THE CALLof the
WILD
WWW.PBTC.NET
2 | CROSSROADS | APRIL 2020
APRIL 5
2020
contents
Around Town Local news and events
10
Feature Story The call of the wild Coyotes are a natural and misunderstood member of St. Charles County wildlife
12
Always an Adventure Odds and ends
13
Moore on Life Bugged out
14
Automobile Alley The 2020 Lexus LS 500 delivers world-class luxury
15
Entertainment Social distancing and the movie industry
16
For the Love of Food Raspberry goodness from morning to night
19
Community Calendar: April
On the Cover: Photo courtesy the Missouri Department of Conservation
APRIL 2020 | CROSSROADS | 3
APRIL
2020 writers
VOL 16 | NO 4
BY AVALANCHE
Published monthly with newsstand circulation to Wentzville and Lake Saint Louis plus newsstands in O’Fallon, Troy, Lake Sherwood and Augusta.
Avalanche is a functional illiterate who left the St. Louis area three decades ago in search of adventure. He enjoys motorcycling and all things outdoors. He lives with his wife and dogs.
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Mathew DeKinder Publisher Emeritus/ General Manager Robert Huneke
ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE – PG. 12
BY CINDY MOORE
MOORE ON LIFE – PG. 13
Production Manager Rebecca Brockmann Contributors Avalanche, David Finkelstein, Cindy Moore Staff Writer Brett Auten
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.
BY DAVID FINKELSTEIN
For advertising information, please contact us at:
Community News 2139 Bryan Valley Commercial Dr. O’Fallon, MO 63366 Ph: 636.379.1775 Fx: 636.379.1632
www.mycnews.com
Copyright 2019 Huneke Publications, Inc. No part of the publication may be reproduced in any form without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Crossroads is a trademark of Huneke Publications, Inc. Any published use of Crossroads implying affiliation is strictly prohibited.
David Finkelstein is a Master/ Skill Automotive Service Technician and a shop owner. He’s also invented garage service tools for mechanics and has served on both National and local Automotive Trade Industry Boards. He pioneered “Car Talk Radio” starting out with KMOX/CBS Radio and hosted “Auto Talk” on KFTK/FOX News Radio for 15-years. David tests and evaluates new vehicles weekly and does some consulting with various auto manufacturers.
AUTOMOBILE ALLEY – PG. 14
BY STEVE BRYAN
ENTERTAINMENT – PG. 15
4 | CROSSROADS | APRIL 2020
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.
Around Town
New Cliff View Branch library in planning stages The St. Charles City-County Library has purchased property in the western area of St. Charles County and has plans to open a new library branch. The Cliff View Branch, 10 Cliff View Drive in Wentzville Bluffs at I-70 and Hwy Z (formerly Six North Cafe), will provide a modern, light-filled space with drive-through services and outdoor spaces that are currently unavailable in any of the library’s western locations. Preliminary designs for Cliff View include features that will maximize space, usability and convenience for customers. At 3,300 square feet, the space will be flexible and adaptive with movable shelving units, a multipurpose room featuring sliding glass walls, and portable computing stations that give customers the opportunity to work anywhere in the library. Classes and events for all ages will be offered in the branch. In addition, the space will have a focus on self-service, with after-hours lending, returns, and public computing available. It will house a collection of approximately 6,600 items.
Submitted photo
Library Director and Chief Executive Officer Jason Kuhl explains, “It is no secret that the western part of St. Charles County is among the fastest-growing areas in the state. The new Cliff View Branch is being developed with an eye toward creating a comfortable, flexible, family-friendly space that reflects what we’ve heard from our customers about what they want from library facilities. We are excited about this next step in the growth of the St. Charles City-County Library.” Renovation of the building is expected to begin in July of 2020, with architecture services provided by Product Architecture + Design and construction oversight by Landmark Contract Management. The Cliff View Branch is slated to open in the spring of 2021.
Boone Center, Inc. receives computer donation from EFC International Boone Center, Inc. (BCI) – a nonprofit that improves the lives of adults with disabilities through employment opportunities – recently received a donation valued at $15,900 from EFC International’s St. Louis division. The company is a premier global provider of specialty engineered fastener parts including clamps, panel fasteners and specialty nuts. The equipment includes 28 Dell desktop computers, two Dell laptop computers and 16 Surface Pro tablets with keyboards. The donation enables BCI team members to more efficiently provide real-time documentation. The tablets, which will allow data entry during safety walk-throughs, provide continuous on-site technology accessibility to ensure overall communication. BCI uses SETWorks, a cloud-based system that specializes in disability service agencies and supports its employees’ specific personal and work-related needs. “I’m so very glad that the equipment is providing substantial value for BCI,” said Reid Krueger, Operations and Facilities Manager at EFC International. “I’m proud that I was in the right place at the right company to be able to steer this technology to one of the best places I can imagine to donate it to.” “We will use the donated desktop computers to complete our Windows 7 computer phase out project,” said BCI Information Analyst Nikki Weiss.
WWW.DARDENNEPRAIRIE.ORG
APRIL 2020 | CROSSROADS | 5
Around Town
AVOIDING THE HOSPITAL
St. Charles County Ambulance District has been selected to take part in a program that gives paramedics greater flexibility in determining patient care By Brett Auten
St. Charles County paramedics have been selected to pilot a groundbreaking initiative that will hopefully work to reduce avoidable transports to emergency departments and unnecessary hospitalizations. St. Charles County Ambulance District was one of only three emergency medical service agencies in Missouri selected recently by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to take part in a pioneering program. The initiative is called Emergency Triage, Treat and Transport (aka ET3). The model provides greater 6 | CROSSROADS | APRIL 2020
Photo courtesy SCCAD
flexibility for paramedics to address the unique health care needs of patients. St. Louis County’s Christian Hospital and Mehlville Hospital were the other two to take part. Emergency medical service technicians are trained to handle all types of life-threatening scenarios. But not every call is a matter of life and death. Now, after some value-based questions are asked up front to CONTINUED PAGE 7
The St. Charles County Ambulance District paramedics Josh Buehrig (left) and Jen Martin stand next to one of their emergency vehicles. St. Charles County Ambulance District was one of only three emergency medical service agencies in Missouri selected to take part in a pioneering program called Emergency Triage, Treat and Transport (aka ET3). The model provides greater flexibility for paramedics to address health care needs.
Around Town determine the severity of the situation, patients are given some options. Before the program, a trip to the hospital was the only choice. ET3, which was announced last year, creates a new set of incentives for emergency transport and care, ensuring patients get convenient, appropriate treatment by a variety of providers. Currently, patients who dial 911 are typically transported to an emergency department at a hospital, which is unquestionably appropriate in the case of serious medical events such as cardiac arrest, traumatic injury or stroke. In lower-acuity situations, however, alternative treatment options, may be more appropriate and cost-effective for patients, which is where ET3 will come into play. For years, EMS agencies have been paid to transport patients to emergency rooms. According to SCCAD Assistant Chief David Lewis, under the ET3 framework, the SCAAD team of 200-plus highly-skilled cli-
Holt Wrestler wins back-to-back state titles Holt High School sophomore Esther Han was crowned State Champion in her weight class (142) at the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Girls Wrestling Championship at the University of Missouri-Columbia Feb. 20-22. This is Han’s second consecutive championship; last year, as a freshman, she was crowned the state champion at 136 at the inaugural MSHSAA Girls State Wrestling Championship. Han won by technical fall at state over Brianna Cowherd from West Plains in the first round, and went on to beat Meriad Jorgenson from William Chrisman by fall in the quarterfinals. She defeated Rachel Rellihan from Fort Osage by fall in the semifinal round, and won by fall over Josie Wright of Lathrop in the championship round. “Esther trained hard this offseason and during the year and it has paid off,” said Holt Wrestling Coach Andrew Hammond. “She strives to be the best wrestler and teammate she can be while continuing to grow
nicians will have the latitude to confer with lower-acuity patients and perhaps recommend transport to an alternative, lowercost destination such as an urgent care that can meet their needs. “In the past, there has been frustration on the patient’s, paramedics’, and physician’s end when low-acuity problems take them away from those that most important,” Lewis said. “This helps reset that balance. We’ve been frustrated in the past because we have been forced to sort of kick the can down the line and move the patient to someone else when we know we could have provided a valuable service.” Lewis also noted that crews also will have the ability to initiate and facilitate treatment in place by a qualified health care practitioner via telehealth with a tablet device. ET3 is the latest in a series of cuttingedge EMS initiatives to debut in St. Charles County; in the past three years alone, SCCAD paramedics have launched multiple successful programs to address critical
healthcare needs in their community, including the opiate epidemic, special needs pediatric patients, behavioral health emergencies, and hospital readmission avoidance. SCCAD paramedics will work with a variety of healthcare partners to facilitate a robust array of options for ET3 patients, including multiple urgent care facilities and hospitals. “Though the initiative was developed with Medicare/Medicaid insurance patients in mind, SCCAD is poised for multi-payer alignment, working with several commercial insurers to deliver enhanced treatment and transport options to their patients,” Lewis said. In all, 204 agencies throughout 36 states selected to take part in ET3 will work over the coming weeks to develop programspecific protocols. Once those protocols and logistics are figured out, expect the program to launch by late spring or early summer.
Photo courtesy Wentzville School District
the sport of women’s wrestling.” Han’s state championship caps off her sophomore season at 31-1 with 27 pins, one technical fall and three major decisions. Han wrestled in middle school, where she
lived in Illinois before moving to the WSD, and has a background in competitive judo, which she attributes in part to her success as a wrestler. APRIL 2020 | CROSSROADS | 7
Around Town
Liberty High School Dance Team wins state championship The Liberty High School Varsity Dance Team captured first place in Division 4 at the Missouri Dance Team Association (MDTA) State Competition held on Feb. 29, at the Hy-Vee Arena in Kansas City, Missouri. The Liberty Belles accrued more points than any other team in their combined categories, earning first place in Precision Jazz and first place in Pom. This marks the third time in school history that the Liberty Belles have earned the state title, previously winning in 2019 and 2016 (Division 2). The school opened in 2013, so that’s three state championships in just seven years. The team motto this year was “Everything Counts,” and according to Coach Amanda Miller, her team’s dedication has paid off. Miller said, “We have approached everything while keeping that attitude as our main focus. I’m proud that our
team has understood that in order to improve, it is essential to treat everything, from practices to performances to competitions, with the same amount of importance because when it comes to being on the Liberty Dance Team, there are no little things – it all counts.” The Liberty Belles also won the Overall Highest GPA award at the competition, for the first time in school history. “I am so proud of the way this group of dancers has worked so hard to always be their best both inside and outside of the classroom,” said Miller. Seven out of 10 of the team’s dancers have a cumulative G.P.A. of 4.0 or higher. The members of this year’s Liberty Belles team are: Bella Bahr, Kylie Bernet, Delaney Engelhardt, Hailey Forck, Molly Marino, Gabrianne Salvosa, Avery Thomas, Mya Waldren, Aimee Weber and Anna Weber.
Photo courtesy Wentzville School District The Liberty High School Varsity Dance Team captured first place in Division 4 at the Missouri Dance Team Association State Competition.
WSD high school students excel at regional science and engineering fair Students from the Wentzville School District competed in the High School Honors Division of Missouri’s Tri-County Regional Science and Engineering Fair held at Holt High School on Feb. 29. Holt junior Ethan Dunsworth received first place for his project “Exploring the Mechanisms of Major Depression and Antidepressant Response Using Gene and miRNA Expression” and will advance to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Anaheim, California, May 10-15. Dunsworth was also awarded the Air Force Research Award and Navy Research Award for his project. Holt senior Amaya Kopp won second place for her project “The effects of active experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis on wild type versus transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 knockout murine central nervous systems” and earned the Air Force Research Award and Navy Research Award for her 8 | CROSSROADS | APRIL 2020
project. Holt senior Gracyn Pietrusinski won third place for her project “Characterization of H1N1 Influenza Virus Anti-Neuraminidase Specific Monoclonal Antibodies” and earned the Air Force Research Award and Navy Research Award for her project. Additionally, Holt senior Devanshi Patel won fourth place for her project “Iron catalysis in propargylic substitution reactions: solvent dependency of catalytic efficiency and catalyst decomposition studies” and will advance to the Genius Olympiad in Rochester, New York, June 15-19. Patel was also awarded the Air Force Research Award and Navy Research Award. Holt senior Cora Sverdrup earned the American Psychological Association Award for her project “The effect of perception of musical stimuli in major and minor keys on the facilitation of artistic creative performance.” Holt junior Jacob Kampelman received the American Society of Materials Science Award for his project “Effect of Print Temperature on
Photo courtesy Wentzville School District Holt junior Ethan Dunsworth received first place for his project “Exploring the Mechanisms of Major Depression and Antidepressant Response Using Gene and miRNA Expression.”
Shear Strength.” Timberland senior Jenna Davis received the Society of In Vitro Biology Award for her project “Determining the Effect of Caffeine Concentrations on the Heart Rate of Daphnia Magna.”
THE CALL of the
WILD
Coyotes are a natural and misunderstood member of St. Charles County wildlife By Brett Auten That howl you hear off in the distance can cause romantic notions of being away from it all. One with nature. Coyotes are routinely sighted all around St. Charles County, and especially so the further you push west. They have been our natural neighbors for some time now and we should continue to make the best of this relationship. As omnivores, coyotes can sustain themselves on either plant or meat. To a coyote, urban areas are like a Golden Corral restaurant. Because we humans feed birds, squirrels, raccoons, and deer, this feeding concentrates all of these animals and the coyotes can gorge. “Coyotes eat anything and everything and don’t have a specialized diet,” Tom Meister, Missouri Department of Conservation wildlife damage biologist for the St. Louis region. CONTINUED PAGE 10
APRIL 2020 | CROSSROADS | 9
“They can adapt to their surroundings because they don’t mind eating whatever is available to them.” Human garbage can also be a source of nutrition for coyotes. Meister said that each generation of urban coyotes is being trained by their parents on how to hunt and feed. “They get taught by their parents that garbage is put out on this street for Wednesday morning, so that’s where to eat Tuesday night,” he said Coyotes are both intelligent and resourceful and have been referred to as the Einsteins of the wildlife community due to their ability to adapt to anything society throws their way. These innate street smarts allow them to navigate and carve out territories in parks, golf courses, cemeteries, drainage ditches – you name it. Fortunately, they pose little threat to people. A 2009 study of coyote attacks on humans in the U.S. and Canada uncovered fewer than 150 such occurrences between 1960–2006. Most resulting injuries were minor, with just a single bite to the victim. About one-third of the incidents involved people feeding the coyotes. A minor portion of cases was connected to rabid coyotes or coyotes that were cornered or protecting their den and pups. What most families fret about regarding coyotes are their pets. Housecats and toy dog breeds have had unfortunate interactions over the years and it is usually due to two factors. The pet looks like a natural prey or it appears as canine competition as the coyote may see a dog as an interloper on its territory. This is especially true if the dog is similar in size, like pointer and retriever breeds. Even smaller, yet feisty and aggressive, dogs can be perceived as threats if they charge or bark at a coyote. Spring is a time to be extra vigilant as coyotes typically breed in February and March and the females giving birth to four or five pups about 60 days later. “Because food requirements increase dramatically during pup rearing, April through May is when conflicts between humans and urban coyotes are most
10 | CROSSROADS | APRIL 2020
common,” Meister said. It is during this time that coyotes are on the move more seeking food, and may act more aggressively toward any animal they see as potential competition. “Remove attractors like garbage cans, pet food, apples and pears dropped from trees, pumpkins, even bird feeders,” he said. “While birdseed itself is not enticing to coyotes, any rodents or squirrels the seed might also attract are top coyote prey.” Trapping or killing coyotes, however, has not shown to be successful. Traps designed to snare coyotes can likewise capture cats and dogs — or even children — making them unsafe for use in populated areas. Eliminating coyotes might even be counterproductive. Meister says research shows if a coyote is removed from a place where there’s food, water, and shelter, an-
other will take its spot. Or, the population may even expand. Research has established that coyotes can successfully be conditioned to stay away through consistent harassment and hazing. Anytime a coyote should approach or be seen in the yard, Meister suggests doing everything possible to make it a negative experience for the animal. This could include yelling or making other loud, threatening noises, throwing
“
The coyote is one of those animals that if you have them in your environment and they’re healthy, you know that overall the environment has to be healthy, too. It’s a positive sign, just like seeing deer and songbirds” - Tom Meister, Missouri Department of Conservation wildlife damage biologist for the St. Louis region
rocks and sticks, spraying high-pressure garden hoses, or blowing air horns. Shaker cans filled with pennies and paintball guns can also be effective. If its encounter with humans is unpleasant, a coyote will be less likely to come back. The key is consistency, being visible, and making sure coyotes know that humans are the source of unpleasantness. The city of Denver, Colorado has reduced human-coyote conflicts by emphasizing hazing as the primary method for addressing coyote problems. Direct encounters between people and coyotes decreased more than 75 percent from 2009 to 2010, reported the Denver Department of Parks and Recreation. It’s a simple fact coyotes are now part of the metropolitan wildlife scene, and they are likely there to stay. But it is possible for people and coyotes to successfully coexist. Meister even points out some benefits these canine neighbors can offer. “The coyote is one of those animals that if you have them in your environment and they’re healthy, you know that overall the environment has to be healthy, too. It’s a positive sign, just like seeing deer and songbirds,” he said.
Photos courtesy the Missouri Department of Conservation Coyotes are among us, and that’s a good thing. The coyotes are one of those animals that if you have them in your environment and they’re healthy, you know the environment has to be healthy too.
APRIL 2020 | CROSSROADS | 11
Always An Advsenture
Odds &ends BY AVALANCHE
A
fter my ambitious (for me) hiking and climbing trip detailed over the last few columns, it took longer than anticipated to get back to normal. While the aches and pains improved a great deal over the first week or so, it took a couple more months to gain back the weight I lost during the long journey. The thought of being in the mountains again was always present, but the thought of hauling the requisite gear and food over many miles of rocky terrain deterred any action toward making it happen. A planned late-fall backpack hunting trip ended with a loaded-up pack which never made it out the door. Now that winter’s grip has loosened, I’ve finally been doing conditioning hikes again, albeit with a light pack. A newer, more comfortable backpack sounds nice. It might help offset a few years of aging, or at least provide some psychological protection from the inevitable creakiness from such outdoor pursuits.
W
inter’s deep freeze has ended prematurely here in the mountains, with temperatures in the 50’s and even 60’s during the last week, something that usually doesn’t happen for at least another 12 | CROSSROADS | APRIL 2020
month. The neighborhood roads are much nicer than usual for this time of year, with the sometimes treacherous layer of ice gone. It’s a frozen, gravel surface in the morning, transitioning to a soggy mud-bog by early afternoon as the snow piles along the roadsides melt out. It helps to walk the dogs in the morning, while the surface is dry and solid, so the mutts can’t roll around in the gritty soup of afternoon, which they happily transfer into the house before we can wipe them down. Our yard is in a less-than-desirable state. There’s still a layer of ice over much of what was grass in the fall, with the heavily-trafficked areas thawed down to mud. It will be another month or more before we know if the long-buried grass survives, or needs to be replaced with sod this summer.
T
he seasonal transition affects the human terrain as well. Our neighborhood was founded by a family back in the 1940’s and 1950’s as a guest ranch. Back then, young Wally, now in his early 90’s, stood at one end of the north pasture with a tall survey pole, and his dad drove a bulldozer toward him, scraping out a road in the process. After this
process was repeated a few times, a shallow trench was dug in the middle of the freshlyscraped roads, and some black plastic water line was laid into the trench for a water system. The pasture was subdivided into lots, and sold in the 1960’s for $900 apiece, to some of the ranch guests who wanted to have their own cabin for summer use. Some of that early infrastructure is still in use today; only two homes are seasonally occupied now, with the rest filled with working families. The last vacant lot was sold about 10 years ago for the same price as in the 60’s… with a couple of zeros at the right end of the number. Wally and his wife are moving away after living here for most of 70 years. Health concerns have them headed to lower elevation to be near their children and grandchildren. They’ll be missed here, as well as their stories and history lessons about life in this valley more than half-a-century ago, a less-crowded, simpler time. On the brighter side, three families here have had new babies born this winter, providing some brand-new fresh faces, and putting smiles on their sleep-deprived parents’ faces. Just as winter turns to spring, the new generation arrives, as the old moves on.
Moore On Life
Bugged out SPRING IS IN THE AIR.
Finally we can escape our winter bunker! But just when we get a chance to wander outdoors the bugs come out. No, not the flies, wasps and spiders; those can be easily eliminated. I’m talking about the super bugs – viruses, germs, bacteria and all manner of ick. “Wash your hands,” the experts tell us. “Use hand sanitizer. Use bleach.” Yikes. I don’t have enough layers of skin left on my hands after scrubbing and disinfecting so often. It’s looking bleak. What’s a person to do? I’m in a panic. I venture out onto the porch with my cats to welcome the coming season. Then I remember, I can’t stay outside. There are deadly droplets in the air from the Coronavirus or SARS or MERS. If they don’t get me, there
are infected mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus or Zika. I can’t breathe just thinking about it. It hits me suddenly. Shortness of breath…everything’s gone blurry. Wheezing…feel faint. This might be it. Oopsie, just forgot to unhitch the top button on my Levis. I’m good now. That reminds me; it’s lunchtime. I know, I’ll fix a nice BLT. Bacon always makes things better. Forget it – swine flu. How about some finger-lickin’ chicken? Nope. Don’t lick those fingers unless they’ve been washed. But my skin is too raw to sanitize. I’ve got it covered; I’ll pour some Purell on my drumstick first. Never mind – bird flu. Maybe a nice juicy burger? Cancel that order – mad cow disease. Well then, a nice healthy salad seems safe. Negative – E.coli, salmo-
nella, listeria, botulism, norovirus, hepatitis A… Arrgh! I tell myself to get inside where it’s safe. I reach down to grab my fur babies and head inside. Gag! One of them has something dangling from its mouth. I yell, “Put that mouse down it’s covered in hantavirus.” I rescue them from the outside just in time then reconsider and shove them back out, because – cat scratch fever! Guess I’ll have to stay inside eating chocolate bars – they never get recalled. I’ll just watch TV. Boo! There’s nothing on but election news for the next seven months. I don’t know what’s going to kill me first, the election coverage or cabin fever. We’re all doomed! APRIL 2020 | CROSSROADS | 13
Automobile Alley
THE 2020
LEXUS- LS 500 delivers world class luxury
I
f a premium, world-class luxury sedan is on your new vehicle shopping list, look no further than the 2020 Lexus LS 500. Having been made available to consumers for more than three decades, the LS has helped to mold and further define the flagship sedan segment, as this amazing automobile competes on the stage in the class of Mercedes, BMW and Jaguars. The LS 500 and LS 500h (Hybrid) return in this model year with a few key updates including the addition of their new LS 500 Inspiration Series. This limited edition model will be offered with a unique deep garnet exterior paint and is outfitted with standard features such as 20-inch black/chrome wheels, white upscale leather interior and exclusive glass trim, among other enhancements. Additionally, this model will only be manufactured with 300 units in total, in order to enhance the level of incomparable excellence. The head-turning, remarkable LS 500 has a sleek and bold design with a coupe-like silhouette. Lexus vehicle designers took full advantage of their successful rear-wheel-drive architecture/platform to give this automobile a stretched, ground-hugging footprint and appearance. Compared to the previous generation, the latest LS is slightly lower, while the hood and trunk are just over one inch 14 | CROSSROADS | APRIL 2020
lower as well. Generally speaking, most luxury sedan owners expect greater handling agility and performance without sacrificing comfort. Helping to meet this demand, ride balance is achieved with their latest generation of chassis control technology known as Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management. This system implements cooperative control of all available vehicle subsystems such as ABS brakes, Traction Control, Vehicle Stability Control, Electric Power Steering, Variable Gear Ratio Steering and Dynamic Rear Steering, when equipped with the F SPORT performance package. An available air suspension system adjusts damping control in response to driving operations and road surface conditions. Also worth noting is the fact that the LS is already equipped with one of the most technologically advanced safety systems in the industry. In part, included features are their seamless daytime bicyclist detection, and low-light pedestrian detection, plus automatic road sign assist and lane tracing assist. Of course, this helps to further raise the bar for a driver and passenger “invisible” safety blanket. The Lexus App features unity with smartwatches and Alexa-enabled devices at home, thus making it easier to lock and unlock the doors, check the fuel level and start the car
remotely. Under the hood, Lexus designed a 3.5-liter twin turbocharged V6 engine specifically for the LS. It produces 416 commanding horsepower. Acceleration numbers show 0-60 MPH in just under five seconds. The driver can tailor powertrain response and feel by choosing from; Eco, Comfort, Normal, Custom, Sport S or Sport S+ modes. This engine is matched with a 10-speed automatic transmission. With its closely spaced gear ratios, it’s ideal for all driving situations. Available is all-wheel-drive to further enhance grip, traction and cornering stability. The high level of craftsmanship further supports the factory’s attention to details, resulting in an elegant finish with an atmosphere of depth and spaciousness. Signature touches and beautiful interior ambient lighting further helps to inspire your senses. Even the front “seat belt latches” automatically rise above the seating surface in order to make latching them just that much easier. Rear seat luxury is further augmented with options for both heating, massage and reclining settings. At road-test, the 2020 Lexus LS 500h (Hybrid) I drove had a sticker price just under $110,000. The base warranty is for 48-months or 50,000 miles. Engine/powertrain warranty reflects 72-months or 70,000 miles.
Entertainment
BIGSTOCK
SOCIAL DISTANCING and the movie industry
I
f you turn on the news or read any online commentary, chances are good the words “social distancing” will be mentioned at least once. We’ve been asked multiple times to stay at home and only go outside for walks and to get essential supplies (i.e. food and medications). On those journeys out of our homes, the government has asked that we stay at least six feet away from each other to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Social distancing was not on anyone’s mind last year; however, when “Avengers: Endgame” arrived in theaters. Lines were long at the box office and the concession stand. Auditoriums were packed during the first weeks of its release and it was impossible to keep away from other moviegoers. If you were lucky, you could stop someone from using your armrest, but people would still push past you to go to the restroom. Currently, most theaters are closed to the public, which has caused shockwaves in the
BY STEVE BRYAN movie industry. Production has ceased on film sets and some scheduled releases have been postponed. Late last year, the Regal Cinemas location near me started a long renovation process, but they remained open until the government requested that they close temporarily. The renovation is still going on, but there are no ticket or concession sales to help offset the costs of remodeling. Some notable new films like “The Invisible Man,” “The Hunt” and “Sonic the Hedgehog” will be available via Video On-Demand, though. These films had an abbreviated theatrical release due to the outbreak. All AMC Theaters are currently closed, but the theater chain has their own “ondemand” service where you can buy digital copies of new releases, but it’s a bit pricey. “Birds of Prey,” for instance, is available to purchase for $19.99, which is about the cost of two adult movie tickets. Mike Reyes at Cinemablend published an article last week about “My Spy,” a family-
friendly comedy starring Dave Bautista from Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” franchise. Reyes makes an argument for the family-friendly film to be made available via Netflix. Bautista plays a CIA Agent doing surveillance when his cover is blown by a nine-year-old girl who wants him to train her as a spy. Sometime in the hopefully not-so-distant future, we will be able to resume our normal lives and head back to the theaters. After long periods of social distancing, will people flock to theaters as they once did? I imagine the rigorous cleaning protocols theaters and other businesses put in place will continue once the “stay-at-home” mandates are lifted. We may think twice about buying that large popcorn and soda, though. For now, streaming services and VOD are available options for watching new releases. Please continue to stay safe and healthy at home and I hope to see everyone at the movies sometime soon. APRIL 2020 | CROSSROADS | 15
Raspberry
For the Love of Food
GOODNESS FROM MORNING TO NIGHT
From breakfasts to salads, desserts and beyond, fruit is unique in its ability to add both flavor and nutrition to family-favorite dishes. As you look for ways to incorporate produce in your family’s recipes, consider an option with a sweet-tart flavor and eye-catching color: red raspberries. In the cool, marine climate of the Pacific Northwest, Washington state produces approximately 90 percent of the nation’s frozen red raspberry crop. Picked at the peak of ripeness and frozen within hours of being harvested, flavor and nutrition are locked in to offer convenience and consistent quality out of the freezer section at most grocery stores, perfect for better-for-you desserts like PecanTopped Raspberry Cake and Red Raspberry Whole-Fruit Sorbet. With a distinct flavor that works well in dishes from sweet to savory, red raspberries can add bright flavor and balance to recipes ranging from salads like Spinach and Frisee Salad with Raspberry Pickled Onions and Raspberry Vinaigrette to a morning meal such as this Raspberry Coconut Smoothie Bowl. Plus, 1 cup of the flavorful red fruit includes just 80 calories and contains 6 grams of fiber while providing 28% of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant. Find more recipes at redrazz.org. 16 | CROSSROADS | APRIL 2020
Raspberry Coconut Smoothie Bowl Servings: 2 Ingredients: 2 cups frozen raspberries 1 large frozen banana 2/3 cup light coconut milk 1 tablespoon chia seeds Toppings (optional): shredded coconut shaved dark chocolate hazelnuts chia seeds edible flowers Directions: In blender, puree raspberries, banana, coconut milk and chia seeds until smooth. Mixture will be thick; ingredients may need pushed down to get blender going. If necessary, add more coconut milk. Pour into two bowls. Garnish each with shredded
coconut, shaved dark chocolate, hazelnuts, chia seeds and edible flowers, if desired.
For the Love of Food
Red Raspberry Whole-Fruit Sorbet Servings: 8 (1/2 cup each) Ingredients: 4 tablespoons powdered sugar
Spinach and Frisee Salad with Raspberry Pickled Onions and Raspberry Vinaigrette
18 o unces frozen raspberries
Servings: 4
1 egg white, pasteurized
Ingredients: Raspberry Vinegar:
Directions:
1 cup frozen raspberries
In blender, blend sugar and frozen raspberries until smooth.
2 cups vinegar
Add egg white and blend 30 seconds.
Raspberry Pickled Onions:
Serve immediately or place in container, cover and store in freezer.
1/2 cup Raspberry Vinegar
Pecan-Topped Raspberry Cake
1 teaspoon olive oil 2 tablespoons sugar 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 pound sweet onions, peeled and julienned 1 cup frozen raspberries, partially thawed Raspberry Vinaigrette: 1 cup Raspberry Vinegar 1 teaspoon fresh shallot, peeled and minced 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 1/2 tablespoon honey
Servings: 8 Ingredients: 3/4 cup granulated sugar, plus 1 tablespoon, divided 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened 2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 1 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 bag (12 ounces) frozen raspberries
whipped cream
Directions:
10-inch prepared pan.
Heat oven to 350 F.
Place frozen raspberries on top of batter. Sprinkle with pecans, remaining sugar, lemon juice and cinnamon.
In bowl, cream 3/4 cup sugar and butter. Add eggs one at a time and continue beating until well incorporated. Add flour, baking powder and vanilla; beat well.
Bake about 1 hour. Remove from oven and let cool. Serve with whipped cream.
3/4 cup olive oil Spinach and Frisee Salad: 8 ounces baby spinach, cleaned and dried 8 ounces frisee lettuce, cleaned, dried and torn 2 ounces Raspberry Vinaigrette 6 ounces Raspberry Pickled Onions 2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled 2 ounces almonds, slivered and toasted
Directions: To make Raspberry Vinegar: In clean glass container, combine frozen raspberries and vinegar; cover tightly. Refrigerate 3-7 days prior to use. Pour vinegar through fine strainer or cheesecloth-lined strainer into clean glass container. Cover container tightly and store in refrigerator. Discard raspberries. To make Raspberry Pickled Onions: In medium, non-reactive container, combine Raspberry Vinegar, oil, sugar and salt. Stir to dissolve sugar. Add onions and raspberries. Toss well to blend and coat onions. To make Raspberry Vinaigrette: In blender, combine Raspberry Vinegar, shallot, Dijon mustard, honey and salt. With motor running, slowly add oil in steady stream. Reserve remaining Raspberry Vinegar. Once blended, pour Raspberry Vinaigrette into clean, non-reactive container; cover and reserve in refrigerator until ready to use. To make Spinach and Frisee Salad: In medium mixing bowl, combine spinach and lettuce. Add Raspberry Vinaigrette and toss well to coat. Plate 4 ounces mixed greens. Top mixed greens with 1 1/2 ounces Raspberry Pickled Onions, 1/2 ounce feta cheese crumbles and 1/2 ounce toasted almonds. Repeat with remaining greens, Raspberry Pickled Onions, feta cheese crumbles and toasted almonds.
Pour batter evenly into 9- or APRIL 2020 | CROSSROADS | 17
Advertiser Profile
Wentzville Business Spotlight
WWW.LANGINSURANCE.COM
Imagination Pottery Studio is located at 1463 Wentzville Parkway, just down the street from Wentzville City Hall. The business is owned by Megan Kumbera and was purchased in May 2015. Our business offers walk-in pottery painting, classes, birthday parties, and even camps. We love that Wentzville is a hub of activity and remains a people-friendly community. We are excited about the new recreational facility coming to Wentzville. We have been voted as the Best DIY Studio for the third year in a row by the St. Louis Post Dispatch. Come by to relax, have some fun, and create new memories.
(636) 327-4699
18 | CROSSROADS | APRIL 2020
Community Calendar
APRIL 5 – Palm Sunday 6 – National Tartan Day 9 – Passover (first day) 10 – Good Friday 12 – Easter Sunday 13 – Thomas Jefferson’s Birthday 21 – National Library Workers’ Day 22 – Administrative Professionals Day 23 – Take our Daughters and Sons to Work Day 24 – Arbor Day
APRIL 2020 | CROSSROADS | 19
WWW.PROACTIVEPRINTSERVICES.COM
FREE Online Subscription at www. MYCNEWS
WWW.TREESBYWOODY.NET