Dec. 16, 2019 Image Magazine

theimagemagazine Lafayette High School • Wildwood, Missouri • Dec. 16, 2019 • vol. 51, issue 3

HOW CLOSE IS TOO CLOSE?

Ellisville and Wildwood leaders debate the proximity of medical marijuana dispensaries to schools. Read more on pgs. 15-17. photo illustration by HAYDEN COTTRELL and JACK WEAVER

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Opening

FROM US ...

TO YOU From the impacts of medical marijuana on the cities surrounding Lafayette to the shortages of bus drivers to the placement of our hockey team in a higher division, the Image and Lancer Feed staff focus on the lives of those impacted within and around Lafayette.

With many major changes within and around the community, we investigate and explore the potential effects of these issues on the daily lives of Lafayette students and staff.

As the Image staff looks at inconsistencies impacting our school, we will report relevant, new stories in a consistent manner that address issues that matter to our community.

Our newsmagazine is not the only way to educate yourself on

what is happening near you.

On our website, there is a wide range of stories available.

It is updated regularly with briefs and in-depths about school events and people who have made an impact at Lafayette and within the community.

Our social media pages also have up-to-date coverage of news and school events to keep you in the loop of everything that goes on in and out of the building.

We hope to stress the importance of providing accurate information on a timely basis to Lafayette’s students and faculty, as well as looking deeper into issues to advocate for a change and spread awareness.

Dec. 16, 2019

Behind the cover

Digital Media staff member JOEY WEAVER holds up an elementary school child to keep him propped up on the slide to create the photo illustration on the cover of a child on a playground surrounded by smoke.

• photo by HAYDEN COTTRELL

Stay Connected • The Lancer Feed • @thelancerfeed • @thelancerfeed Hayden Cottrell and Corren Tipton News Editor and Assistant News Editor

Web

• lancerfeed.press

theimagemagazine

Opening

• Image Staff •

• In This Issue •

Dec. 16, 2019

Editors-in-Chief:

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Kayla Carpenter Delaney Stulce

Web Editor: Chloe Baker Assistant: Makayla Archambeault News Editor: Hayden Cottrell Assistant: Corren Tipton

Opinions Editor: Alex Rozar Lifestyles Editor: Grace Kirtley

Assistant: Hannah Fitts

Sports Editor:

Morgan Vehige

Social Media Editor: Jack Weaver

Artist:

Alex Vancil

Reporters:

Sarah Locke Maya Manor Sophia Scheller Abby Stebner Vijay Viswanathan Kennedy Willhite

• Digital Media Staff • Digital Media Editor Jack Weaver

Staff:

Abdi Abdalla Chloe Baker Alli Bishop Micah Bounds Emily Budde

Jack McDonald Sophia Scheller Colin Swan Ryan Swan Kevin Vera Joey Weaver

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pg 15

News

Opinions 4 6 7

CLOCKING IN

Throughout the school year, inconsistent bells and clocks that are incorrect, create a tardy problem for students that isn’t their fault.

“OK BOOMER” MISCONCEPTIONS

The popular reference uttered by young adults is being used incorrectly, and it’s addressing the wrong issues.

THE PRICE OF APPLYING TO COLLEGE

Application fees are justified by the work of admissions officers, but the substantial costs may hinder students from applying.

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• Publications Adviser •

NATIONAL RECOGNITION

Lafayette is the first Rockwood high school to be named a National School of Character.

Administrators traveled to D.C. to claim the award.

SOCIAL MEDIA: THE RESEARCH IS IN

There’s a substantial amount of research regarding the effects of social media on mental health. Read about both perspectives.

CIRCLE OF CONCERN

Every year, students collect thousands of nonperishable food items for the annual Canned Food Drive, but where do those cans go?

IN THE WEEDS

The location of an Ellisville medical marijuana facility has caused controversy between two cities due to its proximity to an elementary school.

Nancy Y. Smith, MJE

• General Information • The Image is produced by students in the News Production class. Free copies are distributed on campus.

Subscriptions are also available for $40 per year.

Rockwood student publications are the official student-produced media of news and information published/produced by Rockwood students and have been established by both policy and practice as designated public forums for student editors to inform and educate their readers as well as for the discussion of issues of concern to their audience.

Publications will not be reviewed or restrained by school officials prior to publication or distribution.

Because school officials do

not engage in prior review and the content of all Rockwood student publications is determined by and reflects only the views of the student staff and not school officials or the school itself, its student editors and responsible student staff members assume complete legal and financial liability for the content of the publication.

A full listing of all the policies followed by student publications staff members can be found at lancerfeed. press under the About tab.

The Image is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association and received First Class rating with two Marks of Distinction. The Image is also a member of Quill and Scroll, journalismSTL and MJEA.

• Our Gold Sponsors • Thank you to our sponsors for their support of the journalism program.

The Baker Family The Kirtley Family The Carpenter Family The Johns Family The Archambeault Family Steve Martinez–State Farm Agent

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Lifestyles 18 21 22 24

BUS DRIVER SHORTAGE

Around the country, schools are experiencing shortages of bus drivers, and Rockwood is no exception.

TWO OF A KIND

With 1,811 students at LHS, there are bound to be a few doppelgängers in the building. Check out some Lancer look-alikes.

TASTE TESTER: HOT CHOCOLATE

Image staff members tried different types of hot chocolate from area establishments to let you know which one is worth the buy this winter.

DOWNTOWN’S NEWEST ATTRACTIONS

Union Station has undergone several renovations this year to add new restaurants, an aquarium, a Ferris wheel and a mirror maze to the historic location.

Sports 27 28 30

IRISH DANCER’S COMEBACK

Sophomore Molly Nemnich was one of the best Irish dancers in Missouri before she left the sport.

Now she’s training to dance again.

A YOGA WARRIOR

Despite her MS diagnosis, language arts teacher Tracy Gladden has found a way to overcome her symptoms while also developing a new hopeful perspective.

CHASING A NEW CUP

After last year’s Wickenheiser Cup victory, the hockey team was moved to a more competitive conference, but their ultimate goal remains the same.

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• OPINIONS •

Staff Editorial

In the face of frequent problems with the bell system, Lafayette officials have failed to properly notify teachers and students about what’s going on.

Staff Editorials reflect the majority opinion of the Image staff.

theimagemagazine Dec. 16, 2019

theimagemagazine Dec. 16, 2019

Opinions

Lack of consistency on bell schedule, functioning clocks in building has students facing unfair consequences The bells are ringing at Lafayette—but no one seems to know when.

Digital clocks, supposedly on the same count across the district, frequently run fast or slow—or, in some cases, shut off entirely. Also, increasingly, hours will pass without a bell sounding at all or ringing at the wrong time.

Late Start Days in particular are notorious for not having bells go off.

Instances of missing or incorrect bells are usually followed by a correction over the intercom, along the lines of “3rd Hour has ended. Students, proceed to your next class,” or “That was not the bell. Students, return to class.”

The reason for these false alarms is unclear, and so far, neither the school nor the district has provided any explanation.

Unfortunately, this unclear routine leads to an information gap between students and administrators and worse, students are punished in the form of tardies for failure to comply with an inconsistent timetable.

This is, quite simply, not our fault. If a bell doesn’t ring, how are we to know lunch or Flex has even ended?

Given that staff members reinforce an impossible-to-follow system, Lafayette’s tardy policies carry harsh penalties. Just four result in a phone call home, per the Student Handbook.

Five tardies lead to a phone call while the student is in the office, and six dole out detention—one hour for every tardy. Tardiness can also cause a student’s parking pass—which he or she paid for—to be revoked.

It’s totally acceptable to have rules that punish unwanted activities. This byzantine schedule, however, leaves a real threat of students being punished for confusion rather than blatant disregard for the rules in place.

Fixing the bell schedule is relatively simple.

All Lafayette needs to do is follow its own rules: 45 minutes for classes on “A” Day, 91 minutes for classes on “B” and “C” Days and 5 minutes for the passing period. The bells should ring to announce the beginning and end of each class and also to announce the passing periods, including those following lunch and Flex Time.

If, for any reason, a schedule or bell change is set to occur, both teachers and students should be emailed and informed in advance over the intercom. If there is a malfunction with the bell, administrators should inform teachers and students, and then work to fix the problem as soon as possible.

And, the district must be more proactive to ensure that all the school’s clocks are working and showing the same time, preferably the same time that appears on our Chromebooks, smartphones and computers in the classrooms.

Taking these steps will reduce both student tardiness rates and student disenfranchisement within the school, in turn making administrators’ jobs easier.

We need consistency in order to perform well at school. Inconsistency breeds distrust.

Too often, district and school officials are slow to respond to problems that immediately impact students.

Trust us, we want to know when and where we need to be, but by failing to address the problem, whether intending to or not, sidelines students.

A consistent bell schedule and functioning clocks are a necessity for productive students and staff.

Lafayette and its administrators have a lot to deal with on a daily basis,but they need to put these simple but important fixes first.

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Opinions

LANCER’S LOT

STARS

ALEX ROZAR Opinions Editor

Stars & Gripes is a satirical column written collectively by the Image staff.

Dec. 16, 2019

‘OK, Boomer:’ An understandable yet frequently misdirected insult

“OK, Boomer.” the roadblock to progress. This is the central The divisive two-word phrase has propelled sentiment “OK, Boomer” seeks to express, albeit Generation Z into the limelight once again in a dogmatic and ham-fisted way. after a story by The New York Times. The What the insult fails to acknowledge, though, ensuing debate over the insult’s use has pitted is that back then, Boomers were seen by generations against one another. contemporary adults as the young Some argue that “OK, Boomer” is an punks who fought the power, inevitable backlash against the postburning their Vietnam draft WWII generation’s trademark cultural cards and pioneering To pan the Baby Boom complacency and repetitive slander rock ‘n’ roll. of those darn Millennials. Others Not everyone generation as a whole for claim, as one radio host put was a part of the current economic strife omits it, “Boomer is the n-word of counterculture one key detail—Boomers ageism.” (It’s not.) movement—just as did not create the conditions As a member of Gen Z, I is the case today— they were able to profit from. can understand where young but those that They did not make the rules people’s outrage is coming were certainly do of society as young men and from. Many young people today not fall under the face low wages and backbreaking archetypal “Boomer” women, just as Millennials do debt in spite of a supposedly that “OK Boomer” not dictate decisions today. flourishing economy. implies.

It’s easy to take out that anger on a There is no nuance in generation that had the ability to pay “OK, Boomer.” The smear off their college diplomas simply by working in makes no distinction of class the summer part-time. or political stance; rather, it corrals an entire But to pan the Baby Boom generation as a generation based on the principles of some. In whole for current economic strife omits one key this way, “OK, Boomer” is more of a strawman detail—Boomers did not create the conditions than a sharp social critique. they were able to profit from. They did not make “Boomer is a mindset,” others argue. “Anyone the rules of society as young men and women, can be a Boomer.” If this is the case, however, just as Millennials do not dictate decisions today. then why choose “Boomer”—a phrase that Even in their youth, however, many members wrongfully vilifies many—to refer to one who is of the Baby Boom generation worked to fight stuck in his ways? Plenty of suitable words, like back against prejudice in their time. In August stubborn, reactionary or close-minded, more 1963—when most people born in 1946 were 18 clearly express this same sentiment. years old—thousands of young people marched In its use, “Boomer” is simply too broad to on the streets of Washington, D.C. demanding an indicate valid criticism. Bill Clinton is a Boomer, end to racial segregation. but so is Billy Joel. John Bolton is a Boomer, but One year later, President Johnson signed the so is Jon Bon Jovi.

Civil Rights Act into law.

Being stirred to action by current events is The problem, then, lies with those in power. normal and healthy. In doing so, though, be sure Those who obstinately oppose a better way of to point the daggers of disapproval at those that life for all people will be and always have been deserve them instead of isolating the innocent.

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•A priest created a Minecraft server for the Vatican after observing what he described as a “toxic” culture within the game.

It’s all fun and games until the Pope takes your diamond armor.

•Missouri lawmakers proposed a plan to allow college athletes to be paid for their name and image.

Unfortunately, it’s about the only good news coming this season for Mizzou players.

•St. Louis is finally getting the recognition it deserves... well, within St. Louis, at least. TikTok now says it will fill the “For You” page with videos from your area.

•A “unicorn puppy” with a tail growing between his eyes will stay in Missouri and be trained as a therapy dog, where he will surely work magic on his patients.

•The silver lining to final exams: you won’t have to study over Winter Break. Sorry Class of ‘21 and below, bet you wish you were a senior.

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Opinions

Dec. 16, 2019

Universities overcharge with application fees

The Monthly Joust

‘Tis the season that money truly for stressing going towards about college those workers? applications.

At Duke By now, seniors University, the fee is DELANEY STULCE $85. In 2018, Duke need to have Editor-in-Chief a completely reached a record unique essay and high of 41,600 recommendation letters, applicants. perfect their resumes and This means the university apply for scholarships—all made $3.5 million in on top of narrowing down application fees alone. where to go, which can be a The average admissions daunting decision—by the counselor at Duke has a end of the year. salary of $41,000 a year— In addition to the looming meaning Duke would need presence of the work that to have approximately 86 comes with applications, admissions representatives applying to college can be to not be turning a profit. an expensive venture.

If these workers aren’t Most applications require receiving the totality of the a fee to submit them to the money from these fees, then school. the fees should be lowered.

Although each application These fees aren’t just used individually might not seem as payment for workers— like a major issue, when they are also used to students apply to multiple ward off those who aren’t schools, the fees begin to serious about attending the rack up. university.

Fees range from $30 to Although this is a $50, but can reach as high reasonable tactic, the extent as $90. of the fee is potentially Despite the stress these turning away hardworking fees can cause, they do students who simply cannot serve a purpose. afford to apply to multiple One of these purposes universities. is to pay the admission A student should not feel specialists hired to process like they are not given the the applications. It is chance to attend a university understandable that a due to these fees, especially college or university charges when it is evident that many in this regard—but is all of institutions are overcharging.

•As final exams approach, students may be kicking themselves for making their Black Friday a Slack Friday.

•Actor Johnny Depp is producing a musical about Michael Jackson told from the perspective of the late singer’s glove.

We predict it will be “Bad.”

cartoon by ALEX VANCIL

•Presidential hopeful Joe Biden bit his wife’s finger in an odd moment on the campaign trail, seemingly in an attempt to appeal to vampire voters.

•A Japanese man was arrested after reportedly calling his cell phone company 24,000 times with complaints. Any guess as to how he’ll use his prison phone call?

GRIPES

•The White House went on lockdown after an “airspace violation” officials now say was likely a flock of birds. In response, Secret Service plans to add a special agent equipped with tactical bread crumbs.

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• NEWS •

Character efforts pay off with NSOC Award

Lafayette, Blevins school officials go to D.C. to receive national award ABBY STEBNER • Staff Reporter •

Two Rockwood schools, Lafayette and Blevins Elementary, were given the National School of Character (NSOC) award this year.

The NSOC award is granted to schools who show the 11 Principles of Effective Character.

During the weekend of Oct. 24-27, Karen Calcaterra, Principal, Colleen Fields, Assistant Principal, and Mandy Lewis, Assistant Principal, traveled to Washington, D.C. to receive the NSOC award.

LHS is the first high school in Rockwood to receive this prestigious award, and Blevins won the award for the second time since 2014.

“We are focusing on the right things. We have amazing teachers, staff members, counselors, administrators and parent volunteers who take great care of our school community,” Calcaterra said.

Fields attributes this honor to the LHS students.

“To say I am proud is an understatement, but I’m not sure there is a better way to say it. Each member of the LHS staff is committed to working hard every day to create the best learning environment for our students. Our amazingly talented students energize this community, and remind all of us why it is important to care about this place and one another. It has been an awesome experience, and I am so incredibly proud to be a part of this school,” Fields said.

During the weekend, administrators attended meetings, seminars and breakout sessions that

9 11 Principles of Effective Character Core values are defined, implemented and embedded into school culture.

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The school defines “character” comprehensively to include thinking, feeling and doing.

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The school uses a comprehensive, intentional and proactive approach to develop character.

The school creates a caring community.

5 Rockwood School District Superintendent Mark Miles traveled with representatives from Lafayette and Blevins Elementary to attend the awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. LHS was recognized as a National School of Character Award for the first time and Blevins won for the second time.

• photo courtesy of KAREN CALCATERRA

reinforced the 11 Principles of Effective Character.

“It was great. We had the opportunity to attend many learning sessions in socialemotional learning and best practices in character education,” Calcaterra said.

One of the more emotional sessions Calcaterra went to involved hearing from a mother who lost her son in the Sandy Hook elementary shooting.

“It was very emotional to hear her speak and [to hear] the message of love and positivity she is trying to spread.”

Superintendent Mark Miles also traveled with the group and looks forward to other schools in the district winning the award in future years.

“The kindness of students and staff and the respectful atmosphere are very apparent,” Miles said. “The students and staff work

diligently to support and promote the development of young men and women of character. I believe their success will continue well into the future.”

Once a school wins the award, they cannot apply again for the next five years, meaning LHS will retain the title until 2024.

To be able to win the award again, the character of the school must be upheld until the school is eligible to go through the application process again.

“We will continue to model and build upon our goals of caring, commitment and connection with one another, our learning and our community. What makes LHS a special place is the relationships that we foster with one another; that is the legacy we want all of our graduates to carry with them into their futures,” Field said.

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The school provides students with opportunities for moral action, particularly service learning.

The school has a meaningful, and challenging academic curriculum that respects all, develops character and helps them succeed.

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The school’s character initiative has shared leadership and long-range support for continuous improvement.

The school engages families and communities as partners in the character initiative.

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The school fosters students’ self-motivation.

All staff share the same responsibility for developing, implementing and modeling ethical character.

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The school assesses character education implementation, culture and climate and student growth.

Information from to Character.org

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News

Dec. 16, 2019

Like? Share?

Comment?

Experts say stop scrolling

Some studies show repeated use negatively impacts mental health MAKAYLA ARCHAMBEAULT • Asst. Web Editor •

“It made me feel negative about myself. I decided to delete the post so that I would feel better,” sophomore Natasha Gulzar said in response to a negative comment written on a photo she posted of herself.

Gulzar is not the first teen this has happened to.

Situations such as Gulzar’s can have long-term adverse effects on teens’ self image and mental health.

According to a study done in 2017, depressive symptoms increased by 33% in half a million 8th through 12th graders. In addition to this, the suicide rate for girls increased by 65% between the years 2010-2015.

At first glance, these statistics can seem like a random spike in teenage suicide and depression.

Upon closer inspection, though, these numbers can be correlated to the rise of social media.

Most teens don’t know life without technology.

While there are advantages to the technological revolution, it comes with pitfalls that could be costing teens their lives.

Just a few of these faults include, but are not limited to, cyberbullying and Facebook depression.

Russell Viner, professor at the University College of London Institute of Child Health, said in a CNN interview, “Our results suggest that social media itself doesn’t cause harm, but that frequent use may disrupt activities that have a positive impact on mental health such as sleeping and exercising, while increasing exposure of young people to harmful content, particularly the negative experience of cyberbullying.”

While bullying has always been a problem in schools, social media has created a new platform that can be used for harassment. While the bullying is not verbal or physical, the repercussions are the same.

In a UNICEF study, victims of cyberbullying are more likely to use alcohol and drugs, skip school, experience low self-esteem/health problems and, in some cases,

commit suicide.

Social Studies Department Chair Krista Silvernail said, “Social media impacts people’s needs and wants to belong, but also we have this natural, innate ability to want to be with others and social media is creating a very single kind of lonely world where people are engaging with other people by themselves, and not encouraging people to be out and social with others.”

Newport Academy also reports 50% of teens believe they are addicted to their phones, an addiction that can lead to symptoms such as loneliness, boredom, depression, anxiety and shyness.

The dejection that many teenagers experience due to social media is so common that it has been given a nickname, Facebook depression.

Facebook depression is characterized as a phenomenon that youth who spend a significant amount of time on social media experience depressive systems more frequently than those who don’t.

The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that teens that suffer from Facebook depression are more likely to “turn to risky Internet sites and blogs for ‘help’ that may promote substance abuse, unsafe sexual practices, or aggressive or self-destructive behaviors.”

Additionally, social media is designed to keep users on for as long as possible.

Seemingly free social media apps make a profit off of selling user information to produce ads for that specific user. These advertisements and other eyecatching media are intended to keep the user drawn into the app in order for the company to profit the most. These tactics, while effective for companies to ensure maximum profit, can also lead teenagers into an addictive relationship with social media.

Spanish teacher Caralyn Harmon said, “It distorts our reality; we see all the wonderful things happening in other peoples’ lives and it creates a sense of missing out. A friend of mine once told me the problem with social media is that you are comparing other people’s highlights to your darkest secrets.”

•Illustrations by HAYDEN COTTRELL, CORREN TIPTON and MAKAYLA ARCHAMBEAULT

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News

Dec. 16, 2019

Study disproves common belief of social media use harming teens part of our lives now,” Fish said. “I don’t want students using them unless there’s a particular break in class or with the blocks, for example, take a two and a half Social media: the sites stereotyped to be addictive minute break, bathroom break or check messages. for teens and blamed for everything by parents.

That’s been helpful.”

However, Instagram and Twitter are frequently used While common beliefs says social media is within Lafayette for beneficial, productive purposes connected to poor mental health, a recent study and new studies have turned up information that shows that social media may actually not be the cause challenges the harmful stereotypes portrayed about of depression in teens. social media use.

These studies tested middle school students in Instagram and Twitter are utilized by LHS Ontario, Canada for two years. The longer staff to inform students about activities, time allowed for more accurate data to features and accomplishments. be collected.

Activities Director Jon Sumner It showed that social media started Instagram and Twitter doesn’t cause depression.

I think it can have both a accounts when he became the “The results showed that positive and negative effect. head wrestling coach seven social media use did not years ago.

It depends on the content of predict later depressive “I started posting pictures symptoms among what [students] share. It has of our success and everything adolescents or college a big impact on their ability that goes with it. When I undergraduates. Rather, transitioned to [Activities greater depressive to either raise their spirits up Director], I created new symptoms predicted more or to tear them down,” accounts and did the same social media use over time, thing—pictures of our kids but only among adolescent doing their crafts and celebrate girls,” Association for BRIAN FISH • their success as much as possible,” Psychological Science (APS) said.

Spanish teacher Sumner said.

Instead of proving that social Posting more on Instagram than media causes depression, its use was Twitter, Sumner promotes events and the seen as a coping mechanism in female recognition earned by staff and students. subjects when they experienced depressive “Brooke Biermann won State title in Bolivar, Missouri, symptoms by other means, like homework or extraand now I get to bring that to life to the people back curricular activities. home that didn’t make that trip to be a part of that Also in Canada, Instagram decided to modify the process,” Sumner said. “like” feature as a mental health experiment.

While receiving information, visiting all events, In May of 2019, Instagram allowed users to see taking pictures and posting it in a timely manner is who liked their post, but not how many people liked challenging, Sumner has seen his followers grow. it. Others were also unable to see how many likes “I think [the accounts have grown] just from being another person’s post received. This trial has spread intentional and consistent with putting multiple around the world to countries like Italy, with a select groups out and really trying to celebrate everybody in number of people in each country participating in the our building including all of our sports and activities,” experiment.

Sumner said. “Any of the success our kids have, [I try] This generated many positive responses; however, to showcase their talent and success.” some concerns were expressed that those who put a Spanish teacher Brian Fish has experienced social lot of their self worth in how many likes they have may media impacting students in his classroom. struggle with this new feature.

“I think it can have both a positive and negative Researchers also looked into other studies about effect. It depends on the content of what [students] depression and social media. Their information did share. I think it’s also impactful on the circle of friends find a connection, specifically in adolescents, but it in which they associate. It has a big impact on their showed something positive as well. ability to either raise their spirits up or to tear them In the United Kingdom, the Royal Society for Public down,” Fish said.

Health found that Instagram was a way of selfAs for his classroom policy, Fish prefers for his expression and self-identity, which was reflected by students to keep their phones out of sight. the popularity of the app, HuffPost said.

“I always ask my students [to not] consult [their] On a larger scale, more studies are being conducted phones during class. If it is out, I ask them to put it in the future to continue to study the connections away. It’s just a constant reminder that [phones] are between social media and adolescent mental health.

CORREN TIPTON • Asst. News Editor •

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News

Dec. 16, 2019

More than just a food pantry

Donations support social service center GRACE KIRTLEY • Lifestyles Editor •

“She was sitting with Chris over her second visit and she said to Chris, ‘just talking to you just tells me that I’m heading in the right direction.

I have to tell you, last time I was here I walked into the pantry, and I saw fresh apples and oranges I felt like my life had taken a new direction.’

I get choked up every time we talk about that story, it’s such a simple thing, apples and oranges,” Cyndi Miller, Executive Director of the Circle of Concern, said.

Circle of Concern is a food pantry and social service center located in Valley Park that serves the St. Louis West County area. All of the 19,000 items donated during Lafayette’s Canned Food Drive that wrapped up on Dec. 3 went to this facility.

Miller said Lafayette and Eureka high schools are the two largest school drives that support Circle of Concern.

There are approximately 600 families the Circle of Concern supports.

A weekly volunteer for eight years, Don Ribbing, said many people don’t think that so many people have a need for food.

“I ask [the volunteers], from time to time just stop, look at the can of pasta sauce you’re holding and think that tonight or sometime that somebody is going to benefit from what you’re doing,” Ribbing said.

Circle of Concern is also unique in their status as a food pantry. They practice “client choice,” in which the clients

can come in and choose their own foods.

“Patrons get to get a cart and go pick out [food] ... rather than being given a handout ... that is called client choice and that sets us apart,” Lana Biondo, Executive Committee President and intake volunteer, said.

The local food pantry and social service center focuses on a wholesome diet for the clients that fit each of their cultures and preferences.

Often, the center asks for monetary donations so they may provide fresh foods and refrigerated items.

The center also emphasizes their intake program that includes a monthly meeting with a volunteer who mentors clients and works to help them get out of poverty.

“Feeding people does not break the cycle of poverty. We have to provide services that will help improve their lives,” Biondo said.

“But to truly break the cycle of poverty, [the clients] need a mentor to help them write a resume, they need a scholarship for some kind of training or go to college.

They may need help to pay for medicine or a gas card. These are all the things that we can provide them instead of just giving them food,” she added.

Biondo also said the volunteers are required to be trained for their specific job, including warehouse worker, intake worker and those that socialize with and help the clients shop.

“A lot of people who are food insecure are poor. They spend a lot of their time

“

waiting in line waiting for their number, fighting I think [providing] is one of the for the services that they important considerations of should rightly Circle of Concern. In West County, have. So when you don’t think so much that they walk through our people have the need for food— doors they something so basic. But it’s true, say it’s calm here, people there are more than we realize are nice here. who need this kind of help.”

They say, ‘this is DON RIBBING • my favorite day of Weekly Volunteer the month. I’m safe here and I leave with hugs and reassurances and whole cartons of food,’” Biondo said.

“It’s rewarding when Specifically serving the you can really make a West County area, the small difference in somebody’s life, size of the program allows for it’s a great way to spend your the creation of new programs day. If you’re going to work and changing of philosophy— 40 plus hours a week, why not such as the switch to client make it work that can really choice. impact the lives of others,” “I personally like the Miller said. autonomy found in smaller For Ribbing, the motivation local organizations. In many for serving his community instances, local organizations in this way is part of his can respond more nimbly responsibility. to the specific needs, “There’s an older man opportunities and even crises that I know and somebody within a local service area,” needed something and he Miller said. gave them some money. A Many of those volunteering bystander asked, ‘How can will aid their neighbors, you do that? You’re just giving according to Biondo, and it away your money and they may be difficult for them to go out and buy booze or ask for help at all. whatever they’re going to do.’

“It is a humbling experience And his response was, ‘It’s my for people to walk in our door responsibility to be charitable, and ask for help. They are it’s their responsibility to be embarrassed by it and I do honest, and I can’t take their everything I can do to make responsibility, I just know what them comfortable to put mine is,’” Ribbing said. them at ease,” Biondo said.

Miller urges people to Although the work can be have hope for those who difficult, the volunteers speak are struggling and to not be highly of their jobs. judgmental to their situation.

The Circle of Concern can be supported through food, in-kind and monetary donations which can be dropped off or mailed to their Valley Park location. Volunteers can also sign up to assist the social service center on the pantry’s website. • photo by JACK WEAVER

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15

A tale of two cities Medical marijuana licenses near school leads to tensions between Wildwood, Ellisville HAYDEN COTTRELL • News Editor •

“It’s surprising it would be approved to be so close to a school, and an elementary school as well. I’m worried about the consequences on the kids. I’m worried about the store and the people who may wander around at night. It’s really scary,” Prasanna Yella, mother of freshman Rishi Yella, who also has a son who attends Ellisville Elementary School, said.

In the next year, medical marijuana markets are going to start blooming across the state of Missouri. With the passage of Amendment 2 by Missouri, medical marijuana has been deemed legal in the state.

Along with the approval of the amendment, came the issue of how close these types of facilities can be to schools, nurseries and churches.

The state of Missouri decided 1,000 feet to be a safe distance between medical marijuana facilties and schools, nuseries and churches.

However, Missouri does allow for individual city governments to determine a closer distance

if they choose to do so.

With that single exception, the beginning of an argument between two neighboring cities was born.

Amendment 2 allows for medical marijuana to be purchased, grown and sold in Missouri to people who have a qualifying medical condition.

In order to qualify for a license, a person must prove their residence within the state.

In the professional judgment of a physician, patients with chronic, debilitating or other medical conditions can get approved for a medical marijuana license.

According to the Missouri Constitutional Amendment 2, “‘Qualifying medical condition’ means the condition of, symptoms related to, or side effects from the treatment of: cancer; Epilepsy; Glaucoma; Intractable migraines unresponsive to other treatments; [and other diseases and terminal illnesses].”

continued on next page

The red pathway shows the common route people could take between where The Forest would be located at 184 Clarkson Rd. In Ellisville, if it receives a license as a medical marijuana dispensary from the state of Missouri, and Ellisville Elementary.

That distance is around 800 feet. The state recommends a buffer of 1,000 feet, but Ellisville’s City Council approved a 300-foot buffer between facilities and schools. • photo illustration by HAYDEN COTTRELL and JACK WEAVER

16

theimagemagazine

News

continued from page 15 Amendment 2 revenue will fund healthcare services, job training, housing assistance and other veteran’s services.

Furthermore, the amendment keeps local governments from banning medical marijuana. Local governments can only dictate the regulations of the location of facilities and dispensaries as well as the time and manner of their operations.

Rockwood has been part of many medical marijuana conversations around the area in an effort to raise awareness about medical marijuana and its effects.

The Rockwood Drug Free Coalition (RDFC), in particular, has been in conversations with cities such as Ellisville in an effort to help form safe guidelines for facilities near school areas.

“Our members have been present for many of the conversations and decisions regarding this facility and have advocated for the safety of our children. Our work is to help Ellisville [and other cities in our area] guide facilities to use best practices. We are working with Ellisville to provide guidelines for the safe storage of medical marijuana and will continue to provide information and guidance,” RDFC director, Lili Schliesser, said.

The RDFC also hosted a Medical Marijuana Information night on Nov. 12 at LHS. Parents and other community members were informed of the statistics about medical marijuana usage and ways children specifically can be impacted by medical marijuana.

“We support people having access to the healthcare they need, but it’s unfortunate the dispensary is so close to the elementary school,” Schliesser said.

“

Dec. 16, 2019

“We are working to educate our schools and community on the issues that arise for youth when medical marijuana is legalized. It’s more important than ever that parents and youth understand there are significant consequences from marijuana use for teenage brains, bodies and lives.”

Also, Superintendent Mark Miles said in a statement that he has a concern for how medical marijuana impacts students.

“Rockwood officials do not want to stand in the way of people accessing legal health care,” said Miles. “But our responsibility is for the care and wellbeing of the children in our communities.

Normalizing marijuana usage does not achieve that.”

Rockwood supports Missouri’s 1,000 foot requirement for medical marijuana facilities in regard to proximity to schools.

The Wildwood and Ellisville City Councils have recently been at odds regarding the potential locations of medical marijuana facilities.

In October, the Ellisville City Council approved a Conditional Usage Permit (CUP) and a rezoning of the area around 184 Clarkson Rd. to allow for a potential medical marijuana facility run by Standard Wellness Missouri, LLC. The rezoning of the area changed the area’s status from being a residential zone, where the facility would not be allowed to operate, to a commercial zone, where the facility is allowed.

The CUP allowed for the facility to go into place at that location as long as it is solely used for a distribution center for medical marijuana.

This facility, which is known as The Forest, is about 1,000 feet from Ellisville Elementary School.

The objective is to work together for the betterment of residents of both cities, and I’m committed to doing that. I understand and respect they run their city and we run ours, but frequently we talk about how we can do things differently or better.”

JIM BOWLIN • Wildwood Mayor

Ellisville, when legalizing medical marijuana as required by the state, chose to alter the state’s recommendation and decided 300 feet was the acceptable distance as a buffer between medical marijuana facilities and schools, nurseries and churches.

Wildwood’s City Council, however, chose to maintain the 1,000 foot buffer the state suggested as the accepted buffer.

And, though The Forest’s possible location is actually over the Ellisville buffer of 300 feet and just over the state’s suggested 1,000 feet, there is still controversy over the site.

Wildwood City Council member Kenneth Remy raised the issue of The Forest and its distance to Ellisville Elementary after reading about the passing of the CUP and rezoning in West Newsmagazine and hearing from some of his constituents about their concerns about the distance of the facility from the children who attend Ellisville Elementary.

At the Oct. 28 City Council meeting, Remy described how close the facility was to the school.

Shortly after the Oct. 28 meeting, he drafted a resolution condemning Ellisville’s actions in allowing the potential facility to be so close to a school.

Ellisville Mayor Mike Roemerman said he thought the resolution was unfair because medical marijuana was legally approved in 2018 by the state of Missouri, and municipalities are required to provide access to those providers as long as they meet the requirements set by the state and city, which this facility does.

Ellisville council members were also displeased because by complying with Wildwood’s wishes, they would effectively

“

We’re not doing this for money, that has nothing to do with the decision. What we’re looking at, where it’s at is in a medical corridor. [It’s] not a walking path, bus stop or parents drop off.”

MIKE ROEMERMAN • Ellisville Mayor

theimagemagazine

News

Dec. 16, 2019

be shutting down the chances of any medical marijuana facility entering their city.

But, Wildwood’s City Council members had concerns that the two communities had not communicated well about the issue.

“We have a responsibility to voters, and [medical marijuana] needs to be regulated in a way that does meet our city’s needs. We don’t exist in a vacuum, and neighboring cities affect us as well,” Lauren Edens, a Wildwood councilmember who also supported the resolution, said.

And, many citizens inside of Wildwood said they never got a notice to attend Ellisville meetings about the potential facility in order to voice their concerns. Therefore, Remy said he believed the City of Wildwood needed to make a statement.

“This is about supporting children in Ward 2, Ward 3 and Ward 4–which are the three wards that have Wildwood children and make up just under 50% of Ellisville Elementary School,” Remy said at the council meeting.

Before passing Remy’s resolution, Wildwood Mayor Jim Bowlin and some council members reached out to Ellisville leaders to persuade them to revisit the facility’s location.

“I think we try to be very neighborly with all of our adjoining cities,” Bowlin said.

“The objective is to work together for the betterment of residents of both cities, and I’m committed to doing that. I understand and respect they run their city and we run ours, but frequently, we talk about how we can do things differently or better.”

Ellisville did not revisit the facility’s location, instead deciding to work on ways to make the facility more secure.

In response, the Wildwood City Council passed Remy’s resolution, reprimanding Ellisville over the decisions on Nov. 25.

But, Roemerman said that resolution will not impact Ellisville’s choice to have the potential facility stay in its current place.

He said, “I’ve already voted for it, and I can’t take it back.”

He added that he believed Wildwood’s council members were in accurate that Ellisville’s decision was financial. He said, “We’re not doing this for money. That has nothing to do with the decision. What we’re looking at, where it’s at is in a medical corridor. [It’s] not a walking path, bus stop or parent’s drop off.”

Roemerman said the city was impressed with Standard Wellness, LLC’s presentation and had no reason to be concerned with the facility or its location.

Standard Wellness, which owns The Forest, was drawn to Ellisville due to how ideal the city was for the company.

“We were drawn to Ellisville because it’s an

17

ideal fit, and the location looks very ideal for The Forest,” Allan Hug, a representative for The Forest, said. “We’re within the threshold for being far away from the school. There’s not going to be references to cannabis or the plant on the outside of the building. It will generally look inside like The Forest in Sandusky, Ohio, too.”

Additionally, Ellisville officials disagree that no one in Wildwood received notice to attend the meeting where the medical marijuana facility was discussed. The City of Ellisville sends out notices to everyone within a certain radius of an area of concern, which includes residents of surrounding cities.

Additionally, Ellisville has been working with RSD and the community to help with potential risks that come with the medical marijuana facility.

“It isn’t a growth or manufacture facility; it’s just a dispensary. The real risk is kids getting access to prescribed medical marijuana in the home just like the concern for kids getting access to alcohol, prescription or other illegal drugs in home,” Roemerman said.

Ellisville decided on a 300 foot buffer between schools, churches, nurseries and medical marijuana facilities because it complied with state law.

“The distance [between The Forest and Ellisville Elementary] is about twice as far as we would have for alcohol and cigarette sales near schools and churches,” Stephen Chismarich, Ellisville City councilmember, said.

Medical Marijuna Timeline

Rishi Yella said, “We’ve [my younger brother and I] walked around [Clarkson Road]. Not during school times, but we have walked around there.”

Rishi does not agree with the proximity of the facility near their home and the school.

“I feel like it’s really bad. There are kids there, and they shouldn’t be so close to it,” he said. “[I] don’t like it so near. [Medical marijuana] can be used right, but it can also be used wrong. It shouldn’t be in a neighborhood, but next to the pharmacies instead,” his mother, Prasanna, said.

If the facility is approved with a license, Prasanna wants the elementary school to be more on guard with their surroundings. “[I would like to see] someone on constant patrol around the school, and maybe some warning signs around it and the neighborhood,” she said.

By January and February of 2020, The Forest and others who have applied to be a medical marijuana distributor will learn if their licenses have been accepted or denied.

Nov. 25, 2019

• information also contributed by Grace Kirtley and Corren Tipton

November 2018 Missouri voters pass Amendment 2

Oct. 16, 2019 Ellisville City Council approves CUP and rezoning for potential medical marijuana facility

Oct. 21, 2019 West Newsmagazine publishes article about Ellisville’s approval of facility

Nov. 20, 2019 Ellisville City Council decides not to change zoning or placement of The Forest

Wildwood City Council passes a resolution asking Ellisville to move The Forest’s location

January 2020

Estimated time when the license will be approved or denied for The Forest

November 2020 Missouri has a possibility of a recreational marijuana measure on the 2020 ballot

May 2021 The first projected sale of medical marijuana at The Forest’s location in Ellisville

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theimagemagazine

Lifestyles

Dec. 16, 2019

Help wanted in transportation Rockwood adapts to lack of bus drivers SARAH LOCKE

• Staff Reporter •

A

cross the nation, school bus drivers are in high demand. The Rockwood School District is struggling, along with hundreds of other school districts, to hire bus drivers.

Rockwood Transportation Director Mike Heyman said Rockwood wants at least 10 more drivers.

Rockwood has enough drivers for all its routes, but it’s lacking in substitutes for absent drivers.

“We’ve had to rely on our existing drivers taking additional work to fill the voids,” Heyman said.

While few Rockwood bus drivers say they do not feel a significant negative impact, they agree the shortage has had an impact on their job.

“When we don’t have enough bus drivers, we have to shuffle in order to cover routes,” Dawn Barron, bus driver, said.

The shortage has also affected school events.

“The biggest impact I see is that we have a lot of [field] trips that we are

having a really hard time covering. Those are beneficial to students, so I would like to see that change,” Tina Steffey, bus driver, said.

One way Rockwood is attempting to attract more drivers is by offering a $1,000 signing bonus for experienced school bus drivers. “[Rockwood] has hired five since [the bonus was announced]. Three of the drivers qualified for the bonus and two were brand-new drivers,” Heyman said.

The district has used various outlets to find new drivers.

“We work hard to recruit and find great employees who stay in Rockwood.

We attend job fairs for the community, develop news stories, use social media and word-of-mouth to attract employees,” Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Katie Reboulet said.

The most significant impact on transportation is obtaining drivers for after school activities.

“We have had some issues with getting buses after school to get teams to games

on time when all four schools have lots of activities going on,” Activities Director Jonathan Sumner said. “[Lafayette] transportation department has been awesome to communicate when these issues arise and work out solutions to the best of their ability in the moment.”

The 8:28 a.m. school start time has also added to the complications of bus transportation.

“With our later start time for school, we have moved our away events to a later start time, so that [has] caused issues in games where we play away on fields with no lights,” Sumner said.

Although Rockwood has struggled to fill job openings, Heyman still believes there’s an advantage in the district owning its own buses rather than subcontracting with an outside company.

“Rockwood having its own ‘in-house’ buses has absolutely not [been a negative factor in the shortage],” Heyman said. “If anything, it is an advantage. The benefits of being a district employee far outweigh the advantages of a contractor.”

• illustration by DELANEY STULCE and GRACE KIRTLEY

theimagemagazine Dec. 16, 2019

Lifestyles

19

The View From The Driver’s Seat What is your favorite part about being a school bus driver?

Ashley Lee

“My favorite part of being a bus driver is interacting with the kids. They have so many different personalities and things going on in their lives. You connect and end up getting close with them. I’ve noticed [my impact] after they have graduated. I see students I had back in 2008 or 2009 out in public, and they say ‘hi’ to me. First off, it makes me feel old, but it makes me feel good because if they didn’t like me, they wouldn’t speak with me and tell me what’s going on with them and how they’ve been.”

Tina Steffey

“I like my kindergarteners. They are always entertaining because they say the funniest things. A lot of times it’s the kindergarteners who make your day. When you’re frustrated, they will pop off with something really funny, and it makes the whole day better. I like the schedule. I wish I had more hours, but at the same time, it makes it convenient if I need to do something in the middle of the day. That’s why I have this job. The convenience, as a mom, to be able to take my kids where they need.”

John Allen

“One of my favorite parts of the job is that we have a split. We don’t have to constantly be there all day long. My other favorite part is that we get out for summer just like the schools do. We get all the holidays like the schools do. I usually get to know all the students. I have the best students because every time I drive, I establish myself and everything seems to go smoothly.”

Why do you think there’s a shortage of bus drivers?

“In my opinion, there’s probably a shortage of bus drivers because the pay is good, but you also want the benefits and everything else that comes along with it. Plus, I think a lot of people are not wanting to drive the big vehicles, or they see it as a liability. Everybody thinks differently. They already have what [bus driving] is made up in their mind. I think [the lack of] benefits has to do with it as well.“ “I think, depending on the district, some people say it’s the scheduling, not being considered full time and not having the benefits. I think, here in Rockwood, it has to do with our benefit package.”

“It’s hard to find good help, period.

Whatever you are doing, it’s hard to find good help. Driving a bus does take a lot of qualifications. You have to have a certain type of license and medical card.

Not everybody is qualified to get HIS license. Driving a bus is not that easy. You have to know what you are doing, and you have to pay attention all the time.”

Dawn Barron “I’ve had lots of amazing students. I see them everyday, in and out, so I have a pretty good idea if something is bothering them. I had one boy who wasn’t taking his medication, and I could tell by his mood. I was able to help him, and that made me feel good. I’ve had students that wouldn’t open up to people that got in trouble and had to sit in the front. I found out a lot about the struggles they are going through. It’s neat to be able to help them.”

“I think for a lot of bus drivers, we would like health insurance. We kind of fall in the category of part time although our hours make us somewhat unavailable to work other jobs. It takes a special person to be a bus driver. Just like being a teacher, you have to want to work with kids. For some people, discipline issues can be a deterrent from the job.”

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• LIFESTYLES •

Who is who?

Students find their lookalikes in LHS halls

21

Abbey Ferguson, 12 Noelle Corker, 11

Braeden Williams, 12 Sam Nixon, 12

Zachary Grellner, 12 Micah Bounds, 9

Brooke Tressler, 11 Bella Barbosa-Kitzleman, 12

KENNEDY WILLHITE • Staff Reporter •

L

afayette is home to 1,814 students who are all unique in their own way.

However, looking through the halls, you might be seeing double and not just in the cases of students who have a real identical twin.

There are also several cases of students who have a look-alike or doppelgänger.

Here are a few examples of some Lancers who might feel as if they are looking into a mirror when walking down the halls.

Ference’s doppelgänger has royal standing

S

ome of Lafayette’s students find their doppelgänger within the building, but others find theirs on the big screen, field or stage.

For example, senior Maura Ference’s celebrity look-alike is a famous princess.

“My friend’s mom tells me every time I see her that I look like Meghan Markle,” Ference said.

Maura Ference, 12 and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex

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theimagemagazine

Lifestyles

Dec. 16, 2019

Hot Chocolate

Edition TASTE TESTER For this issue, two Image staffers sampled four different hot chocolate drinks from Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, QuikTrip and Swiss Miss to see which drink took home the chocolatey crown for the best hot chocolate in St. Louis.

Popularized in America by the Dutch in the late 1700s, hot chocolate was originally used as treatment for health issues. But in more recent times, hot chocolate has been consumed more for pleasure.

While hot chocolate is similar to coffee, the two are derived from completely different plants. Hot chocolate is made from cocoa beans that provide a calming effect on those who drink it, but coffee is made from berries of a coffee plant that contain high levels of caffeine, meant to energize those who drink it.

Hot chocolate is a delicious treat to help relax and a great way to warm up during this chilly winter. Here’s what the staffers thought.

ABBY STEBNER • Staff Reporter •

KENNEDY WILLHITE • Staff Reporter •

• illustration by GRACE KIRTLEY

Dunkin’

Starbucks

5 a.m.- 9 p.m.

8 minute drive from LHS

5:30 a.m.- 8:30 p.m.

6 minute drive from LHS

8/10

8/10 Flavor

7/10

Thickness

9/10

9/10

7/10

7/10

10/10

15881 Fountain Plaza Drive

Thickness

Temperature Packaging

0/10

125 Plaza Drive

Flavor

Temperature Packaging

7/10

Toppings

Toppings

Dunkin’ provides a reliable hot chocolate that you can’t go wrong with. The flavor is sweet and chocolatey, but not overwhelming. The drink stays warm after a long time, and it doesn’t lose flavor as you drink it, unlike the others. Although Dunkin’s hot chocolate does not have any toppings, the decorative packaging makes up for it.

The first thing that stands out about this hot drink is its reusable and festive packaging.

Not only was the packaging great, but the drink itself was very rich and had great flavor. It was also the only drink to come with a whipped cream topping.

Though it is the most expensive, this drink stands above the rest in all aspects, making it a musttry this winter.

theimagemagazine

Lifestyles

Dec. 16, 2019

23

WE ASKED • YOU ANSWERED What’s your go-to hot chocolate?

QuikTrip

16100 Manchester Road

Open 24 hours

Swiss Miss

Sold at any local grocery store

9 minute drive from LHS

5/10

5/10

6/10

Thickness

Flavor

5/10

Thickness

6/10

5/10

7/10

8/10

Flavor

Temperature Packaging

Temperature Packaging

2/10

10/10

Toppings

Toppings

QuikTrip was the biggest disappointment of the four drinks tried. The packaging was the normal brown cup that QuikTrip always has. The drink itself was watered down, not flavorful and too hot to even taste. But, if you are looking for a cheap and easy option, QuikTrip is the way to go.

Making hot chocolate at home is convenient in a sense that you can choose your own toppings, and make it the way you want it. However, it is inconvenient because you have to make it yourself. Either way, homemade is a classic choice and great for a night in.

it’s

“If I had to choose a place to get hot chocolate, I would go to Dunkin’ because it’s close to my house.”

Taylor Stith • 10

“Normally, I make hot chocolate at home or my mom will make it for my family just because so much easier.”

Nate Gabris • 11

“I would probably go to Starbucks because it’s very convenient, and it has a lot of locations.”

Jordan Clark • 12

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theimagemagazine

Lifestyles

Dec. 16, 2019

Major revitalization project converts downtown attraction to family entertainment venue suffered the same ill-fate as many other shopping malls in the technological age.

“The mall ran its course. It was basically the history of malls. [People] don’t go to malls the same way they used to,” Milton said. “People who remember the 1980s mall will be amazed at what we have been able to do with this space.”

This is not the first time Union Station has undergone changes, as the station has stayed relevant with its time period, which is part of the reason it has lasted 125 years and counting.

Language arts teacher Jeffery Landow created memories at Union Station that lasted into adulthood.

“When I was around eight years old, I went to Union Station with my family. They used to have this place, [The Fudgery], and I would remember them making fudge right in front of us,” Landow said.

For food fanatics, the renovations offer two new restaurants. The Train Shed is a gastro pub style restaurant, while Union Station Soda Fountain offers “sweets and eats” for all.

Another notable renovation is the St. Louis Aquarium.

“When you’re doing construction on a historic building, you have to do it very carefully and in a way that doesn’t disturb the existing National Historic Landmark structure. It took a bit of time to figure out that an aquarium can work there,” Milton said.

The two-story, 120,000 square-foot aquarium will house approximately 13,000 animals.

“Perhaps our most popular animal so far is our blue lobster, Lord Stanley the Lobster, who was named in honor of our Blues Stanley

SOPHIA SCHELLER •Staff Reporter •

From its conception in 1894 to its renovations in 2019, St. Louis Union Station has held a place in the hearts of many St. Louisans.

Union Station was purchased in 2012

by Lodging Hospitality Management.

Since then, the group has revamped the historic building with a $187 million plan to update the building and create a new downtown entertainment center.

The mall that used to call Union Station home is being replaced by several new family attractions highlighted by an aquarium and Ferris wheel called the St. Louis Wheel.

Union Station spokesperson Nancy Milton said the mall

• illu

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Cup win,” Milton said. “He was found by a restaurant owner in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and the restaurant owner realized how rare it was to find a blue lobster and donated it to the aquarium so that people could enjoy seeing him in honor of the St. Louis Blues.”

Along with seeing all kinds of otters, rays and piranhas, visitors are encouraged to interact with the animals.

“If you come out and your hands aren’t wet, we are gonna send you back to go touch the animals,” Milton said.

Although the aquarium won’t open until Dec. 25, Union Station still has plenty of things to do.

“Every day there is a show in the Grand Hall. It is a 3-D light show that plays on the ceiling,” Milton said. “It has a variety of things, everything from Queen and the Beatles to the history of sports. Plus we have the Polar Express train ride every holiday season. That will run from Nov. 9 to Dec. 31.”

Along with the Ferris Wheel, a carousel, mini-golf course, ropes course and mirror maze were opened.

In 1894, St. Louis’ Union Station was a big and busy train station. The goal of the updates is to restore it in the context of the 21st Century Milton said.

St. Louis Aquarium

(opens Dec. 25)

Sunday-Thursday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Friday-Saturday: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

Special Holiday Hours: Dec. 26-Jan. 4: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

Tickets: $25

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• SPORTS •

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Stepping into Irish Dancing

Nemnich returns to her unique dance roots VIJAY VISWANATHAN • Staff Reporter •

Sophomore Molly Nemnich participates in a hobby that is something most people have never been exposed to—Irish dancing.

“It’s so diverse, so it’s cool to do something that not everyone else does,” Nemnich said.

Nemnich’s Irish heritage played a role in her taking up Irish dancing. She stopped dancing because she joined cross country her freshman year; however, she plans to return to dancing after Winter Break.

“Originally, I stopped just from feeling generally burned out and wanted to try something new,” Nemnich said.

She started regular dancing when she was four years old but didn’t quite like it.

Then, her aunt found her an Irish Dance Academy, which suited Nemnich much

Illustration by CHLOE BAKER

better.

“When I moved to Clarkson [School of Irish Dance], my dancing career took off. After Winter Break, I’m going back to Irish dancing. Now, I realize I miss it and want to get back into it,” Nemnich said.

When she started Irish dance, she found she really liked it and was motivated to do MOLLY NEMNICH (bottom row, second from left) and the entire Clarkson School of Irish Dance under-13 team poses after competing in a regional her best. tournament. • photo courtesy of MOLLY NEMNICH “It was the people, the environment and dancing,” Nemnich said. “I met my best making myself improve friend through Irish dance, Addison King, [that made Irish dancing fun for me],” she and she goes to Rockwood Summit.” said.

King left the sport when she was Nemnich soon became one of the best in seventh grade, but Molly said they Irish dancers in the country. Irish dancers continued to remain close friends. are ranked by the amount of points a “I first met Molly when I was six years dancer finishes with in a tournament. old, and our two dance studios joined “When I ended my career, I was 4th together, and we became friends,” King in the state and 11th in the nation,” said.

Nemnich said.

King viewed Nemnich as an inspiration Nemnich is the only member of her because Nemnich was one of the most family that does Irish dancing. decorated Irish dancers in Missouri and “My aunt actually was the one to come the United States. across a studio called Graham Academy “Dancing with Molly always made me of Irish Dance, and from there, I started classes and fell in love with Irish dancing.” push myself,” King said. “When we first started, we were the only two in our age Senior Megan Nemnich is Molly’s older group, so it was always just us doing sister. She witnessed her sister become everything together. It inspired me to one of the best Irish dancers in the work even harder to get up to her level.” country.

In the St. Louis area, there are a lot “I wouldn’t want to do Irish dance, of Irish dancing schools. One of these it’s too intense for me,” Megan said. schools is the Clarkson School where “[Molly] loved it. She was at a high level Molly is an assistant coach. She coaches before she ended her career. She loved dancers ages 8-11. The school was competing.” founded and is run by Mary. G. Clarkson.

Nemnich said her training was “I coach private lessons. I’m helping extremely rigorous and took a lot of them [the dancers] prepare for their commitment. regional competition,” Molly said.

“It’s very intense. Molly had to For her own Irish dancing career, go to the dance studio six days Molly has a goal of getting to the 2021 a week. Her training was also Oireachtas Rince na Cruinne, otherwise very intense, and it cut into her known as the Irish Dancing World weekends,” Megan said.

Championships, which takes place Irish dancing is both a solo annually in Killarney, Ireland. sport and a team sport. For The qualifier for the 2021 World Nemnich, being on a team Championship is in Chicago, Illinois while has led to lots of lifelong the qualifier for the 2019 Oireachtas relationships.

Rince na Cruinne will be held in Louisville, “I met some of my best and Kentucky between Nov. 29-Dec. 1. lifelong friends through Irish

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Sports

theimagemagazine Dec. 16, 2019

Finding Perspective • photo by JACK WEAVER

theimagemagazine

Sports

Dec. 16, 2019

29

Yoga helps Gladden stay healthy, focused

“

CHLOE BAKER • Web Editor •

The tips of my fingers felt really numb, kind of like when your foot falls asleep, and you can’t wake it up. It was just this very weird kind of feeling,” Tracy Gladden, language arts teacher, said.

After this first experience, the numb feeling only kept growing for Gladden.

Every morning for the next week, she would wake up and the sensation would overcome another part of her body.

“It just kept spreading, and it got to the point where it was all of my left arm, my neck and my shoulder,” Gladden said. “I started feeling it kind of in my chest and that is when it was really alarming. That is when it got scary. I knew something was not right.”

As the numb sensation continued to spread, common tasks became increasingly difficult for Gladden.

“I was typing an email, and my hand kept slipping, and I was sitting there getting really frustrated,” Gladden said.

Cheryl Hermach, language arts teacher and test prep coordinator, noticed Gladden’s struggle and saw that something was wrong.

“She came in at the beginning of the hour, and I could see that she was upset,” Hermach said. “She said that she could not feel her right arm, so I dropped everything and we drove over to urgent care.”

She was referred and sent to several different types of doctors around the city before they were able to determine what was wrong.

“It was difficult for her to articulate what sensations her body was experiencing,” Nick Elwood, a close friend of Gladden, said.

One month and three doctors later, Gladden was diagnosed in Feb. 2012 with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS).

MS is when the body’s immune system has an abnormal response to the central nervous system (CNS) which damages myelin, a protective substance that surrounds and insulates nerve fibers.

When myelin is damaged, messages sent throughout the CNS are altered or shut down completely, resulting in a numb or painful sensation.

For Gladden, triggers such as heat and

stress cause her symptoms to act up.

The first year after being diagnosed she took Copaxone, a medication aimed to reduce the number of symptom flare-ups.

“I would notice that on some days, her face was drained of color, and she would be moving very slowly.

She would lower herself into a chair very carefully,” Melissa Schumacher, language arts teacher, said. “She tried so hard to keep a smile on her face, but it wasn’t convincing because it wasn’t her usually warm, earnest smile.”

Every day Gladden had to give herself an injection of Copaxone to alleviate her symptoms.

However, the symptoms caused by MS were quickly replaced by symptoms caused by the medication itself. It caused her to feel weak and tired.

Large, swollen welts that were both painful and itchy would appear on her side. She also experienced lots of joint and muscle pain.

“I felt a lot of side effects from it. I felt sad. I felt like it was harming my body,” Gladden said. “I could not get over the psychological part of injecting myself every day with this chemical. It didn’t seem to make sense to me anymore.”

After a year of taking the medication, she stopped. Gladden decided to focus on alternative ways to manage her symptoms of MS, such as a specific diet and yoga.

“When I started yoga, I felt so clumsy and awkward and the language was weird to me. The instructor was telling me to focus on my breath, and I had never done that,” she said.

Gladden’s unfamiliarity with the activity as well as her MS, which can make it hard to balance and control muscles at times, made it difficult for her to become acclimated with yoga.

“I didn’t even realize how off my balance was. It was really weird and hard to keep going, but I knew that is what I had to do,” Gladden said.

As Gladden continued to become acclimated to yoga, which she started to incorporate into her daily life, she started to dive into its mindfulness component.

She said this has helped her view MS not as an illness but as something she can use to grow.

“

I started to think it wasn’t a disease or something bad that was happening to me. I started to choose to look at it as this blessing that has happened to me to teach me something that maybe I can teach other people, and unless I go through it, I won’t be able to.”

TRACY GLADDEN • language arts teacher

“I started to think it wasn’t a disease or something bad that was happening to me,” Gladden said. “I started to choose to look at it as this blessing that has happened to me to teach me something that maybe I can teach other people, and unless I go through it, I won’t be able to.”

Gladden attributes her dedicated lifestyle to her consistent yoga practices.

Every day she wakes up do yoga in the Multipurpose Room at 6:40 a.m.

She has also noticed yoga helps her to slow down, something she has found helpful since being diagnosed.

“I notice that it has grown my faith more. It all goes back to the thinking that it is happening for a reason. When I looked at it initially, it was something bad, but in actuality, it is a blessing because now that I have learned all these habits, I am able to translate them,” Gladden said.

In October 2017, Gladden started her training to become a certified yoga instructor through a program called Yoga Fit. The program includes over 200 hours of practice, over 20 books to read and study of various yoga practices and anatomy.

Gladden will get her certification in January 2020.

She incorporates her daily practices of meditation and yoga into her classes, specifically by taking five minutes of meditation before class starts with her students.

“I thought yoga was a physical thing, but that is just one tiny part of it,” Gladden said. “I thought you had to be flexible but that is a huge misconception because you don’t have to be flexible at all. You have to be willing.”

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Sports

Dec. 16, 2019

The Road Back To The Cup

Hockey team faces new obstacles in quest for victory

In the Wickenheiser Cup final, MVP sophomore PATRICK JOHNSON breaks away from a Duchesne defender to move up the ice. • photo by JACK WEAVER

MORGAN VEHIGE • Sports Editor •

A

MAYA MANOR • Staff Reporter •

fter five years of trying, on March 13, 2019, the Lafayette hockey team went to the Enterprise Center to compete against Duchesne for the Wickenheiser Cup. They won the game, 4-2, and now they are preparing to claim a similar title this year.

Last year, the success in the chase for the Wickenheiser Cup was preceded by a 19-7-2 season with an eight game winning streak as they approached the end of the season.

Sophomore Patrick Johnson was named the Wickenheiser Cup’s Most Valuable Player and had the game clinching emptynetter goal.

As a new player last year, he attributes the team’s success to the newfound camaraderie.

“Last year was about bringing our team together,” Johnson said. “The main focus is getting everyone together and making everyone comfortable with everyone. The seniors had a big part in that last year.”

Senior Josh Hansen has been with the team for four years and also believes the senior leadership last year made a difference throughout the season.

“Last year, we were a lot closer as a team,” Hansen said. “We became a family. We all kept up with each other and won as one.”

Another factor to the success was the coaching staff. Head Coach Jim Carrico has been with the team for four years.

Senior Carson Albers started playing when Carrico joined and noticed how the team rallied around Carrico. “[Carrico’s] doing well. He established boundaries and earned our respect, and we know him well,” he said.

Albers also said that because they won the Cup, the team was able to move into a new division and now face hockey powerhouses like De Smet Jesuit, Vianney and Municipal

Conference Champions St. Louis University High School (SLUH).

Carrico believes his team is strong enough to compete against these large hockey-centric high schools.

“We have the talent and depth. Playing together as one is what makes us a top team. We have high expectations this year and are looking forward to the new challenge of moving up to the top division,” Carrico said.

Senior Kamren Canova is preparing with the rest of the team for the challenge of facing new opponents.

“We have competition moving into the Municipal Conference, but we have a good group of guys and a lot of talent,” he said.

At the beginning of the season, the team felt the increase in competition when playing against CBC and losing 5-0.

“I think that was the first time we’ve ever played a team from one of the big hockey schools, and I think everyone was a bit nervous,” Albers said.

Ever since that game, the team has began practicing in ways that greatly help the mental and physical aspects of their game.

What originated as a joke, “winning mentality” became a leading slogan for how the team approaches each game.

“Winning mentality is always in the back of everyone’s minds,” Albers said. “We don’t downgrade our opponents, and we don’t want to be nervous about them because we know we have a chance in every game no matter who we’re playing.”

Inside the rink is where all of the mental preparation adds up and produces itself in smart plays on the ice.

The team has set goals to make this season one of the best they’ve had, and they look forward to making both themselves and the team better in the rink.

“We need to stay close with each other, keep working hard every day and know our goals,” Johnson said. “[In order for me to improve] I need to balance my schedule and get enough rest.”

The team has a loftier goal in mind for this year’s postseason: the Mid-States Club Hockey Association’s Challenge Cup. With the moving of divisions, it will be an even bigger challenge than winning the Wickenheiser Cup.

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Sports

Dec. 16, 2019

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Fall sports conclude their seasons Field Hockey After a 14-9 season, the field hockey team made it to the State Quarterfinals, where they fell to Nerinx Hall.

Juniors Elayna Malak, Mia Simpson and freshman Lene Rossouw were named First Team All-Conference.

Sophomore Anya Shawke earned Second Team AllConference honors, and junior Izzy McSpadden was named Honorable Mention.

Tennis

Sophomore KATIE FERGUSON• photo by JACK WEAVER

The team had an 11-2 overall record and finished 2nd in the Suburban Conference and 3rd in Districts.

Sophomore Katie Ferguson placed 2nd in singles play at State.

Junior ELAYNA MALAK• photo

by RACHEL BROWN

Sophomore KALEY ADZICK • photo by SHANNON WORLEY

Softball

Volleyball

The girls placed 2nd at the Class 4 MSHSAA Girls Volleyball State Championship, falling to Nixa in the finals.

Seniors Allison Beaton, Brooke Borgmeyer and Shannon McClain were named First Team All-Conference. Senior Maggie Rogan, Beaton and Borgmeyer signed to play at Fairfield, Truman State and Spring Hill College, respectively.

Girls volleyball team • photo by JACK WEAVER

Senior EDWARD ABOUSSIE • photo by ANUSHA SINGH

Soccer

With two overall tournament wins in both the Lafayette and Parkway Tournaments, the Lancers finished their season with an 18-7-1 record and took 2nd in Districts before falling to State Champions Rockwood Summit. Senior CJ Jaggie was the Conference and Region Goalkeeper of the Year. Junior Ben MacInnes was named First Team All-State.

Golf

With a 4-3 season, the golf team finished 2nd in Conference and 3rd in Districts. Sophomores Caitlin Przybylski and Caroline Boyette were Second Team All-Conference.

Junior Brooke Biermann was the MSHSAA State Champion.

Junior BROOKE BIERMANN • photo by SCOTT SCHWARTZ

Cross Country Boys cross country placed 1st in Conference, 3rd in Districts, 2nd in Sectionals and 15th in State. All-District runners include seniors Alex McMillen and Aiden Murphy, junior Vikas Devulapalli, sophomore Nikolas Malek and freshman Lukas Groenwald. Murphy and Malek were also All-Sectional runners.

Girls cross country placed 3rd in Conference, Districts and Sectionals and 6th at State. All-District runners were juniors Kelsey Johnson and Hope Ware and freshmen Elissa Barnard and Grace Tyson. Tyson also placed 1st in the Conference, District and Sectional Meets, and she finished 3rd overall at the State Meet.

Softball ended the season 11-9-1.

Senior Hannah Long was named First Team All-District and All-Conference.

Senior Callie Harrison and junior Landee Wasson were Second Team All-Conference.

Swim and Dive At State, the boys finished 14th overall.

Senior Joshua Luter, junior Josh Moellenhoff and sophomore Devon Gordon made First Team All-Conference.

At the State meet, Gordon placed 8th in diving, Luter placed 6th in the 50-meter freestyle, and junior Gavin Wood placed 8th in the 100-meter freestyle.

Other State qualifiers included enior Mason Rega junior Ty Myers and sophomore Dylan Vorbeck.

Football The team had a 7-3 record and placed 3rd in the Suburban West Conference. Seniors Marsean Fisher, Caden Phipps, Jalin Reese and Josh Reynolds, along with sophomore Tommy Hagan, made First Team All-Conference. Seniors Antonio Cooper and Jack Saunders and juniors Pernell Garner and Mitch Hoffman were named Second Team All-Conference. Saunders also won the Conference Sportsmanship Award.

•

Winter Sports Take Off Girls basketball team earns first win in Marquette Invitational Tournament Initiating the girls basketball team’s offense in the Dec. 6 game against Fort Zumwalt West in the fifth place game of the Marquette Invitational Tournament, junior Brynn Jeffries dribbles the ball up the court. Jeffries scored 13 points and had seven steals in the Lady Lancers’ 36-35 win over the Jaguars. Over Winter Break, the Lady Lancers will compete in the MICDS Holiday Tournament from Dec. 26-30. For updated coverage on the girls basketball team and all winter sports teams, follow @thelancerfeed on Instagram and Twitter and visit lancerfeed.press.

• photo by MORGAN VEHIGE