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Staying true to their roots

Living Word 1/12

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CROSSROADS | MAY 2015

MAY 2015 contents

VOL 12 | NO 5

Departments

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

Around Town Local news and events

What’s The Word? Wentzville could use a trip back to the future

Always an Adventure The general store

Moore on Life Spring clinging

Publisher Bob Huneke

Editor Mathew DeKinder

Automobile Alley Chevrolet Colorado makes a strong impression

Production Manager Rebecca Brockmann

Business Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce

Entertainment Looking back at the career of director Cameron Crowe

Food Mentor knows best

Photo Op O’Fallon Garden Expo

Community Calendar May

Contributors Avalanche, Staci Budde, Robin Daniels, Tony Mathews, Cindy Moore, Laurie Nobe, Russ Patton Photographer Ray Rockwell Staff Writer Brett Auten For advertising information, please contact us at:

features

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

By Staci Budde-–Co-Founder

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 The Averi Budde Foundation Staying true to their roots Businesses in Wentzville keep hometown charm while surrounded by rapid growth By: Brett Auten

Advertiser Profiles Forrest Keeling Nursery a regional institution Know your retirement account options: IRAs By Robin Daniels

On the Cover: Photo by Ray Rockwell

MAY 2015 | CROSSROADS

Around Town

Wentzville student crowned Miss Pre-Teen United States

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Eleven-year-old Heritage Elementary stu- with the Miss United States Organization. With the title of Miss Predent Chloe Layton was recently crowned Miss Teen United States, Chloe will now move on to comMissouri Pre-Teen United States. The competition pete at the National Pageant held during the Miss took place at Theatre LawUnited States pageant rence in Lawrence, Kansas the weekend of March 20. week in Washington D.C over the 4th of July holiday. There, Chloe competed against other talented In addition to the amazing prize package she has won, young ladies from the state of Missouri aged 10Chloe will also get to take part in the holiday parade 12 years old. The competiin Washington D.C and attion consisted of interview, tend the Miss World Pagpersonal introduction, eant Finals, also being held sportswear modeling and in D.C. eveningwear. In her free time, Chloe The Miss Pre-Teen United loves baking, riding her States Pageant is a "nonbike and doing gymnasglitz" pageant that encourSubmitted photo tics. She is being sponsored ages young girls to showEleven-year-old Heritage Elementary student case their personalities Chloe Layton was recently crowned Miss Mis- by many friends, family and local businesses. from within. It is affiliated souri Pre-Teen United States.

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Around Town

Breast milk donation for premature infants expanding into O’Fallon No medicine works for premature infants like human milk, but many infants in the NICU don’t have access to this resource. The Milk Bank, a nonprofit human milk bank serving NICUs across the Midwest, is now expanding into Missouri so more families can be part of this lifesaving mission. The Milk Bank opened a new milk depot at Little Flower Family Medicine in O’Fallon on March 31. This will allow eligible mothers in the area to drop off their milk donations, where they will then be sent to The Milk Bank’s pasteurization facility in Indianapolis and distributed to NICUs across the Mid-

west. When no milk depots are present, donors must package and ship their donations to The Milk Bank. Currently, the only depot in Missouri is in St. Louis. With the opening of the Amber Sky and Little Flower Family Medicine depots this March, Missouri will be home to three milk depots for interested donors. The Milk Bank, a HMBANA-affiliated, nonprofit milk bank, ensures that fragile infants get the highest quality donor milk. Donors are screened for eligibility, and they must pass a blood test to donate their milk. The Milk Bank accepts donations through a child’s second year of life and has dispensed over 1 million ounces

of donated milk since its founding in 2005. “We are thrilled to open a milk depot to welcome more Missouri mothers to our mission,” says Janice O’Rourke, Executive Director of The Milk Bank. “When more mothers become aware of how easy the milk donation process is and how they can be a part of it, we will be able to help more infants.”

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What's the Word?

Wentzville could use a trip back to the future Growing up in St. Charles I never really gave a second thought to Historic Main Street, as it was placed right at my fingertips. I have shopped the shops, eaten at many of the lovely restaurants, learned the history of Lewis and Clark and walked the beautiful cobblestone streets. The shops, the restaurants and the vast and rich heritage were something I began to take for granted. I started thinking to myself that no one has what Main Street St. Charles has, until I started working in Wentzville. Wentzville was never on my radar. It was a place we passed while on our way to the Lake of the Ozarks, usually being the place we stopped for a quick burger. It wasn’t until I started working in Wentzville that I really started to see its true beauty. Downtown, Old Town, The Village Center – whatever you may call it – is absolutely breathtaking. I became curious about the history of Wentzville. How long ago was it established? What remains of “Old Wentzville” today? After doing some research the most important question to me became, “How can downtown Wentzville return to its roots?” As I stood on the tracks of the old Wabash Railroad looking around at all of the vacant land, I started to picture what could be, I started to picture the future of The Village Center. I can envision it now; tents along the old railroad featuring local produce, artists set up along West Allen showcasing and selling their masterpieces, members of the community marketing hand-made products, walking to Friendship Brewing Company (as soon as they open) and not only having a cold one that was brewed right here in The Village Center, but also learn-

ing about the history of the building the heritage and and how the owners are refurbishhistory in tact ing it with what they found inside but also adding when they purchased it. The 100 new and excityear old building will be revitalized ing things for into Wentzville’s first brewery while the community maintaining the beautiful oak walls to do while exthat came with the historical buildploring The Viling. Friendship Brewing Company lage Center area is doing exactly what I see for the of downtown future of The Village Center, bringWent zville. ing in the new and exciting all while What is first up Photo by Laurie Nobe on the agenda maintaining the old, rich history tracks of the old Wabash Railroad facing west that’s engraved in the city’s foot- The to bring life to into Wentzville. print. The Village CenI picture being able to walk the streets of ter, you ask? That would be the 3rd Annual The Village Center while shopping, dining Blues and Classic Rock Festival that will be and exploring the history of the city. Could taking place on Saturday, May 16 right out in you just imagine walking down the streets front of Old Friends Vintage Guitars. There and stopping to see beautiful markers that you will find a family-friendly event that will showcase the history of certain buildings include six of the best local blues and rock and what once stood on those vacant spots bands, food from a locally owned business, of land and parking lots? Imagine walking and a beer garden. I honestly see this festiup to the MFA, Inc. Building and learning val as the “future of The Village Center.” It is that what once stood there was the man- only with activities and events like this that sion of Charles Musik, the man who hosted The Village Center will not only return to its numerous celebrations on his land. Com- roots by keeping the history alive, but also munity-wide barbeques, elaborate 4th of take on a whole new life for the residents July parties, and many other events were of Wentzville. So grab your friends, family, held at what was called “Musik Grove.” a few lawn chairs and head to the festival! I would absolutely love to see something I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, The like Musik Grove come back to Wentzville. Village Center has the potential to not only Live entertainment, local restaurants shell- be like Main Street St. Charles, but better. ing out their favorite eats and cold drinks and The business owners are in for the long haul families perched on a blanket together tak- to tackle getting The Village Center up and ing in the sounds and the smells of the new going, moving and shaking. So here is what lifestyle that The Village Center has brought I want to know from you, the community… back to life for its residents. I see bringing in What would YOU like to see come to The a mix of old and new to Wentzville, keeping Village Center? Entertainment, farmers market, shops, restaurants, etc.? Please send your thoughts and comments on what you would like to see come to The Village Center to Laurie Nobe at Lnobe@mycnews.com. We want to hear from you, the community! by LAURIE NOBE

Laurie Nobe was born, raised and still resides in St. Charles County. She is rehabbing a house and planning a late summer wedding with her fiancé.

CROSSROADS | MAY 2015

Nonprofit Profile

The Averi Budde Foundation looks to support little hearts

The Averi Budde Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 2007 in support of pediatric heart programs in and around the St. Louis area and community, and to help support heart families and research programs. The foundation was founded after the birth of twin girls Adison and Averi Budde. Averi was born with several congenital heart defects requiring her to have open heart surgery at five days old. Averi has had five open heart surgeries to date and four cardiac cathertizations. During Averi’s stay in the hospital, Averi’s Grandma Vicki Isom and parents, Ryan and Staci Budde wanted to give back for the amazing care they received. They held a fundraiser at Blue Springs Ranch in Bourbon, Missouri to raise awareness and funding for the St. Louis-area patients and CICU. This year will be the eighth year for the fundraiser which is now held annually at Blue Springs Ranch on September 12. We encourage all to attend for an amazing fun day for a great cause! To date, the Averi Budde Foundation has raised $175,000 that has been donated to St. Louis Children’s CICU, SSM Cardinal Glennon Dallas Heart Center, Camp Rhythm (a camp for children that have had open heart surgery), AED/Defibrillators for Sullivan and Bourbon Ambulance districts and schools and Pulse Oximetry machine for Missouri Baptist Hospital Obstetrics department. The foundation has held a Pediatric Congenital Heart conference where five top surgeons and cardiologists came to educate St. Louis Children’s CICU staff. Several heart families have been as-

sisted financially and with lodging while their child was in the hospital. Several events coming up to benefit the foundation include the Annual Averi Budde Family Fun Day at Blue Springs Ranch, Bourbon Missouri on September 12, which includes a silent auction, carnival rides, bounce house, carriage rides and a dinner all included. May 31 is our second Food Truck event to be held in Cottleville at Legacy Park from 4 - 8 p.m. with bounce houses and a washers tournament. There are approximately one-in-110-babies born with congenital heart disease and most will die before they see their first birthday. Our mission is to educate and help local institutions and families during their child’s hospital stay and help fund equipment, education tools and scholarships to the CICU staff.

Please find us on FB at the Averi Budde Foundation or our website at averisjourney.com or email at Staciisom@aol.com

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MAY 2015 | CROSSROADS

Always An Adventure

The general store “If we don’t have it, you don’t need it” reads the sign in the local general store. A staple of rural living, the local general store is the place to get groceries, beer, cigarettes, first-aid supplies, ice cream, camping supplies, fishing tackle and in some cases, mail, hardware, guns and ammo, gasoline and the latest gossip. Once away from urban areas and off the interstates, these institutions serve as local cultural hubs, enabling a very scattered and remote population to pick up necessities without going to “town,” as well as interact with each other. Without such institutions, many rural dwellers would have little to no contact with their neighbors. For most denizens of the hinterboonies, solitude and privacy are desirable features of remote living, but even a hermit needs to say “hi” to another human once in a while. For travelers and tourists passing through, a short stop in such an establishment can provide more information than any map, guidebook or social media posting. Where to go, what to see, where to stay and where and whom to stay away from can all be learned with a short stop and a few questions. The information and conversation flow a bit more freely when the questioning party makes some purchases. Yes, the locally owned and operated establishment will charge a bit more than the generic urban-mart. That’s because the remote purveyor of goods likely has to pay more wholesale for an item than the big box store can sell it for retail. However, you probably won’t find out what the road conditions are or where the best places to fish are located by asking questions at the nearest Big-Box located 40 miles away. (Actually, you won’t find the best places to fish at the local store either, but you will probably be directed to places where you can catch fish. Only morons give up their best fishing holes.) Beyond obtaining goods and travel information, one can learn a lot about the flavor of a locale simply by meeting some of the residents. Farming and ranching topics dominate much of the conversation in the Midwest stores. Small shops near lake and river resort areas are well represented by fishermen and boaters. Here in the remote Rockies, a motley assortment of mountaineers, cowboys, movie stars, active-duty and retired enforcers (on both sides of the law), pastors, avalanche forecasters, lawyers, realtors, construction workers and a few with no visible means of support are the people you will find at the local general store. Some mornings during the off-season, it is a

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full-fledged hermits’ convention, with the more reclusive folks pushing the boundaries of their social phobias. Once more than a halfdozen or so humans are within conversation distance, the less sociable individuals make a hasty retreat away from the madding crowds. When the summer season arrives and the owners and employees are dealing with throngs of hungry and thirsty customers, the local customer base dwindles a bit; we’ll come back when it’s not so busy and there’s time to visit. Nationwide, such establishments have declined in number over the last few years. The negative effects of the economic meltdown of a few years ago have not subsided much outside of those areas gifted by the central banks’ digitally-conjured bailouts. And the EPA, in a quest to protect aquifers, has been enforcing onerous and expensive regulations on gas stations. The current requirements for fuel storage and dispensing are simply too costly for a small volume gas station to cover. So, the owner faces a difficult choice of spending more money on fuel-dispensing equipment than will be returned in the hopes of boosting other sales; pulling the tanks out of the ground and losing the traffic; or simply walking away from the building and giving the keys to the bank. A drive through any sparsely-populated area reveals a lot of empty buildings with old gas pumps out front, standing on broken concrete pads overgrown with weeds, monuments to the passing of a simpler time. Difficulties aside, the local general store is alive and well. Most residents of those out-of-the-way places understand that if they don’t support their local business, it will go away and they’ll have to go to “town,” which is much worse than paying a few extra bucks for their goods. And visitors know they can get more local knowledge from the mom and pop establishment than anywhere else. If you stop by, grab an ice cream cone and visit a while, the locals are friendly. Just don’t expect us to give up our favorite fishing holes. 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.

Moore On Life

Spring Spring has sprung and with it the daffodils, tulips and hiacythinths…hiathinmints? Oh, you know what I mean. Those really colorful flowers no one can pronounth let alone thpell! Things inside are starting to spring open as well – like cupboards and closets. Naturally, the reason they start to spring open is because of all our stuff – that major component which separates us from the rest of the animal species. And since we accumulate so much stuff those places that we do stuff our stuff tend to get overstuffed and spring open. Thus, the time for spring-cleaning rolls around. This opportunity creates the perfect occasion for one of those cheery, husband-wife projects, which if done properly can cause bonding and teamwork and strangulation. The reason…no one wants to part with their stuff. My husband begins by rummaging through my spice cabinet and says, “Let’s unload this tin can collection. They serve no purpose.” He reaches back into the cabinet and snaps off a container of cream of tartar cemented to the bottom of the cupboard. “It appears you’re tartar has turned to mortar!” he says tossing it like a basketball into the garbage can. I rush in. “Stop! Do you realize that stuff costs three dollars an ounce? That’s 48 bucks a pound…$96,000 per ton. It’s not garbage; it’s gold!” “It’s mold! Canned botulism! And what exactly is this one?” He takes a cautious sniff. “Dill weed? Sweet mother of condiments! If you’re paying that kind of money for weed, it had darn well better be the illegal kind.” It joins the growing heap of cans. “Now, what about this thyme?” he says dipping a finger in it. “Is it supposed to be a solid or particle?” “Particle.” “It’s now particle board. Appears your thyme is up. And dare I ask about these cans marked, Ginger, Marjoram and Rosemary? What are you storing here, the cremated remains of the Spice Girls? Although, it would explain why the group broke up so suddenly.” He thinks he’s got me. I retaliate. “Well, Mr. Hoarder-pants, while we’re on the subject of clearing out, what about your mass collection of bolts and nuts?” I rattle a Mason jar filled with some of his stash. A cold sweat appears on his brow while his left eye develops a visible twitch. “Release the nut jar!” “Why? They serve no purpose.” “They most certainly do,” he bristles. “Let me give you a typical scenario. It’s mid-May. A freak winter storm has shut down the entire state. Winds are howling 95 miles per hour; trees are being flipped from the ground like Pop Tarts from a toaster. Suddenly, from the bowels of the basement, there’s a distinct ping from the furnace.

clinging The problem: a quarter-inch Phillipshead screw has loosened itself from the thermostat setting off a chain reaction, causing the temperature to plunge 60 degrees. The next thing you know, I’m forced outdoors to battle sub-zero conditions and dodge flying roof tops to get the right component and save your extremities from frostbite.” He drops to the floor for visual effect and continues. “Then, after crawling through the blinding blizzard, I find the hardware store encased in a thick sheet of ice. Only by smashing through it with a shopping cart do I discover that all furnace parts have been winterized, warehoused and replaced by isles of Weed wackers and garden mulch. So much for your extremities! But no, I merely head out to the garage and pick out a replacement screw, which I rescued from an old snow blower engine, and ta-da, we’re toasty warm while you could have been forced to ignite your furniture to stay alive.” “Listen, sweetie, if you expect me to hang onto 17 bottles of nails and screws in preparation for the return of the Ice Age, you’re nuttier than a jar of Skippy,” I say. “Yes, and if you think you’re suddenly going to take up cooking to use those toxic seasonings then I’ll eat that entire jar of Skippy.” “So-o-o, maybe we shouldn’t act too hastily,” I say, retrieving my rusted spice cans. “You’ve got a point there,” he says hugging the nut jar to his chest. “This cleaning can wait. It’s a nice spring day. Let’s go for a walk. The hiawathas are in full bloom.” 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.

Payne 1/8 MAY 2015 | CROSSROADS

Staying true to their roots Few, if any, communities in Missouri have had the type of growth that Wentzville has experienced. Growing from a town of only about 5,000 in 1990 to 29,070 by 2010, Wentzville has become a premier location for both businesses and residents. Wentzville is the fastest growing city in the state of Missouri, according to the 2010 Census, with an increase in population of 322 percent. Yet, for all its rapid growth, it has retained its hometown charm and friendliness. Pete’s Drive In encapsulates that hometown charm. The restaurant, located at 1009 East Pearce Blvd, was established in August 1966 and at the helm ever since has been Pete Luetkenhaus. Luetkenhaus, 80, started

Pete’s Drive In

CROSSROADS | MAY 2015

logged well over 40 years at the establishment. Pete’s daughter, Marsha Perotti, has been working there since she was 13. “We kind of keep to ourselves over here on the quiet end of town,” Perotti said. “We rely a lot on our regulars. It’s gotten to the point where customers and friends are all the same.” Over at the UnKorked Wine Garden, Shelia Stewart set up shop five years ago in one of the towns most historic buildings at 205 East Allen. First came the Southwestern Bell Company when the town’s first switchboard was installed around 1915-1916 and was in operation prior to World War I. In 1930, the house was sold to Dr. and Mrs. Schroeder. Dr. Schroeder was the first chiropractor in the Wentzville area and the couple continued to run the switchboard for a number of 1009 East Pearce Blvd years with help from Wentzville, MO 63385 their daughter, Lillian Schroeder. Fast forward a few generations and Stewart has created a charming destination for wining and dining and live music. “This is a unique building where family businesses have continued to thrive,” Stewart said. “It was the house, the location, everything about it. I knew there would be room for a garden and outside seating. Stewart feels that Wentzville has done a good job of handling its brisk expansion. “St. Charles almost lost control whereas we have expanded and grown and not

it when he was 31 when there was next to nothing in the area. “There was the city hall at the extreme end of town and the rest was all fields,” Luetkenhaus said. What started off as an A&W, the business has been in the same location for 49 years. Unlike the rest of Wentzville, little has changed on the menu since then, with hamburgers and assorted fair reigning supreme. “We have always tried to serve quality food,” Luetkenhaus said. “It’s some of the best around.” Generations of residents have passed through Pete’s door either as customers or employees. Two of Pete’s employees, Beverly Kersting and Elaine Howdershell have

Businesses in Wentzville keep hometown charm while surrounded by rapid growth overwhelmed ourselves,” Stewart said. “We’ve done a good job of keeping it settled.” Over at Windows and the Works at 501 East Allen, Donna-Marie Pierre has been in the decorating business for 38 years in the St. Charles County area. Not only does she own her own business but she is also very active in the community. She belongs to the Wentzville Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club and Downtown Business Association. Donna-Marie’s husband, Art specializes in painting, window replacement, doors, awnings and installing 3M solar films. Windows and the Works is the ultimate family business. All of the Pierre children have worked for the company at one time or another. Daughter Susan-Marie brings warmth and personal style as showroom coordinator and the right hand to DonnaMarie. With a granddaughter Evelyn and grandsons Justin and Peyton, there is hope that a third generation will be in the business. Among the newer businesses are Little Black Book: Women in Business and 55 Creative. Established in 2012 by co-founders, Angel Magasano and Tess Henley, Little Black Book: Women in Business is a certified nonprofit corporation in the state of Missouri dedicated to the advancement of female owned businesses through referral marketing. The organization is a

tight knit group of women business owners and operators who are active referral partners. Programs are offered to help educate women in areas of business and personal growth and development. Today, Little Black Book boasts over 60 certified members in Western St Charles County, Missouri and a Collegiate Chapter at Southeast Missouri State University under the direction of Founding Faculty Dr. Erin Fleugge-Woolf. By the end of 2015 LBB will host chapters in Western St Charles County, Eastern St Charles County, Cape Girardeau, and Cleveland, Ohio. At 55 Creative, Lucas Web Marketing and Chris Oth Creative merged in 2013. The merger allows them to better serve the small business owner by offering a single

Unkorked

Wine Garden

By Brett Auten

solution where you can get a logo, website, brochures, and more, all in one place. So while Wentzville grows by leaps and bounds and the big box stores and national franchises have set up shop after shop, the hometown charm and value has neither departed nor stymied the addition of businesses that hold close these same values. Photos by Ray Rockwell Page 10: Left - Pete Luetkenhaus established Pete’s Drive In at at 1009 East Pearce Blvd. in August 1966. Page 10: Top - Marsha Perotti, daughter of Pete Luetkenhaus, has been working at Pete’s Drive In since she was 13. Page 10: Bottom - Two of Pete’s employees, Beverly Kersting (left) and Elaine Howdershell have logged well over 40 years at the establishment. Page 16: Left - Shelia Stewart established UnKorked Wine Garden five years ago.

206 E Allen St Wentzville, MO 63385

MAY 2015 | CROSSROADS

Automobile Alley

Locally-built Chevrolet Colorado makes a strong impression

Built exclusively at GM’s Wentzville assembly facility, the 2015 Chevrolet Colorado is now being featured and showcased throughout the U.S. with the help of their 3,200 dealer network footprint. It’s the “sister product” of the GMC Canyon, which of course is built on the same manufacturing line. Colorado is positioned in the midsize pickup truck category. Ford and Chrysler (Dodge) previously were players in this arena stateside but elected to pull out some years ago due to declining sales and other factors. Import nameplates such as Toyota and Nissan remained as a viable choice in this specialty truck market as well. “Many people like the ‘can-do’ spirit of a truck, but they want a vehicle that is easier to maneuver in traffic and easier to park at work or at home,” said Tony Johnson, Colorado marketing manager. “For them, bigger is not necessarily better. Also, they don’t want to give up the latest in convenience and safety features, which aren’t available on current midsize pickups. For those customers, the new Chevrolet Colorado is the perfect choice.” This truck is designed to meet many of the “wants and needs” of truck customers in North America. Colorado has distinctive outer design cues coupled with a quiet and comfortable interior that offers car like amenities. It also has innovative extras such as the Chevy MyLink system with text messaging and app-based conveniences, plus built-in/available Wi-Fi (with a three-month complimentary data trial period). MyLink is standard on LT and Z71 models. It combines with OnStar to bring connectivity technology to the driver and passengers. Lane Departure Warning and Forward Collision Alert are also offered on this new truck. A built-in rear camera is standard across the model line up. Getting down to specifics, it’s available in a four-door extended or crew-cab body configuration. More precisely, the choices include the extended cab model with a 6’ 2” rear bed, a crew cab with a 5’ 2” cargo bed and a crew cab configuration with a 6’ 2” bed. Standard with the rear cargo carrying bed is their lock-able tailgate and two-tier loading that allows a platform to effectively split the bed into upper and lower sections. This makes it easier to haul, store and conceal items such as tools. Furthermore, 13 cargo tie down rings are included with the bed rail plus tailgate protectors as well as their standard CornerStep rear bumper design for easy height access. The truck’s unique design telegraphs a confident stance overall with a sporty demeanor. The raised/taller rear cargo box nicely matches

CROSSROADS | MAY 2015

the aggressively raked belt line of the truck’s cab. The vehicles distinctive proportion’s help reinforces the truck’s athleticism. Under Colorado’s hood, there is a choice of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder rated at 200-horsepower or a 305-horsepower 3.6-liter V-6 engine. With the heading of fuel efficiency, the latest EPA estimated numbers come out to be 27 mpg highway with the four-cylinder and 26 mpg with the V-6 (2-WD models). Under the umbrella of towing, its trailer rated at 7,000 pounds with the optional V-6 engine and with their heavy-duty “factory installed” towing package. As expected, it’s also offered with a four-wheel-drive underside setup as well. With a test drive you’ll notice the quiet interior, due in part to their triple-sealed doors. A boldly designed instrument panel has large controls and a center console with a floormounted shifter. Attention is evident to deSubmitted photos tail and premium appointments. Colorado’s seats are designed for long-haul comfort and wear. The vehicle also has active automatic hidden aero front grille shutters, designed to enhance aerodynamics seamlessly while at highway speeds. Models and trim levels include their work truck model plus their LT and Z71 versions from General Motors. The four-wheel drive system employs an electronically controlled transfer case that allows the driver to shift from 2WD to 4WD. The driver can select from three modes, 2WD, 4WD HI or 4WD Lo. All models are matched with a six-speed automatic transmission; however, the extended cab 2WD models equipped with the 2.5L engine are also available with a six-speed manual gear box. Colorado is designed to help keep occupants safe on the road, employing a number of active and passive safety features. At road test, the Z71 4WD, Crew Short Box V-6 version I drove had an MSRP of $36,710. That also included the factories $875 shipping charges. By DAVID FINKELSTEIN

David Finkelstein is a Master/Skill Automotive Service Technician, maintaining that role for over 45 years, coupled with being a shop owner in that time frame as well. He’s also invented a number of garage service tools for mechanics and has served on both National as well as local Automotive Trade Industry Boards. Additionally, he pioneered “Car Talk Radio” over 40 years ago, starting out with KMOX/CBS Radio as well as hosted “Auto Talk” on KFTK/FOX News Radio for some 15-years. David tests and evaluates new vehicles weekly and also does some consulting with various auto manufactures, both import as well as with domestic nameplates.

Advertiser Profiles

Forrest Keeling Nursery a regional institution Forrest Keeling Nursery, located at 88 Forrest Keeling Ln in Elsberry, grows over 97 varieties of seedlings, 122 varieties of RPM (root production method) potted liners, 22 species of oaks and 27 varieties of nut trees. It specializes in native plant material. Finished stock includes ornamental shrubs, evergreens, and caliper trees up to 3” in diameter. Forrest Keeling was founded 60 years ago by Hugh A. Steavenson. Steavenson, then manager of the U.S. Soil Conservation Nursery in Elsberry, began to grow a variety of species in the backyard of his father-in-law, Dr. Forrest Keeling. Because of Dr. Keeling’s love of gardening, the Nursery was named for the Elsberry physician. Steavenson’s fledgling operation became a full-time operation on a 22-acre tract north of Elsberry and has grown to embrace 1,000 acres of prime agricultural ground south of Elsberry. Although Forrest Keeling’s rural location

dictated its beginning as a retail mail-order nursery, rapid growth shifted emphasis to wholesale business and retail trade in the garden center only. Forrest Keeling greatly expanded its RPM propagation program to ten acres of greenhouses in the early 1990s. Production of a wide range of trees, shrubs, and evergreens is executed in a proprietary Photo by Ray Rockwell multi-step system. Kim Lovelace Young is the owner of Forrest Keeling Nursery, located at 88 Forrest Today Forrest Keeling spe- Keeling Ln in Elsberry. cializes in the production of Forrest Keeling has an annual production native plant materials of unique quality: de- of over four million seedlings, liner and ciduous tree and shrub seedlings and RPM transplant in more than 200 species. This potted tree liners, as well as a full line of gar- production is efficiently and economically den market and landscape-sized evergreens, shipped from its central U.S. location to 49 trees, shrubs, ground covers and specimen states and across borders to Canada and trees. countries of Europe and Asia.

Know your retirement Account options: IRAs Retirement. It does sound nice, doesn’t it? You no longer have to work – though you may still do so if you choose – and you get to do things you haven’t had the time for. But then there’s the financial side of retirement, and the two questions that are the most daunting for those approaching and planning for retirement: 1. Do I have enough money saved up for retirement? 2. How can I catch up if I’m behind? The answer to the first question can be answered by working with a financial planner. The second can be answered by the individual retirement accounts, or IRAs. IRAs offer a place for you to save specifically for retirement and can grow rapidly due to compound interest. As with most financial products, there are different types of IRAs, each with their own benefits and intended users. Below is a brief overview of the most common types of IRAs. Traditional IRA • Contributions to this type of retirement account may be fully or partially deductible,

and taxes are not assessed until you make withdrawals from it. • Contribution limits are as follows for traditional IRAs: $5,500 under age 50; $6,500 if you are 50 or older. • Withdrawals can be made from traditional IRAs fee-free once you reach age 59.5. • You can no longer make regular contributions to a traditional IRA once you reach age 70.5 or older. Roth IRA • The main difference between Roth and traditional IRAs is when taxes are assessed; traditional IRAs tax withdrawals, whereas contributions are taxed for Roth IRAs. • While there are many rules regarding withdrawals from a Roth IRA, there are certain qualifying expenses you may be able to use contributed funds for without having to pay a fee: - first-time home purchase, qualified education expenses, death or disability, unreimbursed medical expenses or health insurance if you are unemployed. • Contribution limits: $5,500 under age 50; $6,500 if you are 50 or older.

Simplified Employee Pension (SEP IRA) • SEP IRAs are available to businesses of any size, even those who are self-employed. • They are easy to set up and operate. • SEP IRAs come with low administrative costs. • The employee is always 100 percent vested in (has total control of) all money in the account. • Contribution limits for SEP IRAs are as follows: 25 percent of an employee’s salary, or $53,000 for 2015. • Withdrawal rules are the same as the rules governing IRAs. You should consult your own tax advisor when thinking about opening an IRA. They can help you understand the tax benefits and consequences of each account. By Robin Daniels

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

MAY 2015 | CROSSROADS

Business

Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce Chamber hosts ribbon cutting and ground breaking ceremonies The Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce hosted ribbon cutting and ground breaking ceremonies for Upscale Resale, UMB Bank Winghaven, Culver’s Wentzville, SSM St. Joseph Hospital West and Master Y Kim’s World Class Tae Kwon Do. Upscale Resale is located at #7 Tiffany Lynn Ct., Wentzville, MO 63385. You can contact them at 636-327-5757 or visit them online at www.upscaleresalehome.com. UMB Bank Winghaven is located at 9957 Winghaven Blvd., O’Fallon, MO 63368. You can contact them at 636-561-5750 or visit them online at www.umb.com. Culver’s Wentzville is located at 1898

Wentzville Parkway, Wentzville, MO 63385. You can contact them at 636-327-7537 or visit them online at www.culvers.com. SSM St. Joseph Hospital West celebrated a Ground Breaking for their new addition to the hospital. The hospital is located at 100 Medical Plaza, Lake St. Louis, MO 63367. You can contact them at 636-625-5200 or visit them online at www.ssmhealth.com/hospitalwest.com. Master Y Kim’s World Class Tae Kwon Do is located at 1923 Wentzville Parkway, Wentzville, MO 63385. You can contact them at 636-327-7466 or visit them online at www.ykimtkd.com. The Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce serves Dardenne Prairie, Lake St. Louis, and Wentzville. The chamber is comprised of over 650 members. If you are interested in having a ribbon cutting at your place of business please contact the chamber. To view pictures and video of these recent ribbon cuttings please visit our Chamber Facebook Page. For more information please call the chamber office at 636-327-6914 or visit the chamber online at http://westernstcharlescountychamber.com. Submitted photos

www.windowworld.com

CROSSROADS | MAY 2015

Business

Serving Wentzville, Lake St. Louis, and Dardenne Prairie

Western St. Charles County Chamber moves to new location The Western St. Charles County Chamber is proud to announce their move to new offices. The new chamber office is located at 207 South Linn Avenue, Wentzville, MO 63385. “The chamber is proud to add additional meeting space for our members to meet and additional parking for our visitors,” said Tony Mathews, President/CEO. “If you need information about our great chamber members please stop by and visit our staff. I would like to thank all the chambers who helped or donated to the office.” A ribbon cutting and open house was held on March 19, 2015. If you have any questions please call the Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce at 636-327-6914 or visit us 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 650 members.

Submitted photo

Chamber Pins & Putts Tournaments The Western St. Charles County Chamber will be hosting two epic tournaments this May and June. The chamber has added a bowling tournament to complement their annual golf tournament. Get a team together for the Chamber Golf Tournament on Friday, May 15 at Incline Village Golf Course or get a team together for the Chamber Bowling Tournament at Brunswick Zone at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 4. You now have the choice to participate in one event or both. The chamber is offering special pricing on teams for the tournaments. Golf teams are only $300 for a team of three. This includes golf, carts, lunch, dinner, drinks,

attendance prizes, contests and more. Bowling teams are only $100 for a team of four. This includes two games, shoes, appetizers, soda and water. For more information please call the chamber office at 636-327-6914. You can view sponsorship information online http://westernstcharlescountychamber.com. When you sponsor the event you are now sponsoring two events for the price of one! The Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce serves Dardenne Prairie, Lake St. Louis, and Wentzville. The chamber is comprised of 650 members. If you are interested in participating please contact the chamber at 636-327-6914.

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 http://westernstcharlescountychamber.com. Located at 207 South Linn Avenue in Wentzville.

www.pbtc.net MAY 2015 | CROSSROADS

Entertainment Looking back at the career of director Cameron Crowe Lloyd Dobbler (John Cusack) holds a boom box over his head while playing Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” to win back the love of his life (Ione Skye) in “Say Anything…” William Miller, a journalist - still in high school - rides a tour bus with an up-and-coming rock band as they sing along to Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” in “Almost Famous.” Sports agent, Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) confesses his love to Dorothy Boyd (Renee Zellweger) with the words “You complete me” followed by her responding words “You had me at ‘hello.’” This was long after his client, Rod Tidwell (Cuba Gooding Jr.), forced him to scream the words “Show me the money!” as a bargaining chip to maintain their business relationship in “Jerry Maguire.”

These iconic movie moments have one thing in common: Cameron Crowe. His movies are rare and can take as long as half a decade to get made. As a filmmaker, his sure-handed direction is to simply protect his writing - which is the glory of his films. Actors love to work with him and the amount of freedom of expression they have through their characters on the big screen can easily suggest that. His stories (usually ranging between lighthearted dramas to down-to-earth comedies) often consist the antagonists as misfits, outcasts or even underdogs. What makes his films stand out are the little things in life that most movies don’t focus on. From the choice of words he gives his characters to say and when it comes to romance, nobody delivers like Crowe does. If there was a rule as to how people are supposed to fall in love in the movies, Mr. Crowe is one of the very few who have mastered it. It’s the human interaction that really sells his work, guided by awesome soundtracks that feature music specifically chosen by the filmmaker himself. Like (Jerry Maguire’s mentor) Dicky Fox said, “The key to this business is personal relationships.” Crowe has been a writer since the age of 15, beginning as a journalist. He submitted articles about music to the San Diego Union and even Rolling Stone magazine. (If this sounds similar to William Miller’s background in “Almost Famous”, you’re not crazy. It is partially an autobiographical account of Crowe’s life). Years later, he posed as a student in a high school to write a book – before writing his first screenplay based on it. Those efforts lead to the making of an 80’s

CROSSROADS | MAY 2015

cult classic, “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” (1982) directed by Amy Heckerling. The comedy became one of the biggest breeding grounds of future stars - including Sean

Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

Penn (in a legendary performance), Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judge Reinhold, Eric Stoltz, Phoebe Cates, Forest Whitaker, Anthony Edwards, and even Nicolas Coppola (before he became Nicolas Cage the following year). Producer James L. Brooks (of “Terms of Endearment” fame) got in touch with him and offered him to be the writer for his next production. It was “Say Anything…” (1989); and, as it turned out, he also earned his shot at making this comedy his directorial debut. As years passed, it’s now regarded as one of the best movies about modern romance thanks to its sheer authenticity. Who knew that a young man holding a boom box over his head would become an iconic symbol of romance on film? “Jerry Maguire” was a bit out of Crowe’s comfort zone and took him five years to complete the screenplay before it became

his biggest success to date. It was nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Screenplay for Crowe, Best Actor for Tom Cruise and a win for Cuba Gooding Jr. in the Supporting Actor category. A movie with three famous quotes is something of a rare Hollywood gem. Cameron Crowe finally got his due and won his Oscar for Best Screenplay for “Almost Famous” (2000). It was another slow building success that became a classic over time and another breeding ground of future stars-like Patrick Fugit, Kate Hudson, Billy Crudup, Jason Lee, Zooey Deschanel, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Jimmy Fallon-before their fame. Rounding up the rest of his movies are “Singles” (1992), “Vanilla Sky” (2001), “Elizabethtown” (2005) and “We Bought A Zoo” (2011). When a film features Bradley Cooper, Rachel McAdams, Emma Stone, Alec Baldwin, John Krasinsky, Danny McBride and Bill Murray, you know something’s up. Since it happens to be written and directed by Cameron Crowe, I don’t care what the plot is. I’m already going to buy my ticket-giving the man the “kwan” he deserves. “Aloha” welcomes everyone in theaters May 29. 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

Mentor knows

best

Whether she’s your mom or a “like-a-mother” mentor, chances are you’ve got a lot to thank her for this Mother’s Day. It’s a time for celebrating your biggest supporters, number one fans and best friends. In life, we’re lucky to form relationships with women we can learn from and grow with. Beth Somers and Elizabeth Nelson from the Wilton Test Kitchen consider themselves lucky. Beth Somers, Director of Creative Content Development, owes her start to her former boss Milette Raz. Raz is trained in the Wilton Method of Cake DecoratingTM and taught Somers how to decorate. But Somers thinks of Raz as so much more — calling her a mentor, her second mother and her friend. Years after working together, the duo teamed up for Cupcake Wars on the Food Network, returning home as champions of season six with winning recipes like Tropical Getaway Cupcakes. Elizabeth Nelson, Assistant Culinary Specialist, attributes her love of baking to her grandma Ann, learning the basics with her and picking up passed down recipes that she brought with her to college. She looks up to her mother, her grandmother and her greatgrandmother, whom she’s told she also gets her competitive nature from. Nelson and her grandmother went through a lot of trial and error together to come up with what they believe is the perfect cinnamon roll recipe, very similar to this recipe for Cinnamon Rolls with Caramel Glaze.

Servings: 1 dozen rolls Ingredients: Rolls: 1 1/3 cups warm milk (105°F) 2 packages (1/4-ounce each) active dry yeast 1/4 cup granulated sugar, divided 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened 2 egg yolks 1 teaspoon Wilton Pure Vanilla Extract 3/4 teaspoon salt 4 cups bread flour, plus more for dusting Filling: 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened 1/3 cup granulated sugar 2 tablespoons bread flour 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon Glaze: 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter 1/2 cup lightly-packed light brown sugar 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream 1 teaspoon Wilton Pure Vanilla Extract 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup confectioners’ sugar (about 1/4 pound) Directions: 1. For rolls, stir together warm milk, yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in large bowl. Let stand 5–10 minutes or until foamy. Add butter, remaining 3 tablespoons sugar,

Servings: 2 dozen Ingredients: Cupcakes: 2 eggs plus 4 egg whites, lightly beaten (reserve 2 yolks for filling) 1 cup cream of coconut 1/2 cup water 1 teaspoon coconut extract 1/2 teaspoon Wilton Pure Vanilla Extract 2 cups all-purpose flour 1-1/2 cups sweetened shredded coconut, coarsely chopped 1 cup granulated sugar 1 tablespoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened and cut into tablespoons Filling: 2 egg yolks 3 tablespoons cornstarch 1 1/4 cups thick mango juice, divided 1 tablespoon granulated sugar Pinch salt Icing: 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened 2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar 1 tablespoon finely grated orange zest (about 1 orange) 1 teaspoon Wilton Pure Vanilla Extract Directions: 1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line muffin pans with baking cups. 2. In large bowl, whisk together eggs, egg

egg yolks, vanilla and salt. Mix with electric mixer using dough hook on medium speed until combined. Gradually add flour, 1 cup at a time, and mix on medium speed until smooth, elastic dough forms, about 5 minutes. 2. Spray large bowl with vegetable pan spray. Form dough into ball, place into bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let stand in warm place for 45 minutes or until doubled in size. 3. For filling, stir together butter, sugar, flour and cinnamon in medium bowl until well-combined. 4. Prepare 13-by-9-inch pan with vegetable pan spray. 5. Punch dough down and roll out to 18-by-14-inch rectangle on floured surface. Spread filling onto dough and roll up from long end, like a jelly roll. Pinch seam to seal, trim ends and cut into 12 equally-sized pieces. 6. Place rolls into prepared pan; cover with plastic wrap and let rise 25–30 minutes or until doubled in size. 7. Meanwhile, heat oven to 350°F. Remove plastic wrap from rolls and bake 25–29 min-

Cinnamon Rolls with Caramel Glaze

whites, cream of coconut, water, coconut and vanilla extracts until well combined. 3. In large bowl, mix flour, shredded coconut, sugar, baking powder and salt with electric mixer on low speed until combined, about 15 seconds. Add butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, continuing to beat on low speed until mixture looks dry and crumbly and largest chunks of butter are about 1/4 inch in diameter, about 30 seconds. Stop mixer and add half of liquid ingredients. Beat on low speed until flour mixture is moistened, about 15 seconds. Increase mixer speed to medium and beat until light and fluffy, about 45 seconds. With mixer still running, slowly stream in remaining liquid. Stop mixer and scrape sides and bottom of bowl. Beat on medium speed for an additional 30 seconds. Divide batter evenly into baking cups, filling about 2/3 full. 4. Bake 18–22 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in centers of cupcakes comes out clean. Cool cupcakes in pan on cooling grid 5 minutes. Remove from pan; cool completely on grid. 5. For filling, whisk together egg yolks, cornstarch and 1/4 cup mango juice in small bowl until smooth. 6. In saucepan, combine remaining 1 cup mango juice, sugar and salt. Bring to boil over medium-high heat. Slowly stream half of hot liquid into egg yolk mixture, whisk-

utes or until golden brown. Cool in pan on wire rack while preparing glaze. 8. For glaze, melt butter in saucepan over medium heat. Add brown sugar and cream. Cook over medium-high heat until mixture reaches a simmer; cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and salt. Whisk in confectioners’ sugar until smooth. Pour glaze over warm rolls. Serve warm.

Tropical Getaway Cupcakes ing constantly. Add egg yolk mixture back into saucepan and reduce heat to medium. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Strain through fine mesh sieve. Cool completely. 7. For icing, beat cream cheese and butter in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until creamy; gradually add confectioners’ sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, scraping down bottom and sides of bowl as necessary. Add orange zest and vanilla extract and beat until fully incorporated. 8. To assemble, remove center of cupcake with coring tool or paring knife. Fill with mango filling. Pipe icing onto cupcakes. Note: Stir cream of coconut before measuring it, as it tends to settle as it sits. Coconut can be coarsely chopped in food processor or with knife.

MAY 2015 | CROSSROADS

Photo Op

O’Fallon Garden Expo With spring in the air Ray Rockwell ventured out to the O’Fallon Garden Expo at Fort Zumwalt Park on April 11. The expo featured food, vendors and lots of helpful tips for gardeners. Photos By Ray Rockwell

CROSSROADS | MAY 2015

Community Calendar

May: 1 – May Day

9 - Pals Animal Shelter 5K Run/Walk

18-19 - Run for the Wall

2 - Silent auction and lunch

Pals Animal Shelter 5K Run/Walk will take place at Quail Park in Wentzville. Runners, walkers and sponsors can sign up at Pals-Pets.com.

Wentzville VFW Post 5327 will host its 27th annual Run for the Wall. You are cordially invited to come and welcome more than 400 motorcycles riders making their way across the United States to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. The event begins on May 18 at 6 p.m. with a welcome ceremony and dinner at VFW Post 5327 at 1414 Hwy Z in Wentzville. On May 19 there will be a breakfast at 5 a.m. followed by a memorial ceremony at the Vietnam Memorial at 7:45 a.m. Volunteers are needed to help with serving meals and clean up. Food and silent auction donations are needed. If you can help, please call 636-639-1648.

Wentzville VFW Post 5327 will host a silent auction and lunch at noon at 1414 Hwy Z in Wentzville. Proceeds will benefit the Run for the Wall. For more information call 636-639-1648. The event is open to the public.

2 - All-city garage sale During the Wentzville All-City Garage Sale on May 2, the Wentzville Masonic Lodge will rent the lodge parking spaces for those who would like to sell their items. The spaces will rent for $20 or two for $35. The sale will begin at 7 a.m. If you don’t want to set up a sale, the Lodge will accept donations for those who would just like to clean out their garage. The Lodge will have coffee, soda, water, pastries, and hot dogs for a small donation. The Lodge building will be open for tours. For reserving your sale space or more information, contact Bill Stone 636 262-9201 or e-mail bjtstone@centurytel.net . The lodge is located at 602 W. Meyer Rd.

9 - Library Foundation gala The St. Charles City-County Library Foundation invites you to follow the yellow brick road to the Imagine Gala which will feature themes from the Wizard of Oz to highlight the value of literacy and the significance of libraries to a community. A portion of each ticket purchase is tax deductible and benefits the Library Foundation’s literacy initiatives. Individual tickets are $125 and seating for a table of 10 is $1,250. Tickets can be purchased online at www.stchlibraryfoundation.org. Visit www.stchlibraryfoundation. org or call Karen at 636-441-2300, ext 1517 to learn more about the Imagine Gala, to purchase tickets and for sponsorship details.

10 – Mothers’ Day 15 - 5K Challenge Run

5 – Cinco de Mayo

The family-friendly RSC 5K Challenge Run obstacle course race will be held at 7 p.m. outside the Renaud Spirit Center (RSC). Designed for ages eight to adult, some of the obstacles will be just for fun, while others, like the army crawl and tire run, will require some athletic ability. The entry fee for race registration through May 1 for ages 16 and older is $25 for O’Fallon residents and $29 for non-residents, and registration for the 15-and-under set is $20 for residents and $23 for non-residents. A $5 late fee will be added for registration May 2-14, and a $10 late fee will be accessed for race day registration. To register in advance, visit www.renaudspiritcenter.com/rsc5k and register online by noon on May 14, or print the registration form to submit with the entry fee. Look for food trucks and kids’ games after the race, along with a free showing of “Big Hero 6.” (Although the Movie in the Park is free, please call 636-474-2732 to let staff know how many in your party will be attending.) For more information call 636-474-2732.

6 – National Nurses Day

15 – Peace Officers Memorial Day

8 – Truman Day

16 – Wentzville Blues and Classic Rock Festival

9 - Craft fair

Event runs from noon -10 p.m. with a block party at 1 E Allen St. in Wentzville. There will be six bands taking the stage. Food, soft drinks, beer will be available. This is a family-friendly event.

2 - Mud run The Battlegrounds, St. Louis’ largest permanent mud run obstacle course, will hold its sixth bi-annual race beginning at 8 a.m. Runners can select to destroy either a 5k/3.2-mile or a five-mile mud run where they will experience the demands of more than 30 military-themed obstacles for those who want to test their physical and mental abilities. The Battlegrounds is located at 950 State Highway 00 in Wright City next to Cedar Lake Cellars winery and event venue. All participants must be 18 years of age or older. The race costs $120 before April 17, $140 before April 30, and; $160 for May 1 and 2. Groups of five or more are highly encouraged to register, and VIP upgrade options are available to all. For more information, call 314-569-3005 or visit the website at www.thebattlegrounds.com.

Holy Cross Lutheran Church Mother’s Day Craft & Vendor Fair located at 8945 Veterans Memorial Pkwy. O’Fallon runs from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Looking for crafters and vendors. Booths $45 – tables free. For information or application, call Laura Hoffman 636240-8442.

22 – National Maritime Day 23 - Concert in the park Come enjoy a night of great music and dancing with Pennsylvania Slim from 7 – 10 p.m. at Boulevard Park in Lake Saint Louis. Feel free to bring your chairs, food and beverages. Glass is prohibited.

25 – Memorial Day 30 - Motorcycle ride and festival Join Crider Health Center for the 3rd Annual “Cruisin 4’ Crider” Awareness Ride and Community Festival that features an awareness ride for motorcycle enthusiasts from novice to experienced. The beautiful ride signifies supporters helping to “stop stigma in its tracks.” Our Wentzville location will feature a fullscale festival atmosphere complete with vendors, children’s games and activities, food trucks, live music, raffle items, and more.

30 - Fun run The Jillian Memorial 5K Fun Run is May 30 in Elsberry. Sign up on Active.com.

16 – Armed Forces Day

MAY 2015 | CROSSROADS

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

www.mscwired.org

• 20 Week Training Program CLA SSES • Project-Based Education BEGIN June 15th • Job Shadowing

LIMITED SPACE • CALL NOW

636-939-5582

“We Don’t Make Jobs...We Build Careers” w w w.stygar.com

OUR MISSION STATEMENT: To develop manpower in a fast-track, hands-on manufacturing training environment for the precision machined products industry and associated businesses.

For the best plants, go RPM-grown... from Forrest Keeling!

• Faster growth • 100% natural process and better vigor • Over 500 species: • Earlier flowering trees, shrubs, perennials and fruiting • Natives are our specialty! • Unsurpassed survivability Present this ad for 88 Forrest Keeling Lane • Elsberry, MO 63343 800 -FKN-2401 • (573) 898-5571

www.FKNursery.com www.forrestkeeling.com

20%

purchase

Exp. 12/31/2015