Posts Tagged ‘Claire McCaskill’

Politicos from Sen. Claire McCaskill to Missouri state Auditor Tom “Owl Eyes” Schweich to Gov. Jay Nixon battle – with words and lawsuits – over disaster relief funds, perhaps Misourians victimized by the next tornado or flood will get a tad more federal aid if GOP hopeful Michelle Bachman replaces President Obama.  Bachman has a brother, Gary Amble, who lives in KC.  He happens to be a meteorologist for KCTV-5. . . .David Schwartz, the former Webster U. grad student who was terminated from his pusuit of a master’s degree in counseling for “lack of empathy,” will conduct an empathy workshop at the Zoo at noon tomorrow on the site of the polar bear exhibit, sez his mouthpiece and press agent Al Watkins. . .  Cannon Design is taking its signature charitable event, benefiting urban arts and education outreach on the road.  Proceeds will come frtom a three-day auction to support COCA and its urban arts programs.  Contributions have come in from renown architects Norman Foster, Michael Graves, Steven Holl, Helmut Jahn and others. . . A history professor claims that about this date in 1861. a Union general in our town “acting completely on his own and without precedent,” issued the first Emancipation Proclamation “a full year before Abraham Lincoln issued his own.” The fascinating 1,600 word saga involves two Missouri governors (Hamilton Gamble and Frank Blair), a military commander (Gen. David Hunter), a future GOP presidential candidate (John C. Fremont), a prominent abolitionist (Sen. Charles Sumner), and a Missouri First Lady who was the daughter of Thomas Hart Benton.  The academic, Michael Fellman, has authored eight books on the Civil War. . .Greg Marecek’s St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame has partnered with the Missouri Athletic Club to host the “St. Louis Rookies of the Year” Thursday, Sept. 22.  Many of the rookies will be on hand including Roy Sievers of the Browns, Cardinals Albert Pujols, Wally Moon, Vince Coleman and Todd Worrell.  Gridders to be honored are Johnny Roland, Ottis Anderson and Rams qb Sam Bradford. Others: Blues defenseman Barrett Jackman, the Hawks’ Bob Pettit, the St. Louis Stars’ Jim Leeeker and the Steamers’ Don Ebert and Steve Pecher.

Arlene and Dr. Phillip Korenblat

MoDot has presented a proposal to reduce staffing, facilities and equipment “to put more funding toward vital road and bridge projects. The proposal was sent to the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commish. . .Chez Leon was where attorney Gene Zafft and his wife, Maureen, entertained pals at their table d’hote, while the go-to barrister mentioned he’s now representing several descendants of brewery magnate Adolphus Busch in a trust matter. Nearby were Bob Green, walker for Lois Cook, whose ex (for 30 years)

Lois Cook

was famed banker Sam Cook, whose sobriquet was “Blythe Spirit.” Of Sam, 89, Lois sighed, “I still love him.” Sam once gave $2.5 million to Mizzou to fund a chair for research in the study of macroeconomics – chump change for one of the nation’s top economists. Chef Marcel Keravel’s signature popiete de raie, skatewing stuffed with artichoke mouse and lemon butter, was de rigeuer that evening. . . “Rusty” Carnahan emailed everyone on his lists to shoot down robocalls “distorting my record by

Elizabeth Gambaro and Mark Phillips

using a political stunt,” he wrote. The robocalls included this message: “After spending recklessly and maxing out the nation’s credit card, Carnahan demanded that Congress vote to increase the nation’s debt limit without making any spending cuts.” Rusty countered, “Republicans are prepared to spend big dollars spreading lies”. . U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill’s office has emailed invitations to attend a fundraiser for her reelection bid, that will be hosted at 150 Central Ave. in Clayton by Diane Gershman and Jimmy Jenkins. Guests are invited to chip in from $500 each to $5,000. Sniffed one of the recipients, “That’s enough to send her back for lessons at a flying school”. . .The conference of the U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph will be held July 12 at the Millenium Hotel, where nearly

900 Sisters from St. Louis and across the nation and the world will gather. The key objective will be to salute the hotel for its signing of the EPCAT code to combat human trafficking. . .Shaun Hayes‘ manse at 9 Fordyce Lane was slated for foreclosure, while he owns two other houses – on Glen Eagles Drive and on Collingwood Drive in Olivettte. . .Laurie Klayman has been dubbed manager of the Tumi boutique at Plaza Frontenac. The shop, which will vend luxury travel, business and lifestyle accessories debuts June 16. . .Over on The Hill at Viviano & Sons bossmen John, Sr., John, Jr., and Tony are offering Sapori Antichi,

gluten-free pasta in a spectrum of colors and cuts such as the Vatican, the Eiffel Tower and other landmarks. That’s where we espied lovely oenophile Valery Welp Starr, who reps Terra Firma Wines. . .Over at Adriana Fazio’s namesake dinery, she has named dishes after her heiresses: Tia, Diane and Suzanne. . .The Foundry Arts Center will pay tribute to Bobby Darin on July 15 with the music of Robert Shaw and The Stardusters Orchestra. . .Canoodles: Missouri Baking’s Gambaro family is still

celebrating the marriage of Elizabeth Gambaro to Mark Phillips, who tied the knot at St. Ambrose Catholic Church followed by a pouring at the Rose of the Hill on June 10. Parents are: Chris and Diane Gambaro; Charlie and Shirley Phillips of Affton. . Asthma and allergy specialist Dr. Phillip Korenblat and wife Arlene toasted their grandsons at Tony’s. . .On June 24, the ubiquitous musician Patrick Clark of Channel 11 will have a CD release party on June 24 in the Duck Room at Blueberry Hill.

Anne Stupp, Charlene Prost, Bill Shswacker and Robert Stupp

At the apex of her powers as a museum founder and benefactor, Emily Pulitzer, whose largesse helped propel The Beacon into a viral success, was front and center Monday at the online newspaper’s brunch.  The fundraising soiree took place on the grounds of Andy and Peasy Love’s Westmoreland Place manse.  The savoir faire was quickly established with Lawrence Barton serving as  tapmaster. “He’s with the good Racquet Club on Kingshighway,” pointed out a guest. SallyAltman and Richard Weiss were on hand and he introed us to his and partners’ new online product. Richard with Laszlo Domjan, Tim Rowden and Kristina Sauerwein - all former Post-Dispatch employees – have launched http://weisswrite.com/services/ to help provide professionals with “high-quality, same-day editing” on most documents. Under

Sandy and Cynthia Peters

the banner of WeissWrite LLC, a client may upload documents and request the sort of editing desired.  Former WashU Chancellor William Danforth arrived on crutches and could barely stand erect. He said, “When I was chancellor, I thought I had good advice, but nothing for this.” He complained of back problems, while Carol Walker motioned behind his back that he had fallen. As for the time spent in Hungary, Carol said, “We have had good friends there. If we stick around long enough, they’ll be coming here any minute.”  Her husband, former Ambassador to Hungary and diehard Republican Bert Walker told The Beacon’s Dick Weil that he has spoken with former U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, (R, Ohio), who revealed to Walker, “I

Andy Love, Emily Pulitzer and Maggie Stearns

like Claire McCaskill.” Following the columnist’s sneezes, 45-year vet at SLU Dr. Ray Slavin pointed out, “We now have antihistamines that don’t make you sleepy.  People don’t have to live with their allergies anymore.”John McPheeters, whose dad Tom was a partner in yesteryear’s Bryan Cave, said, “I’m a farmer,” which broke up Andy Love. McPheeters explained that he owns Bowood Nursery and the Osage Restaurant, 4605 Olive St. “Why did they name Olive Street Road?,”argued Love. “Don’t they have enough streets?” Love ponted out that his Heartland Banks are now providing leasing of needs for small businesses that wouldn’t have bank credit.

Joe Losos, Richard Weiss, Carolyn Losos

The banks are an offshoot of his family’s first mortgage business, Love & Sons. “My grandfather was in the Confederate cavalry and came to St. Louis in the 1850s,” he hailed. Industrial developer Joe Carpenter introduced his fiancee and Chicagoan and marketer of the Admiral on the Lake, Rita Winters, after which he explained how he first spotted the dormant Fox Theatre as a ripe candidate for renovation. “I took Leon Strauss to breakfast,” he explained. “Then I showed him the Fox and told him of the possibilities to turn it into a showplace.” Harriet Baron, ex-wife of urban planner Richard Baron, offered that she’s now heading WashU’s January Program for freshmen classes.

Theresa, Jack and Henry Biggs with Andy Love

Her daughter Emily is studying at the University of Illinois-Chicago, majoring in – what else? – urban planning.  On hand were: co-chairs of the benefitTheresa and Henry Biggs; Cynthia and Sandy Peters; The Beacon office manager and planner of the party theme Martin Kaplin; national press rep of Opera Theatre of St. Louis (OTSL) Maggie Stearns; OTSL general director Tim O’Leary with wife Kara and daughter Rose; Circus Flora’s Laura Carpenter Balding and David Balding, who brought Billy the Pony and a miniature piano-playing Romany the rooster and The Beacon family of gm Nicole Hudson Holloway with her husbandCameron Hollway and their kids Hudson and Hugh; editor Margaret Wolf Freivogel

Dr. Royal and Donna Eaton, Nancy and Dr. Robert Taxman

and her husband Bill, The Beacon board member and director of the School of Journalism at SIU-Carbondale; Weil, board chair of The Beacon, with his wife,Josephine and Robert Duffy, mastermind of the entire do.

Bill Siedhoff and Charles Jaco

FOX 2′s Charles Jaco staked out the entrance to downtown’s The Dubliner to get sound bites from Sen. Claire McCaskill before she arrived for her fundraiser.  The wise Jaco wanted to scoop other media types who might arrive.  With him was Bill Siedhoff, director of the city’s Dept. of Human Services, who had just come from meetings with IBM loaned execs collecting data on crime and public safety. Asked about the homeless encampment on the riverfront, Siedhoff pointed out, “We will have permanent settlement housing for them.” Without fanfare, McCaskill arrived and generously gave interviews to Jaco and a KMOV reporter to whom McCaskill responded on

Claire McCaskill and Bryan Wahby

her and husband Joe Shepard’s wealth.  “I worked my way through college as a waitress, while Joe worked in a steel mill,” she recalled. In the upstairs party room, Rick Destefane, ceo of Reliant Care Group, addressed the flap over McCaskill’s airplane: “She stubbed her toe, but she’s not going to break it.”  Destefane, who shares a house in the Ozarks with Claire and Joe, touted the April 3 bow of his and Keith Rhodes‘ Mile 277 at Watson and Lindbergh (the former Viking) where “bands will play two or three times a day and will offer Mexican and Cajun food. It will have a motorcycle theme.”  Like Shepard, he is also

McCaskill and Rick Destefane

an owner of nursing homes with a fifth to open April 1 in East St. Louis. Nancy Lieberman, prez of the youth initiative, go! St.Louis, said 60,000 participants are expected to attend the run April 9-10 covering three events.  She said, “It’s an investment in youth and we also will have 19,000 students and children in the marathon.” Upon leaving the cavernous Dubliner, the columnist noted gawkers trying to catch a glimpse of the senator.  One of them uttered the old Gaelic expression, “Though wisdom is good at the beginning, it is better at the end.”

Danny Dragicevic and Molly Bohde

Donna and Don Glenn and Monty Franklin

Clay and Mike Harbor

Talk about poor timing!  Just as the scandal over Claire McCaskill’s
private plane is, excuse the pun, “taking off”, her re-election
fundraising letter is hitting thousands of local mailboxes.  She crows,
“I’m focused like a laser on reducing spending, cutting waste and saving
taxpayer money.”

The invitation read that Mr. and Mrs. Darryl Ross will host a dinner Sunday night “to honor Ed Martin” in the Republican’s race against U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill. Tix range from $500-$2,500. The frolic was set for The Plaza in Clayton, the same location where the Rosses tossed a fundraiser for Ed in his race against Cong. Russ Carnahan. However, a tenant in the building complained that the by-laws forbid political events. So, the dinner has been moved to Old Warson C.C. One guest asked the burning question: “Are more folks looking out for Claire than Russ?”

A literary reception with wine and cheese of which the late Joe Pulitzer told the columnist he didn’t enjoy it because it played hell with the breath. . .Politicians who slap you on the back and say, “Great to see you” and have no idea who you are. . .Chinese fortune cookies are never wise, because all I want them to read is that someone like Sam Fox, Rex Sinquefield, Jack Taylor/Barbara Bryant, Ginny Weldon or Dennis Jones will lay a million bucks on me. . .Some labor unions send out statements that read members are not making enough, while the international presidents are pulling down massive, six-figure salaries. .  . Old-timers still guffaw over the yesteryore sign in the window of Clarence Baris windows on Skinker at Delmar, that read, “Help beautify St. Louis.  Buy a plastic plant today!”. . .Some doctors’ offices at Mo. Bap. medical buildings have plants that are real, but the furniture’s artificial. . .Cong. Lacy Clay is considered ballsy, because he won’t let Sen. Claire McCaskill push him around. . .Just think, that if Dick Cheney sat in a bathtub and opened his veins, he’d freeze to death. . .A Cardinal knows when he’s cut from the team, when he comes into the clubhouse and he’s told they won’t allow visitors. . . It’s thrilling to see a Cardinal pitcher at Morton’s raise a glass of water to his lips and misses. . ..A sign read in a Dogtown bar, “If you drink too much, pay in advance!”. . .My neighbor had a baby-sitter who fed the baby at twelve, two and four. She fed herself at one, three and five. . .At the Ritz Carlton a woman got bruise marks on her womb from the baby holding on until after the wedding. . .When will Starbucks in Creve Coeur begin selling Cafe Latke?. . ..Anytime a customer walks into Protzel’s Deli and orders pastrami on white bread, a Jewish person dies. . .At a visit to my dentist, Dr. Dean West, he told me my cavity was so deep he’s sending me to a podiatrist. . ..Always enjoy dinner at Cardwell’s at Plaza Frontenac, where there are usually a hundred face lifts. . . The best things the columnist can cook are peach cobbler and chili and was asked by a guest, “Which one is this?”. . .Chili will be de rigueur Friday night at the Chase Apartments, when the Symph’s David Robertson will cook his version before invited guests, who will each plunk down $300 for the privilege of devouring it and they might hear how the orch’s $25 million budget will be spent. . ..Whatever became of sex researcher Virginia Johnson? Can you just imagine an expert on sex introduced to an audience celebrating Masters & Johnson, when he would stand up and say, “It gives me great pleasure” and then sit down?. . .Miss the old-fashioned laundries, where they tore off buttons by hand?. . .There’s one guy, whose mother is Catholic and his father is Jewish and when he goes to confession at the Old Cathedral he brings along his lawyer. . .East St. Louis isn’t the safest town for criminals.  One guy held up a bank and got mugged on the way to the getaway car. . .The columnist misses the years, when John Vitale, Tony Giordano and Buster Wortman were fodder for reporters. A joke that made the rounds on The Hill in those days was the guy who was told by one of them to blow up a truck.  He burned his lips on the exhaust.

Bryan Cave lawyer Tom Schweich, who probably knows a lot more about Afghanistan than Affton or Gallatin, was supposed to be a U.S. senator.  But, he bowed to the pressure (and promises) of his fellow Republicans and left this year’s field largely open for U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, avoiding a clash of pedigrees in the season’s marquee race.  Schweich’s willingness to postpone his ambitions to be in Washington, D.C., until he can face off with U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill in 2012, earned him a war chest of big Republican donations for an uphill campaign to unseat incumbent Auditor Susan Montee.  Anchored by local GOP super-donor Sam Fox, Schweich has been racking up donations in Ladue-size chunks of $10,000 and $20,000 in recent days.  Though, a note to Schweich’s treasurer: Generous repeat donor Roy Pfautch does not work for “Civic Progress” as the campaign has reported several times.  Pfautch works for Civic Service,  Inc.  Even these days, there is a difference.  BTW Roy Pfautch is an ordained minister and knows how to separate church from state.  And. the guy has an art for living.