An interesting thought was put forth at last night's candidate debate, and I wonder what you think about it?

At the debate the question, or shall I say scenario was placed into the discussion reference the Crestwood Court's property.

The gist of the scenario is simple, what if a natural disaster befell Crestwood Courts that completely wiped out the existing center and left only debris in it's wake?

Now take it a bit further and let's say that the owners received a check for $50 Million Dollars in insurance funds to cover the loss. Now, what would the owners do with respect to building a new and different facility?

Better yet, what would YOU do were you the owner to help make the NEW COURT'S a viable and vibrant spot that people would want to come to?

Your turn...........


Tom Ford

NO. 1005

Candidates for Ward Two and Ward Four Alderman to debate on Monday, March 19,2012 in the BOA chambers starting at 7:00 PM. Please join us.

Please join your friends and neighbors at the Crestwood candidates debate set for Monday night, March 19, 2012 at 7:00 PM in the Board chambers at City Hall. The following format will be followed. A coin toss will determine which of the wards will go first.

Ward Two: Tim Trueblood, Mary Stadter

Ward Four: Steve Nieder, Dan Tennessen

(All Alderman and the Mayor will be invited, but only candidates will be debating.)

The format will be as follows, each Ward will have one hour for questions from the audience which must be hand written in advance with the questioners Name and Ward on it (can be first name only.) The forms for the questions will be available at the door starting at 6:30 PM.

Your questions will then be asked by one of the three moderators (Jackie Stock, Roger Anderson, or Tom Ford.) Each Candidate will have three minutes to answer the question and their opponent will have three minutes for rebuttal if needed.

Each Ward will be given a total of one hour for their portion of the debate, and we will stick to that time frame so as to give everyone a chance to ask and answer.

We ALL ask that the candidates not attempt to "stack" the audience in their favor as we expect fair play from all involved.

Please remember that there is no food or drink allowed in the chambers and your keeping the room as we found it will be greatly appreciated.

We hope to see ALL of you there for this most important debate, and remember, as the man once said, "You get the Government you deserve.

Tom Ford

NO. 1004

Time for a bit of levity here folks!

from Friend "Bob" in Columbus, Indiana.




FAMILY TREE OF VINCENT VAN GOGH




His dizzy aunt -------------------------Verti Gogh



The brother who ate prunes--------------Gotta Gogh



The brother who worked at a convenience store -Stop N Gogh



The grandfather from Yugoslavia --------U Gogh



His magician uncle ---------------------Where-diddy Gogh



His Mexican cousin ---------------------A Mee Gogh



The Mexican cousin's American half-brother -Gring Gogh



The nephew who drove a stage coach ------Wells-far Gogh



The constipated uncle -------------------Can't Gogh



The ballroom dancing aunt ---------------Tang Gogh



The bird lover uncle --------------------Flamin Gogh



An aunt who taught positive thinking --Way-to-Gogh



The little bouncy nephew ---------------Poe Gogh



A sister who loved disco ---------------Go Gogh



And his niece who travels the country in an RV -Winnie Bay Gogh

I saw you smiling :-)... there ya Gogh



Tom Ford

NO. 1003

Do you believe in the Christian, Judeo principals our Republic was founded upon? Well if so, please tell me how you feel about these facts.

From a friend and decorated marine Aviator during the Viet Nam war.


Subject: Acts of hostility toward people of Biblical faith:



1. Acts of hostility toward people of Biblical faith:

· April 2008 – Obama speaks disrespectfully of Christians, saying they “cling to guns or religion” and have an “antipathy to people who aren't like them.”

· February 2009 – Obama announces plans to revoke conscience protection for health workers who refuse to participate in medical activities that go against their beliefs, and fully implements the plan in February 2011.

· April 2009 – When speaking at Georgetown University, Obama orders that a monogram symbolizing Jesus’ name be covered when he is making his speech.

· May 2009 – Obama declines to host services for the National Prayer Day (a day established by federal law) at the White House.

· April 2009 – In a deliberate act of disrespect, Obama nominated three pro-abortion ambassadors to the Vatican; of course, the pro-life Vatican rejected all three.

· October 19, 2010 – Obama begins deliberately omitting the phrase about “the Creator” when quoting the Declaration of Independence – an omission he has made on no less than seven occasions.

· November 2010 – Obama misquotes the National Motto, saying it is “E pluribus unum” rather than “In God We Trust” as established by federal law.

· January 2011 – After a federal law was passed to transfer a WWI Memorial in the Mojave Desert to private ownership, the U. S. Supreme Court ruled that the cross in the memorial could continue to stand, but the Obama administration refused to allow the land to be transferred as required by law, and refused to allow the cross to be re-erected as ordered by the Court.

· February 2011 – Although he filled posts in the State Department, for more than two years Obama did not fill the post of religious freedom ambassador, an official that works against religious persecution across the world; he filled it only after heavy pressure from the public and from Congress.

· April 2011 – For the first time in American history, Obama urges passage of a non-discrimination law that does not contain hiring protections for religious groups, forcing religious organizations to hire according to federal mandates without regard to the dictates of their own faith, thus eliminating conscience protection in hiring.

· August 2011 – The Obama administration releases its new health care rules that override religious conscience protections for medical workers in the areas of abortion and contraception.

· November 2011 – Obama opposes inclusion of President Franklin Roosevelt’s famous D-Day Prayer in the WWII Memorial.

· November 2011 – Unlike previous presidents, Obama studiously avoids any religious references in his Thanksgiving speech.

· December 2011 – The Obama administration denigrates other countries’ religious beliefs as an obstacle to radical homosexual rights.

· January 2012 – The Obama administration argues that the First Amendment provides no protection for churches and synagogues in hiring their pastors and rabbis.

· February 2012 – The Obama administration forgives student loans in exchange for public service, but announces it will no longer forgive student loans if the public service is related to religion.



2. Acts of hostility from the Obama-led military toward people of Biblical faith:

· June 2011 – The Department of Veterans Affairs forbids references to God and Jesus during burial ceremonies at Houston National Cemetery.

· August 2011 – The Air Force stops teaching the Just War theory to officers in California because the course is taught by chaplains and is based on a philosophy introduced by St. Augustine in the third century AD – a theory long taught by civilized nations across the world (except America).

· September 2011 – Air Force Chief of Staff prohibits commanders from notifying airmen of programs and services available to them from chaplains.

· September 2011 – The Army issues guidelines for Walter Reed Medical Center stipulating that “No religious items (i.e. Bibles, reading materials and/or facts) are allowed to be given away or used during a visit.”

· November 2011 – The Air Force Academy rescinds support for Operation Christmas Child, a program to send holiday gifts to impoverished children across the world, because the program is run by a Christian charity.

· November 2011 – The Air Force Academy pays $80,000 to add a Stonehenge-like worship center for pagans, druids, witches and Wiccans.

· February 2012 – The U. S. Military Academy at West Point dis invites three star Army general and decorated war hero Lieutenant General William G. (“Jerry”) Boykin (retired) from speaking at an event because he is an outspoken Christian.

· February 2012 – The Air Force removes “God” from the patch of Rapid Capabilities Office (the word on the patch was in Latin: Dei).

· February 2012 – The Army orders Catholic chaplains not to read a letter to parishioners that their archbishop asked them to read.

Folks given all of this I believe were in serious trouble, and we must reverse this course very soon, say November, or else!

Tom Ford

NO. 1002

Gasoline has gone up yet again! Here is where the best local prices are. (Click here please.)

For once I am not going to pontificate on who is to blame here (unless you want to go there,) but rather I am presenting this as a public service (with thanks to MSN.com) for Crestwoodians to save a few pennies at the pump!

As the saying goes, "it is what it is," so find the best prices and please think twice before you patronize anything that is owned by "off shore" interests.


Tom Ford

NO. 1001

St. Louis Post Dispatch voters guide for Ward Two Alderman (Click here for the guide.)

Same rules apply as the post below. here we have the Ward Two Aldermanic candidates for your edification and clarification.


Tom Ford

NO. 1000

St. Louis Post Dispatch voter guide for Ward Four Alderman. (click here for the guide.)

Here are the latest answers as given by the candidates reference questions on the issues as stated by the Post Dispatch, and the League of Women Voters.

I will not be making comments for obvious reasons but I will remind you that if you have anything derogatory about either candidate, and you print it here you will be required to sign your real name or it will be removed by me.

Tom Ford

NO. 999

Panel will make recommendations on sales tax sharing revenue. (please click here for the Call story.)

Now here is a great article that I for one hope gets some traction with the County Municipal League, that being a revision since our so called tax base has eroded to next to nothing.

Our C/A,Ms. Eastman is heading up this idea for us with the Municipal League, and I pray she has some traction in making this proposal happen. Of course this is just the first step in what will be a long process, but it's at least a start.

The State Legislature is going to make the final decision, but I believe we have a very strong case, as were flat out of Mall's to provide the cash to whomever.

In any case, good luck on this one Ms. Eastman, and please continue your efforts to make this tax nightmare go away!

Tom Ford

NO. 998

Outstanding editorial by Mr. Mike Anthony in today's Call (please click here to read it.)

Well can we say history repeats itself Ladies and Gentlemen? We had weekly comments reference the past Mayor which we vowed to stop (and stop them we did, he was voted out,) but it would appear that we are back in the 'limelight' again thanks to the new C/A.

Now less you think I am mad about the editorial let me assure you nothing is further from the truth. In fact I too have experienced a certain resistance to getting information via FOIA form since Ms. Eastman arrived on the scene.

Now contrary to popular belief the position of C/A is not all that hard to do unless your a person who for whatever reason refuses to delegate authority. In the case of Ms. Eastman that has not, and apparently will not be done ever if she has her way.

It would seem that she is a bit more than concerned that someone, anyone in this City will gain knowledge about anything. In fact she has a memo out (I have a copy) to ALL employees telling them they are not allowed to converse with ANY Alderman! It states that if they do so it will be considered an act of 'gross insubordination,' and will be cause for immediate dismissal, (Some say it may have been rescinded but even if so, the real question is why was it ever issued?)

Wonderful, but please remember to do their job effectively they MUST be able to talk to whomever they wish for input, and consultation. I have lived here for 43 years as by now you know, and never in all my time here have I ever seen or heard of a C/A who has been requested to resign by citizens from the floor of the Board meeting! Well in her short tenure we have seen it twice, and Lord knows how many more times it will happen.

Mistakes happen, in this case we have not so much of a mistake but rather a conflict of personalities and management styles. I have said it before and it bears repeating here, there is no shame in resigning once you realize that your not in the right slot, the only shame is if you try to push a bad position and give the aurora of being a Marie Antwonette type in a community that is used to a Barbra Bush.

I am reminded here of the immortal words of the famed Groucho Marx who said, "I would never be a member of any club that would have me as a member!"

In any case we shall see what lies in the future, but please Ms. Eastman, keep us off 'the sky line' and let's move the City forward as that is what you were hired to do, remember?

Tom Ford

NO. 997

Ward Two and Four Candidates debate to be held on March 19, 2012 at 7:00 PM in the BOA chambers, City Hall

As of this writing I have firm commitments from the following candidates for Alderman in the April election.

Ward Two: Tim Trueblood, Mary Stadter

Ward Four: Steve Nieder, Dan Tennessen

(All Alderman and the Mayor will be invited, but only candidates will be debating.)

The format will be as follows, each Ward will have one hour for questions from the audience which must be hand written in advance with the questioners Name and Ward on it (can be first name only.) The forms for the questions will be available at the door starting at 6:30 PM.

Your questions will then be asked by one of the three moderators (Jackie Stock, Roger Anderson, or Tom Ford.) Each Candidate will have three minutes to answer the question and their opponent will have three minutes for rebuttal if needed.

Each Ward will be given a total of one hour for their portion of the debate, and we will stick to that time frame so as to give everyone a chance to ask and answer.

We ALL ask that the candidates not attempt to "stack" the audience in their favor as we expect fair play from all involved.

Please remember that there is no food or drink allowed in the chambers and your keeping the room as we found it will be greatly appreciated.

We hope to see ALL of you there for this most important debate, and remember, as the man once said, "You get the Government you deserve.

Tom Ford

NO. 996