Crestwood Independent

Visitor's Guide to Driving in St. Louis (from a friend in IOWA. of all places!) Talk about nerve.

2012-02-19T09:15:00.004-06:00

Visitor's Guide to Driving in St. Louis

If you live in St Louis you'll understand this. If you've ever visited
St. Louis you'll understand this. If you've never been to St. Louis
consider this your Visitor's Guide to Driving in St. Louis.

1. There are 75 "unofficial neighborhoods" in the City of St. Louis. St.
Louisans commonly give directions--especially for restaurants--to
strangers based on these neighborhoods, which aren't marked on any maps
that are handed out by the tourist board, the AAA or MapQuest.

2. There are 54 school districts--on the Missouri side alone--each of
which has their own school bus system with scheduled times to block
traffic.

3. There are 91 official municipalities in St. Louis County. Each
municipality has its own rules and regulations, and often their own
police departments.

4. More importantly, most have their own snow removal contracts so it's
not uncommon to drive down a road in winter and have one block plowed,
the next salted, the next piled with snow and the last partially cleared
by residents wanting to get out of their driveways.

5. Snow plowing is never a problem in the City of St. Louis. They plow
nothing, and if the forecast calls for snow, they close everything.
Except on "The Hill" (refer to #1 above) where each homeowner goes out
to the street and shovels out one car-sized rectangle and then stands
watch over it.

6. Any car parked longer than 4 hours in the city is considered a parts
store.

7. The City of Ballwin actually proposed that drivers use connecting
strip mall parking lots to get from place to place rather than drive on
Manchester road to cut the traffic on Manchester. (And for good reason.
There is a stoplight at every intersection on Manchester).

8. Laclede Station Road, McCausland, Lindbergh, Watson, Reavis Barracks,
Fee Fee, McKnight, Airport Road, Midland, McKelvey, and Olive
mysteriously change names as you cross intersections.

9. Gravois Road, Spoede and Chouteau can only be pronounced by St. Louis
natives. (Highway 40 as is pronounced as "farty".)

10. A St. Louisan from South County has never been to North County and
vice versa. West County just has everything delivered.

11. No native St. Louisan knows that Lindbergh runs from South County to
North County. And if you tell them, they will not believe you.

12. Lindbergh belongs to every neighborhood except Kirkwood, who had the
nerve to creatively change the name to Kirkwood Road." (Which may be the
reason for number 11.)

13. There are two interchanges to exit from Highway 40 onto Clayton Road
and two for Big Bend. Stay alert, people!

14. If you need directions to O'Fallon, make sure to specify Illinois or
Missouri. This is also true for Troy, Maryville, St. Charles,
Springfield and Columbia.

15. The Page Avenue extension and Airport expansion projects took over
20 years to get approved. St. Louisans lost track of how many political
figures claimed them as their own ideas.

16. St. Louisans were aghast when the federal government required them
to redo the highway signs to indicate that the federal highways went to
cities in other states instead of local municipalities.

17. Drivers are starting to cut their OWN plates rather than go through
the Missouri Department of Motor Vehicles to get new tags. You can also
purchase tags from dealers behind Quick Shops in the city. They are
cheaper, the clerks are nicer, and the service is faster.

18. Lambert Field and St. Louis International Airport really are the
same place. The East Terminal, however, is a different place.

19. Highway 270 is our daily version of the NASCAR circuit.

20. You can go all four directions on Highway 270: North and South in
West County, East and West in South County, and East and West in North
County. Confused? So are St. Louis drivers.

21. The outer belt is Highway 270 which turns into Highway 255 in South
County. The inner belt is Highway 170. Highway 370 is an outer-outer
belt. Highway 40 is the same as Interstate 64 (but only through the
middle part of St. Louis). If you are listening to traffic reports and
they are calling it 64, the traffic jam is in Illinois. If they are
calling it 40, the traffic jam is in Missouri.

22. The morning rush hour is from 6:00 to 10:00 AM. The evening rush
hour is from 3:00 to 7:00 PM. Friday's rush hour starts Thursday
morning.

23. Never ever try to cross a bridge in St. Louis during rush hour
unless you have a sack lunch and a port-a-potty in the car.

24. "Yield" signs are for decoration only. No native St. Louisan will
ever grasp the concept. (Actually, the drivers who are supposed to yield
will not, and the drivers who are not supposed to yield will wait
politely for the ones who are supposed to yield, so it all works out.)

25. If someone actually has their turn signal on, it is probably a
factory defect, or has been on for the last 17 miles.

26. Construction on Highways 40, 64, 70, 255, 270, 44, 55 and 170 is a
way of life, and a permanent form of entertainment.

27. All blue-haired old ladies in Cadillac’s driving on Olive west of 270
have the right of way.

28. In West County, 20 cars will go through a yellow light. Longest
yellow lights I have ever seen. If you slow or stop on a yellow light,
you will get rear-ended or someone will angrily sound their horn at you.

29. It is called a rolling stop at any stop sign intersection. Only
native St. Louisans can do it just right.

30. If it snows or rains, stay home!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tom Ford

NO. 992

City Administrator Eastman seems to have a problem with our Alderman seeing the check book. (read the story in the Call by clicking here.)

2012-02-18T12:44:00.002-06:00

As Chester A. Riley used to say, "what a revoltin development this is!" I am at a loss to understand why the Cities check register and expenditures are not automatically shown to the Alderman, after all isn't that why we elected them, to watch the money?

I think we ALL need to make the Ways and Means committee meeting on Tuesday February 21, 2012 at 3:30 PM and ask our new City Administrator why she believes WE shouldn't be able to see where OUR money is going!

I know she is not much of a fan of the FOIA form and all it can produce, but unless she grants the wishes of the Alderman I strongly suggest she gets ready for a few more from me, and whom ever else is interested in the expenditures.

Ms. Eastman, you wanted bonuses and salary adjustments that well may necessitate the City coming to US for a tax increase, no? Well I for one will never support an increase unless EVERY inflated salary has been adjusted back to reality, the take home cars (other than Police and Fire Chiefs) are removed from service, and WE the citizens are privy to the check book register and ALL the expenses this City has incurred.

The time for hand outs has passed long ago, now it's time to cut every 'duplicate' expenditure, and every non essential item before it's too late. Ms. Eastman, will you please listen to the Mayor and our other elected officials and give them what they want, or are you going to 'stonewall,' and thus raise more questions?

Tom Ford

NO. 991

Crestwood Independent returns from the Mexican Rivera.

2012-02-18T10:10:00.002-06:00

Sorry for the absence of posts here but I have been on a business trip to Cabo Del Sol for the past week.

I can tell you that the Pacific ocean was some what rough (I liked it, old salt you know,) and the refreshments were cold and plentiful, as were the people to imbibe them.

I can personally testify to the frivolity at Sammy Hagar's Cantina, the Cabo Wabo, (you really should see that place) as I commanded the contingent that made that exploration!

And now I find myself tanned, rested, and ready for more of Crestwood news, so let the comments begin.

Tom Ford

NO. 990

Just for giggles how about a new take on "West side story." Please click on the header to be directed to the video on you-tube.

2012-02-10T15:00:00.003-06:00

This is a very clever adaptation of the movie "West side story," by a group of very talented college kids. If your into the Internet and computers I believe you will enjoy the presentation.

This was posted by a friend on Face book this morning, and I thought it was time to 'lighten up' a bit, so............

Tom Ford

NO. 989

Group forces Congressional hearings on 1st. amendment rights. (please click here for the story.)

2012-02-10T05:05:00.003-06:00

No matter which side of the coin your on, this is a development that cannot be ignored.

Our Constitution mandates the right of free speech and public decent with some exception's, and now we see that the current Government would usurp those rights for reasons that are not At all clear.

Fortunately we see that a private group has launched an investigation of their own into these possible civil rights violations, and apparently none too soon.

Stay tuned to this one folks, it's your freedom and liberty that is at stake here as if one pillar falls, can the rest be far behind?

"All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing!"

Tom Ford

NO. 988

WELL WE HAVE BEAT UP THE DEMOCRAT, REPUBLICAN,LIBERTIARIAN, INDEPENDENT THING TO THE POIN OF NO RETURN, SO I WILL SHARE THIS.

2012-02-07T17:00:00.004-06:00

This came from a good friend in Texas, who like all of us is sick and tired of watching our so called leadership make fools of themselves on the world stage!

"A NEW PHRASE IS BORN:"

"I knew someone would find a name for
our election process this coming year!"

ELECTILE DYSFUNCTION: the inability to become
aroused over any of the choices for President put
forth by either party in the 2012 election year.

Tom Ford

NO. 987

Abbott and Costello explain the Bureau of labor statics 'job report's' (please click here to read it from the FreeRepublic.

2012-02-05T05:49:00.002-06:00

So as I understand this, it is quite possible for any Washington denizen, be they democrat or Republican to cook the books in their favor. Well I knew that anyway, but it does give the best explanation of this so called economic indicator that I have seen to date.

This is posted for your edification and entertainment only, so please read it that way and forget the snide remarks about either party as I will just delete them anyway when I see them.

Tom Ford

NO. 986

Crestwood Aldermanic candidates discuss the 'Courts' project and more. (click here for the Call newspaper story please.

2012-02-04T06:05:00.003-06:00

Please click the header for a report by the Sun Crest Call newspaper on the candidates for Alderman meeting that Jackie Stock and I sponsored in January.

have questions as to what your candidate's platform is, or if your wondering about the state of Crestwood Courts as it relates to the forum ? This article will clear the fog for you and give you a better insight to the great candidates we have running for Alderman this April.

Tom Ford

NO. 985

Gasoline to top $4.00 a gallon by Memorial day! (click here for the story.

2012-02-01T04:48:00.004-06:00

Interestingly enough the 'harmonic convergence' of labor unions, OPEC, and the Iranian problem see to have all come together for this problem.

In a related story the labor unions that represent at least 80% of the work force at our oil refineries have been told to stand by for a strike. The OPEC Nations are looking closely at lowering the oil output, and the Iranians continue to babble about closing the Strait of Hormuz.

I find it interesting that all this comes at a time when our political class is held in lower esteem than a twice indicted used car salesman. Now what if at just the right time a certain party could ride to the rescue and 'solve the problem' of high gas pricing just before the election?

Don't doubt the possibility for a second folks, this election is for the very soul of America, they know it and their willing to do whatever it will take to win it!

Oh, and by the way, not to be outdone the EPA has expanded regulations for generating electricity, as well as natural gas exploration that is sure to raise those commodities by at least 45%!

Please don't take my word for it, just 'Google' your query and you too will see what is going on. When you do verify it, get on the phone with your so called representatives and tell them it must stop!

Tom Ford

NO. 984

The Charter of the City of Crestwood. (click here to read it please.)

2012-01-28T11:20:00.004-06:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, if you would please click on the header you will be directed to the City Charter which is the bed rock of Crestwood, and thus very important.

From time to time there have been those who would change it out of hand to suit their own agenda, or attempt to modify it for whatever reason, but it stands inviolate today thanks to the checks and balances put in by the framers.

Alas I am sorry to say it has become required reading in Crestwood as of late due to yet another attempted assault on it's very frame work. There are those forces who would make changes in it's chapter and verse to consolidate their positions for what ever reason, and this cannot be allowed to stand in my opinion.

Please take the time to read it and become well versed in exactly what it says, as well as what the framers vision was for Crestwood so you can oppose these forces when it becomes necessary. Remember we the citizens of Crestwood can call for a Charter review every ten years to make changes if wanted or needed. The last review and vote was some six years ago, so it will not happen quite yet.

I have lived here over 42 years and I have never been so concerned about our City as I am now! Please take the time to discuss this and other things with your Alderman, get involved in Crestwood Government, call the Mayor, but please make your wishes known so the forces who would change the charter and by extension our City will fail and our City remain the way WE like it.

"Just because you don't take an interest in politics dosen't mean politics won't take an interest in you." (freestyle translation from the Latin.)

Plato, 53 BC

Tom Ford

NO. 983

Translations of Common Euphemisms heard during the 'silly season,' AKA election year.

2012-01-27T15:53:00.004-06:00

This was not written by me ( I received it in an email from a friend,) but it does sort of "tell it like it is," so read and enjoy.

Translations of Common Euphemisms

DEMOCRAT : REPUBLICAN :
Arsenal of Weapons: Gun Collection
Delicate Wetlands: Swamp
Undocumented Worker: Illegal Alien
Cruelty-Free Materials: Synthetic Fiber
Assault and Battery: Attitude Adjustment
Heavily Armed: Well-protected
Narrow-minded: Righteous
Taxes or Your Fair Share: Coerced Theft
Commonsense Gun Control Gun: Confiscation Plot
Illegal Hazardous Explosives: Fireworks or Stump Removal
Non-viable Tissue Mass: Unborn Baby
Equal Access to Opportunity: Socialism
Multicultural Community: High Crime Area
Fairness or Social Progress: Marxism
Upper Class or "The Rich ": Self-Employed
Progressive,: Change Big Government Scheme
Homeless or Disadvantaged: Bums or Welfare Leeches
Sniper Rifle: Deer Rifle with scope
Investment For the Future: Higher Taxes
Healthcare Reform: Socialized Medicine
Extremist, Judgmental,: Conservative
Truants: Homeschoolers
Victim or Oppressed: Criminal or Lazy Good-For-Nothing
High Capacity Magazine: Standard Capacity Magazine
Religious Zealot: Attends Church
Fair Trade Coffee: Overpriced Yuppie Coffee
Exploiters or "The Rich ": Employed or Land Owner
The Gun Lobby: NRA Members
Assault Weapon: Semi-Automatic handgun
Fiscal Stimulus: New Taxes and Higher Taxes
Mandated Eco-Friendly Lighting: Chinese Mercury-Laden Light Bulbs
Accepted Fact: Horse feathers

Kind of cute no matter what side you come down on, no?

Tom Ford

NO. 982

Ms. Eastman reverses decision by ? to allow gay couple to run in valentine race in White Cliff Park.

2012-01-24T20:50:00.003-06:00

Please click on the header to be taken to the News channel 5 story. That's right folks once again in her short but stellar career our City Administrator has found a way to put us on front street in a dim light!

I have a copy an edict from her that basically says that she and only she can do the talking for Crestwood! Well she has been doing it, and so far I would rather have my 10 year old grandson represent me in the news.

Memo to Ms. Eastman, we live in the year of our Lord 2012 where believe it or not were not at all interested in sexual preference, race, gender, or creed when it comes to a race, consequently from now on please just have your people sign the form and stay off TV for a change!

Tom Ford

NO. 981

Meet the candidates night, Tuesday, January 24, starting at 5:00 PM at City Hall. Also see the attached agenda for the BOA meeting to start at 7.

2012-01-21T01:12:00.005-06:00

Ladies and gentlemen please mark your calendar for January 24, 2012 to attend the "Meet the candidates night starting at 5:00 PM in the BOA chambers, Crestwood City Hall. The filing has closed and we have an especially qualified group of candidates who wish to serve the community to choose from. Please join Ms. Jackie Stock and me for a chance to meet them and find out their vision for Crestwood.

After the candadates meeting won't you please stay for the Board of Alderman meeting starting at 7:00 PM. This meeting (please click on the header for the agenda) is an important one for all of us to attend, if for no other reason than to watch the new City Administrator in action and gain some insight into her management style.

We all know that Crestwood is facing some tough economic times and it's not going to get any better soon, so what's her vision for cutting expenses to weather the storm? Hard times require hard decisions. Is Ms. Eastman the person that can and will make those hard decisions? Please stay and find out for yourself.

Please remember the words of the Greek philosopher Plato who opined, "just because you don't take an interest in politics dosen't mean politics won't take an interest in you!"

Tom Ford

NO. 980

Ways and Means committee meeting agenda for January 17, 2012 at 3:30 PM in the BOA chambers, Crestwood City Hall.

2012-01-14T11:57:00.002-06:00

City of Crestwood
WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE MEETING
Board of Aldermen Chambers
Crestwood Government Center
One Detjen Drive
Crestwood, MO 63126
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 3:30 PM
Agenda
1. Call to Order and Roll Call
Mayor Jeff Schlink, Alderman Paul Duchild, Alderman Darryl Wallach
2. Approval of Meeting Minutes
September 27, 2011
October 11, 2011
October 25, 2011
3. City Administrator’s Report
a. Budget Considerations – Fire Truck Grant, Various Other Issues
b. Report of Current and Future States of Staffing
c. Delinquent Taxes (Property and Utility)
4. General Topics
a. Closing of Retail Establishments/Loss of Tax Revenues (Sears and Barnes &
Noble)
b. Funding of Street Lighting Program
c. State of the City Pay Plan
d. Invoice Review
5. Future Issues
6. Old Business
7. Adjournment
Posted: Friday, January 13, 2012 at 4:00 p.m.
ANYONE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS WISHING TO ATTEND, PLEASE PHONE 729-
4700 SO THAT THE CITY MAY MAKE APPROPRIATE ACCOMMODATIONS
FOR YOU.
Note: Due to ongoing City business, all meeting agendas should be considered tentative.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is a very important meeting to attend as this is where the recommendations for utilizing our tax dollars are made. If you have never been to one of these please attend this one as we must begin to cut costs, and soon to make up for the loss of revenue that is eminent!

Tom Ford

NO. 979

City Administrator Eastman tells Department heads they aren't needed at BOA meetings.

2012-01-11T17:43:00.003-06:00

That's right folks, if an item not pertaining to their department is not on HER (she writes it) agenda she said they do not need to attend! If you were at last nights meeting you saw all the empty seats for yourself, and no they were not "out sick."

Now the last time I paid a tax bill (last November) I saw a portion going to the City of Crestwood, and so did you I bet. That said, as a tax payer I want to have ALL the department heads at every meeting baring illness or a family issue. Why, well if I have a question for Public Works or any other department I want the responsible party to be there to answer it!

I have no interest in "third party" conversations where Ms. Eastman writes down the question, gives it to the Department head and then "gets back to me." I want to be "nose to nose" with the person I ask the question of as it's the right thing to do for ALL parties.

I know it's no doubt an "issue" for the Department heads (or you for some reason) to be there but they knew that was a responsibility when they took the job, so Ms. Eastman,you need to rescind that "executive decision, put things right and return the department heads to the Dias as has been the case since I moved here.

What do you think about this folks, just who is running the ship here, the elected BOA or the new City Administrator?

Tom Ford

NO. 978

Meet the candidates for Crestwood Alderman (all four wards,) January 24, 2012 at City Hall.

2012-01-09T17:52:00.003-06:00

Ms. Jackie Stock, (noted Crestwood Historian) and I will host a "meet the candidates meeting" starting at 5:00 PM to 6:45 PM in the Board chambers at City Hall. The regular BOA meeting will start at 7:00 PM so come and make a night of it.

We will be personally inviting all the candidates from all four wards who have filed by the deadline of January 17,2012.

Please join us and ask the questions you deem important to your ward and your candidates.

As the time draws near I will place a reminder on this blog but mark your calendar now please.

Tom Ford

NO. 977

Who are you most likely going to vote for? (click here for a test from USA Today.)

2012-01-06T17:25:00.002-06:00

This is a fun little way to see just what side of the political spectrum you come down on. Take the test and tell us who came up as best suited for your taste.

(I did it and it came up Romney, Santorm, and Perry.) Interesting as I really wasn't looking at any of them (or so I thought.)

Tom Ford

NO. 976

Folks it's a repeat of 2009 right before our very eyes! (click here for the story in the Call circa 2009.)

2012-01-03T17:09:00.005-06:00

There it was, Fall, 2009 and the incoming City Administrator Mr. James Eckrich proposes that pay perks be handed out to City employees because he recommends a few cuts to make the funds available.

Now we fast forward to fall, 2011 and we have a new City Administrator who came in when Mr. Eckrich asked to be demoted to Public Works director due to? Guess what, there are a few meetings between Mr. Eckrich and Ms. Eastman for the transition which is both needed and normal so she could get the "lay of the land."

This is where it becomes interesting to me though as she then makes almost the exact same request for the bonus / pay raise to the BOA as did Mr. Eckrich just three short years ago. Now as I am not much of a believer in harmonic convergences I wonder where Ms. Eastman could have come up with that idea, Mr. Eckrich perhaps?

At any rate were officially broke so it's probably a very moot point, but still a very interesting one to ponder, no?

Tom Ford

NO. 975

Believe in the "tax the rich" mentality? Please click here for a rather interesting, factual video on the subject.

2011-12-31T17:18:00.002-06:00

Ah yes my friends, the people who would take all the profits from the major "evil" corporations and tax the "wealthy" out of existence have been in the news as of late. But what if they are as wrong as wrong can be? (They are you know.)

Please click on the header and tell me how these "tax the wealthy" folks made it out of grade school what with the numbers they toss around. What scares me is the simple fact that a whole bunch of Americans seem to believe in "class warfare," and all the imbecility that goes with it.

Is this "outcome based education" at it's finest, or are we looking at the pure vestiges of Communists evolved from progressive / socialism? As for me I happen to think (heck, I know) it's the latter mixed with some of the former as it would not be possible to get that stupid by yourself, you would need "outcome based education" and the Karl Marx doctrine of "To everyone according to their needs, from everyone according to their means" to even consider such foolishness.

Tom Ford

NO. 974

Sears / K-Mart closing stores as sales dip. (please click here for the story.)

2011-12-28T09:39:00.006-06:00

(Cartoon from Dales Blog)
Well by now we are all aware of the pending closure of at least 120 Sears and K-mart stores nation wide to offset the loss of sales suffered (and continuing to suffer) by this large retailer.

The Sears store in Crestwood Courts HAS NOT been confirmed as one of the stores that will close, and may not be as I, like Mayor Schlink believe that our outlet is one of, if not the most profitable stores in the St. Louis market.

We also know that we are to loose the Barnes and Nobel book store on December 31, 2011 ( the last day of business) for that store in Crestwood. Now let's take a look at where we are now and where we may be going in the future.

It has been proposed by City Administrator Eastman that we use ALL of the surplus funds available this year as a bonus for the City employees. A worthy cause no doubt, but one that for obvious reasons is now moot as we well may need those funds just to keep the employees we have now if the Sears store should be on the list.

It seems that the recession which has been highly touted by Washington as being over is in fact still in full swing in our market, ergo we must hold on to the money we have and not "bet on the come" as they say in the gambling business.

Over the past three Months that Ms. Eastman has been on the job she has time and time again tried to put forth ideas for spending (and not saving) the surplus funds we have managed to acquire. We have seen this before she arrived, and we had to borrow close to three million to crawl out of that hole, and back to where we are today.

Ms Eastman, do you really believe that history dosen't repeat itself? I wonder.

Tom Ford

NO. 973

NORAD tracks Santa 2011. (Please click here for the site.)

2011-12-22T17:01:00.002-06:00

This year as in the last 46 or so the North American Air defence Command (NORAD) will once again track Santa Claus on his Christmas Eve flight to bring toys and presents to the children of the world.

The days leading up to the actual flight have many events, games,and projects for the kids to do while they wait for the flight tracking to begin on Christmas Eve.

Pleas click on the header and show the Children the count down clock as well as the activities for them to do (Listed in the countdown village) right up to the ETD (estimated time of departure.)

Merry Christmas to all in Crestwood and beyond, and may the new Year bring ALL of us peace, joy, and prosperity.

Tom Ford

NO. 972

Crestwood Civil Service Board meeting, 6:30 PM 12/21/11 PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE AGENDA.)

2011-12-21T15:16:00.002-06:00

Ladies and gentlemen, there will be a meeting tonight of the Civil Service Board at 6:30 PM in the BOA chambers. The schedule is posted above (click on the header.)

I find this interesting as at the last BOA meeting our City Administrator was told to have an ordnance drafted for the purpose of a vote by the Board Of Alderman reference the "bonus" plan that Ms. Eastman wishes to implement (there is opposition to this by the way as were sort of short on cash as I am told, and so she also stated in the paper.)

I do not believe there will be anything for the Civil Service board to vote on or implement as the BOA has yet to see ANY ordnance much less voted on it.

The other very interesting item on the agenda is the question of moving the Information Technology manager from a salaried position to an hourly one. I see nothing but extra overtime expenses in this as an IT person is "on call," and understands that when they take the job.

Now if our manager goes to "hourly" we will surly pay out a lot more that we do now as holidays and weekends will be considered time and a half or double time wages, and thus really increase our costs in that department.

I think Ms. Eastman should start to take a long look at why we hired her in the first place, that being to control cost's no escalate them.

Tom Ford

NO. 971

Members of Congress not allowed to say "Merry Christmas" in any of their mailings! (click here for the story!)

2011-12-17T18:15:00.002-06:00

May I strongly recommend that we ALL send our representatives a letter with "MERRY CHRISTMAS" on the outside of the envelope?

Now I can't speak for any of you but I am not at all offended by anyone saying anything that reflects their religious beliefs, so why do I have to cower in the corner when I say "Merry Christmas," as that happens to be a celebration of mine?

As for me I intend to continue to say Merry Christmas, and I guarantee you that any store that will not at least acknowledge that traditional phrase will not get one cent of mine!

The P.C. police have gone way to far as it is and I for one intend to do what I can to bring back some semblance of the American way where and when I can.

Tom Ford

NO. 970

Christmas, Submarine style.

2011-12-15T18:20:00.004-06:00

What with the Christmas season upon us and Christmas day only 10 days away I thought I would bring you a new version of "Twas the night before Christmas."

This was sent to me by a shipmate that I served with one Christmas long ago off the coast of Viet Nam. Thank you Joe!

By the way we were a "hunter killer unit" that was charged with locating and destroying enemy submarines so this is a perspective that I doubt either of us had considered before.

Christmas - Submarine Style

T'was the Night Before Christmas-Submarine Style

By Sean Keck

T'was the night before Christmas, and what no-one could see,

The men with the dolphins were under the sea.

Most of the crew was flat on their backs,

Snoring and dreaming all snug in their racks.

Those men on watch were making their rounds,

Some manning the planes or listening for sounds.

Back in maneuvering or down in the room,

They all hoped the oncoming watch would come soon.

I'd finished some PM's whose time was now due,

And hoped for some sleep, even an hour or two.

Against better judgment I took a short stroll,

And found myself wandering into control.

The Nav had the Conn, the COW was in place,

The COB had the Dive and a scowl on his face.

The helm and the planes were relaxed but aware,

The QM and ET were discussing a dare.

To comply with the orders the Nav told the Dive,

To bring the boat up with minimum rise.

The orders were given and soon they were there,

At periscope depth with a scope in the air.

The QM confirmed our position with care,

The broadcast was copied, we brought in some air.

The Nav on the scope let out a small cry,

He shook his head twice and rubbed at his eyes.

He looked once again to find what it was,

That interrupted his sweep and caused him to pause.

Try as he might there was nothing to see,

So down went the scope and us to the deep.

I asked what it was that caused his dismay,

He sheepishly said, "I'm embarrassed to say."

It could have been Northern Lights or a cloud,

Or a meteorite he wondered aloud.

But to tell you the truth I guess I must say,

Whatever it was it looked like a sleigh.

And though it passed quickly and never was clear,

I almost believe it was pulled by reindeer.

We laughed and teased him and I got up to go,

When our moment was broken by "Conn, Radio."

They told us a message was just coming in,

We looked at the depth gauge and started to grin.

"Radio, Conn, I feel safe to say,

Your attempt at a joke is too long delayed.

If it had been sooner it might have been neat,

But I doubt we're receiving at four-hundred feet."

"Conn, Radio, you can come down and see,

We're not playing games to any degree."

I headed aft with nothing better to do,

Surprised by the fact it was still coming through.

It stopped and was sent to control to be read,

The Nav read it slowly and scratched at his head.

Then again he began but this time aloud,

To those that now waited, a curious crowd.

"To you Denizens of the Deep and men of the sea,

Who risk your life daily so others stay free.

I rarely have seen you on this, my big night,

For far too often you are hidden from sight.

But purely by luck I saw you tonight,

As your scope coaxed the plankton to glow in the night.

And lucky for me I've finally won,

The chance to say thanks for all you have done.

I know that you miss your families at home,

And sometimes you feel as if you're alone.

But trust what I say and I'll do what's right,

I'll take something special to your families tonight.

Along with the gifts I'll take to your kin,

I'll visit their dreams and leave word within.

They'll hear of your love, and how you miss them,

I'll tell them that soon you'll be home again.

It might not be much I know that is true,

To thank you for all the things that you do.

But I'll do what I can, while you do what's right,

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight."

Tom Ford

NO. 969

C/A Eastman requests pay adjustments for the end of this year (click here for the rational.)

2011-12-09T18:43:00.004-06:00

Interesting as I just read an article in the Post Suburban Journal in which Ms. Eastman stated that we were unable to grant these raises due to a projected budget short fall. (see next post below.)

I fear I am at a bit of a loss to understand this as she has told the news people one thing and appears to be telling the Alderman and Mayor something entirely different.

Should be a very interesting meeting on 12/13/11 at 7:00 Pm in the BOA chambers as I am almost certain somebody will ask her how this works (they better.)

Tom Ford

NO. 968

City Administrator Eastman paints bleak picture for Crestwood finances (click here for the story please.)

2011-12-07T17:25:00.003-06:00

This morning's edition of the St. Louis Suburban Journal has a feature article that quotes Ms. P. Eastman, Crestwood City Administrator as saying were in a bit of a bind concerning the 2012 budget.

For once I will shut up and allow the presentation at the next Board Of Alderman meeting on 12/12/11 to flesh out where we are financially speaking, as that is the date for the 2012 budget review.

I urge you all to attend and listen to this most important topic in person.

Tom Ford

NO. 967

Animal control Board meeting for 12/12/11 Cancelled.

2011-12-07T16:52:00.004-06:00

"PB/NW MEETING CANCELLED Date 12/12/2011"
Type Animal Control Board
Category Police Board
Time 7:00 P.M.
Location Crestwood Government Center
Description PB/NW AGENDA

From the Cities web site as of today, so if you were going please stay in, stay warm and come to the Board of Alderman meeting on 12/13/11 instead.

The "new tone" B.O.A. meetings are now a joy to attend since the great unwashed (we citizens) are no longer yelled at and threatened with (pick one.) Mayor Schlink runs a tight ship and it shows in the professional manner i which he conducts the meetings.

Oh, and by the way if you haven't seen our new City Administrator in action yet this will be a great time to do that as well.

Tom Ford

NO. 966

Crestwood looks to final budget approval for 2012 on December 13, 2011 (Please click here for he story in the Call.)

2011-12-02T18:10:00.003-06:00

As it looks now we will have a balanced budget under mayor Schlink in 2012, and I for one applaud the budget committee for their efforts.

That said I do have one glaring expense that can and should be cut from the budget prior to final approval. What's that you say, well as you all should know by now the position of Public Works Director was filled by Mr. James Eckrich when he felt the need to step down from the City Administrators position.

So far so good as we didn't have to interview for an open position as he came from Public Works in the first place. Unfortunately when he made the move he retained 98% of his City Administrators salary and a TAKE HOME CRESTWOOD CAR. Well in 2011 and beyond we do not "stamp" plans nor do we review them in house anymore, so we really don't need an engineer in that position, do we.

I believe that his own words to the last Director ("We can get qualified applicants for $67,000.00") is a true statement that should be looked at very hard by the Board and the budget committee when the final budget is completed.

The take home car? Well in the last eleven months he has used $1610.00 worth of gasoline, $1140.00 worth of maintenance, and untold amounts for Insurance (FOIA form,) all paid by us. The mileage shown for the eleven months is way above the National average of 9-15,000 miles per year (over 18,000 so far,) and guess what were paying for it.

Please remember that Crestwood is a three square mils town, and that unless he lives in Columbia, MO. I find it hard to justify that sort of expense. In the real world you and I pay for our own vehicles and inherent expenses associated with them right? Well if you have a salary of $92,000.00 plus benefits I believe you should buy your own vehicle just like the rest of us.

So there we have two very glaring errors in judgement by the Board that can and should be corrected at the next budget hearing. Then, and only then will the request by Ms. Eastman for a bonus or increase be put on the table for consideration. What do you think?

Tom Ford

NO. 965

Crestwood named the best place to raise a family! (click here for the story.)

2011-11-30T16:21:00.002-06:00

Now were talking! This is a real honor that we can all share in. I think that if the economy ever comes back they way it should, Crestwood will be attracting Lot's of developers which is exactly what we want!

Remember, "retail follows roof top's" and in this case, well who wouldn't want to live in the "BEST PLACE TO RAISE KIDS IN MISSOURI?" Well done fellow Crestwoodians, we have arrived!

Tom Ford

NO. 964

The "sales tax pool," How should taxes be split? (Please click here for the article in the St. Louis Beacon.)

2011-11-27T02:59:00.003-06:00

As many of us are painfully aware taxes in the county and city are on the way up. What many do not seem to realize (or have never been apprised of) is that Crestwood is a "point of purchase" city. You see years ago some "do good" Mayors in the county met with the then county executive and caved into his demands that cities with large retail sales give to cities that do not "share" the same revenue.

Needless to say Crestwood was then enjoying the Plaza "where the big stores are," and our forward thinking Mayor and Board decided to "share the wealth" so to speak. That's how we ended up giving over $940,000.00 of OUR tax money yearly to places like Jennings and Wildwood! Yes Wildwood where you can't build a dog house for less than $100,000.00 by the looks of the homes out there.

Well times have changed for the worst here in Crestwood but we still send the poor downtrodden neighbors OUR tax revenue anyway. Mayor Dennis Hancock of Fenton has fought to change this but no one seems to be willing to back him, or even bring it up in polite company, so on it goes. Now is the time to revisit this, and get OUR tax monies back into Crestwood where they should have stayed all along.

Now for a pool of a different sort, namely the Crestwood aquatic center. In a rather stunning decision by the Board last Tuesday night we see that the non resident pool fees have been raised. Good? Well no it's a really bad idea as the non resident pool pass sales have out paced the resident ones for the past couple of years. Now we have placed ourselves in the unenviable position of having the highest non resident pool pass cost in the area!

Alderman Duchild tried in vain to point out the fallacy of this but the "tax and spend" crowd went with the idea anyway. So what you say? Well we now "enjoy" the highest cost for less than anyone else in the area, so how do we attract the non resident sales under those conditions?

Now I am not a Wharton Business School graduate by any stretch of anyone's imagination but if they are making really lame decisions on things like a pool pass, how can we ever trust them to complete a viable budget? This isn't exactly rocket science, if we need more money, attract it, don't run the customers away right? And while your at it get the "executive" salaries under control and STOP SPENDING for things we really do not need!

Tom Ford

NO. 963

A dog named hero, rescued by a fallen soldier in Iraq. (Please click here for the story.)

2011-11-26T18:05:00.002-06:00

All of us will get the chance to see this on 20-20 this Sunday night but I thought I would bring it to you now so you remember to watch it.

Amazing? Or just the Lord working in mysterious ways? I have my opinion, but I would like yours please.

Tom Ford

NO. 962

The "new work place," or why were now ALL expendable. (Please click here for the story.)

2011-11-26T08:14:00.002-06:00

Well for once being a tried and true member of the "senior citizen" group is not the worst thing in the world. The article states were now moving into a society where people who do not possess the skills needed by the employer are "expendable!"

Every day we see this in play, for instance you now buy concrete, roofing materials, and lumber with or without a salesman to help you. The "with" part is of course more expensive but you have the security of knowing your order will be just what you need or it's their fault, no salesman, you own the problem.

In my line of work the major suppliers of HVAC equipment are now in the big box stores with a kiosk that allows the home owner to do their own load calculations and equipment selection thus eliminating the need for a trained sales rep to do it "right."

progress now days means that you have the ability to do every job in the company, and do it very well or it's likely that your "progression" will be out the door. I pray that the people now in school fully understand this as I really doubt it will ever return to the "good old days."

As for me, well "what me worry?" Nope, I am now in the 70 year old bracket which means it's "over the side" any time now, I just have to make up my mind as to when.

( with thanks to a reader who forwarded this article to me.)

Tom Ford

NO. 961

Crestwood "hidden" war Memorial on Fox Two News, (please click here for the video and story.)

2011-11-25T06:48:00.003-06:00

Ladies and gentlemen, we have been featured on Fox Two news 9:00 PM broadcast Wednesday night. Several of our war memorial volunteers and Police Chief Mike Paillou discussed the plans for the improved version that we hope will be forthcoming soon.

This is a great project that was started by Ms. Jackie Stock and the Chief when they noticed that the memorial (in front of City Hall) was not viewable from the driveway or sidewalk any longer due to bushes.

A Gold Star Mother, Ms. Mae Chasteen had placed flowers on the memorial (her son was killed in Viet Nam) and that was the catalyst for the project.Ms. Chasteen served as an honored guest on the podium for the first Veterans day remembrance. Other honored guests included Judge Charlie Berry (featured speaker) and members of the first committee.

Since that first remembrance an AD HOC committee has been formed to raise funds to improve the memorial setting and add bronze plaques to the wall behind the granite stone (see plans at City Hall.). I assisted John Morrisett last Saturday at Crestwood Courts during the art festival in collecting donations for the work we hope will be able to start soon.

Crestwood needs ALL of us to donate our time, efforts, and money for this extremely worthwhile project, so please contact City Hall with your donations (pledge cards are also available) so our town can have a proper memorial to those who gave all so we could enjoy the freedom they fought and died for.

Tom Ford

NO. 960

A Thanksgiving history lesson for all. HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!

2011-11-24T06:11:00.003-06:00

With thanks to a good friend D. Aird for sending it to me.

Over the River &

Through the Woods

It’s the only popular song written about Thanksgiving.

Its history is just as unique...

Over the River and Through
the Woods

by Thomas Fleming
New York, New York

Think of a Thanksgiving song. A few hymns come to mind: “We Gather Together to Ask the Lord’s Blessings,” or “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come.” By far the most popular tune is “Over the River and Through the Wood.” Hum a few bars and you’re on a sleigh hurtling over white and drifted snow. Visit Medford, Massachusetts, and you can see the very bridge that goes over that river. But can you name the author of those enduring lyrics? Few can, and yet she was one of the most remarkable American women of the nineteenth century.

Lydia Maria Child was born in Medford in 1802. Maria, as she preferred to be called, was the youngest of seven children of a baker. It is said that her mother set out a groaning board of pies and puddings on Thanksgiving Eve and invited the poor. Certainly that feast served as an inspiration for Maria’s later verses. It also must have inspired her lifelong passion for the less fortunate.

Her first book, written at age 22, was a historical novel—the first published in the United States—the story of a Native American brave and a colonial New England girl. Maria’s fame spread. She went on to write a second novel and start the country’s first magazine for children, Juvenile Miscellany.

Her interests took a more serious turn after her marriage in 1828 to David Lee Child, an idealistic Boston lawyer. On the Fourth of July in 1829 David attended a speech by William Lloyd Garrison denouncing slavery and demanding its immediate abolition. Moved, David became one of the first members of Garrison’s New England Anti–Slavery Society.

Maria disapproved of slavery, but the demand for immediate abolition struck her as radical. She changed her mind after meeting the charismatic Garrison. “He got hold of the strings of my conscience,” she explained to a friend.

Maria’s next book was a full-length attack on the evils of slavery. Bostonians were outraged because she pointed out that some of the city’s largest fortunes had been built on the slave trade. Maria found herself shunned by old friends, sales of her books slumped and her children’s magazine was forced to close down. One member of the venerable literary association the Boston Athenaeum hurled her antislavery book out the window, using a pair of tongs to avoid touching it.

“I am aware of the unpopularity of the task I have undertaken,” Maria wrote, “but though I expect ridicule and censure, it is not in my nature to fear them.”

She wrote a second book on the subject, then joined her husband in a project aimed at reducing the profits of slaveholders. David bought a farm in Northampton, Massachusetts, and began raising sugar beets. The sugar would be sold as a substitute for the cane sugar produced by slave labor in the South.

The experiment was beset with problems. The Childs spent the next three years living on the edge of poverty. Maria took a job in New York as editor of the National Anti-Slavery Standard. She supplemented her salary by writing short stories and magazine articles. It was during this period in the mid 1840s that she wrote “The New–England Boy’s Song about Thanksgiving Day.”

Living in New York, far from her husband, she must have found it comforting to imagine the dapple gray leading the sleigh over that familiar bridge and through the woods to a feast like her mother’s. Through the magic of her pen, Maria could reminisce about the holiday as it was celebrated in her native New England. The lyrics were set to music and her words were then sung by children all over the country who had never even heard of pumpkin pie, heretofore a strictly regional delicacy.

The abolitionist movement grew. When Maria learned of John Brown’s misbegotten attempt at a slave uprising in 1859, she wrote to the governor of Virginia asking to be allowed to visit Brown in prison to dress his wounds. The governor made the request public, and she was deluged with angry letters.

One letter, from the wife of a Virginia senator, defended slavery as a benevolent institution. Southern women, she noted, were kind to slaves when they gave birth. Maria responded with an acerbic letter in which she pointed out that northern women were also kind to women in childbirth, but “after we have helped the mothers, we do not sell the babies.”

The correspondence was published as a pamphlet and sold 300,000 copies. With the advent of the Civil War, Maria helped an ex-slave, Harriet Jacobs, publish her memoirs and later edited an anthology of prominent African-American writers. All the while, her Thanksgiving song was still being sung. In fact, the very idea of a national day of thanksgiving was becoming more popular.

At the end of 1863, a year of bitter losses for both North and South at Gettysburg, Vicksburg and Chancellorsville, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation calling for a national holiday “to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of thanksgiving to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.” A time for families to make that trek over a battle-scarred land to give thanks to God.

Maria died in 1880 knowing that her battles had not been in vain. Today, little of her antislavery writing is remembered, but we still sing her lyrics, even if our sleighs are now cars and airplanes. And at the end of the journey we bow our heads in prayer to the source of our bounty and the freedoms for which Maria fought. Or, as she wrote, “Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day!”

The above article originally appeared in the November 2003 issue of Guideposts Magazine.

About Lydia Maria Child

Lydia Maria Child - A Boy's Thanksgiving Day

Over the River and Through the Wood - Lydia Maria Child

Over the River and

Through the Woods

Written By: Lydia Maria Child

Music By: Unknown

Over the river and through the woods
To Grandmother's house we go
The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh

Through white and drifted snow

Over the river and through the woods
Oh how the wind does blow
It stings the toes and bites the nose
As over the ground we go

Over the river and through the woods
To have a full day of play
Oh, hear the bells ringing ting a ling ling
For it is Christmas Day

Over the river and through the woods
Trot fast my dapple gray
Spring o'er the ground just like a hound
For this is Christmas Day

Over the river and through the woods
And straight through the barn yard gate
It seems that we go so dreadfully slow
It is so hard to wait

Over the river and through the woods
Now Grandma's cap I spy
Hurrah for fun the pudding's done
Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!

City Administrator Eastman calls for raises for the City employees.

2011-11-18T16:52:00.003-06:00

In this case I agree whole heatedly with that assessment. It has been two or three years since our valued employees had a raise or a bonus at the end of the year, and it would be the right thing to do to give them one this year.

This year we have seen a meager increase in residential and commercial taxes, and if we manage our funds correctly, and cut back where we can I believe it's doable. Now where can we lay our hands on at least $20,000.00 plus to get the ball rolling?

Well one very reasonable place to cut would be the salary of the Public Works Director. You see Mr. Eckrich is receiving a salary of over $93,000.00 per year plus benefits, and he has a "take home car."

Mr. Eckrich himself (when he was the C/A) told the past director in a memo that the job was only worth $67,000.00 per year (no mention of a "take home car" was made either,) and that we could find very qualified persons to take the job at that salary.

I agree, we no longer approve plans in house so we do not need an engineer for the position, and we certainly can find a host of qualified persons to take that job Monday morning.

To that end I am recommending that we take Mr. Eckrich at his word and pick up $26,000.00 (not to mention gas, maintenance, and insurance costs on the "take home car,) thus giving us a leg up on the much needed salary increases for our employees.

Your thoughts please?

Tom Ford

NO. 959

Up date on the now famous "bridge to nowhere," or why do we need this if WE cant use it?

2011-11-12T07:17:00.004-06:00

Take a look at OUR $750,000.00 in action folks. here we have a bridge that spans a ribbon of water you can darn near jump across that was deemed necessary by the BOA after an Alderman ran up and down the Dias waving paperwork and demanding we save the City from a "canopy fire!"

Now as most of you know our fire chief stated that they have not the resources to put out a canopy fire, but that didn't sway the Alderman one iota! You see someone at City Hall wrote a grant request for a bridge, and by the Almighty we were to have a bridge "come hell or high water" (neither of which as ever happened in Crestwood.)

At any rate this is all "water under the bridge" or soon will be if the debacle is ever finished. Oh, by the way, you and I cannot use that bridge to drive over as it is for the sole purpose of transporting City vehicles to ?

Well were broke, but wow, look at that bridge, and just wait till the $5,000.00 worth of signage is added. This should be a monument to ridiculous spending, and Government waste for some time to come!

Tom Ford

NO. 958

Crestwood Veterans day celebration will be on November 9, 2011 at 2:00 PM at City Hall.

2011-11-08T17:59:00.004-06:00

Please join us in a ceremony to remember and honor the men and women from Crestwood who sacrificed so much to insure that Americans could enjoy the freedom they now have.

This Veterans day we are embroiled in yet another shooting war in the Middle east, and once again our volunteer force is doing whatever is needed to insure that Liberty remains.

I have limited experience with Military combat action, and that was during my two tours with the Navy off Viet Nam, but I like so many of us lost good friends there and to that end I would like to post some statistics from the Viet Nam Veterans Wall in Washington, D. C. to honor them.

May God keep my departed brothers and sisters close to him and give them the please they deserve.

Interesting Veterans Statistics off the Vietnam Memorial Wall

"Carved on these walls is the story of America , of a continuing quest to preserve both Democracy and decency, and to protect a national treasure that we call the American dream." ~ President George Bush

SOMETHING to think about - Most of the surviving Parents are now Deceased.

There are 58,267 names now listed on that polished black wall, including those added in 2010..

The names are arranged in the order in which they were taken from us by date and within each date the names are alphabetized. It is hard to believe it is 36 years since the last casualties.

Beginning at the apex on panel 1E and going out to the end of the East wall, appearing to recede into the earth (numbered 70E - May 25, 1968), then resuming at the end of the West wall, as the wall emerges from the earth (numbered 70W - continuing May 25, 1968) and ending with a date in 1975. Thus the war's beginning and end meet. The war is complete, coming full circle, yet broken by the earth that bounds the angle's open side and contained within the earth itself.

The first known casualty was Richard B. Fitzgibbon, of North Weymouth , Mass. Listed by the U.S. Department of Defense as having been killed on June 8, 1956. His name is listed on the Wall with that of his son, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Richard B. Fitzgibbon III, who was killed on Sept. 7, 1965.

· There are three sets of fathers and sons on the Wall.

· 39,996 on the Wall were just 22 or younger.

· The largest age group, 8,283 were just 19 years old 33,103 were 18 years old.

· 12 soldiers on the Wall were 17 years old.

· 5 soldiers on the Wall were 16 years old.

· One soldier, PFC Dan Bullock was 15 years old.

· 997 soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam .

· 1,448 soldiers were killed on their last day in Vietnam .

· 31 sets of brothers are on the Wall.

· Thirty one sets of parents lost two of their sons.

· 54 soldiers on attended Thomas Edison High School in Philadelphia . I wonder why so many from one school.

· 8 Women are on the Wall. Nursing the wounded.

· 244 soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War; 153 of them are on the Wall.

· Beallsville, Ohio with a population of 475 lost 6 of her sons.

· West Virginia had the highest casualty rate per capita in the nation. There are 711 West Virginians on the Wall.

· The Marines of Morenci - They led some of the scrappiest high school football and basketball teams that the little

Arizona copper town of Morenci (pop. 5,058) had ever known and cheered. They enjoyed roaring beer busts. In quieter moments, they rode horses along the Coronado Trail, stalked deer in the Apache National Forest . And in the patriotic camaraderie typical of Morenci's mining families, the nine graduates of Morenci High enlisted as a group in the Marine Corps. Their service began on Independence Day, 1966. Only 3 returned home.

· The Buddies of Midvale - LeRoy Tafoya, Jimmy Martinez, Tom Gonzales were all boyhood friends and lived on three consecutive streets in Midvale, Utah on Fifth, Sixth and Seventh avenues. They lived only a few yards apart. They played ball at the adjacent sandlot ball field. And they all went to Vietnam . In a span of 16 dark days in late 1967, all three would be killed. LeRoy was killed on Wednesday, Nov. 22, the fourth anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s assassination. Jimmy died less than 24 hours later on Thanksgiving Day.. Tom was shot dead assaulting the enemy on Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

· The most casualty deaths for a single day was on January 31, 1968 ~ 245 deaths.

· The most casualty deaths for a single month was May 1968 - 2,415 casualties were incurred.

For most Americans who read this they will only see the numbers that the Vietnam War created.. To those of us who survived the war, and to the families of those who did not, we see the faces, we feel the pain that these numbers created. We are, until we too pass away, haunted with these numbers, because they were our friends, fathers, husbands, wife's, sons and daughters. There are no noble wars, just noble warriors.

Freedom isn't free, it must be nurtured and nurished with the blood of those who would maintain it.

Tom Ford

NO. 957

Obama administration opposes FDR prayer at the WW2 memorial in D.C. (click here for the story please.)

2011-11-06T06:08:00.002-06:00

Do any of you have any living relatives that served during WW2? If so bring this up and ask them just how they feel about an administration that would prevent a prayer from being displayed at THEIR MEMORIAL?

Recently the VA attempted to ban ALL prayers at military funerals in Texas! Those of us who are Viet Nam vet's and a lot of other veteran groups raised such a furor that the "order" was rescinded.

We have seen the faces of evil attempt to remove "In God we trust" and "One Nation under God" from the landscape, but to stoop so low as to ban a prayer that the Commander In Chief himself uttered in one of our darkest hours is the last straw! If you agree please write these fools and explain to them "Honor, Duty, Country" as this cannot be allowed to stand!

Tom Ford

NO. 956

Crestwood art space tenants to be "out of space" soon. (please click here for the story.)

2011-11-05T05:36:00.002-05:00

Indeed, the Crestwood Courts renovation soon to take place will displace the artistic community in favor of a theater and a bowling alley? I guess you could say (with apology's to William Shakespeare,) "the Bard giveth, and the Bard taketh away."

Now we have some idea of what were going to see in the near future at the Court's, but what of the rest of the property, the big retail spaces and empty shops? I don't have an answer, but we are supposed to have an "economic development" specialist on staff in Crestwood so maybe she can be of service to the owners in finding Tennant's.

If anyone has an idea as to what or how the management on Crestwood Courts could do to further fill the spaces why not call Nickie at City Hall and make your recommendations.

When we moved here over 40 years ago the rally cry was, "Crestwood plaza, where the big stores are!" What do we say now, "Crestwod Court's, where the bowling alley is?"

Tom Ford

NO. 955

The official list of the backers of the "occupy Wall Street" protesters. (please click here for the story, and the proof.)

2011-11-01T18:08:00.002-05:00

Well for the first time we can see just who is funding and backing these ill advised, so called protests, and eye opening it truly is!

Well maybe not to those of us who pay attention to the political climate in America today it's not as "eye opening" as we have sensed this all along.

It is however a communist backed movement designed to render the very people who supply the jobs these people are looking for, "last years trash!" One wonders just who will be able (or want) to employ these children of a lesser God when all the furor settles down. I really don't see "protester" on their resume as being a leg up in the competition for any job myself!

Tom Ford

NO. 954

Food for thought, nuff said!

2011-10-30T07:42:00.004-05:00

“You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in their struggle for independence.”

C.A. Beard

(Cartoons courtesy of "Dales Blog" listed in the right hand column under links.)

Tom Ford

NO. 953

Were the Texas Rangers "cursed?" There is a story on The Drudge Report that asks that question. What do you think?

2011-10-29T13:54:00.004-05:00

The last time I remember a team being "cursed" was of course the always failing Chicago Cubs and that goat thing. This is uncharted ground for a major league baseball team as if in fact the "curse" is on there is only one place to have it removed, Chicago! Well we all know how well that worked for the Cubs, no?

At any rate, that was some series, and we can be proud of our team and our Community as not one riot (AKA Chicago) was in evidence! Well done Cards!

Tom Ford

NO. 952

The press is very afraid of Herman Cain! Doubt me? Please click here for the story.

2011-10-28T18:23:00.005-05:00

This is not quite the lowest thing that the democrat house organs have pulled, and they will be doing much worse in the future, trust me!

Why do such a despicable thing? Well in a word these fools are very, very worried! One thing about the democrat party is that they, through the media will always tell us who they fear, and they just did it again.

Interesting isn't it, you have just been introduced to the real face of racism thanks to this so called "reporter," who is nothing more than a shill for Barrack Husein Obama and all the bad things he stands for!

Your turn.

Tom Ford

NO. 950

Herman Cain wins Nevada straw poll. (click here for the story please.)

2011-10-22T10:47:00.003-05:00

Well I for one am very happy to see Mr. Cain rising to the top! If this keeps up (and why won't it?) the Republican party will have to recognize him as not only a contender but THE major candidate for president.

The Republic has long waited for person who will tell the real truth, and not try to pull the wool over our eyes, AKA Obama / Biden with their so called jobs bill rhetoric. I firmly believe Herman Cain is that person, the right man at precisely the right time.

Time will tell of course but right now I believe it's Mr. Cain's race to win or loose, what say you?

Tom Ford

NO. 949

If you think your taxed to the max now, try this new Obama regime plan on for size!

2011-10-20T17:48:00.002-05:00

This is from friend "Goo" and is complete with the proof attached. It gets more and more like a communist controlled Nation every day, and we do NOTHING to stop it, why is that?

You think you pay taxes now. you like "change"?
Wait and see what is to happen in the near future.

"ON JANUARY 1 ST 2012, THE GOVERNMENT IS REQUIRING EVERYONE TO HAVE DIRECT DEPOSIT FOR SS CHECKS. WONDER WHY?
1% tax on all bank transactions HR4646
Watch for this AFTER November elections; remember this BEFORE you VOTE in case you think Obamas looking out for your best interest.
1% tax on all bank transactions HR 4646
This government just cannot think of enough ways to hurt the American people! I sure hope this dies!!!!!
FORWARD THIS TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!
1% tax on all bank transactions HR 4646 - ANOTHER NEW OBAMA TAX SLIPPED IN WHILE WE WERE ASLEEP. Checked this on snopes, it's true! Check out HR 4646.
President Obamas finance team is recommending a one percent (1%) transaction fee (TAX). Obamas plan is to sneak it in after the November elections to keep it under the radar.
This is a 1% tax on all transactions at any financial institution - banks, credit unions, savings and loans, etc. Any deposit you make, or even a transfer within your account, will have a 1% tax charged. ~If your paycheck or your social security or whatever is direct deposit, it will get a 1% tax charged for the transaction. ~If your paycheck is $1000, then you will pay Obama $10 just for the privilege of depositing your paycheck in your bank. Even if you hand carry your paycheck or any check into your bank for a deposit, 1% tax will be charged. ~You receive a $5,000 stock dividend from your broker, Obama takes $50 just to allow you to deposit that check in the bank.. ~If you take $1,000 cash to deposit at your bank, 1% tax will be charged.
Mind you, this is from the man who promised that, if you make under $250,000 per year, you will not see one penny of new tax. Keep your eyes and ears open, you will be amazed at what you learn about this guy's under-the-table moves to increase the number of ways you are taxed.
Oh, and by the way, if you receive a refund from the IRS next year and you have it direct deposited or you walk in to deposit that check, you guessed it. You will pay a 1% charge of that money just for putting it in your bank. Remember, any money, cash, check or whatever, no matter where it came from, you will pay a 1% fee if you put it in the bank.
Some will say, oh well, it's just 1%. Are you kidding me? It's a 1% tax increase across the board. Remember, once the tax is there, they can also raise it at will. And if anyone protests, they will just say, "Oh,that's not really a tax, it's a user fee"! Think this is no big deal? Go back and look at the transactions you made on one year's banking statements. Then add the total of all those transactions and deduct 1%. Still think it's no big deal?"

" A government big enough to give you everything you want is also big enough to take away everything you have." - Barry Goldwater

1. snopes.com: Debt Free America Act •••
Is the U.S. government proposing a 1% tax on debit card usage and/or banking transactions?
...It is true. The bill is HR-4646 introduced by US Rep Peter deFazio D-Oregon and US Senator Tom Harkin D-Iowa. Their plan is to sneak it in after the...
...moved beyond proposing studies and submitted the Debt Free America Act (H.R. 4646), a bill calling for the implementation of a scheme to pay down the...
...[2010] by Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-Pa.). His "Debt Free America Act" (H.R. 4646) would impose a 1 percent "transaction tax" on every financial transaction...
Sat, 24 Sep 2011 11:26:40 GMT http://www.snopes.com/politics/taxes/debtfree.asp

Tom Ford

NO. 948

Grim outlook for the future. Crestwood will have to look closely at finances.

2011-10-19T16:49:00.004-05:00

Lowes to Close Stores;Gap to Close US Stores, Expand in China; Best Buy to Reduce Square Footage by 10%; Mall Vacancies Record High; Grim Jobs Picture.

http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogsp...-close-us.html

This was sent by a reader who feels as I do that were a long way from a recovery. In fact I believe we well may be on course for a depression if things don't change in a hurry.

Please read it and give us your thoughts.

Tom Ford

NO. 947

Psych class 101, or the case for removing ALL politicians from office after one term.

2011-10-09T09:01:00.002-05:00

PSYCH 101

"If you start with a cage containing five monkeys and inside the cage, hang a
banana on a string from the top and then you place a set of stairs under the
banana, before long a monkey will go to the stairs and climb toward the
banana.

As soon as he touches the stairs, you spray all the other monkeys with cold
water. After a while another monkey makes an attempt with same result ...
all the other monkeys are sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon when another
monkey tries to climb the stairs, the other monkeys will try to prevent it..

Now, put the cold water away.

Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new one.

The new monkey sees the banana and attempts to climb the stairs.

To his shock, all of the other monkeys beat the tar out of him. After
another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs he
will be assaulted.

Next, remove another of the original five monkeys, replacing it with a new
one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous newcomer
takes part in the punishment... with enthusiasm.

Then, replace a third original monkey with a new one, followed by a fourth,
then the fifth. Every time the newest monkey takes to the stairs he is
attacked. Most of the monkeys that are beating him up have no idea why they
were not permitted to climb the stairs. Neither do they know why they are
participating in the beating of the newest monkey.

Finally, having replaced all of the original monkeys, none of the remaining
monkeys will have ever been sprayed with cold water. Nevertheless, none of
the monkeys will try to climb the stairway for the banana.

Why, you ask? Because in their minds ... that is the way it has always been!

This, my friends, is how Congress operates... and is why, from time to time,
all of the monkeys need to be REPLACED AT THE SAME TIME."

From Red, a good friend and former Naval Aviator (F-14 driver.)

Tom Ford

NO. 946

The battle of Lake Erie, September ,1813 will be reenacted on September 10, 2013, and I will be a crew member aboard the USS Niagara, want to join us?

2011-10-08T12:54:00.005-05:00

Please click on the header for the web site and complete information as to how you can be a part of American history! As you can well imagine being a part of the actual battle aboard a man of war, 1813 style will be extremely exciting to say the least.

The battle will cap a bi-centennial celebration of the battle that defeated the British Navy on Lake Erie, and played a great part in ending the war with an American victory. I will be portraying ordinary seaman John M. Strebeck, an ordinary seaman who was wounded while serving aboard the Brig (USS) Niagara (Admiral Perry's flagship) during the battle.

The Bi-centennial committee is looking for a few good men to join the fleet, so click on the header and "enlist" for the battle, and the opportunity of a lifetime.

I will be adding this site to the list of quick links to the right of the Blog so you may see it at any time without looking up this post. If your at all interested in "enlisting" I would do it soon as the "billets' will fill up quickly.

Tom Ford

NO. 945

Mike Anthony says Crestwood is back on track! I couldn't agree more. (click here for the editorial by Mr. Anthony.)

2011-10-06T17:24:00.002-05:00

Wow, we have a very positive review of mayor Schlink's performance by Mr. Mike Anthony of the Call! This is (as usual) a very well written and concise editorial that says it all, ergo, nu ff said by me.

Please click on the header and enjoy the positive Crestwood news!

Tom Ford

NO. 944

Received from a reader who is a long time Crestwood resident, what do you think?

2011-10-02T07:45:00.005-05:00

Well Tom,

"I hope the BOA takes this into consideration as the good ship Crestwood steers forward out of debt and into a position to begin a savings plan. Reduce the director of public works compensation, eliminate the purchase of the police cars, combine the secretaries into a pool and reduce head count, reduce the target dollar amount for the replacement firetruck and extend the time target for replacement, eliminate the Sappington house caretaker, eliminate animal control. These are just few of the strategies we should employ to position Crestwood in a stronger financial position."

Thanks for listening to me.

http://online.wsj.com/article/
SB10001424052970204138204576
602372747929658.
html?mod=WSJ_hp_LEFTTopStories
&mod=
igoogle_wsj_gadgv1

The writer has some very valid points. If we are to survive the storm that has descended upon us thanks to foolish and ridiculous expenditures by our so called representatives in Congress and President, we must cut expenses, and we must do it right now.

At the last BOA meeting we saw a chance to pick up a new business "tabled" for further discussion. We can't seem to draw a new business to Crestwood,and the only way a business comes to a new location here is to move from A to B.

Crestwood Courts is "DRT" (dead right there,) and if it were to be revitalized today it would be 5 years before anyone sees any measurable increase to the City coffers. So all that said, what do we do? Your turn please.

Tom Ford

NO. 943

I received this from Sandy Grave` and it bears repeating, Please click here for a speech by Mr. Herman Cain.)

2011-09-30T15:20:00.005-05:00

This may well help us understand why the Candidate for President, Mr. Herman Cain is so well respected in the poll's.

What you may not know about Herman Cain who is running for president....

"He’s not a career politician (in fact he has never held political office). He’s known as a pizza guy, but there’s a lot more to him. He’s also a computer guy, a banker guy, and a rocket scientist guy.
Here’s his bio:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics.
• Master’s degree in Computer Science.
• Mathematician for the Navy, where he worked on missile ballistics (making him a rocket scientist).
• Computer systems analyst for Coca-Cola.
• VP of Corporate Data Systems and Services for Pillsbury (this is the top of the ladder in the computer world, being in charge of information systems for a major corporation).

All achieved before reaching the age of 35. Since he reached the top of the information systems world, he changed careers!

• Business Manager. Took charge of Pillsbury’s 400 Burger King restaurants in the Philadelphia area, which were the company’s poorest performers in the country. Spent the first nine months learning the business from the ground up, cooking hamburger and yes, cleaning toilets. After three years he had turned them into the company’s best performers.
• Godfather’s Pizza CEO. Was asked by Pillsbury to take charge of their Godfather’s Pizza chain (which was on the verge of bankruptcy). He made it profitable in 14 months.
• In 1988 he led a buyout of the Godfather’s Pizza chain from Pillsbury. He was now the owner of a restaurant chain. Again he reached the top of the ladder of another industry.
• He was also chairman of the National Restaurant Association during this time. This is a group that interacts with government on behalf of the restaurant industry, and it gave him political experience from the non-politician side.

Having reached the top of a second industry, he changed careers again!

• Adviser to the Federal Reserve System. Herman Cain went to work for the Federal Reserve Banking System advising them on how monetary policy changes would affect American businesses.
• Chairman of the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank. He worked his way up to the chairmanship of a regional Federal Reserve bank. This is only one step below the chairmanship of the entire Federal Reserve System (the top banking position in the country). This position allowed him to see how monetary policy is made from the inside, and understand the political forces that impact the monetary system.

After reaching the top of the banking industry, he changed careers for a fourth time!

• Writer and public speaker. He then started to write and speak on leadership. His books include Speak as a Leader , CEO of Self , Leadership is Common Sense , and They Think You’re Stupid .
• Radio Host. Around 2007—after a remarkable 40 year career—he started hosting a radio show on WSB in Atlanta (the largest talk radio station in the country).

He did all this starting from rock bottom (his father was a chauffeur and his mother was a maid). When you add up his accomplishments in his life—including reaching the top of three unrelated industries: information systems, business management, and banking"

Herman Cain may have the most impressive resume of anyone that has run for the presidency in the last half century.'

STACK THAT UP AGAINST THE 'COMMUNITY ORGANIZER'....

(NEW POST ABOVE, CLICK ON THE HEADER FOR A SPEECH TO THE NRA BY MR. HERMAN CAIN.)

It speaks for itself my friends.

Tom Ford

NO. 942

Please join me in welcoming our new City Administrator, Ms. Petree Eastman to Crestwood.

2011-09-28T16:54:00.003-05:00

The Board of Alderman voted unanimously to approve Mayor Schlink's candidate for City Administrator, Ms. Petree Eastman. From what I understand Ms. Eastman comes to us by way of the Municipal League, and a prior stint as the Assistant City Administrator of University City, Mo.

Ms. Eastman is well qualified for the position with experience many facets of Municipal Government, and as a bonus is an attorney.

I am not sure of her start date as of this writing as the necessary ordnances and remaining paperwork will have to be adopted and completed, but please join me in welcoming her to to our community.

Tom Ford

NO. 941

WARD TWO TOWN HALL MEETING 9/27/11, 5:30 TO 7:00 PM IN THE BOA CHAMBERS, CRESTWOOD CITY HALL.

2011-09-23T17:36:00.002-05:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, here is the proposed agenda for the Ward Two meeting Tuesday Night from 5:30 to 7:00 PM as listed above.

1) local vandalism and vehicle break in's in Crestwood. (Police Chief Mike Paillou)

2) St. Louis County emergency warning siren test. (Police Chief Mike Paillou)

3) Crestwood Veterans memorial Monument. (Veterans committee, Police Chief Mike Paillou)

4) New Tax Rates for Crestwood, (Jackie Stock, Tom Ford, Alderman Steve Knarr)

5) Making an anonymous complaint to City hall. (Jackie Stock)

6) Open floor forum for questions, ideas, concerns, and comments.

Folks this meeting is for the residents of Ward Two (and all of Crestwood) to show our support for our City Officials, and to assist them where ever possible. We will be in the Board Of Alderman chambers from 5:30 to 7:00 PM. Please remember that there are no food or drinks allowed in the Chamber, and the chairs must stay in order for the BOA meeting at 7:00 PM.

Please join your neighbors and find out what is in store for Ward Two, and what we can do to help.

Click on the header for the agenda for the 7:00 PM BOA meeting and plan to stay for it as well. Hope to see you there!

Tom Ford

NO. 940

WARD TWO TOWN HALL MEETING 9/27/11, 5:30 TO 7:00 PM IN THE BOA CHAMBERS, CRESTWOOD CITY HALL.

2011-09-21T09:31:00.002-05:00

Ladies and gentlemen, Ms. Jackie Stock and I will be again hosting a Ward Two Town Hall meeting to address concerns, and questions from Ward two residents. The meeting will start promptly at 5:30 PM and last till 7:00 Pm at which the regular BOA meeting will take place.

We have the Crestwood Police Chief coming to address the recent vandalism, and car break ins in Ward two and what each of us can do the help our Police catch the culprits. Also in attendance will be The mayor Mr. Jeff Schlink, and Ward Two Alderman Mr. Steve Knarr (Alderman Pickel has not responded yet) to address your questions and concerns.

We will be posting a complete agenda for the meeting in the next day or two, so please watch the Blog for it. If you have any questions or concerns that you would like to see on the agenda, please advise me (314-341-2307) and I will see that they are addressed.

This is a prime opportunity for us to meet with our chosen leaders and tell them what we would like to see in Crestwood, so please make every effort to attend, and bring your questions and comments. More as the agenda fleshes out.

Tom Ford

NO. 939

Things in America that will soon be history! (Please click here for the article, long but worth it.)

2011-09-19T17:09:00.005-05:00

Very sad, but very true my friends. This is a long read but well worth your time to do so. The America our Grand Children will grow up in will be vastly different than the one we knew and loved.

I will cease further comments as the piece speaks for it's self.

Tom Ford

NO. 939

Mr. Ray Hoffstetter believes "Big Oil" doesn't "pay it's fair share' of taxes, (click here for the letter to the Sun Crest Call,)

2011-09-17T18:07:00.004-05:00

I find it interesting that it's always "BIG' something that is blamed for not "paying their fair share" of taxes (read tribute) to the Government coffers!

I am wondering if Mr. Hoffstetter (and others) has / have ever looked into the cost of doing business as an oil company? As I am sure he is aware there is the exploration, the retrieval costs, the Government regulations, the labor costs, the R&D costs,the maintenance costs, and certainly not last their fiduciary responsibility to their share holders.

I am not now,nor have I ever been associated with an oil company, but I do work for them from time to time and I can assure you that their cost of doing business is tremendous by comparison to most businesses.

I am wondering why Mr. Hoffstetter has not mentioned General Electric who paid ZERO taxes last year but their CEO was invited to sit with the First Lady (and did) during Mr. Obamas jobs speech? He has a couple of jet's, vacation homes, and a ridiculous salary, yet he and his company get a pass, why is that?

Please, Mr. Hoffstetter do not fall into the "class warfare" trap so artfully laid by certain factions in Washington, as I have never seen or heard of a POOR PERSON giving a job to anyone in the 70 years I have been on the planet!

Think about it sir!

Tom Ford

NO. 938

THREE YEAR OLDS placed on Government data base if they exhibit raciest-homophobic tendency's (Please click here for the story!)

2011-09-15T18:16:00.002-05:00

I have been to a county fair or two, two goat roping's and a car wash in my time but never, ever have I read or heard of ANYTHING like this!

From now on it would seem the progressive / Liberal establishment in England (how ling before it's here?) will be monitoring the speech and behavior of your THREE YEAR OLD for tendency's not "acceptable" to the "new thinking!"

Are we to accept the premise that a three year old really has complete and full knowledge of what the are saying, or is it possible they are repeating what they heard somewhere else?

At any rate if these lame fools get their way kids will be entered into a "data base" THAT MAY WELL HAUNT THEM FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES, ALL THANKS TO INSANE POLITICAL CORRECTNESS!

When do we all rise up and say enough is enough!

Tom Ford

NO. 937

September 11, 2001 we lost 3,000 of our fellow Americans to crazed radicals. (click here for the clips.)

2011-09-10T07:31:00.003-05:00

I am sure you remember where you were on 9/11/01, I certainly do. Please take a look back via these videos linked to above and join me and my family in saying a silent prayer for the dead, and their families.

This was not a "fluke" by some radical group as some would have you believe, but rather the first shot in the "Jihad" to make America sub-servient to the Wahabbe belief in the return of the tenth Eman, and the associated "rule" by Sharia law that accompanies it.

In short the Nations (Iran, Libya, Iraq, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan) that are TRUE believers in the Muslim way of life as well as Sharia law are in a protracted war to remove All infidels from the planet.

Does this mean ALL MUSLIMS are of that persuasion, NO it does not, no more than the Westbourough Baptist Church is mainstream in the Baptist faith. What it does mean is that certain elements of the middle eastern culture want us ALL dead, no ifs ands or buts.

We owe it to those who fell on 9/11/01 to keep their memory alive, and to continue the fight to preserve America for our children and grand children's sake. May God hold the fallen close and may their families know the eternal peace that the resurrection brings.

Tom Ford

NO. 936

Remember when Congresswoman Gabby Gifford's was shot, and we were to tone down the rhetoric? (click here for the story.)

2011-09-08T17:42:00.004-05:00

I guess "tone down the rhetoric" only applies to the Conservative and Tea Party groups they blamed for the shooting. Since that very sad day we have heard all sorts of really inflammatory comments coming out of the mouths of Progressive / Liberals in both the House and the Senate, but nothing like we heard from a union leader last Monday.

Maybe one of my progressive / Liberal friends can explain to me (and the readers here) why Mr. Obama or any of his buddies on his side of the aisle have not condemned this "HATE SPEECH?"

I guess we Conservative are expected to just sit by and wait for the attack, right? Well I really don't think that is going to happen my friends. Later tonight Mr. Obama will speak on "jobs," he will have no substance, or plan mind you, but he will speak;. Unfortunately most ALL of America will not be watching or listening as we have had it with the Bravo Sierra.

Mr. Obama your a one trick pony, we have seen the act, my suggestion is to start packing for the move back to Chicago as 2012 will be here before you know it!

Tom Ford

NO. 935

U.S. Postal Service may shut down this winter! Default on payments likely this month (click here for the story please.)

2011-09-05T07:17:00.003-05:00

In a stunning report from the New York Times we see the reality of the rescission (depression?) we have been led into by the two party system known as Democrats and Republicans!

There are many reasons for the eminent collapse of the postal system, not the least of which is the surely attitudes displayed at the counter, and the out of control spending on things such as "New Logo's" (five million dollars.) The electronic age, texting on your I phone. fax data, emails, electronic signatures, ET AL have contributed to the pending demise as well.

Much like the transition between the buggy and the automobile, (buggy whip manufacturers lost out) the Postal system has failed to make the changes to adapt to the new societal whims of it's customers. I haven't been to a post office to buy stamps for six years now as I print my own at the "Postal service" I am writing on. That's right, I have a Certificate stating that I am a "licensed postal meeter" location, hence no need t go there.

This is but another in the long line of "indicators" that our so called "leader." and his minions are not exactly the "Hope and change" some wanted. No in fact this current crop of people in Washington are far to busy attempting to insure their legacy than doing what is right for America!

Folks the other shoe" is dropping as we speak, your vote is now more important than at any other time in American history! If were to survive this onslaught of "progressive" thinking we must go to the poll's and vote for the right person for the job. Forget the fact that "they have been there," and vote for the right person who is not afraid to correct the errors that got us here.

Tom Ford

NO. 934

Have you ever wondered why the Japanese never attacked Oklahoma? (please click here for the video.)

2011-09-03T17:18:00.002-05:00

Now I have given lectures and presentations to several groups on the Japanese military (my hobby) in world war two, but I didn't know about this.

It's amazing just how much you can find on the net now days. I thank my good friend, call sign "GOO," a Marine aviator (REO)for enlighten me on this most important piece of information.

Tom Ford

NO. 933

Do we think this is is a group of lost votes for Mr. Obama?

2011-09-02T17:03:00.004-05:00

I think it's a sure bet that this family will not be voting for Mr. Obama in 2012.

God rest your soul Mr. Unsworth.

Tom Ford

NO. 932

Gallup poll results for my "spin Meister" friends. (click here for the results please.)

2011-08-28T15:54:00.005-05:00

OK, here are some polling results from a telephone survey completed by a very well respected polling group, namely Gallop. It would appear that Mr. Obamas approval ratings are at a all time low as of yesterday.

It can't be the Hurricane Irene deal as that was pretty much of a NOAH hype job that never really came to anything much. Mr. Obama left his vacation (two separate planes, two separate entourages again) to take charge at the national Hurricane center only to watch it fizzle out like a cheap Chinese fire cracker.

I am not surprised by the low ratings as the man has accomplished nothing to improve the job picture or the economic malaise, only say he has "a plan."

I am betting that he comes out with the FDR approach (WPA, CCC programs) and spins it as a way to move people off welfare, the public dole and a back to work program for the entire nation. He will tell us that his program will reduce the deficit by putting these people to work, and cutting the costs of public assistance were paying now. He will tell us that the back to work program will generate new taxes to cut the deficit, and it will improve the infrastructure as well!

Pretty neat, no? Well the only problem with this is the money will still be spent as salaries for the "jobs," and there will be no new taxes as the pay checks will be too low to pay any (51% of people pay no taxes now, it will go up.) So when you see and hear the leader's speech on this latest smoke and mirror program just remember it didn't work in the 30's under FDR and it darn sure won't work under Mr. Obama who frankly couldn't make a lemonade stand a viable business.

Let the "progressive / Liberal" retort begin, and when you do, please if you want to have a meaningful debate, stick to the facts only. If a poster places touchy / feely, or personal attack post on here I will delete it as soon as I see it. Go to o George Sorrows paid for sites, get your facts in a row, and let the debate begin!

Tom Ford

NO. 931

New (so called) civility in Wisconsin by ? (click here for the story.)

2011-08-27T08:45:00.004-05:00

Now here we have one of the best reasons I have seen in a while why we conservatives don't wish to "just get along!" If you will notice it's a SCHOOL that has been "glued" shut to prevent the Governor of the State from reading to children!

Now that is really "progressive," and one of the main reasons why these people have no credibility with me when they ask for "civility." They claim to want civility, diversity, and all the other things they say they stand for, yet when it comes time to "put up" they want us to shut up!

The Tea party isn't a group of "radical right wingers," no indeed it is a gathering of God Fearing Americans who are fed up with being told by a pack of socialists what were going to do!

Look for the ascension of the Tea Party philosophy, and I thank the "progressives" who do such things as glue school doors shut for the boost that will surly increase Tea party membership.

Tom Ford

NO. 930

Obamas' spend 10 Million in taxpayer money on "vacations!" (click here for the story from London.)

2011-08-24T19:10:00.004-05:00

One question, and one question only please. How's that Hope and Change working out for YOU?

Most of us can't rent a tent in Fenton, much less a $50,000.00 a week home on Martha's Vineyard Island. Now I ask you, is this "shared sacrifice?"

Tom Ford

NO. 929

More "good stuff" for Crestwood / Sunset Hills! (click here for the information)

2011-08-20T15:02:00.005-05:00

(actual structure in the park.)

Indeed with he coming of fall we have the Holidays to think of, and to jump start that the Rotary Club of Crestwood / Sunset hills will be having their semi annual craft fair. (Click the header for dates, times, and information.

I know it's a way's off and I will be reminding you as the time draws near but please mark your calender's now and be sure to attend.

Please remember that it was this very same Rotary Club that provided the funding for the materials for the gazebo now being completed in White Cliff park! Let's ALL support them, and thank by attending this fine project.

Thanks to Alderman Paul Duchild for the information and web site shown here.

Tom Ford

NO. 928

Some photos from the Car Cruse Saturday. (At the Veterans booth.)

2011-08-19T17:46:00.004-05:00

(" two - 2- girls are NATALIE & ANIKA WAGNER of CRESTWOOD (of Irish Dancers fame)
and their GRANDPA CHARLEY STOCKHAUSEN is a two - time MARINE
battle, VET...( IWO JIMA & KOREA ) He was there as well, and met Russ Whitener (VVA Chapter 1028 V.P.)
& Chief MIKE ..")

Jacque S.

Please see the link to the "Patch" for further.........

Tom Ford

NO. 927

Cartoons are getting a bit testy these days, no?

2011-08-17T15:11:00.013-05:00

I am an equal opportunity annoyer so if you have a Republican one you want posted please email it to me and will add it.

Tom Ford

NO. 926

Time to inject some humor into our otherwise mundane lives!

2011-08-13T16:57:00.002-05:00

What say we list some of our favorite "puns" for a change? Here are a couple that come to mind for openers.

YES, and then there was the frog who walked into the bank and asked for a $45,000.00 loan from the V.P of the loan department, one Ms. Patricia Whack. She asked for collateral and he gave her an ivory elephant. Somewhat taken back she excused herself and went to see the Bank manager telling him there was green frog out side who wanted a loan for $45,000.00 and only had this for collateral, asking what it was in the first place. The bank manager told her “It’s a knickknack Patty Whack, give the frog the loan, his old mans a rolling stone!”

Then there was the famed relief pitcher that played for the Milwaukee Brewers named Wil Famey. Will was an outstanding pitcher but he had one failing, that being drinking too much beer! One fine afternoon while the Brewers were in the lead Wil was in the Bull pen swilling his beer as usual when the manager called for him to com in. Wil moseyed to the mound and proceeded to walk eight straight batters thus loosing the game. As the opposing team passed the bull pen there were numerous empty beer cans on the ground, and one player said to the other as they passed, "look, that's the beer that made Wil Famey walk us!"

Your turn!

Tom Ford

NO. 925

The second annual classic car cruse is tomorrow.

2011-08-12T15:12:00.003-05:00

I received this from the veterans committee this morning so I would like to pass it on to you,

"Members of the Crestwood Veterans Memorial Committee will be present at the 2nd Annual Classic Car Cruise at Crestwood Court on August 13, 2011.

The memorial committee will be sharing a booth with the Vietnam Veterans. Please stop by and learn about the memorial, plans to enhance or expand the memorial and learn about several members of our community who lost their lives while in the service of our country.

The committee will be accepting tax deductible donations to fund this project and looking for citizens and veterans to join our team to help reach our goal of drawing attention to this memorial erected in 1968 and to enhance and allow for growth should any of our sons or daughters pay the ultimate price for our freedom.

Please stop by while enjoying the other events and activities of this wonderful community event."

Events Schedule

The 2nd Annual Route 66 Classic Car Cruise will be on Saturday, August 13th, 2011 from 11:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. - Rain or Shine. Below is a tentative schedule that is subject to changes and additions. Follow us on Facebook to learn about updates.

11:00 a.m.
The Route 66 Classic Car Cruise begins with the Presenting of the Colors by the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1028.

11:00 a.m. to
12:30 p.m.
Registration and Check-In - Route 66 Cruise Headquarters at Crestwood Court (corner of Sappington and Watson)

12:00 p.m.
Kid's Cruise - Decorate your Bike, Trike, Big Wheel, ect. and "Cruise" for prizes. First, second and third place in two age categories, and participation prizes for all. Sponsored by America's Incredible Pizza Co.

12:30 p.m. to
1:00 p.m.
Hip Hop - Hip Hop Fundation Fanatics on the stage at Crestwood Court.

1:00 to
2:00 p.m.
Car Show - vehicles to be judged will be on south lot of Crestwood Court. Great time to see a lot of cars in one place.

1:30 to
2:15 p.m.
Irish Dance - Clark Academy performs Irish Dancing on the stage at Crestwood Court.

2:00 to
4:00 p.m.
Poker Run - Drive to 7 locations and pull cards out of a hat. Best 5 card hand wins $350 to Firestone. Prizes for second best hand and worst hands also. Classic car not required to play.

2:00 to
4:00 p.m.
Passport Game - Drive to 10 locations to be entered into drawing for grand prize that includes an auto detailing service. Cards with 6-9 stamps entered into another drawing. Classic car not required to play.

2:00 to
4:00 p.m.
Scavenger Hunt - This game takes you off of Route 66 to explore more of our community. Find landmarks, fill in the blanks in the story, and enter to win. Classic car not required to play.

4:00 to
6:00 p.m.
Car Cruise - set your lawn chair up and watch the procession of awesome vehicles along Watson.

6:00 p.m.
Awards - move your lawn chair to the south lot of Crestwood Court and see who wins.

7:00 to
10:00 p.m.
Sh-Boom - get your lawn chair out of the way and dance to St. Louis' premier oldies band.

I will be in attendance at the tent with chapter 1028, Viet Nam Veterans of America, and the Crestwood Veterans committee so please stop by and say hello.

Tom Ford

NO. 924

Sappington House Tea Barn "closed for remodeling?"

2011-08-11T18:18:00.003-05:00

This is interesting on several fronts as the sign on the door says they are closed for "remodeling" yet no one I spoke to at City Hall knows anything about it!

I couldn't find a sign that stated that the renters have a County or Crestwood permit for said remodeling, no one in Public Works or the City Clerks office said they were aware of any "remodeling."

Now the really interesting part is that WE OWN the Sappington House and as taxpayers WE have no idea what the RENTERS are doing? I really don't get it folks, when do ALL of us find out what the heck is going on and when does our Public Work's Director ASK the RENTERS what they are doing?

Now the real HOOT of this entire debacle is the simple fact that our code enforcement officer lives in the Sappington House roughly 15 yards away, free of charge, and she hasn't looked into this? Marvelous!!!!

Tom ford

NO. 923

Democrat pollster Pat Caddell says Americans are "pre revolutionary!" (click here for the story please.)

2011-08-08T18:43:00.004-05:00

I really don't think that is true, but a lot of us who watched our 401K retirement portfolio's dwindle to nothing since Friday aren't very happy!

Let's face it folks BOTH sides of the aisle have done their very best to ruin this nation with their idiot party line posturing, and I do believe the people of this great land are sick and tired of it.

What to do? Well UN-fortunately we can do nothing about the downgrade or the stock market tanking, but we can and must do a whole lot when it comes to voting in ALL the next few months elections!

Our President was on TV today and from what I saw he did nothing to give us any hope at all. I guess the market felt the same way as while he was talking it went DOWN over 300 points!

Enough of the so called "plans," enough of Timmy Geithner (noted tax cheat) being in charge of anything, let's get these fools out before it's really too late!

Tom Ford

NO. 922

STANDARD AND POOR CREDIT RATING 'DOWNGRADES' THE U.S. CREDIT RATING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 70+ YEARS!

2011-08-05T20:05:00.004-05:00

(cartoon from Dales Blog.)

Well the fools have finally done it my friends. Not even Jimmy Carter caused this much grief in four years! Thanks to the idiots we saw fit to "elect" were in the very bottom of the economic commode.

In case you wonder what will follow this, please allow me to enlighten you. Soon we will see our 'creditors' considering calling in the debt we owe them, and next will be the printing of money with no back up commodity, In other words, HYPER INFLATION!

Couple that with the fact that the OPEC nations have just elected a ranking officer of the Iranian Republican Guards to the office of President, and I think you can see where the "progressive / Liberal establishment has taken us in three short years.

If your at all interested in the story please click on the header to read it for yourself.

Tom Ford

NO. 921

BORROWING EXCEEDS 100% OF THE GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT AS OF TODAY

2011-08-03T18:25:00.004-05:00

Please click on the header for the grim story folks! In case you don't know what that means, WERE BROKE! The politicians on both sides of the aisle have as of today managed to spend more that we make if you will.

Now just watch the markets and the price of gold. Experts are predicting $2000.00 per ounce for gold by years end, and IF the Chinese call in the debt we owe them, were in more than just serious trouble.

What happens next? I wish I knew but one thing is for certain, both sides will blame the other for "their failure!" The only problem is that they are not the only ones at fault for this mess, WE ARE AS WELL! WE elected these fools and WE became too complacent and allowed them to give away the farm keys!

WE will ALL suffer because of this, and I ask you are you going to allow these people back in office, or do we do the right thing and vote out every one of them, no matter who they are Democrat or Republican?

Tom Ford

NO. 920

Let's see if you remember "who said what?"about the debt crisis(?) in 2006?

2011-07-29T16:04:00.004-05:00

Please put on your thinking caps and tell us who made this speech on the floor of the United States Senate in March of 2006?

"The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure,” he said. “It is a sign that the U.S. Government can’t pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our Government’s reckless fiscal policies. … Leadership means that ‘the buck stops here.’ Instead, Washington is shifting the burden of bad choices today onto the backs of our children and grandchildren. America has a debt and a failure of leadership. Americans deserve better. I therefore intend to oppose the effort to increase America’s debt limit.”

Are you stumped as several people have been? Well please click on the header for the answer. (hint, it's a current Washington insider.)

HUMM!

Tom Ford

NO. 919

Live Blog of the Alderman meeting 7/26/11 (click here for the "PATCH" feed please)

2011-07-27T17:51:00.003-05:00

If you don't know about "The Patch" and it's editor Ms. Jean Whitney please click on the header for an exceptionally well done running Blog of the Crestwood BOA meeting.

Ms. Whitney makes it possible for ALL Crestwood Citizens to follow along in real time as the events of the BOA meeting unfold. As I read the comments I was struck by some interesting remarks by Alderman Duncan who clearly has no use for "paperless."

As for me I think it's great, no pile of papers to shuffle through or loose, only your lap top or desk top to back up and it's there at all times for your perusal. Alderman Duncan seems to have a problem when it comes to that sort of thing as she clearly worries about a "virus" being transmitted from A to B. Now for some years now there have been some really great virus protectors on the market that will prevent that, so if she doesn't already have one, I suggest she get one soon. By the way Alderman Duncan, Virus's can be sent BOTH ways which is why the City has a virus protection installed (as do most people.)

Now I know that your also concerned with filling up your personal computer, but face it, you won't use a Gig of space in three years, so that should not give you pause at all.

All in all I see no reason to not go "paperless" in Crestwood as even the banks are doing it. I do think I would object to Alderman Beezley calling me a "dinosaur" though, but hey that's between you two.

Tom Ford

NO. 918

Reverend Joe Wright opens the Kansas House of Representatives with a prayer.

2011-07-24T16:20:00.004-05:00

From a reader who thought all of us would like to hear the Pastors prayer in the Kansas State House. I have seen this before, but now is a great time to share it considering the current state of the Nation.

Thought you might enjoy this interesting
prayer given in Kansas at
the opening session of their House of Representatives (January, 1996.) It seems
prayer still upsets some
people.. When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open
the new session of the Kansas House, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard:

"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask
your forgiveness and to seek your direction and
guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those
who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we
have done.

We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed
our values.

We have exploited the poor and called it
the lottery.

We have rewarded laziness and called it
welfare..

We have killed our unborn and called it
choice.

We have shot abortionists and called it
justifiable.

We have neglected to discipline our
children and called it
building self esteem....

We have abused power and called it
politics.

We have coveted our neighbor's possessions
and called it ambition.

We have polluted the air with profanity and
pornography and called it
freedom of expression.

We have ridiculed the time-honored values
of our forefathers and called it
enlightenment.

Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts
today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.
Amen!"

Tom Ford

NO. 917

Marxism in America today? Well when you click on this header to view the retired Green beret General's comments it should get somewhat lively indeed!

2011-07-21T17:57:00.003-05:00

Please watch this video by clicking on the header and then tell us your reaction. I an going to reserve my comments until you all have your opportunity to comment!

Conservative or liberal we all have a stake in America, and if this man is correct we owe it to our children and grand children to stop this menace in it's tracks!

Tom Ford

NO. 916

Brentwood Firefighters compensated for time they didn't earn! (Click here for the story please.)

2011-07-17T14:34:00.006-05:00

This "sham" time payout has been going on for twenty four years over in Brentwood, and "it just came to light" after an audit of the City Administrators computer a couple of months ago.

Mr. Kurt Becker of Firefighters Local 2665 is quoted as saying that as soon as he knew about it he realized that he needed to work for the City to make it right. Now that is the right thing to do for certain but, how did it take twenty four years for ANYONE in Brentwood to "just become aware of the anomaly?"

I wonder if any of the Firefighters we saw at the last election working the poll's were on "overtime" from Brentwood, and would anyone tell us if they were, and if not why not?

At any rate Mr. Becker has done the right thing in coming down on the side of Brentwood, and you can't help but give him the credit for it. I for one am very happy that we have the oversight in place to insure this NEVER happens in Crestwood, we do don't we?

(Memo to Alderman Duncan, Beezley, Pickel, and Foote. This is one reason why the auditors we hired requested we have an oversight of ALL Crestwood funds, including the Sappington House Foundation funds that Crestwood doesn't have access to but remain an ASSET (?) on our books. Not because they or anyone else think there is a problem, but rather to insure there never will be.)

Tom Ford

NO. 915

Crestwood Courts a better place for the Walmart super center? Ms. Celia Kneip thinks so. (click here for her letter to the South County Times.)

2011-07-16T16:45:00.003-05:00

Ms. Kneip makes a lot of sense with her reasons to have the Wall Mart that some in Shrewsbury do not want relocate to Crestwood Courts. Of course we have no say in this matter, but if the argument against the store in Shrewsbury continues the owners of Crestwood Courts may wish to take a look.

One small problem for the Courts is that we cannot afford to give out any more tax incentives like TIF, CID, or TDD's to the developer as were tax increment poor as we speak.

At any rate we do have at least one citizen concerned with economic development in Crestwood, so please join me in congratulating Ms. Kneip for a good idea, workable or not!

Tom Ford

NO. 914

What should a reasonable and prudent citizen expect in the way of answers from their elected Representatives?

2011-07-12T16:07:00.005-05:00

I posed a simple question to the entire Board of Alderman (via their email) a week ago reference the CID for the failed Pulaski Bank project at Sappington Square. This question was also posted right here on this Blog and for those of you that read it I believe you will agree it didn't take the Supreme Court to answer it!

To date I have received answers (some printed here, some not) from Alderman Foote, Miguel, Wallach, Duchild, and the Mayor. Extremely conspicuous by their absence are Alderman Pickel, Duncan, Beezley, and Knarr!

Two of these people "represent" Ward Two, and as such owe the citizens of the Ward the pleasure of an answer. The others were elected in their Wards and I believe owe their answers to their constituents as well as the rest of us.

You see when a person runs for office they should realize that they are responsible to ALL the citizens of their community, not just to their friends! I for one am sick and tired of the "ruling class mentality" put forth by these persons who believe they are above the great UN-washed and thus not responsible for their actions or to answer for them!

I believe the next BOA meeting will be the correct place to put them on "front street" and let them tell us why they do not believe we should be answered. Perhaps the papers will have the same question with a few more tossed in for good measure!

Tom Ford

NO. 913

Richard Franz a Mehlville School Board member and good friend has requested that this info be posted here. Please contact them for more.

2011-07-11T17:01:00.005-05:00

Residents and taxpayers of the Lindbergh School District,

"The Mehlville Community Taxpayers Association (MCTA) is a non-profit grass roots organization dedicated to fighting against control of our local school district by all special interest groups and committed to representing the taxpayers of the Mehlville/Oakville community in all facets of public financing issues. Our group includes members from all areas of the local community including a number of former school board members.
In light of recent developments in the Lindbergh School District including the passage of the newest tax increase, we realize there are groups within the district who may be wondering how to fight back against the ever growing desire of the school district to raise your taxes.
The MCTA successfully fought the Mehlville districts attempt to give the (now retired) school superintendent a $45000 pay increase and helped defeat an .88 cent school tax increase in November of 2010.
Taking back control of your school district can be done!
If you’re interested in finding out more about the MCTA or how you can organize or join a group to address these issues in the Lindbergh School District,"

contact MCTA founding member Ken Meyer @ 314-401-1657, visit www.mctainfo.blogspot.com or e-mail to mctainfo@gmail.com.

Your questions and comments should be directed to Mr. Ken Meyer at the contact information above.

Tom Ford

NO. 912

An open letter to the Board of Alderman reference the "Sappington Square CID" request by Pulaski Bank.

2011-07-07T15:53:00.003-05:00

Subject: The Pulaski bank CID request.
Date: Jul 7, 2011 1:48 PM

As you are aware the City of Crestwood is being asked to grant a CID District for the area known as "Sappington Square" at Watson and Old Sappington Road. The CID (if granted) would keep the tax rate at 9.42% for the entire center, a move which I firmly believe will be detrimental to ALL the retailers now there.

I was on the Pulaski Bank web site to see how they were weathering the current economic storm, and found that they are paying dividends on a regular basis. Now to me that says that there s really no need what so ever for the City of Crestwood to grant them a CID to help with their failed loan to the previous developer.

I think we can all agree that a bank the size and strength of Pulaski has far more opportunities to correct this anomaly in their judgment than we the citizens of Crestwood do. Our tax base is drying up and placing higher taxes on certain shopping outlets will further cause undo strain on the businesses we now have and cause new growth to slow to a stop.

I am well aware of the comments to all of you by Mr. Kevin King reference what he and the bank may do if we fail to grant the request to his client, but that said I am reminded of the saying "Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute!" So as for me, I say let him do what he wants to, show him we are not here to grant reparations to failed projects.

In closing please allow me to request an answer from each of you as to how you currently see this CID (and any value to Crestwood,) knowing that there will be NO RETAIL on that space and no "cut through" but rather another Bank.

Your kind and attentive responses are greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Thomas C. Ford
Crestwood, Missouri

I am in hopes that the the Alderman will respond to ALL of us via this forum (or via email to me which I shall print here) as this is an extremely important topic for the future of our community. Consumers are going elsewhere to shop now, if another 1% is allowed to stand that will increase the flight to other areas with lower taxes!

Tom Ford

NO. 911

The 4th of July is Independence day in America (please click here for fun and facts for the whole family!)

2011-07-03T07:53:00.004-05:00

Happy Birth day America! Yes, we all hear that said once a year but what does it really mean? Well for many of us it's time to BBQ with friends and family by our side or to visit friends and relatives.

Have you ever wondered just what the signers of that Declaration of Independence had to endure during and after they met to sign it? Click on the header for some facts that may well astound you. This was no walk in the park by a long shot. The King was none to happy with the idea of loosing a colony, and the signers knew it but persevered anyway.

Through the years this Republic has weathered great travail such as the Civil War (July 3rd. is the anniversary of the last day of the Battle of Gettysburg when Picket's charge was ordered,) and all wars since then. Our young men and women have always answered the call to preserve our cherished freedom, and they still do it willingly today.

Tomorrow when your having the Birthday celebration take one last look back for those who have given us the freedom we hold so dear, thank them, and thank Almighty God for what has been called our "unique experiment" known as Liberty!

Tom Ford

NO. 910

Alderman Mimi Duncan makes a feeble attempt to cover her actions at the May 24, 2011 BOA meeting (click here for her letter to the editor.)

2011-07-01T16:20:00.005-05:00

This is a classic folks, not only does Ms. Duncan refute her own statement that she "will not Govern in the media," she pens her own version of what transpired at that meeting!

She tells us that she received a phone call from Mayor Schlink to tell her about his being called away on business and telling her who his choice for his replacement was. At this point Ms. Duncan might I remind you that YOU ARE THE BOARD PRESIDENT and that is proper procedure!

She further states that if she had a nominee she would have called all the other Alderman to tell them who it was. Neat, but how does she know that was not in fact the case here? And by the way Ms. Duncan you took out the paperwork to run for mayor with great fanfare, but never went so far as to file! Get cold feet in the middle of winter did you? Please allow me to recommend a product called "Toasty Toes" that will help with that.

Now we move into the realm of the actual vetting process where she states that "people from the floor" were allowed to make comments. Neat except it never happened unless Ms. Beezley got up and went to the podium because she launched into a diatribe against Mr. Mosby on the spot and effectively shut down the debate.

Now other than this I see she has still never answered any of the questions as to why she voted as she did (anti Mosby.) Ms. Duncan don't you think any of us have a memory or can listen to transcripts or read the running blog on the Patch"

I really think that the strain of Governing has taken it's heavy toll on Alderman Duncan, and she may well wish to resign to "spend more time with her family."

Tom Ford

NO. 909

Harvard U. tells liberals and Democrats to stay away from 4th. of July celebrations as they are for Republican recruiting!

2011-06-30T17:00:00.004-05:00

I have been an American for some 70 years now and I grew up watching (and participating in some) parades and going to fireworks demonstrations from WW2 to Korea, to Viet Nam, to Iraq, and now Afghanistan, and never would I have believed this would ever happen!

Harvard is saying that liberals and Democrats should not Attend their nations Birthday party? Have we come down that low in only three years of liberal socialist thinking in the White house that we ALL can't celebrate our nations birth? My God that was the one day when we all came together in complete unison and politics was "in suspension" for the day.

I am disgusted by this despicable report, and I wish a pox upon the house of those that wrote it as well as the house that issued it!

(PLEASE CLICK ON THE HEADER FOR THE STORY!)

Tom Ford

NO. 908

'Trust but Verify," or forget about it when it's our friends?

2011-06-29T16:34:00.003-05:00

"Alderman Duncan: Gives a speech about how she won't govern through the press. She quotes whom she says is former U.S. President Ronald Reagan: "Trust but verify."

(The Patch.)

And with that bit of wisdom from Alderman Duncan we move forward to last nights Board Of Alderman meeting where the exact opposite was recommended by Duncan, Beezley and Foote!

If you remember correctly these bastions of leadership ALL told us that we must listen to the experts, and I agree whole heartedly with them (for once.) HOWEVER at last nights meeting (transcript available on the Patch site) as "an expert" remarked that we had best do an in house audit of the Sappington House account, our three "experts" said that wasn't necessary!

Worse than that we had the City Administrator, these three, and City Attorney asking for a vote for an ordnance to possibly audit when our Finance manager stated that it was already in the works (the audit.) It seems that said ordnance has been in effect for some time now and no one (of those four) but the Finance manager knew it (thank goodness that department is up to speed!)

So all in all we have another fiasco lead by the three Alderman who would run Crestwood. Where was Alderman Pickel you say? Well he was saved by his absence this time, but the other three more than made up for his not being there.

These three reminded me of the Three Stooges skit when they were clock repair men. A customer came into their shop with a clock to be repaired and asked them if the job would be in competent hands. Curly replied, "certainly were the most incompetent people in town!"

Tom Ford

NO. 907

MEET YOUR ALDERMAN, WARD THREE ALDERMAN, PAUL DUCHILD.

2011-06-28T17:14:00.004-05:00

(314)842-0939
pduchild@ci.crestwood.mo.us

Married to Martha Duchild, one daughter, twin sons, two (big) dogs

Employed at Edward Jones
BA in International Business - Bradley University
MBA in Finance - Webster University
Member, Our Lady of Providence Parish

"Like most communities in America, Crestwood is facing very serious economic challenges which require our city government to be fiscally prudent, just as you are with your own hard-earned income. For Crestwood to remain a viable and solvent community, elected officials and government employees must be accountable for every dollar spent, treat you and our city's business owners with respect, adhere to the rule of law, and govern with transparency."

Tom Ford

NO. 906

Meet your Alderman, Ward Three Alderman Jerry Miguel (per the City web site.)

2011-06-27T18:27:00.003-05:00

Jerry Miguel – Ward 3

(314)849-0069
jmiguel@ci.crestwood.mo.us

I am honored to serve the People of Ward 3 and all the People of Crestwood.

The City has faced many financial challenges in the past few years. Much progress has been made; much more needs to be done. Fiscal responsibility and annually balanced budgets remain my top priorities.

That said, I recognize many other priorities and challenges, such as: street maintenance, maintaining and enhancing property values, and economic development – the Mall in particular.

I try my best to serve our residents whatever their needs may be. I try to respond to all telephone call and emails. Please feel free to call me.

Elected to Board of Aldermen in April 2004, Re-elected in 2007
Member of Economic Development Commission in 2005
President of Board of Aldermen in 2006
Member of Ways & Means Committee in 2006 & 2007
Aldermanic Rep to Planning & Zoning Commission in 2006
Aldermanic Rep to Public Works Board in 2007
Married to Judy Miguel Four Grown Children:Anne Marie, Chris, Teresa, Joe
MBA from Washington University
BS in Engineering from University of Notre Dame
Computer Professional, Retired From Anheuser-Busch
Member Our Lady of Providence Church; OLP Men’s Club
Member & Past Chairman of Metropolitan St Patrick’s Day Parade
Member & Member of Year of Notre Dame Club of St Louis
Volunteer at St Patrick Center and Habitat for Humanity Events
Hobbies Include Yoga and Computer Clubs, Duffer at Golf.

Tom Ford

NO. 905

Meet your Alderman, Ward Two Alderman, Steve Knarr (per the City site.)

2011-06-26T07:54:00.003-05:00

Steve Knarr
(314) 348-0968

Steve Knarr has lived in Crestwood since 1992. He has three children, Julia, Alison and Kevin. He is a native of South St. Louis and currently works as the Chief Architect at BIS Frucon Engineering, a local architecture and engineering firm. He has practiced architecture for the past 30 years. His interest in serving Crestwood goes back to Mayor Pat Killoren who appointed him to his first board position.

“I believe government works best at the local level. I’ve seen Crestwood decline as the Mall has declined and I’ll work hard to help revitalize the mall and Crestwood’s tax base with it.”

Community Service:

Volunteer for Room at the Inn

Regular platelet donor for American Red Cross

United Way

Habitat for Humanity

National Trust for Historic Preservation

Civic Service:

Member, Crestwood Public Works Board: 1994-1996

Chairman, Crestwood Storm and Waste Water Committee: 1996-1998

Member, Crestwood Planning and Zoning Commission: 2002-2007

2008-2011

Board of Alderman 2007-2008

Education:

Bachelor of Environmental Design, University of Kansas

Bachelor of Architecture, University of Kansas

Registered architect in Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee, Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana

June 28, 2011 Board of Alderman meeting (Click here for the agenda.)

2011-06-25T08:17:00.002-05:00

The Board of Alderman meeting scheduled for June 28, 2011 in the Aldermanic chambers starting at 7:00 PM should prove to be an interesting one. Please note that the City audit is on the agenda, and while I do not expect any controversy there it's always good to hear we passed with flying colors.

Please join your neighbors and attend the meeting as staying informed of what your City is doing is your responsibility as a citizen.

Tom Ford

NO. 904

Meet your Alderman, Ward One Alderman, Darryl Wallach (Per his Bio on the City Web Site.)

2011-06-24T16:28:00.003-05:00

Darryl Wallach – Ward 1
(314) 968-1216
dwallach@ci.crestwood.mo.us

My wife Laurie and I have been proud Crestwood residents since 1996. We moved to Crestwood due to its centralized location and our history to this community. We have wonderful neighborhoods and residents, numerous parks, public safety departments (police and fire), and our homes are in the top-tier Lindbergh School District.

I am a graduate from Northeast Missouri State University (Truman State University – Kirksville, MO) with a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics. Professionally I have been in the insurance industry for over 20 years.

I have been the past chairman of the Crestwood Public Works Board. My wife and I have volunteered at the Humane Society of Missouri.

Our city, like many others, is facing the challenge of a declining retail sales tax base that affects the revenue stream that we relied on from our retail community. Crestwood will persevere. We will create an exciting community to work, play, live, and raise families.

For the continued well-being of Ward 1 residents and our City, I offer my service to serve and to earn your trust. If you should have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to call or correspond electronically.

Tom Ford

NO. 903

Mike Anthony of the Call nails the June 14th. BOA meeting (click here for the story.)

2011-06-22T16:25:00.002-05:00

This hard hitting editorial says it ALL about the politics of division as practiced by the Four Alderman (Duncan, Beezley, Pickel, and Foote) in Crestwood!

What some of us witnessed at that travesty of a meeting can only be summed up as despicable! I am ashamed to say that my Alderman (Chris Pickel) was not only involved, but seems to have been the catalyst for whatever reason. How else do you explain his offering an olive branch to Mayor Schlink and then hitting him over the head with it?

The time line between the Alderman (Pickel, and Foote) calling the Mayor with their rather simultaneous pick for Ward two is stunning to say the least.

Mr. Anthony at the end of his comment's reminded the readers of the Old Harry Truman saw, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen," as it pertains to some Alderman complaining about negative press. I would go one step further and remind each of them that this is what they signed on to do when they ran for Alderman! If they want constant plaudits, you signed up for the wrong job. You may well consider resigning "to spend some quality time with the family," or whatever else one says when they can't stand rejection.

I see that you have a resident in the same issue of the Call attempting to "fly top cover for you." It's nice to know that you have friends, but if they are going to do that please remind them to make sure they have a full complement of ammo before they take off.

Tom Ford

NO. 902

Meet your Alderman, Ward Four Alderman John Foote (per his Bio. on the City Web site.)

2011-06-22T14:40:00.003-05:00

John Foote – Ward 4

(314)843-5426
jfoote@ci.crestwood.mo.us

"My wife Carol and I are long-term Crestwood residents; our children and grandchildren were raised here and attended Lindbergh Schools.

Although I’ve been a long-term Crestwood resident, it was not until a few years ago, around 2003, when my concerns about the financial direction in which the city was headed prompted me to start attending Board of Aldermen meetings and offering opinions. From that point on, I wrote newspaper articles, worked with other residents and elected officials to cut long-term debt and balance the city’s budgets.

Experience
Started at Brown Shoe Company in the Quality Control Laboratory, held departmental then plant superintendent position until becoming Brown Shoe’s General Manager over Materials Warehousing and Systems (ran materials manufacturing and warehousing units, responsible for division profit centers and operating budgets).

When shoe production shifted out of the US I worked with a consulting firm specializing in warehousing and supply systems, updating warehouses and distribution centers located in Seattle, Washington and in El Paso, Texas.

A small project for McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences led to my joining a research group in Washington University’s Physics Department Compton Labs. Highlights involved both shuttle launch of our experiments and work in recovery facilities at NASA’s Cape Kennedy. Retired after close to fifteen years but remain in contact with the labs and the people from all over the world who worked to advance our knowledge of space.

Education
Bachelor of Science Degree Washington University

Volunteer
St. Louis Science Center (10 years)."

Tom Ford

NO. 901

Meet your Alderman, Ward Two Alderman,Chris Pickel (per his Bio on the City Site.)

2011-06-20T17:41:00.004-05:00

As below, no attacks without your signature or I will remove them.

Chris Pickel – Ward 2
(314)966-4866
cpickel@ci.crestwood.mo.us

Chris Pickel is Director – External Affairs for AT&T-Missouri. In this position, he coordinates all of AT&T’s charitable contributions in the state and works with local communities on various telecommunications issues. Previously, he was Regional Marketing Manager for Cingular wireless and was responsible for all marketing, advertising and public relations programs in Missouri and Kansas. Before joining AT&T, Mr. Pickel was Manager of Public Relations at D’Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles.

He is a member of the Crestwood-Sunset Hills Chamber of Commerce and a former member of the Crestwood Planning & Zoning Commission. Other organizations he has supported through volunteer activities include: American Red Cross, The United Way, FIRST Robotics, Ronald McDonald House, March of Dimes and St. Louis University High School.

A native of St. Louis, Mr. Pickel earned a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Communications from St. Louis University. He and his wife, Eileen, have three children

Tom Ford

NO. 900

Meet your Alderman, Ward Four Alderman Deborah Beezley (Per her Bio. on the City Web Site.)

2011-06-19T08:48:00.005-05:00

Same rules apply as seen below.

Deborah Beezley – Ward 4
(314)849-0148
dbeezley@ci.crestwood.mo.us

"PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

April 1998 – present

•Director, Health Information Management, St. Anthony’s Medical Center. Also serves as HIPAA Privacy Officer and Emergency Management Officer
PREVIOUS PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

•President/Co-owner Qual-T-Med, Inc. – Consulting Firm specializing in Healthcare Quality and Regulatory Preparedness.
•Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals (JCAH) (now known as The Joint Commission) – Accrediting entity for Healthcare facilities (formerly based in Chicago, Illinois; now based in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois). Served as Program Manager, Department of Education and Publication. Moved to the Hospital Accreditation Program and served as Assistant Program Manager, staff representative for the Accreditation Committee – Board of Commissioners and Contributing Editor, Quality Review Bulletin, a Joint Commission publication.
•Began career as a Health Information Management staff member in two hospitals, Lincoln, Nebraska.

EDUCATION

•Stephens College, Columbia, Missouri; Degree – Bachelor of Arts, Concentration: Health Communications
•American Medical Record Association course for Medical Record Personnel, 1973 – 1974
•Accreditation by the American Health Information Management Association – 1974
•University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, College of Arts and Sciences
•NIMS Training – Courses 100, 200, 700, 800, Missouri Hospital Association, September 2006 and June 2007 (Yale New Haven Health)
•CERT Training, Crestwood, Missouri, January 2007
•Integrated Emergency Management Training, FEMA, January 2005
•Michigan State University, Train the Trainer program, July 1978

RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/APPOINTMENTS

STARRS (St. Louis Area Regional Response System)

•Member, Advisory Council (Bi-State Region)
•Member, Hospital Preparedness Committee
•Co-Chair, Hospital Amateur Radio Network Committee (HARN)
•Chair, Implementation Task Force for the Regional Healthcare Coordination Plan (Bi-State Region)
•St. Louis Medical Operation Center Duty Officer
Heartland Center, St. Louis University

•Advisor to Staff for Emergency Management Planning
Department of Health and Senior Services, State of Missouri

•Pandemic Flu Task Force Member
Missouri Health Information Management Association

•Active Member
American Health Information Management Association

•Accredited Active Member, 1974 – present
RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS/APPOINTMENTS – PREVIOUS

Eastern Missouri Health Information Management Association

•President, 2005
Doorways, St. Louis

•Member, Board of Directors, February 1995 – April 2000
FACULTY APPOINTMENTS

St. Louis University School of Allied Health Professionals, St. Louis, Missouri – Health Informatics and Information Management

•Adjunct Professor, Healthcare Quality, 1989 – 1990
•Clinical Site Instructor, 1989 – present
RELEVANT COMMUNITY SERVICE/ADDITIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

Crestwood, Missouri

•Alderman, Ward 4
•Aldermanic Representative, Police Board and Animal Control
•Past Chairman, Welcome Wagon
Volunteer Aid to Colonel Tim Daniel, Special Advisor, Governor, State of Missouri, Homeland Security for the St. Louis Region, October 2001 – approximately 2005

St. Agatha Food Pantry Volunteer, active 1992 – 2000

Mastodon Park Art/Science Fair

•Committee Member
•Board of Directors – Treasurer, 1990 – November 1994
•Chairman, Placing Committee, 1990 – November 1994
Numerous Publications, Training Manuals, and Lectures throughout the country on Healthcare Quality, Emergency Management, and Homeland Security"

Tom Ford

NO. 899

As a service , I am presenting the Alderman from your Ward as stated by them in their Bio. on the City web site.

2011-06-18T15:08:00.006-05:00

Each of you are invited to comment as you wish. I will enforce the rule of signing you name if the comment is extremely derogatory as you owe that much to the person your commenting on.

Mimi Duncan – Ward 1
(314)849-0898
mduncan@ci.crestwood.mo.us

"I am honored to have been given the opportunity to serve the citizens of Crestwood as Ward One alderman. My husband Tom and I have been residents of Crestwood for over 25 years and I decided to become more actively involved to preserve our neighborhoods and to be sure that the challenges of the city are met with integrity and hard work. As the old sixties mantra goes, I decided to be part of the solution and not part of the problem.

I grew up in South St. Louis and graduated from St. Gabriel Grade School and Cor Jesu Academy. I have a BA from Webster University in Management and an MS in Information Systems from the University of Missouri- St. Louis.

I am a Senior Lecturer, Course Coordinator and Faculty Liaison in the Information Systems Area of the College of Business Administration at the University of Missouri -St. Louis. I teach, develop curriculum and serve on many academic committees. I am currently working with Continuing Education at UMSL to develop dual-credit courses in IT for area high schools. As a former vice president of several area banks, I have expertise in credit and commercial lending.

As a volunteer, I have served as a school board president and secretary and worked with other committees and boards. I have worked with the Girl Scouts and the schools where my children attended both in an advisory capacity and as a volunteer.

I will be responsive and will answer any inquiries in a timely manner. While elected only to a short term of office for now, I "will work diligently to earn the trust and support of my fellow Crestwood citizens.

Tom Ford

NO. 898

New Crestwood summer business in front of the Sappington Tea barn now open.

2011-06-18T07:10:00.005-05:00

I received this email from a young entrepreneur who has opened a snow cone and special tea-ices stand in front of the Sappington Tea barn, and would like you to visit and try a snow cone.

Hi,
"I am emailing regarding getting the word out about Spoke Cones Snow Cones and Special-'Tea' Ices through the Crestwood blog. Spoke Cones is located in front of the Sappington Tea Barn right off Grants Trail. It is open Thursday thru Saturday from 11-2, but is soon expanding hours. Spoke Cones opened on June 16 and is widely frequented by bikers, walkers, and runners but is open to anyone. Spoke Cones offers a variety of snow cone flavors and flavored teas all for a price of $1. Email me with any questions. Attached is my flier."

(I could not open the flier to attach it.)

Thank you,
Mary Nauert

Please visit her and support her Crestwood business!

Tom Ford

NO. 897

Ward Two meeting and the BOA meeting of 6/14/11.

2011-06-15T16:53:00.003-05:00

The Ward Two meeting was a success with 27 residents signing in, and at least 6 who did not sign the attendance sheet. We spent a very enjoyable 50 minutes discussing events that concern Ward Two and meeting the two candidates for Alderman.

In fact both Jackie Stock and I will be hosting a Ward Two meeting (one to two hours long) every quarter starting in September, 2011. As in last night Jackie and I will chair the meeting and BOTH Ward Two Alderman will be invited to attend the discussion to share ideas for the good of the entire ward.

Jackie and I wish to thank everyone who attended and say that we learned from your comments, and we really appreciate having the chance to meet you.

Now for the BOA meeting: Well by now most all of you have heard the outcome of the Ward Two Alderman vote. As I have stated in the past I know Steve Knarr and in no way shape or form wish him anything but success. That said have some "issues" with four of the Alderman on that Dias that can't be left unsaid.

I believe that by now I have some idea of the way of the world and the political animal that inhabits it. At least I thought I did, but last night I witnessed a sham of a mockery of the Crestwood system of epic proportions, one to rival Cecil B. De mill in his hay day!

When time came for the "Vetting" of the two candidates hardly a question was asked from the Dias. Mr. Knarr had no questions from the Dias at all, amazing as I would have thought at least Ms. Beesley and Ms. Duncan would have wanted to know the recipe for his Mothers apple pie!

And thus in spite of numerous comments from the floor the vote was taken! Four (Duncan, Beesley, Pickel, and Foote) for Mr. Knarr thus insuring his election. In case you think you have heard those names before they are the same ward healers who voted down Mr. Mosby two weeks earlier!

Once getting their COLLECTIVE way the four felt free to comment on themselves. Mr. Foote hauled a brief case up in front of himself and pulled out a copy of a letter to the editor that he, himself had written! Mr. Pickel did a really great impression of President Richard Nixon by attempting to insure us that everything was above board during the selection process. Ms. Beesley, if she said anything I couldn't hear it as she seemed to be in seclusion behind Mr. Foote and his brief case. In fact she pretty much stayed out of sight for all of the meeting that I saw.

Now we come to our Board president, Ms, Duncan. In a word, WOW! How does one rise to the office of Board president when they have to ask for a clarification from Mr. Golterman of what the political sub-divisions such as TDD, CID, TIF are and who is on the boards so she can vote for it? I always thought there was ample time for homework prior to the meeting, guess I was wrong.

Not to be outdone by that question she launched into a lack luster rebuke of (pick someone) when she said she would never Govern in the media! With that statement I am prepared to fully agree as to do that would require a full and complete knowledge of the subject a hand.

So thus endeth the Tuesday night at the forum for another two weeks. Do yourself a favor and come to the next meeting, trust me it's well worth you time, and unlike a De Mill flick, it's free!

Tom Ford

NO. 896

Agenda for the 6:00 PM Ward Two meeting, 6/14/11.

2011-06-13T16:50:00.003-05:00

After conferring with Ms. Jackie Stock we have decided to place the following items on the agenda for the meeting.

1. Alderman Representative for Ward Two:

We will be discussing an idea for the selection of OUR Alderman

We will introduce current candidates for the position.

We will allow very brief questions of the candidates (one question please.)

2. Sappington square CID for Pulaski Bank:

Do we see a need to shore up the banks failed loan?

Is it in Crestwood's best interest to have a 9.42% tax rate at those stores?

We only have 50 Minutes to get this done, so as you can see we must keep to schedule. It is our intention to call he topics and moderate questions and answers so we may finish in time.

No food or drink will be allowed in the chambers (Crestwood rules) and civility and decorum are the order of the day.

Please do not move or disrupt your chairs as the BOA meeting will start at 7:00 PM Sharp.

Please join us for the BOA meeting so OUR comments may be heard by the entire Board.

Tom Ford

NO. 895