July 29 - August 11, 2016

West End Word | Page 7

Serendipity Gallery Promotes Local and

Regional Art In Casual, Inviting Setting
Rose Hagan left the law profession to
enter the creative world of art. In 2013,
she opened Serendipity Gallery, along with
gallery manager and sister-in-law Lisa Anne
Houdyshell, also a former lawyer.
We wanted to create a place in St.
Louis where local and regional artists work
could be displayed and sold in a casual and
inviting setting, said Houdyshell. Art
whether you wear it or display it on a table
or wall should be affordable, and the
process of buying it should be fun.
The gallery features locally created
ceramics, pottery, jewelry, sculpture,
paintings, photography and glass.
Customers are drawn to the gallerys
unique and engaging dcor of repurposed
items. The cash register is made of
barnwood, industrial wire spools serve as
display tables, and one
light fixture is made of
industrial bakers whisks.
Serendipity boasts the
only Art-o-Mat in St.
Louis. The vintage 1940s
cigarette machine has

been repurposed to dispense small original

pieces of art, each available for $5.53. The
Art-o-Mat is one of only 200 worldwide,
stocked by works from some 3,000
contributing artists.
Hagan and Houdyshell are always
looking for innovative ways to promote
their artists. This year, they are approaching
local corporations and encouraging them
to support local artists by purchasing art as
holiday gifts for their clients.
The gallery operators enjoy sharing
the amazing work of our artists and finding
the perfect match for our customer or the
occasion, Houdyshell said. It is a great
way to spend the day.
They also like being a part of St. Louis
small business community, meeting many
talented and interesting people.
Serendipitys
next
monthly
art
event,
Dilations of Nostalgia,
will
open
with
a
reception from 6 to 9
p.m. Aug. 12, featuring
paintings by J.B. Nearsy.

6161 Delmar Blvd. Suite 101 St. Louis

314-449-6400 www.serendipity-gallery.com

Tom Streib and Kevin Bridick

Streib Company: The Solution For Electrical,

Lighting, Home Theater & Security Needs

Flance Early Learning Center Nurtures

Children Through Innovative, Quality Care

9225 Watson Industrial Park St. Louis 487-7474

1908 OFallon St. St. Louis, MO 63106

Since forming his electric service

company in 2004, Tom Streib has continued
to evolve his business. Today, Streib
Company offers services, including electrical,
lighting projects, home theater and security.
In 1995 when he entered the field, he
dreamed of owning his own business. In
2004, that became a reality. The business
grew from being one man in a truck in 2004
to 55 people and 30 service vehicles on the
road today, Streib said. Weve found that
by continuing to evolve in our processes and
invest in our training, we continue to provide
a great product and service to all of our
customers.
Opportunity allowed the addition of Streib
Media in 2007 and Streib Security in 2008.
Because electric work touches so many
other parts of an efficient and comfortable
home, it was important that Streib should
expand into areas of technology solutions that
clients were taking an
interest in, Streib said.
Streib
Electric
division is a full-service
electrical
contractor
providing services for

residential and commercial customers. The

Media Systems division provides custom
installations of home theater, media rooms
and home automation. The Security division
specializes in security, lighting, sensors,
alarms and cameras.
Our vision statement is to create
opportunity through developing lasting
relations, Streib said. We all enjoy meeting
new customers and contractors and building
our relationship with them.
Customers pick up on the company spirit.
We have a great energy throughout the
company, Streib said. Everyone here bleeds
Streib red. We are relentless in being the
solution for all of our customers needs and I
believe that shows.
At Streib clients are an extension of the
family, and we always take care of family.
Streib Company is BBB accredited;
a member of
Independent Electrical
Contractors
and
the Home Builders
Association;
and
recipient of the 2013
Super Service Award
from Angies List.

www.streibco.com

Flance Early Learning Center is the

new kid on the block in the childcare arena,
having opened in June 2014 to provide
preschool education for children ages 6
months to 6 years.
The center was founded as a partnership
between LUME Institute, real estate
developer McCormack Baron Salazar,
and Urban Strategies Inc. Flance provides
innovative, quality care and education
through the LUME Approach. Using
the LUME Approach and the nationally
recognized Creative Curriculum, Flance
seeks to understand and nurture the whole
child, from the inside out in three major
developmental areas: literacy and language,
emotional and social, and values and
character.
Since its opening, Flance has grown
and is still growing, enrolling children and
hiring teachers. The center serves about 75
children, but has the
capacity for 154 in 13
classrooms. The yearround school is housed in
a Silver LEED-certified
building,
conveniently
located near downtown

neighborhoods. This fall, Flance is building

and growing their own community garden
in partnership with Urban Harvest STL.
For their families, Flance hosts cooking
and gardening classes in partnership with
HOSCO and Urban Strategies. The facility
also includes a demonstration kitchen
to advance health and nutrition, and an
adventure playground with water features and
bridges.
Our teachers and staff are here to support
and help educate all our families, said
Development Associate Michelle Oschner.
Flance is overseen by a 12-member board
of directors and run by Center Director Mark
Cross, Program Director Edda Reviol, Center
Support Manager Ashli Paige and Director of
Operations Kenisha Stallings.
Flance uses a mixed-income model
by providing quality childcare to a socioeconomically diverse population. Federal
and state assistance is
available for qualifying
families, and limited
tuition assistance may be
offered on a case-by-case
basis.

314-881-0881 www.flancecenter.org