CNSTC: December 28, 2022

Around Town

By Brett Auten

After trudging through “Shark Tank”-like conditions, Misha Gutzler earned quite the stocking stuffer.

Misha Gutzler and her business, Fysiq (located inside the Mid-Rivers Mall in St. Peters), stood out among hundreds at the University of Missouri-St. Louis Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Accelerator latest class of six.

Gutzler described Fysiq as hearkening back to our younger days of “playing.” If squatting, push-ups, stretching, pull-ups and more, is a challenge, the assistance of the bungee will assist you where you need it. This class teaches you how to get acclimated to using the bungee as a workout tool, and the fundamentals of performing basic exercises, all crafted and

programmed by Gutzler. The workouts have participants from ages six-to-91-years-old

“It’s assisted resistance,” Gutzler said. “You have a good time while working out, no matter what the fitness level. You’re working everything, strength and cardio, at the same time. You have to keep moving, especially as you get older. ”

Gutzler is a former three-time All-American track and field athlete, coach, fitness instructor, and personal trainer. Established in St. Louis in 2017, Fysiq assists people in meeting their fitness and weight loss goals through bungee fitness. Since starting the company, in the past three years, Fysq is the only fitness studio in the STL metro that practices its’ mission through Bungee Fitness and Aerial Bungee Fitness.

Each company in the 10-week program will receive a $50,000 non-dilutive capital infusion, mentoring from UMSL staff, faculty and other business owners and be assigned two UMSL interns to help with the operations.

The UMSL Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Accelerator is a first-of-its kind program that puts underrepresented entrepreneurs at the center of a purpose-driven, university-led accelerator. Its aim is to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the St. Louis startup ecosystem by empowering diverse founders from underrepresented communities.

“They are all about St. Louis and the St. Louis area,” Gutzler said. “It is for the busi-

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Misha Gutzler and her business, Fysiq (located inside the Mid-Rivers Mall in St. Peters), stood out among hundreds at the University of Missouri-St. Louis

latest class of six. (Right) Misha Gutzler (right) and her company

assigned two UMSL interns to help with

‘RISING’ from cover

nesses that do really have the opportunity to find investors.”

Along with Gutzler and Fysiq, the group features a variety of businesses including: B Juiced, a fresh Juice company; Jakapa, a soft skills app company; My friends and I, a production company; Mr. Fresh, an air freshener company and Posie Pots & 3D Prints, a company that makes self-watering planters using 3D printing technology.

“It was very nerve-wracking going in,” Gutzler said. “There was an auditorium with about 100 people in it and you had a five-minute pitch.”

Dan Lauer, founding executive director of UMSL Accelerate, is excited about the new-

est cohort and helping them connect with resources. He said that though all of the selected businesses offer different products and services, they all share a common purpose–contributing to the greater good of the community.

“This is going to be a strong group,” Lauer said. “There’s a lot of gratitude. There’s a lot of energy, and we really did stick with our mission of selecting founders who need access. There was a lot of temptation to get people who were much further along. We said no. I’m proud of our team, and I’m proud of this.”

For more information on Gutzler and Fysiq, visit www.fysiqfit.com.

Submitted photo Misha Gutzler and her business, Fysiq (located inside the Mid-Rivers Mall in St. Peters), stood out among hundreds at the University of Missouri-St. Louis Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Accelerator latest class of six.

The importance of regular immunizations for heart health

While most parents are good at keeping track of vaccines their kids need to stay healthy, many adults don’t realize there are immunizations important for keeping themselves heart-healthy, as well.

Adults, especially those with a history of heart disease or stroke, should take steps to stay up-to-date on preventive vaccines, particularly for the flu and COVID-19.

Influenza – While many experience just a few days of aches and chills, the flu can be deadly for some, including young children, the elderly and those with chronic conditions like heart disease, stroke and diabetes. There has also been research linking flu infection to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Getting a flu shot can not only prevent the flu, it may also reduce the risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

In fact, a study published in “Stroke” found that, among a group of people hospitalized for various reasons, those who experienced a flu-like illness within a month of their hospitalization were 38% more likely to have a stroke. Receiving the flu vaccine within a year prior to hospitalization lowered a person’s stroke risk to 11%.

“Getting an annual flu shot should be part of routine health care for all individuals, especially for people who are already living with chronic health conditions that put them at higher risk for heart attacks or strokes,” said Eduardo Sanchez, M.D., M.P.H., FAHA, American Heart Association chief medical officer for prevention.

“The potentially serious complications of the flu are far greater for those with chronic diseases. This is true not just for older people but even those age 50 and younger who have a history of high blood pressure, heart disease or diabetes.”

COVID-19 – At the onset of the pandemic, the American Heart Association established the COVID-19 Cardiovascular Disease Registry, which found people with or at risk for CVD were more likely to become infected with and die from COVID-19. Additionally, the research found many people experience heart and vascular disease after getting COVID-19.

A study from the registry published in “Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology” found new-onset atrial fibrillation in 1 in 20 patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Additionally, research also found people hospitalized with COVID-19 had a higher risk of stroke compared with people who had similar infectious conditions such as influenza or sepsis.

“We can’t stress enough the connections

between COVID-19 and cardiovascular disease,” Sanchez said. “There is clear evidence that people who have heart and vascular disease and even those with CVD risk factors are more likely to get COVID and to have more severe complications from the virus.”

Other Immunizations – While flu and COVID-19 vaccines are of the utmost importance, there are a number of other immunizations that can help keep people heart-healthy.

• The pneumococcal vaccination protects against a common cause of severe pneumonia and is especially important for people 65 and older, and others with certain underlying medical conditions. This type of pneumonia can be deadly, especially for people already at high risk for health complications, including CVD. One shot is usually good for several years, although you may need a second one later depending on your age at your first shot.

• Shingles, a viral infection caused by the chickenpox virus, has been linked to an increased risk of stroke. More than 99% of people age 40 or older in the United States may carry the dormant chickenpox virus, also known as the varicella-zoster virus, and not even realize it.

Learn more about important immunizations and find other preventive health tips at heart.org.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Ameristar St. Charles contributes $50,000 to St. Louis Crisis Nursery and Missouri Veterans Endeavor

On Dec. 8, Boyd Gaming’s Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles donated $25,000 to The Saint Louis Crisis Nursery and Missouri Veterans Endeavor (MOVE-STL).

The Saint Louis Crisis Nursery is a national leader in child abuse and neglect prevention offering immediate crisis intervention and intensive follow-up support to help high-risk families with children from birth to age 12. Originally founded in 1986, the Saint Louis Crisis Nursery strives to make the world a better place for children through short-term care, culturally responsive interventions, concrete support, crisis counseling, and parenting education, grassroots community outreach and advocacy for the safety and wellbeing of all children and families in the region.

The Saint Louis Crisis Nursery staff and guests were surprised by the announcement of the $25,000 donation during their “Over the Top for Tots” gala hosted at Ameristar St. Charles’ Conference Center. The event brought together nearly 400 guests for shopping, fashion, music and lunch that benefitted the children of the Crisis Nursery. Ward Shaw, Senior Vice President

and General Manager of Ameristar St. Charles, was in attendance to present the gift on stage on behalf of all team members at the property.

“We have held “Over the Top for Tots” at Ameristar for many years, and they go above and beyond every year,” said DiAnne Mueller, Saint Louis Crisis Nursery CEO. “The room, the service, and the food consistently exceed our expectations. And the surprise donation of $25,000 from Boyd Gaming (or Ameristar) is so amazingly generous. These funds will allow the Crisis Nursery to help thousands of children in the St. Louis area who are at risk of child abuse and neglect.”

Missouri Veterans Endeavor (MOVE-STL) is a nonprofit that provides long-term supportive housing and comprehensive services to homeless veterans and their family members. MOVE-STL offers long-term housing, therapy, clinical case management, transportation, emergency assistance and childcare assistance to empower struggling veterans to rediscover a sense of purpose and optimism. The $25,000 donation was pre-

sented to the organization only days before Ameristar St. Charles team members delivered premade Thanksgiving meals to the veterans and families served by the charity.

“The team at Ameristar Casino Resort Spa have been the most extraordinary partners, supporters and friends of our organization and Veterans,” said Bill Wallace, Executive Director of Missouri Veterans Endeavor. “Their generosity has no limits, as they are constantly engaged with us and looking for ways to promote our work, the needs of our Veterans, and to give to us. Every year their catering team delivers beautifully prepared meals for our Veterans and their families at Thanksgiving, they invite our Veterans to dine at their resort on Veterans Day, and they have invited us to decorate a Christmas Tree over the Holidays and have awarded us prizes for our efforts. The employees have also continuously supported us with their giving fund, and this most recent gift is again such a generous, kind, and extraordinary act. They are true champions for our veterans, and we are so fortunate to have them as our friends.”

Boys & Girls Club participates in garden harvest

During the summer of 2022, club members at Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Charles County O’Fallon Unit learned about gardens. This was done under the tutelage of volunteers from the St. Charles County Master Gardeners.

The Master Gardeners are a program of the University of Missouri Extension.

One day in late spring the kids planted sweet potato slips in the club’s raised vegetable beds. After a summer of watering, weeding

and watching the sweet potato vines fill the bed, the beds were ready for harvest. After harvest, the potatoes were properly “cured” for a period of time and were ready to be used.

Approximately 45 lbs. of sweet potatoes were harvested. Two were used for creating four sweet-potato pies, which were enjoyed by the club members in the after-school program. Potatoes and recipes for the pies were made available for the kids to take home for Thanksgiving, and any extras

Photos courtesy Boyd Gaming

On Dec. 8, Boyd Gaming’s Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles donated $25,000 to The Saint Louis Crisis Nursery and Missouri Veterans Endeavor (MOVE-STL).

were donated to a local food pantry.

Photos courtesy Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Charles County (Left) Garden beds after the soil was loosened and before the club members collected the harvest. (Right)Club members stand with pies and some of the potatoes that were donated.

Fort Zumwalt School District seniors named National Merit semi-finalists and Commended Scholars

Ten Fort Zumwalt School District seniors are 2023 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists by being among the top scorers on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) taken by more than one million high school juniors at more than 22,000 high schools across the nation.

They represent less than 1% of high school students across the nation. In

February they will learn if they have advanced to become finalists for consideration in the more than $28 million in scholarships distributed in National Merit Scholarships.

Fort Zumwalt’s National Merit Finalists are:

East High: Andrew Hoette

North High: Alan Meyer and Hope Wheeler

South High: Ryan Deken, Sathvik Enturi, Hayden Reinhold, Varun Vasireddy, Rajyalakshmi Yarlagadda

West High: Ava Baker and Lakshita Senthil

Fort Zumwalt’s National Merit Commended Scholars are among the top 2-3% of the more than 1.6 million students who entered the competition.

The FZSD Class of 2023 National Merit Commended Scholars are:

North High: Noah Page

South High: Chavi Khanna and Meghana Sivabalan

West High: Aidan Copeland, Ekagrah Kumar, Andrew Merkel and Lindsey Weinhold

Panda Express celebrated the grand opening of its newest location in O’Fallon with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony with members of the O’Fallon Chamber of Commerce on Dec. 14.

Located at 3601 Monticello Plaza Drive, the new Panda Express location offers all of Panda’s iconic dishes.

“Our entire Panda team is grateful to serve the O’Fallon community by providing new jobs and supporting local organizations through fundraising opportunities,” said Xin Qin, Panda Express Acting Regional Director of Operations. “We hope to be a lasting part of the community and welcome all guests into our doors to try our American Chinese favorites and discover their own.”

As a family-owned and operated company committed to supporting the communities it serves, Panda has set out to create multiple employment opportunities for local residents, offering one of the highest starting wages in the restaurant industry and comprehensive benefits. A majority of Panda General Managers earn

$100,000 annually. Wages start at $15 per hour for all front of house hires, as well as $16 per hour for all new back of house hires. Those interested in a career with Panda Express can visit Pandacareers.com.

At each Panda Express location, associates ring a bell each time a guest donates to the Panda Cares in-store donation box. Panda Cares Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Panda Express, donates 100% of the funds collected to local nonprofit organizations that support the health and education needs of underserved youth. Any organization registered as a nonprofit/501(c)(3)/tax-exempt organization can sign up for the Neighborhood Fundraisers, and Panda donates 20% of pre-tax event sales from in-person and online orders submitted through the Panda Express website or mobile app at the selected Panda location.

Local store hours are Sunday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

For more information on Panda Express, please visit Pandaexpress.com.

Photos courtesy Fort Zumwalt School District

Panda Express celebrates opening of its newest restaurant location in O’Fallon

Take Notice . . .

EVENTS

Lane, Wentzville, MO.. For more information contact Ed Jurotich at 314-560-1868.

stcharlesareawoodcarvers. com/ or contact Charles Sapp at cwsapp@charter.net.

Mondays: Choral Arts Singers practice

the last. There will be baby weigh-ins, introductions, games, interactive education, group conversation, and even snacks.

What’s Happening

covery meets every Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Dardenne Prairie Presbyterian Church (enter at Adam Lamb pre-School, turn left) at 7400 South Outer 364 at the corner with Bryan Road.

Tuesdays:

Cribbage

Mondays and Wednesdays: Tai Chi for arthritis class

Dec. 31:

Youth orchestra auditions

Music students can join the St. Charles County Youth Orchestra (SCCYO) during mid-season video auditions. Video auditions will be accepted through Dec. 31. Rehearsals begin on Jan. 7. All levels of string, wind, brass, and percussion are accepted. The orchestra rehearsals are on Saturdays with two performance opportunities on April 1 and May 20. SCCYO Winter Concert will be held on Dec. 18 at 2 p.m. at Missouri Baptist University. For more information about auditions or tickets for the concert please contact sccyomusic@gmail. com or www.sccyo.org.

Jan. 7: Auto care clinic

Starting in January, Kim Barks of Complete Car & RV Repair Center at 3309 New Town Blvd. in St. Charles will be hosting a free auto care clinic for women at the repair center. Donations will be accepted for local charity and each month there will be a class free of charge on the first Saturday of each month.

Jan.

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: 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.

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: 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.

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 Re-

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.

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.

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.

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

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: 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 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 636-397-0866 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, 636219-0553

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.

Mondays: Measurement 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 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.

CROSSWORD answers from page F-4

SUDOKU answers from page F-1

Sports you see with Gary B . . .

Lindenwood athlete receives high honors

Recently Lindenwood University’s football standout Kobe McClendon was named to the 2022 Stats Perform Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Freshman

All-American team. (Also known as Division 1-AA) McClendon was one of three Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) players to be recognized on the freshman squad. The Stats Perform All-American list featured three teams, and a freshman team, as the OVC received nods for a total of nine different players. McClendon represented Lindenwood as one of four schools in the conference to make the list.

McClendon finished his year with 7.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, and an outstanding five quarterback hurries. On the season, McClendon was tied for top-12 in the OVC with his 3.0 sacks, while his 7.0 tackles for loss ranked 17th. The St. Mary’s product ranked second on the team in sacks, tackles for loss, and quarterback hurries.

Lindenwood ended its first season as a NCAA Division I program with a 7-3 record, while finishing OVC play with a 1-3 mark.

*Great accomplishment

UMSL athlete receives academic honors

The University of Missouri-St. Louis graduate student outside hitter Charlotte Richards has been named to the 2022 Academic All-America Division II Volleyball First Team, as selected by the College Sports Communicators (CSC).

She is the first player in program history to receive the honor twice in her career. Richards was a second team selection after the Spring 2021 season. She joins Danielle Waedekin as the only players in program history to be selected to the first team.

Richards received her undergraduate degree in

supply chain management and is finishing her master’s degree in supply chain data analytics. She had a 3.94 grade point average as an undergraduate and 4.0 in her master’s program.

Among the NCAA Division II Academic All-America team, eight student-athletes own 4.0 GPAs with two more posting 4.0 GPAs in their graduate studies. The seven members of the first team have an average GPA of 3.975. Richards is one of five Division II Academic All-America recipients to become two-time honorees.

She was the Great Lakes Valley Conference’s Player of the Year for the third straight season in 2022, was a First Team selection on the D2CCA and AVCA All-America teams and was the AVCA’s Midwest Region Player of the Year. Richards led the Tritons and the GLVC this season in kills with 492, points (561.5) and points per set with 4.80 and was second in the conference in aces per set at 0.42. She won three GLVC Player of the Week awards this season with two coming on the offensive side (Sept. 12 and Oct. 10) and one on the defensive side (Nov. 7).

UMSL posted a record of 25-7 this season, won the Midwest Regional championship, was an NCAA semifinalist and ranked No. 11 in the final AVCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll.

To be eligible for Academic All-America honors, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve who carries a 3.5 or higher cumulative grade point average and is at least a sophomore. Nominees must have participated in at least 50 percent of the team’s games and be a starter or important reserve with legitimate athletic and academic credentials.

*Great accomplishment

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.

Movie:

By Steve Bryan

In 2013, Warner Bros. (now known as Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.) released “Man of Steel,” a reboot of the “Superman” franchise featuring English actor Henry Cavill in the title role.

Unlike its predecessors, this film delved deeper into Clark’s years on Earth, especially how he saved lives and helped people with his powers. Since its release, “Man of Steel” built a solid fanbase and Cavill went on to become part of 2016’s “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.”

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 recent “Black Adam” movie also featured an end-credits cameo appearance of Cavill’s Superman talking to Dwayne Johnson’s character. Shortly after that reveal, however, James Gunn, co-Chairman and co-CEO of DC Studios, announced that Cavill will no longer portray Superman for them.

Gunn really doesn’t understand Superman’s true worth to the studio, especially when played by Henry Cavill. In “Man of Steel,” director Zack Snyder explored Clark Kent’s infancy on the doomed planet Krypton. His father, Jor-El (Russell Crowe), and mother Lara (Ayelet Zurer) sent their baby Kal-El away in a rocket ship to save his life,

but General Zod (Michael Shannon) knew that the Codex, an ancient Kryptonian artifact used to determine an infant’s genetic potential, was also on-board Kal’s ship. Zod needed that artifact to shape his personal vision of Krypton’s future.

Director Snyder also examined Kent’s potential for selfless heroics in a series of flashbacks. One sequence showed Clark as a journeyman on a commercial fishing boat. When alerted of men trapped on a burning oil rig, he used his powers to free them and then held up a falling derrick so their helicopter could escape the flames. When bussing tables in a honky-tonk bar, Clark stopped a truck driver from harassing a waitress and, before he walked away, left the driver a costly surprise on the park-

– SUDOKU –

ing lot. As a teen, Clark was on a school bus that fell off a bridge, which prompted him to save his classmates.

In truth, “Man of Steel” was an epic hero’s journey about an alien who, for the longest time, didn’t know exactly who he was and what he could really do. After finding a Scout Ship sent to Earth from Krypton, Clark found a holographic version of Jor-El, who explained Clark’s origins and encouraged him to keep testing his powers. Zack Snyder had fun putting Henry Cavill through his paces, including a sequence where Clark crashed through a mountain in the Artic. Snyder also gave Superman an ethical and moral dilemma about how to handle General Zod’s arrival on Earth.

For now, Henry Cavill will no longer portray Superman in future films. Additionally, writer/director Patty Jenkins, who directed the 2017 blockbuster “Wonder Woman,” confirmed that she did not walk away from the third movie in the franchise as some have reported. DC Universe heads James Gunn and Peter Safran apparently want to tear things down and rebuild them, but they don’t see the true gems they already had to work

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.

‘Man of Steel’ star Henry Cavill will no longer play Superman

“Man of Steel’ photo courtesy Warner Bros. Discoverm Inc.

Moore on Life: Bliss-mas

Christmas is over. Boo hiss! All the good things the season brought, such as the parties and singing and gifting and eating are now a thing of the past and won’t come around for another long year. How I will miss that.

But of course, on the bright side the irritating things will be gone too, like the humble brag Christmas letters from relatives you’ve long forgotten. Then there’s those overdecorated houses like our annoying neighbors, the Pilkinsons.

They strung up enough lights and used enough wattage to single-handedly cause the rolling blackouts in our area. While they could have done something useful and powered every electric vehicle in the U.S., they chose instead to attract total strangers to my location who circled around my house all night long. It was like living in Alaska during the summer with 24 hours of illumination, only our illumination was blinking non-stop. I was on the verge of a stroke and had to get blackout curtains.

They have to be loaded to afford that kind of power bill. Yet, naturally, when the time came for the neighbor gift exchange, Mrs. Pilkinson gave us some keychains and pens. Now you’d think that might not have been so bad, except they still had her husband’s business logo on them. Can you say freebies?! That did not make my holly jolly one bit.

Then there was that other type of houses on the opposite side of us which had those blow-up things. You know the ones I’m talking about; those big hideous in-

With stay-at-home holidays a thing of the past for many families, they’re now busy preparing for full-blown celebrations. The return of traditional festivities can bring never-ending to-do lists and pressure to the host.

From mastering a mouthwatering menu and donning your home with decadent decor to ensuring guests enjoy the evening to the fullest, hosting duties bring plenty of responsibilities. This year, you can avoid those anxious feelings with some preparation ahead of the big day.

To help pull off a sensational seasonal soiree, consider these tips from the entertaining experts at Sun-Maid to make the holidays brighter and more manageable so you can navigate the stresses of hosting.

Invite others to share favorite traditions

Especially with stay-at-home holidays in recent years, some friends and family members may have developed their own special traditions from new recipes and foods to seasonal games and activities. Inviting your guests to bring or share something that represents their favorite part of the holidays can help everyone feel welcome.

Take time for yourself

Remember to make time for yourself so you can enjoy the fruits of your labor right alongside guests. The busyness of this time of year can add stress but reflecting on the true meaning of the season and reveling in your favorite parts of the holidays can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed.

By Cindy Moore CROSSWORD: HAPPY HOLIDAYS

flatables the size of Macy’s parade balloons. Of course, one or two would be acceptable, but these people went nuts. They must have got in on the buy-ten-get-ten free deal because every square inch of their yard was loaded up with those bouncy blobs.

Thankfully, just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse something magical happened. The Pilkinson’s blew a major fuse which called for a professional to come in and fix their entire electrical system. But darn, every electrician within two states away was booked until February.

Then a freak winter squall blasted our way and lifted the balloon people’s house up into the stratosphere. Last I heard they landed somewhere in Kansas.

Yes, Christmas miracles still do happen.

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.

Add new ingredients to your menu

While pairing this year’s turkey or ham with the classics provides comfort and calls to mind holiday memories of the past, cooking with new ingredients and adding fresh recipes to the menu can put a fun spin on the season and maybe even create your own traditions to carry forward.

Hop on hot food trends

One of this year’s most popular trends in the kitchen is food boards, a fun and easy way to elevate flavor while incorporating favorites like cured meats, cold cuts, cheese slices and cubes, dips, nuts and more. Plus, you can keep your board balanced with nutritious items like vegetables and fruit, such as raisins, which provide sweet flavor without the added sugars.

A time for truce

Gathering for the holidays is about coming together with loved ones, family, friends and neighbors – and pulling it off means catering to everyone’s needs and wants. It’s a time for compromises and truces. To help add a little extra spark this year, try incorporating a theme to the party or coordinate fun activities and games that can be enjoyed by all. For example, holiday-themed charades, a seasonal “name that tune” game and gift exchanges all give guests ways to get in on the excitement.

To find more holiday entertaining inspiration and recipe ideas, visit SunMaid.com/PullOffTheHolidays.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images