Chesterfield April 2015

Chesterfield ChesterfieldLifestyle.com

APRIL 2015

L

I

F

E

S

T

Y

L

E

™

HOPE FOR THE BROWN THUMB BLUES CHESTERFIELD’S OWN EARTH DAY FESTIVAL SWAP & SELL WITH CHESTERFIELD RESIDENTS LOCALLY OWNED: DREAM PLAY RECREATION

24TH ANNIVERSARY SALE

E VE RY TH ING

ON S A L E! NO W TH RU 4-26-15

Where Dreams Do Come True!

DREAM PLAY RECREATION OFFERS THE ABSOLUTE FINEST...

swing sets

basketball� goals

24 INSTALL

$ FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED FOR OVER 24 YEARS

trampolines

ON ALL SWING SETS, BASKETBALL GOALS & TRAMPOLINES

EXPIRES 4-26-15.

TEST PLAY SWING SETS, TRAMPOLINES, HOOPS & MORE

IN OUR HUGE INTERACTIVE SHOWROOM TODAY!

UNMATCHED QUALITY | DURABILITY | SAFETY | LONG-TERM VALUE | SERVICE 17373 Edison Ave. Chesterfield, MO 63005 | 636.530.0055 | DREAMPLAYREC.COM

Editor’s Letter

Beyond “Conveniently Green.”

A

fter a long chilly winter, we welcome springtime with our “Green” issue. The concept of “green” means different things to different people: to some it means environmental initiatives, to others, gardening and having a “green thumb.” Being “green” really boils down to the celebration and preservation of our beautiful planet. Every single person can make positive differences in the quality of life for our planet now and for future generations.

The first thing that comes to mind for me is is recycling. Before I met my husband, John, I was not recycling regularly. I did recycle newspapers and copy paper, but it was certainly more convenient just to throw away empty containers rather than take time to rinse and put them in the recycle bin. I was what I call “Conveniently Green” (green when it suited me). John encouraged me to recycle everything that can be recycled. This quickly became a good new habit; I’m still amazed at the small amount of pure trash our household produces compared to the amount we recycle.

If you don’t already, I encourage you to start recycling today. Nearly all paper, plastics, glass and cans can be recycled. Chesterfield offers weekly pick-up in one container—no sorting required. Recycling household waste is a simple, easy way to make a dramatic impact by keeping reusable materials out of landfills. I’m proud to say our children are being raised in a household that recycles, and they notice and enjoy the process. The younger children love to take turns depositing items in the recycle bin and the older children observe disappointment when restaurants or stores don’t use recyclable cups. If you recycle and encourage recycling, it will become a natural way of life for your children and will only benefit their future.

Now that I have stepped down from my soapbox, you can be sure I will recycle, reuse or repurpose it…hmmm…it might make for an interesting end table; I digress.

You can also increase your level of “green” simply by planting something. Gardening is a wonderful way to enhance the beauty of the environment. Don’t know where to start? I didn’t either; that is why I consulted with local experts to find out the best “no-fail” plants to select for the Chesterfield area. Learn how to get started making your little piece of the Earth (and your thumb) more green, in the article “Hope for the Brown Thumb Blues,” on page 18.

Chesterfield holds one of the region’s largest Earth Day celebrations. Find out more about it on page 34. Readers, in celebration of our amazing planet, I challenge you to start recycling everything you can and to plant something—even one thing—to celebrate and preserve the beauty of Earth; reach beyond being only “conveniently green.”

APRIL 2015 publisher Denise Sundvold | DSundvold@LifestylePubs.com

editor Elizabeth “Libby” Mullen | LMullen@LifestylePubs.com

contributing writers Elizabeth Harris, Tasha Moxley, Libby Mullen, Aimee Pellet

contributing photographers John Babb, Amy Rahm, Allen Skinner

Published monthly, subscriptions are: 1 year for $22 or 2 years for $39.

Visit ChesterfieldLifestyle.com

corporate team chief executive officer | Steven Schowengerdt chief sales officer | Matthew Perry chief financial officer | DeLand Shore regional sales director | Mike Arel production director | Christina Sandberg director of marketing | Brad Broockerd art director | Sara Minor ad coordinators | Cyndi Vreeland, Samantha Engel copy editor | Kendra Mathewson executive assistant | Lori Cunningham application architect | Michael O’Connell it director | Randy Aufderheide

chesterfield lifestyle 636.203.5838

Yours in Community,

by Community ™

Elizabeth “Libby” Mullen, Editor LMullen@LifestylePubs.com

| ChesterfieldLifestyle.com | join us

4

Chesterfield Lifestyle | April 2015

talk to us

P.O. Box 12608 Overland Park, KS 66282-3214 Proverbs 3:5-6 Chesterfield Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of Chesterfield’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Chesterfield Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

April 2015

18

Departments 8

Good Times

10

Around Town

12

Animal Tracks

14

History 101

22

Giving Back

23

Page Turners

18 Hope for the Brown Thumb Blues

24

Healthy Lifestyle

26

Locally Owned

29

Sold Properties

Discover an expert’s “no-fail” plant picks for gardens in Chesterfield.

20 Swap & Sell with Chesterfield Residents

Learn how to earn some “green” by swapping and selling locally

in Chesterfield.

26 Locally Owned: Dream Play Recreation

30 Lifestyle Calendar 34

Parting Thoughts

Find out “Where Dreams Do Come True” right in your own backyard.

34 Chesterfield’s Own Earth Day Festival

Celebrate and protect our planet; learn ways to recycle,

reduce and reuse.

20

26

Lifestyle Publications Missouri | Colorado | California | Arizona | Texas | Kansas | Georgia | Oklahoma | Idaho | Illinois

34

gÉãÇ 9 VÉâÇàÜç byy|vx Coldwell Banker Gundaker #1 Office in the State of Missouri!

St. Louis’ Top Realtors

1301 Mill Crossing Ct, #105 Creve Coeur • $199,900 Michelle Hoberman 314-810-6600

14826 Brookhaven Place Chesterfield • $1,209,000 Etty Masoumy 314-406-3331

1511 Mallard Landing Ct Chesterfield • $550,000 Debbie Midgley 314-610-7519

1620 Vintage Oak Court Wildwood • $579,322 Kathy Pecher 314-406-6898

14807 Pleasant Ridge Ct. Chesterfield • $399,000 Phyllis Barr 314-973-2843

16338 Lakeshore Terrace Ct. Wildwood • $450,000 Mary Bay 314-973-4278

318 Wardenburg Farms Ct Chesterfield • $4,900,000 Mary Beth Benes 314-707-7761

1333 Cherry Glen Court Chesterfield • $524,900 Cindy DeBrecht 314-482-0393

924 Shadow Pine Fenton • $184,900 Debbie Dutton 314-398-4909

1407 Wells Avenue Webster Groves • $175,000 Holly Even 314-616-9431

347 Chesterfield Oaks Drive Wildwood • $575,000 Carmen Gassert 314-623-7790

7514 Oxford Drive #2 Clayton • $246,000 Gay Gordon 314-740-4812

It’s a Great Time To Put Your Home On The Market Listing Inventory Is Low and Buyers Are Looking!

636-394-9300

Good Times

Claymont Elementary 80s Trivia Night

Hundreds of Claymont parents and friends transported back to the 1980s for a fun-filled annual trivia night. The evening highlighted a photo booth, silent auction, trivia competition and costume contest.

Green Team Awards

The Chesterfield Citizens Committee for the Environment presented Charity Sharity, Girl Scout Troop 2534 and Ozark Berry Farm with “Green Team� awards. Recipients are distinguished in their outstanding or innovative environmental efforts.

8

Chesterfield Lifestyle | April 2015

Singing Shrek Show at Stages St. Louis

Area youths showcased singing, dancing and acting talent to enthralled audiences at STAGES St. Louis, a Chesterfieldbased professional theater company offering performances classes and opportunities for children and adults.

Snowy Central Park

In a response to our photo submission request to readers, Allen Skinner shared his infrared photographs of Chesterfield’s Central Park after a snowfall. Infrared photography can produce a high-contrast, vivid or dreamlike effect.

April 2015 | Chesterfield Lifestyle

9

Around Town CHESTERFIELD VALLEY DENTAL GROUP WELCOMES DR. RAHM Chesterfield Valley Dental Group is excited to welcome Dr. Robert Rahm. He brings his own practice, Woods Mill Dental Care, to Chesterfield Valley Dental Group and will continue care for the late Dr. Robert Goldman’s patients.

Goldman and Rahm met in September 2014 and found their philosophies for patient care to be a great match. They soon began making plans to combine offices.

Shortly after, Goldman began his fight against cancer and passed away in late November. Rahm is dedicated to continuing Goldman’s legacy.

Rahm, whom patients describe as “gentle,” is a St. Louis native and a Chesterfield resident. He and his wife, Amy, have three boys in the Parkway School district and enjoy volunteering at their church.

Chesterfield Valley Dental Group offers a relaxed, engaging atmosphere where you can enjoy dental services that are delivered with your comfort in mind. They make every effort to keep your surroundings clean, bright, and well organized.

Chesterfield Valley Dental Group #6 McBride and Son Center Drive Suite 100 Chesterfield, MO 63005 636.537.5240 ChesterfieldValleyDental.com

FORE! REGISTER NOW FOR CHAMBER GOLF TOURNAMENT The Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce will hold the 25th Annual Golf Tournament on Monday, April 27, at Persimmon Woods Golf Club. It promises to be a great day of golf, food, and fun; limited spots sell out quickly. This is a first-class tournament held on a pristine course.

Golfers of all skill levels are welcome and competitions for more skilled players will be held throughout the day. Registration opens at 10:30 a.m. and players will have an opportunity to warm up on the driving 10

Chesterfield Lifestyle | April 2015

range. Persimmon Woods will serve a pregolf lunch at 11 a.m. and the day ends with dinner served at 6 p.m. with both silent and live auctions beginning at 6:45 p.m. This great day of golf provides members with a relaxing opportunity to entertain customers and clients and to network with other Chamber members.

The tournament supports the Chamber’s programs that fulfill the Chamber’s mission of offering opportunities for networking, education and communication.

A portion of proceeds from the event will benefit a charity within the Chamber. For more information call 636.532.3399 or visit ChesterfieldMoChamber.com.

RELIEF INSPIRED RENAISSANCE YOGA Yoga’s benefits led Brian and Lilyann Rice to open Yoga Renaissance. Brian Rice never dreamed he’d ever take a yoga class, but intractable back pain led the local businessman to give it a try in 2003. Twelve years later, the pain and stress relief he’s experienced in the practice of yoga led him and his wife, Lilyann, to open Yoga Renaissance, a new yoga studio at the intersection of Clayton and Baxter roads in Chesterfield.

Yoga Renaissance, which opened January 5 of this year, features two beautiful studios, a schedule of 22 classes per week, special workshops and a staff of more than 12 Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) certified yoga instructors.

“Getting experienced, certified instructors was an important consideration for us,” Brian says. “We think the quality of instruction and the studio environment is critical to providing our clients with the kind of experience that maximizes the benefits of yoga practice and keeps them safe.”

Experienced yoga practitioners and beginners will both find a warm welcome at Yoga Renaissance. The open-level classes in a non-competitive environment, friendly staffers and sense of community at the studios all make even a first class a great experience.

Yoga Renaissance is located at 14833 Clayton Road, Chesterfield, MO 63017. For more information about the benefits of yoga go to YRSTL.com, or call 636.733.6070.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR In March’s Art issue of Chesterfield Lifestyle, readers were invited to submit art endeavors for consideration to be included in a future issue.

Hi Libby, I finally talked myself into buying a nice camera a couple years ago and have fallen in love with photography. What started out as just taking pictures of the kids has turned into a fairly obsessive hobby, depending on who you ask. Faust Park is certainly a favorite place of mine; there are lots of places to discover just in the Chesterfield area. I enjoy taking pictures outdoors and exploring; the attached pictures of Central Park are infrared photography*...I was curious how the snow and sky would look using this technique.

Regards, Allen Skinner *Allen’s photographs are located in the Good Times section of this issue.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! This magazine is YOURS. Our goal is to provide positive, inspirational and engaging stories “to, for and about” the people, attractions and businesses in Chesterfield.

Our editor is always on the lookout for interesting story ideas for the following columns, departments and features; we would love the opportunity to consider your ideas for future issues.

Locally Owned - Businesses owned and operated in the Chesterfield area or by Chesterfield residents.

Real Wives of Chesterfield - A light-hearted introduction and interview with one of our community’s engaging women who share volunteer passions, favorite spots to eat/shop/play.

Giving Back - Meet an individual, family or group who makes volunteering a priority or learn about a nonprofit based in the community.

Star Student - School news or a feature about a student taking learning and living to the next level in a Chesterfield-area-based public or private school.

Healthy Living -Smart eating, fitness, exercise, sports, medical news, nutrition and healthy hobbies.

Artist’s Palette -Introductions to local artists, their work and what makes them tick.

And, let us not forget about: Field Trip (outings nearby), Page Turners (book clubs, book reviews by local authors), Animal Tracks (for/about our pets) and Family Feature (a local family).

Send your ideas to LMullen@LifestylePubs.com.

YOU GUESSED IT! March’s Mystery Picture is a close-up of the painted butterfly on the arm of an artful, permanent chair located outdoors in Chesterfield’s Eberwein Dog Park. The City of Chesterfield purchased the 18 acre site from the Eberwein family several years ago for the purposes of developing a community park. This park is named after the Eberwein family who first settled in Chesterfield over 100 years ago. The Eberwein family used this land as a farm and their residence up until the time of the city’s purchase. To preserve the history, character, and charm of the site, Eberwein Park was designed as a passive community park with a farm like theme. To accomplish this, the existing large red barn, which was originally constructed in the early 1900s, will be preserved and has been renovated.

Amenities for the park site include a trail system, Dog Park, community gardens, educational rain gardens, an open field for play and restrooms.

Admission to the Dog Park is $30/dog/year.

Residents must present the following documentation at the time of purchasing dog tags:

Proof of residency (driver‘s license, unpaid utility bill) Record of dog’s spayed/neutered.

Record of current Rabies shot or Titer test Chesterfield City Hall 690 Chesterfield Parkway West Chesterfield, MO 63017 For more information and specific rules for the Eberwein Dog Park, visit Chesterfield.mo.us or call 636.537.4000 A special thanks to all of our readers who took the time to write; keep those guesses coming!

MONTHLY MYSTERY PICTURE: WHAT IS IT? Each month a Mystery Picture will be included at the end of Around Town. The Mystery Picture is a photo of something in Chesterfield; the picture may depict a close-up view or be taken from a unique vantage point. The answer to “What is it?” will be included in the next month’s issue of Chesterfield Lifestyle, along with a new Mystery Picture to solve. Readers are encouraged to submit one guess per month to LMullen@LifestylePubs. com. The first readers to submit an email, correctly identifying the subject of the Mystery Picture, will be given the opportunity to have their name included in the next month’s issue. Chesterfield is home to many hidden treasures, and we want to encourage you to always be exploring and discovering new things around town.

Visit KimSellsChesterfield.com KimSellsChesterfield.com Visit to search search all all properties properties in in to Chesterfield by by school school district. district.

Chesterfield It’s quick. quick. It’s It’s easy. easy. It’s It’s accurate. accurate.

It’s

For all all your your real real estate estate needs needs contact contact For

Kim Anderson Anderson Kim Direct# 314-704-1276 314-704-1276 Direct#

Email Kim@ChooseKim.com Kim@ChooseKim.com Email Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties

Kim Anderson...referred Anderson...referred for for a a reason! reason!

Kim

It’s Spring,

At the Old House in Hog Hollow

Thinking of of buying buying and/or and/or selling? selling?

Thinking am an an experienced experienced Realtor Realtor with with aa II am proven track track record record and and would would love love proven the opportunity opportunity to to meet meet with with you you the for aa free free consultation. consultation. for

the Birds are Back,

Old House in Hog Hollow 14319 Olive Blvd, Chesterfield, MO 63017 (one mile west of 141 & four miles east of Chesterfield Mall) Hours: Mon-Sat 10-5 (314)469-1019 oldhouseinhoghollow.com

April 2015 | Chesterfield Lifestyle

11

Animal Tracks

Be a Butterfly Hero

SAVE THE MONARCH BUTTERFLIES

ARTICLE LIBBY MULLEN | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

L

iving in Chesterfield, we are fortunate to have The Butterfly House close by, and can enjoy being among butterflies anytime we choose. If you think about it, it sure seems like there were so many more butterflies outside around us when we were children. I remember seeing Monarch butterflies everywhere in the summers here. There is a reason it seems that we don’t see as many butterflies during our summers now: many butterfly species, including Monarch butterflies, are in danger. You can help.

Be a Butterfly Hero. The majestic Monarch butterfly population is in decline. National Wildlife Federation (NWF), America’s largest wildlife conservation and education organization, is giving away 10,000 Butterfly Heroes Garden Kits to help save the Monarch butterfly.

NWF’s new Butterfly Hero Campaign, launched on March 4, and asks people to submit photos of themselves making the international sign language sign of the butterfly on NWF’s Butterfly Heroes website, at NWF.org/ButterflyHeroes. By submitting photos and taking a pledge to help, participants will be mailed a free kit (while supplies last.) Photo entries received by May 15, 2015, are eligible for a chance to win a trip for four to Walt Disney World. Botanical Interests is supporting the campaign with a donation of native milkweed seeds.

“We can each be a part of saving the Monarch butterfly. The simple act of planting milkweed with your family provides monarchs with a place to lay their eggs, and helps ensure this iconic species has a future,” says David Mizejewski, naturalist with the National Wildlife Federation.

Pollinators, of which the Monarch butterfly is a part, are mostly responsible for all the food that we eat. While mon12

Chesterfield Lifestyle | April 2015

archs are found across the United States — as recently as 1996 numbering some 1 billion — their numbers have declined by approximately 90 percent in recent years, a result of numerous threats, particularly loss of habitat due to agricultural practices, development and cropland conversion. Degradation of wintering habitat in Mexico and California has also had a negative impact on the species.

Monarch butterflies spend winter in Mexico or Central and Southern California, and then migrate north in spring into neighborhoods, like those in Chesterfield and across the United States.

They need places to rest their wings, drink flower nectar and lay their eggs on milkweed, which their baby caterpillars eat. Monarchs are losing this habitat, and without it the Monarch cannot survive. NWF is asking people across the United States to plant milkweed to preserve the monarch’s habitat. Learn more about NWF’s Monarch protection efforts at NWF.org/Monarchs and NWF.org/Pollinators.

NWF’s Garden for Wildlife program encourages responsible gardening that helps pollinators and other wildlife thrive. It encourages planting with native species like milkweed and discouraging chemical pesticide use. With nearly 200,000 locations and growing, NWF’s Certified Wildlife Habitats and Community Wildlife Habitats recognize individuals, schools, groups and whole communities committed to providing habitat for wildlife, including pollinators. Each of the nearly 200,000 certified locations provides food, water, cover and places to raise young. This turns yards, schools, businesses, faith-based organizations, campuses, parks, farms and other community-based landscapes into wildlife sanctuaries.

sO BEauTIfuL it’s hard to believe it’s a recliner.

Stickley’s 400 series reclining sofas are as fashionable as they are functional.

The brand new Butterfly Heroes Campaign is organized by NWF and is a part of a number of programs designed to inspire people to get outdoors, help wildlife, and become more aware of the nature in their neighborhood and community. NWF has worked to connect people with nature for decades, inspiring people through Ranger Rick magazine, working with educators to get kids “greening” their schools and learning outdoors.

Please consider participating in the Be a Butterfly Hero campaign. This is a wonderful activity for individuals, families and children. It would be lovely to increase the Monarch butterfly population in Chesterfield; after all, they should feel right at home by the Monarch levee.

Dau

Mention this ad and save 40% off MSRP in April.

Home Furnishings

LOVE IT LONGER 15424 Manchester Rd • Ellisville, MO 63011 636-394-3005 • www.daufurniture.com Mon. - Wed. 10 - 5; Thurs. 10 - 8; Fri. & Sat. 10 - 5; Closed on Sundays

Complimentary Interior Design Service With Purchase DAU_CL_Stickley400seriesApril.indd 1

3/17/15 9:45 AM April 2015 | Chesterfield Lifestyle 13

History 101

“Green” Before Green Was Cool ARTICLE AIMEE PELLET | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

A

pril is one of those wonderful months when, even though the last snowflakes may still be falling, the mailbox is stuffed with gardening catalogs. Some seeds have been plunked into the ground and other seedlings have been started inside; I’m already impatiently waiting for June when the first round of harvesting begins at our house. The first strawberry, plucked from my garden every year with the heat of the sun still in it and with just a moment to brush off the dirt, is one of the first true signs to me that spring is doing its job and summer is on the way soon. Yes, I know that it is best to wash your strawberries and I don’t make it a habit of eating everything unwashed and straight from the garden, but there are just some things you must do occasionally and eating the first berries hot and dirty from the garden so that your hands are covered in sticky juice is one of them (assuming that it is your own organic garden and you know nothing harmful has been used on or in it.)

Growing up in “the Bottoms” of Chesterfield, my family gardened – a lot. Obsessively even. Tips and tricks of the trade were passed down through the generations like family heirlooms. In fact, it was many years before I discovered that you could actually buy produce at Dierberg’s during the summer. Who knew? I just assumed that grocery store vegetables were something you relied upon in a pinch during the winter months.

When I first started gardening, my mom would visit me just in time for planting and then at various times throughout the season. She would give me tips of what to do, or at least “what Gramps used to do.” Her first piece of advice is always to make the rows straight--really straight. Get out the twine and the stakes, draw your lines in the dirt and don’t settle for crooked rows. Apparently Gramps, my great-grandfather, used to lay down wood

planks so that he didn’t leave footprints behind. I can’t claim to have inherited quite that level of obsessiveness.

There were many more “rules.” Plant marigolds to deter bugs.

Be relentless about removing the tomato “suckers” – those little sprouts that form at the junction of tomato vines – as they redirect nutrients to the wrong place. Plant tall things next to cool-weather plants to shade them from the heat. Have a zero tolerance policy for weeds. Cure the horse manure before using it for fertilizer.

OK, not every rule translates to the suburban gardener.

I have pleaded many times, “Mom, please write these things down.” After a few seasons of pestering, I realized that Gramps never wrote them down for her and invariably someone taught him the tricks of gardening and probably never wrote them down either.

There is something about putting your hands in the dirt that always brings back each tip just as it’s time to put it into practice.

Gardening, both the planting and the harvest, had and still has a natural cycle to it. It seemed that my family always followed the “holiday rules of gardening.” Cold weather crops were planted on St. Patrick’s Day and warm weather seedlings go in the ground on Mother’s Day. In fact, just a few weeks ago I got a St. Patrick’s Day email from my mom. “Did you get your lettuce seeds in the ground?” Corn and tomatoes were usually ready around the Fourth of July and were met with great anticipation.

Of course, the general attitude toward weather and the environment was different than it is today. Today, weather is something we consider as we decide what jacket to wear or when we wonder if the afternoon’s soccer game will be cancelled. There was no Weather Channel app to pull up on your phone for up-to-the-minute radar.

It was a much more connected feel to the environment. People paid CONTINUED >

14

Chesterfield Lifestyle | April 2015

? s g u B Got le!

ty s h it w t u o m e h t We’ll stomp

Call for a

! e t a m i t s E e e r F 314-494-9726 www.TheBugLadyStL.com

April Showers Something For Everyone!

In Style!

•Baby •Bridal/Wedding •Home •Kids •Women •Accessories •Stationery •Jewelry

173 Long Rd, Suite 104, Chesterfield, MO

636.536.5062 Mon-Thur 10am-6pm Fri-Sat 10am-4pm

WEST COUNTY FAMILY YMCA

$0 JOINING FEE

April 13-20 in honor of National Volunteer Week Offer good at any branch of YMCA of Greater St. Louis. Some restrictions apply. See branch for details and payment terms.

16464 Burkhardt Place | Chesterfield MO 63017 | (636) 532-3100 | www.ymcastlouis.org April 2015 | Chesterfield Lifestyle

15

History 101

(CONTINUED)

attention to signs and shifts in the weather that few of us know today. My great-grandmother used to look out the window and say, “We’re going to get a thunderstorm soon; the leaves have turned inside-out.” And, inevitably, she was always right. It wasn’t until years later that I connected her observation to the science behind it – the counterclockwise and upward spin of a low-pressure system flips the leaves and also brings rain.

Back then, when your entire summer (and indeed winter) vegetable and fruit supply was dependent upon the weather, you paid more attention. Even those of us who garden today have backups.

No one is going to go through a winter without a vegetable in their diet. Years ago though, fresh vegetables in a store were quite expensive and not as plentiful or varied. Canned vegetables were much as they are today -- not a very good substitute for even home-canned produce. And commercially frozen vegetables didn’t exist until 1930, when Clarence Birdseye developed the process.

Folks didn’t talk about or think about things in terms of “green” in the early days of Chesterfield either, unless they were referring to someone with not much experience in an area. Chemical fertilizers weren’t used in farming or in gardening. Seeds were saved from one year to the next; everything was reused or repurposed until it was no longer functional.

A few years ago I participated in an architectural history seminar in the south of France. One of my most distinct memories is roaming the area with Gustaf Sobin, author of a book called Luminous Debris. Luminous debris is the phenomenon of bits and pieces of history – trash and other remnants of ancient society – being buried for hundreds, sometimes thousands, of years.

And then slowly the ground water pushes it up until it makes an appearance back on the surface. We saw remnants of Roman Provence going through this exact process.

Several years later, I was down at my farm and near the corner of an old building and something caught my eye. It was a flash of luminosity. Bending to investigate, I noticed that it was a piece of a broken bottle – clearly old given its thickness and bluish tint.

16

Chesterfield Lifestyle | April 2015

Could this be luminous debris? I got out my garden trowel and carefully started to peel back the layers of an old trash pit: An eye staring back at me from half of a doll’s porcelain head, the handle of a teacup and more bottles and pieces of china. Subsequent visits gradually brought up more items; these last little vestiges of the material history of a family.

These little familial trash pits were actually quite common. What you couldn’t reuse, you would probably try to burn first. Anything inflammable was buried. No huge truck arrived at your house to carry away your trash to an unknown and unseen end. There were very few items that could even be remotely described as “disposable.” Quite a difference from today when once a week someone drives through the neighborhood to remove bag after bag of outdated electronics, disposable razors, diapers, food containers and more. Plastic was a rarity. While plastics have been around since the 1850s, it wasn’t until modern industry and our desire for convenience collided to make plastics an everyday part of our life; people made sure things most things were reused to their ultimate end, which was essentially until they broke. Clothing was altered and handed down until it became threadbare. Can you imagine if we had to bury or burn all of the items we couldn’t reuse in our own backyards?

While it may sound ideal that people in Chesterfield were inadvertently “green” before it was fashionable and that most had organic gardens long before it was the latest trend, it’s also important to remember that it was – and still is – a lot of hard work. But, of course, it makes that sun-scorched, juicy strawberry worth it even more.

ERNSTROM

Offering Home Décor Worthy of a Repeat Performance

Muscle • Ligament • Joint Injuries • Pain Dr. Ed Ernstrom, DC

300 Chesterfield Center, Suite 140, Chesterfield, MO 63017

Call to Schedule Your Appointment

208-520-7109

NOW ACCEPTING CONSIGNMENT ITEMS

Furniture Consignment Home Decor 287 LAMP & LANTERN VILLAGE fl 636-220-9092 | FURNITUREHOMEDECOR.COM April 2015 | Chesterfield Lifestyle

17

ARTICLE LIBBY MULLEN | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

W

e all know a person who seems to have been born with a “green thumb.” It seems like this person can simply look at a plant and it will instantly grow three inches and bloom gorgeous flowers.

Sadly, there is a flipside to that scenario; many of us know what it is like to have a “brown thumb.”

It seems like plants wither and die when we walk by. Those of us that have not had much success with plants in the past find it a daunting task to try gardening, though we love the way a beautiful garden looks.

In an effort to bring hope to myself and other fellow “brown thumbs,” I set out to find the best “no-fail” and lowest maintenance plants for Chesterfield gardens. The key is that these plants and garden ideas need to be aesthetically pleasing, too. Easy doesn’t have to mean ugly, right?

In my research, I had an in-depth conversation with Sarah, a nursery manager at Baxter Gardens of Chesterfield. Sarah shared some inspirational words, garden ideas and suggested specific types of plants that fare well in Chesterfield, especially for busy, beginning and bewildered gardeners.

“Don’t let one failure or even several failures with plants get you down; keep trying until you get it,” says Sarah.

Hope for the Brown Thumb

Blues

“No-Fail” and Low Maintencance Plants for Chesterfield Gardens

SARAH’S SUGGESTIONS

3 “NO-FAIL” Perennials (plants that return year after year) to Plant in Chesterfield CRAPE MYRTLE

These varieties can handle sunny areas, are easy to maintain, and produce beautiful summer blooms. Chesterfield experiences hot and humid summers, which is a perfect environment for these gorgeous plants. Blooms range from pink to red and can even be purple/fuchsia in color. Crape Myrtle is fast-growing, produces large attractive blossoms and has interesting plum colored foliage in the fall. In the winter, the bark of the tree adds interesting texture to your landscape.

DRIFT ROSES

You may have heard of the popular Knock-out roses; Drift roses are just as beautiful and are a great choice for gardeners that don’t have pruning experience. Drift rose bushes stay smaller (they are actually considered a dwarf shrub) and are low maintenance and disease resistant. Drift roses “drift” similar to a groundcover plant and bloom from spring until the first hard frost and are available in apricot, coral, peach, popcorn, red, pink and sweet (very pale pink.)

18

Chesterfield Lifestyle | April 2015

HYDRANGEA PANICULATA

Vanilla Strawberry is a hybrid of an easy-growing, sun-loving hydrangea species.

Vanilla Strawberry was discovered in France and introduced a few years ago; the plant variety took the gardening world by storm because of its full blooms that mature to a rich strawberry-pink color. At any one time you can enjoy blossoms of white, light pink and rich pink on the same plant. The Hydrangea Paniculata was named a top plant by the American Nursery and Landscape Association.

is a groundcover. It’s easy to grow and a great choice for containers; if you have a sunny spot indoors, you can grow it as a charming indoor plant.

PETUNIAS

Petunias are fail-proof favorites for gardeners everywhere. They are vigorous growers and prolific bloomers from mid-spring through late fall. Color choices are nearly limitless, with some sporting beautiful veining and intriguing colors like true purple and even black. Many varieties are sweetly fragrant (sniff blooms in the garden center to be sure.) Some also are touted as “weatherproof,” meaning that the flowers don’t close up when water is splashed on them. Wave petunias have made this plant even more popular. Reaching up to 4 feet long, it’s great as a groundcover or when cascading from window boxes and pots.

MILLION BELLS

3 “NO-FAIL” Annuals (plants that need to be replanted each year) to Plant in Chesterfield LANTANA

If you have a hot, baked spot, lantana is your answer. This hardworking plant not only thrives with little moisture and in full, unyielding sun, it does so with ease. Lantana is a flower that seems to have it all; it produces an abundance of brightly colored, gold/orange flowers all summer and fall, and it’s a magnet for butterflies and Hummingbirds. Lantana is also comes in perennial varieties and

Million Bells is a dazzling little plant variety and is a musthave in the garden. Its name comes from the fact that it features hundreds of small, bell-like flowers, which resemble miniature petunias. Its trailing habit makes it perfect for use in hanging baskets, containers or as a small area ground cover. Million Bells plants produce mounds of foliage in shades of violet, blue, pink, red, magenta, yellow, bronze and white.

They prefer full sun. They are considered “mild perennials” in tropical climates and are planted annually in Chesterfield.

Sarah pointed out that some people are just afraid to dig a hole and plant something for fear that it will die. Purchasing plants from a nursery like Baxter Gardens of Chesterfield has its advantages.

“If you purchase plants from us and you plant them yourself they are guaranteed at 100 percent purchase price for 60 days and 50 percent purchase price for 6 months. If you purchase plants from us and have us plant them for you they are guaranteed at 100 percent for a full year,” says Sarah.

If people experience small successes with plants they are more likely to try some larger gardening projects. To gain experience, Sarah suggests starting out with a container garden of herbs. Sarah grows her own herbs and uses them for cooking.

“People can think about what herbs they use or would like to use for cooking and start by growing those in small pots. They are easy to grow; I grow basil, sage, rosemary and thyme. I even cut the herbs and freeze them for use later,” says Sarah.

I can’t wait to try my hand—or my thumb—at growing these “nofail” plants, handpicked (pun intended) by Sarah of Baxter Gardens of Chesterfield specifically for Chesterfield gardens. There is hope for my brown thumb yet. My thumbs will only be brown because I will be digging in dirt to plant a pot of parsley.

April 2015 | Chesterfield Lifestyle

19

Declutter and Earn a Little “Green” This Spring Chesterfield residents are selling and swapping online.

ARTICLE ELIZABETH HARRIS | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

A

long with springtime often comes the urge to do some “spring cleaning.” As you work your way through each room, digging through drawers and closets, you are sure to uncover scads of items that you no longer need or want. After you have sifted through and sorted items in the living space of your home, you venture to go through the basement, the garage and the attic; the pile has now grown into a roomful of items. What can you do with all of the unwanted items?

Throw Items Away—Though some people would rather just pitch items than take the time to find a new place for them, this solution would not be considered “green” because it potentially puts items in the landfills that can be reassigned, recycled, reused and/or repurposed. Before you resort to pitching useful items please consider some other options.

Donate The Items—Goodwill, Savers, Red Racks and a plethora of other local charities welcome your unwanted items. If you don’t have the will or the time to deliver items for donation, many of the organizations will send a truck to pick up your discards. Good causes and needed programs are funded from the sale of your donated items. You can also obtain a receipt and claim a tax deduction for items donated to charity.

Hold A Garage Or Yard Sale—Check Chesterfield ordinances and your subdivision rules before holding any type of sale.

To bring traffic to your sale you need well-placed, eye-catching signs and may consider putting ads in local publications with the dates and times of your sales as well as a “teaser” list of offered items to attract different types of buyers. Garage sales can be a good way to get rid of a lot of items and earn some “green,” however you have to be comfortable with a steady trail of strangers on your property and also giving up your weekend for preparation and the sale.

Put Ad(s) On Craigslist—If you opt to sell items or give items away on Craigslist please carefully screen respondents and be wary of scams. Do not give any personal or financial information and 20

Chesterfield Lifestyle | April 2015

consider meeting a public place to make any exchanges. It is free to post these types of ads on Craigslist. You do have to be willing to field coordination communications and will likely have many “no shows” due to the anonymity which leads to less accountability.

Local Sell And Swap Sites On Facebook—This method has becoming hugely popular with Chesterfield and other West County residents. Using your Facebook account you can ask to join local groups to sell, trade, seek or give away items. Each of the local pages is free to join, has a local administrator and a set of rules and guidelines to preserve the integrity of the site. The pages are like little local swap and sell clubs. Some clubs are general in nature as to what types of items are sold, whereas others are specific to “children’s items” or “man cave” type items.

Site administrators are local volunteers who are responsible for monitoring the content of the sites and making sure members and exchanges are local, legitimate legal. One local site administrator writes, “A cluttered home is a cluttered mind! Let’s use this site as a place to clear out the unneeded and to get deals on the wanted…

Pass the word so we get a lot of Chesterfield members!” Another writes, “Buy, sell & trade new and used items… Toys, clothes, shoes, furniture, bikes, tools, games, electronics etc…no selling of firearms or weapons…no selling of animals-- Feel free to pass the word along so this site can grow!”

Some of the more popular Facebook pages (over 1,000 members) that several Chesterfield residents have joined and are selling their items successfully are: Chesterfield/Wildwood/Eureka Swap-Sell-Trade | 4,714 Members | West County Buy/Sell/Trade | 2,983 Members | West County Virtual Garage/Estate Sale | 2,162 Members | Manchester/Ballwin/Chesterfield/Wildwood Swap and Sell |1,561 Members | Chesterfield Resale & Exchange | 1,135 Members | Dozens of sites are available for joining; you can enter the name of a site/page in your Facebook search bar and click on the site you want. Each page has its own set of guidelines and rules to follow.

Several of the sites are very specific in what items a member can and can’t list while others sites are more lenient on acceptable content of ads.

Chesterfield resident Cindy L. posts ads weekly (and sometimes daily) on four different local sell & swap sites.

Cindy says, “I lost my job last year and started posting anything and everything that I could sell to be able to pay my bills. Even after I found a new job, I continued to declutter and post ads. Recycling items I didn’t need by selling them on local Chesterfield sites, I was able to pay cash for my vacation this year from the money I made over about seven months.”

Susan R., a frequent shopper on the Chesterfield sites says, “I really love that everything is local. Also, the great thing is when I am shopping a Chesterfield site, chances are the seller is someone I know or that I have mutual friends with on Facebook. I feel much more comfortable buying things right here in Chesterfield. I feel good about conserving resources by buying something next to new.”

SWAP & SELL LINGO

Similar to acronyms used in “text talk,” Sell & Swap sites have a language all their own.

Knowing some of the more commonly used acronyms and their meanings will help in deciphering posted ads and for structuring your own ads.

POOS = Posted On Other Sites OBO = Or Best Offer Firm = I am not willing to negotiate on price.

ISO = In Search Of WTB = Wanted To Buy NIB = New In Box NIP = New In Package LN = Like New PPU = Please Pick Up PUO = Pick Up Only NWT = New With Tags NWOT = New Without Tags EUC= Excellent Used Condition SF/PF = Smoke Free/Pet Free FCFS = First Come First Serve PM = Private Message TIA= Thanks In Advance

April 2015 | Chesterfield Lifestyle

21

Giving Back

CHESTERFIELD EARTH DAY FESTIVAL CELEBRATING AND PROTECTING OUR PLANET

T

he Chesterfield Earth Day Festival is one of the region’s largest Earth Day events and offers a convenient recycling drive-thru, eco-friendly and up-cycled products, information exhibits, and cultural music and dance performances. The Chesterfield Citizens Committee for the Environment will host the Chesterfield Earth Day Festival on Saturday, April 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Chesterfield Mall, located at 291 Chesterfield Center. This is a FREE community event for ALL ages to enjoy.

Participants can enjoy visiting with informational exhibitors and vendors selling up-cycled and recycled art, craft items and nearly anything that can be recycled will be collected at the drive-thru recycling area on the parking lot near Jared’s Jewelers. Most items are recycled free of charge; there are additional fees for some TVs-- $20 for CRT (large back) televisions under 27 inches and $40 for CRT televisions over 27 inches. Items that are not accepted include thermostats, smoke detectors and alkaline batteries.

A Youth in Science Expo will display this year’s Science Fair exhibits in the lower level by Dillard’s. Free confidential document shredding will be provided by Shred-It (five-box limit). Citizens Alliance for Positive Youth (CAPY) and the Chesterfield Police Department will be collecting prescription and over-the-counter medications, inhalers, ointments and patches.

The popular recycling drive-thru takes place on the parking lot near Jared’s from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.. Limited capacity exists for most vendors, so first-come/first-served. The following items are being accepted: • Bicycles (St. Louis Bicycle Works) • Single stream recyclables such as glass, plastic, paper, cardboard and aluminum (Republic Services) • Electronics, TVs, computers, and small appliances (MRC) *Fees for some TVs apply.

• Used clothing, linens, and paired shoes (Remains, Inc.) • CFL light bulbs and tool pack batteries (Home Depot) • New and used building materials (Habitat for Humanity) • Buttons, beads, board games, and children’s books (St. Louis Teacher’s Recycle Center)

22

Chesterfield Lifestyle | April 2015

• Fabric and sewing notions (Charity Sharity) • Confidential Document Shredding by (Shred-It) *5-box limit per family; limited capacity available.

• Prescription and over-the Counter Medications (Chesterfield Police Dept. and CAPY) For more information on the event, call 636.537.4000 or visit Chesterfield.mo.us

CHESTERFIELD EARTH DAY FESTIVAL

Saturday, April 25 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Chesterfield Mall (lower level by Dillard’s) Recycling Drive-Thru (parking lot near Jared’s) FREE event

Page Turners

LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER: What She Said Then, What We’re Saying Now AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE APRIL 7, 2015 PUBLISHED BY PUTNAM BOOKS | EDITED BY ANN IMIG G.P. PUTNAM’S SONS | $25.95

I

n 2010, Ann Imig organized a live-staged reading event in Madison, WI, to bring together her community—mothers and non-mothers alike—and provide a forum for a diversity of voices to share their personal stories. These readers spoke honestly and openly about motherhood, family, childhood, and parenting. And so, the Listen to Your Mother movement was born. This one event quickly grew into an annual national performance sensation, with nearly 40 nationwide events scheduled for May 2015, including a Chesterfield performance.

In the book, Listen To Your Mother: What She Said Then, What We’re Saying Now, Imig brings to the page what she helped bring to the stage five years ago with this collection of 56 candid, funny, poignant, unexpected and soul-bearing essays.

The contributors to this powerful anthology bravely share their stories, ranging from hilarious to heartbreaking, showcasing the experiences of ordinary people from a broad spectrum of racial, gender and age backgrounds. With a roster of writers that includes first time essayists and New York Times-bestselling authors, Listen To Your Mother reflects our diverse contemporary lifestyles and rapidly changing definitions of motherhood.

While some are paeans to the mother we might not have appreciated as children, unaware then of how hard the tasks of motherhood can be, others fully embrace the power of their family matriarchs. A woman faces the painful truth that there is nothing she can do to save her mentally ill, homeless mother from the streets. A military mom raises her baby alone when her husband is deployed to the Middle East. A mom tries to hold it together while battling cancer. One mother recounts the elation and ultimate heartbreak of an unplanned pregnancy in middle age, while another shares the years of sadness that accompanied her decision to give her baby up for adoption.

Listen To Your Mother delivers the collective voice of mothers among us and celebrates less conventional arrangements. Mothers write of their personal struggles in the day-to-day job of moth-

ering, of trying to raise a child who is not spoiled, of navigating single motherhood after divorce or death, and of dreading the body image issues that will one day inevitably undermine a young daughter’s confidence.

“Listen to Your Mother. It’s a cliché, it’s the sixth commandment, and it’s an imperative for curbing children young and old from poor life choices like jaywalking and 64-ounce sodas,” Imig writes.

Listen To Your Mother What She Said Then, What We’re Saying Now You can attend a live Listen To Your Mother performance right here in Chesterfield!

Where?

St. Luke’s Hospital Institute for Health Education 232 S. Woods Mill Road Chesterfield, MO 63017 When?

Saturday, May 9, 2015, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or from 3-5 p.m.

For more information and for tickets, visit ListenToYourMotherShows.com

April 2015 | Chesterfield Lifestyle

23

Healthy Lifestyle

Pelvic Health in Women EFFECTIVE TREATMENT IS AVAILABLE ARTICLE TASHA MOXLEY | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

I

t’s one of the best-kept (but worst) secrets out there --nearly one in three women experiences a pelvic health issue in her lifetime.

Many women suffer in silence because they are too embarrassed to talk about it, don’t realize how common it is, and don’t know there is effective treatment.

“Many women feel that urinary leakage, pelvic organ prolapse and other pelvic floor disorders are just a natural part of aging,” explains Carol Graham, MD, a physician with Urogynecology of West County at St. Luke’s Hospital. “It’s simply not the case and you don’t have to live with it.”

Graham specializes in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery.

“It is very important for women to understand that, unfortunately, pelvic health issues are common, but there is help available,” says Graham. “Many women suffer with these problems for years because they are too embarrassed to discuss it with their family, their primary care physician or even their obstetrician/gynecologist. Pelvic health issues can significantly impact a woman’s quality of life to the point where she doesn’t even want to go out of the house. It can affect her personal and professional life, as well as her relationship with her spouse or significant other. It can be very debilitating.”

24

Chesterfield Lifestyle | April 2015

Angie Sellers is a physical therapist who specializes in pelvic health therpy with St. Luke’s Therapy Services at St. Lukes Hospital.

“A woman’s pelvic area has a trio of muscles that support the organs in the pelvis, helping optimize their function,” explains Sellers. “When the pelvic floor muscles become weak or damaged, women can experience occasional urinary leakage when coughing or lifting, frequent urinary incontinence, organ prolapse (when the bladder, vagina, uterus, rectum or bowel drops into the vagina), pelvic pain or other issues.”

Many factors can weaken a woman’s pelvic muscles and increase her risk for developing pelvic floor issues, including: • Childbirth -- particularly a vaginal delivery, and the risk increases with the number of vaginal deliveries • Obesity (or increased body mass index -BMI) --excess weight can contribute to issues with vaginal support and incontinence • Hysterectomy-- a past hysterectomy may contribute to pelvic floor issues • Menopause -- changes in hormone levels can cause pelvic floor muscles become weak after a woman stops having periods As a woman ages, the risk of developing urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse increases, but these problems can af-

fect women of all ages. In fact, incontinence often occurs after childbirth. The pelvic floor muscles stretch, weaken or tear after vaginal childbirth.

“However, urinary leakage after having a baby that persists for years is not normal; neither is persistent organ prolapse after a vaginal delivery,” says Graham.

Pelvic organ prolapse is when the supports around the pelvic organs, including the vagina, uterus, bladder, rectum or bowels, either lose their support, experience breaks in the tissues or the tissues stretch. When that happens, the organs can prolapse or descend below the supportive area that is normal. A woman may feel a bulge, increase in pressure or sense that things are “falling out” in the pelvic area.

“We really want to encourage woman to identify pelvic health problems, not ignore them, and to work with their healthcare provider to get the help that they need; in most cases, the symptoms of incontinence or prolapse will worsen with time if left untreated,” says Graham.

The good news is that most pelvic f loor issues are treatable with a variety of options and can significantly improve a woman’s quality of life. Non-surgical treatment options can be very effective, such as pelvic muscle exercises, including specialized pelvic f loor therapy to strengthen the muscles, bladder training and diet modifications, medications and medical devices. If surgery is needed, there are a number of

surgical options including outpatient and minimally-invasive and laparoscopic procedures.

A specialist in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery (urogynecology) can perform an evaluation that often includes a health history, complete physical exam and specialized pelvic exam to evaluate the pelvic floor muscle strength and function. Additional testing can often be done right in the physician’s office, if needed.

“I think it’s really important in treating patients who have pelvic f loor disorders to provide a safe and comfortable environment that respects and supports a woman’s dignity,” says Graham. “Pelvic f loor symptoms can greatly affect a woman’s self-esteem and confidence. It is important for women to listen to their bodies to identify those symptoms and to remember that urine leakage and vaginal support changes are not normal after childbirth or because of aging. There is effective help available.”

Carol Graham, MD, specializes in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery with Urogynecology of West County at St. Luke’s Hospital, 226 S. Woods Mill Road, Suite 55 West, Chesterfield, MO 63017. For more information or to make an appointment with Dr. Graham, call 314.205.6402 or visit StLukes-StL.com/PelvicHealth.

April 2015 | Chesterfield Lifestyle

25

Locally Owned DREAM PLAY RECREATION

17373 Edison Avenue Chesterfield, MO 63005 DreamPlayRec.com 636.530.0055 HOURS

Mon: Closed Tues - Thurs: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Fri - Sat: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sun: Noon to 4 p.m.

PAY-TO-PLAY HOURS

Tues – Friday 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. or 2– 4 p.m.

Cost (per child): $5 Cash /

$6 Charge

Dream Play Recreation:

Where Dreams Do Come True FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED FOR 24 YEARS

S

pring is finally here; it’s time to play outside. What could be better for encouraging children to engage in outdoor play and hours of exercise than having an amazing, top-quality play set right in your own backyard?

Tim and Traci Albers have owned and operated Dream Play Recreation in Chesterfield Valley, for 24 years.

“The bottom line is that for 24 years we have offered and constructed the best of the best playsets in quality, durability and safety,” says Tim. “We can put together a play set that your kids will not outgrow.” Play sets can also be constructed with later expansion in mind; bridges, sky boxes and hand-over-hand monkey bars can be added as children grow and are ready for more advanced play features.

“When you own a play set from Dream Play, it becomes a focal point for your children,” Tim explains. “In the technology-filled world we live in today, there are so many opportunities for kids not to go outside. Childhood obesity is a huge problem today, and having a playset at home promotes readily available healthy activity and exercise.”

Dream Play constructs the commercial grade play sets for families with the goals of safety, durability and longevity.

“You can’t find what we offer in a hardware store,” says Tim. “The lumber and hardware we use is commercial grade and our slides are the thickest in the industry and don’t require additional support. I highly encourage parents to do their research; Dream Play offers the best quality and best pricing for what you are getting.”

26

Chesterfield Lifestyle | April 2015

Albers invites and encourages families to bring their children and visit Dream Play’s 12,000-square-foot showroom.

When entering the showroom, one can’t help but to look up at the ceiling which is a painted sky; white fluffy clouds abound.

A wonderland showcasing 16 different play sets is set up indoors on 3 ¾” thick rubber flooring. The play sets are not “for display only”; they are available for PLAY! Dream Play holds two hour “Pay-to-Play” sessions when children can experience all the playsets, jump on three Springfree trampolines (the world’s safest, spring-less, enclosed, backyard trampolines for kids of all ages), and shoot hoops in a court area that sports nine professional grade basketball goals.

Families can feel confident with the quality and safety of Dream Play’s play sets and also feel comfortable with the installation process.

“In most cases families will have their play sets up and ready in less than 2-3 weeks,” says Tim. “Dream Play employs our own “inhouse” installers; they are not subcontractors. Our installers are highly trained on our products and procedures and all have had background checks.”

It is safe to say that kids of all ages love play sets, trampolines and basketball goals. Parents will find the best quality recreational products and experience superior installation when purchasing from locally owned and family-operated Dream Play—Where Dreams Do Come True.

Charles L. Crane Agency: Providing insurance solutions for St. Louis homeowners and businesses since 1885.

Insurance, Benefits, and Bonds David Layton, Sr. Vice President 636 537 5080 davidl@craneagency.com Chris Layton, CIC 636 537 5054 clayton@craneagency.com

www.craneagency.com

Pam Lauber 636 537 5081 plauber@craneagency.com

April 2015 | Chesterfield Lifestyle

27

Retirement Plans. Endowments. Foundations.

We’ll help you manage the future, so you can focus on the present.

st easy Institutional Consulting

monetagroup.com/InstitutionalConsulting

28

Chesterfield Lifestyle | April 2015

Sold Properties

Recently SOLD Chesterfield Properties subdivision

original list

sold price

Westchester Place

$359,989

$361,089

100.31%

3

4

two/zero

West End Park

$385,000

$370,000

96,10%

67

4

three/zero

Cedar Springs

$380,000

$380,000

100.00%

446

4

two/two

$414,180

$413,250

99.78%

2

4

three/one

Chesterfield Farms

$429,900

$432,500

100.60%

1

4

three/one

Nooning Tree

$475,000

$455,000

95.79%

68

3

three/zero

Mason Valley Estates

$475,000

$460,000

96.84%

34

4

four/zero

Conway Meadows

$469,900

$463,500

98.64%

22

4

three/one

Green Trails Estates

$479,900

$469,900

97.92%

79

4

two/one

Wynncrest

$615,000

$585,000

95.12%

112

5

four/one

Cheshire Farm

$695,000

$677,500

97.48%

87

4

three/three

Mason Oaks

$674,900

$710,000

105.20%

2

4

three/zero

Wilson Farm Estates

$750,000

$725,000

96.67%

1

4

three/one

Town and Country Manor Addition

$965,000

$965,000

100.00%

1

5

four/zero

McMullin Estates

$981,000

$981,000

100.00%

1

4

four/two

Clayton Downs

$1,050,000

$1,039,802

99.03%

66

4

three/one

Georgetown Estates

$1,295,000

$1,260,000

97.30%

5

4

three/one

Town and Country Manor

$1,600,000

$1,570,000

98.13%

462

6

six/two

Terraces at Woods Mill Cove

% sold/orig

dom*

bdrms

f/h bath

This data is a sampling of sold properties from 2-1-2015 through 2-28-2015. Source: MLS system.

14324 Millchester Circle

1515 Topping Road

Town & Country • $2,200,000 Traditional Charm with Contemporary Elegance & Style!

Carmen Gassert • 314-623-7790

Chesterfield • $299,000

Wonderful 4 Bed, 4 Bath 2 Story- Newly Painted & Carpeted!

Gay Gordon • 314-740-4812

6D byy|vx |Ç à{x fàtàx Éy `|ááÉâÜ|4 Town & Country Office • 636-394-9300

April 2015 | Chesterfield Lifestyle

29

Lifestyle Calendar

April

APRIL 2 CHESTERFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FIRST THURSDAY COFFEE ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF ST. LOUIS

Join your Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce colleagues and friends for a light breakfast, coffee, juice and networking. Non-members must prepay online or by phone and advanced registration required for all. Bring plenty of business cards with you. FREE for members, $15 for guests. 7:30-9 a.m. 636.532.3399. ChesterfieldMOChamber.com. info@ChesterfieldMOChamber.com

APRIL 4 OZZIE SMITH’S BASEBALL & SOFTBALL KICKOFF EVENT CHESTERFIELD VALLEY ATHLETIC COMPLEX

This one-day Kickoff Event will give you and your child the opportunity to experience the superior instruction provided by Ozzie Smith’s instructors. The Baseball & Softball Camp is offered to boys and girls ages 7-14 . The Mini Hitters Camp helps boys and girls ages 4-6 years old with their technique and skills. $25 for Mini Hitters, $45 for Baseball & Softball. 3-5:30 p.m. 636.812.9500. Chesterfield.mo.us.

APRIL 4-5, 11-12, 18-19, 25-26 SPRING FLING THE SOPHIA M. SACHS BUTTERFLY HOUSE AT FAUST PARK

Every weekend in April celebrate the important insects that help to make our gardens grow. Each week, a different beneficial insect will be highlighted through fun facts, crafts, games, and other family friendly activities. Come and learn more about bees, ladybugs, ants, and of course, butterflies. Included with Butterfly House admission. FREE for Garden Members. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. 314.577.5100. MissouriBotanicalGarden.org.

APRIL 9 CHESTERFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS OVER BREAKFAST JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT

Our April Business Over Breakfast is going to be fantastic. James Nowogrocki of Weiss Attorneys at Law will be speaking about “The Workplace Door of Employment Law”. Bring plenty of business cards with you! $15 for members, $20 for guests. 7:30-9am. 636.532.3399.

ChesterfieldMOChamber.com. info@ChesterfieldMOChamber.com 30

Chesterfield Lifestyle | April 2015

APRIL 11 RIVER’S EDGE PARK GRAND OPENING RIVER’S EDGE PARK

Festivities include hands-on outdoor activities including kayaking demos, paddle boating, a nature walk, fishing instruction and a tree planting. Free snacks to the first 200 people. River’s Edge is a beautiful 188-acre passive park with a 38.5-acre lake and features a 2+ mile crushed limestone walking trail with breathtaking scenery and wonderful wildlife. Located on the north side of the levee near the Taubman Prestige Outlets at the western end of the parking lot.

Parking is in the shared parking lot of the outlet mall. FREE. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 636.537.4000. Chesterfield.mo.us.

APRIL 15 CHESTERFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING LANDINGS AT SPIRIT GOLF CLUB

$25 for members, $30 for guests. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. At 11 a.m., new member networking, 11:30 a.m. networking & registration, 12 p.m. lunch. 636.532.3399. ChesterfieldMOChamber.com. info@ChesterfieldMOChamber.com

APRIL 15 SENIOR SAMPLER WEST COUNTY FAMILY YMCA

Participants will enjoy free health screenings (blood pressure, bone density), chair massage, canvas painting and container gardening demos, chair yoga, food and product samples, informational handouts and demonstrations and more. Food samples available from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Enter to win door prizes. Sponsored by Chesterfield Older Adult Task Force and the West County Family YMCA. FREE. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 636.532.6515. YMCAStLouis.org.

APRIL 18 PARKWAY TRIVIA NIGHT 2015 MARYLAND HEIGHTS CENTRE

The Parkway Alumni Association hosts the event to promote student achievement and honor outstanding educators. Open to all ages. Snacks and soft drinks provided; teams are welcome to bring their favorite snacks and beverages.

Cash prizes awarded to winning team; also attendance prizes and a gift basket raffle. Includes full 10-question category over Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, teams prepare in advance! $130/table of 8 (advanced registration required). Doors open at 6 p.m.. Questions begin at 7 p.m. 314.415.8074. ParkwayAlumni.org. Leah McCoy at Leah@ ParkwayAlumni.org.

APRIL 23 CHESTERFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BUSINESS AFTER HOURS TAUBMAN PRESTIGE OUTLETS

Join your Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce colleagues and friends for drinks, food, and networking. Advanced registration

required for all. Bring plenty of business cards with you. FREE for members, $15 for guests. 5-7 p.m. 636.532.3399.

ChesterfieldMOChamber.com.

APRIL 24-26 ST. LOUIS VINTAGE MARKET DAYS CHESTERFIELD AMPITHEATER

An upscale vintage-inspired outdoor market making its debut in Chesterfield this year and features: homemade art, handmade treasures, clothing, antiques, jewelry, home decor,outdoor furnishings, seasonal plantings, consumable yummies, live musicians and more! Food trucks on-hand; free parking available. $10 Early Buying Event Friday. $5 General Admission Saturday & Sunday. Friday 12-6 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 636.532.3399.

StLouis.VintageMarketDays.com.

APRIL 25

APRIL 25-26

CHESTERFIELD EARTH DAY FESTIVAL

FAUST PARK HISTORIC VILLAGE

CHESTERFIELD MALL

OPEN HOUSE

One of the region’s largest Earth Day events, offers a convenient recycling drive-thru, eco-friendly and up-cycled products, information exhibits, plus cultural music and dance performances.

The Chesterfield Citizens Committee for the Environment hosts this FREE community event for all ages. Includes informational exhibitors and vendors selling up-cycled and recycled art; craft items in the lower level of the mall; and nearly anything that can be recycled will be collected at the drive-thru recycling area on the parking lot near Jared’s Jewelers. Most items are free of charge, however, there are additional fees for some TVs. FREE. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

636.537.4000. Chesterfield.MO.US.

FAUST PARK

Spanning a period from 1840 to 1910, the Historic Village represents a cross-section of architectural styles and building materials as varied as the population of St. Louis County.

All of the houses of the Historic Village were moved into Faust Park from the surrounding county and were saved from probable demolition. The homes vary from a modest log cabin built by German immigrants to larger, more sophisticated two-story homes built by an established landowner. Guides in period dress will be available to answer questions. FREE. 1-5 p.m. 314.615.8328. StLouisCO.com

Chesterfield Valley Dental Group Family, Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry ...Focused on YOU • Locally owned by fellow Chesterfield resident • Clean, bright, well organized surroundings • Complimentary custom whitening trays with new patient exam • Recent Google review:

“Dr. Rahm and his team have won us over with their top notch dental care and professionalism.”

ChesterfieldValleyDental.com facebook.com/ChesterfieldValleyDental

Robert L. Rahm, DDS

(636) 537-5240

Located behind IHOP, just off Boone’s Crossing

April 2015 | Chesterfield Lifestyle

31

“Although it may be unused, the front door continues to appeal to our sense of arrival.”

business directory AUTOMOTIVE St Louis Motorcars (636) 449-0000 stlmotorcars.com

COMMUNITY EVENTS & ORGANIZATIONS City of Chesterfield (636) 537-4000 chesterfield.mo.us

DENTISTS & ORTHODONTICS

Chesterfield Valley Dental (636) 537-5240 chesterfieldvalleydental.com

ENTERTAINMENT & RECREATION Dream Play (636) 530-0055 dreamplayrec.com

FINANCIAL SERVICES & PLANNING Moneta Group (636) 787-4700 monetagroup.com

HEALTH & WELLNESS Burn 1000 (636) 220-1010 burn1000USA.com

HOME BUILDERS & REMODELERS

Custom Wood Doors & Door Hardware 137 Chesterfield Industrial Blvd, Chesterfield, MO 63005

(636) 530-7545

www.scobiscompany.com

Heartlands Building Company (636) 728-0003 heartlandshome.com Henry Plumbing Kitchen & Bath Galleries (636) 532-3303 henryplumbing.com The Scobis Company (636) 537-2494 schobiscompany.com

HOME DESIGN & FURNISHINGS

Dau Home Furnishings (636) 394-3005 daufurniture.com

32

Chesterfield Lifestyle | April 2015

Boutique Realty Your Home, Your Future…Our Commitment

Encore Consignment Gallery (636) 220-9092 furniturehomedecor.com

HOME SERVICES

Allen Roofing & Siding Co (636) 975-5255 aroofing.net The Bug Lady (314) 494-9726 thebugladystl.com

INSURANCE

Charles L Crane Agency (636) 537-5080 craneagency.com

MEDICAL CLINICS & FACILITIES Ernstrom Spinal Rehab (208) 520-7109

PROPERTY & REAL ESTATE

JULIE PFEIFER BROKER/OWNER

NIKKI ROBERTS REALTOR

BUY! BUY! BABY! me to BUY When it’s ti e r NEXT hom or SELL you m the e Realty! I a call Boutiqu tell aby here to Boutique B the you they are n!

BEST in tow

Boutique Realty (314) 266-2520 boutiquerealtystl.com Coldwell Banker GundakerDana Gundaker-Devers (636) 394-9300 cbgundakerhomes.com Kays-Anderson Realty LLC (314) 775-2050 ChooseKim.com Suzanne Otto Group (314) 276-3400 thesuzanneottogroup.com

SPECIALTY SHOPS Always Spring (636) 489-3808

Novak Jewelers (636) 227-7225 novakjewelers.com Old House in Hog Hollow (314) 469-1019 oldhouseinhoghollow.com Polka Dot Peonies (636) 536-5062

17269 WILD HORSE CREEK ROAD, SUITE 210, CHESTERFIELD, MO 63005

314.266.2520 | BOUTIQUEREALTYSTL.COM FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK!

f

Ask About Our No Closing Cost Purchase or Refinance!

That’s $0 out of pocket and $0 rolled into your loan! Simplicity and customer satisfaction are our core focuses with your loan! We are locally owned and operated, have an A+ rating with the BBB and have been in business for over 10 years. Give us a call today, we’ll make it worth your while!

Michael Gillani

President, Boardwalk Lending LLC 636-536-6700 NMLS# 288906 700 Crown Industrial Ct. Suite A Chesterfield, Missouri 63005 mgillani@boardwalklending.com

April 2015 | Chesterfield Lifestyle

33

Parting Thoughts

Earth Day Every Day WORDS LIBBY MULLEN

T

he idea came to Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson, then a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, after witnessing the ravages of the 1969 massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. Inspired by the student anti-war movement of the time, he realized that if he could infuse that energy with an emerging public consciousness about air and water pollution, it would place environmental protection onto the national political agenda. Senator Nelson announced the idea for a “national teach-in on the environment” to the national media, persuaded Pete McCloskey, a conservation-minded Republican Congressman, to serve as his co-chair, and recruited Denis Hayes as national coordinator. Hayes built a national staff of 85 to promote events across the land.

As a result, on the 22nd of April, 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums in peaceful demonstrations for a healthy, sustainable environment in massive coast-to-coast rallies.

Thousands of colleges and universities organized protests against the deterioration of the environment. Groups that had been fighting against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness and the extinction of wildlife suddenly realized they shared common values.

Earth Day 1970 achieved a rare political alignment, enlisting support from Republicans and Democrats, rich and poor, city slickers and farmers, tycoons and labor leaders. The first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts. “It was a gamble,” Gaylord recalled, “but it worked.”

As 1990 approached, a group of environmental leaders asked Denis Hayes to organize another big campaign. This time, Earth

34

Chesterfield Lifestyle | April 2015

Day went global, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries and lifting environmental issues onto the world stage. Earth Day 1990 gave a huge boost to recycling efforts worldwide and helped pave the way for the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.

It also prompted President Bill Clinton to award Senator Nelson the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1995) -- the highest honor given to civilians in the United States -- for his role as Earth Day founder.

WHY DO WE NEED AN EARTH DAY?

Earth Day broadens the base of support for environmental programs, rekindles public commitment and builds community activism around the world through a broad range of events and activities. Earth Day is the largest civic event in the world, celebrated simultaneously around the globe by people of all backgrounds, faiths and nationalities. More than a billion people participate in the campaign every year.

WHAT CAN I DO FOR EARTH DAY?

The possibilities for getting involved are endless. Volunteer. Go to a festival. Install solar panels on your roof. Organize an event in your community. Change a habit. Help launch a community garden. Communicate your priorities to your elected representatives. Do something nice for the Earth, have fun, meet new people, and make a difference. You needn’t wait for the annual celebration to make positive changes; Earth Day is Every Day. To build a better future, we all should consider committing to protect our environment year-round.

“Discover energy you didn’t even know you had. Feel it rumble through the grassroots under your feet and the technology at your fingertips. Channel it into building a clean, healthy, diverse world for generations to come.”

--Excerpt from EarthDay.org