January 2, 2019
A look back at 2018
Around Town
By Larry Brown. Pg. 2 St. Louis Tax Assistance Office moves to new location. Pg. 5
Special Section Vote for your favorite Business in North County. Pg. 7
Features (FLIP)
Photo courtesy Normandy Schools Collaborative
Recipe, Movie & Sudoku. Pg. F-1
Sixth graders in the Normandy Schools Collaborative participated in a leadership and learning camp at Camp Wyman in Eureka. Wyman Center provides wraparound services for students and families in the collaborative.
CLASSIFIEDS AND HOME & GARDEN. Pg. F-2 /F-3
The Community News reviews the year that was for St. Louis County
Moore On Life, Yeggs & Crossword Puzzle. Pg. F-4
Looking back, 2018 was an eventful year here in St. Louis County. As we flip the calendar to 2019, we at the Community News thought it would be a good time to look back at what transpired over the past 12 months. We have collected the highlights and remember all of the difference-makers in our community in 2018.
JANUARY Normandy bounces back (photo above)
Normandy Schools Collaborative (NSC) is now provisionally accredited, effective Jan. 2, 2018.
This provision acknowledges that NSC has met certain criteria – scoring in the provisionally accredited range for the past two years. In January, the collaborative was doing the work to start incorporating transition students back into its schools after the 20172018 school year. “Our mission statement says, ‘Changing lives today.’ We’re providing services. We’re working to provide opportunities for internships, and each year – better and better programming. And in doing all that, we believe that we’re providing a solid education for the future of our children. So, that is what’s driving us. That’s what is going to continue to drive us,” Superintendent Charles Pearson said.
FEBRUARY Growing in the saddle
Weather FRIDAY Mostly Sunny 49/28 SATURDAY Mostly Sunny 47/29
Many North County residents are unaware that for 33 years 20 acres of rolling hills have See ‘LOOK BACK’ page 3
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Around Town
January 2, 2019 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com
MDC seeks recycled Christmas trees to benefit fish and anglers
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What better Christmas present could there be than a new home? Of course, some anglers might say an improved chance to catch some fish would be at the top of their list. Christmas trees can check both boxes off the list by creating a place for fish to live and giving an advantage to anglers. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is accepting used natural Christmas trees to create fish habitat in north St. Louis County’s Spanish Lake Park, Lake 34 on the August A. Busch Conservation Area in St. Charles, and Cuivre River State Park in Lincoln County for use in the park’s Lake Lincoln. So how does recycling a used Christmas tree give fish something to celebrate? Turns out, a bunch of them can create the aquatic equivalent of an underwater condominium. “A lot of lakes we work with are manmade and there’s not much fish cover in them, so we have to figure out how to put fish habitat in those lakes,” said Kevin Meneau, MDC Fisheries Management Biologist. “Christmas trees are one of the best ways to do that in winter.” According to Meneau, the trees provide woody cover that makes excellent habitat for invertebrates. These are an ideal food source for smaller fish, which draws them in like a magnet. This in turn brings in bigger fish and creates a situation that gives a boost to the lake’s entire food chain. “They also help young fish,” Meneau added, “because when the adults spawn their young can hide in those trees.” The trees benefit some of the most popular fish that anglers like to pursue, including largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish and crappie. Since these fish typically spawn in shallow water, the trees are tied to cement blocks and submerged at depths of four-to-seven feet to give emerging fish easy access to their cover. The underwater brush piles concentrate fish, so the submerged trees can be a boon for anglers as well. By noting the location of
Photo courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation
the trees, astute anglers can focus their efforts in these areas to improve their odds. Meneau said the tree tops are usually visible for five-to-six weeks after being put into the lake before they become water logged and sink completely. This gives anglers until about mid-March to locate these potential fishing jackpots. Resourceful anglers often mark the sites for future reference on maps they make themselves or by using a GPS. Meneau said it’s best to drop off the entire tree, without cutting it up or removing any branches. Tree donors should remove all decorations, including lights, garland and ornaments before drop off. Details regarding tree drop off locations are as follows: • Spanish Lake Park – 12500 Spanish Pond Road, which is east off Bellefontaine Road approximately a half mile north of I-270. Signs at the park will indicate the drop off point. • August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area – 2360 Highway D, St. Charles. The entrance to the August A. Busch Conservation Area is on Route D, two miles west of Highway 94. Signs on the area will guide visitors to the drop off point at Lake 34. • Cuivre River State Park – 678 State Route 147. The park is located four miles east of Troy. Look for signs identifying the drop off location. Christmas trees can be donated at these lakes between now and Jan.6.
COMMUNITY VOICES
You can actually save lives in the New Year By Larry Brown Life is so precious, and once it is gone, there is nothing we can do about it. So if we, individually, have an opportunity to save one or more lives, it would seem that we would want to leap at the opportunity, especially, if it doesn’t cost us anything. We continue to hear about, read about and observe on television, reports of senseless killings of innocent and unsuspecting people of all ages. These killings range from wholesale and mass murdering, to individual cases of rage and homicides accompanying smaller crimes of carjacking, thefts, or burglaries. Truly, this is a sign of a decadent and collapsing society which is turning on itself, devouring and destroying its members from within, not due to a lack of food and other natural resources; not due to a lack of jobs and other economic development opportunities for financial survival, not due to environmental changes or calamities, but our country seems to be experiencing a tremendous loss of respect for human life and human life issues. But when a person’s attitude changes, so
does that person’s behavior. Now that is how you and I can make things happen, at no cost, which will allow for behavioral change among those who may become tempted to commit a deadly act. A simple tax deductible donation of $10 will allow Grace Chapel Ministries to give a 100 percent cotton t shirt with a slogan that says “I’m ALIVE. Let Me SURVIVE,” to an individual in a high crime area. If enough people are seen wearing this slogan, it will begin to enter and become a part of the mindset of those who view it. They will then begin to recognize and agree that “a life is worthy of living.” The donor, therefore, has provided the shirt which is continuously seen, over and over again, by many folks in the community, and the donor has received a tax deduction for the donation. The individuals who see the slogan multiple times will begin to decide themselves without coercion “not to take anyone’s life” and the community’s culture will change. You can become a part of this wonderful experiment in Americana or more specif-
ically, in saving folks lives by donating as much as you can to Grace Chapel Ministries, P.O.Box 952, Florissant, MO 63032 . Remember each $10 produces one t shirt. You may also visit Grace Chapel Ministries on Facebook or its website: www.gracechapelministries.org. This may sound simple, but it’s the simple things in life that make life worth living! Larry Brown is Chairman of the Board and co-founder of Worknet, Inc., which has a national ten year contract with the Social Security Administration to find jobs for people with disabilities who are interested and qualified to enter the traditional workforce. He is also co-founder and president of Grace Chapel Ministries, former president of National Cable Training Centers, and president of Woodstock Industrial Products Group. 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.
www.mycnews.com • Community News – St. Louis County • January 2, 2019
Around Town
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‘LOOK BACK’ from cover set at 15350 Old Jamestown Road in Florissant to provide horseback riding lessons. These therapeutic and recreational lessons provided by Jamestown New Horizons (JNH) are for children with intellectual, physical and emotional disabilities. JNH was founded in 1985 by Bonnie Grueninger who is the Program Director. Grueninger explained how the horses were acclimated to be used with the disabled children for their JNH program. “Since we had the Jamestown Riding School here, we had all these very welltrained school horses. But in addition to what those horses knew, they had to be introduced to the world of the disabled – squeaky wheelchairs and walkers that make funny sounds…crutches and braces….”
cided to impact this outcome for future high school graduates the year she received her doctorate degree in 2016. BooksFromBekkah Textbook Scholarship Foundation was birthed when she managed to raise $500 through monetary gifts. BooksFromBekkah collaborates with the high schools of applicants throughout the St. Louis area during their selection process for the textbook scholarships. The process begins with a graduating student completing an application as well as submitting reference applications from two faculty members and an additional professional reference.
MAY Little chef, big dreams
MARCH Suits for soldiers
For the second year, the Greg Mans Farmers Insurance Agency partnered with American Legion – Post 397 and H.E.R.O.E.S. Care for their 500 Suits for 500 Soldiers campaign. However, this year insurance agent Greg Mans and his wife Lois secured 750 suits for the event. “Last year…I think people thought it was just too good to be true,” shared Greg. “They thought it might have been old used suits. When they got here (you heard), ‘Wow this is…’ When they get (quality) shoes, shirt, tie and a suit [that’s] within anywhere from $800 to $1,500 in product, that’s not a bad gig.”
APRIL The power of a book
JULY Reimaging the Arch
DeEsten Lewis, fondly given the name Little Chef DJ by his mother Tiarra Lewis, has caught the attention of many in the community including the Healthy Schools Healthy Communities {HSHC) initiative. “This is our second year working with the YMCA for the Healthy Schools Healthy Communities event,” shared Tiarra. “We go to (various) schools (providing) healthy cooking demonstrations.” Tiarra provides a lot of support and has great hope for DJ’s future. “I want him to be a leader so that he can show other kids that you don’t have to be a basketball player, a football player, or a rapper. There are other things that you can do.” DJ shared that he would like to go further to cultivate his culinary skills and someday appear on “MasterChef Junior” and ultimately “Hell’s Kitchen.”
JUNE Bringing ninjas to Hazelwood
It has been stated that one of the primary reasons for a high dropout rate among African Americans during their college freshman year is due to the astronomical cost of text books on top of tuition costs. Dr. Rebakkah Johnson, pharmacist, de-
the creation of the Hazelwood Ninja Obstacle course in Howdershell Park, located at 6701 Howdershell Road in Hazelwood. One of the show’s contestants was 37-year-old Hazelwood resident John Wilmas. Wilmas is a fan of Hazelwood’s obstacle course. “What a great idea! I’m proud it’s here in my hometown so I can use it,” he said. Additionally, he believes it is a great way to promote fitness and it can provide some deterrence to cell phone usage for teens and young adults. Also, he shared that his six-year-old son, Kaiden, likes to join him at Howdershell Park to attempt doing some of the obstacles. Though some of the obstacles are too challenging for his age he enjoys spending time on the playground. Wilmas shared that he envisions both he and his son climbing the obstacles together in another four or five years.
The “American Ninja Warrior” show was one of the main inspirations behind
AUGUST From Pattonville to the stars
‘L On Aug. 3, 2018, NASA released news of nine astronauts who will be participating in flight tests for American-made, commercial spacecraft. One of those nine astronauts is Pattonville High School’s 1988 alumni, Colonel Robert Behnken. Behnken shared more about the endeavor that will return astronaut launches to U.S. soil for the first time since the space shuttle’s retirement in 2011. “For the last three years I have been working with two companies that have contracts with NASA to build new spacecrafts to shepherd people back and forth to the [International] Space Station. We do have U.S. astronauts in space continually right now. They rotate out about every six months and use the Russian Soyuz spacecraft to do that. NASA put together some contracts several years back to try finding an alternate way, so we didn’t rely on that Russian spacecraft to get into space,” he said.
SEPTEMBER Spicing up Hazelwood with dance The new Museum at the Gateway Arch opened on July 3, 2018. The opening was kicked off with a ribbon cutting ceremony by the new West Entrance followed by the opening to the public. The museum changes are part of the overall City Arch River project. Tom Nagel, Communications Manager for Gateway Arch Park Foundation (formerly City Arch River Foundation), shared that the project was a collaboration with National Park Service, Great Rivers Greenway, Bi-State Development, Jefferson National Parks Association, and Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT). The project’s overall cost was $380 million. “It comes from many different sources,” said Nagel. “This is a public-private partnership; a really unique way of achieving a new visitor experience, solving a lot of issues with infrastructure, and reimagining the Arch for the future. It took a lot of partners and different funding sources.”
A dance studio in Hazelwood has spent almost two years offering a no-cost quality alternative for youth. El Movimiento: Latin Beginnings Ministries located at 7211a North Lindbergh Blvd., was established in 2017 as a nonprofit for youth by dancers David Blake and Tashia Ochoa. However, the two dance instructors developed the concept for Latin Beginnings in 2014. “The whole thought process behind that was building a community that focused on beginners or people who were interested in (Latin dance) and didn’t know much about it,” stated Blake. Blake and Ochoa desired to provide See ‘LOOK BACK’ page 4
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Around Town
January 2, 2019 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com
‘LOOK BACK’ from page 3 a “layman’s” approach to Latin and breakdancing. They began to get requests for dance instruction for youth. It was then that they decided to open the studio and offer salsa and breakdancing to K-12 youth.
OCTOBER Remaking the Ferguson-Florissant School District
cussions in community forums and town hall meetings in prior months, Superintendent Dr. Joseph Davis presented three options for the board’s consideration (www.fergflor.org/strong). These options were the result of a multi-year effort to improve learning and achievement for students while increasing fiscal efficiency. “Ferguson-Florissant School District is the birthplace of Parents as Teachers and we are expanding on that legacy,” stated Davis. “We are focused on strengthening the bookends of a strong foundation in early education and transforming high schools to prepare students for their future success in college and life.”
NOVEMBER Soldiers Memorial reborn On Oct. 10, 2018, the Ferguson-Florissant School District Board of Education voted to restructure the district, add early education for three and four-year-olds, implement a STEAM high school and close some of its existing buildings. The hope is that these changes will create more opportunities for students to succeed academically. After having dis-
seum located at 1315 Chestnut St. in downtown St. Louis, reopened on Nov. 3, 2018. The opening day was followed by daily special events that ran through Nov. 12. The Soldiers Memorial which officially opened on Memorial Day in 1938, was temporarily closed in 2016 until then for a $30 million revitalization project. The project included some major face-lifts for the building, according to Mark Sundlov, Soldiers Memorial Director. “The lower level previously was city offices and city storage space,” stated Sundlov. “It served a dual purpose. Besides a lot of preservation and restoration aspects, for as remodeling, the lower level was the most significant in the building. We turned that lower level space, about 4,000 sq. ft, into a special exhibit gallery. So, a part of making this a vibrant part of downtown is rotating out that exhibit space on a regular basis, every two-to-three years.”
DECEMBER The gift of a tree The Soldiers Memorial Military Mu-
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Since 2014, The Kaufman Fund, with its sponsoring partner Enterprise Bank
St. Louis Tax Assistance Office moves to new location The Missouri Department of Revenue’s St. Louis Tax Assistance Office has moved to a new location at 9445 Dielman Rock Island Industrial Dr. in Olivette. The office is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Tax experts are available to provide assistance with business tax registration, no tax due assistance, accepting payments and accepting completed returns. For other services, such as income tax compliance, corporate income tax questions,
www.treesbywoody.net
www.byerlyrv.com
& Trust (formerly Eagle Bank), has distributed over 1,400 trees and tree stands through its Trees for Vets program to veterans, their families and veteran organizations. This year The Kaufman Fund worked with St. Patrick Center, UMSL, USO, Catholic Charities, several reserve units and others to obtain the names of veterans to receive trees. On Dec. 9, 2018, they distributed over 300 trees and stands to pre-registered veterans at Enterprise Bank & Trust located at 14231 Manchester Rd in Manchester. “Last year the turn-out was so high that (Enterprise Bank) had to take names to schedule people,” stated Irwin Loiterstein, one of the Trees for Vets program planners.
and lien/garnishment resolution, customers will be connected with a department tax employee in Jefferson City. Although individual income tax preparation services are not available, department employees can help connect customers with the appropriate tax preparation resources. All tax assistance offices are closed on state holidays. Services, hours and location directions can be found at dor.mo.gov/tax_assistance_office.php.
Overland woman celebrates 100th birthday Joy Twitchell (nee Scheidermann) celebrated her 100th birthday on Dec. 18. Twitchell was born in Clare, Iowa and grew up in Wellston, Missouri. She belonged to Grace Lutheran Church where she was active in the Walther League. She graduated high school in 1936, after which she worked in Springfield and St. Louis. In 1944 she married Jimmy Twitchell in Gilespie, Illinois. They were married for 56 years. Twitchell lives in Overland and still attends Our Redeemer Church, which she joined in 1952.
Submitted photo
www.mycnews.com • Community News – St. Louis County • January 2, 2019
Around Town
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Florissant Rotary honors business leaders and public servants putting ‘Service Above Self’ In celebration of the holiday season, the Rotary Club of Florissant honored several exceptional North County area business leaders and public servants making significant contributions to the community. “As this year’s president of the Florissant Rotary Club, I wanted to share the value of being a Rotarian with others in North County. The board decided that one way to do this was to honor several outstanding business leaders and public servants with Paul Harris Fellowships,” said Dr. Chandra Kaup. This group of exceptional people making a difference in North County epitomize Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self ”. The Paul Harris Fellow acknowledges individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of $1,000 or more to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. It was established in 1957. Business Honorees included: • Dr. Misty Farr is the Pharmacy Manager for Walmart in Florissant. She is an advocate for senior and lower-income patients, working hard to deliver quality pharmacy care throughout North County connecting them to resources that will lead to better overall health outcomes. • Dr. Eboni January is the owner of Dr. EJ’s Fitness Bootcamp and has been recognized as one of the “50 Most Intriguing Women” in St. Louis by DELUX Magazine. As an OBGYN she is committed to adolescent care, preventative medicine, mentorship and fitness. • Mike Moehlenkamp is the owner of Gary’s Auto Service in Florissant for more than 10 years. In 2017, he served as the Greater North County Chamber of Commerce’s chairman of the board and is a board member for North County Incorporated. • Scott Negwer is the Owner and President of Ferguson-based Negwer Materials. This company was founded by his family and has been in operation since 1924. As he works to expand and grow his company he also stays very involved with the community. • Steve Pokorny is the Owner and Operator of STS Car Care in Jennings. Since 1970, he has worked hard to build his own company, transforming a family-owned car wash into a two location automotive repair business.
North County first responders are honored by the Rotary Club of Florissant.
Submitted photo
positive attitude toward fellow firefighters and citizens.
needy areas of the world. Additional information can be found at www.florissantrotary.org.
• Lieutenant Colonel Troy Doyle for the St. Louis County Police Department. Doyle began his career with the County Police in 1992, since then he has not slowed down in his public serve and desire to help his community. • Assistant Chief Roger Ellison with the Black Jack Fire Protection District started in the Fire Service as a junior firefighter, fire Explorer and volunteer firefighter. Choosing this calling and serving others he has worked his way up the ranks from private to captain, battalion chief and now asst. chief. • Assistant Chief Tim Fagan with the city of Florissant is responsible for overseeing the operations of the three bureaus the department is divided into, The Bureau of Field Operations, Bureau of Support Services, and Bureau of Investigations. • Police Officer Alan Frank with St. Louis County Police Department serves in the Jennings Precinct and has exhibited a strong work ethic and willingness to initiate an in-depth investigations, helping to squash criminal activity within the city and surrounding area.
• Police Officer Tim Bennings with the city of Hazelwood has been the catalyst behind the Help a Needy family during the holiday season. He undertook this task 25 years ago and has worked relentlessly since, selflessly making the holidays better for Hazelwood families.
• Fire Marshall Cliff Robinson with the Florissant Valley Fire Protection District oversees all of the district’s fire prevention and code enforcement. He has done a great job in this role and has become a leader in the St. Louis Metro area in his field, widely respected by colleagues throughout the area.
• Captain Veronica Dolan with the Hazelwood Fire Department. Since 2004, she served as a firefighter/paramedic. In 2016, Dolan was promoted to captain because of her reliability as a firefighter, her outstanding work ethic and unwavering
The Rotary Club of Florissant, established in 1960 is an organized way for civic-minded executives and professionals to contribute their skills and talents to the progress of North County, and to the
Public Service Honorees include:
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School
January 2, 2019 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com
Local foundation donates toys to Hazelwood School District Teachers of the Hazelwood students Year announced
Photo courtesy Hazelwood School District
Rickey Whittington of the R. Whittington Foundation donated several dozen toys to the Hazelwood Central Early Childhood Education Center on Dec. 19. This is the third year Whittington has donated to Hazelwood students; his goal was to provide an extra gift or two to almost 8,000 local children this holiday season. Pictured (from left) are Rickey Whittington, HSD Early Childhood Social Worker Kristin Bryant and HSD Director of Federal Programs Lynette Jackson.
w w w. s e n i o r s h e l p i n g s e n i o r s . c o m / s t l o u i s c e n t r a l
Photo courtesy Normandy Schools Collaborative Evie Troupe (right), library media specialist at Washington Elementary, is the Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award recipient for the Normandy Schools Collaborative. Troupe is pictured here with Normandy Superintendent Dr. Charles Pearson.
The Hazelwood School District 2018-2019 Teachers of the Year have been chosen. A Teacher of the Year is named at each school, after which an overall District Teacher of the Year and two runners-up are selected. Ashley Gerald, first grade teacher at Lusher Elementary School, has been named the 20182019 Hazelwood Teacher of the Year. Katie Hernandez of Jana Elementary and Stephani Durant of West High School tied for first runner-up. Gerald was surprised with the news in her classroom Dec. 17 by Superintendent Dr. Nettie Collins-Hart and Assistant Superintendent Juan Cordova. “I am honored to receive this award. We have an amazing group of educators in our district, so to be recognized by my peers for my growth and work is amazing,” Gerald said. “I do not take it lightly and I am so thankful to those that have contributed to my success throughout the years.” She is a Hazelwood Central High School graduate, and has taught at Lusher Elementary for the past four years; she began teaching in the Hazelwood School District in spring 2007 and taught previously at both Grannemann and Keeven Elementary. “Ms. Gerald plays the role of both teacher and leader for Lusher Elementary, and truly cares about supporting each student’s individual needs,” Superintendent Dr. Nettie Collins-Hart said. “She is a wonderful representative for our district and shows what it means to create a culture of high expectations.” “I want to congratulate each of our Teacher of the Year winners, and thank them for their tireless efforts in the classroom and helping to make the Hazelwood School District a great place to learn.”
The Teacher of the Year recipients at each school are: • Armstrong Elementary - Lizabeth Johnson • Arrowpoint Elementary - Amy Williams • Barrington Elementary - Paris Bouchard • Brown Elementary - Jean Goldstein • Cold Water Elementary - Monica Warren • Early Childhood - Stacey Anderson • Garrett Elementary - Toni Grimes • Grannemann Elementary - Jernae Craig • Jamestown Elementary - William Kuhnert • Jana Elementary - Katie Hernandez • Jury Elementary - Kelsey Bodie • Keeven Elementary - Allison Cooke • Larimore Elementary - Angela Turner • Lawson Elementary - Jaimie Wilmes • Lusher Elementary - Ashley Gerald • McCurdy Elementary - Teresa Fiudo • McNair Elementary - Rachel Johnson • Russell Elementary - Molly Vatterott • Townsend Elementary - Chelsea Christman • Twillman Elementary - Sharene Brown • Walker Elementary - Renee Jenner • Central Middle - Cindy Miller • East Middle - Anna Zakrzewski • North Middle - Lauren Chadbourne • Northwest Middle - Joyce Pipes • Southeast Middle - Matthew Loyet • West Middle - Mark Hicks • Opportunity Center - Dorothy Burford • Central High - Patrick Rocco • East High - Cassandra Thomas • West High - Stephani Durant
www.mycnews.com • Community News – St. Louis County • January 2, 2019
Business
Santa pays a visit to Delmar Gardens North Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
Submitted photo
It was almost a celebration without a Santa for the residents at Delmar Gardens North Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Santa’s sleigh was to blame as it was found broken down by the Black Jack Fire Department on the side of the road. The firefighters were more than happy to rescue Santa and Mrs. Claus and taken them aboard their pumper truck to visit and spread holiday cheer with the residents of Delmar Gardens North.
VOTE BEST OF NORTH COUNTY 2019
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BEST OF NORTH COUNTY Vote for your favorite business in North County!
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Winners will be listed in a special section in Community News and awards will be presented at the Chamber luncheon on March 20. Deadline to vote is March 1, 2019 You can vote online at www.mycnews.com or you can clip this and mail to: Community News, 2139 Bryan Valley Commercial Dr., O’Fallon, MO 63366
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Accounting
Attorney
Apartment Complex
Auto Dealership
Auto Repair
Bakery/Donuts
Bank/Credit Union
Bar/Grill
Catering
Chiropractor
Child Care
Computer
Dentist
Electrician
Fast Food/Carryout Restaurant
Financial/Investments
Florist
Funeral Home
Golf Course
Heating & Cooling
Ice Cream Stand
Insurance Agent
Jeweler
Landscaping/Lawn Care
Optometrist/Vision Care
Photographer
Pizza Parlor
Real Estate Agent
Rehab/Skilled Nursing Care
Remodeling/Roofing
Restaurant
Senior Living
Specialty Shop
Travel Agent
Veterinarian
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What’s Happening
January 2, 2019 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com
Send your event to editor@mycnews.com and we'll print it! EVENTS Jan. 12: Trivia night
The Knights of Columbus Assembly #2012 is hosting a Second Annual Black Light Bash Trivia Night at St. Rose Philippine Duchesne Catholic Church at 1210 Paddock Drive in Florissant. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tables of eight cost $15 per person. After each round the winning team receives $100. There will be a 50/50 drawing, gift baskets, BYOB, set ups included. Knights of Columbus Assembly support Bibles for Soldiers, the USO and Fisher House to name a few organizations. For tickets or more information call Brian Herbert 314-660-2802.
Jan. 26: Art exhibition
“150: A Visual Meditation on the Psalms” opens at Good Shepherd Arts Center at 252 S. Florissant Road in Ferguson, on Saturday, Jan. 5 with a reception from 3 - 5 p.m. This exhibit features artists local to the St. Louis metro region. It will run through Jan. 26. Admission is free and open to all. Call 314-522-1155 for details or go to https://www.goodshepherdarts.org.
RECURRING EVENTS Any time: Tours at Old St. Ferdinand Shrine by appointment
#1 Rue St. Francois St., Florissant. Donations accepted. Docents needed. 314-921-7582, Vicki Wittman Email: vicray01@aol.com.
Monthly: Free legal services
Every month CORP Legal Services provides: legal document preparations such as wills, deeds and power of attorneys at no cost to St. Louis County seniors 60 years and older. There is an income limit. Contact the coordinator at 314-615-0931 for more information.
Weekdays: Food pantry volunteers needed
The Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry is in need of ongoing adult volunteers to sort food, stock shelves and shop with clients. Two-to-four hour shifts are available, Monday-Friday 8:45 a.m.-3:45 p.m. To learn more or to join this fun group, contact Chelsey Banaskavich at 314-513-1674 or cbanaskavich@jfcs-stl.org.
Weekdays: Volunteer drivers
The St. Louis County Older Resident Programs need volunteer drivers who live in St. Louis County to give a few hours during the day to provide transportation to and from doctor’s appointments for our senior residents of St. Louis County that lives near you! No weekends and mileage reimbursement is available. Call today at 314-615-4516.
Mondays: Choral Art Singers
Choral Arts Singers resume practice on Mondays, at 7 p.m. at Transfiguration Episcopal Church, 1860 Lake St. Louis Blvd. in Lake St. Louis. This session will include performance at St. James Cathedral, Chicago on June 25. New singers are welcome. Auditions are not required. See www.concertarts.org.
Mondays: City council meetings
City of Pine Lawn holds regular city council meetings at city hall at 6250 Steve Marre Ave. in Pine Lawn on the second Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. The meetings are open to the public.
Mondays: Workshop meetings
City of Pine Lawn holds regular workshop meetings at city hall at 6250 Steve Marre Ave. in Pine Lawn on the fourth Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. The meetings are open to the public.
Mondays: A cappella singers
All men who like to sing are invited to come sing with us, The Men of Harmony. We practice every Monday night at 7 p.m. at 5500 Parker Road which is the first house on Uthe Lane. We sing four-part harmony a capella (without accompaniment ). We sing some traditional songs, as well as show tunes and more contemporary music. We do perform for the public at various functions. Persons interested can come right on in or for more information call Al at 314-993-6134.
Mondays-Thursdays: Volunteers needed Community Action Agency of St. Louis County is in need of volunteers to stock shelves, sort food shipments and pack bags for Food Pantry Clients Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Two to four hour shifts are available. If you are interested, please contact Cheryl Piece at 314-446-4440 or cpiece@caastlc.org for additional information.
Tuesdays: Chair Zumba
Chair Zumba every Tuesday from 2:15 – 3 p.m. at The Bridge At Florissant at 1101 Garden Plaza Dr. (Parker @ Arlington). For more information call 314-831-0988.
Tuesdays: Choir rehearsals
The St. Louis Chordinals, a women’s a cappella chorus, rehearse every Tuesday evening from 7 - 9:30 p.m. at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church at 12397 Natural Bridge Rd. in Bridgeton (next to the Bridgeton Government Center). For more information call Linda at 314-839-3495 or visit stlouischordinals.org.
Tuesdays: Vietnam Veterans Association meeting
Chapter 794 Vietnam Veterans Association meets on the third Tuesday of each month at VFW Post 4105 at 410 St. Francois in Florissant. Meetings start at 7 p.m. For more information contact Walter Kaiser at 314-921-2132.
Tuesdays: TOPS pounds sensibly)
(Take
off
From 9:15 - 10:30 a.m. located at John F. Kennedy Center/Henry Koch Ctr., Howdershell Rd. at Charbonier Rd., Florissant. For more info contact Paul or Connie McConnell, 314-831-5476.
Every 4th Tuesday of the month: Fort Bellefontaine Memorial American Legion Post 335 meeting 6:30pm, Fort Bellefontaine Memorial American Legion Post 335, at the Bellefontaine Neighbors Community Center at 9669 Bellefontaine Rd. Those interested in membership are invited to attend.
Every Tuesday: Bingo Evening at Florissant Elks Lodge #2316
Doors at 4:30 p.m., games begin at 6pm, Florissant Elks Lodge #2316, 16400 New Halls Ferry Rd. in Florissant. For more information, call 314.921.2316.
Wednesdays: TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly)
TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets from 6 p.m. -7:30 p.m. at St. Andrews United Methodist Church at 3975 N. Hwy 67 in Florissant. For more information contact Norma at 314-306-4731.
Wednesdays: Are you interested in losing weight?
Check out TOPS #361 Florissant group of supportive ladies. Meetings are on Wednesday mornings beginning at 9:15 a.m. at Florissant Church of Christ, 16460 New Halls Ferry Rd. in Florissant. If interested, please contact Shirley at 314-895-3528 for more information.
Every Wednesday: Bingo Morning at Florissant Elks Lodge #2316
Florissant Elks Lodge #2316, 16400 New Halls Ferry Rd. in Florissant. Doors at 7:30 a.m., games begin at 9:30 a.m. For more information, call 314.921.2316.
Bridgeton Trails Library Branch Programs:
3455 McKelvey Rd., St. Louis, 314.994.3300. Story Time: Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. 9 months to 2 yrs. Room 1 (Lap Time); Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. Ages 3–5. Room 2; Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. Ages 3–5. Room 1.
Florissant Senior Citizens’ Bingo Clubs: 314.839.7604. Every 1st Wednesday of the Month: Stroke Support Group
3-4 p.m., Center for Senior Renewal, Detrick Building 1st floor, 11133 Dunn Rd. For more information, contact Jamie Stevens at 314.653.5331.
Thursdays: Bingo
Community Bingo at the Bridge At Florissant, at 1101 Garden Plaza Drive (intersection of Parker and Arlington) takes place on the fourth Thursday of each month from 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. There will be snacks and prizes. For more information call 314-831-0988.
Thursdays: Quilting guild
Every third Thursday of the month the Flower Valley Quilting Guild meets at 7 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church at 123 Carson Road in Ferguson. Thursdays: Korean War Veterans Association meeting If you had military service in Korea between Sept. 3, 1945 and the present you are cordially invited to a meeting of Chapter 4, North County Korean War Veterans Association. Meetings take place at the VFW Post 4105 at 410 St. Francois in Florissant on the first Thursday of the month, starting at 7 p.m. For more information contact Walter Kaiser at 314-921-2132.
Thursdays: checks
Blood
pressure
Free blood pressure checks monthly at Life Care Center of Florissant at 1201 Garden Plaza Dr. (off Parker Rd.) in Florissant every third Thursday of
the month. Call 831-3752 for more information.
Thursdays: meeting
Women’s
chorus
Every Thursday City Voices Chorus, a women’s chorus singing four-part a cappella harmony, meets at Church of the Good Shepherd at 1166 S. Mason Rd. in St. Louis. Members come from the entire bi-state region. Call Marcia at 636-274-0723 for more information or visit www.cityvoiceschorus.org.
Every Friday: Our Lady of Fatima #4429 Knights of Columbus Bingo
6:45 p.m., Knights of Columbus Hall, 1216 Teson Rd. in Hazelwood. For more information call 314.731.9330
Every 3rd Friday of the month: Bingo
2 p.m., Life Care Center of Florissant, 1201 Garden Plaza Dr. For more information, call 314.831.3752.
Fridays: Celebrate Recovery
For 25 years Celebrate Recovery has been helping everyday folks find freedom from whatever difficulty you are experiencing in your life. This Christ-centered, 12-step program is based on the Beatitudes. We meet every Friday at 6:15 p.m. for dinner ($5); 7 p.m. large group meeting; 8 p.m. Small groups sharing; 9 p.m. dessert at First Christian Church of Florissant at 2890 Patterson Rd. in Florissant. For more information call 314-837-2269 or visit http://www.fccf. org/ or Facebook page Celebrate Recovery-FCCF.
Saturdays: Free walk-in clinic
Salam Clinic at St. Peter’s United Church of Christ at 1425 Stein Road at West Florissant in Ferguson is a free walk-in clinic open Saturdays from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. The clinic is jointly sponsored by the Muslim Community of St. Louis (MCSL) and St. Peter’s United Church of Christ to provide basic adult medical screening, treatment and referrals free of charge for the uninsured. For more information or if you would be interested in volunteering, please call 314-521-5694 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday – Friday or visit www.stpeterschurch.org
Saturdays: Clothing sale
On the second Saturday of each month Bethany-Peace UCC at 11952 Bellefontaine Rd. in St. Louis County hosts a clothing sale from 9 - 11 a.m. For sale are used clothing and shoes, some household items, books and toys. Fill your bag for $1.
Saturdays: Grief support
On the fourth Saturday of each month, grief support meeting “A Way With Words Ministry” meets at 12:30 p.m. at Community Christ Fellowship, rear, at 121 Williams Blvd. in Hazelwood, 1/4 mile south of Hwy 270 off Florissant Rd. There are a variety of topics monthly. You are not alone. Come help your heart heal with others. For more information call 314-605-3949.
www.mycnews.com • Community News – St. Louis County • January 2, 2019 Every Fourth Saturday’s Writer’s Workshop 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at Baden Library, at 8448 Church Rd. For more information call 314-388-2400.
Sundays: Meat shoot
al Support and Education. You are not alone. For information, contact Deborah Mabrie at 314-291-5210 or Ferd Fetsch at 314-291-3021 Email: dbland@sarahcare.com ferdfetsch@ sbcglobal.net.
Come and enjoy the meat shoots at American Legion Post 444 located on 17090 Old Jamestown Road between Sinks Rd and Lindbergh starting at noon until dusk every Sunday in February and March in the spring and every Sunday in October through the second-to-last week in November in the fall - rain or shine. Great meat prizes awarded.
Every third Tuesday of every month: Grief Support Group sponsored by DePaul Hospital
Sundays: AMVETS meat shoot Sundays in September through April, AMVETS Post 55, located on 8842 Natural Bridge Rd. in Bel-Ridge will be hosting meat shoots with practice beginning at 11 a.m. and rounds starting at noon. Shooters must be 18 or older and will shoot #9’s with no bull barrels or scopes and 675 minimum chokes. The shooting area is indoors and food and drink are available in the club room. For more information, contact 314-630-2671 or 314-330-7269.
Sundays: Alcoholics Anonymous Group 109
Sundays: meeting
Jennings
Do-Dads
The Jennings Do-Dads hold meetings every third Sunday of the month (except June which is the second Sunday and no meeting in December) at 1 p.m. at Classics Bar & Grill at 11601 West Florissant Avenue. Those interested in membership are invited to attend. For more information visit www.jenningsdodads.org.
CHURCH Tuesdays & Thursdays: Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church GriefShare Support Group
Tuesdays from 2 - 4pm and Thursday from 6:30 - 8:30pm, 11645 Benham Rd., 314.741.3737
HEALTH Every Mon. & Tues.: Healthy Meal Replacement (HMR) Program Orientation
Mondays: 6–7pm Tuesdays: Noon– 1pm SSM DePaul Wellness Center. Attend a free orientation to learn: the Five Success Variables needed to lose weight, different diet options available and how important physical activity really is. Please call to register at 1.877.477.6954.
Every Monday-Friday: Evening Front Desk Volunteers Needed 4-7pm, Christian Hospital, 1225 Graham Rd. in Florissant. For more information, please contact Lee Shields at 314.653.5032.
1st Tuesday of Every Month: Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Support Group Meeting
Meeting to be held at Sarah Care of Bridgeton Adult Day Center 11977 St. Charles Rock Road, Suite 121-124, Bridgeton, MO 63044. Join our Support Group for Mutual, Emotion-
11:30am-1pm, Maryland Hgts. Comm. Ctr., 2300 McKelvey Rd. For more information, call 314.344.6873.
Wednesdays: ACES Schizophrenia Support Group 6:30 - 7:30pm, 314.839.3171.
11th floor conference room at Christian Hospital, 10am, 11133 Dunn Road.
Diabetes Basics:
314.344.7024 for info or 314.344.7220 to enroll.
Crisis Nursery:
Committed to preventing child abuse and neglect, the Crisis Nursery provides short-term, safe havens to children, birth through age 12, whose families are faced with an emergency or crisis. Care is available year-round and serves families throughout the greater St. Charles region. 24-hour helpline: 314.768.3201. Or 636.947.0600, www. crisisnurserykids.org
Center for Senior Renewal:
Day treatment programs for older adults dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, loss and early signs of dementia, 314.653.5123.
Nutrition Education:
SSM DePaul registered dieticians can help you make sure your diet is right for you, 314.344.6157.
Christian Hospital Recovery Center: Outpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment for adults, 314.953.8100.
Volunteers Needed at Christian Hospital: Call 314.653.5032 Nicotine Anonymous
Nicotine Anonymous is a 12 Step Program, free and available to all seeking recovery from nicotine addiction based on principals of AA. Only requirement is a desire to stop using nicotine. Voluntary contributions are accepted. For further info call 314-822-2066 or visit www.Nicotine-Anonymous.org.
Look Good…Feel Better
SSM Cancer Care at DePaul Health Center, 12303 DePaul Drive. Radiation OncologyBridgeton. Attend a great makeup session sponsored by the American Cancer Society. A licensed cosmetologist teaches a session of scarf tying, shows a parade of hats, and provides each participant with a makeup kit. Light refreshments are served. Info: 314.344.6090.
SilverSneakers Senior Wellness
Program at the Maryland Heights Centre
A fun, energizing program that helps older adults take greater control of their health by encouraging physical activity and offering social events. A Silver Sneakers membership includes access to the city’s Fitness Centre with state-of-the-art fitness equipment and circuit training. Membership is available at little or no cost through your health plan. To find out if you are eligible, visit www.silversneakers.com or call 314.738.2599.
Smoking Cessation Classes:
Free ongoing 8-week sessions, 866. SSM.DOCS to register or for more information.
SSM DePaul Wellness Center:
Classes available on strength training, nutrition and smoking cessation, 314.344.6177
Free Mammogram Screenings:
SSM Health Care free mammogram screenings to women who have no health insurance. Appointments at 300 First Capitol Drive in St. Charles and SSM St. Joseph Hospital West, 100 Medical Plaza in Lake Saint Louis, 636.947.5617
Speaker’s Bureau:
SSM speakers available for organizations, clubs, community and church groups for up to one hour free of charge, 636.949.7159
ONGOING SUPPORT GROUPS Sundays: Support Group for Women Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse 6:30 - 8pm, 7401 Delmar Ave. in University City, 314.993.5421.
First and Third Tuesdays: Support Group for Women Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse
12:30 - 2pm, 320 Forsyth Blvd., Clayton, 314.968.3477.
Third Saturdays: Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Support Group At Delmar Gardens North, 4401 Parker Rd., Florissant, 9am, 314.355.1516, Helpline 800.272.3900
Last Saturdays: Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Support Group:
Mother of Good Counsel Home, 6825 Natural Bridge, St. Louis, 10:30am 314.383.4765
Last Tuesdays: Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Support Group Missouri Veterans Home, 10600 Lewis & Clark, St. Louis, 1pm, 314.340.6389
Wednesdays: Weekly Cancer Survivor’s Support Group
H.W. Koenig Medical Building at SSM St. Joseph Hospital West, 3 - 4:30pm, free, 636.755.3034
12 Step Support Group for Women Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse:
What’s Happening
Meets in 4 locations in the metro St Louis area. Information: metrostlouissia@gmail.com.
Wednesdays: New Choices NarAnon Family Group at Zion Lutheran Church
12075 Dorsett Road, Maryland Heights, 7:30 – 9pm, www.NarAnon.org
Thursdays: Grief Share Support Group
Church of the Nazarene, 1309 N. Elizabeth Ave., Ferguson 6:30 - 8pm, leecedra@sbcglobal.net
Mondays & Thursdays: Breathe/ for people with pulmonary disease
9
Calcium Scoring Heart Scan Program
SSM DePaul Health Center. This program uses advanced (CT) imaging to scan the arteries around the heart and measure or score the amount of calcium present in the plaque deposits. This screening, in combination with other heart disease risk factors (high cholesterol, high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, physical inactivity, etc.) can help determine an overall picture of your current heart health and your risk for developing heart disease. Call 314.344.6030 to learn more about the heart scan program or to schedule an appointment.
Wednesdays: STEPS Schizo-phrenia Support Group
SSM St. Joseph Health Center & Hospital West Auxiliary Non profit organization assisting the hosp. by holding fund raisering activities, being of service to patients, families, employees & physicians and acting as good will ambassadors to community. We welcome new member. Call Barb Hutchinson 636.947.5466.
SUDOKU answers from page F-1
CROSSWORD answers from page F-2
Graham Medical Center, 1150 Graham Rd. Suite 104, 11am - 12pm, $30, 314953-6090
6:30-7:30pm, 314.839.3171.
10
Sports
January 2, 2019 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com
Sports you see with Gary B... Lindenwood was thinking swimming at Christmas The lions swimming and diving teams finished strong in the fourth day of the Delta State Christmas Invite. The Lion women were victorious defeating Delta State while the men ended second to Delta State. Standouts included: • Ashley Holloway, who won women’s diver of the meet. • Simone de Rijcke winning the women’s swimmer of the meet. • Jan Hanzal, who won men’s swimmer of the meet. Categories included the freestyle, backstroke, breastroke, diving and butterfly. The New South Intercollegiate Swimming Championships will be held on Feb. 20-23 and will be a rematch of sorts and the final time the Lions will be present in the meet as they transition into the GLVC in 2019-2020. * Great performances by all University of Missouri-St. Louis player stands out Recently in Indianapolis, UMSL sophomore forward Alex LaPorta was named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Week in women’s basketball. LaPorta is majoring in business but on the court she was a major contributor to the 86-38 win over Oakland City. Here are a few of the contributions: • Recorded fifth double-double of the season in 26 minutes of action. • Scored 15 points on 7-of-12 (.580) shooting. • Grabbed 11 rebounds with seven on defensive end. • Added five steals. This was the first career Player of the Week award that she has attained. The last Triton’s Player to be chosen for this major award was Jordan Fletcher back in February of 2018. *Great accomplishment
www.aperioncare.com
Indoor football tryouts Beginning in 2019, the National Gridiron League (NGL) will enter its debut season. One difference in this league from the past indoor leagues is that the league owns all the teams. Founded in 2017, the NGL is will be used as a minor league alternative to the National Football League. The St. Louis Stampede will be one of 12 teams divided into two divisions scattered around the Midwestern part of the USA. The team will play their home games at the Family Arena starting on April 6. The team already has signed many players for the squad but will be holding open tryouts on Jan. 12 from 7 – 11 a.m. at Olympia Athletic at 49 Lawrence Street in St. Charles. Kallie Klein is the president of the Stampede and is in the process looking for sponsors and advertisers to build the fan base and excitement of the league. For more information contact klein@STLStampede.com or go to www.STLStampede.com. * I hear the rumbling coming over the hill Think baseball to start the year The River City Rascals are your professional baseball team that plays their home games at CarShield Field in O’Fallon. The preseason games start on May 3 in O’Fallon. For more information go to www.RiverCityRascals.com * Mark your calendar Gary Baute, a St. Louis native, may be educated in business but he lives and breathes sports. As a fan or an athlete, Gary is all sports all the time. He hosted a radio sports program on KFNS, emceed the River City Rascals’ inaugural season, among many other activities.
www.mycnews.com • Community News • January 2, 2019
Recipe:
Feature
F-1
– SUDOKU –
Fight the cold with better-for-you comfort foods
Creamy Tomato and Roasted Pepper Soup with Cheddar Cracker Melts
Fill in the blank squares in the grid, making sure that every row, column and 3-by-3 box includes all the digits 1 through 9.
Prep time: 15 minutes | Cook time: 25 minutes | Servings: 6
Creamy Tomato and Roasted Pepper Soup: Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 onion, chopped 1 carrot, chopped 3 cloves garlic, chopped 1 teaspoon salt, divided 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 pinch chili flakes 4 cups organic no- salt-added vegetable broth 1 can (28 ounces) no- salt-added diced tomatoes 1 cup chopped prepared roasted red peppers
2 bay leaves 1/3 cup 35 percent heavy cream 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh chives, divided 1 teaspoon cider vinegar
Cheddar Cracker Melts:
Ingredients: 24 Crunchmaster Tuscan Peasant Fire Roasted Tomato Basil Crackers
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Directions: In Dutch oven or large saucepan over medium heat, heat oil. Cook onion, carrot, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper, paprika and chili flakes about 5 minutes, or until vegetables are slightly softened. Stir in broth, tomatoes, roasted red peppers and bay leaves; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer 15-20 minutes, or until vegetables are tender. Discard bay leaves. Let cool slightly. Transfer to blender; puree in batches until smooth. Stir in cream, remaining salt, 1 tablespoon chives and vinegar.
To make Cheddar Cracker Melts: Heat broiler to high and position rack in center of oven. Arrange crackers on parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with cheese. Broil 1-2 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Divide soup among six bowls. Sprinkle with remaining chives and serve with Cheddar Cracker Melts. Tip: Use mild, medium or aged cheddar cheese. Smoked mozzarella can be substituted, if desired.
Nutrition information per serving: 250 calories; 15 g fat; 7 g saturated fat; 30 mg cholesterol; 730 mg sodium; 22 g carbohydrates; 2 g fiber; 11 g sugar; 6 g protein.
SEE ANSWERS ON PAGE 9
‘Men in Black: International’ revives the franchise
M O V I E
Coming off the television sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” Will Smith quickly became a bankable film star. For a few years, Smith owned the 4th of July box office with backto-back blockbusters “Independence Day” and “Men in Black.” The actor inadvertently caused a commotion, though, when he recently appeared as the Genie from the upcoming live-action adaptation of “Aladdin” on an “Entertainment Weekly” cover. No worries, though, because he will be blue on screen. Smith leaves a rather large footprint in his films, making him very hard to replace. He was noticeably absent from “Independence Day: Resurgence,” the sequel to one of his biggest crowd pleasers. His character, Colonel Steven Hiller, was killed off prior to the beginning of the second movie. In 2016, “Business Insider” quoted director Roland Emmerich as saying Smith was “too expensive” and a “marquee name.” The sequel was, unfortunately, a box-office failure. This leads us back to “Men in Black: International,” the upcoming fourth film in the popular franchise. The original move and its sequel were, arguably, the journey of Smith’s character, Agent J. As a young police officer, he unknowingly chased down and captured a runaway alien. That action introduced him to Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) of the Men in Black (MIB). K trains J as his replacement before leaving MIB, but K is brought back into the fold in the second film.
Photo courtesy Columbia Pictures
The relationship between K and J was the heart and soul of three movies. The recently-dropped trailer for “Men in Black: International” shows no sign of Smith or Jones, but that may not be a bad thing. The incredible Tessa Thompson from “Creed” plays Agent M, a woman who has been trying to find and join the Men in Black for 20 years. Agent O (Emma Thompson), head of MIB, brings her onboard and sends her to work with the London branch. Chris Hemsworth, who worked with Thompson in “Thor: Ragnarök,” plays Agent H, who is reportedly one of the best to wear the black suit. The dynamic between Thompson and
By Steve Bryan
Hemsworth is highly visible in the extended trailer. She is an incredibly-driven agent and he has the cockiness that Agent J brought to the table decades ago. Will Smith and Linda Fiorentino displayed the same chemistry when she briefly played Agent L in the original “Men in Black.” Director F. Gary Gray (“The Fate of the Furious”) rounds out his cast with the inimitable Liam Neeson as the head of the U.K. Men in Black office. Kumail Nanjiani, who was solid in “The Big Sick,” provides the voice for Pawny, a tiny alien who also packs his own weapon. As was the case with the Noisy Cricket, size means nothing in the world of MIB. With this cast, “Men in Black: International” could be an international sensation. “Men in Black: International” is scheduled to open in the United States on June 14.
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.
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Feature
January 2, 2019 • Community News • www.mycnews.com
HELP WANTED
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www.mycnews.com • Community News • January 2, 2019
Feature
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Feature
January 2, 2019 • Community News • www.mycnews.com
Yeggs
John Hanna
Crossword: Winter Fun
‘Yeggs’ is a comic series about Robert and Bill, two rabbits who have opened their own egg franchise in the Midwest (St. Louis area). We follow their day to day lives, watching as they go about the hectic task of preparing for their one big day every year. Along the way they have adventures filled with fun, comic doings and pathos.
By Cindy Moore
Moore On Life My body has been winterized. This took place in October. It was easy to do. I know when it’s too cold to risk going into the outdoors. When I take a lungful of air and my nose holes freeze together, that’s a definite indicator that I shouldn’t venture outside again until spring. So I locked myself inside and wrapped up in electric blankets turned on high. Finally, I knew I would need to fatten up for the long dismal days ahead. But how? Easy, the holidays ahead would take care of that detail. But now the holidays are over and I’m in a panic. The non-stop buffets have come to an end. The food spigot has dried up and New Year’s with all its demands of making resolutions has come around. I’d like to pass on making a resolution this year, but FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) always sets in. I’ve just got to make a resolution like everyone else or there will be nothing for me and everyone else to break in a few weeks. What resolution should I make to break? I unwrapped from my thick layers of blankets and realized I couldn’t move. The extra poundage from holiday eating had taken its toll. I needed to exercise. That’s it – my resolution! Of course I consulted Google. I wasn’t about to jump into any old workout. It had to be custom-made for my lifestyle and incentive level. How about a sport? I discovered that something like skiing resulted in broken legs, fatalities from tree collisions and being buried alive in avalanches. Nope. Jogging sound interesting. Research into this activity alerted me to the fact that many runners
have developed injuries such as: runner’s knee, ankle sprains, shin splints and meniscus tears. I’m not sure where my meniscus is, but I’d rather keep it intact just the same. Pass. Walking posed the problem of getting bitten by dogs… possibly rabid dogs. Then there are the tree branches, which have fallen and taken out many an unsuspecting walker. Some have been squashed by rogue cars. Negative. I needed to keep my activities safely indoors. But I soon found out that some exercises when done improperly can strain the back or shoulders and tear hamstrings or blow out ACL’s – ouch! Wow, physical activity is a painful and dangerous undertaking. So I resolve to start out the New Year by making no resolutions and thus breaking no resolutions – JOMO (Joy Of Missing Out).
Painful Decisions
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.
ACROSS 1. Most populous continent 5. Mayan language 8. *Bumpy winter transport 12. Spiritual leader 13. Ledger entry 14. In a cold manner 15. Deodorant’s target 16. African chieftain 17. Asiatic wild dog 18. *Used in fun winter fights 20. Overnight lodgings 21. *Whoville’s ____ beast 22. Tropical constrictor 23. E.B. White’s Little 26. What siren does 29. Not a thing 30. Bear the expenses of 33. Between larva and adult 35. In a fitting way 37. Neighbor of Ger. 38. Up and about 39. Unadulterated 40. Excessive protection 42. Middle-earth creature 43. No balance due 45. *Winter Gathering spot 47. Resident uncle?
48. Diarist Anne 50. *Christmas pudding raisin 52. *Done with #8 Across 55. “Fahrenheit 9/11” filmmaker 56. *”The stump of a ____ he held tight in his teeth...” 57. Pout 59. Machu Picchu mountains 60. Snaky swimmers 61. Wild swine 62. Words from Wordsworth 63. Kind of humor 64. Southern stew staple DOWN 1. Gone by 2. Wash froth 3. Fe 4. Light display 5. Cass Elliot and Michelle Phillips 6. Like a crooked kilt? 7. Lime-rich soil 8. *Hot chocolate add-on 9. One with biggest share 10. Olden-day elbow-related measurement, pl. 11. Do after tie 13. Formal discussion 14. “Bite the bullet,” e.g.
19. Verbose 22. Beyoncé, a.k.a. Queen ____ 23. Finger move 24. *Angler’s accessory 25. U in UV 26. Uber alternative 27. Your own teacher 28. Sudden stream 31. Box office failure 32. *Hot Buttered ____ 34. St. Louis monument 36. Time for relaxation, pl. 38. Change, as in U.S. Constitution 40. “____’s the word” 41. Grey’s fifty 44. Female sirs 46. Hands on hips 48. Marketing give-away 49. Email option 50. *Hockey turf 51. Ore deposit 52. Expel 53. E-reader brand 54. ____ gum on a list of ingredients 55. Zedong of China 58. Major time period
SEE ANSWERS ON PAGE 9