Photos: BPNA 2019 Holiday Party

Thanks to all who joined us for this year’s holiday party and membership drive at Yemanja Brasil! Neighbors came together to celebrate the year with Brazilian food and live music from Ben Stitzel. If you didn’t have the chance to renew your BPNA membership for 2020, you can renew online.

Benton Park House Plaques Back in Stock

Benton Park neighborhood house plaques are back in stock! Purchase below for local delivery. Questions? Email Don Morgan, BPNA President at president@bentonpark.org.

Trunk or Treat 2019

Thanks to all who made it out for a fun afternoon in Fremont Park! While the parade was rained out this, our rescheduled Trunk or Treat was a fun time for all.

Free Health Clinic Opening Soon in Benton Park

Opening on November 16, 2019, the Salam Free Health Clinic at Epiphany United Church of Christ in Benton Park will provide basic medical screening, treatment, and referrals free of charge for adults 18 and older with no insurance.

More information from Salam Health Clinic below:

Were you aware that 39% of residents in the area surrounding Epiphany UCC in South St. Louis live at or below the poverty level?  Also, did you know that approximately 30-50% of residents in the area have no health insurance?  Despite the Affordable Care Act, many South St. Louisans still lack access to basic healthcare.  Missouri being one of the several states that did not expand Medicaid has compounded this problem.

Healthcare access is a basic human right.  Epiphany being a justice-minded congregation has a wonderful opportunity to help things change!  After several discussions between a group of Muslim physicians and Deaconess Faith Community, Salam Clinic has agreed to open an additional free Saturday health clinic at Epiphany in November 2019.

Salam Clinic began as an effort of the Muslim Community of St. Louis (MCSL), an organization dedicated to helping others. Co-founded by Dr. Zia Ahmad and Dr. Bahar Bastani, the first clinic opened its doors in 2008 at Lane Tabernacle CME Church in North County and expanded its clinic services to the Ferguson community through St. Peters UCC in 2013. Deaconess Nursing Ministry provides the nursing staff for the clinics. The collaboration between these organizations illustrates the commitment of all those involved to making the world a more just and peaceful place for all faiths.

The Salam Clinic has received multiple service awards in the past which include:

• Focus St. Louis - What's Right with the Region Award (May 2019)

• Malachi Interfaith Award (January 2019)

• Deaconess Nurse Ministry Service Award

• Interfaith Partnership of St. Louis- recognized Salam Clinic as an example of Interfaith Community Service

The clinic will be holding an opening ceremony at Epiphany UCC, located at 2911 McNair, St. Louis, Missouri on November 9th between 11 AM and 1 PM.  Patients will be first seen on Saturday November 16, 2019 between 11 AM and 1 PM.  This clinic is for adults aged 18 and older.  Basic services to be offered include:

• Diagnosis and treatment of non-urgent and chronic medical conditions;

• Essential medications as available;

• Basic laboratory tests

• Basic physical examinations for purposes of employment

Chris Guelbert DNP, RN will be assisting with coordination of the clinic.  Also, Epiphany has applied for a $10,000 Neighbors in Need Grant through the UCC.  This application is currently under review and the money would assist with start-up costs.

Volunteers from Epiphany and surrounding congregations are needed for assistance with greeting visitors, obtaining charts, and other various duties.  Nursing staff volunteers are also required.  If interested, please contact Chris at 314-873-2758 or at cguelbert@hotmail.com.

Tunes on Tap 2019

Last weekend, the neighborhood came together for a day of beer, bands, and house tours. This year’s Tunes on Tap was bigger and better than ever thanks to our incredible hosts, bands, attendees, volunteers, and sponsors.

Guests enjoyed music from Boxcar, The Murphtones, Susie Cue, the Pernikoff Brothers, Leslie Nillissen, Gus Page, Preacher Clark, and Travelin’ Mike of the Travelin’ Band. Homes on the tour featured beers from our beverage sponsors at 4 Hands, Anheuser Busch, UCBC, Schlafly, Bluewood Brewing, Earthbound Beer, and WellBeing Brewing.

Special thanks goes out to our 2019 Event Series sponsors at American Eagle Credit Union, Ernesto’s, The Fortune Teller Bar, Alderman Dan Guenther, Gus’ Pretzels, Hop Shop, Killeen Studio Architects, Mardi Gras, Inc., McGurk’s, Millennium Restoration & Development, Small Change, Scott Holdridge State Farm, and Benton Park Cafe.

For more information on Tunes on Tap, including 2020 hosting and sponsorship opportunities, email events@bentonpark.org.

Image credits: Jim Shemwell, Patti Bowman Crites, and Dani Tallchief.

Hosts Needed for Benton Park Classic Riders

The Gateway Cup is coming up this Labor Day weekend, including the Benton Park Classic on Monday, September 2.

Now in its 36th year, The Gateway Cup takes place over four days and across four St. Louis neighborhoods: Lafayette Square, Francis Park, The Hill, and right here in Benton Park. All four days of the Gateway Cup are a part of The USA Cycling Professional Road Tour.

From the Gateway Cup Website:

Within each of these host communities, the race course is a defined one mile lap and the race is known as a criterium. This Americanized style of racing appeals to both athletes and spectators alike as the peloton, or pack of cyclists, pass by every few minutes at impressive speeds holding lines only inches apart from one another. Spectators can watch the race develop lap after lap and hear commentators announce race strategy, allowing more of an understanding and involvement in the excitement.

Each year, riders seek host housing as an affordable way to join the competition from other cities. If you’re interested in hosting a rider in town for the weekend’s races, email Amy Strahan at amystrahan@earthlink.net.

*Images from Gateway Cup, Benton Park Classic 2017

Photos: English Cave Community Garden Party

The English Cave Community Garden Party was a beautiful evening with friends old and new. Neighbors, board members, gardeners, and Gateway Greening staff joined us throughout the night for drinks, snacks, and garden tours.

At the end of the night, attendees were invited to enter a drawing to win a selection of plants from our friends and neighbors at Flowers & Weeds. Others left with samples from the garden, including cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, kale, and purple beans.

Thanks again to all who attended and to everyone who helped us put this event together. For more information on getting involved at the English Cave Community Garden, email Bill Kranz at garden@bentonpark.org. For a list of future BPNA events, check out our Events Calendar.

YouthWorks Volunteers at the English Cave Community Garden

On Monday July 8, 2019, seven YouthWorks volunteers, two organizers and two chaperones visited the English Cave Community Garden (ECCG) with only one focus in mind — to work and work hard for two-and-a-half hours in the garden.

They were joined by Tim Beam, ECCG gardener and grass cutter pro and leader Bill Kranz, another grass cutting pro. Here is what this team looked like after the session was over.

Photo by Tim Beam

This effort was planned to help spruce up the garden for the upcoming garden celebration event on Saturday, July 13th from 4 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. We celebrate being in Gateway Greening’s Land Trust and invite you to attend. It is potluck style but the BPNA will be providing food and drink as well. The garden’s address is 1960 Provenchere Place.

Questions? Email garden@bentonpark.org. For more information on YouthWorks, look this link over: youthworks.com/about-us.

Photos: June 2019 Concert in the Park

Thanks to all who came out for another successful installment in our Summer Event Series! The rain stopped just in time for Sunday’s concert in the park with Whoa Thunder and The Wayward Souls. Mark your calendars for our next event: The English Cave Community Garden Party on Saturday, July 13.

A Look Back at Blues in the Park 2019

Thanks to all who made it out for Blues in the Park 2019! The weather couldn’t have been better for a night of music from Blues City Swing, food from Benton Park’s own Yemanja Brasil, and the company of neighbors.

Mark your calendars for our next event: Concert in the Park on June 23, 2019 featuring The Wayward Souls and main act Whoa Thunder.