Velocity serves up bikes and bites

By Mia Watkins
Crossroads College Preparatory School

There's something new brewing at the corner of Forest Park Parkway and DeBalivere Avenue. There's a corner coffee shop that includes bike repairs and rentals along with their menu of sandwiches and paninis. Velocity Cafe and Cyclery is far from your traditional coffee shop.

Susan Gyorog, manager of Velocity, was inspired by her neighborhood to establish her business.

"We've been open exactly a year, and the reason that I thought of it is that I live in the neighborhood, and I love to bicycle. I wanted to open a bike shop," she said. "I researched this more. I realized that you couldn't make a living with a bike shop alone. I thought, 'What goes well with bikes?' Coffee," she said, laughing.

Velocity Cafe and Cyclery is a unique cafe near Forest Park that customers love. In addition to coffee, the shop offers organic snacks and sandwiches along with bike services. 

"This area, I thought, could use a good cafe...it's hard, it's really hard,” Gyorog said. “You have to have your mind in two different places all the time. It takes different skills."   

Traci Young, a frequent customer, said the shop has great food. The location is also convenient, she said.

"I usually chill out to study, but I do bike,” she said. “I don't use their bikes. I do come ask them questions about bikes." 

Besides the nearby residents, many other customers come from Washington University. 

"Lots of college people that come in here are regulars," said Pat Grosch, a barista. "Also, people from the neighborhood that come in for their morning coffee and the Wi-Fi we have here," Grosch said, referring to the wireless service for computers.  

"I feel like it’s a one-stop shop. I also feel like the cyclists like to drink coffee. So when they're waiting for their bike to get fixed, they can have a cup of coffee. It's like killing two birds with one stone." 

About 17 people work at Velocity. Some of the workers devote their time to either the coffee shop or bike repair shop, while others do a little of both.  

Eric Zibbel, one of the baristas, does double duty. "It’s more or less split," he said, describing how he does his job. 

On the other hand, Justin Wash spends most of his time repairing bikes.

"It gives you something to do with your hands besides sitting behind a desk all day," he said.  

Starting a new business in these difficult economic times can be a challenge, but Gyorog was willing to take a chance.  

"Well, we've only been open a year, and so, we opened just as the economy was collapsing,” she said. “And so, I don't know how it would've been if we had opened at a different time. However, I projected that we would have twice the business that we have. So, we do not have as much business as we need." 

The future for Velocity is uncertain. But for now, Gyorog plans to just keep on rolling.
                                                     

Is the government giving the right people welfare?

By Akpedje Dick-Blewoussi
Roosevelt High School

Someone I know has two children and lives in Missouri. She has a nice and happy life. I think she can work but she never does. She has all the physical, financial and moral help from the government and the church. I believe she does not deserve or need it.

This woman lives in St. Louis. She gets food stamps and cash every month. She is a participant in the Women Infant Children's (WIC) program, which is a program that helps mothers and pregnant teens pays for day care, groceries and other needs. She needs transportation to go to the WIC programs, government offices, hospital and school, so the government gives her money for this because she says she can’t afford a car.

She has Medicaid insurance from the government for her children. Even though she has all that help from the government, members of her church help her with money, food, clothes and transportation when she is in need.

I think she can afford all that herself. Her job pays her $3,000 a week.

But she's not the only one.

It's a common problem because a lot of people believe they have to take advantage of the welfare the government provides, according to Stephen Anderson a liaison for the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, or GEAR UP.

If someone finds a job, the government will cut their insurance coverage, according to Quenshay Ramsey, a social worker with the St. Louis Public Schools.

The U.S is losing more children to poverty every five years than it lost soldiers (58,226) during the Vietnam War. Every day, 2,660 children are born into poverty, and 27 die because of it , according to Hearts & Minds, a social agency that tracks information about poverty.

Welfare systems should allow people to receive the benefits they need, but also work at the same time to improve their equality of life, said Ramsey, a social worker.

"As a kid, I was taught how to get welfare growing up," Anderson said.

I asked Ramsey and Anderson how they would define welfare:

Ramsey: “Welfare was developed to be a good concept, however, it has changed over the years and has made people dependent.”

Anderson: “Welfare is an economical assistance that comes from the government to help low-income families in housing, child support, utilities, health care and education.”

In tough times, yard sales provide shopping options

By Joycelynn Granderson
Hazelwood Central High School

The people of Clifton Heights participate in the annual neighborhood yard sale for the enjoyment but some of the shoppers come out of necessity due to the current state of the economy.

For the past five years, the residents have organized the event, which includes several residents hosting yard sales at the same time.

"Neighborhood yard sales are great," said Patrick Cerutti, one of the sellers. "They create a sense of togetherness."

Many Clifton Heights residents say they believe having multiple yard sales at the same time brings in more customers as opposed to having one.

Grace, who provided only her first name, is a frequent yard sale shopper who has been going for three years, three times a month.

"I am what you would consider poor," She said. "I lost my home and now live in a one-room apartment and I work part time. I come because I cannot afford to buy new." 
 
While many Americans are simply cutting back, she is supporting herself through yard sales like the one in Clifton Heights.

"You can find great things at yard sales," Grace said. "I mostly look for kitchen items and clothing but people surprisingly have a lot of things that they like to get rid of. Most of it's new things that they don't use and it's a great deal." 

There are many reasons for having a yard sale. “I just do this to get rid of old stuff,” Cerruti said.

Yard sales may feel like getting rid of something deemed unusable, but to a shopper it is the same as stepping into the nearest department store and buying the latest design. In this economy, yard sales are a great option. For people like Grace, it is the easiest way to relieve the financial burden that the economy has placed on them. 

Bulk shopping steady despite shaky spending

By Ryan Green
Christian Brothers College High School

Shoppers have always bought in bulk and might be continuing to do so even more in this tough economy.

"Yes there has been an increase in business in the past year," said Keith Emms, 41, club manager of the Sam's Club in Maplewood Commons. "When you buy in bulk you get a better price," Emms said.

Emms has been working in retail for 24 years. During that time he has seen that the majority of the stores sales have been coming from food, instead of non-essential luxury items.

But in the current economy, he has seen changes. For example the store has been taking food stamps since the beginning of February.

Also alcohol sales are up. Emms says that the reason for this could be that more people are staying in to have a good time, instead of going out.

The club has also faced some difficulties. This year the club had to curtail the sale of some items, such as Halloween decorations, or other minor items. The club has also changed the main display arrangement from high priced items to more consumer friendly items.

Emms says that his store should be in good standing despite the economy because of the stability of the company, and that its members know name brand recognition.

Sam's Club member Evonne Thompson, 50, says that buying in bulk does save her money, but finds that she can’t buy groceries from stores like Dierbergs and Schnucks because they can be too costly.

Shopper Ed Migneco, 50, buys from Sam's for his business, and usually does find the difference in buying bulk.

For Emms keeping shoppers like Thompson and Migneco happy is key. Small business owners comprise 58 percent of the stores members, while 42 percent are consumers.

The majority of the stores sales are made on food, Emms said. And that should help the store even in rough economic times.

"Because of the economy, a lot of folks aren't getting paid as much as they were before," Emms said. However, because people have to eat, buying food comes before everything else.

Job fairs no sure thing for the unemployed

By Alisiana Peters
McCluer North High School

As unemployment rates rise due to the economy, more companies are turning to job fairs  to find qualified workers. But one job fair organizer said the fairs are not always a good resource for job seekers. 

"The problem is that a greater part of those who are putting on career fairs are doing so for the purpose of generating revenue, rather than actually connecting employer to potential employee,” said Matthew LaPlant, of Ameriprise Financial Services, which hosted the Community Career Fair in October. 

“Their goal is to get as many high profile companies, whether they are actually hiring for positions beyond mail clerk or not, to attend."

"I believe that the bulk of those in attendance are over-qualified for the positions at career fairs," LaPlant said. "The average career fair provides little help with the exception of networking possibilities to those who are unemployed." 

Dominique Joseph,  who has attended multiple job fairs, said there were "no good networking possibilities unless you already had a connection made," and they weren't effective at all.

"The job fairs I attended were kind of unorganized with no real direction at all."

With Joseph having a journalism background, she found there wasn't a good selection with potential employers. She attended a local university job fair that was geared toward students, but a lot of mid-career job seekers showed up and she felt "ripped off."

Once she actually got a chance to meet the employer, Joseph said she was limited to a few seconds to talk with them. Joseph also said the process is frustrating for the recruiters because they are bombarded with hundreds of applications. 

LaPlant said in order for career fairs to be more successful they need to focus on particular areas or disciplines for attendees to get greater results in seeking employment. 

Tom Winkelmann, director of the Jobs and Career Center at the St. Louis Public Library, said job fairs are a great source for unemployed workers to turn in efforts to find employment. The career fairs offer real openings, resume critiques, one-on-one interaction and the companies also do follow-ups.

The number of job fairs being held has more than doubled within the past two years, Winkelmann said. According to Winkelmann, major companies such as Express Scripts, Scott Trade Center and Edward Jones are among dozens of companies that are expanding and holding their own job fairs. With these major companies offering real openings, more individuals are attending these fairs which lead to more competition and fewer positions becoming available. 

Some unemployed individuals are getting ahead by using the St. Louis Public Library's resources, such as books on interviews and writing cover letters and resumes.

"The reference materials being checked out at the library is up 26 percent," said Winkelmann, adding the computer demand has been rising as well. 

For those who do choose to seek employment at a job fair, Winkelmann recommends that applicants be over 18 years of age, and have a resume including their contact information. 

Resale sees boost in down economy

By Graison Day
Parkway West High School

Garage sales and resale stores are now a part of life for many Americans, more than before because of the struggling economy. Buyers are in a tight spot money-wise, and buying used items is not uncommon.

Diana Encarnacion, a manager for a Goodwill store on Clayton Road, said her store's revenue has jumped because of the increasing number of customers and the amounts they are spending. She also said those with children usually spend more than those without.

One shopper from the local garage sales held in Clifton Heights, said she goes to garage sales often to buy clothes and other things for cheaper prices than if she were to go to a department store. She spends about $30 on average at garage sales, and goes three times a month, a routine she has been following for the past three years. She said that she is "what you call poor,” adding that she was once homeless, so going to garage sales instead of buying brand new clothes is nothing new to her.

Although many shoppers hit resale stores more often now, it doesn't change anything for garage sale folks. Several say they do not think much about the revenue they may get from the increasing amount of customers. Debbie Bobnette said she has garage sales to get rid of stuff and for the fun more than for the money.

"We're practically paying people to take stuff away!" she said as she poured a cup of complementary cider for one of the shoppers.

Although many people now come to garage sales and resale stores because of the economy, there are still those few like Bobnette who think less about the money they are getting from selling used items and look more toward the enjoyment of having people come together.