CN: February 3, 2021

February 3, 2021

Breaking down barriers Black Girls Do STEM encourages girls of color to engage with science, technology, engineering and math at a weekend academy

Free tax preparation available for local low-income households. Pg. 3 Cinema St. Louis and St. Louis Public Radio present free Best of Shorts program on Twitch . Pg. 4

Special Section Senior Living. Pg. 5

By Charlotte Beard Since 2018, a local nonprofit has been working to get more females involved in STEM, particularly females of color. Black Girls Do STEM’s Saturday Academy is enrolling students, grades 6-9, until March 31 or until the spots are filled for 80 students.

“As much as it is about black girls learning and engaging in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, it’s also about normalizing and validating that STEM is for us – there is a place for black people and specifically black girls within the STEM field and that representation matters,” stated founder Cynthia Chapple. “That is why we have our black women in STEM mentoring network.

Girls see black women with hair like them that come from similar communities and backgrounds as them that come in front of them and say, ‘Hey I am a civil engineer and this is what I do every day,’ so that we can start to sort of build-up that confidence outside of the STEM content skills (along with) identity, culture and why it’s so important.”

According to Chapple, Black Girls Do STEM began in 2015 as a social media awareness platform in which she highlighted the accomplishments of black women in STEM and black girls present-day. In 2018, her endeavors progressed by offering workshops to local girls and community based programs.

In March 2019, Black Girls Do STEM officially became a nonprofit organization.

“We repurpose old STEM workshops and refit them within a specific career pathway,” stated Chapple. “We might do strawberry DNA extraction, which is an age-old workshop that everyone does with kids. (We are) helping them understand why you might manipulate DNA, why it might be important for it to be visualized, and the type of medicines,

Around Town

Business Greater North County Chamber installs the 2021 Chairman. Pg. 6 First Bank partners with St. Louis food pantries to combat food insecurity. Pg. 7 VOTE NOW! for Best of North County. Pg. 7

Features

Submitted photo Black Girls Do STEM’s Saturday Academy is free to participants and funded by various sources such as grants, foundation funding and private donations.

foods, and things that you can create and manipulate with that technology.”

The 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. STEM Saturday Academy, which includes a light breakfast and a snack, is free to participants and funded by various sources such as grants, foundation funding and private donations. The academy runs nine months every year and participants are expected to attend all monthly workshops.

Though the website calendar provides specific dates, the virtual option varies for which details will be given at the Feb. 13 orientation.

Individual information will be provided to those who enroll after the orientation date if the enrollment max has not yet been reached.

Chapple explained one of the organization’s student participant qualifications which it calls “First Generation STEM Exposure.”

“The question we’re asking there is do you have a parent who is already in STEM? If you do not, then you are a student who would be a first generation STEM exposure. If you do not have anyone in proximity as a STEM professional, we take that into consideration for admittance of girls into our sites throughout the respective communities that we target based on zip code demographic information.”

The organization’s sources also state students are selected on a first come first basis, with preference given to girls living in the direct community in which the site is located, as well as girls who attended the previous years’ program. When the academy began there were only sixth and seventh grade See ‘BARRIERS’ page 2

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February 3, 2021 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com

‘BARRIERS’ from participants. Chapple states that approximately 66 percent of this year’s enrollees so far are returning students from the 2019 or 2020 program years.

According to Chapple, the criteria for choosing a site is based on whether the population for the community where it is located is over 50 percent African American and the median income is less than the recommended average for the St. Louis Metropolitan region. Program sites are determined by zip codes that fall into this category.

Chapple shared that due to COVID, the program could not assemble at their South St. Louis City or North St. Louis City locations predetermined for last year, but there will be some limited workshops held this year at the location they choose for South St. Louis and 80 percent of the capacity will be held online. Sources state that for the 20 percent that will meet on site, rooms will be limited to eight participants per room. Temperatures will be checked upon arrival, and face shields, gloves and goggles are required.

Black Girls Do STEM sources state that support is provided to 10th through 12th graders who previously participated in the

STEM Saturday Academy.

“We have (students) who have left middle school and gone on to the ninth grade (to attend) schools like Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience,” stated Chapple. “We see that they have this interest in STEM. So, Submitted photos what we will do primarily for 10th through Black Girls Do STEM’s Saturday Academy is free to participants and funded by various sources 12th grade is continue that high school coun- such as grants, foundation funding and private donations. seling, continue the math and science tutoring, continue the group ACT – SAT prep. We will do science which is what we want to see. (We’re) building college tours, etc. in cooperation and partnership with the support for them to be successful as they exit the other organizations and entities to continue to provide back end of that K12 pipeline.” support once they get into high school and they are takTo enroll your child in this year’s STEM Saturday ing the math and science, and the high school computer Academy visit https://campsite.bio/bdgstem.

Northwest Views:

Better collaboration creates safer transit system

By SLMPD Chief John Hayden, St. Louis County Police Chief Mary Barton, St. Clair County Sheriff Rick Watson and City of St. Louis Sheriff Vernon Betts The coronavirus turned 2020 into a year we will never forget.

Despite the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic presented, it has been a year of tremendous progress for all of us involved in tackling the security issues on the Metro Transit system.

Transit users in the St. Louis region have benefitted greatly from our unified approach to providing a safer transit experience on their mobile neighborhood. That has been the goal of our elected officials, Bi-State Development, other regional leaders, and our police departments.

We are committed to protecting riders and improving the perception of safety for what is one of the region’s greatest economic development assets. We can confirm that significant transit security improvements were made in 2020 because we have helped make it happen. We are proud to say together with the Public Safety team at Metro, we created an opportunity for real and positive change.

Our teams assigned to MetroLink from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the St. Louis County Police Department, the St. Clair County Sheriff ’s Department, and City of St. Louis Sheriff ’s Office have been successful because we embraced a shared responsibility to work together to support the transit system that serves the many residents and businesses in our communities across the bi-state area.

This new attitude of cooperation is helping to rebuild respect and trust among our organizations and with the passengers. We may wear different uniforms, but we are training together, teaming

up to ride the MetroLink system together, presenting a new united front to riders and helping to create a transit community we are proud to be a part of. We are working seamlessly as one unit to be proactive in preventing issues before they happen, and if they do, to address them as quickly as possible.

We are making a positive difference, as evidenced by the downward trend in crime numbers, and by the progress shown in the quarterly WSP scorecards which track and measure the implementation of safety and security recommendations.

We look forward to seeing our family, friends, and neighbors return to riding Metro Transit once the pandemic is officially over.

Then they can see for themselves that we have turned a major corner and together we are delivering safer, more secure trips on Metro Transit. Our teams will be right there working hard with Metro Transit to keep you safe as you move about the region.

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Chief John Hayden, St. Louis County Police Chief Mary Barton, St. Clair County Sheriff Rick Watson, and City of St. Louis Sheriff Vernon Betts.

The opinions expressed in this column are the columnist’s alone and do not reflect the opinion of the owners or staff of Community News.

www.mycnews.com • Community News – St. Louis County • February 3, 2021

Around Town

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Dierbergs’ campaign raises more than $118,000 for Operation Food Search

Free tax preparation available for local low-income households United Way 2-1-1 is partnering with local tax coalitions to provide free tax preparation services to St. Louis-area families with a household income of $57,000 or less in 2020. Local residents can dial 2-1-1 or visit 211helps.org to find their nearest tax preparation site or for more information.

This year, the program has adapted to meet COVID-19 guidelines and keep volunteers and participants safe. While a limited number of sites offer walk-ins, most require advance appointments. All participants must call their tax preparation site ahead of time to receive more instructions and make an appointment, if needed. For most sites, participants will make an appointment to bring their tax documents to be copied or scanned. Volunteers will prepare and e-file returns separately and then alert participants when their returns are completed.

Participants can expect their returns to be e-filed and ready for pickup within about one week.

“While most of our volunteers will not be working faceto-face with participants or offering walk-ins this year, we remain committed to safely helping local people improve their financial stability through this vital program,” said Debbie Irwin, community economic development director, United Way of Greater St. Louis. “This year, we expect even more people to qualify due to lost income during the COVID-19 crisis, and we want to help working families receive all of the tax credits they qualify for this year.”

Anyone interested in receiving tax preparation help and who is eligible under the $57,000 household income threshold may contact United Way by dialing 2-1-1 or visiting 211helps.org/ free-tax-prep for a list of locations and phone numbers to make an appointment, as well as information on qualifications and a list of documents required for services.

Last year, the partnership filed more than 16,000 tax returns in the St. Louis region, helping local low- and middle-income families receive more than $18 million in tax refunds. United Way’s tax coalition partners include Metropolitan St. Louis Community Tax Coalition, Gateway EITC Community Coalition, National Association of Black Accountants, and St. Louis Tax Assistance Program. In 2020, 786 IRS-trained volunteers worked through the coalitions to provide free tax preparation services for people across the region.

The coalition also focuses on bringing awareness to local individuals and families who qualify to receive a refund through the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a federal tax credit designed to help people increase their financial stability. The average national EITC refund in 2020 was $ 2,604. According to the IRS, in 2020, more than 22 million workers and families nationwide received over $57 billion in EITC. “This year, many families across our region are facing income reduction or loss and may be struggling to save or make ends meet,” Irwin added. “Free tax preparation services and access to the Earned Income Tax Credit helps working families boost income, allowing them to save for emergencies, pay down debt and catch up on bills, which is especially vital this year. Research also shows long-term benefits such as improved education and health outcomes for children and families, which can change lives for the better.”

Dierbergs Markets, which recently held its annual “Hunger Never Takes a Holiday” campaign from Nov. 10 through Jan. 4, raised $118,230 for nonprofit hunger relief organization Operation Food Search. The campaign encouraged Dierbergs’ customers to make monetary donations, as well as donate a $5 bag of food to feed a family of two or a $10 bag of food to feed a family of four.

Dierbergs Markets partners year-round with Operation Food Search to bring food to those at risk of hunger in the bi-state community. Last year Dierbergs donated more than $2.1 million worth of food, which equates to a total of 1,272,957 pounds of food.

“Partnering with Operation Food Search is more important than ever as the pandemic continues to affect families throughout our community. We are grateful to our wonderful customers for their generous donations at the register to support local families at risk of hunger,” said Laura Dierberg Padousis, VP and Secretary of Dierbergs Markets.

“Our 40-year partnership with Dierbergs

Submitted photo

Markets has enabled our organization to fulfill our mission in alleviating food insecurity, particularly during these uncertain times when the need is at an all-time high,” said Operation Food Search Executive Director Kristen Wild. “We are truly grateful to the Dierbergs’ family and team for their ongoing efforts to feed our community throughout the year.”

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February 3, 2021 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com

Gateway Region YMCA is presented $10,000 Defenders of Physical Activity Award from BOKS The Gateway Region YMCA has received a $10,000 grant from BOKS (Build Our Kids Success), an initiative of the Reebok Foundation. These funds will support Summer Day Camp, Early Childhood Education Centers, and Before and After School Care at the Y. The Gateway Region YMCA was one of ten across the United States awarded funding due to their creative implementation of the BOKS program throughout 2020 ensuring kids stayed active, positively affecting their physical and mental health.

“The Y is committed to a long-term strategy that all youth programs will facilitate healthy eating and physical activity standards (HEPA) to prevent childhood obesity,” said Sarah Rhodebeck, Executive Director of Association Child Care Services at the Gateway Region YMCA.

“In 2020, the YMCA committed to implementing BOKS in five YMCA Early Childhood Education Centers, 20 before and after school programs, and three YMCA branch locations. Even when schools went virtual in March, we worked diligently to keep the BOKS program going. BOKS was incorporated into our Emergency School’s Out program for essential workers, summer camp programming, and our Youth Enrichment Program for students who went back to remote learning in the fall,” Rhodebeck said.

BOKS is a physical activity program designed to get kids active and establish a lifelong commitment to health and fitness. The Defenders of Physical Activity Award allows BOKS to direct unrestricted funds to schools and organizations using BOKS’ free curricula to get kids active and healthy in the method that works best for their current educational environment. The funding helps support BOKS programming

and other wellness initiatives during the school year.

“In fall 2020, we announced our $10,000 Defenders of Physical Activity Award to recognize one exemplary BOKS program that changes the health and wellness of kids in their community,” said Kathleen Tullie, BOKS Co-Founder and Senior Director of Social Purpose at Reebok. “Due to the incredible influx of applications, and so many strong programs to choose from, Reebok has stepped in with additional funding to award a total of 10 BOKS programs! We’re incredibly humbled to be able to provide the funding from our key partners to programs running BOKS.” “Having access to the BOKS program allows us to do more and provide needed services,” Rhodebeck said.

“We are excited to take BOKS to the next level, and provide youth with tools and resources to live a healthy lifestyle!”

Cinema St. Louis and St. Louis Public Radio present free Best of Shorts program on Twitch www.JewishStCharles.org

www.treesbywoody.net

Cinema St. Louis and St. Louis Public Radio are proud to co-present a free virtual screening of a selection of the award-winning short films from the 2020 Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF) and 2020 Whitaker St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase. In addition to the films, the event will feature an interview with Jon Alston, director of “Augustus,” which won the Essy Award (which honors films with St. Louis connections) for Best Narrative Short at both the Showcase and SLIFF. The program will be streamed at 7 p.m. Feb. 20, on St. Louis Public Radio’s Twitch channel.

Twitch is a livestream video platform owned

by Amazon. It’s like YouTube, but all the videos are live, so the experience is different at any given time.

More information can be found on St. Louis Public Radio’s Events page: stlpublicradio.org/ events.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has long sanctioned SLIFF’s shorts competition as a pre-screening event for the Academy Awards. The winners in four categories of SLIFF’s juried shorts programming (Best of Fest, Best Animation, Best Live Action, and Best Documentary) are eligible to submit their films directly to the Academy for Oscar consideration.

St. Louis Public Radio is an award-winning news organization and NPR member station, providing in-depth news, insightful discussion, and entertaining programs to more than a halfmillion people per month on-air and online. With a large, St. Louis-based newsroom and reporters stationed in Jefferson City and Rolla, Missouri, and Belleville, Illinois, the station’s journalists find and tell important stories about communities across the region and help people to become deeply informed about the issues that affect their lives.

The following short films will be screened during this event: • “Always Coming Back” (Noah Readhead & Nate Townsend, U.S., 2020, nine min., English):

SLIFF Audience Choice Award for Best Documentary Short. Webster Groves rallies around a man with a mental disability to support his greatest passion.

• “Augustus” (Jon Alston, U.S., 2020, 16 min., English): SLIFF and Showcase Essy Award for Best Narrative Short. Augustus, a literate carpenter and family man who is living free as a fugitive slave, is faced with a decision to speak or die when denied the wages he’s earned.

• “Black Goat” (Yi Tang, Nepal/U.S., 2019, 12 min., Nepali): SLIFF Best Live Action Short. A new girl at a nunnery has her first period after hearing a late-night ghost story and believes that she has been cursed, requiring her to sacrifice a black goat to avoid further misfortune.

• “Colette” (Anthony Giacchino, France/Germany/U.S., 2019, 24 min., French & German): SLIFF Best Documentary Short. Colette Catherine, now 90, revisits the terrors of her childhood, when she fought the Nazis as a member of the French Resistance.

• “I Want to Make a Film about Women” (Karen Pearlman, Australia, 2019, 12 min., English & Russian): SLIFF Essy Award for Best Documentary Short. A speculative love letter to Russian constructivist women in the 1920s Soviet Union.

• “Josiah” (Kyle Laursen, U.S., 2019, 20 min., English): SLIFF Best of Fest Short. A Black actor auditions for a part in a period television series.

• “R.A.S.” (Lucas Durkheim, France, 2019, five min., French): SLIFF Best Short Short. For months now, a group of five bored young soldiers have been stuck on a mission in the middle of the Afghan mountains, but the routine is finally broken during a support mission.

• “To the Dusty Sea” (Héloïse Ferlay, France, 2020, 12 min., French): SLIFF Best Animated Short. Left alone in the summer, Malo and Zoe try their best to catch their mother’s elusive eye.

www.mycnews.com • Community News – St. Louis County • February 3, 2021

Still In This Together

Senior Living

By Vicki Bahr

Showing grace to strangers behind a mask You don’t know me. I’m the lady trying to stay six feet behind you in the grocery checkout line, with my glasses fogging up because of my very cute green plaid cloth mask. I may have missed an arrow on the floor as I was shopping and realized only halfway down the aisle that I was walking in the wrong direction.

I’m smiling at you behind my mask. You can’t tell it, of course, but I am. Because I love you. I love the gift of grace that you have given me by wearing a mask even though you aren’t in the same dreaded “advanced age” group that I am, far from it, yet you are affording me the gift of what security you can offer me.

This is a frightening time for all of us, a terribly unsettling time with no clear guidelines nor certainties that if we just follow the rules, we’ll be okay. You may have small children at home waiting for those Pop Tarts you just put on the conveyor belt.

They’re probably driving you to the brink these days, with lessons to be worked through and boredom to be combatted, healthy meals to be prepared and board games to be played until you can finally call it a day. This trip to the grocery store is probably as exciting as your life gets these days; in that we are sisters.

But you could easily be so tired of this that you could be leaving your mask behind just this once after recently enjoying an evening at a restaurant with your friends or a neighborhood gathering to revel in the nice weather.

I’ve been told I worry too much; I pay too much attention to everything I’m reading these days, I watch too much television, that there’s very little chance any one individual is going to catch this. I don’t have any underlying medical conditions, but again, there is that age thing. And more importantly, there is a husband I still adore after 48 years of marriage, four kids and their spouses, and nine brilliant, breathtakingly beautiful grandchildren in my life, half of whom live away from our home state, with different guidelines and under different parameters. And I want to hold them all again and whisper Mom and Grandma things to them. I want to melt when

I see the love in their eyes, and know that they aren’t worrying too much. There are nine-month-old twin boys who don’t remember me, even though we spent so many hours together singing and rocking together before March and the pandemic stole them away, with a four year old big brother who wants to invite me in to see his Lego creations and his pretend architect office.

There is so much catching up to do: baseball games and gymnastic recitals to attend, fun times to share and homemade applesauce to make, stories to be told while I hold the younger ones in my lap and important dreams of the older ones to attend to.

You don’t know me, but I’m smiling at you from behind my mask because you have shown me love by doing your best to

help make my dreams come true. And for allowing me to believe the future will be a golden one, with so many wonderful stories still coming for me to share.

Thank you for showing grace to a stranger.

Vicki Bahr is an inveterate word lover and story sharer, a published author in magazine, newspaper and blog forms. As a mom of four, grandma of nine, and wife of one for nearly 49 years, she finds that inspiration and wonder are everywhere.

The opinions expressed in this column are the columnist’s alone and do not reflect the opinion of the owners or staff of Community News.

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February 3, 2021 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com

Superintendent of Riverview Gardens School District named North County Inc. Board Chair for 2021 The board of directors of North County Incorporated (NCI), a regional development association, elected Dr. Scott Spurgeon as board chair for 2021. Spurgeon is the superintendent of Riverview Gardens School District. He has served on the NCI board since 2014 and on the executive board since 2017 as vice-chair and secretary of the organization. He succeeds Dr. Elizabeth Gassel-Perkins, the campus president and chief academic officer for St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley.

Submitted photo “It gives me great pride to serve as the chairperson of NCI, and I am looking forward to a productive year to come,” said Spurgeon. “There is crucial work to be done, including our continued advocation for economic, healthcare, education, transportation, and community development in North County. Additionally, we must continue our work around equity, and sharing stories about people, places, and progress with the True North campaign. I’m excited to work with the amazing leaders from around North County that volunteer their time on our board of directors to reach each of our goals to support a thriving community for North St. Louis County.”

Spurgeon is known for his leadership in initiatives to help redefine North St. Louis County education. He joined Riverview Gardens School District as the Superintendent in 2013 and has fifteen years of experience in senior level education leadership throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area. Since Spurgeon’s arrival, Riverview Gardens has been named an Innovative District of the Year by the International Center for Leadership in Education in 2016 and 2018. The district has also received proclamations from the St. Louis County Board of Directors and was honored as the most improved district in 2015 by Governor Jay Nixon.

“We are extremely pleased to have Dr. Spurgeon serve as our board chair. He is an outstanding education and community leader,” said Rebecca Zoll, NCI President/CEO. “Dr. Spurgeon will effectively guide and ensure the continued advocacy work NCI does on behalf of the North County community.”

NCI also welcomes all its new board members, including Missouri State Representative Gretchen Bangert, St. Louis County Councilperson Rita Heard Days, Pattonville Fire Protection District’s Chief Jim Usry, Commerce Bank Assistant Vice President/Branch Manager Tamara Lackland, iFM Community Medicine Chief Program Officer Sharon Neumeister, Emerson Family YMCA Executive Director Jennie Alberts, and City of Bellefontaine Neighborhoods’ Mayor Tommie Pierson.

Greater North County Chamber installs the 2021 Chairman

Submitted photo The Greater North County Chamber Board of Directors for 2021 are (First row, from left) Dr. Misty Farr, Kitty Harrison, Paul Manganelli, Rick Dorsey, Carletus Lathan, Venus Martz, (second row, from left) Yolanda Allen-Jackson, Mike Moehlenkamp, Jon Vogt, Tom Gilliland, Derek Wellman and Dana Grimm

Rick Dorsey, attorney with Ahlheim and Dorsey has been named the Chairman of the Greater North County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for 2021.

Dorsey was inducted at the 2021 Installation Luncheon held the Catering To You on Jan. 20.

Dorsey served as the 2020 Chamber’s ViceChair of the Board of Directors. He has been involved with the Chamber for many years, serving as chair for the Governmental Affairs committee, and has served as treasurer and secretary for the Chamber throughout the years.

Dorsey is a 1981 graduate of St. Louis University earning both a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Certificate in Management, Technology and Society. In 1984, he graduated from St. Louis University School of Law with both a Juris Doctor degree and a Master of Business Administration. He has been an attorney in private practice for thirty-five years, first as an associate with Niedner, Niedner, Ahlheim & Bodeux, which later changed its name to Niedner, Ahlheim, Bordeux and Dorsey when he became a Partner. Since 1995, he has been a Member of Ahlheim & Dorsey, LLC. In addition to his private practice, he served two years as Assistant Prosecuting Attorney of the City of St. Peters and one term in the Missouri House of Representatives.

He has been active in the Boy Scouts for over 50 years, earning the rank of Eagle Scout and receiving the Silver Beaver Award. He currently serves as the District Chairman for North Star District. He is a member of the St. Louis County Boundary Commission, having served as Chairman in 2016 & 2017. In 2020, he served on the St. Louis County Economic Rescue Team. He serves on the boards of directors of Valley Industries Sheltered Workshop and North County Inc. He also serves on the Community Advisory Board of the Nine Network of Public Media and is a member of the Florissant Rotary Club.

“Rick is a phenomenal leader.” Venus Martz,

President of the Chamber stated. “He has shown dedication to the North County community for many years and we couldn’t be more pleased to have him Chair our Board of Directors.”

“When you look at the list of past Chairs of the Greater North County Chamber of Commerce, it has truly been some of the best people in North County. I am honored to have been chosen to lead the Chamber this year. I have big shoes to fill,” stated Dorsey about being Chairman of the Board.

He is a lifelong resident of North St. Louis County where he lives with his wife. They have two adult daughters.

The Greater North County Chamber 2021 Board of Directors is listed below: • Rick Dorsey, Chair, Ahlheim & Dorsey • Carletus Lathan, Vice-Chair, Hope Hospice • Kitty Harrison, Treasurer, Johnny Londoff Chevrolet • Paul Manganelli, Secretary, American Family Insurance • Dr. Misty Farr, Past Chair, Walmart • Yolanda Allen-Jackson, A Savvy Employment • Kim Bakker, SSM Health DePaul Hospital • Bret Berigan, Christian Hospital • Dr. Nettie Collins-Hart, Hazelwood School District • Tom Gilliland, Vivial • Dana Grimm, Daniel & Henry Company • Mike Moehlenkamp, Gary’s Auto Service • Dr. Elizabeth Perkins, St. Louis Community College – Florissant Valley • David Sohn, US Bank • Jon Vogt, Catering To You • Derick Wellman, Amore Pizza

www.mycnews.com • Community News – St. Louis County • February 3, 2021

First Bank partners with St. Louis food pantries to combat food insecurity First Bank is announcing a new initiative in partnership with 11 food pantries throughout St. Louis to help combat the increase in food insecurity within the community.

The winter months bring colder temperatures and a critical need for a higher demand of donated food in underserved communities.

First Bank is giving back and allowing clients to contribute through the simple use of their new in-store Interactive Teller Machine (ITMs), located inside of Dierberg’s Markets.

Clients can use the First Bank ITMs to cash checks, transfer funds and conduct other banking needs that are traditionally done at a

Business

Below are the participating First Bank ITM locations and the corresponding food pantries receiving funds:

teller window.

“In what has already been a difficult past year for many families in the St. Louis area, First Bank is proud to partner with food pantries that have continued to make a difference during the pandemic,” said Shelley Seifert, Chairman & CEO, First Bank. “First Bank is committed to family-owned businesses, and our new ITMs are the perfect conduit to reach the community at large in more ways than just fulfilling their banking needs.”

To find the nearest First Bank branch and participate, please visit: first.bank/About/ Locations.

Food Pantry

Branch Location

City

Operation Food Search

Brentwood Pointe

St. Louis

Feed My People

Lemay Ferry

St. Louis

Team Food Pantry

Florissant

Florissant

H.O.P.E Food Pantry

Craig Rd

University City

Webster-Rock Hill Ministries

Warson Woods

Webster Groves

St. Alban Roe Food Pantry

Chesterfield

Wildwood

Eureka Food Pantry at The River Church

Wildwood

Eureka

Powell Terrace Food Pantry

Highway 94

St. Charles

O.A.S.I.S. Food Pantry and Thrift Store

Bogey Hills

St. Charles

Salvation Army Food Pantry

Deer Creek

O’Fallon

O’Fallon Community Food Pantry

Green Mount Crossing

O’Fallon, IL

VOTE BEST OF NORTH COUNTY 2021 BEST OF NORTH COUNTY

-2021-

Vote for your favorite business in these North County zip codes 63031, 63033, 63034, 63042, 63134, 63135, 63136, 63137, 63138 Weekly voting begins January 8, and ends February 28, 2021.

Winners will be listed in a special section in the Community News on March 31 along with Thank You ads from the winners.

Awards will be presented at the Chamber luncheon on March 18.

You can vote online at www.mycnews.com or you can clip this and mail to: Community News, 2139 Bryan Valley Commercial Dr., O’Fallon, MO 63366 You can only submit one ballot per week.

Accountant

Advertising

Air Conditioning

Apartment Complex

Appliance

Attorney

Automobile Body Repair

Auto Dealership

Auto Repair

Bakery

Bank

Banquet Center/Catering

Boutique

Car Wash

Childcare

Chiropractor

Cleaning

Computers

Credit Union

Dentist

Donut Shop

Electrical Contractors

Employment Services

Financial Planning/Investment

Fitness

Florist

Funeral Home

Golf Course

Healthcare

Heating & Cooling

Home Health Care

Home Improvement

Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts

Insurance Agent

Jeweler

Landscape Contractors

Non-Profit

Nursing Home & Rehab Facility

Optometrist/Vision Care

Photographer

Pizza Parlor

Printing

Real Estate Agent

Restaurants/Dine In

Retirement Communities

Roofing Contractors

Sports Bar & Grill

Tax Preparation

Presented by

and the

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Towing & Roadside Assistance

Travel Agent

Veterinarian

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What’s Happening

February 3, 2021 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com

Send your event to editor@mycnews.com and we'll print it! at 636-634-6582 or (women) Denise W. at 530-417-6151.

Take notice . . .

The events listed in this section are the latest updates as of press time, please check with individual sites for the most up to date cancellations and reschedule info.

EVENTS Feb. 20: Writing and creative lab

North County Writing & Arts Network writing and creative lab takes place at 1 p.m., on Zoom. Writers, poets and artists can text or email for meeting link to 314-210-4774, nocowan@yahoo.com.

RECURRING EVENTS Weekdays: Food pantry volunteers needed

The Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry is in need of ongoing adult volunteers to sort food, stock shelves and shop with clients. Two-to-four hour shifts are available, Monday-Friday 8:45 a.m.-3:45 p.m. To learn more or to join this fun group, contact Chelsey Banaskavich at 314-513-1674 or cbanaskavich@jfcs-stl.org.

Weekdays: Tax filing program volunteers

Seeking greeters, appointment schedulers, and tax preparers to assist older adults in the St. Louis County Tax Filing Program. Training and mileage reimbursement is provided. For more information and to start the volunteer application process, contact the County Older Resident Programs and ask for Mike Nickel at 314-615-4021.

Mondays: TOPS meeting

Come, join and take off those extra pounds. T.O.P.S.=Take Off Pounds Sensibly has meetings on Monday nights at 7 p.m. (weigh in begins at 6:35 p.m.) 9135 Shelley Avenue, Overland, MO 63114. (Entrance is in the back on East Milton). TOPS is a very inexpensive way to lose weight.

You may visit a meeting for free. Any questions please call Dan Agee at 314540-5223.

Mondays: practice

Choral Arts Singers

Choral Arts Singers resume practice on Mondays, at 7 p.m. at Transfiguration Episcopal Church, 1860 Lake St. Louis Blvd. in Lake St. Louis. New singers are welcome. Auditions are not required. See www.concertarts.org.

Mondays: City council meetings

City of Pine Lawn holds regular city council meetings at city hall at 6250 Steve Marre Ave. in Pine Lawn on the second Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. The meetings are open to the public.

Mondays: Workshop meetings

City of Pine Lawn holds regular workshop meetings at city hall at 6250 Steve Marre Ave. in Pine Lawn on the

fourth Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. The meetings are open to the public.

Mondays: A cappella singers

All men who like to sing are invited to come sing with us, The Men of Harmony. We practice every Monday night at 7 p.m. at 5500 Parker Road which is the first house on Uthe Lane.

We sing four-part harmony a capella (without accompaniment). We sing some traditional songs, as well as show tunes and more contemporary music. We do perform for the public at various functions. Persons interested can come right on in or for more information call Al at 314-993-6134.

Mondays: Korean War Veterans Association meeting

If you had military service in Korea between Sept. 3, 1945 and the present you are cordially invited to a meeting of Chapter 4, North County Korean War Veterans Association. Meetings take place at the VFW Post 4105 at 410 St. Francois in Florissant on the second Monday of the month, starting at 7 p.m. For more information contact Walter Kaiser at 314-921-2132.

For a limited period the Chapter will pay for one (1) year membership for new members.

Mondays-Thursdays: Volunteers needed

Community Action Agency of St. Louis County is in need of volunteers to stock shelves, sort food shipments and pack bags for Food Pantry Clients Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Two to four hour shifts are available. If you are interested, please contact Cheryl Piece at 314-446-4440 or cpiece@caastlc.org for additional information.

Tuesdays: A cappella singers

The Gentlemen of Sound are looking for men who like to sing or want to learn. They practice Tuesdays at Lady of the Pillar school at 401 S. Lindbergh from 7 – 9 p.m. They try to do public events monthly. Always looking for new members. Come by or call Charlie at 314-954-1121.

Tuesdays: Chair Zumba

Chair Zumba every Tuesday from 2:15 – 3 p.m. at The Bridge At Florissant at 1101 Garden Plaza Dr. (Parker @ Arlington). For more information call 314-831-0988.

Tuesdays: Celebrate Recovery

Celebrate Recovery Tuesday meetings take place at 6 p.m. with a Saturday Bible Study at 9 a.m. at LifePoint Church at 424 Graham Rd. in Florissant. For more information visit www.lifepointministries.church/celebrate-recovery or call (men) Steve D.

Tuesdays: Choir rehearsals

The St. Louis Chordinals, a women’s a cappella chorus, rehearse every Tuesday evening from 7 - 9:30 p.m. at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church at 12397 Natural Bridge Rd. in Bridgeton (next to the Bridgeton Government Center). For more information call Linda at 314-839-3495 or visit stlouischordinals.org.

Tuesdays: Vietnam Veterans Association meeting

Chapter 794 Vietnam Veterans Association meets on the third Tuesday of each month at VFW Post 4105 at 410 St. Francois in Florissant. Meetings start at 7 p.m. For more information contact Walter Kaiser at 314-921-2132.

Chapter will pay for one (1) year membership for new members.

Tuesdays: TOPS (Take off pounds sensibly)

From 9:15 - 10:30 a.m. located at John F. Kennedy Center/Henry Koch Ctr., Howdershell Rd. at Charbonier Rd., Florissant. For more info contact Paul McConnell, 314-831-5476.

2nd Tuesday Sept.-June: Show-me Stitchers:

Show-me Stitchers is the local chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America. We meet on the second Tuesday, Sept.-June at 6:30 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 14088 Clayton Road, Chesterfield, MO. Learn needlepoint, embroidery, cross stitch, and more.

Every 4th Tuesday of the month: Fort Bellefontaine Memorial American Legion Post 335 meeting 6:30pm, Fort Bellefontaine Memorial American Legion Post 335, at the Bellefontaine Neighbors Community Center at 9669 Bellefontaine Rd. Those interested in membership are invited to attend.

Every Tuesday: Bingo Evening at Florissant Elks Lodge #2316

Doors at 4:30 p.m., games begin at 6pm, Florissant Elks Lodge #2316, 16400 New Halls Ferry Rd. in Florissant. For more information, call 314921-2316.

Pounds Sensibly)

TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets from 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at St. Andrews United Methodist Church at 3975 N. Hwy 67 in Florissant. For more information contact Norma at 314-306-4731.

Every Wednesday: Bingo Morning at Florissant Elks Lodge #2316 Florissant Elks Lodge #2316, 16400 New Halls Ferry Rd. in Florissant.

Doors at 7:30 a.m., games begin at 9:30 a.m. For more information, call 314921-2316.

Bridgeton Trails Library Branch Programs:

3455 McKelvey Rd., St. Louis, 314-9943300. Story Time: Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. 9 months to 2 yrs. Room 1 (Lap Time); Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. Ages 3–5. Room 2; Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.

Ages 3–5. Room 1.

Florissant Senior Citizens’ Bingo Clubs: 314-839-7604.

Every 1st Wednesday of the Month: Stroke Support Group

3-4 p.m., Center for Senior Renewal, Detrick Building 1st floor, 11133 Dunn Rd. For more information, contact Jamie Stevens at 314-653-5331.

Thursdays: Bingo

Community Bingo at the Bridge At Florissant, at 1101 Garden Plaza Drive (intersection of Parker and Arlington) takes place on the third Thursday of each month starts at 2 p.m. There will be snacks and prizes. For more information call 314-831-0988.

Every third Thursday of the month the Flower Valley Quilting Guild meets at 7 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church at 123 Carson Road in Ferguson.

Thursdays: Blood pressure checks

Free blood pressure checks monthly at Life Care Center of Florissant at 1201 Garden Plaza Dr. (off Parker Rd.) in Florissant every third Thursday of the month. Call 831-3752 for more information.

Women’s

chorus

Bingo takes place every Wednesday at American Legion Post 338 at 9655 Midland Blvd. in Overland. Doors open at 5 p.m. For more information contact Chairman Ed Hilleman at 314660-1813.

Every Thursday City Voices Chorus, a women’s chorus singing four-part a cappella harmony, meets at Church of the Good Shepherd at 1166 S. Mason Rd. in St. Louis. Members come from the entire bi-state region. Call Marcia at 636-274-0723 for more information or visit www.cityvoiceschorus.org.

Wednesdays: Bingo

Fridays: Fish fry

Wednesdays: Bingo

Life Care Center of Bridgeton, at 12145 Bridgeton Square in Bridgeton, welcome all to Community Bingo every last Wednesday of the month at 2:30 p.m. Light refreshment will be served.

Please RVSP at 314-298-7444 with the month you will attend and number of people attending.

Wednesdays:

TOPS (Take Off

Every 3rd Friday of the month: Bingo

2 p.m., Life Care Center of Florissant, 1201 Garden Plaza Dr. For more information, call 314-831-3752.

Saturdays: Yoga

Yoga returns to Calvary UCC at 2501 Hartland Avenue, on Saturdays from 10:30-11:30. Masks and social distancing are required in the building and participants should bring hand sanitizer with them. For further information call Angela at 314-801-8594.

Saturdays: Toastmasters meeting

Everyone is welcome to attend Toastmasters Saturdays 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Normandy United Methodist Church at 8001 Natural Bridge Road (across from UMSL). For more info call 314402-7025.

Saturdays: Free walk-in clinic

Salam Clinic at St. Peter’s United Church of Christ at 1425 Stein Road at West Florissant in Ferguson is a free walk-in clinic open Saturdays from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. The clinic is jointly sponsored by the Muslim Community of St. Louis (MCSL) and St. Peter’s United Church of Christ to provide basic adult medical screening, treatment and referrals free of charge for the uninsured. For more information or if you would be interested in volunteering, please call 314-521-5694 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Monday – Friday or visit www.stpeterschurch.org

Saturdays: Clothing sale

Thursdays: Quilting guild

Thursdays: meeting

6:45 p.m., Knights of Columbus Hall, 1216 Teson Rd. in Hazelwood. For more information call 314-731-9330.

A fish fry takes place every Friday at American Legion Post 338 at 9655 Midland Blvd. in Overland from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information contact Chairman Ed Hilleman at 314660-1813.

Every Friday: Our Lady of Fatima #4429 Knights of Columbus Bingo

On the second Saturday of each month Bethany-Peace UCC at 11952 Bellefontaine Rd. in St. Louis County hosts a clothing sale from 9 - 11 a.m. For sale are used clothing and shoes, some household items, books and toys. Fill your bag for $1.

Saturdays: Grief support

On the fourth Saturday of each month, grief support meeting “A Way With Words Ministry” meets at 12:30 p.m. at Community Christ Fellowship, rear, at 121 Williams Blvd. in Hazelwood, 1/4 mile south of Hwy 270 off Florissant Rd. There are a variety of topics monthly. You are not alone. Come help your heart heal with others. For more information call 314-605-3949.

Every Fourth Saturday’s Writer’s Workshop 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at Baden Library, at 8448 Church Rd. For more information call 314-388-2400.

Sundays: Meat shoot

Come and enjoy the meat shoots at American Legion Post 4445 located on 17090 Old Jamestown Rd. between Sinks Rd. and Lindbergh starting noon Sept. 15 thru Nov. 17; and in the spring, Feb. 2 thru March 8 rain or shine. Great meat prizes awarded.

www.mycnews.com • Community News – St. Louis County • February 3, 2021 Sundays: AMVETS meat shoot

Sundays in September through April, AMVETS Post 55, located on 8842 Natural Bridge Rd. in Bel-Ridge will be hosting meat shoots with practice beginning at 11 a.m. and rounds starting at noon. Shooters must be 18 or older and will shoot #9’s with no bull barrels or scopes and 675 minimum chokes. The shooting area is indoors and food and drink are available in the club room. For more information, contact 314-630-2671 or 314-330-7269.

Sundays: meeting

Jennings

Do-Dads

The Jennings Do-Dads hold meetings every third Sunday of the month (except June which is the second Sunday and no meeting in December) at 1 p.m. at Classics Bar & Grill at 11601 West Florissant Avenue. Those interested in membership are invited to attend. For more information visit www.jenningsdodads.org.

CHURCH Tuesdays & Thursdays: Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church GriefShare Support Group

Tuesdays from 2 - 4pm and Thursday from 6:30 - 8:30pm, 11645 Benham Rd., 314-741-3737

HEALTH Every Mon. & Tues.: Healthy Meal Replacement (HMR) Program Orientation

Mondays: 6–7pm Tuesdays: Noon– 1pm SSM DePaul Wellness Center.

Attend a free orientation to learn: the Five Success Variables needed to lose weight, different diet options available and how important physical activity really is. Please call to register at 1-877-477-6954.

1st Tuesday of Every Month: Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Support Group Meeting

Meeting to be held at Sarah Care of Bridgeton Adult Day Center 11977 St. Charles Rock Road, Suite 121-124, Bridgeton, MO 63044. Join our Support Group for Mutual, Emotional Support and Education. You are not alone. For information, contact Deborah Mabrie at 314-291-5210 or Ferd Fetsch at 314-291-3021 Email: dbland@sarahcare.com ferdfetsch@ sbcglobal.net.

Every third Tuesday of every month: Grief Support Group sponsored by DePaul Hospital

11:30am-1pm, Maryland Hgts. Comm.

Ctr., 2300 McKelvey Rd. For more information, call 314-344-6873.

Wednesdays: ACES Schizophrenia Support Group 6:30 - 7:30pm, 314-839-3171.

enroll.

Crisis Nursery:

Committed to preventing child abuse and neglect, the Crisis Nursery provides short-term, safe havens to children, birth through age 12, whose families are faced with an emergency or crisis. Care is available year-round and serves families throughout the greater St. Charles region. 24-hour helpline: 314-768-3201. Or 636-947-0600, www. crisisnurserykids.org

Center for Senior Renewal:

Day treatment programs for older adults dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, loss and early signs of dementia, 314653-5123.

Nutrition Education:

SSM DePaul registered dieticians can help you make sure your diet is right for you, 314-344-6157.

Christian Center:

Hospital

Recovery

Outpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment for adults, 314-9538100.

Volunteers Needed at Christian Hospital: Call 314-653-5032 Nicotine Anonymous

Nicotine Anonymous is a 12 Step Program, free and available to all seeking recovery from nicotine addiction based on principals of AA. Only requirement is a desire to stop using nicotine. Voluntary contributions are accepted. For further info call 314-822-2066 or visit www.

Nicotine-Anonymous.org.

Look Good…Feel Better

SSM Cancer Care at DePaul Health Center, 12303 DePaul Drive. Radiation OncologyBridgeton. Attend a great makeup session sponsored by the American Cancer Society. A licensed cosmetologist teaches a session of scarf tying, shows a parade of hats, and provides each participant with a makeup kit.

Light refreshments are served. Info: 314344-6090.

SilverSneakers Senior Wellness Program at the Maryland Heights Centre

A fun, energizing program that helps older adults take greater control of their health by encouraging physical activity and offering social events. A Silver Sneakers membership includes access to the city’s Fitness Centre with stateof-the-art fitness equipment and circuit training. Membership is available at little or no cost through your health plan. To find out if you are eligible, visit www.silversneakers.com or call 314738-2599.

Smoking Cessation Classes:

Free ongoing 8-week sessions, 866-SSMDOCS to register or for more information.

Sundays: Alcoholics Anonymous Group 109

SSM DePaul Wellness Center:

11th floor conference room at Christian Hospital, 10am, 11133 Dunn Road.

Classes available on strength training, nutrition and smoking cessation, 314344-6177

Diabetes Basics:

Free Mammogram Screenings:

314-344-7024 for info or 314-344-7220 to

SSM Health Care free mammogram

screenings to women who have no health insurance. Appointments at 300 First Capitol Drive in St. Charles and SSM St. Joseph Hospital West, 100 Medical Plaza in Lake Saint Louis, 636-947-5617

Speaker’s Bureau:

SSM speakers available for organizations, clubs, community and church groups for up to one hour free of charge, 636-949+7159

ONGOING SUPPORT GROUPS Sundays: Support Group for Women Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse 6:30 - 8pm, 7401 Delmar Ave. in University City, 314-993-5421.

First and Third Tuesdays: Support Group for Women Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse 12:30 - 2 p.m., 320 Forsyth Blvd., Clayton, 314-968-3477.

Third Saturdays: Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Support Group

What’s Happening

At Delmar Gardens North, 4401 Parker Rd., Florissant, 9 a.m., 314.355.1516, Helpline 800-272-3900

Last Saturdays: Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Support Group:

Mother of Good Counsel Home, 6825 Natural Bridge, St. Louis, 10:30am 314383-4765

Last Tuesdays: Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Support Group

9

& Clark, St. Louis, 1 p.m., 314-340-6389

Wednesdays: Weekly Cancer Survivor’s Support Group

H.W. Koenig Medical Building at SSM St. Joseph Hospital West, 3 - 4:30pm, free, 636-755-3034

12 Step Support Group for Women Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse:

Missouri Veterans Home, 10600 Lewis

Meets in 4 locations in the metro St Louis area. Information: metrostlouissia@gmail.com.

SUDOKU answers from page F-1

CROSSWORD answers from page F-4

10

Sports

February 3, 2021 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com

Sports you see with Gary B...

North wins beating an undefeated team Fort Zumwalt North boys basketball in St. Charles county had to go to overtime to pick up a big win.

With the help of K.J. Lee scoring 19 points, including a crucial three-point play in overtime, the Panthers knocked off previously unbeaten MICDS 66-58 in the Fort Zumwalt North Tournament championship recent-

ly at North.

The day was exceptionally noted as this was the first time the Panthers who have won 15 out of 17 games this year and are ranked the number nine team in the high school ratings of large-schools.

They are bragging that have won their own tournament for the only time this century.

The athletics director Ted Hickey of North said after the game it was the first home tournament title for the Panthers in his 23 years at the school. *Great accomplishments

WHERE CAN YOU GET Pick up a at all 35 Dierbergs & Schnucks stores in St. Charles County and North and Northwest St. Louis County

OR READ US ONLINE AT MYCNEWS.COM

?

Three wins in a row for the Ambush The St. Louis Ambush plays their home games at the Family Arena in St. Charles in the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL).

The Ambush handed the Florida Tropics their first loss of the season in an 8-4 rout this past Sunday afternoon at Axius Field at the Family Arena. The win improved the Ambush to 4-3 on the season, while Florida dropped to 6-1. It also allowed the Ambush to avenge the 8-3 loss at the hands of the Tropics Friday.

The Ambush goals were netted by: •

Max Ferdinand

•

Tony Walls (hat trick-3 goals)

•

Vadim Cojocov (2)

•

Stefan Mijatovic

•

Corey Adamson In earning the win in goal for St. Louis, Brett Petricek stopped 13 shots in 17 opportunities for a .765 save percentage.

The Ambush return to action with backto-back home games this weekend, hosting the Ontario Fury Friday, Feb. 5 at 7:35 p.m. with a return engagement slated for Satur-

day, Feb. 6 at 7:05 p.m.

All Ambush home games are at Axius Field at the Family Arena. Visit www.STLAmbush.com for more details. * Riding the wave early in the season Think baseball in February, with the Hoots signing a Billiken The O’Fallon Hoots, members of the Prospect League, play their home games at CarShield Field in O’Fallon.

The Hoots recently announced the signing of a St. Louis University infielder Matt Dunham for the 2021 summer season.

Dunham, a sophomore, played in 26 games for the Hoots in the CarShield Collegiate League last summer and will continue in 2021. He collected 15 RBIs on 16 hits while a very high on-base-percentage rating.

In a shortened 2020 season at Jefferson College, the first baseman hit for a .301 average with 22 hits before transferring to SLU for the upcoming 2021 season.

Go to www.OFallonHoots.com for more information. * What a great addition Indoor football coming to the Family Arena in April Stay tune for the St. Louis Football Bandits to be loaded with talented players and top notched coaches as they play in the American Arena Football League (AAL) in 2021.

For more details go to www.StLouisBanditsFootball.com * Non stop action

Gary Baute, a St. Louis native, may be educated in business but he lives and breathes sports. As a fan or an athlete, Gary is all sports all the time. He hosted a radio sports program on KFNS, emceed the River City Rascals’ inaugural season, among many other activities. I am currently hosting a Health show on 97.1 FM, ‘Prime Time Health’ www.

PrimeTimeSTL.com. It broadcasts Saturday nights at 8 and Sunday mornings at 9.

www.mycnews.com • Community News • February 3, 2021

Recipe:

Feature

F-1

– SUDOKU –

A fresh, flavorful take on family dinner

Fill in the blank squares in the grid, making sure that every row, column and 3-by-3 box includes all the digits 1 through 9.

Cuban Chicken with Salsa Fresca Servings: 5

Ingredients: 1 cup grapefruit juice 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 teaspoons garlic powder 2 teaspoons cumin 2 teaspoons paprika 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper 1 1/4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts Salsa Fresca: 1 cup grapefruit segments 1/2 jicama, cubed 1/2 red onion, chopped

Directions:

3/4 cup grapefruit juice

Heat oven to 400 F.

4 tablespoons olive oil

In large bowl, mix grapefruit juice, oil, garlic powder, cumin, paprika and red pepper until combined. Add chicken to bowl and turn to coat. Refrigerate 30 minutes or longer.

1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped 1 jalapeno pepper, chopped

To make salsa fresca: In medium bowl,

mix grapefruit segments, jicama, red onion, grapefruit juice, olive oil, cilantro and jalapeno pepper until combined.

Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Remove chicken from marinade. Place chicken in baking dish. Bake 25-30 minutes until chicken is cooked through.

Serve chicken with salsa fresca.

Find more recipes and family dinner ideas at Culinary.net

SEE ANSWERS ON PAGE 9

Movie:

By Steve Bryan

Born and raised in South St. Louis, Steve Bryan is now based in Anaheim, California, and has been allowed access to movie and television sets to see actors and directors at work. Though his writing has taken him far from St. Louis, Steve is, at heart, still the same wide-eyed kid who spent countless hours watching classic movies at neighborhood theaters.

In 1973, CBS arguably had the best block of television programming on Saturday night. The groundbreaking “All in the Family” started the ball rolling and “The Carol Burnett Show” was the closer, the show that most people stayed awake to watch.

Between these comedic gems were the critically acclaimed “M*A*S*H” and the low-key comedy of “The Bob Newhart Show.” Other networks later laid claim to other nights, but this Saturday night lineup was special.

That programming block also introduced many viewers to the talented Cloris Leachman. The actress, who passed away on Jan. 26 at the age of 94, played Phyllis Lindstrom, the downstairs neighbor of Mary Richards on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” Leachman’s recurring character made quite an impact on audiences and she left the show to star in the “Phyllis” spin-off. Unfortunately, that series only lasted a few seasons but she did win a Golden Globe for her efforts.

A multi-talented comedian and actress, Leachman makes a memorable appearance in “It’s a Good Life,” an episode of Rod Serling’s classic anthology series “The Twilight Zone.”

The actress plays Mrs. Fremont, a frustrated mother whose son Anthony (Bill Mumy from “Lost in Space”) has incredible mental powers.

Leachman reprised her role in “It’s Still a Good Life” during UPN’s “Twilight Zone” revival.

Photo courtesy Bigstock

Remembering Cloris Leachman

Unfortunately, Anthony now has a daughter named Audrey (Liliana Mumy) who shares his incredible and dangerous abilities.

Leachman also made her mark during the final seasons of “The Facts of Life,” a situation comedy where a very young George Clooney played the recurring character of George the handyman. A spinoff of the popular sitcom “Diff ’rent Strokes,” the premise had Edna Garrett (Charlotte Rae) becoming the housemoth-

er at a private all-girls school. As the young cast grew older, the focus was on Mrs. Garrett and a core group of former students who worked for her.

Rae left the series at the start of the eighth season as Cloris Leachman came onboard as Beverly Ann Stickle, Mrs. Garrett’s sister.

During her tenure, Beverly Ann legally adopted Andy (Mackenzie Astin), an orphan who had been in foster care. Beverly later adopted an Australian girl name Pippa McKenna (Sherrie Kren). The series wrapped up in Season 9 as Blair Warner (Lisa Whelchel) bought Eastland Academy and made the school co-ed.

Leachman also was accomplished on the big screen in hits such as “Young Frankenstein.” In Mel Brooks’ classic take on horror films, Leachman played Frau Blücher, the housekeeper to the late Baron Beaufort von Frankenstein. After Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (Gene Wilder), his grandson, arrived at his relative’s estate he continued his grandfather’s work in reanimating the dead. Throughout the film, anytime someone said the name “Frau Blücher,” horses within earshot began to whinny.

Cloris Leachman had an incredible, award-winning career that spanned decades.

At times like these, we all could use a laugh from the lady who gave us Phyllis Lindstrom, Frau Blücher and Beverly Ann. Rest in peace, Ms. Leachman.

F-2

Feature

ACTIVE BUYER

February 3, 2021 • Community News • www.mycnews.com

HELP WANTED

SERVICES

PET CEMETERY

COLLECTIBLES

over 4,000 pet burials; over 6 acres; over 60 yrs old. 314-576-3030 www.memoryparkpetcemetery.info www.memoryparkpetcemetery.info

www.dawcstl.com

Call Brooke at 636.697.2414

HELP WANTED

MUSIC LESSONS

STATEWIDE CLASSIFIEDS

NOVENA PRAYER TO ST. JUDE May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world, now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, Pray for us. St. Jude, Worker of Miracles, Pray for us. St. Jude, Helper of the Hopeless, Pray for us.

Say this prayer 9 times a day for 9 days, then publish. Your prayers will be answered.

It has never been known to fail.

Thank you, St. Jude. R.H.

Check it Out!

www.MYCNEWS.com

www.mycnews.com • Community News • February 3, 2021

Feature

F-3

CLASSIFIEDS

Dannegger Brothers Contracting, Inc • Foundation & Basement Repairs • Waterproofing • Piering • Mudjacking • Stress Bracing • Concrete Flatwork

314-993-1833

www.DanneggerBrothers.com www.danneggerbrothers.com Insured | Experienced | Local | Quality

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Heating & Air Conditioning

314-739-1600 2550 Harley Drive Maryland Heights, MO 63043

Published Every Week Since 1921 Family-Owned & Operated www.treesbywoody.net

AREAS OF CIRCULATION Our FREE publications are available in over 700 convenient locations, including every Dierbergs, Schnucks and Shop ’N Save.

www.semopest.com

F-4

Feature

February 3, 2021 • Community News • www.mycnews.com

Yeggs

John Hanna

CROSSWORD: VALENTINE’S DAY

‘Yeggs’ is a comic series about Robert and Bill, two rabbits who have opened their own egg franchise in the Midwest (St. Louis area). We follow their day to day lives, watching as they go about the hectic task of preparing for their one big day every year. Along the way they have adventures filled with fun, comic doings and pathos.

By Cindy Moore

Moore On Life Well it happened! I was full on exposed to the Corona.

I and a few girlfriends were daring and went to lunch. We took all the regular precautions: masked up, sanitized our hands and stayed six feet away from any germ-carrying strangers we encountered. Good job us!

Not so good. One of the ladies came down with symptoms and tested positive. She contacted everyone she had exposed. We’d have to quarantine.

I called my Aunt Fiona for some compassion.

“Hi Fiona, just wanted to tell you I’ve been around a friend who had the COVID. Won’t know anything for about ten days.”

“Whaaat?! You’ve got the virus, the big V! We shouldn’t be talking.”

“No Fiona. It doesn’t get passed through the phone.”

“That’s what you think. This is a super bug. Why, I’m sure it’s figured out how to maneuver through the fiber optic lines by now. I’ve got to go Purell myself!” CLICK! For precaution, my husband and I lived apart, which is nothing unusual as he typically stays buried downstairs in his man cave. We also had to wear masks around each other.

Me speaking to him from behind my mask, “Mfpt wen proomf gnug?”

Him shrugging his shoulders and speaking from behind his mask, “Wud? Huh? Gnug foo dunk!”

Me rolling my eyes; I pointed to my phone indicating I would text him.

I waited impatiently for the days to pass—torture.

I texted my husband from my bed: “I think I got it. I have no feeling in my left leg. Never mind. The fat cat slept on it and I lost all circulation.”

Me: “This is really it. I can feel it coming on. I’ve

Exposure disclosure got stomach issues and can’t smell.”

Husband: “Did you eat any of your Aunt Fiona’s casserole she sent over?”

“The jalapeno crab surprise?”

“Yes. It’s notorious for tearing up stomachs and destroying nasal passage linings.”

Later, I coughed once and had an itchy foot. I was convinced it was the onset of the Rona.

Day ten: no symptoms.

I called Fiona. “Good news, I’m clean.”

“That’s great!” Then she let out a vigorous sneeze.

I hung up immediately and Purelled myself. I wasn’t taking any chances with those fiber optic smart bugs.

Cindy Moore is the mother of three superlative kids, servant of two self-indulgent felines and wife to one nifty husband. Her ficticious occupation? Archeological Humorist: someone who unearths absurdity and hilarity in strange and unusual places including public restrooms, the lint filter, and church meetings.

Most recently, she excavated a find in her neighbor’s bird feeder.

The opinions expressed in this column are Cindy Moore’s alone and do not reflect the opinion of the owners or staff of Community News.

ACROSS 1. “You’re the ____!”

5. Horse color 8. Interesting person, acr.

11. *Feeling of the heart 12. Nevada city 13. City in Belgium 15. Use a whisk 16. Greek H’s 17. *Popular Valentine’s Day delivery, pl.

18. *”Love means never having to say you’re sorry” movie 20. Ballpark calls 21. Strong adhesive 22. Greek letter N, pl.

23. Lord’s subordinate 26. Given to drinking 30. Ovine mom 31. Old storage medium 34. Fairy-tale beginning 35. Politician Pelosi 37. Tokyo, once 38. Bone hollows 39. Sky bear 40. Fitted with a name tag, e.g.

42. “Ever” to a poet 43. With more seeds 45. Attic 47. Summer sandwich?

48. Fraternity letter 50. Medieval headdress 52. *Only day more

popular than Valentine’s for card giving 56. Like blue sky 57. Walk the Pacific Crest Trail, e.g.

58. Samoan money 59. *Dionysus’ pipeplaying companion 60. Affirm 61. Give off 62. Plays for pay 63. *Color of Valentine’s Day 64. *Lovers’ reunion DOWN 1. Cry like a baby 2. Canyon sound 3. Convict’s weapon 4. Conical dwellings 5. Get on juice diet, e.g.

6. Opposite of binary 7. Like a gossipmonger 8. Exterminator’s target 9. Change for a five 10. Part of T.G.I.F. 12. Like an abridged classic 13. Tiler’s paste 14. *”I Will Always Love You” singer 19. Stupefied 22. Us, in Mexico 23. *Cupid’s mother 24. In the know

25. Common thing?

26. Smoke plus fog 27. Lay to rest 28. Rocks at mountain base 29. *Symbol of Valentine’s Day 32. Infantry’s last row 33. Roulette bet 36. *Chocolatier, pioneer of the heart-shaped box 38. ____ apple 40. Risk something 41. Between eggy and eggiest 44. Feeling worse than before 46. Gave away 48. Thin piece 49. Annoyed 50. Russia’s alternative to caesar 51. Aries or Taurus, e.g.

52. Burn to a crisp 53. MADD member, colloquially 54. Climbed down, as from a carriage 55. Fill beyond full 56. Pharaoh’s cobra

SEE ANSWERS ON PAGE 9