February 22, 2017
A new dream
Around Town ‘Shake, rattle and roll’ with Cindy Moore. P.9 State seeking organizations to serve meals to children during summer months. P.7
Community Voices By Odie Smith. P.2
Golden Years
Stay young at heart (and in body and mind). P.8
Learn & Play
Submitted photo The non-profit organization Beloved Streets of America is implementing a comprehensive plan to reverse the urban decline and decay of the communities and buildings surrounding the streets named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, like this one at 5901 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, and provide a positive environment for growth.
Beloved Streets of America continues work to improve streets named after civil rights icon By Nicholas Elmes A local nonprofit is continuing its fight see Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream of beloved communities become a reality on street named after the civil rights icon. Beloved Streets of America began its journey in 2004 when founder and CEO Melvin White saw the growth of the Delmar Loop area and wondered why similar growth could not happen on St. Louis’ Dr. Martin Luther King Dr. “I said that is just a mile away,” White remembers. “Look at the difference. It just hit me from the heart. I just felt like Dr. King should be represented well on the street named for him.” White started touring the country in his free time and soon learned that there were similar stories in other cities where roads named after King were in severely blighted areas. “I found the majority of them were in the same condition as ours,” he said. So White got started trying to do something about the issues, founding Beloved Streets of America in 2009. The organization started to working with
Creating healthy eating habits. P.11
Movie the community providing free “giveaway” days where they provided free food and clothing to those in need and starting plans for a centerpiece improvement which could garner national attention. That centerpiece, a planned Legacy Park, would provide a public meeting area which would also serve to highlight the region’s rich African-American heritage. “We have lost track of some really great people,” said White. “We want to honor them. We want the park to be a place where students can come and find out about our local African-American culture and history as well as the history of people in St. Louis. It could be a gathering place as well as a place to galvanize the community.” The end goal to use the park to help spur cultural and economic development along Dr. Martin Luther King Dr. “We are working to bring businesses and jobs back to the community,” said White. “We also want to focus on arts, culture and history. Then we want to talk about entertainment and bringing in some nice restaurants.”
But White says that, as with most things in life, achieving his dream all boils down to being able to raise the money to make it a reality. Estimates for construction of the Legacy Park range from $250,000 to $600,000, according to White, who said his organization is seeking funds through a variety of efforts. “We have written over million and a half dollars’ worth of grant proposals and are waiting to hear back on them,” he said, noting that they have also raised some money through community meetings and marches. “We also have a fundraiser called the MLK $10 Challenge. We tried to piggyback of some of the other challenges like the ice bucket challenge. We challenged everyone across America to donate $10 and do a one minute video talking about what they would like to see their MLK street become and then challenge three other people to do the same.” Videos from the challenge can be found at http://mlkchallenge.net. See ‘MLK DRIVE’ page 2
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February 22, 2017 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com
COMMUNITY VOICES A new year can mean a ‘Nu beginning’ By Odie Smith The beginning of the New Year suggests a fresh start; a new attitude or sometimes a more aggressive approach to an existing goal, a “Nu beginning.” At the beginning of each new year, many people typically make resolutions. A sense of anticipation of “good things to come” is in the air. Moreover, a sense of fear, anxiety and complacency can overtake some people, especially regarding the new national government administration, the national economy and an unstable job market. The holidays have come and gone now, but you are still searching for that career opportunity. You may be aware of the important tools required to prepare for employment; development training, career planning, seeking employment advice, obtaining a custom resume and cover letter that highlights who you are and your skills and of course interview coaching. You might even say I have invested time in all of the necessary preparation; however, I am still jobless. What else can I do? It is important to understand that “the desire to
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succeed must supersede the fear of failure or rejection” and that “perseverance is key.” Take the true story of two people, for example, who had the same name (we will name them Timmy Tom). They were the same age, the same ethnicity and both grew up in the same type of neighborhood. They attended the same elementary and high school and were taught the same basic morals. However, one succeeded in the career of his choice, overcoming the barriers that they both faced. The other one failed miserably and was eventually incarcerated for a long period. So, what did Timmy Tom the successful do differently than the Timmy Tom who failed? The successful Timmy Tom’s desire to obtain his goal was so great that he did not fall victim to the undesirable influences that both Timmy Toms encountered. One chose to allow fear, anxiety and complacency to hinder his progress, while the other chose to persevere beyond obstacles until he obtained his goal. The moral of this short story applies to everyone
‘MLK DRIVE’ from cover White said that his organization is also working to improve access to food through an urban agriculture program. “We got a grant through Wells Fargo to start that,” he said. “We have utilized hydroponics and are currently growing vegetables at a place in the Central West End. We are growing lettuce, tomatoes and basil and are contacting local stores that would be interested in purchasing from us. “We want to focus on urban agriculture, we want to focus on education, we want to make the area secure, but all of those things cost money,” he said, noting that getting the Legacy Park built was a key priority as a proof of concept to make changes on MLK streets across the country a reality. “We would love for everybody to contribute in any way that they can. Get involved. Reach out to me and see the ways that we can help this initiative continue to grow.” He said the group had most recently tried to re-spark interest in the project by posting “sharing the love” posts on its social media profiles throughout the first half of February, as well as hosting a Valentine’s Day card writing event with its new partners, the Moorehouse Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. “We can throw numbers out; we can publish the info right to the people’s faces but we would rather share the love that we have for these streets,” said White. “To make giving contagious, why not start with opening our own hearts and let others’ follow?” For more information on Beloved Streets of America, or to make a donation, please visit belovedstreetsofamerica.org.
Submitted photos Right: Beloved Streets of America founder and CEO Melvin White wants to see Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream of beloved communities become a reality on street named after the civil rights icon. Below: This is an artistic rendering of Legacy Park, which would provide a public meeting area which would also serve to highlight the region’s rich African-American heritage.
who is still seeking employment; preparation, perseverance, patience and the ultimate desire to succeed must supersede the fear of failure and rejection. Start a Nu Beginning, do not allow negativity to influence you and you will obtain your goal. Odie Smith is the Executive Director and Founder of Nu Beginnings Employment Organizers, a 501(c)3 employment ministry. In 2011 Odie and his wife Daval established Nu Beginnings Employment Organizers, an organization working with individuals in Missouri, Illinois and other communities in the United States by offering employment assistance and professional career guidance. 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 • February 22, 2017
Hazelwood Fire Chief prepares for retirement life after service to city
Photo courtesy city of Hazelwood
Around Town
North County Labor Club donates to T.E.A.M. Food Pantry
Photo courtesy city of Florissant
(From left) At the retirement party held for Fire Chief Dave Radel (served 2011-2016), both ret. Fire Chief Jim Matthies (served 1993-2011) and Fire Chief Dave Herman (started January 2017) came together to share stories and to extend their best wishes to Radel for his retirement.
For 38 years of his life, Fire Chief Dave Radel served the citizens of Hazelwood by responding to fire and medical emergencies. He grew up in the city of Hazelwood so he was very familiar with the community and loved living in North County. Many considered him a “hometown boy who did good.” Radel worked his way up the command ladder from an arson investigater to the fire chief of the Hazelwood Fire Department. Radel recently announced his retirement and chose Jan. 31 as his last day on duty. A few days ago, the city of Hazelwood hosted a retirement party held in his honor. In a brief speech he made to a large crowd of guests who came to give him their farewell wishes, Radel said, “It’s been one of the greatest honors of my life to be a member of the Hazelwood Fire Department. I consider myself indescribeably fortunate to have had a career that provides the blessing of service to my community.” Radel started off his career as a Hazelwood firefighter in 1978 and was promoted to fire inspector four years later after completing the necessary college coursework. In 1986, he achieved certification to serve as a state licensed arson investigator and maintained this certification for the remainder of his career. As a private, Radel liked being one of the guys and the other firefighters liked him and his leadership skills. In 1988, he was elected to represent members of the Hazelwood Fire Department as their shop steward under The International Association of Firefighters Local #2665. He continued in this capacity until he was promoted to captain on Aug. 8, 2001. In reference to retirement, Radel said coming to work every day and having fun conversations with the guys over a cup of coffee and joking around with them between fire/medical emergency calls will be missed. “The brotherhood and comradery from my brothers and sisters in the fire service will be my heart and soul for the rest of my life,” Radel noted. While serving as captain for six years, Radel and his crew received the city of Hazelwood Life Saving Award and two Unit Citation Awards from The Greater St. Louis Area Fire Chiefs Association for the rescues of multiple civilians from two residential fires. In May 2007, he was promoted to deputy fire chief in charge of operations. After receiving his associates degree in fire service management the following year, Radel was again promoted to assistant fire chief with ret. Fire Chief Jim Matthies at the helm. After Matthies announced his retirement, city officials thought it would be best to promote from within and to select someone who was well liked by the rank and file. Radel ended up being appointed as the new fire chief and has served in this capacity for the past five years. During this time, he earned his bachelor of science degree in fire science management from Lindenwood University,
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The North County Labor Club recently held a food drive at their Feb. 6 membership meeting. Pictured above are club members and Florissant City Councilmen Mark Schmidt, Tim Jones and Jeff graduating magna cum laude. Radel has been very proud of wearing the Fire Caputa who then delivered the food items and over six hundred dollars to T.E.A.M. Food Panty located in the city of Florissant. Chief badge for the city of Hazelwood. The mission of T.E.A.M. (The Emergency Assistance Ministry) is “Whenever I walk down the aisle of a grocery store or any other public setting in my uniform, to serve the residents in need from Hazelwood and Florissant and people make eye contact with me and then glance also give out USDA commodities to St. Louis County residents. down at my badge and smile. Young and old, re- T.E.A.M. is a volunteer organization providing supplemental food gardless of any other factor, that’s almost a univer- and basic household items to needy families in these communities on a once-a-month basis. The pantry is based in Florissant and is sal response,” stated Radel. According to Radel, “There is a presumption sponsored by 36 churches in the Florissant-Hazelwood areas. that because of what I do for a living I am a person of integrity and service. And, while I will miss that automatic response since I won’t be wearing a badge, I will strive to live up to that presumption for the rest of my life. Being the Fire Chief of Hazelwood was the best job in the world.” Whoever is the Fire Chief of Hazelwood also serves as the city’s emergency management response director. While Radel was the fire chief, an EF2 tornado hit the Hazelwood area on April 10, 2013, and caused widespread damage to trees and homes throughout the area. Although the storm had a devastating impact on many residents and local businesses, Radel believes this incident gave Hazelwood’s municipal government a chance to shine and showcase its ability to work fast and bring immediate relief to the storm victims. “When the EF2 tornado hit Hazelwood, every facet of our municipal family came together and provided an incredible level of services to our citizens. Police, fire, public works (including street division, code enforcement, parks and recreation), city manager, mayor, city council, finance, city clerk, communications, IT and legal department of this city set aside their sometimes petty differences and joined forces for days on end to make sure that everyone impacted by the storm had every resource they needed at their disposal,” Radel said. Radel says he will always remember the ride he took with Hazelwood Mayor Robinson to survey the damage. “It was about three o’clock in the morning, and I was driving the mayor down some dark subdivision streets through the wreckage of trees and homes. We talked about what our game plan would be the next day and what we would say to the media. We also kidded each other about needing to get a couple of hours sleep before we hit the ground running again in the morning. In addition, we shared the fact that both of us have spent our entire lives in North County, and for the most part in Hazelwood,” Radel recalled. The energy generated from all of Hazelwood’s municipal departments working together toward a common goal enhanced the clean-up efforts and enabled the community to recover quickly. “It truly exemplified the attainment of the best of us and what we should be as a government of and for the people. Every department and every one of us should never forget this because at our very best that’s who we are,” Radel said.
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February 22, 2017 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com
Show Me Hope Crisis Counseling flood grant phases down In response to the devastating flooding on the eastern side of Missouri in December 2015 and into 2016, the Department of Mental Health partnered with three Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) to operate the Show Me Hope Crisis Counseling program grant. Places for People in St. Louis County, Crider Center serving Franklin, Lincoln and St. Charles Counties, and Comtrea serving Jefferson County provided crisis outreach to individuals and families impacted by the flooding. As the Show Me Hope program phases down, crisis counselors are still available and working to connect residents with local community mental health resources. In addition to services through the local CMHCs, Lutheran Family and Children’s Services is operating the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Case Management grant in coordination with the Salvation Army and Catholic Charities of St. Louis. These agencies are providing long-term recovery case management services. Individuals who need disaster case management can dial 2-1-1 for more information. Residents can also contact the Disaster Distress Helpline 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-9855990 or send a text message “TalkWithUs” to 66746. The Crisis Counseling Program (CCP) assists individuals and families in recovery from disasters. It is a federal program funded by FEMA and administered through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The CCP is a short-term disaster relief grant for states, U.S. Territories and federally recognized tribes to run up to a year after the grant is awarded. For more information contact the CMHC in your area: Places for People – 314-535-5600; Crider Center – 636-332-6000 or Comtrea – 636-931-2700.
Early signs indicate property values are on the rise again in Florissant St. Louis County Assessor Jake Zimmerman says that property values are increasing once again in Florissant as well as in Ferguson and other parts of North St. Louis County for the first time in four years. Final assessment of property values for all real estate located in St. Louis County is due by the end of March. According to the web site for St. Louis County (www.stlouisco.com) the county assessor is required by Missouri State Statute 137.115 to establish the fair market value of all real property as of Jan.1 of every odd year (such as 2017). The assessed value is applied to the tax rates established by taxing districts to determine the amount of tax levied against a property. Property value for home owners in St. Louis County is expected to increase by more than 15 percent from the last assessment taken in 2015. That assessment followed on the heels of civil unrest that occurred in Ferguson following the fatal shooting of Michael Brown Jr. by former Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in August 2014. Prior to that event, real estate values took a major hit following the real estate collapse in 2008 during the Great Recession across the United States.
Moore On Life
Zimmerman himself has visited several homes in both Florissant and Ferguson in February with information about the increase in assessed values. While Zimmerman says that property values in St. Louis County have declined or remained flat since 2013 that is likely to change with the 2017 assessments. Seeing property values increase in North County, he points out, is “great news for neighborhoods and communities.” Florissant Mayor Thomas Schneider echoed Zimmerman’s comments. “We are proud of the great care taken by our residents in maintaining their Florissant homes,” said Schneider. “With our national economy once again in a healthy mode, we are fully confident that home owners in our community will experience significant gains in the value of their real estate for the first time since 2013. We fully expect our housing values to eventually surpass what they were before the Great Recession of 2008 in the United States.” The reassessment process involves establishing the value of about 389,000 parcels of real property, providing owners the opportunity to appeal, then finalizing, certifying and communicating the values to the individual taxing districts.
By Cindy Moore
SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL
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Flying and I were not meant for one another – much like orange juice and toothpaste. Ever have a big slurp of OJ after scrubbing your teeth? Ya, not the best combination! I suppose if I was meant to fly, the good Lord would have made sure that those flappy batwings under my arms were capable of liftoff. But since that hasn’t panned out, I must depend on mortal man for flight. My most recent adventure made for a vomitus ride of terror. My husband and I were heading back from a leisurely week in Florida. We had left the winter blahs and heavy Eskimo coats behind to don swim suits and stroll in the 75-80 degree weather on the beach. We took in the sun and surf and pointed and snickered at the big fatty fat neon tourists, until we realized that was our own reflection in the water. Afterwards, we bid farewell to paradise and headed head home to frost and thermal underpants. We then boarded our flight. Destination – Hell. Two hours from home, the turbulence became so great it felt like the plane was spinning inside a dryer filled with bricks. The pilot flipped on the seatbelt sign and instructed the stewardesses to sit down and buckle up. Luckily I had already received my peanut ration, but there were those that didn’t get in on the feast. They would have to satisfy their cravings by gnawing their fingernails until the air settled down. After an eternity of the rocky churning, we
hit a patch of calm. The beverage caddy headed down the aisle. And just in time because those salty peanuts had worked up a thirst and I was feeling the parch. No sooner had the wee tiny thimbles been filled with eyedroppers full of liquid then the pilot hit the air speed bumps again at full throttle. The attendants jumped to their seats. One of them apologized on the intercom for the weather and let us know that the drinks had tipped over and beverage-time had been cancelled. What! They load me up with salty snacks then pull the plug on the free drinks!? It’s a strange mind-set, but snack time makes me both giddy and believing that I am ahead of the game. All it takes is a bag of their dry kibble and that complimentary sip of soda to even up the three-hundred dollar ticket price. And I was denied it! Feeling defeated, I got home later and brushed my teeth then realized how parched I still was and took a big glug of orange juice. Not the best combination! 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.
www.mycnews.com • Community News – St. Louis County • February 22, 2017
Stay young at heart (and in body and mind) When joints ache and you don't move as fast as you used to, it may seem that growing old is anything but graceful. While you can't stop the hands of time, there are ways you can keep your physical and mental well-being in tiptop shape for years to come. Even if you've spent a lifetime practicing healthy habits, your senior years are no time to allow those practices to fall to the wayside. On the other hand, if you put off quality self-care for later in life, rely on your experience and maturity to know that taking care of yourPhotos courtesy of Getty Images self is as important as, well, life itself. Eat balanced meals. It's never too late to begin ing treatments before big problems arise. Honor paying more attention to what you eat. Seniors your regular medical appointments and heed the may be prone to poor eating habits for the sake advice you're given - including taking any mediof convenience or because it's not as much fun cines as prescribed. cooking for one or two when you once had a full Find more tips for living healthy as you age at house to feed. Actually, as you age, keeping your elivingtoday.com. weight in check and continuing to fuel your body with essential nutrients is more important than ever. Keep moving. It's true that aches and pains may keep you For 55 million from being as spry as you once Americans enwere, but limiting your move- rolled in Mediment can actually create a snow- care, the New Year ball effect that results in even means any new less mobility over time. Muscles Medicare Advanthat aren't used regularly can tage or prescripweaken and restrict your move- tion drug plans, ment even more, so work with or any changes your physician to determine an to your existing appropriate amount of activity plans, take effect. If you signed up for coverage, it's important to for your condition. understand how your prescription drug costs may be affected. Mind your mind. When Even if you did nothing to alter your coverage, some features of you're in the workforce, or while your plan may have changed for 2017. you're tending to the needs of a A survey by Walgreens shows that even though prescription growing family, you rely on your drug costs are among the top concerns for Medicare beneficiaries, brain to power through, proba- approximately one out of every five beneficiaries lacks a good unbly without even thinking about derstanding of their insurance plan. Roughly the same percentit. Yet over time, most people ex- age falsely believes that all pharmacies charge the same copay and perience some degree of cogni- one-third of respondents didn't know they can switch pharmacies tive deterioration, partially from at any time, including outside of the annual enrollment period. To basic biology and partially from make the most of your benefits and find potential cost savings for lack of "exercising" that vital your prescription medications under your Part D coverage, here muscle. Keep your mind sharp are three easy steps to get started: by communicating regularly Use a less expensive brand or generic. The brand-name drug with your family and friends, your doctor prescribed can do wonders for your symptoms but be and seek out activities that put worrisome for your budget. Many brand-name drugs have generyour brain to use, such as cross- ic or other brand substitutes. First, make sure your doctor considword puzzles or word games. ers generic options. If those options aren't available, there may be Be a social butterfly. A com- lower-cost brand-name drugs used to treat the same condition. mon lament of middle-age is the Ask your pharmacist if you have that option then talk with your lack of time to nurture friend- doctor to see if switching brands makes sense in your situation. ships. With an empty nest and Verify whether your plan has a preferred pharmacy netan open calendar, there's no work. Many prescription drug plans have a preferred pharmacy time like the present to strength- (preferred cost share) network where you can pay a lower outen long-term bonds or seek out of-pocket copay for the exact same drug. Walgreens is in the new companions who share life preferred pharmacy network for many of the largest Medicare experiences and a desire to age sponsors and, effective January 2017, offers copays as low as $0 with grace. Close connections on generic medications for select plans. Filling a generic medicawith friends and family mem- tion at a non-preferred pharmacy could cost you $3, $5 or even bers will not only boost your $10 for the same drug. emotional well-being, they can Seek Medicare's Extra Help program and other ways to save. ensure there are others watching Medicare offers an Extra Help program to help people with limout for you on a regular basis. ited income and resources pay Medicare prescription drug proDo as you're told. When gram costs, like premiums, deductibles and coinsurance. Make you're younger, skipping an an- sure you're taking full advantage of your insurance coverage, nual checkup here and there which may cover non-prescription items, like vaccinations and seems like no big deal. As you certain over-the-counter medications. age, those regular assessments Medicare beneficiaries seeking help navigating prescription are more important. They serve drug costs can find additional resources and a list of Medicare an important role in identifying plan sponsors at walgreens.com/medicare. potential issues and introduc-
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February 22, 2017 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com
Community News announces readership survey winners
Jerry Montgomery (left) of Florissant receives a $100 gift certificate to Stefaninas from Community News Publisher Bob Huneke, for being chosen as a winner of the Community News Readership Survey.
Photos by Ray Rockwell Katy Fry (left) of Wentzville receives a $100 gift certificate to Panera from Community News Publisher Bob Huneke, for being chosen as a winner of the Community News Readership Survey.
Two names were chosen from the recent Community News Readership Survey as winners of a $100 gift certificate from their favorite restaurant. Jerry Montgomery of Florissant chose Stefaninas and Katy Fry of Wentzville chose Panera for their certificates. Congratulations to both of our winners, and thank you readers for completing the Readership Survey. We welcome and appreciate your loyalty. – Bob Huneke, Publisher, and Staff of Community News
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State auditor announces audits of St. Louis area Community Improvement Districts Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway has announced her office will review finances and operations for two Community Improvement Districts (CIDs) in the greater St. Louis area. Audits are underway for the BaratHaven CID in Dardenne Prairie, located in St. Charles County and the North Oaks Plaza Shopping Center CID in Northwoods, located in St. Louis County. Community Improvement Districts offer financial incentives through property and sales tax collections with the intent of encouraging new growth and development in a specific area. CIDs have multiplied in Missouri, from 19 on record with the State Auditor’s Office in 2007 to an estimated 300 today. Of those, more than 100 are located within the counties of St. Charles and St. Louis and St. Louis City. “Government at all levels must be accountable for every dollar collected and spent, and I have serious concerns with the lack of transparency of some special taxing districts across Missouri,” Auditor Galloway said. “I look forward to completing these audits to determine whether the districts are serving their intended purposes and benefitting the people whose communities they promised to improve.” The North Oaks Plaza Shopping Center Community Improvement District was created in 2007 in the city of Northwoods to fund building improvements to the shopping center and parking lot. The district is located near the intersection of Natural Bridge Road and Lucas and Hunt Road. It includes about 30 businesses and collected ap-
proximately $110,000 in sales taxes 2015. The BaratHaven Community Improvement District was created in the city of Dardenne Prairie in 2006 to help fund a proposed commercial and residential mixed-use development, although only the residential portion was completed. It is funded through property taxes on the 245 homes in the subdivision. This district is located near the intersection of Interstate I-64 and Winghaven Boulevard and collected approximately $150,000 in property taxes in 2015. In August of 2016 a new law authorized the State Auditor’s Office to audit CIDs without requiring citizens to initiate the audit through the petition process. Prior to this law, citizens could only request an audit by petition, and only if they lived in the district. Due to the commercial nature of many CIDs, some do not have any residents, which meant there was no way for citizens to request an audit, even if they were paying sales taxes in that district. CID audits are already underway for two Community Improvement Districts in Jackson County. The audits will include reviews of finances and operations for the districts, including compliance with the established district rules and adherence to financial and operating best practices for public government bodies. Individuals who would like to provide information for consideration during these audits may contact the State Auditor’s Whistleblower Hotline anonymously at 800-347-8597, by email at moaudit@auditor.mo.gov, or online at auditor.mo.gov/hotline.
Weather from Nick’s Window
by Nick Palisch
Climbing through the layers of our atmosphere The atmosphere is often the focus of a weather forecast. Meteorologists will often reference “atmospheric conditions” as a point of reference when talking about where our weather happens. However, did you know that our atmosphere consists of several layers and pauses? Each sphere is different and the pauses are the dividing line between these spheres. Let me introduce you to these layers and pauses. In the atmosphere, we have a series of layers known as the troposphere, the tropopause that separates the troposphere from the next layer, the stratosphere. The stratosphere is separated by the stratospause, which leads us to the mesosphere. The mesosphere is separated by the mesospause before leading us into the thermosphere. The thermospause is the divider between the exosphere. Each of these layers and pauses have various functions in the atmosphere. The troposphere is the lowest of the layers, which starts at the ground and climbs to about six miles above sea level. This is where essentially all of our weather happens. Clouds form in this layer since nearly all water vapor exists here. This is where we live in the troposphere. As you move into the troposphere you will actually see the temperatures gets colder the higher you go. The troposphere and the stratosphere is separated by the tropopause. This layer is unique in it that it lowers in the winter and rises in the summer. This is primarily why we see snow on the caps of the mountains. In the summer, snow on the mountaintops lessen due to the rising of the tropopause. The stratosphere starts at the tropopause
and continues upward for about 31 miles. In this layer, we also find the ozone layer. In this layer is where our commercial airliners fly due to less turbulence that provides us with a smoother flight. Near the tropopause is where we also find our jet stream, which is responsible for moving weather systems through. While the temperatures drop as you get into the troposphere we find the opposite happens in the stratosphere – our temperatures actually rise. This is also where the majority of high-energy ultraviolet light from the sun is converted into heat. Hence, the warming of this sphere. In the stratosphere is generally where weather balloon data is collected and then is sent to the National Weather Service for analysis. At the end of the stratosphere, we find the stratospause. The stratospause is the dividing line between our next layer and where change is about to occur. At the pause, we find something else happening, but that is for next week when we climb even higher into our atmosphere to learn about the mesosphere, thermosphere, and the exosphere. Nick Palisch is a meteorologist and Missouri native who understands the weather here in our area. He currently resides in Lake Saint Louis and can be reached at nick-wx@sbcglobal. net and you can always get the most upto-date forecast from the FirstWarn Weather page at www.facebook.com/nickswx 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 • February 22, 2017
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State seeking organizations to serve meals to children during summer months The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is looking for organizations throughout the state to help feed thousands of children who would otherwise go without meals during the summer months when school is not in session. The Summer Food Service Program reimburses organizations for meals they serve to children who are at risk of not having enough to eat. The program is one way Missouri is working to fight childhood hunger. The summer food program provides nutritious meals to children under age 18 during the summer months when school breakfast and lunch programs are not operating. Organizations eligible to participate in the program
include schools, faith-based organizations, camps, private nonprofit agencies and local governments. The sites are required to be located in areas where at least half of the children are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals. The federally funded program is administered by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. The department will accept applications March 1 through May 15 to participate in the program. Organizations in-
terested in becoming sponsors are required to attend training. More information about the Summer Food Service Program is available online at www.health.mo.gov/sfsp, by telephone at 888-435-1464 (toll-free) or through RELAY MISSOURI for the Hearing and Speech Impaired at 1-800-735-2966. Potential sponsors may also write to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Summer Food Service Program, P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, MO 65102.
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8
School
February 22, 2017 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com
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Rotary Club of Florissant to provide scholarships The Rotary Club of Florissant announced that they will fund a scholarship program for five senior students in the Rotary area which includes the boundaries of the Hazelwood and FergusonFlorissant School Districts. Each of the five scholarships will be for $2,000 and will be paid for one year to the accredited college, university or vocational school the student chooses to attend. Students in private, parochial, vocational or public schools are nvited to apply. The scholarship has a minimum GPA requirement for eligibility. It is not primarily an academic
scholarship nor does the criteria for selection include financial need. The scholarships are targeted at students who have demonstrated excellence in service to their school and their community. For additional information, visit the Rotary website at www.florissantrotary.org or email the Rotary at florissantrotary@yahoo.com. Applications may be downloaded from the website but must be mailed to Rotary Club of Florissant, P.O. Box #1188, Florissant, MO 63031-0188 with a postmark no later than March 15.
Hazelwood elementary students become role models
Photo courtesy Hazelwood School District Hazelwood students in the Twillman Gents Club are shown with sponsor Bennie Williams. Students in the Twillman Gents Club are role models for peers and help to promote academic success and community service within the student body.
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Students and teachers at Twillman Elementary, in the Hazelwood School District, have formed a club that focuses on building leadership and role models among students. The Twillman Gents is a club that promotes academic excellence, superior attendance, outstanding behavior and leadership in fifth grade boys. Students agree to serve as role models for their peers and perform leadership tasks throughout
the school building and community. “Their newest community outreach project has been to adopt a metro bus stop at Redman and Bellefontaine Road in St. Louis, said Bennie Williams, sponsor of the Twillman Gents and building aide at Twillman. “Our students are learning to be positive contributors to our school environment through community service projects,” he said.
Coldwater Elementary students donate 3,900 food items to help families in need
Photo courtesy Hazelwood School District Students at Coldwater Elementary School, in the Hazelwood School District, collected 3,900 food items as part of the “Souper Bowl of Caring.”
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Students at Coldwater Elementary School, in the Hazelwood School District, collected 3,900 food items as part of the “Souper Bowl of Caring.” The collected food items were donated to The Emergency Assistance Ministry (TEAM) and Trinity Church in Florissant. Souper Bowl of Caring is a national movement of young people working to fight hunger and poverty in their own communities around the time of the Super Bowl. In the weeks leading up to Super Bowl Sunday, young people take up a collection, asking for one dollar or one item of food for people in need. For two weeks, students in kindergarten
through fifth grade participated in a friendly competition. Donations were collected and counted daily. School administrators tracked the amount of food items donated on a banner in the cafeteria. Luke Dix, principal at Coldwater, said the collection was a huge success. “I am so proud of the generosity of the Coldwater family,” said Dix. “Our student body helped to raise 3,900 food items for the Souper Bowl of Caring, all of which will benefit families in need who reside in Florissant.” If you are interested in donating food items to TEAM, please visit teamfoodpantry.com.
www.mycnews.com • Community News – St. Louis County • February 22, 2017
First Bank rolls up big score for Junior Achievement program
Business
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Operation Food Search receives $30,000 grant from PNC Foundation
Submitted photo
First Bank “Spare Me Team” (from left) Shannon Johnson, Cindy Holman, Kathy Kopp, Jon Moen and Sandi McAfee, rolled up the top total fundraising amount ($1,938) during a JA Bowl-A-Thon at Olivette Bowling Lanes.
Topping last year’s fundraising total of $6,000, First Bank employees recently raised $7,800 for Junior Achievement during a JA Bowl-A-Thon at Olivette Bowling Lanes. With six teams competing, the First Bank “Spare Me Team” rolled up the top total fundraising amount ($1,938). Team members were Kathy Knopp, Sandi McAfee, Cindy Holman, Jon Moen and Shannon Johnson. Knopp posted the highest individual amount ($721.19). For their winning performance, the “Spare Me Team” received St. Louis Cardinals baseball tickets. Other prizes included a drawing for $100 Bristol Bucks at Bristol Seafood Grill and “Award hours” for a half day off for bowlers who raised $150 or higher. Twenty-five First Bank employees, families and friends competed in the JA Bowl-A-Thon. Debra Hellman, First Bank’s Director of Corporate Banking and a JA Board Member, initiated First Bank staff participation in the JA Bowl-A-Thon. In addition to the JA Bowl-A-Thon, First Bank employees will once again participate in JA Days at select area elementary schools this spring, teaching students about the importance of financial literacy. First Bank also serves as a sponsor for JA BizTown in Chesterfield.
Submitted photo Pictured is Mary Gladys Lathan from Loving Hearts Early Learning Center. Lathan participated in OFS’ Cooking Matters for Child Care Professionals.
Operation Food Search (OFS), a hunger relief organization that provides food to the area’s hungry, recently received a $30,000 grant from the PNC Foundation. The grant will go toward OFS’ Cooking Matters programming with an initiative entitled “Starting Early: Creating a Healthy Food Environment for Infants and Toddlers.” Through two classes, Cooking Matters for Parents and Cooking Matters for Child Care Professionals, participants will gain skills needed to plan, shop, and cook healthy affordable meals for young children. These courses encourage child care providers to create a healthy food environment for the children they care for and work with families to encourage healthy food choices at home. The program, which was created to ensure a healthy food environment for children ages birth
to five, aims to reach at least 50 providers and 50 parents. OFS is working with a variety of partners to recruit program participants including Alexus Palace Child Development Center, Gateway Greening, Honey Bee Plus Preschool, Kornerstone Kids Preschool, United 4 Children and Youth in Need. “We are very grateful to PNC for this grant, which gives day care providers and families the confidence to provide children with the nutrition they need to learn and grow,” said Operation Food Search Executive Director Sunny Schaefer. “Poor nutrition early in life contributes to deepening disparities and can make a family’s climb out of poverty all the more difficult. This grant will enable us to address these issues and put a halt to these dietary patterns.”
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10
Sports
February 22, 2017 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com
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.
Sports you see with Gary B... Baseball begins at SCC Chris Gober, head coach of the St. Charles Community College baseball team, is getting his squad ready for the 2017 season as they hit the diamond against the Southwestern IL club in Belleville, Illinois this Saturday. Gober has his assistant coach Patrick Clooney helping him put everything together with over 40 games scheduled going into May. Recently the team was rained out attempting to play three games against Louisiana State University in Eunice, Louisiana. * Itching to hear the bat hit the ball Francis Howell High takes swimming title Recently the girls of the varsity swim and dive took the Gateway Athletic Conference (GAC) title. This achievement was the second conference title that the girls have accomplished in the history. • Great at the top
See solution on page 13
Gary B. will be broadcasting the “STL Health and Wellness LIVE” show every Saturday from 9-11 am on 590 The Fan and 590TheFan.com
Women at Lindenwood get first swimming title Both men and women swimming and diving teams excelled recently. The men’s team secured their third conference title since Lindenwood joined the NCAA, and second in the New South Intercollegiate Swim Conference (NSISC), while the women won their first-ever conference championship in the school’s NCAA era. The women had 19 all-conference performers, totaling six conference titles and two pool records. The men registered 18 all-conference swimmers as a team, winning 10 NSISC championships, set four conference records and broke another pool record. Outstanding men athletes included: • Serghei Golban who set three individual records himself in the 50 free, 100 back and 100 fly. • Michal Szczukowski set a new conference record in the 200 medley relay and 200 free relay. • Joao Silveira and Ross Watson broke the 200 free relay record. • Kian Quigley and Joey Martin took the 200
medley relay leading mark. • Felix Eigel had two conference titles including winning the 200 IM and 200 back. • Sylwester Borowicz-Skoneczny was victorious in the 500 free and 1,000 free. • Matheus Isidro won the 200 fly for Lindenwood. Outstanding women athletes included: • Bethany Steffes was part of four conference titles during the four-day event, the 50 free and 100 free as an individual and also helped set pool records in the 200 free relay and 800 free relay. • Kate Stauffer, Abby Maricle and Kinga Lesinska were members of the 200 free relay team. • Morgan Fischer, Kamila Kunka, and Simone de Rijcke combined for the 800 free relay team that broke the pool record. • In the 400 medley relay with Hannah Vinyard, Ola Tomala, Ewa Dymarek and Lesinska took first. The pre-qualification meet for the NCAA championships is March 7 in Birmingham, Alabama. * Thanks to Andrew P. Morris of Lindenwood Sports Information for the information Ninth Annual St Patrick’s Day ‘Run for the Helmet’ in Cottleville They are taking applications for this year’s run through the streets of Cottleville on the morning of March 11. There will be an opportunity for all types of runners with the 7K (4.35 miles) run being the highlight starting promptly at 8 a.m. Following those speedsters is the two-mile fun run. Awards will be given to the top male and female overall winners, as well as the top three males and females in several other categories. For more details go to www.StPatParage.org * Get those sneakers ready Gary Baute, a St. Louis native, has hosted many radio shows from Health to Sports to Baby Boomer news. He was the EMCEE of the River City Rascals and St. Louis Swarm basketball team inaugural seasons and broadcasting for the indoor football teams over a decade. Has been writing sports since 1999 for the paper.
www.mycnews.com • Community News – St. Louis County • February 22, 2017
Recipe: Creating healthy eating habits W
Learn & Play
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Crossword Puzzle Theme: American Wildlife
hen it comes to eating, it can be difficult to find foods that kids can enjoy while also introducing them to valuable nourishment and health principles. Instead of giving in to ice cream for every meal or forcing children to eat something their taste buds don’t agree with, there are tasty recipes like Chicken Noodle Soup, Cinnamon-Sprinkled French Toast and Flower Salad that can quench their appetites without giving up nutritional value. These fun recipes can give kids a chance to help in the kitchen, learning important life skills while spending quality time with family. To find more fun, kid-friendly recipes that include both taste and nourishment, visit culinary.net.
The Classic Kid-Favorite: When mealtime hits and bellies start growling, turn to a classic to keep your kids full and satisfied. Chicken Noodle Soup has always been a favorite among children, so keep tradition alive in your family with this scrumptious recipe. For more delicious chicken recipes, visit eatchicken.com.
Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe courtesy of National Chicken Council
I ngredients: 1 chicken (3 pounds), liver discarded 2 1/2 quarts cold water 4 carrots, peeled and cut into bite-size pieces 2 onions, peeled 2 celery stalks with leaves, cut into 4 pieces 6 cloves garlic, peeled 2 fresh thyme sprigs or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns Soup: 1 cup small pasta, cooked 1 cup frozen peas, thawed 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon pepper 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped Directions: To prepare broth: In large pot over high heat, bring chicken and all remaining broth ingredients to boil. Reduce heat to low; skim surface of broth to remove foam. Let simmer 1 1/2 hours, skimming occasionally, and turning chicken. Add
more water if necessary to keep chicken submerged. Remove chicken with tongs and cool. Strain broth through fine sieve. Discard celery, herbs and spices. Reserve onions and carrots. Remove any excess fat from top of broth with spoon. Pull chicken meat from bones and discard skin and bones. Dice chicken and reserve.
Quarter cooked onions, if desired. To prepare soup: In large pot over high heat, return strained chicken broth and bring to rolling boil. Add reserved onions and carrots. Reduce heat to low; stir in reserved chicken meat, pasta and frozen peas, cooking until warm. Season with salt and pepper. Ladle soup into bowls and top with dill and parsley.
A Memorable Morning Meal: Whether it’s before school or after sleeping in on a Saturday morning, breakfast is a popular meal for children of all ages. Next time you and your family rise and shine, go with this recipe for Cinnamon-Sprinkled French Toast to keep the whole gang happy. Find more kidfriendly recipes for every meal at nutrition.gov.
Cinnamon-Sprinkled French Toast Recipe courtesy of the USDA
Ingredients: 2 large eggs 2 tablespoons fat-free milk 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 2 slices whole-wheat bread 1 teaspoon soft margarine 4 teaspoons light pancake syrup
Directions: In flat-bottomed bowl, crack eggs. Thoroughly whisk in milk and cinnamon. Dip bread slices, one at a time, into egg mixture, wetting both sides. Re-dip, if necessary, until all egg mixture is absorbed into bread. Meanwhile, heat large, nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add butter. Place
dipped bread slices in skillet. Cook 2 1/23 minutes per side, or until both sides are golden brown. Drizzle with syrup. Serve when warm. Nutritional information per serving: 190 calories; 8 g total fat; (3 g saturated fat); 10 g protein; 19 g carbohydrates; 2 g fiber; 215 mg cholesterol; 250 mg sodium.
ACROSS 1. Upright monument 6. Likewise 9. *Eagle’s talon 13. *Entrances to groundhogs’ burrows 14. Objective male pronoun 15. Curaçao neighbor 16. Islam’s Supreme Being 17. A in IPA 18. More silent 19. *Beaver-like rodent 21. *a.k.a Brown bear 23. Popular Thanksgiving tuber 24. SWAT attack 25. Between game and match 28. O. Henry’s “The Gift of the ___” 30. Make numb 35. ____sack 37. Drinks through a straw 39. Red Sea peninsula 40. Beyond natural 41. Single-mast boat 43. Soda pop recyclables 44. Little Boy and Fat Man 46. Way, way off 47. “Cogito ____ sum” 48. It’s meant to be 50. *Great leaper 52. Who’s from Mars? 53. Not that 55. Bobby sox dance 57. *Nocturnal mask wearer? 61. “Red sky at night, sailor’s ____” 65. Cool & distant 66. Public health approver 68. One who dares 69. Reg. alternative 70. Singer-songwriter Stewart 71. Accustom 72. One of many in an arena 73. “Four score and seven years ____” 74. Norbert, to his momma?
DOWN 1. Pillow that’s not for sleeping 2. Cough syrup balsam 3. Corner pieces 4. Prone to communicate secret info 5. Hindu retreat 6. Not this 7. Tin Man’s necessity 8. Last letter of Greek alphabet 9. Actress Penelope 10. Figure skating jump 11. Cain’s unfortunate brother 12. Extra cautious 15. NaNH2 and H3CONH2, e.g. 20. What hoarders do 22. Human cage part 24. Heists 25. *Striped stinker 26. Boredom 27. Flyer holders 29. *Desert monster 31. Likable 32. Take a piece from 33. Canine affliction 34. *a.k.a. buffalo 36. Poe’s “Annabel Lee”, e.g. 38. *Fly like an eagle 42. Nasa mission, e.g. 45. Depart 49. Short for although 51. *Not Bald one but ____ 54. Prefix with red 56. Baby grand 57. X-ray units 58. Away from wind 59. Kind of cola 60. *Snowshoe’s seasonal change 61. Carpenter’s groove 62. *Earthworms to a badger, e.g. 63. Lemongrass, e.g. 64. 3-point shot 67. *Prairie ____ See answers on page 13
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12
What’s Happening
February 22, 2017 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com
Send your event to editor@mycnews.com and we'll print it! EVENTS Feb. 22: Karaoke
Karaoke at Florissant Valley VFW Post 4105, located at 410 St. Francois, from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. All profits go to support veterans. For more information contact 314-831-6121.
Feb. 23: One man show
Join performer Gregory Carr at the Ferguson Municipal Public Library for a celebration of Black History Month and the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. “Conversations with a King” is a 45-minute one-man show that features four of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s greatest speeches: “The Holt Street Baptist Church Speech”; “I Have a Dream”; “The Nobel Peace Prize Speech”; and his final speech, “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop.” The show also features some rare facts from his childhood, his college years, personal interviews and his relationship with his wife, Coretta Scott King. There will be a 15-minute Q & A immediately following the show. For more information, please visit the library’s website at http://ferguson.lib.mo.us or call 314-521-4820.
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March 3: Party on the Ice
Feb. 24: Choral singers
March 3: Women leaders lunch
Ladies! Do you enjoy singing? Having fun? Women’s a cappella chorus would love to share their music with new singers! All parts welcome. For more information contact the St. Louis Chordinals at 314-780-2322. St. Barnabas Episcopal Church at 2900 St. Catherine in Florissant will host a “Food for the Soul” fundraiser for its 60th anniversary. The meal is buffet style - a smorgasbord of delicious food. Cost is $12 for adults, children five and under are free. Eat-in or carry out. Contract Marlene Martens at the church office at 314-837-7113 if you have any questions.
Feb. 25-26: Arts and crafts fair
The Ritenour High School Jazz Band will be hosting an arts and crafts fair to be held on Saturday, Feb. 25 and Sunday, Feb. 26 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. both days at Ritenour High School at 9100 St. Charles Rock Road in St. Ann. Crafters and artisans of all kinds will be in attendance with a large array of high quality products. Many handmade items such as jewelry, woodworking, sewn items, crocheted gifts, purses and totes, hats and scarves, baby items, hair accessories, home décor and one-of-a-kind items such as three-string cigar box-style guitars made from recycled items and African arts and crafts, and much more. Come early for a made-to-order omelet breakfast. Omelets, hash brown patties and orange juice will be sold from 8:30 – 11 a.m. Lunch and snack concessions will be open from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Proceeds from the craft fair go towards a cultural exchange program the jazz band has had with a Bavarian community band in Dingolfing, Germany since 1999. If you are interested in being a vendor, please contact Mary Haux at marebake@sbcglobal.net or 314-332-5546.
Feb. 26-March 4: Theater performance
11710 Old Ballas Rd. Ste 205 Creve Coeur, MO
Hazelwood PTA hosts Meet the Board of Education Candidates at 6:30 p.m. in the Hazelwood School District Board Room at 15955 New Halls Ferry Road in Florissant. Six individuals have filed to run for the three open board of education positions in the April 4 election. The candidates, in the order they will appear on the ballot: Dr. Brenda C. Youngblood (incumbent), Mark J. Behlmann, Margo McNeil, Elizabeth A. Rachel, Marcus Allen, and Benton Cornell Smith. This event will be moderated by the St. Louis League of Women Voters. They will conduct an hour and a half question and answer session for voters and candidates that evening.
Chicken dinner at Florissant Valley VFW Post 4105, located at 410 St. Francois, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. All profits go to support veterans. For more information contact 314-8316121.
Feb. 25: Meal fundraiser
NEW SOLUTIONS FOR
March 2: Meet the candidates
Annual youth event at the James J Eagan Center Ice Rink for fifth through eighth grade takes place from 6:30 – 9 p.m. Cost for residents is $5, for non-residents is $7. There will be DJ music, ice skating, pizza, soda, contests and door prizes. Tickets required upon entry. Tickets available now at the JJE & JFK Centers. Call 314-9214466 or 314-921-4250 for more information.
Feb. 24: Chicken dinner
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Florissant Civic Center at Parker Road and Waterford Drive, on Feb. 26 at 2 p.m., March 3 at 7:30 p.m. and March 4 at 2 p.m. Admission is $8. For more information or to purchase tickets call the theatre box office at 314-921-5678 or go to www.florissantmo.com.
The city of Florissant and the St. Louis Family Theatre Series present “Junie B’s Essential Survival Guide to School” from TheatreworksUSA, New York, NY. This is an all-new musical adventure based on Barbara Park’s popular book. Performances are in the Gary R. Gaydos Auditorium at the
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis will hold its annual women leaders lunch, Table for Four, from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Chase Park Plaza. An individual ticket is $125, the cost to host a table is $500. In its history, St. Louis area women leaders, the Table for Four committee and sponsors have raised over $270,000 to support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis mission and the young women aided by its programs. Proceeds from this event support activities and experiences designed to help girls develop healthy lifestyles, positive self-esteem and make good decisions. Over 200 guests are expected to attend. Event co-chairs are Adella Jones (Centene Corporation) and May Scheve Reardon (Missouri Lottery). And, Carol Daniel (KMOX) will serve as the emcee. For more information, visit www. bgcstl.org.
March 4: Bunco tournament
Soroptimist International of Greater St. Louis will hold its annual “Ladies Night Out” Bunco Tournament at Florissant JFK Center at 315 Howdershell in Florissant. Table sponsorships are available for $50. The price per player is $25. Wine, beer, soda and water will be provided. Players are welcome to bring their own food and beverages. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and Bunco starts at 7 p.m. There will be a 50/50 raffle and cash prizes for the winners. Proceeds from the Bunco Tournament benefit local women and children’s charities. Additional information is available at http://www.soroptimiststlouis.com/. Questions can be sent to info@soroptimiststlouis.com.
March 7: Restaurant event
TEAM Food Pantry will be hosting a restaurant event at the Locker Room from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Locker Room will donate 15 percent of all orders related to TEAM, helping the food pantry fulfill its goal to serve Florissant and Hazelwood residents in need. There will be an information table and gift basket raffle.
March 9: Fundraiser event
Kingdom House will host their fifth annual Spring Bling party and auction from 6 to 9 p.m. The event will be held at the historic Boo Cat Club
– the original home to the St. Louis Artists’ Guild. Guests will enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres while bidding on a variety of new and like-new handbags, jewelry and accessories donated by local gift shops, artisans and individuals. Event proceeds will fund programs that support local under-resourced women. Spring Bling tickets cost $50 in advance and $60 on the day of the event. Advance tickets are available online at www. kingdomhouse.org; by phone at 314260-6369; and by check, made payable to “Kingdom House” and mailed to 1321 South 11th Street, St. Louis, Missouri, 63104.
March 11: Dog safety class
Eddie and his mom P.O. Lori Mahn are the newest members of the Florissant Parks & Recreation Staff. They will be hosting classes with Eddie for everyone to learn how to be “A Dog Listener – learn to be safe around dogs” from 10 – 11 a.m. at the JFK center. Classes are for all ages. The cost of the class will be a donation item (items will be listed when registering) that will be donated to a local animal shelter. You will even have a time to take a picture with Eddie. For additional information call 314-921-4250 or 314921-4466.
March 18: Fundraiser event
Operation Food Search, a hunger relief organization that provides food to the area’s hungry, will host its fourth Purses for Pantries fundraiser at the River City Casino & Hotel Event Center located at 777 River City Blvd. Doors open at 10:30 a.m. for a silent auction followed by a luncheon at noon and a live auction at 1 p.m. Both the silent and live auction feature a variety of designer and designerinspired purses for purchase including evening clutches, vintage pocketbooks and trendy tote bags. Auction items also include restaurant and spa gift certificates, as well as many other surprises. The event has raised more than $150,000 over the past three years and all proceeds will be used to supply backpacks and summer meals and to support other childhood hunger relief programs. Tickets are $50 per person, and reserved tables for 10 are available. For more information, call 314-726-5355 or visit http://www. OperationFoodSearch.org.
March 18: Fundraiser gala
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, St. Louis Chapter (AAFASTL) will hold its signature gala, Orchid AAFAir at the Four Seasons Hotel. The event will feature a live and silent auction, dinner, program presentation and an awards ceremony. AAFA-STL will honor Susan Stith, Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion & Corporate Giving at Express Scripts, and Robert Fruend Jr., Chief Executive Officer of St. Louis Regional Health Commission, with this year’s “Orchid Award,” for their steadfast commitment and service to the organization and St. Louis community. Our AAFA-STL Board President & Partner at Deloitte, Brett Johnson and his wife Theresa Johnson, along with Kevin V. Roberts, Senior Vice President & CFO of BJC Healthcare, will serve as co-chairs for this event. Funds raised from the gala will help support AAFA-STL’s life-saving programs. For tickets and other information, please visit http://aafastl.org/orchid.
March 26: Fundraiser event
Leaps of Love Spring FundraiserFamily event to benefit children with cancer and their families takes place from 2 – 4 p.m. at Rose Hill at 11122 Olive Blvd. in Creve Coeur. The event is free to attend and donations will be accepted. There will be over 40 vendors to shop for Mother’s Day. For more information contact Kathryn Hubbard, Avon Independent Sales Rep, at 314-378-6129 or kkfundraising2014@gmail.com.
www.mycnews.com • Community News – St. Louis County • February 22, 2017 March 31: Car show
St. Louis County Older Resident Programs presents a “Car Cruising Show” at North County Recreation Complex at 2577 Redman Avenue in St. Louis County from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. The relentless pursuit of perfection will be displayed in some of the most polished, unique and classic automobiles.
April 1: Fundraising banquet
Ferguson Youth Initiative’s “All Hands In” Banquet will be hosted at the Norwood Hills Country Club (at 1 Norwood Hills Country Club Dr. in St. Louis County). The cost to attend is $50 per adult, or $30 per teen and college student. Each annual banquet creates and opportunity to showcase youth’s involvement, and to share their ideas with the broader community. Businesses and organizations interested in sponsoring this event can www.fyifergyouth.org for an information packet and registration. Anyone needing more information can contact FYI’s executive director, Aaron M. Harris, at 314.749.5379, or e-mail him at aaron@fyifergyouth.org.
April 14: Fish Fry
American Legion Post 444 in Florissant Valley will host a fish fry every Friday from Jan. 27 until April 14.
April 15: Meat shoots
The Florissant Eagles Meat Shoots take place every Saturday from Feb. 11 through April 15. It will run from noon until dusk. They are located at 15245 New Halls Ferry Rd in Florissant. No bull barrels. For more information call the Florissant Eagles at 314-838-3470.
April 22: Gardening demonstration
Come join the Gardeners of Florissant as they welcome members from The Rose Society of Greater St. Louis for a hands-on rose pruning demo at the Florissant Civic Center Rose Garden at 1 James J Eagan Dr. in Florissant. Instructions will be given at 10 a.m. You will then be able to prune rose bushes either on your own or with the aid of a rose society member. Stay as long as you like. Learn how to prune a rose for a healthy new growing season. Randy Hoffmann, a member of both clubs, will lead the seminar. Randy has a Bachelor of Science Horticulture degree from the University of Missouri, Columbia. What to bring: hand pruners, gloves and (optional) a bucket to collect your clippings. Contact Randy Hoffmann at 314-521-6824 for more information; leave a message.
April 28: Trivia night
Girlfriends for Good will hold its seventh annual trivia night to benefit Youth In Need at the Machinists’ Hall in Bridgeton at 12365 St. Charles Rock Road. Tables of eight are $200 and include beer, soda and snacks. Doors open at 6 p.m., trivia begins at 7 p.m. Sponsor a round for $50. All proceeds benefit Youth In Need. For more information, contact Cody Finan, Community Engagement Coordinator, at cfinan@youthinneed.org or 636-757-9334.
April 29: Fine arts show
The Hazelwood School District will host its third annual Fine Arts Show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Hazelwood Central High School at 15875 New Halls Ferry Road in Florissant. The event is free and open to the community. The Fine Arts Show is a collective show of artwork created by HSD art students in pre-K through 12th grade.
April 29: Florissant Garage Sale
Florissant residents can haul down the clutter from their attics and treasures from their garages and organize accumulations from their barns for the Seventh Annual Florissant Garage Sale. The garage sale will be held at the James J Eagan Ice Rink area from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Each applicant will only receive one space. Only Florissant residents receive a space to sell. The sell-
ing of craft items will not be approved. Fill out an application and return it by April 13. Applications will be available at the JJE and JFK Center and at www. florissantmo.com. Space is limited. The fee is $20 per table. The Florissant Garage Sale is free to attend.
April 29: Walk/run fundraiser
Join Friends of Kids with Cancer as they honor and remember special cancer patients and raise money to support their Educational, Emotional, and Recreational programs that help kids with cancer…be kids with the 17th Annual Walk with a Friend 5k Run/1 Mile Walk at 635 Maryville Centre Dr. in St. Louis. Registration is from 7:308:30 a.m., the run starts at 9 a.m. and the walk immediately follows. Family and corporate team sponsorships available with logos on event shirts. Enjoy free First Watch breakfast and carnival style games and entertainment for the whole family. Sponsored by Vanderbilt Office Properties. Cost is for $25 individual registration, increases to $30 after April 14. For more information visit https://www.friendsofkids.com/walk-with-a-friend.html or to register visit https://www.friendsofkids.com/walk-registration.html.
RECURRING EVENTS 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 314615-4516. 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.
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: Lung cancer support group
The Lung Cancer Networking Group is open to anyone affected by lung cancer and meets at Christian Hospital at 11133 Dunn Rd. every second Tuesday of the month from 6 - 7:30 p.m. in Room 2100. No RSVP required. Christian Hospital has partnered with the Cancer Support Community of Greater St. Louis to provide this group meeting. Drop-in to the monthly meetings to discuss, ask questions and learn how others manager side effects, symptoms and the day-to-day of can-
What’s Happening
cer. Connect with other care partners who are learning about cancer and how it impacts their friends and family members. Share and hear stories from others who “get it.” Discover the power of group support when you meet with a licensed facilitator, other people (family, friends, patients) affected by a cancer diagnosis.
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.
Tuesdays: TOPS (Take off pounds sensibly)
Every 1st Wednesday of the Month: Stroke Support Group
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, 800 Chambers Road in Bellefontaine Neighbors. Those interested in membership are invited to attend.
Every Tuesday: Bingo Evening at Florissant Elks Lodge #2316
Doors at 4:30pm, games begin at 6pm, Florissant Elks Lodge #2316, 16400 New Halls Ferry Rd. in Florissant. For more information, call 314.921.2316.
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 am 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 7:30am, games begin at 9:30am. For more information, call 314.921.2316.
Bridgeton Trails Library Branch Programs:
Florissant Senior Citizens’ Bingo Clubs: 314.839.7604.
3-4pm, Center for Senior Renewal, Detrick Building 1st floor, 11133 Dunn Rd. For more information, contact Jamie Stevens at 314.653.5331.
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: 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 6:45pm, Knights of Columbus Hall, 1216 Teson Rd. in Hazelwood. For SUDOKU answers from page 11
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more information call 314.731.9330
Every 3rd Friday of the month: Bingo
2pm, 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 Christcentered, 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: 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 group
A Way with Words Grief Support Ministry meets the fourth Saturday each month at Community Christ Fellowship (in the rear) at121 Williams Blvd. in Hazelwood from 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. For more information contact Pat Ryan at 314-605-3949.
CROSSWORD answers from page 11
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February 22, 2017 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com
HELP WANTED
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PUBLIC NOTICE
Spire STL Pipeline, LLC
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION NOTICE OF APPLICATION
Docket No. CP17-40-000 PF16-9-000
(February 6, 2017) Take notice that on January 26, 2017, Spire STL Pipeline LLC (Spire), 700 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63101, filed an application pursuant to section 7(c) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) and Parts 157 and 284 of the Commission’s Regulations requesting authority to construct and operate a pipeline project which would include: (i) the construction of approximately 59 miles of a new greenfield, 24-inch-diameter pipeline; (ii) the acquisition of approximately seven miles of existing Line 880, currently owned by Laclede Gas Company (Laclede); and (iii) minor modifications to line 880 after it is acquired. Spire’s new pipeline would extend from an interconnection with the Rockies Express Pipeline (REX) southward through Scott, Greene and Jersey Counties, Illinois and St. Charles and St. Louis Counties, Missouri to an interconnection with the Laclede’s Line 880. Combined the project will be a new, approximately 66 mile long interstate natural gas pipeline that is designed to provide approximately 400,000 dekatherms per day (Dth/d) of new firm natural gas transportation service to the St. Louis metropolitan area. The cost to construct and acquire the project facilities is approximately $220 million dollars. The filing may be viewed on the web at http://www.ferc.gov using the “eLibrary” link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, contact FERC at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call toll-free, (886) 208-3676 or TYY, (202) 502-8659. Any questions concerning this application should be directed to Scott Jaskowiak, Vice President, Spire STL Pipeline LLC, 700 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63101, phone: 314-516-8588, email: scott. jaskowiak@spireenergy.com. On July 22, 2016 the Commission granted Spire’s request to utilize the Pre-Filing Process and assigned Docket No. PF16-9-000 to staff activities involved in the Spire project. Now, as of the filing of the January 26 application, the Pre-Filing Process for this project has ended. From this time forward, this proceeding will be conducted in Docket No. CP17-40-000 as noted in the caption of this Notice. Pursuant to section 157.9 of the Commission’s rules, 18 CFR 157.9, within 90 days of this Notice the Commission staff will either: complete its environmental assessment (EA) and place it into the Commission’s public record (eLibrary) for this proceeding, or issue a Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review. If a Notice of Schedule for Environmental Review is issued, it will indicate, among other milestones, the anticipated date for the Commission staff’s issuance of the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) or EA for this proposal. The filing of the EA in the Commission’s public record for this proceeding or the issuance of a Notice of Schedule will serve to notify federal and state agencies of the timing for the completion of all necessary reviews, and the subsequent need to complete all federal authorizations within 90 days of the date of issuance of the Commission staff’s FEIS or EA. There are two ways to become involved in the Commission’s review of this project. First, any person
wishing to obtain legal status by becoming a party to the proceedings for this project should, on or before the comment date stated below, file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20426, a motion to intervene in accordance with the requirements of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.214 or 385.211) and the Regulations under the NGA (18 CFR 157.10). A person obtaining party status will be placed on the service list maintained by the Secretary of the Commission and will receive copies of all documents filed by the applicant and by all other parties. A party must submit 5 copies of filings made with the Commission and must mail a copy to the applicant and to every other party in the proceeding. Only parties to the proceeding can ask for court review of Commission orders in the proceeding. However, a person does not have to intervene in order to have comments considered. The second way to participate is by filing with the Secretary of the Commission, as soon as possible, an original and two copies of comments in support of or in opposition to this project. The Commission will consider these comments in determining the appropriate action to be taken, but the filing of a comment alone will not serve to make the filer a party to the proceeding. The Commission’s rules require that persons filing comments in opposition to the project provide copies of their protests only to the party or parties directly involved in the protest. Persons who wish to comment only on the environmental review of this project should submit an original and two copies of their comments to the Secretary of the Commission. Environmental commenters will be placed on the Commission’s environmental mailing list, will receive copies of the environmental documents, and will be notified of meetings associated with the Commission’s environmental review process. Environmental commenters will not be required to serve copies of filed documents on all other parties. However, the non-party commenters will not receive copies of all documents filed by other parties or issued by the Commission (except for the mailing of environmental documents issued by the Commission) and will not have the right to seek court review of the Commission’s final order. The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings of comments, protests and interventions in lieu of paper using the “eFiling” link at http://www.ferc.gov. Persons unable to file electronically should submit an original and 7 copies of the protest or intervention to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20426. Comment Date: 5:00pm Eastern Time on February 27, 2017.
Check it Out! www.MYCNEWS.com
Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary.
www.mycnews.com • Community News – St. Louis County • February 22, 2017
HELP WANTED
JOB FAIR
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NOVENA
SERVICES
PRAYER TO ST. JUDE
PET CEMETERY
May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world, now and forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, Pray for us. St. Jude, Worker of Miracles, Pray for us. St. Jude, Helper of the Hopeless, Pray for us.
over 2,500 pet burials; over 6 acres; over 40 yrs old. 314-576-3030 www.memoryparkpetcemetery.info www.memoryparkpetcemetery.info
Say this prayer 9 times a day for 9 days, then publish. Your prayers will be answered. It has never been known to fail.
P.S. Thank you St. Jude, M.R.
www.everyonebenefits.com/GaryB
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, Pray for us. St. Jude, Worker of Miracles, Pray for us. St. Jude, Helper of the Hopeless, Pray for us.
WANTED
Say this prayer 9 times a day for 9 days, then publish. Your prayers will be answered. It has never been known to fail.
P.S. Thank you St. Jude, K.B.
Published Every Week Since 1921 Family-Owned & Operated
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February 22, 2017 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com
Movie
By Steve Bryan
Patiently waiting for a sequel When a movie does well at the box office, sequels are almost always given the greenlight. After Sylvester Stallone’s “Rocky” made a huge impact in 1976, for instance, four sequels followed over the next 14 years. Critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert even commented that “Rocky 2” was amazing because it picked up the story minutes after the epic fight with Apollo Creed ended. In some cases, though, it can take years, sometimes decades, for sequels to be made. Recently, M. Night Shyamalan released “Split,” a thriller about a man with dozens of personalities. As each identity becomes dominant, the character, played by James McAvoy, manifests different physical traits and skills. It’s an intriguing film with plenty of opportunities for a sequel. Typically, Shyamalan’s movies are self-contained, but “Split” featured a cameo by Bruce Willis as David Dunn, the lead character in 2000’s “Unbreakable.” Dunn, a college security guard, was not happy with his life and, after surviving a horrific train crash without injury, discovered his extraordinary abilities. Comic book enthusiast Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson), nicknamed “Mr. Glass,” becomes his friend, mentor and ultimately his arch-enemy. Called one of the best superhero movies, fans immediately wanted a sequel, but Shyamalan worked on other projects over the years with mixed levels of success. David Dunn’s surprise reappearance in 2017
showed the director was indeed working on the longawaited sequel to “Unbreakable.” Speculation is that Dunn will hunt down and battle McAvoy’s character with possible appearances by Mr. Glass. In 1983, as “Return of the Jedi” closed out the first “Star Wars” trilogy, George Lucas promised 6 more movies by the turn of the century. However, “The Phantom Menace,” the first film in a new trilogy, did not show up until 1999. After “Episode 3” was released, there was a 10-year gap until “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” arrived in theaters to kick off the next trilogy. Die-hard fans obviously are willing to wait for certain films. “King of the World” James Cameron re-
2016 WINNER
6
leased “Avatar” in 2009 to much critical and audience praise. A stunning mixture of live action and motion capture, the film became a pop culture classic. Ironically enough, Kathryn Bigelow, Cameron’s ex-wife, took Best Picture honors away from “Avatar” with her contemporary war film, “The Hurt Locker.” In the years that followed, Cameron promised multiple sequels as fans waited for more “Avatar” news. According to the latest reports, the director wants four sequels released in rapid succession, much like Disney is doing with the “Star Wars” franchise. Cameron has the talent and credentials to keep fans patiently waiting for more. In some cases, though, sequels should never be green-lit. Case-in-point: “Bad Santa 2,” the return of Willie Soke, the foul-mouthed mall Santa who likes booze and women. While the original was a guilty pleasure, the follow-up was painful, poorly-written and did not provide any holiday cheer at all.. 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.
Winner of Six Awards
Missouri Press Foundation Better Newspaper Contest
Best Columnist – Humorous First Place – Joe Morice
Honorable Mention – Cindy Moore
Best Education Story First Place – Sara Hardin
Best Magazine/Alternative Publication Second Place – CrossRoads Magazine
Best News/Feature Obituary Third Place – Robert Huneke for Joe Morice Obituary
Best Military Story
Honorable Mention – Sara Hardin
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