CN: July 26, 2023

July 26, 2023

This is the greenway

Around Town COMMUNITY VOICES

Great Rivers Greenway debuts two projects to provide more accessibility to walking and biking paths across St. Louis region

By Wendy Todd

Thanks to Great Rivers Greenway, there are nearly 130 greenways that allow community members throughout the St. Louis area and St. Charles County to have more outdoor spaces connecting people and places. The organization is celebrating the creation of two new projects, an expansion of the St. Vincent Greenway and a $15 million of funding for the Brickline Gre-

enway project from the State of Missouri Capital Improvement Budget for 2024.

The new paved and accessible St. Vincent Greenway path connects Pagedale to the Rock Road Transit Center and existing greenway in St. Vincent County Park.

The Brickline project, which is estimated to cost $245 million, is envisioned as up to 13 miles of biking and walking paths that will connect up to 14 neighborhoods. The project is slated to begin in five to ten

years, as Great Rivers continues to raise funding.

Great Rivers Greenway is a public agency created in 2000 by a vote of residents in St. Louis, St. Louis County and St. Charles County mandating that a sales tax be put in place to support parks and greenways through the regions. The belief is that greenways offer a multitude of

See ‘GREENWAY’ page 2

Features (FLIP)

Recipe, Movie & Sudoku. Pg. F-1

CLA SSIFIEDS AND HOME & GARDEN. Pg. F-2 /F-3

Moore On Life, Lifestyle & Crossword Puzzle. Pg. F-4

Weather

FRIDAY Partly Cloudy 102/79

SATURDAY Partly Cloudy 99/76

SUNDAY Partly Cloudy 96/72

READ US ONLINE!

By Dr. Larry A. Brown. Pg. 2

Great Rivers Greenway is celebrating the creation of two new projects, an expansion of the St. Vincent Greenway and a $15 million of funding for the Brickline Greenway project from the State of Missouri Capital Improvement Budget for 2024.

health and socioeconomic benefits.

Greenways offer opportunities for physical activity, decreased vehicle emissions, improved road safety outcomes resulting from fewer vehicle miles traveled and access to businesses resulting in increased retail and associated spending adjacent to the trail.

“Each greenway is unique, reflecting the character of the communities it connects,” said Dallas Adams, communication manager at Great Rivers Greenway. “They typically include four elements: the trail itself, conservation projects, enjoyable amenities and connections to vital destinations. The network of greenways strengthens our civic well-being, now and for the future.”

The St. Vincent greenway expansion, made possible by a joint effort between Great Rivers Greenway, Missouri Department of Transportation, Bi-State Development/Metro St. Louis and St. Louis County Department of Parks and Recreation, will feature a new trail, new green paint, pavement markings and increased safety signage for pedestrians, bikers and drivers.

Another safety measure includes new pedestrian crossings at St. Charles Rock Road and 70th Street and the entrance to St. Vincent County Park. The expansion will later connect with the future St. Vincent Greenway through Pagedale to Wellston, which will begin construction in 2024.

The Brickline project, once completed, is expected to improve access to employment

COMMUNITY VOICES:

We could be currently living in Ukraine or some other place that was experiencing daily bomb scares, sounds of bullets firing, famine and all kinds of bloodshed. We could be living in a land that had no natural resources such as water. We could be living in a land that limited our freedom. We could be living in a land that had all kinds of restrictions and prohibitions.

Instead, we live in a land of plenty. There is plenty of unrestricted room in which to move around and there is an abundance of resources that are available to everyone.

There are enough untapped resources available to the challenges of the dreams of others who have ideas that need to be developed.

However, we must be aware and understand that these resources are available to whomever controls them and not exclusively to us and those who presently are in charge.

We must always seek to heal the wounds that would shatter and forge unrepairable gaps within the fabric of our cohesiveness as a country; hence, the United States of America.

We must constantly work to keep this union together and fight against issues and people who tear us apart.

and education, which are currently limited by a lack of effective transportation infrastructures. It is anticipated that the project will raise residential property value by up to $126 million and increase local business activity by $82 million.

Great Rivers Greenway will be holding a ribbon-cutting celebration that is open to the public, to commemorate the St. Vincent Expansion. The event is on July 27 at the Rock Road Transit Center and begins at 6:15 p.m. The event will feature free ice cream treats from Lily’s Café food truck. A guided roundtrip walk to St. Vincent County Park and bike ride to the University of Missouri–St. Louis on the greenway will leave the Metro Station at 6:30 p.m. For more information visit www. greatriversgreenway.org.

By Dr. Larry A. Brown

This can happen from within, and outside. There are those within who are influenced and controlled by outside forces who support and encourage their actions that can weaken the union and allow a takeover. There are those who oppose us from outside our boundaries and seek to gain enough support to overthrow our union. Then also, there are those insiders who may not be content and wish to change our leadership by means other than those already in place, such as voting and lobbying for change.

We must constantly be cautious, wary and concerned when issues arise that tend to separate our union.

There are those countries and individuals who would love to overthrow and seize our land and government because of its plentifulness, power and geographical position.

We must recognize this, and work diligently to preserve our “hallowed ground.”

This is not a perfect union, but it is a special one that has excellent potential for all who get the opportunity to call it their home. Each of us has a responsibility of some kind, to help make our country and its citizenry better. We were placed here rather than in other countries and other lands, for a unique and individual purpose.

Each of us has many responsibilities: to ourselves, our families, other human beings, our race and our country.

We must do our part while we are here. Grace Chapel Ministries may offer you the opportunity you feel comfortable with. Contact us by email at gracechapeldevelopment@ gmail.com or visit our website at www.gracechapelministries.org.

We must do our best to make this “hallowed ground” better and better for all who may find themselves in this country!

We must start right where we live!

Dr. Larry A. Brown is a retired Chairman of the Board and co-founder of Worknet, Inc., which has a national ten-year contract with the Social Security Administration to find jobs for people with disabilities who are interested and qualified to enter the traditional workforce. He is also co-founder and president of Grace Chapel Ministries, former president of National Cable Training Centers, and president of Woodstock Industrial Products Group.

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.

We live on ‘hallowed ground’

Submitted photos

Great Rivers Greenway is celebrating the creation of two new projects, an expansion of the St. Vincent Greenway and a $15 million of funding for the Brickline Greenway project from the State of Missouri Capital Improvement Budget for 2024.

‘GREENWAY’ from cover

Application period for 2023 managed dove hunts on Columbia Bottom CA now open

Investments underway or planned at four ports in the St. Louis area are supported by an influx of federal and state funding that underscores the growing importance of inland ports in the global supply chain.

The investments have the bi-state region poised to support continued growth in traditional barge services and intermodal operations, while helping to prepare for the arrival of new container-on-vessel service in the Midwest. These multi-million-dollar investments in facilities and infrastructure and the funding secured for these projects were the focus of the May 23 FreightWeekSTL 2023 virtual panel session, which featured panelists from America’s Central Port, St. Louis Development Corporation, Kaskaskia Regional Port District and Jefferson County Port Authority.

Dove hunting season is just a couple months away, and the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will accept applications for managed dove hunts on one of its most popular dove hunting areas in the St. Louis regions.

The managed dove hunt application period for Columbia Bottom Conservation Area (CA) in Spanish Lake runs through July 31. All registrations for the 2023 season will be performed online at short.mdc. mo.gov/4WS. No paper applications will be accepted.

Only one application per person will be accepted. Successful applicants will receive a daily hunting permit in the mail prior to Aug. 25. Applicants may request weekends only or any day. At least 50 applicants will be selected by random drawing for each of the first seven days of the dove hunting season. Successful applicants will receive notification by mail.

For the first seven days of the season, dove hunting will only be permitted from 1 p.m. to sunset daily.

Each hunter may bring one hunting partner with them on the day of the hunt. All hunters will be required to use non-toxic shot when hunting doves at Columbia Bottom.

Hunters with disabilities may call 636-441-4554 to reserve the ADA field after being successfully drawn for the hunt. Reservations are on a first-come, firstserve basis.

“Any heavy rainfalls in the Midwest may result in floodwaters impacting our planted dove fields. We will notify successful applicants as soon as possible about any important changes or impacts to dove fields,” explained MDC Regional Resource Management Supervisor Gary Calvert.

Columbia Bottom Conservation Area is located at 801 Strodtman Road in north St. Louis County, at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. The area can be reached by taking the Riverview Drive Exit from I-270 and travelling north approximately three miles.

The City of St. Louis Port Authority, located in downtown St. Louis, comprises about 10,000 acres along 19plus miles of riverfront on the Mississippi River and moves 15 to 18 million tons of cargo a year. A landlord port, it has approximately 40 leases with shippers and carriers and fleeting operators up and down the river, and its main terminal is the Municipal River Terminal (MRT), located about a mile and a half north of the Gateway Arch and operated by SCF Lewis and Clark Terminals. The 40-acre site has a 2,000-foot dock that can hold 250-ton crane loads and features 67 fleeting berths, 250,000 square feet of warehouse space, and direct rail service.

The port authority has invested about $10 million in the Municipal River Terminal over the past couple years. Recent additions include a rail river conveyor system and direct rail access into the yard, and portions of the yard are currently being paved. SCF recently secured a grant for unitized cargo equipment to get unit train capability at the terminal. As part of a $9 million BUILD grant secured through SCF, 7,350 linear feet of new railroad track will be added, and that is expected to drive more rail traffic to the facility.

Susan Taylor, Port Authority Director for the St. Louis Development Corporation, also talked about other investments occurring. “

We're trying to develop a new rail and river terminal on our south riverfront and have secured a $5.76 million ARPA grant towards that,” Taylor said. “We're talking to a new lessee about a potential liquid fertilizer dock on our north riverfront, and we plan on issuing some RFPs soon for fleeting. There’s also a developer interested in a large $1.2 billion project, just south of the MacArthur Bridge, and it will focus on manufacturing and, hopefully, container on vessels shipping of the manufactured goods.”

Taylor also highlighted the benefits of doing business with the City of St. Louis Port Authority located in the Ag Coast of America.

“I think it's important for people to realize that we are by far the busiest inland port,” she said. “We have approximately 130 facilities in our harbor on both sides of the river. We just have so many different options, and we have ultimate flexibility and last mile in and out options for people.”

America’s Central Port anchors a 1,200-acre multi modal business and industrial site in Granite City, Illinois, where a series of infrastructure investments are underway. Located just 30 miles south of St. Lou-

is, the Kaskaskia Regional Port District encompasses Monroe, Randolph and St. Clair counties in Illinois and, by tonnage, is the 15th largest inland port in the country. Jim McNichols, Executive Director of the Jefferson County Port Authority talked about expansion plans for the Port Authority, which is located south of St. Louis County, with boundaries encompassing the entirety of Jefferson County, Mo.

Panel moderator Mary Lamie told the port representatives, “There's a common thread that connects you. You are continuing to invest in your facilities with an eye to the future, making sure that all the ports in this region have the capacity and infrastructure to accommodate future growth. It's our pleasure to be able to highlight those investments which collectively strengthened our region's role as a global freight hub.” Lamie is the Executive Vice President of Multi Modal Enterprises for Bi-State Development, which operates the St. Louis Regional Freightway as one of its enterprises.

To view the panel session, visit www.freightweekstl.com.

Growing importance of inland ports fuels multi-million-dollar investments at four ports in St. Louis Region

The City of St. Louis Port Authority, located in downtown St. Louis, comprises about 10,000 acres along 19-plus miles of riverfront on the Mississippi River and moves 15 to 18 million tons of cargo a year.

Submitted photo

Submitted photo

Around Town

Energy savings tips to battle the extreme heat

With temperatures forecasted to reach triple digits this month, Ameren Missouri is advising customers about five free and easy energy-saving tips to help cut energy costs, while staying comfortable and safe.

“We recommend our customers use air conditioners when it’s extremely hot,” said Tony Lozano, director of energy solutions at Ameren Missouri. “The few dollars it takes to run an air conditioner doesn’t compare to the value of protecting health and safety. We also want to make customers aware of energy savings tips they can follow to help them save money.”

Lozano offered the following energy-saving tips and customer resources to save on energy costs.

Ameren Missouri’s Cool-Down Tips:

1. Create a breeze – Did you know that when using a fan and air conditioner simultaneously, you can raise your thermostat setting by four degrees with no change in comfort? You can also rotate

any ceiling fans counterclockwise to create a cool breeze. But remember to turn fans off when you leave the room – they cool people, not rooms, by creating a wind chill effect.

2. Keep air vents clear – Periodically replace air filters for your air conditioners. Clean air vents regularly and make sure curtains or furniture do not block any vents or returns.

3. Close window shades – Closed curtains and blinds help keep rooms cooler and prevent the loss of cool air. Studies demonstrate that medium-colored draperies with white-plastic backings can reduce heat gains by 33%.

4. Utilize alternative cooking methods – Grilling outdoors, or using air fryers, slow cookers and toaster ovens, will reduce excess heat from being produced in the kitchen from larger appliances.

5. Program your thermostat – Smart thermostats

enable you to automatically run your air conditioner cooler when you are home and a bit warmer when you are out of the house. With proper use, programmable thermostats can save about $180 every year in energy costs.

Rebates and savings opportunities on energy-saving products are available for customers at AmerenMissouriSavings.com. For a limited time, customers can get a $0 Sensi Wi-Fi Thermostat – a $129 value.

Customers struggling to pay their energy bill should contact Ameren Missouri or a local community action agency for assistance. Visit AmerenMissouri.com/EnergyAssistance for details on the variety of programs available to help customers offset energy costs this summer.

Still In This Together: By

Anticipation is so very worth it

We had kind of been skirting the issue, and with good reason. We just moved into a new home in February,

and I wasn’t at all sure how to even bring up the issue of our annual sabbatical elsewhere. And yet, probably thanks to the influence of what seems like every other commercial on television, the white sand beaches of Florida were suddenly calling to me.

We’ve made it there nearly every year since forever, first with all four of our kids sometime in June or July because of school calendars, and very gradually with fewer of them, until it’s been just John and I in a one-bedroom condo in a building with an elevator instead of a larger unit, in the price-friendlier month of September.

We’ve generally booked a condo by April, and my composition/vacation book would have had at least a page or two describing our plans, the dates we’ll be going, and a list of things I’ve already boxed up to take with us. It’s a process that could be done in a day, since it’s just the two of us and we’ve been doing it for years, but it’s so much more fun to spread everything out and enjoy the months leading up to our leaving. That anticipation is actually one of my favorite parts of the trip, and always has been.

I came across an old vacation book in the bottom drawer of the dresser the other day when I was looking for something, and John found me sitting on the bed reading it, tears streaming down my face.

“What year are you reading about,” he asked, “and why are you crying?”

“It was the year we actually went twice, the year after I retired and we lost my mom,” I stammered, “the year we couldn’t wait a minute longer and we ended up booking a condo for an April getaway.”

“And we went again in September,” John finished for me, “because we talked to the owner of the condo and she gave us a special rate for booking a week that she hadn’t filled yet.”

“It’s a shame Kathy’s mother-in-law moved in there and we can’t use her and Jay’s condo anymore,” he said. “The vacation box should be half filled by now and sitting in the spare bedroom.”

I didn’t add that the calendar should have a September week crossed off on it, with a cute little sailboat drawn in one of the boxes, or that a date should have been picked for our annual lunch with Kathy and Jay at the beachside restaurant, and tickets already purchased

Vicki Bahr

for the free hot dog promotion night at the Blue Wahoos minor league baseball stadium.

John just sat down next to me and asked if I had looked to see what prices would be for any of the condos we had rented in past years.

“Let’s take a look,” he said. “No promises, but we might just need to buy a vacation salt and pepper this year after all.”

Three days later, after lengthy discussion and working through some ways to cut corners a bit, I was able to write in my newest vacation book that we would indeed be taking a road trip this year to (hopefully) sunny Florida. The day after that, I walked through the new Dollar Store down the street from us, not at all sure I would find what I was looking for, but hopeful nonetheless.

And there it was, sitting right at eye-level, a pretty little black and white plastic salt and pepper shaker set, priced at the wonderful cost of a dollar. Our first purchase for vacation 2023, proof that anticipation still exists. Because one of those little salt and pepper combos has been the symbol of upcoming vacations from the very beginning…traveling with us in the rations box and coming home with us every year to sit on the kitchen counter as a visible reminder of the fun and memories we shared that year. In the cold of winter, it seasons the chicken noodle soup and chicken and dumplings and homemade bread I make, and with each shake the memories are there for the taking.

Our newest set isn’t sharing a box with taco shells or extra hangers; it’s sitting proudly in the middle of the China cabinet right in front of all the kids’ wedding pictures, where we can look at it every day and know that the plans might be a little later in coming this year, but September is holding so much promise.

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...

Lindenwood golf team excels in academics as well Lindenwood University’s women’s golf team had six golfers recognized on the WGCA All-American Scholars list for the 2022-23 school year. The criteria to be selected as an All-American Scholar is obtaining a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50.

Paula Mariana Sanchez (Senior), MacKenzie McCoy (Sophomore), Becca Oertel, Lillian Schlemmer (Senior), Addasyn Zeller (Freshman) and Kassidy Hull (Freshman) all earned this accolade. Lindenwood completed its first NCAA Division I season this year as Sanchex landed on the all-OVC newcomer team and Hull was named conference golfer of the week twice throughout the year.

Information on the Women’s Golf Coaches Association:

The Women’s Golf Coaches Association, founded in 1983, is a nonprofit organization representing women’s collegiate golf coaches. The WGCA was formed to en-

courage the playing of college golf for women in correlation with a general objective of education and in accordance with the highest tradition of intercollegiate competition. Today, the WGCA represents over 700 coaches throughout the U.S. and is dedicated to educating, promoting and recognizing both its members and the student-athletes they represent.

* The best of the best

Ambush sign major player

The St. Louis Ambush play their home games at the Family Arena in St. Charles and play in the MASL.

The Ambush have signed free agent forward Skylar Funk to a three-year deal, the team announced today. Per league and team policies, no other details of the deal have been disclosed.

Funk is a St. Louis area native who hails from Alton, Illinois. He comes to the Ambush with one season of experience in the Major Arena Soccer League. Funk was the number one draft pick (eleventh overall) by the Florida Tropics in the 2022 MASL college draft. He

appeared in nine games for the Tropics last season, tallying three goals and two assists.

Funk played collegiate soccer at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida and at Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey, Illinois. At Southeastern, he earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration. He also served as a graduate assistant coach during his final season at Southeastern. Skylar played prep soccer at Alton High School, where he was named large school player of the year and first team all-conference. In his youth, Funk played club soccer at St. Louis Scott Gallagher. He started playing soccer at the age of three.

Ambush co-owner, general manager and head coach Jeff Locker said, “We’re pleased to welcome Skylar home. He’s a untapped talent with the attributes to become a superb indoor soccer player.”

Ambush Director of Scouting Donnie Alberty said, “Funk has the combination of physical presence and skill that are well suited to the indoor game. We feel he can develop into an important contributor to our future success.”

Funk said he is “excited to come home and play in front of an amazing fan base and being in front of family and friends.”

The Ambush will kick off their eleventh season this fall.

Contact Ambush office at 636-477-6363 or go to www.STLAmbush.com for more information.

* A great acquisition

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 broad-

CROSSWORD answers from page F-4

SUDOKU answers from page F-1

RECIPE : A tasty meal for a heart-healthy summer

Asyou plan your summer fun, think also about adopting healthy habits that can help keep your blood pressure under control. When your blood pressure is consistently high – a condition called hypertension – blood flows through arteries at higher-than-normal pressures. This can cause serious health problems not just for your heart, but also for your blood vessels, kidneys, eyes and brain.

Hypertension affects women and men of all ages but making small lifestyle changes can go a long way toward prevention. Start with updating your summer menu with delicious, heart-healthy recipes, like Hawaiian Huli Huli Chicken.

INGREDIENTS:

Sauce:

2 tablespoons ketchup

2 tablespoons light soy

sauce

2 tablespoons honey

2 teaspoons orange juice

1 teaspoon garlic (about 1 clove), minced

1 teaspoon ginger, minced

12 ounces boneless, skinless chicken breast (about 2 large breasts), cut into 1-inch cubes (about 24 cubes)

1 cup fresh pineapple, diced (about 24 pieces)

8 wooden skewers (6 inches each), soaked in water

HAWAIIAN HULI HULI CHICKEN

Recipe courtesy of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 30 minutes

Servings: 4

DIRECTIONS:

To make sauce: Combine ketchup, soy sauce, honey, orange juice, garlic and ginger; mix well. Separate into two bowls and set aside.

Preheat grill to medium-high heat.

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Alternately thread three chicken cubes and three pineapple chunks on each skewer.

Movie:

By Mat Dekinder

Most of the time when a movie is too ambitious and tries to do too much the result is a hot mess. In those instances, I applaud the filmmaker’s effort and then quickly forget about the whole thing.

But what if they pull it off? What if a filmmaker takes a massive swing and sticks the landing? If a movie stands before you like a giant house of cards that refuses to topple over, all you can do is step back and marvel at it.

Such is the case with “Oppenheimer,” Christopher Nolan’s magnum opus about J. Robert Oppenheimer and his part in overseeing the development of the atomic bomb.

“Oppenheimer” is really three different films rolled into one. One part is a straightup biopic about what a brilliant, complex, egotistical, flawed, glorious weirdo Oppenheimer was. He is played by Cillian Murphy, an intense actor who reliably leaves it all on the table.

Here he dials it back on the surface, seeming calm and collected throughout while internally the conflict between scientific achievement and unleashing the most devastating weapon humanity has ever known constantly threatens to bubble over. It’s as Academy-Award-worthy of a performance as it gets.

Grill skewers 3-5 minutes on each side. Brush or spoon sauce from one bowl onto chicken and pineapple every other minute. Discard remaining sauce from first bowl.

To prevent chicken from drying out, finish cooking to minimum internal temperature of 165 F in oven. Using clean brush or spoon, coat with sauce from remaining bowl before serving.

The second part is a historical thriller as Oppenheimer and his gaggle of scientists convene at Los Alamos, New Mexico under the watchful eye of General Leslie Groves (Matt Damon). We see the members of the famed Manhattan Project scramble in an intense race against time to complete the bomb before the Nazis do, all under a claustrophobic shroud of secrecy.

The final part is a political potboiler that takes place after the war as Oppenheimer begins to speak out against nuclear proliferation and grapples with his legacy while his government attempts to discredit and silence him.

This all plays out against the backdrop of a Senate confirmation hearing for Lewis Strauss (Robert Downey Jr.), the former head of the Atomic Energy Commission who worked closely with Oppenheimer after the war.

Downey is as good as he’s ever been as

Strauss, filling him with pathos and bile to the point you don’t know what to expect from him. This is a reintroduction to Downey as an accomplished dramatic actor after years in the superhero playpen. Expect his name to be mentioned during the Academy Awards as well.

But even with such a phenomenal and deep cast (which is another testament to Nolan’s pull as he was able to get Oscar winners to come in and read five lines of dialogue), “Oppenheimer” is Nolan’s baby.

He mushes all three “films” together and somehow, not only does it makes sense, it sings.

Nolan is an accomplished visual filmmaker, and while there are plenty of astonishing things to look at in this movie, one of the main reasons I would say it is important to see “Oppenheimer” in a theater is to fully appreciate Nolan’s use of sound. You can feel the concussive blasts as Nolan assaults you with the dread and awesome horror of a nuclear explosion.

“Oppenheimer” is a master work from a filmmaker at the top of his craft; respective of the past as it is contemplative of the future. It is a sight to behold.

“Oppenheimer” is rated R for some sexuality, nudity and language.

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.

“Oppenheimer” photo courtesy Universal Pictures.

‘Oppenheimer’ will blow you away

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.

PRAYER

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.

Moore on Life: Television indecision

It’sofficial, TV control is a major subject of contention for couples, edging out naggy mother-in-law issues and take-out-the-garbage issues by a hair.

I can relate. Our problems begin with the volume.

Me: “Turn that down! I can’t hear myself think.”

Husband: “Then turn your thinker up. My volume’s just fine.”

From there it goes to program decisions.

Me: “Let’s watch a Jane Austen movie.”

Him: “No can do. I’ve got to go clean the cat’s box.”

“You’d rather do that than watch my movie?”

“The decision was a tough one, but it was cat box, drive splinters up my fingernails or watch a top hats and bonnets show. I made the sacrifice.”

The issues continue.

Me: “What’s this you’re watching tonight?”

Him: “Shhh. It’s the final game of the almost final game before the really final game of the MLB.”

“How exciting. Who are the ones wearing the red uniforms?”

Glaring eyes. “The Cardinals.”

“Oh nice. I want them to win. I like the color red and cardinals are my favorite bird. You know we had a nest of cardinals in the bush out front. I had to keep the cats in because I was afraid they’d eat them. Hey, who’s in the other uniforms? They’re kind of a bland color. I’m sure that won’t help their performance. What does MLB stand for?”

Glaring and red faced. “The first letter stands for MURDER. The next ones mean LEAVE BEFORE-it-happens!”

And then there’s this.

We’ve finally decided on a movie after searching for hours to find one we both can agree on. Of course, by then it’s 10 p.m. and we’re both a little dozy, but we set-

By Cindy Moore CROSSWORD:

ON THE ROAD

tle in and the show begins.

Five minutes into the movie he’s snoring and I’m in a deep coma with drool puddling onto my pillow. I wake up at midnight to the television playing the credits for the program.

I give my husband a mean jab in the ribs and he snort-swallows and chokes himself awake.

“What?! Where am I? Who shot me?!”

“Wake up. The movie’s about to start.”

“Huh? Okay. I’m ready.”

I restart the show and we immediately both fall back to sleep.

At least that’s something we can agree on.

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.

LIFESTYLE: How to improve your home’s look with wallpaper

Tounderstand the mood of a room, look no further than its walls. Wallpaper can add instant texture and flair, and today’s DIY-friendly options make it easy to create inspired spaces with little fuss.

The key to successful wallpapering is in the preparation. Clean, dry walls are a must, and any holes or cracks should be filled and sanded. To avoid paste that absorbs into porous surfaces, take time to apply a light, even coat of primer before beginning.

Choose a corner or space behind a door as your starting point. Mark your starting point using a level to draw a vertical line from floor to ceiling. Next, cut a length of wallpaper several inches longer than the height of your wall from the baseboard to ceiling.

Apply paste or activate the adhesive according to the manufacturer’s directions. Be sure to fully cover or dampen the paper surface; dry spots may result in unsightly bubbles.

Begin smoothing the paper onto the wall using the vertical line as a guide. Begin at the ceiling and smooth using a brush or plastic smoothing tool. If you encounter wrinkles or bubbles, gently lift the paper and smooth, relaying the paper as you go.

With each strip, you should end with several inches above the ceiling joint and below the baseboard line. Ensure the paper has firmly adhered top to bottom then trim using a sharp blade. Smooth each seam as you go.

Continue this process around the room, aligning

your paper pattern as needed. If it isn’t possible to completely match the pattern, focus on the middle third of the wall, which is most likely to be at eye level.

To maneuver corners, cut a slit in the paper overhanging the ceiling and floor. This allows the paper to lay flat for a smoother finish.

When you round back to your starting point, overlap your original strip of paper with the final strip. Make a single cut for a clean, crisp seam. Gently wipe away excess adhesive from the trim and seams.

To prevent rips and ripples, allow paper to dry completely – at least overnight – before replacing furniture and hanging artwork to complete your space.

Find more easy home improvement tips and ideas at eLivingtoday.com.

ACROSS

1. More down in the dumps

6. Will Ferrell's 2003 Christmas character

9. Century Gothic, e.g.

13. Twisted cotton thread

14. Greek "t"

15. Biblical mount

16. Dessert sandwiches

17. Barley bristle

18. Pungent edible bulb

19. *Shared ride

21. *Yellow Brick Road traveller

23. Member of the Benevolent Order

24. Sword handle

25. The little one "stops to tie his shoe"

28. AI "fodder"

30. *Gas station option

35. Thailand money

37. Phone cam images

39. Fill with happy spirit

40. Bora ____

41. Vexed

43. Uncontrolled swerve

44. Middle Eastern V.I.P.s

46. Genesis twin

47. "The Odyssey," e.g.

48. Hooray!

50. Speaking platform

52. Campfire residue

53. What sailors are to captain

55. Lawyers' org.

57. *Jack of "On the Road" fame

61. *Refreshment break

65. Live sign for radio, 2 words

66. Shakespearean "fuss"

68. Bar order, with "the"

69. Ownership document

70. Mitt Romney's title, abbr.

71. Christmas Eve visitor

72. Keats' works, e.g.

73. *Major road, abbr.

74. *Certain number of cylinders

DOWN

1. Cold War's Warsaw Pact, e.g.

2. Turkish money

3. One on drugs

4. Run off to Vegas?

5. Sold on eBay, usually

6. Short for "and elsewhere"

7. Hammurabi's code, e.g.

8. Plural of fundus

9. Porto____, Italy

10. Got this!

11. Sodium hydroxide

12. Like Tim of "A Christmas Carol"

15. Foray

20. Giraffe's striped-legged cousin

22. Like one of the Testaments

24. Fine-toothed metal cutter

25. *Famous road from Beatles crossing

26. Actress Watts

27. Minute parasite

29. *Spare one

31. "If all ____ fails"

32. Sarpa ____, coral reef fish

33. Tiny purses

34. Olden day phlebotomy instrument 36. Waterproof canvas

38. Clothing line

42. UAE's most populous city 45. Close the fastener, e.g.

49. Epoch

51. Between 90 and 180 degrees

54. E-wallet's content

56. Very, in music

57. Japanese zither

58. Author Bagnold

59. Goes with interest

60. Great masters' medium, pl.

61. *Hoofed "express" traveler

62. "The Summer I Turned Pretty" actress Lola ____

63. Solemn promise 64. Surveyor's map 67. Morning drops

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