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The
Olive Business Association (OBA), the City of University City, and University City East (UCE) signal a new focus for development on Olive Boulevard with the mounting of the first of 40 decorative banners on Friday, April 16, 2004 at 10:00 AM in front of Royal Banks of Missouri, 8021 Olive Boulevard, in University City.
The banners, designed by Joe Gray, President of Gray Communications and Marketing, were produced with the assistance of the Daughters of Charity Healthcare Foundation of St. Louis (DCHFSL) and the City of University City. They are expected to convey to businesses along Olive, residents, consumers and prospective investors that the "U City Olive Link," which runs from Interstate 170 to Skinker Blvd., is evolving into a high interest commercial area.
"We have been working on focusing interest on Olive Blvd. for some time," said OBA co-chair, Joe Hahn. "Now after years of collaborative effort, it is finally happening."
"When we hang the banners on Olive, we hope that all of the businesses and residents along Olive Blvd. will share in the pride of our success," added OBA co-chair, Dan Savory.
 
Plans to hang the banners began with the UCE Business and Transportation Committee, which spawned the Olive Business Association (OBA.) OBA was organized in response to the UCE healthy community initiative for University City--east of Midland to the City limits.
Early surveys indicated that this initiative would be realized more fully if the project area was expanded to include all of Olive Blvd. Thus, the stretch of Olive Blvd. in University City from Interstate 170 east to Skinker was dubbed the "U City Olive Link."
 
40 Banners will hang at intervals along this thruway.
Special attendees of the event include:
The Olive Business Association Board Members (Joe Hahn and Dan Savory, Co-chairs; Lynn Rossel, Corr. Secretary; Ralph Broeker, Treasurer and host of the Banner Event at Royal Banks of Missouri; Willa Boisseau, Rec. Secretary);
Steve Baden, President of Royal Banks of Missouri, University City;
Jeff Williams of Zane Williams (banner production and hanging);
Joe Gray, President of Gray Communications & Marketing (U City Olive Link logo and banner design);
Mayor Joseph Adams of University City, and Council Members Shelley Welsch and Larry Lieberman;
University City Manager, Frank Ollendorf; Asst. Manager, Thomas Moton; and PR Director, Monica McFee;
St. Louis County Council Representative, Kurt Odenwald;
University City East Board President, Elsie B. Glickert, and Exec. Dir., Shari LeKane-Yentumi;
Najah Haqiqah, UCE and OBA member;
Constantine Michaelides, U City community member who recommended banners for Olive more than 30 years ago.
The hanging of the banners is just the beginning of OBA plans for this Spring. A special event, "Experience the U City Olive Link" will be held following the University City Memorial Day Run and in conjunction with the Snip/Dig celebration and groundbreaking for renovations on the Heman Park Pool and Recreation Center, is scheduled for Monday, May 31, 2004 from 12 noon to 5:00 PM.
Persons desiring a preview of the banners may visit the City Hall in University City during regular business hours where the banner is on display in the rotunda.
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