CN: April 29, 2020

April 29, 2020

Mental health in a time of crisis

Around Town

COMMUNITY VOICES

By Dr. Joseph S. Davis. Pg. 2 Information on COVID-19.

Pg.3-4

Business Bank of America awards grant to Operation Food Search. P.7

Special Section Support Local Restaurants. Pg. 8-10

Features

Submitted photos Stephen Ministries is a resource for individuals who do not require professional assistance. The independent, St. Louis nonprofit organization is home to a program that is utilized within church congregations and organizations worldwide to provide one-on-one care to individuals in crisis.

Local groups are rising to meet the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic brings to mental health in the community

By Charlotte Beard Behavioral Health Response (BHR) services for mental health has experienced a surge of calls for help due to this COVID-19 crisis. The community has long witnessed the impact of COVID-19 in how various sectors of the community are temporarily interacting with the public whether in the food industry, education, or emergency response. However, there has been somewhat limited response until recently in how the crisis impacts mental health.

The Saint Louis Mental Health Board (MHB) has provided aid to help ensure local mental health agencies have what they need to serve those in mental crisis. According to Executive Director, Jama Dodson, the board

recently approved $500,000 of additional emergency funding to more than 35 mental health organizations for the purpose of increasing resources or transitioning from in-person service to virtual service provisions.

“A lot of folks were not prepared to do that,” stated Dodson, “so they needed the equipment, the software, or (other technology) to be able to provide their services online to the clients that were seeking help.”

MHB is an independent government taxing authority that administers two special property taxes: the Community Mental Health Fund and the Community Children’s Services Fund. Tax dollars are granted to

non-profit organizations that provide high quality services that benefit city residents.

Dodson shared that normally there is a specific application process for the grants, however, these recent funds were rendered through an abbreviated process to expedite funding due to the pandemic.

“One thing that is of concern to most of us out there in the community that do this kind of work is that when families are (somewhat) kept locked in place in their homes (with) a lot of time spent together, sometimes that’s good but sometimes it’s not so good,” stated Dodson. “In some families, it’s likely (that the See ‘HEALTH’ page 2

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Around Town

April 29, 2020 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com

‘HEALTH’ from cover pandemic) will increase difficulties with their children.

We’ve been concerned about child abuse and neglect issues when families are (somewhat) stressed by having to be together without any let-up – no (on-campus) schooling and parents having to teach classes.”

Sources from the St. Louis Public Health administration indicate that some people may be experiencing depression or anxiety if they have major concern about being able to effectively care for their children or others in their care. On April 22, the administration released a document that offers various tips for maintaining individual mental health during this stressful time as well as resources to obtain help.

One of the main tips the document gives in recognizing the warning signs for depression, anxiety or suicide is to recognize “everyone reacts differently to stressful situations like social distancing, quarantine or isolation.” The document advises individuals or their loved one experiencing any of the reactions for more than two weeks to contact their health care provider or one of the resources provided in the document which can be found at http://stlcorona.com/news/ dph-covid-19-update-4222020.

St. Louis Public

employed. As of April 23, the U.S. Bureau Health administration advises individof Labor Statistics indicated that the Misuals to reach out to people remotely they souri unemployment rate for reported trust to help reduce anxiety, depression, loneliness and boredom during social cases in February 2020 was 3.5 percent.

In March, the preliminary rate increased distancing, quarantine and isolation. to 4.5 percent for reported cases.

However, for some people this may not be an option. Some faith-based es“Grief is probably the number one reason for having a Stephen Minister (as it tablishments have found that Stephen Ministries is a resource for these indirelates to) mild depression, loneliness spiritual struggles, or a terminal illness,” viduals who do not require professional assistance. The independent, St. Loustated Haugk. “But another big group Submitted photo where Stephen Ministers normally have is nonprofit organization is home to a Haugk, Ph.D. is the Founder and Excared for people is when people have fiprogram that is utilized within church Ken ecutive Director for Stephen Ministries. nancial problems, or they’ve lost a job. I congregations and organizations worldwide to provide one-on-one care to individuals in crisis. would imagine that this is going to be happening more Stephen Ministries receives local calls and calls from and more since more and more people are losing jobs. church leaders in other states for referrals to local care- The percentage of people who have lost jobs being ministered to by Stephen Ministries’ ministers (will likely) givers, referred to as Stephen Ministers.

Ken Haugk, Ph.D., who is the Founder and Executive go up and it’s already going up.”

Director for the organization stated, “That (happens) Individuals with non-critical care needs may contact on an ongoing basis. We do this in normal times. We Stephen Ministries for a referral Monday through Friday get Stephen Ministers for (approximately) 25 people 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 314-428-2600. To find out more about (weekly) who need it around the country. People being the organization visit https://www.stephenministries. (normally) cared for by Stephen Ministers are for typical org. For care 24 hours a day, call United Way’s 2-1-1 hocrises (such as) loss of a loved one, terminal illness, sep- tline or visit https://www.211unitedway.org/2020/04/22/ aration, or divorce. With COVID-19, these struggles are coronavirus-information-2020. The National Suicide increased. You are grieving the loss of a loved one – that Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 1-800-273-8255 or is bad enough. (Now) the COVID-19 is on top of it.” text TALK to 741741 to text with a trained crisis counAnother demographic which may be mentally im- selor from the Crisis Text Line for free, 24/7. pacted during the crisis are those that have become un-

COMMUNITY VOICES

By Dr. Joseph S. Davis

Building EQUITY in the Ferguson-Florissant School District In April of 2018, the Ferguson-Florissant School District Board of Education adopted an Equity Resolution. The resolution put into writing the sentiments of board members and the community. Our community should be one where all are welcomed, included and have a voice in the conversation.

Likewise our schools should be welcoming spaces where every student can get a high quality education. We realize that each one of us has a different starting point. There is great diversity in our community. Our strength and future lies in that diversity and ensuring that where one starts should not determine one’s destination.

Among the declarations in FFSD’s Equity Resolution is the statement, “Whereas, we believe that it is the right of every student to have an equitable educational experience within the Ferguson-Florissant School District consistent with state and federal law.”

While the resolution is a bold statement of the board’s beliefs, if beliefs are not put into policy and practice the resolution has no real value. The board realized the need to use an equity lens to review our policies and procedures and to set the course for the future. Prior to my arrival in 2015 the district adopted a strategic plan guided by the board and informed by stakeholders from across the community. The plan was intended to guide the district, included mission and vision statements and established six goal areas. During my first year the goal areas were

revised, and we unveiled Strategic Plan 2.0 using the acronym, UNITED. Those goal areas are Understanding (Accreditation & Achievement), Networking (Stakeholder Engagement), Infrastructure (Infrastructure and Processes), Talent (Talent Management), Economics (Fiscal Responsibility), and Decorum (School Climate). Using the acronym helped make the goals more familiar. People can remember UNITED more easily than a random list of goals.

The board has directed us to review and revise our strategic plan using new goal areas, and we have begun that process. Strategic Plan 3.0 will use the acronym EQUITY: Economics (Fiscal Responsibility), Quality Schools (School Climate), Understanding (Accreditation & Achievement), Infrastructure (Infrastructure and Processes), Talent (Talent Management), and Your Community (Stakeholder Engagement).

The Y in EQUITY is “Your Community.”

This is your community, and we need your voice as we develop the indicators for each of these six goal areas. Over the next several months the district will be engaging the community in a variety of ways including town hall meetings, small group meetings, and online gatherings. We need to hear your voice, and we want to include you in the conversation that shapes our shared future. We hope that you’ll accept our invitation to participate. If you do not currently receive our communications please consid-

er getting our mobile app using the link at www.fergflor.org/mobile_app. We will post notifications through the app for the Strategic Plan process, and it’s a great way to keep up on what’s happening in the district.

The Equity Resolution concludes, “Now, therefore be it resolved, the Ferguson-Florissant School District is focused on closing the opportunity gap and creating learning communities that provide support and academic enrichment programs for all students.”

I’d like to invite you to join us and participate in the conversation. What will you do to create a community that welcomes and supports all of our amazing students?

You can read our Equity Resolution in its entirety at www.fergflor.org/equity.

Dr. Joseph S. Davis began serving the Ferguson-Florissant School District as Superintendent on July 1, 2015. Prior to that he served as Superintendent of Washington County schools in North Carolina and Deputy Chief of Schools for Chicago Public Schools. Dr. Davis has over 24 years of experience in education starting as a bus driver before teaching middle and high school mathematics and serving as Assistant Principal and Principal at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Dr. Davis and his family live in Ferguson and also serves as an adjunct professor at Washington University in St. Louis.

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 • April 29, 2020

Around Town

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Bicentennial Commission launches poster contest for elementary and secondary education students The Missouri Bicentennial Commission will hold a Bicentennial Poster contest. The contest is open to all students in grades three-through-12 in Missouri. Judges will select four posters to commemorate Missouri’s bicentennial of statehood. Selected posters will best interpret the theme: “Sharing Missouri’s stories: past, present, and future.”

Each student entry must be sponsored by an eligible institution, which includes public and private schools, home-school networks, nonprofit arts agencies, cultural heritage institutions and public libraries. The COVID-19 pandemic, undoubtedly, complicates the sponsorship process. The commission welcomes sponsoring organizations to help facilitate the contest while students are at home during this time. The competition runs now until Oct. 31. Judges will select the final designs: two from grades threethrough-six and two from grades seven-through-12. Missouri 2021 will be available on all social media platforms to answer questions, including email: contact@missouri2021.org. Com-

plete guidelines and the online submission form can be found at missouri2021.org/bicentennial-poster.

The Missouri Bicentennial Commission is partnering with Hallmark Creative Marketing Studio to design a brochure and develop the selected designs into their final poster format.

Vinnorma Shaw’s 1921 poster for the Missouri Centennial Exposition at the Missouri State Fair is an iconic reminder of the Missouri Centennial commemoration. Likewise, the final designs chosen by the Missouri Bicentennial Commission will serve as a lasting reminder of the bicentennial. Students, teachers, and parents can find educational materials related to the centennial poster at the website for the Bicentennial Poster page.

Established through a state executive order in October 2018, the Missouri Bicentennial Commission is charged with furthering statewide efforts to honor the State of Missouri and its rich history and heritage on the occasion of its bicentennial.

Betty Jean Kerr People’s Health Centers North County Site becomes a COVID-19 testing site On April 17, Betty Jean Kerr People’s Health Centers North County Site at 11642 W. Florissant Rd. in Florissant opened a drivethrough, COVID-19 Testing Site, providing increased access to residents of North St. Louis County.

This testing site will bolster efforts in St. Louis to manage the spread of the virus. People’s believes that by this action, it can help decrease the disparate impact of the virus in minority communities, ensure that they are statistically represented, and place itself in a better position to inform representatives in the community on how to manage the spread of COVID-19. This program has been enthusiastically supported by the City of St. Louis Department of Health and the Saint Louis County Department of Public Health. Similarly, to what it has done for other Federally Qualified Health Centers, the City of St. Louis Department of Health has provided the personal protective equipment (PPE) and additional support necessary to implement this testing.

Residents who have COVID-19 symptoms should call Betty Jean Kerr People’s Health Centers, 314-627-5405, for a screening and testing appointment. Residents can call the screening and testing appointment line Monday – Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Testing will be available every Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at 11642 West Florissant, in St. Louis. A picture ID, such as a current driver’s license or state identification card, is required.

“The City of St. Louis Department of Health is honored to partner with Betty Jean Kerr People’s Health Centers in any way we can to help in the fight against the spread of COVID- 19” said Dr. Fredrick Echols, Director of Health for the city of St. Louis. “We are happy to provide additional PPE and counsel to ensure that this program is in compliance with reporting requirements and safety procedures, and will serve the critical need of testing for our community.”

Dwayne Butler, CEO of BJK Peoples Health Centers explained “it is critically important that all communities have access to COVID-19 testing to accurately reflect its impact on our population. Understanding this threat and beating it demands testing in every community.”

Additional Information can also be found at People’s Family of Corporations website: www.peoplesfamilystl.org.

Photo courtesy www.missouri2021.org Vinnorma Shaw’s 1921 poster for the Missouri Centennial Exposition at the Missouri State Fair is an iconic reminder of the Missouri Centennial commemoration.

WWW.STLCORONA.COM

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Aound Town

April 29, 2020 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com

Epworth Children & Family Services receives $9,000 emergency fund grant Epworth Children & Family Services – a nonprofit that helps children, youth, and families move toward self-sufficiency by focusing on health, housing, education, and employment – recently received $9,000 in emergency funding from the St. Louis Children’s Service Fund (CSF).

CSF’s mission is to improve the lives of children, youth and families in St. Louis County by delivering effective and quality mental health and substance use care. The funding is in response to the COVID-19 public health crisis.

Epworth will use $5,000 for its Transitional and Independent Living Programs. Approximately 42 percent of the agency’s youth are currently unemployed due to the pandemic, so this money will assist with their groceries and utilities. The funding will also help with technology, including telephone purchases and internet access that supports participation in telehealth services and Epworth’s continuous efforts.

Submitted photo

The remaining $4,000 will go toward Epworth’s Family Support Network program, which offers professional parenting education and mental health support.

The funding will provide therapy kits delivered directly to clients’ homes so Epworth therapists can virtually play with youth during telehealth sessions in order to help them cope with this stressful time.

The emergency fund also will allow Epworth to equip its youth with telephones and temporary internet services in order to support the technology needed to continue their virtual education.

“St. Louis County Children’s Service Fund is an outstanding partner and helps make our mission

possible,” said Epworth President and CEO Dr. Michael Panicola. “We particularly appreciate the leadership and agility CSF has shown from the beginning of this public health emergency and can’t thank them enough for all they have done both now and throughout the years.”

The St. Louis Area Foodbank and Operation Food Search awarded grants to hire displaced workers Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH) has awarded grants to both the St. Louis

Area Foodbank - the bi-state region’s largest nonprofit food provider - and Operation Food

Search (OFS) - a nonprofit hunger relief organization serving the St. Louis region and state of Missouri.

In conjunction with this investment, the Foodbank and OFS are partnering with the St. Louis Regional Chamber to hire workers displaced by the coronavirus outbreak to help keep up with the increased need for food assistance.

These temporary employees, including displaced food service professionals, will work full-time for the next 10 weeks at the Foodbank and OFS to help sort, package and distrib-

ute food to local kids, families and seniors.

The recruitment firm Labor Finders will screen qualified applicants and conduct the hiring. Interested parties are encouraged to contact Labor Finders by phone at either its St. Louis office at 636-2873709 or St. Peters location at 636-244-9080.

The St. Louis Regional Chamber will promote the employment opportunities among its members who may have employees who are unemployed or temporarily furloughed by COVID-19 related layoffs.

“We are living and operating in times we have not seen before,” said Senior Vice President, Inclusion and Talent Attraction at the St. Louis Regional Chamber, Valerie E. Patton, MA, MSW. “The St. Louis Regional Chamber’s engagement in this collaborative is imperative to assist in the recovery of economic and employment opportunities in the region. This effort helps to move the region forward.”

Both the Foodbank and OFS have seen spikes in the need for food assistance since the COVID-19 outbreak hit the region in mid-March. Currently, getting food to area residents as quickly as possible is of the utmost importance as

people who have never needed help before are now struggling to make ends meet.

“Food insecurity in our communities has always been an area of focus for MFH,” said Bob Hughes, MFH president and CEO. “The spread of COVID-19 and the impact that it’s having on our families has intensified the food insecurity issue in Missouri, disrupting access and availability to healthy food as resources continue to be scarce. This partnership highlights the importance of our health and social safety net and the universal set of services needed for people to help build their lives, whether for the short term or long term.”

This investment by Missouri Foundation for Health not only aids in the current response efforts by the St. Louis Area Foodbank and Operation Food Search, but also addresses the various changing needs of Missouri’s workforce.

A portion of the grant funds will be used by both organizations to purchase additional food to meet the increased need for food assistance.

This collaborative effort aims to reduce the recovery time for the region and prevent people from needing to receive food assistance.

www.mycnews.com • Community News – St. Louis County • April 29, 2020

Around Town

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The St. Louis Area Foodbank announces goal of distributing 10 million meals by June 30 The St. Louis Area Foodbank, the bi-state region’s largest food provider to people in need, recently received a grant of $502,563 from Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH) to address the increased need for food assistance as result of the COVID-19 pandemic. With this strategic investment from MFH and support from the community, the Foodbank aims to distribute more than 10 million meals to children, families and seniors in the St. Louis region by June 30.

Specifically, the St. Louis Area Foodbank will use MFH grant funds in the following ways: • Hiring of 20 full-time temporary employees to assist in increased distribution efforts throughout the foodbank’s 14-county service territory in Missouri.

Positions include over-the-road truck drivers, warehouse and mobile programs staff, SNAP intake coordinators, and individuals to sort and pack food in our volunteer center.

• Equipment for capacity building to support our increased distribution efforts. The foodbank will rent four additional trucks over the next 10 weeks to ensure that food is getting to people in need as quickly as possible.

• Trailers for increased storage capacity to increase the foodbank’s ability to source and distribute more food to families impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.

• Organize 70 Disaster Mobile Markets to bridge service area gaps created by volunteer-led food pantries who have temporarily shut their doors. The number

of mobile food distribution events will continue to grow in April and upcoming months as the foodbank organizes additional Disaster Mobile Markets with existing and new partners to meet the increased demand for food assistance.

• Ongoing food support to the foodbank’s network of community partner agencies to purchase food and other materials each week that will nourish and empower families.

• Infant formula for vulnerable parents with infants that are seeking formula resources due to the empty shelves in grocery stores. Through local and national partnerships, the Foodbank will source infant formula and baby food to support families with children ages zero-to-three. The foodbank will work with its network of community partner agencies to distribute the formula.

“This is unlike anything we’ve seen in the 45-year history of the St. Louis Area Foodbank,” said Foodbank President and CEO, Meredith Knopp. “It is a time of unprecedented need and we are grateful to Missouri Foundation for Health and everyone that has backed our efforts. Our promise is that we will continue to feed individuals and families in need as long as it takes to recover.

Support from the community allows us to get displaced workers back to work and maximize the number of people we’re able to safely help. It’s a win-win for the region.”

In Missouri, the St. Louis Area Foodbank has 384 partner agencies (food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, etc.) and community program partners located in 14

area counties. The organization is in constant communication with its partners to assess evolving need and provide guidance for food distribution safety for staff, volunteers, and individuals receiving food assistance.

The foodbank is also collaborating with schools, hospitals and other partners to hold “drive thru” food distributions as a “contact-less” means of distributing emergency food boxes, fresh produce, frozen meat, personal care items, and household essentials to high-risk, highneed and low-access communities.

The foodbank is also the only local distributor of food to low-income seniors through the Community Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). Whenever possible, the organization is delivering two months-worth of food boxes. By providing a two-month supply, it reduces the risk of seniors being exposed to COVID-19.

In conjunction with this investment, the foodbank is partnering with the St. Louis Regional Chamber to hire workers displaced by the coronavirus outbreak to help keep up with the increased need for food assistance.

These temporary employees will work full-time for the next 10 weeks at the foodbank.

The recruitment firm Labor Finders will screen qualified applicants and conduct the hiring. Interested parties are encouraged to contact Labor Finders by phone at either its St. Louis office at 636-287-3709 or St. Peters location at 636-244-9080.

The St. Louis Regional Chamber will promote the employment opportunities among its members who may have employees who are unemployed or temporarily furloughed by COVID-19 related layoffs.

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Senior Living

April 29 2020 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com

New report: St. Louis air quality worsened for ozone The American Lung Association’s 2020 “State of the Air” report found that St. Louis has earned poorer rankings for the nation’s most widespread air pollutants – ozone and particle pollution – both of which can be deadly.

The Lung Association’s annual air quality “report card” tracks Americans’ exposure to unhealthful levels of particle pollution and ozone during a threeyear period. Once again, the report found that nearly half of all Americans were exposed to unhealthy air in 20162018.

“This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Clean Air Act, which has been responsible for dramatic improvements in air quality. However, St. Louis residents are breathing more unhealthy air compared to last year’s report, placing our health and lives at risk said American Lung Association’s Susannah Fuchs, Director, Air Quality. ”Furthermore,

with nearly half of Americans breathing unhealthy air, our ‘State of the Air’ report shows the nation has much more work to do when it comes to air pollution and public health.”

Each year the “State of the Air” provides a report card on the two most widespread outdoor air pollutants, ozone pollution, also known as smog, and particle pollution, also called soot.

The report analyzes particle pollution in two ways: through average annual particle pollution levels and short-term spikes in particle pollution. Both ozone and particle pollution are dangerous to public health and can increase the risk of premature death and other serious health effects such as asthma attacks, cardiovascular damage and developmental and reproductive harm. Particle pollution can also cause lung cancer, and new research links air pollution to the development of serious diseases,

such as asthma and dementia.

This year’s report covers 2016, 2017 and 2018, the years with the most recent quality-assured data available collected by states, cities, counties, tribes and federal agencies. Notably, those three years were among the five hottest recorded in global history. Rising temperatures lead to increased levels of ozone pollution. Changing climate patterns also fuel wildfires and their dangerous smoke, which increase particle pollution. Ozone and particle pollution threaten everyone, especially children, older adults and people living with a lung disease. Although this report does not cover data from 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of air pollution on lung health is of heightened concern. Learn more about that at Lung.org/covid-19.

Ozone Pollution in Metro St. Louis Compared to the 2019 report, St Louis experienced more unhealthy days of high ozone in this year’s report.

“Ozone pollution can harm even healthy people, but is particularly dangerous for children, older adults and people with lung diseases like COPD or asthma,” said Fuchs.

“Breathing ozone-polluted air can trigger asthma attacks in both adults and children with asthma, which can land them in the

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doctor’s office or the emergency room.

Ozone can even shorten people’s lives.”

This report documents that warmer temperatures brought by climate change are making ozone more likely to form and harder to clean up. Significantly more people nationally suffered unhealthy ozone pollution in the 2020 report than in the last three “State of the Air” reports.

Particle Pollution in St Louis “State of the Air” 2020 found that year-round particle pollution levels in St. Louis slightly higher than in last year’s report.

“Particle pollution can lodge deep in the lungs and can even enter the bloodstream. It can trigger asthma attacks, heart attacks and strokes and cause lung cancer,” said Fuchs. Particle pollution comes from coal-fired power plants, diesel emissions, wildfires and wood-burning devices.

“We all have the right to breathe clean, healthy air. The 50th anniversary of the Clean Air Act serves as a critical reminder that Americans breathe healthier air today because of this landmark law,” said Fuchs. “At the same time, this year’s report shows that we must continue to work for clean air – and especially to safeguard our most vulnerable community members.”

While this year’s report examined data from 2016-2018, it also provides air pollution trends back to the first report.

Learn more about our city’s rankings, as well as air quality across the state and region and the nation, in the 2020 “State of the Air” report at Lung.org/sota.

www.mycnews.com • Community News – St. Louis County • April 29, 2020

Business

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Bank of America awards grant to Operation Food Search Bank of America recently donated a $50,000 grant to Operation Food Search (OFS), a nonprofit hunger relief organization, for its COVID-19 Emergency Response Plan that provides free meal distribution to the region’s children and families who need food assistance.

The donation will fund four weeks of emergency food packs that OFS creates for community partners including Saint Louis Public Schools (SLPS) and St. Louis County Libraries. OFS currently distributes approximately 2,385 bags per week to select SLPS locations and other school districts, as well as nearly 1,700 packs per week at various library and community center sites.

Each emergency food pack has ingredients to make four meals and contains shelf-stable

Home Builders Association donates $25,000 to St. Joseph Housing Initiative

items such as protein, soups and stews, vegetables, fruit, cereal and snacks. The meals are meant to supplement the food staples of a household where a child age 18 and younger lives.

“The work of Operation Food Search and its focus to collaborate with multiple organizations and school districts in the fight against hunger is so important, now more than ever,” said Marilyn Bush, St. Louis market president, Bank of America. “We appreciate their commitment in serving our region’s most vulnerable families, especially during this unprecedented time.”

“Operation Food Search could not respond to this immediate crisis without the assistance of community leaders like Bank of America,” said Kristen Wild, Executive Direc-

Pictured are Bank of America team members volunteering their time to pack food prior to the pandemic.

Submitted photo

tor of OFS. “Bank of America has been an ongoing supporter of our efforts, and we truly appreciate their recent donation that will enable us to feed children and their families during this public health emergency.”

Submitted photo

On behalf of the Home Builders Charitable Foundation (HBCF), 2020 HBA President Bill Wannstedt of Consort Homes (left) presented a $25,000 donation to Maureen McCuen, executive director of St. Joseph Housing Initiative, and Mike England, board chair for St. Joseph.

St. Joseph Housing Initiative (SJHI) will use the donation to secure a long-vacant dilapidated property on Itaska Street, completely renovate it, then sell the restored home at an affordable price to a low- or moderate-income first-time home buyer who has been pre-qualified and participated in SJHI’s home buying education program. A five-year forgivable loan is offered to each family, as a means of supportive financial partnership, as well as an establishment of a good-faith agreement to remain in the home for at least five years. SJHI was born in July 2018, out of a desire to combat racial inequity in housing while simultaneously strengthening the shifting fabric of city neighborhoods. The goal of the organization is to complete eight houses in 2020 and 12 homes in 2021.

The HBA is a local trade association of more than 600 member firms representing the residential construction industry. The Home Builders Charitable Foundation, the HBA’s charitable arm, is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing housing assistance to people or organizations with special shelter needs.

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Support Local

April 29, 2020 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com

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www.mycnews.com • Community News – St. Louis County • April 29, 2020

Support Local

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Support Local

April 29, 2020 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com

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www.mycnews.com • Community News • April 29, 2020

Recipe:

Serve a protein-packed salad

Feature

F-1

– SUDOKU –

High-Protein Chicken, Onion and Quinoa Salad

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.

Recipe courtesy of the National Onion Association Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 15 minutes | Servings: 6

Ingredients: Dressing: 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon honey 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 1/2 cups red quinoa, rinsed 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth 1 teaspoon canola oil 1 white onion, sliced 3 cups baby kale 1 red skinned apple, chopped 2 cups cooked chicken, chopped 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper Directions: To make dressing: In bowl, whisk vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice, honey and Dijon mustard until well

combined. Set aside.

In saucepan, bring quinoa and broth to boil. Simmer, covered, 12-15 minutes, or until broth has been absorbed. Cool completely.

In medium skillet, heat canola oil over medium-high heat. Saute onion 3-5 minutes, or until softened and

translucent. Remove from heat; cool completely.

In large bowl, toss onion, kale, apple, chicken, salt and pepper with dressing.

Stir in cooled quinoa.

Nutritional information per serving: 407 calories, 36.5 g protein, 11.6 g fat, 39 g carbohydrates, 297 mg sodium, 4.2 g fiber.

SEE ANSWERS ON PAGE 10

Visit onions-usa.org for more recipe ideas.

Revisiting ‘Pearl Harbor’

A

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.

s of this writing, Georgia is planning to restart their economy, which will impact the movie industry. As Variety recently pointed out, movie and TV productions like going on location in that state thanks, in no small part, to the generous tax credits for filmmakers. The current pandemic made both studios and theater chains cautious about restarting too soon. Even with new films in the pipeline, are moviegoers going to feel comfortable sitting in an auditorium with other viewers?

Theaters are still closed where I live, so I have watched more TV recently than I have all year. Last weekend, a repeat showing of “Pearl Harbor” on cable caught my attention.

Directed by Michael Bay and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, this 2001 epic adventure focused on the events leading up to the bombing of Pearl Harbor and America’s subsequent war efforts after that tragedy.

Ben Affleck plays Rafe McCawley, a skilled American pilot who joins the Eagle Squadron, a part of Britain’s Royal Air Force. Rafe is ready to get into battle, but before departing, he meets Lieutenant Evelyn Johnson (Kate Beckinsale), a Navy nurse. The two have real chemistry, but Rafe sticks to his plans to go

Sandra, one of the nurses stationed in Hawaii. Alec Baldwin chewed up the scenery as Major Jimmy Doolittle, the commander of a counterattack on Japan. Jon Voight was a standout, though, as President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. His portrayal was solid, capturing Roosevelt’s shock at the loss of American life as well as his firm resolve to bolster the military.

Arguably, the biggest draw of “Pearl Harbor” has been the extendPhoto courtesy Touchstone Pictures ed attack sequence set in the harbor.

Director Michael Bay captured the overseas. His best friend Danny (Josh Hart- horrors of war and recreated the sinking of nett) stays behind and both he and Evelyn are the USS Arizona and other ships. The focus stationed in Pearl Harbor prior to the attack. shifted between the brutal attack and the Navy Rafe, Evelyn and Danny are the principle hospital as Evelyn and the medical staff were characters in “Pearl Harbor,” but they are overwhelmed with casualties. Prior to the fictional. The film does contain memorable sneak attack, the biggest problem she had to real-life heroes such as Doris “Dorie” Miller, deal with was sunburn. a cook on the West Virginia. Portrayed by The review aggregation site “Rotten TomaCuba Gooding, Jr. in the film, Miller stepped toes” shows that “Pearl Harbor” currently has into action as the Japanese pilots bombed the a 24% percent rating among critics. As for battleships. Miller moved the West Virginia’s me, I watched the film until the end, appreinjured captain to cover and then manned one ciating the work of Beckinsale, Affleck and of the anti-aircraft guns. He was later awarded Hartnett and the special effects teams. It rethe Navy Cross for his heroism. mains an engaging, intense film that carries a “Pearl Harbor” also contained some familiar PG-13 rating. faces, including Jennifer Garner, who played

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Yeggs

John Hanna

CROSSWORD: Fairy Tale Creatures

‘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

T

he cats are c o n s p i ring against us.

That happens when you’ve been in lockdown for 36 days. The cats start talking. So do the plants and the walls – especially the walls!

I approached the living room where my furballs usually hang out and heard some murmuring. I eased up and pasted myself against the wall so as not to be detected. Needless to say I was shocked and horrified. Not at my cats’ chatter, but that the walls needed a good cleaning. I’d never been that close to them before.

“Psst, Lady!”

Sweet mother, my walls were talking.

“You’re home all day. How about giving us a nice cleaning? We’re streaked with fingerprints!”

“Maybe later,” I said. “Can’t you see I’m trying to break up an evil scheme my cats are discussing?”

“What the… cats can’t talk! Man, you’ve been confined wa-ay too long. Take some meds and get it together!”

“Mouthy wall! You can wear your greasy fingerprints forever now!” I ignored it and listened in on the plot.

The fat one started out.

“Insufferable I tell you! These human servants are starting to annoy me greatly. They’re here all day now and taking over the place. Why, just this morning I was ready for my early mid-morningright-before-lunchtime nap and I found one of the surly beasts nestled up on the couch. In my spot!”

“Eww, I hope you checked if for skin flakes,” said the skinny one. “They’re always sloughing them

off on everything. It’s really gross and makes me sneeze.”

“I was forced to lounge on the ottoman.”

“Ugh! Where they put their feet?”

“Dreadfully unsanitary. We need to do something or I’ll go bonkers. If I hear that woman call me her chubby bubsy-wubsy one more time I’m going to claw her new throw pillows into coleslaw!”

“You think that’s bad. The man caretaker pulled a piece of bacon gristle out from his mouth this morning and forced me to eat it!”

“Appalling! It’s time to do something radical.

Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

“Launch giant hairballs into their shoes?!”

“Roger that!”

I entered in time to break up the treachery.

“Who’s ready for some warm tuna on toast?”

I vaguely heard, “Sounds more like milquetoast!”

“Zip it, wall!”

Breakdown

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. *Like many mythical creatures 6. Second mo.

9. Spill the beans 13. Convex molding 14. “___ the President’s Men” 15. Ankle support, e.g.

16. Make a logical connection 17. *E.T.’s craft?

18. Des Moines native 19. *Fire-breather 21. *Household spirit 23. Tucker of “Modern Family” 24. Antonym of is 25. *Grimm’s Queen ____ 28. Tailor-made 30. Showing on TV 35. “All’s well that ____ well” 37. Golly!

39. Punctuation mark 40. Seaport in Yemen 41. Hitching post?

43. Additionally 44. Poison ivy or Poison oak 46. One more than The Beatles 47. Hold as a conviction 48. *Mrs. Potts or her son Chip

50. Andrew Sean Greer’s 2017 Pulitzer-winner novel 52. Toast choice 53. Jack and Jill’s water jug 55. “____ Now or Never” 57. *Horse’s cousin 61. *One of the seven dwarfs 64. Ascetic holy Hindu 65. HHS agency 67. Relating to #25 Across 69. Banana treat 70. Go bad 71. Australian canid 72. Lou of “Walk on the Wild Side” fame 73. Card in the hole?

74. “The Forsyte ____,” pl.

DOWN 1. Wisecrack 2. Like a zealous fan 3. Regular attendee 4. Hipbone-related 5. Cuban music genre, pl.

6. *Half-man, half-goat 7. *Santa’s helper 8. Splotches 9. Arch on a face 10. Croquet turf 11. Popular smoothie berry 12. Well, to Sofia Loren 15. Relating to living organisms 20. Opposite of alpha

22. Genetic initials 24. Parents hope to do this with values 25. *Beauty’s beau 26. Empower 27. Dropsy 29. *Big Bad One 31. Yellow brick one 32. Feeling worse than before 33. *Like Curious George 34. *Garden dweller 36. Finger move 38. Moneyed one 42. Pine product 45. Choose not to do something, 2 words 49. Toni Morrison’s “____ Baby” 51. 1862 plots, for short 54. Prefix for below 56. Old photo color 57. Stalin’s domain 58. Back of the neck 59. Not active 60. Past tense of chide 61. Fill beyond full 62. Sound of passing bullet 63. *Baba ____ 66. *Who Bugs Bunny talks to?

68. Numbers, abbr.

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