Posts Tagged ‘Gary Bess’

Slay Park

The re-christening of the once Arsenal/Ellendale Park – now, the Francis R. Slay Park – took place over the weekend with a crowd of hundreds looking on. For about 40 years, area residents used the park, at the corner of Arsenal street and McCausland avenue to play soccer and softball.  The bill, for the conversion, was signed Saturday by Mayor Francis Slay, who said to his dad, “You know, Pa, while the park is in your name, you can’t try to run it or even sell it.”  Elder Slay shot back, “Well, what’s the use of having it?”  State Rep. Michelle Kratky presented Slay, Sr., with a state resolution for his outstanding contributions to the region. Also on display were the architectural drawings showing eventual improvements, that will include footpaths, a baseball field with a dugout, a water garden and a gazebo. The older Slay, who will turn 82 later this year, retired after 40 years ih public service as committeeman, Mo. state rep, recorder of deeds and later became a businessman.  On hand for the doin’s were: aldermanic prez Lewis Reed; Ald, Steve Gregali -14th Ward, ald. Craig Schmid -20th ward, akd, Marlene Davis -19th ward and Jennifer Florida.  Others there were: Tom Shephard; Collector of Revenue Greg Daly; Director of Parks & Rec.Gary Bess; retired judge Paul Simon; Jim Sonderman; Cathy Ruggeri-Rea; Brian Wahby and Slay siblings Gerard Slay, Monietta Slay, Sharon Bourne, Tom Slay and City Hall’s Mary Ellen Ponder, Sherry Wibbenmeyer, Patrick Brown; Robyn Wahbe and Angela Thompson.

That’s Lauren Davis all over. The 30-year vet as an art teacher at Parkway Central High has turned how students who have become prominent designers, including Mike Binnette, Deanna Kuhlmann and Jeremy Lasky (who is now with Pixar production company). What’s Davis up to now? Sculptures. “I’m creating a big, fat, New York pigeon,” said the charmer. . . Former reporter and now a columnist and jewelry craftsperson, Susan Fadem, is having her first-ever gallery opening at 6 p.m., Oct. 9 at Crepes in the City, 500 S. Fourteenth Street. The entrepreneurial lady is also staging jewelry-and-stuff home shows at the Fadem manse. She has exhausted storage space and joked, “How many necks does a person have?”. . . What glowed in the dark and sported the libation of your choice? The glassware, of course, provided by American Airlines (via the always adorable Cindy Hutchings) at the Central West End Association’s benefit, “Glow in the Park” fundraiser in Forest Park the other night. Hundreds gathered under tents to watch dozens of balloons show their stuff, danced until the wee hours, and ogled the unique atmosphere created by our town’s Alexis Tucci, whose pop, Kim, served as auctioneer. Chris Williams of Southwest Bank chaired the event, which benefitted both the CWE nabe and the Flora Conservancy at Forest Park. Energizer’s Ward Klein joined the ranks of corporate toppers at the party, including Todd George of Lumiere, godbug Charlie Shapard of Holt & Shapard Capital Mangement, and Chris Sommers of PI Restaurant (soon to bow in the CWE). Parks Director Gary Bess and 28th Ward alderwoman Lyda Krewson held court and the Balloon Race prez John Marlow talked winds-aloft and BTU’s. He also reported that the Energizer Bunny, the lead launch for the race, was celebrating its 20th birthday – an event officially memorialized by mayoral proclamation.