LET YOUR BUSINESS MEET OUR READERS
READER SURVEY RESULTS
of our readers purchased from our advertisers in the past 90 days.
For advertising
636-379-1775
www.MYCNEWS.com www.mycnews.com
Follow us on
info@mycnews.com
www.treesbywoody.net
2 | OUR TOWN | APRIL 2022
Our Town Volume 13 | Number 4 APRIL 2022 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
N THIS SSUE
Around Town
The nonprofit It’s Your Birthday provides birthday parties and gifts for young people in homeless shelters and more.
Feature PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF Mathew DeKinder PUBLISHER EMERITUS/ GENERAL MANAGER Bob Huneke PRODUCTION Becky Brockmann Melissa Nordmann CONTRIBUTORS Avalanche, David Finkelstein, Cindy Moore STAFF WRITERS Brett Auten Wendy Todd
For advertising information, please contact us at:
For the love of trees The city of Creve Coeur has been celebrating Arbor Day since 1996 with activities for tree-lovers of all ages By Wendy Todd
Our Thoughts Moore on Life author Cindy Moore tries to get her husband exited about word games while Avalanche reflects on the many hazards of driving a truck in the mountains.
Lifestyle The 2022 Subaru WRX delivers improved performance and a higher level of additional safety in Automobile Alley. Taking a look at real-life and fictional blended families in Entertainment. Deliciously healthy dishes from sweet to savory in For the Love of Food.
4
10 12 14
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
Copyright 2019 Huneke Publications, Inc. No part of the publication may be reproduced in any form without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
In Depth SEW Hope Community Sewing Room is a new center for the public to come together to learn, teach and share the art of sewing.
Events Calendar
Staff Writer –Wendy Todd Cover Photo – Bigstock
18 20
AroundTown
Free ride
Have good news to share? Get your event or good news published in:
email your information in calendar and article formats to editor@mycnews.com.
Citizens For Modern Transit reminds commuters about its Try & Ride program as gas prices rise As prices at the pump continue to rise, Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT) is encouraging area residents to consider utilizing public transit. The organization has a free Try & Ride program that makes it easy for those who are new to MetroLink or MetroBus to familiarize themselves with the region’s integrated system to get them where they need to go. “Public transit is a safe, convenient and cost-effective transportation option, but many shy away from it because of the unknowns – including which route or line to take, how to purchase tickets and more,” commented Kimberly Cella, executive director of Citizens for Modern Transit. “The Try & Ride program addresses these concerns head-on. It has helped more than 6,000 individuals familiarize themselves with the system and has been credited with turning many first-time transit users into regular transit commuters.” The Try & Ride program is open to any Missouri or Illinois residents who don’t already utilize the St. Louis region’s public
transportation system for their workday commutes. Upon registering, each program participant receives personalized transit routes, a month of complimentary tickets, a journal to jot down reminders and a list of tips for using transit. The program requires riders to commit to utilizing the bus or train for one additional month at their own expense for a total of two months. Registration also automatically enrolls individuals in the Guaranteed Ride Home program, which provides subsidized access, a cab ride, rental car to ride-hailing services like Lyft in the case of an emergency or unexpected schedule change at work. “A monthly transit pass is $78 and provides unlimited rides on the MetroLink and MetroBus,” added Cella. “This is an affordable means for traveling, especially considering gas is $4 a gallon.” To learn more about CMT’s Try & Ride Program or to register, visit www.cmt-stl. org.
Statewide honor Parkway’s Athletic and Activities Director Mike Roth has been named the Missouri Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (MIAAA) Athletic Director of the year. Roth has served Parkway for over 30 years and has been Parkway’s director of activities and athletics since 2014. Prior to that, he was the Parkway Central High athletic director for five years. Roth will be recognized for this award at the MIAAA Conference in early April.
4 | OUR TOWN | APRIL 2022
PHOTO COURTEST Y PARKWAY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Parkway athletic director named state athletic director of the year
AroundTown
Top toes Registration now open Citizens For Modern Transit’s Ten Toe Express Temps are rising, days are getting longer, people are getting back out and about – and Citizens for Modern Transit (CMT) and AARP in St. Louis announced registration is now open for the CMT Ten Toe Express. This award-winning program helps older adults and other interested individuals lead healthier lives by linking activity, sociability and exercise with the use of MetroLink and MetroBus. The spring session is 12 weeks long, running from April 6 through the end of June and costs $10 to participate. Registration can be completed at www.cmt-stl.org or at one of the many in-person registrations events being held community wide. The Ten Toe Express program features weekly guided Ten Toe Express Walking Tours, allowing walkers to be part of a group as they become familiar with the transit system and how to utilize it to get to attractions regionwide. These walks, led by trained, volunteer walk leaders, range in length from 0.3 to five miles, depending on the group and destination. Each starts from either the Brentwood I-64, Forest Park-DeBaliviere, Belleville, Rock Road, North Hanley or Shrewsbury-Lansdowne 44 Transit Centers. They then take the MetroLink or MetroBus to Forest Park, downtown St. Louis, the Delmar Loop, downtown Belleville and other areas (depending on the week) where they explore local attractions and stop for lunch or a snack before heading back. Special walks are scheduled periodically throughout the season. Walking maps with instructions on how to utilize transit to get to many of the region’s cultural and entertainment hot spots are available online to assist those who want to explore areas on their own. First-time registrants receive a walking kit containing a pedometer, maps, transit tickets and a safety tips flyer in a Ten Toe tote bag. Registration can be complete online at www.cmt-stl.org. Inperson registration events are scheduled for the following dates, times and locations: • March 22 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the MetroStore (801 Pine Street, St. Louis 63101) • March 29 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Belleville Transit Center (800 Scheel Street, Belleville, Illinois 62221) “Ten Toe Express has been a transformational experience for a majority of the 8,000 older adults who have participated in the program since its inception in 2007,” commented Kimberly Cella, executive director of Citizens for Modern Transit. “It gets people moving, creates friendships and helps them maintain their independence and mobility. While hundreds of new people join every year, there are also hundreds of people who have participated for more than a decade – and that speaks to the impact of this programming.” Any returning Ten Toe walker who gets a friend, family member or colleague to participate in the upcoming spring session will receive a special gift for themselves and the new registrant. To learn more about the Ten Toe Express® program, visit www. cmt-stl.org or call 314-231-7272. APRIL 2022 | OUR TOWN | 5
AroundTown
The long run Two St. Louis residents took on 100-mile journey to state capitol On Feb. 27, St. Louis residents Jon Franko and Matthew Porter began a 100-mile run from St. Charles to Jefferson City as part of an event they created called the “Show Me 100.” These friends came up with the idea to raise funds and awareness for multiple sclerosis because they both live with MS and understand the challenges this disease presents. They started their run at 5 a.m. on Feb. 27 and crossed the finish line in Jefferson City approximately 28 hours later. During their journey along the Katie Trail, they were joined by several guest runners and supported by numerous volunteers. On March 1, they met with state representatives to advocate on behalf of all Missourians affected by MS including themselves. In particular, they advocated against Step Therapy, which is a process where insurance companies require an individual to try a medication and fail on it before being given approval to use the medication their doctor originally prescribed. To date they have raised nearly $117,000.
“We chose to do this together because there is not yet a cure for multiple sclerosis. It’s important to us that we raise awareness so everyone, especially our state legislators, understand what it’s like to live with this disease,” said Porter. “And since we still have the ability to run, why not take on this challenge to show how committed we are to fight for everyone affected by MS.” Multiple sclerosis is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system. There is currently no cure for MS. Symptoms vary from person to person and range from numbness and tingling to mobility challenges, blindness and paralysis. An estimated one million people live with MS in the United States. Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, and it affects three times more women than men. To learn more about the Show ME 100 visit mssociety.donordrive.com. To learn more about MS visit nationalmssociety.org or call 800-344-4867.
Honoring the earth Saint Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective to hold Earth Day event Saint Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective presents “Peace in the Prairie” at the World’s Fair Pavilion in Forest Park on Earth Day, April 22 from 10 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. The event which is free and open to the public will include vendors, presentations, performances and an original film. Peace in the Prairie is an original multimedia presentation exploring the concepts of peace and violence, juxtaposing urban life as experienced by black youth living in the city of St. Louis, Missouri with the state’s unique endangered prairie lands. Over the past five years, black writers, storytellers, and musicians in the Story Stitchers Collective have explored and recorded endangered Missouri native prairie environments to create a multimedia presentation. Their work addresses the community’s need for understanding the intersections between the violence of urban life black youth experience with the healing process of seeking peace and a greater understanding of nature. Artists have explored and recorded native prairie landscapes via trips to Missouri prairie reserves including Shaw Nature Reserve of the Missouri Botanical Garden in Gray Summit, with the Missouri Prairie Foundation at Linden’s Prairie in Mt. Vernon, Missouri, and Prairie Star Restoration Farm in Osage County, Prairie State Park in Mindenmines, Missouri in Barton County near Joplin, and Dunn Ranch Prairie of The Nature Conservancy in Hatfield, Missouri. “Peace in the Prairie” gives voice to black youth suffering from the effects of gun violence, bridging rural and urban cultures while bringing exposure and greater awareness to the intrinsic natural beauty of the region, historically and currently, to new audiences. This lively presentation combines original mu6 | OUR TOWN | APRIL 2022
sic, discussion, storytelling, and videography that reflects on the loss and resilience of the human experience and rejuvenation of the prairie habitat. The event will present Saint Louis Story Stitchers as well as host vendors from local businesses and nonprofit organizations who will bring information and resources about prairies and native plants, accessing and enjoying the outdoors, healing from trauma, and gun violence prevention. There will also be performances that are in conversation with these subjects. The event is free for all ages and open to the public. “Peace in the Prairie” is presented with support from Missouri Arts Council, a state agency, which receives support from the state of Missouri. Story Stitchers is supported by The Lewis Prize for Music’s 2021 Accelerator Award. The mission of The Lewis Prize is to partner with leaders who create positive change by investing in young people through music. Additional support for Saint Louis Story Stitchers is provided by the Spirit of St. Louis Women’s Fund, City of St. Louis Youth at Risk Crime Prevention grant of 2021, March For Our Lives, and Kranzberg Arts Foundation. For picnic boxed meals by Sugarfire (No food for sale at the event. Meals may be pre-ordered by April 13 and picked up at the event at 1 p.m. for lunch or 7 p.m. for dinner) visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/peace-in-the-prairie-tickets-218221124257 For more information visit https://storystitchers.org/peace-inthe-prairie/.
AroundTown
Flying high Circus Harmony’s positive impact as a St. Louis institution is celebrated in a photo exhibit at the Lambert Gallery in St. Louis Lambert International Airport BY WENDY TODD If you’ve ever had dreams of flying the trapeze with greatest of ease there’s a place where those dreams can come true. Circus Harmony is a nonprofit organization and only location in St. Louis that provides circus training. The inclusive school is an arts education and youth development organization that uses circus arts to motivate social change. A photo exhibit featuring the performers will be at the Lambert Gallery in the St. Louis Lambert International Airport beginning March 15. Circus Harmony was started in 2007 by Jessica Hentoff after her first circus troupe, the St. Louis Arches, which was a community outreach program for Circus Flora, came to an end due to lack of funding. Hentoff wanted to continue the mission. “By inspiring individuals and connecting communities with our circus education and entertainment programs we have a positive impact on the St. Louis area and beyond,” said Hentoff. Themes of social change are woven into the curriculum by teaching community and cooperation. Students from all backgrounds are taught to work with and support each other as they learn circus skills and tricks. Personal development is also a part of the experience as students learn valuable life skills such as perseverance, focus and teamwork. “Through circus arts we help every stu-
dent find their strengths, realize their creativity, and learn to accept and encourage themselves and others to be the best they can be both in and out of the circus ring,” says Hentoff. “Our alumni will be the ones to ensure a more inclusive world by finding a place for everyone, connecting people from different communities, and helping to find creative solutions to real world issues.” Prior to the pandemic Circus Harmony, in addition to providing training, put on over 700 shows a year with over 1,200 children. The organization has also performed globally in regions such as Puerto Rico and Germany. Being an arts education program, it seemed fitting to feature its players in an artistic event such as the photography exhibit, “Watch Out for Flying Children”, at the Lambert Airport gallery. “The point of this exhibit opportunity from Via Partnership and Regional Arts Commission is to present the best of St. Louis arts and culture,” Hentoff says. “We were honored to be chosen. We do think our students are St. Louis’ bounciest ambassadors. We not only change the perception our students have of themselves regarding their own capabilities, but we also change the perception of the people who watch them, or will see this exhibit, about what young people are capable of accomplishing.” Though there is a strong youth component Circus Harmony offers classes from beginner to advanced levels in a wide assortment of circus arts for all ages. “Currently, our students range in age
A photo exhibit featuring the performers of Circus Harmony will be at the Lambert Gallery in the St. Louis Lambert International Airport beginning March 15.
from 3-92 years old,” says Hentoff. Classes are year-round at City Museum as well as other off-site locations throughout St. Louis. Performances are at the City Museum every week and additional locations around the St. Louis Metropolitan areas. The group can also be seen performing with Circus Flora every year. The photo exhibit at the Lambert Gallery will be available through Sept. 15.
APRIL 2022 | OUR TOWN | 7
AroundTown
Top teacher
Hot dogs
Parkway School District selects teachers of the year
Labrador retriever remains number one breed in St. Louis
Kara Schulte, science teacher at North High, was selected as the Parkway School District High School Teacher of the Year.
The Parkway School District selected its 2022 elementary, middle, high school and the district Teachers of the Year. Paulo Ribeiro, physical education teacher at Southwest Middle, was selected as the District Teacher of the Year, as well as the district’s Middle School Teacher of the Year. Kate Jones, physical education teacher at Hanna Woods, is the Elementary Teacher of the Year and Kara Schulte, science teacher at North High, is the High School Teacher of the Year. All the Teachers of the Year will be recognized at the March 9 Board of Education meeting and on April 25 at Parkway’s Appreciation Evening event. The elementary, middle, high school and district teachers of the year are selected by a committee comprised of former Parkway district-level teachers of the year. The Teacher of the Year program is sponsored by the Parkway Alumni Association and awards each teacher with a crystal apple and cash stipend.
8 | OUR TOWN | APRIL 2022
Once again, the Labrador retriever took St. Louis’s top spot in the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) 2021 ranking of the most popular AKC-recognized dog breeds in the U.S. The lab was also recognized as the No. 1 pup in Seattle and St. Louis. For over 10 years, the Labrador Retriever has been St. Louis’s most popular. Golden retrievers and German shepherd dogs have also been in the top five historically for this city. “Labs are well-loved throughout the nation,” said AKC Executive Secretary Gina DiNardo. “St. Louis is no exception – there’s something about Labs has great appeal for many different lifestyles.” St. Louis’s top 5 breeds for 2021: 1. Labrador Retriever 2. Golden Retriever 3. French Bulldog 4. German Shepherd Dog 5. Bulldog * Registration data pulled from St. Louis, MO zip codes as specified by U.S. Postal Service The AKC also announced its nationwide rankings today at a virtual press conference at the AKC Museum of the Dog in NYC. No one can keep the Lab down! The ever-popular labrador retriever is the nation’s favorite dog for the 31st consecutive year. While the loveable lab remains a constant at the top of the charts, the poodle has pawed its way back into the top five after 24 years, bumping the perennial favorite bulldog out for the first time in almost a decade. The bulldog has been a fixture among the top five most popular breeds since 2012.
AroundTown
Making birthdays
happy
The Florissant-based nonprofit It’s Your Birthday provides birthday parties and gifts for young people in homeless shelters
It’s Your Birthday, an organization that provides birthday parties and gifts for young people in shelters was started in 2014.
BY WENDY TODD Birthdays can be special for a child and serve as some of the best lifelong memories. But many children living in shelters aren’t able to have those momentous occasions. The nonprofit, It’s Your Birthday, located in Florissant was formed to provide a solution. It’s Your Birthday, an organization that provides birthday parties and gifts for young people in shelters was started in 2014 by founder and executive director, Rolanda Finch. Finch used to volunteer in a homeless shelter and noticed how many children went without celebrating their birthdays, something other children could count on every year. She decided to create an organization that would give children in shelters their special day. “Since I could not do anything to get them out of the shelter,” Finch says, “I could ensure they had a better birthday memory while they experience such a difficult time in their young lives.”
And now, in addition to new team members, It’s Your Birthday has acquired its inaugural board of directors. “Having new board members is critical to the planned growth of It’s Your Birthday,” says Finch. The overall responsibility of the board is to aid in the organization’s growth and visibility. “Our plan is to have the board assist us in increasing our brand awareness and through additional partnerships, grants and contributions,” Finch says. “And to increase yearly donations by 25% to allow us to provide more birthday memories to children in shelter.” Newly appointed board members joined the organization because they recognized the importance of its objective. “After working with Rolanda and seeing her passion, I was hooked,” says board president, Thad James. “Bringing birthday joy and happiness to the families is amazing and infectious. As a member of the board of directors, I hope to spread the passion and solidify the mission of It’s Your Birthday.
With proper leadership and management, the organization can grow to have solid financial backing, extend to more shelters and provide hundreds of smiles to countless children. It is a privilege to help carry It’s Your Birthday to new levels so that more kids can celebrate more birthdays.” Other members of the board include Attallah Sinclair, a principal consultant at Slalom, Arnita Jones a district manager at Safelite AutoGlass, Rosalina Syahriar a career and life coach at RSyahriar Integrated Coaching and Tamara Swanson a parent educator at Queen of Peace. Additional newly appointed team members are Jeff Lefton who is vice president of digital marketing at Psychological Associates who will serve as the organization’s treasurer and Vickie Henson, chief collaboration officer at 2nd Thought Communication who will serve as the secretary. Since its launch, with the help of volunteers and generous community donations, It’s Your Birthday has helped over 1,500 youth celebrate and create birthday memories. APRIL 2022 | OUR TOWN | 9
FOR THE LOVE of trees BY WENDY TODD
The city of Creve Coeur has been celebrating Arbor Day since 1996 with activities for tree-lovers of all ages
Ever wonder why we celebrate Arbor Day? The holiday marked for planting trees began with a proposal from Nebraska Territory Secretary and former newspaper editor, J. Sterling Morton on Jan. 4, 1872. It was an effort to address the lack of trees in the region which were needed to provide windbreaks to keep soil in place, building material, fuel and shade. The tree planting event was to take place April 10 of that year and Nebraska residents were enticed to participate with prizes for the most “properly planted” trees. Over one million trees were planted. 10 | OUR TOWN | APRIL 2022
Two years later Nebraska’s Governor, Robert W. Furnas, publicly recognized Arbor Day in the state to be observed on April 10. In 1885 Arbor Day was made an official state holiday to be celebrated on April 22. In 1920 over 45 states adopted it as a national holiday. The city of Creve Coeur has been celebrating Arbor Day since April 20, 1996, and this year’s celebration, hosted by the Horticulture, Ecology and Beautification Committee will be another fun, family-friendly event. Historically, the celebration is enjoyed by over 100 attendees. And like past pre-pandemic years, this year’s in-person occasion will offer a variety of community activities. “This year’s celebration will have artwork on display in the Tappmeyer House, face painting, a seedling giveaway, educational displays, a tree planting demonstration and an activity ‘passport’ where kids can earn stickers for every activity they complete,” says Janet Rueschhoff, who works in administration for the city of Creve Coeur. The art contest will feature works by entrants who range from kindergarten age to seniors 65 and over. This year’s contest theme is “Nature Around Us” and features virtually any twodimensional medium. Winners’ work will be displayed in the Creve Coeur Government Center for one month.
Arbor Day Art Contest & Celebration Sunday, April 24, 2022 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Millennium Park, 2 Barnes West Drive, Creve Coeur, MO 63141 The Arbor Day celebration is an important recreational and educational event that provides the community an opportunity to commune and learn about the value of trees and their critical function in our ecosystem. “As a Tree City for the past 25 years,” Rueschhoff says. “The city of Creve Coeur and the Creve Coeur Horticulture, Ecology and Beautification Committee aim to educate the community about the many benefits trees provide.”
PHOTOS COURTESY CITY OF CREVE COEUR
The city of Creve Coeur has been celebrating Arbor Day since 1996 with activities for treelovers of all ages.
FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL 2022 | OUR TOWN | 11
OurThoughts
GA ME ON ! MOORE ON LIFE BY CINDY MOORE
I
’m not much of a sports fan whereas my husband is, but then he’s not much for word games and I am. I can’t get him to play games such as Scrabble or Bananagrams because they require a diverse vocabulary and if he can’t find touchdown or playoff in the letter choices then game over. But I like to watch his sports competitions because I’m always finding new words. The announcer says, “Touchback!” “Oh, oh…I know that word,” I proudly say. “That happened when we took the kids on vacation in the car. Remember, one elbowed the other and then they both started crying so I started yelling to find out who touched who first. Of course, the one who was touched first had to “touch back” second to get even and…” My husband has put the game on pause and is staring at me blankly like I’ve misplaced my marbles. “I am going to turn this game back on and by the time I do, I hope there is complete silence so I can enjoy my man time,” he grumbles. This month he has turned into a March Madness madman. At the same time, I have become hooked on a new game called Wordle. I am officially a Wordle nerdle. I need a fiveletter word to start out the game. Preferably, I like it to have two vowels and three consonants. I’m sure my husband will like this one. I wander down into his noisy sports lair.
12 | OUR TOWN | FEBRUARY APRIL 20222022
“Hey Sweetie, help me come up with a good five letter word.” “Foul!” he shouts. “Nope, too short.” “Assist, assist!” “Sorry, that has a double S.” Not much of a speller, but I knew I’d get him interested, I think to myself. “Come on. Defense!” “Too long and way too many E’s.” “Hey, couldn’t you see that man was open?! You #&%@!” “Hey! I said five, not four-letter words. But you’re getting close. Isn’t this fun?” “Here it comes. Oh ya!” “I knew you’d come up with one,” I say with my pencil ready. “It’s coming…!” “Tell me! What have you got?!” “SCORE!!” Two vowels, three consonants! We both stand and cheer. It’s so nice to share in the same interests!
Cindy Moore is the mother of three superlative kids, servant of two selfindulgent 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.
OurThoughts ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE BY AVALANCHE
Liquid cargo It has continued to snow regularly here this winter, with big storms separated by some warm sunny days. Even with the sun baking the snowpack, there are still huge piles of snow taller than the people walking by in many spots around the neighborhood. One of my neighbors asked if I could widen out the entrance to her driveway so a propane delivery could be made. It seems that the truck driver had attempted to come up her driveway and aborted the mission, claiming he couldn’t make it. It seemed like there should be enough room, with enough space on either side of a full-sized tanker truck, but such matters are at the discretion of the “pilot in command.” I took the skid steer up to her place and cleared out a couple feet of snow drifts on the sides of the entrance to the driveway, adding a margin of safety on either side, and made sure the area around the propane tank was wide open, making any subsequent delivery a more comfortable endeavor for the hazmat driver. This took me back to a time some years ago, (ok, some decades ago, four to be exact,) when I was an apprentice mechanic working in a full-service garage. We got a call of a broken-down propane truck way up a remote creek drainage that needed to be towed to the shop. Frank, the boss, had me tag along for training purposes, so I would learn about towing larger vehicles. I welcomed getting out of the shop for a lesson. It turned out to be quite an educational experience. A half-dozen miles up the highway and a dozen miles up a snow packed and icy narrow two-lane (in name only) road, we came upon the inert propane delivery tanker. Frank showed me a few tricks about getting such a heavy load hooked up and properly secured, which wasn’t much different than hooking up a car, everything was just bigger, and needed to be done with care. We began hauling the mostly-full sloshing tanker down the narrow road, with the boss driving and negotiating the somewhatplowed road. The tow truck in question was known as Big Red, a giant, hideous sculp-
ture of heavy metal, manufactured sometime in the 1950s. While lacking in any aesthetic value, it was an incredibly durable and tough unit. Seat belts were an afterthought when it was built, and if they had been thought of at the time, that thought – and the belts – were long gone. While Frank was driving, he went just a little too far to the right side of the road, and dropped the right front wheel down in the hidden snow-covered ditch. The next few seconds were rather exciting, with Big Red and its trailing, sloshing, flammable payload fishtailing back and forth across the roadway. Somehow Frank managed to keep several-dozen-thousand pounds of steel and liquid BTU’s on the road, straightened everything out, and we continued on our merry way, with reduced vehicle speed, and accelerated heart rates. Just a couple more miles down the road, there was a sharp turn in the road where a bridge crossed the creek. Frank slowed to negotiate the turn, but the temperature was right at freezing, when the H20 on the road didn’t know which form to take, whether snow, ice, or water, and was as slick as it could be. Instead of turning in the direction where the front tires were aimed, Big Red and our towed road-bomb continued straight into the end of the guardrail at the entrance of the bridge. The lack of seat belts painfully came to my attention as my knees slammed into the aptly-named “dash board,” made of steel of course, in keeping with the industrial motif of this vintage truck. The pain from my dashed kneecaps distracted me from being as terrified as I had been during our previous all-too recent near-death experience. Looking back on it, my knees slamming into the spacious steel interior of the truck kept my head from bashing a hole in the windshield, so at least I had that going for me. After our sudden stop, we got out and inspected everything. There were a few new scratches on the already beat up front bumper. The towed 2,500-gallon explosion-inwaiting didn’t shift enough on the tow sling to worry about. The end of the guardrail was scrunched rather nicely, but it would of-
fer a more cushioned surface for the next errant driver to impact. While Frank taught me a lot that day, the lessons weren’t entirely welcome. That said, I know that if today’s propane delivery driver wants more room to maneuver, I’ll gladly provide it for him, as he sits in front of a rather touchy load of liquid cargo.
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.
APRIL 2022
| OUR TOWN | 13
OurLifestyle
2022 SUBARU WRX delivers improved performance and a higher level of additional safety Now manufactured in its fifth generation, and based on the factory’s global platform, Subaru Motors is making available for 2022, the performance-oriented WRX model equipped with a 271-horsepower, 2.4-liter turbocharged “boxer” style engine. This uniquely engineered powerplant is paired with either a six-speed manual transmission or newly designed automatic. The engines turbo set-up is equipped with an electronically-controlled wastegate system and air-bypass valves, solely designed to improve responsiveness and acceleration. Every WRX is equipped with all-wheeldrive and their active torque vectoring system. The reworked automatic tranny offers up to 30 percent faster upshifts and 50 percent faster downshifts. This transmission incorporates adaptive shift control. It can quickly respond to assisting in maintaining stability through tight corners. The ‘22 version of the WRX four door sports sedan delivers improved performance, enhanced technology, reductions in noise, vibration, and harshness and a higher level of additional safety. Also new for this model year is a topof-the-line GT trim. The GT offers a firstever, electronically controlled suspension components that can be tailored to the driver’s preferences. This includes Comfort, Normal, and Sport settings. The Drive Mode Select also offers additional options to configure steering feel and damper settings, with up to 430 different customization options. The GT also features exclusive exterior and interior accents. Electronic power steering provides quicker response and im14 | OUR TOWN | APRIL 2022
proved steering feel, thus helping to keep the driver more in-tune with various driving conditions. This enhancement elevates a more natural steering feel. The car’s robust frame construction and use of structural adhesives delivers 28 percent increase in overall torsional rigidity. The new suspension design improves vehicle stability and lateral grip on uneven surfaces. The rear stabilizer operates more efficiently and contributes to a reduced roll rate when cornering. WRX has a wide-body design offering an aggressive stance and bold new look. At the front, Subaru’s signature hexagonal grille is partnered with compact LED headlights and a broad front hood scoop to emphasize the broad and low look. Prominent character lines across the front, sides and rear of the vehicle further empathize the sports sedan’s strength and performance capability. The front fenders are now made of weight reduction aluminum. The rear deck lid has an integrated low-profile rear spoiler painted to match the body color. Rear taillights are designed with a bright glow about them. Aerodynamic improvements include an air outlet at the trailing edge of the front wheel openings. This allows air to exit from the wheel well more freely, contributing to reduced lift - improved driving stability. Air outlets at each side of the rear bumper reduces body sway, due to trapped air behind the bumper. Beneath the front of the vehicle, the engine undercover also features an aerodynamic design, that channels airflow downward. Depending on the vehicle’s trim, the fac-
tory includes either 17 or 18-inch summer tires mounted on alloy wheels. The black interior with contrast red stitching and carbon fiber pattern accents reflect attention to details. The steering wheel is designed with a flat-bottom, is leather-wrapped and has integrated switches for audio, voice recognition, and other controls. Pricing starts at $29,105 for the new WRX model. Shipping charges are $995 extra. The estimated combined city/highway fuel consumption is around 22 MPG. It’s recommended to operate on premium grade/ high octane fuel. And in the event you happen to be curious, WRX stands for “World Rally eXperimental!”
BY DAVID FINKELSTEIN
David Finkelstein is a Master/ Skilled Automotive Service Technician and retired shop owner. He’s invented garage service tools for mechanics, served on both nation and local automotive trade industry boards, has done years of consulting with various auto manufactures plus test drives new vehicles weekly. David has pioneered “Car Talk Radio” over 35 years ago, as his new show “Automotive Insight” can be heard on Saturdays, on the Real Talk Radio Network.
OurLifestyle
UNDER ONE ROOF: real-life and fictional blended families
I
n their book, “Brady Brady Brady,” Sherwood Schwartz, creator of “The Brady Bunch,” and son Lloyd talked about the inspiration for the iconic series. The elder Schwartz had spotted a column item in the Los Angeles Times that contained the following: “In the year 1965, more than 29 percent of all marriages included a child or children from a previous marriage.” Thinking that could be the plot of a sitcom, he registered his concept with the Writers Guild of America. Schwartz originally called the series “Yours & Mine” before it was officially christened “The Brady Bunch.” Blended family stories have been around long before Mr. Schwartz created his series and even more have been created since then. Disney+, the House of Mouse’s streaming service, recently promoted a new version of “Cheaper by the Dozen,” a film inspired by the real-life Gilbreth family. Gabrielle Union and Zach Braff starred as two single parents who merged their families together. Disney’s writers were obviously confused, though, because the plot of the new “Cheaper” was more like “Yours, Mine and Ours,” a wonderful 1968 comedy based on the lives of Frank and Helen Beardsley. With only a trailer to go by, the new version of the Gilbreth story looked lost in translation. Frank Gilbreth and his sister Ernestine Gilbreth Carey wrote the autobiographical 1948 novel “Cheaper by the Dozen” and followed that up with the 1950 sequel “Belles on Their Toes.” Both books were great reads. Their parents, Frank and Lillian, were time and motion experts and often used their homelife to prove their theories. Although the “Dozen” in the title indicated 12 children, Mary Gilbreth had passed away at age 5. Adoption was at the heart of “Room for One More,” a classic Cary Grant/Betsy Drake comedy about a family who took in two orphans, even though they had three children of their own. Anna Rose (Drake) brings Jane (Iris Mann) home to meet the
family and the arrangement becomes permanent. The family also fostered Jimmy-John (Clifford Tatum, Jr.), an orphan with a chip on his shoulder. He became part of the family as well, but while Anna had room in her heart for more children, her husband firmly said they were “Full Up.” No blended family story would be complete without Dorothy and Bob DeBolt, a couple who ultimately adopted 14 children. Dorothy had five biological children and her husband had a biological daughter and, over the years, they adopted more children, some of whom were rescued from war torn countries as well as ones with special needs. The 1977 documentary “Who Are the DeBolts? And Where Did They Get Nineteen Kids?” shed light on this blended family and earned an Academy Award for Best Feature-length Documentary. Henry Winkler even narrated a 50-minute televised version of the film late in 1978. Disney deserved some credit for releasing more family content to their streaming platform, but they need to make sure they stay true to the original stories, especially ones based on real-life families. It would be nice to see an updated “Cheaper by the Dozen” that focused on the real Gilbreth family. The 2022 “Cheaper by the Dozen” movie is available on Disney+.
BY STEVE BRYAN
Born and raised in South St. Louis, Steve Bryan is now based in Anaheim, California, and has been allowed access to movie and television sets to see actors and directors at work. Though his writing has taken him far from St. Louis, Steve is, at heart, still the same wide-eyed kid who spent countless hours watching classic movies at neighborhood theaters.
APRIL 2022
| OUR TOWN | 15
OurLifestyle
DELICIOUSLY HEALTHY DISHES S
from sweet to savory
upplementing meals and snacks with powerful, versatile ingredients can take healthy eating from bland and boring to delicious and adventurous. Take your breakfasts, appetizers, dinners and desserts to new heights while maintaining nutrition goals with naturally nutritious and surprisingly versatile California Prunes. Rich and smooth with an ability to enhance both sweet and savory flavors, they can expand your menu with nearly endless powerful pairing options. One serving of 4-5 prunes packs a powerful punch of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber. Together, these nutrients form a web of vital functions that support overall health. Whole, diced or pureed, the versatility of prunes allows you to enhance the flavor of recipes from morning to night in dishes like Citrus Breakfast Toast, which brings together
vitamin B6 and copper from prunes and vitamin C from citrus to support a healthy immune system. Try Caramelized Onion, Mozzarella, Prune and Thyme Flatbreads for a tasty family meal, and while you wait for dinner to cook, you can serve up Prune, Mozzarella and Basil Skewers. These easy appetizers provide several key nutrients. Mozzarella is a good source of calcium and prunes provide vitamin K and copper, all of which support overall bone health. Make dessert a bit better for you but equally delectable with a vegan option like gluten-free, plant-based Prune and Almond Truffles. The soluble fiber in prunes helps lower serum cholesterol and blunt the effects of excessive sodium in the diet. Nuts like almonds provide good fats that help lower the risk for heart disease. Find more recipe ideas at CaliforniaPrunes.org.
Prep time: 5 minutes Servings: 5 INGREDIENTS: 5 pieces prosciutto, halved lengthwise (optional) 10 California Prunes 10 basil leaves 10 cherry-size mozzarella balls DIRECTIONS: If using prosciutto, fold each half in half lengthwise so width of prune is wider than width of prosciutto. Starting at one end of prosciutto, wrap one prune; repeat with remaining prosciutto. Set aside. Wrap one basil leaf around each mozzarella ball then thread onto skewer. Thread one prune or prosciutto-wrapped prune onto each skewer.
Prune, Mozzarella 16 | OUR TOWN | APRIL 16 2022 | CROSSROADS | APRIL 2022
& Basil Skewers
OurLifestyle
Caramelized Onion, Mozzarella, Prune & Thyme Flatbreads Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 1 hour, 30 minutes Yield: 4 flatbreads INGREDIENTS:
Caramelized Onions: 2
tablespoons olive oil 1/2 cup butter 6 large yellow sweet onions, sliced into thin half circles 3 sprigs fresh thyme coarse kosher salt, to taste
Flatbreads: 4 1 4 10 1
personal flatbreads cup caramelized onions ounces fresh mozzarella California Prunes, diced small tablespoon fresh thyme leaves sea salt, to taste coarsely ground black pepper, to taste
DIRECTIONS:
To make caramelized onions: Preheat oven to 400 F.
In large stockpot over medium-low heat, warm oil and melt butter. Add onions and cover; cook 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add thyme sprigs and season with salt, to taste; turn pan lid slightly ajar. Place pot in oven 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
To make flatbreads: Preheat oven to broil. On sheet pan, toast flatbreads under broiler 4 minutes, or until toasted, flipping halfway through. Spread 1/4 cup of caramelized onions over each toasted flatbread. Refrigerate leftover onions. Tear mozzarella and place over onions. Divide prunes among flatbreads and place flatbreads under broiler 4-6 minutes until cheese has melted and is beginning to brown. Sprinkle flatbreads with fresh thyme and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
APRIL 2022
| OUR TOWN APRIL 2022| |17 CROS
OurLifestyle
ewn together
SEW Hope Community Sewing Room is a new center for the public to come together to learn, teach and share the art of sewing BY WENDY TODD
I
f you’re an avid sewer or have always wanted to learn the craft, there is a dedicated space for that in St. Louis County that opened this month. SEW Hope Community Sewing Room is a new center for the public to come together to learn, teach and share the art of sewing. Kaci Starr Long, who along with her husband, Al Long, opened the organization under Jacob’s Ladder Ministries, a faith-based non-profit organization. Starr Long, a thirdgeneration seamstress, began sewing as a hobby but then turned it into a business when she couldn’t find work after leaving her political career. She made lap scarves (laced-edged scarves to cover a skirt when sitting) for women in her church and they began asking if she could make clothes. Then they asked if she could teach them to sew. “I began to sew for others and stumbled across the City Sewing Room located in south St. Louis,” Starr Long says. “It was at City Sewing Room that I developed a relationship with the owner, Anne Stirnemann and said, ‘Hey, you know something like this would be great in North County.’ We began to talk, and she volunteered to help me develop the Sew Hope Community Sewing Room, a place where people can learn to sew, quilt, find community, purchase beautiful fabric and explore their God-given creativity.” Industry professionals will be teaching classes, and others who sew and have class and
18 || OUR OUR TOWN TOWN | | APRIL APRIL 2022 2022 18
InDepth
project ideas are welcomed to submit programming. “We have professional seamstresses and quilters who teach out of SEW Hope Community Sewing Room,” Starr Long says. “We are also always looking for more instructors with a fun idea or project that can be taught. Right now, a young lady pitched an idea for a beginner’s cosplay sewing class. I love this idea. She’s won several awards for her cosplay costumes. I love the idea of being able to help makers not only share their gift with the world, but also be compensated.” Placing the SEW Hope Community Sewing Room in Florissant, where Starr Long resides, was intentional. “I live in Florissant,” Starr Long says “and felt it important to have a creative space in the community that everyone can enjoy. I love our neighborhood. I love the people here. There is nothing like it. Sew Hope is intentional about being a place that is multi-generational, diverse and where everyone is welcome, just like the city of Florissant.” The SEW Hope Community Sewing Room is more than a place where people can go to sew and learn, it is intended to be a haven of creativity and connectedness for patrons. “I hope people will find community here,” Starr Long says. “The Sew Hope Community Sewing Room has really been birthed out of a place of prayer, and so yes, we want people to create and have fun. We also want Sew Hope to be a place where people make friends, a place they can go to if or when they feel lonely and connect with others while they create.”
APRIL 2022
| OUR TOWN | 19
A P R I L
1
April Fool’s Day
6
National Tartan Day
7
MLB Opening Day
10
Palm Sunday
12
National Library Workers’ Day
13
Thomas Jefferson’s Birthday
16
Passover
17
Easter Sunday
18
Tax Day
28
Take our Daughters and Sons to Work Day