St. Louis County District 7

Though born to a Methodist minister who didn’t want his son getting involved with secular music, William C. Handy’s musical tastes and style were heavily influenced by the music he heard, especially African American folk music, during his travels around the south. At one very low point in his life he landed in St. Louis, poor, hungry and homeless. This experience no doubt provided the inspiration for his famous St. Louis Blues song which he wrote and eventually produced und...er his own music label Pace & Handy Music Company in 1914. He wrote and produced dozens of other blues songs, and organized the first blues performance at Carnegie Hall in New York in 1928. Many of his songs went on to be covered by jazz greats such as Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, Dizzy Gillespie and Herbie Hancock. Queen Elizabeth is rumored to have called St. Louis Blues one of her favorite songs. His autobiography, Father of the Blues, was published in 1941. When Handy died in 1958, over 20,000 people attended his funeral at a church in Harlem and thousands more lined the streets to pay their respects. Nat King Cole played WC Handy in the film St. Louis Blues which was released shortly after Handy’s death. His memory is kept alive by the annual summertime W.C. Handy Music Festival in Florence Alabama which boasts ten days of performances, exhibits, and events celebrating this musical legend. Enjoy this rare 1929 recording of Handy’s St. Louis Blues by the Empress of the Blues, the great Besse Smith. https://youtu.be/5Bo3f_9hLkQ

Our healthcare workers hold a special place in our hearts and in the public eye. Today we recognize the tremendous accomplishments and contributions of a very special doctor, Dr. Mildred Fay Jefferson. After obtaining a B.A degree summa cum laude from Texas College and a MS degree from Tufts University, Mildred went on to Harvard Medical school where she became the first black woman to graduate and the first woman to graduate in surgery in 1951. By 1984 she had become a gene...ral surgeon at the Boston University Medical Center and a professor of surgery at the Boston University School of Medicine. The medical community recognized the tremendous talent and contributions of Dr. Jefferson and honored her by making her the first female member of the Boston Surgical Society. Dr. Jefferson took her Hippocratic oath very seriously, whether the original Greek which included the line Similarly I will not give to a woman a pessary to cause abortion or the Declaration of Geneva (1948) which was more popular among medical schools at the time and included the clause I will maintain the utmost respect for human life from the time of conception. She dedicated a major part of her life to preserving the lives of the unborn. Among her many lifetime accomplishments, she was a founding member and three time President of the National Right to Life Committee, president of the Right to Life Crusade, a member of Black Americans for Life and was held in high esteem by Feminists for Life. She was 83 at her passing in 2010. Dr. Jefferson had a career-long interest medical ethics and the interaction between medicine and law. She knew well their impact on public policy and society as a whole. Read more about this fascinating pioneer of the black community who has contributed so much to this country.

Would you like to be part of a County COVID Focus Group being run by the county Department of Public Health? They are particularly interested in people who had a personal or close personal experience with COVID. https://drive.google.com//1ne8xc-sprDF6zsL1nsDG45xALI/view . Click on the link on this page to apply.

Add this to your reference list for restaurants in District 7. Please help support them as we continue the corona measures.

Let's be safe out there.

The County has many open positions for those who are looking to make a "covid career move." The County Council in particular is looking for a new Chief Deputy County Clerk. This position is responsible for providing administrative support to the County Clerk and the County Council. The typical starting salary range is between $36,192.00-$50,000.00 annually depending on the candidate's qualifications as well as budgetary considerations. To read more about this position (and others) click on the link below and then on the job title of interest.https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/stlouis?

We need to continue to support our local restaurants and help them survive the County Executive's latest business crushing mandates. The cities of Ballwin and Wildwood have made this easy with a restaurant guide that shows who has curb-side, delivery or outdoor dining available (photo below or follow the links provided.) If you are looking for holiday gift ideas, a gift card for any of these restaurants is a great idea. https://www.ballwin.mo.us//Doc/Restaurant_Guide_Nov_18.pdf https://www.cityofwildwood.com//Wildwood-Restaurants-11-18

On Wednesday we will honor our military veterans who have served in the United States Armed Forces. It is a great day to thank those who have, and who continue to offer their lives in service to our country. If you are a veteran, there are lots of businesses who would like to recognize your service by offering special deals on November 11th or in the month of November. Use the link below to plan your day to take advantage of these deals. https://www.military.com//retailers-veterans-day-military-

Every year on the third Thursday of November the American Cancer Society challenges America's smokers to try going without smoking for 24 hours for the Great American Smokeout. The County Council passed a resolution this week marking November 19th as the date this year and encouraging tobacco users in the county to give up tobacco for one day. Every journey begins with one step. Every new positive habit begins with one day.

Please welcome our newest police chaplain to St LouisCounty Police Dept. He is Pastor Mark Femmel of Zion Lutheran Church in Maryland Hts. He will serve the central county precinct. Great guy I’ve known for years. He will be a great addition. If you know any pastor who would like to be a chaplain for the county or the muni police depts. please call my office to volunteer.

SPIRE has two new assistance programs for people who were furloughed or experienced a job loss due to COVID19. "When qualified, active Missouri residential customers are enrolled in the program, they automatically receive a $100 credit toward their past due balance. Over the duration of the program, customers can receive up to an additional $300 matched, dollar-for-dollar, when they make payments to reduce their past due balance. There is no income cap for the program, but customers must complete an application and show that they’ve sustained a loss of income or job any time after March 1, 2020, as a direct result of the pandemic." Visit https://spireenergy.com/assistance to learn more.

Wait times to vote around the district are averaging 30-60 minutes. Use the Board of Election polling place link to check how many people are in line and find the polling place that works best for you. https://stlcogis.maps.arcgis.com/a/webappviewer/index.html

If you have been contacted recently by the county health department and told to quarantine because you came into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID19 and are now worried about how you can vote, please contact the Board of Election 314-615-1800 They will have a bi-partisan team visit you in the hospital or at home to cast your vote. Records of those who request this service will be cross-referenced with the St. Louis County Department of Public Health. Once verified, the Election Board staff will contact the voters to schedule a time for you to vote.

Things to do this month in St. Louis County Parks. Bingo at PAL November 13 | The Pavilion at Lemay Play 6 games for a variety of gag prizes or useful items. Carolyn will be your caller so you know it’s going to be fun!... Turkey Shoot November 15 | The Pavilion at Lemay Kid's free throw competition with a frozen turkey as the main prize. Thanksgiving Story Time November 18 | St. Louis Carousel, Faust Park Aunt Peggy will be at the Carousel to tell all the boys and girls her Thanksgiving story and to take a ride with the children on the Carousel. Please register by calling (314) 615-8345. Winter Wonderland Park Pics November 18 | Tilles Park Enjoy a special access pass to Winter Wonderland! Bring your camera and equipment to Tilles Park to photograph over 1 million lights. Call Schillers Camera for reservations at (314) 968-3650. Ceramic Family Ornaments November 21 | Laumeier Sculpture Park Start off the holiday season by creating clay ornaments together! Call (314) 615-5268 or visit www.laumeier.org for more information. Visit the reservation site to reserve your spot for any of these activities. https://reservestlouis.usedirect.com/StLouisWeb/ Number of participants limited. Masks are required when inside buildings and when social distancing cannot be maintained.