April 11, 2018
The power of a book BooksFromBekkah, Inc. is a nonprofit that helps buy textbooks for minority students in their first year of college to help combat the dropout rate
Around Town Community Voices By Larry Brown. Pg. 2 Eligible Hazelwood residents should contact county’s home improvement program. Pg.5
Special Section
By Charlotte Beard It has been stated that one of the primary reasons for a high dropout rate among African Americans during their college freshman year is due to the astronomical cost of text books on top of tuition costs. Dr. Rebakkah Johnson, pharmacist, decided to impact this outcome for future high school graduates the year she received her doctorate degree in 2016. In lieu of birthday gifts Johnson, who was in a six-year accelerated college program, asked that on April 13, 2016, her 24th birthday, she receive just $2.40 from each person who wanted to give. BooksFromBekkah Textbook Scholarship Foundation was birthed when she managed to raise $500 through monetary gifts. It helped cover a full year’s worth of textbook costs for an African-American Submitted photo student hand-picked by the college Dr. Rebakkah Johnson, pharmacist, is the founder of BooksFromBekkah, Inc, a nonprofit that helps buy textbooks for minority advisory staff at Clayton High School, her students in their first year of college. alma mater. Sources state that according to the National Association of College Stores, entering college. The recipients at her alma of me and picking up the most important $300 is the average cost to cover textbooks mater went on to enroll in The American parts.” in one-semester. In 2017 she set a goal of University in the District of Columbia, Johnson spent her K-12 years in the $2,500 for her birthday and surpassed that Columbia College, Spelman College, Clayton School District though her family goal by raising $3,000 with the help of the University of Miami in Florida, University lived in Normandy before moving to Black community. of Missouri-Kansas City, and the University Jack, where her family’s home caught fire. In March 2017 DELUX Magazine of Texas-San Antonio. Subsequently, her family moved to Clayton recognized Johnson’s accomplishment Johnson’s first year at the St. Louis College where their new home was part of the by honoring her as one of their 30 of Pharmacy forced her to work to pay for desegregation program. under 30 for her innovation in creating text books while maintaining her classes. BooksFromBekkah collaborates with BooksFromBekkah. BooksFromBekkah, Johnson stated, “I struggled scholastically the high schools of applicants throughout Inc. is a nonprofit which became because my time didn’t exist – there was no the St. Louis area during their selection incorporated in January 2018 and has five time to do anything. I barely slept. It taught process for the textbook scholarships. board members. me time management, it taught me how to The process begins with a graduating Johnson hosted her first soiree, a rooftop study. I did pretty good in school after a student completing an application as gala, to meet her goal. BooksFromBekkah while and I think it was because [I learned well as submitting reference applications distributed $500 text book scholarships to to manage] the large plate I had. I am pretty See ‘BOOK’ page 2 six minority Clayton high school students much a master at having a book in front
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Around Town
April 11, 2018 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com
‘BOOK’ from cover from two faculty members and an additional professional reference. This year on the founder’s birthday there will be 10 recipients awarded at the BooksFromBekkah Inc’s Second Annual Rooftop Scholarship Soirée. The black-tie gala will take place Friday, April 13 at Anew Rooftop, located at 519 N. Grand in St. Louis. Doors open at 6 p.m. for the reception and the ceremony begins at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $35 and can be purchased by visiting www.eventbrite.com and searching for “BooksFromBekkah Inc’s Second Annual Rooftop Scholarship
Soirée.” All proceeds go towards support of the nonprofit’s efforts to support minority college-bound high school graduates. Johnson shared that up-and-coming St. Louis singers and musicians will be part of the entertainment for the evening. Attendees can expect an elegant and enjoyable evening. For questions, to get involved with BooksFromBekkah, Inc or to donate, e-mail info@booksfrombekkah.org. You may also visit www.booksfrombekkah.org and leave a message on the Contact Us page.
Eighth Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition chooses 15 high school acts for final event www.TheVillaAtRiverwood.com
On March 25, 45 metro area high school acts competed in the semi-final round of the Eighth Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition. St. Louis performing arts professionals judged the performances and narrowed the field to 15 acts (28 individual finalists) who will move on to the finals on April 28 at 8 p.m. at The Fabulous Fox Theatre. Competitors will include two students from Fort Zumwalt High School, one student from Fort Zumwalt North High School, five students from Fort Zumwalt West High School, one student from Francis Howell Central High School, five students from Hazelwood Central High School and one student from Incarnate Word Academy. In addition to the thrill of performing on the Fox Stage, contestants are eligible to win college scholarships, prizes and performance opportunities. “We couldn’t be happier with the level of talent. The students seem to get better and better each year,” exclaimed Mary Strauss,
Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation Board President. The final competition is a professionally produced production that is free and open to the public. General admission tickets are required and available now at no charge at The Fabulous Fox box office and through Metrotix. Tony Parise, Broadway actor, dancer, director, choreographer and St. Louis native, returns for his eighth year to write the script and direct the finals. “I can’t believe that this is our eighth year!” enthused Parise. “The talent of St. Louis teens never ceases to amaze me, and it is always an honor to help guide them on their path to performing on the Fabulous Fox Stage!” Please note, all seating is general admission. There is a limit of 10 tickets per transaction. Seating is first-come-first-seated and is not guaranteed. The theater will be over-sold to ensure a full house. Please arrive early.
COMMUNITY VOICES Sowing good seeds this spring By Larry Brown If you are feeling down in the dumps, if life has no apparent good meaning for you, if you have a lack of enthusiasm, if you are experiencing a period of pessimism, or if you just don’t know what to do with your life at this point, may I suggest that you allow the spring season to be a solution tonic for you. As poetess Sara Teasdale pronounced “Life has loveliness for sale,” and spring is the perfect season to once again experience all the beautiful things available for us to see and consume. Perhaps to take your mind off negative thoughts and feelings, you might decide to thrust your energy into a short-term project that can show results rather quickly, like flowers do in the spring. All of a sudden, they are there! Vegetables that are planted in the spring begin to grow and yield goodies, just as the pale grass turns green and life starts engulfing us at every turn. Birds sing, people walk more and speak to you more freely. The world just seems to come alive, giving you room to breath and survive. Some people choose to do a major house clean-
ing so that things have a fresh, new look. It is important to know that engaging in these kind of activities awakens positive energies and latent skills and abilities that may have been asleep or lying dormant while you were in your pessimistic and unproductive mood. Decide to learn a new skill, foreign language, research your family history, start a home-based business, do something new, get out more, volunteer as a helper for children, senior citizens, homeless or disabled citizens. You may wish to enter fantasyland and pretend you are in other countries. Talk with travel agents, use computer technology to learn more about these places. In short, you must become intentional about changing your routine so that it brings you more joy and excitement. Do things that awaken the good vibrations which make your life worth living and allow you to spread the joy around. Some people use the verse “I get joy when I think about what He’s done for me! “ Remember, just as you tend to your lawn by pulling up the weeds, raking out
the trash, planting new seeds, adding a few nutrients, if necessary, and watering frequently produces good and positive results. Spring is therefore a season of new birth, new ideas, new energy, and the beginning of new horizons. So, start now and enjoy a fruitful harvest! Sew some good seeds, nourish them and have a wonderful time. Larry Brown is Chairman of the Board and co-founder of Worknet, Inc., which has a national ten year contract with the Social Security Administration to find jobs for people with disabilities who are interested and qualified to enter the traditional workforce. He is also co-founder and president of Grace Chapel Ministries, former president of National Cable Training Centers, and president of Woodstock Industrial Products Group. The opinions expressed in this column are the columnist’s alone and do not reflect the opinion of the owners or staff of Community News.
www.mycnews.com • Community News – St. Louis County • April 11, 2018
Catholic Schools in North County Receive $10,000 Koch Foundation Grant for Student Retreat Days Submitted photo
The Koch Foundation, Inc. of Gainesville, Florida has awarded a $10,000 grant to the Federation of Catholic Schools in North County to be used in support of student retreats in the 2018-19 school year. The retreats will be focused on sacramental preparation, for students receiving the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist for the first time, and for junior high students preparing for Confirmation. “We are grateful to the Koch Foundation for this generous grant in support of our efforts,” said Cara Koen, Director of Advancement for the Federation of Catholic Schools in the Northeast Deanery. “The students and teachers enjoy coming together for retreat days and this funding makes it more financially feasible.” The Koch Foundation has provided grant support for the Federation of Catholic Schools
in previous years: a $15,000 grant in 2013 for supplies and materials in support of collaborative programs, a $7,000 grant in 2014 to assist with the Confirmation Rally and Corpus Christi Procession, and a $10,000 grant in 2016 for student retreats in the 2016-17 school year. With this year’s grant the Koch Foundation’s cumulative support totals over $40,000. “It’s so good to see this solid foundation appreciating our sacramental preparation for the federation,” said Monsignor Mark Ullrich, pastor at Sacred Heart Parish and Dean of the North County Deanery. The 12th Annual North County Confirmation Rally is set for Sept. 28 at Trinity Catholic High School, and the second grade retreats will be held in October at Pallottine Renewal Center, led by the Sacred Heart Sisters.
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Around Town
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Filing to open for SSD Board of Education seat Candidates who wish to apply for the Subdistrict 1 seat on the Special School District Board of Education may pick up an information packet and application form at the SSD Central Administrative Offices, 12110 Clayton Road in Town and Country. Applications will be distributed to interested candidates during regular business hours through 5 p.m. on May 15. Subdistrict 1 includes the Hazelwood and Jennings school districts. With the passage of Proposition S in 1998, SSD Board of Education members are elected by the district’s governing council, which is comprised of one board of education member from each of the 22 school districts in St. Louis County. The governing council will hold interviews and the election for the Subdistrict 1 seat on June 4. The candidate who is elected will serve on the board of education until March 2020 – the remainder of a three-year term. Typically the governing council interviews candidates for the board and elects board members annually at its March meeting. This year, two candidates applied for the Subdistrict 1 seat and were interviewed by the governing council, but the council was unable to reach consensus. Applicants must be citizens of the United States, must have resided in Missouri for at least one year, be at least 24 years old, be a registered voter of the district, and be a resident of the subdistrict in which the application is filed. Under governing council regulations, information packets and applications must be picked up and returned to the SSD administrative offices by the candidate. Packets and forms will not be mailed. Those returning completed applications must show proof of identification. For more information, call the superintendent’s office at 314989-8419.
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Around Town
April 11, 2018 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com
Eligible Hazelwood residents should contact county’s home improvement program
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St. Louis County’s Home Improvement Program is offering up to $5,000 in home repairs for eligible homeowners in the city of Hazelwood at no cost. The types of repairs that can be done with this money include roofing, electrical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning; hot water heater, tuck-pointing, hand railing installation, concrete, asphalt, masonry, tree trimming or removal, and foundation work. To be eligible, residents must own and live in their home, their property taxes must be current, and they haven’t participated in this program before. Also, their total household’s taxable income must be within the Adjusted Gross Income Limits for 2018: Family of one – Less than $41,750 Family of five – Less than $64,400 Family of two – Less than $47,700 Family of six – Less than $69,150 Family of three – Less than $53,650 Family of seven – Less than $73,950 Family of four – Less than $59,000 Family of eight – Less than $78,700 The Home Improvement Program is federally funded and operates through St. Louis County’s Department of Planning in conjunction with county municipal representatives. Funding availability is limited so please act swiftly. To apply for this program, call the automated phone 314-615-8232. Press “1” to hear the areas for which the program is currently accepting applications. Be sure to respond when Hazelwood is announced. Residents should then leave their name, property address and phone number on the recording. County officials will respond to all phone calls and complete the application form over the phone.
MDC’s Discover Nature—Fishing classes aim to hook new conservationists in the St. Louis area
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A lifelong passion for the outdoors and conservation might just begin with that first dip of a bobber. That’s one of the reasons the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) wants to help families and kids learn how to fish through its Discover Nature—Fishing (DNF) program, which begins its 2018 season in April. One of the biggest obstacles to trying a new activity, however, is lack of knowledge. DNF aims to help families and youths overcome that obstacle by empowering them with all the knowledge they need. “If you’ve never fished a day in your life, Discover Nature—Fishing is the perfect starting point to learn, ask questions and practice,” said Anna Conrades, MDC angler education assistant with the DNF program. MDC is holding DNF classes this year at both Forest Park in St. Louis and the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area in St. Charles. Instead of being a one-time, get in/get out experience, DNF consists of four progressive lessons that move newcomers through all the basics of the sport, and gives them the knowledge and confidence to go fishing on their own. The main focus of DNF is kids 7-15 years of age, but it also emphasizes family involvement and encourages parents, guardians and youths, 16 and over, to participate as well. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Adults new to fishing have the opportunity to learn the basics right alongside their children. However, Discover Nature—Fishing is not intended as an adult-only program. The classes are free and all fishing equipment is provided. Each class runs two hours. After a lesson is taught lake-side by trained Discover Nature— Fishing volunteers, participants then spend an hour or more fishing, putting into practice what they’ve learned.
Photo courtesy Dave Austin
The four classes include: • Equipment, Casting, and Proper Fish Handling • How to Tie a Knot and Bait a Hook • Five Common Missouri Fish - Their Anatomy, Habitat, and Life Cycle • Fishing with Lures and Fishing Regulations Each individual who completes all four classes in the same DNF season will receive a $25 gift card from Bass Pro Shops. Conrades said the most rewarding thing for DNF volunteers is seeing young anglers catch their very first fish. She hopes that excitement could plant a seed for greater things to come. “We see that anglers make great conservationists. Our goal with DNF is to spark an appreciation for nature, with children understanding the importance of conserving the resources around them,” said Conrades. To find out more about the program and links to register for DNF classes online, visit http://www. discoverfishingstl.com/.
www.mycnews.com • Community News – St. Louis County • April 11, 2018
Around Town
Championship trophy awarded at North Star District’s annual Cub Scout Pinewood Derby Branden Matz, a member of Pack 739 of the North Star District of the Greater St. Louis Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, won the championship trophy on March 3 at the North County District’s annual Cub Scout Pinewood Derby. The event was held at Gateway Buick GMC in Hazelwood. Located in North St. Louis County, the North Star District serves the youth and families in the FergusonFlorissant, Hazelwood, Jennings and Riverview Gardens School Districts, including private and parochial schools in North St. Louis County. For questions about the Scouting program or where to sign up your child, please contact District Director Daron Storman at 314-256-3078, Senior District Executive Khary Floyd at 314-256-3082 or Membership Chairman Jane King at 314-3551383. For more information about the North Star District of the Greater St. Louis Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, visit https.//stlbsa.org/ northstar or call 314-361-0600.
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Submitted photo Don Davis, owner of Gateway Buick GMC, presented the championship trophy to Cub Scout Branden Matz.
Health characters come to life during Johnson-Wabash’s Health Bee The Bone Brothers, Salad Sisters, Banana Bunch, Vitamin C Cheerleaders and the Got Milk Twins were just a few of the characters during the JohnsonWabash Elementary School Health Bee. The Health Bee is an annual event to promote healthy eating and active lifestyles. The health characters are the brainchild of physical education teacher Barb Wnek, who is the coordinator of the Health Bee. During the event, third through sixth-grade students compete for trophies by answering health-related questions. Health characters and music are coordinated with each question.
Winners of the Health Bee are: Third Grade Daniel Strode Brianna Robinson Jakiyah Bowman Kanye Owens Caiden Cook
Fourth Grade Jimmy Randle L’Ryia Washington Antia Burchett Carter Jiles
Photo courtesy Ferguson-Florissant School District The Banana Bunch were just a few of the characters parading through the Johnson-Wabash Elementary School’s Health Bee.
Fifth Grade Rasheed Davis Jadon Rainey Ja’sha Bolden J’Kayla Boyd DeLaynah Scott Faith Goodin Aliyah Vance
Sixth Grade Hailee Brance Shaundra Hughes Juanita Owens Marcus Cosey Amori Robi
www.apexnetworkpt.com NEXT UPCOMING SPECIAL SECTIONS: Healthy Living: May 16, 2018 The Golden Years: April 25, 2018 INFO@MYCNEWS.COM FOR ADVERTISING RATES
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School
April 11, 2018 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com
Hazelwood West Senior Awarded Full Scholarship to St. Louis University
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Hazelwood West High School senior Hannah Friedrich was recently awarded a full-ride athletic scholarship worth nearly $200,000 to St. Louis University to continue her soccer career. Friedrich’s scholarship will cover tuition, room and board for all four years. She plans to major in speech pathology. Kimberly Quain, Hazelwood West college and career counselor, was excited to hear that Friedrich was selected to receive this athletic scholarship. “Hannah received a fantastic athletic scholarship and she will be able to continue her soccer career at one of the best universities in the country,” said Quain. “She put in hard work in the classroom and on the field to receive this
Photo courtesy Hazelwood School District
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scholarship and we wish her the best in her future endeavors.”
Normandy Early Childhood Center chosen to showcase at state conference The Normandy Early Childhood Center was one of only four Missouri programs selected to showcase at the recent Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Conference on the Young Years. Pictured here are NECC teachers Katherine Garrett (far left) and Aman Lado (second from right) with keynote speakers Donna Porter and DJ Batiste. The Normandy Early Childhood Center provides a free, fullday program to pre-school and pre-kindergarten students in the Normandy Schools Collaborative.
Photo courtesy Normandy Schools Collaborative
Hazelwood superintendent cheers on robotics teams Photo courtesy Hazelwood School District
Hazelwood School District Superintendent Dr. Nettie Collins-Hart cheered on the Hazelwood
Robotics Teams at the St. Louis Regional Robotics competition at the Chaifetz arena on March 9.
www.mycnews.com • Community News – St. Louis County • April 11, 2018
Business
Meridian Waste brings expanded services to Florissant customers Meridian Waste Solutions, Inc. launched expanded services to Florissant customers that began April 2. “Some of the service upgrades residents will see include increased bulk item collection from one to two items, eliminated cart rental fees for the first cart, and no rate increases for 2018,” said Scott Bradshaw, area president for Meridian Waste. “We look forward to continuing our long-standing partnership with the residents of Florissant by providing the quality environmental services they have come to depend.” Customers who registered for a 95 or 65-gallon cart are asked to start using the cart and to only place garbage in the cart. If you did not register for a cart, a 95-gallon cart will be issued to you at no additional expense. Read more garbage guidelines at: http://bit.ly/FlorissantMWS. Customers are also encouraged to sign up for service alerts to be notified by email and/or text of issues such
as severe weather events or road closures and holidays affecting their collection schedule as well as special announcements and promotions. They can sign up at: http://www.mwsinc.com/servicealert-signup/. The company successfully renewed its contract with Florissant in July 2017. Services include oncea-week trash and once-a-week recycling. Yard waste collection is available for an additional fee, and customers can select if they want the service year-round or for three months at a time. Meridian Waste will provide seasonal yard waste pick-ups at no charge to the residents on the second pick-up of the month during April, July, November and December. Bulk pick-up is available on the third pick-up day of the month when scheduled with Meridian Waste in advance. Customers needing assistance are welcome to call the local Meridian Waste office at 314-2913131 or email CustomerService@MWSinc.com. www.byerlyrv.com
Mommy’s deSign Farm celebrates grand opening ceremony with a ribbon cutting
Photo courtesy city of Florissant Pictured is some of the family and friends, the owners Jessica Rodgers- Kennedy and Dari Andrews with Florissant Mayor Thomas Schneider, Chairman of the Greater North County Chamber of Commerce Bret Berigan, Ward 6 Councilman Gerard Henke and other chamber members.
Mommy’s deSign Farm has opened its doors in Florissant at 1060 rue St. Catherine (the old train depot). The ribbon cutting and grand opening were held on March 26. The owner of Mommy’s deSign Farm Jessica Rodgers-Kennedy has been painting signs since 2006 for friends and family. In the beginning of 2016 Jessica starting doing in-home sign parties. After doing an in-home party for Dari Andrews, she decided she would make a great party instructor. Jessica taught her the ropes
and Dari instructed parties for the remainder of the year. In 2017, they teamed together so they could stay up with the demand. Now in 2018, Dari and Jessica opened up their first studio in Florissant for public and private events. They now have 10 instructors teaching traveling parties spanning from Union, Missouri all the way to Troy, Illinois. For more information visit their website at www. mommysdesignfarm.com to schedule your next design party.
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What’s Happening
April 11, 2018 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com
Send your event to editor@mycnews.com and we'll print it! EVENTS April 11: 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 call 314-831-6121.
April 11: Shoulder pain seminar
Join Katherine Burns, MD, SSM Health DePaul Hospital orthopedic surgeon, for an informative discussion on treatments for shoulder pain from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the May Conference Center at DePaul Hospital. She will explain non-surgical and surgical procedures, including the latest techniques and newest technology for shoulder replacements. Enjoy a light dinner and ask questions about treatment options for shoulder pain. The program is free, but space is limited and reservations are required. Please call 1-866-SSMDOCS (1-866-776-3627) to register.
April 12: Community forum
Save-the-date for the Spring Hazel-
wood School District Board of Education Community Forum. The informal discussion will take place from 6 - 7:30 p.m. at Hazelwood Central High School Library at 15875 New Halls Ferry Rd. in Florissant. The forum will be a panel style discussion, consisting of Superintendent Dr. Collins-Hart, three board members and moderated by a member of the Hazelwood PTA Council. The entire Hazelwood School District community is invited to attend and to join in on the conversation. If you have questions, please email info@ hazelwoodschools.org.
April 13: Country fried steak or meatloaf dinner Country fried steak or meatloaf dinner at Florissant Valley VFW Post 4105, located at 410 St. Francois, from 4 to 7 p.m. All profits go to support veterans. For more information call 314-831-6121.
April 14: Breakfast
Breakfast at Florissant Valley VFW Post 4105, located at 410 St. Francois, from 8 to 10 a.m. All profits go to sup-
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port veterans. For more information call 314-831-6121.
April 14: Flea market
Flea market at Florissant Valley VFW Post 4105, located at 410 St. Francois, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. All profits go to support veterans. For more information call 314-831-6121.
April 15: Gospel concert
Robin Waters Hartfield and Diane Mohr, Ritenour Graduates, are sharing their love of music at a concert at Calvary United Church of Christ at 3 p.m. A free will offering will be received to benefit the ministries of Calvary UCC. Calvary UCC is located at 2501 Hartland Avenue, one block from Ritenour Middle School.
April 15: NCCU Night at the Ballpark ticket deadline
North County Churches Uniting for Racial Harmony and Justice (NCCU) is holding a Night Out at the Ball Park at Busch Stadium on June 16 at 7:15 p.m. at the game between the Cardinals and Cubs. Tickets are for sale for
$60 each and funds raised will be used to support NCCU’s Annual Youth Computer Academy where students will be provided free training on how to build a computer, use software, and upon completion of the training each will be given a free computer. Last Summer, NCCU gave away 44 free computers. Funds will also be used to support TEAM (Emergency Assistance Ministry) in North County. Seats are very desirable and are located in the Right Field Box. Out of 300 tickets, there are currently 180 tickets left. The remaining tickets are expected to be sold by April 15; therefore, please order your tickets now. You may buy your tickets by sending a check payble to NCCU at 13200 New Halls Ferry Rd., Florissant, MO 63033 and include a self-addressed stamped envelope to this address. For further information call 314 602-0928 or 314 238-6828.
April 18: 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 informa-
tion call 314-831-6121.
April 19: Food packing event
Operation Food Search (OFS), a nonprofit hunger relief organization, will hold its first Kids, Teens and Family Rap ‘N Pack. The event will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. at OFS’ headquarters located at 1644 Lotsie Blvd. The cost is $10 per person, and children three and under are free. The community is invited to help pack food for meals for food insecure kids and their families. The event will have four stations: a hands-on cooking demonstration, Operation Backpack, Family Meal Kits, and Family Meal Kit Craft Station. Volunteers will enjoy upbeat music, appetizers and beverages made by OFS’ Nutrition Education team, and learn more about the nonprofit organization that feeds more than 200,000 individuals on a monthly basis – onethird of which are children – through a network of 330 community partners in 31 Missouri and Illinois counties. Reservations are recommended since space is limited. For more information, call 314-726-5355 or visit http://
www.mycnews.com • Community News – St. Louis County • April 11, 2018 www.OperationFoodSearch.org.
mation call 314-831-6121.
April 20: Food Truck Knight
April 24: Card party
The Knights of Columbus Duchesne Council #2951 and the city of Florissant will be co-sponsoring a Food Truck Knight from 5 to 9 p.m. on the lot near the Old St. Ferdinand Shrine located at 50 rue St. Francois. The trucks will serve until 8 p.m. and the band Social Distraction will perform until 9 p.m. (Some trucks may serve later). The truck line up for the evening is: Destination Desserts, Sarah’s Cake Shop, Andrew’s Bayou Ribs, Angie Burger, The Southerner, Steak Louie, 2 Girls 4 Wheels, Kona Ice, Russo’s Trucktoria, Zia’s Food Truck, Slice of the Hill, Cha Cha Chow, My Big Fat Greek Truck and Thai Jasmine. Proceeds will benefit local nonprofit charities including the TEAM Food Pantry. Patrons are also encouraged to bring non-perishable food items for collection barrels that will be on site.
April 20: Pork steak dinner
Pork steak dinner at Florissant Valley VFW Post 4105, located at 410 St. Francois, from 4 to 7 p.m. All profits go to support veterans. For more infor-
Annual card and game party will be held at Holy Trinity Catholic Church at 3400 St Gregory Lane in St. Ann. Doors open at 11 a.m. Games start at noon. The cost is $7 which includes cake and coffee or tea. Other food items will be available for purchase. Many great attendance prizes will be awarded. Also available, Pot of Gold and raffle prizes. For reservations call Mary Cornwall at 314-428-3236 to reserve your table.
April 25: 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 call 314-831-6121.
April 27: Chicken dinner
Chicken dinner at Florissant Valley VFW Post 4105, located at 410 St. Francois, from 4 to 7 p.m. All profits go to support veterans. For more information call 314-831-6121.
April 28: Breakfast fundraiser
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Life Source Consultants invites you to Breakfast With A Purpose – 2018 at Hometown Buffet at 12228 St. Charles Rock Road in Bridgeton at 8:30 a.m., buffet breakfast served until 11 a.m. Cost is $13 per person and there will be attendance prizes. All proceeds benefit the Road to Recovery Program that provides emergency assistance for women escaping abusive relationships or attempting to reestablish themselves after leaving an abusive relationship (food, clothing, and gas vouchers, limited utility and rent assistance, transportation to receive services or leave town for safety). For more information call 314-524-4130.
April 28: World Tai Chi and Qigong Day Celebration
For the fourth year, Atonement Lutheran Church in Florissant is hosting a celebration of World Tai Chi and Qigong Day from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Don’t miss this free global event with performances by multiple St. Louis Tai Chi schools (all styles). Beginning at 10 a.m. in Fiji and continuing at 10 a.m. local times around the world, practitioners gather to celebrate the health and healing benefits of Tai Chi and
What’s Happening
Qigong. The event in the gymnasium at 1285 North New Florissant Rd. in Florissant.
April 28: Fine arts show
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drawing, painting, 3D, digital work and more.
April 28: Poetry and open mic
The Hazelwood School District will host its fourth 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. Artists will display works of art from all courses including art and design,
Poets, storytellers, dancers, singers invited for “Northern Lights,” a community arts program celebrating National Poetry Month and all arts in North St. Louis County. This event will be On Facebook live. Hosted by Write Sistahs Literary Group at Jamestown Bluff branch of St. Louis County Library at 4153 N. Highway 67 in Florissant from 1-3 p.m. Email, call or text to sign up at writesistahs@ yahoo.com or 314-210-4774.
SUDOKU answers from page F-1
CROSSWORD answers from page F-4
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Sports
April 11, 2018 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com
Sports you see with Gary B...
w w w. s e n i o r s h e l p i n g s e n i o r s . c o m / s t l o u i s c e n t r a l
More than a dozen soccer fields at Creve Coeur Park Construction on the new Creve Coeur Park Soccer Complex started in early 2017 and was completed in early 2018. St. Louis County contracted the design-build project that is being funded by the Convention & Visitors Commission. The complex is home to 13 artificial turf fields, including a standalone championship field with permanent seating for up to 500 spectators and two smaller, youth-sized natural grass fields. The complex gives visitors ample concessions, restrooms and lighted parking areas throughout. Eleven of the artificial turf fields are lighted. * Top notch facility Lindenwood volleyball team upsets nationally ranked team Recently the men’s team toppled the No. 8 ranked Loyola Chicago team 3-1 at the Hyland Arena in St. Charles in four sets. Nick Stevenson led the Lions with 20 kills while hitting .556 that helped the team snap a five-match skid to move the Lions to 9-14 overall and 3-10 in MIVA matches. Other notable accomplishments: • Nathan Van Dellen and Charley Hlavin each recorded 10 kills. • Adam Brewster notched 48 assists and now has 860 assists this season and 1,929 assists in his career. Only one Lion has recorded 2,000 career assists in the NCAA era of men’s volleyball. • Libero Ryan Vorderer was busy on defense, recording 16 digs. He has now recorded double-digit digs in four consecutive matches. * Play the best to be the best 22 days until Rascals baseball The River City Rascals professional baseball team will start the 2018 campaign with their first home game May 15 against the Traverse City Beach Bums. * Spring has sprung
Two tryouts scheduled to become a professional baseball player The River City club play in the Frontier League and will be holding a tryout on Saturday, April 21 at Carshield Field in O’Fallon, the home of the Rascals. Go to the Rascal’s website for all the details www.RiverCityRascals.com. Also, the annual Frontier League Tryout Camp and Draft will be held on April 23 and 24 at UC Health Stadium in Florence, Kentucky, home of the Florence Freedom. An average of 35 players each season have been drafted and signed to spring training contracts over the past eight years. Each year, at least one tryout camp participant has appeared in the Frontier League’s All-Star Game. Go to the Rascal’s website for more information. * Spring into a new career UMSL inducts Hall of Fame Class of 2018 The University of Missouri-St. Louis officially inducted the class at a dinner and ceremony held downtown at the St. Louis Union Station Grand Hall. The class included: • Andi Dimke-men’s tennis • Weslie Gaff Sawyer-volleyball • Amie Koerner Eplee-women’s golf • Doug Kreitner-men’s golf • Bob Mutnansky-baseball • Todd Rick-men’s soccer • Clara Vila-women’s golf • Former head baseball coach Jim Brady and the 1993 baseball team * Great accomplishments 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, and co-hosted SportsRadioSTL. com, among many other activities.
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www.mycnews.com • Community News • April 11, 2018
Recipe:
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– SUDOKU –
REBALANCE YOUR DIET
Grilled Cinnamon French Toast with Granola Crunch
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.
Recipe courtesy of Oroweat on behalf of the Grain Foods Foundation Prep time: 20 minutes | Servings: 2
Ingredients:
1/2 cup orange juice 1/4 cup light brown sugar 2 tablespoons butter 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup strawberries, sliced 1 banana, thinly sliced 3/4 cup milk 1 egg 1 teaspoon cinnamon 4 slices whole-grain nut bread 1/4 cup granola, for garnish Directions: To make sauce: In saucepan, stir together orange juice, brown sugar, butter, vanilla, strawberries and banana. Simmer over medium heat 5-6 minutes, or until flavors have combined,
stirring occasionally. To make French toast: In shallow bowl, whisk together milk, egg and
cinnamon. Dip slices of bread into milk mixture and cook 2 minutes on each side over medium heat on flat griddle or grill, or until golden
brown. Serve French toast with strawberry-banana sauce and top with granola.
Find more nutritionist-developed, balanced and budget-friendly recipes for every meal at grainfoodsfoundation.org.
Managing literary expectations in ‘Ready Player One’
M O V I E
In 1987, Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in “The Running Man,” a futuristic adventure written by Richard Bachman, the literary alter ego of prolific author Stephen King. Schwarzenegger played Benjamin Richards, a police officer wrongly accused of a brutal crime. He ends up on a game show where criminals must fight for their lives to win their freedom, but the odds are stacked against them. Directed by Paul Michael Glaser, the big screen adaptation of the Bachman book was cartoonish and ignored the themes in the book. Using his literary pseudonym, Stephen King accurately predicted the popularity of contemporary reality television shows. Television executives had incredible power and poor working men like Ben Richards signed up for deadly game shows to provide for their families. A fictional show called “Treadmill to Bucks,” for example, put chronic heart and respiratory patients on a treadmill while they answered questions for money. This book and film came to mind while I watched “Ready Player One,” the adaptation of Ernest Cline’s popular 2011 novel. The story is set in a dystopian future where people escape real life inside the OASIS, a virtual world where, with enough money and skill, anyone can become whatever they want to be. When the creator of the OASIS dies, his electronic will states he will leave his company and fortune to
SEE SOLUTION ON PAGE 9
By Steve Bryan
too many mistakes, he must start over. Flicksyncs didn’t make it onto the big screen, though. Watts, who uses an avatar called Parzival, also forms an online relationship with Art3mis (Olivia Cooke), another player searching for the elusive prize. In the book, they are competitors who never saw each in the real world until the final pages. The film "Ready Player One" photo courtesy Warner Bros. eliminates all the tension and most of the romance from their relationship the person that can find the “Easter Egg” inside by changing Art3mis’ character and some of her motivations. It also ignores the darker realities the virtual reality he helped create. Steven Spielberg had the unenviable task of of other players that Parzival meets. Like “The Running Man,” the cinematic verbringing the book to the big screen, and in many sion of “Ready Player One” is flashy and fun but ways, the film is satisfying. Spielberg and his crew skillfully recreated the “Stacks,” the mobile lacks the substance of the original novel. It’s noshome parks where residents are literally stacked talgic fun for viewers who grew up in the 1980s, on top of each other. Countless references to but the book is much more satisfying. “Ready Player One,” rated PG-13, currently 8-bit video games and 1980’s culture also made it into the final cut of the film. The virtual reality is playing in theaters. sequences are big and colorful, especially a road Born and raised in South St. race featuring the DeLorean from “Back to the Louis, Steve Bryan is now based in Anaheim, CaliforFuture.” Many essential elements from the novel were nia, and has been allowed left out, however, even with Cline himself help- access to movie and television sets to see actors and ing with the screenplay. Flicksyncs, for instance, directors at work. Though are one of Cline’s more inspired innovations on his writing has taken him the printed page. Wade Watts, played by Tye far from St. Louis, Steve is, Sheridan in the film, must repeat dialogue pre- at heart, still the same wideeyed kid who spent countcisely from the 1983 film “War Games” to com- less hours watching classic movies at neighborhood plete part of his quest in the book. If he makes theaters.
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April 11, 2018 • Community News • www.mycnews.com
Yeggs
John Hanna
Crossword Puzzle Theme: Earth Day
‘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.
Moore On Life
By Cindy Moore
Honey dos and don’ts Quickly ladies! There’s a rip in the fabric of the sport’s time continuum. Now’s your only opportunity before the baseball season gets into full swing to get a few things done around the house. Football season is in the dust bin of pig skin history; the ice and snow have melted away from the Winter Olympics; March madness has wrapped up and the NCAA just came to an exhilarating finale. The chance has come. My husband’s now vulnerable sitting with his empty bowl of potato chips flipping through channels looking for something with a ball and team mascot only to find dusty old episodes of “The Kardashians.” Time to be creative. If I want to get any of my honey dos done, I’ll have to combine them with some sort of sporty competition. “Hey!” I yell, “Mr. Pilkington is next door already working on his lawn trying to outdo ours. He’s laying down grub control and you can bet his grubs are gonna jump the sidewalk and come over to our yard and feast on our roots!” He launched out of his lounge chair and grabbed his bag of weed ‘n’ feed faster than you could say, dandelion invasion. After he had finished in record time, I grabbed a box of his old rusty junk in the garage. “Oh look. I’m going to sort through this container of thingamajiggers that have been here for years and toss out everything that has dust on it.” “No!” he yelled. “That’s important stuff!” “Then how about you replace the air filter on the car like you were supposed to do last summer while I’m picking through this and whoever finishes first gets first dibs on your stash of trash.
Ready. Set. Go!” He replaced the car’s filter; gave it a tune up; rotated the wheels then topped off the window washing fluid and replaced the hanging pine tree air freshener with a new one faster than I could take the lid off from the box. My list of projects was almost done, except for that wobbly toilet handle. This called for the ultimate contest. I challenged him to hold his bladder until it was fixed. Yes, a little friendly competition seems to have a way of getting things done quickly around here. Let the baseball season begin. 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. Caprese birthplace 6. Vigor 9. Opera house box 13. Completely dedicated 14. *Earth Day month, acronym 15. Boiling kettle emission 16. Dog collar attachment 17. Lao-tzu follower 18. Think tank output 19. *Greenhouse gas 21. *Green transportation 23. U.N. labor issues org. 24. Copper coin 25. Unit of electrical resistance 28. Short for “and elsewhere” 30. Take for ransom 35. Blow up 37. *What exhaust pipes do 39. Cabbage 40. “I’m ____ you!” 41. Alternative to talkers 43. Russian autocrat 44. Must-haves 46. Was aware of 47. Giant Himalayan 48. Put on a pedestal 50. “Team” homophone 52. Say it to agree
53. Hallway permission 55. Mouth piece 57. *Homemade fertilizer 61. *Marked with different recycling codes 65. Shylock’s practice 66. O in OPEC 68. Île de la Cité river 69. Blackthorn fruit, pl. 70. Future fish 71. Mixed breed dogs 72. One trick animal? 73. Rain byproduct 74. “Bye” to Banderas DOWN 1. “____ down!” 2. Sheltered, nautically 3. ____ du jour 4. Hindu sage 5. Get a lungful 6. Toupee spot 7. *Federal org. 8. Exploratory spacecraft 9. “____ and the Tramp” 10. Crude group 11. Hockey score 12. Highland tongue 15. Target of crime 20. Prominent 22. Desk well content 24. Grisham novel “The ____” 25. *Diminishing layer
26. Sharpens 27. Sacred song 29. In a frenzy 31. Half-rotten 32. Offensively curious 33. Winged 34. *The ____ Agreement 36. Pie a la ____ 38. *Oxygen generator 42. Excellent, old fashioned 45. Indian soldiers in Great Britain’s army, e.g. 49. More, in Madrid 51. Unwholesome atmosphere 54. *Nature’s rage 56. Impostor 57. Intersection of two arcs 58. Capital of Norway 59. Negatively charged particle 60. The hunted 61. Same as pleaded 62. South American monkey 63. Sean Penn’s movie “____ the Wild” 64. ____pool or ____pit 67. Debtor’s letters SEE ANSWERS ON PAGE 9