Year: 2014

Many years ago, North St. Louis flourished with booming businesses and big Victorian and New England-style homes. Business owners, teachers and journeymen lived in the affluent neighborhood, and many walked to work. The area suffered a considerable loss with the deterioration of streetcar service after World War II. It became less enjoyable and convenient for residents, who no longer had easy access to amenities in the city. […]

2014 has begun, and it promises to be a year of changes. Among them are changes for me, personally. I’m managing editor of The Scene this semester, and I’m looking forward to working with new and veteran staff members at the paper. If all goes to plan, I’ll graduate from Forest Park this summer with my associate’s degree, and I’ll start at a four-year school this fall. I’ll enter my second year of marriage, and if it’s anything like the first, it will be great. But those changes are pretty insignificant when compared with what’s happening in the social climate of our country. […]

Question: Who constantly naps throughout the day, eats food he never pays for and occasionally poops in my shower? Answer: My roommate. No, I don’t share an apartment with the ghost of Chris Farley. I’m talking about my 18-pound cat, Chauncey, and I have a confession to make — I love the big goof. Honestly, I never pictured myself as much of a cat guy. Sure, we had a few felines growing up around the house, but on a personality scale, they were about a notch above my mom’s Precious Moments collection. […]