Our Town: April 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 4

APRIL 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

Around Town

St. Louis Regional Freightway offers riverboat cruises for students and educators to tour the Ag Coast of America and more.

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

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

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Copyright 2022

Huneke Publications, Inc.

Feature African Schoolhouse No. 4, the oldest one-room schoolhouse for African Americans in Missouri, has been restored and furnished and moved to Faust Park’s Historic Village .

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Our Thoughts

Moore on Life author Cindy Moore celebrates the year of the cat while Avalanche cleans up an oily mess.

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Lifestyle

The 2023 Kia Niro gets a new look as it powers into the future in Automobile Alley. Looking into the curse of “The Little Rascals” in Entertainment. A full, fresh menu fit for a brunch feast in For the Love of Food. In Depth

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

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AroundTown

A ‘Little Bit’ of help

The Little Bit Foundation partners with historic Sumner High School to help serve as an overall source of support for students lacking resources

Sumner High School, the first public high school for Black students west of the Mississippi, and boasts alumni including singer, Tina Turner, tennis player Arthur Ashe and actor Robert Guillaume, has been “adopted” by the nonprofit organization, The Little Bit Foundation.

The high school, located in the oncethriving neighborhood of The Ville, serving nearly 300 students, has faced challenges including being on a closure list in 2021 due to low enrollment, declining GPAs and attendance. But the community rallied around the history-making institution and convinced the St. Louis Public School Board to reconsider, and allow Sumner to develop an action plan to be instituted over three years to make improvements. The Little Bit Foundation has become part of that plan.

The nonprofit that was founded in 2001, “works to eliminate barriers to learning and provides enrichment opportunities for under-resourced students in the St. Louis region.” It provides programming and partnerships that address the needs of students to enhance their education, college preparation, work-readiness skills and mentorship. It also offers health education and intervention, serving as an overall source of support for students lacking resources.

“We are very excited to expand our continuum of support to students in SLPS at this historic school and to help effect positive change,” said CEO of the organization, Miranda Walker Jones. “Students in the district have the opportunity to experience the full scope of Little Bit programs from early

childhood through high school, especially the ‘career pathways’ we are creating by exposing students early to the options available to them and helping to cultivate the skills and relationships they need for success in whatever they choose to be.”

Sumner High School is the 19th school in Little Bit’s 20-year partnership with St. Louis Public Schools and the second high school in the district. The nonprofit hopes to see the students excel with the added services and supports.

“They will have an additional resource and support network to rely on,” said Stacy Lupo, the nonprofit’s consulting communications director. “We bring with us partnerships with other expert providers as well as industry leaders, higher education institutions and others that can open doors for

students and expand their worldview.”

Aaron Williams, Chairman of the Sumner High School Advisory Board feels confident the partnership with TLBF will help be holistically beneficial to students.

“We know we have to serve the whole student and even those not yet at Sumner,” he said. “The Little Bit Foundation brings that whole child model and also is in the feeder schools of Sumner, so we have real opportunity to do that with this partnership.”

Jones believes that with sufficient provisions, students are capable of taking their achievements and creating sustained success.

“We know that with the right support, one student can change the trajectory of their family for future generations.”

The Little Bit Foundation has partnered with Sumner High School to provide programming and partnerships that address the needs of students to enhance their education, college preparation, work-readiness skills and mentorship.

Helping immigrants

Affinia Healthcare receives grant to serve immigrant populations in St. Louis

Affinia Healthcare has received a grant for $63,000 from the Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis.

The Immigrant Health and Support Services grant will be used to improve access and utilization of healthcare services for more than 1,200 newly arrived immigrants and refugees by helping these new residents connect to Affinia Healthcare’s medical, dental, behavioral health and other providers.

“Affinia Healthcare is grateful for the support of the Lutheran Foundation which allows us to continue our mission of reaching underserved populations in the St. Louis area,” said Dr. Kendra Holmes, President & CEO, Affinia Healthcare. “These funds will allow our new neighbors to access needed and high-quality healthcare services in a welcoming environment as they transition to their new home.”

Affinia Healthcare serves as the primary care home for most of the newly arrived refugees and other immigrants who often

lack health insurance access, caring for over 4,000 immigrants on an annual basis. During 2022, Affinia Healthcare saw more than 700 new refugees and anticipates approximately 800 new arrivals in the current fiscal year (Oct. 22, 2022 - Sept. 30), the majority being from Afghanistan, in addition to other immigrants. The number of new immigrant patients at Affinia Healthcare is expected to significantly increase in the next 12 months, as the International Institute of St. Louis, the local refugee relocation agency, anticipates receiving another 800 Afghan refugees and other refugees.

Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis is the grant-making ministry of 74 St. Louis area Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregations. The foundation’s vision is to see the church brought into the lives of hurting people and people included in the healing life of the church.

A member of the refugee community receives a vaccination at an outreach event at the International Institute last year. Affinia Healthcare has received a grant to continue healthcare outreach with refugee communities in the St. Louis area.

AroundTown

Green tour

St. Louis Regional Freightway offers riverboat cruises for students and educators to tour the Ag Coast of America

The St. Louis Regional Freightway is inviting students and educators to sign up now to take advantage of curated riverboat cruises in 2023 that will provide tours through a portion of the Ag Coast of America. Offered the first Wednesday of the month beginning in April 2023, the cruises will be open to high school and college student groups, educators and educational administrators, and others interested in learning about the Ag Coast and the many career opportunities available in the region’s transportation, manufacturing and logistics industries. The cost per person varies based on age, group size and whether the group is participating in a regularly scheduled tour or a private, chartered tour.

Participants will get an up-close look at critical elements of the region’s multimodal freight network, including roads and bridges, rail and barge facilities and multimodal freight transfer services and ports, all of which have garnered recognition for a 15mile stretch of the Mississippi River running through the St Louis region as the Ag Coast of America. The Ag Coast is home to 16 barge transfer facilities that at total capacity, can handle more than 150 barges per day, providing the highest level of bargehandling capacity anywhere along the Mississippi River. Routinely handling approximately 436,000 tons per mile, the barge industry in this section of the Mississippi River is nearly two-and-a-half times more efficient than its closest competitors, according to the most recent rankings by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“For student groups and educational administrators, the cruise will help increase awareness of the types of jobs available in the transportation, manufacturing and logistics industries and highlight the pathways to careers that are in demand and offer a great living wage,” said Mary Lamie, Executive Vice President of Multi Modal Enterprises for Bi-State Development and head of the St. Louis Regional Freightway. “This specialty cruise opportunity connects classroom academic knowledge to real world business and industry application.”

Participants will gain an awareness of the impact transportation has on the local economy, and a deeper understanding of

the St. Louis region’s role as a world-class logistics hub offering global access from a central location at the nexus of America’s freight network. A visit to the Gateway Arch Museum can be included to learn about the St. Louis Region’s Riverfront Era – highlighting its early role as a distribution point for U.S. goods and an entryway for global imports.

The Ag Coast Cruises take place aboard replica 19th century paddlewheel riverboats that are part of Bi-State Development’s Riverboats at the Gateway Arch enterprise. The Becky Thatcher and Tom Sawyer riverboats offer a variety of Mississippi River excursions with unique themes and breathtaking views of the St. Louis skyline and riverfront. The boat dock located at the base of the steps to the Arch also offers live music events and other fun activities.

“Given the proximity of the Laclede’s Landing MetroLink station, we encourage the use of the MetroLink for transportation to the Gateway Arch and the riverboats to also highlight transit-related employment opportunities and to provide a fun introduction to a mode of transportation that can

be used for job interviews, the commute to work or participating in work-related training programs, and to access many of our region’s most popular attractions,” Lamie said.

Small groups will be accommodated on regularly scheduled one-hour-long cruises on the first Wednesday of each month, with narration by the captain who will share information about the Ag Coast.

Pricing for those regularly scheduled cruises starts at $24 for adults and $14 for those aged 3 – 15, but additional discounts are available for groups with more than 20 participants. Any groups of 20 or more wanting to purchase tickets at a group discount or inquire about a private charter can contact groupsales@gatewayarch. com. Private charters would include rental of one of the riverboats in its entirety for a 90-minute, private, narrated cruise on the Ag Coast that could accommodate up to 125 guests. For information on the regular sightseeing cruises and other specialty cruises and entertainment available, visit www.gatewayarch.com/riverboats.

The St. Louis Regional Freightway is inviting students and educators to sign up now to take advantage of curated riverboat cruises in 2023 that will provide tours through a portion of the Ag Coast of America.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Transit winners Partners announce winner of ‘College Transit Challenge’

To help underscore the benefits of public transit and encourage consistent use among the area’s college students, faculty and staff, Citizens for Modern Transit, Metro Transit and St. Clair County Transit District recently held a weeklong “College Transit Challenge” initiative with partnering institutions St. Louis Community College, Saint Louis University, Southwestern Illinois College, University of Missouri–St. Louis and Washington University in St. Louis.

From March 3, to March 10, nearly 300 individuals affiliated with these respective schools used their Metro U-Pass to take transit as often as they could. A total of 480 transit trips were tracked via mobile texting, and the school with the most participation and the winner of bragging rights for the 2023 “College Transit Challenge” is Washington University in St. Louis.

“Congratulations to Wash U and all the colleges and universities that participated in this challenge – it was a fun,” stated Kimberly Cella, executive director of Citizens for Modern Transit. “The leaderboard shifted throughout the week, with UMSL and Wash U battling for the top spot and STLCC, SLU and SWIC competing in a tight race for third.”

An opportunity for bonus points brought participants to Sugarfire Smoke House’s downtown location, just steps away from the Convention Center MetroLink Station. UMSL students, faculty and staff took the lion’s share of the bonus points for their school, and UMSL’s Environmental Adventure Organization student group came away with the $250 prize for bringing the most attendees. Throughout the weeklong challenge, participants were entered to win a selection of prizes including St. Louis Symphony and St. Louis Cardinals tickets.

“The challenge succeeded at what we set out to do – get student, faculty and staff to utilize the region’s safe, integrated public transit system, along with their Metro U-passes to get to and from campus, work, doctor appointments, grocery stores, area attractions, nightlife or wherever else they needed or wanted to go,” Cella added.

To learn more about the College Transit Challenge or the Metro U-Pass Program, visit www.CollegeTransitChallenge.com.

A total of 480 transit trips were tracked via mobile texting, and the school with the most participation and the winner of bragging rights for the 2023 “College Transit Challenge” is Washington University in St. Louis.

AroundTown

Pallottine officially opens Low Ropes Challenge Course Rising to the challenge

A multi-year dream finally becomes a reality in March as the Low Ropes Challenge Course opens at the Pallottine Renewal Center in Florissant. PRC Executive Director Marillyn Baner and team have worked to bring this vision to life over the past several years, made even more critical by the 2020 COVID shutdown and people’s inability to get together publicly.

“I am beyond thrilled that we are finally able to provide this amazing experiential learning opportunity to the communities in and around North County and St. Louis,” Baner said. “Starting this month, we are taking reservations for groups of all shapes and sizes, from 10 to 100. Call us to schedule a tour and see everything Pallottine has to offer from ropes to retreats.”

Pallottine staff, with the full support of the board of trustees, has planned and built the multi-station challenge course over the span of the last three years on

the retreat center’s 83-acre campus. Multi-station low-ropes courses such as this, rare in the St. Louis area, help participants develop communication and leadership skills and provide groups with team-building opportunities. Each station, which takes place on the ground or slightly above it, challenges participants to work as part of a team to sharpen and build collaboration and problem-solving skills.

Pallottine’s Lead Facilitator and Training Coordinator Lucia Greer has dedicated a large part of her life to learning, developing and fine-tuning experiential education. As an U.S. Air Force retired senior leader, Greer has spent decades developing teams and leaders with junior military, corporate groups and at-risk youth. And now she’s making sure the PRC team is up to the task.

“People tend to be tactile learners,” Greer said, “so when you combine learn-

ing about interpersonal and team behaviors with hands-on challenges, the lessons can be truly life changing.”

The Pallottine Renewal Center ropes course will appeal to and be beneficial for various types of groups, from adults to the youth in our community. For example, in the medical field teamwork is essential. Helen Kornblum, M.D., with SSM St. Mary’s Hospital, believes teamwork is a fundamental aspect of successful residency training.

“To have a ropes course local not only saves time and money but also expands the opportunity to offer this to others within our organization,” Kornblum said. “Teamwork, building trust, developing leadership skills, enhancing confidence … the real-world benefits are numerous.” For more information on the Challenge Course at Pallottine, please visit pallottinerenewal.org/programs/ropes.

Celebrating mental health

St. Louis County Children’s Service Fund announces inaugural mental health provider award

The St. Louis County Children’s Service Fund (CSF) has created the Dr. John M. Anderson Community Mental Health Provider Award. The new award is part of the Dr. John M. Anderson Excellence in Mental Health Care Award and complements the John M. Anderson Excellence in the Field of Mental Health Award, which has celebrated and recognized unsung mental health professionals in the St. Louis region since 2014.

The Dr. John M. Anderson Community Mental Health Provider Award is designed to recognize and celebrate the outstanding contributions of individuals who provide on-the-ground care in the community but do not have a research component in their day-to-day work. The award aims to highlight and celebrate the accomplishments of mental health professionals whose work directly addresses the needs identified by

the community and actively works to reduce the stigma of mental illness in the Black/African-American community.

“Creating an integrated system of care in which kids and families have access to effective and quality mental health services requires support and input from professionals with varied backgrounds and areas of expertise,” said Emily Koenig, executive director of CSF. “We are thrilled to be awarding two prestigious awards this year to individuals making a significant impact in the field of mental health care for children and families in St. Louis.”

The Excellence in the Field of Mental Health Care awardee is someone who demonstrates clinical excellence in mental health. They have a body of work that illustrates large-scale impact and supports their commitment to addressing inequalities in mental health care for children and

families in St. Louis. They have taken significant steps to reduce the stigma of seeking care in the Black/African-American community.

Nominations for the Dr. John M. Anderson Community Mental Health Provider and Excellence in the Field of Mental Health Award closed on March 5. Both award winners will be announced at the St. Louis American’s Excellence in Health Care banquet. Awardees are chosen by a review panel consisting of mental/public health professionals, a previous award winner, education experts, community administrators and CSF board members and staff.

For more information about the Dr. John M. Anderson Excellence in Mental Health Awards, please visit the CSF website at stlcsf.org, or contact the CSF office at 314-615-5850.

Ladue chess team wins Gateway League championship Nice moves

Ladue Horton Watkins High School’s Chess “A” Team won the Gateway League championship on March 8 with a 26.5 to 3.5 win over Belleville West. The win capped off an undefeated, 12-0 season and first place finish in the league’s West Conference.

Leading up to the championship round, LHWHS won the West Conference semifinals against MICDS by a score of 26 to 4 on Feb. 22, then followed with a win in the West Conference finals against Webster Groves by a score of 26.5 to 3.5 on March 1.

LHWHS’s A chess team members Luke Ye, Andy Teh, Andrew Stappenbeck, Rex Zhu and Celina Zhou all contributed points toward the league championship win.

The school’s “B” chess team also advanced to the playoffs after finishing its Gateway Chess High School League regular season with a 7-1 record and in second place in the East Conference. The team lost its playoff semifinals match against Belleville West by a score of 19 to 11 on Feb. 22. Aaron Lin and Lincoln Olthof contributed points for LHWHS in the match.

The LHWHS chess teams are led by coach Dr. Zach Garrison.

Big help Crisis Nursery presents prestigious H.U.G.S. & K.I.S.S.E.S. awards

The area’s foremost child abuse and neglect prevention agency, the Saint Louis Crisis Nursery, will present its prestigious H.U.G.S. & K.I.S.S.E.S. “Healthcare Partner of the Year” award to Mercy and its Woman of the Year Award to Pam Duffy of Chesterfield.

For 26 years, the Saint Louis Crisis Nursery has bestowed the H.U.G.S. & K.I.S.S.E.S. awards to individuals, businesses, and groups who have shown Helpfulness, Uncommon Generosity, Sincere Kindness, Integrity, Shining Service and Extraordinary Support for the Crisis Nursery. There is no higher award from this nationally known organization.

Mercy has been a valuable and generous champion of the Crisis Nursery; they currently host three Crisis Nursery Family Empowerment Centers. In 2017 the Family Empowerment Center -Jefferson County, based at Mercy Hospital Jefferson, opened; in 2018, the Crisis Nursery’s Family Empowerment Center – South County opened at Mercy Hospital South. Most recently, the Family Empowerment Center--Lincoln County opened on the Mercy Hospital - Lincoln campus.

Crisis Nursery CEO DiAnne Mueller said,

“It has been such a blessing for all these years to have Mercy’s dedication and passion to the Saint Louis Crisis Nursery and our mission of child abuse prevention! Because of Mercy’s commitment to the communities it serves, the Crisis Nursery is positively impacting many more families in the underserved regions of Jefferson and Lincoln counties. We are excited to name Mercy the Crisis Nursery’s ‘Healthcare Partner of the Year’ in recognition of Mercy’s long-standing mission of transforming the health and wellness of our communities.”

“Collaborating with the Saint Louis Crisis Nursery is a true win-win situation,” said Eric Ammons, president of Mercy Hospital Jefferson. “We are able to help the Crisis Nursery reach people in need of their services. We are able to easily connect our patients, community members, and our own co-workers to the support Crisis Nursery provides. The entire community is better served by Mercy and the Crisis Nursery working together.”

The Saint Louis Crisis Nursery has also received funds from Mercy Caritas, established to provide funds for health and human services programs that meet unique community needs.

Duffy is the President of Rhodey Construction and has been a Crisis Nursery supporter for over ten years. She is a member of Crisis Nursery’s Board of Directors and served as the Board President from July 2020 to June 2022.

Mueller said, “Pam is our Woman of the Year because she has been a fantastic supporter for many years. Her term as Board of Directors President included the worst years of the pandemic, but under Pam’s guidance, while other agencies had to close their doors, the Crisis Nursery remained open. Pam continues to help the nursery in many ways – from Rhodey Construction sponsoring Crisis Nursery events to Pam recently backing a pajama drive that resulted in new pj’s for nearly 500 children!”

Duffy said, “I am truly honored to receive this award. I am proud to be involved with an organization like the Crisis Nursery. It is important to me to give back, and the Crisis Nursery is wonderful--the staff is amazing to work with and they help so many families in St. Louis!”

The award will be presented at the Crisis Nursery’s Razzle Dazzle Ball on April 1.

AN EDUCATION LANDMARK

African Schoolhouse No. 4, the oldest oneroom schoolhouse for African Americans in Missouri, has been restored and furnished and moved to Faust Park’s Historic Village

BY WENDY TODD

After the Civil War, Missouri’s Constitution established free education for all between the ages of five-and-21. But for African Americans, that opportunity was much different.

There was an attendance rule for African American schools that required a minimum of 20 students. Black residents of Chesterfield had enough students for a school but the school district refused to build one. So the residents took the case to court in 1893 and won. The following year, a school was built

for $600 and remained open into the 1950s. Now, African Schoolhouse No. 4, the oldest one-room schoolhouse for African Americans in Missouri, has been restored and furnished and moved to Faust Park’s Historic Village.

Doris Frazier, now 94, who was a substitute teacher at the school, described her experience.

“I remember walking up these little steps and through the front door, and a little desk up front, you know, waiting for the kids to come,” she said. You had to be everybody. You had to be the gym teacher, the arithmetic teacher, the reading teacher. So you had to be kind of experienced in all of those classes to keep the kids interested. It’s a long day — long day. I think it’ll be a great thing for people to just look back and say from whence we come. We no longer have to go to a one-room school.”

The St. Louis County Parks Foundation held a grand opening ceremony on March, 24 to commemorate the unveiling of the school in its new location. Anne Redford, public information manager at St. Louis County Parks, detailed the process of acquiring the historic schoolhouse.

“The Faust Park staff worked tirelessly for many years to acquire African Schoolhouse No. 4, checking in with dismissive landowners and negotiating refusals and rejections for over 30 years,” she said “Finally, an opportunity was created when the property was sold to the current resident who generously offered to donate the schoolhouse to the county. At that point, the dedicated team went to work, disassembling and tagging each log and board in preparation for the 3.8 mile journey to Faust Park.”

It was important for the St. Louis County Parks department to restore the school in order to preserve significant history.

“At the parks department, we believe firmly that our quality of life is enriched not only through parks, trails and open spaces, but by the presence of historic buildings,” Radford said. “Buildings such as African Schoolhouse No. 4 remind us of who we are and where we came from.”

The African Schoolhouse No. 4 represents a collective triumph. Black residents recognized that their children deserved an education even if political authorities disagreed. The restoration of the schoolhouse serves as a reminder of racial injustices as well as the power of the people to rail against them.

“It was an act of defiance and bravery,” Radford said, “and an extraordinary achievement that we honor and recognize today.”

African Schoolhouse No. 4, the oldest one-room schoolhouse for African Americans in Missouri, has been restored and furnished and moved to Faust Park’s Historic Village.

MOORE ON LIFE BY

CINDY MOORE

THE YEAR of the cat

It was International Women’s Day last month. I informed my cats of the event. They were of course thrilled to know that their owner had a day specified to honor someone they esteemed and revered so deeply.

It started out this way on that day:

“Hey kitties, it’s my special day reserved just to honor yours truly. How should you celebrate me?”

Right away they conspired to do good deeds. The fat one spoke up first:

“I insist you take a long leisurely catnap, but first how about brushing out this fur coat of mine? It has a few snags and snarls and if you don’t get them under control, I’ll be forced to lick them out myself and we all know how that ends. Last time, I experienced a dreadful hacking fit at 2 a.m. and deposited a giant furball at the foot of your bed. You then stepped in it and repeated some shocking words that curled the whiskers on my sensitive brow.”

I remembered staying awake for the rest of that night. I dutifully grabbed a brush and meticulously worked over his pelt after first retrieving a plate of his favorite snacks which he demanded.

Afterwards, I cornered the skinny cat and reminded her that it was my special day and a chance to pamper me instead of her.

“Sure thing,” she meowed. “But first be a good pet person and wrestle up a few flies to put in the windowsill. You know how much I love those little flying peanuts and it gives you such joy to see me swat and eat those nasty menaces.”

For the next hour I ran around the house with an empty pickle jar trying to snag a fly to please the little fur ball. After stumbling over the couch and banging my shin on the coffee table, I captured one of the disease-covered insects and presented it to her highness. She promptly turned up her nose and waved me off informing me that the fly-catching mood had passed.

Irately, I informed them both that the day had gone by without any attention to me.

The fat one responded, “You’ve had an entire day off from indulging us, so get up all the earlier tomorrow morning because I declare it the start of, Celebrate Your Cat Year!”

ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE BY AVALANCHE

BIG MESS HOT OIL MAKES A

Plowing the storm’s last pile of snow off the road before heading down the hill for home, I felt – as much as heard – the “thwump” of a hydraulic line failure, and saw yellow-green oil running onto the freshly fallen snow. Hmmmm…. As the snowplow blade wouldn’t angle, but oil wasn’t gushing out at any pressure, I made for home quickly, before the skid steer wouldn’t make it.

Once at home, I got to further examine the hot, oildripping mess in the fading light. It seemed that whatever had popped was not on the outside of the machine or on the plow cylinders, where most failures occur, but rather somewhere within the body of the rig. Too late and too dark to figure out the problem for the evening, visions of an astronomical repair bill plagued my sleep that evening. Once daylight arrived, it didn’t take long to find that the problem was merely an O-ring which had blown out of a joint on the main hydraulic control valve.

Now it was just a matter of getting the correct O-ring from a dealer, the nearest of which is over 100 miles away. Opening up my factory service manual, I found a parts diagram of a control valve that looked decidedly different than the one in my machine. Not to worry, all answers exist on the internet – even if those answers are wrong. Going to the factory schematic for my machine’s serial number, I found yet another control valve that didn’t look exactly like mine. A call to large dealership with a sizable online presence connected me with a knowledgeable parts technician, who was a stumped as I was. We traded schematics and photos until we were pretty certain of the correct part. After all, the part was the only one listed by the factory, it had to be correct. He sent a half-dozen of them to me. In the meantime, I called a dealer closer to home, had the same conversation with that parts technician, and he sent me some Orings, which arrived in the mail the next morning.

They didn’t fit. One thing I had learned over decades of working on machinery of various origins is that when the machine is made overseas, a lot can be lost in translation. The Japanese are known for precise engineering,

meticulous quality control and a fanatical attention to detail. It wasn’t too many generations ago that a Samurai warrior would have to commit seppuku if he had dishonored himself with poor performance. That cultural ethic is reflected today in their manufacturing; but for whatever reason, service manuals from the Land of the Rising Sun seem to be exempt from that high quality.

Wrong photos, wrong descriptions, and incorrectly described service procedures are quite common in the service manuals from the Far East. In this particular instance, all of those things were present. With no one able to figure out what part was required to repair my machine, and the loader sitting in my driveway dripping $27-per-gallon hydraulic oil, I took the mangled O-ring down to the local auto parts store and talked with the helpful specialist there. We agreed that a metric-sized ring would be best, and within a couple minutes located an exact match. I grabbed a few extras, made my way home and got the generic $1.34 part installed, cleaned up all the pricey leakage and was back in service.

The episode brought back memories of when I did this kind of thing full-time – and why I got out of the business. The smallest and least expensive of parts can cause a total failure of a machine, at the most inconvenient time, usually in a snowstorm, in the dark, when you’re coming down with some kind of respiratory crud. With that said, this rig has been run hard for many hundreds of hours, with nary a hiccup. My visions of an expensive repair were thankfully false. And a $1.34 part is a pretty small price to pay to get going again, even if it took some inthe-field translation to decipher the problem.

THE 2023 KIA NIRO

At first glance of the 2023 Kia Niro, one can’t help but notice the vehicle’s appealing and bold design. Now, after having been reworked, this front-wheel-drive vehicle was essentially transformed with a new interior and exterior. It was engineered from the ground up to meet and exceed the expectations of eco-minded consumers.

It is further supported by the overall aerodynamic body design that conveys an inspiring modern appearance. Furthermore, Niro’s exterior presence embodies a sophisticated and futuristic sense of purpose.

In the most fundamental terms, the new version is moderately larger overall. Attractive daytime running lights flank the front signature Kia tiger-nose grille. This further shores up the Kia brand identity. At the rear, boomerang-shaped bright LED taillights sit alongside uncomplicated surface treatments for a concise and in vogue styling breakthrough.

Besides its adventurous design language, a host of new technologies are also included. The factory makes this model available in three variants. This includes a hybrid version (gas engine along with a battery powered set up), plus a plug-in hybrid (gasoline engine coupled with a 110-volt or 220-volt AC charging battery pack) and an all-electric battery powered model as well. This further supports the fact that Niro will likely be more alluring to a wider customer base that

is interested in an electrification means of mobility.

The car’s added seating space and additional prominent cargo compartment is also a welcomed improvement. Doing the math, that comes out to be close to 23 cubic feet of storage space behind the secondrow seats. With the car’s interior design, this model now includes an updated infotainment system, with an available dual 10.25inch instrument panel. The touchscreen is quite user-friendly and customizable. The passenger cabin has gratifying premium materials and textured surfaces, to give a richer look and feel.

The Niro hybrid comes standard with the proven 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, generating some 139 horsepower, and is matched with a six-speed automatic transmission. It further achieves “real-world” fuel economy, with an EPA estimate of 49 mpg combined city/highway numbers. And the plug-in hybrid achieves some 53-miles per gallon and will generally operate on just battery power for up to 33 miles.

During my road test, I spent seat time with the full battery/electric rendering of the 2023 model. The silent electric drive motor produces 201-horsepower resulting in its quick acceleration. The EV is sold in two trim levels. More exactly, the factory attributes the standard enactment as their “Wind” model. Their “Wave” variant of

Niro includes additional creature comforts.

With a full charge, the EV’s driving distance, with outside ambient temperatures above freezing, (temperature is a major factor in battery-powered vehicles, impacting their intended driving range) would achieve just over 230 miles. With a level two charger (220 AC volts) it took over six hours to get the battery pack up to a full charge. Plugged into a Level 3 fast charger, the Niro EV can replenish most of its charge, generally under one hour. An optional heat pump and battery warmer help extend the range in cold climates.

Niro also comes with class-leading, standard active safety equipment. This includes automatic forward collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, lane keeping assist, helping to detect lane markings and provides steering input. The driver attention warning system seamlessly analyzes the driver attention level and provides a warning if a break is recommended. Also included is their blind spot collision warning and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist. Safe exit warning provides an alert warning while someone is exiting the vehicle in traffic, coupled with rear occupant alert.

Pricing of the Niro’s product line start out at $26,590. The EV model has a 10-year/100,000-mile battery pack warranty. Kia Motors USA has some 750 dealers nationwide.

gets a new look as it powers into the future

Robert Blake and the curse of ‘THE LITTLE RASCALS’

In the 1970’s, local television stations broadcast reruns of “The Little Rascals,” a popular series of short films originally shown in movie theaters. Also known as the “Our Gang” comedies, the main characters were children who often got into trouble or unusual circumstances.

Young performers such as George “Spanky” McFarland, Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer and Darla Hood were big draws until they became too old for the series and “aged out.” To fill the void, Michael James Vijencio “Mickey” Gubitosi and other fresh faces were hired to continue the series until it ended in 1944.

Gubitosi, better known as Robert Blake, passed away on March 9. Unlike many of his colleagues, he transitioned to adult movie roles and later played an undercover detective in “Baretta.” He also played Father Noah on the NBC series “Hell Town.” On April 18, 2002, Blake was arrested and charged with the murder of Bonny Lee Bakley, a woman with whom he had a relationship. Blake was later found liable for her wrongful death and ordered to pay $30 million to Bakley’s children, but that amount was reportedly lowered. In later years, he had his own “YouTube” channel and was selling memorabilia online. Was there a curse on “The Little Rascals?” Robert Blake’s later years were certainly filled with controversy, but other members died tragically. After Carl Switzer “aged out” of child roles, he had trouble getting adult parts in films. He did appear in small roles in “State of the Union,” “My Fa-

vorite Blond” as well as “The Gas House Kids” series that included “Our Gang” alum Tommy “Butch” Bond. In “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Switzer had a wonderful cameo playing a prank on George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart). In 1959, he died after being shot over a small debt and passed away at age 31. Reportedly, Carl Switzer was replaced by William Robert Laughlin. Where Alfalfa was known for his “crooning,” Laughlin could make his voice sound like a frog and was nicknamed “Froggy.” He appeared in the final “Our Gang” comedies and had the lead role in “Dancing Romeo.” In that short, Froggy fell in love with a girl who only had eyes for a handsome dancer. William Laughlin sadly passed away at the age of 16 on Aug. 31, 1948. Laughlin was using his motor scooter to deliver newspapers when he was hit by a truck.

Former child star William “Billie” Thomas, Jr. reentered popular culture when “Saturday Night Live” star Eddie Murphy appeared in character as Buckwheat, one of the most beloved members of the “Our Gang” comedies. Thomas made his debut as Buckwheat in 1935, but he played the role as female. Thomas’ character later became male as the series continued. As an adult, Thomas had a great career as a film lab technician with the Technicolor corporation and also learned film editing and cutting. He had a heart attack on Oct. 10, 1980, and passed away at age 49.

A full, fresh menu

fit for a brunch feast

Birthdays, holidays or just casual Saturdays are all perfect excuses to enjoy brunch with your favorite people. Bringing everyone together with quiches, pastries, appetizers, desserts and more offers an easy way to kick back and relax on a warm weekend morning.

These recipes for Easy Brunch Quiche, Savory Cheese Balls and Lemon Blueberry Trifle provide a full menu to feed your loved ones from start to finish, regardless of the occasion.

Find more brunch inspiration by visiting Culinary.net.

Savory Cheese Balls

Servings: 6-12

Inredients:

2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese

2 tablespoons caraway seeds

1 teaspoon poppy seeds

2 cloves garlic, minced, divided

1/4 cup parsley, chopped

2 teaspoons thyme leaves, chopped

Directions: Cut each cream cheese block into three squares. Roll each square into ball.

In small bowl, combine caraway seeds, poppy seeds and half the garlic.

In second small bowl, combine parsley, thyme, rosemary and remaining garlic.

1 teaspoon rosemary, chopped

1/4 cup dried cranberries, chopped

2 tablespoons pecans, chopped crackers (optional) fruit (optional) vegetables (optional)

In third small bowl, combine cranberries and pecans.

Roll two cheese balls in seed mixture, two in herb mixture and two in cranberry mixture.

Cut each ball in half and serve with crackers, fruit or vegetables, if desired.

Inredients:

Easy Brunch Quiche

Serves: 12

1 package (10 ounces) frozen broccoli with cheese

12 slices bacon, chopped

1/2 cup green onions, sliced

1 cup mushrooms, sliced

Directions: Heat oven to 350 F.

In medium bowl, add broccoli and cheese contents from package. Microwave 5 minutes, or until cheese is saucy. Set aside.

In skillet, cook chopped bacon 4 minutes. Add green onions; cook 2 minutes. Add mushrooms; cook 4 minutes, or until bacon is completely cooked and mushrooms are tender. Drain onto paper towel over plate. Set aside.

In medium bowl, whisk eggs and milk until combined. Add broccoli and cheese

4 eggs

1 cup milk

1 1/2 cups shredded cheese, divided

2 frozen deep dish pie shells (9 inches each)

mixture. Add 1 cup cheese. Stir to combine. Set aside.

In pie shells, divide drained bacon mixture evenly. Divide broccoli mixture evenly and pour over bacon mixture. Sprinkle remaining cheese over both pies. Bake 40 minutes.

Cool at least 12 minutes before serving.

Note: To keep edges of crust from burning, place aluminum foil over pies for first 20 minutes of cook time. Remove after 20 minutes and allow to cook uncovered until completed.

Lemon Blueberry Trifle

Prep time: 45 minutes | Servings: 8-10

Lemon Curd:

1 cup Domino Golden Sugar

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 tablespoon lemon zest

6 tablespoons water

1/4 teaspoon salt

6 egg yolks

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature, cut into 1/2inch cubes

Whipped Cream:

2 cups heavy whipping cream, cold

2 tablespoons Domino Golden Sugar

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Trifle: 1 cup blueberry jam

12 ounces fresh blueberries, plus additional for garnish, divided 1 pound cake, cubed lemon slices, for garnish mint, for garnish

To make lemon curd: In medium saucepan, stir sugar and cornstarch. Stir in lemon juice, lemon zest, water and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened. Remove from heat and gradually stir in three egg yolks; mix well until combined. Stir in remaining egg yolks. Return to heat and cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.

Stir in butter; mix until incorporated. Cover with plastic wrap, touching surface of lemon curd to prevent curd forming skin. Refrigerate until completely cool.

To make whipped cream: In large bowl, beat cream, sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form. Do not overbeat.

To make trifle: Mix blueberry jam with 12 ounces fresh blueberries. Place one layer cubed pound cake in bottom of trifle dish. Top with layer of blueberries. Add dollops of lemon curd and whipped cream. Repeat layering ending with whipped cream.

Decorate trifle with lemon slices, fresh blueberries and mint.

new neighbors

BY WENDY TODD

Welcome Neighbor STL hosts Big Supper Club event where refugee chefs cook dishes from their home countries

Submitted photos

Iman Alkrad fled the war in Syria and landed in St. Louis along with other refugees. Currently, her daughter is still in Syria and Alkrad hasn’t seen her in 12 years. But in spite of the longing she feels for her daughter every day, she’s still done her best to create a life here – with the help of Welcome Neighbor STL.

The nonprofit began in 2016 by Jessica Bueler after she created a call-to-action when learning that some Syrian boys had been attacked in North St. Louis. The marketing and public relations professional used the NextDoor platform to ask for assistance for the boys and received an overwhelming response.

This show of community support prompted Bueler to initiate a more formal avenue to help immigrants in need of resources. The organization partners with refugee and immigrant families to connect them with people and opportunities to empower them to build their lives in St. Louis.

One way the nonprofit provides resources is with the annual Big Supper Club event, which happened on March 29, which features refugee chefs from multiple countries including Afghanistan, Syria, India and countries in West

Africa. They cook 11 dishes from their countries and also desserts to be served at the fundraiser. Since 2017 there have been 218 Big Supper Club events that have served 15,930 people and raised $426,898.

Proceeds from the supper go back

and teach me how to work with people in the United States.”

Along with food, music and conversation, attendees three families will be sharing about their experiences as refugees in St. Louis and working with Welcome Neighbor STL via video. Alkrad received vital assistance when transitioning to the United States, of which now, five years after her application, she and her family have received citizenship.

“When I arrived to America, the International Institute found a house for me,” she said. “After a while, my husband and my sons found a job and started working. And I got to know Jessica. She was the first person I met when I arrived, and she helped me a lot. After that, I started cooking through Welcome Neighbor STL.”

Participating in the dinner will be another part of her St. Louis experience that makes her feel embraced.

to the chefs. Alkrad is one of the chefs who participated in the supper on March 29.

“Since my childhood, I loved to cook a variety of dishes and share my culture with other people,” she said. “Welcome Neighbor STL helped me to let people know more about my delicious cooking

“Yes, so many people welcomed us upon my arrival and helped us in different ways and made me not feel like I was in a strange place,” she said “I felt safe for both me and my family. War always made me think scary things, but the people here made me feel at home and safe.”

The annual Big Supper Club event features refugee chefs from multiple countries including Afghanistan, Syria, India and countries in West Africa.

helped me to let people know more about my delicious cooking and teach me how to work with people in the United States.”

- Iman Alkrad

6 Passover (first day)

9 Easter

13 Thomas Jefferson’s Birthday

18 Tax Day

24 Arbor Day

25 National Library Workers’ Day

26 Administrative Professionals Day

27 Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day