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2 | OUR TOWN | SEPTEMBER 2021
Our Town Volume 12 | Number 9 SEPTEMBER 2021 Published by the Community News, Our Town is a monthly news magazine covering the cities of Creve Coeur, Maryland Heights, and Olivette. Circulation is 7,000 monthly through over 105 monitored newsstands guaranteeing 100% pickup. Additional issues are distributed online, and a free online subscription is available at www.mycnews. com
N THIS SSUE
Around Town
St. Louis Area Diaper Bank to celebrate National Diaper Need Awareness Week and more.
Feature PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF Mathew DeKinder PUBLISHER EMERITUS/ GENERAL MANAGER Bob Huneke PRODUCTION Becky Brockmann Melissa Nordmann CONTRIBUTORS Avalanche, David Finkelstein, Cindy Moore STAFF WRITERS Brett Auten Wendy Todd
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Honoring historyThe Kaufman Fund will host its third The long-awaited rededication of the Dr. H. Phillip Venable Memorial Park in Creve Coeur will take place Sept. 18 By Wendy Todd
Our Thoughts Moore on Life author Cindy Moore fights for some elbow room while Avalanche has to contend with mudslides in the mountains.
Lifestyle The 2021 Toyota Venza is a luxurious people mover in Automobile Alley. Hollywood’s best (and worst) con artists in Entertainment. Rally the crowd with a masterful game day menu in For the Love of Food.
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In Depth Metro Transit has met and overcome many of the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Events Calendar
Staff Writer –Wendy Todd Cover Photo – Submitted
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AroundTown
Diaper Week St. Louis Area Diaper Bank to celebrate National Diaper Need Awareness Week St. Louis Area Diaper Bank will observe National Diaper Need Awareness Week – a signature initiative of the National Diaper Bank Network – from Sept. 27 through Oct. 3. St. Louis Area Diaper Bank is a member of NDBN, a nationwide nonprofit dedicated to eliminating diaper need in America. The week provides individuals, organizations, communities and elected officials the opportunity to engage in real talk and simple actions while drawing national attention to the issue of diaper need. To highlight the celebration, the Diaper Bank will hold its fifth annual Fill the Warehouse fundraising drive to collect
100,000 diapers during the month of September. Last year the Diaper Bank collected 90,000 diapers. Fill the Warehouse participation opportunities include hosting a physical diaper drive and bringing donations to the Diaper Bank located at 6141 Etzel Ave. on Sat., Oct. 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; hosting an Amazon online virtual diaper drive where diapers can be sent directly to the Diaper Bank; and collecting monetary donations so that, for every $1 donated, the Diaper Bank can directly purchase eight diapers for children in need. Founded in 2014, the St. Louis Area Diaper Bank collects, stores, and distributes
St. Louis Area Diaper Bank will observe National Diaper Need Awareness Week – a signature initiative of the National Diaper Bank Network – from Sept. 27 through Oct. 3.
250,000 free diapers per month to struggling families through a network of 56 community, nonprofit, educational and health care partners serving low-income women and children. These diapers are obtained via local diaper drives, in-kind donations, and by purchasing diapers directly with donated funds. To date more than 5.1 million diapers have been distributed in St. Louis including nearly 900,000 diapers during the height of the pandemic. The Diaper Bank offers both emergency and long-term diaper distribution. This service is a much-needed resource since government programs – including food stamps and WIC – do not provide funding for diapers. Diapers cannot be obtained with food stamps and are classified with cigarettes, alcohol and pet food as
disallowed purchases. “National Diaper Need Awareness Week encourages residents to support the Diaper Bank and our efforts to distribute diapers to low-income families,” said St. Louis Area Diaper Bank Executive Director Muriel Smith. “September is the perfect time to help improve the health of our community’s families, and we can’t do it alone. We rely on a collective effort to end diaper need so babies and toddlers can reach their full potential.” The St. Louis Area Diaper Bank provides diaper access to the region’s low-income families, as well as raises community awareness about the causes and consequences of diaper need. For information about hosting a diaper drive during National Diaper Need Awareness Week, call 314624-0888.
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AroundTown
Honorable alumni Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis honors alumni, board members, community partners and staff The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (BGCSTL) announced the 2021 Annual Recognition event honorees and Alumni Hall of Honor inductees. Each year the staff, board members, volunteers and supporters are acknowledged and celebrated for their commitment to the Boys & Girls Clubs as well as the kids and teens that they serve. The 2021 BGCSTL Alumni Hall of Honor inductees are Brandon Bosley, Paris Thompson, Sharita Davis, Steve Vasser, Gerald Fulton, Marsha Walls and Kayla Jackson-Williams. The Hall of Honor recognizes outstanding alumni for achievements in their respective fields, commitment to leadership, serving our community’s youth, contributions to the St. Louis community and for living out the mission of the Boys & Girls Club. BGCSTL President, Dr. Flint Fowler (reflecting on the annual event which has always been close to his heart) said, “This event gives us the opportunity to celebrate the many ways that our staff, board volunteers, alumni and friends contribute to the welfare of the children we serve and highlight our impact. While we recognize the challenges of COVID-19, we believe it is important to recognize the contributions and achievements of so many club constituents.”
(From left) Dr. Flint Fowler (President, BGCSTL) stands with Sharita Davis, Marsha Walls, Kayla Jackson-Williams, Rev. Steve Vasser, Paris Thompson, accepting on behalf of Gerald “Hitman Holla” Fulton, Jr. (his parents) and Dr. Graylon Johnson (presenter and former Boys & Girls Clubs alumni) – not shown Alderman Brandon Bosley.
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SEPTEMBER 2021 | OUR TOWN | 5
AroundTown
Hearing better Hearing aid giveaway to take place at Busch Stadium The Miracle-Ear Mission 2021 will take place on Sept. 25 at Busch Stadium in the Redbird Club. The one-day special event seeks to give away more than 300 free hearing aids and services to those in the St. Louis metro area who lack the resources to gain hearing health assistance. The recipients will also receive lifetime services for their gifted hearing aids. The value of the hearing aids and services is in excess of $1 million. The gift of sound that improves the quality of life for those in need is priceless. The event is hosted by the Miracle-Ear Foundation and Miracle-Ear Midwest.. “Miracle-Ear Midwest has the resources it needs to take on such a huge need as this. We have a large staff with big hearts that
are committed to their local communities,” said Tiffany Davis, President of Miracle-Ear Midwest. “Every one of our St. Louis stores has donated resources for this project. It is the magic of those skilled volunteers and the access to the hearing aids through the financial backing of the Miracle-Ear Foundation that will allow us to bring hearing healthcare to 300 to 500 individuals in need within the St. Louis area this September.” The aim is to help adults and children in the St. Louis and East St. Louis communities with untreated hearing loss who do not have resources or finances for hearing aids. Hearing loss negatively impacts elements, such as cognitive abilities, employment
opportunities, low self-confidence, social isolation, depression, anxiety and even balance and dementia. Providing hearing aids to those in need will empower them to gain better employment and improve their overall health and well-being. “Our commitment is to help individuals and families in St. Louis live fuller and richer lives through the gift of sound,” said Davis. “Our goal is to spread awareness about the Miracle-Ear Foundation and the resources available in the St. Louis Metro area through local Miracle-Ear locations. We know that hearing loss lowers the quality of life for adults at any age.”
Preserving history A one-room school built in 1894 and operated exclusively for African-American children in the Chesterfield area for nearly four decades will soon be moved from private land on Wild Horse Creek Road to a new location in the Historic Village at Faust Park with financial support provided by the St. Louis County Parks Foundation. The foundation has raised about $15,000 of the estimated $35,000 needed to complete this project, which will be carried out by the St. Louis County Parks Department. Chesterfield African American School, formerly known as African School #4 in the Chesterfield School District, was opened at the request of the area’s African-American population at the time and served hundreds of students during its years of operation. The school’s new location will be next to the historic Alt Schoolhouse, part of the Faust Historic Village in Faust Park. “This is the oldest African-American schoolhouse in Missouri, and it is important to keep its legacy of students and teachers alive for current and future generations to see and experience in person,” said Mark Ohlendorf, President of the St. Louis County Parks Foundation. “The building has fallen into disrepair, and the current property owner wants to donate it to Faust Park to preserve the history of the area. We look forward to restoring this important part of St. Louis County history and making it a permanent part of Faust Park.” Donations from the public are being encouraged to support this project and can be made by visiting www.stlcountyparksfoundation.org and click on Our Projects. The St. Louis County Parks Foundation is a public/private partnership started in 2015 to better connect people to their parks and bridge the gap between the public funds available and the addi6 | OUR TOWN | SEPTEMBER 2021
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Move and restoration of historic African-American school to Faust Park will soon take place
A one-room school built in 1894 and operated exclusively for African-American children in the Chesterfield area for nearly four decades will soon be moved from private land on Wild Horse Creek Road to a new location in the Historic Village at Faust Park with financial support provided by the St. Louis County Parks Foundation.
tional money needed to care for, restore and enhance all St. Louis County Parks. The foundation works with the St. Louis County Parks Department to identify the park system’s needs and opportunities, and then coordinates the fundraising, purchasing and project oversight necessary to build new amenities that will improve these parks. For more information, visit www.stlcountyparksfoundation. org.
AroundTown
Tackling TV bare-handed BY TÉA PEREZ The wild world of Animal Planet has landed in the suburbs of St. Louis. Local reality TV producer Michael D. Francis and local wildlife rescue personality Michael Beran have teamed up with Animal Planet to create a show featuring Beran and his company, Wildlife Command Center’s, excursions in the St. Louis area. “(The show) is a real unscripted reality show, they’re just going to follow us around and show you what our day-to-day looks like,” Beran said. For Beran, a day-to-day looks like saving an injured hawk, removing a black rat snake from a terrified mother’s home, and removing and treating a mangy fox from the Missouri Botanical Gardens all before 12 p.m. However, this show is unlike many other wildlife rescue shows seen on TV. “We rescue people from wild animals, mostly bare-handed,” Beran said. Properly nicknamed “Bare-Hands Beran”, this specific niche has attributed to Beran’s notability. While others in his field have considered this to be a negative operating style, Francis was able to turn that right on its head. “(Michael D. Francis) built this character, if you will, around the fact that I’m rescuing people from wild animals and mostly barehanded,” Beran said. “(Francis) was like, ‘that’s not a negative thing, that’s a positive thing.’” Francis has long been in the reality TV industry, working on shows like “Let’s Make a Deal,” “The Voice,” “America’s Got Talent,” “Survivor” and many more. The qualities he looks for in a new potential show are rather straightforward. “I look for interesting people doing interesting things,” Francis said. “The person or people have to be engaging, have to be interesting to talk to, and doing something that people will want to watch.” Francis was introduced to Beran after he spoke at a production event. Beran approached Francis about helping him with his Wildlife Command Center YouTube channel he
utilizes to showcase the actions of his company. In conversations with Beran, Francis had bigger ideas than a YouTube channel. “He told me what he did, but it sounds fake (...) nobody’s really doing these kinds of crazy things that he was telling me about,” Francis said. “So, I asked him to do a ride-along (...) and everything he said was true, and he is absolutely nuts. I saw that and I was like I don’t want to do the YouTube video, I think we have a TV show here.” Beran has deep roots of dealing with animals. He has spent time on submarines studying animals, and more specifically, learned about the biology and zoology of animals, and zoonotic, the transference of diseases from animals to humans. More than just the crazy elements of the show, there is a large educational element as well. “They do have him going in and figuring out what’s happening and knowing the science and the nature behind what it is so then (Beran) could prevent it from coming back into your home,” Francis said. “If you grew up watching The Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, or anything like that, one of the things that really made him interesting was, he was fun to watch, but he educated people.” They took their show, partnered with the production company Critical Content, and pitched it toAnimal Planet. “We went to Animal Planet and presented (Beran) and what he does and they fell in love with Mr. Bare-Hands Beran,” Francis said. While the show is focused on the rescuing of animals, it’s important to Francis and Beran for people to know that they are St. Louis. Wildlife Command Center operates out of St. Louis, and Michael D. Francis Presents is also St. Louis-based. Two local businesses have made it nationally. “We are hubbed in St. Louis,” Beran said. “And so bringing the show to St. Louis is going to create opportunities, and it’s going to create jobs.” By bringing more film production to St. Louis, they are not only expanding the arts and film scene, but the kinds of jobs that
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Local producer’s new show about local wildlife rescue company, Wildlife Command Center, is set to air on Animal Planet this month
St. Louis-based television producer Michael D. Francis (left) and local wildlife rescue personality Michael Beran have teamed up with Animal Planet to create a show featuring Beran and his company, Wildlife Command Center’s, excursions in the St. Louis area.
PHOTO COURTESY TIDES OF JOY PHOTOGRAPHY
St. Louis-based reality television producer Michael D. Francis’ new show “Bare-Hands Rescue” premiers on Animal Planet later this month.
truly keep the film industry going, the working class, blue-collar people. “It’s those kinds of jobs that this type of production brings to the city and the metropolitan area and that’s a really big thing and something that we’re really proud of and want to do more of, to really get things moving around here,” Francis said. SEPTEMBER 2021 | OUR TOWN | 7
AroundTown
Tumbling into tomorrow
St. Louis circus program Circus Harmony receives PNC Arts Alive grant to help rebuild what was lost during the pandemic The past year and a half has been a circus for most, but for St. Louis social circus school, Circus Harmony, it’s been quite literally the opposite. Founder and artistic/executive director Jessica Hentoff has been teaching circus to young people in the greater St. Louis area since 1989. She officially formed the nonprofit Circus Harmony in 2001, whose home base lies at City Museum. “We use the teaching and performing of circus arts to motivate social change, and we do it by building character and (...) building bridges between communities,” Hentoff said. With a multitude of programs including Peace Through Pyramids, in which they bring kids together from different places, partnering with circus schools in places such as Israel and Puerto Rico, it was quite the transition moving to an online rehearsal format. “When the pandemic hit we instantly started doing what we called ‘quaran’-training and doing classes online,” Hentoff said. 8 | OUR TOWN | SEPTEMBER 2021
The pandemic caused a great imbalance in the way life is gone about, especially in the aspect of mental health. Circus Harmony saw that and decided to express this through their art. “(The beginning of the pandemic) was such an unbalanced time,” Hentoff said. “One kid said, ‘usually I can ask a grown-up what to do, but nobody knows what to do.’ So we created a show called The Balancing Act, walking the pandemic tightrope.” Their show, The Balancing Act, focused on how people were keeping their balance. Kids would perform circus acts in their living rooms, yards, parks or wherever open space was available. It allowed kids and even some parents, teachers and alumni to give their own perspective of the pandemic through art. While the pandemic became a catalyst for so much creativity, it also halted the ability of those less fortunate to take part in this program.
AroundTown
Circus Harmony’s Architecture and Acrobats program finds historically significant architectural sites and performs a site-specific show.
“(COVID-19) shut off opportunities for a lot of people and a lot of kids especially in the lower-income areas,” Hentoff said. “We offered ‘quaran’-training classes right away, well that’s nice if you have Wi-Fi. If you have a device.” There were many students Circus Harmony was no longer able to reach due to a lack of connectivity. “We lost a lot of our outreach locations, and although we offer scholarships year-round to our programs, the biggest problem in St. Louis is transportation,” Hentoff said. Part of the PNC Arts Alive grant will go toward allowing Circus Harmony to go into different neighborhoods and teach as well as perform there. It is a two-year grant, as PNC wants the programs they fund to be able to prove proof of concept. Along with the money itself, they are providing Circus Harmony with training from their Design Thinking team, which is intended to help them find new ways to solve problems. One program in particular this grant will be benefiting is the Architecture and Acrobats program. “We came up with the idea for Architecture and Acrobats, which is to find these historically significant architectural sites (and) do a site specific show, outside, so that even if the pandemic gets really bad again, we should be able to safely do it,” Hentoff said. These site specific shows are intended to teach and share the stories of these sites, to recount history through performance. “(PNC Arts Alive) is about the arts being alive and accessible,” Hentoff said. “A lot of times you’re living in a neighborhood and you don’t even realize what historical significance it has, and this is a city with a rich history.” Besides being an opportunity to see culture and history through the medium of a circus performance, Circus Harmony creates opportunities unlike others accessible to young people. “We create opportunities for young people to defy gravity,” Hentoff said. “(And) not just defy gravity, but defy the other limitations based on you by society.” With a wide demographic of kids taking part in this program,
there is a large aim to change not only their perceptions of themselves, but the audience’s perceptions of them as well. Circus Harmony has created a strong bond between each performer, teacher and alumni. Incoming college freshman Sabrina Skaggs has been a part of this program for seven years, although she would describe it as less of a program and more of a family. “It’s really like a family,” Skaggs said. “Because we are so ‘acro’ and tumbling based, it just brings us so much closer because we have to work hard together to get it together.” William Hickey, another incoming college freshman, echoes the same sentiment about this circus being a found family. “It really is an extra family that you get to keep with you for the rest of your life,” Hickey said. “It’s crazy, It’s a little room in the City Museum that not many people know about, but there’s this whole world going on here, and you can just jump right into it.” The prospects of this grant bring a lot of excitement to the performers who are ready to start tumbling and twirling again. “I know that (the PNC Arts Alive grant is) really big, and I know that (Circus Harmony will love) using that grant to put more shows on, do more outreach programs, and just spread circus through the community,” Skaggs said. “That money can do so much and can provide opportunities for so many more people and give the circus that larger platform,” Hickey said. “It’s so exciting to think about what we could do with the PNC money.” To help support Circus Harmony and their mission to connect the community through circus, their website has all the information needed to donate or book them for a show. They also sell their own coffee called Defy Gravity Coffee, whose proceeds go to supporting the Flying Children Scholarship Fund. Circus Harmony is always looking for prospective students and performers as well. “If anybody knows somebody who they think should run away and join the circus but still be home in time for dinner, they should contact me,” Hentoff said.
SEPTEMBER 2021 | OUR TOWN | 9
SUBMITTED PHOTOS
Honoring
HISTORY
The long-awaited rededication of the Dr. H. Phillip Venable Memorial Park in Creve Coeur will take place Sept. 18 BY WENDY TODD Over 50 years ago, a small group of black professionals, including Dr. H. Phillip Venable, bought land in Creve Coeur, intending to build homes and establish their lives in the area. But once some white residents found out the new buyers in the neighborhood were black, the group was not welcomed. The disgruntled neighbors, fueled by racism and backed by then mayor John. T. Beirne, raised money and offered payment to the black newcomers to move out of Creve Coeur. All but one sold out. 10 | OUR TOWN | SEPTEMBER 2021
Dr. H. Phillip Venable, a trailblazing ophthalmologist, stood his ground and refused to accept the offer. The Canadian native who was raised in Detroit and his wife, Katie, were almost done building this lavish home that included a pool, tennis court and nine-hole golf course and wanted to stay. “He paid cash for his lot and fought in the courts for four or five years,” says his niece, Rosalind Venable Woodhouse. “It got to the Supreme Court (in 1960) and he lost. He was offered some piddly amount and they took the property under eminent domain. He then went to Ballwin and purchased a home.” The city of Creve Coeur seized the property and turned it into a park. The city used the impressive home Venalbe had been building as a clubhouse. The rededication of the memorial park to Venable, the first black doctor to join Washington University School of Medicine and St. Louis University School of Medicine as a faculty member is of huge importance to his family and has meaningful significance for the community. “It means that at long last the city is acknowledging the wrong that it did at that time,” states Woodhouse, who along with siblings continues to advocate for justice on behalf of her uncle. “Other jurisdictions could be taking a look at what they have done and come up with ideas for recompense,” she continues. In addition to vindicating the family, the rededication and memorial will serve as a piece of history for the black community and beyond. “I think it’s significant to the black community because so much of what has happened over the years has never been brought to light. And this is shining a light on some of the history and helping the community understand there are ways of ameliorating some of the past issues,” Woodhouse explains. The rededication of the park is not only a momentous offering of atonement from the city of Creve Coeur, but also symbolizes Venable’s vast impact. In 2019 the mayor at the time Barry Glantz, held a Coffee With the Mayor event to discuss the issue of Venable’s forced loss.
The mayor’s office had to get a bigger location to accommodate all the people who came out to speak about Venable and their connection to him. “There were so many people that it was standing room only. People testified about their experiences with him,” Woodhouse recalls. After that gathering a decision was made to pass a resolution apologizing for the deep transgression and honor the man who fought for his rights and ultimately the rights of others. Strength and conviction were just a few of Venable’s attributes. When asked to describe him, one phrase came to mind for Woodhouse. “He was a renaissance man,” she states. In addition to being a prominent doctor and overcoming racial barriers to achieve exceptional success, he was also a talented musician. Venable played the trumpet and became so well known for his skills that Ethel Waters approached him to accom-
pany her on tour. This request came right as he was considering medical school. He wound up enrolling in Wayne State University, which began his incredible journey to make his indelible mark in history. The city of Creve Coeur is happy to honor Venable and recognizes the importance of rededicating the park and creating a memorial. “We want to ensure the people who enjoy the park also remember the history behind it. As we take this step toward correcting this past injustice, I invite the community to come together and celebrate the incredible legacy of Dr. Venable,” states Creve Coeur Mayor Robert Hoffman. Hoffman and former mayor Glantz will commemorate the rededication of the park in recognition of Venable. The rededication will take place on Saturday, Sept. 18 at 1 p.m. at 10630 Country View Dr. in Creve Coeur.
SEPTEMBER 2021 | OUR TOWN | 11
OurThoughts
Not So Friendly
SKIES
MOORE ON LIFE BY CINDY MOORE Cindy Moore is the mother of three superlative kids, servant of two self-indulgent felines and wife to one nifty husband. Her ficticious occupation? Archeological Humorist: someone who unearths absurdity and hilarity in strange and unusual places including public restrooms, the lint filter, and church meetings. Most recently, she excavated a find in her neighbor’s bird feeder.
12 | OUR TOWN | SEPTEMBER 2021
Air-rage: As if there weren’t enough reasons not to confine your body in a speeding bullet in the sky 30,000 feet off the ground with no parachutes provided. Now there’s another. The incidents of air-rage are on the rise. The FAA began charting the number of unruly passenger incidents in 2019. In all, there were 149. By 2021, the incidents became more common and went off the charts. Meaning, there were so many they apparently ran out of paper space to list them all. Some believe it’s a result of being pent up too long with the pandemic. Now people are venturing out more, but getting a tad bit testy up there in the air. And why not? There’s limited breathing space as it is. Combine that with being scrunched up next to someone who doesn’t know armrest etiquette and you get misbehaving passengers duct tapped to the wing. I was seated next to one of these types. After a full half hour of yielding the armrest to my seating companion she bent down to get something in her purse. Now’s my chance, I thought. When she sat back up I had rightfully taken position on the rest. I guess this didn’t settle well with her. Apparently she had purchased this prime spot of real estate and had already picked out the carpet and curtains and intended to set up permanent residence. I received a stare-down which lasted a full minute. I was not fazed. Afterwards she commenced to incorporate the nudge and bump or in other terms, the gradual takeover. She edged her elbow behind mine and then slowly began to ease in her entire arm hoping that I would submit and give over my allotted time. Not today armrest bandit! I tensed my grip and stiffened the muscles in my limb and then gave her an imperceptible nudge. Okay, it might have been a full on shove which sent my opponent into the aisle. She won the fight, but I won the battle. I was upgraded to a better seating arrangement. The view was phenomenal; the leg room--fantastic, and the air, so much cleaner. Being duct tapped to the wing has its advantages.
OurThoughts ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE BY AVALANCHE
Human terrain Large raindrops began to fall, seemingly out of nowhere. While a few clouds had been in the area, the growing storm formed right in place above us. After a couple minutes, it became obvious that this was going to be a significant event. The previous week had seen a number of intense downpours nearby, which caused a series of mudslides that closed roads. Some friends had been caught on the local state highway between slides for a few hours. During that particular incident, 20 separate mud and debris slides had crossed the road over a 2.5 mile section of highway. The local interstate had been closed intermittently for days due to numerous debris slides from torrential downpours. As the rain increased in intensity, I realized it was our turn. After about 20 minutes of rain falling so hard I couldn’t see 200 yards, the rumbling began. The sound was like a freight train travelling nearby, accentuated by the loud thudding and thumping of large boulders thundering down the gully to the north of our place. Having been outside and seen these mud and debris flows up close and personally before, I opted to stay in the house with the dogs. Like a tornado, once you’ve seen one, you don’t really want to see another one. (Yes, I know people chase those around the Midwest for fun. Those adventurers are always enthusiastic and friendly – but nuts.) The thundering seemed to go on for very long time, though it was actually only a couple minutes. Once the rain and earthshaking debris flow settled down, I went outside to survey the damage. I found a large pile of mud and rocks across the road (pictured above.) A neighbor’s solidly built foot bridge previously built across the gully uphill from us had broken in half, and one half was now parked in the next door neighbor’s front yard. The other half was perched on top of one bank of the gully, about half way down to the other piece. About two feet of mud and rocks had overflowed the banks of the gully into our north woods, but didn’t damage any improvements.
The state highway was closed from the debris that made its way through our neighborhood to the bottom of the valley. Staci had been in town when the storm hit. I went down and met her on the other side of the highway closure, and we were able to four-wheel our way through the debris back to the neighborhood, picking up a half-dozen neighbors with their kids & dogs, looking like an overloaded third-world taxi as we made our way through the mud. The state highway department issued a statement that the heavy monsoon rains had been somewhere in the vicinity of a 100 – 500 year event. The interstate has been closed now for nearly two weeks due to the debris and flood damage, with no estimated time of reopening. Here in the neighborhood, a local contractor hauled off the pictured pile in 35 dump truck loads. Other cleanup is still ongoing. Once this event took place, pretty much everyone here in the neighborhood pitched in to help clean up the mess. Driveways were cleared, stuck vehicles were moved, the demolished bridge was disassembled for removal, 700 feet of destroyed irrigation line was replaced and relocated away from potential future slides (we think), and closed roads were opened with personal and borrowed equipment. Food – trending toward the comfort variety, such as banana bread and chocolate chip cookies - was cooked and distributed to those working outside. Even the grumpiest of neighbors got out and worked hard for days, grumbling all the while. This once-in-a-century (or five) event mostly verified the community’s engineering and home site selection, as while there was plenty of mud in yards and driveways, no homes were damaged and there were no injuries. And in a time when many people across the country don’t know their neighbors, our crew came out, worked hard together, and made the place better than it was before. While the geological terrain was violent and destructive, the human terrain was resilient and restorative.
SEPTEMBER 2021
| OUR TOWN | 13
OurLifestyle
THE 2021 TOYOTA VENZA is a luxurious people mover Starting at $32,570, the all new fourdoor 2021 Toyota midsize Venza has a head-turning appeal about it that’s sure to attract buyers of various ages and social backgrounds. Having received accolades from KBB & Autotrader, this award-winning crossover is designed to seat five in comfort with its two rows of seating and comes as a top safety pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Furthermore, it is positioned between the three-row Toyota Highlander and the tworow compact RAV4. Toyota manufactures Venza in three trim levels; LE, XLE and the premium Limited version. All variances come standard with all-wheel-drive and a hybrid powertrain. Ok, I get it, some may have been less than complementary that its AWD system isn’t as hefty, for instance, as perhaps a Jeep product. But let’s face facts, how often do we see a near luxury crossover such as Venza in an off-road environment crossing streams, driving through mud and rock crawling? Venza is telegraphing a prime narrative of modern automotive design, both inside and out. It’s more than adequate for taking the little ones to soccer games or friends and family to fine dining and the theater. If a country drive for apple picking or antiquing is in your plans, this people-mover is well suited for that as well. Interesting as it is, Toyota’s previous generation Venza (based off of the old Camry platform) was dropped from production around six years ago. To fast-forward, this contemporary version has a compelling
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and striking design that hinges on being somewhat futuristic looking in a timeless eye catching configuration. Venza offers more than ample interior space for most. Improvements to erase outside unwanted noise levels has been solved over the older version on Venza. Overall driving dynamics have also been enlightened. High-quality materials and soft-touch surfaces in the passenger cabin tend to resemble products from the Lexus line of vehicles. The elevated seating positions further help to enforce more than abundant forward visibility. The uncluttered driving and passenger quarters have a clean look, including a large center console with integrated cup holders. The center upward dash area is topped by an infotainment touchscreen The rear features room for three-across seating with a center folding armrest. With the seatback placed up, that area has a capacity of 28.8 cubic feet. The optional Star Gaze Panoramic roof uses electrochromic glass. This allows the driver to switch from transparent to frosted mode within a second. This frosted feature keeps out direct sunlight while at the same time brightening the interior. This option will add about $1,400 to the sticker price. The vehicle’s 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle fourcylinder engine incorporates two independent electric motors. One is used on each drive axle thus producing 219-horsepower. This seamless hybrid powertrain delivers notable fuel economy with an estimated combined city/highway rating of 40 mpg. The AWD is an on-demand system that pri-
marily operates in front-drive. When more traction is needed on slippery pavements or when you need aggressive acceleration, AWD is activated. It’s suggested that the 2021 Toyota Venza is on par to be cross shopped with the likes of the Honda Passport, Chevrolet Blazer, Ford Edge, Hyundai Santa Fe and the Nissan Murano. At road test, the Limited model I drove had an MSRP pricing in the low $40,000 range. Venza is manufactured at Toyota’s Takaoka assembly plant located in Japan. BY DAVID FINKELSTEIN
David Finkelstein is a Master/ Skill Automotive Service Technician and a shop owner. He’s also invented garage service tools for mechanics and has served on both National and local Automotive Trade Industry Boards. He pioneered “Car Talk Radio” starting out with KMOX/CBS Radio and hosted “Auto Talk” on KFTK/FOX News Radio for 15-years. David tests and evaluates new vehicles weekly and does some consulting with various auto manufacturers.
OurLifestyle
Hollywood’s best (and worst) con artists In the underappreciated 1984 political comedy “Protocol,” Goldie Hawn played Sunny Ann Davis, a woman who, through an act of bravery, saved the life of a foreign diplomat. As a reward, she became part of the State Department and, after some misadventures, realized she had been conned by the U.S. Government. When testifying in front of Congress, she shared a lesson that her father taught her: “If you let a guy sell you a diamond ring for only ten cents, the chances are you own a diamond ring not worth a dime.” Sunny learned her lessons well, but scams, con games and annoying robocalls continue to trick people. Over the years, Hollywood gave us a variety of unethical characters and con artists who took advantage of people. Director George Roy Hill’s classic “The Sting,” for instance, featured Paul Newman and Robert Redford as two con men who tried to scam a crime boss with a bogus horse race. Newman and Redford were, of course, great together as always and the story is highly engaging. Bruce Geller directed 1973’s “Harry in Your Pocket,” a comedy/drama starring James Coburn and Walter Pidgeon. Coburn played Harry, a “cannon” (skilled pickpocket) who made his living relieving people of their wallets and other valuables. Ray Houlihan (Michael Sarrazin), who was not as skilled as Harry, joined the group along with Sandy Coletto (Trish Van Devere), a woman whose possessions were stolen while waiting for a train. The four of them formed a pickpocketing operation that became quite efficient. Jordan Belfort, the infamous subject of “The Wolf of Wall Street,” manipulated the stock market by pressuring would-be clients into buying low-priced “penny stocks” over the phone. Martin Scorsese directed Leonardo di Caprio as Belfort, an ambitious young Wall Street broker. On Oct. 19, 1987, the day the stock market crashed, Belfort was let go and soon joined a low rent “boiler room” operation selling low-priced stocks to clients. His company then dumped
their own shares while the price was pumped to new heights. Released in 1987, Oliver Stone’s “Wall Street” served as a cautionary tale and inspiration for many would-be brokers (the characters in 2000’s “Boiler Room” idolized Michael Douglas’ Gordon Gekko character). Charlie Sheen played Bud Fox, a newly minted Wall Street broker who wanted to land Gekko as a client. Fox became his protégé and learned how to gather inside information for profit. Stone, Douglas and Sheen all returned for 2010’s “Money Never Sleeps,” the long-awaited sequel. For months, the financial news has been filled with news about “meme stocks,” which are securities pumped up by large groups of investors. They have been hoping to force “short sellers,” those who want the stocks to plummet, into covering their short positions so they can cash out. Life definitely imitates art because the real Jordan Belfort and fictional Gordon Gekko manipulated the stock market in much the same way. The best advice here is “Caveat Emptor” (“Let the Buyer Beware!”). (From left) Richard Donner at the 2019 Producer Guild Awards, ‘Superman’ photo courtesy Dovemead Films; ‘Lethal Weapon’ photo courtesy Warner Bros.; ‘Goonies’ photo courtesy Warner Bros.
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.
SEPTEMBER 2021
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OurLifestyle
Rally with thea crowd masterful game day menu
Scoring big on game day requires championship-level meals and snacks that keep the crowd full and ready for action. You can take your tailgate to the house with these baked dishes that help simplify homegating so you can focus on the big screen. From a salsa-based dip and chicken wings to kick off the party to sweet
brownies for celebrating victory, each of these recipes call for less than an hour in the kitchen. Clock management is key to tackling a tailgate spread, making these delicious dishes the perfect play calls on game day. To find more tailgate and homegate recipe inspiration, visit Culinary.net.
Game Day Chicken Wings Total time: 50 minutes | Servings: 4
Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter, cubed 1/3 cup flour 2 teaspoons paprika 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon black pepper 10 chicken wingettes, thawed dipping sauces (optional) fresh parsley (optional) 16 | OUR TOWN | SEPTEMBER 2021
Directions: Preheat oven to 425 F.
space among butter cubes on baking sheet.
Line baking sheet with foil. Arrange butter cubes on foil.
Bake wings 30 minutes.
In medium bowl, combine flour, paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Coat both sides of wings in flour mixture then evenly
Turn wings over and bake 15 minutes, or until crispy and fully cooked. Serve with dipping sauces and sprinkle with fresh parsley, if desired.
OurLifestyle Mexican Pizza Dip Recipe courtesy of chef George Duran Servings: 6-8
Ingredients: Nonstick cooking spray 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 pound ground beef 1 package taco seasoning mix 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature 1/2 cup sour cream 1 cup salsa, plus additional
for topping 1 cup grated mozzarella 1/2 cup blended Mexican cheese sliced jalapeno (optional) sliced black olives (optional) green onions (optional) tortilla chips
Directions: Preheat oven to 350 F.
Spray 8-by-8-inch glass pan or large souffle dish with nonstick cooking spray; set aside. In large saute pan, heat oil over medium-high heat and add ground beef, breaking up with flat wooden spatula, until fully cooked. Sprinkle taco seasoning throughout beef and combine. Place warm beef mixture in large bowl and add cream cheese, sour cream, 1 cup salsa and mozzarella. Mix well until combined and pour into prepared pan. Top with blended cheese and sliced jalapeno, black olives and green onions, if desired. Bake until fully warmed and cheese is melted, 30-35 minutes. Top with small spoonfuls of salsa. Serve with tortilla chips.
Marbled Peanut Butter Chocolate Brownies Prep time: 25 minutes | Cook time: 20 minutes | Yield: 24 brownies Ingredients:
Chocolate Brownies:
1/2 cup (1/4 pound) butter 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped 1 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 eggs
Peanut Butter Marble:
1/4 cup natural (no added sugar) peanut butter 4 tablespoons butter, softened 1/2 cup sugar 1 egg 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon baking powder powdered sugar, for topping (optional) 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon baking powder powdered sugar
Directions: Heat oven to 350 F.
To make chocolate brownies: In medium saucepot over low heat, melt butter and chocolate. Remove pot from heat; stir in sugar and vanilla until blended. In small mixing bowl, whisk eggs until frothy then stir into chocolate mixture. Sift flour into batter and stir just until smooth. Pour batter into prepared pan, smoothing to edges. To make peanut butter marble: In mixing bowl, cream peanut butter, butter and sugar. Add egg and vanilla; beat just until blended. In separate bowl, sift or whisk flour and baking powder then stir into batter just until combined. Carefully spread peanut butter marble over chocolate batter. Use knife to swirl batters together, first horizontally then diagonally. Bake 20 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out almost clean. Cool completely on wire rack before cutting. Top with powdered sugar, if desired, before serving. SEPTEMBER 2021
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PHOTOS COURTESYBI-STATE DEVELOPMENT
InDepth
Moving through the pandemic Metro Transit has met and overcome many of the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic BY WENDY TODD The pandemic has transformed the experience for both consumers and providers of public transportation. COVID-19 has caused public transit to adapt and respond to the need for safe and reliable service for riders. But despite this crisis, Kimberly Cella believes public transit has met the challenges. Cella, the executive director of Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT), a nonprofit that advocates for the improvement and accessibility of St. Louis public transportation says, “While the last 20 months have been unprecedented, public transit never lost its momentum. It continued delivering essential workers during the height of the pandemic, expanded access as people returned to work, and helped to promote social equality, stimulate development, provide economic returns and position the St. Louis region for recovery and growth.” Though Metro Transit has maintained service during the pandemic that effort
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InDepth has not been without difficulty. “Like many transit agencies across the country, we had an operator shortage and a shortage of mechanics and electricians prior to the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has not helped our recruitment efforts,” Taulby Roach, Bi-State Development President & CEO, explains. “We are all competing against the trucking industry, school bus industry and delivery and distribution companies for the same pool of candidates.” Metro Transit has addressed the lack of workers by putting a concerted effort behind hiring and training new employees. In addition to the shortage of transit workers, ridership has been down. “We saw a significant decline in ridership as stay-at-home orders were issued across St. Louis, and we are just now seeing signs of riders getting back on board,” states Cella. And to continue meeting the safety needs of riders during the pandemic Metro Transit has increased the frequency of cleaning as well as instituted varied means of sanitizing vehicles. “Back in March of this year, we started using a new, cuttingedge sanitizer that focuses on antimicrobial technology to keep our trains, buses and vans free from harmful germs,” Roach states. “The microbe shield it creates can protect our riders and our team members from pathogens for up to 30 days.” Riders are helping public transit keep the transit experience safe by complying with the federal mask mandate. “The majority of our riders are compliant. They understand masks and vaccines help protect all of us,” Roach explains. The mask mandate from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for Metro Transit consumers and operators has been in effect since May of 2020 and will continue into next year until Jan. 18, 2022. In the near future riders will be able to get masks from a dispenser on Metro Transit vehicles and MetroLink stations. The CMT will also partner with Metro Transit, St. Clair County Transit District, Bureau of Transit Police and Metro Transit Public Safety on Aug. 26 for an event where masks were given out during rush hour and commuters were reminded about the importance of wearing masks. The event serves as, “an opportunity to educate riders about Citizens for Modern Transit’s free Guaranteed Ride Home Program and encourage them to register,” Cella explains. The experience of public transit riders has been a collective effort between operators and consumers with transit workers having to highly adjust to meet the demands of the pandemic. “We see our Metro Transit operators (MetroBus, MetroLink and Metro Call-A-Ride) and their transit service managers as heroes,” says Roach. They have been out on the front line for 18 months now during the entire COVID-19 pandemic.
Metro Transit has maintained service during the pandemic in spite of many logistical challenges. SEPTEMBER 2021
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September 6 Labor Day 7 Rosh Hashana 11 Patriot Day 12 National Grandparents
Day
16 Yom Kippur 17 National POW/MIA
Recognition Day
18 Air Force Birthday 22 First Day of Autumn 26 Gold Star Mother’s Day