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2 | OUR TOWN | FEBRUARY 2022
Our Town Volume 13 | Number 2 FEBRUARY 2022 Published by the Community News, Our Town is a monthly news magazine covering the cities of Creve Coeur, Maryland Heights, and Olivette. Circulation is 7,000 monthly through over 105 monitored newsstands guaranteeing 100% pickup. Additional issues are distributed online, and a free online subscription is available at www.mycnews. com
N THIS SSUE
Around Town
Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper announces multiyear grant to fund clean water initiative in St. Louis and more.
Feature PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF Mathew DeKinder PUBLISHER EMERITUS/ GENERAL MANAGER Bob Huneke PRODUCTION Becky Brockmann Melissa Nordmann CONTRIBUTORS Avalanche, David Finkelstein, Cindy Moore STAFF WRITERS Brett Auten Wendy Todd
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A thrill for all Local group looks to open Spirit of Discovery Park, an amusement park that would accommodate people with disabilities and special needs By Wendy Todd
Our Thoughts Moore on Life author Cindy Moore draws unwanted interest from funeral directors while Avalanche enjoys walking in a winter wonderland.
Lifestyle The 2022 Jeep Wagoneer Series II is the perfect ‘high end’ SUV in Automobile Alley. Honoring the inimitable Betty White in Entertainment. Recipes to help boost iron levels, aid plasma donation recovery in For the Love of Food.
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In Depth Water main breaks become more prevalent in cold temperatures, but can be prevented with routine maintenance.
Events Calendar
Staff Writer –Wendy Todd Cover Photo – Submitted
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AroundTown Voted North County’s Best Senior Living Community
INDEPENDENT SENIOR LIVING WITH WELLNESS AMENITIES
One Pratt Place Florissant, MO 63031 314-839-5000 TheVillaAtRiverwood.com
Principal recognition Parkway assistant principal named ‘Elementary Assistant Principal of the Year’ Joey Kneer, assistant principal at Henry Elementary School in the Parkway School District was named “Elementary Assistant Principal of the Year” by the St. Louis Suburban Elementary Principals Association which is a region of the Missouri Association Elementary School Principals (MAESP). Each of the eleven MAESP Regional Networks may nominate a MAESP member assistant principal. Criteria established by MAESP require the individual to be a full-time assistant principal supporting one or more learning communities. The assistant principal must demonstrate evidence of outstanding support and contributions to the school community and the potential to contribute to the education profession as a school principal.
(From left) Paul Godwin, principal at Green Pines Elementary, Rockwood; Joey Kneer, assistant principal at Henry Elementary School, Parkway School District and Sheri Schjolberg, Riverview Gardens.
A gift of film Cinema St. Louis announces $100,000 gift from the Jane M. & Bruce P. Robert Charitable Foundation
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4 | OUR TOWN | FEBRUARY 2022
Cinema St. Louis (CSL) – the presenter of the Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival (SLIFF) and other annual film fests and events – received a $100,000 gift from the Jane M. & Bruce P. Robert Charitable Foundation. Half of the gift will support the annual Robert Classic French Film Festival and SLIFF’s Robert French and French-Language Focus. The other $50,000 will support SLIFF’s overall programming. Cliff Froehlich, CSL’s executive director, said, “Jane and Bruce Robert have been generous supporters of Cinema St. Louis for a decade. This new gift is among the largest the organization has ever received, and it will help ensure our continued success and viability in the future.” A $50,000 gift from the Robert Foundation in 2014 supported Cinema St. Louis’ French programming through 2024, and this new gift extends that support through
2034 and expands its scope to include SLIFF’s other programming through 2031. Jane Robert, a former French teacher, is a longtime board member of Cinema St. Louis. She has served as president or board member for many Francophile organizations, including the Federation of Alliances Françaises – USA. She was a founding board member for the American Friends of the Musée d’Orsay and for St. Louis Language Immersion Schools. The French government has honored her as an Officer of the Order of Academic Palms and a Knight in the French Legion of Honor. Bruce Robert, an attorney, has been both a strong supporter of the Saint Louis University School of Law and active in Francophile projects, including the Alliance Française, Sister Cities, American Friends of the Musée d’Orsay, Opera Lafayette, French Heritage Society, and American Friends of Blérancourt.
AroundTown
Talented teens 12th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition chooses 14 high school acts for final event On Jan. 16, forty-two metro area high school acts competed in the semi-final round of the 12th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition. The acts were divided into four categories (vocal, instrumental, dance and specialty) and adjudicated by fifteen St. Louis performing arts professionals, each representing the respective categories. The judges narrowed the field to 14 acts (18 students) who will move on to the finals at the Fabulous Fox Theatre on Feb. 11 at 8 p.m. The final competition is a professionally produced production the foundation is grateful to provide as a gift to the community that is free and open to the public. General Admission tickets are required and will be available at no charge through Metrotix online at metrotix.com. Finalists include a variety of singers, musicians, dancers, and acrobats. “We couldn’t be happier with the level of talent. The students seem to get better and better each year,” exclaimed Mary Strauss, Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation Board President. In addition to performing on the Fox Stage, contestants are eligible to win scholarships, prizes, and performance opportunities. Nearly $50,000 in prizes, cash awards and college scholarships will be distributed among the top competitors. A full list of prizes along with official event information can be found on the Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation’s (FPACF) website.
The finals production will be written and directed by St. Louis native Tony Parise, Broadway actor, dancer, director, choreographer. Parise will work with choreographer Yvonne Meyer Hare and music director Steve Neale to prepare performers for the Fox Stage. “I am so grateful to the entire Teen Talent team for keeping the competition going through the pandemic and giving our talented teens this incredible experience. We have learned a lot over the past two years, but this year we will get back to the spectacular live event. I can’t wait to feel that magical energy once again at the Fabulous Fox!” stated Parise. Finalist acts will be judged on technical ability, interpretation, stage presence, and originality. Judges for the finals have careers spanning music, dance, and Broadway. The community response to this event has been significant as the program has grown over the past twelve years. Annually 120,000+ viewers have watched the Nine PBS featured program on the final competition. Due to the pandemic, in 2020 and 2021 the final competition was filmed in front of a limited audience for a special broadcast on Nine PBS. FoxPACF is grateful for the continued partnership with Nine PBS, which will film the 2022 Finals in front of a full live audience for a special broadcast to air later this spring. The 2021 winner was Troy Staten, a singer from McCluer High School who will return this year for a special performance.
FEBRUARY 2022 | OUR TOWN | 5
AroundTown
Moving things along The World Trade Center St. Louis recently hosted a webinar discussing the ongoing national supply chain crisis and the role the St. Louis region can play in helping to alleviate it for businesses and consumers. The event featured a panel of experts discussing the global challenges being faced and how routing it through the bi-State St. Louis region can be part of the solution. Mary Lamie, Executive Vice President of Multi Modal Enterprises for Bi-State Development, and head of the St. Louis Regional Freightway said that companies are looking for a location that is both multimodal and globally accessible, both of which are qualities the St. Louis region possesses. With the most efficient inland port in the nation and six Class I railroads, the St. Louis region offers access to all four quadrants of the United States, making St. Louis an ideal location for customers who need to quickly move during supply chain disruptions. The Mississippi River to the gulf coast supply chain also provides access to a wide array of international customers in places such as Europe, Africa, and South America. Executive Director of America’s Central Port Dennis Wilmsmeyer called attention to the proposed merger between Canadian Pacific Railway and Kansas City Southern that would put the region on par with Chicago in terms of rail connectivity. He also cited the additional advantages the region offers with its central location putting shippers just a two-day truck drive from 70% of the U.S. population, and advances with Container-on-Barge and proposed Container-on-Vessel services make shipping on the inland waterways even more competitive. Wilmsmeyer spoke about how the supply chain problem began. At the start of the pandemic, China was the first to shut down factories and slow production at a time when the rest of the world also shut down. This led to a sudden surge in demand for things like home improvement goods and electronic computer products as people transitioned to working from home, but the supply of product coming out of major global trade hubs like China suddenly came to a grinding halt. This initiated what is an ongoing supply chain problem. “You add to that the sheer backlog of 6 | OUR TOWN | FEBRUARY 2022
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St. Louis region positioned to help address ongoing supply chain crisis
The World Trade Center St. Louis recently hosted a webinar discussing the ongoing national supply chain crisis and the role the St. Louis region can play in helping to alleviate it for businesses and consumers.
things … going to the Chinese ports, stacking up there, then getting loaded on ships and coming to California for shipment across the United States and then the backlog there… It is an entire movement, slowly, (like) a watermelon moves through a snake, that backlog slowly moves through the system,” said Wilmsmeyer. He added that what we are seeing now – and have experienced over the past year, especially on the West Coast – is that this whole movement has further been slowed by a shortage of workers, from truck drivers, and rail workers to dock hands. The St. Louis region is positioned to be part of the solution to this crisis, particularly pertaining to congestion at West Coast ports. “The St. Louis region is a reliever for other regions, such as Chicago,” said Lamie. “Our port system can serve as an alternative for others during national and global supply chain disruptions.” She also called attention to the ongoing infrastructure expansion projects that are helping to ensure the region can continue to have the capacity to serve as a reliever. Panelist Robert Shapiro, a partner with Thompson Coburn explained that there may also be certain options available to importers to speed up the shipping process by changing where they choose to clear customs, and that there is a cost-versustimeliness tradeoff to be considered.
“There’s an option when you’re importing goods to either clear them through customs at the first port of arrival, or you can clear customs at the port of destination. So, let’s say you’re shipping a container from Los Angeles to St. Louis. You could make entry in LA, or you could conduct the customs formalities in St. Louis. There’s some extra costs to push that clearance route out to St. Louis because you have basically two entries that you would be filing, but it does facilitate moving the goods off of the pier more quickly,” Shapiro said. “Customs wouldn’t be examining containers in Los Angeles, which slows things down - if an examination is going to occur, it would happen in St. Louis.” Shapiro added that, while there’s been much talk of the government stepping in to require changes at the West Coast ports to ease the congestion, there are limits to the role the government can play in helping alleviate this crisis, and the processes involved means that change is often implemented too slowly. “I’m an optimist. I think we are already beginning to see some relief, and I think we will be through this crisis by middle of 2022 or into the third quarter. But it takes time to redo things,” Shapiro said. To learn more about the World Trade Center St. Louis and the initiatives they’re involved in, visit worldtradecenter-stl.com.
AroundTown
Honored adviser Parkway West High’s journalism teacher, Debra Klevens was selected as the “Distinguished Adviser of the Year” by the Journalism Education Association (JEA). Klevens will be recognized at the JEA conference in the spring. In an era when yearbook advisors are required to innovate, comfort, and inspire, Klevens embodies all of those traits and more. Her forward-thinking nature helps her lead a group of students with a constant desire to innovate and achieve. “Having worked in education in five buildings for nearly 30 years,” principal Jeremy Mitchell said, “it is easy to declare Debra Klevens as - by far - the most progressive, forward-thinking, student-centered yearbook advisor whom I’ve had the privilege to work with.” While gifted at advising her students to create exceptional publications, Klevens puts her students before the product,
which is one of the reasons she has had such success with student publications. Never was this more important than in the midst of a virtual school year. “I first met Mrs. Klevens at the beginning of my sophomore year in a virtual classroom. It was an odd school year,” yearbook editor Amelia Burgess said. “I found forming relationships with my online teachers difficult and awkward, Mrs. Klevens with the exception, as her uplifting support helped me find comfort in an unfamiliar area.” The Journalism Education Association supports free and responsible scholastic journalism by providing resources and educational opportunities, by promoting professionalism, by encouraging and rewarding student excellence and teacher achievement, and by fostering an atmosphere which encompasses diversity yet builds unity.
PHOTO COURTESY PARKWAY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Parkway West High teacher named ‘Distinguished Adviser of the Year’
Parkway West High’s journalism teacher, Debra Klevens was selected as the “Distinguished Adviser of the Year” by the Journalism Education Association.
Future heroes
PHOTO COURTESY PARKWAY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Career day at Parkway’s Bellerive Elementary
(personal training – Infrared Sauna)
(From left) Paris Prince, first grade, stands next to Officer Michael Vaclavik, Creve Coeur Police Department and Rebecca Rice, first grade.
Students at Bellerive Elementary, in the Parkway School District, participated in virtual career day last week. Students
dressed up and watched videos from parents and community members with various careers.
11974 Dorsett Rd | Maryland Heights, MO 63043
314-567-7001
FEBRUARY 2022 | OUR TOWN | 7
AroundTown
Keep it clean Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper announces multi-year grant to fund clean water initiative in St. Louis On Jan. 25, Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper has announced that it received a $584,000 Opportunity Fund grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health. The 36-month grant will support a community-led research project to sample and test water quality throughout St. Louis City and County and understand the prevalence of emerging contaminants. The grant will be further applied to a strategic communications campaign targeted to Missouri lawmakers and policy decisionmakers to promote environmental justice and achieve health equity in St. Louis. Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper has outlined four key phases for this new project: • Phase 1: Collect and analyze tap water samples from randomly selected households identified through grassroots outreach. • Phase 2: Test for inequities in water systems by collecting samples of targeted source water near water treatment plants throughout the North St. Louis region, and collect samples of
surface water near the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers and certain tributaries. • Phase 3: Produce a report including university-led analysis of collected samples. • Phase 4: Amplify research findings via strategic communications campaign targeting local, state and federal policymakers. As both state and federal policy lags in protecting people from emerging contaminants, research findings throughout the country reveal a catastrophic, pervasive picture of emerging contaminants in our environment and our bodies. While the Toxic Substances Control Act Chemical Substance Inventory lists over 85,000 chemicals and microbiological contaminants, only 91 are currently regulated and regularly tested in local drinking water. Early testing conducted by Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper confirms the presence of emerging contaminants in tap water and Missouri’s waterways – the source of most local drinking water. Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper will advocate for equitable in-
vestments in clean water infrastructure, shift power dynamics and lay the foundation for lasting community change. Missouri Foundation for Health’s Opportunity Fund offers the chance for organizations to share game-changing ideas with the hope of making them a reality. By working in collaboration, the foundation helps nonprofits test projects that have the potential to reduce health inequities and build communities where everyone can thrive. The Foundation granted Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper a total of $584,000 to support its three-year phased approach. “Water is essential to life. And clean water is vital for healthy people and communities,” says Rachel Bartels, Director of Missouri Confluence Waterkeeper. “We are excited for the opportunity to collaborate with the Missouri Foundation for Health as changemakers to advance environmental justice and equitable investments in clean water infrastructure. This funding will serve as a catalyst for our organization’s mission to protect fishable, swimmable, drinkable water for all Missourians.”
Cinematic delights The 27th Annual St. Louis Jewish Film Festival begins March 6 The 27th annual St. Louis Jewish Film Festival will be held virtually this spring, March 6 – 13, presenting a selection of documentary and feature films from around the world. While all films depict a piece of the Jewish experience, the themes are universal and are meant to appeal to all, regardless of faith. In addition to 13 compelling films, the festival offers discussions with filmmakers and others associated with the films. A complete list of films and discussions, including trailers, can be found at stljewishfilmfestival.org. Highlights include: “Greener Pastures” – Dov, a widower, lives in a nursing home where he feels like he’s in jail. He dreams of buying back his 8 | OUR TOWN | FEBRUARY 2022
old house, but he has no money since losing his pension, for which he blames the State. When he realizes that everyone in the nursing home has access to statesponsored medical cannabis, he finds the solution. “High Maintenance” - Dani Karavan has created nearly 100 environmental installations around the world and won some of the most prestigious international art awards. This is not your ordinary documentary! “Tiger Within” - The incomparable Ed Asner stars in this tender saga that recounts the story of Samuel, a Holocaust survivor, and Casey, a punk teen runaway. Despite their respective traumas and initial mistrust of one another, they manage to
provide a sense of family and mutual support for each other. “Not Going Quietly” is a passionate documentary that brings light the fight against ALS. Lighter films that entertain include “Tango Shalom” and “The Conductor.” An all-Access Pass is $98 (plus fees) and individual films are $15 each (plus fees). Tickets will go on sale January 17 and films will be available for purchase and viewing at community.jccstl.org, the J’s virtual platform. The 2022 Jewish Film Festival co-chairs are Marilyn K. Brown, Jeffrey Korn and Paula Sigel. The Jewish Film Festival is a program of the Jewish Community Center.
AroundTown
Word masters Mason Ridge Elementary team achieved highest honors in national vocabulary competition A team representing Parkway’s Mason Ridge Elementary achieved highest honors in the recent WordMasters Challenge – a national vocabulary competition involving nearly 125,000 students annually. The fifth-grade team scored an impressive 188 points out of a possible 200 in the first of three meets this year, placing second in the nation. Competing in the very difficult Gold Division of the WordMasters Challenge, third-grader Sarah Adams, fourth-grader Ellie Zhao, and fifth graders Minha Arshad, Kate Reuter and Rosalind Zhu each earned a perfect score of 20 on the challenge. Nationally, only 13 third graders, nine fourth graders, and nine fifth-graders achieved this result. Other students from Mason Ridge Elementary who achieved outstanding results in the meet include fifth-graders Maci Cozad, Harrison Steiner and Sam Swiezynski. The students were coached in preparation for the WordMasters Challenge by Abby Webb. The WordMasters Challenge is an exercise in critical thinking that first encourages students to become familiar with a set of interesting new words (considerably harder than grade level), and then challenges them to use those words to complete analogies expressing various kinds of logical relationships. Working to solve the analogies helps students learn to think both analytically and metaphorically. Although most vocabulary enrichment and analogy-solving programs are designed for use by high school students, WordMasters Challenge materials have been spe-
PHOTO COURTESY PARKWAY SCHOOL
A team representing Parkway’s Mason Ridge Elementary achieved highest honors in the recent WordMasters Challenge – a national vocabulary competition involving nearly 125,000 students annually.
cifically created for younger students in grades three through eight. They are particularly well suited for children who are motivated by the challenge of learning new words and enjoy the logical puzzles posed by analogies. The WordMasters Challenge program is administered by a company based in New Jersey which is dedicated to inspiring high achievement in American schools. Further information is available at the company’s website: http://www.wordmasterschallenge.
Hens in the kitchen
4 Hens Creole Kitchen opens at The Food Hall at City Foundry STL 4 Hens Creole Kitchen is now open at The Food Hall at City Foundry STL. The four women owners, a nod to the name of 4 Hens, are two dynamic couples: Brandi (executive chef) and Brittany Artis alongside Brittani Gardner-Evans (business manager) and Ebony Evans. As the 15th kitchen inside the food hall, 4 Hens Creole Kitchen plans to be open for both lunch and dinner service serving hearty, Creole-inspired dishes. “I make it a point to inject love into every dish I create, and I’m ready to share my food and our story. It is surreal to see everything coming together because of how this idea came to be,” says Brandi Artis. “My wife and I lived in Chicago, and our friends, Brittani and Ebony, lived on the other side of the country. We all ended up deciding to move back to St. Louis in the same year and realized that we all had a collective dream — opening up a restaurant. City Foundry STL seemed like an excellent opportunity for us to be a part of an exciting project in the heart of the city that celebrates the diversity and creativity of St. Louis’ culinary scene. We’re excited to introduced a Black-and-queer-owned restaurant to our community with 4 Hens.” The launch menu is divided into three main categories: starters, mains, and “Little Chicks Meals,” featuring dishes made for
children. The starters options include Creole-inspired dishes like the Slapp’n Shrimp, shrimp sauteed in Creole spices and drizzled with 4 Hens’ remoulade sauce. For the mains, guests can savor the Shrimp n’ Grits made with creamy smoked Gouda cheese grits bathed in Creole cream sauce and topped with sauteed shrimp, or the Swamp Thang, which is a succotash soup with crawfish tails and sauteed shrimp. A selection of Po’ Boys will be available with your choice of shrimp, chicken, andouille sausage, or fried green tomatoes with the option to have it dressed or plain, served with fries. Top off your meal with N’awlins Bread Pudding with an inhouse sweet cream sauce, caramel drizzle, and pralines. The menu also includes side dishes of french fries, grits, and a house salad and a selection of drinks from the sister company, Little Chicks Lemonade, run by the duo-pair’s children. “These four talented women have created some incredible dishes, including options for kids, which allows them to start exploring new foods and different cuisines at a young age,” says Susie Bonwich, director of operations. 4 Hens Creole Kitchen is open lunch and dinner (Sunday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Monday and Wednesday through Saturday 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., Tuesday closed). FEBRUARY 2022 | OUR TOWN | 9
A TH THRILLfor all This artist’s rendering shows a completed Spirit of Discovery park.
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Local group looks to open Spirit of Discovery Park, an amusement park that would accommodate people with disabilities and special needs BY WENDY TODD
10 | OUR TOWN | FEBRUARY 2022
Amusement parks have been a long standing and traditional form of family fun. The first amusement park was built nearly 200 years ago in 1846 and located in Lake Compounce in Bristol, Connecticut. With remarkable advancements in technology and innovation, amusement, discovery, theme and adventure parks, a staple of Americana, have come a long way since then. But have they come far enough?
Not all amusement parks are one size fits all. For people with disabilities, amusement parks can present limited experiences and pose risk. Some with disabilities are not able to take advantage of certain rides, interactive experiences or participate in games that require full mobility. But one St. Louis woman is attempting to turn that around and provide an experience focusing on inclusivity and equity for all patrons. Jamie Peniston Vann wants to open Spirit of Discovery Park, an adventure park that would be the second of its kind in the country to accommodate people with disabilities and special needs. The first adventure park of this nature, Morgan’s Wonderland, is located in San Antonio, Texas. Peniston Vann, founder and presi-
dent of SoDP was motivated by learning her friend’s family wouldn’t be visiting Disneyland because it could not sufficiently accommodate her child with Down’s Syndrome. Her goal is to create an environment and experience that allows people of all abilities to enjoy rides, accessible and adaptive technology and interactive games that create more access, including the navigation of the space. “The biggest issue with traditional theme parks is their landscape. Most guests in wheelchairs, wagons, and/or who have prosthetics cannot move past the main entrance due to the hilly terrain,” she said. To make the park even more accessible, tickets for patrons with disabilities would be free. Accompanying guests would pay a nominal fee.
Jamie Peniston Vann, founder and president of Spirit of Discovery Park, was motivated by learning her friend’s family wouldn’t be visiting Disneyland because it could not sufficiently accommodate her child with Down’s Syndrome.
The project is currently seeking over 50 acres of land in the St. Louis region to begin construction, which will take between 24 and 30 months to complete. You can learn more about the park, opportunities to donate and fundraising events at www.spiritofdiscoverypark.com.
FEBRUARY 2022 | OUR TOWN | 11
OurThoughts
Last meal? MOORE ON LIFE BY CINDY MOORE
We’re barely into 2022 and while I hope for a better year, I have a sneaking suspicion there’s something brewing ahead. Why else would I get multiple flyers in the mail pushing affordable funeral plans? Do they know something I don’t know? Was it that enchilada I ate the other day? It was in the back of the fridge and had been there for who knows how long, but I was starving. I convinced myself that the fuzzy stuff growing on top was green salsa. So, I possibly tainted my organs, but how could the funeral people know? Are they in cahoots with the Grim Reaper? I don’t know, but I do know they’re after me. The first advertisement came in the mail shortly after the food incident. It read: “Feeling a bit queasy? Are your insides feeling like they want to be outside? Maybe you’ve eaten something well past its expiration date or maybe you’re just well past your expiration date. If it’s tomb to kick the oxygen habit then come over to Dickey’s Dearly Departed funeral home and check out our digs – literally! We put the fun back in funeral! Out last rites can’t be wrong!” I tossed that one immediately. I don’t want my memorial service people to be stand-up comedians. The second flyer was no better: “Hey old person, yeah that’s you! Face it sweetie, your days of being a plump juicy grape are long gone. The sad raisin days are here and running out quicker than the batteries in your hearing aid. We here at The Dirt Sandwich Café know burials are expensive and are offering a great
12 | OUR TOWN | FEBRUARY 2022 2022
money-saving option on pre-owned coffins. Bring in the attached coupon for a 10% off discount on gently used models. Get ‘em before they’re gone or before you’re gone.” Hmph! I should’ve kept the comedian’s flyer. The final shocker came just days ago. It was an unbelievable invitation and if I’m lying, I’m dying…err…scratch that choice of words. The postcard announced a presentation at a nearby mortuary. Now I’m all for gimmicks, but these guys were offering their pre-planned memorial discussions along with…wait for it…pizza! Yes, catchy cuisine and caskets! Seriously?! Just then I checked into the refrigerator. It was lunchtime and not a morsel to be found. I grabbed my husband and we loaded up in the car. “Where are we going?” he wanted to know. “Out to lunch. Free lunch!” I only hoped they weren’t using the crematorium for the pizzas.
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.
OurThoughts ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE BY AVALANCHE
Atmospheric river The forecast had been calling for snow, a lot of it, driven by a so-called atmospheric river. At our elevation, a total of about a foot was predicted to arrive over the holiday week, a good dose of the white stuff, much needed after a wickedly dry summer and fall. What little snow we had gotten had already been washed away by some rain, an increasingly common occurrence these days, even in the dead of winter. We all took the forecast in stride, not holding out much hope for a good dump. I have long wondered if the weather forecasters receive kickbacks from the ski resort marketing departments – since the more snow in the forecast, the more hotel bookings and advance ticket sales were put down on the good side of the business ledgers. The first wave of the storm hit just before Christmas. Over two inches of rain fell, which eventually turned to snow. Wonderfully disproving my cynical view of the forecast, except for a few hours here and there, the snow didn’t stop for another 10 days. Several of the local snow removal services in our area were no more; the owners either retired, or sold their businesses, since the last several years had been so dry. As one former operator pointed out, you have to be on call every day from Thanksgiving through April, including holidays, so you can plow for maybe nine days. Not nearly enough to cover expenses, let alone make a living. Prior to winter, and after a search, a plow service was hired for the neighborhood, and a friend unexpectedly loaned me his plow blade for the winter, while he spent the cold months in Mexico. As it turned out, there was plenty of work for both the plow service and me. As the snow continued to pile up, once or twice a day the plow service would clear out the roads, which became increasingly narrow, with all the snow that piled up on the sides. I had more than enough work just trying to widen the cleared lanes with my skid steer and borrowed blade, stacking the snow piles up higher and higher. A couple of mornings I had to punch through the drifts which were mid-thigh deep, just so the plow trucks could even get in the neighborhood; then they could clear the main roads. Several neighbors hired me to clear off their driveways. Most of these properties normally took less than 30 minutes to clear with a snow blower. I was spending hours with a skid steer and eight-foot blade keeping them passable. I was unexpectedly and suddenly thrust back into my decadesago prior life as a public works employee, getting out at 4:30
a.m. and trying to stay ahead of the storm. After working for a few hours, I would come inside thinking I was done, only to have to go out for more laps a little while later. My longest day was 9.5 hours in a skid steer, quite a bit for just a little neighborhood. More than one neighbor complained that the plow service had not cleared off their road – an understandably mistaken perception, as one of my customers who got up at 8 a.m. had no idea that I had spent an hour working on their driveway before sunrise, as snow was sometimes falling at a rate of two-to-three inches per hour. The winds were a big factor, blowing steadily around 20 mph, with gusts up to 40-plus mph. It would appear that maybe a few inches of snow had fallen, until one looked around a corner and found 18 inches on the ground. On two days we received over a foot of snowfall each day. It was hard to figure out exactly how much fell due to the wind. The best guesstimate was somewhere near four feet of total accumulation over about 10 days. A nearby mountain pass 20 miles to the south has a remote snow reporting station, (SNOTEL site) and it showed an accumulation of over 10” of snow-water-equivalent, with the snowpack depth going from 28” to 114” – and that was just for seven days! Down in town less than 15 miles north from us, the storm totals were measured in inches, not feet. And 200 miles to the east, the winds intensified before any moisture arrived, which fueled a malevolent firestorm that incinerated over 1,000 homes. Fate was kind to us during this event; many others suffered devastating losses. Before this season I expressed the wish that we would get the biggest winter ever, as we need the water, and maybe it would remind everyone that it snows in the mountains. I got some of my wish granted with the snow storm of the decade; now we’ll see how the rest of the season pans out.
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.
FEBRUARY JANUARY 2022
| OUR TOWN | 13
OurLifestyle
the
2022 JEEP WAGONEER SERIES II is the perfect ‘high end’
If an all new, full size “high end” SUV is something that you’re considering, the 2022 Jeep Wagoneer Series II just might be the vehicle to meet your needs. With a price ranging from $69.440 to $74,440, this luxurious, three row sport utility vehicle comes standard with a V-8 engine. It’s well-suited for towing or even getting you up to highway speeds quickly. The 5.7 Liter eight-cylinder engine with variable valve timing and other technologies such as a mild semi-hybrid system tends to assist with trying to achieve the best fuel economy possible. That’s important based on the size of this eight-passenger, premium, people mover. This engine delivers some 392 horsepower and 404 lb-ft of torque. Matched with this powerplant is a fully electronic “proven” TorqueFlite eight-speed automatic transmission, as it’s set up with a rear-wheeldrive configuration. Four-wheel drive is optional on this model. The computer controlled smooth operating transmission offers a wide spread of gear ratios that helps keep engine RPMs in the appropriate range for the tasks at hand. That’s regardless if you are focused towards everyday errand running, highway cruising or hauling sports gear for the weekend memorable getaway. With two-wheel drive, EPA fuel numbers show 16-MPG city/22-MPG highway with 14 | OUR TOWN | FEBRUARY 2022
SUV
some 18-MPG combined. Notability, the vehicle’s large fuel tank capacity of 26.5 gallons translates to a highway cruising distance close to 600 miles between fillups. The factory’s electronic range select/ tow haul mode enables optimized shifting when trailing a load. And with the thought of towing, a heavy-duty trailer-tow package option is offered at an additional $995. This SUV tends to compete against an array of rivals such as the Lincoln Navigator, Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon, Infiniti QX80 and the Mercedes-Benz GLS. Jeep made certain to include many luxury items as standard, in order to keep this 2022 model on par with its competition. The factory’s all new U connect 5C infotainment system is loaded with new upgrades as well. It has all the latest connectivity features including Google Android Auto, Google Maps, and Google Assistant, all while loading quickly, with its uncomplicated touch screen straightforward operation. With Wagoneer’s distinctive design elements being evident, the overall silhouette is indisputable that this version is in the Jeep family. This explicit brand also sends the message of ruggedness, dependability and being reliable. An all-new, high-strength steel frame uses advanced materials and engineering in order to be lightweight, stiff and durable. The interior is quite roomy
and comfortable. Even grownups will find the seating configured to be appropriate. An overhead sun/moonroof is optional. Also offered is heated rear seats and an electronic heads-up driver notification display system plus an automatic parking feature. This SUV’s maximum safe towing capacity is 8,790 lbs. The manufacturers basic warranty is for three years / 36,000 miles and the drivetrain component coverage is for five years / 60,000 Miles. They also include dealership maintenance for five years /unlimited miles and roadside assistance is included for five years /60,000 miles.
BY DAVID FINKELSTEIN
David Finkelstein is a Master/ Skilled Automotive Service Technician and retired shop owner. He’s invented garage service tools for mechanics, served on both nation and local automotive trade industry boards, has done years of consulting with various auto manufactures plus test drives new vehicles weekly. David has pioneered “Car Talk Radio” over 35 years ago, as his new show “Automotive Insight” can be heard on Saturdays, on the Real Talk Radio Network.
OurLifestyle
Honoring the inimitable
Betty White
In 2010, Betty White accepted the Screen Actors Guild LiAchievement Award from Sandra Bullock, the actress who starred opposite White and Ryan Reynolds in the 2009 romantic comedy “The Proposal.” Bullock, like the rest of the world, adored Betty White and delivered a great tribute to the star on live television. While accepting her award, White, never at a loss for words, turned to Bullock, then nominated for “The Blind Side,” and said, “Isn’t it heartening to see how far a girl as plain as she is can go?” Although it seemed she might keep us laughing forever, the inimitable Betty White passed away on New Year’s Eve at age of 99. She left behind a legacy of memorable characters, movie roles and her love for animals. In the 1960’s and 70’s, the actress became a regular on television game shows, including “Password,” which was hosted by future husband Allen Ludden. Her appearances on “Match Game” were classics and, in the 1980’s, White herself won a Daytime Emmy Award for hosting the game show “Just Men!” Betty White also became a key player on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” As Sue Ann Nivens, the energetic host of “The Happy Homemaker,” White offered up cooking and housekeeping tips while keeping an eye out for attractive men. The character could be sweet to the point of nausea, but when the cameras were off, Sue Ann told everyone what she really thought. When the sitcom left the air, White was offered a self-titled CBS series about an actress in a police drama but, unfortunately, it did not last long. White also made a few appearances on “The Carol Burnett Show” and played Ellen Harper Jackson in the “Family” sketch-
es. Ellen was a daughter of Thelma Harper (Vicki Lawrence) and sister to Burnett’s long-suffering Eunice. The segment where Ellen told Eunice what really happened to her pet rabbit was pure genius. Betty White later reprised her character on the spin-off series “Mama’s Family,” which can still be viewed on retro TV stations. Betty White struck more comedic gold in “The Golden Girls,” a 1980’s sitcom about four single women sharing a house in Miami. White played Rose Nylund, a Norwegian American woman from St. Olaf, Minnesota (she made frequent references to her hometown throughout the series). After Bea Arthur left the show, White joined the spinoff series “The Golden Palace,” but it did not last nearly as long as its predecessor, though. Although she didn’t make it to her 100th birthday, “Betty White: A Celebration” should arrive in theaters on Monday, Jan. 17. White’s life gave us plenty of laughs and tears and it’s only right that we celebrate her amazing life on the big screen.
BY STEVE BRYAN
Born and raised in South St. Louis, Steve Bryan is now based in Anaheim, California, and has been allowed access to movie and television sets to see actors and directors at work. Though his writing has taken him far from St. Louis, Steve is, at heart, still the same wide-eyed kid who spent countless hours watching classic movies at neighborhood theaters.
FEBRUARY 2022
| OUR TOWN | 15
OurLifestyle
Fresh, healthy family meals Recipes to help boost iron levels, aid plasma donation recovery
C
hef Nate Appleman knows how important it is to serve healthy meals to your family – ones they actually want to eat. Before having his first child, he transformed his eating and exercise habits and lost 85 pounds to get on a healthier path. Now, he’s cooking meals for his family, including 14-year-old Oliver who was diagnosed with Kawasaki Disease as a toddler – an inflammation of the blood vessels that can cause damage to coronary arteries – as a healthy lifestyle is important to help manage the disease. Since Oliver’s diagnosis, Appleman made it his personal mission to create awareness of Kawasaki Disease and for the critical need for plasma donations that many people with the disease rely on for treatment, which is why he partnered with Abbott to bring attention to the need for plasma donations. Donating plasma is a safe and relatively easy process. Since plasma is replaced in the body within about 24 hours, it can be donated up to twice per week. With a donation that typically takes between 1-3 hours, you can make a lasting impact by providing lifesaving medicine for patients like Oliver. It’s a good idea to fuel up with iron-rich foods before and after donating, so Appleman created these fresh, nutritious recipes he loves to serve his family: Marinated Skirt Steak, Lemon Chicken with Roasted Red Onions and Potatoes, and Cheesy Frittata with Veggies. Learn where you can donate at bethe1donor. abbott.
16 | OUR TOWN | FEBRUARY 2022
Marinated Skirt Steak
Recipe courtesy of chef Nate Appleman on behalf of Abbott
Vinaigrette: 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4 2 1 1 1 1 1/4 1/4 2
cup oil cup fish sauce cup rice wine vinegar cup water tablespoons raw sugar cup chopped fresh cilantro lime, juice only clove garlic, minced small Thai bird chile or serrano chile, chopped head finely shaved green cabbage head finely shaved purple cabbage carrots, thinly julienned
Skirt steak: 1 1/2 1/2 3 2 1/4 2 3 1/2 1
pounds trimmed skirt steak cup coconut milk cloves garlic, minced tablespoons lime juice cup chopped fresh cilantro tablespoons sriracha salt, to taste cups cooked brown rice cup crushed peanuts lime, quartered, for garnish
To make vinaigrette: In large bowl, mix oil, fish sauce, rice wine vinegar, water, sugar, cilantro, lime juice, garlic and chile. Toss cabbage and carrots in vinaigrette; refrigerate until ready to serve.
To make skirt steak: Marinate steak in coconut milk, garlic, lime juice, cilantro, sriracha and salt, to taste, at least 1 hour, or up to 24 hours. Heat grill to high. Grill 3-4 minutes each side until medium rare. Let rest 3 minutes. Thinly slice steaks against grain and serve with vinaigrette, rice and crushed peanuts; garnish with lime wedges.
OurLifestyle Cheesy Frittata with Veggies
Recipe courtesy of chef Nate Appleman on behalf of Abbott
Roasted garlic:
2 heads garlic olive oil salt
Frittata:
Lemon Chicken with Roasted Red Onions and Potatoes Recipe courtesy of chef Nate Appleman on behalf of Abbott
Lemon chicken: 1 1 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4 1/4 1
whole chicken, cut into eight pieces ounce minced garlic teaspoon granulated garlic teaspoon paprika teaspoon smoked paprika teaspoon ground fennel seed teaspoon dried oregano teaspoon ground coriander tablespoon kosher salt
Potatoes:
2 1/2 pounds potatoes salted water oil
Cauliflower:
1 head cauliflower salted water 2 tablespoons mayonnaise 1 teaspoon tamari or soy sauce 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
Roasted onions: 1 red onion salt oil
For serving: 3 5 1
ounces pitted Castelvetrano or green olives, cut into quarters ounces wild arugula lemon, quartered
To make lemon chicken: Marinate
chicken in mixture of minced garlic, granulated garlic, paprika, smoked paprika, fennel pollen, dried oregano, coriander and salt; let sit overnight.
To make potatoes: Boil potatoes in
oil
2 medium leeks, sliced 8 ounces blanched, chopped broccoli salt, to taste 9 eggs 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley 2 ounces grated Parmigiano Reggiano 2 tablespoons heavy cream
To make roasted garlic: Preheat oven to 400 F. Slice 1/4 inch off entire heads of garlic and place cut sides down in 1-liter casserole dish. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt; cover with lid.
heavily salted water until tender. Cool, peel and cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks. Toss with oil to coat; reserve.
Bake 35-45 minutes until heads of garlic are soft and light brown. Let cool then use back of knife to squeeze garlic from pods.
To make cauliflower: Cut cauliflower
To make frittata: Lower oven to 375 F.
into florets and blanch in salted water 1 minute; shock in ice bath. Remove from ice and dry. Toss with mayonnaise, tamari and parsley; reserve.
To make roasted onions: Preheat oven to
450 F. Peel onion and slice into 1-inch rings. Toss with salt and oil; roast until slightly caramelized with texture. Chill and reserve.
In saute pan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook leeks until soft; add broccoli then season with salt, to taste, and remove from heat. In mixing bowl, mix roasted garlic, sauteed leeks and broccoli, eggs, parsley, Parmigiano Reggiano and cream; place in 9-inch pie dish and bake approximately 20 minutes until top of frittata is brown. Remove from oven and let cool slightly before cutting and serving.
Preheat oven to 450 F. Bake chicken on sheet pan approximately 15 minutes. Add potatoes and cauliflower. Bake approximately 15 minutes then switch oven to broil approximately 10 minutes. Squeeze lemon over reserved onion. When chicken is crispy and reaches internal temperature of 165 F, remove from oven and add onions and olives. Plate chicken, potatoes, onions, olives and cauliflower on top of arugula and garnish with lemon.
FEBRUARY 2022
| OUR TOWN | 17
InDepth
PROTECTING PIPES Water main breaks become more prevalent in cold temperatures, but can be prevented with routine maintenance BY WENDY TODD
18 | OUR TOWN | FEBRUARY 2022
W
inter had a relatively balmy start in St. Louis with the temperature on Christmas Day having reached the 60s. But now more typical winter-like weather is here. And as the temperature drops, water main breaks become more prevalent. Nearly 20 in the St. Louis area have been reported in the first week of January. Over 850 water main breaks take place daily throughout the United States. Fluctuations in temperatures are the main cause. When the temperature drops the ground freezes and puts pressure on the pipes. Over time, the expanding and contracting of the pipes weakens the pipe material. Corrosion of pipes, conditions of soil and the movement and age of the ground can also be factors. Conversely, high temps can cause the ground to shift and damage pipes causing a main break.
InDepth Aging pipes also contribute to main breaks. According to Pentair Pelican, a water service company, “Many pipes currently in use date back to the 1980s, and are made of iron, which can crack during extreme temperature changes.” Water main breaks can lower the pressure of the water in the home causing a health hazard. Though a water main break doesn’t always present a health issue, there are occasions when contaminants and pathogens from septic systems, surrounding soil and nearby industrial and agricultural facilities can enter the drinking and cause illness. Illness isn’t the only concern with main breaks. They can be costly to repair as well. According to Home Advisor, the average cost of water main break repair is just under $1,000. The cost depends on the size and length of the pipe and the hours of labor. Main break repair averages between four-to-six hours. Missouri American Water, the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, suggests several precautions to prevent a water main break: PRIOR TO FRIGID TEMPERATURES: • • • •
Know the location of your main water shut-off valve. If a pipe freezes or bursts, you’ll want to shut the water off immediately. Protect your pipes by wrapping them with insulation. Know which areas in your home are most vulnerable to freezing, such as basements, crawl spaces, unheated rooms, and outside walls. Eliminate cold air sources near water lines by repairing broken windows, insulating walls, closing off crawl spaces, and eliminating drafts near doors.
WHEN FREEZING OR BELOW TEMPERATURES BECOME CONSISTENT: •
•
FREEZING
Allow a small trickle of water from both your cold and hot water faucets to run overnight to keep pipes and meters from freezing. (The cost of the extra water is low compared to the cost to repair a broken pipe.) Open cabinet doors to expose pipes to warmer room temperatures to help keep them from freezing.
With knowledge and preparation, the occurrence of water main breaks can be reduced.
FEBRUARY 2022
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FEBRUARY 1
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First Day of Black History Month Groundhog Day Rosa Parks Day
12 Lincoln’s Birthday
13 Super Bowl 14 Valentine’s Day 21 Presidents’ Day