Dining John and Helena Valentine had the perfect launch date in mind for their European-themed brewpub in Olivette: Valentine’s Day. The name, Great Heart Brewing welcoming community space by combining traditional German brewing techniques with the charm of Alpine hospitality Here’s what you can look forward to when it opens Friday night Louis Dining In and Dining Out newsletters to stay up-to-date on the local restaurant and culinary scene Great Heart Brewing will showcase four core beer styles—Pilsner and Weissbier—each brewed with traditional natural filtering methods and carefully sourced ingredients “We want people in Olivette to feel like they’re drinking these beers in a cozy beer hall in Germany,” Helena says The couple’s attention to detail extends from the German hops to mimicking the exact water profiles of Munich One key element of authenticity will be the glassware something often overlooked in the U.S. but essential in Germany which enhances the experience,” John explains “We’re bringing that tradition here Each beer will have its glass designed to highlight its specific characteristics.” From Weissbier glasses to Pilsner flutes the Valentines believe that using the right glassware elevates both the beer and the overall drinking experience The brewery will utilize decoction mashing and horizontal lagering both time-honored techniques that contribute to the smoothness and depth of the beers but it adds body and character that’s hard to replicate,” John explains John is currently brewing a Czech Pilsner and a variation on his Helles—Hele’s Helles—named after his wife.   the Valentines have partnered with renowned local chef Jim Fiala and rising culinary star Tim Zenner known for his work at The Crossing and Acero drawing on his deep knowledge of European cuisine will take on the day-to-day execution of the menu ensuring that Great Heart’s kitchen delivers on its vision high-quality ingredients,” Helena says The menu will rotate seasonally and feature local produce to keep regulars coming back for something new Featured items include a smashburger with two 4-ounce Ruth Family Farm’s beef patties and a tallow toasted house-made bun with house-made fries (Of note is that Great Heart does not use any seed oils and cooks only with beef tallow and butter.) Additionally the breads are baked in house using 75-year-old Italian sourdough starter that the Valentines received from an Italian family in Padua “We want the food to match the care we put into our beers—flavors that are approachable but crafted with intention.” At the bottom of the menu is a related sentiment: “Full hearts The 8,000-square-foot space was designed to be warm and communal with glycol-cooled copper serving tanks serving as a focal point and adding a touch of Old World charm the Valentines are focused on creating the welcoming atmosphere they’ve experienced in Germany “We fell in love with the coziness of the beer halls there,” Helena says “It wasn’t just about the beer; it was the feeling of belonging of everyone coming together in a relaxed and welcoming space The project architect, V Three Studios, and branding expert Attilio D’Agostino, principal at Novel, have collaborated to bring that vision to life. “We want Great Heart to be a place where people feel at home,” Helena says. “It’s all about that European coziness.” Opening on Valentine’s Day, Great Heart Brewing is poised to deliver on its promise of exceptional beer and warm hospitality—a perfect pairing for the season of love. Listen Here Listen Here Listen Here Listen Here DINING NEWSLETTERS Subscribe to the St. Louis Dining In and Dining Out newsletters to stay up-to-date on the local restaurant and culinary scene. Start your mornings with a fresh take on the day’s top local news from Sarah Fenske and Ryan Krull. No spam, you can unsubscribe anytime you want. Our award-winning content brings readers revealing profiles Start your mornings with a fresh take on the day’s top local news Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More OLIVETTE, Mo.–St. Louis County unveiled the new Animal Care and Control Adoption Center sign after taking back control of the Olivette animal shelter. The location was run by the APA between December 2022 and Feb but taking care of the animals is a priority and that's that'll be reflected here,” said Dr Despite allegations of a “secret plan” involving shelter-wide euthanasia, the transition of control came without putting animals down according to the County’s Department of Public Health Director, Kanika Cunningham “We're here to celebrate the great work that my team has done over the last 6 months in partnership with APA to get us to this point and now we're ready to launch and move on,” said Cunningham The APA assumed operations of the St. Louis County Pet Adoption center following an audit showing euthanasia numbers at the shelter were manipulated to appear artifically low. There were also concerns with the facilities condition and management Cunningham said multiple positions have been added that previously didn’t exist The staff was 25 of 27 positions filled at the unveiling She said they’d accept applications for the new volunteer program until Feb as people start and they realize it's not what they want then we can call and get more volunteers in that experiences a possibility.," said Cunningham The County’s website has more information about the Pilot Volunteer Program “There's lots of opportunities to help take care of these animals here and help with adoptions,” said Page “Come and volunteer with us and spread the word and we're looking for new homes for some of our pets that have made their way to the animal shelter.” Cunningham said while they worked with the APA over the past six months they were able to develop a different approach to the shelter than the previous administration’s time operating it “I think the biggest change is leading with the socially conscious shelter model That's new for Saint Louis County and I think people hopefully they'll get used to (the) vision and mission I set for the shelter,” said Cunningham it kind of lays the groundwork for building trust with the community also building trust with my staff and volunteers as well.” This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Dale Shuter has donated more than 2,000 hours to the County Animal Care and Control Adoption Center Louis County will no longer welcome volunteers when it resumes control of the shelter in February Shuter became worried that animals would not get their basic needs met “Every major shelter within the metropolitan area has a volunteer program,” Shuter said “Why would someone … turn away free help?” More than 400 volunteers were forced out of their positions and asked to reapply in 2019. In response, two volunteers sued the county, alleging the officials wanted to silence critics of the shelter. In August, county and APA officials announced they were parting ways but did not give a reason for the early split. Then in a public budget meeting last month, the county public health department said that the volunteer program will not continue. Since then, volunteers and animal rights advocates have been speaking out about the decision at county council meetings, through emails to council members and on social media. “I'm very scared,” said Denise Sparrow, who has been a pet rescue volunteer for more than 12 years in Florissant. “I'm very scared that [the shelter] is going to go right back to how it was before.” When the APA took over, the nonprofit turned the shelter around by cleaning and renovating the facility, creating enrichment activities like doggy dates and implementing a foster program. The shelter’s transformation happened in part due to volunteers, said APA CEO Sarah Javier. “We simply could not do this work and have the level of success that we have without their help,” Javier said. The APA employs more than 50 people at the shelter, but it also relies on more than 300 volunteers. So far this year, volunteers have contributed 27,781 hours of labor, according to Javier. Javier has recommended the county continue the volunteer program. She has also been meeting regularly with the St. Louis County Department of Public Health’s leadership to ensure a smooth transition on Feb. 21. That has included sharing volunteer applications, training materials and job descriptions. “My hope is that they will find a way to implement [the volunteer program], if not right in the beginning, hopefully very soon because I think that is one way that the animals really thrive,” Javier said. Department of Public Health Director Kanika Cunningham said she hears the concerns from volunteers but says the shelter will not “look the same as it did in the past.” Volunteers will be welcomed back, she said, without saying when. “There's a lot that we need to do. I don't think that it will be fair to volunteers to bring them back into an environment in which we're trying to get ourselves on board, get ourselves up and running,” Cunningham said. But, current volunteers say the shelter would benefit from volunteers in the transition period. “The idea that staff will be able to be onboarded and trained and introduced to the culture of the workplace, all while trying to care for upwards of 300 animals without any additional support — it doesn't make any sense to me,” said Jenny Agnew, who volunteered from 2018 to 2019. The shelter will have 54 employees, Cunningham said, including an adoption specialist, a volunteer manager, a volunteer coordinator and 27 animal control officers. Those officers will have more responsibilities and will divide their time between the shelter and the streets. “We will have enough coverage to make sure that work is getting done,” Cunningham said. Eventually, Cunningham plans to add a prison foster program that “blend community needs with pet needs” and outreach programs that address public health issues such as mental health and substance abuse. But for now, the priority has to remain the animals, advocates say. “What are we doing for the animals? That's the most important role in the shelter — animal care,” Agnew said. “And if you don't have volunteers there to support that care, you're missing that most critical piece of the puzzle.” Ever since selling his FroYo shops several years ago to focus on his restaurant, Nami Ramen, Jason Jan daydreamed about getting back into the frozen dessert business. The dream has become a reality at dohmo (9538 Olive) whimsical alternative to the traditional ice cream and dessert shop What makes dohmo different is its focus on customization: Using a special blending machine guests can concoct their own personalized ice cream flavors using a wide range of mix-in ingredients The shop also offers freshly made taiyaki waffles and several “series” of teas Dohmo—a play on the Japanese word “domo,” which translates to the English “very”—is based around a special ice cream blender that allows guests to design their dream flavors from an assortment of options then watch as their desserts are made to order and dispensed right before their eyes. Then with the push of a button rinsing and sanitizing the mixing cone so it’s ready for the next dessert.   “Say you come in and would like fresh strawberries and chocolate chips the next person comes in and wants coffee and pistachio The idea is for customers to choose their own combinations for a personalized experience.” Guests can order in person at the counter or by using an order kiosk Online ordering is an option as well but “gets a little tricky because it’s ice cream and it’s made-to-order,” Jan says it only takes about two minutes to complete an order The sky’s the limit when it comes to flavors says Jan. Guests begin by selecting a base—vanilla or a non-dairy coconut option—and then choose two or more mix-ins The mix-ins range from fruits such as berries There are also Asian-inspired options With around “30 mix-ins to start,” Jan notes “the combinations are practically endless.” there’s a diverse menu of a dozen specialty creations inspired by Jan’s family favorites including The GOAT (vanilla ice cream with cheesecake bites The Vibe (white chocolate raspberry truffle ice cream with white chocolate chips) and Matcha Matcha (green tea matcha ice cream with mocha bites) Additional choices include ingredients not found at other local ice cream shops such as speculoos (spiced gingerbread shortbread cookies) CrumbOlé Otto Caramel (caramel biscotti) and Krocco Milk Arabeschi (chocolate cereal crunch) Guests can enjoy their ice cream in one of three ways: a large bowl garnished with two Pocky sticks (chocolate- and fruit cream-dipped biscuit sticks); as a kid-size bowl topped with a taiyaki fish (Japanese-style waffle) placed tail up; or as a milkshake served with an extra-wide straw made to order from traditional mochi flour, are also available as a standalone snack or with a variety of sweet and savory fillings Dohmo also features an extensive drink menu curated by Yen Luu The selection includes 25 beverages divided into five series: milk tea Customers can further customize their drinks by adding boba (tapioca pearls) or jellies the latter being a lighter alternative to boba “Boba tea is becoming more popular everywhere,” Luu explains “but we wanted to take a different approach” to what she describes as a “liquid dessert” experience Dohmo occupies a corner space in a new strip center in Olivette, with seating for 30 inside and a patio seating half that number. SPACE Architects + Designers oversaw both the branding and store design a visually appealing aesthetic that emphasizes the machines and customization aspect of the concept “We kept the interior bright and neutral to best show off the back wall of colorful toppings,” says SPACE co-owner and designer Shelley Niemeier “We positioned the ice cream mixers on the back counter and the taiyaki makers on the front counter so guests can watch the little fish-shaped waffles being made.” Jan sees dohmo as an interactive experience and he wanted the design to capture that concept “The machines are in full view of the customer so they can observe the entire process,” says Jan “We wanted dohmo to entertain people from start to finish.” “Ice cream brings smiles and happiness,” says Jan. “That’s what I’ve always loved about the industry, and it’s why I want to return to it—seeing family and friends come together over food makes this a joyful business to be in.” Louis County employee alleges the county health director instructed her to lie in response to a Sunshine Law request Louis Public Radio that she immediately rejected the proposal Rhonda Belics, who filed suit against Cunningham and the county in St said her duties included helping respond to Sunshine Law requests Belics said she filed an internal complaint against Cunningham in September after Cunningham instructed Belics to lie and say the euthanasia proposal did not exist Cunningham insisted that she search Belics’ car while a security guard watched The search was done in front of other employees and was “directly related to Plaintiff’s refusal to respond falsely to a Sunshine request,” Belics said Belics said she resigned from her 15-year employment with the county Louis County spokesperson said that Belics’ claims were without merit and that she’d invited Cunningham to “observe items inside her trunk” several times after being accused of taking things from the county and putting them in her car before office hours violation of Missouri Sunshine Whistleblower status and civil conspiracy She is asking for an unspecified amount of damages is also bringing a suit against the county and Cunningham on behalf of Lisa Pearse for allegedly denying there was no record to turn over in response to the Sunshine Law request This story has been updated with a statement from St the Animal Protective Association will lock up at its animal shelter in Olivette The changeover is raising anxiety among local animal lovers Animal advocates' fears that the shelter would fall back into its old ways under the purview of the county spiked earlier this month. A lawsuit filed in St Louis County Circuit Court alleged that the county had a secret plan to use mass euthanasia to control the population at the shelter The three-page document has been shared widely on social media It details a proposed contingency plan that would begin after the APA departs that includes mass euthanasia to lower the shelter’s population “Full shelter euthanasia is not necessary but could be implemented” if the shelter has too many animals The document describes different scenarios in which euthanasia could be implemented such as animals being in the shelter too long dogs that bite and animals showing signs of stress “Keeping a low population will be key to success,” it reads later including that a no-kill policy is “unattainable.” “We were unaware that a plan of this nature existed just like the rest of the community,” said Sarah Javier we were very dismayed and upset and disappointed that this would even be a consideration as a way to operate a shelter.” Javier said the county has told her it won’t use the plan spokesperson for the Department of Public Health after this article was initially published that the contingency document was only “a suggestion and immediately dismissed as an option” rather than “an officially adopted plan.” The proposal did go in front of Cunningham and the executive leadership team the APA has worked to create a 450-page transition document that includes explanations of how the nonprofit runs the shelter The organization has also provided some training and showing opportunities for county employees “My understanding is that it is the county's intention to operate the shelter in much the same way that the APA has over the past two years utilizing the operational playbook that we put together for them,” Javier said Some of the county’s planning for the transition happened at the last minute according to a source close to the matter who spoke to St Louis Public Radio on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly Dayley said that the county has been planning for the transition since the change was first announced and that it only received the APA’s document in January “two-thirds of the way through the transition we continued to work towards the transition.” On Thursday, the county announced that it was opening applications for a pilot volunteer program. An announcement last year that the volunteer program as it existed under the APA would be paused drew criticism from current and past volunteers It harkened back to a dark moment from before the APA took over operations when volunteers were similarly let go in 2019 And the county’s contingency plan does include no volunteers and no adoptions for six to eight months The problem with no volunteers and no adoptions is that there would be no outside eyes on how the shelter is being run Agnew was one of the volunteers let go in 2019 “All people are thinking about right now is that whatever animals are left when the APA leaves [today] that they're going to be euthanized,” she said “This is a shelter that has a history of duping the public … So the administration has to work really hard to get people to gain good faith and trust and confidence.” The only way to do that is to let them inside Louis Public Radio on Friday that adoptions would not stop and that the volunteer program would be open to anyone she added that the county could not continue to run the APA’s volunteer program because it didn’t have “the necessary infrastructure and staff.” “Without the APA playbook for the first four months of the transition process the department developed a new volunteer manual and application process to ameliorate issues that plagued the program in 2019,” she wrote the APA is trying to adopt out as many pets as possible before the changeover and will be transferring many pets to its Brentwood location after Friday the shelter will waive adoption fees this weekend “Taking over an operation when the shelter is full of pets can be really “By doing adoptions and placing pets into foster homes or transferring them to other shelters we reduce the number of animals that are in this facility which really gives the county an opportunity to come in with with a lower census and sort of acclimate to the environment so they can operate more effectively.” No animals were euthanized over the weekend To see the APA’s adoptable pets, visit apamo.org. This story has been updated with additional comments from St. Louis County spokesperson Sarah Dayley. Bristol Seafood Grill The lobster bisque might even have healing powers (Tip: The happy hour’s among the best in town.) 11801 Olive Cobalt Smoke & Sea The Creve Coeur restaurant’s menu spans land and sea with selections ranging from burnt cioppino to braised lamb shank Crushed Red and convivial; the ingredients are flawless and delicious Dohmo  You’ll want to make an entire meal out of dessert at this innovative ice cream spot in Olivette What makes Dohmo different is its emphasis on customization; instead of choosing from premade selections guests are able to build their own flavors thanks to a special blending machine Gulf Shores Restaurant & Grill The atmosphere is New Orleans–meets–college bar—but with better food And live music and daily drink specials add to the fun Il Bel Lago Among West County’s upscale formal Italian restaurants Il Bel Lago is consistently one of the best La Bonne Bouchée Layali Halab Before coming to the United States roughly a decade ago Together with his business partner Mustafa Mustafa he’s brought a taste of his home country to Creve Coeur with incredible Middle Eastern dishes like kabobs falafel and a variety of other Syrian specialties Nudo House you’ll find a happy fusion of the noodle dish’s classic version mixed with innovative riffs Try a pho dip with a banh mi sandwich or a traditional miso pork ramen Oats & Honey Cafe This delightful daytime spot from the people behind the popular Tex-Mex spot Las Fuentes combines classic American breakfast staples with Mexican favorites Dishes range from divorced eggs and birria benedict to butter pecan pancakes and avocado toast Olivette Diner You’re wedged into a time warp at this diner where eggs are always flawlessly cooked and biscuits are draped with a creamy mantle of gravy The Pasta House Co. Louis pasta chain has been a go-to for favorite Italian dishes Poke Munch It’s like lunch in Hawaii—minus all the tourists fresh seafood is tossed with crisp vegetables and served over rice The options make for nearly endless combinations The Post Sports Bar and Grill This haven for sports fans has an extensive appetizer menu “Post-Its,” the restaurant’s signature appetizer come in three varieties: garlic cheese bread bites The Reserve Restaurant & Lounge This casually elegant American eatery offers diners an elevated bar and grill experience ranging from sandwiches and burgers to seafood and steaks Craft cocktails and a great bourbon list make The Reserve the total package The Shack Omelets and skillets lead the breakfast menu; lunch features piled-high sandwiches Sugarfire Smoke House Sugarfire boasts inventive dishes as well as well-executed versions of the barbecue classics like ribs pulled pork and positively exquisite turkey with patrons eating daily specials off metal trays Timothy’s the Restaurant This “fine casual” neighborhood restaurant hits all the right notes: small affordable menu; solid drinks and exceptional wines; and superb The perfect meal here consists of the lobster pot pie and a tableside flambéed desert for a dramatic finish Top Sushi Sashimi aficionados have this modest eatery on their GPS speed-dials Tradicional 314 Mexican. Colors and taste both come alive here in vibrant fashion. Flavors intensify in chiles poblano, Sinaloan aguachile, and mozzarella enveloped grilled tilapia. The selection of tequilas and mezcals is impressive. 810 N. New Ballas, 314-736-1651. $$ Jason Main’s journey with The Wine Merchant (9200 Olive) has come full circle with the addition of a wine bar a concept he’d dreamed of long before buying the Clayton-based shop and subsequently moving it to Olivette in August 2023 but with specialty cheeses now more widely available he thought a wine bar would be a more prudent use of the space the idea was a “back to the future” moment “Drinking wine with people is the most enjoyable part of my job,” he says delighted to open a space dedicated to that very experience The 14-seat space offers a rotating selection of wines by the glass plus an assortment of higher-end and vintage selections dating back to 2004 guests can try these vintage wines by the 2-ounce pour an affordable introduction to higher-priced wines pricing remains straightforward: retail price on anything in the shop plus a 15 percent corkage fee and that fee is waived for customers who purchase a random six-pack—and with several thousands of bottles on hand Customers are free to buy and consume beer as well “I can see drinking a bottle of wine “shifting gears just to keep the party going.” While the wine bar isn’t focused on food guests have informal cheese and charcuterie options what Main calls “simple bites to keep the palate fresh.” The emphasis is on ease and accessibility Main is open to guests bringing in their own food or ordering from nearby restaurants “Stop by Sugarfire for some brisket or a smoked turkey sandwich and order wine accordingly,” he says Education has always been central to Main and The Wine Merchant Staff are always ready to answer questions and help people discover new wines creating what Main describes as “a mini-class just for the asking.” Unlike many other wine establishments where a sommelier might be stretched thin Main and his team want guests to feel at ease asking for guidance “Even if a place has a great sommelier on staff you can’t commandeer their time,” he explains which held its grand opening last weekend a casual spot to unwind with a glass of wine after work or on the way to dinner so late afternoon and early evening is the sweet spot,” he says has continued to grow and remains a key part of the shop’s business model Offering two membership tiers—basic and reserve—Main says that the club aims to be “high value for the customer members get 15 percent off additional bottles Sales associate and educator Claire Augustine notes that wine club members are among their most devoted patrons “The wine club is our biggest customer,” she says The wine bar is the latest chapter in The Wine Merchant’s story The addition reflects his passion for creating a place where guests can unwind and discover new favorites in an atmosphere that’s as approachable as it is refined Start your mornings with a fresh take on the day’s top local news from Sarah Fenske and Ryan Krull LOUIS COUNTY–A lawsuit filed on Monday on behalf of a St alleged the Department of Public Health knowingly violated Missouri’s Sunshine Law The Animal Protective Association (APA) currently operates the Olivette animal shelter but will relinquish operations to Saint Louis County’s Animal Care and Control program later this month.  According to the lawsuit filed by Mark Pedroli his plaintiff requested the “Contingency or Transition Plan” for the Olivette shelter via the Freedom of Information Act in late August 2024 the department wrote back twice denying a record of a plan existed we have no records responsive to your request,” replied an agent for the County and the director responded “There is not a responsive record for your request did indeed exist and was purposefully not provided to Plaintiff because the record was considered highly controversial,” stated Pedroli within the lawsuit Pedroli further alleges the department was motivated to keep the plans quiet to avoid the controversy of shelter-wide euthanasia The defendants face four counts related to violating the Sunshine Law and a jury trial is demanded in the lawsuit Sam Page refuted the allegations against the county and Public Health Director Dr Cunningham has never considered shelter wide euthanasia at the animal shelter as part of taking operations later this month,” said Page Cunningham for comment during Wednesday morning but has yet to hear back The APA will continue to operate the Olivette shelter through the end of its contract on February 21 Saint Louis County’s Animal Care and Control program will take over operation on February 22 furthering the opportunities for people to adopt or foster pets from the shelter A popular program will be returning under new management “One thing that I’m excited to announce is that Dr Cunningham will soon offer details for the volunteer pilot program at the animal shelter,” said Page Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter E-edition PLUS unlimited articles & videos Personalized news alerts with our mobile app *Refers to the latest 2 years of stltoday.com stories Please subscribe to continue reading… an employee of the Animal Protective Association plays with Fluffie during a break on Tuesday The APA turned over control of the shelter back to the county later that week Louis County officials scoffed at a lawsuit alleging that a secret transition plan suggested widespread euthanasia at the county animal shelter The chief of the county’s health department called the suit “maliciously false” and said her executive leadership team had “never considered a shelter wide euthanasia policy.” But a health department staffer did write such a transition plan according to records obtained by the Post-Dispatch The plan indeed calls for “shelter wide” euthanasia And it was sent to multiple top health department staffers “While euthanasia is never a subject anyone likes to talk about,” the plan says “it’s important to remember that animal control is a division of the Department of Public Health animal control has to make decisions on animals based on the safety of the public in mind.” at APA Olivette Adoption Center in Olivette Adoption fees at the center were waved this week in hopes that all animals can be adopted before Friday when the facility comes under control of St The three-page plan calls itself a “contingency,” to be put in place when the Animal Protective Association which has contracted with the county to run the Baur Boulevard shelter for two years passes operations back to the county — a transition now slated for Friday The plan says “a shelter wide euthanasia should be implemented,” allowing “limited” county staff to start with low animal numbers county officials acknowledged existence of the plan They said it was written by operations manager Lee Jackson to help with the shelter’s transition back to the county she said “no way,” said health department spokeswoman Sara Dayley “Never would she support what Lee suggested,” Dayley said in an email Jackson did not respond to requests for comment APA chief Sarah Javier said on Tuesday that there are about 100 animals left at the shelter The nonprofit never uses euthanasia for population control euthanasia is a last resort and it is a decision that is made by multiple qualified people when we’ve exhausted every other option and an animal truly is suffering,” Javier said Animal advocates have long worried about the Olivette shelter which limits euthanasia to 10% of the population But an audit later revealed the shelter had fudged kill rates kept animals longer than necessary and couldn’t control infectious disease because of overcrowding exits the adoption center to take Angel on a walk on Tuesday Two years later, the APA declared it had engineered a “dramatic” turnaround it would turn management back to the county by early 2025 Louis County resident Lisa Pearse requested a county staffer responded saying there were no records relevant to the request Local lawyer Mark Pedroli sued on behalf of Pearse The lawsuit broke the news that the county had a secret plan recommending shelter-wide euthanasia “The Department of Public Health has adopted a socially conscious sheltering philosophy My focus will be getting as many animals in our care either reunited with their families fostered or adopted,” she said in a statement a volunteer with the Animal Protective Association The APA turned over the shelter back to the county later that week County Executive Sam Page also lambasted the accusations Cunningham has never considered shelter wide euthanasia at the animal shelter as part of taking back operations later this month,” he said none of the officials publicly said the record didn’t exist Records now show that Jackson, the operations manager, sent the plan on Aug. 22, the same day the APA announced to donors it was ending its contract with the county His email went to health department division director Carole Baskin administrative services manager Natalie Fiala and public health coordinator Madeline Friedmann The plan outlines how the county would keep the shelter “running effectively and efficiently” once the APA departed “The focus should remain on the care of the animals within the community and shelter as well as the public and their safety,” the plan says APA Olivette Adoption Center employee Kristina Walker lets Cherub nip at her fingers after she placed the puppy in a sweater on Tuesday the APA told donors in an email that the county hadn’t shared its plans for operating the shelter But the email said the APA provided a manual to the county with hundreds of pages outlining “how the APA successfully turned around and operated the county shelter over the past two years detailed procedures and critical program information.” on Tuesday said the county intended to follow it The nonprofit has also trained county staff and had county staff shadow APA employees it was waiving adoption fees ahead of the transition placing animals with foster families and transferring animals to other shelters and rescue groups the APA opened the Olivette shelter to the media there were 107 animals left in the building Volunteers took them out for walks in the frigid cold An employee put a sweater on a wiggly puppy The APA plans to try to get as many animals out of the shelter as possible The organization has relocated 5,529 animals since it took over operations in December 2022 “It is our goal to help every adoptable pet to get out of the shelter,” Javier said “before we transition operations back to St looks for a dog to take on a walk on Tuesday The adoption center is set to change hands on Friday and come under the control of St Pictured here is the outside of the current APA Olivette Adoption Center that will go under control of St The center is set to come under control of St feeds a treat to Baby Ruth on her morning walk on Tuesday The facility is staffed with employees and volunteers to walk and play with animals throughout the day Despite being closed someone has to take care of the dogs and cats at the Humane Society of Missouri Several staff members and volunteers braved the snow on Thursday 2022 to take care of the animals in the shelter's care Adoption center director Anne Vincent urges community members to call their animal abuse hotline if they are concerned about an animal's welfare during extreme winter weather Video by Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com Email notifications are only sent once a day APA chief Sarah Javier said in the note that she and the organization's staffers are "deeply dismayed that a plan The application comes as the county prepares to take back operations of the shelter from the Animal Protective Association on Friday "Every question we have asked has been answered honestly," said Dale Shuter a longtime shelter volunteer who has previously criticized county… Louis County stopped paying for costs such as meals The Animal Protective Association quit soon after Public Health Director Kanika Cunningham and St Louis County are being sued by former health department employee Louis County released the recording of a conversation between health Director Dr Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Olivette residents who oppose a plan for a medical marijuana farm hold signs outside a city building ahead of a city council vote on the issue on Tuesday LOUIS COUNTY — An effort to ban recreational pot sales in two suburbs here went up in smoke Tuesday after failing to garner enough support from voters But the measure needed at least 60% approval from city voters to pass a ban failed to get even a simple majority approval the cities would have been the first Missouri communities to outlaw sale of adult-use marijuana within city limits since voters legalized it statewide in 2022 State law bars cities from banning sales of marijuana for medical use but it allows cities the option to have residents vote on banning recreational marijuana sales during November presidential elections It requires at least 60% of city voters approve such a ban This year was the first opportunity to try Leaders in both cities put the question on the ballot at the behest of dozens of residents who claimed dispensaries would be too close to residential neighborhoods and bring odor previously voted to put the question on the November ballot — but then reversed the decision after finding sales tax revenues were benefiting two drug-prevention and treatment programs a city of about 15,000 residents between Rolla and Springfield would not have barred marijuana dispensaries from locating in either city But a ban would have limited dispensaries to selling only to adults with state-issued licenses to use the drug for medicinal purposes Recreational marijuana was legalized in November 2022 with the support of 53% of Missouri voters dozens of recreational marijuana dispensaries have opened across the St including several in cities neighboring both Des Peres and Olivette cities also set regulations on both medical and recreational pot businesses’ locations and operations including limiting them to locations more than 1,000 feet away from homes N'Bliss cannabis dispensary joined others on Friday in the first sales of adult recreational marijuana products in Missouri. Video by Christian Gooden, cgooden@post-dispatch.com LOUIS COUNTY — New segments of a 17-mile trail planned from Forest Park to St Charles County are moving closer to completion in two neighboring mid-county cities are the latest extensions of the Centennial Greenway bicycle and wheelchair path planned from Forest Park to Creve Coeur Lake Park and the Katy Trail in St The Centennial is part of the region’s trail network under construction by the Great Rivers Greenway which develops and operates the region’s trail infrastructure state and federal agencies to build segments of the system one at a time but the latest progress in Olivette and Creve Coeur are major steps for the Centennial “There’s a lot of action happening and a lot of momentum,” said Ann Milford “And it would not be possible without the communities working together to plan regionally and bring these projects to life.” The latest progress includes two segments in Olivette and two segments in Creve Coeur the Greenway will connect Shaw Park in Clayton and Ruth Park in University City to Warson Park in Olivette and Lindbergh Boulevard and Schuetz Road in Creve Coeur Great Rivers cleared a major hurdle to building the Greenway in Olivette when it received federal approval to purchase former Union Pacific Railroad land in December after 6 years of negotiations with the company and federal transit authorities The trail district paid $695,000 to buy a three-quarter-of-a-mile stretch of former railroad tracks there The land was identified by Olivette as a preferred route for the Centennial extension but the transaction had to be approved by the Surface Transportation Board an independent federal agency that regulates trains and train tracks is under construction and will open to visitors May 3 The 1.3 mile path provides users access to Indian Meadows Park Warson Park and the city’s new community center there officials recently approved a funding agreement to extend the Centennial from Warson Road through the city’s 39 North Agtech Innovation District to Lindbergh Boulevard and Schuetz Road The Creve Coeur City Council last week approved an agreement with Great Rivers to build part of the Greenway from Baur Boulevard west across Lindbergh Boulevard to Schuetz Road The $7.7 million project includes $3 million in funding from Great Rivers and officials are applying for $4.5 million in federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program grant funding for the rest The city received a separate CMAQ grant in late 2024 to help fund construction of another segment from Warson Road to Baur Boulevard Construction is expected to begin in 2026 and be completed by 2028 Post-Dispatch photographers capture hundreds of images each week; here are just some photos from February 2025 The Christian Brothers of the Midwest plan to sell the property after decades of welcoming Catholic parish and school groups Louis Zoo lost nearly $1 million amid the Trump administration's funding cuts Completion of the Old Courthouse renovations caps over a decade of work to revamp and reimagine the Gateway Arch National Park and Kiener Plaz… The person visited the aquarium on April 30 between 1 and 6 p.m The shelter is closing to prevent a potential outbreak of parvovirus Home » Entertainment » Fallon’s Bar in Olivette Reviewed by STL Restaurant Review OLIVETTE, MO (STL.News) St. Louis Restaurant Review published a review of Fallon’s Bar & Grill, located at 9200 Olive Blvd, Suite 116, in Olivette It is ranked among the best Irish pubs in the St According to St. Louis Restaurant Review, the owners are Chris Whitworth and Dan Schultz.  Whitworth manages the Ellisville, MO Schultz says there are no plans to open additional locations due to the difficulty of hiring staff It has been stated that they have the most extensive Irish whiskey selection in Missouri and they have a club where once you try all 70 brands you get a personalized whisky barrel for free Louis Restaurant Review based on our experiences at Fallon’s Bar & Grill But they get it right because they follow the significant online ratings and reviews Average Rating – 4.44 Stars – averaging across five platforms Facebook is not included in the average because it does not have ratings and reviews activated ABWC Report: 10 Extreme Water Disasters in 10 Days Strain Economies Across the Nation and… Tyshion Nautese Hicks was sentenced to three years for her role in a scheme to… Department of Labor released the Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims for the Week Ending… STL.News is intended to be interpreted as “States Top Leading News.” We are located in St but our publication has readers from across the globe With our weekly newsletter packed with the latest in everything food Owner Calvin Koong prepares a bowl of soup in the kitchen at the Taiwanese restaurant Tai Ke on the south side of Olive Blvd. on Thursday, March 29, 2018, in University City. A diverse set of businesses line both sides of Olive Blvd. between I-170 and McKnight Rd. The area is being sought after by a developer. Photo by Chris Lee, clee@post-dispatch.com OLIVETTE — The man charged in the shooting of his girlfriend at Ameristar Casino is the owner of the acclaimed Olivette restaurant Tai Ke Shabu Shabu Calvin Hsien Kuang Koong, 50, is charged with first-degree domestic assault, kidnapping and armed criminal action in the Saturday shooting of the woman Susan Shields on Tuesday said the victim is still in critical condition but is “alert and communicative” (though not yet talking) Koong is being held on a $500,000 cash bond is one of two organizers listed in the original articles of organization filed for Tai Ke in 2014 with the Missouri Secretary of State office Koong was also named as Tai Ke’s owner in a document filed in 2020 with the Missouri Secretary of State Tai Ke opened in 2015 at 8604 Olive Boulevard in University City in late 2020 to 9626 Olive Boulevard in Olivette A call to Tai Ke Shabu Shabu went unanswered on Tuesday (The restaurant is regularly closed on Tuesdays.) Louis through the Post-Dispatch photographers' lenses Charles County officials say they are going on a salary offensive amid what they describe as an ongoing "war for talent" among city and co… “We have decided a move is just not feasible for us,” the Tuesday post reads Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device.