StreetScape Magazine - March | April 2015 by TPH Media

Table of Contents

6. PUBLISHERS NOTE 10. FOR THE LOVE OF WINE 14. SOUNDWAVE

ART

16. IMMUNOPHOTONICS 18. A TRIBUTE TO ED PUNDMANN JR. 22. LEARNING

LESSONS FROM A HERO

24. LEDR IS TAKING RECYCLING TO A NEW LEVEL 32. THE BEACH BOYS 38. RUN FOR THE WALL 4O. ASK THE EXPERT: APRIL’S ON MAIN 42. FASHION: SPING INTO ACTION

50. SPRING MUST HAVES 54. DYNAMIC DUO: THE HELLERS 56. STEVE

WESCOTT & LEROY BROWN

67. THE CHEESE IMPRESARIO 68. THE WAYWARD CRITIC Cover image credits: The Beach Boys

56 4 StreetScape Magazine

Photo Courtesy: David McClister Layout Design: Tim Rose

March | April

Publisher’s Note NEWS FROM THE PUBLISHER TOM HANNEGAN Finally, spring is in the air! In this issue we are celebrating spring in so many ways! From fun, family things to do, easy recipes and great ideas to liven up your home and gardens to fashion and how to get ready for summer! We have some very exciting announcements! Over the years, readers from near and far have expressed an interest in having StreetScape delivered to their doors. We are here to please, so now we are offering subscriptions! If you would like that, you are just a couple of easy steps away; go to StreetScapeMag.com. Check out our new feature, “Styled!” - the fun, flipside of StreetScape! The theme for March/April is “Pop”! Flip this issue over for some light-hearted reading, fun happenings in our area, and great tips on everything “Pop”! We are beyond excited and very proud to announce that our third-party, year-long audit is complete. We are officially certified by the CVC! If you’d like to learn more about the CVC and what our standing is, please visit: www.CVCAudit.com We are already planning our two very anticipated fall events, StreetScape Fashion Week and Beyond the Best. If you would like information on how you can participate, please check out our ads on pages 51 and 31, respectively. Last, but certainly not least, I am formally announcing my candidacy to run for State Representative for District 65. I am committed every day to support my community and would be honored to be your voice as your State Representative. As always, I hope that you enjoy all that this issue has to offer; and I hope to see you out and about this spring!

Sincerely,

Thomas P. Hannegan

6 StreetScape Magazine

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1. Tom Hannegan Publisher & Founder Tom@StreetScapeMag.com 2. Robin Seaton Jefferson Senior Correspondent

BEHIND THE SCENES 1

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Take charge of your dream for a confident retirement. DISTRIBUTED TO Chesterfield • Cottleville • Dardenne Prairie • Lake St. Louis Maryland Heights • New Town • O’Fallon • St. Charles • St. Louis St. Peters • Weldon Spring • Wentzville • Warrenton • Wright City ADVISORY BOARD Deborah Alessi Susan Berthold Nadine Boon Linda Brown-Didion Steve Church John Clark Sally Faith April Feldewerth Lorna Frahm Grace Harmon Mike Haverstick Ann Hazelwood Jason Hughes Dianne Isbell Lisa Kalz Steve Kaspar Kelley Lamm Martha Mazzola Bob Millstone Connie Petree Susie Pundmann Kelley Scheidegger-Barbee Victoria Schmitt-Babb Keith Schneider Vicki Schneider Mary West Brian Wies George Wise

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The American dream is of a better future. A confident retirement. Those dreams have taken a beating lately. As an Ameriprise financial advisor for over 30 years, I’m dedicated to helping you keep your dreams alive. By listening, planning, working with you one-on-one. I’ll help you build a plan to take charge of your future. So you can retire your way, with confidence. MICHAEL HAVERSTICK, CRPC® Financial Advisor Beaudoin, Haverstick & Associates A financial advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. 300 First Executive Ave, Ste D St. Peters, MO 63376-1655 636.405.5007 william.m.haverstick@ampf.com ameripriseadvisors.com/william.m.haverstick CA Insurance #O741072

The Confident Retirement approach is not a guarantee of future financial results. The initial Confident Retirement conversation provides an overview of financial planning concepts. You will not receive written analysis and/or recommendations. Investment advisory products and services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., a registered investment adviser. © 2014 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved. (7/14)

Volume 13, Issue 2 March | April 2015 TPH Media 223 North Main Street, St. Charles, Missouri 63301 (855) 358.7526 Fax: (866) 231.6159 www.StreetScapeMagazine.com Judy@StreetScapeMag.com Any reproduction of StreetScape Magazine or its contents requires publishers written consent. StreetScape Magazine aims to ensure that information is accurate and correct at all times but cannot accept responsibility for mistakes. StreetScape Magazine reserves the right to refuse an advertisement and assumes no responsibility for submitted materials. Unsolicited material must include a self-addressed stamped envelope.

f e o h e t v r o L Fo

s e n i W g n i r p S Bright

Popping EUp verywhere

Enjoy a glass at Miss Aimee B’s

Story by Susan Mangels, PhD Photos by Michael Schlueter

The other day I joined a group comprised mostly of ‘ladies who lunch’ at midday at Miss Aimee B’s, a historic restaurant and tea room on First Capitol Street in St. Charles. Listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places as the Marten-Becker House, the restaurant’s food and wines bring a pop of brightness to the end of winter blahs and focus us toward spring’s sunshine. The dining rooms walls are also popping, accented with modern art by Lindenwood University alumni artist, Zack Smithey, who now owns Miss Aimee B’s with his charming wife Brie. The restaurant serves a variety of breakfast and luncheon plates; breakfast is offered all day. Delicious and flavorful, Aimee B’s quiches are noteworthy. Some are even gluten-free. They pair well with the German Selbach Reisling wine on the menu. Miss Aimee’s chicken pot pie is 10 StreetScape Magazine

sought after by many and not to be missed. It has a moist, but flaky crust; and the vegetables’ sunny flavors pair well with a full-flavored glass of Toad Hollow California Chardonnay from the wine list. Who doesn’t love bacon? Try the veggie BLT that comes with beets, red onions, and dill spread. I loved the sandwich with the leanness of their Hess Select Chardonnay. But if you want red, the Argentinian Altos Las Hornigas pairs well with the bacon, though it overpowers the dill somewhat. If you want to try a salad, I recommend the salmon Caesar salad; it is light, but satisfying, with just enough salmon to be a main course. It matches wonderfully with the California Shooting Star Pinot Noir that is on the wine list. And if you want a pop of flavor and sparkle, try their Martini &

Rossi Spumante with this salad. The residual sugar in the simple wine serves as a kind of sweet glaze with the salmon. If you are at home for dinner these spring evenings, might I suggest roasting a spring leg of lamb and serving it with a deliciously flavorful and fushcia beet, feta, and mint gratin. These dishes would pair well with that interesting Australian Woop Woop Shiraz that can be had by the glass at Aimee’s. As Australian Shiraz is both spicy and affordable, you might want to sample a few bottles from your favorite wine shop. Also good with Syrah (French version) or Shiraz, in general, would be a chicken tangine, where the ginger, cumin, and mint would complement the spicy reds. If poultry is more your bent, try roasting a chicken with spring vegetables like carrots, asparagus, radishes, spring onions, and sugar snap peas. Trim the veggies, peel as needed, and cut into same size pieces for roasting with a little olive oil. Served over rice, this would be a colorful and simple dinner. Try it with an unoaked French Burgundy (the Chardonnay grape) or a lemony Viognier. Typically grown in France, we can now source some good Viogniers from domestic vintners. Before I close, you frequently ask about wine glasses. Do they matter? The short answer is yes. The shape and size of wine glasses is designed to allow for oxidation and development of a wine’s bouquet. That allows us to experience the flavor more fully through our sense of smell, as well as taste. Ideally, you want a glass large enough so that you only need to fill it 30 percent in order to allow for the wine’s aroma to develop. This sets you up for great taste. The curve of the glass allows for this, as well. However, you do not need to break the bank by investing in expensive glassware for every day. My every day recommendation is to buy glasses that you can afford to break. That way you will use them often. You can purchase wine glasses for as little at $1 each. They are not delicate, but the sturdy shape of tulips for white and round for red is right. On the other hand, why might costly Riedel glasses be worth their price? Because the glasses are perfectly engineered so that the wine will hit your tongue at the spot in your mouth from which you can best appreciate each varietal. Really. You can try it. Have a good Pinot Noir in their Pinot Noir glass and the sip will be more flavorful than if you drink it out of their Reisling glass. If you want to begin investing in some good glassware, I suggest choosing the shape that fits the wine you like to drink the most, and build your glassware collection from there.¤

Susan Mangles, Phd March | April

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March | April

See Your Baby’s Heartbeat... Justin Donahue’s computer antics may just be his one-way ticket to living the American dream.

“I wanted to see what my name looked like in a sound wave,” he said. “After I saw it, I thought other people might like it, too.”

Well, as it turns out, they did — a lot. Donahue and his business partner Mike LaTour have created a business from Donahue’s curiosity called Soundwave Art, and it’s gone global. They’re making art out of sound. Soundwave Art owners/creators Mike Latour & Justin Donahue

Your Loved One’s Voice

Soundwave Art Takes Sound to a New Dimension! Story by Robin Seaton Jefferson Photos by Michael Schlueter Donahue asked his long-time friend LaTour to design a website that would accommodate the business. With more than 14 years experience in gaming, music and retail, LaTour was up for the challenge.

orders all over the United States and Canada and as far away as Europe, Australia and China.“I was instantly blown away,” said LaTour. “I pretty much said, ‘This is something that will either blow up or grow gradually.’”

Formally registered as Jaxon LaTour Designs (the Jaxon part is named for Donahue’s five-year-old son), the company has filled

LaTour was right on both fronts. The original idea has blown up. But the potential for added merchandise and avenues to explore with the business is ongoing.

14 StreetScape Magazine

It started with LaTour using specialized software to take the sound wave from a person’s voice and reproduce in onto canvas.

Soundwave art on canvas and metal

“We wanted the customer to feel like an artist, so we created a process that turns them into artists,” LaTour said. “We want them to create their own piece of art that is unique and personal to them.” The website, www.soundwaveart.com offers customers the unique experience of converting their own sounds into customizable works of art. Its user-generated model allows an individual to create art that is as simple or as complex as they desire. The user simply selects a product, records his or her art, makes color selections and places their order. The art may be a voice, heartbeat, unique sound, or anything the customer wants to immortalize in art form. Donahue said the possibilities are endless. And Soundwave Art is adding products to its repertoire all the time. Currently, the company can reproduce sound waves on gallery wrapped canvas, prints, charms and sound wave rings. From a baby’s heartbeat to wedding vows, Donahue said customers are constantly surprising him with their imaginations. One of the company’s best sellers is babies’ heartbeats, which can be recorded with a smart phone and emailed to Soundwave Art. In most cases, customers can get a recording of their baby’s heartbeat from their doctor or by renting a digital display fetal Doppler to record the heartbeat from the comfort of their own home.

Soundwave art jewelry

Other people want to record themselves saying, “I love you” or even turn a marriage proposal into voice wave art and have it engraved on a charm or a wedding band. “We’ve even had UFC fighters record themselves hitting bags,” Donahue said. “We had one guy rev up his motorcycle.” The company produced artwork for an audiologist who was remodeling his office. “The point is your voice is unique, so I can record something, and you can record something; and it will look different when it’s printed,” LaTour said. Donahue said he is surprised every day by what his customers can dream up – and sometimes heartbroken. “We have had people contact us with voicemails from their loved one who has passed away. The most heartbreaking one was a child who had passed away. They had a video of the child running around and laughing.” Rings can be ordered in cobalt, black zirconium and titanium. Charms and pendants come in four different styles in sterling silver and gold. In many cases, the phrase can be printed under the sound wave. Soundwave Art is headquartered at 218 North Main Street in St. Charles. ¤ March | April

FutureScape

Working Toward A Future Where Cancer Is Less Daunting How Immunophotonics is creating new inroads for battling this disease

Immunophotonics Team (from left to right): Joseph Raker, PhD- Chief Drug Development Officer; Samuel Lam, PhD- VP of Science; Lu Alleruzzo, MBA- Chief Operations Officer; Bobby Sandage Jr. PhD - Chairman of the Board; Tomas Hode, PhD - Cheif Executive Officer; Troy Jiao, MFA - Business Development Asia

Story by Robin Seaton Jefferson Photos by Michael Schlueter Everyone hates shots — but not this one. A St. Louis-based start-up, headquartered in the Central West End, is developing a vaccine that may have the potential to essentially make a person allergic to his or her own cancer. Tomas Hode, Ph.D., co-founded Immunophotonics, Inc. in 2009 and also serves as chief executive officer. He said what the company is really trying to do is find a way for a person’s body to reject and fight off cancer cells the same way it would a flu virus that invaded it. According to Hode, Immunophotonics’ vision is to create a world in which cancer is neither deadly nor a precursor to debilitation and suffering, in which “terminal” is no longer used to describe 16 StreetScape Magazine

the fate of cancer patients, and in which treatment is globally affordable and accessible. “Immunophotonics is an early-stage biotech company that is in the process of investigating and developing a new tool in the fight against cancer,” Hode said. “Specifically, we are engaged in the development of a proprietary drug for use in a minimally invasive, in situ therapeutic cancer vaccine (inCVAX) for the potential treatment of metastatic solid tumor cancers.” Solid tumors are masses of abnormal tissue that originate in organs or soft tissues that typically do not include fluid areas and cysts. Solid tumors are typically named after the types of cells that compose them like breast, lung and pancreatic cancer. With

FutureScape non-solid tumors, or dispersed cancers, there is an overgrowth of cells; but they never get a chance to clump together, because they are dispersed throughout the body and are in continual motion. These cancers are those that affect the cells of a circulating system, like the blood and lymph systems. Hode said the potential vaccine process is a two-injections procedure into one or more selected tumors. “The first injection is a needle with an optical fiber, coupled to a laser that heats selected tumors locally. The second injection is of our experimental drug product – a proprietary, synthesized, carbohydrate polymer that is intended to recruit and activate antigen-presenting cells, potentially triggering a cascade that leads to a systemic, anti-tumor, immune response.” In other words, Hode and his colleagues hope to “make the patient’s own body reject the cancer.” The trick is to make a person’s body realize that the cancer is foreign and then use all of the mechanisms available in the human body for fighting off foreign objects or disease to do just that. Cancer patients and their families are often disillusioned by a diagnosis of malignancy, saying that they never saw it coming or that they hadn’t experienced any symptoms. That’s because, as Hode puts it, “cancer is sneaky.”

“To date, the company has conducted a clinical trial in South America; and while additional trials are necessary to further assess the safety and efficacy of inCVAX, we are encouraged by the first in-human clinical trial results,” Hode said. “As published in peer reviewed literature, during the trial, several patients experienced shrinkage of both local tumors and distant metastases. In some cases, this led to a complete response.” Dr. Hode has worked in the photomedicine and medical laser device industry since 1994, and founded Immunophotonics in 2009. In parallel with his work in the industry, he received a Ph.D. in 2005 at Stockholm University, after which he took a position as a research associate at Portland State University before returning to industry. Dr. Hode is a board member of the Missouri Biotechnology Association (MOBIO) and a program committee member of the Biophotonics and Immune Responses conference of SPIE. Hode said he, like most everyone, has a personal interest in the eradication of cancer as a terminal threat; and he believes in inCVAX.

“The problem is that cancer doesn’t start off as foreign,” Hode said. “It starts off as a person’s own cells that start misbehaving because of a series of mutations within their DNA. They start multiplying too much, and they don’t stop when they should stop. And that’s really what it is. It’s a little bit harder for the body to recognize. The cancers are sneaky. To some degree the body realizes it’s foreign, but the cancer tries to avoid or hide from the immune system.” Therein lies one of the most challenging aspects of Immunophotonics’ research. “Some immunotherapies try to reduce a tumor’s ability to hide. Our strategy is to attempt to make the immune system more efficient in recognizing that the cancer is foreign and fight it.” Hode said all human beings, most unknowingly, count on their bodies every day to fight off potential cancerous cells that form inside the body. “We are continuously exposed to these. In most cases, the body has mechanisms to take away cells that do not work properly; but sometimes tumor cells are able to pass through that first defense system. It becomes a problem when the body is not able to repair or eliminate those cells that are misbehaving.” The founders of Immunophotonics make no promises and are quick to point out that the company is in the early stages of development and the approval process in the United States, though they are saying they’re encouraged by study results from clinical trials in Latin America. The studies have been published in peerreviewed journals.

“While additional trials are necessary to assess the potential of this cancer vaccine, I personally believe it is going to work. I wouldn’t invest so much time and effort if I didn’t. I believe this can change the world.” For now, the takeaway is that Immunophotonics is traversing the rigorous regulatory pathways to get inCVAX into clinical trials in the U.S. so that, if successful, they can get it to the public at large. Hode said it’s heartbreaking when people currently fighting cancer come to the company looking for help, willing to try anything. “However, as with any experimental drug, it has to go through rigorous testing to assess safety and potential efficacy before it can be approved for the public.” Immunophotonics is located in the Cortex Innovation Community in the Central West End of St. Louis. Founded in 2002, Cortex is a premier hub for bioscience and technology development and commercialization. ¤ March | April

BusinessScape Bringing the best & brightest business ventures to your street

A Tribute To Ed Pundmann, Jr. A man of integrity, discipline and heart Story by Robin Seaton Jefferson Photos by Michael Schlueter It is said that a person has not lived until he has done something for someone who can never repay him. If that’s true, Edward J. “Ed” Pundmann, Jr. lived like a king. For over a quarter of a century, Pundmann walked the floors of the dealership that bore his name in St. Charles every Friday, handing out paychecks personally to each of the Pundmann Ford employees. And while only he knew the specifics, it’s more than innuendo that he privately offered both financial and emotional support to many at Pundmann Ford and across the St. Charles community in their times of need, never expecting recompense. “He did so many things anonymously,” said oldest daughter Mary Ann Budrovich. “There are so many people who have no idea that it was Ed Pundmann who helped them. That’s the scope of what he would do.” Nevertheless, his children say it was the love, discipline and sacrifice that Pundmann handed out at home that memorialized their father. Pundmann died October 31, 2014, at the age of 75. He was preceded in death by, who his kids say was, “the love of his life,” – the Rev. Delores “ Dee “ Pundmann. He never even went out on a date after her death in 2000. “When he was with us, it was our time,” said 18 StreetScape Magazine

Ed and Dee Pundmann

BusinessScape Pundmann’s youngest child Susie Pundmann. “Whether it was playing catch in the front yard in his wing tip shoes, black socks and Bermuda shorts or just having dinner together. Regardless of what we were doing, he was so committed when he was with us.” The Pundmann siblings said their dad made a commitment to family time because, in the automobile sales business, the workday often bled over into the evening. Ed took his children to school every morning. Pundmann Ford was open until 9 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, so dinner on Tuesdays and Thursdays was sacred at the Pundmann family home, as were Sundays.

their work ethic should be,” Budrovich said. “He would say, ‘I’m going to be harder on you than any other employee I have, because people are going to watch.’” Susie agreed. She recalled she spent one summer scraping the rust off of every post that surrounds the dealership, and then “repainting every one of them.” She said all of the children washed cars there. She also remembered going to court for a speeding ticket when she was 17. Susie said someone at the courthouse told her

“This woman stormed into the middle of the showroom and demanded to see Mr. Pundmann,” Steven relayed. “She said, ‘That punk kid of yours just cut me off.’” Steven said he would never forget his dad’s response. “He said, ‘That kid may be a lot of things, but he ain’t no punk. Hit the road.’ So while he was stern, he still had our backs. He made it clear he would handle his own business.” Ed was a “Ford Man,” Susie said. With

“Sunday he was ours,” Susie said. “It always started with church, and then we all spent the day together.” Budrovich said her dad had to miss many sporting events because of the hours he held at the dealership. “He couldn’t go to my volleyball games. But I remember once he snuck away from the dealership, and I caught him peeking in the door. I was playing, and I saw him standing there in the doorway.” But even with their dad’s long hours, the Pundmann children were not lacking in discipline. “If we were in trouble,” Budrovich said, “it wasn’t, ‘Wait ‘til your dad gets home.’ If the offense was heinous enough, you had to call yourself and go through the switchboard and make an appointment. I’m 50 years old, and I remember that.” Budrovich shared that her father was a disciplined man himself. Ed didn’t take special privileges because he was the president of the company – quite the contrary. “His name was on the building. He raised us to know that if your name is on the building, you work twice as hard. You’re the example for everybody else to what

they could pull some strings for her and make her ticket go away in exchange for a deal on a car. “Dad said, ‘You go back up there and tell them anybody at the dealership can help them, and you’re going to pay your fine. That’s not how we conduct ourselves. We don’t take special favors.’” Ed could be strict, but never would he hang his kids out to dry. Steven Pundmann, Ed’s middle child, recalled a time when he was driving one of the Pundmann vehicles and pulled out in front of someone. He was sixteen, and the Pundmann dealership plate hung on the car as plain as day.

his classic, black, horn-rimmed glasses and suit and tie, he epitomized the Motor City’s automobile executive. Contrastingly, Pundmann Motor Company was established in 1925 by Ed’s father, the late Ed Pundmann, Sr., as a tractor and tire store. Ed, Jr. had two brothers, the late Roland Pundmann and Rick Pundmann, and a sister, the late Lucille Sampson. At 15, Ed jumped off a deck in the river and landed on a piece of glass. The injury nearly killed him and would leave him with a slight limp for the rest of his life. Susie said he almost bled to death from the cut, and the doctor quit counting stitches at 300. March | April

BusinessScape Known around town as “Junior” when he was a child, Ed, like his own children after him, worked at Pundmann Motor Company from an early age, becoming an official part-time employee in 1952. Ed graduated from St. Charles High School in 1957 and Westminster College in 1961, with a degree in business administration and accounting. He served as a Junior Accountant at Peat, Marwick and Mitchell before deciding to join the permanent staff of Pundmann Ford as a salesman in 1962. He served as corporate leader of the company from 1982 until his retirement in 2007. Ed was named Quality Dealer of the Year by the Missouri Auto Dealers Association in 1994; and in 1995, he was featured in Time Magazine when he was selected as one of 10 finalists for the Time Magazine Quality Dealer Award. He was an industry leader in countless ways; but most markedly, he served as president of the Greater St. Louis Ford Dealers Association, Missouri Auto Dealers Association and Ford Dealer Council. Susie said her dad was committed to giving back to the community that he believed had been so good to his family. Ed served as president or chairman of the following: St. Charles County Developmental Disabilities Resource Board, St. Charles Chamber of Commerce, St. Charles City Economic Development Commission, St. Charles City Parks and Recreation Foundation, City of St. Charles Charter Commission, St. Charles Rotary Club, the Daniel Boone District of the Boy Scouts of America and St. John United Church of Christ. He also volunteered on numerous boards of directors including: Emmaus Homes Resident Trust, Parkside Meadows Retirement Home, Partners for Progress, St. Charles School District Foundation Board, St. Louis RCGA, Jaycee Village Retirement Home, Boone Center, Crime Stoppers, St. Charles County Work Force Development Board and St. Charles County Road Board. In his daughter Susie’s words, Ed was an “understated gentleman who shunned the limelight. He preferred to be privately esteemed rather than publicly heralded. He was uncomfortable with awards and refused many, as he felt others were more deserving.” Still, he was honored over and over again. A non-profit consultant, Susie was the only one of the three children who did not go into the family business. Budrovich works in customer relations at Pundmann, and Steven is in sales. 20 StreetScape Magazine

Dee was a licensed United Church of Christ lay minister, a founder of FISH and the former Homewood Group Home for Boys in St. Charles. She helped to write the St. Charles County charter. She was known to spend 12 hours a day at the church, drive a truck and unload and stack grocery items for the needy, guide the recipients, and work with volunteers. Steven said he realizes what a grand example his parents were for everyone else, but his dad was his personal hero.

“He was a role model for all of us and for the grandkids. His integrity was unmatched. He was always willing to help anyone out. He wouldn’t tell you how to do something. He would show you how to do something. He wasn’t a boss. He was a teammate. If he wasn’t willing to do something himself, he wouldn’t ask you to do it.” One thing Steven said his father never had to tell him, because he saw it in him every day — “It’s about doing the right thing, even if nobody knows.” ¤

March | April

BusinessScape

In my inaugural article with StreetScape Magazine, I wanted to bring readers ideas on leadership skills and principles they can use right away. In my profession as a professional speaker and leadership development coach, I have had the opportunity to interact with some of the best minds in personal development and leadership coaching in the world. As such, I could think of no better person to discuss leadership with than Capt. Michael Abrashoff. In less than a year, Abrashoff took one of the bottom-ranked ships, the USS Benfold, to number one in the Pacific Fleet during the Persian Gulf crisis. He did this using practical leadership principles anyone leading a team can implement almost immediately.

Learning Lessons From A Hero:

Gary Johnson, President of Wowed! Institute

An Interview with Captain Michael Abrashoff Story by Gary Johnson, M.A. MBA

Photos by Michael Schlueter

StreetScape: If you could point to one thing business leaders need to do to transform their businesses, what would you say?

Abrashoff: Leaders must look at themselves first. This was an

“aha” moment for me when I came aboard the Benfold for the first time and watched the crew cheer the departure of my predecessor. My jaw dropped open when I saw this; and I began asking myself, “What do I need to do to be sure this doesn’t happen to me when I leave?” My second thought was how many of my past sailors cheered when I left the job? I wanted to make sure this never happened to me in the future, not because I wanted to be liked, but because I wanted my crew to be safe.

StreetScape: So when you say look at yourself first, what do you mean?

Abrashoff: I tell audiences to make sure they don’t wait for the rest of the organization to change or get better. Work on yourself

22 StreetScape Magazine

first. Make sure you are the leader you can be and want to be. Additionally, I tell them to look at the image they are projecting as a leader and is it the image they want — and more importantly, is it the image of leadership that will get results.

StreetScape: When you reflect back on the rapid transforma-

tion of the USS Benfold from almost worst to number one in the Pacific Fleet, what other advice can you give business leaders that they can use to transform their businesses?

Abrashoff: Assume your people inherently want to do a good

job. If they are not achieving the results you want and need, you must first answer these three questions taught to me by my former boss, Secretary of Defense William Perry — 1. Did you clearly articulate the mission? 2. Did you give your team the time and resources they needed to do the job properly? 3. Did you give your team the proper training necessary to do a great job?

BusinessScape StreetScape: So as you asked yourself those questions as it re-

lated to your new assignment on the Benfold, what did you find?

Abrashoff: I assumed the sailors joined the Navy for a reason

and that they wanted to get something out of it and that inherently they wanted to do a good job. So the fact that we were not doing well caused me to revisit our procedures and policies and question their effectiveness. So every process was then open for critique and debate, specifically as it related to the question, “Can we do this better?”

StreetScape: Was this easy?

ally carefully to the message they are trying to deliver. I assumed their heart was in the right place and wanted to make sure I really understood what they were trying to tell me. Some great advice from one of the most popular speakers on leadership in the world today. You are the captain of your ship; and the great news is that, if you are not happy with the current state of your business or department, you can turn things around. And it can be done in very short order if you, as the leader, are committed to getting better and following some of these great principles from Capt. Abrashoff. ¤

Abrashoff: Not initially. I had to get the sailors comfortable

challenging the status quo. Whenever I asked a sailor why we did something a certain way, they were banned from saying, “That is the way we have always done it!” I would then challenge them to think about how we could do it better.

StreetScape: So you had to change the mindset? Abrashoff: Exactly. I had to get them to trust me and that they could tell me the truth without worrying about negative consequences. Once the sailors realized that they could do this and that I valued their opinions, idea sharing and changes happened quickly.

StreetScape: Mike, that is a great point about trust. In my ex-

perience coaching leaders, I had to remind them that if they ask their employees for the truth, they better be prepared to hear it. Meaning, they tell you the truth and you as the leader do not like the answer, be careful not to respond negatively, otherwise they may just begin telling you what you want to hear. Do you agree with that?

Abrashoff: Yes, I completely agree. I would be very careful not

to criticize those sailors that were willing to share with me their opinions about our ship and its processes and procedures. I would always take a deep breath and ask myself, “Where are they coming from on this?”

StreetScape: Is that what you mean in the book when you write about listening aggressively?

Abrashoff: Yes. Employees may not always be able to articu-

late what they were trying to get across, so we need to listen re-

Gary Johnson is president of Wowed Institute and the best-selling author of Wowed! Using the Principles of Wow to Create Incredible Customer Service. He can be reached at www.wowedinstitute.com.

March | April

BusinessScape

Story by Robin Seaton Jefferson Photos by Michael Schlueter

John Davis, President of LEDR Reycling

Saint Charles Is Going GREEN Missouri’s FIRST Full-Service Construction and Demolition Recycling Plant Most new home construction projects generate between three and five tons of waste, according to John Davis, owner of Landfill Environmental Diversion & Reclamation (L.E.D.R. LLC). That trash can include anything from wood to drywall to packaging material. “Currently, most of that goes to the landfill,” Davis said. “Our goal is to recycle as much as possible and keep it out of the landfill.” What doesn’t go to landfills can cost builders and demolition crews a hefty sum in disposal and transportation fees. That’s where L.E.D.R. comes in. The new company, located at MB Corporate Park Court in St. Charles near New Town, is slated to open in March and hopes to alleviate much of the construction and demolition trash generated by surrounding areas. It’s a commercial recycling entity and will not accept recyclables from homes or individuals. “The whole idea is to divert construction and demolition materi24 StreetScape Magazine

als from landfills and reclaim them for further use. Our goal is 100 percent; but realistically, if we could get 80 to 90 percent out, that would be great,” Davis said. L.E.D.R. takes in large amounts of building and demolition waste or anything that is left over during the construction of a house or building. The company does not accept household trash, food items, yard waste or other trash. Davis said L.E.D.R.’s services, offered from a 32,500-squarefoot clear span facility, are a cost effective alternative to hauling materials over the river and paying exorbitant prices to dispose of them. The company charges $70 per ton on LEED projects. On all others, the starting price is $50 per ton. Davis said the cost of waste disposal and a desire to recycle materials aren’t the only draw for customers coming to L.E.D.R. “The reason people come to us, besides wanting to recycle, is that they don’t have to drive to the landfill, drive on the concrete lot and put wear and tear on their equipment,” Davis said.

After material is dumped and sorted, it is sent along a large, vibratory finger screen to sort the rock, granite and sand from it. A magnet pulls the nails, nuts and bolts out of the mixture. The rock, granite and sand can be used as ground cover, Davis said. The larger material travels upward about 20 feet to a picking house where twelve workers separate the material, including wood, concrete, metal, plastics and drywall. Drywall is difficult to recycle, as are some plastics, shared Davis. Although some drywall is used in compost, most is sorted out and sent to another facility for recycling. The machines that do handle recycling aren’t cheap, either. A used machine for bailing cardboard can cost upwards of $150,000. Davis is one of three owners of L.E.D.R. He has thirty years experience in heavy construction, many of them with Millstone Bangert, Inc. (MBI)—recently renamed Millstone Weber—a heavy and highway construction company based in St. Charles, Mo. Davis and his investors have spent the last three years researching and developing the plans for L.E.D.R. Davis learned most of what he knows about recycling construction materials at Millstone. It started when the company was tearing concrete out at Lambert St. Louis International Airport in the 1980s. Davis convinced his superiors to let him break up the concrete his crew was digging up and reuse it to make a better base for new runways. Eventually, the airport made this practice a part of its specifications for all projects, he said. Millstone, on the other hand, started using recycled concrete and rock rather than mining or bringing in new rock. Davis headed up the division of concrete recycling at the company and began to learn a great deal about construction and demolition recycling—knowledge which he has brought to L.E.D.R. Davis and the upper management staff of L.E.D.R. are LEED certified and members of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED certification denotes an up-to-date understanding of the most current green building principles and practices. ¤

March | April

BusinessScape

Wamhoff Financial Planning & Accounting

40 Years of Helping Clients Reach their Financial Goals Story by Robin Seaton Jefferson “When you’ve been in business for 40 years, you’ve seen a lot of things,” Bob Wamhoff begins as he settles in to tell the story of his firm, Wamhoff Financial Planning & Accounting Services, a business he founded in 1975 at the age of 25. He couldn’t be more right. When you take a moment to ponder the changes that have occurred over that 40-year period of time, you can’t help but recall events like the oil shortages in the late 1970’s, interest rate fluctuations, market booms and busts. During that time, the firm has also seen generations of people who have entered the workforce, started businesses, gone through various life transitions, reached 26 StreetScape Magazine

retirement or planned for wealth transition. That vast experience, along with the knowledge and insight gained, positions Wamhoff in a unique place – a place where few advisors find themselves. “My father worked hard, but didn’t live long enough to see retirement. His early death had a profound effect on my views and my goals for doing everything I could to help my clients reach their retirement goals – working to find solutions to their challenges, managing their taxes and putting a financial plan in place so they could enjoy retirement, something my father never got to do,” said Wamhoff.

That’s a philosophy Wamhoff has instilled in his staff of financial planning and accounting professionals as the company has grown. Today, Bob leads a team of 13 on the financial planning side of the business; and his sister, Senior Accounting Manager, Sandy Furuya, leads 10 accounting and tax professionals. Over the years, the Wamhoff team has received a number of honors for their hard work for clients. Most recently, in 2014, Bob Wamhoff was named as a Barron’s Top Advisor. He has also been ranked among the Top 100 Independent Financial Planners in the country (ranked by assets under management by Registered Rep

Magazine). He is consistently the only advisor in St. Charles County represented in those rankings and among just a few in the St. Louis area. Bob attributes these accomplishments to Wamhoff’s unique position of serving clients with both a full- service financial planning firm and accounting firm, all under one roof, and the dedication of his large team. “We work hard, and really get to know clients, their families, goals and hobbies, to help them be successful,” Bob said. “We also have the advantage of planners and accountants working together to ensure we’re minimizing tax exposure, planning for how clients will withdraw money in retirement, and making tax time simpler. It’s rare for a firm to have 40 years of experience in both disciplines.” Bob and his wife, Diane also run a large charity in Honduras which feeds, educates, and provides basic needs to impoverished children in a small mountain community. Founded in 2003, Timmy’s Mountain: Just Because We Care, is a tribute to Diane’s son Timmy who passed away in 1993. The organization now runs an elementary school, high school and vocational school on the mountain and recently just sent its first class of students to college. As a result of Bob and Diane’s tireless efforts, the children are fed five days per week, taking them from starvation and imminent death in 2003 to more healthy children who are staying in school, learning and continuing their education in hopes of ending the cycle of poverty in their community. “I’m often told: ‘The kids are lucky to have you and Diane in their lives,’ and I always respond that we are the lucky ones to have them,” said Bob. Wamhoff is located at the Streets of St. Charles and can be found online at Wamhoff.com. ¤

March | April

Congratulations Founder and Publisher of StreetScape Magazine Tom Hannegan for being selected to Focus St. Louis INDIVIDUALS SELECTED FOR THE 2014 – 2015 LEADERSHIP ST. LOUIS CLASS: Irene Agustin Executive Director The Bridge

Patrick Clarkin Broker Charles L. Crane Agency

Paula Gaertner Executive Director - Thomas Dunn Learning Center

Cynthia Lerick President & Executive Director - Cultural Festivals

Bart Andrews Vice President of Clinical Operations Behavioral Health Response

Leslie Corey Community Volunteer

Tina Garrison Vice President of Operations SSM DePaul Health Center

David Levenson Principal - Edward Jones

Krista Bauer Senior Director, Talent Management & Executive Compensation Ameren Tricia Beal Chief of Staff Novus International, Inc. Jeannine Beck Executive Director Maplewood Chamber of Commerce Gregory Bedell Managing Director Huron Consulting Group Benjamin Beinfeld Business Development Manager World Wide Technology Wesley Bell Program Coordinator/ Professor Criminal Justice and Legal Studies St. Louis Community College - Florissant Valley Cherie Stephens Bock Partner Thompson Coburn LLP Emily Brasel Director, Employee Comm. and Chief of Staff for Sr. VP Chief Human Resources Officer BJC Healthcare Jeff Burgess President - Commerce Brokerage Services Inc. Jason Busch Deputy Director for Curatorial Affairs and Museum Programs St. Louis Art Museum Dedric Carter Professor, Washington University in St. Louis

28 StreetScape Magazine

Hal Davies VP of Finance and Chief Financial Officer Donald Danforth Plant Science Center Sarah Davis Attorney - Husch Blackwell Everett Dietle Director of Marketing and Communications Missouri History Museum Katherine Dockery Executive Director Open Space Council for the St. Louis Region Jill Dorries Director of Government and Industry Relations and Outreach Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Jeffery Eisenberg Director of Real Estate/ Owner Jeff Eisenberg & Associates Marie Elliott Community Relations Manager Missouri Department of Transportation Cara Ramsey Elsas Senior Vice President & Partner - FleishmanHillard Robert Endicott Partner - Bryan Cave LLP Robert Faulkner Attorney - Stinson Leonard Street LLP Amy Fields Chief Human Resources Officer - Amerinet Arik Frankel Senior Brand Manager Nestlé Purina Petcare Company

Thomas Hannegan Publisher/Founder Streetscape Magazine Linda F. Harris Division Operating Officer St. Clair County Division Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc. Michael Hart Vice President, Treasury and Risk Management Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. Brandon Haynes Director of Community Engagement Deaconess Foundation Melissa Hopkins Assistant Vice Chancellor and Assistant Dean, Facilities Management Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine Abigail Israel Director of EEO/Affirmative Action - Emerson Electric Amanda Itoku Community Volunteer Keith Jacob President/CEO St. Louis Staffing Dwayne T. James Senior Inside Sales Coordinator Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc. Raymond Lai Deputy Director of Economic & Community Development City of University City Jill Larsen Business Leader, Sr. Vice President Wells Fargo Advisors

Wayne R. Luster Acting Battalion Chief St. Louis Fire Department Thomas Mackowiak Assistant Vice President Business Management Enterprise Holdings, Inc. Linda Martin Vice President, Tissue and Support Services Mid-America Transplant Services Annette C. Morris Director and Head of Diversity and Inclusion Nestlé Purina Petcare Company Gina Moshiri General Counsel Object Computing, Inc. Robert Muschany Vice President, Development and Marketing Youth In Need Shula Neuman Editor St. Louis Public Radio Catina O'Leary President & CEO Health Literacy Missouri

Kimberly Simmons Assistant Vice President, St. Louis College of Pharmacy Michael Sorth Executive Director Gateway Greening Mary Danforth Stillman Founder and President Hawthorn Leadership School for Girls Michelle Stuckey Business Development Officer St. Louis Economic Development Partnership Karen TaylorLiggins Owner and Executive Director Higher Level Coaching and Mediation Lynn Ann Vogel Partner - Vogel Law Ofiice Michael-John Voss Managing Attorney, Director of Finance, Co-Founder ArchCity Defenders, Inc. Marc Warr Sixth Grade Teacher City Academy Linda Wendling Senior Group Manager Program Management CitiMortgage

Brittany Packnett Executive Director Teach For America St. Louis

Matthew White Vice President and Chief Development Officer Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital

Tujuania Reese Counsel, Legal Services Ascension Health

Marjorie Williams Executive Director MindsEye

Tracy Ring Attorney, Greensfelder, Hemker &Gale, P.C.

Napoleon Williams, III Director of Advocacy and Outreach Connections to Success

Rick Ruderer Founder Ornaments for Officers

Nancy Wolfe Chief of Staff to the President & COO Monsanto Company

March | April

BusinessScape

3 Quick Tips to Push Profits through the Roof Story by Danette Kohrs

The formula is simple: Know It – Do It – Say It. To drive exponential business growth and profitability, leverage resources, and allow for reinvestment and scalability, each step must be done in this order. Most businesses have it all wrong; they often reverse the steps and skip some altogether. Here is what you need to know: Know It: Who is your ideal customer? What do they need and want? How can you exceed their expectations and be paid a premium price? The answers come only from an intimate knowledge of your marketplace. Metrics and feedback drive the science behind this step. Mastering an intuitive awareness of your marketplace and the continuous changes within is part of the art. Rarely, if ever, do companies take the time to capture data and verify their strategies, marketing messages, market demand, deliverables, or even internal levels of profitability. Lacking these steps, however, is like driving a plane without any type of dashboard to tell you fuel levels, altitude, or air speed. Without intelligent feedback and metrics to guide your decisions, a painful crash is almost inevitable – for a plane or a business. Do It: The key here is to deliver the exact product or service your market wants and in the WAY they want it. You must leave your customer wanting more and willing to tell everyone they know to do business with you. And, even more importantly, you have to do all this PROFITABLY. Companies often deliver the products and services they want, when they want, and how they want. They dictate product options, customer service policies, business hours, and even pricing -- usually based upon what the company is good at, prefers to provide, or what is most convenient to them -- regardless of whether this is actually what their ideal customers want. Customers today, however, have almost unlimited options; and when their needs and wants are not met, they simply find another alternative. Say It : This step is the ability to communicate a compelling message to your marketplace. This manifests itself within your customer service approach, your customer development strategies, and – of course – your sales and marketing messages. Most companies have no idea what their marketplace really wants or needs and their sales messages prove it. They tell customers why they should buy from them. They tout all of their wonderful attributes; years in business, number of employees, industry awards they have won, and that they are family owned. Ask yourself this: When was the last time you told yourself you only wanted to do business with a company that had at least 15 employees, was second generation owned, and had won at least 2 or 3 industry awards? Now think of all of the companies that tell you just those things. To teach business leaders how to build organizations designed to grow automatically and create strong profits, we have developed a proprietary business growth system. Within it we outline the eight business functions that drive and sustain exponential growth. If you would like a snapshot copy of our Growth Engine Formula diagram to gain insight on the four functions that drive growth and the strategies behind it, please email trinity@trinitymarketing.com with “Growth Formula – SS0315” in the subject line. Or, scan the following QR code to fill out a request form online.

Trinity Strategic Growth Solutions Business Growth & Development Specialist www.trinitymarketing.com 636.300.9005 www.trinitymarketing.com/gfc-ss 30 StreetScape Magazine

Recognizing Executives, Employees, and Board Members in St. Charles, St. Louis and surrounding areas

2015 Beyond The Best Awards For more information or to nominate someone please contact Mary Ellen Renaud at (314) 660.1975 or Renaud7207@CenturyTel.net.

March | April

Story by Robin Seaton Jefferson Photos courtesy of David McClister

32 StreetScape Magazine

March | April

“Maybe if we think and wish and hope and pray it might come true. . .” No truer words were ever spoken, or sung in this case, by fans of The Beach Boys all over the world as they wait for the original surfer dudes to reach their cities on the band’s 50th Anniversary Tour, singing the songs that have become the world’s soundtrack for summer. The Beach Boys made a stop in St. Charles for a sold out show at the J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts on Valentine’s Day. Mike Love, Brian Wilson, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston, and David Marks reunited for their 50th anniversary tour in Tucson, Ariz., in April 2012. The tour should keep die-hard Beach Boy fans busy until founding Beach Boys member Love releases his memoirs next year—“Good Vibrations: My Life as a Beach Boy.” The Beach Boys’ 50th Anniversary Tour follows the release of the band’s first album together in nearly two decades. Rolling Stone called the band’s 29th album— “That’s Why God Made the Radio,”— “… an uneven but deeply touching work by a clearly flawed Great Band – one that, at its best, always aimed for the heavens, even if it didn’t always reach them.” Brian Wilson described it as “The Beach Boys circa 1965.” The Beach Boys stand with the likes of The Beatles and Michael Jackson as the only artists to produce 12 Top 10 Singles within 5 years. In 1961, The Beach Boys’ first song, “Surfin’,” written by Love and Wilson, led to the signing of the band by Capitol Records. The two would go on to co-author hit after hit and some of the most performed songs in pop music history including: “Good Vibrations,” “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “I Get Around,” “Surfin’ Safari,” “Help Me, Rhonda,” “Do It Again,” “Kokomo” and the incomparable “California Girls,” which featured Bruce Johnston’s debut vocal recording as a member of The Beach Boys. StreetScape caught up with Bruce Johnston in January while the singer was on a break from touring in California. Johnston, born Billy Baldwin on June 24, 1942, has appeared on numerous television shows and movies over the years, including “Full House,” “Home Improvement,” “Saturday Night Live,” 34 StreetScape Magazine

“Two and a Half Men,” “Biography” and “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” The singer, songwriter and record producer joined the Beach Boys in 1965, first showcasing his vocals on the band’s signature classic, “California Girls.” Johnston also collaborated on “Pet Sounds,” “Smiley Smile,” “Wild Honey,” “Friends,” “20/20,” “Sunflower” and “Surf’s Up.”

Johnston admits that it’s hard even for him to believe the amazing yet true saga of the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers and their American glory story. For millions of Beach Boys fans spanning multiple generations, this 50th Anniversary Tour represents a dream come true; and for the band, it’s nothing but “Fun, Fun, Fun.” “I just look forward to performing,” Johnston said. “It seems like there’s never enough time to perform everything we’ve recorded. So every night we’re changing up the set list.”

Year in 1977. Manilow later wrote in his autobiography that he was reluctant to record the song, because he feared people might think he was singing about himself. Johnston said the “I” in the song is “God.” “I was questioning where music came from. My head was

It’s not until a band like The Beach Boys runs through its hits back-to-back that fans realize just how many hits they’ve had. The concerts are averaging two-and-a-half hours and 44 songs each. Johnston said there’s a reason there is scarcely an age group not represented at their concerts or on their fan rolls. “Lyrically, Mike (Love) kept the lyrics so accessible. The band is about surfing, cars, schools and girls. First it’s ‘Surfing Safari,’ then you take your girl on a trip to ‘Bermuda, Bahama.’ The lyrics go through junior high, high school, college and marriage. The lyrics meet the lifestyles of our fans. It’s also the innocence of what we all did in high school like ‘In My Room,’ or the car lyrics of Roger Christian like ‘Ballad of Ole’ Betsy,’ ‘Cherry, Cherry Coupe’ or ‘Don’t Worry, Baby.’ It still fits today.” Johnston lavishes praise upon Wilson and Love for what he calls the “genius” of their collective style, even before the age of computerized or electronic music. He said the instrumentation and lyrics recorded in “Good Vibrations” in 1966 were nothing short of amazing. Good Vibrations was recorded on The Beach Boys’ 11th studio album “Pet Sounds.” “There’s a brilliance and simplicity. ‘I’m pickin’ up good vibrations. She’s giving me excitations.’ It’s brilliantly constructed. There is a sophisticated brilliance about how Brian (Wilson) constructed the chords for his songs and how Mike (Love) made the thoughts so accessible through the words. You put that in a blender, and it was amazing. Computers are interesting, but human beings are truly brilliant.” But Johnston is no stranger to creating lyrical genius. In 1975, he wrote “I Write the Songs,” which would first be recorded by The Captain & Tennille and which Barry Manilow would go on to make famous in 1976. Manilow’s version reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in January 1976, won a Grammy Award for Song of the Year, and was nominated for Record of the

saying, ‘Where did music come from?’ It’s really a song about God. In the beginning, when I wrote, ‘I’ve been alive forever and I wrote the very first song,’ I’m talking about God. I had an epiphany. It’s really a closet hymn.” While The Beach Boys have traveled the world and met just about everyone they could have ever dreamed of meeting, Johnston said there is one person—his own inspiration—for whom he never performed and never met. He said James Brown and “his approach to funk” was a huge inspiration for him growing up. “I would have liked to have met James Brown. I would see him on TV in black and white when I was just a little guy. I still play his album ‘Live at the Apollo.’ I think he invented (funk) more than anything else and the next generation of rhythm and blues music. He took $5,000 of his own money and produced that album himself. It was a platinum album in a non-platinum world. It was very meaningful to young guys like me all over the country.” March | April

Though a major star himself, Johnston still admires the work of many other performers – his favorite being the late, great Frank Sinatra. Old Blue Eyes sang “I Write the Songs” during a performance more than two decades ago at Caesar’s Palace to which he had invited Johnston. He said The Beach Boys were invited to a birthday party one Saturday in January in Beverly Hills for Jeff Franklin, one of the directors of “Full House.” “There was a whole band at the party, complete with horns and everything,” he said. During the party, he was able to see several big stars perform on the stage. “Micky Dolenz of the Monkees was there. The lead singer of Herman’s Hermits was there. The next person was Sir Tom Jones. He sang three songs. His voice was so dynamic.” Tony Orlando, Sheila E., Macy Gray and John Stamos all followed. “There were some powerful singers there. We were hearing talent from quite a range of years past. I still have stars in my eyes for all those people.” Nearly every performer has a favorite tour story, and Johnston is no exception. He remembered an evening in December of 1966 when The Beach Boys were playing a small theatre in England. In those days, The Beach Boys were doing two 40-minute shows a night in England. His good buddy, Keith Moon of The Who, asked him to go over to the pub next door to the theatre for a beer in between shows. “We just went next door and came back across the alley to the back door of the stage.” Johnston said he was afraid his breath would stink from the “weird, tall, warm English beer” he had consumed in the pub, so he quickly brushed his teeth before returning to the stage. “Well, when I thought I was reaching for the toothpaste, I actually reached for the Prell shampoo. I went out on stage, and bubbles were coming out of my mouth. I’ll never forget that.” Johnston has four sons and three grandchildren. He said it was because of the “magic of The Beach Boys” that he was able to put all four sons through grad school. None of them went into the arts, he said. Still, his legacy is a good one. “Our legacy is a big smile, because that’s what happens when people listen to our music.” ¤

36 StreetScape Magazine

March | April

r o f Run

the WALL

Story by Robin Seaton Jefferson Photos courtesy of Nancy Cowan

For the 27th year – every year since its inception – Wentzville, Mo., will host the hundreds of riders participating in the Run for the Wall on their way to the nation’s capitol to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Bikers travel some 2,000 miles from Ontario, California, to Washington, D.C., on the run, before arriving in the crossroads of the Nation. Each year more than 350,000 bikers traverse the United States on one of three routes to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial for Memorial Day. Wentzville is the sixth stop on the RFTW’s central route. It is believed the city’s Vietnam Memorial, located on Pearce Boulevard, was the first Vietnam memorial built in the country. In 1967, Wentzville’s residents held a collection, using a tree on Pearce as a tree of lights, to send care packages to servicemen in Vietnam. Enough money remained to place a small monument next to the tree. By the following year, a 30-foot tree had been donated to replace the original tree; and two local artists had provided a sculpture to sit alongside it. Over time, the tree died, and the memorial was vandalized. The current monument was dedicated in 1984 – a single column of red Missouri granite topped by a carved eagle.

38 StreetScape Magazine

The RFTW movement seeks to recognize the sacrifices and contributions made by all veterans who served. Veterans join the run at various stops as it rolls across the country. Ron Owens, a Navy veteran and committee chairman for Wentzville VFW Post 5327, said the run attempts to promote healing among all veterans. It’s also meant to honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA) during all wars, to call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action (POW/MIA), and to support military personnel all over the world. Riders also want to educate future generations on the importance of accountability in wartime actions, emphasizing that no one should be left behind. RFTW riders visit VA medical centers, veterans’ memorials, veterans’ outreach facilities, VFW Posts, American Legion Posts, and community centers, as well as schools along the routes. The riders arrive in Wentzville each year the Monday before Memorial Day. This year, Memorial Day falls on May 25. The riders will be in Wentzville on the 18th. Post 5327 provides riders with an evening meal, a camp if they need it, and breakfast in the morning before they leave. All funds

are donated from area individuals, businesses and volunteer groups. Owens said St. Peters AMVETS, American Legion Posts from throughout the state, and the Boone Trail Districts of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America all pitch in to honor and host the riders. A retired ironworker, Owens has never forgotten his brothers in arms. “I do it for the veterans. My uncles on my mother’s side were in World War II. My brother and I were both in Vietnam at different times,” he said. “A lot of them do a lot more than I do. It’s just not a bunch of motorcyclists getting together and riding. These people are spending a lot of time and money gettingacross the nation to bring out support for our veterans.” This year, the ride is bitter sweet for Owens. “My brother just passed away a year ago. He was exposed to Agent Orange. He did his time in Vietnam. He’s just one of the many who have suffered the consequences of war. A lot of the public is not aware. This is just to let them know. I guess that’s why I do it.” Owens said he’s proud of the powers that be in Wentzville and all of the first responders and city workers, as well. “I can honestly say Wentzville is 100 percent behind us, from the police department to the fire department to the public works department. The police form up in Wentzville, and the police chief leads them into our post; and they’re escorted out in the morning by the fire department. The public works department donates

extra picnic tables to help accommodate the crowd.” Wentzville is not alone, however. Owens said the St. Charles County Sheriff’s department and the Missouri Highway Patrol also assist. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Department has helped escort the bikers from Jackson County, Mo, to Wentzville, he said. RFTW’s website details how so many hundreds of bikers can cross the country in a unified and organized manner without causing danger to themselves or other motorists. The pack of motorcyclists in the RFTW ride work with local and state authorities to enter the highways. In a militaristic procession, the lead riders slowly enter the highway first and maintain a slow speed as the pack follows. Other riders don’t have to speed to catch up with the pack. The lead element continues at a slow speed until the last vehicle reports he or she is on the highway. At that point, a route coordinator will slowly increase speed in increments of 5 miles per hour over a 2- to 3-minute timespan.. This increase is communicated to the assistant route coordinator who is leading the first Platoon. That individual will then slowly bring the pack to the assigned speed. Other platoon leaders will follow suit, and are responsible for maintaining the proper distance. Cars do travel a few miles ahead or behind the pack, but cannot intermingle with the pack at any time. Riders can still register at www.rftw.org for a $30 fee. They are able to join up with the pack at various locations throughout the country as the riders arrive. ¤ March | April

e h Ask t Expert APRIL’S ON MAIN is a unique woman’s getaway. We are a complete home decor and gift store, from the one-of-a-kind centerpiece to the perfect necklace made just for your needs. We carry silk florals, artwork, furniture, candles, jewelry, lotion, table top accessories, Poo-Pouri and much more. We have in-house designers to help you with all of your decor needs. April’s On Main St. Charles, can be found on Facebook, Yelp! and Twitter.

As the winter fades and springtime nears, we sense the call of the outdoors beckoning us into the garden. This is the time of year to plan for the betterment of your landscaping. How can you change the appearance without a clean slate or removing existing shrubs or plants? Easy! While light pruning and deadwooding can be done anytime it is best to wait til after the coldest part of winter or early spring for the more extensive work. Return shapes to their original form or consider redefining their outline for a new perspective, adding fresh mulch and rock for the clean, manicured appearance. Now let the fun begin. Accessorize! (we say that often at April’s on Main) Old lawn furniture is great for repurposing or refinishing for a quaint sitting area or container gardening. Pick it up at a resale shop or perhaps a neighbors’ throwaways along with assorted spray paints. Even imperfect pieces are astetically pleasing with a little makeover. Let your inner rainbow shine by finishing these chairs and tables in multiple colors and adding them to your yard. The unexpected pop of color is exciting and inviting. Find a unique piece of rusted wrought iron, or an old garden gate and place it within your landscaping. Whether it stands alone or serves as a trellis for weeping hyacinth, ivy, or clematis, adding iron to your

40 StreetScape Magazine

garden gives it a magical charm. Water fountains or ponds are always a nice addition to outdoor landscaping. Who doesn’t enjoy the soothing sound of trickling waterscapes? If electricity is a concern consider a birdbath. Brilliantly colored gazing balls, large oddly shaped stones and any number of different garden statues inserted throughout the landscaping are lovely additions. Stepping stones available in endless varieties can be scattered or arranged in a pathway throughout the garden lit by the ocassional lantern brightened with outdoor Luminara battery operated candles. First impressions matter when contemplating your curb appeal. By adding these accessories to your yard and garden, you will be the envy of the neighborhood and a favorite gathering place for your family and friends.

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March | April

INTO

Life is a workout. Get ďŹ t with simple combos that mix active wear with stylish touches that make you look great while youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re on the go!

Photography & Direction: Lance Tilford Wardrobe & Styling: Samantha Page Hair & Makeup: Tamara Tungate Assistant: Ally Tessler Layout/Design: Grace Pettit Model: Ali Turner with West Model & Talent Management 42 StreetScape Magazine

Yellow hoodie by Nike Black faux leather skirt by Bar III Wedge sneakers by Adidas All from Macyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

March | April

Shorts by Nike Earrings from Macy’s Sweatshirt by Gianni Bini, from Dillard’s

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Black vest from Lillian’s Sports bra by Ideology, from Macy’s Cropped leggings by Nike, from Dillard’s Sunglasses by Cole Haan, from Overland Optical Shoes by Nike

March | April

Dress by Gianni Bini, from Macyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sunglasses by Nine West, from Overland Optical

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Triathlon body suit by Triflare Jacket by Esley, from Lillianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s St. Charles Shoes by Nike

March | April

Pink jacket by Ideology, from Macy’s Sports bra by Wacoal Shorts by GB, from Dillard’s StreetScape Magazine Magazine 48 | StreetScape

Jacket by DB Sports bra by Nike Shoes by Calvin Klein All available at Dillardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Joggers by Ideology from Macyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sunglasses by Deisel, from Overland Optical March| |April April | 49 March

LET’S FACE IT 2015 Spring Must Haves Story by Tamara Tungate Sexy Mother Pucker XL Extreme-Plump Collagen Lip Shine $22 Sephora LOVE this stuff. I’ve tried a lot of lip plumpers, and this is the only one I’ve found that delivers. It’s not going to make your lips bigger, as much as they would like you to believe, but it is excellent in repairing dry lips within minutes. It fills in lines for a smoother, and more youthful appearance. The tingle is pretty cool too! Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real! Mascara $23 Sephora This mascara works. The applicator is amazing, and the lashes pop after one coat. If you’re passionate about your lashes, this is a must try. Warning-it can dry out fast in the tube, so make sure you do not pump or leave it open for too long. L’Occitane Cherry Blossom L’Eau Fragrance Touch $22 L’Occitane.com I’ve always enjoyed L’Occitane’s gentleness. This perfumed gel, with a light cherry blossom fragrance, is simple and clean, bringing spring to your senses. This handy touch-up tube stashes easily in your purse. Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté Shine Pink in Confidence dusty pale pink $35 ysl.com Yum, yum… YSL brings a fresh, pink color that’s flattering on just about any skin tone. It’s long wear without feeling dry and full of good stuff to keep your lips moisturized. Pixi Flawless and Poreless Primer $28 Target Something magical happens when I apply this under makeup. Textured skin becomes smooth and flawless. A little bit goes a long way, so don’t go overboard! Tarte Park Ave Princess Contour Palette $34 Sephora Clients keep asking me about all the contouring videos they’re watching on YouTube. Contouring to that extreme is not an everyday look. Tarte has a simple palette that is hard to mess up. A shader, highlighter and soft rose is the max you need for street wear. 50 StreetScape Magazine

Essie Second Shine Around $8.50 Essie.com This is one handy product to have around when you’re between mani/pedi’s. It glosses and freshens up tired color giving you a straight-out-of-the-salon pick me up. Sally Hansen Velvet Texture Nail Color in Plush $6 Major carriers In my line of work, nail polish gets destroyed with all the products I use; however, I love to pop color on my toes to show personality and vibrance. Welcome spring in with this velvety trendy color. Neutrogena Healthy Defense® Daily Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 $13.99 Major carriers My skin mantra for EVERYONE is wear a moisturizer with sunblock! As the sun lives longer in the sky so does the amount of time there is to damage skin. Make it a healthy habit to apply every morning. Neutrogena has always provided multiple options in non-greasy, lightweight formulas. It also comes in tinted.

March | April

Rock It To Fit The Key To A Happy Heart... Cardiovascular Exercise Story by Maria Mazzola Photo by Michael Schlueter How are your New Year’s resolutions holding up? Are you seeing results on the scale? Are you feeling more energy… clothes fitting looser? If not, you may need to amp up the cardiovascular exercise. As a personal trainer, the biggest challenge with my clients is making sure they are getting the appropriate cardiovascular (cardio) exercise that they need outside of their training sessions. As a fitness coach, I also hold challenge groups. Nine times out of ten, if the client isn’t seeing results on the scale, it’s because he or she is not getting enough cardio. What is cardiovascular fitness? The cardiovascular system consists of the heart and its blood vessels. A strong, healthy heart is able to pump a significant amount of blood with less beats. This can only be achieved through cardiovascular exercise. Blood circulation in the heart is improved by optimal cardio fitness, putting it in the best condition possible for pumping blood well throughout the body. Without any exercise, the body undergoes changes that threaten the heart, leaving it at a high risk for heart disease. It’s a reversible process, so it’s never too late to start! Cardiovascular fitness, in combination with good eating habits, decreases blood pressure and HDL cholesterol levels. In the meantime, the good cholesterol levels in the blood begin to rise. The benefit of all of this is fat loss, which, in turn, is a tremendous benefit to the heart.

Other benefits Individuals who are not used to regular cardio exercise do not consider it fun. In my opinion, whether you have taken a long hiatus from exercise or you’re a first time exerciser, you really do have to push to begin a cardio regimen. Surprisingly, the ability to build endurance comes much quicker than one expects. The key is to not give up. Push through the most difficult task of starting, then keep pushing. If you have already begun an 52 StreetScape Magazine

exercise program, whether it is fitness classes or strength training, you will see results much faster! Cardio is not exclusively for weight loss. The health benefits of cardio exercise are enormous. Other important reasons to begin doing cardio, increase cardio or add cardio to your current exercise routine are:

4 To reduce your risk of diabetes 4 To increase blood flow to the muscles 4 To improve your body’s metabolism 4 To improve your mental state of mind, improve

your mood and reduce depression

4 To perform better at work, home and/or at school 4 To reduce fatigue 4 To burn calories quicker and lose fat 4 To improve your appearance 4 To improve the overall quality of your life

Types of cardiovascular aerobic exercise The goal is to find activities that you can enjoy that get your heart rate up. For the individual who has never worked out, the best start would be walking, increasing your distance and pace each day. Other examples include bicycling, swimming, jogging, hiking, aerobics classes and dancing. Activities that folks may find more appealing than typical exercise are playing and running around with kids, gardening or housework. The key is to move and, again, push yourself harder each day. Changing up your activities helps you avoid boredom.

How much cardio? For optimal cardiovascular fitness, 30 to 60 minutes of continuous aerobic exercise 3 to 5 times per week is recommended for weight loss. If you are just maintaining your weight and feel satisfied with your body fat percentage, the American Heart Association’s guidelines are 30 minutes of light exercise a day. Everyone has different needs and different goals, so determining the amount of cardio you need depends on one’s fitness level. An accepted indicator that you are in a good aerobic range is when you can speak and breathe while exercising without gasping. If you find that you can’t speak while exercising, you may need to slow down the pace. The key to a healthy, happy heart is cardiovascular exercise done with determination and consistency. The hardest part of getting fit is starting — then sticking with it.

Rock It to Fit, Inc MariaMazzola@sbcglobal.net 314.707.0512

PEPPERONI T ORTILLA PIZ ZA

1 whole wheat flou ½ tablespoon lo r tortilla (6 inches) w sodium pizz a or spaghetti sa 6 to 8 slices of uce turkey pepperon i ¼ Italian season ing or dry oreg ano ¼ cup shredded , part-skim moz zarella cheese Lightly bake pl ain tortilla in to aster or conven to 1 minute. P tional oven for op any bubbles 30 seconds that arise in th oven and spoo e tortilla. Rem n sauce over to ove from rtilla. Top with and seasoning. turkey pepperon Bake at 400 deg i, cheese rees until cheese to 8 minutes. melts; approxim ately 6

SIMPLE SALSA CHICKEN 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (5 ounces each) 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/3 cup salsa 2 tablespoons taco sauce 1/3 cup shredded, reduced-fat, Mexican cheese blend Place chicken in shallow, 2-quart baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with salt. Combine salsa and taco sauce; drizzle over chicken; sprinkle with cheese. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until juices run clear. 1 chicken breast = 226 calories (Jan Cooper, Taste of Home, Readers Digest)

E OATMEAL APPLE SAUC s

oking oat 1 cup quick-co heat flour ¼ cup whole w flour ose ¼ cup all purp aking powder b n o o 1 tablesp ilk 1 cup fat free m rless applesauce ga su s n 2 tablespoo other bowl, powder. In an g in ak 4 egg whites b d an ts and mix urs ne the oats, flo whites; add to dry ingredien bi m co l, ow b cooking g In a le coated with lesauce and eg d p id ap gr k, d il te m ea e h n a l lightly combi ¼ cupfuls onto and cook unti by rn r u T te at p. b r to u e o well. P pear on th ntil bubbles ap spray. Cook u browned. calories ders Digest) 2 pancakes = 91 a Cage, Taste of Home, Rea arth (Recipe from M

March | April

Dynamic Duo

The Heller Duo

Story by Robin Seaton Jefferson Photo by Michael Schlueter

Making Love Work for 42 Years Jack and Annette Heller show how it’s done A retired, U.S. Department of Labor investigator and a trademark and copyright attorney in St. Louis, Jack and Annette Heller have figured out a few things about success in marriage, childrearing and finances over the last four decades. Married 42 years, the two are the proud parents of a son who is an emergency room physician at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, N.Y. and a daughter who’s a director of digital marketing in the same city. Their son and daughter-in-law gave them twin grandsons.

Annette was working as a communications coordinator for Ralston Purina when she met Jack. He and a college professor had encouraged her to go to law school.

The Hellers were the product of Jack’s matchmaker aunt in 1971. The aunt volunteered for a youth group at the time and made sure they both made the celebratory barbecue.

She left to start her own firm and has never looked back. A trailblazer in those days, Annette decided she wanted to be a mother and a professional woman. Flextime hadn’t been added to the list of corporate perks in the early 1980s.

“I thought, ‘Here’s a guy who is not intimidated by a woman lawyer.’ So I enrolled in night school, and I married him,” Annette said. By the time she left Ralston Purina, Annette was a lawyer for the company. She had spent 16 years there.

“There were no part time professionals in corporations back then,” Annette explained. “I wanted to be with my children more. I wanted to be able to do both. The only way I could do that was to start my own practice.” Annette’s father, a mechanic by trade, had passed away just after she graduated high school; and her mother was forced to be the sole provider for their family. She didn’t appreciate her daughter’s decision to become a lawyer. She was a mother and a seamstress. “In her opinion, I didn’t need to go to college, in her words, ‘to wash diapers.’ That was the generation she was and she wanted me to be.” Annette’s mother and father had sixth and eighth grade educations, respectively. Schooling was a luxury they could not afford. “In her mind, education wasn’t necessary. It was a luxury,” Annette said. Her mother was 10 years old and the youngest of 11 children when she came to America from Poland. Her father, an attorney, had died when she was five. The seamstress from Poland lived to be 94 years old. She did watch her daughter obtain her law degree from St. Louis University School of Law, and Annette said she couldn’t have been more proud. Jack’s father owned a small piece of a scrap metal yard. His mother was a teacher. The two were very pro-education, Jack said.

Jack & Annette Heller 54 StreetScape Magazine

“My parents were very education driven,” he said. “It was a big priority for them. They were of a period when education was a luxury.”

As third-generation Jewish-Americans, Jack’s parents took education and the opportunity they believed it brought about seriously.

“They saw us. They watched us,” Jack said. “They learned from us, and they were both excellent students. They were motivated.”

Jack said no one wants to admit it, but money is a huge obstacle in the early years of marriage and many times can make or break a couple.

“Education has always been a very important part of our faith and our culture,” Jack said. “Our grandparents came to this country without a penny. My grandfather was the oldest of six children. His job was to find a job or trade and save money and then bring his entire family over from Poland. By the time he was 25 years old, he was the father of three. He had already accomplished that. He was a shoe repairman in Quincy, Illinios, and 25 when he brought his whole family from Eastern Europe.”

Jack said he believes young people suffer from all of the distractions of the modern electronic world.

“The majority of marriages end between three and six years,” he said. “Ninety percent of the time, it’s because of careers and financial pressures. Think about that. That is going to set the stage for how successful the first few years of marriage are. In those early years, there’s a lot of pressure over money. Young people need to get their careers underway and money put away for hard times.”

Jack holds a business degree, as well as a master’s degree, and a CPA certificate. He went on to conduct criminal investigations for the U.S. Department of Labor. His siblings also excelled academically. His sister is a writer and his brother a pediatrician and neonatologist. Jack and Annette insist that hard work and dedication to each other and their children have carried them through good times and bad. They say they would advise newlyweds and young people to work hard, get an education, and always be prepared financially.

“I think it distracts them to a degree. But if they can model themselves on their parents, siblings or peers, a lot of it is determination.” The Hellers agree treating marriage as a partnership and always having each other’s back has made all the difference in their near-half-century union; that and never overspending. “It’s been a partnership. We worked together and supported each other in our careers. We always lived below our means and invested our money.” Annette concurred. “We are on the same page with most issues. We tailored our lifestyle to one income and tailored our purchases on one income. The other income was for extras and investments.”

But it isn’t all about the money. Both Jack and Annette also agree a couple has to just simply like each other. “A friend of mine once said she was asked to define love,” Annette said. “She said, ‘It’s hard to define love,’ but when her husband came home at the end of the day, she had a smile on her face. I think that’s it. You just like being together. You’re somewhat lost without each other.” ¤

Annette was a full-time employee of Ralston Purina and pregnant during her last semester of law school. She was seven months along when she took the bar exam and eight months when she graduated. “Her graduation gown was pretty well filled out,” Jack quipped. “You do what you have to do,” Annette said of how she carried the weight of her son and her career at the time. “I don’t know how I did it. Our first four years of marriage, we studied all weekend together. He was studying for his CPA certification and master’s degree, and I was studying law.” “We were young,” Jack said, “We had energy and a lot of ambition.” They said they “somehow transmitted” the importance of ambition and preparedness to their two children, most likely by how they lived.

March | April

People You Should Know

Steve Wescott and LeeRoy Brown

ver the mountains and through the woods to Uzima Children’s Home they go…

Story by Kelley Lamm Photos courtesy of Irene P. Photography Step by step across America, Steve Wescott and his furry traveling companion, a goat named LeeRoy Brown, walk, by the grace of God, from the Space Needle in Seattle, thousands of miles, to their final destination – Time Square in New York. Their mission is to raise awareness, fund an orphanage, and reach the lost and dying drug community in Nairobi, Kenya, to save the children. Steven Wescott, a former guitarist from a heavy-metal band that rocked the nation, covered in tattoos, had the craziest idea to walk across America, intent on doing God’s work. He didn’t plan on doing it as a superhero, but as a man who has turned his life around, owned up to his sins, and confessed his shortcomings. Steven is also using this walk to redeem his past.

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Together, Wescott and his goat are making their way across America on a journey to change children’s lives in Kenya. People bike, run, walk and tour America; but I don’t think anyone is traveling across America with their very own goat. The idea of the walk came to Wescott years ago. He knew he wanted to walk across America, he said. But he wanted the walk to have a purpose, too – not just to be a selfish experience. He wanted to use the experience to make a difference in the world and grow closer to God – a God who turned Wescott’s life around and who, Wescott said, is saving children in Kenya. After hearing of Steve Wescott and LeeRoy Brown’s visit to St. Charles, MO, I knew I had to take the opportunity of

personally finding out more about this amazing journey through the mountains and over the hills with a guy, a goat and a mission for God. Meet Steve Wescott and LeeRoy Brown, the goat, as I get up close and personal with an interview on KFAV 99.9FM.

Kelley Lamm: Steve, this is quite a

journey you have embarked on to save the children. Trading in your days of rock ‘n roll for a back pack, boots and a goat. How did this idea begin?

Steve Wescott: I came up with the idea in late 2011 while touring with a band. After the last tour date, I told a bandmate that I wanted to make this walk. I spent the next year planning and, eventually,

made a trip to the REI in Seattle. I selected a backpack and equipment based on how cool it looked. I had never been much of an outdoorsman.

Kelley: What are you hoping to gain walking across America with a goat?

Steve: I am no superhero, no wise man

– not even a monk. I have had plenty of failings before coming to Christ. I am using the walk to redeem my past. I am determined to walk across America. The walk isn’t about me or even my goat. It’s about Uzima. I am trying to raise money for Uzima Outreach and Intervention, a ministry in Nairobi that aims to reach addicted adults, as well as the abused, neglected and orphaned children of those addicts and bring them love and compassion. It’s located on the borderline of a slumland in Nairobi known locally as “Sodom.” Sodom is a small area of land that’s home to rape, murder, robbery, and drugs. Kelley: What brought you to the children of Uzima?

Steve: The ministry is headed by my

friend, Steve Turner. My mother spent time there, as well. It’s turned into a family thing.

Kelley: Tell me, Steve… why a goat as a traveling companion?

Steve: Even though I was determined to

walk across America, I didn’t want to do it alone. I decided to look for a four-legged friend who would make the perfect travel-

ing company. I knew I needed a traveling companion. I had my sights set on a sweet Rottweiler to fill the bill. But a knee injury meant my canine friend couldn’t make the walk. The vet said “He can’t go,” and I remember crying. I was heartbroken and felt bad about leaving my friend behind, but I wanted to continue my mission anyway. The thought of getting another dog ... it seemed like it would be cheating. I heard about the New Moon Goat Rescue through a friend. I was, like, I’ve got to see this magical land of goats. I made the drive to the goat rescue. I was paired with a goat named, Popsicle. It was destiny and a good fit. Almost immediately, I renamed Popsicle to something a little more bad, like LeeRoy Brown, after the Jim Croce song.

Kelley: A goat doesn’t actually sleep at the end of the bed or curl up in a doggie carrier. How do you begin to travel and take care of a goat?

Steve: The Internet tells you a lot about

raising goats, but it doesn’t tell you how slow they are. LeeRoy pays his own way. The goat carries his own food and gear. I try to keep LeeRoy’s load light, so as not to stress him. The first night we stayed in a tent. I spent a nervous night with LeeRoy in the tent — there were dogs nearby, and I was worried about leaving LeeRoy outside — only to wake to a mountain of goat droppings in the tent. Since then, we have found our groove, despite a few small hitches and LeeRoy’s alarming habit of eating discarded cigarette butts on the roadside.

Kelley: How are you eating and sleeping as you make your way across America?

Steve: I’ve slept in tents and washed my

socks in bathroom sinks. Those who comp a room or pay for a meal allow me to stretch my pennies. Every penny counts! Kelley: Is this experience already changing you?

Steve: I can’t help but come away a

changed man. The change is something I needed. A change that came from following a path set by God. I’ve had unexpected experiences like seeing the full majesty of the night time sky. I had no idea there were so many stars in the sky, and they actually did twinkle. My journey has started from the base of the Space Needle in Seattle, Wash., on May 2, 2012, in honor of my father who passed away the same day 20 years before. Together, we have walked through Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Colorado and Kansas for a total of 2,500 miles. I spend my time on the road not only walking, but also sharing the story of Uzima with curious onlookers, community centers, schools and churches. The goal of Needle2Square is to raise enough funds to purchase an orphanage and land for Uzima Outreach, so that they can have a more permanent location and become self-sustaining.

Kelley: Thank you, Steve and LeeRoy,

for your mission to make a difference in yourself and the world. Safe travels as you make your way over the mountains and thru the hills for the children of Uzima! ¤

Photo courtesy of Steve Wescott

For more information or to find out how you can help, go to www.needle2square.com. March | April

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Rooted in Tradition, Embracing Innovation Lindenwood University is advancing the idea of what a university can be: loyal to debate and dialogue, cherishing diversity of thought, and devoted to our students. Lindenwood enjoys ever-increasing prominence. Following nearly two decades of rapid growth, an expansion of innovative academic programs and premium accreditations, Lindenwood thrives as one of the Midwestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s larger independent universities.

Education in a New Key

Lindenwood has struck a new chord â&#x20AC;Ś orchestrating education in a new key.

ST. CHARLES BELLEVILLE ELEVEN REGIONAL CENTERS 209 South Kingshighway St. Charles, MO 63301 (636) 949-2000 www.lindenwood.edu March | April

s d n a r r Running Eith the kids w

Have a plan before you leave home! So, your pantry is running low, and it’s time to go to the store. You make your list and then discover one critical detail — the kids need to go with you this time. For whatever reason, be it a sick babysitter or singlehood, you have no choice but to pack up the munchkins and go. As a mother of six, I’ve been in this situation more than a few times. While we have had our share of errand mishaps, truthfully, I actually like having some (or all) of my little buddies with me — usually. It didn’t just happen overnight, though. There were a few things I learned in the process – sometimes the hard way. For example, I’ll never forget the time my wild child (everyone has one of those, right?) told me, in the middle of the store, that she wanted to embarrass me. She made good on that pronouncement, too. From spying on her sister in the dressing room, to commenting on my toilet paper usage (why did I think the dualstall family bathroom was a good idea?), I learned some lessons. Hopefully, you can benefit from my experience or, in some cases, lack of it.

Before you ever get in the car

Sarah Moeller was born and raised in St. Charles County and now resides “down the road” in rural Missouri with her husband and six “monkeys,” ages 2 to 11. As a whimsical mom, one of her goals is to encourage families to unplug, reconnect with those they love, and do something spontaneous and fun! You can often find her reading, cooking, dancing with her kids in the moonlight, and enjoying hot tea, diet Dr. Pepper and M&M’s. (But not all at once... usually.) 60 StreetScape Magazine

Just the Basics – Taking care of bodily needs goes a long way towards keeping kids content. Start out your trip with full tummies, empty bladders (or clean diapers), and rested kids. If possible, leave right after breakfast. Plan to be home for lunch, so you can stay on your routine and spend naptime putting away groceries. Better yet, eat lunch out, so you can go right into your afternoon schedule. Never shop hungry, especially with kids. Sequence Your Stops – Because we live pretty far from our stores, and because we don’t go very often, we usually have about five or more stops to make. Ideally, before I ever get in the van, I have a list of stops we need to make, in the order we need to make them. Keep in mind things like the stores’ operating hours and locations and where you will be getting perishable food (if applicable). Also, if you plan to eat on the road, time it so the kids are the right amount of hungry. Have a Strategy for Your Needed Items – Go a step further, and make a list based on your stores’ layouts. If you have a store you frequent, like Walmart or Target, make a list on your computer in the order that things appear in the store. During the week, circle things you need. At the store, go through each aisle, selecting and then crossing off the circled items. You’ve probably noticed how distracting kids can be in a grocery store, and this method allows you to connect more with your kids.

During the trip Stop and Smell the Roses – My kids love to do this, quite literally. One of our favorite stores is Costco, which has flowers in the front. My kids love to smell them, which gives me a little break from the aisle walking. It does come at a price, though, for my kids. They usually have to earn this with good behavior in the store. You can probably find something fun to look at or smell at the end of your store; if it’s by the door, it instantly motivates kids when you first walk in. Just the Basics, Part Two – Speaking of Costco, has anyone noticed they have samples there? He-he. Even if you don’t shop there, you can use the following method. Because some grocery stores are large, and the sight of food makes little kids hungry, plan for them to need little treats throughout a store like this. Costco samples are perfect; everyone who is good in that aisle gets the sample at the end of the aisle. If the child misbehaves, they realize the consequences pretty quickly. And, very importantly, they can try for the next sample immediately. If this method isn’t available to you (you don’t shop at Costco, or there aren’t many samples), you can do the same thing with fruit snacks. You can give them one (piece) at a time, at the end of every successful aisle. Moving On – Nothing is more draining and frustrating than chasing kids or waiting for laggards to catch up. Unless your child is able to consistently stay by you, plan to use some sort of cart, sling, wrap, or something else. It really depends on the kid, but some of mine have stayed by me even when they were as young as three or four. My wild child still lags or lies on the floor, and she is almost seven. (Usually it is because I have accidentally forgotten the basics, though.) Know your child and what he or she needs to stay with you. And, speaking of carts, try to park your vehicle by a cart rack. It can help you get a cart quicker and then return it afterward without getting far from your kids. If Momma Ain’t Happy – You know the saying. Don’t forget to take care of yourself! It is easy to forget to eat enough or drink enough, but don’t be like me. In times past, I would notice that near the end of my trip, I was moving slower and slower. I had forgotten the basics, and it was catching up with me. Whenever the kids eat or potty, don’t forget about yourself!

The aftermath End on a Good Note – If you end cheerfully, or at least not grumpily, everyone will be more motivated to do this next time. Make sure you have a solid meal ready at home (if you are doing errands in the afternoon), even if it is just frozen pizza and a bagged salad. Nobody wants to get home with a carful of kids and purchases and then deal with making food. Laugh – No matter what, accept that even your best efforts won’t guarantee a happy trip 100 percent of the time. You will have bumps in the road – maybe literally – and feel like you’re a bit crazy. Whenever this happens to me, I remind myself that someday in the future I will miss these days and these little people who call me Mommy. I will miss this mundane thing we call running errands. In the moment, I have the choice to laugh it off or cry. And for the kids, I choose to laugh. ¤

March | April

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March | April

StreetScape Book Review Review by Main Street Books Finally! “A LOCALLY PRODUCED GUIDEBOOK TO ST. CHARLES” is the long-awaited instruction manual to having a great time in St. Charles County. Like Reedy Press’ comparable title “A LOCALLY PRODUCED GUIDEBOOK TO ST. LOUIS”, this excellent reference book takes you across the county and to a variety of interesting towns, shops, restaurants and festivals. It also gives a good taste of the rich history that blankets St. Charles- from Lewis and Clark to Daniel Boone, from the First State Capitol to the MKT Railway Line. The authors, both women who have extensive experience in the county, have painstakingly researched every line of this book, and the quality is such that you feel that you will never need to consult another guidebook in your life. Whether you’re strolling down the cobblestone streets in Historic St. Charles, tasting delicious wine in Augusta, or taking a walk through one of Wentzville’s beautiful parks, you will be glad to have “A LOCALLY PRODUCED GUIDEBOOK TO ST. CHARLES” at your fingertips.

Title: A Locally Produced Guidebook to St. Charles Author: J ustine Riggs & Vicki Berger Erwin Publisher: Reedy Press

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Buy it at Main Street Books 307 S Main St., St. Charles MO 63301 (636) 949-0105 www.MainStreetBooks.net Follow us on twitter @mainstreetbooks

Blue-Veined Cheese Paired with Tequila Story by Barrie Lynn | The Cheese Impresario www.TheCheeseImpresario.com I’ve paired this blue-veined cheese successfully with a slew of beverages. On my internet series, CHEESE RULES with host Barrie Lynn – The Cheese Impresario, I paired this Gorgonzola with Ron Cooper’s Del Maguey Mezcal. Here, I’ve paired it with a Reposado Tequila with the addition of a cocktail recipe for extra pleasure. Gorgonzola (Gawr-guhn-zoh-luh) Gorgonzola is a type of blue cheese that reportedly originated in 879 AD in Gorgonzola, a then village near Milan, Italy. The legend of blue veined cheese tells of a young man who was quite enamored with a young woman. While romancing, he forgot his sack that held cheese and a piece of rye bread. When he came back some weeks later to retrieve his bag, the rye bread had molded and the mold had entered the cheese. In modern times, mold spores are added to the cheese before it’s aged and the cheese is pierced (I’ve seen this being done) to bring in air to allow the spores to breath to grow. Gorgonzola is now made around the planet and is usually available in two quite different flavor profiles from the process of more or less aging. The most robust, firmer and older of the two versions of this cheese is Piccante. It delivers a stronger, and what I call that “blue bite” big time. The younger version of Gorgonzola is Dolce Latte, the sweet-milk style like the Dolcina Gorgonzola. This artisanal cheese pairs amazingly well with a variety of fine beverages as well as cocktails. I love leaving this blue-green veined cheese out of the refrigerator for well over an hour so it becomes kind of spreadable. Serve it with a crusty Italian bread and this cheese… heaven.

123 Certified Organic Reposado Tequila

Hailing from the lowlands of Jalisco, Mexico, 2 is an ultra smooth cheese-friendly reposado tequila that echoes the land it comes from. Each sip delivers that true agave kind of citrusy taste along with spices and vanilla from oak aging for 6 months. The tequila’s green plant flavors bring the sweetness out in the cheese and the long complex finish of the libation rides the rich creaminess of this blue veined masterpiece.

One I Recommend:

Sartori Reserve Dolcina Gorgonzola – Cow’s Milk Sartori - Plymouth, Wisconsin Cheesemaker: Bryon Schroeder

The company, 123 Tequila, is committed to caring for our planet as well as caring for our palates. Their artist-created labels are made from recycled paper and printed with all soy ink. This company also makes dynamite Blanco and Añejo versions of this complex liquid. I recommend serving the Gorgonzola served neat in a spoon and the tequila served neat in a sipping glass. “Uno Cardamomo” By David Ravandi 1.5 oz. Uno Blanco Tequila 1.5 oz. Fresh Grapefruit Juice 15 ml Orgeat Syrup 2.5 ml Cardamom Pod Ginger Ale Shake all ingredients with ice. Strain into a highball glass over ice. Top with ginger ale. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge and fresh mint. Enjoy! ¤ March | April

of Dunces. The most glaring failure to be made into film, though, is arguably J.D. Salinger’s coming-of-age standard The Catcher in the Rye. Yet, some movies take the book’s plot, characters, and core, edit out a lot of superfluous material, and create a newer, richer version of the story. HBO’s Game of Thrones made for a leaner machine; Jaws was a far better movie than novel, taking out the trashy elements of Peter Benchley’s work and focusing on the task of that pesky shark. A Clockwork Orange was a brilliant novel and film, vastly different renditions; ditto Lolita (Stanley Kubrick’s 1962 version, not Adrian Lyne’s tepid 1997 remake). Deliverance was a gripping, soul-searching novel made more visceral on screen. Or, in the case of Peter Jackson’s sprawling Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies, all the excess material was skillfully woven into the film universe.

Story by Lance Tilford

THE WAYWARD CRITIC

All Booked Up

Great movies come from great ideas, and great ideas are, more often than not, originated in great books, or borrowed heavily from books and short stories. Many of the biggest films of this year all derived from novels or series. Avengers: Age of Ultron comes from the comic books. Jurassic World evolved from Michael Crichton’s original Jurassic Park. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay is the last installment of Suzanne Collins Hunger Games series. Fifty Shades of Grey titillated millions on the page. On TV, the highly rated Walking Dead is from a graphic novel series and Game of Thrones is from George R.R. Martin’s bestselling Song of Ice and Fire series (which desperately needed tighter editing). Think of hallmark films: Blade Runner, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Jaws, Mary Poppins. James Bond movies. Tarzan’s countless reboots. 66 StreetScape Magazine

Of course, some films don’t do justice to their original books: no version of either Dracula or Frankenstein have even come close to the dark brilliance of the source material. Anna Karenina, one of the great novels of all time, has been woefully attempted. Last year’s Endless Love remake again failed to capture the raw and startling beauty of Scott Spencer’s original novel. I have yet to see a thoroughly satisfying live-action version of Peter Pan (though Joe Wright’s revisionist Pan releases this summer) or Alice in Wonderland (Tim Burton’s take was dreadful). The ill-fated version of Philip Pullman’s The Golden Compass brought none of the dark, foreboding, epic magic of the novel to the screen. Recently, Inherent Vice was a fun if uneven rendition of a novel many considered unfilmable. Filmmakers still won’t tackle Thomas Pynchon’s other works. The same goes for John Kennedy O’Toole’s obtuse classic A Confederacy

This year and next will see the release of many more adaptations of classic books (Far from the Madding Crowd), new books (The Martian by Andy Weir as directed by Ridley Scott), and particularly, young adult series (Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, 2016) that are and aren’t Hunger Games. But it leads us to do what Hollywood producers have done for decades; trawl through the hundreds of thousands of novels published each year for that story just screaming to be on the big screen. Here’s my list of novels with compelling and original stories that would, in the right hands, make brilliant films. Get the novel experience first!

House Of Leaves

by Mark Danielewski Dark urban horror An inventively structured story of a family who move into an old home that begins to appear, and grow, bigger on the inside. This book will get under your skin. Ideal director for the film: Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth)

The Twenty-Seventh City

by Jonathan Franzen Gritty procedural thriller Franzen’s the bestselling, celebrated author of The Corrections and Freedom, but his stunning debut novel of corruption and political machinations that unfold when an Indian woman is named chief of the St. Louis police department is harrowing and unsettling. Ideal director: David Fincher (Gone Girl), come back to Missouri

Fermata

by Nicholson Baker Original erotic psych-out Baker is best known for his little book, Vox, which made the headlines as the titillating gift Monica Lewinsky gave to Bill Clinton, but this original story of a man who can freeze moments, leaving him free to explore and manipulate people in disturbing, mostly erotic ways is an entrancing time-travel fantasy. Ideal director: Alejandro Gonzalez-Inarritu (Birdman)

Stranger In A Strange Land

by Robert Heinlein First contact with an alien Celebrated sci-fi author Heinlein’s story of Michael Valentine Smith, the Martian who becomes a celebrity on Earth and experiences our culture through his eyes, is a bit bawdy and an excellent vehicle for skewering our culture and world in both fun and serious ways. Many variations of this novel have been made (most notably Nicholas Roeg’s The Man Who Fell to Earth, which was actually based on a different novel). Ideal director: Peter Weir (Witness)

Martin Dressler: The Tale Of An American Dreamer

by Steven Millhauser Epic turn-of-the-century fantasy This 1996 Pulitzer Prize winner created an indelible, Citizen Kane/Walt Disney-like character whose dreams and inventions become more and more grandiose until he constructs an entire world, The Grand Cosmo. It’s enlightening and historically sweeping with a cosmi-tragic heart at its core. Ideal director: Martin Scorsese or Steven Spielberg That’s my list. What’s yours? ¤

The Wayward Critic reviews new releases and trawls the online and VOD services for notable offerings. Follow the reviews at: www.streetscapemag.com/The-Wayward-Critic and on Facebook at Facebook.com/WaywardCritic and Twitter @waywardcritic.

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Is Sugar the new FAT?

Sugar has been coined as the “New Cocaine” Story by Dr. Christy Jenkins, BCND Why? It is because sugar is eight times more addictive than cocaine. A recent study I read in the Washington Post stated rats desired Oreo cookies more than cocaine or morphine. The rats’ brains had produced more neurons when they consumed sugar than when they consumed the drugs. I recently had a client ask me if she could have a glass of wine or cherry turnover as a “cheat” for her diet. I was hesitant to answer because of her history with alcohol abuse. The answer, based on the study, would have been wine. However, in this case, neither is appropriate. The experiment with the rats and sugar showed the link between behavior and cravings. Added sugar makes up more than 10% of our daily intake guideline, stated by the World Health Organization (WHO). For example, if you eat 1,800 calories a day, approximately 180 of those calories are added sugar. If you divide that by 4, you have consumed 45 grams of sugar. Drinking soda alone is 40 grams. Over the past few decades, experts have spoken out about the new paradigm shift in sugar creating the obesity epidemic and the cause of most chronic diseases. Sugar has been shown to cause excess weight gain and cavities. There is no health benefit to consuming sugar. Hopefully, by spotlighting added sugars, we will be reminded to consume less. Alternatives to sugar are stevia, agave nectar, or raw honey. For more information about sugar and other causes of chronic health issues, call Dr. Christy Jenkins, BCND, at 636-724-5605 or visit nathealthsol.com. For the month of March, Dr. Jenkins is offering a free consultation to educate you about the benefits of lifestyle change. Call and schedule your appointment today! ¤

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