CN: November 22, 2023

November 22, 2023

A beautiful flight

Around Town St. Louis Christmas Carols Association seeks volunteers to bring cheer and goodwill this holiday season. Pg. 3

Special Section HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Pgs. 4-5

Features

Recipe, Movie & Sudoku.

Pg. F-1 CLASSIFIEDS AND HOME & GARDEN. Pg. F-2 /F-3 Moore On Life, Lifestyle & Crossword Puzzle. Pg. F-4 Submitted photo: A trip to the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House for the holidays is a non-traditional and educational way to celebrate the season with family and friends.

Weather

The exotic butterflies and tropical plants at the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House help brighten the cold winter months in St. Louis County

By Wendy Todd The holiday season has begun, and for those looking for fun and possibly unusual ways to celebrate, there are a host of activities in St. Louis for the whole family. One such location is the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House in Chesterfield.

The nature attraction, a part of the Missouri Botanical Garden, is offering several holiday-themed events while highlighting the enchanting wonders of the bug world.

Participants will step into the Butterfly House which will be decorated to emulate a snow globe in the Tropical Conservatory that will be full of elaborate fairy gardens that highlight the jewel tones of the butterflies. Among other activities, adult attendees

will have the chance to create their own fairy garden at one of the events.

The mission of the Butterfly House is “to foster a greater understanding of plant and animal relationships in the environment to promote the conservation and restoration of natural habitats.” The 8,000-square-foot glass conservatory is where visitors mingle with more than 60 species of the world’s most beautiful butterflies in free flight.

The Butterfly House features over 60 tropical butterfly species and over 150 tropical plants. It receives 100s of new butterflies in the chrysalis stage every week and 40% of them come from a nonprofit butterfly farm in Costa Rica, El Bosque Nuevo. The attraction averages over 200 species of butterflies per year.

One may ask, “How is the Butterfly House maintained, especially in colder months?”

Tad Yankoski, Senior Entomologist at the Butterfly House explains what it takes to create and maintain a butterfly habitat.

“When our butterflies arrive, they are in their chrysalis stage and in cocoons for our moths,” he said. “We place them into a hightech climate-controlled incubator that has precision control for temperature and humidity to mimic their native environments.

“Once the adult butterflies emerge, we release them into our Tropical Conservatory.

We have 100s of varieties of tropical plants and a pond with a waterfall feature, which combine to naturally keep our humidity See ‘FLIGHT’ page 2

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Around Town

November 22, 2023 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com

Greater North County Chamber will celebrate award winners at Nite of Stars

‘FLIGHT’ from cover Get your event or good news published in Community News: email your information in calendar and article formats to editor@mycnews.com Submitted photo

levels high and a dedicated HVAC system that keeps the air temperature at least in the high 70s yearround.”

The conditions simulate a tropical rainforest environment. In the colder months the organization’s heating system keeps the butterfly home warm and is maintained by HVAC professionals in the area to ensure a stable habitat.

There are many things the public may not know about butterflies. For instance, butterflies only live for two-to-three weeks as adults. Yankoski shares a couple more butterfly facts.

“Many people know that butterflies will land on flowers and drink nectar, but some only feed from things like tree sap or juices of rotten fruit,” he said.

“They have the ability to taste with their feet, so they know immediately if they landed on the right plant.”

A trip to the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House for the holidays is a non-traditional and educational way to celebrate the season with family and friends.

For more information on the planned events, visit www.butterflyhouse.org.

The Greater North County Chamber of Commerce will celebrate the 2024 Business Person of the Year and the 2024 Zykan Family Legacy Award Winner at Nite of Stars on Dec. 1 at Orlando’s Event and Conference Center. Tickets to the event are $125 per person and can be purchased at www.gnccstl.com.

John Hutchens, owner of Hutchens Mortuary will be awarded the 2024 Business Person of the Year. The chamber has annually given the ward to an individual(s) that embody the best qualities of community leadership through the combination of business, civic and community activities.

Bob and Holly Mannecke, owners of Mann Meats will be awarded the 2024 Zykan Family Legacy Award. The Zykan Family Legacy Award was established to preserve the legacy of the Zykan Family and their contributions to the Greater North County Chamber and the North County community since 1955. This award will be given to Mr. Otto for his commitment through his time, talent, and treasure towards the North County community.

The chamber will award the Cathy Behlmann Volunteer of the Year award to Felicia Miller with Miller Agency and Associates. Felicia has been heavily involved since becoming a chamber member, serving in several committees in the chamber and also volunteered for

many events including the music trivia, golf tournament and other fundraising events for the chamber.

The chamber will award Claire McGale with JACCK Arts Foundation as the 2024 Rookie of the Year. The Greater North County Chamber of Commerce began this award in 2015 to highlight a member who has been in the chamber two years or less and who became actively involved from the beginning.

Claire has made a positive presence throughout the chamber, getting involved in Leads 2, Women In Networking and ribbon cuttings.

The chamber will be giving the Ambassador of the Year Award to Micah Mayfield, with Delmar Mortgage. The Greater North County Chamber of Commerce’s Ambassador Committee is one of the most important committees in the chamber. Committee members attend ribbon cuttings, Business After Hours and membership luncheons.

They reach out to new members, welcoming them to the chamber and encouraging them to become involved in chamber activities. Once Micah joined the chamber, he became active wherever he could and joined the Ambassador committee. He has a deep belief in giving back to the community and shows it through his commitment in giving of his time.

Cooler weather coming to Missouri — Red Cross has steps to take to heat your home safely As temperatures drop across the region, the Greater St. Louis Chapter of the American Red Cross, urges families to take several steps to heat their home safely.

“Heating equipment is a leading cause of home fires in this country,” said Beth Elders, executive director of the Greater St. Louis Chapter of the American Red Cross.

“But, there are steps people can take to avoid having this happen to them. Help keep your family safe by providing at least three feet of space around all heating equipment, testing your smoke alarms monthly and practicing your two-minute home fire escape plan.”

Overall, home fires account for most of the 60,000-plus disasters that the Red Cross responds to each year — and home fire responses are 30% higher during cold months than warmer times of year.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), space heaters are most often responsible for home heating fires.

Follow these tips on how to safely heat your home: • If you must use a space heater, never leave it unattended. Place it on a level, hard and

nonflammable surface, such as a ceramic tile floor. Don’t place it on rugs and carpets, or near bedding and drapes.

• Plug space heater power cords directly into outlets — never into an extension cord. Turn the space heater off every time you leave the room or go to sleep.

• Keep children, pets and anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment.

• Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home.

• Never leave a fire burning in the fireplace unattended. Make sure any embers in the fireplace are extinguished before going to bed or leaving home. Use a glass or metal fire screen to keep embers in the fireplace.

• Have furnaces, chimneys, fireplaces, wood and coal stoves inspected annually by a professional and cleaned if necessary.

To help protect your family year-round, test your smoke alarms monthly and practice your home fire escape plan until everyone can escape in less than two minutes —

the amount of time you may have to get out of a burning home before it’s too late.

If you cannot afford to purchase smoke alarms or are physically unable to install one, the Red Cross is able to help. Visit www. redcross.org/SmokeAlarmMO to sign up for a smoke alarm installation.

Visit redcross.org/fire for more information, including an escape plan to practice with your family.

Now is the time to drain the water in your outdoor water hoses, and bring them inside for storage. Also, prepare your outdoor faucets by winterizing them. Bring in any outdoor plants that need to winter indoors.

Carry the following in your vehicle: windshield scraper, small broom, sand or cat litter for traction, warm blankets and coats, and an emergency kit with bottled water, non-perishable food and medications.

Check your tire pressure: colder temperatures typically mean that air needs to be added to your tires. Take the time to check that your tires are aired up to the tire pressure recommended in your user manual.

www.mycnews.com • Community News – St. Louis County • November 22, 2023

St. Louis Christmas Carols Association seeks volunteers to bring cheer and goodwill this holiday season For the 112th year in a row, the St. Louis Christmas Carols Association will spread cheer and good will to neighborhoods and throughout the community during the 2023 caroling season.

Since 1911, St. Louis Christmas Carols Association (STLCCA) has shared holiday joy and good tidings throughout the St. Louis community by caroling in neighborhoods around the metro region. This season, volunteer caroling groups will collect donations for 24 St. Louis children’s charities as they bring community spirit to our neighborhood front doors and public spaces through the gift of song and music. Charity partners include Sherwood Forest, SouthSide Early Childhood Center, Unleashed Potential, Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, Girls on the Run, Center for Hearing and Speech and others.

Guiding the efforts this year, Interim Executive Director, Seana Beard is eager and excited to see what this season has in store.

“Having started with the organization last year, I am so proud of the work we do! We are small but mighty

and have a deep and rich history in this city. My hope is that we can grow our reach and build stronger relationships with our neighbors, all the while creating more carolers along the way. The benefits of caroling are plentiful – it promotes mental and physical health, enhances memory, relieves stress, and most importantly builds community! The proceeds that we collect with our caroling does so much good for the partners we are supporting, and witnessing the joy those donations create is magical!

“Having successfully navigated the COVID years, we had a strong 111th season in 2022. For 2023 there is ‘no way but up’. We want to encourage more carolers, more holiday magic, and more donations collected.

Gather your friends, family, coworkers, your book club – anyone – and sign up! No experience, qualifications, or talent are required, just a wish to spread cheer and support kids! ‘Tis is the season for traditions and if we aren’t part of yours yet, you’re missing out!”

Volunteers are encouraged to sign-up online by Nov. 30 at www.stlchrismascarols.org/go-caroling.

Around Town 3

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Walk Ferguson group celebrates three years of walking, exploring Ferguson Walk Ferguson, a walking group that explores the historic neighborhoods of this 168-year-old north St. Louis County municipality each week, celebrated its first three years of walking, meeting neighbors, and building new friendships in October.

Walk founders and organizers Beth von Behren and Peggy Faul, both residents of Ferguson, launched the group with its initial hike in October 2020, partially in response to the COVID pandemic.

“That summer of 2020, so many people all over were hitting the trails because all the gyms were closed,” von Behren said. “There was a group in Kirkwood that had started Submitted photo walking together, and I shared their story on our Ferguson community page on Facebook with a question – 'Why don’t we do this here?' Peggy 93 or below 35, and it gets dicey. We sometimes have to spoke up right away and said ‘Let’s do it!’” play it by ear and ask everyone to check the Facebook Within a few weeks, the two women held their first page on Saturday morning before heading out.” walk. Faul, who is a life-long Ferguson resident and On their walks through the neighborhoods, particformer city council member, knows the city well and ipants discuss architecture, home design, gardening maps out each week’s route. Von Behren promotes the ideas, and the history of the community and its famigroup, and they both lead the walks. They have a Facelies. The group often stops to talk with neighbors about book page with more than 200 members. They origitheir gardens or, in one instance, a resident’s goats and nally led walks on Wednesday afternoons and Saturday chickens. In all, they have walked every street in Fergumornings but stopped the Wednesday walks when atson at least three times. tendance fell off.

The city of Ferguson is home to a large variety of Each Saturday, they meet at 9 a.m., somewhere in housing stock from Victorian mansions to unique Ferguson and walk about 1.5 to two miles. They monmid-century-modern designs. The group has counted itor weather reports throughout the week and cancel at least three homes with Mansard roofs. The Ferguthe scheduled walk if it gets too hot or too cold, or if son Landmarks Commission was formed by the city in heavy rain, snow, or ice is predicted. A regular group of 1982. Since then, 153 homes have been designated as between 30 and 40 walkers, mostly women, participate Century Homes. when and as they can. Most weeks they average 10 to The Walk Ferguson group is open to anyone who 12 walkers. wants to join. Ferguson residency is not required. In“We will walk if the heat gets up into the low 90s in terested walkers should join the Facebook group at summer or if the temperatures fall into the upper 30s Facebook.com/groups/walkferguson to stay on top of in winter,” said von Behren. “But anything above 92 or upcoming walking routes and notices.

The Hazelwood School District Board of Education will have two 3-year open seats and one 2-year open seat in the April 2, 2024 election. The filing window opens Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. and closes Tuesday, December 26, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.

Candidates may complete the filing process in-person at the Administration Building located at 15955 New Halls Ferry Road, Florissant, MO 63031, December 5 through December 15 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Hazelwood School District is closed for winter break December 18 through December 25.

The last opportunity to file is December 26 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The qualifications for the Board are as follows: • Missouri law requires a person to be a U.S. citizen.

• At least 24 years of age • A resident taxpayer of the Hazelwood School District and to have resided in the State of Missouri for one year immediately preceding the election.

• Board members do not receive pay for their service.

Qualified applicants who wish to file must make an appointment to file in person during business hours at the Hazelwood School District Administration Building. To schedule an appointment to file for board candidacy, please contact Kristina Allen at 314-953-5012 or kallen2@hazelwoodschools.org Administration Building Hours for Candidate Filing: December 5, 2023 – December 15, 2023 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

December 26, 2023

1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

*No exceptions will be honored for these timelines.

The Administration Building will be officially closed on Saturdays and Sundays. There will also be no filing on days when school buildings are closed due to holidays or inclement weather.

The names of persons filing for the office of board director on the first day of filing will be placed into a random drawing to determine the order of placement on the ballot.

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Novemeber 22, 2023 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com

Historic Saint Louis presents A Spirited Holiday Past Twenty historic sites, museums and houses are joining together to present a splendid grand holiday house tour. For this one-day open house on Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., each venue will be decorated in a festive flair representing 250 years of St. Louis architecture and history. Whether austere or opulent, the settings will take you back in time to experience the joyous holidays of yesteryear.

When you visit multiple historic sites, observe how each historic site strives to preserve the past by inspiring generations to discover their heritage. During this signature winter event, many sites will also have special entertainment, whether it be a costumed skit, music, or

seasonal activity.

Historic Saint Louis is scattered over the St. Louis area, as far north as Daniel Boone’s Home in Defiance and as far east as Willoughby Heritage Farm in Collinsville, Illinois and as far south as Centre for French Colonial Life in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri and as far west as Thornhill Estate in Chesterfield. Dating from 1782 to 1960 and varying in architecture as well as function, sites such as the Carondelet’s Susan Blow Kindergarten, Bellefontaine Cemetery and others will warmly welcome friends – old and new.

Guests are invited to create their own tour or utilize the themed tours provided on the Historic Saint Louis webpage. Themed tours cover a variety of historic top-

ics, geographical areas and story connections. Historic resources on this special day embrace a wide range of decorations, celebrating with simple early American greenery or in ornate Victorian style and everything in between. Create your own holiday tradition; enjoy a new tour each year. No matter the road chosen, all ages are sure to enjoy the holiday spirit of days gone by.

Each site is individually priced with some having a minimal fee and others being free of charge. To learn more about the fees and activities at each venue, please visit www.historicsaintlouis.org. Also pick up a 202324 Historic Saint Louis brochure which offers a wealth of information for both tourists and St. Louis history lovers alike.

Still In This Together:

By Vicki Bahr

Making time for Thanksgiving

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Have a blessed Thanksgiving Holiday 1 rue Saint Francois St. Florissant, MO 63031 (314) 837-2110 info@oldstferdinandshrine.org

hristmas began exceedingly early this year. Skeletons were bumping into reindeer and pumpkins were sitting on Santa’s lap at the big box stores. It was confusing for everyone, not just the kids. I remember walking by a cackling witch decoration and listening to Frosty the Snowman trying to drown her out by singing his theme song with a huge grin on his face just two steps away. I suppose the witch is less frightening that way, but as a grownup I see all kinds of other reasons to be frightened by the situation.

I was going through boxes of decorations in the basement and realized I had tossed some Christmas cards into one of the Halloween bins last year in my haste to get things boxed up and ready for our move. I had some trouble remembering what I had bought after Christmas last year, and started opening a variety of holiday boxes trying to find things until my head was hurting and the basement floor looked like a miniature version of every store I had been in recently.

And then, I reached the bottom layer of one of the boxes and realized it was the few leftover decorations that were fall-related but not specifically Halloween, and usually make a very brief visit the couple of weeks just before I decorate for Halloween, if they’re lucky, and again right before Thanksgiving.

It made me wonder if there was ever a time that Thanksgiving wasn’t rushed or totally forgotten about the way it is these days; if I was even going to have time to hang the pilgrim window clings and put the stuffed turkey on the shelf before bringing out the snowman sled that plays “Jingle Bells” when you push the puppy’s ear.

I know it was different when we were kids, and even when our own children were young. Our oldest was born on Dec. 14, and we always tried to have the Christmas tree up for his birthday party, but it seemed so early. Now, Valentine’s Day decorations are being taken down by Dec. 14, and being replaced by Easter Peeps.

Thanksgiving was a very big deal at our house when I was little, because it was the holiday we hosted for our grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. November was a frenetic madhouse of a month, preparing for the feast

and the hubbub of the upcoming day, and I still wonder how my parents made it all actually happen before microwave ovens and ice makers, prepared side dishes and ready-made desserts, decorative disposable plates, napkins and drinkware and automatic dishwashers. But Thanksgiving was important enough to work for then, and November was the month before Christmas, not one that included the celebration of it.

I found the little hanging sign that reads: “Thanksgiving Was Never Meant To Be Just One Day” at the bottom of a box downstairs and brought it upstairs with me. I actually hung it from the fingers of a very creepy Dracula displayed in the spare bedroom as a reminder to myself to calm the rush of days, breathe before fretting, and make the time to acknowledge just what the holidays are all about, no matter what the TV and big corporate America would have us believe.

That little sign is going to be front and center in our home year-round now, as a reminder to smile and take notice of the miracles that happen each and every day, not just when everything at the grocery store starts to smell like pumpkin in July or the Hallmark Channel begins playing Christmas movies in August.

The sound of a lonely train whistle as I sleep, the miracle of a flight of geese lifting off from a field and flying in the right direction, the smile on the doctor’s face as he says, “See you in six months,” the smell of a meatloaf on a chilly Sunday afternoon, the laughter on the grandkids’ faces as they line up for a Christmas picture, or an Easter picture, or a random day in June picture.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! This week officially, and every day of our lives …

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 22, 2023

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Sports

November 22, 2023 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com

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Sports you see with Gary B...

Professional soccer returns to St. Charles The St. Louis Ambush soccer club will start their season in front of their hometown fans.

They continue to play in the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) for their 11th season when they host the Milwaukee Wave in their home opener on Black Friday, Nov. 24 at 5:05 p.m. at The Family Arena.

For more details go to www.STLAmbush.com. * A decade plus one of continued exciting soccer Major addition to Ambush roster The St. Louis Ambush plays professional indoor soccer in the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL) and competes all the home games at the Family Arena in St. Charles.

They recently acquired veteran defender James Togbah from the Kansas City Comets who is under contract through the 2023-24 season.

Togbah, a native of Monrovia, Liberia, is a veteran of six seasons in the MASL. He played two seasons with the Comets from 2017-19, then the 201920 season with Utica City FC before returning to Kansas City from 2020 to 2023. In 83 career games, Togbah scored 32 goals and added 14 assists while blocking 48 opposing shots. He also played semi-pro soccer with FC Wichita following a collegiate career at Eastern Florida State.

Ambush co-owner, GM and head coach Jeff Locker said, “Togbah brings both talent and experience to our lineup. He’s a proven player and knows the league and our opponents. We expect him to be a valuable addition to our team.”

Togbah said, “I am familiar with the Ambush organization from playing against them for several years. Like Kansas City, they have an avid fan base and I look forward to experiencing this great rivalry from the other side.” * A great addition SUDOKU answers from page F-1

UMSL awards several players with major accomplishments The second-ranked University of Missouri-St. Louis volleyball team had five players earn All-Great Lakes Valley Conference honors and collected two of the four major awards recently announced.

The annual awards were presented at a banquet on the eve of the GLVC Volleyball Championship Tournament.

Sophomore setter Caitlin Bishop was named the GLVC’s Player of the Year marking the fourth year in a row the Tritons have had the Player of the Year in the conference, while head coach Ryan Young was selected by his peers as the GLVC Coach of the Year for the second straight year and third time in his career.

Young earns his third GLVC Coach of the Year in the last five seasons. The 13th-year headman guided UMSL to a 28-0 record including 13-0 in the GLVC and the GLVC Regular Season championship. The Tritons earned the number one seed in this weekend’s GLVC Tournament which is its highest seed since he took over the program.

Bishop, a unanimous first-team selection, was one of three Tritons players to earn First-Team All-GLVC accolades. Fifth-year senior outside hitter Lexie Rang and redshirt-senior outside hitter Delaney Humm joined Bishop on the first team, while senior libero Kylie Adams and fifth-year senior middle hitter Mya Elliott landed on the second team. * Team complete with talent from coach to players

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

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

CROSSWORD answers from page F-4

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November 22, 2023 • Community News • www.mycnews.com

RECIPE: Enticing Butter Board INGREDIENT SUGGESTIONS

INSTRUCTIONS:

ARTISANAL BUTTERS:

1. Select Your Butters: Arrange a selection of artisanal butters on your board. Place them in small, attractive dishes or shape them into decorative forms if desired.

Salted butter Unsalted butter Cultured butter Herb-infused butter (e.g., garlic herb or rosemary) CONDIMENTS AND ACCOMPANIMENTS: Flavored salts (e.g., sea salt infused with herbs or spices) Honey (preferably in small bowls or jars) A variety of fruit jams (apricot, raspberry, fig, etc.)

Fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme, chives) Assortment of bread slices (baguette, sourdough, rye) A selection of crackers and breadsticks Nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans) Sliced fruits (figs, apples, pears) PRESENTATION: A large wooden board or platter

– SUDOKU – 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.

2. Flavored Salts: Sprinkle flavored salts generously over the butter varieties to enhance their flavors. Use sea salt infused with herbs or spices, such as rosemary-infused sea salt or smoked paprika salt.

3. Honey and Jams: Set out small bowls or jars of honey and a variety of fruit jams. These will provide a delightful contrast to the richness of the butter. Ensure you have a spoon for easy serving.

4. Fresh Herbs: Scatter fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, or chives across the board. These not only add color but also infuse the air with a burst of fragrance.

5. Breads and Crackers: Arrange an assortment of bread slices, crackers and breadsticks around the board. These act as perfect carriers

for the butter and condiments. You can also warm the bread for a delightful touch.

6. Nuts and Fruits: Incorporate nuts like almonds, walnuts and pecans.

Place them strategically for added textures and flavors. Slice fruits like figs, apples and pears and arrange them attractively on the board.

7. Presentation: Assemble all the ingredients on your chosen wooden

board. Get creative with your arrangement, making sure it is visually appealing and accessible to your guests. Provide small butter knives and utensils for spreading the butter and jams.

8. Enjoy: Dive into the delightful world of flavors and textures. Experiment with different combinations, and let your guests savor this unique and interactive dining experience.

For more information on dairy’s benefits, visit www.stldairycouncil.org

SEE ANSWERS ON STL Pg. 6 & STC PG. 5

‘Wonka’ explores the origins of the famous chocolate maker

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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.

the contest winners to wander into danger.

I loved “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” but I enjoy good origin stories even more. In the online trailer for “Wonka,” Timothée Chalamet played a fresh-faced Willy Wonka wanting to conquer the hearts, minds and stomachs of the people of London.

Another quick look at the cast of characters revealed such interesting names as Natasha Rothwell playing Piper Benz, Calah Lane as Noodle, Matt Lucas as the candymaker Prodnose and Matthew Baynton as Ficklegruber, yet another rival of Wonka’s.

With multiple versions of Roald Dahl’s books still in print, where does the storyline begin or end? “Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator” stirred up my scientific curiosity, especially when the four-poster bed actually fit inside the glass walls. “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” showed Charlie Bucket’s integrity as well as his love for making chocolate. Could we possibly see a grown-up Charlie creating new and even more wonderful confections? We’ll have to wait for the release to find out.

“Wonka,” rated PG, arrives in theaters on Dec. 15.

‘Wonka’ photo courtesy Warner Bros.

Movie:

n the days before cable television, streaming services and digital programming, I routinely sat on the sofa in my parents’ living room reading from a stack of library books. As I grew up, I discovered Roald Dahl’s amazing 1964 novel “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and followed that with “Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator.” Gene Wilder portrayed the famous chocolate maker on the big screen in the beloved 1971 film and a year later, “Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator” would become another of my favorite reads. There were, however, disturbing elements in both the films and the books.

Willy Wonka came to mind after watching the online trailer for “Wonka,” the upcoming film starring Timothée Chalamet as Willy Wonka, the young man who would become the premier chocolatier in London and abroad. Directed by Paul King and co-written with Simon Farnaby, the film focused on Wonka’s early days making sweet confections.

The story has some surprises, not the least of which is Hugh Grant playing, with the help of digital animation, an Oompa-Loompa named Lofty. Other familiar faces included Olivia Colman as Mrs. Scrubbit, Rowan Ar-

kinson as Father Julius and Nastasha Rothwell as Piper Benz.

In 2005, Tim Burton directed his version of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” In that version, Johnny Depp portrayed Willy Wonka, a man devoted to making wonderful sweets. Charlie Bucket (Freddie Highmore) was an industrious lad and a devoted fan of Mr. Wonka. After spies infiltrated his factory, Wonka closed his operations and sent everyone home. Time passed and Mr. Wonka announced a contest in which five Golden Tickets were inserted into the wrappers of randomly selected Wonka Bars. Johnny Depp’s portrayal of Mr. Wonka was both interesting and somewhat scary as he allowed

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November 22, 2023 • Community News • www.mycnews.com

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www.mycnews.com • Community News • November 22, 2023

Yeggs

John Hanna

‘Yeggs’ is a comic series about Robert and Bill, two rabbits who have opened their own egg franchise in the Midwest (St. Louis area). We follow their day to day lives, watching as they go about the hectic task of preparing for their one big day every year. Along the way they have adventures filled with fun, comic doings and pathos.

Moore on Life

E

By Cindy Moore

arly one morning my cell phone started to ring on the kitchen counter. My husband was close by and began to reach for it.

“Wait,” I yelled. “That’s probably Sam again and I don’t want to talk to him.”

It stopped ringing before he could answer.

“Sam? Who’s Sam? Some bill collector? Haven’t you been paying your credit cards again?”

“Hmph,” I said. “Of course, I have.”

“Well then, it can’t be a secret boyfriend.”

“Oh ya, and why not? I’ll have you know this man has very good taste. He won’t leave me alone and calls every morning around this time.”

“Have you answered?”

“Of course not. But I’m sure he’s just some sad and lonely guy who wants to chat.”

“Are you kidding? He’s most likely an escaped convict who wants to drain your blood and your bank account.”

“You worry too much,” I said.

My phone rang again.

My husband snatched it up before I could get to it and asked me, “Is this guy’s last name, Likely?”

“Yes, that’s him. Poor thing. Maybe I should just talk for a minute and see what he wants.”

“Let me handle this. Hello, uh huh. That sounds good. Yes, I’d like to place an order for ten cases. Yes, you heard me right, ten. Oh, and send the packages and the bill to our new shipping address, we’ve moved.”

He then rattled off the address of our annoying neighbors, the Pilkinsons.

“What in the heck did you just say to poor Sam?” His eyes narrowed as he replied, “Your boyfriend just found a new lady to annoy next door.”

Scram scam “What do you mean?” I asked.

“I owe that one to the Pilkinsons for borrowing my wheelbarrow and never returning it.”

“Oh no, what did you do?”

“I just ordered a few hundred commemorative Elvis plates. Oh, and next time your boyfriend calls I suggest you put your readers on first.”

“There’s nothing wrong with my eyes!”

“Tell that to Sam Likely otherwise known as ‘Scam Likely.’ Although, he’s my new best friend.

If he calls again tomorrow, I have another order to place.”

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.

Feature F-4

CROSSWORD: CATS & DOGS

ACROSS 1. Baby powder 5. Hundredweight, acr.

8. Same as gauge 12. S squared, e.g.

13. Actor Wyle 14. Undergraduate's field of study 15. J. Edgar Hoover's man 16. Norse capital 17. Extremely angry 18. *Tweety chaser 20. Bob Ross' do 21. Not quite right 22. Hawaiian dish 23. Directed 26. Brought down 30. Deed 31. Rifle's backward move 34. Denim innovator 35. Like salad greens 37. Greek R 38. Read-only memory device 39. Western Samoan money 40. Oklahoma athlete 42. Tiny guitar 43. Relating to dreams 45. Like certain Debbie?

47. U.S. Marine Corps gift recipient 48. Gin mixer 50. Title for Turkish leader 52. *1929 Best Actor Oscar nominee 56. Lallygags 57. Medley 58. Pineapple producer 59. Suggestions 60. *Lassie's mark in Hollywood sidewalk 61. Arabian bigwig 62. Banana leftover 63. New York time 64. "Wanted!" state

2. Major or general employer 3. Same as #36 Down, archaically speaking 4. Painter's surface 5. Receipt listings 6. *Corgi's homeland 7. Marvel Comics hammer wielder 8. *Jon Arbuckle, Odie and ____ 9. A bit cracked 10. Kind of move, 2 words 11. Bard's before 13. End of rugby match 14. *Cat sound 19. Manicurist's file 22. Neighbor of Ger. 23. *Nome, AK hero 24. Continental divide 25. Like old cracker 26. *Rhodesian Ridgeback's target 27. *Old episodes of Eddie Crane's TV show 28. Call forth 29. Two identical molecules put together 32. Rubber sandal 33. Exclamation of surprise 36. *Fido, in Latin 38. More then one crocus 40. *Canine command 41. Newspaper VIP 44. ____ beef 46. Meandered 48. Leaves at the alter, e.g.

49. Uniate church member 50. Of the highest quality 51. Open-mouthed astonishment 52. Thorny gift 53. Large book 54. Pelvic parts 55. Smart but awkward one 56. "A stiff upper ____"

DOWN 1. Labels with a name, on Facebook

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