StreetScape Magazine - May | June 2015 by TPH Media

Table of Contents 6. PUBLISHER’S NOTE 12. BUSINESSSCAPE 20. SMARTCARE 22. TYPE 1 DIABETES IS UNDER ATTACK 24. STEM

WINNERS

28. OPO START-UPS

32. LOVE

IT OR LIST IT

38. ASK THE EXPERT: APRIL’S ON MAIN 44. FASHION: CONVERTIBLE STYLE 62. THE

PATT HOLT SINGERS

66. THE WAYWARD CRITIC 70. POETRY OUT LOUD 74. SUMMER FUN

76. SERVICE

DOG ACADEMY

82. HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS: PONY BIRD 88. FOR THE LOVE OF WINE Cover Image Credits Layout Design: Tim Rose Photography: Lance Tilford Wardrobe/Styling: James Harrison Hair/Makeup: Tamara Tungate Model: Abigail Stahlschmidt with West Model & Talent Management

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On Abigail: Cutout Shirt Dress and Jewelry from Moss on Main; Sunglasses and Printed Platform Heels from Bronx Diba Car: 1966 Porsche Speedster from Fast Lane Classic Cars in St. Charles

May | June

Publisher’s Note In the classic musical play, “Bye Bye Birdie,” they sing, “What’s the matter with kids these days?” I say, “Nothing!” Check out the amazing things kids are doing in this issue! We have several articles in the magazine that are great examples of what I’m talking about. One features STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. The other articles to look for highlight Poetry Out Loud and Patt Holt singers. We are extremely proud to spotlight these exceptional kids who shine in our community! The adults aren’t so bad, either… check out the society pages where members of our community are showcased giving to so many of the charitable causes they care about. We are making it easier than ever for our readers to pick up every issue of our magazine. Not only are we now in 500 plus, highly-visible pick-up spots, but StreetScape is also in every Dierbergs and Schnucks in St. Charles County and Chesterfield... Advertisers — we have listened! In addition to keeping very busy with the planning of every issue of StreetScape, our staff is also in full swing planning our two signature events: StreetScape Fashion Week and Beyond the Best. If you’d like information: about Fashion Week, contact Jeanne@StreetScapeMag.com; for Beyond the Best, contact Renaud7207@CenturyTel.net. As you flip through these pages, you will see that I am running for State Representative of District 65 in St. Charles County. Rest assured that StreetScape is not going anywhere. In fact, I want to use my experience from the past nine years of listening to, uniting and showcasing our community as the foundation of my campaign and what I can do for St. Charles County while in office. In addition, as State Representative, with my experience as publisher of StreetScape, I feel I can help to strengthen the support we have and need within District 65. I am driven to take this momentum to Jefferson City, and I believe I can really make a positive difference! As the weather warms and the days grow longer, I am looking forward to seeing you out and about! Sincerely,

Thomas P. Hannegan

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May | June

d n i h Be the es n e c S Tom Hannegan | Publisher & Founder | 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 • Warrenton • 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 13, Issue 3 May | June 2015 TPH Media 223 North Main Street, St. Charles, Missouri 63301 (855) 358.7526 Fax: (866) 231.6159 www.StreetScapeMagazine.com Judy@StreetScapeMag.com Any reproduction of StreetScape Magazine or its contents requires publishers written consent. StreetScape Magazine aims to ensure that information is accurate and correct at all times but cannot accept responsibility for mistakes. StreetScape Magazine reserves the right to refuse an advertisement and assumes no responsibility for submitted materials. Unsolicited material must include a self-addressed stamped envelope.

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People are Talking In the Community “StreetScape was my ‘Go-To’ guide for entertainment when we moved to the St. Charles area. I had no idea of where to dine, shop and meet people. I picked up StreetScape at a local business and quickly came up with a list of establishments to visit. We’ve found some of our favorite places to frequent through the ads and articles in StreetScape.” Tia Brecount, St. Charles Resident

Business Owners As the owner of a small business, Scent From Home finds Streetscape Magazine to be beneficial in bringing public awareness to our product line. We personally develop and produce the Scent From Home line of earth-friendly products and our ads in Streetscape Magazine have helped us compete with our much larger competitors.

“I just wanted to let you know the response from my ad in the Streetscape Magazine is paying off. My customers cut out the ad and save it. Many people bring the ad with them to show me. It’s great to see my investment working. I like the local business stories, too. StreetScape is a great launch pad for small business owners and artists.” Lisa Hagemann, Oma’s Barn Home & Garden

Linda Baker-Crimm, Owner, Scent From Home “Gifts That Make Scents” “I enjoy reading StreetScape Because of its dedication to the community and focus on St. Charles County. I also appreciate that the StreetScape team is committed to being a champion for Wamhoff and the businesses here in the community. I feel that the magazine is done very professionally, so it complements my business immensely. It is well circulated, and I have gotten a number of good reviews from both clients and prospects regarding my participation, and of the magazine in general.” Bob Wamhoff, Wamhoff Financial & Accounting

ABOUT US! May | June

BusinessScape Bringing the best & brightest business ventures to your street

Lindenwood University Partners With the City of Ferguson The Hammond Institute, Faculty, Story by Howard Wall

Howard Wall, Chair of Economics at Lindenwood University

Directly or indirectly, recent events in Ferguson, Mo., have affected almost all of us who live in the St. Louis region. In response to these events and their aftermath, Lindenwood University has undertaken a major initiative to do what it can to help. The initiative has been spearheaded and coordinated by the Hammond Institute for Free Enterprise, which I direct, and was formally announced on February 19 at a news conference held on the Lindenwood campus. The core of the initiative is a partnership between Lindenwood and the City of Ferguson under which Lindenwood students and faculty provide their time and expertise to a variety of programs. Faculty and students from several of Lindenwood’s schools have been participating in several programs that are underway: — The Hammond Institute’s Duree Center for Entrepreneurship, directed by David Rosenwasser, has begun offering a program at Lindenwood’s North County facility called, “Who Owns the Ice House?” 12 StreetScape Magazine

and Students Initiate New Programs

The program is based on an experiential course that exposes and introduces adult residents of Ferguson and the surrounding community to the entrepreneurial mindset. The Pinnacle Entertainment Foundation has generously donated $25,000 to fund scholarships to cover the full costs of the course for 100 students. — During the spring semester, nine Lindenwood students have been serving in a newly- created internship program to assist various departments within the City of Ferguson. Lindenwood will waive tuition for students who participate in the internship program this summer. — Two faculty members from Lindenwood’s School of Communications, Ben Scholle and Peter Carlos, have integrated media content for Ferguson into their courses. One class is creating public service announcements to be used in the city’s public relations efforts, while another is filming short documentaries to contribute to the historical record of Ferguson’s recovery. — Lindenwood’s criminal justice department is creating a program to encourage greater interest among north county residents in law enforcement careers and to increase the diversity of the region’s law enforcement agencies. This program will include on-campus seminars and other activities for high school students. — On Saturday, April 25, there was a

student-and faculty-organized day of activities for kids and parents at the Ferguson Community Center. This community day is just the first of the service activities to address the needs of Ferguson residents of all ages. — The Hammond Institute’s Liberty and Ethics Center, directed by Rachel Douchant, has launched a campaign on Twitter and Facebook to help local businesses recover and instill a positive perception of the area. People are encouraged to go to Ferguson and surrounding cities to dine and shop and then tweet a selfie using the hashtag #FergusonFavorites.

In addition to Lindenwood’s partnership with the City of Ferguson, the university has announced a major new scholarship program for students from across north St. Louis County. Specifically, for the upcoming academic year, Lindenwood will provide up to $925,000 in financial assistance to qualifying students from the school districts of Riverview Gardens, Ferguson/ Florissant, Normandy, Hazelwood, and Jennings. Up to 25 scholarships will be offered in the amount of $5,000 per student per year in direct financial aid for up to five years, with an additional $2,400 per year available in Work and Learn awards. Our hope is that the programs listed above are just the start and that Lindenwood can do even more in the future to help our neighbors in Ferguson and north St. Louis County. ¤

BusinessScape

! s n o i t a l u t a r Cong

Mary Ellen Renaud Public Relations Director of StreetScape “Tribute to Success” 2015 Award Recipient “Tribute to Success” is an annual luncheon, hosted by Connections to Success.

Inspirational women who are successful businesswomen, philanthropists, non-profit leaders, mothers and mentors, who have impacted the lives of others are recognized for this annual award.

Missouri Exporter of the Year Award for 2014 On March 16, 2015, Governor Jay Nixon toured Masterclock, Inc. of St. Charles who was awarded the Missouri Exporter of the Year Award for 2014. The award is given to a small or medium-size manufacturing/service firm that demonstrates outstanding export performance and has utilized the services of the Missouri International Trade & Investment Office to do so. In accepting the award on behalf of the company, Masterclock’s General Manager, John W. Clark, said that he was excited that this family-owned business received the award.“Through the dedicated efforts of everyone at Masterclock, the company has shown continued growth through international as well as domestic performance. We are proud to say our products are made in the USA and specifically in St. Charles, Missouri,” Clark said.

May | June

BusinessScape

Does Your Team Understand the Impact of the First Encounter? Story by Gary Johnson Photo by Michael Schlueter

I want you to consider this critical question when analyzing the market presence and perception of your division, business unit or company. Question: If you were to ask your staff how much money is spent each year to market your business, how do you think they would answer? Do you think they would say $500,000; how about $1,000,000? In either case, they would not even be close. Here is why. Let’s say you just came back from a marketing symposium at the local university. In that symposium, the marketing expert told the audience that if they plan on being in business over the next 10 to 15 years and don’t have a strong web presence, they are in big trouble. The reason for this is because research shows us that 89 percent of people will search the Internet before making a purchasing decision. The expert went on to say that not only must you have a presence, but you must also be within the first two pages of their search or they won’t find you. This is because research from Google shows that 60 percent of all clicks on a search come in the first six spots on page one; and therefore, search engine optimization (SEO) is an absolute must in the development of your site. 14 StreetScape Magazine

The expert then stated that your site should be dynamic and not just static. This means that adding short, useful video content – versus words and pictures – has been shown to not only help SEO, if the video has been loaded on YouTube, but also helps educate your current or prospective client. The expert told the audience that research on Internet searches shows that your site has seven seconds to make an impression on the searcher before they will hit the “back” button. Now, armed with this new information, you came back to your business and made changes to your website as suggested by the marketing consultant; and your site looks incredible! Now, imagine your potential customer is in search of a new vendor or service provider. She searches and finds your site on page one of the Internet search. The words on the site are like poetry. Every question she has is answered with flair and precision. Everything about your site tells her she has found the ideal company. She hurriedly dials the phone in great anticipation of beginning a long and wonderful relationship. Then, everything comes to a screeching halt when the person on your end of the line answers and sounds like Bonnie Bad Day or Nancy Negative.

BusinessScape What happened to all the money you spent to attract this potential new client to your site? It went right down the drain.

team’s salaries are the largest part of your marketing expense, because they have the greatest impact on your growth.

Potential customers will make decisions on which companies they pick to do business with based on how a company’s team makes them feel. Clinical research shows us that, as logical as we think we are, our decision making process is almost always rooted in emotion and feelings. The brain and the release of dopamine when we experience pleasure almost always assure this.

In customer service workshops I have delivered all over the country, I have been asked many times by leaders — what if they could only choose great marketing or great people; which should they choose?

Therefore, it is your staff that will have the greatest impact on the growth of your business — period. No matter how good you are as a leader or business owner, no matter how much you advertise, the greatest, sustainable growth factor is the perception your staff creates in the mind of the potential and current customer. That is why you should never — and let me repeat that… NEVER — take the first encounter for granted. Unfortunately, most businesses do not value the first encounter enough; and that is why their business success and growth are not where they would like, or their customer retention numbers are below expectations.

I always answer this question, “Yes!” You need both great marketing and a great team to develop long- term, sustainable growth. However, if forced to choose between the two, I will always say that it is a great team first that will build your business. We have all seen companies who do a terrific job marketing their product or service. Yet they fall short of consumers’ expectations with bad service, poor follow up, or lack of enthusiasm by the associates

serving the very customers the business has spent thousands of dollars to attract. As the leader and Alpha of your team, I am sure you know this; but does your leadership team? Most importantly, does the group of associates that serves your clients each and every day know it? Do they carry it out in each and every interaction with the client you have worked so hard to attract? Remember, it is up to you, as the ultimate leader, to create the culture that wows clients; and this is what will grow your business faster than anything else! Gary Johnson is president of Wowed Institute and the best-selling author of, “Wowed! Using the Principles of Wow to Create Incredible Customer Service.” ¤

So when considering your marketing costs, remember that your budget consists of all the money spent annually on advertising, the Internet, sponsorships, customer referral development and, most importantly, the cost of each employee. Your

g n i c oman

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Fashion Week

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Hair & Make Up

Stage Decor

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Specialty Drink

May | June

BusinessScape

Michael Shonrock Named President at Lindenwood The Board of Directors at Lindenwood University announced the hiring of Michael D. Shonrock, PhD, as Lindenwood’s 22nd president.

Shonrock, 57, is currently president of Emporia State University (ESU) in Emporia, Kansas. Shonrock will begin his new position at Lindenwood on June 1. He replaces the retiring James D. Evans, PhD, who has been president for nine years. Board Chairman Jim J. Shoemake made the announcement of Shonrock’s hiring to the campus community following a vote of Lindenwood’s Board of Directors. Shoemake said that he and the board search committee invested countless hours in a national search conducted by executive search firm Witt/Kieffer and were extremely impressed by Shonrock’s diverse set of leadership abilities. “Dr. Shonrock’s credentials match up very well with Lindenwood’s needs,” said Shoemake. “He is a friendly, engaging, students-first leader who will be able to handle everything from fundraising to finance. He is a data-informed futurist and is committed to connecting with our alumni and other University constituencies.” Shonrock said that he and his wife, Karen, are excited to make the Lindenwood campus their home. “The Board members with whom Karen and I met have a passion for and a dedication to the University,” said Shonrock. “Lindenwood is an institution with solid academics, a rich history, and a bright future.” For three-and-a-half years, Shonrock has served as president and professor at ESU. Prior to that, he spent over 20 years at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, where he served as senior vice president and associate professor. He also held positions as vice president for enrollment management, student affairs and auxiliary enterprises. Shonrock has a Ph.D. from the University of Kansas, an EdS from Pittsburgh State University, and an MS and a BS from Western Illinois University. He also received an Institute of Educational Management certificate from the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University. During Shonrock’s administration, ESU launched the largest, most comprehensive fundraising campaign in university history (already reaching 75 percent of the goal), sustained six consecutive semesters of enrollment growth, and received an additional annual allocation of $1 million from the Kansas governor and legislators for an honors college. He led the development of an ESU campus master plan, The Adaptive University Strategic Plan, and instituted a new statewide and regional marketing campaign. Under his leadership, communications with alumni were enhanced and new community partnerships were established. He was credited with building and developing a strong leadership team at ESU. The Shonrocks have served as board members to the Arts Council, Chamber of Commerce, First United Methodist, Regional Development, Regional Hospital, and United Way and look forward to their involvement in the St. Charles community. ¤ 16 StreetScape Magazine

May | June

BusinessScape

Does Your Company Make These Top 3 Business Growth Mistakes? Story by Danette Kohrs

Mistake #1: Being an Expert Most business owners started their companies because of their expertise with the product or service they decided to sell. They believed they could make or provide their expertise just as well as their competition – probably better – and their company would grow as a result. What they didn’t know is product, or service, expertise is only one of eight business growth functions that must be mastered before a company can experience sustained business growth and profitability. This ‘expertise’ function, called Fulfillment, has two critical components: Customer Experience and Profitability. While neither component can be ignored, most business owners do not come to the table with much experience in calculating profit margins. The jargon of financial management is daunting. Gross profits? Net profits? Cost of Goods Sold? Fixed Expenses? Variable Expenses? Return on Investment? Taking the time to understand these basic variables can feel foreign, unimportant, and distracting, but a growth-oriented company absolutely must consider these basic variables from day one. If not, even a company that provides superior products, or service, will plateau or worse – struggle and decline – for years, never experiencing automatic and sustainable growth.

Mistake #3: Attracting More Customers But the next business growth mistake is just as devastating. It’s the misconception that growth will come from “getting your name out there”, “branding the company”, and “finding more customers”. This approach is not only misguided, but it can be detrimental to the profits we have already discussed, at best, and business suicide, at worst. Why? Primarily because businesses take a shotgun approach, rarely applying strategy to the tactics they select. Decisions are driven more by what the last ‘marketing’ sales rep recommended rather than an internal focus on goals and maximizing a return on the money invested on these tactics. To teach business leaders how to avoid these growth mistakes and instead develop a growth-oriented company, we developed a proprietary business growth system. If you would like a diagram of our Growth Formula, please email: trinity@trinitymarketing.com with “Growth Formula – SS0515” in the subject line. Or, scan the following QR code to fill out a request form online.

Mistake #2: Working Harder When things get tough, business owners are resilient creatures. They dig in their heels and work harder doing what they have already been doing. The problem is by doing more of the same thing – at a faster and more intense rate – they almost always produce more of the exact same results; slowing (or sometimes quickly) digging themselves into a deeper and deeper hole!

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

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

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

May | June

FutureScape

Challenges Regarding Care and Monitoring of Seniors Abound

Bryan Jefferson’s SmartCare Technology Has Answers Smartcare founders Scott Mosher and Bryan Jefferson

Story by Robin Seaton Jefferson Photos by Michael Schlueter

Bryan Jefferson has a motto for life. He got it from one of the most innovative men in history, Steve Jobs. Jefferson even got a tattoo of Jobs answer to his being fired from Apple. It says, “Things don’t have to change the world to be important.” “The little things we do with kids, parents, customers and friends matter,” Jefferson said. ”Life is like a prize. Make things matter.” Technology was supposed to make things easier. It was supposed to save so much time. But with emails stacking up in your inbox, voice mails and texts flowing in by the minute, and social media sites popping and pinging on your phone all day long, it seems like we’ve created more work for ourselves instead of less. Wouldn’t it be nice to learn that technology actually made your life easier or, better yet, really mattered to your family? Jefferson has found a way to make technology matter. He founded SmartCare Consultants in St. Charles. SmartCare Consultants is a managed technology service for senior care providers that monitors and generates alerts on the activities of seniors in their homes or care communities.

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The company is using the technology of a series of preprogrammed, data-collecting, Zigbee sensors to keep senior adults safe and in their own homes longer. The sensors – strategically placed around the senior’s living space – communicate through a control system to a main computer server. That server provides information that is then analyzed to actually learn the normal behaviors of the individual. When those behaviors change, the caregiver is notified. Caregivers and family members remotely monitor seniors from any device via a web-based, monitoring dashboard. Contact sensors are placed in beds, couches, and toilets, as well as on wall posts and doors. They are triggered by motion, heat, pressure, water and light. All sensors talk wirelessly to the server, collecting data on the person being monitored. It takes roughly two weeks for the system to collect sufficient functional data to ‘learn’ an individual’s daily routines and habits. When individuals deviate from those routines and habits, the system alerts the caregiver.

FutureScape For example, if a senior’s normal behavior is to get out of bed in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, the system learns that behavior. If a senior takes longer than usual to move from one place in the room to another or doesn’t access water, food, or medication at the usual times, the system will know because it has logged those behaviors. It learns the loss of pressure in the bed, the motion to and from the bathroom, and the pressure on the toilet seat. So say, one night, after the person takes his or her expected trip to the bathroom, no motion is detected leaving the bathroom or returning to the bedroom. The system would alert someone that there might have been a fall. Other sensors can detect the possibility that a stove was left on, and the senior left the house; or the garage door is open, and the senior is asleep.

sor, at about a $150 installation fee, can control four to five rooms. After that, the system costs about $10 per day. Mosher said that’s about $3,500 less than the average monthly stay at a nursing facility. In the case of a schizophrenic, Mosher explained, aberrations to normal behavior patterns might alert a family member that their kin has gone off their meds. Or if someone starts making eight trips to the bathroom every night, instead of their normal four, it can trigger concerns about a urinary tract infection, dehydration, or something else out of the ordinary. SmartCare’s first major senior community project is in Blue Springs, Mo., 45 minutes east of Kansas City. The new facility has 145 rooms and 162 beds and is currently

“In essence, the SmartCare technology is similar to that of a learning thermostat, a cloud-based system personalized to each customer,” Jefferson said. “We write rules based on what remote caregivers need to know: Are they in bed; did they eat; did they go to the bathroom? One size does not necessarily fit all.” The system can be used in a senior living facility or a private home. One proces-

Jefferson and Mosher are also considering the long-term impact SmartCare’s data collection capabilities have on predicting the likelihood of seniors and younger people contracting certain conditions and diseases. They are currently partnering with universities and education institutions to use their algorithms to collect and share data on patterns of human behavior that might help solve a wide swath of medical problems. For Jefferson, finding solutions for seniors and others who require constant care is personal. His brother suffers from schizophrenia. His father has battled multiple serious illnesses all of his life. But it was his grandmother’s death that propelled him to take the idea of SmartCare from a dream to reality. Jefferson’s grandmother died alone in her room at a nursing facility as a result of being unable to call for help.

The SmartCare platform does not involve wearables, such as bracelets or necklaces. There is no video monitoring. Rather, the technology is designed to be as least intrusive as possible, while still providing crucial data to remote or onsite caregivers to alert them when a senior gets in trouble. And the longer the sensors are used, the more the program knows about the common behaviors of the person. Currently, most nursing facilities are equipped with antiquated technology or no technology at all, said Scott Mosher, vice president of business development at SmartCare Consultants. “They’re using pull chords and walkie talkies and belts; and it doesn’t have to be that way,” he said.

choose to live and die,” he said. “Current research on aging at home proves that the more control a senior has over making daily activity choices, such as when or what to eat or when to go to bed, the less senile they become, versus going into a home where they make many fewer dayto-day decisions and go downhill much faster.”

under construction. Two more senior care facilities in Kansas City and Dallas are also in the works. O’Reilly Development Company has plans to build a $25 million senior living facility at the northeast corner of Ehlmann Road and Harry S. Truman Boulevard in St. Charles. St. Charles Senior Living is slated to include a 128-bed assistedliving facility, 90 independent living beds, and 48 beds for those who are memory impaired. By 2020, there will be 1.3 billion seniors worldwide, Jefferson said. “And just like baby boomers changed the paradigm for birthing, they will surely have a big influence in changing how aging seniors

After her death, Jefferson drew from his extensive knowledge of ‘smart’ technology and created SmartCare Consultants to provide around-the-clock, transparent care. An ex-marine, Jefferson said he wants to use the technology to help veterans if he can. SmartCare has recently teamed with a local Home Depot, a grocery store and Washington University on Project Forgotten Heroes. This is a pilot program that will outfit more than 700 vastly underfunded Missouri Veterans facilities dedicated to helping veterans cope with PTSD and other medication and interaction issues. To learn more about SmartCare or to see a demonstration, call 855-878-3762 or visit www.smartcareconsultants.com. ¤ May | June

FutureScape

Type 1 Diabetes

Is Under Attack Thomas Burris, Ph.D., Is Leading the Fight To Suppress Autoimmune Cells Story by Robin Seaton Jefferson Photos by Michael Schlueter Dr. Burris prepares to examine a section of the pancreas under the microscope.

A drug may soon be available that would prevent Type I diabetes — a disease that remains the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. A research team at Saint Louis University has already done it in the laboratory. Thomas Burris, Ph.D., and chair of pharmacological and physiological science at SLU, said the drug effectively turns down the immune cells that attack pancreatic beta cells unnaturally in the body. By targeting specific immune cell receptors, Burris’ team was able to stop the development of autoimmunity in lab mice. According to the American Diabetes Association, Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults. Previously known as juvenile diabetes, Type 1 affects about five percent of people with diabetes. In Type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. Type 2 22 StreetScape Magazine

diabetes is the most common form of the disease wherein an individual’s body does not use insulin properly. Type I diabetes is an autoimmune disease. With this disease, the body unnaturally attacks and kills the beta cells in the pancreas that provide insulin and maintain normal levels of glucose in the blood. “Insulin tells the body that glucose is there and that it should be used,” Burris said. “Since there is no insulin there, the body is starving because it doesn’t know to use the sugar; and the increased levels of glucose cause toxic effects in the body. So a long time ago, before we had insulin, people with Type I diabetes looked like they were malnourished because they couldn’t get glucose from what they ate, no matter how much they ate.” Once the beta cells die, the body does not replace them. “So we’re trying to stop the process of the body attacking the beta

FutureScape cells,” Burris said. “We have developed a drug that suppresses the activity of the cells involved in autoimmunity. It turns those immune cells down.” Burris said the drug attacks the immune cells very selectively, unlike general immunosuppressants, which make people susceptible to infection, and chemotherapy, which attacks rapidly growing cells. Immune cells are rapidly growing, but so are hair follicles and gut cells, which cause the hair loss and nausea that are associated with chemotherapy.

Currently, sufferers of Type I diabetes whose beta cells have already died are treated with insulin. But Burris and his team hope that, in the future, they will be able to stop the progression of the disease before the beta cells are all gone. The drug would be limited to patients in the early stages of Type I diabetes.

clinical trials with. With disorders such as multiple sclerosis, you get a much larger window when the autoimmune damage is occurring, and we can stop it earlier. Related drugs are already in clinical trials.” Times have changed since Jonas Salk developed the first successful polio vaccine that reserved him a spot in medical history. Several companies are already scrambling to produce their own versions of this class of drugs that Burris published papers on in 2011.

“I won’t get anything out of it in terms of a financial reward, but certainly I get a lot of satisfaction that we were innovators,” he said. Burris joined SLU two years ago from The Scripps Research Institute in Florida where he was a professor in the department of molecular therapeutics. He

conducts research in chemical biology and nuclear receptors. He has received numerous honors and awards, including fellowships in the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Heart Association. Burris is the author of two books and over 120 manuscripts. In addition, he holds four patents. Burris has also studied a drug that seems to mimic exercise in mice. He hopes the drug might one day be, in effect, an

exercise pill, allowing people – especially those who are disabled or unable to exercise – to enjoy the health benefits of endurance without the exertion. In the study, animals injected with the scientist’s compound lost weight and improved their cholesterol profiles, even on a high-fat diet. ¤

“We can detect early stage diabetes,” he said. “A person only needs five to 10 percent of his or her beta cells in order to function normally. You don’t need all of them for the body to maintain a normal response to glucose. If we caught it early, before the beta cells died, basically the person would not get the disease.” Burris said his team’s research could have further reaching benefits with disorders such as multiple sclerosis, “…where the body has abnormally decided to attack some part of itself.” “This class of drugs may work going forward with other clinical trials. They will probably be developed in other disorders first, because they are easier to do May | June

FutureScape

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math…

STEM Celebration Awards student recipients.

Story by Robin Seaton Jefferson Photo by Michael Schlueter

Future Advances in Our World Could Stem from These STEM Winners

The 2015 STEM honorees from the 17 public and private high schools in St. Charles County are an impressive group. More than 200 attendees at the 2015 STEM Celebration Breakfast at Old Hickory Golf Club in St. Peters sat in awe in March as the resumés of 17 teenagers were recited to them — kids who had already accomplished more in math and science than most of their elders who sat before them.

A national and regional effort to better prepare the workforce of tomorrow, STEM seeks to encourage students to engage in studies, events and careers involving science, technology, engineering and math. And it’s working. Randy Schilling, master of ceremonies at the breakfast, chair of the Partners for Progress (PfP) Education Committee, and president and CEO at BoardPaq, reminded the audience of a certain fictional character who was sent 30 years into the future, the future that is now here in 2015. Who could forget Marty McFly in “Back to the Future Part II,” who arrives in a time of hoverboards, self-lacing shoes and flying cars. “Some of the things that the movie predicted did come true,” Schilling said. “Things like big screen televisions, watching multiple channels at once, a professional baseball team in Miami, 24 StreetScape Magazine

playing video games without hands, and the popularity of plastic surgery. Of course, we are still all waiting for our flying cars.”

As we revisit the story of “Back to the Future,” the morning of October 26, 1985, Marty McFly and Doc Brown travel to the year 2015 to stop Marty’s future kids from destroying their lives. And while producers of the 1989 film did get a lot right – including Skype-like communication, card readers, biometrics, and 3D technology – so far Nike hasn’t manufactured any self-lacing shoes. And, as it turns out, fax machines and phone booths have become almost obsolete. Nevertheless, Schilling asked, “Imagine for a moment if we really could go into the future 30 years from today. What would we see? Personally, I think we would see our 17 STEM honorees had gone on to great things by 2045.” That would be a good bet. One of those 17 honorees is Christopher Smith, who is ranked 20 of 447 students in his senior class at Francis Howell Central High School with a GPA of 4.4. The 17-year-old son of Steve and Kimber Smith of St. Peters, Christopher has been entrusted with the administrative password for Francis Howell’s Information Technology Department. That would be because he helps them resolve IT issues.

FutureScape Christopher has completed Honors Physical Science, Honors Biology, Honors Physics I, Honors Chemistry I and II and AP Physics II. He completed Honors in Principles of Engineering, Honors Digital Electronics, Honors Algebra I, Honors Geometry, Honors Algebra II, Honors Math Analysis, Honors Trigonometry and AP Calculus BC. Christopher will attend Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla in the fall. As a mechanical engineer, he said he hopes to one day forward the research and development of the human exoskeleton for prosthetics, military use and handicaps. Oh,yes – and he’s currently a third-Degree Black Belt.

An estimated $5,000 was raised at the event to help the Francis Howell Barnwell Middle School MindTwisters robotics team compete in the FLL (First LEGO League) World Championship in late April. Keynote speaker John Clark, a millennial business leader and the general manager of Masterclock, a global time solutions company, quoted Harvard University’s Innovation Lab expert, Tony Wagner. “He said, ‘What matters today is not how much our students know, but what they can do with what they know.’”

And though Christopher is anything but typical, his story was typical of every honoree of STEM. They’re smart. They’re dedicated. And they’re engaged.

Clark said success stories of the future will come from people who apply new ideas to the technology that is already available. “What STEM is pushing is a way of thinking that science

“He’s freaky smart,” said mom Kimber Smith. The stay-at-home mom said she and Christopher’s dad, a software engineer, also taught him good time management skills and how to use his imagination. Christopher was never allowed more than one hour screen time (that’s any screen) on school days and two hours on weekends.

is a process. Engineering is a process. They touch every part of our lives. Society is asking for solutions. How do we apply the technology we have and make it work.”

He said because his parents invested in him at an early age, he takes on a lot of responsibility himself now. “My mom and dad really hold me to a lower standard than I do myself right now,” he said. His advice to other young people is to pay attention to what they like. “You need to find something you truly love to do, and make a plan. I think when people don’t know what to do it’s sad, because you don’t know what you really love. If you say you can’t think of something you do that makes you happy, I don’t believe you. Keep looking.” The STEM Celebration Breakfast was started in 2010 by PfP, a civic group made up of civic and community leaders who act as catalysts for change and economic growth in St. Charles County.

Many of the biggest and most profitable companies in history didn’t invent their products, he said. “Apple didn’t invent the iPod, they just found a better way to use it. Dutch East India Trading Company – a $7 trillion company – didn’t invent the ship, they just found a better way to use it.” For the second year, PfP donated a First LEGO Robotics Kit to each school district and private school on behalf of their respective STEM honorees. Schilling said it is the goal of PfP to have one robotics kit and one robotics team in each elementary, middle, and high school in St. Charles County and encouraged people to donate to the cause. “Maybe 30 years from now, one of today’s STEM honorees will have found a cure for cancer,” Schilling said. “Maybe they will help broker world peace. Maybe they will end world hunger. Maybe they will walk on Mars. Or maybe they will even invent (continued on next page) May | June

Photo courtesy of Cindy Wiltse of Cindy’s Photo Impressions.

(continued from page 25) a DeLorean that really can travel through time. Who knows? Look around this room this morning. Don’t be surprised if any of these exceptional students really does something world-changing and really does make a name for themselves in the future. When that happens, you and I will be able to say, ‘I remember them. I was there when they won the STEM 2015 Award.’” For more information about STEM initiatives in St. Charles County, call the Partners for Progress of Greater St. Charles at 636-441-6880. ¤

2015 S T EM Honorees

• Kate Adams - Lutheran High School • Grace Arias - Christian High School

• Anthony Buchholz - Duchesne High School • Aiza Bustos - Francis Howell North High School • Brian Engel - St. Dominic High School • Nicholas Fields - Fort Zumwalt North High School • Saivaroon Gajagowni - Fort Zumwalt West High School • Sara Lively - St. Charles High School • Scott Lyon - Orchard Farm High School • Mackenzie Meyers - Wentzville Holt High School • Aishwarya Mogulothu - Fort Zumwalt South High School • Alexandria “Alex” Ostrander - Fort Zumwalt East High School • Andrew Powell - Wentzville Timberland High School • Gary Rudolph - Francis Howell High School • Christopher C. Smith - Francis Howell Central High School • Lawrence Thompson - St. Charles West High School • Exander Turnbull - Lewis and Clark Career Center

26 StreetScape Magazine

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May | June

FutureScape

Burgeoning

in St. Charles

The founding members of Collegecrap.org Photo courtesy of Collegecrap.org Rick Duree, founder of XLR8

Story by Robin Seaton Jefferson Photos by Michael Schlueter

OPO Startups is Providing Them a Great Place to Call Home

It’s no secret that for decades St. Charles County has worked to draw new business and industry inside its borders. But what people may not know is that several high-tech companies have been incubating in various locales in St. Charles in wait for a new home. That home is OPO Startups, and it opened this month. Supporters call it a place where entrepreneurs can connect, work and collaborate. Dubbed a co-working center for digital startups, OPO was named for its location in the old post office building at 119 S. Main St. in St. Charles. The Old Post Office (OPO) is a 10,000-square-foot facility that will provide regional startups with affordable workspace and access to mentors, potential investors, programming, educational resources, and a community of entrepreneurs. Taking the lead from entrepreneurial centers like St. Louis’ T-Rex and Lab 1500, as well as Chicago’s 1871, the OPO’s purpose will be to develop programs, establish partnerships and run projects that provide entrepreneurs with the tools they need to build successful, sustainable, digital businesses. It’s also a breeding ground for companies like XLR8, a St. Charles-based social platform for entrepreneurs that now resides in the OPO. Founder Rick Duree said XLR8 is a “Match.com for entrepreneurs.” Until now, Duree has operated XLR8 from his home in O’Fallon. 28 StreetScape Magazine

“We are a social platform for entrepreneurs. We bring people all over the region onto the same community platform to find partners, mentors, university programs and other services,” he said. “We are an online accelerator. We want to bring entrepreneurs together to solve their problems, have company visibility, and formal connections. The OPO is going to have an element of bringing investors to startup companies to help them get started. The benefit is there will be more visibility to angel investors who have an interest in tech startup companies.” Duree said OPO will revolutionize the way creative people and potential entrepreneurs come together. “The new age of offices are co-working spaces. The difference between traditional coworking spaces and spaces at the OPO is that OPO will include content and programming geared toward entrepreneurs and startups and how they can overcome their unique obstacles, such as how to get our first 5,000 users or using social media as the next coding tool.” OPO and XLR8 have that in common. “The OPO brings entrepreneurs together to create a physical density of tech-based startups. XLR8 does that by creating an online density.” Duree said creatives need to share, and sharing generates new

FutureScape ideas. “We need to be in a physical location that brings the same high energy of startups and people who are doing the same thing, so we can bounce ideas off of each other,” he said. “We are all there for the same reason. That’s the important thing about OPO – is that we have a facility we can come to and build together.” Dubbed as an online marketplace for college students, College Crap is another OPO tenant that stands to benefit from shared resources. Co-owner and CEO Alyssa Rispoli said the company’s mission is to save students money while helping them earn some extra cash. “Our commitment is to provide a platform for students that allows them to search their campus for things they need, in the safest way possible. The best part about all of it is that it is completely free.” It’s a job board, an auto sales inventory, and a ticket outlet. Collegecrap.org offers the categories of textbooks, events, housing, traveling, jobs and deals. Students can peruse through sections for wanted, lost and found, and free or for sale items. From computers to class notes to musical instruments to tickets, there is very little students can’t find on the site. Rispoli said Collegecrap.org is available at every college and university in the United States, including such notable institutions as Pennsylvania (Penn) State, UCLA and Louisiana State University. “It’s taking off everywhere,” she said. Users simply type in their state and school, and a digital catalog is at their fingertips of anything and everything they might need or want to peddle themselves. She should know. A recent college graduate, Rispoli came up with the idea while she was still attending Lindenwood University and ended up recruiting her co-owners right there on campus. In fact, until recently, the business was operated from the computer labs at the school. She met up with Julian Barnes, now president, after she saw a logo he designed. Soon, CTO Gilad Brunfman was designing a website.

panies and business people will only help us to grow,” she said. “There is nothing like this in this area. There will be so many resources for us, including networking events, legal services and software services. It’s a great resource for any entrepreneur. Networking is so important, because what you surround yourself with is what you become.” Other companies making their home at OPO include 3mbassy, Povaddo, D3Designs and Red8 Interactive. They were housed at 124 S. Main St. in St. Charles, a building owned by Randy Schilling, president and CEO of BoardPaq, another dimension of an IT cluster that has been evolving on the street. Schilling has been working behind the scenes to attract digital startups with businesses and organizations like Charter, the St. Charles County Economic Development Center, ITEN, Lindenwood University, Microsoft BizSpark, Missouri Technology Corporation, Partners for Progress and the City of St. Charles. Schilling purchased the Old Post Office in 2013. It had housed the St. Charles Post Office until 1964. With OPO, the founder of Quilogy and BoardPaq adds another high tech dimension to his Silicon Valley of sorts on the most historically-preserved street in St. Charles County. Schilling has invested around $5 million in real estate on or just off Main Street in St. Charles. The first floor of the OPO building will be used for co-working and events and will house conference and training rooms. The St. Charles County Economic Development Center and Partners for Progress will host “Startup Wednesdays” beginning this month at 6:30 p.m. At these events, individuals from the startups housed in the OPO will share their stories with the group. (continued on next page)

Nishan Shrestha was next, coming on board as the database manager. Rispoli graduated in December 2014 with a business marketing degree. But College Crap was already well on its way to launching. It was fully functioning at the end of August. Rispoli is currently in negotiations with big name companies like Uber, PlayStation, Redbox and Xbox about advertising. She hopes they will help catapult College Crap to the Internet status enjoyed by digital companies like Ebay and Craigslist. Rispoli and her thirty-plus marketing interns are hard at work marketing College Crap with visits to campuses, handing out t-shirts and flyers. But, she said, moving into OPO will only make her company stronger. “We think it’s going to be great. The connection to other comMay | June

FutureScape (continued from page 29) Future presenters will also include attorneys, accountants, venture capitalists, software experts, mentors, support people and others who can share ideas and strategies that encourage entrepreneurship. All of the events will be catered. All ten private offices in the OPO are accounted for, though about half of the co-working spaces are still available on the ground floor.

Commercial & Residential

Over 19 Years of Installation Experience Family Owned and Operated

Schilling said the newly-renovated building “has been restored to its original pre-1964 grandeur,” with 18-foot-high ceilings and wood flooring lined in marble. According to Schilling, the OPO is expected to generate between $5 and $10 million in revenue, some $100,000 in annual startup grants, and house at least 30-50 startups in its first year. “What’s important for St. Charles County is the number of jobs and the amount of revenue it will generate,” he said. About 5,000 square feet of office space will also be available at 124 S. Main St., across the street from the OPO, where a few of the OPO’s new tenants have been incubating up until now. “We are really trying to create a tech district down there,” Schilling said. “We are making 124 S. Main St. available for additional space. It’s not just about the post office.” For more information or to become a partner with OPO, contact Randy Schilling at RandyS@BoardPaq.com, 636-219-9930, 112 S. Main St., St. Charles, MO 63301, or visit www.OPOStartupZaw2s.org. ¤

30 StreetScape Magazine

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May | June

e v t I L t s L or

House photo courtesy of T.R. Hughes Homes

The Housing Market in St. Charles Story by Robin Seaton Jefferson Photos by Michael Schlueter

Happy days are here again. Well, just about, say real estate agents and decorators alike, who are claiming that the housing market in St. Charles County is finally regaining some ground. The collapse of the housing bubble during the first decade of the 21st century created a nationwide recession, impacting not only home valuations, but the nation’s mortgage markets, home builders, real estate agencies, home supply retail outlets, Wall Street hedge funds, and foreign banks. Indirectly, it nearly collapsed everything else. “I would say it’s a stabilization more than an upswing,” said Leah Petras, 2015 president of the St. Charles County Association of Realtors and a realtor for Coldwell Banker Gundaker. “The volume of homes is up considerably for 2014. We sold more inventory than the previous year. There is definitely more consumer confidence.” Petras said real estate was a hard business in recent history. “I’m having to tell less people, ‘You know you really just need to stay here.’ There was a period of two or three years where you couldn’t walk away. You couldn’t even break-even. I would have to tell people that they needed to stay in their homes.” Petras recalled the fear that hit realtors and bankers during the latter part of the last decade. “You don’t want to see people pricing themselves out of real estate. People were buying proper32 StreetScape Magazine

ties, then a year later turning around making $30,000 to $40,000. You can’t get that kind of return on anything. You know it’s going to crash.” But it didn’t last long. Petras said everyone is moving more cautiously now. “People were upside down after the market crash in 2008 and 2009. We just don’t want to put ourselves in that position again.” Petras said she’s cautiously optimistic in 2015. “I’m seeing less and less of the short sales of, say, four years ago. Our foreclosures are nowhere near what they were. We’re not in a position of making a lot of money, but we’re not losing. We’re seeing multiple offers on properties now. I think we’re done going downhill.” Consumers are choosing wisely in both the seller’s and the buyer’s markets, she said. There is the population of those choosing to’ redecorate for themselves to get more out of the homes they sell. “I don’t think people are afraid to do improvements like they were three years ago,” Petras said. “They’re more willing to make a game plan, knowing the market is returning; and they will recover their costs. I think more people are redoing their flooring and putting in hard surface counters. Those things are

County is Looking Up definitely being done. They know they can’t compete in the market without doing those things.” Interior designer and decorator, Heidi Sowatsky, owner of Decorating Den Interiors and head of the SWAT Design Team, agrees. Sowatsky specializes in residential and small commercial interiors. “There are large neighborhoods in St. Charles County who are in a love it or list it stage,” she said. And for the first time in a long time, Sowatsky said they are able to make choices.

Realtor Leah Petras with a home buyer.

The Decorating Den design team.

“For people who bought their homes prior to 2006, this the first time they’re able to ask themselves, ‘Do I love the neighborhood? Do I like my neighbors? Should I fix it up, or is it time to move on?’ With their equity stabilizing and the lower interest rates, they are able to ask themselves, ‘Should I get a home equity loan and do remodeling or sell my home?’ For a long time, people didn’t have many options.’’ (continued on page 35) May | June

34 StreetScape Magazine

“Before” photo of great room.

Where You Get Your Mortgage Matters By Tara Young Residential Loan Originator Commerce Bank

“After” the redecorate by the Decorating Den.

(continued from page 33) She said real estate sales and redecorating projects alike are on the rise. “Both phenomena are going on right now. There is a lot of pent-up demand, because people didn’t have options for so long.” Sellers were not getting a good price on their homes, and it just wasn’t worth it to remodel, because they couldn’t recoup their costs. Nevertheless, Sowatsky said she is seeing more on the remodeling and redecorating side because of the aging stock of houses in St. Charles County. “We had one of the longest, strongest, new housing booms in the Midwest over the last three decades. The last five years haven’t been so great, but for 25 years it was really strong. So think of all the homes that were built during that time. They’re all good candidates for remodeling and redecorating.” Sowatsky said hardwood floors are in high demand now, as are kitchen and bath remodels, because those things bring the highest dollar return when a home sells. For more information on the SWAT Design Team, visit www.SwatDesignTeam.com or call 636-244-1623. ¤

For homebuyers who are looking for a new mortgage or to refinance, the challenge isn’t finding a mortgage lender, but sorting through all of the banks, online lenders and mortgage brokers. It is important to work with a company that can address a homeowner’s specific needs and desires. Consider the following factors when choosing a lender for a home purchase or refinance: 1. Remember that it’s not just about the rate. Choose a lender with a solid performance history -- a lender with reputable lending practices. 2. Ask questions in order to make a smart lender decision. Will the bank take time to find the right loan option for me? Who prepares the loan documents? Who regulates the lender? Will the lender sell either the loan or servicing of the loan, and if so, to whom? 3. Check with a title company and ask if the lender has a reputation for increasing rates or fees at closing, or if they are aware of any unethical or fraudulent behavior on the part of the lender in order to close a loan. Taking the time to research and feel comfortable with lender options is worth the effort.

May | June

Make New Friends, But Keep the Old…

Costume winners at a Silver & Gold Luncheon.

Dancing to the live music at a Silver & Gold Luncheon.

One is Silver and the Other’s Gold

Story by Robin Seaton Jefferson Photos by Erica Easton-Baue Funeral Homes

Gloria Sexton, 74, had been a widow for nine years when she found out about the Silver & Gold Senior Club of St. Charles County. She said it took all the courage she could muster to go to that meeting. Now there isn’t any place she’d rather be. Sponsored by Baue Funeral Homes, Crematory and Memorial Gardens, Silver & Gold Senior Club is a program for those “60 or better” in the community who are looking for opportunities to network, learn and just have fun. With more than 3,800 members, the club hosts fun, themed luncheons, day trips and tours, educational talks, trips to local sports events, and an annual senior health fair. Before joining Silver & Gold, Sexton – who lives in St. Peters – said her social life was pretty empty. “I had lost the love of my life. I never went anywhere by myself,” Sexton said. “I don’t know how I got brave enough, but I did. I didn’t know 36 StreetScape Magazine

a person at all. I couldn’t hardly breath, but everyone was so nice. I loved it. They make everyone feel at home.” That’s because Baue Events Planner Kacie Derby makes sure no one is left alone. Derby said she makes a seating chart that pairs first-timers together. “We also send out a welcome letter to anyone who joins and come up to people individually and welcome them.” Comment cards are also passed out to inquire about the individual’s experience and ask for any recommendations. Most events average more than 200 people, Derby said, from the Sikeston and Charleston Azalea Festival Coach Trip to the Mexican Fiesta Luncheon to the various educational seminars. The group is even traveling to London, England, this year. Although there are costs for individual events, there is no charge to be a member.

Stan and Judy Mangogna, both 74, said the club keeps them feeling young. The high school sweethearts from Hazelwood say they go to all the events and even square dance, occasionally, as part of the entertainment. “I like it because we’re around people our own age,” Stan said. “I see them being active and that’s important. It’s important to stay positive and active even if you have physical problems.” Stan said getting old isn’t in his vocabulary. He learned to play volleyball after retiring from TWA and eventually won a gold medal in the sport in the Senior Olympics. “We don’t use getting old. We use maturing. Old makes me think of not doing anything, and that’s not us.” Judy agreed. “We’re like fine wine. My philosophy on age is to pick a number you like and stick with it.”

Sexton, who is also a member of the Red Hat Society, said the theme parties are her favorite activities. “Everyone always has the neatest outfits, especially at the Mardi Gras luncheon and the Roaring Twenties luncheon,” she said. Founded in 1996, Silver & Gold was born out of Baue’s Grief Support Services Program. The free service was founded in 1981 and is one of the most comprehensive programs in the Midwest. Derby said individuals who had gone through the grief program were many times left with the feeling of not knowing where to go from there. Because of Silver & Gold, they can now go from learning how to deal with loss to learning how to make new friends again. The Annual Senior Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday, August 11, at the St. Charles Convention Center in St. Charles. Over 1,000 visitors are expected to peruse the goods and services of some 120 vendors at the fair. The St. Louis Strutters will be performing, and numerous free health screenings will be offered. The fair is free to seniors. To view the calendar of events and/or make a reservation, visit www.baue. com, or call Kacie Derby at 636-946-4042 to join the club and be added to the mailing list for future events. ¤

May | June

Ask the Expert APRIL’S ON MAIN is a unique woman’s getaway. We are a complete home decor and gift store, from the one-of-a-kind centerpiece to the perfect necklace made just for your needs. We carry silk florals, artwork, furniture, candles, jewelry, lotion, table top accessories, Poo-Pouri and much more. We have in-house designers to help you with all of your decor needs. April’s On Main St. Charles, can be found on Facebook, Yelp! and Twitter.

Glorious spring is full speed ahead with the sizzling summer knocking at its door. Our garden flowers and trees are rapidly budding and blooming as thoughts of our extended winter fade into the background. Time to step outside, take in the vitamin D and revitalize ourselves and the landscape. By now you should have concluded most of the cleanup, pruning, deadwooding and mulching. So let the decorating begin with gathering all the outdoor garden statues, water fountains, patio furniture, swings and lanterns. Allow your inner “garden fairy” the freedom to be whimsical and beautiful at the same time. Let’s make the sun smile at our handiwork. Garden statuary is a great way to enhance your yard. It can be your traditional angel or ceramic animal, but don’t be afraid to be bold. By adding in a punch of rustic metal you will not only add color to your garden but a lot of interest. Placement is key for being viewed at first sight but tucking in little surprises around the garden is enchanting to the more curious guests. Setting up table and chairs for outdoor dining is essential but don’t neglect seating or “swinging” areas in other parts of the landscape. Stringing lights on the pergolas, hanging lanterns filled with outdoor Luminara candles,

38 StreetScape Magazine

or setting newly potted annuals on your table will add a bit of ambience. Oversized containers filled with ferns, grasses, ivies and any of your favorite flowers and plants provide added dimension. Embrace the soothing sounds of spring and summer by adding wind

chimes and birdfeeders. Recycle wine bottles to create a unique sculpture with an iron form made just for that purpose. Colored stone, glass, or painted rocks are also fun to sprinkle around your garden, as well as your patio or pool space. Although we all love to be outdoors at this time, we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t spend all of our time outside. Make sure you plan your herb gardens with meal prep in mind as cooking will be more exciting with the aroma of fresh basil, cilantro and rosemary. Small pots of herbs can be grown indoors as well as in your garden. Many varieties of live potted plants thrive well indoors and if preferred, faux plants and flowers are perfect for any location. Bringing a bit of the outdoors inside, opening the windows and taking in the fresh smell of just cut grass while listening to the birds singing is a fabulous way to enjoy the season. Â¤

May | June

, s r e h c r e P , s r o t a e n t i t c e s u a q i F t , E r e p Hats o r P and National Award winning designer and Milliner, Dianne Isbell.

Dianne Isbell Can Provide You With All of Them Story by Robin Seaton Jefferson Photos by Michael Schlueter Dianne Isbell has spent her life getting things done. And she does it with style and grace. The New York Fashion Week’s award-winning hat designer and optimist said she believes “the world is run by those who show up.” “I believe the motto, ‘If it’s meant to be, it’s up to me,’” Isbell said. A weekly etiquette columnist for the Belleville News Democrat, Isbell founded her current business, HATS by DI-Anne, to compliment her first business and “make ladies feel beautiful, happy and glamorous.” Isbell founded her first company, Etiquette Plus, over 27 years ago. For over thirteen years, she had personal experience as Director of Protocol for a Major Air 40 StreetScape Magazine

Force Command consisting of over 55,000 personnel (military and civilian) worldwide. This gave her the incentive to further utilize her expertise by teaching proper manners and protocol to others. Even as a child, Dianne was into fashion and being a lady. “As a little farm girl, I loved to play dress up in my mother›s clothes, hats and high-heel shoes,” Isbell said. Isbell attended a one-room schoolhouse for first through third grades. “It was at that one-room, one-teacher school that I also learned to help others and feel good about it.” She said her parents instilled in her that, along with being polite, you should “be the best you can be at whatever you choose to do in life.”

“Be kind to others, and be respectful. Like everyone whatever vocation they had or what color they were. Believe in God. Do not be wasteful. And understand that if you chose not to work, you couldn’t expect others to take care of you.” Isbell said she had always wanted to be an English teacher. And while that particular version of her dream didn’t pan out, that little girl would grow up to teach another subject, which is nonetheless critical. Isbell teaches etiquette and manners classes at colleges and universities, corporations, organizations and to individuals of all classes and backgrounds. She also teaches tea classes to young girls and includes a history of tea, the various tea utensils, and all the details of when, how and why afternoon tea originated.

“What fun for these little girls to dress up like I did when I was little.” Isbell realized later why she was often bored as a child in the summer on the farm. A Myers-Briggs personality test she took while attending Leadership St. Louis determined she is an ESTJ (Extroverted Sensing Thinking Judging). “It told me I was an Extrovert, and I need to be with people to get my energy.” The Portrait of an ESTJ describes Isbell as someone who is a take-charge person with a clear vision and an “eye constantly scanning their personal environment to make sure that everything is running smoothly and systematically. They honor traditions and laws and have a clear set of standards and beliefs.” Isbell said she is highly competitive, perhaps because she had a twin brother and an older sister. A self-taught typist, Isbell skipped Typing II because she was

already at 90 wpm after Typing I. She held her high school record in shorthand at 140 wpm.

graduated summa cum laude from Park College (now Park University) with a degree in social psychology, tackling one class at a time at night. Afterward, she immediately began a master’s program at Lindenwood College (now University) in St. Charles. She took her classes on weekends, while working full time and being a single parent. Within 2 1/2 years, Isbell obtained a master’s degree in management, graduating with a 5.0 average. As a young girl, her mother and grandmother taught Isbell how to embroider, hand-quilt and crochet. “They taught me to know that sometimes you have to rip it out if it›s not good enough and that it’s okay to do that, because that is how you learn.” She said knowing how to sew proved invaluable when she began designing hats, because she already knew a lot about various types of fabrics, making patterns, and hand-sewing trims and beading. She said she also learned to “be proud of myself that I made my own clothes.” Isbell creates custom-designed hats and fascinators for every occasion at HATS by DI-Anne, including Kentucky Derby hats;

She passed the Civil Service secretarial exam at Scott AFB at 16 years of age during the summer of her junior year in high school.

hats for black tie events; and wedding, church, themed and special occasion hats. She makes fascinators and perchers in all of those categories, as well. Isbell is a five-time hat winner at the Forest Park Forever Hat Luncheon. Her custom hats are worn all over the U.S. and the world.

“I was hired for three days until we all realized you can’t work for the federal government until you are 17,” she said. “But rarely did anyone my age ever pass the test that soon.” But then again, Isbell showed up.

“I have been creating unique, one-of-a-kind hats and fascinators for over 10 years. My creative vision has been enlisted by some of Hollywood’s elite, like Lady Gaga.” Isbell created a hat for the launch of Lady Gaga’s perfume, FAME, in 2012.

Isbell worked for the government at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., for 37 1/2 years. During that time, she was promoted five times in the secretarial field and became the youngest, highest grade secretary there. She later was selected for the director of protocol position. She was then selected for a position in strategic planning for a Department of Defense unit on the base. Her final position was as a special assistant for that unit. She received two more promotions before retiring.

Isbell teaches classes including: Dining Etiquette for Adults and Children, Social and Everyday Etiquette Skills, Business Etiquette, Corporate Etiquette, Technology/Social Networking Etiquette, International Protocol and Etiquette, Entertaining Etiquette, and Interviewing Techniques.

Isbell obtained both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. She

For more information on HATS by DI-Anne or Etiquette Plus, you can email Dianne at dianne.isbell@gmail.com, visit www.hatsbydianne.com, or call (618) 277-7220. ¤ May | June

LET’S FACE IT 2015 SKIN-SATIONAL SUMMER PREP Story by Tamara Tungate Time to do some skin and hair maintenance for the big debut at the pool this year. Here are 10 tips to put your best skin forward.

1. SUNSCREEN

Apply this faithfully as you would take medication. Don’t skimp! You need enough to fill your favorite shot glass and then be prepared to reapply every two hours or sooner if you’re sweating or swimming. This applies to the kiddos also! For the best protection look for a broad spectrum, water resistant and SPF 30 to 50. Tip: Sunscreen loses its potency within a year so buy a fresh product!

2. EXFOLIATION

Buff away dead, hibernating skin with a pair of exfoliating gloves. Be gentle around the face but aggressive around the joints and feet. Your skin will feel as smooth as a baby’s butt. Tip: Baking soda mixed with a mild cleanser is an effective and affordable exfoliator.

3. HYDRATION

The exfoliation also removes moisture so now that fresh skin is shining through, moisturize and hydrate your skin. An oil-based moisturizer feels yummy on newly-buffed skin. Tip: The ultimate moisturizer is water. Drink up.

4. THE DARK ZONES

You know those darker rough patches around your ankles, elbows and knees? A lotion with alpha hydroxy mixed in can help smooth out rough skin. Follow up with a thick cream and then watch those areas become soft again.

5. FOOTSIES

Use pre-waxed strips. Unless you’re experienced, at this I wouldn’t get too tricky with products. Stand up when you wax the outer bikini area and upper thighs—it’ll keep skin taut. For the inner thighs, sit down on a hard surface and extend one leg outward. Tip: Strip in direction of growth. Apply an aloe vera gel/lotion to sooth any irritation.

7. APPLY SELF-TANNER THE RIGHT WAY

All of the above should be done before you ever apply a self-tanner or it defeats the purpose. Dry skin drinks up the tanner and can leave patchiness, so make sure to apply a moisturizer focusing on elbows, knees and ankles. A spray or mousse formula helps give an even application. Work from the bottom on up. For a more subtle glow, try a moisturizer with a built-in self-tanner.

The most fearful thing for me is the emergence of my feet into the public view again. If indulging in a pedicure is not your style, then try these steps at home:

Tip: Schedule a block of time for this to work. Lotion should be fully absorbed before applying tanner and then allow private time for tanner to set.

8. WEAR BRONZER

~ Soak your feet in an Epsom salt bath ~ Slough off dead skin with a Pedi prep tool ~ Clean up cuticles and file toenails straight across ~ Slather with moisturizing lotion.

Tip: Slather on rich lotion and put socks on overnight. Amazing softness!

6. GIVE YOURSELF A BIKINI WAX

You don’t have to be double-jointed to pull off a respectable wax at home, but you should know some essential rules. 42 StreetScape Magazine

It’s very easy to overdo on bronzer. Subtlety is key. Bronzer does not blend well on naked skin, so I suggest a light dusting of translucent powder first before application. Swirl gently on areas the sun would normally tan. Most importantly, do not go crazy with the shimmer! Especially on skin with pores or fine lines. Tip: I favor a darker face powder to bronze, then dust over with a shimmery, sunburned blush color. Looks like a tan every time!

9. COVER UP THAT HAIR

You’ve spent big bucks on a beautiful color, then it fades in one week! It’s a common mistake with colored hair in the summer. Over-exposure to the sun can brass out your recent hair color, especially if it’s been highlighted. Take care to wear hats or cover hair up with a scarf as often as possible. Getting mineral or chlorine deposits while swimming is another common mistake. Pools and hard water with harsh minerals will cast a green hue over the hair, and the blonder the hair, the more noticeable the green. Tip: At least one shot of cold water at the end of your shower makes your hair shinier because it seals the cuticle and a sealed cuticle holds color better.

10. WEAR THE RIGHT STUFF

Stock your pool tote with protective gear. Baseball caps are cute but do not protect like a broad-brim hat that protects the ears, which are often forgotten and a common place for skin cancer. To protect eyes and reduce sun glare, pick up a pair of polarized sunglasses that block 99%-100% of both UVA and UVB rays. Extra layers, like a long-sleeve shirt or cover-up, help shield skin from the sun’s rays. Tip: Smartphone? Download the iTanSmart app. It babysits you and your family regarding UV intensity, when to reapply lotion, skin type and warnings.

May | June

ONVERTIBLE

STYLE

Rev up your summer with a dash of classy light touches for a top-down style

Photography & Direction: Lance Tilford Styling & Wardrobe: James Harrison Hair & Makeup: Tamara Tungate Layout & Design: Grace Pettit Model: Abigail Stahlschmidt with West Model & Talent Management Vintage cars provided by Fast Lane Classic Cars in St. Charles

Straw hat and shredded white denim from Moss on Main Beaded shirt dress and gold chain link handbag from Joys on Main

Sleeveless tank, beaded shorts and ankle boots from Moss on Main

Boucle mini skirt and jewelry from Moss on Main Chiffon backed tee from Joys on Main Boots and bag from Bronx Diba

Printed collared dress from Moss on Main Velvet headband from Joys on Main Bag from Bronx Diba

Print scarf, draped jumper and wooden platforms from Moss on Main Gold necklace from Joys on Main Sunglasses from Bronx Diba

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52 StreetScape Magazine

Stage

May | June

Rock It To Fit Time to get out and get moving! Story by Maria Mazzola Photo by Michael Schlueter The cold winter weather has passed, and the winter blahs have left many of us feeling a little sluggish, overweight, and less fit. Let’s face it. We are more active when the weather is nice. And after daylight savings time begins, people start to get outside and enjoy the longer days. It’s the perfect opportunity to get back into the fitness groove. People are anxious to get into shorts, tanks and swimming suits, but aren’t quite comfortable actually doing it yet.

You don’t have to do jumping jacks in the front yard or go jogging to get exercise outdoors. There are many other ways to get out and burn some calories. Mowing the lawn, yard work, and even gardening are exercise. Starting a vegetable garden is a fantastic way to get on a healthy track. Aside from the nutritional benefits of organic vegetables, a garden saves you money and keeps you busy. It’s quite time-consuming tending a vegetable garden. Of course, you can also walk your dog, jog, ride bikes, hike, fly kites, rollerblade and, in the warmer weather, swim. Many parks now have fitness stations throughout the park. These are designated areas with monkey bars and other equipment, typically with instructions on how to use them. You may also see group fitness instructors holding classes at the park that you could join. Joining a team, such as volleyball or softball, is a lot of fun, as well. Many community centers offer outdoor team sports that don’t usually cost too much.

And then there are the children… Thirty years ago, you could drive through an average, middle class neighborhood and see children playing 54 StreetScape Magazine

kickball or baseball, riding bikes, roller skating, or running around playing tag or hide and seek. Today… not so much. There are a couple different reasons for this. First, the world isn’t as safe as it used to be and, second, technology has taken our kids hostage. Video games have become the new norm for adolescent entertainment. The result of more sedentary activities is the contribution to childhood obesity. With that being said, encourage your kids to go outside and play – with supervision, of course. Join them in a game of dodge ball or sign them up for summer sports. Inexpensive toys are great resources for getting kids to move… jump ropes, wiffle ball, badminton or even tetherball. Seriously, when was the last time you saw a group of kids waiting their turn to play tetherball?

Other advantages to spring and summer weather Grilling outdoors is a great way to cook lighter and have less fat. I make foil packs of veggies, and put them on the grill with meat. You can put fish in foil packs with seasoning and lemon juice and throw them on the grill. Fruits and vegetable are the best in the spring and summer months. Salads are popular in the

OldMillstream_wi14.pdf

warmer months. I like to add strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and red onion to romaine lettuce, with a light vinaigrette.

12/10/14

11:49 AM

RESTAURANT & Bar

You are not into the warm weather and heat? Instead of utilizing the warmer temps for outdoor activities, you could join a gym. Maybe you have had a gym membership for a while, but haven’t been using it. Whether you are new to a gym or just getting back to it, it can be intimidating. You get there with every intention of working hard and pumping some iron, but you have no idea what to do besides your typical chest press or bicep curl.

There are a couple of things you can do to help yourself out. We live in a world of “apps”; and nowadays, there are hundreds of fitness apps that have workout plans, many of which show you the correct way to do the exercises. A lot of the gyms have instructions on the equipment. Or you can ask a personal trainer to help you out. You may think personal trainers working in these gyms have no interest in teaching you how to work out because, well, it defeats their purpose, right? Absolutely not!

OLD

CMY

I thrive on educating my clients on the proper way to exercise. From the proper form to teaching them new exercises to the importance of working opposing muscles, I want my clients to know what to do in the gym. I want them to work out outside of their personal training sessions. I haven’t lost any clients because I taught them too much and now they have no need for me anymore. I am constantly researching topics on exercise and participating in continuing education in order to keep my certification up to par. But more importantly, the knowledge I gain I can pass on to my clients. Of course, each trainer is different; and trainers have different views. Some trainers are taught one way, while others may have been taught a completely different way. It doesn’t necessarily mean one way is right and another is wrong.

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So, whether you decide to get moving outdoors or go to a gym, the important thing is that you actually get started and do something! The bottom line for you is you’re getting healthier and more fit. You’ll feel more energetic, have those endorphins pumping to improve your mood, and, happily, will soon be looking better in your summer clothes! ¤

May | June

Dynamic Duo

Committed to Each Other and The Salvation Army Majors Ron and Laura Key are “Doing the Most Good” in St. Louis Story by Robin Seaton Jefferson Photo by Michael Schlueter Like most married couples, the Keys are committed to each other and their family. And like most married couples, they’ve had their ups and downs. But what’s different about the Keys is they have spent nearly all of their married life as ministers of the Gospel, as administrators, teachers, social workers, counselors, youth leaders and musicians. In fact, it was a requirement for both of them. Major Ron Key and Major Laura Key say they are officers in God’s army — the Salvation Army — an organization that is active in virtually every corner of the world. Their particular base is on North Fourth Street in St. Charles. In that role, they are dedicated and committed not only to each other, but to their work. The Salvation Army requires commissioned officers to devote full time to Army work. But that’s not all. An officer who marries must marry another Salvation Army officer or leave his or her officer status. The Keys have been married for 35 years. Ron was 19 and Laura was just 17 when the two married. Both grew up in the Salvation Army church and met at a summer camp in Kansas City, Mo., in 1972. 56 StreetScape Magazine

Five generations of Ron’s family have been in the Salvation Army, many as officers. After more than three decades of service, the Keys still believe in their church and their mission. “William Booth started the Salvation Army in London,” Ron said. “It was his desire to start a church for low income people. Back then, when you couldn’t tithe, you sat in the back of the church. In those days, the money you tithed determined where you sat. He believed these people need Jesus as much as the people in front.” An international movement started in 1865, the Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its mission is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination, Laura said. In the mid-19th century, founder William Booth walked the streets of London, preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the poor, the homeless, the hungry and the destitute. His converts were thieves, prostitutes, gamblers and drunkards. His first sermon was held under a tent in a Quaker graveyard.

Booth was reading a printer’s proof of the 1878 annual report when he noticed the statement, “The Christian Mission is a volunteer army.” Crossing out the words volunteer and army, he penned in “Salvation Army”; and it has been so ever since. In the Salvation Army, men and women like Ron and Laura dedicate their lives, skills and service completely to God and the church. Lay members who subscribe to the doctrines of the Salvation Army are called soldiers. They, and the officers of the church, are also known as Salvationists. Ron and Laura worked together at the Army’s summer camp in Kansas City. Although they had met when both were still in elementary school, the two didn’t get to know each other until a bus trip put them together in a seat. He was 17, and she was 15. “That poor boy had nobody to sit with, so I did it,” Laura quipped. “Even now, we sometimes go back to those camps and remember certain times.” Laura said the two had a first date to remember. It was on a trip with a group of senior adults to an amphitheatre in Kansas City called the Starlight Theatre. “We were supposed to watch out for them,” Laura said. “They kept wanting to go to the bathroom, so that was very romantic. We saw more of the bathroom than the show.” The date was, in fact, representative of what their lives together in the church would be like. Laura said their values and shared Christian beliefs contributed to that evening and the thousands of others they would spend together serving people.

“People always teased us that we were going to be officers,” Laura said. “Ron always felt called, but I didn’t.” That all changed when the couple came home from an evangelism training camp in Colorado. “We got home, and the house had been robbed. Until then, I was never satisfied. I wanted a bigger house, a better car. Getting robbed was a big eye opener.” Laura said she started to feel the calling at the camp, but a teacher told her she was just on a spiritual high and that going home would bring her down. But just the opposite happened. “Then we walked into our house. I said, ‘Okay. I’m ready.’” Like all candidates for officership, the Keys underwent two intensive years in the seminary. After training, they were commissioned as lieutenants, ordained as ministers, and assigned to active duty. From then on, the Salvation Army provided them with their living quarters, furnishings and official transportation. They will qualify for retirement when they are eligible to receive full Social Security benefits. The Salvation Army also provided them with many 16-hour days. The Keys are responsible for “doing the most good” — the Army’s motto — 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. This means they fundraise. They run youth programs and Bible studies and oversee the soup kitchen. They give sermons, conduct

office work, give out free groceries they’ve collected, and offer safe shelter for those in need. They marry and bury their parishioners, as well as baptize their babies. They even sweep, if need be. The Keys have two sons, a daughter and five grandchildren. Laura said their best years have been since they put God first in their marriage. “We didn’t always do that. We always came back to it, though. We always went to church. We always made it a priority. We were always involved. But we weren’t always committed. Because of that, I think, we had some difficulties along the way. When we were totally committed to God’s plan for our lives, that’s when our lives turned around for us.” The Salvation Army has been “Doing The Most Good” in the St. Louis region since 1881. Last year the Salvation Army raised just over $6 million with its 2014 Tree of Lights campaign in the Midland Division, of which St. Charles and St. Louis are a part. The Tree of Lights campaign raises approximately 50 percent of the Army’s operating budget. Donations stay local, and 86 cents of every donated dollar goes directly into its programs. According to the Salvation Army’s website, last year the Midland Division provided 35,719 meals to hungry men, women and children, 93,248 nights of shelter to the communities’ homeless, 35,533 food pantry boxes to families in need, and 54,096 Christmas toys and gifts in the St. Louis Metropolitan area.¤

“That’s how we are in the Salvation Army. It didn’t faze us. That’s what we’ve grown up to be, to help people.” So, two years later, the two were walking down the aisle of the Salvation Army church in Kansas City. During the next few years, Ron and Laura would work various jobs. He would be employed in the construction and restaurant trades and she as a waitress and in a grocery store. Both performed lay positions in the Salvation Army church as Sunday school teachers, as well as other duties. May | June

58 StreetScape Magazine

May | June

HAPPY! Be HAPPY!

…

T hink

p oo c S

e n s i s p Is Contagious! p a H Kelley’s Deliciou

Happiness is fundamentally important to the human condition. You may recall that “…Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…” were deemed to be unalienable rights by the U.S. Declaration of Independence. But what is happiness? Is it dreams that come true, achieving goals, falling in love, accomplishing a task, receiving the best toy, having the biggest house, or the perfect career? How might this so-called unalienable right – happiness – be attained? Happiness is a personal pursuit. We are all hungry to create and have personal happiness. It is letting go of expectations and having the freedom to dream, create and choose. As a child, we could pursue personal happiness by creating a necklace from cereal, a house out of a box, and a pie out of mud. We might think that, as adults, it isn’t quite that easy. Well, here are a few simple suggestions for bringing happiness into your day:

• Smile, it’s contagious. • Say hello to a stranger passing by. • Ask an elderly neighbor if you can help with a task. • Adopt a dog or cat from your local animal shelter. • Exude enthusiasm. • Hold a door open for someone else to go first. • Write an actual letter to a friend. • Call your parents and/or grandparents. • Say, “I love you,” to someone special. • Write a nice comment on someone’s social page. • Give a compliment to a friend or perfect stranger. • Bring a special treat to share at work.

Tune in Monday Through to KFAV Friday 99.9FM Deliciou for more s Scoop www.ke with Kelley Lam lleylamm m .com.

• Keep your negative thoughts to yourself. • Make time for someone special. • Be creative and begin something new. Happiness can aid in the healing process and encourage us to live in a healthier way. Small actions create a happier environment and a happier you, which, in turn, will impact your everyday life. Be open to new experiences. Keep dreaming. Make positive connections and nurture your relationships. Be compassionate and respectful. Manage stress, and, most importantly, choose to be happy. ¤ 60 StreetScape Magazine

May | June

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience for a Local Singing Group The Patt Holt Singers Perform for President Obama at the White House Story by Robin Seaton Jefferson Photos courtesy of Official White House photos by Chuck Kennedy “A man came in and told us not to speak, to let him do the initiating. That was okay, because none of us could speak anyway.” In over four decades of accompanying her singers to just about every corner of the globe — from singing for American troops all over the world, to three visits to the White House — Patt Holt has never been speechless. It took America’s first African-American president, whom she didn’t even vote for, to take her breath away. President Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States, had requested The Patt Holt Singers give a private performance for him and first lady Michelle Obama. “When the kids asked if we were going to get to meet the president, I said I was sure we were not, because we never did in the past,” Holt said. “So when the handler asked us to give a private concert, I couldn’t believe it. They told us he had heard how good we were and wanted a private concert. I had tears in my eyes. I was so excited for everyone.” The Patt Holt Singers of St. Charles were invited to perform at the White House on December 11 for a Christmas party. It was the fourth invitation to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue for The Patt 62 StreetScape Magazine

Holt Singers since 1995. They’ve actually sung for a total of five U.S. presidents and all but one Missouri governor since 1972. Although they’ve seen presidents walk by or attend as part of an audience, this is the first time The Patt Holt Singers have ever been summoned for a personal concert or met one face-to-face. The invitation was to entertain guests, including government officials, heads of state, and personal friends of the first family in the East Garden Room as they walked by on their way into the party. For nearly two hours, the troupe sang their hearts out, Holt said, as ladies glided by in Versace and Christian Dior, along with all the other pageantry that is part of a formal party in the nation’s capital. Over the years, the Patt Holt Singers have received invitations, awards and accolades from around the world. The group has been honored with the Lifetime Cultural Achievement Award from the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce, the Distinguished International Association of Nobel Achievement, The VFW Americanism Award, and the Outstanding Citizenship Award from the American Legion, among many others. Holt said the same man who told the group not to speak told

them they had just 45 seconds to sing for the president and the first lady. Holt chose “Let There Be Peace on Earth.” But when the 45 seconds ended, the president made his own request. “He said, ‘Where’s the rest of it?’” Holt shared. “He said he’s going to buy the album.” Anna Lauth, 14, of St. Charles, was no less surprised than Holt. “When I met the president, I didn’t stand up. I was stunned. I did not know what to do. I was crying. Then I forgot my name.” Apparently, when the president repeated her name, he said Hannah, instead of Anna. “I didn’t correct him.” Andrew Schappe, 13, of St. Charles, said just being at the most famous address in America was a dream come true. “My favorite thing about it was walking toward the White House, just looking at it. I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, am I really going into this place?’ I was mesmerized. So much has happened here, and so many of the world’s leaders have been here. Meeting the president was second.” Not so for Sierra Bice. The 14-year-old from St. Charles could barely contain herself. “When Patt told us we were going to get to meet the president, we were crying and really excited. Then he finally came in, and we were just mesmerized. I mean, you see him so many times on TV; but he was really tall, and I was just looking up at him.”

we should rise up and strike,” Holt said. The group was given handmade decorated cookies from the White House chef and was even greeted by the first family’s dog, Sunny, a Portuguese water dog. While in the nation’s capital, members of the group toured the Smithsonian Institution, Ford’s Theatre, and the Holocaust Memorial Museum. Holt, a republican, said all politics were laid to rest for her on that day, when a

president took the time to shake hands and meet each of her singers individually. “The president and the first lady had been up receiving gifts for three hours before they saw us. I was so impressed with them for being so gracious. All I could think to say to him was, ‘You’re a very nice man,’ which is what I told him. It is something these kids will remember their whole lives, that the most powerful man on the planet took the time to shake every one of their hands.” ¤

“For me, the most exciting part was that they were so personable,” said Jacquelyn Danter, 13, of St. Charles. “He asked for each of our names and looked us in the eyes. Michelle gave a couple of people hugs, and he made a joke. He was natural. I was expecting how stiff he is on television.” Holt said everyone in the group was required to submit personal information, such as social security numbers, birth dates, and photo identification before the trip. Security was in force once they arrived at the White House, particularly during the private concert in the Diplomatic Reception Room. “There were two secret service guys and a couple of Marines, you know, just in case May | June

StreetScape Book Review Review by Main Street Books In a world where the shifting magnetic poles have rendered technology obsolete, the Sunken City that was once Paris is employing the guillotine once again, executing all who oppose the new revolution. But some prisoners disappear from their cells at night—and a mysterious figure called the Red Rook is being heralded as a savior of the innocent. Meanwhile, across the sea in the Commonwealth, Sophia Bellamy is entering an arranged marriage to save her family from financial ruin. But the Red Rook has been tracked to Sophia’s doorstep, and she discovers that her fiancé is not at all who he seems… which is fair, because neither is she. Cameron’s flair for suspense and her quiet yet powerful romantic tension keep the pages turning, and Sophia is refreshingly non-cookie cutter as a heroine. The novel also avoids the over-played love triangle, and delivers a satisfyingly tense ending. This dystopian retelling of “The Scarlet Pimpernel” has great crossover value, and will be enjoyed by teens and adults alike.

Title: ROOK Author: S haron Cameron Publisher: Scholastic - $17.99

64 StreetScape Magazine

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

May | June

stretch of open water without expecting a giant Great White shark to emerge. That includes the bathtub. But I learned that if I ever wanted to take command of a conversation, I’d need to tell them my old war stories, which was hard for an 11-year-old. STAR WARS 1977 I saw Star Wars twelve times that summer, just a couple months before turning 13. Bought the action figures, the models, even the soundtrack. I took to play-acting Luke and Leia with a neighborhood girl and remember trying to describe the “Force,” which had become a kind of new religion among all the boys who couldn’t stop talking about lightsabers and Wookies. “It’s a mystical force that comes from within and gives you physical and mental powers to follow the right path.” I said this with all the reverence a boy owes to great mystical things of which he is in awe. She thought for about two seconds and said “You mean, like, feelings?”

Story by Lance Tilford

THE WAYWARD CRITIC

Do Summer Movies Still Matter? Way back in the day, summer movie releases were the biggest thrill rides outside of Six Flags. There were maybe a small handful of “event” movies the whole year, and they mattered because we hadn’t yet had our brains sucked up by video games, 500-channel cable, and the internet. I was coming of age when Spielberg and Lucas were reinventing summer. Here are a few gems from my golden age of the summer movies (1975 – 1985), and the impact they had; does the barrage of so many blockbusters today have the same impact on impressionable audiences as these masterpieces of heady entertainment? 66 StreetScape Magazine

JAWS 1975 This was the first movie I remember experiencing as an event movie. Awesomeness ensued with blood in the water, a sheriff getting smacked, Richard Dreyfus “aaarghing” in a facetious pirate voice and a gnarly-toothed, cold-eyed monster filling the screen with dread. But when the great Richard Shaw, as grizzled old fisherman Quint, describes his time in the water after the sinking of the USS Indianapolis, I felt I was truly watching an actor elevate dialogue into true poetry. On our family’s annual summer trip to Florida, the movie’s impact was stunning; very few people were going into the water. Everyone was talking sharks. Every shadow and ripple of the ocean was a black-eyed threat. To this day I never, ever look at a placid

What? She was reducing the all-awesome Jedi FORCE to feelings? This insulted every last atom of my budding manhood. Yet, the evidence was there…Obi-Wan Kenobi had told Luke to trust his…ugh… feelings. “NO” was my brilliant reply. She gave me that eviscerating look that somehow 14-year-old girls already know how to give a boy, and it almost stalled out my puberty. I kissed her that summer, anyway. LESSON: The Force was with me, as long as I didn’t acknowledge it was just feelings. ALIEN 1979 Even at 15, I fully realized that Ridley Scott’s reinvention of the modern horror film was nothing new, but Scott’s mastery of creating a cinematic world and tense atmosphere really threw you into the story. Most boys

remember this gem for two reasons: the alien bursting from John Hurt’s stomach and hissing at everyone before escaping to evolve into the cunning titular monster, and a young Sigourney Weaver stripped down to panties and tank running through the ship to the safety of the escape pod. That may have been a typically sexist plot device, but we saw a very new kind of heroine in Weaver’s Ripley; she was smart, and resourceful. BLADE RUNNER 1982 Ridley Scott turned out another summer triumph with this fully immersive future cityscape as we watched Harrison Ford, as Decker, hunt down the android replicants, who only wanted to blend in and live out their limited days in the bustling density of Asia-engulfed LA. Ford’s deadpan performance (and tepid narration) did nothing to diminish the rich production, but it was Rutger Hauer’s brilliant turn as the replicant leader, Roy Batty, that left the real impression. A masterful invention turned greatly desperate toward the end, Hauer brought amazing pathos to what might otherwise have been a very stock villain. The final scene, when he spares Decker, folds in on himself in the rain, and utters the poignant soliloquy about all the amazing things he’s seen turning into memories “like tears in the rain” was a profound ideal for an 18-year-old just starting to form memorable experiences of his own. It was the first time in a film I could truly feel for the supposed villain, and it changed my perspective forever.

VACATION 1983 I’d been driving long enough to start taking my own little road trips across the country, and Vacation came along at just the right time to punch plenty of holes in my newfound freedoms, especially after years of family trips to Disney World. It was no coincidence I lived in the Griswold’s home town of Chicago. Vacation proudly put tourism right up there with outright sexism, racism, and ageism. It was the last dying breath of Hollywood’s take-no-prisoners approach to comedy, just before the new era of political correctness and “family values.” I reveled in it then, and revel in it now. COCOON 1985 Cocoon found a way to put the sensibility of the senior mind into a twenty-something’s head, and I never saw my grandparents (or anyone’s grandparents) in the same way again. An amazing cast of stellar acting vets (Wilford Brimley and Maureen Stapleton, especially) really helped me see that life’s aging transitions were not to be feared but embraced. This was truly a summer movie only for its alien effects, but that was the least interesting part of the story for me; in fact, the only thing that would make Cocoon an even better film would be to trim off the final scene when we actually see the alien ship. What summer films most entertained and inspired you? ¤

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www.StreetScapeMagazine.com May | June

Working with your Story by Dr. Christy Jenkins, BCND Over the years, I have been asked many questions by current and prospective clients. Here are a few I hope you consider before trusting someone with your health.

5 Questions To Ask Your Naturopath What are your qualifications? Absolutely anyone can call himself or herself a naturopath in this country. As a profession, we are still waiting for licensure in many states. My degree took me several years to complete, finishing with a Ph.D. in functional medicine. Furthermore, it gives me sufficient credentials to be a board-certified member of the American Naturopathic Boards of America. As a full-time member, I am required to complete further professional education every year. Finally, these credentials mean that my services are trained and monitored by qualified board. Should I see a naturopath instead of a medical doctor? Most certainly not! It is in your best interest to have an ongoing relationship with a primary care doctor with whom you feel comfortable. Your primary care can order tests under Medicare/ Medicaid, refer you to a specialist if necessary for skilled diagnostic testing, and the pharmaceutical medicine they prescribe can be vital to your good health. Ideally, your naturopath should be happy to work with your primary care doctor and support the work they are doing. They should certainly be taking account of any pathology test you have done. Your naturopath should have the time to delve into your health history and look at all the factors that might be contributing to your symptoms, as well as provide detailed dietary and lifestyle advice. Will I need to change my diet and lifestyle? In all likelihood, some modification to what you eat and the way you live may be required. To ignore the role of diet and lifestyle in your current health would be silly when we know that what we eat and how we live play a significant part in virtually every aspect of our health. If you are not open to making some changes, then there is a limit to how I can help you. In that case, at best I can provide some symptomatic relief (i.e. a Band-Aid-solution) but the real power of collaborating with a naturopath is identifying and correcting the underlying causes of factors that keep triggering your symptoms. It doesn’t have to require a complete overhaul. Your naturopath should be able to work with you and make suggestions that will work in a practical day-to-day sense in the context of your life. 68 StreetScape Magazine

Do I need to be sick to see a naturopath? Not necessarily…although, in reality, many people come to see me after they have been diagnosed with a condition. In these cases, they are looking for help to correct an underlying problem, reduce their dependency on medication or to avoid further complications. Others might have been given the all clear and yet they don’t feel “themselves.” What is the most important thing to remember? Be cautious if a naturopath starts making promises that seem too good to be true, “miracle cures” and the like. To my knowledge, there are no magic bullets and sometimes the “fixes” aren’t always quick. In my practice, I teach detoxification and how to balance the immune system. I work closely with a medical doctor who specializes in hormonal health and functional medicine. Together we work hard to uncover the root cause of dis-ease. Lastly, I try not to make recommendations that are impractical or unworkable. I don’t believe in “one size fits all,” so the solutions have to fit you. The last thing you need is the added pressure of trying to live up to a long list of unrealistic expectations from your naturopath… that’s just setting you up for failure. I will always encourage you in making lifestyle changes that will benefit your overall health. For more information, please contact Dr Christy Jenkins at 636-724-5605 or visit www.nathealthsol.com. Naturo Health Solutions is located at 1600 Heritage Landing, Suite 207 in St. Charles, Mo. 63303. We look forward to helping you! ¤

May | June

Poetry

Is Alive and Well

in Missouri

Poetry Out Loud Contest Winner, Maya Bryant of Wentzville, Travels to Washington, D.C. Story by Robin Seaton Jefferson Photo by Michael Schlueter A 17-year-old senior from Holt High School in Wentzville journeyed to the nation’s capital in April after triumphing over 5,000 contestants from across the state in the Missouri State Poetry Out Loud Contest in Jefferson City in March. Maya Bryant qualified for state after taking first place in the Poetry Out Loud Regional Final Recitation Contest at the Foundry Art Center in St. Charles in February. Bryant captivated the audience and the judges during the regional event with her recitation of “Self-Help” by Michael Ryan and “The Ocean” by Nathanial Hawthorne, competing against students from Northwest High School and Washington High School. Bryant said she chooses poems she can relate to. She said her favorite at the competition was “Self-Help” by St. Louis-born poet and memoirist Michael Ryan because she had a family member who was abused. The audience sat in anticipation as Bryant recited the words. “What kind of delusion are you under? The life he hid just knocked you flat. You see the lightning but not the thunder. What God hath joined let no man put asunder. Did God know you’d marry a rat? What kind of delusion are you under?” She said in an interview, “It’s about an abusive husband, and the friend is trying to warn her before it’s too late. I have known people who have been abused in my personal life. I feel like I can feel their pain because it happened to a family member, even though it hasn’t happened to me.” 70 StreetScape Magazine

Maya and First Lady Mrs. Nixon Photo courtesy of Lloyd Grotjan

Bryant said she got involved with Poetry Out Loud because she has always written poetry and often chooses poems to recite that elicit emotions from her personally. “I wanted to try something new, to try to recite it. I like what feelings you can put toward it. You can pick poems you can relate to and put your own spin on it.” Bryant also sings opera. Poetry Out Loud is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. They have also partnered with state arts agencies – in this case, the Missouri Arts Council – to encourage America’s youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and recitation. In addition, Poetry Out Loud helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence and learn about their literary heritage. Poetry Out Loud was launched in high schools nationwide in the spring of 2006 after successful pilot programs in Washington, D.C. and Chicago. It starts with a competition in the classroom and moves on to a school-wide competition, then to a regional and/or state competition, and ultimately to the national finals in Washington, D.C. Congress established the National Endowment for the Arts in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. The Poetry Foundation is an independent literary organization committed to bringing poetry before the masses

Bryant won at the regional level. The St. Charles County Region includes the following schools, although all of them did not participate this year: Holt High School, Wentzville; Washington High School, Washington; Northwest High School, Cedar Hill; Lutheran High School, St. Peters; Christian Home Educators’ Cooperative, Ferguson; Jefferson High School, Festus (Jefferson County); Parkway West High School, Ballwin; H erculaneum High School, Herculaneum; Vienna High School, Vienna; Warrenton High School, Warrenton; Rolla High School, Rolla; and Windsor High School, Imperial.

Poetry Out Loud winners will receive approximately $100,000 from the organization. For her trouble, St. Charles County Region Champion Bryant won a $100 gift card from The Foundry Arts Center and the Missouri Arts Council for poetry books and a trip to the state competition that was held in March.

ing. Poetry has given me an outlet to say things I can’t say for fear of judgment or belittlement. It helps me explore my own thoughts in a deeper way.

Ashley Fleeman of Washington High School won second place in the St. Charles County Region. She said poetry has helped her express herself. “It’s how I get my emotions out there.”

teacher, Gisele Carducci, told her that poetry was one of the ways she learned to speak English. “It was the cadence of the English language. So she started participating in Poetry Out Loud,” Suggs said. “She was the brainchild of participating in the contest because she lived it.”

Cassandra Walker Suggs, an English as a Second Language teacher at Washington High School, said the school’s first ESL

Allan Newsham, Poetry Out Loud Master of Ceremony and “Beat Generation” lecturer, said Missouri has been involved in the competition every year since the program’s inception. During the past decade, Poetry Out Loud has reached nearly 2.5 million students at more than 7,300 schools covering every state and the District of Columbia. Last year, the St. Charles County Region sent its winner on to become the state champion, Newsham said. Thomas Fields was the Missouri State Champion of the 2014 Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest in March 2014 at the Harry S. Truman Building in Jefferson City. A senior at St. Louis University High School, Fields was also the first runner-up in the state finals in 2013. He rose from among 53 state champions to be one of only nine ultimate finalists on the national level. The state champions had emerged from more than 365,000 students attending more than 2,300 high schools nationwide. More than 5,000 students in Missouri participated last year.

As her school’s only blind person, Fleeman said she is often misunderstood. “I’m misunderstood as to who I am. With poetry, I focus more on the words because I can’t see the expressions people are giv-

For more information about Poetry Out Loud, visit www.missouriartscouncil.org or www.PoetryOutLoud.org. ¤

Poetry does have its financial benefits, too. As Missouri champion, Fields received an all-expense-paid trip with his parents or chaperones to the national finals. The Poetry Out Loud national champion receives a $20,000 college scholarship, while second and third place finalists win $10,000 and $5,000 respectively. Overall, schools from across the country and their May | June

a n o y t Par Patio!

The Millstream Inn is a laid back bar located on the south end of Main Street in St. Charles, Missouri. They are known for many things; delicious food, our extensive beer selection, outdoor patio, and basement bar, (which they lovingly refer to as the dungeon.) Their bar offers a pub type feel, and a beer list consisting of 120 delicious brews and a wide selection of seasonal beers. For those who are not a fan of beer, they have a vast bar selection, and are capable of conjuring up any cocktail. Just outside the bar doors are three exquisite patios, which double as the beer garden. You can enjoy a nice lunch, dinner, or just drinks, comfortably tucked away from Main Street. The menu is not your typical bar food, they offer sandwiches, salads, appetizers, homemade soups, entrees, and delicious desserts. Upstairs there is indoor dining and slightly smaller bar. When you visit, they only ask you abide by the owners three rules: Don’t lie, Don’t cheat, and Don’t steal! Other than that join them for some fun! ¤

72 StreetScape Magazine

www.facebook.com/TheOldMillstreamInn

May | June

SUP (Stand Up Paddleboards) 101 instruction.

Whether Slip Sliding or Paddleboarding...

Story by Robin Seaton Jefferson Photos by Michael Schlueter

Ah… the lazy, hazy days of summer; but not this summer First up, a new and unique event in O’Fallon will turn Mexico Road into a giant water slide for the last weekend in July. Remember the Slip ‘n Slide of your youth? Well, think of that, then add about another 984 feet. Slide the City is fast becoming a sensation. Marsha Seymour, manager of Tourism and Festivals for the city of O’Fallon, said the company did two events last year, but has 100 planned for 2015, including O’Fallon. Seymour said she has already received some 1,700 requests for information on the city’s website. “The interest has skyrocketed,” she said. Slide the City is planned for July 25 and 26. The event will take place on Mexico Road adjacent to Fort Zumwalt West High School (between Turtle Creek Drive and Painted Pony Drive). In addition to the 1,000-foot water slide, the city will host food trucks, music and entertainment. “We would encourage folks to check out our website for updates, including public parking and shuttle information,” Seymour said. “It’s going to be like a street party. It really is.” 74 StreetScape Magazine

There’s Lots of Fun to be had in O’Fallon and the Waterways of St. Louis this Summer Slide the City is setting up in cities all over the U.S. this summer. The company’s website says, “Usain Bolt will be green with envy once he sees how fast you can cover that much ground. Oh, and in case you were wondering, our slide was made right here in the good ole US of A and travels with us throughout the country. We like to think of ourselves as carney workers, without the mullets and the missing teeth.” Participants are required to bring floaties and are encouraged to bring water buckets and water guns to squirt, spray and splash. Sliders also must be 46 inches tall and over 5 years old. If they’re under 18, they must be accompanied by a legal guardian. The slide is padded and described on the company’s site as having “more cushion than your grandpa’s orthopedic sneakers.” Wristbands will be available for purchase with designated levels of use, including a one-slide wristband, a three-slide wristband, or a VIP slider wristband that allows early admission and unlimited slides. Depending on admission level, each pass comes with freebies, which may include tubes, water guns, mouth guards, t-shirts and hats.

For more information, visit the O’Fallon Parks and Recreation web page for more details as they become available at www.ofallon.mo.us/parks&rec/events-calendar or www.slidethecity.com. Save 10% on the cost by entering promo code “ofallon15.”

surfing, the board does resemble a surfboard. It’s just wider, higher, longer and much more stable, making the difficulty level much lower. Paddleboarders use paddles similar to canoe paddles, but about three feet longer. They’re a hollow shaft made of aluminum or carbon and a blade bent forward at a 15-degree angle.

If sliding isn’t your thing, how about stand-up paddleboarding? It’s not a canoe. It’s not a kayak. And although it kind of looks like one, it’s not a surfboard, either. SUP St. Louis is the river city’s premier resource for stand-up paddleboarding, says professional SUP racer, Shane Perrin.

Perrin said the sport is for just about anyone who wants to try. He has had students from two to 77 years old. It’s not a difficult sport to master, Perrin said, but it does work just about every muscle in the body.

The world-class paddleboarder said SUP is rapidly growing in popularity. He said Missouri’s thousands of miles of lakes and rivers make paddling the ideal recreational sport. Suitable for almost anyone, paddleboarding also affords great exercise benefits, such as weight loss, improved balance and flexibility, and increased strength and muscle tone, especially in the core group, Perrin said. Perrin is certified by the WSUPA (World Stand Up Paddle Association), WPA (World Paddle Association), and FOC (Fitness Onboard Certification) as an instructor. He’s also an Elite Pro Ultra distance racer. In 2013, Perrin was named #7 in the world for SUP athletes by Supconnect. It all started with Perrin standing up in his canoe in 2007 with a 90-pound hammer. “I built a monster paddle and stood up in my canoe, and that’s what I used,” he said. “The next year, I used billboards and a wood strip. It was terrible. By 2011, a local sailing shop carried some real boards and sponsored me, so I started doing races.”

Perrin recommends training for first-timers. “Too often people try sports for the first time and have a negative experience because they did not receive the proper instruction or had the wrong equipment,” he said. “Stand up paddleboarding is no exception. Before you hit the water, you will be given proper paddling instruction and will be matched up with the right board for your stature and paddling style.” Perrin doesn’t stop teaching once his students hit the water. Participants’ first time on a board will be on calm, still waters, he said. SUP rates are $40 per person for a one hour and 45-minute group class; $50 for a one-hour private lesson. Custom packages and rates are available for six or more people. Yoga Classes are $30 for a 40-minute session, with 30 minutes of free paddle time after. Fitness Classes are offered on Saturdays for $25. For more information, visit www.supstlouis.com. ¤

That year, a 35-mile race would be the first of many for Perrin. He went on to celebrate the tenth anniversary of his kidney transplant with the MR340, a 340-mile race down the Missouri River from Kansas City, Mo. to St. Louis, Mo. After that, national sponsorships began rolling in. The 179mile La Ruta Maya Belize race in the heat of the tropics would follow, as would the Texas Water Safari – the world’s toughest canoe race, over 260 miles in grueling conditions. Perrin is the first racer to SUP in numerous events, some of which will soon be adding a SUP class as a result. Perrin is currently training for a 750-mile, ocean expedition race from Washington to Alaska, which will involve 20-hour paddling days for two to three weeks. By 2012, Perrin had taken out a loan and purchased five boards. He has doubled his company’s size every year since. This year, he hopes to have his clients paddling 35 boards down the five-acre Simpson Lake in Valley Park, Mo. Though the sport is just the opposite of May | June

They’re Called Man’s Best Friend

TOUCH volunteers with their dogs.

Story by Robin Seaton Jefferson Photos by Michael Schlueter In all of history, no animal, save for the horse, seems to have done so much for the human race as dogs. Men have shuddered to think that their dogs will not be with them in Heaven, and many have even pondered why their best friends’ nomenclature is the backward spelling of their creator. Mark Twain said, “Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out, and your dog would go in.” Robert Louis Stevenson said, “You think those dogs will not be in heaven! I tell you, they will be there long before any of us.” The Rev. Billy Graham said, “I think God will have prepared everything for our perfect happiness. If it takes my dog being there [in Heaven], I believe he’ll be there.” And even Martin Luther said, “Be comforted, little dog, thou, too, in the Resurrection, shall have a tail of gold.” Is it coincidence that dogs are valuable to their humans in so many ways? Aside from bringing in the newspaper and fetching slippers, it seems dogs are forever proving themselves useful to their masters – and not just as friends. 76 StreetScape Magazine

Service Dog Academy and TOUCH (Therapy of Unique Canine Helpers) Show Why As medical science has advanced, so, too, have discoveries of ways our canine counterparts can assist us. They boost our immunity, lower our blood pressure, lessen anxiety, and can even attract dates. Human beings have known for centuries that dogs are simply good for the mind and soul. Pet owners are less likely to suffer from depression. An article on WebMD cited a study involving stockbrokers who were also dog owners. The individuals had lower blood pressure readings in stressful situations than did their dogless colleagues. Researchers surmised this is because playing with a dog can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine, nerve transmitters that are known to have calming properties. People are now beginning to realize that their dogs may do more than just give them a general feeling of well-being. They may also ensure they are healthier overall.

Scientific reports of dogs sniffing out cancerous growths go back at least two decades. LivesScience.com reports, “According to a 1989 case study in The Lancet, a patient reported that her dog would constantly sniff at a mole on her leg and once even tried to bite the lesion off. Prompted by this, she had her mole checked out and found it to be a malignant melanoma.” Dogs have also detected bladder, lung, breast, ovarian and colon cancer. LiveScience.com also stated that a specially-trained, eight-year-old, black Labrador correctly detected colorectal cancer in 33 out of 37 breath and stool samples from patients. “We don’t know why,” said Mary McNeight of Service Dog Academy of Seattle, Wash. “Dogs have 250 million scent receptors in their noses, and 40 percent of their brains are dedicated to smell. That’s a lot of processing power. We have five million scent receptors. In comparison, their olfactory capability is the size of a football field. Ours is the size of a postage stamp on that football field.” McNeight is relocating her training facility from Seattle to St. Louis this summer. At Service Dog Academy, she trains dogs for diabetic and migraine alert, seizure alert and response, and narcolepsy alert and response using non-violent, positive reinforcement. McNeight offers a free webinar class at www.servicedogacademy.com for dog trainers and prospective medical alert dog training students. The course can help a dog owner learn whether his or her puppy can be trained for hypoglycemia or type 2 diabetes alert service and how to find a high quality, already-trained, diabetic alert dog. McNeight found out that she was a diabetic because of her Labrador retriever, Liam. She was leading an obedience class when Liam started to aggravate her — or at least that is what she thought at the time. “He kept paw-swiping me. He was almost high-fiving me,” she said. “I was thinking, ‘What’s wrong with this dog?’ He did it for three days straight. I finally figured it out that every time he was doing it, I was feeling really crappy. I got my husband’s meter out and found out my blood sugar was low.” Low blood sugar can cause symptoms of sweating, anxiety and nausea. Ironically, McNeight had recently been diagnosed as

having panic attacks. “I learned a lot from Liam. Basically, we are unable to get a piece of technology that replaces whatever a dog was given on this planet by God.” A trainer for over ten years, McNeight has worked with experimental alert dogs for asthma attacks, vasovagal syncope (fainting episodes) brought on by a drop in blood pressure, A-fib or abnormal heart rhythm, and other biochemical disorders. “One dog could even sniff out a charley horse,” she said. McNeight said it shouldn’t surprise anyone that dogs can be used for medical alerts. “Dogs’ noses have been used throughout history to find things. They’ve been used to find ducks, people, drugs and bombs. I love that people can use their dogs to help them with medical conditions.” No one knows whether dogs are getting a whiff of some unknown, tumor-related compounds, some minute muscle tremors, or merely body fluids associated with an increased risk of cancer, such as metabolites from cigarettes. All McNeight knows is she is safe because of Liam. Dogs can also detect allergens, such as peanuts, for people with severe allergies. But dogs can simply be bringers of good tidings and comfort. It’s the concept behind many pet visitation programs at hospitals and rehabilitation centers. Therapy dogs can encourage mobility, interpersonal contact, and socialization among patients. They can alleviate feelings of loneliness and despair, especially among elderly patients with physical disabilities or those going through cancer treatment. In a WebMD article titled, “5 Ways Pets Can Improve Your Health,” Jeanie Lerche Davis states, “Dogs are great for making love connections. Forget Internet matchmaking -- a dog is a natural conversation starter.” They bring people out of isolation and ease people out of shyness. Davis reported that one insurance company, Midland Life Insurance Company of Columbus, Ohio, asks clients over age 75 if they have a pet as part of their medical screening -- which often helps tip the scales in their favor. (continued on next page) May | June

(continued from page 77) The Siteman Cancer Center on the campus of Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital is one medical facility that welcomes the canines of Support Dogs, Inc. On selected days each week, volunteers from TOUCH (Therapy of Unique Canine Helpers) provide pet-assisted therapy visits to the adult cancer service center. Patients undergoing chemotherapy, radiation therapy, clinical studies or simply sitting in the waiting room, may pet the dogs as the volunteer handlers walk them around the facility. Support Dogs, Inc., started TOUCH in 1989 to provide pet visitation services to medical facilities in the St. Louis metropolitan area. The program certifies volunteers and their own dogs to visit facilities like Siteman. The program has certified over 1,000 volunteer teams that visit nearly 100,000 patients, residents, their families and facility staffs annually. While not breed specific, the TOUCH program only accepts dogs with good temperaments and a willingness to be touched and interact with people. The program currently has dogs ranging from small breeds, such as the Bichon Frise, to Great Danes, bullmastiffs, and all breeds, mixes, and sizes in between. Maddie has a unique qualification for being involved in the TOUCH program. An 11-year-old yellow Labrador, Maddie is a cancer survivor herself. She had a tumor on her face just above her right eye. Owner and handler Margaret Barrett, a former occupational therapist who coordinates TOUCH dog visits at Siteman in St. Peters, said she purchased Maddie at an auction at her kids’ school. Barrett had always wanted to volunteer for something, so when she learned about TOUCH, she figured it was the “perfect marriage” of her healthcare background and her love of dogs. Don Cummings, a volunteer at Siteman, is sort of a canine liaison. He’s also a seven-year lung cancer survivor. He is charged with approaching patients in the chemotherapy and radiation rooms, and elsewhere around the facility, to make sure they want to pet the dogs. He offers hand sanitizer afterward. “People forget about what they are going through, if only for a minute, when they see these dogs,” he said. Seven dogs, including Sugar, Lollipop, Hank, Katy, Bo, Stella and Maddie, all visit Siteman in rotation. Stella is also Barrett’s dog. Donna Burdett, who was recently treated at Siteman, said the dogs put a smile on her face, mainly because her cancer has kept her from her own dog, a Pomeranian named Daisy. “It makes me smile. I thought I was going to be able to take care of my dog 78 StreetScape Magazine

when I got home from the hospital, but I couldn’t take the stairs to let her out. It makes me feel better because thinking about dogs makes it easier.” For more information on the TOUCH Program, visit: www.SupportDogs.org/Programs/Touch. ¤

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May | June

The Next SpaceFrontier Could Be Mars And Maggie Duckworth Could Be One of the First to Get There Story by Robin Seaton Jefferson Photos by Michael Schlueter

Like the man sang, “Mars ain’t the kind of place to raise your kids. In fact it’s cold as hell.” But that’s okay with an electrical engineer from Bridgeton, Mo., who just might be one of the first human beings to live on Mars.

Maggie Duckworth

Maggie Duckworth, 30, who works at MetLife and also owns her own Cosplay costumes company, Nostalgia Bomb, is now St. Louis’ only shot at sending one of our own to the red planet.

In round one, applicants from around the globe sent video applications to, and answered essay questions for, Mars One, the Dutch not-for-profit foundation that is sponsoring the trip.

Duckworth has been chosen as one of the final 100 people globally who are vying to become rocket men – or women, in her case – and establish the first colony on Mars.

Round two included a physical examination and an on-line meeting with Mars One chief medical officer, Dr. Norbert Kraft, MD. Kraft has over 19 years experience in aviation and aerospace research and development. He is an expert in physiological and psychological aspects of aerospace medicine. An author of over 40 papers on aerospace medicine, Kraft’s experiences span Europe, Asia, and the United States, where he has worked for several international space agencies, including the Russian Space Agency and the Japanese Space Agency. Since 2002, Kraft’s research at NASA has been developing new approaches to enhance team performance for exploration missions.

Duckworth and Tim Gowan, 27, an F-15 tooling engineer at Boeing from University City, were among the top 1,058 finalists chosen last year from 200,000 applicants worldwide who applied for the mission. Gowan was let go in the second round of eliminations. With the latest cut, Duckworth is on course to become one of 24 individuals who will be chosen by the close of 2015. If she makes it, she will begin a seven-year preparatory phase that will send her on a one-way journey to Mars. This journey, thus far, hasn’t been an easy one. It’s a really exclusive group. Applicants must be free from disease and any dependency on chemicals, including pharmaceuticals, have a normal range of motion and functionality in all joints, have perfect (at least correctable) vision, and be free from any psychiatric disorders. 80 StreetScape Magazine

The real test of intestinal fortitude will begin soon, as Duckworth and the other 99 finalists are subjected to the isolation chamber in round three. Duckworth said candidates have yet to be informed of where that testing will take place. She’s already been tested regarding everything from how much oxygen she will need to survive to Martian climate conditions from a study guide the foundation provided. “They really wanted us to understand the risks involved with living the rest of your life

on a hostile planet, where there is no atmosphere and no pressure. You couldn’t live there without the assistance of technology,” Duckworth said. Duckworth, who isn’t married and has no children, said she has no fear of outer space and welcomes the opportunity to be a pioneer. She said her parents and one sister are “still a little skeptical” of saying goodbye, however. “My parents have mixed feelings. My dad always thought it was a silly idea, that it was a publicity stunt, until now. Mom has been tentatively supportive. They’re both proud of me.” Mars One is made up of physicists, professors, astrogeologists, biologists, horticulturalists, engineers and others who believe establishing a human settlement on Mars is possible today with existing technologies. But they’re shooting for 2025. A mere 140 million miles away, the trip would take about seven months.

ment, such as greenhouses, inside the habitat. They will spend time on the crops and food preparation. They will maintain all systems within the settlement. And they will study the history, climate change and what, if any, life is on Mars now. They will speak English. Scientists believe they will also be able to read, play games, write, paint, work out in the gym, watch TV, use the Internet, and contact friends at home. They believe there will be a three-minute time delay; but, otherwise, communications and media will be much like on Earth. They will simply request movies or news broadcasts they want to see in advance and upload them on the local Mars web server. In the beginning, because of limited medical facilities and the impact of reduced gravity on conception and gestation, Mars One will advise the first settlement inhabitants not to attempt to have children.

In round four, the 24 people left standing will undergo seven years of intense training. They will be divided into teams of four—two men and two women on each. From 2016 to 2024, the teams will learn how to exist in the colony, Duckworth said. “They’re building two places as simulation grounds — one in a hospitable region and the other in an inhospitable region, like the arctic, where we wouldn’t be able to come outside.” Skills can overlap, but of the 24 remaining at the end of the final stage in 2015, two must be able to use and repair all equipment, two will have extensive medical training, one will be trained on Mars geology, one will be trained on the biology of alien life, one will be trained on psychology and physiotherapy, and one will be trained on the biology of plant life. Stichting Mars One is the mother company of Interplanetary Media Group, a for-profit company, which enables the foundation to secure funds from its investors. And they’re going to need those funds. Mars One estimates the cost of putting the first four people on Mars at about $6 billion, with subsequent manned missions estimated at $4 billion. Possibly, the greatest source of revenue will come from a reality television show to which Mars One will sell the licensing rights. Spacex (Space Exploration Technologies) has already made a launch vehicle that can be used to go to Mars. Lockheed Martin has been contracted to build the Mars lander, and Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL) will build the communications satellite. The astronauts will have three jobs: construction, maintenance and research. They will install the corridors between the landers; they will deploy extra solar panels; and they will install equip-

Because it’s not feasible to send water, oxygen and food from Earth to the astronauts, they will produce those on Mars. The plan is to have the researchers extract water from the soil and produce oxygen by splitting water into its constituent parts – hydrogen and oxygen. They will use emergency rations of food from Earth until they are able to eat fresh food that is produced on Mars hydroponically. Researchers say that, just because they say one-way right now, it doesn’t necessarily mean one-way forever. They’re hoping technology will have progressed to allow for return trips down the line. “So, theoretically, it could happen; but I’m not planning on it,” Duckworth said. “I’m planning to make that colony.” ¤ May | June

s I t r a e H e h t e r e h W s I e m Ho

Hockensmith family (front row) Laura 17, Philip 26, Angela 20. Back row Sue and Dana 48.

Severely Disabled Residents Find Acceptance and Love at Pony Bird Homes Story by Robin Seaton Jefferson Photos Courtesy of Pony Bird, inc.

When Sara Sucharski refers to Pony Bird as home, she means it. As president and CEO of the organization that oversees six homes for severely-disabled children in Mapaville and DeSoto, Mo., Sucharski takes her work – and her many charges – seriously. 82 StreetScape Magazine

“We use the word home — and not lightly. We mean it in every sense of the word. There is love and compassion and caring and support,” Sucharski said. “The staff is not only there for physical support, but emotional support, and to support the individual as a whole being. They become part of that individual’s family.” Sucharski said it’s not uncommon for a staff member to take a resident home with them on a weekend to attend the staff member’s child’s birthday party or to celebrate with the staff member’s family for a holiday. “It’s a true support system. And I think that’s what’s unique. It goes beyond care. It truly is about developing relationships. Though some may not have a biological family, everyone has someone here.” That’s because Pony Bird was started by two parents who needed more than an institution for their severely-disabled son.

They needed a surrogate home. Dana and Sue Hockensmith co-founded Pony Bird, Inc., in June of 1977 as a home for their son, Philip, and nine other children with severe disabilities. Dana and Sue still serve on the board of directors. Named after a children’s book about a young boy and his magical flying pony, Pony Bird began as one home devoted to caring for ten severely-disabled children. Two of the original residents of Pony Bird are still there after 38 years. One resident – after 20 years at Pony Bird – calls the human resources coordinator mom. Today, Pony Bird provides 24-hour care for up to 60 non-ambulatory children and adults with severe to profound mental and physical disabilities in six homes. The individuals supported need total assistance. Pony Bird has been recognized numerous times by the State of Missouri Department of Mental Health for its outstanding level of care.

Sucharski said Pony Bird started as a crib care facility. “It was one big room with cribs in it. When it first started, we didn’t have the services we have today. There is more of a support system in the community now — the school system, therapies, after-school programs. Those were not developed or as well equipped in those days. Nowadays, families are able to keep their children home longer.”

Sue said it was the saddest day of their lives when they decided to place Philip in a home in Sedalia, Mo. But it was from that sadness that Pony Bird was born.

Residents at Pony Bird are encouraged to be all they can be, Sucharski said. “Whether it’s volunteering in the hospital or food pantries or even helping to walk dogs with the local veterinary clinic, whatever they want to do, we support them being able to do that,” she said. “One individual wanted to do a sewing project. We went to Jo-Ann Fabric. Some have season tickets to the Fox Theatre. We educate members of our community regarding individuals with severe mental and physical disabilities, helping them become more understanding, accepting and involved in their lives.”

“We just had to have him closer to us. It just broke our hearts to have him so far away,” Sue said. “We started looking through the Sears catalog, figuring out costs to build a home for 10 children. We wrote a grant for $32,000 for non-ambulatory children under 16 years of age and under 50 pounds.”

The Hockensmiths had Philip when they were still college students. Dana would go on to obtain his law degree, and Sue would get her teaching degree.

But the Hockensmiths’ interest and devotion to Pony Bird didn’t stop there. “I remember when we went from cloth diapers to disposable diapers. That was a huge decision,” she said. “We wanted it to be a home and not an institution. We didn’t allow uniforms on our staff. We wanted our residents to be spoiled. We wanted the little girls to have manicured nails and the cutest hairstyles.”

But almost immediately after he was born, the couple knew something was really wrong. “He started having seizures at four months old,” Sue said. “We didn’t know why. We were told everything. We were told he would die tomorrow. We were told he would grow out of it.” Eventually, the Hockensmiths took Philip to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. That’s where they learned that Sue had passed cytomegalovirus (CMV) to Philip during pregnancy. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 150 children is born with congenital CMV infection today. And about 1 of every 5 of those children develops permanent problems, such as hearing loss or developmental disabilities. Philip was one of those children, but with the worst possible outcome. “The doctors said he was one in a million cases,” Sue said. “The virus went to his brain at just the right time in his development to cause major brain deformity, cerebral palsy and scoliosis.” But it got worse. “We found out he would be a two-month-old for the rest of his life,” Sue said. “He would be just like a ragdoll. It’s terribly heartbreaking, but also hard on your bodies. Couples have had nervous breakdowns, divorces, sibling problems and health problems. The reality of having a child with this level of a disability is absolutely heartbreaking.”

“We missed him terribly,” she said. Soon after, the Hockensmiths found out that money was available from the State of Missouri to build a home.

The couple also held dinners, dances, jewelry parties and car washes. In the end, they raised $25,000 to add to the $32,000. Then someone donated five acres in Mapaville, and the first Pony Bird home was born.

So that was exactly the environment they created with Pony Bird. “It is so important for people to know about this segment of our population. They are all God’s children,” shares Sue. Today, the Hockensmith family includes daughter, Laura; daughter and son-in-law, Angela and John Gantzer; and grandsons, Noah Gantzer and Luke Gantzer. Philip passed away in 2001 at the age of 29. He had been at Pony Bird for 24 years. The Hockensmiths say they have peace. “We were his advocates every day of his life.” For more information about Pony Bird or to donate to the organization’s capital campaign, “Pony Bird Spreads Its Wings,” visit www.PonyBird.org. Money raised from the campaign will fund the building of two new homes and expand respite care, treatment and therapy. Pony Bird will be StreetScape’s Charity of Choice for Fashion Week: Romancing the Runway, to be held at Lambert International Airport, Sept. 23-25, 2015. ¤

May | June

More Family Play Time Having Fun Doesn’t Have to Be a Struggle Story by Sarah Moeller Summer is here and with it are many opportunities to take little ones on day trips. If you’re like me, you’ll get excited until it’s time to get ready. Then, a bit (or a lot) of panic sets in. Will we make it on time? Will the kids have fun? Will we all return in one piece? With a little planning, you can anticipate and smooth out some of the bumps that are sure to come along. Over the years, there are a few steps and lists that have helped me do this. However, I have found that, like other great pursuits, parenthood is as much of an art form as it is a science. While a person can teach (or learn) steps or checklists, etc., what really matters is the relationship you have with your child. What works one day may not work the next. It doesn’t mean

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you are a bad parent or that something is deficient about your child. It means you try something else, and rejoice together when it works. Sure, parenting does require that you do certain measurable things, like providing meals and naps; but it also means that you listen to your gut feeling about an issue, and address it from your intuitive capacities. With that in mind, here are a few areas I try to focus on when going out with my kids. First of all, consider your basics. Not surprisingly, that would be sleeping and eating times. Are your kids able to nap in their car seats? Are they allowed to eat in the car? My kids are a little older; and

the ones who nap can sleep in the car, so our family’s focus is weighted more toward the meals. Usually, for most trips, I will need to provide one solid meal and a snack. I’ve found that we can usually do pretty well if we don’t stay gone longer than one meal’s worth of time. For meals, packing peanut butter, jelly and bread makes for a frugal and somewhat convenient option. For snacks, some things we’ve packed over the years include water bottles, juice boxes, jerky sticks (a great protein source), flavored crackers, fruit snacks, raisins, trail mix (careful with the nuts), and chocolate (for myself!). Besides outfitting your vehicle with a mini-snack station, consider keeping some other necessities in your vehicle

at all times. Here’s a little confession: we lose shoes — a lot. I will never forget when one of my kids showed up at a baby shower wearing a boot on one foot and a croc on the other. While his footwear was definitely a conversation piece, we are working to prevent that from happening again. Besides working on organization, I like to keep an extra pair of inexpensive footwear (like flip-flops) in the car. They fit quite nicely in the back pockets of the seats, and we make sure to return them to their places when we arrive home. Besides flip-flops, other things you can store in the vehicle are a few toys, books and activities. Don’t forget diapers and wipes if you have someone still using them. Even if your kids are all toilettrained, wipes are so handy for sticky hands, little messes, snotty noses, etc., and well worth keeping in the car. A first-aid kit is great and helps with those literal bumps you may encounter. Another thing I rely on is different equipment to help carry kids between the car and the building/event. Naturally, one reason we take our kids places is so they can enjoy things they don’t experience at home. But, if they are in a large area where they are constantly on the verge of getting lost, a lot of time and peace are forfeited. I know it can be a hassle to wrangle a stroller, and using one keeps kids from exploring as much. However, I have found that less freedom for kids sometimes equals more enjoyment for parents and, surprisingly, kids, too. Car seats, strollers and baby wraps are all extremely useful and helpful for keeping stress levels down and safety levels up. This actually increases enjoyment for the whole family.

but it pays off soon. Lastly, one of the biggest things I’ve learned to help with day trips is that the parents affect their children’s energy; and the younger the child is, the more this holds true. This means your moods and outlooks greatly affect your kids, so why not use this to your advantage? A couple weekends ago, we went to spend the afternoon with some friends; and afterward, we went to the store. We were sweaty, dirty, tired and hungry – we had just had a great time at their farm! On the way to the store, we got pulled over and almost got a ticket. Once we got there, we had to wait in long lines a couple times. Mentally, it was tough. However, all six of my kids were really good (that time). I attribute it to the fact that, through it all, I kept my calm. I realized that the current struggle wasn’t anything negatively lifechanging. I also was attentive to them and present emotionally; this wasn’t the time to take a break and get out my phone, even for “just a minute.” There were many things outside my control, but this factor – my being “there” and being calm – was something I could influence. I think this is how the best memories are made; a few basic necessities are in place, and the parents have a calm and steady presence, both physically and emotionally. I hope you, too, can have some great and memorable times together around town this summer.

Park next to the cart rack if you are at a place with carts. Teach kids good habits about staying with you. It is hard at first, May | June

Craft Brewer Defined* Craft Brewer Small

An American craft brewer is small, independent and traditional. Annual production of 6 million barrels of beer or less (approximately 3 percent of U.S. annual sales).

Independent

Less than 25 percent of the craft brewery is owned or controlled (or equivalent economic interest) by an alcoholic beverage industry member that is not itself a craft brewer.

Traditional

A brewer that has a majority of its total beverage alcohol volume in beers whose flavor derives from traditional or innovative brewing ingredients and their fermentation. Flavored malt beverages (FMBs) are not considered beers.

Craft Brewers are Small Brewers

The hallmark of craft beer and craft brewers is innovation. Craft brewers interpret historic styles with unique twists and develop new styles that have no precedent. Craft beer is generally made with traditional ingredients like malted barley; interesting and sometimes non-traditional ingredients are often added for distinctiveness. The majority of Americans live within 10 miles of a craft brewer.

Other U.S. Brewing Industry Facts** The number of operating breweries in the U.S. in 2013 totaled 2,822, with 2,768 of those considered craft, demonstrating that craft breweries make up 98 percent of all U.S. operating breweries. 2,822 total breweries operated for some or all of 2013, the highest total since the 1880s. Craft brewers currently provide an estimated 360,000 jobs in the U.S. Craft brewers sold an estimated 21,775,885 barrels of beer up from 16,600,000 barrels in 2013. 1 barrel = 31 U.S. gallons Craft breweries have now averaged 10.9 percent growth over the last decade. 2,768 craft breweries operated for some or all of 2013, comprised of 1,237 brewpubs, 1,412 microbreweries and 119 regional craft breweries.

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Economic Impact* The Craft Brewing Industry Contributed $33.9 Billion to the U.S. Economy in 2012, The industry also provided more than 360,000 jobs, with 108,440 jobs directly at breweries and brewpubs, including serving staff at brewpubs. Small and independent American craft brewers contributed $33.9 billion to the U.S. economy in 2012. The figure is derived from the total impact of beer brewed by craft brewers as it moves through the three-tier system (breweries, wholesalers and retailers), as well as all non-beer products like food and merchandise that brewpub restaurants and brewery taprooms sell. In addition to the national impact, the Brewers Association examined output of the craft beer industry by state, as well as the state economic contribution per capita for adults over 21.造 MISSOURI CRAFT BEER SALES STATISTICS, 2013

MISSOURI $

Craft Breweries

612.4

ECONOMIC IMPACT (2012)

(RANKS 18TH)

Million Economic Impact (RANKS 20TH)

299,214

1.1Breweries per Capita*

PRODUCTION (2012)

Barrels of Craft Beer produced per year (RANKS 13TH)

140

Impact per Capita (RANKS 29TH)

2.1

Gallons per 21+ Adult (RANKS 16TH)

(RANKS 27TH) *per 100,000 21+ Adults

NUMBER OF BREWERIES PER YEAR 50

45 40 2011

2012

2013

*www.brewersassociation.org **www.craftbeer.com/breweries

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f e o h e t v r o L Fo le il v le tt o C in e u n e V l a c o L t a s Sunny Wine

The Rack House West Winery

Couples Great Wines with Great Food Story by Susan Mangels, Ph.D. Photo by Michael Schlueter The other day I spent a nice lunchtime chatting and tasting wine with Josh French, general manager, in the sunny front room of the Rack House West Winery in Cottleville. Owned by pharmacists-restaurateurs (yes, really!) Bridgette and John Hamilton, the Rack House is an interesting local destination for wine sipping and great food. The patio adjoining the dining room seats up to 60 and promises to be a great spot for good food, drink and conversation throughout the summer and into autumn. Winemaker Chris West is to be commended for his good work in coaxing the best out of Missouri area wines. The Macon, Mo., winemaker creates some wonderful additions to the menu at the Rack House. Try the “Sunflower White” meritage of Traimenette, White Catawba, and Vidal Blanc grapes with the Rack House’s Gourmet Grilled 88 StreetScape Magazine

Cheese sandwich. The fruitforward wine with 12% alcohol pairs well with the salty cheese and holds its own in flavor. This wine would also be great with a chicken and pear dish or perhaps a plate of baked salmon with mango relish. The Rack House’s “Duck Creek” lineup comes in red, white and rosé. The “Duck Creek Rosé” is made of Catawba and Vidal Blank grapes and has some residual sugar, but it is not cloying. The sweetness and raspberry-reminiscent flavor would pair well with a cheese and charcuterie plate containing Manchego or other salty cheese and varied salami. “Wayward Red,” made of Chambourcin, is dry, lean, and has noticeable tannins. Pair a glass of this with the Rack House’s top-selling “Smoked Brisket Sandwich,” and you’ll have a hearty, but not too heavy meal. Along these lines, their “Roundhouse Red,” made of

Cabernet, Syrah, and St. Vincent grapes, contains a berry-imbued fullness and goes well with the menu’s “Short Rib Bites”. If you are in the mood for some sweet, full-bodied, ruby port, try a Missouri favorite, a Norton grape port named “Whisper” that goes terrifically well with cream cheese and chutney with crackers or poured over fresh summer melon chunks. If chocolate is your thing, the port can also be paired with truffles – especially the to-die-for caramel sea salt truffles at the Rack House. With those combinations, you could probably just have appetizers and dessert and skip your entrée! Have you always wanted to see wine being made and bottled? Check out the timing on the two wines that the Rack House has barreled now. They will be having a public bottling event. Interestingly, though beyond the scope of this wine article, the Rack House also has a terrific selection of beers, whiskeys, and scotch, including an exclusive select, single barrel, nine-year- old George Dickel. They also have built out a cigar room that includes private lockers for member collections. ¤ Susan Mangels, Ph.d. May | June

Society Lewis & Clark’s Happy Hour February 27, 2015 • Lewis & Clark’s Restaurant Lewis & Clark’s recently added an organic Russian vodka. It is featured on their drink menu as an Organic Clark. Delicious food and specialty drinks were enjoyed by invited guests. Happy hour is Monday through Friday from 3-7p.m. Enjoy half price appetizers and special pricing for drinks, beer & wine. Photos courtesy of Michael Schlueter

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Society Community Living, Inc. Legacy Ball March 7, 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ St. Charles Convention Center

George Black and Mitch Hoffman, Legacy Award honorees, and Cottleville Knights of Columbus, Father William Pezold Council #7198, Volunteer of the Year Award honoree, were honored for their outstanding contributions to people with disabilties and the community as a whole. The event featured a four-course wine dinner, oral and silent auctions, live music and the presentation of a pair of Legacy Awards and the Community Volunteer of the Year award. Proceeds from the ball, which is one of St. Charles Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier gala events, benefit over 900 individuals and their families that are served by Community Living. Photos courtesy of LysMarie Photography

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Photos: A. Kevin Loos, Dale Shine, Barb Griffith, Scott Liebel, Tom Hutchison, Michael Ficken B George J. Black, Mitch Hoffman C. Mitch and Amy Hoffman, Michael Leigh Harbour, George Black D. Susan Sams and Barbara James E. Sue and Dave Bazzell F. Laura and Cort Smith G. Jackie and Matt Johannesman H. Peggy and David Weber I. Kat Thomas, Rep. John Wiemann J. Dave Steinbruegge, Mary Alsup-Niedergerke K. Sonja Tinner L. Tom Hannegan, Barb Griffith, Scott Mell M. John and Ramona Kristmann

May | June

Society Tribute to Success A Celebration of Women March 13, 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ The Ritz Carlton in Clayton

Connections to Success hosted its 4th annual Tribute to Success at the Ritz Carlton in Clayton. During the luncheon celebration over 80 local women were honored and highlighted. These women are successful businesswomen, philanthropists, non-profit leaders, mothers and mentors, who have impacted the lives of others. In addition to honoring some inspiring women, the event helps raise awareness and funds for the many programs offered at Connections to Success, including personal and professional development, education resources, mentorship, employment readiness training and interview clothing for individuals working towards economic independence. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s event was attended by over 450 men and women and raised over $170,000 for Connections to Success. 2016 sponsorship opportunities are available! Photos courtesy of Diane Anderson Photography

Photos: A. Coffee Table Keepsake Book B. Honoree Johanna Wharton C. Tribute to Success Honorees D. Emcee, Jasmine Huda E. Dennis and Judy Jones Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient F. Co-Founders Brad and Kathy Lambert G. Financial Match Supporters H. Honorary Chair Penny Pennington, Principal at Edward Jones I. Winner of Miracles Happen Necklace

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Photos: A. Guests Karen Conant of Mexico Road Florist, Bret and Jennifer Bonacorsi of JBloom Designs B. Bookfair Tribute Table Setting C. Miracles Happen Necklace D. Table settings for the luncheon E. Guest at Auction Table F. Table Setting G. Guest at Auction Table H. Ritz Carlton Banquet Ball Room I. Sweet Success Catering J. Tribute to Success flower setting

May | June

Society St. Charles County Mayors Charity Ball

March 14, 2015 • St. Charles Convention Center

The 20th Annual St. Charles County Mayors Charity Ball was once again a huge success breaking a record of $82,000 raised for six (6) of our local charities. The charitable organizations that received the proceeds were: Boys & Girls Clubs, Habitat for Humanity, LINC, St. Charles City-County Library Foundation, The Center for Autism Education and Volunteers in Medicine. The St. Charles County Mayors who were in attendance: Mayor Sally Faith (St. Charles); Mayor Len Pagano (St. Peters); Mayor Bill Hennessy (O’Fallon); Mayor Nick Guccione (Wentzville); Mayor Jim Hennessey (Cottleville); Pam Fogarty (Dardenne Prairie); Mayor Kathy Schweikert (Lake St. Louis) and Mayor William Richter (West Alton). Photos courtesy of LysMarie Photography

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Photos: A. Hollywood Theme backdrop B. West Alton Mayor, William Richter; Dardenne Prairie Mayor, Pam Fogarty; Wentzville Mayor, Nick Guccione; City of St. Charles Mayor, Sally Faith; City of St. Peters Mayor, Len Pagano; Lake St. Louis Mayor, Kathy Schweikert; City of O’Fallon Mayor, Bill Hennessy C. Donna Grayson (committee member), West Alton Mayor, William Richter; Dardenne Prairie Mayor, Pam Fogarty, Wentzville Mayor Nick Guccione; City of St. Charles Mayor Sally Faith; St. Peters Mayor, Len Pagano; Julie Smith (committee member); Lake St. Louis Mayor Kathy Schweikert; Bess Bacher (committee member); O’Fallon Mayor, Bill Hennessy; Michele Mooney (committee member); Jim Rau (Treasurer). D. Jennifer & Mike Elam (emcee for the event) E. Paul Berra, State Rep Anne Zerr, Mayor Len Pagano and Neal Gilb F. City of St. Charles Council Member, Ron Stivison and City of St. Charles Mayor Sally Faith G. Phyllis & Jim Rau H. Wentzville Mayor Nick Guccione and his wife Sandy; Joyce and her husband, St. Peters Mayor Len Pagano

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Photos: A. Julie Smith and St. Peters Mayor, Len Pagano B. Dave & Michele Mooney C. Mandy & State Rep, Justin Hill D. Jill Girardi & Michael Spurgeon E. Joe & Margarita Ward F. Casey Olearnick & Sara Henderson G. Deborah Alessi H. Jared Howell and Jessica Rippelmeyer I. Dancing the night away to Butch Wax & the Hollywoods J. Butch Wax and The Hollywoods Horn Section K. Adam & Pam Clement

May | June

Society 28th Annual Celebration of Youth Dinner Auction March 28, 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles Mo. Youth In Need honored Carolyn Koenig at its 28th annual Celebration of Youth Dinner and Auction on Saturday, March 28, 2015, at Ameristar Casino Resort Spa. Proceeds will benefit the more than 16,000 children, teens and families Youth In Need serves each year!

Photos by Michael Schlueter

Photos: A. Table decorations Ameristar Discovery Ballroom B. Event Honoree Carolyn Koenig with family C. President & CEO Pat Holterman-Hommes D. Event Co-Chairs Missy Palitzsch, Anita Viehmann & Kim York E. Event Honoree Carolyn Koenig F. Kevin and Rhonda Brandon and Rob Muschany G. Heidi Sowatsky & Latoya Hardict H. Pam & Jim Braun, Fran Ventimiglia, Bob & Mary Beth Kalinich I. Michael Lowenbaum J. Drs. Matt & Mike Conoyer auctioning Tax Credits K. Rick Leach gives the Invocation L. Mark Klose auctions off Eric Clapton autographed guitar M. Emcee Steve Lewis auctions off puppy, Gracie N. Silent Auction sports memorabilia O. Looking over the silent auction items

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Society Saint Louis Crisis Nursery Razzle Dazzle Ball March 28, 2015 • Sheraton Lakeside Chalet Saint Louis Crisis Nursery’s “Fire & Ice” Razzle Dazzle Ball, presented by Centene, is the Nursery’s largest fundraiser of the year. Our 2015 H.U.G.S. & K.I.S.S.E.S. Awardees were honored at this sold out event for their significant contributions to advancements in child abuse and neglect prevention and Crisis Nursery’s mission. KMOV-TV’s Andre Hepkins and Emily Rau hosted this year’s event which raised a record breaking $334,000. A

Photos courtesy of Michael Jacob Photography

Photos: A. Janet and Larry Conners B. Don Fitzgerald Family C. Hugs & Kisses Awardees D. Cynthia Doria, Woman of the Year E. Bruce & Heidi Sowatsky, Kara & Mike Gatto F. Emily Rau, DiAnne Mueller, Andre Hepkins G. Kelly Kramer and Charlotte McClure H. Karen Evans and guests I. Dr. Jovita Oruwari and guests J. DiAnne Mueller and Stephanie Hall K. Bill & Ruth Oran L. Jillian Anderson and guest M. Danielle Smith and guests N. Rae Narcisse, DiAnne Mueller

May | June

Society Devon Allman Presents Friday Night Blues in Ameristar’s Bottleneck Blues Bar Friday, April 3, 2015 • Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles Mo. Come Raise the Roof Every Friday Night at Devon’s House. Ruf Recording artist, Devon Allman officially came home to “his house,” the Bottleneck Blues Bar (BBB) at Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles, Missouri. This popular venue just received a complete makeover to its sound and audio-visual equipment with Allman’s seal of approval. “This is now a seriously killer music venue – dripping with mojo; perfect for all things bluesy,” said Allman. “The sound system and the set-up are incredible. I want St. Louis’ serious music lovers to think, ‘If it’s Friday night, I’ll be in Devon’s House listening to the Blues.’” Photos by Michael Schlueter

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