Blockworker Beat: Lee Kastberg at 36th and Eudora
“Ask me why I’m bald,” reads the button Lee Kastberg has worn every March for the past three years.Why is he bald every spring? Because Lee participates in the St. Baldrick’s event where participants shave their heads to benefit the foundation’s childhood cancer research efforts. In the three years he has participated, Lee raised over $7,000 for the organization from his generous friends, colleagues and family.
Like all GPHC blockworkers, Lee is community service-minded. He received his graduate degree in Sports Medicine from University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, but found his calling while working for Habitat for Humanity as an AmeriCorps volunteer.
“I wanted to do something to feel good and AmeriCorps seemed like a great opportunity to do that.”
When Lee started, he didn’t know a thing about construction, but he was assured that he only had to be good with people and could learn the rest. Sure enough, after nearly ten years with Habitat, Lee opened his own home inspection franchise, Pillar to Post, last March. He runs the business out of his North Park Hill home, which he’s lived in since 2005.
Lee has delivered the GPHN since 2009. For him, it’s a way to support a newspaper he enjoys.
“My wife and I feel connected to our neighbors up here, but I love the stories about what’s going on in the rest of the neighborhood,” said Lee. “It’s cool to hear what people are doing in your part of town.”
In this new fixture, we highlight GPHC Blockworkers – residents who volunteer to deliver the Greater Park Hill News to their neighbors each month. There are currently 361 blockworkers delivering to 408 of the 516 residential blocks that comprise Greater Park Hill. GPHC is seeking volunteers to cover blocks that are not currently receiving the GPHN. For more information about the program, contact GPHC Blockworker Coordinator Ann Long at annklong@comcast.net.