CNSTC: January 11, 2023

Around Town

Features

By Brett Auten

The residents of the Cat Zen Cafe bestow a chorus of meows towards Tonya Williams before the door is cracked. Williams is the owner and operator of the Cat Zen Cafe, which is, in a nutshell, a free-roaming cat lounge

“They are always ready for breakfast and wanting to be loved on,” Williams said Off and running, the Cat Zen Cafe, located at 319 N. Main Street in St. Charles, has become a feline sanctum and adoption launchpad. Opened on the day after Thanksgiving, Williams and the cafe have already had 16 adoptions.

For some, cats are an anxiety reducer and the cafe is one place to visit if you’ve had a stressful day or just need some cat-time to help slow down and just hang out for a spell.

“You do not have to be interested in adopting a cat to visit our cafe,” Williams said. “You can simply just visit with the kitties in the lounge.”

Social media and word of mouth has helped interest spread quickly and it is hard to argue that there is a better way to get a feel for a feline’s personality and determine if they could be a good fit for the home.

“Cat Zen is a clean and well-thought-out atmosphere for both customers and cats residing there,” customer Marsha Graumenz said. “The location is perfect for any local or traveling families who visit our Historic Main Street of St. Charles. We are lucky to have such a creative spot for anyone who loves to cuddle and play with cats or even

looking to adopt their forever feline.”

Cat cafes have sprouted all over and after visiting a few while on vacations over the years, Williams took the chance to open one here.

“I thought it was a brilliant concept,” she said. “I love all animals, but cats have always held a special place in my heart. I was always the child on the block who was taking in strays and spending my allowance

on cat food. I remember my grandmother saving a kitten. I was there front and center the whole time.”

The cafe sells hot coffee/tea and a variety of drinks, snacks and baked goods from local bakeries and is fully staffed, but there is always a need for behind-the-scenes volunteers to help care for the cats, which

Recipe, Movie & Sudoku. Pg. F-1

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

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

The Cat Zen Cafe and Lounge is a free-roaming cat lounge that serves as a temporary feline sanctuary and hopeful adoption launchpad. It is located at 319 N. Main Street in St. Charles.

‘PAWS’ from cover

would involve no customer engagement.

Williams’ mission is to get cats out of shelters and into loving homes. Cat Zen is partnered with local animal shelters (Seven More Cats Rescue, the Animal Protec-

Inspiration Corner:

"Fate delights to produce a great capacity and then frustrate it. Beethoven went deaf. By our standards a mean joke; the monkey trick of a spiteful imbecile." – C.S. Lewis

Our lives are marked by checkpoints. Birthdays. Holidays. Weddings. Funerals. Our lives are a collection of memories; a tapestry that is constantly being woven. Some of us are carried along in a peaceful rhythm while others find the fabric torn. We hang on by a thread wondering what will happen next, maybe even dreading it.

At Christmas last year a co-worker was in the hospital with COVID. Jeff was one of those good-natured fellows who brightened even the darkest corner of a room. He rarely complained. He was quick with a joke. He volunteered regularly to help those in need. He was a kind man. His wife and children were eager for him recover and come home. They made it through the holidays with strong coffee and the prayers of family and friends, but in January, Jeff died.

How can it be fair for us to be given this great capacity for love only to see it confounded by death? That was one of C.S. Lewis's questions in his book, "A Grief Observed." He had lost his wife, Joy, to cancer and found himself struggling to compre-

tive Association/APA Adoption Center and Smelly Cat) to fill out the lounge. The cafe is home to around 15 cats with max occupancy being 20.

The cafe and lounge are separate. The

admission fee to the cat lounge covers the operational costs needed to care for the residents. All of the cats are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, micro chipped and tested for Feline Leukemia.

hend his profound sense of loss.

He wrote, "You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you."

So, what is joy?

At the holidays we see a lot of advertisements about how to have joy in the season but many of us aren't feeling it. For us, it is a holiday of sad "firsts." First Christmas without dad or mom. First holiday without our son or daughter. The patterns that once felt comfortable have been torn. We desire joy but can't grasp it.

In another work, "Surprised by Joy," C.S. Lewis wrote, "A desire is turned not to itself but to its object. Not only that, but it owes all its character to its object."

So, what happens when the object of our desire is gone? Can we experience joy when the object of our desire is no more?

Lewis said his first stirrings of joy arose from the memory of a memory. He used Milton's words, “enormous bliss” of Eden to describe a childhood interaction with his brother. His second glimpse of joy came from Beatrix Potter books via Squirrel Nutkin and an intense longing for autumn that begged him to read the story over and over again. The common quality "was that of an

unsatisfied desire which is itself more desirable than any other satisfaction." Lewis eventually decided there was no earthly remedy for this longing, and through George MacDonald's stories, fell headlong into faith in God. You see, our joy must be sourced by something outside the fabric of time and space. Only God can satisfy such a longing.

The Apostle Paul wrote, "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people." In a world of sadness and grief, we know that love came down in the person of Jesus. He was God and He brought a message of hope and peace to a dying world. When he rose from the dead, he proclaimed the death of death forever. Friends, if this holiday season finds you in a place where your tapestry is torn, seek and you will find joy there.

Margaret Wolfinbarger is a wife and mother of three peculiar children. She lives in St. Charles and likes to shine light into dark places.

Submitted photos

Araxie Miller looks after one of the residents of the newly-opened The Cat Zen Cafe and Lounge. The cafe and lounge is a free-roaming cat lounge that serves as a temporary feline sanctuary and hopeful adoption launchpad. It is located at 319 N. Main Street in St. Charles.

Willow Tree Tutoring celebrates 10th anniversary

Willow Tree Tutoring is celebrating their 10th anniversary. To commemorate the celebration, the company held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Dec. 14 with the Cottleville Weldon Spring Chamber of Commerce.

Members of the Cottleville Weldon-Spring Chamber of Commerce, members of Little Black Book and other community leaders were in attendance.

“We are excited to expand our services and reach more families in the St. Charles and St. Louis County areas”, says owner Jess Beason. They are currently running a special on In-Person Small Group ACT Prep Class. Use the code “Holidays22” to save $100 on the class.

Emergency expansion

The old saying about real estate, “location, location, location” also holds true for an ambulance district in an ever-growing county.

With call volume increasing by nearly 50% this last decade, the St. Charles County Ambulance District is needing keenly-placed, additional stations in order to serve a growing population.

This year, SCCAD will respond to an estimated 50,000 calls for service. And to help answer those calls, the district debuted two new EMS stations last month.

Need for the new stations come down to rapid residential and commercial development, coupled with an aging population. The district recently debuted a reconfiguration of emergency assets that are projected to positively impact response times in one of the county’s busiest areas.

Advanced life support ambulances are now positioned at new stations located at 1755 Woodstone Dr. in St. Peters and 3801 Towers Rd. in Harvester. Previously, this expansive area was served by a single ambulance operating from a station along Old Hwy. 94.

“There is so much traffic with the businesses and residential communities, with our ambulances, some of them being further tucked away down Friedens Road, and now on Towers and Caulks Hill, this unit (St. Peters) will be there a little bit quicker,” Battalion Chief Scott Mueller said. “It’s in a nice, safer area of the county that has access to anything and everything that the crews need. It is also going to provide some relief to other ambulance crews and give a little breathing room.”

The move brings SCCAD’s total

- By Brett Auten

number of stations staffed around the clock to 17.

“When performing our community needs analysis, this area was and continues to be a high priority,” SCCAD Chief Kelly Cope said. “The Woodstone and Towers stations, coupled with support from existing facilities, will enable us to enhance coverage and provide better response times to 911 emergencies.”

The unit housed at the Woodstone station will primarily serve the Rt. 364 corridor between Heritage Parkway and Mid Rivers Mall Drive, while the Towers station will respond to calls in the densely populated residential areas of Harvester. The total project cost on the two facilities was approximately $5.85 million. Originally slated to open earlier this fall, supply chain issues related to several critical pieces of equipment necessitated a slight shift in the stations’ opening.

The new stations were included in SCCAD’s 10-Year Capital Improvement Plan, which was published in 2018. General obligation

bonds authorized by voters in August of that year provided financing for the facilities. Also included in the CIP was the district’s unified headquarters facility which opened in 2021, replacement of ambulances and lifesaving equipment, and several forthcoming EMS stations.

“I think of them as a package deal,” Kyle Gaines, SCCAD Director of Community Relations, said. “Before, everything South of 94/364, that densely populated residential area, was covered by one unit that ran out of a station on Sycamore. That truck ran its wheels off. Having one a little bit north of the highway and one further south, was a high priority to improve those response times.

“Our public seems to get very, ‘this is my SCCAD station,’ It’s always going to be the closest ambulance and there is always going to be a couple of units out on calls, so it’s kind of a moving target on who you are going to get. But everybody can rest assured that you are always going to get the closest unit.”

St. Charles County Ambulance District debuted two new EMS stations last month in order to serve a growing population

Submitted photo

An ambulance pulls out of a new SCCAD station, located at 1755 Woodstone Dr. in St. Peters.

Submitted photo

Gateway Fiber breaks ground in Lincoln County NTIA grant areas

Gateway Fiber began building its 100% fiber-optic broadband internet network in northwest Lincoln County, one of the first Missouri areas benefitting from a $42 million National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) grant designed to expand broadband internet coverage in underserved communities. Gateway was awarded $10 million of the grant funding, the largest share among Missouri recipients.

“The NTIA grant funds allow us to offer dramatic broadband upgrades to underserved communities in Lincoln and St. Charles Counties,” Heath Sellenriek, CEO of Gateway Fiber, said. “The interest in the area has been remarkable, and this is just the beginning.”

Gateway began accepting orders in the area for its future-proof fiber optic network in May, and demand has exceeded expectations. The company’s network allows residents to access the internet with reliable and hyper-fast symmetrical speeds up to one Gigabit per second (Gbps), the same speeds available in major metropolitan areas and only possible with fiber internet.

“Currently, the grant area communities do not have a reliable broadband internet option,” Julie Rodgers, executive director of Lincoln County Economic Devel-

opment, said. “This is a major upgrade to our utility infrastructure and one that is much needed. In today’s world, economic competitiveness, telemedicine, education, and many other aspects of everyday life require fast and reliable internet connections. The beginning of Gateway Fiber’s network in the area is a milestone in closing the digital divide for our communities.”

Gateway plans to install service to its first customers in the area by early 2023 and complete the NTIA grant network by year’s

end, including areas surrounding Argentville, Josephville, Moscow Mills, Old Monroe, St. Paul and Winfield, serving nearly 5,000 homes and businesses.

“This is truly a demonstration of Gateway’s commitment as a local company to the areas we serve right in our own backyard,” Sellenriek added.

Area residents interested in learning more about Gateway Fiber and the benefits of fiber internet can visit GatewayFiber.com.

St. Charles holds ground breaking for Fire Station 2

Thanks to funds provided by the passage of Proposition R in April 2021, the city of St. Charles held a ground breaking ceremony on Dec. 15, for construction of their brand-new Fire Station 2. This new facility will be located at the corner of Friedens Road and Fairgrounds Road, and will replace the existing station at 1550 S. Main Street.

Once completed, the new fire station will improve the overall response capabilities of the fire department to the citizens who live south of Highway 70. Some of the features of the new station include three larger engine bays that are able to accommodate modern fire apparatus, energy efficient systems, and the ability

to house both a fire and an EMS crew.

During construction, fire crews will continue to operate out of the

existing Station 2, ensuring no disruption to service or reduction in response capability.

Submitted photo

Gateway Fiber began building its 100% fiber-optic broadband internet network in northwest Lincoln County.

Submitted image

This rendering shows the completed Fire Station 2 that will be located at the corner of Friedens Road and Fairgrounds Road in St. Charles.

What’s Happening

Take Notice . .

. The events listed in this section are the latest updates as of press time, please check with individual sites for the most up to date cancellations and reschedule info.

EVENTS

Jan. 18: Senior seminar

Downsizing Made Easy in Five Simple Steps - Seniors Empowerment Truth Series takes place from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Spencer Library in St Peters in Room 259. In this free seminar you’ll gain valuable insights into today’s real estate market, practical solutions for decluttering and preparing your home for sale and more. Visit www.seniorsempowermenttruthseries.com or call 636-336-6819 to register.

Jan. 21: Swing dance club grand opening

St. Charles Swing Dance Club invites you to join them at their grand opening at Dardenne Prairie Hall at 2199 Post Road from 7 to 10 p.m. Free swing and line dance lessons will take place from 6:15 to 7 p.m.

Jan. 29: All you can eat breakfast

The Knights of Columbus at St. Robert Bellarmine Church (1424 First Capitol Drive South, St. Charles) welcomes you to their All You Can Eat Breakfast from 8 to 11:30 a.m. Breakfast includes: made to order omelets, pancakes, sausages, scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, juice, milk and coffee. Cost for adults is $12, children six to 11 is $6 and children five and under are free. For additional information please call 636-946-6799.

Mondays: Parent support group

Because I Love You, (BILY), Gateway parent support group meets every Monday at 7:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church at 801 First Capitol Dr. in St. Charles. For information and directions, please contact the helpline at 314-993-7550 or email gateway_parent_help@yahoo. com. BILY is a program of self-help for parents of troubled children (all ages). We are not professionals, but parents helping each other. The meetings are free to attend.

Mondays: NAMI St. Louis Connection Recovery Support Group

If you have mental health concerns and need support, please come on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. at Friedens United Church of Christ at 1703 Old Highway 94 South in St. Charles.

Mondays: Alcoholics Anonymous

If you want to drink, that’s your business. If you want to stop, we can help. Call Alcoholics Anonymous at 636970-0013.

Mondays: St. Charles County Council of the Blind meetings

Business meetings are held on the first Monday of each month unless otherwise specified. Currently, during the COVID pandemic, meetings are held via conference call, starting at 6:45 pm. For more information, contact Beverly Kaskadden at 636-561-6947.

Mondays: St. Peters Rotary Club

Noon at St. Peters City Hall, One St. Peters Centre Blvd. www.stpetersrotary.org.

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays: Fitness First Exercise Class 9:30-10:30 a.m., American Legion Hall, 504 Luetkenhaus Blvd., Wentzville. 314-3696521.

Mondays: American Legion Post 388 Meets Meets the fourth Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at American Legion Hall, 607 Westridge Dr., O’Fallon, 636219-0553

Mondays: Measurement

364 at the corner with Bryan Road.

Tuesdays: Cribbage Club

Meets every Tuesday, 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. at The Falls Golf Course Clubhouse. Relaxed, friendly play and is open to all. Call 314-954-3364 for info.

Tuesdays: Optimist Club meeting

The St. Charles Optimist Club meets Tuesdays at noon at Pio’s Restaurant. For more information contact Jack Ross at 314-287-0569 or jack-ross@ att.net.

Tuesdays: Cribbage

Looking for an evening out? Come and play cribbage Tuesdays at 6 p.m. at Rookies at 15358 Veterans Memorial Pkwy in Wentzville. Win prizes and awards with semiannual tournaments. ACC sanctioned. For more information contact Dee at 636-233-8032.

Tuesdays: Diabetes support group

A diabetes support group meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month except November and December from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. at 400 Medical Plaza, Suite 102 in Lake St. Louis. A new speaker each month. Questions? Call Amanda Meyer at 636-625-5447.

Tuesdays: Kiwanis Club of St. Charles 12:05 p.m. at Ginghams Homestyle Restaurant, 1566 Country Clcub Plaza Drive, in St. Charles. Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time. The group is looking for new members who want to better our community and help its youth. If you are interested in making a positive impact in St. Charles for generations to come, please come for lunch. For more information call

636-206-2483. You can also visit http://stcharleskiwanis. com

Tuesdays: Quilting Guild at the O’Fallon Family YMCA

1-4 p.m. Free. Quilt for local charities. No sewing experience required.

Tuesdays: Toastmasters Meeting

7 p.m. at the Midwest Bank Centre Board Room at 2299 Technology Blvd., O’Fallon, MO 63368. Info: 636-3792505.

Tuesdays: NAMI St. Louis Connection Recovery Support Group

If you have mental health concerns and need support, please come on the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Grace United Church of Christ at 8326 Mexico Rd. in St. Peters.

ONGOING EVENTS

Mondays: Optimist Club meetings

The Wentzville/Lake St. Louis Optimist Club meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Wentzville IHOP, 10 Layla Lane, Wentzville, MO.. For more information contact Ed Jurotich at 314-560-1868.

Mondays: Take off Pounds Sensibly

TOPS meet every Monday at Holy Cross Lutheran Church at 8945 Veterans Memorial Hwy in O’Fallon. Meetings at 9:30 a.m. with weigh in beginning at 8:30 a.m. For more information please call Leogene Weber. 636-399-3124.

Mondays:

Cottleville Weldon Spring Kiwanis Club

Cottleville Weldon Spring Kiwanis Club meets the first Monday of the month at noon at The Breakfast Club, 991 Waterbury Falls Dr., O’Fallon, MO 63368. New club looking for new members who want to better our community. Contact Christy at 314583-0538.

Mondays: Seasoned eye carvers meeting

Meetings are held from 9 to 11 a.m. at the St. Charles Senior Citizens Center at 1455 Fairgrounds (near the Bass Pro Shop). Visitors are always welcome. For more information visit http://www. stcharlesareawoodcarvers. com/ or contact Charles Sapp at cwsapp@charter.net.

Mondays: Choral Arts Singers practice

Choral Arts Singers practice on Mondays, from 7-9 p.m. at Connection ChristianChurch, 1332 Feise Road in Dardenne Prairie. New singers (high school and older) are welcome. Auditions are not required. See www.concertarts. org.

Mondays: 10 a.m. - 12 noon at the ST. Charles Health Deparment in the Upper Level Conference room. Measurement Mondays is a family-friendly breastfeeding support group. We are open to all moms and moms-to-be who are breastfeeding or interested in breastfeeding. The group is supported by the St Charles County WIC program so there will be information about the program available at each meeting. Each meeting will be a little different than the last. There will be baby weigh-ins, introductions, games, interactive education, group conversation, and even snacks.

Mondays and Wednesdays: Tai Chi for arthritis class

Every Monday and Wednesday a Tai Chi for arthritis class, sponsored by the city of St. Charles Parks and Recreation, takes place from 9:1510 a.m. at Webster Park across from the Family Arena. This is a class that is taught nationally to manage arthritis and to prevent falls. For more information call 636-949-3372.

Tuesdays: Women’s AA weekly meeting

Candlelighters Women in Recovery meets every Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Dardenne Prairie Presbyterian Church (enter at Adam Lamb pre-School, turn left) at 7400 South Outer

CROSSWORD answers from page F-4

SUDOKU answers from page F-1

Sports you see with Gary B . . .

it is now ranked fourth in this week’s National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division II Coaches Poll.

Lindenwood football program add players for 2023 campaign

Lindenwood University announced its signing class recently, which made up of 17 high school seniors along with four transfers for a total of 21 student-athletes.

Lindenwood brought in 13 players on the offensive side of the ball, along with eight defensive positions. On the offensive line, the Lions signed three players who stand 6-4, while all four defensive lineman measure at 6-2 or taller. The Lions brought in two players from the state of Missouri, and seven from the state of Illinois, while this year’s class was spread out across 11 states.

Head coach Jed Stugart and his staff went to work less than a year ago, when Lindenwood announced its move to the NCAA Division I level in February. The Lions were able to put together a 7-3 record this past fall, with four of their wins coming over NCAA Division I FCS teams.

“I think the culture of our program is evident,” said Stugart. “We were one of the only teams in FCS that didn’t have a player in the transfer portal, and that says a lot about the coaches on this staff and how we take care of our players.”

“You have to get to the size to compete at Division I and we were able to address that,” said Stugart. “Depth and size are the next steps that we have to address to get to the national level that we want to get to.”

*Beef it up

UMSL move up in ranks despite loss

The University of Missouri-St. Louis men’s basketball team climbed to even higher heights as

The men’s basketball team bounced back from its first loss of the season on Thursday with an 88-81 win the over Maryville Saints on Saturday afternoon at the friendly confines of the Mark Twain Building. The Tritons improve to 13-1, 5-1 in the Great LakesValley Conference (GLVC).

In the contest, Saints opened the second half on a 15-6 run to tie the game at 46.

Bowen Sandquist gave UMSL the lead right back on the next possession hitting the first of his six threes’ in the stanza. It would be a lead the Tritons wouldn’t relinquish.

UMSL went on a 28-17 run over the next 12 minutes to build its largest lead of the game at 77-63 on a jumper from Donovan Vickers with 3:28 left.

Maryville didn’t go away quietly, getting to within five in the final minute, but the Tritons sealed the win by going 6-for-6 at the foul line down the stretch.

UMSL finished the game shooting 49% (33-for67) from the field including 11-of-23 from three and shot 79% at the charity stripe. It out rebounded the Saints 34-to-24 and its bench outscored Maryville’s 47-to-27.

Vickers had a game and career-high 24 points in the contest to lead four Tritons in double figures. Sandquist finished with 21 points, Janeir Harris added 11 points and Drew Cisse had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

*On a roll

Gary Baute, aka Gary B, a St. Louis native, maybe educated in business but he lives and breathes sports. As a fan and an athlete, Gary is all sports all the time. He hosted a radio sports program on KFNS, emceed the River City Rascals’ inaugural season and broadcasted for several indoor football teams since 1999.

Recipe: Cooler weather means cozy family food

Ingredients:

Nonstick cooking spray

1 1/2 pounds plant-based ground burger, thawed

1 1/2 cups cooked wild rice, chilled

1 cup diced onion

1 cup diced red bell pepper

2 teaspoons paprika

1 teaspoon granulated garlic

1 teaspoon rubbed sage

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper

2/3 cup barbecue sauce bread

Plant-Based Meatloaf Sandwiches

A fond look back at

‘The Man’ Lee

Movie:

By Steve Bryan

When it comes to comics and superheroes, Stan Lee will always be “The Man.” Lee, who passed away on Nov. 12, 2018, broke new ground in the comic book industry thanks to “Amazing Fantasy #15,” which contained the first appearance of Spider-Man. Peter Parker, a brilliant science student, gained arachnid powers from the bite of a radioactive spider. Lee wrote the story, artist Steve Ditko did the drawing and Jack Kirby created the cover art.

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.

“Amazing Fantasy” was scheduled for cancellation and, with nothing to lose, the publisher allowed Lee to introduce his web-slinging character in what was the final issue. The sales of “Amazing Fantasy #15” were better than anticipated; however, and a green light was given for a “Spider-Man” comic book. Peter Parker learned the drawbacks of being a superhero after a burglar killed his beloved Uncle Ben. A grief-stricken Spider-Man then sought out the killer and discovered that he had allowed the same criminal to escape earlier in the day. Spider-Man’s origin story contained a powerful lesson: “With great power comes great responsibility.”

In 1961, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created “The Fantastic Four,” an unconventional su-

perhero team who argued and disagreed with each other before bonding as a family. Each member joined scientist Reed Richards on a journey into space, where they were exposed to cosmic rays that gave them superhuman abilities. Two years later, Lee and Kirby created “The Avengers,” a superhero team that brought together Iron Man, Ant-Man, the Wasp, Hulk and Thor. Those were the original founding members, but membership did change over the years.

In the 1960’s, Hulk, Iron Man and other Marvel heroes intrigued readers so much that they sent in letters to the editors. Stan Lee wanted the company to respond to fans, which led to letter pages where Marvel’s staff responded to their readers. In 1964, a fan club called the “Merry Marvel Marching

Society” was created. For a single dollar, devoted readers would get a membership card, welcoming letter and other Marvel goodies. According to interviews with Marvel insiders, bags and bags of mail arrived filled with letters that contained dollar bills. FOOM (Friends of Ol’ Marvel), another fan club, was active between 1973 and 1976.

With their stable of popular characters, the Marvel Cinematic Universe came into being with 2008’s “Iron Man” movie. Robert Downey, Jr. did an outstanding job portraying Tony Stark, an egotistical defense contractor who, after his father passed away, took charge of Stark Industries. Unlike previous attempts at superhero movies, the storyline here remained true to the journey undertaken by the comic book version of Tony Stark. Over the course of several movies, Tony refined his armor and learned to become the hero he was meant to be.

Stan Lee remains a beloved comic book creator and his MCU cameos were always great. The stories created by Lee, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko and those that followed are still compelling years after their publication. Mr. Lee will always be known as “The Man” to Marvel’s readers.

Stan

“Barbie”

photo courtesy Warner Bros.

Photo courtesy Bigstock

Moore on Life: Lyin’ eyes

Here it is the start of another new year which means the start of another New Year’s resolution which, of course, means the start of another fad diet.

This year’s hottest diet is called the Lion Diet. So ready, set, go! Let’s do this thang!

First thing to know – it absolutely works! The proof is in the Serengeti. How many big fat kitty cats have you seen prowling around in the African wilds? If you answered none, you would be a genius and halfway towards your goal of losing weight or appearing on “Jeopardy,” whichever of the two floats your boat.

Here’s how to start the diet:

First, patiently prepare to lie in wait and stalk your prey. Begin by hunkering down behind some tall desert grass for the next three days. When it is apparent that no cookies ’n’ cream milkshake is going to pass by for your consumption, you must move on to the next objective: meat.

Lions are carnivores because they are lactose intolerant. Actually, it’s because by the time the ice cream truck drives around all those African termite hills the frozen treats have melted away.

Therefore, the next best thing is raw flesh. Ugh, a poor substitute, but this is the only choice the king of the beasts can make under the circumstances.

Along with the chunks of protein, water and salt is allowed. Consider these as side dishes and feel fortunate that the diet didn’t include the bones and fur of your kill.

Updating the flooring can help infuse new life into tired, outdated bathrooms. For an upscale, polished look that doesn’t have to break the bank, consider installing tile flooring.

Before you get started, you’ll want to make some decisions about the look and feel of your flooring:

Ceramic or stone? Weigh factors such as porosity, how slippery the surface may be when wet and how well it retains heat or cold. Ultimately, your decision hinges on the needs and uses of your family.

Complement or contrast? Define the overall style you want as well as the colors and tones that will help best achieve your vision.

Big or small? Generally, the larger the tile, the fewer grout lines, and too many grout lines in a smaller space can create the illusion of clutter. However, smaller tiles can eliminate the need to make multiple awkward cuts, and small tiles are perfect for creating accent patterns or introducing a splash of color.

When you’ve got your overall look and materials selected, keep these steps in mind as you begin laying the flooring:

1. Prepare your subfloor. Use a level to check for uneven spots; you need an even surface to prevent cracks in the tile or grout as well as rough spots that could pose tripping hazards. Use patching and leveling material to create a consistent surface. Apply a thin layer of mortar then attach your cement backer board with screws. Cover joints with cement board tape, apply another thin layer of mortar, smooth and allow to dry.

2. To ensure square placement, draw reference lines on the subfloor using a level and carpen-

By Cindy Moore CROSSWORD:

Now that you have your fuel, the next requirement is vigorous exercise to trim off those pounds.

Start each morning with a brisk lion jog at 50 miles per hour. After mile marker one, tackle a 600-pound wildebeest. Continue to mile marker two and pick up the pace by wrestling a cantankerous river croc. From there, move on to mile three and finish up by putting a charging hippo into a head lock. Afterwards, trot to the nearby watering hole and refresh yourself with buckets of water.

Now just look at yourself. You should be trimmed down to your high school weight with abs as hard as those biscuits I once made without baking powder.

Of course, it’s all a bunch of deep-fried hooey! If they were honest, the name of the plan would be the “Lying Diet.”

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.

ter square. Tile should start in the middle of the room and move out toward the walls, so make your initial reference lines as close to the center as possible. Mark additional reference lines as space allows, such as 2-foot-by-2-foot squares.

3. Do a test run with your chosen tile by laying it out on the floor. There are color variations in most tile patterns, so you’ll want to verify each tile blends well with the next.

4. Mix tile mortar and use the thin side of a trowel to apply mortar at a 45-degree angle. Use the combed side to spread evenly and return excess mortar to the bucket. Remember to apply mortar in small areas, working as you go, so it doesn’t dry before you’re ready to lay the tile.

5. When laying tile, use your reference lines as guides. Press and wiggle tile slightly for the best adherence.

6. Use spacers to create even lines between one tile and the next, removing excess mortar with a damp sponge or rag.

7. As you complete a section of tile, use a level and mallet to verify the tiles are sitting evenly.

8. Let mortar dry 24 hours before grouting.

9. Remove spacers then apply grout to joints, removing excess as you go.

10. Allow grout to dry per the manufacturer’s instructions then go back over tile with a damp sponge to set grout lines and clean grout residue.

11. Once grout has cured – usually at least a couple weeks – apply sealer to protect it.

Find more ideas and tips for updating your bathroom at eLivingtoday.com.