New safety signs at Citygarden promote common sense and caution for visitors who play in the water or on the sculptures.
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Citygarden Showing Wear and Tear From Thousands of Visitors
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), August 15, 2010 - Citygarden in downtown St. Louis has attracted thousands of visitors and residents since it opened in June 2009. Admission to the $30 million sculpture garden, which covers 2.9 acres on the Gateway Mall in downtown St. Louis, is free and open to the public.
Children have enjoyed running through the Splash Fountain and sitting on the pulsating jets of water. Swimming is also very popular in the lower basin that stretches along the foot of the long limestone wall near the Terrace Cafe where a six-foot waterfall cascades from the upper basin.
Parents have watched their kids play on the white rabbits and climb many of the massive painted steel sculptures.
With so many visitors enjoying the two block urban oasis, there have been visible signs of wear and tear on the lush planted areas and sculptures by international artists.
Recently, the two White Rabbits sculptures were roped off so that cracks near the ears could be repaired. Several of the pink flamingo soft sculptures have also been damaged with torned seams exposing the stuffing.
Although security guards are on the premises on a 24 hour basis, in the last few days, bright pink signs have been installed around the two block public garden expressing hope that people would respect the garden and keep a closer watch on their kids as they play in and around the water.
The message on the pink sign reads: "The safety of children who come to Citygarden is the sole responsibility of their caregivers. Playing in or near water or on sculpture is inherently dangerous. Common sense and caution must be used by caregivers carrying out their responsibility.
It is also expected that adults visiting Citygarden will treat it and one another with respect, thereby maintaining an atmosphere which provides enjoyment for all."
As Summer Sizzles, Retail Sales Fizzle
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), August 15, 2010 - Early back-to-school shopping was not enough to propel retail sales significantly upward in July, according to the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA).
Monthly retail sales figures for July released by the Department of Commerce reported modest growth over July 2009, with retail sales excluding auto sales up modestly compared to sales from the previous month. Overall retail sales increased 0.4 percent in July, and rose 5.9 percent over sales in July 2009. Retail sales excluding auto and auto part sales expanded 0.2 percent in July, and showed gains of 4.9 percent over the previous year.
"Retailers continue to persevere in an uncertain economic environment, relying on cost controls rather than sales growth to maintain profitability," said RILA President Sandy Kennedy.
With nearly all of the gains concentrated in the automotive sector in July, retailers saw declines in virtually every category. Department stores were down 1.0 percent from June, with clothing and clothing accessories not far behind, dropping 0.7 percent. Furniture and home furnishings and building materials were down 0.3 percent.
Today's retail sales follow the recent U.S. Department of Labor report that 14.6 million American's remain out of work.
"Like the broader business community, retailers continue to deal with considerable market and regulatory uncertainty," added Kennedy.
Walmart Foundation Awards $2.6 Million to YouthBuild US
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), August 15, 2010 - The Walmart Foundation has announced a $2.6 million donation to YouthBuild USA to support education and job training for low-income youth while giving participants the opportunity to earn a high school diploma or GED.
The grant will help train 2,000 young people in green building skills and result in the construction of 170 sustainable housing units in California, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
"We are looking for ways to provide opportunities for workers to develop skills to gain employment - particularly in the tough economy," said Margaret McKenna, president of the Walmart Foundation. "Supporting the next generation of workers with expertise in green building practices is a natural fit for Walmart because of our focus on environmental sustainability."
Ten thousand low-income, 16 to 24 year-olds work toward their GEDs or high school diplomas annually in YouthBuild programs. These young adults learn job skills by building affordable housing for homeless and poor people. Since 1994, approximately 92,000 YouthBuild students have built 19,000 housing units across the country.
"The Walmart Foundation has played a decisive role in training YouthBuild students for environmentally responsible careers in green construction and green small businesses," said Dorothy Stoneman, president and founder of YouthBuild USA. "The funds from the Walmart Foundation funds enable local YouthBuild programs to reach more young people who are out-of-work and out-of-school, preparing them for jobs and entrepreneurship in the green economy."
YouthBuild students are building green housing by partnering with public housing authorities, community development corporations and other community-based organizations to renovate and weatherize existing housing and by building new affordable homes that are energy and water-efficient while utilizing sustainable materials. YouthBuild homes are increasingly earning high ratings from Energy Star Homes, the U.S. Green Building Council, Green Built, National Association of Home Builders and other local and regional green building associations.
Missouri Prevailing Wage Rates Now in Effect
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), August 15, 2010 - The Missouri Labor Department's Division of Labor Standards has announced that General Wage Order No. 54 is now in effect establishing the new prevailing wage rates for use on all Missouri State Highways and Transportation construction projects.
The prevailing wage is the minimum rate that must be paid to workers on all Missouri State Highways and Transportation construction projects.
The General Wage Order No. 54 contains prevailing wage rates for each county and the city of St. Louis for the following occupations: laborer, truck driver teamster, operating engineer, carpenter, traffic control service driver, cement mason, iron worker, electrician- inside wireman, electrician- outside, and painter.
"The Prevailing Wage Law promotes and protects economic stability, by ensuring that local wages are not undercut by desperate out-of-state workers." says Department of Labor Director Larry Rebman. "It is crucial during these tough economic times that Missouri's tax dollars support local workers that shop and pay taxes in Missouri."
From July of 2009 to July of 2010, the Division received 436 prevailing wage complaints and found 125 violations. Contractors that do not pay the required prevailing wage rates to their workers are subject to $100.00 per day penalty per unpaid worker.
Webster University Included in Forbes Magazine's Ranking of America's Best Colleges
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), August 15, 2010 - Webster University ranks among America's best colleges, according to a report released Wednesday by Forbes magazine. Now in its third year, the ranking is based on five categories that relate to educational quality and the experiences and achievements of students: student satisfaction, postgraduate success, student debt, four-year graduation rate and competitive awards.
According to Forbes, its ranking of the top undergraduate institutions includes 610 schools, or only 9 percent of the 6,600 accredited postsecondary institutions in the United States."Appearing on our list at all is an indication that a school meets a high standard," the magazine said. "While other college rankings are based in large part on school reputation as evaluated by college administrators, we focus on factors that directly concern incoming students."
"We are proud to be included in this prestigious group of schools," said Webster University President Elizabeth (Beth) J. Stroble. "This ranking by Forbes underscores what our students and alumni know - that our focus on global academic excellence and attention to the wide-ranging needs of our students make Webster University an outstanding choice for students in all the communities we serve."
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