Monday, January 28, 2008

Just what we need, a fire protection district!

For those misguided souls that think we would be better off with a "fire protection district" take a look at this story (click the header!)

It will be very interesting to observe the town hall meeting on the 29th. to see where that goes (and yes I do plan to be there at this time.)

Tom Ford

NO. 456

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Town Hall meeting January 29, 2008, 7:00PM BOA chambers.

What: Town Hall Meeting
Date: Tuesday January 29, 2008
Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Description: City of Crestwood’s Town Hall Meetings



The Board of Aldermen invite the residents of Crestwood to attend Town Hall Meetings scheduled for January, February, and March of 2008 in the Aldermanic Chamber located in the Crestwood Government Center.



The first meeting will be held on January 29th (Fifth Tuesday) at 7:00 p.m. and will focus on the Administrative and Fire Services. The second meeting will be held on February 23rd (Fourth Saturday) at 9:30 a.m. and will focus on the City’s Police Services. The last meeting will be held on March 18th (Third Tuesday) at 7:00 p.m. and will focus on the Department of Public Services.



At these meetings the citizens of Crestwood will be provided with an overview of the costs of specific City services, the challenges involved in providing those services in the future, and benchmarks of how these services compare to other municipalities. The Board of Aldermen will be seeking citizen input on how best to provide these services in the future and at what service level.



We, the Board of Aldermen, need to hear your comments. Please plan on attending the Town Hall Meetings to express your opinions

Where: Crestwood Government Center
1 Detjen Dr.
Crestwood, MO 63126
(Directions)
Contact Info: Frank Myers
(314) 729-4700

Well we asked for it, and here it is, so what say we show up and voice our opinion's?

Tom Ford

NO.455

Friday, January 25, 2008

Some fun for the kids! "let's go fishing!"

Click on the header to be directed to a site that will allow you and the kids a chance to fish for trout, salmon, and steel head!]

Remember that it's important to cast ahead of the fish, so plan your cast accordingly!

Enjoy!

Tom Ford

NO. 454

Thursday, January 24, 2008

SALE CONTRACT REACHED FOR CRESTWOOD PLAZA!!!!!!!!

Please click on the header to be directed to the St. Louis Post Dispatch story! It looks like a "mixed use project will pop up there, and that's really very good news!

Congratulations to our negotiating team, and Westfield for getting the best possible deal for all involved!

The next few weeks and months will be a very exciting time here in Crestwood, and i for one can't wait to see what we will be getting in the way of stores, etc.

From what I have read lately (in the "paper") there are no more TIF's, TDD's or CID's as of January 1, 2008 in Missouri, so this will be a great project for us all. For more on the bond sales deal read the article in the "paper."

Tom Ford

NO.453

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Filing closed for Crestwood Mayor!...... Mayor Robinson UN-opposed!

Well, well! After all the posturing, all the inane comments, and all the "watch me" rhetoric on this blog the filing deadline for Mayor has come and gone!

Guess what folks, all the "heroes" who talked so big have failed to file! Is it possible that we have an "all hat and no cow's" gang on here that is afraid to come forth and show us what they could do? In the words of the faithful Indian scout, "you betcha Red Rider!"

I guess you found out that it seems like a good idea, but when it comes to fish or cut bait time, you changed your collective minds? It's always easier to lead from the "cheep seats" rather than put your name out there for consideration isn't it.

Well I may be a party of a very few here, but I firmly believe that Roy Robinson has done a very credible job as Mayor, and I know he will do an even better one in the next three years!

Congratulation's Roy, lead on sir!

Tom Ford

NO.452

Monday, January 21, 2008

The independent returns from the rain Forest!

Ho la Amigos! I have returned from the Mayan Rivera after five days of squiring 260 customers on a five day trip to a very beautiful area of Mexico.

We had the chance to see the Mayan ruins, and visit with the local population in several Cities in the area as well. I managed to pick up some (very little) of the language, and got to know people from the rich to the abject poor.

It's really interesting to see that the concerns we have in Crestwood are right in line with their concerns. It's election time down there as well, and the local citizens seem to be a bit more into it than we are, but it still boils down to the same thing, Las ninos (the kids.)

The local weather was 85 F most of the time, and the sun was great. I guarantee you that if you have a chance to go, it's well worth it! Passport's. immigration into Mexico, and re-entering the U.S. is a hassle to say the least, but it was worth it to meet some of the nicest, and helpful people I have met in a long time.

Give me some time to catch up with you fine bloggers pour favor (if you please,) and we shall continue with the games.

Tom Ford

NO.451

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King's memory

Fellow Crestwoodians, I invite you to click on the header to be directed to a site that has "letters from a Birmingham jail." I though it might be a way for all of us to ponder the day, and what we learned about each other since then.

Tom Ford

NO. 450

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Who and what makes up Crestwood, the last census report!

While we look toward the sale of the Plaza (which may be VERY close,) I thought it would be interesting to take a look at what we have to offer. If you would please click on the header you will be directed to the latest census report available.

It looks to me that we have a lot going for us in the way of demographics that should attract great business to Crestwood. It will be interesting when it all shakes out to see what will become of the old plaza, will we see mixed use, retail only, or up-scale condos? Well, one thing is for sure, it will bring a renaissance to Crestwood that hasn't been seen in some time!

May we please have your thoughts on this?

Tom Ford

NO.449

Saturday, January 12, 2008

The history of the world as we know it today (condensed version.)

A history of the world, condensed version. Or how liberals and conservatives came to be.

For those that don't know about history...... here is a condensed version.

Humans originally existed as members of small bands of nomadic hunters/gatherers. They lived on deer in the mountains during the summer and would go to the coast and live on fish and lobster in the winter.

The two most important events in all of history were:

1. The invention of beer, and

2. The invention of the wheel. The wheel was invented to get man to the beer.

These were the foundation of modern civilization and together were the catalyst for the splitting of humanity into two distinct subgroups:

1. Liberals

2. Conservatives.

Once beer was discovered, it required grain and that was the beginning of agriculture. Neither the glass bottle nor aluminum can were invented yet, so while our early humans were sitting around waiting for them to be invented, they just stayed close to the brewery. That's how villages were formed.

Some men spent their days tracking and killing animals to B-B-Q at night while they were drinking beer. This was the beginning of what is known as the Conservative movement.

Other men who were weaker and less skilled at hunting learned to live off the Conservatives by showing up for the nightly B-B-Q's and doing the sewing, fetching, and hair dressing. This was the beginning of the Liberal movement.

Some of these Liberal men eventually evolved into women. The rest became known as girlie-men.

Some noteworthy Liberal achievements include the domestication of cats, the invention of group therapy, group hugs, and the concept of Democratic voting to decide how to divide the meat and beer that Conservatives provided.

Over the years Conservatives came to be symbolized by the largest, most powerful land animal on earth, the elephant. Liberals are symbolized by the jackass.

Modern liberals like imported beer (with lime added), but most prefer white wine or imported bottled water. They eat raw fish but like their beef well done. Sushi, tofu, and French food are standard liberal fare. Another interesting evolutionary side note: most of their women have higher testosterone levels than their men. Most social workers, personal injury attorneys, journalists, dreamers inHollywood and group therapists are Liberals. Liberals invented the designated hitter rule because it wasn't fair to make the pitcher also bat.

Conservatives drink domestic beer. They eat red meat and still provide for their women. Conservatives are big-game hunters, rodeo cowboys, lumberjacks, construction workers, firemen, medical doctors, police officers, game wardens, constitutional law lawyers, corporate executives, athletes, Marines, and generally anyone who works productively. Conservatives who own companies hire other Conservatives who want to work for a living.

Liberals produce little or nothing. They like to govern the producers and decide what to do with the production. Liberals believe Europeans are more enlightened than Americans. That is why most of the Liberals remained in Europe when Conservatives were coming to America. They crept in after the Wild West was tamed and created a business of trying to get more for nothing.

Here ends today's lesson in world history.......

Passed on from a friend.

Tom Ford

NO. 448

Friday, January 11, 2008

Do you need a Tree? Let's all ponder this question!

I received this from a friend in Texas today. With all the strife we see on a daily basis I thought it might be appropriate here!

We All Need a Tree!

I hired a plumber to help me restore an old farmhouse, and after he had just finished a rough first day on the job: a flat tire made him lose an hour of work, his electric drill quit and his ancient one ton truck refused to start.

While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. On arriving, he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands.

When opening the door he underwent an amazing transformation. His face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.

Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier.

"Oh, that's my trouble tree," he replied "I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one thing's for sure, those troubles don't belong in the house with my wife and the children.. So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home and ask God to take care of them. Then in the morning I pick them up again." "Funny thing is," he smiled," when I come out in the morning to pick 'em up, there aren't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before."

Never regret a day in your life.

Good days give you Happiness.

Bad days give you Experiences.

Both are essential to life.


Tom Ford

NO.447

Sunday, January 06, 2008

The Watson Rd. business corridor, what's the problem?

You know, I am struck by the fact that we have so many NIMBY (not in my back yard) folks in Crestwood. Yet when the tax increase issue is brought up they scream bloody murder!

Folks, please realize that we can no longer have it both ways here! If we shun business, we pay higher taxes for the same services we now enjoy, so I say let's back the business person instead of creating road blocks for them!

The Watson Rd. business corridor is a great location for anyone to set up shop, but all we see and hear is controversy about what sort of business can go in there! Recently Jim Butler Chevrolet, and Red Lobster have been commented on by neighbors who don't like the "smells. toxic waste, ETC" that POSSIBLY may emit from those fine business partners!

While I am not a lawyer (thank God,) I believe the term is "coming to the nuisance," meaning You knew, or should have known that the four lane road behind your property was zoned COMMERCIAL! Now it seems to me that when you buy property that is adjacent to commercially zoned property you should expect that some day that properly will be used for a commercial venture, no?

If this community is to prosper we must get off dead center and assist the business people, not constantly throw road blocks in their path. I couldn't care less what type of "tree" they put in front of the business or what size sign the have, I want them!

Think about it folks, and give us the benefit of your wisdom here.

Tom Ford

NO.446

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

The "pig" book, or how Government blows our money!

Please click on the header to be enlightened! I know this is not Crestwood, but as Tip O'Neal once said "all politics is local!" Not great grammar, but I doubt anyone worried about it.

Our job should we choose to accept it is to insure this sort of idiocy doesn't take root "locally!"

Tom Ford

NO. 445
>