CN: August 2, 2023

Building a foundation

Around

Oasis Intergenerational Tutoring program is looking for volunteers to help children grades K-3 with their literacy skills

By Wendy Todd

If you love to volunteer and work with young people, the Oasis Intergenerational Tutoring program might be just the place for you. The national nonprofit, that focuses on providing resources for older adults, has an intergenerational tutoring program and is looking for volunteers to help children grades K-3 with their literacy skills.

Oasis is a national organization that was established in St. Louis in 1989 and operates in 22 cities in 15 states with more than 4,000 volunteers. It offers various services for the older population including a vari-

ety of health courses, art classes and several volunteer and paid opportunities to keep seniors active and engaged. The organization was founded by Marylen Mann who was inspired to create a place where seniors could go to be active and healthy.

“Volunteering in general has been proven to be beneficial not only mentally but also physically for people,” national tutoring director, Stephanie McCreary, said. “The biggest benefit for the older adult tutor is that it gives them a sense of purpose and keeps them engaged and active in their communities. The student benefits from the mentorship of a caring older adult who becomes

not only someone who helps them learn to read but also a kind ear and friend.”

Its tutoring services are currently in 78 school districts nationwide and 38 districts in Missouri and Illinois. The program has reached more than 525,000 children since its launch. Those receiving tutoring have experienced vast personal and academic improvements.

“The outcomes are extensive,” McCreary said. “Not only are students working with Oasis tutors shown to have higher reading scores, they also show increased confidence

Around Town

MDC invites the public on a night adventure Aug. 5 at St. Stanislaus Conservation Area

Being in nature at night can be a fun and unique experience. The outdoors doesn’t go to sleep when the sun goes down.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites the public to a nocturnal adventure Saturday, Aug. 5 from 5:30-10 p.m. The Trash, Slash, and Nocturnal Bash event will be held at St. Stanislaus Conservation Area in Hazelwood and is in partnership with the University of Missouri St. Louis’ Environmental Adventure Organization.

St. Stanislaus Conservation Area has 812 acres of diverse landscapes and history, but its beauty is threatened by invasive plant species and trash. Join MDC as to improve the area by helping to clean up trash and “slash” away invasive plants like bush honeysuckle, wintercreeper and garlic mustard.

and self-esteem, higher attendance and increased participation in school.”

The organization is looking to recruit 700 tutors nationwide for the upcoming school year.

“Children struggling to learn to read is a problem that knows no societal or economic boundaries,” McCreary said. “So, we need as many tutors as possible to combat it.”

McCreary believes that helping students strengthen their literacy skills is one of the most worthwhile activities in

which one can participate.

“There are not many more rewarding volunteer experiences you can have than helping a child learn to read,” she said. “Reading is the foundation for everything else they will do in life. Secondly, there is so much more to Oasis. If you are an older adult looking for a place where you will be able to have fun and stay active and learning this is the place for you.”

To find out more about Oasis and how to volunteer, go to www.st-louis,oasisnet.org.

COMMUNITY VOICES:

Participants will learn about invasive plants in the area and how to control them. Afterwards, MDC naturalists will lead a night hike on the trails at St. Stanislaus to search for bats, spiders, and other creatures of the night. Trail terrain varies from level pavement to unpaved slopes and steep hills.

MDC will provide all tools for trash cleanup and invasive species hacking. Attendees should dress to be in the woods and bring a refillable water bottle. Poison ivy and ticks are present, so long sleeves and permethrin-treated clothes are recommended. Insect spray will be available for use.

The Trash, Slash and Nocturnal Bash event is free and open to ages eight years and up. Advanced registration is required at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/4mS.

By Darlene Sowell

Expanding STEM education programs will narrow the racial gap in tech

Children from under-resourced communities face the greatest disparities with access to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education, labs, and materials. The consequences are dire. Black workers comprise only 9% of those employed in STEM fields and only 5% in engineering jobs.

At Unleashing Potential, we are working to reverse this trend by increasing access to STEM education early on.

When Myron (actual student/name has been changed to protect child’s identity), age 11, one of the more than 750 children we serve annually, was challenged to think about global good, he wondered, “How can we use science to cut down on environmental harm from cars?”

Answering this question fueled his quest to discover and research the technology that powers cleaner vehicles.

In today’s digital world, STEM skills are essential and becoming increasingly specialized. We are actively engaged in closing the opportunity gap for our scholars and recently launched a geospatial learning hub for children in K-8 grades. Our new GeoQuest program expands access to hands-on learning and skill training in geospatial technology.

Geospatial education complements STEM learning and uses location-based technology, like global positioning system (GPS) and geographic information systems (GIS), to problem solve.

We also bring in experts in STEM-related fields, including geospatial technology. As one of the fastest-growing fields in information technology, geospatial science jobs are in high demand. Our scholars can ask questions, tinker with devices like Mico:bits and drones, and receive instruction and mentorship from technologists working in the field.

STEM learning and engagement is more than encouraging our youth to pursue careers as scientists and engineers, although I hope many will. It’s also about fostering STEM literacy and challenging students to value the important lessons learned in their discovery process: attention to detail, problem-solving, perseverance, and creativity. It’s essential we start early! The future depends on our youth being ready to address pressing issues locally and globally.

Our efforts in bringing this vision to fruition are more than a one-agency crusade. We have partnered with many outstanding and dynamic organizations, including the Dea-

coness Foundation, United Way of Greater St. Louis, MHB, and, most recently, TREX. Providing the conditions for positive youth development is a responsibility shared by all of us—families, schools, and communities. With your support, we will continue to build on the strengths of our remarkable children and support their families. If you are interested in joining our team or supporting our mission, learn more by visiting www.upstl. org. We can’t do what we do without you! You help us make a difference each and every day in the lives of children and families in our community!

As President/CEO of Unleashing Potential, Darlene Sowell has led the agency for 15 years, and serves on the board of directors for several nonprofit organizations. Her lifelong commitment has been to engage and expose children of color to opportunities that can change the trajectory of their future. As she often says, “If they can’t see it, they can’t be it!”

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.

Submitted photo

Oasis Intergenerational Tutoring program focuses on providing resources for older adults, has an intergenerational tutoring program and is looking for volunteers to help children grades K-3 with their literacy skills.

‘BUILDING’ from cover

St. Louis County BOE begins voter canvass Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church is hosting a book fair

Registered voters throughout St. Louis County have started receiving identification cards as part of the Board of Elections (BOE) biennial canvass. The audit is mandated by law to occur at least once every other year and looks for voters who have changed addresses or moved out of the area.

“Canvassing St. Louis County voters is critical to ensure seamless voting at the polls come election time,” said Rick Stream, Republican Director for the Election Board.

The BOE mails every registered voter a new identification card to fill out, which is salmon colored this year. If the information on the card has not changed, voters do not need to return the card. However, if there is a change, the Board of Elections asks that the card be filled out and returned.

If the USPS notifies the BOE that the person is no longer at that address then a yellow Residential Confirmation Notice (RCN) card, which is forwardable to a new address, is sent. This allows the voter to update their information with the Election Board. If the voter doesn’t return the RCN within 30 days, then they are put into “Inactive Status.” Inac-

tive status voters can still vote, but they must update their information with the Election Board or the Election Judges at the polling place before they can vote. If voters stay in inactive status for two federal election cycles, they are then deleted from the voter roll.

“Something a little different this year, we are including a detachable return card with each ID card,” said Eric Fey, Democratic Director. “Voters are encouraged to use this detachable card to share with us any updates about their own information like address changes, name changes, party changes, or information about family members registered at that address who may have moved or passed away.”

Due to a change in the state voter ID law in 2022, photo IDs are required at the polls so the identification cards being sent in the mail cannot be used at the polls. However, Missouri election authorities are still required to send them because the law pertaining to canvassing was not changed. To vote, Missouri residents must have a driver’s or non-driver’s license, U.S. passport, or U.S. military ID that is current or has not expired after the date of the most recent general election.

St. Louis awards $122K grant to local community health center

St. Louis City has more deaths due to opioid overdose than any other county in Missouri. According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, out of every 100,000 residents, 109 Black men die from opioid overdose, the highest rate in the state. White males die at a rate of 41.45 for every 100,000 residents.

The city of St. Louis Department of Health recently awarded Affinia Healthcare a $122,500 grant to help increase awareness of ways to prevent and treat opioid misuse. The grant also provides funding to purchase Narcan, a medication used for the emergency treatment of a known or suspected opioid overdose. Narcan is available to the public through Affinia Healthcare pharmacies and outreach initiatives.

The grant is a sub-award from the city department of health by way of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Depart of Health and Human Services through a cooperative agreement for emergency response issued to the state of Missouri.

“The opioid crisis is having a significant impact on underserved populations – especially African-American men,” said Dr. Kendra Holmes, Affinia Healthcare President & CEO. “The overdoses directly affect younger, minority

populations, the future of our communities. The numbers are staggering. We want to make sure our communities are aware of how to avoid falling into this trap of addiction, and if they need help, Affinia Healthcare has evidence-based treatment programs to help them battle the condition.”

Beginning in July, Affinia Healthcare will launch a comprehensive awareness campaign targeting youth and residents of St. Louis City. The campaign will include radio advertising, print and bus media, and social media promotion. Narcan will also be promoted through this campaign to increase the availability in the general population.

“Part of the campaign will use videos and other tools to show how easy it is to use Narcan and let the public know they can get the medication at any of our locations, free of charge,” Dr. Holmes continued.

Affinia Healthcare provides substance misuse treatment through its Medication Assisted Treatment program. As part of a comprehensive care program, patients work with medical and behavioral health professionals to treat the addiction. To contact a member of the Affinia Healthcare MAT team, please call 314-658-4860.

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church (SOTH) is having a huge book fair on Aug. 5, with free admission 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Early bird admission (7:30 – 8 a.m.) is $5. Hundreds of books will be for sale. 100% of the proceeds will go to Butterfly Haven, which services children impacted by foster care and families who have experienced a crisis situation.

There will also be a bake sale during the book fair, plus all children that come will receive a ticket for a free book of

their choice.

In addition, if someone donates three cans of non-expired food for the Little Free Pantry, they will receive a ticket for a free book. The Little Free Pantry, located on the grounds of SOTH, helps to fight hunger in the local area.

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church is located at 4161 Cypress Road in St. Ann. For more information, please contact us at soth@sothstl.org.

Explore night in the outdoors at Nocturnal by Nature event at Busch Conservation Area

Nature spends half of its time in night, and that means there’s a lot happening after the sun goes down. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites you to see how the other half lives . . . the nocturnal half that is.

MDC presents Nocturnal by Nature, a free nighttime event Aug. 12 from 7:3010:30 p.m. at the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area in St. Charles. The program is open to all ages and no registration is required.

Discover how nature comes alive at night at MDC’s biggest event of the summer in the St. Louis region. There will be activities indoors and out. Inside, visitors can learn all about nocturnal mammals at touch tables featuring pelts and skulls or go exploring in an inflatable cave. Dissect a real owl pellet and find out what these feathery hunters had for dinner.

Participants can enjoy the warm summer evening outdoors and identify wild moths drawn to a lighted sheet with an entomologist from the Butterfly House. Take in the sights and sounds of nocturnal critters in their natural habitat through a guided night hike on the Fallen Oak Trail. The Missouri Chapter of the International Dark Sky Association will show the impacts of light pollution on native wildlife.

Participants can bring a blanket or reclining camp chair to scan the skies for shooting stars of the Perseids Meteor Shower in an open field. The Astronomical Society of Eastern Missouri will have telescopes set

up to help visitors dig deeper into the summer night’s celestial wonders.

The Raptor Rehabilitation Project will also be at the event with live owls from 8-10 p.m. Rounding out the fun will be kids’ crafts, free snow cones, and an “Ask the Agent” table.

Nocturnal by Nature is an excellent opportunity to see how the outdoors comes alive at night. Participants should bring a flashlight or headlamp, bug spray, and dress for the weather. For more information, go to https://short.mdc.mo.gov /4WB.

The August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area is located at 2360 Highway D, about two miles west of Highway 94. The event will take place at the visitor center.

Around Town

Saint Louis Science Center welcomes display featuring full-scale replica of Mars rovers

Mars is located nearly 300 million miles away from Earth, but exploration brings us closer to the Red Planet every day. Through NASA’s “Roving with Perseverance” program on display at the James S. McDonnell Planetarium, the Saint Louis Science Center brings key parts of that exploration here to the Metro Area.

“Roving with Perseverance” presents full-scale replicas of NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover and Ingenuity Mars helicopter, which are exploring the Red Planet right now as part of the Mars 2020 Mission, to demonstrate the scale and technology required for space exploration.

As big as a car, Perseverance is a seven-foot-tall, sixwheeled vehicle that towers over most guests, while Ingenuity showcases that great things come in small packages, standing at just 19 inches and weighing four pounds. In addition to the models, the exhibit offers interactive tabletop displays and other family-friendly activities. The “Roving with Perseverance” display can be found through June 2024 in the Science Center’s “Mission: Mars” gallery on the first floor of the McDonnell Planetarium.

“St. Louis has played a prominent role in America’s space history, and the Science Center is proud to carry on this tradition as the focus moves forward exploring Mars,” William Snyder, manager of the Science Center’s James S. McDonnell Planetarium noted. “Through the display of these replicas and much more, visitors to our ‘Mission: Mars’ gallery can discover more about our neighboring planet.”

Launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on July 30, 2020, Perseverance landed on Mars on Feb. 18, 2021. The most sophisticated rover NASA has sent to the Red Planet, its mission is to search for

Still In This Together:

signs of ancient microbial life, collect and document rock and sediment samples, characterize the geology and climate, and pave the way for human exploration. The rover is about 10 feet long by nine feet wide and weighs more than 2,200 pounds. It carries 23 cameras to share views of the planet within minutes of capture.

An autonomous aircraft, Ingenuity was carried to Mars attached to the belly of the Perseverance rover. This helicopter is the first powered aircraft to fly in a controlled way on another planet and is used to test performances by aircraft in future missions in the thin Martian atmosphere. Since its first flight in April 2021, Ingenuity has completed 50-plus flights, covering more than seven miles.

For more on the Mars 2020 Mission, visit mars.nasa. gov/mars2020/.

The ‘Mission: Mars’ gallery is free and open to the public during regular hours (Thursdays through Mondays). For more information about the Saint Louis Science Center, please visit slsc.org or call 314-289-4400.

Something was missing

There’s a little spot between the kitchen and dining room with a window in it, and something was missing.

We put the kitchen table with all six chairs around it the way it was always meant to be, with the China cabinet against the wall in the dining room. There was even space on the other side of the cabinet for an extra chair that used to be a desk chair, that just symbolically means to me that there’s always room for an extra guest at the table.

But that space along the other side of the China cabinet had me bothered.

I wondered about a little bookcase, but that idea didn’t seem quite right, especially since we’re planning to put bookcases across the room on the huge wall by the television. I miss our built-in bookshelves from the old house, and so do all the boxes of books we brought along with us.

John suggested a small shelf ‘with plants or flowerpots or something’ on it, totally forgetting my extreme inadequacy with living things. A window seat would be nice, but the window isn’t even close to wide enough for that.

Becca, the interior designer of the family, who decided which pictures should be hung where and what wall would be perfect for our wooden clock with the shelf beneath it, and picked out the perfect kitchen cabinet handles and cute little guest towel rings for the bathrooms, surprisingly said the space was fine just the way it was. I don’t remember a time that she ever suggested

The 2023 Tour De Florissant Missouri State Championship Bicycle Races are coming to Old Town Florissant

The city of Florissant will be co-hosting with Big Shark Bicycle Company, USA Cycling and the Missouri Bicycling Racing Association (MOBRA) the 2023 Missouri State Championship Bicycle Races on Saturday, Aug. 5 in Old Town.

This event will bring community and competition to the streets of Old Town in a fashion never seen before. This race will be taking place on the streets of Old Town and certain homes will not have access to their driveways.

The event will start around 7 a.m. as the organizers get things set up and start the registrations at 7:30 a.m. for the event. The race should end at around 4:30 p.m.

The course is a hilly, challenging, and technical course set in Old Town Florissant featuring an uphill finish, good pavement, and strong community support. Test yourself and tune-up for the IU Health Indy Criterium and Bommarito Audi Gateway Cup. Check out the Missouri State Championship Time Trial, the following day, Aug. 6, in St. Charles.

Parking will be on the surface lot east of the race course, or on street parking.

Race Day Registration opens at 7:30 a.m. Registration will close 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start of each event. Pre-registration entry fee is $55and on race day entry fee is $60.

Race entry for a second race is $20. Junior entry fee is free thanks to generous support from Renaissance Financial. Entry fee includes $5 USAC Insurance Fee/ MOBRA fee. Pre-Register at www.bikereg.com. You can register online, please note a surcharge will apply.

By Vicki Bahr

an empty space simply be left untouched.

So, the space sat empty, but somehow continued to nag me at the oddest times. When the early morning sun beamed through the window, or a storm was brewing and I opened I opened the blind to watch the dark clouds building, I thought about that spot.

I asked my sisters and every visitor who came through the door, and even drew Joe, the subdivision superintendent, into the discussion when he came for our one-month warranty meeting. No one seemed to agree with me that something was missing.

And then my cousin, Karen, finally made it out to see us, after two failed attempts due to a nasty cold and a new dishwasher installation at her place. She brought sandwiches for lunch and an unexpected sister along to help her find the way, since Gail had been here before.

After lunch, Karen said she needed to get something from the car, and I walked out with her, thinking maybe she had a cooler with an unexpected stash of Ted Drewes ice cream in it for dessert. She opened the hatchback of the car and lifted a quilt from a large wooden rocker.

“Do you think you might have a place for this?” she asked. “It was Grandma’s, and my Mom had it reupholstered when Grandma came to live with us. I’ve been hanging onto it, but I really don’t have a spot that it seems at home in.”

Of course, I remembered the rocker, and sitting in the corner of Grandma’s kitchen in it as she worked her

miracles and fed all of us our favorite foods…without a microwave, without a huge stove or oven, without a dishwasher, just with the unending love and devotion to make her family feel welcomed.

John grabbed the rocker and carried it into the house, to the spot that had been waiting for the perfect piece to fill it.

The memories are tangible, as I watch the three-yearold twins rocking together in the chair. I dust it and run my hands over the worn spots that have held countless weary bodies and heard laughter and conversations for 100 years, and I’m so very thankful for the nudge that brought Karen to wonder if maybe the rocker could have a place in our home.

And suddenly that spot that was empty, that spot that seemed to nag me as I watched the sun and the storms, was filled…with the most wonderful something imaginable.

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

This artist’s rendering shows the Mars rover Perseverance as it would look on the surface of the planet.

Photo courtesy NASA_JPL-Caltech

RECURRING EVENTS

Weekdays: Food pantry volunteers needed

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

Mondays: City council meetings

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

Mondays: Choral Arts Group meetings

Choral Arts Group practices every Monday from 7 to 9 p.m. at Connection Christian Church at 1332 Feise Rd. in O’Fallon. Auditions not required. Ages high school and older are invited to join. There will be spring and fall public concerts. For more information call Marty at 636-5799227, or email concertartsa@ gmail.com.

Mondays: Workshop meetings

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

All men who like to sing are invited to come sing with us, The Men of Harmony. We practice every Monday night at 7 p.m. at 5500 Parker Raoad which is the first house on Uthe Lane. We sing four-part harmony a capella (without accompaniment). We sing some traditional songs, as well as show tunes and more contemporary music. We do perform for the public at various functions. Persons interested can come right on in or for more information call Al at 314-993-6134.

Mondays-Thursdays: Volunteers needed

Community Action Agency of St. Louis County is in need of volunteers to stock shelves, sort food shipments and pack bags for Food Pantry Clients Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Two to four hour shifts are available. If you are interested,

please contact Cheryl Piece at 314-446-4440 or cpiece@ caastlc.org for additional information.

Tuesdays: Bingo

Florissant Elks Bingo takes place at 16400 New Halls Ferry every Tuesday. Doors open at 4 p.m., bingo starts at 6 p.m. No outside food or drinks allowed per St. Louis County. Food and drinks available for purchase. Maximum 150 players. Must wear mask to enter. Social distancing followed.

Tuesdays: TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly)

TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets from 10 – 11 a.m. at Expansion Church at 11150 Old Saint Charles Rd. in St. Ann. For more info, contact Pat Pinson 314-428-1168 or 314-435-5898.

Tuesdays: A cappella singers

The Gentlemen of Sound are looking for men who like to sing or want to learn. They practice Tuesdays at Lady of the Pillar school at 401 S. Lindbergh from 7 – 9 p.m. They try to do public events monthly. Always looking for new members. Come by or call Kirk at 314-954-7920 .

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

Tuesdays: Celebrate Recovery

Celebrate Recovery Tuesday meetings take place at 6 p.m. with a Saturday Bible Study at 9 a.m. at LifePoint Church at 424 Graham Rd. in Florissant. For more information visit www.lifepointministries. church/celebrate-recovery or call (men) Steve D. at 636634-6582 or (women) Denise W. at 530-417-6151.

Tuesdays: TOPS (Take off pounds sensibly)

From 9:15 - 10:30 a.m. located at John F. Kennedy Center/ Henry Koch Ctr., Howdershell Rd. at Charbonier Rd., Florissant. For more info contact Paul McConnell, 314-8315476.

2nd Tuesday Sept.-June: Show-me Stitchers: Show-me Stitchers is the local chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America. We meet on the second Tuesday, Sept.June at 6:30 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 14088 Clayton Road, Chesterfield, MO. Learn needlepoint, embroidery, cross stitch, and more.

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

Wednesdays: Bingo

Bingo takes place every Wednesday at American Legion Post 338 at 9655 Midland Blvd. in Overland. Doors open at 5 p.m. For more information contact Chairman Ed Hilleman at 314-660-1813.

Wednesdays: Bingo

Life Care Center of Bridgeton, at 12145 Bridgeton Square in Bridgeton, welcome all to Community Bingo every last Wednesday of the month at 2:30 p.m. Light refreshment will be served. Please RVSP at 314-298-7444 with the month you will attend and number of people attending.

Wednesdays: TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly)

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

Norma at 314-306-4731.

Every Wednesday: Bingo Morning at Florissant Elks Lodge #2316

Florissant Elks Lodge #2316, 16400 New Halls Ferry Rd. in Florissant. Doors at 8:00 a.m., games begin at 9:30 a.m. For more information, call 314921-2316.

Bridgeton Trails Library Branch Programs: 3455 McKelvey Rd., St. Louis, 314-994-3300. Story Time: Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. 9 months to 2 yrs. Room 1 (Lap Time); Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. Ages 3–5. Room 2; Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. Ages 3–5. Room 1.

Florissant Senior Citizens’ Bingo Clubs: 314839-7604.

Every 1st Wednesday of the Month: Stroke Support Group

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

Thursdays: Bingo

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

Thursdays: Quilting guild

Every third Thursday of the month the Flower Valley Quilting Guild meets at 7 p.m. in the old school at the Old St. Ferdinand Shrine, 1 Rue St. Francois, Florissant.

Thursdays: Blood pressure checks

Free blood pressure checks monthly at Life Care Center of Florissant at 1201 Garden Plaza Dr. (off Parker Rd.) in Florissant every third Thursday of the

month. Call 831-3752 for more information.

Thursdays: Women’s chorus meeting

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

Fridays: Fish fry St. Ferdinand Fish Fry at 1765 Charbonier Rd. in Florissant,

has resumed every Friday from 3 - 7 p.m.

Fridays: Fish fry

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

Every Friday: Our Lady of Fatima #4429 Knights of Columbus Bingo 6:45 p.m., Knights of Columbus Hall, 1216 Teson Rd. in Hazelwood. For more information call 314-731-9330.

CROSSWORD answers from page F-4

SUDOKU answers from page F-1

Sports you see with Gary B...

Hoots playing hard as regular season nears

The O’Fallon Hoots play their home games at CarShield Field in O’Fallon and play in the Prospect League.

The Hoots (25-25, 10-13) traveled to Peru, Illinois recently to start a two-game set against the Illinois Valley Pistol (24-25, 12-10). The first game ended in favor of the Hoots, who needed 10 innings to take down the Shrimp, 8-5.

Inside the Box Score:

• Michael Long led all players with four RBIs, thanks in large part to his two home runs. He totaled three hits on the night as well as three runs scored.

• Chase Beattie also collected a home run in addition to three hits and two RBIs.

• Tyler Ferguson and Zach Beatty tallied the other two RBIs for the Hoots.

• Sam Feltz picked up his fourth win of the year in his two innings of relief, allowing no runs.

How it Happened:

• Michael Long started the scoring in the second inning with a solo shot in the lead-off spot. Chase Beattie then doubled and was soon driven in on a Zach Beatty single, setting the score at 2-0 in favor of O’Fallon.

• Illinois Valley cut into the lead in the bottom of the second. With runners on first and second, Isaiah Hart singled to drive a run in and cut the lead in half, 2-1.

• Long struck again with another homer in the top

of third. This time, he did it with two runners on after Drew Mize singled and Tyler Ferguson walked. The three-run blast upped the Hoots’s lead to 5-1.

• Ryan Bakes got a run back for his Pistol Shrimp when he started the bottom of the third with a solo home run, making the score 5-2.

• In the fifth, Bakes joined Long in the multi-home run club when he powered his second long ball over the center field run to bring Illinois Valley one run closer, 5-3.

• Hart added to his RBI total on the day in the eighth inning, when his hit to left field left the park and scored two runs, tying the game at 5-5.

• After both teams’ offenses were stymied in the ninth inning, Ferguson started extra innings with an RBI single that scored Jack Meyer, who was placed on second to start the 10th. Now up by one, Long collected his third hit of the night with a single, and Beattie added to the home run bonanza with a two-run bomb, adding to O’Fallon’s lead, which now sat at 8-5. Sam Feltz shut the door on the Shrimp in the bottom of the tenth, clinching the win for the Hoots.

The team’s regular season ends this Saturday so check the web to see a game www.OFallonHoots. com.

* Fun, exciting season

Hoots former player gets drafted

The Prospect League is proud to announce five Prospect League alumni have signed as undrafted free agents following the 2023 MLB Draft.

Since 1963, the Prospect League, formerly known as the CICL, has seen nearly 200 alumni reach Major League Baseball and over 800 alumni play professional baseball. These five players join the 15 Prospect League alumni drafted in the 2023 MLB Draft taking the next step in their careers.

The Hoots organization are proud to announce that the following player is one of the five:

Collin Baumgartner

2022 O’Fallon Hoots

University of Kansas

Colorado Rockies

Good luck in negotiations for your future baseball opportunity.

* Remember us when you make it big

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 sea son, among many other activities. I am currently host ing a Health show on 97.1 FM, ‘Prime Time Health’ www.PrimeTimeSTL.com.

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

RECIPE : Recharge for summer fun with a sweet superfood

INGREDIENTS:

2 1/2 cups North Carolina

Sweetpotatoes

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 teaspoons sesame seeds

3 tablespoons maple syrup

salt, to taste

coarse pepper, to taste

4 celery sticks

1 red pepper

2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter

1/3 cup hot water

1/4 cup soy cooking cream

1 tablespoon soy sauce

12 sheets rice paper (22-centimeter diameter)

2 tablespoons chopped, roasted peanuts

DIRECTIONS:

Peel sweetpotatoes and cut into 1-centimeter thick strips.

SWEETPOTATO SUMMER ROLLS

Recipe courtesy of the North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission Servings: 4

In skillet, heat olive oil. Fry sweetpotato strips 3-4 minutes, turning occasionally; sprinkle with sesame seeds, deglaze with maple syrup and boil down briefly. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and let cool. Wash celery and red pepper; cut

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.

into strips.

Mix peanut butter with water, cream and soy sauce.

Let rice paper sheets swell according to package instructions.

Spread strips of sweetpotato, celery and red pepper on top half

n March 4, 1994, John Franklin Candy passed away at age 43 from a heart attack. The beloved Canadian actor attended Neil McNeil Catholic high school and considered becoming a professional football player until he severely injured his knee. He later married Rosemary Margaret Hobor and had two children, Jennifer and Christopher. Candy also was a co-owner of the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football league.

Looking back on Candy’s body of work, his greatest contributions were on the big screen. In Ron Howard’s “Splash,” for instance, Candy played Freddie Bauer, the brother of Allen Bauer (Tom Hanks). As a boy, Allen had been saved by a young mermaid and, as an adult, he grew up to run a wholesale fruit and vegetable business. When Allen encountered his mermaid again, she took the name “Madison” and the two of them fell in love. When Madison was exposed as a mermaid, Freddie helped the two of them escape the authorities in comic style. Candy’s contributions to “Splash” made this film one of the best of 1984.

Directed by Carl Reiner, 1985’s “Summer Rental” cast John Candy as Jack Chester, an air traffic controller in dire need of a vacation. Given five weeks of paid leave, Jack took his

of one sheet rice paper. Drizzle with sauce. Fold lower half over strips then edges. Repeat with remaining rice paper sheets and ingredients. Sprinkle summer rolls with chopped peanuts. Serve with remaining sauce.

family to the town of Citrus Cove, Florida in the hopes of having a nice vacation. Nothing went as well as expected; however, and Jack ran afoul of Al Pellet (Richard Crenna), the local sailing champion who wanted Chester and his family gone immediately. “Summer Rental” had some good moments, in particular Rip Torn playing a restaurant boat owner who identified with pirates.

Directed by John Hughes, 1989’s “Uncle Buck” was another perfect vehicle for John Candy. After Bob and Cindy Russell moved to the Chicago suburbs, Cindy’s father suffered a heart attack. She then had to rely on Bob’s brother Buck, played by Candy, to watch their children. John Candy’s performance here was funny and touching at the same time. He even matched wits with a very young Macaulay

Culkin and their conversations sounded like a police interrogation.

1991’s “Only the Lonely” gave John Candy a solid opportunity to be the romantic lead. He played Danny, a Chicago police officer and the adult son of Rose (Maureen O’Hara). Rose, unfortunately, had her son tied tightly to her apron strings. After Danny fell in love with Theresa Luna (Ally Sheedy), a girl who worked in her father’s funeral home, he wanted to marry her. John Candy was great in “Only the Lonely,” especially in his interactions with the wonderful Maureen O’Hara.

Written, produced and directed by John Hughes, “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” contained outstanding performances from John Candy and Steve Martin. Martin played Neal Page, an advertising executive who was anxious to return home to his family for the holidays. At LaGuardia Airport, he met shower curtain ring salesman Del Griffith (Candy), a man who always seemed to be around. Steve Martin and John Candy did amazing work in this film and embodied the frustrations of holiday travelers.

No matter if it was a comedy, drama or thriller, John Candy always worked hard on his memorable performances. Thank you for the smiles, laughs and tears.

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.

Remembering John Candy

Moore on Life: Stay-cation

Summer is in full swing and this year we decided to have the out-of-state kids and their families come to our house for a stay-cation.

If you don’t know what a stay-cation is let me define it for you: a grueling form of self-torture done over a never-ending period of time.

In the beginning, it was all smiles and laughter, but then came the first event: the family hike-Shoe Mountain. Shoe Moun tain had conveniently formed itself in our front entryway. It consisted of a hill containing every possible type of footwear the grandkids and their parents owned. The summit was somewhere near the base of the ceiling’s chandelier.

They all knew of my rule about no shoes in the house, but I would cut them a break this one time by giving them a subtle reminder. I mounted the riding lawn mower and rode it over Shoe Mountain until there was nothing left but a nice rubbery pile of mulch.

Hey, it’s summertime. Being barefoot is in style.

Next came mealtimes. I started off with a big breakfast. Somehow everyone thought that the cook (me) was also responsible for cleaning up as well. I faced a buffet that looked as if it had been struck by a semi. There were dirty pots, plates and silverware along with half-eaten bowls of cereal and opened boxes of donuts and unfinished glasses of juice left strewn out on every surface.

All this was ignored while the makers of the mess were in the backyard digesting and sunning themselves

By Cindy Moore CROSSWORD: FINISH THE LYRICS

obliviously on the loungers or playing on the lawn.

I went into the garage and flipped on the sprinkling system and turned it up to “turbo”. Soon I had a drenched team of cleaner-uppers inside the kitchen murmuring words not fit for polite society, but they were soon doing my bidding.

The final straw came with the teenagers…or should I say the “screen zombies.” They wouldn’t pull their faces away from their devices for anything except the latest updated version of iPhone. I confiscated each of their charging cords and watched with disturbed glee as their lips quivered while their phones slowly drained of power.

It was the greatest pleasure of my stay-vacation, that and learning of a helpful term to cure my stress and anxiety-Holiday Inn.

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. *"Back in ____ I hit the sack"

6. Lavatory, abbr.

9. Arctic floater

13. Revered Hindu

14. Three, to Caesar

15. Poison ampules, e.g.

16. Neckwear option

17. *"Sometimes it's hard to be a woman, giving ____ your love to just one man"

18. Most populous country

DOWN

1. Undergarment

2. Catalog

3. Fungal spore sacs

4. "____ at the bit"

5. Soldier's knapsack

6. Pinocchio, e.g.

7. Be unwell

8. Pancho's last name

9. Like certain print

10. *"Here's a story of a lovely ____"

Warmer

months are likely to have the whole family eager to dive into outdoor activities. This year, as you tackle the garden, find ways to get the youngest family members in on the action, too. Not only is gardening an activity you can enjoy together, there are numerous ways to incorporate age-appropriate, teachable moments from counting and colors to responsible care of living things.

Creating a positive first experience with gardening can start with this simple advice:

• Dedicate a spot for a junior garden, which allows you to instill a sense of pride and ownership in the little gardener while protecting your own garden areas from ambitious young hands.

• Provide appropriate tools in child sizes. Just as you would teach a child the finer points of baseball using a bat and glove, demonstrate the joys of gardening with tools such as a rake, hoe and trowel, all of which can be found in sizes more manageable for little helpers.

• Let the kids choose what to plant. Whether flowers or food plants, allow children to make their own decisions (within reason) about what they would like to grow. This can help them engage in the magic of watching items they selected emerge from the ground and grow into their finished forms.

• Encourage exposure to unfamiliar plants that entice the senses with appealing smells and flavors. Herbs such as chives, mint and basil are good choices, or consider edible flowers such as pansies or violets.

• Set an example for your child to imitate by giving regular and proper care to your own garden.

Remember to bring the lesson full circle by enjoying the bounty of your garden together, whether it’s a small hand-cut bouquet or a meal featuring your child’s freshgrown produce. Find more tips for gardening with your kids at eLivingtoday.com.

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.

19. *"It's going down, I'm yelling ____"

21. *"Sugarpie honeybunch, you know that I ____ ____"

23. Act on IOU

24. Spanish sparkling wine

25. Mel ____, Giant Hall-of-Famer

28. Garbage in, garbage out, acr.

30. *"If everybody had an ocean ____ the U.S.A., then everybody'd be surfing"

35. Less than average tide

37. All's opposite

39. ____, Wind & Fire

40. Gas station brand

41. Bottom-ranking employee

43. *"The future's not ours to see, que ____"

44. ____ Coffee, whisky drink

46. African river

47. Part of a sweatshirt, sometimes

48. ____-____-tat, drum roll sound

50. Please get back to me, acr.

52. 007, for one

53. Impulse

55. Consume food

57. *"I'm going to ____, I'm gonna mess around"

61. *"And I will ____ love you"

64. Do penance

65. Melvin Purvis' org.

67. High school balls

69. Goes with shaker

70. Cardinal, color

71. Lock horns

72. Eurasian duck

73. Pop-ups, e.g.

74. Earp of the Wild West

11. Assortment

12. Genesis twin

15. Fast and lively, in music 20. Giving a once-over

Spermatozoa counterparts

Reassert 25. *"Believe it or not, I'm walking ____

26. Sailor's cry: "____ firma!"

27. Like an implied agreement 29. *"You're here, there's nothing I fear, and I know that my heart will ____ ____" 31. Possible allergy symptom 32. Black and white treats

Leather razor sharpener

*"Will the real Slim ____ please stand

Photo courtesy of Unsplash