Our Town: September 2023

Wendy Todd started out as a culture blogger then began freelancing as a culture and lifestyle writer. She has written for publications including the Washington Post, Huffington Post Ebony. com, the Sundance Channel and more. Currently she is also a full-time public relations and news writer at a St. Louis university.

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

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

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

Avalanche is a functional illiterate who left the St. Louis area three decades ago in search of adventure. He enjoys motorcycling and all things outdoors. He lives with his wife and dogs.

our toWn

Volume 14 | Number 9

SEPTEMBER 2023

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

PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF

Mathew DeKinder

PUBLISHER EMERITUS/ GENERAL MANAGER

Bob Huneke

PRODUCTION

Becky Brockmann

Melissa Nordmann

CONTRIBUTORS

Avalanche, David Finkelstein, Cindy Moore

STAFF WRITERS

Brett Auten

Wendy Todd

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

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

Ph: 636.379.1775

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Around Town

The eighth annual Tennessee Williams Festival celebrates the work of the great American playwright and more.

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Feature Neighbors helping neighbors St. Louis County Older Resident Programs places volunteers in position to help the senior community.

Our Thoughts

Moore on Life author Cindy Moore encounters the horrors of trying to make a return online while Avalanche questions the intelligence of his beloved dogs.

Lifestyle

The 2023 Jeep Compass checks all of the right boxes in Automobile Alley. Remembering opening credits from classic TV shows in Entertainment. Bring on dessert with better-for-you sweets in For the Love of Food.

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In Depth

Oasis Intergenerational Tutoring program is looking for volunteers to help children grades K-3 with their literacy skills.

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Events Calendar

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Staff Writer –Wendy Todd Cover Photo – Bigstock

AroundTown AroundTown

Celebrating Tennessee Williams

BY WENDY TODD

Tennessee Williams wrote some of the most well-known plays of our time. A number of them, “A Streetcar Named Desire,” “The Glass Menagerie,” “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” and “Suddenly Last Summer” were adapted into feature films starring some of the era’s most notable actors. His legacy of works, that feature innovative prose and provocative subject matter, lives on as an example of American literary classics.

Fans of Williams will get an opportunity to join in on the celebration of his work at the upcoming eighth annual Tennessee Williams Festival.

The festival was created by Carrie Houk, who also serves as its executive director, and celebrates the two-time Pulitzer Prize winner’s work and life in St. Louis, where he lived for 20 years and was buried in the Calvary Cemetery in North County. She wanted to highlight the playwright in the city where he’d spent so much time and prepared him to develop his distinguished work.

Houk created the festival believing that

grand recognition for Williams in a city that had been his home was long overdue.

“I had wondered for years why St. Louis didn’t have a Tennessee Williams festival or didn’t honor him in any way,” Houk said. “He spent almost 20 formative years in our city and his time here influenced so much of his work. After producing a sell-out run of ‘Stairs to the Roof’ in 2014, I realized that it was time in St. Louis to bring this to fruition. New Orleans, Provincetown, Clarksdale, Columbus and Mississippi all had a longstanding festival. I felt the time was ripe for one to be established here.”

The festival, themed “University City Years,” kicks off Sept. 7 with performances of his play, the Southern gothic, “Suddenly Last Summer” at the Center of Creative Arts, which runs through the 17th. It is directed by Tim Ocel.

There are other events scheduled to engage Williams fans in his art and history, including a walking tour of University City, where he once lived with his family, a poetry slam at Blueberry Hill and a screening of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” in collaboration with Cinema St. Louis.

Houk wants those who attend the festival to understand the impact Williams had on the literary arts.

“I want them to be reminded of how important Williams’ imprint is on American theatre,” she said. “His work is as timely now as it was when written. His beautiful use of language should continue to be savored by future generations.”

The festival offers fans and newcomers to Williams an opportunity to delve into the breadth of his art, not only his more recognizable pieces.

“There is a vast, beautiful body of work by Williams that is perhaps not as known as the top six or so plays but demands further examination,” Houk said. “We try to bring our audiences both.”

With a schedule that includes performances, events, panel discussions and more, the Tennessee Williams Festival aims to provide participants an 11-day immersive experience in the playwright’s transformative collection of classics.

For more information and tickets, visit www.twstl.org.

The eighth annual Tennessee Williams Festival celebrates the work of the great American playwright and his time spent in St. Louis

Performers will bring to life the works of Tennessee Williams at the eighth annual Tennessee Williams Festival.

PHOTOS COURTESY CHRISTIAN ZARRICK

aboard

Rail tour highlights key freight transportation assets within the St. Louis region’s rail freight network

The Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis (TRRA) and the St. Louis Regional Freightway teamed up on Aug. 10 to host a Rail Freight Tour to raise awareness of one of the nation’s largest rail hubs, with a focus on investment needs and opportunities for both freight and passenger rail and associated roads and bridges that are part of the region’s freight network.

The event kicked off at St. Louis Union Station where representatives of TRRA, St. Louis Regional Freightway, and both the Missouri and Illinois Departments of Transportation (DOTs) highlighted recent state and federal actions to support the growth of the freight-based economy in the region and the collaborations driving that support, before boarding the train for the Rail Freight Tour. Attendees included multimodal transportation industry leaders, St. Louis regional elected officials, educators and various members of the construction, engineering and manufacturing industries within the region.

The tour included multiple points of interest on both the Illinois side as well as the Missouri side of the Mississippi River as on-board narrators identified rail yards, rail connections to shippers and carriers, conveyor belts and barge terminals, rail bridges and highway infrastructure all providing modal flexibility, and efficient and reliable freight movements. It afforded guests a unique vantage point to view those key transportation assets and gain insights into critical infrastructure investments underway or planned in the region.

Mary Lamie, Executive Vice President of Multi Modal Enterprises for Bi-State Development and head of the St. Louis Regional Freightway, provided additional context. “It’s the infrastructure, the confluence of six Class I railroads, four interstates with low congestion and no tolls, and most strategic location on the Mississippi River along with two international airports that supports our role as a global logistics hub,” Lamie said. “If you visit our sister cities like Kansas City, Memphis, Nashville and Minneapolis,

you won’t find the geographic advantages or multimodal infrastructure. We’re hoping that after today’s tour you’ll have a better understanding of the how these modes of transportation support current and future manufacturing and logistics industries.”

After heading north along the St. Louis riverfront past the North Riverfront Commerce Corridor, the train crossed into the State of Illinois via the TRRA’s Merchants Bridge, which is the second oldest bridge over the Mississippi River in the St. Louis region and serves six Class I railroads and Amtrak. Replacement of the Merchants Bridge was the region’s #1 freight infrastructure priority from 2016 through completion of the $222 million project in Fall 2022. The project doubled the capacity of the bridge, seismically retrofitted the piers and will ensure reliable rail connections across the Mississippi River into the next century.

While crossing the Merchant’s Bridge, guests also learned about the various projects underway or planned at America’s Central Port, visible to the north of the new structure. America’s Central Port Executive Director Dennis Wilmsmeyer provided insight on the important role the port plays in facilitating the movement of goods from barge to both truck and rail and vice versa.

Tour attendees learned about the impact the TRRA investments will have on Chicago-St. Louis High Speed Intercity Passenger

Rail Service. The start of 110 mph passenger rail service on the route kicked off at the end of June 2023, with the higher speeds eliminating approximately 15 minutes from the previous 90 mph runtimes between the two cities. With the additional TRRA improvements, the full build-out will result in double tracks for the entire length of the corridor, reducing or eliminating the need for schedule-busting delays.

“It is important to continue investments in TRRA assets to ensure reliability and further reduce travel times, making intercity passenger rail service car competitive and giving riders a safe and environmentally friendly alternative,” said Brent Wood, President of TRRA.

The multimodal connectivity of the region was also featured as part of the tour. Several major road construction projects were highlighted along the way, including the $1.35 billion in improvements coming to the northern I-270 corridor running from Missouri to Illinois; almost $900 million in improvements coming to I-70, from Wentzville, Missouri, to the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge.

Ed Hassinger, Deputy Director and Chief Engineer for MoDOT, talked about the importance of the St. Louis Regional Freightway’s list in advancing key infrastructure projects for the region. “I-270 was on the list, and we’re four months away from being done with that project. We have a partnership with IDOT on the Chain of Rocks Bridge and that’s under construction, and probably the biggest news is that (Missouri) Governor Parson is going to be signing the bill that authorizes the rebuilding of I-70 across the entire state – a $2.8 billion state investment,” said Hassinger. “Our governor and our legislators have infrastructure on their mind, and they are putting their money where their mouth is.”

To learn more about the Priority Projects List and the specific projects that encompass it, visit https://www.thefreightway.com/whystl-region/priority-infrastructure-projects/.

All

Mary Lamie, Executive Vice President of Multi Modal Enterprises for Bi-State Development and head of the St. Louis Regional Freightway, addresses attendees at St. Louis Union Station before the start of the Rail Freight Tour on Aug. 10.

SUBMITTTED PHOTO

TRANSFORMING COMMUNITY COLLEGE

St. Louis Community College starts construction on its four main campuses to provide more modern facilities and programs to the St. Louis region

BY WENDY TODD

St. Louis Community College is undergoing a transformation. Last month, the college held a groundbreaking ceremony at the Florissant Valley campus for a new Center for Nursing and Health Sciences.

The new center will expand the capacity for STLCC’s nursing, dental hygiene and radiology technology programs and includes dedicated areas for students to study, eat and socialize, including an outdoor student plaza. The center is projected to cost $61.97 million, covered by funds from Proposition R, an eight-cent tax levy approved by voters in 2021. It is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. It’s the second of six construction projects to be undertaken as part of “STLCC Transformed.”

The “STLCC Transformed” initiative aims to bring the college’s four main campuses into a more modern standing by providing facilities and programming for the growth and competitiveness of the St. Louis region. Renovation and expansion projects will take place at other main campuses including Forest Park, Meramec and Wildwood. Most of the buildings on the main campuses are about 60 years old, therefore updates are needed to provide and maintain learning spaces that accommodate today’s training and technology to remain competitive with other institutions.

The Florissant Valley campus is also revamping the Advanced Manufacturing Center which will combine engineering, accelerated workforce programs and computer information technology and offer modern learning and collaboration opportunities. There will also be dedicated classrooms for metal structures, composites fabrication, welding, industrial maintenance and robotics and HVACR.

Forest Park plans include a new Transportation Center that will span 79,000 square feet. The center will allow the automotive technology, diesel technology and truck driving programs to be housed in one place. The space will expand the capacity of these high-demand courses and aid in the facilitation of new certificate programs. The Highland Park building will be taken down to create space for the center.

The Meramec campus is preparing for the demolition of three building to allow for the construction of two new, state-of-the-art buildings, the Financial Services and Enrollment Center and the Center for Emerging Technology.

The Financial Services and Enrollment Center will be a one-stop shop for student services and the Center for Emerging Technology will house new programming and provide access to the Academic Success and Tutoring Department and the library.

Last month the Wildwood campus began excavation for a Center for Health Sciences and Technology. New programs will be added to meet the job training and retrain-

ing needs in the areas of health care and technology.

The nursing program will be expanded to add new offerings including Among these programs, Wildwood plans to expand its nursing program and add new health care offerings in advanced imaging, physical therapy and paramedic technology. There will also be space for STEM classes as well as areas for students to have leisure time. The building is slated to be 132,900 square feet.

St. Louis Community College was established in 1962 and is the largest community college district in Missouri and one of the largest in the United States. The college annually serves more than 50,000 students through credit courses, continuing education and workforce development programs. For more information about STLCC, visit stlcc.edu.

This artistic rendering shows a completed project on the campus of St. Louis Community College.

Growing greenway

St. Vincent Greenway expansion in Wellston connects area to community resources

Community members joined Great Rivers Greenway (GRG) and its project partners Aug. 6, to celebrate the new half-mile expansion of the St. Vincent Greenway from Trojan Park at Etzel Ave to Robert L. Powell Place in Wellston.

The afternoon kicked off with a parade held along the newly completed section from the Wellston Transit Center to Trojan Park. Then GRG, the Mysun Charitable Foundation and Wellston Mayor Nathanial Griffin took part in a ribbon cutting ceremony at Trojan Park. The greenway now extends from Trojan Park along Stephen Jones Avenue and west to the intersection of Plymouth and Suter avenues.

Community members can walk, run, push a stroller, ride a bike or use a wheelchair along the paved, accessible path that connects them to Trojan Park, Yadier Molina Field, the Wellston MetroLink Station, Metropolitan Education and Training

(MET) Center, STL Partnership Business Center, and the new MetroBus stop on Stephen Jones Ave.

“This greenway builds on our long-successful partnership with Wellston for Trojan Park,” said Susan Trautman, CEO of Great Rivers Greenway. “Even in a small section, we were able to make critical connections to transit and destinations for job training, plus create a lovely new community space along the way.”

The landing overlooks a recently cleared area of Engelholm Creek and provides a view of a new rain garden with native plantings. This not only provides habitat for pollinators and welcomes visitors, but also offers a place for the water to overflow during rainstorms. Built to flood, this rain garden filters rainwater and reduces pressure on storm drains.

The park also includes solar lighting, a bike rack, a water fountain with wa-

ter bottle and dog bowl features, and an emergency blue light tower.

Additionally, the development contributed new LED lights along Plymouth Ave., a new parking lot with permeable pavers at the corner of Stephen Jones and Etzel avenues, and a MetroBus stop with improved seating along Plymouth Ave. Community members can also travel along the existing stretch of the St. Vincent Greenway, which connects them to destinations such as Ruth Porter Mall Park, the West End and DeBaliviere Place neighborhoods, businesses along DeBaliviere Ave., the Forest Park-DeBaliviere MetroLink station, and Forest Park at the Missouri History Museum.

A future path through Pagedale to St. Charles Rock Road that will connect the St. Vincent Greenway from Forest Park to the University of Missouri-St. Louis will be completed in 2024-2025

AroundTown

Good reads The St. Louis Jewish Book Festival announces four headlining authors

The 2023 St. Louis Jewish Book Festival has not one, but four major authors headlining the 45th annual book festival that will be held Nov. 5-19. The Jewish Community Center will host Andrew Rhea, Rebecca Minkoff, Martin Fletcher and Mitch Albom throughout the two-week-long event.

On Nov. 7 at the festival’s cookbook panel, YouTube star Andrew Rea, from the show “Basics with Babish,” will show off his latest cookbook, written to help troubleshoot anything from broken butter to burnt bread to bony branzino. “Basics with Babish” is a kitchen bible for the new generation of trial-and-error home chefs.

On Nov. 9, luxury fashion mogul and social activist Rebecca Minkoff will kick off Women’s Night with her latest book, “Fearless: The New Rules For Unlocking Creativity, Courage, And Success.”

“Rebecca Minkoff is not only an icon in the fashion dimension as a world-renowned designer, but she is also a business maven whose efforts to recognize the unique struggles of women and mothers in the workplace are reflected in her podcast and in her book,” said Hannah Dinkel, Director of Literary Arts at the J. “We are thrilled to welcome Rebecca for Women’s Night. Her uplifting character and wisdom pay tribute to the spirit of the evening as we come together to amplify powerful female, Jewish voices!”

NBC news correspondent and National Jewish Book Award–winner, Martin Fletcher, will be presenting his latest book, “Teachers: The Ones I Can’t Forget” on Nov. 14. This book features photographic montages paired with moving stories of resilience collected from Fletcher’s memories in international news coverage. “Teachers” is a welcome reminder of the integrity, devotion, and empathy that still goes into news reporting.

Mitch Albom, author of the No. 1 bestseller “The Stranger in the Lifeboat,” will close out the festival on Nov. 19 discussing his latest novel, “The Little Liar,” which will be officially released during the book festival. This moving story of three Holocaust survivors focuses on the consequences of what they said, did, and endured

as children to survive such a devastating moment in history. In addition to these three authors, the festival will offer a diverse lineup of bestselling authors, investigative journalists, historians, and more. Highlights include:

• Internationally acclaimed intuitive self-improvement advisor and psychic medium Rebecca Rosen will take the stage to discuss her book, “What’s Your Heaven? 7 Lessons to Heal the Past and Live Fully Now.” This book is a guide to overcoming harmful intergenerational patterns and tapping into your own divine guidance to start living the life you were born to lead.

• Historian and specialist for Holocaust and German-Jewish history, Wolf Gruner, will speak on his newest book, “Resisters: How Ordinary Jews Fought Persecution in Hitler’s Germany.” This highly original and compelling account, tells the tales of individual Jews who resisted Nazi persecution, challenging the traditional portrayal of Jewish passivity during the Holocaust.

• Dr. Rosanne M. Leipzig, a top doctor with more than 35 years of experience caring for older people, presents “Honest Aging” an indispensable guide to the second half of life, describing what to expect physically, psychologically, functionally and emotionally as you age.

Participants can also expect names like Andrew Mellen, Andrew Meier, Diana Fersko, Aaron Hamburger, Weina Dai Randel, and Michael Strassfeld to present their latest books throughout the festival. See the full lineup of authors, prepare your calendars for the schedule of events, or purchase tickets at jccstl.com/JBF-authorsevents.

Those who want the full St. Louis Jewish Book Festival experience can purchase Premiere Pass Tickets, which provide entrance to more than 18 author programs year-round. These tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at www.showpass.com/jewishbook-festival-all-access-pass-3/.

Book parade

Assistance League of St. Louis Storybook Characters Parade takes place at the Urban League Back-to-School Expo

Pete the Cat and other storybook characters, all costumed volunteers from Assistance League of St. Louis, paraded through America’s Center on Aug. 5 to kick off the “Books from Friends” program for the 202324 school year.

Following the parade, volunteers hosted a booth at the Urban League Back-to-School Expo. Aspiring young readers who visited the booth received ageappropriate books to take home,

with more than 6,200 books being distributed during the expo.

Visitors to the booth also had a chance to meet local guest author Micheal Anderson, whose Zoey Lyndon series is a favorite with middle grade students. Anderson autographed 300 copies of Zoey books and personalized them for the children. All of the books teach life lessons, and the author says she wrote the books so that children who look like her will see characters they can relate

to in the books they read.

“We hope the parade and books will help these young people know how much fun reading can be” said Assistance League of St. Louis president Denise McKibben. “Last year, as our volunteers visited and read with children at Head Start programs and other early childhood settings, we distributed more than 18,000 books through ‘Books from Friends’ to encourage a love of reading.”

Housing security

The St. Louis Housing Authority now provides Section 8 participants help with security deposit vouchers

For the over 6,000 St. Louis residents who are receiving Section 8 housing assistance, there is good news. The St. Louis Housing Authority is offering security deposit vouchers to Section 8 participants.

The Housing Choice Voucher Program Section 8 is a federal housing program that allows very low-income families, elderly and disabled people to afford suitable housing in the private market. The participant is free to choose any housing that meets the requirements of the program and is not limited to units in subsidized housing projects. The security deposit assistance was developed to help alleviate interruptions that slow down the process for Section 8 participants to secure a residence.

A participating family is responsible for finding a suitable housing unit of their choice where the owner agrees to rent under the program. This unit may include the family’s present residence. Rental units must meet minimum standards of health and safety, as determined by the public housing agency.

A housing subsidy is paid to the landlord directly by the public agency on behalf of the participating family. The family is responsible for the difference between the actual rent charged by the landlord and the amount subsidized by the program. Under certain circumstances, if authorized by the public housing agency, a family may use its voucher to purchase a modest home.

For renters in the program, the security deposit assistance can be the difference between stability and experiencing displacement.

“The St. Louis Housing Authority has provided affordable housing solutions to local families for more than 80 years,” said Alana C. Green the St. Louis Housing Authority Executive Director. “The new program reduces housing instability by providing much-needed funds to Housing Choice Voucher families who struggle to afford security deposits.”

The deposit assistance from the HUD-funded program is not only an effort to offset climbing housing rental fees, but also to prevent disruptions in the rental process.

“The Security Deposit Assistance Pilot Program limits delays in the leasing process for those who cannot afford to pay the full security deposit,” said Val Joyner, director of communications at the St. Louis Housing Authority.” Therefore, families can move into their new homes without delay.”

Priority for security deposit assistance may be given to House Choice Voucher Program participants who are: homeless, experiencing domestic violence, required to relocate due to disability, required to relocate due to unsafe housing conditions or facing exigent circumstances.

So far, since launching the program Aug. 1, the SLHA has received over 100 applications, which are reviewed daily for eligibility. Housing Choice Voucher participants may apply for assistance online at www.slha.org or in-person at the SLHA Central Office located at 3520 Page Boulevard.

The security deposit voucher assistance offer is a pilot program and the funding will last until the end of the year or until funds are exhausted.

Neighbors helping neighbors

BY WENDY TODD

St. Louis County Older Resident Programs places volunteers in position to help the senior community

Some things in life may become more challenging with age, but with support, they don’t have to be daunting. The St. Louis County Older Resident Programs offers varied services to St. Louis County residents age 60 and over.

The St. Louis County Older Resident Programs (CORP) is a neighborhood-based program that was established in 1975, to address the needs of older adults living independently. Services including tax preparation, home repairs care calls and transportation to and from medical appointments and other high priority destinations. Many of the services are free of charge. CORP assists over 5,000 residents every year.

CORP, which is operated by the Office of Family Community Services within St. Louis County Human Services, is a beneficia resource for members of the

senior community in St. Louis County who need extra help. But much of this work relies on volunteers.

Laura Conners, the volunteer coordinator for CORP, wants the public to know how vital volunteers are to the program and how much they help the senior community.

The “Neighbor Driving Neighbor” program is just one offering utilizing volunteers to provide an essential service. Volunteers who offer rides have the flexibility to drive at their convenience and receive mileage reimbursement. Rides are available Monday to Friday and are scheduled in advance. Volunteers are needed in all areas of St. Louis County and must be at least 21 years old.

Another challenge many seniors face is loneliness. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, loneliness and isolation are considered to be severe public health risks that put seniors in jeopardy for developing dementia and other grave medical conditions.

The CORP program, “Care Calls,” attempts to alleviate the effects of isolation on seniors.

Volunteers offer reassurance and friendly conversation to area seniors via phone calls to help them stay connected and engaged with the community. It’s a crucial service for some who are homebound, widowed or otherwise secluded.

Conners is seeking more volunteers to help provide services to area seniors.

To participate or learn more about St. Louis County Older Resident Programs, call 314-615-4516 during business hours Monday – Friday. People may also email CORP@stlouiscountymo.gov.

The St. Louis County Older Resident Programs include tax preparation, home repairs care calls and transportation to and from medical appointments and other high priority destinations.

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

MOORE

ON LIFE

BY CINDY MOORE

POINT OF NO RETURN Past the

It’s a nightmare trying to make a return online. Here’s how mine went.

It was a dark and stormy night. I was in a haunted house being chased by a horribly disfigured madman with a sharp, bloody instrument. Finally, the demented creature caught me and cackled, “Aha! Now I’ve got you! Any last requests?!”

“Yes, I need to make a return online.”

The fiend trembled and whimpered, “That’s so cruel and mean. Are you trying to scare me to death?”

He then dropped his weapon and ran off shrieking into the night.

I tried to get a refund from a book seller last week. First, I attempted to call.

“Ha, boomer! Companies don’t talk to you anymore. That’s so 1960’s. They rarely even use phones manned by robots. Now it’s all done online so you can’t have the satisfaction of yelling at a human.”

Thanks for that vital info strange-interrupting-voice-person.

So, using my phone, I went ahead and perused their website for a few days until I found a tiny box buried under layers of ads and click bait and other useless garbage.

It was tucked under a little banner that read: “Don’t read this.”

I read it.

It said: “In the rare event you should need to make a return please click here.”

I clicked.

It said: “We told you not to read this! Because you have not followed our instructions, we have determined you may need additional help. Please hold while we connect you with a representative in Jalalabamania.”

After 45 minutes of waiting and listening to some on-hold music which sounded like the screeching of a cat in

heat, someone with an unusual accent answered.

“Alo, may I assist you?”

“Yes, I’d like to return an item.”

“Certainly. Do you have the secret code listed beneath the little hidden box inside the square on page 14 which instructed you not to read it?”

“No, I didn’t notice a code. I barely noticed the little hidden box.”

“Right. So, I will pass this on to corporate that our little hidden box has been discovered. This is not good news. Thank you for contacting Easy Sleazy Book Buys. Would you like to make a purchase?”

“No! I want to return something!” Click.

The choice is down to being chased by a psychopath or trying to make a return online. Either way it’s murder.

ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE BY AVALANCHE

I recently squandered a few pleasant minutes watching some squirrel videos on the intertubes. Mark Rober (the “Glitter Bomb” guy) was tired of marauding squirrels cleaning out his bird feeders, so he spent a couple months engineering and building a spectacular squirreloriented obstacle course, complete with jumps, climbs, tunnels, pneumatically activated trap-doors, spinning obstacles and more, all monitored by 24-hour day and night vision cameras.

Mark is pretty creative, doesn’t do anything halfway, and his videos are always worth watching. Of course, as anyone who has ever tried to keep squirrels out of their feeders knows, the tree-borne rodents are quite persistent and resourceful, and within a few days, had conquered all of Mark’s genius-level obstacles placed in front of them, and got to chow down on the prized nuts at the end.

It turns out, our dogs are dumber than squirrels.

Cato is getting a little gimpy these days, can’t jump in bed with us, and it’s becoming harder for her to get in the truck. (The problem is arthritis; not severe, but somewhat limiting.) So, we bought a big long ramp, to make negotiating inclines easier.

Both dogs have used a ramp to get down from the porch into the yard since they were puppies; but they always use the stairs to come back up onto the porch. I placed the new, big ramp next to the smaller old one, with both ramps covering over the front porch stairs, so they can come and go only via ramp.

No way. Neither dog will walk up the new ramp, only down. After a few hours of whining in the front yard, Clouseau reluctantly made it up the big ramp, and that took several slices of bacon strategically placed along the incline. He wouldn’t go back down after that, but rather continued whining because Cato was not inside with him.

Cato wouldn’t set foot on either of the ramps, she just stayed in the yard and barked, until I was worried that she would get heat stroke, or the neighbors (or I) would kill her to get her to be quiet. I

OF DOGS and squirrels and people

didn’t even bother putting the ramp on the truck tailgate, since the lower grade of the porch was a non-starter.

Staci tried various methods of persuasion to coax the Newfys to use the ramp, including raising the lower end, and putting the top on the first step down from the top of the porch to make the grade easier. Staci is nicer and more charming than I am, and is much more generous with the dog treats - all to no avail. The mutts just aren’t going use the new ramp, no matter how much food and love are applied.

Now we’re looking at a big set of folding dog stairs instead, so they can make it into the back of the F-250, which sits up considerably higher than our previous trucks. (The stairs’ sales brochure lists them as being suitable for Newfound-

lands). Of course, there’s the possibility that we will need the big stairs for them to get into the truck, and the big ramp to get them back down. These dogs are high maintenance.

Since we enjoy sleeping with our giant fuzzy companions, and they can’t/won’t jump into bed anymore, we decided to put a couple of camping mattresses down on the floor so we can all get a good night’s sleep together. In other words, our dogs have manipulated us into sleeping on the floor with them.

So, if our dogs are dumber than squirrels, yet smart enough to convince us to sleep on the floor, where does that put us on the intelligence continuum of the animal kingdom? The answer seems to be less than flattering!

THE 2023 JEEP COMPASS

checks all of the right boxes

It’s no secret, the formula to attracting new vehicle buyers is generally defined by styling, performance, comfort, safety and, frequently, best in class standards within a number of categories.

That said, the five-passenger, 2023 Jeep Compass has all of these notable attributes and more! It now comes with an enhanced exterior design that combines premium craftsmanship, coupled with the iconic and unmistakable Jeep styling.

The new Compass lineup for ‘23 consists of five models. It’s sold in the Sport version, Latitude, Latitude LUX, Limited and the Trailhawk rendition, each manufactured with its own unique styling cues. Compass also receives an updated wheel lineup with attractive and distinctive designs and up to 19-inch tire and wheel combinations.

Now, available for the first time, is an advanced 2.0-liter direct injection turbocharged inline four-cylinder high output engine. It produces some 200 horsepower and 221 lb.-ft. of torque. These impressive performance numbers represent the top of its competitive category with horsepower and torque specifications. In part, it gets notable fuel economy, low tail pipe exhaust emissions, and is set up with the factory’s engine stop/start fuel savings technology.

Additionally, this turbo delivers exceptional responsiveness and enhanced drivability and is developed to run on regular grade octane fuel. The powertrain is matched with a high-efficient eight-speed automatic transmission. To help govern inherited en-

BY DAVID FINKELSTEIN

gine vibrations, this powerplant is mounted on Hydraulic-filled engine mounts, thus absorbing nuisance vibrations.

With the Compass’ reengineered signature components, it results in both on-road sophistication as well as off-road capabilities. The Active Drive 4x4 system is now standard on all models. It also includes their Selec-Terrain system. It provides up to four drive modes for the best four-wheel-drive performance, in just about any weather situation, including settings such as: Auto, Snow, Mud and Sand modes. The Trailhawk trim also includes an exclusive Rock mode, for enhanced off-roading capabilities. The standard four-wheel drive set up is fully automatic and delivers seamless operation at any speed.

Furthermore, this is the most technologically advanced Jeep Compass ever introduced. More precisely, this includes a lengthy list of over 80 advanced safety and security features. Most are standard, while some are optional.

With this model having been redesigned for the 2022 model year, the 2023 Compass interior showcases a modern technologically advanced cabin. Plenty of welcomed storage space is included. Comfortable seating and attention to craftsmanship is evident the moment you glance inside. The modern and sophisticated environment features trademark Jeep design elements, high-end materials and state-of-the-art technology.

The version I tested was the Trailhawk model. It had a number of additional fac-

tory options as the sticker pricing came out to be $46,290. This also included shipping and destination charges of $1,595. Fuel economy numbers reflected 24-miles per gallon city/32-MPG with highway driving. The base warranty is for 36-months/36,000 miles and the powertrain coverage is for 60-months, or 60,000 miles. It generally competes with the Volkswagen Taos, Chevy Trailblazer and the Mazda CX-30, all in the small crossover/SUV category.

REMEMBERING OPENING CREDITS FROM

classic tv shows

AAfter spending too much money on cable television, I cut the cord for good and purchased two inexpensive antennas that allowed me to receive regular broadcast stations as well as classic TV channels such as MeTV.

I noticed that shows from the 1960’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s had clever opening sequences designed to grab the viewer’s attention. “The Bob Newhart Show,” for instance, showed Newhart walking to his office in Chicago, taking the train home and, along the way, interacting with other commuters. Lorenzo Music, who was a writer, producer and musician for the show, wrote the title theme with his wife Henrietta.

“The Bob Newhart Show” was a classic sitcom that made me want to explore other classic shows. Over 10 seasons, “Friends” examined the lives of six young New Your City residents. The opening credits featured the main cast splashing around in an ornate outdoor fountain.

Throughout the series, the audience learned more about the main characters.

Jennifer Aniston’s Rachel Green, for instance, ran away from her wedding day and moved in with chef Monica Geller (Courtney Cox). Guest stars such as Tom Selleck, who played dentist Richard Burke, made appearances on the show. After its initial primetime run, “Friends” found a comfortable home in syndication.

On March 18, 1981, “The Greatest American Hero” arrived on the small screen. William Kat starred as Ralph Hinkley, a dedicated teacher who attracted the attention of benevolent aliens. They gave Ralph a powerful suit with incredible abilities, but he lost the instruction book more than once. Opening credits for the series showed Ralph flying (and crashing) multiple times, but he gained control of his powers over time. After the world accidentally learned of his abilities, the aliens wanted him to pass the suit on to another worthy person. A pilot episode of “The Greatest American Heroine” did not, unfortunately, lead to an ongoing series.

With its catchy opening montage, “Blossom” was a true 1990’s sitcom. Mayim

BY STEVE BRYAN

Bialik, who had a memorable role in the 1988 film “Beaches,” played Blossom Russo, a teenager who lived with her father (Ted Waas) and her two brothers, Joey (Joey Lawrence) and Tony (Michael Stoyanov). The opening credits featured Bialik dancing to the show’s theme song and, over time, the rest of the main cast joined her in the montage as well. “Blossom” was a fun show and, as a fan of “The Big Bang Theory,” having Mayim Bialik play Amy Farrah Fowler was a rather intelligent move.

The opening credits for the sitcom “Head of the Class” showed history teacher Charlie Moore (Howard Hessman) navigating his way through New York to make it to his classroom of geniuses on time. In the early seasons, Moore taught his students much more than what was shown in books. Hesseman left the series in 1990 and Billy Connoly took over the class as teacher Billy MacGregor for what became the final season. Connolly’s character later appeared in the spin-off series “Billy” but it only lasted a half-season.

“Friends” photo courtesy NBC

Inredients

Prune Puree:

16 ounces pitted California prunes

1/2 cup hot water

Brownies: nonstick cooking spray

6 ounces

unsweetened chocolate

1/2 cup California extra-virgin olive oil

BRING ON DESSERT

with better-for-you sweets

IIf healthier eating holds a prominent spot on your list of goals, you may feel it’s necessary to eliminate some of your sweetest favorites. However, committing to a nutritionally friendly way of life doesn’t have to leave desserts by the wayside.

Instead, rethinking nighttime treats with better-for-you ingredients like California Prunes as a quick substitution can make healthier eating easy. As a versatile ingredient that can replace added sugar, fats and eggs in all kinds of recipes, prunes can also add nutrients important for bone and gut health.

Plus, the copper in prunes inhibits bone breakdown, while boron plays a role in calcium metabolism and polyphenols can help decrease bone breakdown through their antioxidant power. As a fruit that’s high in vitamin K, which helps improve calcium balance and promotes bone mineralization, prunes are also a “good gut food,”

Vegan Brownies

Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 25 minutes | Servings: 9

2 cups light brown sugar

10 ounces California prune puree

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/4 cup cocoa powder

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

flaky sea salt, for garnish

Directions:

To make prune puree: In blender, combine prunes and water. Pulse to combine then blend until smooth, pourable consistency forms, scraping sides, if necessary.

Store puree in airtight container in fridge up to 4 weeks.

To make brownies: Preheat oven to 350 F. Line 9-by-9-inch baking pan with parchment paper then lightly grease with nonstick cooking spray.

Using double boiler, melt chocolate and olive oil. Whisk in sugar and prune puree; mix until dissolved.

Into large bowl, sift flour, baking powder and cocoa powder. Gently fold in chocolate and prune mixture then add vanilla.

Spread batter in prepared pan, sprinkle with flaky sea salt and bake 2025 minutes, or until top starts to look dry and brownies are just beginning to pull away from sides of pan.

Cool in pan. Remove then cut brownies into 3-inch squares.

meaning a single serving (roughly 4-6 prunes) can help support a healthy microbiome.

They’re easy to use in recipes that can become favorites in your household such as these Chocolate Energy Balls. Enjoyed as an easy, on-the-go snack, they’re a perfect way to refuel for an adventure, recharge after a workout or to simply savor as a healthy snack.

Chocolate lovers rejoice: This rich, delicious, gluten-free, grain-free Chocolate Covered Prune Fudge Cake is naturally sweetened using prunes instead of added sugar. If brownies are more your style, prunes can also take the place of eggs in these Vegan Brownies for a family-friendly treat that won’t wreck your eating plan.

To find more better-for-you desserts, visit californiaprunes.org.

Chocolate Energy Balls

Recipe courtesy of Meg van der Kruik on behalf of California Prunes

Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 30 minutes | Yield: 24 pieces

Prune Puree:

16 ounces pitted California prunes

1/2 cup hot water

Energy Balls:

1 cup old-fashioned or gluten-free oats

2/3 cup toasted, unsweetened shredded coconut

1/2 cup creamy natural nut butter (peanut or almond)

1/2 cup pecan meal

1/2 cup prune puree

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

To make prune puree: In blender, combine prunes and water. Pulse to combine then blend until smooth, pourable consistency forms, scraping sides, if necessary.

Store puree in airtight container in fridge up to 4 weeks.

To make energy balls: In mixing bowl, stir oats, coconut, nut butter, pecan meal, prune puree, cocoa powder and vanilla until completely combined.

Cover and chill in refrigerator 30 minutes. Once chilled, use small cookie scoop or measuring spoon to measure equalsized amounts of mixture then form into balls by applying gentle pressure to dough using palms. Do not roll as balls will break apart.

Store covered in airtight container in refrigerator up to 1 week.

Cake: Coconut oil spray

14 tablespoons butter, chopped

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3/4 cup cocoa powder

10 soft, pitted prunes, chopped small

1/3 cup maple syrup

6 eggs

1/2 cup coconut sugar

1 cup almond meal

Ganache: 1 cup full-fat coconut milk

1 1/3 cups dark chocolate morsels

Chocolate Covered Prune Fudge Cake

Prep time: 15 minutes | Cook time: 55 minutes | Yield: 1 cake (8 inches)

To make cake: Preheat oven to 300 F. Lightly spray bottom and sides of 8-inch springform pan with coconut oil spray. Place round piece of parchment paper in bottom of pan and lightly spray with coconut oil spray.

In small saucepan over low heat, place butter and vanilla. Use sieve to sift cocoa into saucepan. Stir with spatula until completely smooth. Remove from heat and set aside.

In bowl of food processor fitted with “S” blade, place prunes and syrup. Top with cooled butter mixture then process until smooth. Transfer to large mixing bowl, scraping all chocolate mixture from food processor with spatula.

In bowl of stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, whip eggs and coconut sugar on high speed 7 minutes, or until tripled in volume.

Add one-third of egg mixture to bowl with chocolate mixture. Using spatula, gently fold together until completely combined. Add almond meal and remaining egg mixture to bowl and gently fold to combine.

Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 55 minutes, or until set. Once cooked through, transfer cake to cooling rack and cool completely in pan.

To make ganache: In top of double boiler, melt coconut milk and dark chocolate until completely smooth. Pour prepared ganache over cake. Serve immediately for molten fudge effect or allow to completely set.

BUILDING A FOUNDATION

Oasis Intergenerational Tutoring program is looking for volunteers to help children grades K-3 with their literacy skills

If you love to volunteer and work with young people, the Oasis Intergenerational Tutoring program might be just the place for you. The national nonprofit, that focuses on providing resources for older adults, has an intergenerational tutoring program and is looking for volunteers to help children grades K-3 with their literacy skills.

Oasis is a national organization that was established in St. Louis in 1989 and operates in 22 cities in 15 states with more than 4,000 volunteers. It offers various services for the older population including a variety of health courses, art classes and several volunteer and paid opportunities to keep seniors active and engaged. The organization was founded by Marylen Mann who was inspired to create a place where seniors could go to be active and healthy.

“Volunteering in general has been proven to be beneficial not only mentally but also physically for people,” national

tutoring director, Stephanie McCreary, said. “The biggest benefit for the older adult tutor is that it gives them a sense of purpose and keeps them engaged and active in their communities. The student benefits from the mentorship of a caring older adult who becomes not only someone who helps them learn to read but also a kind ear and friend.”

Its tutoring services are currently in 78 school districts nationwide and 38 districts in Missouri and Illinois. The program has reached more than 525,000 children since its launch. Those receiving tutoring have experienced vast personal and academic improvements.

“The outcomes are extensive,” McCreary said. “Not only are students working with Oasis tutors shown to have higher reading scores, they also show increased confidence and self-esteem, higher attendance and increased participation in school.”

The organization is looking to recruit

BY WENDY TODD

700 tutors nationwide for the upcoming school year.

“Children struggling to learn to read is a problem that knows no societal or economic boundaries,” McCreary said. “So, we need as many tutors as possible to combat it.”

McCreary believes that helping students strengthen their literacy skills is one of the most worthwhile activities in which one can participate.

“There are not many more rewarding volunteer experiences you can have than helping a child learn to read,” she said. “Reading is the foundation for everything else they will do in life. Secondly, there is so much more to Oasis. If you are an older adult looking for a place where you will be able to have fun and stay active and learning this is the place for you.”

To find out more about Oasis and how to volunteer, go to www.st-louis,oasisnet. org.