Our Town: March 2023

Nicholas Elmes is a seasoned journalist with over 15 years of experience leading the newsrooms of small community newspapers in Virginia and North Carolina. A recent transplant to the St. Louis area, he is excited to get a chance to explore the diverse region while helping to share the stories of all of the good things

David Finkelstein is a Master/Skill Automotive Service Technician, maintaining that role for over 45 years, coupled with being a shop owner in that time frame as well. He’s also invented a number of garage service tools for mechanics and has served on both National as well as local Automotive Trade Industry Boards. Additionally, he pioneered “Car Talk Radio” over 40 years ago, starting out with KMOX/CBS Radio as well as hosted “Auto Talk” on KFTK/FOX News Radio for some 15-years. David tests and evaluates new vehicles weekly and also does some consulting with various auto manufacturers, both import as well as with domestic nameplates.

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.

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.

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.

our toWn

Volume 14 | Number 3

MARCH 2023

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

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

For advertising information, please contact us at: info@mycnews.com or

Community News

2139 Bryan Valley Commercial Dr. O’Fallon, MO 63366

Ph: 636.379.1775

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Copyright 2022 Huneke Publications, Inc.

Around Town Pattonville alumnus receives Congressional Space Medal of Honor and more.

4

Feature Upgrading the Grid

Ameren Missouri’s Smart Energy Plan has resulted in structural improvements to electrical infrastructure in St. Louis County.

10

Our Thoughts

Moore on Life author Cindy Moore is watching the skies while Avalanche tries to get back into mountaineering shape.

12

Lifestyle

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox SUV combines power with fuel economy in Automobile Alley. Getting your 15 minutes of fame in Entertainment. Enjoy better-for-you foods focused on flavor in For the Love of Food.

14

In Depth Brunette Games, headquartered in St. Louis, represents one of the few female-owned companies in the video game industry. Events Calendar

18

20

AroundTown

All aboard Updates on area public transit projects provided during ‘Talking Transit’ event

Details about several public transit projects currently underway in the bi-state region were discussed today during Citizens for Modern Transit’s (CMT) “Talking Transit” event, hosted via Zoom. Over 120 members, elected officials, stakeholders, transit riders and others attended the virtual forum to learn the latest about light rail expansion to MidAmerica Airport, the Northside-

Southside Corridor Plan with St. Louis City and St. Louis County, the Secure Platform Plan, and Metro Transit operations.

The panel discussion featured Patrick Judge, Principal of Gonzalez Companies and project manager for the Illinois Light Rail Expansion project to MidAmerica Airport; Taulby Roach, President and CEO of Bi-State Development; Kevin Scott, General Manager of Security for Bi-State-Development and lead on the Secure Platform Plan; and Charles Stewart, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Metro Transit, who provided an operations update. It was moderated by Kimberly Cella, Executive Director of Citizens for Modern Transit.

Judge kicked off the conversation by talking about MetroLink expansion in Illinois and detailing the significant movement seen over the last six months on the 5.2mile extension of the MetroLink Light Rail System from the existing Shiloh-Scott Transit Center to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport.

From there, Roach provided an update on the Northside-Southside Corridor Plan with St. Louis City and St. Louis County. This included an updated overview of the Jefferson Alignment and the North St. Louis County Community Connector.

“Right now, we are in alternatives analysis in the city of St. Louis,” noted Roach. “We are looking at this alignment and making it as competitive as possible to compete for federal dollars and to fulfill the obligations we have to the public in both St. Louis City and St. Louis County to successfully develop light rail.”

Roach added that a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a Project Management Consultant for the project will be on the street shortly. He indicated St. Louis County should be releasing four possible alternative routes within the county portion of the alignment over the next several months. AECOM is leading the study for both the city of St. Louis and the St. Louis County.

The event also featured an update on the $52 million Secure Platform Plan. According to Scott, the plan is moving ahead with a phased approach on what will be 39 different projects – which represents each current MetroLink station as well as the new station at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport – as

part of five packages. This will allow for the plan to move forward expeditiously, while offering smaller construction packages, more contractor opportunities and the ability to take advantage of key learnings as each phase unfolds. He also noted the most visible accomplishment to date on the Secure Platform Plan has been the opening of the Real Time Camera Center, which is in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It has transformed the Closed-Circuit Television system from reactive to proactive.

“This phasal approach will provide a cascading effect,” added Scott. “This means that as the first package moves to bid construction, package number two will enter the final design process, then when package two moves to bid construction, package number three will enter the final design process and so on. We are convinced that this will afford us the ability to take the fastest pathway to putting in gates, fencing and cameras, while remaining in consistent coordination with the overall fare collection integration.”

Stewart closed out the conversation by highlighting an uptick in transit ridership, with MetroBus experiencing a 5.2% increase and MetroLink a 7% increase over last year. He noted operator shortages – including a need for more than 200 bus operators, 18 MetroLink operators and 79 Metro Call-ARide operators as well as mechanics and electricians – is still impacting service. Stewart says another service adjustment will be made in March to improve service timing. Stewart outlined the new benefits package which will help to incentivize individuals to consider joining the team.

“This was a really quality conversation,” commented Cella. “We appreciate the updates and full transparency provided on the various projects and the status of ridership. We encourage the community to visit Citizens for Modern Transit’s website so they can hear this discussion in its entirety.”

CMT hosts quarterly “Talking Transit” events to keep members, elected officials, stakeholders, transit riders and others in the loop on issues and efforts influencing the local transit system. To learn more about these events and how CMT is working to further transit access in the St. Louis region, visit www.cmt-stl.org.

Miles of smiles

Delta Dental of Missouri’s Land of Smiles show teaches students good habits for healthy teeth

February

was National Children’s Dental Health

Month and Delta Dental of Missouri’s popular, award-winning Land of Smiles dental education program went on the road, taking the crusade for healthy teeth to 16,000 youngsters at 75 schools across the state.

The cast of dynamic superhero characters made their most recent stop in St. Louis with performances at Cold Water Elementary School, Glenridge Elementary School, Walnut Grove Primary School, Blevins Elementary School, Barretts Elementary School, Lawson Elementary School, Aspire Academy, Christ Community Lutheran School-Webster, Holy Cross Academy and Blades Elementary School – teaching good dental health habits to 2,300 students in kindergarten through third-grade.

The Land of Smiles experience follows superhero Captain Super Grin, as he defeats his nemesis, Caz Cavity, with help from his sidekicks Terri Tooth Fairy and Toothpick. Students learn the importance of brushing teeth twice a day, flossing, using mouthwash, eating healthy foods and visiting the dentist regularly. The program includes an oral health curriculum that adheres to National Health Education Standards, as well as standards for Missouri. It contains engaging, ageappropriate materials to make learning about dental health

entertaining for kids and includes activity sheets, which are also now available in Spanish.

Delta Dental of Missouri also offers free “smile bags” to schools for students who participate in the program. Each bag includes a toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss to help students practice the good oral health habits they learn.

“Our lively Land of Smiles show makes learning about dental health truly fun for kids. But, most importantly, it’s memorable,” said Rob Goren, president and chief executive officer at Delta Dental of Missouri.

“Pre- and post-show testing demonstrates that on average, students show a 35% increase in their good oral health behavior and knowledge after seeing a performance. ”

Since its inception in the fall of 2002, the Delta Dental of Missouri’s Land of Smiles program has taught more than 1.1 million kids how to take care of their growing smiles. The Land of Smiles experience is provided free of charge to schools, courtesy of Delta Dental of Missouri.

Local teachers, school nurses and principals are invited to email Schools@NationalTheatre.com to request an in-person, live show for the spring semester, or visit www.LandofSmilesMO.org to gain access to the online program on a date and time that works for their students this spring.

AroundTown

High honor

Pattonville alumnus receives Congressional Space Medal of Honor

Retired astronaut Robert (Bob) Behnken received the Congressional Space Medal of Honor from vice president Kamala Harris on Jan. 31. Behnken received the honor along with former astronaut Douglas Hurley. Behnken and Hurley are the first honorees since 2006 to receive this honor. Behnken is a 1988 graduate of Pattonville High School.

Behnken and Hurley received the award for bravery in NASA’s SpaceX Demonstration Mission-2 (Demo-2) to the International Space Station in 2020. On May 30, 2020, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company’s Crew Dragon spacecraft launched to the space station, marking the first mission to launch with astronauts as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. As a space station crew member for 62 days, Behnken performed four spacewalks with former NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy and contributed more than 100 hours to the orbiting laboratory’s scientific investigations.

Behnken was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2000 and completed two space shuttle flights, logging 93 days in space. Behnken flew STS-123 in March 2008 and STS-130 in February 2010, and he

performed three spacewalks during each mission. He retired from NASA in November 2022. Before retiring from active military service in February 2022, Behnken had achieved the rank of colonel and flown more than 2,000 flight hours in more than 25 different types of aircraft. A St. Ann native, he earned bachelor’s degrees in physics and mechanical engineering from Washington University and a master’s and doctorate in mechanical engineering from California Institute of Technology. Before joining NASA, Behnken was a flight test engineer with the U.S. Air Force on the F–22.

The Congressional Space Medal of Honor was created by the United States

Drink it up

Congress in 1969 to recognize exceptionally meritorious efforts and contributions to the welfare of the nation and mankind. It’s awarded by the president of the United States in Congress’s name on recommendations from the administrator of (NASA).

St. Louis Area Diaper Bank hosts third annual Bloody Mary Brunch

The St. Louis Area Diaper Bank will hold its third annual Bloody Mary Brunch on March 26 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event – which includes Bloody Mary and mimosa bar and light brunch – will be held at the Diaper Bank’s headquarters located at 6141 Etzel Ave. and is for those 21 years of age and older. Tickets are $50 per person, and all monetary donations will go to support the Diaper Bank’s period supply program, which helps nearly one million girls and women annually with period kits.

Attendees will have the interactive opportunity to count, sort, and pack period supply kits for local school partners. Other activities include raffles, a glitterati selfie station, special guest speaker Jen-

nifer Gaines from Alliance for Period Supplies, and a brief presentation about the agency’s efforts to end period poverty in St. Louis.

The period supply program distributes period supplies through community partners and advocates for the elimination of “period poverty.” To date more than two million period supplies have been distributed in St. Louis, with 75,000 period supplies allocated each week. Two-thirds of low-income women in St. Louis cannot afford menstrual hygiene products, with 46% of low-income women having to choose between food and period supplies.

Founded in 2014, the St. Louis Area Diaper Bank provides diaper and period

supply access to the region’s low-income families, as well as raises community awareness about the causes and consequences of diaper need and period poverty. The nonprofit is a member of the National Diaper Bank Network and its sister organization Alliance for Period Supplies, a nationwide nonprofit dedicated to eliminating diaper need and “period poverty” in America. The period supply program ensures access to menstrual hygiene products, which allows full participation in daily life with dignity.

For more information about the Bloody Mary Brunch or to donate, call 314-6240888.

Retired astronaut Robert (Bob) Behnken received the Congressional Space Medal of Honor on Jan. 31.

Tax help

United Way and partners providing free tax preparation for local residents

United Way of Greater St. Louis is partnering with local tax coalitions to provide free tax preparation services to St. Louis-area families with a household income of $60,000 or less in 2022.

Almost all tax site locations require appointments this year that can be scheduled online or by phone, though there are still a few walk-in locations available. Local residents can dial 211 or visit 211helps.org to find their nearest tax preparation site, learn how to make an appointment or get more information.

“As our communities face uncertain economic times, we are proud to be able to continue to offer free tax preparation assistance to our neighbors and local families,” said Debbie Irwin, community economic development director, United Way of Greater St. Louis. “These services give people an alternative to paying for costly tax preparation fees. Trained volunteers work to make sure families receive all the tax credits they qualify for, which will help families boost their income and put more dollars towards their basic needs or other beneficial investments like furthering their education or paying down debt.”

Last year, United Way’s tax coalition partnership filed more than 17,000 tax returns in the St. Louis region, helping local low- and middle-income families receive more than $21 million in tax refunds. 620 IRS-certified volunteers contributed over 41,000 hours to provide free tax preparation services for people across the region. United Way’s tax coalition partners include Metro - St. Louis Community Tax Coalition, Gateway EITC Community Coalition, National Association of Black Accountants –St. Louis Chapter, and St. Louis Tax Assistance Program. United Way has long focused on helping to raise awareness about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a federal and Missouri state tax credit that helps off-set the tax burden for lowincome working families. The average national EITC refund in 2022 was $2,043. According to the IRS, in 2022, more than 31 million workers and families nationwide received over $64 billion in EITC.

“During this period of economic uncertainty, the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credits make a meaningful difference in the lives of working families with children,” Irwin added. “The tax credits also help both low- and moderate-income families increase their income, maintain their housing, and invest in their children. Research has shown that the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit have additional long-term societal benefits, including increasing child-wellbeing, health, and future earnings.”

AroundTown

Helping nature

MDC to host workshop for landowners at Powder Valley Nature Center

Landowner goals and conservation can be one in the same as many improvements to the value of your property can also help improve wildlife and native habitat.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is sponsoring a workshop for landowners and property managers wanting to learn more about how to benefit their land and make it better for wildlife on Friday, March 24 from 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center in Kirkwood.

The workshop is free, open to all Missouri landowners, and a lunch will be provided. Presentations will be conducted in concurrent sessions throughout the day covering a variety of fish, forest, and wild-

life management topics to help landowners achieve their land use goals in ways that enhance Missouri’s natural resources.

Workshop sessions will be taught by natural resource experts from MDC, Quail Forever, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Presentations will demonstrate how sound land management can improve hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing opportunities, attract valuable pollinators, and enhance timber value. The workshop will make helpful publications and educational materials available for participants to take home free of charge. Subjects covered during the workshop will include:

• Pond management

Great catch

• Forest management

• Managing habitat for small game

• Property rights and the Wildlife Code

• Turkey biology and management

• Native forbs and plantings for pollinators

• Invasive plant control

• Tree insect and disease issues

• Creating and maintaining healthy soil

Advanced online registration for the workshop is required at https://short.mdc. mo.gov/4Y3. The deadline to register is March 19.

Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center is located at 11715 Cragwold Road, near the intersection of I-270 and I-44.

MDC reminds anglers catch and keep urban trout season is now open

Have you been yearning for trout with bowtie pasta and spring vegetables? Or perhaps crispy golden trout stuffed with crabmeat and finished with oregano? Maybe you just want the plain smoked variety.

The good news is you can now bring rainbow trout to your table in any form you like. Catch and keep urban trout season started Feb. 1.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds St. Louis area anglers that the start of February begins catch and keep trout fishing season at MDC Urban Winter Trout Fishing Lakes. It’s an ideal opportunity to acquire delicious, fresh and locally-sourced fish for the dinner table.

MDC normally stocks almost 40,000 rainbow trout each November through January in 12 St. Louis City and County Lakes and Union City Lake in Franklin County, along with five lakes in the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area in St. Charles. MDC also adds several brood stock lunker trout – some as large as 10 lbs. – into the mix at its winter trout lakes.

Between Nov. 1 and Jan. 31, some lakes are catch-and-release only, and some are catch-and-keep. However, beginning Feb. 1, trout may be taken from all winter trout lakes. Rainbow trout are not native to the

area but in winter the water is cold enough to support them. MDC’s winter trout program provides anglers a chance to enjoy a hard-fighting fish close to home. Trout anglers can feel free to use natural or prepared baits as well when keeping the fish.

Anglers should consult the St. Louis Area Winter Trout Program brochure for details, possession limits and bait restrictions, which is available at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ Zd5, or check regulations posted at the lakes. All trout anglers between age 16 and 64 must have a valid Missouri fishing permit to participate. Anglers wishing to catch and keep trout must also possess a trout permit.

Area lakes stocked with winter trout include:

• Carondelet Park Boathouse Lake in St. Louis

• Gendron Lake in St. Ann

• January-Wabash Lake in Ferguson

• Jefferson Lake in Forest Park

• Koeneman Park Lake in Jennings

• O’Fallon Park Lake in St. Louis

• Suson Park’s Island Lake and Carp Lake

• Tilles Park Lake in St. Louis County

• Union City Lake in Union, Franklin County

Starting each February, trout may be harvested from all MDC Urban Winter Trout lakes. MDC stocks rainbow trout at 12 St. Louis City and County Lakes and Union City Lake in Franklin County, along with five lakes in the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area in St. Charles.

• Walker Lake in Kirkwood

• Wild Acres Park Lake in Overland

• Vlasis Park Lake in Ballwin

• August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area lakes 3, 7, 21, 22, and 23

For information about fishing, go online at https://huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/fishing.

Partners in education

Boeing/STLCC program named finalist for Bellwether Award

A collaborative program aimed to meet the workforce needs of the highly specialized aerospace manufacturing sector has been named a finalist for the 2023 Bellwether Award.

The Boeing St. Louis Pre-employment Training program, led by St. Louis Community College’s Workforce Solutions Group, is one of the finalists for the prestigious Bellwether Award in the Workforce Development category. The awards will be presented during the Community College Futures Assembly Feb. 26-28 in San Antonio, Texas.

The Bellwether Awards annually recognize outstanding and innovative programs and practices that are successfully leading community colleges into the future. Winners and finalists are invited to join the prestigious Bellwether College Consortium.

The award in the Workforce Development category recognizes public and/or private strategic alliances and partnerships that promote community and economic development.

The problem and the solution

To support new program contracts and program growth, as well as address a talent shortage due to retirements, Boeing needed to create a sustainable pipeline for future hiring. To solve this problem, Boeing St. Louis and STLCC’s Workforce Solutions Group partnered in 2007 on the Boeing St. Louis Pre-Employment program to train candidates to work as aircraft assembly mechanics.

As part of this program, STLCC instructional designers teamed up with Boeing to develop two pathways: Sheet Metal Assembler, Riveter (SMAR) and Composites Technology.

SMAR training requires 200 contact hours; composites technology, 120 hours. Both also require eight hours of teambuilding and four hours of interview skills. STLCC staff also assist students with updating and revising their resumes in preparation for the Boeing application process.

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are guaranteed an interview with Boeing; however, jobs are not guaranteed. Additionally, students can receive nine credit hours for the SMAR course. Those who have a mathematics class credit on their transcripts may apply for a Certificate of Specialization in STLCC’s Skilled Trades Industrial Occupations Technology program. Credit for the composites technology program also can be pursued.

This is Boeing’s only pre-employment program of its kind in the country.

“Through our collaboration with St. Louis Community College, the Pre-Employment Training program has helped more than 1,000 workers in the St. Louis region develop important skills to create viable career pathways at Boeing and in the manufacturing industry,” said Paisley Matthews, air dominance vice president of manufacturing and safety at Boeing St. Louis. “Boeing is proud of the strong, long-lasting, positive impact this program and partnership have in the community where our employees live and work. Our goal is to launch 1,000 more careers in the years to come.”

the business sector and both the workforce and credit side of the college,” he said. “These types of partnerships are the future for community colleges, and STLCC is expanding similar relationships with companies in several other sectors, including health care, IT, financial services, hospitality management and biotechnology.”

According to Becky Epps, manager of STLCC’s Center for Workforce Innovation, a unique benefit of the program is the fact that it is led by instructors who bring years of real-world experience to the classroom.

“When developing this program, we knew it was imperative to have high-quality instructors, so we sought to hire Boeing retirees to serve on our staff,” she said. “Their knowledge of the very specialized aerospace manufacturing industry, combined with their enthusiasm for teaching, is invaluable.”

All costs for the program are covered by Boeing, which enables students to complete it with no out-of-pocket expenses. Moreover, students receiving unemployment are eligible to continue receiving benefits while in training since the program is approved by Missouri’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

To cast a wider net of prospects and make the program inclusive to women and high school students, Boeing and STLCC also implemented the Women in Aerospace Manufacturing program and the Second Semester High School Senior program. This program allows high school students to simultaneously attend the training program and high school with the potential of a job offer after graduation.

The results

Jeff

L. Pittman, Ph.D., STLCC chancellor, echoed the same sentiments.

“Boeing’s participation and partnership is key to the success of this program, which epitomizes the strong collaboration between

In 2022, Boeing St. Louis and STLCC celebrated a major milestone -- the 1,000th job placement of the program. Since its inception, 1,321 individuals have graduated from the program, and Boeing has hired 1,082 of the graduates.

Students work on projects in the composites technology pathway of the Boeing St. Louis Pre-employment Training program.

UPGRADING THE GRID

Ameren Missouri’s Smart Energy Plan has resulted in structural improvements to electrical infrastructure in St. Louis County

BY WENDY TODD

Ameren Missouri’s Smart Energy Plan has created a more reliable and efficient infrastructure to improve its service for customers, add beneficial technology and economic benefits to the region.

The utility company has performed upgrades to foundational grid infrastructure, including poles, wires, substations, transformers and cables. It has also utilized smart technology that will help reduce customer outages and provide quicker response times when they occur.

Also, in July of 2020, Ameren began installing smart meters in St. Louis and St. Louis counties to provide customized energy usage data to customers, replacing outdated equipment. The new meters, equipped with two-way communication capabilities, even allow for easier service setup and relocation for

residents, as a service person does not need to visit the property.

The plan, which cost $215 million to complete, began after the Missouri General Assembly passed energy policy legislation in 2018 that enabled Ameren to begin the infrastructure upgrades.

Another specific area of the Smart Energy Plan in St. Louis County was the Metro South Reliability project that is helping 100,000 Missouri residents utilize more reliable energy. With the construction of two new transmission towers, the project created a second power supply to help prevent outages and increase energy capacity.

The infrastructure improvements also addressed the flooding in St. Louis County last summer, helping over 9,500 customers avoid extended outages.

There are ongoing upgrades to help stave off potential future flooding issues.

Mark Birk, chairman and president of Ameren Missouri, wants consumers to feel assured the infrastructure upgrades will provide better service that translates into a better quality of living.

“We continue to incorporate technology that improves system reliability,” he said. “Smart Energy Plan investments have prevented an estimated 50,000 customer outages over the last two years. We know that makes a difference for our customers at home and at work. With the expansion and extension of the Smart Energy Plan, we will be able to provide a more resilient, reliable and sustainable energy system for generations to come.”

One of the last projects of the Smart Energy Plan that began in 2022 is working to create more en-

ergy reliability in downtown St. Louis. When done complete, the system will be one of the first in the nation to have smart technology in a downtown environment, helping reduce outages. This multiyear project will replace century-old systems.

The energy upgrades also have financial benefits for the region.

Ameren Missouri has worked to keep energy residential rates 18% below the Midwest average. Another economic advantage of the Smart Energy Plan is the contribution to Missouri’s economy from businesses taking part in Ameren’s financial incentives to move to the region or expand business here.

As a result, nearly 1,000 new jobs have been created in Missouri and over $450 million in capital investment has been made.

Ameren Missouri has performed upgrades to foundational grid infrastructure, including poles, wires, substations, transformers and cables. It has also utilized smart technology that will help reduce customer outages and provide quicker response times when they occur.

MOORE ON LIFE

BY CINDY MOORE

Eye spy

in the sky

Apparently China just threw some kind of major shindig and one of their party favors tore loose and escaped. Hmm, some leftover from a New Year’s bash maybe?

Those guys sure know how to have fun, I mean this thing was the size of three city buses. What kind of celebration needs that big of a balloon unless you’re King Kong. When’s his birthday anyway?

Of course, all accusations of it being a spy balloon have been denied. I guess maybe the thing just broke off its tether and drifted away – conveniently towards Alaska. It then made a sharp right at Canada and floated down to Montana.

Let’s see now, Alaska and Montana, two of the least populated places if you’re a spy craft trying to sneak into the U.S. undetected. But we’re not supposed to make any rash judgments.

Here’s what’s even more disturbing, we have the most advanced technology on the planet and this snoopy bag of gas was spot- ted by some civilians

with binoculars! Well call me blind and slap on a pair of skepticals, but is this how we’re supposed to believe it actually was discovered:

“Hey Norm, take a look at this. I think I may have just spotted a white-bellied angry bird up in the sky.”

“Naw Earl, wrong time of year. What you’ve got there is an ingenious part of a duplicitous smuggling racket.”

“You think?”

“I’m positive. That’s one of them there spy balloons you see in the 007 movies.”

“Well, I’ll be a monkey’s knuckle. What do you think they’d be smuggling in?”

“Something highly valuable, extremely rare and exceedingly lucrative.”

“Noo…you don’t mean?!”

“Ya, I mean just that. Piece it all together and it makes perfect sense. Only a devious mind would think to make their inflatable blend in with the same colors as the clouds.”

“You’re telling me that they’d have the nerve to smuggle in that white illegal contraband right over our very noses?!”

“Oh ya, I mean just that.”

“White gold?!”

“Yes…eggs!”

“Now that explains everything. Don’t suppose we should shoot it down should we?”

“Nope, I’m sure the Air Force will intercept its radio signals and scramble them.”

“Not a good idea.”

“Huh? Why’s that?”

“Cause nobody should ever scramble anything when dealing with three busloads of eggs.”

ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE BY AVALANCHE

and the lack thereof Fitness,

About a year ago, I began running again with my friend Dale after a long layoff. We managed to waddle around the local high school track a few days per week in the wee hours of the morning. This lasted for a few short weeks, whereupon we were both sidelined with injuries. It doesn’t take much for a 60-year-old body to succumb to the most minor of stresses, (though Dale has managed to intermittently keep with the program, multiple setbacks aside.) It really wasn’t so much the current workout regimen that caused the problems. It was the previous 45 years of martial arts, marathons, motorcycling (with occasional unplanned get-offs) police work (going to bar fights for fun and profit), backpacking, climbing and mountaineering, some less-than-ideal medical care, and a few factory defects that have left my old carcass with some preexisting conditions, or more bluntly, built-in failure points.

While never a great athlete, I’ve always been very active, and tried to train like one, all while being kept busy with one or more demanding jobs and careers. Delusions of athletic greatness kept my training intensity and volume higher than was ideal, thus contributing to the miscellaneous aches and pains today.

So now at age 60, what to do? Some focus is desperately needed. Contact sports and running are simply off the menu, as kinetic impacts, whether from punches and kicks or pounding the pavement on my own aren’t going to work anymore. Lifting weights is a great form of exercise, but I like to move, and use whatever strength gained from the barbells doing something. Never strong enough to excel as a strength athlete, and not quite fast enough to be a great runner, my strong point seems to lie in the middle of the spectrum; I can strap on a big backpack and march through and over mountains, and do so better than most. Best of all, the semi-worn-out knees still tolerate it, provided there is no running or jumping. OK then, how to go about it?

Fortunately, the folks at Uphill Athlete have some answers in the form of training programs for mountain athletes, even old creaky guys like myself. Now, their programs are written by – and for – world class mountaineers, alpinists, rock climbers, ski racers and runners, but the principles are general, scalable and apply to just about anyone, provided the trainee keeps realistic goals in mind. (Speed climbing Ever-

est won’t be on my agenda.) Interestingly, the program goes completely against my life-long training principle that every workout should be done as hard as possible.

Such a hard-charging ethic is pretty common among athletes of all types, especially those with limited time. According to the UA folks, duration and consistency at a lower intensity will build a base for more intense training later in the program. A longer workout with a lower heart rate is also much easier to recover from, enabling another workout tomorrow. This is not some “couch-to-marathon” 12-week program, (all but guaranteed to cause burnout and injury) but rather a 20-to-30-(or-more)-week training cycle with lots of different activities. The overall strategy is lots of aerobic exercise, such as biking, rowing, running for those who can, or best yet, hiking with a light pack for long duration, intermixed with strength training and anaerobic intervals later in the program as one approaches their goal climbing event.

Given my residence in the middle of the Rockies, the training ground out my door is almost endless. A couple hours of hiking with a light pack at what I consider a low heart rate doesn’t feel like a “real” workout, but rather an enjoyable day in the mountains. I still get to enjoy some low-volume, but tough, training with weights, and a lot of unconventional bodyweight exercises to keep me challenged. Slow and steady progress is the goal, instead of short-term glory – along with overtraining and probable injury – for which so many other programs are known.

I’ve been at it for a few weeks and feel good, am not injured and am looking forward to enjoying my mountain environment more as my fitness improves. The photo at the top of this article is from a bunch of years (OK, decades) ago, taken about five rope-lengths up a technically moderate ice climb. It’s something a fit older athlete can do, with the right training and a good level of fitness. I’m looking forward to it.

At times, it’s a bit hard to conform to the never-ending changes with the global innovations arising from the auto industry.

This thought recently had me reflecting back to my high school days. You see, the majority of my buddies that drove, customarily had a hefty V-8 engine jammed under the hood of their cherished vehicles. It was infrequent to find a V-6 or even a four-cylinder engine powering our beloved cars.

To “fast forward” our thoughts, many

THE 2023 CHEVROLET EQUINOX SUV combines

power with fuel economy

new models now have four-cylinder engines, with comparable performance of the old V-8 engines from years past! This is evident with the 2023 Chevrolet Equinox SUV I recently drove. It’s meager, 1.5-liter turbo powerplant is reminiscent of the best of two worlds. That is to say, it achieves notable fuel economy and still delivers acceptable passing power for most motoring situations, as it produces 175-horsepower. As expected, the standard drive line chassis on Equinox is front-wheel-drive.

With all-wheel-drive, it showed 24-mpg city/30-mpg highway numbers. Driving responsibly, my fuel usage numbers proved to even be somewhat better overall.

The vehicle is positioned in a fairly crowded field. It’s on par with the Ford Escape, Mazda CX-5, Nissan Rogue, Toyota RAV4, Kia Sportage and the Honda CR-V. Manufactured and imported from GM’s operations located in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, it is sold in four different trim levels for 2023. This includes the entry level LS, and from there, they offer the LT, RS, and the Premier top end model. Two unique appearance packages are also available, referred to as the Midnight and Sport versions. All build combinations come with virtually the same engine and are linked with GM’s six speed automatic transmission.

So, if we take a brief snapshot of the trim levels, the LS Base model includes keyless entry, push-button ignition, attractive LED headlights with automatic high beams, forward collision warning system with automatic driving lane keep assist,

rear-seat occupant reminders, engaging 17-inch alloy wheels and tires plus heated outside door mirrors. A customer convenience option package is also available. The LT trim version has additional creature comforts plus added exterior chrome pieces and illuminated sun visors plus added convenience option packages to select from. As expected, the RS Model Equinox has plenty of notable extra features as standard. This includes a sportier appearance with its eye candy footprint. Moreover, additional safety content can be found as well. In part, this includes blind spot warning that certainly helps while backing up, in a crowded parking lot. Their Premier top-end version is loaded with lots of extras, plus you can still opt to add radar guided adaptive cruise control, power sunroof, surround-view safety camera system, automatic parking system (where the vehicle will steer into a parking spot automatically) and their user-friendly navigation system.

Overall, it has a modern silhouette and distinctive Chevy presence, seats five fairly comfortably, has confident four-wheel disc braking and decent road mannerism. Cargo space is adequate. And similar to other General Motors vehicles I’ve tested, road noise is engineered to be keep to a minimum. The base warranty is for threeyears/36,000 miles and the pricing starts out at $26,600 for the LS model. Their top end Premier Equinox MSRP is $34,795, shipping charges are extra. At road test, the window sticker reflected $39,355, including supplemental options and freight charges.

My proudest grade school moment was presenting my science fair project on KSD Channel 5 (now KSDK). I think my younger self would be suitably impressed, however, to learn I auditioned to become a litigant on “We the People with Judge Lauren Lake.” Allen Media Group founder Byron Allen, who had been part of the reality TV series “Real People,” revived the court show with Lake in mind. Gloria Allred was the original “We the People” star, but only one season made it on the air.

“We the People” falls into the category of “Dramatized Court Shows” where real people play the roles of plaintiff or defendant. Landing a role on this show for me was a fluke: I saw an online popup ad from the “Standing Room Only Audience & Casting Company” that encouraged regular people to audition. I filled out an online form with basic information (Name, Phone Number, Age, etc.) and received an invitation to speak to producers on a Zoom call.

Within one week, the producers scheduled me for a taping. My character was Andy Butler, an older man, grandfather and tutor. He was a tenant in the home owned by Rachel Pierce and her husband. Andy was a good renter until he downloaded a virus that infected all the computers in the house. He obviously was not computer literate and waited until the following morning to tell his landlords what happened. In the court case, Ms. Pierce was suing Andy for $540 because the malware cost her two days of work.

If you are planning an extended trip to the greater Los An-

geles area, you may want to try out for a show. Before the Zoom call audition, I remembered some jobhunting advice and dressed “like I was going to Sunday dinner at Grandma’s house.”

When speaking to producers, it’s best to be yourself and let your personality shine through. I tried to be friendly, cordial and even cracked a few jokes while on the call. I didn’t get confirmation for the taping until a week later. On the phone, the producers offered wardrobe tips and asked me to bring a second set of clothing.

When it comes to filming TV shows, there’s a lot of sitting and waiting. After I left the makeup chair, the woman playing landlord Rachel sat next to me. When she and I went to our green room, we created backstories for our characters and did improvisations before we into the studio. We even worked our real-life families into the storyline. I mentioned my nieces, Abigail and Gracie, while standing before Judge Lake. The green rooms weren’t glamorous, but they helped refine our improv.

Overall, I spent five hours preparing for my 15 minutes of fame. A few weeks later, I received a check for five hours of work at $20 per hour minus taxes. If you ever wanted to be a star – or at least a courtroom star – and will be in Los Angeles for more than two weeks, give it a try. The producers are always looking for litigants and audience members for reaction shots. The Standing Room Only production company website can be reached at (https://www.standingroomonly.tv)

You could be on a court show

Want your 15 minutes of fame?

BETTER-FOR-YOU FOODS

Enjoy focused on flavor

From salads and snacks to breakfast, lunch and dinner, rounding out a full menu of healthy meals shouldn’t be a chore. In fact, you can still enjoy your favorite flavors and tickle your taste buds with nutritious recipes that capitalize on powerful ingredients you actually want to eat. Take your better-for-you eating plan from bland and boring to delightfully delicious by visiting Culinary.net for more recipe inspiration.

Orange Shrimp Quinoa Bowls

Servings: 2

Inredients:

1 cup quinoa

1 cup orange juice

1 tablespoon hot sauce

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon soy sauce

4 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 tablespoon lime juice

1 tablespoon white miso

1 1/2 pounds shrimp, peeled, deveined and tails removed

Directions:

1/4 cup butter

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

1 cup mushrooms, sliced

1 red bell pepper, diced

1 cucumber, sliced into half

moons

5 green onions, sliced

1 avocado, sliced

1 teaspoon sesame seeds

2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped

Cook quinoa according to package instructions. Set aside. In medium bowl, whisk orange juice, hot sauce, honey, soy sauce, vegetable oil, lime juice and miso until combined. Pour 1/4 of liquid into separate bowl. Set aside.

Add shrimp to remaining mixture and marinate 15 minutes. Heat large skillet over medium heat with butter. Add shrimp, salt and pepper. Cook 2 minutes on each side until pink. Add mushrooms and cook until tender.

In two serving bowls, divide quinoa, bell pepper, cucumber, onions, avocado and shrimp. Sprinkle sesame seeds and cilantro over both bowls.

Drizzle with reserved dressing.

Brunch Fruit Tart

Recipe adapted from homemadeinterest.com

Inredients:

Crust:

4 cups granola mixture

1/2 cup butter, softened

4 1/2 tablespoons honey nonstick cooking spray

Filling:

2 1/4 cups vanilla Greek yogurt

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

Directions:

To make crust: Preheat oven to 350 F.

In large bowl, combine granola, butter and honey. Grease 11-inch tart pan with nonstick cooking spray. Line bottom of tart pan with parchment paper.

Press granola mixture into tart pan. Place tart pan on baking sheet and bake 10

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 package gelatin

Toppings: strawberries, sliced blueberries kiwis, sliced

minutes. Cool completely.

To make filling: Using mixer, combine yogurt, cream cheese, sugar, vanilla extract and gelatin until whipped completely.

Pour yogurt mixture into tart crust. Refrigerate at least 1 hour.

Top with strawberries, blueberries and kiwis.

Pesto Pasta Salad

Prep time: 15 minutes | Cook time: 10 minutes | Servings: 6

Inredients:

1 quart cooked red lentil rotini

2 packages (9 1/2 ounces each) Fresh Express Twisted Pesto Caesar Chopped Salad Kits

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 cup grape tomatoes, halved

1/2 cup walnuts, toasted

Directions: Prepare red lentil rotini according to package directions; cool 15 minutes.

In bowl, mix rotini and one dressing packet from salad kits. Sprinkle with salt and pepper; mix well. Refrigerate, covered, 30 minutes, or until rotini is cold.

In large bowl, mix lettuce from both salad kits with remaining salad dressing package. Add rotini and tomatoes; toss to combine. Sprinkle with garlic brioche croutons and shredded Parmesan cheese from salad kits and walnuts.

Substitution: Traditional rotini can be used for red lentil rotini.

THE TOP OF THEIR GAME

Brunette Games, headquartered in St. Louis, represents one of the few female-owned companies in the video game industry

BY WENDY TODD

According to a study done by Forbes magazine in 2020, women made up 46% of video gamers, but only 16% of women made up executive teams of the top 14 gaming companies. Lisa Brunette has carved out her space in the male-dominated gaming space by creating her own company, Brunette Games, headquartered in St. Louis.

In 2009, Brunette transitioned from her career as a news editor and then freelance writer to writing scripts for video games. After working for companies including Nintendo, Big Fish Games and Take-Two Interactive as a narrative designer, she identified a need in the industry for storytelling and character development. In 2018, Brunette formed her own company.

“With the success of my first three projects, ‘Matchington Mansion,’ ‘Choices: Veil of Secrets’ and ‘Sender Unknown,’” Brunette said, “I

The crew at Brunette Games helps develop stories and characters for video games.

was swamped with writing requests and saw that I could realize my dream to create a studio of writers providing storytelling services to the game industry.”

Since then, her company has been creating characters and narratives for popular games such as “Merge Mansion,” “Solitaire Grand Harvest,” and “Jellipop Match.”

Being part of an underrepresented community in the gaming profession hasn’t posed as a significant issue for Brunette, who while working for other companies was on teams that were gender-balanced. She attributes that to the kind of work she does and the primary audience it attracts.

“Except for a brief stint where I was only one of three women in a 30-person office, I’ve always been able to find other non-traditional game professionals, even if women only make up 10% of the industry, which was true when I started, or 30%, which I believe is where we are now,” Brunette said. “I think it helps that

I design and write games mainly for older women. I don’t work on first-person shooters, but rather story-driven puzzle games, and those attract a diverse set of creatives to write them.”

In addition to gender not posing a challenge when she worked at other companies, she’s not finding it to be an issue running her own company. Brunette faces the same trials as other small business owners regardless of gender.

“I think more than my gender, what’s most been challenging in my career has been my status as a small business owner,” she explained. “Increasingly, the world is built to work against us, with rules and regulations often favoring large corporations at the expense of mom-and-pop shops like Brunette Games.”

The first person Brunette hired on her team was her husband, Anthony Valterra, who had “steered” the ever-popular brands, “Dungeons & Dragons” and “Avalon Hill for Wizards of the Coast.”

“He’s very talented at navigating complex systems like government bureaucracies,” she said. “That helps me immensely, as he can deal with red tape while I concentrate on developing our creative team and projects.”

In terms of other employees, Brunette has made the effort to create an inclusive team, hiring women and BIPOC and LGBTQ+ writers and game designers. Their experience and work has contributed to the success of the small business that includes having developed projects for the show “Family Guy,” the candy M&M’S and Disney’s overwhelmingly popular brand, “Frozen.”

“Every writer on the team has a writing degree and years of experience, and some of us have advanced writing degrees and/or decades of experience,” Brunette said, “Our voice actors’ credits include film, TV, and the stage, as well as high-profile games like ‘Angry Birds’ and ‘Dying Light.’ We’re, simply put, the best.”

A sampling of some of the games produced by Brunette Games.