StreetScape Magazine Summer 2007

Summer 2007 Complimentary

featuring

NORTH & SOUTH

MAIN

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CONTENTS

Summer 2007 Happy First Birthday, Street Scape!

F E A T U R E S

12

8 20 44 Cadi P. (with birthday cake face) celebrates Street Scape’s birthday.

| NEIGHBORHOODS— Life on the Water | Learn about the local boating and water related offerings, including sand beaches, restaurants and nightlife.

| CELEBRITY FOCUS— Taylor Hicks While he may not originally be from St. Charles, American Idol’s Taylor Hicks is a St. Charles favorite.

| TIPS & TRICKS—Let’s Party!

Discover ideas for birthday parties for children and adults alike that are more than just cake and ice cream.

| SEASONAL HUNT—The One That Got Away Learn about locals who enjoy the serenity and sport of fishing in Missouri’s lakes and rivers.

D E P A R T M E N T S

4 6 8 10 18 20 22

| COMMENTARY | FEATURED ARTIST | CELEBRITY FOCUS | NEIGHBORHOODS | DRIVEWAYS TO DOORWAYS | TIPS & TRICKS

32 38 44 50 64

| BEST SHOPPING FINDS | HEALTH WATCH | SEASONAL HUNT | SUNRISE TO SUNSET | CALENDAR

| A LA CARTE

ON THE COVER | Photography by Michael Schlueter STREET SCAPE MAGAZINE |3

BEHIND THE SCENES

COMMENTARY

PUBLISHER & FOUNDER TOM HANNEGAN

Welcome to Summer!

Welcome to the fourth edition of Street Scape Magazine... it’s our one year anniversary celebration! As always, we invite you to come as our reader and stay as our friend!

Imagine.... one year ago I was knocking on doors saying "I've got this great idea for a new magazine called Street Scape...I went in with a smile and a media kit, and people saw my passion. They opened their doors and gave me a chance, and I’ve decided to make my personal motto be passionate about everything you do!

We danced into Spring and now we are going to sail through the summer. Please, come down to Main Street and experience "Music on Main," a great community block party.

Dine bistro style outdoors and listen to music during the second season of Hot Summer Nights. Enjoy the tastes of summer with local summer foods, and play in the sun, but use caution. Discover life on the water, both the business and fun side of the Alton Pool.

Scuba with locals and the men of the St. Charles Fire Dive and Rescue Team.

Tom, Co-Owner of Hannegan Real Estate & Construction, LLC holds a master’s degree from Lindenwood University. Hannegan shares his passion of real estate, community volunteering, and his appreciation of St. Charles in Street Scape magazine.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS ROBIN SEATON JEFFERSON Robin has been a writer/journalist for more than 15 years working in print and electronic media.

Jefferson holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Missouri at St. Louis, with minors in writing and criminal justice.

ANN HAZELWOOD Ann is the owner of Patches, Etc. on Historic Main Street in St. Charles, Missouri. Hazelwood is an accomplished quilt author, historian, and appraiser with the following titles to her name: 100 Things To Do In And Around St. Charles and 100 Best Kept Secrets Of Missouri (Spring of 2007).

MONICA ADAMS

In this issue we’d like you to meet some of the people who make up the tapestry of our Street Scape: Rhonda Crane, owner of Magpie's Cafe on S. Main, Jennifer Klemp, our Featured Artist, Bo Wiechens, owner of Dip & Strip store in Historic Frenchtown, Scott Newcomer who opened Jake's On Main in February with its "Life is Good" line of merchandise; Gary and Karen Vehlewald, who are currently working on Springwell Village with luxury waterfront townhomes, rowhomes, condominium mansions and single family cottages. We’d also like to introduce you to some Dynamic Duos; in this edition we recognize Ray and Grace Harmon, Maurice and Brenda Newberry, David and Karen Thurmer and Mel and Bea Wetter.

Happy Mother's Day and Father's Day to all our Moms and Dads out there. We’re featuring a great book called Simply Mom by Pamela Scholl in this edition. Maybe I’m a little biased, but I think I have simply the best parents; and my beautiful, sassy grandmother in Ste. Genevieve is celebrating her 90th birthday...talk about an amazing mother and grandmother. Here’s a salute to all the grandparents out there. It was a treat to capture some of you at Grandparent’s Day at a couple of local grade schools.

Street Scape is proud to partner with Bridgeway Counseling Services to "Rally Against Domestic Violence" in this edition and the next three. You will understand the patterns of Domestic Violence. You will hear the heroism of Domestic Violence Survivors. We hope you will become passionate about this issue. Abuse is never OK! We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished in these last four issues. We’ve introduced you to the locals, the arts, people and places of interest, fashion, food and entertainment: our Street Scapes. Life is Good. Be Passionate!

4|STREET SCAPE MAGAZINE

Monica is a certified personal trainer and hosts a health and fitness show Sunday afternoons on KMOX Radio, and is the traffic reporter for FOX 2 News in the Morning. Monica is a St. Louis native who enjoys entertaining family and friends, and doing charitable work.

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS MICHAEL SCHLUETER Michael photographs people and places for advertising and corporate accounts locally and nationally.

“The exploration and discovery process is what keeps photography so exciting for me.”

BREA HAMMACK Brea is currently an art major with a focus in photography. She specializes in portraiture, blending artistic and professional shots.

She sees photography as a way to tell a person’s story through a single image.

DESIGN & PRODUCTION GIANT LEAP PRODUCTIONS Tracy Brooke 636-561-4250 tracy@giantleapproductions.com www.giantleapproductions.com

BEHIND THE SCENES ADVISORY BOARD Deborah Alessi Mary Banmiller Susan Berthold Nadine Boon Diane Burkemper Erica Butler Jody Cox Ann Dempsey Barbara Drant Cindy Eisenbeis Sally Faith Lorna Frahm Bill Goellner Sheryl Guffey Mary Lou Hannegan Grace Harmon Ann Hazelwood Chris Hoffman Jason Hughes Jan Kast Mike Klinghammer Martha Kooyumjian Caryn Lloyd Jeremy Malensky Nancy Matheny Denice McKeown

Bob Millstone Sandy Mohrmann Suzanne Matyiko Maurice Newberry Craig Norden Grace Nichols Kim Paris Toekie Purler Sue Riddler Kathy Robertson Marc Rousseau Rocco Russo Richard Sacks Keith Schneider Bob Schuette Teri Seiler Joyce Shaw Kelley Scheidegger-Barbee Scott Tate Karen Vehlewald Aleece Vogt Brian Watkins Brian Wies Mary West Gail Zumwalt

A FLEA MARKET WITH CLASS FEATURING A VARIETY OF TREASURES & A WOODCARVER ON SITE 107 N. MAIN STREET HISTORIC ST. CHARLES

636-724-2295

ADVERTISING CHRISTINE ADAMS Christine has worked in sales for over 11 years and we are very pleased that she has joined our family as Account Manager for Street Scape. She also has a Personal Training Certification for physical fitness. Hair and makeup

by Metro Salon, 136 South Main Street.

Contact Christine to discuss your advertising needs at christine@streetscapemag.com or 636-219-7358.

Download a media kit online at www.streetscapemag.com.

DISTRIBUTION Call Tom Hannegan at 636-916-4386 or via email at tom@streetscapemag.com

Volume 2, Issue 2 TPH Media 223 North Main Street, St. Charles, Missouri 63301 PHONE 636-916-4386, FAX 1-866-231-6159 WWW.STREETSCAPEMAG.COM Any reproduction of Street Scape magazine or its contents requires publisher’s prior written consent. Street Scape magazine aims to ensure that information is accurate and correct at all times but cannot accept responsibility for mistakes. Street Scape magazine reserves the right to refuse any advertisement and assumes no responsibility for submitted materials. Unsolicited material must include a self-addressed stamped envelope. © 2006 TPH Media. All Rights Reserved.

STREET SCAPE MAGAZINE |5

FEATURED ARTIST

A Quest for Knowledge Jennifer Klemp : Artist Jennifer Klemp has always loved the arts, but as most people do, she took the sensible route. Klemp worked toward a nursing degree and put her painting plans on hold.

She never let go of her dream, and while working as a nurse at the famed Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, she took her first watercolor class. From there it was drawing and oil painting and any other medium the would-be artist could absorb.

Like any self-respecting dreamer does, she did everything in her power to realize her dream.

As it turned out, her professional detour into nursing contributed more to Klemp's artistic expression than even she could have imagined. “If I had not been a nurse for 10 years, my paintings would not look like they look today,” she said. “Life experience makes you a better painter. Being a nurse is very stressful and emotionally draining. So I think the experience contributed to my painting now.”

Today Klemp is a full-time working painter.

With a master's degree in fine arts from Fontbonne University in St. Louis, Klemp has shown her work both locally and nationally.

Jennifer currently works from her homebased studio in Mid-Towne St. Charles, and she also teaches painting courses at Chesterfield Arts in Chesterfield, MO. In the past she taught drawing and design at Forest Park Community College and art appreciation at Lewis & Clark Community College.

Klemp said she always wanted to be an artist, even as a child. “I kind of took a detour in nursing. I didn't want to be living

6|STREET SCAPE MAGAZINE

out of a van and I wanted to help people,” she said.

“But I always wanted to be a painter. I didn't know what to do to make it work.”

Following the first watercolor class, Klemp began building her Jennifer Klemp portfolio. She took classes at St. Louis Community College on the side while working at Cardinal Glennon. Then she began applying to schools to get her bachelor of fine arts. “Few schools except Fontbonne let students of other degrees get into the master's program,” she said.

Patience and persistence paid off in the end.

Klemp entered a piece of her work in a St. Louis art show. “That was when I decided I wanted to do this. I spent the next 10 years trying to become a painter.”

During those years she continued to do what she loved. “I was always painting, drawing, playing with crafts or art-oriented things,” Klemp said. “Sometimes you just feel like something in the universe is pulling you in.

I always felt like a square peg in a round hole.”

Klemp is no longer feeling like the wrong piece in a malformed puzzle. With exhibitions and appearances mounting all the time, Klemp is well on her way to becoming the very thing she always dreamed of. And her portfolio continues to grow.

She was an award winner in the OVERunder show in 2004 at the Foundry Art Centre in

St. Charles and an award winner at the Art St. Louis XXI-“The Exhibition” at Art St. Louis in 2005. She has shown her work in numerous shows at Forest Park Community College, City Museum in St. Louis, the Fontbonne Gallery of Art in St. Louis and Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, AL. She has also had displays in Lebanon, Illinois and Mobile, AL. Klemp will hold a solo exhibition in the Ameristar Gallery at the Foundry Art Centre in July.

“My paintings are a quest for knowledge, philosophy and mastery of provocative form,” Klemp said of her work. “I search constantly for the fine line between abstract and understandable. The resulting work is finished and yet unfinished at the same time, thereby evoking a captive energy that has neither origin nor endpoint. Through this hybrid of real versus conceived I seek to shift perception, often mixing the figure with transient light sources, in pursuit of physically appealing work, metaphorical in tone.”■ ROBIN SEATON JEFFERSON

THE DIFFERENCE IS We can’t fit all 150 of the region’s most talented advisors into one photo, but we can share an important detail about the best-in-class talent who call Brown Smith Wallace home.

Each of us makes a commitment of personal responsibility for the work we do.

From this we base our brand promise … Deliver A Measurable Difference.

Steven M. Ronquest

Lisa Boyd, CPA

Alan J. Fine, CPA, JD

Kelly J. Weis, CPA

St. Charles 636.255.3000 St. Louis 314.983.1200 Chicago 312.674.4668 www.bswllc.com

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STREET SCAPE MAGAZINE |7

CELEBRITY FOCUS

America’s Idol S t . C h a r l e s F a v o r i t e , Ta y l o r H i c k s He took the fifth season of American Idol by storm, winning out over thousands of wannabe stars and exploding on the scene with gyrations similar to the gone but not forgotten King of Rock n’ Roll. It was 2006… how would Generation X react to a bluesy, Southern boy with gray hair and love for Ray Charles?

The answer came when Taylor Hicks took more than 63 million votes from Americans young and old and became the 2006 American Idol.

From the very beginning viewers knew they were witnessing someone unique, someone interesting and someone they could fall in love with. Birmingham, Alabama's favorite son stayed true to his blues-drenched roots and gave America a different kind of idol to vote for.

The 30-year-old Hicks released his now certified platinum, self-titled debut album “Taylor Hicks” in late 2006 and started touring the country in February with a kickoff concert in Jacksonville, Florida. In the last year, Hicks signed a three-record deal with Sony BMG, become a spokesperson for

8|STREET SCAPE MAGAZINE

FORD Motor Company and was named People Magazine's “Hottest Bachelor.”

He said he gets that a lot and doesn't mind at all.

He's been featured on ABC's 20/20, NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, ABC's Good Morning America, Live with Regis & Kelly, The View, CBS's The Early Show, MTV's TRL Countdown, Martha Stewart Living, the American Music Awards, NBC's Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at Rockefeller Plaza in New York, the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series FORD 400 and even Dr. Phil. It's no wonder the Soul Patrol's leader calls his new life “a whirlwind.”

What teacher influenced you the most?

My English teacher, Susan Whitson, who is now the first lady's press secretary.

A singer and songwriter whose song choices never stray from the soul music he holds so dear, Hicks says his heroes are Otis Redding, James Brown, Sam Cooke and Ray Charles.

We asked Taylor a few of the questions on everyone’s mind in a telephone interview before his St. Louis concert. All in all, this reporter found him to be a genuinely nice guy with the voice of a long-loved and missed superstar--also from the south— Elvis Presley.

What gift are you giving your mom for Mother's Day? Flowers; she likes roses.

Is Simon Cowell on your Christmas Card List?

Maybe!

What’s your favorite food?

Turnip greens.

What’s your favorite sweet thing to eat?

Brownies.

Are you a cat or dog kind of a guy? Do you have a pet?

I have two gold fish—Ray and Lamonte, for Ray Charles and Lamonte from Sanford & Son. What is your hair color preference?

Gray!

CELEBRITY FOCUS

For women too?

Maybe.

We raised a banner 100 feet high over the road (in school).

Have you had any marriage proposals?

No.

What did it say?

I think it may have had some profanities on it or something.

What kind of woman would you like to meet?

Someone I can relax with.

Do you want children?

Some day, yeah.

What is your favorite vacation spot?

I like the beach.

What was the last movie you saw?

Good Morning Vietnam.

What is your favorite television show, excluding American Idol?

Boston Legal Tell me an unknown fact about yourself.

I like to break dance!

Do you have a hobby?

I like biking.

Do you have a favorite childhood memory?

I guess just being a kid. Everybody does to a certain degree. Freedom and no work.

Do you have a funny fan story?

A fan chased me thought an airport in Baltimore.

And you obviously got away…

Yes! What type of sports do you like?

Basketball and football.

Do you have any brothers or sisters?

Two brothers.

What do they think about your new-found fame?

They get a kick out of it.

Are you glad you are the American Idol?

Of course. It's a dream come true!

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Relax, because I don't get to do that.

What’s the funniest prank you ever pulled?

framed by vintage-sounding soul and R&B, as well as classic rock--it's comfort food for the ears.■ ROBIN SEATON JEFFERSON

Who have you met that you thought was great and who would you still like to meet?

Christopher Cross. I like his music.

And Robin Williams, because I think he's just a great personality.

What advice would you give to the next American Idol?

Get ready for a whirlwind!

Any last words?

Thanks to all the people in St. Louis and St. Charles who voted for me!

Taylor’s major-label debut is currently available nationwide, and the Silver Fox settles in a plush, comfortable sound

STREET SCAPE MAGAZINE |9

NEIGHBORHOODS

Millions & Zillions Rich in Friendship Bo Wiechens was born and raised on 2nd Street in St. Charles. The 56-year-old antique enthusiast has been stripping and refinishing furniture for more than half that time.

Thirty-one years ago Wiechens decided she wanted to own her own business. Her husband at the time operated a body shop out of 810 North 2nd Street and the couple had extra space in the front.

street on pipes,” she said. The new building had the space she needed but not the drain. So, ever persistent, Wiechens had the hole dug and the drains installed.

“My mother was a big antique collector,” Wiechens said. So one day when she and her mom were on an antique hunt in Berkeley they stopped at a Dip & Strip store. “I was standing there watching this guy strip a round claw-foot table and I thought, 'This is something I can do'. Three weeks later I was in it. I bought into the franchise.”

Bo Weichens

Wiechens handles contracts for the U.S. Army on tripods for surveying scopes. She's also working on the staircase and doors of a turn of the century house on Portland Place in St. Louis. And when Youth In Need needed a dining room table, she donated the refinishing of the organization's table.

Wiechens’ mother is the late Marie Toth of Marie's Bait & Fish Market on North 2nd.

“I am a chip off the old block,” she said.

When asked why she opened her own business, Wiechens quips, “I fell on my head,” but the furniture finisher has made a place and a name for herself on the street as well as a few bucks.

Wiechen's father, grandfather, husband and others in her family line were all iron workers. “My grandfather helped build the Daniel Boone Bridge,” she said. So two years after she opened her business, and her husband decided to go back into the iron business, she sold the building at 810 North 2nd and moved 911 North 2nd Street where she still finishes furniture today.

“We rolled the stripping tanks down the

10 | S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E

Wiechens is a pretty serious collector herself.

She has two farmhouses full of her collectibles on her property near Herman, Missouri. She said she might sell them one day. She used to travel around collecting antiques to sell in New England. She still handles estate sales.

Wiechens strips, refinishes and repairs furniture and doors, woods and metals, and just about anything her customers think to bring her. She finishes the doors and shutters for New Town in St. Charles when they come in the wrong color and has done many personal antiques for the Drury Inn.

“My taste is for the rare and unusual, but there is nowhere to sell it in the Midwest. I had to buy it and take it East,” she said. “I collect rare and unusual Missouri antiques. I like things made in St. Charles County.”

Two stoves heat the Dip & Strip store in St. Charles, but some would argue its the

warmth of Wiechen's heart that keeps the place cozy. She's known for doing for others as much as herself. “I don't make loans but I hire people to do things for me,” she said.

She's got a reputation for “hiring” someone that needs a hand themselves.

Sister Maria Luisa Cotto said Wiechens is one of a kind. “She is the most kind and wonderful person I have ever met. That's what I think when I look at her.”

Wiechens said she takes after her mother for more than antique collecting. “Mom did the same thing helping out the poor.

Everybody knew Marie. She never met a stranger and neither to I. Before people go out, I know their name, where they work and what they do.”

And Wiechens likes to find things. “I love for someone to tell me I can't find something or do something. I'm always looking for something. This antique business is addictive. People call me and say, 'Find me this.' I love finding stuff.”

Once Wiechens actually bought a skeleton in a coffin and later sold it to an antique dealer in Massachusetts. “I love the energy that comes from buying something rare and unusual.”

Wiechens said she likes the workmanship in old things. “I like the homemade stuff. If grandma back in the depression needed a side table and all she had was 100 wooden thread spools, that's what grandpa made it from. That's my love, folk art. I appreciate the hard times. I don't go in for all this mass-produced stuff. I don't own an adding machine and I just now bought a computer.”

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Wiechens has sold antiques and worked with Mary Engelbright, Karen Foss and the wife of the founder of kitty litter. “It just goes on and on,” she said.

Its not the big names that make her rich, she said. “I’ve got millions and zillions of dollars worth of friends.”■ ROBIN SEATON JEFFERSON

501 First Capitol Drive • St. Charles, MO 63301

636-946-9753 • www.shockleycommercial.com

S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E | 11

NEIGHBORHOODS

Water lovers flock to all sorts of places to enjoy their passion, but what many of them might miss is right here in their backyard.

That's precisely why Pete Tully and other like-minded boating enthusiasts formed “Show Me The Mississippi” with the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce. The group hopes to promote tourism, economic growth, boating and related industries in the northern part of St. Charles County along the Alton Pool. The 40-plus mile stretch of the Mississippi River is bordered by Missouri and Illinois on either bank.

The Alton Pool is lined with numerous marinas, restaurants and sand bars with easy access near major residential communities making it convenient for many boaters to get out on the river during the week as well as on weekends.

Tully said there is something along the Alton Pool for everyone, without the expense the hassle of traveling away from home. “Show Me and Polestar are trying to develop the culture out there,” Tully said. “There are so many people who come, from those who have been on the river for generations to the newcomers--someone who just bought a boat at a boat show. They can come here in the afternoon and go home at night.”

Life on the Water

In Our Own Backyard

With the Mississippi's controlled current of about two miles per hour, boaters can enjoy a 32-week season on water slower than they can walk from mid-March to midNovember, Tully said.

The Corp of Engineers made and takes care of the sand beaches in the area, which also help to control the current as well as assist commercial traffic and maintain a nine-foot channel.

“They've created an avenue for recreation, beach parties, skiing and water craft,” Tully said. “Unfortunately it's a well-kept secret.”

It's one secret Tully wants out. “People have a tendency to see the Missouri River in front of St. Charles County and that it doesn't lend itself to recreation or traffic, or in front of the arch with its commercial traffic. They see that as their access to the river. But that's not how the river is just 20 minutes from

NEIGHBORHOODS

Main Street in St. Charles in the heart of the recreational section of the Alton Pool. There are thousands of boats from all over out there, from the marinas and bars and grills.”

chemistry is there. There are no wage identifiers, no labels, no prejudices. It takes the 'Jonesing' effect out of it. It takes a lot of the anxiety of life away.”

It's literally 40 miles of welcome signs for boaters with restaurants, docks and storage, harbors, a yacht club, ramping, gas and fuel, maintenance services, boat sales and brokerage, beer-and-food-to-go and towing and rescue.

Scott Tate, president of the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce said sometimes outof-towners look and find more of the water's offerings in St. Charles County than do hometown boaters. “It's a valuable asset to the region and I think people who boat should know about it. We are fortunate to be at the confluence of two of the largest rivers in the world. It's an attraction in itself,” he said. “Those who live on the river and have businesses on the river, they have an appreciation for it. Tourists come to town and they go out looking for it.”

From Sharky's Cove Steaks and Seafood to Captain Jack's On The River to Kilroy's Homestyle Restaurant to Sanchez Luera Co, Riviera Too, there are a variety of choices for lunch and dinner along the water. Steaks, seafood, deli, BBQ, pizza and just about any cuisine the weekend nautical enthusiast could imagine.

Tully touts the sand beaches in St. Charles County as the “closest beaches to the East coast. They're very clean and not polluted.”

Peruque, Two Branch, Dardenne, Bolter, Iowa, Enterprise, Slim, Mason, Portage, Eagles Nest and Piasa Islands all line the Mighty Mississippi in the Alton Pool. The public beaches at Iowa, Enterprise and Mason Islands make great pit stops on a day's river cruise.

“It's really a Key West atmosphere down there,” Tully said. “From Grafton's Landing which is a floating restaurant, to the Grafton and Golden Eagle Ferries, it's just a great place to be. And thanks to the Corp, it's patrolled by the Missouri State Water Patrol so it's safe. The shallow areas are shallow enough the bring a boat in and safe enough to get off the boats. People can hop from cove to cove and mingle with other boaters.”

Tully said it “doesn't require a whole lot of money” to enjoy boating in the Alton Pool.

“You can have just as much fun in a John Boat as in a million dollar boat. It all has to do with people out there, not things.”

Several people live on their boats on the water in the area, Tully said. High water does occur but is mostly predictable and nothing to fear, he said. And a chemistry exists between the Alton Pool crowd, Tully said, that doesn't always exist in tourist towns. “It's different down there. A

You can have just as much fun in a John Boat as in a million dollar boat. It all has to do with people out there, not things.

plastic boat with two oars, but her true love of boating began in sixth grade when she and her grandfather, Albert Berthold, built their first boat dock together on his property in St. Charles County. The property was along Belleau Creek where her family has been since the nineteenth century.

Susan Berthold said the Flood of ‘93 affected the boating population and their sport in this area “dramatically.” At one time a fine of $25,000 was imposed by the United States Coast Guard on anyone who got out on the river for sport, she said.

Susan lost her dock in the flood, but she never lost her enthusiasm for boating or bird watching. Today the possibilities on the river just continue to grow, she said. “I just love being on the water, being out in nature, pulling up on a beach and letting my dog run.”■ ROBIN SEATON JEFFERSON

The Chamber and “Show Me The Mississippi” produced a map of the area highlighting all its destinations and attractions called “Show Me The Mississippi-Experience Boating in Greater St. Charles.”

Susan Berthold can appreciate life on the water. She's taken her 18-foot SeaRay Runabout all the way to Hannibal via the Mississippi. She's also been boating on the Mississippi for nearly 20 years.

She said as a third grader she had a blue

S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E | 13

NEIGHBORHOODS

Pamper & Chill J a k e ’s O n M a i n & Metro The Salon We read from left to right so it only makes sense that we pamper ourselves in the same direction. Metro the Salon and Jake's On Main are set up precisely in that order.

Located in the same building at 135 and 136 South Main, the two businesses are in the perfect order to treat their customers to a day of salon extravagance topped off with an inspiring outfit and accessories to boot.

Mark Booher's Metro the Salon was designed to give the customer a welldeserved respite from the outside world, an indulgent escape from the bustle of the everyday. “When you come in the front door, there's a noticeable difference from any other salon you've ever been to. It's like you're walking into my living room,” Booher said. Clients are even treated to complimentary beer and wine in the afternoon.

opened by Scott Newcomer in February. “'Life Is Good' is an insprirational national brand which is all over the East Coast and the West Coast and the Rockies but not so much in the Midwest. “ We're basically merchandising optimism,” Newcomer said. “Our motto is 'Do what you like, like what you do'.”

Jake's On Main carries the Goo Goo line for those 0 to three months; Boo Boo sizes for toddlers to youth and adult sizes for any age.

The T-shirts are touted to be the most comfortable shirt you'll ever wear. “They really are considered upscale casual. They are all made from double reinforced, double stitched, Peruvian combed and pre-shrunk

The salon is known for excellence in color, Booher said. Fifteen stylists get to know the clientèle by studying their skin tones, the type of accessorizing they do, their lifestyles and how much effort they want to put into a color or style.

The salon features laser hair removal for back, underarms, bikini lines, legs and face and offers manicures and pedicures. Metro the Salon also offers customized gift baskets for holidays, pampering, haircare, skin, housewarming and donations.

And once your hair, nails, legs and mood are revitalized, you can head over to Jake's On Main for a little encouragement and attitude renewal.

New to Main Street, Jake’s On Main was

cotton,” Newcomer said. “They're super ultrasoft, don't shrink or change shape. I tell people it will be their favorite shirt for many years.”■ ROBIN SEATON JEFFERSON

Kelly Newcomer 14 | S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E

NEIGHBORHOODS

Simply Mom

with

Ann Hazelwood

An Advice Manual For The Rest Of Us

What is the one piece of advice you follow from your mother?

Simply Mom—Advice From Someone Who Loves You was born when Pamela Scholl’s oldest daughter, now 28, was in high school.

Scholl started jotting down tidbits of wisdom she had gathered while her daughters were growing up.

“I shared with them the things I thought were important,” she said. “It was a response relevant to what was happening in their lives or mine. I think there’s a lesson to be learned in everything we do.”

Scholl took those lessons and turned them into a 220-page book of wisdom for mothers and children.

Scholl's own mother passed away the day her first child was born. That single event motivated her to write Simply Mom. Scholl said in her experience, children rarely listen past the first few words of advice, so she set out to keep it short and simple.

“Beyond that, they think you're lecturing them,” she said. So Simply Mom turned out to be a collection of the short and sweet; the little bursts of wisdom mothers bestow on their children beyond the “I told you so's.”

Simply Mom premiered in January. The book is available at www.simplymom.org, Main Street Books in St. Charles, Borders in St. Louis, St. Peters and Fairview Heights, and at Left Bank Books.

Hundreds of the six-by-six-inch burgundycolored advice manuals have already sold with an amazing response coming from–of all people–men. “Men do have a response to it,” Scholl said. “They want to give something to their wives or their moms or want advice to tell their daughters.”

Scholl begins the book with some pretty sound advice, “Listen to your mother, period.” She said she isn't saying to do

16 | S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E

Bob Moeller | former Mayor— St. Charles She always told me to be very nice to people and to always wear clean underwear.

Pamela Scholl

exactly what mom says, but simply to listen.

Sharon Brader | Assistant City Clerk— City of St. Charles

She continues with seven sections of advice that cover everything from finding your voice to nurturing your body and spirit to relationships. Scholl has a bachelor of fine arts in sculpture and drawing from Fontbonne University in St. Louis. Her talents for design and drawing come through in the book's pleasant and enticing doodles that she calls chapter graphics.

I was to always carry a handkerchief,

“Raising two daughters is an adventure and journey through some difficult times, but I found that a good sense of humor is always a welcome companion,” Scholl said. “The advice contained in my book is not about fashion tips or cosmetic secrets. It is more about finding the person within, enjoying the simplicities of life, balancing the tough times with an awareness of the bigger picture and being the spark in your relationships.”

Director—St. Charles

Scholl has two daughters: Katie, 28, a mother and speech pathologist; and Anne, 25, a third-year law student. “I'd like to think I had something to do with [their success]. Much of the time it seemed they weren't listening,” Scholl said. “I guess they really were.”

Retired Sisters

Perhaps one of Scholl's best nuggets of advice can be found toward the end of her first book. Simply put: “And in your darkest moment, remember how much I love you.”■

Missouri Cancer Center

ROBIN SEATON JEFFERSON

because it came in handy for many reasons.

Jasper Noto | owner—J. Notos Bakery Respect others and treat them as you would like to be treated.

Donna Costellia | Assistant Tourism

She said to always be positive, no matter what!

Rita Beard | Retired Teacher She told me to never criticize other people's children, because you never know what yours have been doing.

Irma Wells and Earline Knight |

Our mother, who was part Indian, would say, "Never knock a person down, because you haven't walked in their moccasins."

Kathy L. Collins | Medical Secretary—

I was told to never cut myself down, because there were plenty of other people to do that.

Featured Burger The Culpepper Burger: Ta n t a l i z i n g g a r l i c cream cheese on top of a sizzling fresh g r o u n d b u r g e r. . . a legend you can really sink your teeth into!

S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E | 17

DRIVEWAYS TO DOORWAYS

Building St. Charles Ve h l e w a l d C o n s t r u c t i o n They're known as Vehlewald Construction, a husband and wife team that knows construction and development, and a couple that knows St. Charles.

Gary Vehlewald started in construction at 16 years old. As the years passed, he went through the carpenter apprenticeship program with The Jones Company and started building homes on the side.

Gary went on his own about a decade ago.

“He is an amazing trim carpenter, the best finish carpenter I have ever seen,” said Karen Vehlewald. Karen is a real estate agent and lifetime resident of St. Charles. She specializes in residential real estate, fine homes and estates and new construction.

Gary and Karen met when Karen worked for a title company. “We were fixed up through a mutual friend, a lender,” Karen said.

After the birth of her son, Zachary, Karen decided she wanted to stay home and have flexibility with her schedule. With her real estate license, Karen could list and sell the homes her husband was building and he could continue to run the jobsite and deal with the contractors.

Today Vehlewald Construction employs 12 people full time, including salespeople. The company predominately builds custom homes in St. Charles County. He's the builder and she's the paper pusher.

“It's unique because we share a respect for each other. It keeps us going and happily married,” Karen said. “I don't tell him how to hammer a nail and he doesn't tell me how to write a check.”

Karen said the two have different talents and strengths and both contribute equally to the business. “He's my best friend and my business partner. Lots of times we have to agree to disagree.”

18 | S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E

Because of her background with a title company, Karen said she has garnered a competitive edge. “I was able to watch the bigger successful (builders) and see how they got there. I've seen the little people make mistakes.”

Vehlewald is currently working on Springwell Village with luxury waterfront townhomes, rowhomes, condominium mansions and single family cottage and estate homes from the $160's located off the South Service Road east of the Cave Springs Exit off Springwell Drive.

Karen said she feels lucky to be in the construction business even though her female counterparts are far and few in between. “I'm lucky to see this side of it.

There is a minority of women in home building, but they are increasing. There are more in the business than even 10 years ago.”

Karen said she is among the sixth generation of her family in St. Charles. Her grandfather Frank Brockgreitens was mayor of St.

Charles from 1971 to 1978. Her father was on the St. Charles School District Board of Directors. Her mother was a teacher and serves on the Planning and Zoning Commission for the city. “I wanted to raise my son here. It's neat to say that you have that deep of a history in one place.”■ ROBIN SEATON JEFFERSON

Karen and Gary Vehlewald

160’s

S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E | 19

Let’s Party!

Beyond Cake & Ice Cream

Birthday parties… a kid's dream and a parent's, well, challenge. What kind of cake?

What kind of decorations? Where to take them? How much will it all cost?

In recent years, businesses have grasped the concept that parents have struggled with for decades and spun it into options. Just write a check and they take care of the rest.

Street Scape Magazine has looked high and low for fun birthday ideas for kids both old and young so that you don’t have to. Check these out!

Parties for Girly-Girls The Hairy Elephant in O'Fallon is a unique yet considerably “girly” option for parents whose little birthday girls like the pampered touch. After all, what little girl wouldn't want to play dress up, have her hair and nails done and be queen for a day?

This children's hair salon provides haircuts, manicures, pedicures, bang trims, make-up application, baby's first haircut and a free tenth cut.

Party guests are treated to a special hairstyle,

20 | S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E

glittery nail polish and make-up application.

The Hairy Elephant provides the paper goods, beverage, decorated cookies, party favors, a gift for the guest of honor, a group photo and dress-up costumes and jewelry.

A Birthday Cake with Holes Even the 70-year old doughnut giant Krispy Kreme has gotten into the birthday act. Along with doughnuts, coffee, Krispy Kreme cards and collectibles, the famed breakfast store offers fundraising and, yes, birthday parties.

Kevin Cannon, manager at the O'Fallon store said birthdays at Krispy Kreme include a tour of the store including the kitchen where the doughnuts are made. Kids get to bowl with cinnamon buns and cups and play basketball with doughnut holes and a large bucket. And last but not least, the staff brings out an extra large box of glazed doughnuts, chocolate, sprinkles and whipped cream, and lets the kids go to town making their own birthday cake.

Birthday Magic For birthday party magic, parents can give their little magicians, three and older, a trip

to The Magic House. A themed birthday party includes a private room where Magic House staff will facilitate one hour of party activities. When the party is over, guests have unlimited play time in The Magic House, the first totally hands-on children's museum.

Fun For All Ages Dave & Buster's in Maryland Heights is a party destination for kids and adults alike.

The combination of food and fun in this establishment has drawn scores of people of all ages to celebrate their birthdays and many other occasions.

Dave and Buster ran neighboring businesses–a restaurant and an arcade– in the 1970’s, and soon discovered they had a unique traffic phenomenon. Patrons would often be seen going from one business to the other. Twenty-five years ago in Dallas, Texas the two men found an empty 40,000square-foot warehouse where they opened the very first Dave & Buster's.

Today the D&B family has grown to include locations across America and around the world. Great food and big fun served up by

celebrations as well.

Employees can practice their team building skills while they play either Demolition Ball or Adrenaline Zone. No skill is required.

In demolition ball, two teams of five chase a whiffle ball, scoop it up and shoot at a goal while seated safely in a bumper car. Referees provide highlights of the action on each court, as each player shows his stuff. the friendliest people in town is the company's motto.

An Adrenaline Rush For Everyone Playful adults and children age 12 and over may also want to consider Adrenaline Zone Demolition Ball on Old Highway 94 South in St. Charles. Party packages include demolition ball play, Papa John's pizzas, soft drinks, cake and balloons.

Adrenaline Zone Laser Tag parties include Adrenaline Zone games, soda, pizza, cupcakes, arcade tokens for each person and use of the party area.

The party place touts an innovative solution that works for strategy sessions or office

At Adrenaline Zone, the company's brand new laser tag game, participants can divide into two teams which must work together to achieve their goal and defeat the opposing team.

Those who would rather observe than play can watch it all unfold from a large viewing area. A variety of food and drink packages can be purchased to compliment the occasion, as well as prizes and music.

Pump It Up For the more rambunctious child or adult, Pump It Up Party Zone offers “The Inflatable Party Zone” for ages two through adult at 3691 New Town Blvd. Party-goers

can jump, climb, slide and bounce their way into the giant custom designed, interactive inflatable play structures.

The company offers private, clean, safe and climate-controlled play arenas and brightly decorated party rooms.

Parties include fully-decorated play rooms, music, paper products, pizza, soda, balloons and goodie bags, depending on the package.

Up to 26 guests can attend including the birthday child and kids under 24 months, and adults over 18 can play free and are not included in the guest limit.

Whatever the pleasure of the birthday girl or boy, man or woman, St. Charles County businesses have come up with something to please.■ ROBIN SEATON JEFFERSON

S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E | 21

A LA CARTE

Summertime And the Eating Is Easy Summer time is the time to eat—backyard barbecues, vacation and eating out. It's also a fun time to try something new. And there are some new and innovative eateries popping up around the city by the river.

Rudy Roudolph has seen to that. Roudolph opened Rudy's Ribs in New Town recently in two kiosks conveniently placed near the development's famed amphitheater.

Roudolph won't tell what is in his famous sauce to give it its hardy flavor. “Don't but three people know that—my first wife, my last wife and I. I've been barbecuing for years and it was something I came up with a long time ago.”

Roudolph said he will be adding a steak night and a buffet night to his offerings in the summer. Along with his rib tips, pork legs, pork steak, chicken, bratwurst, hot dogs, hot wings and hamburgers, Roudolph will be offering porterhouse steak and New York strip. Side items include baked beans, coleslaw, baked potatoes, french fries, onion rings and green beans.

Rudy's Ribs is open from 11 a.m. To 8 p.m.

Wednesday through Sunday and for all special events at New Town.

For those who don't want to leave the comfort of their homes for a fine steak dinner, Steak-Out Restaurant will bring a steak dinner with all the trimmings right to the front door. And it's guaranteed to be hot.

Kim and Rich Hollingsworth opened SteakOut two years ago at 1456 Bass Pro Drive in St. Charles. Since then, the couple has catered for the St. Louis Rams at training camp and hundreds of others.

“We're probably the only place you get a choice cut steak fresh off the charbroiler delivered to your house ready to eat,” Rich said. “We're famous for our food still being hot when we get it there.”

Rich said Steak-Out is “bringing the heart of the five star experience to your door.”

22 | S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E

Steak-Out offers their New York strip, ribeye, T-bone or filet mignon with its famous 200-degree Colorado baked potato, dinner roll and salad, as well as many other choices, including burgers and chicken.

Prices range from $9.99 to $17.99.

Six drivers deliver meals from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday. Carry-out is also available.

Call 636-947-6888 to order in the St. Charles area.

No matter how many dining out choices the area provides, some people prefer their own specialties to those in a store or restaurant.

And one St. Charles salsa connoisseur can vouch for that.

Sister Maria Luisa Cotto of the Academy of the Sacred Heart has been making her famous salsa for years to help fund programs at the Academy. A religious of the Sacred Heart, Sister Cotto makes over 350 jars a year for the school's Country Fair.

The formula is a secret, mainly because Sister Cotto refuses to betray the friend that gave her the recipe.

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Sister Cotto is a woman of her word. The salsa is hot in more ways than one, she said. “I have to limit them to two jars per family,” she said. “Otherwise I don't have enough for [everyone].”

Sister Cotto begins a few weeks before the fair and keeps every jar refrigerated till sale time. “There are no additives. It is all fresh from the garden. There is a lot of washing and peeling of tomatoes and jalapeños.”

Sister Cotto is a retired teacher at the school.

She mainly takes care of the gardens and the housekeeping supervision now. “The main thing is I pray for everyone that asks me to pray for them,” she said.

Sister Cotto clears about $4,000 in sales from her $5 and $10 jars of salsa. “It is all for the school,” she said.■ ROBIN SEATON JEFFERSON

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S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E | 23

A LA CARTE

Serve!

An idea for a different kind of restaurant, a family atmosphere with more to do than eat and drink, has morphed into a favorite hangout for area volleyball enthusiasts, young, old and everyone in between.

The property upon which Ethyl's Wildwood Smokehouse and Saloon sits has a rich history in O'Fallon. In September of 1923, Highway 40, now Veteran's Memorial Parkway, made its way past the property.

On September 5, 1925, Gerhard Sonderen bought the property for $1,000. A year later, he opened The Wildwood Salon.

“We hesitate to mention this, because we paid a lot more for it than he did,” Ethyl's owners write on the restaurant's website.

But the history didn’t stop there. During the depression, Sonderen sold the property to Edward Hesskamp who would keep the tavern for nearly 20 years before selling it to Gene and Marge Reed in the late 1940's.

They appropriately named the place “Gene and Marge's”. Other owners have come and gone in over 60 years as well as establishment names including The Normandy Athletic Club, Borders, Shady Grove and Bubba and Coy's Catfish House.

Co-owner Brenda Eisenbath said most people remember the place as Shady Grove, where patrons sat outside under the various hardwoods enjoying wine and beer.

“Edith Obrecht remembers when it was called The Wildwood Saloon in 1926 when she was a mere girl of 16,” Eisenbath said.

24 | S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E

“She told me that 'It was a beautiful place, we danced in the woods'.”

Eisenbath said her family decided to continue the establishment's history of food, fun and outdoors when they built Ethyl's.

That plan included the now famous sand pits that sit outside the restaurant in the back—a modern day draw to the outdoors.

“We put the sand pits in when we first opened,” Eisenbath said. “We wanted it to be a place for family, more than just food.

We wanted it to be so much more than a place to stop and have a beer.”

So far, the restaurant and the sand pits have become just that. And along with a playground for the kids, there is little more families need to enjoy an evening together.

“Kids eat so fast before adults even get started,” Eisenbath said. That's why the owners placed the playground within view of the patio and the sand volleyball courts.

But families aren't the only ones who come to enjoy Ethyl's atmosphere. Corporations send their employees to play a game they can learn from. Eisenbath said corporations—including Cisco Systems and Mastercard--get into the game to increase departmental communication within their companies. “Instead of a picnic, these companies hold a volleyball tournament.

Different departments play each other for athletic exercise and to stay healthy,” Eisenbath said.

Business groups, corporate parties and class and family reunions all come to use the

courts and enjoy Ethyl's famous fare.

Ethyl's buffalo chicken wings were voted best wings in St. Charles County from 2002 to 2004. The restaurant's barbecue nachos are crisp tortilla chips topped with smoke meats, two cheeses, tomatoes, black olives and green onions. And perhaps Ethyl's most beloved items are its smoked beef, chicken and pork and sweet smoky ribs.

The restaurant uses an authentic wood fired smoker which slowly smokes over 1,000 pounds of meat for hours with pecan wood to capture the best flavor.

Steaks are hand-cut daily at Ethyl's and desserts are baked fresh daily in the kitchen.

Corporate as well as family leagues are offered at Ethyl's in the spring, summer and fall. Charities and schools have played to raise money for their causes. Free play is offered on off-league days. “It's like mom's bowling night. The food draws people, and their kids have so much fun. It's just a really fun night out. You don't have to be great to come and play.”

Ethyl's also offers pool tables and darts as well as live bands on Saturdays and Sundays, a DJ on Thursdays and Fridays, and free food for kids and Sparky the Clown on Mondays. Ethyl's has a new draw for the techy crowd, too. Wii tournaments with bowling, tennis, boxing or whatever the players decide are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays.■ ROBIN SEATON JEFFERSON

A LA CARTE

Magpie’s The name comes from a particularly precocious little girl who could be found on the apron strings of her would-be entrepreneur and chef mom some 23 years ago.

Rhonda Crane started Magpie's Cafe over two decades ago in the basement of the Crow's Nest at 524 South Main Street in St. Charles. She named the now famous eatery for her talkative two-year-old, Maggie. “She said her first word at four and a half months old,” Crane said. “We used to say she would chatter like a magpie.”

Crane said her love of cooking goes back to her childhood and her own mother's kitchen. “I remember when I was a child and my mother made fabulous pies from scratch. They looked like something on the cover of a magazine. I would be on my knees on the kitchen chair rolling out pie dough.

I was about two years old wanting to learn to cook.”

Ten years ago, Crane moved Magpie's to 903 South Main where it remains today.

In the beginning, Crane's menu was slight, but solid. Magpie's offered three salads, four sandwiches, three desserts, two quiche and one soup. She and one other cook did all of the food preparation. A server and a dishwasher were also part of the equation then.

Today, Magpie's employs some 20 workers when the patio is open. The cafe serves up ten sandwiches, three quiche, two soups every day, eight salads and many, many other specialties.

Some of her specialty grills include marinated chicken breast with honey mustard sauce, mahi mahi with mango salsa, beef tenderloin with roasted red peppers and Gorgonzola cheese, and bacon wrapped pork loin with praline mustard sauce.

Magpie's most famous fare is Crane's baked potato soup, which may just have started the baked potato soup bandwagon that many 26 | S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E

F E AT U R E D R E C I P E

other area restaurants are now taking a ride on. “We were pioneers of it. All of a sudden everyone started doing it,” Crane said.

Magpie’s | Chef Rhonda Crane

Magpie's offers three varieties of Crane's homemade quiche daily. “One of our most popular and probably most unique is the asparagus with brie,” she said.

Others include bacon, onion and mushroom, spinach with feta and artichoke with parmesan.

1 small red onion, peeled & quartered

Crane's blackberry cobbler is a favorite among her desserts as is her bread pudding with dried cranberries, golden apples and raisins, topped with caramel. Hershey Bar Pie and Banana Heath Crepes don't fall far behind.

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

“Munchies” at Magpie's include cheese bread, artichoke butter (garlicky lemonartichoke spread) with French bread, nachos, crostini and baked brie.

Another new offering at Magpie's is Tapas Tuesdays. Tapas was featured last summer and is coming back due to an incredible response from Magpie's clientèle. Tapas or “small plates” originated in Spain and include small servings of entree items.

“Several restaurants in St. Louis do it, but nobody else in St. Charles,” Crane said.

The premise is simple.

On Tuesday evenings, Magpie's offers a special menu with various entrees such as ribs, crab cakes, lamb kabobs, smoked Gouda augratin potatoes, sea scallops in roasted red pepper sauce and individual sized pizzas.

Some thirty items are offered for patrons who may pick as many as they wish. “They can order a dozen things and try them all,” Crane said.■ ROBIN SEATON JEFFERSON

Poppyseed Dressing: 1 cup sugar

1 3/4 cups salad oil 1 cup white vinegar 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons poppyseeds Put sugar into a 2 quart bowl and set aside. Add onion and vinegar to a blender and pulse for a minute or so. Add mustard and salt; pulse for another 30 seconds. With the blender running, slowly add the oil in a thin stream. Pour this mixture into the sugar in the bowl, add the poppyseeds and mix well with a wire whisk.

This dressing is served on our spinach salads. Our spring and summer version is topped with strawberries, mangoes, thinly sliced red onions and toasted almonds. Our fall and winter version is topped with feta cheese, dried cranberries, cooked chopped bacon and thinly sliced green onions.

Open Daily 11AM–10PM

Specials this Month Lunch in 15 minutes or it’s FREE! Wednesday House Margarita (20 oz)–$3.99 Thursday House Margarita Pitcher–$10.99 M

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Check for this edition and previous editions online today at www.streetscapemag.com!

Happy Hour 4PM–8PM M-F

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S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E | 27

Vote for your favorites at local participating restaurants, including: Ethyl’s Smokehouse Grappa Grill Hooters Hot Shots Show Me’s TGI Friday’s

Vote for your favorite waiter, waitress or bartender at participating restaurants. (look for M

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the St. Charles’ Best button) One participant will win a much-earned prize and recognition in the next issue of

catch the buzz!

Street Scape. Voting begins March first!

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S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E | 29

YOU CAUGHT OUR EYE

Volunteerism Growing Our Cities By Leaps & Bounds A Trashy Proposition…

Some people just see what needs doing and simply put, they do it. They don't complain.

They don't enlist others to carry the load, they just move forward regardless of what the job entails.

Chris Pals is one of those community visionaries and activists. The young real estate developer said he and his wife were

“So I went to (St. Charles) Mayor (Patti) York,” Pals said. “She was very supportive.”

the volunteer efforts of her parents her whole life.

What Pals told York was that the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) just did not have the resources or the time to clean up all of the major thoroughfares and he wanted to see that they got some help.

“Dad has always volunteered for things,” she said. “He was an alderman in O'Fallon. He always trained me to volunteer for things.

After college in 1981, I started working full time for the store and dad just kept volunteering me for things. He's still volunteering me for things.”

So Pals came up with a plan. He secured an annual $20,000 stipend from the city and went about hiring high school and college students and retirees to join “The Litter Team”. The team works between four and six hours per day Monday through Friday picking up different areas of the city. Pals still coordinates the effort.

“They work very hard,” he said of The Litter Team, “basically 12 months out of the year.”

The group has been hired to coordinate with the city on festivals and with the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts.

The Litter Team collects roughly 5,000 bags of trash per year, Pals said. Bags as well as pick-up sticks are supplied by MoDOT.

Chris Pals

driving through St. Charles one day several years ago when they noticed that a significant amount of trash had begun to find its way onto their street and other streets around St. Charles.

Rose Wells

“I got tired of seeing litter on the side of the road that didn't need to be there,” Pals said.

“So I adopted part of Country Club Road.”

Before he knew it Country Club Road became the Zumbehl Exit and then it was on to the highways. By now cleaning up his city was in his blood. He couldn't stop at one or two thoroughfares. He needed to expand his operation.

30 | S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E

The team is compensated for their efforts in more ways than one, however.

Pals said in the five-plus years they have been cleaning the streets, the group has found more than $800 in cash. One day on Elm Street, one of the team found a $50 bill and other twenties and tens every few feet until the money totaled more than $300, he said.

Pals said he would be happy if ordinary citizens put him out of work. “Please stop littering. Let's be proud of our city and our country,” he said.

Giving Back To The Community Rose Thro Wells, the daughter of Thro's and Michelle's Clothing owner, Maurice Thro, Wells said she has been witness to

Wells was one of the originators of “Music On Main”, a monthly music extravaganza held on Main Street between Jefferson and Monroe Streets. The Historic Downtown Association sponsors the event every third Wednesday from May through September with a live band, a beer truck and food.

The Riverside Mall Association first started “Music On Main” in the 1980's when Main Street was an outside mall. The bands played on a bandstand in the courtyard of the mall.

The music has varied over the years, Wells said, from middle of the road jazz and blues to country to easy listening.

Wells said “Music On Main” has grown significantly since the early days. “It's gotten to be very large with ages from children to seniors. People are having fun and they're coming down to Main Street and seeing the businesses which is what we intended in the first place. The whole purpose was to bring people down on the street and have a good feeling about Main Street.”

In the beginning the association handpumped one keg of beer for the 20 or 30 people who came. Today a whole truck with four tappers serves about 400.

Wells has volunteered in many other capacities in her time on Main Street, working with Oktoberfest, Fete de Glace and Christmas Trains on Main, to name a few.

For information on volunteering, contact your local Chamber of Commerce or City Hall.■ ROBIN SEATON JEFFERSON

CELEBRATING OUR 90TH ANNIVERSARY!

Custom hand-blended tobaccos, antique & contemporary pipes, imported premium cigars and smoker's requisites.

TOBACCONISTS SINCE 1917 700 SOUTH MAIN ST. CHARLES, MO 63301

636-946-6899

S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E | 31

BEST SHOPPING FINDS

Green Is The New Brown J e w e l r y Tr e n d s 2 0 0 7

lends itself to the beading. They don't have to look through every piece. Many people I've helped with prom have come back to me for their wedding.”

Janice Boschert

Just like brown was the new black last year, green is the new brown this year. But before you go throwing out your browns, a visit to String Along with Me and Janice Boschert might be in order.

A jewelry designer and fashion accessory expert, Boschert owns and operates the store at 625 South Main in St. Charles, where she caters to anyone who needs custom jewelry and someone to match, size and coordinate it with their outfit and their personality.

or other pieces to match.

“Lots of women bring in their clothing and I help them accessorize,” she said. “People come because they like the personality of the store. They come in even if they don't wear jewelry.”

Boschert designs and sells jewelry for all occasions–from elegant to trendy–including proms, weddings and evening events.

Boschert opened the fashion accessory boutique 21 years ago after designing jewelry and framing for another company. “The special part about the store is that customers can come in and have jewelry to compliment them and their clothing rather than have to settle with ready-made or what might not work,” Boschert said.

String Along With Me carries the gold on gold works of designer Claudia Labo and the pieces of Israeli designers Igaal Keter and Izzo Aran. Tiaras and custom designs with pearl and crystal weaving abound in the shop as do sterling silver and dichroic glass with colors to compliment the new season in pendants and earrings. The semi-precious stones of amber, black onyx and turquoise enhance the natural look.

For example a large or tall woman may need a longer necklace than a small woman. At String Along With Me, everything is custom. The customer may find a beautiful necklace in Boschert's store but it is too small or does not come with earrings.

Boschert can customize the piece to the woman's preference and even design earrings

Repairs, updates and advising are all part of Boschert's forte of jewelry design and customization. “Brides tell me about their dress style and color and I can tell them within a half hour what they should be wearing with the style of their neckline and dress,” Boschert said. “A lot of the design

32 | S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E

Spectator styles, with the bold reds, whites, blues and blacks will be big this year, Boschert said, as will the naturals of beiges, grays, browns and greens. “This year it will be a lot of naturals with greens and grays. It won't be as heavy brown as last year. Circles and shapes are still in and one thing strong for the spring is shells.”

Fleur de Lis pendants, perhaps from a strong feeling toward New Orleans, are being seen on a lot of jewelry this year, Boschert said, and butterflies are going to be on everything.

Boschert boasts literally millions of beads and semi-precious stones from New York and California, with brass, copper, pewter and plated to everything in between. She also teaches jewelry design by appointment.

Boschert takes pride in the feel of String Along With Me. “The atmosphere I want to create is something that excites you about the trends that are happening and the colors that are in. It gives you a feeling that this is what's happening now.”

String Along With Me is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 12:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday.■ ROBIN SEATON JEFFERSON

BEST SHOPPING FINDS

Mother’s Day 2007

Looking for a great gift for your mom this Mother’s Day? Look no further! We’ve compiled a list of items available at local shops. Don’t forget that gift certificates are also available at most locations. Check them out today!

1 Your mom can enhance her wardrobe of soft spring colors with this gorgeous tortoise cuff bracelet available at String Along With Me, 523 S Main St., St. Charles | 636-947-7740.

2 Indulge mom’s sweet tooth with handmade chocolates and candies from Riverside Sweets, 416 S Main St. # A, St. Charles | 636-724-4131

1

2

3

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3 The well accessorized mom will love pretty much anything from Friperie, including this new spring handbag, 610 S Main St., St. Charles | 636-947-7980 4 Does your mom love beautiful home decor and fabulous silk arrangements? A gift from The Flower Petaler is sure to please!

620 S. Main St., St. Charles | 636-946-3048 5 Enchanting glass ornaments, windchimes and glass hobby supplies are a great gift for moms everywhere. Visit The Glass Workbench at 318 S. Main St., St. Charles | 636-946-2002 6 Your mom will love any of the eclectic home decor items from The White Hare, including personality inspired martini glasses.

3098 Winghaven Blvd., O’Fallon | 636-561-4611

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6

S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E | 33

TIDBITS

Celebrating Diversity Through Alternative Education In January 2006, The Foundry Art Centre and the City of St. Charles developed an Interactive Arts and Technology Education Center, which is the result of a grant award from the United States Department of Education. This media literacy program encourages innovative teaching practices for working with media technology and audiovisual equipment in the classroom, focusing on critical thinking, media analysis techniques, and simple, hands-on video projects.

students enrolled in the second session of the program (9 of whom were involved in the “My Life” program last year), and these students will advance to using film and video as their production tools. This program will act as a component of the

existing Culture Club originally established at the school through a Fulbright Grant, and will support a variety of activities designed to explore cultural diversity within their school and community.

Students in the “My Life” Photography Club have been learning by telling their life story through photographs formatted as a video documentary. Many students come from diverse cultural backgrounds, and use the project as a way of sharing and celebrating differences.

Hardin Middle School currently has 12

75 Years & Counting The St. Charles Junior Service League celebrated their 75th anniversary at Pio’s Restaurant on January 16, 2007. The party was attended by current members as well as past Presidents, many of whom are still active members. New officers were installed, including Jeanette Garrison as President, Penney Ryan as Vice-President and Michelle Maloney as Treasurer. Marge Perry and Jeannie Radke with their husbands Paul and Rod recieved a special gift honoring the fact that they’ve chaired the Festival of the Little Hills ice cream booth for 18 years.

Above: Original members of the Junior Service League photographed in 1933 Below: Past Presidents photographed in 2007

36 | S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E

The St. Charles Junior Service League has been purchasing shoes for needy children in St. Charles County since 1932. The last charter member, Billie Williams recently passed away in October 2006. Any women interested in joining this civic organization that provides a very worthwhile service to the community should call Jeanette Garrison at 636-947-9677.

S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E | 37

HEALTH WATCH

A Cold One For Those Living With Celiac Disease My older brother, Brian Adams, lives with Celiac disease, a disease that affects 1 in 133 Americans.

The tendency to get Celiac disease is inherited genetically. It mostly affects people of European descent, and is also more common in families with diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis. Something in the environment is necessary to trigger the Celiac disease in those who are susceptible.

Symptoms can range from classic features such as diarrhea, weight loss, and malnutrition or can manifest as nutrient deficiencies.

Celiac disease does not begin until gluten is introduced in the diet. Symptoms usually begin between 6 months and 2 years of age, though they can certainly also begin at 6 years or 60. Because of the broad range of symptoms, there might be a long lag between the time that symptoms appear and a diagnosis is made.

Once diagnosed, Celiacs can no longer enjoy food or drink made with barley, wheat, oats, rye, spelt or their related grains. Brian, who is now 42, was diagnosed almost 7 years ago.

Ten years prior to that diagnosis he started experiencing lingering headaches that would last for days, lethargy, bloating and gas pains.

He says "he watched his body change from a normal weight of around 165-170 down to 150 pounds.

When initially diagnosed, Brian says he was left with so many questions because it wasn't

38 | S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E

a disease he heard about while he was growing up majoring in biology. Brian and his wife, Christine, switched to a gluten free diet and became very aware of cross contamination and the unfortunate side effect of not being able to eat out at just any restaurant or even at the same table as their sons "for fear of even a bread crumb dropping into his now gluten free food". He saw his weight go back up to a healthy 165 for his 5'10" frame within a month. If a person with the disorder continues to eat gluten, studies have shown that he or she will increase their chances of gastrointestinal cancer by a factor of 40 to 100 times that of the normal population.

Food allergies as a

whole are becoming more widely recognized and catered to thanks to the Food and Drug Administration's stringent labeling of foods that may contain even trace amounts of peanuts, milk, soy and wheat. And now those living a wheat and gluten free lifestyle have even more choices when it comes to being in a social crowd.

Anheuser Busch rolled out their new beer, Redbridge, in December of 2006. The beer is brewed with sorghum, a safe grain for those with intolerance to wheat or gluten. It

Monica Adams and Brian Adams

0ERSONAL 4RAINER "OOT #AMP )NSTRUCTOR

is grown in the United States, Africa, Southern Europe, Central America and Southern Asia. Redbridge is a hearty, fullbodied lager brewed using imported Hallertau and domestic Cascade hops. “We set out to create a fine, hand-crafted specialty beer made without wheat or barley,� said Angie Minges, product manager at Anheuser-Busch, Inc. “We’ve made Redbridge nationally available to make sure adults who experience wheat allergies or who choose a gluten-free or wheat-free diet can enjoy the kind of beer that fits their lifestyle.�

My brother was "thoroughly elated" when he found out that YES he could once again have a beer with his buddies and not feel like a social outcast. Adams says "Thanks to Anheuser Busch for stepping up to the plate and making this product for those, like me, living with Celiac Disease."

Anheuser-Busch worked closely with the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) during the development of Redbridge to get a better understanding of the needs of consumers who are leading gluten-free or wheat-free lifestyles. AnheuserBusch will make annual donations to the NFCA and sponsor their events such as cooking sprees. For more information about Celiac you can log on to www.celiac.com.

Redbridge is brewed at the Anheuser-Busch Merrimack, N.H., brewery. While Redbridge is the only beer Anheuser Busch brews with sorghum, the St. Louis based brewer also makes a few organic beers. Redbridge is available through Krey distributing in St. Charles and Lincoln Counties as well as many of your major grocers and restaurants that sell organic products. You can find further information on Redbridge online at www.kreydist.com.

National restaurant chains Carrabbas Italian Grill, P.F. Chang's and Outback Steakhouse also cater to those with Celiac disease or who choose a gluten free diet with a separate menu.â– MONICA ADAMS

with Monica Adams

#HANGE 9OUR ,IFE

How do I get my cardio in when the weather doesn't cooperate and I can't get outside?

You don't have to have access to a treadmill, a bike, an elliptical or any gym quality piece of cardiovascular equipment, all you need is your body! Think back to gym class and the traditional jumping jacks, crab crawl, jumping rope (and no you don't even need a jump rope- you can mimic the motion), knee raises to your hands, jogging in place, mountain climbers and side to side moves to work those hips, like the old football drills. I challenge you to take three of these movements and do them in succession for 5 minutes without rest and see what kind of sweat beads come dripping off your forehead. 1-2 minutes might be all you can do. You have to work at your own pace and fitness level and build strength and cardiovascular endurance. **Remember to always check with your physician before beginning a fitness program.

“Providing support for you and your family in times of crisis.�

INC

Individual, Family & Group Therapy

Cindy Eisenbeis, MSW, LCSW 314.484.6198 www.innovativecounselingservices.com

How can I build strength without having dumbbells, barbells or machines at my house?

You can do a push-up (man's or woman's style), stomach work on the floor and NO not just crunches or situps; but working every angle of the abdominal area. You can lean against the wall and walk your feet out, legs shoulder width apart and then slowly move into a squat and hold at 90 degrees without moving.

This is an isometric hold, you will really see your legs get lean the longer you can hold this position.

You can test your core strength by holding a plank. Start face down on a mat or rug, put your arms under your chest with elbows to the ground and then push them into the floor as you raise your body off the mat and just hold your position without your back swaying. This will test all the muscles that make up your core, some believe that the core is comprised of over 50 muscles!

Do this exercise and you will feel many of them doing their job to help stabilize you.

S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E | 39

HEALTH WATCH

Summer Skin Safety Keeping Cancer at Bay not,” Clever said. “There are two types of ultraviolet lights--A rays and B rays. A rays are the ones that cause cancer by suppressing the immune system in the skin. They allow skin cancers to grow.”

Dr. Hank Clever

With such a vast array of medical educational resources and so many preventative measures available to patients today, it's a wonder we're ever sick at all.

Of course, we do get sick and diseases befall us by no fault of our own sometimes.

Fortunately one of the easiest measures we can take to ward off a very real and dangerous disease is readily available and relatively cheap: It's sunscreen and experts in the field of cancer and dermatology swear by it.

We all know that wearing sunscreen is vital to protect our skin from damage. But do we know what to look for in a sunscreen?

Most of us think as long as a large number appears on the front of the bottle, we're safe, but according to Skin Cancer Surgeon Dr. Hank Clever, that couldn't be farther from the truth.

“Of all the [ways] we have to protect ourselves from the sun, sunscreen is probably the most important,” said Clever.

“We need to be out in the sun rather than inside playing video games, but we need to protect ourselves.”

A local expert on the effects and treatments of skin cancer in St. Charles, Clever said of the broad spectrum of sunscreens available, the best ones—the ones that will actually protect against the dangers of the sun's rays—will include one of two ingredients.

Abobenzone (parsol) or titanium dioxide must be on the product's list of ingredients if it can be trusted to do any good against skin cancer. “Both protect against ultraviolet A rays, which conventional sunscreens do

40 | S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E

Essentially B rays are the ones we see, the visible light spectrum, Clever said. The ultraviolet A rays are the dangerous ones because they can break the DNA molecules that link the structure that makes up our chromosomes. On a cloudy day, people still get 70 percent of the sun's ultraviolet rays, he said.

Most people falsely assume that an SPF of 30 is enough to protect them against burns and future damage to the skin, Clever said.

“You have to look for these ingredients,” he said. “Most people don't know. If they have a high SPF, but don't guard against A rays, the risk of skin cancer is unchanged.”

Clever said skin cancers have become more prevalent since World War II partly due to cultural norms. “Before WWII it was not a good thing to have a tan. It usually meant you did menial work. Then after WWII it became a status symbol because it meant you had leisure time.”

Pollutants are almost as damaging to the skin as the sun, Clever said. “After sun exposure and genetics, cigarette smoke and other pollutants are the leading cause of skin cancer,” he said. “This includes the smog and the garbage we pump into the air with cars. When people were developing the tendencies to get these cancers in the 1960's, 70's and 80's, the air was in worse shape than it is today.”

Clever said tanning beds are also a major contributor to skin cancers today, primarily because people think they're safe. “Tans from tanning beds are more harmful than helpful,” he said. “What you get from a tanning bed is a short term chemical configuration of melanin. You have a darker

pigment in the skin, but it doesn't block the A and B rays, so you still get an increased risk of skin cancer. There is a higher intensity of ultraviolet exposure and you're doing more of it because you don't think you're doing any harm.”

Summertime can also exacerbate all sorts of disorders of keratinization, Clever said, a whole host of disorders in the way the skin is structured. Intense heat can cause a variety of rashes and other problems including hives, prickly heat and extreme itching.

Clever recommends staying cool and using antihistamines when necessary. Diabetics are at increased risk for these skin disorders, he said.

Most outdoor stores carry some type of ultraviolet protective clothing, which can also benefit those who may be continuously exposed to harmful ultraviolet rays because of work or recreation. These clothes should breathe well and keep moisture away from the skin as well as be comfortable to wear, Clever said.

Clever said the best thing an individual can do for themselves or their children to protect from skin cancer is to make sunscreen application part of their regular morning routine.

Apply the sunscreen as though it were deodorant or makeup, something you wouldn't leave home without.■ ROBIN SEATON JEFFERSON

Examples of cancerous lesions

so you think you’ve got good

s

ideas? then lay ‘em on us! send your story ideas to stories@streetscapemag.com

S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E | 41

TIDBITS

The Dog Days of Summer Street Scape Magazine would like to help raise awareness about the different animal rescue groups around the St. Charles area.

Training to keep your dog part of the family is extremely important, and we’d like for you to join us for a fun filled day of music, pet related vendors, food and drink to benefit local rescue groups. The third annual Dog Days of Summer festival will take place on June 17, 2007 in the 100 and 200 blocks of Main Street from 11am to 5pm and inside R. T. Weilers Food & Spirits from 9pm to 1am. It’s a fun day out for your entire family, including your four-legged friends! Below is a list of scheduled events (as of press time): Beach Wear Competition : 12:30pm Dress your dog in his or her favorite swimwear and let them strut their stuff. Winner will be the Dog Days of Summer Mascot for next year. Prizes for top 5 finishers!

Training Demonstration by Tom Rose School: 11:00am 2:00pm and 3:30pm Tom Rose School's top trainers will demonstrate proven effective training techniques for a healthy, happy dog.

Got Poop...?

Poop Scoop’n Service & Products

Dog and Owner Limbo Competition: 3:45pm How low can you and your dog go? Prizes given to the top 5 finishers!

Musical Performances Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the Dog Days entertainment with your whole family.

We will feature some of the finest musical talent in St. Charles: 11:30am - 12:30pm | My Friend Mike Duo 1:00pm - 2pm | The Lookbacks 2:30pm - 3:30pm | Mark Moore & the Smokers 4:00pm - 5:00p | Cosmic Mojo 9:00pm - 1am | Participants Appreciation Party featuring Girls Night out Band

314-770-1500 www.yuckos.com Free Estimates

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No Contracts

Free Consultation.

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Special thanks to our St. Charles Police Department K9 Unit! Left to right: Officer Dan Allen and his K9 partner "Tucker"; Chief Tim Swope; Officer Grant Jansen and his K9 partner "Bach"; Officer Jeremy Bratton and his K9 partner "Duke" Nationwide Service.

Locally Owned & Operated.

Bonded. Insured. References.

Pet Si tting & Dog Walk ing cat & small pet visits private dog walks off-leash doggie playgroups in-home overnight sitting private pet boarding doggie day care yard poop scoop home care pet taxi stcharles@fetchpetcare.com

636-577-0331 www.FetchPetCare.com to find your neighborhood pet sitter

S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E | 43

SEASONAL HUNT

The One That Got Away Georgia Giants and bluegill. He's owned the farm for over 20 years.

They say basically honest people only lie about their poker hand and the “one that got away.” It's usually the greatest fishing story of all time.

A Southern Fisherman “A lot of people don't believe you,” said Roy Hawkins, 71. “You got to have some proof.

You talk the talk, you got to have the proof to back it up. Yeah, there ain't nothing like fishing.”

Southern born and raised, Hawkins has been a fisherman for the better part of his life. “I'm 71 years old. I've been fishing all my life. I was raised in the South and that's all we did. When we wasn't working in the field, we were fishing. When I was 10 years old, I worked on a milk truck to buy my sisters' shoes and chopped and picked cotton.”

Hawkins has taught his two grandsons, twins, Eric and Justin Miller; and his granddaughter, Alex, 11, to love fishing as well.

Hawkins rarely leaves his big catches unrecorded, but on one particular spring day two years ago, he broke his own rule.

He was fishing out near Elsberry. “I hung a really big fish. It was at least 30 feet away from the bank. I pulled my shoes off and waded into the water. I went out there and got that fish.”

As it turns out it was a 15-pound Sturgeon, but Hawkins had to sacrifice his cell phone to get it. “I'll never do that no more. I lost my cell phone and they wouldn't replace it.

44 | S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E

All I saw was that big fish tail and I didn't want to lose it.”

His Wife is the “Better Fisherman” They call Henry Elmendorf the “Pope of St. Charles,” and he has been honored by the Pope himself—John Paul that is. He's water skied on the Sea of Galilee and toured Jerusalem on a bus with four brothers-Essau, Isaac, Abraham and Jacob.

Henry has a few of his own tall fish tales to tell. Although he swears his wife Ethel Elmendorf is the “better fisherman” in the family, Henry remembers a day nearly 30 years ago when he single-handedly pulled a 100-pound sailfish out of Acapulco Bay. Henry was deep sea fishing when he saw the fish. “So I decided that would be great to take home. I was sitting there smoking my cigar and it took me a half hour to get the fish. I went in and grabbed that fish with my bare hands. It cost me an arm and a leg to get that fish home!”

Henry and Ethel have a condominium at Lake of the Ozarks where Ethel “wasn't happy if she didn't catch 30 or 40 crappie in the morning,” Henry said.

Sharing the Love Steve Keller owns a 102-acre farm in St. Peters. Retired from the galvanized steel business, Keller said he too spends a lot of time with a rod and reel. There are five lakes on his farm and he has been stocking them for years with such notables as catfish,

The best part of fishing for Keller is the time he shares with friends and loved ones around the lakes. “We all bum around [the lakes]. We drink beer, and lots of it,” Keller said. “It's the camaraderie of being out here. It's all lies and tall tales, but we have a great time.”

Keller said he never knows who will drop by his property to hang out and fish for a while. Former Cardinal Manager Albert “Red” Schoendienst has been known to drop in and drop a line, he said.

Keller's barber also fishes on his property.

The 76-year-old fishes once a week in his Little John Boat. “One time, he had hold of a catfish that pulled him around the lake for 30 minutes,” Keller said. “He couldn't get it in. He broke the line.”

Keller pulled a 48-pound catfish from one of his lakes a couple of years ago. “There's some monsters in there,” he said. He got a photo of that one.

A Woman’s Sport Pam Tabatt's heard all the stories. The owner of South 94 Bait & Tackle Trading Post sells all types of line, lures, bait, fish, gift items and licensing for fishing and hunting. She sells some of the freshest fish in the area straight from U.S. Foods in Illinois. “We get higher grade farm-raised white meat— buffalo, spoon bill, tilapia, pollack, catfish, hushpuppies and frog legs.” Tabatt serves all age groups and hears all types of tales.

Her father, Robert Arnold, now 76, taught her to fish, frog gig and hunt at deer camp

when she was a child.

Tabatt said there are lots of women who love hunting, fishing and the outdoors every bit as much as their male counterparts. “You've got some hard core women out there who get into the bass tournaments too. And on Mother's Day and Father's Day, which are my biggest sales days, they're about even.”

Life On The Canals Larry Duffy likes his fishing spot—mainly because it's right outside his front door.

Duffy lives in New Town, where lakes and canals abound and fish are growing steadily.

“I'm a fisherman because I can step out my front door into it. I don't get away form home to do it much any more.”

Fishing can be as simple or as noncommittal as the fisherman likes, Duffy said.

“You can take it as seriously or as lightly as you like. I don't have to be a skilled fisherman. I can take a canoe or fish from the shore.”

Duffy said the lakes are stocked at New Town. “From the sophisticated lures to the bobber with a worm on a hook, everyone is

having equal success,” he said. “The neat thing in New Town is the kids can do it right after school or during the summer anytime they like.”

Henry Elmendorf

Fishing Tournaments Robert and Ann Horrell run bass tournaments across the Midwest. They operate 20 divisions of over 100 tournaments a year. Prizes at the Team Classic in October will be three fully rigged Ranger bass boats this year worth over $90,000, Robert Horrell said.

Robert said his parents were fishermen. He learned the skill from them. “Basically the

more you fish, the better you get. That's the way it works,” he said. “Fish sense is like common sense. You adapt your common sense to your fish sense and become better. You have to dedicate time to it. You have to understand what you're doing.

You can have the best spinner bait in the world and throw it on this asphalt parking lot all day. You're not going to catch anything. You have to put it in in the right place.”■ ROBIN SEATON JEFFERSON

ALWAYS OPEN AT MARINEMAX.COM

2725 Veterans Memorial: 866-619-7114 Polestar Marina: 866-637-2522

S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E | 45

Frank Leta Honda Opens in St. Charles The oldest Honda dealership in the Midwest is now the newest. After 36 years in business, Frank Leta Honda has opened the most state-of-the-art Honda facility in the Midwest.

Instead of upgrading or remodeling the company's existing dealership in Bridgeton, Frank Leta decided to build a brand new facility from the ground up. Leta's grandsons toured the United States studying 15 of the newest and most successful Honda facilities. They included all of the best elements of what they found into the design of the new Frank Leta Honda in the O'Fallon Auto Mall.

Located on Technology Drive in O'Fallon near the intersection of Highways 40 and K, the 42,000-square-foot Frank Leta Honda facility has 31 service bays, including three Express Service bays, representing the largest capacity of any dealer in the area to conveniently service all vehicles.

Frank Leta Honda is certified by American Honda Motor Company as an “Express Service” dealer, which means they have a dedicated service team for minor maintenances. This allows them to perform services faster than the competition, while still providing premium quality and a competitive price. All services at Frank Leta Honda include a car wash, vacuum, 19

point safety check-up, and an alignment check at no extra charge. It’s just part of their commitment to exceeding customer expectations.

While their cars are being serviced, customers can wait in the customer lounge with plasma television with high definition programming, telephones, WI-FI Internet access, refreshment center and kids' area with toys and a separate television displaying children's programming. The warm yet high-tech atmosphere allows the short wait to be both comfortable and productive.

“I wanted people to feel at home the minute they walk through the door,” Leta said, “so everything here is relaxed and comfortable.”

Frank Leta has been selling Honda products in the St. Louis area since the 1960's. Leta started selling Honda motorcycles in St.

An information center offers a place for shoppers to browse literature and information on all Honda vehicles. Frank Leta Honda also offers an indoor delivery center with four bays in which sold cars are kept clean and out of the elements until the customer drives away.

S P E C I A L 46 | S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E

Inventory has more than doubled since the company moved from Bridgeton with nearly 300 vehicles in stock at any given time. And with plenty of room to grow, Frank Leta Honda expects that their unique approach to selling vehicles will position them as the premier Honda dealer in St. Louis. “We try to earn customers for life, plain and simple.

We provide a pleasurable sales experience, consistent follow up after the sale, and superior service. It is this philosophy that has built this company and will sustain it for years to come”, said Leta.

A D V E R T I S I N G

S E C T I O N

Louis in 1965, after a stint selling sewing machines, said grandson and current Frank Leta General Manager Michael Brown.

“The business was good in the winter months,” he said.

But Leta set out to find a business that would sustain his family during the summer months. After a trip to California in 1970 where Leta observed people literally “crawling all over the lot” to see the Honda N600, Brown said, Leta returned and opened the first Honda auto dealership in the Midwestern United States. It was 1971.

The dealership, Northland Honda, operated in North St. Louis County on West Florissant Road until 1985 when it was relocated to St. Charles Rock Road as Frank Leta Honda. In 1986, Leta became one of the original Acura dealers when he opened Frank Leta Acura on Tesson Ferry Road in South St. Louis County.

Brown said he remembers sitting on his grandfather's lap in some of the dealership's first television commercials. “My first line was ‘I guess I'm the next generation,’” he said.

“After more than 40 years in North St. Louis County, my Honda business had grown beyond the capacity of its facility and in the fall of 2006, Frank Leta Honda relocated to the growing market of St. Charles County,” said Leta.

Although Frank Leta Honda has moved out of the North St. Louis County, the facility

on St. Charles Rock Road remains open as Frank Leta Automotive Outlet where customers can still have their vehicles serviced and maintained as well as make their next pre-owned vehicle purchase.

our customers, whether it is in the sales, service, or parts department. In return, our customers have allowed us to thrive in the St. Louis area for over 40 years through repeat and referral business.”

“Honda vehicles have changed dramatically since I sold my first motorcycle in 1965,” Leta said. “One thing that has not changed however is my commitment to serving the community. I believed then as I believe now that a satisfied customer is the most important asset of my business. The Frank Leta automotive family aims to provide a pleasant purchasing experience to each of

The first thing customers see when they enter the new Frank Leta Honda in O'Fallon is an orange 1972 Honda Coupe.

It reminds them as well as employees of the history behind the first Honda dealer in the Midwestern United States.■

S P E C I A L

A D V E R T I S I N G

ROBIN SEATON JEFFERSON

S E C T I O N S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E | 47

Galleries & Artist Studios 636-255-0270 · www.foundryartcentre.org 520 North Main Center · St. Charles, Missouri · 63301

RLANDos'

Banquet & Confer ence Ce nter s • Cater ing • Event Planni ng

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Celebrate!

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• Prices from $18.95 per person w/buffet & open bar • Catering to unique St. Louis venues including City Museum, the Foundry Art Centre, Mahler Ballroom, and New Town St. Charles South County/Webster/Kirkwood 314.638.6660 Maryland Heights 314.453.9000

48 | S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E

TIDBITS

Dive!

Not many people can say they've seen marine life from the endangered species list in its own habitat. Those who can are mostly scuba divers. And there are more of them in the St. Charles and St. Louis areas than one might think.

Valerie Elliott is one such individual. She's seen the endangered Manatees in the Florida Springs. She's also seen shark whales off the coast of Acapulco.

Elliott owns Y-kiki Divers in Creve Coeur, a full-service scuba diving facility. Her goal is to train safer, more skilled, more knowledgeable divers who have an environmental awareness and passion for diving. Y-kiki is a Professional Association of Diving Instructors 5-Star IDC full service diving and snorkeling facility serving the St. Louis Metropolitan area since 1989. She provides lessons and scuba equipment rental a well as dive travel or trips that are geared toward and revolve around scuba diving.

Elliott has taken her charges to Cozumel, Palau, Micronesia, The Galapagos Islands and Roatan, Belize. “We certify over 200 people a year to scuba dive,” Elliot said.

“Full service means more than classes,” Elliott said. “As a new Y-kiki diver, you'll receive our bi-annual newsletter and monthly e-newsletters. You'll read about new equipment items and special equipment sales, dive travel opportunities and opportunities for continuing diver education.”

Y-kiki offers top-of-the-line equipment from manufacturers like ScubaPro, Atomic, Henderson, Oceanic and Underwater Kinetics. Y-kiki also services diving equipment.

There are three parts to certification, Elliott said, from the curriculum to the equipment and physics to the open water. Divers are certified through PADI.

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Elliott said students learn about depth and pressure and volume and density during their scuba training at Y-kiki. “It's those physical equations. As you go deeper, you consume more air, so it's all about the need to be cognizant of diving on compressed air,” she said.

The classes are all about “what ifs”, Elliott said. “What if your mask fills up with water? What if your regulator falls off?

What if you get tangled up in fishing line? These are all questions we answer during lessons.”

The dive locations are an adventure in themselves. “No we don't dive in the Missouri or the Mississippi Rivers, although we have visited the lower Current River,” Elliott said. “Most Midwest dive sites are old rock quarries that have filled with water over the years. Private owners take over these quarries, stocking them with fish, sometimes filtering the water, and usually adding some diving attractions that can vary form old mining or farm equipment and sunken boats, to cars, trucks, buses, old fire engines and even a lawn mower collection.”

host of first aid for scuba diving classes.

“I love the serenity of scuba diving. There's nothing like it on earth. You can encounter marine life unlike any other place,” Elliott said. “In this setting, I'm actually in the water with animals. You see them in their environment. It is the most phenomenal experience there is.”

On a trip to the Galapagos Islands, Elliott and her crew were swimming with nine whale sharks. “They were big as semi trucks,” she said. “It felt like you were an ant next to these gigantic creatures. They are beautiful, graceful creatures that glide past you. It's surreal and humbling.”

Y-kiki Divers take their students to places such as the Quail Run Divers Quarry in Rolla, Missouri; Mermet Springs near Metropolis, Illinois; Bonne Terre Mine in Bonne Terre, Missouri; Dive Cerulean in Cadiz, Kentucky; and Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri.

Darren Stross has been diving for sixteen years. The 36-year-old dive master said he dreamed of diving from kindergarten. “I love the water. I love to swim,” Stross said.

“I thought the idea of breathing underwater would be fantastic and it is. It's the closest you get to weightlessness here on earth.”

Elliott's students usually train for recreational scuba diving which has a 130foot depth maximum, she said. Open Water Certification allows them the ability to go down 60 feet. Advanced Open Water Certification allows 100-foot depth. The deeper a diver wants to go, the more training he or she needs.

Stross has dived all over the world from quarries and lakes in the Midwest to northern Florida and the Florida Keys to Cazumel, Bonaire, the Carribean, Belize, the Grand Caymen and Australia.

Cther classes include but are not limited to Altitude Diver, Boat Diver, Deep Diver, Underwater Naturalist, Underwater Photographer, Wreck Diver and a whole

An instructor for The Great American Diving Company in St. Charles and St. Louis, Stross teaches at the company's training facility, The Aqua Center in St. Peters.

Stross is also a cave diver, the extreme sport

of diving. “It's quite a bit above and beyond the normal recreational diving area so to speak,” he said. “A lot of sports have extremes. Diving's extreme is technical diving, beyond the recreational limits.

Technical diving involves diving to deeper depths and lower times that require decompression stops and different gas mixtures.”

As a cave diver, Stross dives in overhead environments such as caverns and caves. “It's an amazing glimpse of a world most people never get to see. It's quiet and peaceful.

You see incredible rock formations,” he said.

Stross said diving enthusiasts attempt to do whatever they can on land in the water. The Great American Diving Company even holds pumpkin carving contests in October.

“Dive clubs have been doing anything you can do on the land under water for years.

We even trick or treat under water with sealed candy in Ziplock bags, floating candy buckets underwater.”

Stross said The Great American Diving Company was the first PADI facility to issue a PADI distinctive specialty underwater pumpkin carver card.

Divers bring their own pumpkins to Mermet Springs for the pumpkin carving. They aren't allowed to write or draw their images on the pumpkins before entering the water.

Two divers are lowered in with their gear and a pumpkin on a platform. They have to be underwater before the carving begins.

They are allowed to make one puncture but that doesn't let enough air out to sink the pumpkin, Stross said. So one diver holds the pumpkin while the other carves. The lid and pieces are kept by the divers and the fish eat the rest.

Some divers aren't into the sport for themselves as much as for others. Joe Struckhoff, a firefighter and a master diver for the St. Charles Fire Department's Dive Rescue Team, doesn't see much marine life or sandy beaches during his dives.

quite interesting. Most scuba divers can see 20, 30, 40 feet in front of them. Everything we see is a half inch in front of us.”

The dive teams of the St. Charles and Lake Saint Louis Fire Departments mostly dive in the Missouri River and local lakes and ponds.

Struckhoff said firefighters often take on extra duties to add to the service they provide to their communities. “Some people just like the water. One guy on our team was a Navy rescue swimmer. But not everybody is cut out to be in black water.”

In the 20 years the team has been assembled, Struckhoff said the department has recovered stolen vehicles, evidence from crimes and unfortunately bodies. “After the '93 flood we discovered a body. Last year we assisted Lake Saint Louis in recovering a body.”

For those who would rather see and not touch exotic underwater life, Rich Stonebarger and Marine Solutions in St. Charles offers a wide selection of saltwater fish, live coral, lighting and aquarium supplies in St. Charles and St. Louis, Missouri. The company offers a large selection of reef ready aquariums, stands, pumps, filters, lighting systems and custom aquariums.

Saltwater fish from Angel Fish to rare tropical fish are available at Marine Solutions. Fiji Live Rock is purchased from suppliers who use only environmentally safe and approved methods of collection to protect the coral reef systems. Many of Marine Solutions' fish come from Florida and the Florida Keys. Marine Solutions also offers professional aquarium installation and maintenance for home or office.

He and 23 other men and one woman serve on the Dive Rescue Team to locate evidence and often bodies lost in the water.

Alex Borisov's FIN Custom Aquarium Solutions also caters to the St. Charles and St. Louis areas. The company designs, installs and maintains freshwater and marine displays. Whether the customer's interest is creating a dramatic focal point from scratch or starting a professional maintenance schedule for an existing aquarium, FIN is ready to oblige.

Struckhoff said the job is a challenge, and it's not for everyone. “We call it black water diving,” he said. “You can't see anything in front of you. There is zero visibility. It's

“New owners may want to start out with a simple amphibian terrarium or go the more advance saltwater system,” Borisov said.

“Saltwater allows the owner to have fish and

(l to r) Drew Bass, Joe Struckhoff, Mike Morris, Tim Wersching

coral, which features a wide variety of color and provides years of enjoyment.

Freshwater has the added bonus of ease and a smaller price tag while still allowing the owner to house a large variety of fish and plants.”

Greig & his pumpkin

A regular maintenance schedule is an ongoing Valerie Elliot (l) part of keeping an aquarium and more closely imitates the natural environment.

“Most specimens kept in the aquarium are originally from much larger bodies of water where fluctuations in the physical environment are controlled by nature,” Borisov said. “On the other hand, things are much different in an aquarium, where there is limited water, and toxic chemicals are produced in higher concentrations.”■ ROBIN SEATON JEFFERSON

S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E | 51

SUNRISE TO SUNSET

Art and Soul Auction Benefitting Bridgeway February 17 | Many items were auctioned at this event benefitting Bridgeway Counseling, a great organization that assists women with putting their lives back together in the wake of domestic violence.

Fraser created a metal sculpture specifically for this event entitled “New Horizons� that now hangs in the Bridgeway lobby.

Photography by Michael Schlueter/Brea Hammack

www.bridgewaycounseling.com

52 | S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E

What are the faces of domestic violence?

It’s not just black eyes and broken arms; it’s also controlling behaviors, abusive language and isolation; domestic violence has many faces. More than likely you know someone who is living in an abusive relationship, maybe a friend, a family member, a co-worker or maybe it is you. Domestic violence cuts across all class, race and socioeconomic lines and is the leading cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the United States—more than car accidents, muggings and rapes combined.

Domestic violence is the establishment of control and fear in a relationship through the use of violence and other forms of abuse. The offender may use physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, economic oppression, isolation, threats, intimidation and maltreatment of the children to control the other person. Relationships involving domestic violence may differ in terms of the severity of abuse, but control is the primary goal of all offenders.

If you or someone you care about is living in an abusive relationship, there is help. St. Charles County is fortunate to have a place where women and children can turn for support and housing to escape abusive partners. If you need help, call The Woman’s Center at 1-877-946-6854. Remember you are not alone and there are people who care and who can help. All calls are safe and confidential.

Generous Missouri Domestic Violence Tax Credits (50% value) are available for gifts over $100.

Contact Brenda Fraser, Development Director, at 636-757-2206 to make a cash donation to support Domestic Violence programs and help keep the shelter running for the women in our community.

Brought to you by:

INC

1-877-946-6854

SUNRISE TO SUNSET

Mardi Gras King’s Ball and Parade March 9 & 10 | Mardi Gras began on March 9th at the King’s Ball held at the Foundry Art Centre. Happy hour and a French Cajun feast preceded the crowning of the King and Queen, and an evening of fun, including entertainment by Bone Daddy and the Blues Shakers. On March 10th Frenchtown came alive with a family friendly parade, including plenty of beads and floats.

Photography by Michael Schlueter/Brea Hammack

www.frenchtownmardigras.com

54 | S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E

SUNRISE TO SUNSET

Grandparent’s Day March 3 & 11 | Grandparent’s Day was celebrated at both Immanuel Lutheran and Academy of the Sacred Heart this year. Students and their grandparents attended services and were entertained by the children with skits and singalongs. Grandparents were given the opportunity to tour the school and see their grandchildren’s classrooms. The Academy group ate donuts and pastries as a special treat, and the Lutheran group dismissed early, allowing grandchildren to go out to lunch with their grandparents and spend the afternoon with them.

Photography by Michael Schlueter/Brea Hammack S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E | 55

SUNRISE TO SUNSET

Local Fish Frys

Photography by Michael Schlueter/Brea Hammack

Fridays during Lent | Local parishes St. Peters and Borrmeo mark the Lenton season with family friendly fish frys.

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Clowning Around At 71, Jackie Borgmeyer should probably be retired comfortably, taking life easy and enjoying her twilight years. But she just can't get enough of clowning around.

Borgmeyer is a 25-year veteran clown— literally. A quarter of a century ago, the then saleslady at Small Fry Fashions on Main Street in St. Charles thought it might be fun to learn how to be a clown, so she signed up at Betty Rooney's clown school to learn makeup, magic and balloons. “I just thought it would be fun,” Borgmeyer said.

Borgmeyer has brought a lot of smiles to people's faces in the more than two decades she has been a clown. And 25 years later, she's gotten her eight-year-old granddaughter into the business. Samantha Borgmeyer, a student at The Academy of the Sacred Heart, asked her grandmother if she would teach her to be a clown. “One day she just said, 'Can I be a clown?' I said yes.” And that was all it took. Jackie Borgmeyer took her under her wing and showed her the ropes (or scarves) as it were.

Jackie might have a run for her money in her young charge. “She's a better clown than I am,” Jackie said. “She's just real outgoing and loves people. I just help her with her makeup.”

The Borgmeyers do a lot of charity work.

Jackie said she enjoys the Special Olympics each spring the most. “The people there just seem to appreciate it so much. They're happy and they have so much fun.”

Jackie named herself Jo Jo the clown after her maiden name initials and St. Joseph Health Center where she got her first clowning job. “My first clowning job was for a parade at St. Joseph. And I was born there,” she said. “I just always liked St. Joseph.”

Samantha Borgmeyer is named Dimples because she has some great dimples, according to her grandmother. Jackie said

teaching her granddaughter how to make other people happy is one of the greatest benefits of her long-time hobby. “I just like seeing her make people smile. That's my main reason for doing it, really.”

Jackie is one of about 10 clowns who are members of the Knights of Columbus Clown Club. She said the group is always looking to recruit newbies as the older ones aren't as flexible as they once were.

“Sometimes the parades get kind of long.

I'm 71 years old. We really try to recruit younger clowns because they can do more activity.”

Jackie said she assumes she got her clown sense from her father. “I always thought it was fun to clown around, and my dad taught me that the most important thing in

a person's life is humor. He was a big clown. He didn't have makeup or a big nose… he was just a big clown. He always found something funny in everything.”

The Knights of Columbus Clowns also hold a Valentine Dance every year with the Cottleville Knights of Columbus for developmentally disabled individuals. “It makes me thankful I have all of my abilities,” Jackie said. “I see the courage that these people have just to do what they do and it inspires me.”

None of Jackie's four children have followed in her rather large shoes, only her granddaughter. “They're all sort of funny, but they didn't become clowns,” she said.■ ROBIN SEATON JEFFERSON

S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E | 57

SUNRISE TO SUNSET

Tartan Day March 31-April 1 | The Missouri Tartan Day Festival is an exciting celebration of Scottish-American Heritage that took place at Frontier Park. The festivities included a torchlight gathering of the clans on Friday evening, a parade down Main Street on Saturday, as well as athletic demonstrations, entertainment and Children’s activities. Vendors provided traditional fare. Don’t miss the Tartan Day festivities next year on April 4-6!

Photography by Michael Schlueter/Brea Hammack

www.motartanday.com

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SUNRISE TO SUNSET

St. Charles Birthright Butterfly Ball March 24 | Friends of St. Charles Birthright, a nonprofit group, held its annual dinner-dance on March 24 at the Columns Banquet and Conference Center in St. Charles.

The evening began with cocktails (open bar) at 6:30, followed by dinner at 7:30 and a mini-auction, with dancing to the music of Trilogy at 8:30.

Jane Wappelhorst 636-949-7608

Photography by Michael Schlueter/Brea Hammack S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E | 59

YOU CAUGHT OUR EYE

Dynamic Duos Locals Making a Difference “A match made in heaven.” It's a phrase that applies to so many St. Charles County couples, and many of the residents of the community are thankful that it does.

The Harmons Grace and Ray Harmon were one of those couples, and their selfless giving has touched more people than they will ever know.

Although Ray Harmon passed away in March of 2005, Grace Harmon continues to carry on the philanthropic influence she and her husband created.

The two were high school sweethearts from St. Charles High School. After 58 years of marriage, Ray and Grace were still wellknown for their obvious respect and adoration for each other. “He was so genuine,” Grace said of her husband. “He was just a kind man.”

Even his own memoirs that he wrote exclusively for his family's viewing, Ray named “A Privilege to Serve.”

“He really believed that,” Grace said. When the couple returned to St. Charles in 1977 after opening First Foto (now Growing Families), Ray called all of his managers together, Grace said. “He told them, 'Get involved in this community, whatever your interest is, get involved'.”

Ray and Grace have served on the Boards of Lindenwood University and SSM St. Joseph.

The two were elders at New Hope Presbyterian Church. With charities and humanitarian efforts too innumerable to name, the two made careers out of helping others. Grace continues to serve at Lindenwood and SSM. “It's not difficult,” she said. “I’m 81 years old, but I'm still healthy. Why not continue?

There are so many ways to do it and so many good groups in St. Charles. It takes some time, but you get so much satisfaction that it doesn't seem like work.”

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Grace said Ray had an enormous fondness and appreciation for his employees. “He always said, 'Don't forget the working person',” Grace said.

“When we had First Photo, Ray had respect for all the people. He gave everybody a hug and a turkey on Thanksgiving.”

Grace & Ray Harmon

in St. Charles.

Mel & Bea Wetter

Grace said it was easy to see why Ray had the golden touch.

“He was just a good leader. He never said anything until he thought about it first. So when he said it, you knew he meant it.”

The Wetters Mel and Bea Wetter are also shining examples of couples who make a difference.

Married 55 years, the two also met in high school. The school was St. Peter High (now Duchesne High School).

Bea's work is mostly behind the scenes, but nonetheless a fundamental contribution to children and others in need. “To say I'm really visible in the community, no, I'm not.

I'm behind the scenes. A lot of my work is done at home,” she said.

Bea sews for charity. Over the years, she's made hundreds of blankets, quilts and feeding bibs for BirthRight, Our Little Haven and Crisis Nursery. She makes head coverings for cancer patients and pillowcases for The Ronald McDonald House. She embroiders baptismal gowns for the St. Peter Parish and makes items to donate to the Academy of the Sacred Heart. Known by many as “The Christmas Tree Lady,” this year she will decorate the Habitat For Humanity tree for the Christmas Walk

“My love is geared toward children and those who can't fend for themselves,” she said. “Every child does not have an equal start.

Helping others and caring for others is a big thing--women and children who had no choice in the matter.

They were victims. I also think that these are the ones that can easily fall through the cracks.”

Mel served as mayor of St. Charles from 1983 to 1987, after retiring from Metro Life after 25 years. He served on the city's Planning Advisory Committee and on the St. Charles City Council for two terms. He was instrumental in getting the 370 Bridge built and was active in the planning for the Page Avenue Bridge.

Mel has served with the Knights of Columbus for years, on the Lindenwood College Board of Overseers (now Lindenwood University) and on the St. Peter Parish Council. He's taken great pride in the Mid East Area Agency on Aging's (MEAAA) Board of Directors. Through that organization he has served on the Silver Haired Legislature which makes recommendations to the Missouri Legislature on laws and programs that benefit older Americans.

Today an extension of Fifth Street bears his name—the Mel Wetter Parkway. He and Bea and their five children couldn't be prouder. He said it's because of his and Bea's love and respect for each other that they have been able to serve their community for

YOU CAUGHT OUR EYE

so many years.

“We've always been close and worked together in everything. Obviously I don't do any sewing. But she supports me in what I do and I support her. I always tell her if nothing else, I'll do the dishes, because I can do that.”

The St. Charles Citizen of the Years for 2005 had this to say of his community. “I was born and reared in St. Charles. My roots are here. Everybody should make a contribution. That's what a community is all about. There is this life and one more, so you gotta do the best you can.”

The Thurmers David and Karen Thurmer have done the best they can for many years as teachers at Duchesne High School. David is in his 28th year at the school. Karen is in her 27th.

When the two started teaching, he was a music teacher. She was a home economics teacher. Nearly three decades later, the two have served in numerous capacities at the school, working to make a difference in the lives of many St. Charles kids.

David is currently the director of athletics and the head men and women's soccer coach. Over the years, he has taught music, served as band director, coached boy’s and girl’s soccer, boy’s tennis and headed up many other endeavors at Duchesne. David said, “The school has been my life for the best part of my life. I didn't intend for it to be that way. When I first started out, it was only going to be a job, but it just became natural for me to roll my sleeves up and get involved.”

Dave Thurmer won the 2004 Jimmy Dunn High School Coach of the Year, awarded by the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame, and he was named 2004 State of Missouri Soccer Coach of the Year by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

He was named 1994 Boys 1A-3A Coach of the Year from the High School Coaches Association.

The DHS boys soccer teams have won two state championships under Coach Thurmer;

they have also won 350 games.Karen has also gotten involved on more than a nine-tofive level. She has directed Student Council, coached volleyball and headed up the Flag Corp and the Art Club. She currently teaches art at Duchesne.

Karen said working together as a couple has been as beneficial for her and her husband as for the students. “For us, it's been a real help, especially teaching at the same school.

We know the same people. Our kids have grown up here and been a part of what we have been a part of. I enjoy the kids. I learn from them just as much as they learn from me. They're going to make such a difference in our world when we are older. We have to make a difference in theirs when they're young.”

The Newberrys Maurice and Brenda Newberry are all about making a difference in other people's lives.

The two have built an incredible company in The Newberry Group, and given much to their community not only through the jobs they have created but the humanitarian endeavors they take on every day.

Board, National Association of Women Business Owners, the SSM St. Joseph Board of Directors, United Services for the Handicapped, the United Way of Greater St. Louis, the Veteran's Resource Center, The Boys and Girls Club of St. Charles County, Youth In Need and Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church. The list goes on and on and certainly doesn't stop here.

“We like to contribute to children and families,” Brenda said. “Children are our present as well as our future. We believe you work with children while they are young. If you want a friend, be a friend. If you want love, give love. Do it without any hidden agenda, understanding that the basic laws of nature apply.”

Brenda said that her family's giving did not begin after their company flourished. And she realizes that the treasures she is storing in this life mean little in the larger scheme of things. “We gave before [we were successful]. There's a peace in knowing you're part of something greater.

If you're only doing it from your point of plenty, in means nothing.”■ ROBIN SEATON JEFFERSON

“We're part of the community. It makes no sense to do otherwise,” Brenda said. But what drives David & Karen Thurmer the Newberrys forward is a principal as old as the sun. “We truly believe in the concept of reaping and sewing. You don't always obtain the reap from where you sew. Sometimes the rewards come from where you least expect them.”

Brenda holds professional memberships or serves with the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) International, Focus St. Louis, Matthews-Dickey Boys and Girls Club, the Missouri Small Business Development Center Statewide Advisory

Maurice & Brenda Newberry

S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E | 61

SUNRISE TO SUNSET

St. Patrick’s Day Party March 16 | The O’Rotary Clubs of St. Charles County joined forces to hold a St. Patrick’s Day celebration benefitting Children’s Charities in St. Charles County. Lads & Lassies were treated to music by Millenium Music, fabulous food (fish & chicken due to the Lenton season), door prizes and a silent auction. Green beer and an open bar rounded out the evening. Children’s Charities will benefit from the pot of gold at the end of this rainbow, thanks to all of the Rotary Clubs of St. Charles County!

Photography by Michael Schlueter/Brea Hammack

www.rotary6060.com

62 | S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E

SUNRISE TO SUNSET

Maximum Pulse Benefit for Go Red for Women March 25 | Maximum Pulse Dance Company’s “Keep The Beat” event, benefitting the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women was a fabulous dinner with open beer and wine bar and silent auction, and included dance performances by company members, including special guest artists. Maximum Pulse is a public dance company that provides dance and performance opportunities to amateur and professional dancers who share their goal of raising awareness and funds for the AMA. Missy Shockley 636-940-7308

Photography by Michael Schlueter/Brea Hammack S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E | 63

SUNRISE TO SUNSET

Summer c a l e n d a r

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| Music on Main Begins | www.mainstreetstcharles.com (third Wednesday of the month, May through September) | Corvette Car Show at New Town | www.newtownatstcharles.com | Foundry Art Centre GALA Fundraiser | www.foundryartcentre.org | Lewis & Clark Heritage Days | www.lewisandclark.net | Stephen Porter, Piano–Crescendo Concert Series | www.crescendoconcerts.org | Friday Night Flicks | Every 4th Friday of the month, May-Aug. www.historicfrenchtown.com | Hot Summer Nights-Salsa night | www.stcharlescity.com

JUNE

1 1 2 7 8 9

| St. Charles Municipal Band | Summer concert series, every Thurs. at 8pm www.stc-muny-band.com | Friday night movies at New Town | www.newtownatstcharles.com | Reggae Festival | www.newtownatstcharles.com | Shakespeare Festival | Three weekends in June. Visit website for details. www.newtownatstcharles.com | Friends of the Library book fair (June 8-10) | St. Charles Convention Center | Fleur-de-lis French Market | www.historicfrenchtown.com

64 | S T R E E T S C A P E M A G A Z I N E

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| 9th Annual WingDing | Located at EPC-advance tickets required. www.bcifoundation.com 636-978-4300 | Dog Days of Summer Festival | 100-200 blocks of Main Street www.dogdaysofsummer.com | 2007 Katy Trail Ride (June 18-22) | www.newtownatstcharles.com | Child Safety Seat Inspection | www.newtownatstcharles.com | Hot Summer Nights-Blues Night | www.stcharlescity.com | Foundry Art Centre Summer Camps | June 25-Aug. 2, grades K-8th www.foundryartcentre.org

| New Town Flea Market | www.newtownstcharles.com | Butch Wax & the Hollywoods | www.newtownstcharles.com | Hot Summer Nights-Country Night | www.stcharlescity.com | Corvette Car Show at New Town | www.newtownstcharles.com

AUGUST

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| British Car Show | www.newtownstcharles.com | Statehood Day Celebration | www.historicstcharles.com | Festival of the Little Hills | www.festivalofthelittlehills.com | New Town Beer Jazz Festival | www.newtownstcharles.com | Hot Summer Nights-New Orleans Jazz | www.stcharlescity.com | Annual Juggler’s Competition | www.newtownatstcharles.com

J U LY

2 17

| Riverfest 2007-Frontier Park (July 2-4) | Independence Day Celebration www.stcharlescity.com | Classical Music on the Missouri | www.stcharlescity.com

BOOK CLUB

M AY

21 28 28 28

THE BOOK OF USELESS INFORMATION Available at Main Street Books 307 South Main | 636-949-0105

For more information on events in St. Charles, visit these helpful websites: → www.historicstcharles.com → www.mainstreetstcharles.com → www.historicfrenchtown.com → www.newtownatstcharles.com

This compact tome by Neal Botham and the Useless Information Society contains thousands of things you didn’t think you needed to know . . . and perhaps don’t. But you’ll have fun with it anyway. For example, did you know that fish scales are used to make lipstick? Why organized crime accounts for 10% of the United States’ annual income? How interesting useless information can be? This is the perfect gift for you or anyone on your list.

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