city the pantries should stay. Sign the petition here. The deadline to sign is 1 p.m. Aug.

In the press: Boardwalk Waffles to move to prime Maplewood corner, famous STL chef selling Richmond Heights home

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Maplewood’s Boardwalk Waffles moving to Manchester and Sutton; St. Louis County restaurants learn to deal with new restrictions, and more in the news. Feast — Boardwalk Waffles & Ice Cream to Reopen in Larger Space in Maplewood on Aug. 15
KMOV — ‘Seems like we’re battling our own government;’ Restaurant owners react to new StL Co. restrictions
KMOV — Safety of shopping malls questioned after deadly shooting inside St.

Immaculate Conception again not a polling place

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Maplewood residents with Immaculate Conception Church as their polling place in the past will cast their vote at Maplewood City Hall on Aug. 4, as they did in recent elections. The reason is COVID-related. An official at the election commission said Monday that fewer of past election workers are willing to work the polls in the current situation, so countywide, the number of polling places has been reduced by almost 50%. Polling places that are privately owned, such as a church, can also decide not to participate.

Gina Mitten endorses Jo Doll: her letter

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State Representative for the 83rd District Gina Mitten previously endorsed Jo Doll as her replacement. Doll’s campaign forwarded Mitten’s endorsement letter on Thursday. Mitten’s endorsement:

First, thank you to every resident of the 83rd for their trust in affording me the opportunity to serve as their State Representative for the past eight years. It has been an honor to be of service by representing you in Jefferson City. I am forever grateful for the support of our friends and neighbors all these years.

Maplewood city council discusses food pantry boxes, and potential liability

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The Maplewood city council met on Tuesday via Zoom, and the subject of the various food pantry boxes around the city came up. Maplewood resident, Donna Parks Ratkowski, summarized on Facebook a portion of the meeting where council members discussed the food pantries (boxes stocked by residents for anyone needing food) found in various parts of the city. The group called Maplegood organizes stocking the boxes, some with food and some with personal care items.

Ratkowski noted that some of the council members’ biggest concern about the food pantries seem to be about liability. Her notes are below:

Big concern about attracting homeless folks to our community, especially as they are driven out of locations in the City. They said until a couple of weeks ago we had 2-3 unhoused folks that camped at Kellogg Park, and now there are more like 15 people.

MRH, Brentwood schools decide how to begin coming year

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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic continuing in the area, the Maplewood Richmond Heights School District Board decided on July 23 to begin the 2020-2021 school year with full-time virtual instruction, beginning August 25. The plan is for students to transition back into the buildings when it is safe to do so. Below is the statement from the school district. MRH Staff, Families and Community,
Leaders of the Maplewood Richmond Heights School District believe the current scope of the COVID-19 pandemic in our area at this time will prevent us from starting the school year safely with in-person learning. When students resume learning on August 25, our District will launch the school year with full-time virtual instruction for grades K-12.

In the news: School reopening plans, Galleria shooting

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In the press lately:

Fox 2 — Galleria Mall shooting: Person of interest in custody
Kansas City Star — Police ‘investigating an incident’ at Galleria Mall in St. Louis
KSDK — Grab your rafts: Maplewood aquatic center hosting 2 ‘dive-in’ movies
KSDK — St. Louis County school districts release reopening plans
KSDK — Police searching for suspects in robbery at Maplewood CVS
KSDK — Restaurants, religion and doctors: See which St. Louis industries led the way for PPP funding
Riverfront Times — Galleria Mall Shooting Under Investigation in Richmond Heights
St. Louis Post-Dispatch — School reopening plans across St.

MRH board member announces plan to vote for remote start for the fall

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Maplewood Richmond Heights School District board member, Nikylan Knapper, announced on Facebook Tuesday her intention to vote for a remote start to the upcoming school year. The Board will hold a special work session at 6:30 p.m. on July 23. This is the video link, supplied by the school district. From Nikylan Knapper:
Transparent. During my campaign for MRH School Board, I told community members I would be transparent and tell you what I would vote for and why.

Maplewood resident, city Sustainability Commission member, chosen for scholarship

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Maplewood resident Jonathan Spencer has been chosen for a scholarship from the Midwest Renewable Energy Association. Project Dragonfly (Miami University, Oxford, Ohio) made the announcement on Facebook. The award is designed to help students pursuing degrees and/or relevant credentials in renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainability, or clean technology. From Project Dragonfly: (Miami University, Oxford, Ohio) student Jonathan Spencer, was honored with the The Midwest Renewable Energy Association & Straubel Foundation Clean Energy Leadership Award for his work to empower citizens to launch sustainability commissions in their own municipalities. Spencer is a member of the Maplewood Sustainability Commission and an AIP student through his home institution, the Missouri Botanical.

In the press: Ice Cream Month, CVS manager wrestles robber, Covid

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Area news found in the press:

Fox 2 — Police suspect same individuals behind pharmacy robberies Sunday night
KSDK — Celebrate National Ice Cream Month with ‘The Great Ice Cream Chase’
KSDK — Windows smashed, gun stolen from car in Galleria parking lot Wednesday
KSDK — Blackout Day highlights Black-owned businesses in the St. Louis area
St. Louis Business Journal — Employee at Richmond Heights Schnucks tests positive for Covid-19
St. Louis Post-Dispatch — Surveillance video: CVS store manager punched while trying to stop Maplewood robbery
St. Louis Post-Dispatch — Photos: Swimmers hit the pools as the temperatures rise into the 90’s
St.

Local press mentions — it’s all Covid, masks, etc.

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Class pets are pandemic houseguests, and more COVID-related local news. KSDK — This Richmond Heights business requires everyone to wear a face mask
St. Louis Post-Dispatch — With local tax revenues hit by COVID-19, state offering loans to small cities across Missouri
St. Louis Post-Dispatch — Class pets become long-term pandemic houseguests while St. Louis schools are out
The New York Times — Does Your Local Doctor Have a Coronavirus Test for You?

MRH principal is first to arrive, and helps out, at crash site on I-55

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On July 4, MRH Middle School Principal Mike Dittrich was traveling north on I-55 in central Illinois and saw a car traveling south lose control and spin multiple times for about 50-75 yards taking out the cable barriers, he reported on Facebook. Dittrich stopped and crossed over to help the three passengers out of the car. All three were OK but shaken up. He stayed until EMS arrived. By that time all three were up and walking around.

Tyler Merkel, candidate for House District 83

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Tyler Merkel is running for Missouri’s House District 83 seat, held by Gina Mitten, who has hit her term limit. He has shared this press release and photo:
Friends and Neighbors,

If we have not yet met, my name is Tyler Merkel and I am running for House District 83, which spans from Rock Hill in the west to Clifton Heights and Franz Park in the east. After living in Maplewood for over a decade, I have witnessed our community change and prosper over the years. However, despite our progress, the majority in the Missouri legislature has failed to address our needs or pass legislation that reflects our values. When St.

In the news: Richmond Heights laying off 18 city employees

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The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports 18 Richmond Heights full-time city employees are being laid off because sales tax receipts are down 50%, according to City Manager Amy Hamilton. Here’s more in the news, most of it is COVID-19-related. Fox 2 — Richmond Heights Police Department deploys body cameras to officers
Fox 2 — Gyms, casinos, and more large venues reopen in St. Louis County
KMOV — Pools in St.

Richmond Heights Police officers begin using body-worn cameras

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The Richmond Heights Police Department announced on Facebook Wednesday that after nearly two years of research and testing, the department will be using body-worn cameras. The cameras were implemented on Monday. Officers will be required to activate cameras when engaging in patrol duties, such as crimes in progress, vehicle stops, searches, and arrests. Recordings will be retained for a minimum of 30 days, or longer if the recording is involved in court proceedings, investigations, departmental needs, etc. The department says body-worn cameras will aid in its mission to perform law enforcement duties fairly and impartially and to increase transparency.

Maplewood mayor reviews city’s police policies and procedures

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Maplewood Mayor Barry Greenberg said in a letter emailed to residents that he has been asked what safeguards are in place in Maplewood to ensure that the disturbing police actions we have seen around the country will not take place in Maplewood. Greenberg said he has reviewed the policies and procedures the Maplewood Police Department utilizes to serve the city. He summarizes the policies on the city’s website. He noted that in Maplewood last year the police department made 1,557 arrests and there was not a single allegation of excessive force filed against Maplewood officers.

Maplewood “March For Black Lives” planned

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A social-distancing (wear a mask), kid-friendly “March for Black Lives” is scheduled for Saturday morning at 11 a.m. in Maplewood, meeting in Sutton Loop Park. According to the event listing on Facebook: After brief remarks in Sutton Loop Park, the march will travel north on Sutton Boulevard, east on Manchester Road, north on Oakview Terrace, west on Zephyr Place, and south on Sutton back to the park. Any with limited mobility or who want to join from a distance are encouraged to participate from anywhere along the route, including on Manchester or in Ryan Hummert Park. An organizer said on Facebook that this event grew out of the “small, leaderless action that has been ongoing at Big Bend and Manchester since June 1.” See the Facebook event