The Columbia Heart Beat

Local Opinion and Commentary

1) Maestro Kirk Trevor's Gentle Panache
2) Landlord Nuisance Laws "Ineffective, Meaningless" Councilman Says
3) Roper, "Other" lead Hindman, Wade in Mayor's Race Poll
4) Councilman Wade Speaks out on Mediacom Mess
5) HEAR YE! HEAR YE! Local Announcements


1) Maestro Kirk Trevor's Gentle Panache

It's not every day that school age musicians get the chance to study with a real maestro -- a professional conductor that is, who leads orchestras around the world.

That's why my wife and I jumped at the chance to enroll our daughter -- a 6th grade cellist -- in the Missouri Symphony Conservatory's Junior Strings program, directed -- and conducted -- by Kirk Trevor, who has commanded some 40 professional orchestras in 12 countries, from Bern, Switzerland to Indianapolis, Indiana.

The Conservatory's 2009 Spring Concert -- held at the Missouri Theatre April 27 -- featured a quartet of youthful orchestrations: Maestro Trevor leading both the Missouri Symphony's Youth Orchestra and Junior Strings, playing Handel, Dvorak, and Brahms; and Smithton middle school music teacher Melissa Straw conducting the Treblemakers and the Children's Chorus, singing Vivaldi, Handel, and Robert Louis Stevenson.

A frequent guest instructor at Northwestern University who annually gives master conducting classes at the Zurich and Basel Conservatories in Switzerland, Trevor is what our daughter aspires to be -- a classically trained cellist, who graduated from London's Guildhall School of Music.

With those credentials, I might have been concerned that my child was in for too much imperiousness, too great a dose of high-handedness from a demanding prima donna at far too tender an age.

But Trevor has impressed me for years with his leadership of the Missouri Symphony Orchestra, especially during the Missouri Theatre's family-friendly Hot Summer Nights concert series, an inexpensive, musical confection that this summer features Peter the Wolf, Tubby the Tuba, and master jugglers The Gizmo Guys.

"Where in the World of Music is Carmen Sandiego?" a symphonic, edu-taining take on the popular, globe-trotting mystery maven, introduced me to Trevor, who not only commanded the symphony with a steady hand, but also took command -- with a gentle hand -- of an audience filled with children, many of whom had never seen an orchestra before.

Carefully explaining each instrument, and the music it made, Trevor charmed both children and parents, even inviting a couple of young guest conductors (my then 8-year old daughter was one of them) to take a turn with his musical wand.

Columbia is blessed with music educators who specialize in grade school children, retired CPS teacher Ed Hanson chief among them. But Kirk Trevor stands out because he's not a full-time teacher, but rather a full-time practitioner. He came to the U.S. on a Fulbright grant, won the Leonard Bernstein Conducting Competition, and went on to lead the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

A master teacher for the American Symphony Orchestra League and the Conductor's Guild, Trevor also co-founded and has been Artistic Director of the world's largest conducting school -- the International Workshop for Conductors, held in the Czech Republic for a month every summer.

And every year he brings to Columbia a gentle panache: a unique patience in a world of precision, practice, and intense dedication. Our children are lucky to have such a kind introduction to such a powerful art.

RELATED:
http://www.motheatre.org/about_mtca/groups.asp?group_ID=52
http://www.motheatre.org/about_mtca/groups.asp?group_ID=1


2) Landlord Nuisance Laws "Ineffective, Meaningless" Councilman Says

As what he called an "exercise in self reflection for good governance," third ward Columbia city councilman Karl Skala answered parts of our One-Size-Fits-All Candidate Survey this past election cycle. But since he isn't running for re-election until next year, we decided to hold his answers until after the election.

Here are Skala's answers to questions about criminals, landlords, and judges:

Q: What role do you think our courts should play in our struggle with crime? What role do you think local landlords should play in our struggle with crime? How can police be expected to cope if courts and landlords -- if the entire community for that matter -- doesn't also partake in the process?

SKALA: The issue of adding judges and landlords to the criminal justice equation should not be a question of whether but rather should be a question of how. The complete answer to the question involves several actors, i.e., judges, landlords, police and repeat offenders. The role that they each play as a function of their co-dependent relationships not only defines the terms of the equation but also maintains its proper balance.

There is the obvious relationship between repeat offenders and the judges who seem to perpetuate or at least provide ample opportunities for increased recidivism. A potential solution could include e-bracelets and/or house arrest rules with severe, dependable and exception-less sanctions for non-compliance for all repeat offenders. This solution would also positively influence the relationship between the police and those with whom they regularly interact.

There is also the powerful “green” (as in the color of dollars) relationship between landlords and repeat offenders. Even though the City’s nuisance ordinance carries the potential for property forfeiture, this provision has never been enforced, not even once; so much for ineffective disincentives. Perhaps strict landlord licensing would provide an effective and sufficient disincentive.


Q: What can you, as a school board member or city council person, do to encourage our judges, prosecutors, and landlords to reduce crime and keep violent offenders off the street?

SKALA: There is an essential relationship between local elected officials and their constituents that can significantly affect the criminal justice equation solution, especially when considering the apparent disconnect between the city’s recent legal advice regarding nuisance crime and effective law enforcement. If this advice cannot be translated into effective action, perhaps we need to get another legal opinion.

Regardless of the relationship(s) we focus on, we simply must put an end to this “revolving door of meaningless sanctions” and deliver a primary responsibility of local governance, i.e., public safety.


3) Roper, "Other" lead Hindman, Wade in Mayor's Race Poll

Take heart, all ye potential 2010 mayoral wannabes.

Our Columbia Heart Beat online poll has an undefined candidate, aka "Other," leading incumbent Mayor Darwin Hindman 50% to 13% should Hindman run again. "Who Should Run for Columbia Mayor in 2010?" our poll asks, and you've answered with retired banker and Columbia Tribune columnist Bob Roper (22%) leading both Hindman and 4th ward councilman Jerry Wade (13%).

But so far, "Other" is firmly in the lead.

In related polling news, Mayor Hindman enjoys a comparatively dismal 35% job approval rating that puts him in George Bush territory: http://www.pollingreport.com/BushJob.htm

City Manager Bill Watkins isn't far behind, at 31%.


4) Councilman Wade Speaks out on Mediacom Mess

I have been contacted by a number of people upset about the decision by MediaCom to drop KETC (the public TV station from St. Louis) from its offerings.

People need to understand that the City of Columbia has no authority to do anything about Mediacom’s channel selections. This loss of local control is important.

Some of you may remember back in the 1960’s when the telephone company was General telephone and the service had declined and was pretty awful. The franchise renewal was coming up for renewal. A public movement started with the intent of denying a franchise to General Telephone. Public hearings allowed many citizens to present documentation of extremely poor service. General Telephone responded with major commitments to upgrade the service, which they in fact did. That is why Columbia has had pretty decent line telephone service since.

Over the last several legislative sessions, new laws were passed by the Missouri legislature and signed by the governor denying cities from having any say about the communication companies that provide services to a community. It is one expression of the political agenda of the last several sessions to move local control to corporate headquarters so the corporations do not have to deal with individual communities. Another example of the same political agenda is that it is now illegal for a city to offer cable service as a public utility.

People upset about the impending loss of KETC should complain to Mediacom. However, that is not your only recourse. The control is now with the State of Missouri Public Service Commission and the Federal Communications Commission. Letters expressing your concerns should go to them. You may also want to contact the Governor and your state and federal legislators and request returning appropriate local control to communities, where it should be.

Jerry Wade
Columbia City Council
Fourth Ward


5) HEAR YE! HEAR YE! Local Announcements

The Columbia/Boone County Board of Health is collecting public comment regarding future animal control ordinances that will address the overpopulation of unwanted pets. The deadline for comments is today, May 14, 2009. Their blog is: www.boonecountypublichealth.blogspot.com.

Columbia Business Times Entrepreneurial Excellence Week (May 18-20) features a series of free educational opportunities for anyone interested in improving how they do business (marketing, leadership, finances). Register at www.ColumbiaBizAwards.com or contact Sean Spence seanspence@earthlink.net.

This Saturday, May. 16, 4th Ward Councilman Jerry Wade will be at the Rendezvous Coffeehouse from 1:00p to 2:30p to talk to anyone who would like to visit. PLEASE NOTE THE TIME CHANGE. The Rendezvous Coffeehouse is at 3304 Broadway Business Park Ct., which is on the south side of West Broadway west of HyVee. Wade is also available to speak with any Neighborhood Association or any other group on the City Budget. It can be a 20 minute presentation or a 2 hour workshop. If interested, please contact Jerry at ward4@gocolumbiamo.com

Also announced by Councilman Wade:

The public is invited to a groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of Scott Boulevard. The ceremony will be held at 8:30 a.m. Friday, May 22, at the Daniel Boone Little League Field on Scott Boulevard, near Chapel Hill Road. The ceremony kicks off the beginning of street improvements to Scott Boulevard.

The GetAbout Columbia Providence/Stadium and Stadium/Forum intersection projects will be completed May 19, 2009.

Monday, June 8, Special Council meeting – Civilian Review Board report, along with a draft ordinance. The Council vote on the ordinance could be at the June 15th Council meeting or held for a later meeting if Council decides to discuss the issue at a work session.

West Broadway Community Advisory Committee meeting scheduled for 4:30 – 6:00p, Wednesday, May 13 has been rescheduled for 4:30 – 6:00p, Tuesday, June 9 at the ARC, 1701 W. Ash. This is the last meeting of the Committee.

Two Scott Blvd/I-70 Interchange meetings: Stakeholder’s Meeting: Staff/Council/Commission on Tuesday, June 16, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Daniel-Boone Building, fourth floor conference room. Public open house, ARC, Monday, June 22, 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

-- Mike Martin for the Columbia Heart Beat