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Our Town Volume 12 | Number 12 DECEMBER 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
Assistance League of St. Louis treats children to character parade, book giveaway at Stix Early Childhood Center 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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Going green in Maryland Heights Ameren Missouri, under its Smart Energy Plan, will turn the parking lot at the Maryland Heights Community Center into a solar power source By Wendy Todd
Our Thoughts Moore on Life author Cindy Moore broadens her vocabulary while Avalanche enjoys a break from the tourists.
Lifestyle Kia’s 2022 Carnival MPV looks to restyle and rebrand the minivan in Automobile Alley. ‘Turning Red,’ ‘Lightyear’ are among Pixar’s latest offerings in Entertainment. A festive menu fit for family and friends in For the Love of Food.
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In Depth The Ladue School District has donated nearly 500 backpacks full of school supplies to Afghan refugees resettled in the St. Louis area.
Events Calendar
Staff Writer –Wendy Todd Cover Photo – Submitted
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AroundTown
Innovative ideas Freedom Community Center awarded 2021 J.M.K. Innovation Prize Freedom Community Center (FCC), a Black-led nonprofit organization working to build a movement of survivors impacted by violence and spur system-shifting change, has been awarded The 2021 J.M.K. Innovation Prize. From a nationwide search for transformative, earlystage projects, The J.M. Kaplan Fund awards the prize biennially to ten innovators in the fields of social justice, the environment, and heritage conservation. Awardees receive a total of $175,000 over three years and participate in a learning collaborative designed to support their journey as change agents. “Freedom Community Center offers a potentially game-changing answer in a category of critical need,” says Amy L. Freitag, Executive Director of The J.M. Kaplan Fund. “Like their fellow J.M.K. Innovation Prize awardees, they’re building collective power that promises to reshape communities in more just and equitable ways. We can’t wait to see how
4 | OUR TOWN | DECEMBER 2021
their pathbreaking ideas develop.” The J.M.K. Innovation Prize is designed to support nonprofit and missiondriven for-profit organizations tackling America’s most pressing challenges through social innovation – defined as those pilot projects, new organizations, or nascent initiatives that involve a certain amount of measured risk, but which may ultimately lead to large-scale, transformative results. This year’s awardees were selected from among 2,826 applications, by far the most participation in the Innovation Prize since its inception in 2015. Rates of homicide and violent crime in St. Louis are consistently among the highest of all cities in the US. Simultaneously, St. Louis stands out for its high rate of incarceration and racial disparities in violence, incarceration, and poverty. Founded and led by local Black survivors of violence, Freedom Community Center (FCC) aims to dismantle systems
of criminal punishment that are not only ineffective at controlling and preventing violence but also inflict trauma on Black communities. FCC is grounded in the principle that the Black survivors of St. Louis are best equipped to build new models for restorative justice and systemic change. “We’re positioned as a fusion of individual, intrapersonal, and systemic intervention,” FCC executive director Mike Milton asserts. “We do not believe in punishment. We believe in accountability.” Milton and his staff – all of whom are violence survivors – know first-hand how the work of healing personal trauma can be leveraged to spur system-shifting change. “The work that we do is really about how we turn trauma into power,” Milton attests. FCC’s innovative work tackles core drivers of violence through three overlapping strategies: transformative practices, community-building, and advocacy. Its initiatives range from the Free Us Project, an eight-month restorative justice and violence intervention program for newcomers to the criminal punishment system, to campaigns for legislative and policy change such as Defund. ReEnvision. Transform., which seeks divestment from institutions that harm, surveil, incarcerate, and kill Black and Brown communities, and investment into what actually makes us safe. All of the work at FCC centers on five main principles: collective power, communal healing, true accountability, embracing repair and nonviolence. “The J.M.K. Innovation Prize is a tremendous blessing,” Milton declares. “I’m so excited about our work at FCC because I am seeing, in front of my eyes, what happens when you truly invest in people versus throwing them away. I hope to see a transformed St. Louis where violence – gun violence, sexual violence, domestic violence – is dramatically reduced in our communities, and we have the same access to quality of life as everyone.”
AroundTown
Fixing up for veterans The Home Depot Foundation and Rebuilding Together St. Louis partner for rebuilding day for local veterans
(personal training – Infrared Sauna)
11974 Dorsett Rd | Maryland Heights, MO 63043 On Nov. 11, The Home Depot Foundation partnered with Rebuilding Together St. Louis to provide critical home repairs for six local veterans.
On Nov. 11, The Home Depot Foundation partnered with Rebuilding Together St. Louis to provide critical home repairs for six local veterans. Team Depot, The Home Depot’s associate volunteer force, worked alongside Rebuilding Together to complete the project, following all CDC and government safety guidelines. As part of The Home Depot Foundation’s national Operation Surprise campaign, local Team Depot volunteers made vital home repairs for local veterans with the goal of improving the homeowners’ safety, security and comfort. Repairs were specific to each veteran’s home but included a variety of critical updates like plumbing or electrical repairs, window or door repairs, ramp or lift installation and landscaping. More than 70 volunteers came together for this project, which is part of The Home
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Depot Foundation’s Operation Surprise campaign, an annual celebration of The Home Depot’s commitment to giving back. The Foundation’s seasonal giving campaign, kicking off on Veterans Day and running through the end of the year, features life-changing surprises for communities and individual recipients. In addition, each Home Depot store nationwide will give back locally and support projects in the community where they operate. Giving back to veterans is personal to The Home Depot as more than 35,000 of the company’s associates are veterans or military spouses. About a month ago, The Home Depot Foundation teamed up with Paraquad St. Louis, a nonprofit focused on helping children and adults with disabilities. Volunteers built six wheelchair ramps at the homes of six local veterans.
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AroundTown Ladue High School senior named St. Louis Fed Student Board Member
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6 | OUR TOWN | DECEMBER 2021
Ladue Horton Watkins High School senior Ryan Silver has been selected to the Student Board of Directors for the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Students selected for the role participate in meetings and opportunities throughout the school to learn more about the Federal Reserve’s role in the U.S. economy and interact with various employees. A total of 29 high school seniors from the St. Louis area make up the 2021-22 Student Board of Directors.
PHOTO COURTESY LADUE SCHOOL DISTRICT
Future of finance
Bicentennial spirit Missouri bicentennial projects offer online resources for learning Missouri history Missouri’s bicentennial year brought many organizations together to create new and expand digital resources for learning about the state’s history. Students, teachers, researchers and the public at-large will find learning aids in many different subjects, including a new registry of past Missouri artists, a digital exhibit that explores Missouri’s struggle for statehood, and curriculum that teaches the history of Missouri courts. History timelines, a Missouri Constitution quiz and online history exhibits are among the free resources available to help people understand Missouri and its past of more than 200 years. The Missouri Timeline, developed by staff of the State Historical Society of Missouri, begins with ancestral Missouri from 1250 to present-day and offers photos, artworks, maps, manuscripts, documents and other images from the society’s vast collections with narrative text accompanying each entry year. Missouri Encyclopedia and Historic Missourians are a growing digital resource that expanded this year to commemorate the bicentennial. “Many hours of staff and volunteer time have developed these resources to broaden the public’s understanding of the culture, people, institutions, places and events that continue to shape Missouri,” said Beth Pike, who has been working on the planning of Missouri’s bicentennial year and helped to create the Missouri Timeline project. A new online resource Making Missouri created by the Missouri Historical Society in St. Louis offers primary sources, video content and custom plans for grades K-12. Another curriculum developed for elementary schools Four Years to Statehood comes from Missouri Council for History Education and covers the years between Missouri’s first petition to become a state and its final admission to the Union. Additional Missouri history educational resources from Missouri Humanities Council, Missouri Secretary of State, The Supreme Court of Missouri, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Missouri Legislative Library and more can be found on the Educational Resource page on missouri2021.org.
AroundTown
A healthy food oasis The Highland Family Food Market at Highland Elementary looks to decrease food insecurity by providing families with fresh and healthy food options BY WENDY TODD There are over 500 food deserts in Missouri. Food deserts, as defined by the Department of Agriculture are “areas where people have limited access to a variety of healthy and affordable food.” These areas also feature low income households and inadequate transportation that limits the ability to shop at grocery stores that provide healthy options. One such area exists around Highland Elementary School in the neighborhood of Glasgow Village. The school, along with several local companies, have addressed this circumstance with a brand new in-school market, the first in the Riverview Gardens school district. “The Highland Family Food Market is a great opportunity to support our families by providing access, within walking distance, to fresh produce, meats and healthy foods,” says Travis Ford Sr., the principal of Highland Elementary. Bayer and Fresh Thyme Market serve as sponsors, while The Little Bit Foundation and the St. Louis Area Food Bank will manage the market which was created to help students and families get quality foods at cheaper prices. The Glasgow Village area has a reported poverty rate of about 42%, and all 309 Highland Elementary students participate in the free or reduced lunch program, which is a typical marker for poverty. The hope is that the market will help ameliorate food insecurity and boost healthy living. “We hope over time, the market will increase food security for families in the Riverview Garden School District and that families will gain information on how to live a healthier lifestyle through access to monthly cooking demonstrations and nutrition activities,” says Michelle Madras of St. Louis Area Food Bank. Lack of quality food can contribute to chronic health conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes. The mission of the market is to be a resource to address current challenges as well as those in the long term. “We see this as the first step of a long term commitment to this community - not just focusing on the treatment of a problem, but an investment toward preventing problems in the future,” says Amy Simpson,” senior manager of community engagement at Bayer. Along with the development of chronic health conditions, the lack of healthy foods can impair students’ learning experience. “Our purpose in the school is to support students, families, and staff in breaking down those barriers that impact a student’s ability to feel prepared and ready to learn,” says LaKricia Cox, director of programs at The Little Bit Foundation. “We know that food insecurity and child hunger is a significant barrier to learning.” To further the mission of the in-school shop, monthly mobile food markets will take place at three schools in the Riverview Gardens school district and be open to residents. The Highland
SUBMITTED PHOTOS
The Highland Family Food Market opened in Highland Elementary School in the neighborhood of Glasgow Village. The market was created to help students and families get quality foods at cheaper prices.
Family Market was conceived to be a resource to address issues of hunger and health. But like other in-school food stores, it also provides a sense of community which can make patrons feel less isolated. “I believe these markets are a great opportunity to support and build stronger relationships with the families that we serve,” says Ford. The Highland Family Market is open to school families every Thursday from 9 – 11 a.m. DECEMBER 2021 | OUR TOWN | 7
AroundTown
Growing strong Pure Farmland awards $5,000 grant to Urban Harvest STL through its Pure Growth Project
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Pure Farmland recognized Urban Harvest STL (UHSTL) in downtown St. Louis for its positive impact in the area with a recent donation of $5,000. The contribution is part of the Pure Growth Project, an initiative launched by Pure Farmland in 2020 to ensure community gardens and farms continue to thrive and help increase access to fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables nationwide. UHSTL was selected as a 2021 grant recipient to support its commitment to growing and harvesting food that is donated to nearby food insecure communities. After receiving 103 applications from community gardens and farms across 29 states, 55 organizations were carefully selected to receive grants, providing a total of $125,000 in financial support to nurture these unique neighborhood spaces. In the spirit of continued growth, Pure Farmland increased its financial commitment by 25% this year in hopes of positively supporting as many green spaces as possible. Food insecurity is a serious threat to the health of St. Louisans with currently 24% of residents experiencing this hardship. Coupled with high concentrations of poverty due to institutional rac- Pure Farmland recognized Urban Harvest STL in downtown St. Louis for its positive impact ism and economic segregation, food insecurity has significantly in the area with a recent donation of $5,000. increased over the past year due to business closures, job loss, “Pure Farmland is proud to bring this opportunity to Urban and public transit restrictions, leaving many without any access to fresh produce. UHSTL is dedicated to solving this problem Harvest STL so they can continue to uplift the community and by diligently growing food across a network of urban farms in act as a pillar of inspiration and strength,” said Michael Merritt, Senior Director of Marketing the community and donating the for Pure Farmland at Smithfield majority of its harvest to non-profit Foods. “Having access to fresh, partners who help to distribute the “We are really proud of the work healthy food shouldn’t be a privifood to those in need. we’ve done over the past year to provide lege that only some Americans In 2021, UHSTL harvested over 5,000 lbs. of food and donated nutritious, organically-grown produce to have. This is a longstanding battle in many urban and rural areas more than 60% to its distribution those who need it most in our city. .” across our nation where residents partners. In addition to food do~ Dameian Duwe, suffer from lack of access to crunations, the farm network aims to cial nutrients. Seeing the impact generate a more equitable food Director of Urban Agriculture for Urban Harvest STL. of the Pure Growth Project grants system through advocacy and edimplemented in these amazing ucation. UHSTL leads weekly garden/nutrition lessons at a local preschool, offers food justice/ programs only encourages us to keep doing what we can to urban agriculture internships, and hosts educational community provide financial relief and spotlight the work of these incredible events at their flagship FOOD ROOF farm. Residents are in- organizations.” “During the pandemic, we experienced a surge in food insespired to volunteer because of the impact that the organization makes directly in the communities in which their farms are curity in St. Louis. Many of the folks living in the neighborhoods located. In fact, UHSTL has already logged over 600 volunteer we serve already had very little access to fresh, nutritious food. Tack on business closures and job loss, and many people had hours this year. Pure Farmland is celebrating the urban farm network’s exem- trouble accessing any fresh produce whatsoever,” says Dameplary stewardship and response to the need for affordable, nu- ian Duwe, Director of Urban Agriculture for Urban Harvest STL. trient-dense food, fulfilling their mission even during the current “We are really proud of the work we’ve done over the past year public health and economic crisis. The award of $5,000 will be to provide nutritious, organically-grown produce to those who used to support the dedicated staff, the backbone behind every need it most in our city. This grant from the Pure Growth Project successful program, as they lead the way in cultivating a more will help to support our staff as we continue working toward our sustainable and equitable food system for all St. Louisans. The mission of making healthy food available to all people in St. grant will provide general operating support for administrative Louis.” For more information, please visit puregrowthproject.com. expenses, including salaries, insurance, and benefits. 8 | OUR TOWN | DECEMBER 2021
AroundTown
Helping veterans Ameren Missouri and United Way 211 partner to help active military and veterans Active local military families and veterans throughout Missouri are eligible for additional utility assistance from United Way 211 and Ameren Missouri. Together, the organizations are providing up to $25,000 in assistance through partnership with statewide Community Action Agencies. “United Way 211 is proud to continue our long-standing partnership with Ameren Missouri and grateful for their efforts to help military families and veterans who have served and protected our country,” said Michelle Tucker, president and CEO of United Way of Greater St. Louis. “Through this partnership, we can help even more families across our community and state meet their basic needs.” Since launching in 2018, the Ameren Missouri Veterans Fund has assisted 431 veteran and military households, totaling more
than $121,000 in utility bill assistance statewide. “Our veterans, active-duty military members and their families sacrifice so much in the name of protecting our country. We are humbled by their service and proud to support these families who may need help paying their utility bills,” said Tara Oglesby, vice president of customer experience for Ameren Missouri. Veterans, active military members or their spouses are eligible to apply for assistance today. Eligible customers must be without service or have a disconnect notice for their Ameren Missouri utility bill. Interested applicants should call United Way 211 at 2-1-1 or 1-800-427-4626 to apply. A maximum of $600 per household is available to be used toward unpaid Ameren Missouri utility bills with proof of veteran or active military status.
The gift of reading Assistance League of St. Louis treats children to character parade, book giveaway at Stix Early Childhood Center Assistance League of St. Louis volunteers treated nearly 500 students at Saint Louis Public School’s Stix Early Childhood Center (647 Tower Grove Ave.) to a Halloween parade and book giveaway on Oct. 29. The all-volunteer organization that for over 30 years has served the needs of thousands of St. Louisans, gave each student in grades pre-K through second grade two books to take home and a visit from such book characters as Pete the Cat and Penelope Rex. “It was wonderful seeing the excitement of the children when their favorite book characters walked into class,” said Stix Early Childhood Center Principal Diana Dymond. “The Assistance League team not only delivered books to our students but their costumes made those books come to life.” Chairmen of Assistance League of St. Louis’ Books From Friends program Susan Long and Ruth Ellen Barr chose books for meaningful content, such as an introduction to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). Other selected books can help children process emotions through fun and entertaining plots, like “Allie All Along.” “Presenting these books in a unique
Assistance League of St. Louis volunteers treated nearly 500 students at Saint Louis Public School’s Stix Early Childhood Center to a Halloween parade and book giveaway on Oct. 29.
way with a Book Character Parade led by Penelope Rex of ‘We Don’t Eat Our Classmates’ and Pete of ‘Pete the Cat’ brings the books to life for young children,” Long said. Each Stix Early Childhood Center teacher received a container of books and a vid-
eo-taped reading days before the parade to help build excitement and anticipation about the books each child would take home. Dr. Nicole L. Freeman Williams, Chief of Staff of Saint Louis Public Schools Superintendent’s Office, visited the school to see the parade. DECEMBER 2021 | OUR TOWN | 9
Going green in Maryland Heights
Ameren Missouri, under its Smart Energy Plan, will turn the parking lot at the Maryland Heights Community Center into a solar power source BY WENDY TODD In 2020 about 21% of electricity in the United States was generated by renewable energy, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The increase in renewable energy usage was due to a decline in coal use and an increase in wind and solar energy. The EIA also reported that last year 9% of Missouri’s net electricity generation was from renewable energy sources, up from 4% in 2016. The increase in clean energy usage in the region demonstrates that Missouri is catching up to the national trend.
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Partnerships with energy provider Ameren Missouri under its Smart Energy Plan are helping to make the usage of renewable energy more possible in the region. Two of those partnerships include Southeast Missouri and St. Louis County. Ameren Missouri is partnering with Southeast Missouri University and the city of Maryland Heights to install solar canopies, elevated structures that provide shade for cars and energy from solar panels. The project at Southeast Missouri University will turn parking lots into power sources. The north and south parking lots at Southeast’s Show Me Center will be upgraded to accommodate 3,500 solar modules. They are expected to be operational by July of next year and will provide 1.2 megawatts of energy which is enough to power over 100 homes for a year. These panels will also be installed at a community hub in Maryland Heights. The Maryland Heights Community Center will be getting a series of solar canopies that should be in service by spring of 2023. “Partnering with Ameren Missouri to bring more clean energy to Maryland Heights is a win for all of us,” says Mike Moeller, mayor of Maryland Heights. “We also like the yearround weather protection for visitors and their vehicles.” The installation will create the second renewable energy center in the city, which fits into the plans at Ameren Missouri to create more sustainable energy sources in the region. “At Ameren Missouri, we’re committed to increasingly getting the energy we provide from renewable sources, while maintaining the reliability our customers depend on,” says Patrick Smith, Vice President of Economic, Community and Business Development at Ameren Missouri. “With a transformative expansion of wind and solar energy, Ameren Missouri has a responsible plan to reach netzero carbon emissions by 2050.” Approved by the Missouri General Assembly in 2018, the Smart Energy Plan was not only designed to improve overall energy efficiency in the area, but also benefit communities by transforming under-utilized space and improving Missouri’s economic outlook. “We estimate the Maryland Heights site will create about 50 construction jobs,” Smith says. “A similar project in south St. Louis at Habitat for Humanity St. Louis employed about that many people at the peak of construction,” says Smith. Ameren’s mission to create more sustain-
“Partnering with Ameren
Missouri to bring more clean energy to Maryland Heights is a win for all of us.
”
~ Mike Moeller, mayor of Maryland Heights.
The Maryland Heights Community Center will be getting a series of solar canopies that should be in service by spring of 2023. They are expected to provide 1.2 megawatts of energy which is enough to power over 100 homes for a year.
able energy includes contributing to more sustainable lives, particularly among groups that don’t always have equitable access to professions in the energy industry. “It’s important to us,” Smith explains, “to expand access to clean energy jobs among diverse populations, which is why we included solar workforce development and education requirements in bidding out this work. We’re excited to have that additional aspect to the project which generates jobs for the local economy and opens up career paths in the growing, well-
compensated solar industry.” The solar panel projects have been made possible by the Neighborhood Solar Program. “We are collaborating with institutions throughout all our communities to build more solar energy facilities, which will play an important role in Missouri’s clean energy future,” says Smith. “Adding these solar generation sites builds resiliency in the energy grid for our customers and brings us even closer to our net-zero carbon emissions goal.”
DECEMBER 2021 | OUR TOWN | 11
OurThoughts
Wordplay
MOORE ON LIFE BY CINDY MOORE
Every year there are a bundle of new words created to add to our confusion…err…vocabulary. Here are a few I’ve run across: Flexitarian: This word combo is a cross between flexible and vegetarian. This allows someone to claim to be a vegetarian while at the same time stuffing roast beef into their face. We used to call that person a fraud, but I guess definitions change. I can see how it happens. No judging here. That person probably has two sets of friends to impress. One group enjoys a nice cauliflower puree while the other fancies double bacon cheeseburgers. It’s hard to please all sides and remain popular with both groups. I can relate. I also have two sets of friends with differing tastes. One circle of friends will eat an entire chocolate cake with me and we’ll still respect each other after. Then I’ll hang out with another group of friends and we’ll down a dozen donuts at one sitting and feel no guilt. But these friends are different because while one enjoys holes in their dessert the other insists on it being completely intact – none of this incomplete kind of stuff will do. Hangry: Here’s another fun word combo. It combines hungry with angry. A person becomes hangry when they have not been fed properly and become irritable. This often happens when I am out with my friends and forget which group I am with. I once made the mistake of bringing the wrong dessert; I brought donuts to the chocolate cake group. Boy did I hear it. “What the heck are these things?” bellowed one of them. “There are holes in them? Couldn’t you afford an entire dessert?!” “Oopsie,” I said. “My bad. I’ll fix it.” I hurriedly corrected my mistake by running to the store and buying a dozen doughnut holes and jabbing them into the missing sections. Problem solved, but boy were they ever hangry! To make up for things I even bought a bottle of hot fudge sauce. Super spreader: Now that’s another new word and it gets a pretty bad rap associated with the pandemic and passing around cooties, but if you come to one of my girl gatherings it’s hot fudge sauce slathered over donuts. I guess that’s how definitions change. 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.
12 | OUR TOWN | DECEMBER 2021
OurThoughts ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE BY AVALANCHE Once summer has faded into fall, the weather cools off and the leaves have turned and fallen to the earth, the local campgrounds’ personnel shut off the water, lock the bathrooms and showers and close the entrance gates for the winter. Several years ago, the Forest Service transferred operation of the campgrounds to concessionaires, who maintain and run the sites for profit, freeing up the government’s beleaguered staff to maintain trails and focus more on the backcountry. The concessionaires do a good job, but camp-
WHEN THE CAMPGROUNDS CLOSE ing season runs a bit shorter than in the past, as the companies only keep the gates open as long as it’s profitable. Early and late season tend to have sporadic use, so the gates now close a few weeks earlier than they used to - which is fine with those of us who live nearby. We’re fortunate to live within 10 miles of three different public campgrounds, and we look forward to when the gates close. This means that the highways are becoming more passable, the backcountry trails are less crowded, and we have additional places to walk ourselves and the dogs. The furthest campground is the highest in elevation, and is colder and wetter than the others. Situated right on the river, many of the sites are just a few feet from the water, a real plus during the summer heat. Once emptied out of campers and tents in the fall, snow accumulates quickly under the large pines growing throughout the area. An adjacent group campground adds another half-mile or so of public land that gets some visitation in the summer, and none in the off season, making for a nice quiet hike that doesn’t require a long slog on a remote backcountry trail. Tire tracks at the entrance gates show that a few people stop by there every day, but it’s rare to see another hiker or dog walker. This particular campground is the favorite of our dogs. Perhaps it is the long water frontage, or cool environment under the stately pines, or maybe the scent of wildlife that gets
them excited. During today’s walk, we saw moose tracks made within the last week. Of course, the mutts need to be leashed under such circumstances, to keep the wildlife and the dogs from tangling with each other. Moose are notoriously unfriendly creatures, to both man and beast, and are best viewed at a distance. Moving a few miles down the river, this campground is the largest of the three local areas, with two separate loops of campsites on either side of the entrance. We generally let the dogs determine which loop will be the course for the day. Both loops have trails that leave the confines of the site, and go out into the surrounding forest. This site is near, but does not border the river, making that destination a longer hike. The area is up against a steep rise, which turns into cliffs not far up the mountainside. Herds of elk move into this area after the gates are closed, especially in the evening and early morning hours, but the critters tend to move off into the woods during the day, as the area is regularly used by a few dozen locals during the daylight. A few knowledgeable climbers, hunters and fisherman also use this site as a gateway to the backcountry, depending upon the time of year. Closest to home, “just across the highway” lies the most primitive of the campgrounds, about three miles up a dirt road. A sign at the bottom of the road advises
that four-wheel drive is recommended, and trailers are not advised. Those who ignore this warning frequently leave vehicular souvenirs along the road, such as bumper parts, engine compartment belly pans and miscellaneous pieces of low-hanging trim. While lowest in elevation, this particular site is also the trailhead of a valley that ends at a beautiful lake in a high cirque some eleven miles and nearly 4,000 feet higher in elevation. While the other campgrounds are more popular with those with larger trailers and RV’s, this small facility (recently reduced in size due to some huge trees falling across campsites) is generally occupied with tents and pickup campers. Those who stay here frequently spend a night, then park at the trailhead for a backpacking trip into the alpine zone. We have friends who wait all year to come out and stay at the highest campground. We visit them while they’re camping; once they and all the other summer visitors go home for the season, we get to have these places to ourselves, a much-appreciated treasure. 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.
DECEMBER 2021
| OUR TOWN | 13
OurLifestyle
Kia’s 2022
Carnival MPV looks to restyle and rebrand the minivan
The min-van market here in the U.S. has become quite popular with consumers in recent months. It’s been a welcomed sales alternative when cross-shopping SUV’s and sedans for instance. To suggest that they’re quite popular really understates the high demand for these people movers. With a number of major players in auto industry eliminating minivan-type vehicles from their lineup, Kia Motors has an all new and highly-refined version that’s referred to as their Carnival MPV, for 2022. MPV is the term used to position this van as a “multi purposes vehicle.” With a new name and company logo or badging, the Korean imported Carnival essentially replaces the aged/outgoing Kia Sedona van. For the ‘22 model year, it’s also offered in four trim levels: LX, EX, SX and their top of the line SX-Prestige. Built-in enhancements include a roomier cabin and featured with more utility with bestin-class passenger and cargo room, when placed up against the previous vans from Kia Automotive. As a matter of fact, there is enough space to accommodate passengers, outdoors fun playthings, or even home project plywood without any compromising. Powering all versions of Carnival is reliable 3.5-liter V6 engine, generating best-in-class front wheel drive 290 horsepower. This powertrain provides up to 3,500 pounds of desirable towing capacity for confident trailer, boat, or camper excursions. Fashioned at Kia Motors Southern California design studios, its bold appearance tends to convey the necessary visual DNA of Kia’s design language. This formula is also present on a number of their other brands’ platform of highly successful new vehicles. Inside, the three-row seven or eight-passenger MPV delivers a premium level of refinement, welcomed savvy technology, car like driving dynamics and desirable seating flexibility. Kia’s modernized “tiger nose” grille gives substantial width to the face and further draws your attention to the high-tech LED headlamps. The dramatic hood lines enhance the vehicle’s aggressive character coupled with this MPV’s notable wheel arches that give a sense of enormity to the body from the side view. An attractive bold cutline runs the length of the vehicle, helping with its modern and unmistakable design present stylish theme. Large, two-tone mirrors and black/chrome rocker panel moldings contribute to the upscale look and feel. Sleek appearing tail lamps contribute to Carnival’s imprint. Carnival delivers a new name and new logo for the next generation of a vehicle that transcends a highly traditional segment. Bold and boxy SUV-like design further gives off a commanding presence. This new van has outstanding dynamic performance, including flexible second-row VIP lounge seating, all coupled with the most comprehensive standard safety suite in this segment. Also 14 | OUR TOWN | DECEMBER 2021
available is a segment exclusive Blind-Spot View Monitor, a must for a vehicle of this intensity and caliber. The Premium, flexible and innovative seating cabin is well thought out with attention to details. The center fascia takes on an upscale image with high-gloss black surfaces. A chrome garnish runs the length of the dash to create a sense of space and openness in the forward cabin. The premium audio system helps reduce driving fatigue on those long road trips. Is this MPV suited for all new vehicle shoppers? Certainly not; however, for the ones needing to transport the tots as future sports soccer stars, Carnival is the product of choice for finicky buyers wanting a good price point for their shopping dollars. The base MSRP begins at $32,100, from there, the top end Prestige SX Model shows an MSRP of $46,100. All models tend to have a car like drive and come with a 10-year/100,000 mile exclusive warrant. With its eight speed automatic transmission, fuel EPA numbers come out to be around 19-mpg city and 26-mpg highway with allwheel-drive and the fuel capacity is a 19 gallon tank, all versions operate on regular grade fuel. A factory “eco” button also helps somewhat with the fuel number. 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
are among Pixar’s latest offerings
Photos courtesy Disney Pixar
After 26 years, the collaboration between Disney and Pixar keeps getting better and better. Year ago, various St. Louis publications and movie critics were invited to screen clips of a film called “Toy Story.” At that time, Walt Disney studios was riding high on the success of their hand-drawn animated features, in particular “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Little Mermaid” and “The Lion King.” It seemed like nothing could match the beauty of traditional, handdrawn animation, but Woody and Buzz set a new standard in animation. Long before his passing, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs had invested considerable capital in Pixar’s computer animation division while the company was struggling. After his sizeable investment, Jobs reportedly wasn’t sure if “Toy Story” was going to be a hit, but word on the street was quite positive. The combination of computer-generated imagery and great character voices led to success as well as three sequels. While “The Incredibles” and “Finding Nemo” were enchanting audiences in 2004, Jobs was making a deal to sell Pixar to Disney. After the purchase, the two studios collaborated on additional films. The animation studio bolstered the careers of several actors, including the incredibly funny Billy Crystal and John Goodman. The Showbiz Cheat Sheet recently revealed that Pixar co-found John Lasseter originally offered Crystal the role of Buzz Lightyear, but he turned it down. Although Tim Allen ultimately lent his voice to Buzz, Crystal and Goodman made a hilarious team in Pixar’s “Monsters Inc.,” “Monsters University” as well as the Disney+ original series “Monsters at Work.” Pixar also isn’t showing any signs of slowing down either. Slated
for a March 22, 2022, theatrical release, “Turning Red” examines the trials and tribulations of adolescence through the eyes of Meilin “Mei” Lee (Rosalie Chiang), a Chinese Canadian girl. She suffers growing pains as well as the pain she feels when transforming into a giant red panda. The wonderful Sandra Oh also is on hand as Ming Lee, her ever-watchful mother. The extremely amusing teaser trailer is now online. Speaking of the aforementioned Buzz Lightyear, Chris Evans may have stepped away from Captain America, but he lends his voice to that space explorer in a new Pixar adventure. Coming to theaters in June 2022, “Lightyear” chronicles the life of Buzz Lightyear’s human inspiration. Evans plays the title role, an astronaut who travels to infinity and beyond. Although fans may miss Tim Allen’s voice, Evans sounds really great in the online teaser trailer. Within the “Toy Story Universe,” there are indications that Andy wanted a Buzz Lightyear action figure after seeing the movie about his hero. Pixar also plans to release another film in June 2023. There are no plot details available, but, since this is Pixar, it should be worth the wait.
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. DECEMBER 2021
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OurLifestyle
H
earty snacks, seasonal sides, flavorful main dishes and tantalizing desserts all complement one another perfectly for holiday celebrations among loved ones. This year, when planning your menu, be sure to consider recipes that keep family and friends content from the moment they hang up their coats to the goodbye hugs. These delicious options for a satisfying bread bowl, pumpkin spice potatoes, artfully glazed lamb chops and fresh apple pie can bring your guests running to the kitchen (and keep them there) as you celebrate all the season has to offer. Find more recipes fit for holiday festivities at Culinary. net
A festive menu fit for family and friends Cranberry Maple Glazed Grass-Fed Lamb Chops Prep time: 5 minutes | Cook time: 15 minutes | Servings: 4
Glaze:
1 cup fresh or thawed cranberries 1/3 cup maple syrup 1/4 cup fresh orange juice 2 teaspoons orange zest 2 garlic cloves, minced 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 1/2 teaspoon salt cracked black pepper
Lamb Chops:
8-10 grass-fed lamb rib chops 1 teaspoon brown sugar 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 teaspoon smoked paprika 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon garlic powder olive oil
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To make glaze: In small bowl, whisk cranberries, maple syrup, orange juice, orange zest, garlic, Dijon mustard, salt and pepper. Set aside. To make lamb chops: Pat lamb chops dry with paper towel. In small bowl, whisk brown sugar, chili powder, smoked paprika, salt and garlic powder. Sprinkle dry rub on lamb chops and press mixture into meat. In large skillet, heat thin layer olive oil over medium heat until drop of water sizzles in pan. Sear rib chops 2 minutes on each side, or until internal temperature reaches 140 F. Remove chops from pan and set aside. Add glaze to pan and cook 3-5 minutes, whisking constantly until reduced by half. Drizzle glaze over chops before serving.
OurLifestyle Spinach-Ham Dip
INGREDIENTS: 2 cups ricotta cheese 1 cup sour cream 1 package (10 ounces) frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry 1/4 pound ham, cubed
3/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese 2 green onions, thinly sliced 1 round bread loaf (16 ounces), unsliced
DIRECTIONS: Heat oven to 350 F.
In medium bowl, blend ricotta cheese and sour cream until smooth. Add spinach, ham, Parmesan cheese and green onions; mix until blended. Cut 1-2-inch diameter circle out of top of bread loaf. Reserve top. Remove bread inside loaf, leaving about 1 inch along sides. Pour cheese mixture into bread bowl. Replace top. Cover bread loaf in aluminum foil and bake 60 minutes, or until warmed through. Take bread removed from inside bread bowl and cut into dipping sized chunks. Remove bread from aluminum foil and place on platter. Scatter bread chunks around bread bowl to use for dunking in cheese sauce.
INGREDIENTS: 3 tablespoons butter 3 tablespoons flour 2 1/2 cups milk 1 1/2 pounds little potatoes, 1/8- inch sliced, kept in water until ready to use 5 slices thick-cut bacon, sliced, cooked until crisp and drained 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves salt, to taste pepper, to taste 1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar 1 1/2 tablespoons water 1 cup pecans, rough chopped
DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 375 F.
In pot over medium heat, melt butter. Add flour and cook 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low then slowly add milk gradually, ensuring it is incorporated before adding more. Turn heat to medium-high and cook until thickened, stirring continuously. Remove from heat and set aside.
Pumpkin Spice Scalloped Little Potatoes Prep time: 20 minutes | Cook time: 1 hour | Servings: 4
In bowl, add drained potatoes, sauce, bacon, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves. Season with salt and pepper, to taste; mix well. In greased 8-by-11-inch baking dish, line potatoes on sides in desired pattern. Stuff extra bacon between potatoes from remains left in bowl. Pour extra sauce over potatoes.
Bake 60 minutes. In small pot over medium-high heat, add brown sugar and water. Cook to melt sugar and allow to bubble, about 5 minutes. Add pecans; stir 2 minutes. Lay on parchmentlined baking sheet and allow to cool. Once cool, chop into pieces. Remove potatoes from oven and sprinkle pecans over top. DECEMBER 2021
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InDepth
Backpacks of love
The Ladue School District has donated nearly 500 backpacks full of school supplies to Afghan refugees resettled in the St. Louis area BY WENDY TODD
18 | OUR TOWN | DECEMBER 2021
According to The International Institute of St. Louis, roughly 1,400 Afghan refugees will be resettled in Missouri. Escaping a country that devolved into chaos after the U.S. ended the war and evacuated in August, evacuees are in need of support to begin a new life in the states. The Ladue School District has stepped in to contribute to ongoing efforts that aid in the refugees’ transition by donating nearly 500 backpacks full of school supplies. Students and staff volunteered to participate in the Backpacks of Love initiative donating 272 backpacks of elementary school supplies and 210 of supplies for middle school. The idea was conceived by a Ladue School District teacher. Jenn Hadfield, who teaches fourth grade at Reed Elementary School initiated the idea. She remembered when Bosnian, Serbian and Albanian refugees were moved to St. Louis and the urgent need of assistance to build a life in the region. In October she coordinated with the Ladue School district and character education department to organize a drive in every district school for those displaced from Afghanistan. And Hadfield didn’t stop there, enlisting support from St. Louis Public Schools. Hadfield spearheaded a collaboration with Dr. Alla Gonzalez Del Castillo, director of the ESOL/Bilingual/ Migrant program in the St. Louis Public School District. The program will assist with the placement of around 600 Afghan refugee children in area schools. Backpacks will be distributed through this program. Supporting young Afghan evacuees has been a symbiotic experience. While backpack recipients get much needed supplies, students who participated in the initiative shared a learning experience about giving. To empha-
PHOTO COURTESY LADUE SCHOOL DISTRICT
InDepth
The Ladue School District has stepped in to contribute to ongoing efforts that aid in Afghan refugees’ transition by donating nearly 500 backpacks full of school supplies.
size that message, Hadfield called upon two of her former students who were refugees from Bosnia to make a video about the positive impact of getting support from St. Louis communities has had on their lives.
Along with speaking of the impact of community service, there were conversations about refugees, immigrants and diversity and inclusion in schools across the Ladue School District.
DECEMBER 2021
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December 6 St. Nicholas Day 7 Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day 13 National Guard Birthday 15 Bill of Rights Day 17 Wright Brothers Day 21 First Day of Winter 24 Christmas Eve 25 Christmas Day 31 New Year’s Eve