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Providing care in peaceful and comfortable surroundings Evelyn’s House offers peaceful and comfortable surroundings where guests and their families will receive compassionate and specialized end of life care. Situated on the campus of Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital in Creve Coeur, MO.
For more information, call 314.996.8100 or visit www.bjchospice.org/evelynshouse bjchospice.org/evelynshouse
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Our new address is: 165 North Meramec Ave, Suite 110, St. Louis MO 63105
(314) 727-2266 • www.dschuster.com
N THIS SSUE Around Town City of Creve Coeur receives top financial reporting awards and more.
NONPROFIT PROFILE The Fit and Food Connection brings health and nutrition to hungry families.
Our Thoughts Moore on Life author Cindy Moore gets more than she bargained for taking grandbabies to the beach while Avalanche stays focused on the road.
Feature The Great American Eclipse St. Louis sits in the path of this once-in-a-lifetime event to take place on Aug. 21 By Sara Hardin
Lifestyle ‘The Bad News Bears’ sets the bar for kids and sports movies in Entertainment. Jaguar’s F-Pace brings high tech to mid-size luxury SUVs in this month’s Automobile Alley. Make a heart-healthy menu with grapes in For the Love of Food.
In Depth Federal grant pours millions of dollars into the region to improve rail efficiency and accident prevention.
Events Calendar Staff Writer - Sara Hardin Cover Photo - Bigstock
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AuthorBiographies
Our Town Volume 08 | Number 8 August 2017
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PUBLISHER Robert Huneke EDITOR Mathew DeKinder PRODUCTION Lisa Moran Melissa Nordmann CONTRIBUTORS Avalanche, David Finkelstein, Brian Guerrero, Cindy Moore STAFF WRITERS Brett Auten Sara Hardin
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Community News
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.
Avalanche
Sara Hardin is a senior English and Writing student at the University of Missouri - St. Louis. After earning her degree, she hopes to continue her writing journey with Community News, through which she has been able to meet and speak with many of the community’s most influential individuals from her home in North County.
Sara Hardin
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 manufacturers, both import as well as with domestic nameplates.
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.
Cindy Moore
Brian Guerro
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.
Published by the Community News, Our Town is a monthly news magazine covering the cities of Creve Coeur, Maryland Heights, and Olivette. Circulation is 7,000 monthly through over 105 monitored newsstands guaranteeing 100% pickup. Additional issues are distributed online, and a free online subscription is available at www. mycnews.com
2139 Bryan Valley Commercial Dr. O’Fallon, MO 63366 Ph: 636.379.1775 Fx: 636.379.1632 www.mycnews.com Copyright 2017 Huneke Publications, Inc. No part of the publication may be reproduced in any form without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
AroundTown
Financial excellence City of Creve Coeur receives top financial reporting awards
For the 25th straight year, the City of Creve Coeur received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting (CAFR), as well as the Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reporting (PAFR) award for the 12th consecutive year. The awards are the highest recognitions in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting given by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA). To earn the CAFR award, the city’s 2016 CAFR was reviewed by an impartial panel of judges to ensure that it met the high standards of the program including demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate users to read it. The PAFR award is a condensed version of the CAFR and is judged on reader appeal, understandability, distribution method, creativity and overall quality. The GFOA is a nonprofit professional association serving approximately 17,500 government finance professionals with offices in Chicago and Washington, D.C. To view the city of Creve Coeur’s 2016 Award-winning CAFR and PAFR, visit www.creve-coeur.org.
Books and more
JCC Used Book Sale summer sale Book lovers, collectors and avid readers all anticipate the annual JCC Used Book Sale, which takes place Aug. 13 – Aug. 17 at the Jewish Community Center Staenberg Family Complex – Arts & Education Building at #2 Millstone Campus Dr. in Creve Coeur. Thousands of titles include mystery and intrigue, novels, biographies, politics, religion, sports, cookbooks, history, animals, art, science, science fiction, business, women’s issues, foreign languages, gardening, poetry, psychology, self-help and humor…the list goes on. Parents and educators will find a large selection of books for children and youth as well as educational materials for home schoolers. Multiples of titles are available for book club reading along with miscellaneous videos, books on tape/CDs and DVDs. The opening day $10 fee helps underwrite expenses for the sale. Books are priced from 50 cents to $3. Special books – collectibles, art books and antique books – are priced as marked. Ticket sales will begin at 9 a.m. Aug. 13. Doors open at 10 a.m. Children 16-and-under are free. There is no cost to shop the remaining days of the book sale. On Aug. 17 buyers can take advantage of Bag Day…fill a bag of books for $5. AUGUST 2017 | OUR TOWN | 5
AroundTown Advertorial
Come find out the root cause of your migraines and start getting your life back!
The ‘preclipse’ celebration
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314-983-9355 11710 Old Ballas Rd, Suite 205 Creve Coeur, 63141
BY RUSS PATTON, OWNER OF BYERLY RV Join us to celebrate a “preclipse” to the eclipse with our friends Bob Barkwill and Rod Cathcart as “Deputy Boots” and “Sheriff Britches,” on Aug. 18 and 19. Rod and Bob travel with their “Dreamcamper,” a 1923 Ford motorhome. Enjoy the music and listen to their humorous stories, such as Bob’s ascent of the Empire State building with his horse! You can continue to enjoy their unique musical presentation by buying one or more of their CDs. Mac Nation winds up a nationwide tour in a Byerly RV. Dr. Mark Tierno, the new president of MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois, completes his mission to visit alums during a two month coast-to-coast journey. MacMurray is a 170-year-old, liberal-arts-based college whose successful alums came from – and returned to – all parts of the United States. Mark traveled in a compact diesel powered Gemini motorhome supplied by Byerly
e th th Wor ive Dr
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and built by Thor industries. Byerly RV breaks all sales records in their 69 year history. Byerly RV began as a manufacturer of mobile and camping trailers in 1948. It has since become one of the largest RV dealers in the country. We know the real pleasure of RVing comes after the shopping is over, but we also try to make your shopping experience enjoyable. There is no need to feel pressure to buy. RVs can be a sizable investment, take your time. Byerly’s success comes from referrals and years of experience. We are a local, employee-owned company. Recent customer ratings on Google contrast Byerly’s 4.5 points to a 2.8 rating for the big national chains’ local store. Why? Come visit Byerly and find out. For sales and events visit us at www.byerlyrv.com and Facebook. Byerly is just one exit east of Six Flags on I-44 in Eureka, Missouri. Call us at 636-938-2000.
Byerly RV 295 East Fifth St. | Eureka, MO 63025 800-878-3325 | 636-938-2000 | www.byerlyrv.com
NonProfitProfile
BRINGING HEALTH AND NUTRITION TO HUNGRY FAMILIES
The Fit and Food Connection is a nonprofit organization that empowers those in need in the St. Louis area to be healthy through free healthy living resources. What is their passion? Their passion is providing healthy means for individuals that want to get healthier but can’t afford to do it on their own. Founded in 2014 by co-directors Gabrielle Cole and Joy Millner, The Fit and Food Connection’s five programs are run solely by volunteers from all over the world that wake up each day to change the lives of lower income individuals in St. Louis. The five programs include Food Assistance Program, which is a healthy food delivery, Organic Community Garden, GroupFit which provides group fitness classes, Group Nutrition which gives seminars on a variety of wellness topics and One-On-One, which provides individual nutrition consultations, exercise sessions, grocery shopping education, and food preparation sessions. The Fit and Food Connection (FAFC) focuses on the concept of food justice by implementing the findings from cutting-edge national and academic research, transforming at-risk communities in the St. Louis area into strong
groups of empowered individuals. FAFC is a comprehensive service, education, and training program for families experiencing food insecurity or living in designated “food deserts.” All goods and services are offered at no charge to individuals and families who need them, enabling program participants to focus on developing healthy self-reliance, self-care and self-esteem. Many FAFC program participants contribute back by recruiting, motivating and mentoring new participants, supporting their commitment to securing healthy new lifestyles. “We are not sure if we get our greatest pleasures from watching the successes of our clients, or from seeing our volunteer stories and watching the contributions that they make to changing lives,” said Millner. “For example, we have a young girl in college who is responsible for putting together our quarterly newsletter and is battling cancer. We have a young man in Uganda who has never left his village,
but wakes up each day to make St. Louis a better place through our social media and website communication.” The Fit and Food Connection sees a world of positivity, a world of giving, and a world of empowerment and change. In spite of all their efforts, motivation, willingness, love and enjoyment for their deeds, FAFC faces sustainability challenges. FAFC is in need of a permanent space for the organization and in need of donations to buy food, fitness equipment and supplies so that they can impact more low income individuals in the food dessert areas that FAFC serves. FAFC is growing and has many longterm goals, but the most important one is to endure so that they can reach and help more people. Several events are scheduled for the upcoming months such as tennis clinic (every Sunday at St. Vincent’s Community Center from 6 to 7:30 p.m.), garden hours and food drives (companies donate healthy non-perishables for the Food Assistance Program). The complete schedule can be found on their website www. fitandfoodconnection.org. Everyone is welcome to join the Fit and Food Connection in its effort to make a change. AUGUST 2017 | OUR TOWN | 7
OurThoughts MOORE ON LIFE BY CINDY MOORE
Sand crabs
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ummer’s here and what’s more fun than taking five little grandbabies to the beach for the day? Oh, I can think of a couple of things, like drinking a cactus smoothie made with the needles still attached or watching all of Miley Cyrus’ music videos back to back while sitting on that cactus smoothie with the needles still attached. Yes, some things start out sounding fun, but then quickly turn out to be… not so much. First the loading. We needed to rent Two Men and a Truck twice, which came out to be Four Men and a Semi. One truck would hold just the diapers and wipes and sunscreen. Do you know how many buckets of sun screen are needed to coat that many little nippers to prevent those ghastly UV rays from scalding their tender skins? We hauled a 50-gallon drum out and applied it with a paint brush roller until they had been thoroughly covered with a thick layer of white goo. They looked like a batch of vanilla frosted cupcakes with eyeballs. Then there were the snacks. Apparently kids can’t go anywhere these days without an abundant supply of food lest they have a reaction to fresh air, which only a handful of ninja-shaped fruit snacks can remedy. So we loaded up semi number two with all types of sippy cup drinks and every edible imaginable, just in case a rouge tsunami washed ashore and we became marooned on the only sandbar left
standing. Shoved in alongside were the swim essentials: the mermaid raft; the ducky and dinosaur swimmy tubes, goggles, water wings, buckets, shovels, scoopers and sifters and sandcastle makers and then the towels, blankets, umbrellas, chairs, coolers, swimsuits and coverups, changes of clothes and so many, many flip-flops. At last we found a spot, dumped our load and settled. Then the real tsunami came: “I got sand on my cheese stick! Screech!” “The wind blew my inflatable dino out to sea! Screech!” Just use the ducky or mermaid. “NO! Those are for girls! Screech!” Put that stinging jelly fish down! “Screech!” “There’s salt in my eyes. Screech!” Ya think? That big swimming pool is 99 percent saline! The wind kicked up and blew the umbrella inside-out leaving us with no shade. Good thing we sunscreened the
little crabby crabs. Nope; it was either licked off or washed away in the water. The baby did a doodie. Oops, we left the diapers in truck number one parked in the next county. Our survival instincts kicked in. We swathed her in a towel then poked two leg holes in a bread bag and cinched it up around the baby’s waist. Exhausted, we corralled the babies into a nice play area which had been roped off and furnished by the beach police. How thoughtful. We soon discovered it was an area barricaded to preserve a clutch of sea turtle eggs. The wildlife authorities gave us a lengthy lecture about disturbing the fine balance of nature along with a stern threat of a hefty fine if future issues occurred. I suggested we pack up ASAP and make a hasty retreat. I suddenly had an uneasy feeling about the dozen large white marbles the kids had adorned their sandcastles with.
OurThoughts
FOCUS IS REQUIRED
ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE BY AVALANCHE
A
s I went over the handlebar, I realized I was going fast enough to guarantee a painful landing. The sharp pain in my ribs upon contact with the ground lasted for about six weeks, providing a frequent reminder of the complex requirements of balance, traction, road surface, speed and judgment to keep a motorcycle upright. At the time I was a new rider, with less than a year’s experience. I was also young, blessed with the quick recuperative capacity foolishly taken for granted by those without gray hair. The ribs healed with no lasting effects, and the painful lessons learned that day have instilled a certain degree of caution during my two-wheeled travel over the subsequent decades. Motorcycling is an incredibly rewarding experience, exposing and engaging the rider as an active participant, as opposed to a sensory-deprived driver safely ensconced in a two-ton cage. There are a few drawbacks to bikes;
though, as they leak when it rains, and fall over when stopped. Basically, a bike is an open-aired gyroscope, with two wheels and an engine crankshaft all spinning in the same plane. Rider input via leaning and turning the handlebar destabilizes the machine, causing it to turn – fall over – either left or right. Sitting upright and keeping the front wheel straight allows the machine to keep moving in a straight line. It’s supremely satisfying when everything goes right, but it requires constant attention and input. It can be quite painful – or worse – when one of the variables is out of place and the operator is not safely ensconced in the sensory-depriving two-ton cage. I’ve long held the belief that every driver should be required to commute on a motorcycle for at least a year or two. The focus and attention given to road safety would cross over – at least to a degree – to driving cars and trucks. Those drivers whose priorities
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lie in taking selfies, sending texts, jabbering endlessly on cell phones, applying makeup and reading newspapers would be quickly Darwin’ed out of the driving gene pool, making the roads safer for the rest of us. Traveling on two wheels quickly teaches that a lack of focus and judgment incurs immediate consequences. My unplanned get-off mentioned above taught that more throttle is not always the right answer to a problem. The lack of traffic on that remote fourwheel-drive road gave me the opportunity to make that mistake without being in the middle of rush hour. Controlled environments can make some of that learning experience less threatening. Generally speaking in a single-vehicle crash, the pilot-in-command is responsible, with moving wildlife, tornadoes and rockfall excepted. Riding is a very effective form of moving meditation – the mind cannot wander.
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The Great American Eclipse
By Sara Hardin An excited buzz has been stirring among those eager to witness an astronomical event that hasn’t graced St. Louis in over half a century. On Aug. 21, for the first time since 1442, our city will lie directly in the path of a total solar eclipse. The Great American Eclipse will sweep across 12 states, and will be the last total solar eclipse to cross over St. Louis until 2505. In preparation for the day of the event, the St. Louis Astronomical Society (SLAS) and the St. Louis Eclipse 2017 Task Force have been working with schools, local government officials and parks departments on properly informing the public about what to expect. “We have been presenting programs to libraries and schools during the school year, and to civic organizations.” said Rich Heuer, SLAS Board Member and St. Louis Eclipse 2017 Task Force member. “In some cases, schools have made major adjustments to their curriculum to incorporate to 10 | OUR TOWN | AUGUST 2017
eclipse into what they were teaching in the spring. Local governments have been working on their events and activities, particularly within the path where the eclipse is total. We’ve been doing our best to inform the general public on what’s going on and how to watch the partial phases safely.”
The same rule about not looking at the sun applies during a solar eclipse. No matter how tempting it may be to look at it directly, there are certain crucial measures that must be taken and a few viewing methods to adopt in order to ensure safety. “With an eclipse, there’s always caution that needs to be taken. Damag-
ing things can happen to the eye if it’s not done properly,” explained Dr. Carl Bassi, Director of Research and Professor with the UMSL College of Optometry. “There are two major kinds of ways people typically have viewed eclipses. One is to indirectly view it through a pinhole. You can project the image through the pinhole onto a screen or onto a piece of paper just by holding the pinhole up and having the light project through that. When the sun is just starting to get covered up, you have to be wearing approved glasses to look directly at the eclipse. Make sure they’re approved by the International Organization for Standardization with the number ISO 12312-2. They have been made to certain specifications. Make sure to inspect the lenses as well to make sure they’re in good condition and not scratched.” Only once the eclipse reaches the phase of totality, meaning the disc of the sun has been completely covered by the moon, is it safe to remove the glasses and look directly at the
eclipse. Just before the crack of noon (and depending on where you are), the moon will begin passing between the earth and the sun. Approximately one hour later, periods of totality – or complete darkness – will occur across the state. The exact time depends on where you’re located. Officials in our area are expecting the partial eclipse will begin about 11:45 a.m. and the totality to occur at about 1:16 p.m. Totality will last about 1-3 minutes depending on where the eclipse is being viewed from. During that time, some interesting things will start to happen. “The sky will turn a deep twilight if you’re in the path of totality,” said Heuer. “The planets will start to appear, Venus first and then Jupiter, and some of the brighter stars will appear. Eventually, the moon will be right in front of the sun and will block off the visible part of the sun’s surface, called the photosphere. The outer at-
mosphere of the sun will be exposed, called the corona. This is very thin gas that is very very hot, but very very sparse, so it’s only about as bright as the full moon. If there’s any part of the bright disc of the sun still visible, the corona won’t be visible. That’s why you have to be in the path of the total eclipse to be able to see the spectacular sight of the corona. It moves and changes shape noticeably right as you’re watching it. Some nocturnal animals may get confused by the darkness and make an appearance as well.” To view the eclipse, it is best to travel a bit south from St. Louis to be completely in the eclipse’s path of totality. One of the major viewing events will be hosted by St. Louis County Parks at Jefferson Barracks Park. Gates will open for parking at 9 a.m. and booths and food trucks will be available starting at 10 a.m.
“We started planning for this event almost two years ago. There’s going to be some cool stuff at Jefferson Barracks,” said Eric Johnson, Complex Manager at Affton Community Center. “CBS Radio is a partner, and Fox 2 and Channel 11 are partnering. United States Postal Service is rolling out a new eclipse stamp, and they’re going to do an official unveiling on the stage at the park. We’re expecting several thousand people at the park. It’s easy in and easy out with close proximity to interstates 270 and 55. There will be plenty park rangers and St. Louis County police to direct you and keep everyone safe.” St. Louis County Parks has had eclipse glasses available for sale for $1 per pair at Affton, Greensfelder, and Kennedy recreation complexes and the Pavilion at Lemay. Over 6,000 pairs have been sold, so it is best to check for availability before buying AUGUST 2017 | OUR TOWN | 11
Prepare for the traffic If you’re planning on taking a small road trip the day of the event give yourself plenty of time to get to the path of totality. Folks will be coming to St. Charles County from many neighboring states so be advised. You do not want to be stuck in the car on Interstate 70 watching a partial eclipse. Watch the weather Clouds are not your friend. Don’t let the weather turn your eclipse excursion into a snoozer. Check the weather forecast regularly leading up and if, on the morning of, clouds are destined to be in your way you may want to consider a Plan B. But if you do encounter clouds don’t lose all hope as a total solar eclipse can part obstructing clouds. Protect your eyes Before and after the eclipse, when the moon is not completely blocking the sun, it’s essential to have some sort of protective eyewear to avoid damage to your eyes. Anyone watching the eclipse in its partial form will need to wear the glasses the entire time. You should absolutely take off your eclipse glasses during totality if you want to see it in all its splendor.
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yourself more than enough cushion. Anticipate that the traffic will be very heavy. It helps if you have an idea of an alternate route. People coming in from out of town are going to be on the main interstates, so keep an eye out for possible Missouri and county roads that you can use if the main roads are difficult to navigate. Also remember that it’s in August, so make sure you have things like sunblock, mosquito repellent and plenty of water or some kind of fluid with you. Be prepared to be outside for an extended period of time.” For more information about the Great American Eclipse, visit greatamericaneclipse. com. For more information on how to safely view a solar eclipse, how to create a pinhole projector and more, visit eclipse2017.nasa.gov/ safety.
“The sky will turn a deep twilight if you’re in
the path of totality,”
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Eclipse tips
your own for the day of the event. Glasses can also be found online. In addition to viewing safety, it is wise to consider your travel options before taking off for your destination on the day of the eclipse. “There is going to be this massive influx of people into Missouri and into the St. Louis area and Carbondale [Illinois] in particular,” said Heuer. “The estimate is from 300,000 to 1.3 million people in addition to the roughly 1.6 million that live in the area. That can be a traffic nightmare. If the weather cooperates, traffic is going to be really, really heavy on routes like I-55 and I-44. If you’re going to travel, leave as early as you possibly can rather than trying to get there any time around the time of the eclipse. You may or may not get to where you’re going in time if you don’t give
CaringPartners
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A HOUSE OF CARING
Helping make every moment count’ at end of life
Evelyn’s House staff stands outside the new building located on the campus of Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital in Creve Coeur. Evelyn’s House, the new BJC hospice house, located on the campus of Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital in Creve Coeur is open and accepting patients. With 16 beds, the spacious 18,000-square-foot ranch style house, offers a full array of services and support for adults, children and their families. “Hospice care recognizes, celebrates and respects the unique life journey of each patient,” says Barbara Westland, director of BJC Hospice. “Hospice helps families make every moment count by focusing on the spiritual and emotional care of patients, as well as physical comfort.” While hospice care is routinely provided in a home setting, Evelyn’s House is designed to offer patients and families an alternative choice in special circumstances such as the short-term management of pain and symptoms, and respite for caregivers. Patrick White, MD, chief medical officer for BJC Hospice, leads the hospice house. “Evelyn’s House offers our patients exceptional quality medical care in a peaceful home-like setting, designed specifically to relieve symptoms, improve quality of life, enhance dignity and support patients and families. We are proud to be able to offer patients
who have serious medical illness, with personalized medical care delivered from a highly trained and compassionate team.” Features include: • 16 private guest suites for adults, teens and children • Walkout patio from every suite • Hospice-specialized care team • Family gathering spaces with overnight accommodations • Dedicated music and expressive therapy rooms • Family kitchen and café • Meditation room and garden • Kids and teen activity room • Salon and spa “Evelyn’s House is here today due to the generosity of many,” says Steven Lipstein, BJC HealthCare chief executive officer. “BJC is grateful to the community for answering our call to help us build this warm, comfortable hospice house for anyone needing specialized end-of-life care. We’re especially grateful to Aja and Patrick Stokes for leading the way with a gift that inspired Peggy and Andy Newman to make an equally momentous gift through the Eric P. and Evelyn E. Newman Foundation. The Newmans honored us with the privilege of naming our hospice house for Andy’s
mother, Evelyn Newman, a prominent St. Louis community leader and philanthropist who passed away in 2015.” Additional financial support for the hospice house came from The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation, Friends of St. Louis Children’s Hospital, and Friends of Wings, which supports the BJC Pediatric Hospice and Palliative Care program. “Dreams can become reality with the support of the community, donors and a compassionate, committed staff,” Westland says. “Evelyn’s House will embody our core purpose of providing exceptional care to patients and families in our community. The home-like environment, our expressive therapy and music therapy staff, social workers, chaplains and volunteers will help support the many needs of the family on their journey with their loved one.” “The St. Louis community’s generosity and commitment to compassionate end-of-life care helps us more fully embrace patients and families during a difficult time,” Dr. White says. “Our community will be better for having a hospice house.” For more information, call 314-9968100 or visit bjchospice.org/evelynshouse. AUGUST 2017 | OUR TOWN | 13
OurLifestyle
The Bad News
accurate response to Coach Buttermaker’s silver lining thought following a crushing loss… Coach Buttermaker: “Come on, fellas. Rome wasn’t built in a day.” Ogilvie: “Yeah, it took several hundred years.” To help out his team of underdogs Buttermaker attempts to enlist Kelly Leak (a young Jackie Earle Haley) the town’s delinquent and natural athlete and his 12-year-old daughter, Amanda Whurlitzer (Tatum O’Neal – perfect), whom he taught how to be an ace pitcher. The mildly estranged daughter of his is quite the pistol and sharp as a whip when it comes to quick verbal comebacks. Understandably, the scenes between Matthau and O’Neal are one of the film’s highlights (Both were already Oscar winners at this point in their careers too, mind you). Director Michael Ritchie refuses to aim the film high and keeps the occasional sentimental scenes in check. This cynical approach to the story isn’t pretty (neither is comedy) and the film –and the kids in it – are all the better for it. Shot more like a documentary, the film leaves plenty of room for unforced laughter (and drama). All of Ritchie’s actors are dead serious without trying to be funny… they just are! “The Bears” is also a cautionary tale about the obsession of winning and how if affects both kids and adults. There’s an unsettling confrontation between the Yankees coach (Vic Morrow – perfectly cast) and his pitching son (Brandon Cruz – well done) on the Bears’ archrival team. In the face of what can be disturbing, it’s the comedy that pulls through in the end solidifying the film’s unconventional ending. “The Bad News Bears” was not aimed to be a family-friendly film, but it’s definitely a movie a family should watch together – particularly the adults.
The kids and sports standard for movies BY BRIAN GUERRO I’ve been thinking about one my favorite “kids and sports” films, “The Sandlot.” It’s partly because Independence Day has come and gone, reminding me of that fireworks display – one of the film’s finest moments. Then, naturally, I remember the talented young actors playing baseball and getting into unfortunate - yet hilarious “pickled” situations. Ultimately, I can’t help but think about the other film that began the craze for kids and sports. Forty-one years later it still holds up as the standard. This is the 1976 fan – and critical – favorite “The Bad News Bears.” The main star is Walter Matthau – in a brilliantly restrained performance – who plays the grumpy, beer-drinking, down-onhis-luck Coach Morris Buttermaker. In need of money, the loner Buttermaker decides to take on coaching little leaguers – and getting paid by the father of one of the boys cut from the league. In fact, the entire gang is quite the group of misfit ballplayers with under-developed talent (but fully-developed character). Much credit must go to Jane Feinberg and Mike Fenton for their impeccable choices in casting these kids and the veteran (adult) actors. Rounding up some of the young actors is Engelberg (Gary Lee Cavagnaro) as the chocolate eating catcher, Timmy Lupus (Quinn Smith) as the shy “booger-eating” outfielder, Ahmad Abdul Rahim (Erin Blunt) will play any position Hank Aaron played, Tanner Boyle (Chris Barnes – a natural) is the short-tempered shortstop who’s not afraid to pick on someone twice his size (including the entire seventh grade) and the bookworm of the bunch is Ogilvie (Alfred W. Lutter) who makes an 14 | OUR TOWN | AUGUST 2017
JAGUAR’S F-PACE
OurThoughts
brings high tech to mid-size luxury SUVs With the introduction of Jaguar’s FPace, mid-size luxury SUV, we’re witnessing rolling technology from bumper-to-bumper. Quite the vehicle in its right, F-Pace is based off of a remarkable lightweight architecture. With the extensive use of aluminum alloy, some 1/3 of the vehicle is comprised of this weight-saving material. Other lightweight components used are composites and magnesium. FPace drives with an elevated level of balanced agility, quick responsive acceleration plus with a high-degree of refined craftsmanship throughout. It’s an exceptional SUV, demonstrating versatility and a stylish modern design. Engineered to seat five, this imported Jaguar from the United Kingdom tends to have an exclusive muscular stance. The attractive front grille assembly carries forward Jaguar’s branding DNA plus it’s designed to be aerodynamic, thus helping with fuel efficiency. The signature protruding hood bonnet has a “power bulge” about it, representing and supporting this SUV’s performance capabilities. The sleek roofline, as well as its short front and rear overhangs, reflect its contemporary silhouette. Optional is their full-panoramic sky roof. The out-
er body design has taut surfaces and clean lines to help form the vehicle’s exceptional looks. The tasteful and glittering look of the headlamps are also offered with full adaptive LED technology. F-Pace is positioned on a highstrength steel underside footing with the use of more than 2,600 rivets, over 560 spot welds and with the extensive use of structural bonding adhesive. This results in an extraordinary safe and stiff body foundation. Years of labor-intensive work went into the overall suspension, part of which is so noted as this underside chassis is one of the most sophisticated ever used in any Jaguar to date. Powering F-Pace is one of a variety of engines offered. This includes fourcylinder power, a diesel engine and, for the motorist seeking spirited acceleration and notable performance, their 3.0-liter supercharged engine generates 380-horsepower. This remarkable V-6 will launch F-Pace from 0-60 mph in just over five seconds. F-Pace also features a forward-facing stereo camera safety system helping to assist in automatic vehicle breaking and selfregulating pedestrian detection. Traffic sign recognition and intelligent auto-
matic speed limiter technologies are also electronically facilitated with the stereo camera. The laser-managed “heads up drivers display unit” can easily put important information within the driver’s view, such as; vehicle speed, navigation data and speed limits, with sharp color images, that seem to float out past the windshield’s field of view. The array of extras also includes semi-automatic parking assist. Another new technology is their Activity Key System. It’s a waterproof, shockproof wearable wristband with an integrated transponder that allows the driver to lock their keys in the car while swimming or out on the hiking trail. Once you’re back at the vehicle, the doors will automatically unlock as the on-board system will detect the hightech wristband. Pricing begins at $42,065, excluding $995 in shipping charges. Sold in a number of trim levels, the 2017 F-Pace I drove was their premium “S” model that had an MSRP (after options and destination charges) of $72,585. Equipped with their Supercharged V-6, it showed 18-mpg city/23-mpg highway. Their standard warranty coverage is for five-years/60,000 miles. AUGUST 2017 | OUR TOWN | 15
OurLifestyle
Good eats with grapes
Savory Yogurt with Grape and Cucumber Salad Servings: 4
Ingredients: Dukkah: 1/3 cup raw cashews Sparkling Hibiscus Tea 1/3 cup hazelnuts with Grapes and Mint 1/4 cup sesame seeds Servings: 8 2 tbsp cumin seeds muddle 1 cup grapes with 2 tbsp coriander seeds Ingredients: mint leaves. Add muddled 2 tbsp dried thyme 6 cups water, divided grape and mint mixture to 48- 1/2 tsp salt 1 tablespoon honey 60 ounce pitcher along with 6 hibiscus tea bags 2 cups green grapes, remaining water and orange Yogurt: slices. Stir in hibiscus tea mix- 3 cups plain, nonfat divided ture. Refrigerate at least 30 10 mint leaves Greek yogurt 1 navel orange, sliced minutes. Strain before serving. 1/2 cup green grapes, ice halved 16 ounces sparkling To serve, add ice to 8-ounce 1/2 cup red grapes, glass. Top with 3-4 grapes, 2 water halved ounces sparkling water and 1 cup English cucumhibiscus tea mixture. ber, diced Directions: Using tea kettle or 1 tbsp minced shallot showed beneficial 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive saucepan, bring 3 cups wa- Diet ter and honey to boil. Add tea changes in regional brain oil bags, turn off heat and steep metabolism that correlated 1 tbsp white balsamic 6-8 minutes. Remove tea bags to improvements in cognition vinegar and allow remaining liquid to and working memory perfor- salt, to taste mance, according to a report cool 15 minutes. pepper, to taste published by Experimental 4 tbsp dukkah In martini shaker or bowl, Gerontology. 1 tsp lemon zest 16 | OUR TOWN | AUGUST 2017
Directions: To make dukkah: Heat oven to 350 F. Spread cashews and hazelnuts on baking sheet and toast 6-8 minutes. Transfer to food processor and set aside. In skillet over medium heat, toast sesame seeds, cumin seeds and coriander seeds until fragrant, 1-2 minutes, then transfer to food processor. Add dried thyme and salt. Pulse mixture until coarsely ground. Makes about 1 cup that can be stored in an airtight container. Divide yogurt into four 3/4cup portions. In small bowl, combine grapes, cucumber, shallots, olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. Toss to combine. Top each bowl of yogurt with 1/2 cup grape mixture, 1 tablespoon dukkah and sprinkle of lemon zest.
OurLifestyle Zahtar Shrimp and Grape Kabob Servings: 6 Ingredients: 2 tablespoons zahtar 1 clove garlic, minced 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar 1 teaspoon honey 1/8 teaspoon sea salt 1/8 teaspoon pepper 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
36-40 large shrimp (about 2 pounds), shelled and deveined 1 cup whole green grapes 1 cup whole red grapes
least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.
Directions: In medium bowl, combine zahtar, garlic, thyme, vinegar, honey, salt, pepper and olive oil. Whisk to combine. Add shrimp and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate at
Grill skewers, turning once, until shrimp are lightly charred and cooked through and grapes are caramelized but firm, about 2-3 minutes per side.
Thread shrimp and grapes onto skewers. Heat grill or grill pan to medium-high.
AUGUST 2017 | OUR TOWN | 17
InDepth
A BOOST FOR RAILWAY SAFETY Federal grant pours millions of dollars into the region to improve rail efficiency and accident prevention
BY SARA HARDIN
BY SARA HARDIN
18 | OUR TOWN | AUGUST 2017
Missouri railway networks are getting a big safety boost in light of the state receiving $30 million in grants to improve rail efficiency and accident prevention. As announced by U.S. Senator Roy Blunt, $18,869,888 of the grants have been awarded to St. Louis and $12,024,877 to Kansas City by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The grants, called Positive Train Control (PTC) grants, will be implemented to improve locomotives and prevent collisions on around 4,700 miles of rail track in Missouri and on 60,000 tracks total across the country. “Missouri is a national transportation hub, and improving the safety and reliability of our rail networks is key to supporting jobs, fueling economic growth and, most importantly, keeping people safe,” said Blunt. “This grant provides much-needed resources that will allow our state’s transportation planners to make the improvements necessary to strengthen the safety of our rail networks.” While workers on railways are always cautious with their cargo, there is still the chance for the occasional error to occur. Asim Raza, Chief Legal Officer for Terminal Railroad Association (TRRA) of St. Louis, explained how the PCT grants will aid in preventing future accidents from happening on the tracks. “‘Positive train control’ describes technologies designed to automatically stop a train before certain accidents caused by human error occur,” said Raza. “Specifically, PTC as mandated by Congress must be designed to prevent train-to-train collisions, derailments caused by excessive speed, unauthorized incursions by trains onto sections of track where maintenance activities are taking place, and the movement of a train through a track switch left in the wrong position. The PTC systems that will be installed to meet the statutory mandate are overlay systems, meaning they supplement, rather than replace, existing train control systems.” The increase in safety extends to
SUBMITTED PHOTOS
InDepth
The $18,869,888 Positive Train Control grants awarded to the St. Louis region will be implemented to improve locomotives and prevent collisions.
This grant provides much-needed resources that will allow our state’s transportation planners to make the improvements necessary to strengthen the safety of our rail networks.
benefit more than just railway employees and passengers. “The grant will be used to help finish the installation and implementation of PTC on TRRA infrastructure in Missouri, providing extra measures to help ensure the safety of people in Missouri that cross TRRA tracks, are near those tracks or use those tracks,” explained Raza. “Whether they be on a train crew, working on or near the tracks or traveling as a passenger on Amtrak, PTC will offer added protection against tragic accidents.” Because of the consistent increase in the cargo hauled on our railways, as well as the constant need for passenger transport, the PTC will be integral in ensuring the present and future safety of everyone on or in close proximity to railway tracks. “Rail transportation is an integral
part of our freight and passenger mobility systems,” said Raza. “Freight rail is expected to see a 50 percent increase in the amount of tonnage carried by 2040. Some of that cargo can contain hazardous materials that could have tragic consequences in the event of a rail mishap as we have seen in other parts of North America recently. Passenger trains have the added vulnerability of lives on board, which even a small incident could put at risk. At TRRA and for every railroad operating on our system, safety is and always has been our top priority. We take that responsibility seriously and have in place a system that ensures a solid safety record. PTC will supplement the system already in place making rail transport in the St. Louis region even safer.” AUGUST 2017 | OUR TOWN | 19
August 4
Coast Guard Birthday
7
Purple Heart Day
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Summer concert: The Creve Coeur Recreation De-
partment is proud to offer its fourth summer of free family-friendly concerts in Millennium Park at 2 Barnes West Drive. Pack a picnic basket or purchase a snack from a food truck as you enjoy live music in the park. Bring chairs or blankets for seating. All shows begin at 6 p.m., but come early to get a good seat. It’s time to rock out like its Beatlemania again as the Abbey Road Warriors take the stage.
at 13725 Marine Ave. in Maryland Heights. All concerts run from 6 to 9 p.m. and will feature pre-show entertainment from 6 to 6:45 p.m. Bands will perform 7 - 9 p.m. Inclement weather cancellations will be posted on www. RainedOut.com.
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National Aviation Day
ice cream social at Vago Park at 2700 Fee Fee Road at Intersection of Midland Ave. and Fee Fee Rd. in Maryland Heights.
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Eclipse Day
Summer concert: This free concert featuring Kevin
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Women’s Equality Day
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Olivette town hall meeting: This is an opportunity for residents to hold small group conversations with the mayor, ask questions, and provide input on local issues from 7 - 9 p.m. at Olivette City Center at 1140 Dielman Road in Olivette.
Ice cream social: Maryland Heights is hosting a free
Babb is located at Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park at the Tremayne Shelter at Creve Coeur Park Picnic Site 1,