PREPARING FOR
DISASTER
WWW.PBTC.NET
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JUNE 5
Around Town Local news and events
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Advertiser Profile Diversify into your dreams
2019
contents
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Feature Story Preparing for disaster Police, firefighters, and paramedics from St. Charles County come together to train for potential incidents involving mass casualties
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Always an Adventure Cold spring, redux
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Moore on Life Best day ever
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Automobile Alley 2019 Toyota Tacoma makes a splash in the midsize truck market
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Food Sweet, refreshing summer snacks
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Entertainment “Aladdin� will grant most of your wishes
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Community Calendar: June
On the Cover: Photo courtesy St. Charles County Ambulance District
JUNE 2019 | CROSSROADS | 3
JUNE
2019 writers
VOL 15 | NO 6
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
BY CINDY MOORE
Publisher Emeritus/ General Manager Robert Huneke Production Manager Rebecca Brockmann
MOORE ON LIFE – PG. 13
Contributors Avalanche, David Finkelstein, Cindy Moore, Russ Patton Staff Writer Brett Auten Photographer Kate Edmonson
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.
ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE – PG. 12
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
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 MATHEW DEKINDER
ENTERTAINMENT – PG. 15
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Mathew DeKinder is a film critic and member of the St. Louis Film Critics Association, and also serves as the publisher of the Community News.
Around Town
Keep wildlife wild this spring As Missourians begin to head outdoors during the long-awaited spring season, they may encounter a variety of newborn animals. Though the young wildlife can pull on the heartstrings, and oftentimes appears to be abandoned, that’s usually not the case. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds residents to avoid interfering with newborn or young animals as it can do more harm than good. “Young animals are rarely orphaned,” said MDC State Wildlife Veterinarian Sherri Russell. “If the young is left alone, the parent will usually return. Parents are normally out searching for food and cannot constantly attend to their offspring.” Russell added that baby birds are a common newborn people want to help. “If you see a chick on the ground hopping around and it has feathers, leave it alone and bring pets inside because it is a fledgling and the parents are nearby keeping an eye on it,” she said. “Fledglings can spend up to 10 days hopping on the ground while learning to fly.
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If you find one that is featherless, you can return it to the nesting area if possible, as it probably fell out of the nest.” Dogs catching baby rabbits and lawn mowers running over nests are other common issues. “Rabbits seldom survive in captivity and can actually die of fright from being handled,” Russell said. “Even if the animal is injured, return it to the nest because the mother will most likely return.” Despite what many think, wild mothers do not abandon their young because of a human scent, and most newborn animals do not survive in captivity. “While people have good intentions, the care and rehabilitation of wild animals requires special training, knowledge, facilities – and permits,” she explained. “Without such care, wild animals will remain in poor health and could eventually die. And it is illegal to possess many wild animals without a valid state or federal permit.” Russell also noted that wildlife can be-
Photo courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation MDC encourages Missourians to leave young wildlife alone as helping them could do more harm than good. Young birds, such as robins (pictured), should be left in the nest or returned to the nest area.
come dangerous as they mature, and can also carry parasites, disease, and can damage property. “Native wildlife can carry mites, ticks, lice, fleas, flukes, roundworms, tapeworms, rabies, distemper, tuberculosis, respiratory diseases, and skin diseases,” Russell said. “Some of these can be transmitted to humans.” Although tempting to take them into homes, the best help people can offer wild animals is to leave them alone.
WWW.BYERLYRV.COM
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JUNE 2019 | CROSSROADS | 5
Around Town
Public is urged to avoid planting problematic pear trees The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) encourages homeowners and landscapers to avoid planting Callery pear trees this spring. Though these trees bear beautiful white flowers in the springtime, looks can be deceiving. The Callery pear tree is often found for sale as Bradford pear, Cleveland Select, Autumn Blaze, or Aristocrat. It is a highly invasive species that multiplies quickly, flourishes in a variety poor growing conditions and reduces biodiversity by crowding out native Missouri plants. The trees were introduced as ornamental landscape trees in the 1960s and became popular because they were inexpensive, grew relatively fast, and provided beautiful blooms. However, the species has since become notorious for its poor branch structure, cross pollination problems, and that stinky smell. MDC urges Missourians to remove pear trees and plant native trees instead. Other great alternatives include American plum, hawthorn, eastern redbud and Missouri’s state tree, the flowering dogwood. Hawthorns provide bountiful fruit and attractive fall color. Dogwoods thrive in shady areas but can be difficult to grow. Read more about the negative effects of the Callery pear tree at http://tinyurl.com/y36ybzse. To learn about native trees for landscaping, planting tips, backyard tree care, and more, visit mdc.mo.gov/trees-plants/tree-care.
Community News wins friend of education award from Missouri NEA
Submitted photo At the presentation of the Horace Mann “Friend of Education” award winner in the Journalism-Print category for 2019 were (from left)Mike Roman, Horace Mann regional representative; Mathew DeKinder, Community News Publisher; Robert Huneke, Community News Publisher Emeritus and MNEA President Charles Smith.
Each year the Missouri NEA Board of Directors selects winners for Horace Mann “Friend of Education” awards. The Community News was selected as the Horace Mann “Friend of Education” award winner in the Journalism-Print category for 2019. The presentation of the award was made at the Missouri NEA Representative Assembly Luncheon on April 27 at Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach, Missouri. “This is a tremendous honor,” said Community News Publisher Mathew DeKinder. “Education plays such a vital role in the communities we cover and it’s humbling to be recognized by an institution like the MNEA.”
WSD saves over $700,000 in debt refinance
WWW.PROACTIVEPRINTSERVICES.COM 6 | CROSSROADS | JUNE 2019
The Wentzville School District Board of Education unanimously approved the sale of approximately $21.7 million of the district’s outstanding Series 2012 Lease Participation Certificates through Clayton Holdings, LLC at a fixed rate of 2.71 percent. The interest savings to the district will be $716,000 on a cash flow basis, or approximately $60,000 each year through April 1, 2031. According to Stifel, the district’s financial advisor, the district has completed 11 refinancing transactions since 2009, securing cash flow savings in excess of $31.6 million. Fiscal responsibility across the district has resulted in a strong “Aa2” credit rating, which contributed to the WSD receiving competitive orders from six banks resulting in lower interest rates and borrowing costs for the district. “We are very pleased to be in a position to refinance and lock in savings for our taxpayers,” said CFO Pam Frazier. “Administrators across the district work very hard to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars, which positively impacts our credit rating and makes refinance opportunities like this possible.” The Wentzville School District continues to be the fastest growing school district in the state in the 21st century, adding over 500 new students on average each year since 2000. As a result, the district has built 11 new schools during that period and is now the 10th largest school district in Missouri.
Around Town ADVERTORIAL:
Proper care of your fur So you have a fur and want to know how to take care of it? First of all, congratulations on buying a fur. Not only have you chosen the most beautiful and stylish way to keep warm, you also selected the most sustainable and environmentally friendly product available. That’s right, properly cared for, fur will last decades. Synthetic garments (including nylon “puffer” jackets and faux fur), can look good for a few seasons and then they’re ready for the landfill. Derived from petroleum, they do not break down - ever. In a world literally choking on plastic, synthetics are a poor choice if you care about the environment. So what is proper care for a fur? 1. Protect it from excessive heat and humidity. 2. Shield it from voracious insects. 3. Clean and condition your fur regularly. One and two are easily managed by entrusting your fur to a fur service professional such as The Fur and Leather Centre. Our state of the art fur vault manages temperature and humidity to optimal levels and safeguards your precious garment from moths and carpet beetles. You’ve got three covered with a professional cleaning and conditioning process. The cleaning part is self-explanatory - we remove dirt, odors and particles from your garment. Not only does this enhance the appearance, but smoke and other odors are eliminated. Also, particles such as sand or grit that can damage the fur are likewise removed. The conditioning aspect of the process is best explained by thinking of your own skin. Your skin can get dried out and when it does you moisturize it. Your fur is a natural product and is no different. The number one reason a fur rips and tears prematurely is the skins have dried out and become brittle. So remember, you’ve got your fur and you’ve made a great choice, but you need to protect your investment with proper care: storage, cleaning and conditioning. At the Fur and Leather Centre we regularly handle customer coats 30, 40, 50 years of age and more. Not only did the original owner enjoy the fur, but so often we have furs handed down as heirlooms to next generations. And guess what? We can take grandma’s old fur and restyle it into a whole new contemporary fashion piece and give it a whole new life. Now that’s way better than a landfill isn’t it?
WWW.TREESBYWOODY.NET
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Advertiser Profile
Diversify into your dreams Wentzville EDC Business Spotlight The Red Wing Shoe Store located at 1121 W. Pearce Blvd. opened in May 2018. The store is family-owned and operated by Bob Budde and his son Mitch. Red Wing is an American company which has been around since 1905. One of their factories is located in Potosi, Missouri. The store does a custom-fit for each pair of its shoes and provides lifetime laces, oilings, and minor repairs. It’s the Ultimate Fit experience. The business specializes in hard and soft-toed construction, factory, and sporting boots and shoes. They also have orthotics equipment to custom-fit for foot pain. Red Wing has other leather goods such as belts and wallets, as well as socks. Come by for a visit. We get a new line of products every six months and we’d love to serve you. Phone is: (636) 856-9399
By Russ Patton, owner of Byerly RV We hear so much about quality time, but it’s the quantity of time that we really want. If we could only unplug, disengage, and spend quantity time together. Well, we can in an RV, folding campers close to nature or motorhomes as complete as a luxury condo. With the stock market reaching for the sky, why not diversify by turning some of those paper profits into something tangible like that RV you have been dreaming about? Or you could hedge your bets by playing the spread and converting just enough cash to make a healthy down payment and win either way. “Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road Healthy, free, the worlds for me The long brown path before me leading Wherever I choose” Thus spoke Walt Whitman over a hundred years ago and that spirit still stirs Americans. Well, maybe not afoot, maybe not brown paths, but we can travel in comfort in an RV. Whether you prefer the simplicity of a folding tent trailer or a luxury motorhome, Byerly has your second home on wheels waiting for you. We are Byerly, the center of the RV World. Check us out at www.ByerlyRV.com and visit us in Eureka, Missouri, just 15 minutes west of I-270 on I-44. Wor th the Drive
Byerly RV 295 East Fifth St. | Eureka, MO 63025 800-878-3325 | 636-938-2000 | www.byerlyrv.com 8 | CROSSROADS | JUNE 2019
PREPARING FOR
DISASTER Police, firefighters, and paramedics from St. Charles County come together to train for potential incidents involving mass casualties By Brett Auten THE SCENE WAS SET. An active shooter has been corralled by the police. But multiple victims, some clinging on to life, are strewn throughout, pleading for help. The building’s alarm wails and the halls are filled with smoke. Police, firefighters, and paramedics from St. Charles County form up as defensive group make entry, and look for immediate life threats. CONTINUED PAGE 10
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Though just a training scenario, the tensions are still high. Communication bugs get worked out as shouts between – and within – departments can occur. Throughout the months of May and June, a collaboration of first responders came together at St. Charles Community College’s Allied Health campus to train for high-acuity incidents. The large footprint of the O’Fallon facility and grounds enabled evaluators to vary the scenarios and inject variables into the exercises in real time and provide a fully immersive experience designed to test the critical thinking abilities of all the participants. In some cases, the training scenarios made use of classrooms, corridors, ancillary buildings and other areas of the multi-acre campus. To enhance the sense of realism, light, smoke and simulated gunfire will be utilized, and the scenarios will make use of numerous live volunteers, some displaying varying degrees of simulated injury. According to Rick Lane, a training officer with the St. Charles County Ambulance District who heads the district’s annual exercises, the active shooter scenario is one that has been utilized for mass casualty/injury training before. “There has been lessons learned. If you go all the way back to Columbine,” he said. With instructors flanked with yellow vests and clipboards, the feedback and critique is instant. “We correct mistakes as we find them,” Lane said. “It is immediate feedback. And then immediately after each of the evolutions, we get everybody together to talk about it.” A total of 18 training’s were held over nine days at the Community College’s Allied Health Facility in O’Fallon. In total, more than 500 first responders took part and residents in the neighboring Barathaven neighborhood received advance notification to ensure they were aware the scenarios were simulated and for training purposes. “We’re doing about a hundred a day and training with some many entities,” Lane said. “We have elements of the
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Wentzville School District nurses here today, our dispatcher and alarm, there are so many first response elements here.” Many lessons can be drawn from these training sessions. Not only do they help the first responders become more acclimated with a mass-casualty incident, but also shore up on some good, basic training. “This reinforces some good skills that the paramedics use every day,” Lane said. “You can find multiple layers of value in this and one of this is, it reinforces some great concepts and skills. You’re looking for immediate life threats, you’re doing the most good for the most patients in the shortest period of time. When you have more victims than you do first responders, there are strategies for that and that’s what we’re doing here.”
Photos courtesy St. Charles County Ambulance District First responders and volunteers come together at St. Charles Community College’s Allied Health campus to train for high-acuity incidents, in this instance, an active shooter with mass casualties.
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Always An Adventure I made another attempt on this route a couple weeks ago. Snow conditions alternated between rock-solid ice and a wet-oatmeal type of consistency which would not support weight - the result of a deep snowpack, warm temperatures and rain. Frustrating, as there was enough snow to surmount the rock band on the right gully. I turned back after slogging through the approach. This column originally appeared in the June, 2014 issue of CrossRoads. Last day of April, 3:30 a.m. I locked the truck and began hiking through a still-closed and silent campground. Headlamp illuminating a small cone though the inky darkness, I could see that some road maintenance equipment had been moved into an otherwise empty campsite in preparation of the required maintenance before opening, still some weeks off. Once out of the developed campground a small trail, unknown except to those few climbers who visited here, led through a tangle of brush and small trees to a steep, narrow boulder-strewn creek bed. A sharp right turn into the creek bed, then upward and onward. The creek continued up for a mile and a half, rising into a steep snowfilled gully, gaining just a bit less than 3,000 vertical feet. This was the object of my early morning journey. The snowline was still about 1,000 feet above me, which left quite a bit of scrambling over rough, loose rocks, some the size of footballs, others a bit larger than dump trucks. More than one seemingly well-planted boulder became a severalhundred pound balance board, shifting under my weight as I moved over it, sort of an early morning backcountry ballet. After 90 minutes of negotiating the shifting boulders, I came to the snowline, dropped my pack and got out the crampons and ice axe. The temperature was now well below freezing, which kept the break short. The sky was barely beginning to show light of the pending day, the headlamp still a necessity. Movement was simple: plant the ice axe, step, step. Plant, step, step. Repeat. An hour of this brought me to the base of a tower, known to local climbers as having an assortment of challenges, including some difficult rock, some waterfall ice, (still present, though looking pretty ratty) and behind the tower two snow couloirs – the one I was on, and to the right, a steeper, longer line. I had 12 | CROSSROADS | JUNE 2019
BY AVALANCHE
Cold spring, redux attempted the right line a few weeks previously, only to be turned back by a difficult move at a chock stone which blocked my progress. Still annoyed at my lack of ability to ascend the right couloir, I spent some time looking at the difficult spot, which was now even more forbidding, as the snow had melted back away from the rock, making the required moves more difficult. Putting it on the list of things to do in the future, I returned to the task at hand and continued on up today’s couloir. The line steepened, undulating from 30 to 50 degrees; steep enough to keep one focused, but never desperate, or even technically demanding. The climb was just a good, solid outing in the early morning mountain air. Now light enough to see without the headlamp, the summits to the west were beginning to catch the sun’s first rays, glowing above the twilight below. The snow conditions had become softer and less consolidated, changing from nice, solidly frozen “corn” snow lower down to loose, grainy “sand” up higher. The ice axe plunged into the snow with no resistance, and provided little protection. Boots sinking into the snow, it became more of a swimming motion than climbing to get up the mountainside. It was not a welcome change, and the demanding conditions were a hypoxic
reminder that I was not in marathon shape. Rest stops became frequent as newer snow became deeper. A recent storm that came through the previous week had dropped a foot of snow here, moving on to become a series of deadly tornadoes in the Midwest. Seeing the top of the gully just 100 yards ahead, I decided to slog onward, disregarding the poor conditions, and not wanting to stop this close to the top. Ten feet from a rock outcropping at the top of the couloir, I plunged through the snow, my backpack stopping me from dropping all the way in over my head. Crawling and squirming my way out of the hole, I decided that this was enough fun for one day, 10 feet short would have to be close enough. This snowpack was consistent with mid-February conditions, not the end of April. The gully will still have a lot of snow in June. Getting down was much easier than going up. The new snow provided a nice soft surface when glissading (sliding) down the gully, using my ice axe as a brake. The jumbled creek bed was easier to negotiate in the daylight. Workers had arrived at the campground to tend to the roads. I arrived back in town in time to enjoy fresh pastries just as they came out of the oven at the general store.
Moore On Life
Best day ever
BY CINDY MOORE
DAD’S DAY IS FAST APPROACHING. What can we do for dad that will make him happy as a fry in ketchup? Head scratch. Aha! Take him shopping. “Shopping?! Isn’t that torture for most men?” Don’t freak out. I don’t mean regular girl-shopping. That requires lots of legwork trekking from store to store trying on piles of outfits which will never be bought; spraying on expensive perfume just to say how much it stinks; buying shoes which aren’t needed and then having a two-hour lunch because of exhaustion. Nope. I mean man-shopping. I’ll take my husband to his favorite store: the giganto big box man depot. I’ll drop him off and tell him I’ll pick him up at closing time. He’ll be in paradise roaming aisles of hardware and hammers, saws and sockets, rakes and wrenches and of course, oodles of rolls of duct tape in every color. I’ll tuck a snack into his pants pocket. He won’t have the sense to stop for food so the peanut butter crackers will save him from collapsing on the floor. First, he’ll wander over to the lawn care section to take a look at the latest breakthroughs in grub control. I can picture him putting on his reading glasses and scanning each bag to see how they guarantee total annihilation of these root-eating menaces. Next he’ll check out a few bottles of poison to determine which fries weeds the best. Then he’ll saunter over to the hardware section where he’ll examine various gadgets and attachments then fiddle with screws and bolts and humph at each doojigger. After a few hours he’ll began to sway. Things will start to get blurry. He’ll see spots. He’ll realize he’s suffering from mass hunger. He’ll reach into his pocket for a breath mint to stave off the pangs then find the crackers. Saved from starvation and a drop in his blood sugar, his battery is recharged and he’s ready to continue. On he moves to the power tools to drool and ogle and feel the grip of a highpowered nail gun in his hand. He’ll draw and aim and make pow-pow sounds then re-holster it. Moving on to the lumber section, he’ll run his hand along the smooth planks then rub the sawdust between his fingers and give it a long sniff. “Ahhh, fresh pine. Nothing better,” he’ll say. Finally, he’ll round the corner and the gates of heaven will open while choirs of angels sing. He has arrived at the barbeque grills. He will kick the tires and raise the hoods of all, comparing and considering each model. I’ll pick him up at dusk. He’ll have been forcibly removed and parked on the curb. “Hi! Did you have a Happy Father’s Day?” “The best.” “While you were there did you happen to pick up that part for the leaky toilet? It’s been broken for months.” “Never crossed my mind.”
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Automobile Alley
2019
TOYOTA TACOMA makes a splash in the midsize truck market
T
he midsize truck market has been growing in sales. In the crosshairs is the Chevrolet Colorado, Ford Ranger, Honda Ridgeline and now, the reworked ‘19 Toyota Tacoma, as it’s entered the field as a strong challenger. It’s showcased with a bold zealousness, that’s alluring new truck buyers. Recent “seat time” with Tacoma proved it to be an impressive vehicle overall. Better than ever for 2019, additions include the new SX Trim Package and an updated TRD Pro model. Both versions add even more variety to the diverse Tacoma lineup. Starting with the vehicle’s underside foundation, there is an extensive use of highstrength steel in the frame. Hot-stamped, ultra-high strength steel is used inside and out of the body. This tends to translate into a strong robust footing for safety and overall durability. All Tacoma models are equipped with a double wishbone coil-spring front suspension and a leaf spring rear chassis with staggered outboard-mounted gas shocks. This setup delivers a steady on-road steering feel yet tends to bolster the truck’s off-road driving capability. As with any vehicle, powering it under the hood is a strong motivator. The standard 2.7-liter DOHC four-cylinder with variable valve timing/with intelligence produces 159 horsepower. Those wanting more performance can elect to choose their 3.5-liter V6. This remarkable engine incorporates both high pressure direct fuel injection and port fuel injection. Along these lines, it produces some 278 horsepower. When equipped with an optional V6 Tow Package, Tacoma can safely pull up to 6,800 lbs. EPA fuel numbers range from 17-mpg city, to 24-mph highway, depending on the engine and body design. Jointly developed in both Toyota’s California and Michigan design studios, the end result is an unmistakably athletic and stylish identity that retains everyday functionality and ruggedness. In part, some of the inspiration was adopted from their legendary desert 14 | CROSSROADS | JUNE 2019
BY DAVID FINKELSTEIN
race trucks. Tacoma’s modern yet chiseled front end is supported by a bold, hexagonal radiator grille and a tall, muscular hood. Its slim, projection beam headlights can be outfitted with available LED daytime running lights. The tailgate has an easy-lowering feature, which allows it to retract slowly to prevent it from slamming down. The exterior color palette includes a variety of new colors for helping to personalize its footprint. Its interior is featured with soft-wrapped trim and metallic accents. Seating comfort and durability come together as one, depending on the trim levels. To minimize unwanted noises, included are enhanced
door seals, a multi-layer acoustic windshield, sound-absorbing headliner and a floor silencer hush pad. The Tacoma is sold in six model grades, each with its own purpose and unique appearance. The base SR; high-value SR5; the athletic TRD Sport; adventurous TRD OffRoad; the top-of-the-line Limited; and the ultimate off-road TRD Pro. Tacoma is assembled at either their plant in San Antonio, Texas or in Baja California, Mexico. The factory’s 36-month/36,000 mile basic new-vehicle warranty applies to all components other than normal wear and maintenance items. Pricing ranges from $25,850 to $45,665, excluding shipping charges.
Entertainment
will grant most of your wishes
WALT DISNEY PICTURES
BY MATHEW DEKINDER
I
was a little skeptical of the live-action version of “Aladdin.” I’m not sure if it was blue Will Smith or the relatively unknown cast or not trusting Guy Ritchie with a Disney movie, but I had my doubts. Fortunately, those doubts were for naught as the result is a competent and extremely faithful (maybe too faithful?) adaptation of the animated family film. Based on the Middle Eastern folk tale “Aladdin and the Magic Lamp,” the animated version became a hit for Disney in 1992 thanks to some decent songs and an iconic performance by Robin Williams as the Genie. With the live action version, you can argue that it’s a little uneven and that the screenplay is a little lazy, lifting a lot of dialog right from the original. But it makes enough good choices that makes this update a satisfying trip to the movies. The best decision was that they leaned into the musical aspect of the film, even adding a couple of original songs to the favorites. Director Ritchie, known for grittier, rough-and-tumble fare, goes full 1950s Hollywood with the musical numbers as a colorful “cast of thousands” sing and dance through massively constructed sets. The cast is solid as well with Mena Massoud (Aladdin)
and Naomi Scott (Princess Jasmine) looking like they sprang to life from the Disney animation table with their large, almond eyes, perfect skin and rousing singing voices. Will Smith had a tough task following Williams as the Genie, but the dude’s got charm for days and he empties both barrels of it here, doing enough to make the role his own and mask some of the clunkiness of his CGI form. There are also some decent supporting turns here as Marwan Kenzari is sufficiently menacing as the bad guy Jafar and Nasim Pedrad injects some sly wit into her comic relief role of Dalia, Jasmine’s handmaid. Laudable about this version of “Aladdin” is that Jasmine gets an empowerment boost, becoming more of a statesman than a damsel in distress. Also, kudos to Hollywood for having an ethnically-appropriate cast. It seems like a no-brainer, but 20 years ago Aladdin would have been played by Mark Wahlberg. “Aladdin” delivers the goods, especially when the music is playing, and while it may not be exactly what you wished for, it’s close enough. “Aladdin” is rated PG for some action/peril.
JUNE 2019 | CROSSROADS | 15
For the Love of Food
– Sweet, refreshing – summer snacks T
here’s no time like a hot summer picnic to let your patriotic spirit show. These allAmerican snacks featuring a classic favorite fruit – watermelon – are the perfect solution for nearly any summertime celebration. Watermelon is a patriotic picnic staple for countless reasons, not the least of which is that it’s a beloved treat that many people associate with memories from childhood. However, nostalgia isn’t the only reason adults are just as likely to gravitate toward watermelon at a summer event. Its sweet, cool and refreshing flavor also makes it a favorite for all ages. From a practical standpoint, watermelon is also quite portable, versatile and easy to serve, and with a composition of 92% water, it’s a simple way to sneak in some extra hydration on a hot day. Another benefit is its value; watermelon is one of the best values in the produce section among fruit, and just one watermelon can feed up to three dozen people. Serving watermelon at a party can be as simple as slicing wedges, or you can prepare a dish such as: • A fruit basket, with the rind serving as a colorful bowl to hold the watermelon and other fresh fruits. • A charcuterie board with a selection of fruit, cheese and protein for simple snacking. • Creamy parfaits, perfect for a summery brunch or alternative to more traditional desserts. • A creatively colorful and patriotic “cake” that makes for a tasty centerpiece on the dessert table. Find more ideas for incorporating watermelon into your summer festivities at watermelon.org.
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RED, WHITE AND BLUE WATERMELON PARFAIT
Ingredients: 1 cup blueberries 1 container (6 ounces) Greek yogurt (vanilla, lemon or coconut) 1 cup watermelon, plus three pieces diced watermelon whipped cream, for serving Directions: In pint canning jar, layer blueberries, yogurt and 1 cup watermelon. Top with whipped cream and garnish with three diced watermelon pieces. Note: To make ahead or make thicker, drain Greek yogurt on paper towels to absorb some liquid.
For the Love of Food
PATRIOTIC FRUIT SALAD
WATERMELON-INFUSED WATER
EASY SUMMER THIRST QUENCHER
Ingredients:
Directions:
shaped cookie cutters.
1 watermelon
Slice 1/4 inch off bottom of watermelon, lengthwise, to create stable base.
Use ice cream scoop to remove flesh from inside basket and cut scoops into quarters for fruit salad. Place in bottom of basket. Add honeydew and blueberries; stir to combine.
honeydew blueberrie
Use pencil to draw zig-zag lines for basket opening. Using paring knife, make cuts through rind. Carefully remove top section, pull out large chunks of flesh and cut them into 3-by-3-inch squares. Trim 3/4-inch thick slices off squares to use for cutting out stars with 1 1/2-3-inch, star-
A simple fruit-infused water can give your summer event an instant upgrade in no time at all. Add extra dimension and complexity to the flavor by adding some of your favorite herbs like basil and mint. Ingredients:
Directions:
Cut out white stripes from honeydew.
2 cups watermelon balls or cubes
Garnish top of fruit salad with watermelon stars, honeydew stripes and blueberries.
1 cup other fruit, such as berries
Place watermelon, fruit and herbs in pitcher and cover with water. For best flavor, allow to chill in refrigerator at least 30 minutes before serving.
erbs, such as basil or h mint
FLAG KEBAB CAKE Ingredients:
Directions:
1 pint fresh, washed blackberries
Thread five blackberries on each of five skewers, followed by alternating watermelon and cake cubes.
12 wooden skewers 1 seedless watermelon, flesh cut into 1-inch cubes 1 angel food cake, cut into 1-inch cubes (white part only) ips, such as yogurt, d chocolate, caramel or marshmallow (optional)
On remaining skewers, alternate watermelon and cake so first and last cubes are watermelon. Place skewers on platter; fruit and cake will create stars and stripes when lined properly. Serve with dips, if desired.
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For the Love of Food
PATRIOTIC CHARCUTERIE BOARD
Ingredients: 1/2 medium seedless watermelon, cut into wedges 1/2 cup fresh raspberries 1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries
1/2 cup toasted, salted cashews 2 ounces cured meats like prosciutto, pancetta, coppa, salami, soppressata, sausage or pepperoni
10 strawberries (dipped in white chocolate, if desired)
1 Honeycrisp apple, cored and sliced
5 ounces fresh goat cheese
fresh basil leaves
lemon juice
Directions: On large board or platter, arrange watermelon, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, cheese, cashews, meat and apples. Drizzle fruit with lemon juice. Garnish with basil leaves before serving.
18 | CROSSROADS | JUNE 2019
Community Calendar
June 6 – D-Day
7 – Food Truck Frenzy Get a great summer weekend rolling with live music and a variety of food trucks parked and ready to serve from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. at O’Fallon’s Food Truck Frenzy. Featuring a free concert by Mississippi Clean, the event will be held in Sports Park, located at 3589 Highway K in O’Fallon. More than a dozen food trucks and concessionaires will offer favorite food and beverages for purchase. Details and dates for O’Fallon’s Food Truck Frenzy events are posted online at www.ofallon. mo.us/food-truck-frenzy. For weather-related event information, call 636-379-5614 or follow on Facebook @visitofallon or Instagram @visitofallon1856. 14 – Flag Day 16 – Father’s Day 19– Juneteenth 20 – American Eagle Day 21 – First Day of Summer 21-23 and June 28-30 – Theater production O’FallonTheatreWorks presents “The Miracle Worker,” the moving story of Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan at the O’Fallon Municipal Center (City Hall) at 100 North Main St. in O’Fallon. Show times are June 21-23 and 28-30 with shows starting at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are on sale now, and may be purchased online at https://www.ofallon.mo.us/parks&rec/ofallontheatreworks or by calling the Renaud Center at 636-474-2732.
JUNE 2019 | CROSSROADS | 19
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