Posts Tagged ‘Charlie Dooley’

Podiatric specialist Jeffrey Brooks told us at Il Bel Lago, that he now has nine clinics and teaches 3-year courses of certified programs. BTW: Brooks and Joyce Sigrid Brooks have called off their marriage. . .Earlier, Mike Jones, senior advisor to County Exec Charlie Dooley, ruminated at Canyon Cafe about Francis Slay, Sr., and son/Mayor Francis Slay. Of the latter, he said, “That’s an apple that fell far from the tree”. . .A celebration of judges, who have served 25 years on the bench, will be held by the Lawyers Association at 5:30 p.m., Sept. 15 at the Westin Hotel. A special recognition of retired Mo. Supreme Court Judge Mike Wolff will also be held then. Judges to be honored are: Ken Romines; Bob Dierker and City Commissioner of Family Court Anne-Marie Clarke. They’re going fast now – those old-timers who remember the legendary judges, both circuit and federal, who made headline news. For those who love our town, there has been an irresistible and neurotic fascination with those judges. Besides, in those days there was honest graft and overflowing dockets. Among them were: George Moore; Ken Wangelin; Jim Meredith; Jack Reagan; Roy Harper; and Jack Nangle. There were lawyers, who didn’t have to use the media for all it was worth, when the media seemed pathetically eager to be used. Charlie Shaw, Ed Dowd, Rex Carr, Jake Lashly, Ken Teasdale, Tom Guilfoil, Morris Shenker, Rex Caruthers and Curtis Crawford, who stood proudly on their own reputations. . . “We’re keeping Markus Bluestein’s pioneering spirit alive,” said John Demas, consultant to Mallia Color/Design Studio, which bows Sept. 13 at 11772 Olive Blvd. Owner Cara Wuebbeling has attracted a number of the late Bluestein’s specialists at his Facade Salon including: Mark Lewis; Grace Henson Ballance and Lisa Weber.

Have we had enough of television news on e-coii pandemics, tsunamis, earthquakes, tornadoes, volcanoes, U.S. floods, cop shows, food shows and *Dr. Oz*?  Well, on Dr. Oz’s Wednesday show, while a woman asked, “Why do I have an orgasm during a bowel movement?”, the columnist yukily then turned to more urgent matters like blotting post-holiday sun tan oil and heading later to some favorite neighborhood saloons. Cissy and Tommy Bahn’s Cousin Hugo’s, twixt crossroads of Manchester and Laclede Station Road, have kept the aura gong of their clubby clone of yesteryear’s  Busch’s Grove that opened in 1939. Add to that, St. Louis-style barbecued spareribs were served from the pits at Annie and Jim Lucas’ Baumann’s Fine Meats. Tommy, a onetime host at the old Balaban’s, recalled how a couple in their 80s had a reunion there after having not seen each other for 45 years. “Both their spouses had died and it was so poignant,” commented Bahn. “For 20 years, Clayton High School teachers come in and let their hair down after graduation.” Other regulars have been Ryan Franklin, Jackie Smith and Charlie Dooley. On to the fourth owner of Pat’s in the Oakland/Tamm nabe of Dogtown, where bonifaces Ty and Joe Finn dropped a few bon mots of their wish list: 45-degree parking to alleviate the traffic jams; a farmers’ market at Clayton at Tamm avenues; traffic lights at Oakland and Tamm, because “it’s so dangerous” and enthusiasm for newly-elected 24th Ward Alderman Scott Ogilvey. Battered and cooked to order spicey fried chicken is de rigueur there.

Shelly Seawall with daughter Lola and Tommy Bahn

 

 

Barrister Bill Corrigan‘s $1.7 million campaign to unseat St. Louis County Exec Charlie Dooley did not win the big prize (Dooley’s office), but one of his consultants has picked up a smaller prize of his own. Axiom Strategies, the firm of KC consultant Jeff Roe, was presented with a Reed Award last week for “best direct mail in a Republican county, local or judicial election” by Campaigns & Elections magazine for some work on Corrigan’s campaign. The mailer’s message, “Dump Dooley,” went unheeded. . .Associate Circuit Judge Thea Sherry has been upped to new Circuit Judge for the 21st Circuit, encompassing all of St. Louis county. She fills the seat occupied by retiring Judge John Kintz. ..The Albert Pujols Wellness Center, which offers patients access to a team of specialists of Down Syndrome at St. Luke’s is already gearing up for a Jan. ’12 benefit at The Sheldon. . .Cardinals’ asst. g.m. Mike Girsch and wife, Kelly, pulled up steaks at Tony’s, where author Harlan Steinbaum was toasted on his big natal day by pal, Judy Allen. Steinbaum is the author of “Tough Calls from the Corner Office,” in which he includes interviews with top ceo’s. He rejoiced over an upcoming edition of USA Today in which he hoped would carry an interview with him. Steinbaum is remembered by some as the son-in-law of the late Morris Glaser, founder of the drug store chain. Steinbaum was also a founder of MEG’s, a bellied-up discount drug store in Ellisville. . .John Kain has clocked out as g.m. of the Charles Cella family’s Truffles restaurant in Ladue to become sommelier at Thom Sehnert‘s Annie Gunn’s.

On the heels of the Missouri Earnings Tax Initiative (Prop. A) which he heavily supported, conservative millionaire Rex Sinquefeld said he is poised to launch a petition in April to abolish the Missouri income tax.  With his wife, Dr. Jeanne Sinquefeld, he greeted 500 guests at the St. Vincent Christmas benefit at the Chase Hotel.  (Rex was raised at the St. Vincent orphanage.)  Within earshot were Maggie and Ron Holtman, Rex’s basketball coach, as well as Brenda Talent of the Show Me Institute, where she said a new study “shows how the economy can grow by eliminating the taxes.”  Asked about her husband, Jim, and his reputed run for U.S. Senate, she demurred and then said she told him, “You run in one election and then run in another?” Attorney and advisor to County Exec Charlie Dooley, John Temporiti, had a take on that, when he said, “If Ann Wagner takes the RNC chair post, Talent will probably run for U.S. Senate.”  With Temporiti was his and wife Karen’s son/barrister Michael, who has begun working at the firm where dad works. After they met and greeted, the Temporitis were off and running to the Log Cabin Club to hear Karl Rove, hosted by The Roundtable group. “Hold your enemies close,” chuckled John. St. Louis Aldermanic prez Lewis Reed was joined by state rep Rodney Hubbard, Sr., and Jr., after which Reed speculated on License Collector Michael McMillan‘s possible run for St.Louis mayor.  “Mike’s a hard worker. But, I’m not going to pit him against Francis Slay,” insisted Reed. Meanwhile, McMillan is off to Malaysia for three weeks on a State Department exchange program.

All the county executive’s men and women will help Charlie Dooley blow out 63 candles on his natal celebration on Dec. 15 at Sugo’s. . .Where’s Charlie?  He’s been to attorney Bob Blitz‘s Christmas party at Cafe Napoli.  Others there were Gaming Comish general counsel Chris Hinkley, Mayor Francis Slay, Lt. Guv Peter Kinder, Judge John Ross, Judge Larry Mooney, Sarah Steelman and Ann and Ray Wagner.  FYI: Clients of Blitz’s Jeff City branch include firms that manufacture games for casinos. . . . .Guests at the St. Louis Hills holiday party saw Cong. Russ Carnahan show up and shake hands with his former opponent Ed Martin and his wife, Carol.  Carny got some ogling over his full leather jacket from Australia.  And, wife Debra was a no-show. . .The hoity-toity Plaza in Clayton condos is now home to some prominent bachelors and almost-bachelors.  Among them are Joe Buck, Sam Bradford, Steve Shankman and Stifel Financial’s ceo, chairman and prez Ron Kruszewski, whom friends say is calling off his marriage. . .Pioneer Bank’s Tom Brewster, Jr., is heading for some housecleaning at Reliance Bank. . .Soldier of Fortune and owner of the yesteryear American Athletic Club on Manchester, Joe Adams, 60, is celebrating his fourth year of marriage to Deanna Daughhetee, owner of American Equity Mortgage at their snazzy Hampton Park manse. But, that’s not the item. Adams is now heading Project Bluelight, an anti-terrorist intelligence operation in support of Homeland Security personnel in the field.  “We primarily report to Border Patrol Intelligence, but do assist agents in the field when called upon,” said Adams.  “Our mission SOP is to make no contact or be detected by anyone entering the United States illegally or involved in illegal activities.  The only time Project Bluelight wavers from the mission is for medical emergencies or the presence of children.  We report all movement and/or activity to federal authorities.”  Recalling the days, when he ran his physical fitness empire where he helped clients attain their physical fitness goals, he poo-poo’ed today’s personal trainers.  “Some charge up to $75 an hour and I charged $125 a-year to help members,” he said. . .Look for Erker Optical Co. to import the chic Mainbach glasses from the Bayern region of Germany.  Jack Erker was toasted on the family-owned business on its 130th anniversary at Herbie’s Vintage ’72 and the soon-to-debut Erker’s in the CWE on Maryland Avenue, which will replace McGinty’s in Ted Koplar‘s edifice, bringing to three stores in the Erker chain. . .Aloyse Heiss McShane is now enjoying the good life in Florida these days, according to her heiress Barbara Heiss, who was with her best friend, Steve Kay, at Protzel’s.  Aloyse, 83, was once married to the late Gordon Heiss, bossman of the Lenox and Mayfair Hotels and then to Edwin R. “Bill” Culver, III.  Meanwhile, deli lama Max Protzel and his wife, Rachel, became parents of Eli Alexander, who popped out at more than eight pounds. . .Susan Gray‘s MAC Meetings & Events is becoming a rising force when it comes to producing street festivals and public events.  The meeting and event planner has scored with some major festivals here:  “Tour De Grove” and the “Grovefest” as well as the “Soulard Oktober-fest.”  Expanded responsibilities will follow for the 2011 Oktober-fest event along with some other major happenings.

Yes, yes. The columnist has heard all of the arguments being offered about why Charlie Dooley elected to drive a stake through the heart of a proposed North County casino near the Confluence of the Rivers.  He is an environmentalist. He is protecting the county’s revenue from its existing casinos.  He is getting back at retiring Gaming Commissioner Gene McNary, a Dooley critic who seemed to support the project.  He is making a deal with St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay whose city is losing a gaming license.  Blah, blah.  The real reason is that St. Louis County Economic Council topper Denny Coleman advised his boss that quantitative analysis shows that a new casino in north county lacked the popular public support to make it a strong success, while its mere existence would siphon dollars from existing county restaurants, bars and entertainment venues. Hats off to Chaz!

It is St. Louis County Exec Charlie Dooley‘s lot – and advantage – to be underestimated by his opponents.  With his wife, Susan at Chez Leon, Gene McNary, exec director of the Missouri Gaming Commish and a former St. Louis county exec himself, took a few shots at Dooley.  “He’s a nice guy,” McNary began.  “But, it’s embarrassing that he’s running the county.  I’d like to beat him!”  McNary, who will leave his current post in July, last won an election in 1986.  Still, some county stalwarts think that the feisty McNary would have been a stronger opponent to Dooley than Ladue attorney Bill Corrigan. . .So, you’re wondering where some of the money goes here from the federal stimulus funding, known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009?  Ask dad. Dad knows. How about $45 million for Metro Arts in Transit (AIT) for a number of new public art projects?  Metro Arts has received that much and is currently on the prowl for artists.

BILL CORRIGAN

“About 40,000 jobs have been lost in the county since Charlie Dooley took office”, said GOPer and attorney Bill Corrigan, who hopes to beat Dooley at the polls in the race for county executive.  “Furthermore, there’s no entrepreneurial atmosphere to promote small business and growth.  Our current county government is incompetent and broken. There’s also an unfair tax system.  Since Dooley took office, the violent crime rate has gone up 30 percent. In the county’s own application for $8.5 million for federal funding, earmarked for a new crime lab, it reveals that 25 percent of the crimes in St. Louis county have remained unsolved.”  Corrigan, a yesteryear worker on a GM assembly plant, a MoDot trash picker-upper and a Teamster, who loaded pickup track lift trailers, paid his own way through Notre Dame. His wife, Ann, is a lawyer, who teaches in the pre-law program at SLU’s undergrad school.  Over coffee at First Watch, Corrigan concluded, “I’d love a debate with Dooley on issues of leadership and vision.  If he’s transparent, he’ll debate.”