CN: Apr. 4. 2012 by Community News

April 4, 2012 Vol. 91 No. 14

Crisis Nursery is committed to preventing child abuse and neglect.

Child Abuse Prevention Month

IN this Issue

Difficult economic times can lead to increased child abuse and neglect, even child deaths, according to DiAnne Mueller, CEO of Saint Louis Crisis Nursery, which encourages people to be conscious of the challenges that families face and to take action during April, Child Abuse Prevention Month. “Child Abuse Prevention Month reminds the public that everyone needs to be committed to the safety of the children in our communities,” Mueller said. “We understand that parenting is a challenge even in the best of times. Our mission is to save babies’ lives, keep kids safe and build strong families, and every year we see a greater need for our services, as families cope with difficult times.” During 2011, the Crisis Nursery provided: • Safe haven for 7,275 children at risk of abuse • A 24-Hour Helpline serving 6,231 families experiencing a crisis • 2,410 Community Outreach Visits with families • 35,230 hours volunteered at the five Crisis Nursery locations and two outreach centers Crisis Nursery outcomes: • 99% of children cared for at the Crisis Nursery were not abused; • 99% of children whose families participate in Crisis Nursery services remain in their natural family homes. Children are brought to the Nursery on a voluntary basis, and all services are provided free of charge. Parents may bring their child(ren) to the Nursery for several reasons. Common reasons include: overwhelming parental stress, domestic violence, lack of utilities, food or water, or and illness or death in the family. While there, children birth through age 12 receive 24-hour individualized care by trained, professional staff and volunteers. They also receive a medical examination, any needed medication, a developmental assessment, therapeutic activities, and three well balanced Around Town . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4 Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7

meals/three snacks each day. Children also receive take-home supplies, including: clothing, toys, hygiene items, diapers and formula (when appropriate), stuffed animals, games and books. The family empowerment program assists parents in creating a stable environment for their children and addresses any concerns or needs identified while their children were at the Nursery. The Family Empowerment Program has several components: follow-up support services, community outreach visits, parent education groups, stay-at-home parent programs, a family emergency fund, transportation fund, Holiday Hearts Campaign and a Back-to-School drive. The Saint Louis Crisis Nursery, celebrating its 25th year, is committed to preventing child abuse and neglect by offering real help and real hope to families in crisis. The Crisis Nursery is an independent, not-for-profit agency providing short-term, safe havens for more than 7,200 children a year, birth through age 12, whose families are faced with an emergency or crisis. The Crisis Nursery provides care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at five sites, serving famiLearn & Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Pet Apdoption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Movie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

2139 Bryan Valley Commercial Dr. • O’Fallon, MO 63366

lies throughout the greater St. Louis, St. Charles, Southern Illinois and surrounding regions. Over the past 25 years, the Crisis Nursery has cared for more than 68,000 children, and provided support and counseling to more than 84,500

families. For details, call 314.292.5770 or visit www.crisisnurserykids.org. For the Saint Louis Crisis Nursery 24-hour helpline, call 314.768.3201 or 314.338.2200. In St. Charles County, call 636.947.0600.

Movie Talk

See Movie page 9

“Mirror Mirror” - Photo courtesy of Relativity Media

Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Joe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Shelly Schneider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

P: 636-379-1775 • FX: 636-379-1632

Recipe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 What’s Happening . . . . . . . . . 12-13 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-15

E-Mail: cnews@centurytel.net

www.mycnews.com

Community News

April 4, 2012

Hawthorne Players Present “Little Women”

Hawthorne Players will present a family favorite when they stage Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women” at the Florissant Civic Center in April. The play chronicles the joys and sorrows of the four March sisters as they grow into young ladies in nineteenth-century New England. The heartwarming play was adapted for the stage by Kristin Laurence and focuses on the women in the story. The play begins that memorable Christmas when Marmee leaves to visit her sick husband and Jo sells her beautiful hair to help finance the trip. It ends just a year later when the happy family is again preparing to celebrate not only Christmas but also the return of Mr. March. In between these two events, we again live, laugh, love and cry with Meg, Jo, Amy and Beth as they go through the many trials and tribulations that have made this story a classic. Director Lori Renna said we can all learn something about life and living from watch the March family and their little women. “They experienced an everyday life full of faith, fun, hardship, life-threatening illnesses and love,” Renna said. “We are eager to bring their story to life on stage, and hope to kindle fond memories

Overland Historical Society Collecting Items While spring cleaning, please consider donating books, magazines, DVDs, and/or record albums for the Overland Historical Society’s upcoming porch book sale on Saturday, April 28. The event begins at 8 a.m. at the museum located at 2404 Gass Ave in Overland. Donations may be left on the museum’s front porch. The organization is also collecting pint and half-pint canning jars to be used for this fall’s apple butter fundraiser. Jars may be dropped off at the museum’s porch which is located at 2404 Gass Ave in Overland or you may arrange for jars to be picked up by calling Linda at 314.429.4862.

Photo Credit: Larry Marsh. The Cast of “Little Women” Standing from left to right: Michelle Biernbaum, Alyssa Lefever; Sitting from left to right: Tracey A Newcomb, Clare Dudenhoeffer, Barrett Sparks

for our older audience members and to introduce this classic work to a young generation of theatre goers.” Tracey Ann Newcomb makes her Hawthorne debut doing double duty: not only starring as Marmee but also designing the lovely period costumes. “Community theatre is full of people who give up their daily lives to fulfill their passion and that to me is true theatre,” she said. “Little Women” will be presented at the Civic Center Theatre at 8 p.m. on April 13, 14, 20, 21, and at 2 p.m. on April 22. Tickets are $16 for adults, $14 for older adults and students and may be reserved by calling the box office at 314.921.5678 or visiting www.hawthorneplayers.com

www.communicarehealth.com

Christian Hospital Charity Ball The excitement is brewing as the Christian Hospital Auxiliary gears up for its 48th annual Charity Ball on Saturday, April 21, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Christian Hospital Detrick Building Atrium. The theme of this year’s gala is “Denim & Diamonds,” and tickets are $125 per person. If there’s one party you’re going to attend this year, this is the one! The evening includes a cocktail hour, elegant dinner, dancing to sounds of the SMASH Band, as well as Chinese and oral auctions. Complimentary valet parking and complimentary onsite childcare are provided. Radio personality Smash will serve as emcee and auctioneer for the evening. Tickets for the Auxiliary’s $5,000 Charity Ball cash drawing and chances to win diamond and sapphire pendant/earrings set (retail $600 value) are now being sold. Each ticket for the $5,000 drawing is $50; each ticket to win the jewelry set is $10. This is a great way to support the Auxiliary and their fund-raising mission to improve patient care and services in North County. Drawing tickets can be purchased in the Volunteer office Monday-Friday, from 8 a.m. - 7 p.m., and Saturday from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. If you would like to attend or support the 2012 Charity Ball please call Sheryl McClary at 314.653.5193 or email . sam7533@ bjc.org.

April 4, 2012

Youth Performers to Present "Wizard of Oz" Residents are invited to “follow the yellow brick road” to the Maryland Heights Centre in April for two performances of “The Wizard of Oz.” Participants in the city’s “Be a Star on Stage” theater program will present the play at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 19 and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 22. Tickets are $3 and available at the Maryland Heights Centre. The play is adapted for youth performers by Kathryn Schultz Miller, offered through ArtReach Children’s Theatre Plays and directed by Sheri Lyn Terry. For more information, call 314.738.2599.

Community News

Spring Cleaning! Little Flowers Girls Club and their family members recently performed spring cleaning duties at the Old St. Ferdinand Shrine in Florissant. The girls came together to get the Shrine ready for Sunday tours. Tours will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. beginning April 15. For more information on tours and special tours at the Shrine call Vicki Wittmann 314.921.7582 or email vicray01@aol.com.

Hazelwood Hires New Finance Director The city of Hazelwood has hired Lori Helle as its new finance director to replace Donnie Burns who recently retired after serving in that position for 33 years. She took the helm after Burns’ last day on March 2. Helle’s background includes graduating from Drury University in 1991 with a B.A. degree, double majoring in Accounting and Business Administration. She later attended Lindenwood University where she earned her MBA in 2009. In 1991, Helle started working as an accountant for a private company right out of college. Two years later, she took some time off to have her first child. She later began her first municipal government job as the finance officer for the city of Glendale, Mo., in 1994. Since then, Helle has held similar positions over the past 18 years, including some time working for the cities of Chesterfield and Branson. She moved back to the St. Louis area with her family in December 2011. She applied and was offered the position with Hazelwood. She lives in Fenton with her husband, Chuck, who is currently a fire captain for the city of Glendale. They have been together for 15 years, married 13 years, and have four children from previous marriages.

www.rhf.org

www.LetsFaceItSTL.com

Community News

April 4, 2012

Bellefontaine Neighbors Youth in Government

Once a year, the mayor, board of aldermen and city officials give up their seats for an evening and the youth of the community take over. This year, "Youth in Government" night was March 15, 2012. Although this is a mock meeting and their decisions are not binding, the young public servants work for weeks researching, choosing topics, practicing the debating procedure and learning to agree not to agree. Below are the topics and result of their vote: • Motion to ban welfare recipients from casinos PASS • Motion encouraging the city of BN to install sidewalks south of Chambers Road PASS • Motion to have stricter gun control laws PASS • Motion to establish stricter immigration laws FAIL • Motion to require anyone over 70 years of age to take a yearly driver’s test PASS

Above: Mr. Tim Hebron who is a history teacher at Trinity School, Youth Commission Chairman Rich Pfluger and commission member Scott Schultz. To the right: Front row, left to right; City Clerk Amber Peterein, Mayor David Bober and City Attorney Josh Cross. Back row; Aldermen Philip Merz, Kin Dunn, Brianna Washington and Tanisha King.

Hazelwood Fire Department Urges Residents to Visit StormAware Website The State Emergency Management Agency wants all Hazelwood residents, and those living in surrounding North County communities, to know about a new Missouri website, http://stormaware.mo.gov, designed to help inform and prepare people for severe weather, announced Hazelwood Fire Chief and Emergency Management Agency Director Dave Radel. This Missouri StormAware site features detailed videos on how to take shelter in specific types of buildings, important information about tornado sirens and weather alert radios, and links to severe weather texting services that can alert people across the St. Louis metropolitan area to upcoming storms. “Local emergency first responders, like myself, are glad to see the state of Missouri taking this initiative to educate all Missourians about the steps they can

take to help protect themselves from dangerous severe weather,” said Hazelwood Fire Chief Radel. “This StormAware site provides very specific information on the safest places in a building for shelter, the limitations of tornado sirens that residents need to know, and which local text messaging systems can send severe storm warnings to your mobile digital device.” In one of the videos on tornado sirens, it addresses their purpose which is often misunderstood. They are designed to alert only people who are outdoors, and should not be relied upon while indoors. According to the National Weather Service, the sirens are an alert for people to observe conditions around them. If there is a visible, imminent weather threat, residents should immediately take shelter in the safest structure available. If there is no sign of an imminent threat, residents should go indoors and get additional information about the storm from a local TV station, weather radio or Internet website. Another video provides residents with helpful tips on finding the safest place to shelter in their house. Right from the beginning, this audiovisual drives home the message that tornado safety means one place, the basement of a house. According to Warning Coordination Meterologist Jim Kramper of the National Weather Service www.facebook.com/mycnews in St. Louis, “Your chance of survival of a

strong tornado goes up ten-fold if you’re underground in a basement. If you’re not, then it’s really risky. The lower you are in a building, the greater your protection.” He also suggests creating additional protection by getting under the stairs and putting something around you to avoid being hit by debris. For those who don’t have basements, Kramper advises going to the next lowest level of the house and use one of the interior rooms away from any windows. There’s also information for sheltering in mobile homes, schools, churches, and other large gathering places. In another video, the importance of having a NOAA weather alert radio at home is emphasized. A popular section of this StormAware website allows people to find text messaging services in their area that can provide them with automatic text alerts whenever severe weather warnings are issued. These services, which are not provided by the state of Missouri, are free, but normal text messaging rates will apply. “We will also be adding additional content and we hope that Missourians will visit, sign up for text messaging alerts in their area, refer friends and relatives to the site and then check back periodically to learn more about being StormAware,” State Emergency Management Agency Director Paul D. Parmenter said. To explore Missouri StormAware and get helpful preparedness tips for your family, visit http://stormaware.mo.gov.

Books are Fun Sale The Christian Hospital Auxiliary’s spectacular Books are Fun sale, with prices discounted 40 to 70 percent, will be held in the lobby at Christian Hospital (Hwy. 367 and I-270) from 7 a.m.-4 p.m. on April 4 and 5. The book sale features books for readers of all ages and includes hardcover and paperback selections, including many popular bestsellers from the New York Times Bestseller's List; cookbooks; children’s selections; musical selections; photo albums; games; and puzzles. All proceeds benefit patient care and services at Christian Hospital. For more information call 314.653.5634.

www.bridgeatflorissant.com

April 4, 2012

Scholarships Available The Northwest Chamber of Commerce, NWCC, has established scholarships to be awarded to graduating seniors from high schools registered as current members of the chamber: The scholarships are issued to the school of the recipient’s choice (school may be four year university/college, two year college, business or technical school). Interested seniors must complete the scholarship application and return it along with the additional required information to the NWCC office by Friday, April 13. Members of the NWCC Education Committee review applications, transcripts and references and determine scholarship recipients each year. Scholarship recipients will be announced on or before April 27. Scholarship certificates will be presented to students at the May 10 Northwest Chamber of Commerce monthly membership luncheon at the St. Louis Airport Marriott Hotel. Note: Scholarship recipients must attend the membership luncheon on Thursday, May 10 to receive certificates. The student must: be a current-school year graduate, have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater, plan to enroll in a junior college, university or college, business or technical school, be an active member of a

school-sponsored club or organization (i.e. FBLA, DECA, VICA), and/or have completed at least one and a half (1.5) credits in the career and technical curriculum or will complete one and a half credits by the end of the senior year. Additional requirements include: provide two (2) letters of reference from adults (not related to the applicant), include a copy of your school transcript with the application, complete a one-page, typed essay (double spaced, 12-point font) explaining why you believe you deserve a Northwest Chamber of Commerce scholarship, how the scholarship will benefit your future studies, etc., and completion of the application (available online at www.northwestchamber.com). All required information and materials must be received by the deadline for an application to be considered. Return completed application and required information by 4 p.m. on Friday, April 13 to: Northwest Chamber of Commerce 11965 St. Charles Rock Road, Suite 203, Bridgeton, MO 63044. If you have any questions, please contact the chamber office at 314.291.2131 or email info@northwestchamber.com

Paul Cerame Kia Welcomes New Care Sales Manager

Community News

Berthold Named 2012 Chairwoman of the GNC Board of Directors Julie Berthold, co-owner of Berthold Carpet Cleaning, has been named the Chairwoman of the Greater North County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for 2012. Berthold, 44, will be inducted at the Chamber’s Outstanding Business Person of the Year and Annual Installation Dinner at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 13 at Norwood Hills Country Club. She currently serves as the chamber’s Vice Chairwoman of the Board of Directors and chaired the chamber’s 24th Annual Business Showcase, “Sample North County.” She has been an active member of the chamber for eight years, serving on the Board for three years, co-chairing the 2010 Nite of Stars and chairing the 2011 Nite of Stars. Berthold, who has worked in the healthcare field for 21 years, lives in Florissant with her husband of 18 years, Matt Berthold. “My goals for this year are to continue the growth of the chamber and encourage members to take advantage of the many benefits available to them by belonging to this great organization,” Berthold said. Tickets for the Outstanding Business Person of the Year and Annual Installation Dinner are $45 per person. For more information or to make reservations for the dinner, call the Chamber office at 314.831.3500.

Paul Cerame Kia is proud to welcome Chris Garbs as the New Care Sales Manager. Chris brings 21 years of auto sales experience to Paul Cerame Kia and welcomes everyone to stop in and see the line of new Kia’s in stock. Paul Cerame Kia is located just north of I-270 at 11655 New Halls Ferry Rd., just across the street from Paul Cerame Ford or call 314.838.2400 or visit www.cerame.com.

www.furcentre.com

Community News

April 4, 2012

Ferguson-Florissant Names Five New Elementary School Principals The Ferguson-Florissant School District hired five new elementary school prin- Lindenwood University, and a doctorate in education from Maryville University. cipals for the 2012-2013 school year. The hirings are effective July 1, and they were Robert Ricker will be the principal of Commons Lane Elementary School in approved by the Board of Education during a special session following Wednesday Florissant. Ricker is an assistant principal at Drummond Elementary School in the night’s board meeting. Pattonville School District. He has served in this post for four years. Ricker has “Each of these talented individuals will contribute to our mission of high achieve- a keen understanding of the school improvement process and data analysis as it ment for every child through excellence and relates to student achievement. Ricker reequity every day,” said Dr. Art McCoy, suceived his bachelor’s degree in education perintendent. from Southeast Missouri State University “We are excited to welcome these leaders and his master’s degree in educational adto the Ferguson-Florissant family.” ministration from Lindenwood University. Malinda Ice will be the principal of RobEmily Turner will be the principal of inwood Elementary School in Florissant. Lee-Hamilton Elementary School in FerIce is an experienced educator who has guson. Turner is an assistant principal at served as a teacher-leader for more than 15 Daniel Boone Elementary School in the years. She is currently an assistant principal Warren County School District. She has at Mason Ridge Elementary in the Parkway served in this capacity for three years. DurSchool District. Ice is a National Board Cering her time at the school, she has developed tified Teacher who specializes in analyzing positive relationships with staff, students data to effectively evaluate teachers and ultiand parents. Turner implemented a tracking mately improve instruction. Ice received her system to evaluate student progress, and she bachelor’s degree in elementary education works tirelessly to ensure students success. From left to right: Robert Ricker, Malinda Ice, Dr. Rodney Lewis, Emily Turner and Julie Whyte. and master’s degree in educational leaderTurner received her bachelor’s degree in edship from Cameron University in Oklahoucation from Maryville University, master’s ma. She will earn a doctorate in educational leadership from Maryville University degree in educational administration from Missouri Baptist University and she will in December of 2012. earn a doctorate in education from Maryville University in December of 2012. Dr. Rodney Lewis will be the principal of Griffith Elementary School in FerJulie Whyte will be the principal of Walnut Grove Elementary School in Ferguguson. Dr. Lewis serves as an assistant principal at Valley Park Elementary School son. Whyte currently serves as the principal of Eastwood Hills Elementary School in the Valley Park School District. He has held this position for two years. Prior to in the Raytown School District. She has been an elementary principal for more than that, he was an administrative intern for two years in the Parkway School District. 10 years and has extensive knowledge in data collection, parent and community Dr. Lewis’ hallmarks include creating innovative professional development oppor- outreach, and increasing student achievement. Whyte earned her bachelor’s degree tunities for teachers and building purposeful relationships with students, staff and in education from the University of Missouri-Columbia, master’s degree in curricuparents. He earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from Barry Univer- lum and instruction from Michigan State University, and her educational specialist sity in Florida, master’s degrees in teaching and educational administration from degree from the University of Central Missouri.

Professional Learning Teams Earn Innovation Award Information courtesy of the Northeast Deanery Federation of Catholic Schools Today’s Catholic Teacher magazine has selected the Federation of Catholic Schools as a recipient of a Cath-

www.stlouislipo.com

olic Schools for Tomorrow Award for innovation with the Professional Learning Teams program. The award annually honors 12 recipients that have led the way by implementing exemplary, innovative programs to improve the teaching and learning of their students, faculty and staffs. Professional Learning Teams (PLT) were implemented starting in the 2010-11 school year as a way to enhance academic programs at Federation schools by providing collaborative professional development opportunities. All teachers from Federation schools are members of a PLT that either focuses on a grade level or subject area (i.e. kindergarten teachers, science, math, religion teachers, etc.). One teacher from each group serves as the Team Leader to help facilitate discussion and set the

group’s agenda. Jennifer Stutsman, principal at Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, has provided leadership and direction to the 150 teachers who participate. “It has been a great success!” Stutsman said. “Teachers went beyond the original meetings to create wikis, develop writing programs between students of different schools, develop a common pre-school curriculum, create a Summer Academy for students with academic needs, and more. Coming together through learning teams has improved the teaching and learning process!” A group of principals, teachers and pastors will travel to Boston for the National Catholic Education Association convention in April to receive the award on behalf of the Federation. View the full article from Today’s Catholic Teacher online at www.FederationofCatholicSchools.org/ award.

www.changescapeweb.com/cnewsad www.stcharlesconventioncenter.com

April 4, 2012

Rackers Returns Home to Visit Trinity Neil Rackers, an Aquinas-Mercy High School graduate and current place kicker in the National Football League, visited Trinity Catholic High School Wednesday, March 14. Rackers, who spent the last two seasons with the Houston Texans after several seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, shared some life lessons and tips on goal setting with members of the Trinity freshman class in conjunction with the freshman Bridges course. “You have to keep working, always,” Rackers said. The group was advised that what they do in high school, work ethic, good reputation and integrity are building blocks for future goals. “Don’t be afraid to do the right thing, even if your friends do not,’’ he added. “Keep your goals in mind when you make decisions.”

The Trinity students were able to ask questions and find out about the ups and downs of a professional sports career. They also learned that Rackers’ days at Aquinas-Mercy had a big impact on his life. “What I experienced at Aquinas Mercy, friendships, faith, hard work and opportunities, all contributed to the person I am today,” said the 1995 high school graduate. Rackers was also able to join the Trinity Community for an All School Feast Day Mass, tour the school grounds and visit with former teachers.

HSD Band Camp Registration Forms Due May 18 Registration for summer school and band camp in the Hazelwood School District is open and will continue through May 18. Summer classes begin in June. Academic Adventures, the elementary summer program, focuses on developing language, literacy and critical thinking skills, math concepts, reasoning and problem-solving. Students will be exposed to a variety of reading materials and children’s literature. Nine District elementary schools will serve as sites for the summer program – Arrowpoint, Barrington, Cold Water, Garrett, Grannemann, Lawson, McNair, Townsend and Walker. Sunny Start is for new kindergarten students and is designed to help prepare children for school in the fall. The program includes language skills, pre-reading activities, basic math concepts and fine- and gross-motor skill development. Students will attend at the elementary summer school sites. For middle school students, courses are offered in core subjects such as communication skills, math, science and social studies, and a variety of electives. QUEST, the transition program for new sixth-grade students, is integrated into summer school. The program gives students the opportunity to meet teachers, make new friends, become familiar with the school building, participate in team-building activities and learn the expectations and rules of the school. Summer classes and QUEST will be held at each middle school in the District. The high school summer program is designed to provide enrichment courses for graduation requirements and to assist students who were unsuccessful during the regular school year. Course offerings include core curriculum and electives. Summer school will be held at each District high school. Bus transportation will be provided for students who live more than a mile from school. Elementary school students are offered breakfast at no cost. Breakfast is available for purchase for 75 cents for middle and high school students. 2011-2012 summer school dates and times are as follows: • High school: June 7 – July 13, 2012, 7:30 a.m. – 12:35 p.m. (No classes July 4). • Elementary and Middle school: June 11 – July 10, 2012, 8:10 – 11:55 a.m. (No classes July 4) • QUEST (Middle school): Choice I, June 11 – June 22, 2012 Choice II, June 25 – July 10, 2012 (No classes July 4) Band and orchestra camps for fourth and fifth-grade students are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. June 11 through June 21 at Barrington Elementary School. Students who are enrolled in or are residents of the District may participate. No transportation will be provided; the cost is $75. For students who receive free and/or reduced lunch, the cost is $50. If additional financial assistance is needed, contact Gail Stewart, learning facilitator, at 314.953.5185. Summer program brochures and registration information is available at each school and on the District website, www.hazelwoodschools.org, go to the Students and Parents tab to Summer School/ Activities. For questions about summer school, please call 314.953.5000.

Community News

Hazelwood Gifted Education Team Achieves Excellence

Third grade GALACTIC Creative All-Stars, from left, Evonne Siampos, Camryn Callahan, Aiden Dougherty, Eve Shelton and Keegan Irizarry display the medals and certificates they earned at the Academic Challenge Cup 2012, where they were one of four teams to achieve a level of excellence.

The Creative All-Stars, a team of third grade gifted education students, competed this month in the Gifted Resource Council’s Academic Challenge Cup 2012, which took place at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The team was one of four that achieved a level of excellence. Academic Challenge Cup is a series of academic competitions in math, language skills and creative problem-solving for students in grades two through eight. One of those competitions is called Creative Convention, designed for second and third grades. Twentyeight teams from 17 school districts competed. Coach/gifted education teacher Michelle Binuyo led two teams of students. Creative Convention teams work together to develop, design and construct a solution to a lifestyle problem; teams are scored on teamwork and creative problem-solving. The Creative All-Stars had to design and create a monument of peace from common items and decide whether to place it in front of their school or in Washington, D.C. “We chose to put it in front of the school, because in D.C. it would probably be too hard to make,” said Aiden Dougherty, who attends Cold Water Elementary. “I like math because I like using my brain a lot and math is easy. I get really excited when I think about it.” Gifted Resource Council sponsors Academic Challenge Cup so that children may have an opportunity to learn in a challenging and enjoyable environment, to experience the joy of friendly competition and to “test” their skills in a self-selected area of interest. The games all have one thing in common; they teach children how to think, not what to think.

www.ssmdrs.com

Community News

Learn & Play

April 4, 2012

Statepoint Crossword Theme: Kings & Queens

Youngest Pick:

“Levi Strauss Gets a Bright Idea, A Fairly Fabricated Story of a Pair of Pants” Ready for a tale as tall any told by Paul Bunyan? Outfit yourself with a honey, “Levi Strauss Gets a Bright Idea, A Fairly Fabricated Story of a Pair of Pants,” by Tony Johnston. So it seems ol’ Levi is responsible for providing sturdy drawers for miners out California-way when they were rushin’ West to capitalize on nuggets they pulled from the streams. Sakes’ alive, these guys needed jeans; Levi hit solid gold when he used fabric from tents. With a few snips and spools of thread those miners no longer had to be “naked as jaybirds,” and wear barrels when their flimsy duds gave out; no longer were the streams jammed with remnants of garments that gave out and floated in the “rills and rivulets.” Cleverly illustrated by Stacy Innerst, this western uses text as art too. It’s a barrelful of fun that will have you bustin’ a gut. Community News is proud to offer our readers “Book Buzz.” This column will feature great books for children in three categories: Youngest Pick: early childhood to the first or second grade, Middle Pick: elementary school children, and Oldest Pick: middle school children. Enjoy! Reprinted with permission, Missourian Publishing Company. Copright 2012.

Across 1. *In 1957 this group honored MLK Jr. 6. Berate or annoy 9. “The ____ Thing,” movie 13. Islam’s Supreme Being 14. Short for Elijah 15. Indulgent shopping trip 16. Shabby and tatty 17. *Kingdom of ___ in Northern Morocco 18. Mothball substitute 19. *Last king of Lydia 21. *Queen’s lead 23. Greed, e.g. 24. Skin opening 25. *Tutankhamun, e.g. 28. Mine is yours? 30. Some use gas, others are electric 35. 3rd and 5th in Manhattan 37. 2 more than eagle, pl. 39. *John Philip Sousa, aka The _____

King 40. ____ market 41. ___-__-la 43. “The Dark Knight” actor 44. Permit 46. America’s choice 47. Strikebreaker 48. To close again 50. Like an ear infection 52. Estimated arrival 53. Wildcat 55. Spelling competition 57. Special anniversary 61. *Queen Elizabeth II’s grandson 65. Wombs 66. Pastrami on ___ 68. Tightly-twisted cotton thread 69. Shermans in World War II 70. Victory sign 71. Administrative

72. “____ So Fine” 73. “Yakety ___” 74. Lays in peace Down 1. Narcotics lawman 2. Having wings 3. Lowest female singing voice 4. Actress Phoebe _____ 5. Laxative 6. Fair-play watchdogs 7. A in IPA 8. Gadget 9. Specification 10. Pakistan’s official literary language 11. End of the line 12. Like a ghost 15. Munch’s masterpiece “The ______” 20. Unfit or inappropriate 22. “To ___ is human”

24. Self-contradiction 25. *Brunhoff’s green-clad king 26. Immature ovum 27. Hollers 29. Hindu woman’s dress 31. Picks up, as in suspect 32. *Actress turned princess 33. Pomp 34. *Queen of this land paid Solomon a visit 36. ____ gin 38. One-armed bandit 42. Defendant’s excuse 45. *She cost Edward VII his throne 49. NaOH

51. Used for storage 54. In a tense state 56. Omit 57. Sticks out 58. Home to the Jazz 59. “Well” to Sofia Loren 60. Irritates 61. 7 days 62. Doctrines 63. Same as alighted 64. ____ room 67. Affirmative response See answers page 13

Pet Tips: Allergy Testing in Dogs Does your dog scratch incessantly? It might be allergies. Instead of subjecting your pet to the deleterious effects of repeated steroid treatments, why not find out what he is allergic to. Then you can have a medication specially made to help reduce the allergies, and to keep your dog healthy and happy. Currently, there are three common methods used to determine what your pet is allergic to: Elimination Diet Trial, Intradermal Skin Testing and Serum-Based Tests.

Chocolate Toxicity

www.Pals-Pets.com

The toxic principles of chocolate are the stimulants theobromine and caffeine. The amount of chocolate that it takes to poison your pet depends on the type of chocolate he’s eaten and his weight. White chocolate has the least amount of stimulants and baking chocolate or cocoa beans have the highest. Once toxic levels are reached, signs of toxicity include: restlessness, hyperactivity, muscle twitching, increased urination and/ or excessive panting. If your pet isn’t treated, he could go into a seizure - possibly even die.

The U.S. Humane Society estimates 6 to 8 million dogs and cats enter shelters each year, and 3 to 4 million are euthanized. Please do your part to control overpopulation and to limit the number of unwanted animals. SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR PETS!

April 4, 2012

By Steve Bryan Rated: PG

“Mirror Mirror” Fairy tales, especially those dealing with Snow White and Prince Charming, have certainly become popular as of late. “Mirror Mirror,” the latest film to explore this story of love and redemption, is fairly pretty to look at, but it doesn’t offer much substance to moviegoers. Lily Collins, daughter of musician Phil Collins, plays Snow White, the beautiful princess forced into seclusion by the Queen (Julia Roberts). After Snow’s father goes missing, the Queen takes over the kingdom, squandering her money on lavish parties and then raising taxes to cover her expenses. Snow White defies the will of the Queen and is sentenced to death but she is allowed to escape by Brighton (Nathan Lane), the Queen’s right-hand man. Lost in the forest, Snow is rescued by seven dwarves who had been exiled by the Queen years earlier. They teach the young princess how to defend herself and, in return, she turns their tiny dwelling into a real home. Snow realizes that she can’t hide out forever, though. Be-

fore long, she must return to the kingdom and take back what is rightfully hers. Though it is generally goofy fun, “Mirror Mirror” is a bit unsatisfying, especially since ABC’s Sunday night television series “Once Upon a Time” really fleshes out classic fairytales like this one. Julia Roberts has fun with her character’s vanity, but she doesn’t bring anything new to her interpretation. This is the same vain and evil Queen that we’ve seen dozens of times before. The enchanted mirror sequences also are a bit confusing. Director Tarsem Singh turns the mirror into a rather complicated device, allowing the Queen to travel into another dimension to confront her own inner fears. The mirror also serves as a warning that magic can lead to devastating consequences, something the evil ruler ignores until it is too late. Lily Collins makes a nice-looking Snow White, but like Julia Roberts, she doesn’t get a chance to flesh out the character. This Snow does get a chance to transform from a helpless princess into a fighter, but Collins doesn’t get much more to do than that. Armie Hammer fares a little better as Prince Alcott, especially when he falls victim to a love potion gone wrong. The actors playing the dwarves have some of the best lines and scenes, but even these performances aren’t enough to fully recommend “Mirror Mirror.” It’s lighthearted and fun for the kids, but that’s about that can be said about it. “Mirror Mirror,” rated PG for some fantasy action and mild rude humor, currently is playing in theaters.

Photo courtesy of Relativity Media

RSC Fitness Festival & fiesta 5K fun Run

Saturday, may 5 ~ Cinco de mayo Enjoy thE RSC faCilitiES fREE all day, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. RSC Fiesta 5K Run at 7:30 a.m. Visit www.renaudspiritcenter.com/5K for details and to register. Costumes are encouraged!

on’ Fall

O’

From 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Cinco de Mayo refreshments For kids – Face painting, inflatables, a rock wall and a balloon artist Free raffles and prizes Family Fitness Challenge sign-ups Health screenings, health/fitness products and services Blood drive – Walk-ins welcome

10% discount on Annual Memberships purchased on May 5!

www.renaudspiritcenter.com • 636-474-2REC (2732) 2650 Tri Sports Circle • O’Fallon, MO 63368

Both events sponsored by

Parks Night parks and and Rec Rec night at Ballpark at t.R. t.R. hughes Ballpark

Sunday, may 20

4 p.m. (Game at 6:05 p.m.) River City Rascals vs. Rockford RiverHawks

Tickets: $10.00 child (ages 3–10), $15.00 (ages 11+) On sale at the RSC, Parks & Rec Office and www.renaudspiritcenter.com. Includes:

• • • • • • •

Reserved seat behind the Rascals’ dugout Buffet before the game Day Pass to the Renaud Sprit Center (up to $7.25 value) $5.00 coupon for an O’Fallon Parks and Rec program First 100 kids to purchase a ticket receive a RSC T-shirt Face painting bounce houses Games, demonstrations and more!

Sing the National Anthem YouTube Contest! www.ofallon.mo.us/parksandrec for details. Video must be no longer than 2 minutes. Visit www.ofallon.mo.us/ParksandRec

Community News

www.ssmdepaul.com

Community News

April 4, 2012

Sports You See... With Gary B. Rascals Holding 2nd Annual Rally Event Helps Expenses Of Players The River City Rascals Booster Club will be hosting the 2nd annual Rascals Rally on Sunday April 22nd at the Elk's Lodge in O'Fallon from 3-7 p.m. The Booster Club would like to introduce the fans to the reenergized and revitalized Rascals. This event will allow fans to sample the new menu from the concessions, which will be run entirely by the River City Rascals! The Booster Club will also have auctions, Rascals trivia, Rascals players and coaches in attendance, a bounce house, and a playground. At this year's Rascals Rally, you will have the opportunity to register for either the Bags Tourney or the Texas Hold 'Em Tournament for only $10! You may only register for one tournament. The tournaments begin promptly at 3:30 and ends at 5:15. Dinner begins at 5:30, with speakers, games, and the auction beginning at approximately 6 p.m. After last year's successful Rascals Rally, the event has been moved to the large hall at the Elk's Lodge. Tickets are $20 per person, $30 for a couple, and $10 for kids under 12. All proceeds benefit the River City Rascals players. The River City Rascals open their 14th season of play in the professional independent Frontier League on Friday, May 18th versus the Rockford RiverHawks at

Sports

T.R. Hughes Ballpark in O'Fallon, MO. For more information visit www.rivercityrascals.com. ~~~Looking forward to seeing Ruffy Mixed Martial Arts Coming To The Family Arena Score Some Free Tickets Officials from Fight Me MMA announced today that the next stop on the 2012 National Guard Fight Me MMA Tour will take place on Friday, April 13 at the Family Arena in St. Charles, MO. The tour will then travel to Illinois and Wisconsin in May, Minnesota and North Dakota in June and Ohio in July. The remainder of the 2012 tour will include stops in Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Maine and Rhode Island. The dates and venue locations for those events will be announced in the coming weeks. Coming off of another hugely successful event in January, where a standingroom-only crowd witnessed an epic night of fights that included the first ever women’s bout in Fight Me MMA history, the fast-growing organization will once again be offering thousands of free tickets to fans through its marketing and retail partners as well as its website and facebook page. Doors are scheduled to open at 5:30 p.m. with the show scheduled to begin at 7:30. Another huge crowd is expected, so fans are encouraged to arrive early. The fight card, which will be announced in a few days, will once again feature a women’s bout when rising star Tonya Evinger makes her long awaited Fight Me MMA debut in the co-main event. The main event of the evening will feature Mike “Unbreakable” King, who has quickly become one of the most popular gladiators in Fight Me MMA by virtue of vicious first round knockouts in each of his last two battles. Other fighters on the ten bout card will include local stars Zach “The Altar Boy” Freeman, Ray ‘The Gator” Grindstaff, Nick Lobosco and Josh Sampo. Free tickets for the event are currently available at several participating area marketing and retail partners. For more information about the event, including a complete list of participating area marketing and retail partners, visit www.FightMeMMA.com or facebook.com/FightMeMMA. All bouts are subject to change. ~~~Tough guys and girls

Editorial

“Over the Fence”

Ambition Costs Are Skyrocketing In recent local elections, about 10 percent of the voters decided the up-close-and-personal futures of the other 90 percent. For some reason, many voters seem to think local elections aren’t important enough to require their presence at the polls. It makes the complainers that didn’t vote seem a bit hypocritical, but that’s life in the big city. With a much higher percentage of voters in the last national election for Washington legislators and state governors, hundreds of millions were spent. The most expensive governor campaign in history was $141 million spent by former E-bay chief Meg Whitman for the California governor’s race…and she lost! Perhaps folks simply didn’t like E-bay. The alarming fact is that elections are being controlled to a large extent on obscene amounts of campaign cash used to finance expensive spin-doctored TV political ads that make media corporation financial officers swoon. Harry S. Truman was a men’s haberdashery salesman. Dwight Eisenhower was an army general. Neither were millionaires, although Mamie Eisenhower‘s family may have been. Later, presidents weren’t exactly middle income Americans before they were elected. I realize some of them may have become millionaires after being elected, but let’s not go there. Lee Iacocca became a multi-millionaire after putting Chrysler back in the black. His automobile manufacturing genius is known throughout the world. People praised his ability and success. They wanted him to run for president and work his magic on the U.S. government.

www.ProgressWest.org/Stroke

Lee turned them down. He was advised by experts that running an automobile manufacturing corporation had little relation to running a democracy. Large corporations are like most dictatorships but without the leg-breakers and uniformed thugs. They have a board of directors, a CEO and departmental executives, some of which are also referred to by irreverent employees as ‘yes-men.‘ It has no Congress to deal with. In dictatorships, disagreeing legislators would be banished to never-never land or perhaps, graveyards. If his generals disagree, they won’t remain generals. In the last three or four decades, the boards of directors in major corporations are often CEOs from other corporations. The only way a CEO can lose his job is if the board of directors fires him or federal prosecutors indict him for cooking the books. Any criticism might remain tacit; especially criticism of salary increases and bonuses unbecoming a bungler...or dictator, if you please. To win the presidency, Iacocca would have had to spend hundreds of millions for his campaign. It’s doubtful he’d be silly enough to spend his own money so he would’ve sought large campaign contributions elsewhere. The largest usually depends on billionaires and huge corporations with agendas. Favors would be owed. Would Lee grant them if he was elected? Who knows? Would the billionaires and corporations fund large campaigns to destroy him if he didn‘t? Again, who knows but lately, $4 per gallon gasoline might be a hint of what can destroy a president right along with American consumers’ good nature. Some of the speculators behind $4 per gallon gasoline are multi-millionaires on their way to become billionaires. In recent years, we had a famous billionaire campaigning for president. He claimed a war chest of his own of at least $100 million. Since he was a corporate CEO, other corporate CEOs might have kicked in more millions. Perhaps he should have consulted Lee Iacocca but had he stayed and won, or perhaps bought a win, it would be fun to watch if he tried to fire a legislator…or not. “In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.” -Confucius

Editorial

April 4, 2012

Community News

National Ramen Noodles Day April Fool’s Day has passed, and for my family, it was mercifully uneventful. April is also the month to celebrate Professional Secretaries Day, but since I don’t have a secretary I’m off the hook. Whew! I always try to be prepared for each month’s upcoming events and special days and/or holidays. We even celebrate things like Grandparents Day. But I recently discovered there simply aren’t enough months in the year for every event. For instance, April is Keep America Beautiful Month and National Youth Sports Safety Month. It’s also the host month for National Garden Week, National Lingerie Week, National Library Week, Reading is Fun Week and World Health Day. Whew! Flipping through a special calendar, I found other celebrated days/weeks/months that were pretty darn lame, if not down right funny. National Sense of Smell Day is in May. June is for food and drink lovers. National Beef and Steak Month, National Frozen Yogurt Month, and National Iced Tea Month all call June their favorite month. National Ice Cream Day is in July, and mustard lovers rejoice…your day is in August. Why not combine the two? Eeew. Maybe not. As many designated days, weeks, and months as there are, I thought of adding a few more. We’ll start with January. It’s the month that follows the biggest holiday of the year, whether you celebrate Christmas, Kwanza or Hanukkah. And unless there’s a birthday you abso-

Recipe:

lutely have to celebrate (two in the case of our family), then January should be dubbed “National Ramen Noodle Month.” Remember Ramen Noodles? Packages of dried noodles that turned into a cheap and delectable meal just by adding hot water. I lived on those during my college days. February is known for Valentine’s Day. There are a few guys who might like to take a hint from the Monopoly game and use February as “Get Out of the Dog House Free Month.” You know, just in case they forget about one of the most expensive holidays of the year. March is known for St. Patrick’s Day (a day many use as an excuse to drink lots and lots of green beer). It’s also known for flying kites and high winds. So I propose that March 18 (the day after St. Patrick’s Day) to be known as “Three Sheets to the Wind Day.” It would be an automatic national holiday, a day of recuperation, so to speak. April 15 is one of the most feared days of the year. Tax Day is dreaded by many, unless you happen to receive a giant check from Uncle Sam. It should be considered a national day of mourning. Give everyone the day off and let them sleep in. Mother’s Day was rightfully placed in one of the most beautiful months of the year, as was Father’s Day. Unfortunately, May and June are also two of the most stressful months of the year if you have schoolaged children. The last few weeks before the end of the school year can wear down any parent or teacher. Kids are fidgety, inattentive and restless. And for

those of us who stay at home with the kids during the summer… let’s just say school can’t start soon enough. So why not dub May, June, July and part of August as National Teacher/Stay-at-home Parent/Day Care Provider Months? And the first full day of school in my household will be a full day of partying, shopping, and total selfindulgence. I think I’ll call it “National Thank Goodness School’s Back in Session Day.” October is the start of three months of non-stop eating. Even when we try to be good, how many of us wind up digging into our kids’ Halloween bags for the good stuff? Not the candy corns or peanut butter taffy stuff, but the chocolate. It’s then followed by turkey, ham, sweet potato soufflé and deserts galore in November and December. Those should be known as “National I Give up Months.” I searched thoroughly, but never found the abovementioned special days or months. Sure, they expect us to celebrate baked beans, mustard and the sense of smell, but nowhere did I find days to celebrate the things that really matter. Things like “National Hug Your Kid Day,” or “National Compliment Your Spouse Week.” Granted, we shouldn’t need a special day for things like that. So what are you waiting for? Put down the paper and go kiss someone you love.

Bring the Family Together This Easter with Easy, Memorable Recipes (Family Features) Easter is a time for honored family traditions. From Easter hats, egg hunts and meals shared with those you love, each celebration creates its own special memories.

Strawberry Spring Salad

Slow Cooker Marmalade Pork Tenderloin

Prep Time: 10 min. • Yield: 6 servings

Cook Time: 4 hrs. • Prep Time: 20 min. • Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients: - 1/2 cup Smucker’s® Strawberry Syrup - 2 tablespoons Crisco® Pure Canola Oil - 2 tablespoons white vinegar - 1 5-ounce package spring salad greens or other salad greens mix - 4 green onions, thinly sliced - 1 tangerine or small orange, peeled, seeded, cut into bite-size pieces - 12 strawberries, sliced vertically - 1/4 cup sunflower kernels - 1/4 cup blue cheese, crumbled

Ingredients: - 2 tablespoons olive oil - 3 pounds pork tenderloin - 1/2 cup teriyaki sauce - 1 cup chicken broth - 1 10-ounce jar Smucker’s® Sweet Orange Marmalade - 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, grated - 1/4 cup brown sugar - 3 cloves garlic - 1 large onion, sliced - 1 package fresh mushroom caps - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper - 1/2 teaspoon salt - 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

oil and vinegar to make vinaigrette. Whisk until blended. 2. Place salad greens, green onion, orange pieces, strawberries and sunflower kernels in a large salad bowl. 3. Add vinaigrette. Toss lightly. Crumble blue cheese over top. Serve immediately.

Directions: 1. Combine syrup,

Triple Berry Baked Brie Prep Time: 20 min. • Cook Time: 25 min. • Yield: 12 servings Ingredients: - 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed - 1/3 cup Smucker’s® Orchard’s Finest™ Northwest Triple Berry Preserves - 8 ounces round baby wheel brie cheese - 1/4 cup chopped hazelnuts or pecans - 1 large egg - 1 tablespoon water - Assorted crackers, pear slices and/or apple slices Directions: 1. Heat oven to 400°F. Unfold puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Roll gently to seal any cracks in pastry. Spoon preserves onto center of pastry. Place cheese on top of preserves. 2. Sprinkle evenly with nuts. Fold pastry up over the cheese to cover. Trim excess pastry and press to seal seams. Reserve pastry scraps. 3. Whisk egg and water in small bowl. Brush seams with egg mixture. Place seam-side down on baking sheet. Cut pastry scraps into decorative shapes and arrange on top, if desired. Brush with egg mixture. 4. Bake 25 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand 20 minutes before cutting. Serve with crackers and sliced fruit.

Directions: 1. Heat olive oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Brown tenderloin on all sides. 2. In blender, mix teriyaki sauce, chicken broth, orange marmalade, fresh ginger, brown sugar and garlic. Blend until a smooth sauce. 3. Put browned tenderloin into slow cooker. Slice onion and add to slow cooker. Add mushrooms, pepper, salt and pepper flakes. Cover with the teriyaki sauce mixture. Cook on high for about 4 hours. 5. Turn tenderloin a couple of times while cooking. 6. When done, remove the tenderloin and let

rest for about 10 minutes. To serve, slice diagonally and pour sauce, mushrooms and onions over top.

Citrus Apple Tart Prep Time: 25 min. • Cook Time: 1 hr., 5 min. • Yield: 8 servings Ingredients: - 1 9-inch single Classic Crisco® Pie Crust - 4 medium Granny Smith apples (about 2 pounds) - 1/2 cup sugar - 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon - 1/4 teaspoon salt - 2 tablespoons butter, diced - 1/4 cup Smucker’s® Sweet Orange Marmalade OR Smucker’s® Organic Orange Marmalade Directions: 1. Prepare recipe for single crust pie. Roll out dough, place in a 9-inch tart

pan with removable bottom. Press to fit without stretching dough. Trim edges even with tart pan. Chill until ready to fill. Heat oven to 350°F. 2. Peel and core apples. Cut in half, end-to-end. Slice apples crosswise into 1/4-inch thick slices. Combine sugar, cinnamon and salt in large bowl. Add apple slices and toss to coat. Randomly place about 1/2 of apples into bottom of crust in two layers, cutting apples as necessary to fill all gaps. Arrange row of apples lengthwise along outside edge of pan, overlapping the slices

about 1/8 inch. Fill in center with smaller pieces of apples. Dot with butter. 3. Bake 55 to 65 minutes or until apples are fork tender and edges of apples begin to brown. Cool on wire rack. Heat orange marmalade in small microwave-safe bowl on HIGH for 20 seconds; stir. Brush marmalade over tart.

www.TroyFlooringCenter.com

Community News

Church Apr. 7 and every 1st Sat. of the month all year long: Basement/ Breakfast/Tailgate Sale At Northside Christian Church, 9635 Hwy. 367 (Lewis & Clark Blvd.), St. Louis, MO. Pancakes & sausage or 2 biscuits & gravy, juice & coffee. Times: Basement/ Tailgate is 8 a.m. - Noon; Breakfast is 8-10:30 a.m. Breakfast is $4. A double parking spot for tailgaters is $10. Info 314.868.5722. Saturdays: ESL Classes 10 – 11:30 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Chapel, 11100 Old Halls Ferry Road, St. Louis. Free. All are welcome. Info: 314.849.6949. Events Apr. 7: Easter Egg Hunt 11 a.m. at Zion United Church of Christ, 5710 N. Hwy 67 – 2 blocks west of Jamestown Mall. Info: 314.741.1590 or www.zionucc1. org. April 12: Author Visit at St. Louis Library 7 p.m. at Library Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd. The St. Louis County Library Foundation and Pudd’nHead Books are pleased to present Ann B. Ross, popular author of the Miss Julia humorous suspense series. Info: 314.994.3300 or www.slcl.org. Apr. 21 & May 19: Twice As Nice Flea Market 8 a.m. -3 p.m. Clean out the closet, basement, bring in the antiques or sell your handmade crafts. Admission is free. There will be concessions for sale. Advance registration

April 4, 2012

required. Fee is $15 per table. 314615-8839. May 5: The Grape Escape 3-9 p.m. Bardenheier Wine Cellars Annual Spring Fund Raiser Benefiting St Vincent DePaul Society and the Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic. At the St. Stephens Hall & Picnic Grounds Richwoods MO. Free Admission(some rides and booths may charge) There will be various wineries for free wine tastings, live band, childrens activities,various booths, raffles,BBQ,bakeoffs,and horseshoe tournaments. Come join us for Cinco De Mayo More info call 573-678-2442 or www.wild-liferehab.com for map and directions The Wildlife Rehab Clinic is a non profit, all volunteer organization dedicated to helping injured or orphaned Missouri wildlife. We also provide educational programs for schools,scouting programs, and adults to raise awareness and education about urban wildlife. May 19: Live Well Ferguson 5k Twilight Run/Walk Fees are $20 thru mid-April – $5 discount for ages 19 and under. Contact Marius Johnson 314.882.6550 or mjohnson@beyondhousing.org. Sept. 22: Jennings High School Class of 1972 Reunion To be held in St. Charles, Mo. We need your current contact information. Please call 636.583.9778 or email jhs1972@gmail.com. Sept. 28-30: The Ferguson High School Class of 1957 They are planning a 55th reunion for Sept. 28, 29 & 30, 2012. Please

contact Lynette (Dolce) Sona at 314-838-1751 or sewlyn39@juno. com or Susan Krueger at 314-5220475 or susiekrueger@yahoo.com for more information. The committee is looking for the following classmates: Bill Joe Atkisson, Nancy Ann Blackburn, Margaret Ann Brewer, Walter J. Britton, Betty Jean Butler, Jack Clarke, Evelyn Constantine, Alice Dueing, Ruth Ellis, James Graham, Wilbur Hampton, Louis Meyer, Jr., Loretta Miller, Edward Muckerman, Gail Phillips, Janet Phillips, Joe Polivick, Jr., Nancy Proctor, Nancy Ray, Dolores Richardson, Janie Richardson, Kathleen Roth, Judith Schaefer, Charlene Schmidt, Roberta Steel, Carolyn Tate, Mary Ann Waldschmidt, Ron Warzeniak, Camille White. Last Saturday of Each Month: Writers Workshop 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Looking for new Authors and Songwriters. Come join us and let us help you with your dream. We have Authors, Sonwriters, Playwrites, Teachers and more. Meet at the Baden Liberary 8448 Church Rd. For more info call 314-388-2400. Every 3rd Monday of the Month: 6:30 p.m. Neighborhood Watch Visit our wesite for location, http:// ca.g roups.ya ho o.com/g roup. neighborhoodwatch_FlorissantMO or call 314.830.6042. Health May 17 & June 5: Blood Drive Christian Hospital and Northwest HeathCare are teaming up with the American Red Cross to host a blood drive. March 15 & June 5 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the Detrick Building Atrium. May 17 from 12 - 4 p.m. at Northwest HeathCare. For more info or an appointment call 1.866.236.3276. Volunteers needed at Christian

www.sportszonestl.com

WAREHOUSE PRICES Furnaces

Air Conditioning Supplies www.comfortsystems.info www.comfortsystems.info

Gas or Electric Heating Systems 50,000 BTU .... $400 75,000 BTU .... $450 100,000 BTU .. $475 120,000 BTU .. $500 140,000 BTU .. $600 FACTORY WARRANTY Air Conditioning Special

www.mycnews.com

2 ton ...........$600 2-1/2 ton ....$675 3 ton ...........$750 3-1/2 ton ....$800 4 ton ...........$850 5 ton ...........$900 HEAT PUMPS/DUCTWORK AIR CLEANERS & HUMIDIFIERS VISIT OUR SHOWROOM WEEKDAYS 8 A.M.-4:30 P.M.

3940 Taussig Road Bridgeton, MO 63044

739-1600

Hospital Christian Hospital is calling out for volunteers that can do a significant amount of walking to run errands within the hospital. Discover the rewards of volunteering! If you’re looking for a rewarding way to spend your time, volunteering at Christian Hospital is an ideal match. Volunteer positions are available in many different areas. You’ll meet a variety of interesting people while making a difference in our community. Applications are available at www.chrisitianhospital.org in the Volunteer Office, located off the hospital’s main lobby. For more information, call the Christian Hospital volunteer office at 314-653-5032.

ory and win prizes! Complimentary Breakfast 9 a.m. Apr. 27: Project Hands 2 p.m. Volunteers needed to knit, crochet, and quilt for various children’s organizations the last Friday of every month.

St. Chatherine Retirement Community Events

April 3-5: Books Are Fun Sale 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. April 3; 7 a.m. – 3p.m. April 4-5 at Christian Hospital Lobby, 11133 Dunn Road. New books are discounted 40 to 70 percent for readers of all ages. Hardcovers and paperbacks, musical selections, photo albums, games and puzzles. All proceeds go toward improving patient care.

3350 St. Catherine St., Florissant. To RSVP to events call 314.838.3877 Apr. 5: Disaster Safety 9:30 a.m. Presented by Fire Marshall, Steve Getemeier. Complimentary Breakfast 9 a.m. Apr. 5 & 19: Blood Pressure Clinic 10 a.m. Refreshments served. Apr. 5, 12, 19 & 26: Tai Chi for Seniors - FREE classes 10:30 a.m. Reduce stress, strengthen joints, develop balance and coordination. Apr. 12: “Wings for Seniors” 9:30 a.m. Find out what makes birds of prey different from other birds. Presented by the World Bird Sanctuary. Complimentary Breakfast 9 a.m. Apr. 18: Entertainment by the Florissant Valley Men of Harmony 6 p.m. Refreshments served Apr. 26: I LOVE LUCY Trivia 9:30 am.m Presented by Gentiva Home Health. Exercise your mem-

Every Monday* and Friday: FIT TO GO Exercise - FREE classes 1 p.m. Classes are led by a personal trainer with the use of weights and resistance bands that will be provided! Be prepared to GET FIT! *There will not be class on Apr. 6 and Apr. 23 Make up days will be Wed., Apr. 4, 18 & 25. Christian Hospital

April 5: National Alcohol Awareness Day 1 – 4 p.m. at CH Recovery Center, POB 2 Ste. 401. The Center for Mental Health will offer free, confidential alcohol/drug screenings. Appointments are required. Free. April 10: AARP Driver Safety Course 12:30 – 4:30 p.m. at Northwest HealthCare, 1225 Graham Road, Community Room. This fourhour training will help you tune up your driving skills and more. $12 for AARP members, $14 for non-members. Register at 314.747. WELL (9355). April 12: The Key to a Woman’s Healthy Heart 5:30 – 9 p.m. at Christian Hospital Detrick Building Atrium, 11133 Dunn Rd. (I-270/Hwy 367

April 4, 2012

interchange). Dinner, free blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose screenings. Reservations: 314.747. WELL or 1.877.747.WELL. April 18: Balance Screening 9 – 10 a.m. at Jamestown Mall Food Court. A broken hip is a common injury, especially in elderly individuals. Join us this morning and participate in a balance screening. Call 314.747.WELL (9355) to register. SSM DePaul Healthy Happenings Apr. 10: Dinner with the Doctors 6 – 8 p.m. May Center at SSM DePaul Health Center. Cardiothoracic surgeon David Theodoro, MD, and cardiologist Georges Chahoud, MD, both with SSM Heart Institute, will explain what causes heart valves to fail and why it’s critical to manage and treat valve problems for long-term health. Dr. Theodoro, who operates at SSM DePaul Health Center, is nationally recognized for his work in minimally invasive heart valve surgery, including his use of the da Vinci Robotic Surgery System. Dr. Chahoud is based in St. Charles County and places special emphasis on the management of valvular heart disease. Guests will have the opportunity to get answers to their questions about treatment options. This event will be of special interest if you or family members have been diagnosed with heart valve disease. A complimentary hearthealthy dinner will be served at 6 p.m., followed by the physician discussion. This program is free, but seating is limited. Please register by calling 866-776-3627 or learn more about heart valve disease and register online at ssmhealth.com/ heart. Apr. 11: Heart Screening 8 – 11 a.m. Main Lobby at SSM DePaul Health Center. To protect your heart, it’s important to take a

well-educated approach by learning and understanding your risk factors. Start by joining SSM Heart Institute for a full heart health screening. Brand new for this year is the addition of receiving your LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, along with HDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, cholesterol ratio, blood glucose, body fat analysis and blood pressure – all for just $20. To register or for more information, please call toll free 866-776-3627. Apr. 14 & 26: Tours of Maternity Suites Sat., Apr. 14– 10 a.m.; Thurs., Apr. 26 – 6:30 p.m. SSM DePaul Health Center. This is a 1-hour tour held every 4th Thursday of every month and every 2nd Saturday of the month (except on holidays). Please register no later than the Tuesday before the 4th Thursday of the month, or no later than the Thursday before the 2nd Saturday of the month. Registration is required at 314-776-3627. Ongoing 8-week sessions: Smoking Cessation Classes SSM DePaul Health Center SSM DePaul, partnering with St. Louis County’s tobacco-free initiative called “Let’s Face It,” is offering free smoking cessation classes to the public. The 8-week course assists participants in determining their readiness to quit smoking and provide the tools necessary to increase their success rate in becoming smoke free. Space is limited for these on-going classes. Call 1-866-SSM-DOCS to register or for more information. Every Monday and Tuesday in February HMR Program Orientation Mondays: 6 – 7 p.m. Tuesdays: noon – 1 p.m. SSM DePaul Wellness Center. Attend a free orientation to learn: the Five Success Variables needed to lose weight, different diet options available, and

www.gibsonprinting.com

how important physical activity really is. Please call to register at 1-877-477-6954. Wednesday Weigh-In (Breastfeeding Support Group) Every Wednesday in February 10 a.m. Meets every Wednesday morning in the Well Baby Nursery. There will be a topic of discussion each week. Mothers will have a chance to weigh in their babies during this time. Healthy snacks provided. This event is free. Call 1-866-SSM-DOCS (776-3627) to register or for more information. SSM DePaul Wellness Center Tired of getting locked into longterm memberships that you never use? Join the DePaul Wellness Center and receive a personalized program for your specific needs. Classes available on strength training, nutrition and smoking cessation. Call 314-344-6177 for more details. SSM St. Joseph Hospital Healthy Happenings Apr. 17: Life After Breast Cancer 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Education Room at SSM St. Joseph Medical Park in St. Peters. This free program is sponsored by the SSM St. Joseph Breast Health Program and supported by the Karen Weidinger Foundation to provide education and support for breast cancer survivors. Other cancer survivors are welcome to attend. The location alternates between the Education Room at SSM St. Joseph Medical

Park in St. Peters, and the Community Education Room at SSM St. Joseph Hospital West in Lake Saint Louis. When speaker is located at one. Free Mammogram Screenings SSM Health Care offers free mammogram screenings to women who have no health insurance, by appointment only. Must meet qualifications. Appointments are available at SSM St. Joseph Health Center, 300 First Capitol Drive in St. Charles, SSM St. Joseph Hospital West, 100 Medical Plaza in Lake Saint Louis, SSM St. Joseph Medical Park, 1475 Kisker Road in St. Peters, and SSM St. Joseph Health Center-Wentzville, 500 Medical Drive in Wentzville. For more information, call 636-947-5617. Speaker’s Bureau Our SSM speakers are available for organizations, clubs, community and church groups. Our health professionals will speak up to one hour free of charge. A variety of health care topics can be presented to your group or organization. Call 636-949-7159 for more information. Ongoing Support Groups Every

Wednesday:

Weekly

Community News

Cancer Survivor’s Support Group 3-4:30 p.m. Join other survivors to discuss dealing emotionally with treatments; managing anxiety and depression; sexuality; finding strength and hope; family and financial pressures; and more. Cost: Free. In the H.W. Koenig Medical Building at SSM St. Joseph Hospital West. Register: Call 636-755-3034. Every Monday: Tobacco Free for Life Support Group 7–8 p.m. Designed for those who want to quit smoking, as well as those who have successfully quit. Discover more information about how to quit, or find reassurance and support. Cost: Free. At St. Peters City Hall, One St. Peters Centre Blvd., 63376. Register: Call 636-947-5304. Answers from page 8

Community News

ATTORNEY

April 4, 2012

help wanted

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.

www.saintcharlesfamilylaw.com

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.

Auction

SEEKING

Seeking Billy Hoelscher regarding Mary’s Food Shop.

Call Tom Mattingly 636-946-6164

Beauty Supply te sta s

SERVICES

cial pe

real-e

FOR SALE

per run

PET CEMETERY

over 2,500 pet burials; over 6 acres; over 40 yrs old. 314-576-3030 www.memoryparkpetcemetery.info www.memoryparkpetcemetery.info

2x2 c

with color Event

Cute & Cozy Cottage! Great weekend retreat or rental property! $55,000 9am-5pm

573.242.3112 6-9pm

573.242.9666

Classified Special! For Garage Sales, Moving Sales, Yard Sales, or Sale of Items priced less than $200.

15.00

per week for two Wednesdays, or $19 for one Wednesday.

Check it Out! FREE Online Subscription

mycnews

FOR SALE

This charming cottage is within walking distance of downtown Clarksville and the beautiful Riverfront Park where you can actually “Touch the Mississippi”. Boat ramp access available on the riverfront. 2 bedroom, full bath, family room, kitchen/dinette. Full bath completely remodeled including installation of over-sized shower. Ceiling fans in every room. Central Air/Heat, Range, W/D. Quiet street. Fully furnished and ready to move in!

Call Brooke 636.697.2414

For a two-county circulation. Your ad will run in both St. Louis County and St. Charles County at the same time, at no extra charge. And when you buy two Wednesdays your ad will run in three newspapers, including the O’Fallon Community News, O’Fallon’s largest circulation paper.

Call

636-697-2414

NOTICE To bid

www.everyonebenefits.com/GaryB

April 4, 2012

Community News

Call

636.697.2414

to place your ad!

www.scrubbydutch.com

Since 1985

Published Every Week for 91 Years

Full service painting interior & exterior

Family-Owned & Operated

pressure Washing houses, patios & concrete Deck & Fence staining/painting Wall paper removal office 314.837.2040 cell 314.629.7622

2139 Bryan Valley Commercial Drive O’Fallon, MO 63366

St. Charles

Combined

cnews@centurytel.net ofcnews@centurytel.net www.mycnews.com

St. Louis

St. Charles

Combined

Our publications use a combination of online subscription, direct mail, home delivery, and voluntary circulation methods. Voluntary refers to a circulation method where readers “voluntarily” choose to pick up a publication to read. This method is powerful because locations are carefully chosen and newsstands are monitored for 100% pick up. Community News has developed a network of over 650 convenient locations including every major supermarket chain. Our voluntary method is powerful for three reasons: 1 QUALITY READERS A voluntary reader is an interested reader, actively outside of the home, in stores, seeking out information about the community 2 TOTAL UTILITY 100% pick up assures no wasted papers. Every paper reaches an interested reader, yielding a full value for the entire print run. 3 EXPANDING SET Every print run reaches a unique group of readers, because the majority of voluntary readers are occasional readers. Over time, these unique groups add up to a readership size about three times greater than the print run.

r 14, 2007 Novembe 46 Vol. 86 No.

ON C RAZY

Inside...C OUP

y for 86 Years 1921 - Weekl Established & Operated ies Family Owned & St. Charles Count Louis Serving St.

ws.com www.mycne

Annual The 16th Fair Women’s , Fit will be Fun us! and Fabulo

Fair Women’s By Shelly A.

U FAB

July 11, 2007

Vol 9 No 28

Missouri is home to about mosquitoes. Some live less 50 species of while others than may live several a week, months. Community Health and ment states the Environ it is only the female mosqui that “bites” and she does to so to obtain blood meal the needed While mosqui to lay viable eggs. more than drive toes usually do little the family from doors to the the outindoors, they carriers of are sometim dangerous es disea may contrac t malaria, yellowses. Humans gue, and encepha fever, denlitis; and heartworm. dogs may get Most of these the exceptio diseases, with n of canine heartwo human encephalitis and rm, have been eliminated fairly well from Health officials the entire United States. said outbrea to borne encepha ks of mosqui litis have periodic occurred in ally Missou “Canine heartwori. rm is an problem, with endemic costs to animal ers escalatin owng each warned. “Effecti year,” health officials ve mosqui measures includin to control g the elimina swamp areas, tion of to keep road and maintenance efforts ditches clear have done and much to control water free mosquito for disease transmission.”

S LOU

Schneider

C o o li n g It

Shelly A. Schneid

FIT!FUN!

o busy, e it gets to to dies, befor is the time corner. La for you. Now ovement and take a day impr se for selffun in the set a cour and to have s self-awareness n will find the answer process! Wome health, family, career, ns on at the 2007 to questio , and more image, fashion – Fun, Fit, and FabuFair at St. 17, Nov. Women’s ay, for Saturd . lous – set unity College Charles Comm in partnership the college St. Joseph sented by ey and SSM take with JCPenn -Hospital West, will StuHealth Center a.m.-3 p.m. in the 8:30 Campus, 4601 place from on the SCC ille. dent Center in Cottlev Mall Drive the area Mid Rivers throughout reWomen from day of education, for a fun, includwill gather and food, laxation, prizes,eminars, a fashion show 50 more than ing nine mini-s and r, e speake ts and serand keynot ing produc vendors display vices. a continental seminars and and s exhibit a fashion tickets include urse cial $20 VIP speaker, and full-co e in show, keynot Grappa Grill and catered by luncheon st, exhibits, the breakfa consecutive addition to For the fourththe lunchtime seminars. ey will host ages year, JCPenn with styles for all fashion show,

Follow the se tips to kee p your family and pets safe from mosquitoes . Mosquito Sea son By

Copyright: publications, Inc. copyrights all advertisements produced by its staff. FOURHuneke GREAT PUBLICATIONS Huneke Publications, Inc. offers four without written permission is prohibited. Duplication publications: two weekly newspapers and two news magazines, each covering a unique market segment within St. Louis County and St. Charles County. As a member of the Missouri Press Association, all of our publications feature verified circulation and an earned credibility among our peers.

toes: floodwa ter and perman If you believe mosquitoes. ent water Floodwater ing problem you have a mosquito breedmosqui their eggs on damp soil where toes lay sure, please on your property, but will occur are not call the Departm flooding or, in some munity Hea ent of Comcases, above water line lth and the the in tree holes, Environme tainers, or nt. Ofartificial con- ficials will make an inspecti other small on and evaluabodies of water. tion appointment, When rain and then recomm fills these areas (ARA) and floods the possible solution. end a - National St. Charles County resident Friendship stages, broods can upload s have the of mosquitoes greatest prevention method Day is Aufingertips. a two-mintoes are mainly Proper maintens right at their gust 5 and of propert the ance of the ute video pest variety, y is the first the first to and are in light of emerge in the step toward describ ing mosquito spring months prevention. All trash Many of these a recent and refuse that . mosquitoes how a close ers and may are strong flycould survey that range up to propert friend lights ten miles or more drained y should be adequately i n d i c ate s up their life graded , a blood meal to prevent any and women to lay .....................3 pools or puddles water that may to www.ra r story............. eggs. of last place high Cove County mosqui ten days or longer. diance ribtheir eggs directly ....................6 to control v a l u e ider.... McCauley lists on the water bons.com. officer Barry Shelly Schne several things 9 on , surface, their may do to homeowners cies in this Florissant ..........8 friendships, group do - their summekeep mosquitoes from test closes Old Olay is offering venture ruining theirTown r: breeding sites. not ..10,far11from a chance to Aug. treat themsel women Charles......... 31, ves with a trip to New Explore St. York City. in October. .................12 See MOSQUITO No Olay is hosting City . . . . ............ Town page 3 sary. For official purchase is neces........ a summer On the ......... called “Light . 414 contest www.ra contest rules, School . . Up Chamb Baute. .Gary . Your Life.” visit dianceribbons. er. . . . . . Women ts with . . . . . . . . . 5 ..... Religion com.

‘Light Up Your invites Wom Life’ Contest en to Honor Friendships

in the larval

IN THIS ISS

a grand tic entry into al beauty basas well as automa g – a person prize drawin JCPenney. y of ket courtes emiants nine mini-s fair gives participfrom including inforcare, nars to choose e, fitness, breast surexercis mation on and plastic nence, and urinary inconti al improvement person and bra fitting gery. Other topics include for holiday awareness “dos” “ups” and and the “spirit wardrobe, p made easy, makeu hair,

Movie Talk

IN THIS ISSUE

St. Louis

P 636.379.1775 F 636.379.1632

www.stcjunk.com

Spor ..... ........ Cheese . . 16 7 . . . . ... ........ 6 ...... St. Peters........... Better You 9 ........ It’s About .. 17 ...... 10 2139 Bryan...................... Movie Review Valley Commer cial23Dr. • O’Fallon .22, , MO 63366 eds ...................... P: 636.379.1775

Classifi topics to ercial Dr. the spirit. Valley Comm sessions (threetime frame) 2139 Bryan Seminar MO 63366 during each O’Fallon, a.m., and 1:30 choose from 636-379-1632 s a.m., 10:40 9-1775 • FX: t begin at 9:30 P: 636-37 centurytel.ne 1:15 p.m. E-Mail: cnews@ and runs until at 11:45 a.m. 8:30 a.m. nd - 2007 page 17 in Wonderla at lunTAINMENT Group’s Christmas Doors open during the gy See ENTER in Yari Film feature Electra r e n e Carmen h and A special e a hig Chris Kattan lin. year will b cheon this Dan Cough by author page 3 presentation N’S FAIR See WOME

Movie . . . ........ ...... Sports . . . 12 ........ . . . . . . 14 Real Estate/A utomotive . . . . 15

F: 636.379.1632

E: ofcnews@ centurytel.net

Coupon Crazy .... What’s Happen . . . . . . . . . . . 16 ing . . . . . . . . . 18 Classifieds ........ ....... 22

COMMUNITY NEWS - St. Charles County

OUR TOWN MAGAZINE

CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

Published bi-monthly, Our Town is direct mailed to all business addresses in its service area, plus online subscribers. It is a unique business-to-business magazine featuring chamber of commerce news plus articles on the economy, technology, human resources, and marketing.

s.com

2011 May/June

COMMUNITY NEWS

First published in 1921, Community News is the longest published weekly newspaper in the St. Louis metropolitan area and has established a large audience of loyal readers. Community News circulates across a broad geographic region with newstands, home throw and online subscription.

www.mycnew

Published weekly with a powerful circulation combination of newsstands, home throw, and online subscription. The St. Charles County edition features countywide coverage including the cities of: St. Charles, St. Peters, Cottleville, Weldon Spring, O’Fallon, Dardenne Prairie, Lake St. Louis, and Wentzville, plus Troy.

This monthly lifestyle magazine covers the fast-growing Wentzville and Lake St. Louis areas. It is direct mailed with additional copies available in newsstands, plus online subscribers.

Our FREE publications are available in over 500 convenient locations, including every Dierbergs, Schnucks and Shop ’N Save. 58206_CirMap.indd 2

Or, sign up for a FREE ONLINE SUBSCRIPTION at www.mycnews.com

7/5/11 3:30 PM

Community News

April 4, 2012

So Cute, They’ll Steal Your Heart!

Lion cubs born on Valentine’s Day at the Saint Louis Zoo doing well Female African lion “Cabara” (Cah-BAR-ah), age 6, gave birth to four cubs on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 2012, at the Saint Louis Zoo. Unfortunately, two of the cubs born did not survive because Cabara was unable to produce milk to feed them. Zoo staff intervened, and the two surviving female cubs are currently being hand-reared by staff in a behind-the-scenes nursery at the Children’s Zoo. “In the wild, it is not uncommon for lion mothers to rear fewer than fifty percent of the cubs born in a litter,” says Steve Bircher, curator of mammals/carnivores at the Saint Louis Zoo. “The cubs are growing rapidly and appear to be healthy.” The cubs’ names are “Mtai” (pronounced MuhTIE), after a village in Tanzania, and “Serafina,” which means “angel” in African Swahili. At six weeks, they are eating some meat and drinking formula from bottles. Every day, zookeepers bring the cubs to a den behind the scenes at Big Cat Country for gradual introduction to the other lion family members. For several hours, the new cubs get to know their mother, father and older sister through a mesh or fencing known as a “howdy gate.” “We are excited about the addition of Mtai and Serafina to the Zoo’s cat family and their eventual inclusion in our lion pride at Big Cat Country,”

says Bircher. “Lions are social animals, and the cubs need to grow up in a family group, if at all possible. “Our goal is to raise well-adjusted lions.” “Imani,” an 8-month-old female cub born to Cabara in 2011, was hand-reared because of similar circumstances. She was successfully reintroduced to her mother and father several months ago and can be seen on display at Big Cat Country with her family in between introductions. The father of the cubs is Ingozi (in-GOH-zee), age 5. The African lion is a social cat that lives in a pride, or family group, mainly comprised of up to 40 related adult females and their young. Male lions generally live with a pride for two to three years. A female lion normally gives birth to a litter of three to four cubs, after a gestation period of approximately 110 days. The lion pride usually hunts as a group and preys on medium to large-sized antelopes, zebra and buffalo. In the past 25 years, the wild lion population has halved. Currently, there are fewer than 25,000 lions surviving in Africa. Habitat loss, poaching and human-lion conflict have contributed to this significant decline. The lion has been listed as vulnerable by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, which is one level below threatened with extinction. In addition to increasing awareness of the lion’s plight in the wild, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) has developed the Lion Species Survival Plan, a program that manages a genetically healthy captive population of lions in North American zoos. Currently there are 337 lions living in 100 AZA institutions, which may serve as a genetic reserve for this species in the future. Photos and more information can be found at www.stlzoo.org and www.facebook.com/stlzoo.

Mtai and Serafina: 2 weeks old

Mtai and Serafina: 2 and a half weeks old

Mtai and Serafina: 5 weeks old