'Peace tree' event draws many to Washington Park center

They called their Christmas Tree a peace tree and invited many local organizations, businesses, church and community people to hang an ornament on the tree to symbolize their support of peace and collaboration in the community.

The 9-foot tree, decked with gold ribbons, red, white, blue and green ornaments and white doves symbolizes "our collective commitment for hope, peace and joy in the nation," said event organizer Mechiko White.

White said more than 65 organizations, churches and individuals came to the event at Trinity Outreach Center at 5110 Forest Blvd. in Washington Park.

The Rev. Rose Booker-Jones, pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church, called the event Tuesday "very productive."

"It allowed many of the representatives of the various organizations in the metro-east to come together to meet each other and discuss the progress and services they have to offer. They were able to talk about collaborating and coming together as one.

Representatives from Bits and Bytes, East St. Louis School District 189, Hoyleton Youth and Family Services, Lessie Bates, Second Chance Shelter, Regions Bank and Commerce Bank and Ron Shownes, a representative from the U.S. attorney's office, were some of the people who placed ornaments bearing their names on the tree to show their support of peace and working together as one.

Susan Holt, a minister at Trinity United Methodist Church, said the tree of peace "is our hope to be able to communicate and talk with each other. It was a way for us to get together and talk as one."

Rochelle Bates, executive director of the YWCA on Main Street in Belleville, said she was glad to participate in an event such as the one at Trinity.

"The tree symbolizes peace in our community. The event was about us getting together to show our concern and talk about our programs and services. We were able to talk about how we can collaborate as one to achieve our goal of helping communities."

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.