By Tasmyn Scarl Front

‘CATCH’ from cover

– 25 years plus, typically. Bats find their way into people’s homes, and though we need bats – they are an important part of our ecosystem – we just cannot live with them in the same structure. There is a fungus that grows in their fecal matter called histoplasmosis – that fungus is bad on human lungs. We will get asthma, bronchitis – all kinds of respiratory problems.”

Beran stated that Raptor Rescue was solely funded initially by Wildlife Command Center’s participation in events such as Comic Con and Renaissance Fair where the center solicits donations. COVID-19 prevented the organization from gathering donations last year. Recently, the center began selling its own coffee to fund the nonprofit (visit https://buywcc.com for details on how to support).

The Wildlife Command Center which rescues people from wild animals and pests, remedies invasive birds for commercial businesses, and trains and provides animals for commercial, movie, and party needs, doubles in size yearly according to Beran since moving its hub to St. Louis in 2014. Beran founded Wildlife in Shreveport, Louisiana in 2010. “In 2014 we decided that we needed a bigger city that was somewhere in the Midwest so that we could operate the way I had envisioned (running) Wildlife Command Center,” he stated.

Beran who has center locations in five other states also shared that he has been everywhere and “personally” loves St. Louis.

“I was in the navy for a number of years – up and down the east coast. I have traveled and I just personally love St. Louis.”

Finders of Wildlife’s treasure boxes during the eight-week contest will not only retain $100 associated with each box but will also receive resource information for the Center in the boxes.

“If no one finds 10 of the 12 treasures,” Beran stated of the $10,000 grand prize winner, “whoever finds the most boxes will be eligible for a consolation prize drawing.”

Beran shared that a consolation prize drawing for such a participant will consist of the winner gaining additional money based on the amount of their previous winnings multiplied by a number the participant will choose from a drawing. In the case of a tie, Beran stated the game rules for individual participants/ teams in locating boxes will be used to determine a primary winner based on receipt of timestamped videos and pictures (watch a brief detailed video of the contest rules at https://buywcc.com/contest/). Teams apply to those groups of six who registered on the contest site before May 16, 2021. Individuals are not required to register for participation at any time.

Between July 1 and August 31, participants will have access to 12 different YouTube clue videos to assist in locating the 12 treasure boxes.

To learn more about Wildlife Command Center and its mission visit https://wildlifecommandcenter. com. To find out more about Michael Beran as an actor visit IMDB.me/MichaelBeran.

Submitted photo

COMMUNITY VOICES By Tasmyn Scarl Front Investing in our future explorers

So many noteworthy space events have happened recently: The Ingenuity helicopter became the first aircraft to fly on another planet. Apollo 11 Astronaut Michael Collins died at the age of 90. China successfully launched the first module of a new space station. SpaceX sent four astronauts to space and returned them safely to Earth. But what is the significance of exploring other worlds for those of us just trying to get out of our house for the first time in a year?

After a year of isolation, it is worth pausing to appreciate the unifying power of gazing into the night sky. Every person, of every color, every religion, every income level, every continent, who has ever gazed up at the sky, has looked up at the same moon. Now, it is time to make space exploration as universal as space admiration has always been.

To be successful at getting humans to Mars, we will need the combined efforts of people across the globe, and that includes people that are currently children here in St. Louis. All children need to be able to envision themselves as problem-solvers that could help design, build, test, launch, or even pilot the spacecraft that will take humans to Mars. But how do we inspire them to have such big dreams? At the Challenger Learning Center, we see that the most powerful tool we have for sparking big dreams for the future is giving students a preview of what that future could look like. When children take on the roles of NASA astronauts, engineers, and scientists and take part in an exciting space mission, it not only increases their awareness of these jobs, it increases their confidence in their ability to one day pursue these career paths.

Of course, if we learned anything this past year, it’s that we need scientifically-minded problem-solvers focused on the challenges here on Earth, too: We’ve relied on scientists developing tests and vaccines, engineers and manufacturers coordinating to make mass quantities of them, logistics specialists getting supplies where they need to go, and health-care workers getting treatment to the public. Our collective successes and failures have also depended on how able and willing journalists, politicians, and the general public are to engage with science. The pandemic has shown us that we need to teach our future generation of decision-makers how to question, research, and evaluate claims they hear -- regardless of the career path they choose.

I am optimistic about this future, because I see first-hand how organizations in our community are investing to make this vision a reality: Boeing supports us in providing space missions and engineering workshops. Emerson helps us to provide teachers with the training and resources they need to facilitate after-school STEM clubs for their students. And of course, schools and other nonprofit organizations coordinate to bring these opportunities to the students they serve day in and day out. Together, we can work to ensure by the time today’s students are grown, they are ready to face tomorrow’s challenges -- from making wise decisions for their families, to keeping us safe from future threats, to exploring the wonders of outer space.

Tasmyn Scarl Front is the Executive Director of the Challenger Learning Center-St. Louis and has over 25 years of experience in informal science education. Tasmyn serves on the board of directors for New City School, Challenger Center for Space Science Education, and the Jewish Community Relations Council, and as a steering committee member of the St. Louis STEM Ecosystem. She is a marathon runner and leads a local running group, the Missouri Running Club. Tasmyn graduated from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana with a degree in Industrial Design.

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

Community partnership helps feed those most in need

The power of community partnership has been on full display at Greater Grace Church since uniting with Operation Food Search and Christian Hospital to provide food on a regular basis since September 2020 to more than 15,000 families.

The weekly drive through food distribution of boxed fresh fruit and vegetables on the Greater Grace Church parking lot (3690 Pershall Rd.) each Friday at 2:30 p.m. until food is gone will continue through July, except on June 18 there will be no distribution to commemorate Juneteenth Day.

“The partnership of Christian Hospital, Greater Grace Church and Operation Food Search shows that we can be much more effective working together to make the community itself stronger,” says Bishop Larry Jones of Greater Grace Church. “Partnering like this allows us to offer resources that we can’t do alone.”

“Connecting organizations together to form partnerships like this are essential to Christian Hospital as we work together in fulfilling our mission and vision to improve the health and overall wellbeing of the community we serve,” notes Christian Hospital President Rick Stevens.

“We are grateful for our friends at Greater Grace Church and Christian Hospital who are helping us put food on the tables of our community members, particularly during these challenging times,” states Operation Food Search President & CEO Kristen Wild.

For more information, please call Greater Grace Church at 314-867-1233.

138th America’s Birthday Parade to march through downtown St. Louis on July 3

America’s Birthday Parade, one of the longest-running parades in the United States, will return to Downtown St. Louis on July 3, at 10 a.m. with a safe, family-friendly, celebratory event in honor of America’s 245th birthday.

“America’s Birthday Parade has been a patriotic summer tradition in St. Louis since 1878, and we are thrilled to come together this year and celebrate our community with an elaborate spectacle of floats, choreographed dances and live performances in a parade down Market Street in the shadow of the iconic Gateway Arch,” said David Plufka, Grand Marshal, America’s Birthday Parade. “We are so proud of our community in working together to overcome the pandemic, so let’s celebrate! Whether you attend the parade each year or you’ve never been before, we invite you to join us in saluting our city, our people, our community and our country at America’s Birthday Parade.”

With the theme “America the Beautiful,” this year’s parade will feature nearly two dozen floats, 14 local and national marching bands, and more than 250 dancers, as well as antique fire engines, giant helium balloons, and musical performances by Audri Bartholomew of “The Voice,” SJ McDonald of “American Idol” and the Red and Black Brass Band. America’s Birthday Parade is pleased to include elements from the Annie Malone, PrideFest and St. Patrick’s Day parades, which were all canceled in 2021 due to the pandemic. America’s Birthday Parade couldn’t be happier to have these great organizations part of the July 3 festivities and showcase the St. Louis community.

America’s Birthday Parade is free to attend. The parade will march west, from Broadway and Market streets at Kiener Plaza to 18th and Market streets near Union Station. It will be broadcast live on KMOV Channel 4.

“We are so excited to bring the America’s Birthday Parade back this year,” said city of St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. “It makes me proud that they’re bringing together other organizations who had to cancel their own parades, leading with a spirit of collaboration that St. Louis and the whole country can appreciate. I encourage everyone to celebrate however they feel comfortable, and to consider the health and safety of their fellow paradegoers as they come together downtown to celebrate.”

America’s Birthday Parade has been working alongside the city of St. Louis in ensuring the safety of paradegoers, parade staff and participants. On July 3, the parade will follow the federal, state and local restrictions in place around social distancing and face masks. The week of the parade, please check americasbirthdayparade.com for the most up-to-date restrictions and safety recommendations.

Paradegoers are encouraged to bring their own bag chairs or lawn chairs for seating.

www.ChristianHospital.org/Cares

YWCA Head Start receives grant from Healthy Blue for maternal health services

The Walk-Through History Program unveils its 44th plaque in honor of Florissant police officer

Submitted photo

YWCA Head Start is the recipient of a $75,000 grant from Healthy Blue to support YWCA Head Start and Early Head Start programs. A significant amount of the funds will be allocated to YWCA Early Head Start’s pregnant women services. The grant will fund measures addressing the social drivers of health including assistance with rent or utility bills, food, formula, clothing and essential baby items.

YWCA Early Head Start’s two Pregnant Women’s Centers currently serve 35 low income expectant mothers, 28 of whom are African American. The centers are located in an area of high infant mortality in the city of St. Louis and in Overland in St. Louis County.

YWCA Chief Program Officer and Head Start Director Stacy Johnson praised the grant from Healthy Blue saying, “By addressing women’s basic needs and reducing toxic stress during their pregnancy and after delivery, we can ensure that both mom and baby are off to a great start. Healthy Blue’s support will assist YWCA in meeting its goal of ensuring healthy delivery and sustained life for the at-risk population we serve.”

YWCA Early Head Start Pregnancy Centers provide education in overall health, nutrition, parenting and safety for pregnant women; peer support groups; help with locating health care providers and insurers; financial support and connection with community partners. YWCA Head Start and Early Head Start provide age-appropriate education and healthy development services for children from infancy to age five whose family income is at or below the federal poverty level. Health screenings and multiple, varied programs involving parents and siblings are included. Healthy Blue continues to support maternal health in different communities. This is particularly important in communities where health disparities have significantly affected outcomes. As a leader in providing access to women’s health services, Healthy Blue is committed to improving maternal and infant health outcomes within Missouri. Healthy Blue is a Medicaid product offered by Missouri Care, Inc., a MO HealthNet Managed Care health plan contracting with the Missouri Department of Social Services.

A crowd of people came out in front of 619 rue St. Francois in Florissant to see the unveiling of the 44th Walk Through History plaque in honor of Police Officer Marion Reiff. The plaque dedication took place before the start of the first Wednesday Night Out festivities “Proud to be an American” that was being held right down the street at the VFW Post 4105 located at 410 rue St. Francois.

On Dec.28, 1963, Reiff suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after struggling with a suspect. Reiff was off-duty in a local pet store when two employees informed him that a man was attempting to steal cash from the cash register.

Reiff and one of the employees began to struggle with the man, who then fled on foot. Reiff pursued the man a short distance before collapsing. The suspect was never identified or apprehended.

Reiff had served with the Florissant Police Department for two years. He was survived by his wife and three children. He was United States Marine and served for eight years prior to joining the police department.

CITY OF BELLEFONTAINE NEIGHBORS PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the City of Bellefontaine Neighbors (“City”) will hold a public hearing to Discuss 2022 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Allocation of $29,500 before the Regular Board Meeting on Thursday, July 1, 2021 at 6:30pm. T The hearing will be accessible by the public in real time only by a video/telephone conference call via zoom. For instructions to join via zoom go to www.cityofbn.com. Full context yer is posted at the City Hall Front Door, Recreation Center Front Door and cityofbn.com.

www.treesbywoody.net

Photo courtesy city of Florissant

Florissant Police Chief Tim Fagan, his command staff and officers from the police department that came out to pay their respects and to honor the department’s first fallen police officer Marion Reiff that had died in the line of duty in December 1963.