January 5, 2022
A look back at 2021
Around Town
COMMUNITY VOICES By Dr. Rance Thomas . Pg. 2 Grant’s Farm owners to donate part of holiday lights proceeds to Missouri tornado victims. Pg. 5 Missouri American Water spreads holiday cheer with firefighter grants. Pg. 6 START VOTING NOW! for Best of North County. Let your favorite businesses know. Pg. 7
Features
Submitted photo February cover story: The Saint Louis Story Stitchers collects stories related to trauma such as gun violence, life transitions and mental health. The stories are reframed and retold through art, writing and performance. They utilize the arts of music, spoken word, photography, videography and dialogue.
The Community News reviews the year that was for St. Louis County Looking back, 2021 was an eventful year. As we flip the calendar to 2022 here in St. Louis County, 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 2021.
JANUARY Vaccine roll-out begins According to St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page, in his Jan. 11 press conference, after ten months in the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 22 million people
have been affected in the United States with 373,000 resulting in death. He further stated that St. Louis County was averaging 530 new cases each day and at that time we had lost 1,475 people to COVID-19. However,
some residents were then able to pre-register to receive the vaccine. The Department of Public Health followed the state tiers and guidelines to determine the scheduling of vaccinations. “Vaccine distribution has given us all hope but the roll-out across the country has been slow,” stated Page. “In St. Louis County we received 975 doses last week in our first batch. On Friday, (Jan. 8) we began vaccinating our Department of Health employees. On that first day we were able to vaccinate 180 of our clinical workers.” See ‘2021’ page 2
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‘2021’ from cover Get your event or good news published in Community News:
FEBRUARY Reframing the story
email your information in calendar and article formats to editor@mycnews.com The Lewis Prize for Music, an initiative which aims to unite youth with opportunities for music programs awarded $500,000 of its more than $2 million in funding to Saint Louis Story Stitchers, an artist collective. Organizations in Boston, Detroit, and Philadelphia were also among the recipients for this year’s Accelerator Award. The youth-led collective will use the funds to grow its administrative and fundraising capacity to help establish a youth music and technology center. “Saint Louis Story Stitchers is giving young people the skills and opportunities to humanize the challenges of gun violence in their city,” states Daniel Lewis, Founder and Chairman of The Lewis Prize for Music. “They bring this work to neighborhoods that have experienced shootings and neighborhoods far from these incidents to build bridges and understanding.” “The young people are living the gun violence,” stated Saint Louis Story Stitchers President and Executive Director, Susan Colangelo. “They are afraid to stand at the bus stop. Michael Brown was shot right after we (were) founded. This has not gone away. St. Louis is now worse. So, they are telling us, ‘This is our main goal – we want to solve this gun violence problem.’ We need to speak out about it.”
MARCH Jennings’ new shining ‘Knight’
The Jennings School District has announced that its new Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Paula D. Knight, will join the district July 1. Knight already calls Jennings School District her “jewel” due to its size and being able to do a lot of innovative work among a smaller number of schools. She expresses excitement about sharing her vision for the
Jennings School District. “I’m excited about July 1,” stated Knight, “I’m excited about the 2021-2022 school year because there is just so much that I can bring to this role, more importantly to the children and the Jennings community as a whole.” The Education Steering Committee member states that part of her vision for the future of Jennings School District will fall under the district’s virtual planning going into the year – capitalizing on the work that the Jennings School District is doing during the current year. She also desires to explore how to create “schools of the future” and has compared the migration from the industrial age in which there was a teacher that stood before children sitting in rows in a one-room schoolhouse to the inevitable forced migration to virtual learning last year.
APRIL Reaching out to homeless youth
The Federal Department of Health and Human Service’s Family and Youth Services Bureau’s (FYSB) Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) Program has awarded a $600,000 Basic Center Program grant to St. Vincent Home for Children. St. Vincent will use the grant over the course of three years for its Street Outreach Program which provides personal care bags filled with essentials, PPE, information about St. Vincent’s services, and snacks to at-risk youth ages 10-19 in the St. Louis region. “This program is really important,” states Latosha Fowlkes, Executive Director for the home. “Historically, over the years in the St. Louis region the Street Outreach Program has struggled with maintaining funding. When we experience budget cuts the Street Outreach Program is often one of those programs that is cut back. So, we are excited that there is some funding opportunity right now to get out and expand that reach in the community. With us getting past this pandemic, with kids not accessing school in the way they had – it is really important that we as providers are coming outside the facility and getting into the community and meeting our youth where they are. These types of programs are critical to be able to meet the mental health and housing needs of our youth in our community.” According to Fowlkes, the outreach van travels daily with a minimum of the facility’s outreach coordinator and a case
manager when there are not four people from the leadership team.
MAY Life returns to the Arch
More businesses and attractions are reopening to the public for in-person visits, and Gateway Arch National Park has added itself to that list. In addition to physical fitness, education and summertime fun for in-person visits, the park will include virtual activities. “We welcome our park neighbors and outof-town guests to the Gateway Arch for safe and fun park experiences,” stated Pam Sanfilippo, Program Manager, Museum Services & Interpretation for Gateway Arch National Park. “We have new virtual programs and other special events that celebrate history and nature and are suited for all ages.” Sanfilippo shared that the park’s closing last year before graduating to reduced capacity in June did not put their funding in jeopardy due to Gateway Arch National Park being a federal agency; however, there was some impact to the national park’s partners. “The financial impact on our partners, BiState Development, which operates the Tram Ride to the Top, our cooperating association that operates the gift shop, and the Arch Café, all suffered with direct loss of revenue,” stated Sanfilippo. “We worked together to reduce the impact and reopen as quickly as we could with enhanced safety protocols in place. Their operations support the park in many ways, so their losses affect park operations as well. We continue to operate with reduced capacity, so the financial impact continues as we work toward returning to full operations.”
JUNE North County’s got talent
One of McCluer High School’s 2021 graduates recently took home an $8,000 See ‘2021’ page 3
www.mycnews.com • Community News – St. Louis County • January 5, 2022
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‘2021’ from page 2 scholarship as an award for winning first place in this year’s St. Louis Teen Talent Competition, which was pre-recorded at the Fox Theatre. Troy Staten, soon-to-be Webster University freshman, will use his winning towards a bachelor of fine arts degree in musical theatre. “I graduated May 23 and Teen Talent was right after that,” stated Staten. “So, that was really incredible that I got to share that incredible moment with my peers and my family during graduation and Teen Talent. I am really grateful for that.” In addition to pursuing musical theatre, Staten shared he intends to pursue film, TV, and music production with creating his own music. For the competition, Staten sang ‘Not My Father’s Son’ in a mostly vacant auditorium. According to Staten, with exception of the production crew, limited family members were permitted to attend and were seated at the back of the auditorium.
JULY The gift of a bike
While many churches make an impact in the community by giving food to those in need, a church in University City decided to take community giving a step further. In collaboration with University City School District and Helmets First of Columbia, Illinois; All Nations Church hosted a University City Bike Giveaway event for pre-selected recipients at 7860 Olive Blvd. “Driving around University City, I started to notice a lot of kids walking to get to places and remembered how much of my childhood was spent on my bike,” stated Chris Paavola, Pastor of All Nations Church. “Since one of the values of All Nations Church is to be ‘a church that prospers the city,’ I started to think about how a bike giveaway could help us do just that! So, I reached out to the School District of University City and asked them if they could identify 50 students we could give ‘the bike they need for the summer they deserve.’ In a matter of moments, the wheels were quite literally ‘in motion’ to make a Bike Giveaway!
One week after we put a call out for donations, donors from All Nations and Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Brentwood raised the $10,000 we needed.” Paavola added that donations from the metropolitan St. Louis community are included in the funds raised which put them over the $10,000 needed.
AUGUST Moving through the pandemic
The pandemic has transformed the experience for both consumers and providers of public transportation. COVID-19 has caused public transit to adapt and respond to the need for safe and reliable service for riders. But despite this crisis, Kimberly Cella believes public transit has met the challenges. Cella, the executive director of Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT), a nonprofit that advocates for the improvement and accessibility of St. Louis public transportation says, “While the last 20 months have been unprecedented, public transit never lost its momentum. It continued delivering essential workers during the height of the pandemic, expanded access as people returned to work, and helped to promote social equality, stimulate development, provide economic returns and position the St. Louis region for recovery and growth.” Though Metro Transit has maintained service during the pandemic that effort has not been without difficulty. “Like many transit agencies across the country, we had an operator shortage and a shortage of mechanics and electricians prior to the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has not helped our recruitment efforts,” Taulby Roach, Bi-State Development President & CEO, explains. “We are all competing against the trucking industry, school bus industry and delivery and distribution companies for the same pool of candidates.”
SEPTEMBER Feeding Ferguson This year marks the 20th anniver-
sary of the Ferguson Farmers’ Market serving the community. Beginning in 2002 in what was then called Victorian Plaza with only about eight tents and two volunteers, the market has grown to include over 50 vendors. In addition to fresh produce, meats and cheeses from local farmers, one can also find creative homemade and handmade wares like small batch soaps, candles, and leather jewelry. It has become not only a place to indulge in local delights, but also a community staple that brings people together and offers family-friendly fun. “It’s the place to be on Saturday morning where people can meet up and also support local businesses,” says Gita Suchland, who owns Alpacas of Troy and Brats of the World with her husband, Jeff. Suchland has seen the market and her business grow in the five years she’s been a vendor. “Each year we get to know more people and they come to see us because their friends told them about us. The market also holds special events that bring new people to the market who usually don’t go,” she explains.
OCTOBER Keys to success
Pianos For People is reducing the obstacles to receiving music education by providing low-income families with free piano lessons and pianos. The organization, founded in 2012 by Tom and Jeanne Townsend, was created to make learning piano, a longstanding symbol of privilege, accessible to socioeconomically disadvantaged communities. “We want to break down barriers, so that students who have been historically excluded from these activities are able to receive
quality music education as well,” says Sherry Nelson, the organization’s newly appointed advancement director. The organization originally started with giving away pianos to those who couldn’t afford to purchase one. So far, the nonprofit has distributed over 300 donated pianos to students. And in 2014, it expanded its mission and began offering lessons, imparting a deeper experience of engagement with music. According to research, the advantages of music study include stress relief, enhanced cognitive ability and increased memory. The nonprofit believes in equal access to the rewards of developing musicianship.
NOVEMBER A healthy food oasis
There are over 500 food deserts in Missouri. Food deserts, as defined by the Department of Agriculture are “areas where people have limited access to a variety of healthy and affordable food.” These areas also feature low-income households and inadequate transportation that limits the ability to shop at grocery stores that provide healthy options. One such area exists around Highland Elementary School in the neighborhood of Glasgow Village. The school, along with several local companies, have addressed this circumstance with a brand new in-school market, the first in the Riverview Gardens school district. “The Highland Family Food Market is a great opportunity to support our families by providing access, within walking distance, to fresh produce, meats and healthy foods,” says Travis Ford Sr., the principal of Highland Elementary. Bayer and Fresh Thyme Market serve as sponsors, while The Little Bit Foundation and the St. Louis Area Food Bank will manage the market which was created to help students and families get quality foods at cheaper prices. The Glasgow Village area has a reported poverty rate of about 42%, and all 309 Highland Elementary students participate in the free or reduced lunch program, which is a typical marker for See ‘2021’ page 4
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January 5, 2022 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com
‘2021’ from page 3 poverty. The hope is that the market will help ameliorate food insecurity and boost healthy living.
DECEMBER Backpacks of love
According to The International Institute of St. Louis, roughly 1,400 Afghan refugees will be resettled in Missouri. Escaping a country that devolved into chaos after the U.S. ended the war and evacuated in August, evacuees are in need of support to begin a new life in the states. The Ladue School District has stepped in to contribute to ongoing efforts that aid in the refugees’ transition by donating nearly 500 backpacks full of school supplies. Students and staff volunteered to participate in the Backpacks of Love initiative donating 272 backpacks of elementary school supplies and 210 of supplies for middle school. The idea was conceived by a Ladue School District teacher. Jenn Hadfield, who teaches fourth grade at Reed Elementary School initiated the idea. She remembered when Bosnian, Serbian and Albanian refugees were moved to St. Louis and the urgent need of assistance to build a life in the region.
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Westminster football coach answers to call of the Wildcats By Lonnel Cole The trial-and-error process was put to the test for Westminster Christian Academy High football coach Butler B’ynote’ this past fall, as the Wildcats finished with a 3-7 record, including a 21-14 playoff exit to Sullivan. But the losing mark can’t diminish the joy he derives from coaching at the West St. Louis County faith-based institution. “Coaching at Westminster is a colossal opportunity,” notes B’ynote’, both a coach and an ordained minister in the African Methodist Episcopa (AME) Zion Church denomination. “I have repeatedly said it’s a great opportunity and a blessing as well as a responsibility.” B’ynote’ just completed his first full season as head coach for the Wildcats, after an abbreviated fourgame season the fall of 2020 due to pandemic restrictions imposed by the St. Louis County Health Department. It is, however, his first coaching stint at a religious-based school, after several previous coaching positions at secular, public schools, running the gamut from Vashon in the inner-city as a head coach for a couple of seasons, to Kirkwood as an assistant in South St. Louis County. He believes this may be his best fit, given that he doesn’t have to leave some of his religious views away from his student-athletes. (He also serves as assistant dean of students. “I am living the dream,” he raves. “I get to teach, preach and coach. For me it doesn’t get any better than that. Every day is an opportunity for me to pour into a young man spiritually through the platform of football.” His coaching staff includes Bennie Anderson, a former starting offensive lineman in the NFL, whose son Joshua Anderson, was a starting tight end-linebacker on the team, who has signed with Eastern Michigan University. To say that B’ynote’s football resume was diverse would be an understatement. After starring as a running back at Vashon High in North St. Louis, he matriculated to Ohio State University in 1990, where he clearly had moments of stardom, including a breakout 189 rushing effort against the University of Arizona, which earned him votes for national college player of the week. But in his latter seasons there, he was relegated to splitting time with future National Football League star Robert Smith. Another future NFL star running back Eddie George also had a couple of overlapping years with B’ynote’. For good measure, he was also a track and field star on Ohio State’s record-setting 4x400-meter relay team at the time. After college, he played professionally in the National Football League, as a defensive back-kick returner with the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos, as well as stints in NFL Europe and the XFL. He landed his first coaching job at a public high school in the state of Ohio and has been doing it ever since. Westminster athletic director Cory Snyder said B’ynote’ fit the profile for what the school was looking for in a coach. “We were looking for a couple of things,” Snyder says. “First of course we were looking for a good coach of high moral character and a man of God. We’re excited to have him lead our program.”
Photo courtesy Leon Algee (Left) Butler B’ynote’ makes a point during a mid-season rout of Lutheran North (42-0) at Westminster.
Although Westminster’s best two players overall, two-way back L. J. Minner, who rushed for 1,512 yards and scored 19 touchdowns and two-way lineman Sterling Webb, who garnered 55 tackles and seven quarterback sacks, most of the remaining core group were underclassmen, and still growing-skillfully as well as physically. For example, the leading receiver Caden Collision, who caught 45 passes for 451 yards, is a sophomore who is only 5-feet,10 inches tall and weighs only 150 pounds. Freshman Matthew Moore, who was second on the team in catches with 26, is an 6-0 but only 145 pounds. Starting quarterback Shep Nye (6-0,180) also returns. “We want to get bigger, stronger and faster in the offseason, “ B’ynote says. “We’ll definitely be hitting the weights more. We’ll get more serious about it this offseason.” Steve Webb, father of the aforementioned Sterling Webb believes that B’ynote’ practices what he preaches, so to speak. “I like the fact that he’s serious about football and serious about these kids as people,” Sterling Webb says “A lot of coaches aren’t really serious about these kids and helping make them better men as well as football players.” Convincingly beating rival John Burroughs was one of many encouraging signs B’ynote’ saw the past season to be optimistic, along with the youth of his squad. The Wildcats also trounced Clayton 42-0 early in the season, after a 52-7 defeat to Ladue. Befitting a young team, the Wildcats were wildly inconsistent, losing big or winning big. “I looked at several plays during a difficult game (a lopsided defeat) to Mary Institute- Country Day and realized we had three freshmen and a sophomore starting (in the secondary at one point),” he recalls. “The commitment to developing players is a vital part of building a sustainable program. I have made that a point of emphasis with our coaches here at Westminster. Because of that we have the words: ‘motivate, equip and inspire in our coaches’ office.”
www.mycnews.com • Community News – St. Louis County • January 5, 2022
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Grant’s Farm owners to donate part of holiday lights proceeds to Missouri tornado victims St. Louis area families can help bring relief to victims of the recent tornadoes in Missouri while celebrating the holiday season. The Busch Family Ownership Group has announced they will donate proceeds from the final two nights of the Grant’s Farm holiday lights drive-through experience to the St. Louis chapter of the American Red Cross, earmarked for tornado relief. “We’re encouraging the community to get involved in supporting the families who lost their homes and personal belongings in the devastating tornadoes,” said Trudy Busch Valentine, who grew up on Grant’s Farm and is one of five Busch family members who are now operating the park. “We thought
that donating revenue from ticket sales would be a good way we can all come together to make a difference.” Located in St. Louis County, 281acre Grant’s Farm is an engaging leisure-and-learning destination for guests of all ages. The site includes the Busch family’s ancestral estate and the preserved Hardscrabble cabin built by former U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant. It is also home to more than 100 species of animals, including some of the world-famous Clydesdales. For more information about this special place where everyone is encouraged to immerse themselves with nature, animals and history, visit GrantsFarm.com.
Submitted photo
Still In This Together:
By Vicki Bahr
FACEBOOK.COM/MYCNEWS
Thank you for letting me share in the magic I know your life is incredibly busy. You can’t close the bathroom door without chaos erupting, you’re so beyond tired at the end of the day that the word is irrelevant, and the holidays still need to be given your attention. When we ask you how we can help, you don’t even know how to respond…mostly because you kind of have this whole twin-boys-aged-two and big-brother-aged-six thing down to a science, and it’s really easier to just do it yourself. But to be able to share in the magic. You have no idea how wonderful it truly is. When you texted that there was going to be a drop of a new line of everything Lego at Target at 2 a.m. and you knew that I was often awake at ridiculous times of the night because of Dad’s knee surgery recuperation throwing his sleep patterns off, I felt the same rush I get when I accidentally come across a showing of “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer.” You kids are little again, I’m making hot chocolate after playing in the snow, and we’re talking about how many days it will be until Santa comes. Nothing else matters. The magic can’t be explained. And sometimes it feels so very far away. “Don’t wake up on purpose,” you said. “But if you’re awake, will you go to the website and see if you can actually get any of this stuff? I’ve marked all my favorites. It’s supposed to all sell out immediately, and there isn’t much chance even double-teaming will work. But how cool it would be to have some of this for the boys.” You said you were going to set your alarm and make sure you were awake. I could almost see Rudolph’s red nose blinking outside your bedroom window again, when you were four and insisted you had seen it. I was part of the magic once again. I was up late that night, putting the finishing touches on the new Christmas tree I ordered because we wouldn’t be able to drag the old, heavy one upstairs this year, and it had been delivered to our doorstep the day before. It’s prelit, changes colors, and at the end of the season, folds into a lovely little storage bag. It’s beautiful. I crept back out into the now darkened living room at 1:45 a.m., dragging a blanket along with me, and sat
across from the silhouetted tree with my phone in my hand, punching in the info and triple-checking the list of Santa’s favorites. And I smiled. You have no idea how long it seems I’ve been standing just outside the snow-crusted windows, listening to the laughter and watching children’s eyes lighting up with anticipation, but feeling just a bit removed from the center of it all. It was recaptured at 2 a.m. that morning, when I was part of the fun again, filling my heart with holiday miracles and smiling at the sheer inclusion I felt. I didn’t know you had set your alarm and unknowingly turned it off because you were just too tired to stay awake. When I texted you what I had been able to put into a cart, there was no response, and I questioned just for a moment whether you had probably been able to purchase these things, too, and hadn’t needed me after all. But I pressed the purchase button, figuring any duplicates could be returned, and I swear my face lit up as I was transported thirty-plus years back in time and I was part of the magic once again. It’s such a wonderful feeling, and I thank you for giving me the opportunity to share in the miracle of the holiday once again. When I found out the next morning that you figured there just wasn’t anything still available and you were disappointed at not being able to stay awake, when I was able to tell you that I had been sitting in the dark living room watching a bright star in the sky and smiling as I cherished my part in bringing Christmas to life this year, when I heard you simply say, “Thank you. You saved me, Mom,” I knew this Christmas was going to be one to cherish. And I was right. Vicki Bahr is an inveterate word lover and story sharer, a published author in magazine, newspaper and blog forms. As a mom of four, grandma of nine, and wife of one for nearly fifty years, she finds that inspiration and wonder are everywhere. The opinions expressed in this column are the columnist’s alone and do not reflect the opinion of the owners or staff of Community News.
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January 5, 2022 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com
Infrastructure bill will enhance St. Louis region’s freight network
The new federal infrastructure bill recently signed into law paves the way for historic investment in our nation’s core infrastructure priorities – including roads and bridges, rail, transit, ports, airports, as well as the electric grid, water systems and broadband. The St. Louis Regional Freightway is especially encouraged to see the bill includes more than $110 billion dedicated for roads, bridges and other major projects. The funding allocated for bridges alone represents the largest investment in bridges since the beginning of the interstate highway system. An additional $16.6 billion will support improvements in our nation’s ports and waterways, while $25 billion will be directed toward airports. The funds being committed to these critical components of our nation’s freight network are impressive, but we’re also excited to see the process through which some of these monies will be allocated. That process includes dozens of competitive grant programs, many of them new, which is good for the St. Louis region given our proven success competing for such grants in the past. Our approach to developing and advocating for funding for our Priority Projects is a nationally recognized model being used by the U.S. Department of Transportation. It played a role in helping to secure a $21.5 million federal grant for the rehabilitation and
reconstruction of the Merchants Bridge, the region’s highest priority infrastructure project, which is on target to be completed by early 2023. We also are pleased to see that funds are being dedicated to support surface transportation projects and multi-modal, multi-jurisdictional projects of national or regional significance. While the Merchants Bridge fits the bill on both fronts, we are hopeful that the funds being made available through this infrastructure bill could be leveraged to build on other projects underway in our region. Among those projects are the work to enhance key stretches of I-70, one of 17 corridors already identified by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a High-Volume Domestic Agriculture Highway corridor. Funding has already been secured for a portion of this project referred to as the Wentzville curve, and there is great potential to secure funding for additional improvements needed as a result of the new bill. The Missouri and Illinois Departments of Transportation are already collaborating on $600M in improvements to the I-270 corridor in the St. Louis region – one of the nation’s primary east-west manufacturing and logistics corridors -- and additional work needed could also benefit from funding included in this new infrastructure bill. Another partially funded project that
By Mary Lamie
could benefit is IDOT’s relocated IL Route 3 project in East St. Louis and Sauget, Illinois, which will decrease congestion, improve safety, address clearance issues, and better accommodate truck and freight movements. With our existing multimodal infrastructure, capacity and relative lack of congestion, the St. Louis region continues to help support the national and global supply chain, performing well during normal and extreme situations, whether caused by a pandemic, severe weather, global fluctuations, or other factors. This new source of dedicated funding will only strengthen our freight network and position us to play an even more pivotal role in the global supply chain. The St. Louis Regional Freightway looks forward to working with our various partners and stakeholders in the bi-state region to secure funding through the new bill to reinforce our world-class freight network and further solidify our region as a global freight hub. Mary Lamie is the Executive Vice President of Multi Modal Enterprises for Bi-State Development and head of the St. Louis Regional Freightway. 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.
Missouri American Water spreads holiday cheer with firefighter grants In time for the holiday season, local emergency responders and fire departments throughout the state received more than $43,000 through Missouri American Water’s 2021 Firefighter Grant Program. The annual program provides supplemental funding for critical equipment, training and community education in communities served by Missouri American Water. More than 150 grants have been awarded in communities served by Missouri American Water since the program began in 2016. “As a water provider, we are proud to support our local heroes with additional gear and resources to save lives and protect our community,” said Rich Svindland, president of Missouri American Water. In St. Louis and St. Charles Counties, 25 fire protection districts received grant funding this year: • Affton Fire Protection District - $1,200 for hydrant flow testing equipment • Berkeley Fire Department - $1,200 for personal protective equipment (PPE) • Black Jack Fire Protection District - $1,200 for a “back to school fair” smoke detector battery blitz • Cottleville Community Fire Protection District $1,073 for fire rescue duty training mannequins • Crestwood Fire Department - $950 for highway safety vests • Eureka Fire Protection District - $1,200 for equipment for fire flow testing of hydrants • Ferguson Fire Department - $1,200 for PPE • Florissant Valley Fire Protection District - $1,200 for a water tank to fight brush fires • Frontenac Fire Department - $1,200 for video moni-
tors to deliver up-to-date information to department members • Glendale Fire Department - $1,200 for iPad pro and Apple TV for training purposes • Hazelwood Fire Department - $1,200 for updated PPE • Kirkwood Fire Department - $1,039 for five Pig forcible entry tools • Ladue Fire Protection District $1,200 for a dry suit for water rescues • Lincoln County Fire Protection District - $1,200 for PPE, a bariatric Submitted photo binder lift and two Thomas bariatric Florissant Valley Fire Protection District received $1,200 for a water tank to fight brush fires. patient transfer flats • Maplewood Fire Department - $1,170 for six type V personal flotation devices • Maryland Heights Fire Protection District - $1,200 for three zip line rescue kits • Monarch Fire Protection District - $1,200 for a patient extrication device to be used in confined spaces and technical rescue applications • North County Fire & Rescue Fire Protection District - $1,200 for continuation and future development of their public safety awareness program and Vial of Life equipment • Rock Hill Fire Department - $1,200 for personal flotation devices • Shrewsbury Fire Department - $1,200 for portable flowmeter to enhance apparatus engineering training
• University City Fire Department - $1,200 for two personal thermal imaging cameras • Valley Park Fire Protection District - $1,200 for a sonar device for water rescue operations • Webster Groves Fire Department - $1,200 for step chocks for vehicle stabilization during auto rescues • West Overland EMS & Fire Protection District $1,200 for 100 carbon monoxide alarms with digital display feature “We are very grateful for Missouri American Water’s support,” said Brian McHugh, Fire Captain from Florissant Valley Protection District. “This grant will allow us to purchase a water tank and small pump to put on the back of our UTV for off-road fire emergencies. Firetrucks cannot easily go off-road when we are fighting trash can and brush fires.”
www.mycnews.com • Community News – St. Louis County • January 5, 2022
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Home Builders Association donates $15,000 to Youth In Need On behalf of the Home Builders Charitable Foundation (HBCF), 2021 HBA President Bill Wannstedt (Consort Homes) (left) presented a $15,000 donation to Youth In Need grants manager John Mertens. The donation will be used to remodel a bathroom and replace the access ramp in the organization’s emergency shelter. The updates will make the emergency shelter safer and provide a more welcoming environment for youth who have experienced crises and trauma, important aspects to help them heal. Youth
In Need provides comprehensive shelter and housing services in the aim of bettering the community and providing support to youth who need it most. The HBA is a local trade association of more than 600 member firms representing the residential construction industry. The Home Builders Charitable Foundation, the HBA’s charitable arm, is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing housing assistance to people or organizations with special shelter needs.
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Funeral Director
Gift Baskets
Golf Course
Healthcare
Home Health Care
Home Improvement
Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts
Insurance Agent
Jeweler
Landscape Contractor
Manufacturing
Non-Profit
Nursing Home & Rehab Facility
Nursing Home
Optometrist/Optical
Pediatrician
Photographer
Physician/Surgeon
Printing
Real Estate
Restaurant (Dine In)
Retirement Community
Roofing Contractor
Sports Bar & Grill
Tax Preparation
Towing & Roadside Assistance
Travel Agency
Urgent Care
Vapor/E-Cigarettes
Veterinarian
Write-In
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What’s Happening
8
January 5, 2022 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com
Send your event to editor@mycnews.com and we'll print it! p.m. The meetings are open to the public.
Take notice . . .
The events listed in this section are the latest updates as of press time, please check with individual sites for the most up to date cancellations and reschedule info. RECURRING EVENTS
please call Dan Agee at 314540-5223.
Mondays: Choral Arts Singers practice
Weekdays: Food pantry volunteers needed
Choral Arts Singers resume practice on Mondays, at 7 p.m. at Transfiguration Episcopal Church, 1860 Lake St. Louis Blvd. in Lake St. Louis. New singers are welcome. Auditions are not required. See www.concertarts.org.
The Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry is in need of ongoing adult volunteers to sort food, stock shelves and shop with clients. Two-tofour 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 314513-1674 or cbanaskavich@ jfcs-stl.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: TOPS meeting
Come, join and take off those extra pounds. T.O.P.S.=Take Off Pounds Sensibly has meetings on Monday nights at 7 p.m. (weigh in begins at 6:35 p.m.) 9135 Shelley Avenue, Overland, MO 63114. (Entrance is in the back on East Milton). TOPS is a very inexpensive way to lose weight. You may visit a meeting for free. Any questions
Mondays: meetings
Workshop
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
Mondays: singers
A
cappella
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: 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 second Monday of the month, starting at 7 p.m. For more information contact Walter Kaiser at 314-9212132. For a limited period the Chapter will pay for one (1) year membership for new members.
Mondays-Thursdays: Volunteers needed
Securing the IT health of your business by minimizing your risk and oppmizing produccvity.
Remote and On-Site Support Cybersecurity Network Mngmt
Hardware Repair and Replacement HIPAA Compliance Vendor Liaison
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: Bingo
Florissant Elks Bingo takes place at 16400 New Halls Ferry every Tuesday. Doors open at 4 p.m., bingo starts at 6 p.m. No outside food or drinks allowed per St. Louis County. Food and drinks available for purchase. Maximum 150 players. Must wear mask to enter. Social distancing followed.
Tuesdays: singers
A
cappella
The Gentlemen of Sound are looking for men who like to sing or want to learn. They practice Tuesdays at Lady of the Pillar school at 401 S. Lindbergh from 7 – 9 p.m. They try to do public events monthly. Always looking for new members. Come by or call Charlie at 314-954-1121.
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: Celebrate Recovery
Celebrate Recovery Tuesday meetings take place at 6 p.m. with a Saturday Bible Study at 9 a.m. at LifePoint Church at 424 Graham Rd. in Florissant. For more information visit www.lifepointministries.church/celebrate-recovery or call (men) Steve D. at 636-634-6582 or (women) Denise W. at 530-417-6151.
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: TOPS (Take off pounds sensibly)
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 McConnell, 314-831-5476.
2nd Tuesday Sept.-June: Show-me Stitchers:
Show-me Stitchers is the local chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America. We meet on the second Tuesday, Sept.-June at 6:30 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 14088 Clayton Road, Chesterfield, MO. Learn needlepoint, embroidery, cross stitch, and more.
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.
Wednesdays: Bingo
Bingo takes place every Wednesday at American Legion Post 338 at 9655 Midland Blvd. in Overland. Doors
open at 5 p.m. For more information contact Chairman Ed Hilleman at 314-660-1813.
Wednesdays: Bingo
Life Care Center of Bridgeton, at 12145 Bridgeton Square in Bridgeton, welcome all to Community Bingo every last Wednesday of the month at 2:30 p.m. Light refreshment will be served. Please RVSP at 314298-7444 with the month you will attend and number of people attending.
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.
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
Managed IT services for small and medium sized businesses.
Contact us for a FREE Disaster Recovery Assessment!
636-332-1335 bill.dickherber@computerparamedic.net computerparamediconline.com Problems with your personal PC? Visit us at our Repair Shop 115 W. Pearce Blvd Wentzville, MO 63385
Community Bingo at the Bridge At Florissant, at 1101 Garden Plaza Drive (intersection of Parker and Arlington) takes place on the third Thursday of each month starts at 2 p.m. There will be snacks and prizes. For more information call 314-831-0988.
Thursdays: guild
Quilting
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.
www.mycnews.com • Community News – St. Louis County • January 5, 2022 Thursdays: Blood pressure checks
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: Women’s chorus meeting
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 bistate region. Call Marcia at 636-274-0723 for more information or visit www.cityvoiceschorus.org.
Fridays: Fish fry
A fish fry takes place every Friday at American Legion Post 338 at 9655 Midland Blvd. in Overland from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information contact Chairman Ed Hilleman at 314-660-1813.
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.
Saturdays: Yoga
Yoga returns to Calvary UCC at 2501 Hartland Avenue, on Saturdays from 10:30-11:30. Masks and social distancing are required in the building and participants should bring hand sanitizer with them. For further information call Angela at 314-801-8594.
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.
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
Come and enjoy the meat shoots at American Legion Post 4445 located on 17090 Old Jamestown Rd. between Sinks Rd. and Lindbergh starting noon Sept. 15 thru Nov. 17; and in the spring, Feb. 2 thru March 8 rain or shine. Great meat prizes awarded.
Sundays: AMVETS meat shoot
Everyone is welcome to attend Toastmasters Saturdays 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Normandy United Methodist Church at 8001 Natural Bridge Road (across from UMSL). For more info call 314-402-7025.
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.
Saturdays: Free walk-in clinic
Sundays: Jennings DoDads meeting
Saturdays: Toastmasters meeting
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
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.
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, Emotional Support and Education. You are not alone. For information, contact Deborah Mabrie at 314291-5210 or Ferd Fetsch at 314-291-3021 Email: dbland@ sarahcare.com ferdfetsch@ sbcglobal.net.
Every third Tuesday of every month: Grief Support Group sponsored by DePaul Hospital
11:30am-1pm, Maryland Hgts. Comm. Ctr., 2300 McKelvey Rd. For more information, call 314-344-6873.
Wednesdays: Schizophrenia Group
ACES Support
6:30 - 7:30pm, 314-839-3171.
Sundays: Alcoholics Anonymous Group 109
11th floor conference room at Christian Hospital, 10am, 11133 Dunn Road.
Diabetes Basics:
314-344-7024 for info or 314344-7220 to enroll.
Crisis Nursery:
Committed to preventing child abuse and neglect, the Crisis Nursery provides shortterm, 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: 314-7683201. 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, 314653-5123.
Nutrition Education:
SSM DePaul registered dieticians can help you make sure your diet is right for you, 314344-6157.
What’s Happening 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 con-
SUDOKU answers from page F-1
9
tributions 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. CROSSWORD answers from page F-4
10
Sports
January 5, 2022 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com
Sports you see with Gary B... Ambush have added a goal keeper after injury The St. Louis Ambush play professional indoor soccer in the MASL with their home games at the Family Arena in St. Charles. The team has won only two of their six games this year and that is one of the reasons they feel they need
to get some help so they have added goalkeeper Jose Resendiz to their roster. Resendiz is a native of Streamwood, Illinois and comes to the Ambush with four seasons of indoor soccer experience, all spent with the Chicago Mustangs. After playing high school soccer at Streamwood High School, was a collegiate soccer player at the University of Dubuque in Dubuque, Iowa. Ambush co-owner and General Manager Jeff Locker said, “With Paulo out for the season, we felt we needed to fortify the goalkeeping position and we expect Resendiz to fit in well with our team.” Resendiz comes to the Ambush on the recommendation of former Ambush assistant coach/goalkeeper coach Mark Litton, who worked with Resendiz in his role as assistant coach for the Brew City Legends team. Litton said, “Jose came to us last year looking for an opportunity to have the level of competition needed to get back to the MASL. When he told me he wanted to train with the Ambush, I reached out to coach Muhr and assistant coach Swanner to get Jose into a few training sessions. It came as no surprise when Locker reached out to me with the news that he wanted to sign Jose. He’s more than ready and I’m very happy that he’s able to join a quality Ambush team back in the MASL.” The Ambush next home game is Jan. 14 against the Kansas City Comets at 7:30 p.m. For more details visit www.STLAmbush.com * New member could help Think baseball with the Hoots in O’Fallon The O’Fallon Hoots, members of the Prospect League, announced that former MLB players Rafael Furcal and Brian Jordan will take part in the Second Annual MLB Alumni Home Run Derby at CarShield Field on June 4. “We are excited to be able to bring back the Home
Run Derby to O’Fallon in 2022,” General Manager David Schmoll said. “It’s an event unique to our ballpark. We’ve worked hard to improve off of a great 2021 Derby and look forward to bringing the alumni back to the St. Louis area.” Rafael Furcal enjoyed a 14-year MLB career with stops in Atlanta, Los Angeles (NL), St. Louis and Miami. The three-time All-Star began his major league career in 2000 with the Atlanta Braves, earning NL Rookie of the Year honors that year. The Cardinals acquired Furcal on July 30, 2011 in a trade with the Dodgers, a key piece to the team’s 2011 World Series championship run. The native of Loma de Cabrera, Dominican Republic played his final MLB game in 2014, finishing with a .281 average and 587 RBI. Brain Jordan began his 14-year MLB career in 1992 with a six-year stint with the Cardinals. The Baltimore, Maryland-native later spent time with Atlanta, Los Angeles (NL) and Texas before retiring in 2006 as a member of the Braves. Jordan finished his MLB career with 184 Home Runs and 821 RBI with a .282 batting average. Two additional MLB Alumni participants will be announced throughout the winter. For more details go to www.OFallonHoots.com * I will be nice and warm then
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. I am currently hosting a Health show on 97.1 FM, ‘Prime Time Health’ www.PrimeTimeSTL.com. It broadcasts Saturday nights at 8 and Sunday mornings at 9.
www.mycnews.com • Community News • January 5, 2022
Recipe: Say yes to yogurt with a better-for-you snack
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– SUDOKU –
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.
Chocolate and Strawberry Greek Yogurt Bark
C
Feature
Recipe courtesy of Jenn Fillenworth, MS, RDN, of “Jenny With the Good Eats” on behalf of Milk Means More Prep time: 5 minutes | Servings: 12
hanging daily habits, like what you eat, can enhance your overall wellness. However, it doesn’t have to mean forgoing favorite flavors or skipping out on delicious snacks. Dairy foods provide nutrients that people need to grow and maintain stronger bodies and minds. While Americans consume about two dairy servings per day on average, adding just one more serving can help fill dairy and nutrient gaps.
Ingredients:
Directions:
yogurt. Freeze at least 3 hours.
1/3 cup honey, plus additional for drizzling, divided (optional)
In medium bowl, combine Greek yogurt, honey and vanilla.
Remove from freezer and break into pieces.
1 teaspoon vanilla
On parchment-lined baking sheet, spread Greek yogurt mixture to 1/4-inch thickness. Drop spoonfuls of melted chocolate onto yogurt and use toothpick to drag in circles. Press strawberries and chocolate chips into
3 cups plain non-fat Greek yogurt
1/4 cup melted dark chocolate 1/2 cup strawberries 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
Nutritional information per serving: 140 calories; 18 g carbohydrates; 6 g protein; 6 g total fat; 3 g saturated fat; 0 g trans fat; 20 mg sodium; 8% calcium.
Add more dairy to your diet with this easy-to-make snack and find more better-for-you recipes at MilkMeansMore.org.
SEE ANSWERS ON PAGE 9
Zachary Levi, Anna Paquin Shine in ‘American Underdog’
W
Movie: By Steve Bryan
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.
ith the right casting, sports biopics can become memorable. Sean Astin, for instance, was the perfect fit to play Rudy Ruettiger, an undersized Notre Dame student who dreamed of playing football for the Irish. During his “Rosanne” heyday, the talented John Goodman played George Herman “Babe” Ruth on the big screen. In 1975’s “Babe,” a wonderful Made-for-TV film, Susan Clark portrayed Babe Didrikson Zaharias, one of the greatest all-around athletes ever. In “American Underdog,” the affable Zachary Levi was the right choice to play Kurt Warner, the legendary quarterback who always wanted to play football. As the film showed, some things, including his own ego, got in the way of his success. Warner graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1993. He was invited to try out for the Green Bay Packers’ training camp, but, according to the film, he made one fatal misstep that got him cut from the team. Directors Jon and Andrew Er-
“American Underdog” photo courtesy Lionsgate
win offered a balanced look at Kurt Warner, his amazing backstory and football legacy. As played by Levy, Warner, while stocking grocery shelves, was insulted when Jim Foster (Bruce McGill), founder of the Arena Football League, asked him to join the Iowa Barnstormers. Despite his initial objections, Warner excelled in that environment and was later named one of the Best Arena Football players of all time. Anyone who lived in St. Louis during the 1999 season will never forget “The Greatest Show on Turf.” Rams starting quarterback Trent Green had been injured in
a pre-season and Warner became the team’s starter. During a press conference, the inimitable Dick Vermeil, played by Dennis Quaid in the film, said, “We will rally around Kurt Warner and we will play good football.” That remark became the understatement of the century. San Diego Comic-Con fans always loved Zachary Levi for his portrayal of nerd-turned-spy on the NBC series “Chuck.” Adam Baldwin, Levi’s co-star on the series, even played UNI Coach Terry Allen in several football “American Underdog” sequences. As Kurt Warner, however,
Levi left Chuck far behind to hit the ground running. There was still some nerd left in Levi’s performance, though, when Warner initially turned down a beer call to watch game footage. The heart and soul of “American Underdog” was, of course, the relationship between Warner and his future wife, Brenda Meoni. Anna Paquin was solid as Brenda, a working single mom raising two children. On screen, their relationship almost never took off, but Kurt walked more than three miles just to get her phone number. During his grocery store days, Brenda kept him going even when he balked at playing arena football. While not the greatest biopic, the love and faith that permeates “American Underdog” made this a truly enjoyable film. Zachary Levi and Anna Paquin shine together on screen and, because of them, this was something special. “American Underdog,” rated PG, currently is playing in theaters.
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ACTIVE BUYER
January 5, 2022 • Community News • www.mycnews.com
OBITUARY
HELP WANTED
OBITUARY: PAUL HAWKINS
www.dawcstl.com
COLLECTIBLES
Paul Hawkins, 46, passed away at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis on December 20, 2021. He was born in St. Louis, MO, on September 11, 1975, to John and Milena Hawkins. Paul is preceded in death by his father, John. He is survived by his mother, Milena Hawkins, sister, Sarah Mar�n, brother-in-law, Jason Mar�n, and niece and nephew, Ava and Will. Paul grew up in the St. Louis area and later the St. Charles area. He a�ended Grace Church in St Louis. He graduated in 1993 from Francis Howell High School and then from Maryville University. Visita�on will be held January 4, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at Chapel Hill Mortuary, 10301 Big Bend Rd, Kirkwood MO, 63122 with service at 11:00a.m and Burial immediately following. www.stlfuneral.com/obituaries/ Paul-Hawkins-11/#!/Obituary
SINGERS WANTED
NOVENA PRAYER TO ST. JUDE May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world, now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. St. Jude, Worker of Miracles, Pray for us. St. Jude, Helper of the Hopeless, Pray for us. Say this prayer 9 times a day for 9 days, then publish. Your prayers will be answered. It has never been known to fail. Thank you, St. Jude. B.H.
45
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www.mycnews.com • Community News • January 5, 2022
Feature
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Feature
January 5, 2022 • Community News • www.mycnews.com
Yeggs
John Hanna
CROSSWORD: Food & Drink
‘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 The New Year is here and that means a new you. But sadly, there are at least two new me’s I’ve added to myself. Let’s face it the holidays wreak havoc on a person’s body. And to top it off, we’ve got all these new COVID variants swirling around ready to whoosh up into our nostrils. The Omicron is the latest to crop up. That’s a weird one. It sounds like an alien resident from the planet Omi. My husband and I have had to stay home and forgo any travel plans. We’ve been laying low with nothing more than a fridge full of holiday survival snacks. Yes, the struggle has been real for us. I’ve kept track of our eating habits with a popular little Christmas ditty I like to refer to as, “The Twelve Days of Excess.” It goes something like this; On the twelfth day of Excess we wolfed down all of these: Twelve drumsticks and stuffing; eleven gingerbread piped with frosting; ten eggnogs ala whipped cream; nine pumpkin pies a cooling; eight boxes of milk chocolates; seven potatoes swimming in gravy; six cheesecakes a baking; five dozen golden rolls; four turkey birds; three pans of French toast; two packs of pecan turtles… But Aunt Marge’s fruitcake went in the garbage can! After ingesting all of that we needed an exercise game plan. It was time to make a change. It will follow another little Christmas ditty I’ll
The Twelve Days Of Stress
refer to as, “The Twelve Days of Distress.” I calculated the requirements it would take to get down to our pre-binge eating weight and made a list. It would take a daily dose of something like this; On the twelfth day of Distress our
bodies demanded these: Twelve miles of jogging; eleven jumping jacks; ten pounds for lifting; nine deep knee benders; eight minutes of sit ups; seven laps of swimming; six yoga stretches; five blocks of walking; four flights of stairs, three hours of cycling, two dozen toe touches… This was overwhelming…tortuous…unattainable! I threw the list in the can with Aunt Marge’s fruitcake. Meanwhile we’ll be working on, “The Twelve Days of Regrets.” 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. *Lettuce variety 5. Drivel 8. *Café alternative 11. *Cantina cooker 12. *Waldorf salad ingredient 13. Animal trail 15. Radio knob 16. Hurry up, acr. 17. One who accepts the offer 18. *Anise-flavored spirit 20. “Happily ____ after” 21. Operatic solos 22. ____ Air in L.A. 23. Hairy vertebrate 26. Freed 30. In the past 31. Small type of drum 34. *Wine in Italy 35. Charleston, e.g. 37. Chow down 38. a.k.a. honey badger 39. Wet nurse 40. Hervé Villechaize on “Fantasy Island” 42. Expression of doubt 43. Founding Father 45. City in Japan 47. Shock and ____ 48. Jawaharlal’s last name 50. *Driest type of sherry
52. *a.k.a. black treacle 55. Softly-softly, loris’ cousin 56. A Flock of Seagulls’ 1982 hit (2 words) 57. *Cabbage amount 59. Alexandre Dumas’“The Black ____” 60. What seekers do 61. Consequently 62. Everything 63. Temporary craze 64. Swedish shag rugs DOWN 1. Physique, informally 2. Pelvic bones 3. Spill the beans 4. Certain fir 5. *Fusilli or ziti 6. Same as #39 Across, pl. 7. Supreme pontiff 8. Puff 9. Field worker 10. Be off base 12. Capital of Philippines 13. Be at the helm 14. *Ballerina-inspired dessert 19. All worked up 22. *Granola serving 23. Téa Leoni’s “____ Secretary”
24. Old World lizard 25. Unicellular organism 26. Stroke on a green 27. Lithograph, for short 28. Japan to U.S. in WWII 29. *Stuffed grapevine leaf 32. *Flageolet or azuki 33. *Popular breakfast cereal 36. *Type of #34 Across 38. Lion sounds 40. One little piggy? 41. Easily available (2 words) 44. One clean one? 46. *Betty Crocker fruit snack 48. Waterwheel 49. Serengeti grazer 50. Unplayable baseball 51. It will, contraction 52. Irk 53. Like a ghost 54. Long novel 55. School support org. 58. Opposite of don’ts
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