Issuu

Giving Mother Earth a helping hand

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www.FKNursery.com

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CROSSROADS | APRIL 2015

April 2015 contents

VOL 12 | NO 4

Departments

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

Around Town Local news and events

Always an Adventure Yurt trip

Moore on Life Feeling foolish

Publisher Bob Huneke

Health & Wellness Stay on track with your wellness goals

Editor Mathew DeKinder

Business Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce

Production Manager Rebecca Brockmann

Entertainment From “The Fast and the Furious” to “Furious 7”

Contributors Avalanche, Robin Daniels, Val Joyner, Tony Mathews, Cindy Moore, Russ Patton

Food Five tips for easy family weeknight meals

Photographer Ray Rockwell

Photo Op Cottleville St. Patrick’s Day Celebration

Community Calendar April

Staff Writer Brett Auten

features

By Leah Deverick—Executive Director

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 2015 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.

Nonprofit Profile Find Your Piece Consignment/Resale Shop

Giving Mother Earth a helping hand Mission: Clean Stream and GM Earth Day team up to help clean up the environment By: Brett Auten

Advertiser Profiles RVers spring to life By Russ Patton

How to get more out of your tax refund By Robin Daniels On the Cover: Photo from Bigstock

APRIL 2015 | CROSSROADS

Around Town

Local realtors give back to Five Acres

www.spiritelite.net

Jennifer, Jeannie and Rich Piglowski, Coldwell Banker Gundaker independent sales associates with the company’s Highway 94 @ Mid Rivers office, recently donated $6,300 to Five Acres Animal Shelter. “We have been longtime supporters of Five Acres Animal Shelter,” said Jennifer Piglowski. “We personally contribute $100 to the shelter for every listing we close. As realtors, we work with families in St. Charles County find a place to call home.” To learn more about this no-kill shelter and opportunities to adopt, foster, volunteer or donate, please visit www.FiveAcresAnimalShelter.org.

Photo courtesy Coldwell Banker Jennifer, Jeannie and Rich Piglowski, independent sales associates, with Coldwell Banker Gundaker presented Five Acres Animal Shelter, St. Charles County’s only no-kill shelter, with a donation of $6,300. Committed to helping families and man’s best friend find a home, they annually pledge $100 for each closed listing. Pictured from left: Jeannie Piglowski, Coldwell Banker Gundaker; Lucky Charms (currently available for adoption at Five Acres); Becky Krueger, Executive Director at Five Acres, and Jennifer Piglowski, Coldwell Banker Gundaker.

“Meet Me in St. Louis” in Wentzville

Submitted photo

www.sunrisefamily.org 4

CROSSROADS | APRIL 2015

Wentzville Christian Church proudly presents a community theater production of “Meet Me in St. Louis” on May 1 at 7 p.m. and on May 2 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Admission to the performances is free and open to the public. Seating is first come, first served. Doors open 30 minutes before each performance. WCC’s Arts for Life/ Theater Recognition Guild award-nominated production of “The Music Man” last year drew about 1,500 people for the three performances. Tammy Rodenbaugh, director, said that this is the ninth year the church has produced a full-length Broadway musical to

share with the community. This year’s production features a talented cast and crew of 35 drawn from the church and surrounding area, along with a 15 piece orchestra (which includes members of the St. Charles Municipal Band). Martin and Blane’s “Meet Me in St. Louis” features memorable songs including “Under the Bamboo Tree,” “Skip to My Lou,” “The Trolley Song” and of course “Meet Me in St. Louis”; along with lots of humor, great sets and dancing. Wentzville Christian Church is located at 1507 Hwy. Z (1 mile south of I-70). For more information call 636-3276622 or visit the website at wentzvillecc.org.

Around Town

Liberty High School receives national certification for

Project Lead the Way Program

www.pcrc-stl.com

Photo courtesy Wentzville School District Liberty High School in the Wentzville School District has received national certification for their Engineering and Biomedical Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Programs.

Liberty High School in the Wentzville School District has received national certification for their Engineering and Biomedical Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Programs. PLTW offers students a hands-on curriculum that incorporates science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) into real life projects. PLTW has been offered in the Wentzville School District since 2007, and Liberty joins Timberland and Holt, which were the first two high schools in the county to receive the national certification in 2011. “It’s a great honor, but the real winners here are our kids,” said Liberty Principal Phil Ragusky. “It is so important for our students to have access to these STEM classes so they can develop the critical thinking and problem solving skills that will enable them to be the leaders of tomorrow.” The national certification recognizes schools that have successfully demonstrated a commitment to the PLTW philosophy. National certification provides an opportunity for students to apply for college credit and scholarships at universities all over the country. More than 40 college and univer-

sity partners offer students credit for completing certain PLTW courses in high school. Liberty currently offers Principles of Biomedical Sciences, Human Body Systems, Introduction to Engineering Design and Principles of Engineering. “These are very rigorous courses and they help our students become the best of the best. No matter where they end up, the lessons they learn in these classes are invaluable, said PLTW Instructor Meghan Aydelott. “The students absolutely love coming to class and taking on these challenges that will help them in any field.” Next year, Liberty will also offer Medical Interventions, Aerospace Engineering, and Computer Science and Software Engineering. The national certification team met with teachers, administrators, and students and reviewed student work in the PLTW classes at Liberty. “This is a big step to now have all three of our high schools nationally certified,” said Superintendent Dr. Curtis Cain. “Our continued emphasis on STEM courses will serve our students well and help to lay the foundation for their future success.”

www.stcharlesretirement.com

www.viperrocks.com

APRIL 2015 | CROSSROADS

Around Town

Do you qualify for O’Fallon’s first-time home-buyer Down Payment Assistance Program?

www.bellamontessoripreschool.com

First-time homebuyers who are purchasing a house, condo or villa in the city of O’Fallon may be eligible for a zero-interest loan of $5,000 toward the down payment and closing costs if they meet HUD income qualifications and other criteria. After taking a required housing counseling class, which is free, qualifying first-time homebuyers will then be eligible to fill out an application for the loan with one of three agencies that the city has contracted with. The agencies are listed to the right. To find out more, visit www.ofallon.mo.us/grants-assistance and select “Down Payment Assistance Program.” Or contact Public Assistance Specialist Jessica Hawkins at 636-379-5411, or jhawkins@ofallon.mo.us

Agencies Northeast Community Action Committee 3400 Meadow Pointe Drive O’Fallon, MO 63366 800-748-7636 Beyond Housing/NHS 4156 Manchester St. Louis, MO 63110 314-533-0600 Better Family Life 5415 Page St. Louis, MO 63112 314-367-1843

Children’s Trust Fund awardees

www.amcoranger.com

Photo courtesy Community and Children’s Resource Board Fund awardees and board members in attendance were (back row): Larry Marty, board member; Bruce Sowatsky, CCRB Executive Director; Elphanie (Sissy) Swift, The Child Center; Denise Liebel, United Services for Children; DiAnne Mueller, Crisis Nursery; Ron Berrey, Ed.D., board member; Andrea Robertson, board member; Dave Bekering, board member. (front row): Peggy Forrest, Our Lady’s Inn; Michelle Gorman, Youth In Need; Kristen Sutterlund, Lutheran Family and Children’s Services; Kristen Paez, Community Living, Inc.; Molly Dempsey, board member; Luanne Cundiff.

www.westcommunitycu.org

CROSSROADS | APRIL 2015

The Community and Children’s Resource Board of St. Charles County announced at its Feb. 23 board meeting the agencies awarded funds through the Children’s Trust Fund license plate campaign. They are: • Boys and Girls Club ($2,000) for child abuse prevention education. • The Child Center ($2,992) for equipment for assistance in canine therapy costs and sexual abuse prevention training expenses. • Community Living ($2,000) for respite program equipment. • Crisis Nursery ($2,500) for car seat purchases and family support. • Lutheran Family and Children’s Services ($1,000) WINGS program support that works with pregnant and parenting women. • Our Lady’s Inn ($3,454) for assistance with the shelter’s food expenses.

• United Services for Children ($1,600) for the parenting skills program. • Youth In Need ($2,954) for support of Head Start/Early Head Start program. Funds distributed through the Children’s Trust Fund-License Plate Fund must be used to support, develop, implement and evaluate child abuse and neglect prevention programs and services in St. Charles County. Child abuse and neglect prevention programs are defined as any community-based educational, family support or resource program designated to prevent, alleviate or reduce the risk of child abuse or neglect in St. Charles County. St. Charles County is one of 29 license plate partners with the Children’s Trust Fund of Missouri.

Nonprofit Profile

Find Your Piece Consignment/Resale Shop strives to provide opportunities to special needs adults By Leah Deverick | Executive Director Find Your Piece opened its doors in June of 2012. Since that time we have enriched the lives of adults with Autism and other special needs by providing an accepting environment to build work skills and interact with the general public. The majority of our volunteers come from The Center for Autism Education/Darryl Strawberry Adult Day Services. I was honored to work at the Center for Autism Education for nine years before opening the store. We have also enjoyed some time with individuals from Boone Center and Easter Seals. We usually have volunteers helping us one hour a day Monday-Friday. Our volunteers learn job skills by hanging clothes, placing clothing on racks, running the cash register, pricing items and doing general cleaning of the store. Jobs are tailored to each person’s unique abilities and interests. We would love to be able to grow and extend the amount of time that special-need individuals spend at the store, but we need to grow both physically and financially to have adequate space and work available. We also enjoy interacting and teaming up with other non-profits in the area. We like for everyone to be able to find their “piece” in

making the world a better place. We endorse Lifepoint Church and Gateway Church and we donate to Crisis Nursery, the Library, Mary Queen of Angels, and Goodwill. Find Your Piece also is a drop off point for Angel Gowns (an organization that uses wedding gowns to make gowns for babies that do not get to go home). We are also grateful to St Charles County Youth Workforce for providing funding for employees! Help us celebrate Autism Awareness month in April! Our name comes from the puzzle piece, which is commonly used as an Autism Awareness symbol. We are still small but hope that you will become involved in our mission. We are currently located at 58 Crossroads Plaza (2900 Hwy K) in O’Fallon. We are about one block north of Hwy N between Baxter Gardens West nursery and Burger King (same plaza as Coldwell Banker). Our phone number is 636-2811351. We are open Monday-Saturday. Hours vary (we are always here from 11-5) and can be found in our daily Facebook posts. Be sure to like our page to see new items daily and hear about special sales!

Submitted photos

We hope to see you soon!

www.stcharlesconventioncenter.com

www.mscwired.org

APRIL 2015 | CROSSROADS

Always An Adventure

Yurt trip “Hey Calvin, when can we invite ourselves up to your yurt?” I asked. “This weekend; I’ll be there until noon on Sunday. Just come on up,” he replied. Since his yurt had no phone, electricity, or running water for that matter, confirming or canceling at the last minute was not an option. Arriving before noon was the only RSVP necessary – or possible. Situated at about 9,000 feet in elevation, 1.3 miles past the end of the plowed road, snowshoes would be the mode of transport to Calvin’s home-away-from-home. Paul and Jo, proprietors of the local general store, were also going to make the trek up the mountain. Their trip would be shorter than mine, as they lived on the road (currently closed by snow – they commute via snowmobile) going up the mountain. Sunday morning found me parking at the end of a muddy road, shouldering a light pack and marching up the hill. Frozen mud turned to solidly frozen snow halfway up to Paul and Jo’s house. We met at their driveway, put on snowshoes and began the trip through deeper snow to our destination. We dropped down to a small lake, then followed a steep trail up about a half-mile with a gain of a couple hundred vertical feet and arrived at the yurt, a circular, dome-like structure. Inside was a very comfortable living space, complete with a woodstove, chairs, futon and cook stove. Lanterns and flashlights were in abundance, the only light sources for long nights. We settled in and the owner related some stories about building the yurt. Calvin, an accomplished climber and mountaineer had a lot of experience carrying heavy loads up mountains, having worked as a guide on North America’s highest peak back when it was still known as Mt. McKinley. (Coincidentally, he had also guided clients up the gully climb described in my column in the October 2014 issue of “CrossRoads.” Since there are only a few dozen people per year who make that climb, it’s a small chance that while swilling coffee in a general store in a town of less than 300 I would meet someone else who had been up that gully). That pack-mule experience would come in handy in the yurt’s construction. The site of the yurt was located nearly .5 miles and a couple hundred vertical feet from the summer road access. All the building materials had to be brought in on foot, between May and

September. The foundation consisted of 80 bags of concrete. One bag per trip was a serious load. Once all the bags were on site, water had to be carried in to mix with the concrete – more serious loads. Twenty-eight foot floor trusses were carried in one at a time, each balanced on a shoulder. Calvin said it was all achievable, just so one didn’t get in a hurry. The very heavy woodstove took 3 people over 5 hours to move up the hill, a few inches at a time. Roof trusses were carried up a few at a time, again, balanced on a shoulder. Calvin said it took 8 years of hauling and prep work to be ready to set up the yurt, which was purchased as a kit. It took 2 days to assemble the walls and roof – once it had all been carried up the mountainside. As we basked in the warmth generated by the woodstove, Calvin insisted that we eat some donuts; if we didn’t, he would have to carry them down. Leaving unattended food in the building would only serve to entice wildlife to break in and help themselves. Everything in the yurt, whether permanent or consumable, was evaluated in terms of the number of trips up the hill, and the weight of each load. For example, the chimney had a slight lean to it due to the prevailing winds. Solidly fixing the chimney upright would require some heavy, long pieces of metal – several very ugly loads up the hill. For now, the chimney would just have to lean. Books, a staple of remote living, were usually worth their weight. Good books provided knowledge and enjoyment. Lousy books could be used as fire starter to provide heat, so the hauled weight always had some value. As Paul and Jo and I were leaving, another neighbor (one of a halfdozen living within a 1-mile radius) skied up and stopped to visit with Calvin. As we made our way down the mountainside on the warming and rapidly softening snow, several falls and mishaps added to the entertainment, much more genuine than if we had spent the afternoon with some electronic devices. We hadn’t missed being connected to the road or grid in the least. 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.

CROSSROADS | APRIL 2015

Moore On Life

Feeling It takes a lot to get my knickers in a knot. You could forget my birthday or insult my cooking or even cut me off in traffic and snatch my parking spot and it wouldn’t get much of a rise out of me. Oh sure, I’d wish upon you a life filled with everlasting pain, unending misery and endless paper cuts, but that’s about it. However, recently one thing did create substantial knicker knots. I was in my favorite store with a fifty-percent off coupon in hand looking for a specific set of sheets to match my comforter. They were on sale and combined with the coupon, the price would be practically free. As I approached the housewares department, I passed a woman. I had run into her earlier—almost literally. She cut me off in the parking lot and snagged my front row parking space. Two misdemeanors, for which I graciously excused her; but, she was treading on very thin ice. We met up again in linens. Not at the same time. I was definitely there first, at the rack of sheet sets—the empty rack of sheet sets. Despair. But wait, what was that in the next row, wedged beneath the stack of more expensive ones? Relief. I grabbed my coupon and made sure the item matched up. It did. My arm stretched out and the tip of my finger made contact with the package—which, per shopping rules, makes it legally mine. But that lawless woman with two crimes already pending lunged in and snatched the package away. She plunked it into her cart before I could sink my teeth into her meaty forearm like a rabid junkyard dog and shake it loose. Did she just arrive from Planet Stupid and not know the universal rule of toucherskeepers? Obviously. I prepared a convincing speech to clear up the awkward little incident. “Ahem. I believe that is my item. You see, my hand was definitely on it to the degree if we took DNA swabs, it would clearly show up with my skin cells.” “Looks like it’s in my cart now,” the woman said. Oh, no she didn’t. I quickly surveyed the

foolish area for a mall cop. None in sight. I threatened, “Now see here. I don’t want to get management involved, but I will if needed.” “Whatever. You snooze you lose, sweet cakes!” What nerve! It was time to get tough. I assumed an aggressive stance with my hands squarely on my hips and unloaded both barrels, “Well you’re a…umm…I hope your dumb coupon’s expired, miss not-sosweet-cakes!” I think I put her in her place. Suddenly, a fellow shopper pulled up beside me and said she witnessed everything. “She definitely broke the universal rule of shopping,” she said. “There’s only one thing that can make this right. Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” “Polish off a six-pack of Ben and Jerry’s?” I said. “No girlfriend. This calls for the R word.” “Raspberry-chocolate ripple?” I replied. “Negative,” she said. “Revenge!” She grabbed an item from the shelf and peeled off the electronic security sticker and said, “We’ll head to the front of the store. When Miss I-don’t-play-by-the-rules checks out, I’ll bump her and you toss this into her bag. Then when she crosses the security doors--bingo. Payback!” Everything went according to plan. The buzzer sounded and a guard made her empty every item from her bag as she explained

how she could never steal anything… except my sheets! She was aptly humiliated for her transgressions. I stood in the checkout line grinning inwardly as my partner in revenge walked by the woman and flung her a look of supreme disgust. She then turned and waved and said in a loud voice to me, “See you in the car, Sis.” “Huh? Oh ya. Sure thing, Sis,”I winked and waved. Such a good ploy. My purchases were rung up and the cashier announced the total of $137. “For some lipstick and a pair of socks?” “Oh, that included your sister’s purchase. She said she needed to get the car and that she’d wave to the lady who would be paying.” “What? Wait. Who?” I thought about making a break for the parking lot, but the security guard blocked the entrance. Moral of the story: Anyone can get bamboozled. Including you—April Fools! by 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 2015 | CROSSROADS

Giving Mother Earth a helping hand Mission: Clean Stream and GM Earth Day team up to help clean up the environment By Brett Auten

arth Day is recognized annually when events worldwide are held to demonstrate support for environmental protection. On April 11, the region will have a doozy two-for-one option to jump start its awareness. Mission: Clean Stream and GM Earth Day are teaming up once again to prove that everyone can make a difference when it comes improving our environment. It’s definitely a dual threat as GM Earth Day is the place to go educate and Mission: Clean Stream is an easy way to get in the front lines of the battle. Mission: Clean Stream has been around for 12 years and is a collaboration with most of the municipalities in the county. “A few years ago GM wanted to do an Earth Day event,” Charlene Waggoner, Greenway Network President said. “It just made a lot of sense to expand the impact of Clean Stream and pull all of our resources into one day.” The event brings out anywhere from 7001,000 people and is an all-ages event. You will run across anyone from retirees and local business people to Cub Scout groups. “It’s all over the map,” Waggoner said. “There are some people who have been apart of it for years and years and have taken ownership of a certain spot and it’s great to see that. And for the people who come out for the first time, it’s so fun and rewarding they get hooked and the next time bring

friends or business partners.” Mission: Clean Stream started as a joint effort to pick up litter from publicly accessible creek areas and has evolved into a challenge, or a call to arms, to do some serious damage to the amount of trash in waterways across the county in just two hours. “It really is a goal to put ourselves out of business,” Waggoner said. “In some respect, we have cleaned up a lot of traditional dumps. The amount of metal and tires are down but there is still lots of generic trash.” Mission: Clean Stream volunteers from St. Charles County and the communities of Cottleville, Dardenne Prairie, Lake St. Louis, O’Fallon, St. Charles, St Peters and Wentzville join with Greenway Network and Missouri River Relief to remove trash from local streams and lakes. “This is really for all abilities and levels,” Waggoner said. “Before you know it, you have filled up your bag. It’s very immediate and very rewarding.” The GM Earth Day gets started early at Rotary Park, 2577 West Meyer Road, Foristell. After seeing off the Mission: Clean Stream troops there are plenty of options to get involved. Learn how to get connected to, and preserve nature with activities like making upcycled crafts, exploring a model stream and seeing how pollution moves into our rivers and streams. Also available is the Green Heroes Program: Kids where an award can be won by

learning about the environment. The Stream Trash ART (START) project, created by Ralph Rollins will be happening on site. You can watch artists use recycled materials and salvaged metal pulled from the streams to create new works of eco-art. Also on hand will be vendors, and organizations that can help you or your family make a real difference in the world. There will be plenty of hands-on activities with a particular emphasis on keeping very young children occupied while their older siblings are out on the creek. “This always a lot of fun for the kids,” Waggoner said. “There will be a lot of good information with plenty of green businesses out there. Residents of Wentzville will get a free tree to take home.” The day will start at 8:30 a.m. with registration at one of the rendezvous locations listed below. Everyone is asked to dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes or boots and bring gloves because this is trash after all. Transportation is not provided. Breakfast or lunch will be served depending upon location. Register early—space is limited. In case of extreme weather, a new date for cleanups is dependent on location. All participants are encouraged to go to the Earth Day Festivities at Rotary Park for lunch. This community-wide event is sponsored by the cities below, General Motors Foundation, Pat Jones, Greenway Network, Inc., Missouri Stream Team, Great Rivers Green-

way and Wal-Mart. Financial donations to this worthwhile project are also appreciated for supplies and to defray the cost of tire disposal. Contributions can be made through Greenway Network at greenwaynetwork.org. For more information email greenwaynetwork@gmail.com or call 636-498-0772. Families, organizations and individuals can participate by calling the nearest community to register. • Dardenne Prairie (636) 755-5308 Meet at City Hall - 2032 Hanley Rd. in Dardenne Prairie. • Cttleville jan.vlassos@cityofcottleville.com Meet at City Hall - 5490 Fifth Street in Cottleville. • Wentzville (636) 332-9236 • Meet at Rotary Park - 2577 W. Meyer Rd in Foristell • Lake St Louis (636) 695-4221 • Meet at Jefferson Point • O’Fallon (636) 379-5408 • Meet at Westhoff Park • St. Charles (636) 949-3237 • Meet at Lewis & Clark Boathouse • Riverlands (636) 498-0772 (greenwaynetwork.org )Meet at Riverlands • Storm Drain Marking (636) 498-0772 (greenwaynetwork.org) •Meet at Rotary Park - 2577 W. Meyer Rd in Foristell. Photos courtesy Theresa Dunlap

APRIL 2015 | CROSSROADS

Health & Wellness

Stay on

with track your wellness goals

Submitted photos

Living Word 1/12

www.lwcs.us

CROSSROADS | APRIL 2015

With dreams of bettering their lives, people of all ages pledge to create resolutions with the start of every year. Many people discover, however, that it’s easy to make a resolution but difficult to stick to it. With these helpful tips from Sunsweet and Dawn Jackson Blatner, registered dietitian, certified specialist in sports dietetics and licensed dietitian nutritionist, it’s easy to get back on a healthy living track: 1. Get Back on Track Falling off the wagon can be discouraging, but don’t let your mind get in the way of your might. Track your daily meals and snacks to help you stay focused on what and how much you are eating. Writing in a food journal is a great way to look back over your week to see what you did well and could do better next week. 2. Pack Your Lunch Being in control of what you eat throughout the day is powerful in staying on track with your resolutions. Why hit the greasy food truck outside when you can whip up a fresh salad at home? Grape and prune salad is an easy, protein-packed lunch that will power you through the day. 3. Choose Right at Snack Time The 3 p.m. slump is almost unavoidable. You’re three hours

past lunch and it’s too soon for dinner. Instead of reaching for an unsatisfying bag of pretzels or chips, bring fruits or nuts from home to curb the afternoon hunger. Prunes are digested and absorbed slowly by the body, which helps to sustain energy over a longer period of time compared to foods with a higher glycemic index. 4. Get Moving Everyone has a lot on their plate and with a busy schedule comes loads of stress and anxiety, but much of that can be alleviated with exercise. If you think about it, 30-40 minutes of exercise a day is only two percent of your day. Small changes, like walks around the block or using an app to count steps is a great way to track your movement throughout the day. 5. Make it Fun Instead of making drastic resolutions early in the year, and inevitably falling off the wagon a month or two later, embrace a healthy living lifestyle. The key to lasting, lifelong health is to make changes you enjoy. Make eating well and exercising fun and it won’t be hard to stick with. Staying on track takes will power and determination, but by squeezing a few easy hacks into your day you’ll be on your way to reaching your wellness goals.

Advertiser Profiles

RVers spring to life By Russ Patton, owner of Byerly RV Spring has sprung. Over 75 people signed up for Byerly RVs Spring Prep Seminar. Thanks go to Dave Hubatka, salesman, and Rick Altis, certified RV technician, for organizing and conducting the seminar. And thanks to everyone else who helped. Fun, food and education were enjoyed by all. Our winter adventure at the Belleville, Illinois, RV Show was successful despite the weather. Byerly’s mobile RV parts store is always the star of the show. Even though the RVs were displayed outside, the furnaces were operating and the intrepid southern Illinois RVers turned out by the hundreds.

This April’s spring “customer appreciation” campout will be hosted by Lost Valley Lakes in Owensville. For details on this and other Byerly events, check our website at www.byerlyrv.com. We look forward to another record year in 2015. With brands like Allegro and Phaeton by Tiffin, and the pick of Thor Industries most popular models, Byerly, once again, is Missouri’s number one class A motorhome dealer. Our towable brands are too many to list, but check us out on the web. Located at the gateway to the Ozarks in Eureka, Missouri we are surrounded by

Submitted photo

campgrounds and RV storage facilities. Invest in a quality RV. Let a short trip to Byerly be the beginning of many long RV adventures. Byerly’s reputation extends throughout the Midwest. Byerly RV, “The Center of the RV World.”

How to get more out of your tax refund Smart money management can turn a refund check into a nice nest egg or stretch dollars to make the most of your tax refund. The following money-management tips can help anyone develop strong saving and spending habits that can pay dividends for years to come. Get organized: When looking to make the most of your tax refund, start by organizing your financial documents and getting a grasp on your spending and saving behaviors. Examine your income-to-expenditures ratio to see where the majority of your money is going. It can be difficult to make significant changes with regard to your finances if you don’t have ready access to your financial records and a strong appreciation of how your money is being spent. Pay off high-interest loans: When addressing your finances, take inventory of any high-

interest loans, including credit card bills. It will save you more money in the long run to pay off this type of debt as soon as possible. The earlier such debts are eradicated, the less you will ultimately pay in interest. What’s more, paying off debt helps establish a better credit record and score, which can make you eligible for lower interest rates in the future. Using a refund to eliminate debt is more beneficial than simply letting the refund sit in the bank, where it’s likely to accrue less interest each month than the interest that accrues on your credit accounts with outstanding balances. Investigate savings programs: It is estimated that customers who don’t have an account at a bank spend, on average, more than $800 at check-cashing businesses each year. Opening up an account with a bank will im-

mediately save you money on check-cashing fees. Speaking with a banking representative can also provide information about various programs that will enable you to save your tax refund and earn money on it through interest accumulation. Stretching tax refund dollars means making smart choices regarding money management. Rather than splurging tax returns on big-ticket items, use your refund to grow your savings, begin an investment portfolio or pay down debt. By Robin Daniels

Robin Daniels is Asst VP/ Secondary Market Manager for Peoples Bank & Trust Co. NMLS #408454 (636) 290-7272 www.pbtc.net

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APRIL 2015 | CROSSROADS

ME O H

OPENER PAR TY proceeDs To BenefiT

Monday, april 13th 11am - 7pm BaseBall Theme BuffeT & Drink specials

1 Country Club Drive • troy, Mo Several SetS of cardinal ticketS to be raffled

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Silent auction iteMS • attendance prizeS For raFFle tiCkets or More inForMation ContaCt: David thompson (636) 528-7001 • tony Mooney (636) 528-7473

Payne 1/8

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CROSSROADS | APRIL 2015

Old Monroe Moscow Mills O’Fallon Wentzville 636-655-5601 636-356-4000 636-980-3585 636-332-4906

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Business

Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce Serving Wentzville, Lake St. Louis, and Dardenne Prairie Spring Garden Gnome 5K Run / Walk on April 25 The Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce their Spring Garden Gnome Run on April 25. Get your gnome family, friends, and co-workers together for a fun run. Each runner will receive a Garden Gnome hat when they pick up their race packets! Help us fill the streets

of Lake St. Louis with gnomes this spring. The race will begin at 8:30 a.m. It will start and end at National Information Solutions Cooperative (NISC) located in Lake St. Louis. Runners can register for the race online by Clicking the following link https://register. chronotrack.com/reg/responsiveForm?eve

Chamber gives back to the community The Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce was able to donate $1,500 to Operation Food Search after they successfully sold out all their 2014 Pay It Forward Raffle Tickets. With each raffle ticket sold the chamber donated a portion to help Operation Food Search in their effort to feed local children and families. “I am so proud of our membership and residents who helped sell out our raffle tickets. It is because of them that we are able to donate $1,500 to Operation Food Search,” said Tony Mathews, President/CEO of the Western St. Charles Coun-

ntID=12185#regOptions, by contacting the Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce at 636-327-6914, at the chamber office located at 207 South Linn Ave., Wentzville, MO 63385, or by going to the chamber website: http://westernstcharlescountychamber.com.

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 636.327.6914 or visit the website www.westernstcharlescountychamber.com. Located at 207 South Linn Avenue in Wentzville.

ty Chamber of Commerce. “The donation to Operation Food Search will help local children in the Wentzville School District that do not have food on the weekends.”

Chamber hosts ribbon cutting ceremonies The Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce hosted ribbon cutting ceremonies for The Bedroom Store and Huck’s Convenience Store. The Bedroom Store is located at 1215 Wentzville Parkway in Wentzville. You can contact them at (636) 856-2334 or visit them online at www.thebedroomstore.com. Huck’s Convenience Store is located at 501 Civic Center Drive in Lake St. Louis. Visit them online at www.martinandbayley.com. The Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce serves Dardenne Prairie, Lake St. Louis, and Wentzville. The chamber is comprised of over 640 members. If you are interested in having a ribbon cutting at your place of business please contact the chamber. To view pictures & video of these recent ribbon cuttings please visit our Chamber Facebook Page. APRIL 2015 | CROSSROADS

Entertainment

From“The Fast andus” the Furio TO“Furious 7” The “Fast & Furious” franchise is arguably one of the most unusually-successful film series to come along. Movies in franchises tend to progress with a steady decline in quality, a steady incline of quality or hitting that peak in the middle - like the “Spider-Man” trilogy. In short, “Fast & Furious” is all of those things combined; however, the end result is purely a positive one to this day. Here are some of the things that has kept the series going strong for 14 years now. In 2001 it was one of the most disappointing summers in the movie industry, but a mixed-reviewed car-racing flick, “The Fast and the Furious,” managed to be one of the few refreshing hits for audiences. Ultimately, it made over $100 million more than its estimated budget of $38 million. The film became a breeding ground for rising young stars. Vin Diesel (as Dominic Toretto) was already becoming ‘the next best thing’ following his success in the sleeper hit “Pitch Black” (2000), Paul Walker (as Brian O’Conner) was in his second career-leading role here following “The Skulls” (2000), Jordana Brewster (as Mia Toretto) was a regular on TV’s “As The World Turns” and Michelle Rodriguez (as Letty) was hot off her breakout performance in “Girlfight” (2000). The second film, “2 Fast 2 Furious,” only featured the return of Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker) from the first installment and was directed by John Singleton (“Boyz N The Hood”). Despite earning lower review ratings it still became a blockbuster hit. The third film, “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift,” was the least successful both critically and publicly, but the series’ most important deal happened behind-the-scenes. According to “The Hollywood Reporter,” even though Vin Diesel declined to be in the two sequels, he was asked by Universal to make a cameo appearance in “Tokyo Drift,” with plans to have him back in the lead for the fourth film. Diesel’s brilliant move was this: he would do the appearance for free in exchange for the rights of his Riddick character (from “Pitch Black”) to make another installment for that series, which became “Riddick” (2013). As a result, the fourth film, “Fast & Furious,” was made - with the tagline: “New Model. Original Parts,” “Fast Five” transformed the series into the heist genre (still with fast cars of course) and catapulted the series to new heights as the first film of the series to be approved by the majority of critics and audi-

CROSSROADS | APRIL 2015

ences. Even the harshest critics could not help but admit approval with its 77% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Previous characters from “2 Fast 2 Furious” (Tyrese Gibson and Chris ‘Lucacris’ Bridges) and “Tokyo Drift” (Sung Kang) were brought in to help Dom’s crew pull off a heist in Rio de Janeiro. Director Justin Lin returned for round three and really outdid himself here with the most outrageous scenes of action, choreographed crashes and mayhem in franchise history. We also finally get to see Vin Diesel square off with someone his own size in an epic brawl opposite Dwayne Johnson, as Hobbs, the federal agent out to put an end to Dom and his crew. Lin followed that successful formula and brought it to “Fast & Furious 6,” which matched the success of “Fast Five.” With more impeccable action set pieces, this time the highlight brawl is between Letty (Michelle Rodgriuez) and Hobb’s new partner, Riley (Gina Carano – real-life professional fighter). Both women performed their own stunts here in the memorable subway sequence. Following the untimely death of Paul Walker, during the seventh film’s hiatus period, Universal decided to complete the film with Walker’s brothers, stepping in as his physical stand-ins, along with rewrites and reshoots delaying the film’s release from last year to this month. Story-wise, the fourth, fifth and sixth films take place leading up to the third film’s time frame, so “Furious 7” will be the first to take place after “The Fast And The Furious: Tokyo Drift.” “Furious 7” opens April 3. By Brian GuerRero

Brian Guerrero is a former resident of Los Angeles and a current resident of New York City with extensive experience in front of and behind the camera for film and television.

For the Love of Food

Five tips for easy family weeknight meals Most families aspire to spend more time together around the dinner table, but between work and after-school activities, it’s hard to find the time. If you’re finding it tough to get your family to the table each night, here are a few simple tips: 1. Keep the meals simple by choosing recipes with one star ingredient and easy preparation – like a pork tenderloin. Fresh pork cuts can be easily sliced into medallions or cubes to cook faster, while still maintaining juicy, delicious flavor, so you can have a dinner that’s ready in less than 10 minutes. 2. While waiting for dinner to finish cooking, slice and chop any ingredients that can be stored to cut down on some of the prep work for the next night’s meal. 3. Get the whole family involved and assign each member a task, such as setting the table or assembling a crisp green salad. 4. To save on time, choose meats that have done some of the work for you. Slow-marinated in a variety of delicious seasonings, they’re perfect for any night of the week, and will taste like you spent hours in the kitchen. 5. On weekends, take the extra time in the kitchen to double a recipe for you to serve during the week. For a simple weeknight meal that’s sure to get your family in their dinner seats, try a pre-seasoned pork dish such as Fresh Pork & Veggie Stir-Fry, or Fresh Pork & Apple Salad.

Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients: 1 pkg. Smithfield Teriyaki Seasoned Pork Tenderloin 4 cups assorted fresh vegetables (i.e. sugar snap peas, carrots, broccoli), cut into bite-sized pieces 1/2 cup teriyaki or stir-fry sauce 2 cups prepared rice or rice noodles

Fresh Pork & Veggie Stir-Fry

Directions: 1. Cut tenderloin into thin strips or 1-inch cubes. 2. Heat large skillet over high heat; spray with nonstick cooking spray. Sauté pork strips for 2 to 3 minutes until browned. Add vegetables and stir-fry until tender-crisp (about 3 minutes). 3. Stir in teriyaki sauce; heat through. Serve stir-fry over rice or noodles.

Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 5 minutes Serves: 6 Ingredients: 1 Smithfield Peppercorn & Garlic Seasoned Pork Tenderloin 1 (7-oz.) bag mixed salad greens 2 apples, thinly sliced 1 1/2 cups assorted fresh vegetables (e.g., red onions, sugar snap peas, radishes) cut into bite-sized pieces 1 cup nuts (e.g., cashews or almonds) Directions: 1. Cut tenderloin into thin strips or cubes.

Fresh Pork & Apple Salad

2. Heat large skillet over high heat; spray with nonstick cooking spray. Sauté pork strips for 2 to 3 minutes until done and browned.

3. To make salad, layer salad greens, apples, vegetables, and sliced tenderloin in large bowl. Garnish with nuts. Serve with your favorite salad dressing.

APRIL 2015 | CROSSROADS

Photo Op

Cottleville St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Ray Rockwell joined tens of thousands of revelers at the 7th Annual Cottleville St. Patrick’s Day Celebration on March 14. The event featured a parade and a 7K run. Photos By Ray Rockwell

CROSSROADS | APRIL 2015

Community Calendar

April: 3 - Fish Fry Friday

9 - Nutrition Series

Fish Fry Friday at Wentzville VFW Post 5327 at 1414 Hwy Z in Wentzville happens from 4 – 7 p.m. Eat in or carry out. $10 per plate includes: Catfish, walleye, shrimp, coleslaw, fries, hush puppies, carlic cheddar biscuit and green beans or spaghetti. Children’s meals are available too. For more information, please call 636-639-1648.

In this one-hour seminar you will determine your percentage of body fat, estimate your individual daily caloric needs and develop a program to help you meet your goals. Class begins at 6:30 p.m. and is $8 for Wentzville residents and $10 for nonresidents. Please call Progress Park Recreation Center at 636-332-9236 for more information.

3 - Good Friday

15 - Tax Day

4 - Golden Games registration

22 - Earth Day

28th Annual St. Charles County Golden Games featuring individual and team events take place May 4 – 9 for athletes 50-and-over. Completed registration form must be postmarked no later than April 4, no late entries or on-site registration. Your $25 registration fee includes: T-shirt, pre-game banquet for participant and guest and as many events as you can schedule (golf events have additional fee). For more information go to www.sccgoldengames. org or call 636-441-6442.

5 - Easter Sunday 7 - Community forum A panel of professionals will respond to questions about transportation needs and options in Franklin, Lincoln, Montgomery, St. Charles and Warren Counties from 6 – 8 p.m. at Pitman Reception Center at 1543 Wentzville Parkway in Wentzville. Please RSVP to Deana Tucker Dothage at ddothage@ boonslick.org or by phone 636-3594656. Visit www.morides.org for more information. Space is limited - reservations requested.

24 - Tribute concert John Denver tribute concert will be held from 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. at the St. Peters Cultural Arts Center at #1 St. Peters Centre Boulevard in St. Peters. Free-will offerings to benefit the TriCounty Citizens Advisory Board.

24 - Arbor Day 25 - Book signings Ann Farnsworth will be signing copies of her book “Goodbye Flutterfly: What is Death?” from 10 a.m. – noon at 6 North Café at 10 Cliff View Drive in Wentzville for more information call 636-856-8066 or visit www.6northcafe. com. Janet Bettag will also be signing copies of her book “Normal” from 10 a.m. – noon at 6 North Café.

APRIL 2015 | CROSSROADS

2139-A Bryan Valley Commercial Dr., Oâ€™Fallon, MO 63366