There is an ambitious five-year plan to help fuel high-growth start-ups and recently area civic and business leaders came together to announce $100 million in venture capital funding to the St. Louis area, in an effort to enhance the region’s rapidly growing entrepreneurial ecosystem and further support high-growth startups.

The St. Louis Fire Department goes way back, like in the 1800’s where Deputy Fire Chief John Altmann’s great grandfather Lt. Alfred Altmann was appointed on July 12, 1895. Deputy Chief’s grandfather Firefighter Frank J. Altmann also was appointed on August 1, 1918. So, Deputy Chief Altmann is a third generation of heroes, and this year, the class of about 16 recruits had their graduation class named after Altmann’s two beloved family members.

For twenty years or more years, former NFL football star and Mizzou Tiger Demetrious Johnson has unselfishly catered to the future leaders of tomorrow. He has accepted teenagers in whatever economic, social and health condition that they have arrived at his front door of the Demetrious Johnson Charitable Foundation on Union near Delmar.

Jefferson City – A Missouri sheriff’s deputy who died in the line of duty during 2012 was remembered this past weekend, along with all Missouri law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty in past years, at a solemn ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda.

North St. Louis — About 135 religious leaders, public health officials and advocates for public interest got an informative dose of climate change and polluted air, and ways to improve clean air quality, and the fact that St Louis is situated in a river valley amid high concentration of pollutants, makes it more challenging for children and seniors suffering from asthma.

This week we had a chance to meet and greet wonderful, athletic and what appeared to be lots of healthy seniors in the near North quarters of St. Louis City, at the very clean and fresh-looking YMCA digs, off of Page, a few blocks west of Union Blvd. This does not mean that they are not taking prescription medications.

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience,but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy,” — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Visual arts organizations and galleries in St. Louis’ Grand Center are collaborating to open, free of charge to the public on the First Friday of each month from 5 to 9 pm. “Visitors will discover the neighborhood’s remarkable array of visual arts at eight venues presenting a broad spectrum of art, all within walking distance of each other,” says Vince Schoemehl, President & CEO of Grand Center, Inc.

Officials of the 13th annual Hardee’s Rise & Shine for Heat fundraiser are seeking adult volunteers to serve as celebrity greeters in area Missouri and Illinois participating Hardee’s restaurants on Friday, February 8, for one hour only, during the breakfast time period somewhere between 6:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.

We were very fortunate to be present for Missouri’s kick-off of numerous celebrations of the life and contributions of civil rights modern giant, the late murdered Nobel Peace winner Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.