StreetScape Magazine - May | June 2016 by TPH Media

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Table of Contents

4. Publisherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Note 8. Society Get Wet - Make A Splash! 14. Handmade Soaps are Lathered Up! 16. Sun-Kissed Style Swimwear Health & Fitness 20. Ready to Run Movies in the Park 24. Get Ready... 26. CHOMP Let's Hear it for the Boys! 28. Sculptures from the Heart - Andrew Andrasko 30. Robert Kelker-Kelly - "Choose To Play" 32. St. Louis Media Hall of Fame Inductee Brad Hildebrand Real Estate 40. Ask the Expert - Man Spaces 42. Staging Your Home 46. Ease into Gardening... With A Raised Bed Fashion 50. High Tea Style Wedding 62. Eric & Samantha Peters Wedding 66. Alternatives to Wedding Cake Glad Hearts 79. Orval Irvin - Feeling Blessed & Giving Back 80. Cookies For a Cure 87. Donn Sorensen - Big Hearted Leadership FutureScape 90. Forensic Science

Cover Image Credits Layout Design: Tim Rose Photography: Lance Tilford Styling: Tamara Tungate Hair/Makeup: Jennifer Graves Model: Galina Angheluta for West Model & Talent On the Model: Navy crop top and palazzo pants from Leopard Boutique, Scarab necklace from Abigailâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Apparel, Bracelets from Enchanting Embellishments

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Publisher’s Note April showers bring May flowers… and May brings a new edition of StreetScape Magazine. This is a special issue, as the inception of StreetScape Magazine was in May of 2006. It truly was a time of rebirth for me personally and professionally. Then in August of 2006, the first StreetScape Magazine was on newsstands. It has been 10 years and we keep growing and adapting, so it should come as no surprise that we are doing even more! The StreetScape team will be welcoming you to the TPH Media Studios. This studio will be a place for photography and video production... a workplace for new and seasoned photographers and models to collaborate, for a small studio rental fee. We will also be offering video production for our business and non-profit clients. It will offer approximately 2900 square feet of open studio space, a Cyclorama wall and green screen production. With seven more months in our 10th Anniversary year, we are going to be making a few more major announcements. Thank you to our Advertising Partners and our Readers for being a part of this amazing journey! Please keep an eye on our StreetScape Facebook and Twitter pages for more fun to come including information about how you can be a part of “Romancing the Runway!" and "Beyond the Best," our two signature events. In this issue’s fashion spread, we take you inside MaryAnn's Tea Room. We are especially appreciative of their sponsorship. Thank you to MaryAnn's Tea Room/Enchanting Embellishments for opening the doors of your fabulous boutique and exquisite tea room for our photo shoot. Lastly, a shout out to Kathleen (Kat) Riddler, a local St. Charles native who is the Editor-in-Chief at The Current, the University of St. Louis student newspaper. Not only is it challenging to be an Editor-in-Chief, imagine doing it while the paper celebrates its 50th year anniversary and it's 1500th issue in print. Embracing print and new technology while maintaining fair and balanced reporting is no easy task. Congratulations Kat on a job well done! Hope to see you out and about enjoying Spring in St. Charles.

Tom Hannegan, Publisher P.S. The wedding season is upon us. In every issue we choose a wedding to spotlight from entries on Facebook. Please message us on our Facebook page if you would like your special day to be considered for our featured wedding in an upcoming issue… see pages 62 & 63.

State Treasurer Clint Zweifel, State Representative Joshua Peters, Editor-in-Chief Kat Riddler, Chancellor Thomas George. Kat Riddler's family. From the left: Sue Casseau, Editor-in-Chief Kat Riddler, and Rory Riddler.

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Editor-in-Chief Kat Riddler and State Representative Candidate Tom Hannegan.

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d n i h e B the es n e c S Tom Hannegan Founder & Publisher Tom@StreetScapeMag.com

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DISTRIBUTED TO Chesterfield • Cottleville • Dardenne Prairie

Lake St. Louis • Maryland Heights • New Town O’Fallon • St. Charles • St. Louis • St. Peters Weldon Spring • Wentzville • Wright City ADVISORY BOARD Deborah Alessi

Steve Kaspar

Susan Berthold

Mike Klinghammer

Nadine Boon

Kelley Lamm

Linda Brown-Didion

Martha Mazzola

Steve Church

Bob Millstone

John Clark

Connie Petree

Sally Faith

Susie Pundmann

April Feldewerth

Linda Sanchez

Lorna Frahm

Kelley Scheidegger-Barbee

Grace Harmon

Victoria Schmitt-Babb

Mike Haverstick

Keith Schneider

Ann Hazelwood

Vicki Schneider

Jason Hughes

Mary West

Dianne Isbell

Brian Wies

Lisa Kalz

George Wise

Volume 17, Issue 3 May | June 2016 TPH Media 223 North Main Street | St. Charles, Missouri 63301 (855) 358.7526 Fax: (866) 231.6159 www.StreetScapeMagazine.com Judy@StreetScapeMag.com StreetScape Magazine is registered in the US Patent and Trademark Office. #3251745 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.

Please note: In our March | April 2016 issue: North House Folk School is located in Grand Marais, Minnesota. May | June

Society STEM Breakfast March 4, 2016 â&#x20AC;˘ Old Hickory Golf Club Nancy Laubenthal, Plant Manager of the General Motors Wentzville, Assembly Plant, was the keynote speaker at the 2016 STEM Celebration Breakfast. The event honored 18 local public and private high school students who excel in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). The 7th Annual STEM Celebration Breakfast was hosted by Partners for Progress of Greater St. Charles. STEM is a national and regional effort to better prepare the workforce of tomorrow by encouraging today's students to engage more in studies, clubs, events and careers involving science, technology engineering and math. Photos by Michael Schlueter

A. STEM Awards B. Keynote Speaker Nancy Laubenthal -Plant Manager, General Motors' Wentzville C. Greg Prestemon, President and CEO of the St. Charles County EDC and Grace Harmon D. Lori Becklenber, Director -New Business Development, St. Louis Regional Chamber Scott Drachnik -Director of Workforce Development, St Charles County E. 2106 STEM Award Recepients F. Randy Schilling, Founder of BoardPaq and OPO Startups addresses 2016 STEM guests

Tribute to Success: A Celebration of Women March 8, 2016 â&#x20AC;˘ Ritz Carlton Connections to Success hosted its 5th annual Tribute to Success: A celebration of women luncheon. This year's event happened to fall on International Women's Day and a packed house of 500 celebrated in style. The event honors and celebrates women from all walks of life, including CEO's, entrepreneurs, community leaders and mothers. This year's keynote speaker was Dress for Success Founder, Nancy Lublin.

Photos courtesy of Diane Anderson

C D A. Mother/ Daughter fun, Deb and Lindsey Matush B. Connections to Success Co-Founders Brad and Kathy Lambert, with Keynote Speaker and Founder of Dress for Success, Nancy Lublin C. Guests checking out the silent auction D. Group photo of this year's honorees E. Gina Cheatham and Tishuara O. Jones

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16th Annual Legacy Ball March 12, 2016 • St. Charles Convention Center Community Living hosted the 16th Annual Legacy Ball at the St. Charles Convention Center. Karen Schneider, founder of Foundations Of Love, Inc., was awarded the Legacy Award, and Bob Davis, now retired from American Family Insurance, was awarded the Community Volunteer of the Year Award, for their outstanding contributions to people with disabilities and the community as a whole. Proceeds from the event will help provide innovative services and opportunities for people with disabilities served by Community Living, Inc. The Master of Ceremonies for the evening was Mr. Jack Borgmeyer and Mr. Merle Schneider was the Auctioneer. Music was provided by the Ralph Butler Band. Photos by Michael Schlueter

B C A. Merle Schneider and Jack Borgmeyer B. Kate Santellano and Tom Hannegan C. Bob Davis, Barb Griffith and Karen Schneider D. Robert Niedergerke and Mary Alsup-Niedergerke, Jane and Mike Gill

St. Louis Crisis Nursery’s Razzle Dazzle Ball April 2, 2016 • Sheraton Westport Chalet The Crisis Nursery celebrated its 30th Anniversary at the sold-out 2016 Razzle Dazzle ‘Once Upon A Time’ gala. Emceed by KMOV-TV’s Emily Rau and Andre Hepkins and joined by 600 community and business supporters, the Crisis Nursery raised $300,000 for its mission of child abuse prevention. At the magical and fairy-tale themed event, the Crisis Nursery gave H.U.G.S. & K.I.S.S.E.S. awards to organizations and volunteers that have impacted and helped the Crisis Nursery’s vision in saving babies’ lives. The Foundation of the Year award was presented to the Saigh Foundation with JoAnn Hejna and Mary Kemp accepting the award for the organization. Dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for children in the region, the Saigh Foundation’s generous gifts to the Nursery have helped to provide care for countless children living in the city of St. Louis. Photos courtesy of Karl Lund Photography

D A. Gerhardts and guests B. Bruce and Heidi Sowatsky C. Jeff and Raegan Parrish with friends D. Keith Jackson, Mary Beth Engler, Stan Williams, Jodi and John Lang E. Steve and Sally Mitchell with friends

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Society Mayors’ Charity Ball April 2, 2016 • St. Charles Convention Center The Annual St. Charles County Mayors’ Charity Ball was another huge success! This year we raised enough money to give to six (6) local charities, which are: Crossroads Clinic Volunteers in Medicine, Disabled Athlete Sports Association, Gold Star College for Kids Foundation, Project Search, The Sparrow’s Nest Maternity Home and TREE House of Greater St. Louis. Thank you to all of our sponsors and guests for making this a wonderful event! Photos by Michael Schlueter

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StreetScape Client Appreciation~Yo! Salsa April 4, 2016 â&#x20AC;˘ Yo! Salsa, Wentzville It's Spring and time again to celebrate with our advertising partners. The event was hosted by Yo! Salsa in Wentzville and featured a taco bar and piĂąata. It was wonderful to connect with everyone and meet some new people. Sincerely, "Thank You!" to all of our advertising partners, without you StreetScape would not be possible. Also a special thanks to our advertising partners who contributed door prizes for the event; RLK & Associates, Riviera Too, and The Wentzville Downtown Business Association. Photos by Michael Schlueter

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A. Linda Sanchez & Linda Didion B. Angel Magasano & Shelley Barr C. Sandy & Tony Thieman D. Nadine Boon & Fraser Leonard E. Mary Ellen Renaud & Bonnie Define F. Brenda Fraser & Nadine Boon G. Fun at Yo! Salsa H. John Schneider & Stacee Gilmore I. Ed Sanchez

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s d n e i r F h t i w Fun

THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 2016

TEAM TRIVIA & SILENT AUCTION

PRIZES AWARDED

Top Trivia Team *Best Patriotic Themed Table *Please no glitter or confetti

Doors Open at 6 • Trivia begins at 7 **Cash Bar • Beer & Set-Ups Provided Bring Snacks

**No outside alcohol

GRAND OPERA HOUSE

311 North Main Street • St. Charles, MO 63301 Very limited Seating • Tables of 8 only $200 Contact Tiffany Smith SmithTiffany826@gmail.com • 636.696.6369

HANNEGAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE

Tom is a 100% Pro-Life & a true fiscal conservative who has the real life business experience we need to promote economic growth. He supports school choice, the 2nd Amendment, our veterans, law enforcement, freedom and personal responsibility.

REPUBLICAN PRIMARY

August 2nd

PROUDLY ENDORSED BY

Repesentative Anne Zerr & Mayor Sally Faith TomHannegan.com

Proceeds to benefit Tom Hannegan for State Representative • Paid for by Hannegan for State Representative, Scott Mell, Treasurer 12 StreetScape Magazine

May | June

s d r a c s s e in s u b to ts if g From Make a Splash!

Handmade soaps are lathered up! Story by Kate Santellano Uses for handmade soaps range from gifts to décor. It is easy to personalize soaps by simply adding a clever tag. For example, baby showers can say, “From my shower to yours, thanks for coming,” or “Thanks for showering our baby with love.” Or you can add a simpler tag with your initials, wedding date, a thank you or any other sentiment you would like to share. You don’t have to celebrate a wedding or baby shower to give or get soap as a gift. Soap is a timeless gift that everyone enjoys.

Gone are the days when soaps were used to, well, serve the simple task of cleaning the body. The dictionary defines soap as a substance used for washing and cleansing purposes. Hand soap, dish soap and bath soap come to mind. It is something we make sure to have on hand – a household staple – that is, if you are talking about old-fashioned soap. Considering its humble beginnings in the Roman bathhouses of 312 B.C., when soap was made out of goat’s tallow, wood ashes and salt, we’ve come a very long way. Today’s handmade soaps start with various oils, shea butter, water and a small amount of lye. Other ingredients to make each scent unique are added to this basic recipe. Handmade soap retains all of its natural glycerin glory and produces a rich and luxurious lather that is unparalleled to any other. It is made in small batches and free of chemicals and unnecessary ingredients, making it an excellent choice that everyone can enjoy. Not too long ago, the thought of giving someone soap as a gift would have been considered taboo. If you received soap as a gift you would wonder if there was an underlying meaning to the gift. Giving soap as a gift would have implied a need to use it. That is not the case today. A trip to Etsy’s website will prove soaps have more uses than simply cleaning. Soaps have become personal and intimate. In fact, according to “Advertising Age,” consumers spend over $1 billion annually on soaps. Whether you choose to make the soap yourself or purchase it from one of your local soap boutiques, the fact remains that anyone receiving soap as a gift will be pleased. “When I want to give someone a truly personal gift, I choose handmade soaps. My friends and family love them, and you can never have too many,” said St. Charles resident Pat Sommer. 14 StreetScape Magazine

For Emma Riordan, Lafayette High School senior, “handmade soaps add a personalized touch to any gift. It shows a person that you value them due to the soaps being made with such attention and detail and are each one of a kind.” French-milled, handmade, natural, dead sea salt, unscented, hot process, cold process, and artisan are a few of the many choices we have as consumers. Even vegan soap is available. Honey, goat’s milk, lavender, oatmeal, jojoba, and even charcoal are popular ingredients and scents. You can literally let your imagination run wild with the endless options for handmade soaps. According to Charlene Simon, owner of Bathhouse Soapery & Caldarium in St. Charles, while customers do get enjoyment from the scents, they often overlook the fact that these soaps are great for people with sensitive skin. “Our soaps are made in small batches and are free of any chemicals,” she said. Having made soap for over twenty years, Simon is not new to the ever-growing popularity of soaps and their expanding markets. Candy bars, bourbon bars and dessert bars are common event trends that allow guests to make their own treats. Simon explains that soaps are becoming increasingly popular in the event industry. “Body scrub buffets allow guests to create their own body scrub, making an interactive guest experience that is unique and fun.” When you think of soaps, scents such as lavender, lilac and rose immediately come to mind. However, men are increasingly contributing to the billion-dollar industry. “Soaps for men are becoming more and more popular,” Simon added.

Fresh tobacco leaf, organic black tea, and bay rum are the dominant notes, with hints of fruit and spice. Think old world cargoes of fragrant spices, a well-dressed gentleman, or grandfather’s old-fashioned cologne — perfectly masculine and debonair. One of the bars gives a very gentle polish to all skin types. It is the Tobacco and Rum soap; and according to Simon, it’s the most popular for men. Even local convention and visitors’ bureaus find that locally made soaps make a great gift for out-of-town visitors. It not only shows a bit of local flair, but also is something that will remind visitors of their visit for weeks or even months. Stacey Ross, Vice President of Sales and Special Events at KJS Events in St. Charles, offers soaps as a gift option for events because they “are made with natural ingredients and will not irritate sensitive skin, taking the worry out of giving a gift like this.” In the corporate world, businesses spend over $18 billion a year giving away items with logos. Finding the right promotional item is always challenging because companies are always looking for something unique yet functional – something that can be seen every day. And soap is something everyone uses on a daily basis, making it a great alternative to the typical gifts you would expect to receive from a company. Of course, most people have a business card. But a soap business card makes an impression by providing something that people will use every day and is distinctive. It is creative, fun and functional. According to its website, iCandy Soaps is able to “ensure vivid picture color without the use of dangerously sharp films or toxic chemicals of any kind,” with their proprietary embedding system. For more information on business card soaps, visit www.icandysoaps.com.

If you are interested in being part of this business, you will probably want to take part in the annual Handcrafted Soap & Cosmetic Guild Annual Conference. Charlene Simon is the vice president of the Guild and recommends the three-day conference for anyone in the business or interested in opening up their own handmade soap shop. The conference is comprised of industry professionals eager to learn new techniques and ideas to keep the soap business thriving. For more information, visit: www.soapguild.org. ¤

May | June

Make a Splash!

Photography: Lance Tilford Makeup/Styling: Tamara Tungate Model: Aroon Duncanson with Azuree Talent Shot at Cocoa Beach, FL embroidered triangle top bikini: Victoriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Secret necklace: Target

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top: Express bottom: Target

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Make a Splash!

bikini & necklace: Target

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bikini: Victoria's Secret necklace: Target

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Health & Fitness

Get Ready to Run...

STRONG Story by Keelin Baine-Russell

Participation in marathons and half-marathons has skyrocketed in the past few years, and it seems we all know someone who has hit the pavement in a local race. The goals of each individual may vary, whether it is to raise money for a charity, achieve a personal goal, lose weight and get in shape, or simply bond with friends and a like-minded community. However, no matter your purpose or your experience, running a long-distance race can be daunting and needs to be approached in a healthy manner to ensure the most enjoyable experience. When working with runners of all ages, experiences and mindsets, there are a few “musts” that I include in their running programs. — Make sure you have the correct pair of shoes for your feet. With all the different styles and colors of shoes, it is easy to get caught up in buying a shoe for its looks rather than its purpose. Make sure you go to a running store that will assess your foot type and your gait and find the best match for you. This will help maximize your performance and also be one of your biggest advantages in avoiding injury. It is very normal for runners who put big miles on their shoes to have a pair they start with at the beginning of their training program and another that they break in a few weeks before the race. Not sure if you need new shoes? Replace your running shoes every 250 to 300 miles. It is a worthy investment, and your body will thank you. — Include a strength and conditioning program that complements your running program. A strength program is another key way to avoid injury. Distance running breaks down the muscles in your body. Pounding the pavement without your muscles being prepared and without maintaining strength throughout training can lead to many injuries, such as shin splints, stress fractures, and muscle tears. Don’t sacrifice your mileage for the weight room though; make sure the two programs work together in making you the most efficient. Hiring a personal trainer? Make sure you know his or her background regarding experience working with runners, knowing how to assess and identify where you need the most strengthening, and knowing how to create a strength program that works alongside the running program that best fits your personal needs. — Add speed work to your training. This might be one of the biggest mistakes that I see runners make when preparing for a race. Often, runners are so focused on hitting certain mileage 20 StreetScape Magazine

each week that speed work gets pushed to the side or completely unconsidered. People often run faster on race day than when they trained, as a result of adrenaline; and when their bodies are not prepared for it, may result in pulled hamstrings or intense soreness. Adding in tempo runs and track workouts, such as Yasso 800s, are a fantastic way of adding variety to your training program and making sure you are developing and adapting your muscles. — Rest and recovery days are non-negotiable. You need days off. You need them for your muscles to heal, as well as your mind. Listen to your body, as it will tell you if enough is enough. Know that you may need to rest when it is not planned. Taking days off does not make you a failure and does not mean that you are not trying. If you still find yourself needing to have some sort of activity on your days off to cure restlessness, add in yoga to work on stretching your hard-worked muscles and take some pressure off your joints. Take an Epsom salt bath or use a foam roll over your muscles. Days off will help to not only prevent injury, but also ensure that the process is more enjoyable. Now that you have a direction to head in for your race training, let’s pick a local race with a great cause as your goal! You can find links to the following races, as well as many others to choose from, by visiting the race calendars on the websites of Big River Running and Fleet Feet Sports. • Cowbell Uncorked: OFF ROAD 100K Trail Relay Klondike Park – May 7 • Flat as a Pancake 5k/10k St. Louis Mills – September 24

• MO’ Cowbell Frontier Park, St. Charles – October 2

• The Skippo Trail Race Castlewood State Park – November 5-6 • The Hungry Turkey Union Station – November 24

Dr. Keelin Baine-Russell Personal Trainer, Cross Country and Track and Field Coach keebainefitness@gmail.com Emerge Fitness Training (emergefitnesstraining.com) ¤

Health & Fitness

Opens New Outpatient Care Center in Wentzville SSM Health has opened a new $10.4 million outpatient health care facility near the SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital–Wentzville to make it more convenient for the growing population in Western St. Charles, Warren and Lincoln counties to access health care. Located a half-mile north of Interstate 70 on Wentzville Parkway, the 22,000 sq. foot outpatient center provides patients easy access to primary and specialty health care services, including advanced imaging services such as MRI, CT, X-ray, ultrasound, mammography and bone density. Walk-in appointments for mammogram and X-ray imaging services are available.

“With patients relying more and more on receiving health care services in outpatient settings, SSM Health Outpatient Center will serve as a vital access point. And bringing together complementary services into a single location will ultimately improve the health care experience for our patients and their families,” said said Mike Bowers, president of SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital– St. Charles and St. Joseph Hospital–Wentzville. SSM Health Outpatient Center is located at 1598 West Meyer Rd. To schedule an appointment, call 636-636-949-9600 or visit www.ssmhealth.com/outpatient/west-meyer-road/. ¤

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Bison: Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s First Red Meat Story by Sandi Caro Photos by John Brengle In the not so distant past, tens of millions of bison roamed the American plains. The vast herds drowned out even the sound of thunder as the earth shook beneath their hooves. They provided more than just food for the Plains Indians of the central United States. But they were no match for the long guns of the buffalo hunters who came west in the 18th and 19th centuries and by 1900 they had been driven nearly to extinction for their meat and skins. Today they have recovered to number about 320,000, all but 20,000 living on private ranches.

If you are willing to make the roughly two hour drive southwest from St. Louis to the small town of Salem, you will find just such a place----the Meramec Bison Farm. First, head west on I-44 to St. James, Missouri. From there (exit 195) to downtown Salem is about 28 miles on state highway 68; and it is a relaxing, scenic drive through beautiful, rolling hills dotted with cattle, sheep, and vineyards and broad stands of hardwood forest. If you have

plugged the address for Meramec Bison Farm into your GPS or favorite smartphone app (as I did), you will likely be expecting to eventually be guided down a dirt drive through a ranch gate to a farmhouse with fields full of bison grazing around you (as I was). Not going to happen.

The farm is owned by Jim and Joan Sample, two of the most gracious, friendly folks you would ever hope to meet. They have an office on Main Street, where they sell their meat and manage the business. Once inside the office, there is no doubt that they are 22 StreetScape Magazine

in the business of bison. Two impressive, mounted buffalo heads dominate the space from their spots on the wall; and the desk is sectioned off from the rest of the room by a wood railing that holds a couple of tanned and cured buffalo hides. The size and weight of just the hides provide a glimpse of just how large the animals are. Also in the office are two chest-type freezers and one upright one with a glass display door. In these are the fruits of the Sampleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s labor----frozen cuts of bison meat packaged and ready for sale. There are also displays of jerked bison strips and snack sticks, bison brats and brisket, short ribs and breakfast; the list goes on. The wall space not allotted to the head mounts boasts framed articles about the farm, general information about bison, and lists of the cuts of meat and other products they have available. While the presence of bison farms and ranches is on the rise around the country, they are still enough of a novelty to make one wonder what leads someone to start such an enterprise. When asked that question, Jim replied that for him it was a combination of necessity and heritage. When his job with Missouri/Pacific Railroad was moved from St. Louis to another city---after MO/PAC sold out to Union Pacific----he decided not to move with it. Having been raised on a farm in Arkansas where one of the things his parents raised was cattle, Jim decided to try his hand at the family business---only with a twist. Even though bison arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t exactly cows, the budding market for bison meat, along with the relatively similar methods for keeping them alive and healthy, led him and Joan to decide it was worth a go. So they moved to Salem; and in 1993, on 760 acres of land a short drive east of town, the Meramec Bison Farm was established. Twenty-three years later they are running about 100 head, with 20-30 of those being calves at any given time. Jim says that the animals are usually quite docile while in the pasture, but being corralled stresses them out. They also avoid dehorning and castrating them for the same reason. The next question is, who is eating it? What kind of market is

there for bison? According to the Samples, they sell the vast majority of their meat to stores and high-end restaurants in the St. Louis area. They also have some clientsin the Joplin area and a few other places along the I-44 corridor. Jim makes the drive to St. Louis once a week to deliver to stores in the West County/ Ellisville area as well as Local Harvest and Fair Shares and restaurants like Libertine and Bailey’s Range. They have no out-of- state business and do not take any mail order requests. Their total sales for a year are typically about 60,000 pounds, which is more than they actually raise on the farm, as they lack the acreage to have more than the a hundred head. The excess is acquired by trading breeding bulls with other ranchers or butchering them after a couple of seasons.

As a healthier alternative to beef, it’s natural to wonder if there is any resentment among the cattle ranchers to the presence of a bison farm; but Jim has seen no such backlash. He attributes this primarily to the sheer volume of beef sold when compared to bison. An average year for bison sales in the entire U.S. is about 400,000 head. Beef sales average that amount each day. The sale of bison is trending upward steadily, however, with annual increases of about 10 to 15 percent. While they aren’t going to challenge beef as the king of meats anytime soon, the trend is encouraging for those who make their living in the bison market. And in

the animals they eat. More and more people are willing to pay a bit extra for foods that are certified free of such treatments. And while Jim confesses that his animals are not certified organic (in fact can’t be because of techniques used by surrounding farms) all of his bison are grass fed, and, as a member of the National Bison Association, he is under very strict prohibitions against using antibiotics, growth inducing hormones and steroids.

If you are new to cooking bison, the Samples (along with the National Bison Association) have some important tips for you. Because bison doesn’t have the marbling (fat laced throughout the muscles) that beef has, it is easy to overcook. They recommend not grilling it for this reason; but if you decide to grill, use indirect heat and check it often. Steaks cooked in the oven should be moved down from the heat source and checked sooner than you check your beef steaks. If you would normally cook a beef roast at 375°, cook the bison roast at 275°. Otherwise, break out your favorite beef recipes and start experimenting. The natural flavor tends to be richer and fuller than beef, you probably won’t need as many spices and condiments, but figuring out how you like it best is half the fun.

If you’re looking for a great Saturday road trip, I highly recommend heading down to Salem. Stop at a couple of wineries along the way, browse the local antique shops (which are numerous), and enjoy the scenic beauty of the local roads, lakes, and hiking trails. But don’t head back until you have visited the Meramec Bison Farm. You’ll learn more than you ever imagined it was possible to know about bison, and you will have the added bonus of meeting two of the nicest people in Missouri. ¤

a country that is becoming more and more health conscious, there is even more reason to be optimistic about the outlook. Ounce for ounce, bison has less fat, fewer calories, and less cholesterol than beef, turkey, chicken or fish. When compared to beef alone, the differences are more pronounced. Bison averages 72 percent to 92 percent lower in fat (depending upon the cut of meat), 50 percent lower in cholesterol, and has 30 percent more protein, all with about half the calories. It is a very tasty choice for people who want to live a healthier lifestyle without giving up their red meat. In addition to the health benefits mentioned above, another concern that many who enjoy red meat have voiced in recent years--especially those in more urban markets---is about the injections of antibiotics, steroids, and other substances that are given to

May | June

Get Ready...

S E I V

So… taking your kids to watch a movie at the park should be a walk in the park, right? Not so fast! I'm afraid even the best parents among us can admit to times of frustration at the over-thetop drama that often accompanies parenthood. Because as we all know, even a fun family outing like going to watch a movie holds potential hazards that could spell curtains for the whole evening. With a little planning, however, you can have your movie and watch it too (instead of chasing kids or making multiple trips back to the car). First of all, consider the ages and preferences of your children. Can they handle a late movie, or would an earlier one be better? What about the “scary” factor? A lot of times, if a movie seems iffy, or if I just want to learn more about it, I'll go to www.imdb. com (Internet Movie Database) to see if it would be a good fit for all of my “minions.” Nothing would be more disappointing than making the effort to get to a movie only to have to leave in the middle because something was too scary or boring for your children (or you)! Now that you've picked a movie, it's time to get packing. Here are a few things you might want to have along: Flashlight – Hopefully you won't need to make any trips to the car after the movie starts; but if you do, you will be able to make a safe trip and, as a bonus, find your family again in the dark when you return. Also, in case you drop something during the movie, it will be much easier to retrieve if you have a way to shed some light on the subject. Phone apps work great too, but do require more battery power than the phone usually uses. Snacks – I confess that food is one of my favorite parts of family outings. Being outside, you can have a little more leeway with what you pack, but don't forget that juicy treats tend to attract bugs and are usually sticky and messy. Some of our favorite treats are trail mix, pretzels and party mix. If you want something a little healthier, dry cereal is great. And with a movie, you can't forget the popcorn. Cheese is my favorite! (But there go the health benefits.) If you have a few minutes to spend in the kitchen, try the accompanying recipe for a tasty treat you won't forget! For drinks – bottles, sippy cups, and anything that doesn't spill is better for being outside. Although a gallon of water seems pretty plain and boring, it is also pretty practical for refilling cups that little hands have spilled. Seating – Don't let your wonderful snacks go to waste by drop24 StreetScape Magazine

Story by Sarah Moeller

ping them on the ground! Much like an informal picnic, a movie at the park can be more comfortable and tidy if you take an old sheet or picnic blanket to sit on. For younger kids who might be tempted to run away, consider an umbrella stroller — it's basically a portable lawn chair with a seat belt. Just make sure it doesn't obstruct other moviegoers' views… you may get hit by some rotten tomatoes! If your venue welcomes lawn chairs for adults, by all means, pack them, too. Staying warm or cool – Depending on the weather forecast, don't forget to take another set of blankets in case you get chilly; you never quite know what the whimsical Missouri weather is going to do. Jackets work too, but it is fun to snuggle under one big blanket with everybody. On the other hand, if you're expecting high temperatures, some frozen juice boxes, spray bottles or popsicles would be cool — literally! Personal hygiene – While it would be wonderful to schedule kids' bodily functions and keep them from spilling juice, according to Murphy's Law, if you don't pack the diaper bag, you will most certainly need it — badly! Twenty minutes ago, right? While you're at it, in addition to the diapers and wipes, consider tossing in a small bottle of hand sanitizer and a bagged, damp washcloth. What to wear – Hopefully, the movie you watch will be so fun that your children will relax and fall asleep on the way home. Since movies are such an informal event already, maybe let your kids go in their pajamas so you don't have to worry about waking them up to change when you get home. Miscellaneous – Once again, Murphy's Law comes into play. If you don't pack a trash bag, chances are you'll be running back and forth to the trash can, or your area will look like a dump before the opening credits are over. Do yourself a favor and grab a plastic baggie or two so cleanup is a breeze. Another thing to pack is bug spray or wipes, depending on your family's needs. While “the more the merrier” and “one big happy family” are usually good sayings, there are certain guests – namely the biting, stinging insects – that you don't want crashing the party. While following all these steps won't guarantee a perfect evening, you'll be much better prepared and a little less stressed when going out. And just like the movie producers have hilarious outtakes that were caused by accidents and mistakes, if anything goes wrong with your evening, you can always remember it as your own family outtake reel.

in the Park Popcorn for the Park 5 cups plain popcorn, popped 1 cup M&M’s chocolate candies 1 cup mini pretzels 1/2 cup salted peanuts, optional 1 (11 oz) bag white chocolate chips 1 tablespoon shortening Mix the first three or four ingredients (popcorn, chocolate candies, pretzels, and possibly peanuts) together and put on a baking sheet so you can drizzle the white chocolate mixture over them later. Very gently, melt the white chocolate and shortening together. You can use a microwave or stove; but in either case, melt it slowly and on low heat. I did this on the stove with the heat too high, and we ended up with clumpy chocolate that could not be poured. I didn't use a double boiler, but next time I will either do that or use the microwave instead. Pour over the rest of the food on the baking sheet, stir gently, and then cool. Try to keep from eating it all before you get to the park! Movies in the Park – Schedules: Lake Saint Louis, Boulevard Park Amphitheater Movies begin at dusk, which is about 8:30 p.m. The Good Dinosaur - Friday, June 10 Minions (Rated PG) - Friday, July 8 Inside Out (Rated PG) - Friday, August 5 City of O’Fallon – Renaud Spirit Center 2650 Tri-Sports Circle Minions- Friday, May 6, 8 p.m.

St. Charles County – County Heritage Museum 1630 Heritage Landing, St. Peters Citizens can enjoy family-friendly movie nights and watch the stars perform under the stars on a GIANT outdoor inflatable screen. Sponsored by Renewal by Andersen. Popcorn is free, and soda and candy are available for purchase. Moviegoers should bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on. No glass bottles, please. Call the St. Charles County Parks and Recreation Department at 636-949-7535 for more information. Start time is officially at sunset; times listed below are the anticipated sunset times for each month. Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark - Saturday, May 21, 8 p.m. The Avengers: Age of Ultron - Saturday, June 18, 8:30 p.m. Ant Man - Saturday, September 17, 7:30 p.m. Frankenstein & Bride of Frankenstein - Saturday, October 15, 6:30 p.m. St. Charles County Community College 4601 Mid Rivers Mall Drive, Cottleville The movies will all take place on the TECH Lawn on campus, and movies will begin at sundown. Feel free to bring chairs and blankets. There will be free popcorn and giveaways. Concessions will be available to purchase, but attendees are encouraged to bring their own food or purchase from food trucks. Food trucks will be on campus, 5-8 p.m. on each of the listed dates. Minions - Saturday, May 21 Zootopia - Saturday, June 24 Angry Birds - Saturday, July 22 Finding Dory - Saturday, August 26 The Secret Life of Pets - Saturday, September 23 ¤

New Town All movies start at dusk, weather permitting, in the Amphitheatre. Free and open to all. Inside Out - Friday, June 3 Star Wars: The Force Awakens - Friday, June 17 Tremors - Friday, July 1 Aladdin - Friday, July 15 Dumb & Dumber - Friday, July 29 Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory - Friday, August 12 Spaceballs - Friday, August 21 May | June

Movies in the Park

The CHOMP Regional Food Truck, Music and Film Festival, will be held Saturday, May 21, at St. Charles Community College. The festival will kick off the 2016 series of Food Truck Frolic and Family Movie Nights, to be held on Fridays, June 24, July 22, Aug. 26 and Sept. 23. CHOMP will feature up to 50 food trucks competing for prizes, five bands from noon to 9 p.m., including headliner Dr. Zhivegas from 7:30-9 p.m., 50-plus arts and other vendors and the Mercy Kids Kidz Zone, all on SCC’s Blue Lot. There is no cover charge. VIP tickets cost $50 and are available for purchase at www.foodtruckfrolic.com. A family movie night hosted in partnership with SCC Student Activities will complete the evening at 9 p.m. on the lawn by SCC’s Technology Building. All five Food Truck Frolic events feature the best food trucks in the region, as well as vendors and a family movie. You are invited to bring your friends and family out to support a great cause – your com-

munity and your community college. The proceeds will benefit both the Cottleville-Weldon Spring Chamber of Commerce and the St. Charles Community College Foundation. For more information, contact: Wendy Berry at wendy@cwschamber.com or Peggy Schnardthorst at pschnardthorst@stchas.edu visit: www.foodtruckfrolic.com. ¤

26 StreetScape Magazine

Park bench here I come… I know I’m getting old because I’m starting to say things like:

“Mark’s Com edy Minute” by Mark Schi ff, opening ac t for Je rry Seinfeld

“These young people don’t know how good they have it.” “It’s very noisy in here.” “Can’t you park closer?” “I remember when that cost a quarter.” Everyone that meets me now calls me “sir,” and I’m also starting to make sounds when I get up from a chair. And the worst one of all … one day my wife and I were loading our car at Costco, and some kid who didn’t work there ran over and asked if we needed any help. Obviously he thought that lifting a pack of 50 rolls of toilet paper was too much for my ancient back. I also have a grey suit that is older than my 24-year-old son. It looks like something Al Capone would have worn. But none of this gets me down. Because I know very soon I’ll be at an age where I can walk around the streets mumbling about the price of plums and take 15 minutes to pull change out of a little, rubber, oval coin holder when I’m buying a loaf of day old bread. If you live long enough to get old and crotchety, go for it and enjoy the perks. Because you’ve earned the right to do anything you want. Goodbye for now. I have to finish my soup. ¤ www.MarkSchiff.com • 323.630.6894

“Mark Schiff is on best stage comics e of the funniest, the brightest, the I’ve ever seen.” – Jerry Seinfeld “If you can get hi m there is nobody fu , I would do it, because nnier” – Paul Rei ser

May | June

Let's Hear it for the Boys!

Welding…

Sculptor and Blacksmith artist Andrew Andrasko with his art piece, “Blomstre” located in St. Charles

Art –

Sculptures from the Heart

Story by Amy Armour Photos by Michael Schlueter

Art has been an interest for Andrew Andrasko since he was just a preschooler. His education in art started with a love of drawing at the age of four.

Putting the massive sculpture together took a major effort — including the strength of a crane.

As he got older, his dad, George, taught him how to weld. It all started when 11-year-old Andrew wanted to modify his bicycle.

The flower heads were the artist’s favorite part of the unique sculpture.

“I’ve been into art since I was four or five years old. I was always drawing,” said Andrasko.

“My dad wouldn’t do it for me, but he told me he would show me how,” said Andrasko, 40. The welding expanded to include fixing up a hot rod with his dad in high school and earning a diploma in drafting. He started his college career at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville working on a fine arts degree in sculpture. During his last year of school, Andrasko got a job and took a hiatus. He returned to college about five years later and completed a business degree at Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois. Andrasko has been able to find the perfect mix of his love of art and his welding and blacksmithing skills to create his company, Dras Fabrication and Design. The welding and blacksmithing company, located at 3604 South Big Bend in Maplewood, also allows Andrasko to utilize his skills to create sculptures.

Andrasko’s largest creation to date is located in St. Charles County near Fifth Street and Little Hills Expressway on the Blanchard Greenway. Standing an impressive 30 feet tall, the sculpture of three gigantic flowers is made completely of repurposed bicycle parts. Bike frames make up the flower stems. And each flower head was created with 25 bicycle wheels — which spin in the wind. “It took a month to build and even longer to install it,” said Andrasko. “It was a challenge because I had to build the thing lying down, because it’s 30 feet tall. I didn’t know if the flower heads would fit on there.” 28 StreetScape Magazine

“We used a crane to hang the flower heads, which were the largest pieces of the sculpture,” Andrasko said. “I like the piece, and the whole look of it is impressive.”

The sculpture was created as part of a project between the City of St. Charles and Great Rivers Greenway. Armed with the task of incorporating nature, biking, hiking and walking, Andrasko had many different visions for the potential sculpture. But the true and perfect vision for the sculpture came to him just minutes before his presentation with the city. “I had several sketches for them; and when I was driving to meet with the Parks Board, I thought of flowers,” shared Andrasko. “It came to me on my way there, and I ended up sketching it in the parking lot.”

The Parks Board loved Andrasko’s vision of the flowers sculpture and chose his last-minute sketch over the other choices he also provided. The project became an invaluable learning experience along the way. Andrasko had to think about the logistics of not only creating the sculpture, but also transporting it and putting the massive pieces together.

“A lot of the things I learned from that experience I’ve been able to use in future projects,” said Andrasko. “There was a lot of worry (along the way), but I was really happy with how it turned out.”

Andrasko has received accolades for several of his sculptures throughout the years. His ability to utilize and repurpose materials or weld metals into unique shapes to provide meaning has earned him awards from art shows throughout the Greater St. Louis area.

He earned the Award of Excellence from the Soulard Art Gallery Show in Webster Groves for a 54-inch-tall abstract piece.

“It has a small base, and it bells out into an exaggerated balloon,” Andrasko explained. There is an oval cut with a copper inlay. It’s a nice golden color. And the piece is see-through, he said. He won Best of Show for his figurative piece, “Bravado,” at a Webster Groves Gallery show.

cating classes at his shop. He teaches all ages – as young as 10 – and all walks of life. His advice to fledgling artists?

“Don’t be afraid to promote yourself,” Andrasko said. He recommends artists get out of the studios and present their art at shows in order to be seen and not to wait to be discovered.

Andrasko doesn’t always know where his sculpturing will take him. He said he visits junkyards and finds stuff that intrigues him. He found a rock from India at a kiosk at the mall that interested him; eight months later he created a sculpture around it. Part of his process is sketching a portion of an idea, but he will complete the sketch in his mind while working on the piece.

“I try to do some pro bono work and hope it turns into something down the road,” said Andrasko.

It’s hard to believe, but about seven years ago Andrasko took some time off from his art. “I got out of sculpture for a while and had a nice desk job,” said Andrasko. But while dating his wife, Angela, he was inspired to create a special Mother’s Day gift for her and her son, Miles (now his stepson). He made a laminated wood and steel abstract piece with feathered edges. “It sparked me to do this full-time,” said Andrasko.

The couple married; and when Angela was pregnant with their five-year-old daughter, Liliane, Andrasko was inspired again. “With Child,” an eight-foot-tall, abstract piece featuring a gazing ball in the womb, was born. And art may just run in the family. Liliane has already shown an interest.

“I work quite a bit differently… I tend to have a pretty good idea, but the metal tells me what it’s going to do,” said Andrasko.

“My daughter is very artistic – even more so than I was,” said Andrasko. “That has me very intrigued to see how she develops.”

Andrasko had several art mentors growing up. His grade school and high school art teacher, Pete Brown, pushed him to be better every day. “I was fairly decent at art, but he helped me go beyond and look at things differently and try new techniques,” Andrasko stated.

Andrasko credits his college professor Thomas Gipe at SIUE for helping him hone his skills. Andrasko said Gipe taught him new processes with blacksmithing and how to cast iron. “He sent me down this path,” said Andrasko.

In the future, Andrasko would like to create more outdoor pieces like his flowers sculpture in St. Charles.

Andrasko continues to promote his company. He does lots of demonstrations of his skills at different places, such as the Magic House.

For more information and to see other creations from Andrasko, visit www.drasfab. com or check him out on Instagram and Facebook. ¤

Your Friendly & Local Jeweler

Andrasko also has several blacksmiths he admires, like Albert Paley. “He does large-scale, 75-foot sculptures; and that is something I aspire to do,” said Andrasko.

“Claudio Bottero is an amazing blacksmith from Europe. The way he can move and manipulate metal is amazing,” Andrasko declared. Andrasko has become a mentor for young artists, teaching blacksmithing and fabri-

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Let's Hear it for the Boys!

Robert Kelker-Kelly

"Choose to Play" Story by Angel Magasano Photos by Michael Schlueter You may recognize Robert Kelker-Kelly as the face of the evil Stavros Cassidine on “General Hospital” or the loveable rogue police detective/bounty hunter Bo Brady on “Days of Our Lives.” What you may not know is that Kelker-Kelly has a life-long love affair with acting that has grown into a passion for teaching. Kelker-Kelly was born in Wichita, Kansas. Inspired by the movies, he auditioned for the demanding role of Tom Sawyer at only 8 years old. Since then he has appeared in an impressive 102 stage plays, 52 of those Shakespearean plays, 3 television soap operas, 4 movies and several television shows including “Touched by an Angel” and “Miami Vice.” He has extensive Shakespearean training and studies Dramaturgy which is the study of dramatic composition and the representation of the main elements of drama on the stage. While not acting, Kelker-Kelly spends time as a licensed private pilot. However, acting was always his passion. But the Soaps were hard work and long hours, some weeks Kelker-Kelly was working 90-120 hours. It was while working as Stavrose from General Hospital, that he really began to “catch the bug.” He began to feel the need to share his knowledge and experience as a teacher and coach. He realized that most actors don’t have the vocabulary or understanding of the use of consonants and vowels that can really communicate emotion. “Without the vocabulary there’s no point,” Kelker-Kelly contends. With that in mind, Kelker-Kelly, along with his partners Jennifer Savage and Barry Luedloff launched B Street Productions located 30 StreetScape Magazine

Robert Kelker-Kelly

at Limelight Studio, 1125 North 2nd Street in St. Charles and a secondary studio in downtown Wentzville. Kelker-Kelly and team chose to bring their acting studio to St. Charles County because of the central location, cool Main Street aesthetics and the area’s abundant community theater programs. “There is an abundance of performance organizations, both professional and community, for local and regional actors to try out their craft and talent on stage. And there are so very many acting schools and development opportunities for younger actors and children.” He continued, “But what I see missing is a more serious, professional preparation for working in front of the camera, or development opportunities for the working or aspiring adult actor. That’s what we are trying to build, to offer here in our area. A true professional learning experience like you would find in improvisational workshops if you were to move to L.A. or New York to pursue a career in acting. Kelker-Kelly intends to bring the training styles of William Esper, Viola Spolin and Sanford Meisner who he studied under early in his career to this ongoing workshop. The purpose of the workshop is to prepare the student actor for the professional world of New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. The 12-week workshop is titled “Acting for the Camera” and is geared to the actor interested in a career in television and film. Acting for the camera is much different than acting in front of a

tion. This skill will allow students to cope with the huge pressure during auditions and help them have the ability to manage their nerves and focus on the scene. Students will learn that they are performing not for the job, not for the producers, but for the people they are acting with. The future of B Street Productions is bright and will include tiered sessions for beginners, intermediate and advanced level students. It will focus on video portfolios, offering their students a platform for posting their video to the B Street Productions website. The future will also see guest artists and coaches from both Los Angeles and NYC.

Robert teaching students at one of his acting workshops

live audience, as the emotion must be self manifested and maintained through out-of-sequence or long breaks between film takes. This type of instruction is not prevalent in the St. Louis region and Kelker-Kelly felt the necessity to fill a niche.

At the end of the day, Kelker-Kelly is bringing a business of value to the St. Charles area because he truly cares about acting students learning quality skills and a realistic approach to the business. When asked what the most important advice KelkerKelly hoped to pass on to his students, his simple answer was “choose to play.” If you “choose to play” you may find more information about Robert Kelker-Kelly and B Street Productions at www.BStreetProductions.org. ¤

Kelker-Kelly is not a facilitator, casting director or producer. He is a coach. Training an aspiring actor could expect to receive at B Street Productions includes knowledge of basic vocabulary and how to truly understand the words to communicate the emotion. Students will have the opportunity with private or group coaching. Private coaching students will learn how to work through a monologue guided directly by Kelker-Kelly. He is committed to ensuring that his students will be able to walk into an audition completely prepared to tackle any monologue or scene presented. Additionally, students will learn is how to maximize their “look” and accept that television and film are stereotypical industries. He will emphasize self esteem, self confidence and provide an environment where students are safe to explore a wide range of emotions and not be dismissed. He will coach them to find where emotion lives and focus on the emotional body placement in order to recreate and communicate those emotions in an honest way for the camera. And, unlike any other acting studio in the region, Kelker-Kelly will focus on breaking down emotional content through consonants and vowels to help his students learn how to truly feel the emotion of the dialogue. B Street Productions is for actors aged 18 and above due to the need for awareness and emotional maturity. The workshop will help students tap into their life, emotions, heartache, loss and love. Students will be able to speak frankly and earthy. However, tapping into the power of the emotion does not make the workshop a therapy session. Another skill that will be taught is keeping true emotional experiences separate from acting inspiraMay | June

Let's Hear it for the Boys!

St. Louis Media Hall of Fame Inductee

Story by Kelley Lamm Photos by Michael Schlueter The development of the radio began in 1893 with a demonstration of wireless radio communication in St. Louis, Missouri. Radio’s first transmission consisted of Morse code on a temporary station set up in 1895. Music and talk radio began experimentally broadcasting around 1905 using long-wave, medium-wave and shortwave bands. By the 1950s, virtually every country had a broadcasting system and practically every family in North America and Western Europe, as well as Japan, had a radio. A dramatic change came in the 1960s with the introduction of small, inexpensive, portable, transistor radios; and access became practically universal around the world. Over the last 90 years or so, broadcasting has seen many improvements, refinements and challenges. There have been many people in St. Louis media who have made a difference in various ways. Some have helped develop groundbreaking technologies. Others have mentored young people. There are St. Louisans who became nationally known for their media work and others whose work behind the scenes escaped the public eye but made a significant contribution. And significant contributions over the years by individuals such as Brad Hildebrand have helped radio evolve to the next generation. As a chosen inductee to the St Louis Media Hall of Fame, Hildebrand’s work is now being recognized. The St. Louis Media Hall of Fame was established to recognize those St. Louisans who have made a major contribution to their respective media in their work here or elsewhere. The areas of recognition are divided into four segments: Print, Radio, Television and Advertising/Public Relations. Brad Hildebrand stood in front of a packed room at the St. Louis Media Hall of Fame Inductee Ceremony to receive his award along side 14 other inductees, including two women and 12 men from many generations, each sharing a personal history. Brad Hildebrand took us down memory lane where he began working for just a $1.75 an hour at a top 40 station while attending college. A day before his college graduation, his boss, Mr. Smith, offered Hildebrand a full-time job. He made a whopping salary of $150 a week to DJ the all-night show... “Where,” he says with a sarcastic grin, “most of my listeners were crickets.” Brad Hildebrand has broadcasted the news and weather and covered traffic by helicopter. As the current general manager, he has reincarnated KSLQ-FM Radio. The current KSLQ-FM 104.5 is a radio station broadcasting a Hot AC format. Hildebrand has come full circle from KSLQ to KRAP Radio 1350-AM, broadcasting play-by-play sports. 32 StreetScape Magazine

Brad accepting his award and induction into the St. Louis Media Hall of Fame

Kelley: You have been in this industry for a long time! Brad: Yes, I started in 1973 right out of high school. I worked for the campus station at SIUE, and I hated it. It was a NPR station. I only worked there for two months. The students had very little to do with the station. We had a music teacher who would clear all the albums before letting us play them on air by listening to them to make sure they were not offensive. If not, she would mark it with grease pencil, and it wouldn’t be playable. Kelley: Where did your career begin, and did you know you wanted to be in radio? Brad: I started answering phones at KSLQ right out of college at night for this crazy guy named the Red Baron. I always loved listening to the radio; I loved listening to the old KXOK and Rich Dalton on KADI. KSLQ came on the air in 1972, my senior year of high school. It was a hell of a place to work. So many incredibly talented people came out of that station. Kelley: Did you have the “DJ voice”? Brad: No, the weird part of this is that I had a screwed up voice. I ended up having to go to the Mayo Clinic early in my 20s. I had a throat problem. I went up there and went through three days of testing – ended up having an operation. After recovery, I was off for a few weeks then went back on the air. I received a call the next day from Ted Smith, our program director. He was upset because he thought he had heard a new guy on the radio, and he was supposed to have final say. I said, “That was me!” My voice had completely changed. I called people on the air, and they would say, “Who is this?” It was great!

Kelley: Has radio completely changed since you began your career?

Kelley: How did you continue to do traffic without flying a helicopter?

Brad: When I got into radio, it was segregated radio. If you were white, you worked at a white station. And if you were black, you worked at a black station. Also, when I got into the business the only women who worked at the radio stations where in the back office or worked as secretaries. All of the on air staff, management, and sales department were men. Obviously, that's changed quite a bit. Karen Carroll, who was my third General Manager at KSLQ/KYKY went onto become the general manager of KMOX. Since I have owned KSLQ in 1997 most of my employees have been women. Currently, I'm the only dude at KSLQ! People started young. Glenn Beck started when he was 14. Guys 19 and 20 had already been in the business five to six years.

Brad: I would have to find another way to do traffic, so I started the Traffic Network out of my garage in Hazelwood, Missouri. I eventually had 30 employees and worked out of the office at the top of the Metropolitan Building downtown. I started weather and traffic here in St. Louis, Missouri, supplying traffic and weather 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I had people out driving around, getting the traffic with video cameras — very different to how they do things now. I was the first traffic person on Channel 2 and Channel 4. Stations did not even want traffic back then, and now it’s a big deal!

Kelley: You have met and worked with a lot of people in media. You have crossed paths with so many in this business. Brad: I have! Captain Mac, now on WIL, Sue Thomas, now on KEZK, and my brother -Lance Hildebrand on Y98, all worked for me originally. I gave them their first jobs in the radio business along with a lot of other people who I have hired through the years including Greg Amsinger who used to do high school sports for me. He now works at MLB Network in New York. I worked with Steve Byes in 1981-82. He was 18, and he was a jock. Steve said to me, “Wow, I am so proud of you,” as he shook my hand and said, “I have a job today because of you. You taught me production when I was just a jock.” That’s weird, but great! Kelley: You actually flew a helicopter. Do you still fly now? Brad: Yes, KSLQ hired Alan Barklage to fly the Coca-Cola Jet Copter, and I was his backup guy. He taught me how to fly! I haven’t flown in years – since KSLQ was sold and they couldn’t afford the helicopter anymore.

Kelley: You seem to be ahead of the times. How did you end up where you are now? Brad: A national traffic company called Metro had a goal to be in the top 50 markets. They kept contacting me to buy, but always gave me terrible offers. St. Louis was the only city they didn’t have. They finally just asked… “What’s your price?” So, I bought it and sold it 10 years later and threw in the news network. Ken Kuenzie, who put the original KSLQ on the air, wanted to sell and move to the lake and buy a station down there. He called me and asked if I wanted to buy it. I did. Kelley: How long have you owned KSLQ and have you always wanted to own a radio station? Brad: Too long — 1997. It is year number 19. Radio is such a powerful medium. There was a time when we could only get weather by special circuits. Yes, I always wanted to own a radio station. Kelley: You now own KSLQ station, which has the same call letters that you began your radio career with. Do you find it ironic that things you did as a kid or in high school have come full circle and become part of your life now? Brad: It’s pretty interesting, as I use to joke around with a friend of mine when we were kids about owning a radio station; and we would call it crap radio. I now own KRAP Radio. As a joke, going through call letters, I said, “What about KRAP?” The call letters were available. Kelley: Few stations have family-owned operations and stay in business as long as you have. How do you compete with the big dogs? Brad: I won’t give up! Winston Churchill, after WWII, was asked what kept him going. He said, “Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, give in. Never give in. Never give in. Never give in.” Kelley: What is your best moment when you think of all your years in media? Brad: I don’t know... that is a good question. I would say absolutely, positively, I enjoyed flying helicopters. Kelley: What are the best qualities you have given to this business to be considered in the Media Hall of Fame. Brad: I have a great face for radio (laughing). Honestly, someone having a job because of me. Kelley: What do you love about radio? (continued on next page) May | June

Let's Hear it for the Boys! (continued from previous page)

Brad: Radio has something other media doesn’t have; radio is immediate from anywhere. This business is 24 hours a day; it never stops. I’ve worked every single Christmas, Easter... I never take a day off. I work seven days a week. I enjoy what I do. Some people call me a workaholic. Kelley: Do you think you will ever retire? Brad: No… Do you know what the number one cause of death is? Retirement! Kelley: If you could do anything else other than radio, what would you do? Brad: Pitch for the Cardinals! Kelley: Looks like you will be in radio forever! Is there anything in radio you haven’t done and would like to do? Brad: Yes, talk radio – but everything is politics. Talk is something I would like to do. Kelley: What was the craziest thing that has happened to you on radio? Brad: One night when on air at the old KSLQ, someone threw a rock right through the radio’s studio window; and I ducked down and just kept going. Kelley: What did it feel like being inducted into the St Louis Media Hall of Fame? Brad: When I saw the list of who was selected, quite honestly I didn’t feel I was in the league of most of those people being inducted. Kelley: What would you really like to do in this industry? Brad: I would like to own more stations, to tell you the truth. Kelley: How do you keep up with the changes and know what to do next? Brad: I try to be relevant. I have done a lot of digital. I own a couple hundred domain names. I was doing things before their time. I think digital is the future of radio. Look at some of the really good stations. Look at their websites. Kelley: What are three things that would say this is Brad Hildebrand? Brad: I have strange things. I have 11 lawn mowers. I am hands on. I love cars! I have 12 cars, and my favorite is my 1965 Ford F-700, 12-ton tow truck. I love tow trucks. I have an old one, but I would love a new one someday. I had a ’63

34 StreetScape Magazine

Brad with his co-workers and guests for the evening

Cadillac Superior Crowne hearse, pickup trucks, and have driven 2.5 million miles so far. I love to drive! Kelley: What would you say to someone who is coming up in this media industry? Brad: If you have an interest, show up, learn the business. The most satisfying thing for me is to look at the people that I have had given their first job and see they are still successful in this business. Kelley: Is there anything you would have done differently? Brad: Oh, gosh, yes! Ask any entrepreneur; they will tell you they have made mistakes, but they are all learning lessons. Kelley: How would you describe your

relationship with the media industry? Brad: I still love it. Not a day goes by that I don’t enjoy it. My decompression time is on air. I want to always stay challenged. I feel sorry for people who hate their jobs. If you love it… why don’t you do it for the rest of your life? What is interesting about our business is it changes all the time. Radio is probably one of the best reflections of us, as it is a mirror of culture and society. Radio is the theater of the mind. Congratulations to Brad for being inducted into the St. Louis Media Hall of Fame, leaving a legacy of his work for years to come. Catch Brad sitting at the mic, behind the music with KSLQ and the new KRAP sports radio. ¤

What’s trending

at the Salons for men in 2016 Story by Amy Armour

It’s time to man up and take care of those grooming necessities.

More men today are taking their time – and money – to go beyond just a haircut every month. Getting manicures, pedicures, massages, waxes, facials and beard grooming is becoming more common and acceptable among men. Many salons and spas have special areas and services dedicated to meet the special grooming needs of men.

Mantra Salon, owned by Suzie Svoboda, is an Aveda Concept Salon that provides a full-service salon experience. Becca Cardwell, a stylist at Mantra Salon in Historic St. Charles, said more men are getting manicures and pedicures. “I think once they try the experience they become hooked,” said Cardwell. “It’s a very relaxing service. For men, the pedicure is more about the massage. I think that its wonderful men are taking care of themselves.” The average age for men getting a pedicure is about 30. The cost averages about $15- 23 in a nail salon and upwards of $50-60 in a salon or spa.

Another popular trend in men’s grooming is plucking — their eyebrows that is. Cardwell said getting their eyebrows waxed has become more popular for men, especially between the eyes. “Most salons will have this service available,” said Cardwell. “It’s very inexpensive.”

As far as haircuts, there are several trending styles, according to Cardwell. “The trend for men right now are cuts that are short on the sides and back with a longer top,” said Cardwell. “Another trend for guys this season is still a short cut with a longer top and a side part.” And still holding strong is the pompadour style.

“Even younger boys like this type of style,” said Cardwell. “What’s great about the men’s trend is that it’s great for every age. “The trend has definitely transitioned from short/spikey to a more polished look,” said Cardwell. “Men with a long hair look has definitely changed, especially the man bun.”

Facial hair – a beard in particular – continues to be a very popular trend. Anything from a nice, crisp, full beard to a lumberjack beard is trending. “I have a lot of male clients who actually use regular hair conditioner in their beards to soften them,” said Cardwell. “According to Trend Alerts, the beard is said to be fading out this year, but from the looks of it around the Midwest, it is still very much the trend. A lot of men with beards have their beards trimmed when they’re in for their monthly haircut.” Cardwell points out there are products and waxes made to help keep the beard smooth and formed properly.

Tinker, Dicker & Doc™ was founded in 2013 by Robert C. Baker. He introduced its line for men, initially releasing a selection of beard oils.

“These products are handcrafted from all-natural, vitamin-rich, carrier oils, such as jojoba and apricot kernel oils, and scented only with essential oils,” said Baker. “Currently there are five scented beard oils – Vetiver, Eau de Floride, Spruce Fir, Cedar, and Patchouli Spice – and one unscented beard oil. Each scented beard oil has a similarly-fragranced candle in Tinker, Dicker & Doc’s candle line, which can be purchased separately.” Baker said a 1-oz., 30-day supply of beard oil is $18.

“A trend that doesn’t appear to be going away soon is beards, which is why Tinker, Dicker & Doc™ is expanding its men’s line to include beard balm and solid cologne, also in the all-natural scents that the company’s customers have been accustomed to,” said Baker. Beard balms and solid colognes will be priced $15-18.

“Our products are attractively priced, are soothing and nourishing, and really help men to look their very best,” said Baker. Tinker, Dicker & Doc™ beard oils can be ordered online at tinkerdickeranddoc.com. So whether it’s a new haircut or beard trim at the salon or a massage or pedicure at the spa, more men are taking the time to relax and take care of themselves – from head to toe. ¤

May | June

Let's Hear it for the Boys!

MLShas itsSTL time arrived? in

Story by Thomas M. Findley

Recent reports of St. Louis landing a Major League Soccer franchise have been prominently featured on newscasts, radio shows and in print. If St. Louis is awarded a franchise, the team most likely would not begin play until the 2018 season, at the earliest. Excitement over the possibility of MLS in St. Louis is at an all-time high in lieu of anticipation for the next NFL season. This begs the question, however... is our fair city truly a “soccer town?” Will the locals come out to support this team with the same enthusiasm they have shown for other major professional teams? A look into the history of soccer in St. Louis would suggest that the team would be well supported. This city’s illustrious soccer history began over a century ago with the formation of the St. Louis Soccer League in 1907. It was a local league consisting of mainly regional players. After the league disbanded, the new United States Football Association was formed in 1914. The league established the National Challenge Cup; and at the time, it was the only true, national soccer competition in the United States. St. Louis had several regional teams that played in the competition, with much success. Local clubs won national championship titles in 1920 and again in 1922.

Undoubtedly, the most successful St. Louis team of the time was the Stix, Baer, & Fuller F.C. Between 1932 and 1937, the club reached the National Challenge Cup finals for six consecutive years, winning three consecutive championships in 1933, 1934 and 1935.

In 1950, the United States national team shocked the world by defeating the English team 1-0 in World Cup competition. The team featured five St. Louisans: Harry Keough, Charlie Colombo, Frank Wallace, Gino Pariani and Frank Borghi. The U.S. team’s victory over England led to teammates being portrayed in the 2005 movie, “The Game of Their Lives.” Some filming took place in St. Louis, and several of the surviving members of the 1950 World Cup team frequently visited the set. The St. Louis Stars were formed and began playing in 1967 in the North American Soccer League (NASL). This was the premier

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soccer league in the United States at the time. The Stars had little success on the field, qualifying only three times for the playoffs in their 11-year tenure in St. Louis, never making it past the semifinals. However, the team did lead the league twice in attendance. The home games were mainly played at Busch Stadium, and the team was stocked with local, homegrown talent. After the 1977 season, the team could not come to an agreement on a lease, so the Stars packed up and headed for Anaheim, reinventing themselves as the California Surf. The Stars’ move certainly seems a little ironic today, considering the circumstances that have led to all of the recent St. Louis soccer talk. The St. Louis Steamers indoor soccer team drew very nice attendance numbers in the early 1980s, averaging around 12,000 per game during that time. The Arena was rocking and Steamers’ games were the place to be. St. Louis also has a very impressive amateur soccer resume. The SLU Billikens have 16 NCAA Final Four appearances and have won a record 10 national championships.

If we use history as an indicator, it would seem that an MLS franchise in St. Louis would be very well received and supported. The MLS began play in 1996 with 10 teams and in 1998 grew to 12 teams.

St. Louis was considered a strong candidate for an original franchise, but the city failed to bid for a team. St. Louis made several unsuccessful efforts to land a franchise as the MLS expanded to 19 teams by 2012. The league now has 20 teams, consisting of 17 in the U.S. and three in Canada. It represents the highest level of play in both countries. In recent weeks, a group called MLS2STL was formed to explore and advance the city’s candidacy to be awarded an MLS expansion team. This group consists of some of the city’s top business and sports leaders, including Dave Peacock, former president of Anheuser-Busch, and Bill DeWitt III, president of the St. Louis Cardinals. Current MLS commissioner, Don Garber, discussed the possibilities of expanding to St. Louis and referred to the city as “a great soccer market.” I think St. Louis is on the right track for landing an MLS franchise and is undoubtedly a soccer town, as well as one of the major birthplaces of the game in the United States. ¤

May | June

Blazers, Bowties & Brightly Colored Socks… Dressing Professionals since 1898

Story by Amy Armour Photo by Michael Schlueter

Thro’s has been serving families in St. Charles County since 1898. Located at 229 North Main Street in St. Charles, the familyowned business is known for its superb customer service and attention to detail that keeps customers coming back year after year. Frank Netsch, whose great-grandfather, J.B. Thro, started the business 117 years ago, now owns the store along his wife, Bobbie, and Rose Thro, his cousin.

“We know our customers, and we take care of our customers,” said Netsch.

Thro’s carries a wide variety of suits and sports coats for the professional man in all stages of life. From Cutter and Buck to Pendleton to Calvin Klein and Lauren, the shop offers the perfect suit for men of all shapes and sizes, ages 25 and up. New this season is the Vineyard Vines line. Netsch said the new line is geared toward younger, professional men offering a slimmer cut than a traditional suit.

“The fit is slimmer today,” said Netsch, who has been a part of the family business for 50 plus years. “We carry fashions in the store that change with the times.” Also trending this spring is a more casual look for men. Netsch said more men will pair a sports coat with a T-shirt and a nice pair of jeans, instead of a tie and a dress shirt. Thro’s has also added a new line of sportswear called Southern Tide. The collection includes “preppy” clothes, such as polos, sports shirts, pullovers, sweaters and blazers.

No matter the occasion, the friendly staff at Thro’s can help customers put together an outfit from head to toe. “We have a great selection of merchandise,” said Netsch.

How would you describe your personal style? I dress to how I please that day. If I want to wear golf clothes, I wear golf clothes. If I want to wear dress clothes, I wear dress clothes. What runway trends are you loving right now? Frank said there was no particular trend on the runway he loved, but he enjoys the unique ways in which runway outfits are put together. What are your top five essential clothing staples? g g

Sweaters g Dress shirts g Pants g Suits Whatever a gentleman needs to wear for a special occasion.

What is the one item from your closet you can’t live without? Nothing. Frank said he can always find something to wear in his closet and put it together to fit the occasion.

What is your go-to piece for spring? Golf shirts and shorts. Golf is something I do whenever I can. What accessories are hot this spring? Bow ties. A lot of young men are wearing bow ties now. Brightly colored socks or socks with patterns are also popular.

Frank

What’s trending for weddings this season? While we do rent tuxes, more men are choosing great suits for wedding parties. The suits cost about $195; and if you rent a tux, you will pay that. Grey suits are trending right now. What is your biggest fashion pet peeve? An ill fit. Frank said Thro’s offers free alterations on all of its clothing lines, ensuring customers leave the shop with the perfect individual fit. ¤

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May | June

Ask theExpert

REAL ESTATE

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.

Man Spaces Story and Photos by April Moxley Take a good look around your house and breathe in all the beautiful décor that was so carefully planned out in each area, keeping in mind the flawless color transition from room to room. Notice each piece of artwork adorning the walls, reflecting on how long you deliberated on whether to go with large, glorious, floral prints or the tranquility of trees in the early fall as the hints of orange, yellow and reds intersperse with the greens. Pat yourself on the shoulder for selecting just the right area rugs, upholstered furniture, bedroom comforter and pillows, and accessories to tie the entire living space together into the home you always wanted. Even the kitchen, with your coordinating dinnerware, appliances, wine glasses, canisters and utensils echo your style. And let’s not even get started counting all the fabulous flower arrangements, carefully arranged serving trays, delicate lace doilies, and lanterns draped in vines and berries that are precisely placed throughout. Now we can put the icing on the cake, so to speak, with the extraordinary wreath on your front door. When all is said and done, you can sit back and relax in the paradise of your making, thinking about the next shopping trip when you might happen upon just the perfect little thingamajig for that shelf next to the fireplace. Imagine how different things would be if it were the man’s responsibility to decorate the home, bringing with him all his furniture comprised of mismatched odds and ends, plastic cups 40 StreetScape Magazine

from the local sports venues and taverns, mounted deer heads, dart boards, pool tables, baseball caps, and childhood trophies. Thankfully, some, if not most of that, will go away, because in the real world men are generally okay with the women making all the decorating decisions. And truthfully, when was the last time you thought parking the motorcycle in the living room was a good idea? You might think the “man cave” came onto the scene because women were tired of all their men’s junk sitting around the house, totally ruining the atmosphere. So you give them a room in the basement, part of the garage, or the shed out back – someplace to call their own – and hope that will be the end of it. But I’d like to think that it is our way of thanking them for so charitably giving up their souls for our “champagne wishes and caviar dreams.” Now, since we have established that the man cave is a result of our own generosity, why not create a uniquely livable space that incorporates all their treasures and interests into a masculine but homey area that doesn’t scream “shut that door, please.” A place where everything does not have to be in an assigned spot, not all matchy-matchy, and definitely no flowers. You will have to change your game plan for this project so it doesn’t look like the rest of the house, yet still seems to belong; a haven where the man of the house can proudly display all of his favorite treasures and feel proud that his stuff is worthy of such a unique space. Even if his interests encompass a multitude of options, like the great outdoors world of hunting, camping and fishing; sports — all of them; transportation – cars, planes, trains and motorcycles; or none of the above – it is still possible to make it all work.

will draw some serious attention and spark a bit of jealousy among his friends.

Let’s pretend that your man has a history of collecting memorabilia from many aspects of his life that have been hidden away in storage, never likely to see the light of day again. And his hobbies are so numerous that settling for a single influence would defeat the purpose of a space that embodies his character. It sounds like shelving is going to be an absolute in this room and that each of the shelves will be a story unto itself. The type of shelving units you choose may depend on what you expect to display. If you are handy with a few tools, you could create something out of old pallet wood or crates that will allow an interesting cubicle look with assorted sizes arranged interestingly along the wall. Moveable track lights in the ceiling will provide directional lighting for the shelves, limiting the number of lamps needed. Unless, of course, you can’t resist that really cool industrial pulley lamp that seems to have MAN CAVE written all over it. It won’t require a table, if it is freestanding; but surely a couple of side tables are necessary for setting your food and drinks on. Live edge wood tables are currently very trendy, extremely durable, and will make your man feel like a lumberjack – and who doesn’t like a lumberjack? For the room that requires a bit more of a polished look, but not one that calls for constant dusting, consider the latest and greatest trend of distressed wood furniture. With its matte finish and sanded sections – maybe even chipped (but painted) edges – it is much less likely to show wear and tear in a room in which “men will be men.” Some of the more fragile or collectible items might be better suited in a wall-hung shadow box or a tabletop souvenir box. Depending on the budget you are working with or how large a space you have to fill, seating and entertainment must definitely be in the mix. After all, when you are entertaining guests and your lady friends are gathering in typical places like the living room or kitchen, your man will now have a special place to knock around with the men or perhaps catch part of “the game” on TV. With all his treasures surrounding him, he can be comfortable hanging out there for enough time to keep the party going. No need for a wet bar in the man cave since this place is in the home, but maybe

Think outside of the box for that avid car enthusiast who insists on buying broken down cars and bringing them back to life. Use tailgates stacked on tires as a coffee table or mounted on the wall with brackets underneath for a little place to “belly up to” when there’s no more seating during the televised NASCAR race. Surely if you put your mind to it you can find interesting ways to use car parts to create all kinds of accessories.

an old world, globe bar on wheels, as well as a small refrigerator for cold beverages, would come in handy. Not enough space for more than a couple of chairs? Try a narrow table along the wall with a bench tucked under it for extra seating. With a wall-mount TV, you can create more floor space, especially if you need a game table and chairs in that room.

For the aviation nut, make sure you hang a few flying objects from the ceiling. Train fanatic – find an old train set and use the gondolas (open top hopper cars) for serving snacks, or build a larger train out of wooden blocks for a bigger presentation. When it comes to sports (and by sports I mean baseball), what could be better than a lifesize standee of his favorite Cardinal (and by Cardinal I mean Yadier Molina). Most importantly, remember that this room is all about him. Forget about matching fabrics or pillows, hanging curtains

Cowhides are another great accessory and can be found in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. The more manly wood flooring you likely have chosen will offer up a few areas where these could be used as scatter rugs. Don’t forget the wall art, which can be an extension of his hobbies, like framed sports posters, wildlife scenes, and metal décor, such as cars, gear clocks, or airplanes. If you have heard him talk about something he really loves but there was no place for it in your home, then this is the time to check it out. A 5-foot-long Tyrannosaurus rex comes to mind as an often coveted item in the store, immediately followed by, “Where the heck do you think that will go?” Perched atop those shelves in the cave nestled with a bit of green fern, as in the Jurassic period, this massive dinosaur

(wood blinds will do nicely), or pretty little flowers to brighten and soften the space. The happier he is with your results, the more likely he will be spending quality time at home in the comfort of his man cave. And as long as he is home, maybe you can get him to take out the trash. ¤ May | June

REAL ESTATE

STAGING

Story by Amy Armour

Your Home is the Way to a

BEFORE Once the “For Sale” sign is planted in the front lawn, homeowners must be ready to put on a show. An essential part of the show is staging the home to sell, and many simple changes can help or hinder the sale. Lisa Crayon, owner of the home enhancement company Color! LLC, shared her insights with StreetScape Magazine. Crayon has been coordinating home decor for over nine years. Her office is located at 3354 Mid Rivers Mall Drive inside Calisa’s Home Décor. The first impression buyers have when walking into a home is smell. “Nothing will make a buyer pivot in the foyer and send them running to their car faster than odor from pets and cigarettes,” said Crayon. “Good smells for selling your home are the natural scents of coffee, lemon, vanilla and cinnamon.” Crayon said to pitch the plug-ins with timers, fans and lights. “Take them back to the store. It will only appear that you are covering up something, and the smell of Christmas trees in July just doesn’t work,” said Crayon. Next, keep your home clean and lean. “Clutter eats equity. A convenient storage facility can be money well spent,” said Crayon. “No one cares about your spoon or beer bottle collections.” And every room needs to sparkle. “So take down the drapes, remove the window screens and let the sunshine in,” said Crayon. “Your room will appear larger and inviting.” Choosing the right paint color can be the best return on your money or your biggest demise. “The cost is the same, but the end result can widely vary by choosing the wrong color or the wrong paint finish,” said Crayon. 42 StreetScape Magazine

AFTER “Keeping the colors uniform will allow the flow to easily transform between rooms. This is especially important when competing with new construction.” When choosing where to spend money on updates and improvements, Crayon said kitchens are usually the first rooms buyers are anxious to see. “Correct updates will most likely pay you back with a faster sale. Buyers like matching finish on appliances and stone countertops,” said Crayon. “Built-in desks are no longer a feature in the kitchen. For the past several years, where possible, I have been raising them to counter height with added cabinetry below or turning them into wet bars if accessible from the lower level.” Stained oak is also no longer popular, and Crayon has a simple solution. “In less than one week, I have a painter that can transform them into stunning colors with a wide variety of glazes. Freshly painted cabinets and a pop of new hardware – you are now ready to compete in today’s market,” said Crayon. The second most important room – the master bath. “A clean and sleek vanity is sure to appeal,” said Crayon. “And even if new carpet was installed just yesterday, no one wants carpet in the bathroom.” And just like carpet in the bathroom is outdated, so is brass lighting, hardware and faucets. “Some homeowners have had very good results spraying their brass with an oil-rubbed, bronze colored paint, if the style is not

QUICKER SALE too dated. Light fixtures become very important when selling a vacant dwelling,” said Crayon. When everything is perfect, Crayon suggests photographing the exterior and interior of the home. Check out the pictures and see how it looks. “If you were a buyer, would you call to view this property?” asks Crayon. “Tweak each room now, because when the professional photographer arrives, your time is up.” On the day of a showing, make sure to be ready — and out of the house. “Drag in that trash can or park it at the neighbors,” said Crayon. “Put the garage door down and all toilet seats. Open the blinds, turn on the lights, hit the music and scram! Buyers and their agents need to look and talk among themselves freely.” Need help putting it all together? “No job is too small if you desire a quick change or wish to remodel your entire home,” said Crayon. “For potential sellers, I offer a walk ‘n’ talk consultation on how to showcase your home.” Crayon can be reached at color@lisacrayon.com or 314.494.5472. ¤

May | June

REAL ESTATE

â&#x20AC;? Real estate cannot

be lost or stolen, nor can it be carried away. Purchased with common sense, paid for in full, and managed with reasonable care, it is about the safest investment in the world.â&#x20AC;? Franklin D. Roosevelt

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Nancy Barrett, ASID Owner - Interior Designer

Kathy Cissell Interior Designer

Long-time clients wanted to turn their hardly-used living room into a dining room. The square room was a good size with a large Palladian window. A distressed, 72” round table was chosen to fit the room and their less formal style. Leafy, printed linen was used on upholstered chairs, which assured comfort over long dinners. A turquoise chenille fabric was selected for contrast on the chair backs and the windows were dressed with simple, striped casement panels on bronze rods. The large table needed a large chandelier and the round bronze candelabra fit the bill. These clients requested neutral walls but after the crown molding and ceiling medallion were added, the ceiling was painted turquoise for a dramatic touch. New artwork and lamps added additional color and a little sparkle is seen in crystal accents on the chandelier, lamps and drapery finials. This room is ready for spring entertaining! Contact us for assistance in creating your own “beautiful room”.

636.519.4090 • www.BeautifulRoomsDesign.com May | June

g n i n e d r a G Ease into

REAL ESTATE

Story by Melinda Myers Photos courtesy of Bonnie Plants

with a raised bed

Raise your garden to new heights for easier access and greater productivity. Raised beds allow you to overcome poor soil by creating the ideal growing mix, plus make gardening time more comfortable thanks to less bending and kneeling. Whether you purchase a kit or build your own, there are a few things to consider when creating a raised-bed garden.

If possible, locate the garden in a sunny area. Most plants require at least six hours of sun, and vegetables like tomatoes, peppers and melons produce best with a full day of sunlight. Select a long-lasting material, such as interlocking block, fieldstone, plastic lumber or naturally long-lasting, wood-like cedar. The material selected will influence the shape and size of your garden. Some materials allow for curved beds while others are limited to squares, rectangles and other angular shapes. Design your raised bed to fit your space and your needs. A three- or four-foot width makes it easy to reach all parts of the garden for planting, weeding and harvesting. Raising your planting bed at least 8 to 12 inches improves drainage and provides an adequate space for most plants to root and grow. If you want to minimize bending, go higher. Add benches to increase your gardening comfort and ease. Bonnie Plants has free downloadable plans (bonnieplants.com/ library) for building a raised-bed garden with benches in just one afternoon. 46 StreetScape Magazine

Roughen or loosen the existing soil surface if your bed is built on compact, slow-draining soil. This will allow water to readily move from the raised bed into the soil below. Cover the bottom of the bed with newspaper or cardboard, if needed, to suffocate existing weeds and grass.

Line the bottom of your raised bed with hardware cloth to reduce the risk of animals burrowing into your garden. Lay the hardware cloth over the ground, and bend it up along the inside of the raised bed walls. Fill the bed with a quality growing mix that is well drained but also able to retain moisture and nutrients. This may be a mixture of quality topsoil and compost, a high quality potting mix, or a planting mix designed specifically for raised-bed gardens. Grow any plants that you normally would grow in the ground. Just make sure the plants are suited to the growing conditions (such as sunlight, heat and wind) in your area. Since the soil mix and drainage is ideal in a raised garden, you will be able to grow more plants per square foot. Just be sure to leave sufficient room for plants to reach their mature size. Keep your plants healthy and productive with proper watering. This is critical for growing any garden, but even more crucial in a fast-draining, raised bed. The simple act of raising the garden height increases drainage, and a raised bed filled with planting mix means more frequent watering. Consider using drip irrigation

or soaker hoses for watering ease. Always water thoroughly when the top inch of soil is dry. Add some mulch to help reduce watering and the need for other garden maintenance. Spread a layer of evergreen needles, pine straw, shredded leaves or other organic matter over the soil surface. This helps conserve moisture, suppresses weeds and adds nutrients to the soil as it decomposes. You’ll spend less time watering and weeding throughout the season. Add an organic fertilizer at planting if your planting mix does not already contain one. Apply again mid-season if the plants need a nutrient boost. Always follow the label directions on the fertilizer container. The time and effort invested in creating raised beds will be returned many times over with years of healthy and productive gardens. Gardening expert Melinda Myers has written over 20 gardening books, including “Small Space Gardening” and the “Midwest Gardener’s Handbook.” She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything: Food Gardening For Everyone” DVD set and the nationally syndicated “Melinda’s Garden Moment” TV and radio segments. ¤

May | June

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May | June

High ea T

Style

Chic and classy summer styles for a mother-daughter outing at MaryAnnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tea Room in Central West End Photography & Direction: Lance Tilford Wardrobe & Styling: Tamara Tungate Hair & Makeup: Jennifer Graves Styling Assistant: Kaylee Adams Design: Grace Pettit Models: Galina & Beatrice Angheluta with West Model & Talent Shot on location at MaryAnnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tea Room, Central West End 50 StreetScape Magazine

On Galina: Hat • Baubles, Bites & Boots Necklace and jacket • Carries Boutique Light tank • Enchanting Embellishments On Beatrice: Headband and strap heels • MOss Boutique Dress • Carries Boutique Jewelry • Baubles, Bites & Boots

May | June

On Beatrice: Dress • Abigail’s Apparel Jewelry • Enchanting Embellishments

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On Galina: Top, tank and pants • Baubles, Bites & Boots Bracelet • Enchanting Embellishments Necklace • Leopard Boutique Lace headband • MOss Boutique May | June

On Beatrice: Hat and top • MOss Boutique Wishbone necklace • Leopard Boutique Purple stone pendant necklace • Abigail’s Apparel Shorts • Leopard Boutique Scarf • Baubles, Bites & Boots

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On Galina: Dress, jewelry â&#x20AC;˘ Enchanting Embellishments

May | June

On Beatrice: Shirt and denim shorts • MOss Boutique Shoes • Leopard Boutique Glasses and bag • Enchanting Embellishments

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On Galina: Dress • Abigail’s Apparel Shoes • MOss Boutique Hat, bag and jewelry • Enchanting Embellishments Vintage London Cab provided by MaryAnn’s Tea Room

May | June

Spring into Fashion... at Michelle’s in St. Charles Story by Amy Armour Photo by Michael Schlueter

Women can find the perfect outfit for just about any occasion at Michelle’s. From comfortable jeans for an afternoon to a long patio dress for an evening gathering to a mother-of-the-bride dress for that special wedding day, Michelle’s has the expertise to help customers create the ideal ensemble for any event.

Since 1965, Michelle’s has carried a wide variety of apparel for women. Michelle’s has casual tees, tanks and capris, as well as pretty summer dresses and glitzy attire for a fancy evening out. The shop prides itself on carrying brands not often seen in big box department stores. Brands like Tribal, Joseph Ribkoff, Not Your Daughter’s Jeans (NYDJ®), London Times, and Clotheshead® are staples in the family-owned business located at 229 North Main Street in St. Charles. Currently trending – flowing, easy wear tops, according to Bobbie Netsch from Michelle’s. Netsch said the blouses can be paired with a legging, skinny jeans or an ankle pant. The outfit can be accessorized with jewelry from the popular Brighton jewelry line. Netsch recommends a long necklace with a tassel, as tassels are hot. “We also have someone in the store who can make jewelry to match any outfit,” said Netsch. And comfort is key as the weather warms this season. Maxi dresses will continue to be popular, according to Netsch. “They are comfortable, easy and look great with a pair of sandals,” said Netsch. The shop also carries many styles and lengths of summer dresses and skirts. And Netsch said light denim, white denim and scarves will remain popular this season. The shop also does alterations on-site to ensure the best, individualized fit — and it’s free of charge. “We like to stress our customer service,” said Netsch. “We’ve made a lot of friends over the years, and we’ve gotten to know their styles.” How would you describe your personal style? I’m a pretty casual dresser. I’m a pant person, with a jacket or a sweater. I’m more traditional on what I would wear. In the summer, I like long skirts. What are your top five essential clothing staples?

A pair of black slacks A good pair of jeans that fit well g Tunic tops g Tanks; I wear a lot of tanks under blouses g A good, comfortable pair of sandals or boots. The shoes have to be stylish, but still feel good on my feet after working all day. g g

What is the one item from your closet you can’t live without? Black pants – they’re my go-to piece. You can put color with them, dress them up or down. And you can wear black anywhere. 58 StreetScape Magazine

Bobbie

What accessories are hot this spring? Long necklaces with tassels. Long necklaces are very popular right now. Scarves have been popular for a long time, and Netsch says they continue to be a hot accessory this spring. What is your biggest fashion pet peeve? Clothes that don’t fit a person right. We want people to look nice when they leave the store. We like when clothes fit them right, and we can do the alterations right in the store. ¤

May | June

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May | June

Eric and

Wedding

s r e t e P a h t n a m a S

May 30, 2015

Ceremony Harvester Christian Church, St. Charles, MO Officiant Larry Smith Reception The Ready Room, St. Louis, MO

•••

Groomsmen Ryan Peters (Best Man), Brett Wampler, Jon Ryan, Taylor James, Cole Figus, Vince Napoli, Charlie Brumley, Kurt Tweedy Bridesmaids Melanie Webster (Maid of Honor), Rafael Quintas (Man of Honor), Amy Fjerstad, Allie Snyder, Meghan Menchella, Nikki Peters, Frankie Baron, Catimona Morris Bridal Attendants Rachel Krumrey, Allie Smith, Kelley Glickert Ushers Caleb Morris and Luke Morris Flower Girl Emma Peters Ring Bearer Ellis Peters Groomsmen & Ushers Gifts Ties Ring Bearer Gift Star Wars collectibles Bridesmaids Gifts Wedding day jewelry Flowergirl Gift Dance camp

Bride’s Dress Simply Elegant Bridal, beaded with mother of pearl; double layered veil with matching beading. Flowers & Décor We had DIY flowers through Amy at Flower Moxie. Flower Moxie is a website where you choose your floral arrangements. Amy sends you all the materials and instructions to make them yourself. Amy was great at helping us customize the flowers. We had exactly the look we wanted. We kept it simple and classic by using mostly hydrangeas and roses, with pops of mint leaves to tie in the color scheme. Most of the décor was handmade by the us with help from our family and friends. It really showcased our personalities!

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•••

Photos Professional photographer; Cameron McCarty (he rocked) Historic Main Street, St. Charles (additional photos)

Photobooth We had a DIY photo booth at the wedding. The background of the ceremony doubled as the photo booth backdrop (fence with S&E). There was a photographer there all night taking pictures of guests with silly props we had gathered up (Cameron McCarty).

Cake & Desserts As opposed to just having a cake, we had an entire dessert table! All of the desserts were homemade by guests who brought their own wedding pictures to display next to the dessert they made. The cake was from Wedding Wonderland. The cake topper was sparkly gold and said “Best Day Ever.” The cake was white with ruffles, mint polka dots, and a gold ribbon. We also had a coffee cart at the reception provided by Art House Coffee. Guests could grab coffee anytime! Live Music We had live music played by one of the groomsmen, Charlie Brumley, for the first dance. DJ Complete.The music was very upbeat, and the dance floor was full the entire time! The DJ even played some original music from Eric’s band, Volcanoes. Special Moments Before the wedding, we both took time to write letters to each other. During the ceremony, we took those letters and nailed them shut in a wooden box with a bottle of wine to be opened and enjoyed in 10 years so we can remember exactly how we were feeling on our special day! Samantha is a dancer, so both the couple’s first dance and the father/daughter and mother/son dance were choreographed.

About Our Day “We did so much of this wedding DIY style, but in the end it really allowed our personalities to shine through! It was more amazing than we ever could have imagined, and we are so thankful all of our family and friends were there to help us and celebrate with us! It was a perfect start to a lifetime together!” ¤

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• May | June

… t c e f r e P e r Pictu Wedding

Photography Make-up Do's & Don'ts

Story and Photos Courtesy of Toni Peanick

Every woman has that one picture of herself that she loves. On that day, you just got it right. Your hair was fabulous, your eyes were popping, and your skin was flawless. Don’t get caught on camera ever again without being picture perfect.

Cheekbones: Make sure you add extra color on

your cheeks when taking photos. The flash of a camera will deflect the color on your cheeks and cause you to be washed out and pale. Don’t forget to blend using a blender brush, and choose a color that complements your eyes.

Contouring:

Contouring is an everyday look that reflects beautifully on camera and isn’t too overdone. The point of contouring is to slim the nose, highlight cheekbones and jawlines, and add highlights of color on focal points. A simple contouring kit can do the job and usually consists of four colors. My favorite is by GloMineral and is very cost effective.

Lips:

Oh, how we love our lip colors! Be bold and try a matte color. This will stay on longer because of high concentration, as well as reflect brighter for the camera to bring out your eyes. Use this easy tool to pick the best color for you.

Don’t over think everything! Hair should be a little dressier than you normally wear it, make-up should be more enhanced, and neutral colors tend to be more timeless and easier to work with. The Color Room • 1155 Wentzville Pkwy, Ste 103 • Wentzville, MO 63385 • 636.856.1400 WentzvilleColorRoom.com 64 StreetScape Magazine

Banquet Center

Wedding Receptions Office Parties Special Events Rehearsal Dinners

(314) 406-3783 www.ohbanquets.com Located on Historic Main Street â&#x20AC;˘ St. Charles, MO May | June

Wedding

Filling the Taste Buds of Brides & Grooms

with alternatives to traditional wedding cake Pies ~ Crepes ~ Cookies

The summer wedding season is approaching. In recent years I have watched with interest as many couples have opted to break with some of the more traditional rites that are commonly associated with nuptials (regardless of the season). From the decor to the flowers, from gowns to venues – everything seems to be up for grabs to some extent. What typically is most likely to stray from tradition (and what is, naturally, of most interest to me) is the food – particularly the cake. Not everyone loves wedding cake anyway, so I’m seeing couples do some very different things with their desserts. For this article, I’ve chosen three popular alternatives that you are likely to see at a reception: a milk and cookies bar; a homemade pie bar; and crêpes. But I’ve also seen people choose cupcakes, candy, etc. It really comes down to taste. I hope you will enjoy the selections and recipes that follow. The milk and cookies is a very popular choice and one that I had a lot of fun making; and the variations that couples can choose are many. Who doesn’t love cookies, right? What a fun and tasty comfort food! The guests have a variety of choices (I made five for this article, two of which I included recipes); and the bride and groom have a chance to get family and friends involved in the preparation, if they want. They can ask a select group to bring a dozen of their favorites to share, along with the recipes. The couple, and any guests who would like end up with cookie recipes they can enjoy for years to come. Another fun thing that couples do with cookies is prepare a small goodie bag for the guests to take home containing a couple of cookies and a note so they can enjoy them later while remembering the happy occasion. My second option (and my husband’s favorite) is a pie bar. Sweet pies for dessert are always a crowd pleaser; the guests really love them. And being able to use ripe, seasonal, local fruits is a bonus for summer celebrations. I baked whole, full-sized pies, but you can also opt for mini pies so guests get their own (or share with a friend). This is probably a better option for smaller receptions, because it can end up being a lot of pies otherwise. My selection here is lemon and chocolate meringues, plus homemade apple (with Granny Smiths) and cherry. Pies make a beautiful presentation; and with the potential variety, it’s almost guaranteed that your guests will find a favorite. For my final alternative I chose crêpes. These are perfect for the couple that wants something unique. The potential taste choices are nearly limitless, and a crêpe bar featuring fresh fruits, flavored yogurts, and other toppings is sure to be a hit. I chose to stack them cake-like and embellish them with fresh raspberries and 66 StreetScape Magazine

Story by Sandi Caro chocolate sauce drizzled on top. The presentation is beautiful, and you can stack sizes and tiers for presentation. In many ways I am quite traditional, but I try hard to be open to new ideas (especially with food)! I truly love what couples are doing for their weddings these days. If you are planning one, give some thought to breaking with tradition and trying one of the wedding cake alternatives. The presentation can be gorgeous, and the guests will talk for years to come about all the deliciousness they experienced. I hope you enjoy the recipes, and happy wedding planning!

Traditional Chocolate Chip Cookies

2¼ cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened ¾ cup granulated sugar ¾ cup packed brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 large eggs 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Roll out the other chilled dough. Cut an even number of strips. Transfer every other strip to the pie top and weave in the lattice by folding every other strip back onto itself and laying another strip perpendicularly. Fold the strips back across and repeat until completed.

Preheat oven to 375°. In small bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla until creamy. One at a time, add eggs, beating well after each addition. Beat flour mixture in gradually. Stir in chocolate chips. Using ungreased baking sheets, drop rounded tablespoons of dough on the pan. Bake 9-11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cook completely.

Snickerdoodles

½ cup salted butter, softened ½ cup vegetable shortening 1½ cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar 2 medium eggs 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons cream of tartar 1 teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon fine salt 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 400°. In a large bowl, combine the butter, shortening, 1½ cups sugar, and the eggs. With an electric mixer on medium speed, mix thoroughly until creamy and well combined, approximately 1-2 minutes. Sift together the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt, and stir into the shortening mixture. In a small bowl, stir together the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar with the cinnamon. Shape the dough into 1½-inch balls (1 tablespoon per ball), and roll each ball in the cinnamon-sugar. On ungreased cookie sheets, arrange the dough balls 2 inches apart. Bake 8-10 minutes, two sheets at a time, until the edges of the cookies are set, but the centers are still soft, rotating the sheets halfway through. Transfer the cookies to wire racks for cooling.

Apple Pie - Apple Pie Crust

2½ cups all-purpose flour ¼ teaspoon salt 3 tablespoons granulated white sugar ¼ cup vegetable shortening, cold 12 tablespoons butter, cold and cubed ¼ to ½ cup ice water Egg wash, for brushing Sugar, for sprinkling

In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, salt and sugar. Add the shortening and break it up with your hands as you start to coat it with the flour. Add the cold butter cubes. With your hands or a pastry cutter, work them into the flour until the mixture is crumbly like very coarse cornmeal. Work quickly so the butter doesn’t get too soft. Add the ice water a little at a time until the mixture comes together, forming the dough. Bring the dough together into a ball. Preheat oven to 375°.

Apple Pie Filling

¾ cup light brown sugar ¼ cup all-purpose flour ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus more for sprinkling Freshly ground nutmeg, to taste 7 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and sliced thin or diced 1 lemon, zested and juiced 3 tablespoons of butter diced

In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. In another bowl, sprinkle apples with the juice and zest of 1 lemon and toss. Stir in the sugar mixture to evenly coat the apples. Set aside.

NOTE: You may also cover the whole pie with the other dough if you don’t want to do the lattice. Just make sure you cut about 4 slits in the center for the pie to breathe. Brush the top of the pie with egg wash and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Trim the overhanging dough and crimp edges. Bake the pie about 50 to 60 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly. Let rest 20 minutes before slicing.

Basic Crepes

1 cup all purpose flour 2 eggs ½ cup milk ½ cup water ¼ teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons butter, melted

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and the eggs. Gradually add in the milk and water, stirring to combine. Add the salt and butter; beat until smooth. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately ¼ cup for each crêpe. Tilt the pan with a circular motion so that the batter coats the surface evenly. Cook the crêpe for about 2 minutes, until the bottom is light brown. Loosen with a spatula, turn and cook the other side. Visit my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/southernsavorings ¤

Roll out chilled dough into 2 circles. Use 1 round to line a 9-inch pie plate. Chill the other round. Mound the apple and sugar mixture into the pie pan lined with dough. Dot with cubed butter.

May | June

The

y r o t S r e h s e r a h " S y " Tea Lad

Brenda Fraser, Patrice Billings and Molly Nesham

From the days of growing up with her Grandma, who had a daily tea-drinking ritual, to seeking out alternative medicine for her own health needs as an adult, Molly Nesham has become passionate about the many benefits of full-leaf teas. Even though most people rely on coffee to get their day started, tea is having a big renaissance as the new hot beverage of choice for many people wanting to enjoy the health benefits of full-leaf tea – tea made without chemicals, bleach, and other harmful ingredients. As a little girl, Molly burned her tongue tasting her father’s coffee after church one day, so she decided never to be a coffee drinker. She then learned, as only some realize, that coffee flushes B vitamins out of your body. After she started having some of the same health issues that had affected several generations of women in her family, and being told the only option for her was a surgical procedure, she decided to explore Eastern/alternative medicine. After her first acupuncture treatment, her doctor sent her home with some medicinal tea. However, the tea had to steep for an hour, and it tasted worse than boiled mouthwash. Molly recalls, “I researched the ingredients in that tea until I found herbs with similar properties that smelled and, above all, tasted better. What I called my “Mommy Tea” not only got me feeling better, but I had more energy, thanks to the power of antioxidants.” Soon, she said she no longer craved sugar 68 StreetScape Magazine

Story by Brenda Fraser

or chocolate, and her friends noticed the difference in her overall health. Molly began making small batches of tea for friends; and voila, a homebased business was born! Molly, aka “The Tea Lady,” markets her “Thankful-a-Tea” exclusively at South Main Street’s Butterfly & Moon gift shop. This premium tea comes in recyclable, glass jars, enough to last several months, or in cute, little tins as loose, full-leaf tea. It is also available in pyramid-shaped teabags to allow the tea to breathe its healthy goodness completely into a cup. You can often find Molly, dressed as an 1800s frontier woman, handing out free samples Sundays on Main Street in St Charles. Some of the teas available include flavors from white or green tea, which are loaded with healthy catechins. Some are black teas, with naturally occurring caffeine and a little boost. There are more than

Photos Courtesy of Brenda Fraser

25 flavors currently featured at the shop. Newest blends for spring and summer include Lily, made with rose petals and white monkey tea; Dreamsicle, a honeybush orange and vanilla blend; Black and Blueberry, chock full of antioxidants; and Red Hat Cha Cha Chai, reminiscent of the spicy red hat ladies. “Sharing a steaming cup of Cherry Bon Bon or an icy glass of Strawberry Peach tea brings people together. That is why Thankful-A-Tea has partnered with Butterfly & Moon, because their mission is to bring people together and build community,” Molly says. If you aren’t sure which tea to try first, you can schedule a private tea-tasting party with your friends, or you can join the Tea-of-the-Month club. See www.ButterflyandMoon.com for more information. ¤

May | June

llow Th o e M usic To F

s e l r a h C t SainThis Summer

Story and Photos courtesy of Saint Charles Convention & Visitors Bureau “Les Petites Cotes” are alive with the sound of music! Saint Charles Missouri is a vibrant community anytime of the year, but the summer months bring festivals and music nearly every day of the week. From big (Jazz) band concerts in Frontier Park to Miss Jubilee and the Humdingers at concerts on Beale in the Streets of St. Charles, to coffee house concerts at Picasso’s and patio concerts at Magpie’s, summertime here is sure to be music to your ears. The season of music will kick off with a new event in this summer’s lineup. With the goal of enhancing Main Street, as well as the entire St. Charles community, the OPO on Main Street is launching First Friday at OPO Plaza. This free concert series takes place in the OPO Plaza on the first Friday night of May, June, August, and September and is sure to make an impact on the 2016 season of music. The month of May will also debut the second season of Streetsfest Concerts on the Streets of St. Charles. The season will kick off on May 11 with Dr. Zhivegas. From May to September, Beale Street will come alive with a street festival atmosphere, including live music, food and vendor booths featuring businesses from the Streets of St. Charles. So bring your lawn chair for a great seat — but be prepared to dance. Music on Main, the perennial musical favorite that takes place on… where else… Historic Main Street, will kick off its season on May 18. This concert series features free concerts on the third Wednesday of every month during the summer and will feature Rogers & Nienhaus, Serapis, Silver Bullet, Trip Daddys, and Butch Wax & the Hollywoods. This is an outdoor concert series in the 100-200 blocks of North Main Street that provides residents and visitors alike the opportunity to get outdoors, hear some great music, eat, drink and relax. 70 StreetScape Magazine

These are just a few of our musical highlights. This summer will also bring Municipal Band Concerts and St. Charles Community Big (Jazz) Band Concerts in Frontier Park, as well as events that feature live music like Sunday Fundays, Riverfest, Festival of the Little Hills, and many more. So just follow the music this summer, and you’ll be sure to find Saint Charles; because Les Petites Cotes – The Little Hills – will be alive with the sound of music. To discover all there is to do and see in Saint Charles and for a complete event list, visit us online at HistoricStCharles.com. You can also follow us on Facebook at Greater Saint Charles Convention & Visitors Bureau, on Twitter at @DiscoverStC and on the Discover St. Charles YouTube channel. ¤

May | June

Love BBQ? Love Craft Beer? You won’t want to miss Q & Brew at Wentzville Days sponsored by Sugarfire

The Wentzville Downtown Business Association proudly partners with the St. Louis BBQ Society and Sugarfire Smoke House to bring the first and only sanctioned BBQ contest to Wentzville Days Fair and Music Festival in downtown Wentzville, May 21-22. Pitmasters from all over the region will compete for $5,000 in cash prizes at this year’s first annual event. Local craft beer, wine, bourbon, whiskey and cigars are the main event at Poage Chevrolet Craft Beer Garden at Friendship Brewing Company, located on the brewery’s grounds. Businesses featured include Friendship Brewing Company, Kirkwood Station Brewing Company, Wood Hat Spirits, and Smoking Hot Cigars. Saturday, May 21, guests at the Q & Brew vote for their favorite dish during the People’s Choice competition. Competitors will be cooking a “Wentzville Chop,” thick-cut pork chop using Friendship Brewing Company craft beer. The Rhino Hybrid Sound Stage features live music all weekend, including Freese’s Pond and Ron Schneider. Shop the “Q’tique” for the best regional BBQ sauces, spices and marinades. Activities at the Wentzville Days Fair and Music Festival include: Stars of the Universe Pageant; Blues & Classic Rock Festival; Crossroads Arts Council’s “Chair-ish Wentzville” art exhibit/ auction; American Legion Motorcycle/Car Show; carnival, children’s village, and arts and craft vendors. ¤

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Wentzville Days Fair & Music Festival Schedule May 20-22 • Wentzville’s Historic Village Center Fri. 6-11* p.m. • Sat. 12-11* p.m. • Sun. 12-6 p.m. *Children’s Village closes at 9 p.m. FRIDAY Main Stage: 6-8 p.m. – Doc Holiday • 8-10 p.m. –Well Hungarians Rhino Hybrid Sound Stage: 7-9 p.m. – BBQ Competitors Meat & Greet SATURDAY Main Stage: 10-11 a.m. – Pageant Registration 11 a.m.-1:30p.m. – Miss Missouri Outdoors Children’s Pageant/Miss & Teen Wentzville Pageant Blues & Classic Rock Festival 2-3:30 – Petty Cash Junction • 4:30-5:50 – The Muddy Horse Band 6:00 p.m. – Q & Brew People’s Choice Awards 6:30 p.m. – “Chair-ish Wentzville” Art Auction 6:30-7:30 p.m. – Steve Scorfina & The Blues Offenders 8:00 -10:30 p.m. – Danny Liston & The Brothers Rhino Hybrid Sound Stage: Freese’s Pond Band 11:00-2:00 • 3:30-4:30 • 5:50-6:30 • 7:30-8:00 Century-Tel Lot: 12-6 p.m. “Chair-ish Wentzville” sponsored by Crossroads Arts Council Children’s Village 12:30-1:30 p.m. – River City Rascals’ mascot, RUFFY • St Louis Ambush Soccer Players Q & Brew Competition 8-9 a.m. – Competitor Check-in • 3-5 p.m. – People’s Choice Competition SUNDAY Main Stage: 12-1 p.m. – GM Community Presentation • 3-6 p.m. – Smash Band 5 p.m. – Q & Brew BBQ Awards Rhino Hybrid Sound Stage: 1-3 p.m. – Ron Schneider Century-Tel Lot: 12-3 p.m. – American Legion Motorcycle & Car Show Q & Brew Competition Turn-Ins 11:54-12:06 p.m. Chicken • 12:24 - 12:36 p.m. – Ribs 12:54-1:06 p.m. – Pork Butt • 1:24-1:36 p.m. – Brisket Come visit Publisher Tom Hannegan of StreetScape Magazine on Sunday as he serves as one of the"Local Celebtrity" BBQ Judges.

May | June

Story by Michael Grafman

Michael: How did you get your start in the rock scene?

An exclusive interview with Journey’s former tour manager, Pat Morrow. One of the biggest bands in the music scene in the last 30 years was Journey! I sat down (via Skype a few years ago) with one of the gentlemen who contributed to the success of Journey, former tour manager Pat Morrow, and talked about his career and what connection he and Journey has with St. Louis.

Pat Morrow: My first gig was doing drums for Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show. After that, I was a drum roadie for Aynsley Dunbar, former original drummer of Journey. Aynsley became, in those days, such a crucial part of the mix. You had to have Aynsley on board for things to work out, but I could handle him. I could talk to the artists and tell them to be quiet and to cooperate with everyone. Because I could do that with Aynsley, I graduated to tour manager and handled the band for many years.

Michael: Pat, tell us how Journey started and about your involvement with the band. Pat Morrow: It was 1973 when I started working for Journey. They were pretty big on the West Coast but not so big in the rest of the nation. We could do San Francisco, Santa Monica Civic in L.A., the little hall in Bakersfield-Berkeley Community Theater - that kind of thing - but we couldn’t make any money East of California. And at this time, in those days, 1974-75, there was a station in St. Louis called KSHE run by a guy named Shelley Grafman; and he got way ahead of everyone else in supporting us. They got hot and heavy on the radio with Journey’s music. One thing led to another, and we then performed in St. Louis. We did a show with David Essex, (Hey kid, rock 'n' roll, rock on) who was big there at the time. We grew popular in St. Louis, and it spread up the river to Chicago. Within a year or two, Memphis, Kansas City, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh all became big for Journey. Grafman and KSHE, an institution in St. Louis, were responsible for breaking Journey throughout the Midwest. Once KSHE would add Journey’s songs, the others would follow. In 1980, we had a triumphant return to St. Louis at Busch Stadium with Sammy Hagar; and I’ll never forget when I got to introduce Shelley Grafman on stage, give him credit for what he had done. It was a very complete feeling.

Rock-n-Roll Connection sponsored by...

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74 StreetScape Magazine

David and Michael Grafman surround Pat Morrow backstage of Journey’s concert at Riverport Ampitheatre, 2011.

Grafman and KSHE, an institution in St. Louis, was responsible for breaking Journey throughout the Midwest. Michael: Thank you, Pat, for taking the time to tell St. Louis your “rock ‘n’ roll connection” to our city.

Michael: What is your connection to St. Louis?

Pat Morrow: It’s a great, happy, surprising town. There was this big hotel If you’d like to reach Pat Morrow, email Pat: Patrick_angus@yahoo.com ¤ downtown near the river; and I had a ton of equipment, so I called down for a bellman. This old guy looks at my stuff and says, “Man, this reminds me *Journey will be performing this summer at of my ol’ days.” I asked him, “Well, what did you do?” The ol’ man says, Hollywood Casino Ampitheatre on July 30th. “I was Louis Armstrong’s tour manager!” So, we sat there for over 30 minFrom left to right:Ross Valory, original bassist, Ariella Grafman, Ilya Lubenko, utes; and he had somePat great storiesformer to share with me aboutand Louis. Morrow, tour manager, Michael Grafman. Michael: What’s your most memorable experience/concert in St. Louis? Pat Morrow: Well, I loved the early gig Journey did with McKendree Spring back in 1974. KSHE sponsored it at this old grocery store. I asked, “Where are the house lights?” They brought me this piece of plywood with toggle switches, like light switches… six to seven light switches. It was something! Journey had a killer gig. And McKendree Spring had this little guy who played the white Telecaster guitar, Canadian rockers. Then, Journey came on and really scored a great live show! Three encores; great stuff in those days. Michael: How instrumental was St. Louis in building your career? Pat Morrow: Well, without Shelley Grafman and KSHE’s support, Journey probably would’ve remained a regional favorite. So, I guess I have a sentimental feeling for St. Louis. I know that Neal Schon and Ross Valory, the two original members, still feel a closeness to St. Louis.

Welcome to the Exclusive St. Louis Rock-n-Roll Connection! It is brought to you by the sponsors below, please support them.

Stay tuned for more great Rock-n-Roll Connections!

Michael: Please, tell St. Louis what you are doing now. Pat Morrow: I am consulting with Chaos Productions, which does a lot of lighting and video for John Mayer, Beyoncé, Tom Petty, and Justin Bieber.

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May | June

THE WAYWARD CRITIC VR the World Story by Lance Tilford Photo Shutterstock

Do you want to watch a movie or play a game on a flat screen, or do you want to be in the middle of the action as it takes place around you?

that uses a simple placement of the camera in the midst of a roving herd of bison as curiosity puts those huge, scraggly heads in your face. It’s exciting and daunting all at once.

One of the more exciting things going on at the intersection of tech and entertainment right now is the booming virtual reality (VR) experience. Short films, documentaries, concerts, and artful and surreal experiments are all popping up via a variety of VR apps available on your smartphone.

While you’re in the NYTVR app, be sure to watch “Take Flight,” a dream-like episode that has you rising above the clouds from a NYC street to watch the free-floating denizens there, including stars Michael Fassbender, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, and Benecio Del Toro.

If you haven’t already, get yourself a cheap and simple Google Cardboard device (a variety of 3D cardboard readers are available for under $20 on amazon.com) and a decent pair of headphones or earbuds. Then download the NYTVR 3D app, among others – Vrse, Jaunt, and Discovery 3D are some favorites. Most of the VR apps are available free of charge — for now.

If documentaries aren’t your thing, try out the variety of short films on Jaunt, Vrse or Discovery 3D. Jaunt has a variety of news stories, you-are-there concerts, and a zombie outbreak; and it lets you dangle over the edge during a climb up a sheer mountain face. Vrse offers “A History of Cuban Dance,” some great music videos, and, for horror fans, “Catatonic,” where you’re a wheelchair-bound, new patient given a tour of an insane asylum. Be sure to look behind you often…

The 3D experience has come a LONG way from the overpromised, nineties virtual reality hype that left many people thoroughly underwhelmed at best or, at worst, losing their lunch all over their khakis. Now it’s smoother; it’s immersive; it’s visceral and compelling – and sometimes highly entertaining or pulse-pounding terrifying. Earlier this year, “The New York Times” released a handful of Sundance award-winning shorts via its app (NYTVR), and they are available to watch through the app. My favorite is “American Bison” by Danfung Dennis It’s a little gem of pastoral Americana 76 StreetScape Magazine

We’re hearing plenty of buzz about the just-released virtual reality systems, such as the Oculus Rift, Playstation VR and HTC Vive. These are much higher-end pieces of equipment that range from $600 upward, not including peripherals that have yet to be released. Early adopters are raving about the devices, though in order to use these gizmos, you’ll need a high-end computer set with maximum memory and nothing but the best graphics cards. Mac users need not apply, as currently no Mac hardware is

capable of running these sets. Apple better get with the program; this is a serious wake- up call for them to boost the juice in their desktops and laptops. There’s already a wide variety of interactive game experiences available for these new platforms. And as more people adopt the devices, they will go down in price; then even more content will be released. In a few years, we won’t just stare into our smartphones — they’ll swallow us. I foresee insurance companies creating new riders covering inhome accidents from tripping over furniture while wearing VR headsets. Give it a try while the free samples are out there. This is the future of gaming and the first steps in building the momentum of more immersive movie and entertainment experiences. So get in on it, and get REAL! The Wayward Critic reviews movies and television shows on a variety of media; be sure to get the latest choice reviews by following me on Twitter (@waywardcritic) and on Facebook (like “The Wayward Critic”). ¤

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.

StreetScape Book Picks Title: Raising A Prince Without A King Author: LaVeda M. Jones About the Book: In this masterfully written book, LaVeda M. Jones addresses the problem of single motherhood with insight and candor. In her relaxed, gentle style, she takes us on an emotional roller coaster ride that most single mothers experience. This book is about a woman who went from suffering dashed hopes, failure, fear, the absence of peace, the squashing of self-confidence, and the abandonment of friends to rising from the ashes and becoming a person of strength, faith and courage. Jones is the recipient of the 2015 Henri and Readers Choice Awards presented by Joy & Company Literary Organization. To learn more about LaVeda M. Jones, visit http://lavedajones.com. Publisher: Love Clones Publishing Where to buy: Available on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.

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n o r p theA

A CULINARY EXPERIENCE WITH CHEF STEPHEN Photo courtesy of Fox Theater

Where are you currently; what is your position there? I am the Executive Chef at the Fabulous Fox Theater What inspired you to become a chef? My mother was my biggest inspiration. She was an excellent cook. I remember helping her in the kitchen from an early age. She allowed me to experiment in the kitchen, creating new dishes with her. Where were you trained? I was formally trained at the Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, New York. I received a lot of hands-on training at the Kellogg Center on the campus of Michigan State University, as well as working with some of chefs at the CIA on private events. What is your background (other places you've worked, highlights of career)? Other than The Fox, which I have called home for 21 years, I worked at the Adam’s Mark Hotel downtown St. Louis, starting as a Baker’s Assistant and moving my way up to sous chef. I am proud to say that I cooked for the President of the United States twice, not to mention having the opportunity to prepare meals for countless stars of the stage. For the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, we recreated the last dinner served in the first class dining room. It was 13 courses for over 300 people. It was an event I will never forget! What kinds of food are you most known for? I am known more for my entrée preparations more than anything else. My style could be summed up as American with French and Asian undertones. What is your specialty? Guests really like our pan-seared salmon with orange-sriracha glaze. The lobster nachos are a huge hit at the theater. I can also say that our special events are a specialty of mine, weddings especially. I really like to tailor a menu around the bride and groom and their tastes. What are the newest, hottest trends in fine dining? I find the focus is still on local, sustainability farm-to-table mentality. Streamlining dishes to simple, clean flavors. What is a simple recipe that you'd like to share for people to create at home? Here is a great dish that I love in the summer. Slice a baguette into ½-inch or so slices (on a bias), toast in a toaster or in the oven until golden brown, spread with a little unsalted butter. Thinly slice some radishes and place on top of the buttered, toasted baguette slices. Sprinkle with a little finishing salt (fleur de sel, Maldon, etc…) Enjoy! Do you have any little known cooking tips to share? A couple actually. The first is - before you tackle a recipe the first time, read it thoroughly. Also, measure out all of your ingredients, get all of your bowls, pots, pans for recipe ready and then begin. It is what professionals call mise en place. The second is to purchase a good finishing salt. I prefer Maldon. It highlights the food you are serving without it becoming too salty. ¤ 78 StreetScape Magazine

GladHearts

Orval Irvin

The band, Seldom Fed +1

Residents visiting with the band

Feeling Blessed & Giving Back

Orval picks out a tune

Story by Linda Stroud Photos by Michael Schlueter Orval Irvin describes himself as a retired Ford worker who served in the army from 1959 to 1963; but that just scrapes the surface of who he is. His life contains unexpected twists and turns, which include love and loss, but also adventures few of us will ever experience. While sitting at a kitchen table with his girlfriend, Carol, on a breezy, mid-March afternoon, he emphasizes this story shouldn’t be just about him. He is a man of faith with a generous heart and an easy smile who doesn’t want to steal the limelight from the others. He is humble. He is gracious. And he is a man who believes in giving back. Orval’s story includes things like being a civil war re-enactor; appearing in movies as an extra or a cowboy mounted Shooter; brain surgeries that led to seizures and nearly claimed his life several times; and the loss of his wife and a great-grandchild to cancer. He’s also driven cattle, both as part of the Great Cattle Drive of 1995 (a re-enactment of the great cattle drives of the 1880s) and another, less-publicized drive. But the thing Orval speaks of most passionately is that, at 75, he and a group of fellow musicians volunteer their time to play music for seniors. The group, Seldom Fed +1, consists of Orval, Tom Pini, Joe McCrory, Dave Cunningham, Bill Fauhn, and Carol Hensley, Orval’s girlfriend, who has volunteered her time in senior centers for years, teaching line dancing and taking dogs for visits with the residents. Joe McCrory’s wife, Michelle, is their master of sound. There’s also another long-time member, Bill Bole, who no longer “tours” with the band, but still enjoys time with his former bandmates whenever they come to play the Mount Carmel Senior Living Center. Orval and the other musicians keep a busy schedule, performing regularly all over town at churches and various community events, in addition to the senior centers. With practices thrown in, it all amounts to a substantial commitment of time. While Orval

and a few of the others are retired, some band members are still in the workforce and juggling careers along with the music. But it is a labor of love they all enjoy – especially when it comes to performing at the senior centers. Orval believes that part of the reason he’s still here is to bring some joy into the lives of others through music.

As he describes what it’s like to play for the seniors he states, “You see folks that are sitting there listening, all the people in wheelchairs in some of the places we go… people with Alzheimer’s and all kinda stuff… and we play music and they enjoy it.” For Orval, that feeds his soul and makes the loading and unloading of heavy equipment, the practicing, and the hectic schedule more than worth the effort. With a mix of classic country, gospel, and bluegrass, they take their audience back to a time when lyrics told stories that tugged at the heartstrings, and melodies made you want to dance. They play and sing of faith, love, life and heartache. And he says it always makes him smile when he sees the music connect, sharing, “You would be surprised at the people that still remember those songs… and they come to life.” It touches him deeply that their music helps seniors forget their struggles and cares for a while. Orval looks at the world around him, sees what others are going through, and feels very blessed. Though he’s had his share of struggles, there are so many around him who face incredible challenges every day of their lives with faith and courage. He admires their strength and is driven to do whatever small part he can to help them along the way. The music is definitely a big part of that for him, and he’s grateful to have crossed paths with the others who invited him to be a part of Seldom Fed +1. He’s also grateful that he has his health and the strength to do the things that give back to others. As we sat there talking, he quoted a couple of lines from the poem, “My Cup Has Overflowed,” by John Paul Moore. The lines, “I’m drinking from my saucer, ‘cause my cup has overflowed” and “May I never be too busy, to help others bear their loads,” are favorites — and words Orval lives by. Feeling blessed and giving back — that’s Orval. ¤ May | June

GladHearts

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d Rich Kersting an with Debbie phoma Society ne po m Ti Cindy emia & Lym of the Leuk

Story by Sarah J. Moeller Photos by Michael Schlueter Imagine a world without cancer â&#x20AC;&#x201C; one where more children could grow up to be adults who live long, healthy, happy lives. Consider a world where adults wouldn't need to take time away from their jobs or families to receive medical treatment for this disease. For one local woman, that ideal has taken root and found its way into her kitchen, where she makes custom-decorated sugar cookies that are a sweet deal for everyone involved. Cindy Timpone, the force behind Cookies for a Cure, is no stranger to cancer and its ill effects. Sadly, like too many other people, she has lost friends and family to this disease and has felt the sting of saying goodbye. If you order cookies from Cindy, besides acquiring a superior product, you are also supporting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Gateway chapter, which serves Missouri, Illinois, and Arkansas. Technically, she doesn't sell her cookies but instead accepts donations, which are then passed along to the society. Between what Cindy has raised herself and what she has helped her friends gather, she has had a hand in fetching almost $200,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in the last decade or so. On her Facebook page (www.facebook.com/www.cookiesforacure. timpone/), you can see pictures of various cookies she has made. There are cookies for holidays, some for baby showers, cookies that look like baseballs, and some that look like mischievous little monkeys, just to name a few. As you will see when you order 80 StreetScape Magazine

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from Cindy, in addition to supporting a worthy cause, you are also getting a beautiful and delicious product. It's a perfect recipe for success! It all started about ten years ago when Mrs. Timpone and her daughter wanted to raise money for a team fundraising event with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Societyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Team in Training program. They raised funds, ran a marathon, and got hooked on the cause. Continuing to raise funds year round and participating in multiple events, they began to get creative in how they could most effectively raise dollars to help find a cure. Cindy's sister, Nancy Heard, came up with the idea to bake cookies in exchange for donations to pass along to the society. Cindy and Nancy had experienced both of their parents battling various forms of cancer, and they wanted to help other people avoid that pain. Although there are a variety of places that help cancer patients, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society performs a lot of the cutting edge research that they really believes in, so this is where they focus their efforts and support. Debbie Kersting, Executive Director of the local chapter (the Gateway chapter) of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, explains some of the breakthroughs that are a result of this research. She talks about how most people remember that her group was the first to successfully do bone mar-

row transplants and to use chemotherapy. Now, she says, because of research and continuing innovations, doctors are transitioning into prescribing an oral pill, which is far more convenient and less toxic. Patients can take the pill in a matter of minutes, instead of spending hours to receive chemotherapy in a clinic. She also describes their procedure of immunotherapy, by which the body's own cells are re-engineered to be a “serial killer” of cancer. This process gives a lot of hope for the future of cancer treatments, and the excitement in her voice was obvious. When talking about patients, however, her tone was full of care and concern. Cancer's reach does not extend just to the immediate patient, she reminds us. Like the disease itself, cancer invades all of society. A person taking chemotherapy, or certain other types of treatments, often has to take time off from work. Depending on the situation, this often means someone else needs to take over that person’s job duties. Then this person's family is affected, too. So far, that is just two families involved; but the chain reaction doesn't stop there. A person going to treatments often needs a travel buddy, and that adds an additional person and his or her family to the list of people affected by just one person's cancer. Of course, the person with cancer is the one primarily affected, but there are also people who have to take over home duties – someone may need to bring them meals, or help them clean, or lend a hand with children or pets. As you can see, it takes just one diagnosis of cancer to alter (even slightly) the lives of many people. What immediately occurred to me about this scenario is how Cindy's volunteer work has had a parallel ripple effect of its own, but in a positive way this time. Over the years, she has become known as “The Cookie Lady” and tells of many encounters with people who have eaten her cookies at various events. She recently offered classes on how to make decorated sugar cookies and was overwhelmed by the number of people who were interested in the classes. Evidently, when it comes to cookies and fundraising, she has a perfect recipe for success! Just like a cancer diagnosis affects so many people, Cindy's cookies have also had a similar, yet favorable, impact. A lot of time and care have been invested into making sure that the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society funds, whether from cookie baking or elsewhere, are directed to where they can be most effective. One way these funds are used is in educating school children about cancer, especially when they have a classmate who is fight-

ing this disease. For example, they have offered emotional and social support to kids with cancer who are reentering the classroom. These children have had to miss a lot of school for various reasons, such as their treatments or not feeling well. They will often wear a mask, not because they are contagious, but because they could easily catch a sickness that their compromised immune system would have trouble handling. Masks often alarm parents of other kids, however, because their initial reaction is to think that the child is contagious. Speakers from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society can help ease these fears by coming into applicable classrooms and educating everyone involved. Besides wearing a mask, quite often kids will also resume school attendance looking different than when they left. They may have gained or lost a lot of weight, have visible mouth sores, and may even have gone bald. The society's educational efforts address things like this, as well, in order to educate other students on ways to help create a more welcoming environment for their friend. To date, it has provided this service to over 600 schools. In addition to the above scenarios, instructors show how kids (and adults) can volunteer and the positive, crucial impact volunteerism has. Out of the classroom, another thing the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society helps with is fostering peer-to-peer connections, where patients with similar demographics are connected on a one-on-one basis. For example, if you have a child who is undergoing cancer treatments and another family has had their child go through the same thing, they can provide encouragement from a personal (rather than just a medical) perspective. On a wider basis, there are also support groups that allow patients to interact with each other in a group setting. According to Kersting, breakthrough research, support, and education only happen with people like Cindy. Every time someone orders cookies from Cindy, they are helping to fund everything from research to relationships, which are equally vital and complement each other quite well. If you ask Cindy what her goal is, she says she “will keep baking cookies until there are no more sad stories.” This is definitely a happy story by itself; and since Cindy's efforts have tastefully funded so many of these activities for so long, it seems like Cookies for a Cure is the icing on the cake — or in this case, the icing on the cookie. ¤

May | June

irrevocable turn into a long, slow decline that will steal his or her memories and life as they’ve known it. The initial diagnosis can sometimes catch families off guard. Though there are signs that point to changes in cognitive function, it’s hard to know what’s normal in the course of aging and what is cause for concern. Sometimes clear signs and symptoms are overlooked or ignored because acknowledging them would mean getting that heartbreaking diagnosis. As families learn what their diagnosis means and realize there is no cure, they often feel a sense of loss and experience stages of grief. The progressive nature of the disease means that, little by little, roles and relationships will change as the person they love slowly declines. Life as they’ve known it is never the same.

It’s called the long goodbye. And, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, over 5 million Americans are currently living with the heartbreaking diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. It’s believed that number may actually be much higher, with as many as 50 percent of people who have the disease going undiagnosed. Ask anyone who knows someone with dementia and they will surely tell you that receiving a diagnosis of dementia is life changing for all involved. In the top ten causes of death in America, it is the only one that can’t be slowed, cured or prevented. Families who receive this diagnosis suddenly find themselves navigating a surreal world full of complex emotions, fear of the future, difficult healthcare decisions, and the financial worries that come with this progressive, incurable illness. While Alzheimer’s is the most common, there are actually various types of dementia. There’s vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB), frontotemporal dementia, and mixed dementia. Even Parkinson’s, Creutzfeldt-Jakob’s and Huntington’s disease are considered forms of dementia, because they progress to affect cognitive function. Each type has its own list of causes, characteristics and progression. Dementia primarily affects those over 65, though up to 5 percent of cases are early-onset. As baby boomers age, it is projected that 7.1 million people will be diagnosed by 2025 and 13.8 million by 2050. But the numbers of those diagnosed are just the tip of the iceberg of those affected. Along with the current numbers and projected increases in diagnosis, there are also millions of family members whose lives are impacted by the disease – an estimated 15.7 million in 2015. It’s important to remember, though, that at the heart of all the facts and statistics on dementia is a person — a person who has a life — a person who loves and is loved. A person whose life has just taken an 82 StreetScape Magazine

The unpredictable nature of the disease can also create emotional, physical and financial stress for families. They have no way of knowing what challenges each new day will bring. Some days are good; some days are bad. Declines in physical and cognitive function can be gradual or, at times, dramatic; and families find themselves just doing their best to figure it all out as they go. The disease becomes an all-consuming reality. There are many difficult decisions to be made following diagnosis. Can you realistically care for your loved one at home? What are the options for help with home care? How do you give the person with dementia the dignity they deserve, while at the same time mitigating the safety concerns? Due to loss of cognitive function, a loved one may accidentally forget to turn off the stove, wander away from home with no shoes or coat in the dead of winter, or forget where they live. Should you consider long-term care? How will these choices affect the emotional and physical health of the caregiver and their quality of life? There are no easy answers to these questions. And decisions often come with varying degrees of guilt. Guilt is an emotion that families dealing with dementia know all too well. Caregivers can experience guilt on a number of levels: guilt if they feel frustrated or overwhelmed by their caregiving responsibilities; guilt that they are feeling loss and grief while their loved one is still living; guilt over worries about money; guilt that they feel isolated or depressed by their situation; guilt over needing to take some time for themselves and their needs; and guilt when they feel they can no longer care for their loved one at home. In fact, Zoe Dearing, a recently retired Alzheimer’s Association educator states, “Guilt is probably the number one challenge and concern families face once their loved one has progressed to the point that they know they can no longer care for them on their own.” Family members often try to keep their loved one at home as long as possible, believing that even considering assisted living or skilledcare options would be a betrayal or seen as a failure on some level.

But ensuring the best possible quality of life and care for loved ones throughout the progression of the disease means that, at some point, families may have to consider that option. Not only is physical ability to be a primary caregiver a consideration, but the emotional health, physical health and quality of life for the caregiver come into play as well. The daily demands of dementia care are great and can extend over the course of five to ten years. Fortunately, we live in a time where the options are better than they’ve ever been. There are skilled professionals and agencies who will come to the home to help with the activities of daily living, such as bathing and dressing, and give the primary caregiver some much needed help or relief from the responsibilities. There are levels of care available with this option, from several times a week to 24-hour care, which may allow you to keep your loved one at home longer. If the decision is made that assisted living or skilled care is required, there are also many good options for families to choose from. More and more communities are adopting person-centered care, which is based on a social model rather than the traditional model of care that was driven by efficiency for the staff and getting tasks done on a structured schedule. Dearing points out, “Structure for a person who can’t remember minute to minute is very stressful for that person. Trying to fit them into a community’s structure is what typically causes behavior issues and accentuated emotions like anxiety, frustration, fear and anger.” The difference between traditional and person-centered care is literally, according to Dearing, structured tasks versus feelings and giving the person with dementia a choice. Person-centered care gives them some control over their environment at a time when so much of what is happening to them is out of their control.

The answers to these questions can help you choose the place that is the best fit for your loved one and give you a feel for how well that community meshes person-centered care and quality-of-life best practices with taking care of daily needs. Robb and Dearing also recommend that families visit a community more than once – and not just at scheduled times. Robb states, “Anybody can put on a good face for a 15-minute tour. Don’t just tour when somebody is expecting you. If you really want to know how that community acts, show up unannounced. We invite people for events, activities… any time you want to come in, drop by. We want people to see ow we interact with our residents on a day-to-day basis.” With such a big decision, seeing how communities run on a daily basis makes sense. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with dementia or is living with this disease, just know you are not alone. There is help available. The Alzheimer’s Association is an excellent resource. They not only offer a wealth of information to help you understand the disease, but also resources to get the support you need. Visit the website at www.alz.org or contact the St. Louis Chapter at 314.432.3422. A special thank you to retired Alzheimer’s Association educator Zoe Dearing and Lauren Robb of Cedarhurst Assisted Living and Memory Care for all of their insights and the Alzheimer’s Association for the facts, figures and statistics used in this article. ¤

But, while the newer, social model reduces stress and anxiety for the person with dementia, families should understand that there can still be challenges during the transition. New residents often don’t understand what’s happening and why they can no longer live at home. They may get angry with staff and family members, which can lead to a whole new level of guilt for the family. Lauren Robb, marketing manager with Cedarhurst Assisted Living and Memory Care, one of the leaders in the St. Louis area for more person-centered care, stated, “Even if you’ve found an amazing place, it’s still going to be an uphill battle for a while.” Robb points out that transfer trauma is very common for those moving into long-term care. While it can be very upsetting for both the person with dementia and the family, time, patience and a welltrained staff all help. Finding a community that practices person-centered care, with staff members who are well-trained in caring for residents with dementia, should be a priority for families. Before deciding on a community, families need to ask questions about how the staff handles specific situations, such as transfer trauma. They also need to ask how behaviors and the tasks of taking care of daily needs are managed. Dearing suggests that perhaps the most important question to ask is how the staff will develop a relationship with the loved one. Ask what systems are in place for the staff to get to know new residents; learning how they communicate now and who the person was before dementia.

May | June

Doug Landis at work on his art.

g u o D ndis La Story by Karen Hoffman Photos by Michael Schlueter

Discovered a gift and his calling despite adversity

The irony is overwhelming. A man found his gift in the worst thing that ever happened to him — a talent accomplished with the very thing he lost control of.

“I’ve never accepted it, but I just keep going. I don’t like the situation, but I can’t change it. I just try to work on things I have control over.”

Doug Landis was a 15-year-old high school wrestler in Kirkwood, Missouri, dreaming of flying jets, when a wrong move robbed him of all feeling below his neck.

Even four decades later, Landis said he hasn’t made sense of what happened; but he doesn’t spend much time trying to figure it out either.

It was 1975. Landis was a sophomore, a month shy of his 16th birthday. A senior wrestler had warned him the night before at practice not to use this particular move.

“It was just an accident. I was an average kid. I wanted to fly jets for the military. I needed 20/20 vision, so I was debating the military or college. I was kind of in limbo.”

“I did a wrong move. I put my head by the guy’s hip like a tackle, rather than the correct move. He grabbed hold of my head.” Landis said he never blamed his opponent for pulling his head back, a move that broke Landis’ neck.

Landis returned to Kirkwood High School as a junior after months of rehabilitation and academic tutoring. He said a few of his friends “didn’t stick around,” though most did and were pretty accepting.

Landis would spend the next eight months in St. Joseph Hospital in Kirkwood – the first two months in traction with some 90 pounds of pressure delivered via screws drilled into his temples.

Landis attended Meramec Valley Community College and then Webster University, earning media degrees in both communications and film. He went on to earn a master’s degree from the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, California, the performing and visual arts school envisioned and planned by Walt Disney in 1960.

“I was in ICU for a week or two, and the swelling from the injury to the base of my brain caused me to quit breathing. My dad would kick the bed to get me to breathe again,” recalls Landis. He said at the time he wasn’t thinking about the future. “I wasn’t thinking past the broken neck, that it would mean paralysis for a lifetime. The doctors said if I got anything back it would be in one to two years.” At the time, Landis said he was sure the feeling would return and that he would walk again. He went to Jewish Hospital (now Barnes-Jewish Hospital) in St. Louis next for rehabilitation. “Nothing came back except shoulder movement and some bicep movement.” He never felt or moved anything below his shoulders again. Landis said a person never gets over tragedy, but that doesn’t mean they have to wallow in it either. “It was tough. You have all these things you wanted to do, and now you didn’t know how to accomplish anything,” Landis said. 84 StreetScape Magazine

A friend at Webster introduced him to the young lady who would become his wife. The three friends worked on a media project together in studio photography at the college. His first date with Brooke Thurrott was a Halloween party, at which, she said, she got a little jealous when he was dancing without her. She soon convinced him to give her a twirl in his wheelchair. The two have been married for 32 years. Thurrott said Landis’ disability never bothered or intimidated her. “Ignorance was bliss,” she quipped. Now, she said, the two just roll with the punches. “We’re never on time. It’s called quad time, and as we’re maturing things are taking longer.” They say they never have met many deadlines. Their honeymoon to Hawaii was the first, they say, in a long line of small disasters. From Thurrott getting stuck in the jetway between the airport terminal and the airplane, to the pilot accidentally erasing the flight

plan, Thurrott joked that the trip should have been a warning of what was to come. Thurrott recently had brain surgery after a benign tumor was discovered that caused her to lose her memory and could have resulted in blindness. A typical morning for the couple entails more work for Thurrott than most people do all day. There is transferring her husband from the bed to his chair. Then there are exercises to be done, followed by bathing, dressing, shaving and teeth brushing. There are meals to be fed and adjustments to be made each hour so that Landis doesn’t sit too long in one position. “He hasn’t had a bed or pressure sore in 32 years,” she exclaimed proudly. Despite what most people might consider a burden, Thurrott said she doesn’t regret a thing. “I see people who have all of their

The irony is not only in the gift that Landis would have never known about had he not broken his neck, but also in regards to the part of his body that actually utilizes the skill. Though his talent is called Mouth Art … “It’s actually the neck that does all the work. That’s why I’m glad they didn’t fuse my neck,” he said. “I taught myself to draw and paint by mouth. To overcome my limited reach, I learned to draw upside down and sideways to create the intricate detail that’s become my style. I love wildlife, and their beauty inspires me every day.” Today Landis lives in Ballwin, Missouri, and sells his prints all over the world under the name, Doug Landis – MouthArt. He signs each one and includes a biography card. His fine art drawings are printed on Mohawk Superfine paper, an 80-pound, acidfree, alum-free, and rosin-free paper with an aging test indicating permanence of 300 years.

“Florida Gray Panther”, by Doug Landis

“Sea Otter”, by Doug Landis

abilities, and they waste them. They don’t do something with their life. They don’t try. You gotta try.” It was while in rehab that Landis discovered his artistic gift. “I wasn’t an artist before. My mom was artistic, but I never really sat still long enough to try any art,” he said. “It was really out of boredom that I started drawing.” And although Joni Eareckson Tada had made his particular art form famous by then, Landis said he didn’t really know anything about the mouth artist whose diving accident in 1967 left her a quadriplegic in a wheelchair. Today Tada is an internationally known artist, vocalist, radio host and author of 17 books. She also founded the Christian ministry organization for disabled people, Joni and Friends. It started with an Easter book of pictures of the 12 apostles that his mother brought him. “I just copied the apostles in ink,” he said. “Then it was houses and then animals. I just started doing it.”

“On the Edge”, Gray Wolf by Doug Landis

A gray wolf titled “On the Edge,” an American bald eagle he named “Courage,” a spotted jaguar called “Patience,” and a peregrine falcon titled “Little Hunter” are just some of his pen and ink drawings featured on www.mouthart.com. They are part of the animal series in pencil that he is best known for — “Vanishing Breeds.” He has exhibited these and other works in various exhibitions in the United States. He also works with watercolor and acrylic paint. Landis is a featured artist of the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists (MFPA), an international, for-profit association owned and operated by disabled artists to help them meet their financial needs. The MFPA was formed in 1956 when Erich Stegmann, a poliostricken mouth painter, gathered a small band of disabled artists from eight European countries who wanted to make a living through their artistry. Today, the MFPA reproduces its artists’ work mainly in the form of cards, calendars and books and rep(continued on next page) May | June

(continued from page 85) resents approximately 800 members from over 75 countries worldwide. According to www.mfpausa.com, Stegmann considered the word “charity” as “abhorrent as the word “pity.” The association maintains that it is not a charity and does not qualify for charitable assistance. To this day, the MFPA’s motto in the United States remains: “Self Help – Not Charity.” Landis is also the reason one of Missouri’s greatest resources for disabled kids even exists. Missouri KIDS is a resource for families whose school-aged children, through permanently disabling injuries, have lost the use of their bodies below the waist or neck. Landis said he was the first kid to benefit from the organization, which was started by a group of Kirkwood community members in 1975 as a fund for the Landis family to purchase a van to transport him. Today the organization’s resources include grants for customized vans and accessories, electric wheelchairs and beds, stationary bikes, rehabilitation devices, chair and

86 StreetScape Magazine

ceiling lifts, home modifications, environmental systems, college tuition assistance, and athletic equipment. For more information, visit www.missourikids.org. Local businessman Gary Shaw is president of Missouri KIDS. His own son, Scott Shaw, was the second student athlete to ever receive help from Missouri KIDS. A senior vice president and financial advisor at Morgan Stanley, Gary serves many charitable, cultural and educational organizations locally. He has spent the last 30 years volunteering his time and energy to Missouri KIDS and has served as president for two of those three decades. Landis said the best thing that ever happened to him was meeting Thurrott. He doesn’t dwell on the worst. “I have to live for now. I am currently exploring other career paths.” ¤

Doug Landis at work on his art.

Big-Hearted

Leadership Story by Amy Armour Photos by Chris Ryan

Lead with your heart. That’s the advice of long-time medical executive leader and brand new author Donn Sorensen.

really makes a leader,” said Sorensen. “I want people with big hearts.”

“I’ve been in leadership for 25 years; and I just felt there were so many books – too many books – about leadership out there. But it occurred to me that my approach to leadership is unique, and I wanted to share my approach,” said Sorensen.

In his book, Sorensen examines five elements that are essential to a good, big-hearted leader.

Sorensen has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Luther College in Iowa, a master’s degree in health administration from St. Mary’s College in Minnesota, and a master’s degree in business administration from Missouri State University. He is also a fellow of the American College of Medical Practice Executives, and he was elected board chair for the American Medical Group Association in 2016. Sorensen has worked exclusively in the healthcare field for more than two decades; his first position was as a cashier at the Mayo Clinic. “I crawled my way up the ladder and quickly realized that I wanted to do something big in healthcare,” said Sorensen. Sorensen ran different medical groups throughout the country – Tennessee, Louisiana and California, to name a few – before moving to Mercy in January 2000. He is currently the president of the Mercy-East Region, which includes the greater St. Louis area. Sorensen decided to utilize his 25 years of leadership expertise and channel it into a book geared to leaders, future leaders and aspiring leaders. After much hard work, Sorensen completed his first (and he says his only) book called “Big-Hearted Leadership.” It is now available on Amazon or through the website www.DonnSorensen.com for $22.95. The focus of the book is leading with your heart. “Honesty, vulnerability, humor and compassion – that’s what

First, have a good organizational structure for the management team and employees to work within. Sorensen said the structure should be clear, concise and unambiguous regarding the way each person carries out his or her role. Second, be here and with your employees, said Sorensen. “Be enthusiastic and transfer your enthusiasm throughout the organization,” said Sorensen. “Be available. If you’re in your office, leave the door open; if you get an email (from an employee), walk down the hall and find them. Be available.” Thirdly, Sorensen examines the power of presence. “Be genuine,” said Sorensen. Sorensen said the next pieces to the puzzle are enthusiasm, effectiveness and empathy. “Show yourself. There’s nothing wrong about being angry over a poor performance. It’s OK to be angry; it’s OK to cry. But be genuine in that emotion,” said Sorensen. And finally, Sorensen said be a force for good. “How can you help people outside of the organization?” said Sorensen. He encourages employees to get involved in philanthropy and causes within the community, citing the Make a Wish Foundation, Care to Learn or United Way. “It’s the right thing to do,” said Sorensen. For more information on Sorensen, visit www.DonnSorensen.com. ¤ May | June

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FutureScape

. . . e c n e i c S Faoreraelityncsloisce to home in St. Charles Story by Robin Jefferson Photos by Michael Schlueter

The term isn’t even in the traditional or the Urban Dictionary yet, but a substantial number of Americans suffer from the condition. Coined in 2010 by Jessica Gabel, assistant professor at the Georgia State University School of Law, “forensiphilia” is the public fascination with forensic science.

Fictional television shows such as “CSI,” “NCIS” and “Law and Order,” as well as fact-based, high-tech, dramatic storytelling programs, such as “Forensic Files,” “Forensic Investigators,” “Unusual Suspects,” and “Cold Case Files,” delve into the world of forensic science, profile crime scenes and feed our addiction to the application of science to criminal investigations. We don’t seem to care that experts, such as the team at www. forensicoutreach.com, argue against what they call the “CSI Effect.” That is… fictional television crime shows are “patently absurd,” with their fast-tracked DNA evidence and enhancement capabilities that take the blurriest of images and match them to criminals using facial recognition technology. But the fact that “Forensic Files” alone has an audience in 142 countries worldwide is a testament to our fixation on forensic science, and the real thing has definitely changed the way law enforcement is able to solve crimes and many times exonerate the guiltless.

St. Charles countians might be interested to know that much of that intriguing and irresistible science is being practiced right here in their midst. In fact, the St. Charles County Police Department Criminalistics Laboratory in O’Fallon was featured on “Forensic Files” several years ago in relation to an old St. Peters homicide case. It involved a woman who poisoned her husband’s wine with antifreeze. In everyday life, Bryan Hampton, director of the lab, does indeed work with those seeking answers to the mysteries of crime scenes through forensic science. That list includes: coroners; medical examiners; physicians; emergency medical and law enforcement personnel; the press; and legal experts in St. Charles County and, at times, surrounding communities. He oversees a team of scientists in the lab including: Senior Forensic Scientist Brian Krey, DNA Technical Leader Daniel Fahnestock, and Forensic Scientist Cassandra Crabb.

“The positive of having a local crime laboratory is that turnaround times and case backlogs are generally more manageable at the local level,” Hampton said. “St. Charles County is fortunate to have a crime lab, since not all county police departments have the resources to have a crime lab.” 90 StreetScape Magazine

Drug samples in autosampler tray on Gas Chromatograph / mass Spectrometer (GC/MS)

Just 16 years ago, the former 2,000-square-foot laboratory was housed in the St. Charles County Department of Corrections building on Second Street in St. Charles. At that time, Hampton was able to perform drug analysis, firearm functionality testing, fire debris analysis, and BAC (blood alcohol content) testing. The lab had just started setting up its DNA section.

Biological material, including skin, hair, blood and other bodily fluids, has become the most reliable physical evidence at a crime scene since the advent of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) testing in 1985. DNA contains the complex genetic blueprint that distinguishes each person. In his article, “A Brief History of DNA Testing,” published in “TIME” Magazine, Randy James Friday wrote that forensic testing can determine if distinctive patterns in the genetic material found at a crime scene matches the DNA in a potential perpetrator with better than 99 percent accuracy.

“In 1987, Florida rapist Tommie Lee Andrews became the first person in the U.S. to be convicted as a result of DNA evidence; he was sentenced to 22 years behind bars. The next year, a Virginia killer dubbed the “South Side Strangler” was sentenced to death after DNA linked him to several rapes and murders around Richmond. DNA is also responsible for snaring Gary Ridgway, the infamous “Green River Killer” of Washington State, responsible for a string of murders around Seattle in the 1980s and ‘90s.” Law-enforcement agencies around the world continue to assemble DNA databases. The FBI in 2009 had DNA records on more

FutureScape

b a L e im r C y t n u o C than 5 million convicted offenders, and sex offenders in all 50 states are required to submit DNA samples to law enforcement, he wrote.

Scientists moved the St. Charles County Police Department Criminalistics Laboratory to O’Fallon Missouri in 2005. The current facility has approximately 5,300 square feet of lab space. “Our current facility allowed us to meet stringent facility-related requirements for accreditation, many of which could not be met at the old lab,” Hampton said. “Once moved in, we continued the setup and validation of our DNA testing and went on-line in 2008 – the same year we were granted our initial accreditation.”

The St. Charles County Crime Lab is under the umbrella of the Bureau of Criminal Investigations. That department also oversees drug enforcement, forensics, crimes against property, evidence, crimes against persons, crime scene investigations, the Cyber Crime Unit, and the Sex Offender Unit. All of these are under the supervision of the Chief of St. Charles County Police, Colonel David Todd. The St. Charles County Crime Lab is accredited by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors, Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB). It is accredited in the field of Science Testing in drug chemistry, toxicology, biology, trace evidence, firearms/toolmarks and other disciplines within the categories of testing. These include: n Controlled substances n General chemical n Clandestine laboratory analysis n Human performance forensic toxicology – blood alcohol only n Alcohol beverage analysis n DNA – Nuclear n Body fluid identification n Individual characteristic database n Fire debris n Firearm functionality only n Serial number restoration.

The ASCLD/LAB was formed in the fall of 1973 when 47 crime laboratory directors from around the United States met with thenFBI Director Clarence Kelly in Quantico, Virginia. The purpose was to open channels of communication between crime laboratories around the country and the FBI and establish standards of operation for crime laboratories.

In 2008, the St. Charles County Crime Lab started taking part in CODIS, the Combined DNA Index System, which is the FBI’s program of support for criminal justice DNA databases. Scientists in the crime lab develop a DNA profile, or electropheragram, of a suspected perpetrator from the swabs in the DNA reagent kit. Each of these kits costs about $500. This forensic profile is searched against the state database of convicted offender and arrestee profiles, as well as the state’s database of crime scene DNA profiles. If matches are found, the lab goes through the

required confirmation procedures. If confirmed, the match will have linked two or more crimes together, thus enabling law enforcement agencies to share information and develop additional leads. Hampton said scientists and law enforcement can also use CODIS to solve cold cases – crimes that occurred before DNA testing was available.

The St. Charles County Crime Lab conducts nuclear DNA testing. It does not yet do mitochondrial DNA or the more robust YSTR testing. Hampton said in February of this year, the Crime Lab got 15 CODIS hits between multiple agencies and the state’s database. “That is a lot for a month,” he said. “You typically average eight or nine hits in a month for a crime lab this size.”

If the needs for testing go beyond the county’s gas chromatograph mass spectrometers’ (GC/MS) capabilities, samples are passed on to the FBI laboratories in Quantico, Virginia, and the Missouri Highway Patrol for further testing. Much of the work of the crime lab centers on drug chemistry and toxicology. Through its work, Hampton said, the lab helps compile statistics on trends in drug use. In the last 10 years, the number of positive heroin cases has increased by 440 percent in St. Charles County, he said, most likely because of the drug’s broad-based popularity.

“Ten to fifteen years ago, it was marijuana and cocaine and meth,” Hampton said. In 2006, cases of heroin laced with the synthetic, opioid analgesic, Fentanyl, spiked. Hampton said statistics showed that those numbers dropped – theoretically because so many people died from the combination of the drugs that it scared users off. But the numbers began to increase again, Hampton said, beginning in 2014. Even more frightening, said Hampton, is the prevalence of designer drugs. These include bath salts that have made headlines recently for seemingly driving users insane. Hampton said illegal drug makers might “tweek one molecule” and change an already dangerous drug into a lethal substance for the user.

“As a chemist it’s challenging, because we’re seeing compounds that we’ve never seen before,” he said. “We’re on the forefront of identifying some of these new drugs because of our demographics. We have a younger demographic that lends itself to that. People are willing to try new things.” Additionally, since St. Charles County is bisected by Interstate 70 – a major interstate highway that basically crosses the United States – the potential for new drugs entering the area is significant.

Hampton said the capabilities of forensic science continue to advance all the time, and law enforcement agencies still save evidence on the premise that future technologies will solve crimes that are unsolvable today. Still, nothing takes the place of good, old-fashioned science and police work, he said.

“Fingerprinting technology is still advancing; but in spite of technological advances, hard work and a good, scientific approach can accomplish a lot, even with very crude technology.” ¤

May | June

s n g i S c i s s a Cl Sign making is more than a process. It’s an art. At Classic Sign Services, we take great pride in designing and creating high quality signs tailored to meet your individual needs. Let us do the work, and our promise to you will be a high-quality, highimpact sign that helps your business grow. Our design team is here to take your vision and present a professional design that can incorporate your logo, company colors, and message. Classic Signs Service has been in business for over 15 years; and with over 50 years of sign making experience, you know that your sign will be made right. We would like to thank all of the businesses in St. Charles, O’Fallon, St. Peters, and Wentzville that have trusted Classic Sign Services. While St. Charles County continues to grow, we have grown along with our community. We enjoy the work we do for not-forprofit organizations that help raise money for their charities Your sign is your image; and at Classic Sign Services, we take pride in making you look your best. We can help you with all your signage needs from surveys, to sign permit’s, to design, installs, removals, and maintenance and service. 92 StreetScape Magazine

We are a proud recipient of Best of O’Fallon Signs for the past several years. We are also members of the United States Sign Council and we are A+ rated with the BBB. Give us a call at 636.978.4664 or visit our website at classicsignsmo.com for videos and photos of our work. ¤

May | June

BusinessScape

Special

Announcement!

StreetScape is currently accepting nominations for â&#x20AC;&#x153;Beyond the Bestâ&#x20AC;? honorees. Beyond the Best honorees are leaders that are advocates and activists. They are amazing people that make significant, positive changes to our community and our neighborhoods. Each year StreetScape is very excited and extremely proud to recognize those in our Metro Region that share their time, talent and treasure. We are accepting nominations now through August 31. Sponsorship packages are available.

To Nominate, fill in the form at: StreetScapeMag.com/Events or for additional nomination information & for sponsorship opportunities email us at: Traffic@StreetScapeMag.com

94 StreetScape Magazine

May | June

BusinessScape

Confluence with Michael Shonrock

A Glimpse at the Mirror…

Have you ever walked into a room with a big mirror and caught a glimpse of yourself out of the corner of your eye? In that moment, before you realize you are looking at yourself, you have the rare opportunity to see yourself the way everyone else does. It can be an eye-opening experience. Eye-opening experiences provide opportunities to see things differently. At Lindenwood University, as part of our culture of continuous improvement, we are challenging ourselves to look at our university from the perspective of our current and future students, our alumni, our donors, and our neighbors. Nowhere is that more apparent right now than in our website redesign project, which is slated for completion this fall. As we build a dynamic new website, we’re looking at it and at the university itself from the outside. Of course, we know all about Lindenwood; and we want the site to express all the things we love about our school to a wide variety of audiences, especially those who are seeing us for the first time. The website is a prospective student’s first glimpse of the university. We need to make it count. Recently, I met with our senior leadership and our marketing team for our first look at the new site’s design concepts. It was very exciting, because those designs were pretty cool; but looking at them through the eyes of a prospective student was also a lot of fun— what does that young person want from us at that time, and how can we help? For about a half an hour, we all got to be 18-year-olds again! Michael D. Shonrock, Ph.D., is the 22nd president of Lindenwood University, an undying optimist, and a self-described futurist. He welcomes reader comments at StreetScape@Lindenwood.edu. ¤

96 StreetScape Magazine

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