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2 | OUR TOWN | DECEMBER 2017

Our Town Volume 08 | Number 12 DECEMBER 2017

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

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Around Town

Ice arena moves forward in Maryland Heights and more.

Nonprofit Profile Missouri River Relief practices stewardship of one of the nation’s most vital waterways.

PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF Mathew DeKinder PUBLISHER EMERITUS/ GENTERAL MANAGER Bob Huneke PRODUCTION Lisa Moran Melissa Nordmann CONTRIBUTORS Avalanche, David Finkelstein, Brian Guerrero, Cindy Moore STAFF WRITERS Brett Auten Charlotte Beard

Our Thoughts Moore on Life author Cindy Moore ponders the journey of the Three Wise Men while Avalanche tries his best to stay warm on a late season bike ride.

Feature Giving back Many charitable organizations in the St. Louis area offer families the opportunity to volunteer this holiday season By Charlotte Beard

Caring Partners Ways to plan for cold and flu season.

Lifestyle For advertising information, please contact us at:

info@mycnews.com or

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

A closer look at the career of the new “Star Wars” director in Entertainment. The 2018 Nissan Pathfinder comes loaded with options in this month’s Automobile Alley. Flavorful holiday dishes for every course in For the Love of Food.

In Depth A World War II veteran looks back at his time on Iwo Jima.

Events Calendar Staff Writer – Charlotte Beard Cover Photo – Bigstock

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AroundTown

Community News names new publisher

Get your event or good news published in Our Town: email your information to editor@mycnews.com.

LET YOUR BUSINESS MEET OUR READERS

is County area before becoming a weekly publication in 1921, and the Community News has published every week since then. Today the Community News prints two weekly editions in St. Louis County and St. Charles County respectively along with two monthly magazines. “I am thrilled that Mat has become publisher of the Community News. It has been my goal to build a strong newspaper that could continue into the future,” Huneke said. “By passing the baton to Mat, my goal has been achieved. He has the ability, experience, and vision to lead Community News forward into the next 100 years.” Mathew DeKinder and Robert Huneke, Jr.

New trustee needed Filing opens Dec. 12 for STLCC Board of Trustees seat Filing for the subdistrict 1 seat on the St. Louis Community College Board of Trustees opens at 8 a.m., Dec. 12. Filing for the seat closes at 5 p.m., Jan. 16, 2018. An election will take place April 3, 2018, to fill the seat. The winner of the subdistrict 1 seat will serve a six-year term. St. Louis Community College is governed by six board members representing the four subdistricts of the college service area and one appointed board member. Subdistrict 1 includes the Hazelwood, Ferguson/Florissant, Riverview Gardens, Jennings, Pattonville, Ritenour, Univer-

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4 | OUR TOWN | DECEMBER 2017

HEATHER DEATZ

Mathew DeKinder has been named publisher and editor-in-chief of the Community News, effective Nov. 1. DeKinder, who has been the editor since 2014, takes over for Robert Huneke, Jr. who will remain involved in the day-to-day operation of the company as publisher emeritus and general manager. “It is a great honor and responsibility being publisher of the Community News,” DeKinder said. “I am proud to continue the tradition of providing positive, hyperlocal news that has been established by Bob, his father and his grandfather.” The Community News began in 1918 by Harry Huneke as a bi-monthly newspaper that focused on news in the North St. Lou-

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sity City, Normandy, Clayton and Ladue school districts. Individuals seeking the trustee seat must be at least 21 years of age and must be a resident voter of subdistrict 1 for at least one year before the April 3 election. Each declaration of candidacy must be notarized before it is returned to the office of the associate for board relations at the Joseph P. Cosand Community College Center, 300 S. Broadway. Declarations of candidacy and a description of the subdistrict are available in the office of the associate for board relations at the Cosand Center. The office is open 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; however, it will be closed from Dec. 22 through Jan. 2, 2018. The placement of candidate’s names on the ballot shall be determined according to the order of filing by candidates, except that a lottery system will be used to place candidates’ names on the ballot for those candidates who file prior to 5 p.m. on Dec. 12. All candidates will be notified about the lottery and all other requirements for filing for office at the time they receive filing forms. For more information, contact Rebecca Garrison, associate for board relations, at 314-539-5154.

AroundTown

Making healthy choices Operation Food Search (OFS), a nonprofit hunger relief organization, recently received a $10,000 Newman’s Own Foundation grant from Schnuck Markets. The grant will be used for OFS’ Cooking Matters at the Store program, which provides interactive grocery store tours and cooking demonstrations to show local families and individuals how to make healthy, affordable shopping choices. Newman’s Own Foundation provides grants to support initiatives that increase access to fresh food and nutrition education in underserved communities. Founded in 1982 by Paul Newman, Newman’s Own, Inc. sells a variety of premium and organic food products and gives 100 percent of the profits to charitable purposes around the world. OFS’ Tour Event Days, which are free and open to the public, will offer tours of the supermarket’s produce, bakery, meat and dairy departments. Participants will observe a live cooking demonstration to help them learn how to prepare and cook nutritious meals at home. Schnuck Markets will feature various food sampling stations for customers that introduce healthy, family-friendly meal choices. Tours begin at 10 a.m. and are

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Operation Food Search awarded $10,000 Newman’s Own Foundation grant

Operation Food Search recently received a $10,000 Newman’s Own Foundation grant from Schnuck Markets.

scheduled for Jan. 13 at Schnuck Markets located at 1589 Sierra Vista Plaza, as well as March 3 at Schnuck Markets located at 49 N. Florissant Rd. in Ferguson.

www.elderlaw.com DECEMBER 2017 | OUR TOWN | 5

AroundTown

Ice arena moves forward Maryland Heights to negotiate final terms of partnership agreement to build ice sports complex near Hollywood Casino The city of Maryland Heights has approved the preliminary terms of a partnership agreement with the St. Louis Legacy Ice Foundation to develop a multi-purpose ice sports complex at a 25-acre site on Casino Center Drive owned by GLP Capital, LP near the Hollywood Casino & Hotel in Maryland Heights. The state-of-the-art indoor/outdoor ice complex will provide a practice, competition and event destination for a wide variety of ice sports and provide new recreational opportunities for the residents of the city and throughout the region. City staff are now authorized to enter into negotiations with the foundation that could lead

to a final agreement. Summit Development Group would provide development services on behalf of the Foundation for the project. Under the preliminary partnership agreement, the city would own the ice sports complex and assist with the project’s financing, including an upfront investment of at least $6.5 million and the issuance of $39 million in bond financing. The foundation would operate the facility and provide more than $24 million in funding and private contributions to the project. The city would purchase the site and lease it to the foundation for 30 years, with options to extend the lease another 25 years. The city and the founda-

tion have applied for a total of $4 million in Missouri economic development tax credits to be used in the financing package. The new location is approximately one mile to the north of a site in Creve Coeur Lake Memorial Park that the foundation originally proposed for the ice sports complex. The new site lies between the Hollywood Casino & Hotel and Hollywood Casino Ampetheater. “We appreciate how Mayor Moeller and the city of Maryland Heights have stepped up to keep our project in the same general area as our previous site,” said Patrick Quinn, Chairman of the Foundation, a local nonprofit dedicated to championing the values inherent in ice sports, including commitment, good sportsmanship, teamwork, personal integrity and respect for others and self. “Their

leadership has created a viable solution to our needs while keeping this new development in St. Louis County.” The new site lies within an area protected by a system of levees, pumping stations and a storm water management system constructed in 1994 by Hollywood Casino and the Howard Bend Levee District. This area has not experienced a flood event since it was opened. The four-sheet, regional recreation center will be home for a variety of ice sports, amateur and college ice hockey uses, youth tournaments and the practice facility for the St. Louis Blues. If the city reaches a final partnership agreement with the foundation, the timeline calls for construction of the project to be completed in late September 2019.

Citizen input needed The city of Creve Coeur updates its five-year capital improvement program (CIP) every year. An important part of this annual process includes gathering ideas for projects from Creve Coeur residents. Capital improvements include projects such as the construction of sidewalks, installation of park amenities, street resurfacing, and improvements to the storm water system. Funding for capital projects comes from the city’s half-cent capital improvement sales tax, grants, and transfers from the general fund. The capital budget for this fiscal year is approximately $3.4 million. The Planning and Zoning 6 | OUR TOWN |DECEMBER 2017

Commission is expected to be presented with a draft CIP in late February/early March 2018 and will make a recommendation to the city council. The city council will then hold work sessions to review the proposed CIP update. A public hearing will be advertised and held by the city council before final adoption. If you would like the city to consider a project, please submit your ideas by Jan. 8, 2018, to sstott@crevecoeurmo.gov or write to: Sharon Stott, Assistant City Administrator, c/o CIP Ideas, City of Creve Coeur, 300 N. New Ballas Rd., Creve Coeur, MO 63141.

NonProfitProfile

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Missouri River Relief practices stewardship of one of the nation’s most vital waterways BY STEVE SCHNARR AND KRISTEN SCHULTE Missouri River Relief is a grassroots, volunteer and equipmentbased 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting people to the Missouri River through hands-on river clean-ups and education program. The organization emerged organically from a group of people in mid-Missouri who recognized the need for engaged stewardship of the Missouri River and the desire of citizens to take part in watershed solutions. Inspired by a video of Chad Pregracke’s “Living Lands and Waters” barge clean-up crew. This group of Missouri River lovers put together a coalition of public, private and citizen stewards that brought the barge up the river, holding the first massive Missouri River clean-up in 2001. Since its first river clean-up, in 2001, MRR has conducted 160 river clean-ups, enlisting the help of more than 24,000 volunteers to clean up over 876 tons of trash from the banks of 1,144 miles of the river from St. Louis to Yankton, South Dakota. MRR has provided educational opportunities to more than 18,500 students and teachers. 2017 is Missouri River Relief’s 17th year, and volunteers got a lot done. The past two years have been uniquely challenging in the Missouri River basin with record-breaking floods followed by record-breaking heat and drought. Many people are rethinking their relationship to the river but one thing remains the same – Missouri River Relief’s mission to bring people to the river with the common goal of improving it. River clean-ups accomplish a few things effectively: they engage people proactively in stewardship of the Missouri River, often put-

ting people on the river for the first time. They also educate people about the problem of solid waste on our streams and rivers and physically bring interested parties together to accomplish something real. Since the beginning, MRR has known that broader education is the key to solving our watershed problems. So we have hosted over 135 education programs that have increased 18,500 students’ understanding of the one of the nation’s largest river systems. Missouri River Relief continues to broaden their connections with other watersheds. Each year, through generous corporate and government donations, we have expanded our equipment fleet. We feel a responsibility to put this equipment base to work for others, bringing boats and crewmembers to 88 other clean-ups throughout the state. We all live downstream and it is crucial that we all work together and communicate on watershed issues. Effort each year is put into training a “core crew” of dedicated volunteers that travel throughout the Missouri River valley putting on events. There are now over 40 crewmembers that can be counted on to work throughout the year, trained in safety briefing, boat driving, equipment operation and all the aspects of a public clean-up event. There are many opportunities to help out, whether you are interested in coming to volunteer to pick up trash on the banks of the Missouri River or join the ranks of our “core crew.” You can expect Missouri River Relief around the St. Charles County community in March 2018. For more information, please visit our website at www.riverrelief.org. DECEMBER 2017 | OUR TOWN | 7

OurThoughts MOORE ON LIFE BY CINDY MOORE

Three kings of disorient

charge of bringing the water and we have plenty of it.” “King Abdul?” “Don’t look at me. I was in charge of dates and figs.” “Well, we can’t show up empty handed. That would be rude and pretty shameful being as we’re splendidly prosperous kings and all. I pronounce that we shall plod on over to Wallymart and pick up some diapers, wipes and a gift card.” “Excuse me Saheeb, but Wallymart has not yet been envisioned.” “Oh, royal snap! What are we going to do? Ah-ha! I have just discovered an extra bag of gold in my saddlebag.” “But Saheeb, one cannot give a child such small objects for they shall surely swallow them or force them up their nose holes.” “Nonsense. The young one can surely jangle the shiny coins for entertainment. Now then, how about you two?” Jalalabab and Abdul smiling: “We have

decided on a wondrous gift. Babies are smelly…always so smelly. We shall bring some potpourri, lots of potpourri for the mother, so that the air will be purified and fragrant to the nostrils. We shall bestow frankincense and myrrh in abundance.” “Excellent. I can’t think of anything better that a newborn in a lowly manger could use. Now follow that star yonder; it looks to be fading.” “Uh, Saheeb. Did anyone think to bring gift bags?”

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.

BIGSTOCK

hen it comes to smarts, even people we consider the brightest don’t often have an elevator that goes all the way to the top. Case in point: the wise men were not all that wise. Remember, when the baby Jesus was born and even after they got a divine invitation to the shower from on high, they still showed up late. Was it because their plodding camels didn’t gain the speeds that today’s SUV’s do? Possibly, but rumor has it they refused to ask directions along the way. Nah, I’m not buying that either. They had a gigantic super nova in the sky leading them – a sort of celestial GPS. There was no way they could get lost and no excuse for showing up so late…unless! Gifts! They had to turn around mid-desert and get baby presents. I imagine it went something like this: King Saheeb: “King Jalalabab, did you bring the gifts?” “Not me. I thought you did. I was in

8 | OUR TOWN | DECEMBER 2017

OurThoughts ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE BY AVALANCHE

BIGSTOCK

Late season tour

Vasoconstriction: The narrowing of blood vessels resulting from muscular contractions in blood vessels, in particular the large arteries and arterioles. The process is the opposite of vasodilation, the widening of blood vessels. The physiological process described above was playing out painfully in my fingers as I hunched over the hot-air hand dryer in a gas station restroom, throbbing hands held under the blast of heated air. I was only 50 miles into a 300-mile daytrip on the bike, far too late in the season for comfortable riding. The first hour was spent in the saddle with temperatures in the mid 30’s, at highway speeds. Patchy fog kept the humidity in the upper reaches, all the better to conduct heat away from my extremities. As the circulation returned to my hands, searing hot needles seemed to be stabbing into the cold flesh. Once the vasoconstriction - which occurs in order to save heat, turns to vasodilation - which opens up those overly-restricted blood vessels, the unlucky owner of the numb digits is subjected to a unique kind of misery. Fortunately, it doesn’t last long, but it tends to

put a stop to whatever else you were doing. As I stumbled back out to the bike, another customer named Matt walked over and asked a couple questions about my bike. Noticing my discomfort, he offered some hand-warmer packets that he didn’t need. Matt refused my offer of compensation for the warmer packets, and wished me well on my late-fall tour of the Midwest. My older model machine didn’t have the electrical capacity for a full-body heated suit, and could only power a heated vest, which had been switched on since I’d started the day’s journey. Heated grips and gloves were not options on this trip. Stuffing the newly acquired packets into my three-layer glove system made the next several hours much more comfortable. I knew before leaving the mountains the previous week that I would need all the insulation I could muster, as it was 26 degrees when started my journey. After a couple of weeks spent in the middle of our country, I had a window of opportunity to make it back to the mountains during a period of dry-road conditions over the passes. Over 800 miles of the 2,600 mile round trip were ridden in temperatures

below 40 degrees, including some rather tense moments below freezing, with heavy fog condensing and frosting on my helmet’s face shield. My clothing system performed reasonably well, though there were some moments of wishing for a heavy-duty pickup with a camper on the back. Once back home and after lots of time in the hot tub, a brief, frightening glance at new pickup truck prices has me looking at my clothing system again, and pondering where I can make more improvements. As it turns out, I already own a larger-sized riding jacket, which will accommodate a thick mountaineering parka underneath. That, combined with a better glove system will enable me to keep riding through the late season.

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.

DECEMBER 2017 | OUR TOWN | 9

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Giving back

MANY CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA OFFER FAMILIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOLUNTEER DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON BY CHARLOTTE BEARD

There are many ways that families can celebrate the holidays together. One of those ways is by serving others as a family. Here are just some suggestions on ways to spend time together while making a difference this season. 10 | OUR TOWN | DECEMBER 2017

BIGSTOCK

SALVATION ARMY HOLIDAY SERVICES The Salvation Army has a variety of ways for volunteers to get involved. Bell Ringers are needed for both the Christmas Kettle locations and Christmas Tree of Lights Campaigns. Volunteers should be 16 years of age or older; parental consent and an accompanying adult is required for those under age 19. Another opportunity is the Christmas Angel Tree/Adopt-A-Family Assistance program. Volunteers are needed to help sort and package donated toys and gifts that will be distributed to local organizations for clients in the St. Louis region and Illinois. Volunteers under age 16 must have adult supervision. In addition, The Salvation Army’s Christmas storefront location will be at 1225 S Florissant Rd. in St. Louis County and open at scheduled times every day starting Dec. 4 – Dec. 22, except Dec. 10. This initiative needs toy area monitors, sorters and stockers, shoppers (who will accompany clients as they pick out toys), registration staff and waiting-room staff. This volunteer opportunity will accommodate any older

adults who require the ability to sit while volunteering. Youth must be ages 14-17 with parental consent and be accompanied by an adult. Volunteers are also needed for the annual Holiday “Cans” Film Festival – canned good drive. A family can help receive and box canned goods as movie goers drop them off while they enter the theatre. The drive will be held Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m..; three different shifts at eight participating Marcus Theatres. This volunteer opportunity is appropriate for ages 10 and

THE URBAN LEAGUE The Urban League has a couple of volunteer opportunities for families. Their food pantries located at 8960 Jennings Station Rd. and 935 N Vandeventer Avenue in St. Louis need volunteers to sort and stock food, help stage the food pantries, prepare the bags that get handed out, and more. Volunteer opportunities are available Monday through Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. The Urban League also runs a clothes closet located at one of their centers and needs volunteers to pro-

older. Parental consent and an accompanying adult is required. For more information on being a bell ringer or to sign up, go to STLSalvationArmy.org and select the banner to sign up to bell ring or contact Judith Smith via email: Judith_Smith@USC.SalvationArmy. org. For sign-up on any of the above volunteer opportunities, you may also contact Charity Powell at Charity_Powell@USC. SalvationArmy.org or by phone at 314646-3085.

vide services not limited to sorting clothes and staging the clothes display area. These opportunities are open to all ages but require parent or adult supervision. To get in volved you may go online to complete an application: www.ulstl.org – click the link “Get Involved” and choose the appropriate option. For other assistance or details you may contact Melanie Chambers at 314-506-5396.

DECEMBER 2017 | OUR TOWN | 11

MISSION ST. LOUIS Mission St. Louis partners annually with The Journey, a multisite church in St. Louis, to host an event called Affordable Christmas. This year it will be held Dec. 2. The event provides an opportunity for families to purchase children gifts at a tenth of the retail price. The Affordable Christmas event needs volunteers at the actual event from 7 a.m. – 12 p.m. Volunteer families can get involved in various ways including but not limited to: assisting with breakfast, childcare assistance, gift wrapping and being a personal shopper. Childcare can be provided for kids of elementary age or younger in the same area of the volunteering adult family member. To get involved and for more details about this opportunity please contact Amanda Carr at 314-534-1188 or by email: Amanda.carr@missionstl.org.

Volunteers help Mission St. Louis provide Christmas gifts for families in need.

NEW NORTH SIDE BAPTIST CHURCH The New North Side Baptist Church is having a family Christmas Basket Giveaway on Dec. 16 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. To find out how a family can get involved to volunteer their services for this initiative, please contact Reverend Burton at 314-3815730.

SANTA’S HELPERS, INC. Santa’s Helpers, Inc., a local nonprofit, will provide presents to over 2,000 children from over 600 families in the area during the holiday season and help an additional 50 families during their Christmas in July event in the summer. Santa’s Helpers has an opportunity for families to get involved by helping in the organization’s warehouse. Volunteer opportunities include but are not limited to wrapping presents. For details visit the website to sign up: http://www.santashelpersstl.com/volunteer/ or call 314-647-1800.

BIGSTOCK 12 | OUR TOWN | DECEMBER 2017

CaringPartners

GETTY IMAGES

Ways to plan for cold and flu season D

eclining temperatures can bring fun, cool-weather activities, but they also mean cold and flu season is lurking. While everyone hopes to stay healthy, it can be difficult to completely avoid viruses and bugs. Dr. Deborah Gilboa, a board-certified family physician and Braun spokesperson, offers some simple suggestions to help your family plan for cold and flu season.

DISPOSE OF EXPIRED MEDICINE

Spend some time checking the medications you already have at home. Review the expiration dates and if any need to be thrown out, research how to properly dispose of them according to local government guidelines.

STOCK UP

Before cold and flu season, make sure to stockpile must-haves like ginger ale, ice pops and recommended cough suppressants. Thinking ahead means you won’t have to rush out when you or a family member comes down with something.

PRACTICE HEALTHY HABITS

Encourage the entire family to maintain healthy habits such as regular hand washing, following a nutritious diet, drinking plenty of water, and coughing or sneezing into a tissue to help minimize the spread of cold and flu viruses.

USE A RELIABLE THERMOMETER

Reading the temperature of a person who feels ill can help provide confidence and peace of mind. Make sure you have a reliable thermometer like the Braun ThermoScan 5 Ear thermometer. “It’s important to carefully monitor potential illnesses to make sure children get and stay well, and taking an accurate temperature reading is a necessary part of this process, which is why I trust my Braun thermometer,” Gilboa said. “As a doctor and a mom to four boys, it gives me the confidence to know that I’m accurately taking my child’s temperature before I take any next steps, like administering medication.”

HAVE IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON HAND

To save time when your child is ill, keep a reference of your child’s allergies, prescribed medications, dosage amounts and current weight handy. Health care providers typically need this information to correctly prescribe and dose most medications. Other items to keep on-hand include school sick day policies, operating manuals for medical devices and a reference of temperature readings that classify a fever.

MANAGE HUMIDITY LEVELS

Control your home’s humidity levels with a humidifier to help prevent the survival of flu viruses on surfaces and in the air.

KEEP CONTACT INFORMATION ACCESSIBLE

Keep a list of important phone numbers and addresses inside your medicine cabinet door or on the fridge so they’re easily accessible to family members, babysitters and caretakers. Include your family doctor or local clinic, schools, pharmacists and anyone else you may need to reach in an emergency. If cold or flu reach your household this winter, it’s always important to consult a doctor if you have any questions regarding the health of your family members. For more information, visit braunthermometers.com. DECEMBER 2017 | OUR TOWN | 13

OurLifestyle

SUMMER MOVIES PHOTO COURTESY LUCASFILM

SECOND HALF

Getting to know ‘The Last Jedi’ director

t’s a given that the film to watch for the holiday season will be “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” the second film of the space saga’s current trilogy. This new entry PHOTO COURTESY A24 also known as “Episode VIII” - is quite possibly the most intriguing film of the entire franchise. This is simply because of the chosen writer and director of the new installment, Rian Johnson. Unless you’re a film buff, Johnson is not quite a household name like J.J. Abrams (the director of the last installment, “The Force Awakens”) or even George Lucas himself... at least not yet. (Just give him two more weeks and see what happens). There’s no doubt, to many, that Johnson helming this piece of the franchise is a bit odd, but it’s, surely, for all the right reasons. His resume, while not huge, is somewhat diverse from small scale (like his first full-length film “Brick”) to larger scale (the time-hopping thriller “Looper”) and they’re as fascinating as they come – usually exceeding expectations. If there’s a director out there that makes everything count to its greatest possible effect, Rian Johnson may be that director. “Fly” – (The 10th episode of the third season of “Breaking Bad”) When Johnson landed his first directing gig for “Breaking Bad,” he was given the 14 | OUR TOWN | DECEMBER 2017

opportunity to direct one of the strangest, if not the most simple, episodes of the series called “Fly.” The plot involves a fly that has flown into the secret underground lab run by Walter White (Bryan Cranston) and Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul). Walter refuses to even use the lab at all – where they illegally cook crystal meth - unless that fly is killed to prevent any ‘contamination.’ As ridiculous as this plot seems, the episode is here just to show us how extremely obsessive Walter’s behavior can be. You should see how far they’re willing to go just to make sure this bug is dead – and some of the results are borderline slapstick. Whatever your opinion of this episode is, there’s no doubt that Johnson really made this episode count for all its worth. As a result he was able to return to direct two more episodes for the series, including “Fifty-One” for which he won the DGA Award for directing and “Ozymandias” arguably the series’ greatest – and most shocking - episode of them all. “Looper” If there was anything that earned Johnson the ticket to direct “Star Wars” it must be “Looper.” Besides the fact that this film is a sci-fi thriller – with a lot brains I might add – it’s also almost nothing like a Star Wars film. This brings back to why John-

son is such an interesting choice to helm “The Last Jedi.” He penned the script himself about a futuristic world where the invention of time-travel immediately became illegal. So when a futuristic mob wants to kill somebody they send their targets back into the past (in this case, back to 2074) where a waiting hitman, Joe, (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is hired to kill the target. One day, when the target turns out to be an older version of himself (Bruce Willis) that’s when this thriller kicks into high gear as a first rate thriller. Rian Johnson’s sure handed direction – including his handling of some impressive visual effects – won him high marks. Knowing Johnson has a knack for superb character development in his stories – you can expect that Star Wars: The Last Jedi will be one of the most uniquely satisfying – or even the best – of installments for the beloved sci-fi franchise.

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.

OurThoughts

2018 NISSAN PATHFINDER COMES LOADED WITH OPTIONS For nearly 60 years, the Nissan Pathfinder nameplate has been sold here stateside. It tends to compete with the likes of the Kia Sorento, Toyota Highlander and the Honda Pilot. The 2018 model comes with numerous new features and technologies as it’s offered in four well-equipped versions coupled with all models having three-row seating and a 3.5-liter powerplant as standard. This 284-horsepower engine is linked with their Xtronic contentiously variable automatic transmission. Their entry level “S” model comes with no additional cost features. Pathfinder “SV” models add a broad range of features. The abbreviated list includes Nissan’s Intelligent Key system, eight-way power “fully adjustable” driver’s seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear shift lever, Rear Sonar, fog lights, and their Remote Engine Start enhancement. The “SL” models include NissanConnect with Navigation Services powered by SiriusXM, leather-appointed heated first and second row seats, four-way power front passenger’s seat and other new features. Their flagship top-end “Platinum” models offer unique 20-inch machined aluminum-alloy wheels, 235/55R20 all-season tires, brightly lit LED headlights, cooled front seats, woodgrain interior trim pieces, Dual Panorama Moonroof, their Trailer Tow Package and other new factory included features. Their V-6 engine uses direct high pressure fuel injection for enhanced performance and improved fuel economy. Pathfinder EPA fuel numbers come out to be 20-mpg city and 27-mpg highway with the 2WD models. 19-mpg city, 26-mpg highway for 4WD versions. The numbers fluctuate slightly on the Platinum series.

The automatic braking system uses radar technology to monitor a vehicle’s proximity to the vehicle ahead, giving the driver audible and visual display warnings to help reduce the vehicle’s speed if a potential fron-

tal collision is detected. If the driver fails to respond, the system can apply the brakes, helping to avoid a collision or reduce the speed of an impact if it is unavoidable. The vehicle’s exterior incorporates a number of signature design elements such as the distinctive front grille and boomerang-shaped headlights with LED daytime running lights. Eight exterior colors are offered: Magnetic Black, Brilliant Silver, Gun Metallic, Pearl White, Glacier White, Caspian Blue and new Scarlet Ember and Midnight Pine. Inside, an array of new-generation information technology include their standard Advanced Drive-AssistTM Display system. It’s located in the center of the instrument display and features a range of infotainment and driver assistance displays. Pathfinder’s three-row/seven-passenger interior combines comfortable seating with plenty of cargo carrying capabilities. A wide range of seating and cargo carrying combinations are available with the second and third row seating design. Pathfinder’s fourwheel independent suspension also contributes to the enhanced driving dynamics, offering improved body control and a more refined quiet ride. MSRP pricing ranges from $30,790, and tops out at $44,010, excluding additional options plus shipping and destination charges of $975. The 2018 Nissan Pathfinder SUV is manufactured at their assembly plant located in Smyrna, Tennessee.

David Finkelstein is a Master/Skill Automotive Service Technician, and a shop owner. He’s also invented garage service tools for mechanics and has served on both National and local Automotive Trade Industry Boards. He pioneered “Car Talk Radio” starting out with KMOX/CBS Radio and hosted “Auto Talk” on KFTK/FOX News Radio for 15-years. David tests and evaluates new vehicles weekly and does some consulting with various auto manufacturers.

DECEMBER 2017 | OUR TOWN | 15

OurLifestyle

Cranberry Apple Chutney Prep time: 15 minutes | Total time: 45 minutes Yield: 2 cups

I ngredients: 1 bag (12 ounces) fresh or frozen cranberries 1/4 cup water 2 large apples, cored and chopped 1 1/2 cups sugar 2/3 cup finely chopped onion 2/3 cup golden raisins 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger 1 teaspoon minced garlic 1 teaspoon salt 3/4 teaspoon ground allspice 1/4 teaspoon ground Saigon cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

2/3 cup dark corn syrup 1/3 cup cider vinegar 2/3 cup chopped pecans Directions: In large saucepan, combine cranberries, water, apples, sugar, onion, raisins, ginger, garlic, salt, allspice, cinnamon and cloves. Bring to boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat; cover, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes. Add corn syrup, vinegar and pecans. Cook uncovered 15 minutes, stirring frequently. Serve with roast turkey, pork roast or baked ham.

Spice Up the Season

Flavorful holiday dishes for every course

Butternut Squash Soup with Thyme Butter Prep time: 35 minutes Total time: 1 hour, 30 minutes Yield: 6-8 servings

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 3 pounds (about 7 cups) butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces 2 medium cooking apples, peeled, cored and coarsely chopped 2 small onions, coarsely chopped 2 cans (14 1/2 ounces each) chicken broth, divided 1/2 cup water Thyme Butter: 1/4 cup butter, softened 1/2 teaspoon thyme 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder Directions: Heat oven to 425 F. In large bowl, combine oil, ginger and cayenne pepper. Add squash, apples and onions;

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toss to coat. Transfer to 15-by10-inch baking pan. Roast in single layer 35-45 minutes, or until tender. Remove from oven. Working in batches, combine squash mixture and one can chicken broth in blender or food processor; blend until smooth. Transfer pureed mixture to large saucepan. Stir in remaining chicken broth and water. Bring soup to boil; reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 10 minutes. To make thyme butter: Combine butter, thyme and garlic powder until well blended. Spoon onto wax paper and roll into 3-inch log; wrap tightly and refrigerate until firm. To serve, cut butter into thin slices. Ladle hot soup into individual bowls; top each with slice of butter. Tip: Puree can be made in advance, covered and refrigerated up to 2 days.

Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes Prep time: 15 minutes | Total time: 1 hour, 50 minutes Yield: 18 mini cheesecakes

Traditional Turkey Rub Prep time: 5 minutes Yield: rub for 1 turkey (about 15 pounds)

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

hether this holiday marks your culinary debut or you’re a seasoned chef looking for a fresh take on seasonal favorites, you can take some notes from the pros. Every good chef has an arsenal of tricks and techniques to create amazing dishes every time, and the perfect blend of spices is one of those winning secrets. In a properly seasoned dish, the spice accents the natural flavors without overpowering them. That’s why it’s a good idea to build your menu around spices and herbs of the highest quality, such as Spice Islands, which crafts and packages spices and herbs from around the world to deliver the most authentic and intense flavor possible. From the appetizers to the main dish to dessert, flavorful seasonings can make a good recipe great. Find more ideas for spicing up your holiday menu at SpiceIslands.com.

OurLifestyle

Ingredients: 2 teaspoons crushed rosemary 1 teaspoon thyme 1 teaspoon onion powder 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/8 teaspoon ground Saigon cinnamon sea salt ground black pepper pure olive oil (optional)

1 turkey Directions: In small bowl, combine rosemary, thyme, onion powder, garlic powder and cinnamon. Generously add salt and pepper. Lightly coat turkey with oil, if desired. Rub all surfaces of turkey with seasoning

Ingredients: 18 paper baking cups (2 1/2 inch diameter) 18 gingersnap cookies 12 ounces cream cheese, softened 3/4 cup sugar 1 tablespoon corn starch 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 2 eggs 1 cup canned pumpkin 1/3 cup light corn syrup Directions: Heat oven to 325 F. Line muffin tin with paper baking cups. Place 1 cookie in each cup. With electric mixer, beat cream cheese, sugar, corn starch and pumpkin pie spice. Add eggs and mix well. Add pumpkin and corn syrup; beat 1 minute. Pour filling into liners, dividing evenly. Bake 30-35 minutes until just set. Chill 1 hour.

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InDepth

Service A World War II veteran looks back at his time on Iwo Jima BY BRETT AUTEN Once you get Deward Terry talking, he can take you back to that vivid day in history. The gray clouds at dawn, the wet sand and fear of the unknown hanging in the air on that drab day as United States troops by the thousands took the beach of Iwo Jima. Terry, 92 and an O’Fallon resident, grew up in the bootheel of Missouri in the tiny town of Risco. He finished high school and enrolled first in Poplar Bluff Business College before moving on to Southeast Missouri State University. Terry was drafted and went to St. Louis for a physical. “A good friend built the Marines up, and he was going in too,” Terry said. “That sounded good to me.” After boot camp at San Diego’s Camp Pendleton, where he focused and excelled at rifle training, Terry and his fellow members of the 5th Marine Division voyaged to Hawaii for additional training. The Hawaiian landscaped made for the perfect training ground for their destination, Japan. “After a couple of weeks, we boarded 18 | OUR TOWN | DECEMBER 2017

a ship in Honolulu, and all we knew was that we were going to ‘Island X,’” Terry said. On Feb. 19, 1945, as dawn broke over Iwo Jima, 10,000 yards offshore were the troop-carrying ships of the US armada that boasted 50,000 Marines. Meanwhile, the Japanese defenders of the island were dug into bunkers deep within the volcanic rocks. “The infantry landed at 9 a.m. and I landed at 9:15 a.m.,” Terry said. “My job when we landed was to go and locate the battery position. I pretty much spent the entire first day at the base of a volcano. The Japanese were looking down on us, and they had every kind of weapon imaginable. It was the worst day I had. It wasn’t a fun place.” Finally, on Feb. 23, 1945, the second of two U.S. flag-raisings on the site that day occurred atop Mount Suribachi. The image has become historic. “After the fourth day, they raised the flag, and it was two-three hundred yards, and we saw it go up and couldn’t tell what it was,” Terry said. “An officer had some binoculars, and he was able to determine that it was an American flag. It was a great feeling.” Soon after, Terry and his fellow soldiers were sent back to Hawaii for more training. Before the final stage of World War II, the United States President Harry Truman ordered the dropping of nuclear weapons on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on Aug. 6 and 9, 1945 and soon after Terry returned to Japan, this time to Nagasaki. “We were happy with Harry Truman,”

PHOTOS BY RAY ROCKWELL

Remembered

Deward Terry and his wife Pat at their home in O’Fallon.

Terry said. “We went into Nagasaki with open trucks and drove right through the area. It was just flattened. Every once in a while you would see a little building, but there was nothing left there.” Even though the war was over, Terry and his team were always cautious while there. “I never could feel comfortable with the Japanese because we were afraid of what they would do to us,” he said. “But we had very little problems with them.” A day before discharge, Terry made corporal. Once he returned to Missouri, he worked briefly for the Bonne Terre Farming and Cattle Company before becoming a purchasing agent for St. Joe Minerals Corporation. Terry and his wife

Pat married in 1950; they had two children along with one grandchild and one great-grandchild. After retirement, he and Pat moved to O’Fallon to be closer to their daughter. Like most men of his generation, for decades after the war he didn’t wear his feelings on his sleeve and what he saw and what he went through on that island was never much of a talking point. But time eased his reticence, and he eventually started to open up. “He’s talked more about it these last few years than he ever did before,” Pat said. In thirty-six days of fighting on the island, nearly 7,000 U.S. Marines died, and another 20,000 were wounded. Twenty-seven Medals of Honor (our country’s highest military award for bravery) were awarded for action on Iwo Jima— more than any other battle in U.S. history. “I feel fortunate that I didn’t have to kill anyone,” Terry said. “I did my duty and did what I was supposed to do.”

Memorabilia from Deward Terry’s time in WWII. DECEMBER 2017 | OUR TOWN | 19

DECEMBER 2

Holiday at Westport

Cards can be used in advance by calling 314-6158328. Cost is $10 for adults in advance, $12 at the gate, $5 per child (4-12) ages three-and-under are free.

Get ready for a morning of holiday fun at Westport Plaza. This event will take place on the second floor of the indoor mall. Come meet Santa and get into the holiday spirit with a variety of entertainment and activities. Free for all. Questions? Call 314-7382204.

First Day of Hanukkah

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

Wright Brothers Day

Step Through the Past

First Day of Winter

Come experience the holidays of the past at Faust Park from 6 - 9 p.m. Beginning with the 1860s, during the American Civil War and working your way up to the 1960s with the war in Southeast Asia, you can explore the evolution of the season. From handmade ornaments and boughs of greenery to silver tin trees and plastic garland; the beauty of the season has not diminished. Explore the customs of holidays of the past on this self-guided stroll through the festively adorned rooms with historically dressed docents in attendance. Cash only at the gate, Credit

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

New Year’s Eve