Our Town: November 2021 by Community News

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Our Town Volume 12 | Number 11 NOVEMBER 2021 Published by the Community News, Our Town is a monthly news magazine covering the cities of Creve Coeur, Maryland Heights, and Olivette. Circulation is 7,000 monthly through over 105 monitored newsstands guaranteeing 100% pickup. Additional issues are distributed online, and a free online subscription is available at www.mycnews. com

N THIS SSUE

Around Town Merchants Bridge reconstruction project reaches major milestone and more.

Feature PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF Mathew DeKinder PUBLISHER EMERITUS/ GENERAL MANAGER Bob Huneke PRODUCTION Becky Brockmann Melissa Nordmann CONTRIBUTORS Avalanche, David Finkelstein, Cindy Moore STAFF WRITERS Brett Auten Wendy Todd

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Warming up St. Louis Warner’s Warm-up coat drive started by former St. Louis Rams player Kurt Warner and his wife Brenda has been making an impact on the region since 1999 By Wendy Todd

Our Thoughts Moore on Life author Cindy Moore finds that names escaper her while Avalanche has to deal with population growth in the mountains.

Lifestyle The 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz brings stylish design to the crossover truck market in Automobile Alley. Remembering George Reeves, TV’s original Superman in Entertainment. Special centerpieces for holiday celebrations in For the Love of Food.

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In Depth The nonprofit Refuge & Restoration is preparing to launch a massive $16 million redevelopment project at the former Springwood Plaza

Events Calendar

Staff Writer –Wendy Todd Cover Photo – Submitted

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AroundTown

BJC’s largest investment The BJC Campus Renewal Project enhances infrastructure, collaborative partnerships, career opportunities, and lives

Since 2012, vast transformations have occurred through the extensive BJC Campus Renewal Project to renovate Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children’s Hospital on the Washington University Medical Campus.

BY ART MCCOY With over 30,000 employees in 15 hospitals and multiple community health locations, BJC HealthCare is Missouri’s largest non-profit provider of unreimbursed care and among the largest private employers in the St. Louis region. Having over 2,100 BJC Career postings to date, BJC is committed to recruiting, training, hiring, and supporting a diverse workforce to provide award-winning, world-class health services. Yet, BJC’s impact extends well beyond health care, even into design, engineering, construction, and the trades. Since 2012, vast transformations have occurred through the extensive BJC Campus Renewal Project to renovate BarnesJewish Hospital and St. Louis Children’s Hospital on the Washington University Medical Campus. As BJC’s largest community investment thus far, overall, Campus Renewal focuses on improving the patient and family experience from both a clinical and campus perspective, with additional private inpatient rooms and easier access and parking around the entire campus. These 21st-century structural renovations have been strikingly visible, beautifying the boulevard the moment one exits Forest Park or Interstate 64 onto Kingshighway. Such state-of-the-art transformations to the academic campus require a broad array of industry leaders, employees, and supporting architectural, engineering and contractors to innovate and expand, such as general contract partners throughout Campus Renewal – Clayco and Regional Business Council (RBC) 4 | OUR TOWN | NOVEMBER 2021

members Alberici Constructors Inc., KAI, S.M. Wilson, and McCarthy. These organizations have expanded opportunities for women and communities of color, enhancing inclusive prosperity in St. Louis through this decade-long project and beyond. “BJC HealthCare continues our ongoing efforts to be a collaborative advocate for increased diversity workforce development across all of our current and future design and construction projects. Our Campus Renewal Phase 1 project was able to achieve a combined 25.6% minority workforce for both male and female union tradespeople on one of the largest community investment projects in BJC’s history. We welcome additional partners and continuously assess current and future diverse opportunities,” said Greg Mohler, BJC HealthCare Facilities Vice President. BJC Diversity Manager Charles Henson establishes benchmark goals and metrics for the partners and contractors to ensure equity and work opportunities for underrepresented populations. “In my 40 years of experience in this field, never has there been this type of inclusion of diversity from the start,” said Henson. “Nearly a dozen MBE and WBE (Minority/Women Business Enterprise) firms, inclusive of architectural and engineering design working under CannonDesign and BR+A, have been at the table from the beginning planning stages. Such unified efforts ‘BJC’ CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

AroundTown ‘BJC’ FROM PAGE 4 allow all to be on the same page before, during, and after implementing the BJC Campus Renewal Project.” McCarthy Building Company, the oldest privately held national construction company in America, is BJC’s trusted build partner for the next phase of Campus Renewal. “As the largest contractor in St. Louis, we believe we have a unique responsibility to foster a diverse, thriving community of local businesses. Having a strong team of diverse industry partners supports innovation and creativity that not only drive better solutions for our clients, but also is good for our community,” explained Ralph Powell, McCarthy Building Company’s new Director of Diversity, succeeding Monica Bailey, who retired in July. Along with other RBC members, McCarthy has been committed to the BJC and RBC workforce and talent development priorities to increase diversity and strengthen the workforce and region. Scott Wittkop, McCarthy Holdings, Inc. President and Chief Operating Officer, serves on the RBC Workforce Develop-

ment committee, and Powell understands the impact of this work. “My work is part of a national Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) program that leverages best practices from every McCarthy region. Our team’s priorities are to promote inclusive hiring practices; equip and empower employees to grow their careers; and continue to expand our supplier diversity and community engagement program. As the new Director of Diversity for McCarthy’s Central Region, I will draw on my 18 years of construction field experience to expand our supplier diversity and community outreach program. I’ll also lead and support diversity initiatives for major building projects across the region, including the Next NGA West campus in north city, the Neuroscience Research Building for Washington University School of Medicine at Cortex, and the next phase of the BJC HealthCare Campus Renewal Project.” For the past year, BJC, McCarthy, CannonDesign and BR+A have partnered with the RBC’s STL.works to engage with the community on design and construction opportunities, training programs, apprentice recruitment, and more. Inter-

ested St. Louisans with and without skilled trades experience are being recruited, trained by the unions and corporate partners, and empowered to start a career pathway in construction and trades. STL. works connects St. Louis city and county schools with speakers and site visits to increase the awareness with guest speakers at schools, exposure through site visits to see the work in progress, and experience via internships, apprenticeships, and employment in these STEM areas. BJC plans to place its Workforce Development Resource trailer onsite to provide learning opportunities for St. Louis area high school students to come on-site, meet professionals engaged in this work and learn about these career pathways firsthand. More than ever, regional leaders are expanding infrastructure, collaborative partnerships, career opportunities, and lives through construction opportunities and beyond. Connect with these organizations and STL.works for more information and access to these excellent opportunities.

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AroundTown

Bridge to the future The $222 million project to replace the Merchants Bridge that links Missouri and Illinois at Downtown St. Louis reached a major milestone Sept. 17, with the first one of three new trusses being installed. Dating back to 1890, the Merchants Bridge serves six Class I railroads and Amtrak to cross the Mississippi River at St. Louis and is one of the nation’s primary east-west rail corridors serving the nation’s second largest rail hub by car interchange volume and third largest by gross tonnage. The replacement of this vital rail artery is the bi-state St. Louis region’s top freight infrastructure priority. Owned by Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis (TRRA), the Merchants Bridge required reconstruction due to the speed, clearance and load restrictions. The project includes the removal and replacement of the three river-span trusses, seismically retrofitting the existing river piers, and improving the east approach. Work began in 2018 and, when completed in early 2023, the new double-track bridge will provide reliable, resilient and expanded freight and passenger rail capacity, helping move freight faster, cost-effectively and more reliably, providing an alternative to more congested rail regions like Chicago. With a doubling of the capacity of the bridge, the project will allow for an expanded service to assist in meeting projected future freight and passenger rail demand, reduce grade delays for motorists and emergency vehicles and ensure reliable rail connections across the Mississippi River into the next century. “The Class I railroads relying on the Merchants Bridge serve the St. Louis region’s manufacturing and logistics companies that are part of an interdependent supply chain requiring access to markets on both sides of the Mississippi River, across the United States, and internationally,” said Ron Tindall, president of TRRA. “Implementation of this project will allow those companies – and others moving freight from coast to coast through our region - to move that freight faster, more cost-effectively and more reliably. Just as important, TRRA estimates our impact in the region will almost double, as we generate more than $456 million in local economic activity over a 20year period.” A design-bid-build project, reconstruc6 | OUR TOWN | NOVEMBER 2021

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Merchants Bridge reconstruction project reaches major milestone

The $222 million project to replace the Merchants Bridge that links Missouri and Illinois at Downtown St. Louis reached a major milestone Sept. 17, with the first one of three new trusses being installed.

tion of the bridge uses innovative project delivery methods that will improve safety and speed completion while limiting bridge and river traffic outages. New spans are being constructed in Wisconsin and shipped to St. Louis for final assembly on the Missouri bank of the Mississippi River and each will be floated into place immediately after the old spans are floated out. Removal and installation of the three new trusses will require three separate 10-day rail outages, and three separate river channel outages. The first of these outages began on Sept. 13 in preparation for the first truss to be moved into position and floated into place on Sept. 17, a milestone that was witnessed by approximately 200 invited guests and members of the media aboard a Riverboat Cruise hosted by the St. Louis Regional Freightway. The other two trusses will be installed in the winter and summer of 2022. The replacement of this vital rail artery has been identified each year since 2016 as the region’s top freight infrastructure priority by the St. Louis Regional Freightway, which is nationally recognized for its innovative and collaborative approach to creating a Priority Projects List that identifies key infrastructure projects and advocates for funding for them. In Winter 2020, the Federal Railroad Ad-

ministration (FRA) awarded TRRA a $22.45 million Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant toward replacement of the Merchants Bridge. TRRA is providing 90% of the construction costs, making this project a model for public-private partnerships. “Our Freight Development Committee continues to work with our many public and private partners to understand the needs of our manufacturing and logistics industries so we can speak with one voice to ensure all necessary parties are familiar with the region’s infrastructure priorities, understand why they are priorities and can advocate for funding for them,” said Mary Lamie, Executive Vice President – Multi Modal Enterprises, Bi-State Development. “It is extremely rewarding to see the progress on the region’s top priority project and several of the others on our list. It affirms that we are on the right path with our approach and that our region’s freight network will be stronger as a result.” Walsh Construction is the general contractor for the nationally significant Merchants Bridge project, with TranSystems and Burns & McDonnell serving as the project engineers. The steel fabrication is being done by Veritas Steel in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

AroundTown

A golden honor Gold Award Girl Scout Fareeha Siddique, a senior at Parkway Central High School, was recently awarded a national scholarship from Girl Scouts of the USA thanks to sponsorship from Arconic Foundation and Kappa Delta Foundation, for her community outreach during the COVID-19 pandemic. To address the increased need for mask access, Siddique assembled a team to hold a fabric donation drive, where she was able to make and donate more than 800 masks to local food banks and schools in the St. Louis metro area. To help educate the mask recipients, Siddique created informational cards showing the proper way to wear a mask and reminders to practice social distancing and handwashing. She also hosted educational workshops for local elementary school students and created a COVID-19 safety awareness video that was utilized throughout her school district. The Gold Award is the highest achievement a Girl Scout can earn, available to girls in high school who create sustainable change on a community or world issue. From combating the environmental crisis

to providing comfort to local Alzheimer’s patients, Gold Award Girl Scouts address the root cause of a problem, plan and implement innovative solutions to drive change. As they take action to transform their world, Gold Award Girl Scouts gain tangible skills like project and time management, resourcefulness, and public speaking as proof they are the leaders our community and world need. “Completing my Girl Scout Gold Award has opened up so many opportunities by teaching me that I’m capable of taking action and making a difference,” Siddique said. “I’ve learned how to reach out to others, lead a team, and create a plan to achieve my goals, which will help me as I take on new projects in the future.” “A Gold Award Girl Scout, no matter her background or ability, learns to tap into the world-changing power within herself,” Bonnie Barczykowski, Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri CEO, said. “She takes the lead in designing and enacting a plan for change and makes a positive impact in her community and beyond. She’s shown the world, and herself, that if she can dream it, she can do it—and the future is hers.”

Photo courtesy Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri

Eastern Missouri Girl Scout honored with national scholarship from GSUSA

Gold Award Girl Scout Fareeha Siddique, a senior at Parkway Central High School, was recently awarded a national scholarship from Girl Scouts of the USA thanks to sponsorship from Arconic Foundation and Kappa Delta Foundation, for her community outreach during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To learn more about Girl Scout Scouts of Eastern Missouri’s Highest Awards, visit girlscoutsem.org/highestawards.

Vaccine drive

Urban League, Jim Butler Auto Group and Schicker Automotive Group offer new vehicle prizes in vaccine drive The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc., Schicker Automotive Group, and Jim Butler Auto Group are partnering to help increase COVID-19 vaccination rates as flu season arrives. The Urban League is sponsoring a Thanksgiving Vaccination Drive from now through Nov. 22. Lucky winners will receive a 2022 Chevy Equinox donated by Jim Butler Auto Group or a 2021 Ford Escape donated by Schicker Automotive Group as grand prizes. The winners will be drawn Nov. 23 as part of the Urban League’s annual Thanksgiving Holiday food distribution event. To be eligible, participants must receive a COVID-19 vaccine at a participating vaccination event between Sept. 15 and Nov. 22. You must be 18 years old or older to enter and may only enter once. Full sweepstakes rules along with participating vaccination event sites can be found on the Jim Butler and Urban League websites. Qualifying vaccination events include Urban League sites and St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force sites (including BJC and Mercy.) Additional sites will be added to the Urban League official

vaccine event page throughout the fall. “The Urban League, through our Division of Public Safety and partnerships with the Missouri National Guard and others, has vaccinated more than 40,000 individuals across the region,” said Michael P. McMillan, President and CEO of the Urban League. “Yet, despite our efforts vaccination rates are still below optimum, especially in areas with vulnerable populations. This vaccination drive with Jim Butler is one more tool in our arsenal to help increase rates.” The Urban League launched a community-based effort to help increase COVID-19 vaccination rates in August. The vaccination events are organized through the League’s Department of Public Safety in partnership with Visionary Vaccinations & Health Services and The St. Louis Public Schools. Moderna, Pfizer, and the Johnson & Johnson vaccines are available. Events are held Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.at St. Alphonsus Rock Church at 118 N. Grand Blvd., Northwest High School at 5140 Riverview Blvd. and Greater St. Mark Family Church at 9950 Glen Owen Dr. NOVEMBER 2021 | OUR TOWN | 7

AroundTown

Healing arts Arts and Education Council awards $120,000 in Arts and Healing Initiative grants The Arts and Education Council announced on Oct. 7, that 12 organizations have been awarded a total of $120,000 in funding through the Arts and Healing Initiative. These grants bring the total of funds distributed into our community through the initiative to $235,000 to date. In partnership with Missouri Foundation for Health, this initiative aims to improve the quality of life for people throughout our region. In year two, the initiative expands beyond the initial focus area of St. Louis City and County to also include other Missouri counties. Three organizations that were awarded Arts and Healing Initiative grants in 2020 have been awarded grants for the second program year: The Angel Band Project, St. Louis ArtWorks and Prison Performing Arts. These organization will build on the success of their first year of programs, further providing evidence of the critical role the arts have in improving an individual’s health and social well-being “We’re looking forward to learning and growing with the 20212022 Arts and Healing Initiative grantees whose programs will have a profound impact on our community,” said Jessireé Jenkins, Arts and Education Council manager of grants and programs. “As we enter the second year of this innovative initiative, we anticipate that the impact of the arts used as interventions in healing will not only supplement clinical practice, but also improve overall community health by addressing the social determinants of health. These results will be far reaching throughout our state with participants of varied backgrounds and ages.” The organizations and programs that have been awarded 2021-2022 Arts and Healing Initiative grants are, in alphabetical order: • The Angel Band Project (St. Louis region) Through Telehealth Music Therapy for Survivors board-certified music therapists with experience in trauma will conduct music therapy programs with survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence. • Bread and Roses Missouri’s (St. Louis region) Workers’ Theater Project strives to make theater more accessible to workers and their families, broaden who partakes in artistic expression, and welcome working-class St. Louisans into artistic spaces by using theater to examine and discuss the political and economic landscape of the region, getting to the roots of the poverty and inequity in St. Louis. • Family Resources and Community Connections (St. Louis region) Families will learn how to release stress, anxiety and depression, build self-esteem and awareness and how to express, communicate and connect through music, drama and writing. • Intercultural Music Initiative (St. Louis region) Sonic Safari is an educational and community outreach program for young people of middle and high school age which leverages diverse cultural programming as a ral8 | OUR TOWN | NOVEMBER 2021

lying platform for intercultural appreciation and to forge dialogue. • Jacob’s Ladder (St. Louis region) Sew Hope provides therapeutic sewing support groups with access to sewing machines, instruction and techniques led by local skilled seamstresses for women who have been exposed to the criminal justice system. • A Red Circle (St. Louis region) Chosen Pathways is a summer job program for youth between the ages of 15 and 24 that exposes youth to the positive culture of our community, helps them explore their own gifts and talents and network with other organizations. • Rustic Roots (St. Louis region) participants will create natural art through the foods they grow as they learn agricultural arts. The programs will include art workshops at the farmers market, an annual arts festival and culinary art demonstrations. • St. Louis ArtWorks (St. Louis region) Art Therapy will be provided to youth at St. Louis ArtWorks. Their art therapist will meet with each participant at the start of every program to identify and address barriers and to engage with participants throughout the program to address issues identified by apprentices. • St. Louis Classical Guitar (St. Louis region), in partnership with Hope Creates and Clayton Juvenile Detention Center, will offer a 15-week program for teenagers recently released from incarceration that will provide teens who have a history of addiction with multidisciplinary arts and music healing experiences. • Prison Performing Arts (St. Louis region) The Healing Power of Telling Your Story allows individuals completing their sentences at the Transition Center of St. Louis, a community reentry facility in North City operated by the Missouri Department of Corrections, opportunities for selfpaced, hands-on learning in their pursuit of self-awareness and healing. • Your Words STL (St. Louis region) Crossing Delmar is a collaborative project where students from elementary and middle schools located on opposite sides of the Delmar Divide will collaborate on a creative project which fosters individual and relational healing by guiding the development of racial and emotional literacy. Applications were evaluated by the Arts and Healing Initiative Advisory Panel comprised of leaders in the arts, healthcare and research fields. The Arts and Healing Initiative is supported with lead funding from Missouri Foundation for Health and additional funding from the Crawford Taylor Foundation, Missouri Arts Council, Marillac Mission Fund, Graybar and Church on the Rock. For more information about the Arts and Education Council and the Arts and Healing Initiative, visit KeepArtHappening.org.

AroundTown

Arch salutes veterans Gateway Arch Park Foundation presents Salute to Veterans musical tribute Gateway Arch Park Foundation is proud to join forces with Scott Credit Union and the National Park Service to present a Salute to Veterans on Nov. 6 at 2 p.m. at the Visitor Center at Gateway Arch National Park. Honoring the bravery and sacrifice of all U.S. military veterans, the program will feature a performance by the 399th Army Band Missouri Brass Quintet based in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and will include both patriotic and traditional repertoire. “We are forever grateful to all retired U.S. Military personnel who have given so much for our freedom,” said Ryan McClure, executive director of Gateway Arch Park Foundation. “This musical tribute honors the bravery and sacrifices of all veterans and their families, and we hope you’ll join us in recognizing them at our Salute to Veterans program.” Presented by Scott Credit Union and supported by Boeing, the Salute to Veterans concert is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.archpark.org/events/salute-to-veterans. National Park Service Fee-Free Day: Nov. 11 The National Park Service has designated Veterans Day on Nov. 11 a fee-free day, in which the entrance fee at all NPS sites

is waived. At Gateway Arch National Park, the $3 entrance fee included in each adult Tram Ride to the Top ticket and adult Documentary Movie ticket is waived. Plan your visit at gatewayarch.com. Gateway Arch COVID-19 protocols and visitor reminders The National Park Service requires visitors, employees and contractors to wear a mask inside all NPS buildings and in crowded outdoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status or community transmission levels. For more on health and safety protocols at Gateway Arch National Park, visit nps.gov/jeff. Preferred Arch visitor parking is now available at the Stadium East Garage in downtown St. Louis. Please visit gatewayarch.com/ plan-your-visit/parking for more information and to pre-purchase parking. With each preferred parking purchase at the Stadium East Garage, $1 will go to support ongoing conservation and preservation efforts, educational opportunities and community programs at Gateway Arch National Park through Gateway Arch Park Foundation.

Calendar man

Local firefighter featured in 2022 firefighter calendar for heroic efforts Firefighter Daniel Jones from University City participated in the American Lung Association in Missouri’s Fight For Air Climb five times and in total raised $1,750. Now, the local firefighter is being honored for his heroic efforts to help end lung disease. The Lung Association launched its 2022 Fight For Air Climb Firefighter Calendar to honor local heroes and support its vision of a world free of lung disease. This is the second annual calendar recognizing the Fight For Air Climbs’ top supporters who participate in a yearly event held in over 40 cities across the country. “I enjoy the Lung Association’s Fight For Air Climb because I can raise awareness and money to eliminate lung disease, which countless firefighters suffer from after increased exposure to gases, chemicals and smoke while fighting fires,” Jones said. “The Lung Association’s calendar helps support lung health for current and future generations of firefighters. For me, there is no better cause.” The mission of the Lung Association hits close to home with firefighters. Respiratory diseases remain a significant health issue for firefighters and emergency responders. Firefighters are at a higher risk to develop chronic issues, including lingering cough, hoarseness, asthma, allergies, and in more extreme cases, may be diagnosed with lung or bronchial cancer. “Firefighters like Daniel are not only out there saving lives every day, they fundraise and participate in events like our Fight For Air Climb in their free time,” said Brett Schuette, executive director of the Lung Association. “We are amazed by their daily sacrifice and are honored that Daniel, as well as so many other local heroes, participate in our event.” The 2022 calendar features photos of our top fundraising firefighters and firefighter teams at their local Fight For Air Climbs. It also includes fire safety tips, statistics on how fires affect our lung health and tips for firefighters’ local Fight For Air Climb. All proceeds will support the Lung Association’s mission to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research. The Fight For Air Climb Firefighter Calendar can be purchased at Lung.org/Calendar.

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NOVEMBER 2021 | OUR TOWN | 9

WARMING UPSt. Louis

Warner’s Warm-up coat drive started by former St. Louis Rams player Kurt Warner and his wife Brenda has been making an impact on the region since 1999

BY WENDY TODD

It’s that time of year for the annual Warner’s Warm-up coat drive. Former St. Louis Rams player and NFL Hall of Famer, Kurt Warner, and his wife Brenda are issuing a call to action to get St. Louis and Bi-State residents to help those in need and provide coats. The couple’s nonprofit, First Things First Foundation, is teaming up on this mission with the local hunger relief organization, Operation Food Search, who will distribute the coats collected via partnerships with other businesses including Fed-Ex, SSM Health and Lion’s Choice. The Creve Coeur Police Department has also partnered with the organizations and will be accepting donations in the lobby of the station. The coat drive started in 1999, collecting coats from Rams fans in the Dome before a game. The First

10 | OUR TOWN | NOVEMBER 2021

SUBMITTED PHOTOS Things First Foundation, founded in 2001, expanded the effort and partnered with Operation Food Search to help deliver donations to a wider region. And to date, a total of 270,000 winter coats have been distributed throughout the St. Louis and Bi-State area. “Brenda had seen some children standing in the cold, waiting for a bus. They weren’t wearing winter coats,” says Jocelyn Fundoukos, director of communications at Operation Food Search. “She had the idea to ask the community for help. Twenty years later, this partnership has resulted in a two-week community-wide effort with hundreds of drop off locations on both sides of the river, resulting in approximately 15,000 coats collected each year.” The Warners are hoping for continued benevolence from the community.

“We believe in the generosity of St. Louis to help bless thousands more people with this year’s drive,” says Kurt. Gently used and/or new coats of all sizes, especially children’s, are needed. In addition to coats, monetary donations are also being accepted. A cash gift of $15 can provide a child with a brand new winter coat. The drive is from Oct. 24 – Nov. 6 and takes place in seven regions (St. Louis, St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Jefferson County, Franklin County, Madison County and St. Clair County). For more information and drop-off points visit the First Things First Foundation’s website, www.kurtwarner.org.

NOVEMBER OCTOBERR 2021 | OUR TOWN | 11

OurThoughts MOORE ON LIFE BY CINDY MOORE

HELLO your name is???

BRAIN freeze

Anybody else out there have problems remembering names? I believe it’s a direct result of hiding away from the Corona for over a year and not a sign of age. Either way, it stinks out loud and can be embarrassing. My husband and I were grocery shopping the other day when from around the corner came a familiar couple. I immediately recognized their faces, but was soon followed by an overwhelming feeling of dread because I had absolutely no idea what their names were. Instead of meeting them head on I did what any withering coward would do in that situation; I jumped into a bin of watermelons and burrowed under. Just my luck they were melon shopping that day. “Well hello!” said the woman. “How convenient that we ran into you. Could you pick a ripe one and hand it to us while you’re in there?” I sheepishly came out lugging their giant fruit ball then brushed myself off. She addressed my husband and me by name, then gave me that look…you know the one, “Okay, I’ve addressed you by your name. Now it’s your turn to call us by our names to test your recall skills and alert everyone within earshot of your diminished brain function.” I did the duck and dodge – quite cleverly I might add. “Here’s your melon. Do you have a good recipe? I’d love to have it.” “My recipe” she said, “is cut and serve.” Then she tried to pin me down. “You do remember us don’t you?” “Of course I do,” I lied. “I just need one teensy beensy hint.”

12 | OUR TOWN | NOVEMBER 2021

“How about, our son is married to your daughter.” Still nothing; I then took another play out of the old weakened brain playbook – pass the buck. “Of course! Sweetie,” I asked my husband, “you know these people, right?” His jaw went slack and his eyeballs looked like golf balls. I knew that look; the light was on in his brain but everyone inside had packed up and moved to his liver. He quickly crawled into the melon bin and hid. Just then security saved us. A big burly guy growled, “I have a report of a disturbance. I’m going to need your names.” He wrote down our names then told us to leave the store and quit harassing the melons. Before we left I snagged a copy of the report he filled out. I’ll file it under, “Names I need to remember while in the produce section.”

Cindy Moore is the mother of three superlative kids, servant of two self-indulgent felines and wife to one nifty husband. Her ficticious occupation? Archeological Humorist: someone who unearths absurdity and hilarity in strange and unusual places including public restrooms, the lint filter, and church meetings. Most recently, she excavated a find in her neighbor’s bird feeder.

OurThoughts ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE BY AVALANCHE

Growth comes to the mountains Driving in traffic as it crawled its way through the formerly small town made me think I was in a large metro area. What used to be a five minute drive took over a half-hour that day before I made my way out to the still-crowded-but-moving highway lanes to get back home. As I went through the next town of 6,000, a sign at the entrance to a townhome development under construction proudly announced that the prices of the new homes were “starting in the low $900,000’s.” Well, isn’t that nice, I thought. With wages in the area not much higher than they were in the late 1980’s, it’s no wonder that businesses are having a hard time finding employees to show up, and actually work. Staci and I used to live in that town in the 80’s, and even with house prices then, we knew we had to work hard to save up money for a decent down payment, as entry level homes cost $60,000. How times change. Turning up the two lane state highway toward home, the obscenely priced townhomes gave way to a development of “starter castles” on a golf course, then on the outskirts of town, a couple of the remaining few ranches in the area. A few more miles past that, the valley narrows down with steep canyon walls on either side separated by the river and a little flat ground, with just a smattering of smaller homes, generally owned by members of what used to be known as “the middle

class.” Anywhere else in the country, most of these homes would be valued under a quarter-million dollars. Here, that figure needs to be multiplied by a factor of three or four. The local news had a story about a new 122 room motel going up, somehow sandwiched in between a ball field and a subdivision, near the development where I had just turned off to go home. Several hundred more homes and townhomes are approved to be built in every remaining nook and cranny left in the area – except our side valley, which simply doesn’t have any more space to build. Moving into the backcountry, the Forest Service is planning on going to a reservation system for camping in a significant portion of the local wilderness area. Even 20 miles away from the nearest road, overuse has taken its toll on campsites, trails, lakes and streams. Human waste and trash has become overwhelming in the most popular areas, and limiting the number of campers has become a necessity. Not long ago, it was a simple matter to load up your backpack, start hiking, and camp where ever you wanted. No more. The state wildlife department recently announced that this year there were 50,000 more applications for big game hunting licenses than in past seasons. In a state that usually sees 200,000 licenses issued for big game, that’s a huge increase. Alas, there aren’t 50,000 more deer and

elk, and as previously mentioned, the backcountry is already maxed out. All of these circumstances were weighing heavily on me as I drove up the highway to take the dogs out for a walk. On this morning, there were few cars on the road. As I went into the narrowest part of the canyon, I saw a Bald Eagle flying right over the river, paralleling the highway. I slowed down and matched his pace, about 30 mph. The majestic bird kept his pace and focus right over the river, probably looking for a fish for breakfast. The highway diverged from the river, and we went our separate ways. The Newfys and I enjoyed a walk along the river a few miles up valley, with the leaves turning brilliant reds and yellows. The air was crisp, and there was fresh snow on the tops of the high peaks. The creeping sprawl of “civilization” and its fallout was forgotten, and the day was ours to enjoy. The hustle and bustle was left behind; this moment was a throwback to a few decades ago, and the autumn morning peace and beauty was a welcome gift.

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.

NOVEMBER 2021

| OUR TOWN | 13

OurLifestyle

The 2022

Hyundai Santa Cruz brings stylish design to the crossover truck market

With final assembly in Montgomery Alabama , Hyundai Motors is entering the compact sport adventure vehicle market for consumers that might be cross-shopping the Honda Ridgeline and perhaps the Jeep Gladiator. The vehicle being showcased is the modern designed, four door, five passenger 2022 Santa Cruz. This crossover truck would likely appeal to both the outdoorsy sports enthusiasts, as well as buyers that would favor the use of a small unibody-based truck for business purposes during the work week. Its bold yet highly sophisticated design and cutting-edge maneuverable chassis helps to translates to a car-like drive that’s further focused towards consumers that wouldn’t necessarily even consider a truck. Additionally, it’s formulated on a longer, yet somewhat wider version of their new Tucson crossover platform as the SE trim level of Santa Cruz comes with front-wheel-drive and starts out at $23,990. If you upgrade to their SEL Premium and Limited models, it comes standard with full time, all-wheel-drive (AWD) and a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine. These versions show a price point of $35,680 and $39,720 respectively, while $1,185 in destination charges will need to be added for all models. State-of-the-art safety enhancements and cutting-edge connectivity also help embody this vehicle’s footprint. This new Hyundai sport adventure pickup also has features such as a “roll back” style rear cargo cover and hidden under bed freight storage compartment. Owners will also value its comfort levels, passenger interior space, fuel efficiency and ease of parking. Everything about the Santa Cruz reflects a stylish purpose in its design execution. The forward view of Santa Cruz deploys a hidden lighting signature that becomes visible within the grille when illuminated. The daytime running lamps present a parametric jewel design with high-tech precision detailing. The bold, cascading grille emphasizes the front view, supported by a safety skid plate within the lower front fascia. Its sizable hood and fenders further communicate an imposing first impression. Overall, the profile of Santa Cruz signals a head turning design. Large, 20-inch alloy wheels with it’s a multi-triangular design are surrounded by pronounced wheel arches that helps to convey Santa Cruz’s off-road capabilities. Furthermore, powerful body side character lines helps this product to certainly stand out in its segment. Integrated into the rear bumper are corner bumper steps to help gain access to the cargo box itself. The attractive rear lighting signature embossed with “Designed in California” is a testament to the passion of Hyundai’s west coast based design team. Small, discrete “somewhat hidden” renowned details are found throughout the exterior and interior. The vehicle’s interior is quite sophisticated and refined as it hing14 | OUR TOWN | NOVEMBER 2021

es on a twin cockpit that circumvents the passengers. Design teams focused on ease of ingress and egress and ergonomic comfort on long drives. The premium center dash assembly further displays an easy to navigate/boarder-less 10-inch infotainment screen. Positioned under the rear seats is convenient, out of sight storage. Santa Cruz offers two efficient powertrains. The standard engine is a 2.5L direct-injected in-line four-cylinder engine rated at some 190 horsepower. Also offered is their prior mentioned 2.5L direct-injected turbocharged powerplant. It has an output rating estimated at 275 horsepower. These engines are matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission, while the transmission is slightly different with the turbo setup. Standard smart sense safety and convenience features are included such as forward collisionavoidance assist with pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic lane keeping assist and driver attention warning system. With over 820 U.S. based dealership network, this all new truck comes with a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, fiveyear/60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty and complimentary maintenance for three years/36,000 miles of normal oil changes and tire rotation service. EPA numbers range from; 19-MPG city, and 27-highway, depending on the driveline setup. BY DAVID FINKELSTEIN

David Finkelstein is a Master/Skill Automotive Service Technician and a shop owner. He’s also invented garage service tools for mechanics and has served on both National and local Automotive Trade Industry Boards. He pioneered “Car Talk Radio” starting out with KMOX/CBS Radio and hosted “Auto Talk” on KFTK/FOX News Radio for 15-years. David tests and evaluates new vehicles weekly and does some consulting with various auto manufacturers.

OurLifestyle

Remembering George Reeves, TV’s original Superman I recently watched several episodes of “The Adventures of Superman” on a free digital broadcast station. In this classic 1950’s television series, George Reeves played both intrepid reporter Clark Kent and his heroic alter ego Superman. Unlike the mild-mannered comic book character, Reeves portrayed Kent as a stand-up guy who often took charge of investigations. Even though Clark and Superman were very much alike, his co-workers never guessed the truth. “Hollywoodland,” a 2006 drama, examined the life of George Reeves and the mysteries surrounding his death. Born Jan. 5, 1914, Reeves became an actor and appeared in “Gone with the Wind” as one of the “Tarleton Twins” who courted Scarlett O’Hara (Vivian Leigh) in the opening scenes. This was a small but eye-catching role for Reeves, who had to dye his hair red to play the part. In the 1940’s, Reeves also appeared in several “Hopalong Cassidy” westerns and other “B” films. The actor first put on cape and tights for “Superman and the Mole Men,” a 1951 theatrical release that also served as the pilot episode for the TV series. Though Superman serials were shown to children in theaters, this was the first feature-length film about the Man of Steel. The series ran until 1958, but when I was grade school, the show made a return to afternoon television. Though he had passed away years earlier, Reeves entertained a new generation of fans after his death. Reeves’ career included films such as “The Adventures of Sir Galahad” and a role in a “Jungle Jim” picture. As Superman, though, Reeves became the idol of countless children. “Hollywoodland” recreated an incident where a young fan brought a gun to an event see if the actor was really invulnerable. Still in character, the quick-thinking Reeves explained that while

he was bullet-proof, the bullet might ricochet and hit one of the bystanders. While the small screen Superman could laugh at gangsters and bullets, George Reeves was found dead at age 45 in his bedroom at home. The victim of a gunshot wound, his death was originally ruled a suicide but others believed he had been murdered. Former showgirl Toni Mannix, played by Diane Lane in “Hollywoodland,” had been romantically involved with Reeves, as was New York socialite Lenore Lemmon. Both women were suspected of killing the actor. “Hollywoodland” looked back at a dark chapter in Hollywood lore. Ben Affleck did a great job playing George Reeves, showing Reeves’ frustration at being typecast as a superhero. Reeves had a small role in “From Here to Eternity” and, at a screening, he heard – to his dismay – the audience yell out “There’s Superman!” Despite these frustrations, Reeves reportedly loved his young fans and did not want to tarnish his image. Rest in peace, George Reeves. You are a still a hero.

Photos courtesySuperman, Inc.

“Hollywoodland,” rated R, is available on YouTube, Amazon Prime and other streaming services.

BY STEVE BRYAN

Born and raised in South St. Louis, Steve Bryan is now based in Anaheim, California, and has been allowed access to movie and television sets to see actors and directors at work. Though his writing has taken him far from St. Louis, Steve is, at heart, still the same wide-eyed kid who spent countless hours watching classic movies at neighborhood theaters.

NOVEMBER OCTOBER 2021

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OurLifestyle

SPECIAL CENTERPIECES FOR

holiday celebrations Recipe courtesy of Omaha Steaks Executive Chef David Rose

Few things bring family and friends together quite like the holidays, and serving up an elegant, seasonal meal centered around a mouthwatering main dish is a recipe for creating lasting memories with the ones you love.

Prep time: 30 minutes Cook time: 80 minutes | Servings: 10-12

INGREDIENTS:

Dijon-Herb Rub:

1/4 cup minced fresh Italian parsley 1/4 cup minced fresh oregano 1/4 cup minced fresh thyme leaves 1/4 cup minced fresh rosemary leaves 3 fresh garlic cloves, minced 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1/2 cup canola oil 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika

Prime Rib Roast:

1 Boneless heart of prime rib roast (4 pounds), thawed kosher salt, to taste ground black pepper, to taste 1/4 cup canola oil

Garlic Butter Mushrooms:

6 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 cup small diced yellow onion 4 fresh garlic cloves, minced 1 pound button mushrooms, cleaned and quartered 1 pinch kosher salt, plus additional, to taste, divided 1 pinch ground black pepper, plus additional, to taste, divided 1/2 cup chicken stock 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/4 cup finely chopped Italian parsley 16 | OUR TOWN | NOVEMBER 2021

DIJON-HERB PRIME RIB ROAST with Garlic Butter Mushrooms

DIRECTIONS:

To make rub: In medium bowl, whisk parsley,

oregano, thyme, rosemary, garlic, Dijon mustard, oil, salt, black pepper and paprika until well incorporated.

To make prime rib roast: Pat prime rib roast

dry on all sides with paper towels. Season generously with salt and pepper, to taste. Allow roast to come to room temperature about 30 minutes. Rub Dijon herb rub all over prime rib roast and allow to stand 10 minutes. Preheat oven to 250 F. In large cast-iron pan, warm oil over mediumhigh heat. Sear roast on all sides until golden brown, 2-3 minutes per side. Place seared prime rib on wire rack-lined sheet pan and place in oven.

Cook until internal temperature is 10 F below desired cooking doneness. Rest 15-20 minutes before slicing.

To make mushrooms: In large pan, warm olive oil over medium-high heat. Add diced onions and saute about 1 minute. Add minced garlic and lightly saute until fragrant, about 20 seconds. Add mushrooms and pinch of salt and ground pepper to pan. Saute 3-4 minutes, or until mushrooms are tender. Add chicken stock and reduce to one-third in volume, 3-4 minutes. Add butter and parsley to pan and saute until butter is melted and incorporated. Immediately remove from heat and season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Serve mushrooms with prime rib roast.

OurLifestyle Recipe courtesy of Omaha Steaks Executive Chef David Rose Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 1 hour Servings: 4 INGREDIENTS:

Suya Dust:

2 cups roasted cashews 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon 1 tablespoon, plus 1 teaspoon, smoked paprika 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 1 teaspoon ground black pepper 2 teaspoons. ground ginger 2 teaspoons garlic powder 2 teaspoons onion powder

“Red Rice” Risotto:

3 tablespoons canola oil 1/2 cup diced yellow onion 3 fresh garlic cloves, smashed 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1 large beefsteak tomato (about 1/2 pound), chopped 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus additional, to taste, divided (optional) 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, plus additional, to taste, divided (optional) 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 1/2 cups Arborio rice 4 cups warmed chicken stock, divided 1/2 cup finely chopped Italian parsley 1 cup freshly shredded Parmesan cheese

Filet Mignon:

4 Filet mignons (6 ounces each) kosher salt ground black pepper 4 tablespoons canola oil 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 clove garlic 1 thyme sprig

SUYA-DUSTED FILET MIGNON with “Red Rice” Risotto

DIRECTIONS:

To make suya dust: In food processor, blend cashews, chicken bouillon, paprika, cayenne pepper, bell pepper, black pepper, ginger, garlic powder and onion powder into fine powder.

To make “red rice” risotto: In medium

saucepan, warm canola oil over mediumhigh heat. Add onions, garlic and red bell pepper, sauteing until lightly caramelized, about 1 minute.

Add pureed tomato-pepper mixture and 1 cup chicken stock; bring to boil then reduce heat to medium. Add 1 cup stock each time Arborio rice absorbs almost all broth. Continuously stir risotto each time stock is added to rice. Keep adding stock until risotto is al dente and still viscous then stir in parsley and Parmesan cheese. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper, if desired.

Add tomato paste to pan and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add chopped tomato, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, 1 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper; continue sauteing until tomato starts to break down and soften, 3-4 minutes. Reduce heat to simmer and cook 3-4 minutes.

To make filet mignon: Pat steaks dry with paper towels and liberally season with salt and ground black pepper on both sides.

Remove from heat and finely blend in food processor. Set aside.

Flip steaks and add butter, garlic clove and thyme. Baste steaks with butter and allow filets to finish cooking, 3-4 minutes for medium-rare doneness.

In separate medium saucepan, warm olive oil and butter over medium-high heat. Add Arborio rice and stir until slightly nutty and translucent, about 1 minute.

In large cast-iron skillet, warm canola oil over medium-high heat. Place filets in skillet and sear 3 minutes.

Rest filets 7-8 minutes. Serve over “red rice” risotto and sprinkle suya dust over filets.

NOVEMBER 2021

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InDepth

Restoration in North County

These artistic renderings show the completed $16 million R&R Marketplace on the site of the old Springwood Plaza in Dellwood.

The nonprofit Refuge & Restoration is preparing to launch a massive $16 million redevelopment project at the former Springwood Plaza 16-24 BY WENDY TODD Refuge & Restoration, a nonprofit located in Florissant, is preparing to launch a massive redevelopment project called the R&R Marketplace. The $16 million endeavor will feature a 90,000 square foot complex and be housed at the former Springwood Plaza located at 10148 West Florissant Avenue. The lot has been vacant for nearly two decades and is in an area that was designated in 2015 as a Promise Zone, a “high poverty community” where the government forms partnerships with local leaders to address issues of socioeconomic disparity. The project, which is estimated to generate over 100 jobs in its first year and 2,000 over five years, is being created to help revitalize Pastors Beverly and Ken Jenkins are the founders of North County by providing a host of community services. The enterRefuge & Restoration, a Florissant-based nonprofit behind prise has been in development for over seven years and is helmed by the redevelopment project called the R&R Marketplace. the founders of the nonprofit, pastors Beverly and Ken Jenkins. 18 | OUR TOWN | NOVEMBER 2021

InDepth

In 1999 Refuge & Restoration began as a home for men in transition. It later developed a program, Jobs for Life, that has helped over 3,000 people get employment. The success of the initiative ignited the vision for the R&R Marketplace. The Jenkinses wanted to expand on their mission to assist and empower the underserved and conceptualized the R&R project to focus on the “five pillars”: education, workforce, small business development, banking, faith and community. The couple wants to help “eliminate barriers.” “Many of the systemic issues in the community are not present because of a lack of talent or ability. This cycle is perpetuated by lack of resources, poor accessibility to education, employment gaps, and unhealthy living conditions. Refuge & Restoration’s goal is centered on closing the accessibility gap through equity,” says Beverly Jenkins. With that weighty objective in mind, the Jenkinses want to make the space as all-encompassing as possible. The early education center, Brilliant Angels Academy, will serve over 100 preschool-aged children and their families. The workforce program, Employ St. Louis, will train over 800 job seekers a year on soft-skills, trades and careers in medical, tech and the geospatial industry and link them with local business. North County Innovation Center, the co-working space will support small businesses and entrepreneurs offering networking, coaching and additional services. “Our team is committed to growing North County’s economy by bringing together a fragmented community and creating opportunities for businesses and individuals,” says John Ross, R&R Board member and CEO of Summit Real Estate Group, the company that’s facilitating the redevelopment. The economic vision incorporates a banking service focused on micro-lending and providing access to funds for prospective homeowners. Technology and media are also integrated into the plan with the Multi-

Springwood Plaza in Dellwood will be the site of the $16 million R&R Marketplace.

plex housing a computer lab, theater and event space. And with the intention of addressing the “social determinants of health,” comprehensive health-centered services such as mental health counseling and guidance on healthier living will be available. “Refuge & Restoration addresses the pervasive economic and social distress which negatively affects our community, like countless urban communities across our country. Economic and societal distrust lead to a genuine feeling of hopelessness, which gives rise to a seemingly endless cycle of poverty,” says Ken Jenkins. The R&R Marketplace has been envisioned to be more than just a cluster of buildings and services. The Jenkinses have consulted with local professionals, universities, business and community leaders and federal, state, and local programs to devise a transformative plan that offers actionable solutions and results. According to the Jenkinses, “The R&R Marketplace will create an environment where disinvestment and economic injustice are no longer the model. There is tremendous intelligence, strength, talent and capacity for growth in this community, which requires partners, capital, and mentors to invest in building skill sets. The Marketplace will provide growth opportunities, will attract business, and will increase investment to our region.” The R&R Marketplace is slated to open in the fall of 2022. NOVEMBER 2021

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November

2 Election Day 7 Daylight Savings Time Ends 10 Marine Corps Birthday 11 Veterans Day 25 Thanksgiving Day 26 Black Friday 29 First Day of Hanukkah