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AUGUST Departments

VOL 11 | NO 8

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

Publisher Editor Production Manager Contributors

Bob Huneke Andrew Tessmer Rebecca Brockmann Avalanche, Robin Daniels, Brian Guerrero, Tony Mathews, Cindy Moore, Dave Welborn Photographer Ray Rockwell Staff Writer Shawn Clubb

features

Around Town Local news and events

Business Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce Entertainment Overlooked High School Greats That Got It Right

Food On-the-Go Yummy Eats

Always an Adventure Back to School

Moore on Life Blown Away

Photo Op Fireworks in O’Fallon

Community Calendar August

Fun for ALL! Fitting in: It’s Not Easy Being Green By Dave Welborn

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Community News

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contents

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2014

Back to School Compiled by Andrew Tessmer

Copyright 2014 Huneke Publications, Inc. No part of the publication may be reproduced in any form without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Crossroads is a trademark of Huneke Publications, Inc. Any published use of Crossroads implying affiliation is strictly prohibited.

On the cover: Photo courtesy of Big Stock Photo

AUGUST 2014 CROSSROADS

AROUND TOWN Cuivre River Electric Community Trust Awards $28,500 in Scholarships Fifty-seven students from Lincoln, Pike, St. Charles and Warren counties have received a total of $28,500 in scholarship awards from the Cuivre River Electric Community Trust. Recipients of the scholarships were Kenady Bickel, Nicole Blackburn, Alexandra Boyer, Lauren Brannon, Tanner Bross, Abby Diederich, Annie Drummond, Daniel Drury, Sydney Gooch, Ryan Greiwe, Madison Grumich, Tanner Hale, Christina Harper, Eric Henningfeld, Lauren Hoff, Darian Jefferson, Kylie Jones, Sally Jo Kelley, Kyle Lynch, Noelle Mack, Andrew Mangrum, Sarah Marquart, Andrew Milhous, Audrey Paul, Ryan Phipps, Rachel Reininger, Alexis Russell, Emily Torres, Rebecca Turney, Kelsey Twiehaus, Sarah Vehige, Kelsey Wooten and Jaclyn Ziegemeier. Scholarship funds are donated by Cuivre River Electric members who participate in Operation Round Up by rounding up their electric bill payments each month to the next highest dollar. Since the program began in 1997, more than $840,000 has been awarded to help more than 1,770 area students achieve their academic goals. Students are eligible if they live in the Cuivre River Electric Cooperative service area and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 while attending undergraduate courses at an accredited university or technical school. Applicants are also asked to provide an official transcript and two letters of recommendation, write a narrative to highlight their academic achievements and state their career goals, and demonstrate a financial need. The scholarship may also be used for adult continuing education courses in their career fields. Operation Round Up was founded to help address unmet needs in the areas of health, youth, education, home weatherization, community and emergency services. Funds are available to help individuals, families and organizations in the CREC service area. Operation Round Up applications are available at www.cuivre.com. The next scholarship deadline is Oct. 1, 2014.

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WIL, Marconi Awards Winner 92.3 WIL was honored recently with several radio nominations for the 2014 Marconi Awards program by the National Association of Broadcasters. 92.3 WIL was the only St. Louis radio station nominated in two awards — the “Legendary Station” category for stations from all formats with a long, successful history on the airwaves; and the “Country Station” category, as one of the best Country stations across the United States. Afternoon Drive Show Host Bo Matthews was nominated as the overall “Large Market Personality of the Year.” Matthews was the only St. Louis radio personality nominated for a 2014 Marconi, across all stations and formats. “We are excited that the NAB Marconi Awards committee bestowed 92.3 WIL and on-air personality Bo Matthews with these award nominations. Our team at the station, and particularly Bo, work hard every day to deliver the best entertainment value for our listeners, and to be recognized by our peers is truly an honor,” 92.3 WIL Program Director Greg Mozingo said. “For WIL to be nominated in the ‘Legendary Station’ category is a testament to the years we’ve spent striving for excellence on the St. Louis airwaves and within the radio industry,” said John Kijowski, Hubbard Radio St. Louis vice president and marketing manager.

Stand Up 2 Cancer with 1st Financial and MasterCard 1st Financial Federal Credit Union is offering its members with an Atira MasterCard the chance to help end the threat of cancer by participating in the Stand Up 2 Cancer program. Stand Up 2 Cancer is a charitable organization focused on raising donations to fund cancer-related research. Since 2008, Stand Up 2 Cancer sponsored research has launched more than 140 clinical trials and worked with more than 4,000 patients. Members who use their Atira card, which is 1st Financial’s MasterCard, are able to take part in this program through Sept. 15. MasterCard will track every time a 1st Financial member spends $10 or more using their Atira card at a restaurant during the promotion. MasterCard will then make a donation to Stand Up 2 Cancer on the member’s behalf. There is no registration required to take part in the promotion and 100 percent of the money donated goes to cancer research and prevention. “This is a wonderful opportunity for our members to make an enormous difference in our community,” said Michelle Rosner, vice president of lending and marketing at 1st Financial Federal Credit Union. “We all know someone who has been affected by this terrible disease. Knowing that you can directly help with the fight against cancer using only your 1st Financial Atira MasterCard is incredible. The fact that this particular assistance comes at no added cost to our members is amazing.” For more about Stand Up 2 Cancer, visit www.standup2cancer.org.

AROUND TOWN Bill Removes Emergency Radio System Funds from TIFs Gov. Jay Nixon recently signed House Bill 1504, which keeps funds used for public safety from being reduced by TIFs. For St. Charles County, the bill removes the emergency radio communications system tax from TIFs imposed after Aug. 28, 2013. Rep. Anne Zerr sponsored this bill at the request of St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann. “This legislation is common-sense reform to tax increment financing that ensures voter-approved taxes for emergency communications and other vital public services are not diverted from their intended purpose,” Nixon said. “I thank leaders in St. Charles County for helping to get this measure to my desk.” Such a provision was made by the Missouri General Assembly last year for St. Louis County. The new bill makes the same provision for St. Charles County voters, who approved a sales tax increase in 2009 to fund a new emergency radio communications system. The bill passed with an added provision that revenues from new voter-approved increases to an existing tax cannot be diverted to pay for developments that are financed using TIF.

“I was happy to sponsor this bill for County Executive Ehlmann and for the county because it is such an important public safety issue,” Zerr said. “By removing the tax from TIFs, the bill helps ensure that funding will be there for the county’s new emergency radio communications system and to help emergency responders better serve the public.” Build out of St. Charles County’s new emergency radio communications system is almost complete and the county anticipates moving users onto the system in September. The new system is part of a larger system being implemented concurrently in both St. Louis and Jefferson counties, increasing the capability of the entire metropolitan St. Louis area in responding to major disasters. For the first time ever, first responders across different departments and municipalities will be able to communicate with each other and the system will provide better coverage, improving the level of service to residents. Today, each municipality in the county operates its own system. These systems have coverage gaps, are becoming obsolete, and cannot be modified to meet Federal Communications Commission mandates that went into effect at the beginning of 2013.

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AUGUST 2014 CROSSROADS

AROUND TOWN Dardenne Prairie Plans Fun Activities in the Coming Months The City of Dardenne Prairie has a trio of events coming up this month and into the fall. On Saturday, Aug. 9, the city will celebrate National Night Out from 5:30 to 8:30 pm at Dardenne Prairie City Park. Local businesses will sponsor life-size Tic-Tac-Toe, Connect Four, Kerplunk, and other games. Participants can challenge their neighbors at relay races, play in bubbles, dance to their favorite tunes, and then stick around for The Lego Movie, which will be shown at dusk. On Saturday, Aug. 23, the city will host the Funky Butt Brass Band from 7 to 10 pm at City Hall. The group bills itself as a six-piece

“New Orleans style brass band with a St. Louis attitude.” On Wednesday, Oct. 22, the city is offering a senior bus trip to Josephine’s Tea Room in Godfrey, Ill., and a fall foliage tour along the Great River Road. The bus will depart at 9:30 am and return around 3 pm. Guests will enjoy a combo lunch and dessert at Josephine’s Tea Room, plus time to shop, sightsee and enjoy the fall views along the Great River Road. Transportation is provided by Mid American Coaches. The cost of the trip is $50. For more information any of these events, contact Melissa Nordmann at 636.755.5308 or Melissa@dardenneprairie.org.

Illumination Celebration Will Mark Centennial of St. Charles Parks Department The St. Charles Parks and Recreation Department has organized a four-day celebration called Illumination in mid-September to mark its 100th anniversary. Illumination on Sept. 12 through Sept. 15 in Frontier Park on the St. Charles riverfront will light up the night while also enlightening visitors to the past, present and future of St. Charles Parks and Recreation. On evenings of the event, colored lights will adorn the trees and lights will shine from each entrance to the festival grounds. Visitors can buy glow merchandise to add to the fun. Illumination will feature live music, premium amusement rides provided by Luehrs’ Ideal Rides, children’s activities, games, a Model-T car show, a children’s bike parade, interactive tile art walls, food and beverages, and more. “The St. Charles Parks and Recreation Department is proud to be celebrating 100 years of service to the community. We see people enjoying the many amenities the parks provide on a daily basis,” said Maralee M. Britton, director of parks and recreation. “Illumination is our way of thanking the community for being a part of our great heritage. We would not be where we are without the support of our residents going back to 100 years ago when they petitioned the City

CROSSROADS AUGUST 2014

Photo courtesy of Luehrs’ Ideal Rides, Inc.

Council for the bond to purchase Blanchette Park. We look forward to continuing that amazing partnership for the next 100 years.” On Sept. 12, the St. Charles Parks & Recreation Foundation will present the Illumirun 5k. The course will be lit to guide runners, who are encouraged to dress up with glow items. Illumirun will start at 7:30 p.m. at Frontier Park. Registration is required and can be accessed at www.illumirun5k.com. An opening ceremony will be at 11 am Sept. 13 at the Jaycee Stage prior to the start of the children’s bike parade. Participation in the parade is free, but registration is required. Each day will feature live music on the Jaycee Stage. The lineup will include Catfish Willie, Well Hungarians, Irie Sun, Carrie & the Catapults, Trixie Delight, Babaloo, Groovethang, and the Fabulous Motown Revue. Music, games and prizes will be powered by Radio Disney St. Louis from noon to 2 pm Sept. 13. Food trucks will offer their fare for purchase on Friday, Sunday and Monday. A food court will be open Saturday. Illumination will welcome the 2014 annual meeting of the Missouri Municipal League from 5 to 9:30 pm Sept. 15. Representatives from across the state will converge on St. Charles just in time to take part in the celebration. For more information, visit www.stcharlesparks.com or call 636-949-3372.

Fun for ALL!

n e e r G

Fitting In: It’s Not Easy Being By Dave Welborn, Exec. Director, KEEN St. Louis For most kids, the new school year brings a feeling of excitement, anxiousness and perhaps a little fear—the fear of making new friends, learning new systems, leaving a parent. In an article for WebMD, Nadine Kaslow, PhD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Emory University acknowledges that the fear is real and should be addressed early. “Kids who are fearful early on may be the ones who have a harder transition in other aspects of life,” she said. “Inherently, some children are just more flexible, more adaptable and these firsts don’t seem to be that big a deal for them. For other kids, any transition is very disruptive. It takes them longer to make the transition.” Every little positive experience helps children adapt to all the “firsts” of their lives, Kaslow said. “The more you prepare the better.” Kaslov offers the following: • Prepare your child for the new routine; • Talk to your child about what school will be like; • Take a trial run dropping them off, then picking them up; • Allow your child to be needy the first few days. Perhaps the biggest fear kids have is the fear of fitting in. Not being accepted by your peers can be devastating as acknowledged by Discovery Education, an online resource for educators created by experts in the field of Education. “It can be heartbreaking if your child doesn’t get invited to a classmate’s birthday party, isn’t chosen for the lead role in the play, or sits alone at recess. Though it’s not easy being left out, how you help them deal with it can make all the difference in the world. The professionals offer the following advice: “Consider whether social skills need to be taught and/or reinforced to help her make connections with her peers. Help him identify his strengths. Suggest she joins a team.

Let him know that in time he will find his niche.” A child with a physical or developmental disability has all those same feelings plus he often has the added fear that he won’t “fit in” with his peers because he is deemed “different.” The Discovery Education experts write, “If your child has special needs let her know it’s okay to be different. Don’t isolate her from interactions with other children. While you may want to help her avoid being teased, or fear that being treated differently will hurt her, preventing social connections will only hinder her. They add, “This doesn’t mean to keep her in a negative situation where teasing or unfair treatment is occurring, but to let her know there are friendly and accepting environments where she can play, have fun, and express herself with other children.” It is said, “it not easy bein’ green.” But, if you are, be the brightest shade of green you can.

Dave Welborn is the Executive Director of KEEN St. Louis, a local nonprofit which provides free recreational programs for kids with physical and mental disabilities age 5-17. For more information visit www.keenstlouis.org

KEEN St. Louis offers a free program for schools which celebrates diversity by pointing out characteristics that makes us more alike than different.

AUGUST 2014 CROSSROADS

BUSINESS Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce Serving Wentzville, Lake St. Louis, and Dardenne Prairie Chamber Hosts Three Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies The Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce hosted ribbon cutting ceremonies for Hawk Ridge Family Chiropractic, SecureTel and Ava’s Closet recently. 1. Hawk Ridge Family Chiropractic: Hawk Ridge Family Chiropractic expanded their office in Lake St. Louis. Come see and experience their new office at 6257 Ronald Reagan Dr. in Lake St. Louis. Contact them at 636.614.2139, or online at www.hawkridgefamilychiropractic.com.

2. SecureTel: Congratulations to SecureTel on their recent Ribbon Cutting. They are celebrating their new location at 111 East Pearce Blvd. in Wentzville. Visit them for your DISH Network and Cricket phone service needs. Contact them at 636.327.3003, or visit www. securetel.getdish.com. 3. Ava’s Closet Kids Resale: Ava’s Closet Kids Resale opened at 1842 West Pearce Blvd. in Wentzville. Visit them for a wide selection for kids clothes, accessories, toys, furniture and more. Contact them by calling 636.327.8687.

The Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce serves Dardenne Prairie, Lake St. Louis, and Wentzville. The chamber is comprised of 600 members. If you are interested in having a ribbon cutting at your place of business please contact the chamber. 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 210 South Linn Avenue in Wentzville.

3 Masquerade on the Lake

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The Western St. Charles County Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a Masquerade on the Lake on Saturday, Sept. 27 at Windjammer Point overlooking the beautiful lake. Windjammer Point is located at 1 Wharf St. in Lake St. Louis. The event will take place from 6 – 10 pm. Put on your masquerade mask and join the Chamber for a wonderful event. Tickets to Masquerade on the Lake are only $35 per person. Tickets include food, drinks, boat rides, entertainment, music, dancing, lantern releases and more. Gather a group of friends, family and neighbors together for a great evening on the lake. For tickets and more information, call the Chamber office at 636.327.6914 or visit www.westernstcharlescountychamber.com.

GARDENING Garden-tainment Creates Lasting By Melinda Myers Memories for Guests Summer is filled with parties, gatherings, up with the help of geranium oil. It’s natural, picnics and more. We all want to make these fragrant and can help repel mosquitoes. occasions special and memorable for our And be sure to include fresh-from-theguests. garden flavor in your beverages and dishes. Many gardeners tend to schedule events A pot of basil or mint near the party means around peak bloom or harvest in order to guests can flavor their own lemonade tea or share the beauty and flavor from their garden. mojito. The hollow stem of lovage, cut down Unfortunately nature does not always co- to size makes a great straw for your tomato operate. It seems we are juice or bloody Mary. saying “you should have Your guests won’t forbeen here last week” or get the fun of sipping “come back next week their drink through this when the flowers will be celery-flavored straw. at their peak”. Then add some color No need to worry. It may and a gourmet touch to be considered cheating your salads with a few by the purist, but isn’t it edible flowers. Nasturiall about creating a great ums, roses and calenduspace and event for our las are just a few to conguests? Consider adding sider. Just be sure they some fun flower accents. are edible and pesticideMetal flower sculptures free before serving them like daisy bouquet stakes, to your guests. hollyhock stem stakes or Use fresh-from-thePhoto courtesy of Gardeners Supply Company aluminum fiddleheads ingarden or container sure color throughout the season. herbs for grilling, salads and your main Or make it fun with faucet handle flowers, course. And consider drying a few herbs or which are sure to spark some conversation starting cuttings from your plants to use as amongst your guests. party favors. You can also add some extra color with a Don’t let the sunset put an end to your celbit of floral paint. Use garden colors to paint ebration. Light up the evening with solar ilseedheads of flowers past their prime. Just luminated planters, solar pathway lighting cover the stem and leaves to insure only the and decorative fiber optic lights. Or go old seedheads get painted for a more realistic school and set votive candles in a mason jar look. It might fool your guests or give them a or tucked safely in the garden. good idea for their own garden. So set aside some time to take a walk Or stop by your local garden center. Many through the garden and plan a party or two have flowering planters and large size annuals for you, your family and friends to enjoy its that you can use to fill in voids and add color beauty. to the garden. Gardening expert, TV/radio host, author & Pot a few of these up and use them as cen- columnist Melinda Myers has more than 30 terpieces on the tables. A search of the garage years of horticulture experience and has writor visit to a thrift store may find reasonably ten over 20 gardening books, including “Can’t priced fun items you can convert into con- Miss Small Space Gardening” and the “Midtainers. west Gardener’s Handbook.” Myers is also a Keep your guests comfortable and the mos- columnist and contributing editor for Birds & quitoes at bay with the gentle breeze of a fan. Blooms magazine. Myers’ website, www.meMosquitoes are weak fliers and the gentle lindamyers.com, offers gardening videos and breeze of a fan can keep them away. Or step it tips. AUGUST 2014 CROSSROADS

ENTERTAINMENT Overlooked High School Greats That Got It Right Last month, we left off praising Back To The Future and how it was a glorious film of multiple genres—even as a high school comedy. This will transition quite nicely since school is just around the corner. Instead of mentioning the popular favorites, I’m going to focus on the hidden gems that were drastically short-lived and overlooked despite evoking a true message. My So-Called Life (1994-1995)

My So-Called Life photo courtesy of ABC

It was the TV drama on ABC that finally got teen angst of the 90’s right. My So-Called Life is centered on a fifteen-year-old girl, Angela Chase (played by Claire Danes) who is at a point in her life where she is breaking out of the image others seem to expect her to become. The fictional Chase is famous for saying, “It just seems like, you agree to have a certain kind of personality, or something, for no reason… just to make things easier for everyone, but when you think about it, I mean, how do you know if it’s even you?” While coming into her own she deals with school, a former best friend, new friends, her parents, her quick-witted little sister and Jordan Catalano (Jared Leto). “I just like how

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CROSSROADS AUGUST 2014

he’s always leaning… against stuff… he leans great,” she explains about her big crush. The show’s colorful dialogue—along with an impeccable sense of humor—was perfectly accurate within the characters’ range of age. The chemistry between Angela’s parents (well played by Bess Armstrong and Tom Irwin) was an incredibly accurate and entertaining display of a parental unit that I can remember. Still, Life remained a tough sell for bringing in more viewers. With a double cliffhanger, a Golden Globe win for Danes and multiple Emmy Nominations, My So-Called Life was cancelled after its first season—leaving us hanging forever. “Everything you remember from high Freaks and Geeks (1999-2000)

Freaks and Geeks photo courtesy of NBC

school... that you choose to forget,” is the tagline for this truthfully funny comedy that embraces the awkward moments of being a teenager in 1980, for laughs. It’s also an effective drama when it needs to be—keeping the storylines down-to-earth. Lindsey Weir (played by Linda Cardellini) is an intelligent school ‘mathlete’ undergoing a change of her own when she begins to hang out with a more laid-back group of friends—borderline burnouts (played by James Franco, Seth Rogen and Jason Segal). Meanwhile, her geeky little brother Sam (John Francis Daley)—a freshman—and his buddies (played by Sam Levine and Martin Starr) become the target of a bully simply because they think Bill Murray is awesome in Caddyshack. Freaks And Geeks is full of real laughs crafted out of real situations. Once you witness Sam attempting to ask a girl to dance it becomes impossible NOT to finish the rest of this heartfelt Emmy winning comedy series.

If you remember the satisfying ending The Breakfast Club delivered with its message, then this overlooked film takes the next step in a story about getting the message out. “Your job, your purpose is to get accepted, Pump up the Volume (1990)

Pump Up the Volume photo courtesy of New Line Cinema

get a cute girlfriend, think-up something great to do with the rest of your life. What if you’re confused and can’t imagine a career? What if you’re funny looking and can’t get a girlfriend? Mark Hunter (Christian Slater in ultimate top form) is a shy teen nobody knows by name at school, but rather by his alter ego, Hard Harry. Hard Harry is a nighttime pirate radio deejay making jokes and speaking out about everything that frustrates him about the community and the school system. He attends the highest rated school in town, yet he knows that many students have been mysteriously dropping out anyway. He’s become the outspoken hero for all the students. When one of Harry’s listeners commits suicide Mark must choose to either stop his broadcasts or continue getting the message out until change finally happens for his peers. Regardless of what he chose, he does send out a message of hope.“ …Being a teenager sucks, but that’s the point, surviving it is the whole point. Quitting is not going to make you stronger, living will. So just hang on and hang in there.” 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.

Recipe: On-the-Go Yummy Eats Healthy and filling ways to snack

Squash and Banana Mini Muffins Makes about 48 mini muffins

Hectic mornings, busy schedules and afternoon snack cravings can make it difficult to eat foods that are tasty, healthy and satisfying. Instead of grabbing a bag of packaged cookies or vending machine chips, have a healthy alternative available for you and your family that’s delicious and satisfying. “Better food options keep energy levels high inbetween meals,” said Nancy Siler, vice president of consumer affairs at Wilton. “By planning ahead with healthy snacks or mini meals, you’ll have great choices available, even with a chaotic schedule.” Try these tips from Wilton for healthier, tasty treats: • Think Greek. With more protein and richness than other yogurt varieties, Greek yogurt can be used in many different ways. Try it in fruit dips or as an alternative for mayo or sour cream. You can even substitute it for some of the butter in baking recipes to reduce calories and fat. • Make it fun. Let kids get creative by using cookie cutters on low-fat cheese slices and whole grain bread or tortillas to build their own snacks. Or, have them make funny faces using natural peanut butter, raisins and fruit, like sliced bananas, apples or pears. • Sneak in veggies. Bakers are using veggies more than ever before in new, inspirational baked treats. Many vegetables have a natural sweetness, so your family won’t taste the difference during snack time. Try sweet potato cupcakes or carrot and zucchini cookies. Make this recipe for Squash and Banana Mini Muffins for a quick and healthy snack that’s delicious whether after school or while at work. For more healthy ideas, baking tips and inspiration, visit www.wilton.com.

Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup quick oats (uncooked) 2 teaspoons baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 1/4 cups thawed frozen pureed winter squash 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 3/4 cup firmly-packed light brown sugar 3/4 cup mashed banana (about 2 medium bananas) 1 egg 2 tablespoons canola oil 1 cup dried cranberries

in center of flour mixture; whisk in squash mixture until just combined. Stir in cranberries. Fill cavities 2/3 full with batter. Bake 12-14 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center of muffin comes out clean.

Directions: Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare mini muffin pan with vegetable pan spray. In large bowl, stir together flour, oats, baking soda, salt and pumpkin pie spice. In medium bowl, whisk together squash, sugar, banana, egg and oil. Make a well

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AUGUST 2014 CROSSROADS

ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE Back to School “We’ve decided to make you a conditional job offer,” the Chief said. “We still need to conduct a background check, so the offer could be withdrawn if we find anything that would disqualify you. You’ll need to move to the city for four months for the duration of the academy, which starts on Monday.” It was Thursday. The pay was about half of what I’d been making working at a previous employer, before leaving that behind and riding off to the Great North for a summer (see my previous Crossroads Alaska columns). I accepted the offer, despite having to uproot my life in the mountains and move 175 miles away to an urban area over the course of a long weekend. My then employer got a very short notice, though they were aware of my application with the police department. My wife agreed to hold down the home front during the time I was gone. Off to school I went. Throwing together a few belongings for a week away, I lumbered over the mountains in my old truck on Sunday, found a cheap motel and prepared to spend the next 16 weeks away from home. This police academy was in a junior college setting, so no uniform was required; attire was uncertain. “Look decent,” the Chief had said. The first day I wore a tie, making me the only person on campus in possession of one. Having spent much trial and error remembering how to affix such an article of clothing, I wore it for the entire day, not wanting to have wasted all that effort. Despite having been out of school for quite a few years, and having no college education aside from a fair amount of vocational train-

ing, I found classes interesting and challenging, though not overwhelming. State law and its Constitutional foundation were first and foremost. That pesky Bill of Rights would prove to make police work difficult. The judicial system is designed to let ten guilty persons go free as opposed to wrongly convicting one innocent person, at least in theory. But as one instructor put it, “The Constitution was paid for with blood. People died for that. Never give up your rights, because you’ll never get them back without a fight.” Those are words to live by, though they seem to be increasingly ignored in the present times. As more of the academic work was completed, the curriculum became more action oriented. Arrest control and defensive tactics, medical training, firearms instruction and high-speed driving on a track took up much of the class time. I had a head start in these areas, being a certified EMT, as well as having nearly a decade of martial arts experience and a good amount of training and experience in executive protection. And for better or worse, the private sector generally has far more demanding standards than does the police business. After the first week or so, I found a small furnished apartment to stay in during the week. Friday afternoon would have me heading out of town, radio blasting, foot to

the floor in the old pickup, trying to keep up with traffic at the gas guzzling rate of 10 mpg. Weekends at home with my wife were refreshing, but Sundays would find me driving down out of the mountains back into the city’s infamous “brown cloud”. The latter part of the academy provided the opportunity to put everything we’d learned into practice. Processing a mock crime scene, interviewing “victims and witnesses” (our classmates), writing reports and then testifying about the mock scenario in an unused courtroom in front of an active judge with volunteer attorneys rounded out the 16 weeks. The class members consisted of a typical bell-curve of society, with many different aptitudes and competencies on display. Several graduates of the class would go on to be fine police officers. To the detriment of society a couple of idiots from the wrong end of the bell-curve also got hired by various agencies, though at least two were fired in short order. As for me, the only class member without a college degree and branded a “functional illiterate” on day one by the head academy instructor, I somehow managed to graduate top of the class in academics, arrest control and firearms skills. After school was out, it was time to go back to my department in the mountains and use the knowledge recently gained to actually do the job, the difference between theory and practice. 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 AUGUST 2014

MOORE ON LIFE Blown Away When we moved to Missouri a few years ago, we were full of excitement. My husband had heard from a friend that it was a nice place to live but to, watch out for the really big tomatoes. Really? How could that possibly be a problem? He must have been attacked by one as a small child. It would certainly be no issue for us since we were both fans of ketchup and BLT’s. Turns out, my husband’s friend had a bit of a speech impediment and instead, we were in store for really big tornadoes. We figured they couldn’t really be all that bad and shrugged it off since we had never experienced one. The first siren alert we chalked up to overreaction. The next one, we smiled and shook our heads smugly as our hyper-sensitive neighbors jumped into their bunkers loaded down with supplies of bread, eggs and milk in arm. We merely batted our hands in the air at the wailing alarm sound trying to make it go away. After all, it was interrupting an especially riveting episode of Cops; some officer was about to bust a lady who was trying to explain how a package of frozen ribeyes had found their way down her shirt. Good TV is so hard to come by these days. The next morning we awoke expecting to find our garbage can blown off the curb, maybe pick up a few branches here and there from a tree—no big whoop. We opened our door to discover our garbage can was now vacationing in the Caribbean and those few branches were still connected to a humongous tree with a trunk the circumference of a truck tire. It had been plucked out of the earth like a ripe carrot and neatly deposited onto our yard. The outlying neighborhood did not fare so well either: roofs were ripped off, trees uprooted, garages lay in piles of kindling. Reality had come home to roost and at next alert we would run like scared chickens to the safety of our fortified survival coop. We were prepared with our battle plan for any upcoming storm. Soon the alarm sounded; the winds blew and the lights went out. We stumbled to the basement with our emergency preparedness essentials

in hand—our two cats and a bag of cheese doodles. We hunkered in the cement confines of our unfinished basement prepared for the long haul. “You got the flashlight?” I asked my husband. “No. Did you bring the water?” he asked. “No,” I said. “How about blankets?” “That’s going to also be a no.” “Great,” I said, “Well I got the cats and it’s a good thing you grabbed the cheese doodles.” “Umm, they’re gone,” he said. “Gone!? Where’d they go?” “I was hungry. I panicked.” “What? Now what am I going to eat?” I immediately began scouting around for the next meal because in America we are always eating and when we’re done eating we are thinking about what we will be eating next, especially during an apocalypse because if it’s gonna be our last meal it’s gotta be a good one. Since my husband had polished off his survival meal it was up to me to find mine. I couldn’t see much in the inky blackness. The cats purred away, oblivious to the danger at hand. The cats? Hmmm. The skinny one wouldn’t provide much of a meal—too stringy, but the fat one…oh the fat, juicy one. He was slow and easy to catch and would offer up a tasty bite between two slices of bread; if only we had brought down bread…and ketchup…and a big tomato. Suddenly the lights came on. As our eyes focused from the blackness, my husband demanded to know why the cat’s tail was in my mouth. “I was hungry. I panicked,” I said. Luckily, I hadn’t bitten down yet. The cat

continued purring, oblivious to how close he had come to being a manx. We surfaced from our shelter to find the garbage can had been blown off the curb along with a few branches tossed here and there—no big whoop. We survived another tornado. This called for a celebration, which is yet another reason Americans find a need to eat. I’m thinking a really big BLT—extra on the tomato, hold the ketchup. 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.

www.takeatrip.net AUGUST 2014 CROSSROADS

ADVERTISER PROFILE Qualifying for a Mortgage Customers call or stop by my office and often ask, “How do I know if I will qualify for a loan?” While each individual situation is unique, there are three main factors that are evaluated and used to determine whether or not a bank extends financing to an individual: credit score, debt to income ratio, and affordability of the property/down payment. Credit Score Your credit score is made up of information pulled from your credit report. A formula is then used to calculate a number ranging from 350 to 850 using the following information: • Payment history: Your account payment information, including any delinquencies and public records. • Amounts owed: How much you owe on

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your accounts. The amount of available credit you’re using on revolving accounts is heavily weighted. • Length of credit history: How long ago you opened accounts and time since account activity. • Types of credit used: The mix of accounts you have, such as revolving and installment. • New credit: Your pursuit of new credit, including credit inquiries and number of recently opened accounts. Federal law mandates a customer’s right to a free credit report annually, but not a free credit score. You can request a free credit report, and use that information to estimate a potential score, by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com. Debt to Income Ratio Your credit report can also help you determine your debt to income ratio, another factor used when qualifying customers for a loan. The debt to income ratio ensures that the borrower has enough income to cover their existing debt payments as well as the added expense of the new loan. As a rule of thumb, your debt to income ratio should not exceed 43 percent. In other words, all your annual debt expenses should not make up more than 43 percent of your annual income. If your ratio is above the suggested benchmark, it’s recommended that you pay off some of your existing debt. A great place

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CROSSROADS AUGUST 2014

for information on ways to pay off and manage existing debt can be found at www.consumer.ftc.gov. Affordability of the Property/Down Payment When determining whether or not a customer will qualify for a loan, the availability of down payment funds and overall cost of the house are also evaluated. The purchase price of the house determines the down payment—the amount paid out of pocket. You can often lower your monthly payment or afford a more expensive home by putting more money down. If the down payment amount is less than 20 percent of the purchase price, then you may have to purchase private mortgage insurance (PMI), which is an added cost. The affordability of a property is important to keep in mind when shopping for a new home because credit score and debt to income ratio won’t qualify you for an expensive house on their own. While your credit score, debit to income ratio and affordability of the property/down payment are all evaluated when applying for a loan, each lending situation is unique. It’s important to have open communication with a knowledgeable loan officer to help guide you through this process. Robin Daniels is Asst VP/Secondary Market Manager for Peoples Bank & Trust Co. | NMLS #408454 | 636.290.7272 | www.pbtc.net

Back to School

Ensure Your Student Athletes are Ready for the Season For many kids, playing sports is an important part of growing up, and that’s a good thing. Sports are a great way for children and adolescents to develop lifelong exercise habits, build relationships, and learn teamwork. “Parents can play a vital role in ensuring young athletes train and condition properly,” said Dr. James M. Perrin, 2014 president of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). “From staying hydrated to wearing safety gear, kids may need periodic reminders.” Here are ways to help your child avoid common sports hazards: Condition Athletes will reduce their risk of injury by strengthening muscles to protect vulnerable ligaments. This is especially important in certain sports—including soccer, football, basketball, volleyball, gymnastics and lacrosse—in which athletes are prone to injuring their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which provides stability to the knee. Girls need to be especially careful, according to statistics. Adolescent girls are four to eight times more likely to suffer ACL injuries than boys, according to the AAP. Neuromuscular training programs that strengthen hips, the core muscles and hamstrings can significantly reduce one’s risk for injury. This training will help athletes improve their form and have a greater awareness of how to safely pivot, jump and land. Stay Hydrated Water is the best way for kids to stay hydrated while playing or exercising. Sports and energy drinks are heavily marketed to children and adolescents, but in most cases kids don’t need them— and some of these products contain ingredients that could be harmful to children. Sports drinks which contain carbohydrates and electrolytes, can be helpful for young athletes engaged in prolonged, vigorous ex-

ercise, but in most cases they’re unnecessary. Plain water is usually best, as sports drinks contain extra calories and sugar. Energy drinks, which contain stimulants like caffeine, are not healthy for children or teens, according to the AAP. Read the label to know exactly what you’re giving your child. When in doubt, stick to water. Protect Your Head Because young athletes’ brains are still developing, it’s important to take head injuries seriously. Adolescent concussions can cause long-term brain injury. If your young athlete sustains a concussion, he or she should be evaluated by a physician and receive medical clearance before returning to play. While concussion symptoms usually resolve in seven to 10 days, some athletes may take weeks or months to recover, and some students may need accommodations at school during this recovery. Don’t Overdo It The most common type of sports injury is from overuse. Ignoring pain can worsen the injury and cause long-term damage. “The best way for parents to prevent overuse injuries is to pay attention to their child’s training schedule,” Perrin said. Limit your child to a single sport or team per season, and the training schedule to no more than five days per week. Alternating sports can help avoid burnout. More sports safety tips can be found at www.HealthyChildren.org. While sports are an important part of childhood with critical health benefits, parents, coaches and athletes should work together to make sure children participate safely. - StatePoint Photo courtesy (c) Dusan Kostic, Fotolia.com Continued on page 16

AUGUST 2014 CROSSROADS 15

Back to School

Tips to Make Math Your Kids’ Favorite Subject Math may not sound like fun to everyone, but there is fun to be had when learning mathematics. If you can convince kids of that basic principle, getting them to focus in school and do well on their tests will be the easy part. After all some of today’s most downloaded apps involve math—maybe you’ve heard of the popular app, 2048. Nearly three-fifths of U.S middle school students believe that math will be important to their future, according to a recent survey conducted by the Raytheon Group, However, the same study found that physical education was the overwhelming choice for children’s favorite subject. With that in mind, here are several ways to jazz up math for your children so they develop an affinity for the subject from an early age: Personalized Problems Math touches everything that we do in life, which makes it all the more important to master. Luckily, it also makes it easy to tailor a lesson plan to suit a child’s interests. You can make math problems less of a problem by substituting the names, places and activities referenced in their homework with things your child cares about. Is your child on a sports team? Teach him or her how to analyze the statistics that came out of the latest game. Does your child love movies? Make up math problems about the latest box office numbers. The possibilities are endless. Extra Credit Make sure your kids know just how important their success in math class is, by rewarding their 16

CROSSROADS AUGUST 2014

good grades and extra time spent learning. Some might call it bribery, but you can think of it as positive reinforcement. And remember, extra time spent with math doesn’t have to be boring. To get kids motivated, look for fun supplemental lessons on the Internet as well as computer games that employ math skills. Some school subjects, for some children, will need a bit of creative packaging to motivate them. Whether your kids struggle with math or are natural whizzes, take steps to make the subject more personal and more fun. - StatePoint

Back to School

Financing College: Tips for Navigating the Process Any high school student planning to attend college should have a good plan for financing that degree, to avoid unnecessary debt. Students who earned a bachelor’s degree typically earn nearly twice as much as their peers with only high school diplomas, according to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. To reap the benefits of a college degree, students and parents should strive to avoid unnecessary debt post-graduation by making a game plan. “It’s important to understand your financial aid options, and take action early to get money you’ll need for school,” said John Rasmussen, Wells Fargo`s Head of Education Financial Services. “Between applying for schools and studying for college entrance exams, don’t let this vital preparation get lost in the shuffle.” Navigating this process can be tricky. And without proper planning or research, it’s easy to take on too much debt. With that in mind, here are some tips for families embarking on this journey: • Fill out the FAFSA: Regardless of your family’s income, fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid.) If you’re eligible for aid, the schools you’ve been accepted to will put together financial aid packages for you based on this information. Additionally, you’ll need to complete this if you wish to receive federal aid. Remember to fill out the FAFSA every year you’re in school, no earlier than January 1 for the upcoming academic year. • Estimate college costs: You can get an estimate of a college’s approximate cost by visiting the “net price calculator” on the individual school’s website. Play around with the variables to see how your total cost of college could change. For example, look at differences be-

tween living on and off-campus. • Explore financing options: First, consider free aid, like scholarships, grants, state and institutional aid. Ask your financial aid office to give you information on self-help aid like the Federal Work Study program, and also consider federal student loans. Additionally, check out private student loans, available through banks and other private lenders. For example, a Wells Fargo private student loan provides financing for eligible education-related expenses beyond tuition, such as housing, books, laptops, lab fees and more. With this plan, no payments are necessary until six months after leaving school. • Know your deadlines: Be sure to obtain all important dates from your financial aid office. Keep a calendar for this and other college application deadlines. • Free resources: Take advantage of online resources like the Wells Fargo`s “CollegeSTEPS” program, which offers tools and tips for college bound students and their families. To sign up and be automatically enrolled in the CollegeSTEPS Sweepstakes for a chance to win $1,000, visit www. WellsFargo.com/collegesteps. Finally, check out Well Fargo’s “5 Steps to Financial Aid” video series, which offers helpful advice from “Mr. Fellows, your wiser college advisor,” at www.WellsFargo.com/fivesteps. While financial planning can be overwhelming, particularly amid college applications stress, don’t brush this item under the rug. Investigating the breadth of merit-based scholarships, paid internships and student loans can prove helpful in managing education debt now and into the future. - StatePoint AUGUST 2014 CROSSROADS 17

Photo Op Photos by Ray Rockwell

CROSSROADS AUGUST 2014

Fireworks in O’Fallon Ray just couldn’t put the camera away with the beautiful 4th of July display in O’Fallon. As the nation celebrated its independence, thousands of similar displays were set off, but like a snow flake, none were the same.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

AUGUST

August 23rd events continued... Heritage Museum Car Show 11am-2pm, 636.949.7535

Skate Park Competition at Youth Activity Park 10am-10pm, 636.561.4964

The Eliminator Mud Run 5:30pm, The Battleground at Cedar Lake, 636.332.2134

Disc Golf Glow Tourney at Quail Ridge, 636.949.7535

KSHE95/ARC Summer Blood Drive

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

Lake Saint Louis Triathlon 100 Cognac Ct.

Wentzville Water Cardboard Boat Race

Melissa Neels Band at

7:30-9pm, Progress Park Pool, 636.332.9236

KSHE95/ARC Summer Blood Drive

10am-7pm, Renaud Spirit Center, 636.474.2732

Relay for Life of Lincoln County

Lake Saint Louis Farmers & Artists Market

6pm-2am, Clonts Field in Troy, 636.922.9536

“Songs of the Night” Nature Walk at Rotary Park, 8-10pm, 636.332.9236

8am-noon, 314.495.2531

Lake Saint Louis Farmers & Artists Market 8am-noon, 314.495.2531

Hope on the Prairie Run Against Cancer

at Civic Park, 6:30-9pm, 636.379.5614

in Hawk Point, 7pm

Food Truck Frenzy

Big Love at

5–8pm, Fort Zumwalt Park,1000 Jessup Drive, 636.379.5605

Lake Saint Louis Farmers & Artists Market

at Civic Park, 6:30-9pm, 636.379.5614

8am-noon, 314.495.2531

Alligator’s Creek Triathlon

7am-1pm, 403 Civic Park, 636.474.2732

Coffee Talk with Mayor Guccione 12:30-2pm, 636.327.5101

O’Fallon Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament

BCI Golf Tournament

Dueling Pianos at

10:30am, Old Hickory Golf Club, 636.875.5267

PALS Meeting 7pm, 636.338-1818

Lincoln County Healthy Communities Meeting

Lake Saint Louis Farmers & Artists Market 8am-noon, 314.495.2531

Noon, 636-528-6117 at Civic Park, 6:30-9pm, 636.379.5614

NashVegas at

11:30am-7pm, Bear Creek Golf Club, 636.978.7785

Lake Saint Louis Farmers & Artists Market 8am-noon, 314.495.2531

at Civic Park, 6:30-9pm, 636.379.5614

AUGUST 2014 CROSSROADS 19

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