2 | OUR TOWN | SEPTEMBER 2022
14 Feature ‘Awesome! Cool! Great!’ The Sababa Jewish arts and culture festival returns to celebrate with food, musicactivitiesand By Wendy Todd 18 4 10
Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park at the zoo’s North County Campus will provide visitors with up-closeand-personal experiences with wildlife. Events –Wendy Todd Photo
Cover
Moore on Life author Cindy Moore looks at date night after 40 years of marriage while Avalanche considers trucks and muck. Lifestyle 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning puts a charge into the electric truck market in Automobile Alley. Remembering the incredible Olivia Newton-John in Entertainment. Make healthy easy with grapes in For the Love of Food. In Depth
N THIS SSUE
Calendar Staff Writer
Our TOwn Volume 13 | Number 8 SEPTEMBER 2022 PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF Mathew DeKinder PUBLISHER EMERITUS/ GENERAL MANAGER Bob Huneke PRODUCTION Becky
Avalanche, David Finkelstein, Cindy Moore
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 MelissaBrockmannNordmann
Around Town Federal assistance is now available to those affected by record flooding that swept through the region in July and more. Our Thoughts
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STAFF WRITERS
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CONTRIBUTORS
Brett WendyAutenTodd
The federal disaster declaration also makes FEMA’s Public Assistance program available to St. Louis St. Louis County, St. Charles and Montgomery counties. The program allows local governments and qualifying nonprofits to request federal as sistance for reimbursement of emergency response and recovery costs, including re pair and replacement costs for damaged roads, bridges, and other public infrastruc ture.Earlier this month, the governor noted the devastation caused by the flooding and his appreciation for the federal assistance. “As we’ve seen at the assistance center events last week, there is tremendous need to support the families that have been so severely impacted by the record flash flood ing,” Parson said. “I appreciate the Presi dent acting swiftly to get Missourians the as sistance they need. We will continue to work closely with our federal and local partners, along with the voluntary organizations that are already working hard to help.”
SUBMITTED PHOTOS
BY WENDY TODD
Renters and homeowners in St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles who were affected by flooding July 25-28 may ap ply for FEMA disaster assistance, which is intended to stabilize disaster survivors. To date, FEMA has already approved near ly $10.9 million in Individual Assistance grants which have provided over 2,800 households recovery support. FEMA’s Na
4 | OUR TOWN | SEPTEMBER 2022 AroundTown
Disaster Survivor Assistance crews have been working in St. Louis, St. Louis County and St. Charles County to help renters and homeowners in designated federal disaster areas to apply with FEMA for relief to get emergency needs addressed.
tional Flood Insurance Program has paid $4.2 million in claims for policyholders. Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) crews have been working in St. Louis, St. Louis County and St. Charles County to help rent ers and homeowners in designated federal disaster areas to apply with FEMA for re lief to get emergency needs addressed. DSA employees also provide application updates and referrals to other community resources.FEMAhas opened two centers in the re gion to provide one-on-one assistance to eligible residents affected by the storms to apply for assistance. One is located in the Hazelwood Center on Dunn Road and the other is at Ranken Technical College in St. Louis at the Mary Ann Lee Technology Cen ter.Before going to a center applicants can apply for assistance online at www.Disaster Assistance.gov or call 800-621-3362. Apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-3362 or by using the FEMA mobile app.
ROAD TO RECOVERY
Federal assistance is now available to those affected by record flooding that swept through the region last month
The St. Louis region experienced record setting rainfall between July 25 and July 26 that led to major flooding in St. Louis, St. Louis County and St. Charles that required disaster relief efforts. According to an as sessment report by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), local officials identified 1,300 homes that were impacted by the floods, 750 of which had sustained majorMissouridamage.Governor Mike Parson’s request for a disaster declaration for Missouri was approved by the Biden administration so eligible residents can seek assistance from FEMA. The assistance includes temporary housing, housing repairs, replacement of damaged belongings, vehicles and other related expenses that have occurred as a result of the flooding and storms.
SEPTEMBER 2022 | OUR TOWN | 5 AroundTown
A bookend event will kick off the festival on Nov. 5 at 7:30 p.m. with Phil Rosenthal, star of Netflix series, “Somebody Feed Phil.”
A good read
Join Food Network’s “Girl Meets Farm” star Molly Yeh (“Home is Where the Eggs Are,”) and bagel expert and award-winning author Cathy Barrow (“Bagels, Schmears, and a Nice Piece of Fish: A Whole Brunch of Recipes to Make at Home”) for a cook book panel on Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. The two will share stories, recipes and cooking secrets while teaching the audience new spins on traditional Jewish foods.
Premiere Pass Tickets, which provide en trance to more than 25 author programs year-round, are available for purchase here: allandbook-festival-all-access-pass-2/.https://www.showpass.com/jewish-Forthesafetyofourpresenters,staffvolunteers,maskswillberequiredforaudiencemembersatallbookfestival
The J announces full author lineup for 44th Annual St. Louis Jewish Book Festival
The St. Louis Jewish Community Center (The J) will host its 44th annual St. Louis Jewish Book Festival from Nov. 6-13. The festival features a lineup of bestselling au thors, investigative journalists, Netflix stars, nationally known chefs, true crime events and more.
In addition to the weeklong festival in No vember, the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival is excited to host a bookend event with James Beard award-winning author Michael W. Twitty to discuss his book, “Koshersoul: The Faith and Food Journey of an African Amer ican Jew” on Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. In “Kosher soul,” Twitty considers the marriage of two of the most distinctive culinary cultures in the world today: the foods and traditions of the African Atlantic and the global Jewish diaspora. To Twitty, the creation of AfricanJewish cooking is a conversation of migra tions and a dialogue of diasporas offering a rich background for inventive recipes and the people who create them. This event is being held in conjunction with the Sababa Arts & Culture Festival, which occurs on Sept. 18.
In “Somebody Feed Phil the Book: Untold Stories, Behind-the-Scenes Photos and Fa vorite Recipes: A Cookbook,” Rosenthal presents never-before-heard stories from every episode of the first four seasons of the series, along with more than 60 of his view ers’ most requested recipes from acclaimed international chefs and local legends alike (including Rosenthal’s favorite sandwich finds from San Francisco to Tel Aviv), so at tendees can replicate many of the dishes from the show right at home. On Nov. 6 at 7 p.m., the festival’s keynote author, former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, will speak at the Stae nberg Family Complex’s Edison Gymnasi um. Yovanovitch will discuss her new book, “Lessons from The Edge: A Memoir,” and will be joined onstage by Professor James Wertsch of Washington University in St. Lou is. “Lessons from the Edge” follows the arc of Yovanovitch’s career as she developed into the person we came to know during the 2020 impeachment proceedings. “We are honored that Ambassador Yova novitch will be our keynote for the 44th St. Louis Jewish Book Festival. We invite the en tire St. Louis region to join us at the J to hear from this true American hero who has dedi cated her professional career to the service of our country and the fight for democracy, truth and freedom for all even under the most trying and challenging circumstanc es,” said Rabbi Brad Horwitz, Chief Jewish Engagement Officer at the J. On Nov. 7 at 1 p.m., a historic fic tion panel of authors, Rachel Barenbaum (“Atomic Anna”) and Lisa Barr (“Woman on Fire”), will explore how fiction provides an avenue for exploring important historical events through different lenses. New York Times bestselling author Charles Bosworth Jr. and St. Louis criminal defense attorney Joel Schwartz will take the stage on Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. to discuss their book, “Bone Deep: Untangling the Betsy Faria Murder Case,” which explores and expands on the true story behind NBC’s mini-series, “The Thing About Pam.” Writ ten with Russ Faria’s cooperation, “Bone Deep,” takes readers through the perfect storm of miscalculations and missteps that led to an innocent man’s conviction, and it recounts Schwartz’s successful battle to have that conviction overturned.
Julia Haart, star of the Netflix reality show, “My Unorthodox Life”, and CEO of modeling agency Elite World Group, will discuss her Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling book, “Brazen,” on Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. Propulsive and unforgettable, Julia’s story is the journey from a world of “no” to a world of “yes” and an inspiration for women everywhere to find their purpose and their voice.
The North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) pro jected that telephone numbering in the 314 area code will exhaust in the third quarter of 2022. The 314 area code serves communities such as, but not limited to, St. Louis, Overland, Bridgeton, Floris sant, Webster Groves, Creve Coeur, Kirkwood and Sappington.
• Customers in the overlay region must dial 10 digits for local calls.
6 | OUR TOWN | SEPTEMBER 2022 AroundTown The Missouri Public Service Commission reminds telephone cus tomers in the current 314 area code that implementation of an overlay plan and the introduction of a new area code in the current 314 area code will occur later this month.
Customers should identify their telephone number as a 10-digit number (three-digit area code plus seven-digit telephone number), and include the area code when giving the number to others.
Customers should also ensure their websites, personal and busi ness stationery and printed checks, advertising materials, contact information, and personal or pet ID tags include the area code. For more information, please contact your local telephone service provider or visit the Missouri Public Service Commission website cal_Dialinghttps://psc.mo.gov/Telecommunications/Telephone_NumbersLoat:-30
The new area code will be 557. All existing 314 area code cus tomers will retain their current area code in the overlay area and their telephone numbers will not change.
• The price of a call, coverage area, or other rates and services will not change due to the overlay.
Telephone customers should know the following key facts about the 557 area code overlay:
• Telephone numbers, including current area code, will not change.
Aug.12 is the earliest date telephone numbers with a 557 area code will be activated and used within the 314 area code. The 557 area code will co-exist everywhere in this region with the 314 area code.All local calls within this region must be dialed using ten digits rather than seven digits. This area, along with many other areas throughout the nation, already requires ten-digit local dialing (effec tive July 15) to accommodate the new 988 abbreviated dialing code for the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline.
Customers should ensure that all services, automatic dialing equipment or other types of equipment recognize the new 557 area code as a valid area code and should continue to store or program telephone numbers as 10-digit numbers. Some examples include: stored telephone numbers in contact lists in wireless or cordless phones, PBXs, fax machines, Internet dial-up numbers, speed dial ers, call forwarding settings, voicemail services, medical alert de vices, and safety alarm security systems and gates.
• What is a local call now will remain a local call.
Dialed in The new 557 area code is coming to the 314 area code region
• Three-digit abbreviated dialing, to the extent currently avail able, such as 911, as well as 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711, 988, or 811 will continue to work and not be affected.
In 2021, they received the Excellence in Arts Award from the Arts and Education Council in St. Louis. The other 2022 Dance Teacher Award honorees include Kay Maz zo, Risa Steinberg, Ronald Alexander, Kris tine Elliott, Ana Nery Fragoso, and Yvonne Gutierrez. It may be the dog days of summer, but at St. Luke’s they are “berry” ex cited about the sweet as sugar, spe cial deliveries that arrived this month. St. Luke’s is known as the “baby bunting hospital” because they pro vide themed baby buntings on holi days to make the experience extra special for families in St. Luke’s Birth Care Suites. St. Luke’s has been providing holi day baby buntings since 1997. They offer the buntings to the parents of all the babies that are in St. Luke’s Birth Care Suites on the many holidays in which the buntings are available.
Special delivery
“It’s incredible to be honored with so many mentors, teachers, and legends from the dance community. What makes this mo ment so memorable for me is that I get to share it with my best friend and husband,” said Antonio Douthit-Boyd, COCA Co-Ar tistic Director of Dance. “Thanks to Dance Teacher Magazine for this recognition and to all our students and faculty for trusting in us to help shape the future of dance.”
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As Co-Artistic Directors of Dance at COCA, the Douthit-Boyds oversee the Pre-Professional Division Dance Program, which includes three student companies –Ballet Eclectica, COCAdance, and COCA Hip-Hop Crew, and provides advanced curriculum to student artists who have com mitted to training in dance. They also man age all aspects of COCA’s broader dance department, which provides classes for stu dents of all ages and backgrounds. Prior to COCA, they were principal artists with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, per forming internationally and working with world-renowned choreographers.
COCA Co-Artistic Directors of Dance Honored at national Dance Teacher Awards PHOTOS
SEPTEMBER 2022 | OUR TOWN | 7 AroundTown
COCA Co-Artistic Directors of Dance An tonio Douthit-Boyd and Kirven Douthit-Boyd were selected to receive Dance Teacher Awards at the 2022 Dance Teacher Awards held at The Sheen Center for Thought & Culture in NYC on Aug. 18.
“It is an honor to be recognized alongside so many inspiring dance educators. This achievement is confirmation that I need to stand firmly in my beliefs of what it takes to elevate the dance experience for our community,” added Kirven Douthit-Boyd, COCA Co-Artistic Director of Dance. “I’m fortunate to serve the brilliant young minds in St. Louis, and I look forward to shaping many generations to come!”
It’s a ‘berry’ special summer at St. Luke’s Live to dance
The Douthit-Boyds are among eight ex traordinary dance educators who were cel ebrated for shaping the next generation of dancers. Dance Teacher Awards are given to dance educators who have a unique im pact on their students and/or community, strive to bring out the best in their students as dancers and people, have a thoughtful and forward-thinking approach to peda gogy, are dedicated to their own continued learning, prioritize dancers’ mental and physical health and safety, and are commit ted to anti-racism, equity, and inclusion.
St. Louis Area Diaper Bank welcomes new period supply partners
For more information about partnership opportunities, call (314) 624-0888 or visit their website at www.stldiaperbank.org.
Productive partners
The International Rett Syndrome Foundation (IRSF) will host its 15th annual St. Louis Strollathon on Oct. 8
The St. Louis Area Diaper Bank recently welcomed four period supply partners to its St. Louis Alliance for Period Supplies (STL APS) program. New partners include Gateway Science Academy public charter school, Harris Stowe State University Com munity Impact Network Education Center, St. Augustine Catholic Church’s Wellness Center and SistaKeeper’s “I Define Me Movement.”Thenewperiod supply partners will dis tribute a total of 6,000 period kits annually. Each kit has 20 items, so a total of 120,000 period supplies will be shared with commu nityAccordingresidents.to St. Louis Area Diaper Bank
International Rett Syndrome Foundation to host 15th annual Strollathon
The International Rett Syndrome Foun dation (IRSF) will host its 15th annual St. Louis Strollathon on Oct. 8 with registra tion starting at 10 a.m. and the walk be ginning at 11 a.m. The one-mile familyfriendly stroll, which will be held at the JCC St. Louis located at 2 Millstone Cam pus Dr., includes a visit from Fredbird, en tertainment and food. The St. Louis Strollathon has raised a total of more than $750,000 since its first event in 2008. The Strollathon is the ar ea’s major fundraising event and brings together families from across the Midwest affected by Rett Syndrome. All proceeds will benefit the International Rett Syn drome Foundation. Rett syndrome is a rare genetic neuro logical disorder that occurs almost exclu sively in girls (one in 10,000 births), more rarely in boys, and leads to severe impair ments. It is usually recognized in children between six to 18 months as they begin to miss developmental milestones or lose abilities they had gained, including their ability to speak, walk, eat, and even breathe. Rett particularly affects speech, purposeful hand use, and coordination, leaving individuals trapped in their own bodies, understanding more than they can communicate. There is no treatment currently available for Rett syndrome. St. Louis is home to a specialty clinic –a collaboration between Washington Uni versity School of Medicine and St. Louis Children’s Hospital. The clinic has a team of specialists with substantial experience in the diagnostic evaluation and treat ment of individuals with Rett syndrome. Since 2004, these nationwide familyfriendly strolls have raised more than $15 million to advance IRSF’s mission to em power families and accelerate research toward a world without Rett Syndrome.
8 | OUR TOWN | SEPTEMBER 2022 AroundTown On a roll
Founded in 2014, the St. Louis Area Dia per Bank provides diaper access to the re gion’s low-income families, as well as rais es community awareness about the causes and consequences of diaper need. Located at 6141 Etzel Ave., the nonprofit is a mem ber of the National Diaper Bank Network, a nationwide nonprofit dedicated to elimi nating diaper need and “period poverty” in America. The St. Louis Alliance for Period Supplies ensures access to menstrual hy giene products, which allows full participa tion in daily life with dignity.
The STL APS program collaborates with the Alliance for Period Supplies to ensure access to menstrual hygiene products. The program distributes period supplies through community partners, as well as ad vocates for the elimination of “period pov erty.” To date more than 800,000 period supplies have been distributed in St. Louis, with 10,800 period supplies allocated each week. Last year two-thirds of low-income women in St. Louis could not afford men strual hygiene products, with 46% of lowincome women having to choose between food and period supplies.
Executive Director Muriel Smith, “The addi tional partnerships are necessary since the demand for period supplies has increased by 20% since 2020. We rely on the support of organizations to help us serve those in need, and we appreciate our newest part ner’s assistance in providing these basic ne cessities to those in need.”
This year Acadia Pharmaceuticals is the national presenting sponsor. The International Rett Syndrome Foun dation (IRSF) is the leading Rett syndrome research and advocacy group. IRSF has invested over $54 million in research leading to identifying Rett syndrome’s cause, proving Rett syndrome is reversible in mice, and developing multiple clinical trials for Rett syndrome. For more infor mation, visit Donationswww.rettsyndrome.org.areappreciatedtothe Strol lathon, which is free and open to the pub lic. For more information, call 314-3461323 or visit the organization’s website at www.st-louis.strollathon.org.
The Sababa Jewish arts and culture festival returns to celebrate with food, music and activities
T he Sababa Jewish arts and culture festival sponsored by the Jewish Federation of St. Louis and the St. Louis Jew ish Community Center picks back up on Sept. 18. Sababa, Hebrew slang for “awesome, cool or that’s great,” has been on hold since 2018 but will be in full swing celebrat ing Jewish culture with food, music and activities. Local and regional artists and musicians will also be there to exhibit and entertain. Additional local Jewish organizations will be providing activities.
BY WENDY TODD
‘SABABA’ CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
‘AWESOME!COOL!GREAT!’
‘SABABA’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
If you’re an art buff there will be 30 artists in differ ent mediums with artwork on sale. And for music lovers there will be several musical acts including a Jewish a cappella group from Washington University in St. Louis and Klezundheit!, a 14-piece klezmer band from Missouri. And if you’re a “foodie” there’s plenty to enjoy as the festival will offer cultural and kosher food as well as more general fare. “
Celebrations that focus on a particular religion and, or ethnic background bring faith and ethnic communities together to celebrate shared beliefs and values. “
~ Judith Kramer, Festival Producer
While the festival is an opportunity for the Jewish community to celebrate its people, culture and history, all are welcome to attend and enjoy the event. Judith Kramer, the producer of the festival invites all to participate in the festival and engage with its offerings to gain understanding and knowledge of the Jewish com munity and break any social barriers.
Brian Herstig, CEO of Jewish Federation shares the same “Sababaperspective.isaboutuniting and inspiring the Jew ish community,” Herstig said, “as well as sharing our culture with others to build a foundation for unity and understanding.”
10 | OUR TOWN | SEPTEMBER 2022
“Celebrations that focus on a particular religion and, or ethnic background bring faith and ethnic communi ties together to celebrate shared beliefs and values,” Kramer said. “By seeing, feeling and understanding that different religions and ethnicities have much in common - that perhaps a love of some food or mu sic or art overlaps these boundaries - we become more accepting of each other.”
Events planned for the festival include something for everyone. This year there will be a family pavil ion featuring children’s activities such as bubbles, art projects, sensory stations and sidewalk chalk. There will also be yoga sessions to enjoy.
The Sababa Jewish arts and culture festival sponsored by the Jewish Federation of St. Louis and the St. Louis Jewish Community Center picks back up on Sept. 18. Sababa, Hebrew slang for “awesome, cool or that’s great,” has been on hold since 2018 but will be in full swing celebrating Jewish culture with food, music and activities.
SEPTEMBER 2022 | OUR TOWN | 11
The culinary lineup features the Holy Smokes Kosher BBQ truck, 613 Catering with pastrami and latkes and the St. Louis Jewish Student Union with the classic favorites of cotton candy and popcorn. Dippin’ Dots and Just Bake It cinnamon buns, among other treats will also be available.Thefestival aims to entertain, invite and inform the community. Kramer hopes many people get the chance to experi ence Jewish culture in a fun and welcom ing“Fromsetting.the food we prepare in stellar restaurants with Jewish proprietors, to the music we compose and share, to the art we create, and Jewish institutions we’ll showcase, all will give an overall picture of how we educate our children, pray, stay in formed, entertain and help those in need throughout the wider metro St. Louis area.” For more information about the festival visitThesababastl.com.festivalwilltake place on the park ing lot outside Simon Hall near the south en trance of the Washington University in St. Louis campus (near Forsyth Blvd. and Olympian Way). Free parking is available in the Danforth Univer sity Center Garage (6475 Forsyth Blvd.).
SUBMITTED PHOTOS
ate night used to be something to look forward to after a long week of work and being with the kids. Now it’s more of a chore.
I rummaged around for the water. It was covered in dust and ten degrees above room temperature. “I can’t drink this. Did you bring mustard?” He held up his hand and wagged it which meant, “I told you about that extra arm situation.”
Back in the day it started out with a definite plan like dinner at a fancy restaurant and a new movie release. Now it usually starts out with no plan and ends with bickering.
“What took you so long?” I grumbled. “It’s free hot dog night. They have a new grill they’re demoing. I had to stick around and watch to get the dogs.”
“I didn’t have an extra arm. I think there’s an emergency water under your seat.”
“Sounds good. What do you feel like eating?”
“I’ve got some coupons here for a two-for-one fish sand wich.”Hepulled up to the drive-in and was about to put our order in.“Wait!” I hollered. “These coupons expired last month. Drive away quick before someone gets behind us.” We sped off and headed to the hardware store because my husband remembered he needed some weed killer. Forty-five minutes later he came out with the killer and two hot dogs.
MOORE ON LIFE BY CINDY MOORE
12 | OUR TOWN| SEPTEMBER 2022 OurThoughts
Cindy Moore is the mother of three superlative kids, servant of two self-indulgent felines and wife to one nifty husband. Her ficticious occupation? Archeologi cal 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.
Me: “Hey Sweetie, it’s Friday night and you know what that means?”Husband: “Why yes I do; it’s garbage night. Are the cans on the “Nope,curb?”guess again.” “Then it must be TV time in our pajamas.”
“That’s every other night. This is date night.” “Oh man. That time of the week already? Fine, what have you got in “Nothingmind?”yet.Get dressed and get in the car. We’ll think of something.”Wedrove for a few miles in silence and then my husband asked, “Where are we going?” “I don’t know, how about we get something to eat.”
“Well, now what?” I asked. “Hold onto that dog.” He spun around and headed towards home. Once there, we got in our pajamas, made ourselves some cold beverages and sat down in front of the TV to enjoy our free hot dog and a program about murder.
“Ya, so where’s the drink?”
The Dating Game
And that’s how you do date night after 40 years of mar riage.
D
TRUCKS and MUCK
ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE BY AVALANCHE
An inch and a half of rain suddenly run ning 2,000 feet down a 40-degree slope builds up quite a bit of destructive energy.
In any case, my sincere regards to those who, along with their property and ve hicles, were caught in the recent Midwest flooding – it’s no fun! Avalanche is a functional il literate 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.
AVALANCHE
SEPTEMBERT 2022 | OUR TOWN | 13 OurThoughts
The maiden voyage with the new travel trailer into the Midwest went mostly well. I really like the thing, as it provides all the comforts of home, basically anywhere one can pull over and park; a huge advantage when hauling family members with various needs. Need a nap? Just pull over and find a quiet place to park. Want a cup of coffee, or a cold drink? Same thing, just a few minutes off the highway and one is refreshed with the beverage of choice. The indignities of public restrooms are completely avoided, and the potentially nasty chore of emptying the holding tanks can be completed at a later date at the time and place of one’s choosing. Staying in the middle of the Central Plains at an RV park was a little odd for me, as I still had the mindset of mountain wilderness camping. Having said that, it was 104 de grees outside, and just minutes after plug ging into the provided electrical hookup, I was lounging in the cold air coming from the air conditioning unit. The frigid luxury was enough to help me quickly adapt to the new environment. The bed is quite comfy, and the whole rig is easy to set up for camping, and break down for travel. However, my pickup truck does not like the camper nearly as much as I do. It pulls it well enough, and handling is just fine - but the fuel consumption is enough to enable a Middle Eastern oil sheik to up grade his palace. Getting around at lower speeds didn’t affect mileage too much, but once the pickup was pulling the trailer down the interstate, stops for fuel became frequent and painful. I had hoped for 10 mpg while towing, but that was a shattered dream. I was averaging around 8-9 miles per gallon, with one particularly nasty stretch spent bucking a strong head-wind yielding a poverty-inducing 7 mpg. This, at a slow-rolling 60-65 miles per hour. Our future uses of the American Fam ily Truckster will be close to home. We’re looking forward to our annual firewood gathering excursion to the nearby moun tains with the travel trailer, loaded with dogs and supplies, along with a second truck and a utility trailer for hauling wood. This will turn our two-or-three trip ritual into a two-or-three day working vacation in the mountains. No need to come home for a shower, dinner and sleep, we can take care of it all while in the mountains, and the mutts can get some quality time frolicking in the woods. A mudslide arrived in the neighborhood again this year, exactly one year to the day from last year, and within 20 minutes of the previous year’s geological extrava ganza. Fortunately, this year’s mess was a small fraction of last year’s blowout, with “only” about 30 cubic yards of mud and rock deposited on the road, contrasted with last year’s 35 truck-loads. We were happy that no mud covered anything on our property. I had just got ten the neighborhood roads graded and smoothed out the day before with my skid steer, and 1.5” of rain arrived in about one hour, washing all my work down the valley. St. Louis and St. Charles readers are no doubt justifiably ready to heap ridicule on our mini-flood, as you recently received that rate of rain for 10 or more hours straight. Keep in mind, most of the terrain here is quite steep; our dirt roads have an 11-degree grade, and most of the surrounding topography is much steeper.
Worth noting of course, Ford’s F-series pickup trucks have been America’s bestselling truck for countless years. However, the ‘22 Lightning has been engineered to elevate all of the advantages of electrification, innovation and connected technology, all wrapped up in one remarkable package.
BY DAVID FINKELSTEIN
The F-150 Lightning offers two battery options. The standard range battery gets about 230 miles of EPA-estimated range. The F-150 Lightning XLT and Lariat trims with the extended range bat tery show an EPA-estimated range of 320 miles, while the Platinum Edition has an EPA-estimated range of 300 miles.
David Finkelstein is a Master/Skilled Automotive Service Techni cian and retired shop owner. He’s invented garage service tools for mechanics, served on both nation and local automotive trade industry boards, has done years of consulting with various auto manufactures plus test drives new vehicles weekly. David has pioneered “Car Talk Radio” over 35 years ago, as his new show “Automotive Insight” can be heard on Saturdays, on the Real Talk Radio Network.
And when it comes to impressive, smooth and quick acceleration, when equipped with the extended range battery pack, this exhila rating truck achieves 0-60 mph in around four-seconds. Honestly, its head-snapping behavior has to be experienced to be believed.
The truck’s interior is extremely comfortable. It seats five and has lots of extra storage compartments. The 12-inch instrument cluster, featuring a customizable interface is easy to read and is in plain sight of the driver. With the truck’s built-in electric outlets, custom ers can take advantage of powering a variety of tools, electronics, TVs, laptops, slow cookers and more. In the event of a home power outage, Lightning can assist in providing house power for up to threePerformancedays. is achieved by dual in-board electric motors, no gas engine whatsoever. Lightning can take on rough terrain with its high-strength, military-grade aluminum alloy body. Standard is a 4x4 chassis. A driver selectable system features four drive modes: Normal, Sport, Off Road and Tow/Haul. A new independent rear suspension delivers improved ride comfort, while an all-new frame uses the strongest steel ever put in an F-150 structure. The factory indicates that it has a safe tow capacity of some 10,000-pounds. This Ford E/V is the most aerodynamic F-150 ever, with improve ments such as newly shaped running boards, a sculpted hood to reduce wind drag, and grilles that replace air intake holes with a smoother surface. With a residential, level one, 110-volt char ger, it took about 30 hours for an 80% charge. With a level two charger/220-volt, it tends to charge much quicker. The MSRP pric ing at road-test with the Lariat version was $80,589 which included the factory’s shipping/delivery charges of $1,695. The base war ranty is for three-yr/36,000 miles.
I’m not too certain how Daniel Webster would feel about the newly created word “frunk” (not to be confused with a trunk) but it helps to describe the power-operated and lockable front storage compartment in the Lightning. Of course, on a conventional truck, that bay would serve as the engine compartment.
Throughout my automotive career, more than once I’ve heard that “all trucks aren’t created equal.” Never before have those words been more meaningful, than with the introduction of the 2022 Ford F-150 all-electric/battery-powered Lightning.
The Lightning is a rolling powerhouse! With its optional 580 horsepower setup and 775 lb.-ft. of torque, it has an available maximum payload capacity of 2,235 pounds. Packed with intel ligent features, Lightning illustrates how Ford combines advanced digital technologies with proven engineering. Much of its on-board electronics will remain contemporary with over-the-air software up dates, as necessary. One of many new options is the hands-free driving experience. It worked adequately much of the time. However, on certain roads, it seemed a bit baffled on keeping the truck in the driving lanes. And check this out, also available is Ford’s onboard scales. It uses sensors to estimate payload and tells customers how much they’re hauling so they can utilize the full capability of the truck and adjust their driving style and range distance as needed.
2022 FORD F-150 LIGHTNING puts a charge into the electric truck market
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Advanced Digital Experience discovered on the Lariat and Plati num series include SYNC 4. It’s a modern interface supported by a 15.5-inch touch screen designed to adapt to driver behavior. It employs natural voice control, cloud-connected navigation and wireless access to your favorite services such as Apple CarPlay, An droid Auto, integrated Amazon Alexa and SYNC AppLink apps.
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Remembering the incredible
On Aug. 8, Olivia Newton-John passed away after three de cades of fighting breast cancer. In her honor, fans placed flow ers on her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Arguably, she was best remembered for “Grease,” the 1978 screen adapta tion of the Jim Jacobs/Warren Casey musical. Newton-John played Sandy Olsson, a student from Australia who met Danny Zuko (John Travolta) on the beach over the summer. The lead er of the T-Birds greaser gang, Danny never expected to see Sandy again, but she showed unexpectedly after a pep rally.
Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta later reunited in 1983’s “Two of a Kind,” a romantic fantasy. God (voice of Gene Hackman) had become angry with humanity and want ed to start over. Four of his angels begged God to let them find a typical Earth man who could show compassion. They chose Zack Melon (Travolta), an inventor so desperate for cash that he robbed bank teller Debbie Wylder (Newton-John). Debbie had, however, selfishly kept the money for herself and gave him a bag of deposit slips instead. Debbie and Zack had to show that they were worthy or else the floodgates would open.
Long before Steve Jobs and Apple put “a thousand songs” in everyone’s pocket, I’d devote a few hours looking for albums by Supertramp and Queen as well as comedy records by Steve Martin. The first time I came across an Olivia Newton-John re cord; however, I stopped because she was incredibly beautiful.
“Grease” followed the complicated relationship between Sandy and Danny. Before the film arrived in theaters in 1978, radio stations played songs from the soundtrack, including the title track sung by Frankie Valli. “Grease” became a monster box office hit and songs such as “Summer Loving” became iconic. The original film was re-released in May 1979 and, three years later, “Grease 2” arrived in theaters without the Sandy/Danny relationship. The adorable Didi Conn returned as Frenchy for the sequel, but it just wasn’t the same without all the characters we loved.
In my high school years in St. Louis, I shopped for records at Venture, Famous-Barr and Peaches on Hampton Avenue.
Olivia Newton-John then starred in “Xanadu,” an ambitious film that didn’t get the respect it deserved. Although branded a bomb, the music and production numbers had merit. NewtonJohn played Kira, one of the Nine Muses of Olympus tasked with inspiring Sonny Malone (Michael Beck), a struggling art ist. Kira’s influence allowed Sonny and former orchestra leader Danny McGuire (Gene Kelly) to create a dance club that blend ed their dreams into something new and exciting. Despite the film criticism, the “Xanadu” soundtrack was incredible.
Olivia Newton-John touched the lives of countless people across the world. She always felt like a part of the family and her passing left behind a huge void. I will miss her always.
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.
Olivia Newton-John
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 small onion, chopped 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus additional, to taste, divided 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice 1 cup Israeli pearl couscous 3/4 teaspoon ground turmeric 1 1/2 cups water 1 can (15 ounces) no-salt-added chickpeas, drained 1 cup red California grapes, halved 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro or parsley freshly ground black pepper, to taste 4 cups lightly packed baby arugula lemon wedges
Warm-Spiced Chickpeas and Couscous with Grapes and Arugula
The next time you enjoy an outdoor adven ture, pack along a healthy snack such as Cal ifornia grapes. They can go with you on hikes and bike rides or to the gym as a healthy and hydrat ing source of energy. Heart-healthy grapes also deliver beneficial an tioxidants and other polyphenols and are a good source of vitamin K, which supports bone and heart health. With no need to peel, cut, core or slice, grapes are perfectly portable when you’re on the go.
Directions: In large saucepan over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion, cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt and allspice; cook, stirring, until onion is softened, about 3 minutes. Add couscous and stir 1 minute to toast lightly. Add turmeric and water; bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until couscous is tender, about 15 minutes. Stir chickpeas, grapes and cilantro into couscous then season with salt and pepper, to taste. Transfer couscous-grape mixture to large bowl, add arugula and toss well. Serve warm or at room temperature with lemon wedges. Nutritional information per serving: 370 calories; 12 g protein; 61 g carbohydrates; 9 g fat (17% calories from fat); 1 g saturated fat (2% calories from saturated fat); 0 mg cholesterol; 160 mg so dium; 8 g fiber.
MAKE
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Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 20 minutes | Servings: 4
Grapes EASYHEALTHWITH
Crunchy Salad Pizza on Cauli flower Crust is a simple way to get your fruits and veggies in a fun, tasty recipe. When it’s time for a filling yet nutritional dinner, WarmSpiced Chickpeas and Couscous with Grapes and Arugula makes for an ideal vegetarian meal. Plus, this easy-to-make dish includes 8 grams of fiber to help support co lonGrapeshealth.and seafood are a clas sic combination, and this Roasted Salmon and Grapes with Pistachios Over Fresh Greens is no exception. A perfect dish for family dinners or inviting guests for a meal, it offers antioxidants and other polyphenols from grapes along with healthy omega-3 fats from fish. Whatever your path to health, eat ing well and encouraging healthy habits can be deliciously easy with the benefits of grapes. Find more health benefits and good-for-you recipe ideas at GrapesFromCali fornia.com.
Prep time: 15 minutes | Cook time: 7-8 minutes | Servings: 4
tablespoon olive oil; toss well. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
1/3 cup dry white wine 1 cup green California grapes
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Ingredients: 1 frozen cauliflower pizza crust (11 ounces)
Ingredients: 4 wild sockeye or coho salmon fillets (about 5 ounces each) 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, freshlysalt,dividedtotasteground black pepper, to taste
1/4 cup shelled, unsalted pistachios, coarsely chopped 2 tablespoons finely chopped Italian parsley 5 ounces baby spinach
Crunchy
Roast salmon 7 minutes for medium-rare; 8 minutes for medium.
Directions: Heat oven to 400 F. Lightly oil shallow, 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Pat fish dry and place skin side down in pan. Brush fillets lightly with 1 tablespoon olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper, to taste. Pour wine in pan, scatter grapes around and sprinkle pistachios and parsley on fish.
In large bowl, toss spinach, onion, remaining oil and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper, to taste; toss again and divide among four plates.
Place fish on top of greens. Spoon roasted grapes around fish.
1/4 red onion, thinly sliced 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon, plus 4 teaspoons, extra-virgin olive oil, divided 2 medium carrots, peeled and trimmed 1 medium fennel bulb, quartered and trimmed 1 medium yellow bell pepper, halved and trimmed 1/2 medium red onion 16 black California grapes, halved 1 cup canned or cooked chickpeas, drained and rinsed, divided 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley 2 tablespoons pesto salt, to taste freshly ground black pepper, to taste 1 ounce fresh goat cheese, crumbled Salad
Nutritional information per serving: 360 calo ries; 31 g protein; 12 g carbohydrates; 19 g fat (48% calories from fat); 3 g saturated fat (8% calories from saturated fat); 65 mg cholesterol; 105 mg sodium; 2 g fiber.
Pizza on Cauliflower Crust
Prep time: 20 minutes | Cook time: 10 minutes | Servings: 4
Using fork, coarsely mash remaining chickpeas and remaining oil; spread among pieces of crust. Mound grapevegetable mixture on top. Dot with goat cheese and serve.
Directions: Heat oven to 400 F. Place frozen crust on large, parchment-lined baking sheet and brush top lightly with 2 teaspoons olive oil. Bake until crust is lightly golden, about 10 minutes. Transfer to cutting board and cut into quarters. Using mandolin, peeler or large, sharp knife and cutting board, thinly slice carrots, fennel, bell pepper and onion. Transfer to mixing bowl and add grapes and 1/2 cup chickpeas. Add parsley, pesto and 1
Nutritional information per serving: 490 calories; 9 g protein; 66 g carbohydrates; 22 g fat (40% calories from fat); 4 g saturated fat (7% calories from saturated fat); 30 mg cholesterol; 380 mg sodium; 4 g fiber.
Roasted Salmon and Grapes with Pistachios Over Fresh Greens
North County goes
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“We are excited to share these WildCare Park updates,” said Dwight Scott, Dana Brown President & CEO, Saint Louis Zoo. “Our team has been extremely busy and we look forward to sharing more updates on WildCare Park as we move forward.”
• Safari observation tower – For a fee, guests can enjoy a one-of-a-kind experience by going 11 stories up in the air to take in 360-degree views of WildCare Park, the cityscape and the Missouri-Mississippi River ThereConfluence.willalso be a premium safari experience where customers can pay for a guided tour with an animal expert. Though safari animals will be a mix of endangered and non-endangered species, animals featured in the Wild Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park at the zoo’s North County Campus will provide visitors with up-close-and-personal experiences with wildlife
According to the St. Louis Zoo, the WildCare Park will include:•A “zooseum” that will be a 5,000-8,000 square foot interactive indoor zoo-museum-science center and will use augmented reality and virtual reality as well as other technologies to help guests feel how animals experience the world.
• Nature adventure area – 60 acres of land geared toward families and children who can (re)discover nature surrounded by native Missouri wildlife flora and fauna.
Images courtesy St. Louis Zoo
InDepth
If an African safari has been on your bucket list but you haven’t been able to make it to the continent, you’re in luck. Because in a few years, the safari will come to you.
BY WENDY TODD
The St. Louis Zoo North County Campus is working on an expansion called the Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park that will include four different safari experiences along with a host of other attractions.
SEPTEMBER 2022 | OUR TOWN | 19 InDepth Care Park will extend beyond the selec tion at the zoo to offer variety. Additional amenities include giraffe feeding where patrons can get up-close and personal with giraffes to feed them. “Glamping” will also be available for patrons who want a luxury camping ex perience in one of the ten available cab ins. A restaurant will be available for pa trons to dine. And there will be an event center in which patrons can book rooms for small events and larger celebrations. Also, a facility, the Kent Family Con servation and Animal Science Center – a donation from the Jerry and Judy Kent –will help sustain endangered and threat enedResearchspecies.and educational initiatives will also be a part of the project. Biodiversity studies are being pursued at the St. Louis Zoo and will continue at the WildCare Park. The eight areas of study include: bats, birds, coyotes and foxes, invertebrates/pollinators, plants, reptiles, amphibians, and water qual ity of lakes and streams. There will also be educational programming for young patrons to help them learn about ani mals and nature. The St. Louis Zoo was first conceived in 1904 as an attraction at the World’s Fair when a flight cage was used as an attraction. It appeared as a giant walkthrough bird cage. The City of St. Louis purchased the bird cage and by 1910 the Zoological Society of St. Louis in 1910 made the zoo official. The WildCare Park project will be free to county residents and the cost for St. Louis city residents is to be determined. The 425-acre complex is projected to be completed in 2027 and the estimated cost is $230 million. Financial resources include philanthropy, external financing proceeds and existing and future Zoo and Saint Louis Zoo Association cash reserves. Next year animals will begin arriving at WildCare Park for a pilot pasture.“AtWildCare Park, guests will be im mersed in nature and animal pastures, providing unique experiences with every visit,” said Dr. Jo-Elle Mogerman, Ph.D., Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park Director. “Every visit will be a new adventure.” These artistic renderings show the experiences visitors will be able to have at the Saint Louis Zoo WildCare Park in North St. Louis County.
5 Labor Day 10 Carl Garner Federal Lands Cleanup Day 11 Patriot Day 16 National RecognitionPOW/MIADay 17 Constitution Day and Citizenship Day 18 Air Force Birthday 22 First Day of Autumn 24 National Public Lands Day 25 Gold Star Mother’s Day September
