CrossRoads: Apr. 2012 by Community News

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CROSSROADS APRIL 2012

APRIL

2012 contents

spotlight

Operation Warehouse

lifestyle

The Things that Makes Us Happy by Shelly A. Schneider

The Healthcare Industry Loves Me by Joe Morice

entertainment

VOL 8 | NO 4

food

Reshuffled Movie Calendar, Prices by Steve Bryan

Make Meatless Meals a Favorite This Spring courtesy of Family Features

photo op Published monthly with direct mail circulation to Wentzville and Lake Saint Louis, plus newsstands in Troy.

Publisher Editor Photographer Movie Critic Creative Design

Community News Shelly Schneider Ray Rockwell Steve Bryan Donna M. Huneke

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Spring Has Sprung! photos by Ray Rockwell

around town

Gardening Classes / Horseshoe Leagues

Shower of Love

YMCAs St. Charles Co. 2012 Golf Tourney

Community Calendar

Wentzville Chamber News

Birth and Death Records Available Online

All Around Wentzville

LSLDP Chamber News

Crossroads is a trademark of Huneke Publications, Inc. Any published use of Crossroads implying affiliation is strictly prohibited.

APRIL 2012 CROSSROADS

SPOTLIGHT

Operation Warehouse

BY SHELLY A. SCHNEIDER

The organization’s mission is simple – serve those in need. Operation Food Search does just that. In fact, it serves more than 24,000 people a month by supplying food to 30 food pantries in St. Charles, Lincoln and Warren Counties. In order to continue serving those in need, Operation Food Search needs a helping hand. Denny Gladieux, community relations director for Operation Food Search’s St. Charles Distribution Center, said the lease on the organization’s current warehouse expires on May 31, 2012. The distribution center is located in O’Fallon. “We either need funds to carry on in the building that we’re in, or move to a new warehouse,” Gladieux said. “We’d rather stay here, if at all possible.” The owner of the current warehouse, he said, is extremely generous, but he needs rent money. “He’s already discounted the amount of the lease payment,” Gladieux said. “It’s $4,500 per month. We prefer to stay where we are. We feel we can serve this community better by having a distribution center in the heart of the county.” O’Fallon, he said, is centrally located and the warehouse is close to I-70. “Beggars can’t be choosers,” he said. “If there’s a building (that meets our needs) and we can get it for two to five years, we’ll move.” Operation Food Search, founded in 1981, is the largest distributor of free food in the St. Louis bi-state region. With a network of 265 agencies (food pantries, shelters and soup kitchens) over 120,000 people are provided food assistance each month. Almost half of those served are children. “We opened a second distribution center out here in 2008, because of the higher gas prices,” Gladieux said. “People would have to drive to U-City to get food. Fifty percent of the food pantries we serve wouldn’t be able to do that because it would cost too much.” Karen Gladieux, community outreach coordinator for the St. Charles Distribution Center, said St. Charles County is an amazing community. “It’s the most caring community,” she said. “If you ask any of the food pantries we serve, they’ll tell you the impact of having a distribution center in the county.” One of the organization’s programs, Operation Backpack, provides food to at-risk children on weekends when they are away from the

free breakfast and lunch proPhoto by Ray Rockwell gram at school. “We started in September 2010 with 36 kids,” Gladieux said of the program that currently serves the Wentzville School District. “In May of 2011, we had 200 kids. Today, I’m packing 425 backpacks, and that’s just in the Wentzville school district. Other school districts are asking for our aid, too.” In order to keep providing food to area food pantries, serving 24,000 residents each month, and providing children with food each weekend, Operation Food Search needs your help. “Operation Food Search has been awarded $150,000 Missouri NAP credits,” Denny Gladieux said. “We can offer equivalent NAP credit to qualified monetary donations.” The Missouri Department of Economic Development will issue 50 percent tax credit to an eligible Missouri taxpayer who makes a qualified contribution. This tax credit can be applied to: Ch. 143 – Income tax, excluding withholding tax Ch. 147 – Corporate Franchise Tax Ch. 148 – Bank Tax, Insurance Premium Tax, Other Financial Institution Tax Ch. 153 – Express Companies Tax The Missouri NAP credits have a five year carry forward special attribute. All businesses are eligible to receive NAP credits in exchange for their charitable contribution. Also individuals who operate a sole proprietorship, operate a farm, have rental property or have royalty income are also eligible, as well as a shareholder in an S-corporation, a partner in a Partnership or a member of a Limited Liability Corporation. Do you have warehouse space? Preferred warehouse location would be anywhere in St. Charles County with easy access to Highway 70 or Highway 40. This warehouse will serve St. Charles, Lincoln and Warren Counties and could expand as far as Montgomery and Pike Counties. The perfect warehouse space would be 5,000 to 15,000 square feet with 10 percent or less in office space. A two-year lease commitment is necessary. For more information about Operation Food Search and the warehouse needs, please call Denny Gladieux at 636.544.3863, or email denny.gladieux@OperationFoodSearch.org.

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Gardening Classes Timely topics help you achieve the results you want for your lawn and/or garden through these classes for the public. Most classes are taught by Master Gardeners and use the on-site Demonstration Gardens for hands-on learning, which is often cited as the best part of the class. For more information, call 636.970.3000. Home Vegetable Gardening Saturday, April 7, 9 to 11 a.m. Fee: $20 Learn to grow fresh, flavorful vegetables that you can harvest right from your very own vegetable garden, it’s easy and fun. Topics include: preparing the soil, selecting varieties, when and how to plant, seeds or transplants, irrigation, controlling weeds, fertilizing, pest control and harvest. Instructor: Paul Hendricks. Growing Tomatoes Saturday, April 14, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Fee: $20 Topics cover variety selection, growing plants from seed, soil preparation and planting, fertilizing, liming, water management, insect and disease problems, and plant support systems. Instructor: Chuck Baur Raised Bed Gardening Tuesday, April 17, 6 to 8 p.m. Fee: $20 Learn advantages and techniques of raised bed gardening. Focus is on our “Versatile Raised Beds” which were developed by St. Charles County Master Gardeners. These beds were designed to maximize vegetable production and feature end trellises for vertical growing. They are constructed of economical standard material. See the finished product in our Demonstration Gardens. Construction plans included. Instructor: Paul Hendricks. Gardening with Perennials Saturday, April 28, 9 to 11 a.m. Fee: $20 Learn how to include these long-lived plants in your home garden and landscape. Covers plant selection, including recommendations for the St. Louis area, landscape design with perennials, soil preparation, winter care, water requirements, disease prevention, and dividing established plants. Instructor: Chuck Baur.

Summer Horseshoe Leagues Forming Now Interested in pitching horseshoes? Want to take backyard horseshoe pitching to a new level? Or you might just be a beginner with a desire to learn how to pitch shoes? The Quail Ridge Horseshoe Club will show you how. You may bring in a team or sign up to join a team. Register early. The summer league will be held on Wednesday evenings from April 25 through July 25. Find out what organized horseshoe pitching is all about at the Quail Ridge Park in Wentzville located at the crossroads of I-70 and I-40-61. Come see the million dollar horseshoe facility which includes the National Horseshoe Pitchers Hall of Fame and Museum. Admission is free and opened to the public from noon – 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, and from 2:30 – 7:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. There are 16 indoor courts, fully air-conditioned and heated, plus 16 outdoor courts for public use year round. Horseshoe pitching is a family sport for all ages. Have more fun for less money! For more information call League Director Jim Howard at 636.441.7679. Better still, drop by and see for yourself this unique horseshoe arena. No experience needed. Try adding some “Shoe Time” into your summer schedule this year.

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LIFESTYLE

The Things that Make Us Happy BY SHELLY A. SCHNEIDER

It doesn’t take much to make me happy, and even less to make me smile. In fact, the older I get, the more easily amused I am. Sometimes that’s a blessing, and sometimes it makes my husband, Jim, wonder what the heck is wrong with me. Allow me to illustrate the latest event that made me deliriously happy…for 3.4 seconds. It’s my second year on the Fort Zumwalt South High School Grad Night Committee. Our children, if you remember, are all one year apart, and if I volunteer for one I feel it’s only fair to volunteer for the others. So, the annual Grad Night Trivia Night was fast approaching, and one of the raffle items is a wheel barrow o’ booze. I only occasionally partake in a glass of wine, so that sort of thing would never interest me, but as I witnessed last year, these types of prizes raise a lot of money. I signed up to donate a bottle of booze, and in true Shelly Schneider fashion, waited until nearly the last possible minute to purchase it and bring it to the appropriate people. As it turns out, I needed to pick up a prescription and purchase a few other items, too, so I decided to kill a few birds with one trip. Fast forward to the checkout lane. The beautiful young lady scanned the deodorant, the chicken nuggets, the crackers and all other items before scanning the bottle of Kahlua. She looked up at me and it was at that precise moment the 3.4 seconds of happiness began. Well, in all honesty it probably took about 20 seconds before the bubble unceremoniously popped.

“Ma’am, I’ll need to see your ID,” she said. I was dumbfounded. “No you don’t,” I said. “I mean really, at what age do they tell you to stop carding people? I have a 19 year-old son for heaven’s sake. But thank you, sweetie, because you have officially made my year.” “Well,” she stammered. “Um, I mean…I have to scan the driver’s license of everyone who purchases alcohol. I didn’t want to burst your bubble though. You looked so happy when I asked to see your driver’s license.” Did you hear it? It was a very large bubble, and it probably sounded more like a gong when it burst. Oh that sound effects could follow us around and be heard by everyone around us in times like these. “So when I’m 85 I can come here to purchase a bottle of wine and you’ll still card me?” I laughed. Poor thing felt bad for me standing there in the checkout line, soaked by the remnants of that too huge bubble that she popped with one sentence from her sharp tongue. “It’s o.k., sweetie, I said. At least now I know where to go to purchase alcohol for the rest of my life! And when I go to my meeting tonight all I’ll tell them is that I was carded purchasing a bottle of Kahlua!” “O.K., Shelly,” you’re thinking to yourself. “Where is this magical land where everyone is carded, even if we’re 46 like you and there’s no way we’ll ever be mistaken as underage?” Sorry, that’s my little secret. I know I’m walking around with a BULLSEYE on my person, and you’re likely to hunt me down. Please, oh please, don’t make me the TARGET of your envy. Just go buy your own! (wink, wink!)

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Shower of Love The 6th Annual Shower of Love needs your help! This drive raises much-needed funds and baby items that are divided among local agencies that serve moms and babies in St. Charles County. The agencies are: Crisis Nursery, Birthright-St. Charles, Mary Queen of Angels, Nurses for Newborns, Our Lady’s Inn, ThriVe and Youth In Need. Michelle McElfresh, Shower of Love coordinator, said The Community and Children’s Resource Board of St. Charles County, Missouri (CCRB) organized the first event in April 2007 in response to an increase in child abuse incidents. The first Shower of Love raised $24,000 in cash and donations to benefit four local agencies serving teen moms and babies. To date, a total of $282,000 has been raised through the Shower of Love to help families in our community. “The most needed items are larger size diapers (3, 4 and 5) and formula, because those are some of the most expensive items,” McElfresh said. “These are the most requested items, so the agencies go through them pretty quick.” You can join the fun by: • Organizing a collection drive at your place of business in April. • Hosting a shower with your club or in your neighborhood in April. • Donating baby items (see Collection Site Locations). • Purchasing an item from our baby registry at http://www.walmart. com/ (listed as “Shower of Love.”) • Volunteering to hand out wish lists and collecting items on May 12, 17 or 19 at participating grocery stores in St. Charles County. Furniture_Feb2012:Layout 1 3/14/12 AM Page “Vatterott College has had a collection drive9:05 for several years,1” McElfresh said. “They’ll bring in food one day and ask for donations. They

then take the money and buy diapers and other items. They’ve also done a penny drive and other things during the month of April.” Drop-Off Collection Sites - During the month of April • Mid Rivers Mall - (Customer Service): 1600 Mid Rivers Mall Dr, St. Peters, MO 63376. Ph: 636.970.2610 St. Charles City-County Library District: • Spencer Road: 427 Spencer Rd, St. Peters, MO 63376 Ph: 636.447.2320 • Linnemann: 2323 Elm Street, St. Charles, MO 63301 Ph: 636.723.0232 • Middendorf-Kredel: 2750 Hwy K, O’Fallon, MO 63368 Ph: 636.978.7926 • Corporate Parkway: 1200 Corporate Pkwy, Wentzville, MO 63385 Ph: 636.332.9966 • Kisker Road: 1000 Kisker Rd, St. Charles, MO 63304 Ph: 636.447. READ • Deer Run: 1300 N. Main St., O’Fallon, MO 63366 Ph: 636.978.3251 • McClay : 2760 McClay Rd, St. Charles, MO 63303 Ph: 636.441.7577 • Library Express @ Winghaven: 7435 Village Center Dr, O’Fallon, MO 63366 Ph: 636.561.6476 • Library Express @ Discovery Village: 378 Shadow Pines Dr, Wentzville, MO 63385 Ph: 636.332.6476 St. Johns Bank Locations: • 8924 St. Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114 • 9229 Natural Bridge Rd, St. Louis, MO 63134 • 11965 St. Charles Rock Rd, St. Louis, MO 63044 • 1053 Cave Springs Rd, St. Peters, MO 63376 • 2897 Hwy K, O’Fallon, MO 63368 • 4001 Old Hwy 94 South, St. Charles, MO 63304 Collection sites on May 17, (staffed from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.) Dierbergs: • Cottleville: 6211 Mid Rivers Mall Dr, St. Charles, MO 63304 • St. Charles: 2021 Zumbehl Rd, St. Charles, MO 63303 • Wentzville: 1850 Wentzville Pkwy, Wentzville, MO 63385 Continued on page 8

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Shower of Love (continued) Mid Towne IGA: • 317 Hawthorne, St. Charles, MO 63301 Schnucks: • Cottleville: 6083 Mid Rivers Mall Dr, Cottleville, MO 63304 • St. Charles: 1950 Zumbehl Road, St. Charles, MO 63303 • Lake St. Louis: 101 Civic Center Dr, Lake St. Louis, MO 63367 • St. Peters: 577 Mid Rivers Mall Dr, St. Peters, MO 63376 Shop ‘n Save • Dardenne Prairie: 7909 Hwy N, Dardenne Prairie, MO 63368 • Harvester: 60 Harvester Sq, St. Charles, MO 63303 • St. Peters: 100 Jungerman Rd, St. Peters, MO 63376 Phone Number: • O’Fallon South: 3740 Monticello Plaza Dr, O’Fallon, MO 63304 • O’Fallon North: 1421 Mexico Loop Rd East, O’Fallon, MO 63365 • Harvester: 60 Harvester Sq, St. Charles, MO 63303 Collection Sites on Sat., May 12 & May 19 (Time varies per store.) Walmart-O’Fallon (May 12, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.) - 1307 Hwy K, O’Fallon, MO 63366. Walmart-Lake St. Louis: (May 12, noon - 4 p.m.) 6100 Ronald Reagan Dr, Lake St. Louis, MO 63367

Walmart-Wentzville: (May 19, 9 a.m. -7 p.m.) 1971 Wentzville Pkwy., Wentzville, MO 63385. Walmart-St. Peters: (May 19, noon -4 p.m.) 1661 Jungermann, St. Charles, MO 63304 Help for Moms and Moms-To-Be If you are a teen mom, please call one of the 24 hour support lines listed below to receive support. These wonderful agencies are available to provide services and support for you and your baby. • Birthright-St. Charles: 636.724.1200 • Crisis Nursery: 636.947.0600 • Mary Queen of Angels: 636.379.5070 • Nurses for Newborns: 1.800.452.4782 • Our Lady’s Inn: 636.398.5375 • ThriVe: 636.278.1212 • Youth In Need: 636.946.0101 For more information, please contact Michelle McElfresh at 636.939.6200, email at mamcelfresh@sbcglobal.net.

YMCAs of St. Charles County 2012 Golf Tournament The YMCAs of St. Charles County will host the 2012 District Golf Tournament on Monday, July 23 at Whitmoor Country Club to help support the Strong Community Campaign. This event will include a Silent and Live Auction with all proceeds supporting Strong Community. The YMCA Strong Community Campaign raises funds to support scholarships for individuals and families who live in our community. The Y will turn no one away due to an inability to pay. In order to continue our Mission, we are seeking the support of our local community. If you or your business would like to donate an item, gift certificate or service to our Auction, please contact Matt Thompson, program executive, Tri-County/O’Fallon Family YMCA, at 636.332.5574.

www.pbtc.net 8 CROSSROADS APRIL 2012

ENTERTAINMENT

Hollywood Reshuffles the Movie Calendar, Adjusts Prices BY STEVE BRYAN

Like most people in the United States, Hollywood’s movers and shakers have been forced to reexamine their marketing strategies in order to fill theater seats. In the past, it was easy to determine when the big blockbusters were going to arrive in theater, but the film calendar now is wide open as far as “event movies” are concerned. Take, for example, “John Carter,” a widely-heralded adaptation of the Edgar Rice Burroughs novels from a century ago. According to news reports, the Walt Disney Studios have invested $250 million in this production, making it one of the most expensive films produced in the last 20 years. Typically, a studio will release something of this caliber during the summer, a time when more young people are out of school, but “John Carter” was unleashed on March 9. The same goes for “The Hunger Games,” an adaptation of the brilliant novels by Suzanne Collins. Targeted for the same crowd that loves the “Twilight” movies, this thriller speaks of current issues, such as the problems of the “99 percent” versus the “1 percent” that hold the majority of the wealth and power. One would expect a film of this magnitude to arrive in July or late November, but it was slated for a March release. Other early releases include Julia Roberts as the Wicked Queen in “Mirror Mirror” and a 3-D re-release of “Titanic.” With streaming video and lower prices on Blu-ray discs, Hollywood has to fight even harder at the box office. The price of admission has also seen a drastic shift in some areas of the country, even those cities close to Hollywood. In Anaheim, home of Disneyland, at least two theaters are waging a kind of price war on certain days of the week. Cinema City, for instance, offers $4.00 admissions on Sunday as well as all-day Monday and Tuesday. This independent theater even offers free popcorn cou-

pons on their website. In the St. Louis area, Wehrenberg Theaters offers Early Bird and Rush Hour pricing at participating theaters, and Free Popcorn Wednesdays, too. These prices are offered on first-run movies, meaning it is possible to see “John Carter” or “The Hunger Games” for less than the cost of a large soda at the concession stand. Speaking of concessions, theaters on the East and West Coasts have been trying something new with soft drinks. In many chains, when you purchase a soda, you are given a cup and directed to a self-service dispenser. This allows the consumer to select how much ice they want and mix flavors to their heart’s content. The moviegoing experience always is changing, but these advances are definitely in favor of the consumer.

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APRIL 2012 CrossRoads Magazine

COMMUNITY CALENDAR April

Double Header Leagues

Coed

Softball

This “Open League” is a six-week (12-game) regular season, plus a single elimination playoff format. Games will be played on Sunday evenings at Founders Park beginning this April. Info: www.lakesaintlouis. com

April 2

PALS Night at IMOS (Troy)

Enjoy a great dinner from 4 – 8 p.m. and help our furry friends at the same time! All proceeds will be used for animal care. For more information, call 636.338.1818 or visit www. pals-pets.com.

April 7

The Sounds of Spring

Held from 9 – 11 a.m. at Wentzville’s Rotary Park, this free event is hosted by the Parks and Recreation Department and the Missouri Department of Conservation. The walk includes information on frogs, birds, and other animals of the season. Proper athletic shoes required. Free. For more information, please call the Wentzville Parks and Recreation Department at 636.332.9236.

April 14

Spring Poultry Expo

The annual event will be begin at 7:30 a.m. at the R-1 school at Silex, Mo. The day features one of the largest farmers’ markets of the year, a bird swap, poultry show, auction and more. Free. For more information, please call 636.697.3447 or 660.456.7565.

April 14

Arbor Day Event

Held from noon to 2 p.m. in Wentzville’s beautiful Rotary Park. Afternoon of fun and games, seedling giveaway and more. Free! For more information, please call the Wentzville Parks and Recreation Department at 636.332.9236

April 14

Mission Clean Stream

The event will begin at 8:30 a.m. at Quail Ridge Park. A picnic lunch follows the cleaning at 11:30 a.m. To register, please call the Wentzville Parks and Recreation Department at 636.332.9236.

CROSSROADS APRIL 2012

class will be held from 8:30 a.m. – noon at Lake Saint Louis City Hall. Info: www.lakesaintlouis.com

April 14

Social Dance

Held from 7 – 9 p.m. at the Progress Park Center in Wentzville. Designed for older adults, the program includes music from the 40s, 50s and 60s. Advanced registration required. The fee is $8 per resident and $10 per non-resident. To register, please call the Wentzville Parks and Recreation Department at 636.332.9236.

April 16

Lake Saint Louis Art Classes

Marie Donato - www.mariedonato. com instructs in Pastel Painting, Drawing, Portrait or Watercolor. Classes meet at the Lake Saint Louis Civic Center for two hours each week for six weeks. $82 per session, supplies are purchased separately. Info: 636.561.4620 or www. lakesaintlouis.com.

Body Composition Screening For Women

Easter Bake Sale

E-mail: cnews@centurytel.net Fax: 636.379.1632 Mail: 2139 Bryan Valley Commercial Dr. O’Fallon, MO 63366

April 26

April 7

This PALS event will be held from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Krogers in Troy. All proceeds will be used for animal care. For more information, call 636.338.1818 or visit www. palspets.com.

To see your organization’s event listed here, please contact us.

April 14

Babysitting Basics

Designed for boys and girls, ages 11 and older. $16 fee includes a light snack and course certificate. The

Held from 3 – 5 p.m. at Lake Saint Louis City Hall, this free screening will determine your percentage of body fat and more. Each appointment takes approximately 5 minutes. The screening is FREE but pre-registration is required at 636.561.4620.

April 27

Bunco Night for PALS

Held at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Room in the Troy Fire Department. The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. $15 donation to play. For more information, call 636.338.1818 or visit www. pals-pets.com.

May 3

Flex & Strength Adult Yoga Class

All skill levels welcome. Classes meet Mondays and Thursdays from 4:45-5:45pm, May 3 – June 14 (12 total classes). Note: Please bring your own mat to class. Fee is $54 for LSL residents, and $66 for non-residents. Info: www.lakesaintlouis.com.

August 25

Lake Saint Louis Triathlon

The City of Lake Saint Louis Parks and Recreation is proud to present the oldest organized Triathlon event in the St. Louis metro area. Registrations are being accepted at www.lakesaintlouis.com or call 636.625.7944. Flooring_April_2012:Layout 1 3/14/12

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WENTZVILLE - Chamber News

BY TONY MATHEWS

Wentzville Chamber Welcomes New Members The Wentzville Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce some outstanding news on economic growth within our great community! Over the last month the Wentzville Chamber of Commerce has welcomed three new businesses or organizations into the Wentzville Chamber. Wentzville businesses are prospering and the chamber is proud to support and endorse these great businesses. “I am so excited to welcome these great businesses into the Wentzville Chamber,” said Tony Mathews, President/CEO of the Wentzville Chamber of Commerce. The three businesses and organizations are: 1) Advance Beauty College - Wentzville, 982 Wentzville Parkway,

Wentzville, MO 63385. 636.332.0777. Contact: Gina Kinion. 2) Hampel Road Storage, 29 Hampel Road, Moscow Mills, MO, 63362. 636.366.9323. Contact: Michelle Otto. 3) ServPro of St. Charles County, 470 St. Peters Howell Road, St. Charles, MO 63304. 636.926.0033. Contact: Michael Rafert. To discover all the 400 local businesses and organizations that are members of the Wentzville Chamber of Commerce please visit www.wentzvillechamber.com. Become a friend of the Wentzville Chamber on Facebook. As a friend of the Wentzville Chamber of Commerce you can stay up to date with new businesses coming into the area. If you have any questions please call the Wentzville Chamber of Commerce at 636.327.6914.

Wentzville Chamber Trivia Night The Wentzville Chamber of Commerce is hosting a trivia night on Friday, April 27, 2012. The theme for the evening is “Decades of Fun!” The event will be held at the Progress Park Center located at 968 Meyer Rd., Wentzville, MO 63385. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and trivia starts at 7 p.m. Admission is $20 per person, with eight players per table. Admission includes soda, water, beer, wine and snacks. The evening will feature fun questions in a variety of categories

from the last 100 years. Prizes will be awarded. The theme for the evening will be decades. The best decorated table will receive a special prize. The chamber will also have attendance prizes, raffles and more. Mulligans may be purchased the night of the event. It will be permissible to bring your own treats and beverages. For reservations contact the Wentzville Chamber of Commerce at 636.327.6914 or online at www.wentzvillechamber.com

22nd Annual Wentzville Chamber Golf Tournament The Wentzville Chamber of Commerce is hosting its 22nd Annual Golf Tournament on Wednesday, May 23, 2011. The tournament will be held at Incline Village Golf Course. Everyone is encouraged to sign-up today and reserve their place! The tournament will be played in teams of three and cost per player is only $110. Fees include the following: 18 holes of golf, cart,

lunch, dinner, unlimited drinks, prizes and much more. This is an excellent opportunity to kick the summer golfing season off, so get your team of three together today. For more information please contact the Wentzville Chamber of Commerce office at 636.327.6914 or www.wentzvillechamber.com.

Ground Breaking Sam’s Club broke ground for its new Wentzville location on Tuesday, February 28. Representatives from Sam’s Club, the city of Wentzville, and the Wentzville Chamber were present. The store is scheduled to open in November 2012, and will be located adjacent to Walmart on Wentzville Parkway.

Photo courtesy Wentzville Chamber of Commerce 12

CROSSROADS APRIL 2012

Photo Op PHOTOS BY RAY ROCKWELL

Spring Has

Sprung! Photographer Ray Rockwell captured the beautiful emerge nce of spring.

APRIL 2012 CROSSROADS

LIFESTYLES

The Healthcare Industry Loves Me BY JOE MORICE

The Medical profession is keeping us older folks alive longer. Some of the younger generations have indicated they don’t like paying for it. They don’t come right out and say we should die off sooner but one get’s the idea. I’m okay with that. Perhaps I’d feel the same if I were still young and healthy and tired of paying Medicare withholding. When you’re retired, you have more time to watch daytime TV. Daytime programming is flooded with all manner of advertising aimed directly at senior citizens. I see ads for everything from cholesterol pills to burial insurance. “The Soaps” should be renamed “The Pills.” They’re sponsored by a whole range of pharmaceuticals; everything from Lisinopril for reduced blood pressure to Cialis to raise it again with relentless sex. They don’t offer a sex partner but maybe someday… The point is, the healthcare industry seems happy we older folks are living longer. Those of us on Medicare appear favored over younger folks of which the majority are without medical insurance. But support is where you find it. Satan might buy your lunch in the dining car if he knows the train is headed for a collapsed bridge. It looks as if everyone that’s connected with the healthcare industry is in on this. Of course, too much is still not enough for some hospitals. After billing Medicare for tens of thousands for treatment, they sent further billings to the patients demanding thousands more. Then patients obtained Medicare supplements to pay for whatever Medicare didn’t pay for. Soon hospitals changed gears and billed patients for what their Medicare supplements didn’t pay for unless you could afford supplements with payments higher than a new Mercedes Benz. The hospital I used for cancer treatments was adding another building. The healthcare corporation that owned it was add-

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CROSSROADS APRIL 2012

ing a new hospital. The CEO was probably adding a South Sea vacation home. Some argue that the President’s healthcare committee proposition was a form of socialism and they spurned it. Medicare wasn’t included although it’s basically similar. Few detractors brought that up, however. Perhaps they had parents or grandparents on Medicare. Helping them pay their medical bills might have meant trading their Escalades for used Chevys. Out of pure rebellion, I buy nothing advertised on TV aimed at senior citizens. If I’m forced to buy pills, I demand generic. I won’t buy a cemetery plot. I won’t even donate my body to medical science. I’ll have it cremated and my ashes laced with defoliant to be sprayed over a private golf course used by healthcare executives. That’ll show ‘em! The healthcare industry blames each other and everybody else for rising costs including the increased number of senior citizens who are being kept alive longer. This blame game includes the old standby called entitlements, which generally means “Hey, I shouldn’t have to pay for such and such!” It appears everybody wants health care but nobody wants to pay for it. The ones that still have healthcare insurance fear they’re also paying for someone that doesn’t have it. The ones without insurance fear they won’t receive health care. The people without medical insurance who are sick can receive hospital treatment anyway because hospital money-monger-lawyer-doctor geniuses fear lawsuits if they refuse them. Am I getting billed for untold extras my Medicare supplement didn’t pay for to pay for someone else? Isn’t this worse than the new health care proposals that were spurned? It looks as if the only way I can get even and make younger generations happy is die. After I do, some golf greens are going to turn brown.

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Birth and Death Records Available Online

Having offered certified copies of birth and death records for many years, the St. Charles County Department of Community Health and the Environment now offers these important documents online as well. Effective March 1, 2012, Missouri residents (whether they live in St. Charles County or not), may now obtain vital records through the health department office — at 1650 Boone’s Lick Road in St. Charles — or online at www.scchealth. org. “We offer this service as a convenient means for obtaining these documents that have increased in importance with recent requirements,” said Department Director Gil Copley. “Now that proof of identity is required to travel abroad and to renew a driver’s license, it is even more important that an individual has an accurate and certified copy of their birth certificate. By visiting our website or by completing the application in person at our office, a citizen can obtain most Missouri birth or death certificates from us in just a few minutes.”

To obtain these records, an individual or family member must complete a signed application. Birth records can be obtained for any immediate family member born in Missouri since 1920. Death certificates are available for any family member’s death that occurred in Missouri since 1980. For information about this convenient service, please call 636.949.7558. In-person applications are accepted from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., weekdays (excluding holidays), at the department’s office. Copies of birth certificates are $15, and death certificates are $13 ($10 for each additional death certificate copy ordered at the same time). The Department of Community Health and the Environment accepts cash, money orders, and checks (with proper identification) for payment of these records. Alternatively, residents may obtain these documents at any time through the department’s new partnership with VitalChek Network, Inc. A convenience fee, which is dependent on the document

requested and the speed of receipt, will be charged for online orders. A major credit card is required for securing online orders. The St. Charles County Department of Community Health and the Environment is committed to the protection and enhancement of health and the quality of life for all members of our community. To discover ways the department assists this region, please visit www.scchealth. org or call 636.949.7400.

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APRIL 2012 CROSSROADS 15

FOOD

Make Meatless Meals a Favorite This Spring (Family Features) Whether you cook them for breakfast, lunch or dinner, eggs are a great ingredient for a meatless spring dish. By incorporating eggs with other easy-to-prepare ingredients, like pierogies, you can create a hearty meal that can be served for brunch gatherings or weeknight family meals. The recipe below for Simple Spring Frittata combines eggs, pierogies, fresh asparagus and savory Swiss cheese to create a Spanish-style omelet the whole family will enjoy. If asparagus isn’t handy, you can replace it with spinach, broccoli or any one of your favorite vegetables. This seasonal recipe, which contains less than 10 ingredients and takes less than 30 minutes to prep and cook, is the perfect dish for the Lenten season. For more recipes, visit www.pierogies.com.

Simple Spring Frittata Serves 6 1 6 6 1/3 2 1 1/4 1/2 1

Boil pierogies as package directs. Drain. Heat asparagus in small saucepan in enough water to cover to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to low; simmer 2 to 3 minutes or until asparagus are tender. Drain well and pat dry. Beat eggs, milk, parsley, salt and pepper in medium-size bowl; stir in shredded cheese. Set aside. Preheat oven to 400°F.

(16-ounce) package frozen Mrs. T’s Pierogies asparagus spears, each cut into 1-inch pieces large eggs cup milk tablespoons fresh chopped parsley teaspoon salt teaspoon ground black pepper cup shredded Gruyere or Swiss cheese tablespoon butter

Melt butter in 10-inch oven-proof skillet over medium heat. Add half of egg mixture; top with pierogies, asparagus and remaining egg mixture. Cook until frittata is just set around edges, about 5 minutes. Place skillet in oven; cook until frittata is set, 5 to 8 minutes. Serve immediately.

Free Spring Pickup of Tree and Shrub Trimmings in Wentzville Now that spring is here, many residents will be tidying up and trimming the trees and shrubs around their houses. To make it easy for residents to dispose of these trimmings, the city provides a Brush and Tree Chipper Program in both the spring and fall. For residents living north of the railroad tracks, the free pickup of tree and shrub trimmings is scheduled for the week of April 9 through April 13. Residents living south of the railroad tracks will have their tree and shrub trimmings picked up April 16 through April 20. To ensure pickup, residents should have their tree and shrub trimmings placed at the curb by 6 a.m. on Monday of the week their area is scheduled for pickup. Limbs should be eight inches or less in diameter, and residents should not tie limbs into bundles or place them in bags. Leaves, decorative grasses or grass clippings are not included in this pickup and will not be accepted. All materials not placed at the curb line or that have greater than an eight-inch diameter will not be picked up. For more information about the Brush and Tree Chipper Program, call the Wentzville Public Works Department at 636.327.5102. 16 CROSSROADS APRIL 2012

AROUND TOWN

All Around Wentzville

Information courtesy of the City of Wentzville Property Maintenance Inspections Begin April 2 To help protect Wentzville homeowners’ investments and ensure property values remain stable, the city routinely conducts “windshield” or “drive-by” property-maintenance inspections. All properties are inspected every two years, with one half of the city inspected one year and the other half inspected the following year. Most residents appreciate the city’s vigilance with this matter, because they realize the deteriorating exterior of a home not only lowers its market value, it can also lower the marketability and value of neighboring properties. In 2012, all structures in the western half of Wentzville will be inspected, with inspections beginning April 2. The city conducts these exterior inspections based upon the 2006 International Property Maintenance Code. The items inspected on properties are as follows: • Address numbers • Sidewalk/driveway deterioration • Overgrown grass/weeds/dead trees • Garbage, trash or rubbish in yard • Derelict autos or parts in yard • Porches deteriorated • Fences deteriorated • Masonry damaged or deteriorated • Windows damaged or broken/screens missing or broken • Garage or main doors deteriorated or broken • Exterior wall surfaces deteriorated—needing paint • Guttering damaged or missing • Roof shingles damaged or missing When city inspectors find a property that needs attention, they leave a notice on the door of the property. The notices allow a reasonable time for completion. If residents have a concern about the exterior maintenance of properties in their neighbor-hood, they don’t have to wait for the city’s biannual windshield inspection. Residents can call the Action Center at 636.327.5101 anytime to alert the city of a problem. By providing this service and remaining vigilant in ensuring all Wentzville properties are suitably maintained, the city hopes to keep Wentzville a desirable place to live and work. Wentzville’s Citywide Yard Sale Whether you have seldom-used items you want to turn into cash, or you’re a treasure hunter looking for bargains, Wentzville’s annual Spring Citywide Yard Sale is a great opportunity. This year’s Spring

Citywide Yard Sale is scheduled for May 5, and just like previous years, it’s expected to attract thousands of shoppers from surrounding areas and as far away as Illinois! To help you attract the right buyers or find the perfect treasure, be sure to take advantage of the Citywide Yard Sale Booklet. The booklets will include a treasure map with all of the registered yard sales listed, and a brief description of the items to be sold at each yard sale along with the hours of the sale will be included. Residents who list their sales in the booklet will also receive an official City Yard Sale sign. Sellers may list their yard sales with the Parks Department for $6 through Sunday, April 29. If three neighbors want to go together and list their yard sales, the cost is only $15. Beginning Wednesday, May 2, buyers may purchase the booklets for $2 each at City Hall, located at 310 West Pearce Boulevard; the Utilities Service Center, located at 5 West Pearce Boulevard; or the Parks and Recreation Office, located in Progress Park at 968 Meyer Road. Shoppers may purchase booklets at the Parks and Recreation Office all the way through Saturday, May 5, but the other two locations will only be open regular business hours, Monday through Friday. For more information about the Citywide Yard Sale, contact the Parks and Recreation office at 636.332.9236. Name the Green Space! The city of Wentzville needs your help to name the unnamed park project located at 200/202 W. Northview Avenue. The city recently completed a storm water project on this site to provide flood relief and create green space for the public. While there is no monetary prize for the winner, he or she will certainly make a mark on the piece of the city’s green space. Please submit your naming idea online at www.wentzvillemo.org or in person at City Hall or Progress Park Recreation Center. The deadline is 5 p.m. on April 20, 2012. The winner will be announced within a few weeks and recognized by the Mayor at a Board of Aldermen meeting. The naming of this site should be inspired by the natural features and/or relationship to storm water benefits. This site will function as an outdoor class room for local schools, a pocket park within the neighborhood, and a quiet respite for nature lovers. For a full list of rules and regulations, please visit www.wentzivllemo. org.

www.petlandstl.com APRIL 2012 CROSSROADS 17

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LAKE SAINT LOUIS - DARDENNE PRAIRIE BY GENA BREYNE Chamber News Welcome New Members The Lake Saint Louis Dardenne Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to present our newest members. These new members join the more than 250 local businesses that are proud to be known as members of the LSLDP Area Chamber. To find more information on any of our members please visit www.lsldpchamber.com. Great Southern Bank Mrs. Atina Parris Assistant Banking Center Manager 3031 Lake St. Louis Blvd. Lake Saint. Louis, MO 63367 636.561.2265

Northwestern Mutual Michelle Stiens Financial Representative 424 S. Woodsmill Rd., Suite 110 Chesterfield, MO 63017 636.734.7251

Tickets Now Available for 2012 Jazz on the Green! May 19, 2012 | 6 – 10 p.m. | Lake Forest Country Club | 300 Yard Drive, Lake Saint Louis

The Lake Saint Louis Dardenne Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce and Lake Forest Country Club have paired up to bring the community a evening of fun, food and entertainment. Guests will enjoy themselves at this Creative Black Tie/ Black Tie and Flip Flops event. Journey from hole to hole as the amazing sounds of jazz fill the air at the beautiful Lake Forest Country Club. Tastings from wineries and amazing foods from local restaurants will be paired on each stop. Guest will also be invited to view and purchase works of art from our local artisans. To top off the evening we will enjoy a dessert bar under the stars. Cash bar will be available from 9 – 10 p.m. A portion of the proceeds from this event will benefit three local charities: Friends Helping Friends, Operation Food Search and Volunteers in Medicine. Tickets: $35 / person www.lsldpchamber.com

Ribbon Cutting The Lake Saint Louis Dardenne Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce would like to congratulate the members that have held recent ribbon cuttings. Representatives of the business and the Lake Saint Louis Chamber of Commerce helped cut the ceremonial ribbons. For more information on the Lake Saint Louis Dardenne Prairie Area Chamber of Commerce please contact us at 636.755.5335 or visit us online at www.lsldpchamber.com Ultimate Fintess Plus For Women Mrs. Ann Carden, Owner 821 W. Terra Lane, O’Fallon, MO 63366 636.272.8442 Photo courtesy LSL/DP Chamber of Commerce 18

CROSSROADS APRIL 2012

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