CNSTC: March 17, 2021

March 17, 2021

On a mission

Around Town

Local Optimist Club to sponsor contests for seniors. Pg.4 City of St. Charles introduces Proposition R. Pg.4

Special Section Community Strong Spotlight. Pg. 3

School Two teachers selected for NASA program. Pg. 6

Flip for Features Submitted photo Mission: Clean Stream is an annual event that is great for the family as the Greenway Network and St. Charles County, including the communities of Cottleville, Dardenne Prairie, Lake Saint Louis, O’Fallon, St. Charles, St. Peters and Wentzville pitch in to remove trash from getting into local streams and lakes.

Mission: Clean Stream is an effort throughout St. Charles County to pitch in to remove trash from getting into local streams and lakes

By Brett Auten Charlene Waggoner put it bluntly.

“Our goal is to go away.”

Waggoner is the president of the Greenway Network, one of the organizations that spearheads Mission: Clean Stream.

Mission: Clean Stream is an annual event that is a great opportunity for family bonding, racking up volunteer hours, or just general goodness to the planet. Mission: Clean Stream, held on April 10, is when the Greenway Network, the Missouri Department of Conservation, and St. Charles County, including the communities of Cottleville, Dardenne Prairie, Lake Saint Louis, O’Fallon, St. Charles, St. Peters and Wentzville pitch in to remove trash from getting into local streams and lakes.

Mission: Clean Stream has evolved into a friendly challenge among neighboring communities to do some serious collection of trash in the St. Charles County waterways in a narrow window of time. For example, the last Mission: Clean Stream, in 2019, roughly 50 volunteers collected 1,000-pounds of trash from Cottleville in just a couple of hours.

Mission: Clean Stream is narrowing in on year number 15 and the annual event, as you would expect, draws a large amount volunteers. Things will be curbed slightly this year to abide by COVID-19 policies.

“We will restrict the size of the groups by quite a bit,” Waggoner said. “Thankfully, we should be able to spread out nicely in a lot of these areas.”

Waggoner said that you may request a

designated pick up area or one can be assigned to you. Register online and participate by: • • • • • • •

Picking up trash in your own yard.

Take a walk in your subdivision and pick up trash.

Enjoy a walk on our park trails and pick up trash.

Pick up trash around your place of business.

Pick up trash at your school or church.

Pick up trash along roadways and sidewalks.

Pick up trash around park lakes and along creeks.

See ‘MISSION’ page 2

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Around Town

March 17, 2021 • Community News - St. Charles County • www.mycnews.com

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Submitted photo Mission: Clean Stream is an annual event that is great for the family as the Greenway Network and St. Charles County, including the communities of Cottleville, Dardenne Prairie, Lake Saint Louis, O’Fallon, St. Charles, St. Peters and Wentzville pitch in to remove trash from getting into local streams and lakes.

‘MISSION’ from cover “You can really see what you have accomplished. The before and after is most satisfying,” Waggoner said. “We are seeing less metals and tires but more plastic bottles” Event organizers will provide you with trash bags, adult-sized gloves, a cleanup site and t-shirts, while supplies last as there is a very limited supply of t-shirts this year.

Supplies will be available for pick up the week prior, April 5-9 at the city hall where you register. All participants will need to return the liability waiver and photo release before participating in the event.

Be sure to dress appropriately for the weather, including sturdy shoes or boots, an extra pair of gloves if you have them and a drink.

Waggoner said that when cleaning up along roadways, please wear bright clothing and or safety vests. Transportation is not provided but all you have to do is leave collected items and mission clean stream trash bags along roadways, shoulders, sidewalks, or trails in your designated pick up area and they will be picked up by city staff.

If you are unavailable on April 10, you can register for your desired date to participate, and they will pick up the trash you have collected.

“Each municipality will have registration,” Waggoner said. “We are trying to create as many opportunities as we can.”

Greenway Network is an all-volunteer organization based in St. Charles County that works throughout the Confluence Region. Its mission is to conserve natural resources and to protect watersheds. It does this primarily through clean water education,

WHERE CAN YOU GET

Submitted photos Here is a before-and-after of a previous Mission: Clean Stream day. For example, the last Mission: Clean Stream in 2019, roughly 50 volunteers collected 1,000-pounds of trash from Cottleville in just a couple of hours.

research, restoration and recreational programming.

Waggoner also suggested keeping an eye on the Mission: Clean Stream and your local municipalities’ Faceboook page.

?

Pick up a at all 35 Dierbergs & Schnucks stores in St. Charles County and North and Northwest St. Louis County

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www.mycnews.com • Community News - St. Charles County • March 17, 2021

Around Town

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Around Town

March 17, 2021 • Community News - St. Charles County • www.mycnews.com

Local Optimist Club to sponsor essay and oratorical contests for seniors

City of St. Charles introduces Proposition R, a general obligation bond

The Wentzville-Lake St. Louis Optimist Club has announced its 2020-2021 Oratorical contest winners.

The oratorical topic for the 2020-21 school year was: “Healing the World with Optimism.” The oratorical contest on Feb.6, and the award ceremony on March 3, were held at Liberty Christian Academy in Wright City. Entries for the oratorical competition were required to present a four to five minute speech to a panel of three judges. The speeches were judged on content, delivery and presentation, and overall effectiveness, with deductions for various penalties.

While each of the three winners were very closely scored; third place went to Adison Roden, second place to Rhianna Meyer, and first place to Austin Kuehn.

Each winner received a medal and certificate of recognition for their effort. Austin will advance to the regional competition, with a chance to win up to $22,500 at the Optimist International World Competition to be held in July at St. Louis University.

The Wentzville - Lake St. Louis Optimist Club has been “helping kid’s dreams come true” by offering the Optimist Essay and Oratorical Contests. The Optimists have been active in the community since 1986, reforming the club in 2017 through collaboration with many retired teachers and nurses of the Wentzville School District. The club inspires community service in kids by hosting the Turkey Trot with Holt Cross-Country Team, the Homecoming Parade Race, and working in partnership with both the Wentzville

When city of St. Charles voters go to the polls on April 6, they will see Proposition R on the ballot. Proposition R is a no tax increase general obligation bond issue that would allow the city to address issues at aging fire and police facilities.

A general obligation bond is a long-term borrowing tool (typically 20 years) in which a municipality pledges its full faith and credit (taxing power) to repay the debt over a specified term. Generally, G.O. bonds are the least costly financing option available to the city for potential bond projects being considered. Funding for this bond would be taken from a portion of a resident’s real estate tax.

Submitted photo The Wentzville-Lake St. Louis Optimist Club 2020-2021 Oratorical contest winners.

and Lake St. Louis Police Departments to support their community outreach programs such as: LINC week, Health and Fitness Event, Open House, Polar Plunge, and Holiday Trim a Tree. Learn more about the Wentzville-Lake St. Louis Club at #wlsloc.

Optimist International is one of the world’s largest service club organizations with 80,000 adult and youth members in 2,500 clubs in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, and throughout the world. Carrying the motto “Friend of Youth,” Optimists conduct positive service projects that reach more than six million young people each year. To learn more about Optimist International, please call 314-371-6000 or visit the organization’s website at www.optimist.org.

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Upgrades at the fire department “Since Station One was built in the early 1980s, it is not ADA compliant,” says Fire Captain Kelly Hunsel.

Some stations have issues such as an open bunk hall, which does not provide privacy for men and women working together. Open bunk halls are breeding grounds for viruses, such as COVID and influenza. In some stations, the living quarters are above the engine bay which also exposes firefighters to carcinogens. This could potentially cause harm to the firefighters as well as those whom they serve.

“Station Five is the busiest firehouse within St. Charles City. It was built in the mid-90s and there have been no significant upgrades in 25 years. Currently, the oven is not working which means the crew members do not have that available to cook dinners while they’re on duty.” Funds would go to help address all of these issues (and more) to provide our firefighters a more efficient ‘home away from home’.

Upgrades at the police department “One of the many challenges we’ve been experiencing going on 20 years now is our evidence section,” says Lieutenant Tom Wilkison.

City police officers are required, by law, to maintain possession of any and all physical evidence during the entire legal system; therefore, they are sometimes holding onto evidence for many decades.

Lieutenant Wilkison says that “as St. Charles continues to grow, our evidence section has been unable to grow with it.”

The dispatch area, which is critical to police operations, is showing signs of wear.

The roof is leaking, which causes concerns for the vital equipment and technology that they rely on for communication. Over the last 17 years, St. Charles has seen a lot of growth and the building does not allow for growth of the department. Funds would go to help expand the police department.

For more information on Proposition R, including detailed tours of the police department and fire stations, please visit www.stcharlescitymo.gov/844/Proposition-R.

St. Charles City-County Library buildings to reopen March 22 The St. Charles City-County Library will reopen library buildings to the public beginning Monday, March 22. Following CDC guidelines, masks will be worn by all library staff, and customers age five and up will be required to do the same.

If you do not have a mask, one will be provided for you. Branches will continue to offer drive-up or curbside services, and customers can still access virtual classes and events and myLibrary at Home resources online 24/7 at myLibrary.org.

Hours for most branches will remain Monday - Thursday 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., and Sunday 1 - 5 p.m. Customers can find details about available services and hours at individual branches at myLibrary.org.

“It’s been a challenge since November to maintain staffing levels in our buildings, and I’m proud

of the fact that we’ve been able to provide most core library services during this time,” said Library Director Jason Kuhl. “We’ve welcomed the community into branches for technology appointments and more recently tax appointments, maintained a robust slate of program offerings virtually, and made library items available for curbside or driveup checkout. Even though we’ve been providing library materials to our customers, we know that doesn’t replace the browsing experience so we’re especially happy to begin offering in-building general library services again.”

Library branches will observe capacity limits.

Returned materials will continue to be quarantined for 48 hours. Passport services, meeting rooms, and in-person classes and events remain temporarily unavailable.

www.mycnews.com • Community News - St. Charles County • March 17, 2021

Healthy Living

www.bjcstcharlescounty.org/Events

A refresher on health and wellness

By Dr. John Wendt

It’s that time of year again when our New Year’s resolutions to live a healthier lifestyle may begin to dwindle or disappear completely. While it can be difficult to stay motivated, health and wellness doesn’t need to be challenging. John Wendt, MD, a BJC Medical Group family medicine physician in Wentzville, shares some helpful advice to stay on track to living well.

Start with a flexible plan Photo courtesy Bigstock To make any program work long term, it must be flexible.

Even on a diet or fitness plan, you can still enjoy special occasions and holidays, and one “bad” day on occasion should not derail you. Practice moderation and look for healthier alternatives like taking the stairs, choosing healthy snacks and limiting portions.

Eat a well-balanced diet Many diets eliminate some food groups completely. Instead, opt for a well-rounded diet. For example, carbohydrates, or carbs, are essential for quick energy and for processing fats. In fact, fruits and vegetables are carbs and are a better choice than processed options, as your body consumes them at a slower rate. Eating these healthy carbs in moderation prevents them from being stored as fat.

Get active every day Wendt believes in being active every day but limiting intense workouts to three or four times per week. Those involve getting the heart rate up and keeping it up for about 20 minutes. Staying active, even if it’s just a walk through the neighborhood, can prevent boredom eating and help you stay on track.

Be Smart About Supplements Vitamins and supplements have become very popular, but eating a well-balanced diet should provide you with most of the nutrients you need. That being said, a daily multivitamin can be helpful in supplementing a diet that may be lacking. Avoid supplementing vitamins in quantities greater than the U.S. Recommended Daily Allowances, and be weary of supplementing fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E and K, as they can cause harmful side effects if over consumed.

Reduce Your Stress Stress revs up the body’s immune system and readies the body for immediate action, whether that be the fight or flight response. While this response can be helpful during physical endeavors, it can also increase hunger as your body seeks out additional calories in preparation for avoiding stressors.

Take part in regular activity and get adequate sleep to help lower your stress.

Leading a healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Remember it’s okay to slip up every once in a while, so long as you stay focused on your goal. Your overall health and wellness will thank you.

John Wendt, MD, is a board-certified family medicine physician at BJC Medical Group at Wentzville.

You can schedule an appointment with Dr. Wendt by calling 636-928-WELL.

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School

March 17, 2021 • Community News - St. Charles County • www.mycnews.com

Two DuBray teachers among first middle school teachers selected for NASA program For the first time, NASA, through the SETI Institute, has opened its Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors program to middle school teachers. Among the 30 teachers selected from 10 states are Fort Zumwalt DuBray Middle School science teachers Alicia Black and Wesley Cullen.

The professional development is designed to improve science teaching and increase student learning and STEM engagement. Black and Cullen are among a group of middle school, high school and community college teachers selected to participate.

“Over its history, our NASA-funded AAA program has impacted tens of thousands of high school students through the immersive and inspiration-

al experience of their teachers,” said Bill Diamond, CEO of the SETI Institute. “This powerful STEM program will allow the SETI Institute to help bring NASA science into classrooms across the country.”

AAA teachers receive training in astrophysics and planetary science. Their training includes a week-long STEM immersion experience at a NASA astronomy research facility such as the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA). After their training, the AAAs teach a physical science curriculum module created by the SETI Institute that connects curriculum concepts to NASAand SOFIA-enabled research.

“We are grateful that NASA will be funding the AAA pro-

gram through 2025 and are especially excited to be adding middle school and community college teachers and their students,” said Dr. Dana Backman, AAA program lead.

“These teachers will use their professional development and SOFIA experiences to convey real-world content to their students that illuminate the value of scientific research and the wide variety of STEM career paths available to them.”

Last year, four Fort Zumwalt high school teachers participated in the program. East High’s Joe Leibner and Tom Ogle, North High’s Nick Fisher and West High’s Melissa Bouquet are looking forward to completing the training postponed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Photos courtesy Fort Zumwalt School District (Left) Fort Zumwalt DuBray Middle School science teacher Alicia Black has been selected for NASA’s Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors program. (Right) Fort Zumwalt DuBray Middle School science teacher Wesley Cullen has been selected for NASA’s Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors program.

Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri and Edward Jones Partner to expand Camp Tuckaho Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri have opened a new Outdoor Adventure High-Course Challenge, made possible through the generosity of Edward Jones.

The Outdoor Adventure High-Course Challenge, located at Girl Scouts Camp Tuckaho in Troy Missouri, has been an iconic adventure program for girls ages 12 through 18 for close to 30 years. In 2019, this course was retired with plans to rebuild.

With the tremendous support of Edward Jones, the new Outdoor Adventure HighCourse Challenge was designed and built by ABEE, Inc. ABEE, Inc. is a full-service challenge course and canopy/ zip line tour company, provid-

ing services in adventure education and experiential program design.

The High Course Challenge is the first of a multi-phase plan that will expand the outdoor adventure experiences on the nearly 600 acres of Camp Tuckaho. Phase two of the plan will launch later this year with the design and development of a High Adventure Center for girls of all ages.

“Edward Jones is proud to partner with the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri to support their mission to help girls build courage, confidence and character,” said Edward Jones Managing Partner Penny Pennington. “We invested in the new Outdoor Adventure Course at Camp Tuckaho to

www.recreationcouncil.org

create opportunities for girls to learn leadership skills, discover the value of teamwork and build confidence by taking on new challenges. These are skills that will serve them throughout their lives and we’re excited about the new adventures that await Girl Scouts across our region at Camp Tuckaho.”

“Our girls love high adventure, and these new elements will provide the experiences that will foster critical life skills they need today and, in the future,” said Bonnie Barczykowski, CEO of Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri. “Edward Jones actively works to strengthen the communities where they live and work and we are grateful for their support.”

The Outdoor Adventure Course program consists of team building and individual challenge activities on lowand high-courses, culminating with a zip line experience through the trees. The program takes place over a weekend, where girls focus on core skills such as, leadership, networking, team building, communication, journaling and confidence building.

Submitted photo Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri have opened a new Outdoor Adventure High-Course Challenge, located at Girl Scouts Camp Tuckaho in Troy Missouri, made possible through the generosity of Edward Jones.

To plan a visit to the Outdoor Adventure Course, please contact Melissa Niedermann at

mniedermann@girlscoutsem. org.

www.mycnews.com • Community News - St. Charles County • March 17, 2021

School

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WSD students named National Merit Scholarship Program finalists Ethan Dunsworth from Holt High School, Maddison Foster and Abby Manner from Timberland High School, and Andrew Sante from Liberty High School have all been selected as Finalists in the 65th Annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

The Finalists are among 15,000 academically talented U.S. high school seniors (less than one% of all high school seniors) who now have the opportunity to continue in the competition for over 7,500 National Merit Scholarships, worth more than $31 million, that will be awarded next spring. Designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

Dunsworth has a GPA of 4.61, is ranked second in his class at Holt, and scored 1540 on the SAT. Dunsworth won first at the High School Honors Division of Missouri’s Tri-County Regional Science and Engineering Fair last February, and was awarded the Air Force Research Award and Navy Research Award for his project.

He’s also been a part of Scholar Bowl, National Honor Society (NHS), and Future Business Leaders of America, and is the control lead and a programmer for the WSD Ratchet Rockers robotics team. Dunsworth was also selected to attend Missouri Boys State. In college, he plans to study physics, specifically plasma, nuclear physics, and energy engineering.

Manner has a GPA of 4.52 and earned a perfect ACT score of 36. Ranked second in her class, Manner keeps busy at school with HOSA, Link Crew, NHS and served as a Timberland class officer. Her efforts also earned her the title of AP Scholar with Distinction. Manner plans on double majoring in biological sciences and business administration with a possible minor in Spanish at the University of Missouri-Columbia. She would like to eventually attend medical school and pursue a career as a cardiothoracic surgeon.

Foster has a GPA of 4.42, and scored a 32 on her ACT. Ranked third in her class at Timberland, Foster has participated in band, golf, and NHS. Her flute and piccolo performances in the band have earned her high ratings at District and State solo

Photo courtesy Wentzville School District

and ensemble competitions. Foster plans to study either chemistry or economics in college.

Sante has a GPA of 4.45, and has scored a 32 on his ACT. Ranked fourth in his class at Liberty, he earned the title of AP Scholar with Distinction and has been active in the French Club throughout high school. Sante plans to major in physics with a minor in mathematics at Missouri University of Science and Technology.

To become Finalists, these scholars submitted an extensive scholarship application that included a strong academic record and an account of their participation in school and community activities, leadership abilities, employment and any honors or awards. About half of the students who are named Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship. Winners will be announced during the spring of 2021.

OTC and STLCC earn initial approval to offer bachelor’s degrees in respiratory therapy Missouri’s Coordinating Board for Higher Education (CBHE) approved Ozarks Technical Community College and St. Louis Community College to offer bachelor’s degrees in respiratory therapy. This marks the first time any community college in Missouri has been approved to offer bachelor’s degrees in any subject. The approval by CBHE is the first step in a multi-tiered approval process. The two respiratory therapy programs must now seek approval from the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) and the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

OTC and STLCC sought the approval to offer bachelor’s degrees in respiratory therapy because both schools hope to expand their programs in the future, and CoARC now requires that any new respiratory therapy programs offer bachelor’s degrees. The CBHE approval for the programs was made possible by a 2018 state law that allows community colleges to grant bachelor’s degrees in situations “…where the level of education

required in a field for accreditation or licensure increases to the baccalaureate level…” The CBHE approval marks the first time that law has been triggered.

The leaders of the two community colleges, Hal Higdon, Ph.D., chancellor and president, OTC, and Jeff L. Pittman, Ph.D., chancellor, STLCC, offered a joint statement.

“During the global pandemic, we have seen the vital role respiratory therapists have in treating patients who are significantly impacted by the coronavirus.

The ability to offer bachelor’s degrees in respiratory therapy will allow our institutions to continue to meet the demand for these life-saving medical professionals.”

According to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC), the demand for respiratory therapists will grow by nearly 28% by the year 2026. The average salary of a respiratory therapist in the state is nearly $56,000.

OTC and STLCC currently offer an associate of applied science in respiratory therapy.

Submitted photo Missouri’s Coordinating Board for Higher Education (CBHE) approved Ozarks Technical Community College and St. Louis Community College to offer bachelor’s degrees in respiratory therapy.

Ozarks Technical offers the program at its Springfield location, and has plans to expand to its Waynesville location in the future. STLCC offers respiratory care at the Forest Park campus and will expand to STLCC-Florissant Valley in the coming years.

OTC plans to admit the first cohort of bachelor’s degree seeking students in fall 2022 at Springfield and Waynesville.

Students will have the opportunity to pursue either the associate or bachelor’s degree in Springfield, but only the bachelor’s degree in Waynesville.

STLCC plans to welcome students in fall 2022 to pursue an associate of applied science or a bachelor’s degree in respiratory care at the Center for Nursing and Health Sciences at STLCC-Forest Park or the STLCC-Florissant Valley campus.

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What’s Happening

March 17, 2021 • Community News - St. Charles County • www.mycnews.com

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 April 7: Pancake Day

WWW.SENIORSHELPINGSENIORS.COM/STLOUISCENTRAL

This year is the 58th Annual Pancake Day for the Kiwanis Club of O’Fallon. Because of Covid-19 the Kiwanis Club members have decided to stage a curbside event. Order your pancake breakfast online now, then pick it up at Holy Cross Lutheran Church at 8945 Veterans Memorial Parkway in O’Fallon between 7 and 10 a.m.

A second option offered is an eightinch BIG CINN from Chris Cakes.

The Pancake Meal is $9 and the BIG CINN starts at $12.99. Proceeds benefit youth leadership programs, scholarships, Boys & Girls Club playground project.

To Order Go To: http://chriscakesstl-kiwanisofallon. itemorder.com.

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 314560-1868.

Mondays: Take off Pounds Sensibly

Take off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) meets every Monday from 9:30 10:30 a.m. Weigh-ins begin at 8:30 a.m. We meet at Memorial Hall in Blanchette Park at 1900 Randolph St. in St. Charles. For more information contact Joyce at 636-206-5306.

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 Linda Wilcox at 636-447-9056.

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 Con nection 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: mous

Alcoholics

Anony-

If you want to drink, that’s your business. If you want to stop, we can help.

Call Alcoholics Anonymous at 636970-0013.

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 resume practice on Mondays, at 7 p.m. at Transfiguration Episcopal Church, 1860 Lake St. Louis Blvd. in Lake St. Louis. New singers are welcome. Auditions are not required. See www.concertarts. org.

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. 314-369-6521.

Mondays and Thursdays: Bridge

St. Peters Senior Center plays bridge from 9 a.m. to noon on Monday and Thursdays, and would love to have any player, regardless of skill level, to join in. Call Mary Ann at 636-3970866 if you are interested in playing on Monday or Thursday morning.

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, 636-219-0553.

Mondays: Measurement Mondays: 10 a.m. - 12 noon at the ST. Charles Health Deparment in the Upper Lev-

el 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 9:15 - 10 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 preSchool, turn left) at 7400 South Outer 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 314-779-6892 for more information.

Tuesdays: Seniors group

Please join us on the third Tuesday of each month from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. for a gathering for senior adults. There will be lunch (no charge), cards and bingo (no charge), community program referrals, occasional health and wellness presentations and clergy available upon request. The event takes place at Church of the Transfiguration at1860 Lake St. Louis Blvd. in Lake Saint Louis. For more information call 636-561-8951.

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 636-2338032.

Tuesdays: Cottleville Weldon Spring Kiwanis Club

Cottleville Weldon Spring Kiwanis Club meets the first Tuesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. and the third Tuesday of the month at 11 a.m. Both meetings are at Rack House Kitchen

www.mycnews.com • Community News - St. Charles County • March 17, 2021 Wine Whiskey. New club looking for new members who want to better our community. Contact Christy at 314583-0538.

Tuesdays: group

Diabetes

support

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: 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.

Tuesdays: NAMI St. Louis Family Support Group

If you have a family member or friend who is having mental health concerns there is a support group for you. It meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Grace United Church of Christ at 8326 Mexico Rd. in St. Peters.

Tuesdays: Dardenne Presbyterian Church Basketball

8-9:30 p.m., in the Christian Life Center, 7400 South Outer 364 in Dardenne Prairie. Open to high school and adult men.

Tuesdays: Central Missouri Railroad Association meeting

1-4 p.m. Free. Quilt for local charities.

No sewing experience required.

This unique organization is for railroad modelers, railfans, photographers and railroad retirees with layouts in O, HO, N hoping to add G scales. Meetings are on second Tuesdays of the month from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Warrenton Masonic Lodge. For more info call 636-279-5522 or 636456-0776 or visit our Facebook page.

Tuesdays: Toastmasters Meeting

Tuesdays: Cancer support group

Tuesdays: Quilting Guild at the O’Fallon Family YMCA

7 p.m. at the Midwest Bank Centre Board Room at 2299 Technology Blvd., O’Fallon, MO 63368. Info: 636379-2505.

Tuesdays: St. Louis Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association Male Caregiver Experience

The group meets on third Tuesday of every month from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Alzheimer’s Chapter Office at 9370 Olive Blvd. For more information about Alzheimer’s disease, support, or the Male Caregiver Experience, please call the Alzheimer’s Association’s 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900 or visit www.alz.org/stl. Registration is requested before the first meeting.

Tuesdays: Social club for widows and widowers

On the first and third Tuesday of each month a social club for widows and widowers meets at 7 p.m. at St. John’s United Church of Christ at Fifth and Jackson Streets in St. Charles. On the first Tuesday there are refreshments and on the third Tuesday there is either a speaker or entertainment. The group also goes to breakfast, lunch and dinner monthly, and has a pot luck dinner each month.

Tuesdays: Monthly veterans coffee

Veterans from all branches of service are invited to the Wentzville Green Lantern Senior Center at 506 S. Linn Ave. in Wentzville on the second Tuesday of each month from 9 – 10:30 a.m. for coffee, pastries and camaraderie. Come meet with fellow veterans who served our country and share your experience.

Cancer Companions Support Group is a support group for any cancer patient in treatment or post treatment, their caregiver and their loved ones that meets on the second Tuesday of each month at Dardenne Presbyterian Church at 7400 South Outer 364 in Dardenne Prairie at 7 p.m. in the parlor. Registration is not required.

Tuesdays: Show-me Stitchers Embroiderer’s Guild of America Meets at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month at the Trinity Church.

Info: www.showmestitchers.com.

Tuesdays: O’Fallon Garden Club

Meets at 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Tues-

day of the month at Sunrise Methodist Church, 7116 Twin Chimney Blvd.

Info: Barb at 636.978.5930. Club does not meet in August or November.

Tuesdays: St. Charles American Legion Post 312 spaghetti dinner.

5pm, St. Charles American Legion Post 312, 2500 Raymond Drive in St. Charles on the last Tuesday of the month. $6 per person. For more information call Post 312 at 636-947-7666.

What’s Happening

Ave. in O’Fallon. Bread, canned goods other necessities.

Wednesdays: St. Charles Area Wood Carvers

Meetings are held from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Hollenbeck Middle School SUDOKU answers from page F-1

at 4555 Central School Road in St. Charles. Visitors are always welcome.

For more information visit http:// www.stcharlesareawoodcarvers.com/ or contact Charles Sapp at cwsapp@ charter.net.

CROSSWORD answers from page F-4

Tuesdays and Thursdays: Tai Chi at the St. Charles County Family YMCA

10:15-11:15 a.m. No experience necessary. 636-928-1928.

Tuesdays and Thursdays: Get Fit Exercise Classes

9-10 a.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church Hall, New Melle. 314369-6521.

Wednesdays: Food pantry

Food pantry open Wednesdays to the public from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Cornerstone UMC at 1151 Tom Ginnever

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10

Sports

March 17, 2021 • Community News - St. Charles County • www.mycnews.com

Sports you see with Gary B . . .

www.proacriveprintservices.com

Baseball in O’Fallon just added a few new teams The Adidas Athletics are an established baseball organization in the St. Louis area and will field a team in the CarShield Collegiate League (CCL) for the first time in 2021 The CCL and CarShield Field in O’Fallon announced the T-Ravs, Shredded Cheese and Rubber Chickens will join the Adidas Athletics as participants in the 2021 edition of the CCL. “This summer is about fun and what better way to showcase that than our team names for the second year of the CCL,” Hoots and CarShield Field General Manager David Schmoll said. “It’s an exciting time to be a baseball fan and a fan of entertainment in O’Fallon as we grow new fan bases with our four teams.”

The Hoots and CarShield Field are committed to providing a safe and responsible environment for friends and families to enjoy entertainment this summer. We will continue to comply with federal, state and local government health mandates and recommendations.

For up-to-the-minute information about the Hoots, visit www.OFallonHoots.com *Look forward to an exciting and entertaining season Lindenwood women’s softball player earns honors Lindenwood University’s senior shortstop Whitney Wendel was named the GLVC Player of the Week.

It is the first time in Wendel’s career that she has received the accolade, and she becomes the second player this season to earn a league laurel.

She is the third player in program history to earn a conference weekly honor.

Wendel batted .500 (4-8) with a 1.375 slugging percentage and a .500 on-base percentage in team’s doubleheader sweep against Parkside last Friday.

She tallied two extra-base hits in both games with a double and a home run in the first contest, and a double and a triple in the second game.

Cumulatively, she scored three runs and tallied two RBI in the two games, while averaging two hits

www.duchesne-hs.org/dream-home.html

per matchup. Wendel finished with a career-high six total bases in first game and five in the second. *What a day Ambush player earns honors The St. Louis Ambush play their home games at the Family Arena in St. Charles in the Major Arena Soccer League (MASL).

The team has played the most games of the seven teams during restrictions this year because of Covid and find themselves in fourth place with a seven and seven record. Recently they have done very well winning three of four games in one stretch with the playoffs just around the corner.

As the league picks the week-10 team of the week the Ambush have one of their own on the squad.

The teams’ forward JT Thomas played an exceptional game recently to take home the hardware.

Thomas had an incredible final minutes in the Ambush’s 5-4 overtime win over the Tacoma Stars on Sunday. With 3:57 left to go in regulation, Thomas found the back of the net for the game-tying goal in a game that ultimately went to overtime.

In the extra frame, Thomas sent home a power play goal 1:38 into the OT period to give his team the win and push the Ambush back to .500.

For more information go to www.STLAmbush. com *Exciting finish

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, and co-hosted SportsRadioSTL.com, and is 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.

www.mycnews.com • Community News • March 17, 2021

Recipe:

F-1

– SUDOKU –

Lucky shamrock cookies

It’s your lucky day because you don’t have to search for the pot of gold under the rainbow for this winning recipe. Throw out the old Irish classics and sweeten things up this year with some mint chocolate chip fun.

If you’re in a crunch for St. Patrick’s Day and need something glowing with green, here is a dessert that is sure to have everyone coming back for seconds (and more).

These Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies are as green as four-leaf clovers and have delicious chocolate chips mixed throughout for some extra sweet flavor. Served

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beside a big glass of milk, they are perfect treats for any St. Patrick’s Day party or virtual gathering.

With so much mixing and scooping to be done, this is a great recipe for kids to get involved in the kitchen, too. One of the best parts is the eye-catching color.

Watch children’s smiling little faces as the batter turns from light brown to dark green for a priceless reaction.

After being perfectly baked, these cookies are bright, fun and will be the hit of any celebration. Soft in the middle, a little crisp on the edges and as green as can be.

You can’t ask for much more on St. Patrick’s Day.

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.

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies Servings: 24-32

Ingredients:

Directions:

2 1/2 cups flour

Heat oven to 375 F.

1 teaspoon baking soda

In large bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt until blended. Set aside.

1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup butter, softened

1 teaspoon peppermint extract

In medium bowl, beat butter and sugar until combined. Add eggs, food coloring and peppermint extract; beat until combined.

1 package (12 ounces) chocolate chips

Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients; beat until combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop

1 1/4 cups sugar 2 eggs 30 drops green food coloring

spoonfuls of cookie dough onto baking sheet.

Bake 11-14 minutes, or until edges are lightly browned.

Cool on wire racks.

Find more recipes, celebration ideas and desserts for every occasion at Culinary.net.

SEE ANSWERS ON PAGE 9

‘The Phantom Tollbooth’ returns to spotlight after death of author

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.

I paid special attention to the news that author Norton Juster passed away at the age of 91. In1961, Juster wrote “The Phantom Tollbooth,” a brilliant children’s book that should be given to any child who says they are bored and have nothing to do.

Juster’s passing put this novel back in the spotlight.

According to USA Today, Juster had been working on a children’s book about cities, but that proved to be tedious work and led to the creation of “The Phantom Tollbooth.” The protagonist of the story was Milo, a boy oblivious to the marvels of the world around him.

After coming home from school one day, he found a package containing a small tollbooth, coins to pay tolls and a map of “The Lands Beyond.” Sitting in his electric toy car, the young man paid his tolls and soon found himself on a road far away from his bedroom.

Over 255 pages, Juster built a world that could cure the boredom in an instant. Milo’s journeys included meeting a “watchdog” named Tock and a trip to the King-

dom of Wisdom, which was divided into two bickering cities: Dictionopolis and Digitopolis. Two wise princesses helped guide the kingdom until they said that letters and numbers were equally important and ended up in prison. Milo had to find a way to free the princesses and bring harmony back to the land.

Juster’s clever use of words and phrases made “The Phantom Tollbooth” such a classic. In one chapter, Milo attended a banquet where literally every guest has to eat their own words, but Milo, unfortunately, chose his words poorly. Later in the story, he and his travelling companions made some bad judgements and landed on the Island of Conclusions. At another stop, Milo met the world’s biggest dwarf and conducted a colorful orchestra.

Directed by the great Chuck Jones, an animated version of “The Phantom Tollbooth” was released in 1970 and the print version is still available for sale.

The animated version of “The Phantom Tollbooth” is available to stream on Amazon Prime.

“The Phantom Tollbooth” photo courtesy Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

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ACTIVE BUYER

March 17, 2021 • Community News • www.mycnews.com

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We deliver trucks of all types & sizes from manufacturers and installers to their destinations.

COLLECTIBLES

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ENDORSEMENTS and a PASSPORT are a plus, BUT NOT REQUIRED! No MANUAL TRANSMISSION RESTRICTION ON CDL. 7+ years of verifiable experience utilizing your CDL Class A or B and possess a clean license are required. Former firemen, OTR drivers, garbage truck drivers, recent retirees are welcome!!!

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HELP WANTED

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world, now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, Pray for us. St. Jude, Worker of Miracles, Pray for us. St. Jude, Helper of the Hopeless, Pray for us.

Say this prayer 9 times a day for 9 days, then publish. Your prayers will be answered.

It has never been known to fail.

Thank you, St. Jude. K.B.

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March 17, 2021 • Community News • www.mycnews.com

Yeggs

John Hanna

Crossword: Baseball

‘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.

By Cindy Moore

Moore On Life My body is turning on me: strange aches, phantom pains, wiry hairs growing out of weird places. Why is this happening?

I’ll do something as simple as open the front door too fast and it results in feeling like I’ve wrenched my shoulder muscle. Or I’ll walk out to get the mail and regret it afterwards. “Did I develop and actual ankle sprain from just stepping down from the curb?”

I’ll even wake up on some days only to find that my neck feels like it’s been severed from my head.

“What is that beastly pain?” I asked my husband as I rub my aching spine.

“Oh ya, that happens. You probably slept wrong.”

“Define ‘slept wrong,’ as in I slept upside down from the ceiling like a giant fruit bat with an anvil tied to my head?”

Here’s how I slept: I got into bed and laid down on my pillow. I woke up the next morning feeling like my neck has been twisted sideways and pinned all night in between the massive thighs of a professional wrestler.

“It’s just your body. It turns on you at our age?”

“Well I’ve got something to say about that! ‘Hey body, what did I ever do to you?! Haven’t I clothed and fed and given you everything you’ve ever wanted? Remember that time when you had a mad craving for chocolate at 1 a.m.? And not the cheap stuff made from brown Crayon wax and vegetable oil either. No! I got you the good kind; the rich

70% cacao imported straight outta Belgium.

AND paid big bucks for it too!

Remember how yummy those chocolates were? Remember how we hid the box in the dishwasher because we didn’t want that husband of ours to find them? That wasn’t such a good place after all. The one time he opens the dishwasher to clean his hubcaps and he finds them hidden there and eats half the box!

Anyway, I thought we were in this together.

Now this is the thanks I get?”

“Hey, what other surprises am I in store for?” I ask my husband.

He eyes my body up and down and says, “Unusual weight gain.”

“Never mind,” I say snarkily, “I just figured out the reason behind the pain in my neck!”

Body of lies

Cindy Moore is the mother of three superlative kids, servant of two self-indulgent felines and wife to one nifty husband. Her ficticious occupation? Archeological Humorist: someone who unearths absurdity and hilarity in strange and unusual places including public restrooms, the lint filter, and church meetings.

Most recently, she excavated a find in her neighbor’s bird feeder.

The opinions expressed in this column are Cindy Moore’s alone and do not reflect the opinion of the owners or staff of Community News.

ACROSS 1. Turkey trot, e.g.

6. Dadaist Jean 9. *____ crew, Milwaukee Brewers fan base 13. Poppy seed derivative 14. Afghan monetary unit 15. Hotel room option 16. Category of artistic composition 17. Between northeast and east 18. Relating to pond scum 19. *Babe Ruth’s first major league team 21. *____-and-____ sport 23. Dog command 24. Bald eagle’s home 25. Witchy woman 28. Back wound?

30. Siskel or Ebert 35. Smoothing appliance 37. Distinctive flair 39. Stomata, sing.

40. Burlap fiber 41. Archeologist’s find 43. Estimated arrivals 44. Discompose 46. Cobbler’s concern 47. Merlin or Gandalf 48. *B in RBI 50. Close by 52. Spade for stony ground

53. Karl of politics 55. Between ready and go 57. *Left, center or right one 61. *Yankees’ only #4 64. Blast from the past 65. Crew tool 67. Helped 69. ____ one’s time, past tense 70. Schiller’s poem 71. Express contempt 72. What Simon does 73. Cut grass 74. Intoxicating DOWN 1. *Eat a hot one at the game 2. Copycat 3. *Number of standard baseball positions 4. Miss Muffet’s meal 5. Vomiting 6. Highest point 7. *Scoring unit 8. Annapolis frosh 9. Tulip’s early stage 10. Capital of Latvia 11. Et alibi (2 words) 12. Water source 15. Bacchus’ attendants 20. Weasel’s aquatic cousin 22. *Baseball trajectory 24. Diver’s edible reward

25. Muslim woman’s headscarf 26. Caribbean island destination 27. Gained access to (2 words) 29. Hoppy beers 31. Individual unit 32. Bottom line 33. Idealized image 34. *Katie ____ or “____ at the Bat” 36. Empty when kids leave 38. World’s longest river 42. Cut it out 45. Moved a flock of sheep 49. Certain John’s or Jane’s last name 51. Re-use old ideas 54. Car sound, to a toddler 56. Trinity 57. Small door-opening devices 58. One of the hipbones, pl.

59. Whirlpool 60. “Big Little ____” 61. What Jack’s beanstalk did 62. It comes to mind 63. Turned to the right, like a horse 66. Commotion or fuss 68. Wine quality SEE ANSWERS ON PAGE 9