Insider: 10.29.14

Thanks to Saks Fifth Avenue in St. Louis, local fashionista Margery Marshall and Saks personal stylist Susan Ellis were jetted to NYC recently to attend Ralph Lauren’s spring trunk show, where they met the iconic fashion designer. Pictured above: Susan Ellis, Ralph Lauren and Margery Marshall

St. Louis native and Vietnam vet Robert Fulstone has been named the St. Louis Area Veteran of the Year by the Missouri Athletic Club. Fulstone will be recognized at a luncheon and at the Veterans Day parade downtown for his numerous efforts to support military personnel, which include volunteer work with the USO of Missouri, the St. Louis Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program and the St. Louis Area Stand Down Project for homeless vets. He also helped organize the St. Louis Veterans Business Resource Center, which assists veterans in starting their own business.

Magnificent Missouri, a local nonprofit that supports Missouri conservation and environmental groups, has released a CD. Magnificent Missouri Music Volume 1 includes original music by Missouri and Midwest performers, with all proceeds funding the nonprofit’s mission to educate people about conservation issues. A release party featuring live performances by some of the featured artists was held at the Public Media Commons. Ticket sales benefited the Water Matters initiative to help ensure the future health of our water.

Frank Absher, former broadcaster and founder of the St. Louis Media History Foundation, published his third book, St. Louis Advertising, an effort to preserve local media history. It explores the important role advertising played in shaping the culture of St. Louis and is filled with hundreds of colorful images from historical ad campaigns. The book is available online and at local retailers.

With Halloween upon us, there isn’t a better time for St. Louisan Howard Levinson to release his crime novel, The Tapping. He draws on his personal experiences as a medic and law enforcement veteran with homicide, organized crime, undercover narcotics and anti-terrorism task forces. Levinson launches his book signing tour Oct. 30 at Nathalie’s in the Central West End, in an evening of appetizers, Tarot and palm readings, live music, and signed copies of the book. Proceeds from ticket sales ($35 at brownpapertickets.com) will benefit BackStoppers.