re:  Letters to Service Members This Letter to the Editor is from Cindy Erickson, Regional CEO, American Red Cross. This time of year generally brings out the best in people, and we have certainly seen that here at the American Red Cross. Because Service to the Armed Forces is a key mission area for the Red Cross, during the month of November, we asked the community to help send holiday greetings to service members around the world, their families and veterans in homes and hospitals. While a holiday card might sound like a small thing, we hear every year that it means a great deal to those …

The following was submitted as a Letter To The Editor. You can post your own via a Patch Blog. Thirty-five people a day die from cancer in Missouri. One-third of those deaths are directly attributable to tobacco use. That loss of life is tragic -- and it’s preventable. We have a moral imperative to do everything we can to reduce the toll of this devastating disease on families in our state and our country. Missourians have the opportunity Nov. 6 to take direct aim at cancer with a yes vote on Proposition B. The ballot measure would increase the state cigarette tax by 73 cents and invest $283 …

Re: Dave Dickey Band preview Candace, Being still connected  to the big band era, your article was sent to me, which was well written. I am contacted by many  still surviving  musicians from the big band years.. back to 1947....including some leaders. I think the article wrote about Dave Dickey's band was very well done. I wish him  luck, taking on a job of restoring the big band sound. Our country has taken  a bad turn, started by so many things, especially the  start of bad music, the way the younger generation dress, behavior, drugs, leaves alot to be desired. The  years from 1947 , after …

The Hazelwood School District has been committed to supplier and workforce diversity for many years and has implemented policies and procedures to support that commitment.  The Hazelwood Board of Education recognizes the importance of its continuing leadership role in these areas and constantly seeks to improve results regarding its supplier and workforce diversity.  Recent media reports suggest Hazelwood Schools are in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. That is not true. While we have a legal opinion that the Hazelwood School District is in compliance with Title VI, the …

re: Hazelwood Sharks Triumphant in North County Swim Meet I recently discovered the Hazelwood Patch online. I really appreciate all of the articles about Hazelwood, especially the articles about the Hazelwood Sharks Swim Team. My youngest two kids have swam on the team for the past seven seasons, and it is a great group of coaches, parents, and kids. I haven't seen any other articles published about them, so it's been fun for me to read what you've written. I have a clarification to make. Several of the articles mention that most of the Hazelwood West girls and boys swim teams swim for the …

re: Share Volunteer Opportunities and Stories With Patch Readers in Aftermath of Good Friday Storms Hi Candace: I was just reading the Patch article about volunteering or fund raisers for the tornado victims. The students at Russell Elementary are having a hat day today where each student can bring in $1.00 to wear a hat and the money will be donated to the tornado victims.   My children and I live in Ferguson down the street from the church that lost its roof last Friday. The damage around here is incredible. It will never look the same. We were very fortunate that we only lost power. Many …