Mark your calendar.

The WPA Annual Fall Family Picnic will take place on Sunday, September 28th. There will be a meeting of the social committee on Wednesday evening, June 17th at 5026 Westminster. If you would like to participate in the planning or on the day of the event, contact Marie Morrison.

Traveling down Westminster Place, one cannot ignore the impressive canopy of mature trees which grace our street. The cost of pruning, fertilizing, removing, and replacing trees on the street is our largest budget item. Tree maintenance is an ongoing process. This spring we replaced three trees, pruned several others which were in dire need, and have a list of several more which need our attention. In order to preserve this beautiful and unique element of our streetscape, the WPA needs the help and cooperation of all residents.

Because these trees grow in a limited space with limited resources, they should be treated as “potted” plants, albeit very large ones! Therefore, our arborist strongly recommends that residents care for their trees by thoroughly soaking them with water, especially during dry spells. Trees should be watered to a few inches deep with a sprinkler or soaker hose, about 20-30 minutes 3-4 days a week.

Additionally, there are a number of trees that have ivy growing up their trunks. This growth is eventually lethal for a tree. To remove ivy without further damaging the tree, first cut ivy vines at base of tree. Allow a few months for the ivy to die back. Only after attached ivy has completely died and detached from bark can vines be safely peeled from tree trunk. Regular upkeep or complete removal of ivy roots is necessary to prevent ivy re-growth.

Please let your trustee know if you are unable to care for the street trees in your yard so that we can arrange assistance.

The WPA will continue its efforts to ensure the health and longevity of the street trees through its fertilization and trimming program with emphasis on the most distressed trees.

Summertime is upon us, and our neighborhood children will be home enjoying the freedom and joys of outdoor play. Let’s work together to make it a safe time for them and for all of us.

• Maintain the speed limit!!
• Park parallel to the curb. Angle parking obscures street visibility.
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  Check your property for “attractive nuisances,” such as construction tools, jagged concrete, holes, open drains, etc.

• Control your pets and clean-up after them
• Be alert.

With the arrival of West Nile Virus, mosquitoes have become more than the itchy pest of yesterday. To protect yourself and your families from mosquito borne diseases, remember the four D’s:

• Drain – It takes only 3-7 days for thousands of mosquitoes to develop in stagnant water. Eliminate standing water around your home including in clogged gutters, toys, or puddles.
• Dusk and Dawn – These are the times of day mosquitoes are most active. Be particularly cautious during these hours.
• Dress – Cover your arms and legs when you plan to be outside around mosquito infested areas.
• DEET – Wear insect repellent when outside containing up to 20% of this ingredient.

Drainage issues in both alleys create mosquito breeding areas. Homeowners should check the alleys behind their homes, disperse the water in the puddle, if possible, or treat with a larvaecide. There is a commercial product called mosquito dunks available at nurseries and garden specialty shops which, when placed in standing water such as bird baths, ponds, or puddles, will prevent the emergence of mosquito larvae.   Bowood Farms carries “Mosquito Bits” in a shaker bottle for $15.

Mow lawns regularly as mosquitoes rest in shady high grass and weeds during the heat of the day. Once dusk arrives, they emerge, hungry and ready to eat.

• Several replacement trees were planted on the block this spring. There is more tree work to be done in the near future. Notify Jim Tobin (tree chair) or your trustee if you have a street tree which is in need of pruning so that we can get it on the list.

• The damaged west monument, which was hit by a vehicle, displacing the concrete top pad and breaking away several bricks, has been repaired.

• New plantings are scheduled for both monuments. Gregg Williamson will contact those of you who volunteered to help the street committee with a date to plant. The rain followed by the extreme heat has delayed the completion of the monument project. We hope to finish it as soon as possible.

• The first of the Mutt Mitt stations has been installed in front of number 5053 on the north east end of the block. The second will be placed on the south west end.

The Westminster Place Association 2008 assessments were due no later than May 1st.

If you have not yet paid your association dues, please get them to Vander (5082) as soon as possible.

A reminder to EVERYONE, north and south: maintaining the area on the alley behind a home is the responsibility of that homeowner. The same standards which exist for the street exist for the alley. Homeowners must keep buildings, fences, retaining walls, and landscaping in good and manageable condition. If not, the homeowner can be cited by the city.

Also, as a public safety measure, your home address should be located on the fence or garage behind your house. If you have not yet done so, please post house numbers so that in the event the street cannot be navigated and emergency personnel need to get to your home, they are able to find it.

Some of our neighbors have decided to take advantage of the City of Saint Louis 50-50 Sidewalk Program. They have discovered that signing up is easy to do.

Cost is calculated by square foot. The replacement cost for a sidewalk in front of one of the homes on our street, approximately a 50′ frontage, is in the area of $3000-$3500 for a smooth finish walk. With the 50-50 program, the cost to the homeowner is $1500-$1750. Aggregate stone, which appears in front of most of our homes, is about $350 additional.

The waiting period to have your sidewalk replaced depends on district. Each Alderman is provided a budget for brick-and-mortar projects, and sidewalk replacement occurs as funds are available.

Contact Lyda Krewson <lyda.krewson@pgav.com> if interested.

A link to the program has been added to the link list to the left of this page.

The program is a wonderful way to get your sidewalk repaved at a reasonable cost. Pedestrian safety and neighborhood aesthetics are enhanced by sidewalks in good condition.

With this years assessment notice, neighbors received an emergency contact sheet and volunteer form.  History has shown us that the unexpected happens. We have had several incidences of severe weather disrupting power and felling trees, not to mention the early morning tremor which reminds us that we do, in fact, live reasonably close to a fault line.

Fortunately, with these occurrences, no one has been hurt, and no property has received significant damage. However, should a crisis arise, the board wants to be in position to access whatever information will help residents, families, emergency workers, etc., in order to keep chaos and confusion to a minimum. The information on these forms will help us achieve that goal.

The form also allows you to update, correct, and/or confirm the contact information for our neighborhood directory.

Lastly, it enables you to volunteer for any of the committees whose efforts help make this a wonderful street on which to live.

We have received about half of these forms back. A huge thank you to those who furnished us with their regular and emergency contact information and to the many neighbors who have volunteered to help through committee work.

If you have not yet returned your form, please do so as soon as possible. If you need a new form, email Kathy Koch at kathykoch9@yahoo.com and a new one will be provided to you.