West Newsmagazine 4-17-24
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West Newsmagazine 4-17-24

Local news, local politics and community events for West St. Louis County Missouri. Local news, local politics and community events for West St. Louis County Missouri.

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14 I NEWS I April 17, 2024 WEST NEWSMAGAZINE an ESSENTIAL part of your DAILY ROUTINE If you've been living with neuropathy, you may have experienced debilitating neuropathic pain or noticed you're feeling more wobbly on your feet due to numbness. You may have been told there are no good treatment options available, so it's something you will have to learn to live with. You may not know when it was that you started to have pain every day, but now it's starting to limit what you're able to do. Maybe now you're even having pain that keeps you awake at night, not letting your body get the rest it needs. Or the numbness has progressed to where you can't tell if you feet are on the ground, leading to decreased balance and even falls. If this is happening to you, you're not alone. We hear this all the time. In fact, Neuropathy is one of the most common issues we see at HouseFit. Most people have already gone the route of trying all the "traditional" pain management options. If you're one of the many people who these options have not worked for, you're not alone. Fortunately, there are newer treatment options available for managing neuropathy pain. Those experiencing balance issues due to numbness often resign them NEUROPATHY: MANAGE YOUR PAIN AND MAINTAIN YOUR BALANCE BY: DR. BETH TEMPLIN, PT, DPT, GCS GERIATRIC PHYSICAL THERAPIST WestNewsmagazine.com is updated daily with the local news, events and information that impact your world. selves to this fate and don’t realize exercise can help. Because of this, I've put together a FREE guide explaining that even though you're living with neuropathy, it does not mean that you should expect to lose your independence or live with pain for the rest of your life. Inside this guide you'll learn: The 3 different types of nerves affected by neuropathy. Why medication are often not effective. How Radial Shockwave heals the nerves. Benefits of sensory integration to improve your balance. I want to make this guide available to you absolutely free of charge. To claim your copy, simply call (314) 939-1377 or visit our website www.housefitstl.com/neuropathy to download the report. If you’re ready to take control of your neuropathy and lead an active lifestyle, this guide can help you get started with confidence! 3809 Lemay Ferry Rd. Saint Louis, MO 63125 (314) 939-1377 info@housefitstl.com HouseFit www.housefitstl.com By LAURA BROWN The St. Louis County Council held a committee of the whole meeting recently in order to find a way to fund and implement the senior property tax freeze program it passed last October. While the ordinance – which essentially freezes property taxes for St. Louis County residents age 67 and older who own and live in homes they owned valued at $550,000 or less – was passed, funding to implement and administer the program was not included in the bill. St. Louis County Director of Revenue Tony Smee made the case for why his department believes it would need $1.7 million to fund the rollout and administration of the program. One of the primary challenges he highlighted was the need for substantial staffing and infrastructure. The rollout requires the creation of a comprehensive web application, secure document storage and customer support services in the form of county employees. One major issue became clear: a critical aspect of the program’s success lies in staffing, which Smee said has been an ongoing issue for his department since he took over in December. “(Currently) 50% of phone calls (for the department of revenue) are not answered,” Smee told the council at the meeting. “They are dropped because we don’t have the staff to answer them. A lot of these services (to implement the tax relief program) are manual, not online automated. A lot of the population will mail in applications.” Smee anticipated an increase in phone calls and in-person visits from county residents applying for the program. He said his department is currently short 18 positions needed to fully staff the department, and estimated he would need an additional 28 full-time staff members to implement the tax freeze program. Using census data, Smee estimated that there are 117,009 senior-owned parcels that might qualify for the program in St. Louis County, which is why there is a pressing need for additional personnel to handle the increased workload. Discussions revolved around hiring strategies, potential collaborations with temporary staffing agencies and leveraging technology to streamline processes and reduce manual tasks. Officials estimated the time to process an application to be between 15-20 minutes. There will be ongoing administrative overhead as well, as Smee said program participants would have to verify their participation in the program each year once they are approved. @WESTNEWSMAG WESTNEWSMAGAZINE.COM County grapples with implementation challenges for senior property tax relief Smee said his department put the price tag for the implementation and rollout of the program at $1.7 million. This number includes 28 additional staff members, with $65,000 of that being used for software development with Fidlar Technologies and $42,000 of that being used for additional equipment like scanners and computers. Smee said once fully-staffed, the department could have the program up and running in 60 days for the public to begin enrolling in the program. Council member Dennis Hancock (R-District 3) said he is not so sure the launch of the program would cost that much money. Hancock planned to introduce a bill to the county council on April 16 seeking $300,000 to fund the implementation and support for the program for the remainder of 2024. “The bill won’t include everything Smee wants, but it’ll be enough to get him started,” Hancock said. “There are only a few more months until we start talking about the budget for next year. This bill will include funding for the software and people for six months.” Hancock said in his proposal the enrollment period would also be extended and run from July 1-June 30, 2025, which he said should not impact senior citizens’ property tax bills for 2024. “This is not a reassessment year, so it shouldn’t impact anybody at all,” Hancock said. “But it will give us time to get the process right. The credit wouldn’t have taken place until 2025 anyway because that’s the next reassessment year. What they get billed at the end of this year will be the same as what they got last year. This also gives seniors more time to get their documents together, their deeds and that sort of thing, so there won’t be a need for a big rush to apply at the beginning of the rollout.” Meanwhile, legislative uncertainties also loom large. The senior property tax freeze program was approved by the state legislature last year. Each of the 114 counties in Missouri is responsible for passing its own ordinance to participate in the program. Different county leaders criticized the original bill for being too vague in certain aspects, like the age of eligibility, and tasked state legislators with more clearly defining the language this legislative session. House Bill 2432 is one such bill making its way through the legislature right now and is leaving some county leaders wondering, creating uncertainties around timelines and eligi- See COUNTY, next page

FACEBOOK.COM/WESTNEWSMAGAZINE WESTNEWSMAGAZINE.COM Find ‘wonderland’ at 74th annual Greater St. Louis Book Fair April 17, 2024 WEST NEWSMAGAZINE I NEWS I 15 Greater St. Louis Book Fair By KATE UPTERGROVE There’s something therapeutic about diving into a good book. Perhaps that’s why, after nearly three-quarters of a century, the Greater St. Louis Book Fair is still going strong as the largest charity book fair in the Midwest. From Thursday, May 2 through Sunday, May 5, the 74th annual Book Fair will take over the Greensfelder Recreation Complex in Queeny Park, 550 Wiedman Road This year’s offerings include books, collectibles, vinyl, CDs, DVDs, comics and ephemera, which are paper goods that people collect. “We have collected thousands of books throughout the metro area,” said Marilyn Brown, event co-chair and long-time volunteer. “Thanks to the community’s generosity, we are bursting at the seams with every type of book one can imagine. “In our Collector’s Corner, we have over 100 rare items that are generally priced from $20 or $25 on up, which is usually about one-third to one-fourth of what a collector would pay online.” Those offerings, which can be viewed online at stlouisbookfair.org, include items related to Charles A. Lindbergh and the St. Louis World Fair, as well as two rare copies of “Alice in Wonderland.” For bibliophiles, the Book Fair can feel like Wonderland but have no fear of unexpected twists and turns, only delightful surprises. The fair is noted for its easy-to-navigate (FIle photo) sales floor. Books are categorized by subject, such as cooking, travel, ethnic-centric topics, history, biographies, as well as genre, including mystery, graphic novels fantasy, children’s books and more. Line tickets go on sale at 8 a.m. on Thursday, May 2. These place-holder tickets cost $25 each but allow you to leave the line and return any time before the fair’s 4 p.m. opening. Admission on opening day is $15 but from Friday through Sunday general admission is free. Fair hours are 4-9 p.m. on Thursday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sunday, which is also half-price day. Registered nonprofits can select books for free from 3-6 p.m. on Sunday. Since its inception, the Book Fair’s mission has been to encourage the love of reading to thousands of local children. From 1950 to today, more than $1 million has been donated to local nonprofits which encourage literacy. A sampling of beneficiaries includes Assistance League of St. Louis, Ready Readers, Books for Newborns, Haven of Grace, and The Little Bit Foundation among many others. The St. Louis Book Fair welcomes volunteers and monetary donations. Volunteer opportunities for people ages 12 and up range from greeters to cart wranglers and a wide variety of shifts are available. The Fair accepts new or gently used books, comics, CDs, DVDs or collectibles, visit stlouisbookfair.org for drop-off locations and for more information, or call (314) 993-1995. 1855 Hwy 109, Wildwood, MO 63038 * 636-458-9202 passiglia@passiglia.com Jewelry Buying Event Get Paid Cash FOR GOLD, SILVER, DIAMONDS, COSTUME JEWELRY, WATCHES & COINS THURSDAY, APRIL 25 • 11 am to 4 pm FRIDAY, APRIL 26 • 11 am to 4 pm SATURDAY, APRIL 27 • 11 am to 4 pm We also buy antiques, artwork, paintings, swords, china, crystal and other collectibles & rarities. west county mall LOWER LEVEL NEAR JCPENNEY COUNTY, from previous bility requirements. Counties must navigate these uncertainties while preparing for a potential surge in applications as the sign-up period approaches. Council member Ernie Trakas (R-District 6) also proposed a funding bill for the program that asks for $1.6 million to fund the project. At the April 9 council meeting, Trakas said he would be introducing a substitute bill at the April 16 meeting. Visit westnewsmagazine.com for updates on this story. If you would prefer a private or in-home appointment, call 314-691-2888

FACEBOOK.COM/WESTNEWSMAGAZINE<br />

WESTNEWSMAGAZINE.COM<br />

Find ‘wonderland’ at 74th annual<br />

Greater St. Louis Book Fair<br />

April <strong>17</strong>, 20<strong>24</strong><br />

WEST NEWSMAGAZINE<br />

I NEWS I 15<br />

Greater St. Louis Book Fair<br />

By KATE UPTERGROVE<br />

There’s something therapeutic about<br />

diving into a good book. Perhaps that’s<br />

why, after nearly three-quarters of a century,<br />

the Greater St. Louis Book Fair is still<br />

going strong as the largest charity book fair<br />

in the Midwest.<br />

From Thursday, May 2 through Sunday,<br />

May 5, the 74th annual Book Fair will take<br />

over the Greensfelder Recreation Complex<br />

in Queeny Park, 550 Wiedman Road<br />

This year’s offerings include books, collectibles,<br />

vinyl, CDs, DVDs, comics and<br />

ephemera, which are paper goods that<br />

people collect.<br />

“We have collected thousands of books<br />

throughout the metro area,” said Marilyn<br />

Brown, event co-chair and long-time volunteer.<br />

“Thanks to the community’s generosity,<br />

we are bursting at the seams with<br />

every type of book one can imagine.<br />

“In our Collector’s Corner, we have over<br />

100 rare items that are generally priced<br />

from $20 or $25 on up, which is usually<br />

about one-third to one-fourth of what a collector<br />

would pay online.”<br />

Those offerings, which can be viewed<br />

online at stlouisbookfair.org, include items<br />

related to Charles A. Lindbergh and the<br />

St. Louis World Fair, as well as two rare<br />

copies of “Alice in Wonderland.”<br />

For bibliophiles, the Book Fair can feel<br />

like Wonderland but have no fear of unexpected<br />

twists and turns, only delightful<br />

surprises.<br />

The fair is noted for its easy-to-navigate<br />

(FIle photo)<br />

sales floor. Books are categorized by subject,<br />

such as cooking, travel, ethnic-centric<br />

topics, history, biographies, as well as<br />

genre, including mystery, graphic novels<br />

fantasy, children’s books and more.<br />

Line tickets go on sale at 8 a.m. on<br />

Thursday, May 2. These place-holder tickets<br />

cost $25 each but allow you to leave the<br />

line and return any time before the fair’s 4<br />

p.m. opening. Admission on opening day<br />

is $15 but from Friday through Sunday<br />

general admission is free. Fair hours are<br />

4-9 p.m. on Thursday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on<br />

Friday and Saturday, and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on<br />

Sunday, which is also half-price day. Registered<br />

nonprofits can select books for free<br />

from 3-6 p.m. on Sunday.<br />

Since its inception, the Book Fair’s<br />

mission has been to encourage the love<br />

of reading to thousands of local children.<br />

From 1950 to today, more than $1 million<br />

has been donated to local nonprofits<br />

which encourage literacy. A sampling of<br />

beneficiaries includes Assistance League<br />

of St. Louis, Ready Readers, Books for<br />

Newborns, Haven of Grace, and The Little<br />

Bit Foundation among many others.<br />

The St. Louis Book Fair welcomes volunteers<br />

and monetary donations. Volunteer<br />

opportunities for people ages 12 and up<br />

range from greeters to cart wranglers and<br />

a wide variety of shifts are available. The<br />

Fair accepts new or gently used books,<br />

comics, CDs, DVDs or collectibles, visit<br />

stlouisbookfair.org for drop-off locations<br />

and for more information, or call (314)<br />

993-1995.<br />

1855 Hwy 109, Wildwood, MO 63038 * 636-458-9202<br />

passiglia@passiglia.com<br />

Jewelry<br />

Buying Event<br />

Get Paid Cash FOR GOLD, SILVER, DIAMONDS,<br />

COSTUME JEWELRY, WATCHES & COINS<br />

THURSDAY, APRIL 25 • 11 am to 4 pm<br />

FRIDAY, APRIL 26 • 11 am to 4 pm<br />

SATURDAY, APRIL 27 • 11 am to 4 pm<br />

We also buy antiques, artwork,<br />

paintings, swords, china, crystal<br />

and other collectibles & rarities.<br />

west county mall<br />

LOWER LEVEL NEAR JCPENNEY<br />

COUNTY, from previous<br />

bility requirements. Counties must navigate<br />

these uncertainties while preparing<br />

for a potential surge in applications as the<br />

sign-up period approaches.<br />

Council member Ernie Trakas (R-District<br />

6) also proposed a funding bill for the<br />

program that asks for $1.6 million to fund<br />

the project. At the April 9 council meeting,<br />

Trakas said he would be introducing<br />

a substitute bill at the April 16 meeting.<br />

Visit westnewsmagazine.com for updates<br />

on this story.<br />

If you would prefer<br />

a private or in-home<br />

appointment,<br />

call 314-691-2888

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