CN: December 23, 2020

December 23, 2020

Keeping with tradition In spite of COVID-19, Robertson Fire Protection District keeps alive its annual Santa parade through the neighborhoods it serves

By Charlotte Beard Most people think of Santa Claus’ vehicle as a sleigh pulled by reindeer. However, for over 25 years, neighborhoods in Hazelwood and Bridgeton have been given a glimmer of that fantasy by the parade hosted by the Robertson Fire Protection District pulling out of their stations at 12641 Missouri Bottom Rd in Hazelwood and 3820 Taussig Rd. in Bridgeton.

For two weekends (Dec. 12-13 and 19), the district paraded Santa – fully-masked by his beard – in a large armchair on a red trailer pulled by a truck. For Santa’s first weekend, the neighborhoods on his schedule were Cedarbrook, Dunnridge Court, Cortena, Woodcrest, Heritage Heights, Hurstborough Manor, Hurstborough Court, Laurel Bluffs, Eagles Way, and Ville Maria Area. Bridgeton was scheduled for the final weekend.

“The parade began as a way for us to meet and greet our residents other than just during emergency situations,” stated Assistant Chief Theo Brown. “Our department strives to be involved with our community and it is important to us that during this time of year, especially during the COVID-19 pandemSubmitted photo ic, that we provide some sense of normalcy For Santa’s first weekend, the neighborhoods on his schedule were Cedarbrook, Dunnridge Court, Cortena, Woodcrest, Heriand spread holiday cheer. In the past we have tage Heights, Hurstborough Manor, Hurstborough Court, Laurel Bluffs, Eagles Way, and Ville Maria Area. Bridgeton was schedhad our family members come up to help, uled for the final weekend. the board of directors, staff, and all our front “We (did) not (have) the turnout we had (Though) our residents were very appreline apparatus. But with COVID-19 we had in previous years, for obvious reasons, but ciative, supportive, and participated in this to scale down the number of participants and conduct the parade in a way that everyone our residents appreciated and enjoyed the ef- event – everyone was still a little heartbroken could adhere to social distancing to keep ev- forts of our department,” stated Brown. “To it (could) not be as interactive as before, and eryone safe. There was still no shortage of fun help keep everyone safe, no one was allowed we could not experience watching the joy on or joy from those who participated this year.” on the trailer this year. Candy bags had to be children’s faces. Nevertheless, we were hapLike all other events this year, COVID-19 gently thrown to residents instead of being py to be able to continue the event, even if it did have some impact on the district’s annual handed out, and we were unable to interact looked a little different.” as much with everyone as in previous years. tradition.

Serving North & Northwest St. Louis County | FREE Online at mycnews.com | Vol. 99 No. 51 | 636-379-1775

Around Town

COMMUNITY VOICES

By Dr. Nettie Collins-Hart.

Pg. 2

Special Section SEASONS GREETINGS! Pg.4

Special Section Senior Living. Pg. 6

School Jennings renames its junior high Johnson Jennings Junior High School. Pg. 7

Features

Recipe, Movie & Sudoku.

Pg. F-1 CLASSIFIEDS AND HOME & GARDEN. Pg. F-2 /F-3 Moore On Life, Yeggs & Crossword Puzzle. Pg. F-4

Weather FRIDAY CHRISTMAS DAY Sunny 49/38 SATURDAY Partly Cloudy 47/34 SUNDAY Rain 50/29

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Around Town

December 23, 2020 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com

Greater North County Chamber announces 2021 Business Persons of the Year Guests enjoyed the “Bon Voyage to 2020” Nite of Stars festivities at the virtual Greater North County Chamber event on Dec. 4.

That evening, Chamber President Venus Martz announced the selection of Chris and Kathy Helfer for the 2021 Business Persons of the Year. The Helfers have devoted over 40 years of their lives serving the community at Helfers Bakery.

“Chris and Kathy have been committed to making a positive impact in our community and we are so privileged that they are receiving this prestigious award,” said Venus Martz, president of the Greater North County Chamber.

Also announced that evening was the selection of Senator Gina Walsh for the 2021 Zykan Family Legacy Award. Senator Walsh devoted her political career for the bettering of the North County community.

The 2021 Business Persons of the Year and the 2021 Zykan Family Legacy Award will be celebrated at the Chamber’s Anniversary luncheon on February 17, 2021 at the Christian Hospital Detrick Building. Tickets are $50 per person, please visit www. gnccstl.com for more information.

The evening was a huge success, thanks in part to the businesses, organizations and individuals that donated items for the live and silent auctions and to the 2020 Nite of Stars sponsors.

STLCC-Florissant Valley and NCCU to host virtual 2021 Dr. MLK Jr. Celebration St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley and North County Churches Uniting for Racial Harmony and Justice will host their annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Jan. 19.

The community event – which is from 6-7:30 p.m. – will take on a virtual twist, but it will still include inspiring speeches, celebrate excellence in the community with a formal award presentation and more. Participants should visit STLCC’s YouTube Channel to watch the event and stlcc.edu for details.

Rudolph Nickens – diversity, equity, inclusion and sustainability partner at Evolution, which is a coaching, consulting and investment firm – will speak on the celebration’s theme, “Intelligence Plus Character, That is the Goal of True Education.”

Nickens is an experienced facilitator, educator and entrepreneur with a strong background in cultural diversity, business management and community development. Previously, he served as director of equal opportunity and diversity for the Missouri Department of Transportation.

In keeping with tradition, North St. Louis County students will lead and participate in the celebration. Azariah “Z” Estes, a first-year, general-transfer student at the college, is the celebration’s student emcee. Aquita Lowe and Zoe Wallace will both serve as student speakers. Lowe is a second-year, general-transfer student and Wallace

COMMUNITY VOICES

is a first-year, general-transfer student at the college. Participants will also hear winning speeches from NCCU’s Oratorical Contest and can sing along to an instrumental rendition of James Weldon Johnson’s “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

In addition to being inspired by rousing speakers and a musical performance, guests will learn more about why Christian Hospital is being honored with the 2021 Dr. Rance Thomas Excellence in Community Partnership Award.

“Christian Hospital and president Rick Stevens are incredible partners with St. Louis Community College through a diverse and large number of avenues,” said Elizabeth Gassel Perkins, Ed.D., campus president and chief academic officer at STLCC-Florissant Valley. “To begin with, and probably most specifically, Christian Hospital partners with our nursing and health sciences programs to offer valuable training to future healthcare professionals. Beyond the incredible partnership they share with STLCC, they are instrumental in the community and strive to improve the health and welfare of everyone in the region by providing stellar patient care, educational opportunities and participating in outreach activities to all North St. Louis County residents.”

The contingency date for the virtual celebration, should the college close due to inclement weather, is Jan. 21 on the same time schedule.

By Dr. Nettie Collins-Hart

Fighting a common enemy Hazelwood School District (HSD) needs your help! Recently, HSD launched a public health campaign designed to engage our community in aggressively takings steps to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The pandemic has hurt our entire community, but it has been particularly painful for students.

I have often said that “schools cannot do it alone.” Everyone in our community has a role to play in educating our students.

The same approach needs to be used in the fight against the coronavirus. As we attack this common enemy, never before has the need for our community to come together been more evident.

In March of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced HSD to shift from in-person to virtual learning. The district has yet to return to in-person learning. Reasonable people can disagree about how to best educate students during a pandemic, but there should be no debate about the need for us to work collectively to fight COVID-19. The consequences of failing to do so will be extremely harmful for our entire school community.

As the Superintendent of Hazelwood School District, I fight for every student

with the same vigor; however, I would be doing a disservice to all students if I failed to ring the alarm about the disproportionate way COVID-19 has impacted the black community. Approximately 80 percent of HSD students are black. Throughout my career, I have placed a priority on attacking racial disparities to make education more equitable. Much to my dismay, those disparities have been increased exponentially by the pandemic.

From education and employment to physical and mental health, COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on the black community, and the zip codes HSD serves have experienced some of the highest infection rates in Missouri. With that in mind, our district launched the Help Hazelwood Get Healthy public health campaign. The effort encourages people to wear masks, wash their hands, and practice social distancing. The unique aspect of this campaign is that it engages everyone who lives in the community that surrounds HSD. The key to returning to face-to-face learning for all students and an economic recovery is improving the health of our entire community. As we navigate an ex-

tremely contagious and deadly virus, we must recognize that ensuring the health of our most historically vulnerable students will benefit all students. Additionally, this rising tide approach will prevent the perpetuation of the racial disparities in our community.

It is important for each of us to remember that COVID-19 is the enemy, not our educators, students, parents, or neighbors.

We need each other to win this fight, so please, wear a mask, wash your hands, and practice social distancing. Help Hazelwood Get Healthy!

Dr. Nettie Collins-Hart is the proud Superintendent of Schools for the Hazelwood School District serving approximately 18,000 students in the second-largest district in St. Louis County and seventh-largest district in Missouri. She was named 2019 National Superintendent of the Year in August by the National Association of School Superintendents.

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 • December 23, 2020

Around Town

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Community Impact Network presents $159,000 grant to Operation Food Search Operation Food Search (OFS), a nonprofit hunger relief organization, recently received a $159,000 grant from Community Impact Network and its emergency coronavirus task force. The one-year grant will be used for the nonprofit’s programs including: • Operation Backpack, a weekend food assistance program for Normandy Schools Collaborative elementary students.

• Normandy High School’s Nutrition Ambassadors Program, a group of students trained by OFS to provide healthy cooking demonstrations plus to educate peers, faculty, and community members on the importance of healthy eating while on a budget.

• Fresh Rx: Prescribing Healthy Futures, an innovative program that provides food, nutrition services, and case management assistance to Normandy families.

The Community Impact Network works to improve the availability and delivery of services by maximizing efficiency, improving communication and empowering community members living in the Normandy footprint to build and protect their human capital and create wealth.

“Operation Food Search has been an integral partner in our efforts to support and empower residents of the Normandy Schools Collaborative Footprint,” said Community Impact Network’s Chief Executive Officer Robert Gioia. “The impacts of the COVID-19 crisis will be felt in our community for months and possibly even years to come. Our partnership is more important now than ever before. We are proud

Submitted photo Pictured is the inaugural Nutrition Ambassadors class prior to the pandemic. OFS currently teaches the program’s youth virtually.

to work with Operation Food Search and honored to support them in their mission.”

“The pandemic has continued to wreak havoc on the communities we serve and, thanks to generous grants like this one from the Community Impact Network, we are still able to offer a wide variety of programs to the Normandy area,” said OFS Executive Director Kristen Wild.

Clayton Community Foundation introduces ‘Clayton’s Neighborhoods’ Clayton Community Foundation (CCF) has unveiled “Clayton’s Neighborhoods Video Project,” a close look at multiple neighborhoods designed by nationally known architects early in the 1900s.

Shortly after the St. Louis World’s Fair, the undeveloped land west of Forest Park attracted the excitement of developers and interest of downtown residents. Clayton had been named the seat of St. Louis County government after the Great Divorce in 1876, and the wooded, rolling acreage was less than a day’s ride by horseback from the bustling downtown city.

The CCF History Committee teamed with Cordell Whitlock, award-winning former KSDK television reporter, and Peter Foggy, former KSDK television videographer, to prepare the script and produce the videos of eight neighborhoods within the city of Clayton community over the past few months.

Starring in Clayton’s Neighborhoods is Esley Hamilton, who served for nearly 40 years as the St. Louis County Parks and Recreation Preservation Historian. He is credited with cataloguing over 4,000 county buildings and adding more than 40 properties and districts to the National Register of Historic Places. Additionally, he worked with the Missouri Department of Transportation to save a community of homes that belonged to the county’s first African American development during the Highway 40 expansion project.

Hamilton has been called “irreplaceable” and “encyclopedic,” and received one of four nationwide preservation awards from the Secretary of the Interior.

“We are so very fortunate to have Esley’s wealth of knowledge of local neighborhoods,” said Katie Lerwick, chair of CCF History.

“His gift of information, along with our stellar team, has created a group of videos that will delight residents and inform people who are visiting or relocating here.”

An important video segment also features former Clayton High School history teacher and historian, Donna Rogers-Beard, who provides a meaningful overview of Clayton’s past African American community.

The videos can be found on CCF’s YouTube Channel.

www.alivestl.org

www.alivestl.org

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December 23, 2020 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com

Recipe:

Delectable desserts for holiday celebrations Cranberry Orange Bread Pudding

Recipe courtesy of Kirsten Kubert of “Comfortably Domestic” on behalf of Milk Means More Prep time: 20 minutes | Cook time: 65 minutes | Servings: 12 With so many traditions and ways to celebrate the holiday season, the options are nearly endless for families looking to spend special moments together. One of the tastiest and most enjoyable activities you can engage in with family and friends is to team up and create sweet eats in the kitchen.

Find more ways to celebrate the season with sweet eats at milkmeansmore.org

www.zissertire.com

Ingredients: Pudding: 1 loaf Texas toast or day-old bread 1-2 tablespoons softened butter 1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries 6 eggs 3/4 cup granulated sugar 3 1/2 cups 2% milk 1 teaspoon freshly grated orange zest 1/4 cup fresh orange juice 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 1/2 tablespoons coarse granulated sugar (optional) Orange Custard Sauce: 3 egg yolks 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1 cup half-and-half 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated orange zest Directions: To make pudding: Cut bread into bitesized cubes. If bread is soft and fresh, place cubes on half sheet pan and let

stand at room temperature overnight to dry out.

custard is set and edges of bread are browned.

Preheat oven to 375 F.

To make orange custard sauce: In small saucepan, whisk egg yolks with sugar until lightened to pale yellow color, about 2 minutes. Stir half-and-half into mixture until combined. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, 15-20 minutes, or until sauce thickens enough to coat spoon. Stir orange zest into custard sauce.

Grease 13-by-9-by-2-inch baking dish with softened butter. Place bread cubes in prepared baking pan. Scatter cranberries over bread.

Beat eggs with sugar, milk, orange zest, orange juice, melted butter, vanilla and cinnamon until well blended. Pour evenly over bread and cranberries to coat. Sprinkle with coarse sugar, if desired. Bake 60-65 minutes, or until

Serve bread pudding with warm custard sauce over top.

www.SteveRobbinsOnline.com

www.goldkamphvac.com

www.lifecarecenterofbridgeton.com

www.kaybeeelectric.com

www.mycnews.com • Community News – St. Louis County • December 23, 2020

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Florissant offers Christmas lights and tree disposal program Gateway Disposal STL will offer the “Christmas Tree Disposal” program to Florissant residents having real Christmas trees. Also, the city’s health department will be accepting Christmas lights for recycling purposes from residents as well.

If you have Christmas lights you wish to dispose of please bring them to the health department building in St. Ferdinand Park and there will be a large tote outside of the building for you to dispose of your lights. Residents can dispose of their Christmas lights for recycling at the health depart-

ment building until Jan. 8, 2021.

The “Christmas Tree Disposal” program will include curbside pick-up of real Christmas trees during the holiday season and go through the month of January. Gateway Disposal STL will be providing this service “free of charge” to any Florissant resident regardless of them having weekly yard waste service.

Any Florissant resident wishing to take advantage of this free service must place their tree at their curb on the day of the week that yard waste pick-up is normally provided in their

www.valleyind.net

neighborhood.

Trees must be free of all contaminants, such as garland, tinsel, lights and ornaments and if the tree is larger than six foot it must be cut in half to fit in trash truck.

Recycle, reduce, reuse for a better environment for all.

For additional information or questions, call the Florissant Health Department at 314-839-7654 or Gateway Disposal STL at 314-900-2070.

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Senior Living

December 23, 2020 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com

Build a better health care budget Managing a chronic disease takes plenty of special planning and attention, and in many cases, a lot of money. In some cases, the expenses associated with disease management are overwhelming, forcing patients to skip essential treatments or medication and risk serious health complications.

One example is diabetes. A study published in the “Journal of American Medicine” found that 1 in 4 individuals with diabetes had rationed their insulin, which can impact short- and long-term health. Since 2002, the list price of insulin has risen, often costing customers

without health insurance or on high-deductible insurance plans upwards of $1,000 for a one-month supply.

Consider these ideas to help manage the expense associated with a chronic disease: 1. Health Insurance Whether you have a chronic condition or you’re generally healthy, it’s important to understand the different types of health insurance available to you. Commercial health plans can be purchased by anyone and may be available through your employer, or you may be eligible for government-funded health care, but there are numerous other options and variables to consider.

Understanding the costs associated with insurance plans means taking into account both your monthly premium and out-ofpocket costs like co-pays, co-insurance and deductibles. When choosing a plan, decide whether you’d rather pay a higher amount each month (premium) and less when you see the doctor (co-pays, co-insurance or deductible), or if you’d prefer to pay less each month and more when you need to see the doctor or fill prescriptions.

Another consideration is the plan’s network. There can be a significant budget impact when you see doctors in-network vs. out-of-network. Other potential cost-saving options include health savings accounts or flexible spending accounts, which might save you tax dollars.

2. Doctor Visits Avoiding visits to the doctor because of the expense can end up costing more in the long run if you leave serious symptoms untreated or fail to properly manage a chronic condition. Make sure you understand all costs associated with your visits, including what’s covered by insurance, your co-pay and any out-of-pocket costs. Labs and tests aren’t always covered, and certain conditions like diabetes can require many test-related expenses. Sometimes saving money can be as simple as having lab work done at an in-network facility and sent to your doctor.

In addition to a primary care doctor, many patients with diabetes also see an endocrinologist and have more frequent visits to the eye doctor. Indirect costs like transportation and childcare may also impact the overall expense of a visit.

3. Prescription Drugs Doing your research can make a major difference in what you pay for your prescriptions. For many conditions, such as diabetes, the cost of medication may make it tempting to skip doses to make a prescription last longer, but that can have dire medical consequences.

Instead, conduct price checks with various pharmacies and discuss your medication options with your doctor, including which of your prescriptions have generic alternatives available. If a generic is a possibility and your doctor believes it’s a good match for your condition, be sure the pre-

scription notes that substituting is allowed. You can also look into coupon savings and patient assistance plans.

In addition, some programs are available to help people with certain conditions. For example, GetInsulin. org, created by nonprofit organization Beyond Type 1, is a one-stop tool for anyone with diabetes who is having trouble accessing affordable insulin in the United States.

“High-quality, modern insulin must be available to people with diabetes regardless of employment or insurance status, across all demographics, without barriers and at an affordable and predictable price point,” said Thom Scher, CEO of Beyond Type 1.

Through the website, users answer a few questions and receive customized action plans to guide them through the access solutions that best serve their unique circumstances such as location, insurance type, income and prescription.

4. Medical Equipment Devices like oxygen tanks, pacemakers, blood glucose monitors and CPAP machines for sleep apnea play vital roles in treating serious medical conditions. If you’re worried about the cost of equipment recommended to help you navigate a short- or long-term diagnosis, work with your doctor and insurance company to figure out the most cost-effective method to achieve your treatment goals.

5. Emergency Care A medical emergency isn’t only a drain on your physical and mental well-being, it can deliver a major blow to your finances. Emergency care can cost thousands of dollars per visit, especially with high-deductible insurance plans. Some conditions like diabetes are associated with a higher likelihood of emergency care needs for complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis and severe hypoglycemia. To offset the impact of potential emergency care expenses, plan ahead and build a savings account for your medical needs.

6. Food Certain diets cost more to maintain, and that can be especially true when you’re eating to accommodate a medical need. When planning food costs, be sure to account for the foods you’ll eat regularly, as well as the extras you’ll need, such as glucose gummies and snacks to treat low blood sugar for those living with diabetes.

Learn about options to help manage your diabetes-related expenses at GetInsulin.org.

Searching for Solutions After her father passed away from complications of uncontrolled diabetes, Christine Kanderski was determined to never relive that pain. This meant finding a way to afford treatment for her mother’s type 2 diabetes and her son’s type 1 diabetes.

“There was no way that my family and I were going to let diabetes take another one of our family members,” Kanderski said.

Kanderski budgeted for a laundry list of costs: appointments, health insurance, needles, test strips, glucose meters and insulin. One trick she found to save money was sharing supplies between her mother and son.

When things seemed hopeless, Kanderski reached out to the diabetes community for support and resources. Tools like GetInsulin.org can help people find affordable insulin. Users answer a few questions and receive customized action plans to guide them through solutions that best serve their unique circumstances.

www.mycnews.com • Community News – St. Louis County • December 23, 2020

Jennings renames its junior high Johnson Jennings Junior High School after retired principal

Photo courtesy Jennings School District

At a special board session on Nov. 9, the Jennings School District Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Art McCoy, met, and the board voted unanimously to rename its junior high the Johnson Jennings Junior High School.

In gratitude of 27 years of service of Rose Mary Johnson to the Jennings School District (JSD) and Board of Education, Jennings Junior High School is hereby designated as the Johnson Jennings Junior High School for her tireless service.

The district plans to have an unveiling and ribbon cutting of the new school name at the completion of this board member’s term, in April of the new year.

Johnson has been a Jennings School District Board Member since 1994 and has served in each JSD Board Officer role multiple times. She is a retired educator serving as a principal, assistant principal, and teacher in the Saint Louis Public Schools. Along with being a retired educator, she also served honorably in the United States Army Reserves.

Johnson is a lifetime member of the St. Louis County NAACP, currently serving as Chairwoman of the Education and Voter Registration Committees and Missouri NAACP Assistant Secretary. She is a member of the Missouri School Boards Association, the National School Boards Association, and the Missouri Retired Teachers Association.

School

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What’s Happening

December 23, 2020 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com

Send your event to editor@mycnews.com and we'll print it!

Take notice . . .

The events listed in this section are the latest updates as of press time, please check with individual sites for the most up to date cancellations and reschedule info.

EVENTS 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: Tax filing program volunteers

Seeking greeters, appointment schedulers, and tax preparers to assist older adults in the St. Louis County Tax Filing Program. Training and mileage reimbursement is provided. For more information and to start the volunteer application process, contact the County Older Resident Programs and ask for Mike Nickel at 314-615-4021.

Mondays: TOPS meeting

Come, join and take off those extra pounds. T.O.P.S.=Take Off Pounds Sensibly has meetings on Monday nights at 7 p.m. (weigh in begins at 6:35 p.m.) 9135 Shelley Avenue, Overland, MO 63114. (Entrance is in the back on East Milton). TOPS is a very inexpensive way to lose weight.

You may visit a meeting for free. Any questions please call Dan Agee at 314-540-5223. www.treesbywoody.net

www.stlcorona.com

Mondays: Choral Arts Singers practice

Choral Arts Singers resume practice on Mondays, at 7 p.m. at Transfiguration Episcopal Church, 1860 Lake St. Louis Blvd. in Lake St. Louis. New singers are welcome. Auditions are not required.

See www.concertarts.org.

Mondays: City council meetings

City of Pine Lawn holds regular city

council meetings at city hall at 6250 Steve Marre Ave. in Pine Lawn on the second Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. The meetings are open to the public.

shifts are available. If you are interested, please contact Cheryl Piece at 314-446-4440 or cpiece@caastlc.org for additional information.

Tuesdays: A cappella singers

City of Pine Lawn holds regular workshop meetings at city hall at 6250 Steve Marre Ave. in Pine Lawn on the fourth Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. The meetings are open to the public.

The Gentlemen of Sound are looking for men who like to sing or want to learn. They practice Tuesdays at Lady of the Pillar school at 401 S. Lindbergh from 7 – 9 p.m. They try to do public events monthly. Always looking for new members. Come by or call Charlie at 314-954-1121.

Mondays: A cappella singers

Tuesdays: Chair Zumba

Mondays: Workshop meetings

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 314-9936134.

Mondays: Korean War Veterans Association meeting

If you had military service in Korea between Sept. 3, 1945 and the present you are cordially invited to a meeting of Chapter 4, North County Korean War Veterans Association. Meetings take place at the VFW Post 4105 at 410 St. Francois in Florissant on the second Monday of the month, starting at 7 p.m. For more information contact Walter Kaiser at 314-9212132. For a limited period the Chapter will pay for one (1) year membership for new members.

Mondays-Thursdays: Volunteers needed

Community Action Agency of St. Louis County is in need of volunteers to stock shelves, sort food shipments and pack bags for Food Pantry Clients Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Two to four hour

Chair Zumba every Tuesday from 2:15 – 3 p.m. at The Bridge At Florissant at 1101 Garden Plaza Dr. (Parker @ Arlington). For more information call 314-831-0988.

Tuesdays: Celebrate Recovery

Celebrate Recovery Tuesday meetings take place at 6 p.m. with a Saturday Bible Study at 9 a.m. at LifePoint Church at 424 Graham Rd. in Florissant. For more information visit w w w.lifepointministries.church/ celebrate-recovery or call (men) Steve D. at 636-634-6582 or (women) Denise W. at 530-417-6151.

Tuesdays: Choir rehearsals

The St. Louis Chordinals, a women’s a cappella chorus, rehearse every Tuesday evening from 7 - 9:30 p.m. at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church at 12397 Natural Bridge Rd. in Bridgeton (next to the Bridgeton Government Center). For more information call Linda at 314-839-3495 or visit stlouischordinals.org.

Tuesdays: Vietnam Veterans Association meeting

Chapter 794 Vietnam Veterans Association meets on the third Tuesday of each month at VFW Post 4105 at 410 St. Francois in Florissant. Meetings start at 7 p.m. For more information contact Walter Kaiser at 314-9212132. Chapter will pay for one (1) year membership for new members.

www.mycnews.com • Community News – St. Louis County • December 23, 2020 Tuesdays: TOPS pounds sensibly)

(Take

off

From 9:15 - 10:30 a.m. located at John F. Kennedy Center/Henry Koch Ctr., Howdershell Rd. at Charbonier Rd., Florissant. For more info contact Paul McConnell, 314-831-5476.

2nd Tuesday Sept.-June: Showme Stitchers:

Show-me Stitchers is the local chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America. We meet on the second Tuesday, Sept.-June at 6:30 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 14088 Clayton Road, Chesterfield, MO. Learn needlepoint, embroidery, cross stitch, and more.

Every 4th Tuesday of the month: Fort Bellefontaine Memorial American Legion Post 335 meeting

6:30pm, Fort Bellefontaine Memorial American Legion Post 335, at the Bellefontaine Neighbors Community Center at 9669 Bellefontaine Rd. Those interested in membership are invited to attend.

Every Tuesday: Bingo Evening at Florissant Elks Lodge #2316

Doors at 4:30 p.m., games begin at 6pm, Florissant Elks Lodge #2316, 16400 New Halls Ferry Rd. in Florissant. For more information, call 314921-2316.

Wednesdays: Bingo

Bingo takes place every Wednesday at American Legion Post 338 at 9655 Midland Blvd. in Overland. Doors open at 5 p.m. For more information contact Chairman Ed Hilleman at 314-660-1813.

Wednesdays: Bingo

Life Care Center of Bridgeton, at 12145 Bridgeton Square in Bridgeton, welcome all to Community Bingo every last Wednesday of the month

at 2:30 p.m. Light refreshment will be served. Please RVSP at 314-298-7444 with the month you will attend and number of people attending.

Wednesdays: TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly)

TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets from 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at St. Andrews United Methodist Church at 3975 N. Hwy 67 in Florissant. For more information contact Norma at 314-306-4731.

Every Wednesday: Bingo Morning at Florissant Elks Lodge #2316

Florissant Elks Lodge #2316, 16400 New Halls Ferry Rd. in Florissant.

Doors at 7:30 a.m., games begin at 9:30 a.m. For more information, call 314-921-2316.

Bridgeton Trails Library Branch Programs:

3455 McKelvey Rd., St. Louis, 314994-3300. Story Time: Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. 9 months to 2 yrs. Room 1 (Lap Time); Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.

Ages 3–5. Room 2; Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. Ages 3–5. Room 1.

Florissant Senior Citizens’ Bingo Clubs: 314-839-7604.

Every 1st Wednesday of the Month: Stroke Support Group

3-4 p.m., Center for Senior Renewal, Detrick Building 1st floor, 11133 Dunn Rd. For more information, contact Jamie Stevens at 314-6535331.

Thursdays: Bingo

Community Bingo at the Bridge At Florissant, at 1101 Garden Plaza Drive (intersection of Parker and Arlington) takes place on the third Thursday of each month starts at 2 p.m. There will be snacks and prizes.

www.stloasis.org

For more information call 314-8310988.

Thursdays: Quilting guild

Every third Thursday of the month the Flower Valley Quilting Guild meets at 7 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church at 123 Carson Road in Ferguson.

Thursdays: checks

Blood

pressure

Free blood pressure checks monthly at Life Care Center of Florissant at 1201 Garden Plaza Dr. (off Parker Rd.) in Florissant every third Thursday of the month. Call 831-3752 for more information.

Thursdays: meeting

Women’s

chorus

Every Thursday City Voices Chorus, a women’s chorus singing four-part a cappella harmony, meets at Church of the Good Shepherd at 1166 S. Mason Rd. in St. Louis. Members come from the entire bi-state region. Call Marcia at 636-274-0723 for more information or visit www.cityvoiceschorus.org.

What’s Happening

Fridays: Fish fry

A fish fry takes place every Friday at American Legion Post 338 at 9655 Midland Blvd. in Overland from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information contact Chairman Ed Hilleman at 314-660-1813.

9

Every 3rd Friday of the month: Bingo 2 p.m., Life Care Center of Florissant, 1201 Garden Plaza Dr. For more information, call 314-831-3752.

Saturdays: Yoga

6:45 p.m., Knights of Columbus Hall, 1216 Teson Rd. in Hazelwood. For more information call 314-731-9330.

Yoga returns to Calvary UCC at 2501 Hartland Avenue, on Saturdays from 10:30-11:30. Masks and social distancing are required in the building and participants should bring hand sanitizer with them. For further information call Angela at 314-801-8594.

SUDOKU answers from page F-1

CROSSWORD answers from page F-4

Every Friday: Our Lady of Fatima #4429 Knights of Columbus Bingo

10

Sports

December 23, 2020 • Community News – St. Louis County • www.mycnews.com

Sports you see with Gary B...

Basketball player at Lindenwood earns early holiday honors Redshirt junior guard Devin Fuhring has been named the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Player of the Week, the conference announced. Fuhring becomes the third player in program history to receive the acco-

WHERE CAN YOU GET Pick up a at all 35 Dierbergs & Schnucks stores in St. Charles County and North and Northwest St. Louis County

lade and first time in her career that she has earned the award. She becomes the second player this season joining Julia Ruzevich.

Fuhring averaged a team-high 27.5 points per game in Lindenwood’s first two home wins of the season, over Missouri S&T and Truman State. Against Truman State, Fuhring put up a career-high 33 points, which is tied for the fourth-highest scoring output in a single-game in team history. She also scored 22 points in just 25 minutes on Thursday vs. the Miners.

The 5’-9” guard out of St. James, Missouri. also averaged 4.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.0 steals, and one block over the twogame span for Lindenwood. From the field, Fuhring hit on 19-36 shots (.528), including 8-11 (.727) from deep. She shot 9-11 (.818) at the charity stripe, as she is now tied for ninth in the GLVC in free throw percentage. Her 10 field goals and five three-point? ers made against Truman State tied previous career-high marks. She also tied her career-highs for single-game rebounds with eight against Missouri S&T. Fuhring moves up to No. 12 in the conference in scoring with 17.0 points per game.

She is also No. 4 in three-point field goal percentage (.500) and ninth in three-pointers made per game (2.20) in the GLVC. * Leading the pack

OR READ US ONLINE AT MYCNEWS.COM

Cheerleading tryouts for indoor football The St. Louis Bandits are scheduled to take the field in early spring and will be a part of the American Arena Football league.

Tryout applications need to be submitted

by Jan. 15, 2021 on line and will be held at the Performing Arts studio in O’Fallon.

Go to www.StLouisFootballBandits.com for more details.

* The Banshees will lead the crowd Women’s basketball team at UMSL gain second victory The University of Missouri-St. Louis women’s basketball team wrapped up a four-game season-opening home stand on Friday night by earning a 68-51 wins over Lindenwood in GLVV play.

The Tritons limited the visiting Lions to 31.4 percent shooting and forced 18 turnovers.

Senior Alex LaPorta scored a season-high 20 points, while adding eight rebounds, three steals and three assists.

The Tritons held an 18-16 lead after the first 10 minutes, which saw a combined 10 fouls, including seven by UMSL. They owned a 34-24 advantage at the half after limiting the Lions to just 24.1 percent shooting.

A 12-3 start by the Tritons to the third quarter helped UMSL outscore its guests, 25-11, in that frame to take a 59-35 lead into the final quarter.

Other contributors included Junior Kiara Stewart who added 15 points, seven rebounds and two steals.

UMSL shot 45 percent, held a 37-34 rebounding advantage and collected a season-high 12 steals.

The Tritons outscored the Lions, 17-8, in second chance points, and 19-13 in points off turnovers.

This young season finds UMSL with two wins and losses. * Tough defense

Gary Baute, a St. Louis native, may be educated in business but he lives and breathes sports. As a fan or an athlete, Gary is all sports all the time. He hosted a radio sports program on KFNS, emceed the River City Rascals’ inaugural season, among many other activities. I am currently hosting a Health show on 97.1 FM, ‘Prime Time Health’ www.

PrimeTimeSTL.com. It broadcasts Saturday nights at 8 and Sunday mornings at 9.

www.langinsurance.com

www.mycnews.com • Community News • December 23, 2020

Recipe:

Feature

F-1

– SUDOKU –

A special sweet-tart treat for the holidays

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.

Grape Frangipane Tart Servings: 10

A

ll kinds of holiday celebrations, whether with immediate family or joining loved ones virtually, can be made better with sweet treats that add special meaning to the occasion. Including fresh fruit in your treat can make it an even tastier take on seasonal tradition.

For example, fresh California grapes are available into January and are perfect for the holiday season. Enjoy them as a fresh, healthy snack or side dish, or as an ingredient to add taste and visual appeal to recipes to make the season feel special.

This Grape Frangipane Tart offers a simple solution when your sweet tooth calls for a dish to share with family. Everyday ingredients likely already in your pantry combine with fresh grapes for a sweet-tart twist worthy of the holidays.

Ingredients: 1 t art pastry, single crust (10 inches) 3 1/2 cups red or black seedless grapes 2 o unces almond paste 1 l arge egg 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup butter 2 t ablespoons flour 1 p inch salt confectioners’ sugar

Directions: Preheat oven to 375 F. Line 10-inch tart pan with pastry. Arrange grapes snugly in decorative rings in pastry. With electric mixer, combine almond paste, egg, sugar, butter, flour and salt until smooth to create frangipane. Carefully spread over arranged grapes and bake 35 minutes until tart is golden brown and cooked through.

When tart is cool, remove from pan and dust with confectioners’ sugar.

Nutritional information per serving: 151 calories; 2 g protein; 8 g fat; 46% calories from fat; 19 g carbohydrates; 34 mg cholesterol; .8 g fiber; 86 mg sodium.

SEE ANSWERS ON PAGE 9

Find more holiday dessert recipes at grapesfromcalifornia.com

Disney’s live adaptation of ‘Mulan’ focuses on action, not music

I

Movie:

By Steve Bryan

Born and raised in South St. Louis, Steve Bryan is now based in Anaheim, California, and has been allowed access to movie and television sets to see actors and directors at work. Though his writing has taken him far from St. Louis, Steve is, at heart, still the same wide-eyed kid who spent countless hours watching classic movies at neighborhood theaters.

n 2019, Walt Disney Pictures released live-action adaptations of two animated blockbuster from the 1990’s: “Aladdin” and “The Lion King.” Following in the wispy blue footprints of the late Robin Williams, Will Smith’s take on the Genie was funny and engaging, especially when it came to singing the iconic songs. For “The Lion King,” director Jon Favreau and his crew created photorealistic computer-animated characters voiced by the likes of Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Alfre Woodard.

Both films did exceptionally well at the box office, so Disney had high hopes for the live-action version of “Mulan.” Though the film’s premiere was held at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood on March 9, the theatrical release was rescheduled a few times due to the pandemic. In a move that has become common, the adaptation was released to Disney+, the company’s streaming service, at a premium price of $29.99. As of Dec. 4; however, it is available for free to all active Disney subscribers.

Unlike the directors of Disney’s other adaptations, Niki Caro (“The Zookeeper’s Wife,” ”Whale Rider”) made a bold move to

a valuable member of the army. She does have to disguise her true gender from the other recruits, though, and cannot bathe with them. At one point her poor hygiene prompts them to tell her that she stinks.

With no production numbers and show-stopping songs, the focus here is on the story, characterizations and the action. Donnie Yen is solid as Commander Tung, leader of the Imperial Army who appreciates Mulan’s skill on the battlefield. Jason Scott Lee (“Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story”) makes Bori Khan, leader of a group of Rouran warriors, an impressive and terrifying figure. Rosalind Chao also deserves praise for her performance as Hua Li, Mulan’s mother.

Without a doubt; however, this is Liu Yifei’s movie from start to finish. Though I love animation, I did not miss the production numbers or even Eddie Murphy as the Chinese Dragon Mushu from the animated feature. Yifei is powerful and commanding in a role that is as compelling as Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman, if not more so. This is a fantastic family film and one that truly deserved a full theatrical release.

The live-action version of “Mulan” is now available to Disney+ subscribers.

Photo courtesy Walt Disney Studios

use instrumental versions of the songs from the animated feature. This means you will not hear Donny Osmond sing “I’ll Make a Man Out of You,” but the action and characters more than make up for it. Harry Gregson-Williams composed the score and Christina Aguilera recorded a new version of the song “Reflection” from the original animated feature.

Both versions of “Mulan” are based on a Chinese folk tale. Mulan, magnificently portrayed by Liu Yifei, takes her ailing father’s place when Imperial soldiers arrive to conscript men into the Emperor’s army. Mulan didn’t do well when she met with a matchmaker, but her skills as a warrior make her

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Feature

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December 23, 2020 • Community News • www.mycnews.com

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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.

Say this prayer 9 times a day for 9 days, then publish. Your prayers will be answered.

It has never been known to fail.

Thank you, St. Jude. R.H.

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Feature

December 23, 2020 • Community News • www.mycnews.com

Yeggs

John Hanna

CROSSWORD: YEAR IN REVIEW

‘Yeggs’ is a comic series about Robert and Bill, two rabbits who have opened their own egg franchise in the Midwest (St. Louis area). We follow their day to day lives, watching as they go about the hectic task of preparing for their one big day every year. Along the way they have adventures filled with fun, comic doings and pathos.

By Cindy Moore

Moore On Life Crazy mad mayhem. Those are the words for this time of year. Christmas errands are piling up and there’s no time left. If you haven’t gone to the post office before now then prepare for a torturous experience.

The line was long. How long?

Even longer than the one at the restroom at our family reunion after eating Aunt Fiona’s jalapeno crab dip surprise. The bathroom was out of order.

Surprise!

Yes, yes. I should have mailed my things earlier in the month. “Get your packages and cards mailed out early,” the crabby voice inside my head said; “the lines together with COVID are going to cause delays,” it said. I poo-pooed it and listened instead to the polite voice that whispered, “There’s plenty of time. It’s barely past Thanksgiving. You still have leftover giblets. Grab a Dr. Pepper and read a book.”

So I read my book and finished up my drink then checked my watch. The time was Dec. 20!

Holy fruitcake! I jumped up and scribbled Happy Thanksgiving on the Christmas cards and…

Oopsie! Oh well, an early greeting for next year. I then shoved a few things in a box to mail off to the grandkids and grabbed my husband.

He picked up a package. “Why is this one meowing?”

I didn’t have time to answer silly questions. We headed out the front door and saw a line of people standing there.

“Excuse me, what is going on here?’ I asked.

“Line for the post office,” a woman said.

“No, no. This is my front yard.

The post office is two miles away.”

“Right.

I’ve been here since Wednesday.

I thought I was safe. I still had leftover giblets.”

I stood my husband behind her and periodically brought him out snacks and beverages and hand warmers and threats not to get out of line or else I’d feed him some jalapeno crab dip.

After several days he made it back home ragged and exhausted.

“We did it!” I exclaimed.

“Yes we…I did. The clerk said they should make it to their destination by mid-January.”

“Well it’s the spirit of the thing isn’t it? By the way, have you seen the fat cat?”

“No but, I told you one of the boxes was meowing.”

“Oh well, the grandkids were asking for a pet.”

Surprise!

Red letter day

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. *New wardrobe accessory 5. *RIP, ____ 8. Flock’s echo 12. Reply from a tunnel?

13. Feline noise 14. Edward Teller’s “baby” 15. Beat 16. Competently 17. Savory jelly 18. *Blue vs. red competition 20. One third of a threepiece suit 21. Mailed greetings 22. Long time 23. ____ biloba 26. Anointing oil 30. Nurses’ org.

31. Leafy vegetable 34. “Cogito, ____ sum” 35. Mooring spots 37. Bring into play 38. Old Brazilian coins 39. Prefix with ‘graph’ 40. *Joe’s running mate 42. PGA peg 43. What bees did 45. Fixes firmly 47. Summer mo.

48. R in NPR 50. Widespread

52. *WHO’s March announcement 55. Cliffside dwelling 56. Drop-off spot 57. Sonic sound 59. Sports figures, e.g.

60. Persian backgammon 61. Water carrier 62. *Late basketball legend 63. *____ lightning, cause of California wildfires 64. X-ray units DOWN 1. Copy cats 2. Flu symptom 3. Synagogue 4. 1/100th of a ruble 5. Bid again 6. Western neckwear, pl.

7. Gwyneth, to friends 8. *Like a vote during lockdown 9. What Joy Mangano does on TV 10. Do like exhaust pipe 11. *”Transplant” network 13. ____ of honor 14. It’s often wreaked 19. Zoo enclosures

22. Compass dir.

23. Labored breaths 24. *Jared Kushner to Donald Trump 25. Nigerian money 26. Part of an eye 27. About to explode 28. Looked at, amorously 29. Smelling organs 32. Two of the same 33. Philosopher’s study 36. *Best Picture Oscarwinner 38. China grass 40. Party barrel 41. Having a cover 44. *What Zoom host does to guests, sometimes 46. Type of jacket 48. “M*A*S*H” character 49. Ticked off 50. *President Trump used this power in 2020 51. United ____ Emirates 52. Be undecided 53. *Caucus state 54. Like most universities 55. Pose a question 58. Robinson or Doubtfire SEE ANSWERS ON PAGE 9