CrossRoads: April 2014

Wine Season is Here!

Explore Missouri's 'Wine Trails'

www.dpc4u.org

www.stcharlesconventioncenter.com

www.advancebeautywentzville.com

Payne 1/8 www.langinsurance.com

Living Word 1/12 www.gibsonprinting.com

www.lwcs.us

2

CROSSROADS APRIL 2014

APRIL Departments

4

Around Town Local news and events

8

Business Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce and more

10

Entertainment Honorable Films of the ‘Slow’ Season

11

Food Ginger not Mary Ann

12

Always an Adventure Airborne Hazards

13

Moore on Life April Foolery

18

Photo Op Cottleville St. Paddy’s Parade

19

Community Calendar April

VOL 11 | NO 4

Published monthly with direct mail circulation to Wentzville and Lake Saint Louis, plus newsstands in Troy.

Publisher Editor Production Manager Contributors

Bob Huneke Andrew Tessmer Rebecca Brockmann Avalanche, Brian Guerrero, Christa Holtzclaw, Cindy Moore, Dave Welborn Photographers Ray Rockwell Staff Writer Amanda Meyer

For advertising information, please contact us at:

features

7

www.mycnews.com

Copyright 2014 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.

contents

Fun for ALL! Live! Laugh! Play!

By Dave Welborn

14

Community News 2139 Bryan Valley Commercial Dr. O’Fallon, MO 63366 Ph: 636.379.1775 Fx: 636.379.1632

2014

Advertiser Profile Byerly R.V.

By Russ Patton

16

Springtime in Wine Country It’s closer than you think

By Christa Holtzclaw

On the cover: Photo courtesy of James Fashing for Missouri Wine and Grape Board

APRIL 2014 CROSSROADS

3

AROUND TOWN Volunteer Gardeners Needed to Assist with Educational Agriculture Area in Park The St. Charles County Parks and Recreation Department is looking for volunteer gardeners to participate in heirloom and traditional planting and upkeep of a new historic educational agriculture area in development at Broemmelsiek Park, 1615 Schwede Road in Wentzville. When constructed, the new four-acre agricultural area will serve as an outdoor interpretive site that focuses on the history of agriculture in St. Charles County, and will feature a variety of crops, shrubs and trees that were harvested in St. Charles County. The historic educational agriculture area will also be open to

the public and serve as a learning experience for the community. During certain times of the year, St. Charles County Parks Department staff will also host educational demonstrations on the new agriculture site.

“Many volunteers are needed to assist with maintaining these dye and herb gardens, orchards, assortment of nut trees, array of flowering shrubs and perennials, and three-acre corn maze,” said St. Charles County Parks Director Bettie Yahn-Kramer. “Our volunteers are

our greatest treasure.”

Interested volunteer gardeners should contact the St. Charles County Parks and Recreation Department at 636.949.7535 or email at parks@sccmo.org.

Officer Awarded Unsung Hero Award In December 2013, Officer Mary Wheeler was awarded the Region 8 Unsung Hero Award at the Missouri Police Chief’s Conference/ Torch Run Kick Off. The Unsung Hero Award is given to a member of law enforcement that has shown unselfish efforts and whose contributions are directly responsible for the success of Region 8, of the Missouri Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. Recipients of this award participate in year-round fundraising efforts and coordinate and volunteer at multiple events. They exemplify the Special Olympics mission and use that knowledge to be an advocate for the athletes of Special Olympics Missouri. These individuals are recognized by their peers as having excelled in their ability to care for the community that they are sworn to protect and to accept the additional responsibility to dedicate their time and abilities to the athletes of Special Olympics.

D.A.R.E. Officer Mary Wheeler received the Unsung Hero/Outstanding Volunteer Award for her extensive work with the Special

4

CROSSROADS APRIL 2014

Olympics. Year-round, Wheeler helps to coordinate the Lake St. Louis Polar Plunge—the largest Special Olympic fundraiser raising nearly $100,000.

Funds are also raised by selling the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run t-shirts and Drive It Home raffle tickets. According to Wheeler, “One of the most rewarding accomplishments of my career has been the honor of awarding medals to athletes after they compete in tournaments. The smiles and pride beaming from their faces and their excitement about receiving these medals from a police officers reaffirms the reason why I love my job.”

Wheeler has been a police officer with the Wentzville Police Department since March 2003. She worked road patrol for four and a half years before she was transferred to the Support Services Division to teach the D.A.R.E. program. She gives police department tours to Boy and Girl Scout troops and makes appearances at business grand openings and safety days. She teaches safety and stranger danger to daycare facilities and also coordinates the City of Wentzville’s National Night Out held annually on the first Tuesday of August.

In addition to all the work Officer Wheeler does with the D.A.R.E. program, the Special Olympics, and the Wentzville Police Department, she is married with three children and plans to sign up to run a marathon this year.

AROUND TOWN WSD Comprehensive School Improvement Plan 2014-2019 The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) requires each school district in the state to develop a Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP) that drives improvement in student learning and guides the overall improvement of the district. The 2014-2019 Wentzville School District CSIP has been approved by the WSD Board of Education and focuses on improving the District’s student achievement levels, programs, and services and will guide the direction of the District for the next five years.

The CSIP planning process began last year and incorporated survey feedback from both District parents and employees. The CSIP Steering Committee, comprised of students, parents, staff, Photo courtesy of Wentzville School District and community members, used these reports to identify the common themes that would guide community engagement. ucation on an annual basis. The CSIP will also be evaluated against Last fall the District held three different Guiding Principles for our the data points established in the Comprehensive School ImproveSchools (GPS) meetings to get the input of District stakeholders on ment Plan Balanced Scorecard. The CSIP Steering Committee and the CSIP. the GPS meetings will be reconvened annually to obtain parent, The draft CSIP plan was reviewed by the WSD Cabinet, Admin- student, staff, and community input on the continued implemenistrative Council, and the CSIP Steering Committee before being tation of the plan. The entire CSIP document can be found on the approved by the Board of Education. The CSIP will continually be homepage of the District website at www.wentzville.k12.mo.us. evaluated and progress reports will be presented to the Board of Ed-

Twenty Seven Years of Tradition The St. Ann Sodality members from Sacred Heart Church in Troy have celebrated the art of hand-quilting for many years.

Twenty-seven years ago members took the tradition and incorporated it into a Quilt Social, where they could take their handquilted quilts, added games and fun, invited the community and increased their means for charity work and Church support.

The St. Ann Sodality group held their first Quilt Social on April 5, 1987 and the tradition continues to this day, marking their 27th social on April 6, 2014. Pictured is this year’s raffle quilt, which was embroidered, set and hand-quilted by some of the St. Ann Sodality members.

www.facebook.com/babykidexpo APRIL 2014 CROSSROADS

5

AROUND TOWN Wentzville Students Excel at Regional Science and Engineering Fair Students from the Wentzville School District competed in Missouri’s Tri-County Regional Science and Engineering Fair held at St. Charles Community College on Saturday, Feb. 22. This year there were 430 entries, which included 115 by Wentzville students and 11 WSD classroom projects. At the end of the day, 35 Wentzville students and three WSD classrooms received awards, including 25 First and Second Place awards. Holt High School senior Hunter Park received an overall first place in the High School Honors Division for his project “A Novel Method for Determination of Camera Pose Estimation Based on Angle Constraints” and will advance to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Los Angeles, Cal. on May 11-16. Park is a member of the WSD Robotics Team and his project was based on technology he developed for the team. He was also the recipient of the Intel Excellence in Computer Science Award and the Air Force Research Award for his project. Additional awards went to the following students: Holt High School: Senior Kayla Calvillo – Second place overall in the Honors Division, American Society for Materials Engineering Award, United States Metric Association Award, Third Place American Chemical Society Award, and the Air Force Research award • Senior Cynthia Gaines – Third place overall in the Honors Division, Air Force Research Award • Senior Lance Novak – Fourth place overall in the Honors Division, First Place American Chemical Society Award, Yale Science and Engineering Award, Mu Alpha Theta Award, Air Force Research Award • Junior Katherine Orsund – American Meteorological Society Award, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award • Senior Chandler Carreon – United States Public Health Award • Junior Kailey King – American Psychological Association Award 6

CROSSROADS APRIL 2014

• Junior Alexis Miller - Society for In Vitro Biology Award • Freshman Holly Berendzen – First place, High School Regular Division • Junior Matthew Stahl – Second place, High School Regular Division Timberland High School: • Junior Madalyn Stoecker – Association for Women Geoscientists Award, second place Genius Olympiad Award • Seniors Daniel Drury, Kelsie Eckert and Nicholas Snawder – Second place American Chemical Society Award Frontier Middle School: • 7th grader Eradyn Bailey – Third place (Applied Consumer Science), second place American Chemical Society Award • 7th grader Maya Angeles – Third place (Physical Science) Wentzville Middle School: • 6th grader Sharayu Shrinivas – First place (Biology), first place American Chemical Society Award • 6th grader Devanshi Patel – First place (Physical Science), Broadcom Masters Award • 8th grader Alex Faintich – First place (Earth/Environmental), Broadcom Masters Award • 6th grader Cassidy Wood – First place (Earth/Environmental) • 6th grader Brian Faintich – First place (Earth/Environmental) • 8th grader Megan Costello – First place (Earth/Environmental) Boone Trail Elementary: • 2nd grader Gabriel Henley, First place • 4th grader Ronan Townes, First place Crossroads Elementary: • Kindergarteners Carson and Kailey Lawrence – first place • 1st grader Rafay Cheema – First place • 2nd grader Conner Place, – Second place • 5th grader Nawal Cheema – First place

Holt High School senior Hunter Park received an overall first place in the High School Honors Division for his project "A Novel Method for Determination of Camera Pose Estimation Based on Angle Constraints" and will advance to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Los Angeles, Cal. on May 11-16.

• 5th grader Alyssa Place – Third place American Chemical Society Award Discovery Ridge Elementary: • 3rd grader Kylie Queen – First place Duello Elementary: • Kindergartener Makaela Barne – Second place • 4th grader Emma Caplinger – Third place • 5th grader Journey Collins – Third place Green Tree Elementary: • 3rd grader Will Muench – First place • 3rd grader Colin Miller – First place • 3rd grader Anna Frey – Second place • 3rd grader Josie Villard – Third place Heritage Elementary: • 3rd grader Zoe Ellis – Second place • 3rd grader Lily Nemec – Third place Lakeview Elementary: • Miss Kate Marren’s 3rd grade class – Third place Peine Ridge Elementary: • 1st grader Evan Twedell – Second place • Mrs. Gina Gajewski’s 3rd grade class – Second place • Mrs. Tonya Leonard’s 3rd grade class – First place Prairie View Elementary: • Kindergartener Jonathan Yates – First place • 3rd grader Elizabeth Ryan – First place

Fun for ALL!

Live!augh!

L Play!

By Dave Welborn

If you use Facebook, you may have seen the story of a young boy named Colin who told his mother that he didn’t want to have a birthday party because had no friends to invite. The story is true, and unfortunately, all too common.

Colin, 11, was diagnosed with sensory processing disorders similar to autism and Asbergers syndrome. Individuals on the autism spectrum often find it difficult to socialize and tend to act out in certain situations where they are over-stimulated by light, sound and even textures. Because of this, his mother reports that kids shy Zachary and a friend share a laugh. Photos courtesy of Unlimited Play. away from Colin and he spends a lot of time alone at school and after. that stopped him from playing also prevented him from interacting Colin’s mother was determined to show her son that there were with the other children,” Blakemore said “That was a wake-up call many people who did indeed care for him. She created a Facebook for us as parents. page with the intention of showing it to Colin on his birthday, which In 2003, Natalie and her husband, Todd, created Unlimited Play, was March 9. Initially, she hoped her families and friends would join which helps to plan, design and build fully accessible playgrounds and write words of encourthat allow all children – reagement. But, what she got gardless of their abilities – was an outpouring of love to play together. and support for Colin from “Simply put,” Blakemore more than 2.1 million peosaid. “Kids need to play ple worldwide. with other kids. Yet for so While the outcome is many kids with disabilities, touching, the sad fact retheir days are spent with mains that there are milparents, doctors, nurslions of kids just like Colin, es, therapists and other who, because of a disabiladults. But on fully accesity are left of the sideline, sible playgrounds, children intentionally or unintenwith disabilities can swing, tionally. The good news is slide and climb with their there are several nonprofit friends – as well as with organizations—including their siblings and parents – some locally—dedicated which is literally something to creating an atmosphere they may have never been where all kids are accepted Unlimited Play’s first playground, Zachary’s Playground, is located in Hawk Ridge Park, 8392 Orf Road in Lake St. Louis. able to do before.” and encouraged to play, toTo date, Unlimited Play gether. has built or broken ground on six playgrounds throughout the metNatalie Blakemore, of Lake St. Louis knows first-hand how devas- ropolitan area, including new playgrounds in Cottleville and St. Loutating that feeling can be for a child. Her son, Zachary, 14, lives with is. For more information including playground locations, and how a rare genetic central nervous system disease. He uses a wheelchair you can help, visit their website at www.unlimitedplay.com. and other assistive walking devices to help him get around. Like all Dave Welborn is the Executive Director of KEEN St. Louis, a nonprofit children, Zachary loves to play. However, as a younger child, when organization that provides free recreational and sports programs for they would take Zachary to the park to play, the playground would kids ages 5-17 with physical and developmental disabilities. For more only emphasize his limitations. information visit www.keenstlouis.org.

“Even more frustrating was the fact that the playground’s barriers APRIL 2014 CROSSROADS

7

BUSINESS Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce

Serving Wentzville, Lake St. Louis, and Dardenne Prairie

Ribbon Cutting Congratulations to John Dooley and Darrel Lackey with Waddell & Reed on their Ribbon Cutting for their new offices in Wentzville. The Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce wishes them much success in their new location. Their offices are at 985 Wentzville Parkway, Suite 100 in Wentzville. The office is located inside Reliance Bank. You can reach them at 636.856.0050 or online at www.mainstreet.wrfa.com.

For more information please call the chamber office at 636.327.6914 or visit us online at http://westernstcharlescountychamber.com. The Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce serves Dardenne Prairie, Lake St. Louis, and Wentzville. The chamber is comprised of 600 members. If you are interested at having a ribbon cutting at your place of business please contact the chamber.

Photo courtesy of the Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce

Chamber Welcomes 13 New Members Each month the Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce continues to expand their membership. This month the Chamber welcomes 13 new members into their organization.

The 13 businesses and organizations are: 1) BMO Harris Bank, located at 3001 WingHaven Boulevard in O’Fallon. Contact them at 636.696.4503, or visit them online at www.bmoharris.com.

2) Country Financial – Don White Agency, located at 2530 Highway K in O’Fallon. Contact them at 636.357.7320, or visit them online at www.countryfinancial.com/donwhite.

3) Frontenac Bank, located at 2625 West Clay in St. Charles. Contact them at 314.569.5305, or visit them online at www.frontenacbank.com.

4) Gateway Lock & Security, located at 17667 Wild Horse Creek Road in Chesterfield. Contact them at 636.778.1135, or visit them online at www.gatewaylockandsecurity.com.

5) Liberty High School Booster Club, Inc., located at 2275 Sommers Road in Lake St. Louis. Contact them at 314.795.2862, or visit them online at www.libertyboosterclub.com.

6) MR Construction, located at 332 Villa Drive in Lake St. Louis.

Contact them at 636.448.7924.

7) Pressure Washing Professionals, LLC, located at 6114 Welsh Drive in Lake St. Louis. Contact them at 636.466.1442, or visit them online at www.pressurewashingprofessionals.com.

8) Rightway Construction, located at 2009 Great Oaks Boulevard in Wentzville. Contact them at 636.856.4555, or visit them online at www.rightwayconstruction.org.

9) Speedpro Imaging, located at 145 Hamilton Industrial Court in Wentzville. Contact them at 314.606.9285, or visit them online at www.speedpro.com.

8 CROSSROADS APRIL 2014

10) St. Charles Ambulance District, located at 4169 Old Mill Parkway in St. Peters. Contact them at 636.344.7634, or visit them online at www.sccad.com.

11) The Ice House Sports Bar and Grill is located at 909 Main Plaza Drive in Wentzville. Contact them at 636.332.3626, or visit them online at www.theicehouse.net.

12) Waddell & Reed Financial Advisors – James Booth, located at One City Place Drive, Suite 30, in Creve Coeur. Contact James at 314.567.6700 ext. 170, or visit him online at www.waddell.com.

13) Wentzville Football Booster Club – Holt High School is located at 1341 Forest Way in Wentzville. Contact them at 636.262.1440, or visit them online at www.holtfootball.com.

To discover all the local businesses and organizations that are members of the Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce please visit www.westernstcharlescountychamber.com. Become a friend of the Western St. Charles County Chamber on Facebook. As a friend of the Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce you can stay up to date with new businesses coming into the area.

For more information, call the Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce at 636.327.6914. The Chamber Office is located at 210 South Linn Avenue in Wentzville.

By tony mathews

Tony Mathews is the President and CEO of the Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce

For more on any of this information or the chamber in general, please call the chamber office at 636.485.3123 or visit the website www.westernstcharlescountychamber.com.

BUSINESS Moments of Joy

By Tony Mathews You can bring joy. You can receive joy. Joy Bob was definitely the winner. Cookies for me gives birth to deeper feeling. It is and hot chocolate helped to warm us up what makes an impact in your life and allows after we shed our coats and gloves.” you to feel love, compassion and gives you I had the opportunity to create and faith in others. I am going to present you experience a memory. Two weeks bewith a local story each month that displays fore our Western St. Charles County joy, and I hope will inspire you to find joy in Chamber of Commerce Celebration Ball, your everyday interaction with others.

Jim , Barathaven Program Director, Sandy Sellini and Tony Mathews enjoyed I received a phone call from one of my I interact with many people throughout the sounds of old blue eyes during a memorable evening.

Board Members, Jamie Gittemeier. Jamie the community as part of my job. I have the honor of experiencing began to tell me about a wish one of the residents, Jim, had to attend firsthand and hearing stories about people in the community mak- a dance and hear a Frank Sinatra singer. It was if fate had spoken being a difference and bringing joy to others. I have to admit that this cause our Celebration Ball was just in two weeks and we had a Frank is the part of my job that I love the most. It lets me see personally Sinatra singer booked. Jim attended the event with Barathaven Prothe good that is happening in our community. I look to provide the gram Director, Sandy Sellini, and one of their dedicated volunteers. reader with a series of stories that will inspire giving joy to others.

“Jim and his guests enjoyed a delicious dinner, dancing and music I had the opportunity to visit Barathaven Alzheimer’s Special Care that reminded him of the events he enjoyed throughout his life,” said Center and meet with their Administrator, Mary Stassi. As Mary and Mary.

I talked we began discussing their Meaningful Moments” program.

It was great seeing Jim experience the event. He was able to enjoy The program was established to create personal moments of mean- some great music, speak to the singer, take some funny photos in our ing for their residents. A new element of this program that was add- photo booth, and enjoy the event festivities. I was glad that see the ed in January was called Make a Memory. This element is meant to joy we were able to bring Jim and make his wish come true. create a meaningful memory for a resident.

Mary and her staff have had a great start to their program. They These moments can be both big and small. Mary enthusiastically have set up afternoons of bowling, an in-house putting green, and described to me a moment of joy that she created on a snowy day tickets to a fashion show. Once each Make a Memory is completed for one of their residents. “Not all of our residents’ wishes involve an the staff makes a memory book, so the residents can look back on outing. After a recent heavy snow, Bob expressed a wish to play in the memory. the snow one more time. “We took advantage of what nature had I encourage you to bring joy to those around you. Smile more, laugh provided and bundled up against the cold,” said Mary. “A large pile more, and remember that the smallest gesture can make a great imof snow left from plowing our parking lots provided a ready supply pact on someone. If you know of someone bringing joy in the comof ammunition at the perfect height for this gentleman who uses a munity I encourage you to contact me and I would be happy to let wheelchair for mobility. A rousing snowball fight ensued in which others know about the joy the bring people in our community.

www.pbtc.net

APRIL 2014 CROSSROADS

9

ENTERTAINMENT Honorable Films of the “Slow” Season When it comes to “movie seasons”, there are only basically three (as opposed to the four real seasons we all know). We have our summer season (from May to August), our fall/holiday season – also knows as “awards season” that typically range from September through December every year. Then, there’s that awkward other season that ranges from late January to April. Historically, it’s the least popular season for moviegoers in which we don’t expect as many films that reach our standards in terms of quality.

Heck, you may have heard of many anticipated movies that moved their release dates from the previous year to this season in preparation to make room for – and avoid being devoured by – more “promising” hits.

This year’s The Monuments Men and 300: Rise Of An Empire, are very recent first hand examples. It’s especially difficult for highly praised films to open during this time for they’re usually forgotten by the time awards season comes around… almost a year later.

This is a tribute to the films that defied those odds and became life-long memorable hits and here are two stellar examples…

THE MATRIX (March 31, 1999) You heard it right. This was not a summer hit – despite it has all the right elements to fully qualify as one. This was a spring sensation that began on a Wednesday – if you can believe it. Adding that to the weekend gross, it was still just shy of making 28 million over its opening-weekend. However, word of mouth really caught on fast and before we

www.mscwired.org

10

CROSSROADS APRIL 2014

knew it, the film became a long-lasting sleeper hit – and then some. I remember being questionable about the film, myself, before I watched it and became thoroughly impressed with its unusually pristine slow-mo action sequences (among many other stunning visuals) complete with a mind-twisting premise.

Eventually, it crept its way to officially become a box- The Matrix photo courtesy of Warner Bros. office hit and earned its right to be labeled as a clasways appreciate these particular films (listsic in both sci-fi and action genres. By March ed here) as examples of hope and to help of the following year, it won four Oscars in inspire those who nominate their favorite the technical categories – including edging picks every year to decide—more freely— out a win for Best Editing over the Best Pic- the films they really and truly loved the ture Winner, American Beauty. most—despite release dates, peer pressure THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (Valentine’s or heavy award campaigns.

Day – February 14, 1991) To finish this off nicely with more recomPersonally, I believe this film is the finest mendations, I present you a list of more lifeexample of all, obliterating its odds the best. long memorable hits and mega-blockbustFebruary is arguably the “worst” time of year ers that graced the screens during previous for films to be considered for the Academy winter/spring seasons over the years: FlashAwards specifically – because films would dance (4/15/1983), Footloose (2/07/1984), have to contend a full year – plus an ad- Witness (2/08/1985), The Breakfast Club ditional month for the Oscar ceremony (2/15/1985), Lethal Weapon (3/06/1987), to take place (typically held at the end of Field Of Dreams (4/21/1989), Pretty Woman March during this particular time period). (3/23/1990), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Here’s another odd-defying factor: The Si- (3/30/1990), Wayne’s World (2/14/1992), lence Of The Lambs (after waiting over 13 Groundhog Day (2/12/1993), Liar Liar months from its release to receive its Os- (3/21/1997), Erin Brockovich (3/17/2000), cars) won five Academy Awards in all of Ice Age (3/15/2002), My Big Fat Greek Wedthe “top five” categories; Best Picture, Best ding (4/19/2002 [limited]), The Passion Of Director, Best Actress, Best Actor and Best The Christ (2/25/2004), 300 (3/09/2007), Screenplay. Only two other films were able Fast Five (4/29/2011), The Hunger Games to conquer that rare achievement in cin- (3/23/2012) and, most recently, The LEGO ematic history and they were, It Happened Movie (2/07/2014).

One Night (1934) and One Flew Over The

By Brian GuerRero Cuckoo’s Nest (1975). One more thing, it’s Brian Guerrero is a former the only film considered as a horror movie resident of Los Angeles and a to ever win the Oscar for Best Picture. current resident of New York Sadly, it’s mostly true that many great films City with extensive experience in are overlooked for award considerations front of and behind the camera because of their release dates and being for film and television. outside of “awards season.” Yet, we can al-

Recipes: Ginger not Mary Ann Ginger Carrot Soup

Carol Hurst is the owner of Olde Town Spice Shoppe on South Main Street, St. Charles. She was kind enough to share three of her favorite recipes featuring ginger with us. Warm up with this hot, fragrant kitchen spice.

For more recipes: www.oldtownspices.com

Ginger Lime Chicken

Ingredients: 1 tbl olive oil 1 small onion, chopped 2 cloves of garlic, minced 3 stalks celery, chopped 5 cups Carrots, chopped

3 Apples, peeled, cored, and sliced 4 cups Vegetable broth or chicken stock 1 tbl Ground ginger Salt and pepper to taste

Directions: In a large soup pot heat the olive oil, then sautĂŠ the onion, celery, and garlic until translucent. Add the ginger, broth/stock, carrots, apples, celery and simmer for approximately 30 minutes until carrots and apples are tender.

Take ladlefuls of the soup and mix in a blender until smooth. You may instead choose to use an immersion blender stick right in the pot if you have one.

Great hot or cold!

Ingredients: 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves 3 cloves crushed garlic 2 tablespoons ground ginger 1 1/2 tablespoon olive oil 4 limes, juiced (about 1/3 cup) Directions: If the chicken pieces are x-large, flatten then a bit by laying between two sheets of plastic wrap and pounding with the bottom of a sturdy mug or glass. In a large resealable plastic bag combine the garlic, ginger, oil and lime juice and shake the sealed bag until blended. Add the chicken to the bag, reseal, and marinate in refrigerator for 15-20 minutes. (no more or the acid from the lime juice will begin to cook the chicken) Remove chicken from bag and grill or broil, basting with marinade, until cooked through and juices run clear. Dispose of any remaining marinade.

Double Ginger Cookie Bites Ingredients: 1 1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 3/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt 2 teaspoon ground ginger 1 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled to room temp 1/3 cup finely minced crystallized ginger 1 egg

Directions: Preheat the oven to 350°F Combine dry ingredients and stir in butter and egg. Roll dough into balls the size of large marbles and place an inch apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake in the middle of the oven until firm and lightly browned on edges, about 10 minutes. Transfer cookies to racks to cool.

APRIL 2014 CROSSROADS

11

ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE Airborne Hazards Riding down the highway with my knees flexed and feet resting behind me on the passenger foot pegs, the air going into the top of my boots felt good, a bit of relief on the hot and humid day. I saw a small, yellow and black object zip by in the air and felt it go into my boot. As soon as it began crawling around, I had an unpleasant realization of what it was: a bumblebee. Within a few seconds, it began stinging me with all the fury one would expect of a bug suddenly scooped out of the air at 70 mph and funneled down into a sweaty boot. Riding along in moderately heavy traffic on a stretch of southern Missouri highway with no shoulder, I had to endure the repeated needling for another half-mile until I could pull off the highway (appropriately enough, at a hospital emergency entrance), stop the bike and yank off my boot while dancing around and yelling. Once the nasty little brute was dispatched, I hurriedly put the boot back on and made my way back onto the highway. An audience had begun to assemble outside the hospital, and I wanted

to make my getaway before an intervention team was dispatched from the hospital’s psych ward to deal with the dancing nutjob and his motorcycle blocking the ER driveway.

The swelling subsided pretty quickly, with only about a half-dozen stings decorating my ankle. My next motorcycle related purchase was a pair of high rise motorcycle specific riding boots, tall enough so that the tops were well covered by my pants. No more bug funnels. Cool air has to wait until the boots come off.

Another close encounter with an airborne object of interest was with an eagle, which had been flying over the Colorado River paralleling I-70 in Colorado. I had seen the bird aloft between the highway and the river below, but lost sight of it for a few seconds. The eagle suddenly reappeared very near the highway, seemingly headed on a collision course directly into my right side. Alarmed, as I began reaching for the brakes the eagle effortlessly banked hard to the right less than 10 feet before striking me, in an awesome display of a “wing-over”, his left wing pointed straight up, and his right pointed straight down, each individual feather of his underside quite visible from just a few feet away. We traveled side by side for a few yards, and he continued his stellar turn and went back to his business over the river. What could have been a serious hazard became an unforgettable experience.

Calling this creature a “bird” really doesn’t do it justice, as the wingspan was at least 5 feet, and it weighed considerably more than your garden variety songbird. A friend had a similar experience while riding his motorcycle, except the bird in question was a crow. It didn’t turn away at the last minute, drilling my friend straight in the chest, causing 2 broken ribs for him and the demise of the crow in an explosion of feathers. Hard to say what kind of havoc a collision with an eagle would have caused.

A non-winged airborne riding/driving hazard is fog. Huge, multivehicle pileups occur all over the country with monotonous regularity, with fog being a contributing factor. (Stupidity being the primary factor; if you can’t see, you can’t drive.) But when conditions are just right, driving near fog can present quite a show. Riding on a Kansas highway after a drenching summer thunderstorm had passed through, I rode across an elevated section of roadway on a bridge over a creek and road beneath. Fog had settled into the lower terrain, reaching up to the level of the bridge but no higher. It appeared that the road in front of me was floating on the top of a cloud. Black clouds with lightning filled the sky ahead; behind was the setting sun, which illuminated the low-lying fog with a soft, golden hue. The sight made riding through the previous downpour worthwhile.

By Avalanche

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.

www.byerlyrv.com 12

CROSSROADS APRIL 2014

MOORE ON LIFE April Foolery We’ve all had those awkward bathroom moments. Typically, it occurs with the realization that the paper is out. Usually at a certain “crucial point” it is discovered that there are only two squares of tissue left—a useable one plus that last stubborn piece glued to the roll which only comes off in useless shreds. Other moments happen during shower time when after becoming fully saturated in a steaming torrent (and only dressed in what your momma gave you at birth) you grasp for your body soap only to realize, it’s not there—someone has switched bottles.

In my particular situation, I reached up to find a container of man wash—yes, man wash for male men labeled in a manly manner. Something like: Skullduggery—A Musky Sea Spice of Roguish Swashbuckling Pirate Essence!

Gasp! Who traded this muck for my: Indulgence—An Enchanted Nighttime Romantic Breeze of Whispering Wisteria Mist?

I wipe a hole through the steam of my glass confinement booth to spy my bottle of soap propped up on the ridge of the bathtub.

It might have been in the next galaxy.

I mentally calculate all that will be involved to exchange his for mine: the bone-chilling cold; the dripping mess; the possibility of slipping and chipping a tooth or busting a hip loose. The risks seemed stacked against me.

I turn to look at my options in the shower rack: a half empty bottle of old acne scrub or my husband’s man wash. I could exfoliate my entire being, thus preventing the invasion of a gigantic body zit or go on an adventure and face the wide open ocean and wage war with sea monsters.

I read the label: after an invigorating cleansing with this product, not only will I be able to render giant squids impotent with a single brawny glance; I will have enough strength left over to do battle with Blackbeard and his villainous buccaneers using only my well-defined, muscly arms.

I cautiously open the lid, take a whiff of salty brine and freshly swabbed planks from the Jolly Roger, then lather up.

So this is what civilization has come to. No more unisex soap products which can be used for either gender. Our sexes have become even further divided. Now we must not only have our own individually scented lathering agents, but they must reflect our particular desires and goals; match specific personality traits, unfulfilled dreams, hidden fantasies as well as our favorite hobbies and snack food.

Gone are the days of ordinary vanilla or pine. Humdrum will not do; scents must now be epic!

For him: Machismo—Be the virile man of her dreams with this fearless concentrate of diesel engine parts blended with bold undertones of freshly laid mulch and neatly trimmed lawns, intermingled with the masculine smoky aroma of blue ribbon winning barbeque.

For her: Love’s Odyssey—Unlock love’s mysteries as you conquer his heart and torture his soul with this sensual bouquet containing hints of thyme, mint and his favorite casserole along with faint suggestions of desire and perfumed with a pungent potpourri of passionately provocative p-words.

I finish up and wander into the living room to tell my husband he can have the bathroom now. Oddly, he is curled up on the sofa wrapped in one of my nubby afghans holding a Kleenex to his nose while cradling our fat cat, Scooter, like a baby. He is focused like a laser on something.

“Your turn,” I say.

He dabs at his eyes with the tissue then motions for me to be quiet.

“You can have the shower now,” I say louder.

“Shhh,” he snaps. “I’ve already taken a bath.”

One of my old DVDs, Gone With the Wind, is playing on TV. Rhett Butler is just about to tell Scarlet it’s over for the last time.

A faint whispering of wisteria permeates the air.

Could it be…?

I venture another question. “Is he about to leave her for good?”

“Yes,” he blubbers. “That witch! And after all he’s done for her. His love was true. Why, Scarlet…why?” He blows his nose.

I leave him alone to his wailing and blowing because I suddenly feel the strong urge to buy a parrot then manhandle a great white shark.

Cindy Moore

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.

APRIL 2014 CROSSROADS

13

ADVERTISER PROFILE Byerly - The Center of the RV World

By Russ Patton The experts predict that RV sales will grow 20 percent this year. Many people will be trading up, so Byerly will have a good supply of lower priced, pre-enjoyed RVs to fit almost any budget. Byerly rests alongside the old Route 66 in Eureka, Mo., although they now call it I-44, the happy highway runs at the edge of the Ozarks and points west.

Eureka is a destination in itself. Why not try a weekend in Eureka? We are surrounded by campgrounds, Jellystone, KOA, and Babler State Park. Enjoy one of the last small town outposts in St. Louis County. Have lunch at Michelle’s or the new Irish Pub in Old Town.

And if you like antiquing there are several antique outlets. And don’t forget Six Flags.

And, of course, don’t forget Byerly RV, just east of the big Schnucks Supermarket.

Byerly features one of the largest, most complete RV parts stores in the Midwest staffed

Photo courtesy of Byerly RV

by five dedicated parts specialists. Last year Byerly expanded the service department to twice the previous size to serve the growing demand.

Time to trade up to a newer RV? Roam through almost 20 brand names of new fifth

wheels, travel and tent trailers, truck campers and motorhomes. As Missouri’s largest Motorhome dealer and with our exceptional commitment to RV owners after the sale, Byerly is truly “The Center of the RV World”.

Check us out at www.byerlyrv.com.

Pinwheels for Prevention®

www.pcrc-stl.com

www.llywelynspub.com

14

CROSSROADS APRIL 2014

April is National Child Abuse Prevention month. The Pinwheels for Prevention Campaign focuses on community activities and public policies that prioritize prevention right from the start to ensure that child abuse and neglect never occur in the first place. The pinwheel represents hope, health and happiness. This uplifting symbol reminds us of childlike notions and stands for the chance at the healthy happy and full lives all children deserve.

This year in honor of Child Abuse and Prevention Month and Pinwheels for Prevention, The Child Center, Inc. is celebrating with their Pinwheels for Prevention Gala.

The Gala will be held at Lake Forest Country Club, and promises to be an elegant evening. The guest speaker will be Rebeca Navarro-McKelvey. Rebecca is the Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Team Leader for the St. Charles Sex Crimes Child Abuse Unit.

The Gala will also have a live and silent auction. The night will end with a live DJ for

all to enjoy.

The Pinwheels for Prevention campaign is based on the belief that while the public understands that child abuse and neglect is a serious problem, it doesn’t necessarily understand what it means to prevent child abuse and neglect before it occurs. Or that we all play a role in children’s lives.

As our state recognizes Child Abuse and Prevention Month, The Child Center, Inc. invites everyone to take time to recognize that we all have a role to play in children’s lives. When children don’t have equal opportunity for growth and development, society’s future is put at risk. An investment in healthy child development is an investment in our community and in the economic development of our community.

Join The Child Center, Inc. in this effort by attending the Gala or through many other avenues. For more information call the The Child Center, Inc office at 636.332.0899, or visit t www.thechildcenter.com.

Spingtime in Wine Country: It’s closer than you think

By Christa Holtzclaw Blue skies, a slight breeze, and flowers budding… put these things together and it can only mean one thing: Spring has finally arrived!

Winter has a way of feeling like it will never end, but inevitably it rolls out, making way for the awakening of springtime. There are few places the beauty of spring is more evident than in Missouri wine country. Vineyards are breathtaking as bud break begins on the grape vines. During bud break tiny buds on the vine start to swell and eventually shoots begin to grow from the buds. As the vines start their renewed journey to creating the delicious grapes that will end up in your glass, wineries take on a bustling energy and excitement. It’s the perfect time to take a Missouri wine adventure.

Wine country is closer than you think. There are now 127 wineries in Missouri. No matter where you are in the state, you are only a short drive from your nearest winery. Missouri wine country has a rich history. French settlers in the St. Louis and Ste. Genevieve regions began growing grapes in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Grape growing accelerated in the 19th century with the arrival of German settlers in central Missouri, near Hermann. Missouri is also credited with saving the French wine industry in the 1870s. Missouri entomologist, C.V. Riley, discovered American rootstock was resistant to a vineyard pest called Phylloxera, which was wreaking havoc on French vineyards. The resistant rootstock was sent overseas and

grafted to French vines, helping to rebuild their industry.

By the 1880s, Missouri was a leading producer of wine in the United States, second only to New York. Prohibition put the brakes on the Missouri wine industry. Except for small‐scale cultivation of Concord grapes for unfermented grape juice, grape production ceased during Prohibition. Vines were pulled up to make way for other crops.

Negative after effects of Prohibition, in the form of high liquor taxes and license fees, lingered for decades and prevented the wine industry from reestablishing itself. The rebirth of the commercial wine industry in Missouri began in the 1960s and 1970s with the restoration of several original wineries. The early pioneers worked hard to regain the former stature of the wine industry. All through the rolling Ozarks and along the great rivers of Missouri, a renaissance is taking place. The Missouri wine industry−founded more than a century and a half ago−is redefining itself. And if you’ve blinked in the past 20 years, you’ve probably missed something important.

With so many wineries to choose from, there is always something unique and exciting to discover. Whether you are interested in historic properties, vineyard tours, or live music, Missouri wine country has something to offer. The Missouri Wine and Grape Board Continued on page 16

APRIL 2014 CROSSROADS 15

website, missouriwine.org, has a comprehensive list of wineries in the state and the amenities they offer such as tastings, lodging and on-site restaurants. Build a custom wine country adventure with their digital trip planner, or check out upcoming events.

Missouri Wine Trails There are also pre-mapped out trips you can take advantage of, called wine trails. Missouri boasts nine wine trails across the state, each with their own flare. Wine trails consist of a group of wineries in close proximity that have banned together to create an exciting and fun way for people to enjoy wine country. Some wine trails have special themed events where each winery offers a special treat or item paired with one of their wines. Others offer programs where participants receive a gift after visiting all of the wineries on the trail.

All of the wine trails promise a new discovery of the wine country in your own backyard.

The Weinstrasse Wine Trail is positioned along a short stretch of Highway 94 and boasts four wineries. Participating wineries are Augusta Winery, Balducci Vineyards and Montelle Winery, all located in Augusta and Sugar Creek Winery and Vineyards in Defiance. Take in the spectacular views of the Missouri river on Montelle Winery’s expansive patio or the rolling hills and farmland at Balducci Vineyards. There is so much to enjoy in the Augusta area, which was named the first ever American Viticulture Area in 1980 for its unique soil, climate and wines, as well as its long history as one of America’s oldest and foremost grape and wine districts.

Northeast Missouri offers two wine trails. The Hermann Wine Trail 16

CROSSROADS APRIL 2014

has become popular for their thematic events sprinkled throughout the year, featuring everything from chocolate, to bacon, to berries and barbecue. This trail winds through historic Hermann and along Highway 100 with seven wineries to stop at along the way.

Participating wineries are Adam Puchta Winery, Hermannhof Winery, OakGlenn Winery, and Stone Hill Winery all of which are in Hermann, along with Bias Vineyards and Winery in Berger and Röbller Vineyard in New Haven.

The southeast area of the state boasts a heavy concentration of wineries and has three wine trails. The Route du Vin Wine Trail is in Ste. Genevieve County. Participating wineries are Cave Vineyard, Charleville Vineyard Winery and Microbrewery, Chaumette Vineyards and Winery, Sand Creek Vineyard, Sainte Genevieve Winery, and Twin Oaks Vineyard and Winery. This wine trail includes a rich French influenced history in the colonial district of downtown Ste. Genevieve, a natural cave cellar at Cave Vineyard, an award winning restaurant at Chaumette Winery and much more.

The Mississippi River Hills wine trail offers a beautiful trip through the rolling river hills of the southeast region of the state. Participating wineries are Apple Creek Vineyard and Winery in Friedheim, The Barrens Winery in Perryville, Hemman Winery in Brazeau, Hunter Valley Winery in Cape Girardeau, Rothbrick Winery in Jackson, and Tower Rock Vineyard and Winery in Altenburg. All of the wineries on this trail are family owned and prepared to take you in as one of their own to sample the many varieties of the region.

The central part of the state is home to the Missouri River Wine

Trail with seven wineries. Participating wineries are Bushwacker Bend Winery in Glasgow, Canterbury Hill Winery and Restaurant in Holts Summit, Cooper’s Oak Winery locations in both Higbee and Boonville, Les Bourgeois Vineyards and Winery in Rocheport, Serenity Valley Winery in Fulton, and Westphalia Vineyards in Westphalia. On this trail, you can explore the central part of the state from historic downtown Boonville to the quaint town of Westphalia.

Visitors can enjoy a remarkable view of the Missouri river over the bluff top at Les Bourgeois Vineyard and Winery in Rocheport and continue on to several beautiful and unique wineries for a fun filled day trip through wine country along the Missouri river.

The Aux Arc Wine Trail is positioned on the historial Aux Arcs Wine Road which takes its name from the original French name give to the region, known today as the Ozarks. Participating wineries are Horst Vineyards and Viandel Vineyard both in Mountain View, and Traver Home Winery in Willow Springs. The wine trail travels along Highway 60. Visitors can receive a souvenir glass for visiting all three wineries on the trail.

In the northwest region of the state, there are two wine trails.

The NW Missouri Wine Trail has eight incredibly unique wineries and covers the area north of Kansas City. Participating wineries are Belvior Winery in Liberty, Fence Stile Winery in Excelsior Springs, Jowler Creek Winery in Platte City, Ladoga Ridge Winery in Smithville, Pirtle Winery in Weston, Riverwood Winery in Rushville, Van Till Family Farm and Winery in Rayville and Windy Wine Company in Osborn. On this wine trail you’ll find everything from baby doll

sheep mowing in the vineyards at Jowler Creek Vineyard and Winery, to the historic and possibly haunted Belvoir Winery, and much more.

The Kansas City Wine Trail also consists of nine one-of-a-kind wineries and covers Kansas City and the area directly east of the city. Participating wineries are Albonee Country Inn and Vineyards in Independence, Aimgoni Urban Winery in Kansas City, Arcadian Moon Vineyards and Winery in Higginsville, Baltimore Bend Vineyard in Waverly, Fahrmeier Family Vineyards in Lexington, LaBella Vineyards and Winery in Wellington, Odessa Country Winery in Odessa, Stonehaus Farms Winery in Lee’s Summit, and Terre Beau Vineyards and Winery in Dover. This trail offers a varied experience from the urban setting of Amigoni Winery in the first floor of the historic Daily Drover Telegram building in the Stockyards District of Kansas City, to the farm-life experience in the 1930s era tasting barn at Farhmeier Family Vineyards, and everything in between.

Missouri wine country now spans the entire state and invites you to get out and enjoy the scenery, award-winning wine and adventure found along the rolling hills and winding rivers. There’s something for everyone and it’s all just waiting for you to discover.

Photo page 16: The patio with a view at Les Bourgeois Vineyards and Winery in Rocheport.

Photo courtesy of James Fashing for Missouri Wine and Grape Board Photo page 17: Enjoy tastings of award winning wines at Cave Vineyard in Ste. Genevieve.

Photo courtesy of James Fashing for Missouri Wine and Grape Board

APRIL 2014 CROSSROADS 17

Cottleville St. Patrick’s Day Parade Photographer Ray Rockwell went green for this year’s St. Paddy’s Day parade in Cottleville.

PHOTOS BY RAY ROCKWELL

Mercy Kids and Unlimited Play’s rolling castle

Mercy Kids show their green

Cottleville Fire contributes some red to the rolling green

The St. Charles Chill Hockey team

The red, white and blue wave in the sea of neon green

The Moolah Air Patrol provides air support

Moolah drivers show their moves

The Moolah are joined by their Drum Corps

A salute to years past by Stygar Mid Rivers

Community News’ authority on all things sports, Gary B, lends his voice as the 2014 Emcee

18

Photo Op

CROSSROADS APRIL 2014

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

April April Fool’s Day

Hopp Eggstravaganza in Wentzville.

7-10pm, 636-332-9236

St. Louis Cardinals Opening Day

Palm Sunday

Lake St. Louis Municipal Election

Federal Income Tax Due

GM Earth Day

Egg Decorating in Wentzville.

Good Friday

5:30-8:15pm, Progress Park, 636.332.9236

Easter Sunday

Little Lightning Bugs in Wentzville.

6pm, Rotary park

LCHF’s 4th Annual Sporting Clay Shoot Fundraiser

To see your organization’s event listed here, please email editor@mycnews.com

APRIL 2014 CROSSROADS 19

Presorted Std US Postage

PAID

St. Louis, MO Permit 2828

2139-A Bryan Valley Commercial Dr., O’Fallon, MO 63366

www.Welsch-heatcool.com