VACCINATING the vulnerable
MAY
2021 writers
VOL 17 | NO 5
BY AVALANCHE
Published monthly with newsstand circulation to Wentzville and Lake Saint Louis plus newsstands in O’Fallon, Troy, Lake Sherwood and Augusta.
Avalanche is a functional illiterate who left the St. Louis area three decades ago in search of adventure. He enjoys motorcycling and all things outdoors. He lives with his wife and dogs.
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Mathew DeKinder Publisher Emeritus/ General Manager Robert Huneke
ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE – PG. 12
BY CINDY MOORE
MOORE ON LIFE – PG. 13
Production Manager Rebecca Brockmann Contributors Avalanche, David Finkelstein, Cindy Moore Staff Writer Brett Auten
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.
BY DAVID FINKELSTEIN
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Community News 2139 Bryan Valley Commercial Dr. O’Fallon, MO 63366 Ph: 636.379.1775 Fx: 636.379.1632
www.mycnews.com
Copyright 2021 Huneke Publications, Inc. No part of the publication may be reproduced in any form without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Crossroads is a trademark of Huneke Publications, Inc. Any published use of Crossroads implying affiliation is strictly prohibited.
David Finkelstein is a Master/ Skill Automotive Service Technician and a shop owner. He’s also invented garage service tools for mechanics and has served on both National and local Automotive Trade Industry Boards. He pioneered “Car Talk Radio” starting out with KMOX/CBS Radio and hosted “Auto Talk” on KFTK/FOX News Radio for 15-years. David tests and evaluates new vehicles weekly and does some consulting with various auto manufacturers.
AUTOMOBILE ALLEY – PG. 14
BY STEVE BRYAN
ENTERTAINMENT – PG. 15
2 | CROSSROADS | MAY 2021
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.
MAY
2021
contents
5
Around Town Local news and events
9
Feature Story Vaccinating the vulnerable St. Charles County paramedics deliver doses to seniors, homebound and homeless
12
Always an Adventure Running again
13
Moore on Life Mother of invention
14
Automobile Alley The 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer is a modern upgrade for a classic SUV
15
Entertainment Remembering ‘Ramona the Pest’ author Beverly Cleary
16
For the Love of Food A brunch spread fit for spring
19
Community Calendar: May
On the Cover: Submitted photo
MAY 2021 | CROSSROADS | 3
Around Town
St. Charles County Director of Public Health to leave position St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann announced on April 2 that Director of Public Health Demetrius Cianci-Chapman will be leaving the county effective May 21. Cianci-Chapman is reuniting with his family out of state. “My husband lives and works in Indiana,” Cianci-Chapman explains, “and throughout this pandemic, we have been mostly apart. Our youngest son, who will soon graduate from high school, has chosen to attend college there. It is best for me and my entire family that I resign my position and move there. “This has been an extremely difficult decision,” he continues, “because I love my job and I love living in St. Charles County. Although I have only been in this position for 18 months, I hope that my contributions to the county’s health needs during this exceptional time have been beneficial. This has certainly been a remarkable time in my
career.” Cianci-Chapman started in his position Nov. 14, 2019, about two months before the first positive COVID-19 case was documented in the United States. By March, he was leading his team of 75 employees and hundreds of volunteers through a pandemic that has required the constant, arduous responsibilities of investigating, contact tracing, testing, quarantining, isolating, educating and now, vaccinating. “Demetrius has been an extraordinary leader for the county throughout this pandemic,” Ehlmann says. “The better I got to know him the last year, I came to realize how important his family was to him. So, when I learned of his decision, I was extremely disappointed, but not surprised. Demetri’s expertise, experience, and knowledge of the field of Public Health will be extremely difficult to replace.” Cianci-Chapman, who has two master’s
Photo courtesy St. Charles County St. Charles County Director of Public Health Demetrius Cianci-Chapman will be leaving the county effective May 21.
degrees and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Saint Louis University, plans to finish his Ph.D. The county will immediately begin a search for a new director.
SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital – Lake Saint Louis now offers an easy, free way to dispose of medications SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital – Lake Saint Louis recently installed a MedSafe disposal system in the South Entrance Lobby of their hospital to give the community a quick and easy way to dispose of unused or unwanted medications. The installation of this system was made possible through the Rx Cares for Missouri Medication Destruction and Disposal System, a program sponsored by the Missouri Board of Pharmacy. Whether you are looking for a place to dispose of expired medications, have a child you want to keep medication away from, have leftover medication from a surgery, or need to safely dispose of any prescription or non-prescription medications, the MedSafe container is the perfect solution for you. “Having additional medications in your home that you do not use provides an opportunity for others in the community to misuse them. Whether that is accidental or purposeful, removing these medications from our medicine cabinets and thus our community helps create a safer environ4 | CROSSROADS | MAY 2021
Submitted photo SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital – Lake Saint Louis recently installed a MedSafe disposal system in the South Entrance Lobby of their hospital to give the community a quick and easy way to dispose of unused or unwanted medications.
ment for those around us,” Lauren Fagan, Administrative Director of Nursing Operations, said. You can access the MedSafe container in the South Entrance Lobby near the back of the hospital located at 100 Medical Plaza in
Lake Saint Louis. Disposing of prescription and non-prescription medications is free, anonymous and there is no screening or check-in. You simply drop the medication into the secure collection bin and go on your way.
Around Town
Wentzville aquatic facilities to open summer 2021 Like many aquatic facilities in the area, Wentzville Parks and Recreation did not open its aquatic facilities in 2020 due to public health, financial and staffing concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the department is pleased to share that it plans to open pools this summer, although the season will look very different from years past. Wentzville Parks and Recreation currently operates two aquatic facilities: Progress Park Pool and Splash Station Aquatic Center. For 2021, the department plans to start the season by limiting the use of Progress Park Pool for programming only, which includes aquat-
ic fitness classes, swim lessons and Camp Wentzville. Splash Station will be open daily for public swim daily with two, three-hour sessions. Reservations will be required. This will allow the department to limit attendance at the pool if needed. There is a thirty-minute gap between sessions where guests will be asked to leave and staff will clean the facility. The city is emphasizing that there is a phased plan to eliminate the need for reservations and open more public swim hours at Progress Park Pool; however, the ability to move into other phases depends heavily on
the number of lifeguards the department is able to hire as well as guidelines set by the CDC. The nation has experienced a lifeguard shortage for several years and COVID-19 has not helped matters. It is the hope of the department to offer public swim at both facilities as soon as possible, but staffing will be a major factor in its ability to do so. For more information including pricing and hours, please visit www.wentzvillemo.gov/ aquatics. To apply for the position of lifeguard or any other position with the city of Wentzville, please visit www.wentzvillemo. gov/hr.
Area youth ‘swing into action’ at new Dardenne Prairie Athletic Complex The city of Dardenne Prairie unveiled its new $3 million athletic complex during a ribboncutting ceremony April 12. The Dardenne Prairie Athletic Complex features three renovated baseball/softball fields, four pickleball courts, new dugouts, new LED lighting, new restrooms, a walking trail, perimeter fencing, backstops, an enlarged and paved parking area and more. The new athletic complex was financed by revenue from a half-cent sales tax that was approved by the voters of Dardenne Prairie in 2017 to enable the city to expand parks and recreation facilities and programs. This new athletic complex was also made possible with support from the Dardenne Athletic Association (DAA), which purchased the land for the original 4.5-acre ballfields from Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Gentemann for $1,500 in 1953 and maintained the fields and operated the leagues until the city of Dardenne Prairie assumed operations in 2016. In 2019, the city purchased an additional two acres from the Gentemanns’ daughters. In 2020, the DAA donated the original 4.5 acres to the city, bringing the total acreage for the new athletic complex to 6.5 acres. “For more than 60 years, hundreds of com-
Photo courtesy city of Dardenne Prairie Dardenne Prairie city officials, members of the Dardenne Athletic Association and local families recently gathered to celebrate the opening of the Dardenne Prairie Athletic Complex.
munity volunteers have worked tirelessly to ensure that the youth of Dardenne Prairie had a place to learn the basics of the game, as well as the value of teamwork and good sportmanship,” said Mayor David C. Zucker. “I’m proud that the city of Dardenne Prairie is continuing that legacy, and I’m confident that our successors will build upon it for generations to come.” Several members of the city of Dardenne Prairie Board of Aldermen were in attendance, as well as volunteers from the DAA. Dardenne Prairie resident Nick Shaner brought his two sons so that they could see a bit of local history as it was being unveiled. Shaner’s 11-year-old son, Gabe, was excited to play in the inaugural game later that evening. “I think it’s going to be really fun, because the new fields are really nice,” the young
pitcher said. The Dardenne Prairie Athletic Complex will welcome more than 1,900 players on 140 local teams from the New Horizons Youth Baseball and Softball League this spring and through summer. More than 30 teams and 450 players have registered to play as the home teams in the city of Dardenne Prairie. The league also includes teams from Lake Saint Louis, Wentzville, New Melle and Wright City. “We’re creating memories for a lifetime,” said Bill Cohen, President of the DAA. “For all those playing here tonight, and for all those to come.” The Dardenne Prairie Athletic Complex is located next to City Hall at 2032 Hanley Rd. in Dardenne Prairie. For more information about the new Dardenne Prairie Athletic Complex, visit www.dardenneprairie.org.
MAY 2021 | CROSSROADS | 5
Around Town
Celebrating 150 years in O’Fallon
Submitted photo Church-goers walk out of services at O’Fallon’s Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church on April 25. The church, located at 403 North Main St, is setting the stages for its 150th year of faith, community, service and fellowship.
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church looks back on its history of faith, community, service and fellowship By Brett Auten
Reverend Nick Kastenholz is coming upon his second summer as the pastor of O’Fallon’s Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church and his tenure is just a blip on the radar in the grand scheme of things. The church, located at 403 North Main St, is setting the stages for its 150th year of faith, community, service and fellowship. “When you drive down the street see the church, it truly is a landmark in O’Fallon,” Kastenholz said. “It shows what a deep history this parish has as it has grown right along with the community. It is important 6 | CROSSROADS | MAY 2021
to remember and appreciate all that those in the 150-year history of the parish have done to get us to where we are today.” Assumption is on the lookout for current or past members who attended or taught at Assumption School, or had a connection to the church in any way. Beginning in August, the church will kickoff a month-long celebration leading up to an anniversary mass with Auxiliary Bishop Mark Steven Rivituso of the Archdiocese of St. Louis presiding. On Sept. 18, a reception will be held in the Father Joseph Kempf Parish Cente and the anniversary will begin
with an outdoor back-to-school and parish picnic from 12 – 6 p.m. on Aug. 15, which is also Assumption’s parish Feast day. Kastenholz’s time here has been shrouded mostly in COVID-19 concerns. As vaccine numbers continue to increase while the fatality numbers decrease, this sesquicentennial timing is fortunate in some ways. “Hopefully, things will be even more open and it will be socially reinvigorating,” he said. “It will allow us to give thanks and recognize this blessing. We are going to continue CONTINUED PAGE 7
Around Town moving forward and with springtime and the Easter season, there has been as sense of peace and feeling more comfortable and being able to celebrate together. Our celebration will help unite us to Christ, to one another, and show the faith and joy we hope to share with the generations to come.” Assumption has had 15 pastors serving the parish family since its inception on Sept. 17, 1871. The concept began in the fall of 1869 after 17 families from All Saints Parish in St. Peters discussed the possibility of building a catholic school closer to home in O’Fallon. Soon after, eight additional families from St. Paul Parish in St. Paul joined and the decision was made to build a school and a parish. With the Archbishop’s approval, plans were made and the cornerstone of the original church was laid in 1870. Over the next 60 years, the church community expanded and in September of 1930 the entire parish took part in the demolition of tearing down the old church, removing all the debris, and constructing the new church in the exact same spot. The cornerstone was laid in November 1930 and the church was dedicated on July 4, 1931. The new church, known as the chapel, seated 600 people. By 1999, the parish had grown to over 2,800 families. The parishioners knew a new church was needed but wanted to keep the current church. Under Pastor, Father Joseph Kempf, an architect was contacted to
Submitted photos The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church Class of 1967 stands in front of the chapel. The church, located at 403 North Main St. in O’Fallon, is preparing to commemorate 150 years of faith, community, service, and fellowship.
draw up plans to keep the current church and build a new church that would accommodate 1,200 people. Work on the new church and parish center began in August 2004 and the new building was dedicated on Feb. 26, 2005. Today, the church family at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish consists
of Kastenholz; Senior Associate Pastor, Monsignor William McCumber; and Associate Pastor, Reverend Patrick Russell. For more information about Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish and the 150th anniversary celebration, visit the church website at assumptionbvm.org or call 636-240-3721.
UPS recognizes strong women excelling in the transportation industry When Leslie Tiller was teaching her son how to drive, he got so frustrated he parked the car and stormed away. A professional driver for 36 years, she was adamant about safe driving methods: keep your eyes on the road, check your mirrors and be aware of your surroundings, in particular. “He was so mad he walked home,” Tiller laughed. But the Old Monroe native had reasons to be a strict teacher back then and now. As a professional truck driver for UPS, Tiller is well-aware of the types of things that can happen on the road with other drivers. Adhering to defensive driving methods,
has helped her reach a major safety milestone: 25 years of driving without an accident. Tiller is one of 28 drivers in Missouri to reach this achievement in 2020 and one of only two women. Tiller says she’s seen some interesting things on her routes over the years. Her closest call however, didn’t involve another driver, but rather a tree that happened to fall at the very moment Tiller was driving by. She was out on a county lane with trees lining both sides, moving at a slower speed because of the uneven ground. Then suddenly a small tree fell into the truck, the branch piercing her shirt and the back of her seat.
According to Tiller, it happened so fast she only became aware the tree had hit her when the truck stopped moving. After wriggling free to assess the damage, she got back in the package car, backed it off of the tree and continued delivering her packages. Her advice for the public when it comes to driving safely: Keep your eyes moving. “Things can happen in a millisecond. You need to see what is ahead, you need to look in the mirror and see what’s behind you. You need to keep your eyes moving and be aware of your surroundings,” she said.
MAY 2021 | CROSSROADS | 7
Around Town
City of Dardenne Prairie receives ‘tree-mendous’ recognition from Arbor Day Foundation The city of Dardenne Prairie has been named a 2020 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of its commitment to effective urban forest management. The city of Dardenne Prairie achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program’s four requirements: a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation. This is the 13th consecutive year that Dardenne Prairie has been recognized as a Tree City USA. “Tree City USA communities see the impact an urban forest has in a community first hand,” said Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation. “The trees being planted and cared for by Dardenne Prairie are ensuring that generations to come will enjoy a better quality
of life. Additionally, participation in this program brings residents together and creates a sense of civic pride, whether it’s through volunteer engagement or public education.” If ever there was a time for trees, now is that time. Communities worldwide are facing issues with air quality, water resources, personal health and well-being, energy use, and protection from extreme heat and flooding. The Arbor Day Foundation recently launched the “Time for Trees” initiative to address these issues, with unprecedented goals of planting 100 million trees in forests and communities and inspiring five million tree planters by 2022. With Tree City USA recognition, Dardenne Prairie has demonstrated its commitment to effective urban forest management and doing its part to help address these challenges for Dardenne Prairie residents now and in the future.
St. Charles County Golden Games announces new web site address and games update The St. Charles County Golden Games has established a new website address. Going forward you can visit the Golden Games web-
8 | CROSSROADS | MAY 2021
site at scc-goldengames.org. The St. Charles County Golden Games postponed the games traditionally held in the spring to the early fall; starting Sept. 17 through Sept. 23. These dates were selected to avoid conflict with other senior games that traditionally take place during this time. The board meets monthly and will continue to review the situation. The goal is to offer outdoor events at the very minimum. It was previously decided not to hold the annual banquet, but the board is currently discussing the possibility of holding this traditional celebration on Sept. 20. At this point, the following events have the most potential to be held and are scheduled as follows: Sept. 17 Shuffleboard, pickleball, miniature golf Sept. 18 Pickleball, soccer, track and field, specialty events Sept. 20 Executive golf, bocce ball Sept. 21 Golf, trap shooting, air gun, 5k run, wobble trap Sept. 22 Shuffleboard (singles), air pistol, skeet Sept. 23 Cycling, cornhole The Golden Games include individual, doubles, and team competition and are open to anyone who will be 50 years old in 2021. Events are held at facilities throughout St. Charles County. Competitions are designed for all age groups and abilities. Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded to top finishers in each age group. Volunteers are needed for the events. If you would like more information on becoming a part of this popular event, please contact Donna Dorough at dpdorough@yahoo.com. Registration forms and a complete schedule of events and locations for the 2021 St. Charles County Golden Games will be available online later this summer.
VACCINATING the vulnerable
By Brett Auten
St. Charles County paramedics deliver doses to seniors, homebound and homeless Kimberlyn Tihen could get used to this change of pace. “We don’t see a lot of happy,” the St. Charles County Ambulance District Captain said. “More times than not it is someone’s worst day.” Tihen also oversees the district’s mobile vaccination effort the past weeks, as you would expect, has had her busy. Beginning last month, and continuing into May, the St. Charles County Ambulance District have fanned out across the com-
munity to reach those among us who are most vulnerable. The swaths targeted in this effort include senior citizens residing in independent living apartment communities, homebound individuals and those who are homeless. “There is a real energy in the room,” Tiehn said. “There are so many happy people. They are taking selfies with the medics so they can document the moment and share it with their families.” CONTINUED PAGE 10 MAY 2021 | CROSSROADS | 9
While everywhere you turn; schools, concert venues, that random parking lot, there are mass vaccination events for COVID-19. With shirt sleeves rolled, thousands of individuals in St. Charles County have eagerly showed up to receive the protection that they have waited months for. This month, they will not only be focusing on delivering the second dose but also hitting the more rural locations. “We are looking to fill in the gaps,” Tihen said. “We are looking for people who necessarily don’t have transportation. Some of these facilities had to stop their bus service so if they don’t have family members or close friends, they’re stuck.” To date, paramedics have provided more than 500 doses of the vaccine at apartment complexes and homes. This comes on heels of the district’s successful vaccination clinic for first responders and their eligible family members, which saw more than 1,100 individuals inoculated in January and February. According to Tihen, the push to target vulnerable populations was a strategic decision made in collaboration with the St. Charles County Department of Public Health. Since the beginning of the pandemic they have worked arm and arm to determine how they can allocate resources to meet the needs of residents. She credited the senior apartment management teams for the smooth operation of the clinics. These managers were charged with coordinating appointment times to ensure a steady, manageable flow of residents that would allow for proper social distancing. At most communities, paramedics vaccinated between 25 and 50 residents. With vaccination efforts at senior apartments wrapping up, SCCAD will turn its attention to the homebound and homeless individuals in the county. The district is working closely with organizations within the community who serve these populations to effectively reach as many
10 | CROSSROADS | MAY 2021
as possible via the program. “Some are very skeptical, or paranoid, or they are chemically altered,” Tihen said. “It is a clientele that is not really reliable for the second dose. They move on. We have returned to homeless communities (to administer the second shot) and all of the tents are gone.” Thanks to newly allocated stimulus funding, SCCAD can receive reimbursement for many of the costs associated with operation of the mobile vaccination effort; the state of Missouri received $5 million earmarked for EMS vaccination efforts. Individuals who are homebound or their caregivers may call 636.344.7600 for more information on how to register to receive the vaccine. Submitted photos Beginning last month, and continuing into May, the St. Charles County Ambulance District has fanned out across St. Charles County to give the vulnerable the COVID-19 vaccine. Those targets in this effort include senior citizens residing in independent living apartment communities, homebound individuals and those who are homeless. To date, paramedics have provided more than 500 doses of the vaccine at apartment complexes and homes.
MAY 2021 | CROSSROADS | 11
Always An Adventure
Running again BY AVALANCHE
“ANY INTEREST IN RUNNING ON THE TRACK? I’ve reached critical fatness,” my friend Dale texted me. Hmmmmm…well, yes, I’d like to do a little running a couple days per week, I replied. Creaky joints had curtailed my running years ago, with a few miles here and there gradually subsiding into no miles at all. The knees felt better, but I was getting quite sluggish and easily winded. Monday found us plodding along on the local high school track at 5:30 a.m., with a waning full moon providing enough light so that it didn’t seem like the middle of the night. As for myself, I am one who doesn’t put on much weight, no matter how hard I work out, or how lazy I become, keeping all my fat safely encapsulated in my arteries, at least according to my latest blood lab results. The lipid numbers were similar to the number of cubic inches in a small-block V8, which is fine for the 50-plus-year-old Mustang, but not the nearly-60-year-old blood vessels. Jogging along at what for us used to be an appallingly slow pace, we talked about the motivation to start this habit again. We ran marathons together for a few years, which didn’t seem like that long ago, until some accurate accounting pointed out the awkward truth that it had been over a decade since we had last been in that kind of condition. Personal bests or working on a faster time went out the window years ago. Somehow both of us had acquired blood pressures that were trending upward, waistlines that were expanding and an embarrassing lack of wind while walking up a grade. It’s become fashionable in certain fitness circles to bash the long, slow runs, with some justification. Yes, it beats up your joints, can cause a loss of muscle mass and resulting loss of strength – if you do noth12 | CROSSROADS | MAY 2021
ing but run. But there’s nothing as simple and effective for getting the heart rate up than putting one foot in front of the other at a rapid pace for a few miles. A few miles a couple days per week seem reasonable. Barbell training and body weight calisthenics can minimize the downsides. These days, I suffer from no delusions of running marathons again. A few miles around the track is a worthwhile endeavor to keep up a modicum of fitness, if for no other reason than to keep my doctor’s heart rate down when he sees my lab results. One of our local physicians is a big proponent of the vegan lifestyle. He’s a good guy, and has helped many local folks lose lots of weight and become healthier. He can still run pretty well, especially well for a guy over 70, and I’m sure his lab results are stellar; but he struggles to pick up a 50lb. box of books. Bean sprouts and beets might be good for the ol’ ticker, but they don’t do much for building or maintaining muscle mass. Barbells and red meat have value. Once when I flew into Boston late at night and took the subway to get from the airport to my hotel room, I realized that given the drunk and surly crowd in the subway car, while I really wanted to run the famed marathon, and had trained extensively to do so, I might have needed to fight my way out of there. While nothing escalated that night to the point of fisticuffs, it was a potent reminder that strength is always a good thing to
have i n abundance. Dale just might make it to another 2 6 . 2
mile affair; his knees are better than mine, and he’s motivated as a single dad to be healthy enough to see his young son well into adulthood. Instead of battling creaky joints, he battles the heavy demands of managing a large estate, a time-consuming career complete with a long commute, making a steady fitness regimen tough to follow. So, 5:30 a.m. it is. On Mondays and Wednesdays you’ll find us slogging our way around the local track, no longer striving for athletic glory, just working hard to stave off the inevitable approach of geezerdom.
Moore On Life
Mother of invention BY CINDY MOORE
GOING INTO A BANK NOWADAYS IS LIKE PLAYING OPPOSITE DAY. It’s all in reverse. Now you can enter concealed under a hat, sunglasses and complete face covering without any questions. I suppose you could even get away with wearing a Halloween mask as long as security thought it was for COVID protection. But forget the latest rules and beware because it’s opposite day. I entered without my face covered. A security guard blocked my way. “Ma’am, where’s your mask?” “Oh cripes,” I thought as I checked my pockets and rummaged inside my purse. Nothing. Then I checked my ear, sometimes I’ll leave it dangling there by the elastic; other times it’s right there securely strapped underneath my chin like a little face hammock. Darn, neither of those places. “I’m sure it’s here somewhere,” I said trying to stall. As a last ditch effort I looked around on the floor. Stray masks are lost all over the place these days, except when you need one. They’re in the parking lots or in the grocery store aisles. I still wonder how they’ve managed to fall off from someone’s face without them knowing. Don’t they ever question why suddenly they’re able to breathe again? The burly enforcer was eyeing me suspiciously. I suddenly remembered that it was hanging on the rearview mirror of my car, which is where everyone hangs them nowadays. Trouble was, my car was in the next parking lot and I didn’t want to walk all the way back. Exercise is for those easily shamed. I’m confident with my bulk. The guard came closer and closer while pointing to a poster. It reminded everyone to wear a mask or they, along with their savings account, would be forcibly removed. “I won’t breath, I promise. I just need change for a twenty. I’ll be quick,” I begged. “Sorry, rules are rules,” he growled. Just then a suspicious man wearing a creepy rubber clown mask entered. “Come right in Mr. Jenkins. That’s an inventive COVID mask you’re wearing,” he chuckled. Oh yea, I’d show him inventive. I reached into my shirt and pulled up one of the cups from my bra and strapped it over my nose and mouth. He pointed me to the next available teller.
MAY 2021 | CROSSROADS | 13
Automobile Alley
THE 2021
CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER IS A MODERN UPGRADE FOR A CLASSIC SUV
A
Alluring and modern styling comes to mind the very moment you see the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer Sport Utility Vehicle. Its sculpted design and bold exterior proportions give it a welcomed and fresh curb appeal, as it’s engineered to attract a wide array of SUV buyers. The standard two-tone roof color palette on the ACTIV and RS trim versions makes Trailblazer unique among other similar vehicles on the road. This subcompact people mover is positioned between the smaller, entry-level Chevy Trax and the larger Chevrolet Equinox for the ‘21 model year. The name Trailblazer has been associated with Chevrolet for many years. However, it’s been absent from their product mix since 2009. And for clarification, they also offer a larger Blazer SUV within their offerings as well. The all new Trailblazer is a smaller product when compared to its predecessor as it now has a car-based underside architecture platform. This results in a more tame and predictable drive with better and quieter ride characteristics and handling while on paved roads. Additionally, if you choose the ACTIV trim package, the factory also includes enhanced extras in order to make it more off-road capable. This in part includes: unique off road tires, upgraded shock absorbers and a slightly more underside ground clearance. This new product has edgy styling that also tends to have other Chevy DNA signatures. More precisely, the exterior design as well as some additional suggestive interior character trademarks within the Chevrolet product mix are embodied within. The five-passenger interior is engineered to allow for gratifying room for adults as well as personal items in the form of welcomed cargo carrying capabilities. Available in five trim levels: L, LS, LT, ACTIV and RS, the standard 137-horsepower turbocharged 1.2 liter three-cylinder engine delivers acceptable get-up-and-go acceleration. The factory also includes their standard continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and a front wheel drive chassis. All-wheel-drive is on the option list. It also comes with a more robust 155-hp turbocharged, 1.3-liter three cylinder engine linked with a nine speed automatic transmission. Also included with AWD is a driver selectable mode controller that features “normal, sport and snow” settings. EPA fuel mileage figures show 28-mpg city/31 highway with the standard engine. The more powerful 1.3-liter engine with AWD shows 26-mpg city/30-highway. This base L trim includes 16-inch steel wheels, built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, seven-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto inte14 | CROSSROADS | MAY 2021
gration, four speaker audio system and their Safety Assist Suite of advanced safeguard features. In part, this includes forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and seamlessly applies the brakes) and their Lane keeping Assist (steers the vehicle back into its lane if it begins to drift over the painted lane marker) and Automatic High Beams. The ACTIV trim level includes the more robust 1.3 liter engine, enhanced body visuals, improved tires, upgrades with the exterior, two-tone paint, simulated leather upholstery with leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. The RS Model also adds attractive 18 inch alloy wheels and red interior accents, blacked out exterior trim, a unique front mesh grille and duel exhaust outlets with chrome outlet tips. The pricing structure starts at $19,995, shipping and destination charges are included. The base bumper-to-bumper warranty is for three years/36,000 miles. Final assembly of the imported 2021 Trailblazer is from GM Korea, while the engine and transmission is manufactured in Mexico. At road test, the MSRP pricing for the RS Model I drove with AWD and a few additional options came out to be $30,580.
Entertainment
Remembering ‘Ramona the Pest’ author Beverly Cleary
R
BY STEVE BRYAN
ay Bradbury is credited with the statement “Libraries raised me,” a sentiment that every bookworm out there can agree with. For me, the library was more of a means to an end because it put me in contact with fantastic authors like Beverly Cleary, a Newberry Medal-winner for children’s literature. Cleary passed away on March 25 at the age of 104 leaving behind a legacy of engaging novels for children of all ages. Cleary created a number of memorable characters, but the unflappable Ramona Geraldine Quimby is the breakout star of the author’s body of work. The 2010 family comedy “Ramona and Beezus” is based primarily on the novels featuring Ramona. This character is the epitome of “girl power” with her vivid imagination and boundless energy. In Cleary’s “Ramona the Pest,” she goes too far, though, and ends up temporarily suspended from kindergarten. Though it was released over a decade ago, the themes in the “Ramona and Beezus” movie are very relevant in 2021. Ramona’s dad (John Corbett) is separated from his job and tries to find a new, more creative position, but that troubles his young daughter. After Ramona (Joey King) talks to a classmate in a similar situation, she’s afraid that her parents might even get divorced. Despite her misadventures, Ramona’s Aunt Bea (Ginnifer Goodwin) thinks her niece is extraordinary. In earlier novels, however; Ramona serves as an annoying background character who, because she couldn’t pronounce the name
“Beatrice,” called her big sister “Beezus” and the nickname stuck. In “Henry and the Paper Route,” Henry, a friend of Beezus, desperately wants to get a paper route but after he gets one, Ramona makes his life miserable. In a pre-social media world, Henry resorts to pen, paper and the power of television to get that pint-sized terror off his back. If any Beverly Cleary character can match Ramona’s passion it would be Ralph S. Mouse, the hero of Cleary’s “The Mouse and the Motorcycle.” Ralph, who can speak with children, lives in a rundown hotel and becomes friends with Keith Gridley, a boy who has a toy motorcycle. Keith teaches Ralph how to make the motorcycle move simply by making engine-like noises. Like Ramona, Ralph made it to film in a 1986 adaptation of Cleary’s novel. The author also wrote two more novels about the mouse with a need for speed. In her lifetime, Cleary created characters that appealed to all generations. Ramona’s outlook and fiery spirit makes her the standout, but the determination of Henry Huggins is something to be admired. When he finds a lost dog, Henry does everything he can to bring him home on the bus. At the grand opening of a new supermarket, Henry even volunteers to try some new dog food to get his friends to forget an embarrassing situation. Thank you, Beverly Cleary, for the characters and inspiration you have left behind. You will be missed. “Ramona and Beezus” is available for rent or purchase on Amazon Prime. MAY 2021 | CROSSROADS | 15
For the Love of Food
A brunch spread
fit for spring
F
rom tasty small bites to a filling feast and even dessert for breakfast, brunch options are nearly endless. Take your spring brunch to the next level with recipes that appease appetites of all kinds. First, start with portioned pastry cups perfect for appetizers. Bring out the protein-packed breakfast burritos for the main course then, for a final touch of sweet deliciousness, offer up lemony doughnuts to cap off the feast. Find more brunch recipes at Culinary.net.
Pastry Brunch Cups Servings: 18
Bite-Sized Breakfast Appetizer-sized portions and small bites of all sorts are ideal for breakfast spreads, and these Pastry Brunch Cups are perfect for starting a morning meal with loved ones. Or, if a busy schedule looms, try baking a batch and separating into appropriate serving sizes for a simple way to meal prep heading into a new week. Find more breakfast recipes at Culinary.net. 16 | CROSSROADS |
MAY 2021
Ingredients:
Directions:
2 tablespoons butter
Heat oven 375 F.
2 tablespoons flour
In small saucepan, melt butter. Whisk flour with butter. Gradually pour in milk, whisking each time. Bring to simmer, whisking until mixture starts to thicken. Remove from heat; stir in Swiss cheese. Set aside.
1 1/2 cups milk 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese 2 sheets puff pastry 18 eggs 2 cups diced ham chopped fresh green onions
Use rolling pin to thin out puff pastries. Cut each into nine squares. Line pastry squares in muffin cups, pressing bottoms down firmly and moving pastries up sides for edges to come up just over muffin tins. Fill each cup with 1 teaspoon cheese sauce. Crack one egg into each cup and sprinkle each with diced ham. Bake 10-15 minutes until eggs set. Sprinkle with chopped green onions.
For the Love of Food
Power Brunch with a Protein-Packed Burrito A well-rounded brunch calls for a multitude of dishes and beverages, but it wouldn’t be complete without a protein-packed recipe to get the day started. This delicious Breakfast Burrito is loaded with colorful veggies and Silver Fern Farms 100% grass-fed strip steak. Hailing from New Zealand, home to some of the world’s most natural tasting beef and lamb, this premium cut of beef is aged 21 days and minimally processed with no added growth hormones or antibiotics. The animals are grass-fed year-round and allowed to roam and graze freely, so the beef offers a lean, flavorful texture that tastes just as nature intended. Visit silverfernfarms.com to find more at-home brunch inspiration. Ingredients: 1 New York Strip Steak (10 ounces) oil salt, to taste
Breakfast Burrito
pepper, to taste 1/2 onion, finely chopped 1 red bell pepper, sliced lengthwise 4 large mushrooms, sliced 1 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon paprika
Directions:
1/2-1 teaspoon chili powder
Remove steak from packaging and set aside 10 minutes. Once steak reaches room temperature, heat pan over medium-high heat.
1 tomato, finely chopped 8 eggs 1/2 cup milk 4 large tortillas 1 cup spinach 1 1/2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled
Rub steak with oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cook until medium-rare, approximately 3-4 minutes each side. Remove from pan and cover loosely with tinfoil to rest 5 minutes.
tomato and cook until soft. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. In large bowl, whisk eggs, milk and salt and pepper, to taste. Heat pan to medium heat and add splash of oil. Pour egg mixture into pan and cook, lifting and folding eggs until thickened and no visible liquid egg remains. Do not stir constantly. Lay tortillas on flat surface or plate.
1 avocado
Reduce heat to medium and add splash of oil. Add onion; cook 1 minute. Add red bell pepper and mushrooms; cook 1 minute.
lime wedges (optional)
Add cumin, paprika and chili powder; stir through.
In center of tortilla, add cooked veggies and top with thinly sliced beef. Add handful of spinach, scrambled eggs, crumbled feta, cilantro and avocado. Fold bottom of tortilla and roll.
hot sauce (optional)
When veggies are tender (about 2 minutes), add
Serve with lime wedges and hot sauce, if desired.
1/4 cup cilantro
MAY 2021 | CROSSROADS | 17
For the Love of Food
Lemon Ricotta Doughnuts Prep time: 20 minutes | Cook time: 7 minutes
Dine on Deliciously Sweet Doughnuts Brunch is never complete without something sweet to cap off the morning feast, and doughnuts are often the perfect complement to an array of main courses. These Lemon Ricotta Doughnuts pair the bite-sized morsels with lemon curd (if that suits your style) for a sweet-tart combination. They’re made using Domino Golden Sugar, which is made from pure cane sugar and is less processed than white granulated sugar, as one you can always trust in your favorite recipes. It works cup-for-cup just like white sugar but with a golden color and distinct hint of molasses flavor. Visit dominosugar.com to find recipes perfect for entertaining and celebrating throughout the year. 18 | CROSSROADS | MAY 2021
Ingredients:
Directions:
Doughnuts:
To make doughnuts:
Vegetable oil, for frying
In large saucepan, preheat oil to 350 F. Prepare cookie sheet with paper towel to drain doughnuts once out of hot oil.
2 cups all-purpose flour 1 3/4 c ups golden sugar, divided 2 tablespoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt
In bowl, mix flour, 3/4 cup sugar, baking powder and salt. Add lemon zest, eggs, ricotta cheese and vanilla extract; mix until well combined.
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
Use ice cream scoop to scoop small amounts dough into oil, 4-5 pieces at a time. Fry each batch until golden brown, about 7 minutes. Keep oil at or near 350 F; if oil is too hot, doughnuts will turn golden brown but centers may still be raw. Remove from oil and drain in paper towel. Repeat with remaining dough.
Lemon Curd (optional):
While still hot, toss doughnuts with remaining sugar.
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
To make lemon curd, if desired:
1 1/2 cups golden sugar
In large bowl of stand mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and egg yolks, one at a time. Add lemon zest, lemon juice and salt.
2 tablespoons lemon zest 5 large eggs 1 3/4 c ups ricotta cheese
2 large eggs 2 egg yolks 4 lemons, zest and juice only 1/8 teaspoon salt
Transfer mixture to saucepan and cook at low-medium heat until thick and creamy, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and let cool before serving with doughnuts.
Community Calendar
MAY 1
May Day
5
Cinco de Mayo
6
National Nurses Day
7
Military Spouse Appreciation Day
8
Truman Day
9
Mother’s Day
15
Armed Forces Day
17
Tax Day
25
National Missing Children’s Day
31
Memorial Day
MAY 2021 | CROSSROADS | 19
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