CN: July 12, 2023

Showcasing diversity

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The St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase presented by Cinema St. Louis gives a platform for local filmmakers with many different backgrounds and experiences

By Wendy Todd

Mia Bible began her creative endeavors as an actor and writer and later, after participating in the Continuity STL media production program, gained the skill of filmmaking.

In 2011, she made her first short, “Love and Coffee.” She also pitched the idea for a story to her class about the ruin and reconciliation of the friendship between Malcolm X Shabazz and Muhammad Ali. The reception was positive and the outcome, “HONORABLE,” a 16-minute film that fictionalizes the scenario, can be viewed at this year’s St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase.

Presented by Cinema St. Louis, the annual event is in its 23rd year and will be held at the historic Hi-Pointe Theatre, which was newly acquired by the organization this year. a

Having the showcase at the Hi-Pointe offers the organization the ability to schedule more showings, and offers attendees con-

cessions and better parking options, details missing from past showcase experiences. But one thing that isn’t new about the showcase is its commitment to diversify the films and featured filmmakers.

This year’s showcase of 91 films spread across 17 film programs features 22 female and nine African-American directors.

Diversity in filmmaking in an area like St. Louis, which has a history of racial divide, is important to making the industry more inclusive in the region. Bible believes St. Louis

is making progress.

“Although St. Louis is not as inclusive as it should be when you compare our demographics to what’s represented on set, there are also more people now than a decade ago who are willing to give an honest critique of my hometown and are dedicated to being a part of the solution,” she said. “My mentors in the film industry are all men, some of whom are straight white men who share my commitment and enthusiasm for making media production more diverse.”

For those who have never attended the showcase, Chris Clark, artistic director of Cinema St. Louis, believes the films will likely surpass expectations and that there is something for everyone.

“People who attend for the first time will be very impressed by the overall professionalism, quality and depth of the films,” he

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St. Louis filmmaker Mia Bible’s short film “HONORABLE” imagines the ruin and reconciliation of the friendship between Malcolm X Shabazz and Muhammad Ali.

Around Town

The J to host biannual used book sale

The St. Louis Jewish Community Center’s biannual Used Book Sale returns to the Staenberg Family Complex Arts & Education Building from Aug. 27 – Aug. 31. Patrons can stock up on reading materials of every genre – including mysteries, general fiction, nonfiction, children’s books, and much more – while benefiting the Cultural Arts Department of the J. “There is truly something for everyone at this sale!” said Hannah Dinkel, Director of Literary Arts at the J. “We have an expansive, impressive array of books and other materials for our overflowing tables this August. As an avid reader myself, I continue to be astounded by the fantastic finds that are donated for our sale, and I can’t wait to see you all there!”

Parents and educators will find a large selection of books for children and youth as well as educational materials for homeschoolers. Multi-

ples of titles are available for book club reading along with miscellaneous videos, books on tape/CDs and DVDs. Books are priced from 50 cents to $3. Special items – collectibles, antiques, DVDs and more – are priced as marked.

The dates and admission prices for the St. Louis Jewish Community Center’s Summer Used Book Sale are as follows:

• Preview Day –Aug. 27 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

$10 at the door – all proceeds fund future used book sales

• General Admission – Aug. 28 – Aug. 30 from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

General Admission: Free

• Bag Day – Aug. 31 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Fill a bag for $5

For updated and complete information visit https:// jccstl.com/programs/used-book-sale/.

Home Builders Association donates

$10,000 to Room at the Inn

On behalf of the Home Builders Charitable Foundation (HBCF), 2023 HBA President Jeremy Roth (Elite Development Services/McBride Homes)

(left) presented a $10,000 donation to Room at the Inn executive director David Weber.

The donation will be used to install a fence around the children’s play area for safety and security. Room at the Inn, located in Bridgeton, is a shelter for women and families who are homeless. The organization helps fam-

‘DIVERSITY’ from cover

be very impressed by the overall professionalism, quality and depth of the films,” he said. “As long as you enjoy going to the movies as entertainment, there is certainly something amidst the 17 film programs for all tastes. STL filmmakers are fantastic at the technical crafts that go into all corners of the filmmaking process.”

Along with screenings at the showcase, Cinema St. Louis will also present three master classes for filmmakers and those interested in the field on film criticism, legal issues and three short films made from winning scripts from a competition run by the Missouri Film Office.

With all it has to offer and the exposure filmmakers receive, being a part of the showcase feels like a major accomplishment for Bible.

“The ‘HONORABLE’ cast and crew being featured at the showcase,” she said, “feels like the start of a victory lap.”

The showcase will occur July 21-30 at the Hi-Pointe Theatre. For more information please visit: cinemastlouis.org/23rd-annual-st-louis-filmmakers-showcase.

Submitted photo

ilies get into a home of their own and equip them with the tools needed to prevent them from becoming homeless again.

The HBA is a local trade association of nearly 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.

COMMUNITY VOICES:

Time to plan

Everyone has one of those weeks – the week where nothing goes well, the car breaks down, the light in the fridge goes out, you can’t find that birthday card you just bought for the friend…. You know, one of “those” weeks. It always seems to snowball, until one person stops it with a single act of kindness. Last week was one of those weeks for me. And my snowball was stopped by a neighbor who happened to be barbecuing.

I was doing yardwork and trying to decide whether I could drag the trash out to the curb without throwing out my back. As I approached the dumpster, I could see my neighbor at his grill. It smelled amazing and I told him so as I dragged the can away from the house. I continued with the rest of my yardwork and finished up with a quick hosing of the patio.

I rolled up the hose and turned to head into the house when I saw my neighbor standing at the fence with a plate covered in foil. “I have something for you,” he said.

By Sharon Cotner

I was shocked. (Are people still this nice?)

I thanked him profusely and took the plate into my kitchen. I couldn’t believe it. It was a pork steak, corn on the cob, potato salad and two rolls. And yes, it tasted every bit as good as it smelled.

I began thinking. We have International Talk Like a Pirate Day (Sept. 19), National Play Your Ukulele Day (May 2), National Donut Day (June 2) and every other day under the sun. But do we have a national kindness day? The answer is yes. Feb. 17, 2024 is the next National Random Acts of Kindness Day.

Random Acts of Kindness Day began in 1995 in Denver, Colorado by a nonprofit group called The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. They have a website with numerous suggestions on simple acts of kindness.

The concept is on this day each person focuses on performing random acts of kindness. It can be as simple as being kind to a waiter at the local restaurant, cooking a meal for someone who is struggling, holding a

door open for that mother trying to wrangle two toddlers, praising a local small business online, donating blood or writing and mailing a handwritten letter to a friend.

There are so many opportunities and with the “official” holiday so many months away, we have time to give it some thought and plan for it. Who knows – maybe we could try some out before Feb. 17.

Sharon Cotner has been a life-long resident of North St Louis County. She first became involved in community theatre organizations in the 1980’s and is the current President of The Alpha Players of Florissant. Currently retired, she previously served as a Project Manager for the US Army Corps of Engineers.

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.

The commercial launch progress of Intramotev Autonomous Rail’s autonomous, zero-emission railcar was highlighted during the opening session of FreightWeekSTL 2023, which kicked off May 22. This new railcar that would operate without the use of a locomotive has the potential to make the U.S rail system more efficient and sustainable, while also enhancing safety on the nation’s 140,000-mile rail freight network.

Launched in January 2020, Intramotev has been focused on the development of its primary product – the TugVolt, a battery electric self-propelled rail car that enables freight to move with the flexibility of a truck, without breaking the existing model of rail operations.

“Rail has been the backbone of the economy for a long time, and we are confident it is here to stay,” said Timothy Luchini, PH.D., co-founder and CEO of Intramotev Autonomous Rail. “If we can give them something that has the flexibility to work in the normal rail consist and train, as well as giving them a tool to be competitive with trucks – offering that speed and flexibility at a fraction of the cost and a fraction of the environmental emissions – and deliver a more timely solution for their customer's demand, we can solve a couple of the pain points that the industry tends to suffer from.”

With the rail network currently operating with as little as a 3% utilization, Luchini said the rail industry is uniquely suited to be able to grow its market share

Northwest Views: Blood donors change the world!

It was October of 2021 when Kenny and his family received the news no one wants to hear: his four-yearold son Beckett was diagnosed with leukemia.

Beckett was admitted to SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital and began receiving blood and platelet transfusions during treatment to support his little body.

Since then, Beckett has gone into remission. And if things continue to go as planned, he will ring the bell and officially be done with treatment in February of 2024.

“To everyone out there that has always been a blood donor all I can say is thank you,” said Kenny. “On behalf of my family, the availability of blood in the St. Louis area throughout Beckett’s treatment has literally saved his life.”

World Blood Donor Day

World Blood Donor Day happened on June 14. It was a chance to raise awareness globally of the need for blood donors, to help change the world for patients.

The June 14 date commemorates the birth of Dr. Karl Landsteiner, who was born on that day in 1868 in Austria. Landsteiner’s research identified the main blood groups: type A, type B, type AB and type O, as well as the Rh factor in blood.

But really, every day is blood donor day. If you’re already a donor, thank you. If you’re considering it, we can help. Booking an appointment is easy. You can call 800-747-5401 or schedule online at www.bloodcenter.org.

and increase the $700 billion worth of goods that are moving across the country via North American rail. He also believes the solution his company is bringing to the market can help drive that growth and is excited with the advances Intramotev is making toward demonstrating how to get that utilization factor up, keep materials moving and, and better utilize existing assets.

In the last year alone, Intramotev has grown by 20 employees. It now has two operating facilities – including its original location in Granite City, Illinois., and a new headquarters in St. Louis, which opened 20,000 square-feet of space for further growth and the ability to produce and test the rail cars it is building. An additional round of financing has also been secured, and Luchini said those resources are being used to accelerate the development of its primary product and get it into customer hands, along with a couple of other differentiated products.

Intramotev intends to deploy multiple vehicles and product variants to customers this year. These rail vehicles are being used for point-to-point moves where the rail is not interchange connected and is considered insular by the Federal Railroad Administration. Customers are seeing anywhere from 30% to 80% reduction in operating expenses and better use of currently owned, onsite assets. While the company continues to focus on captive private insular rail use cases like

By Jason

Kempen

Around

Town

mines, ports and interplant materials moves, it is also looking to the broader rail industry as it proves its safety and reliability in captive use cases.

Making the transition to networks that are interchange connected requires a regulatory change, so Intramotev is collaborating with federal regulators to go through the waiver process to get its vehicles onto routes that can be interchange connected. The company also will be working to grow future deployments and build out local relationships up and down the Mississippi River.

“The industry is pretty open to new technology and what we are bringing to the market,” said Luchini. “We can step into those routes being used as a railcar as well as this independent mode of power that the TugVolt product offers, giving both the ability to complement a traditional, long train going across the country, enabling a short consist and then enabling independent point-to-point movement as well.”

He added their solution provides a strong means for improving safety and reliability of systems, as well as tremendous environmental benefits.

“If we can move as little as 1% of truck ton miles to TugVolts, that's going to be 4.4 million metric tons of CO2 eliminated on an annual basis. That is huge.”

ImpactLife is an independent, nonprofit, community organization providing blood services to more than 120 hospitals in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin, as well as resource sharing partners across the country. ImpactLife has 22 donor centers and holds approximately 5,000 mobile blood drives each year. Find @impactlifeblood on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and LinkedIn.

Jason Kempen is the Community Development Advocate for ImpactLife Blood Center in Earth City. He promotes the mission of the blood center through community events and media engagement and leads an Associate Board of volunteers from the St. Louis area. For more information on how to get involved, email Jason at jkempen@impactlife.org.

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

firefighter Kenny Krieg was thankful for blood donors. They have helped save his son’s life.

Submitted photo

Around Town

St. Louis Regional Freightway’s 2024 Priority Projects List features $3.7 billion in investments

The St. Louis Regional Freightway’s 2024 Priority Projects List includes more than 25 projects representing a total investment approaching $3.7 billion and underscoring the ongoing commitment to improving freight infrastructure in the bi-state region.

Approximately $2.7 billion of the 2024 total covers infrastructure projects that have recently been completed, are already funded and under construction or expected to start in 2023 and 2024, or are at least partially programmed for construction. That’s up from $2 billion a year ago, a reflection of the progress being made securing funding and advancing major projects through the development pipeline to strengthen critical roads, bridges, rail infrastructure, and port and airport facilities across the bi-state St. Louis region.

The list represents the infrastructure needs of the manufacturing and logistics industries in the Eastern Missouri and Southwestern Illinois and was released during a Freight Summit held May 24 as part of FreightWeekSTL 2023.

Michelle Forneris, Assistant District Engineer for the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) talked some the most significant Missouri projects moving forward, including the Interstate 270 North improvements that will wrap up later this year and the Interstate 70 bottleneck improvements from Wentzville Parkway to Route Z. She also shared the agency’s excitement over the very real potential for more funding for Interstate 70.

“We are very humbled right now that the Missouri General Assembly, for fiscal year 2024, has slated $2.8

Still In This Together:

billion dollars for I-70 improvements from Wentzville to Blue Springs - more than 200 miles. So there’s more to come on overall I-70 projects as we are hopeful the governor will sign that legislation.”

Among the other highlights on the 2024 Priority Project’s List is the recently completed $222 million replacement of the Merchants Bridge, a vital rail link connecting Missouri and Illinois at St. Louis. It has been the region’s highest priority infrastructure project since 2016. Joe Torp, Industrial Development Manager for Norfolk Southern, said the new bridge is delivering tremendous benefits for the rail industry and for shippers, eliminating bottlenecks caused when two trains couldn’t pass on the old bridge at the same time due to load and speed restrictions.

“The Merchants Bridge is one of those few locations in the St. Louis area where rail can cross from one side of the Mississippi River to the other, so any delay in that vital link had a follow-on effect up and down the network,” Torp said. ‘We are very excited about the completion of the Merchants Bridge, especially from the operations side.”

Another high priority project now underway is the new Interstate 270 (I-270) Chain of Rocks Bridge over the Mississippi River in a corridor featuring an abundance of manufacturing, logistics and distribution facilities. The project advanced to become one of the region’s highest priorities due to rising maintenance costs for the aging structure, and increased traffic volumes and safety issues associated with narrow shoulders. Construction to replace it began in January, marking

Another July

It has unwillingly become a habit after all this time to remember, take stock, and step into another new year every July.

Each year, I remember the first step I took down the aisle on my father’s arm toward my forever. John was waiting in a powder blue tux at the end of what seemed like a mile walk with a smile that promised we would take each day forward, good or bad, and face it together. And he has made good on that promise.

We couldn’t ever know what the days and months until the next July would hold. There would be incredibly happy days and some that seemed so terrible that I wasn’t sure we could make it, and yet somehow, we have. Day by day, as all of us do.

That first July day was perfect, as we ran down the church steps in a hail of rice, triumphant in our knowledge that we were going to make our way through the next months away from home, away from family and friends as we started our life together, forced to make our way just the two of us. And it couldn’t have been more exciting.

By the next July, John was out of the service, we had a baby on the way, and we were renting a townhouse situated between our two families’ homes. We shared a first anniversary dinner at the Italian restaurant John had worked at as a busboy from the time he was 14. He had made a name for himself there, and we were treated like royalty. The restaurant is gone now, but the memories are still so vivid.

The following July, we were mourning the loss of my

father, who had held my arm so tightly just two years before as I took my first steps toward married life, and we had to work our way through tragedy, even as we celebrated the first boy born into my mother’s family in three generations.

July after July, we have remembered what we have accomplished and made plans for the next year. Much of life has happened, as it always does, without our having control over it, but I like to think we’ve learned to adjust to the surprises.

We welcomed four children, watched the days fly by as they grew and marveled each July at their intelligence and aptitude, strengths and smiles, abilities and surprises they brought into our lives.

Three of the four brought us July weddings. Daughter Katie, who would have loved to marry in the fall, but as a teacher couldn’t make the timing work out, brought fall to July, with vibrant colored bridesmaid dresses and autumn flower arrangements as she and Tim wed at the fairy tale church on their alma mater SLU’s campus.

Son Adam and daughter-in-law Debby were married just a few days into August on the beach in Maui that our first grandchild, Makena, was named after. And now, she is 17, a varsity soccer player, and ready to begin her senior year in high school.

There are nine grandchildren, born in eight different months, all healthy and happy and making us so very proud as we recount their achievements and marvel at their constant love for us. Granddaughter Caroline was actually born in July, and John and I had barely man-

another significant milestone for infrastructure investment in the region

Other newly added but currently unfunded projects include $34 million in improvements to the MacArthur Bridge over the Mississippi River at St. Louis (pictured above). Now that the Merchants Bridge replacement project is complete, Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis, which owns both structures, is turning its attention to the significant work required to keep the MacArthur Bridge functioning effectively as part of the St. Louis Region’s freight network.

“The MacArthur and Merchants Bridges together represent the highest-volume rail crossing on the Mississippi River,” said Mary Lamie, Executive Vice President – Multi Modal Enterprises at Bi-State Development. “These projects are essential to strengthen our region’s role in the global freight network and support our position as a reliever during supply chain disruption. We will continue to follow the region’s model of public-private collaboration for multimodal investment to advance important projects.”

The list of 2024 Priority Projects and more details about each of these projects and their current funding status can be found at https: https://www.thefreightway.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Freightway-2024-Priority-Freight-Projects.pdf.

By Vicki Bahr

aged to settle in at the beach for our vacation that year when we got news of her early and very fast arrival in North Carolina just an hour before.

In July just four years ago, we stared in awe and disbelief at the ultrasound of the twin boys our youngest, Becca, was going to be adding to her and husband Andy’s family and wondering how four-year-old big brother Adler was going to handle it.

This July, we’re happily watching them play baseball in our new backyard and belatedly search for Easter eggs in the sod that hadn’t been laid yet at Easter. And if anyone had told us last July that we would be living in a new home now with our very first garage and dishwasher, a main floor laundry, a library within walking distance and train tracks a quarter mile away that is so very reminiscent of the one in our backyard 48 years ago that I taught our son Christopher to count train cars on and pointed out colors for him, I would never have believed it.

Another July.

A glance behind and a confident step forward.

Vicki Bahr is an inveterate word lover and story sharer, a published author in magazine, newspaper and blog forms. As a mom of four, grandma of nine, and wife of one for 50 years, she finds that inspiration and wonder are everywhere.

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

Sports you see with Gary B...

Hoots pick up first win of second half of season

The O’Fallon Hoots, proud members of the Prospect League, play their home games at CarShield Field in O’Fallon.

An offensive slugfest between the Hoots (1612) and Thrillville Thrillbilies (12-14) recently in front of their home town fans resulted in a 11-6 win. This victory hopefully sets the pace for the rest of the

season.

Inside the Box Score:

• Maloy Heaghney launched two home runs in his three-hit performance.

• John Stallcup hits his second home run of the season.

• A combined 37 hits between the two teams.

• Coby Rogers collects his first win of the season.

How it Happened:

• Jack Meyer started the Hoots scoring on the night with an RBI groundout that scored Braedon Stoakes in the bottom of the first inning. Later in the inning, Tucker Platt hit a sacrifice fly to score Tyson Ludwig to make it a 2-0 Hoots lead.

• Thrillville knotted the score in the top of the second inning as Josh Griffin hit a two-run home run.

• The Hoots retook the lead in the bottom of the second inning on a solo home run from Heaghney.

• Jackson McCoy tied the game back up in the top of the third inning with an RBI infield single, to make it a 3-3 ballgame.

• Stallcup hit his solo home run in the bottom of the third inning, as the Hoots recaptured the lead 4-3.

• Heaghney roped his second home run of the night, a three-run shot to stretch the Hoots lead to 7-3 in the bottom of the fourth inning.

• Thrillvile got a run back in the top of the fifth inning on a Mccoy RBI single.

• The Thrillbillies scratched another run back in the top of the sixth inning on an RBI single by Jackson Lindsey.

• In the top of the seventh inning, McCoy led off with a solo home run to make it a 7-6 ballgame.

• The Hoots opened the door in the bottom of the eighth inning, as they plated four runs home. Meyer doubled home two runs to kick off the innings’ scoring. Later in the inning, Ludwig along with Meyer would score on wild pitches to get O’Fallon their 11-6 final tally.

* Great start

Ambush keep veteran on roster

The St. Louis Ambush play in the MASL professional indoor soccer league with their home games at the Family Arena in St. Charles starting in the fall.

The Ambush have re-signed veteran defender Richard Schmermund to a contract extension through the 2027-28 season, the team announced recently. The 2023-24 season will be Schmermund’s eleventh in professional indoor soccer. He is a St. Louis native who played collegiate soccer at St. Louis Community College where he was named First Team All-Conference.

He began his professional career with the Illinois Piasa (PASL). Schmermund joined the Ambush for their 2013-14 inaugural season, his first of five seasons with the club, leaving as a free agent following the 2017-18 season.

* Team leader

Gary Baute, a St. Louis native, may be educated in business but he lives and breathes sports. As a fan or an athlete, Gary is all sports all the time. He hosted a radio sports program on KFNS, emceed the River City Rascals’ inaugural season, among many other activities. I am currently hosting a Health show on 97.1 FM, ‘Prime Time Health’ www.PrimeTimeSTL.com. It broadcasts Saturday nights at 8 and Sunday mornings at 9.

CROSSWORD answers from page F-4

SUDOKU answers from page F-1

Spending precious moments enjoying outdoor meals with family and friends is part of what makes warm weather get-togethers so special. Take those al fresco occasions to the next level with a favorite dessert: ice cream.

Homemade ice cream is a hallmark of many family events from birthday celebrations and pool parties to warm weather holidays spent basking in the sunshine. Completely customizable with an array of fruits or other tasty mix-ins plus toppings of your choice, it’s a perfect way to put a grin on loved ones’ faces.

At your next outdoor event, try an option like Cheesecake Ice Cream with Fruit Swirls from Milk Means More. It’s a simple solution you can make a couple days in advance with your favorite fruit flavor such as blueberry, raspberry, cherry, strawberry, peach or apricot. Plus, this recipe serves a crowd, making it perfect for serving up smiles.

INGREDIENTS:

12 ounces cream cheese, cut into cubes

3/4 cup sugar

1 cup sour cream

3/4 cup half-and-half

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 1/4 teaspoons lemon juice, divided

1 dash salt

1/3 cup blueberry, raspberry, cherry, strawberry, peach or apricot fruit spread

Recipe courtesy of Marcia Stanley, MS, RDN Prep time: 15 minutes | Servings: 12

DIRECTIONS: In large mixer bowl of electric mixer, beat cream cheese and sugar on medium speed until fluffy. Add sour cream, half-and-half, vanilla, 1 teaspoon lemon juice and salt. Beat on low speed until combined then beat on medium speed until smooth. Cover and refrigerate 2-24 hours, or until cold.

Pour cream cheese mixture into 1 1/2-quart ice cream freezer. Freeze according to manufacturer’s

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.

directions.

In small bowl, stir fruit spread and remaining lemon juice.

Spoon about one-third of ice cream into 2-quart food storage container. Spoon about half of fruit spread mixture in dollops over ice cream. Repeat layers. Top with remaining ice cream. Cover and freeze 4-24 hours.

To serve, scoop ice cream into dessert dishes.

Film

or franchise?

“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” photo courtesy Lucasfilm. “ Iron Man” photo courtesy Paramount Pictures. “Back to the Future “ photo courtesy Universal Pictures.

What does it take to turn a film into a franchise? In 1981, “Raiders of the Lost Ark” arrived in theaters and became one of the most popular movies of the summer. Harrison Ford starred as Dr. Henry Walton “Indiana” Jones, Jr., a college professor of archaeology. With nothing to lose, my friends and I went to see “Raiders” at the Mark Twain Theater and we were soon caught up in the action, humor and the swashbuckling action. According to Box Office Mojo, the film, which was later renamed “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark,” had a domestic release total of over $212 million.

“Raiders of the Lost Ark” did so well at the box office that “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” arrived two years later. A summertime movie, “Temple of Doom” was, arguably, darker than the original film, but its gross revenue was $333.1 million. It took a few years, though, before 1989’s “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”

helped turn these films into a genuine franchise. Harrison Ford and Sean Connery were great as father and son in an adventure involving the Holy Grail. Unfortunately, the fourth and fifth movies in the franchise, “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” and the recently released “Dial of Destiny,” lost steam along the way to the box office.

When talking about popular film franchises, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) truly wrote the book. Jon Favreau directed Robert Downey, Jr. in “Iron Man,” the first film in what was called “The Infinity Saga.” Over an 11-year period, Iron Man, Captain America, the Avengers and other characters became part of a much bigger storyline in 2018’s “Avengers: Infinity War.” The concluding chapter, 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame,” had heartbreak, time travel and one final chance to save the universe. It also had a gross revenue of $2.80 billion.

Of all the movie franchises out there, “Back to

the Future” has always been my favorite. In 1985, I took a friend to see the film and we loved the characters, humor and the storyline. Former “Taxi” star Christopher Lloyd played Dr. Emmett Brown, a scientist who spent years and his family fortune to find a way to make time travel possible. Michael J. Fox was the perfect choice for Marty, a high school student who accidentally went back in time and almost erased himself from existence. “Back to the Future Part III,” the third film in the franchise, sent both Doc and Marty to the Wild West.

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.

Cheesecake Ice Cream with Fruit Swirls

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, have mercy on us. St. Jude, Worker of Miracles, Pray for us. St. Jude, Helper of the Hopeless, Pray for us.

Say this prayer 9 times a day for 9 days, then publish. Your prayers will be answered. It has never been known to fail.

Thank you, St. Jude. L.M.

SINGERS

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, have mercy on us. St. Jude, Worker of Miracles, Pray for us. St. Jude, Helper of the Hopeless, Pray for us.

Say this prayer 9 times a day for 9 days, then publish. Your prayers will be answered. It has never been known to fail.

Thank you, St. Jude. G.H.

Moore on Life: Acting our age

My husband and I recently went on a fieldtrip with our daughter and the grandkids. Destination: the zoo. Of course, we had been to the zoo many times so we knew the drill: walk, walk, walk, look, look, look and no rest, rest, rest - none!

We could handle it. After all we weren’t dead yet. What did these little kids have on us besides better hearts and lungs and more iron in their blood and less pain in their joints and maybe hips that actually worked - nothing!

Ya, we’d show the little whipper snappers that we weren’t as old as everyone thought we were.

(Helpful note from an expert: When trying to appear young, avoid the term whipper snapper at all costs. It is a clear sign old age has crept in and taken up residency. Strike one.)

We started our adventure with vim and vigor and kept up with the little munchkins quite nicely. But soon after, we got winded and started plotting out our next destination according to where the nearest park benches were on the map.

(Expert’s note: Also avoid the term vim and vigor. Additional note: When park benches are the highlight of the zoo experience it is an obvious sign of geezerism. Strike two.)

We made it past lunchtime and were heading into the homestretch, but unfortunately our bodies were not cooperating as they should have. The knees were creaking; the feet were burning; the oxygen wasn’t being absorbed as it should have into our blood-

By Cindy Moore CROSSWORD: BIOLOGY 101

stream which was causing light-headedness. We found a bench and refused to move.

We told the group to go on because our old bones were splintering and we were ready to collapse and in need of a blood transfusion from a 10-year-old.

Naw, of course we didn’t let on to our plight. We said we would join them shortly because we wanted to sit and take in the view before us. Never mind that the view was a giant pile of mulch the landscapers were shoveling into the flower beds. There was never a lovelier sight.

The expert would tell you that being mesmerized by a pile of garden mulch is a sure sign of senility. Strike three – we’re old. But then the expert can’t defend his opinion when he’s buried beneath a massive mulch pile.

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.

LIFESTYLE: Tips to plan a bountiful garden

Whether you’re a novice just learning to cultivate a magical display or an avid gardener with years of experience, early planning can help bring this year’s garden to life.

These simple tips can help you start planning, and before you know it, you can start putting your plans into action.

Assess your environment. Determine what factors may aid or hinder your garden’s success. What do you know about the soil? Lighting? Exposure to threats such as hungry or curious wildlife? Uncovering potential roadblocks early can help you identify potential solutions or alternatives that may help you bypass issues altogether.

Create a mental image. Look through seed catalogs, magazines and books, and browse the internet for inspiration. Vibrant colors and textures are the hallmarks of a beautiful spring garden, but spend time learning exactly what appeals to you most. Take notes, particularly as you identify new species you may want to introduce. You’ll need to do additional research to ensure

their growing requirements are consistent with your environment.

Put it to paper. Transferring your vision to paper can help you plan appropriately and ensure you’re not overfilling or leaving unsightly gaps in your garden. Understanding where each plant will go and how much each needs to flourish

before you turn a spade of soil can help make planting a breeze. Remember it is easier to change your mind with a pen and paper in hand than with fragile vegetation. Create a calendar. Timing is critical to maximizing the time you are able to enjoy your garden. Understand the growing season for each plant and map it all out on a calendar so you can stagger when new varieties emerge and keep your garden active and thriving. Be sure to give yourself some wiggle room for unforeseen circumstances, such as weather, that may prevent you from planting exactly as you’ve planned.

For more tips to safely begin planting, visit eLivingtoday.com.

ACROSS

1. *Lactuca sativa dish

6. Banned insecticide

9. Doorframe part

13. *Group of #3 Down

14. Top seed number

15. *Blood ____, diabetic's concern

16. *Food poisoning-causing bacterium

17. Galley tool

18. Sushi restaurant staple

19. *Giant sequoia, e.g.

21. *Measure of energy

23. Auction call

24. Animal coat

25. Tolstoy's first name, in Russian

28. *Plural of cecum

30. *Fastest growing woody plant

35. Footnote acronym

37. Mosquito net, e.g.

39. Attention-seeking

40. Skier's aid

41. Certain saxes

43. Sheltered, nautically speaking

44. Wive's mother, e.g.

46. "____ we forget"

47. Christian of haute-couture

48. Based on two

50. Colorado's neighbor

52. European Nuclear Society

53. Beauty salon sound

55. Official language of Laos 57. *Dissolving agent 61. *C6H12O6 65. *Relating to trunk, neck and head 66. Lamb's momma 68. With clear mind 69. Itty-bitty

DOWN

1. Design detail

2. Big name in gasoline stations

3. *Genus Panthera member

4. Improvise

5. Godlike

6. Point of entry

7. *Genetic information carrier, acr.

8. 9 a.m. prayer

9. Saturn's daughter, Roman goddess

10. *Petri dish gel 11. The Wise Men 12. French appetizer 15. Scheherazade's listener 20. Swelling of human organs 22. Priestly garb

Book cover prototype

*Fatty acids 26. Piano key material 27. Pancho of Mexican Revolution fame 29. *Basic unit of life 31. Fermented honey libation

Misrepresent

Theater, to Socrates

Deed hearings

"Wanted!" option

Cargo carrier

Agenda

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