CN: September 27, 2023

Page 1

Covering the community

Diapers are one of the most essential needs for babies, yet the National Diaper Bank Network reported this year that nearly half of all families (47%) in the U.S. don’t have enough diapers for their children, which is an increase from 2010 when 33% of families experience diaper need.

Since 2019, the average cost of diapers has increased 32%, causing a financial strain, particularly among low-wage earners and families living in poverty. The average price per diaper is 25 cents. The average child uses 10 diapers a day which adds up to about $750 per year.

Two organizations in St. Louis are working to assist families in need of diapers.

This month, the St. Louis Area Diaper Bank observed National Diaper Need Awareness Week, a signature initiative of the National Diaper Bank Network that takes place Sept. 18 through 24. They held events bringing together community members and elected officials for volunteer opportunities and discussion on diaper need in the region and proposed solutions. The organization also held its annual Fill the Warehouse diaper drive to collect 150,000 diapers. The event also collected donations. Each $1 donated allows the organization to purchase eight diapers.

“For one in two U.S. families facing diaper need, the far-reaching consequences impact their mental and physical wellbeing, ability to go to work, send their child to daycare, and make it hard to pay rent or buy food,” said executive director, Muriel Smith. “The diapers that we provide to families in the St. Louis community make a huge impact on all of these issues families face every day.”

Founded in 2014, the St. Louis Area Diaper Bank collects, stores and distributes 250,000 free diapers per month to struggling

families through a network of 75 community organizations serving low-income families and individuals. To learn more information about the organization and how to help, go to www.stldiaperbank.org

Another local organization, Pooper Troopers, is holding its ninth annual diaper drive throughout the St. Louis metro region until Oct. 8. The diaper drive is in partnership with the Saint Louis Crisis Nursery, Aldi, Commercial Electronics, Suburban Industrial Packaging, CAM Printing and DDI Media. Donations can be made in person at all Aldi stores in Missouri and Illinois. Any donation of $100 or more is eligible for a 50% tax credit.

“With the help of the Pooper Troopers, the Crisis Nursery can give away thousands of diapers every year to struggling families,” said DiAnne Mueller, CEO of the Crisis Nursery. “So many families must choose between buying diapers, paying the electric bill or buying food. We are so grateful that The Pooper Troopers and people all across the area believe in the Crisis Nursery and want to help us help families.”

The Pooper Troopers of St. Louis have collected and donated over 1,585,000 diapers to the Saint Louis Crisis Nursery for use in the nurseries and distribution to families since

Serving North & Northwest St. Louis County | FREE Online at mycnews.com | Vol. 102 No. 39 | 636-379-1775
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September 27, 2023 Recipe, Movie & Sudoku. Pg. F-1 CLA SSIFIEDS AND HOME & GARDEN. Pg. F-2 /F-3 Moore On Life, Lifestyle & Crossword Puzzle. Pg. F-4 Features FRIDAY Sunny 87/64 SATURDAY Sunny 87/61 SUNDAY Sunny 85/61 Weather READ US ONLINE! Around Town COMMUNITY VOICES
Maida J. Coleman. Pg.
Local organizations work to help families across the St. Louis community to address the growing need for diapers
Photo courtesy St. Louis Area Diaper Bank: Volunteers help the St. Louis Area Diaper Bank collect and distribute diapers to families in need.

Around Town

being founded in 2015. The mission of the organization originated from the Erwin and Janet Emge family trying to find a good cause to donate to. A friend of the family directed them to a charity that donated baby clothes and diapers to families in need. Through Facebook they asked for donations and helped their friend get 15,000 diapers for the charity. Realizing their ability to help families in need of diapers, they developed Pooper Troopers and in 2017, partnered with Crisis Nursery.

For more information about the organization and how you can help go to www.crisisnurserykids.org.

For many years, I struggled to make ends meet. My children are all adults now, but I will never forget the stress of trying to stretch every dollar. Given the continued rising costs of just about everything, I know that many of you can relate.

Here are some things you can do if you’re struggling to pay your utility bills:

1. Write down all of your expenses. One of the best things I did was get clear on where my money was going. This doesn’t have to be complicated. Get a sheet of paper (or use your cell phone) and write down everything you spend money on each month.

2. Add all the expenses to get your total. Compare what’s going out to what’s coming in. For many people, the money going out will exceed what’s coming in. If this is your situation, you can potentially reduce utility bills by doing some energy conservation and seeking assistance.

3. Identify things you can do to reduce how much water, gas, and electricity you use. This could include turning off lights when not in use, fixing water leaks, and adjusting your thermostat to conserve energy. Your utility providers can provide specific tips to help you conserve energy. This information is available on their website or you can

call to request that they mail you energy conservation information.

4. Contact your utility provider before your bill is late or overdue. They may have payment assistance programs or flexible payment options. I know that it may be uncomfortable to ask for help, especially if this is a new situation for you. But your utility provider’s staff are trained to assist customers who are facing hardships. Don’t hesitate to ask for their help and ask if they are aware of other organizations that may be able to help.

5. Check with your local city hall, alderperson or city council. Local municipalities often have funding for weatherization and/or energy assistance programs. They may also be able to direct you to other agencies that can help.

6. Reach out to community action agencies. They offer many assistance programs, including utility bill assistance. Don’t assume you won’t qualify. You can google “community action agencies in (insert your city)” to find one near you.

7. Call 211, the Essential Community Services line to get connected to resources to help you with utility bills, rental assistance,

food pantries, and much more.

Last by not least, I want to encourage you to seek assistance before your situation gets bad. It’s best to know what resources are available, even before you need them. Then tell others about the resources you discovered. It truly takes a village.

Commissioner Maida Coleman was appointed to the Missouri Public Service Commission by Governor Jay Nixon, effective Aug.10, 2015. She was unanimously confirmed by the Missouri State Senate on Jan. 21. Prior to her appointment, Commissioner Coleman was the Director of the Office of Community Engagement. From 2001 until 2009, Commissioner Coleman served first as a State Representative and then as State Senator from St. Louis, becoming the first African-American woman in state history to serve as Senate Minority Leader. Coleman has a B.A. in Journalism from Lincoln University in Jefferson City and was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters Degree from Harris-Stowe State University in St. Louis in 2008. A native of Sikeston, Missouri, Coleman lives in St. Louis.

The opinions expressed in this column are the columnist’s alone and do not reflect the opinion of the owners or staff of Community News.

September 27, 2023 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com 2
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COMMUNITY VOICES:
What to do if you’re struggling to pay
‘COVERING’ from cover Volunteers help the St. Louis Area Diaper Bank collect and distribute diapers to families in need.
your utility bills
Photos courtesy St. Louis Area Diaper Bank

Rail tour highlights key freight transportation assets within the region’s rail freight network

The Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis (TRRA) and the St. Louis Regional Freightway teamed up on Aug. 10 to host a Rail Freight Tour to raise awareness of one of the nation’s largest rail hubs, with a focus on investment needs and opportunities for both freight and passenger rail and associated roads and bridges that are part of the region’s freight network.

The event kicked off at St. Louis Union Station where representatives of TRRA, St. Louis Regional Freightway, and both the Missouri and Illinois Departments of Transportation (DOTs) highlighted recent state and federal actions to support the growth of the freight-based economy in the region and the collaborations driving that support, before boarding the train for the Rail Freight Tour. Attendees included multimodal transportation industry leaders, St. Louis regional elected officials, educators and various members of the construction, engineering and manufacturing industries within the region.

The tour included multiple points of interest on both the Illinois side as well as the Missouri side of the Mississippi River as on-board narrators identified rail yards, rail connections to shippers and carriers, conveyor belts and barge terminals, rail bridges and highway infrastructure all providing modal flexibility, and efficient and reliable freight movements. It afforded guests a unique vantage point to view those key transportation assets and gain insights into critical infrastructure investments underway or planned in the region.

Mary Lamie, Executive Vice President of Multi Modal Enterprises for Bi-State Development and head of the St. Louis Regional Freightway, provided additional context. “It’s the infrastructure, the confluence of six Class I railroads, four interstates with low congestion and no tolls, and most strategic location on the Mississippi River along with two international airports that supports our role as a global logistics hub,” Lamie said. “If you visit our sister cities like Kansas City, Memphis, Nashville and Minneapolis, you won’t find the geographic advantages or multimodal infrastructure. We’re hoping that after today’s tour you’ll have a better understanding of the how these modes of transportation support current and future manufacturing and logistics industries.”

After heading north along the St. Louis riverfront past the North Riverfront Commerce Corridor, the train crossed into the State of Illinois via the TRRA’s Merchants Bridge, which is the second oldest bridge over the Mississippi River in the St. Louis region and serves six

Class I railroads and Amtrak. Replacement of the Merchants Bridge was the region’s #1 freight infrastructure priority from 2016 through completion of the $222 million project in Fall 2022. The project doubled the capacity of the bridge, seismically retrofitted the piers and will ensure reliable rail connections across the Mississippi River into the next century.

While crossing the Merchant’s Bridge, guests also learned about the various projects underway or planned at America’s Central Port, visible to the north of the new structure. America’s Central Port Executive Director Dennis Wilmsmeyer provided insight on the important role the port plays in facilitating the movement of goods from barge to both truck and rail and vice versa.

Tour attendees learned about the impact the TRRA investments will have on Chicago-St. Louis High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Service. The start of 110 mph passenger rail service on the route kicked off at the end of June 2023, with the higher speeds eliminating approximately 15 minutes from the previous 90 mph runtimes between the two cities. With the additional TRRA improvements, the full build-out will result in double tracks for the entire length of the corridor, reducing or eliminating the need for schedule-busting delays.

“It is important to continue investments in TRRA assets to ensure reliability and further reduce travel times, making intercity passenger rail service car competitive and giving riders a safe and environmentally friendly alternative,” said Brent Wood, President of TRRA.

The multimodal connectivity of the region was also featured as part of the tour. Several major road construction projects were highlighted along the way, including the $1.35 billion in improvements coming to the northern I-270 corridor running from Missouri to Illinois; almost $900 million in improvements coming to I-70, from Wentzville, Missouri, to the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge.

Ed Hassinger, Deputy Director and Chief Engineer for MoDOT, talked about the importance of the St. Louis Regional Freightway’s list in advancing key infrastructure projects for the region. “I-270 was on the list, and we’re four months away from being done with that project. We have a partnership with IDOT on the Chain of Rocks Bridge and that’s under construction, and probably the biggest news is that (Missouri) Governor Parson is going to be signing the bill that authorizes the rebuilding of I-70 across the entire state – a $2.8 bil-

lion state investment,” said Hassinger. “Our governor and our legislators have infrastructure on their mind, and they are putting their money where their mouth is.”

To learn more about the Priority Projects List and the specific projects that encompass it, visit https://www.thefreightway.com/why-stl-region/priority-infrastructure-projects/.

www.mycnews.com • Community News – St. Louis County • September 27, 2023 Around Town 3
Submitted photo Mary Lamie, Executive Vice President of Multi Modal Enterprises for Bi-State Development and head of the St. Louis Regional Freightway, addresses attendees at St. Louis Union Station before the start of the Rail Freight Tour. CROSSWORD answers from page F-4 SUDOKU answers from page F-1

Around Town

Officially old Still In This Together:

Oh,I knew it was coming, actually it’s been happening for a while in so very many little ways. I just kept trying to explain it away, but after last night, I’m officially old.

I remember wondering why my grandmother had trouble understanding the concept of computers, although she was enamored with dishwashers and quite curious about the brand-new microwave idea; or, why my mom couldn’t fathom why anybody would sit in front of a computer and wait for someone to answer a message they’d sent instead of just picking up the phone and talking to them.

Grandma talked a lot about all the things she’d seen in her life, from automobiles and airplanes to cute little princess telephones, and Mom learned relatively late in life how to use a computer program at her job as a parish secretary. Both of them considered that they’d seen just about everything their brains could manage.

I get it now. I’m there.

My wake-up call came while trying to sync my phone and the TV and getting my weary brain to understand just what I was doing.

John was absolutely no help; his use for the phone involves making a call and receiving a call. No camera, no passwords, no fancy schmancy Zoom or FaceTime, and he has absolutely no care for messaging, Wordle, Google or anything involving the internet. Plain and

simple: a phone is for talking, and if he’s not in the mood to talk, he simply ignores it. Problem solved.

It’s a simple life for him, and if his life depended to being able to pay a bill online, he’d be a goner. And he wouldn’t argue about meeting St. Peter at the pearly gates.

So, I’ve picked up a fancy trick or two, can retrieve and print out receipts for my paper-loving husband, and have even very gradually been allowed to pay bills from my phone. I marvel at face recognition, was thrilled when I learned how to send photographs and videos, and happily make mistakes if I can learn something along the way.

I can set up apps and link things and even programmed the garage door opener on my phone. I can access our new homeowner booklet and happily e-sign documents. I know how to get to different viewing apps on the TV, although the process often involves using words that should not be said out loud in polite company. I was so happy that we had a free trial of Paramount Plus so that we could watch “1886” and “1923,” but cussed every time I had to reset the closed captioning so I didn’t miss a word of the beautifully scripted productions.

And then we wanted to see “Yellowstone,” way after most people had already viewed it, of course, not offered on the same site as the prequels, of course, and available on a television app that was maddeningly impossible for me to barter with, of course. Smart cookies, those TV people! One night, after some fancy finger work, we were actually able to watch Episode 1 at no charge, not realizing at any point until it was over that it was Episode 1 of Season 5. I could only retrieve Seasons 4 and 5, no matter how I fiddled with the controller and quite creatively made up an entirely new language to express my frustration in the process.

After talking to our daughter, I was able to rent the actual first episode of Season 1 through Amazon, and it actually knew how to move from my phone onto the TV. But after that I was in serious trouble. I wanted to show my superior internet skills and I wanted to find a more reasonable way to rent the first season. Was that too much to ask?

I was well aware that John’s suggestion to go to a video store and look to see how much we could rent it for was about 20 years too late. My mind was rapidly turning to mush and I could understand for the first time just how my grandmother felt when constantly being bombarded by a world filled with new-and-improved everything.

And yet, I was stubborn enough to insist on an answer. Where were the first seasons available? How could I download that channel? What password, what e-mail, what magic could I find to thumb the control panel and make the television blissfully happy?

Last night, I’m pretty sure I downloaded a new channel for the low, low price of $5.99 for an entire month of unlimited watching of “Yellowstone,” and many other wonderful offerings.

We’ll see in a month.

Stay tuned!

Vicki Bahr is an inveterate word lover and story sharer, a published author in magazine, newspaper and blog forms. As a mom of four, grandma of nine, and wife of one for 50 years, she finds that inspiration and wonder are everywhere.

The opinions expressed in this column are the columnist’s alone and do not reflect the opinion of the owners or staff of Community News

U.S. News & World Report has named STEAM Academy at McCluer South-Berkeley High School in Ferguson-Florissant School District as one of the best high schools in America.

STEAM Academy is ranked among the top high schools in Missouri and the nation in the U.S. News and World Report’s 20232024 Best High Schools list. Nearly 18,000 high schools made the list and STEAM Academy ranked as No. 84 out of 718 high schools in Missouri, placing it in the top 12% of high schools in the state. The high school finished in the top 35% of high schools nationally.

“Being recognized as one of the top high schools in the country is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students, teachers, and staff, “ said Superintendent Dr. Joseph Davis. “We are extremely proud of the commitment to excellence that is demonstrated every day. This achievement reflects our ongoing efforts to provide a rigorous and innovative education

that prepares our students for success in college and beyond. We will continue to strive for excellence and provide our students with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.”

U.S. News and World Report ranks high schools on six factors based on how students demonstrated outstanding outcomes above expectations including college readiness, graduation rate, number of students taking AP courses and state assessment performance.

September 27, 2023 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com 4
STEAM Academy at McCluer South-Berkeley rated among the best high schools in Missouri
Photo courtesy Ferguson-Florissant School District

Feature F-1

RECIPE : Add pop to a sweet snack time favorite

Perfect for a picnic, celebrating a birthday or just enjoying time with family and friends, the classic combination of strawberries and cream serves as both a sweet treat and a crowd favorite.

INGREDIENTS:

1/4 cup freeze-dried strawberries

6 cups popped popcorn

1 cup white chocolate chips, melted

DIRECTIONS:

In small food processor or spice grinder, pulse freeze-dried strawberries until finely ground.

Place popcorn in large bowl.

Strawberries

& Cream Popcorn

Servings: 4-6

Drizzle melted chocolate over top; toss until well coated. Sprinkle evenly with ground freeze-dried strawberries; toss until well coated.

Scrape onto large parchment paper-lined baking sheet, spreading into even layer.

Let stand at room temperature 30-60 minutes, or until chocolate is set

Movie:

Born and raised in South St. Louis, Steve Bryan is now based in Anaheim, California, and has been allowed access to movie and television sets to see actors and directors at work. Though his writing has taken him far from St. Louis, Steve is, at heart, still the same wide-eyed kid who spent countless hours watching classic movies at neighborhood theaters.

and hardened. To serve, break into pieces.

Tips: To melt chocolate: In heatproof bowl over saucepan of barely simmering water, stir chocolate chips 3-5 minutes, or until smooth. To melt chocolate in microwave: In microwave-safe bowl or measuring cup, microwave chocolate on medium heat 1-2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, or until smooth and melted.

more sweet snacking solutions

n the engag ing 2015 out er space adventure “The Martian,” Matt Damon played Dr. Mark Watney, a botanist, mechanical engineer and member of the Ares III mis sion to Mars.

During a dust storm on the surface, the crew evacu ated the area, but Dr. Watney was struck by debris and pre sumed dead by the crew. He was, however, very much alive and had to care for his own wounds. Knowing that the next Mars mission would land in four years, he kept himself alive by finding ways to grow food in the Martian soil. He also learned to communicate with NASA back on Earth to let them know he was alive.

Although Matt Damon had the lead in “The Martian,” actor Michael Peña played Major Rick Martinez in the film. Once communications were reestablished with Watney, Peña’s character had “interesting” dialogues with Watney.

That’s one reason why Peña was the best choice to star in “A Million Miles Away,” an Amazon Prime drama about Jose M. Hernandez, the first Mexican American Astronaut. Based on Hernandez’s autobiography “Reaching for the Stars,” the story focused on his

hard work and unwavering determination to become a NASA engineer and astronaut.

A multi-talented actor, Peña also appeared in 2004’s “Crash,” a film that focused on interactions between a group of Los Angeles residents. In one sequence, Detective Graham Waters (Don Cheadle) arrived at a crime scene where the body of deceased child had been discovered. In another sequence, Peña played Daniel Ruiz, a Hispanic locksmith doing his best for his family. He had moved his family from a rough neighborhood to one that appeared to be safer. Ruiz also told his daughter about an invisible cloak that would keep her safe at night.

When it comes to comedic roles, however, no one can bring the funny quite like Michael Peña can. He stood out in “Ant-Man,” a 2015 Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film. Paul Rudd played the title role, an ex-con who tried his best to find work, but his past caught up with him. Peña was on board here as Luis, Scott’s former cellmate who had an interesting way of talking. Actor Michael Douglas played Hank Pym, a physicist who became the original Ant-Man and later became Scott’s mentor. Scott also was attracted to Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), Pym’s daughter.

Peña appeared in “World Trade Center,” “Shooter,” “Tower Heist” and “American Hustle.” He played the title role in 2014’s “Cesar Chavez” and was cast as DEA Agent Kiki Camarena in “Narcos: Mexico.” He also played CIA agent Domingo Chavez in season 4 of the Amazon Prime Series “Jack Ryan.” With his background, it was easy to see that the multi-talented Michael Peña was the best person to portray Jose M. Hernandez in “A Million Miles Away.”

“A Million Miles Away” was released on “Amazon Prime Video” on Sept. 15.

www.mycnews.com • Community News • September 27, 2023
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Actor Michael Peña travels ‘A Million Miles Away’
Visit
to find
‘A Million Miles Away’ photo courtesy Amazon Studios
September 27, 2023 • Community News • www.mycnews.com F-2 Feature HELP WANTED HELP WANTED – CHECK US OUT AT WWW.MYCNEWS.COM –NOVENA Say this prayer 9 times a day for 9 days, then publish. Your prayers will be answered. It has never been known to fail. PRAYER TO ST. JUDE May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world, now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. St. Jude, Worker of Miracles, Pray for us. St. Jude, Helper of the Hopeless, Pray for us. Thank you, St. Jude. L.M. COLLECTIBLES LIKE US TODAY! facebook.com/mycnews SINGERS WANTED “Stuff” Piling Up? Let us help advertise your sale! Call Brooke at 636-379-1775 Say this prayer 9 times a day for 9 days, then publish. Your prayers will be answered. It has never been known to fail. PRAYER TO ST. JUDE May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world, now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. St. Jude, Worker of Miracles, Pray for us. St. Jude, Helper of the Hopeless, Pray for us. Thank you, St. Jude. K.B.
CLASSIFIEDS Feature F-3 www.mycnews.com • Community News • September 27, 2023 Published Every Week Since 1921 Family-Owned & Operated Our FREE publications are AREAS OF CIRCULATION www.danneggerbrothers.com Dannegger Brothers Contracting, Inc Insured | Experienced | Local | Quality • Foundation & Basement Repairs • Waterproofing Piering Mudjacking Stress Bracing Concrete Flatwork 314-993-1833 www.DanneggerBrothers.com

Moore on Life: Shop ‘til you drop

Does this happen to anyone else? You’ll be shopping at the grocery store and for some reason bump into the same shopper in the same aisles going at the same pace repeatedly until it becomes more than uncomfortable.

It happened to me last week. I grabbed for the spaghetti sauce at the exact same time another lady was reaching for the sauce and our hands bumped into each other and then the awkward exchange began:

Me: “Oh, go ahead.”

Her: “No, you take it. You were ahead of me.”

“No, no clearly your thumb was pressed up against the lid long before my pointer finger was even close to it.”

“I insist you take it,” she said.

“Well, I insist more.”

We glanced at one another and both grabbed onto the bottle again at the same time then released it. It crashed to the floor exploding into what looked like a gruesome murder scene.

“Clean up on aisle four,” came over the intercom.

We both grabbed our carts and scooted off before security arrived.

I hunkered down in the produce section until the coast was clear then reached for a bunch of bananas just as another hand reached for the same ones.

“Oh, go ahead…” I almost said, until I realized it was the spaghetti sauce woman. What was she doing? Stalking my every move?

“You,” she said. “What are you doing? Stalking my every move?”

“Haven’t you got some cleaning up to do on aisle four?” I said.

She tugged at the bananas, but I kept hold of them. I gave them a jerk and they slipped from our grip. They landed on the ground and someone else’s cart ran over them leaving behind a pile of banana squish pudding.

“Clean up in produce,” came over the intercom. For the remainder of my shopping, I ran into her down every aisle.

Finally, I raced to the checkout stand only to have her come up right behind me.

“You!” I muttered.

“You!” she grumbled.

“Who’s stalking who now?” I said snarkily.

“It’s whom and you’re as dumb as you are rude.”

I’d had enough of her by that time. I punched out her loaf of bread and shook up her liter of soda then unscrewed the cap.

“Clean up at checkout,” the intercom said. Some things are worth being banned from the grocery store.

Cindy Moore is the mother of three superlative kids, servant of two self-indulgent felines and wife to one nifty husband. Her ficticious occupation? Archeological Humorist: someone who unearths absurdity and hilarity in strange and unusual places including public restrooms, the lint filter, and church meetings. Most recently, she excavated a find in her neighbor’s bird feeder.

The opinions expressed in this column are Cindy Moore’s alone and do not reflect the opinion of the owners or staff of Community News.

LIFESTYLE: Budget-friendly ideas to freshen up indoor spaces

Whetheryou’re fatigued by seeing the same decor every day or simply looking for an opportunity to refresh indoor spaces with an appealing mini makeover, rethinking your favorite room in the house doesn’t need to be an expensive ordeal. Even if your budget is tight, you can still make small changes to transform a room. Consider these ideas:

• Bring stylish flair to your space with a new color scheme. Rather than replacing all the furniture, which can be costly, focus on smaller accessory pieces such as pillows and decorative items. Create variety by using multiple hues of the same color or mixing two or more complementary colors.

• Introduce new accent furniture. Smaller and less cost-prohibitive than centerpieces like a couch, for example, accent pieces such as end tables or a coffee table can provide subtle changes to the look of a room. You could also opt to refinish a piece of furniture you have on-hand to create a look that’s all your own.

• Morph your room by simply rearranging what you already own. Adjusting the orientation of your furniture and decor can let you see your favorite room from a whole new perspective.

• Whether it’s a flea market find, such as an old window frame that you paint and add a display shelf to the base, or a series of photos from your favorite vacation destination, adding some DIY art can not only update your room, but make it more personal, too.

ACROSS

1. In the middle of

6. "____, the Beloved Country"

9. Start of "The Night Before Christmas"

13. Anoint

14. *"...three strikes, ____'re out, at the old ball game"

15. Capital of Egypt

16. *Yanees owner, George ____brenner

17. Mandela's org.

18. Back street

19. *Walk-off move (2 words)

21. *One of MLB countries

23. Start an engine

24. Salvador Dali's muse

25. Old French coin

28. Select

30. Pass, as time

35. Antonym of is

37. Rumpelstiltskin's weaver

39. Virgo's brightest star

40. Snack, in Spain

41. Rose oil

43. *Yogi Berra - 295 PA, e.g.

44. *Player's representative

46. Eyelid affliction

47. Shade of beige

48. *a.k.a. Mr. October

50. Small island

52. In the know

53. Part of armor

55. Octopus' defense

57. *Last year's World Series winners 60. *Ronald Acuña Jr.'s home base 64. Indian monetary unit 65. Sun, in Mexico 67. ____ Asimov 68. Artemis' companion 69. E.T.'s craft, acr.

DOWN

1. It starred Alan Alda from 1972-1983

2. Digging, so to speak

3. Think

4. More like a fox

5. Madagascar's hedgehog-like animal

6. Printer cartridge color

7. *Guidry, Cey or Gardenhire

8. New Mexico's state flower

9. Samoan money

10. *____ card

11. Length times width

12. Tofu ingredient

15. Lock sites 20. Soft palate hanger 22. Kind of beer

Speech organ

Fretted instrument 26. a.k.a. People of the Middle Waters 27. Remove pegs 29. Auction portions 31. Cathedral recess 32. *____ clock

33. Close call 34. Relish (2 words) 36. NASA's orange drink 38. *"The Catch" (1954) catcher

Rekindled

Like theater seating

Big-headedness 51. Join the army

Matter of debate

Buckwheat dish

Halo

Do like volcano 59. Bluish green 60. Sir Mix-____-____

61. Delhi bread

62. Spill the beans

63. *Whitey Ford, Bob Gibson and Christy Mathewson

64. *Commissioner Manfred

66. Bug enemy

September 27, 2023 • Community News • www.mycnews.com F-4 Feature
70. Shelf material 71. Cry like a baby 72. Young newt 73. Shermans, in World War II
24.
25.
42.
45.
49.
54.
56.
57.
58.
SEE ANSWERS ON STL PG. 3 & STC PG. 5
A new look for your favorite room can go a long way, so find ways to update your space for a comfy retreat you can enjoy. Find more ideas at eLivingtoday.com.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
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