November 1, 2023
Movie magic
Around Town
COMMUNITY VOICES By Dr. Larry A. Brown. Pg. 2 The New Jewish Theatre announces 2024 season. Pg. 3
Features (FLIP)
Recipe, Movie & Sudoku. Pg. F-1 CLASSIFIEDS AND HOME & GARDEN. Pg. F-2 /F-3 Submitted photo: “Coming Around,” a documentary chronicling the story of Eman, a 28-year-old Palestinian-Egyptian Brooklynite was filmed partly in Columbia, Missouri and is featured at the annual St. Louis International Film Festival.
The annual St. Louis International Film Festival brings the world of film to the region with a spotlight on independent filmmakers and movies with local ties By Wendy Todd Among the region’s most popular cultural offerings is the annual St. Louis International Film Festival, which kicks off this month. The festival, in its 32nd year, celebrates the power of film and will showcase 278 works that underscore the transformative power of cinema. Films will be shown at varied locations including the Alamo Drafthouse, Webster University, Washington University and the home of the festival, the Hi-Pointe Theatre. Bree Maniscalco, the executive director of Cinema St. Louis, wants fans of the event and newcomers to remember the importance of film festivals as outlets that give voice to independent filmmakers, particularly at a time when the film industry has
experienced some difficult upheavals. “The industry has faced challenges from COVID, achieving equal representation and now the strike,” she said. “These have brought to light opportunities to enhance how films are made and viewed. Film festivals play a special role in this: we provide independent filmmakers with opportunities to have their works seen on the big screen when otherwise, they may never get that chance. We will explore the power of film through music, art, masterclasses, post-film conversations and free film programs for local schools.” Another of the festival’s goals is to offer a variety of films that feature and reach diverse audiences as well as cover topics not typically presented in mainstream cinema. “Coming Around,” a documentary chroni-
cling the story of Eman, a 28-year-old Palestinian-Egyptian Brooklynite who weighs the decision to come out to her Muslim mother, meets that objective. The director of the doc, Sandra Itäinen, wants viewers to walk away understanding that regardless of the backgrounds of those in “Coming Home,” its themes are universally relatable. “There are few films that center or affirm the lives of queer Muslims,” she said, “At its core, this is a mother-daughter love story and reveals the often-unseen intricacies of seeking common ground with family, especially in religious and marginalized communities of color. Most U.S. documentaries on Muslims have traditionally highlighted See ‘MOVIE’ page 2
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Around Town
November 1, 2023 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com
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trauma, extremism and the war on terror. Diverse stories about the Muslim American experience have been limited. Our film aims to convey the beauty and complexity of this intersectional identity.” Nearly half of the film was shot in Columbia, Missouri, giving the project local ties. Itäinen believes the doc will resonate with many in St. Louis. “We believe there are lots of people in St. Louis,” she said, “and nearby towns, especially POC and queer folks that will identify with the film.” Another festival film that connects to the region is “The Box”, a science fiction piece filmed in St. Louis and directed by Daveed Linder. “The Box” is about four stories that are connected to a mysterious box that serves as a gateway to another dimension. Aliens who travel through light arrive in St. Louis through a portal that only opens at the very specific, cosmically relevant time of 11:11 p.m. Linder found St. Louis to be a great place to shoot the film that centers on themes of distrust, symbolism and human transformation. “The film community in St. Louis is very supportive of independent filmmakers,” Linder said. “It’s probably a lot easier to operate here than in other cities because of how welcoming the people are. It’s also a city that can give you a variety of looks. You can create New York City here. You can do period
Submitted photo “The Box” is a science fiction movie filmed in St. Louis and featured at the annual St. Louis International Film Festival.
pieces because of the old architecture. And 45 minutes west of STL, there are farms and old buildings from the 1800s, which again, is a totally different look.” With awards, films from the QFest which highlights LGBTQ+ filmmakers, films featuring St. Louis natives Cedric the Entertainer and Sterling K. Brown, educational programming and more, there is a vast selection to satisfy attendees at this year’s St. Louis International Film Festival. Maniscalco is confident participants will have an enjoyable time. “There are thousands of films for people to choose from these days, just by the push
COMMUNITY VOICES:
of a button,” she said. “It can be very hard to make a choice as to what to watch. Our experienced film programming team has curated the best of the best, and I guarantee there’s something for everyone. The goal of SLIFF is to both entertain and educate audiences, and this year’s slate of films is sure to do that.” The St. Louis International Film Festival takes place Nov. 9-19 and opens with a celebration of 50 Years of Hip-Hop in St. Louis, as explored through both film and music. For more information and tickets, please go to www.cinemastlouis.org/sliff/festival-home. By Dr. Larry A. Brown
What will be your harvest? It is appropriate for us to discuss the harvest and what should be expected. It has been said that “As a man sows, so shall he also reap.” This may simply mean that one will reap the quantity that one sows, or it could mean that the quality of the reaping may be a result of where one sows. It could also mean “what one sows” is related to what one reaps. It doesn’t matter these days since many decide not to sow anything into others or in their community. If this is the thought, then may I shed this bit of light on the subject – we will reap something by being here! We can benefit or suffer from the efforts of others if we choose not to “sow” ourselves. This is an unfortunate decision that many have made and continue to make unconsciously. Therefore, the harvest is for them “whatever it is.” How bad this is for society can be witnessed daily as we observe so many things that are wrong happening and so many people being affected by actions that others have taken. The law of reciprocity operates in the world whether we believe it or not. You reap what you sow, sooner or later or you reap what others have sown which you have not resisted. Maybe you have heard the phrase “silence means consent.” Isn’t it better to sow good
seeds and spread them in good turf, thereby ensuring a good harvest rather than not sowing at all or sowing carelessly and “taking it as it comes?” He who sows well can expect a good harvest or good return because he chose to nourish the seeds after he had planted them in good soil. Periodically, no doubt, he had to remove the weeds and other bad insects and things that might hurt his pending crop. Our communities need our participation. We must resist evilness on all levels and strive to introduce good thoughts and things. Always remember, that we reap what we sow; so, make sure that you sow enough good, so that you may enjoy some good returns. Often, they come when we need them the most. It is not guaranteed that you will get back exactly as you have sown, but rest assured, if you sow positive things, and consistently do good works, you will receive back some good results and outcomes when you need them. We have nothing to lose by sowing good seed, but we can all appreciate the blessing of receiving some good when we least expect it or when we need it. The world would be much better off if those in leadership roles sought to sow good seeds. We need blessings,
not curses! It doesn’t have to be big or much, as others contribute to ensure good returns for whomever needs them or deserves them. If you need an organization to work with, you are always invited to contact us at www.gracechapelministries.org or send us an email at gracechapeldevelopment@gmail.com. I know that good outweighs and is more desirable tahan bad, but enough of us have got to do something to make a difference. What kind of harvest would you prefer? 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.
www.mycnews.com • Community News – St. Louis County • November 1, 2023
Around Town 3
St. Louis Youth Hockey Foundation raises $52,000 The St. Louis Youth Hockey Foundation – a nonprofit that provides support to young players – recently held its second annual golf tournament at Greenbriar Hills Country Club in Kirkwood and raised $52,000. All proceeds will go toward assisting young players who need financial assistance. The St. Louis Youth Hockey Foundation awards grants annually to help young players continue playing hockey. Financial support is given to local club teams, as well as AAA and high school players based upon an individual’s need and family circumstances. In exchange for these scholarships, youth recipients pay it forward through volunteerism and community service. Elite Cuisine, an Apex Restaurant and Market Solutions, Inc. company, was a presenting sponsor for the golf tournament and provided the event’s food. Elite Cuisine is a full-service provider that offers catering, micro markets,
in-office cafes and coffee, and vending services for its corporate clients. Apex is the largest independently owned corporate food service company based in Missouri with offices in St. Louis and Kansas City. “The cost for each hockey player can reach $25,000 per year,” said St. Louis Youth Hockey Foundation board member and Elite Cuisine founder Jim Schweppe. “No parent should be forced to tell their child they can’t afford to compete at the level of their accomplishment because of financial shortfalls.” Schweppe added that it is the nonprofit’s “goal to make hockey affordable and accessible to all our youth.” Founded in 2018, the St. Louis Youth Hockey Foundation was created to give all local hockey players the ability to participate in this costly sport. For more information about the nonprofit, call (314) 807-3007 or visit www.stlyouthhockey.org.
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The New Jewish Theatre announces its 2024 season The New Jewish Theatre announced its 2024 season, which is also its 26th season of producing professional plays and musicals at the J. The season celebrates some of the New Jewish Theatre’s most beloved playwrights while also bringing new works to St. Louis audiences with two regional premieres. The season will kick off on March 21, 2024, with the great Arthur Miller’s searing classic “All My Sons,” one of the most iconic dramas of the 20th century. Miller won the very first Tony Award ever given for Best Author (now known as Best Play) for the premiere in 1947. Following this great American play, the theater will present the regional premiere of “We All Fall Down” by Lila Rose Kaplan, opening May 30, 2024. Directed by Artistic Director Rebekah Scallet, the play tells the story of one family’s attempt to come together for a Passover dinner with hilarious and heartbreaking results. Next up will be “Red” by John Logan, opening July 25, 2024. Another Tony Award winner for Best Play in 2010, it is an introspective look at abstract expressionist painter (and Latvian-born Jewish immigrant) Mark Rothko at the height of his fame. As he takes on his largest commission to date, he also takes on a new assistant who challenges his work and ideals. Next is another regional premiere: “Trayf ” by Lindsay Joelle, opening
Sept. 12, 2024. It is the story of two young men excited to drive their first Chabad “Mitzvah Tank” around 1990s New York City and perform good deeds, but find their lives irrevocably changed by exposure to the secular world. And for that dose of holiday romance, NJT will present a romantic musical comedy by Austin Winsberg, Alan Zachary, and Michael Weiner called “First Date,” opening Nov. 21, 2024. When blind date newbie Aaron is set up with serial-dater Casey, a casual drink at a busy New York restaurant turns into a hilarious high-stakes dinner. “This is my first time putting together the New Jewish Theatre season, and I couldn’t be more excited about the plays we have in store for 2024. It’s a wonderful mix of classic and new work, comedies and dramas, and even a musical rom-com. Representing Jewish playwrights, values, and historical figures, the season’s plays each ask how we stay true to ourselves in an ever – evolving and challenging world,” says Artistic Director Rebekah Scallet. The shows will premiere at The J’s Wool Studio Theatre (2 Millstone Campus Drive, St. Louis). Season subscriptions go on sale on Nov.30, and single tickets will be available for purchase on Feb. 1, 2024. Tickets are available by phone 314-442-3283 or online at newjewishtheatre.org.
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Around Town
November 1, 2023 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com
Welcome Neighbor STL raises $500,000 for refugees through supper club events Welcome Neighbor STL, an organization that serves refugees and immigrants in St. Louis, has reached an incredible milestone of raising $500,000 through selling tickets to their popular Supper Club events. Since the Supper Club program began in August 2017, Welcome Neighbor STL hosted 256 events, served 17,988 guests, and raised $502,626. Ninety percent of the proceeds go directly back to the refugee women who prepare the meals, and 10% covers the cost of food, supplies, containers, kitchen rental,
insurance, and additional overhead costs. At Supper Club events, guests can expect to meet the refugee women who prepare the food and learn about their culture in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, and several African countries. The chefs prepare an amazing display of traditional foods from their country of origin and guests are invited to taste a five-or-six-course meal while listening to the story of their incredible and resilient journey to America. The events provide an opportunity for refugees to share their delicious culinary skills while learning how to start a business and earn a meaningful income for their families. “We are all so proud of reaching this milestone of $500,000 in ticket sales to our culinary events,” says Jessica Bueler, Welcome Neighbor STL’s Executive Di-
rector, “The chefs work so hard to provide a delicious and beautiful glimpse into their culture through their meals. All their food is made with love and it really shows, which is why our events keep selling out.” Welcome Neighbor STL has also expanded their Supper Club Program to providing meals for unhoused individuals. Twice a month, refugee chefs prepare 100 meals for City Hope STL homeless shelter. This pay-it-forward program has raised $64,150 to date and has delivered 9,584 meals. Meals can be donated to unhoused individuals through The Welcome Neighbor website. If you would like more information about Welcome Neighbor STL, please call/text Zohra Zaimi at 314696-4793 or email zohra@welcomeneighborstl.org.
Still In This Together:
By Vicki Bahr
Waffle assignment completed
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he last day of our visit to Omaha in May, we were able to spend Monday morning treating the grandsons to breakfast before we left. They were finished with school, and our daughter Katie, who teaches in a different district, and son-in-law Tim, both had to work. It was such a wonderful chance to visit with the boys, just the four of us, easy and memorable. Conor, who had just graduated from eighth grade, had quite a conversation going with John about his Navy days and what jobs John had been assigned to do, and Aidan was busily chatting to me about looking forward to sixth grade, hoping for a particular teacher, and praying to have some of his friends in his class, as he “demolished” his Hungry Man’s breakfast and part of mine as well. He is intensely fond of breakfast and loved all the out-of-town trips they made with baseball teams this past summer, sending me critiques of each hotel rated on their breakfast offerings. That morning, though, we were talking about sixth grade, and I commented on that being a year of growth and maturity and independence as a student. I told Aidan I still have a vivid memory of my sixthgrade teacher using pictures as a way of encouraging creativity in writing, and that I think she was one of the reasons I became interested in writing and chose English as one of my majors in college. He asked me what I meant, and I pointed to a picture on the wall across from where we were sitting that I’d noticed when we were seated. It was an actual photograph of a mountain with a train tunnel opening in the side of it: very simple, but bold in its colors and open to so much interpretation. Aidan was really interested in what I had to say about it and what I might have written about the picture if my sixth-grade teacher had shown it to us. When John and I were on our way to the beach this summer, I sent a picture of a very misshapen waffle I had produced from the hotel waffle maker at breakfast that morning. Waffles are Aidan’s favorite things to make when critiquing hotels, and he even has his own waffle maker at home. He’s an expert in every sense of the word. I asked him to give me a title for the story he might be asked to write about the picture, and he sent one simple word: “Whoops!”
I laughed out loud, and sent a single word in reply: “Perfect!” I told Aidan I had been thinking about him that morning and decided to make a waffle in his honor, but I had been so nervous about how much batter to use, because there were no instructions, and I just knew every person who had ever used the waffle maker was smarter than I was. And then, after I poured the batter into the giant grid, I worried how long I was supposed to wait for it to cook. I figured there was a buzzer of some kind that would let me know, but wasn’t sure. I was busying myself gathering a plate and fork and knife, butter and syrup packets and several napkins, and didn’t want the waffle to burn when I heard a faint beep and opened the waffle maker too soon, producing the saddest excuse for a breakfast I’ve ever seen. Then, when the actual buzzer blared a minute or so later, I knew what I should have been expecting all along, but it was too late. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share two of our favorite subjects with him: waffles and writing. Aidan sent back a laughing face emoji and gave me a D-minus for the waffle, but an A-plus for my explanation. He also lightened the situation by telling me that even he has had a time or two in his waffle-making career that has gone wrong, but he never would have eaten the one I sent him the picture of. Well, I had eaten it, figuring if there was enough syrup on it, it would be palatable. And I was right! A couple of pork sausage links to go along with it didn’t hurt either. And Aidan, big brother Conor and I had the best laugh that morning. Assignment completed with flying colors! 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.
www.mycnews.com • Community News – St. Louis County • November 1, 2023
What’s Happening 5
Send your event to editor@mycnews.com and we'll print it! EVENTS Nov 5: Quilt bingo
St. Ferdinand Ladies Sodality Quilt Bingo, doors open at 11a.m., games begin at 1 p.m. in School Gym at 1735 Charbonier Rd in Florissant. Twelve hand-quilted quilts, cash prizes, raffle, pull tabs and refreshments available. Cash only and no one under 16 years of age.
RECURRING EVENTS Weekdays: Volunteer drivers needed
St. Louis County Older Resident Programs (CORP) is seeking dependable volunteers who reside in St. Louis County, to provide transportation to and from doctor’s appointments and other essential destinations for senior residents. Mileage reimbursement is available. To learn more about volunteering contact, Laura Conners at 314-615-4435 or lconners@ stlouiscountymo.gov.
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-tofour 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 314513-1674 or cbanaskavich@ jfcs-stl.org.
Mondays: Choral Arts Group meetings
night at 7 p.m. at 5500 Parker Raoad which is the first house on Uthe Lane. We sing fourpart 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 314-4281168 or 314-435-5898.
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 636579-9227, or email concertartsa@gmail.com.
Tuesdays: singers
Mondays: meetings
Tuesdays: Chair Zumba
Workshop
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.
Mondays: singers
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All men who like to sing are invited to come sing with us, The Men of Harmony. We practice every Monday
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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 . 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 636-634-6582 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 Donna Grellner, 314303-1947.
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.
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 JaSUDOKU answers from page F-1
mie 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 314-8310988.
Thursdays: guild
Quilting
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.
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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 314-921-2316.
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November 1, 2023 • Community News • www.mycnews.com
ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE
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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.
The wonderful world of water
ater. It’s a colorless, odorless liquid substance at room temperature, something we frequently take for granted in our daily lives. Turn on the faucet, water comes out. It’s pretty boring stuff – people’s eyes glaze over and their thoughts and attention turn elsewhere if you try to engage them in a conversation about the technical aspects of water rights, domestic treatment plants and irrigation systems. It’s pretty boring stuff, unless the faucet runs dry; then folks tend to get very excited. In our little slice of the mountains, we’re fortunate to live within a quarter mile of four different sources of surface water – a river, a creek, and two small springs that feed into the river. We’re only 20 miles away from the headwaters of the water supply of the Western United States; our water is quite clean. Regular readers have heard my tales about too much of the stuff resulting in blizzards and giant snow drifts, flooding and mudslides; or too little of the colorless, odorless liquid which results in dead and dying vegetation, and much
– SUDOKU –
BY AVALANCHE
excitement (not the good kind) about wildland fires. Presently, our neighborhood is going through a process to upgrade our very old domestic water system. In the 1960’s a few of the determined early residents dug a collecting pit on the spring ditch, rented a portable trencher and dug a trench about a quarter-mile from the pit to the early stages of our neighborhood and assembled a water main out of used 3” drill stem, a super-hard steel pipe used for drilling oil and other wells. Nearly 60 years later, the line still does not leak. So far. A recent engineering study recommended all our infrastructure should be rehabilitated or replaced, ex-
‘ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE’ continued on F2
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A lot can happen in one hour
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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.
uring t h e musical “Rent,” the ensemble cast sang “Seasons of Love,” a song with an interesting verse: “Five hundred, twenty-five thousand, six hundred minutes.” That sequence of numbers represented the amount of time in a year. In the production, the cast also questioned how to measure the life of a woman or a man. “Rent” was on my mind when, after church last weekend, I took an hour for myself to take a walk after almost two weeks of doing surveys for Metrolink, the light rail line that runs through the Bi-State area. My significant other wasn’t too happy, though, with me disappearing after I told her where I went. While the “Rent” cast examined an entire year, I focused on what could be accomplished within 60 minutes. “Entrepreneur” offered up such basic activities as watching television or spending those precious minutes drinking with a group of strangers or friends in a bar. My favorite suggestion was to “Get lost in nature for a little while” and find my humanity. The simplest and most profound way of changing the world in an
taking time to watch the sun go down. I can’t think of anything else more profound than that. Although I am in my early 60’s, I am still a child at heart. When I learned about “Pokémon Go” and how addictive it could be, I succumbed to temptation, loaded the app on my phone and started to play. There also are times when I inadvertently joined other Pokémon players while walking through the park. Although it doesn’t seem possible, taking 60 minutes could make Photo courtesy Bigstock a profound change in your outlook. Time is an interesting thing. As humans, hour required good listening skills. I’m a we can waste time or save time. When old good listener and will listen to anyone who friends came to mind, I scrambled to find felt lost and lonely. their phone numbers or addresses. When If you have 3,600 seconds to spare and I took the walk mentioned above, it gave are in good health, you can save a life by me clarity and helped me focus on the rest donating whole blood, plasma or platelets. of that Sunday afternoon. Even when I Others may choose to spend their hour at was taken to task for spending some “Me a hospital or library reading and talking to Time,” I have no regrets. Time is precious patients. When I find myself relaxing at and should never be wasted. Make sure to Shaw’s Garden in St. Louis, you might spot stop and take an hour for yourself. You’ve me during my hour quietly reading by myearned it. self or closing my eyes to listen the wonders of nature. A classic episode of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” even recommended
www.mycnews.com • Community News • November 1, 2023
Moore on Life: Falling for anything
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hoever came up with the name for this time of season sure put some deep thought into it. I imagine back in the medieval times the counsel which named all things important had a big meeting and plenty of discussion. It probably went something like this: Chairman: “Okay people, we’re almost done with the naming of the seasons. It’s been a long but productive morning. So far, we’ve got winter, very nice ring to it. Then there’s spring. Things are springing up all over so excellent. And then we have summer, which has a warm and sunny feel to it. Good. Now, just one more to go and we can break for lunch.” One hour later: “Alright people. We’re getting nowhere. So far, we’ve come up with, the season after summer. Accurate, but lame. Then we have winspringer. A combination of all three seasons. Ridiculous, we can do better. Here’s a suggestion from Bartholomew on this piece of paper. It says, I’m hungry and need lunch. Okay, okay, I get it. People we need to wrap this up. I see a hand. Beatrice, what have you got?” “Well, since the temperatures are falling and the sun is falling earlier…” “Yes, yes…keep going.” “And the petals have fallen off from the flowers and of course the leaves have all fallen. I think we should call it…” “Zounds, I think she’s onto something. Well, what is it?” “We should naturally call it…pumpkin spice season!” Bartholomew: “What is pumpkin spice?”
By Cindy MOore
CROSSWORD: THE 1940'S
“Good heavens Beatrice, that hasn’t even been invented yet! But when it does it will unleash its terror such as we haven’t seen since the Black Plague. It will infiltrate everything from gravy to gasoline.” Bartholomew: “What is
gasoline?” “Oh, never mind. We’re just going to have to buckle down, by thunder! I see another hand. Archibald, talk to me.” “Fall.” “Fall?” “Yes, fall. Everything is going down; nothing is coming back up. Everything is falling, so…fall.” “That’s the most daft, moronic, simpleton idea I’ve ever heard of. Why, the son of a goat could come up with something better. Yes, Bartholomew what is it now? This better be important.” “It’s lunchtime.” “Fall it is. Meeting adjourned!” 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.
‘ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE' from F1 cept for the recently replaced distribution lines. Having said that, we have a well that is continually recharged by the aforementioned river and creek and ditches. And our water rights are some of the oldest in the state, which puts us senior to most municipalities, which means in drought years, downstream city dwellers would have to curtail their usage before us. Some neighborhoods aren’t so lucky. A few years ago, a couple of the newer neighborhoods with junior water rights nearly had their water service shut off by the state water engineer, as some of the senior water right holders placed a “call” on the river, meaning they wanted to use all their allotted water in a dry year. The newer neighborhoods were supposed to have an augmentation plan, meaning some type of water storage they could release to replenish the streamflow impacted by their usage. As is typical of such “boring” things, these neighborhoods hadn’t gotten around to having any type of augmentation plan, and were nearly shut off to satisfy the water demands of the senior right holders. Suddenly, the boring liquid stuff became very exciting. As the old western adage goes, “Whiskey’s for
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drinking and water’s for fighting.” Fortunately, one downstream municipality donated a portion of its water allotment to keep the small neighborhoods adequately hydrated. And now those unexpectedly excited neighborhoods are actively exploring ways of meeting their augmentation obligations. This year Mother Nature has been generous to us with lots of the wet stuff, a welcome reprieve from numerous drought years. It’s been a good opportunity for us to keep working on upgrading our boring-but-expensive water system, and making sure we stay ahead of ever-increasing demands and state scrutiny. Avalanche is a functional illiterate who left the St. Louis area three decades ago in search of adventure. He enjoys motorcycling and all things outdoors. He lives with his wife and dogs. 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.
By Cindy Moore
ACROSS 1. Sylvester Stallone's "____ King" 6. And so forth, abbr. 9. Mongolian desert 13. Uniate church member 14. Additionally 15. Modified "will" 16. Heart surgery prop 17. Remains container 18. Follow 19. *Thor Heyerdahl's raft 21. *Jackie Robinson's new team, 1947 23. *Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr., born in 1942 24. Animal prod 25. Give a nickname 28. Dwarf buffalo 30. Edible corn part 35. Functions 37. *____ Strip on Mediterranean Sea, 1948 39. Roman goddess, patroness of hunters 40. *Moscow ____ cocktail, created in 1940s 41. Beach souvenir 43. Inspiring horror 44. Not long 46. Home to Bryce Canyon 47. Smoothie bowl flavor 48. Become available (2 words) 50. Links hazard 52. Mozart's "L'____ del Cairo"
and Christian X of Denmark, e.g. 22. Acorn producer 24. Common newspaper name 25. *"When I See an Elephant Fly" elephant, 1941 26. Steal a throne 27. Misrepresent 29. *Pearl Harbor location 31. Capital of Latvia 32. Narcotics agent 33. *Considered first general-purpose computer, acr. 34. a.k.a. vampire 36. Espied 38. a.k.a. Daminozide 42. ____ Apso 45. Tornado visual DOWN 49. Helicopter landing 1. Poacher's trophy 51. Coal miners 2. "Do ____ others..." 54. Bear of bamboo forest 3. Bank claim 56. Brother's daughter 4. *1947's "Here Comes ____ Claus" 57. Gangster's gal 5. King of the Huns 58. Hip bones 6. Purse for the red carpet 59. Barbecued anatomy 7. High craggy hill 60. Birds 8. Type of dwelling 61. Part of cathedral 9. "The ____ Show" (1976- 62. Cantina cooker 1980) 63. Sans mixers 10. Yorkshire river 64. Comedian Meyers 11. Hangover memory? 67. *"The ____ Sleep," 12. 15th of March 1946 15. Tied the knot SEE ANSWERS ON 20. *Leopold III of Belgium CN & STC PG. 5 53. Back of the neck 55. Transgression 57. *Carmen of "The Gang's All Here" 61. *United _____, established 1945 65. Popeye's sweetie 66. *The BAA and NBL merged, forming this ball org., 1949 68. Battle royal 69. Denigrating statement 70. What divots and divas have in common 71. Audience's approval 72. Lad's counterpart 73. Number on a birthday cake 74. Not o'er
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November 1, 2023 • Community News • www.mycnews.com
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