County Living Magazine Early Spring 2024

H O M E + H E A LT H + R E C R E AT I O N

COUNTY LIVING

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IN THIS ISSUE

THE DIFFERENCE IS PATHWAYS & STEPS

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COUNTY LIVING

What’s Inside 8

| J. ELINOR LERCH

When a Disney Princess Climbs into Trouble

SEE THE COUNT Y LIVING POOL HANDBOOK S E C T I O N , PAG E S 3 9 - 4 8 H E A LT H & F I T N E S S 10 Why Should You Exercise?

24

| CHRIS SIEWING

Creating a Total Sensory Sensation in Their Yard

11 Expert Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Care 12 Nighttime Driving: Know the Risks 14 Are You a Nose Breather or Mouth Breather?

HOME 16 The Green Home Coach 18 Getting Your Floors to Look Their Best 20 Rooms That Are Too Cold or Too Hot? 22 Safeguarding Your Sanctuary: Preventing and Responding to House Fires

30 New Custom Villas from Simon Homes 10

| BRET KLIETHERMES

Why Should You Exercise?

LANDSCAPES & EXTERIORS 24 Creating a Total Sensory Experience in Their Yard 28 You Can Have a Garden that Deer Won’t Destroy G E TA W AY S 32 Spring Activities & Events Calendar

34

| JOHN DR AKE ROBINSON

The Story of Mankind with a Missouri Flavor

34 On the Road with John Robinson 35 A Place in the Country by Bill Ziercher 36 The Art of Book Making 38 Enjoy Recreation and Relaxation Year-Round at Innsbrook

THE COUNT Y LIVING POOL HANDBOOK 40 Is Your Pool Safe?

42 Ten Steps for Effective Pool Maintenance 16

| MARL A ESSER CLOOS

Unleashing Your Green Home Journey

44 Complete Services to Restore Your Pool Deck BUSINESS & FINANCE 49 The Crucial Role of People in Selling Your Business 50 It Pays to Review Your TV, Internet and Cell Service 50 Calling Services for Your Sales Team

SEE EVEN MORE ON OUR WEBSITE

CO U NT Y LIVI N G M AG .CO M

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| BILL ZIERCHER

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COU NT Y LIVING PU B LICATIONS

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314-443-3024 phone 314-569-3380 fax P.O. Box 411036 St. Louis, MO 63141

Carol Kindinger PRINTING

Walsworth Fulton

ON THE COVER

To see this issue and archived articles online with links to resources, visit COU NT YLIVING MAG .COM

Located on a peaceful, shaded street in Des Peres, this stunning backyard is sure to be the envy of the entire neighborhood.

The spacious geometric pool, built strategically into the hillside so it’s visible from the main level, offers heightened privacy and spectacular views from the interior of the home.

A raised wall adorned with warm stone spans the far edge of the pool, anchored by two black fire bowls resting on matching stone columns. A cascading water feature, centered along the wall, provides visual interest and the tranquil sound of continuously flowing water.

Opposite the feature wall, an expansive tanning ledge allows sunbathers to stay cool while lounging in the water and doubles as a play area for little ones.

A raised 6-person spa, framed by an elegant flagstone coping, sits adjacent to the tanning ledge and spills into the pool. The ample deck, encompassing two sides of the pool, includes plenty of room for dining and additional seating.

Flora Design & Landscape completed the space with thoughtful, low-maintenance landscaping, outdoor lighting, a tee box, and an impressive multi-hole putting green.

Baker Pool Construction has enjoyed delivering breathtaking projects in the St. Louis area for over 55 years. For more in-depth information, see their ad on page 43 or visit them at www.bakerpoolconstruction.com.

Photo courtesy of Baker Pool Construction

Todd

Michael

Carol

County Living Magazine is published quarterly by County Living Publications and distributed to select homeowners in the St. Louis area.

Articles are selected to provide useful information about home, health, travel and recreation.

Opinions expressed in articles and editorials are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of County Living Publications.

While every effort is made to assure accuracy, we are not responsible for how information found in County Living Magazine is used.

We are very interested in reader comments or suggestions.

Correspondence should be sent to the address above or to editor@CountyLivingMag.com.

Reproduction of content of this magazine without permission is prohibited. All submitted materials, including images, logos and text for advertising, articles and editorials are assumed to be the property of the contributor, and County Living Publications does not take responsibility for unintentional copyright infringement. County Living Publications has the right to refuse advertising and content not deemed appropriate for this publication.

Circulation is verified by U.S. Postal receipts.

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(mis)Adventures WITH J. ELINOR LERCH

Travel, parenting, grandparenting, dating, or just life – the gaffes and the goofy are wasted if not shared. Especially if they are self-inflicted. I hope these narratives make you laugh (or at least smile). And I promise – they are all absurdly true.

Photo: Michael Kilfoy, Studio X

When a Disney Princess Climbs into Trouble 13.1 miles in blue chiffon. With sequins. What could go wrong? In the end, it wasn’t the distance, but the ascent, that forced me to choose between the possibility of a shattered femur or being arrested.

F E AT U R E D

CO L U M N

It all began with an email offering a discount for the Disneyland Half-Marathon. (Yes, there is a fee for being allowed to run 13+ miles in and around the Magic Kingdom. After all, you DO get to hang out with Mickey at the finish line.) My costume? Cinderella, of course. With custom Nike running shoes.

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the rocky surface looked like an easy climb.

Reluctantly donning sneakers from my backpack, I began to climb.

Maybe 2/3 of the way up, I was questioning my sanity, but persevered. And after hoisting myself over the top, I turned to see the most spectacular vista – miles and miles of majestic sunlit ocean.

The scenery behind me was equally impressive, albeit abundantly green.

That’s when delight turned to panic.

And since I was headed to California, it only made sense to take a side trip from Anaheim up to Carmel-by-the-Sea, home to “Hansel,” the original quirky little house built by Hugh Comstock in 1924 to house his wife’s doll collection. There are now 21 Comstock cottages still standing, and they had long been on my bucket list. So, I bid Mickey goodbye and headed up the coast, with the theme from “Chariots of Fire” playing triumphantly in my head.

I had scampered on to the 6th hole of Pebble Beach Golf Links, widely considered one of the most beautiful golf courses in the world. Also one of the most expensive, with eye-watering greens fees and a star-studded list of players, including Tiger Woods, Bob Hope, and of course, neighbor Clint Eastwood.

Seagulls and crashing waves created a new soundtrack on exquisite Carmel Beach. I wandered along the shore, barefoot, luxuriating in the toe-squishing delight of warm sand. It was sole-satisfying heaven after the asphalt pounding of a few days earlier.

At that point, I thought I was illegally exploring a private country club. (Later I would learn that the course is actually open to the public. And while I was a member of THAT elite group, I had not paid any fees and was technically trespassing.)

My goal, at some point, was to find my way to the famous 17-Mile Drive for the walk back to Carmel. But coastline geography interfered, and the beach came to an abrupt dead-end where the shore jutted far out to the sea. Not wanting to abandon my plan and return the way I came, I eyed the tiny cliff and wondered what was up top.

It wasn’t, I reasoned, all THAT high, and

From Disney princess to petty criminal in about 48 hours.

Looking around, I was relieved to see there was no one in sight. By the time I covered the short grassy distance to the path (tragically, back to asphalt…) I had formulated a plan. Off came one sneaker, and matching sock. Footwear in hand, I began to limp dramatically toward the clubhouse. Within

minutes, a uniformed, surfer-blond teenager drove up in a golf cart.

“Ma’am, are you OK? May I give you a lift?”

So yes, dear reader. I gave the young Adonis my best motherly smile, climbed aboard, and tried to look simultaneously pained and grateful. When we arrived at the clubhouse, he escorted me to the patio, brought me a Diet Coke, and offered BandAid for my “blistered” toes. After he left, I slinked out the front door.

As for 17-Mile Drive? Well, it’s right at the entrance to the club, but it’s not walkable at all. (No sidewalks and very fast Ferraris.) Soon realizing my mistake, I turned around to head back to Carmel, but that was almost three miles away.

Hmmm. What to do?

Well, it worked once, so why not? I found another golf cart, complete with staff member, in the driveway. Off came the shoe AGAIN (and this time the toes were freshly bandaged).

“Excuse me, but I’m out for walk and not sure how much farther it is to Carmel? Do you know?” I threw in a grimace for good measure.

“Not only do I know,” he said with a grin. “I know a shortcut. Hop in!”

Minutes later, I was deposited at the Carmel Gate. When my hero was safely out of sight, I laced up my shoe, walked to Terry’s Lounge at Doris Day’s charming Cypress Inn, and drank a toast to yet another satisfying adventure.

I like to think Mickey would be impressed.

J. Elinor is “All the Muse You Need” for writing short copy, long-form storytelling, speeches, or just proofing and editing. You can reach her at STLWriter@sbcglobal.net.

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Why Should You Exercise?

BY B RET KLIETHE RMES

M H E A LT H

&

F I T N E S S

ost people know that they should exercise regularly, but why? This article gets back to basics, reminding us specifically how getting into a regular exercise habit provides benefits all week long and for the rest of your life.

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I want to tell you about our gym, Strong Human Fitness. We’re not talking about becoming a muscle-bound body builder, unless that is your goal. But with just regular, moderately intense exercise a few times a week, here are the benefits you get: A sense of accomplishment and well-being. As your body becomes more toned from exercise, you naturally increase muscle tone, lose body fat, carry yourself better. Your clothes fit better and you look better. This provides a sense of accomplishment that improves self-confidence.

Enhanced mental alertness and ability to handle stress. The sense of fitness that comes from regular exercise improves blood circulation, including to the brain, and aids the release of hormones that can help reduce tension and anxiety that come with stress. This also helps encourage a more positive outlook.

Reducing aches and pains and improving sleep. A survey conducted in 2018 by the National Institute of Health estimated that 37% of adults have osteoarthritis (OA), a type of arthritis that occurs when flexible tissue at the ends of bones

wears down, causing pain, stiffness, swelling or tenderness in the joints, hands, hip, knee, lower back or neck. The incidence is twice as high among those ages 65 and over for both men and women.

Exercise is the most common non-pharmalogic therapy prescribed for osteoarthritis. Low-impact aerobics, strengthening exercises and stretching are most commonly advised. And since about 70% of people with OA have some kind of sleep disturbance, reducing arthritic discomfort can help alleviate poor sleep as well.

Preventing falls and protecting joints. As adults reach middle age and beyond, one of the leading dangers is falling.

The causes are loss of the sense of balance, weaker muscles to help carry you as you stand and walk, and a loss of the sense of proprioception or kinesthesia, which is spatial awareness – being able to sense where your body parts are relative to each other.

This sense is closely related to balance, and improves with exercise, as do bone strength and the muscles around joints, which can function as “shock absorbers” to protect joints in case you do fall.

Improved performance in sports.

Regular exercise gives you improved strength, flexibility, range of motion and endurance that enable you to perform better, whatever sports you play. And when you perform better, you enjoy them more.

Better ability to recover from accidents or illness. Patients who have good muscle strength do much better

BRET KLIETHERMES is owner of STRONG HUMAN FITNESS LLC, a personal training company that offers Complete Fitness Programs to help his clients reach their personal health and fitness goals. Bret has a Bachelor of Science in Health & Wellness Promotion from Missouri State University, and is a Certified Personal Trainer through The American Council on Exercise.

Strong Human Fitness is located in the Corporate Plaza Building at 14528 South Outer 40 Road and offers a more private alternative to the large box gyms that are often noisy and overcrowded.

Bret offers both private and semiprivate training to fit all budgets and schedules. For a no-obligation, no-pressure consultation to discuss your goals and programs, you can call Bret at 314-691-9040, email bret@ stronghumanfitness.com or visit www. stronghumanfitness.com.

in recovery than those who don’t. According to Dr. Harvey Serota, an interventional cardiologist at St. Louis Heart & Vascular, during the Covid epidemic it became readily apparent which patients were more likely to survive – those in better physical shape when they became ill.

If you are not now experiencing these life-changing benefits of an exercise program, you may want to talk with a knowledgeable trainer who can provide the right exercise program designed for your specific needs, as well as advising on diet and sleep habits that together can help you achieve your goals.

Offering Expert Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders Care GREAT PLAINS ENDOCRINOLOGY IS NOW OPEN AND ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS. I am DR. AZRA NIAZ, board-certified Endocrinologist. We recently established our independent medical practice, Great Plains Endocrinology, in Ballwin, focusing on diabetes, endocrine, and metabolic disorders.

obesity and weight management, as well as reproductive disorders, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and male hypogonadism.

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After completing my fellowship in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism at the University of Toledo in Ohio, I worked briefly as Assistant Professor of Endocrinology. However, I realized that I could be more beneficial to patients in private NO NEED TO WAIT FOR AN practice. I am very passionate about empowering patients with plans that fight APPOINTMENT. their chronic diseases.

The critical shortage of Endocrinologists has resulted in months-long wait to esMy practice encompasses a spectrum tablish care, often when it is most needof endocrine conditions, including Type ed. We are now building our practice, acI and Type II diabetes, thyroid, pituitary, cepting new patients with appointments adrenal, metabolic bone, parathyroid, within a few days, including Saturdays. and lipid disorders. We also address We also offer telehealth appointments if

Surround Your Home with the Landscaping It Deserves We can enhance your home with creative landscape design and installation: patios, walls, walkways, water features, rock gardens, firepits & fireplaces, stone and mortar.

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FIND YOUR BEST NEW PATIENTS HERE HEALTH&CARE Journal/St. Louis Metro provides a unique new opportunity for medical practices and health care providers to reach thousands of prospective patients in their homes. These are adults ages 45+ living throughout the St. Louis Metro area.

Each issue features informative articles about prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for leading chronic health conditions, quoting local and national experts.

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H E A LT H

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Nighttime Driving: Know the Risks

D

riving at night can be risky business, as a dangerous combination of darkness and the glare of bright lights can make it hard to see the road, but one expert offers some safety tips.

“If you have to drive in the evening time and you’re not comfortable, try to stick with roads that you know and make sure you know where you’re going so you don’t have to be looking at street signs, which are harder to see at night,” said Dr. Sumitra Khandelwal, a professor of ophthalmology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

If you do have to venture out in your car after dark, check your vehicle first, she stressed.

A dirty windshield can make starbursts, halos, glares, smearing and streaking more apparent in the dark, so cleaning it is critical for clear vision. Headlights get dirty just as easily, particularly if it rains

Carol Kindinger Account Executive carolkindinger@gmail.com 314-452-3576

the effectiveness of prescription glasses and contact lenses, making people more nearsighted, Khandelwal noted.

Cataracts, which can weaken nighttime vision, also hamper your vision as you age.

And dry eye makes streaking, halos and glares worse.

Khandelwal suggests using artificial tears or prescription eye drops to help keep the corneas clear and lubricated.

If you decide to use lubricating eye drops, take them about 30 minutes before getting behind the wheel, because the drops can make vision temporarily blurry.

and mud or water gets splattered on them, so Khandelwal recommends wiping off any dirt or splash marks before you get behind the wheel.

Even after cleaning your windshield and headlights, there are plenty of vision issues that can make it difficult for drivers to see clearly.

Your pupils get larger at night, which can cause more glares and halos and lowers

Those who struggle with nighttime driving should not drive in the dark for long distances, Khandelwal added.

Local driving where speed limits are lower might not bother people at night, but the high speeds of a freeway are another story.

MORE INFORMATION

The National Safety Council has more on the dangers of driving at night.

Bring nature home with your own Water Garden We provide expert custom design and installation of ponds, recreation ponds, streams and waterfalls. These sustainable ecosystems can be used to harvest rainwater and control storm water runoff.

We are Master Certified Aquascape Contractors, first place winners of the North American Pond/Waterfall Competition and St. Louis’s first Certified RainXchange Professionals. Named by Aquascape as the Artist of the Year, and ranked #4 among all Certified Aquascape Contractors worldwide.

For an on-site consultation or private water feature tour, please call Chris at 636-223-2330.

Visit our portfolio at www.re-createnature.com Facebook.com/ NaturesReCreations

Are You a Nose Breather or Mouth Breather?

One Might Be Healthier

I

t turns out that primarily breathing through the mouth isn’t good for your health compared to breathing through the nose, a new study finds.

Breathing through the nose rather than the mouth can lead to lower blood pressure and an overall more relaxed body, lowering the risk of heart disease, researchers found.

“This work advances our knowledge of how nasal breathing affects clinically relevant cardiovascular variables,” concluded the research team led by Joseph Watso, an assistant professor of health and human sciences at Florida State University in Tallahassee.

More than half of U.S. adults say they primarily breathe through their mouth rather than their nose, researchers said in background notes.

Breathing patterns can affect blood pressure and heart rate, which are two predictors of heart disease, due to the crosstalk that occurs between the respiratory and circulatory systems.

Nose breathing has been shown to relax the airways and improve the efficiency of breathing, but up to now its effects on heart health have not been fully explored, researchers said.

For their study, researchers recruited 20 young adult volunteers who were randomly asked to breathe through either their nose or their mouth while at rest or exercising on either a treadmill or a stationary bike.

Researchers found volunteers at rest had a lower average and diastolic blood pressure when they breathed through their nose.

Diastolic blood pressure is pressure within the arteries in between heartbeats.

Nasal breathing also shifted the body’s nervous system into a “rest and digest” rather than a “fight or flight” mode, researchers added.

However, that was only during rest.

When exercising, there appeared to be no difference between nasal or mouth breathing.

“We interpret the collective data to suggest that nasal compared with oral breathing provides modest, but potentially clinically relevant, improvements in prognostic cardiovascular variables at rest, but not during exercise,” the researchers wrote.

The new study was recently published in the American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology.

Dr. Ayse Kilfoy was chosen by her peers as one of the Top Dentists in the St. Louis area

W

H O M E

hen St. Louis Magazine surveyed St. Louis region dentists on who they thought were the best dentists in the region, Dr. Ayse Kilfoy of Woodlawn Dental was up there again at the top of the list for the ninth year in a row.

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She has been providing healthy, beautiful smiles to the O’Fallon area for over 25 years. “Whether a patient just needs some minor dental work or some long-term cosmetic improvements, we love to be a part of making changes that matter. My greatest pleasure is to see the smile on a patient’s face when we’ve completed their care. For some, it’s like they’re smiling for the first time.”

New patients are now being accepted. Come by and take a tour. Find out how much Woodlawn Dental has to offer you.

Woodlawn Dental Dr. Ayse Kilfoy, DMD 608 Woodlawn Avenue O’Fallon, MO 63366

636-240-9211 www.woodlawndental.com

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BY MARL A ESSE R CLOOS Marla Esser Cloos, NAHB Master Certified Green Professional, Wellness Within Your Walls Certified Professional and LEED AP, is the principal of Green Home Coach.

Find more at GreenHomeCoach.com and @ greenhomecoach on FB and IG

Dreaming Your Home – Unleashing Your Dream Green Home Journey HE Y DREAMERS! IMAGINE A WORLD WHERE YOUR HOME NOT ONLY SHELTERS YOU BUT AL SO EMBR ACES YOUR DREAMS , MAKING THEM A REALIT Y.

I F E AT U R E D

CO L U M N

love sharing the magic of turning dreams into plans and plans into a dream green home. So, grab a cup of your favorite brew and join me on this journey of dreaming, planning, and paying for the home that reflects your heart's desires.

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Picture this: a room filled with people, each with a sparkle in their eyes as they share their dreams for their homes. That was the scene at the Dream Green Home workshops I put on, where folks realized that their homes could be more than just four walls – they could be a haven of dreams coming true. It was a lightbulb moment for many who had never thought about their homes in such a profound way.

Dreams turned into goals, and suddenly, they had a roadmap to their Dream Home.

It's not just about a house; it's about creating a space that resonates with who you are. A clean slate gives you the freedom to dream big, think about what truly matters, and let those dreams guide your goals.

Now, let's dive into the heart of the matter. What do you want your home to feel like? Close your eyes and imagine it. Is it a place for joyous gatherings, big enough for the entire family? Is it your sanctuary – the place where you get away from it all? Your dream home is unique to you, and one size certainly doesn't fit all. It's not just a place; it's a feeling. It's an emotion that wraps around you when you walk through the door.

Now, the promises your home makes are like the benefits it provides. For me, it's health, safety, and comfort. These promises align perfectly with what a green home can offer. But how do you bridge the gap between your dreams and the reality of your dream home?

Here's the secret sauce.

Connect what you want in your home with actionable steps. Let's say you crave a healthier home. Identify your specific health goals – is it indoor air quality? Opt for low or no VOC paints, choose hard floors, and consider mechanical or natural ventilation. Voila! A healthier home is within reach once you've set your goal.

Say you dream of a home full of music. You can plan for your favorite sounds to swirl room-to-room through your whole house, and to automatically switch on the moment you walk in the door. If your home needs to be a place for serious work as well as living, you can design glass wall office space where you can keep the visual flow into living areas, but have the sound privacy you need to get work done.

But hold on, dear dreamers! Don't assume that houses are built with your unique needs in mind. Often, they're not. That's why understanding your priorities is cru-

cial. Whether you're working with a builder or architect, having a roadmap ensures you're not just making decisions but leading with your priorities.

Planning your dream home isn't just about blueprints; it's about turning your priorities into action. The materials chosen and the practices followed – that's where the magic happens.

Now, let's talk about the green stuff – not the color, but the money. How do you make your green dream home a reality? It's time to put on your detective hat and uncover the resources that can help fund your dreams. Think rebates, incentives, and financing. Invest a little time in research, and you might find more help than you expected.

Incentives and rebates are like the golden ticket to your dream home.

Check out the DSIRE database for a treasure trove of programs by state. And when it comes to financing, Energy Efficient FHA Loans can cover energy upgrades, second mortgages, and remodels. It's like having a financial fairy godmother granting your wishes.

But what if your home pro or financial resource isn't as eager to help as you'd like?

Fear not! There are other resources out there, waiting for you to discover them. Remember, different results require different actions.

So, dreamers, let's embark on this journey of dreaming, planning, and paying for our Dream Green Homes. From healthier living to financial magic, it's all within reach.

Your dream home is not just a place on a map; it's the place where your dreams come true. Cheers to turning your home into a haven of dreams and making the journey as magical as the destination!

Responsive Readers for Your Business For over 18 years County Living has presented quality products and services for home, health, recreation and businesses, as well as nearby destinations to upscale homeowners in St. Louis County and nearby St. Charles County.

We are delighted with the response from both readers and our long-time advertisers.

If this audience is important to your business, we would like to show how we can help you drive new high-value customer relationships and sales.

Please email or call to set an appointment to discuss this opportunity for 2023.

Todd Abrams Publisher toddabrams1@gmail.com 314-443-3024

Carol Kindinger Account Executive carolkindinger@gmail.com 314-452-3576

Getting Your Floors to Look Their Best

H O M E

SO LU TI O N S O F F E R E D BY M A R B LE LI F E ® I M P R OV E A P P E A R A N C E A N D AVO I D COS TLY R E P L AC E M E NT.

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CONCRETE CAN LOOK SPECTACULAR

dirt and bacteria with each mopping.

lain, stained, chipped or cracked concrete on porches, pool decks, in garages or basements is subject to further staining and damage.

But it can be made to look spectacular.

More than just looking better, a new, uniform color for tile and grout can be healthier. Marblelife provides a clean gloss appearance that will not harbor mold or mildew, and provides a layer of protection across grout lines.

P

MARBLELIFE EnduraCrete can densify, seal, polish, grind, color and design concrete to look like premium flooring, much easier to maintain than untreated concrete.

They can also be treated to be anti-slip without sacrificing design or appearance.

TILE AND GROUT SHOULD BE CLEAN AND HEALTHY

Stained grout and tile are frustrating to clean and can be unhealthy. If your shower or floor seal or grout fails, it is soaking up

STONE FLOORS NEED PERIODIC MAINTENANCE

Marble, granite, terrazzo, limestone, travertine and other natural stone are luxurious and durable surfaces, but not indestructible.

Foot traffic and inappropriate cleaning products make it susceptible to stains, spills, scratches and damage. They need proper periodic maintenance to keep their natural beauty.

Dull and damaged stone surfaces can regain their natural appearance with

professional cleaning, restoration and protection that also minimize potential for future damage.

WOOD FLOORS CAN LOOK LIKE NEW

Wax buildup on wood floors traps dirt and yellows, but it can be removed with a professional cleaning. Light wear within the protective finish is screened and re-coated, usually in one day. Damaged, heavily worn or deeply scratched floors call for sanding, re-staining and re-sealing, taking a few days.

Regardless of what problems you encounter with concrete, tile, stone or wood floor surfaces, there is a solution. You can call the professionals at MARBLELIFE St. Louis at (314) 501-9080 for a free at-home estimate, or visit their website marblelifestlouis.com.

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Have collapsible fire escape ladders for second-story windows and balconies. Teach children the “stop, drop, and roll” technique if their clothes catch fire.

Having a readily accessible fire extinguisher can be the difference between a minor incident and a major catastrophe.

Choose the right type of extinguisher for your home and familiarize yourself with its operation.

Responding to a fire: When Seconds Matter

Safeguarding Your Sanctuary: Preventing and Responding to House Fires

H

ome is where the heart is, a haven from the outside world. But within its walls, a silent threat can lurk – the potential for a devastating house fire. Every year, hundreds of thousands of homes home fires occur across the US, claiming lives and destroying cherished possessions.

H O M E

However, preparation and knowledge can dramatically reduce your risk. Here are some important preventative measures and response strategies to help you keep your family and home safe.

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Prevention: Building a Wall of Defense Smoke Alarms are your early warning sentinels. Ensure you have working smoke detectors on every level of your home, especially outside bedrooms and sleeping areas. Test them and replace batteries twice a year.

The kitchen, with its open flames and combustible materials, is a prime fire zone.

Never leave cooking food unattended on the stove, and turn off appliances when done. Keep flammable materials like towels and curtains away from cooking areas.

Overloaded circuits and faulty wiring are major fire hazards. Do not use extension cords for portable heaters; they should be plugged directly into a wall outlet. Regularly inspect for damaged cords or loose outlets. Unplug unused appliances to prevent overheating.

Store flammable materials like gasoline, paint, and cleaning products in a secure, well-ventilated area away from heat sources. Regularly clean lint traps in dryers and remove flammable debris from around furnaces and water heaters. Fireplaces that are used regularly should have chimney sweeping each year.

Never leave burning candles unattended and extinguish them before leaving a room or going to sleep. Place candles on stable surfaces away from curtains and other flammable materials.

Never smoke indoors, especially near flammable materials. Dispose of cigarette butts properly and consider quitting smoking altogether.

Develop a fire escape plan with your family, practicing it regularly. Ensure all exits are clear and accessible and identify alternate escape routes in case of blocked pathways.

Stay Calm: Panic can cloud judgment.

Take a deep breath and remember your escape plan.

Use Extinguishers Only If It Is Safe: If the fire is small and contained, and you have a clear escape route, you can attempt to extinguish it with a properly maintained fire extinguisher.

Aim at the base of the flames and sweep back and forth. However, prioritize escape if there’s any doubt about your safety.

Get Out, Stay Out: Don’t waste time trying to save belongings. Alert others in the house and evacuate immediately, closing doors behind you to slow the spread of fire and smoke.

Call Emergency Services: Once safely out of the house, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. Provide the dispatcher with clear information about the location and nature of the fire.

Wait for Professionals: Never re-enter a burning building. Firefighters are trained to combat flames and rescue those trapped inside. Wait for them to arrive and provide any information about the fire or trapped occupants.

Remember: Every second counts in a fire. Taking preventative steps, regular practice, clear communication, and prioritizing safety above possessions can make all the difference.

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or a fresh new kitchen at a fraction of the cost and without the mess of tearing out cabinets, consider refacing them instead. We replace doors, drawer fronts and trim with 1/4 inch hardwood for a solid, quality look and feel. New soft-close hinges, handles and knobs complete the look.

Hundreds of door styles and colors to choose from, and options include crown molding, pull-out storage, glass door fronts and undercabinet lighting. Custom countertops and tile backsplash provide a totally updated kitchen.

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of dirt. A retaining wall near their fence would provide elevation for the waterfall.

Up to the day of installation they were fine-tuning the plan, and Chris was able to accommodate changes on the spot.

Installation, including plumbing, electrical, water reclamation system and patio, took about two weeks, completed in November of 2022. Kat and Michael work at home as software developers, so they were able to watch the whole process as it unfolded.

They were impressed with how the Nature’s Re-Creations team enjoyed their work.

Creating a Total Sensory Experience in Their Yard

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hen Michael and Kat Slivka moved into what had been his parents’ house in Ballwin three years ago, there was a small pond in the backyard that Michael’s father had built himself. As Michael got involved in maintaining it, he developed an interest in water gardening and thought about adding to what his father had created.

The Pond-O-Rama water garden tour, put on each summer by the St. Louis Water Garden Society, really opened their eyes to what was possible. Michael was impressed with how lush and natural looking a water garden could be. It was on that tour that he and Kat first saw the work of Chris Siewing, owner and designer at Nature’s Re-Creations. Each one of his features they saw impressed them more. They also were able to also view his creations online.

Other owners of the water features, who tended to be older than the Slivkas, all said they wished they had theirs installed when they were younger, so they had more

years to enjoy them. That was an additional impetus to get going on their plans.

Once they decided that they wanted to work with Chris and Nature’s Re-Creations, Michael and Kat met with him to talk about their goals and what they were looking for. They wanted a pond large and deep enough for good sized koi to thrive, and waterfalls that would drown out the sound of traffic on the nearby street.

They really enjoyed being involved in the design process. Chris provided a few drawings, and after discussion they moved some things around. Chris was very considerate of what they wanted, and mindful of the trees and drainage in the yard so that installation and the pond and falls would not threaten either.

In addition to the feature, he designed a water reclamation system and a flagstone patio to replace what had been just a patch

Their feature has a waterfall cascading into an eight-foot stream leading to a 14’ X 20’ pond three feet deep. The water reclamation system has an 800-gallon tank buried underground.

The new pond now has nine multi-color koi, each about a foot in length. They have had a few predators, especially a heron that took two smaller koi and all the goldfish from the original small pond. Now they use a decoy heron to keep the real ones away, and their dog also discourages predators.

The Slivkas really love their water feature.

It is close to their house, so they experience it several times every day. They especially enjoy how it changes with seasons, and the relaxing sound of the waterfall. They hear it as soon as they walk outside, and with windows open they can hear it inside the house.

They keep the falls running 24/7 year-round. In winter ice forms like delicate shells over the waterfall and stream beneath, and they appreciate the natural boulders around the feature that are hidden by plants in the spring and summer. Even on gray days they feel invited by the sound and beauty of the running water. Lights come on automatically at night, and they have added an outdoor sound system that along with serenading frogs, complete the sensory experience of their water garden.

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CHRIS SIEWING is owner and president of Nature’s Re-Creations, nationally recognized as a Master Certified Aquascape Contractor, Missouri’s first Water Garden Excellence Member, firstplace winner of the North American Pond and Waterfall Building Competition and in the elite group of Aquascape Artists of the Year. Nature’s Re-Creations is the area’s leading designer and installer of custom water features. For over 27 years, they have

been committed to high quality design, workmanship and customer satisfaction.

Nature’s Re-Creations stays on the cutting edge of technology and installation techniques to continually improve their projects and the environment. To discuss a water feature project, you can contact Chris Siewing at 636-223-2330 or check out their gallery and fill out the contact form at www.

Re-createNature.com or view their portfolio at Facebook.com/NaturesReCreations.

Distinctive Plaster Finishes for Your Home or Business

For a free athome estimate or more information, call

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Handpicked by the finest craftsmen in the region, our team specializes in Old World stucco and interior plaster finishes, setting the standard for excellence. For over 70 years, we've delighted homeowners in St. Louis with flawless

installations and meticulous repairs.

Stucco This traditional exterior finish is available in a variety of styles, textures and architectural features.

Resists impact, water and fire, stands up to wet/dry and freeze/ thaw cycles.

Interior Plastering Venetian plaster is the ultimate in wall and ceiling finish for a truly impressive interior.

Cornices, crown molding, coffered and other decorative trims can be created.

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H AV E A B E AU T I F U L , N AT U R A L G A R D E N T H AT YO U D O N ’ T H AV E TO WO R RY A B O U T.

You Can Have a Garden that Deer Won’t Destroy

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B Y S T E V E C A L L O W AY

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ore homeowners these days complain about the proliferation of deer in their communities, and how every year they turn their lavish colorful perennial gardens into half-eaten, run-down patches. They are discouraged seeing their beautiful hostas, day lilies, roses, black-eyed susans and even evergreens eaten or stomped into the ground.

Based on research and years of experience, I would like to share with you ways that my company Garden Green is planning and planting attractive colorful gardens that can minimize the devastation from deer in your yard.

There are two ways we approach the problem. First, for established perennial gardens of vulnerable plants including those mentioned above, we place deer deterrent plants along borders, or at entry points to discourage deer from entering.

For instance, Native American flowering plants in the genus monada give off a bee balm, a powder that deer don’t like to brush up against. Monarda bradburiana has a pink flower that blooms in late spring. Monarda dittima is a hybrid species that blooms in early summer, and monarda fistulosa is a taller plant that can tolerate more sunlight, and blooms in mid-summer. Strategically planting these around your garden can keep deer away.

Then there are deer resistant plants; those that have a fragrance or taste that deer are known to avoid, or berries that don’t agree with them. These include native American plants like quinine, with serrated leaves and white flowers that bloom in late spring, skullcap, whose elegant bluish white flowers bloom in late summer, and rattlesnake master, showing unique spiky white flowers that attract orbiting skipper butterflies.

False dragonhead is a hardy plant with good, whimsical growth and pink flowers that bloom in late summer and early fall.

Lilacs and American beautyberry are also deer-resistant colorful flowering shrubs.

Beautyberry have their greatest effect in the fall, glossy metallic purple berries retain

their color until winter, and deer just don’t like the way they taste.

There are also deer-resistant grasses and evergreens that keep their color all year long, like sedges, beak grain, prairie dropseed, bottle brush and Indian grass, all hardy native plants in different heights with beautiful seedpods.

Another way to deter the damage from deer is in selecting the size of trees and shrubs.

It is better to buy those that are beyond saplings, with good bulk. Deer like to feed on the juvenile growth of smaller saplings, and they are more easily trampled.

This is just a small sampling of our solutions for lavish, colorful gardens even where the deer seem to be feeding on everything in sight.

Steve Calloway is owner of Garden Green Horticulture Service.

They help homeowners select the plants, trees and shrubbery that best meet their aesthetic desires and that will thrive in their sunlight, soil and moisture conditions. They also work to revitalize and restore gardens, to help homeowners with the changes that will make their yards better year after year.

You can call or email Steve for a complimentary consultation in your yard, to identify your plants and advise on how to keep them healthy and looking their best. You can reach Steve at 314-288-5036 or visit garden_green@live.com.

We Are Buckingham Pest Control Let Us Protect YOUR Palace.

Noel and Kristen Buckingham

Our Complimentary For 30 years we have protected Comprehensive Home Inspection homes and businesses in the assesses any issues you may not St. Louis area from ALL pests even be aware of. This includes including bedbugs, termites, wildlife, and rodents. We also offer termite inspection, attic inspection, and your exterior to assess rodent/ mole and mosquito programs for wildlife entry points to prevent your yard. One time service or bundled service programs for best future problems. results at lower cost.

Call today to set up our Complimentary Comprehensive When is the last time you looked Inspection at your home. in your attic? We also offer attic insulation and crawlspace encapsulation that keep pests out and reduce energy expenses. Spire BuckinghamPestControl.com offers low interest financing and Uncle Sam even offers rebates and incentives.

(636) 274-7400

Finest Custom Table Pads at Factory-Direct Prices The way to insure perfect table pads is for the provider to visit your home to accurately measure and show you sample colors and textures to match your table and décor.

Custom Table Pads, an independent St. Louis dealer, provides the finest custom American-made table pads at factory-direct prices. They measure at your home or business, and show you a choice of 23 vinyl tops and 5 velvet bottoms. Perfect fit is guaranteed. Pads are heat resistant to 550o, moisture and warp resistant. Patented hidden magnets minimize separation and slippage on your table.

Make Your Home Look Great, Feel Great, Perform Great It’s possible to do all three—without breaking the bank! Marla Esser Cloos, the Green Home Coach in her book Living Green Effortlessly: Simple Choices for a Better Home provides simple steps that can save you money now, increase your home’s value, and make your home healthier for you, your family—and the environment.

“Marla does a wonderful job simplifying what can often be an overwhelming subject. I found her action steps easy to understand (and more importantly...implement). In addition, she provided a TON of tips, tools and checklists that any homeowner would find invaluable. Overall, I found the content to be well organized and can see myself using this as a resource time and time again!”

-M. Fies, Homeowner

CUSTOM TABLE PADS OF ST. LOUIS Phone: 314-752-5577 Email: thetablepadman@gmail.com

Available at BuilderBooks.com

Simon Homes’ New Villas In Frontenac/Westwood Are Going Fast!

J

UST 3 OPPORTUNITIES

remain to build your dream home at The Enclave in Frontenac and Westwood!

“The energy is abundant” says Barry Simon, President of Simon Homes, with the demand for luxury unattached Villas continuing, leaving only lots 6, 7 & 11 available to build your dream home. Since the demand is so high, they canceled their display furniture and plan to offer the display for sale upon completion in early spring.

Private and pristine, The Enclave at Frontenac is a residential haven for those accustomed to quality. The luxurious homes are nestled in a private setting surrounded by lush landscaping and beautiful greenspace. Pricing from $1,350,000 to over $2,000,000.

One of the region’s most respected custom builders, Simon Homes offers an unparalleled lifestyle to the privileged villa owners in The Enclave located in Frontenac and the Village of Westwood. Only minutes away from

everywhere – near shopping, fine dining, and country clubs.

For directions, google 11411 N. Forty Drive, off Spoede Road at the former B’nai El Temple site.

The Villa portfolio showcases an array of elegant, free-standing unattached single-family homes on large homesites offering five ranches and a 1.5-story plan. All homesites will accommodate up to 3-car garages and nine of the eleven homesites will accommodate private side-entry garages.

This prestigious collection offers up to 4,090 square feet of living space, with an owner’s suite and secondary bedroom suite on the main floor of all plans. All their homes have a minimum of 10’ ceilings on the main level, full masonry exteriors and deep-pour foundations.

They also allow for completion of the lower level and as much as 2,000 additional square feet of finished area.

As a custom builder, Simon Homes accords you exceptional freedom to personalize your residence to suit your lifestyle. Working with their architects and staff, owners can expand and make structural changes, as desired.

Carefree living is, of course, another significant asset in the villas. Home security systems are included, as are attractive landscaping and irrigation systems. Yard care services and snow removal from driveways, sidewalks, and porches are provided to owners – relieving you of the tedious responsibility of exterior maintenance and ensuring the year-round beauty of your fashionable villa.

Serene, sophisticated, and stress-free – your villa lifestyle in The Enclave is a new dimension in prestige living. For information you may contact Tracie Baum at (314) 469-4888 or (314) 713-6050.

Wildlife and Native Landscaping Bring the delight of perennial wildflowers and native grasses to your own yard.

Butterflies, hummingbirds and migratory birds will follow.

GARDEN GREEN provides

landscape design and installation of annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, soil, stone and mulch.

Offers maintenance and renovation of residential and commercial properties; spectacular gardens, identification and removal of invasive plants, rainscaping, deer-resistant gardens and more.

Spring is a great time to plant. Call or email today for a free consultation.

GARDEN GREEN HORTICULTURE SERVICE

314-288-5036

garden_green@live.com

Take a fresh road trip.

County Living columnist

JOHN DRAKE ROBINSON

EMMY

for his unique travelogs based on his books.

John’s Newest Book, Souls Along The Road, Is Hot Off The Press The stories along these roads reflect life’s uneven rhythms.

Fun. Fear. Breakdowns and revelations. The beauty of violent storms. The scents of September sycamores and campfires, forest fires and kitchen fires. His stories serve up tastes and touches and sounds you can’t coax from a tweet. You probably shouldn’t read this during church.

Available at fine bookstores everywhere. Or email John at cjrobin@socket.net Read more stories at johndrakerobinson.com/blog Photos by Cheryl Robinson

INSPIRING INTERIORS Jeanne Lashmett, IIDA, provides space planning, kitchen/bath design, new construction and complete home remodels, and furniture/accessory selection. Now also offering commercial interior design services Set your appointment today for a complimentary discovery call.

JML Interior Design The Interior Design Center of St. Louis 11622 Page Service Drive Suite 108 St. Louis, MO 63146 314-435-4233 JMLinteriors.net

EVENTS

CO U NT Y

LIVI N G

Spring Activities & Events Take advantage of these wonderful events. Make this the year you get back out and enjoy the special festivals and entertainment events across the St. Louis metro area.

PLEASE NOTE: These events were still scheduled as of press time. Check websites for updates.

ST. CHAR LES HOM E SHOW

MOU LIN ROUG E

April 5-7 St. Charles Convention Center stlhomeshow.com/stcharles TH E BOOK OF MOR MON

ANIMAL S AG LOW

May 2-5 Queeny Park stlouisbookfair. org MAPLE WOOD STRING FEST

E LL SWORTH KE LLY

MATISSE AN D TH E SE A

OZ AR K FOOTHILL S 100 MAR ATHON

April 15-16 Wildwood facebook.com/ozarkfoothills

G E TAWAYS

February 17-May 12 St. Louis Art Museum slam.org MAPLE WOOD COFFE E CR AWL

March 23 Downtown Maplewood cityofmaplewood.com/ fun

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H E R LIN RILE Y

April 3-7 Jazz St. Louis My.jazzstl.org

G R E ATE R ST. LOU IS BOOK FAIR

April 9-14 The Fox fabulousfox.com

St. Louis Zoo March 13 - May 5 Wednesdays thru Sundays stlzoo.org

Through April 7 St. Louis Art Museum slam.org

April 30-May 12 The Fox fabulousfox.com

CAR DINAL S HOM E OPE N E R

May 3 Downtown Maplewood TASTE OF MAPLE WOOD STR E ET FESTIVAL

May 17-18 Downtown Maplewood cityofmaplewood.com/ fun

April 4 Busch Stadium cardinals.com STAR WARS: TH E L AST J E DI IN CONCE RT

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra April 13-14 slso.org

ART ON TH E SQ UAR E

Belleville, IL May 17-19 artonthesquare.com

On The Road

WITH JOHN DRAKE ROBINSON Read this and other stories in John’s book, Coastal Missouri, and more road tales in his other two books A Road Trip into America’s Hidden Heart and Souls Along the Road, available at Left Bank Books. More of his stories are at johndrakerobinson.com.

The Story of Mankind with a Missouri Flavor

BY JOHN DR AKE ROBINSON

W F E AT U R E D

CO L U M N

itness a dramatic tour de force that brings Missouri’s Buffalo Soldiers to life. Experience Native American storytelling, or feel the heat of the Great Saint Louis Fire of 1849. Hear Laura Ingalls Wilder—through a presenter in full-costume—talk about her years in Mansfield, Missouri.

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Hear the dramatic story about the largest drainage project in the world. Within two decades, Bootheel “swampland was converted into one of the richest agricultural regions in the nation.”

Learn the stories of great African American women in Missouri, like Annie Malone and Harriet Scott.

Topics are as varied as Missouri’s vast and diverse history and culture, from the founding of Lincoln University to a

These are just a few of the dozens of presentations ready and willing to visit your town, your group, organization or local library. In fact, the Missouri Humanities Council may already have an event scheduled near you. See the calendar at mohumanities. org/events.

The council provides a list of 52 topics available through the Missouri Speakers Bureau. The bureau offers a list of highly qualified public speakers on a wide variety of topics about Missouri people, culture, history and geography. If you've ever been responsible for scheduling a speaker to spice up your upcoming meeting, you know the difficulty of coming up with unique presentations. As you search for that perfect presentation, check out the lineup from the Missouri Speakers Bureau.

With a tip of the cowboy hat to the real Rawhide, saddle up vicariously with the vaqueros, the first Hispanic cowboys who made the cattle drives to Sedalia and Kansas City successful.

You can see a roster of the available presenters and presentations at https://mohumanities.org/schedule-a-speaker/ The website offers details about how to contact and arrange speaker presentations.

What are humanities? According to the Missouri Humanities Council website: “Simply put, the humanities are the study of how people connect to the human experience through history, culture, and traditions. Missouri Humanities is dedicated to enriching lives and strengthening communities by connecting Missourians with the people, places, and ideas that shape our society. The Humanities allow us to explore stories from people who came before us, appreciate places that have changed with time, and learn from past ways of thinking in order to form a brighter future for generations to come.”

Put another way, it’s “the story of being human.”

Photo: Cheryl Robinson

different perspective on the tragic Trail of Tears, or the establishment of Missouri’s 19th-century utopian communities.

Listen to an oral historian recount stories from the Ozarks. Or find out why prairies matter, and learn the benefits of native plants, including pollinator habitats. Get insights to the Civil War through glimpses of 400 letters written between a husband and wife during the conflict, or follow the exploits of William Quantrill, “father of post-Civil War Missouri banditry.”

As a disclaimer, I have been on both sides of the situation: looking for just the right speaker for a group, and now, as a member of the Speakers Bureau. My subject is entitled A Road Trip into America's Hidden Heart. I tailor my presentation to the location and the group.

On March 23, I’ll join the Ozark Natural & Cultural Resource Center in Salem for the opening of a Smithsonian traveling exhibit named Crossroads: Change in Rural America.

And on May 14 I’ll speak at the History on Elm lecture series at the State Historical Society of Missouri in Columbia.

Remember what Harry Truman said: “The only thing new in the world is the history you don't know.”

If you have a Missouri story to tell, contact the Missouri Speakers Bureau. Presenters are selected through an application process.

A Place in the Country

BY BILL ZIE RCH E R

Bill Ziercher has been active in building, buying, selling, and managing real estate and income property for over 30 years. Bill is a Charter Member of the American Tree Farm System and his timber property is ATFS certified. Bill is a lifetime member of Quail Forever and the National Rifle Association. For a free consultation on marketing your distinctive estate or rural property, you can contact Bill at 314.412.3966, licensed by PFRG.

Buy land. They ain't making any more of the stuff.

So, What’s Happening In Rural Real Estate

For sellers the market has seen a 25-35% increase in values the past few years due to several factors. First the Covid epidemic really drove up demand due to wealthier people buying up rural properties, and and connections to weather the downturn accelerated by virtual working, eHealth, during this dry increased internet spell of listings. connectivity, conBuy land. They ain't making The Pareto princinecting with the any more of the stuff. ple states that for outdoors and a lot many outcomes, –Will Rogers of people getting roughly 80% of frustrated by consequences come issues associated with urban living. from 20% of causes (the "vital few").

This trend shows no signs of letting up.

Another name for this principle is the Right now, we are seeing a real shortage of 80/20 rule. available inventory (property for sale) with

I think for buyers the greatest reason for owning rural property is Memory Dividends. A memory dividend is a return on investment you get from the creation of memories. Every time you are reminded of a moment, an event, a conversation, a person, a scent or a taste, you are getting an emotional return on your previous investment. It gives me great pleasure helping people enjoy the benefits of owning rural property and experience a lot of the traditional values that it instills.

F E AT U R E D

B

rad has been my financial advisor for years. I used to ask him how the stock market is doing, and he would always give me the same answer, “It is going up.” He would ask me how rural property is going, and I would give him the same answer, “It is going up.” Looking ahead, rural property will remain strong for both buyers and sellers.

well as a part of one’s investment portfolio.

Over the course of time land has been done better than gold and been outperformed by the S&P 500 Index just marginally.

Additionally, many people like land as a long-term asset class, as it is considered the no relief in sight. Also, rural properties asset with the longest lifespan. And unlike buyers are not nearly as interest rate sensiyour 401K or other investments, you and tive as home buyers. your family can Owners of rural properenjoy and use If the most valuable ty who would like to sell this asset. should strongly consider thing you have are happy As the table using full-time experimemories, you have led a below shows, enced professionals who rich life. in 2023 rural specialize in rural prop–Matshona Dhliwayo property values erties. There is a reason in Missouri, that 10% of my cohorts especially pastureland and hunting or represent 90% of the rural real estate recreational properties, increased substantransactions. Personally, I like seeing the tially in value. These increases were greater scarcity of listings because it is causing a than for cropland or timberland, which lot of agents who have recently entered the also were up over 2022. market to leave. They lack the experience

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–Will For Rogers buyers rural real estate has always done

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Based on 2023 Missouri Farmland Opinion Survey

If the most valuable Cropland thing you have are happy memories, you have led a Irrigated rich life. Good Average Poor State Avg. Increase vs. 2022

–Matshona $9,678 $8,631 Dhliwayo $6,951 $5,527

6%

4%

4%

6%

Pastureland

Timberland

Hunting or Recreation

$3,994

$4,383

6%

14%

Good Average Poor $5,139 7%

$4,555 $3,831 11%

11%

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Missouri Rural Property Values (Dollars per Acre)

Artisans

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The Art of Book Making

BY JIM WINNE RMAN

W G E TAWAYS

hen Joanne Kluba embarks on a creative journey to design and produce a one-ofa-kind book for a client, she literally starts with a blank page. When she stitches the last page into the binding, her book art is ready to be admired, treasured, and passed down for generations in the family of the person who commissioned her work.

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“I earned a BFA in printmaking from Webster University and have always enjoyed working with my hands and recording my personal experiences in journals I made,” says the Affton resident.

So, for thirteen years while working as a graphic artist in the corporate world, Joanne was also learning bookmaking with Richard Baker, a rare book and paper conservator in St. Louis.

“I have always thought people would appreciate having handmade books and journals for themselves. Then, when computers changed graphic design, I decided to open my own studio and create what I love for others.”

“I really am enjoying making something for people who appreciate what I do on a personal level. I feel like what I do is

create books that inspire the imagination to take flight, so I named my business Paper Birds,” she explains.

Joanne incorporates a myriad of skills into each book. The pages are embellished with her watercolors, and frequently feature her calligraphy to amplify the purpose of the book. A book for a client’s grandmother who was a master quilter displayed different quilt patterns on each page.

Pages may include a collage or photo printed on paper carefully selected for its color and texture. Several pages may have handmade pockets added to hold a memento or photo that can be taken out and appreciated. Custom tabs are created and added to books with many chapters.

Her creativity seems endless. A guest register for a wedding was made using silks in shades of the wedding flowers. Next to

each guest’s signature was a pocket Joanne created for a photo taken at the reception.

Even the clasp that holds a one-of-a-kind book closed is individualized. For a client who loved nature, an acorn was the clasp, while an arrowhead was used on a book for an American history aficionado.

For a book that featured a profile of an author on the cover, the outer edge of each page was cut in the shape of the profile.

Some books have a leather embossed cover she created. For the most elaborate books she builds a box to hold the book.

The final touch is a creative hand binding to stitch the pages together into a book.

Artful stitching patterns are usually left showing, easily identifying it as something very special.

“It is important for custom book pages to open and close comfortably for signing or scrapbooking. A book should not have to be forced open,” she says. “I bind each one so it works for its purpose.”

Joanne’s studio in south St. Louis occupies a storefront filled with colorful papers and tabletops crowded with projects in different stages of completion. Samples of books and journals she has made as well as custom-made blank books are displayed for sale on shelves.

Dating to the late 1800s, a large black hand-operated standing book press is used for rounding the backs of books, and a mammoth paper cutter called a board sheer are used almost daily. “When you are a one-person shop, it is all handwork,” she says.

Other special tools include nipping presses for securely binding fabric to boards, and handmade quills she uses to add character to her calligraphy.

Joanne has received several accolades for her work. Photos of her books are included in each of two volumes of coffee table books titled “500 Handmade Books” published by Lark Books.

She has also participated in the Biennales Mondiales de la Reliure d’art, a bi-annual competition for book artists held in Paris. It is the most prestigious display and competition among book artists, drawing entries from 30 nations.

Joanne is a member of the St. Louis Calligraphy Guild and the Guild of Bookworkers, and her work has been both purchased by and donated to several libraries.

She also teaches calligraphy and bookbinding and repairs and refurbishes the covers of old collectible books. A recent project was adding a new binding and reattaching the cover of a 12” x 15” Psalter published in 1776.

“I was especially busy during the pandemic,” Joanne remembers. “It seemed like everyone was sitting at home staring at old bibles and cookbooks that were in disrepair, and they ended up in my studio.”

Her profession is so unique, most business comes from referrals from past customers or referrals from bookstores or libraries that have used her talent.

Her handmade art books usually sell for $50 to $150, but larger and more complex books may reach $1,500. Repair costs are determined individually.

“A handmade book should touch you in an emotional way so that you feel every part and page was carefully thought about,” Joanne says.

“A lot more goes into making a book than people realize, so it is always a thrill to see how delighted someone is when they pick up a completed repair or a custom book,” she says. “Even though I work at the direction of a client, and I keep them informed throughout the process, once they see what they have helped design, the final product always exceeds their expectations.”

Joanne Kluba sells by appointment from her studio located at 4175 Loughborough Avenue.

to offer before, during and after your build is complete.

LOTS OF LIVING OPTIONS, CLOSE TO HOME

Enjoy Recreation and Relaxation Year-Round at Innsbrook

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magine being able to live in a place where every day is the weekend. A short drive from home is Innsbrook: where your daily dreams of escape from reality actually become a reality. Whether your idea of a perfect weekend is ultimate adventure or peaceful relaxation – you can customize your own piece of paradise at Innsbrook. This resort community offers more than 100 lakes, warm sandy beaches, multiple nature trails, an amenity complex with pool, lazy river, fitness center and more; a full-service restaurant, coffee shop, a championship 18hole golf course, and events and activities year-round for all ages. Innsbrook is the best of both worlds for those who want to be in harmony with nature, but have all the comforts of city living just 30-45 minutes away.

AMENITIES FOR EVERYONE Innsbrook offers opportunities for recreational activities year-round. Golf is a favorite for many guests and residents at Innsbrook. This recently renovated 18-hole championship course sits amid rolling, wooded hillsides, narrow fertile valleys, and 12 sparkling lakes, complete with lush Zoysia fairways and impeccable bentgrass greens. If the culinary arts are what delight you, Innsbrook proudly offers multiple places to dine. There is casual food truck fare at the Par Bar, which is open during the golf season to give golfers, residents and guests a quick place to pick up a cocktail and lunch on the pro shop patio. Another casual option is the poolside Summerhaus

at the Charrette Creek Commons.

Wanting a seated lunch or dinner with family and friends? Stop by the Clubhouse Bar & Grille or the Market Café and Creamery. The Clubhouse is situated at the 18th green and features a full bar, lunch and dinner menus along with live music on the weekends. The Market Café and Creamery is Innsbrook’s newest café, located near the main gate with an entrance just for the public on Highway F. Both residents and guests alike can enjoy their favorite Starbucks beverages, pastries, sandwiches, and even hand-dipped ice cream daily.

LAKE LIFE Over duration of the pandemic (and still today), more families than ever took refuge in the resort’s peaceful, gated environment and chose to adopt the serene Innsbrook lifestyle. As popularity of the community increases, new developments, including the Treehouses of Talblick, opened up (Phase III will open this fall). Those seeking a life of leisure can secure their desired lot, enjoy all the amenities of ownership now, and build when the time is right at your own pace. As our expert construction and design team help plan and execute your dream home, you can enjoy all that Innsbrook has

Innsbrook’s natural charm leaves a lasting impression on visitors and residents. From quaint cottages and rustic chalets nestled in the woods, maintenance-free villas and cozy condos to custom homes and the newest treehouses perched on a bluff, Innsbrook is the natural choice for living the life you have always imagined. Being a nearby sanctuary for over 50 years, families can enjoy the lake lifestyle and other amenities throughout the year, including open-air concerts during the summer, kids’ camps and activities, artist workshops, pickleball, tennis, volleyball, equestrian activities and more.

Residents and guests can often be seen relaxing on their private docks or entertaining guests on their wrap-around decks overlooking the forest below. Kids can skip stones, roast marshmallows, track wildlife, or build forts - hearkening back to days

when having fun meant having freedom to get dirty while exploring nature’s wonders.

Picture your perfect family weekend or couple’s getaway, a retreat to a place where you can enjoy the great outdoors or just cuddle by the fire.

Innsbrook would love to welcome you to become a part of the next generation of “IBKers” and discover the lifestyle and time-honored traditions. Despite having to navigate through the pandemic challenges, the Innsbrook community continues to provide a baseline of normalcy and peace within its gates. Innsbrook’s 7,500+ acres of spacious, secluded property and amenities allow you to safely live life with little interruption.

To join the Innsbrook family today, contact one of Innsbrook’s expert agents at 636.928.3366 ext. 9199 or property@ innsbrook-resort.com. Or, explore Innsbrook without an appointment from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week, or virtually at innsbrook-resort.com.

The County Living Pool Handbook

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16 Ways to Add Enjoyment to Your Pool This Year

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Handsome Fences, Decks and Pergolas

Chesley Fence & Deck provides security, privacy and safety.

Fences: cedar, aluminum and vinyl Decking: wood and composite Pergolas: stationary and operable

PRE-SEASON SALE

Savings on Fences, Decks, Pergolas for New Orders Before April 30, 2024. Call today for details:

800-222-6676

We have served more than 80,000 amazing customers over 55 years!

Visit Chesleyfence.com or our showrooms: 1707 Gilsinn Lane Fenton, MO 63026 9723 IL-161 Fairview Heights, IL 62208

P O O L

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Is Your Pool Safe?

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Home swimming pools offer years of fun and activity for families.

They also can be a significant threat to young children in the home or the neighborhood.

The vast majority of children who drown in home pools were not expected to be in or around the pool.

Most children who drown in home pools enter the water without parent or caregiver knowing. Don’t test your child’s swimming by allowing this to occur!

Prevent Access To The Pool Area Ensure pool barriers enclose the entire pool area, are at least 4 feet high with self-closing gates, self-latching

and open outward away from the pool.

Keep toys not in use away from the pool and out of sight. They can attract young children into the pool.

ter, even if a lifeguard is present.

Do not serve alcoholic beverages to individuals who are or will be supervising or participating in water activities.

Know How To Respond To An Aquatic Emergency

Pool covers and pool alarms offer added layers of protection.

If a child is missing, always look in the pool first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability.

Set Rules For The Pool And Enforce Them Without Fail

Know how and when to call 911 or the local emergency number.

No children allowed in the pool without an adult; the pool area is off limits without adult supervision.

Enroll in water safety, first aid and CPR courses to learn what to do.

Insist that babysitters, grandparents and others who care for children know these lifesaving skills.

Nobody swims alone.

No bottles or glass around the pool.

No running or pushing.

No diving unless the pool meets the safety standards.

Make sure everyone in the household learns to swim well.

Designate a responsible individual to watch over children whenever they are in, on or around any body of wa-

Have appropriate equipment, such as reaching or throwing equipment, a cell phone, life jackets and a first aid kit, and practice using it.

For more information or to enroll in Swimming and Water Safety courses, contact American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter.

M A S T E R

For a free athome estimate or more information, call

314-909-8877

Call about Our Pre-Season Offer!

EXPIRES: April 30, 2024

P L A S T E R I N G

Schilli Plastering Makes Your Pool a Work of Art We are the leader in pool remodeling in St. Louis, and the only licensed PebbleTec® applicator in the Midwest, with over 10,000 finishes applied in the past 34 years. Our company is family owned and operated, for over 70 years.

We offer unlimited design options that will elevate your pool to a new level of beauty, tranquility and value. Every Schilli Plastering pool finish is a unique work of environmental art, hand-crafted with a life expectancy of 15-20 years. Each finish comes with a 5-year warranty on labor and materials.

New logo . . . same commitment to quality.

Visit our showroom at 13284 Corporate Exchange Drive Bridgeton, MO 63044 See a gallery of our plastered pools at

www.SchilliPlastering.com

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a regular maintenance routine or pool professionals who maintain it for you. If you are new L to pool maintenance or HANDB could use some reminders, this checklist should be helpful.

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Ten Steps for Effective Pool Maintenance

1. Run your pump enough to do its job. It should run about 1 hour for every 10 degrees of temperature.

Good circulation is important for a low-maintenance swimming pool.

Has your swimming pool seen better days? Is your backyard in desperate need of a total makeover? Midwest Aquatic Solutions offers the full range of expert services to rehabilitate and/or modernize your concrete swimming pool and all that surrounds. As part of the Baker Pool family of companies, the premier pool builders in the St. Louis area, we have established relationships and resources to provide the full range of specialized expertise to repair and upgrade all aspects of your concrete pool.

Call today for a complimentary at-home visit, the first step in getting your pool and backyard ready for your family to enjoy for many years to come.

3. Don’t allow pH to get above 8.0. At 7.0 chlorine is about 75% active, but at 8.5, it is less than 15% active. By keeping pH in check, you use the full potential of chlorine already in the pool.

4. Keep alkalinity between 80-140 PPM. Too low or high make it more difficult for a sanitizer to do its job.

5. Check total dissolved solids or calcium hardness on a regular basis.

You should check TDS twice a year and calcium hardness once a month.

2. Check pool chemistry often.

Twice a week in summer and once a week in cooler

Bringing Integrity and Quality to Swimming Pool Rehabilitation and Remodeling

months. Make minor adjustments to water chemistry instead of big changes that swing water chemistry up and down.

6. Check and clean the cells in salt water systems. If cells are corroded or calcified they will not produce enough chlorine.

7. Clean the skimmer basket and/ or hair and lint pot in the pool pump. If these get full you will have little flow, resulting in poor circulation.

8. Don’t add chemicals, especially liquid chlorine, during daylight hours. Add chemicals in evening after the sun has set. You will get more out of them.

9. Brush clean the walls and tile. This will help eliminate algae problems. If tile becomes calcified, it hardens like plaque and will take a specialist to remove it.

10. Keep an eye on water level.

During hottest months, pool may lose more water. An excessive drop in water level could be a leak. Check underwater lights, backwash lines, underground return lines and skimmer.

If these are OK, it could be a structure or shell leak, or for a vinyl pool a hole in the liner.

Enjoy a Complete Rehab of Your Concrete Pool

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

(636) 537-8280 midwestaquaticsolutions.com 525 Spirit of St. Louis Blvd.

BEFORE

Specializing Exclusively in Complete Concrete Pool Rehabs

Baker Pool Construction

To request an appointment or receive more information, call us at

636.519.POOL

or visit www.bakerpoolconstruction.com We look forward to hearing from you!

Complete Services to Restore Your Pool Deck

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ver the winter months, grit, mold and mildew stains leave your concrete pool deck looking dirty.

EnduraCrete® offers a full range of services to get it looking better than ever.

POWER WASHING FOR A FRESH CLEAN DECK

EnduraCrete power washing, using their own customized cleaning solutions, powers through that black build-up and helps maintain an extended clean appearance. It also eliminates the surface slickness that can result in slips and falls.

tenance programs.

BEAUTIFUL CONCRETE TRANSFORMATIVE SERVICES

EnduraCrete provides a variety of transformative services capable of turning dull gray concrete into a value-added source of pride. Everyone can enjoy the pool deck safely without toasting their toes with EnduraCrete Kool-CreteTM concrete coating. KoolCrete can reduce your concrete surface temperature by as much as 30 degrees allowing your pool deck to be the refreshing space you envi-

sioned it being on those hot days.

If you have cracks in your concrete pool deck, you have movement, which means any treatment is going to need to flex with your property. Most coatings systems are designed for a stable surface, and will crack, check and split with underlying movement.

EnduraCrete Deck-a-FlexTM is specifically engineered for such applications with enhanced flexibility. EnduraCrete Deck-A-Flex can restore that clean quality cared-for appearance free from cracks and have your patio party-ready in no time.

Their concrete repair, polishing, staining, epoxy coating, Kool-Crete overlays, sealing and anti-slip treatments deliver a customized concrete surface designed to meet your desired look and feel.

Regardless of what problems you encounter with your concrete surfaces, there is a solution. You can call the professionals at EnduraCrete St. Louis at 314-949-7428 for a free at-home estimate or visit www.marblelife-stlouis.com.

You can keep it looking its best with an EnduraCrete maintenance program and never see ugly concrete again – for pool deck, sidewalks, and driveway with their auto-visit main-

Save Money

By Renewing Your Outdoor Furniture If your outdoor furniture is worn, you don’t have to spend the money on new furniture.

Apple Tree Custom Sewing specializes in renewing fine outdoor furniture by custom-making new strapping, slings and upholstered cushions.

We have hundreds of fabrics to choose from, or bring in your own.

BEFORE

Start the Pool Season with Fresh Clean Cushions on Your Outdoor Furniture To enjoy relaxing on your patio and by the pool, make sure your outdoor furniture is cleaned and ready to use.

Even if your cushions are covered during the winter, they may accumulate dust and dirt, so it’s a good idea to have them cleaned before the season starts.

APPLE TREE CUSTOM SEWING

Woodard’s upholstery cleaning removes dirt and stains proper solutions to banish blemishes on outdoor fabrics. Our Scotchgard, Mildewcide and Deodorizers help prevent stains, mildew and unpleasant odors, and prolong the life of your outdoor furniture.

PRE-SEASON SPECIAL: Save 20% when you drop off and pick up your cushions.

10214 Watson Rd, Sunset Hills, MO 63127 314-752-8733 appletreecustomsewing@ yahoo.com

AFTER

Call Us Today at 314-227-7059

woodard247.com

Not valid with other offers, restoration or commercial services.

Offer expires 4/30/2024.

Let Us Design & Build Your Custom Deck . . .That You Can Enjoy Above or Below, Rain or Shine

S

ince 1991 Aesthetic Design & Build has been building beautiful decks throughout St. Louis and St. Charles counties. We work with each client to create a unique design that fits their home and lifestyle. Wrap-around custom decks and staircases can be built with a variety of low-maintenance decking and railings.

LOUVERED ROOF

The DryPro under deck ceiling system is a cost-effective way to expand your living space by providing shade and rain protection for outdoor seating areas or bars.

The louvered roof and opening pergola are innovative solutions for residential and commercial outdoor living spaces. These sturdy, fully motorized systems offer protection from the rain, while allowing the flexibility of adjustable amounts of shade and light.

UNDER DECK CEILING

Call today for a Free Estimate at your Home

314-350-3330

See our photo gallery of other projects at AestheticDesignandBuild.com

P O L Y L E V E L ®

C O N C R E T E

R E P A I R

BEFORE

AFTER

Does Your Pool Deck Have Uneven Concrete Surfaces?

Shifted concrete slabs look bad and are tripping hazards that can cause injuries.

If your pool deck has a seam that has turned into a step, or repeated cracking, it’s probably caused by a weak soil base or erosion below. The good news is the concrete does not have to be torn out and poured again to fix the problem.

Woods Basement Systems offers the exclusive PolyLevel® process that injects a lightweight polyurethane mix, which expands to fill the void and lift concrete slabs to a level, even position.

We will inspect your pool deck and also concrete walks, patios, steps and driveway, and provide a free quote to have them leveled with PolyLevel.

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

Call today to have one of our concrete repair experts visit your home.

866-735-1890 www.betterbasementvalue.com

AFTER

Set Your Concrete Pool Deck in Natural Stone Pebbles

UGLY CONCRETE POOL DECK? COVER IT WITH THE BEAUTY & TEXTURE OF EPOXY STONE. No tear-out required. We make your concrete pool deck more attractive than new, with natural river rock that’s cool to the touch and textured for safety.

Multiple color blends to choose from.

Also a great solution for concrete driveways, basement and garage floors, patios, steps, walkways and porches.

OUR EXPERIENCE IS SET IN STONE

For a free estimate, call

314-279-7820

Visit epoxystoneinc.com for a gallery of colors to choose from.

PRE-SEASON SAVINGS

Receive $350 to $1,500 OFF Savings relative to size of project. Minimums apply. Excludes jobs in progress.

Not valid with any other offer. Expires 4/30/24.

Start the Season with a Freshly Painted Pool

BAZAN PAINTING COMPANY IS THE EXPERT IN POOL PAINTING Since 1977, Bazan Painting Company has been providing full-service painting and decorating services, with a specialty in painting swimming pools. We also offer sandblasting, water blasting and power washing.

Our diverse and highly trained team has the right skills to complete your project on time and to your satisfaction. We stand behind the quality and durability of our work with a standard one year warranty.

Many of our clients have been with us for over 20 years. We know the importance of meeting deadlines, which is why we strive to complete all of our projects on time.

For a freshly painted pool to begin your swim season, call us today.

“We have had the pleasure of working with Bazan Painting Company for over 20 years. Their adherence to the schedule, level of quality, customer service and pricing allow us to feel confident that the project will be done on time and correctly.”

WWW.BAZANPAINTING.COM

–WESTPORT POOLS

EXPERIENCE, PROFESSIONALISM, DIVERSATILITY

314-991-3500

Give Your Pool Deck a Makeover with Our Unlimited Colors and Designs!

Sundek® is a beautiful, durable new surface for your pool deck. It can be designed to look like brick, tile or flagstone, incorporated with our Classic Texture finish. It’s slip-resistant and cooler to walk on than plain concrete, resists stains and very little maintenance is required. Great for walkways, driveways and patios, too.

41st Anniversary Special:

SAVE UP TO $600 OFF YOUR JOB Savings based on 10% off of DCR work. New clients only.

One offer per customer. Must present this ad at time of estimate.

Offer expires 4/30/24.

Call for a free estimate 636-256-6733 See more samples of our work at ChoosePrettyConcrete.com

Also Garages and Basements!

Garage Before

Garage After

Basement Before

Basement After

The People Factor When you contemplate selling your enterprise, a multitude of concerns can loom large. Important among these concerns is often the fate of the dedicated individuals who have been instrumental in helping you build the business. The fear of disruption, layoffs, or a significant cultural shift can be a significant worry. The average buyer appreciates how important this is to you because it shows that you have genuine concern for the future of your company.

An educated buyer should have the goals of not only safeguarding but enhancing the well-being of the existing team.

Business brokers play a pivotal role in identifying buyers who not only appreciate the business's ethos but also seek to integrate and build upon it. Knowing a potential

Retaining talent is not just a post-acquisition consideration but a proactive strategy.

We are all conditioned by watching movies and listening to the evening news to expect massive layoffs after a business acquisition.

This may be true of billion dollar deals with layers of redundancy or even with aggressive competitive takeovers. Most middle market and small business transactions are quite the opposite, especially as far as the people. To the extreme that purchases are sometimes even contingent on certain staff staying aboard.

The Importance Of Communication Effective communication is the cornerstone of any successful business acquisition.

Business brokers should help to facilitate transparent and open dialogue between the buyer and seller regarding the future of the existing team. This includes addressing concerns about job security, role transitions, and any potential changes in organizational structure. By fostering clear communication channels, trust can be built between the parties and pave the way for a smoother transition.

You can contact Jeff for a free, confidential, no-obligation discussion about selling your business or buying a business at 314-941-8530, or by email at jbach@ fusionadvantage.com.

A business broker's role extends beyond financial assessments; it involves a thorough evaluation of the potential buyer's approach to human capital. Conducting employee-centric due diligence ensures that the buyer has a comprehensive understanding of the skills, expertise, and aspirations of the existing team. Armed with this knowledge, the buyer can formulate strategies to harness the strengths of the workforce and integrate them seamlessly into the new organizational framework.

In the intricate dance of business acquisitions, the role of people often takes center stage. While your concerns of what happens to your people are 100% legitimate, rest easy. Your people are an important part of a successful transition, and you will have a chance to learn your buyer’s intentions before you move forward with any deal.

In the realm of acquisitions, success is not solely measured by financial gains but by the seamless integration of people, ensuring a thriving future for both the business and its invaluable team.

F I N A N C E

buyer’s needs and strategies is part of the broker’s job. This should be part of the relationship with qualified buyers. And the broker must provide complete confidentiality about a pending transaction, or even that the business owner is considering selling, to maintain morale of the people in the business.

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n the dynamic landscape of buying and selling businesses, we often find the spotlight shining on financials, synergies, and market share.

However, astute business brokers understand that the true bedrock of a successful sale or acquisition lies in the people who drive the business forward.

Let’s talk about the pivotal role that individuals play in the acquisition process.

By addressing the concerns you may have about the fate of your valued team, we aim to highlight the importance of prioritizing people to unlock a seamless and prosperous transition.

B U S I N E S S

BY J E F F BACH

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The Crucial Role of The People when Selling Your Business

JEFF BACH is part of the team of top business brokers in this area at Fusion Business Brokers. They combine the highest levels of technology, marketing and professional experience for the needs of business owners. With access to their large network of qualified buyers, Jeff offers the best opportunity to help you successfully sell your business. He only gets paid when you sell. Valuations are provided at no charge and are the starting point to knowing the right approach to selling your business. Jeff also helps qualified buyers find and buy a business that meets their goals. He is an Official Member of Forbes Business Council.

It Pays to Review Your Internet, TV and Cell Services YOU MAY BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE HIGHER SPEEDS AT LOWER COST.

B Y D E D E C AT S AV I S COMPUTER TUTORS is a local, woman-owned small business founded in 1997. DEDE CATSAVIS is the founder and owner. For 25 years they have provided computer services to thousands of satisfied, happy customers.

B U S I N E S S

&

F I N A N C E

Computer Tutors works on Windows and MAC computers, sets up home networks, eliminates viruses and also will help with any of your other electronic devices. You can reach them at 314-608-7920, and at www. computertutors.net.

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any people who call us are frustrated with their cell phone, internet and TV providers. They seem to keep raising rates while eliminating channels and services. Once someone mentions their exasperation with these providers, I set up an appt for one of our techs, usually Jeff, to review their current service plans and what they’re getting for their money.

Often, just by looking at their

bill(s), Jeff can make some recommendations to either cut costs or increase service options – or both.

One such client had him come to her home last month after realizing she was paying over $400 per month for TV/phones/internet.

Jeff looked at her cell phone, TV and internet plans and made some suggestions based on the channels she watched and internet speeds she needed. He installed antenna(s) to provide uninterrupted local channels, put

If Your Sales Reps Are Too Busy to Handle Phone Work, Someone Else Should Be Doing It for Them.

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ne aspect of selling frustrates many top salespeople. That is making cold calls or follow-up calls. Some of these high performers just don’t like the hit-or-miss aspect of reaching the right people on the phone, and many of them don’t handle these tasks all that well.

They may lack computer skills to handle prospecting more efficiently or may be so eager to get appointments that they don’t adequately qualify prospects. That wastes their precious selling time, keeping them from achieving their sales goals.

What to do about this?

Consider getting help from Rainmaker Sales Support. For 25 years they have been efficiently assembling qualified prospect lists, setting sales appointments, prospecting and providing customer follow-up, phone sales and trade show support.

And Rainmaker is now offering other ways in combination with calling to reach your prospects - emailing, texting, and LinkedIn outreach. The combination makes what they do even more powerful. By delivering appointments and follow-through that lead to sales success they more than pay for themselves.

And it is client satisfaction and retention that keeps them in business.

her on YouTube TV to stream all the same “cable” channels she previously had. He looked at her wi-fi network and was able to get her higher speed for lower cost just by calling the company on her behalf.

And Jeff found a lower cost cell phone service without losing benefits. In the end, she is saving $220 per month with the changes he helped her make.

Obviously, the client was ecstatic and now enjoys faster internet, all the channels she previously had and lower monthly costs!

If you are considering cutting the cable, or switching internet or cell phone service, but are unsure of the best options, remember that Computer Tutors isn’t just about computers – we can help with your communications and entertainment as well. Give me a call to help you through those decisions.

Rainmaker Sales Support was founded

by Patricia Cowan, a top sales performer who saw a gap in prospecting and follow-through among many of her peers. Her team of seasoned salespeople understand, genuinely enjoy and professionally manage the nuances of the sales support process.

They handle every account as if they are cultivating their own sales base.

They can handle your house accounts, inactive accounts or smaller accounts as well.

All agents are under one roof in St. Louis Missouri. They speak fluidly on the phone, without set scripts, so people talk with them. Their salespeople can support your salespeople ethically, professionally, and consistently.

You can contact Patricia Cowan, president, founder and owner of Rainmaker Sales Support, for a consultation at your office.

She will be happy to provide references you can call to verify how they can make your team more successful. You can reach Patricia by phone at 314-433-4660, extension 101, or by email at Patricia@ RainmakerSalesSupport.com. You can learn more about her company at RainmakerSalesSupport.com.

THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO BUY YOUR NEW SIMON HOME

Just 3 Opportunities Remain LIMITED TO 11 CUSTOM VILLA HOMES IN A PRIVATE CUL-DE-SAC MUCH SOUGHT AFTER LOCATION IN FRONTENAC & WESTWOOD 11411 N. Forty Drive at the former B’Nai El Temple site We are proud to offer a limited number of custom villa homes off Spoede & Outer 40 Drive at The Enclave in Frontenac & Westwood. This selection of elegant freestanding villa designs includes side entry garages*, full masonry exteriors, 10-foot ceilings, up to 4,090 sf of living space plus optional finished lower levels, owner‘s suite & second bedroom suite on the main floor, open floor plans & spacious luxury living.

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